Catch-22

Wow. I am simply amazed by Joseph Heller's talent in writing such an honest, perversely humorous, and morosely depressing book. The theme in the book is simply amazing; his use of elevated language in such a degradative setting spews out the stark contradictions and irony's in this short experience we call life. So the main point of Catch-22 is that the main character wants to stop flying missions during World War II; now here is the kick in the ass that many of us will recognize somehow, if not consciously, in our own lives-- if he goes to his commander claiming insanity as a reason for him to be grounded, the commander knows immediately he is not crazy because only a rational person would recognize that flying the missions is crazy--i.e. only a crazy person would fly the missions and they do not know that they are crazy.

This kind of blows my mind. Trying to think of some catch-22's in my life leaves me certainly in want, I don't fly a bomber plane and I am not surrounded by salacious girls and subversive situations. How about this for a virulent catch-22: humility. I want to be humble and come off to others as being so, yet when I try to be humble, recognizing my humility, I immediately lose all credence to my humility and plunge right back into the forefront of being prideful. Therefore, the more I TRY to enact humility, the more I oppositely impose pride. Life's a bitch ain't it?!

What are some of your Catch-22's?

Embrace Yourself, We Are Divine

The true source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have been afraid to think...Let us dare to read, think, speak and write...
-John Adams

Amen.

I WANT TO GO HOME!!!

This sucks. 10 to 25 inches of snow has blanketed the Metro Area with some areas receiving up to 30 inches. This storm is the biggest December storm on record and is the only December storm in the top ten currently coming in at number seven surpassing the Blizzard of '66. I hate snow and I am sick of being in Provo. The only redeeming quality of Provo, UT is the people that I love that are here...guess what...they all went home for the holidays!! I thought the following quote was very apt for the occasion.

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy and savor every moment you have to live and love.

Sir Paine, Thomas, Man of Wisdom

"These are the times that try men's souls."

Where have the years gone? What has happened to me? So many opportunities have presented themselves and I have let them pass by; as a river's water carries it downstream it never will see that bend in the river again, that sand, silt, and those rocks, forever lost to the vast ocean to which our opportunities inevitably flow. I've let go of so much so often; I've let love slip through my fingers, I've let my dreams become nothing more than fantasies. Where am I headed? To what end do I set myself up for? Why so many wasted years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds? WHY?

The times that try men's souls are the times that whisper him to give up, give in, and give away. There is no nobler vocation than the pursuit of Happyness. There is no holier and higher calling than being a Man or Woman.

Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

If I die in pursuing my dreams, than God bless me. If we should lose our lives in pursuing our principles and hopes, we couldn't be happier. It's a scary thought, but my conscience, heart, and soul are nudging me; telling me it is time to go; telling me it is time to live. If I perish on the precipice of hope, than I perish to Heaven's highest virtue.

Shel, Steve, and Jesse

LISTEN TO THE MUSTN'TS

Listen to the MUSTN'TS,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me --
Anything can happen,
ANYTHING can be.

--Shel Silverstein

You mustn't take risks
Don't try anything that you know you won't succeed in
You shouldn't dream dreams that are only fantasies.
It's impossible to be the writer you dream about
It's impossible to find someone you love and who loves you back
It's impossible to change the world
It's impossible to change yourself
You'll never have happiness
You'll never have wealth
You'll never have eternal joy

Listen close to me.....
Anything can happen,
Anything can be.

Please tell me your dreams that everyone has told you are impossible and with all my heart and soul I tell you right now that I believe in each of you, individually and personally.

Where We Go

Often I think of tasks, chores, goals, works, actions, innumerable things to do before I get to where I wanted to go. Sometimes I wonder how I will ever get there. How did you get there?

Often I think of how much work successful writers and people in general put into their profession. How much work did you have to put in to get there?

Often I think of the sacrifices I will have to make to reach my destination, many sacrifices that I still need to make. How much have you sacrificed to get there?

Often I think of opportunities that lie ahead of me that if taken will prove fruitful and vivacious. What opportunities are you waiting for to get there?

Often I think of characteristics that I lack yet believe I can acquire. What characteristics have you acquired to get there?

Often I think of the grand end of me, me the potential that translates into fulfillment. What is your potential in getting there?

Are our dreams frivolous? Are they unrealistic? Are they too big or too far away for us?

I'll be damned if you tell me they are because I just don't believe you.