I did not vote for Obama the first time around, because I truly believed that Hillary Clinton was the best person for the job and none of the other Democratic and Republican hopefuls caught my “mental eye”. Fast forward to today…

In the midst of all the Republican debates and primaries, once again I find myself beginning to think about my voting options for the upcoming presidential election but I just don’t find myself gravitating to anyone running, including Obama. My issue with the President remains the same as it did during the democratic primaries of 2008. I like him, I honestly think that he wants America to be great and that he’s a strong, intelligent and patriotic American. I just think that in the current political environment, we need someone who not only wants change, but knows how to get it done in a way that doesn’t continue to divide us and brings hope and optimism to the nation.

When speaking of “good times”, many people refer to the Reagan era, but for me, living in the Bronx, it was a time that I can reflect on with good memories. The Bronx was not safe, dirty and drugs, gangs and welfare were the norm.. Personally, for me, I think the Clinton era was the happiest national time in my life. Most parts of the country were doing well, the economy was changing and expanding, and even through the Monica Lewinsky stuff, I felt like America was the hope of the world.

Today, I still think we are and that when all countries are stacked side by side, America is still the greatest nation. I just think we forget that sometimes and maybe, that’s all we really need to start turning things around. We’ve always had regulations, taxes and “big government” and the only thing I don’t feel us having is confidence. We owe it to the world, and more importantly to ourselves to regain that pride in our country, our economy and our American culture. I honestly don’t think Obama or the Republican hopefuls are fostering that and that Clinton, even in his darkest days and mistakes, still was able to make me believe in American Exceptionalism. I think that’s what made Bill Clinton a great president (to me, at least) and that Hillary would be just as effective. Though Hillary running for office is not a likely option, wouldn’t it be great? Something unexpected, something inspiring, something American..

Now we’ve all come across the inconsiderate smoker who could care less about throwing a cigarette butt on the ground or if their smoke cloud hits you in the face, but that’s another entirely separate conversation. Generally, I see how smokers are constantly being chastised for doing something that is legal and there seems to be no sympathy or empathy to a practice which again, is not only legal, but an addiction . Smokers pay extra taxes for purchasing cigarettes, higher health insurance rates (in many cases) and can even be denied employment in many areas.

Many of us have been affected by the consequences of ‘drinking and driving’  and poor Justin Bieber is all too familiar with  how ‘texting while walking’ can go so wrong, so fast. While there is a general concern for both and a few laws have been implemented, both are still considered fine as long as done in moderation and in the right place and time. As a matter of fact, running (which can lead to arthritis or pedestrian-to-auto accidents ) is considered a healthy activity. Where is the additional fee for hikers, who are at risk of getting lost, being attacked by wildlife, or spraining an ankle, all of which may require medical attention and the possible deployment of a search and rescue team. None of these activities are penalized and/or regarded as unsavory (except for alcohol, though to a lesser extent), yet each can lead to personal injury and have the potentially for involving the general public.

So from the legal activity of smoking, cities make huge profits off of  taxation and smokers are still considered a nuisance to society. In the few restaurants that still have smoking sections, a non-smoker will request ‘first available’, then complain once they’re sat in the smoking section or stare at the smoker like they’ve done something wrong. I’m not saying that this is a one-way street and that smokers should be able to violate a non-smoker’s right to be smoke-free, only that a New Yorker, shouldn’t have to trek over to Jersey or Connecticut for a smoke break (not even sure about the laws in those states).

I can’t help but theorize that the hidden goal for this ban is to make a little extra income. It’s a fact that smoking has declined since the late 90′s, early 2000′s in the United States,  just think of all the lost revenue since the early nineties. What better way to refill those coffers than by aggressively going after tobacco companies,  cutting funding for smoking prevention programs while simultaneously keeping smoking a legal purchase and adding hurdles and fines to those who break these ridiculous laws. What used to smell smoky, is now starting to smell a little fishy..

What say you?

What I can say, as fact, is that Egypt is on the precipice of a revolution and to most accounts that’s the best thing that could happen to it. I know Mubarak and the current government is not a shining example of a functioning electable democracy but that there is also a fear that a radical Islamic group will take over, if the situation is not handled properly.

So the people protest for freedom, the government tries to ‘control’ the move and chaos break out. With all the issues that we still face here in the U.S. and the rest of the westernized world, it would be silly to preach to those who are struggling for what we take for granted, but it does make me wonder about the Arab world and what’s happening to it (particularly, in the Middle East).

On one hand, I think it’s great whenever a society fights for freedom. Personally, I think that no matter what race or religion you belong to, no one should ever be denied the freedom to speak their voice and everyone should have control over their own destiny (as long as no one is harmed in the process). That isn’t coming from the Christian side of me, that’s my human side.

On the other hand, an uncertain future  is so… well…uncertain. Especially with this surge of radical Islamic groups and how they have been able to get such a strong foot hold in other Middle Eastern nations, because of a new-found freedom. Makes me wonder, where are all the options? Again, not that I’m preaching, as my nation is, for all intents and purposes, a two-party government. But even at its worst, I’m glad I live in a country were I don’t have to fear the uncertain and that the actual freedom and availability for options is still open to me.  

Actually, what may disturb me the most about what’s happening in Egypt is reading about the  historical treasures which are being looted and destroyed. I don’t understand why this is happening. Egypt is a historical and cultural powerhouse. We only need to remember the great library of Alexandria to wonder about how much history was lost then and how much more is currently in danger.

I won’t take a definite stand for either party, because as mentioned earlier, I’m sure the issue has several layers and the possible outcome is so varied, but I wish all sides were a bit more conscious and considerate of their own history and of public property. I think about the riots in L.A. and I have to say, regardless of what side you were on, it was wrong that businesses and innocent bystanders suffered because personal greed, disguised as ‘freedom fighting’.

Personally, Egypt is one of those places I want to visit before I die which makes this situation even more worrisome for me. I regard Egypt’s past as humanity’s past and I believe it’s culture has influenced the entire world. As a human race, we have so many things to be proud of and we’ve accomplished so much in our journey to being ‘civilized’. I just hope we don’t disregard the history of it all. There’s nothing wrong with preserving your past and being considerate of your  present as you determine your future.

What are your thoughts? Let me know!!

First, I know that there was an attempt to modernize the show a bit, so in comparison to the original broadway production,  I ‘m not sure of what is new or not, but I couldn’t help but notice the use of a lot of ‘cuss’ words in Spanish. I liken it to hearing my imaginary ‘innocent’ child swearing to his friends in the school playground. It just didn’t sit well with me and I know I wasn’t alone. I could also hear the gasps from other Spanish speakers in the audience, who mostly likely grew up watching the movie version, like me, wondering were the magical pureness of the story went.

That brings me to my second observation. It appeared as if the characters and plot were more sex driven. It seems as if they tried to inject humour, but mostly in sexual innuendos. There was a lot of air-humping and many lines were said with a  sexual connotation, which again, messed with my expectations of a classic.

The last thing I’ll mention was the bilingual reworking of some of the lines and songs. Now, I know Spanish, so there wasn’t a fear of being lost in the translation and I checked with my “American” partner who was also able to follow the story, but once again, I was just bothered by it.  For me, it’s more than just the lyric and musical composition of a song that makes me fall in love with it , there’s also the sound of the letters and the words.

There are so many songs that I’ve heard in both languages and more often than not, prefer the Spanish version, but then there are classics which shouldn’t be touched, regardless of the original language, except perhaps improving the quality of instruments or the volume/clarity of the voice.

By now, you’re probably thinking that I’m giving it ‘two thumbs down’ or that I’m simply an irritated unsatisfied jerk, but that isn’t the case. Overall, I still loved it. The singing, dancing and acting were all great and again, it was such a thrill to see something like that ‘live’. I do recommend it to anyone who has the chance to see it, and for the younger generations who have never even heard of WSS, I think this could possibly be a great modern introduction to a fantastic classic musical.

Wow, I just had an epiphany! Now I know why old people complain all the time!! It’s because the world is changing around them and they don’t like it. That also means, I’m becoming one of them. Oh No!!!

Naw, I can’t end my post that way, so instead I’ll say that I’m just a giver, and I had “two cents” in my pocket, so I thought I’d give it..

The people who enter our lives are so diverse and need to be placed in so many different categories, it can make you dizzy. This becomes so evident once you begin going through the list of whom to shop for and what your credit card limit is.

There’s that person, whom you recently met and like a lot, but wonder, should you get them something? Have you reached that level in friendship? What if you don’t, then they do? (It’s always smart to have an emergency gift)
Then, there’s the one who says ‘times are tough, we should have a spending limit for each other’, as they put on their Gucci jacket and drive off in their Maserati, heading towards the mall for a ‘well-deserved spending splurge’ on themselves. What can I possibly get them other than a key chain?

Oh, how about the family. There’s the crazy aunt who insists on knitting her own gifts and that a fuchsia colored sweater is the perfect present for an adolescent male with low self-esteem. How do you return the favor, perhaps a Harley Davidson wife beater, X Large?

We can’t forget about co-workers.. Secret Santa is so much fun, unless you pull the name of the one person you don’t really know, or care for.. or both. What about the boss? What gift says ‘I really enjoy working for you and wanted to get you a really nice present’ while still hinting at ‘I am way too underpaid and overworked, have you thought about giving me a raise lately?’

Of course, we can’t forget the best friend who pesters you into telling them what to get you, only to disapprove. ‘Socks? That’s not a REAL Christmas gift! I’m not getting you that!’

It appears as if I’m nagging, but truly, for a holiday which many considered too commercialized, this is what I love about it. It’s a quick snapshot of the crazy, unpredictable, dysfunctional lives we have. I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on how beautifully abnormal our society is. Anyone’s got an aspirin?

Of course, now there’s the whole “War on Christmas” debate which is taken over the holidays and honestly, I don’t get it. It’s amazing how something which probably began as a trivial concern or question, has become a ‘War’ and personally, while non-Christians probably began this, both sides are acting immature and making a mountain out of a mole hill. I couldn’t imagine being Atheist, Jewish, Islamic, etc. and having an issue with the celebration of a religion, as long as no animals are harmed in the process (LOL).

Seriously though, this fight has become ridiculous, on both fronts and I find myself struggling to figure out how this mess truly began and who keeps fueling the fire. I can remember a few years back, saying ‘Happy Holidays” to someone and they turned to me, with a look of disapproval and replied ‘you mean, Merry Christmas, don’t you?’. As if he assumed I was, either not a Christian, or fooled by atheists into adapting their vernacular. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll say ‘Happy Hanukkah’ to my Jewish friends on Hanukkah, ‘Merry Christmas’ to my Christian friends on Christmas, etc. When I’m not sure, or when I want to wish someone well for the entire winter holiday season, I’ll say ‘Happy Holidays’. To both sides I say this: Know thy enemy, keep your war on the battlefield and let the joyful stay merry and happy..

Having moved back to Atlanta after many years, I was taken back by the number of positions requiring a college degree. Many do not mention experience as a substitute and many that do, still require a combination of experience with a college degree, just to be interviewed.

This has me feeling a little surprised and as if I’m considered ‘less than’ and unable to go toe to toe with a graduate. While I do not consider myself highly educated (on a continued level, at least), I do think that I’m intelligent, have years of experience in my field and would be an asset to any organization. I’ve found in the past that even those who prefer a college grad are highly impressed, once they’ve had the opportunity to meet with me. I happen to be one of those people who enjoy being interviewed while still being extremely nervous at the same time (I liken it to visiting a haunted house. Scary, but I keep going back for more and I get a bit of a rush from it )

I do understand the value of a higher education but also that every individual is different and that a person’s merit should not be solely based on whether they’ve had the means and/or time to attend university. Again, I can totally see how it’s a benefit and can say a lot about a person’s drive, intellect, etc. I just think that work experience is an additional and equal substitute for a degree and should be equally valuable. In the least, the door should be open for all to prove themselves.

I think there are 3 main types of decisions we make. There are the good ones, which bring us joy, satisfaction, movement and can cause us to cry in a good way. We love these decisions because there are no regrets and many times can be such an ego-booster. If only this was the only kind, the world would be near perfect, huh?

Then, there are bad decisions. While they tend to suck and cause us to cry, in a bad way, they still have the unique ability to be a positive and necessary part of life. We learn from them, grow, and can change the course of our lives, potentially leading to even more enlightened and important good decisions in the future. What I can appreciate about bad decisions is that I’ve made so many of them, but in hindsight, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and I think I’m finally in a good place.

Lastly, are what I call uncategorized decisions. Have you ever made a decision, at the time, knowing for sure that it was either a good or bad one. Then, a few weeks, months, years later, you’re not so sure and it all becomes blurry? Maybe you were never sure, but needed to make one and now, you’re stuck.

Every year or so, you’re wondering if it was a good or bad decision and the status changes depending on your mood. I think these are horrible because you never truly classify them. They can keep you in limbo, always doubting yourself, always wondering ‘what if’.

The worst is that we never learn from them, because we don’t know what they are. What can make them even more complicated is when our heart tells us one thing, and our mind another. Which one do you listen to? Sure the brain is more intelligent, but your heart is what gives you life, how can you argue with that? This can drive a person insane. These decisions are the scars that never heal and keep us from moving on. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND MUST BE DESTROYED!!! LOL..

No one disagrees that a good friendship, honestly, good heart, communication, etc. are all necessary, but I wonder if the importance of sex is a recent thing. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think a sexless couple is the healthiest of situations, or the ultimate goal of a partnership, only that perhaps if we focused less on sex, maybe there would be less divorces and less affairs.. Why is it the we, as humans, have learned to maintain long-term relationships with family members and best friends without sex, but for a life partner, it’s a requirement. (Yuck, sex with family members.. Didn’t mean for that thought to pop into my head), but you all know what I mean..

To conclude, sex is great. I love it and I want my relationship to be filled with it for many years to come, but I also want a Plan B.. I want to know that I can faithfully love someone and be content in a monogamous relationship, just because there’s no one else I’d rather be with (in or out of the sheets).

What say you?
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I can still remember being a child and having my first depressing thought. ‘Why am I here?’ was the question I asked myself and as hard as I tried, I could not find an answer. Sometimes, it got so bad, I would sit on the ledge of the roof of my apartment building, daring myself to jump, getting even more angrier at myself because I didn’t.

Some of the kids picked on me, but that never really mattered. The truth is, I was my own worst enemy and did a great job of putting myself down. What could a fat, ugly, weird gay guy ever contribute to society?

Maybe you’re feeling like I did? Maybe, your one these things, maybe you’re all and then some?
If you are like me, you’re probably also thinking to yourself ‘Oh gosh, I hope this isn’t one of those “Cheer up” rants’.. Hate to disappoint you, but this is… Sort of..

I’ll just tell you this.. Stay in your dark mood, go through what you need to go through and experience every feeling that you need to feel. Be depressed and when you start to think ‘I want this to be over’, then strive for that, but in a good way. I can honestly say that the worst thing I could have ever done was to end it all. Yeah, my life hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine, but I’m so glad I’m alive.. Trust me, you will be too.

Smiling is a quick happy fix. Even if it’s only temporary, it can mean a world of difference. So my advice to you is, look at yourself in the mirror, think all the bad things you usually think… Then smile, even if you look funny, smile until you laugh.. Smile until you realize that you’re not so bad after all. No one is.. Not you, not me.. SMILE..