Hello There

Well, it’s been quite a while since my last post hasn’t it? It just so happens that I checked up on my stats on a whim and found that I’m somewhat popular in the United Kingdom. Popular relative to the fact that some people somewhere found my musings interesting enough to actually peruse my blog. I found it curious that the blog I HAD to make regular posts on would be the one attracting attention… So, you’ve piqued my interest, my Trans-Atlantic cousins. Do drop a line. I’m very interested in what you think.

Depleted Uranium

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Depleted Uranium

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New Blog: Update

Some time ago, I published a post in which I stated that there would be a new blog on the way. I have created the blog, and I do have material. My dilemma is whether or not I should publish the work. The simple fact is that I'm quite attached to my possessions; especially things I've earned with the sweat of my brow, and I'd hate to see someone else take credit for what I've created. My lyrics are of particular value to me, mainly because of emotional bonds. They are of an incredibly sensitive nature, at least to me, and because of that, very few people have read them. Make no mistake, however; I do plan on doing more with my lyrics than simply allowing them to collect dust. At some point in time I would like to compose music and create actual songs. So! for the time being, the unveiling of my new blog is on indefinite hold.

The Truth Obscured

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Blogs, blogs, blogs. . . New blog!

I have decided, after some consideration, to create a blog separate to this one which will showcase some of my personal lyrics and poetry, poems that I have read and enjoyed, and perhaps some art. Most, if not all of the work will be rather intimate, and I hope that it will be enjoyed once it is posted. I intend to unveil the blog sometime this week if possible, though it may take longer.

Who You Are

They say that the choices you make in life define who you are. If you kill, you're a murderer. If you die for a cause, you're a martyr. These are rather crude examples, but they are generally accepted. My question is, what if you loathe the things you've done? Does this saying cease to affect you, or does that happen only once you decide to take action against what you have done to change, to prove that you are not proud of what you have done in the past, and that those actions should not decide peoples' opinion of you. I'd like to believe that, but in my opinion, that's just wishful thinking. People believe what they see, and some only see what they want to see. Sometimes the struggle to change, to be better may seem futile, peoples' past opinions of you withstanding. Do you continue down the path toward self-improvement once you hit that fork in the road, or do you fall into old habits? The point of the struggle is not to be at peace with what others think of you, it's about being at peace with yourself, it's about being proud of who you are.

Shell Shocked

Why is it that so many wars are waged? What exactly are we paying for, and why is it that innocent lives are the cost? Wars do not have to be fought with guns, and tanks, and bombs that can wipe us off the face of the planet. So what are all these politicians and high-level, decision-making authorities trying to prove? The only thing that is apparent in my mind is that for as long as man has roamed the earth, death has lurked in his shadow, a craving to destroy inherent within has pushed man to kill when it is not necessary. Even today, when we claim to be civilized, we strike down our enemies just as violently as our so-called savage ancestors. Forget about blizzards, floods, hurricanes, tornados, or even comets colliding with the earth. We are the reason that our planet is so inhospitable. It is our actions, our twisted aspirations that have caused so many innocent creatures, plants, and even our own to perish. We don’t need to kill, we don’t need to keep destroying everything in our path, and most importantly, we don’t see that eventually even we will be wiped out. The root of our desire is the catalyst that has set in motion our own inevitable destruction--given that we continue down the same path we are headed, and it is up to each of us to deny this future.

Holidays

The holidays are nearing, and so are times of great spending. Throughout the holiday season, we are smothered with ads encouraging us to spend our money. In the thick of it all, many of us lose sight of what is truly important--each other. All the spending causes us to plunge deeper into an already materialistic world. The fact is that happiness cannot be found and bought in a store. You can't stick it in a box, gift wrap it, and place it under the Christmas Tree. The holidays are about spending time with those you love and care for, time that isn't centered around anything material, but each other.

Forgive and Forget

Oftentimes we may find that letting go of the past is easier said than done. There is no easy way to lay to rest the memories and thoughts in our minds; one may find that it is impossible. On every corner lie reminders so that we cannot forget, and remembering may begin to feel like a curse. And the simple truth is that we cannot erase our pasts, we cannot outrun our conscience or our actions. I myself have found it impossible to forget anything for very long. It's difficult to let go of bad memories when they're tied to some of the best you've had. I can't always look back in fond memory, and when that's the case, old feelings are conjured up, things I don't care to ponder, and even so, I can't stop. So what do I do? I write lyrics. I give every feeling shape and form and turn them into words. It's my own personal form of psychotherapy. It allows me to circumspect my thoughts and actions and derive therefrom some truth and serenity. So how do you attain peace of mind?

The Opportune Moment

Some of us allow the sands of time to slip right from between our fingertips waiting for "The Opportune Moment." The problem with that is that sometimes the perfect opportunity never arises. My father once told me that the opportunities we receive in life are like a train; if we fail to board that train before it takes off, we'll be left behind, and there's no telling if and when it will return, or whether or not it will be the same train if it does. Most of us don't know what the future has in store for us, whether we'll see the light of another day or not. We have to make the best of today because we don't know what tomorrow will bring or if it will come. Sometimes the things we didn't say or do are what haunt us the most, more than what we have done. Don't let what could've been keep you up at night.

Fact or Fiction?

Although Halloween is over, and this subject is much in that spirit, I've decided to discuss this anyways. The subject of course, is the occult. Occult refers to anything hidden--that is, witches and magick, spirits and other entities. For as long as I can remember, I've been surrounded and fascinated by the occult. I look back in fond memory upon stories told by adults at the end of a family get together, stories about spirits of family members who've passed on that they claim to have seen or encounters with witches, or of cursed treasures lying in wait in ancient pyramids of their home country, or at the bottom of a lake. Then there are stories of fairy-like creatures most of us or our parents would refer to as duendes, mischievous little spirits who often take our belongings and hide or misplace them. I've had my run-ins with spirits and other creatures. One of the oldest and most prominent of my memories is that of a shadow person (shadow people are considered to be non-human entities; some people believe they are demons). I also recall seeing the spirit of my grandmother walking into our kitchen on the night of her funeral. These are things that would scare most people, and spark skepticism in others. I can't deny their existence, I've always believed that there are beings other than ourselves manifesting themselves in this world. What to do you believe?