Resolutions are Made to be Broken ...or are they?

Happy New Year everyone ! It is time for the annual ritual of making resolutions.

From various inquiries made and delving into my vast library (aka Google), I have put forth some of the most common resolutions:

1. Going to the GYM/ Fitness- No kidding. I have been to the gym in the past and it calls for more discipline that sitting in class listening to Physics from an English professor. It involves making adjustments with family, work and play. "Blessed are those that can keep up with this for they shall be shapely and healthy". As for the rest of us, welcome to the Fatty Boys & Girls Club...burp !!!

2. Spend more time with family and friends- Sure you will. The next thing, you are going to the gym (hammers down resolution 1, doesn't it ??), working overtime to make more money so that you can spend time with family(The irony of it all). Working Overtime to make to make the extra bucks benefits the Taxman more than you. Rule of thumb...20% work and 80% results.
Read "The 4hr Work Week- Timothy Ferris" you will get some ideas on how to improve your working lifestyle.

3.Quit Smoking- Really? Did you have to wait for New year to make this resolution or did the last negative of your lungs, not aid in any manner? It is difficult for many smokers to bid adieu to this vice but it can be done. If you need some help, go to The Lung Association of Canada.

4. Quit Drinking- LOL !! Yes you will quit drinking after just "this last one". "How can I say no to the Boss when he offers me a glass ". "My friends will think I am a wimp". "It is the most 'sic-est' thing to do"."I can give it up anytime"...and the excuses pour in like the beer from a keg. I have lost a few loved ones to this "easy to give up liquid". If you find it hard to go without a drink or two everyday, and need assistance to quit or even reduce consumption, visit DART

5. Get out of Debt: Debt in North America has, is and will always be one big epidemic and is the major cause of any economic downfall. Should this one not be a mantra for all of us any given time? Unless you decide on this when you see your credit card bills from all the gift giving over the holidays. I use a term called 'plastic fever', and its symptoms are debt piling while your bank balance is sinking. Debt-relief and control measures are available by visiting Office of Consumer Affairs OCA

6. Learn Something New- Get yourself outta bed and do it. There is a lot to learn out there and to me is one of the best resolutions ever. Enroll in a course, looking for a new job or even taking up a new hobby are some ways to learn something new. Go ahead , it is good for you and your resume.

7. Help Others: Cash Donations is not the absolute solution but does aid in some way. You might say your busy (which crushes every resolution stated above), but if your time is really in short supply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate furniture, clothing and other household items that you no longer need to your local charity . Some charities will even pick them up for you.

8. Get Organized: This is the simplest of all resolutions and can be achieved easily by just spending 30mins of your time putting stuff in its place. Now to get started, well that is another ball game!

In conclusion, for the looser the excuse "Resolutions are made to be broken" is not farther from the truth. The excuses will fall by the wayside faster than you can say "Booyakashaa!!" We are all party to this in some shape or form.

However, you can achieve this (and you can), by making these resolutions/goals simple (not overdo it), take baby steps, time lines, letting your friends and family know that you are serious and you need their help and, yes...YOU WANT TO DO IT TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR LIFE!

Jesus Christ said 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:28-31). Go on make a change , get selfish (in a good way, of course). Making yourself happy will make everyone around you happy. That is the key to personal success.

'Nuff said, I am off to work on my first resolution and that is not spending too much time on this laptop !!!

A Potluck, worthy of "Flying" Pans !

Well it started out like any potluck with dishes strewn across the dinner table while the chitter-chatter ran amok. This crowd is none like any other I have ever come across. The accountant in the crowd got "Bartender" savvy with his own blend of brandy and spices and insisted that everyone have a taste. The disc jockey went slave to the frying pan, with butter on bread, a sure shot at a cholesterol high. Another brought a Karaoke machine, with no monitor to connect it too. The infamous gambler, once again, collecting $5 for lottery tickets, which nobody ever wins (a habit now being closely watched by all). This party was getting better and better by the second.
Then came the tree topper, the carols singing. The carols printed out neatly, by the hostess, on a few sheets with a few simple carols that all could sing. But it was not easy as mamma's apple pie. Congo drums, a keyboard, marracas and wireless mics entered the foray. The band was given the most unappealing name of "Chaddi Tight Orchestra" (Underwear Tight- for those who have no clue). A seemingly stoned member of the crowd compared this to the "Electric Light Orchestra" (ELO). This was anything but the latter. The crowd unseemingly was now treated to a cacophony of voices and musical talents, a contestant to the bosses 'outbox'.
The off beat singing interrupted by a wailing Feliz Naividad (when lyrics were forgotten) and delving in to Caribbean melodies like "Matilda" and "Banana Boat" ensured a lasting concert worthy of a police intervention. The wailing of voices had the hosts worried that the police raid of the premises, would be a reality. The microphones were inadvertently turned off, rather mysteriously, I might add, at various intervals, much to the disappointment of the singers.
The Christmas carols took a turn for the worse when it hit a 'Desi' regional melody at one stage and then an inexcusable Louis Armstrong rendition of "Let it snow on Blueberry hill'.
"In my uncles car"- a song most requested was, in fact, the worst impromptu blues melody every heard. It was a bad rap twisted and choked at every turn. It died 2-3 verses later, albeit an encore. The booze must have done its trick this time (for those that wanted the encore).
Luckily most of the attendees had work the next day and the host (I am sure of this) breathed a sigh of relief that this riot was finally over. This was something to remember and something the host will hope to forget (Only 15pics posted as a mere courtesy to a potluck gone awry)

PS. No animals were harmed in the singing of the various choruses. There was no copyright infringement of any songs (if you heard them you would understand why). The participants were on a 2-drink maximum due to ride programs across the city (if they had more, perish the thought..musically)..and get this..another jamboree planned for the summer...yikes !!

Winter has arrived...and here are my rants !!

It had to happen. Sooner or later and you cannot hide from it. Winter with all its might has hit Toronto and it is just Dec 14, 2010 for crying out loud. I love the snow, but that is provided I am at home with a nice mug of hot chocolate. When it snows , I pray it dissipates and vanishes before the "call to shovel" is heard . I hate it !

What is even more irritating is that when the snow plows the street they tend to dump /create a snowbank in your driveway. It sucks because now you have to clean your driveway all over again. I mean seriously, why do that job twice?!

Neighbors too can be pretty tricky when it comes to shoveling. The occasional 'oops, I am sorry i got snow in your driveway" never fails to amuse me. Ok I have done it too...We all do it !! Why can't we live in peace and snow the other neighbor across the street. Try doing that with a shovel filled with snow. By the time you reach the driveway, the cops will be shoveling your butt to the station. Then again, the cops will take a while trying to get to you, so that gives you a head start.

All this hoopla about Santa and Christmas is also getting to me. Call me a Grinch ( I am being one right now), but as much as I love Christmas, I would rather have it go away, no thanks to the many inquiries of what I am doing for Christmas. "None of your goddamn beeswax"! I am going on a Sleigh ride with Santa, if you really wanna know !" Speaking of Santa...come on Christmas is about Christ and not a fat man in a red suit who is flying around on a sleigh (has he not heard of the jet airplane?) drawn by LSD induced reindeer (Blitzen, Dasher, Dollar..they all sound like crack). Never mind the guy has poor fashion sense. He is a picky one at best...you have to be good/nice to get presents. Come on, show me one good kid who has been nice all year and I shall give you nectar. Bad kids mean less presents and in this day, Santa has surplus from every year. The kids are not alright as they go to the next place they can get their fix of toys..their parents !!

Speaking of kids today, what is with their headphones and iPhones and mp3 players ( i hear there are mp4 players now). They act like zombies walking the streets with their heads wired to their pockets. No respect, I tell ya. Not even a hello .

I still have to rant some more. It's like a tradition..how I hate traditions...more rants to follow !

Michael Jackson..is he really no more??

This blog is not a tribute , for tributes are mostly made to the deceased. He is not dead !!

This is a story of a boy that thought he was a great dancer. That was far from the truth. He was the laughing stock on the dance floor. He was made to dance for the amusement of his relatives, with outdated and derelict dance moves only Bollywood 70's films held proud.

Idol worship was never a thing as it was meant for sissy's but who would have thought. In the year 1983, all that changed . On vacation in the emirate of Dubai, that same year, an uncle handed this little boy a cassette tape and was told that this is what he should be dancing too. The cassette tape cover had a man dressed in white resting on the floor using his elbow. The name of the album- Thriller; the Singer - Michael Jackson. The songs were great, however how does this solve the dance issue? Then came the "THRILLER" video. The video was so captivating that it transported the boy into another realm. He was now determined to dance , if not, be like Michael Jackson. The Moonwalk, the bopping and popping, he gave it his best. The moves may not have been perfect, but he made it his own, a tribute to his new mentor (not idol) .The laughter and snide remarks stopped. Alas, the boy was the dancer that he always hoped he'd be.

Time moved ahead with albums from Bad, Dangerous to History. Then came the crowning moment. Micheal Jackson to perform /stopover in Mumbai on his "HISTORY" tour. Crazy as it may sound and maybe it is, this young , now working man, took his entire monthly salary of Rs 3000 (approx CAD $100 at the time) and bought the second best seats in the Stadium. Stood to buy tickets at 7:00am the day the tickets went on Sale. Stood again, outside the Stadium at 1:00pm when the show began only at 7pm. This was it !! The dream had finally come true.
The show surpassed expectations. He saw MJ in the flesh doing what he did best...Entertain!

Over time, rumors and accusations of child abuse abound Micheal Jackson, but this young fan believed otherwise.

Grown and now married this man, inspired still listened to the music and sounds of MJ. He learned to appreciate good music and ditch the rest. Then on June 25, 2009, the music stopped for the day, the dance seemed to have stopped forever. MJ was found dead in his home due to various complications diagnosed later as overdose of pills. Another media hype, he thought. Watched the event on TV but still refused to believe. The man held his breath and all this would come to pass....it never did. Micheal Jackson passed on to a another world to entertain those that missed his earthly performance. The young man never danced the Jackson way and will never will.

Today Dec 14, 2010, the man sits in front of his TV watching a tribute movie "Michael Jackson- THIS IS IT" and sheds a tear. He wonders' What about us' . Will there be in 'History', another 'BAD' 'Man in the Mirror' to take his place. The good bit is that the man realizes that he is fortunate to have witnessed a legend in his lifetime to know and understand the Man, the artist, the Genius that was and ever will be Michael Jackson. Thank you !

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American Recording Artist, dancer , singer-songwriter and philanthropist. Referred to as the King Of Pop music, Michael Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by the 'Guinness world book of records'.

November 01, 2010- A blog about nothing !!

It is my forray into the true meaning of the word blogging . 2 other blogs and still No followers. Personally , I love doing this...a great excuse to stay un-focussed on home chores aka an excuse for procrastination.
Let's begin. Awoke at 10:00 am after 4 hours of sleep. Did sleep at close to 6am thanks a to a late night shift and a truckload of java. Got on the PC, a relatively bad idea , given your brain has turned mush and still has you thinking of senseless and meaningless contradictions to everything including this blog.
I have been making some headway to go to the post office since 11:00am and it is now 2:13pm. I have progressed as far as making the decision to leave. My wife keeps coming to remind me of her envelope to be posted ( has been 5times already). I will go the post office ..eventually!
I must confess, lunch is also missing here and I was supposed to cook. Looks like it will be dinner now.
I would like to resign from this blog, right now but that would mean going to the post office.
OK lets do it !!
I am outta here and will be back for more. When now that is another story.