Getting Old? How Bad Can It Be?

As a middle aged, 53 year old man, I'm feeling "wiser" every day! Although, when I get up from bed, I seem a bit sore. Actually, I feel as though I have been beat by a baseball bat. I go to the doctor more then I use to. I seem to come into the room and then forget what I came in there for. I'm just thankful for my beautiful wife that keeps me on the straight and narrow. She's my rock!

I seem to go to the bathroom on a regular basis. I used to drive trucks for a living and could hold my urine for hours! Not any more! It's like having to go about every two hours or so.

Today I painted some then played my music on my guitars. I have two acoustic guitars. One is an Epiphone and the other is a Fender! My Electric guitar is an Ibanez.

Sometimes I just love to get a nice bottle of red, go to my man cave and play. Oh! I almost forgot! I also play the piano by ear. I love music. I was raised up on good old fashioned Stamp Baxter Gospel. I was under the spell of the Happy Goodmans, the Hemphills, the Oakridge boys before they went country! Then I went to school and was exposed to the Classics! Of course my Aunt Peggy exposed me to the Beatles as we rode down the road in her Mustang. The rest is history! Gospel, Rock, Classical, Blues, Rockabilly, Country, Blue Grass, Jazz, Hip Hop, it all moves me in some manner! Whether it's tapping my foot, nodding my head, snapping my fingers or shaking my bootie. It's a fact!  I love music!

Dance is such a profound part of mankind. We have been dancing since the beginning of man! We danced to tell stories. We danced to began the mating rituals. We danced for love. We danced for war. We danced for joy! We danced just to be dancing! The movement, the timing, the passion is intoxicating!

King David of Israel, Danced before the Lord. King Solomon says, that there is a time to dance! No where in the pages of the Bible has it ever forbidden anyone to dance. That is a fact. Go Ahead, Look it up.

In the time that I have been alive, some amazing things have happened. The Berlin wall was built and torn down. We discovered space by putting rockets into space, landing on the moon, circling the Earth, as well as putting a space station into space and a robot on the planet Mars! Now NASA is taking applications for a one way trip to Mars.

Why would I want to do something like that? Why would I want to die on Mars? I guess that they would freeze me, so that I would wake in about ten years. Then wouldn't I just die of lack of oxygen? Lack of Water or food? Maybe NASA is looking into this WORM hole theory of traveling thru space using Fusion Power? String Theory or Einstein's Theory of Realitivity. What if he got it wrong?

Who knows? If you have followed my blogs, I have spoken about my Ant Theory. Maybe, we are getting closer to seeing, contacting or finding other species in Space. Intelligent Life in Space? You have to know that we ARE NOT alone! As vast as space is you MUST know that we are NOT the center of the Universe, the Galaxy or Space itself!

For one to ignore the facts would mean that we must go back to the caveman existance. We must go forward in our exploring.

With that being said, Why have we not put hardly any funding into Ocean Exploration? There is so much for us to find! We are always finding new species! If we are finding new species on our own planet why would there not be new species in Space?

In terms of growing older, there are so many conveniences that have come to fruition during my life time. The Abacus was replaced by computers. Computers have been replaced with laptops, Ipads, Iphones and soon it will be implants!

Televisions have gotten bigger yet thinner and with more channels! Wireless is no longer considered Black Magic! The Internet has grown from a government communications program to a global, social being! The world now lives and breaths on the internet. Governments can be topled by Social Media and by viruses that invade our bandwith.

Microwaves, Nano technology, cloning, DNA, BioMetrics and on goes the growing list of Technologies that are permeating our existance! We continue on!

After all has been said and done, one day, I will retire. I will live my life out. I will be able to create more art, drink more wine, travel when I can.

Wouldn't it be great just to win the Lottery? Would it change me? People say that it doesn't but it does!
Your out look on relationships change. You are always wandering if people like you for your money or just for you? Your idea of personal space and security changes. Your idea of how to protect your money changes. You have too much money then just to put it in a bank. You have to think about Trust Funds, Individual Accounts, protecting it from over taxing by putting it into Individual Retirement Accounts. Of course you want to take care of your children, grandchildren or great grandchildren by putting money into 429 accounts. You have to put trust in a Personal Finance Manager, Attorneys and Accountants.
Your mode of travel changes. Instead of Coach you move to First Class or maybe you just use a personal executive jet to jetset around the planet. You go from driving your personal car to a limo or maybe being flown in a helicopter. See? There is change.

I'm always amazed how people win the lottery and they make so many mistakes and then you see them homeless or worse.

I would think that you should always plan for every contingency. Include your family in your plans so that they are on board when the time comes.

Growing old also brings us closer to the portal of life and afterlife.
Personally, I believe that you should have a will in place as well as a living trust. Don't be so stupid as to die with out your family knowing what is to become of your body and personal effects. This leads to fighting and hurt feelings among family members.
Let them know how that you feel about them and what they are getting when you die. Let them know, how that you want to be cared for if you are in the hospital near death. Let them know what kind of Service that you want or if you even want a Service. Maybe you just want a Memorial Party?

These are just a few things to think about. I don't know it all and don't claim to but I know that even I need to update some things.

Guys! Let's get organized and prepare for our next Journey. The Final Journey into New Frontier.

                                                   What are your ideas or thoughts?
           
                                         Lets start that dialogue.

Art, Music and Wine! Some Things Do Get Better With Time!

I have lived over a half century. I have seen leaders as well as governments rise and fall. I have seen fashion come full circle. I have seen art and music evolve. I have changed over the years.

There was a time when I was secluded and separated by rationales and beliefs. I was extremely conservative Christian in my beliefs. I am still and always will be a Christian but I'm liberated by Christ,

My Father was an alcoholic but since he had accepted Christ he had not touched a dropped. I never even saw him smoke a cigarette. He was strict but fair. I respected him for that.

I read my Bible and my eyes were opened. There was nothing wrong with having a glass of wine but it was wrong to be drunk and do stupid things.

The same was with music. I was shielded as a child. I was exposed to Gospel music and the Classics. As I Child that's all that I knew. My Aunt Peg introduced me to the Beatles. Pandora's box was opened! I secretly started listening to Rockabilly, Country, Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, Hip Hop and the rest is History!

I started singing on Sunday morning on the stage of the First Baptist Church. It was just a bunch of snot nosed kids but it was exciting to get up there and sing the B-I-B-L-E!

I learned that I had a great first tenor voice and people really responded positively to my singing! My Father being and Evangelist we drove thousands of miles going from Church to Church singing all the way.

I have played the piano since I was thirteen. When I was nine, my parents bought an Organ and paid for Organ playing lessons. I went to one lesson. Upon coming out to the car my Mother ask me how I liked the teacher. I said, "Mom,she was the worst teacher of all!" "Why is that, Honey?" She questioned. I replied,"She would point at the note on the music sheet and ask me, What note is that?" I would answer,"I don't know, you're the teacher!"

Four years later, I sat down on a piano bench and started tinkering around with notes and chords. I began sitting down and practicing Everytime I saw a piano free. It would be three in the morning and I would be playing. My father would holler down into the basement where we had an old piano and say,"Raymond, I can't sleep, can you please go to bed now?"
I played in Church and loved every bit of it!

Art has always been a passion of mine. Drawing, doodling, painting, sculpting it all gets my juices flowing!

I would Doodle in school. I was always scetching something! I simply loved art class in school!

I doodled in Church, at home, anywhere where I could find paper pencil or pen!
I am amazed when I visit the Art Museum in Cincinnati,Ohio. The masters are just simply genius in their brush strokes, their lighting and color is just invigorating!

My art is some what different but to some may not be different at all. I have a ritual and a mad genius to my art. I love my camera to put things into focus but then sometimes, I go to my inner child for my pieces! You can see my art on www.Raymondvision.yolasite.com or just Google Raymond's Vision. Please feel free to visit and give me your opinion. Maybe you like to purchase a painting or maybe commission me to paint something for you!

My Thoughts on Big Foot. Are they real?

I started hearing about Big Foot when I lived in Louisiana.  I was a teenager when I lived in Rodessa, Louisiana and had heard many stories about the Faulk, Arkansas Monster. Since Faulk was just a hop and a jump from where I lived, I was very attentive when I walked in the swamps. I had been way back in the swamps and had felt as if I was being watched many times. It was one of those things where maybe a sound, a smell or just a feeling that something was watching me, making the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

I remember one night, I was walking to my friends house, who just lived about a half mile down the road. I was excited to be going there to play pool with my friends. Ervin, James, Leroy and Gary Humphrey. If you have ever walked along Highway 1 in North West Louisiana, you know how that the road is elevated with a ditch on each side and the swamp stretches for miles. So, I was walking along and it was almost pitch black. The stars were peaking thru the pines and then I heard steps to my right. Big Steps. Not four legged but two legged! I could hear branches cracking and breaking. I smelled a smell that was a bit sulfuric and musky. I couldn't see it but it was big! I could tell because of the noise that it was making. It was keeping pace with me. I was running but it was walking in big strides! Okay! To say the least I was scared! I turned down the road to the Humphries, who lived by the rail road tracks and made record time to their house! I was banging at the door with my fist! Hollering, "Let me in!"

Leroy opened the door with a smile and then saw my face! He ask me, "Dang, Ray, whats the matter? You look like you saw a ghost!" I was still trying to catch my breath. I answered him, "I think Big Foot was chasing me or the Faulk Arkansas Swamp Monster has come North!" He smacked me on the back, "Stop it! Your Bull Crapping Me!" He laughed and led me back to the Pool Table room in the back of the house. All the boys were there and I recounted my story. They, being all woodsmen and men of the world just laughed it off but suffice it to say, I had them drive me home when it come time to go.

As of late, I have been viewing the show, "Finding Big Foot." It does interest me.
                                                                http://www.bfro.net/
I have seen the video clips of Big Foot. I have seen the foot and hand prints cast that have been taken. I am a believer. If had just been the Gimble tap and that was it, then I would have put it off as being a hoax. There has been thousands of accounts of Big Foot. There are thousands of pieces of Evidence, Hair, DNA, Video, Audio tape. Even the Bible tells of Giants that walk the Earth.

This show though Finding Big Foot interest me but it also frustrates me. Renee, Bobo, Cliff and Mr. Moneymaker, all of them frustrate me. Renee, the skeptic, or is she? Her Father was a big foot hunter. She comes off as a skeptic but then when their are howls or knocks in the night, she doesn't seem like one. Bobo, who is just....a Bobo, stumbles and bumbles thru the woods which would scare the crap out of anything that is around that night! Cliff and MoneyMaker seem to be very knowledgable but also everything seems to be a big foot.

I have seen them use Guitars, Bands, Disco lights, Girl Scouts and Hill Billys to lure in a Big Foot. They use knocks and then they use Howls.

                                                      Now wait a minute! 

If you are a Big Foot, you have lived in the woods all of your life! You know every noise there is that is made in the woods. Don't you think that a big foot can distinguish between a Big Foot howl and a human trying to sound like a big foot howl?

I believe if I was going to find Big Foot, I would go into the forest about 12:00 PM when the Big Foots are asleep in a cave or in one of their little huts. I would have listening devices and movement sensors as well as cameras that circled the camaflouged encampment. We would be silent as could be with hardly a whisper.  I would put out a cornicopia of food that would be covered by cameras and movement sensors. Of course you will bring in other critters that are hungry but the word gets around that there is free food a Big Foot will show.

 I would have a tracker on my team that could track a fart in a wind storm! I would have 24 hour surveillance on the food and on the trails leading thru that quadrant. I would be there, invisible for about a month. If I was going to do a howl, I would use an Audio blast of a real Big Foot. You could also do audio blast of a deer in distress. Do NOT go stumbling around in the dark, looking for a Big Foot. They will always see you first. They can smell you. Try and use a scent that smells like doe urine. That might bring them in looking for a deer. Fry up some bacon. Couldn't hurt. You will get their pictures! Not maybe but you will! You don't want to cage these beings or hurt them. They can hurt you if they want to! You are NEVER going to surprise them. If you did, I don't think that it would end well.

Here's an idea. Since they are nocturnal in habit maybe they are like cats, who can see in the dark as well? There have been stories of them making a fire. They make little huts to sleep in. They can climb a tree. There are videos of them climbing trees. They are primate you know. They can swim. Their sense of smell, hearing and sight are impeccable. They do communicate to each other in a language. They knock to communicate where they are. They howl to let other Squatches know of their territory or as a warning. That's the reason why that when the BFRO howl the Squatches go silent. They howl when the BFRO get close to their territory. They are saying, "Stay away!" The stone throws are a warning that you are too close. The branch snapping is also a warning. It's a territorial sign.

The BFRO will Never catch one or see one because they are not patient. They are too loud and they stomp around the woods like a herd of buffalo! They don't want to find a big foot because when they do....their show is over and they get no more funding!

                                             What are your thoughts? 

                            Have you ever seen a Big Foot? 

                                     Tell me your story!

                                 Happy Safe Squatching!

The Seattle Seahawks Verses The Boston Patriots....David and Goliath?

Last week, I watched the game between the Seahawks and the Packers. I was so amazed at the comeback of the Seahawks! Everyone had written them off as the losers. Even the Packers were doing early celebration on the side lines.
I told my wife, "Sonia, the only way for the Seahawks to win this game is to get the ball back with the on side kick." I was shocked to see them do just that!
I thought that they showed so much heart and can do attitude in this game. There was no doubt who the Champions were! Between Russell Willis's prowess at Quarterback and Lynch as a legendary running back as well as their front line to protect, they got the job done! There was no Inflate-a-gate just good hardworking football.

I also watched the Patriots slaughter the Colts. Inflate-a-gate or not, the Colts had no chance of winning.  Dropped passes a plenty on the side of the Colts. Tom Brady of the Pats was legendary as Usual. I am NOT a Pats fan but they are the real deal. I believe that Tom Brady has a photographic mind. He always checks the photos of the defensive strategy and positions. You will notice how he does a lot of options when calling his plays. His Front line is legendary in the way they protect him in the pocket. I don't care how good your quarterback and recievers are if you have no time to snap the ball and look at your options down the field you can not have any luck in the passing game.

If the Quarterback can run, that changes the whole paradymn of the game! That's what Russell Willis brings to the game. You have to have a "Spy" position on the defense to keep watch on the Quarterback to insure he doesn't make the run!

The majority of the readers are rooting for the Patriots but I really like the chances for the Seahawks to win this! I believe that it will be close but the deep seated heart of the Seahawks will prevail!

What are your thoughts?
#SuperBowl

How to deal effectively with the Police.

It seems as of late that there seems to be some problems between policemen and the public. I may be mistaken but I believe that it is not so much a race problem of profiling as it is with communicating effectively and to do exactly what you are told when you are told.

All that one needs to do is to watch a couple of series of COPS on television to see how things can go down hill quick. You can sit with a tablet and make a check mark for how the perpetrator or citizen in question gets there self into trouble. Soon you are setting with a tablet full of check marks.

Here are a couple of suggestions that can help you in the future.

1. When you hear a siren behind you and see flashing lights in your mirror, PULL OVER! Nine times out of ten, it's NOT you that they're looking for. They will just pass you by. If you are the one that they are looking for here is the next suggestion to follow.
2. Sit quietly in your car and wait for instructions!
3. Do exactly what they say, when they say it! If they say Roll Down your window. Do it. If they say put your hands on the wheel or outside your window, Do IT, NOW!
4. If they say to unlock your door, Do it, NOW!
5. You do have a Civil right to know: Why they pulled you over. If you are being charged with a crime. 
6. If you are being handcuffed you ARE being arrested. If not then they are needing more information.
7. If they ask for your drivers license, give it to them. You should NEVER be without your License! If you don't have your drivers license then it is illegal to be driving!
8. If they DO arrest you, They MUST read you your Miranda Rights, which we all have seen in every Police Series or Movie. "You have the right to remain silent, anything that you do or say will be held against you in a court of law. If you do not have an Attorney then one will be provide for you. Do you understand your rights as this has been read to you?" You must say, Yes.
9. Even if you have NOT participated in a crime it is my personal opinion that you still say, exactly nothing until your attorney is present with you!
10. One thing to be cognizant of is if they come upon you and they are plain clothes police officers and they show you a badge, you need to tell them that you will be driving to the nearest police station to insure that they truly are police officers. There have been many who have been murdered by murderers posing as police with lights in or on their cars and a fake badge.
11. When they cuff you, do exactly what they say. If they say to step outside of the car and kneel facing away from them then do it. If they say to put your arms behind your back do it to the best of your ability. Do NOT resist them.
12. Your ability to defend yourself as to your innocence will not be judged on the side of the road. 
13. You will be given a chance to call your attorney or someone that you know once that you get to the confinement area or jail. This will be a short call. Tell them your name. What Jail that you are in and that it is important that they defend you in the court of law.
14. Do NOT talk to anyone about your case unless your attorney is present!

When speaking to the Police you should be addressing them as Officer or Yes Sir or No Sir or if it is a female officer, Yes Mame or No Mame. Do NOT be rude with them. Do NOT yell at them or be disrespectful.
When in Doubt, Comply. You do NOT have to talk with them other then your name, address, telephone number. You have the right to be silent.
If you have any other tips or advise please share with us.

To Venice and On to Greece!

In May of this year we took. Trip to Europe, which consisted of flying to JFK then on to Venice, Italy.  We made it to Venice and what a beautiful city! We were picked up by Limo and whisked to the water taxi port. We took a leisurely ride on a water taxi to the Molino Stuckey Hilton. I loved being in the back of that taxi! It was like in the "Tourist" with Johnny Depp and Angolie Jolie! Cruising down the canals and under bridges seeing the sights and watching the boats and people going by was so exciting. We got to the Hotel and upgraded for 125 Euros to the 6th floor overlooking the canal! This also upgraded us to the Executive Lounge where there were free snacks, bread, meats, fruits and wine! We totally took advantage of this perk! The Vino was so amazing.

The next morning I woke and looked outside to see our ship, the Norwegian Sky passing by! I grabbed the camera and started taking pictures. I waved at the people who were viewing from their balconies and they waved back! My wife, Sonia looked at me while shaking her head and said, "You know you are in your under wear right?" I smiled back and said, "But we are in Venice!"

We went down to the executive lounge and enjoyed breakfast and an Italian Cappuccino, which was so delicious! Afterward we gathered our things an a contact from Norwegian helped us get our transfer on a water taxi going to the ship. We unfortunately had to ride with another family. It was a Mother, her Son and his girl friend. The Son and girl friend were fine it was the Mother! She was what I like to call the "Ugly American!" Oh my God! She complained about everything! The airplane ride, the water taxi, the hotel everything was terrible! I could tell that her Son and Girl friend were not comfortable with this as they sat there in silence smiling nervously. So for the length of that short trip, she raped my ear with her complaints! I was so glad to be rid of her once we got to the port and checked in.
We finally were on board and got settled in so grabbed a bite to eat and returned to our cabin. We shoved off and Sonia turned on her smart phone to play Italian music while we slipped down the canal. We met our neighbors and introduced ourselves. The people to our right were from Australia and the people to our left was from Iceland. That was delightful since Sonia's Mother is from there. We learned that about fifty people were on board that was from there. We totally enjoyed this cruise! We  went to Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini, and Olympia. It was so wonderful to enjoy the history, the culture, the food and music!

A paycheck away from poverty.

I use to drive down the streets of America and see homeless people sitting in the doorways and on the corners holding out the hands for someone to give them money. I was one of those that would look at them in impudence or disdain. I would say to myself, "Why don't they just get a job!" 

In 1992 I found myself in the same predicament. I went thru a divorce that had left me destitute! I had been accused of abusing my wife and beating her with a shotgun. I found myself in jail for something that I had never done! Upon my arraignment, I thought that it was a big mistake and that I could just talk my way out of this with a little understanding. My parents were there and they looked at me knowing that I could never do the things that I was accused of doing. I was amazed that my then wife stood in a court room, took an oath on the Bible that she would tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help her God. Then she made a scene that would or could have landed her an Oscar nomination. She lied thru her teeth. She lied about me stating that I beat her with a shotgun and tormented her. Afterward my Mother went to her and said, "Can you show me the cuts and bruises?" Of course, she couldn't show anything because it never happened! 

In the state of Ohio, if a woman feels threatened, she can call the law, have her husband arrested on her testimony alone and he can be arrested!

After being arrested on her testimony alone, without witnesses or without pictures I was sentenced to two years of probation and was banned from the state of Ohio other then to visit my parol officer. I continued to fight for my rights as a father of my infant son. After much ado I had all of that expunged from off my record. It cost me my job and I had been living in Indiana in a tent! 

I remember my first tent, which was actually two army ponchos clipped together and stacked to the ground and held up with connecting poles. Those were days filled with opportunity! I slept in the mud. Jobs were scarce to come by but I found one, working as a mud man on a plaster/sheetrock team. I worked very hard. My job was to keep a team of 10 or more men supplied with mud as they prepared sheet rock or plaster board. I worked long hours. I bought my tools as I could. I purchased an old 1974 International scout that was a 4x4 but the two wheel drive only worked. You could look down thru the floor boards and see the road below. I graduated from two ponchos clipped together to a tent then to an Iranian Military tent. I was now off the ground sleeping on two wooden skids, with an inflatable mattress and a mummy sleeping bag. I bargained with a farmer to camp on his land but in exchange I would protect his cattle from coyotes and trespassers. His name was Francis. He was a good, humble farmer who always kept his word. 

I had enough money so as to buy clothing and tools for my job. I started going to Kentucky to the Neon  Cactus! It was a great place to blow off steam, have a beer and dance with the girls. 

One night, I walked thru the door and the manager handed me two tickets to see Bosephus live in concert that night! I went thru the place and I must have asked 50 girls to go with me and no one excepted my invitation! There was one girl though that told me that she was waiting for some friends to show and that she couldn't go but if I came back after the show she would be waiting for me. In the back of my mind I was like, "Sure! That will happen!" It was an invitation to come back though! 

I went to the show and sat with me and an empty seat to my right. The show was great! There was Besephus who is actually Hank Williams Jr., Aaron Tipton, Charlie Daniels but my mind kept going back to the one girl that told me she would be waiting for me. So I left before the show ended. I drove that old '74 Scout like a banshee back to the Neon Cactus. I parked the Scout and hustled inside, showed my stamp on the back of my hand at the door and started my search for this one beautiful girl! Sure enough! There she was waiting for me where I left her! I asked her if she wanted to dance? She was delighted and we went on the dance floor and two stepped for about a half hour. Then came a slow dance. We were slow dancing to the music, I believe it was "The Dance" by Garth Brooks that was playing. I said, as I looked into her beautiful brown eyes, "I don't even know your name. What's your name?" She smiled and said, "Sonia, Sonia Goodwin." All that I heard was Sonya. Sonya was my ex-wife's name! I excused myself, saying that I needed to go to the restroom. I quickly made my exit to my Scout and speed into the night back to Indiana and my tent! Oh my God! Another Sonya! They were all out to get me! I was frightened by this prospect and very suspicious. About a month later, I met her again. She said, "Hey Stranger, where have you been?" I him and hawed around and finally It dawned on me. She's not the enemy. She's not my ex-wife. She doesn't want to hurt me. She is genuinely interested in me! So, I asked her how that she spelled her name. She replied, "S-o-n-I-a." I smiled and said that's great! She asked me why and I replied, "Because my Ex-wife's name is spelled S-o-n-Y-a!" She started laughing! She understood why this would be a bit of a problem but then she said, "At least, you will never get my name wrong in the heat of passion!" That made me smile.

We talked the night away. I went home and told my Mom who lived in a camper close to my tent. I met this incredible woman Mom. She will probably call in a day or so. While I was at work, Sonia called and left a message from me. My Mother still hadn't made the connection and was very angry that Sonia had called. She thought it was my Ex. I explained to her that It wasn't Sonya but Sonia! Mom, calmed down as I called Sonia back. I apologized for my Mom's coldness and explained to her about the spelling and we had a good laugh. 

A week or so went by and I was staying the weekends with Sonia in which I slept on the couch. We would take wonderful walks and we would barbeque out or eat at a little Italian restaurant or go to Subway to get a sandwich. 

One week, I went to work and my boss said that he was going to have to let me go. I was crushed. How could I survive without a job? Many didn't want to hire me because I had been to jail. I called Sonia and she asked me where I was. I told her in Indiana. She said where at because she wanted to come visit. I was ashamed. I hadn't told her that I lived in a tent. She drove up from Kentucky and pulled into the lot where my tent was. She was astounded that I lived there. She asked me why that I didn't tell her and I responded. "I didn't want to lose you. Here I am living in a tent and you are a Sales Executive for Comair Airlines." She hugged me and said, "Honey, I love you and none of this matters!" At that moment, I felt all warm and gooey inside. She loved me! She looked around and said, "Get your things, you are coming home with me!"

I moved in with her and her room mate Stacy Moan. She went out and bought me new clothes, a suit and books to read. These books were master pieces of self help! The art of closing by Zig Ziggler. Awaken the Giant within by Anthony Robbins. How to win friends and Influence people by Dale Carnegie. I read those books and I went out and landed a car sales job at Mazda Towne. 

We have been together since 1992. We married in 1995! My Son, Ben was the ring barer. It was a small wedding with my Mom and Dad, Dufa who was Sonia's Mother, My Son, Ben. The Preacher and his wife, the organ player made it a grand wedding. We went to Rafferty's for the reception and we went back to work on the next day. 

Of all those days that I was in poverty, I never begged on the street and I never went on welfare. 

I do know some secrets to surviving though. Did you know that Macdonalds after they have their hamburgers under the light, will count their hamburgers and throw them away in a plastic bag? At least they use to. I use to go thru their trash and find good hamburgers to eat after they threw them out! They were delicious. Fishing is a great way of sustaining your diet. Gardening is another way of sustaining your diet if you have a place to do it or may have some milk jugs and some dirt. You can go to the restrooms of gas stations or fast food restrooms to use the restroom and take a whore bath out of the sink.  Stop smoking and drinking to save money for food. You must have clothes and shoes to wear. Rich people throw out a lot of good things to wear and furniture. If you can purchase an old truck you will never go hungry. You can go junking once you find the rich areas of town and be totally surprised at what they throw out! I have picked up TV's that just had a nob missing or a vacuum cleaner that just needed to change the bag! I once picked up the pieces of a desk. I brought it home put it together and had an $800 executive desk! One of the things that you will lose if you want to survive on the streets is your pride! You do what it takes to survive. Dumpster diving will surprise you of all the cool things that people will throw away and toss. 

What I'm trying to say people is that it is possible to go from riches to rags and from rags to riches if you know what you are doing.

If you were to lose your job tomorrow, how long could you live on your savings before you lost your home? A week? A month? A year? I have met people that use to be Vice President of major corporations and industry living in squaller on the streets. Think about it people. The next time that you see someone on the street, don't be so judgmental. That could be you. Just say with me, "But for the Grace of God, Go I."

How can you help? If you see someone on the street that looks homeless and are begging for money. NEVER give them money. Always ask them, when is the last time that you have eaten anything?

Why? Because you don't know if this person is a drunk or a addict. If you give them money, they will probably spend it on their addiction. If you offer to feed them they probably will comply if they truly are homeless and haven't ate in a few days. 

Also remember that there are professional beggars that will beg all day downtown on the street but at night will go to a nearby parking garage and take out a key from their pocket and open a Mercedes take out a bag. They will go to a nearby restroom, change into a nice looking suit or dress. Clean up and walk back to their nice looking car and drive to their six figure mansion.

Just be conscious of this.

We have millions of people that do sleep on the streets and on benches every night. We have millions of children that starve right here in the good ole U.S. of A. I'm not saying to help foreign charities but lets help our country first!

Here are some places to start.

www.feedingamerica.org/‎

http://www.transitionalliving.org/

I hope that you do live long and prosper.