I Don't Care for Halo

If nothing else, I figured that title would get at least a few people's attention.  To be honest, that title statement is putting it mildly.  I really just don't like that game.  I played the original all of maybe 5 times, if that.  I truly do not understand the appeal.  Well, I do understand it a little.  It is an FPS, which I do love.  Beyond that, I truly do not understand the installed fan base there.  But that really isn' the point of today's blog.

Despite my distaste for that game, the folks at 2old2playhalo are doing a wonderful thing right now.  If you don't know anything about their pwnathon, start with this blog and go from there:

http://www.2old2play.com/Blog/Pwnathon2o2p

You should also check out the current auction going on for a personalized key chain here:

http://www.2old2play.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=45844

I'll be honest that I know next to nothing about PKD or the search for a cure.  But when the folks here at this site are doing something like this to help those in need, I am definitely behind it.  Even if I think Haloz is teh ghey.

Posted by aimzb @ 12:17 pm EDT | Permalink | 5 Comments

Do a Little Something for the Kids

How You Can Make a Difference

 

When I was in college (meaning when I was younger, stupider, and generally drunk all the time), the group of friends I ran around with had a one-liner we used all the time that we thought was just hilarious.  Whenever we were leaving the group or generally just going somewhere and didn't want to mess with telling the others where we were going, or some times to just be a general butt and leave folks hanging as we left a party or something of the sort, we would tell everyone we were "going to do something for the kids".  Like I said, we were young, stupid, and usually drunk.  It eventually turned into a euphimism for when we were going to the bathroom, and of course led to discussions of how much we just did for the kids or (especially after particularly eventful parties) how we were going to be helping out the kids all day long.  Of course it eventually became what we told anyone any time we were asked where we were going and just generally became our standard answer to almost any question, even if it didn't make any sense.  Like I said, we thought it was hilarious.  And again, I readily admit we were stupid.

Looking back at that, I find my career choice awefully ironic.  Once I finally sobered up and got my head on straight, I went into social work, and eventually counseling.  I've been out of undergrad for 11 years now.  It really is funny that, with a brief 16 month exception of working for the government, I've spent my entire career working with kids.

What is not so funny is what I have seen over those 11 years.  What is even worse is how I am no longer surprised at what adults, and especially parents, can do to children.  What really gets me is the fact that it still happens.  A lot. 

So I have dedicated roughly 10 years of my life to helping those kids.  I very much realize and understand that not everyone is capable of doing what I do.  I even more understand that not many folks have any desire to do what I do.  No sugar coating here.  It is depressing.  Horribly so some times. 

But, there are ways to help.  Despite the fact that 99% of the people in our society recognize that there are millions of children in our country alone that need help, federal and state funding comes nowhere close to covering the cost of helping these kids.  At the agency I run, our budget for the fiscal year that is about to end was just shy of $2,000,000.  The kids we work with are all in the custody of the state of Kentucky and we are paid by the state for caring for and working with these children.  But, what we have received from the state thus far this year only covers about 85% of our costs.  That leaves us with a defecit of roughly $300,000 for this year alone. 

So where does that $300,000 come from.  Well that is where those of you out there that want to make a difference come in.  Last year we received just shy of $300,000 in donations from individuals and churches.  With that money, we were able to help 9 kids we would not have been able to help without those donations.  With that money, every single kid that was with us had the best Christmas they had ever had (and that is a quote from every one of them).  With that money, our kids were able to have a hot meal three times a day (once again something most of them had never experienced).  With that money, these kids had a bed to sleep on, someone to watch over them, someone to counsel them, someone to take them to church, someone to pat them on the back and say good job.  The little things most of us take for granted that they had never, or rarely, experienced. And you have the opportunity to be a part of that.

So what exactly can you do?  Make a donation.  Volunteer your time.  You don't even have to work directly with the kids, if that scares you (and it very much does scare some people.  Help with a project.  If you want to help the organization I work for, great!  I'm not going to discourage that in any way.  Check out our website at www.npfc.net.  There is info there on contacting me as well as a way to donate through Paypal.  But, I would also encourage you to look locally for a place to support.  91% of our donations come from local individuals and churches.  Local support is key for us, and any organization similar to ours.  Do a google search, or just ask around.  You'd be surprised at the number of agencies near you that are dying off due to lack of support.

So go do a little something for the kids.  It is one way you can make a difference.

Posted by aimzb @ 11:14 am EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Changing Things Up

Up to this point, I have basically used this blog as a dump for my random ramblings and daily life type stuff.  I'm sure some folks have enjoyed it at least a little, but I think it is time to make a change to how I do this. 

I truly absolutely am so glad to have discovered this site and community.  I love my clan and consider myself blessed to "know" so many of them.  So, in some small effort to give back to the site and my clan, I am changing up what I will be putting in my blog from now on.  Occasionally I will still put the real life stuff in here, especially when I think it is something that will be uplifting or beneficial to folks here.  But, other than that, I am going to begin focusing my blog on things more philanthropic.  (I also must admit I was inspired to this by several of you fellow bloggers that run a reoccurring theme in your blogs as I, and others, gain a great deal from this on a regular basis).

From now on I am going to be posting (as often as I can) various charities and efforts I believe need more attention from the public at large, and therefore, each of you.  I know this in reality will not fully benefit the actual site in any way.  And also, it really won't be of great benefit to each, or any, of you.  But, it hopefully will be of great benefit to those that I make note of in here, and (once again hopefully) will be of great benefit to each of you as you are given the opportunity to learn a little more about those less fortunate and those you can do something to help. 

Each of us that are members of this site are truly blessed.  Granted, we all have our rough patches.  Some are worse than others.  But, if you own a video game system, have access to the internet, and have the time to keep up with this blog, you are truly blessed.  And so, what I am proposing is this: read my blog as I have the time to post.  If something touches your heart, reach out to it.  I will post all the information I can find and leave the rest up to you.  No guilt trips or solicitation.  Just a simple "here it is".  Most of us are oblivious to the many many things that affect our fellow man on a daily basis.  I simply want to use this blog as a means of bringing light to some of those things, if for no other reason than to just make people aware.

And so here it is.  My first post of "how you can make a difference".

Many, if not most, of you are aware of the fighting spirit of Megan.  But, for those of you not aware,  you need to read through this blog: http://www.2old2play.com/Blog/JollyRoger
Or this blog: http://lcwhitlock.com/megan/blog/?page_id=2
I greatly admire JR for his faith and even more so admire young Megan for her fighting spirit.  Mitochondrial Disease is a nasty disease.  What's worse is the limited treatment available to those that suffer from it.  So how can you make a difference? First and foremost, pray.  For any and every person fighting this disease.  For Megan, JR, and his family.  To help those suffering, consider a donation to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. You can find more information about the disease and how to help here: http://www.umdf.org/site/c.dnJEKLNqFoG/b.3041929/


Posted by aimzb @ 12:36 pm EDT | Permalink | 3 Comments

Vacation Pics

Everybody knows the worst thing about taking a vacation is going back to work. Being gone for better than two weeks has absolutely killed me. I still haven't gotten my clock adjusted and am waking up between 5 and 6 every morning. So, to play catch-up better, I'm just heading on into work. Great for getting caught up. Bad for stress level.

As promised, and requested by others, here are some vacation pics. I apologize for not detailing where and what they are. Most are self-explanatory though. If you just have to know what or where one is, post a comment and I'll reply. Here they are. 45 of the 1200 pics we took.























Posted by aimzb @ 9:12 am EDT | Permalink | 4 Comments

Well I Made It Back

Ahhhhhh home. 

Vacations are great.  They really are.  But you know things are right in your life when you start the journey home and realize you are very much looking forward to getting home and back to the routine of every day life. 

Crap there is a lot to report on here from the vacation.  We packed a lot of stuff in to two weeks.  Most of it was really really great.  A little of it sucked major donkey balls, though.

The highlight of the trip was seeing my wife's face when we walked into the Sistene Chapel.  I had been there before, but was still once again blown away by the talent of Michealangelo.  This was the number one thing my wife wanted to see, and she was not at all disappointed by it.  We walked through the door into the chapel and she smiled this huge smile and just stared at the ceiling.  And then a small tear rolls down her cheek.  It was great.  And yes, I am a girly man.

The low light of the trip had to be the beginning of it.  And now, for your entertainment, the first story about the trip...

I've mentioned before, we had been planning this trip for close to a year and a half, saving for it for almost a year.  That Friday got here and we both woke up  earlier raring to go.  We loaded up the vehicle and took off for Nashville.  We met my parents at an aunt's house and loaded up to head to the airport.

My dad is a veteran on international travel, as am I.  Between the two of us we have hit every continent (except Antarctica) and 59 different countries.  The number one rule for both of us when taking an international flight?  Get there plenty early.  9 times out of 10 something will go wrong and cause a delay.  Usually it is something minor and only delays to 10-20 minutes.  Other times it is major and if you are not at the airport in plenty of time, you will miss your flight.  But this time, it would not have mattered how early we got to the airport.

So anyway, we get there, get all checked in, grab some lunch, clear security, and head down to the gate.  Too easy.  Hmmmm.....  The time comes and the wifey is about to bust.  We hop on the plane heading to Atlanta to meet my sis and brother-in-law and then on to Paris.  But, something is wrong.  Everyone gets on board, the shut the door to the plane, and then we just sit.  20 minutes just sitting there.  No news from a flight attendant or anyone.  Just sitting.  We finally start to move and taxi over to the runway.  The captain lets us no we are cleared to take off and he lines us up on the runway.  The lights flicker for a second, feel the brakes lock up, and then those big ole turbines start to spool up and...  BOOOOOOOOM!!!!

As I've mentioned in a previous blog, I don't cuss.  But HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!  I'm on an airplane that is about to head down the runway for take-off and a freaking engine just exploded.  You heard me right.  The engine blew up.

After 45 minutes of sitting on the runway we are finally towed back to the gate.  The captain announces that on O-ring completely blew out in one of the engines and that the plane we were just on is completely inoperable.  So we have to wait for a whole nother plane to come in from ATL before we can take off.

Rest of the story cut short... we were scheduled to leave Nashville at 3:30 and then leave ATL at 9:00.  We didn't fly out of Nashville until 8:45, and of course missed our flight.  Sis and bro-in-law headed on to Paris and we spent the first night of our vacation in a hotel in Atlanta.  Not a great way to start a vacation.

All of that was a big ole not good.  But at least we weren't in the air when that O-ring blew.  That certainly would have been a much bigger not good.  Echo, if you happen to read this, that pic you posted in the forum is just a little too ironic.

More stories to come.  Pics will follow as well.  For now I am trying to play catch up at work and get over the horrendous jet lag.  My internal clock is off by 8 hours.  The wifey has been in bed by 8 each of the past two nights.  We both have been wide awake by 4 each of the last two mornings.  It is good to be home, though.  Good to reconnect to you folks here.

Posted by aimzb @ 11:41 am EDT | Permalink | 2 Comments