Thursday, July 29, 2010

Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise (Official Music Video)

Ashamed that i complain.

Before i left the shelter this morning, i had to called paramedics for a sick shelter guest. I didn't immediately recognize him even though he had been coming to the shelter for many years. He was much thinner than usual; Painfully so. His complexion seemed muddy. His voice just above a whisper. His eyes were distant and sunken. He seemed but a shadow of himself. I remember Just about a year ago he was full of life... but not this morning. His breathing labored on as he complained of dizziness. The paramedics arrived and easily lifted his skeletal-like frame onto the stretcher. They whisked him away to a waiting ambulance. Years of intravenous drug abuse and high risk behavior to blame. I usually leave the shelter with a feeling of accomplishment on Thursday mornings but not today. Today i feel sad and grateful. Sad that a fellow human being is suffering but grateful that i was able to serve him hot meals and offer a safe place to lodge. That's as deep as i care to think about it on this beautiful summer morning. Time to correct myself. I will be grateful for my life and will not complain. I will be grateful for my health and will not complain. As i drive along sipping my Carmel macchiato, on the phone complaining about WHATEVER...... I will be mindful that there are people out there with REAL problems!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Broken Lisa

I was reading one of my fellow tweeters blog last night, and felt chills. She reminded me so much of my ex 'till it was scary. Let me go back. When i first saw (I'll call her"Lisa") Lisa's twitter Pict, i thought "hmmm, she looks like my ex". The content of her blog just blew me away. All i could say was Wow! eerily Lisa. Baby-daddy drama;"Lisa". Emotional Damage; "Lisa". Single young female addicted to retail; again "Lisa" If i didn't know better I'd say they were one in the same. It was uncanny! I've found that i still feel sorry for my ex even years after we've broken up.... Not for self serving reasons, but because i know that she will probably never be able to have a gratifying romantic relationship. I'm usually a very positive dude, but i don't think my that my twitter friend will either. I sense damage from an abusive parent, and or of her poor life choices. Her own blog eludes to her propensity for physical violence/ destructive behavior. I really hope that Twitter "Lisa" gets some sort of help. My ex is seeking answers through religion.... i wish her well. So beautiful, so damaged. so "Lisa".

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

We deserve the truth

Today in Chicago, there was a memorial service for a policeman shot in the line of duty with his own gun. My heart goes out to the friends and family of this man who's life was taken in such a senseless act. Its not often that we hear of a criminal so brazen that he would attempt to disarm a uniformed police officer. Where did this killer come from ?

lot of questions still abound. Top cop Jody Weiss seems to think robbery was the motive. hummm nice try.... what a nice neat little package, but that DOESN'T make sense. Are we the public to believe that the shooter tried robbing an armed uniformed cop single handed (without a gun of his own), in front of a police building at 3o'clock in the afternoon ? We are Chicagoans, we aren't stupid! This was clearly the actions of a deeply disturbed and delusional individual who should not be out on the streets in the first place! I think Mr. Weiss's assurtion of robbery is to make it easier to to get this guy to the lethal injection table vs a psychiatric hospital..... be it right or wrong, at least THAT makes sense! I'm sure the common rule among police and politicians is that the public cannot REALLY handle the truth.... and on some levels they may be right, but we still are entitled to it! I heard a wise man say once that the truth is bad enough why lie? I cant help wondering if the shooter was ever a patient of one of the many Psychiatric facilities in Illinois now closed. We deserve the truth.