Nice Guys Shouldn't Marry

I'd like to share something I've been reading about recently called Marriage Strike.  It's a men's movement that has been going on for awhile now.  I realize this topic could cause some offense, alienation from my friends, questions about my sexual preference, accusations of heartbreak backlash and would break my mother's heart. (let's not tell her)  I am curious to see the discussions that come from this post.

Mom is already disappointed that she won't get any grandkids from me.  That decision I made long ago and don't plan on changing.  This new decision not to get married is sitting well with me too.  You may have read my previous post on romance but understand that this decision doesn't change things.  I would still enjoy a partner to share in life's journey but she has to accept it won't lead to marriage.

Marriage is not what it used to be and is a far cry from what kept my parents together for 60 years.  Today's marriage has been put in the hands of the state and left men with the short end of the stick.  The divorce rate is incredibly high which means there's a 50% chance I could lose 50% or more of what's mine.  That's how the courts work.  Because I've been responsible in keeping my debt low and savings high, that's potentially a big loss for me at this age.  It would be difficult to rebound and even harder depending on how long I would have to pay alimony.  So it's a bad contract which I won't sign.

(Read more here)

I am not hating on women.  I love women and have some cool friends of the fairer sex whom I value.  I also wish the best for those of you who are married or will be. I just have no incentive to marry even if I give my heart to someone.  Even cohabiting can be a tricky situation to get out of as I recently found out.  I had to as nice as possible to avoid any false accusations which could have landed me in jail or kicked out of my own house.  Yes, women will do this to get their way and the law is on their side.  I once spent a very long night at the hospital which ended at the police station with me writing a statement of the night's events.  She fell down the stairs because she was drunk yet she told the police at the hospital I had pushed her.  This a someone I stood by when she left me, cheated on me twice and I supported fully when she quit her job.  Yes, I was much too nice.  I've remedied some of that but I am still a nice guy who won't be marrying.

So now I made some of you mad, some uncomfortable, some sad and my therapist is probably going to call me to schedule an appointment.  But I commend you for reading this far and I'd enjoy your thoughts.

Same old Fair

The York Fair is America's oldest running fair.  It's something that my family has been going to for decades.  My grandmother used to enter some of the contests/showings they have.  She had quite a few ribbons on her wall.  My parents wanted to go this year so my sister and I were their escorts.

It was a cloudy, drizzly day but at least the rain held off so we could move around outside.  This also kept the crowd size down.  The fair has all sorts of entertainment depending on the day as well as the regular fair stuff.  I am like my father with respect to wanting all the junk food I see.  But who doesn't?

My first victim was a red devil's food whoopie pie.  I already have an addiction to regular whoopie pies but these I cannot resist.  The name sounds like evil fun and they leave your mouth stained blood red.  We'll call this my second breakfast.

Sure you can go to the stand which sells fries, dogs, burgers, sausage, steaks, etc for lunch.  But why do that when you can get BBQ beef from a stand which specializes in it?  I added some horseradish and sauce to my sandwich and thoroughly enjoyed lunch.  Beasts like to eat meat.

We found a display celebrating Ringling Bros circus.  These modelers had collected or created figures relating to the circus and put them on display.  The display pictured above had moving characters as well.  There were some very threatening senior citizens in the room to make sure no one touched the models.  I'm sure I could have handled them separately but not if they ganged up on me so I kept my claws to myself.

Right next door was an actual circus!  It only had one ring and eight people total but it was a circus.  I don't have pictures because those same senior citizens were there making sure no one took any.  The show was fun and campy.

The fair is great for people watching too.  You can consider York county as the gateway to Pennsyltucky and it doesn't disappoint.  I enjoyed seeing the skinny father of two with a spider web tattoo under one eye and his round, multi-pierced baby momma following behind.  Then there was the girl with whisker implants in her upper lip, the bored teenie boppers and assorted other 'rural' folks who probably don't get out much other than for tractor pulls.  Don't get me wrong, I love to see all these people because it keeps things interesting.  And I freely admit to hanging a pair of handcuffs from the rear view mirror of my first car.  I also had a nude air freshner hanging as well.... which I bought at the York fair!  Ah the mammaries.

There were too many temptations.  How could I pass up a s'more on a stick?  I didn't!  It was tasty and I'm pretty sure it was nutritious.

They say size doesn't matter but don't believe it.  The big ones get the ribbons.  If it's green and wrinkly as well then it gets a ribbon too.  This room was like a vegetable freak show.

Just as my sugar high was wearing off, we stopped for a funnel cake.  I didn't get a picture of that because it went fast between the four of us.  Don't worry, we stopped for real food on the way home.

Soothing the Beast

I enjoy seeing the bands I like live.  It gives a good perspective on their talents and how well the songs translate from CD to stage.  No one does stage shows anymore so it really becomes all about the music more than visual entertainment.  Which means the band had better be good.  You don't get to fix anything in the mix.

A couple months ago, I picked up tickets for Flyleaf.  A friend had introduced me to the first CD and I really liked it.  Yes, they are a Christian band but they seem to be on a more secular path through the music business.  No, this is not the first Christian band I've enjoyed.  I list Mortal, Grammatrain, and Rain Children as favorites but haven't really been into that scene in recent years.  Flyleaf impressed me enough to buy tickets and go by myself.  Of course, I don't mind attending events alone.

I really wanted to see the lead singer scream.  She has a beautiful voice and I enjoy her singing but I really like when she just lets loose.  It puts a big stupid grin on my face.  I've made women scream before, for good and bad reasons, but that's not what I'm talking about here.  It adds something primal to the song.  But I don't have to explain why I like it.  Let's just go with that.

The crowd was quite young so I retreated the bar upstairs.  At least everyone up there was over 21.  A very nice couple sat down next to me and we started a conversation.  They are both just getting out of the military and taking time to travel the country they've served.  Meet Billy and Sara.  They are very cool and I wish them a safe journey.  My advice to them - instead of figuring out what you want to be when you grow up, don't bother growing up.

Edit:  I'm paraphrasing Lacey (the singer) - We are all going to die.  This shouldn't be a surprise to you.  What should surprise you is that you are alive.

Amen To That

WARNING:  This content is not safe for work.  It's not safe for those with no sense of humor.  It's not safe for gold diggers either.  Mom probably won't like it much but that's why I wrote this warning.  Please move on to another posting, blog or porn site if you don't want to be offended.  Nuf said!




At the risk of showing some bitterness, I am posting this video the Greek Geek sent to me.  It is hilarious and a catchy tune.  You know who this is dedicated to but just sit back and have a laugh.  Don't be surprised to find yourself humming it afterwards.

Cee Lo Green - FUCK YOU (Official Video)

Watch the video for Cee Lo Green's massive single 'Fuck You!'

US Fans: Pre-order the new album The Lady Killer at http://www.ceelogreen.com/uspreorder or download "Fuck You" at http://www.ceelogreen.com/us-store or from iTunes at http://atlr.ec/aoh6Ne.

Visit www.ceelogreen.com to get the news on Cee Lo's upcoming album The Ladykiller and receive a free download of another new track Georgia.

Ad nauseum

I've been watching TV for most of my life.  Some of it was even in black and white.  And I used to walk to school, up hill both ways..... back to me.  The major hazard of watching the boob tube, other than bad SyFy movies, is all the commercials.  You know them - Trix are for kids, Where's the beef, you got your peanut butter in my chocolate and the one that gives me shudders - mom, did you ever get that not so fresh feeling?  You know them because they are designed to sit in the back of your brain and make you buy the products.

All the products they sold me
I let them own me
-Sinch

I can freely admit to loving the Old Spice commercials but not to the point of buying their crap.  I tend to be a contrarian (big surprise for none of you) when something is pushed on me.  So I analyze the ads to see what they are trying to make me believe.  There is a reason for everything they show you on the screen and the words in the script.  I could fill up the blog with this crap but let's focus on one commercial I've recently seen.

Lincoln has been trying a campaign of using covers of old songs in their car commercials.  Probably trying to show they are still relevant as the music.  The Major Tom cover was the first one I saw and it was catchy.  But recently I saw this one.

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For those of you sadly unaware, that's a shitty club version remake of Blue Oyster Cult's - Burning For You.  On one hand I'm happy for Buck Dharma to get some residuals, on the other hand.... ewwwww.  But let's set my personal taste aside for a moment and focus on their choice of music.  You might think the song is about a burning interest in the owning the car, sort of a love song.  Seems like a good choice for a car commercial.  Can ya dig it?  Or maybe you'd focus on this being a road song about traveling.  Again, not a bad thing for a automobile ad.

Neither of these interpretations come to my mind.  To me, this has always been a dark song similar to Don't Fear the Reaper.  It conjurers up thoughts of unrequited love, not the joy of being in love.  And road songs tend toward the melancholy of always being on the move.  Neither of these seem to fit a happy car commercial no matter what electronic beat you put to it.  I could focus on the obvious drug reference here.  "Burn out the day, burn out the night" - sounds like a nice vacation in the Florida Keys. (I'm not naming names!)  Maybe the more sinister theme of suicide would be more appropriate?  You good catholics know you'll burn in hell for killing yourself.  Now watch the poor boy in the original video burn inside his car.  Still want to buy a Lincoln?

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"I'm not the one to tell you what's wrong and what's right."  I'm off to play B sides!