Adam Carolla Podcasts

This may end up sounding like a commercial but I have to say it anyway. I recently started downloading and listening to Adam Carolla's Podcasts off of iTunes. These podcasts which are a very loose and free association type of interview are usually extremely funny and always entertaining. I have finished every one of the shows. He has re-occuring guests that range from his childhood friends to Jimmy Kimmel or Dr Drew. Comedians or actors plugging new movies, even Greg Gutfeld from Red Eye a month or so back was a guest.

Some people may remember him from The Man Show, which, admittedly I found rather objectionable as a show or possibly they listened to him and Dr Drew on the radio with The Love Lines show, which I listened to and enjoyed immensely. But this is somehow different. He is a different man perhaps now that he is married with twins. He seems a little wiser, but with all the humor. He is not all babes, beer and breasts. His podcast topics run from cars, building projects, movies, women, past, future, kids, wives, drinking, pranks, sex and culture. And so much more. He has what I call, (and maybe others do) Carollisms. I am not sure if the thoughts he has are off the cuff or well thought out but most ring very true and sincere. he has repeated some on different podcasts which leads me to believe he is sincere in his beliefs. They are usually about health or something equally as general which he has picked up over the years.

People who are queasy about language, a little sexism, inappropriate jokes, should not indulge. But if you have an open mind, find a little vulgarity amusing and are not offended when everything is not entirely PC, you will enjoy the experience. It's free off of iTunes and is called, of all things, Adam Carolla Podcasts. I highly recommend them.

Voices

As a conservative female nearing her 40's, low to middle income, no kids, in school, intelligent and trying to survive, I have found there to be a dirth of voices that I feel adequately represent me. I guess I am supposed to connect somehow to either Sarah Palin, Meghan McCain or possibly Carrie PreJean.

My frustration level at not being able to express myself in what I am looking for in a leader is over the top. I know what I don't want. Wait, no I don't even think I know what I don't want. But I'll try. Male, female that doesn't matter. They can't be a "Birther" or a "Truther". They must believe in the constitution and upholding it. I would like someone who leans a little more towards the Libertarian Party in economics, but a more conservative in social areas. I am pretty conservative in my beliefs, but I hesitate to force my opinions on others when it comes to personal liberties. Maybe I am too black and white. If I don't hear key words that apply to me, I feel like I am not represented or no one is speaking my "language".

I don't care about Meghan's breasts and it offends me that sex is a part of her spiel. I don't know how she is taken seriously and I feel that she reflects poorly on the Conservative Party. And only because she projects herself as a voice for them. If she just had some ideas and talked about them, fine, great. But someone might mistake her for someone I believe in! Yuck! I am not even going to talk about PreJean. She is just another Joe the Plumber. Time and place people, time and place.

I await to see more from Palin and I hope she pans out into something worthy of the following she is creating. There are some good people rooting for her and I would like to see them rewarded by a person who can come through and do what they say they will. But I don't know if she is the one I'd choose either.

I like Newt. But I don't think he is viable. Oh, Charles Krauthammer would be good. I like the Judge. I see I have a Fox Panelist Party for 2012.

Oh good night!

Woody Held - RIP

Woodson G. Held (Woodie)
Woodson George Held born March 25, 1932 in Sacramento, California, the son of deceased Fred G. and Julia Agnes (Chapman) Held passed away peacefully at home with loved ones on June 10, 2009 after a battle with cancer. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many. He is survived by his wife Nadine Elizabeth (Mast) Held of 57 years, his children Cinda Cornwell and husband Richard of Galt, California, Joy Brown and husband Tony of Sacramento, California, Woodson Held and wife Teresa of Platteville, Colorado, Sherry Mitchell and husband Dale of Trevose, Pennsylvania, and Roxanne Plummer and husband Richard of Dubois, Wyoming, 15 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Woodie grew up in Sacramento, California and graduated from Sacramento High School. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees in 1954; Athletics 1957-1958, Cleveland Indians 1958-1964, Washington Senators 1965, Baltimore Orioles 1966-1967 when they won the 1966 World Series, California Angels 1967-1968, and Chicago White Sox 1968-1969. In 1961 Woodie moved his family to Dubois, Wyoming after purchasing the Big Diamond Ranch. When he wasn't at spring training, he was running the ranch, and hunting and fishing. He was inducted into the Sacramento Athlete Hall of Fame on December 10, 1965. After he retired from baseball he did not slow down. He raced snowmobiles for the Arctic Cat Corporation and opened Dubois' first Pizza Parlor. He was a partner with a few of his friends in the design and creation of the first little league baseball field in Dubois. Woodie had the great honor of being chosen as one of the top 100 Cleveland Indians baseball player during their 100th year anniversary celebration in 2001. He was a longtime member of the fantasy baseball camps, and participated in many celebrity charity golf tournaments.
He enjoyed his last years in Wyoming fishing, snowmobiling, and four wheeling. Woodie always had such a passion for life. Always up for a challenge and loved life to the extreme. Woodie will be deeply missed by his family and the many who were blessed to meet him.
Per Woodie's wishes, there will be a celebration of his life in the near future in Dubois, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your charity of choice. Arrangements by Davis Funeral Home, Riverton, Wyoming (davisfuneralhome.com)
"Don't forget to swing hard, in case you hit the ball.”

T. Roosevelt quote

Stolen from an email sent to me from my brother:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Dilemma

Opinions if you will. I am listening to an old music list on my iPod and now I am wondering about stuff. Stuff like, if an artist I really like has leanings in a radically different way then me, should I listen to him? And more importantly should I purchase his music? Now don't get me wrong, I believe whole heartedly that no one should be persecuted for their beliefs and everyone has the right to make a living, but if I know that my money will go towards furthering a cause I am opposed to, should I be taking a stand? If the artist never feels the pinch of my not buying his music does it do any good? Which can open a whole new can of worms. Should I punish myself and cheat myself out of enjoying his talent? Just because he is some commie-left wing pinko? Did I just say that? But I like his music and I have for years. Oddly enough I only started to listen to the lyrics and they are more message-y than I thought. It was the rythym that got me. That and his voice. The lyrics don't bother me a bit though. Just makes the songs more interesting. But he is so public when it comes to his causes. What to do, what to do? By the way, I highly recommend listening to old playlists. Mine is like 4 years old and I had a lot of old stuff put on then. It is awesome listening to these songs.

Libertarian, yes, positive

These may be the scariest times I have lived in so far. It isn't like I am ancient, but I think, 9/11 aside, that my life has remained relatively unruffled and without much need for thoughtfulness on my end. These may be the most exciting times for me also. I have decided to try and get involved. It is no longer okay for me to sit and watch what is going on around me.

The first thing I had to do was pick my ground. I had been a party-line Republican. It was easy as they seemed to represent my views for the most part, and I was not a Democrat. But since this last election, I was just, I don't know, dissatisfied with the party. They were becoming diluted. They were leaving what I thought were some basic paths for happiness and prosperity. Then I learned that I could be a Conservative. But I needed to define that. And in trying to find out what that meant I found out that there was so much more out there. Where did I stand? I mean, for the most part I am a live and let live type of person.

I have some strong social ideas that tend to be conservative, but I also think that my way is not absolutely the right and only way. Freedom of choice is so important and it is what this country was founded on, no? So while I would love to see my social conservative values held dear by everyone, I would never force them on anyone. So in a sense, because of this, I guess maybe my conservative values do not spill into making me a hard-line social conservative. My largest hurdle here, really has been my religion. As a Catholic, I believe there are things we should not condone. By taking a live and let live attitude, publicly no less, was I not abandoning my faith and belief? I have decided that I am going to have reconcile myself, and God, to this decision. It is to be live and let live for me.

Fiscally though? That is a different story. Get out of my life. Protect my borders. Help me to be the best American I can by making me feel safe. I am still forming these ideas. I am learning the questions to ask. That has been the hardest. I have been so used to just going along that I never developed a sense for questioning. Libertarians seem to question everything. I think that is great. For my part though I have decided to put my money (time, whatever) where my mouth is. I am going to get more involved. I am going to learn. I don't want to be passive anymore. I want the right to discuss my country and my future. I see some people that have become spokes"persons" for what I am supposed to believe. They are my mouthpiece. I don't need nor do I want a mouthpiece. I will be speaking for myself in the future. I will do it with true knowledge and feeling. I will do it because I believe in it and understand it. Not because of a check I put in a box when I was 18 years old.

Still searching

I am still trying to find a label for myself. I know I am conservative. In some ways I get more so every day. But when a person goes to vote, they don't vote conservative, they vote Republican or Democrat or sometimes as an Independent.

When I was a kid I decided I wanted to be a part of a religious group. I had never been baptised, although we went to church off and on and I attended Sunday school at a Presbyterian church when I was five or six. I considered myself a free agent. I was in fourth grade, maybe fifth, when I decided to go to church with friends. Kind of scope out the options. I attended non-denominational, Latter Day Saints, Catholic, Lutheran and a few others. I sang in a choir for a while. All the while I was developing a sense of what I was going to believe in. I had no prior indoctrination. For all I knew, I would convert to Judaism. There were no preconceived ideas. So after several years of going to different churches and hearing the different doctrines I started sensing in myself a system of belief. I sat with it for a while and figured out what it best fit. Lo and behold I was baptised into the Catholic Church three days after I turned 18. I figured which Church best fit what I had found to be "The Truth" as I saw it. Did the Church fit 100%? No. There were some things that I could not reconcile myself to. I was a young, single female and there were ideas I thought I had to stick with. I swept them under the rug because, well, don't we all suspend disbelief just a little when it comes to religion? Well, I do. I have been asked to explain Church doctrine enough to know that sometimes all I can say is "just because". I do not try and cross science and Church beliefs. I get as confused as the most confused about religion. I believe the 'Apostolic Creed' and that is really all I need to say, as it says it all for me.

What does this all have to do with politics? I find myself going about this whole label thing in the same way I did with religion. I am reading. I am watching and I am trying to figure out what I believe in. Let me tell you something. I find it a whole lot easier to believe in the infallibility of the Pope than to believe a politician when his lips are moving. My biggest problem is that my political belief system is not falling so easily into a category as my religious beliefs did. What do I believe? Today I am an Isolationist. North Korea is scaring me. I am Pro-Life, but at the same time, I find it difficult to make someone take on my sensibilities. I believe "marriage" is more of a religious obligation, that should be sanctioned by churches. Civil unions, male or female or any mix you care, should be allowed, but, as a civil union for legal purposes. I believe government is too big and we need to overhaul the tax system. We should not have National health care, but our current system is flawed. We need to work on getting people off welfare and into supporting themselves and their families, whatever form they take. I believe in personal responsibility and think that our court system needs to start booting frivolous lawsuits. I believe that we should be able to make our own choices as to how we live as long as we do not infringe on others. So where do I fit? I am not anywhere near the Left. I have been a registered Republican for over twenty years and I feel a little abandoned by them. So am I Libertarian or Independent? Independent or Libertarian? Or am I still a Republican? I hope someone or something speaks to me like it did when I was seventeen. I have choices to make and this is not the time to be making wrong ones.

Apologies

I am going to talk about apologies, not really make any. Not really. I started thinking about an apology I want to make to someone. I do not know this person, I only know of them. I also know that in making an apology I will only be doing it for myself. This person most likely does not desire an apology, or even realize that I would make one. But here we go, "I am sorry."

There that is done. Now who feels better? This person to whom I apologized. No. Just one more reason for them to think I have no self control. Me? Do I feel better? Not really because in making this apology now I want a response. Something like, "That's okay. Apology accepted." Or, "Leave me the fuck alone, apology neither desired nor required." Either response would work for me, but the problem is I need a response. And that is not fair to the apologee. The reason this started was because I wanted a response and could not control myself or my actions in an attempt to get one. I see that now and I am mortified.

So, by apologizing I have actually continued the problem. I see only one course of action left. I take back the apology. This way I will not look for a response and I will not burden this person further. Because I really am sorry and I wish I could take back my actions and re-think it all.

No working title but it is a rant

I don't have even a working title for this particular blog. Writing yesterday was rather cathartic for me. Let's see what happens today. Maybe this will be a wishing post. I wish I was less self involved. I wish I was less needy. I wish I was less self-destructive. That's boring. I wish I was more aware of the world. I wish I was more aware of others and what they needed. I wish I knew how to make a difference. That is better. Look outward and the inside will take care of itself. That is a great new slogan/mantra. I am going with it. I liked it so much I just tweeted it. So far no one has responded with anything like, "My God woman, you are like Deepak Chopra, only without the wisdom or depth, of course."

Living in today's world is an exciting, confusing and frightening experience. With the weapons of today, the world could end tomorrow for us. Or worse, it could just become some wasteland and we will all end up living in a Danny Boyle film. There is a pleasant thought. Or perhaps the world will just continue on as it is and we will live in the relative peace we are afforded while we keep at bay the people who would love to destroy us and our lifestyle. We must not let the terrorists of the world win. We must not give in, give quarter or show fear. When does it end? This is a game where there will be one winner and only one winner. There will never be a truce, a live and let live. And I do not put all the blame on one side. As perverse as it is, it is all about human nature, and we are all human and humans hate to co-exist with what they see as evil. And we are two sides of a coin and likely never to be at peace. I lose sleep over the thought. Israel and Palestine are an example of how it will never work between people who have different beliefs. I pray that they find a solution. I think the majority would be able to do it. But it takes only one set of principles to upset everything and prevent peace. One set. And it is hard to argue with someones principles. We are set to self destruct as we become this global mass of people. We infringe on each other and invade privacy, we put our wants and our needs above others. We think we know what is good for everyone. We are so caught up in our own self righteousness we forget that in demanding our rights, we trample on the rights of others. The born and the unborn. The weak and the strong alike perish because as individuals we think we know best. We have no prayer, because we might offend. We have no freedom to say things out loud or we might be condemned as hate mongers. We can't be proud of our country because someone who chose to live here might feel threatened or forced to assimilate. I am so frustrated and this has gone off on tangents I would not have believed it would. I just want to live in peace. Let my neighbor, near and far, live in peace. Let people worship as they choose. Be proud of who they are and where they live. Here or somewhere else. Every culture should be proud of who they are. We are every culture and that is what is so frustrating. And I don't even have the ability to help.

Twitter

So, you think you want to start "Twittering".

Let me tell you, it is not the start of a social life you never had. I had been pretty holed up for the last couple of years. Mostly my own doing but I was socially dead non the less. I had been fairly social in the town I had been living in until I moved to Phoenix at the beginning of 2007. My life changed rather dramatically, well that may be strong, but it did change. I moved for several reasons and they were all good. I was in a rut, I wanted to be near family, etc. My job kept me pretty isolated in that most employees were out in the "field" while I manned the office. I also worked for family so there was one opportunity for meeting different people kind of gone. My financial situation was not as rosy as my expenses went up with the move. It is hard to meet people in Phoenix when you are single, awkward and light in your wallet.

Then I had some new opportunities come my way. I decided to go back to school and completely change my career. I felt too old to go to school to be a nurse and not able to afford the schooling it would take, so I decided in to try the exciting field of back office work in a medical office. I am currently enrolled and enjoying it. The other thing was I needed a job that would be compatible with my hours, but I am getting way ahead of myself.

In between my previous job and school I had a couple months where I was no more than an at home consultant. Fancy words, but true. I found Facebook. I had never done any social networking and I was at a loss. But I slowly developed some Facebooking skills, found some old friends from my high school (and even earlier) days and started dong a little networking. That's right. I was in contact with my buds from my small town and I was feeling pretty good. More social than I had been in years. I was addicted to Facebook. Games, quizzes pictures and chatting.

Then someone on Facebook mentioned Twitter. I had no real concept, I didn't even have texting capabilities on my phone. Hell, I had only gotten a cell phone in 2003 I think. I was disdainful. Who feels they need to be connected like that. Who is so important that people needed to know they were walking down any particular street, thinking any particular thought, at any particular time? Really?

I decided to stay working for family as it would suit for school hours and I went into a manual labor job to get me through school. I started school in early March and I still had Facebook. School opened up another door for me socially. I was in a classroom with the same people for 4 hours a day. After a few weeks I started making some good friends. Social butterfly, that was me.

So now, I had a job with real people around me, Facebook and school. I almost was suffering from social overload and looked forward to the few days I did not have to be around people. Then I decided that due to school and the people, I should have texting abilities as this seemed a pretty common mode of contact for my peers. So, why fight it? I got text. Within the week I was on Twitter. Facebook who? I learned the ins and outs of Twitter pretty quickly. It was sink or swim, I was the only person I knew that was on Twitter and actually using it. I had no guidance from loving friends or family. There were a few who said, "oh, yeah, I have an account, I have no idea how to work it." So I slowly started following people. I enjoyed Redeye w/Greg Gutfeld on Fox News Channel and they seemed active. I started there. Started following Andy Levy, Greg Gutfeld and eventually even Bill Schulz. For the Twitter savvy that would be @andylevy @greggutfeld and @billschulz. From there I started following people they were following and then people started following me back! People I did not know. the pressure to perform was immense. I had people to amuse and interest and I was not amusing nor was I particularly interesting. But I wanted to participate so I set out to become amusing.

I have started reading books on politics. I have become more active about reading peoples blogs. I try to think of profound and witty things to say. I look for those interesting bits of news to pass on. I even learned how to use websites like tinyurl.com so I could post long web addresses without them being so long. I created goals. I wanted people following me. Soon I started worrying about offending or boring my followers. I wanted to post "tweets", but not too many to be aggravating. I wanted to attract certain followers, but how? All of the sudden Twittering became high school and all the popularity trials and tribulations that went with it. Some people only followed the "in" crowd. I wanted to be in that crowd. How did people on Twitter know I was a desperate loser and they wouldn't let me in? My self worth became synonymous with who would or would not follow me. (Do you hear me @andylevy?)

So I have been Twittering for 3 weeks now and I am addicted. I admit it. I am talking to people that I have no idea who they are, what they look like or what they do for a living. I can find people who are in the know about every subject under the sun, although I notice that politics is a hot topic. My self worth issues are still a problem because I doubt myself. But these are my issues, not Twitter's. If I had my choice over would I have started this social network. Facebook even? I think yes. I need to find the line that keeps me focused on work and school and let Twitter and Facebook be a spice that makes my life more fun. Not taken to seriously. I gain followers everyday. I lose followers everyday. I try and follow those that follow me, but there always seems to be a discrepancy in numbers. That's okay. I am always on the look for new people that are interesting to me. I have found a few by the way. @seanboudreau and @JHSty. Theses guys are the bomb and don't seem to busy to answer back. For every dick there are 5 to help and be nice. I may decide to cull my list of people I follow, to help me along in my self esteem project but I am not sure it will hit the target I would be aiming for. In other words, they won't notice and if they DID notice, they would not care. Such is life and we need to move on. create my own fabulousness, even if I am the only one that notices.

OMG It's a post!

Seriously, it's me. I don't have anything to say really but I am staying awake to watch Redeye on Fox and I really wish it was on a little earlier in the evening. School is going well and I am enjoying it. We currently have a very nice teacher who will be with us into the first part of July. hen we will go into back office stuff. Blood draws, injections, etc. After 12 weeks of that we have a 5 week externship. What ever that all works out to be, we graduate Oct. 31, 2009. Can't wait.

I have decided that I am going to learn everything I can about politics. It is a goal. I figure it'll take about 2 weeks. Ha ha, that is a joke. I am particularly interested in Libertarianism. I am no longer sure that the RNC represents my beliefs. But I have not ruled them out and I am currently reading a book titled 'Letters to a Young Conservative' by Dinesh D'Souza. It is an interesting book and I would venture to say that this guy (name is familiar?)is more a conservative than a Republican. He is able to convey (to me anyway) what the core Consv. party is about and where they want to be. I have another book after that one. 'The Conservative Soul' by Andrew Sullivan. I believe that will address how the Republicans have kind of strayed from the Reagan years. Or not, but it looked interesting. I also have a book coming from Amazon (the other 2 are from the library) by S.E. Cupp. I think it is called 'Why You are Wrong About the Right' I am still trying to find a book or two about the Libertarian party, but so far no luck. What's up with that, Libertarians?

Okay, well Redeye W/Greg Gutfeld will be on soon. So I am outta here. If anyone has any suggestions on how to better educate myself on all of the above, let me know!