Deep In The Forrest

(The TGIF Friday Post) Well thank goodness! I reached out to Jinks and she responded. Jinks Posted Everybody! Go Read . Glad to see she's peeking in again, and I'm hoping we can see and read more of her. She's really a fabulous person with alot of cool ideas and she writes very well... This post was just a short one, letting us know what she's been up to for the last few weeks but still, it's a dose of Jinks. Now her blog comments got screwed up one time, so if you read her, and wanna comment you will have to Leave Her Comments Here . She'll really appreciate if you stop by and say hello. What about me?? My sister said the other day, "You must be really busy, you didn't blog today." Yes, if I miss a day or two sometimes people think that there is something wrong with me because I blog a lot. I try to put something down even when I have nothing to say. I don't know why. Maybe it's good, maybe it's just another symptom in this disease. ...

Hard at work on some issues today, so I won't have time for any in-depth post. However I hope you all have a fantastic Wednesday ("Hump Day"). I guess I will share a video for you to enjoy. I'll be back soon... xoxo AJ Who doesn't love Johnny Cash? This is a cool song, always has been always will... here's Folsom Prison Blues

Once again, I bring you another one of my Slideshows for this week's Weekly Words Challenge, brought to us by the lovely Tink of Pickled Beef featuring this week's words, "Wood" and "Metal" . This is how I do it! Rock on, and Wood you do me a favor and keep on keepin it Metal?!?! :)

I feel pretty tired this morning for some reason, I did my weight lifting first thing, and I'm drinking my coffee, but I still feel unenergized, and exhausted. I don't know... it's strange. One of my all-time favorite movies in the world is "The Big Lebowski". It is hilarious and I just can't say enough about it... There is an infamous scene within the movie, however, where John Goodman's character (a Vietnam Vet) goes off his rocker in the bowling alley, and forces one of the other players to mark his score a zero, pulls out a gun and tells him "You're entering a world of pain." I'll share that video with you, but I also found this t-shirt that I would love to have!! It's great. (You can click the photo and it will take you to the site), and they have a lot more interesting t-shirts on there!!! Sometimes I wish I could give people the "Mark It Zero" treatment! Anyways, here's the video and if you haven't seen the ...

BBC mentioned the other day that Jinks hasn't blogged in a while. I happen to know that she's had work situations that didn't make for optimal free time, and that she hasn't been able to get to it much. However, I really don't want her blog to fade to black again, as she has almost done here or there. I miss her presence here at The Forrest, and I for one would like to let her know officially that we WILL not have her disappear. So, JINKS , hear our plea... If you don't blog soon, some of us will really go off the deep end. We understand that everything might be chaotic for you right now, but I need my dose of "55-SKIDO"... Hey It Could Happen! And we hope it does. (If you haven't read her blog, you can find her link(s) to the right there, along with all my Rockin blog family!) Jinks, come back! I can't do without what you have to say!!! :)

We recorded about 6 or 7 tracks on our new CD last night, got drums and bass down for them... that's the beginnings. My "recording booth" happens to be the restroom at our Band Rehearsal facility... lol!!! "Coming to you live from the bathroom in Memphis Tennessee, is our very own Jaxxx!" ha-ha. It is to laugh... however, we're luckier than most, other bands are paying out their asses to record. We are lucky enough to have a drummer who has the production know-how, and equipment to save us all that dough, and the mastering we have connections on too. This is going to be a big CD! Today, I'm tired though, and I'm going with my friend Kim to the Metaphysical fair just for kicks... Who knows, I might learn something. Laterz. (I'm going to update the post later with photos, check back)

Yeah it's Friday, Yay. I'm not excited about it... what's there to look forward to. Just following along with everyone else's schedules and plan, and meanwhile trying desperately to hang on to what little identity I might have managed to save of myself. Always on someone else's clock... tick tock, tick tock... Feel like I can't stop the ride to get off and find my way back sometimes though. Oh real quick, I had visited over at Ole Blue The Heretic's Blog , and he always has interesting and cool poetry... He had a Haiku, so I thought I would give one a try myself. Here's my Friday Haiku!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday had arrived Madness fell upon her face Goodness goes to waste ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyways, I'm waiting to hear from the mechanics, so I can pick up my molested automobile, and get back to work in the same garage and hope that they don't simply come and do it again! Stupid worthless assholes. On a nastier note, I had multi-grain cereal for...

Hump day turned out to be heist day in the lovely River City... As I was just getting ready to run out, hop in my car and get away from the office for lunch, I got a phonecall from the man upstairs. (No not god you idiot, Jeezuz!!--No not Jeezuz either, you know he has all his assistants do the calling for him because he's too busy!!!). The man upstairs at the help desk I mean... he called to inform me that there were police in the garage and they needed to speak to me, and it would seem that some dudes were in the garage stealing everyone's 'Cadillac Convertibles' [sic] out of their vehicles. Yes, there is a craze going around where they can take and sell these 'Cadillac Convertibles' [sic] for a pretty penny! Fortunately, they were unable to get my 'Cadillac Convertible' [sic] in time before the security guard caught the one guy who was still trying desperately to yank mine off the car. He had the muffler all sawed up, and everything was dragging the...

This was a forward to me in an e-mail. It's really funny, and it makes me want to do this to the next people who piss me off. Even if I decide not to, it was a stress relief just to read it. You may or may not have seen it before, but give it a read. It certainly bears repeating, I giggle every time I read it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ANGER MANAGEMENT When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don't know. I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I'd forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it. A man answered, saying "Hello." I politely said, "This is Chris. Could I please speak with Robyn Carter?" Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear "Get the right f*** ing number!" and the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude. When I tracked down Robyn's...

We're trucking along here on these WWC numbers, and as ALWAYS, Tink does a fabulous job! This week's words were "Found" and "Curve". I've taken some notes from G-man at Man Overboard , and decided that this week I would share more photos than normal, and put them in a slideshow. If anyone has any trouble with it, let me know. To view, click the "Play" button, and then if you need to, pause and click through to read all the captions... Hope you enjoy as much as I enjoyed my afternoon taking these yesterday... It was a really nice day. Here we go, Found and Curve!!! Please Click Here if you are unable to see the slideshow above .

President's Day! Yeah, and I'm off work. Am I accomplishing much of anything? That'd be a big fat "NO!" I had ideas about what I'd like to do today, maybe I will tackle some of them. It is already nearly noon, so between then and when Mr. J gets home from work, I will probably end the day as frustrated as I started it. As I said, my painting has been nagging at me. I need to just put the brush to the canvas and let it flow... will update more on that. Tomorrow is still Tuesday, even though I didn't 'technically' have a Monday (well not a bad one as usual - lol). So that means the WWC... ( If you haven't joined the fun, go here for details). Tink has set the words for this week to "Found" and "Curve". I need to get cracking on that because I haven't even started!! I do enjoy doing the Weekly Words Challenge... it's quite therapeutic. Just been feeling a little down in the dumps all weekend, but I think it is mainly ...

For every one (male or female) who has ever let advertisements, magazines, models or actors on screen make you feel like an ugly person. Or have thought you were not beautiful enough to be on screen or camera, this is for you. Take a look. To me, it doesn't necessarily say that nobody is 'that beautiful', or 'nobody looks like that', it goes to show you that ANYBODY CAN look like that... dig? Nobody should feel bad about themselves, because off camera, and in the real world. Everyone is normal... I give you, the secret of the Dove Soap Campaign

If You Don't Have Anything Good To Say... Then you may as well blog it, right? I have been so void of anything worthy to say for some time I feel, but I still come in and try to put something forth that gives people something to think about, or at least well, I don't know. Truthfully, I'm floundering. I'm trying to find a break in the boredom and listlessness I've been feeling. Today I can boast the most that I have accomplished is a headache from sitting in my chair too long and my eyes feeling dried out. Maybe it's time for a good cry, but I can't find anything that I give a crap-enough about to boil up those tears... lol Just a few words I guess today since I wanted to touch base with my readers, but really don't know what to talk about. I have been thinking about my art, and how I can't seem to do what I need to do lately. I, like any other mad artist or scientist, need to be locked away in a nice place with no distractions for hours or weeks wh...

Ahhh It's over with! The "V" word. It's a relief in a way. I mean, I guess I will come off hypocritical in this post because, I mean I did have a nice day yesterday and Richie got me a Vermont Teddy Bear and it was a surprise. All was well until the evening when Richie fell asleep way too early for any decent chance of Romance because he was all hopped up on cold medications and snoring like a freight train. All's well that ends well I suppose. I just still maintain that the day is what it is, and it takes advantage and over-commercializes. We will drop the subject though. Here is my Vermont Teddy Bear. Richie bought me the "Artist Bear", since I am deep-down, basically an artist... I just got misplaced in a technological world. Underneath this tech-savvy skin, and mean exterior, I am an oil-painting, moody, crazy-strange-creative slob. :) Thanks again "Bear" for the bear, I love it! And I Love you! (As My good friend Barnze always says, ...

Well, it's here. V-day! The world is still obsessed with it, (most) women expect or at least hope for some sugar-coated or diamond-studded representation of someone's affection, which is in-fact, meaningless. Because (most) men feel pressured, knowing that it is Valentine's Day and that they will be in trouble if they don't (pretend to) make a big deal out of the 'holiday'. We've all fallen victim to it at some point in our lives, because we thought we had to. The true fact is, when love is real, or you have love in your life, you don't need any sickening, fake-assed holiday to show it, the only thing that matters is what you're lucky to have in your day-to-day life. Every sweet moment, and even the bad times. If all that is what it should be, then nobody needs to "make anything up to anyone" on some fabricated excuse of a day for 'lovers'. Why would you want it if it was forced or expected anyway? Valentine's Day is just a comm...

(and of course the Squirrels too!) This post was inspired by Tink , that's right, the director of our Weekly Words Challenge. We have a blast and if you haven't joined the fun, go here for details! Tink asked me on a comment yesterday how I got so close to the squirrel that was in my photo. Well, it's simple. The squirrels and the pigeons of Downtown Memphis are the tamest I've seen anywhere. I have proof in my story and photos below. The reason they are so tame, I guess, is that they are so used to people and being fed by all the visitors and the locals (including probably the homeless people), that they are not afraid of anything! Seriously. For instance, here is a squirrel I stopped to feed once. (Squirrel food Courtesy of Memphis' own Peanut Shoppe , if you're in Memphis you gotta go there, they have the best nuts in town!!) Here's a good story to illustrate my point. One day I was having a relaxing stroll down Main Street around lunch time. The weathe...

I had to share this. I don't know a man who couldn't use a pair of these... Think of it, never again feel restricted from those Round House Kicks. You would be danger in motion... that is, of course if you know how to give a round house kick...? If not, don't worry you're sure to scare somebody in these. (click to enlarge at your own risk) If you don't know much about Chuck Norris, Click Here for his Official Website Also, for a great laugh (if you're late in the game), read Hilarious Chuck Norris Facts Here

Sorry, been so busy and then the time I had to myself I wasn't in a writing mood. I will probably post though throughout the rest of the week successfully. Sometimes you just have to have a breather. Weekend was kind of that way for me. Anyways, today is already Tuesday and as everyone knows that's WWC day!! Today's Weekly Words Challenge words, courtesy of the darling Tink of Picked Beef , are "Motion" and "Suspend". I feel as though I'm falling a little short for this week too, but I did the best I could... I swear I will be back to my productive and excellent self soon! Just been going through so much lately... Head spinning around and what-not! Here goes... The fountains on Main Street illustrating Water suspended in Motion! This squirrel's tail blurred from his very quick motion. While taking this photo of lights on the deck of a local spot, I moved the camera purposely giving this the feel of "motion". I love rain, and the raindro...

Well, if you are reading this, live from the blog, or from your Subscription to my blog, then that means we made it to Friday! I am tired, stressed and have been a little testy these last couple of days. I just think it's everything coming down on me at once. The things I have to get done, all the impending duties with my Father, Work stuff, Band pressures... just too much for me to deal with... Been feeling like I'm going to crack... or maybe I already have. Ok, well I thought I would up date you guys and inform you that my Top 3 most "Creepy MoFos" are still: 1. Clowns 2. The Burger King Dude 3. Creepy Ass Dolls Also, I have been getting more and more phone calls on my work line for other people. This really gets on my nerves. Calls for employment, calls for some other dude who hasn't been here for like over 4 years, people asking for other departments. It's gotta stop. I'm not the information desk, and I have no idea about the guy who was here 4 years a...

Sent to me by my cousin Jerry... Ponderisms... Can you cry under water? How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered? Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'.. But it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to? Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? Why does a round pizza come in a square box? What disease did cured ham actually have? How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours? If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV? Why do people pay to go up tall build...

Yeah, weird huh? After days of being evasive and unable to post I thought I would share. Don't worry, it's a quickie-post. (Yeah, I know I said quickie-heh heh heh heh). I have been feeling a lot of stress and worry this week over what is to become of our family stuff, we have a great deal to think about in regard to all of us working together to assist at home with my Father. He made it out of the hospital, and that's great, but he's in no shape to be self-sufficient. Mom can't handle it all alone, and we all have tons of stuff to do as well. I guess these things are taken care of naturally, we just have to hold fast to our knowledge that everything happens for the greater good, and strive to get through it... doing what we have to do, taking it one step at a time. So I went out at lunch time and relaxed a moment, snapped a few random photos of curious things I saw around town... hope you enjoy. First, a few snapshots of today's overcast day... nothing special....

Wow, last night's weather was a "doosie" around the Mid-South area. We had terrible thunderstorms (which I actually like thunderstorms), but this was no ordinary night. In addition to the Thunderstorms, we had lots of lightening, high winds and of course Tornadoes everywhere. You may have even heard about this... There was damage mainly to some shopping center areas, to include a Memphis mall called "Hickory Ridge Mall". I'm told that after the damage ensued there, the area broke out into a "Looting & Shooting" festival... Classy. Real Classy people... when you should be kissing the gods asses that you weren't blown away, you're off in the stores trying to steal everything not nailed down. You make Memphis look so nice. [ Meggy Moon had a few photos of the storm clouds ] As for me and my family, and most of the people I work closely or keep close touch with, they made it through with minimal stress or damage. Mr. J went home way early o...

Well I made it (barely). Tink of Pickled beef says her suckiness prevailed? Nonsense. It is MY suckiness that prevails this week, as I really had a rough time finding things that inspired me for the words, "Narrow" and "Broad". I did the best I could, so here you go... Narrow: This rock path on the nature trail is narrow... Narrow street during road construction. Broad: I'm a Broad ;) Broad Street, literally. This section of downtown looks pretty broad. That's it for today, still playing a lot of catch up around work and we're also having a great deal of bad weather brewing today... Will see you tomorrow.

Seems like Life is one long waiting line. We're born waiting to die, we sit in our cars waiting in traffic to get to our jobs so we can wait until time to go home ... wait, wait, wait. Waiting, but rushing, right?? We rush through moments and wish it all away, when in essence it all goes too fast anyway. Let's slow down and enjoy things instead of trying to speed the clock up. While we wait, you know? Let's enjoy that wait. Just to let everyone know, Dad got home safely yesterday. My sister and I assisted them when we got back home, she stayed the night there to make sure everything was o.k., I came back and am catching up on my work as much as possible. Dad had a pretty hard time starting out, when we first got home, his legs were quite weak. They only got him up to stand once the entire few days he was in the hospital. And information? You couldn't get that from anyone. Every person had a different job, and knew nothing further than the extent of what they were there ...