Ernie Pyle

For the few that might stop by to check in I want to introduce to you a great man. For those of you who already know Ernie Pyle, well, I just learned of him and am simply blown away by his storytelling style, which is on the nose truth, inspiring, simple and masterful. All I can say is read the little bit below and then go to the Indiana University School of Journalism web site. 

If you like to read about WWII then you will love this guys writing.

The introduction quotation below is from the Indiana University School of Journalism web site.

"For many journalists, Ernest Taylor Pyle, an Indiana native better known as "Ernie," continues to be an icon of excellence decades after his death at the hands of a Japanese machine-gunner in World War II. For the last ten years of his life he wrote feature columns six times a week, primarily for Scripps-Howard newspapers. As his fame increased during the war, other newspapers, including weekly ones, published Pyle’s work.

In 1944 Ernie Pyle won a Pulitzer Prize for his stories about the ordinary soldiers fighting in World War II.

On these pages you will find a selection of his wartime columns in both written and spoken versions. We welcome your comments about the site and stories you might have to tell about meeting Pyle or reading Pyle’s columns"

Go To: http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/erniepyle/wartime-columns/

Lobo Update

I'm stoaked to say that Lobo is doing very well. He is back to his usual ways and is just as colorful in character as ever. He is healing nicely and I can see that he is happy once again. 

A Collection of Toast's

I'd like to gather as many toasts as possible here so if you have a good toast feel free to share it here. Thanks.

"Here's a toast to you on the coast and the sailors out at sea, drink your ales, hoist your sails, ride the wind and think of me. Because I wish I was there tonight, on Jost Van Dyke, sippin' on Foxy's Firewater Rum."

Kenny Chesney

Ah yes and then there is this... 

"I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks than in the drink with my boat on the rocks."

BILL O'REILLY is an ASSHOLE

In an interview on Fox News on January 4th Bill "O'REALLY?" or BO claimed that "there are no or very few homeless veterans out there." No shit he really did, go to www.foxattacks.com/vets check out the facts and prepare to be amazed at his new and heightened sense of ignorance. While you are there maybe sign the letter demanding that he apologize to the "non-existent" homeless vets.

He has offended the very people that defend his freedom so my question is why? It is because he's looking for ratings? Is he trying to discredit Senator Edwards?  Or is he such a pompous asshole that he thinks he can get away with this? I am amazed that he is still on the air after everyone he has criticized and offended. But I suppose it makes sense when you think of what America likes to watch. Take "Jack Ass" for example, that was a big success because we enjoyed watching a bunch of idiots do stupid things. Well, Bill "O'REALLY?" is providing some top notch bottom feeder entertainment that is in a class all its own. We do love to watch fools.

He attacks Senator Edwards at every chance he gets which may just help Edwards out. The way I see it is that if BO thinks badly of someone well then that someone must be a stand up guy or gal. I hope that he sees the error and eats a little humble pie and apologizes which I doubt he will do. Hell, even if he does we all know that he doesn't mean it.

In closing it is my sincere desire to see BO contract a severe case of ass cancer and die a miserable and highly public death. After all he is an oxygen thief stealing the air of deserving citizens.

A State of Being

I have decided to write this in an effort to help others that might be going through similar things. I know some of you are.

In my way of seeing one's state of being consists of several things from the past and present that affect our way of thinking. We all share the commonality of human-ness and we are all subjected to bad and good things in life. Our past experiences shape who we are today. I'll get more to the point I am trying to figure out hear. As I have gotten older, I am understanding more about what it means "to be present" and how important that is. I am VERY OFTEN off somewhere else in my head... thinking about that nasty dream I had the night before or remembering something that was very unpleasant mostly things I experienced while in Somalia and Bosnia. I came back from all that thinking I was fine and dandy up until about four years ago. 

The dreams and the anxiousness started. I had no idea what it was but it was affecting many things in my life like mood, behavior, and my overall "state of being". It is called PTSD and I have recently been diagnosed with it. Initially I dismissed the dreams and thoughts as very minor compared to what the veterans of WWII, Korea,Vietnam, Iraqi Freedom, are dealing with. 

Why I dismissed it, I think, is because I saw it as a weakness of character because it could be so much worse and so I stuffed it and tried to ignore it. That only works when you have to do it at the time because if you don't do it then you'll lose focus on your mission and the many things that happen that can and do threaten to kill you if you aren't paying attention. Well that has it's consequences and those of us who are feeling similarly ought not to think of it as a weakness because it isn't. It is your state of being that has been shaped by your past experiences. 

The best thing for me has been getting out in front of it and talking about it with whom ever. I no longer care if someone looks down at me because they perceive that I am going through a "poor me" phase. That is ignorance on their part and strength of character on my part by standing "OUT FRONT" and confronting these emotions.

This has affected my wife to a large degree and GOD BLESS HER for staying by me because if I was her I would have left me a while ago. I've been an ass but she understands that it isn't by choice that I behave like this because we talk about it. Although I don't share everything with her and I don't know if I ever will she still works to understand my state of being and believe me it does take a lot of work on her part and I am very thankful that she does it. 

OK enough or now because there are volumes of discussions on this subject, this is just my way of staying in front and dealing with it. I hope this is a well thought out Mental Meandering and that it helps even just one person.

So take care of yourselves and think about the notion of the state of being as well as being present. And post some thoughts on the subject if ya like.

Fair winds and following seas

Black Family News #1

Hello everyone, this is to be my weekly, monthly, hell maybe even daily report on The Black Family, Chrissy, Sydney Lobo, Harley, Profecia, Valeroso and I are all doing well. We are now pros with the Northern Michigan winters but how I long for summer and sailing. Speaking of sailing, I am issuing a standing invitation to come out to Traverse City and stay a while. We'll take you sailing around the Grand Traverse Bay or explore the many islands nearby. 

Sydney will be saying something very soon I think. She is growing like a weed and this whole fatherhood thing is awesome. Chrissy is busy with motherhood, work and her horses and I am still trucking along as a commercial producer at abc 29 & 8, www.wgtu.com, check us out.

K, that's enough for the now. I know it's short but I don't have anymore to say right now.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Lobo Black

I've had Lobo now going on 11 years and throughout it all he has truly been my best friend. He has taught me patience, kindness, unconditional love and that dogs feel emotions. 

Recently, he was diagnosed with cancer in the front left leg. I went through much debate as to what the best thing for lobo was. Should I have him operated on, amputating the leg and shoulder and roll the dice to see if he'll make it? Because the chances that the cancer has already spread through his body are very high, or is it time to say goodbye to my longtime companion?

I am happy to report that he has had the operation and two weeks into his recovery he is doing very well.  He's a three legged dog now but seems not to mind at all. The idea of saying goodbye to him made me ill so maybe I made the decision based on my feelings of it being too soon as well as his. I'm sure none of this is groundbreaking thought nor is it a one of a kind event but I went through a tremendous experience when the reality of my being responsible for his life and well being hit me like never before. 

So I'll keep posting his status in future along with the Black Family News which the first edition is soon to arrive.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.