Down for reconfiguring

The blog is down for reconfiguring.

Who Infuences Me

My sincerest apologies for the long time span between posts, this has been an awkward time for me. Now, down to business.

Have you ever sat and cataloged who influences your thought process? Who has greater impact than the other? The fact is, we all influence each other. Everything that I do has an impact on someone else. I breathe, I remain alive, and this effects everyone around me. Too deep? Just wait.

My first influence will be my Parents. And why shouldn't they be? They raised me, they taught me all of my beliefs (if you think you don't have your parents beliefs, you're lying to yourself... they're in there somewhere). My parents influence me the greatest. I seek their advice above all others. That's the way it should be.

My second set of influences will be my Brothers. They've been with me through everything. Yeah, we've had our Brotherly spats... and lord knows we've walloped each other a few times. But, at the end of the day, they too shape my life.

My third realm influences are my friends. All of them. Some more than others, but each in their unique way.

Yawn.

When it really comes down to it, like I stated before, we all influence each other. I breathe, I influence a person 5,000 miles away that I never met.

Where I'm From

A Continuation...

Ah, the question asked by so many strangers to one another: "Where are you from?". To think about it in relation to one's self is somewhat confusing, much like "Who am I?".

Of course, I am an American. I was born in Arizona, so I am an Arizonian. I am a Phoenecian as well, being that I hail from the City of Phoenix. But, I also lived in Washington for 12 years. So I'm a Washingtonian too. But, lets not stop there. I am a Cascadian, one who was raised with the influences of the Pacific Northwest. One whose toungue strains to say some words, but words like Tulalip or Yakima or Okanogan are second nature. Places like Pend Orille and Cour d' Alene roll off our lips as easy as the words boat or flag. We know where to get coffee (there's a starbucks about ever 500 yards in Seattle now I think). We know fish!

So, am I a Arizonian-Washingtonian? Yup. Although many people would pick a fight with me over my 'nationalities', or what I take pride in the most, these are the places that are most important to me.

I will first and foremost be a Cascadian. I'll include in that being from Washington.

I am secondly a proud Arizonian. My home state(s) mean more to me than most.

Finally, I'm an American.

Why have that last? Because pride in my region, pride in my states, is more important to me than being an American. I guess I'm just wierd.

Now, that I think about it, I've also answered more to the question of "Who Am I?".

It is life... everything is interwoven.

Who I am

Many people are quick to answer when they are asked whom they are. "I am Bob", for example, for someone named Bob. There's more to it than that. In this first part of a three part series of posts, I am going to explore "Who I am, Where I'm From, and Who Infuences Me". It's sure to be a treat for anyone who reads it.

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Introspect: A look into ones self to find the world around
By: B.L. McGarr

"Who am I?" is not a question a normal, sane person asks themselves very often. However, it is the essence of our being. I decided late one night to ask myself this question, and not just the standard "I'm Brad McGarr, age 20, from Phoenix, AZ, USA" responce. But to look deeper into who I am, and more importanly, who I can become.

Lets start with the basics, the 'standard responce'. I, as I stated above, am the one and only Bradly L. McGarr. Currently 20 years old, I reside in my Phoenix, Arizona, USA. I am many things as far as nationality is concerened. First and foremost, I am an American. I am an Arizonian. I am also a Washingtonian, and a Cascadian. I am the Son of Leland and Pat, brother to Charles and Christopher, and friend to many. So, now that we got all the basic mumbo-jumbo that comes to mind out of the way early, we can dive deep into who I am.

I am a mass of organic material put together into a precice order that which creates a fully functioning human being. Too vague, don't you think?

I am a spirit, independant in tought and judgement. I answer to no one but my own soul. My past, present, and future, are mine to shape with the tools given to me. I kneel not before a god or king, but before Nature, for the splendor of the world in it's highest regard is the truest form of Divinity. Okay, so I'm kind of an off base religion... moving on.

I am political, but neither Liberal nor Conservative nor Socialist nor Libertarian. I am a Centrist. I seek no political conformity beyond my own morality. I basically don't give a damn about partisan politics.

I am the product of my past, and the navigator of my future.

I am at times filled with anger and frustration beyond my control, and only through sheer will do I keep my emotions from overtaking my thought process and turning what could be a valuable life into a failure.

I am also giving. I give more of myself to others than I receive.

I am a dreamer, lost consistantly in a world of my own thought and creation.

So far, I haven't found much. Got any thoughts (for those that know me?). Post them in comments.

More tomorrow night...

A Spontaneous Rendezvouz!

Well, Genevive from RTA was back in the desert again, so I was invited to have lunch with Gen and Bob (on RTA, that's Gen, Arizona Bob, and myself, Arizona Brad). It was nice to see both of them again, not to mention get out of the house and do something.

I've been spending most of my time customizing my computer layout. I've just been in this computer fix and customize mood for the last 3 weeks. All thats left to do is change my login screen (which right now looks horrible!) and then unhook my tower and go and vacumm it out. Ah, the joy of PC maitenence!

Back up... FINALLY!

Although I highly doubt anyone reads this, you may have noticed all of the sites that are part of the CSW.Network were down for about 4 days. Let me take a moment to explain what happened.

All sites within the CSW.Network are hosted by my employer, Go Daddy Software. On Saturday I attempted to add Java support to my hosting account, and it worked. Unfortunately, it worked a little too well, and everything from the hosting account was deleted, including ALL 7 CSW.Network sites (privatenoc.com, republicofcascadia.com, cascadia4.com, cascadiasouthwest.com, bradlymcgarr.com, mcgarrusa.info, and lastly, ncwdomains.com, which is simply a set of links I use at work.).

Not withstanding that the company is my employer, Go Daddy worked with me to get my sites back up. After confirming that the sites was deleted by their system and by no fault of mine, they waved the restore fee and, although it took a bit longer than I had hoped to restore my site, we're back up.

Although I keep backups of everything in the CSW.Network on my private computer, I think I will take these next few days to reorganize everything so that a 'restore' can be possible on my end in a matter of minutes.

However, I do think someone needs to look at why adding on Java support would delete all files (not directories, mind you). Anyway, we're back, I'm happy, you're happy. Everythings fine now.

--Notice--
The thoughts, ideas, etc, expressed herein are soely those of Bradly McGarr, and do not reflect the opinions, ideas, or business practices of Go Daddy Software, Inc. or GoDaddy.com.

Adrift in thought

A piece of poetry I decided to write tonight.

Adrift

Adrift in thought
I lie awake tonight
my mind wondering
waiting for first light.

The air-raid sirens blare in my head
the shells thunder on the horizon
I watch the flashes from my bed
as the city sleeps.

I stand in the street
Capital of the Land
I've come to defeat the darkness.
dark cloak, sword in my hand.

My subconcious mind
seeing darkness and fear
running away
from what is near.

My mind adrift
in a lonely sea
of fear and war
scaring the shit out of me.

-(c)2006 B.L. McGarr