Heart Wrenching Picture Of Often Forgotten Victims

Monday's Missives

• What do you call the guy who hangs out with the musicians?



• The drummer.



• Ha, I know- mean joke, but, this one rawks!



• Something I've done that I bet you have not- taken a lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.



• In an AMC Gremlin.


• When someone uses entity in a sentence I'm usually more than certain they're trying to sound smarter than they really are.

Zombie Or Crackhead Angelina?- Maybe zombie Crackhead

Friday's Dispatch

• Candy cigarettes have been banned. You could never find them in the US anyway. I found an import company a few years ago that sold them by mail order- they were dirt cheap.


• Wish I had bought a bunch.
• Do you remember the end was red?
• My last patient was dying of lung cancer- and still smoked like a freight train. Although he couldn't hold a candle to his wife.
• Who smoked five packs a day. I would not have guessed that compatible with life- wouldn't you fall over dead the first day?
• My brother in law tried to quit by using a patch. The craziest thing was he'd give in to a craving and smoke with the patch on.
• "Ah, it makes me a little dizzy." his response to question of how it made him feel.


• I'm in agony from the wreck of Littlecar. We doubt it's totalled now though.


• "Hope springs eternal" though right?
• A friend was leaving a comment on here at the same time I was texting her.
• That was pretty OK.


• Something very big is about to change for me.


• Someone said,"Our weddings and funerals are like United Nation meetings." of my family.


• I kinda like that.


• Grilling steaks tonight- although oddly, I'm not looking forward to it.


• That's a little bothersome-but no, not really excited about the prospect.

What I'm listening to right now- Swallowed by Bush.

The Rumors Of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Unrelated pic- the dude just continues to rawk!

• I was tragically involved a very, sorta serious accident this morning after work. It's just as well- I was wanting a new vehicle anyway and had been kinda looking around for a used Jeep although, after seeing what a 3/4 ton Dodge Cummins diesel did to Littlecar with near impunity I may look for a 3/4 ton Dodge...


• Why bother mentioning it was a diesel? Oh, I'm sorry imagine my embarrassment- I left the best part out didn't I? Thankfully, she had the presence of mind to floor the thing right before she T-Bone'd me. It was awesome.


• I'll put pics up soon.


• Your PSA- cuz I care, dawg: keep cell phones charged, buckle your seat belts and even when you have right of way- visually clear to your left and right before passing through an intersection.


• Littlecar came to rest on a school lawn.


• Would've been awful.


• As in- it skidded across a sidewalk kinda awful.


• The first thing she mentioned (well- nearly) when she and I spoke? "I barely had money left over from my Social Security check to pay my insurance this month, but I know it's paid." And this classic,"My husbands been dead now for a little over three years now, I don't know what to do about all this- normally he would have handled something like this."


• Oh, that's the game huh? A little hard ball maybe?


• I felt bad for how terrible she felt.


• I'm still picking glass out of skin and clothes.


• I hope she's totalled (Littlecar I mean not the lady who smashed me).


• Either a very nice Jeep or really decent Dodge 3/4 ton quad cab might be nice.


• Huh- funny, 3/4 came out #?$.


• Ha.


• Did I mention I hit my head?
• Updates to follow.

Wednesday's Digressions

Zac and his rocket ship- but, I guess that was obvious huh?

• From my sons Ipod.





• Bumper sticker I saw in Weatherford TX: "God bless our troops- especially the snipers."





• Zac played the harmonica this morning and made the dog howl.





• I have no idea what the movie A Kiss Before Dying is about but, I like the title. It sounds bleakly romantic.





• If I'm like any character on television it would probably be Ted from Better Off Ted.





• But, probably more like the Boggy Creek Monster from The Legend Of Boggy Creek.





• Speaking of which, I've seen the area surrounding Boggy Creek on the Texas side. If you had been with me you would have no trouble believing there's a monster in there- or at least believing that people believe.





• Zac locked me out of the house when I ran outside a minute ago to start the car- instant terror.

Monday's Missives

• My favorite Insane Clown Posse song and video.





• Yes, of course I have a favorite ICP song doesn't everyone?




• An absolutely great horror, mystery, supernatural, sci fi show that is great because it's hard to pigeon hole- (at least for me obviously)- Nic Cage's Dresden Files. As I write this Hulu has 12 episodes up.




• There was a show or movie I'm not even sure which where a character man hugs his friend - a little too long for comfort and after a lonnnnng inhale and big sigh says something like,"Mmmmm, you smell like- peaches!"




• Been driving me crazy for days.




• If a friend is evasive about a friend who is coming in from out of town and even though you know they aren't doing anything special you lose all contact- said friend wants/wanted you as more of a friend and the out of town friend kinda already is/was.




• Did that make any sense? Honestly, I'm not sure it did.

What I'm Listening Too

Fats Waller Your Feets Too Big.

What A Guy

"In my lifetime I have murdered 21 human beings, I have committed thousands of burglaries, robberies, larcenies, arsons and last but not least I have committed sodomy on more than 1,000 male human beings. For all these things I am not in the least bit sorry." —Carl Panzram wikipedia

Saturday's Summary

• The Queen reminded me a story of going into a local antique store and being told,"Feel free to look around- just watch out for the snake." After learning she wasn't kidding I offered to catch the thing. I didn't have to wait long. It actually broke in front of us and tried to get behind some shelves. Instinctively I grabbed its tail and holding its tail the body swung back and forth like one of those wooden ones you buy carved by Hill Billies in the Ozarks. My head and upper body would tilt back when it came close to my face and the owner and two customers would do the same and scream a little when he came close to them.


• That's probably the weirdest thing that's ever happened in an antiques store- to me anyway.


• I put it into a paper sack and released it into a wildlife preserve.


• On the way it would rattle its tail against the bag making a sound exactly like a rattlesnake making my hair stand on end and my guts draw up inside.


• The End
  
  


• Ingloriousouser Bastards .





• Sneaker Pimps Post Modern Sleaze

Friday's Dispatch

• Just watched John Cusack claw down that fourth wall again in High Fidelity. Do women like that movie? Seems like it's made just for 30-40s ages guys.




• Friday Night Lights show's up in shows you might like things often, but I've never watched it and have no interest in it.




• Writing time over Zac just said,"I want to sit in your lap and read a book."



• Wonder if the US governments treatment of BP will affect our relationship with Britain? Saw David Axelrod claiming BP has plenty of money to handle claims and remain profitable- how could he possibly know that?


• (I'm back BTW.)



• A cool cover of Peter Framptons Baby I Love Your Way.



• My favorite Reggae song- take it away Bob with One Love.
• Grammar Nazi.

What I'm listening to- Queenadreena Join The Dots.

Snappy Looking Get Away

Big ole snapping turtle from website photo album on Mitchell's Campground in Perrin TX. Been needing a get away- badly with my children and I think I've found it.

Update: reserve your cabin early.

Globeandmail Comments Rant On Pakistan,US and Canada

Wright from Halifax, Canada writes: The destruction wrought by the U.S. in reaction (not response) to 9/11 makes it clear the Bush admistration wants the entire Muslim world to pay.The destructive debacle in Iraq, the complete failure to deal with terrorists hiding in Afghanistan, and the unintentional strengthening of Iran as a major regional power have been the consequences--adding up to a grievous loss of U.S. credibility and influence--not to mention treasure and lives.The irony is that it has been ordinary Muslims' natural response to unprovoked U.S. aggression that has humbled "the most powerful country in the world."Afghans genuinely wanted the West to help them end decades of war and suffering, but the Americans blew their chance through heavy-handed blundering and cultural arrogance.Iraqis might have responded positively to Saddam's toppling, but U.S. aggression, carelessness and stupidity erased what civil society Iraq had, and opened the door to a murderous al Qaeda insurgency--where none existed before.By treating all Iraqi Sunnis as Saddam clones, the U.S. has driven Iraq into the hands of an Iran-supported Shi'a majority, which is only beginning to show its true colours. Iran will soon hold effective sovereignty over a much bigger chunk of the world's oil reserves, and Israel will be even less secure than before "shock and awe".Now the Americans are willing to destabilize Pakistan as well, by putting the weak, neophyte government in an impossible position vis a vis its citizens. I wonder what the U.S. will do when the first helicopter full of its Special Forces troops is shot down in Pakistan. Recent history has taught us to expect the worst.

Monday's Missives

• On June 18 shortly after midnight the state of Utah barring a stay will kill a convicted murderer by firing squad. My first two thoughts as someone whose occupations have involved one way or another a lot of death? This method causes a controversy every time it's used- and I cannot grasp why. Death is instantaneous by this method, was chosen by the condemned himself and dead is dead- there's no good way to die unless it's after a long satisfying life surrounded by friend s and family... Also, don't believe what you read about the marksmen not knowing who fired the fatal shots since one of the five identical rifles will be loaded with a blank- I promise you there's a difference and they'll know even though yeah, it may be more of a Jedi mind trick thing to allow some room for doubt in their minds and to provide plausible deniability if their identity becomes known.




• After I pointed out a Corvette to Zac and told him a little about it he saw another, later model of a different color days later and correctly identified it saying, "Look dad- a Vettecor!"




• Expressions that have gotta go:_______ on steroids and ________ version 2.0 (if not computer related). These are forthwith and henceforth banned from use in the English language.


• Ever wondered- the professor could make a radio from a coconut, a rock and a bit of wire, but couldn't patch a hole in a boat?


• Mary Ann- definitely Mary Ann.

Let Slip The Dogs Of War

Friday's Dispatch

Simmermon twins Twinsburg Ohio

.


• Another note regarding the Turner Falls trip: saw one person I vaguely recognized and two I knew while there. Three hours away from home in another state in a 1500 acre park in a swimming hole- kinda notable coincidence- much less their presence aside, just the fact they were recognized in that sea of humanity.


• A Swiss acupuncturist is being investigated for intentionally infecting people with HIV. If this outrageous, ineffective and dangerous practice was outlawed as it should be- this and other problems would never have to happen. People die often from infections caused by this nonsense and in fact as hard as it may be to believe people have died from complications stemming from a punctured lung after undergoing this practice.


• I mean come on- it's 2010- not 1010!


• Just read the Cali girl who is attempting a circumnavigation of the planet is lost at sea. She was attempting to set the new worlds record. Such a brave girl and a very interesting story. I guess there's still hope- she was well equipped and prepared, it's just contact has been lost, emergency beacons have been activated and the nearest ship is 400 miles away from her location.
• Wonder how many people have been lost at sea? I assume it would have to be hundreds of thousands.


• It is unbelievably hot already. If I plant any flowers or new trees will just have to care for same so gardening may be forgotten this year.


• Recent conversation with Zac,"Am I a baby?" "No honey, I think you're more what they call a toddler." "I'm not a tottler! I'm Zachary James Lee!"


• Easy there tiger- have it your way.

Eraserhead Quandary

For the life of me I can't muddle my way through Eraserhead. Click there if you want to try. I'm not sure if I'm just not in the right frame of mind when I try or what and even more importantly unsure if I ever want to try again.

Update: I tried again and zonked out for an awesome nap.

Wednesday's Road Trip Missives-Turner Falls Edition June 2010

There's a castle in the park built by a college professor in the 1920's. It ambles up and across a very steep hillside. It detoriates more every time I see it- a shame.

A few years ago I saw the biggest centipede I've ever seen in the cave in the upper mid right of the above pic.

77 feet of spring fed icy goodness. In the post apocalyptic world- here is where I'll make my home after I clear out all the zombie partiers.

• Of the hundreds of people in the park 95% were Mexican. A friend said this trend exploded about 3 years ago, but did not know why.





• I stepped on a Chihuahua turd in my new, awesome (expensive) Nikes.





• I was not impressed.





• Would drop everything and move there in about a second if a cabin in the park became available and I could even nearly afford it.





• Prairie Kitchen in Ardmore is very good.





• The Motel 6 is very bad, they haven't gotten around to a remodel there after Accor bought them so it's like stepping back in time- with lots of flies, broken down beds, nondescript odors and an over taxed air conditioner and way too many dirty, stoned transients.





• Isn't there an old joke about the housefly being the state bird of Oklahoma?





• Oklahoma is one of our more under appreciated states in my opinion. It's absolutely beautiful, the people are friendly and when extremes are discounted there's good, long periods of temperate weather. Also, it seems like every little town as a museum, music festival or even a performance theater of some type.





• The roads are always in good shape- even I35 gets better where Texas stops.





• Saw a billboard out of the corner of my minds eye: Your luck improves the minute you leave Oklahoma's casinos.





• I'm pretty sure that's what it said and I guess I get what it meant. Anyway, that's right- casinos- what a disease. What an absolute waste of mans time and resources- very sad.





• Back to the weather thoughts: the weather there absolutely turns on a dime this time of year. Although we didn't see any this year, in previous years we always saw storm chasers well, chasing storms.





• Zac had a blast when we were busy, but during down times and especially when he was a little tired he wasn't too sure about the whole away from home thing and let his concerns be known frequently.





• The pools at TF are spring fed and consequently ice cold- in late season. Early summer/spring? Fugheddaboutit! I got in up to my knees and splashed some water on me to cool off from the billion degree heat and 1000% humidity and called it good.

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Monday's Missives

• There used to be an Irish lady I worked with and when she would relieve me in an absolutely horrendous Irish accent I'd meet her and say,"Ah, me darlin- begorrah, how are you this fine Ahrish mornin?"





• To which she would reply in her fine Irish lilt,"Oh, Kevin shut up before I crack you over the head with me shillelagh- you idiot!"





• My teenager can still tell me he loves me- when I'm dropping him off to work at a rodeo.





• I have a no fault policy when it comes to rides for him and friends both to keep them from getting killed if they're doing something they're not supposed to, but to keep them happy and productive without driving for a while longer.





• He's raising two animals this year for his ag. project. One will be a feeder for slaughter the other a sale animal.





• I'll need to start an extra job to make up for the money we'll save.


• Shinedown: Save Me.

A Sunny Sunday's Spiritual Summary

• Pearl Jam Just Breath- what a pretty song.


• Something I just read a minute ago: If you tell the truth it becomes part of your past. If you tell a lie it becomes part of your future.


• In the past 15 years I've told exactly one lie and it's weighing on me right now.


• And I promise you it wasn't that big of one.


• Saw an old best bud from my Army days yesterday. It couldn't have been more random and we both blurted out truthfully,"I was just talking about you!" We saw each other at a restaurant he'd never been to before and was only there because the person he sold a truck to lived in the town and wanted to buy his lunch. I needed to feed Zac and although I'd just about given up on the place- if nothing else they always get your food to you quick and the air is always ice cold.


• He leaves for Japan in a couple of days for a 3 year tour of duty.


• I'm sure it will be grueling.
• I never ever spell restaurant correctly the first time.
• No, not even then.


• When I got to Iraq a couple of soldiers who had been in one of my old platoons as privates and were then team and squad leaders said to me,"I think about how you and SGT Foreman in the treated us in the old scout platoon and all the classes and encouragement you gave us all the time. You really took care of us and we try to be like you to the young guys in our squads."


• It was one of the few times I wanted to cry over there.


• If all goes as planned when this publishes I will be watching the sunrise while camping with my boys.
• The oldest has a deficit in his jawbone with a cyst that was discovered yesterday. It is of a type that is essentially never cancer, but didn't stop me from looking at him a little differently after hearing about it and the word biopsy being used in the same sentence as his name.

Some Brave Soldier Alone Against The Enemy And A Desert Wilderness

Click to enlargenate

Our Troops Gettin' It On In Garmsir.

Click on the pic for combaty goodness.

Chaaaaaaaaaaaarge!