He reached up and grabbed the brim of his ball cap, pulling the hat down a little more snugly on his head. Rain drops steadily dripped off the edge of the brim. He had been trudging for several hours in the steady and persistent rain. The evening had slowly drifted into the black darkness of night. He hunched his shoulders briefly against the chill of the raindrops on the back of his neck. His gait had slowed, yet he stubbornly pushed forward.
He had started his journey with a fair idea of where his destination lie. He knew the trek wouldn't be one of ease but was convinced it was worth the effort. The rain was steady. His clothing had long ago gave way and had become soaked through. He was just this side of uncomfortable in the night's chill. Yet he stubbornly pushed forward.
As hour after hour drifted by he became a little less certain of his destination. He knew he had started in the right direction on this journey. He doggedly clung to the hope that he was still on the right path. The darkness and the damned pesky, steady rain had a disorienting effect at times. Yet he stubbornly pushed forward.
His shoulders started to ache with the strain of being hunched against the rain on the back of his neck. He tugged the brim of his soggy ball cap down even tighter on his head. His hands jammed deep into the pockets of his soaked through jeans, he stubbornly pushed forward.
He thought of stopping and sitting and resting for a while. His feet were tired. He tried to mentally summon the rosy warmth of sitting before a fire, but the cold, steady rain wouldn't allow it. Left foot, right foot, each plodding step adding to the tiredness of his feet. His feet were cold and wet. Yet he stubbornly pushed forward.
Was he still walking in the right direction? He wasn't so certain anymore. Surely he was. He doggedly clung to the hope he was moving in the right direction. The raindrops steadily dripped from the brim of his cap. He wished he had a shred of dry clothing with which to wipe his face. Yet he stubbornly pushed forward.
He thought of stopping and sitting and resting for a while. He was so tired. He knew this trek was not going to be one of ease. He had lost the certainty that the effort was worth it. He desperately wished the rain would let up. His feet hurt. His lower back ached. His shoulders were stiff from hunching against the cold rain on the back of his neck. He tugged the brim of his hat down lower and continued to push forward. Surely his destination was near.
Just a short story that's been going through my mind lately. I sometimes go through periods of life were I relate to the man in this story, trudging and all the while becoming less and less certain I'm heading in the right direction in life. Sometimes I feel like I'm muddling around in the dark. Yet I continue to push forward, hoping it's in the right direction.
Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday friends.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Casey Anthony. Innocent?
Very good morning friends and faithful blog readers. I hope y'all enjoyed your holiday weekend. I know this year's 3 day Independence Day celebration was amongst the best I've ever enjoyed. How can you go wrong with a weekend full of swimming pools, fireworks, lots of junk food and being surrounded with many good friends? I don't see how it gets any better than that and if it did I'd need two of me to process all that fun. I wish I could bottle up that merriment and save it for a rainy day, but alas, I can not.
Unfortunately today's blog doesn't contain any merriment or joy. There is a good possibility that many of you reading it will disagree with me, some of you very passionately. I'm fine with that. I believe that as an amateur writer and recreational blogger I simply can't avoid writing about topics that others may disagree with. Many of you (did you catch the title of the dang blog?) have already surmised that I'll be tackling the Casey Anthony trial. You're right. It's not going to necessarily be fun nor will it be popular, but I believe someone has to do it.
Let's get some disclaimers out of the way now. I must admit I'm not a forensics expert, but I have read a lot of mystery novels. I was not at any point during the whole mess that is the Casey Anthony investigation and trial an avid follower of such mess. Frankly I'm quite disgusted and nearly physically ill that the media is so sensational in their coverage of said mess. There is not one fiber of my being that believes that any of the media coverage has been fair, balanced and unbiased. The fact that so many people would expend so much energy to follow this trial, to fight to get a seat in the court room or in any way be a part of the "tourism" surrounding this trial sickens me. I do readily admit to stepping off to an alternative drum cadence than most citizens and on days like today I'm actually grateful that I do. I truly don't "get" what all the sustained media attention is all about. It's possible that I may be too busy actually living a life to get so completely caught up in the hoopla. Anyway let's get on with the task of deciphering the madness.
The fact of the matter is that the jury in the Casey Anthony trial got the verdict right. I know this is not the main stream opinion but since when have I ever allowed that to influence my beliefs? The prosecutors in this trial presented a lot of circumstantial evidence and almost no physical evidence. Prosecuting teams always bear the "burden of proof." In laymen terms that means they have the job of convincing the jury that beyond any reasonable doubt the accused committed the crime. Cut through all of your emotions for a moment and honestly tell me that you believe they presented enough facts to convince you 100 percent without even a hint of a doubt that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter. I simply can't make that statement.
The prosecution team presented new "pseudo-scientific" evidence that a decomposing body was once in Ms. Anthony's trunk. Yes my friends they put some air from her trunk in a syringe and tested it. Did you catch the part about there being a bag of trash in her trunk when they found her car? The prosecution team claimed that the duct tape and bags found with Caylee Anthony's body were similar to ones found in Casey's home. There's your evidence. They also talked a lot about Casey Anthony partying, getting a tattoo and basically doing everything she could to be uncooperative with the investigation. What the prosecution didn't do was find any fingerprints at the crime scene. They didn't find any blood in the trunk of the car. They didn't find any hair or DNA samples of Casey's at the place the body was found. As a matter of fact the prosecution team couldn't even truthfully determine exactly how little Caylee Anthony died.
That paragraph was a little difficult to write. Whew...this writer will not shrink from this task. Let's get a few more things out of the way here. I'm a proud father of 3 beautiful children. The fact that a nearly 3 year old girl was murdered is something that I can't truly wrap my mind around. Casey Anthony "failed" to report her daughter missing for 31 days! She spent those 31 days partying and getting a tattoo! She constantly lied about everything she could possible lie about while she was being investigated. She is a hideous monster of a parent who was criminally negligent in caring for her child. Let's get this last tidbit out of the way now. I believe that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter.
How can one writer defend the jury's not guilty verdict and then confess he believes the defendant committed the crime you ask oh gentle reader? Easy, nobody really cares about what I believe and the world doesn't adhere to my belief system (thank God.) For example, I believe rap music is a waste of ear space, that Pete Rose belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame, that Merle Haggard is the most artistic singer/songwriter to ever grace planet Earth and that people should almost revere baseball stadiums as much as they do churches. Most of my crazy ideas and beliefs are very much in the minority. I'm OK with that. My belief, and frankly many of yours as well, that Casey Anthony killed her daughter doesn't prove that she did.
Folks we live in the United States of America, the greatest damn Nation in the world. Our legal system is flawed for sure. Loopholes, human error and the luxury of hiring the best legal teams tarnish many trials. However we are also still a Nation that guarantees the inalienable right of the accused of being "innocent until proven guilty." Casey Anthony was found not guilty by a jury of her peers. Those 12 men and women obviously found some shred of doubt that Casey was guilty and brought forth the verdict of not guilty. Thankfully they chose not to participate in the media circus after issuing the verdict. Casey Anthony will walk away a free woman whether we like it or not. For better or worse, this is our legal system. Be mindful of the fact that this same legal system has put to death many innocent people. This same legal system acquitted O.J. Simpson of murder and then found him guilty of that same murder in a civil trial. Casey Anthony is beyond any reasonable doubt a complete failure as a human being. She is nothing short of a train wreck waiting to happen. This doesn't prove that she murdered anyone.
Write this down. Casey Anthony will ultimately destroy any life that she has left attempting to get past the hell she has caused herself. The fact that she behaved in the manner that she did after her daughter "disappeared" causes me to hope she never finds another single solitary moment of peace or serenity in her life again.
Little Caylee Anthony is currently residing in a much more pleasant environment than the screwed up Anthony family could have ever provided her. Those that sent her to that place of peace will some day experience hell in one form or another. Karma insists that this is true.
Try to have a good day friends. I'm going to try not to mope around the next several hours pondering the sickness and evil that lurks in our world. God help us all.
Unfortunately today's blog doesn't contain any merriment or joy. There is a good possibility that many of you reading it will disagree with me, some of you very passionately. I'm fine with that. I believe that as an amateur writer and recreational blogger I simply can't avoid writing about topics that others may disagree with. Many of you (did you catch the title of the dang blog?) have already surmised that I'll be tackling the Casey Anthony trial. You're right. It's not going to necessarily be fun nor will it be popular, but I believe someone has to do it.
Let's get some disclaimers out of the way now. I must admit I'm not a forensics expert, but I have read a lot of mystery novels. I was not at any point during the whole mess that is the Casey Anthony investigation and trial an avid follower of such mess. Frankly I'm quite disgusted and nearly physically ill that the media is so sensational in their coverage of said mess. There is not one fiber of my being that believes that any of the media coverage has been fair, balanced and unbiased. The fact that so many people would expend so much energy to follow this trial, to fight to get a seat in the court room or in any way be a part of the "tourism" surrounding this trial sickens me. I do readily admit to stepping off to an alternative drum cadence than most citizens and on days like today I'm actually grateful that I do. I truly don't "get" what all the sustained media attention is all about. It's possible that I may be too busy actually living a life to get so completely caught up in the hoopla. Anyway let's get on with the task of deciphering the madness.
The fact of the matter is that the jury in the Casey Anthony trial got the verdict right. I know this is not the main stream opinion but since when have I ever allowed that to influence my beliefs? The prosecutors in this trial presented a lot of circumstantial evidence and almost no physical evidence. Prosecuting teams always bear the "burden of proof." In laymen terms that means they have the job of convincing the jury that beyond any reasonable doubt the accused committed the crime. Cut through all of your emotions for a moment and honestly tell me that you believe they presented enough facts to convince you 100 percent without even a hint of a doubt that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter. I simply can't make that statement.
The prosecution team presented new "pseudo-scientific" evidence that a decomposing body was once in Ms. Anthony's trunk. Yes my friends they put some air from her trunk in a syringe and tested it. Did you catch the part about there being a bag of trash in her trunk when they found her car? The prosecution team claimed that the duct tape and bags found with Caylee Anthony's body were similar to ones found in Casey's home. There's your evidence. They also talked a lot about Casey Anthony partying, getting a tattoo and basically doing everything she could to be uncooperative with the investigation. What the prosecution didn't do was find any fingerprints at the crime scene. They didn't find any blood in the trunk of the car. They didn't find any hair or DNA samples of Casey's at the place the body was found. As a matter of fact the prosecution team couldn't even truthfully determine exactly how little Caylee Anthony died.
That paragraph was a little difficult to write. Whew...this writer will not shrink from this task. Let's get a few more things out of the way here. I'm a proud father of 3 beautiful children. The fact that a nearly 3 year old girl was murdered is something that I can't truly wrap my mind around. Casey Anthony "failed" to report her daughter missing for 31 days! She spent those 31 days partying and getting a tattoo! She constantly lied about everything she could possible lie about while she was being investigated. She is a hideous monster of a parent who was criminally negligent in caring for her child. Let's get this last tidbit out of the way now. I believe that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter.
How can one writer defend the jury's not guilty verdict and then confess he believes the defendant committed the crime you ask oh gentle reader? Easy, nobody really cares about what I believe and the world doesn't adhere to my belief system (thank God.) For example, I believe rap music is a waste of ear space, that Pete Rose belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame, that Merle Haggard is the most artistic singer/songwriter to ever grace planet Earth and that people should almost revere baseball stadiums as much as they do churches. Most of my crazy ideas and beliefs are very much in the minority. I'm OK with that. My belief, and frankly many of yours as well, that Casey Anthony killed her daughter doesn't prove that she did.
Folks we live in the United States of America, the greatest damn Nation in the world. Our legal system is flawed for sure. Loopholes, human error and the luxury of hiring the best legal teams tarnish many trials. However we are also still a Nation that guarantees the inalienable right of the accused of being "innocent until proven guilty." Casey Anthony was found not guilty by a jury of her peers. Those 12 men and women obviously found some shred of doubt that Casey was guilty and brought forth the verdict of not guilty. Thankfully they chose not to participate in the media circus after issuing the verdict. Casey Anthony will walk away a free woman whether we like it or not. For better or worse, this is our legal system. Be mindful of the fact that this same legal system has put to death many innocent people. This same legal system acquitted O.J. Simpson of murder and then found him guilty of that same murder in a civil trial. Casey Anthony is beyond any reasonable doubt a complete failure as a human being. She is nothing short of a train wreck waiting to happen. This doesn't prove that she murdered anyone.
Write this down. Casey Anthony will ultimately destroy any life that she has left attempting to get past the hell she has caused herself. The fact that she behaved in the manner that she did after her daughter "disappeared" causes me to hope she never finds another single solitary moment of peace or serenity in her life again.
Little Caylee Anthony is currently residing in a much more pleasant environment than the screwed up Anthony family could have ever provided her. Those that sent her to that place of peace will some day experience hell in one form or another. Karma insists that this is true.
Try to have a good day friends. I'm going to try not to mope around the next several hours pondering the sickness and evil that lurks in our world. God help us all.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Freedom.
Happy July my friends. July 1st for me is always the day when I wake up and say "where did June go?" It's a day to remember that it's Summer and a month of it has already slipped away. It's also a time for build up to my favorite holiday of the year; Indapendance Day. I'm some what of a history buff, which probably explains why I enjoy this particular day so much. Speaking of history, I don't care how you try to defend it, Sarah Palin made a large snafu with the whole Paul Revere thing. I don't think she is that "special" to not know the facts I think she just misspoke. You think Mrs. Palin believes Mr. Obama is an American citizen yet?
Moving right along now. I love the Declaration of Independence. I love the story of John Hancock and his rather large signature. General Washington and Valley Forge and stories of the continental congress stimulate me. I love American History. I was raised in a family that believed in taking your hat off when the flag went by and putting that hat over your heart when the National Anthem is sang. I grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school and I didn't feel it violated my rights at all. I often still get goose bumps and a hint of tears in my eyes when America the Beautiful is played. I've karaoked (not well) Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A. Johnny Cash singing "Ragged Old Flag" is currently a selection on my MP3 player. I even once got into a physical altercation in Canada (and was briefly detained by the authorities) after over hearing a Canadian speak badly about the United States. I was ready to fight the entire country of Canada that night and frankly I liked my chances.
Yes my friends I'm damn proud to be an American. I believe we reside in the greatest nation on this planet. I am convinced we have the baddest military in the World. I'm not always pleased with the direction our political leaders are heading but I am truly grateful to live in a country where I have the freedom to openly criticize them. I believe Rick Monday is a genuine American Hero for protecting our flag from being burnt. (If you don't know who Rick Monday is Google him now. Seriously stop reading and Google him.) I fully concur with him when he said if you're going to burn our country's flag don't do it around me. The Supreme Court may have protected flag burners under freedom of speech but I'm not always that open minded.
I also believe that our American Servicemen and Women are heroes. Kids if you're going to idolize anyone let it be our Father's and Uncles and Grandfathers (and in many cased Mothers) who have served on foreign land witnessing acts of violence and depravity that you and I will never have to imagine. Men and women have given the most precious things they had to defend our freedom. These men and women gave their very last breath. Yes my friends the 4th of July is a very special day for me.
A little over 5 years ago it started to become even more special for a different reason. Just a month over 5 years ago I was freed from the bondage of alcoholism. The disease of alcoholism had led me to the gates of a literal living hell. Many folks in society had written me and my kind off as unsalvagable. I lived a hopeless and helpless existance, one I wouldn't wish on anyone (even Canadians.) When I finally reached the place in life where I firmly beleived suicide to be my only viable option a group of sober folks entered my life and showed me a better way to live. They taught me that a group of 12 principles could free me from the bondage of alcohol. Over the years I've watched folks literally die from the disease of addiction and I believe them doing so has allowed me to live a free life. I get goose bumps and teary eyed thinking back to the early days of my recovery and remembering how awesome it was to once again have a glimmer of hope in my life.
These sober folks took me by the hand and literally helped walk me to freedom. They provided me the freedom to live and smile and laugh again. They provided me the freedom to live indoors with a roof and a bed and blankets and food. They helped grant me the freedom to learn to be a Dad and to learn to hold a job and to pay my bills and be productive in society. I honestly believe I can never do enough to repay this group of sober people for the blessed life they've taught me to live. Since that day, a little over 5 years ago, Independence Day has taken on a new and very special meaning for me. Let freedom ring my friends let freedom ring!
It's also important for me to note that if you or someone you know is seeking this same freedom from alcohol, there is help available. I'm not speaking of American Airlines but the help you are looking for is just ahead of them in a phone book. God Bless the U.S. of A.
“Free at last; free at last; thank God Almighty we are free at last.” Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights leader.
Moving right along now. I love the Declaration of Independence. I love the story of John Hancock and his rather large signature. General Washington and Valley Forge and stories of the continental congress stimulate me. I love American History. I was raised in a family that believed in taking your hat off when the flag went by and putting that hat over your heart when the National Anthem is sang. I grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school and I didn't feel it violated my rights at all. I often still get goose bumps and a hint of tears in my eyes when America the Beautiful is played. I've karaoked (not well) Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A. Johnny Cash singing "Ragged Old Flag" is currently a selection on my MP3 player. I even once got into a physical altercation in Canada (and was briefly detained by the authorities) after over hearing a Canadian speak badly about the United States. I was ready to fight the entire country of Canada that night and frankly I liked my chances.
Yes my friends I'm damn proud to be an American. I believe we reside in the greatest nation on this planet. I am convinced we have the baddest military in the World. I'm not always pleased with the direction our political leaders are heading but I am truly grateful to live in a country where I have the freedom to openly criticize them. I believe Rick Monday is a genuine American Hero for protecting our flag from being burnt. (If you don't know who Rick Monday is Google him now. Seriously stop reading and Google him.) I fully concur with him when he said if you're going to burn our country's flag don't do it around me. The Supreme Court may have protected flag burners under freedom of speech but I'm not always that open minded.
I also believe that our American Servicemen and Women are heroes. Kids if you're going to idolize anyone let it be our Father's and Uncles and Grandfathers (and in many cased Mothers) who have served on foreign land witnessing acts of violence and depravity that you and I will never have to imagine. Men and women have given the most precious things they had to defend our freedom. These men and women gave their very last breath. Yes my friends the 4th of July is a very special day for me.
A little over 5 years ago it started to become even more special for a different reason. Just a month over 5 years ago I was freed from the bondage of alcoholism. The disease of alcoholism had led me to the gates of a literal living hell. Many folks in society had written me and my kind off as unsalvagable. I lived a hopeless and helpless existance, one I wouldn't wish on anyone (even Canadians.) When I finally reached the place in life where I firmly beleived suicide to be my only viable option a group of sober folks entered my life and showed me a better way to live. They taught me that a group of 12 principles could free me from the bondage of alcohol. Over the years I've watched folks literally die from the disease of addiction and I believe them doing so has allowed me to live a free life. I get goose bumps and teary eyed thinking back to the early days of my recovery and remembering how awesome it was to once again have a glimmer of hope in my life.
These sober folks took me by the hand and literally helped walk me to freedom. They provided me the freedom to live and smile and laugh again. They provided me the freedom to live indoors with a roof and a bed and blankets and food. They helped grant me the freedom to learn to be a Dad and to learn to hold a job and to pay my bills and be productive in society. I honestly believe I can never do enough to repay this group of sober people for the blessed life they've taught me to live. Since that day, a little over 5 years ago, Independence Day has taken on a new and very special meaning for me. Let freedom ring my friends let freedom ring!
It's also important for me to note that if you or someone you know is seeking this same freedom from alcohol, there is help available. I'm not speaking of American Airlines but the help you are looking for is just ahead of them in a phone book. God Bless the U.S. of A.
“Free at last; free at last; thank God Almighty we are free at last.” Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights leader.
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