Savannah Daydreamin’

I have finally arrived at destination number 1: Savannah, GA. This is the ‘half-way’ point on my way to Florida.  Now I must nap, then awake in time for some Jets-Steelers action.

As a side note, upon arrival I realized that I’ve stayed at this hotel before. It seems like a past life at this point, and as I walked the halls, viewed the courtyard, and rode the elevator, ghosts of years past came rushing back, uninvited. I guess it’s all fitting with this whole new perspective on life. Your past can’t really be forgotten or hidden, you just have to embrace it as another chapter in your memoir. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. And I tell the ghosts to go fly a kite, except my language is a bit more flowery. It is not cool in the least bit to be haunted. I guess this will be the beginnings of a song. Good idea Kev. Let’s see, I shall call it ‘Haunted Hotel’.

Settlin’ in on a sunny afternoon
Another 400 miles and a night without sleep
A hotel memory comes rushing from the past
An old friend, her ghost no longer hidden deep

I get on the elevator but not alone
The button lights up for the 2nd floor
But it won’t budge and take me up
She’s just holding the open door

So I walk the halls, just to find a way
To say the words, I need to say
But I turn around, and she’s gone again
I’m left with just her haunting grin

More to come later…

Pre flight check

The pre-flight checklist is going well. Suitcase: check. Guitar: check. Tire pressure, oil and gas: check. My ship is ready to go when the hour approaches.

I can’t help but think of how much cooler the pre-flight checklist would be of a pirate’s ship. Main sails: check. Food supplies: check. Rum: check. How great it would be to be preparing for the unexpecting open ocean. Jimmy Buffet writes that although the respects the open water, he doesn’t fear it. I’m the same way with the open road. After numerous 400 miles treks between Asheville and wilmington, the road is a necessity. Yet here I am exploring uncharted territory. Hundreds of miles of pavement just waiting for me. At 07:00 I will depart for a new land. What awaits me, I’m not quite sure. What I do know is that I’m ready for what I find. Yo ho ho.

Travel Blog

Welcome to post #1 of my new travel blog. I prefer to think of it as the beginning chapters of my adventure-filled memoirs. Why wait until you’re old to write everything down? I’ve procrastinated too much in life as it is, so it’s about time to get a jumpstart on something.

First things first, it’s time to pack. Only 36 hours until departure and I’m, as always, over packing. I’d never survive backpacking through Europe because I can’t even fit my essentials in multiple suitcases. Oh well, Semper Paratus, which means ‘always prepared’ in Latin. Good thing 3 years of Latin payed off.

I can hear my mother in my head right now telling me what to pack just like the old family vacations. Underwear: check. Socks: check. Shirts and pants: check. Toothbrush and deodorant are in standby mode to be packed last minute. Ok, enough of the mundane, it’s time for the fun stuff.

Laptop and charger, (for more writing and occasional Netflix watching): check. I need a new laptop but that’s another story. Passport, cash, and Rachel (my 9mm Ruger): check. I have a nifty OS box (Oh Sh**) box I keep these in. You never know when armageddon, zombies, 2012, or confused drug smugglers will strike. It’s a nice Perdomo cigar box and it’s like my MasterCard, I never leave home without it. Or is that Amex? I can never remember. It actually doesn’t matter because you can insert ‘accepted everywhere’ or any other catchy slogan and it will be applicable.

Next I need some reading material. A Pirate Looks at Fifty and A Salty Piece of Land will be my paradise-themed companions both authored by my hero, Jimmy Buffett. As Kelly McGuire puts it, “Blame it on Buffett.” I also blame my cowboy and pirate ancestors. I have an affinity for open water, seafood, beer, and the occasional inappropriate word. But I do it with charm, so it works.

Lastly, let’s grab la guitara. If you don’t know already, I speak broken Spanish. Just enough to order Mexican food (sine no lechuga) and a frio cerveza. Anyway, my guitar is now a must. I plan on writing, playing, and serenading women on this voyage. Lock up your daughters. Let’s be honest, it will most likely be me singing alone after a few cervezas, but it sounds more cowboy-ish the other way. If only pirates had guitars…yet they only had swords. Oh well, as David Lee Roth said, that’s life. (I know Sinatra said it first, but DLR never gets quoted enough.)

That should do it for now. Until then my friends.

Blog postponed

The blog isn’t neglected, it’s postponed until further notice. Check out RightOnCampus.com in the mean time

I’ll call your “You Lie” and raise you a Supreme Court jab

During President Obama’s State of the Union address, he took an inappropriate swipe at the Supreme Court. [HERE] Thankfully, Justice Alito didn’t miss the opportunity to counter him by mouthing, ”Not True.” [HERE]

The reason this is notable is that the President was extremely offended when SC Rep. Joe Wilson yelled “You Lie” during the President’s address to the Joint Sessions of Congress. [HERE] When then would the President take a jab at the highest court of the land? Furthermore, why would he do it then, during the State of the Union address? Those questions may not be easy. However, it is important to look at the Supreme Court’s recent overruling of the majority of McCain-Feingold. [HERE] This is clearly what he has a problem with. It seems the Supreme Court overruled government control, and President Obama did not like that. It was a case of first amendment violation, and they upheld the law of the land, in my humble opinion of course.

What this all comes down to is lack of personal responsibility. The more people in the room, and even some outside the room, that President Obama could blame, the more attention it took off of him. The true person at fault was him, but unfortunately he didn’t admit that from the podium. It’s time our Commander-in-Chief took on a leadership role instead of being a monday-morning quarterback.

UNCW Responds

Below is an email from Cindy Lawson, Assistant to the Chancellor, regarding my article in The Conservative Hawk:

Hi Kevin,

I read your article in The Conservative Hawk and wanted to let you know that your information is not correct.  The salaries for each of the years appear to be accurate, as are the percentage of increases.  But the conclusions you have reached in your article are inaccurate.  Those raises were given in October of 2008 at a time when the state and the university were not facing the fiscal constraints they face today.  In some cases, those raises were the result of ITSD’s reorganization.  In other cases, they were equity or raises that resulted from the state’s reassessment of market rates for IT salaries.  In fact, most, if not all, employees received raises during that year, although the state had not yet implemented the new banding process for other positions.  Those raises are still realized in today’s salaries.

I also wanted you to know that, with few exceptions, there have been no salary raises for 2009-2010.  Those exceptions include about 40+ faculty who were promoted from assistant professor to associate professor or from associate professor to full professor.  Five staff persons also received raises, either because they were promoted to new position or applied and were hired for new positions paying more in other university departments.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Cynthia Lawson

Assistant to the Chancellor

Marketing and Communications

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Cell: (910) 279-0479

lawsonc@uncw.edu

I have also posted the audio here from when she called in to correct us on The Big Talker FM. Enjoy, it’s a great conversation. Thom Goolsby was guest hosting for Curtis Wright and it is a spirited debate. The Conservative Hawk on The Big Talker FM

Early Retirement

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28904.html

Politico breaks down Pelosi’s Health Care bill at $2.24 million per word. If you don’t understand just how much that is, I could retire for life after writing this blog. Just a thought.

Tickling the Ivory

Although it wouldn’t be anywhere near accurate to describe myself as a fellow pianist, I will say that this song is amazing and inspiring. I believe it is terribly underrated, and incredible written both lyrically and musically. Take 5 minutes to listen to a master.

New Ways To Create Jobs

[STORY] Obama says he’s looking for new ways to create jobs. Wait, wasn’t that what the $787 billion Stimulus Plan was for? Oh, maybe it was supposed to make things worse, because so far things have gotten far worse than they predicted would happen if they did nothing. Logically speaking then, the Stimulus was a very bad idea. I’m just basing that on the White House charts though. I think that’s only fair. It’s not too late to undo most of the damage though. Let’s take the $700 billion or so left, and not spend that. Then do some retro tax cuts, Reagan style of course. That has already proven to work after all.

It’s Halliburton!

Oil is near year high [STORY]. This is outrageous. I think that President Obama is in with the Big Oil Companies. That’s the only explanation, right? Bush cause oil prices to be high so Obama MUST be doing the same! It’s all Halliburton’s fault!