Frustration

I'm beginning to thing strokes are very frustrating. First the unable to walk and speak annoyance, then all the hubub of trying to cultivate replacement brain cells to fix all that. You'd think whatever "higher power" would make this easier. Okay, I get it: damnation upon my heathen soul. Remove my motor skills, my eyesight, my vocal range, my talent, just to make me fear the thought of a "caring" mystical spirit. Not the way I'd go about it, but i'm not all powerful, apparently.

If anything, I've seen my own strength grow. And then I have to hear people say to me, I've been "blessed" to have been given the chance to see this within myself. Praise God, or whomever for his (or her) love. All I can think of is, "thanks for giving me no credit on my resolve

EDIT: Talk about irony. This post was originally almost three pages long with tons of insightful information of my philosophy, theology, and the hell of applying for Social disability. I also commented on why I haven't done my You tube vids yet, and how hard it is to write all this, with brakes and finger tapping. I post it, and then find out all but two paragraphs remain. Frustration.

I don't even have much hope that this edit will show right now...

Hope you're having a better day than I.

Rapure Hit the Snooze Button, I Guess

Y'know, I don't quite like talking, pontificating as it were, about religion. I mean, If worshiping God or a broccoli spear makes you more comfortable in life, good on you and I wish you well. But I have to say a few things about this Harold Camping and his "prophesy" about the end of the world May 21, 2011.

I wouldn't mind so much, but it's all over the place, and why he decided the day after my birthday, I don't know. Probably distracted people from getting me sweet gifts, too. I even felt bad for those poor shlubs that spent all of their hard earned life savings on the "100% guaranteed" rapture date. And, as you can tell, by me typing this, It didn't happen as promised. I bet there's egg on somebodies face now, huh?

Yes, this ancient Rev Harold Camping, calculated some numerology tricks that told him somehow that the end of the world was happening Saturday May 21st 2011. Actually, what he promised was that on the 21st, all the "chosen people would go "poof" and be transported to heaven, the rest of us sinners will live till October 21st 2011 in utter torment till the earth blows up or turns into a Dr. Suess or Bizzarro world or something.

When nothing happened at 6pm as was predicted (And what time zone does God use anyway), I predicted the possible excuses he could use on his flock...

1.) Ha ha! This was a test of your faith!
2.) the rapture did happen1 don't you see it, non-believer?
3.) Due to our faith and praying, the event has been postponed until further notice. But it's gonna happen...
4.) What I meant to say was, it was the end of the old ways, and time for a new beginning with a bigger spiritual world. Good job, people!! We did it!

What I didn't expect him to say was...

5.) oops...sorry...I'm not a modern day prophet and I am sad and old, and probably had too much tank oxygen that day. Sorry, go about your lives and be happy...

And you know what?! Turns out I am a better prophet than Harold Camping!!!

Two days later, he came out in public and he chose excuses 1,2,3, AND 4. the 21st had the "expected" spiritual rapture as God chose that day for his judgement, then he's gonna sleep on it for a while till October 21st and do his mojo then. Oooohhhhh....and I thought Camping was just wrong.

I also predicted that although this is the second time he predicted wrong (the first in 1994) he's still going to have believers follow him somehow. At that point, I stopped feeling sorry for those who spent their life savings on Harold's words (he sure as hell doesn't feel bad. Even said on his radio program, it's not his responsibility as he never actually told these people to spend their money on his quest. But, he also didn't say not to. And he himself, said he wouldn't give up his home or car.)

I say, practice whatever makes you happy. No one is better than anyone else. Don't tell me what I believe in is the wrong religion while yours it right. I try to be good person , and that's my center. I don't need or want anyone like Harold Camping to place his USDA stamp of approval on the back of my hand so i can get into Heavens nightclub. It should be as simple as, you good= go to heaven, collect $200.

And if the rapture does come October 21st, I guess there'll be egg on my face and I should have gotten my hand Harold stamped. at least I'll be in good company and with lots of left behind pets. It'll be like My Little Pet Shop.

Be good humans.

Pre-End of Days Sale

Well, today is my birthday, and I thought I needed to post something seeing as tomorrow is the foretold "end of days" and I haven't done anything here in about a year. If it is end of days tomorrow, I guess it doesn't matter if I do do this (*snicker* I said "do do"). But, at least I'll feel a sense of accomplishment when we're all flushed down the toilet of reality.

Why haven't I posted anything here in a while? I wondered myself about this, and only recently have I been able to admit to myself that I'm not 100% back from my ordeal, as I like to tell myself I am. I mean, having a positive attitude is fine and all, but there's a point where it's almost being delusional and I need to be realistic. I currently can't focus on anything for long amounts of time, neither brain or tactile skills. Previously, when I sit down and type a blog, I just sit and start to free form type. No real editing other than a soda brake and auto correction. I'm pretty much a "new me" now and I've lost the owners manual. When I now start a blog, it's really a mental workout to retain focus and finish it. I quite often fall asleep while typing.

So, I do apologize to those who did follow me, And I hope you'll all be around again. I'll keep on trying to write, and draw, and walk, and drive and not burn the cheddar on my famous mac & cheese casserole.

In the meantime, I'll let you all in on a few things I've been toying with to fill my time and make up my blog deficit. Firstly, I've been trying to get my head together for a youtube blog thingy where I do more movie and pop culture reviews as soon as I can. Whitney made me an awesome title piece for the show and she's such an expert in editing and comedic timing. Without her, I wouldn't even be here. When I get my act together, literally, I'll post it here.

Secondly, I've been doing a "soup" page for a few weeks to train my mind again. It's a daily (I try at least)picture and video collection blog I put together and, like stumble, is a place you can lose hours of your time exploring. Take a look, and I'll be doing this quite a bit as it's fast and easy for me to do in a few seconds.

http://atomicknight.soup.io/

You can also go to my lovely significant other blogs, as I find her to be hilarious in her own right. This blogging page also has her weird Goodwill finds that we come across, with pictures. Here's Miss Eccentric...

http://whitsrandomupdates.blogspot.com/

At least she writes more often than me now. We were only together for a few weeks when I had my stroke, and she still stuck around! Even the nurses at the hospital were amazed, mentioning that marriages have been torn apart from a stroke, So, she is an amazing woman, with the proof of time in her pocket.

Also check out her net famous Song of the Day blog. Many people follow this little side hobby of hers...

http://sotdarchive.blogspot.com/

So anyway, there you go, this was exhausting, and I need to be at my best for tomorrows rapture event. Wanna get good seats and convenient parking.

Take care and see you all on the other side. Me ant Whitney are going to enjoy my birthday (her's was yesterday). I'm coming for my damn birthday burger, Red Robin. And If you dare to try "singing" Clappy Birthday to any of us, I'm going to punch you in the neck and throw Red Robin Seasoning in your eyes like mace...

Take care,
Michael (Atomic Knight)

Oh, and remember, it's also Cher's birthday too...

Sisters Once More

It's been months, but here we go...

After my bout with Strokedom and recovery, Whitney and I decided to get another cat. I felt so bad that little Josie Marie Cat was all alone for months at home. Yes, Whitney went home every day for social time and feedings, but poor Josie was alone most of the day. The neighbors even said they sometimes heard Josie meowing at the door. One of the best days in the hospital was when the staff allowed me to have Josie visit my room. It was so nice to see her again, After all, I raised her from a pre-teen and when she had her sister playmate.

When I was released from the hospital, and was endangered of being knocked over at home from a rambunctious cat, Whitney suggested, perhaps, Josie needed a sister again.

Josie's original sister was out of the question. I don't even know if she was still alive, her owner is known for not being responsible for caring for cats or other living creatures. Indeed, her own friends had bets on when she'd end up killing the kitten by mistake. It's been much too long too, and that kitten would have learned all kinds of unacceptable behaviors, possibly anti-social as well.

Now Josie wasn't the most sociable cat as well, and she was very territorial, with her panther like Bombay claws and copper, judging eyes. I didn't know if I wanted to live with the heartbreak of giving away an unwanted kitten because they couldn't get along. So I resisted the new cat proposal, but read volumes on cat behavior and how to introduce new family members into the family unit as painless as possible.

I also wanted Whitney to be a part of my family, and having us choose a new family member was good for her to, since she had no choice with Josephine (or "big Fatty").

So we scoured around for a kitten and visited Pet's Mart for litter-mates. Pet's Mart had us fill out an application with tons of personal details, financial proofs, skin samples, and vials of DNA, just to adopt a grown cat. Hell, they even needed our vet number to question him and then come to visit our home to see if we were worthy. I don't think child adoption is this complex. Even though we had a great environment, we were turned down. Denied! I mean, they should welcome us wanting to take home a full grown cat. We're obviously good, non-hoarding cat owners with a happy and healthy girl already...

Craigslist was next, and that was a travesty. With most people never responding, or just giving the cat to the first person to show up at their door. We finally saw one picture of a tiny kitten for $20. It was a little girl kitten that was colored like Bugs Bunny with the appropriate gray and white patches. With my background, it seemed like destiny. So , we contacted back and forth with the owners...Hoping the kitten wouldn't be given away again.

We could come that weekend to see the kitten! WE counted the days until then and got there a bit early. Before we went in, I told Whitney, "Remember, we're just looking, we discuss, and if it doesn't feel right, we wont get the kitten. Right?" In we walked, with me nervously fingering the $20 in my pocket. The house owner walked us into the hallway, then pointed to a small sleeping fur rollup on a cat tower, "...there she is..."

Whitney blurted out immediately, "We'll take her!"It was okay because, she won my heart. And she turned out to be free, the $20 charge online was to make sure we really wanted her. Next was the introduction to Josie...yikes. We placed Josie in the bathroom while we let the new kitten walk about, so her scent would become familiar, we rubbed a towel on the new girl and rubbed it on Josie. They were separated for a few days, just touching paws under a door, minor cat carrier visits, and lots of hissing from Josie. And then Whitney, always the impatient one, finally letting them meet without a cage or barricade between them. I was insanely nervous for their reaction.

Then I saw this, I needn't have worried...
And the Kitten was christen Jude (Judith) Rose. They run about, they play. eat, groom, and sleep together, or nearby. Josie is the moody one, and Jude is the Daddy's girl always seeking a pet or scratch. They share a big bucket of toys and have personal space places just like sisters need when they get on each others nerves. They even photo-bomb each other...And now, Lil' Jude (as in "Hey Jude") is almost an adult, on October 3rd, she's grown quite a bit and no longer a palmful. Josie no longer has the size and weight advantage and can't just sit on Jude...
We're just one big family and It's nice to have kitten sisters once again...

The Recoup Recap

Well, it's been quite a little while since I blogged. Trying to get back to where I was, and making ends meet since my job laid me off for daring to have a stroke on their time. It seems that juggling medications, disability, and life is just day to day complex. I'd rather have a job to be honest. Okay, a nice paying job with great cheep benefits, a hour lunch, and a masseuse, if I had a choice.

So, why didn't i blog since July? Typing is still a bit hard, and thank god for the spellchecker. Sometimes I press multiple letters. I don't know if i can explain how I feel, it's like my brain is trying to control someone Else's body, since I am continuing to rewire new synapses. Like playing your old Atari 2600 with that old broken joystick you can't quite make go left and the button is twitchy. I think that's a fair assessment, really. Walking is like doing a constant sobriety test, making sure all those automatic responses you've learned since being a baby is checked off for each step. It is like being a baby again, but thankfully without the diaper and the green mushy poo. Probably too much detail, huh?

My eyesight is still questionable, but I did expect that to be the last part to heal. People I meet from before are amazed I can walk and do things like I never lost any ability. And, people who don't know me think I'm just a lazy bastard when Whitney has to lift heavy things for us at the store, or get out of a parked handicapped labeled car with seemingly no problem. Oh, and the lens on my left glasses is so thick it can focus sunlight into a deadly orbital laser. Fear me, humans of Earth!

It's still weird when my left side goes to sleep, or my eyesight goes out a bit, or i loose tight control of a limb and i spill drinks, or can't open a jar I used to be able to. And, it does depress me, but then Whitney reminds me that I did have one of the worst strokes possible, and I bounced back in 5 months when other have been in wheelchairs for years and decades. I don't know what I would have done without her.

The things I've noticed since May? Many people are douches and park in handicapped spots because it's convenient and no one traffics the tags. how complex doing everything that was previously automatic really is. Baby kittens smell like baby powder until the first month, then they smell like a stinky cat. The type of shoes do matter. The movie "meet Dave" not only is like a stroke, but is so bad, it can induce one as well. Medications are friken expensive. Beatles Rockband is great therapy. I miss Conan O'brian. Jay Leno is an ass. Douchy guys think women find them attractive when they hawk a logie. If I didn't have a stroke I would have never been able to see every season of Law and Order SVU and CI. And, Food network, Pawn Stars, and TruTV are addicting.

Anyway, a heads up. And next time, it's news about the kitten sisters, speaking of smelly cats.

P.S. Thank you spellchecker again.