Yes, we all know it's September 11th.  As we have been told, we haven't forgotten. We're not allowed to forget, and with that, many aren't allowed to reconcile the grief that day has caused.

It is a tragedy that honestly started our nation on a downward spiral of economic disarray, and increased ethnocentrism. Which is probably exactly what the terrorists wanted. Yes, honor the fallen, honor the first responders, remember them on this day. But maybe also realize our current state of affairs, and the endless wars that have further demonized us in the Middle East, and the breakdown of our alliances that we now have is evidence the terrorist got what they wanted. In that respect, we've failed to honor the fallen, and first responders correctly.

Symbolic memorials mean nothing if you don't live in a nation that upholds the values it wrote into its Constitution.

But, who am I to say? After all, most conservatives still blame Obama for not being in the Oval Office when 9/11 happened.

The Weight

The scale said 215.4 this morning. Still consistent. A pound here and there isn't a big deal. I've been going to the gym more, and my appetite has been off the charts lately. I do try to resist constant eating, but if I don't eat consistently I'm finding I quickly get foggy minded, and lack focus, and concentration. And balance - there has to be balance. I've increased my proteins, and reduced carbs, but Monday I felt mentally off balance. Again, a situation of lack of focus, and not emotionally balanced. I made pasta, and garlic bread for dinner, and loaded up on carbs. Tuesday I felt great. Stuck in an anxiety loop, but very focused. Slowly it's all coming back into balance.

Pet-Peeves

A friend on Facebook recently posted asking people to comment with their biggest pet-peeves. Here are some of mine:

People who stop in the exit doorway to the office to light up their cigarette right in front of you as they saunter to the designated smoking area which is no where near the doorway.

People who drive across parking areas in a parking lot instead of using the designated driving lanes.

People who put their children in precarious situations involving other people's dogs. 

People who don't understand how to react to a dog.

Political conservatives that don't believe in ecological/environmental conservation in any form. Can you be a bigger, hypocritical asshole than this?

Organized religion that is somehow above the law (including the First Amendment that they both revere, and want to deny of others)

Vaping. Smoking. Any personal sized pollutant addiction that gets in my personal air-space.

Public restrooms that don't have dividers between the urinals.

Oblivious grocery shoppers who somehow think they're the only person shopping.

Cops who have nothing better to do than sit on the side of the road waiting for someone to be "speeding." There's real unsolved crimes everywhere. Go work on one. Pretty sure that's what we're actually paying you to do.

The Puritan Values stick that is still firmly stuck up America's ass.

Tomorrow is the Big Night

The 48-Hour Film Project Buffalo awards show. Stages is nominated for five awards! Wish us luck!