I'd be curious to see what some of you like...
Family
Friends
Laughter
Interesting Conversation
The Redskins
Porterhouse Steak/Cream Spinach/Baked Potato/Guinness Stout (Favorite meal)
Belgium Beer
Gin & Tonic
Jazz
Reggae
The company of that special woman. What up TW!
Jerk Chicken
The Sports Section
Sudoku
Hiking
Sitting in the grass and listening to good music
Comedy
Del Ray
Internet Radio
Flea Markets
Doing nothing
Dexter on Showtime
Stuffed Green Peppers
Frozen Margaritas – No Salt
Silence
Prince (Old stuff/New stuff not so much)
The Beach
Stumbling across great new music
North Wilkesboro, NC
Peace
The color green
Jeans
Coffee
Shopping
Crossword Puzzles
Biking
December 19, 2008
November 7, 2008
10-Hour Hike
For those of you that read this (all 2 of you), you know that my previous post spoke of a 5-hour hike through George Washington National Forest. Well this time Samir and I decided to get a bit more adventurous. This time it was Shenandoah National Park and a 7-hour hike, or so we thought. Samir and I got started on our 7-hour hike planning to take in some nature and get a little workout. Well long story short, we got lost. There I said it, {ladies insert men with directions joke here}. Somehow, Samir and I managed to turn a 7-hour hike into a 10-hour hike, complete with deer, black bear, darkness, and not enough food or water. And you know what; I loved every sweat inducing, muscle twitching second of it. I guess I'm learning to enjoy the journey. Either that or I'm a little nutty, draw your own conclusions. But anyway, here are a couple of shots…Peace!
August 4, 2008
Don’t miss the miracles
This past weekend I went hiking with a couple of friends, shout out to Samir and Aimee! Our day started around 6:30am with overcast skies and mother earth showering us with rain. But undeterred, we ventured out on our 1.5 hour drive to Mill Mountain in the George Washington National Forest. We arrived at our destination just before 9am and got our gear and minds ready for the 6.5 hour hike through Mill Mountain with a “short” crossover to Big Schloss to take in the must see vista. Initially I wondered if the crossover to Big Schloss was worth the extra 2 hours of hiking, but it really was in so many ways. As we all know there is something extremely rewarding about setting a goal and reaching it. But the thing I’m learning to appreciate even more than achieving the goal is the process. It’s the hawks protecting their nests, the chipmunks harvesting for the winter, the mushrooms so varied & unique that only a power greater than man could’ve created them. Long story short, it’s the journey. A quote from Thich Nhat Hanh says that “People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on
water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” We’ve all heard very similar quotes before, yet we still walk past miracles everyday and fail to recognize them as such. Ask a blind man about the miracle of seeing a flower or a deaf man about the beautiful sound of a rolling stream. Why do we have to be without before we appreciate being with? I don’t know, but I do know that everyday I’m trying to be more thankful, more appreciative and more of a protector of the endless miracles of our earth. Having said that, after 5 hours of basically walking on a Stairmaster my body and mind started to wander to the car, a shower and my bed! But then I refocused my thoughts to the natural beauty of my surroundings, focusing solely on my walking meditation, and before you know it I had reached the goal. Now the initial goal was to reach the summit and conquer the hike, but as I look back, the things that flash in my mind when reflecting are the hawks, the chipmunks, and the mushrooms. These things may pale in size to the mountaintop, but I’ve found that these are the first things I mention to friends when discussing the hike. Amazingly, if we allow ourselves to recognize the miracles then we have a greater chance of truly comprehending them. For the word comprehend comes from the Latin roots cum, which means “with”, and prehendere, which means “to grasp it or pick it up”. To comprehend something means to pick it up and be one with it. I’m finding that through nature I am learning how to comprehend people. Again to quote Thich Nhat Hanh, “if we want to understand a person, we have to feel his feelings, suffer his sufferings, and enjoy his joy”. Whether we’re talking about nature or our fellow man, let’s put forth the effort to comprehend it. For if their feelings are our feelings then we wouldn’t hurt them. 
May 6, 2008
Are you cultivating weeds or orchids?
Question, are we raising our children or just allowing them grow up? There is a difference.
Did you just allow those weeds to grow up in your lawn or did you raise them? I bet they just grew up there and you look at them with distain every single day. Then why do we allow our children to just grow up and not raise them? If we don’t want society to look upon our youth with that same distain as an unwanted weed, then let’s start raising our children again, please! Unattended things like weeds just grow up in your lawn, but those prize winning orchids, they were cared for, nurtured, and tended to. You raise award winning orchids, you don’t just throw out the seeds and let them grow up on their own and expect them to be the best. So why do we just spread our seeds and leave them to grow up on their own? Whether we’re talking orchids or children, if you want the best out of them, you better take the time to care for, to nurture, to tend to, and to cultivate them. Otherwise you are limiting the chances of them reaching their full potential.
Our children are going to grow up regardless, but how do we want them to describe their upbringing? Whether we do it or not, someone or something is going to raise our children; i.e.“the streets raised me”, or “I was raised by loving parents”. Young people raised by the streets understand and abide by the rules of the street. Young people really raised by their parents will understand and abide by the rules of their parents. I know what you're thinking, does raising your child ‘the right way’ guarantee that they’ll turn out to be happy and productive citizens? No, no more so than raising your child ‘the wrong way’ guarantee that they’ll turn out to be dysfunctional adults. But I’d rather fail at trying to do the right thing than succeed at doing the wrong thing. We must start doing the right thing.
Long story short: Raise your children! Don’t just allow them grow up. Because after all, “you were raised better than that”.
Did you just allow those weeds to grow up in your lawn or did you raise them? I bet they just grew up there and you look at them with distain every single day. Then why do we allow our children to just grow up and not raise them? If we don’t want society to look upon our youth with that same distain as an unwanted weed, then let’s start raising our children again, please! Unattended things like weeds just grow up in your lawn, but those prize winning orchids, they were cared for, nurtured, and tended to. You raise award winning orchids, you don’t just throw out the seeds and let them grow up on their own and expect them to be the best. So why do we just spread our seeds and leave them to grow up on their own? Whether we’re talking orchids or children, if you want the best out of them, you better take the time to care for, to nurture, to tend to, and to cultivate them. Otherwise you are limiting the chances of them reaching their full potential.
Our children are going to grow up regardless, but how do we want them to describe their upbringing? Whether we do it or not, someone or something is going to raise our children; i.e.“the streets raised me”, or “I was raised by loving parents”. Young people raised by the streets understand and abide by the rules of the street. Young people really raised by their parents will understand and abide by the rules of their parents. I know what you're thinking, does raising your child ‘the right way’ guarantee that they’ll turn out to be happy and productive citizens? No, no more so than raising your child ‘the wrong way’ guarantee that they’ll turn out to be dysfunctional adults. But I’d rather fail at trying to do the right thing than succeed at doing the wrong thing. We must start doing the right thing.
Long story short: Raise your children! Don’t just allow them grow up. Because after all, “you were raised better than that”.
April 7, 2008
Quotes
There are times when for whatever reason I feel the need to read or hear words that either teach, reinforce, or simply stimulate some sort of emotion. When those instances arise, I many times come to my ever growing list of quotes. Now this is by no means a list of the greatest quotes of all-time or some reference guide for the most famous quotations ever. It’s just a list that I’ve been compiling for a couple of years and whenever I read or hear something that strikes a chord with me, I add it to the list. So I decided to share a few of my favorites with you all, my electronic neighbors. Feel free to refer to this list from time to time for words; some inspiring, some thought provoking, and some humorous words. Which if you know me, then you know I love to be around funny, stimulating, and inspiring things & people. Enjoy!!
Also, if you have some quotes you’d like to share please feel free to pass them along.
Dalai Lama:
Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
If you think small things don't make a difference, try spending a night in a room with a mosquito!
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Bridgitte Bardot:
It is sad to grow old but nice to ripen.
Sidney Lanier:
Music is love in search of a word.
Bill Cosby:
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
Marlene Dietrich:
Most women set out to try to change a man, and when they have changed him they do not like him.
Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.
W. C. Fields:
I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.
Steven Wright:
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
It doesn't make a difference what temperature a room is, it's always room temperature.
Arthur Ashe:
True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.
Confucius:
And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
Booker T. Washington:
There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.
Epicurus:
Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.
The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.
Mencius:
If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land.
Plato:
A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men.
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
He was a wise man who invented beer.
Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.
There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Me:
His written can't be fire if his freestyle has no spark. (HaHa, inside joke. What up ScooterBeats!)
Also, if you have some quotes you’d like to share please feel free to pass them along.
Dalai Lama:
Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
If you think small things don't make a difference, try spending a night in a room with a mosquito!
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Bridgitte Bardot:
It is sad to grow old but nice to ripen.
Sidney Lanier:
Music is love in search of a word.
Bill Cosby:
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
Marlene Dietrich:
Most women set out to try to change a man, and when they have changed him they do not like him.
Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.
W. C. Fields:
I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.
Steven Wright:
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
It doesn't make a difference what temperature a room is, it's always room temperature.
Arthur Ashe:
True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.
Confucius:
And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
Booker T. Washington:
There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.
Epicurus:
Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.
The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.
Mencius:
If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land.
Plato:
A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men.
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
He was a wise man who invented beer.
Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.
There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Me:
His written can't be fire if his freestyle has no spark. (HaHa, inside joke. What up ScooterBeats!)
March 4, 2008
Jury Duty
This past week I was selected for a jury pool and after 3 hours of sitting and waiting I was actually chosen to be part of the jury (exciting for me!). So the case I was a part of was a drug case, not surprising here in DC. What was surprising was that the prosecution paraded in 15 or so witnesses including DEA forensic experts and all for what turned out to be $15-$20 worth of crack possessed between two 50 year old gentlemen. Now I understand that breaking the law is breaking the law and I am by no means soft on crime, but at what point are we killing a fly with a sledgehammer! Now the government wanted us to believe that this was a possession with an intent to distribute case when really it was a possession with the intent to smoke case. In the end it was our taxpayer dollars that went up in smoke (pun intended), I'm sure that the use of so many undercover officers and agents would have been better served out on the street looking for "real criminals" as opposed to spending a week in the courtroom shaking down two older gentleman with a known drug habit. I would bet that Lindsey Lohan or some other entertainer could have been caught with $20 worth of their drug of choice and not spent more than one day in court, if that. Now I don't claim to be some legal expert but I've watched my share of 'Law and Order' and this case was flimsy AT BEST. I'm beginning to think that we must make these convictions in order to justify the jobs of all the wonderful men & women of our drug enforcement agencies and to keep the BIG business that is our prison system working (God I hope I'm wrong). And while I am truly thankful for our judicial system (the best in the world) and the opportunity I had to be a part of the process, I just wish that the heavy hand of the law was handed out with an equal stroke. Instead it favors those with the ability to afford the best council and punishes those without. Now in this case we found the individuals guilty of possession and did not convict two drug addicts for being what the government called distributors. But I was forced to ask myself, how many people are withering away in our prisons for being addicts? Who is to say that a low-income persons drug of choice deserves jail but a suburban moms drug of choice deserves sympathy? If it were up to me, they all deserve our sympathy. But if we're handing out sympathy only to those with "soccer mom" bumper stickers or to those with a hit record then it's our judicial system that needs to be hit with the sledgehammer and not the flies...
Today
Today I decided to start my blog. While I generally don't have tons of earth shattering things to share with the world, when I do, I am invariably not around the people I need to share them with. So I decided to start writing down my thoughts to ensure that I don't forget them. I anticipate this blog to be a place for me to discuss anything from music to politics and everything in between. So tune in, because you never know, one day I may say something earth shattering, or not.
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