b123 (3.11-1.2025): PFAS rain

 PFAS

PFAS rain
reigning down on me

seeping into everything we eat and drink and see

there's no way around it

hell (i can't complain)

there's no doubt about it:

PFAS rain  

b123 (3.10-1.2025): i can't help but care

i cannot help but care [i]
by ican’ t. not
 
i can’t help but care
bet you feel the same
we’re both caught in hour-glass of this amazing game

we take roller-coaster rides and live to tell the tale
i can’t help but care
single, white and male
________________________________
 
·       once alive, self-preservation makes us survivalists.
·       once survival needs are met, it becomes thrival: to feel better.
·       truth be told, thrival is simply survival+.
 
the real evolution is when/if we can care about another with absolutely no agenda, no quid-pro-quo, no expectations, and no intention of feeling better via caring.
 
THAT… would be Unconditional Love.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.10.-1.2025). i cannot help but care. book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino.

b123 (3.9.2025): footprints

 

* conveniences

 say what you'd like about the u.s.a., but my experience (traveling abroad) is that the u.s.a. has conveniences.

whether it's access to an endless variety of food, ease of highway travel, or reliable internet, etc., the u.s.a. (or maybe it's the known?) outclasses any of the other places that i've experienced.  it seems (to me) that everyone complains about their own government, systems and infrastructure...  but when i'm stranded in paradise with a flat tire and no-one to call, i'm trapped.

the beaches of northwest florida are as beautiful as any i've seen.  i can travel to places that might (at a glance) seem better.  my home (in north carolina) is perfectly situated for travel by car or plane.  the seasons are great, and i get out of there when it gets too cold.

people are friendly, wherever i go -- and their friendliness is directly proportional to mine.  i create my reality.  

how should i live out the rest of my life?  that is a good question.  a full-time job (in northwest florida) near a good veteran's administration clinic would be nice.  work in the spring & fall, rent my place out in the summer, repeat.

:) 

b123 (3.8-1.2025): wives who HATE their husbands

wives who hate their husbands [i]
by never b. a. husband
 
wives who hate their husbands
you see them out (at night)
he’s miserable (and petrified) that everything: alright
wives who hate their husbands
she’s got wandering eye
as everyone can tell that she desires other guy
________________________________
 
·       it is absolutely horrifying… for a male to witness another male being hated by his wife.
·       unless, of course, the witness is a shark, circling.
 
either way, it’s a sad situation.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.8.-1.2025). wives who hate theirhusbands.. book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino.

b123 (3.7.2025): springs

 
springs [i]
by s. p. rings
 
yes, it seems i care about the seasons (what they bring)
let’s just come uncoiled
yes, let’s smile:

springs

it’s more than just a fling
________________________________
 
·       today’s thought was that the best life would be to live in several places, and to experience spring… in each.  that might be a good title for a thoem: endless spring.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.7.-1.2025). springs. book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino.

b123 (3.6-1.2025): i don't even care

 
i don’t even care [i]
by i. n. ocare
 
i am on a mission
i like the clothes i wear
i like my look, my life (the hook?):

i don’t even care
________________________________
 
·       the most important thing to care about is how you think about yourself.
·       love the who, what, where, when, why and how you are.  really!
·       be good to others (as they deserve it), but be good to yourself first.
 
it sounds selfish, and this thoem will be ridiculed, but those who ridicule are simply being good to themselves… first.  

think about it.

 
the key is to care about others, as people, but not to care about what they think or believe.  listen, be attentive (as desired), and disengage from anything that is not supporting you 100%.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.6.-1.2025). i don’t even care. book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino.

b123 (3.5-1.2025): am i a good person?

 
am i a good person? [i]
by h. o. nestly
 
am i a good person?
let me count the ways
that i have grown, i should have known
there would be better days
________________________________
 
·       i’ve made shared-mistakes.
·       i was doing the best that i could (at the time/place/situation).
·       nowadays, i would not make similar mistakes, but i’m still ego-centric… but so are we all.
·       each of us is riding the human roller-coaster: making mistakes, out-for ourselves, and (sometimes) tapping into a higher purpose, a higher calling.
·       sometimes we tap into a past of ourselves that is connected to Unconditional Love.
·       in those moments… we can touch and commune with God.
 

i am a good person, and so are you!

 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.5.-1.2025). am i a good person? book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino.

b123 (3.4-1.2025): how a man wants to be loved...

 
how a man wants to be loved by a woman [i]
by aman mann   
 
how i want her to love me
the way it all would end
i want her to love me (as if)
if she my best friend
________________________________
 
·       which is precisely why i opt for the beginning phase of female-relationships.
 
·       in the beginning, she’s your hot lover and best friend:
  o   great sex, anywhere, anytime.
  o   fun!
  o   shares the costs.
  o   is into the ballgame; likes your friends/family.
  o   needs very little to be happy.
  o   freely gives space, freedom.
  o   wants you to be happy.
 
·       event-u-ally, with time:
  o   the sexual initiation subsides considerably (if not totally).
  o   fun… is replaced by displeasure… and wants… and needs… and demands.
  o   man is spelled ‘atm’ (for her kids, too!).
  o   despises the ballgame; hates your friends; puts-up with your family.
  o   is never happy for long, due to endless unmet needs, wants, desires.
  o   restricts your freedom; punishes your desires.
  o   is repulsed by your happiness, ease, manliness.
 
a man who has woken-up to this will not enter a conventional u.s.a. marriage/commitment, as it would be the end of his life (as he knew it).
 
granted, this may not apply to all women, but, since most are sooooooo good at game, the vetting-process needs to be extended, indefinitely.  if you aren’t 100% sure that she is different, slooooow the pace down.
 

anyone who wants you to “buy now” is suspect.

-jm

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.4-1.2025). how a man wants to be loved by a woman. book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino.

b123 (3.3-1.2025): "they don't want you to know"

“they don’t want you to know” [i]
by u.h. ohhhhh    
 
“this information (secret)”
“they’ve kept it from you, so...”
“...but i’m here to re-lieve it”

“they don’t want you to know”

 
“you shouldn’t ever trust them… but oh, you should trust me”
“i’ve got the information that you so much need to see”
 
“i am the man that you should listen to (and trust and find)”
“this information (secret)”
 

i think i’ve lost my mind

________________________________
 
·       never, ever buy-into the oh, so often lines:
  o   “they’ve been keeping this information from you!”
  o   “this is secret, and they don’t want you to know.”
  o   “don’t trust them, but do trust me.”
  o   “this has been recently discovered.”
  o   “you need to buy now, since this offer is limited” (or “short-term”, etc.).
 
“they are keeping it from you” is conspiracy 101.  they want you to disbelieve others so that you will believe them (and shortly thereafter, they’ll be looking to make a sale). 
 
need i say it?  don’t buy it.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.3.-1.2025). “they don’t want you to know.”  book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino. 

* why do men & women...

 ...do stupid things on boats?

because they are having fun, and because they are drinking.

---------------------------------

it's not rocket science: we drink because it lowers inhibitions, giving us an excuse to do things that we might not have done, otherwise.   

b123 (3.1-1.2025): baby, kiss the ring

baby, kiss the ring [i]
by u. better    
 
when he’s holding court
maybe you could sing
but if he might retort:

baby, kiss the ring

________________________________

·       if a thin-skinned, vindictive, mean, powerful force is in the position of playing king, judge, and jury… you can choose to be critical (if you’d like), but…

 
·       …there might be times when it’s prudent to just kiss the ring.  think hostage situations, etc. as times when it’s best to pick one's battles wisely.
 
there’s a time to call-out a dick-tator, but there’s also a time to bow-down and kiss up.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (3.1-1.2025). baby, kiss the ring. book 123: i don’t even care. © 2024 by j. martino. 

* why do women do stupid things on boats?

 they're drinking.

b122 (2.28-1.2025): let's bring-in the righty

 
let’s bring-in the righty [i]
by a. reliever
 
starting pitcher lost it
got beat-up in three
manager taps his right arm (it’s time to bring-in me!)
 
god knows i’m not the closer
just here to stop the pain
i’m good for a few innings, i don’t criticize/complain
 
a cagey-vet with fastball, curveball, slider up his sleeve
i’ll play for a few innings
i’m just middle-relief
 
a set-up for the closing pitcher, i don’t need the glory
i give my best then take my rest
utilities and stories
 
starting pitcher lost it
i can bring the heat
hard and strong but not for long
i’m just middle-relief  
________________________________
 
·       i know my role.
·       bring me in, for a few innings, to keep you in the game.
·       use me up, then send me to the showers.
·       if i did my job, i’ve got things set-up for the closer.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.26-1.2025). i’m just middle-relief. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

* why do men do stupid things on boats?

they're drinking. 

b122 (2.26-1.2025): my Love runs deep (for you)

 

my love runs deep (for you) [i]

by s. weet  & t. aboo

 

my Love runs deep (for you)

it simply-always always will

just stop and feel the gentle wind

in the warmth you can feel the chill

 

remember the slow caress

remember the stormy night

remember the slow undress

remember the (oh, baby, we just might)

 

remember the rhythm & rhymes

remember the sweet taboo

remember us: the partners in crime

remember, baby, me & you

 

it happened… so it already is… forever

___________________________________

[i] martino, j. (2.26-1.2025). my Love runs deep for you. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.25-2.2025): cherry whiskey

 
cherry whiskey [i]
by s. weet  
 
cherry whiskey (she's a sipper)
cherry whiskey (fine)
cherry whiskey (in the winter you’re a friend of mine)
cherry whiskey (warm my heart and make my brain cells run)
cherry whiskey (now i’m gone, but girl we had some fun)
________________________________
 
·       she’s sweet (alright).
·       she warms my heart…
·       …but she’s killing me, slowly.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.25-1.2025). cherry whiskey. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.24-1.2025): commit

 
commit [i]
by i should & beco m. mitted  
 
they tell you to commit – because it serves them so
they tell you to commit “it is the only way to go”
they tell you to commit (let’s see) “from sea to shining sea”
they tell you to commit: they mean “now you commit to me”
________________________________
 
·       those who ask for commitment (of course) have a self-serving agenda.  from the local girlfriend to mother teresa, their desire for your commitment serves their goals.  

don’t.

·       commit to yourself.  commit to your own self-betterment.  commit to your own honesty, loyalty, compassion, empathy, joy, wonder, expression, etc.

·       put the oxygen-mask on first, before attending to anyone else.

• charity begins at home.

• you can’t help others to be well when you are ill. be well.

the simple truth is... that you can't (really) love her... until you love your-self and your passions.  only then -- can you make her a true priority.  now that's commitment.  

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.24-1.2025). commit. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.23-1.2025): cold

 
cold [i]
by cold s. houlder  
 
she runs hot to cold, depending on her mood

(i thought) 

maybe she has gas?  maybe it’s the food?
maybe it’s the weather or the news that’s on tv?
maybe it’s her daddy?
maybe it’s just me
________________________________
 
·       what i’ve found is what i suspected, but could never verbalize:
 

.................................it was her.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.23-1.2025). cold. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.22-1.2025): dope-a-mine

 
dope-a-m[e]ine [i]
by alfred dope  
 
dopeamine feels good (it seems to captivate one’s mind)
deep within the brain (and into things we can’t define)
well into the chemical reactions of the day
dopeamine can make us sort-of dopey (in a way)
________________________________
 
·       dopeamine makes me dopey.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.22-1.2025). dopamine makes me dopey. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.21-1.2025): 190 (294)

 
190 (294) [i]
by high c. holesterol  
 
the LDLs are high, the HDLs are too
but it’s the LDLs (and it’s the total that rings true)
good numbers in november… after two months dry
good weight (as i remember)
my question is just why…
 
did i go back to drinking?
________________________________
 
·       total cholesterol 294.
·       weight gain of 10 lbs.
·       belly fat gain of 1.5 inches.
 
joal, you are self-aware enough to know all of this.  you teach this sh-t, for god’s sakes!  you’ve got ONE choice, here.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.21-1.2025). 190 (294). book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.20-1.2025): some [maybe] can't be helped

 
some (maybe) can’t be helped [i]
by johnny d. sturbed  
 
some might be beyond the stage of healthy sense of self
some might not be able
some (maybe) just can’t be helped
________________________________
 
·       in this case, i’ve done all that i can do.
 
joal: you have tried, numerous times… to help this young man.  you’ve been the confidant, the father-figure, the commanding-officer figure, and the documentation person.  he definitely needs something beyond what you can give.
 
if he gets permanently kicked-out, however, he will blame everyone in the chain.  we’ll never know just when he’ll be coming back (for revenge).
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.20-1.2025). some just can’t be helped. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.19-1.2025): disturbing

disturbing [i]
by johnny d. sturbed  
 
it’s a tad unnerving
when he comes around
johnny is disturbing
big and brash and loud
 
one’s whole life can change in one short moment (auto, swerving)
we’ve got to be careful
johnny is disturbing
________________________________
 
·       there’s a young man in our midst who is manic, in terms of self-absorption, attention-seeking,  and ego.

·       people are wary of him, and he’s been asked to stay away.

·       he is the type of person who could be dangerous.
 
joal: you documented a counseling session with him, yesterday.  he was suspended, today (for different incidents), but he might link the two together, somehow.  be extra alert.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.19-1.2025). disturbing. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino. 

b122 (2.18-1.2025): celibacy rules!

 
celibacy rules! [i]
by a. celebite & celebrating c. elibacy  
 
celibacy is a game that can be played at school
celibacy triumphs
celibacy rules!
________________________________
 
·       be-cause… if you are destined to be celibate anyway, you might as well choose to be.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.18-1.2025). celibacy rules!. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.17-1.2025): time to stop the chase

 
it’s time to stop caring about the pursuit of sex. [i]
by bu t. why 

it's time to stop the chase

it's time to reason why

it's time to bend (to leap/transcend)

it's time to touch the sky

______________________________  
 
1.     pursuing... is a waste of one's time.
2.     you can have anyone, anywhere, anytime (mentally), and (truth be told) that might be better than physically!
   a.  nobody gets attached, or hurt, or dis-eased, or pregnant, or self-conscious.
3.     you will always perform well (in the fantasy).
4.     you control the orgasms.
5.     you determine what to do afterwards, and clean-up is easier.
6.     since there isn’t a girlfriend or a wife involved, you are not responsible for food, clothing, housing, vacations, accessories, dogs, cats, kids (in that order), insurance, emotions, drama, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum.
 
you can still enjoy reality-sex, if and when it is obvious that a hot gal wants to get together for short-term fun.  but it will be up to her to initiate, to send the right signals, and to let you know that it is just for fun.*  in addition, you’ll be more choosy.  you won’t pick from the low-hanging fruit.  if someone is going to get to see your p-, she will have to earn it via hb & r/o.  you won't just give it away.
 
you’ve already had all of the sex, all of the Love, all of the fun, all of the activities, all of the emotions, and  all of the experiences.  you can’t have ‘em all with everyone, joal.  you’ve had more conwantual, fun, sexy partners than 99.999% of the men who have ever walked upon planet earth.  that is a fact.
 
once you stop pursuing sex, you can still flirt… it’s just that you won’t care about an outcome.  there’s no objective.  there’s nothing to win.  there’s nothing to prove (to anyone).
 
no more tinder, or dating apps, or “on-the-hunt” in bars.  conversely, you’ll still be able to enjoy the beauty, the sexiness, the pageantry (etc.) of women.  you will appreciate them even more!  you’ll care more about the inside than the sex-side.  ws far as your physical need to release pressure and experience orgasm, you've got more than enough (in the way of tools) at your disposal to take care of that.  the time saved from ceasing the mental-physical chase will be mon-u-mental.  

 -------------------------------------- 

for soooooooooo many years, your self-esteem was related-to and governed-by your prowess with the ladies.  you am free of that, now.  your self-esteem is based-upon who you are (as a man, as a human, as a neighbor, as a co-worker, as a teacher, as a family member, and as a friend).
 
oh, and Joal… drinking (alcohol) needs to go, once again.  get fit for yourself, not for anyone else.  care about yourself, first.  you’ll end-up being better for everyone… including the women who choose to play (the game of love) with you.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.17-1.2025). it’s time to stop caring about the pursuit of sex. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2025 by j. martino.

b122 (2.16-1.2025): i don't need it (really)

 
i don’t need it (really) [i]
by idonna needit  
 
i don’t need it (really)
i don’t need it (fine)
i don’t need to force this thing that we call yours & mine
i don’t need to make-believe that you and i are one
i don’t need it (really)
 
let’s just have some fun
________________________________
 
·       the contemporary u.s.a. construct of male-female mating & dating and marriage doesn’t inspire me to do it – much like swimming with alligators doesn’t.

·       i don’t have to pretend to believe the things that others are pretending to believe.

·       i’ll do it (within the boundaries), but i’ll do it my own way.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.16-1.2025). i don’t need it (really). book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

* i don't need the conventional marriage, cohabitation, relationship, sex, etc.

b122 (2.15-1.2025): yes, it's a bad habit

 
yes, it’s a bad habit [i]
by igotta bad habit  
 
yes, it’s a bad habit
yes, i know it’s wrong
yes, that is the reason and the season for this song
________________________________
 
·       waking-up and having a beer… well, it leads to another beer.  it (event-u-ally) wastes the day.

·       astonishingly, i’ve wasted a lot of them.  i’ve “sat right here, and had another beer in mexico” right here in the safe confines of my own home.

·       to be honest, i’ve had fun doing so, and i believe that there might even be some positives to “wasting away in margaritaville”.

·       i’m just not exactly sure what they are.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (2.15-1.2025). yes, it’s a bad habit. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

b122 (2.14-1.2025): valiant-teeny-times

valiant-teeny-times [i]

by valiant times

 

valiantly i send the roses and the card-of-rhymes

anything but teeny/tiny

valiant-teeny-times

_____________________________

 

1.     let’s be honest (sic).  it’s not about the expenses of valentines (although it is, but it’s not).

2.     as a man, you’d better out-do the expense-efforts of her friends’ men (but even then: brother, you’re just getting started).

3.     you’d also better out-do anything that you’ve ever done on prior valentines days (which means you’d better have a memory – and a good credit card).

4.     …but the real thing that matters (let’s face it: #s 2 & 3 just got you in the door) is to affectively touch her emotions by showing that you’ve listened, that you cared, and that you took the time and energy to figure out and plan, based upon the clues into the emotions that she’s not even sure she’s had yet!

5.     congratulations.  you just survived another valentines.

6.     the sad news is… is that (uh, ummmm…) she’s still not satisfied.  after all, all you did was show her that she’s the most important thing on the planet, and (like ‘bik’ in the movie ‘wicked’) you proved that you’ll do anything for her.   sorry (again), but even that is a mistake… because she sees her perfect man as one who doesn’t care about the valentines frill as much as he cares about his own vision, mission, purpose and goals.

7.     you might have just driven her closer to brawny biff, who was out swilling beer and consorting hookers on v-day.

being valiant (and honoring a day that you don’t really believe in) is both teeny and time bound.  welcome to valiant-teeny-times.

gentlemen.  be honest.  how do you both feel on february 15^th?  

by the way…

question: what did she do for you on men’s bj day?

answer: if there ever even was such a day, it would be laughed-at, shamed out of existence, and called-out as self-serving (before being forgotten, in lieu of the v).

as the movie “war games” ended soooooooo peacefully, with these words:

“the only way to win the game, is not to play.”*

 ___________________________________

[i] martino, j. (2.14-1.2025). valiant-teeny-times. book 122: s[no]w angel. © 2024 by j. martino.

*truth is… even when you don't play, you can’t win.  you can only survive.  

(all of that being said, you can pretend to honor the val, while internally laughing at the lemmingousity of it) 

:)