Ed's Words

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

  • INTERVIEW with Alex and Lisa Mendez

    Recently, I had the distinct pleasure to sit down with police detectives Alex and Lisa Mendez to discuss the latest chapter in their story, called Mourning Reign. I have to say I was excited to hear what they had to say and I believe the readers of In The Breath of God will be just as excited when they see, “first-hand” just what Lisa and Alex really think about their lives so far and where their story might lead.

     

    Edward Hancock II: I want to thank you both for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with me. I know it must be a huge sacrifice, trying to balance careers, family and, now, sudden stardom. I guess that leads me directly into my first question. How do you handle it all?

    ALEX MENDEZ:  *Looks at Lisa, who nods, speaking in some mental language apparently only they can understand* “For me I have to say it’s a lot easier thanks to Lisa. She’s the strong one. I couldn’t do this alone. Granted we have help from plenty of people. Danny, Alyson, my mother, just to name three. But Lisa is my rock. She is my partner. No matter who I’m in the field with… *Places his arm around Lisa* I only have one true partner.

    LISA MENDEZ: *Blushes slightly, fights an embarrassed grin before composing herself* “I would have to disagree. I think we make a great team. Period. Where I am weak, Alex is strong and, I guess, vice versa.  We work because we want to, plain and simple. Most people in our world are quick to turn and run to divorce court when things get hard. With Alex and Me – well with me anyway – it never crossed my mind. *she winks at Alex* And if I’m going to be honest, I don’t see us as stars. If anyone’s interested in our story, I’ll tell it. But I’m more interested in living than I am storytelling. I’m a storyteller when it’s Christina’s bedtime. That’s about it.

    Edward Hancock II: Speaking of the Munchkin, how is she doing? Where is she today?

    LM: She’s fine. She’s in school this morning. We dropped her off on our way to the interview.

    EH: Must be hard to have a school age child in the house, huh?

    AM: not as hard as having a baby in the house. Harder emotionally having a kindergartener I guess. My “baby girl” has grown up.

    LM: Watch it, Pal! She ain’t grown up yet!  *she nudges him with an elbow*

    *laughter*

    EH: Next question. What makes you two work? How did you know you were “the one”? Not many people know you were partners before you were married. What made you decide to take that next step?

    LM: I guess it’s true. When you know, you just know.

    AM: she drugged me. I swear, man. She drugged me *Lisa jabs him with an elbow* OW!  *laughs* Look, it’s not difficult. We work because we love one another. We have our priorities straight. We both know on which side our bread is buttered.

    LM: Okay, Dr. Phil.

    AM: *Laughs* That’s Danny, not me. My point is that it’s really not a big secret. The day we got married, I ceased being Alex Mendez entirely. I surrendered “me” to “we”. And Lisa did the same. The key to a happy marriage? Recognize first and foremost it’s not about you. It’s about “us”. You can’t always get your way and if all you want is your way, do us all a favor. Stay single.

    EH: So, I guess we should talk about Mourning Reign. Great title if I do say so myself. What can you tell me about this particular part of your story?

    LM: Well, I can tell you I don’t want to re-live it. But, at the same time, I’d do it all over again.

    EH: Care to give our readers a preview? A little taste of the plot maybe?

    AM: Well, in short, some terrorists decided to come to Texas to try and start a fight. I had to send ‘em packin’

    LM: You did, eh? All by your lonesome, Big Guy? *winks*

    AM: Okay, so I had a little help.  *smiles playfully*

    LM: *coughs*

    AM: Okay, so I helped a little.

    LM *whispers* better

    AM: *ignoring her* Come to find out, small towns all across America are hit simultaneously by similar attacks. The game changer.

    EH: Kind of like September 11, 2001, then?

    LM: Sort of, yes. But very different in some ways. For one, they used third world tactics, not airplanes. For another, well, it just became more personal. I wasn’t in New York when the towers fell. I felt a somber sense of fear as an American, knowing I’d just watched my fellow Americans die, but honestly, it was a different feeling this time. This wasn’t some far off portion of the Mendez Kingdom. This was my home. They made it personal for me…for all of us. *pulls Lisa close*

    EH: Sounds horrible!

    LM: Well, it’s not the ideal way to bring a child into the world. That’s for sure.

    EH: Ah, a great segue there, Lisa. When we left you at the end of In The Breath of God, clearly you were expecting your second child. So, what’s the word on the latest Mendez?

    LM: *looks down, fidgets her hands nervously*

    AM: Can we move on, please?

    EH: Certainly. I’m sorry. I don’t wish to open any fresh wounds.

    LM: *Biting her lip* *smiles at me reassuringly and nods*

    AM: It’s just difficult sometimes. To think about the circumstances that brought him into this world. I’m sorry. Next question.

    EH: So, Alex, at the end of In The Breath of God, you were retiring. Is that no longer the case? Can we expect two Mendez’s in the field again?

    AM: I came out of retirement because I was needed. I’m still needed, I think. They did a lot of damage to small-town America. There are a lot of ashes waiting on the proverbial phoenix. Now’s not the time to sit on the sidelines and wait to be called. When I’m no longer needed, I’ll go back to the bench.

    EH: What about you, Lisa?

    LM: *stops biting her lip* I, uh, I really haven’t decided yet. I sort of promised I wouldn’t pin on a badge again, but…

    EH: Clearly this was not an easy thing to go through. How was this different from In The Breath of God? For you, personally, I mean. The feel of it.

    AM: Well, for me, it was different because I wasn’t the one in the hospital bed this time.

    LM: For me, I guess, just the opposite. I was the one in the hospital. Helpless.  And I still ache sometimes. Not sure when that goes away.  *She pauses* I—honestly it was just very different. It’s one thing to stand in the presence of God. It’s kind of hard to top that sensation of joy, peace and love. But, honestly, this was an intimate, tactile connection. When you go from touching purest Goodness to literally touching pure Evil, well, it’s quite a shock to the system. I don’t know if you ever get over something like that.

    AM: We get through it the way we get through everything else, Lisa. Together. Doesn’t really matter which side you’re on, I guess. Either way you’re pretty helpless, whether watching your loved one suffer or being the one in bed suffering. Helpless.

    LM: That’s the one thing neither of us can stand to be. Helpless. There’s always an answer. There’s always a solution. “I can solve this.” But I think we’re both learning that sometimes it takes something else. A little help.

    EH: You actually work closely with some federal agents in this one. How difficult was that, given the distrust between you and certain federal officers prior to Mourning Reign?

    AM: Well, I have to say I think I made a pretty good friend in Moe. He’s my kind of guy. If I ever need help from a Fed again, you can bet he’ll be the one I call.

    EH: So we’re likely to see more of him and Agent Parker?

    AM: You really don’t realize who the writer is, do you? *Laughs*

    EH: Okay, so you’ll have to indulge me here. My readers will kill me if I don’t ask the question. What can we expect in future Mendez adventures?

    AM: I guess you’ll know when we do. Or maybe that’s the other way around. We’ll know when you do?

    EH: But there will be future stories?

    LM: Like I said, I’m a storyteller at Christina’s bedtime. We’ll leave the writing decision up to you. I think Alex and I both are just enjoying the opportunity to watch our children grow up. For as long as we are afforded the opportunity.

    EH: So, what you’re saying, if I’m reading you correctly is… well, if I stopped writing—

    LM: I’d haunt you till the day you died. *winks at me*

    EH: I’ll be writing immediately after this interview is concluded!  Alex, I must shift gears for just a moment. I get more letters about you than just about any other person. People want to know if you’re for real. They say men like you don’t exist in this world. So, what motivates you?

    AM: *Looks at Lisa* She does. My family does. Love.

    LM: And God.

    AM: Yes, God. It’s very new to me – to us – so we’re still learning what all that means, but yes, I want to be a Godly man. Someone my family can be proud of.

    LM: We couldn’t be prouder, Hero.

    EH: I am sure my readers would echo that sentiment.

    I want to thank Alex and Lisa for taking time out of their busy day to sit down with me. I’m sure there are tons more questions my readers would like answered, so please feel free to leave your question for Lisa or Alex. I’ll see to it that one of them answers it ASAP!

    Thanks again and be sure to check out Mourning Reign when it comes out!!

     

     Until next time this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

     

Monday, 03 August 2009

  • IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

    Friends, Fans, Countrymen... lend me your eyes...

    Wait, no. That's the wrong speech.


    Okay. Here it is....


    I've been holding on to this for a couple weeks now. Only my closest friends and loved ones found out before now...Okay so one or two others pulled it out of me. Most of you are just now finding this out.


    It is with GREAT joy that I announce my book MOURNING REIGN has been purchased by AWOCBOOKS and will be published by the end of 2009!!!!


    For those of you who are wondering what happens with the Mendez Family, your wait is nearly over!!!


    I have to thank EVERYBODY who stood by me over the past couple of years. This has NOT been an easy road to bring this book into existence!


    I'm not even going to bother trying to mention all the names. Invariably I'd forget somebody.

    But, I would like to say that I truly hope my Granny is watching. I love you, Granny. And I know I'm not always perfect, but I'm doing my best to make you proud! Keep me in line. I know right where the tupperware switch is if you need it!


    I'll give more details as I know them. For now, I just wanted to share the excitement with everyone!!!


    God bless!

Monday, 13 July 2009

  • It Happened That Way...

    It began with Mom and me driving in her Chevy Tahoe. I think we were going to Longview. We were on 300. I remember that much.

    As we always do when we're driving, Mom and I were chatting away. All of the sudden, she slams on the brakes, bringing the car to an almost instantaneous halt. It was by a sheer miracle of God that the towering SUV didn't tumble end over end from the inertial forces at work against it.

    "What the...?" was all I could get out, before gazing upon the sheet-white complexion that had washed over my mother's face.

    "Look!" she said, pointing to the road in front of us.

    I'm quite sure the color drained from my face as I, too, turned my gaze toward the road ahead.

    She was bathed in light. I never understood that saying until that moment, but that's exactly what it was. The light didn't shine on her. It was all around her. It was part of her and she was part of it. The only way to explain it is that one did not exist apart from the other. The Light was Granny and Granny was The Light.

    Her hair was in that famous "French Twist" which she loved so much for special occasions. She was dressed just the way she was on that fateful day in March when we said what was supposed to be our final goodbye for this life.

    "Granny!" The word escaped my lips before it fully registered in my brain.

    I don't know who started crying first, me or Mom, but I noticed we'd both begun to weep rather intensely as we both reached for our car doors.

    "Mom! What the heck?" I said, as we both fumbled with door knobs that seemed to have lost their function. Looking at Granny again, I exclaimed, "She looks so beautiful!" And she did too. The light seemed to take on a shimmering countenance, as if billions of tiny fireflies now danced in celebration of Granny's brief return to our world.

    Still fumbling with the doorknob, I let go a frustrated cry for help, before hearing one of the most beautiful sounds I've heard in a long time.

    "Will you be quiet!" Anyone that knows Granny can hear her say that. Her quaint little Texas accent was just as strong. In fact, it was as strong as I'd ever heard it. The wasn't the granny of my 30's. This was the Granny of my youth. This was the face I looked into on the night the storm was calmed. This was the powerful voice that taught me everything I know about God. Everything that Granny was, is and ever shall be stood before me -- before us -- in the middle of what was usually the busiest section of 300. (Oddly, not a car was in sight in either direction.)

    I'm sure it was mere seconds, a couple minutes at most. But Granny kept talking about how happy she was now. Several times, she told Mom and me that she was okay. She asked us to take care of Papa. (Okay, I started crying as I am writing that one... gimme a minute.)

    "You're doing so good," she told my mom. "And I love you for all you did for me."

    This is huge. My mom often claimed that Granny wasn't one to tell her she loved Mom. Now the boys? Oh they were her heart. Three sons and one daughter came from her loins, but Granny was definitely partial to the boys, or so I'm told.

    "Edward, I'm so very proud of you." When she said that, my heart sank. I truly felt like I was going to vomit. Vomit or pass out. I wasn't sure. "God has something great for you, Son. Just hang in there a little longer. Granny's prayin' for ya."

    Without warning, everything grew.... transparent? I can't really think of a different word. IT's like when you leave something in the sun too long and the color begins to fade from it. This is what began to happen to life all around me. The scene itself was still there, but the color seemed to be draining from everything.

    Granny flashed bright and then slowly began to fade herself.

    "Don't go!" I said, reaching out a hand, touching the windshield that stood between me and my beloved spirtiual mentor.

    "I'm okay. Don't worry about me. I'm so happy here!" It may sound cliche' to say it echoed, but it did. As the last firefly concluded its impromptu celebration, Granny faded from view.

    What was probably mere second later, I awoke in my bedroom, shaking, confused. Feeling not unlike that scared little boy, desperate for Granny to pray the storm away.

    Was it real? No, it was a dream. But was it real? That, I can't say for sure.

    What I know is, whether real or dream, I believe one thing is true. I believe that Granny is okay. I believe she's happy. And I believe that, more than anything, she'd want us all taking care of Grandpa. For all the boys that she may have loved in her life -- sons, brothers, cousins, grandchildren -- there was no boy like her "Paw." (Whom she also occasionally called "Daddy". Couples do that. As they get older, they become Mama and Daddy. It's how you separate the good marriages from the not-so-good ones.)

    What does God have in store for me? And will it be a "little while" or a long while? I don't know. Granny always did have a way with prophecy. Almost as much as her gift of prayer.

    But was it real?

    It's strange. Not even sure if it's all that fitting, but I am reminded of the final lines of Wyatt Earp (The Costner version) where Wyatt remarks about a story just told about him, "Some people say it didn't happen that way."
    "Never mind them, Wyatt," Josie commented. "It happened that way."

    Maybe it did. Only Granny and God know for sure, and in the light of day, neither one of them are talkin'



    Until Next Time, This blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by their buddy, number 2.

Friday, 03 July 2009

  • A hard man to love.

    I want to start out with a very simple declaration. I am, by no means, a celebrity. I've never been invited to the Playboy Mansion. I can't remember ever attending a hollywood movie premiere. To my knowledge, Perez Hilton's never blogged about me -- though admittedly, I'd be just fine if THAT never occured.

    Reality check. I'm a normal guy.

    Probably 90 percent of the people I meet on a daily basis actually understand that fact. But there are those who, for lack of a better term, get "star struck" by the "famous writer, Edward Hancock II." (*laughs at the very notion* I swear, ya publish a book or two and people get this idea in their heads...)

    In truth, I guess I'm no different than a truly "regular Joe." I meet all manner of people in my daily life. I meet people who want to help me become a better writer. I meet people who want to help me become a better man. I meet people who need my help. I meet people who don't know what they need or want, but just know that they think I'm cool. And then I meet people who want to (pardon my French) screw me over. They want to rob me of what they think I have and get so angry when they find out that I don't have 1/100th of what they think I have. They want to tear me down even as I am still laboring to ascend the mountain known as literary fame.

    You get the greedy folks who stick by you as long as the money holds out, which isn't very long in my line of work, believe me! LOL

    And of course, there's the tried and true folks. Those who knew me when I was just "Little Eddie in the sandbox with no legs." (Long story there... Just go with it.)

    The list of people I truly trust is not short by any means. I've known Steve, Shannon and Angie for more than 30 years each. I've known others more than 20. I've bled for some, sweat for most. Cried for, over and with dang near all of them. But the list of new people I meet and come to fully trust is.... well, almost non-existent.

    Fair? No. But it is reality. I am just not quick to trust anymore.

    Reality check number 2. Not to be a celebrity, I have one of the biggest CELEBRITY COMPLEXES imaginable.

    I have certain rules that I simply won't break. Those rules have deprived me of more than my share of would-be friends, but I can't change them. If somebody doesn't understand why I don't want to put my son's name and/or image on myspace, that's their problem, not mine. If somebody can't respect that 35 years of heartache is enough to damage anyone, well, so be it. Even with my meager "fame" I meet my share of leeches. I meet my fair share of people bent on my sadness and destruction every day. (I think the worst was when it came from my own family, but that's a story I don't feel like sharing.)

    I'm a hard man to get to know. I'm a hard man to get close to. I don't like letting folks in because, more times than not, I get hurt. Let me just say this right now. I don't want to get hurt anymore. Will it happen? Yeah. A life without pain is a life unlived.

    Still, I have to be cautious. I'm too old to just go throwing my heart out there for anyone who says they give a dang, but doesn't have the will power to back it up.

    Make no bones about it, I'm 35. I'm old, cranky and untrusting. But once I let you in...

    Ask anyone in my Myspace top 10. I'll die for you. I'll kill for you. I'll "Help you hide the bodies," so to speak. It takes hell getting in, but once you're in my heart, it's next to impossible to get out.

    In 35 years, many haven't stuck around that long. A great multitude have parted company once the illusion gave way to reality. Most have simply been too short-sighted. They see the wall they must knock down to get inside...and aren't willing to put in the work.

    Others have gone away, missed me and come back or simply lost touch and reconnected years later (Thanks to The internet!) These relationships are some of my most dear because in many cases I'd spent 10 years or more thinking about these people who'd taken a piece of my heart with them when Fate had forced us from one another's lives.

    "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's meant to be."

    I just asked one of my friends how she managed to get inside. I asked her what did she see in me that made her willing to do the work it took to get inside.

    Her response? "I guess I never thought of it as work. Work is hard. Being your friend has always been easy."

    (She is apparently sadistic, but that's a story for another blog! LOL)

    In fairness, my situation has changed a bit since she and I became friends. I do have a son now, which makes it even harder to make friends. If we're friends, chances are you're going to be around him at some point. What kind of influence are you going to be on him?

    Even if, as he recently suggested, he decides to give Kelly's new man a "real chance", I still love him and he's first and last in my heart. I love him enough to let him spread his wings, in the hope that the four winds will blow him back in my direction.

    In my house, in my life or not, he's in my heart to stay.

    Some might think that would only apply to the next woman I am dating. Understand that if he doesn't like her, she's gone. No questions asked.

    But any wannabe friend that puts my son at risk will be gone just as quickly.

    Is it worth the risk? Well, the payout is great. I'll never ask anything of you I'm not prepared to give myself. You show me you're willing to risk, I'll do my best to make dang sure your leap of faith does not end with you hitting the ground. I guess the larger question is not if the friendship is worth the risk but if I, Eddie Hancock, am worth it. Likewise, I must find myself asking are you worth it? What are you showing me that would make me trust you'll do for me as I will for you?

    Reality check number 3. I kinda purposely saved this for last. It very likely could have gone first, but it's my most powerful point, so I saved it for last.

    God.

    I love God more than my son.

    I can feel people blanching at that statement, but I know at least 2 parents off the top of my head who are nodding, going "me too."

    I love God as my Heavenly Father. Do I serve Him perfectly? No. I wish I did. But my desire is to serve God and not Man, period. I love my son, my family and my friends enough to labor to put God first -- though I am still learning to succeed more than I fail.

    I serve by praying for (and with) my friends and loved ones. I serve by attending worship and praise service. I serve by listening. I serve by doing my best to put some sort of Godly message in my blogs. I serve through patiently waiting on God's time.

    I serve Him in many ways too numerous to list here, but I serve Him first and foremost.

    Not all of my friends have the same level of faith in a Christian God that I do. I have friends that are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists... you name it, chances are I have a friend that is one.

    So, how do I do that? How do I balance my faith in God with a flourishing friendship to Atheists? Simple. In a word, respect.

    I'm passionate about my Christian beliefs and I blog about them. To date, I don't recall this friend replying to any Christian-themed blog, though admittedly I may be wrong on that. (I've been blogging since '05!)

    I'm reasonably sure I have not commented on his atheist-themed blogs, though I have read a few of them.

    We talk openly about our beliefs "in person" but we do not belittle one another or shove our agendas down each other's throats and we've been decent friends for going on 4 years now.

    So, what's the key? How do you open the door to Eddie? Well, it takes a while for it to get truly all the way open so that you can come all the way in. But it's actually kind of easy.





    Before Kelly left, she and I fought a lot. She was miserable. I was miserable. Then one day I was watching an episode of Joyce Meyer in which she recounted the story of the Prodigal Son. (Kelly was watching too.) But she recounted it rather uniquely. She recounted it from the perspective of the "other brother." The one that had been there the whole time, loyal and serving his father.

    "How can you do this?" he thought of his father. "He's been gone and now that he's back you want to prepare a feast for him?! What about me?! I've been here!"

    And so he probably sat outside and stewed the whole night. If he's like most siblings, he probably stewed for days and then went and peed in the guy's blankets just for good measure, but that's neither here nor there.

    The point is the party was going on whether the other brother came in or not. He just chose to miss out.

    As I sat there listening, a light bulb came on. I had become a dark person. I'd become a misery even unto myself. And so had Kelly.

    (We can argue fault all day long. The point is that we were miserable and something needed to be done.)

    Finally, I reached my breaking point. I told her "Look, we can't go on like this. We are both miserable and one of us has to stand up and say enough. From now on, I am throwing a party. The party's going to be at Pathway every Saturday night and it's going to be in this house every other day of the week. I'm throwing this party with or without you. A party to celebrate my return to God. If you want to attend, I am leaving the door open, but I am not going to sit outside and be miserable just because you don't want to come in."

    Sadly, she chose misery over me, though it would take months to unravel.

    I faced a choice. I could let myself unravel or I could continue to throw the party. (Honestly, try as I might, the "party" did take a bit of a hiatus for a while.)

    The reality is many people aren't willing to drop fear, pride or anger long enough to come inside, wherever the party. Those aren't the kind of friend I want or need.

    Like the saying goes, "Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option."

    So, to all wouldbe friends, all I can say is go ahead and come to the party. There's no guest list, but there is a dress code. You have to come dressed in love, honesty, patience and understanding.

    If you're willing to see it through to the end, the reward is only this. A friend like no other.
    The door is open. And I'm the one in the corner, looking just a tad bit lost in the sea of faces, but having a great time nevertheless!


    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2, all of whom hope to see you there.

     

     

Monday, 29 June 2009

  • On Michael Jackson

    He was born with talent. He was bred for fame. He was groomed for fortune. And he would deliver...



    Time after time, Michael Joseph Jackson, delivered entertainment to millions of adoring fans. Screaming teenage girls fell in love with Tiny Michael Jackson from the first moment he stepped on stage with his brothers. As if prophesying a song that was many years to come, fans came in all shapes, sizes, ages and, yes, color.



    When "Little Michael" stepped on the stage with his fresh-faced older brothers, a world of magic was created unlike that formed by any other group of the era. If you grew up during this time, you'll likely agree, the Jackson 5 absolutely stole the show when they stepped on stage...And out front? Little Michael. The shy little baby of the performing Jacksons. The one with the chops. The one with the talent. The starry-eyed dreamer whose "star" would outshine all of his brothers put together.




    Jackson's first solo effort came in 1980 with "Off The Wall," But it was his sophomore effort, Thriller, that would lend him the title "Prince of Pop." As album after album went multi-platinum, it was clear the prince had, in fact, become king...

    To satisfy uneasy fans of Elvis "The King of Rock N Roll" Presley, Michael was eventually dubbed "King of Pop", a title he would earn more times than any of us can dare count.

    His talent was obvious from a very young age. His determination grew as Little Michael matured from a boy into a man.

    But, though his body matured, Jackson's mind mysteriously languished in a childhood lost during his decades on stage.

    As the years moved on, Michael's performances remained the same, though his appearance seemed to change with every passing week. Suddenly, the child star we'd all grown up with had gotten just a tad bit eccentric for our tastes.

    Though most fought to keep giving him the earned title "King of Pop", most of the press began referring to him as "Jacko" which ultimately lead to the nickname "Wacko Jacko". Sadly, that name would follow him, quite literally, to his grave.

    How is it, some have asked that this:



    Becomes this:



    or even THIS:




    How is it the young boy from the picture at the top of this blog becomes the man in the shot immediately above these words? How is it the child becomes an accused pedophile?

    Oh how the mighty KING hath fallen...

    And the fans?

    As with anyone else that the fans helped build up in the past, we gleefully joined the most heinous act of tearing this star right out of the sky.

    I know, I know. This is where people chime in that he touched little boys.

    Hey, I'll give you that. I won't debate it except to say that he was accused, but never convicted of anything. He paid off one boy for a reported 20 million dollars, but many in the "Hollywood" circles and those closest to Michael are saying that the young boy inside the man wanted nothing more than to make the whole thing go away. That, even possibly innocent, he paid the family off in order to avoid the stress of a trial.

    Okay, let's use our common sense. That's about as logical as Rosie O'Donnell asking me out on a date. Fact is you don't pay off if you're innocent...

    Or do you?

    When you're tired, sad, depressed or just.... DONE.... well, you'll do just about anything to make the source of your stress disappear. When Kelly left, I was spent and I did just about anything I could to just let the thing end. I agreed to things I likely never would have if I'd had my full wits about me. Granted, I didn't give her 20 million bucks, but I gave up a lot more than I would have under different circumstances.

    Is it not possible that Michael -- The very busy King of Pop -- just wanted to make the whole thing go away? Is it possible that the boy's family were nothing more than extortionists bent on robbing Michael of either his money or his dignity?

    I didn't say that's how it was. I merely asked is it possible?

    So many people died in the passing of Michael Jackson. The young tot who used to crawl across the floor, desperate to sing with his brothers even before he could speak. The fresh-faced pre-teen thrust into a spotlight too small to share with his kin. The eager dreamer, desperate to prove he's not just the front man of a talented group of siblings. The superstar, Prince of Pop and, yes, The King, Michael Jackson. Finally, the
    one we called weirdo. The one we called "Wacko Jacko". The one we we helped drive to madness by our incessant desire to be in the presence of artistic greatness.

    Ed McMahon died of old age. David Carradine died of a horrible accident. Farrah Fawcett died after fighting bravely against cancer...

    But Michael? He died of something far worse.

    Michael Joseph Jackson died of a broken heart. He died confused. He died too scared to show that he, too, was human. He died too afraid to ask for help. He died loyal to his fans.

    Did he die a pedophile? I don't know. He may very well have. I concede that point without argument.

    But a little boy died that day. One that no amount of fame, fortune or fans could help.

    If we learn nothing from Michael Jackson's death, I pray we learn this. I pray we learn to celebrate what should be celebrated. Change what must be changed and help those who need help -- big or small, young or old and, yes, black or white.

    I miss your music, Michael. Any sins you took with you are now between you and God.

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Monday, 22 June 2009

  • Gosselin News (Jon and Kate, for those who don't know)

    ****Warning. If you do not want to read news updates on Jon and Kate Gosselin, please stop reading right now. ****






    (I MEAN IT! I won't ask you again!)


















    Okay so here it is. The news has come through and it's ALL OVER the internet by now. Most of you probably already know it. I am guessing I probably am not truly BREAKING news for many folks, but if I am, I'll rip the band-aid off.

    It appears that, after 10 years of marriage, Jon and Kate Gosselin have filed for divorce.

    http://www.popeater.com/television/article/jon-and-kate-gosselin-divorcing/537333?icid=main|main|dl2|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2Ftelevision%2Farticle%2Fjon-and-kate-gosselin-divorcing%2F537333

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/22/jon.kate.gosselin/index.html

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,528084,00.html

    For anyone who watches the show, this really comes as no small shock. The way the editors/directors paint Kate, it's a wonder Jon stayed in the relationship this long.

    Having said that, I want to go back to how I began that last thought. "How they paint Kate..." The FACT is that we just don't know how Jon or Kate really is in person. We don't know how they are when the cameras are off. Frankly, only their closest friends know how they were BEFORE the cameras came into being.

    Everybody wants to sit and analyze the scandal of Jon "stepping out" with some young gal or the mystery man seen with Kate at various locations.

    What bothers me is that the idiots in the media are uniformly forgetting about the 8 children who are now going to be shipped from home to home. The eight little souls whose singular identity as a family has now been shattered.

    Why is it that journalists are so bent on getting the story that they forget about the people BEHIND the story?

    When I was interviewed on Joan Hallmark's "Proud of East Texas", back in 2006, Mrs. Hallmark spent nearly an hour with me just talking. She asked me about my son. She looked through albums of pictures and asked me questions that had nothing to do with my book. She suggested putting a picture of my son in the feature. Not wanting to infringe on my son's privacy, I told her no. I said that I am the writer, not my son. At the time, he was an 8 year old boy, who deserved a chance to be a normal boy.

    When I was stalked and threatened a mere couple months later, I couldn't have been happier that Mrs. Hallmark respected my wishes not to display any pictures of my son.

    In the three years since, my son's childhood has been relatively normal. None of his friends even believed he was there until I went to the school and happened to confirm to them that my son, indeed, was present for the interview. After that, he was a celebrity in his own right and he never even got any "face time" to do it!




    Mady, Cara, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel.

    Eight names. Eight kids.... Eight PEOPLE.

    Perhaps it'd be good to repeat, "eight KIDS!"

    They are children. They are children whose parents have decided the glare of the spotlight is too much. They are children whose parents have decided the marriage they thought they wanted is no longer attainable. They are kids caught in the middle of a situation they never asked for.

    And, they are kids....

    So, I don't know how many so-called JOURNALISTS actually read my blog but I want to tell you, at least try to act like you're a person.

    How would you like it if I reported that your kid had failed his driver's test? What if I started telling the world that your wife had botox and sleeps with the gardener?

    WE are adults, but Mady, Cara, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel are not. And even when they are over 18, they are still people. And, I don't care if they're 80, they'll always be the Gosselin kids.

    We need to start thinking with our heads AND our hearts... it's not a matter of either or... it's not a question of one or the other. Until we can think with both, we are only half human. Everybody wants to talk about their "right to know."

    Let me say this about your RIGHT to know what's going on in the Gosselin household.

    The moment those cameras shut of, YOUR right to know goes away...PERIOD!

    Some say "Well THEY put their lives on camera. That gives me the right to know."

    Okay, sure. But it doesn't give you the right to intrude in an area they would like to keep private.

    This divorce should NOT play out in the media. And I hope it doesn't. I TRULY hope it doesn't. I truly hope that Jon and Kate are able to peacefully and respectfully resolve their differences. I TRULY hope that they are able to reach a resolution that will allow the kids to have as normal a life as possible. But the only way that's gonna happen is if the media shuts up... NOW!

    Leave them alone. Let the kids heal. Let them come to understand that Mommy and Daddy won't be living together anymore, and that it's not their fault.

    Let them find their way in this new world.

    And support them...encourage them.

    Love them, as you'd want the world to love your children.

    And if you can't, you are a horrid person. And I pity you almost as much as I pity the 8 Gosselin children caught in the middle of the media circus.

    God, please protect them.

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

  • Memories of him

    I can still remember the sound of his tiny feet shuffling into my bedroom that first morning. I wasn't asleep, but it was 7:00 a.m. I was going to pretend to be asleep even if it killed me.

    Still unsure of himself and his new surroundings, he reached the foot of the bed and stood there. "Mom!" he whispered, going around to Kelly's side of the bed. She was either not pretending or just a better actor than I, because she didn't move.
    "MOM!" He whispered, this time with more urgency. I felt his four-year-old body shake the bed Ever so gently. He didn't want to wake up Mommy's friend. We'd barely known one another 5 days by then.

    A third call and an attempt to shake his mom awake met with failure.

    Courage. You could almost feel him trying to muster it. His mind had to be filled with all sorts of insecurities. He knew he was going to have to wake up this strange fellow.

    Again, feet shuffling. He bumped the foot of the bed only once. I faked like I was stirring and he stopped dead still. I had to bite my lip to keep from letting go of a laugh.

    "Eddie!" he finally whispered.
    "hmmm?" I said, not opening my eyes, though by this time I was nothing if not fully awake.
    "Eddie, it's morning time!"

    It's one of those phrases that, when read, means little to the reader. But when you are the one looking back on a moment seven years in the past, it's an all-too-bittersweet sound that radiates through you.

    Simple words. It's morning time.

    They seem so long ago. He called me Eddie then, not Dad. And it was morning time.

    (As opposed to night time... I should also point out that "yesternight" was the antithesis to "yesterday". It's funny what bugs you at the time is the very thing you eventually wind up missing when your child grows up.)

    "Yeah," I answered. It was, indeed, morning time.

    "Can you put on my movie?" He had this movie called "I love big machines." It was all about construction vehicles. If he wasn't watching old episodes of Monster Jam, chances are, he was watching I Love Big Machines.

    And so I did. Reluctantly, I rose from the bed, half cursing Kelly for the sound sleeper (or great actress) she was.

    As I put the tape in the vcr, he hopped on the couch. (And by "hopped" I mean just that. He leapt onto the couch as if he were a teeny tiny bunny rabbit.

    When Kelly came out later, the hopping had ceased. Just as he'd done the first moment he met me, my son had found his way into my lap where he curled up to watch his movie before dozing off.

    She came in the room and had the strangest look on her face. I'm guessing it probably matched the "what the heck?" look that had crawled its way onto mine.

    It's strange how two people can so instantly bond. Looking back, I believe I was "dad" even then. In deed if not yet in word.

    Seven years has brought about a lot of changes since the first time I held that tiny tot. He's 11 now. His voice hasn't changed, but his features sure have. The chipmunk cheeks that I fell in love with, the first moment I saw them... they're gone now. Gone is all his baby fat. Gone are the 4 year old questions, replaced by questions that are becoming increasingly deep and philisophical.

    He's a little man now more than ever. On his way to becoming a big man.

    In the last seven years, I haven't missed a day of it. Looking back, I see times when I was so focused on discipline or on "parenting" that I missed the chance to just enjoy him.

    That makes it all the more difficult now that he's gone. Now that Kelly has taken him and moved him an hour away, I miss out on so much. I get him occasionally, sure. But What about those days when he's not here?

    His first date. His first car. The endless practices he's going to have if he truly decides to join band next year. The screeching sound of a 12 year old trying desperately to learn a new thing. I am going to miss it all.

    So many memories.

    Such precious little time.

    They look like big, good, strong hands, don't they... I always thought that's what they were." Rockbiter -1984

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

  • The Meaning

    It's been a while since I posted what I consider a truly meaningful blog. To be honest, maybe this one doesn't break that trend. I don't know really. Guess I'll leave that up to my readers eh?

    Things in my life have really been weird lately. Most of you know I started physical therapy a couple months back. I'm down about 30 or 40 lbs since starting, which is actually pretty phenomenal given that I only go twice a week.

    What most of you don't know is that I moved out of my duplex and moved in with my dad recently. It's a long story, but the short version is that Kelly and I were out of love long before the relationship ended. We had been "room mates" for some time and it is for the best that we moved forward.

    Of course, the hard part is my son being caught in the middle. That's a weird situation. Some of my long-time readers know the deal. Some newer ones may not. Long story short, my son is, technically, my step-son. I inherited him at the age of four when I started seeing Kelly. Seven years later, he's as much my son as if it were my blood running through his veins.

    Not getting to see him is definitely the hardest part of my day. I can survive anything, but as I said to a friend, If Super Dad has a weakness, that boy is my Kryptonite.

    He's only 11. There's so much of his life I'm going to miss, or see second hand, in pictures. I don't want to be "weekend dad" but what choice do I have, really?





    Of course, there's the crowd that says "He's just your step... let him go and get on with your life." To them, I say you've probably never spent 7 years of your life giving and receiving the purest form of love that exists in the natural world.

    Why would I walk away? I'm a better man than that. I made a promise to that boy and I keep my promises....or die trying.

    But how can I keep the promise to always be there for him? I can't be there for him. I am not the one tucking him in at night anymore. (Not that he really needs that anymore... he's 11. Far too big to be "tucked in!!" According to him anyways.)

    It's weird trying to start my life over when half of my heart is gone.

    My thoughts are crazy muddled. Sometimes I still can't reconcile the empty bed, bookshelves and closet where his stuff should be. There are nights I go to bed and I pass by "his" room, half tempted to open the door just to see if he's there.

    My son is not there. He's gone. And part of me is lost.

    Don't get me wrong, I am doing a good job of moving forward with my life, I guess. I go to church, talk with friends. I go to work, the store and physical therapy. I breathe in, breathe out. I even manage to smile, but I won't go into that right now. It actually feels strange to smile. I didn't smile much in the last few years and everyone around me notices the smile. It's new, but in a way it's not "brand new." It's me again really. It's Eddie. It's Eddie before relationships went sour. It's Eddie before Granny died. It's Eddie before years of medical trouble and physical trauma.

    Eddie's been buried for a while. But in the past few months, I've really been making strides. In the last few months, I've really started coming back to me. It's nice, but it's strange at the same time. I've been a butthole so long, I don't know what to do with my newfound happiness. I don't know what to do with my smile. I don't know what to do with the excitement I feel at losing weight and taking more steps at physical therapy. Granny's gone. My friends are all busy with their lives. And my son lives in another town an hour away.

    Do you see my conundrum yet? I have a new attitude. I have a renewed sense of self-worth. I have a renewed sense of purpose. I have energy. I have hope. And yet, I have no one to share that with. (Well.... sort of, but again, I won't go into that.)

    I'm sailing those uncharted waters I wrote about in an earlier blog. I still hit the occasional rock, but I'm sailing nevertheless.

    But I'm sailing fearfully. And I'm staying near the shore. I'm afraid to lose sight of the shore because on the shore is where my son is. I am very conflicted. But even if I look at the shore, I don't see my son. I know that's where he is. I just don't see him. And so I'm kind of nervous about treading too far from shore. What if he comes looking for me and I have gone out to sea? What if he comes to find me and I'm off doing something else?

    I'm stuck in two worlds. One that doesn't know I'm coming and one that wonders why (and where) I've gone.
    I guess for now I'll take whatever I can get. He's out if school for summer so maybe I don't have to be "weekend dad" entirely.



    I've posted the above songs on facebook, but I don't recall ever posting them here, at least not in a blog.

    I don't know what the future holds. I don't know what his days will be like. I don't know with what his time will be filled. But I know that I no longer have a say in his daily life. What kind of man will he become and will he resent me for not being there as he makes that journey?



    That's my job. And I can't do it anymore.

    I love you, son. Daddy loves you so much!

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Friday, 05 June 2009

  • THE NEW PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

    In Light of Obama's declaration that we are not a Christian Nation but a Muslim one, I have decided the time has come to re-write the Pledge of Allegiance.

    Everybody stand. Men, remove your turbans, Women, keep your burkha's on, you sinful dogs you!

    Now, if you can, repeat after me...

    "I Pledge allegiance..."

    (waits for the repeat)


    "To the flag..."
    (waiting)

    "of the United States of Obama..."

    (Again, waits as the lemmings repeat it...)

    "And to the Islamic Republic...To which we've converted..."

    (Waits)

    "One Nation... Under Allah.... Unbelievable... With Tyrany and Injustice For All..."


    Kiss my ass, Obama! This is a Christian Nation! Love it or Leave it!!!!

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2....

    (and any comments flaming me or this great CHRISTIAN nation will be deleted!)

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

  • It's hard sometimes

    Being born with spina bifida, it's hard to do certain things that, frankly, are easy for others to do. I didn't say impossible, mind you. Just difficult.

    Recently, at the SBANT conference, I made the statement that if I wanted to put in the work, I believed I could replace Tom Brady as the starting QB for the Patriots. Or Tony Romo for you Cowboy fans out there.

    I said basically that if I was willing to lose the sleep, work my butt off and practice till my eyeballs bled, I could do it. When it's all said and done, victory goes to the one that wants it the most. The one who's willing to prepare and struggle and sacrifice the most in the pursuit of their goal.

    When Michael Phelps won 8 Gold Medals at the 2008 Olympics, the world stopped! Superman had descended from the Great Beyond and come to save planet Earth!

    What most people don't know is that Michael Phelps wasn't necessarily the most gifted athelete in that pool. (Maybe he was... I said he wasn't NECESSARILY the most gifted). Michael Phelps, more than anything, was simply the most prepared. The most determined. And, in at least one of those races, just dang lucky!

    I'm not generally very lucky. In love, in business or in life, Luck is not a commodity of which I have in abundance. I've never been "lucky" with the ladies. By and large, I'm wayyyyy too shy to approach a woman in a social setting, which drastically hinders my love life. I'm not one to approach people to make friends and when I'm doing book signings, though I enjoy the living heck out of them, It's very difficult for me to talk to strangers. It doesn't matter what the setting, I find myself asking "are they talking to me or the chair? As luck generally has it, they're talking to the chair. But if I can ever get them to listen to ME for 5 minutes, they usually see a man of decent intelligence, wit and maybe even a bit of charm. I've caught more agent and editor interest from face to face interviews at conferences than I have sending out literally hundreds of queries and submission packets!

    Preparation? That's another story all together. In "Love", I've wanted to be in an actual relationship since I was 14. I've been "Preparing" for "forever" my entire life. I never get into a relationship to "See if it will work." I go in determined to make it work, no matter how hard life gets. And BELIEVE ME, lilfe gets pretty hard when you have Spina Bifida! But honestly, no matter what's come my way, I've always SOARED from the ashes and flown with the eagles. Sometimes it might take me a little longer to rise than somebody else, but Ed always rises. Period! Even when I crash and burn, I DO rise from those ashes.

    Why? Because I won't let myself stay down. In love, in Life, In Business, I won't stay down for long. I can't live that way. I just can't.

    In 35 years, too many people have doubted me. Too many people have given me up for worthless. It's amazing what a little unbelief can do to motivate a person.

    I have many goals in life, most of which remain unachieved.
    The first would be to see my son grow into a good man. He's already well on his way.
    The second would be a publishing career that can sustain myself and a family.
    The third would be said aforementioned family. To find a mate or partner even CLOSE to that of Proverbs 31 would be a blessing.
    Last, but certainly not least, I want to make it to Heaven so that I can see Granny again.

    There are other goals, of course, but these have long been the top of the heap. (I've wanted to go to Heaven even before Granny died. Now, I have even more of a reason...)

    It's hard sometimes, not because of my own faith or lack thereof but for the faith others seem to lack in me.

    Having said that, my life is not without those who believe in me. Heck the list of believers is a mile long! While their love and support is appreciated and, in its own way, motivating, honestly it is the doubters that have shaped more of who I am. Because they've done something, perhaps without meaning to, that you just shouldn't do.

    They've dared me.

    Luck? Don't need it.
    Preparation? PPFFFFT! I think I was born ready!
    Determination? Check, Check and DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE check!

    I'm determined to have a good life, despite all the world seems to throw at me. Why? Because I deserve it.

    How do I know?

    Simple. I heard Joel Osteen say this and I don't think I've ever really been so blown away. He said that believers needn't be worried when Satan is attacking. They should be worried when he's NOT attacking. Why? If he's attacking, it means he's scared. If he's not attacking, it means you're not moving. You're not making forward progress. You're stuck right where he wants you....outside of God's will.

    This year has been one of SUPERIOR attacks on my life. Until about a month ago, when I heard that profound word, honestly I wanted to give up. Honestly, I was ready to throw in the towel and just say to heck with it. I was ready to quit.

    Now?

    I'm ready all right. I'm ready to take on the world.

    Because on the other side of this is the life I've always wanted. And nothing in Hell or on EARTH is going to prevent me from having all that I've always wanted!

    On the other side of this is the job and financial situation I want.
    On the other side of this is the touring and travel that I want.
    On the other side of this is the respect and admiration I want.
    On the other side of all this is the family I want.

    I do wonder something though. Let's say I never marry again. Say I go to my grave never having the romantic love of another. What happens to those people in Heaven? Are they given a Heavenly spouse? Hmmmm....
    Dibs on Jessica Alba!

    Until next time, this rambling "Garbage Dump" blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Tuesday, 26 May 2009

  • My Freaking Faith in God!

    (I would love to have seen the look on Angie's face when she read that title! LOL!)

    I have faith in God. I believe The Bible is God's word, breathed into LIFE. I believe that God's word is true and infallible.

    Furthermore, I believe in the power of prayer. One thing my Granny left me was many pieces of evidence where the faith of even one can move mountains....or in Granny's case, thunderstorms.

    What Granny didn't leave me is her confidence in God. Or maybe that's not correct to say. I'm her grandson. I was witness to her courage and her confidence. She left in with me in her everyday actions. It's in my memory.

    What it's not is in my character.

    It would be a lie to say I don't have courage. I do. I've faced many things in my life that most people don't have to face. (Few of them have made it into an actual blog, but some have.) I faced having a pituitary tumor with courage. Scared witless, yes, but knowing that God can carry me through anything. I faced losing not one but two spouses and the unspoken issues that brought it about.

    I've faced the likelihood I'll never walk again, battling on to prove everyone wrong. And I've faced a publishing industry that has been anything but receptive to what I have to offer.

    I've fought battles and I've won. I've fought others and, yes, lost. But the point is I have fought. I have fought courageously...Sort of.

    You see, I have a saying. Not really sure where I got it, but I know it's not an Eddie Original. That saying is "Courage is not the absence of fear. It's the management of it!"

    So, in the spirit of full confession, while it is arguably true that I have waged my wars courageously, I have also waged many if not all of them out of fear.

    Fear is a great motivator. And, despite the great FDR's statement that fear was all Americans HAD to fear after Pearl Harbor, I personally feel as if fear in and of itself is nothing of which to be afraid. Quite the contrary, I believe what FDR was trying to say was that we can't let fear overtake us. We can't let fear conquer us because then we'll be twice conquered. First by fear, then by our physical enemy or, in most of my cases, my circumstances.

    Recently, I found myself faced with a decision.

    Without going into detail, it was a matter of questioning the heart. Was my heart willing to believe something it had never once even considered? Was I willing to cast aside all I've ever known to explore the absolute unknown? The chances for pain were so great! There were so many rocks onto which my ship could be tossed as I set sail on the stormy seas of this uncharted water.

    So many things could go wrong. And chances are at least half of the ones I thought of would go wrong while another 100,000 I never considered would crop up along the way. That's the way of life, is it not?

    I wanted to sail this sea, however. Risk is a part of life and as scared as I was, this was a risk I truly felt I had to take.

    Problem is I'm a very impatient guy, even when traversing very familiar waters. I want to "GET THERE!" It's taken a lot of years to learn to enjoy even parts of the journey.

    I have to admit, I can't see land. It's not too late to turn back, but I don't see myself doing that. Once I set sail, I don't generally set back. I've come back defeated, but I don't generally run in fear.

    Well, actually I do run in fear, but that running happens before the voyage ever gets under way.

    You see, as I stand there preparing for my voyage, I am looking at the map of life. I am looking out at all the possibilities. I am going over every Moby Dick I've encountered, wondering what unknown creature seeks to stall my journey. I consider every wrong turn I've made, reviewing them countless times so as not to make those same mistakes in these waters.

    And then it happens...

    It's not a surprise. It always happens this way. I prepare. I get determined. I get ready to set sail. I even load up on the ship...

    And then I realize...

    I am not ready. I can't do it. I'm not up to the task. I'm too weak. Too untested. I'm just not the one meant to sail these waters.

    (Am I losing you? Ah well, stick with me. I'm getting somewhere I swear!)

    You see, this is how I am in life. I load up on the ship, ready to set sail on whatever adventure life has for me... only to realize I don't have my compass! I've loaded the ship, but I forgot my clothes!

    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
    Ephesians 6:10-17

    I've always had it backwards, yanno? I guess maybe it's only been in the last year that I've even known the right way to start out on a journey. Of course, knowing and doing are two different things.

    My old way is as follows:

    1) Get a journey (important, right? LOL)
    2) Map out the journey in detail
    3) Set sail, declaring you are doing so in faith!
    4) Stop, look around, realize you're nowhere near land...
    5) Panic.
    6) Turn to God
    7) Worry
    8) Hope that I didn't turn to God too late.
    9) Arrive at a different destination than first planned OR arrive back where I started... if I get lucky, I arrive somewhere NEAR where I planned, but that doesn't happen often!

    My new way is, if the truth be told, kind of a work in progress. I've kind of outlined the procedure thus:

    1) Receive a journey (Note the important change of wording?)
    2) Freak out about all the uncertainties.
    3) attempt to plan the whole journey out under my own power.
    4) realize I am not the captain and need to just get on board
    5) Pray
    6) Panic
    7) Pray some more. Maybe even read some scripture.
    8) Put on Patience, Peace, Faith, etc, knowing that the boat's already left the docks!
    9) wait...

    As I said, it's a work in progress.

    Last night, I can say I reached step five. I'm hoping to skip step six, knowing that after the marathon prayer session, I might very well have gone straight to step seven.

    This puts me at step 8.

    Putting on patience, peace, faith.... the FULL armor of God.

    Okay, I'm working on it.

    In the meantime, if somebody sees a white whale approaching, warn me! I'm not dressed for battle and I don't think making the whale laugh at the sight of my half-naked body is a good strategy here!

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Saturday, 23 May 2009

  • Buddy Speaks! (New and Improved!)


    Hello Human People!!!

    Is me, Buddy Bear, who is dog. Still think is part cat, but Daddy say is Dog. Daddy does not lie to Buddy Bear. May be complete nutjob, but is not liar.

    Am coming to human people from new home. Me and my brothers, J.J., Oscar and Emmitt left old home. Have been being in new home with Daddy of My Daddy. Think that makes Daddy of My Daddy Buddy' Granddaddy, but not sure. Have to look up human word.

    Buddy like new home. Outside is much bigger than old home and Buddy does not have to wear leash. Is free to run through entire outside. Can not go through gate though. Not sure why, but Daddy get mad at Buddy bear when explore other outside. Is so big! Will have to convince Daddy to let Buddy explore. Have never seen so much outside!

    Not like cars, though. Cars everywhere. Daddy says Granddaddy has something called neighbors. Buddy not like Neighbors. Neighbors have cars. Remind Buddy of childhood. Was hit by car in childhood. broke leg. Is not fun memory...

    Oh, a leaf!

    Where was Buddy? Oh yes, leafs....

    Wait, no. Was talking about outside.

    Buddy love outside!

    Granddaddy have two other dogs outside. Outside dogs don't come inside like Buddy Bear. Not sure why. Might have pooped on floor or something. Have not asked outside dogs, mostly because will not talk to Buddy Bear. Am not friends. Have tried, but outside dogs are bullies. Make fun of Buddy Bear's handicap. Can not help having no tail. Was born without tail. Outside dogs make fun of no tail. But Buddy is smart.

    Buddy come inside then stick tongue out while looking through clear door.

    Buddy is good dog. Granddaddy says so. Granddaddy love Buddy. Granddaddy is okay. Give food to Buddy. Scratch Buddy ears. Play fetch with Buddy.

    Granddaddy not too fond of brothers. Buddy tell them not to get on table. Humans not like cats on table. Still remember when Daddy came to old home and found Buddy on table.

    What was that? YIKES! Was only stomach growling. Am hungry.

    Where was Buddy?

    Oh yes. Was about to talk about Daddy.

    Daddy is happy. Gets sad sometimes. Cries when thinking of someone called "Granny". Not sure who Granny person was, but think must have died. Daddy miss Granny person very much.

    Not sure what happened to Mommy person. One day there. One day not. Little person come to new home, but does not stay. Is confusing to Buddy Bear.

    *Scratch scratch scratch*

    Buddy hate fleas.

    *Yawn!*

    Buddy is sleepy. Must nap.

    Will write more when Granddaddy lets Buddy use computer.

    Not sure about Granddaddy's computer. Is called laptop. Buddy have no lap.

    Am sad. Need lap.

    AAAAAAAAAH! What was noise? *sigh* Is Oscar getting on table again.

    Must remember to bite Oscar later.

    What was that!?

    Oh, tummy growl again.

    Is time to eat.

    Love you, Human People!

    Live well and be happy!

    If you have a tail, wag it. If you don't, just smile. Makes Daddy wonder what am up to!

Thursday, 21 May 2009

  • One of the best videos I've seen this week! (HILARIOUS!)

    I'm a HUUUUUUGE Temptations fan, but when I saw this, my appreciation went to another level entirely! This is just nothing short of spectacularly HILARIOUS! You almost forget that the song is really meant to be a "love song" or a song of "love lost". Whatever you want to call it. Either way, the video is just PERFECT in its insane genius!




    And with that, W, E, H and 2 would like to thank you again for visiting our bloggy home!

Monday, 18 May 2009

  • I just slipped and fell into the Generation Chasm!

    We've all heard about the "Generation Gap". It's that all-too-present lack of understanding from one generation to the next. It usually starts the first time you utter the words "These kids today!" Or "Turn that darn music down!" Of course, there's also the one phrase I swore I'd never utter: "When I was your age..."

    Since becoming a father, I've slowly realized just how far I've fallen into this deep generational chasm of life. I don't understand so many things, whether it's the guys wearing belts with pants that are pulled down exposing half of their buttcracks or underwear, or the liberal media's attacks on traditional social values. As with generations before me, I feel as if I am so far behind the times. Stuck between a deep desire to hang on to my fundamental values and the societal pressures to "get with it."

    And so it was with my 11 year old son that I realized just how far his Papa is behind the 2009 times. Or maybe I'm right. Maybe my father and grandfathers before me we right. Maybe it does just boil down to.... *sigh*.... "darn these kids today!"

    Here. You be the judge.

    So, we're riding around in the car some weeks back. As we normally do, we were jamming out to popular music from the 80's and 90's... which is to say I was jamming out. He was probably sitting there just praying for some song by Rhianna or Kelly Clarkson. LOL Okay not really. My son actually likes 80's and 90's music. Occasionally I'll turn past a song from the 80's and he'll go "Dad! that was (insert random song here)" Lord help my eardrums if I should accidentally turn past the 60's legends The Temptations. (What can I say? I've trained him well!)

    On this particular day, a familiar guitar riff came on the radio. One that, oddly, he'd never heard in 7 years.

    dire straits

    Dire Straits. Money For Nothing. "I want my MTVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV....."

    Back in a day when songs were catchy and completely amazing in their cheesiness.

    As the song drew to a close, my son looked at me, still happily bobbing my head to the beat. (no, I was not doing the cabbage patch. I was driving for pete's sake!)

    "Dad?"

    "Yeah, Son?"


    "What's MTV?"

    *twitch twitch*

    As I fought to find my breath and regain control of the car, I couldn't help but ponder my son's question. MTV is still on. In fact, it's on in more places now than in any other time in history. There's also VH1, CMT etc. And my son, I thought, had watched this with me.

    Still, it was a good fifteen seconds before I was able to compose myself enough to answer. Who doesn't know about MTV? Who doesn't remember Girls just wanting to have fun or that chick named Rio who danced upon the sand.


    Who doesn't remember the days when Motley Crue went "Home Sweet Home" and Winger lamented that she was old enough at 17. For crying out loud, am I the only one who remembers the Gloved One when he actually had a nose, not to mention some level of respectable coolness!?

    "Let's Hear It For The Boy."
    "Take My Breath Away."
    "Cruel Summer."

    More than just movies made these songs hits!!

    And so I turned to MTV. What was once ripe with hours of videos presented by a person called a VeeJay, was now filled from top to bottom with infomercials, reality tv, documentaries and the occasional pointless countdown show, geared at call-in viewers. Where were the videos? Where was Weird Al's latest parody? Where was the latest KISS tome? Where was the hot new crossover artist trying to make her way in the music biz?


    I often wondered what I would say to my kids. I couldn't say that age old "walked to school in 5 feet of snow, uphill both ways..." cliche'. I always thought I'd simply lament "I remember when we had to get up to change the channel!"

    But, no. Time and technology have provided me with my story.

    I remember Bob Pittman's greatest creation. In fact, I remember the day it debuted. In fact, I was watching as the first song played was "Video Killed the radio star."

    Alas, perhaps the song was wrong. Video did not kill the radio star. The internet has simple put MTV in ICU.


    And this is where I leave you, dear readers. Stuck in the past, where I was on that fateful day my beloved son reminded me of just how long ago I, too, was an innocent 11 year old boy making odd faces as my mother talked of families gathering around something called a "radio".

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

  • Ben Franklin was WRONG!

    (Well If you're reading that title and you've opened the blog, there's a 75 percent chance you're one of my patriotic buddies, likely thinking I've gone and lost my marbles. While I can't speak to my collection of marbles, I can say that I have not gone nuts.)

    Ben Franklin was a jack of many trades. Politican, inventor, ambassador, statesman and writer are just a few of the hats Franklin wore in his life.

    Another, if somewhat unintended, hat was that of thinker or philosopher. His words, spoken in the 17th century are still used today in motivational speeches, programs and even church sermons. And one of his most famous quotes goes something like this:

    Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

    I don't know about you, but I read Franklin's short but profound statement and I find myself awestruck by the clarity of life carried on that simple statement. The fact is he has a point...or does he?

    Some of you may know (but most of you probably don't) that Kelly recently left me. I have purposely chosen not to write about it, out of respect for my son, and will not break that here, except to say that her leaving helped set the stage for what turned out to be a startling discovery. The discovery of which I speak is that, in fact, the undoubtedly wise Franklin was, in fact, wrong when he hung such glorious outcome on such simple an act as going to bed and getting out of bed at certain times.

    You see, after Kelly left, the reality is the house was all too quiet. Even with Buddy and the cats, there just wasn't the all-important noise of the family. That said, I began to go to "bed" earlier and earlier. By the time I left the duplex to move into my new digs, I had reached 9:00 as an acceptable bedtime.

    Dutifully, I rose at 6:00 every morning and went about my daily living, no healthier, more wise and certainly not wealthier than before. Ben Franklin goofed, I thought to myself, as I pondered that statement while attempting to drift off to sleep.

    Or had he?

    Let's look at that statement again, shall we? Only, this time I'm going to put more emphasis on a key word or two:

    Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise


    You see, all too often, Humans miss the intent when our generally simple brains tend to analyze the words of the truly gifted thinker. We look at the above statement and, without benefit of my highlight, miss the point entirely!

    Go to bed early. Get up at the crack of dawn. Do the same things you've been doing over and over to ruin your life. You will be neither healthier, wealthier or wiser. However, well, let me pull a quote from The Bible. It makes the point quite succinctly:

    When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (1 Cor 13:11)

    Now do you see it? Is it as clear to you as it was to me? It isn't what you do at bed time or at waking time. It isn't 9:00 p.m. or 6:00 a.m. that matter. It's what you do with the time from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m or from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. These are the things that will make a person healthy, wealthy and wise. Why? because it comes down to how you think. It comes down to maturity. Are you a grown up or are you still speaking and reasoning as a child? If you are, how can you expect to become healthy, wealthy and wise? You can't!

    And so, my friends, I leave you -- I hope -- a little wiser. With a little help from my old friend Ben, maybe someday the world truly can be a better place.

    But if a man (or woman) desires wisdom, let him (or her) understand that he (or she!) must reach depths of their own human soul they never knew existed.

    Until next time, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Friday, 08 May 2009

Thursday, 07 May 2009

  • Theme song(s) for the next phase of my life

    There's been a lot going on in my life recently. Some I've written about, some... well, not so much.

    Needless to say, life hasn't exactly been easy for ol' Ed recently. I've needed to recharge my batteries for sometime. There've been a few energy boosts along the way, but no real energy charge if I'm going to be honest. I have just been on the verge of quitting. Closer than I've ever been before... and if you know me, you know that SUCKS!

    So, in the midst of all life's upheaval, I began to do the weirdest thing. I became addicted to stuff. Don't get ahead of me. I'm not talking drugs or anything. For whatever reason, I became addicted to things that aren't really all that unhealthy for me. (though admittedly they can become that way if a person lets them.)

    First, I have become addicted to Altoids!



    Oh man! You gotta love those little mints in that convenient little tin container. Is there a better set up for guaranteed fresh breath? I think not!

    I challenge anyone to pop a couple Altoids and stay in a bad mood! (If you pop more than 3 at a time, you'll be lucky if you stay CONSCIOUS but that's another story I won't go into right now because I don't come out so well in it! LOL)

    My second addiction is a bit less on the benign side, but fun nevertheless. It's that little thing called Youtube! Oh man have you seen the things they have on there? Everything from a dog barking "Mama" to that British gal from Britain's Got Talent. Old school funk to today's music! Legends of the industry to every undiscovered person known to man. The plain and the pointless to the profound and poignant. It can all be found on Youtube. Why, if a man wanted to, he could darn near find his purpose in those little 5 minute videos, but I digress.

    For me, I won't go as far as to say I found a purpose on Youtube, but I have definitely found direction again. I found what I am calling the theme songs for the next phase of my life, however long that may last.

    As I approach what would've been Granny's 87th birthday, I'm reminded of something very important. She would not want me to stay down forever. There is a season for mourning and then we must live again.




    "I want to live again! I want to live again!"

    (That's not one of my theme songs. I just couldn't resist the tie-in! I LOVE this movie!)

    I love many different styles of music so there are many songs that could, in one way or another, relate to my life. Next week, I may find a whole list of songs that better suit me than the two I'm about to post here. But, in the meantime, these songs have been speaking to me for days. I really feel how they relate to what's forthcoming.

    And so, without anymore stalling, I present you with my mission in song.








    I'm a writer. Is it any wonder I'd choose this song as the purpose for the next phase of my life? (The actual "videos" featuring Ms. Bedingfield have all had the embedding disabled, but here, the advantage is you can see the words and, hopefully, feel the meaning. However, you can view the video at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGlvZ3uYRB0 )

    And so, I leave you with thoughts of a great future ahead. A future in which I blog about one of our forefathers, Ben Franklin. Turns out, he was wrong... or perhaps just misquoted.

    Until then, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

Monday, 04 May 2009

  • We ARE a Christian Nation, President Obama! DEAL with it!

    (I got this in my e-mail this morning. I could not have done a better job at this if I'd researched it myself.)


    President Barack Obama said in Turkey : "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

    I  found this very interesting.  
    Do you know the Preamble for your state? . . 

    Be sure to read the message at the bottom!

    Alabama 1901, Preamble
    We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
    Alaska 1956, Preamble
    We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
    Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

    Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

    California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

    Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

    Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in  permitting them to enjoy.

    Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...

    Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

    Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

    Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.

    Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

    Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

    Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.

    Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the St ate of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.

    Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.

    Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..

    Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

    Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.

    Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

    Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction 

    Michigan 1908, Preamble.   We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.

    Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:

    Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

    Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution... 

    Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...

    Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .. Establish this Constitution.

    Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

    New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

    New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

    New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..

    New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

     North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...

    North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

    Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.

    Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this

    Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences

    Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....
     
    Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

    South Carolina, 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
    South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ...

    Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...

    Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God. (Eddietor's Note: We were a republic before the United States joined with us. Maybe the time has come to be a republic again!)

    Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.

    Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..

    Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other

    Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution

    West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...

    Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...

    Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution... 
     

    After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!   If you found this to be 'Food for thought' send to as many as you think will be enlightened as I hope you were.


    (Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.)

     


    (EDDIETOR's Note: But I, for one, am tired of folks telling me I CAN'T Worship God! I CAN AND I WILL! I know not what OTHERS may do, BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE we shall SERVE The Lord!)


    With that, this "Forwarded type blog" (not an Eddie Original) is never the less brought to you with the willful cooperation of the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

     

     

Friday, 01 May 2009

  • SBANT Conference: What a Ride!

    My loyal readers will undoubtedly remember I was scheduled to speak at the 2009 Spina Bifida Conference near Dallas, Texas. It was for the Spina Bifida Association of North Texas, or SBANT if you prefer. Needless to say, the weekend of April 16 and 17 was a wild emotional ride for ol' Edward!

    It stormed most of the way to Dallas. We had to pull over 3 times. Finally, my son and I took a lesson straight out of Granny Gann's playbook. While pulled over, we joined hands and prayed. We prayed and prayed for God to move the storm. Lo and behold, as soon as we said "Amen" the storm began to subside. Truly, I was amazed. Though, not as amazed as my son, who was still talking about how "it worked" long after we'd gotten home from the conference. The whole ride up there, my son kept asking if I was nervous about the speech. "No," I assured him, "the nerves will come later." And they did. But I'll get to that in a minute.


    I have to say that I had tremendous fun and I met lots of pretty cool people. Some not so cool people too, but enough about Diana. (Just kidding!) Actually, everyone I met was so nice. As I was telling one of them, within 10 minutes of being there, I saw every manner of shyness and outgoing natures. I encountered people who literally hung their heads as we rolled by one another in our wheelchairs and I encountered people who came right up to me, grabbed my hand and introduced themselves to me as if we were just the best of friends.


    Minutes before the speech, I went out to my car to retrieve some "gift bags" that I'd made up for them. This was the point that the nerves set in. This was the point where the butterflies came and I thought I was going to pass out. Deep breaths and a quick review of my speech and the butterflies were under control. (Notice I didn't say "gone"?) "Okay," I told myself as my son and I went back toward the conference room, "Time to go to work, Eddie." That was all it took. It was time to get the job done. The time for nerves was no more. The topic of the speech, if there was a central theme, was basically "I have Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida does not have me." The phrase received much applause and I was quite grateful, humbled even, by the reception my words received. I laughed with them. I got serious with them. Above all, I tried to talk straight to them. I told them how I hate political correctness. I hate the term "physically challenged." It's worse than pulling out everyone of my fingernails without the assistance of novacaine to numb the pain. I actually heard gasps from the listening audience when I suggested I'd rather be called "crippled" than "physically challenged." That, more than just about anything, made me laugh.


    Sadly, I didn't get to stay the entire weekend. I'd left the house without leaving my key with my mother, so there was no one around to walk the dog. So, I had to cut my visit short and head back so that Buddy wouldn't have to get a bladder infection or, worse, pee on my carpet! I'm happy to say he was a good boy. No accidents. Not bad for a dog locked in a house by himself from 7 a.m. to after 4 in the evening!


    So, I missed out on the softball, the wall-climbing, ropes course, fishing (though my son got to drown a few worms before the speech.) and many other activities, but I am not sure I could've handled it anyways. I was worn out as it was!


    All-in-All it was great time. Diana's already stalking me...er I mean has already invited me to attend next year. I may go. I may not. My mind changes like the wind changes directions. Besides, I like to keep people guessin'. ;)


    Anyway, there's really a lot more I could say, but I wanted to let some pictures speak for themselves. Be sure and click the bottom link if nothing else, as it takes you directly to the album where Diana has posted several hundred pictures of the whole event. (Note to my Xanga, KiddNation and BFN readers: The links take you directly to Diana's page on Myspace. If her profile is set to private, you may not be able to view the whole album without sending her a friend request. Sorry for the inconvenience but there are over 300 pictures posted in the album and, though I have permission to use any pictures I want, I have neither the time nor the desire to show all 300 pictures! You'll just have to trust me when I say these folks were crazy!)

    (And a special note to Diana: If you suddenly find yourself getting 10,000 friend requests from total strangers, chances are you can blame me.)

    With that said, take a look through a sampling of pictures.



    Yes, friends, The Edward is really in a wheelchair.


    And yes, I really did write a book! ;)


    See? It was so weird to me! These people were lined up to talk to me???


    Were they LISTENING when I spoke? LOL



    This is Diana. Affectionately known to me as "Stalker".



    And this is Matt, Diana's husband. Apparently, she stalked him so long he finally decided he might as well marry her! ;) (Just kidding)



    Again, they were lined up to see ME?





    "Alright everybody. Line up to get your books signed by this guy who likes to pretend he actually has some writing talent!"



    They look innocent enough, but watch out! they bite!



    This is Erin. She actually went to Athens in 2004 as an Olympic competitor! Still blows my mind!



    http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=100928718&albumId=2709019&page=1

    Click there to view more pictures of the conference. Diana has over 300 posted. You may have to send her a friend request to see them. I don't know for sure. But the retreat was fun. If you have Spina Bifida or know anyone that does, I highly recommend finding such an activity in your area.

    I really did have a great time. Whether I go back or not, the experience was one I'll never have again. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have inspired even one person to understand what it's taken me nearly 35 years to understand. Just because you have Spina Bifida does not mean you have to let Spina Bifida have you.

    Until next time, when I blog about this year's NETWO conference, this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

EdwardHancockII

  • Visit EdwardHancockII's Xanga Site
    • Name: Edward (Or Eddie)
    • Birthday: 3/4/1974
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 12/26/2005
    • True

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About Me

  • I'm a writer. Yes. An honest to God published writer. My third published book came out in January of '06 It is called IN THE BREATH OF GOD. Now understand I'm Christian first and foremost. I love God. That doesn't mean I write this nice, sweet, soft storys that all Christians are going to migrate to. Often times I challenge conventional Christian wisdom in my books. In many of my tales I might take a biblical tale and fictionalize it, a la THE DAVINCI CODE. For anyone who wants to take a chance on my books, I don't want to hear how "It didn't happen that way IN THE BIBLE..." That's what makes it fiction. If you don't understand the difference between good fiction and good non-fiction, you should probably stay away from my books! My books are suspense in nature. You're going to be exposed to real (and supernatural) Evil in my books. If you're not able to handle that, at least you know before you buy! No harm no foul

Pulse

Chatboard (37)

  • misstakable
    Who let the Edward out?! I said, Who let the Edward out? Who who who let the Edward out? LOL Where are you? *yeah, I know where you live. Just wondering why you aren't posting lately. Of course I know the answer, you're just probably to dang busy, but anyways just letting you know I was thinkin
  • misstakable
    Dang skippy... your photo strip looks like you own a zoo! LOL
  • misstakable
    The FBP just flung a yam at you... why don't you catapult a bag of cotton candy back at her (or a goat, whatever)
  • misstakable
    Veen veeeeeeeeeen!
  • Rajah021162
    Hey there...It caught my eye that you read Joel Osteen's book "Become a Better You." I also read his book. I loved it so much I not only couldn't put it down, but bought a notebook and took notes.( I had borrowed the book.) I plan on reading it again in the near future... I am buying it this time.
  • misstakable
    BOOGERS!
  • misstakable
    @sarahsD - he put that up before he FINALLY went to themes LOL @EdwardHancockII - I think your page looks nice
  • misstakable
    we'll see you guys tonight, right? Woo Hoo for fireworks!
  • EdwardHancockII
    @sarahsD - LOL Um, sorry... I should have warned you that am rather blunt when someone asks a direct question. Ask an honest question, get an honest answer. Hope I didn't offend...
  • wherever_we_go
    @EdwardHancockII - *blushes* Ohhhhhhhhhhh!