Emotions and The Way They Can Be Used

You know I have had a little time, okay a lot of time to think lately about emotions. I think they are a great thing. Every one should be in touch with them and should understand what role they play in their own life. But lately another thought has popped into my head about emotions. They can be used or they can be misleading. You see emotions are something that in reality should be kept in some sort of check. By that I mean emotions should not be used as a reasoning to act out or force some one to act a certain way. I have been guilty far too many times of acting out of total emotion and no thought. Jeez, my whole teen and college years I spent shooting off the handle and of course my mouth before I even took a second to really realize what the hell was going on. I also recognize that emotions can be a way to manipulate others into believing somethings that might not be. I have been guilty of playing up an emotion to emote a certain response. The one thing I have learned is that emotions are real and should never be used as an excuse or a reason to force someone into something. I love my emotions and god I hope I never am that stupid to ever forget how important they truly are.

The Post Of Immortals

After September 11th I wanted to let that post kind of settle in before I moved on and moved back to the normal progression of life. Tonite is the Steelers vs. the Jag-offs, er I mean the Jaguars. One of the more unique things that I have seen is Steeler fans and the way that they are everywhere. It is one of the truly great things about living in Pittsburgh. You can go anywhere in the country and if you are wearing Steeler gear of any kind someone will say to you either, "Go Steelers, or are you from Pittsburgh?" It is a truly weird but unique situation. When times are tough people look for a commonality amongst each other. The Steeler Nation seems to be that for Pittsburgh. It doesn't matter what is going on in our city as soon as the mention of the Steelers hits somebody's tongue every mood seems to get a little better. People say things like football are just a game and nothing more but I beg to differ. Sports allows people to congregate on a mass level. It gives people the ability to put aside all of their differences, both physical and philosophical and meet at that special place. Just watch Monday Nite Football tonite and you will see what I am talking about. Watch how many Steeler fans will be in Jacksonville. Mark my words. Go Steelers!!!

September 11, 2001-2006

Often times I find myself sitting and thinking about my life and the things I have seen and some of the things I have not. One thing in my life seems to cover both of those. September 11, 2001. How can any of us forget? I remember. And after 5 years I guess it is high time I make some admissions of my own. Some I may not be so proud of. You see 5 years ago I was a know it all. Somebody that thought I had my finger on all that was going on. I wasn't much of a patriot and even more so I wasn't much of a man either. I had gotten so wrapped up in myself and what I thought my life should be that I forgot that life is bigger and scarier and sadder and happier than anything my pea brain could wrap itself around. Yet, something started to change in me and it started with a baseball game. I know, I know... it is a game but that nite is something that will forever change me. You see baseball and all sports had shut down until the country had a chance to try and understand what had happened. But like all things, the show and games must go on. My dad and I went to the Pittsburgh Pirates/New York Mets game. Most of the people that know me know that I spent the better part of my teenage years and early twenties choosing not to get along with my father. That nite though as we stood there at the game that was probably only attended by 5000 or so people I found myself starting to see outside of my own world. When they started to sing God Bless America, I started to feel the ice around my heart starting to melt both towards my country and towards my father. I turned to him and saw something I have only maybe seen 3 times in my life, my father crying. At almost that exact moment I received a call from an absent part of my life. Her voice was still quivering over the events of the past week but to me she provided me a resolve and a strength that I don't think I had until that moment. All of a sudden I realized that out of great tragedy can come great triumph. That day I felt reborn. Every story from September 11th has it's own tagline and I realize that every one of those stories, regardless if they are about people searching for brothers and sisters or like mine, have something that is important to the fabric of us. I know the deep and profound effect it had on me and still has to this day. My life has never been the same probably like most. That day represented a rebirth for me. I justed wanted to say two things that I should have said a long time ago....I love my country....and DAD, I love you....More than you will ever know. My relationship with you is the great gift from that day. God Bless all of you, Bless each other. Joyce, thank you for being that voice that day. I learned what it takes to be a man and what it takes to see outside of myself and your strength that nite helped guide that. I will forever be changed because of it.

Feeling a little blue

Well Penn State got slaughetered by Notre Dame...I can admit it...I didn't see it coming but I can admit it. That really sucks. I hate having to admit things. But just like life things keep going on. Just when you think that the water may smooth out, they get real choppy again. I know myself and know that I am probably the biggest enemy of me. I internalize things and I don't share when I need to. Sometimes when I hurt I keep it inside instead of reaching out and asking for help. Hopefully, Penn State will see the sense in purging your hurt feelings and then moving on. I guess moving on is the hardest thing that one can do. I know we have to but sometimes it is very tough. Life has a way of reminding you why it is hard. There are complications and laughs at every turn. I will keep rooting for you guys and keep rooting for myself because no one will feel sorry for either of us.

Our Friend The Mayor

Today is a tough day....Our great city of Pittsburgh lost it's mayor over the weekend. Most importantly though it lost it's best friend and biggest supporter. Being a native of this city it has been tough the last couple of years to be a part of it's continual decline. How many cities do you know almost go bankrupt? The previous administrations all promised grand things but delivered none. As it stood our great city emptied out and became a gateway to other places. Then in January OUR mayor took office and the tangible effect was almost immediate. Those that know me best know that I spent the better part of my life a card carrying republican but there was something different about this man. I didn't care if he was a democrat, republican or a martian. I got caught up in the way he spoke of better days and how great this city was and can be again. Now....Our great leader has gone on to lead the charges in heaven. Oh how the angels must be celebrating!!!!! Walking around Pittsburgh today was different. You could feel the difference. It was as if the hope that the city was building had disappeared. I felt it too. To our mayor...Thank you for believing in us when we didn't believe. Thank you for seeing what we could not. But most importantly thank you for just being you...THAT WAS ALWAYS ENOUGH!!!!