I was told

I was told by a friend I should become a philosopher and use this to express my thoughts, ideas and other things that falls into the category of expressing thoughts.  This intrigues me but concerns me as I do not want to just be another of millions of bloggers that just spout off things.  I want it to be something that if you agree or disagree it still makes you think.  I think I will start on my first one and see what feedback I get,  

To be continued with a post in a few days when it is done.

The Zen I get from Riding my Bike

My bike is a motorcycle for those that need to have this explained.  Last year I bought a new Kawasaki Vulcan S.  It is a new sports cruiser style bike.  It fits me.  Since then I have gotten back to riding whenever I get a chance to and yes I ride year round, even in the cold weather if the roads let me.

So what do I mean by zen of riding or of my motorcycle?  Well the actually definition is to meditate or have intuition.  I like to use the more urban acceptable definition of a way to think that leads to a togetherness of thought, body and mind.   This is what leads me to a feeling of freeness to feel think and experience when I ride that I do not get any other place.   Even if I have my blue-tooth on and listening to radio or talking to a fellow rider I still find a new center to my ride.

I use this to help me deal with my PTSD and my job and even when I screw up in the marriage, I can ride find my center and come back and deal with the rest.   I know others do this through prayer or through religion.  Some of my friends do this with drinking or pot.  For me it will be the open road the wind and my bike.

This Election cycle has become a joke and a tragedy.

    I have friends that are hard core Trump fans, some that are republicans through and through and support whomever they select.  I also have the same on the Democratic side.   This has made things tough when it comes to conversation at this time in out countries history.  The passion and vitriol is exceedingly high.   My feelings can be summed up like this:If Trump is elected it will not be because of his position or his plans, it will be because he has ran the absolute most hateful, negative vicious attack campaign in the history of the United States and the people were so starving for something different they did not care.   If Hillary wines it will be because the people were so afraid of what Trump would do to this country that they were willing to accept how under handed Hillary's campaign has been.  That anyone is better than what Trump will be.

     That my friends is sad.   We are not picking a statesman this time, we are not picking old school politicians, we have come down to picking the least evil of the choices and it comes down truly to your  point of view.   

Eight Months Later

     It has been eight months since I said I was going to do this fairly regularly.  I have this long list of topics I wanted and still plan to write about.   But first I think a little bit about who I am and why I feel I should write on this blog site.

     My name is Mark.  I am in my sixties and I am white.  I only add the ethnic group as it seems to matter to some.  I am retired military.  I have advance degrees and an interest in many other subjects. I am opinionated, I like to talk, and I like to write.  I am married to a wonderfully understanding wife that puts up with me.  We have been married 29 years at the date of this writing.  I have five kids total, ranging from 20 to 40.   I am a Freemason and damn proud of it.  I raced something since I was in elementary school until my heart attack.   Now I ride my motorcycle and work on restoring older cars.

     I am an avid reader and have not gotten rid of any book I bought except textbooks for the most part since eighth grade.  This has made my little private library well over two thousand books at this point.  Yes I have read all of them in full or in partial for the parts I bought them for if they were bought for a reference.  They range from old school horror books like Poe to Classics.  There is a large part that is military history or history in nature.  I do not consider myself well read.  I say this because I can not quote things ten years later and do those snobbish book discussions like I am a genius or anything.  I read for enjoyment.  I remember what I do and know how to look up the rest.

Well that is it for now.  I might edit or add to this as I go.