Ale for the Soul

On Wednesday, May 20th, 2015, The Late Show with David Letterman  brought the final performance of David Letterman as host.  The iconic figure took center stage in the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City to bid farewell after thirty-three years on the air.  Jay Leno may have been picked to host the Tonight Show, thus physically succeeding Johnny Carson, but it was David Letterman who Johnny Carson bestowed his mantel and style of late night comedy.  Letterman held true to his comedic roots and proved worthy of his ideological mentor's blessing.  I first began watching The Late Show in the early 90's upon moving to Houston.  This was a time of transition for me, and I came to depend upon the show for comedic relief from the stresses of work and living on my own for the first time.  David Letterman challenged and pushed the boundaries of comedy genius to show I sometimes (often) should not take life seriously.  Dry humor with the corresponding dead-pan facial gestures

Naysayers: people who have a tendency to highlight the negative more so than the positive in any given situation.  (This is not to become confused with those who provide an objective and balanced view of the pros and cons.)  I must make an informed decision and appreciate those who bring a realistic view to the circumstance I find myself.  To provide more of one side than the other is not helpful or beneficial.  Naysayers also want to drag down the person who wants to break free of the status quo of comfort and complacency, mainly because they don't want to face the reality of their own situation.  They have never tried, thereby failing at something greater in life never giving it a chance to come to pass.  Do you think the caterpillar decides it doesn't want to turn into a butterfly?  No!  It realizes the intense pain of metamorphosis is worthwhile.  Growth and change are not comfortable, and I must move forward as I evolve intellectually, mentally, and emotionally.  To do oth

The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 6:10 & 12,  "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power... For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,  but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers of this dark world  and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Every day I am reminded of the importance of becoming rooted and remaining steadfast in the core ideologies and principles I believe in.  Watching the news for coverage of riots, protests, and other social ills, I can recognize what is really at stake.  Whatever the current situation may consist of, it is not the result of a certain physical act but of the underlying core belief, ideology, or foundational premise by which we live our lives.  Swirling around me are such beliefs as subjective truth, situational ethics, and moral relativism.  Because of this, I must immerse myself in objective truth and morality which does not waver but stands the test of t

Initially begun a few short years after the end of the Civil War, Memorial Day has expanded to honor those who died not only in the Civil War but also in all wars this nation has fought.  I humbly recognize and honor those who paid the ultimate price for the citizenry's freedom.  Freedom is not free.  I personally tweak the meaning of the holiday to include people who have given their lives for ideological and spiritual freedom.  It is very important an individual does not become a "cookie cut out" of everyone else around him or her.  Freedom of independent thought and expression are crucial.  Especially with the advent of instantaneous social media and news, people are shunned for such perceived fringe beliefs as: marriage and family consist of one man and woman, morality and truth is objective and not subjective, and abortion is murder.  These are to only name a few.  People I consider ideological and spiritual giants are: Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, and Maha

In light of the recent news concerning the acceptance in to my dream school, I have found myself at a crossroads of sorts.  Fort Worth has been good to me as I actually "like" it here more so than upon my first arrival over five years ago.  Believe me, I hated it here, was miserable beyond comprehension, and I didn't care who knew it.  In the time since, I have grown comfortable, if not complacent, in living in Fort Worth.  Acceptance, mixed with a little bit of resignation, has a lot to do with it.  Upon reflection, it is amazing how life can come full circle.  In the movie Mr. Holland's Opus , the title character reflects about his impending forced retirement.  He emotionally states how he was brought into the gig of teaching "kicking and screaming," while now, years later, he can't imagine performing any other career.  To some extent, this is the place I find myself.  To answer my own question, I must jettison the flotation devices of comfort and fami

On Friday evening a childhood dream came to fruition.  I discovered the University of Texas in Austin approved my application and granted me admission as a student in to their prestigious university.  Now for the challenge to iron out all the details in making this work.  The blessing has been bestowed in its raw form, which means I have the arduous task of going after the opportunity of a lifetime.  Life isn't easy and won't fall in to place simply because it is a dream recently realized.  If this is something I have truly wanted, I'll move mountains and diligently work hard to bring it to pass.  It is similar to getting a book deal in that it is now time to write the book, so to speak.  The future, lived out in each and every day, must be written in order to achieve the end result, the very goals I have pursued and wanted for so many years. At the forefront of my mind is the question I must ask in order to keep me on track, with an intense focus, toward the finish line, &

Unfortunately I am without excuse in the tardiness of this post; however, I firmly believe mothers can and should be honored without fail each and every day.  As a result, here I am to honor my mother.  She and I haven't always had smooth sailing in our relationship as our approach to life is vastly different from one another.  Over the years, as we both matured and decided to choose our battles, our mother-son relationship has vastly improved.  At various time she has been the sole supporter of her son, when no one but her would tolerate the behavior I exhibited.  Believe me, she had plenty of opportunity and reason to disown me or place me at arm's length.  She did so at varying degrees on occasion, but always took me back into the fold of the family.  I was a tornado in people's lives for many years.  While incarcerated, she faithfully wrote me on a weekly, if not daily, basis offering support and encouragement.  In addition, she always made sure I had money for commissa

What a great way to end National Bicycle To Work Week by celebrating and participating in National Bicycle to Work Day.  Yes, this may seem redundant, but I believe it really drives home the point of taking an active role in our lives.  Instead of simply turning the wrist on the vehicle's ignition in order to get somewhere, let us re-examine the many small things we could do to become healthier, more active individuals.  First, consider bicycling to work if the distance from home to work is reasonable and the temperature is conducive for doing so.  Second, coordinate errands or chores into one trip and plan to accomplish these tasks by either walking or bicycling.  For example, the local grocery store is about six blocks from the apartment.  Would it really kill me to walk or bicycle these few blocks for the one or two basic items I am purchasing?  Here's another novel idea: if you exercise at the gym, give some thought to bicycling to the facility.  This will replace your time

This is National Bicycle to Work Week, with Friday as National Bicycle to Work Day.  I'm excited as I get to help promote the art and sport of bicycling.  In addition, I get to assist in making this world a better place to live in by going green.  Bicycling produces no emissions, diminishes, if not eliminates, noise pollution, and is great exercise.  Believe it or not, I also decrease the amount of time it takes to get to work as I don't have to compete in traffic congestion.  (Of course I obey all traffic laws and remain courteous to my other four-wheeled friends on the roadways.  Even to these same four-wheeled friends who do not understand or tolerate with patience those of us who choose to ride on two wheels.)  I challenge and encourage those who do not currently ride or do so infrequently to saddle up and give this Bicycle to Work Week a chance.  Who knows, you may end up falling in love with a new hobby and passion.  Bicycling creates a new adventure each and every time w

To continue in my honor of Bicycle Awareness Month, I wanted to cover a few common facts about bicycling.  First, laws concerning the activity are often broad and rather vague.  For example, bicycling on sidewalks is not directly prohibited but are strongly discouraged.  The unwritten rule is sidewalks are for pedestrians, bicycles get the full lane of roadway.  The general guideline entitles a bicyclist to ride within three feet of the furthest right curb.  When safety becomes an issue, the bicyclist is allowed the use of the full lane.  So anytime I hear a string of profanity accompanied with someone yelling for me to get on the sidewalk, I can't help but to shake my head at the sheer ignorance of the vehicle driver.  Drivers of motor vehicles have an obligation to treat a bicyclist as simply another "slow-moving" vehicle, and must give wide berth passing from the other lane.  Bicyclists, on the other hand, also have a set of obligations and responsibilities.  The prima

Throughout the year, especially on days like today, I find myself rather amused by certain cultures and the holidays they celebrate.  Often I ask a few questions of those who celebrate Cinco de Mayo, questions such as, "What does the holiday signify?" or "What is the history behind the celebration?"  The subsequent answers are all over the chart,  but a few indicate the ignorance of one's own culture.  "Mexican independence!" or "I don't know, all I know is I'm supposed to eat and party."  In 1862, Mexico defeated French forces at the Battle of Puebla.  Of course there is more to the story than this, but Mexico had already existed as an independent nation.  This backdrop provides the gist behind the holiday.  But to dig deeper in to the matter at hand, I am curious about one's national or cultural pride which also remains ignorant of said history.  This isn't exclusive of those celebrating today's holiday, but also those a

As a young kid many years ago, I made good use of a bicycle as a mode of transportation.  Little did I know bicycling would return to become an active part of my life as a man in his forties.  In fact, bicycling has become a passion, for which I attempt to advocate on its behalf as often as opportunity allows.  Did you know May is Bicycle Awareness Month?  Are you a transportation biped, or are you in a rut using your qua-draped?  Of course this is in reference to the difference between bicycles and vehicles.  During bicycle month I challenge all my readers to find out more about bicycling and the associated rights, responsibilities, and health benefits involved in the sport.  (Yes, I did say sport.  Does the name Lance Armstrong ring a bell?)  Also, I will post various bicycling related entries during the course of the next few weeks.  However, allow me to whet your curiosity a bit by highlighting a few of the benefits of bicycling.  First, it is probably one of the easiest ways to ex