Its been while....

Yea, I know I am not the worlds best at keeping up with all of this internet stuff. I finally got my computer back and I am very happy about that so expect a whole bunch of new pictures to be coming up soon. I have started to see someone, and she is a really great gal, so I am hoping things work out between us. Ya know, I for some reason dont really have a whole lot to say right now for some reason.... I know its odd, but I just dont. Maybe its because I am really tired, but I dont know. I will try and update with a little more then just blabber when I am not so tired.

M

And the beat goes on....

I am going to be going all the way out to Hampton today to give Amanda all of her stuff back. I am not looking forward to spending most of my day driving around the great state of Virginia. I love to take road trips, but this is one that I never wanted to have to take. Amanda was supposed to meet me at UVa so I wouldnt have to drive all the way out to Hampton, but she has an "exercise" and can't leave the area. So she agreed to buy me gas for the return trip so I wouldn't have to foot the bill all by myself. Which I think is a really nice thing for her to do, even tho I am not sure what she is trying to do by that, or if I am just reading into too much like always.

I have someone showing up at the house tomorrow, I cannot say who, but it is someone in my family. It is supposed to be a suprise, but I think my sister already knows who it is going to be. I am leaving for Hampton as soon as my room is clean enough for someone other then me to stay in it. Which should be never! I am really tired right now, and I could use a full night of sleep, which I really hope to get when I get home tomorrow night since I don't have to work until Thursday night at The Mix.

Today I called up John C Nordt, and asked about getting my job back so I should hopefully hear something back today about whether or not I am able to go back to work there. I really hope so, I mean I hate to say it but I miss working there. I really liked working with those people, but I will admit there needs to be some huge changes brought about to that company if it wants to stay afloat in these tough economic times. Well I dont really have a whole lot to say, I am sure I will be a buzz with things to say tomorrow night when I come back from giving everything back to Amanda. Goodnight.

M

Okay, so whats your point?

Well, I know I have not blogged in a while but its not my fault my stupid cell phone doesnt want to upload my posts on here. I had my 22nd birthday last week, and that was pretty much the worst day I have had in a really long time, I think it was even worse then the day my ex and I broke up. She called me up and was yelling at me over some stupid shit that wasn't even really that important.

Anyway, I went and saw Kung Fu Panda today, it was a pretty decent movie and I had a good time. But I had an even better time after the movie was over but I wont say why that is ;). The only thing I will say is that if you are a creepy old man you need to stay the hell away from me on really nice days when I am trying to take a walk in the woods. BOOO old man BOOOO on you.

In other more boring news, I am back working at home shopping network for the time being as a guard. I am trying to get back on at Nordt. I am supposed to go out to UVa to meet up with Amanda to give her her stuff back and to find out whether or not she is going to give me a second chance at this relationship, but ya know what, for all the feelings I still have for her I know that she is just going to shoot me down again, and I am tired of being on this emotional roller coaster. I guess thats what they call life tho.

Working at The Mix has been having its un foreseen benefits. I have been meeting a whole lot of new and very cool people. We are doing College Nights again, and last week I saw someone I haven't seen in a long time, and it turns out she is divorced. I like the team that works at The Mix, and that is a job I really look forward to showing up at no matter what is going on that said night. I would have to say that of all the things I am doing in my life right now I think that working downtown is one of the things that I look forward to the most. I need to go in and talk to one of the Managers tomorrow about a few things regarding Thursday night. If you live in Roanoke and read this blog come down to The Mix and tell me you read my blog "CalleJones" and I will let you in for free. Anyway, I need to get back to work and stop screwing around. Later.

M

And then there was one.

Well, I am still pretty pissed off that my birthday was ruined yesterday. I really didn't do a whole hell of a lot on my day off. I went to Bdubs and met up with Panda Bear, and then after that I went down to the Mix to see how it was doin down there. Needless to say there was only 10 of us, including the people that were working there. We hung out til about 2am and just kinda were bull shittin around which is really nice to be able to do now.

I am going back full timne at Home Shopping Network and then working two nights at the Mix which should make for some interesting nights. I am also moving out of my house. I found a roommate and a place in Salem that I am going to check out here really soon. Well I am really really tired, so I am going to bed.

M

fuck it

So I would have to say that my 22nd birthday was the worst that I ever had. It was going just fine and then I sent a message to my ex that said "hey, the txt was nice, but I would of rather you called to wish me a happy birthday." So she calls me about five seconds later and just chews me a new asshole talkin about I don't know what kinda day she just had. I mean what bull shit is that! She's yelling at me on my birthday, I wasn't even trying to be rude to her or anything. Its total bull shit, so whatever. Amanda if you read this, thanks again for ruining my birthday.

Its my partya

Funny, isnt it?

Its a wonder how sometimes in life you can feel like you are at the top of the world, and sometimes even the smallest thing will drag you down. Two weeks ago I was at the top of the world. I had just quit my job at John C. Nordt and was about to start the Police Academy and after one day, an injury, something I thought was behind me came back to bite me in the ass.

I think about it as this, in my life there have been times where I have thought I was moving ahead in things, but in reality everything around me was moving backwards. I really wanted to be a police officer, I have my own personal motivations, but its something I can do to benefit others while at the same time giving me something to be proud of.

The other thing that happened since my last blog post was Festival in the Park. I loved doing it this year, and I think for this having been only my first year on the Board that things went really well. I will be posting some pictures as soon as I get a chance. Tomorrow is my birthday and I of course will be working, but its no big deal I hope to get lunch with a few people before I go into work so things should be just fine. I mean, I'm 22 so its really nothing worth celebrating. Anyway I'm done for right now, I'm working til 4am so I'm sure I will post again soon. Oh, anyone wanna take a bet that my ex will call me around 8 or 9 tonight just before she goes to bed to wish me a happy birthday. She calls me at that time so she can use the "I have to get up early" excuse since she's about to be in bed. Any takers lemme know? Later.

M

unknown

Hey, sorry it has been a while since I have updated things have been really crazy, but I will update with a very long blog to tell you everything that has gone on in the past weel tomorrow. So look for that, but as for me I have green hair right now, long story, but anyway a big update is comin' tomorrow. Adios.

M

Five-oh

I start the Academy tomorrow and I am nervous as hell. Also Festival in the Park starts tomorrow, and I am nervous about that since I am in charge of it Security this year, but I am sure everything is going to be just fine. Anyway, I will update from the Park tomorrow night about how everything went on my first day and at Festival.

M

Who knows

So today I went out and looked at a bunch of apartments, I found a couple of nice places on the other side of town, but it will be a while yet before I move in. My ex girlfriend called me today, and we talked for about half an hour about this that and the other thing. She did say if I got my own place she would come out here and visit me, I dont think that would be a good thing tho. I got a call while I was out from my investigator, and I have to go in to the academy at 9am for a little chit chat. So I am headed to bed here in a minute, so I will update again tomorrow.

M

Stupid AIR FORCE

And Tory says "Security Forces are the shit!" These guys are some dumb fucking assholes.

Store owner surprises Air Force guards
The Newport News man camped out at his store hoping people who had broken in would return.

NEWPORT NEWS -- When owner Jeffrey Thompson found signs last Sunday of a break-in at his military surplus store in Newport News, he decided to sleep at work with his gun nearby and catch the thieves red-handed.

Early Thursday morning, his long nights at the office paid off when Thompson confronted three burglars.

He was surprised to find out later that the men were members of Security Forces at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton.

Thompson said he believes they broke in to steal equipment for Airsoft, a combat sport similar to Paintball in which participants eliminate opponents by hitting them with plastic BBs. But the three ended up facing a more deadly weapon.

They have been charged with burglary and are being held at Newport News City Jail.

Thompson said he found signs of a break in at CQB Military Surplus last Sunday night when glass was broken in a rear door.

"I thought they might return and slept there with my pistol," he said.

Just after 3 a.m. Thursday, Thompson heard breaking glass and woke to see a man standing in the store.

"I got my pistol and told him to go to the ground. He complied and laid flat," Thompson said.

He found another man behind the counter and also ordered him to the ground. Then he saw a third man near the back of the store and gave the same instruction.

Thompson said he called the police. But the man behind the counter and the one at the back of the store managed to get away before police arrived.

Police spokesman Lou Thurston said the man Thompson caught was Scotty Harold Light, 20. All three hold the rank of Airman 1st Class.

Officers quickly found out the identity of the other two suspects, and they were arrested at a home in Newport News.

Light, and John Jacob Solecki, 20, have each been charged with one count each of burglary, attempted grand larceny and conspiracy to commit burglary. Both are stationed at Langley and live on base.

Timothy Michael Wiggins, 20, of Marcus Drive, has been charged with one count each of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Wiggins is also stationed at Langley.

All three are on active duty and assigned to Security Forces at Langley, Thurston said.

Known as the "air police," the security forces are charged with guarding the base.

Thompson, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, said he was "surprised" when he heard the men worked for Security Forces at the base.

A spokesman from the Air Force base said the "duty status" of all three airmen would be decided on a case-by-case basis after they are released from custody.

Belle Ave

Hey, sorry I haven't posted in about a week or so, like I said I needed a few days to put my head back on right and get everything good for me, or atleast as good as I can get it. I quit my job at John C Nordt, so I no longer make rings. I have a new job, which unless something major happens in the next 48 hours, I will start it Thursday. I am really excited about it, and I know it is the kind of job that will change everything in my life for the better. On Friday night, a bunch of people came out with me to celebrate me getting out of Nordt and having a new job. I think only because of what my new job will be is why everyone came out, if it was anything else, they would of just gone home. All in all about 12 people came out including my supervisor and one of the other managers who I've gotten to know pretty well over the last year. It was really nice to get together with everyone from work, not to mention one of my Marine Corps buddies decided to show up and suprise the hell out of me when he came into town.

In a sadder note, there was a Police Officer here in Roanoke City who was beaten, and who is now paralyzed. Officer Bryan Lawrence was someone I knew from the off duty work he did at Nordt. He is a very straight to the point man, and also someone who is strong in his faith, and has also showed me the importance of faith again. His son just bought a house about two weeks ago and was about to be married here in the fall. For something like this to happen to a good guy like Officer Lawrence really blows my mind. He was less then a year away from being able to retire from the Police Department, but was unable to because of the money he was able to provide his family by being an officer and protecting the people around him. I have been praying for him since I found out that it was him, and I still pray to God that somehow he will be able to make a full recovery from this.

Somethings happened this week involving the ex and I, they are pointless to talk about, so I won't. But I am not happy at all. Well anyway, I need to get outta here, I am about to fall asleep infront of the computer and I need to be at my physical tomorrow morning at 10am, so I need some sleep before they start poking me again. Goodnight.

M

"We have always foung the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English." ~ Sir Winston Churchill

great song

Enjoy!

Im a little tea pot short on steam

I have had a very very bad week, I feel like I am falling apart at the seems. I think I am going to take the next week of from everything except for work and sleep and the gym. I wont be updating til next Monday night, I just need to get a grip on everything going down in my life. I hope you can all understand. Thanks.

M

oye mi amor

Work was pretty boring tonight, Jen Tomasello came by and talked to me for a minute so that made some of the time fly by. I spent most of the time watching movies, but I did talk to my ex for about an hour. I think it's the longest we've talked since things ended between us.

We talked about this that and the other thing, we both tried to stay off the topic of us getting back together, but it still came up. I told her about how I was planning on moving out there, she was a little upset that I didn't tell her. I just wanted to suprise her when I was finally ready to move out there. Its not like I was just gonna move then call her and say "HEY IM HERE!" I just wanted to call her one day and say "Hey, I'm ready to move, I've got everything lined up, and I will be ready to go in a couple of weeks."

I told her that my shrink told me that instead of looking at this as trying to get back together and pick up where we left off, that we should look at this as starting a fresh relationship, all new again. She told me thats what she wanted to do from the get go, but she never really said that, and if she would of just come out and said that I would of been a whole lot better off. Anyway enough of all this talk, I need to head to bed. Good night.

M

Life styles of the broke and almost famous

This is a song from three of my favorite artists out there, and the lyrics are amazing.

Make a boat, make a plane

Sitting in a window, wishing, wanting and waiting. Its a cold, wet day.
Yet I find warmth in the comfort of my own insecurities. Faint music
plays in the background, I can't help but think how beautiful the rain
is as it falls past the street lights.

The people come and they go, the rain still falls. I wonder again, why
am I here? Its such a cold day, I find shelter is this glass cup of
emotion. The painful memories and the shattered dreams lay out in front of
me like the checker board pattern of the table at which I sit.

Its been real to me and so fake to everyone, I can't adjust to living
with this half heart. Where did my innocence go, where is my passion?
All that remains is a shell. No more are the days filled with joy, all
that remains is the hollow hope of a new day.


I look again, the rain still falls, and the sun still hides.

late night

Sorry, I am running really late tonight, I went to Buffalo Wild Wings tonight with the guys, and I am proud to say I did not drink anything but soda. They kept trying to get me to have a beer, but not only am I broke, but beer is making my tummy stick out more then my wallet. Not to mention the fact I said I was going to give up drinking because it is just dragging me down in life and I really dont need all the bullshit associated with drinking too much all the time. I had a really good time tho, all the people that worked there thought it was odd that I didnt have a beer in my hand. I find that a sign that things are on the upswing in my life.

I heard back from my ex girlfriend tonight about that email I sent her, she didn't seem too happy about the whole thing but asked me if she could take the night to think about it. I of course said yes, because I am praying to God that she will say yes, and we can give this whole thing one last try. I really don't want to push her out of my life, but I can't be her friend either. I love her too much, and have given too much of my life, to just sit back and let it go. The biggest thing that bothers me about the whole being friends thing is that if she starts dating someone further down the road is how am I going to react. I mean, I know exactly how I would react and thats not a good thing tho. Like I said tho, I am hoping and praying that things will turn out in a good way. I really miss her, and I want to prove to her that we can work through our problems together.

In the entire time we had been together I really dont think we ever really sat down and tired to figure out what was really causing us to be acting a certain way. We both just took the bad and pushed it aside instead of trying to work it out and find a solution for what was wrong. I dont think I can let that happen anymore in any relationship I am ever in, especially not if she takes me back. Now, the more I sit here and think about it the more I realize we never actually tired to work out our problems and differences we just kinda pushed them aside and went about our business. And thats not what a relationship is about, I mean, we need to be mature enough to talk about whats wrong while at the same time being mature enough to take whatever comes our way in proper stride.

Well enough about me and my relationship troubles. I still hate my job, yes its true folks. I really do hate my job and tonight it is official, even the guy who started with me at the same time I did, in the same position I did, finally admitted that he is also sick and tired of all the bullshit that comes with that job. We have been treated like shit pretty much since the get go, but it seems the longer we stay there the worse it gets. Also tonight we realized that the last year at the company has gone by so fast that we will be getting really old there fast. One year has really felt like just a couple of months, and I am scared that I will get trapped in that job like so many other people in that place have. I mean, c'mon who really wants to polish rings for 20+ years? I know I sure as hell don't want that job the rest of my life.

Anyway enough complaining for one night, I need to get to bed. I have had a really long day and I am ready for some much needed sleep. Gym tomorrow (again) they were working on my machines today I couldn't get a chance to work out on them as of yet. Goodnight.

M

final thoughts

I sent my ex an email with the final few things I wanted to say to her before I cut her out of my life completly. I am hoping that she will kinda come to her senses and realize that after everything we went through in two and a half years is not worth just throwing away over a few little things we both need to work on. I hope she will respond to it either way, but anyway I need to head off to work now, so I of course will update this damn thing when I get home tonight. Later.

M

So much for saying sorry..... or for caring.....

Sorry is a word I have been saying a lot recently, I have been apologizing me to my ex girlfriend for everything I have done wrong. I called her tonight to see if she was okay after I heard the whole strong storms moved through the area she lives in. Something like 200 people were injured after three tornadoes touched down. She won't even pick up the phone to let me know shes okay. Last weekend after I thought something was seriously wrong with her, I tried to call her but she didn't answer the phone so I got in my car and started to drive out there to make sure she was okay. But no, when I did something I should not of done this last weekend, she doesn't even give a damn. She tells me oh I care, oh your such a great guy, but leave me alone.

I am tired of sitting here working my brain over eight ways from Sunday trying to figure out what to do about this whole situation. I have decided to go back to the old way, I am just going to disappear. If you read this, I'm sorry it had to turn out this way. Good bye.

M

headache

I just wish I could be forgiven for everything I have ever done in my life. I have done a lot of things wrong in the past, and it has done a lot of harm to my relationships and my professional life. I try and try everyday to become better, but it just feels like I keep getting pushed back. Im tired of sitting around feeling like I do. I am just asking to be forgiven and for a second chance, am I really asking too much? Anyway, I gotta head to work. I will update again when I get home.

M

okay, so maybe

After a really good nights sleep last night, I woke up and the swelling in my hand has gone down to almost nothing, which is a really great sign that my hand is indeed not broken. So since my hand is not broken, thats really great news, now only if I can get something to clear out this infected cut I have on my ear, I will be dandy. Ya, I know it seems like I am a mess right now, but that seems to be the trend of my life right now. If its not one thing its the next.

I spent most of my afternoon watching tv and cleaning my room and rearranging all my furniture and trying to pack up some boxes to just move all the BS out of my room. I am headed back to work tomorrow, and I am really nervous because my boss seemed pretty pissed that I took the time off for having been sick. From what I heard I guess we got a pretty large gold order because like everyone was working on saturday to try and help fill it out. Well I need to get my rest because I am going to hit up the gym tomorrow and yes I really do mean it this time. Goodnight.

M

"In a big family the first child is kind of like the first pancake. If its not perfect, thats okay, there are alot more coming along." ~ Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Green Day - Wake me up when September ends (Official video)

This video has so much meaning to me, as the years go on since I joined the Marines, I still think about it all. 9.27.2004. (The end of September)

hand

I am sorry to say this but I think it might be a day or two before I update this thing again. I have had a very bad weekend, I have been fighting my emotional demons again this weekend, and they almost won the battle sadly to say. Also, I got very pissed off today and hauled off and punched my head board so I think I may have broken my hand, so I am going to give it some rest and hope it heals up alright. Well, adios for now.

M

Bleh

Well I am home sick with a fucking flu bug, I just want to feel better. GRRR!

PICTURE TIME!!!!!

Hey, I finally got the chance to download all of my pictures to my mothers computer. So here for your pleasure are some of my most recent pictures.

Here is the great sunset from the other night at work.



Here is a picture of the Hotel Roanoke I took from work.



RIP Henry Lee



Here is me trying to drill a hole in 3 foot thick ice up in Wisconsin.



Thats it for now! I hope you enjoyed!!!

mr sickness

It seems that feeling like crap and being a piece of crap seem to go hand in hand pretty well. I left work again early tonight because I felt like crap. I arrived home and my folks were wrapping up the party they have for all the French kids. I am going to head to the doctor tomorrow to find out what's wrong so I will update when I get back.

M

Cherry Chocolate Rain!

This dude is hilarious!

Burnt shoe.

So, I walked into work today and I swear you could have killed a damn dung beatle it smelled so bad in that place. It literally smelled like someone had set a pile of shit covered shoes on fire and then tried to put the fire out by pissing on them. A couple of people I am sure will call in sick after having to smell all that burnt plastic all day long. I know my friend Sathara is not coming in, he was one of the first people in the building and he got the worst of the smells yesterday. I am just so thankful that the fire stayed where it was because we have hydrogen and amonia tanks all over that building not to mention the natural gas lines. So if it would have gotten out of control there would have no job to come back to today.

Well here's the information I have so far to give you and as soon as I get a damage estimate I will post that:
From what I was told by security the fire started at around 12:10pm yesterday. Crews were dispatched from I believe station 10 right by the airport and when they arrived they could not see any sign of fire. We have one of the most secure buildings in the entire valley due to what we have inside. So by just looking at the outside no one can tell what's going on inside. Once our security staff arrived they came inside and found heavy smoke coming from our "wet area" which is were we store some chemicals and do some industry specific tasks. By the time fire/resuce arrived the second time the fire was smoldering itself out and had been almost extinguished by the sprinkler system. A hazmat team had to be called out to the site after people started complaining about their eyes burning.

That's all I know for now about the fire. Hopefully at tomorrows team meeting I will get more information.

Now for of course the really boring stuff. The part where I get to sit here and tell you about me. I miss my ex girlfriend Amanda, and I am trying to do everything in my power to get back with her. I know that I was never perfect, but who really is? I have never really openly talked about her before, because I was so very afraid to lose someone I cared about so much. I love her with all my heart, and we have had some rough spots through our time together but I always believed that we came out of them stronger for each other. Sometimes in life you have to let go of someone you love and hope they will come back if they loved you just as much.

Well I am having a hard time trying to let go of her and I don't think that time will make it easier for me to just walk away from someone who has meant so much to me, and done so much for me as a person. She tells me she wants to be friends right now while we work through our differences but what that could mean scares me. I am terrified she will start dating other guys or worse. She tells me that's not what she wants right now, but at the same time she's not sure what she wants. She tells me not to worry about, but am I wrong to think she may find comfort in the arms of another man? I mean am I totally crazy?

The more she tells me she wants to be friends right now, the more I realize me treating her like a friend may have hurt us. I think about things I've said and done to her and around her and realize that is no way to treat someone you love. I tell my friends how I was around her and they tell me "well that's how you treat everyone." Well, that's where I went wrong; the love and respect is there for her, but I became so comfortable with her in my life I forgot who she was to me and just treated it more like a very selfish friend instead of the mutual relationship it should have been.

I know what my mistakes are, I know how to fix them. I would like for nothing more then to have this work, I would literally move to where she is and sleep in a park (I know your thinking "wow this guy is a creep" but our physical distance has always been an issue.) I am willing to do any and everything I need to do to make it right again. If I could measure my love for her and my commitment to trying to make this work in grams of gold (31.1 grams is an ounce, an ounce of gold is $982 today) I would have enough money to solve world hunger, end global debt and poverty and still have enough left over to never want again. But is that enough, I ask myself? Is putting everything on the line, risking everything for a chance to fail worth it? I think it is, I think I would rather die trying to salvage my relationship with her then to just walk away and say "Well Matt, better luck next time." Good night everyone.

M

~te quiero mucho, no lo olvides. Mehs.

Let that mutha burn!

Well I got call yesterday that we had a small fire on Sunday morning at the plant. We lost the entire plating department and they are not sure what machines will be able to run after the water damage. I really dont have a whole lot of details right now, but I will try and get some more. Anyway I have to run off to work. Later.

M

"A pen is like a double headed ax, now matter which way it swings, distruction is bound to follow." ~ Anonymous.

Whats it gonna take? (For a guy to get some service in this place?)

I didn't get a chance to update yesterday because as soon as I got off work my sister called me up and told me that our foreign exchange student had arrived. So I went up to Fleming and met her and the rest of her family and my own. We all decided to go to Corned Beef for dinner, after that we went and got ice cream and picked up a movie. My sister is sleeping in the office and seeing how I am without a computer and she's is with the only computer I couldn't update.

Well other then the fact that we picked up our french person Friday was really uneventful. Work was pretty slow and I didn't do much during the day on Friday. My dad thinks he tore a ligament in his shoulder but he refuses to go and get it checked out so I don't think he will ever know. Stubborn old man if you ask me, last time something like this happened he threw his back out and by the time he was ready to be seen we couldn't take him in a car so he had to take an ambulance. I swear I don't know where I get my stubborness when it comes to doctors. I also hate having to go to hospitalsn they are so very uncool to be around, I always feel like I shouldn't be there.

Right now I am sitting @ work bored out of my brain waiting for these construction guys to finish up installing a new water pump so I can go piss. Ya, ya, I know, that was too much information for you to know, but I don't care. My computer should be fixed here very soon and I cannot wait to start being able to put up new pix on a daily basis to go along with my posts. Anyway, I really should get back to "work" so I will update this bad boy later. Oh, and no quote on here, my book is at home. Sorry!

M

Keepin it real in Minnesota.

Well tonight was pretty interesting, work sucked pretty bad but whatever it was just another night at the plant. When I was on my way home I saw someone get hit by a car and they ran off, it was pretty disturbing but he should be alright. We are having an exchange student from France staying with us for the next couple of days. I really can't say much tonight, I am just real shook up with what happened earlier, so I will update tomorrow. Thanks.

M

Last Year

We will prevail! We will prevail! We will prevail! We are Virginia Tech!

Tonight was a very somber night for me. I stopped by Henry's grave today and left some flowers before I headed down to Tech for the vigil. Seeing his Hokie stone, and standing there listen to Taps for the finaly time has helped me come to terms with what happened last year. I will still never forget the few memories I have of my interactions with him. He was a bright kid, whose time was cut down way too soon. He will be missed, he are the words spoken last year by poet Nikki Giovanni, whose speech helped so many of us Hokies move on in our life. Thanks to everyone!

"We Are Virginia Tech We are Virginia Tech We are sad today And we will be sad for quite a while We are not moving on We are embracing our mourning We are Virginia Tech We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly We are brave enough to bend to cry ... And sad enough to know we must laugh again We are Virginia Tech We do not understand this tragedy We know we did nothing to deserve it But neither does a child in Africa dying of aids Neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by a rogue army Neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory Neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water Neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of night in his crib in the home its father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destablized No one deserves a tragedy We are Virginia Tech The Hokie nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be We are alive to the imagination and the possibility We will continue to invent the future Through our blood and tears Through all this sadness We are the Hokies We will prevail! We will prevail! We will prevail! We are Virginia Tech!"

I would like to thank the Roanoke Times, roanoke.com website for the following media. Special thanks to Josh Metzler, stay strong.





M

VA TECH

RIP HENH LY

More from the vigils after I get home.

sicko mcsickness

So I left work early tonight because I could barely keep my dinner in my stomache. I have so much on my mind the last thing I needed was to start feeling sick, and of course I start feeling like a bag of smashed assholes.I did do some of those Etoile rings tonight, and for as much as I would rather be doing those the staring down at the desk all night just wore me down.

On a positive note, we are making a ring for Forrest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland, Vantage Point) and he is going to be wearing it in his next movie which he is filming right now. Right now I am laying in bed watching my favorite tv show ever, Deadliest Catch. They are going over the best of Season 3, and it is amazing what people will do to provide for thei families. I have thought doing it, but between my knee and the fact that I tend to get sea sick I don't think its too wise of and idea. But it still makes for great Tv, just not a great job.

Tomorrow I am headed to Tech for the memorials, so I will update then. I just got off the phone with my ex girlfriend we had been discussing everything we had done wrong to each other over the past while, and needless to say I came out of that talk smelling like a bag of smashed assholes, but atleast now I have a plan to work toward, it will just take a while. Hopefully we can and will forgive each other for everything and maybe hopefully one dau get back together which would be amazing. Anyway its close to 1am and I need to be up soon, sorry no quote tonight. Thanks.

M

Left alone

If there is one thing out there that annoys me more then anything else, its the feeling of being ignored. If I look at you and say something like "Hello" its only normal for you to respond its something called manners. If I ask someone to call me, an answer would be amazing, like for example, yes, no, maybe so, or my all time favorite, go fuck yourself. I mean atleast your letting me know and not keeping me out on a limb. I don't know why I just cant sit around and wait, my mind plays games with me and then I always think the worst is happening, I guess it's a Dominican thing as my mother would say.

Well anyway, I need to head to the dry cleaner and drop off a bunch of stuff then hit up Wal-Mart for some dinner then I think I might go to Red Palace for some lunch to hopefully drown my sorrows in a plate full of fried rice. I am working an off schedule for tomorrow, 8am-4:30pm so that I can make it down to Virginia Tech in time for some of the memorials. I am trying my hardest to get my computer fixed so that I can start uploading pictures and what not to go with all of these blog posts.

Also tomorrow night, for the first time since 9/11 Roanoke City will be shutting off the star as a symbol of mourning for those we lost at Virginia Tech. Anyway, I need to get off and start my day. Later.

M

"The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up." ~ Marilyn Monroe

Hillary Clinton

HILLARY SUCKS !!!!!

Mondays.....

Whats to say about the first day of the week other then it normally sucks. I mowed my grass at the house today, and did a few chores around the house before I had to go to work. I checked on getting my laptop fixed, its going to cost me maybe $80 or $120 dollars depending on how long it takes him to get it done.

Work was boring as usual, I ran on the CnC machine tonight which is normally pretty boring because all I do is sit there and push a couple of buttons. I would much rather be sitting in the setting dept. and cleaning up some of those damn Etiole rings then doing stupid machining. As a matter of fact, I would just as rather not work there anymore. I know, I keep saying I don't want to work there anymore, but I am trying to do something about it. I work a second job to bring in some extra money, I am trying to get into the Police Department, so you can't say I am not trying. It's just the other things in my life that I am having a little more trouble with.

I am scared out of my mind about my ex girlfriend getting deployed to Iraq, it scares me shitless. Even though I know we are not together right now, I am terrified of anything every happening to her. To me Iraq is now a pointless war that is taking this country into no where but ruin. I found this really great quote that I am going to put at the end of this post.

I really cant wait to take my vacation, when and where ever that may be. I am really looking forward to just packing my bags one night when I get off work, and just go, thats all I want to do, just hop in the car and go. Live out the American dream, and find the unfound frontier I just want to leave it all behind. Who knows, this might just be a bunch of wishful thinking as of right now, but I can't just sit here anymore and continue to let my life pass me by with every moment. All I do is work, and when I dont work I sleep, and when I am not doing either of those two things, I just kinda sit around and think, and thinking makes me want to sleep, and so does work.

But anyway, its getting close to 4 o'clock in the morning and all this thinking about work is making me want to go to sleep. Not to mention the fact that I have a huge headache, and I am still not sure as to whether or not I am going to finish mowing the grass tomorrow considering I was only able to get about half of it done. Well good night my friends.

M

"If they've been put there to fight, there are far too few. If they've been put there to be killed, there are far too many." ~ Ernest F Hollings, US Senator. On US Marines in Lebanon, Time 26 Dec 83

GOO AARON LYLES!!!!!!

Hey this is a little piece from the Richmond Times Dispatch about the radest kid on the block. Check it out!!!

"
By OLYMPIA MEOLA
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Aaron Lyles canvassed for Chap Petersen when the Democrat ran for lieutenant governor in 2005 and made calls on behalf of Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. Despite poor weather and a head cold, he worked the polls in 2006 for Jim Webb's Senate race.
He recently created a Roanoke Valley chapter of the Young Democrats. He serves as a deputy field director for the Democratic candidate in the 6th Congressional District, and he hopes to place his own name on the 2010 ballot for Vinton's Town Council.
And somewhere in there, he wants a driver's license. That is, after all, highly important when you're 16 years old.
The 2008 presidential election -- with the historic candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton -- has been credited with spurring more young voters, and soon-to-be-voters such as Lyles, into action.
But local political observers and strategists say younger voters have been more involved in recent years.
On Virginia's streets, teens, college students and young professionals are pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, cold calling. They're smart, passionate, energetic and fill the ranks in state and local campaigns and political clubs. And this year, they're expected to have more company.
In Virginia's Feb. 12 presidential primary, 187,682 voters ages 17 to 29 -- 16 percent -- went to the polls, according to The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement.
A total of 134,968 voters ages 17-29 cast ballots in the Virginia's 2008 Democratic presidential primary, compared with 31,698 voters ages 18-29 who voted in the state's 2004 Democratic primary.
In Virginia's 2008 Republican presidential primary, 52,714 voters ages 17-29 cast ballots. In the previous contested GOP primary, in 2000, 66,409 voters ages 18-29 voted.
Obama gets glory for inspiring the youth vote, but it's a progression that started in 2004, says Daniel J. Palazzolo, political-science professor at the University of Richmond.
Young voters also played a large role in the 2006 midterm elections driven primarily by issues of import to younger voters, including the economy and the war in Iraq, and concentrated on get-out-the-vote movements.
In 2008, young voters are becoming more active generally for the same three reasons other people vote: the election is competitive, the issues attract them and a campaign actively seeks their vote, Palazzolo said.
"Now you throw Obama into the mix and you get an acceleration of a trend that was already under way," Palazzolo said. "The biggest mistake you could make right now is someone saying it's all about Obama. Not all -- part, for sure. But he didn't start the process."
Jesse Ferguson, 27, worked for an organization encouraging young voters to participate before he joined Del. Brian J. Moran's camp. Half of the Alexandria Democrat's office staff is younger than 30.
Ferguson said young-voter numbers have been building. "I think it's gong to be far greater in 2008 then we've ever seen before for the same reasons it started to grow in 2005 and 2006. The candidates are talking about issues that affect young voters, and they're concerned about the direction the president is taking the country."
A February 2008 report about young-voter registration and turnout trends, released by CIRCLE and Rock the Vote, projects that young adults are on track to show up in strong numbers this year based on polling that showed that roughly three-quarters of young people were already following the presidential election in fall 2007.
Republican Whitney Duff, 28, an Alexandria resident, has worked on political campaigns for seven years, from stuffing envelopes to knocking on doors. She said the local Republican Party is always looking to get more young people involved, though she said some tend to stereotype Republicans as "old, stuffy."
"It's always hard to get young people involved," she said. "You have to make them understand why it makes a difference. Why national security matters to them on a daily basis. When you're young you say, 'I'm invincible.'"
"Sheer boredom" initially got Lyles involved in politics. In the summer of 2004, he had little to occupy his time, and his mother suggested he work on President Bush's re-election campaign. When his mother called the local campaign post, Lyles said, they politely declined the offer of help.
"I was 12 at the time, and they didn't know what kind of work to give a kid. The Democrats said 'Yeah, OK, come in,'" he said.
Lyles believes other young people should become informed citizens and voters as soon as possible.
"Our very futures are at stake here," Lyles said. "There's just every reason to get involved. And if you don't get involved, you have no right to complain if things don't go your way."
Lyles now works for Sam Rasoul, who at the age of 26 is the presumed Democratic nominee for Congress in the 6th District.
Some of Rasoul's support comes from high school students, which the candidate welcomes. Even if they aren't old enough to vote, they want to get involved, Rasoul said, and volunteers like Lyles help with tedious work like canvassing.
Rasoul, a businessman whose parents moved to the United States from Palestine in the 1960s, faces Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte, R-6th, who, at 55, is old enough to be his father. Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
Staff writer Chris Young contributed to this report."

New Chapter...

Well here I am again, pondering the great mysteries of life. I am sorry I have not updated in a while (again), I have been trying to do a lot of thinking about my life and everything and everyone in it. I really need to get my body in shape for the Police Academy, yes thats right I am in the middle of trying to get ready for the Police Department. I already had my interview and that went fairly well, so I should be getting in there pretty soon.

So, as of right now I am trying to get my money in better shape, I am making some good money at this side job I have, so thats helping me knock down some of these issues. I am giving up drinking, so no more drinking anymore regardless of the situation. I have been giving a lot of thought to where my life is headed and what I need to get done, so I have a feeling things are going to get really rough for me here in the next couple of months.

I will doing daily updates, so I can use this thing here to help me move on and past everything, not to mention the fact that things are going to get really interesting in the next couple of months for me. Between the upcoming election, Festival in the Park, my 22nd birthday, and the police academy coming up things will be getting interesting. Not to mention I am really trying to save up enough money so I can just disappear for a week or two, it's gonna be really nice to just get away. Anyway, I am gonna hit the sack, so I leave you with another great quote, from my big book of quotes! G'nite.

M

"How do you know when love is gone? If you said that you would be there by seven, and you get there by nine, and he or she has not called the police - its gone." ~ Marlene Dietrich

The truth

I just would like everyone who ever may read this that I am coming clean with the fact that I took the easy way getting out of the Marine Corps. I was scared, and I used my knee injury as the key to getting out. That doesn't mean I didn't like being a Marine or that I didn't want to be a Marine anymore, it means that I was a coward and scared to be sent to Iraq so I took the easy way out. So there, I am a coward and a liar.

Sadness

I am sorry I have not really posted in a long time, I have been going through a little bit of a rough spot in my life. But on a good note, my mother is one of the final four people seeking appointment to Roanoke City Council, and I passed my tests to get into the police deparment. I have a whole lot on my mind, so for right now I am gonna head off to bed. Heres an old picture of me in the Marines.

IM BACK!!!!

Ferrum

Looking around on the internet this morning I was reading the Roanoke Times website and I saw that they are looking for a guy with a gun somewhere on the Ferrum Campus. Now I wish I could post up some of the pictures they have on the website because they are not messing aroung this time. They have tactical units going room to room, snipers on roof tops and dogs all over the place. Im guessing that they do not want to have another Virginia Tech on their hands.

Well, in other news tonight after work I am headed off to Wisconsin for a week and half, so the blog will most likely not get updated until sometime the first week of March. I hope everyone stays safe and happy in these upcoming days, later.

"Sometimes when I look at all my children, I say to myself, "Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin." Lillian Carter, mother of US President Jimmy Carter.

M

Wise words from an old cop...

I got to watch "We own the night" again tonight, and it's always nice to watch cop dramas with my dad. My dad used to be an NYPD transit cop, and his views on how things were back then are always alot different then the Hollywood views of it. He has some of the best stories I have ever heard, from his bathroom story to his lighter stories, there is always something new he tells me every time we talk about it. I remember the stories he told me just before I joined the Marine Corps, they are very similar to the ones he is telling me about the police.

I am sitting here checking out some pictures of this kid I mentor, and what do I find? Me, hiding in the corner acting all goofy, oh ya and Gov. Mark Warner is in it too.



Ya I am a nerd, cheesing all hard in the corner, but anyway I dont have much to say for tonight, I will be leaving for Wisconsin in a couple days, and I hope to have some good pictures when I do return. Well here's tonights quote!

"It's better to be judged by twelve, then carried by six." ~ Old Police Saying

Rainy Day

Here's an old photo I took of Roanoke last summer after a pretty heavy rain storm.

Stupid COX

Sorry I have not been able to update this in a few days, my Internet has been down at my house. It has been a pretty shitty couple days at work, it turns out they lied to me about my job, they shorted me on my paycheck, I got in trouble for something I didn't do, and they won't give me a pay raise. SO needless to say I am pretty pissed off at them. I won't go off on the details as to why things go wrong at work, since I can't give away what goes on there. Cool thing is I did get offered a weekend job in Lynchburg doing some security on the side. The pay isn't the worlds greatest, and I do have to drive an hour, but he hooked it up to where I can work every other weekend so I can still have some time off.

Well today I went shooting at my buddy Lee's out in Bedford, I shot my .40, and used my friends 12 gauge shotgun, Colt 1911 and Ruger .22. We shot about 500 rounds, so needless to say I am pretty stress free right now. Now I will say this, I am about the luckiest dude alive right now, as I was shooting, I for some reason shot too low and hit the target support which happened to be made of metal. I heard the zip of metal, and realized what I did, we walked up and saw that the round was stuck in the metal frame. I was standing right in front of that target and if it had shot back and hit me I would have been screwed because we were in the sticks. If my camera were working right now I would upload a picture of what almost took me out.

Here's some interesting news for ya, Roanoke City Councilman Alfred Dowe resigned today over some very bad mismanagement of City money. He spent almost $15,000 in travel and food receipts for 2007, but here's the kicker in some occasions he billed both the state and city for re-reimbursement. The Mayor asked him to step down and he did. Now what needs to happen is they need to let Rich Cranwell take his spot. I believe that after he placed 4th in the Primary a couple of weeks ago, he should be allowed to be given the nomination for the seat in which he received enough votes to get, but at the time was not available. Rich would be the best person to take that seat, he is not someone who will let petty things get in the way of whats right for Roanoke. I will write a little bit more about what's happening in Roanoke in tomorrow nights post.

From now on at the end of every post I will be leaving a quote that is pretty relevant to whats been going on in my day. So here's today's.

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach." ~ Benjamin E. Mays

COPS

So, I come home from the work and the bar around 1:45 this morning and after I get out of my car a cop pulls up behind me a shines his flood light on me. I walk up to him and ask if he needs any help, and he tells me they are looking for some guy who has tried to break into two different cars in the last half an hour or so. Of course this is the exact thing a guy wants to hear after he comes home from work. But anyway, I come home, and of course its always nice to know that I sleep safely since my dog barks at anything that comes with in two feet of the home, including.... leafs.

I'm sitting here reading some stuff trying to pass time online before I go to bed and I see this whole Lindsay Lohan photo shoot thing. I am not impressed, she does not strike me as beautiful in anyway. I mean of course, shes famous and all that good stuff, but as someone who does drugs and drinks way too much and is always showing her kitten in the tabloids shes very unattractive.

Well, other then that, tonight was pretty lame at work, I have my class to teach tomorrow night, I am doing that on the procedures and processes at the plant, wish me luck.

M

Marine Pic

this is me in the marines...

New Blog

Well, I am going to try and keep at this thing on a more full time basis from now on. I think I have started over about three times by now, and this time its for real. I like to write and, if you know me, you know I always have a lot to say. So I guess I can use this entry as a way for you to get to know me a little better.

I am at work alot, I wont say I work alot, because we all know the truth, I dont. I moved to Roanoke, Va back in the summer of 2002, I went to WFHS and joined the Marine Corps after I graduated. I worked on V-22 Ospreys while I was in, so please dont talk shit about my bird. I got injured while I was in, so now I am back in Roanoke. I am very active in politics, I have worked on a City Council race here, as well as Sam Rasoul's Congressional Race here in the 6th District. I used to blog on RaisingKaine and Cobalt6, but I don't anymore, I wanted my own place to rant and rave.

This blog is going to be full of some very very crazy opinions, as well as some of the daily happenings of my life. Like I said, I am at work alot, and the people I work with are some of the strangest people I have ever had the joy to work with. So, I hope as time goes on you will enjoy reading all of what happens in my life. Please, stay tuned for more. Thanks.

M