urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip ~Life is too short for traffic~ Steve-Oh 2009-12-14T03:43:26Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:99339 2009-12-14T03:43:26Z 2009-12-14T03:43:26Z Brian Mcknight This song I've listen to since I was a young teen..and it just randomly came on on my play list....this is my song to Kassie.<br /><br />"Anyway" by Brian Mcknight...(he is a master of love songs..up there with Lionel Richie and the greats..download this song and check it out if you've never heard it..the vocals alone will give you chills as he does the entire song himself with his own voice overs, chorus, and everything..amazing.)<br /><br />[verse]<br />I have been through many disappointments and regrets<br />Never known yet<br />The joy of lasting love<br />Now I'm reaching for your hand<br />On the shore of happiness<br />Oh, acquiesce<br />To you my dear, my love<br /><br />[chorus]<br />You take my breath away<br />You're everything I desire<br />I can't stay away<br />I used to say never<br />But I'll never say never again<br />Every night and day<br />I realize what can't be denied<br />I never thought I'd fall<br />But I fell anyway<br />And I know that I know that I know that<br />I never thought I'd fall but I fell<br />Anyway<br /><br />[verse]<br />You're the perfect lover<br />And you are the perfect friend<br />Now all that's ever been<br />We simply rose above<br />And as long as we don't build<br />A castle on quicksand<br />We'll experience and understand<br />The pleasure of lasting love<br />My heart's on fire<br />Burning with a flame that will never die<br />There's a voice inside<br />Saying don't be afraid don't compromise<br /><br />[chorus]<br />You take my breath away<br />You're everything I desire<br />I can't stay away<br />I used to say never<br />But I'll never say never again<br />Every night and day<br />I realize what can't be denied<br />I never thought I'd fall<br />But I fell anyway<br />And I know that, I know that, I know that<br />I never thought I'd all but I fell<br />Anyway<br /><br />[bridge]<br />There are many, many words that I could say<br />Melodies I could could play<br />Prayers that I can pray<br />Nothing could take your love away<br /><br />[chorus]<br />You take my breath away<br />You're everything I desire<br />I can't stay away<br />I used to say never<br />But I'll never say never again<br />Every night and day<br />I realize what can't be denied<br />I never thought I'd fall<br />But I fell anyway<br />And I know that, I know that, I know that<br />I never thought I'd fall but I fell anyway<br />I know<br />I never thought I'd fall but I fell<br />Anyway<br /><br />===============================================<br /><br />I wish you all a lot of love and if you haven't found it yet, keep your head up. You never know when it will sneak attack you :) urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:96557 2009-02-27T22:44:28Z 2009-02-27T22:44:28Z What has it come down to? We are in the age of defranchising. We work our ass of (i've been travelling almost half of the year so far already) and we do it for what? our pride? to pay the bills which just keep getting higher and higher each month amist the layoffs which are supposed to be cutting costs for companies? Do we see any of these cut backs as a consumer?<br />Are we just stuck in this....is there anything a person can do? urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:95291 2008-12-31T08:03:56Z 2008-12-31T08:03:56Z Breaking Benjamin - Diary of Jane New year is coming up and usually I am entirely excited about it. But this year, this 2008 year has changed me in so many ways I want to hate it and loathe it; however, I want to cherish it also. If I could call any year the year of schizophrenia, it would be this year. Soon it will be over and I can move on from this craziness. I bounced from extreme highs to extreme lows this year. It never failed to amaze me how much one week life is grand and the next I wanted to leap off a cliff just to "test" the waters.<br /><br />I have learned a lot this year about myself. Last year just sort of coasted by, but this year, i have fought many of the demons that have haunted me since my childhood. I've defeated them and put them to rest, finally. With these put into my past for good, I am finally going to have a new outlook on life and a very new vision for my future. I look forward to 2009 with an open mind and an open heart. No longer am I this locked up shell which ran from love and lacked confidence in myself.<br /><br />Happy fricken New 2009. I can't wait for what this new year will bring. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:94435 2008-11-27T07:30:07Z 2008-11-27T07:30:07Z I'm done making stupid choices, I'm far smarter then this. I went out tonight for a little bit just to see some friends I haven't seen in a while...but there was so much cigarette smoke and with my chronic cough(i just got diagnosed with it since i've been coughing for almost 6 weeks now) I left early because breathing became an issue. (i was only in there maybe an hour and a half) I got home and couldn't stop coughing, the fricken inversion in Boise tonight didn't help either.I hacked up a lung, puked and then almost went into shock because I couldn't stop the coughing... so I jumped in the shower.<br />I finally calmed down and made it to bed where I am going to pass the hell out and NEVER do that again. My throat or tonsils are killing me right now.<br /><br />Just figured in case I don't wake up or something I'd leave this blog as my last words. hahhaa Anyway, it's going to take something a lot bigger to take this fool out before he get's his turkey tomorrow.<br /><br />Well good night world, Keep your head up and always remember, for every dark night, their is a brighter day! Happy Thanksgiving everybody! urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:94206 2008-11-24T06:25:48Z 2008-11-24T06:29:52Z Sometimes in our lives we really do not have any direction even though we lay them out. We really think we have an idea of where it is we are going, but we can only control so much. I think I have come to a realization that my "going with the flow" mentality has to end. I really have to start making some changes or I might begin to drive myself insane. <br /><br />Education - I am so upset that I have not completed any of the certs I set out to have done by the end of the year. I have the books for one, and I may still be able to pull it out before jan 1st, but it'll be cutting it close.<br /><br />Work - I have done well, although my backup system for remote sites project is not where I want it to be. To much travel negates time to work on it but that's no excuse.<br /><br />Personal - I did not meet the weight loss goal I set for myself (30lbs loss). I only lost 20lbs and then gained it all back over the last two months (I am however getting back on the goal this last two weeks and will carry it into the next year..and THIS TIME DO IT). <br /><br />Travel - Still plan to do some traveling this summer. I plan to hike in Stanley for a two-three day hike and do some good fishing with a friend or two. I also want to make it out to some bad ass island. Sam, you interested in spending a week or two out there with an old friend sometime? Or have any island you want to visit? Jamaica perhaps? :)<br /><br />Love - It's out there somewhere. What's sad is I don't even think I'd know it if i had it in front of me anymore. Why is it when we grow up into an adult the fantasy of this magical thing called love vanishes?<br />Everybody seems to be so bitter about being with somebody forever and take a quick cop out instead of working through the problems. I am not a religious person, but I do believe in it's ability to keep people from just giving up so easily, because when your dating somebody, it is FAR easier to just say goodbye. People have gotten to the point in our society that disgusts me. We have this ideal person and if they don't match it perfectly they are not it. It's almost as if people look for faults, they hunt for it vs's just enjoying the moment. I think that is the major problem. We have to understand that everybody will be different, and that's what strengthens us and keeps us together. Granted, every situation is different, but it just feels to me like in our society we are led to believe that we should just continue fucking one another randomly, or having kids and not taking any responsibility. The few who do stand up, I applaud you, but sadly, you are few.<br /><br />My new motto for this month is "whatever it takes". Whatever it takes to reach my weight goal, whatever it takes to get my projects/certs done, and whatever it takes to complete the things I have control over. Because I am in control of the flow of my life. Nothing else is. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:93911 2008-11-13T07:34:14Z 2008-11-13T07:34:14Z I am leaving town from this Friday till pretty much Thursday of next week. Friday, I am rolling up with my friend Heidi to Moscow to hang out in that crazy little town during the BSU beating lol. Right when I get back though, I have to go on a trip for work for 3 days and will be back in Boise Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon. Hopefully I come back fully intact because we are trying to figure out how to suspend a computer in the middle of a barn with no standing walls from a 30ft roof so the cowboys can count cows. My job is crazy yet fricken fun as hell. It's corn harvesting season too, so hopefully i can come back with a bushel of sweet corn! Yum. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:93639 2008-11-11T04:24:14Z 2008-11-11T04:24:14Z Until the End - Breaking Benjamin I'm not a stranger when it comes to being lonely<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being a man<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being shy<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being a friend<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being bold<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being an athlete<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being old<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being a skeptic<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being in love<br />I'm not a master when it comes to giving a hug<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being smart<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being funny<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being cheerful<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being thrifty<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being wrong<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being moral<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being confident<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being a leader<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being loyal<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being organized<br />I'm not a stranger when it comes to being a lover<br />I'm not a master when it comes to being honest.<br />I'm not a perfect human.<br /><br />I'm sure anybody can relate, we all have our plus's and faults. If you have your own list, please feel free to express it. :) urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:93343 2008-11-10T05:30:20Z 2008-11-10T05:30:20Z I need to start making some changes in my own life. Time for changing the way I eat, the way I live, and the people I run with. And nothing reminds me more of how much we still have left to do in the world we share with one another then Tupac.<br /><br />He said it right, back in 1994. Back then he said we were not ready for a black president, he said the poor need help to rise up, he said we need to change our lifestyles...I agree. but it's been 14 years and we are ready now. I'm ready now.<br /><br />Tupac - Changes<br /><br />come on come on<br />I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself<br />is life worth living should I blast myself?<br />I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black<br />my stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch<br />Cops give a damn about a negro<br />pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero<br />Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares<br />one less hungry mouth on the welfare<br />First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers<br />give 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each other<br />It's time to fight back that's what Huey said<br />2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead<br />I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere<br />unless we share with each other<br />We gotta start makin' changes<br />learn to see me as a brother instead of 2 distant strangers<br />and that's how it's supposed to be<br />How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?<br />I'd love to go back to when we played as kids<br />but things changed, and that's the way it is<br /><br />[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]<br />Come on come on<br />That's just the way it is<br />Things'll never be the same<br />That's just the way it is<br />aww yeah<br />[Repeat]<br /><br />[2]<br />I see no changes all I see is racist faces<br />misplaced hate makes disgrace to races<br />We under I wonder what it takes to make this<br />one better place, let's erase the wasted<br />Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right<br />'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight<br />and only time we chill is when we kill each other<br />it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other<br />And although it seems heaven sent<br />We ain't ready, to see a black President, uhh<br />It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact<br />the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks<br />But some things will never change<br />try to show another way but you stayin' in the dope game<br />Now tell me what's a mother to do<br />bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you<br />You gotta operate the easy way<br />"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way<br />sellin' crack to the kid. " I gotta get paid,"<br />Well hey, well that's the way it is<br /><br />[Bridge]<br /><br />[Talking:]<br />We gotta make a change...<br />It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.<br />Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live<br />and let's change the way we treat each other.<br />You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do<br />what we gotta do, to survive.<br /><br />[3]<br />And still I see no changes can't a brother get a little peace<br />It's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East<br />Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs<br />so the police can bother me<br />And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do<br />But now I'm back with the facts givin' it back to you<br />Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up,<br />crack you up and pimp smack you up<br />You gotta learn to hold ya own<br />they get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone<br />But tell the cops they can't touch this<br />I don't trust this when they try to rush I bust this<br />That's the sound of my tool you say it ain't cool<br />my mama didn't raise no fool<br />And as long as I stay black I gotta stay strapped<br />& I never get to lay back<br />'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs<br />some punk that I roughed up way back<br />comin' back after all these years<br />rat-tat-tat-tat-tat that's the way it is uhh<br /><br />[Bridge 'til fade:]<br />Some things will never change urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:92769 2008-10-28T05:06:53Z 2008-10-28T05:06:53Z Killswitch Engaged - My Last Serenade Yup it's time, and if I don't i'm going to start kicking myself. Back on the three miles a night and good healthy food. I've felt like crap the last month or so because I haven't been working out and being laaazzzyyy. Back on the 1-2 hours a night work out and yogurt and granola dinners....yum. I was getting studly there a couple months back...I need to get the tone again.<br /><br />So I met three awesome people this last Sunday...Jenn, John, and Angel. Jenn I met on LJ a little while back and we just happen to both live in the Boise area. She's fuckin rad. The crazy thing that night was that John and Jenn both knew ICP songs...what the hell are the odds...I've only met, at most 10 people in Idaho who actually could sing along with the songs.<br />However, I do feel a little bad because I didn't watch Heroes with them tonight (although I'm sure they had a killer time without me *wink*), but I did kick it with my friend Heidi and Chuck as we watched some football and then the Love Guru (cuz the game got lame), which is a fricken dumb...very dumb but hilarious movie with some killer one liners.<br /><br />Work has been a little stressful lately, I seem to always have SOOO much to do and never enough time in an 8 hr day. I make myself leave and leave my work laptop at work, so I don't work over the 40hrs a week, although I usually do on average work around 45-50hrs anyway. I think I need to start making some changes there too....hmmmm, how to be more efficient so i spend less time doing what I do. That's my quest tomorrow...That and getting my act together. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:92428 2008-10-20T02:57:06Z 2008-10-20T02:57:06Z Colin Powell Endorses Barak Obama.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_NMZv6Vfh8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_NMZv6Vfh8</a><br /><br />I respect Colin Powell more then almost any american that has ever lived in this country. I hold him at such a high regard that I would say that he is our modern day Benjamin Franklin/George Washington. He was the tipping stone I needed for me to set my vote in stone.<br /><br />It has been settled. No more flip flopping for me and I've been bouncing back and for like a mad man the last 3 months.<br /><br />Go Obama.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />A little bit about Colin Powell if you have no idea who he is:<br /><br />Powell's civilian awards includes two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.<br /><br />In 1991, Powell was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans,[47] which "honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in U.S. society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education." <br />On November 9, 1993, Powell was awarded the second Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, by President Ronald Reagan. Powell served as Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1987-1989.[48] <br />On December 15, 1993, Colin Powell was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. <br />In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy for his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country." <br />The 2002 Liberty Medal was awarded to Colin Powell on July 4th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his acceptance speech, Powell reminded Americans that "It is for America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, to help freedom ring across the globe, unto all the peoples thereof. That is our solemn obligation, and we will not fail."[49] <br />The Coat of Arms of Colin Powell was granted by the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh on February 4, 2004. Technically the grant was to Powell's father (a British subject) to be passed on by descent. Scotland's King of Arms is traditionally responsible for granting arms to Commonwealth citizens. Blazoned as: <br />Azure, two swords in saltire points downwards between four mullets Argent, on a chief of the Second a lion passant Gules. On a wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest the head of an American bald-headed eagle erased Proper. And in an escrol over the same this motto, "DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE."<br /><br />The swords and stars refer to the former general's career, as does the crest, which is the badge of the 101st Airborne (which he served as a brigade commander in the mid-1970s). The lion may be an allusion to Scotland. The shield can be shown surrounded by the insignia of an honorary Knight Commander of the Most honorable Order of the Bath (KCB), an award the General received after the first Gulf War. <br />In 2005 Powell received the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award for his contributions to Africa. <br />AARP honored Powell with the 2006 AARP Andrus Award, the Association’s highest honor. This award, named in honor of AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, is presented biennially to distinguished individuals who have generated positive social change in the world, and whose work and achievements reflect AARP’s vision of bringing lifetimes of experience and leadership to serve all generations. <br />In 2005 Colin and Alma Powell were awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution. <br />Colin Powell was initiated as an honorary brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon. <br />Powell is a recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award, the highest adult award given by the Boy Scouts of America. <br />A street in Gelnhausen, Germany was named after him: "General-Colin-Powell-Strasse"[50]. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:91607 2008-09-10T06:00:53Z 2008-09-10T06:00:53Z Sonata Artica Nothin in this world compares....that it actually happened still makes me laugh.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wkrg.com/national/article/sausage_attack/17730/">http://www.wkrg.com/national/article/sausage_attack/17730/</a> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:91126 2008-07-11T16:42:30Z 2008-07-11T16:42:30Z This is just sweet!! I wish our public news would report OUR AWESOME SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS!<br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7501476.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7501476.stm</a>.<br /><br />Going to go watch Boston at the Idaho Center tonight...oh yea! I can't wait. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:90687 2008-07-06T08:55:18Z 2008-07-06T09:01:31Z Papa Roach - Last Resort Soooo, this 4th of July weekend took me on an adventure to a part of Idaho I've never been to. A little town called Crouch in Garden Valley. I went up with with a my good friend Mat and his fiance Tawny. Tawny grew up in the area so she wanted to show me around and meet some of her friends etc..........<br />Anyway, after they get off work around 10pm we drive up there and get there by midnight. Setup the tent and went straight to the bar. It was a pretty chill night in the small town that night, so we played pool and had a few drinks.<br /><br />The next morning we hit up the mountain (this part of idaho is beautiful, with pristine clear rivers runnig off the mountains etc) and did some serious hiking to the peaks. Saw a bunch of white tails and a mess load of butterflies everywhere. After that she showed us a huge bridge they used to jump off of. I just took off the shirt and leaped off into the river, it felt so good after that hike. <br />We then got back to the camp and were going to to go rafting on the Main of the Payette River. Now...I've never done any serious rafting before and they had a little 4 person raft for me to use that they float down the boise river in (which is pretty much just lounge floating). Mat and Tawny rented a two person kayak and each had a life vest..I didn't have one....Yes, not the wisest thing I've ever done but I didn't know what kind of rafting we were actually doing. Anyhow, we get down to the dock area where people are preparing their rafts and I see people with some serious equipment and all have life jackets. I'm like WTF Tawny, you said your local friends all floated down this thing in Tubes and Duckies LoL...She stil reassured me that the river is not that bad so I said "fuck it, I'm here and I'm going to go down this thing". The river was moving fast because of all the snow we got this year. The run off has been insane.<br /><br />Anyway I get to the first set of rapids on this little 50 dollar WalMart raft which already has a hole. <br />I seriously thought I was gonna die during that first rapid, a monster 4000 dollar raft in front of me full of 4 people almost flipped. As I came closer to it, I just manned up, paddled my ass off over the rapids and seriously had the fricken front of the raft hit me in the face!! Tawny and Mat stayed close to make sure that I wasn't going to die....not that they could do much if I sank into a deep eddy anyway heh.<br />So, this went on with me going over rapids for the next hour and a half. Yes, I was only knees that long because I couldn't rest..I had to dodge rocks and I couldn't paddle sitting down. We pulled over three of four times to air up the raft and so I could get the water out that I took in. I have to say, being on that shitty raft going over these rapids was better then any roller coaster ride I have ever been on, it was so much fun.<br /><br />So, I make it down 99% of the river to the very second to last rapid. I see the swell in this thing and it was huge! I tried to avoid it but paddling a four man raft not made for serious rafting sucked. This rapid sucked me in and shot me into the air, all I remember is seeing the raft over my head as I sank into an swirling eddy. I was probably under water for a good 35 or so seconds fighting to get up for air. I felt a rock under my shoe and kicked to get up to the surface, and when I got to the surface I kicked off my shoes because they were like anchors. I treaded water like a fiend and my body went into shock for a second. But I pretty much told myself I wasn't going to die here today. While cramping all over the place, I fricken somehow made it to the shore and held onto a rock for a few minutes to catch my breath and come back to reality.<br /><br />The raft, my paddle, and everything went down the river. I finally swam up and found Mat and Tawny who were waiting for me...they pulled their kayak over when they saw me flip and saw that I made it to the shore. I got up to them and they caught one of my shoes lol as well as the paddle, but missed the raft entirely.<br />I told them to finish the river and that I'd meet up with them back at the truck...They asked me if I wanted to finish this thing with them (meaning I'd jump in thier two man kayak with them) and i said "Hells No". I made it up the ledge and hitch hiked my way back to the truck at the beginning of the run. <br /><br />An EMT picked me up and took me back...which was awesome. That's when I found out everybody was looking for me lol. Since I was so close to the end of the run, people saw the raft i was manning and it was empty. They called the Casscade EMT's. They had an ambulance and divers all looking for me. I asked the EMT what level of river was it that I was on and he said a class 3 rapid. He said the one I bit it on was considered a 3.5 and asked me why I didn't have a life jacket? I told him that I trusted stupid woman who said that it was flotable by tubes or duckies lol. He informed me that that was probably possible in August the last couple of years because of the droughts, but this year, the river was fast and that it was July.<br /><br />Come to find out later, when I meet up with Tawny and Mat again that they flipped on the very last rapid.<br />Damn I'm glad I didn't go with them. And thank God I know how to swim like a champ.<br /><br />So the lesson learned from this....Never trust a woman because it could get you killed. hahah j/k<br /><br />Later on that night we saw the Garden Valley fire works and I got insanely drunk. People were shooting bottle rockets at police cars and nobody cared...Talk about good small town fun. They blew up every kind of firework known to man right in the cities center. I woke up this morning with a killer hangover around 10am, tried my best to sober up and came back to Boise, where I passed out till 9pm. I'm sore as hell all over and damn was it a good 4th of July. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:89529 2008-05-07T03:14:28Z 2008-05-07T03:14:28Z <b>I Am A:</b> True Neutral Human Ranger (4th Level)<br /><br><br><u>Ability Scores:</u><br><br /><b>Strength-</b>14<br><br /><b>Dexterity-</b>15<br><br /><b>Constitution-</b>16<br><br /><b>Intelligence-</b>14<br><br /><b>Wisdom-</b>16<br><br /><b>Charisma-</b>13<br /><br><br><u>Alignment:</u><br><b>True Neutral</b> A true neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. He doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most true neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil after all, he would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, he's not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way. Some true neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run. True neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion. However, true neutral can be a dangerous alignment because it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction.<br><br /><br><u>Race:</u><br><b>Humans</b> are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.<br /><br><br><u>Class:</u><br><b>Rangers</b> are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.<br /><br><br>Find out <a href="http://www.easydamus.com/character.html" target="mt">What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?</a>, courtesy of Easydamus <a href="mailto:zybstrski@excite.com">(e-mail)</a><br><br><br /><br />-----------------------------<br /><br />Oh yea. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:88853 2008-04-09T05:57:23Z 2008-04-09T05:57:23Z this is just awesome...if this doesn't make you realize that your never to old to achieve anything...i don't know what is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24010348#24010348">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24010348#24010348</a><br /><br />An 82 year old man who just had a heart attack can come to a concert the next day to sing Coldplay "fix me" solo.....the human spirit just amazes me. I wish we'd see more stories like this in the news. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:88141 2008-03-29T10:12:10Z 2008-03-29T10:12:10Z Was an awesome night. I had so much fricken fun...i danced with probably one of the most beautiful 39yr old married woman i have ever met. And she could move on the floor....it was crazy. I then hung out with my buddies aaron, jared, JP and her good friend Al from Moscow, Id who moved down here around the same time I did...go figure heh. Anyway it was hella good times with good friends.<br /><br />I am only worried about one thing, and that is my friend Sam who I have heard nothing from before he left Thailand...he was supposed to only be in the country for three more days the last I spoke to him and he usually drops a post in LJ or gives me a shout out somewhere....SAM if your out there, let us know your still alive and kickin man. I don't want to have to avenge you but you know I fuckin will.<br /><br />Ohhhh yea...and I'm addicted to guitar hero. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:87670 2008-03-16T09:11:21Z 2008-03-16T09:11:21Z 2pac - Me against the world So tonight was one of my good friend's bachelor party. And WHAT a crazy night...my lord...all the crazies were out of the wood work. We first started off the day with hitting a bucket golf balls, went to eat at the most amazing Irish pub called Harry's in Hyde Park. Afterward we came back to the apt and bull shit for about an hour before going to the Johnny Cash Tribute Show at the Big Easy...and let me tell you, talk about false fricken advertising. Only 2 bands played ONE johnny cash song and the last band played two or three. So, it was pretty much a death metal concert called a Johnny Cash tribute show....blah, we had fun anyway and had a few drinks. After that we went to a club called China Blue and ran around there for a little while but it was pretty dead. We then went across to a place called the Reef (hella laid back club) and they had a reggae band playing which we chilled to and had another drink. By this time the bachelor is trashed.<br />We then decided it was time to hit the strip club...went there for about an hour or so..and it was sad. I now know why I have no interest in going to these things. Plus all the women looked ugly and I was drunk, if that says anything haha. But we got my buddy Chuck the bachelor a few lap dances with a couple of the ladies which he enjoyed lol.<br /><br />We then went back down town and met up with our good friend Mat at a club called the Lush....that place is odd. I now know why I never go in there LoL. It's a bunch of rich assholes who think they are so high and mighty and that their shit doesn't stink. I like down to earth people, people who respect one another and don't judge until they know you. That place was anything but that.<br /><br />We leave that club and go to the Pie Hole to grab some pizza. Some of the best pizza in Boise in that place...hell yea...Potato Bacon pizza! you can't go wrong! Chuck comes out of there with 6 slices of pizza!! when the rest of us only bought 2 lol....Anyway, we BS with a few people, eat our pizza and then start to head out of downtown. Of course as we are walking this stupid fool is trying to start shit with us...This guy was so pussy he started dancing around us and throwing fake punches!!! LOL My god if he landed one on any of us he was dead and he knew it, that's why he couldn't actually throw a real punch, we just kept walking and ignored him. It was so hard not to just punch him in the face and knock his ass out. People like that need to be ended. All three of us have something called a "future" we care about and are not going to let some punk take it from us. We've all been in brawls before, many I never talk about and don't care to remember because it shames me that I had to stoop to that level. But sometimes you are not given a choice.<br /><br />So we got my buddy Justin's wife to come pick us up..there was no way in hell I'm driving. But I do hate leaving my car downtown...subject to peoples whims. Yea, as we were driving back to my apartment there was a hippie playing drums next to the Egyptian Theater and then half naked guys just wearing underwear dancing! LOL <br /><br />I can't wait to sleep. Tonight was a weird night. Idiot asshole with fake punches, naked drum dancers, ugly strippers, and a fake johnny cash tribute show...what the fuck. <br /><br />Another one bites the dust to the married life. After next week I am officially the only person out of all my friends in high school who is not married. I don't know whether to think if I'm lucky or cursed hahaha...either way, I'm loving life!<br /><br />All in all, Chuck had a fun night and got trashed, so that's all that matters. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:87152 2008-02-28T08:01:09Z 2008-02-28T08:01:09Z So tonight was my best friends little brother's 21 run (Danny). Been a little while since I have been on one and I figured we'd go hit downtown Boise and I'd get the little guy trashed. He made it to 15 shots when I was done with him at midnight...I had to head out because of work in the morning but it was a damn good time. He's with two other people that live next to him so they are going to take him to a few meridian bars to finish off the night. <br />For every 21 run I've ever been on, I make the person write down the name of the shot they drank for free from the bar and sign it. On the back of it I write whatever stupid shit they say during the night...<br />some good ones tonight were "Is that Hansen?" It happened right when we walked into a bar with a live band playing...hella funny. Another one he said tonight was "a k-9 cop just drove by and was darkin"....yes i said darkin. haha.<br />I can't believe how fast time flies...there was a time when I remember him having nsync posters on his wall and he was a little 13 yr old and his mom bought me and his older brother pizza. Or she did this awesome thing called an Ice Cream dinner..where she'd get a 5 gallon tub of ice cream with all the fixings and we'd eat that for dinner. It was awesome!<br />If I ever have a family...I hope to only bring about good memories like that and continue in traditions I see so many families lack in these days. <br /><br />Man, I have so much to update. I was going to go to Seattle for St. Patrick's day but I was just told tonight that my roommate's bachelor party is going to be March 15th and I'm one of the groomsmen so I WILL BE THERE to rock it with him. Aside from that, us groomsmen (Me, Joe, and his best man who is also a great friend of mine Justin.) have to get all the fellas together from mtn. home, boise, out of state etc....everybody has to be there.<br /><br />Work is still rockin....I've concluded my boss has total an utter trust in me in any decision I make, which is awesome considering she likes to hawk eye a lot of the other people I work with.<br />Ummmmm still single and loving it....I took a girl out the other week and we hit it off, but I'm not sure if I want to pursue a relationship these days, I'm just sort of winging it...I've totally given up on love and if it comes my way then so be it..if not, I'm living life to the fullest. Speaking of!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING/SUMMER! It's so close yet so far...Camping! Running outside again! Cliff Jumping! Swimming! Fishing! wohooo.<br />Ohhh and I found a few townhouses/condos I'm going to go look at hopefully this weekend. My strategy is to buy a place I know I'll be able to rent out in the future...so I'm looking downtown and close to Boise State University. Can't go wrong with having a student pay a good portion of my mortgage...<br />As a wise man once said..."early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Not this man..."later to bed, later to rise, makes a man stealthy, wealthy, and wise". urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:86706 2008-02-14T04:24:28Z 2008-02-14T04:24:28Z So everything has been moving along quite nicely lately. I haven't gotten a chance to go on the mountatin and do any snowboarding yet, but I will get up there before spring get's here.<br />Been changing up the diet...and for lent I gave up eating out entirely. If I want food i have to make it myself and it is actually a lot harder to do then i thought since i've gotten so used to eating salads and sandwiches at delis for lunch. <br /><br />At work two days ago I made my first major mistake ...i brought down a router for an entire site and the damn thing didn't come back to life...isn't that some shit? So i had employees at a site who couldn't work for two days cuz of my dumb ass. blah.....even though the router did need to be replaced anyhow because it was extremely old. It does look as if quite a few of the higher up network guys backed me up since it was my first networking mistake in almost a year....I know I won't make that mistake again that's for sure lol.<br />And the lady who was the site was the one who hit the power button before I told her to....but I should have been more clear on my instruction thus it falls on my shoulders. Oh well, what can I do heh.<br /><br />Been on the hunt for a condo or town house and got approved for a sweet loan. Looking hellla forward to that....but I'm chillin with Jenn right now and she just said it's time to get on with the show..so i'll have to write up some more later tonight.<br /><br />adious urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:85937 2007-11-15T00:38:44Z 2007-11-15T00:38:44Z Across the Universe Soundtrack So not only are my weekends becoming very eventful, my weekdays are almost alway slammed...I really only go home to my apartment to eat and sleep. That's about it. Last night I went to a birthday party of a few ladies I met in the hookah bar a couple of months ago. Marchelle just turned 22 and her roomate Kristal made 20 enchiladas to feed us all when we came over for dinner. After that we did some tip cup competitions 6 on 6. My team of course rocked the house!<br />Been getting into playing basketball again lately, especially with the winter weather it's far funner then running outside to get my cardio. I've gained about 5 lbs since the beginning of October, mainly due to my lack of cardio and my increased workout routine with weights. Trying to get stronger as well as more toned for the summer next year.<br /><br />At work today, I received my first performance evaluation of the year which was given to me in pretty good regards. My boss is very impressed with my performance, especially since I have never worked in a corporate enviornment like this before. The first week of December we get to talk about Merit raises and bonus's based on how well I did....of course since the fiscal year for the company ended Sept. 1st, I will only be rated on how well I performed for the first 3 months, as well as being prorated on the bonus...which kind of sucks but it is only fair. <br />However, a few extra hundred dollars in my pocket when I go to NYC for New Years will be welcomed! <br /><br />I really hope my roomate get's one of the jobs he's applied for this last few weeks.....There is no way I am going to let him get in debt past two months on rent..he already owes me 370 dollars. <br />Anybody who has lived with me before knows I am a very fair guy when it comes to that..but I expect some return payment in a timely manner, even if it is in increments. As long as you show effort, I will not come down on you. (there is an exception to a very very select few based on circumstance)<br /><br />This weekend is the big rivalry game between the Vandals and Broncos. I only hope my Vandals can put on a good show and if we do win...I will flip out. I will run naked in this 30 degree weather around my apartment complex and then jump in our hot tub!! Sa da tae!<br /><br />And tonight...I make my amazing Steak and Guiness Pie...yum. Life is good. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:85665 2007-11-12T06:47:25Z 2007-11-12T06:47:25Z I had a kicking weekend again this week. After my last sappy post about forgetting how to love and all that I actually realized I didn't forget that. It's just I hadn't been to see my parents in what felt like such a long time, that I had thought I forgot. LOL yea..retarded me. <br /><br />Anyhow, this weekend consisted of some good drinking (Friday night was insane, Saturday night I was a good boy...only a couple beers), smoking up Shesha (I'm starting to get to good at smoking hookah...I'm blowing smoke rings already lol), rocking out karaoke and just over all the place kicking ass and taking names at Savvys. I ran with Jenn, JP(came down from Moscow again this weekend because she missed us so), Aaron, Jeremiah, Adona, Kelly, Nate and Fiddler. <br />Met a bunch more new and cool people, and hopefully, will run into them again sometime next weekend. <br /><br />My buddies P36 landed a killer show with Authority Zero here in Boise.at the Bouquet.DEC 6th...that will be sweet.<br /><br />Should be a very interesting week at work also....I think I get my performance evaluation....I HAVE NO idea what to expect, so whatever it may be, I hope it's good constructive criticism vs just what I'm doing wrong.<br /><br />A month and a week until I am in NYC!! urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:85426 2007-11-02T05:42:59Z 2007-11-02T05:42:59Z But I think it ends tonight. I was sitting back...wondering about my life a little bit and I came to a crazy realization.<br /><br />I've forgotten how to love, or I blocked my heart from it...I didn't realize it until I was watching the HBO mini-series called ROME. Which is an amazing series by the way. <br />Anyway, I was sitting there watching a point where this soldier came back from the 8 year war against the Ghals....he just seen his wife again he hadn't seen the entire 8 years. He comes back, and he has no idea how to love her..treat her...he was being a total asshole to her because that's all he knew how to do being with soldiers the entire time...The kicker is that he isn't an asshole but he just didn't nkow how to present himself properly anymore....and it was at that moment that I realized..I had been doing the same thing..but in an entirely different scenario. .....I've been somebody else...I've been myself around friends etc....but when it comes to the people I should really love, the ones closest to me like my family, I sort of shut them out of my life...I need to sit back and start with them first. <br /><br />I do the same with the women I like lately, I don't really flirt with them anymore....I don't tell her anything about myself, and when I do I just say whatever I think she wants to hear instead of my true opinion.<br />It's as if I'm afraid of who I am and I shouldn't be that way. <br />I have a feeling this is going to be a long journey.....as I know I've been doing this for at least the last year. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:85047 2007-10-24T22:00:11Z 2007-10-24T22:00:11Z The Beatles - Hey Jude So this weekend just rocked the house. To begin..<br /><br />Midnight 12:00am Friday Morning: Met up with Jennie P. and Danielle when they finally get into town. We hit up a Karoke bar with Jenn and Aaron. Those four sing their hearts out and we have a few beers, pretty much chill but it was great hanging out with some of the old crew again. Had a gorgeous woman come up to me and ask me to dance with her. After some chit chatting we found out that she is one of my best friends older roomates (ryan chambers, radio dj in moscow) step sister!! ahh this world is small. I was up till 2:30am and had to work at 8am. Found out I'm still a bad ass.<br /><br />Friday at work: Got so much accomplished, everything went so smooth I felt like a king when I walked out of the building. <br /><br />Friday Night: Got together with everybody (All Moscow crew) and we hit up the bars...met some new people, Grace and Arlan who have been married a year but have know JP forever. We went to watch JP's dad play in the band Jerimiah James (oldshcool country rock band) in Penguiles. I'd seen them a few times but it was pretty cool finally meeting JP's dad. They play everything from Johnny Cash to Hank Williams the third. That night we got our drink on and went to Old Chicago to grab some food and play some pool. The Fiddlers met up with me while I was there for a little while. At around 2am we went to the hookah bar and smoked some tasty sheesh till around 4am. <br /><br />Saturday Morning: I woke up at 8am after falling asleep around 5am and ran a 10k race non-stop. 6.25 Miles!! Yes, still partially drunk and with my lungs half dead I did it in 57 minutes flat. I am the fashizzle. <br /><br />Saturday Afternoon: passed out.<br /><br />Saturday Evening: Met up with Jenn (aarons wife) and we hung out until we could locate Jennie P and Danielle. We hit the mall for a while, got some stuff done and then parted ways till we met up again at the Bouquet. We (the same crew from saturday night plus a few others) seriously got our drink on after that and the night was crraaaazzzzyyyyy...let's just say, I made out with a few women, danced all night long and then had an amazing breakfast around 4:30am at Merrits.<br />It was one of those nights you never really wanted to end..and you wish you could live in that moment forever. <br /><br />Sunday: Went to lunch with Jennie P and Danielle at Fanci Freeze. They have the most amazing shakes and ice cream dips in the entire area. Afterward I ran around boise with those ladies for a little while, hanging out with Jp's little brother named Elie (spelling?) who is only 14, but that kid is a crazy gamer. So we got along great haha.<br /><br />Anyway, to finish off this weekend; JP, Jp's Dad, Danielle, Aaron and I all hit up the movie "Across the Universe". The movie about the vietnam war in the eyes of the beatles and how it influenced their music....IT IS AWESOME and a must see! They portrayed each song so well....i liked the beatles before it, but after seeing it the way it was portrayed in that movie....the songs have so much more meaning and I'm hooked. I want to see the movie again.<br /><br />Thus concludes my weekend. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:84683 2007-10-16T02:58:37Z 2007-10-16T02:58:37Z Life is good atm. I went to mass yesterday and it was a great spiritual cleansing, haven't been there in almost half a year..so it's good to know that I still remember all my prayers and even majority of the songs heh.<br />I had a great weekend overall, chilled Friday night with some great friends and got my drink on. Although, that night two crazy things happened....on my way home a car was coming directly at me on a one way street (he was going the wrong way) and i had to swerve so he didn't hit me....Then, as I was on my way back I saw three coyotes right next to our apartment in the street, two darted and one stood his ground as I drove up to him...then he took off. They were beautiful looking animals too, and must be entirely hungry to have come in this far into domestication. Saturday was a really chill night, I watched a Western called "Trinity" with my buddy Andy. It's a crazy and extremely comedic western.<br />On Sunday, my amazing friend Jenn made an awesome dinner with lemon chicken, pasta, green beens...it was yum. Her husband made a killer Boston cream pie. I had a slice and a 1/2 because I couldn't resist. <br /><br />My weight loss has come to a total standstill at the moment...Mainly because winter sucks and my hunger levels go nuts during this time of year...I swear I'm like a bear preparing for hibernation. But I'm getting back under control took a week break heh. <br /><br />Anyway, work is rocking, I think I'm doing well, but my boss is really really unpredictable. I guess if she isn't coming over to tell me I'm doing something wrong then I can assume I'm doing things right. I already want to move up in the company though....I have that itch. <br /><br />Well, the Red Sox just lost....ugh!! Series is 1-2 against the Indians. I guess they can't always win...but at least they made it further then the Yankees. muwahhha..that alone is a victory worth relishing. <br /><br />I just bought a few movies today too...Hot Fuzz, and an Irish movie about the catholic/protestant war. Hmmm which one to watch tonight..<br /><br />Oh yea, I've been reading a book called "Life of Pi". It's an amazing book about a little kid from India who followed three religions when he was growing up. Hinduism, Muslim, and Catholicism. His parents didn't follow any but he enjoyed learning about them. It's really funny when all the priests of each different religion finds out he's been studying all three....his only reply to that was that "he loved god" lol...nobody can refute that. <br />Anyhow, the adventure begins when his parents who own a zoo decide to move to Canada to start a new life. On this ship they bring along most of their animals. During the trip to Canada their boat sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He survives because his curiosity of a loud noise moves him on deck (while everybody else is still sleeping) and the Chinese sailor men throw him overboard into a life boat. He is the only survivor of this ship wreck, in the exception of a hyena, an orang-u-tang and a jungle Tiger. It's a superb story about life, nature, and straight up spiritual/human courage. A must read if you want a good book to enjoy.<br /><br />What is everybody going as for Halloween?? I'm going as a Roman Warrior...muwhaha. I'll have to toss up some pictures of it before i hit up my buddies Halloween party. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:lotustrip:84282 2007-10-02T06:53:10Z 2007-10-02T06:53:10Z This Day and Age - Clouds and Skyscrapers wow I'm posting in here often lately....<br /><br />Well, where to begin, Work was pretty good. I didn't make it to church yesterday...again I don't go. Next <br />Sunday I will go...if I don't....I am going to find someway to torcher myself. <br /><br />And cuz I haven't posted a pic of myself on here in a long time...here's me with my friend Woo up in Moscow just a month ago! I love that woman. She is my ninja partner in crime! <br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/lotustrip/StevoandWoo.jpg" /><br /><br />I've concluded that even though I am single today, and that my roommate and that others who do have girlfriends are wondering why I'm still single....that i shouldn't care what they think and fucking A.... you'd think i would have figured this out by now..but sometimes you just forget. <br />I do have the freedoms of doing whatever it is I want. That woman companionship will someday arrive to me, not on a silver platter, more like in a pile of dog poop I will have to dig through if I really want it...but I know when it's worth it I will not falter. But until that day comes again...I will continue to Focus on me. (I have to keep telling myself that). Focus on me, focus on me, focus on me. <br /><br />My three goals for this week are to:<br /><br />1. Keep kicking ass at work<br />2. Join some kind of sports league somewhere<br />3. Tell some random girl she's beautiful and walk away.