Friday, July 31, 2009

Friday's Dispatch





  • From an Alabama Coop Extension agency video on the yoochoobs about Ratites (large flightless birds): Ostriches live 20-30 years in the wild and are excellent swimmers.



  • There's a big deal being made in the news about a company that is using locks of Michael Jackson's hair saved from the video shoot where he burned his hair and under heat and pressure converting it to a diamond- like substance. The response predictably has been "outrage" and "disgust".



  • Outrage and disgust should be the response due to the fact the same company did the same thing with some of Beethoven's hair and it went for 200,000 dollars at auction and it is anticipated MJs will bring much more.



  • My teenager loves Night Court I've found so I'm going to see if I can get the other seasons at Big Lots (where I got season 1 for 6 bucks).



  • Still haven't cracked open Life Goes On season 1 but, I've heard it's aged real well.



  • One I tried a while back which did not age so gracefully? The Dukes Of Hazard. It was awful.



  • Lawn is a lost cause and I'm watering the flower beds only to keep foundation moist and provide water to the toads who live in the beds.


  • I believe with just about any technology product you're wasting your money to buy the cheapest or the most expensive.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Wednesday Video Extra Vaganza- O Rama The Presidential Two For One Special


The Presidents Of The United States Of America (PUSA) was one of my favorite bands in the 90s. People sometimes make a big deal out of some hidden meanings in this song but, maybe he just likes peaches. I know I do...
Did you dig that one? Don't blame you- now you know why I always say,"You'll know when I win the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes- The Presidents wil be playing my birthday party." Maybe if I'm lucky Lump will be there.
Lyrics to Peaches :
Movin' to the country,
gonna eat a lot of peaches
Movin' to the country,
Gonna eat me a lot of peaches
Movin' to the country,
gonna eat a lot of peaches
Movin' to the country,
gonna eat a lot of peaches
Peaches come from a can,
they were put there by a man
In a factory downtown
If I had my little way,
I'd eat peaches every day
Sun-soakin' bulges in the shade
Take a little naps where the roots all twist
Squished a rotten peach in my fist
And dreamed about you,
woman,
I poked my finger down inside
Make a little room for it to hide
Nature's candy in my hand or can or a pie
Millions of peaches,
peaches for me
Millions of peaches,
peaches for free
Look out!
Lyrics to Lump :
Lump sat alone in a boggy marsh
Totally motionless except for her heart
Mud flowed up into Lump's pajamas
She totally confused all the passing piranhas
She's Lump,
she's Lump
She's in my head
She's Lump, she's Lump, she's Lump
She might be dead
Lump lingered last in line for brains,
And the ones she got were sort of rotten and insane
Small thing's so sad that birds could land
Is Lump fast asleep or rockin' out with the band?
She's Lump, she's Lump
She's in my head
She's Lump, she's Lump, she's Lump
She might be dead
Lump was limp and lonely and needed a shove
Lump slipped on a kiss and tumbled into love
She spent her twenties between the sheets
Life limped along at subsonic speeds
She's Lump, she's LumpShe's in my head
She's Lump, she's Lump,
she's LumpShe might be dead
Is this Lump out of my head,
I think soIs this Lump out of my head,
I think so, yeah
Is this Lump out of my head,
I think so
Is this Lump out of my head...

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Mondays Missives






  • Say Bob Loblaw Law Blog 5 times fast. idea stems from arrested development episode



  • Fun, isn't it!



  • I'm easily amused.



  • Recently took the baby on a walk down the street to the pond. We've gone ever since he was born but, I think this is the first time he walked all the way. He got muddy and threw rocks in the water. It was blissful. The neighbors smiled and waved as they drove by.

  • There's tadpoles by the thousands in there already.


  • He's not quite two and uses simple sentences: "I go outside." "It's in there." "Pretty flower." "I want bath."


  • He's getting a fire truck pedal car soon. It has removable ladders, a bell and a tank you pump up and he can spray water from a hose. I can't wait!


  • Ahem, well, purely for the educational value to the child of course!


  • Man, it's going to be cool.

Friday, July 24, 2009

I Have No Use For Gulls But, Pelicans Are Kind Of Cool Birds

Look for my work in upcoming National Geographic magazines. Yes, I'm that awesome!



  • The smell of Hawaiian Tropic coconut tanning oil still drives me crazy.

  • Any drive over an hour so for me is a beating- Galveston= 5+ hours.

  • Worth every minute but, agony nonetheless.

  • Couldn't hardly walk when we got out of the car.

  • The night before I left I drove about 2 hours out west to get my oldest from church group. So if I had left right after picking him up that would have been 9 hours of driving easily.

  • Could have been well into Tennessee with that drive.

  • My impression: maybe not as exquisitely true there as other resort/vacation destinations but, seemed like a lot of rich folks and a lot of poor people with a middle class maybe not as well represented as either. I know this would probably be proven wrong but, that was my first impression in the Walmart off of Seawall.

  • Got Zac a t shirt that looks like it is blood spattered and has a bite out of the side and the image of a grinning shark saying,"Tastes Like Chicken!"

  • It's a very exclusive original I had commissioned especially for him- no one else in the world has one like it.

  • Quite tasteful I might add.

  • Every shop was selling baby sharks in jars for 16.99.

  • Fishing boats came real close to shore- as in 300 to 500 yards.

  • I got the Glenn Campbell song Galveston for the first time when I listened the other day. He was singing as a Vietnam war soldier hence the line,"I clean my gun and dream of Galveston..."

  • In my defense, literally had not heard it since the days of my youth.

  • When I was little we drove to Galveston in my dads old 1969 Ford LTD. I remember waking in the middle of the night to the sounds of the surf and getting out and the beach being literally covered with hermit crabs- you could hear them scurrying around everywhere.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Scam A Rola Scam A Licious Scams A Plenty Scams N More

Recently placed an ad on Crigslist to help my childrens grandfather move a truck and some equipment he no longer needs on the ranch. Within minutes received this reply.
Look for future responses AND scans of her her phony baloney cashiers check- I will have her overnight me if I have the time. Might have her photograph herself doing something crazy I dream up- just to prove she's legitimate and above board, of course. Maybe sticking a hot dog weiner up her butt and taking a picture with the front page of todays The New York times. Any ideas?

"Hello Seller, My name is Rose Stanley i reside at GA Saw your ITEM (Crigslist) and I'm willing to purchase it, I want you to please get back to me with the present condition, are u the Original owner? and your last price offer??. Kindly let me knowhow much you can let it go for and Email me pictures as well, as for the Shipping i will take care of that through pick up . i have a shipping company which is named Ips ( International Parcel Service ) they will take care of the pick up okay i will also like to know if u will accept certified check for the payment . Will be expecting your reply asap. Regards."

Miss Rose

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

My Family Wasn't The Only Wildife In Galveston



  • It was great to see how lively Galveston is and well it's recovering.
  • I did not even get wet- at all. Normally I at least wade in and splash water on myself to cool off but, not this time.
  • Why? Not real big on swimming so it's not important to me that I swim in general and I'm not interested in getting stung by jellyfish, burned by a man o war, eaten by a shark, impaled by a stingray, getting tangled up in fishing hooks or nets, being pulled out to sea by a riptide or getting my foot layed open by a broken beer bottle.
  • Sure I let my children swim- it's very important to them so the very minuscule risks involved are worth it.
  • Would have surfed if weather cooperated- that would have been worth exposure to possible risks.
  • Niece got hit by jellyfish. That's one out of seven people- better than 10% chance of getting stung- not worth it.
  • Fish Tales new favorite restaurant down there. Had grilled/blackened mahi mahi- tumultuous. Absolutely delish.
  • Seemed like every single black person native to area wore an Obama T shirt.
  • There were a lot of homosexual people there.
  • Noticed a lot of mixed race couples as well.
  • Saw a lady immediately after being hit by a car- knocked her completely out of her shoes (happens commonly). Before we could stop nurses from UTMB came streaming out to help. She was in scrubs so I assume a nurse also.
  • So humid there. Unbelievably humid. Really, you should bring things in to dry instead of hanging them out on balconies etc.
  • Police there as in a lot of other beach/resort/lake areas are very casual. Heard an open exhaust race car run up and down Seawall. Saw a guy on a sportbike going at least a 100 MPH also on Seawall and everyone had a 4 wheeler or golf cart on the road and didn't seem too bashful about operating them under the influence of various substances.
  • The ferry to Bolivar Pen. is way faster than I remember from previous trips.
  • People were getting in trouble right and left for dangling their babies over the rails.
  • Idiots
  • Saw dolphins for the first time ever from the ferry. No telling how many there were- they were all around the boat.
  • There was a telescope in the house that was covered in Mardi Gras beads and some frilly, satiny little piece of cloth. As I picked it up I said,"What is this?" with my family as an audience. "That would be a pair of panties." someone said. I instinctively drew my hand back very rapidly for some reason I noted.
  • They said I also instinctively smelled my hand afterward.
  • I deny it.
  • Also, saw a girl who we were unsure what happened but, we saw EMTs splinting her arm. Her very obviously broken arm. As in her dangly, floppy forearm at 90 dgree angle broken arm.
  • Children caught hermit crabs.
  • I didn't catch any kind of crabs.
  • Read two books.
  • Feel great- well rested and rejuvenated.
  • I'm old. I can now measure the success of vacations by number of books read and how well I relaxed.
  • Saw far fewer motorcycles than anticipated.
  • I can never spell restaurant correctly the first time.
  • No, not even that try.

Prenapal Post

Been in Galveston for past few days. Meant to put something up here before I left or even post from down there- neither worked out like I thought. If you click on the link you'll see a cornucopia of corny country music video but, also hear a good old classic country music song. If you've spent a lot of time there as I have and love it as I do, it's moving to see 40 year old footage and be reminded of things that are sadly changed and others that are nearly timeless. The Flagship Hotel (the one in the first of video jutting out into Gulf) looks a near total loss. The Galveston Fishing Pier also shown is gone. Only pelicans fish from it now. The beach house where my sister was married is gone. Everyone on the beach cheered them that day. The neighbors in the amazing three story house next door gave them champagne that night. Their house is gone also.

  • I did see dolphins for the first time on this trip.
  • They looked delicious.
  • Took three or four hundred pictures will get some up soon.
  • Tired- nap now.

In Case You Decide To Become A Hobo



you will need to know these symbols which may be found on street signs, mailboxes, cit limits signs etc.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Mondays Missives




  • A time honored tradition in the military before a deployment to a desert environment in war or peace is to develop heinous stories related to sand fleas, dirt, sweat and everything else you can think of that might get into the hair surrounding a guys man-junk. What is the obvious solution to avoid such atrocities? You shave said area of course (or at least you promise the new guy that's the only sensible solution) "All the old timers will be doing it." you confidently assure them.


  • It's funny to see them in a cold sweat, in mortal agony on a patrol in 130 degree heat a couple of weeks later when the area starts getting reforested and/or the shaving bumps start getting bathed in sweat.


  • War is heck I always say.


  • Still feel great when spellcheck says," No misspellings found."


  • I enjoy running a string trimmer (weedeater).


  • Isn't Weedeater the best name for a product ever?


  • After replacing the nylon string on my heavy duty Toro trimmer one too many times I decided the situation called for something more durable and looked to a fine stainless steel cable. The first effort lasted seconds before the ends were frayed and unusable. I placed some splicers on the ends of the cable and formed a small loop with them at each end. The results were amazing for about 5 minutes then the cable snapped off neatly and evenly with the trimmer head. I heard the pieces whirring off into the distance but, never found them even though I looked everywhere in the yard and all the way out to the street behind where I was working.


  • I'm sure even Thomas Edison had his off days.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Step Aside Batman















A very cool law enforcement vehicle video can be found here. Some of the things that jumped out at me when I first heard about the Carbon Motors E7: There has never been a purpose built police patrol vehicle- they are all upfitted civilian vehicles. It is specd to a 250,000 mile lifespan and recycling of entire unit at the end of its service life is factored into purchase. 50 % of all LE injuries happen in or related to their patrol unit and while it is designed to be safer all around it is specifically designed for 75 MPH rear impacts. It has a diesel engine designed for a 40% savings over traditional units in fuel costs and Americans spend 4 billion dollars in fuel alone annually to power LE vehicles.




  • If I had the means I would invest in this vehicle now and heavily. Once it takes off it will make the dominance of the Crown Vic in previous generations look sick.

  • Carbon Motors was founded by former Ford execs.

  • Really surprised this is the first purpose built police vehicle ever considering their use by LE goes back 100 years basically.

  • Can't wait to see them on the street. Carbon Motors hasn't released a price only saying it will be competitive with other fully outfitted units already offered.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Hee Haw







Everybody needs a good donkey and/or horse. Jack Jr. and Boykins here certainly fit the bill for each. Bid on these guys at Rene Bates for Tarrant County Texas.

Friday's Music Video Extra Vaganza- O Rama



If you've never done drugs and wondered what they're like- this will give you a good idea someone once said.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Weird News- Crazy Headlines And A Little Inspiration For Thursday Morning












  • "She said nobody ever suggested a bigger box for her husband — a 300-pound preacher and funk musician" ap news





  • "ELKHART, Ind. - A 51-year-old man told a police officer he was naked in a cemetery because he had taken off his wet clothes after checking on his in-laws' grave and then wanted a closer look at some flowers. " ap news





  • "VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A boy celebrating his third birthday was unhurt and apparently unfazed after he floated nearly eight miles down a river riding atop his toy truck, police said.
    The boy's family was camping at a popular park near Fort St. John, in northeastern British Columbia, on Sunday when the boy wandered off unnoticed and somehow entered the nearby Peace River, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Monday.
    The boy's parents at first thought he was playing with other relatives at the campsite. But police were later alerted and had begun a search when a boater found the boy, and the toy, about 7.8 miles away.
    After a nearly two-hour journey down the swift-moving river, the boy had no injuries and was apparently unaware of the danger he had been in.
    "He was very excited to see the police," said RCMP Constable Jackelynn Passarell.
    A local news report said the boy made sure the boater who found him also retrieved the toy truck." ap news





  • "An American soldier had a miraculous escape from a knife attack in which four inches of a blade was rammed into his skull. At first Sergeant Dan Powers wasn't even aware that he had been stabbed by an Iraqi insurgent. He was patrolling in the streets of East Baghdad in Iraq when his attacker came up behind him. He simply thought he had been bumped "like a football tackle" until colleagues told him what had happened. "There was no pain because the brain has no pain sensory nerves. It was all surface, like someone punched me in the head," he said. His fellow soldiers decided against pulling out the blade, instead protecting the knife handle with bandages and a plastic cup, and taking him to a military hospital. Throughout his surgery Powers was awake, explaining to the doctors what had happened as they worked on the knife. At one point someone placed a phone over his ear so he could talk to his wife back at home and reassure her that everything would be fine. Senior surgeon in Iraq Lt. Col. Richard Teff was guided by video link from the US by the army's top vascular neurosurgeon Lt. Col. Rocco Armonda."We were lucky we had the right people in the right place," Dr. Teff said.Dr. Teff faced a difficult dilemma, carry out a major brain and artery operation, or cross his fingers and pull out the knife embedded in the victim's brain. "Any time you have a penetrating stab to the head, the biggest concern is what's going to happen when you pull the knife out," he explained. "He started bleeding like crazy, enough to make everyone in the room worry he might die," Teff said.Despite fears that Sgt. Powers would suffer severe paralysis, brain damage and lost eyesight, he confounded the experts. Though he faced more surgery back in the US, after a month he was discharged. He was given the knife, which he agreed to send it back to Baghdad for his attacker's trial. He said he does not know what happened to his attacker, but understood the Iraqis "will lengthen his neck a little bit". His remarkable recovery is regarded as a miracle of modern military medicine." thatsweirdnews.net





  • "The longest jail sentence passed was in the United States - 10,000 years for a triple murder. Dudley Wayne Kyzer was jailed for 10,000 years by a court in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1981 for murdering his wife. He was then sentenced to two life terms for murdering his mother-in-law and a college student. In 1994 Oklahoma rapist Darron Bennalford Anderson received a 2,200-year jail sentence. When he appealed and won a new trial, he was convicted again and resentenced to more than 90 additional centuries behind bars - including 4,000 years each for rape and sodomy, 1,750 years for kidnapping, 1,000 years for burglary and robbery, and 500 years for grand larceny. In July 1997, the state Court of Criminal Appeals held that the grand larceny charge was double jeopardy on the robbery conviction and thus dismissed it. So the court cut Anderson's sentence by 500 years, speeding up his release date to the year 12,744" thatsweirdnews.net

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday's Digressions



    Meet my grandparents James and Nancy.
    They had a punk rock band
    Until she realised he had stopped being about the music and sold out to The Man.


  • "Brian hears a noise."

  • Clip title on hulu for the show Ghost Hunters.

  • Good grief- it's 2009 AD not BC!
  • And anyway, O M G- Brian hears a noise !?
  • Get my attention- make a documentary from Iraq or Afghanistan and have that be a chapter or clip title.

  • Saw the picture of President Obama supposedly ogling some female teenagers backside- along with the video it was jacked from. There was nothing to it, absolutely not even an untoward glance.

  • Latest so bad it's good movie to watch: Giant Spider Invasion. It stars The Skipper whose first line is something like,"Hey there- lil buddy!" It also stars Barbara Hale as a scientist which I thought was pretty cool for being filmed pretty far back in the day. When I was a little kid I had a crush on her as Della Reese in Perry Mason.

  • Freezer- Expensive metal box we put things in so they'll be frozen solid when we throw them away- 2 years from now.

  • Refrigerator- Expensive metal box we put things in so they'll be stinky, hairy and green when we throw them away- 2 weeks from now.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Large Boats



on dry land really get my attention for some reason. Just so out of place I suppose

Monday, July 13, 2009

Mondays Missives




  • It's hard to explain but, I have to access my blog through some weird channels sometimes. When I'll log in I'm taken to a home page where I have to click on a tiny icon at the bottom of the page. Other times I'm taken to a page where you create/post posts and I have to click on a blogger icon at the top left of the page.


  • Screwy.


  • Also, I've tried several times to get a counter to work- they either don't show up at all or an empty box that says counter will be there. Although oddly, one of my friends commented on the high number of hits I had received and was sure there was a counter present not long after I tried to apply one although I never saw it even by going to the site with a search and no log in.


  • Goofy.

  • Also it comes up to the edit/add page randomly when I log in instead of dashshboard.


  • I would never get involved with a woman who has a long term, disabling disease but, I would be the best thing that ever happened to woman (I think) who was struck by something after we got together due to my nursing experience, personal nature and belief in the vow, In sickness and in health..."


  • Is that wrong?


  • Recently I was going to say to a friend in a text, "I feel for you bro." instead I wrote,"I fell for you." Whoa, back that train up!


  • I wish I could quit you...


  • Ha, is that how that line goes? I've never seen the movie.


  • I've been in Larry McMurtry's bookstore in Archer City and want to go back.

  • Still amazed how fast the new bicycle is every time I get on it after riding a clunky 44lb mountain bike for so long.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

In The News

"MUMBAI, India - Two boats capsized in western India on Sunday when the passengers panicked after seeing a bolt of lightning, police said. Twenty-six women drowned" ap

Friday, July 10, 2009

Friday's Very Late Dispatch



  • Headline: "Michael Jackson's father suspects foul play"

  • Oh, good grief.

  • A favorite uncle is dying and I don't want to go see him.

  • It was unbelievably hot today.

  • Zak is sitting on couch nekkid, eating cheddar cheese and drinking milk from a sippy cup while watching Smallville.

  • Surprised me how much I enjoy that show.

  • Got the entire fourth season on DVD today at Goodwill for 5 dollars.

  • Your unsolicited parenting tip for the day: Never buy an el cheapo sippy cup.

  • I've read from several second hand sources that there are scholars and others who believe Shakespeare's writings were divinely inspired.

  • Not buying it for a minute.

  • Still, a passage from King Lear kinda jumped out and spooked me when I opened my Complete Works to a random page the other night when I was sleepless.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

I've Been Searching For A Good Used Truck...

There are some gems in this craigslist ad.





"It's a deal. It's a steal. It's the sale of the century, and if i didn't need to sale it I would sure love to keep it. ask for Bob or Cowboy..."

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Wednesday's Music Video Extra Vaganza- O Rama Special Double Barrel Edition






Don't know where to start with todays offerings the first by Mindy Smith and the second by The White Stripes. There's the fact I nearly loathe Dolly Parton's version of this song. My odd history with J named women. The fact that I really love these covers of Jolene in their own right and nearly everything else each has done. Also, true too- each of the covers are so different from each other and the original. Enjoy and sing along.


Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you, please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare

With flaming locks of auburn hair

With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring

Your voice is soft like summer rain

And I cannot compete with you,

JoleneHe talks about you in his sleep

And there's nothing I can do to keep

From crying when he calls your name,

Jolene

But I can easily understand

How you could easily take my man

But you don't know what he means to me,

JoleneJolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you, please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

You could have your choice of men

But I could never love again

He's the only one for me, Jolene

I had to have this talk with you

My happiness depends on you

And whatever you decide to do,

Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you,

please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you, please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him even though you can

Jolene, Jolene







Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Post Fourth Post






  • Computer back up- and with the new network card is fast.


  • That came out newtwork first.


  • The Runaway Bay fireworks show was nice.


  • What does something like that cost? $20,000?


  • That morning watched the sun come up with Zac while riding the four wheeler.


  • Until the flat.


  • Then I pushed- he steered.


  • Ever seen a 2 year old help repair a flat on a four wheeler? If you were with us you could say you had.


  • White trash: may not have money for shoes or clothing that doesn't end in top (tank top, tube top etc.) their children may wear diapers until they are ready to explode but, man- there will be money for beer and firecrackers.


  • Even it takes risking property, lives and eyesight at a multi thousand dollar show- they will have plenty of stuff that goes bang.


  • Caught myself teaching a nephew how to estimate distance from an explosion by using the flash to bang method.


  • I knew my wartime service would pay off someday.


  • US tracer rounds are red and insurgent ones are white due to different chemical properties. The white trash behind us fired off something that shot out a white, flaming ball.


  • My heart jumped up in my throat for a second I'll admit.


  • I thought often of the kid that night who walked away from his unit in Afghanistan several days ago. The thought of him in enemy hands on the Fourth Of July. Made me feel cold and empty inside.


  • God, what was he thinking?


  • All that situation really proves is a poor, mixed up kid. Although I have several guesses what people think it proves.


  • My oldest has been gone a lot this summer and I don't begrudge his experiences but, I've missed him.


  • He text me for some very important input into a hot, earth shattering debate he was obviously embroiled in : "Dad, can a copperhead and rattlesnake mate under any circumstances?"

  • Got in trouble for tying a compliment to the woman's age (she's 50). It was actually a two parter- one on general beauty and shape and another on her shape for her age. I know the pitfalls involved there but, thought it was pertinent enough to warrant the risk.

  • I mean really- she's 50 years old and looks better than most women half her age and this didn't happen by accident.

  • Still think I was right.

  • Some days it just isn't worth gnawing through the leather straps.


  • Zac got shots the other day. He told the nurse,"You no nice! Go time out, now!"

Next Blog Foray





















"A female bird was hit by a rushing truck, and laid there injured
Her partners came to her rescue and fed her with water and food
But the injury was too fatal that she died after some struggle Her partner looked at her hopelessly Realizing that she would not live, he wailed his heart out To no avail as he saw her last breath."


We'll believe what we want to believe I suppose but, something tells me the truth of this poignant tale is the male bird was harassing the female trying to mate with her to the point she flew in front of the truck was struck and he took advantage of the situation in his sex crazed state to breed with her dying body.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Mondays Missives



  • It's unusual to think as highly mobile as we are today regardless of where we live in the world we are likely to die within 50 miles of where we were born. I have spent 5 + years living in other countries and states but, live within 40 miles of where I was born.



  • My old unit is back in Iraq this time in Baghdad.



  • Wonder how much longer desk top pcs will be around?



  • People think the US military is losing the war in Iraq because the bad guys can seemingly hit our guys by IEDs with impunity. Within certain groups people believe the US troops can't stand up and fight and only rely on their technology. Truth is on the first thought there are some things in this world you just can't overcome. Think of the money and human resources of scientists fighting the AIDS virus over the past 20 years and people are still dropping like flies. And anyway the IEDS are a symbol of desperation- the insurgents are the ones who get tore up in a stand up fight- even when they have the tactical advantage. Also the IEDS for all their costs haven't stopped mission accomplishment- the beans,bullets and other supplies still get through.



  • I hate to admit it and people who know me would never believe I've sunk this low but, I can now measure in years since the last time I went fishing.



  • Read the other day on a list of things everyone should do before they die: kill, prepare and eat your own food at least once.



  • I agree.

Friday, July 3, 2009

VFW Vision

I was driving by the VFW hall the other night and had to yield to an emergency vehicle that turned into the parking lot. I pictured some old sapphire with a Marlboro 100 hanging impossibly from her lower lip with an ash easily an inch and a half long. She was thumping some guy who was laid out on the dance floor on the chest while saying, Bobby Ray, Don't you do this to me! Don't you DARE die on me, you hear me Bobby Ray?"

The ash never fell off that cigarette.

We Will Never Learn



"November 30, 1938. "Now that President Roosevelt has approved the $15 million low rent housing program for the District of Columbia, such slum scenes as this will disappear from the 'city beautiful.' This picture was made within a stone's throw of the U.S. Capitol." From Shorpy

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday's Music Video Extra Vaganza- O Rama


Here's an old fave from a fave band. Drivin N Cryin formed in 1985 and still tours. I still remember my mom fussing at me about,"That junk" when playing it while taking her out to eat once. Not sure but, I think this song comes from the Fly Me Courageous album. Nearly everything they did was good- some great.

Honeysuckle Blue Lyrics

Feel the southern breezes

and the southern wind

blowin´ down around the corner man

D´Agostino´s late last night I saw

a boy fifteen on the road

nothing in the pocket

his hand to the sky

nowhere else to go

Can you see it

or believe it

to send the corner man,

he has never been

come with me

I will show you where the

dogwood´s bloom it is true

lost n´ found n´ lost again

to the Honeysuckle Bluerunnin´

through these

caverns of gold

runs a river of death indeed

an old hotel serves as a

shelter for children

of the street

abandoned by the promised land

set sail on your own

how much longer

will the well

be dry for those

who roami got a ticket

in my pocket

to send the corner man

he has never been

have you ever seen the

blue ridge mountains boy

or the chatahoochee

to the Honeysuckle Blue