So I was told in a response to my last blog that I seemed angry all the time. Then I went back and realized that I have been a bit on the agro side in my non comic book related blogs. SO what to do…write one about what makes me happy, it will probably be boring how ever. I mean who care about the happy stuff.
So what make me happy? Well, let us see.
Let’s start with my lady. I know it seems typical but she truly is the light of my life. Call it cheesy; call it what ever you want I do love her. Yes she is 19 years younger then I am but she still is the only one I want to be with. Best part about her, she wants to be with me. Yeah I love that she gets my geeky comic book jokes. Yes she is hot. It is true that we are “physically compatible”. However the “wanting to be with me” thing tops any list I have.
Next let’s move on to those (some of whom are reading) who I call friend. I hold my friends close even when I lose touch with them. Heck I recently saw a couple of friends that I hadn’t seen since before my lady was born (that would be 20 years ago). Call me crazy I like hanging out with people I feel I can trust. (Yes I have had a few people I called friend turn their back on me. However at the risk of sounding angry, the only one I know for certain did this also started the relationship with his now wife by betraying a friend and his then girlfriend, so I doubt he knows true friendship.) Friends are good to have and I am always glad to help them when I can. Also with enough friends you can throw a party and those are always fun.
I am glad to have the family that I do, the people who have to help you and whom you have to help. There is very little I can say about family that hasn’t been said better by hundreds of other people. Let us just say my family is on the happy list and leave it at that.
Walks in nature and getting in touch with the gods via them make me ecstatic. I love hiking and feeling the power of creation around me. It stirs a lot of emotions in me, but happiness is always among them. There is little anger or fear that can’t be put in its useless place by a walk or hike in nature.
Stories even the bad ones also bring me joy. It’s why I love comic books. It’s why I love being a story teller. It’s why I love the theatre. It’s why I love mythology. It’s the source reason for about a dozen things that make me happy. I truly believe that good stories are the god’s way of speaking to us.
The list may seem short but it’s really not. With the exception of my lady I am always surrounded by these things. Friends, family, stories and place to walk in nature are literally around me every day. I try to appreciate them which is hard as they are always there and easy to take for granted. Actually I hope before to long to add my lady to the list of things I see daily too. Any who for that’s my list of things that cause happiness for me. Not as exciting as sarcastic, and amusing complaining, but far more important too my life. Do I really expect any one out there to care? No. however I did feel it was important for me to let them know I do.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
The 14th
Hey there everybody, time to blog, like it or not. I thought about writing a piece about how the Republicans damaged the country and the Democrats were now making it worse. The more I thought about it the more the two parties reminded me of a couple in a bad relationship. Then I looked at the date and said “HEY, it’s February, that’s the month we celebrate bad relationships, so maybe you should blog on that.”
“Why Bradleyman what ever do you mean ‘celebrate bad relationships’?” I am so glad you asked.
For those of you who may not know this about me I HATE Valentine’s Day (VD from here out). Ok, I actually like the idea as presented. “A day to celibate and show appreciation for the one you love”, that sounds so nice. The intentions (at least on the surface) are so nice. Well if EVER good intentions have paved a way to the “Bad place of your choice” this is it.
The thing is VD was created by card companies to sell cards. They didn’t care about love they cared about sales. So they hyped up the day and created a problem, one they will continue to hype as long as it is profitable. The damage it may cause is technically not their fault, so it’s hard to be too mad at them, for cashing a buck in this manner. However let us not pretend that the idea was created by people who cared, or care about love.
“Ok Rev. Bradleyman” I hear my more observant readers begin to ask “but you said ‘celebrate bad relationships’ earlier and corporate start or not VD celebrates ALL relationships.” Well argued reader, but while you are technically right, the structure of the day is only of benefit to the bad relationships, and therefore that is what the celebration is truly about.
Let me explain, if you are n a good relationship then VD is just another reason to do something nice for your mate. There are lots of those. Yes they do nice things for each other on VD, they also do the same nice things (Dinner, chocolate, etc.) with out it. They would still do those things with out the “special day”, so good relationships in no way benefit from it. I am not saying they are hurt by it, but it ultimately it doesn’t benefit them so it’s not really a day about them.
Who does the day actually benefit, and therefore (IMHO) celebrate? It benefits only the “Bad” relationships; some of which are not even really relationships. Read on and I will demonstrate.
VD benefits the “but he/she loves me so I will forgive his/her abuse” relationships. This works together with other “gift giving” days (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) as an excuse to stay in an otherwise neglectful or abusive relationship. The victim in the relationship will say “but he/she bought me flowers on VD” and use that as a reason to stay in the bad relation ship. Whether the abuser is only neglectful or full on “smash your face” abusive the relationship is bad and VD has made it stronger. This is the main type of “bad” from my perspective. It is also, all joking aside, the worst type of relationship aided by VD.
VD benefits the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later” type of relationship. This is usually a guy puling this on a girl so I’m gona talk about it that way. This type of relationship (and it only barely counts as one) is the one MOST assisted by VD. We all know an instance of this; He charms her till she give in to sex, then once he’s done he never talks to her again. In this day and age with casual hook ups being more socially acceptable you would hope the lying bastards who do this would hook up with a chick that didn’t care about love, BUT we all know he won’t. The “challenge” of landing a girl who wants love will cause him to lie, and her to be devastated. VD gives a great excuse for giving presents of false love to a sweet romantic girl with out her radar going off. Then “Wham Bam Thank you Mam”, one more broken heart and one more guilt ridden Girl.
VD benefits the “But we DO love each other SEE” couple. This is a less damaging relationship but still not a good one. Think about it you know at least one of these. They aren’t really bad for each other they just aren’t good for each other. They both are settling for the other and not looking at the better possibilities. Often they both have a first pick that you as “the good and trusted friend” know they prefer over their mate. Yet if ANYONE dares to even hint that they are less then 100% in love they hit the roof. VD is their day to prove how much they love each other. They will go WAY over the top with hearts of red and pink on all of the huge amounts gifts they will give. This will help show any one that their love is “true”. This is more annoying then tragic, but it is still slightly sad.
VD benefits the “hey lets F***” non-relationship. To be fair I don’t even really see this as a problem as long as both parties know that’s all it is. There are complications but they are the same as any random hook up. Not the least of which is a chance of catching an entirely different type of “VD”. (Oh admit it you have been waiting the entire blog for me to make that joke) So why bring it up at all? Because while I don’t disapprove of the action, it shouldn’t be called love, cause it is in no way love. It is lust and the two emotions getting confused is always a problem. The chances of one party mistaking love for lust increases dramatically on VD. Now we have an accidental version of the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later”, made worse by the fact that the “guy” (although in this case it could be girl) didn’t mean to and now feels falsely accused of being a liar. To be fair I have seen cases where both parties make this mistake. I call that “falling love after falling in bed”.
VD benefits the “hey lets start dating” pre-relationship. OK this is not a bad thing; it’s not really a good thing either though. I do have to admit that if you are shy and haven’t been able to ask the person you have a crush on out, VD can give an excuse that makes you fell less awkward. What type of relationship, good or bad, remains to be seen. However to be fair to the day, I will admit that this is a possible silver lining to the pink and red funnel cloud that is VD.
Now that we have established who this day benefits I would like to take a moment a discus who it hurts. Just in case you thought there were no innocent bystanders in this Cupid Bowed drive by. You might think I would include the victims in the first two above examples. However I am cynical enough to not call them innocent, even the poor girl who got lied to probably should have know better. No I am talking about the unattached.
To be single on VD is to have what ever feeling you have about being single amplified in a near infinite level. VD turns anger in to rage. VD turns sad in to depressed. VD turns a guy with a crush in to a stalker. VD turns a girl who can’t get a date in to a suicide hot line case. Every happy couple becomes a personal insult when you are single on VD. If you are single due to a recent breakup everything in this paragraph will be even worse. It is the damage to the single psyche that truly makes me HATE VD in that special “all caps” sort of way.
So in conclusion, VD is no help to the good relationships, lots of help to the bad, and devastating to the single people. If ever there was a holiday to be hated this is it. I challenge you to find a day that does more harm in the name of love then this one.
Bradleyman
P.S. If you believe that Fri. the 13th is unlucky (which I don’t) then the number of “recently broken up” misery caused by VD should be even higher this year as it come only a day before. What a happy thought. (that was sarcasm there kids)
“Why Bradleyman what ever do you mean ‘celebrate bad relationships’?” I am so glad you asked.
For those of you who may not know this about me I HATE Valentine’s Day (VD from here out). Ok, I actually like the idea as presented. “A day to celibate and show appreciation for the one you love”, that sounds so nice. The intentions (at least on the surface) are so nice. Well if EVER good intentions have paved a way to the “Bad place of your choice” this is it.
The thing is VD was created by card companies to sell cards. They didn’t care about love they cared about sales. So they hyped up the day and created a problem, one they will continue to hype as long as it is profitable. The damage it may cause is technically not their fault, so it’s hard to be too mad at them, for cashing a buck in this manner. However let us not pretend that the idea was created by people who cared, or care about love.
“Ok Rev. Bradleyman” I hear my more observant readers begin to ask “but you said ‘celebrate bad relationships’ earlier and corporate start or not VD celebrates ALL relationships.” Well argued reader, but while you are technically right, the structure of the day is only of benefit to the bad relationships, and therefore that is what the celebration is truly about.
Let me explain, if you are n a good relationship then VD is just another reason to do something nice for your mate. There are lots of those. Yes they do nice things for each other on VD, they also do the same nice things (Dinner, chocolate, etc.) with out it. They would still do those things with out the “special day”, so good relationships in no way benefit from it. I am not saying they are hurt by it, but it ultimately it doesn’t benefit them so it’s not really a day about them.
Who does the day actually benefit, and therefore (IMHO) celebrate? It benefits only the “Bad” relationships; some of which are not even really relationships. Read on and I will demonstrate.
VD benefits the “but he/she loves me so I will forgive his/her abuse” relationships. This works together with other “gift giving” days (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) as an excuse to stay in an otherwise neglectful or abusive relationship. The victim in the relationship will say “but he/she bought me flowers on VD” and use that as a reason to stay in the bad relation ship. Whether the abuser is only neglectful or full on “smash your face” abusive the relationship is bad and VD has made it stronger. This is the main type of “bad” from my perspective. It is also, all joking aside, the worst type of relationship aided by VD.
VD benefits the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later” type of relationship. This is usually a guy puling this on a girl so I’m gona talk about it that way. This type of relationship (and it only barely counts as one) is the one MOST assisted by VD. We all know an instance of this; He charms her till she give in to sex, then once he’s done he never talks to her again. In this day and age with casual hook ups being more socially acceptable you would hope the lying bastards who do this would hook up with a chick that didn’t care about love, BUT we all know he won’t. The “challenge” of landing a girl who wants love will cause him to lie, and her to be devastated. VD gives a great excuse for giving presents of false love to a sweet romantic girl with out her radar going off. Then “Wham Bam Thank you Mam”, one more broken heart and one more guilt ridden Girl.
VD benefits the “But we DO love each other SEE” couple. This is a less damaging relationship but still not a good one. Think about it you know at least one of these. They aren’t really bad for each other they just aren’t good for each other. They both are settling for the other and not looking at the better possibilities. Often they both have a first pick that you as “the good and trusted friend” know they prefer over their mate. Yet if ANYONE dares to even hint that they are less then 100% in love they hit the roof. VD is their day to prove how much they love each other. They will go WAY over the top with hearts of red and pink on all of the huge amounts gifts they will give. This will help show any one that their love is “true”. This is more annoying then tragic, but it is still slightly sad.
VD benefits the “hey lets F***” non-relationship. To be fair I don’t even really see this as a problem as long as both parties know that’s all it is. There are complications but they are the same as any random hook up. Not the least of which is a chance of catching an entirely different type of “VD”. (Oh admit it you have been waiting the entire blog for me to make that joke) So why bring it up at all? Because while I don’t disapprove of the action, it shouldn’t be called love, cause it is in no way love. It is lust and the two emotions getting confused is always a problem. The chances of one party mistaking love for lust increases dramatically on VD. Now we have an accidental version of the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later”, made worse by the fact that the “guy” (although in this case it could be girl) didn’t mean to and now feels falsely accused of being a liar. To be fair I have seen cases where both parties make this mistake. I call that “falling love after falling in bed”.
VD benefits the “hey lets start dating” pre-relationship. OK this is not a bad thing; it’s not really a good thing either though. I do have to admit that if you are shy and haven’t been able to ask the person you have a crush on out, VD can give an excuse that makes you fell less awkward. What type of relationship, good or bad, remains to be seen. However to be fair to the day, I will admit that this is a possible silver lining to the pink and red funnel cloud that is VD.
Now that we have established who this day benefits I would like to take a moment a discus who it hurts. Just in case you thought there were no innocent bystanders in this Cupid Bowed drive by. You might think I would include the victims in the first two above examples. However I am cynical enough to not call them innocent, even the poor girl who got lied to probably should have know better. No I am talking about the unattached.
To be single on VD is to have what ever feeling you have about being single amplified in a near infinite level. VD turns anger in to rage. VD turns sad in to depressed. VD turns a guy with a crush in to a stalker. VD turns a girl who can’t get a date in to a suicide hot line case. Every happy couple becomes a personal insult when you are single on VD. If you are single due to a recent breakup everything in this paragraph will be even worse. It is the damage to the single psyche that truly makes me HATE VD in that special “all caps” sort of way.
So in conclusion, VD is no help to the good relationships, lots of help to the bad, and devastating to the single people. If ever there was a holiday to be hated this is it. I challenge you to find a day that does more harm in the name of love then this one.
Bradleyman
P.S. If you believe that Fri. the 13th is unlucky (which I don’t) then the number of “recently broken up” misery caused by VD should be even higher this year as it come only a day before. What a happy thought. (that was sarcasm there kids)
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