More randomness

So I have this dream, it's a recurring dream. I don't always get to this place in the same way, but I always know it when I arrive. I visit this place from time to time. I know not where it is, but the people are always the same and they are always happy to see me. They grow, age, live their lives, I am but a visitor there yet it's like I've done something major in the past. I don't understand it but it sure feels like more than a dream, it's like I am visiting somewhere. I've never 'felt' weather in a dream, yet in this place I do. I feel the wind blowing, the temperature, etc.

Yes Google is my friend, but I never can find anything when I search for dream meanings. Just the standards of 'falling' and so many other things that I can't ever say I've ever dreamed of. The falling one is fun though, the 'wake up before you hit the ground' doesn't seem to hold for me. I've hit the ground many a time when dreaming I'm falling and I'm still here. It does tend to wake you up though.

Just been on my mind so thought I'd get it out here in the blog and see what I make of it when it's in print.

I remain a Gentleman, even after the first date.

{**********************}
HUGZ to you all!!!!

Vetrans Lobby Day

Today is the day that thousands of Vetrans, both gay and straight, converge upon Washington D.C. for Vetrans Lobby Day. A day to show support for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the Military. I would have loved to be there and hear the speaches, show my support, etc but I found out way to late about this day to get there. I have taken action, and you can do it as well. You can call your Senators, and Representatives and tell them you support the Vetrans Lobby Day, and the repeal of the Don't ask don't tell policy.

You can elaborate as much or little as you feel. They will probably ask for your zip code to ensure you live in their District. It only takes a few minutes, but if we can have their phone lines flooded it will show the support of the American public to allow EVERYONE to serve openly and honestly in the Military.

It wasn't until I was in the Army that I fully realized my sexual orientation. I knew that was something I HAD to keep hidden while serving my country. Given my specialty and the fact I carried a Top Secret security clearance had I not hidden that part of my life a Dishonerable Discharge would have been swiftly coming my way. Things would not have been good.

I don't want to get too deep here, but this is certainly something that is near and dear to me. I have called Rep George Miller, who co-sponsored the bill to repeal the don't ask don't tell policy. I have also called Senators Fienstein and Boxer urging them to work on repealing this discriminatory policy. Please take 10 minutes of your time today and call your Representative in Washington DC.

{******************} HUGZ to you all~!!!!!

Dangerous surfing

So I'm surfing around and land on one of my favorite toy sites. B&H video. I'm looking at lenses for my camera and checking prices on the new Olympus dSLR bodies (I've got the eVolt 500 and love the pics I'm getting with it) and find that the latest and greatest the e620 is only $499. Then I check out lenses and find a nice fast zoom that will replace the one that came with my original e500 is $995. There is a nice wide angle zoom for $600. As you can see I don't have cheap toys. The two new lenses will run about $1650 and if I find the extra $$$ I can get the new body and have a whole new set up for just over $2000. The sweet part of this the lenses will work with the e500 and the e620.

I've come to the conclusion that I need about $10,000 so I can get all my new toys and also do the work in the back yard this year. Since I don't see where the $10,000 will just drop out of the sky looks like I get to prioritize the expenses. The back yard work needs to come first. Built in BBQ and fire pit will make it really nice for the summer. Then I can worry about a new laptop (15" macbook pro), and the new photo gear.

The camera I have is only 8 mega pixels, but it being a digital SLR the photo quality is way better than a comparable point and shoot. Anyway I'm going through my photos and enlarging many to 8x10 size to put up around the house. The initial project was an idea to hide the speaker wire running along the wall from my surround sound system. I've gotten that done and it looks pretty amazing. I left space between the photos so it looks like they are actually hanging from the wire. Now I'm looking to enlarge others to poster size. (16x20 and up) to fill in the blank walls in my house. I figured I should use my photos to decorate my house. I've found a decent place online where I can get some enlargements done for a reasonable price. So if ever you come to visit my place just know that the majority of the photos you'll see on my walls are ones that I took.

Off to figure out something to eat and then prolly watch a movie tonight. Back to the grind and the middle school production of Grease next week!!

{*******************} Hugz to you all!

Acai Berries

Here it is taken directly from the fine print on a website that looks like it's a Health report from the local news station on the Acai Berry diet. The write up was amazing and I was tempted to do the 'Free Trial' and see what happens, then I read the following:

It is important to note that this site and the comments/answers depicted above is to be used as an illustrative example of what some individuals have achieved with this/these products. This website, and any page on the website, is based loosely off a true story, but has been modified in multiple ways including, but not limited to: the story, the photos, and the comments. Thus, this page, and any page on this website, are not to be taken literally or as a non-fiction story. This page, and the results mentioned on this page, although achievable for some, are not to be construed as the results that you may achieve on the same routine. I UNDERSTAND THIS WEBSITE IS ONLY ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHAT MIGHT BE ACHIEVABLE FROM USING THIS/THESE PRODUCTS, AND THAT THE STORY/COMMENTS DEPICTED ABOVE IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY. This page receives compensation for clicks on or purchase of products featured on this site.

Buyer beware

The Fool on a journey

I know I don't talk about the Tarot as much as I used to. It's still there and does help center me and really that's what I need some days. Anyway for my travels on this day as I was packing I came across my Fool pendant. I thought what a perfect thing to wear today. It fits. (this is what I mean about things always being there.) My first trip to Vegas, I set upon my journey just like the fool in Tarot.

Not too much more to put here. Just the thoughts that crossed my mind and I wanted to share. Yes I'll have the laptop in Vegas.... dunno if I'll ever be online. I do know that tomorrow night is gonna be a blast. Blue Man Group!!!!!

You all be good.. {*************************} Hugz to you all!
Keep that positive energy flowing....send some my way...

Never take even money

Yeah doing some study for the Vegas trip. Here finally is an article that says what I've always said. NEVER TAKE EVEN MONEY when you have a Blackjack and the dealer is showing an Ace.

Let’s say that you have a natural blackjack and the dealer has an Ace for an up card. You’re offered even money. Should you take it or not?

No, you shouldn’t.

You have the chance of winning a 3-2 payout. Why throw it away to settle for 1-1 blackjack payout? It’s kind of like having a winning argument and then backing down with meek deference.

So rather than take the even money you think you might want to insure your blackjack. You don’t want to do that either because it’s the same thing. You will come out with the same amount of money.

I’ll show you how this works. Let’s say that you have wagered $10 and you have that blackjack against an Ace. We’ll say that you take insurance on your hand, so you put forth $5. But it turns out that the dealer doesn’t have blackjack. He’ll take your $5 insurance bet…and then pay you $15. Now subtract the $5 you lost to insurance, and you’ll find that in reality your payout was only $10. Which is the same thing as taking even money.

See how it doesn’t matter whether you insure your blackjack or take even money on it?

Oh but wait! What if the dealer does have blackjack too and you have taken insurance? In that instance your blackjack would push his. And you would collect $10 on your insurance bet. It’s still the same $10 profit.

What even money does is simplify the steps in giving you the same amount you would win if you took insurance on your blackjack. But dealers don’t get a 10 for a hole card often enough to warrant taking insurance or even money in any case. Your best bet is to decline both and stick with your basic strategy.

Can this truly be?????

“No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens,” Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said it was his personal belief that “allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do.”

Oh what do my wondering ears tell me they heard???

Ok gotta keep this on the positive tip, gotta not get on the cynical soap box. Don't see it that there is a severe shortage of straight people enlisting and we've got two wars going on and they need BODIES!!!! No keep it on the positive tip and see that maybe, just maybe they've noticed that there have been Gays and Lesbians serving their country since the begining of the Armed Services.

Just know that the chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff, the Highest uniformed position in the United States, as said in front of God and Country that it is his belief that the ban on Gays and Lesbians serving in the Armed Services should be lifted. This wasn't an 'off the record' conversation at a cocktail party. This isn't some rumor that's circulating. This is REAL. I can watch it on youtube until the electrons float away. (Remember how you could wear out the VHS tapes if you watched them too many times?)

I thought for sure the Military would be a battle for down the road. Yet here it is starting at the TOP. I know I won't wake tomorrow and things will be changed, but this is a start. Honestly I am stunned.....and I'm at work so I'll leave this here and possibly pick up the thread when I get home tonight.

{*************************} HUGZ to you all. Keep that positive flowing. Amazing things DO happen.