Something for everyone

I just got out of the shower... http://lance1964.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-just-got-out-of-shower.html

I just got out of the shower...

I just got out of the shower and I felt inspired to write something. I have solved many of the world's problems while in the shower but this is the first time I got out and immediately laid down my thoughts. I've been having a terrible time lately with the pollen in our area. So much so that I have developed a big time sinus infection. The doctor put me on an antibiotic today coupled with an antihistamine/decongestant and nasal spray. I just realized a few minutes ago in the shower how bad my olfactory senses had gotten when it struck me that I could actually smell the manly fragrance of the body wash I wash using. My sense of smell had been dulled because I have been literally breathing in and swallowing all of the pollen that mother nature has to offer. It enveloped my sinuses passages, blocking, irritating and ultimately infecting them. This is a great example of a good thing gone bad or too much of a good thing. Pollen is of course a good thing and plays and integral part in the circle of life here on our planet.
In a similar way I believe that government is a good thing for our society particularly the Democratic Republic government that we live under here in the United States. It is useful for maintaining infrastructure so that we can maintain clean water and air. Government through the use of our taxes also maintains roads and highways so that we can all go about our business. We rely on government to protect us from harm both foreign and domestic by use of our law enforcement and military. We have also tasked our government with the limited ability to aid those in our society who cannot take care of themselves.
Here is where the picture gets blurred. For some reason our government believes that not just some of, but most of us cannot take care of ourselves. This goes for individuals and corporations. The government in this country right now feels mighty important. Well I have news for you government. You work for us and you have your place in our society and that's where you need to stay. You have proven time and time again that encroaching too much in the lives of Americans only gums up the works and brings us down much in the same way that too much pollen in the sinus cavities will bring down the human body.
What's the cure for America's ills? Quite simply, Americans. We have been down before and have picked ourselves up and become stronger for. It was not so much our government that saved us in the past but the unbeatable human uniquely American spirit.
There is a great reckoning coming among the people of these United States. Eyes are being opened and people are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Politicians on all levels be forewarned, if you're overstepping your bounds the light will be shown on you. If you think you hold all the cards up there in your ivory towers you are mistaken. The dialogue is open and flowing and "we the people" are becoming more and more aware that the country is not moving forward. Unfortunately though at this point collectively we don't know what we can do. Many people feel powerless and are of the opinion that they cannot make a difference. The powers that be feed off of that sense of hopelessness and gain strength from our despair.
That said, the first thing that all of us need to do is to be more optimistic and try to maintain a more positive attitude. Collective optimism creates positive energy motivating us to take action.
Activity that creates forward mobility equals progress which gets us closer to taking our country back. If we can put our heads together we can dictate what we want done to our elected officials and no longer have it the other way around.
This is a grand idea, but is it possible? Possible, yes. Anything is possible. Probable is the question. Many of us will not make a move based on a possibility. Probability on the hand is the game changer for many people because there is a chance for success.
I believe that the probability is good that we and not the government can right ourselves. Do you?

Grandpa me?

It looks like today I will become a grandfather. Wow, that sounds strange. Part of me says "Hold the phone a minute! I'm too young to be a grandfather!" Of course that is obviously not so because I am now forty-nine years old. In some circles I would probably be considered a latecomer to the grandfather world. Particularly in the Appalachian region of the United States. No offense to you Appalachians. I'm just being a wiseguy.
Truthfully though I am very excited about being a grandfather. I am very proud of my step-son Ryan and his beautiful wife Hamlet. They are going to be great parents I just know it. Ryan is my step-son, but I couldn't love him more if he were my own flesh and blood. We met when Ryan was eleven and I'm proud to say I played an important role in his upbringing. Flesh and blood or not he is a part of my legacy and today he will begin his own legacy. How cool is that?
My wife Karen is super-excited about being a grandmother and this baby couldn't be getting a better one. Karen is a school teacher and she has a gift when it comes to relating to children. I've seen her in action. It's kind of magical really. This baby boy will be blessed by his lola. Lola is Tagalog for grandmother. Karen decided on Lola because Hamlet is Filipino and it sounds cool. She even has a T-shirt already with Lola emblazoned on it.
Everyone keeps asking me what I want the youngster to call me. I initially said Mister Morrison would be fine. Not everyone found that humorous. As far as I'm concerned he can call me whatever he comes up with although I really like Pop. My old pal Dennis White is Pop to his grand kids. Dennis is one of my favorite people of all time so I'd like to be a Pop too.
It is truly my hope that this child grows up to be all that he can possibly be. I will do my best to help show him the way. I'm sure in the great tradition of grandparenting this kid will be spoiled rotten at our house.
So today I turn the page to start a new chapter of my life. Stay tuned for updates.

I've got stuff to say...

I have been posting some fairly decent stuff on Facebook lately, but I need somewhere to keep this stuff for posterity so I'm going to keep up with this blog. Stay tuned.

My name is Lance

This is my first foray into the world of blogging. I'm doing this because I have a few things to say. It seems these days that with the popularity of social sites like Facebook, Twitter and others many people have discovered that they also have something to say. Maybe the millions of people using these sites have always had something to say or they just recently found their voice. Whatever the case, I think expressing yourself can be a good thing. By the same token I don't think it's necessary to voice every little thing on your mind because you can. That is why I will limit this blog to ideas and topics that are interesting to me and hopefully are interesting to others. Personally it seems that I have always had something to say. Good, bad or ugly it has come up and out. I have been fortunate over the years to have the stage as a platform to express myself and I have been doing stand-up comedy off and on for about 35 years now. It's my hobby. Some people play golf. Some people do crossword puzzles. I tell jokes and do impressions and now I write a blog. Read at your leisure and enjoy.

My name is Lance. Yes, that is my real name. It's not my fault, I didn't name myself. I've heard it all throughout my life; Lance, Lancelot, Lance Link Secret Chimp, Lawrence, Clarence, Lance Crackers and the latest Lance in my pants. Back in the 60's the name Lance was a unique name. All through school I was the only one except when I got to high school where there was one other guy named Lance. The rumor was that he was gay so I made sure no one got us mixed up. Overall having a unique name has been a positive experience, but I caution parents naming their children unique names not to do so without some serious thought. In fact, I recommend that if you plan on naming your child a unique name that you wear that name yourself for a while before your child is born. If you notice people getting a funny look on their face when you introduce yourself or they immediately feel the need to rhyme your name with something then you might consider a more common name. If you are reading this and you have a unique name, please feel free to share your experience. This ends my first blog attempt. Hopefully, I will get better at this as time goes on. My name is Lance. Have a nice day.