Thursday, June 30, 2005

Dirt

Greetings once again to my loyal friends, guests, and personalities that live inside my head (and sometimes choose to make comments on my blog). I feel so……validated….by the fact that several of you have made inquiries as to when my next entry would be. And I feel so smart for finding a useful use for the word “validated” thanks to my new lifelong friend that I have never met, Laura. Friends 4 ever! (Said in goofy squeally teenage girl voice)

So, I have had quite a few ideas swimming around in my head of late, but honestly I’ve been distracted with other things and just too lazy to get on here and try to put pen to paper, or more accurately, fingers to keyboard to word processor screen. That doesn’t sound as poetic as “pen to paper” but I am a stickler for accuracy, so we’ll go with it.

Anyway, I’ve had the following ideas come to mind: a literary picture of the inner-workings of the male mind (at least my male mind), a rare discussion from me regarding some of the things I see happening on the political landscape of our country (Melissa, you’ve rubbed off on me with your passion for all things political), some various lists (my fears, my favorite things, etc), and probably a few other random ideas that I’ve since forgotten about. I even had the rather brave notion to take requests for topics to write about in my blog, just to see how good of a bull-sh***er I really can be, and if the inner-recesses of my brain could make it entertaining at the same time (well, entertaining to my mind at least).

So, those are some of the future topics you can be anticipating in this blog—sort of a Blog TV Guide—so you can decide if it’s worth sitting around for or to change the channel and watch Big Time Wrestling or that one goofy sounding show that’s on currently—“Mega Ballroom Dance Hop with the Stars” or something along those lines. The only good thing that it looked like that show had was the Peterman guy from Seinfeld was on it, and I like his overly serious and dramatic voice. Other than that, I thought it looked sappy and corny and dumb. But that’s probably just because I’m jealous that I can’t dance and impress women in that regard. I’m one of those guys that even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, still thinks a woman will be more impressed with me and more likely to notice me if I stand around with a beer in one hand, the other hand in my pocket, and a cool, detached look on my face, instead of actually going up to the little chickie and asking her if she’d like to dance. But before you tell me that I’m wrong, dance with me first and after such an embarrassing experience I do believe you just might agree with me that I am in fact one of those rare exceptions that does indeed look more attractive with a beer bottle in hand than getting jiggy on the dance floor.

Wow, where did all that come from??? That whole paragraph was definitely not on my list of things to write about. Sometimes I am truly amazed at the stuff that spills out of my head…….besides ear wax, snot, and spit. Well, I’m actually not amazed at all when any of those last three things come out. Amused perhaps, but not amazed. Just like this last thought—merely an unrelated addendum or tangent, but where on earth did it come from??? Well, I can only hope that the random thought either made my readers gag or laugh, or both. And better yet if it made some miscellaneous icky substance issue forth from one or more orifices of your own head.

Back to the task at hand though—those are the future topics of the World’s Greatest Pilot’s World’s Greatest Blog (well, tied for greatest with Melly’s, Lori’s, and Laura’s). However, before I write about any of the above crap, unfortunately I’ve got to use this blog as a sort of barf bag. That was after all, one of my main purposes in creating it, so as to keep some semblance of sanity in my life. Better to have all this mental-emotional-spiritual sewage polluting the cyber waves than to be clogging up the inside of my head. So, unless you want to get some dirt on me, (which I am always most ashamed of) you can skip the rest of this entry and move on to the next one. Here goes…….

To start with, it seems Shannon (aka me) can’t control what he does online sometimes and so therefore, I’ve had to take his “online back in his hotel room” privileges away from him. As some of you know—shoot—maybe all of you know—I struggle with the online sexual junk. Chat, pictures, all that crap. And crap it is. You know what amazes me about my struggle with this stuff? It absolutely confounds me—put me in a room alone with a woman I’m attracted to and somehow, some way I will probably behave myself with her. Well, provided Mr. Alcohol doesn’t join the party. That is one lesson I seem to have finally learned—again, provided “Mr. Lets Get Drunk and Screw” doesn’t show up. I spent the last 2 or 3 years just griping and bitching and complaining to God about what a drag He is with this whole “Don’t fornicate” thing. I was really getting nasty and mean towards Him with my attitude. That was last year. Thankfully, this year He’s helped me to gradually stop that bitterness and to actually kinda sorta accept my lot in life as a Christian in this aspect of my walk with Him. I still have my days, but overall, I sense myself coming closer to being at peace with this most difficult of His Commands He gives to us sexual mortals. It helps that He’s given me a surprising number of friends who are also bearing the same cross in life. It’s way too easy to feel like you’re the only one not in a relationship, not having a fun sex life, missing out on all the fun times—meanwhile life is just rolling along to it’s inevitable conclusion: old age and no chance for a great sex life, a happy relationship, a happy little (or big) family and all the trimmings….especially on a Friday or a Saturday night. It’s amazing how my body and mind change color (in the figurative sense) come Friday evening if I have nowhere to go and no one to be with. But, once again, I am getting sidetracked.

So, it astounds me that most of the time I can control myself with a real woman, and yet, put me alone with the internet, and I’m not to be trusted. How can this be?? I don’t rightly know, but it is the truth. I think perhaps in my twisted little mind, I feel like the stuff I do online has fewer or lesser consequences. And yet, just like any sin, it messes up my relationship with God and it messes me up in the head. Why do I do such self-destructive things? Why do any of us do such things? And when I’m behaving myself in this area, like I suspect I will be able to start doing, why do I want to eat, to drink, to spend money, to lose myself in a book or do anything but turn to God???? WHY WHY WHY???? I just don’t get it why even when we have the answer and the true source of life staring us right in the face—knocking at our door, asking to come in—why do we (or at least I) run from Him??? I’m saved by His blood and yet I still have this awful tendency to turn my back on Him. To slam the door in His face. What is up with that??? Ugh. Very useful word, “ugh” is. I find it even more useful than the word “validated”.

Well, those are my thoughts on this subject. Thanks to my lack of self-control, I will now only be getting online down in the hotel lobby, at the FBO (one of those cool aviation-related words), or at the library. How inconvenient. Oh well, such is life. Better to be inconvenienced and have my relationship with God than to destroy myself with sinful, destructive habits.

Hmmm….lets see here, is there anymore dirt that I was feeling the need to share with the world?………..so, wanna go out on a date with me?? Just kidding.

Yuck, I hate entries like this.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

ERRRRRRR!!!!! I’M ANGRY!!!

….AND I DON’T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING OR ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT JUSTIFIES ALL THIS ANGER. NOT ONE PERSON OR THING OR CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT I THINK A BUNCH OF THEM ALL WRAPPED UP INTO ONE BIG McUNHAPPY MEAL! EEEEERRRRRRRRHHHH!!!!

I KNOW ONE THING—ONE SIMPLE OBVIOUS THING IS MY PLANE BROKE DOWN WITH SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. I HAVEN’T FLOWN MUCH IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND NOW THESE LAST FEW DAYS WHEN I COULD FLY, THE DAMN PLANE AND CAMERA SYSTEM DECIDE TO BE IDIOTS AND NOT WORK! STUPID PIECES OF CRAP! YEAH, I’M TALKING TO YOU, YOU STUPID PLANE AND CAMERAS!

NOT TO MENTION THE HASSLE OF ALL THAT, BUT THEN I HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY ANAL-RETENTIVE BOSS. I HAVE TO KEEP HIM INFORMED OF THE SITUATION. STUPID ME—I ALWAYS HAVE TO OPEN MY BIG MOUTH AND OFFER JUST ONE TOO MANY BITS OF INFORMATION, AND THEN IT INEVITABLY LEADS TO MORE BUSY-WORK FOR ME! ERRRRRHHH!!!!

I’LL BE GLAD WHEN I CAN GO HOME. I’M TIRED OF LIVING ALL OVER THE PLACE. THAT MAKES ME MAD TOO. EEEEEEERRRVVVHHH!!!!

JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, STUPID HOTEL OWNER MAN WALKS BY MY ROOM AND SEES MY WINDOW OPEN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. IN HIS HORRIBLE ENGLISH (HE’S ASIAN) HE TELLS ME NO—DON’T DO THAT. ERRRRRR!!!! I’LL TELL HIM SINCE I’M PAYING $900/MONTH TO LIVE HERE AND SINCE THE A/C GUNKS UP MY THROAT AND SINUSES, I’LL PLAY THE A/C AND OPEN MY WINDOW WHEN I WANT. JUST WAIT TILL I WORK UP THE NERVE AND THEN HE CAN KICK ME OUT IF HE IS SO INTERESTED IN LOSING MY MONEY. ERRRRRR!!! DUMB GUY!

I’M SINGLE AND UNATTACHED! EEEERRRRRRR!!!!! AND NOT HAVING SEX!! ERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! ERRRRRRRRRHHHHH AGAIN!!!!

MY BOSS REPLACED ONE OF THE PILOTS THAT QUIT AND IS NOW WORKING OVER IN FT. LAUDERDALE. SOON HE WILL BE UP HERE WITH US IN ORLANDO. I LIKED JENNIFER—THE PILOT WHO QUIT. I DON’T LIKE HAVING TO WORK WITH MY BOSS BECAUSE I DON’T LIKE FEELING SOMEBODY IS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER WITH A MICROSCOPE! ERRRRRRRR!!!!

DID I SAY I’M SINGLE AND SEXUALLY FRUSTRATED??? WELL GOOD FOR YOU!!!! EEEEERRRRRRRRR!!!!!

MY MINI-FRIDGE IS NEARLY BARE WITH ONLY A COUPLE PLUMS LEFT AND A BOTTLE OF ITALIAN DRESSING THAT JENNIFER LEFT WITH ME A FEW WEEKS AGO. THE LAST ONE OF THE PLUMS I TRIED EATING HAD A JELLIFIED PIT—NASTY!!! STUPID WAL-MART FOR SELLING CRAP LIKE THAT! I CAN’T STAND THAT STORE!!! I HOPE SOMEDAY THERE ARE BETTER STORES TO REPLACE THEM!!! OH, AND MY MAIN GRIPE IN REGARDS TO THE EMPTY FRIDGE—I’VE GOT TO GO SHOPPING SOON AND I HATE SHOPPING!!!!!!!!! OH MAN, DO I HATE SHOPPING!!!! ERRRRRRRR (WITH REALLY REALLY REALLY GRITTED TEETH)

I’M HUNGRY AND THERE IS NOTHING TO EAT HERE EXCEPT NASTY PLUMS, ITALIAN DRESSING, CRACKERS, BREAD GRAPEFRUIT JUICE, GATORADE, AND POP! ERRRRR!!!!

I WOULD GO OUT AND EAT NOW BUT I’M GOING OUT SOMEWHERE LATER TO EAT AND WATCH THE NBA FINALS GAME. SO, NOW I’M JUST HUNGRY!!!

DEEP BREATH…..WELL, ACTUALLY IT WAS ONLY A SEMI-DEEP BREATH…..

Hmmm…..okay, well I’m feeling just a little better now. Maybe the world isn’t so bad after all. I do have Taco Bell sauce packets to go with the crackers for a delightful late afternoon snack. And those packets have funny little sayings and lines on them now. That’s fun. And as for sex, I’m sure it’s overrated in my mind. If it’s not, don’t tell me. Just let me think that. As for work—that’s still a pretty big “errrrrrrrhhh!!!” But I’ll manage. I probably only have a month or two left on this job anyway before I get a better flying job that can cause me to go “eeerrrrrrrrhhh!!” So, why sweat it too much? What else was I complaining about? I don’t quite remember; maybe that was all…….the mechanic just called about my plane. Why can’t things ever be simple?? Mechanic told me the alternator and regulator seem to be working just fine except that the terminals on the alternator were broken. Ugh, now I’ve got to call my engineer-brain boss up and try to tell him in my limited understanding of electrical systems what the mechanic just told me. And then I’m sure my boss is going to have some idea that is going to entail screwing my evening or tomorrow up somehow. Yippee. EERRRRRRR!!!!!…….

Okay, I just left my boss a voicemail message. Maybe things aren’t so bad. It’s not like I can do anything else but sit and wait and then fly the plane and find out if it is going to work or not work. Oh, but you don’t know my boss—he has one of those minute-detail-down-to-the-micronth-of-an-inch engineer brains—and I’d bet money that he calls me tonight and IF—AND THAT’S A BIG IF—I pick it up and talk to him instead of letting him get my voicemail, HE’S BOUND TO HAVE SOME SORT OF CRAPPY IDEA THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE ME MORE HEADACHES AND WORK. EEERRRRRRR!!!!

mmmmmmmmm………..hmmmmmmmmmm……….hmmmmmmm…..I’m relaxing—don’t bother me now. Okay, back to those Taco Bell packets. I think maybe they are the solution to all my troubles this afternoon. Plus, I’m hearing thunder and seeing dark clouds. That will be nice and peaceful if we get a storm. That’ll calm my nerves…….ahhh, I’m feeling better and more at peace already : )

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Vewwy Important Cwips & Phwases

Radical Amputation……humpfh….

Behold, the power of cheese!

Bogies, twelve o’clock high….

So, you’re saying I’ve got a chance….

AAARRRGGHHH!!! (do I need to tell you what kind of voice this is to be said in?)

So, what’s a girl like you doin’ in a place like this? (with sexy eye brow movement)

OUCH!!!

So, uhh, how ‘bout this weather we’re having?

Behold, the power of cheese!!

Yo quiero Taco Bell! (said in cute little Mexican dog voice)

Ugh….

So, it seems we meet again “xxxxx” (insert personal arch-nemesis in the xxxx-spot)

Okie dokie

I’m hungry……

fo’ yo’ looooovve!

Pick me!

Wanna go out sometime?

It’s cool—whatever. (not the “whatever” from previous blog entry)

So the penguin says to the bartender….

Ich gehe in die stadt!

Well,

Anyway,

So,

But,

Alrighty,

Hmmm….

Four score and seven years ago….

In the beginning….

Amen.

Thaaaat’s fiiine….(said in my sister Ashley’s “it’s okay as long as you don’t bother me” voice)

YumYum.

I’ve had enough of this day.

ERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! (said in “I’m getting frustrated, stressed and angry” voice)

Clear to land.

Mmmm, good coffee.

Here, Marshall/Danny Boy/Kitty!!!

I loooove food!

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Sushi and "Whatever"

So, I really needed to be using this blog the last couple weeks, but I’m lazy about it and I always seem to be drawn to less profitable activities than the things I know I really should be doing with my time. Oh well, I’m here now, so lets get rolling with the things that need to be talked about:

I was reminded this past weekend of what an idiot I am when it comes to getting to know the opposite sex. I can be charming, mannerly, cute (how many times have I been described by that word!!??), friendly, blah blah blah when I’m around a girl……..but deep down inside, I’m just an idiot around them. You women scare me. It’s kind of an adrenaline rush to get close to you and get to know one of you, but it’s like skydiving, or alligator wrestling or swimming (water scares me)—you know you’re walking a razor’s edge between the thrill of it all and utter disaster. One false move and BOOM!!!!! It’s all over…well, actually I exaggerate just a bit, but seriously folks, I was reminded of some of my personal incompetencies and left asking myself, “Will I ever be a normal and functional human being??” A few years ago, I actually felt I was making some progress in dealing with some of my idiosyncrasies and learning how to be a good relationship-kind-of-guy. From this past weekend, IT IS SOOOO OBVIOUS—I am rusty and out of practice! Oh man, it’s back to the drawing board and trying to relearn some of those lessons I’d been learning a few years back. Fun fun fun, I just love being single and the whole dating-get-to-know-the-opposite-sex scene. Not. Why can’t the dating scene be simple like flying an airplane or reading about World War Two history??

On another note in regards to the opposite sex, I had one of the hotel clerks where I am staying here in Orlando hit on me. The first time I was like “I think she’s flirting with me.” The next time it happened—this past week—there was no wondering about it. She was—she couldn't have been much more blunt about it—telling me that she’d be interested in stopping by my room sometime for “whatever”. That’s such an innocent sounding word, but she made it clear to me just what “whatever” really was. “Whatever” was something that I haven’t had in a really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really long time. REALLY.

Due to the inevitable negative consequences of indiscriminate partaking in of “whatever”, I didn’t and do not plan on ever inviting her up to my room. In fact, I do not plan on imbibing of anymore “whatever” in my life again until if or when I’m remarried……oh, do hope I get married again…..soon…..ugh, it hurts. REALLY.

I like sushi. Sushi is very expensive. I am very poor. After pondering the risks and the rewards for some time now, I decided to do “Shannon’s Poor Man’s Sushi”. I went to the Wal-Mart Super Center yesterday. I bought some frozen salmon filets. I thawed one of them out. I ate it. It was good. I am still alive this morning. I guess it’s safe. YumYum.

This past Wednesday was June 8th, and throughout the day I kept thinking to myself, “It seems like today is supposed to be some sort of important day—like a holiday, or someone’s birthday or anniversary, or something….” The thought nagged me off and on throughout the day but to no avail—I couldn’t think of what it might be. I knew it surely couldn’t be a holiday. We just had Memorial Day and we’re not due for another holiday anytime soon. My brother’s birthday isn’t until June 21st, and I know I wouldn’t screw up his birthdate. I thought of an old girlfriend—Jennifer Scott. I think her birthday might be June 8th, but that wouldn’t be important enough for me to have this strange feeling, so I sensed it had to be something else. Perhaps something WWII related—but no, I’m just thinking of D-Day which was June 6th, not June 8th. I went to bed not solving the mystery in my head. The next morning I woke up and almost immediately it dawned on me: June 8th was my wedding date! I got such a kick out of the fact that I had forgotten my old anniversary! Hilarious! Well, at least to me it was. It just served as a funny illustration of how I have moved on from that time in my life.......a far distant memory.......

Well, those were the pressing things on my mind, especially the sushi story. Everything else was just mindless chatter from a relationship-idiot. It’s raining today and I don’t think I’ll be flying. I know I won’t be flying. So now I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do with my day, besides write in this blog of which I’m almost done doing. Hmmm, what to do, what to do. I could call up hotel desk clerk girl for “whatever”. I’m kidding, I already said there shall be no “whatever” for me! I’m the “Whatever” NAZI. If you aren’t familiar with the world of Seinfeld, just disregard that last sentence, otherwise you might start thinking some weird things about me. I wouldn’t want to change the image you have of me just being a "cute", normal, nice guy.

Yeah, right…she’s thinking.