Gregsnow.net

Its the summer now and thank God! It couldn’t have come sooner. I was dying over here this winter. I’ve considered myself fortunate to have time to get out and ride my bike, hike and walk many times already this summer and the fun doesn’t stop here!. Life is good as they say.

If you’ve read my last post you’ll know i was concerned about the ecnomey, specifically mine! The funds seem to be on the short side lately with no relief in site. I guess those of us who have jobs should consider ourselves lucky for having a job. Things are rough all over and I was just thinking things will start getting better when I read some more discouraging economic news online today. Record oil prices, inflation, credit crunch, global food prices, are just some of the challenges which are facing my pocket. I don’t want to complain about these things but I am concerned if the economic situation doesn’t improve people will start behaving like Celtics Fans when they win the NBA championship.

These times are not good and I think they are cause for concern and investigation. Unfortunately we are at the mercy of our governments to make the right decisions and do its job. To protect and serve in the least…

I don’t know if anyone else is or is feeling a squeeze but I am dying in this economy.  Times are tough and its because of rising food and fuel prices we all have to cut back.  One commentator said “Uncle Bushes” tax rebate would either go for “fule for your Ford or Food for your family”.  We are also in times of increasing environmental concern.. everyone should be going green.  Its because of this that I am really cutting back on everything: less driving, eating, drinking, materials, and it seems breathing.  These are tough times and I think cutting the fat is a good thing now especially because prices have gone through the roof and the dollar has fallen through the floor.  I tell you I’m dying over here…

Why is this all happening?  Well some people will tell you its because large populations of people in China and India are finally moving up in the world.  They are beginning to eat two meals a day instead of 1 and buy themselves and their families a car.  Now someone in India would say would say that Americans eat and waste to much; that is why food and oil prices are going up.  Me..Well I am going to cut back.. I am going to consume less across the board and hibernate.

¡¡Voy a san Fransisco!!

It’s been an annoying couple of weeks because both public radio stations in Boston seem to be in the middle of pledge week.  ( pledge week seems to always be more than one week)  Now I realize that pledging to a nonprofit organization that benefits the grater good is a great thing however I feel there are more relevant charities to give to.  The bible teaches that our primary obligation is to those closes among us, so this year i decide to give money to the Boston Food Bank which give me a pretty good feeling because I’ve benefited the people who need it the most in the area around me.

It’s already April and already this year and I have  been feeling pretty unaccomplished.  I have been feeling guilty about this for the past month when I remembered I’ve have had some accomplishments at work and also have come to terms with some other ambitions I’ve had over the past 6 moths.  I know for one that: I want to move somewhere warm ad make a location change; I am frustrated with people at work but my performance overall has been good and the way I feel about what I have been working on is good; I need to be more generous towards those who have less than I; I need to become less self centered; I need to make more friends. (These in no particular order)  I feel good about the rest of this year and next, however I don’t like to measure my life in years.   I prefer events.

In this time of environmental concern there is a topic I have been thinking a lot about lately and how it relates to how we view the problems of the world. There is something called the greater good and it means how much you are willing to go out of your way to do something or not do something you want to do the benefit everyone else or the environment.  Americans especially are self centered in such a way which they want what they want now and will go to great length to get those things without regard to how it effects the environment and the people around them.  Have you ever needed one thing and driven to the grocery store to get that one thing rather than waiting a day to make a larger trip?  The problem is that doing this does not take into consideration CO2 Emissions and the price of gas for the rest of us.  What about excess water usage, excess food consumption, littering,  energy usage, material usage and reckless driving.

I’ve started to write this post a number of times in the past, only to eventually crumble it up into my virtual recycling bin. I was at first a bit discouraged I was taking so long to write it but I think now my opinion has changed a bit now and this makes for a better read. I heard a quote by a well known author (whom I’ve sense forgot the name of). The quote was “The Most Important Time is Now“. Actually it has probably been said many time throughout history so I guess that really is not relevant.

The point I am trying to make though is I believe now is critical time in the history of the United States. I believe every generation faces challenges and ours is a particularity difficult one. It is the challenge of this generation to set the opinion of the world on us back to something favorable, and others, the price of fuel, the value of the our currency to something with worth and keep those terrorists off our back. The world is troubled with he US because of our invasion of Iraq and our arrogance with diplomacy. We need a leader who understand this and other issues.

Hovever I think all is not lost. I believe people have started to take heed and have realized the important of involvement in the world around them. This enlightment will bring hope for the future but the going will not be easy..So may the tough get going!

According to one website I align with the following presidential candidates in this order:

81% Joe Biden

80% Barack Obama

79% Hillary Clinton

76% John Edwards

74% Chris Dodd

72% Bill Richardson

67% Mike Gravel

66% Dennis Kucinich

56% Rudy Giuliani

52% John McCain

40% Mike Huckabee

40% Mitt Romney

30% Tom Tancredo

29% Fred Thompson

24% Ron Paul

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

After months of being finished with school I’ve only accomplished some of my goals for the fall. I had originally decided I wanted archive MCSA certification, take a Spanish class, do more reading, see more family, take more trips and spend time with long neglected friends. To date I’ve spent more time reading and very recently more time with some neglected friends.

I know it’s been a long time and forgive me because I should have wrote a formal graduation post after the big day. Well the fact is that I have been graduated and out in the real world for more than two weeks now and the fun has just begun!. I hope you can forgive me because I have been on vaca. For the past two weeks I’ve been in the west experiencing southern hospitality in TX as well as a bit of the Rockies in the big CO!

The first week I visited my friend Craig in Texas and we went on a short (3000 mile) road trip through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California. We stopped in El Paso Tx, Phoenix Az, San Diego Ca, Los Angles Ca, Grand Canon National Park Az. It was quite a trip and I will have pictures posted soon of the trip in my Google Album!

Week two consisted of Colorado Springs. I went hiking overnight with my brother on the Colorado Trail. The only problem was that I don’t really like camping outside when it rains.

We hiked up the Manitou Springs Incline, which was something else!

The rest of this week consisted of a lot of walking around and visiting other attractions in the Springs.

So tonight I sit, in my new apartment with just a few boxes of junk and no furniture scheming my next move.