Pets

As you may be aware of from the last post, I like death. I don't "like" it. I'm not a fan of it on facebook. But to live life, everyone comes to the realization that death is part of the process. To quote George Carlin, "Some say that life begins at conception. I say that life began a LOOOONG time ago and it's a continuous process. It just keeps moving along, moving along." That interests me. That, mixed with Einstein's theory that energy is never lost, it's just transferred... well, you get the idea. My mom has told me that I was so fascinated with death, and especially the dead at funerals as a kid. I was full of questions. Just as I still am today. I think it's healthy for kids to have questions and wonder about death. Sooner or later, they are going to experience losing a pet (probably a goldfish at first) and a person they know, and worst of all, someone they love. But it has a certain beauty to it, in that it is such a shared experience for everyone, no matter who you are, where you come from, what you believe, etc. It just happens. "Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel was just a freight train coming your way" ('No Leaf Clover' - Metallica). So, I try not to dwell on death too much, along with anything else, but it's got a strong influence in who I am, and I'm guessing that it has quite an impact on most people, if not everyone.

So, that brings me to the title topic: pets. I love every pet that I've ever had. I've had 3 cats (as main pets...I'm not counting goldfish because...well... meh). My first cat was Slippers. She was the cat I grew up with. When she died, I was sad, but relieved. She lived to be 16 or 17... which is pretty damn good for a cat! And she was big too! But I could tell when her time was running out. And so, on her last day she went to the basement, under the staircase, found a peaceful quiet place to lay down, and died. My second cat was named Dog. I rescued him from Lowe's #1068 in Shallotte, NC where I used to work. He was my first cat that I took care of myself, and I did a good job up until we moved back to WV and he ran away. Sigh. I think he just wanted to go back to the coast. And finally, I have a cat named Vladimir. He's a pound cat. Rescued and rehabilitated from near-death thanks to the good people at the Humane Society in Frederick, MD. I've had him now for a little over two years, and he's my only family in my little house. This is all, by the way, a segue for the final paragraph.

Today was a good day. It's Friday. I don't mind that it's also the 13th because I'm not superstitious. Lots of bad things have happened on every day/number combination that has ever occurred. They are a matter of coincidence. So, back to the fucking story. Work was fine. Laid back. But right before leaving for the day my co-worker told me that they were going to put their dog down tomorrow. Although it is the most humane thing to do, and I'm glad I've never had to do it to a pet, I quickly learned through her tears just how really painful this was to go through with. We never share emotions, so it really struck me like lightning just how sad she was. It was sobering. I felt so bad for her, but we shared a little bit of a smile knowing that the poor guy would no longer be in suffering. So the whole ride home all I could think of was Vladimir. I got to dwelling on just how much I love him, and how sad I would be if I lost him. He's like my child. It was such a sobering ride home. So, when I got home, and he walked over to my truck to greet me like he does every day, I picked him up and gave him a big hug. He hates being held, so he quickly squirmed in discomfort and I let him go. But just looking at him, and stopping for a second to think about how much a pet can improve the quality of your life, I felt happy to have him right there next to me, licking beer off of the mouth of my bottle. Like father, like son.
 Until next time....
-Bonn

...And New Beginnings Are?

Who the fuck knows? New beginnings are about as unpredictable as the color of your shit the next day. Unless, of course, you are well aware that you ate a Chipotle burrito followed by 13 Guinness. Then, you'll know what to expect. But all that shit aside, pun intended, nobody ever REALLY knows. That's what makes life so fun. I've been thinking for a while now that death isn't so scary. I think when you die, you die. There is no afterlife. And if there is.... I don't think I want to be a part of it. Everlasting life? No thanks! I'd rather be out like I am after a night of heavy drinking where I just don't remember anything and I sure as hell don't have any dreams. Lights out. Can you imagine dying and then floating around in heaven for eternity? I don't think it would be much fun. Most of the thrill of living is at LEAST indirectly involved with the knowledge that you know one day you will die. So, if you're "living" in the afterlife... with no death to fear or think of... what can be so great? And for THE REST OF TIME?!! I mean, even the best experiences I've ever had could never hold up for eternity. There are so many of them, and they all felt different. Suppose you wanted to switch from, say, non-stop orgasm to the first time you appreciated lightning bugs. Can you do that? Wouldn't it get old though? I mean, you have all of eternity. It seems like it would get old. So, enough death-rant... let's talk about new beginnings.

I wanted to set this blog up for something a little different. And thus, I've created a "new beginning." It sounds pretty gay. And on second thought, it's redundant. But grammar aside, I think it's good. Too much of the same thing will eventually become an anchor on your soul that drags you below the level of a real person with genuine thoughts, feelings, ideas, and anything otherwise. Sadly, I see it all around me. I see it in myself from time to time. I even told myself a few weeks ago... "Bonn, you need an attitude adjustment." I'm so glad I'm always looking out for myself. It must be my inner parent or something.

To try and wrap this nonsense up... I must first apologize for my lack of substance......which I instantly retract because, hey! It's a new beginning! Anything is possible! Hands Across America. As with anything, a new idea needs a little time to become something worthwhile. Ever seen an episode of Seinfeld from the first season? You'll know what I mean if you have. So, with that, I'll let it rest tonight and start again with fresh wit. Until next time....
-Bonn

The End Makes Way for a New Beginning

Well, my lovely followers, this is the end of "The Old Man 'n Me." Not to worry, I will keep writing, and probably more often. I'll get to that in a minute. First, I'm sorry for the crazy blocking of readers, etc... Long story short, my father met the Old Man. And, although he didn't mention the blog, the Old Man is quite fond of me. I would never have known that. In our awesomely individualistic world, where we never talk to our neighbors, and people just write about them online, or sit at the table with a bottle of whiskey and tell their wife of 50 years just how cool the new young-guy neighbor is.... we become out of touch with reality. So, the Old Man is fond of me. He recalled how I "gave him a thumbs up" last winter as he was snowblowing the street. Actually, I shot him the devil horns, as in "rock the fuck on, old man!!" ... but a thumbs up will suffice. So, my gig is up. The Old Man is cool with me, and me with him. I'll still continue to appreciate the similarities... the shared hours in our respective yards..... and the parallel existence we share. And while we'll probably never get drunk together so I can hear his war stories, I'll be content with having a great neighbor that will go out of his way....or MAKE it his way to blow two feet of snow off of my sidewalk. I thank him, and my back thanks him too! Next chapter in this story??? The little house between us was in forclosure, sold, and is now for rent. My boss gave me great advice. "Good fences make good neighbors." And from the looks of the people who have checked this place out, I can only agree. More as the story develops....

SO!!! With that out of the way, it's time to move on. I spent a week in the Outer Banks, North Carolina a few weeks ago for vacation. I didn't even touch a computer for at least 8 days. I came back feeling totally refreshed. On a side note, I recommend that you turn off the phone and leave the laptop at home, and do without for the time. It REALLY has a positive effect. So, I came back, and got back into the daily grind of work, news, interwebs, etc. etc.... and I was having some beers and thought that the interwebs needs an oasis of sorts. There are plenty out there, which I will eventually point out in future entries, but I want to contribute and write about good things. Don't worry, I will still be critical as ever, but the world is so negative as is. There are funny things, beautiful things, anything.... out there. And my favorite is the feeling you get when reading something.... as if you were a child again.... and it makes you feel so good, intrigued, and just happy to be alive. So, I'm gonna rename my blog "It's Not All Bad." And it'll be my take on life as I'm trying so hard to see it. We're all gonna die, folks. Let's enjoy this motherfucker, eh? So... until next time!
-Bonn