How men grade women...

I thought I would venture into the land of the untouchable conversation...that which I cannot win. Actually, I can't even pull off a draw...the conversation is one that all guys have. How do we rate women. As most guys know, and many women, there is the heavily used and abused scale of 1-10. This is common and practical. Where Jennifer Garner might be a 9 or 9.5, Rosie O'donnell comes in around a 2...on a good day. On this scale there is no personality because, well, personality doesn't matter! It's solely based on looks. Which at first is all that matters. If you are not talking to a girl a 5 is a 5. Period. Now this brings us to personality. This can add or detract from a woman's score quite significantly. An 8 can become a 5 and a 5 can become a 7 or maybe a 7.5. You can go down as many points as are available, however, in all honesty, you can only get about 2, maybe 2.5 points for personality.
This scale is still pointless. What if you have an 8. What does that mean? Nothing. One person might be ecstatic to get with an 8. Another may not stoop to that level. Here in Iraq it has become much simpler. No need to get emotions and points of view involved. This persons a 7, no an 8, no an 8.5...It doesn't matter out here. We score women as either a 1 or 0. For you computer geeks you understand. Its either 1, "Yes I would"; or 0, "No I wouldn't." That's it. I know pretty archaic right? I beg to differ.
This is actually more respectful of women. Now we are not grading you against your competition, I mean peers. You are your own grade. Either I like you or I don't. It's no, she's prettier than her. Its just yes or no. Simple and honest. I think more guys should grade on this scale. Then women wouldn't need to worry how pretty they are, just if they are pretty enough...

Who's your President?

So I've been paying a little bit of attention to the Presidential race since it may affect my immediate future drastically. There are some good and some bad about each candidate.
Hillary has lived in the White House before. I guess that is her good. The rest is bad. That's all I am going to say on that topic...
Senator McCain is another interesting choice. I like his toughness...he's an American hero and an ex-POW and leadership is in his blood. (Both his father and grandfather were both 4-star Admirals in the Navy.) I think he would make a very good President. The downside is his lack of a business background. I don't get the feeling that he understands business very well and that may be the most necessary quality at this time in our country's history. Yet, his viewpoints on the mortgage crisis we have are the exact same things I was thinking..."If you can't afford the payment don't take out the loan..." This philosophy is common sense...however it isn't very "business-savvy" speak and definitely not what many home-borrowers want to here. (People rarely want to hear the truth..."Does this make me look fat?")
Then there is Senator Obama. At first he seemed like the obvious choice. Charismatic. Good-looking. Youthful. Great speaker. He looks the part. He also wants there to be a change. Change is good and probably needed in the Beltway. However, the further into the Democratic dogfight we get, the more Obama is changing into a bitter, angry politician who wants to win by any means...which means more of the same. So much for change. He also lacks the business experience of Senator McCain, yet has not been in a beaurocratic system quite as long so his ideas can still seem fresh and youthful...
All in all we have our hands full right now. The more the Democrats battle it out, the more Senator McCain looks like the guy...

JD

Steel Rain

It is interesting working and living in a war zone. I'm starting to realize that it isn't necessarily scary being here, however, I have noticed an innate survival instinct kick in during certain circumstances. The adrenaline skyrockets, alertness is at an all time high, (brain function is crazy good too.), thoughts are clear as day, but fear isn't one of the feelings. Its an interesting phenomenon.

Just some random thoughts. It actually feels good when that alertness kicks in and the adrenaline starts racing. Talk about feeling alive! It feels good...

J

My sincere apologies...

I must apologize for my inconsistent writing. I am now in Iraq. Unfortunately I do not have the connection that I would have preferred for the internet so I can' t blog all that often.

I love my job! I feel safe, all that good stuff.

Something to ponder and I want your feedback...

A friend of mine asked me in an email if I had "realized the scariness of Obama yet?"

I haven't given it much thought yet but would like any and everyones opinion? Is he the AntiChrist? Is he exactly what this nation needs? You tell me? I wanna hear it...

To the sand fleas and bats I go...

Jonny

America's best pizza

So...for those of you that know me well know how much of a cheese fanatic I am. Well, I think I found my favorite cheese pizza in lil ole Sacket's Harbor in Upstate NY...

The place is called Goodfello's Brick Oven Pizza and Wine Bar. Its in a great tourist location (in the summer) on Lake Ontario and is next door to the hotel I am staying at. I had their Five cheese pizza which had a cool name like primo famaggio or something? I took one bite and thought...oh crap...this is what I have been waiting my whole life to taste...I can die a happy man...then I came to my senses and remembered my brothers wedding...need to be there! Anyways, check out their website http://www.1812ale.com/goodfellos.html and if you are looking for a romantic getaway (its famous for its war of 1812 location) is about 4 hours from both Toronto and Niagara Falls. I wouldn't mind coming here for my honeymoon. It's that nice here.

Anyways, for those pizza nuts...this is your destination...for those romantics...here you go. Oh yeah, guys, next door is the microbrewery that produces some of the best local brews I have tasted. And they have a $1 pint night...

Enjoy...

Jonny

No more crappy Presidents!

I hope it is between Obama and McCain. That's it...Can't stand Hillary...Didn't trust Romney...and honestly, Huckabee only has the Christian thing going and a few catchy phrases...I want a President I can look to that I know can actually do the job of a President. I wouldn't hire a high school drop out with limited work experience to run my company but who talks a good game. Why would I choose someone to run my country who doesn't have what it takes to lead a nation just because he used to be a minister? What about Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? They used to be ministers? How bout them?

I want a good President. No, I want a great President!

I hope this fires up someone.

Uncomfortable Realizations

So, I have come to a very hard realization. I may have learned the hard way what it is like to not be the Man God created me to be. You see, there are times where not doing anything wrong may be the worst thing you can do.
I'm gonna let you ponder that for a second.
Ok, here's what I mean. For you Bible thumpers think about Revelation 3:16.
This past weekend I didn't necessarily do anything completely wrong. I found out after the fact that there were some boundaries that I crossed with someone that I like very much. I did not know these were her boundaries. Yet, we crossed them. You see, I did the worst thing I could have done.
Many of you, especially the men, will be thinking and saying, "You weren't wrong if you crossed boundaries that you weren't informed of. Unless it is against the Bible." It wasn't against the Bible's teachings. (The reason I say men is because men, in general, are more likely to look at the black and white and not see grey in between.)
So where was I wrong, you ask? I was wrong because I failed her because I was not a Man of God this weekend. Nor have I been in my relationships past. She asked me a question this weekend that took 3 days to hit me. She asked what my boundaries were. I told her the truth. I don't have them. Except for no sex. Other than that I have never set solid boundaries in my relationships with women.
That is why not doing anything wrong may be the worst thing you can do. I was indifferent and did not set boundaries in my life to protect the women that God allows to enter it. My lack of boundaries not only did not protect her, it also did not honor her as a daughter of God.
How can I look in the mirror and also tell her that I want her to feel like a queen, when I can't even show her the honor she deserves?
This has been very hard for me to take. Especially considering the fact that I am the jerk that hasn't been man enough to follow God properly, and that I probably blew a relationship with an amazing woman.
If you are the woman I am talking about...I am sorry...

Jonny