Ale for the Soul

Many have inquired about the meaning behind the blog's name.  A lot of thought was given to selecting a title for the site.  I wanted a name that brought a soothing and healing aspect to both myself and the many readers who visit.  For me, pouring my thoughts out on "paper" was very cathartic and liberating.  As a result, names such as Balm of Gilead, Spiritual Release, or Ultimate Trascendance were considered.  Alcohol has been known to be used for medicinal purposes.  Red wine is good for the heart.  Whiskey warms the body.  Everclear makes for a great antiseptic or to sterlize surgical instruments.  Thus Ale for the Soul was born.  Even though I was very much a lager drinker, ale had a better tone or ring to it.  Certainly I'm not advocating for inappropriate alcohol consumption as a means of escape from life's struggles, trials, or problems.  As a former alcoholic, yours truly knows that lifestyle doesn't work, or at leas...

In the time I have lived in Fort Worth, I have had no luck in making this place home.  I always think of the wonderful life I had among friends in Houston.  Places to eat, favorite hangouts, a wonderful church home, city parks, museums and theatre plays, and so much more.  Even though it seemed like I was changing places of residence every six months, I still had a couple of places of retreat to use as an oasis.  The first was Molly's Pub, an Irish bar located a block off El Camino Real in Clear Lake.  I could walk in any given time of day, and the outside world, along with its accompaying stresses and worries, would slip away.  Camaraderie, conviviality, laughter, and plain, old-fashioned fun would be the order of the day and easily found inside.  Molly's Pub was my Cheers.  Another place of oasis was found near Baybrook Mall close to the Olive Garden.  There was an undeveloped patch of land with two dead end streets that would fool people i...

A little over one week ago, I gave notice of resignation with the cigar shop where I was employed.  There was nothing wrong with working there, except the usual dysfunction of having to work for a living and in dealing with humanity at-large.  The only novelty of the situation was the fact, as a part-timer, I was working more than the manager.  Yes, you read that correctly!  Yours truly was working roughly thirty-five hours a week while the manager would only clock in for approximately twenty-five hours a week.  (He would get paid for forty, which means he was stealing from the company.)  Knowing this was a sore spot for me and the other staff members.  Nonetheless, I would carry on in the daily discharge of my duties.  At the end of the month, I will begin working-from-home for JR Cigars.  Thankfully the job is full-time, offers benefits, and has a good rate of pay.  Until the start date of June 26th, I am taking a much-needed three-wee...

More than a few years ago, there was a TV series titled Burn Notice .  If I remember correctly, the main character was a former CIA operative whose services The Company no longer needed.  As a result, he was flown to Florida, dropped off in the middle of nowhere, and was wished the best of luck in fending for himself.  That's the way I felt upon exiting incarceration after almost four years of service for the State of Texas.  (The term service being very loosely used, almost humorously.)  I was herded onto a Greyhound bus and taken to Fort Worth.  With $50 in hand and a lot of people wishing me well, I was esentially living out my own version of a burn notice.  The great State of Texas got what they wanted out of me, an innocent man who was used as an example for a tough-on-crime, election-year judge in San Antonio.  Not wanting to dwell in the past and hindering my future by doing so, I quickly set out to make the best of what may lay ahead....

Have you ever had an event take place in your life that was so profound and left such an indelible mark that you now view life through the lens of before and after?  Maybe it was getting married?  "Back when I was still single" or "Now that I'm married" are phrases often heard in this arena of life.  Another scenario is to have tragedy strike.  "I was never the same after my child was murdered!"  By comparison, some events are more difficult to deal with and life-altering than others; however, the basic point has been made: something happened that significantly propelled an individual on another track in life.  For the sake of this blog entry, I will name two life events that radically changed my life's trajectory: a four-year mandatory vacation with the State of Texas and meeting the Lord Jesus Christ.  The catalyst for the latter is the former.  The relationship with the Sovereign Creator and His Son Jesus began at an early age.  It wasn't ...

Fairly recently I noticed a hyperglycemia description on my medical profile with the doctor.  On April 19th, when I see the doctor again, I'll discuss to confirm the diagnosis, among other health issues.  This came as a surprise as not much was talked about the designation before getting listed as a health concern.  In looking up what this means, I wanted to see what the tell-tale signs were and how to address the issue.  Hyperglycemia is when there is high blood sugar due to a lack of effective or failing insulin.  (You may have heard of insulin resistance.)  Among the signs given, I was able to check off in agreement a few of the manifestations: blurred vision, skin infections, frequent trips to the bathroom, and so much more.  Knowledge is power, and a lot of the content was very revealing and now made a lot of sense.  If I was younger, I would probably blow all this off and deal with it at a later age.  Now that I am older, turning 50 in ...

Wow, almost the end of February already?!  Damn, time seems to rush by faster and faster the older I get.  Recently I had another childhood dream die a grotesque and untimely death.  An employment opportunity in my career field popped up, and almost as soon as it came along it vanished right before my eyes.  Working for Kofile Technologies as a preservation and archival clerk would have at least gotten my foot in the door of a career that has been ever so elusive and cunning.  I won't go into the details, but the company dropped the ball and the door of opportunity slammed shut right before my very eyes.  No practical experience was required as there was on-the-job training offered.  In addition, they did not require a degree.  Exactly what I was looking for dashed once again.  Hope deferred makes the heart sick.  (A personal rendition of a Biblical proverb.)  In spite of this heartbreak, I do have quite a bit to remain thankful for...