tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65834266470380307242024-03-25T12:20:53.886-05:00On the Road again...Semi-occasional musings on politics and life.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-33555881312703746452024-02-29T10:06:00.002-06:002024-02-29T10:06:39.453-06:00Paralegal<p> <span> Well I finished the course, I now have a paralegal certificate through Rice university. It wasn't easy and there was a lot of material covered, but I really enjoyed the class. Now I'm on to the next phase of my life, a career change of sorts. It's not easy making a career change, especially after being at one company for about 20 years. It's something that has been building up inside of me as over the past 5 years or so, I have become more and more dissatisfied with my job. To me, its abundantly clear that they don't value me as an employee. My bosses get new luxury vehicles nearly every year while telling me they don't have the money to give me a raise. It's complete bull. I can't wait till I find another job and I can walk into their office and tell them I'm leaving.</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span> Of course, being a paralegal isn't a walk in the park. More than likely I will be busier than my current job and my stress level will increase. I haven't always been the best over the years at dealing with stress at the job but I do think I have gotten better as I've gone along. No matter your job (unless you are a brain surgeon or something like that), your job is not a life-or-death situation, no matter how much your superiors may try to say that. Yes, things are important, but its not like someone dies if I mess up. My Dad has taught me to work as hard as you can but also realize you can only control so much. So for an example, if I file a brief with the court but my attorney misses a deadline, and claims I never told him about it even though I did, I just need to take the abuse and move on. I filed the document and instructed him that I did. He's just upset probably because he has a ton of cases and just forgot about it and its easier to yell and blame me about it. I can't take stuff like that personally which in the past at my current job, I have. ( Being blamed for others mistakes).</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span>Anyways, I promise to update this site more often in the coming months. I'm very excited for new beginnings and I hope that all of you are doing well out there.</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span>- Robbie</span></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-76309640708036386592024-01-29T19:35:00.002-06:002024-01-29T19:35:12.592-06:002024 and turning 42<p><span> Another year is hear along with another birthday. Part of me can't believe that I am 42 though I will admit there are some days where I definitely feel all those 42 years. This year should bring about a big change for me personally as I prepare to change my career. My paralegal course that I am taking through Rice University is over in less than a month. I must say that I absolutely love it. The more I learn about the legal field the more interesting things I discover. In fact my one major gripe about that class is that it is not long enough. I know that sounds crazy especially from me, someone who hated school and could not wait to graduate. I'd like to think that now that I am older I am a better student. There's also less distractions atleast in my case. I don't have a wife or kids and I'm really not all that concerned about my dating life right now so it allows me to put all my effort towards this class. After the class is over, then I can address other areas of my life that need improvement.</span><br /></p><p><span>One thing that does worry me about this year is that its an election year. It will be nearly impossible once again to escape hearing about how candidate A or B is an asshole (depending on your side). In fact I probably will try to take a vacation maybe this year, atleast for a weekend, just to clear my head and escape. Maybe a fishing trip or something, I'll have to think about it. I wish people would realize that all of us as Americans have much more in common with each other than differences. We all want to live in a safe country, have our kids be educated and safe, do well in our careers, etc. It's only the debates on policy that can get inflammatory and unhinged. I pray that we can all come together though I fear it will not happen.</span></p><p>I plan on updating some more but it will have to wait till tomorrow. I'm actually typing this on my break from class. Back to class now. </p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-60270541726223734992023-06-07T12:39:00.004-05:002023-06-07T12:39:22.011-05:00June update<p> So about a little over a month has gone by since my last post and I wanted to post an update.</p><p> I feel that I have been improving slightly on my day-to-day mood. I've met a great girl and I have gone out with her 3 times. I'm willing to work with her schedule as she is a single mother. And although we have differences there are many similarities between us. I like the fact that she is a strong mother and the fact that she is a Christian. </p><p> I'm trying to get over the shyness that I've pretty much always struggled with on dates. Many times, I feel like I'm not being myself and that I'm just playing a role which is wrong. I'm hoping that the more times we talk and hang out, the more comfortable I will become. I've always been a quiet person and many times I struggle having a conversation with someone. I will admit though that on the few times I have gone out with her I have been feeling more and more comfortable each time. So I am hoping that I will get better at talking and sharing with her and not be afraid of revealing the type of person that I am.</p><p> As I have said before, my faith is very important to me. I am not always the best in keeping with going to church regularly but I try to pray each night and ask God for help as I try to improve different areas of my life. Nobody is perfect and living is not always easy, but I do feel I am making some progress and that is heartening.</p><p> I have been cooking more at home and enjoying it. I used to dread all the extra cleanup that was required when I cook but now, I just suck it up and do it. I still have days where I order out for dinner because it's easier, but I've enjoyed finding new recipes online and trying to grow my culinary expertise.</p><p> With the weather getting hotter outside I haven't been walking at the park as much. I need to use my exercise bike more at home so that I'm able to get more activity in. Many nights after work I feel glued to the couch. Part of the problem is that I have low Testosterone and I had been skipping the weekly shots I'm supposed to be taking. For the last 3 weeks though I have kept up with them. Daily exercise I am realizing is more and more important the older I get. Even if its just walking around my house. Exercise helps combat brain fogginess (which I have suffered) and depression so not only are there physical benefits, there are mental benefits as well.</p><p>Thanks everyone for reading and here's to a good summer for all of us.</p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-53799871531773265432023-04-25T10:38:00.005-05:002023-04-25T10:39:01.745-05:00Thoughts on marriage and companionship<p> <span> One of my oldest and closest friends got married this month. We have been friends since 3rd grade and played little league baseball together. Even after grade school when I went to college and didn't see him as often, we kept in touch. A big part of that was playing fantasy baseball and football together on Yahoo. During the short period of time where I moved away when my company moved to Dallas, we did our best to keep in touch. Discussing the latest on the Astros rebuild, wondering if the Texans would ever get a QB. I would come back at least one weekend a month to see my parents and hopefully also see him and his family.</span></p><p><span> I am overjoyed that he is married now and starting his own family. And its also made me realize that I myself need to start trying harder to meet people. Lately I haven't had the urge to stop by my regular bar after work. I don't feel like drinking, it's not getting me anywhere in life. I'm wasting my life away by drinking at bars and also wasting money that I should be saving.</span></p><p><span> I feel like I am at a crossroads. I guess this is a mid life crisis type of thing. I'm tired of coming home to an empty house. Feeling alone with no hope. I really need to work on my self </span>esteem because if I don't love myself, how can I expect anyone else to. I have been praying more at night which has given me some peace, but I do feel like I still have a lot of anxiety.</p><p> I am seeing my therapist in the beginning of May to discuss some of these things with her. There is no quick and easy solution I understand, but I hope I can get my mind out of this cycle of dread I am currently in where I feel like the future is hopeless and that I will always be alone.</p><p> Take time to hug and talk to your loved ones and let them know that you love and care about them. None of us is promised anything in the future. Thank you for reading this.</p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-29136978199651174372023-02-08T13:29:00.001-06:002023-02-08T13:29:37.628-06:00Self reflection<p> Lately I have been in one of my quiet reflective moods. It comes with my bi-polar disorder sometimes. I withdraw from people and kind of shell up for a while. I'm not really sad or depressed or anything like that. It's just sometimes I feel the world is a bit too much for me to deal with sometimes, so I limit my exposure to certain things.</p><p> These are usually productive times for me, so I have been trying to do some things that I have been putting off for a while. From small things like cleaning my house and organizing, to larger things like working on spots of my life that I need to improve on to maximize my happiness and wellbeing.</p><p> I've started reading again which has been productive. I'm still reading Matthew Perry's autobiography which I admit is hard to get through at times. He really is lucky to be alive, alcohol can be such a debilitating force. I've toyed with the idea of going completely sober. The older I get the more I realize just how dangerous alcohol can be. And how easy it is to overindulge and misuse. </p><p> I've also been reading the Bible more lately too. I'm trying to incorporate reading from it into my daily routine, whether it's actually opening my bible and reading or using the app on my phone. I'm not always perfect and I forget sometimes but overall, it's been great for me.</p><p><br /></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-4084183531223427172023-01-06T14:17:00.006-06:002023-01-06T14:17:29.993-06:00First workout class!<p> Just had my first workout class in a very long time and I had some thoughts that I wanted to write down about it.</p><p> First off, I had forgotten how good that post workout feeling is! Sure, I was exhausted after the class because I am out of shape, but my adrenaline was really kicking in and overall, I felt great. Writing this today, I am sore which I expected. I'm still very happy with myself though for committing to signing up for the class. My normal routing after work is to eat dinner and then just sit on the couch watching YouTube, playing video games, or listening to music. So this has been a huge change for me even if it's just been 1 day.</p><p><br /></p><p> I'm hoping that I am able to keep up with this class at least through the first month. After the month I'll decide on whether I want to continue. It's a M-F class so 5 days a week. It will not be easy, but I am hopeful and excited for what is ahead of me.</p><p><br /></p><p>God bless</p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-13786096611175555972023-01-04T15:36:00.006-06:002023-01-04T15:36:41.122-06:00New Year thoughts<p> It's hard to believe that we are starting 2023 now. 2022 seems like it blew by. Time is constant obviously, but I feel like the older you get, the faster time seems to travel. I'm not sure why this is, maybe because as we age, we take on more responsibilities? Anyways 2023 is here.</p><p><br /></p><p> I am going to renew my effort to look for another job. I've pretty much accepted that my current position at my company will not change and I will not be given the raise that I am long overdue for. By continuing to stay here, I am undervaluing myself. My experience at this company surely must be worth something to other companies that are hiring out there. I just need to continue to keep a positive attitude about it and not be discouraged by not getting call backs and interviews.</p><p><br /></p><p> I plan to be healthier this year overall. Exercise more, improve my diet, drink less alcohol, surround myself with positive influences rather than negative ones. It's not going to be easy but at 40 soon to be 41, it's a vital thing for me to do. As the old saying goes, "You're not getting any younger". I've been unhealthy for a while now in several aspects of my life. Physically, spiritually, and mentally. My immediate goal is to start on the physical aspect. Improve my diet and exercise. With that starting to improve (hopefully), I'm hoping that will spur my spiritual and mental health. Gaining better confidence in myself and making better life choices.</p><p><br /></p><p> I realize this will not be easy and I plan to do a monthly "checkup" to see what my progress is like and what I have to further improve. I've started this year strangely introspective and reflective on myself. I admit that I am currently not very happy with my situation in life, and I want to improve that.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-16008330639051923922022-11-29T11:40:00.001-06:002022-11-29T11:40:06.673-06:00Holiday blues<p> Time to update my blog once again. My doctor decreased my anti-depressant meds last month because I have been doing well but I've been feeling really down lately. Trying to keep a positive outlook on life can be difficult when everything around me just feels dark.</p><p><span> I think the number one thing I need to find is a new job. My current job's workload has slowed to a crawl recently and I don't get any feeling of gratification from work like I used to. I feel insignificant at work like nothing I do matters, and my bosses have not given me and my co-worker a raise since they have bought the company over 5 years ago. I've updated my resume and sent it out to a few companies but only have had 2 responses and 1 phone interview. I sympathize with other job seekers out there as I've forgotten how difficult and trying it can be when you are searching for new work opportunities.</span><br /></p><p><span> With the colder weather starting to come and the amount of rain we have had lately, I haven't been going for walks at the park by my house. So as a result, I've been exercising less and have stopped losing weight. I haven't been gaining at least but I know I still have a long way to go. I'm pre-diabetic and my doctor wants me to lose 40 pounds. At my last physical my cholesterol was higher too, so I need to change my diet and start eating healthier.</span><br /></p><p><span> I am proud to say that I have not been drinking alcohol as much as I had been earlier this year. I haven't gone completely sober but I have done better at limiting myself to just 2 or 3 drinks a month. I'm slowly starting to realize that I don't need to have alcohol to enjoy myself which has been a massive improvement for me. </span></p><p> And last but not least I think just being alone again on the holidays is wearing on me. I love my parents and know that I'm not really alone because I'll be with them but I still long to have someone else in my life. My parents are getting older and they are all I really have besides a few close friends. I want a family of my own, I just need to be patient and try to stay positive. </p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-60188436156603932552022-08-23T15:50:00.001-05:002022-08-23T15:50:06.381-05:00End of summer<p> Once again it has been to long since an update. Here are just a few of my thoughts.</p><p> Another summer is almost over. Fall begins on September 22nd. I'm getting excited for the upcoming football season, college and pro. Yeah the Texans are terrible and the Steelers are rebuilding but still, I enjoy watching football. I'm very excited for the upcoming college season for UH. They are projected to compete for the AAC title along with Cincinnati and possibly UCF. I renewed my season tickets again so I will be going to the games.</p><p> I've had a few dates this summer but still nothing sticking yet. I was hoping to be in a relationship by now but its not that easy. Fall is my favorite season so I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll meet some new people. </p><p> One lesson that I have learned this summer is that you can't press too much on finding a relationship. I've never really pressed that much before but now that I am in my 40s, I am pressing more. The good thing is that I know what I am looking for in a relationship which makes it easier for me to sort out the people that don't have the same goals as me. I want to start a family. Most of my friends are married with kids and even though I don't show it, I am super jealous. It's frustrating. But I trust that God will show me the right path. I just have to continue on, not getting too down, and being strong. Dating is not easy to say the least.</p><p> I can't believe that another summer is nearly over. In many ways it feels like it has flown by. I've been playing my guitar more lately which has been fun. I feel like I am improving but at a slow pace. I just need to stick at it. I really really enjoy playing. It's a great way to just clear my mind and just jam.</p><p> I still am working on getting healthier. My weight has gone back up again a little unfortunately, but I know what I need to do. I just need to stop procrastinating and remain disciplined.</p><p> I've really kind of tuned out of politics lately. Its been very refreshing. I realize how toxic the current political landscape is and how polarizing it is. The overturning of Roe v Wade has only added fuel to that fire. I was shocked that it happened, and I'm really not sure how I feel about it. I am pro-life but I understand people who are pro-choice. There are some persuasive arguments on that side also. Overall I just stay out of it.</p><p> God bless ya'll. Hope everyone has had a great summer.</p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-76353728171944784752022-05-12T14:13:00.004-05:002022-05-12T14:23:26.928-05:00The past, and learning to let go...<p> Hey guys. I've been in a very introspective mood lately and thought I should update my blog.</p><p> I want to talk about the past in this post. Specifically past mistakes that we make in our lives. Whether it be with friends, family, even strangers. My whole life I have always personally struggled with forgiving myself. It's something that I talk about with my therapist often. I'm my own worst critic. I tend to dwell on past mistakes whatever they might be and let it eat me alive, robbing myself of inner peace and time. I recognize that this is toxic behavior, without getting too preachy, God didn't put us on this earth to constantly worry and beat ourselves up about past mistakes. Learning from our mistakes and moving on is important of course, but continually dwelling on past failures does nothing. None of us can change the past.</p><p> This past weekend I personally made a mistake. I don't want to get into the details yet at this time but needless to say it's still bothering me now as I type this. For whatever reason, moving on is very difficult for me. I think my Catholic upbringing is part of the reason for my current feelings. As Catholics, we are taught that we are saved by the mercy and grace of God. That none of us are worthy of being saved. My relationship with God has wavered like I'm sure most people have. Somedays I feel very inline and connected, others I act completely indifferent. I always feel that I am striving to be perfect in my behavior and interactions with others but ultimately fall short because as humans, none of us are perfect. I've prayed about it and confessed my sins to God but yet it still gnaws at me because it's something that I cannot change.</p><p> One positive outcome from this has been that I have started looking deeper at myself and my own flaws and trying to improve. I've also started a small garden in my backyard and that's given me peace. I know that I will get through this, it's just hard.</p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-71370255474985036102022-03-10T17:46:00.004-06:002022-03-10T17:46:28.070-06:00War<p> There is war in Europe again. Something I honestly did not expect to see. I think it's something that most of the world did not expect to see either.</p><p>When Putin started amassing his troops on the border of Ukraine, I just thought it was postering. Trying to get something out of the European countries and NATO. Unfortunately, they invaded, and the Ukrainian people are suffering. The Russians are suffering too with heavy losses. And the international community is suffering with rising energy costs due to boycotting Russian oil.</p><p>Most of Europe has gone the clean energy route, which is great, but in my mind, they went too far. They have a heavy reliance on Russian imports of Natural Gas and Oil. Green energy is all well and good and may be the future, but in my opinion, the technology is not quite there for our energy needs currently. Fossil fuels are still extremely important in the world market.</p><p>I still am trying to figure out what Putin's "end-game" is. The international community has shut him out of the money system or the most part. The US has installed some tough sanctions against them along with other countries. The price of the Russian Ruble has dropped a ton, so their economy has to be really suffering. I kind of understand that he wants to re-unite the countries that broke off after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but this is an old style of thinking. The world is much closer now with technology then it was during the Cold War. Countries are able to communicate better and faster and come together quicker to counter a threat. Plus, the people living in these easter bloc countries like Ukraine seem to HATE Russia because of how brutal socialism was in their countries. There may be some separatist regions, but the majority of these countries will fight to keep their way of life, no matter the odds.</p><p>I really don't have too much to say on all of this, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. My heart aches for the death and suffering of the innocent civilians in Ukraine caught up in this. I also feel bad for the Russian people that didn't sign up for this war, and the Russian soldiers who seem really green and are just now realizing that they have been duped into this war. There have been many reports of Russian POWs that have talked about the mis information campaign their government has been waging. Putin is claiming that he is "de-Nazifying" the country and that the Ukraine is run by Fascists and White supremacists.</p><p>In general, I along with many other looks for this whole thing to end immediately. Putin must be stopped but at the same time, we don't want to be drawn into a war. It's not WW3 yet but it could easily come down to that depending on decisions made by some world leaders. I hope and pray for an immediate end to hostilities and that the pain and suffering of all the innocents ends. May God bless them.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-45660093354361632722021-11-08T09:37:00.004-06:002021-11-08T09:37:53.970-06:00Moving<p> <span> Let me just first say that I hate moving lol. I don't think anyone really likes it though so that doesn't make me unique. It's just a lot of work. But one aspect of moving I do like is it forces you to take a mental check on your life. Looking at stuff I have that has honestly just been sitting in boxes since I have been in my apartment makes me question if I really need it. In a sense I am trying to do a spring cleaning of sorts in November. I'm not a hoarder by any means but there is definitely stuff that I have that I don't need or even use anymore.</span></p><p><span> The house is ready for move in and I have moved a lot of the big stuff already thanks to the help of my parents and friends. It's definitely going to be a big change for me living in a house again. I have become very accustomed to apartment life. Now I will have a yard to take care of and I can't just call maintenance to fix shit lol.</span></p><p> All in all I am looking forward to it even though it will increase my daily commute by a bit. I definitely feel more mature having my own house. I think it is a good step for me. My plan at this moment is to live there for a few years, continue doing some minor renovations, and then flip that house and use the profit as a down payment to a mortgage on a new house. Of course no one knows what the future holds but that is my current plan.</p><p><br /></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-86112288216348628512021-07-23T11:47:00.004-05:002021-07-23T11:47:49.538-05:00Halfway through 2021 update<p> <span> Just wanted to post an update on how my year has been going. Overall, I would say its been a roller coasters. Good highs, bad lows. But I am staying strong through it. I think finally (FINALLY!) I am approaching some sort of self discipline on things. I also notice that when I write things down (or update my blog) it helps me become more self aware of my many mistakes and allows me to step back and evaluate where to go from here.</span></p><p><span> First off, I went to Vegas memorial day weekend. It was fun but honestly felt weird. Things were not yet completely open because of the pandemic. Some spots were open and masks were not required for vaccinated individuals (like myself) but it just didn't have a Vegas vibe. It was super packed though which was a little shocking. I think people are just wanting to travel again after being locked up at home in 2020. I know that I do.</span><br /></p><p><span><span> Without going into detail, I slipped up again on my spending. I realize now that beating myself up which is what I usually do accomplishes nothing because I don't have a time machine and can't change the past. I'm looking forward to the future with the thought that I will just have to exercise more caution. I've also looked at several budgeting software out there. Right now I am just using an Excel spreadsheet which does the trick.</span><br /></span></p><p> Dating has been hit or miss. Without naming names I've had some good ones and some bad ones. We will see what the future holds.</p><p><span> Podcasting has been a great experience. It has helped me get closer to friends and be more involved in their lives and them in mine. Discussing a variety of topics and gauging their interest and opinions has been fascinating.</span><br /></p><p><span> I've hit a bit of a plateau on my diet. Still down 25 pounds since last December but I have been stuck hovering around 240 for awhile. I have finished the Nutrisystem diet and have just tried to shop better and eat better for myself.</span><br /></p><p><span><span> I'm looking forward to the end of the year. For the first time in awhile, I will be living in a house. This time my own. My parents are letting me rent out their old house after we fix it up a bit. Unfortunately there is a lot to do. But this will give me good experience in house repairs, remodeling, and maintenance. I have pretty much no experience in this right now so it will be a learning experience.</span></span></p><p><span><span><span> Hope the year is going well for all of you out there. God bless.</span> </span><br /></span></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-63887483146899818632021-06-14T13:20:00.002-05:002021-06-14T13:20:10.110-05:00Thoughts on death ... and life<p> This may be a dark post but I have some thoughts on the subject. Recently a friend of mine lost her mom to cancer. She was relatively young and without getting into too many details, it was a very moving and sad service. I haven't been to a funeral in awhile, I think the last one was my brothers 7 years ago. So I went in just wanting to pay my respects to her and her family. What I walked away with was so much more.</p><p><br /></p><p> They prayed the rosary first and then had a minister get up and say some kind words. The whole thing was in Spanish but I was able to follow along during the rosary somewhat due to the repetition. I was overwhelmed by how big the family was and how many friends were there. The chapel was full and people were standing in the halls of the funeral home. This woman was definitely loved and respected by many people. There was just so much love in the room. Many were crying as well but that understandable obviously. She was loved and she will be greatly missed. It was very moving, to see the impact that this woman had on others. If I live a life where I have an impact on even half that many people I will have felt it was a life well lived.</p><p><br /></p><p> It got me self reflecting on my life. I'm currently 39 and have lived about half my life according to life expectancy in the US. If I was gone tomorrow, would I have felt that I have lived a good life? Do I have an impact on my family and friends as a good son, cousin, godfather, friend? I feel like there is a lot more I would like to do in my life. Travel, get married, start a family, enjoying and learning new hobbies. None of us know the day or time when God will call us home, will we be ready when that time comes? Needless to say, its spurred my creativity gene to get more active and start working on some personal goals I have. I have a tendency to procrastinate on things and be a couch potato. I don't want to look back on my life with regrets about all the times I decided to just lay on my couch and watch TV when I could have been doing other things to better myself.</p><p><br /></p><p> With all that said, I have been making a few changes. This service on Sunday just reinforced that I need to continue going down the path I am on. Relaxing is OK every now and then, but I just need to fight the urge to do nothing and be lazy sometimes. Keep self motivating and keep my faith in God and the plan that he has for my life.</p><p><br /></p><p>Take care friends.</p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-10981193695182791702021-04-22T15:30:00.007-05:002021-04-22T15:30:50.700-05:00Obligatory political post<span> Wanted to vent a few things about our current political climate and the rise of "woke" and "cancel" culture. So be warned you may not agree with my opinion and that fine. I value diversity of thought and others opinions on matters. If we all thought the same we would be robots and life would be dull. Anyways, onto my soap box.</span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> The way the media in this country and others are so quick to immediately brand people as racists in this country needs to stop. Yes Derek Chauvin was a terrible cop and his actions were reprehensible that day he arrested George Floyd. I think the verdict was correct in the jury finding him guilty. He will get a chance to appeal just like every citizen has but I believe the charges will stand. The main question to me here is were his actions overtly racist or just inept? Would he have acted the same way had George Floyd been another color? Ultimately it doesn't matter. A life has been lost. It's a tragedy. The only person that can answer the racist question is Derek Chauvin himself. Even then, many will not accept his answer and have already made up their mind that he is a racist. In my nearly 40 years alive on this planet, I feel that the racial divide in America is as far apart now as I have ever witnessed it. I wasn't alive in the Jim Crow days in the South and am sure it was much worse then. But if you just turn on CNN or listen to elected officials in Washington talk, you would think that Jim Crow is alive and well today.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> To be clear, I am not denying the existence of racism today. There are racist people today just as there were in the past. I think there will always be people with hate in their heart that discriminate against people who are different than them. No matter if its race, religion, sexuality, etc. The difference is our culture has changed such that these people are more demonized now then ever before in our county's history. This is a good thing. But to have the media and other leaders automatically assign "racism" as the root cause of everything in society is not helping.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> In fact the very same day of the Chauvin trial verdict, there was an incident in Columbus Ohio where an officer killed a black female. Many people were quick to jump on the "racism" train again here without bothering to learn about the "facts". The facts were that she had a knife in her hand and was attacking another black female. We can discuss police reform and taser use etc. But to assign "racism" as a cause is ridiculous. They saved the other girl who was black from being stabbed. I feel for the girl's family, but cops have to make these types of in the moment decisions frequently. I'm sure if the cop had just stayed back and did nothing and the other girl died from being stabbed, they would be angry that they had not taken any action.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> I think as a whole, our country needs to just take a deep breath and not be so quick to assign blame and judge others. This may sound hopelessly idealistic but I do think change may come. Living in "cancel culture" is not possible. Its only a matter of time before cancel culture will come for you on some mistake that you make. None of us are perfect humans. We must have hearts of forgiveness. Otherwise our differences will continue to divide us and we all will become more bitter.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> </span></div>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-90038868992990642402021-03-22T13:39:00.004-05:002021-03-22T13:39:46.889-05:00Good friends and Mental Health<p> Friendship is a funny thing at times. All of us through our lives have met hundreds or more people. Sometimes they develop into friendships, other times that don't. I definitely have more people that I have fallen out of touch with who were friends at one period of time of my life and I am sure this is very common.</p><p>Some things like social media are there to help you "reconnect" with these people should you ever choose to. My personal opinion is that social media is toxic but I can't deny there is still some semblance of good about it.</p><p>Platonic friendship is defined as a type of love that is not sexual. It is named after the Greek philosopher Plato though he never actually used the word himself. Platonic love as devised by Plato concerns rising through levels of closeness to wisdom and true beauty from carnal attraction to individual bodies to attraction to souls, and eventually, union with the truth. (I may or may not have ripped those last sentences from Wikipedia lol)</p><p>Anyways, I feel platonic love like sisterhood and brotherhood is becoming more and more rare these days. Drama usually ensues where 1 or sometimes both parties are at fault and they just cut ties and move on. I'm very fortunate that I still have close friends that I have kept in contact with for decades. Even though disagreements arise from time to time over things, the bottom line is that because our friendship has been going on for so long, we both realize that these are just trivial things. We don't just stop talking to each other. Or if we do, maybe just a day or so.</p><p>This isn't meant to be a brag. I feel extremely fortunate to be in this situation. In fact, the opposite side of this is by far more common. I feel like most people maybe have 1 or 2 really close friends that they discuss their life with, excluding family of course.</p><p>The crazy thing about all of this is the depression has robbed me of this before for a period of time. I would isolate myself and by doing so, friends most likely either assume I am busy or they are busy themselves. At those low moments, I feel like I am too much of a bother to contact them. Let them live their lives, I'm insignificant. This is clearly wrong and I recognize this now but there are several times where I did not see so clearly.</p><p>A snowball effect would emerge. I would increasingly become more and more lonely the longer I would isolate. Honestly if it wasn't for my parents, who knows how bad it would have got because they would be the only contact I would have with anyone other than limited stuff at work with co-workers.</p><p>One particular person has greatly helped me see this more clear. Jordan Peterson. He's been maligned as an alt-right whack job by some but honestly, he is one of the more brilliant minds around today. Taking out the political side and focusing on the human side of things, he is absolutely amazing. </p><p>I know many people don't read books these days, some listen to them. But his book the "12 rules for life" and his new sequel "Beyond Order" (Which I still haven't read yet) describe stuff like the human experience and the quest to find self worth. I highly recommend to anyone out there interested to pick up a copy of either. </p><p>Anyways, that's the gist of the point that I am trying to get across. Friendship should be cherished. Take care fam.</p><p><br /></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-80262870294005182772021-03-04T10:24:00.001-06:002021-03-04T10:24:10.009-06:00Goals and projects<p> <span> So a lot has happened since my last post. I may be moving soon. Back to my childhood home in Sugar Land. My dad has offered to gift me the house that he is currently renting out. I have mixed feelings about it. I do like the freedom of a house compared to an apartment. Having my own driveway and yard. Not worrying about loud neighbors above or next to me. These are all good things. But it is an older house, my commute to work will be much longer, and oddly enough it feels like kind of a step back. When I look at this house, it reminds me of my childhood obviously. I feel I'm at the point of my life where I want to forge my own future and start my life elsewhere. What I probably will end up doing is staying in the house for a year or 2, and then renting or selling it and moving to my own house somewhere. I am tired of apartment life though so I think overall I am excited for the move. My lease doesn't expire until November at my place now so I won't me moving until end of the year or beginning of next year if I extend month to month at my apartment.</span></p><p><span><span> </span><span> I'm down 22 pounds since I started my diet in December. But lately I have plateaued and even feel like I may have gained slightly. I've gotten lazy in logging my daily calories on the app I use. I've also had some cheat days and weekends that probably haven't helped either. I'm hoping with the spring coming, I'll be able to add exercise and walk or jog at the park near my place. I don't want to lose all the progress I have made. I need to remain strong.</span><br /></span></p><p><span> </span><span> I've also started a podcast with some friends of mine. I've toyed with the idea in the past and now that its off the ground, I am very excited. Even if no one listens, I think it will be fun just to hang out and discuss different topics. </span><br /></p><p><span><span> </span><span> My guitar playing has improved a little I think. Currently I am focusing on power chords and switching between them easily. Trying to learn some Nirvana songs. It's also rekindled my interest in Kurt Cobain. I remember watching MTV as a kid and seeing his funeral procession but not really knowing who he was. I really didn't start listening to Nirvana until late high school like 98 or 99. The longer its been the more interest I have in the band and in Kurt. I got a book on my kindle written by one of his old managers that I have started reading and its pretty enlightening.</span><br /></span></p><p><span> </span><span> I hope that this year will be better than 2020 with the pandemic seeming to improve slowly. I'm cautiously optimistic. Take care guys.</span><br /></p>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-66652541335664207282021-01-21T11:33:00.004-06:002021-01-21T11:33:59.819-06:00New leadership<span> </span>It's been a minute since I last updated. Thought I would just give a few thoughts I have on the inauguration and swearing in of our new president. <div><br /></div><div><span> </span>I'll start off by saying I did not vote for Biden. Some would say that makes me a racist. I think Joe is a decent family man and person. Definitely a better person than Trump. But I'm not voting for who I think is the better person. This is probably the first election where I am voting on policy instead of whether or not I would want to have a beer with them. I've voted Obama twice also so I'm not a strict republican. I consider myself a moderate that leans right, or more of a libertarian. I do hope for the sake of the country and my family and friends, that Biden leads well. I just have many questions.
For instance, the slew of executive orders he signed on his first day. Stopping the Keystone pipeline. Stopping ICE enforcement. Lifting the ban on immigration from a few countries (aka the Muslim ban). First and foremost, the immigration stuff will probably increase the spread of the pandemic. I'm all for people starting a better life but not at the expense of increasing COVID deaths here. Second, I worry about the oil and gas industry. I have many friends in the industry and Houston is known as the energy capital of the world. I worry that their industry might suffer in the short term which would potentially affect their employment. Biden also joined the Paris Climate accords again. I think its largely a symbolic move. I think Climate Change is real first of all, I just don't know how much of an effect CO2 emissions plays into it. Do we damage and restrict our industry to help the planet? If we do, what about other countries that don't? <div><br /></div><div><span> </span>Trump was far from perfect. I have many friends who loved him almost to the point of worship which I thought was ridiculous. Politicians should not be worshipped. Only God should be worshipped. Trump was also not a true politician. I still think the only reason he won was because Hillary was so corrupt and flawed. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>I'm hoping that wasn't too political and gets me cancelled. That's another worry I have. Big tech censorship. For those who cheered Trump being suspended from Twitter, what will you do when your voice becomes censored? I'm not saying it was a bad mood necessarily, but I think it opens Pandora's box in that these big Tech companies (Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter) have so much control over the free exchange of thoughts and ideas on their platforms. They essentially control the narrative of the country. Media I think already has a general narrative that they promote so social media has become a popular counter to it. But now even that is being restricted. I just hope Congress passes some kind of first amendment protection clause on these platforms so that speech is protected. As far as hate speech goes, I don't believe it will ever truly go away. Ban it from platforms is fine but it will just recede to the dark web and other forums. You can't completely eradicate hate speech, its a losing battle. </div><div><span> </span></div><div><span> </span>Here's to a new year and hopefully a better one than the dumpster fire that 2020 was. God bless ya'll and God bless America. </div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> -Rob</div></div>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-13862184559003478552020-04-30T21:16:00.001-05:002020-04-30T21:16:04.153-05:00My thoughts on COVID 19 These last few weeks have been some of the weirdest weeks I have ever experienced. A complete shutdown of local restaurants (other than pickup or drive thru), bars, clubs, sports stadiums, concerts, churches, and probably a few other things I am missing.<br />
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I'm not going to get political and talk about the governments response to the virus because that's all stuff out of my control. Instead I will mention just a few of my thoughts and concerns are during this crazy time.<br />
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First of all, I have really been thinking about those that work in the service industry. Retail, food, and other services that I can't think of at the moment. There have been massive layoffs that have affected these peoples lives no doubt. For all of those people applying to unemployment offices for aid. Hell the price of oil has even tanked and people in that industry are really hurting including a few friends of mine. Consumption of oil has dropped way down with things shut down so the price has plummeted. As sad as the medical facts are and the deaths that have occurred, we can't forget that people who are out of work and struggling to get by each day.<br />
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Now onto the medical side of things. For me, the general media narrative has shifted radically. What started out as nothing more than a "seasonal flu", its now being reported as like "Super AIDS" or something and we all need to avoid everyone and stay inside. That's obviously an exaggeration but still, these 24 hour news networks (CNN, FOX NEWS, MSNBC) with the constant ticker on the side showing the number of cases and deaths is really driving a lot of fear in this country. Most people that catch COVID 19 do recover, the death rate is low. But you probably wouldn't know that watching some of these networks. I'm not trying to minimize the deaths that have occurred. Each death is a travesty and we should collectively mourn as a nation. Hoping a vaccine develops soon because it looks like this virus will be a seasonal thing. Its not that easy though because clinical trials will need to be done first before any type of deployment.<br />
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The main point I am trying to get across I suppose is the delicate balance between the economy and public health that the city/state/national governments need to make decisions on. I don't envy the position of any of these people during this trying time.<br />
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As far as how I'm doing, I'm one of the few lucky ones that have been able to work remotely from home. Work has been really slow but I feel fortunate that my company did not let me go. My main challenge has been self motivation. Keeping myself busy when work is not. I've been playing my guitar a lot and got some really good practice sessions in. I have also been walking more in the park near my apartment just to get out of the apartment and get a change of scenery. I've been visiting my parents more often and that's been good too.<br />
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With that said, for anyone out there struggling either financially, physically, mentally, or all of the above. I hope that things will turn around soon, for all of us. God Bless and stay strong.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-68036261219247011352020-02-21T15:13:00.000-06:002020-02-21T15:13:12.079-06:00On the Astros and cheating... I've gone through a range of emotions on this scandal with the Astros and after critically thinking about the whole situation I think I am finally ready to comment about it.<br />
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First off, it sucks. The whole thing sucks. This is the first off-season in quite a long time where I was not looking forward to the next season. Astros players are going to be targets. Players will be booed. Pitchers are going to hit them. Fans will probably throw things (probably at Yankee Stadium). It's really a no win situation for all involved. First I will comment on the report itself because I think its important to sort out the facts from conspiracies and focus on what we know.<br />
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We know that the Astros had a sign stealing scheme in place for the 2017 season and part of the 2018 season. We know that it involved the center field camera which had a signal feed fed to a monitor in the dugout or the clubhouse. We also know that once the sign was decoded, a player or Astros employee would bang on a trashcan to signify to the hitter that an off-speed pitch (curve, slider, change-up) was coming. If a fastball was signaled, no noise was made. We know that on atleast 2 occasions the manager (A.J. Hinch) destroyed the monitor out of frustration. He was unhappy with the scheme but never explicitly conveyed that to the players. We know that the GM Jeff Luhnow received a memo following the suspension of the Red Sox and Yankees that involved using Apple Watches and replay cameras and the he failed to forward it to others in the organization. We know that the primary "ringleaders" of the scheme were bench coach Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran.<br />
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I think that about covers all the facts from the report. You can read the full report <a href="https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/cglrhmlrwwbkacty27l7.pdf">here</a> <br />
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When the news first came down, I thought about abandoning the team. The team I have cheered for as a child. All those games that I have been to and for what? In particular the joy of going to the 2 playoff games during the 2017 run, I felt cheated as a fan. Yes we won but at what cost? I consider myself a moral person and I don't believe in "cheating" of any sort. Does our title mean nothing now? Do I have to go back to just cheering for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fuck, kill me now. That team is in dire need of new leadership and a long way from even being competitive. Do I do something that I once thought was unthinkable, do I become a Texas Rangers fan? Again, fuck me.<br />
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The hardest part of the whole situation is you can't really quantify how much help the batter gets by knowing what pitch is coming. I know that these are professional athletes that have to react in a split second to a ball thrown usually 95 + mph at them, so any advantage does help. But they still have to know if its high, or low, or inside or outside. It's not a complete easy mode advantage. After reading more and reading Tony Adams's excellent work over at <a href="http://signstealingscandal.com">signstealingscandal.com</a>, I've come to some more conclusions. (1) Not all players used the scheme and (2) The degree of effectiveness is debatable.<br />
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The biggest beneficiary of the trash can bangs seems to be Marwin Gonzalez. He had 147 bangs on 807 pitches (18.2%). He had a career year in '17. Hitting .303 with homers and 93 RBI in the regular season. However, any edge he seemed to have gained in the regular season seemed to disappear in the postseason. He hit .200/.136/.208 in the divisional, league championship, and World Series. Only had 1 home run all postseason but it was arguably the biggest hit in team history. Game 2 in the ninth with the Dodgers looking to go up 2 games to 0, his solo shot tied it and sent the game to extras where the Astros were able to win it and tie the series at 1 game apiece. Did he know what was coming? Maybe we will never know.<br />
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Jose Altuve won the 2017 MVP award edging out a rookie by the name of Aaron Judge. According to the information available, Altuve only had 24 bangs out of 886 pitches, a measley 2.7%. Let's look at his postseason numbers. .533/.320/.194 in the divisional. ALCS, and World Series. He started out red hot but tapered off in the World Series. He did have 2 home runs in the World Series but struggled overall. The Dodgers were a great team, let's not undersell them. You would expect a decline in performance when you are facing stiffer competition. Overall I would say any advantage gained by Altuve in the regular season was extremely minor. He had a terrific year. Judge can cry all he wants to about being "cheated" out of the award but I can't agree with that point of view I'm sorry. Jose Altuve is a generational talent and is an extremely great baseball player.<br />
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Lets look at 1 more player, George Springer. He had 140 bangs out of 972 pitches in the regular season for 14.4% (keep in mind these are home games, which is the only place they could use it.) He had a stellar 2017 campaign hitting .283 with 34 homeruns and 85 RBI. His postseaseon numbers were wildly streaky. He hit .412/.115/.379 in the divisional, ALCS, and World Series. That ALCS series really stands out. The Yankees seemed to have him solved and he was largely ineffective. Averaging out his numbers for that entire postseason he did well hitting .390 overall. In the World Series, he was transcendental. He won the World Series MVP that year hitting 5 home runs and 7 RBI over the 7 gamnes with a .379 average. There's no question these are great numbers. One does wonder though why he struggled so mightily in the series before. Afterall, if he was "cheating", why didn't it work in that series? Maybe he just got hot as players tend to do after being ice cold?<br />
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What I'm hoping to illustrate by these 3 examples are that any advantage gained over this method to me seems small. I can't outright claim it gave no advantage but I don't see a clear correlation to inflated numbers across the board for Astros hitters when they bat at home. With that being said, what they did was wrong and the commissioner came down with punishments. Manager A.J. Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow were both suspended for a year with no pay and were barred from any Major League Baseball facilities. The organization lost its 2019 draft picks and was fined $5 million which is the largest allowable under the current CBA agreement. Many claim this was not enough. There had been a large outcry and big markets like NY that they should have to forfeit their title too. To me though, that just seems silly. Firstly, you can't just give it to LA. They walked off the field having just lost Game 7. Winning it now would seem weird and their players and fans wouldn't be able to adequately celebrate it. Secondly, vacating a title and just saying no winner seems even dumber. So you're telling me I didn't experience what I saw? If the year had no championship, lets just throw out everyone's stats of every team and player since it was a moot point right? You play to win the championship. With no winner, what was the point of the season? This differs from 1994 where there was no postseason due to the players going on strike to protest.<br />
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So where does this leave me? Well I'm still an Astros fan. I am saddened by decisions made by players and staff members but it wasn't me that cheated. I shouldn't have to feel remorseful for anything but yet I do because I know that it was wrong. I think over time it will be better. Right now we are the heels of MLB. I wanted to hate the Red Sox and Yankees, not become them. Ultimately it doesn't matter what I think. I'm just 1 fan. I will say that I am not quite as passionate about the team currently. Maybe that will change when the playoffs come, I don't know. I think once this core group of players grow old and move on to other teams it will be easier for me to like the team then it is at the moment. I still love Jose Altuve. If anything this just proves that good people can let you down and make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. Let's play ball.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-6855423298007980382019-11-28T15:07:00.002-06:002019-11-28T15:07:52.195-06:00Happy ThanksgivingHappy Thanksgiving!!!!<br />
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Have not updated in quite awhile.<br />
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Lots going on in my life. Looking for a new job has kept me busy. Though that is probably on hold until next year, nobody hiring for the last few months of 2019 it seems.<br />
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I've experimented with going sober for an extended time and it has gone well. I've come to the conclusion that I am "thankfully" not an alcoholic. I just need to control my spending. Keeping less credit cards on me in my wallet so I don't buy dumb shit while drunk. I will be drinking less also but won't stop all together. I need to re-commit myself to my health for 2020. Ideally would like to drop around 50-75 pounds which will not be easy.<br />
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I've also realized that I have been holding myself to a higher standard. Which is good but I have always been my worst critic and a bit of a perfectionist. I've been getting better at forgiving myself which is a huge improvement. I would spiral for days after a bad purchase and not want to leave my apartment. But this has been going better.<br />
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Still as single as a slice of cheese though but hopefully that will change shortly. I know that to have a relationship with someone I have to first love myself which I have not been doing. I'm learning to love myself more and grow my relationship with God. I have a lot of improvement that I need to do in the next few years. Wish me luck.<br />
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And of course, Happy Thanksgiving everyone.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-72492734189765165842019-05-10T15:26:00.001-05:002019-05-10T15:26:17.037-05:00Listening <p dir="ltr">I've been doing more listening than talking lately and its been a blessing. As divided as we are politically, we all really are much closer than we think.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Don't let the haters out there rule your world. Be open and show compassion to your fellow man.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Just some self reflection I've been thinking about lately. </p>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-35922054257561180952019-03-30T20:54:00.001-05:002019-03-30T20:54:03.440-05:00Been a while <p dir="ltr">I am still alive!!</p>
<p dir="ltr">I know it's been a hard minute since I've last updated. Been way too long.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I've been getting better at the guitar. Good enough to be able to play rhythm chords to some songs. I love my electric but there's just something about an acoustic that I really dig. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Work is up and down. I really need to build my resume and move on. There's no promotion chance for me at work. I need to spread my wings and fly.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There will be a follow up post soon. </p>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-64298301715874725412018-12-10T09:20:00.000-06:002018-12-10T09:20:09.837-06:00Finally found my Haven Its been too long since I have updated my blog. 2018 is almost over and I can't believe it. I know every year we say "This year has gone by so fast" but it really has. There's been a lot of changes recently at my office. People leaving and moving on. Luckily I am still employed but I am also thinking about moving on myself. I feel like my earning potential is greater than what I am currently receiving now. I have finally moved out from my parents to get my own place. I had been saving for a house but I got impatient and just decided to get an apartment. I needed the independence. I'm closer to my office now and I'm close enough to my parents that I can visit and check on them whenever I need to.<br />
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My guitar lessons have been going fantastic. I busted my first string on my electric but I'm told that is a common occurrence. I got that replaced and I'm back to practicing. I can actually strum along to different songs now which is awesome. I'm also learning to sing while playing which is another trial altogether. You basically have to have the playing down to muscle memory and just think about the next verse. Or have the verse down to memory and just think about playing. So that's something I am currently working on a few songs. I want to eventually write some original songs myself but that is much further down the road. Regardless, I am overjoyed with the progress that I have made in playing in just 2 short years.<br />
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I'm also trying to re-dedicate myself to a healthier lifestyle. I have been seeing a chiropractor for lower back pain. Its been improving but I also realize that I need to lose weight and treat my body better. I am going to cut out sugar and lower the amount of carbs I take in. Also going to give up alcohol which will not be easy. I will probably just end up scaling that way back to 1 drink a week. But I will try to give it up all together. I'm not waiting to make a New Years Resolution because that just BS. I need to start now. I'm getting older and my metabolism is slowing down. And sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day isn't helping me either.<br />
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I also plan to get more involved at my church. I live across the street now from my church so I am very close. I want to find some different ministries to assist in and grow closer to God. My spiritual journey hasn't always been a smooth one but I do believe that God has a plan for me. I just need to figure out what exactly that is and trust his guidance.<br />
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Wishing everyone out there a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583426647038030724.post-22414539892297326672018-04-11T12:44:00.000-05:002018-10-26T16:57:55.894-05:00Gun Control in America<p dir="ltr"><br>
I've been weighing whether or not to write a post on this particular topic for quite some time. Immediately after the Parkland shooting I felt tempers were too hot on both sides so I waited. This won't be long but just wanted voice my personal opinion with all the others.</p>
<p dir="ltr">First off, I am not a gun person. As weird as that sounds being a white male living in Texas, I am not. I have several friends who are though and I did go to a shooting range once for a friend's bachelor party. I can remember firing a higher caliber handgun and shaking afterwards. I remember thinking to myself, "How the hell is this fun? My nerves are shot!" I think I fired 1 more clip and that was enough for me. Now, with that being said, I think as Americans, we have a right to bear arms. I mean, that pesky 2nd amendment states it right there. So I don't take any issue with my friends who go to the range and shoot. If that's what they want to spend their money on, more power to them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The particular tricky bit about the 2nd amendment however is the part about the "well regulated militia".  WTF does that mean? In 2018, the only type of "well regulated militias" that I know of are the armed forces. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I guess all that I'm trying to say is that it's a tricky issue.  I understand that you should be able to protect your family with a gun. But is the family unit similar to a militia? Hmm...</p>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10372817105756376945noreply@blogger.com0