This is my first blog. I know, you're probably thinking "big deal".

That was the first line of my first blog. I did not know how to start it, or what to talk about. So I thought that it would be interesting to start my blog by talking about the weather. Then I would find a way to introduce the topic I was going to write about by relating it to the weather.

Do we really need a weather report from fucking Orlando.

That was a response I received on my third blog. I was going to quit writing the blog, but I decided to continue.

Some time later, I thought it would be fun to write about the summer camp we have here at work for children who are out of school for summer vacation.

Sometime later, someone wrote a blog about how reading my blog brought back the bad experiences they had at summer camp when they were a child. I can understand that, since there are children who have bad experiences at summer camp. I know several children in our camp who did not want to be there. They thought that the camp was boring. That the counselors did not show enough initiative in providing new activities, only to do the same thing day in and day out. And there was always a problem with someone being bullied.

Next thing you know, several people are commenting about the bad summer camp experiences they had. As if it was my fault. And that I referred to the children as demons. I never said that. But I will say this. Over the years I have worked in summer camps, there are always a few camp participants that make things difficult for the counselors. It is hard to get an activity going when you have a child misbehaving. I have seen summer camp counselors get punched, kicked, spit on, bit, called vulgar names, and in one incident this summer, a counselor had a camper pull the glasses off of his face and broke them in half. Oh, but that's all right. He/she didn't take his/her medication for their ADHD. Funny how the parent forgot to put that down on the summer camp enrollment application.

I deactivated the blog for a few days and was ready to quit. I decided to continue.

Sometime later, I wrote a blog about the advertisements that are posted above the blogs. I thought it was interesting that some of the ads were for items mentioned in a blog. To make a humorous statement in my blog, I wondered what ads would appear if someone wrote about marijuana. Next thing you know, someone had my line in their blog making me look like I am some kind of pothead. Guess what? It has been over twenty years since I have even seen the stuff, let alone smoked it. I know parents who still have to hide their stash from their children, and they comment about my drinking? Please!

Which reminds me about another blog I wrote. Recently, I wrote about Tropical Storm Ernesto. I wrote about having my supplies ready and waiting for a storm that never showed up. In response to someone's comments, I joked about having a six pack and one cigar a day ration for a hurricane.

And what do you know. Here is my comment posted in someone's blog making me look like I am some drunkard. About the drinking. I do not drink much as far as alcohol is concerned. I will admit, I had a problem with it around the time my father passed away, but that was over fifteen years ago. Now, I can have a beer or two, and that will be enough for me. It always seems like I have to have someone comment on that. Their wife may have left them because of their drinking, but they are critical of my drinking. I get a guy who comments on my drinking, but he wants to go to bars with me so he can cheat on his wife. Go figure. I get a guy who tells his wife how much of a drunk I am, but as soon as his wife is out of town, who is he calling to go out for a few beers? You guessed it.

The blog may be called "Thoughts from a drinking buddy", but that in no way makes me a drunk. Or a pothead for that matter. Because to me, anyone who puts drugs or alcohol before family and friends is a loser. And I am not a loser! And trust me. I have had experiences with these people, and I know because I had a family member with a substance abuse problem who made things miserable for the family, including me. Actually went out of his way to make things miserable for me. And what was worse was the fact that he enjoyed this. Now he wonders why no one in the family wants anything to do with him, including me.

The title stays. I like it. It reminds me of how much I have grown as a person. Of how independent I have become. That I do not need to be going out all the time, especially with people who say that they are my friends. I have learned who my friends are, and I have also learned about those who were not. I like it because it reminds me of the days when I thought that I was happy, but I was not. I can honestly say that I am happier now, although there are some issues that I need to take care of. I like myself more now than I did back then. I like to have a cold beer once in awhile. Anything wrong with that? And I am not going to have someone tell me that I am going to hell because I drink a beer on occasion.

The blog stays. I will continue to write it when I have time. And I will write in when I am in a good mood.

I'm not in a good mood. And I am not happy with anyone from Blogstream using content from my blog to make me look like a joke. I do not say anything bad about anyone at Blogstream, and I would never do anything that would belittle someone. I hope everyone takes this into consideration.

I will write sometime later. But for now, you will have to excuse me. I'm pissed!

It has been almost two weeks now since I said good bye to Angela Marie.

The last two weeks have been busy, with work and Tropical Storm Ernesto passing through. I have not had much time to write in this blog because of this. And for the last two weeks, I have thought of Angela Marie while all this was going on.

It was Monday evening when I came home from the grocery store. August 21st, as a matter of fact. I could not miss the date since I see the calender every time I am in the kitchen. My friend Steve called and left a message on the answering machine. I put away the groceries while I listened to his message from Florida Hospital. Angie, as she was known to everyone, had been in the hospital for the past few weeks, and her condition was getting worse.

I returned Steve's call, and spoke to him from the hospital. It was 5:30 p.m. that Monday evening, and Angie would soon be taken off life support.

I have not heard from Steve in a long time. Most of my friends are married and have children, so I do not hear from them that often. When I heard Steve's voice over the answering machine, I had a sense that somthing was wrong. He started talking about Angie's condition, and I knew it was for the worse.

Steve is Angie's brother-in-law. He is married to Angie's sister, Missy. I have known Steve for years, and it is through him that I met such a wonderful person such as Angie. At age eleven, Angie was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. By fifteen, she had loss both kidneys. Over the years, she had three kidney transplants, all of which were rejected. She had been hospitalized over the years, as well as being on dialysis. But through all of this, I remember Angie being tough as nails and enjoying life whenever she could.

I remember when Steve first started dating Missy. He invited me over to a party that Missy and Angie were having at their mother's house. I asked Steve it they would mind if I came over, and he said that it was no problem. It was the first time I met Missy and Angie's mother, as well as their two brothers, Brian and Chuck. It was a fun time, although I was nervous since it was the first time I had met everyone. Over time, I felt more than welcome when I came over to the house. It felt like a home away from home. And everyone else who came through felt the same way. Everyone who came over felt like family, and we all had a great time when we got together.

They were the most wonderful family anyone could have the pleasure to meet. I felt like I was blessed having met Steve, because through him, I was blessed with meeting wonderful people like Angie, Missy, and the rest of their family.

In March, 2002, my mother had passed away. Later that year, in November, Angie's mother had passed away. Both times I cried when they passed away. That was the last time I cried. Until Monday, August 21st. That is when I got word of Angie.

I put the groceries away, changed clothes, and went down to the hospital to be with Steve and Missy. I had not seen them for some time, and there were several other friends and family that I have not seen in awhile. I wanted to see Angie before she left. Before the life support was removed, everyone had a chance to say farewell. Before Angie left, I had the chance to tell her "I love you". Sometimes those words are hard to say.

We all gathered for a prayer some time later,and shortly after 10:00 p.m., Angie left this world to join her mother.

We gathered yesterday at church for a service to Angie. A video presentation made of several photos of Angie with her family and friends was shown. Afterwards, anyone who wanted to say a few words was welcomed to come up and speak about Angie. Afterwards, we went to Brian's for a reception and talked about old times. About fun times. Great times.

Steve was happy to see that I came to the service and reception. I told him that I would not have missed it for the world, and that I was blessed to have met someone like Angie. Because of her, I always felt that no matter what kind of cards life deals you, enjoy life while you can. I also learned from Angie to stand up to anything life deals you, no matter how much you may fear it.

It is late, and I must finish this so I can retire for the evening. I have a long day tomorrow. I have much to do. But whatever I have to do, I will be thinking of Angela Marie. And I hope she knows that she will always have a place in my heart.

Here it is, Wednesday morning, and I am on the computer while taking a break at work. Still no sign of Ernesto. Weather reports indicate that Tropical Storm Ernesto will be coming through the central Florida area later in the afternoon.

Yesterday, several counties announced that schools would be closed on Wednesday. The courthouses have also been closed for the day as well as several colleges in the area. The theme parks and the shopping malls, however, are open. Our neighborhood center is open, but we may close early. That's if and when we get word from city hall.

Yesterday we waited to find out what the status was on operations for Wednesday. No one could even make a decision as to whether to put up the hurricane shutters. At 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning, I was ready to put hurricane shutters up. I was told to wait because a decision has yet to be made. By the time my shift was over at 2:30 p.m., still no decision was made as to what the status was for Wednesday. Are we to report to work or not?

By late afternoon, I called the neighborhood center to find out what was going on. I was told to report to work Wednesday, and I was also told not to worry about the hurricane shutters because it was too late to put them up.

So now here I am, taking a break at work as I wait for word as to when the facility will close. And there is still no sign of Ernesto.

At least the beer is getting cold in the refrigerator, and the cigars rest in the humidor on the dresser.

But look at the bright side. We will just get some heavy rain and wind later in the evening.

It could be worse.

I have not had much time to write this past week. I have been busy at work, a friend has passed away, and now Tropical Storm Ernesto is over Cuba. The weather service reports that Ernesto will reach Miami tomorrow morning. Then Ernesto will travel up the state along the east coast, arriving in the Orlando area late Tuesday/early Wednesday.

Tomorrow will be a busy day at work as I put up the hurricane shutters at the neighborhood center. As for me, I have enough canned food, bottled water, batteries, and propane should the power go out. I have enough music to listen to and plenty to read. And as long as the power is on, I have plenty of DVDs to watch.

And don't worry. I have beer and cigars. If a storm is going to take me out, I am having a cold one and a robusto to go out with.

If I get a chance tomorrow night, I will give you an update. Providing I have power.