you think you know someone...

Too often because people are categorized we assume how they must think on a particular subject and therefore change course or just give up and forget the whole thing to avoid confrontation.

I'm guilty of that; no use lying about it. I have friends and acquaintances that fall all over the political spectrum, from left to right. For that, I'm proud of myself. I give everyone the chance I want to be given. Unfortunately, my entire life has been spent walking on broken glass and taking the easy detours.

Not to get into a mode of sounding like a bad after school special; I know I'm cynical too. This is my downfall. A few days ago a friend of over 20 years dropped a bomb on me that took about 500 pounds off my shoulders. I had assumed that because he came from a conservative, church-going house, that I had better keep certain things about me to myself. I was as wrong as the Orioles trading away Eddie Murray away in 1987. I'm still upset about that, too.

That day definitely gave me more courage; maybe the ability to have a frank discussion with the family over Christmas; we'll see. The hardest part is not judging and not assuming who'd have a problem.

So here's to the one who got the ball rolling-- you know I love you like a brother and I hope you're in my life for the duration. To Terry, Rick, Chad, and Marc; you are part of my foundation. I hope when the day the bomb drops the walls don't crumble.
That would be a total bummer!

Do you pick your bloggers?

Don't stick your finger there; you don't know where it's been.

I've owned a computer store for almost six years now here in Ontario and this is honestly the first time I've ever "blogged". Do I have anything interesting to say? Random thoughts only minutely more interesting than someone's "I went jogging today" on twitter? Do I have thousands of baby pictures on display?
None of the above, I'm afraid. There will be many pictures of my golden retriever, Hokie, however.
You'll also have to settle for random thoughts conceived either in a state of total boredom and/or complacency or mild inebriation (for those of you south of the mason-dixon line, please google the latter word; you'll find it hits close to home on friday nights).
I'm not sure if this will double my shame, seeing as how I'm also on facebook where people tend to wear their mundane thoughts on their sleeves for the world to see-- "made cookies today!" or "took the kids to the soccer game and then cheated on my wife with that broad from the gym"...no wait, that would actually be interesting. I honestly don't care which 5 movies are your favorite or what kind of tree you'd be based on a 6 question quiz. I don't want to play mafia wars or farmville. I really don't; but, here I am blogging. Does that rhyme with "toboggoning"?

Until today I've never read anyone's blog, either. I received a response to a happy birthday email I had sent a week or so ago; buddy told me to check out his blog for all the latest news on his family (up here in Canada we refer to nameless people as "buddy" to expedite a story being told. Could be the prime minister "buddy raised taxes today" or it could be Wayne Gretzky "did you see that goal buddy scored last night? Damn!"). I found out that he and his wife had a baby boy LAST JUNE. Mind you, I am happy for him. I've known him for 22 years now. I obviously don't see him as often as I used to, seeing as how I live 600 miles away in another country (U.S.A. junior, I know you're thinking it). But dude, c'mon, call next time.

So here it is 10:30pm on a tuesday night. Running late on watching the "Dexter" episode I've tivo'd but I'll have to fit that it at any cost. Hokie will drop a softball at my feet begging me to take her out and play, despite the darkness. I'll let her out for a pee, but that's where I draw the line.

I'll be just as careful picking my bloggers.