A.G.E's Joint

I think a short tribute to the Group Blogging Experience is in order.  Five years ago, I stumbled on to the original version of this confab on MySpace and I thought "I could do this".  I needing something other than work and family to stimulate me.  I got to meet (both online and IRL) some of neatest, nicest people ever.  I will forever be grateful to Alicia and Laurie Ann and all those who encouraged me here and in the other writing groups I have had the privilege to have participate in. For those of you who don't know me real well, here is a good intro link that I did for Blogophilia Meet and Greet . Let me extend this invitation to anyone wanting to explore the archive to go right ahead.  I don't bite.  But sometimes my mind takes strange trips. 

A new season and a new meet and greet.  I'm going to be lazy and post the link to last years post. So, Who Am I? Which gives a fairly good background, but let me update. My name still Christopher Mitchell and my Internet Handle still is Another Government Employee, but since last year I have changed jobs.  I have started a new position as a contract employee with a large government contractor.  For the past month, I have immersed myself in their paperwork and methods.  And they are just about as convoluted as the agency I used to work for.  Nothing involving government is logical and is designed to quiet the loudest constituencies only.  If you watch the news, you probably already know that. One really nice thing about my new office is it is located between two of my favorite hiking trails and I can spend the early mornings here: The pictures are worth a thousand words.  Fun and peace along the river I know so well.  These two were taken at the Cochran Shoals sec

"Go for the gusto." If you don't remember that Schlitz commercial, well you can get off my lawn.  For you younger types, the pieces showed manly men going out and doing manly things, and then getting together with their manly friends to drink manly beer.  Of course, the implication was you couldn't enjoy those manly things without the manly beer.  So, go out and buy a case today! Most advertisements work like that.  A psychological message that you can't enjoy your day without this drink, or that shirt or those shoes.  And there is no helping you if you don't smell like leather or flowers.  You will just be a ugly, soulless schmuck with no hope for attracting the opposite sex (or the same sex, if that is what you prefer).  And you need the slick car to cart it all around.  But do we really need all this stuff?  No.  When it is all over and out bodies get disposed of (by whatever method seems best to you), all this crap stays behind.  Enjoy those around

You want to know a secret? It doesn't matter who you are Rich or poor Famous or not We all are skating on thin ice. The Natives found that out When DeSoto took the smallpox tour. And that guy with all the money? He's hiding in plain sight From the transgressions That will bring him lower than death. The only difference today Is they come to light faster And harder With no forgetting And no forgiveness.

Cold glass Warm feeling Ravel from the speakers Roses from your hair. Share us now Red wine Soft touch Gracious joy Blessed sleep.

They say that three is a crowd. Everything should be two by two. Only by two can new life arive. And even then Must be opposite. But, why? A artificial constraint? Left over by the jealous? I guess we'll never know. 

Chasing a bleeding sun Across red rock The last exit Before Hell Has come Dreaming a painting While painting a dream Borne of tabs Shaman's purses Vibrating Another joint Trying to fend off Bloodhares wanting to Consume my Flesh Finally the exit passes And I turn on  The Devils Highway.

So what are your dreams? Or as I have put it in my work, what do you want to be when you grow up?   Of course, there are the two types of dreams.   Sleeping dreams with fantasies so great we tremble at their appearance, flying naked around stone castles, or defending maidens against dragons.   Do we win or lose?   In the end it doesn’t matter because we wake up. Then you have the waking dreams.   The mirages of goals shimmering in the desert, shifting and fading as we trudge along the sands of life.   And when we reach one, we realize it was smaller than we though.   Or worse, like the new Coke commercial, it is just another billboard pointing across to a distant mountain, daring us to follow.   When I was in college, I had the dream of being a radio disc jockey.   I would hear the voices come over the speakers and think what a cool gig.   All I have to do is just sit and talk about music. I went so far as to volunteer at the campus station and I found out

“…And that was Heather Hardon reporting…” “This just in. People everywhere have turned out to protest the bill the State Legislature requiring the implementation of Christ’s Second Law, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”.   Let’s go to our Justin Tyme for an update.   Justin?” “Yes, Harry.   It’s pandemonium out here at the State Capitol. It is as if Mars Attacks being played out on the steps. The Nosy Women’s League, long the enemy of joy and contentment has said it is against Biblical Principles for men to love themselves.   There have been rumors the ladies are planning some kind of action, but we haven’t seen that yet. We went around asking people in the crowd to voice their opinions.   Could you roll that tape, please? ”[small pause]   (A primly dressed woman in a high necked blouse appears on screen)   “What is it with this Life of Brian nonsense?   Men loving each other?   It sounds like a one of those movies we are trying to ban.   Anger at enemies is what r