Diary of a Mad Mac

Things you wished you'd never read. Things your mother warned you about. Welcome to the world of an insane Scottish-American. Haggis anyone?

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Location: Abbeville, South Carolina, United States

Sunday, August 28, 2005

What I'm Doing Now...

I'm sitting here in deep thought again. Like life is just running through my head. I'm thirty-two now. I'm at a transitional phase. I've switched from smoking to dipping. An even more disgusting habit I know, but I tried to just up and quit tobacco all together, but my will power wasn't strong enough. I'm getting my lungs cleared for physical agility tests I have to take in the next couple months. Hopefully during that time I can phase tobacco completely out of my life. My friend Jackie and I are going fishing in the morning. Then we are starting in the weight room at least three mornings a week. I'm working on getting my upper body strength back to what it used to be before I decided to be a loafer. This police job is very important to me so I need to make the best impression possible.

Joe called a couple hours ago. He is settling well in Tennessee.

I got a super nice saddle from my brother-in-law I still haven't paid him for it yet, but he only used it three times and he's giving it too me for about a quarter of what it is actually worth. So, I'm on my way towards getting another horse. I'm really excited about that. It's been awhile since I've had my own horse. I sort of had a horse when I was living in South Carolina, but she was actually my brother-in-law's and I gave her back to him when I moved.

I'm keeping my spirits up with the intent of getting my mind focused on exactly one thing. Spending my next thirty-two years enjoying being alive. I read Alice_The_Raven's weblog frequently and I am so envious of all the cool things she does. It's time I started making the most of my abilities instead of hanging out here all the time yelling, "Will you two stupid dogs lay down?"

Well, I'll leave the rest for another day.


-S

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Hey, this is what I think of advertisements on my weblog...



Thanks to Nettie for giving me info on how to help prevent that.

Sorry for the extra added hassle of typing in a word to post, but these random advertisements were really getting me pissed.

By the way, this is the greatest Johnny Cash picture ever!

-S

Friday, August 26, 2005

I'm always deep in thought...

Since I was a child I've always been a day dreamer. I can quite easily relate to Peter Billingsley's character Ralphie in the 80's movie A Christmas Story.

I still sit and day dream even now, although sometimes my day dreams are more analytical in nature, or more so about some song or movie idea I want to write.

I've come to a point in my life that I hate the dreamer side of myself. I spend too much time dreaming and very little production ever comes out of it. I constantly run movie ideas or song lyrics through my head and only about a quarter of the time do I ever put anything on paper. Sometimes I think I'm creative enough to actually write a worthwhile product. I'm a huge fan of the Blade movies. Before Blade Trinity was released I sat around thinking about things that would be cool to add into the third movie. Amazingly enough, Blade screenwriter David S. Goyer actually put most of the ideas I had into that movie and I've never even spoken to the guy.

I suppose thats all pretty common place when you think about it. The entertainment business is the same as any other consumer industry. You find a particular genre and market directly to that crowd. I had the opportunity to sit and talk with former Paramount Pictures film makers, Ferd and Beverly Sebastian who released the 1974 "B" film cult classic Gator Bait .They were truely one of the most down to earth couples I've met in a long time. They sat and talked with me for over three hours about the film making process and the best way to go about getting things done. They explained to me what I would call, "common sense marketing". Meaning the best way to get your film noticed is to market it to the blue collar working class. That's why I'd call it common sense. Most films today are of course marketed to the average working class. Of couse I've seen alot of independent films that are so deep you really need to have above average intellect to really get anything out of them, and really looking into things, those are the same films that remain independent.

Hmmm... I started out with some point to make here and have wandered off into useless dribble. Anyway, yeah that's a problem quite common with me.

Writing songs is pretty much the same format as coming up with movie ideas, they just don't usually take as long to write of course. I guess that's why I've been able to come up with more country lyrics because I am part of the class that most county songs are marketed to. You've got about four basic groups that you can fit music to. People who like to dance, people who like to thrash about and head bang, people who like to sip wine and listen to Mozart, and people who like to drink beer and listen to country. My best talent so far has not been so much writing, playing, or singing, it's been the ability to know what is marketable or not. In other words, locating stuff that doesn't suck. I suppose that's part of what initially attracted me into my friendship with Casey Young . Casey is quite possibley one of the best song writers I know of that is not working for a record label. I've met alot of amatuer song writers that tell me to listen to their work and it's usually, "Well...uh...I'm not sure what exactly it is you're going for here, but...uh, yeah...keep at it." Harsh you might say. Well I'm just as critical of my own work so I don't see it that way.

Anyway, I guess back to where I started from. I've felt very overlycritical of myself as of the last couple weeks. It didn't really help much when someone who's opinion I had greatly valued told me that I was "Just average and nothing really stood out about me." That cut me deep and although I'm not at all mad at that person it kind of set me to thinking maybe alot of other people felt the same way and just never had the guts to come out and say it. I dunno, maybe I'm reading to deep into it. I have a tendency to do that too. Oh well, Que Sera.

By the way Ryan has a new web page. He does alot of cussing, but he has a brilliant way of ranting about things that I am unable to muster. It's cool stuff.

-S

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Joe is gone...

Well, Joe has officially moved to Tennessee. If things don't work out for me as far as moving up there goes it will greatly sadden me. I've been friends with Joe since he first moved to Florida from Tennessee when he was fourteen. That was quite a long time ago. I find myself missing the son of a gun already.

I got my hair cut really short like Marine Corps style "high and tight". The shortest I've worn it I think since the time I got Mom to shave my head when I was eight. I've worn my hair pretty much the same since high school. I guess I kind of like it. Change is good. It's certainly better than the raging Billy Ray Cyrus mullet hairdo I had in middle school.

-S

Monday, August 22, 2005

Babies are cool.



This is my great-niece Kinley. She's a very even tempered baby and very sweet. She will be one year old next month. She is walking all over the place and getting into EVERYTHING! It's funny how you can feel love for a child so quickly.

Tomorrow is my 32nd birthday, hooray for me.

-S

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

It's like a heatwave...

It's too hot in Florida. My AC is working too hard.


-S

Monday, August 15, 2005

This will probably set it off...

Okay so here we go...

I read something that kind of set me off a bit. First off, the easiest way for someone to get me to correct them is to make a statement about the civil war being all about slavery and you can say what you will to try to hide that etc., etc. Okay fine, whatever you say. Really, people need to do a bit more historical research before they make these kinds of statements.

Let's take a quick overview of 1861-1863. In January of 1861 the south secedes. March 1861 Abraham Lincoln takes office as president. At his inauguration he stated that he had no plans to end slavery in states where it already existed. In January of 1863 Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish slavery. Three years after the war had already started.

So, was the Civil War about slavery? Sure it was. At least partially anyway. It was about many other things as well and I'm just not up for giving an entire history lesson at the moment.

The big picture, the south owned slaves and they did horrible things to black people and the rest of us are still paying for it.

Let me make a really bold statement here. The kind of statement you can get stoned for these days. "I am proud to be white!" In today's society you can easily be labeled a racist for saying such things. We are being molded more and more into being made to feel ashamed that we are white. So many exceptions have been made to further black American culture that anyone wanting to remain proud of white heritage is labeled a bigot. You almost have to keep it quiet, "Pssst, I like being white." "Shhh..., me too. Keep that on the downlow."

Do I have a problem with inter-racial relationships? Well, I have very mixed feelings on the subject. Let's look at this. If I see a white woman with a decent upstanding black man I really don't throw a second glance. On the other hand, the vast majority that I see are young attractive white girls with some ghetto thug. Do not freakin' fool yourselves people. Most of these relationships are spawned out of the young white girl wanting to do something that's considered taboo and the thug boy who is gleaming because, "F--- you cracker I got a white girl!" Hate me if you will, but believe me, I'm bold enough to ask questions and these are some of the answers I've gotten. I've also talked to plenty of black women who can't stand white girls just because of this very reason. Do I openly walk around giving these people shit? No of course not. I'm not that much of an ass, but nothing says I have to like seeing it. I just keep my thoughts to myself and go on about my own business.

Now back to being just good old white. I have never considered myself a racist, but if that is how you choose to label me, so be it. I have always treated everyone with respect and decency exactly the same way my parents raised me to do. I can name numerous times that racial injustices have been put upon me. Affirmative Action for instance has knocked me out of jobs, promotions and various other things, but I've never made a huge issue out of it. I've seen people I've worked with get away with a ridiculous amounts of infractions because supervisors were afraid to take action against them for fear of racial repercussions. When I was in school white teachers were often afraid to discipline black students. My friend Joe will easily remember Edgar Powell the black guy in our high school math class that constantly made outbursts and disrupted the classroom. Edgar was really good at making a point to let Mr. Brown our math teacher know that his mother would gladly call the N.A.A.C.P. for him. I threatened the guy once that if he didn't shut his mouth so I could finish the class and graduate that I would kick the snot out of him. Guess what he called me. Yep...racist.

Now, I'm sure I'm going to lose half my readers because of this post and I'm sorry for that. I'm not sorry though, for being white and voicing my opinions.

-S

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Sometimes Dreams Do Come True...

You know, I've never been really big on E.S.P. or sixth sense type things, but every now and then I get thoughts in my head, a little voice if you will, that guides me in certain directions.

For some reason my little voice had been telling me as of late to play the lottery. Now Florida started up the lotto before I was eighteen. I'll be thirty-two next week and had never bought a single ticket, but for some reason my little voice was telling me I was going to win the lottery.

I bought two tickets this evening while I was at the Texaco and I got all the numbers on one card plus an instant win on the same card. Ehhh...so I won a hundred bucks, but it was a hundred bucks I didn't have before and a hundred bucks I could certainly use. The guys at the Texaco also told me that my ticket was the first pay off they had so far on those particular lotto tickets.

So, I may never play the lottery again, but I have an extra hundred dollars in my pocket and the satisfaction of knowing that the little voice in my head was right. That very same voice that tells me I'm going to make it big one day. The same voice that tells me that no matter what twists and turns I may encounter in life, I will continue to walk through them and be alright.

God Bless!

-S

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Happy Birthday To my sister.

Hey, happy birthday Tracey!

-S

Here's a real bad bite....



The Banded Rock Rattlesnake


I've always prided myself on my knowledge of various dangerous animals, particularly my knowledge of North American reptiles. I've been a huge fan of nature shows as long as I can remember. Last night I was watching The Jeff Corwin Experience. Jeff introduced me to a type of Rattlesnake found in the high country mostly south Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The Banded Rock Rattlesnake differs from most other types of Rattlesnakes due to one important little issue, venom. Rattlesnake venom is usually a hemotoxin which means that it affects the blood stream. The hemotoxic venom breaks down the body's red blood cells and disrupts blood clotting. This often causes necrosis. This is the most common venom among pit vipers, IE: Any type of Rattlesnake, Water Moccasin, Copperhead, and vipers from foreign countries. The Banded Rock and I should also mention, the Mojave Rattlesnake have not only hemotoxins in their venom, but neurotoxins as well. Neurotoxins affect the body's nerve cells often resulting in paralysis which can set in rather quickly. This is the type of venom found with Cobras, Coral snakes, and various other species. This makes these two types of Rattlers throw a pretty darn nasty punch. Any type of snake bite is bad whether it be neurotoxic or hemotoxic, but both...ehhh, it just doesn't sound good to me.

So, in conclusion, if you're out hiking pretty much anywhere, but especially in the high country of south Texas, Arizona, or New Mexico be on the look out.

-S





Monday, August 08, 2005

Fond Memories of a Small Town...

I kind of got to thinking about a few things here lately. Mostly about my leaving this town. For once I am gone, this time I will not return here. I consider myself to be a Floridalinian half Floridian, half South Carolinian as I'm originally from Florida, but grew up in both states.

I was thinking mostly about Florida and the massive changes that have taken place here since I grew up. As much as we cannot stop time, we can never stop change and progress. When I was a little boy I dearly loved the great state of Florida and I was heartbroken when we moved to South Carolina. We lived just a mile from the Chassahowitzka River and that is were all my summers were spent until I was eight. I used to ride my bicycle down to the river and hang out with my older siblings or often just my friends. My parents never worried too much about me because being a little place, someone would always be looking out for me. I loved going down river with Paul my brother-in-law. It was such a beautiful serene place. You could get up into some of the creeks and see and old gator sunning himself on a log or otters skimming around the boat hoping you'll toss them a fish. Then once you headed out to the Gulf you could see porpoises diving in and out of the wake from your boat. It was my sanctuary.

So many things have changed since I've grown, but as much as things change, they stay the same. I think once I am gone I will miss that river and I will miss people who I don't even know, knowing who I am. These things don't hold the value to me that they once did, but I know that I will miss them. On one of the many times that I decided I needed a break from being a law enforcement type I was delivering pizzas part-time. I took a pizza down to Chassahowitzka, (Chass) as it is refered to by locals. I did not know the older gentleman I was delivering to, but he mentioned that he was a comercial fisherman and had just gotten in from a Stone Crab trip. I told him that he probably knew my late brother-in-law and his response was, "Paul Hampton, oh yes I knew Paul Hampton. Who didn't know Paul Hampton? He was a fine upstanding man, and one of the best fisherman I knew of. Hated to see him pass on. So you're Susan's little brother eh, you must be a MacMeeken. Son, I knew your daddy too. I liked old Al. He was sure a character now I tell you what, he sure was. Man I was sorry to hear about him passing away too. Makes me kinda sad to see people I've known for years pass on. They just don't make 'em like that anymore." Like I said, I'd never even met this man, but as he payed for his pizza he pulled out more money and gave me nearly a ten dollar tip. It's things like this that I will forever cherish. Little southern fisherman who knew my brother-in-law and my dad. Guys who work long crappy hours on the water to make a living then reach into their wallet and give me money that they didn't need to, just because of who I happen to be.

When it's time for me to leave Florida I am going to go down to Chass, rent a boat, and head down river for several hours. This is were I will make peace with myself and my God. Then I will close this chapter of my life.

God Bless!

-S

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Whaddaya Know...

Some woman I worked with up until recently is now incarcerated in the very jail she used to work in. I guess she had a part-time job selling crack cocaine. There has also been a warrant issued for another former officer for aiding in an attempt or conspiring to attempt a jail break.

I guess that's always good to put on your resume for prior job experience. "I was an extreme entrepreneur. I moonlighted as a crack dealer to ensure that my day job was secure." Or how about this guy, "Hurray for me. I went from Correctional Officer to fugitive over just a small matter of a thirty-thousand dollar pay off to help an inmate escape." Yep, that's it. From what I understand, the inmate he was helping rolled over on him and the cash amount discussed was only thirty-thousand. About enough money to get by on for maybe a year if you stretched it. What a tard.

Everyone at the jail is all buzzing about how could this happen, etc.. It's really not that big of a deal to me. In my twelve years of doing this line of work I've seen plenty of dirty officers go down. Some of them for really stupid infractions that they should have known better. A guy I considered to be a good friend of mine destroyed his career because he felt sorry for a convict who had to play basketball in his state issued work boots so he bought the guy some sneakers. I called him up and gave him the "What the hell were you thinking?" speach. I still like the guy though, he was a good person, just did something really dumb. I've seen plenty more serious things go down with officers though. Everything from sexual relations with inmates to bringing in drugs and this is not the first officer assisted escape attempt that I've seen go down. I guess what floors me is the monetary amount he was willing to do it for. It just makes me think, "Hell, offer him another thirty and he'll stand by and watch while you kill an officer you hate."

Anyway, these types of individuals are generally located and dealt with rather quickly. I suppose you could use this old cliche'. "You see one dirty officer, you've seen them all."

I like tea.

-S

Friday, August 05, 2005

JUSTA GOOD OLE' BOYS !!!!!!!!




It's here!! I gotta go see it now!

So... not too much going on these last few days. Kenny and I did a face lift on a decorative American Indian bow I've had for years. We added a leather wrap on it and some more natural looking feathers. Wild turkey feathers and what not. It looks quite nice I must say.

Well, just wanted to do an update.

-S

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