Hell March

2008 had been, to my way of thinking, one of the worst years I'd experienced. I'd jumped from one set of industries, (online recruitment advertising for a major newspaper), to financial services. By the end of the year, I was wistful for my old salary, and the simple complications of people not wanting to buy from me. 2009 has made all that look like a cakewalk...

This has been one of the most challenging years of my life. Personally, professionally, financially, etc. And I'm joined by millions of others who have had to trek through this same hell. Blame can be thrown many directions, but the fact of the matter is that when it all comes down to it, it still doesn't help us day to day. So my words of total wisdom and complete knowledge? Survive. Do what you have to do. Work three jobs. Max the cards out then make outlandish promises to the credit card companies*. Raid your retirement savings*. Borrow from friends*. Do what you need to. Not because I'm some blind optimist, but because it will allow you to fight another day. When the sharks circle, you can have one of two attitudes - 1. I'm fucked, and fish food, or 2. About time lunch was served...

Tough times don't last. Tough people do. Make sure you're one of them....

Kick Ass in 2010, Take Names and Get your Gun on!

*Not to be construed as sound or any other financial advice. Just a rant

Vid of the Week - Jump Around

Drop an old school beat! Back in the day when Everlast and DJ Lethal were still on the same team. Check out this classic from the House of Pain, my Vid of the Week - Jump Around

You Fight Me

I was in the middle of being truly frustrated when I heard this Breaking Benjamin song come on. Because of this wretched economy, a lot of people are suffering. Waiting to make a next move, sticking with a job they may hate because of the uncertainty and difficulty in finding something better. I thought I was in the same boat. Turns out, I'm not...

I currently hate what I do. Insurance is boring. Tedious. Investments can be the same. Trying to sell them can be as much fun as masturbating with broken glass with market conditions what they are. I have found myself focusing on other activities that I like rather than deal with the frustration and aggrevation of trying to do what I do for a living. My problem was one of perspective.

I've been in the financial services business, off and on, for over 15 years. Right now, it IS tough to be in the business. But there are reasons I truly love it. Not for any altruistic reasons. Not even for the most basic - to make money. I like it because I occasionally get to solve very complicated problems, and get paid well for it. To me, that is really cool. Giving it some thought, I actually got kinda excited, because I remembered why I LIKE doing what I do...

My sincere hope is that, if you are doing something that you may not love, to think about the aspects of your job that you do, or did, like. See if there's a way to reinvigorate that passion. Doesn't mean you'll keep your current job forever. But why not be happy, enjoy what you're doing for now? And if there really is nothing, then maybe you really do need to change what you're doing. I didn't say it's a perfect solution.

Life is too short. We have to work too hard. We might as well have a good time doing it..

Live Hard and Get your Gun on!

Keep your shit the hardest

These are troublesome times
And the crime prevails
And the dark side keeps a niggaz ass in jail
Bada-boom-bada-bing some of this and some of that
I've got to boogie for a minute but you know I'm comin' back

No, I'm not DMX, and I'm not suggesting that you bust rounds and cause a ruckus to get what you need to done. But I had Keep Your Shit The Hardest come across on a random play, and there is something about the angry tone and lyrics that struck a chord. Get Angry, you Sons of Bitches!

This has been a fucked up year. Yeah, we can be honest about that much. But are you going to meekly accept it or are you going to do something about it? I've had my moments where it seemed easier to say Woe is Me. But you know what? Doesn't make anything better...

My solution? Get Angry! Don't accept life for what it is - Do something about it. Not making enough money? Then find a way to make more. Feeling down? Then kick your own ass and get it in gear! Want more out of life? Then TAKE IT!

This has been a rude awakening for many people. I can honestly say that I'm surprised at how it's humbled me. But you know what, it's also given me an appreciation for everything I took for granted. And now it's time to take back what's rightfully mine...

So with all the woe, and discontent, and bad news and other bad shit, you can choose to lay down and accept what's happening. Or you can knuckle up and take this bitch called life on and get what you're due.

Keep your shit the hardest!

Get Some and Get your Gun on!

Vid of the Week - System

From the Queen of the Damned soundtrack, check out the Vampire Lestat and the Vid of the Week - System

Vid of the Week - Speed Racer

Sponge did a remake for the movie of the classic theme song. Check out the Vid of the Week - Speed Racer

2009 - Year of the Troll

2008 and most of 2009 have sucked, professionally. I decided to make a jump back into financial services just in time for one of the WORST markets in history. To make ends meet, I've had to take on two part time jobs, just to barely scrape by. But what annoys me most is that I've accepted what life has handed me and allowed it to steer my course, instead of vice-versa. That changes here, now...

Life is a tricky bastard and will throw curve balls at you whenever it can. Fate doesn't always have your best interests at heart. But you can't let yourself be a victim of its circumstances. Sure, you'll have to deal with some crap, and sometimes even true tragedy. But you make a choice as to whether you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, or you can choose to accept what's handed to you, sometimes to lay down and die. Life is a full contact sport, and you WILL pick up a black eye or two in the process. But you CAN fight back. You won't always win, but you sure as hell won't always lose.

Add to this that I've been a bachelor for the last five years now. I've noticed that I've slipped, my standards have become abysmally poor. I've done what I've needed to, and I've survived, but I've accepted a lower standard for myself. I haven't been taking care of myself. I've made a choice, conscious or not, to live that way. I now make a conscious choice to change that.

We face many external obstacles, challenges that we can do fuck all nothing about. But we CAN choose how we will fight, how we will live. Knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses is half the battle to winning any war. You won't win every fight. The secret is that you don't have to...

Live how you WANT to live. You will have to fight for it. Nothing good comes without some effort, some struggle. But do you REALLY want to live anything less than what you dream? Do you really want to settle for what someone else has in mind for you? Make your own luck. Make your own destiny. Choose Life!

The catalyst for this rant is, of course, love. I found someone I care very much about. I want better for myself, because I don't want her to see what I currently am. Because it's NOT me. I know not what the future holds for us, but I want there to be options, and I want her to see the REAL me. Not this current incarnation. I like the fact that she accepts me for who, and what I am. But I'm not happy with it. Therefore, I am going to make changes...

That was a really long winded, chest beating post. The short version is that you should NOT just meekly let life hand you bullshit, and ask for seconds. Send it back to the kitchen and ask for Chateau Briand, medium rare. Accept nothing less than the best for yourself. Otherwise, you'll get whatever that lazy chef is cooking...

Rise Above and Get your Gun on!

Vid of the Week - I Will Not Bow

Love Breaking Benjamin, and this is a great call from @SKILLETfan01 over on Twitter! Check out the Vid of the Month - I Will Not Bow

Men grow older, not up

I am a man. I have an adult job, drink adult beverages, and wear big boy boxers. That said, the simple fact is that for all intents and purposes, I really didn't mature past age 5. Fart jokes are still funny. I love blowing things up. I still secretly believe that girls have cooties, (and I DOUBT I'm wrong)...

I'm not alone in this. Most men that I know are the same. 8 to 80, we're all still boys at heart. We put on a good face, but when it comes right down to it, we're still those bad little boys running around First Grade class, hollering at the top of our lungs, eating paste and pulling little girls hair, (when we're not throwing rocks at each other and some such). Most women suffer under the delusion that they are dealing with a grown, mature man who's put away his childish toys. Ladies, let me disabuse you of this fallacy - EVERY man is a little boy at heart. Nothing you do will change that. You can try all you want. You can try to reverse the laws of gravity, while you're at it Probably have better luck...

Work with what you've got. Don't try to make the Eiffel Tower out of Play-Doh. Don't believe that you're going to get a man to behave himself. You'll only piss yourself off and probably give your wayward manchild fodder for a joke...

A Public Service Announcement from your "friendly" Cowboy. Now to go find some paste - I'm hungry...

Blow Shit Up and Get your Gun on!