Meandering Spittle

When You Feel Alone, Write A Poem About It

2012-02-05T01:49:00.001-05:00

There Is Bitter Sweetness In Feeling Lonely Sometimes

I still don't enjoy loneliness as a rule. When you start thinking that is very possible you will be that way forever, it can get pretty dark. My suggestion is this. Deal with the feeling when it comes up and move on. If you start dwelling on it- well that's a funk you may not get rid of.

My favorite poet, Charles Bukowski wrote on the subject extensively and well. My favorite book of poems by him is: For The Foxes
It conveys the sense of loneliness, without pity...

For The Foxes

Don't feel sorry for me.
I am a competent,
satisfied human being.

be sorry for the others
who
fidget
complain

who
constantly
rearrange their
lives
like
furniture.

juggling mates
and
attitudes

their
confusion is
constant

and it will
touch
whoever they
deal with.

beware of them:
one of their
key words is
"love."

and beware those who
only take
instructions from their
God

for they have
failed completely to live their own
lives.

don't feel sorry for me
because I am alone

for even
at the most terrible
moments
humor
is my
companion.

I am a dog walking
backwards

I am a broken
banjo

I am a telephone wire
strung up in
Toledo, Ohio

I am a man
eating a meal
this night
in the month of
September.

put your sympathy
aside.
they say
water held up
Christ:
to come
through
you better be
nearly as
lucky.

I feel like I'm in the same club as Bukowsi after reading that poem.

2012-01-31T04:20:00.004-05:00

PRIDE OF AKRON OHIO

Akronovan: Black Keys Style

I offically became the last cool kid on my block to discover "The Black Keys." This dude at work burned me "Attack And Release" and I liked it enough to want to play again. Then I got fired from that job, so anything related to it got frozen out. So I got 'El Camino' and it's really good. They are from Akron, Ohio. I went to college right around the corner at Kent State University. Akron is a dump. I am surprised they didn't get shot, or commit suicide. Hooray Black Keys, and thanks for living AND writing good music.

Treaty Energy Releases News About Belize Finally

2012-01-30T08:11:00.002-05:00

There May Be Oil In That Sand

At 4am PST, The Sacramento Bee had a story on their wire regarding Treaty

Energy corp finding oil in Belize. If you knew how many times the past six months I have heard they were so close from an insider; I don't know how valid this report is. Especially since it was sent in by TECO themselves, and undoubtedly by my PR guy.

It's not a gusher, but should pump the stock up to .10 before it will level off around .06. The same thing happened in April of last year.

Leo Tolstoy And The Infinite Madness

2012-01-29T19:21:00.001-05:00

So here is a story by Tolstoy in regards to daily creativity and happiness, blah-blah-blah... It's inspiring in a way. So read it if you need inspiration.

One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter:

What is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?

The emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing that whoever could answer the questions would receive a great reward. Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer.

In reply to the first question, one person advised that the emperor make up a thorough time schedule, consecrating every hour, day, month, and year for certain tasks and then follow the schedule to the letter. Only then could he hope to do every task at the right time.

Another person replied that it was impossible to plan in advance and that the emperor should put all vain amusements aside and remain attentive to everything in order to know what to do at what time.

Someone else insisted that, by himself, the emperor could never hope to have all the foresight and competence necessary to decide when to do each and every task and what he really needed was to set up a Council of the Wise and then to act according to their advice.

Someone else said that certain matters required immediate decision and could not wait for consultation, but if he wanted to know in advance what was going to happen he should consult magicians and soothsayers.

The responses to the second question also lacked accord.

One person said that the emperor needed to place all his trust in administrators, another urged reliance on priests and monks, while others recommended physicians. Still others put their faith in warriors.

The third question drew a similar variety of answers. Some said science was the most important pursuit. Others insisted on religion. Yet others claimed the most important thing was military skill.

The emperor was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given.

After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. The emperor wished to find the hermit to ask him the three questions, though he knew the hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor, refusing to have anything to do with persons of wealth or power. So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and ordered his attendants to wait for him at the foot of the mountain while he climbed the slope alone to seek the hermit.

Reaching the holy man’s dwelling place, the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut. When the hermit saw the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig. The labor was obviously hard on him. He was an old man, and each time he thrust his spade into the ground to turn the earth, he heaved heavily.

The emperor approached him and said, “I have come here to ask your help with three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?”

The hermit listened attentively but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging. The emperor said, “You must be tired. Here, let me give you a hand with that.” The hermit thanked him, handed the emperor the spade, and then sat down on the ground to rest.

After he had dug two rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions. The hermit still did not answer, but instead stood up and pointed to the spade and said, “Why don’t you rest now? I can take over again.” But the emperor continued to dig. One hour passed, then two. Finally the sun began to set behind the mountain. The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, “I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can’t give me any answer, please let me know so that I can get on may way home.”

The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor, “Do you hear someone running over there?” The emperor turned his head. They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods. He ran wildly, pressing his hands against a bloody wound in his stomach. The man ran toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground, where he lay groaning. Opening the man’s clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep gash. The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it, but the blood completely soaked it within minutes. He rinsed the shirt out and bandaged the wound a second time and continued to do so until the flow of blood had stopped.

At last the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for a drink of water. The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water. Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold. The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit’s bed. The man closed his eyes and lay quietly. The emperor was worn out from the long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden. Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep. When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain. For a moment he forgot where he was and what he had come here for. He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man also looking around him in confusion. When he saw the emperor, he stared at him intently and then said in a faint whisper, “Please forgive me.”

“But what have you done that I should forgive you?” the emperor asked.

“You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you. I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property. When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to surprise you on your way back to kill you. But after waiting a long time there was still no sign of you, and so I left my ambush in order to seek you out. But instead of finding you, I came across your attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran here. If I hadn’t met you I would surely be dead by now. I had intended to kill you, but instead you saved my life! I am ashamed and grateful beyond words. If I live, I vow to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren to do the same. Please grant me your forgiveness.”

The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy. He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man’s property and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed. After ordering his attendants to take the man home, the emperor returned to see the hermit. Before returning to the palace the emperor wanted to repeat his three questions one last time. He found the hermit sowing seeds in the earth they had dug the day before.

The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. “But your questions have already been answered.”

“How’s that?” the emperor asked, puzzled.

“Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home. Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me. Therefore the most important time was the time you were digging in the beds, the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me. Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him. Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of his wound. Remember that there is only one important time and is Now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future. The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.”

I Someday Will Reach This State

2012-01-27T08:38:00.012-05:00

There is a level of Nirvana or ecstasy people aim to attain.

There is also a plateau of coolness and ease that most of us only
get glimpses of, usually in our dreams.

When you feel it for real, you want people to be around to

share it with. The state is fleeting. You long to get back there

In this zone is where the magic happens.

If you asked me to describe it with one word only..?

Jellybread

My Cougar Crush

2012-01-26T17:04:00.002-05:00

The Honorary Mayor Of Cougartown, USA

So classy, southern, and ripe!

I am so...well, deprived right now. This poor beautiful woman is single, and lives just two states away from the sneaky Scorpio, who answers to the name Napedog. If I could fly through my laptop screen, I would show this lady the best two minutes of her life. She may try and tame the dog with her well manicured cougar claws, but my youth and raw desire will be her food for years to come if she plays her cards right.

Ok I Will Try This Route Of Meandering Spittle

2012-01-15T20:01:00.000-05:00

How fucking fascinating my life is! Are you ready for this? OK.. This very blog, "Meandering Spittle," got rejected by some blog listing website because, "I did not have enough unique content." and "I have too many posts per day." So, I am going to go for one monster post a week that will have so much fucking content, content from other blog will be jealous, and dream of the day when they can be in my blog. I wonder if there is any correlation between this need to publish part of my life to mostly complete strangers, and my current state of solitude and isolation? Of course there is. Did I make it this way, or am I just here cause it was my turn? Does it matter? No, because I'm here already-and I can't waste more time thinking of the route. On a lighter note, the Judge Reinhold, Danny Devito 1986 vehicle, "Ruthless People" is on HBO right now. And there is Helen "Supergirl" Slater getting out of a station wagon, with Bette Midler in a burlap sack. I always will give "here Comes The Judge Reinhold" top billing in any movie he's in, regardless of his co-star's. Like "The Micheal Stanley Band," Judge Reinhold was one of the most underrated commodities(and casualties) of the 1980'S. Phweew! I think I blew some synapses with that bout of meandering spittle tying to squeeze itself through my pedantic bullshit filter. It stretched the always expanding parameters for bizarre content; so the next batch of meandering spittle will have a smoother flight into Google's land of inspired Blogger posts.

Inspirational Photo Of The Day: Determination

2012-01-09T19:10:00.003-05:00

Determination= Energy+Stupidity+Open Window

Poem reposts:Bukowski Monday

2012-01-09T18:14:00.001-05:00

Every day, Meandering Spittle will repost previous published poetry by my favorite authors. To the delight of my fans, Friday will feature an original poem by none other than...me.

Mondays (today) will be highlighted with the works of Charles Bukowski. Those of you familiar with him, hopefully will appreciate this. And if you haven't read any Bukowski, I think you will like him. Here is one of my favorite poems by C.B.

Shoes

when you're young
a pair of
female
high-heeled shoes
just sitting
alone
in the closet
can fire your
bones;
when you're old
it's just
a pair of shoes
without
anybody
in them
and
just as
well.

Is Amazon Smart Enough To Make It's Own Phone?

2012-01-09T02:27:00.001-05:00

Amazon is on quite a roll. With Best Boy soiling the linens with it's recent Christmas shipping fiasco, Amazon had another sweet holiday windfall. My friend that works for them, says it a sure thing that an Amazon smartphone is in the works. They are sinking tons of money in the tablet market. It seems natural that they will get into smartphones. Why not giftedphones and specialneedsphones? Let me write that down.

Smartphones are going to sell in big volumes for a very long time, and while tablet growth is strong it seems harder to believe that everyone will have a tablet. There are already more cellular connections in the U.S. than people, and not even half of those devices are smartphones.
So you can understand why Amazon might want to consider its own phone. A slice of that huge volume would allow it to promote its services and gather valuable data on mobile habits. The smartphone pie is freaking huge. In ten years it's going to be massive. Amazon can take a slice and the other companies will still be full. And unlike others, Amazon can afford to use a phone as a loss leader for a much bigger business.

I have heard the HTC Legend is a damn good phone. I know one thing for sure. It takes amazing pictures!!

New Music "Wake Up Kiss"

2012-01-08T18:55:00.000-05:00

Give it a listen
Music by Ms. Samantha Pearl

rabbit teeth

2012-01-07T23:50:00.001-05:00

Show me those chompers!!!

The Other Times I Faked It, This Time I'm Good

2012-01-07T02:39:00.000-05:00

The Other Times I Faked It, This Time I'm Good

How obnoxious of me to toot my own horn. No, I'm not eludiding to masturbation. That's illegal in Sarasota county anyway.

I'm talking about pretending to like life, while waiting for my personal lottery to come home. Nice mixed methaphor James. Who gives a shit about that. Details, details.

I'm onto the big picture finally. The one where the protaganist has an epiphony, and turns everything around in 20 minutes. I'm thinking six months, and I will never worry about my finacial house burning down again.

It's true, the change occurs in a moment. Literally one minute I was James Napier, gifted with unfulfilled potential. Then a day later, the word potential seemed obsolete to me. I was finally good. Not ok, or "hanging in there," but fucking good!

I hope you can't relate to this feeling. But if you have no idea what I'm talking about, I hope someday soon you will...

Santorum doesn't have a Google problem

2012-01-06T17:42:00.004-05:00

Sounds like he has a...pain in the ass!

All My Life On The Internet Can Be Summed Up Here

2012-01-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

napedog

napedog. napedog More Info. Last seen: 2 weeks ago. James is a man from Sarasota, Florida, USA. I am a smooth cruiser. Deal with that for awhile. . We must in life, if we wish to grasp and possess one thing, renounce and leave aside innumerable others that lie to the right and to the left. When we run a . People with ADD or ADHD, generally have a difficult time following task through. The longer and more detailed a project, the harder it is to complete. Therefore . I was a Cardascian on Star Trek and Deep Space 9 in 1992-1993. If you follow me I will send you a pic of me in full make-up. What a deal. napedog. O. o… . napedog. Joined: 08/19/2011. Age: N/A Gender: N/A Location: N/A. About Me: Coming Soon! Upload Points: 11. Comment Points: -45. Voter Points: 17 9 . autoscopia: napedog I was a Cardascian on Star Trek and Deep Space 9 in 1992 -1993. If you follow me I will send you a pic of me in full make-up. What a deal. . Here's. . Nape! My Photo. napedog: Well. what did you expect an underwear model? View my complete profile. Buy The New Urge Overkill CD Now! . Chris Nappier is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Chris Nappier and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes. . are other options. Blank Reply. Blank. Avatar_m_tn. napedog. Dec 13, 2011. To: ADHD. Here is an article(short) that I wrote about my initial ADHD diagnosis. . napetv · # Napier · # clan · # Scotland · # napedog · # nape · # James . Smoking is nasty, and only. block notes reblog. napedog: napierathenaeum. com →. . Cathead Napier. By: napedog; Views: 20262 . napedog (August 19th, 2011 at 2: 38 am). Um. I uploaded . napedog (October 6th, 2011 at 10:12 pm). You are . You Dont Say!!! By: napedog; Views: 6854 . napedog (November 25th, 2011 at 1:24 pm). my cat rules . napedog (November 23rd, 2011 at 3:39 pm). This cat is . 238 views. Like Add to. Share. Loading. Alert icon. Sign In or Sign Up now! Alert icon. Uploaded by napedog on Jan 13, 2010. Sarah Palin joins Fox news. . Nov 20, 2010 . He must have a really hard time finding hats that fit. Log in to Reply. napedog says: October 6, 2011 at 1:11 pm. When he gives head, he means . nice gif woman. beans4xibalba: “ Is it lame of me to be gif making at midnight on a Thursday? ”LeBron James news and notes from napedog. Added . There were some extracurricular activities in the shower according to The Miami Herald. by napedog.
Nov 14, 2010 . harcy 210 Favs. yarmada · yarmada 1132 Favs. napedog · napedog 301 Favs. blykins3 · blykins3 520 Favs. dxcrtman · dxcrtman 7112 Favs . arcsam 67 Favs. napedog · napedog 303 Favs. Invest pages. URL. Review. NOTE: In the coming weeks, we will be removing the ability to post reviews in Blog . by Napedog. Definition: A robot that is either; a)hideous in nature or appearance; or b)not working properly. Malfunctioning. Example: That ugly silver thing you . Oct 12, 2011 . Posted by napedog at 8:03 AM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook. Labels: ABC, Dancing With The Stars, Kardashian, . Napedog profile image · Waiting tables at chain restaurant with too many pies. by Napedog. Los Angeles by James A Watkins. Life in Los Angeles by TylerCapp . The Answer Yam: Bird Flu from James Harris. Added. The Answer Yam: Bird Flu. from James Harris · I had bird flu that day from napedog. Added. I had bird flu . Sep 5, 2006 . Reply to NapeDog - Message ID#: 28950475. 09-04-2006 11:14 PM. drawings not that hard plus my writing is like chicken scratch . http://napedog. tumblr. com/. Reply. No more comments on this story. Add your own! Login or Join Digg! Reply to this thread. Post Comment Cancel. Done Editing.
Nov 7, 2011 . napedog reblogged this from fyeahsrq and added: VERY COOL! fyeahsrq: · thatssufficientlyraven liked this. ashleyelizabeth5 liked this . Dec 18, 2011 . Please use the comment boxes as suggestion boxes. Or just e-mail me, James Napier, at napedog@gmail. com. Thank you and good luck to . Dec 1, 2011 . http://www. napetv. com/ napedog. Oh yeah. My blog made. 45 cents yesterday and. 22 cents today. That's the realistic side of working from your . By: napedog; Views: 17833. Tweet · Prev Next. Click to post comment. napedog ( August 19th, 2011 at 2:23 am). My cat has a permanent milk mustache . napedog 301 Favs. gylnne · gylnne 90 Favs. jameszol · jameszol 4731 Favs. jennixbition · jennix. 257 Favs. Plenty Of Fish pages. URL. Review. NOTE: In the . Sep 1, 2006 . Reply to NapeDog - Message ID#: 28827103. 08-31-2006 05:22 PM. Whassup. Boondock Fans: The Boondocks Crew Lounge . James R. Napier 43 yrs, napedog · James Napier, from Burbank CA. Burbank,CA |North Hollywood,CA|Universal City,CA · Bartender Struggling Astronaut . -=experimental. film=-. abarr101 uploaded a new video (3 months ago). WCM Cupcakes. Subscribers (35). awhocarez · napedog · chardin81 · PottaPottaBoy.
Oct 17, 2010 . Mark as New; Bookmark; Subscribe; Subscribe to RSS Feed · Highlight · Print; Email to a Friend; Report Inappropriate Content · napedog . Oct 19, 2011 . http://napedog. tumblr. com/. Reply. No more comments on this story. Add your own! Login or Join Digg! Reply to this thread. Post Comment . Reblog if you're ending the year single. c0en: “ i'm ending every year single, unless they make it legal to marry cats. ”Jan 20, 2011 . by Napedog Nov 8, 2011 share this add a video · 2. Grimbot. A friendly but unfortunately hideous looking creature. N. B. NOT to be mistaken . Sep 19, 2008 . Comment by Napedog on September 20, 2008 @ 5:30 am. If that is not a law suite waiting to happen , i don know what is. Comment by Lawyer . Oct 28, 2011 . napedog said. I want to visit your town. I will follow your blog. here is mine if you want to follow. I was in L. A. and Big Sur for 16 years. . Adult ADD--"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?" by ahostagesituation. Mac & Cheese for People With ADHD by Napedog. Teen ADHD Medication Abuse. il yung : slash : Slach : Blake Ponthieux : Lauryn Burleigh : Blake Ponthieux : hollabec : alex hamilton-smith : napetv : napedog : george washington : karl marx . .

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I Got Fired Today, And I Feel Fine

2012-01-03T17:43:00.000-05:00

For anyone who New Year of 2012 included a pink slip, this Hub is for you my friend. May 2012 be your most prosperous year ever! (CLICK LINK BELOW FOR ORIGINAL POST...)

I Got Fired Today, And I Feel Fine

Cary Grant Was Almost Perfect

2011-12-19T13:32:00.000-05:00

Cary Grant seemed very smooth.But he made 3 more movies than he should have. I'm watching one now, where he is in his 60's and he is hitting on some 23 year old woman by using lines like,"I can't read this without my glasses. Help me find my glasses."

I guess it didn't work, cause the 23 year old lass, just got in a cab with a handsome young lad, and...Yes, she is making out with him! Scene... Cary is presumably still searching for his glasses. Sad.

Mr.Smooth Meets Mr.Acid

I Never Saw An African American Clown

2011-12-19T01:46:00.000-05:00

Until now!

WTF? This is real? >>BLACK CLOWN FIGURINES

This Guy Goes Gangsta On Ruby Tuesday

2011-12-17T15:16:00.000-05:00

Tell 'em Home skillet

Link To My Van Gogh Biography

2011-12-17T00:53:00.000-05:00

Click anywhere on Vincent Van Gogh's Quote....

"I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." -Vincent Van Gogh

Ryan Gosling Will Take His Shirt Off MoreThan He Used To

2011-12-17T00:32:00.003-05:00

So you will see things like this...This is a tween dream, and a teenage girl's fantasy. By teenage girl I mean Justin Bieber. Actually, rumor has it that he is a twink, which means gay dudes simply adore him from a far, but given the chance would treat him like a hairless pincushion.

2/2/2012- I just came back to this post for a quick edit. I wanted to say I just saw "Ides Of March" with Ryan Gosling and Cloon Dog. Excellent film, I wish they both could win an Oscar. More importantly, I was on "shirt watch" and the shirt did not come off of Mr. Gosling. What a waste of 10 bones.

Seriously though, Ryan Gosling's acting style is very smooth and tasty. Reminds me of Jellybread man. That's the best word I can think of. Jellybread.

Liked "Blue Valentine" But No Man Crush On Ryan(yet!)
Shirtless again?

From The Nape Up: My Days As An Extra

2011-12-15T00:40:00.000-05:00

I just wrote a new hub about my first day as an extra in Hollywood. Read all about it here... From The Nape Up: My Days As An Extra

These Lights "Slayed" Me

2011-12-09T02:23:00.000-05:00

Check This Out!

Take A Tip From Nape

2011-12-07T20:37:00.001-05:00

this is what to do if your Windows Vista crashed and you don't have restore disk. Just trying to help kids. OH SHIT!!

MY PC IS DEAD!!!

I Have Been Telling You This For 2 Years!!!

2011-12-04T06:10:00.000-05:00

It appears that for once, it isn't just me. It kinda feels good to be "right."
Maybe not right, but in with the majority opinion anyway...

Here is an article from Time, reporting what I already knew: Florida is one

sad, sad state my friends...

It seems only yesterday Florida was considered the happiest place in America. A bounty of sun, no state income tax, 700 miles of beaches, Disney World and more new condominiums than speculators could flip. It's no wonder that just five years ago, one thousand new residents arrived each day. But this week, Men's Health magazine tells us the Sunshine State is arguably the saddest place in America.

[Related: A Florida fan asks, "Who are you calling sad ?"]

Florida's five largest cities landed among the magazine's top 20 "Frown Towns" -- and three of them, St. Petersburg (America's saddest city, according to Men's Health), Tampa (number four) and Miami (number eight) make the top 10. Jacksonville came in at number 13 and Orlando at number nineteen.

So how did these Margaritaville metropolises get ranked with sad sacks like Detroit (number two) and Toledo (number 11)? Men's Health is admittedly better known for ranking abdominal exercises and sex positions than population metrics. But the magazine says it collected such data as unemployment, suicide rates and household antidepressant use to determine that St. Petersburg (a city it notes once received a record 768 consecutive days of sunshine) is gloomier than rainy Seattle, which isn't even among the top 50.

[Related: Want your city to be weird? Name it Portland]

What Men's Health doesn't answer -- it concedes its list "is more statistical than psychological" -- is what's causing all the Florida funk. For that, maybe it's better to ask the tens of thousands of people who've been leaving the state in recent years. Florida actually saw a net population loss of 58,000 in 2009, the first for the state since World War II, and here's what many of them have been telling us: the peninsula didn't turn out to be the paradise they'd been promised. The ever-widening gap between what people earn in Florida, a state that continues to rely on low-wage industries like tourism, and what it costs to live there -- there actually is a state income tax in Florida, and it's called homeowner's insurance -- is just one factor clouding the sunshine. Being able to wear flip-flops in January just doesn't seem to offset lousy government, nonexistent public transit and underachieving schools anymore. (See pictures of schools.)

But according to Men's Health, Florida isn't alone when it comes to dashed Sunbelt dreams. Nevada has two cities in the saddest 10 (Reno and Las Vegas) and California has two (Bakersfield and Sacramento) in the top 20. And lest you think nice weather does not a cheerful city make, consider the happiest town on the Men's Health list: Honolulu.