Current Events
DANNYLAND! Slash from Guns and Roses stops by to talk about how fat Axl is.
onDANNYLAND! Danny rants on video about the Ryan Lochte scandal.
on
AM I ALONE HERE?
on
So I’m looking at the cover of Sports Illustrated and Bruce Jenner is wearing his gold medal from 1976 around his neck, his cleavage is showing and he looks stunning in his sequin gown. I just read the previous sentence out loud and wondered how my father would respond if he still were alive and we were just talking on the phone. Look….I really don’t care what ya do, who ya do it with, where ya do it or when ya do it. Nobody is getting hurt and that applies to the above magazine cover. I just happen to think it’s fucking weird.
Let me be fair. There are probably many things that I do on a daily basis that I consider to be within the norm that would prompt you to call the guys with butterfly nets to come and take me away to a place where I would spend my days weaving baskets out of cooked spaghetti but I don’t think I’m alone when I sigh and mutter “That’s weird.” The guy that won the decathlon in 1976 wore silk shorts that barely concealed his finger shaped organ, had a haircut like one of The Monkey’s and then draped an American flag over his shoulders in a picture that was forever captured on the side of a cereal box. His name was Bruce Jenner. It wasn’t Caitlyn and he wasn’t wearing a Vera Wang cocktail dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. I know I sound like a hypocrite for saying I think it’s weird and at the same time I don’t care what ya do but I think you can do both and still be normal.
Take Progressive Insurance and Flo for example. What good does her bleach white outfit and Lucy Van Pelt haircut do me the next time I wrap my Harley around a tree? I didn’t think this was possible but I feel like I have confused myself and I actually feel like I can be part of a conversation those guys in the Sonic commercials have. Now THOSE guys are fucking weird.
What Has Happened To The “T” Word?
on
What has happened to the “T” word? It used to be prevalent but now it’s virtually non-existent. In case you are not aware of the word I am referring to it’s “thank you.” The “T” word is very powerful and for some reason it seems as though we are afraid to use it. The same can be said for “please” and “you’re welcome.”
I was seeing my heart surgeon yesterday and it affected me both physically but more so mentality. I had a heart block back in September of 2015 that left me in a coma for six days and the intensive care unit for three weeks. The first couple of days were very precarious as they could not be sure that I would survive. In retrospect I needed to crash. This was a gift. It was a spiritual awakening.
Doctors always move fast. They appear to be in a hurry because they ARE in a hurry. Many people need their attention so their furious pace is quite understandable. As my doctor sat down with me and asked how I was doing I think he expected my response to be “fine” or “pretty good.” Instead I replied “When someone holds the door open for us we usually respond with a half-hearted ‘thank you.’ You have given me a second chance in life. I don’t feel that saying ‘thank you’ truly illustrates my appreciation for what you did. I am a different person and I promise I won’t let you down.”
A strange thing happened. He slowed down, stopped for a second, and replied “You don’t have to thank me as it was my duty to give you the best medical care but do know that you have just made my day.” Wow. This is a brilliant man who has saved many lives and just my words of appreciation were enough to make a difference in his day. We need to return to a society that cares about each other. We don’t have to agree with one another but we need to be tolerant and respectful of one another. After my visit with the doctor I had to go to a lab for some blood work. The kind woman who was to draw my blood noticed I was carrying the book “America the Beautiful” by Dr. Ben Carson. We then discussed how she and her husband enjoy reading and how she made sure to pass that indulgence down to her children and grandchildren. The point here is simple. If we take the time to be kind to one another then it gives us an opportunity to take the word “strange” out of stranger.
This is a fast paced society but the irony is that our time here on earth is actually very short. I try to make a difference or learn something new every day. Imagine what a different world we would live in if everyone made this their mission statement. Enjoy your day, hug those you love and “THANK YOU” for reading this.
What I Have Learned In Life
on
So tomorrow I turn 52 and I ask myself “what have I truly learned?” I have made MANY mistakes in life. Many. I have acted selfishly and probably hurt a lot of people along the way. This probably isn’t what God wanted me to do but every day I read a plaque that my mother recently passed down to me. It’s from Proverbs: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
I’m not a bible thumper and this isn’t about your relationship with God. That is personal and I respect your beliefs and what you decide to do with your beliefs. This about what I have learned through my massive faults and it is my hope that you can relate or avoid some challenges you have yet to face.
- Dad told me when I was young “Your parents are the best friends you will ever have.” Best advice he ever gave me.
- You think you know pain until you have to bury a parent.
- You see a piece of shit in the road walk around it and not through it.
- No matter how mad you may be at someone close to you, hug them and tell them you love them.
- Say please, thank you and you’re welcome.
- There is something “after this.” When I had my heart block, died for 45 seconds and was in a coma for 6 days I saw a portion of it and it’s real.
- Respect difference of opinion by reminding yourself 85% of this world truly is stupid.
- As you get older you will find out who your “true friends” are. You probably will be able to count them on one hand.
- Not all people have your best interests in mind. They will use you for their benefit and ignore you when you are no longer in a position to fulfill their selfish needs.
- Talk and listen to those that are elderly. They have more knowledge than any library and are more than eager to share it with you.
I have to be honest. I wish I could follow my advice at all times but there are situations I stray from my path and, quite frankly, find myself as a hypocrite. All we can do is try our hardest each day and live our day as it’s our last as one day we will be correct.
They say there is nothing God gives us that we can’t handle. I have found myself many times staring at the heavens and saying “Are ya freaking kidding me. I can’t take it.” Then, weeks or months later, I found I could take it and I needed to learn from what seemed to be the impossible.
What is truly important is Memorial Day. It is a day set aside for those men and women who have given their lives for this country. Think about that before ya light the grill. They gave their lives. This day was actually created by former slaves that wanted a day to honor former Union soldiers that perished in battle. Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor all that have served. I just learned that the other day so please don’t think I am the wise guru seated at the top of the mountain.
May you enjoy this weekend, remember our lost soldiers, hug your loved ones and appreciate this beautiful world that has been created for us.
MY THOUGHTS ON MOM’S AND MOTHER’S DAY
on
So I sit here and ponder; if I was to explain what a “mother” is/was/will be to an alien, what would I say? I have a gift from God of the ability to write or speak in a way that truly affects people. I do not have the ability to describe what a mother truly does or is or what they eventually become. Let me give this a try.
LIFE. Your mother gave you LIFE. She made sacrifices beyond belief during her pregnancy. The sickness. The pain. The sleepless nights. All of this with complete selfishness and her focus on the unknown. She gave you life and then it comes with the sacrifice of herself. She never puts herself in a position of importance again. She will guide you, advise you, teach you, love you, hold you, and basically alter her life in a way that puts her in the trunk of the car. I, being single and without kids, am in awe of this ultimate act of love and kindness.
SHE ALWAYS WORRIES. I used to get shitty with my mom for her constant worry for worry really is the focus on negative energy but I now understand that worry is also a sign of love. Embrace the worry for someday it will not be there until we meet again.
KNOWLEDGE. I’m 51. I think I know it all. I talk to my mother and I always come away with something I didn’t know or realize. I am not as smart as I think I am and you MUST listen to your mother at all times. She truly knows the best. It took me a looooooong time to realize this.
Grab and hold your mother tight today. If your mother has passed…..relish in the fact that you WILL meet again. Today is not “just another Sunday.” Today is Mother’s Day. It should be a 365 days a year. Let me close by wishing all the Mom’s out there a wonderful and happy day. You deserve this, earned this and are appreciated more than you will ever know. I also must add the fact that I was blessed with the “Greatest Mom In the World.” I know that those of you reading this will dispute that but that’s part of the wonder of this day. Mom….thank you for giving me life and your ability to look through my faults and encourage me in my times of trouble. Happy Mother’s Day to all.
The Reason We All Should be Thankful
on
So my mom is gonna return to work tomorrow and stop babysitting me. For those that don’t know I died and came back. Saw two more doctors today that were fascinated about heaven and what I saw. I told them I was embarrassed that I needed to see to believe and I have much work to do to fix what I did in the past.
We all make mistakes….problem for me is that I did not learn from my mistakes….I kept on going not acknowledging the blessings I had received. I saw a good friend of mine tonite. First time since I hit rock bottom and died. He looked stunned….he said “You look great!” I laughed and said “ I don’t look great….the fact that when you last saw me I looked lost.”
The greatest strength you can gain is admitting your greatest weakness. My mind is on fire. I am finally back on the road I always wanted to be. What I want to tell you is that you can do the same. Being weak only leads to being strong. We need to constantly evaluate ourselves. Never underestimate or fear the laughter of others when you admit to faith and prayer. I don’t wanna come across as a bible thumper but I do feel I need to share what happens when you die. I can tell you that I need to improve and I hope you join in my journey. Thank you for reading. Tomorrow on the podcast we have plenty of people to make fun of .
A FEW MORE THINGS ABOUT DYING AND COMING BACK
on
I went for a walk of a mile and a half today. This was the first time I walked more than twenty yards at once since September 20, 2015. Cliff note version for those of you not aware: Had pneumonia, lead to a heart block, heart rate dropped to twenty-two, died and came back, saw heaven, begged for a second chance, had a pacemaker installed and here I sit today trying to get back on track. I am a changed person. Some have called it a spiritual awakening. I’m not sure what it was but I do know I’m grateful and that I have a specific purpose. That will come to me through prayer. More details can be found HERE.
There were some other things that happened during my hospital stay that substantiated that what happened was for a reason. I like to give people nicknames. One of my doctor’s at Wellington Regional was quite young. I called him Doogie Howzer. He stopped in the one day to see how I was feeling. I told him my story of dying and coming back and he was hanging on my every word. He then took my hand, squeezed it and said “You must understand that you have returned for a reason. I have no doubt that you will do great things. You must be patient and trust in God. He will show you the way.” This freaked me out. The feeling in the room was more than intense. He made me feel like his presence in my room was more than just medical it was like he was a spiritual messenger. Some of you may say “You were on drugs” but I wasn’t. The only time I was on drugs that affected the mind was when I had my permanent pacemaker installed.
Another time at Wellington Regional one of the doctors that saved my life dropped by. He insisted I call him “Bo Bo.” We were talking about what happened and what I saw before they brought me back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. The ring has a cross on it and ten silver “beads.” It’s a mini-rosary and the beads are for “Hail Mary’s.” He insisted I take the ring and then he explained how he volunteers with the Knights of Columbus and invited me to join him when I get to feeling better. I have to be honest. These events were giving me the chills. I was never super-religious. I believed in the Golden Rule and a Supreme Being. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind at this point that there is so much more waiting for us.
I was transferred to JFK Medical Center for the installation of my pacemaker. The night before I was released I was transferred out of ICU to a regular room. I had a male Asian nurse. His name was June. He would be off duty at 7AM and around 5AM that morning he came in to run some tests. I gave him the cliff note version of what happened to me and then he looked at me and said “You are back for a reason.” He then went on to say every answer you are looking for can be found in the Bible. He was particularly fond of Revelation and how it applies to things that are happening in the world today. He told me to just trust in God and you will find your way to your purpose and return to productivity. At this point I think I said to myself and God “I get it. Let’s do this.”
Again let me stress that I am not going to be a bible thumper that comes knocking on your door or someone dragging a cross to a street corner so I can scream from scripture. I still have my cutting, politically incorrect and caustic sense of humor in fact it’s probably stronger and more focused than ever before. I share these extra details with you so that you may better understand what I went through and how it wasn’t a “coincidence.”
Enjoy your day and the rest of your weekend. I am working on another podcast I hope to have posted by the end of tomorrow. Thanks again for your time in reading my blog.
DANNYLAND!!!!!! 