It’s amazing that in this day and age that there are still some people that still ridicule the handicapped. Whether it be someone with a physical deformity, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, or mental instability just to name few. You’d be surprised that anyone from any walk of life or profession still discriminate or look down upon them. I find it hard to forgive those that are not tolerant of those people living with some type of handicap, claiming ignorance just won’t cut it for me. Guess growing up with a sister that has a handicap has turned me into a cynic when it comes to those type of things. All my life I’ve gotten into fights because there were people who constantly teased her; it was my way of protecting her and in a subconscious way learning to cope with that “Why me?” and “Why do I have to have a sister with a handicap?” attitude. Granted at times it was rough and I was put through the ringer but there were great times as well. And the good always outweighs over the bad in my opinion. I learned to understand my sister’s disability and became more tolerant of her shortcomings. I can’t imagine how my parents did it all these years and to add to their credit – with a smile on their faces. They grew up in a time where this type of disability was shunned or kept in the closet. Yes, times have changed and it is more out in the open than in the past but the acceptance is still quite not there. In the end, we’re all people and we all have feelings even if some of us are unable to convey them outright due to our handicap. I learned accept the handicapped because I had to grow up with a sibling with it and looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a better person for it and I constantly teach my kids the importance of being understanding towards those that are handicapped. Don’t get me wrong, I still see red when I observe the ignorant making a snarky remark or stare towards the handicapped but I’ve learned to accept that those type of people have a disability that nothing can cure – stupidity.
Author: markmkane
“Jack of all trades, master of none”
It’s a wonder that everyone, and I mean everyone, is knowledgeable about a variety of things yet not a true expert on all of it. I’m not talking about math or science or history or even english, I’m talking about the everyday things like plumbing, electrical, carpentry, auto mechanics, computers, pets, movies, comics, books. The stuff that we deal with day in and day out. Sure we know just a little bit about these things just to get by but we’re not completely and precisely well read on it. And why should we? If we know the right amount to get us through whatever we’re going through then that’s fine. Me, I like the idea of knowing just enough to carry on a conversation but not to the point where I need to know everything to write a dissertation. What’s interesting about me is I like learning new things even if it’s just a small portion, but I noticed that I tend to try to learn the most inane things…especially from movies. I learned to roll coins between my fingers because it looked cool when Val Kilmer did it in “Real Genius“. I learned to open a Zippo lighter very stylish like how George Clooney took out his lighter in “Out of Sight” and even learned how to do hat tricks like the way Andrew McCarthy did in “Mannequin“. The “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles“, the old version and not the remake, taught me how to twirt a nunchaku in a way that I’ve never seen in all my martial arts training. The point is, we all say the phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none” like it’s a derogatory thing but the truth of the matter is that it’s great. It shows us that we are all willing to be enlightened on a cornucopia of subjects and not limited to one thing. There’s a whole world out there that we don’t know about and it’s good that we’re trying to explore it a little at at time.
Teaching an old dog new tricks.
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” was a saying that I’ve heard over and over growing up. For awhile I literally took that phrase to heart thinking that it just pertained to my pet pooch. As I grew older and learned what that saying was really trying to convey then it all clicked. I knew that you could teach an old dog something totally new because I was able to train my dog Remy to roll over which is a feat unto itself. I’ve recently come to realize that in this day and age, with the way technology is evolving every passing second that I need to learn new things even in my advanced stage in life. It is not so much a want, more like a need of necessity in order to survive. In order to function in the world we live in, we need to adapt. It’s funny though, I know of some people who are resistant to learning the new ways of technology and trying their all to holding on to their past and the “old ways.” It’s funny how they make an attempt but soon give up whether it be frustration or the fear of feeling obsolete. When you think about it, a lot of the things that I’ve been learning and am learning helps to make life a little easier and faster. If my “old school” colleagues take this to heart then maybe, just maybe they wouldn’t be hesitant to trying something new. But I guess it’s their prerogative to get left back in the dark ages while the rest of us accept modernization. Learning something totally new is very stimulating and re-energizes the soul…but the only freakin’ hard thing is the amount of information that needs to be taken in to gain this new skill or knowledge. It takes twice as long and double the determination to do accomplish this…well, at least I know I can overcome this. “AND” if I can overcome this then I can surely conquer whatever’s in my path. ONWARD, AND UPWARD!!!
HELP! I have writer’s block and I can’t get up!!!
Anybody and everybody who writes will all go through writer’s block; it even happens to established writers. Hell, it happens to me every time I try to write something for my blog site. What’s the key to getting through this?! How do I get this dreaded writing disease to go away and never come back?! I really wish I knew…if I had a sure fire answer to this worldwide dilemma then I’d teach a class on it and become an instant millionaire. All I know is that I would really like to get some insight as to how other writers cope with this, how do they push through and find the light at the end of the tunnel. There are time when I sit in front of my computer for hours staring at a blank screen or typing in random no nonsense sentences that end up being deleted once I complete them. Having writer’s block suck big time! I can’t tell you how many times I go through this. I can count the number of times on a single hand of when the ideas and words flowed freely onto the screen without any signs of writer’s block. I know that as a writer I should find consolation that my fellow brethren are dealing with this issue as I speak but that doesn’t make me feel any better. But if I want to be better at my craft and pursue it to the end of my dying days then I will persevere! I will force myself to write random stuff until something clicks in my somnolent brain. I will continue to write because that’s what I love. So here’s to having more fruitless nights and heartaches and headaches that comes with writer’s block! I gladly take you on for that rare moment of clarity when you are no longer there and I am able to put pen to paper. Hello, my name is Mark…and I have writer’s block!
The grass is always greener…
Growing up I always heard the phrase “The grass is always greener on the other side” and as a young kid I took that literally. As I got older I started to understand it more and more. Yes there were times when I was envious of others and felt their life was more charmed than mine but in the end I was content with where my life had ended up. I always believed that my life was preordained and that I should just shut up and go along for the ride. As I got older and wiser, if I can say that, I started to realize how some people are just plain lucky. Everything seems to fall in place for them without every trying while I bust my ass fighting and clawing for everything that I have. On one hand, it makes me appreciated all that I’ve worked for but on the other hand I’m still envious of the other guy that had things fall in their lap. We all know someone “lucky” like that; that one friend that can quit a job and get another one, a better one the next day. Or a family member that is showered with praise or more birthday gifts than you. Or someone that gets in that faster grocery line because you thought yours would move along quicker and opted not to go in that other line. I know life’s unfair but does it have to always be like that. I got two bad news in one week, TWO and that just plain outright SUCKS! There’s that phrase “Every dog has his day” but so far I’ve yet to see that reflected in my life. My life’s not “great” but it’s still good. Do I wish it was better? HELL YES! It’s hard to ignore the fortune of others and appreciate what I have, I’m only human. But once, just once I wish the cards were stacked in my favor. I’ve been busting my ass and have yet to reap its fortune. Who am I to feel so entitled is what most would say, but just this once I’d like to be selfish and I deserve it.
Isn’t it annoying when…part 2
Phone etiquette…another one of my all time pet peeves that’s quite similar to my first blog post on what annoys me the most. It’s a safe bet to say that this happens to a majority of us; you know, when you’re talking on the phone with someone and they carry on a conversation with someone else while talking with you. You thought that this would be an “A and B conversation” but B is communicating with C, D, E and F and excluding you in the process. This irritates the hell outta me! First off, if you’re talking on the phone at least have the courtesy of giving your full attention to the person on the other end of the line. If you can’t do that then get off of the phone for crying out loud. You don’t need to be talking to someone else AND talking on the phone at the same time; in fact, you don’t need to be eating as well while talking. We know that you can multi-task but you don’t need to prove that to us. When you’re ready to give us your full attention then that’s when you should call us up; that’s all that we ask. If you still insist on carrying on an extra conversation at your end with someone else while still on the phone with us, then don’t get mad if we do the same to you–Capice! What’s good for the goose is good for the gander I say.
Time for a change, but will it be for the better?
Change is inevitable, that’s a fact of life. Some are for the better and others for the worse. With so many changes occurring in our lives you would’ve thought we’d be used to it by now. I for one should be more accepting of change. I grew up in a time when I saw the evolution of video games going from Pong, to Donkey Kong and finally to Batman Arkham Knight. The game systems went from Atari, to Sega, to Dreamcast, to Nintendo, to XBOX One and PS4. I grew up in a time where I watched TV on a black and white screen and then to color, tv tube transistors to flat screen, from three network tv stations to thousands on cable, sign on/sign off to 24 hour viewing. Phones went from rotary, to buttons, to cell phones and to finally Apple watches. I even saw the evolution of computers on a grand scale, from the big clunky Texas Instruments model on down to the ultra thin HP and Apple laptops. With so many changes I’ve witnessed, you’d think I’d be used to it by now. But I’m still like everyone else when it comes to change. I’m apprehensive about it because of all the unknowns that come with it. We all like to be in control on some facet of the changes that occur to us but most of the time we just have to let the dices roll. The reason I’m talking about this is because I’m going through a change at the moment that will impact my life. Yeah I’m scared but I’m way more energized and encouraged at the endless possibilities that may come from it. For me it’s not a question of “if I should make the change” but more of “how soon can this change take effect.” For the first time in my life, I welcome the chance for a change regardless of the outcome; I think that when life presents you with opportunities and your intuition urges you to seize them then you’d better listen. So with my faith in God, here’s to more future opportunities to come and hopefully a change for the better.
We don’t choose our pets, they choose us.
When a family decides it’s time to bring a pet into the mix, the energy and excitement levels go through the roof. We try to figure out what type of pet that we want, a dog, a cat, a bird, etc… Once we determine that, then we go into breeds; all of a sudden we become top notch researchers and read up on all the possible breeds that interest us. We take into account, the size, temperament, ailments just to name a few. We look at all sorts of pictures on the internet and in books and even go out of our way to try and meet people that own the pet that we are looking to buy. But when all is said and done, this is all for naught. In reality, when we go to the pet store, pet show or pet swap meet, our eyes initially train on the breed we want but suddenly get pulled in every which way. We get bombarded with other various breeds along the way and all that research goes down the drain; I’ll even wager that every family member will be drawn to a different breed that somehow piques their interest.
Eventually there is one breed that all the family members can agree upon and that is the one that instantly catches our hearts. It’s a feeling you can’t describe; we all see something special and we know that this is the “one” for our family. Now did we initially go looking for a new pet? Yes. Did we do our homework before acting? Yes. Did we go with the intention of purchasing our intended pet? Yes. But what it all boils down to is that the pets are really shopping for new owner to love and care for. They put on a show for the family that they feel best matches their personality. They are the ones doing the shopping, not us. 
So when you think about it, when you really think about it…we don’t choose our pets, they choose us.
Everyone’s a critic…
I’ve spent nearly 25 years learning the art of writing by taking countless and countless and countless of classes. Since then I’ve been trying to perfecting my craft to to reflect my inner voice; I’ve dabbled in children’s stories but my mainstay was screenwriting. I’ve met the “who’s who” of established screenwriters over my years and learned one very important thing…it’s difficult to come up with something original let alone have a “fresh” take on something done before. All around me I hear people say negative comments about a movie they saw or a tv show they just watched; granted it’s their right to express their opinions but something inside me just cringes and snaps. In a dream scenario, I would jump out of my chair and slap them silly until they pass out. Why you may ask would I do such a horrific thing? Well, as a writer, I know how hard it is to come up with an idea and I know the tedious task of taking that idea and creating a well constructed story. Even the most crappiest of movies had to be written. If those people making snide remarks about a movie knew one iota about the process of writing then they wouldn’t be quick to judge. I would like to see them try and do better; I know for a fact that they would fall flat on their faces right out of the gate. A person slaved away countless of hours doing what they love just to tell a simple story; it’s their pride and passion and you’re gonna rain down on their parade. For crying out loud people, it’s just a movie! It’s meant to entertain you, make you forget your problems! That’s all! It’s not meant to win the Pulitzer or Noble…it’s a movie. It’s make-believe. Suspend all disbelief and assume the impossible is possible. Just shut up and have fun…and stop being a critic.
Midlife, Maniacal & Me 