Friday, October 5, 2007

A New Beginning

It has been a while since I last posted. Time goes quick. I've been busy with my new life. It is hard to believe that a year ago I would have had no idea that I would be running my own business and to have found a special guy to share my journey with. It is definitely a new beginning. I can only imagine what I will post a year from now.

But I'll try to post other stuff til then. :)

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

6 years ago


I was assisting a truck driver unloading a shipment for me. Alex, my receiver, was coming over with a pallet jack when she walked up and said, "Some plane has hit the World Trade Center." Along with her and the truck driver we assumed it was a little Cesna type plane that accidentally hit the building. However, when I got back to the shop and saw all the guys just staring at the TV that I began to think it wasn't a small plane. I started watching in confusement when I saw the second plane hit. For a split second I thought I was watching some scene out of a movie, then a replay perhaps til I realized it was the second tower that got hit.

We all stood around staring at the TV trying to take in what we had witnessed. I remember vividly as some time went by I saw a puff of smoke spew out of one of the towers when I said, "WTF, it's going to go down". And it did. I felt everyone's heart not only in the shop, but in the country and around the world drop into the pit of our stomachs. This could not be happening. But it was. It wasn't until when the second tower fell that it finally set in this was real. I was not having a nightmare, I was living one. I was not the only one experiencing it as I saw grown men begin to cry. Sure it may not have been a bawling but they fought back the tears as much as they could while wiping their eyes and finding a private place to think and refocus.

I will never forget that day as I'm sure no one else will either. However, I do believe good over evil and good always win. With sacrifice. We will continue to move on, we will continue to learn and we will continue to teach all the knowledge and good that we have in this world. We must do it for the victims and the survivors. We must do it for the human race.

But I have one question, why is this man still alive and not behind bars?



I chose the skyline picture above as it reminds me of the many times I have seen it in a TV show. Giving me a glimpse of what NYC looked like.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

I did it...



I resigned from my full time job at the happiest place on earth to persue my own dream. Reagle Beagles Etc mobile pet grooming has come to life. I remember the moment when this idea popped into my head. I was down in Boca Raton visiting Kay and bringing her new baby, Chloe 5 years ago.

Chloe was one of the pups from Eda Mae, the Queen of the Beagles. At least that is how she thinks. Chloe was the third in line when it came to birthing order. She looked like she had a Batman costume when she first first came out. So I initially called her Batgirl. Alas, Kay came over the next morning, looked at all 5 pups and immediately picked Batgirl. It was then she got her real name, Chloe. :)

Across the street from Kay's unit I saw this lady in a trailer grooming a dog. I was intrigued. So I went over to check it out. I asked the lady what exactly was this as I had never seen it before. "I'm a mobile pet groomer" she said. Well, after about 5 minutes of talking with her it immediately came into my head.



Reagle Beagles named after my beloved beagle pups in order: Names given from their parents and the nicknames I gave them when they were born so I could differntiate them in order. Their names come from their appearances at the time.

Leopold:Ace (of Diamonds)

George: Space

Chloe: Batgirl

Emma: Helmet Head

Barkley: Tattoo

Since their birth over 5 years ago, I have finished grooming school, worked a year with another mobile groomer, got my own mobile unit built (with the help and support of family and friends that I thank very much :) and am now in business. I've seen the demand and it's going to be a job. A job I'm looking forward to.

As Walt said himself, "If you can dream it, you can do it."

Wish me luck.



More to come...

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Your Youtube Show 4TD: Who's Johnny?


That is the infamous mystery still to be solved. An answer we will most likely never find. However, in my investigation I have found a few suspects. To keep up with the new times, I decided to narrow it down to 6 nominees... uh suspects... and let YOU vote who Johnny is.

To refresh your memory here is a recap of what happened.


So just who is this Johnny? What was it about Johnny that would make the Homecoming Queen do what she did?

Suspect#1: John Wayne
Motive: Wanting an encore for his seductive moves.


Suspect#2: Johnny Carson
Motive: WTF stole his clappers.


Suspect#3: Johnny Depp
Motive: He's Johnny Depp.


Suspect#4 Johnny Johnson
Motive: With a name like Johnny Johnson...just what is in those overalls.


Suspect#5: John Lennon
Motive: Reality check.


Suspect#6: Geek with braces
Motive: Unknown. But looks suspicious.
No video available. Hmmmmmm interesting...
However, the pic at the top of this post is a composite from witnesses.



It is now up to YOU. Out of the 6 Suspects above, who do you think Johnny is?

Sunday, July 29, 2007

If you were gay...

When I go to New York City this is on my must see list. The last time I was in NYC, it was 1997. My partner and I at the time stayed with a friend of a friend's apartment. Never met him before until he opened his door for us. Johnny Tartaglia he was. He was working for Sesmae Street. We were puppeteers from Orlando meeting with what would be a new Jim Henson in the making. A great guy and kind friend he is. Haven't seen him since but thanks Johnny.I hope to run into you again someday. (disclaimer, this is not Johnny in the video but I came across this and it reminded me of him if I can find one of him I'll switch it out.)

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Shall I resign?

I have not been active in the Mormon church since I turned 18. I managed to survive the brainwashing that was being instilled in me since I was a kid. The whole time what was being taught to me I just kept questioning it even more. And the answers I was given were a bunch of bs. The answers I was given were those from man and not from God.

Well, 20 years later I received a letter from the local bishop. I'm not sure how to respond or if I even want to respond at all. A part of me does not want to give them the satisfaction of banning me from God's existence. Because I do believe in a high power, call it God if you want. However, being told that I should forfeit my baptism just kind of makes me chuckle.

What do you think? Here's what was sent to me, I have blocked out the names due to privacy.

Troy -------,

Please let me introduce myself, my name is Mark ------ and I am currently serving as Bishop of the Bumby Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As such I have responsibility for stewardship over the members of our ward. To that end I am trying to determine your feelings and intentions regarding the chuch.

Since you have not been involved with the church for an extended period of time, I would respectfully like to know your desires regarding church membership. If it is indeed your attention to no longer be affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; then please indicate so in a short handwritten note and return it to me in the self addressed envelope. Please be advised that by taking this action all blessings and convenants pertaining to your baptism will be forfeited.

If I do not hear back from you soon, then I will assume you wish to continue your membership. To that end I will gladly start reactivation and fellowshipping efforts on your behalf. It is my desire to honer your wishes in this matter and with your help I will know how to proceed.

Sincerely, Bishop Mark --------



I feel like I'm being asked to resign.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Caution: Time Warp ahead. Destination, 1987. It's going to be a lmao kinda ride.


4 days til my 20th high school class reunion. Join me as I go down memory lane, it's going to be a lmao kinda ride.

It'll be wicked, a term that was popular back in the day. ;)