Let us all complain about gas

We all complain about the gas prices. Why not? It’s a totally legitimate thing to do right now and for a few days, I thought there was relief ahead. Crude oil is back up to $114 a barrel. I figured America would be able to breathe easy and establish their old day-to-day routines. I was mistaken I guess. The war in Libya has really set things back. There was hope on the horizon before issues flared up over there. Crude oil was beginning to see a decline in price. Obama even said it would only be a matter of “days not weeks.” When has it ever been a matter of days? Nothing comes to mind.

But how many of us actually know what is going on? Americans complain, but the complaints to deeper than what we see on the surface. Here are just a few examples:

Meals on Wheels: Unfortunately with having the fill up their tanks, the exasperating amount paid to do so has caused them to step back and go even more fast food on people. The company has now had to remedy their problem by delivery frozen dinners. “All the convenience of the frozen aisle without the hassle of Wal-Mart weirdos.”

Shop no More: This is one of the biggest ones. I wish people would realize that when gas goes up, everything goes up. Stores are having to charge more money for simple things from milk and bread to shoes and other types of clothing. Wal-Mart, Target, and even the glorious Taco Bell have had to raise their expenses because delivery is getting too much. How do you think local businesses fare? I’m sure you can see for yourself.

Gas Delivery: Just in the last year, the average amount spent on gas delivery to gas stations around the country has rise from $25,000 to $39,000 per year. These owners now have to recover from issues like rent, salaries, and other factors that go into this competition. Needless to say, business is slow.

No more sick, no more fun: In the past 6 months, there has been almost $6 billion in sick leave/vacation days NOT taken. People are working more, stressing out more, seeing family less, and are now seeing the effects taking place. People are going into work sick when they should be home resting. And it’s not just cold sick, it is issues where they could probably see a doctor. People can’t afford to be sick or go on vacation now.

Small and irritating things: Change can be simple or hard. When it comes in the form of getting rid of every day-to-day habit you have acquired, it's hard. The high price of gas has caused people to reformulate their most simple habits in life: savings, entertainment, home improvement costs, eating, and even going to kids sporting events. Missing your kids sporting event?!?! Are you kidding? Lucky for me my high school days saw a price of just over $1.50/gallon.

And so the government continues to turn down domestic energy options. They don’t want to create more jobs for Americans. Why? Well just this year the economy grew at an annual rate of only 1.8%, which is much higher than anticipated. The reason for this is we keep getting squeezed by gas prices and that’s how it will continue to grow. How that works, I don’t know. I’m not an economist but it seems to me that the longer this goes on, the worse we will continue to fall down the ladder of morality.

It is a moral issue too. Trust me. Politicians are corrupt. The leaders of the oil companies are crooked and dishonest.

What does our future hold?

A gun?

It is up, it is live, and it is great (if you don't like Mormons, don't go to it)http://ping.fm/Q7D3F

Hey everybody! Yeah you! Head over to http://ping.fm/FIlIO and check out the new site I have been helping with for the Church. It's pretty cool.

To anyone who is up, do you wanna go see Pirates in the next hour or so?

Updated Top 10 plus 1

Yes, it is Friday night. I sit in the shadows of my own criticism. . .

I was going to go for a poem there, but I will save that for another day. So I present to you my Top 10 this week. (this is not going to be a weekly thing)

Top 10 (Plus 1) Things You Post on Facebook That No One Cares About:
(Number 11 is a submission of a friend that I couldn’t leave out)

11. Links to YouTube of death-metal bands.

Oh listen to this new song from RAPTURE RAPE entitled, Soul Sh%#ter; although, it’s probably our fault for associating ourselves with these people.

10. A picture of you with your car.
I feel that there is a sense of insecurity associated with this.

9. Top 10 Lists.
Grow up. Seriously.

8. What you just ate.
The only thing less interesting about what is going into your body is what is coming out.

7. Heartfelt quotes that you post because you want to seem insightful to your friends.
I love stuff that is genuine; there are some things that just don't belong.

6. Polls.
I don't even know how to describe how unnecessary this is. Now that I say I don't like them, people will start inviting me to vote on their polls.

5. Your anger at someone else.
Quit being so passive and grow a pair. Go tell them whats up! Also, when you are updating about your submissive, prison-patron status, please feel free to spell words in a correct manner.

4. Pictures of your concert from last night.
How many pictures do we see that ACTUALLY show something? Every picture I've seen is just a shot of somebody who hurled up some lights and color from the deepest part of their stomachs.

3. Your workout.
Wow, I don't care. I'm positive no one else does either. You're like the guys at the gym who never leave the mirror and talk about how much protein they took in their bodies last night. I’m pretty sure I could kick your butt anyway.

2. Relationship updates.
This is probably the caviler inside of me. You should know, though, that every time you post an update about some useless object of your love, a newborn infant dies of rabies.

1. Mirror shots
I'm certain this doesn't bother anyone else as much as it does me, but it's almost as bad as people who flip the camera off. Who are you trying to impress you self-indulged child? I'd rather cut my wrists and do pushups in salt water than be friends with you.

OK, take whatever shots you want now.

There is nothing worse than a public restroom.

Imagination: The long forgotten frontier

The generation below us (us being those of you who are around the same age as me) is growing up in an imaginationless reality. Yes, those words contradict each other one paper, but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. I thank my lucky stars that I didn't experience my awkward pubescent time in life in the same way these kids are.

Legos, what are those? You mean you had to actually blow into the gaming system to get it to work? You woke up at 6 AM to play basketball BEFORE school?

So, 2 of these 3 things have nothing to do with imagination but it ceases to exist in kids I see. Some will say, "Of course there is imagination, how do you think people create the things they do?" People create from experience and from outlying sources that inspire them. I do think that some imagination lies in them but in all honestly, how many people could sit down and come up with an actual story line with a bunch of plastic army men surrounded by a barrel-o-monkeys?

Even the term "imaginative" isn't even used to describe those who create. They are "visionaries", "prophetic", even "idealists", but where is that magical word? yes, they are synonyms, but Imagination is the root of everything that is creative in this life. To imagine something is to form mental images from the deepest parts of our core and create something real whether it be story, pictures, or plastic men. The closest thing I have seen from awesome imagination is the creation of techno-myths like Russians training ESP children, that AIDS was released by the government, and 9/11 just to name a few. That is real imagination.

As one last point, I make the ridiculous point that kids these days have no imagination because they are lazy and everything is created for them. They are self-indulged conformists who have no time to rely on their own understanding but whatever is handed to them and it begins to spread into those who are older.

Scary.

Put down the phone and pick up a book. Please.

To My Mother

This is a few days late, but it's hard to put into words the love for your mother, right?

For me, Mothers Day doesn't compare to the other 364 days I think about her and how she has helped me.

Mothers are there emotionally, when all other fail. They lift our spirits and guide us without us even knowing where it is we are going. Mothers will continue to love and give even after everything has been taken by their kids. Their graciousness knows no bounds. There are times when we want to give up, but mom won't let us. She keeps that fire inside burning strong and bright for us to fuel off of. They don't want to be in the limelight, they just want their kids to be successful, blessed with the riches of life, but more than that, they want us to be happy. When all else ceases and life begins to fail, when the sadness and frustration is at a point of eruption, when the world stands still, our mothers will be there to take us into their arms.

I don't think there is any force in the universe stronger than the love of a mother. Their love could shift the universe we live in. Each action they take is for the good of everyone they love. No selfishness involved. There is a reason that men cannot compare to woman in any way. They are mothers, and that is the strongest force.

My fondest memory of my mom was the night before I left for my mission. The two weeks prior to that, I spent most of the time spending time with old friends and visiting with them. I remember almost nothing of those days though. What I do remember is sitting with my mom, playing cards, both of us too nervous to sit still, but neither of us wanting to admit it. We spoke of life, of the past, and of God and knowing that there is something greater out there. We spoke of the greatness of the church and some of our greatest accomplishments. I will never forget that night. I think of it often as I recount some of the fondest memories that inhabit the deepest parts of my mind.

My mom is my foundation in this life. My life is driven by my obsession to make her proud. My dad taught me the blessings of hard work, but my mother taught me to pursue and to be strong. That my belief in the Lord and finding true happiness in this life is what is most important.

When I marry, mom, I hope I can take just one of your skills. Just that, and I know I will have a successful marriage. You are an angel sent to this earth to take care of us and make up for our shortcomings.

I love you mom!

Mothers Day is every day of the year, don't you forget it.

30-Day Challenge!

Ladies and Gentlemen, if any of you are interested, I am going to start a 30-day thingy. The topic: A photo a day. Now, this can be your discretion. I am going to take only one photo, basically pretend like I only brought one strip of film for my camera and I can't waste any of the film on other shots. It might not be that way somedays but that is what I am striving for. Let me know if you want to do this with me. I could be pretty cool.