So, yeah, I did alot of these, lol. The first is one of my absolute oldest ones. It's from '95 I think, and so, don't expect it to be of the best quality, hehe. I updated them a little but kept them true to their originally style to show what my writing was like back then. The second one is from '03. I wrote it on one of my many trips to Sao Miguel, Acores (the Azores, it's kind of part of Portugal). I wrote so many things in the summertime, it's insane. My days there were usually wake up at noon, eat, hit the beach at like 2, head home at 6, eat, shower, head out to a bar or wherever with friends at 8-9, come home at 12-1, stay up and write stuff for a few hours. Rinse and repeat. That's how it went, lol. Hope you like these.

         "Dearest and Sweetest"

             There she stands
           Beauteous and Statuesque
            The epitome of angels
          she is. Her flawless features
        bring light to the earth in a way
              no star ever can.
         She is a gift unto the world
             When I meet her gaze,
           I lose myself in her eyes.
     Peering into their seemingly unending depths,
          I am struck dumb with adoration.
          Her smile... her amazing smile...
          brings life to my once empty heart.
          And a kiss from her lips, I know,
          would feel just like Heaven.
              She is the candle
         eternally burning in my memory
           She is the essence of purity,
          a true joy to all who meet her
            She is the radiant sun
             that graces the day
           She is absolute perfection
            And I absolutely love her
          

           "Angel in the doorway"

       Forgive my trespass  I saw you there
       A vision in the moonlight
       Forgive my brief lapse  You startled me
       An angel in the doorway

       May I take you by the hand?
       May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?
       May I lead you in this dance?
       May I have the honor of kindling a flame?

       Forgive my shyness, but you're truly
       the sweetest rose of them all
       Forgive my bluntness, but you're perfect
       Most beautiful dream come true

       May I hold you in my arms?
       May I have the sweet gift of kissing your lips?
       May I be the one for you?
       May this precious thought be my truest wish

 

OK, the 3 I put up yesterday were notes I made a long time ago and put them on FB. Time to get back to some poetry.
This one is isn't as good as my other stuff, I feel that it's lacking. I think part of it was inspired by a Micheal Douglas movie that I saw snippets of where he was a writer and I believe he had a drinking problem. I really don't know much about the movie but I remember the few images I saw and I guess they inspired a part of this. I don't even know if he was looking for love in the movie either, lol. I admit, a big part of this was inspired by my own experiences. I didn't have a drug problem or a drinking problem, I was addicted to sadness if that makes any sense. It seemed like things weren't going to work for me in alot of ways as the years went by so I adopted a particular mindset. I was also very spoiled as a kid and I tried very hard to get rid of that trait, it took a long time but I'm much better now.
It's important to know that true love really is out there. It may not always be perfect and you might have to work at it but there's someone in the world that is your other half. I'll always believe in chivalry, women are just awesome :) They see things differently than we men do and it's cute when you compare the lyrics of a female singer to a male singer. I've seen women use words and themes that are so caring and nurturing as oppossed to the majority of what guys come up with. It's pretty and gives me one of those "Awwwww" moments.


                                       "Someone for you"

Who are you keeping yourself from?
You spend all your time--distracted
the dreams in your mind--extracted
keeping yourself from what you could become

How has life been treating you?
Are your thoughts all collected?
Your positive vibes infected
by a poison that's turning you blue?

Chorus:
Keep your head up, there's someone for you
We all deserve love no matter what we've been through
Your day will come however belated
because all these years, they have waited
for The One, and that One is you
Open your heart and find a love that's new
...there's someone for you...


How goes that book you're writin'?
Goin' well? Have you hit a block?
Intervention--it's time to talk
about the addiction you're fightin'

How goes that habit you're kickin'?
Are you calling it quits or are you stuck?
Penny for your thoughts or do you need a buck?
Fight the good fight and you'll be winnin'

Chorus:
Keep your head up, there's someone for you
We all deserve love no matter what we've been through
Your day will come however belated
because all these years, they have waited
for The One, and that One is you
Open your heart and find a love that's new
...there's someone for you...

Where is the joy in your life?
Your every attempt--rejected
Your broken heart--neglected
leaving you along at night

And where has your focus gone?
Is this the path you've selected?
the image you want to have projected?
Find your inner strength and soldier on

Outro:
There's someone out there who's been waiting to find you
and they are just as eager to meet you as you are them
Don't give up, keep searching
True Love is worth the wait

At my worst, I've hit rock bottom. I've dealt with alot. I have clutched at my stomach and my sides while an unknown health problem or two has had its way with me. I've held onto my knees or my back or my neck and wondered what would be the next issue that I will be facing? I pray to God to help me heal, to at least help me get rid of my most painful issues so that I can have some semblance of a normal life. I pray to get the weight back so I can at least look somewhat physically attractive. I've cried, I've moaned, I've raged. Back in the fall, I met a guy who is in the military and has a bad health issue, it's one that is one step lower than what doctors claim that I have. This guy is young, healthy, not even in his prime yet and he was telling me how at times he'd curl up into a ball from the pain. He said he thought he was going to die. I remember those days, that level of pain, I still have them.
I've often questioned how useful I could be to society and humanity in general in the long run. I've wondered why do I keep going and how do I keep going?
About 5 years ago, I could barely move my legs. I was in crutches the whole summer and the slightest movement brought an absurd amount of pain. It used to take me minutes to get out of bed, actual minutes. The pain my joints were in back then was 90% worse than it is now. I was screwed and I knew it.
Then, I met someone who goes through a whole lot more than I do. I saw her glow every single day, I saw her be positive. I saw this and thought to myself, "How dare I?" How could I not keep trying? Here was someone that lived in pain her whole life and kept a genuine smile on her face. I gained resolve from this, and the greatest friendship I've ever known. Things got better after that, at the end of August, I started a new drug. I was very apprehensive at first since my past experiences with western medicine gave me nothing but untold side effects and almost zero results. After 2 days, I was off crutches and able to walk.
A few years back, a friend of mine was battling cancer. She had beaten it before and was fine for awhile. Unfortunately, it came back stronger and she had to combat it again. Sadly, she was taken away from the world after a long battle with the disease. We weren't close but she was much loved by everyone. I saw what the disease did to her over the years, how it affected her appearence. My God, she was so very brave. I clipped her obituary and had it next to my PC for a year, I've kept it ever since. Her example will always be strong in my heart. How can I not fight my battles when she continued to do so? *$%&ing cancer has taken away too many people I know; my aunt, my godmother, my friends' parents...
There are so many people that should be here that aren't for whatever reason. Whether they lost their lives or were never given a chance at life, I know that they would want to be here with us. How can I complain, how can anyone complain and give up when so many have been denied what we take for granted? How can we waste our lives doing nothing?
I have been blessed with many caring, loving friends and family members over the years. Their support has lifted my spirits and reminded me to keep trying. I have had the support of many, and I've listened to their advice and philosophies. I have tried to keep a smile on my face over the years and be brave for everyone through the pain, and at times, I've been happy around people, but at the end of the day, I lay down in pain, alone, and hope that sleep will come easier for me that night. The hardest thing in the world is to find happiness and contentment in this life. Someone helped me find my smile and another helped me find my laugh. Nothing is trivial, nothing should ever be taken for granted.
The saying "You never know what it's like until it happens to you" is one of the truest staements I've ever heard. I was perfectly fine 10 years ago. I was healthy, dating a girl that I loved and not even in the prime of my life yet. I was doing my own thing, playing guitar, writing songs and improving every time I tried something new with my instrument. I would see commercials or programs that showed people with horrible health problems and I would think to myself "I'm glad it's not me" Well, now it is me, and while back then I could easily tell people with those issues to be brave and to stay positive, it's really not so easy when it's you. There's just no way to describe it.
I love humankind, the world, all of it far too much to see it fail or succumb to its own greed, desire for power or hate. I have work to do. Spread love and it will come back to you. One person really can make a difference, and its done by influencing others. People shake their heads at altruistic ideals yet accept everything else as "the way it is." Why is that? Why is it so hard to believe that unity can be achieved? Why do people keep saying, "Keep dreaming" to those who are trying to improve things in this world? It took us millenia to get where we are today, why don't we start working towards something better? It has to start somewhere and what better time than now?
I am far from a perfect human being. When people say "You're the man. You're a hero to us", a part of me understands why they would think that but at the same time, I'm thinking Hell no, I'm not. I know my faults and they are many. I'm the last person to be perfect in this world. I never wanted to blog on Myspace or here for that matter because I knew I would start sounding like a drama queen. A friend of mine told me a few years back to write something because he said I have "good insight" and, well, here we are today. I've made positive posts, I've made some that aren't so positive, I've even said that I won't post headlines anymore because I don't want to bring anyone down and trouble them with my own burdens when I know they have their own. We all have bad days, some worse than others. I know what I am, I'm a random guy from a small town . A guy with love in his heart and a heavy burden on his shoulders that he continues to carry.
Why do I keep going? What do I fight for? I fight because I know there are others who belong here that aren't, those who would want to be here. I do it because there's always someone fighting a tougher fight than you are. I do it because I know there are people that care, because life is worth living and the world is worth fighting for. I fight for the beautiful woman I will marry someday, whoever she is.
So, to all the health issues, days of sadness and loneliness, all the pain and whatever else, you'll have to excuse me as I have a life to lead and alot of work to do.

Goals.
We should have some, all of us. They give us a feeling of accomplishment. They make us push ourselves to do better, to try harder, to look at things from a different angle. Having goals keeps us busy. Whether short term, or lifelong, goals are important. They help us with our daily lives by giving us something to focus on.
People can stray from things easily in this life, and, no offense to anyone in this country but Americans are quite possibly the most easily distracted of all human beings. We have so many things available to us here and while that's something to be thankful for, they can also tempt us away from our goals and from life in general.
Goals give our lives purpose. What makes us human? I heard somewhere that it's our desires.Our desires? Well, if one wants for nothing, nothing at all in life, then would not that indiviual become numb? We are human because we have a reason for being. We have jobs, families, hobbies and interests. The problem is that sometimes (or most of the time for a number of people) we spend all our time on the wrong interests (or far too much time on others). We can spend too much time on unproductive things. Progress cannot be made unless we move forward. "Without a struggle, there can be no progress" -Frederick Douglas. I guess the struggle here would be the falling into a cycle of being lazy or becoming complacent, letting our will power fail in the face of present and future distractions.
The mind can play tricks on a person, as can their environment. I see the Bear Blues affect people here on the Cape year after year but I've never let it get to me (I admit, being nocturnal for the most part helps). People allow themselves to get depressed, to be down since it's winter time. Now, here I need to say that I'm not judging anyone and I know the amount of work you guys do in your daily lives. This isn't meant to offend, it's meant to help. Life is far too short to stay down on things, yourself, a situation, or other people. Let it go. Let it all go. Get away for a weekend or six. I've lived on the Cape longer than 98% of the people on my friends' list, I spent the last 3 years going solo to bars in the area, I know how boring this place can be. Don't let your environment change your outlook on life or on yourself. You have SO MUCH strength inside you. Find it. Use it. Turn away from what's holding you back. Take it from the expert, don't spend your time feeling sorry for yourself. Things happen in this life, things we can't forsee or control. When that happens, we do all that we can to fix the situation. If we are no longer able to do certain things, then we look for other avenues of interest. and for the love of mercy, don't be afraid to take risks. Work for your happiness, for your dreams, as chances are, they won't be handed out to you.
I've got my dreams, my own goals. I even made my list of 10 things I want to do in my life that Amanda was talking about awhile ago. Looking at what I wrote down, it's strange to see how some things can't happen without another person's involvement. I guess it isn't though, we all need help every now and then. The human animal is a social creature so it's only fitting that we sometimes must rely on each other's assistance in order for our dreams to become reality.
Make your own list. Then look at each dream, each goal, and ask yourself what must be done in order to fulfill them?

We are taught from a somewhat young age that one day, we will find true love and be happy for the rest of our days. At what point does this become a myth (at least for some anyway)? We grow up, we enter relationships, they don't work out, we slowly become jaded.
"The odds of finding true happiness are astronomical", that's something I've heard recently and a long time ago, as well. So, do we resign ourselves to second best? Do we go out and make less of an effort to find the right one? Do we become complacent in our search for love? And what of those people who feel that they have to be in a relationship at all times? Do they become complacent as well? Do they live with what is called "acceptable happiness?" Do they stick with the wrong person because they don't want to spend time looking for someone better? God knows I've seen that happen a number of times, heck, I did it myself when I was around 19 or so. I think I've wised up since then because if you know it's not going to work in the long run, or if the one you're with doesn't respect you, then what is the time spent searching for another when compared to a lifetime of unhappiness?
I've seen relationships fall to pieces, solid ones, too. I've been to 14 weddings in my life, 11 of which have lasted, 8 of which are happy marriages. Maybe they thought they found the one but things didn't work out for them? Maybe they didn't know each other as well as they thought they did? I may know some the details of their relationships but I don't know the whole story, I'm not them. I know some of the guys were schmucks to begin with or that there wasn't enough communication. It's so very important to be on the same page as the one you love. Communication works both ways, sometimes people forget that.
Now I would like to address some things I've said previously;
Don't resign yourself to second best. Keep looking for the one that's right for you. You can be with someone that's "nice" and "sweet" and still feel that tugging in your heart, that feeling that tells you "this isn't the one." Listen to your heart, it knows best. Your partner will be hurt when you break up with them(unless you were only dating briefly and even then, sometimes, it can still be painful if they fell for you), but, it will ultimately be for the best as you wouldn't be happy in the long run and thus, they would feel it, too. They might feel like they did something wrong, that somehow they were no longer good enough for you. Let them off easy, be as caring and sensitive as possible. Be honest with them and with yourself.
For those of us that feel like we need to constantly be in a relationship, I give you this response; love yourself. Give yourself some you time. You don't need to be constantly dating someone, no, really, you don't. I could go on and on about "rebounding" but suffice to say, you should take some time in between dating people to reacess everything. Let your heart heal, give it time. If you immediately jump back into dating again, you could end up making things worse. You could get hurt quickly and question if there's something wrong with you even if you are perfectly fine. This way of thinking will lead to lower self esteem. Maybe it is you though, maybe you need to ask yourself if you are the problem? Maybe you aren't as respectful or honest as you think you are? This is another reason why we should take a step back and reevaluate things. Ask your closest friends if they see you doing something wrong with your relationships and to be honest about it. Don't take offense to what they say, we humans can be sensitive but we must also be able to accept constructive criticism.
Now, if you were only dating someone a few times and it didn't work out, then it's fine to see someone else a few days later. What I said in the previous paragraph is for someone coming off of a long term relationship, it could, however, also apply to someone who is dating person after person. Give yourself a breather, hit the dating scene again after a longer wait than what you are used to. Your heart, mind and spirit will be grateful.
If you've had a number of bad experiences or alot of bad luck, remember this, It's important to not become jaded. It's important to give a damn every single time you go out and try again. Don't think of someone as "my future ex", look at every new person you meet as someone unique and special. Who knows how things will end? Be positive each and every single time. Forget about your exes, "Be here, now" for that one person sitting in front of you. Start fresh and look forward to learning more about your date.
Going back to the original statement, about true love being a myth, FUCK THAT. I believe in it. Forget the odds, who says those are the odds anyway? If you keep listening to that, you will resign yourself to it. It can happen, believe me, and much more often than you think. Why set limits on anything in life? Maybe the girl next door has been the one for you all along and you never realized it? The one for you could be under your very nose and you never, ever even thought about it. Hey, you know those E-Harmony/Match.com services? Give 'em a shot. Don't be embarassed, in today's day and age finding free time to get out there gets harder and harder. If it's worked for so many people, there's a good chance it could work for you as well. Think of it this way, will you still be embarassed when they help you find the right one and you feel that "spark?" I don't think you will. If you decide that something like that isn't for you, then no problem, do it the normal way, just remember to stay optimistic and to start fresh every time.There are plenty of single people in the world, keep trying. "You can't achieve success without the risk of failure." Keep searching, never cease.
To those of you in relationships, enjoy yourselves and your lives to the absolute fullest. Make everyday fun and new. Be spontaneous, be caring, be loving. Laugh, embrace each other and be affectionate.
To you married folks, I wish you all the best for you and your families. May your days be filled with tender moments and the sweetest of memories. Surprise them with something new like a weekend getaway or cook a romantic dinner for two.Tell your spouse how much you love them each and every day. Show them your smile, let them know how wonderful it is to be with them forever. You've found something that I hope to, no, that I KNOW I WILL find one day. Best wishes to you and yours.
I believe in the power of the human spirit. I also believe in the power of the human heart.
Find your other half, the one who your soul cries out for. Find True Love, my friends, for it is waiting for you.

This was written to be a mid tempo reggae/rock song similar to "Walking on the moon" by The Police. You'll notice some of the words in the intro and outro are spelled a different way (that's where you imagine the jamaican accent. :) ) The rest of it was going to be sung by me and the bridge was intended to be a deep, spoken word monologue.
It's a song about how we no longer communicate with each other and how much easier life would be if we did. If people took the time, had patience and listened to themselves and others, peaceful solutions would occur more frequently. It's also important to emphasize actually talking to someone and not texting/tweeting or what have you. We need to start having conversations again.
I also don't advocate the misuse of stimulants. No, really, I don't, I am very serious. Don't let them become a mandatory thing in your life.


      "Open (Communication Nation)"

Intro:
Put down your ganja, put down your drink
dis be serious, it's time to think
Put down your spliff, put down your beer
To truly expand your mind, dee time is 'ere

I've got a friend of a friend of a friend
who takes care of his own
No need to ask, he's there 'til the end
Family honor won't say "No"
I've got a teacher in the ways of the world
and I'm learning all I can
She speaks of a boy's love for a girl
and a woman's for a man

Chorus:
There's a world inside us all that we need to share
Open the door and breathe the fresh air
There's a warmth inside us all in place of any pain
Open yourself up and have no fear or shame

I've got someone who I look up to
who gives me advice and help
Rising above is what you need to do
though you can't always do it yourself
I know a girl sweeter than the rest
but I know she don't want me
So if we don't get together, I'll wish her the best
because there's other fish in the sea

2nd Chorus:
The art of conversation has been lost
and the closeness of family was the cost
We all have thoughts and emotions we need to admit
so why don't we sit down and talk about it?

Bridge:
We are human  We are spirits  We are beautiful, strong,
loving and intelligent  We are benevolent lions
Every single one of us is an amazing person
We all have it within us to overcome every trial and setback we
face in our lives, we need but only realize it for ourselves
As we go through life, we can't forget; Emotion, Conscience,
or the fact that sometimes we need each others' help.
We are social creatures, so get out there and socialize
Be patient, be respectful and be compassionate
Be Open
Communicate

Outro:
Have love---for your brothers
Have love---for your sisters
Have love---for your neighbors
Spread love---to every nayshon


          

Alright, this one is VERY different from what I usually come up with. I tend to write love songs or talk about things that deal with various issues in life. This one, however, was written as a ska punk song in the vein of "Same in the end" by Sublime. It's a 112 beats per minute and it even has a rhythm guitar solo. It's a song heading out and meeting up with people at a party. It's a song about those good times we have in the summer.
OK, now I have to be serious
 Although the words make the singer sound like he's being reckless right before he leaves the house (showering and shaving as fast as he can, flying out the door..), I want to make it known that he is not driving carelessly and/or speeding. Nor is he drinking til he's drunk or buzzed before he heads back. This is an important issue and it's something that we need to stop.
You  can have a great time with friends and enjoy yourself but please drink responsibly and obey the laws of the road.


                  "Dipset"

Chorus:
 I gotta dipset---right now
'cuz I gotta meet ya--downtown
I gotta dipset---right now
'cuz I gotta meet ya---downtown

I was at home kickin' back and watchin' the tube
didn't think I had to leave anytime soon
So I laid down and dozed off for awhile
then I woke up and freaked out at the time
Had to shower and shave as fast as I could
Threw on some clothes, tried to make myself look good
Grabbed the keys to my car and flew out the door
Not a cloud in the sky, then it started to pour
Got struck in traffic a mile before the lights
Started to wonder, "What else could happen tonight?"

*Chorus
2nd Chorus:
I gotta head out---right now
'cuz we're gonna party--downtown
I gotta head out---right now
'cuz we're gonna party--downtown

Made it Main St. then realized I had no phone
It was left behind with all your voice mails at home
Drove a half mile and wondered what else I forgot?
Pulled in the driveway, couldn't find a parking spot
So I left my car on the grass and walked right in
Place was packed, so I grabbed a drink and the lights went dim
I scanned the room and saw someone with your tattoo
It was dark and from behind I thought it was you
but then they turned around and I realized I was wrong
then I noticed you dancing when they played your song

Chorus 1 & 2:

The party was jumpin' to a really sweet sound
There was dancing everywhere, feet stomping the ground
Just then I saw a hottie across the way
so I walked on over thinkin' what to say
Flashed her a smile and tried to act all smooth
but I got shot down and I lost my groove
Didn't let it get to me and I'm not gonna lie
it was such a great night and I felt so alive
Had to work early so my party time had to stop
When I got home I realized I had the day off

This is something I did ages ago. The first two paragraphs of the bridge were written with a friend of mine in mind. I've always believed in chivalry, it's who I am and what I'm about. My heart sinks everytime I see someone I care about in a relationship where they are being hurt.
These lyrics are about someone that is seeing a situation like that from the outside and their desire to have their friend free of mistreatment.
This was originally going to be a song that only contained piano music, which is different for me since I'm a guitar player. I pictured this as a ballad with a slight echoing effect on the vocals and keys (making it sound it like it was performed in a completely empty room, you know what I'm getting at, right?).I wanna say I wrote this back in 2001 although I'm not completely sure.

            "Renewal (Birth of a butterfly)"

He's left you again
Tell me, when will it end?
And when will he understand
that you need him to be a man?
Alone and stressed,
the life in your chest
Your heart breaks in two
yet, you know it's nothing new
He's at it again
Tell me, when will he learn,
that when he talks of his passions
you never get your turn?
At home, depressed
and you clean up the mess
Never has time for you
Love taken for granted, you know it's true

Chorus:
Freedom lies on the open road
Walk out the door, just leave
Not all men are the same,
you know you gotta believe
Can anyone give you the love you need?
I can
Yes, I can

He's doing it again
Tell me, when will it stop?
You put up with everything
yet never come out on top
You're all worn out
and fears and doubts
have been filling your mind
It needs to end and now's the time
He's yelling again
Tell him you've had enough
of the way you've been treated
and his problem with trust
Your heart, it hurts
He never puts you first
His total lack of care
makes you doubt there's a good man anywhere

Chorus:
Freedom lies on the open road
Walk out the door, just leave
Not all men are the same,
you know you gotta believe
Can anyone give you the love you need?
I can
Yes, I can

Bridge/outro:
For all the drops that fell from your eyes
For all the tears that came from the skies
I'll put a smile upon your face for each
and bear my heart to you within arm's reach

For all the pain that wounded your soul
For all the hurt that swallowed you whole
I will hold you to the sky, let you shine
and lead you from this place, your hand in mine

Move on, be strong...
If you want me, I'm here

OK...so, it's been years since I've done anything with this site and even when I did use it, the majority of my creative output went elsewhere. Why am I posting my lyrics, poetry etc on livejournal? Well, why not? I've written a number of things over the years and no one has really seen them.
A lil' about me..
 I've been suffering from a disease that has messed up my health like crazy. It's a severe, arthritic condition that gives me a number of other health problems. It's been over ten years now and it gets worse every year. I've got a great group of people helping me out and supporting me and I thank God for them. I live in pain and discomfort but sometimes I have "good" days. I wanted to do a number of things that I am no longer physically capable of. I had a passion for playing guitar back in the day but now all I can manage is a slow/midtempo speed of playing for about 5-10 minutes before my body tells me it's had enough. It sucks and everything but I need to do what's right and keep my head up. I am FAR from perfect and I acknowledge that fact everyday. I try to help others with whatever problems life throws at them in any way I can. I do my best to go the extra mile for people and my friends know that they can call me at 2 in the morning if they need someone to talk to.
For years, I was bitter about certain events but I've learned to let go of the past and to breathe. We need to forgive. Forgive and you will be forgiven. We need to communicate our feelings to each and not let things sit and fester. We need to provide constructive criticism instead of judgment. We need to overcome our faults and realize our true potential. The human race is beautiful, but somewhere along the way, we let ourselves become something else. No one is perfect but why don't we work towards being better than we are?I'll be the first one to say that I screw up alot and I'm not happy with my situation, believe me, I know my faults. We can stumble and fall but we can also get back up again.
Facebook is a site that I've been very active on and I try to post positive, uplifitng headlines and quotes in addition to whatever important news I see. Technology is an excellent tool and it can do many great things but sometimes we let the sites, the tweets and the texts become our only method of communicating with one another. We need to start making phone calls again so we can hear each other's voices. We need to meet up with our friends face to face more than we normally do nowadays.
So...yeah, I'm getting off the soapbox now, hehe. I'll be posting up some of stuff for your enjoyment/critique/amusement/etc..  later on today. If any of my friends or fam see this, please add me as I will be frequently updating things here (and I only know one person on LJ!) . Anyone else who I have not had the pleasure of meeting can add me, too. I enjoy meeting new folks (I said, "folks" and I'm only 31...yeesh..) and hearing from them.
Well, that's it for now. Take care, everyone.

Addiction is so very hard to defeat. but we must win. It can control us and keep us from realizing our true potential. Temptation can always be there, always there in the back of our minds. It's a little daemon that makes its presence known when presented with things related to your personal addiction. "what would one hurt? Its just one." We must remove the temptation, get away from the area, lifestyle, or people that would cause us to fall.
 For some people, an addiction can shape them or change them and their whole outlook on life, leaving them depressed, angry, or unmotivated. The signs can be plain as day yet a person may not see them or not care. It's important to care. It's important to give a damn about your own life and the lives of others. Some people are addicted to doing nothing with themselves, they live their lives thinking they are doing nothing wrong when in fact, they have neglected their own hopes and dreams.
 We can make excuses and say "I deserve to induldge myself" but its just a vicious cycle. Its a cycle that will hurt you and others that care for you. If you think nothing of it, if it doesnt bother you,then  think of everyone else, think of the time you've wasted by being an addict. wake up and escape.
 get help. get loved ones around you. tell them you need to change and that you WANT to change. find a support group. Spend your time doing other things. Find a way out of the darkness. break the cycle, because you know you won't stop unless you WANT to stop. No one can make the decision for you. You need to find your inner strength, we all have it, some just don't know it.
 
 We have one shot at life, let's not waste it.