never really thought i'd say this...

you can catch me on facebook

jimmy swinghammer

-

it's not the same

but i like it

for now

parenting with perspective ain't easy

A father

passing by his son's bedroom

was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was tidy

Then he saw an envelope on the pillow addressed to "Dad"
with great apprehension he opened the letter and read:

-

-Dear Dad:
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you this note

I had to elope with my new girlfriend

I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you.
i've found true love with Stacy

she is so nice
But I knew you would not approve of her

because of all her piercings and tattoos

her tight clothes

and the fact
that she is much much older than I am

and she's pregnant

-
Stacy says that we will be very happy
She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter

We share a dream of having many more children

-
Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact
that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone
We'll be growing it for ourselves

and trading it with the other people that live nearby

for cocaine and ecstasy

-
In the meantime we will pray

that science will find a cure for AIDS

so Stacy can get better

She deserves it

-
Don't worry Dad.

I'm 15

and I know how to take care of myself now
Someday

I'm sure that we will be back to visit

so that you can get to know your grandchildren
-

Love always,

Your Son John

-

-

PS. Dad, none of the above is true.
I'm over at Tommy's house.

-

I Just wanted to remind you that
there are worse things in life

than a bad Report card

it's in my center desk drawer
-

I love you.

-

-Call me when it's safe to come
home.

evolution of the penis

it's been said that a man's penis

has a mind of it's own

it would seem

that this ugly old penis

has grown legs too

dammit man - that's not right

mental health matters - your brain

we think with it right

but don't think about it so much

so let's think about this

-

the brain

it's an organ in the body

it has a vital role

a profound perfunctory purpose

it weighs about three pounds

-

three pounds of primarily water and fat

and

it doesn't just keep your heart beating

it mitigates

EVERYTHING

-

any awareness you have of the world around you

is because you have a brain

every wish every hope every desire

every smile every laugh every feeling

every regret every sadness every disappointment

every sensation

every movement

mitigated by your brain

-

it interprets facilitates enables overrides underwrites

determines supposes surmises perceives organizes

relates regulates mobilizes monitors translates

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING

it perceives

the world around us

our experiences

the experiences of others

and stores fragments of each unique complex moment

consciously

unconsciously

to sort catalogue reference and interrelate

into

constructs of understanding

belief structures

protective mechanisms

and response patterns

-

it allows us to be connected to each other in the present

it is what connects us to our past

and determines our future

-

life is what it is

because of how this organ

our brain

functions

-

but

we rarely think of it

much less

think of it as an organ

just like the other organs we rely on

day in day out

-

if your stomach hurts

if your eyes get blurry

if you can't breathe

it doesn't diminish you as a person

you seek professional help

-

but

for some reason

when happiness fades

when anger irritability anxiety invade

and so much more about the world seems unpleasant

when feelings of self worth erode

when pleasure wanes

and thoughts race

when the little things become big things

when hopelessness helplessness and despair visit

but rarely leave

when these things persist

in an unnatural

what's wrong with me sort of way

we don't often seek help

-

we blame others

we blame ourselves

we wait

we need

we hurt

-

the brain is an organ

very like every other organ

and as such it is susceptible

to alterations affecting optimal performance

things like

bad chemistry

distorted constructs

counter productive protective mechanisms

-

so maybe

it's not a character flaw to be defensive or ashamed about

maybe

it's not weakness

maybe

it's not the world

maybe

it's just your brain

being an organ

and

maybe

it's time to get help

algonquin park too

algonquin park

rock lake - algonquin park

17 000 words i don't have to write

about the breanna and i camping

in algonquin park

and then

diana and emily and dave and meg

and mason arrived