Haven't we been wanting to make the race to be, be the human race?
If we don't, we run the risk of lessening the value of all of us.
Music
your dad's hippy music.
Movies
Blazing Saddles, o kay, I think farting is funny, sue me. Monty Python's Meaning of Life (Oh God.....You are sooo Big......and we are small)
Television
Washington Week w/Gwen Ifull, My Name Is Earl, almost any non kid cartoons and some classic kid stuff like Rocky and Bulwinkle, Bugs Bunny and for some reason Felix the Cat.
Books
The Bible, The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism, A History of God by Karen Armstrong: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, The Politics of Jesus by John Yoder, The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoefer, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by Sprong and a couple of others.
Heroes
All the people who stick it out, like the greatest saints unknown and unsung.
About me: I was born in New Britain, Ct. back in 1954, to Walter and Olive Valentine. The last of five children. my only redeeming character was the chance that I was a boy, (the only boy) and proof my parents were good Catholics.....My parents brought up five kids all of whom at one time or another were happily married in housing they were making payments on, for awhile. Walt and Olive were married for 52 years before dad died......
I was raised, or dragged up in the public housing projects and trailer parks in central Connecticut, (New Britain and East Hartford) till 1973 when I was promoted out of Penney High School into the loving arms of the United States Marine Corp....
I was in the Jar Heads from 9/9/73 - March 1981. I served in Marine Barracks Philadelphia from 74-77, with six months Temp. Duty at Fort Dix Stockade. Ya ya...as a C/O not an inmate. Marine Barracks Philadelphia was recognized with a Meritorious Unit Ribbon for outstanding contributions to the Nations Bicentennial celebrations.....Wow, with the National Defense Medal and my Good Conduct Medal it makes three ribbons I was entitled to wear. That's the extent of my medal's and ribbons. No Hero I.....
After a brief stint as a civilian I re-upped for four in the Marine air wing as an air traffic controller. After seven weeks of a fourteen week course they flunked my dyslexic self out, some guff about transposing altimeter numbers that's not good - go figure!....
Got farmed out to yellow junk, ground support gear, after washing out of Air traffic control school, and sent to MCAS New River, N.C. I cruised a NATO float to the Arctic Circle in the winter of 1980. The fiords of Norway were beautiful and warmer then the upper midwest. We were about 100 miles or so from the USSR. I'm a Blue Nose for service in the Arctic, (that is Blue, not brown nose) check my service record book!...
After eight years in the Marines I got out, I knew the family d.n.a. would turn up and I would get too large to suit the Marines. There is nothing sadder than a 16 year Staff Sergeant getting mustered out for getting too big for their britches....
After the Marines I went to work at the New Britain Machine Co., where my father and grandfather, sisters, and uncles worked going back 40 years. Lasted 8 months and got laded-off when they moved the operation out of state. How come farm aid but nothing for the people who worked for generations at the same factory when it is shut down? From there I was employed at a sweat shop until I got a Dream Job with the Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer! Does the sarcasm come threw? The worst job in the world is trying to control, (or not getting killed by) men in a maximum security prison (that's a level three) while maintaining your ethics, hated it. That job lasted three years until a 300 lb. inmate ended it for me................
Currently I am member of the Mid-City Church of the Nazarene in San Diego, Ca. We are a multi congregational church with five congregations separated by native languages,, Despite knowing me for over five years they have sent me back to the english congregation executive board once more this year. I think I amuse them.
The lawlessness of the Bush Administration hasn't gone unnoticed by the people who are in the know.
That this President has abused his office for the profit of his associates and party over his country.
And when it comes down to it, he's all about profit over country and party too.
Who I'd like to meet: Jesus, but not quite yet. George W. Bush, to let him know he's killing people for no good reason. Obama, because he's the next President.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) lead by Executive Director, Paul Rieckhoff win a hard fought victory for a real G.I. Bill.
It is a real shame that it wasn't supported by every American who claims to support the troops.
He is in a magnet program and does really well in school. Most all the kids in this program go to an ivy league school on scholarship. He is really a good boy, he plays piano and likes ballroom dancing. He wants to be a surgeon, so I might have to sell my house one day. He got a little bit on money when his dad passed away, about enough for the first year if he eats top ramen.
Nope. I see no hypocrisy. I sing with my church band and I teach in women's ministries. That said, I'm not the least bit RELIGIOUS. I'm spiritual, yes.
I love the double entendre implied in your status update. It SEEMS to mean one thing but it really means something else - or could mean something else. I took it to mean that many of the things that we do as a part of "religion" are sinful but, of course, there is a more obvious meaning. I like it.
