Ale for the Soul

These days off roll around with consistent regularity, and I look forward to the time of decompression apart from the demands of work.  Even though I diligently chipped away at chores and had a doctor's appointment at 10:20 a.m., I did find myself at ease, resting and relaxing in the midst of life's obligations.  The good news coming out of the medical visit is I am no longer considered pre-diabetic and the muscle spasms are becoming more infrequent.  This doesn't mean I have no occasion of pain and discomfort, but the future looks bright.  Remaining active is another essential prescription to combating the health woes.  In addition, the doctor prescribed a different muscle relaxer, one that is considered potentially less addictive or habit-forming, if any such risk exists in this particular medication.  Woven throughout the morning was also a lot of time to read as I waited for the appointment.  Thankfully, I was able to finish the book I was reading,...

Most of my days off are spent in rest and relaxation never leaving the apartment, except for those rare occasions I absolutely have to run an errand.  On Monday, instead of following suit in my normal pattern, I decided to engage life.  I already had plans to meet a friend for lunch, so I decided to visit a few of Fort Worth's finest attractions prior to doing so: the Police and Firefighter Memorial along with a never before seen section of Trinity Park.  Unbeknownst to me, they are all considered a part of the same area.  I have been out to the Memorial previously, but I wanted to recoup some valuable picture taking time.  (A bunch of my photos had been lost through a computer crash some months ago.)  Once finished, I wanted to see what the signs indicated was another park a little bit down the way.  To my surprise, it was a duck and geese pond.  Wow, I never knew this was here!  This section was a little smaller and more compact, neatly tuc...

To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names, send greeting. Whereas the Delegates of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, did, on the 15th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy seven, and in the Second Year of the Independence of America, agree to certain articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of New-hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia in the words following, viz. "Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of New-hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia". Article I. The Stile of this confederacy shall ...

I am here to speak to you about how to make America safe. The vast majority of Americans today do not feel safe. They fear for their children and they fear for themselves. They fear for our police officers who are being targeted. We pray for our police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge and their families; And we say thank you to the Cleveland Police Department for protecting us and all police officers protecting all of us. We also reach out with understanding and compassion to those who have lost loved ones because of police shootings unjustified and justified. It’s time to make America safe again. It’s time to make America one again. I know it can be done because I did it by changing New York City from “the crime capital of America” to according to the FBI the safest large city in America. What I did for New York City, Donald Trump will do for America. I have known Donald Trump for almost 30 years. And he has created and accomplished great things. But beyond that t...

By now, most people will recognize Monday as my weekly day off from the bagel shop.  This previous week didn't seem as stressful as the one before.  Maybe this was due to the lessening of catering orders for the store, or the fact the problem employee no longer works for the company.  Whatever the reason, I found life at work easy to navigate as I sailed smoothly into Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.  What will I accomplish with the time away from work?  That is a great question!  Of course I will spend the time reading and relaxing, along with smoking a pipe or two.  I do have at least one errand I need to run on the south side of town, but the question remains, "Do I really want to make the effort in leaving the apartment when I can very easily take care of this stuff another day in the week?"  That is a valid question, and one I need to answer; in the meantime, I will enjoy the time away from the store.  To my readership, I would like ...

Hunger stays Hunger stays I've been thinking about what I've been through All the good times, all the bad And anywhere in between the two There runs a common thread Some call it a condition A hidden chasm that will never fill up A constant thirst for Your presence A longing for Your love The hunger stays I keep on reaching The hunger stays I keep on seeking The hunger stays Through the blessing Through the bleeding The hunger stays I've seen Your rivers in my heart Seen Your miracles time after time And when I think I can't take anymore I see there's so much more to find The hunger stays I keep on reaching The hunger stays I keep on seeking The hunger stays Through the blessing Through the bleeding The hunger stays I will seek till I can seek no more I won't give up until I find You Lord 'Cause a hungry man does not pick and choose He just goes where there's bread And he keeps pressing through The hunger stays I keep on reaching The hunger sta...

This previous week was unusually more stressful than most I experience at work; however, I did have a few glimmering moments of good fortune.  The bagel shop employed a problem employee, the daughter of one of the shift leaders.  She was completely worthless and agitated most of the other workers, especially me.  The defining attribute between me and the others who couldn't stand her was I became very vocal about my view of her.  I would make disparaging remarks and call her names.  Well, someone peached on me to the district manager.  Much to his displeasure, he made it very clear I would get fired if this continued.  Out of my twisted sense of humor and personal amusement, I desperately tried to get fired during our conversation.  In the end, I couldn't seem to push his buttons to the point of getting terminated.  The goal was to see exactly how difficult it was to get fired from Einstein Bros. Bagels.  The discovery was revealing in t...

Sometimes at night I'd lie awake Longing inside for my father's embrace Sometimes at night I'd wander downstairs And pray he'd returned But no one was there Oh, how I cried A child all alone Waiting for him to come home My father's chair sat in an empty room My father's chair Covered with sheets of gloom My father's chair, through all the years And all the tears I cried in vain For no one was there In my father's chair Sometimes at night, I sit all alone Drifting asleep in a chair of my own When sweet, sleepy eyes Peer down from the hall Frightened by dreams they cannot recall Holding them close, calming their fears Praying they always will say... "My father's chair sits in a loving room My father's chair, no matter what I do My father's chair, through all the years And all the tears, I need not fear Love's always there in my father's chair." Sometimes at night, I dream of a throne Of my loving God calling me home And as I a...