Day Fifty-nine.

Today was a good day, and not in an overt, obvious way.

I know it's a really overused cliché, but no one on this planet has a guarantee that they're gonna live to see tomorrow. Sometimes just waking up in the morning and knowing you get another 24 is enough to make it a great day. Yeah, I know I said "sometimes," and you're probably thinking to yourself, "That's a good reason to be happy every day!"

True though that may be, if we're honest with ourselves, we all know that as human beings, we're far too dense and self-involved to appreciate life's greatest perpetual "freebie" more than once in a blue moon. That said, the big ball o' cheese in the sky must've been a nice cerulean hue today, because I was totally feelin' the first day of December.

Class was decent, and I managed to squeeze in a couple laps in the pool before my counseling appointment, which, following the trend of the day, was as good as ever, albeit a tad short. It's nice to know that the changes that I'm noticing in myself aren't lost on everyone else.

I want to mention something that would've been the main topic of last night's entry if I had written it. I was browsing around Big Lots the other day (who doesn't love Big Lots?), and I was very pleased to hear them playing a steady rotation of Christmas tunes over the store's PA system (see "Christmas music!"). The classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" came on, and I was humming along as I perused ridiculously marked-down goodies, when all of a sudden I heard, "Make the yuletide.....From now on, our troubles will be miles awaayyyy..."

Seriously? Seriously?! Waka Flocka Lame Flame gets away with worse on the radio during your morning commute, and he's completely devoid of talent! I'ts a song from 19-fucking-44! Back when that song was written, "gay" wasn't even used in reference to a person's sexuality! I hope and pray that this is just something that was done to "respect" the South's, er...slightly-less-than-tolerant "sensibilities," but even if that's the case, it's still wrong. What good reason is there to bleep that word out of that line? It's not even a modern song! It's a timeless classic that was written specifically for a Christian holiday. Even if they snicker like 5-year-olds when they hear that line, any yokel knows that's not how they meant it. Furthermore, bleeping the last word in that line negates the rhyme scheme of the following line!

I really do hope that doesn't reflect the entire nation's attitude towards this subject, even if the narrow-minded residents of this region never get it. All this news of bullying and suicide (when they center an episode of Glee around it, it must be serious) doesn't sit well with me at all. I know what it feels like to be made fun of for something you just are. Getting along in this world is difficult enough for "normal" people I'm sure, so when there's something a little different about you, you'd be surprised how quickly that difference grows from an aberration into an albatross.

Everyone should be able to go through life without unnecessary difficulties being heaped upon them on top of the ones that life already gives us by default. On Jay-Z's stellar debut album "Reasonable Doubt," he had a track entitled "Can I Live?" That's all anyone wants. I know that after reading that, some of you might be wondering what my "official" stance on homosexuality is. Well, I'll give it to you quick and easy:

Do I think it's wrong?
Well, in that question, "wrong" is a loaded word if ever there was one. As someone who respects science as the supreme governing force in the universe second only to God Almighty, I employ a scientific point of view as my magnifying glass whenever it's appropriate. That said, I do feel that biologically, it's very strange for us as mammals to be able to somehow override our biological imperative to be attracted to, and reproduce with, members of the opposite sex. Does that make homosexuality wrong? Not at all. Do I think that makes it unusual? Hell yes. Very weird. One might even call it queer, don't you think? The best part is, the majority of the gay community embraces that uniqueness and uses it as a source of strength and creativity.

More specifically, do I think it's morally incorrect?
It's no more wrong to be gay than it is for me to walk the way I do, or for my lovely lady to have wonderfully curly hair. If something is an integral part of who you are as a person, then it cannot be wrong. Oh, were you thinking I just casually mentioned God earlier and I wasn't gonna touch that one? Neither I nor anyone else on the planet can speak for God, so I suppose it's possible that being gay scores you a one-way ticket to Hell. However, I seriously doubt that the Creator of the Universe, who loves us all unconditionally, is that petty. Furthermore, it's ridiculous to think He'd take offense to an innate quality in someone, when He himself draws up the blueprints for each and every one of us!

So in short, no, I don't think being gay is wrong. I think there needs to be a MLK-esque figure for this minority, to inspire and edify just like Dr. King did. Yeah, I just drew a comparison between gayness and the Civil Rights Movement. Wanna fight about it? Just think about it. A minority group of people who have long been regarded as being "less-than" in every way. Ostracized and downtrodden because they're not like everyone else, or more correctly, not what everyone else thinks they should be. The parallels are all there, and I'm sure I'm not the first person to point them out. Just sayin'.

Ok, I'm done for now. I promise. It's just that the idea of anyone being made to feel shitty for being who they are makes my blood boil. Maybe I can voice that because I'm finally in a good place with myself. Whatever the reason, I want every duck to be able to swim in the pond in peace. The ones with the pink-frosted feathers or the bum leg may fall into a hunter's crosshairs more easily, but that doesn't mean they can't quack, loud and proud! I leave you with this, dear readers:

Irvin Kershner.

"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter."

On Saturday, Hollywood, and the whole of geekdom for that matter, lost an icon. Irvin Kershner, best-known for directing The Empire Strikes Back, the Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning sequel to Star Wars, died at the age of 87, following a three-year battle with lung cancer.

Star Wars creator George Lucas had this to say:
"The world has lost a great director and one of the most genuine people I've had the pleasure of knowing. Irvin Kershner was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I knew him from USC - I attended his lectures and he was on the festival panel that gave the prize to my THX* short. I considered him a mentor."

It is generally agreed upon by geeks and casual fans alike, that The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the six Star Wars films. A huge part of that, in my opinion, was Irvin Kershner's direction. Remember kiddies, this was back before CGI, so Yoda was a Muppet, controlled by hand. In the scenes depicting Luke Skywalker's training on Dagobah, Mark Hamill's strengths shine through, as his timing, facial expressions, and delivery really make you believe that he's interacting with someone, and not just an inanimate puppet with someone's hand inside.

Not only is Empire the best of the Star Wars movies, but it is my personal favorite film of all time. It's become a euphemism for movie sequels that far surpass their predecessors (ie: "Deathly Hallows is the Empire Strikes Back of the Harry Potter flicks, man!"). I'm sure this wouldn't be the case had Irvin Kershner not been at the helm. Rest in peace.


*Editor's note: George Lucas' first foray into filmmaking, back when he was still a student, for those less geeky than yours truly.

Christmas music!

I promised you guys two entries last night, so here's the second one.*

This time of the year is probably my favorite, and that's due in large part to the entertainment that abounds during the holiday season (It's a Wonderful Life, anyone?), particularly the music. Now, I know I use my fair share of profanity, and I'm certainly no saint, but I hope it's not too surprising to anyone that I back Team Jesus as my religion of choice. That said, as soon as the last bit of Thanksgiving turkey is in my belly and my fork hits the plate, they start to play in my head. "Who is 'they'," you ask? Why, the carols, of course!

As much as I adore Santa and his fleet of enchanted Bambis, Charlie Brown, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and strange reanimated anthropomorphic snow people, nothing quite hits me like the classics (and by classics, I mean not of this century); "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," "O Holy Night," and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" are just a few of the ones that spring to mind. Truthfully, I like 'em all.

Now, I totally get that Jesus' birthday was likely in the spring, as it's highly improbable that a baby was born in Israel, in the dead of winter, outdoors, and survived to grow up big and strong to save the world.* All the same, there's something about cozying up to a crackling fire and hearing your favorite crooners lay those sweet yuletide notes on you. I thought my readers might appreciate knowing what I've got in my iPhone's freshly-minted "Christmas" playlist, so here goes, and of course, the list is subject to change, which would almost certainly just be additions.

1. The "Merry Christmas" album by Mariah Carey "That whore!"*

2. "Merry Christmas II You," the follow-up album to "Merry Christmas," also by Mariah Carey. "She looks like a transvestite in the face!"*

3. "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole, arguably the greatest holiday album ever.

4. "Elvis' Christmas Album," by Elvis Presley, if for no other reason than to hear his very Elvis-esque pronunciations of your favorite holiday lyrics, LOL!

5. "Star Bright," which, as far as I'm concerned, is Vanessa Williams' only Christmas album worth listening to.

6. "Harry for the Holidays," by Harry Connick, Jr.

Lastly, there are various singles, without which any "Christmas" playlist would find itself in ill repute:

"This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway

"Silent Night" by The Temptations

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives

"Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms

"The Night that Christ was Born" by Kirk Franklin and the Family

"Little St. Nick" by the Beach Boys

"Sleigh Ride" by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops

"Silver Bells" by Johnny Mathis

"It Wouldn't be Christmas" by Jaci Velasquez

*Editor's note: It looks as if there's going to be a third entry tonight, though it saddens me to have to write it.

*Editor's note: Though, now that I think of it, Jesus was a super-powered baby, so why not?

*Editor's note: I added these exclamations after mentioning Mariah's albums to save Mel the extra effort of muttering them out loud. Oh, the things I do for her! :-P

Day Fifty-seven.

"Chuck Norris? Is that you?"

Why yes, yes it is (minus the beard, and the general badassery)!

Today was a long day. As long as it was, though, I can say I feel a genuine sense of accomplishment at the end of it. I woke up at my usual 8ish time this morning, but with a skull-splitter of a headache. I went back to sleep for an hour or so, and then realized that because of my recent military ID debacle (see "Day Fifty-four"), I was in health insurance limbo, and couldn't just take my pounding head to the nearest E.R. or urgent care center. Spurred on by my only option, I trudged out to Skeletor (my Accord, for those of you not in the know) and headed to NCSU's Student Health Center.

What I got was the same ol' song-and-dance of "Here's some Motrin," and "Let's take your temperature," but with the added twist of "Have you been eating a balanced diet lately?"

I was told that it may very well have been a Vitamin D deficiency, after I informed the nurse that I had also been achy. Yeah, you thought right. A Vitamin D deficiency, aka "rickets," that shit that pirates used to develop way back in the day along with scurvy. This is because pillaging and plundering presumably left little time for a proper diet; that, and rum, delicious though it may be, isn't exactly packed with nutrients. Historically-themed jokes aside, she said that it's more common than people think, especially in the winter months, when good ol' Mr. Sun seems less eager to show his face.

Armed with this (slightly amusing) information, I did the only thing I could think of and went home and chugged some moo juice. Surprisingly (or not, as they are medical professionals after all), it did the trick! An hour or two later, I felt good as new! However, that was only the start of my day...

After replenishing my body's Vitamin D silos, I called the Dept. of Defense, and made sure that they faxed the necessary paperwork over to Ft. Bragg before I even left to make the drive to the 'Ville. With the fax confirmed, I headed down to the base, seemingly beset by more than the usual number of red lights, fender benders, and grannies-in-Buicks along the way. I finally got there, and still had to wait over 2 hrs to get my ID card! The good thing is that I did get it, and more importantly, I made all the necessary phonecalls and inquiries myself. That may not seem like such a big deal to some of you, but I assure you dear readers, for me, it is (those of you with whom I'm personally acquainted know this to be the case).

I took care of something that was pretty important, and nobody had to hold my hand or walk me through it. I did it because it needed to get done, and it needed to get done by me. That's a pretty good feeling, and as I do it more and more, it feels just as good, and less foreign.

Well, with my shiny gold star sticker affixed to my chest ("I did something all by myself!"), I'm headed to that dreamy place where girlfriends don't despise Mariah Carey, the Star Wars trilogy was released on Blu-Ray yesterday (hint-hint, George), and ducks rule the avian kingdom. Quizzack.

Day Fifty-six.

"Thanks for the mention Eddy [sic], you've been a great friend, and Mentor."

It's the return of the quote! Tonight's header however, comes not from my lady love, but from everyone's favorite introspective, intelligent Indian, my main man Kevin! Don't forget, you can take a peek into his refreshing ruminations (which seem to be getting updated as much as mine should be) here!

I almost went to sleep without blogging again tonight! Once again, I feel the need to apologize, and at least partially explain the absence of an entry for Day 55. Actually, on second thought, I don't think I can explain, but if you had tagged along with yours truly during Day 55, you'd understand, believe me. 'Nuff said.

Today started out kinda slow (and late, I didn't wake up till noon!), but Day 56 rounded itself out nicely; running errands that have nothing to do with me never felt so good! Kevin's recent thoughts on the true definition of beauty (and the person who opened his heart & mind to that truth) has me pondering the strange way in which the meanings of things evolve as we progress through life.

I remember being 15 and being absolutely sure of what love was, and that I was knee-deep in it. Now, at 27, I feel that I've only recently begun to understand this thing that is often described as the great mystery of life. That's a perfectly accurate description by the way, completely free of any hyperbole or cliché. It really is a huge mystery, but once you start unraveling it, you totally see how great it can be.

Sleep calls to me, "Eddieeeeee...your pillows are fluffed, and your bed is warm..." I think I'll oblige it. Tomorrow there'll be two entries as penance for my continued negligence lol. One will detail my musical methods of getting into the proper mood for this festive season! Quack, the herald angels sing!

Day Fifty-four.

So, I got the run-around at the ID office today. The clerical staff of the United States Army can be so inept sometimes. I woke up around noon, showered, and got to the office at about 1pm. I was there until 4:30pm. With no progress. Oh well, it'll get done Monday, come hell or high water lol.

As good as Thanksgiving was, I was very glad to be back home tonight. Gonna get some rest now, cuz I anticipate a long, fun day tomorrow, capped off by church! Keep on quackin'!

Oh! I almost forgot! The lil' homie (and Mel's favorite buddy) Kevin now has his very own blog, entitled "The Detour," which you can find here. It was opened tonight, so there's only one entry, but it's worth a gander, if I do say so. He's a fan of this blog, as are you, dear readers (I would like to assume), so it's not a stretch to think that his writings will interest you as well.

Thanksgiving Day.

Well readers, I don't have internet access at good ol' Mom's house, but fear not, for I have found a way! Now keep in mind that this is the first time I've ever used Blogspot's mobile blogging, so I'm not quite sure how this is gonna turn out.

Apparently, it's as easy as sending a text message to this number that they give you, and that message is then posted as your latest blog entry.*

Now I realize I won't get to do anything too fancy using this avenue (such as italics or different-colored fonts), but I wonder if the subject line of this text will become the subject line of this blog entry? Only one way to find out!

Today was unlike any other Thanksgiving I've ever had in my nearly 28 years of life. I'm proud to say my family has gained a few new members in the last couple years; one is a master barber (he prefers to call himself a "hair doctor") who's swept my mom off her feet, and the other is his son whom I've been friends with for years, who is currently turkey-less in Iraq, defending our freedom to stuff ourselves silly once a year.

Yet somehow, the number of people joining hands to bless the turkey, etc. today was the same as when it was just me, Mom and Susan years ago. Susan's in L.A., and Yun's in the sandbox, so it was just me, Mom and Mr. Song. It seemed like a lot of trouble to cook for just us, so per my mother's well-timed suggestion (my tummy was growling by the time I got out of bed at 1pm), we headed to the DFAC on base, where they had prepared all the Thanksgiving mainstays, for just $7.00 a head! Can't beat a deal like that with a stick!

The food was quite tasty, and served up in portion sizes appropriate to the occasion. As I was eating, though, the rotini in my pasta salad reminded me of the curly locks that frame the face of someone I would like to have had at that table as much as any of my absent family members.

But I'm feelin' hopey, not mopey, because as quickly as the holiday season seemed to sneak up on us this year, it'll be back around just as quickly in 2011. And I know that next year, the table will be decidedly fuller.

I'm thankful to God for everyone in my life that loves me and has stuck by me, even when I've been less-than-deserving of it. Good thing I'm not gonna have that issue anymore. Quack!


*Editor's note: The text-to-blog thing obviously did not turn out as planned, hence the lateness of this post. I'll get it figured out, though, fear not!

Random thoughts.

I apologize, dear readers. I know I've been remiss in my commitment to maintaining the daily nature of this blog, which is as much a part of my mental and emotional therapy as it is for your reading enjoyment. My evenings had become very suddenly busy, and it left me little time, not to mention energy, to write. However, it's a safe bet that I'm gonna start having a bit more time before I hit the hay, so look out for "Day Fifty-four." ("Day Fifty-three" will, understandably, likely be pre-empted by a food coma.)

This time of year means turkey (tomorrow!), trees, and presents. But it also means Christmas candy! Christmas candy is by far, the best of the seasonal offerings (yes, Easter included), and here's why: I love the combination of chocolate and mint.

I had always been a fan of the timeless pairing that is peanut butter & chocolate. However, the more I happened upon chocolate/mint things, the more I began to shy away from ol' Mr. Reese in favor of climbing the Andes.

I'm also a big fan of white chocolate, which I'm sure can be blamed on attributed to my dear mommy's affinity for el chocolate blanco. So imagine my joy, when around this time last year, I spied a special "Candy Cane" iteration of Hershey's famous Kisses! They're red-and-white striped, minty white chocolate Kisses, infused with crunchy bits of real peppermint candy!

And wouldn't you know it, it just so happens that my candy jar on my desk had gotten dangerously low in the past week or so. Now it's not:



Before I forget, I've been meaning to shout-out my newest reader. She's my homegirl from way back in 9th grade, and single mom extraordinaire, Nikki! She also has a blog, entitled "The Love-Cracked Chronicles," which you can peep here. It's always a good read.

With that, I bid you all a Happy Thanksgiving, with a "gobble gobble," and a "quack quack!"

So true.

On this past week's episode of Boardwalk Empire, Al Capone was in attendance at a bar mitzvah, and while he was trying to make sense of it all, an old rabbi leaned over and explained it to him, leaving young Al with this thought to chew on: "All of us who are worth anything, spend our manhood unlearning the follies of our youth." I'm feeling that. I've been doing as much unlearning lately as learning. Excelsior!

Day Forty-eight.

Looks like I'm headed to bed without doing what's become as much a part of my nighttime ritual as brushing my teeth, or writing in this blog. And before your minds head to the gutter, no, it's not that. It's far more innocent, though no less satisfying. It even helps me sleep better, much like that, LOL!

With that, I suppose I should hit the hay. I just got back from doing my laundry at my sister's place not too long ago. Gonna go to church in the morning, and I don't wanna doze off, especially since Pastor Mike's not gonna be delivering the message. Flappin' my wings to dreamland, and quackin' as I go!