Winter Time Blues

I feel that the title of this one is extremely misleading, but it still gets the point across. I love the winter, the snow makes me happy, and as stated in other posts I love smoking when I can see my own breath. But the winter has some other side effects, that would not be a problem... But...

My sleep schedule rapidly shifts all over the place, and if I were retired it would be great, I have trouble sleeping when it is dark and snowing all I want to do is go out and play in it, but I do currently have a job and not sleeping on a regular schedule messes up my performance. I also have trouble finding motivation to go outside if I am not going out to participate in the winter time fun that can be had.

Since I have energy regulation trouble, I like to put all of my energy into whatever I am doing but if it is before I have to work then once again I choose to do nothing. This leads to a totally solvable depression as it is difficult to ride the line of being awake, but inactive. I played a lot of video games growing up but would still have to get up and run around every thirty minutes to an hour. I have trouble understanding how anybody can stay in one position for long... This is why I never pursued my dream of becoming a trucker. I have trouble driving across town. No disrespect meant to those who can/do/want to do these things just know that I don't understand it.

I also hate having water in my shoes, I feel most can identify with this sentiment, and it is a pain in the ass to pick a path that will not lead to soggy loafers. If I am at home this is not a problem I only wear my shoes for playing in the snow but, going back to the work complaints, if I am forced to wear the same soggy sneakers for hours on end (especially if I did not actively choose to do this) is very uncomfortable.

What complaints do you all have about the winter? Or what is your favorite season, and what do you hate about it?

"These are not all of the many simple things you can find wrong with me. Once would you tell me please..." Jimmie's Chicken Shack

The winiest King
King Badger

I am starting to run low on questions, so as always feel welcome post them here.

"Is it unethical to keep cars and dogs as pets?"

This has been one I have been looking forward to answering since it showed up on the list. I assume that this was supposed to read "Cats and Dogs" but since I am a smart ass and do not believe that we keep cats as pets, they keep us as servants, I will answer the question as it is.

Short answer is no. Long answer is far more complicated. I feel that keeping pets, as long as they are treated well and do not have their freedom imposed upon, too much, then there is nothing wrong with it. As far as cars go, until they become too intelligent then keeping them as pets is weird but not unethical. I feel that being a pet is a rather charmed life, for the pets that are not abused. Always having a roof to sleep under, feed to eat, and companionship is something that we as animals seek but have to have jobs to have them. Dogs get all of this for just being a dog, though they can not wander where they want they are kept fed, happy, and healthy.

I do however have many issues with selective breeding. Again with cars this is not so much a problem, though a little unorthodox... Breeding cars in not the way to make a baby car, Jus' Sayin'. I feel that encouraging the intentional breeding of dogs to "keep the breed pure" is going to cause a mass extinction of many breeds in years to come. We have destroyed many breeds in this fashion. Poodles have to have a special diet, or their stomach will literally flip and twist itself off killing the dog if immediate medical attention is not attained soon enough. Many breeds of bull dog have to struggle to just breath, born with faces so deformed that oxygen does not pass easily through their head, mouth included... And many of the larger breeds of dog have so many issues I am surprised they live long enough to make puppies, between hip, spine, and other bone problems it is surprising that they can even stand. Their soft tissues is also not safe most of their internal organs fail before they are even ten years old.

They may be beautiful creatures, but I would not wish that on my worst enemy if they were as smart as people (I am not saying they are not, I am using this phrasing because I don't want to get into my philosophy on animal intelligence right now) then they would actually wish they had never been born, it is a painful struggle just to live when you can't eat, breathe, or move... So animals as pets, totally cool... Animals for show, suck a bag of dicks.

The Waking World

For those of you that have only walked the waking world, and think this may be a guide to it, then you are probably in the wrong place... Though feel welcome to read on.

I once postulated that if I were the type to use drugs for recreational purposes that I would use speed, or hallucinogens... This is because I like the world that one can only see when the waking a dream world begin to overlap. I have spent far more time than I care to count in this realm. I used to not sleep, a lot. I used to sleep about four hours every third day and with that I got to see things in a fashion that only those who have spent time being crazy know what I am talking about.

But that is enough of a history lesson for now. Back in my "crazy days" I had some very serious deja vu, when I would tell friends about this they would explain to me what science believed was happening, so I would jot down conversations word for word that two people whom I have never met were about to have and pass it to my friend... The look on their face was always priceless when it happened exactly as I had written it. I have seen my reflection blink at me. I have fallen out of my body. I have been walking in an old and familiar area and suddenly forgotten where I was at or where I was going, and had to let my legs take over because they seemed to still know the drill.

I have seen beings in the corner of my eye that had no business being in this realm, and I have seen many people's true form. More often than not they didn't even know the things I knew about them, but they always acted true to the nature of the being I saw them as. Was I just hallucinating? Many say yes. Was I just wildly sleep deprived? Absolutely. Do I believe what I saw was real? YES! Even after years of maintaining a mostly healthy sleeping schedule, even after reading up (even more) on the science of what I was experiencing, I still feel that everything I experienced was absolute and indisputable. Just because I was the only one that saw it doesn't mean I was wrong. I was once drinking, many years later, with a friend that I had shown my deja vu skills to and they admitted how much it had shaken them up. To me I have just continued to have too much proof that I was not just imagining it, even though I have lost the ability for the time being.

There is time enough to die when I am dead.
King Badger

"I would take no for an answer, just to know I heard you speak. And I'm wondering why I've never seen the signs they claim they see." Chris Rice

"What is the most important thing you do for your health?"

Honestly, I cut soda out of my diet... I do what I can to consume less sugar, salt, and unnatural additives. I have a fairly active lifestyle and am luckily built for being a bigger person, life is kind of like a gym for me. I don't really work out, though I want to find a good personal trainer that wants to work on my schedule and with my needs. I try to walk as much as possible, I like to keep my living space cold as it requires calories to keep the body a comfortable temperature. I drink a lot of water (mostly because water is one of my favorite beverages) the water I drink is as cold as I can get it, when I can get it to just above freezing I am very happy, it is more refreshing (to me) and also counts as negative calories, as your body can not absorb it when it is too cold. I am not a calorie counter, and have no intention of becoming, but I like to do whatever I can do keep my burning as many as I can. I smoke and drink , and know that these are bad for me... So a little here and there, and am counter productive at times as well.

Status Vs. Appearance

The other day I was enjoying a fresh Dopplebock from one of Missoula's great local breweries, Bayern.  As I sat there contemplating the amazing view of the valley from their enclosed patio, where one can drink and smoke, an older man came outside.

I try to not judge people, but I have my failings as does everyone else, and the image f him I drew up in my mind was someone who was smart enough not to approach someone who looks like me. For those of you who have never seen me in person I am stout, my shoulders have to be at least two and one half feet wide, my chest is almost as deep as it is broad (more than four feet around) I have a mohawk and tattoos. I am not a bad guy, well no worse than anyone else any way, but I don't really look like the kind of person you just talk to unless you never listened to your parents when they told you not to hang out with people like me.

This man looked like he had lead an average and sensible life and probably didn't have time to sit and shoot the shat with a local cult leader that looks like someone you don't want to cross in a dark alley... But he came and sat at my table, I was the only one out there, and lit a cigarette (I really like still being a smoker as the fad dies, you can always find camaraderie in those who still choose to poison their lungs)

We just spoke on whatever was on our minds, just as church happens with the Honey Badger, but mostly we talked of our own disappointment that business owners were no longer allowed to make the decision for themselves as to whether to let smokers participate in their establishments.

Sitting there I realized that I was incorrect in my judgement of him and I have no idea his judgement of me before we began talking (or after for that matter). He was interesting, didn't seem to mind that he was speaking with a thug, and as far as know had no idea he was talking with a cultist who seeks to destroy ignorance and spread love. To me the thing I took away from this was, your perceptions f your outside self have no bearing on anything and that one should always take that into consideration when meeting someone new as your perceptions of their external appearance are probably equally flawed.

"You and I both know that the house is haunted, and you and I both know that the ghost is me. You used to catch me in your bed-sheets just a-rattling your chains, well back then baby, it didn't seem so strange" Shakey Graves

My misunderstandings could fill at least one terabyte worth of space
The King Badger

"If you could travel anywhere to do missionary work where would you go and why? What would you do?"

Honestly Ireland, mostly so that I had an excuse to go to Ireland. I know my perceptions of the country are quite archaic, but I still think it would be good fun. I feel like I could do quite well with anyone that wanted to listen, and if the stereotypes are correct (as pertaining to how much they talk) then the word would spread quite rapidly. As per what I would do, the same thing I always do, find a bar and talk to people until I feel like they wont just leave when I tell them I am a religious leader.

Beyond that I would like to go to a third world country, get out of my comfort zone, and actually do some good. I feel that I constantly talk a big game about doing what we can to make the world a better place, but in the fashion of a true hypocrite I don't do anything. I haven't even sponsored an African child "for just pennies a day." In my defense I am still trying to get my own shit figured out, but I think it would be awesome to do something like that... Though I would like some friends to come with me, as we already can work together well and I trust those I actually call friend to not worry about who has taken charge of the situation as long as it is going well. Basically I know that the leader would be a fluid position being taken by the person who knows what needs done best and is able to call the shots, and with that we would not fight about who was in charge.

Elemental Participation

I am going to preface this with an acknowledgment... I just read back through Thoughts on the Breeze and  noticed that for some reason I replaced there with their and vice versa... I should let you all know that I just type these on the fly and don't edit them, so as to give you the fullest extent of my mind... And filtering oneself is a move for those who are unsure of where they stand.

Anyway with winter approaching I thought it best to draw attention to one of my vices, smoking. I love smoking for many reasons, but none shine so bright as winter. Winter is my favorite reason for smoking. I love standing outside, alone, apart from even the other smokers. I stand in the snow as the sky-fluff lands my face, tickling my nose and distracting my eyelashes. I love the bite of the cold, a slight breeze is always welcome. I like to watch the little ice-angels dance in the fog and half light of the moon, adding my own clouds to the mix.

The thing I like about smoking is how much one can participate in spirituality, especially in the winter, while smoking. The cold earth under foot, the slight breeze that is ever present, the water of my breath weaving in and out of the menagerie, and of course the fire that I draw into my lungs. It is great knowing one is the quintessence of the universe, the unit that ties it all together. The unnamed binder in the cosmos. There is nothing as peaceful as just participating in the rampant loneliness that is permeating yet strangely sentient.

Anyone that has never taken a moment to be alone long enough to find a friend out of the emptiness has missed out on many sights that were only meant for them, be aware and seek the lonesome.

"So you ask me how I'm on fire, all I do is turn around and smile, baby girl not everyone can fly." - Wild Child

The Lonely King of The Elements
 King Badger

"What is your stance on meat, factory farms, the food supply, and related topics?" - Unknown

I like meat. I like the smell, taste, texture, and nutrient value. It takes a lot of protein to run a body built like mine. I hate factory farms, I hate keeping my meat penned up, waiting for the time the hammer falls. Meat taste better if it has been able to wander, to live, to experience the sun. I might be a little tougher sometimes, it is definitely more expensive due to other aspects of upkeep it requires, but I think that extra money is worth the price.

As far as the food supply goes I feel it is well larger than necessary to feed the entire world and with that if more people were to put forth actual effort to help the third world we, as a species, could become a far greater threat to the rest of the universe than just ourselves. I think we need to spread the food we have now, and then work as one unit to make this planet a place worth living. Petty squabbles over nonrenewable resources, status, "worth," is pointless. Global communism, if it could work, would be the way to ensure the Human Race becomes a force to be reckoned with. We are far to strong and intelligent to die here playing in our own filth arguing about who has the shiniest rock in the shit pile.