Book of Jamez

55 y/o malcontent, something of a writer

Author: Jamez

  • The Next Right Thing

    If AA has taught me any one thing it is to do the next right thing. Put one foot in front of the other, pick up that piece of trash and toss it in the garbage, pay this bill or be to work on time. So I trudge along, for the most part, doing the next right thing that may come across my path.

    I would think this would lead me to a life of poverty, sure I’d be broke but I’d be a saint — this is, however, erroneous. I have a really good job, make really good money and am recognized as a superb worker (I’ve been told this so many times I am starting to believe it). I have a host of friends, none of them fair weather, who have stood by me through thick and thin. [I should note at this point, that my English professor would cringe at the amount of cliche’ I’m using. ]

    I’m in my last week of being 35 years old. I’ve never been married or had any long term boyfriends (DJ, while the love of my life, does not count). I’ve recently attended school and will continue to take courses for the next several years.

    I guess it’s just odd to look back at my first days of being sober, making $6.50 an hour and barely scraping by.

  • Thankful

    I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

    I successfully completed one year of school, managed to make the honor roll as well.

    I hit 12 years of sobriety in May (had a final exam on my AA birthday too).

    I moved back to DC, found a few jobs a few friends and finally got a permanent job in Takoma Park.

    I have only the best of friends: Pat, Brenda, Suzanne, Mark, Robert, Donna, Chris, Christy, Zelda, Michael, Mike, Julie, Denise, Phyllis, Jeri… well a lot of friends that mean a lot to me.

    I have not picked up a cigarette this year, though I have been tempted quite a bit.

    My cats, Q and Mouse, are healthy, happy and home.

    So, looking back, its been a great year and I have plenty to be thankful for. I hope you can say the same.

    Don’t forget, it’s not a real holiday unless someone cries.

  • The Eggs

    When I was much younger, I used to have my own comic strip; it was a family of eggs.

    The dad, hard boild and with a crack down his side was always complaining about this or that, the mom, was a regular egg, very fragile and in need of care, and the baby was a sunny-side up egg, you know representing the hope for the future, a brighter day tomorrow and all that jazz.

    I just remembered this strip this morning while lying in bed. My grandmother always liked it and then would talk about how some famous comic strip artist was criticized for only having 3 or 4 fingered characters… nope don’t remember who that was. So her compliments of my strip were drowned out by the history lesson she gave me each time. I do think I may have tried to modify the hands each time she talked to me, but I don’t think she ever changed her tune.

    Anyway, I’m sure it was clever and cute and you would have liked it.

  • So

    If you’ve ever worked with me in the past, you know how I get when I get pissed off or malcontented…

    I hush up, quiet down, frown…. nothing gets me out of that but me.

    So, this is not a “healthy” way to do this, and I should find another way to take care of these feelings.

  • Power Games

    I don’t play games at a job, I have no interest in advancing my career. Usually I am very content in whatever job I may have.

    However, if you want my advice Tuesday then you have to expect it on Wednesday when I offer it.
    I also don’t play word games. When I say “me” or “I” it doesn’t mean I’m making threatening gestures, nor does it mean I’ve made universal decisions.

    I cannot be a lackey, that’s not my role ever. My opinion, experience, and expertise are mine… and I share them regularly… that is apparently not what is wanted here.

    Therefore, at the moment, this is not a good fit.

  • Elton John in Concert

    I spent 2 1/2 hours listening to Elton John play oldies and the new stuff in the Hall at Atlantic City. When he first walked onto the stage tears came to my eyes; lets face it this man is a legend in any age bracket.

    The songs he played of yesteryear, were the ones you always expect to hear; From Bennie and the Jets to the Bitch is Back. The Captain and the Kid was the history lesson a look back into his first submissions and travels from days gone by.

    The sound was bad at times, but not as bad as the woman beside me… her swinging arm and alcohol breath were almost too much to take during this brief fest. The song Elton played when she was at her worst was, Someone Saved My Life Tonight and I looked up to heaven to find the light.

    A moment like this I’ll never forget, and I really need to go out and buy Captain Fantastic.

  • Money and Morales

    Lets sit and think about how much money is donated to the people who want to enforce morale principles of the Religious Right and Republicans… Millions if not Billions of dollars given to organizations that are morally superior to the rest of the nation.

    Meet some of the finer examples of church and state:

    Tom Foley (text messaging teen agers explicit content)

    Father Oliver O’Grady (pedophile that the church moved from town to town when he needed new children)

    Rush Limbaugh (prescription addiction)

    Vice President Dick Cheney (says the F word on live TV)

    Lets send them more money… obviously it’s helping.

  • Wrong Message… again

    OK, so I fail to see why recent happenings ( Amish Incident, Wisconsin Principal, Colorado Sexual Assualt ) are about school violence and not about Gun Control Laws. Someone explain to me how children managed to get guns to kill a principal. Or how crazy people that are obviously in need of help, managed to get a gun to kill and or rape girls in classrooms.

    Mr. President (A.K.A. Monkey Boy), this isn’t about school violence…

  • Politicians in hind sight…

    The first election of George W. Bush (if you can call a court decision an election), filled my very soul with a fear I could not describe at the time. I remember a discussion with my Ma at the time, and she felt pretty much the same way, an overall fear of the future if he would have won.

    Sadly, as you all know, he did “win” the legal battle.

    As I listen now to the Iranian President and the Venezuelan President, I sincerely agree with them. I think, as Chavez stated, that George W. Bush is the devil himself; I am speaking a bit figuratively, I don’t actually believe in the devil, but if there were one, his motives would match those of “W”‘s for sure.

    It’s said over and over again, even last night on CBS Evening news in their Free Speech segment… the amount of people with a hatred for the US of A has increased ten fold since he took office. This is true, watch the news… see what the people have to say and do.

    So at what point do we, as a people change, when do we wake up and smell the coffee and change the direction of our country to something that is more positive in the world. When do we stop being the world bully, and stop policing the values and rights of other nations?

    I’m also in agreement that the UN is a joke, their declaration, sanctions and protestations amount to nothing. And, giving the original 5 founders veto rights and no one else is a laughable attempt at democracy.

    Times are a changing… When do we change with them?

  • Why I don't Vote for Primary Elections

    I find it to be a waste of time…

    Lets face it, these candidates have been bombarding the public for months now with pamphlets, ads, volunteers and news stories. We knew months ago who would win, and barring a last minute scandal that’s exactly what always happens.

    However, now they plan to sick more of their volunteers more of their ads… more of the mudslinging up to the date of the election, the real one that matters.

    And think of how much money is wasted ads, signs, bumper stickers and the like… is this really necessary? Aren’t there worthy causes out there that could use the millions spent by each candidate?

    I’ll vote in November, thanks… now get your flyer out of my face!