Book of Jamez

55 y/o malcontent, something of a writer

Author: Jamez

  • Fall Semester Grades

    Here you go folks, my grades for the first semester of collegs. I think I did pretty well, the “S” is for a remedial course which does not actualy count for or against my GPA, but the “S” is pass so technically I got an 83% in Math.

    2005 Fall Semester James Appel Credit Tidewater Community College

    English: ENG 111 Graded A 3.00
    Computers: ITE 115 Graded A 4.00
    Algebra: MTH 3 Developmental S 5.00
    Psychology: PSY 201 Graded B 3.00
    Student Development: SDV 100 Graded A 1.00

    Current GPA 3.727
    Cumulative GPA 3.727

  • The Crash

    It was 37 degrees outside, I was bundled up riding my bike home from school. Tucked under my red hat, my ear buds send the sounds of the Dixie Chicks to my ears. I am about a mile from school, crossing a busy intersection when….

    the left pedal snaps off… my foot slams into the pavement and my body twists sending waves of pain over all of it.

    “Damn, what the hell happened?” I say to myself, a small part of me relieved that I didn’t fall completely and bang myself all to hell (mostly worried that I would have looked the fool).

    I pull the bike over to the side, prop it up on the kickstand… the wind blows the bike precariously so I reposition it on the sidewalk. The bolt part of the pedal is filled with grease, and I see some shavings on the bolt… I make an attempt to reattach the bolt, to no avail.

    I know 2 people really in Virginia Beach, I know one of them is up toward DC working and the other is self-employed. I call the one here… but he’s “busy” and suggests I walk home until he can get away. So, I walk for three miles, building on a resentment of a @%*#! that wouldn’t come and get me… I’m trying to get over it.

    Now, I have to try to fix the bike. My legs hurt, my arm hurts and my side hurts a little.

    Well, at least I’m alive, guys got to be grateful about something!

  • Warm Nights

    I’m awake at 3:04 a.m. I wanted to go to sleep around 12:00 a.m.
    The heat, for some reason, wont shut off… just keeps blowing. I flipped the off button, I turned the AC on… nothing.

    First thought is: holy batwings, batman… that’s gonna cost a bundle.
    Second thought: where the hell are those important phone numbers from when I signed the lease?

    It says on that very important sheet of paper:

    situations [that] are considered an emergency:

    • fire
    • gas leak
    • no heat
    • toilet backed
    • flood
    • broken window
    • no A/C

    No where does it say too much heat… so I’m not gonna call at 12:00 a.m. or at 3:07

    But, I’m not gonna have it keep blasting heat at me. So, I flipped the fuse for it. Now I have no heat, but it’s my own fault… do I call them now? “Yeah, I have no heat… ah, duh, cause I flipped the fuse.” yeah, that sounds real smart.

    I’m about to run the heat for just a little bit, and then go to sleep, cause I’m tired… I get sleepy when it’s warm. I’d just let it run and charge the leasing company, but I have irrational fears of the thing blowing up and killing the cats… which would be bad… No, really it would be.

  • Old, Gray, and Gay.

    I’m 35 today. Old, gray, and gay.

    I’m a far cry from what I had expected to be at 15, 20 or 25… I’m alive.

    I keep thinking back to when I was a teen; the music, the trouble the lies.

    Looking back at all I have seen, all I have done that have changed my very life.

    Now it is not a destination, but a journey of a spiritual life.

    A journey of prayer, love and hope. A destination found in His direction and might.

    All that has changed, all that remains the same, all that is new exciting and bright.

    If I could wish a gift for you, for all, this day I wish for an adventure as grand as my life.

  • RENT

    Saw the movie RENT on Friday night, truly a masterpiece… Lots of fun, had me wanting to sing along by the end of the show.

    Taye Diggs… ooooo la, la… I’d see it again just to stare at him throughout the entire movie… drool.

    A love story, a musical, a testament to living with AIDS….. spectacular. (nope, had never seen the play)

    Did I mention Taye Diggs? Damn that boy is hot!!!! Evil, but hot!!!

  • World AIDS Day – December 1, 2005


    Today is the day when the world stops to recognize HIV and AIDS. World leaders will make promises, organizations will post truths (HRC, Avert, UNAIDS) and millions will wear red ribbons.

    The last three years on December 1, I stood most of the day at work and handed out ribbons to everyone who passed by, making sure they knew the significance and getting them literature too if they needed it. Today, I’ll wear my ribbon to school, and pocket a couple extra to hand out to those interested.

    There are only 4 ways to become infected with HIV:
    1. Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (the most common);
    2. Sharing needles or other contaminated injection or skin-piercing equipment;
    3. Blood and blood products through, for example, infected transfusions and organ or tissue transplants;
    4. Transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding.
    (WorldAidsDay.org)

    HIV/AIDS does not care if you are gay or straight, black or white, catholic or protestant, 65 or 5 years of age. HIV/AIDS can and does infect each and every single subdivision of life-whether you know it or not someone close to you has HIV.

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that since 1981, when AIDS was first identified in the United States, more than 20 million people worldwide have died of the disease. Today, more than 40 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS.

    In the United States alone, an estimated 1 million to 1.2 million Americans are now living with HIV, and 35,000 to 40,000 new infections are occurring every year.
    (CNN.com article here)

    For the last five years I worked with one of the finest pediatric HIV teams in the world, and each and every child and family-affected and infected with HIV-is one more they show how to live and hope. The hearts of medical, psychological and social professionals that help families with HIV are the largest hearts in the world. They care day in and day out, they ensure extraordinary measures are taken everyday in regards to their clients.

    Today, I urge you: wear a condom, wear a red ribbon, write a politician. Don’t let today go by without acknowledging this global epidemic.

  • Crime and Punishment

    A terrible crime has been committed, a stab into the heart of true art, a destruction of true taste.

    “E” Entertainment has reunited Paris and Nicole (the two with absolutely no talent-of course I never saw the porn video) for another season of The Simple Life (See Post Article). Another season of two ditzy girls making fun of the average American family, this is worth spending time on? Another season of “Daisy Dukes” and other scraps of clothing that pretend to be fashionable.

    Proper punishment for “E” is hard to come up with, they’ve assaulted taste and good sense. I know, lets make the producers of the show watch all the shows that attempted to replace Seinfeld and Friends. Or make them spend time on the “career” of the failed American Idol contestant Corey (you remember, the guy who claimed to have slept with Paula) … nope, can’t do it, they’d give him a TV show.

    News like this makes me so very happy I gave up TV.

  • Interruption

    My neighbors alarm clock has been going off since Wednesday.

    At first it’s funny-he forgot to turn off his alarm, the moron.

    Then you realize that noise will be going off for the entire holiday weekend.

    You’re lying in bed at 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning when =buzz= you hear his =buzz= alarm =buzz= kick =buzz= in =buzz= again.

    The nap you wanted to take on Saturday =buzz= is =buzz= not to =buzz= happen =buzz= as =buzz= here =buzz= is that =buzz= annoying =buzz= sound =buzz= again.

    Where is a sledgehammer when I need one?

  • Priest Policy

    The Vatican is so wonderful and forward thinking, banning candidates from the priesthood who “practice homosexuality” [see link Post article here]. I could still be a priest then, cause I don’t practice anymore… don’t have to I’m really good at it!!!

    But, imagine if you will the Human Resources department of the Vatican at the hiring stage for a priest.

    HR Director: “Are you gay or do you practice homosexual acts?”
    Potential Priest: “No, I am neither of those things.”
    HR Director: “Good, good, we wouldn’t want to ban you from the priesthood. You’re obviously a very devout Christian.”
    Potential Priest: “Thank you Father, I try to do the Lords work.”
    HR Director: “You are all set to sign up for priesthood, lets get you the benefits package information. Do you wish to enroll in the Child Molestation package? This allows for us to remove from your paycheck each week a small sum to help pay for payoffs for any children we may seduce or rape.”
    Potential Priest: “Yes, please enroll me in that package, I can hardly wait to get my hands on all the young altar boys and girls.”

    OK, this may be a little extreme, but here is the issue: HOMOSEXUALITY and PEDOPHILIA are NOT the same thing. The Catholic Church has issues with grown men taking advantage of small children SEXUALLY, and then paying off the families later. These priests get moved from congregation to congregation, I guess when they get tired of the kids they are raping and want some fresh meat….

    I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again… Since the Church is in denial about these things it is time for the people of the church to demand their priests start wearing condoms when they molest their children, at least keep the children from catching sexually transmitted diseases.

    Leave your child alone with a priest at your own risk folks, unless your hoping for a big payoff later.

  • Turkey Eve

    Happy festivities to all of you, hope you all eat entirely too much and have a wonderful time with your family.

    Try to remember my philosophy:

    “It’s not a real holiday unless someone cries”.