Island of Misphit Blogs

54 MILLION FUCKING DOLLARS A YEAR

2011-08-03T20:49:00.001-04:00

this has been pissing me off for a long time so tonight i decided to use my ancient portable computer machine to save the government 54 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
(and yes I am sure I am not the first person to run these numbers)
Drop congressional and presidential and VP salaries from 174K and above to 100K each (hey they still have to eat)
Charge members of the house and senate who live in their damn office $1000.00 a month rent, up the gym membership from $20.00 to $1020.00 a month and for ex members $5000.00 a month (hey K street will pay it for the access)
Ex Presidents? NO PENSION FOR YOU YOU ARE ALREADY RICH
(and for the exes this figure does not include staff salaries etc etc)
Since I am bad with "teh google" this doesn't count what we pay for their health care. Lets let them pay for their own damn insurance

54 million. A lot of money. Pell grants anyone? Or how about repaying Social Security? Or a whole lot of other uses for "our" money we give these idiots

I am also pretty sure that would cover fixing the potholes in my street

Maybe It Is Time To Stop Being Angry

2011-01-31T21:07:00.003-05:00

My sister Sheri sent me one of "those" books on death and dying and blah blah blah with a nice note saying it really had helped her deal with Michele's death.

I was telling a friend about the book tonight and he asked if I was going to read it.

"No I'm not done being angry yet." I answered.

Tonight I complimented myself on how profound I was for knowing this about me.

Wow I've got this all under control. Process step B underway. No problems here.

And then I really thought of something.

I'm afraid if I stop being angry I won't have anything left.

I know something else is there I just can't seem to see it right now.

Michele would SO kick my ass if she saw me doing this.

It Is Not A Problem It Is Just The Way It Is

2010-12-22T20:45:00.007-05:00

So this Christmas is both different and the same from the last years Christmas.

The same is they are both without Michele.

It is different in that I am staying in Baltimore this year and last year I went home.

I believe both decisions were correct but it still doesn't make looking back different.

Michele's kids, and Sheri's daughter Taylor, are both older and the appeal of hanging out with "old folks" :) doesn't have the same allure lol.

I'm guessing tonight and the next few days are part of the process.

Grieving

Grateful

Confused.

Guess it is what makes us human after all huh?

To all of Island denizens I say I love you and I am thankful for you.

2000 miles is very far in the snow

Can't Keep The Island Up All By Myself

2010-09-02T20:18:00.001-04:00

Just saying
tired of talking to the coconuts.

I expect a glob post here by someone by monday

so it shall be written so it shall.....oh hell i do a lousy brenner impersonation

love ya

THIS CANT BE HAPPENING!!!!!1111!IIII

2010-08-18T21:03:00.003-04:00

SHE is spending her first night in a college dorm as a college student tonight?

sigh

Old is not the word right now.

But proud is! (and of her cousin Cam who has been at Texas Lutheran since Saturday)

Good luck kids.

Your family loves you

Yeah I've Been Dwelling A Bit Latley

2010-08-01T20:47:00.002-04:00

Latley?

OK Lately

Usually July ain't a bad month for me.

San Diego beautiful people and weather and leading up to the convention everyone is so busy my life gets a little calmer.

Not sure what drew me back to sadness about Ma and Michele last night but as long as that is not the norm I'm thinking that all right.

Love to my Island Brethren and Sisterthen?????

Thinking of you makes me smile. Thanks for that.

Part Of The Plan

2010-07-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite Dan songs

More Mundane Matters: With Names

2010-06-30T13:22:00.003-04:00

Steve, you sweet, wonderful man, thank you for your call last night. It really, really helps to know that I have such awesome friends who are there no matter what. I love you, man.

Rebecca has been my rock through this. She called Keith and Nikki and Dave when I couldn't catch my breath long enough to talk. She's been holding down the fort and just generally making everything easier, talking me through it all and being there. She's a kick ass roommate...and swiftly becoming one of my best friends ever.

Keith is being...Keith. He's trying to be comforting but it winds up being about him somehow. He's with the kids, though, and by doing that he's helping me to be able to go to NY and attend the funeral. And given that we're not living together, I'm able to be more understanding and forgiving these days for whatever reason and I'm touched that he tries. After all, he's my ex--he doesn't even have to do that much. He cares and I know that. Isn't that what's important? Family. And he's family and always will be.

Dave...wow. He's fucking awesome. We've been dating a mere 4 months and he's right there every time. He says, "I'm no good at times like these" and then turns around and is absolutely amazing. He came down without me even asking (turns out Rebecca told him that he may need to--so he just did), went to my parents' house with me, stayed with me for the night even though he's got to work today, distracted me, listened to me and gave me comfort with word and body. He's...I'm out of superlatives. I'm grateful, so very grateful, that he found me. I definitely got the better end of that deal, I think.

The kids are okay. They didn't know my grandfather the way I wanted them to. We just lived too far away from each other. Nikki knew him marginally better than Richie did but, like I said, they're okay.

As for plans, no one knows anything yet. They're doing an autopsy to find out what happened but we're pretty sure he had a heart attack while he was driving. I only hope he'd already died when he hit the guard rails and went over the embankment into the ravine. I would hate to think his last moments were in pain and unable to move and the fear of trying to control the car and not being able to and worrying about hurting someone else. No, much better the other way so that's how I'll remember it. When they finally release the body, we'll know more about the funeral and so on. I'll post then but y'all know I'm going. If it's soon, I'll fly b/c it's cheaper before the holiday. After the holiday, the prices double so I'll take the bike. /shrug/ Whatever.

'Til then, thank you all for being such fantabulous friends.

http://sayingnothingcharmingly.blogspot.com/2010/06/me-and-mrs-jones-are-just-swinging.html

This Week In My Mail VLOGGGGGG (Yeah Me)

2010-06-29T21:27:00.002-04:00

Unnatural Horrors of Being An Uncle

2010-06-25T21:39:00.004-04:00

Really this is what I have to put up with.

If you know anything about me you know I lurves me some TCU.
I'd go as far to say no one in Maryland would even know about TCU if not for me (not to mention the folks on the island of Costa Rica)

Back in the early 1800's when I was looking at colleges I had narrowed it down to three.

Texas Lutheran because we were all good Lutherans and it was not a bad school. My nephew Cam is going there this year so good thing he doesn't have to hear about "Drunk Uncle Steve" stories on that campus.

The second was the university of texas in austin (yes all small letters on purpose)but it was such a huge freaking school back then (and still is) I really did not think i had what it took to be in the middle of 30 thousand other people in school. Hell I barely graduated from Wichita Falls High School.

And my niece Taylor is going to UT much to my chagrin.

Which brings us back around to TCU (really there is a point here somewhere)

The band director at TCU (Prof as we called him Diamond Jim Jacobson as he was known in the biz)wife went to my high school and PRESTO band scholarship to TCU.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

I get home this evening and there is a package on my door. Very odd for me but also a little exciting.

It was from my sister Sheri.

Inside was a great photo of all three kids (cam Ali and Taylor) and...................A UT HAT!!!!111!!!23434!!09475094NOOEEESSSSS

We hated UT in college. We could not beat them at anything they always kicked our ass. Always!

GAHHH ERRGHHHHH

But to show how much I love Taylor here is a picture of me with a UT hat on. Cache it people 'cause it may not happen again!

The Great Cheeseburger Controversy Of 2010

2010-06-23T20:06:00.002-04:00

So as everyone knows Dad was in town.
Usually I have the "cookout" that following weekend but this year Dad came in on Friday and the next Thursday we were off to Pennsylvania to play golf so the "cookout" was going to be the day after he came in or not at all.

What this meant in the grand scheme of things was golfing Saturday morning and then back to my place to entertain about 20 folks. Not that big a deal. A little rushed but nothing I couldn't handle.

And, as usual, everyone had a good time.

Later in the week Dad and I cleaned out the grill and replaced the lava rocks all that normal gas grill maintenance that needs to be done once a year or so and he says "Steve we should grill out tonight"

Which I was so cool with.

We were out having a beer and invited two friends over as well and we are grilling baybee! YEAH!

So the burgers are on the grill like 30 seconds and Dad brings out a slice of cheese. He wanted a cheeseburger which was great and this is how the conversation went:
ME: Dad what's with the slice of cheese?
Dad: I want a cheeseburger
ME: Ok well take that slice back in and when the burgers are ready were good to go and I'll put the cheese on the burger
Dad: Well I noticed you didn't put the cheese on the burgers Saturday. We always did that you know
Me: I understand that but I had like 20 burgers on the grill and didn't know what everyone wanted so I let them put cheese on thier burgers if they wanted to inside the kitchen
Dad: Welll we always put the cheese on the burger on the grill
Me: Dad I understand that and we can do that tonight. 4 burgers 4 slices of cheese we're good but take the cheese back inside or it will melt before the burgers are ready
Dad: Grumble grumble etc cheese my day etc etc

It was to laugh at.

And if the worse thing I can say is my Dad aint happy with my cheese skills when it comes to burgers on teh grill I'm doing pretty well!

the man who talks in anagrams

2010-05-08T21:35:00.001-04:00

The Crimson Permanent Assurance

2010-04-16T21:18:00.001-04:00

The Best Words To Go To Go To Bed With

2010-04-08T22:48:00.004-04:00

"Love you Bub"

And the best words to say in response "Love you too Sheri"

Nice talking with my sister this evening

A Picture Of A Cow

2010-04-05T21:17:00.002-04:00

WHAT? Look folks I don't lie about these things.

I Guess I Lied

2010-04-01T21:13:00.003-04:00

But only here at the island and what happens at the island stays at the island!
(Maybe we should look into a casino or two)

A year ago tonight I was at M.D. Anderson hospital. In a couple hours visiting time would be over but the staff let us stay bit there was only room for two in the room.

Naturally we gave that to Jim and Ali and Dad, Sheri, and I went and staked our spots out around ICU to see where we could get an hours or so sleep.

And me being me I believed the signs saying "This Visitors Room Closes at 11:00" and went looking for somewhere to lay down and found a love seat in the lobby.

Not very comfortable but I hunkered down and pulled my TCU cap over my head and tried to sleep (which was off and on)but eventually April 2nd came.

Dad, Sheri and I met and had breakfast at the hospital and went back to the room and about noon Dad and I headed back to Brenham to shit shine shower and shave.

And we got the call that we all had to meet to decide what was the next step.

At this point we knew (and I am damn glad we did) what Michele wanted the next step to be. But before we took that step we met with the Doctor.

And as much as we had hoped the step would not be the step we wanted to take the step was there.

And we had to take it.

It was the only way we could be true to our sister and daughter.

At about 5:30 or so they unplugged every thing except those machines keeping her comfortable and any pain she may feel at bay.

And about 45 minutes later she died.

Here I am a year later and even typing that makes me feel so very, very selfish.

I'm a mess. For tonight.

But this will pass because I know my sister loves me. And she'll give me a pass every now and then to cry when I shouldn't, to sometimes gaze into the sunset or sunrise and go away to another time when things were a whole hell of a lot better than they are now.

And I love my sister.

And I miss her.

Only In Texas (Or Mac and Chese and DEMOLITION!)

2010-03-31T19:24:00.002-04:00

Or maybe a better title would be "Jerry Jones Can Sell ANYTHING"

I love my Dallas Cowboys I do I do I do.

Reading the website today there is an article about the demolition of the old Texas Stadium.

This was interesting to me as I have been to that stadium before and talks about the process of bringing it down and what the city plans to do with the land blah blah blah blah.

And this is the last paragraph:
Fireworks will precede the demolition, and the event will be emceed by ESPN's Chris Berman. Casey Rogers, an 11-year old from nearby Terrell, won an essay contest for the chance to press the final button completing the implosion, which is sponsored by Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

How in the world do you sell naming rights to the demolition of your own stadium?

In the words of those old Guinness commercials "BRILLIANT"

I've Learned A Valuable Lesson

2010-03-29T21:37:00.002-04:00

And before the age of 49!

If you don't want to keep spilling the cinnamon maybe moving it somewhere away from the cooking utensil you use often is not the worse idea evah.

I am now going to try this tactic and have great faith it will work out.

I Yam Wat I Yam

2010-03-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

A Tiger? In Africa?

2010-03-25T21:31:00.001-04:00

Fort Worth (Possibly) Here I Come

2010-03-24T21:43:00.002-04:00

So my vacation plan for this year has been for a while to get back to Fort Worth in the Spring/Summer so I could go to Scarborough Fair

My reason for this is simple.

I really want to get back to Fort Worth for a vacation.

And go to Scarborough which we did a lot when I lived there.

Ok AHEM
Amongst my reasons....... (that was for you Bob) LOL

I will also get to see Christina (yes lunch is on at LJS BABEEEEEEEE) and also one of two ex girlfriends that I still think about to this day (the other one is in CO so she probably won't be there)

Hopefully this will all work out.

And if not I will be back there the first weekend in September when the MIGHTY MIGHTY TCU HORNED FROGS open their season at Jerry-World in Arlington!!!

I love the smell of pending vacations at 9:50 on a Wednesday evening

I Found This Funny

2010-03-16T19:57:00.004-04:00

So I had to take the car in to the dealer because the check engine light was on.
I don't worry about the check engine light because every time it has happened to me I either lost my gas cap or it was not on correctly and the car loss some pressure or vacuum in the line.

I took out the work order tonight to put it in my "car folder" and this is what the first 3 sentences were:
Customer states check engine light on.
Test Drove Vehicle
Check Engine light is on

Really? I brought my car in for service and it actually needed, ya know, service?
Because there is nothing I like more than to be without a car all freaking day long at work.

Turns out I needed a sensor (which the service person told me it was a hail mary they had in stock but they did).

So new sensor goes in, check engine light goes out.

But under parts they say they put in a "thruster". Hmmm if I experience any sudden uncontrolled acceleration y'all are my witness's!

Nuance

2010-01-21T22:24:00.002-05:00

I, like most of us, was brought up to be truthful. In fact, it was a bit of a thing in my family - no shades of grey or excuses, you just don't lie to people. No claiming to be younger to get the kid's price, no pocketing the extra if you're given the wrong change, no staying home "sick" if you're not.

And I really took it to heart. I eventually grew out of the wide-eyed absolutism of childhood, but the overall message stayed with me and while I'm not shocked-shocked-I-say at the white (and other colored) lies a lot of people are comfortable using, it's not for me. I'm not above smiling through food I don't like, but that's generally the extent of it.

Except, today I had to choose between either relaxing that standard or putting a friend's job on the line and causing trouble for the rest of the company, and of course I chose the former.

The disconcerting thing is, I think I was quite good at it. I wasn't happy about it, but the false claim I needed to make occurred to me on the spot, and I said it, and was outwardly relaxed and chatty and helped embellish it very slightly and provide the needed detail, and then sign the forms that were produced to that effect.

I'm not at all certain that the person I was dealing with in fact believed what I was telling him, but my claim was one of the few acceptable answers to the questions he was sent to ask, this is a very non-confrontational culture and it doesn't matter to him personally, so as long as we produce (in this case literally) some documentation to back it up, that should be that.

2010 is off to quite the auspicious start, innit?

Death Via Facebook

2010-01-01T21:48:00.002-05:00

Sometimes having a super cool phone that keeps you connected ain't all that it is cracked up to be.

While I am on facebook I'm hardly ever on facebook.

I got an email tonight from someone named Cheryl who was looking for Michele there but found me instead.

It took me a long time to respond. There was only one thing I could say.

I gave her the address of the blog I started and let her know Michele had died earlier this year.

It was just an odd way to start the new year.

i dare you to try to read this one

2009-12-30T21:40:00.002-05:00

ok deep breath in 1..2..3

(this will take advance PIDOSPEAK I'm thinking)

so last year dallas had to win at philly to make it to the playoffs and got thier butts handed to them and i'm in hte bar all booohoooo and philly fans were all like eat shit cowboy dude etc etc etc and there was one fan while the philly caowboy connection of instant hate was obvious as they always are it seemed like ohhhh shes nice for someone whoroots for them and oh well i must now hang ny head in shame and wait for the 2009season

fastforwardtothis year and she walks in thebar and shesdating a coolguyiknow and wetalketcetcetc and ov erhtelast coupleweeks textshit about the gamesand shes all wevabout theboy and now ihearthey arebrokenup and imall likewhatdoIdo?

shesanurseandcooland prettyandsmart and asusualmy bottomline isifi can make a new freindSWEEETbut i kindalikeher

noireallylike her buttheniworryabout ageand performanceand stuff likehtat andwehaventevenhad adate.

imthinkingimprettystupidworryingaboutstuffthat hasntevenhappened yet

ohwellthatsjustme

Happy New Years Everyone

space cows and naked women

2009-12-28T21:44:00.000-05:00

are here

My Right Thumbnail Is Shiny

2009-12-08T21:39:00.002-05:00

trust me you don't want to know but the sales person was really persuasive

Where Have Eight Months Gone?

2009-12-02T22:37:00.002-05:00

Eight months ago today Michele died in a hospital room at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas.

Misphits Of Holiday Pasts

2009-12-01T22:21:00.008-05:00

the best pic because it has Jen in it!

Not sure what's going on here

the laptop did not start the car as i had hoped :)

Yes Bob and I called each other to make sure our outfits coordinated

AHHH Where did that Monkey come from?

Bob looking all pipey and stuff!

And Now For Something Light

2009-11-17T22:01:00.001-05:00

You Are Not American If You...

2009-11-06T23:02:00.000-05:00

Do not like Willie Nelson

NOW I know Why Mom Has Been Yapping At Me All Day

2009-11-04T20:56:00.003-05:00

From teh minute I got up this morning Mom has been buzzing inside my head like a bunch of bees at a honey festival (yeah you all know I don't do the metaphor thing well)

It was not a bad thing or sad thing just kinda like me and Mom talking which allowed me to let a lot of corporate crap just slide off my back today which was nice. SO I thought that was it. Ma paid a visit to just let me know she was thinking of me.

But then on the drive home it got stronger. A few happy tears were spilt and a word popped into my head.

Birthday

And being the not too smart son I said to myself "Self is someone's birthday this month?"

And it is. Mom's birthday is Friday. But that wasn't why she was yammering on.

She was telling me "Call your Father. He needs to hear you say Hi and talk about the mundane, everyday things we would talk about but I'm not there and you are."

So I talked with Dad tonight for about an hour. I think it helped both of us.

Thanks Mom Love you and miss you every day and don't be shy about yapping at me again!

Why? Because Someone Has to Keep An Eye On The Island

2009-10-21T21:38:00.002-04:00

My bags are packed I'm ready to go
Long John Silvers and Hush Puppies, Mama's Pizza, The University Pub, the TCU Bookstore, Angelos BBQ, breakfast at Whataburger and the Paris Cafe, a couple late night trips to the lesbian bar (they love me there)and sleeping in past 6 A.M. might just be what this tired boy needs.

I've Been Meme'd!!!!!

2009-09-15T21:57:00.002-04:00

By Linda

here are the rules:
"make a list of seven things I like that does not include people."
(I don't think any of these will come as any surprise to any of you)

1. GOLF!!11!
I haven't been playing well the last month but to just get away from everything for (by the time the drive to the course, playing and coming home are down) 7 hours is what's kept me sane on a lot of weekends.

2. The NFL
Yeah I know but Monday there was just a bit if a different air around the office as folks would be chatting about their team they follow and the games played over the weekend.

3. Texas Christian University
I love me some Horned Frogs. College was such an eye opening experience and started me on the path of finally growing up. Plus Ft Worth rocks

4. My TEE-VEE
58 inches of high def. Shallow I know but I worked my ass off to pay for that TEE-VEE

5. Mortons Steak House
I only get to eat there once a year but damn! what a good meal.

6. San Diego.
I may complain about the trip but it really is a lot of fun.

7. Blogs.
All of yours!

Play along of you feel like it

Lot Of Triggers This Week For Some Reason

2009-08-23T20:43:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure what set anything off this week.
I just had some very vivid images of Michele at M.D. Anderson, non responsive, with machines beeping and binging, and never opening her eyes while I was there.

I had vivid memories of the family meeting with the doctor and making sure Michele's wishes were carried out.

I had vivid memories this week of the machines getting quieter and quieter.

It seems like yesterday that after her son and daughter said goodbye that I went in the hospital ICU room to get whatever was still in there so they didn't have to.

And for some reason the image in my head was looking at Michele, her dead body, knowing she was the best of us and had drawn the short straw,and missing her as much in that moment as I do right now.

I love you Michele. Your the best sister a brother could ever ask for.

I Made A Funny At Work Today

2009-08-13T20:46:00.003-04:00

So we had a big 90 minute meeting at work today to let us lesser workers know more about how the new warehouse software really is the best thing since sliced bread even though after 7 months there are a lot more people with gray hair now then before the new advanced warehouse system.

And a question about receiving widgets came up and my boss brought out the tired line about the two theories of receiving widgets.

Boss: There are two theories about receiving widgets
Me: Tell us. Tell us both of them.

Well I laughed anyway

Grrr AAArrgh Or The Process Continues

2009-08-12T21:56:00.003-04:00

And there you have it.

I find myself crying a bit more these days.

And then when that is done I am incredibly thankful for all of you.

Thanks for being there for me.

It is mucho appreciated

I Just Want To Fucking Scream

2009-08-03T20:03:00.004-04:00

And I really don't know why. I just do want to fucking scream at everything in the entire universe.

I've never had more things that "society" considers important than I do right now.

I have a nice house. I have a new car. I have a safe (as far as I can tell) job.
I get to play golf every weekend weather permitting. I can do pretty much whatever the fuck I want to.

I have a great family and so many good phriends on the innertubes.

So why, at this point in time, do I just want to fucking scream at the sky and claim how unfair everything is?

I won life's lottery. I'm white and I have a penis. Can't do much better than that as far as starting out can ya?

Probably not unless your born rich white with a penis.

I just don't know what the fuck is going on with me right now.
I've always been able to see things clearly and adjust and adapt as needed.

Seems now I don't have that particular talent penis or not.

There are things I should be doing that I'm just not.
Like get a physical or see a dentist but I just don't fucking care. I just want to scream. Sorry, fucking scream.

I've been mired in this type of sludge before and have always gotten through it.

Just seems the the older you get the harder it gets.

Not The Post I Thought I Was Typing

2009-07-20T22:05:00.007-04:00

Damn me and my short attention span!
:)
The original post was meant to be how stupid I am because I had a pack of cigarettes with three cigs left in them and then and couldn't find them and then I heard the washing machine and went "HMMMMMMMMM"
Sure enough plastic, cardboard, and tobacco all through my laundry.

Instead as I cleaned wet tobacco out of my clothes and started packing for my upcoming trip to San Diego my thoughts turned to Mom and one of my many trips back to Texas while she was still in this physical world.

My trips to Texas fall into three categories.

Quick trip to Brenham to see family.
Quick trip to Ft. Worth to pretend I'm still 20 and a Junior at TCU.
And the special bonus "Tour of Texas Trip" where i travel from Houston to Brenham to Ft. Worth and back again and come back to Baltimore.

On one of my "Tour" trips I came back to Brenham the day before I went back to the Houston Airport and spent some time with Mom and Dad.

Being a Momma's boy Ma asked me if I had any laundry that she could do.

As the woman was dieing of cancer, not even in my most selfish stage could I let her do my laundry for me.

I thought I had the perfect out.

"Ma", I said, "I'd hate for you to do my laundry and it be wrinkled when I got home"

(And yes I know I've written this before but aint that the beauty of blogs? Write it again!)

My 67 year old, dear loving Mother, who I love with all my heart gave me a look that would have melted steel.
"Steven", she said, "I can do laundry and pack it so it does not wrinkle!

And once again I realized how lucky I am to have such a great Mom.

Forces Of Nature And Other Things You Can Not Avoid

2009-07-09T21:12:00.006-04:00

It's still odd, even going through it after Ma died, how the smallest things can be a trigger or you start crying and then laughing and can't figure out what started it at all.

At the oddest times it just hits.
I'll never physically hug my sister again.
I'll never talk to her on the phone again.
Then a moment from years ago that just makes me laugh.
(If I haven't told you about the date when I was a senior in high school[legal drinking age for me and my date] and Michele and her friend made us dinner and gave us non alcoholic wine and I acted all drunk remind me not too!)
And on the flip side years to come where she won't be there in the flesh at whatever holidays we gather for.

Grief and grieving is a process. I know that and all of you have helped me through this before. Thank you for that.

But the force when it just hits still amazes me.

I love and miss you Michele.

And I'm pretty sure we'll start talking like me and Mom do.

I can still hear you saying to Mom when she would ask "B do you want a sandwich?"
And you would say "He can do it himself".
And it would drive you nuts because I took advantage as if I could not make my own damn sandwich (and I only did it because I knew it annoyed you!)

I miss you every day Michele but for some reason the tidal wave hit today.

And I am proud to sit here and cry and laugh while I remember you.

For Jen (Cause she's Such a Cutie!)

2009-07-06T22:27:00.000-04:00

This Song Has Been On My Mind

2009-07-03T22:02:00.002-04:00

Song here

Maybe Or Maybe Not

2009-07-02T22:21:00.002-04:00

Maybe I'll happy. Or maybe not.
Maybe I'll shoot 89 tomorrow or maybe not.
Maybe I'll live to be 103 like Grandma. Or maybe not.
Maybe I will die at 49 like Michele. Or maybe not
Maybe I will compromise one day. Or maybe not.
Maybe I'll not miss my misspent youth. Or maybe not.
Maybe I'll let NonCat in the house again fleas and all. Or maybe not.
Maybe I will discover time travel. Or maybe not.
Maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to reconcile the 24 year old and the 47 year old and realize one is just an extension of the other. And vice versa.

Or maybe not.

Maybe you'll stay tuned to see how it all turns out!

Fine I Say. Bring It On Dining Room Table

2009-06-24T22:16:00.002-04:00

So the 8 gallons of Liquid Nails did not work.
Fine table you want to play that way bring it.
I have a drill, a countersink bit, and enough bolts to make you stand up.
By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Wavan, you shall be avenged!
(Not sure if that is directed to the table, the liquid nails, or me! But is is funny)

Socks With Crocs A.K.A The Meme Must Go On!

2009-06-16T22:07:00.002-04:00

From Christina:

"Socks with crocs.

Crocs in a box.

Crocs in socks with glocks in a box.

Why are crocs in a box with glocks in socks?

I do not know but I think it's bollocks."

From ME

"Crocks in socks
Crocks in socks with locks
Do the Crocks in Socks have key to the locks?
Don't know but the tunez they are playing rockz"

It's a challenge peoples to kepp it going on your own globs!

It Is Post #210!

2009-06-10T22:35:00.002-04:00

So noncat comes in and spends a lot of time last night. We had some bad thunder showers which may have scared her a bit.

We had a threat of some this evening so she also came over tonight and then did her "look" (which I interpret as I must pee poop and hunt) so outside she goes.

A couple minutes ago I go onto the porch and there she is. I am determined to enjoy a beer on the porch.
She wants back in. So I open the shiny new storm door and let her in and sit down on my cheap ass target camping chair on the porch.

Was this good enough for her? To paraphrase Steve Martin NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She sat at the door looking at me until I also came inside and then went to her favorite place in the dining room!

Guess she showed me who is boss! (And yes I am thinking about buying some cat food tomorrow-bad plan but she is getting skinny)

2 Months 2 days 2 Minutes What's The Difference?

2009-06-01T21:47:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow will be two months since Michele died.

And for some reason it has been hanging over me today like the cloud that followed Pig Pen around in the old Peanuts strip.

It's just hard to believe two months ago Dad and I were in Brenham taking a quick respite from being at M.D. Anderson and having a beer on the back porch.

And then the next day there I was with my family and all the machines which had made so much noise. And then they fell silent.

I kissed Michele on the forehead and said goodbye.

Did Someone Say Cheez-Burger?

2009-05-30T22:37:00.001-04:00

I Got A New Toy

2009-05-20T20:16:00.003-04:00

I could be in love.

Yes I know I am a simple man but it comes with two, TWO batteries not just one and who needs three?

SWEET MORE FUCKING RAIN

2009-05-14T22:36:00.002-04:00

Yes I know some of you on the islands have seen rain that would make me lose my hair but for sweet baby jeebus's sake do you have to knock out the TV too?

Looking forward to winter which taking into account these weather patterns in Maryland, will be here in about 2 weeks.
(yes my punctuation sucks I know hence why i flunked out of journalism school)

and in case i have not told the dwellers of this island this in a while
THANKS

Y'all have/are helping me get through a very tough time. Artesians or not!

So, what ever happened to the Konagod "Hire me" mojo, anyway?

2009-05-09T17:10:00.003-04:00

I had it. Then someone else had it. Then Christina had it for a while. I think we even sent it back to Kona at one point.

In any case, please send it down here directly, KTHXBAI.

Too Forward?

2009-05-03T19:31:00.003-04:00

My last email exchange with a lovley young woman I met at Comic Con last year

Her
"I'm glad your dad will be around. You both need to take it easy. I'm having a good time over here. It's nice to get away from those Amish, every now and then.

I'll see you at Comic Con, right?"

ME
"You better see me at Comic Con!
I fly in in Wednesday and have a dinner that night with DC (Paul Bob and our bigwigs) and fly out Sunday.
It would be nice if we could have a meal or a drink away from it all."

Hmmm comic book non romance LOL (she is a pretty cool person though so maybe I'll get to spend a couple hours with her)

This Is How I Am Feeling These Days

2009-04-28T22:25:00.003-04:00

With apologies to Freida Bee as it aint a froodle just a jumbled up bunch of mess.

Like me!

A small thing

2009-04-27T21:08:00.003-04:00

I pick up my next door neighbor's kids along with my own after school, the weeks that the girls are here with me. Today, presumably as a thank you (and also because she's just that kind of neighbor), she rang the doorbell and gave us a little plate of pineapple cake, fresh from the oven. That was nice enough of her; nicer still, to my mind, was the fact that she brought eight pieces, not six.

The Boy Turns Eight

2009-04-19T23:12:00.002-04:00

And we took him back to the 80s.

The place still looks (and smells) just like it did way back that then. The kids had a fantastic time and The Boy was very happy.

Happy Birthday, Drama Boy.

I Missed Keith

2009-04-16T21:26:00.003-04:00

He was out of town and I really missed him.

I missed the sounds of him threatening to beat the kids with the neighbor's truck due to the "lawlessness around here".

I missed the sight of the vein throbbing in his forehead.

I missed the smell of the smoke coming out of his ears, Cajun barbecue with just a soupcon of bourbon...

...it all just says "home" to me.

Well, I am personally glad that your mom didn't have acne.

2009-04-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

Christina knows what I'm talking about!

Well let's just say no "acne", mom and dad, equals at some point me.

Y'all could be subjected to worse, right?

RIGHT?

Peace

Steve

I Guess...

2009-04-10T22:51:00.004-04:00

Anger is part of the healing process too.
(No I didn't do anything stupider than normal on a Friday night)
But I was just angry.

It's weird getting used to (again) those moments when your eyes well up for no reason.

There is no trigger, no memory, or outside stimulus that makes you remember.

Just an overwhelming tidal wave of sadness.

And you make all the adjustments over the years and find a new reality.

One where you can't call or touch or see her anymore but you know what she wants for you.

She wants you to grieve, to cry, to be sad.

To mourn the loss of a sister taken way too soon.

To see her in her children.

To be there for our father and sister.

And then continue to live your life in a way that honors what she means to you and what you mean to her.

It's never easy but that's what I'm shooting for anyway.

You KNow It Is Hard

2009-04-08T21:27:00.002-04:00

To find your glasses that you need to see with when you are not wearing them.
Just saying is all.

Michele Has Moved On

2009-04-03T01:23:00.001-04:00

We met with the head Doctor at 5 tonight and agreed on a course of action.

The dialysis would be turned off, the blood transfusions would stop, and all of the medicine would be cranked down except for those that helped with any pain.

My sister died tonight at 7:25ish P.M. Thursday April 2nd 2009.

Go in Peace Michele and thank you for making me a better person for knowing you.

All My Bags Are Packed I'm Ready To Go

2009-03-31T23:50:00.002-04:00

Sheri called about an hour ago. Michele is now on a respirator.
I booked my flight to Houston about 30 minutes later.

Tomorrow at 9:25 PM I touch down in Houston and it may be a whole new reality facing me.
I don't know.
It's almost midnight and I can't sleep. I packed my suitcase. Logged into work and sent the appropriate emails informing people who need to know of my upcoming absence from work.
I don't want to end this post because when I do I know the next moment happens. And the moment after that.
I'm really scared.
I don't want to think of a world without my sister in it.
But until that reality sets in I will do my best to be as positive and strong as I can.
All you can do, right?

The World Is Full Of stupid People

2009-03-22T20:40:00.002-04:00

My cousin was in this band.

Fro some odd reason this song came on the playmix at the house of trees while we were WII Bowling, watching NCAA and Nascar.

It's no cows with guns but still I always thought it was a fun song.

Bonus fact I was drunk once and tried it a karaoke

To Spread Silliness Throughout the World

2009-03-21T16:02:00.001-04:00

(h/t to Ranuel)

Really What's 5%

2009-03-17T21:38:00.000-04:00

I'm still making 95% as much as I did yesterday

Actually Heard On The News

2009-03-12T21:36:00.002-04:00

and no i have no proof but as TEEVEE reporter whomever was reporting on Bernie Maddof this was the sentence:
Bernie Maddoff was taken straight from the courthouse to the jail across the street in an underground tunnel right below me."

Well DUH WHERE ELSE WOULD THE UNDERGROUND TUNNEL BE?

A Hard Rain -- Edie Brickell Style

2009-03-11T11:03:00.000-04:00

Well That Was New

2009-03-10T22:17:00.002-04:00

So noncat spent the night last night and after her usual 20 minutes of "PURR PURR STEVE YOU'RE THE BEST" she fell asleep on the ottoman.

I decided she was to cute to move and went to bed and she stayed where she was.

About 5:30 A.M. this morning I'm still in deep slumber and I feel this THUMP on my head.

The cat head banged me! At 5:30 in the morning! No cute just walking around the bed she meant some sort of bidness.

Needless to say she was outside less than 5 minutes later.

A Warning for Those Who Ever Meet Us

2009-03-07T10:18:00.002-05:00

This is Keith and I, except for the unhappy ending. And the fact that these two apparently don't know. We know what we're doing.

We bicker and fuss at each other. We pick on each other. We throw zingers. Sometimes, we even lob an easy one at the other for a hit out of the park.

When we first moved in together, we lived in a house that was The Hangout Spot for everyone under 21. It was a nightmare. We could never get 5 minutes alone in our own house. Seriously, one night, we had to cut off the circuit breakers to get the folks off the video game and out of our house. One day, the frustration of that caused an argument and lo and behold! The room cleared. And quick, too.

Keith and I looked at each other and looked around the room and looked back at each other and you could almost see the light bulbs go off over our heads.

We did it all the time, whenever we wanted people out of our house. We got really, really good at it.

Then we started adding humor to it, after we moved into a house by ourselves. We've made each other laugh and made other people just totally crack up with the faux-arguing.

Some folks don't get it. Those folks usually fade away so it makes for a great intelligence/sense of humor test. We were once thrown out of a Kroger's because the manager didn't get it, although the cashier was laughing so hard, she couldn't catch her breath.

There are rules to this game, of course. He knows the things that will actually hurt my feelings as I know what will hurt his and we never, ever go for those things. We do not use faux-arguing to bring up issues over which we are actually angry--although I have been known to break this rule wrt to the whole "doing stuff around the house" issue.

After all these years, the kids play with us, too. The Boy...well, he hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet and sometimes has trouble telling when we're kidding with him and when we're serious. He'll come around. The Girl is a master at it. She and her dad get going and it's George Burns and Gracie Allen all over again because damn, that girl can do The Dumb and Clueless better than anyone I know.

So, should you ever meet us, and we decide to put on the act for you, don't run away. We're just doing our Roseanne and Dan for you.

I've Seen The Wizard Of Oz

2009-03-04T22:51:00.001-05:00

And dont remember the scarecrow having an evil jedi like ability to shoot lightning from his fingertips.

But I've had a few beers in the last 30 years so what do I know?

Don't let Anyone Tell Ya

2009-03-02T19:43:00.006-05:00

That 45 minutes of WII FIT is not a workout (well at least if you are an out of shape middle age beer drinker and smoker)

So I finally got across the tight rope

Then decided I would try skiing with all of todays snow

I just can't do the ski thing

So I went to hula hoops

and did so well I unlocked SUPER hula hoops!

Then I jogged and did two yoga poses

It's tough keeping that balance with a bud in one hand and a controller in the other!

Kinda weird

2009-02-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

just being Steve out here in the innertubes

Update: It's been a year and a month

2009-02-28T13:44:00.002-05:00

Let's take a look at that Honey-do list, shall we? (Yes, we shall.)

chosen not to leave me with no gas in the car every time I turn key after him. we no longer have a car. He crashed one and blew up the other. No issues.
fixed the brakes on the Kia before they actually hit the floor since they'd been grinding for the previous 4 months. again, no car.
put the missing piece on my car when I started complaining that the car was idling rough and tended to stall at red lights 4 months ago. I did not know a piece had been removed that caused this problem but he did. although...I have issues with my bike that he hasn't taken care of yet...
tightened the power steering belt in my car when he put said piece on, as it is squealing and I tend to lose the power steering at odd times, like in the middle of turning and other inconsequential things like that.
Fixed the headlight that refuses to pop up now.
fixed the laundry room door that has been off it's hinge for a year. still broken
run the water line for the icemaker I've been waiting for him to do for two years. still not run
fixed the bathroom and kitchen floors that have been needing replacement tiles for about 6 months. attempted in half-measures that did not work. You have to fix the hole in the floor first and not just slap a tile over it. It will punch through. I fixed the kitchen floor.
fixed our bedroom drawer that broke 8 months ago. My parents gave us their old bedroom furniture. The old dressers are now tool boxes. Drawer still broken.
put knobs on our freaking shower and replaced the sheeting in the tub. knobs on but sheeting not fixed.
put up The Girl's shelves that she's waited on him to do for two years. Nope.
fixed The Boy's busted dresser drawer before it was totally beyond repair and had to be thrown out. Drawer still broken, not fixed.
taken the old lawnmower somewhere that is not my backyard. took it to the dump. Check.
raked the leaves this fall. weren't raked this fall either.
turned over the compost heap, even once. still has never been turned.
Also? Thanksgiving 2007 we deep fried a turkey in our deep fryer. We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat. However, the peanut oil in the big pot must be removed and dumped after using it, you know? That pot? With the year and 3 month old peanut oil? Is still on my back porch. I took the top off--once. Won't make that mistake again.
We've now been without a bathroom sink for a month.

In a month and year, so March 2010, we shall revisit this list once again. I'm not even mad anymore. I don't understand it, will never understand it but what can I do about it? Nothing. So, I either learn to live with it or go slowly insane. Now, I can't even do it myself with the back and all.

Non Cat and I Have Different Ideas

2009-02-25T21:04:00.003-05:00

I guess she thinks if she sits on the table I'll feed her!

The Machine Was Not Incorrect

2009-02-23T22:46:00.003-05:00

I spent 90 bucks so a machine can call me unbalanced and out of shape? Really?

But alas much like the Terminator the machine was right!

So I did 2 runs around WII island tonight, tried to walk the tight rope, did the hula hoop, and tried some stretching exercises.

And all that took 15 minutes and I'm tired! lol

MII thinks I may have to start a WII FIT blog to shame myself into keeping up with teh electronic characters on my teevee.

Or not. But shame is always one of teh greatest motivators right?

Please Human

2009-02-22T19:46:00.001-05:00

Do you have to pee in here? I'm trying to sleep

Oh! I've been meaning to do this for days

2009-02-18T19:05:00.000-05:00

Hello!!

Prove the BBC Wrong

2009-02-18T18:37:00.002-05:00

BBC Book List

Apparently the BBC reckons most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.
Instructions: [Whatshername altered these, the old ones made it messy]
1) Bold those you have read.
2) *Star the ones you loved.
3) Italicise those you plan on reading.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
*2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
*4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 eComplete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
*25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (and the rest of 'em.)
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
*41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving (Thank you, Jen!)
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
*48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (Hated it, btw)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert (and the rest of these too. /yawn/)
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville ( I tried. I really did. I got 3 pages in and couldn't keep my eyes open. Way better than Ambien, this book.)
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
*99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
*********100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

According to my birth chart, I'm a "double-cross water water wet wet" or some such....

2009-02-18T17:57:00.003-05:00

But according to this test....

Your result for The Elemental Beauty Test ...
Natural Beauty

42% Earth, 25% Air, 8% Water, and 25% Fire!

Natural Beauty

You scored 42% Earth! Outstanding!

The Earth element is a natural beauty. They tend to keep more toward greens, blacks, and natural colors for their wardrobe and their make-up, if they wear it to begin with. They tend to be grounded and not caught up in the latest trends. They are more interested in doing what feels right for them and being in touch with what is around them.

For inner beauty earth elements look for stability and commitment. They look after others and their family. They are realistic and tactile, meaning they aren't afraid to touch and be touched. But they can also be quite stubborn and unmoving when their mind is made up.

Zodiac signs for earth are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

You also scored:

8% Water: Water is the etheral beauty. They like things that drape and shimmer. The love vintage and heirlooms; things with emotional ties and history. 0% Water may mean that you don't trust or use your intuition. Equal Water and Air would indicate a person that is a hard worker with a need for security and an attachment to possessions.

25% Air: Air is the fearless beauty. They are offbeat and funny. The mix old fashions with new and love to make new trends. They aren't afraid to be new or crazy. 0% Air could indicate that you have trouble looking at things objectively. Persons with equal Earth and Air are usually those who think and use good common sense.

25% Fire: Fire is the alluring beauty. They like to wear bright colors and show some skin. They are sexually minded and spicy. They use a lot of charm to get what they want. 0% Fire can often be seen in someone that pushes and tries to force self-expression. An equal Fire and Earth person is someone who has the ability to be powerfully creative. Fire provides the motivation and Earth provides the tangible results.

Take the Elemental Beauty Test

Bob's New Meme

2009-02-17T20:45:00.003-05:00

Bob has discovered a new meme

here are the rules:
1. Grab the nearest book - no matter what it is. Textbook, novel, pop-up book, building code study guide, whatever.
2. Turn to page 25.
3. Read the 10th word on that page, or the following if that one is blank.
4. Type that word into Google Image search.
5. Post the third image.
6. Tag 4 people and tell them.
7. Link back to this post.

(the image is kind of small it says "No one can tell if you're a dog on the internet"

My word was "You're" from a pretty good graphic novel called Silverfish.

Consider yourself tagged if you found this post

NO NO NO NO NO

2009-02-16T22:37:00.001-05:00

I just did not get an email from AARP!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Why Does No One Remeber This Man?

2009-02-15T20:06:00.001-05:00

Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle- dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz- ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer- spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein- nurnburger-bratwustle-gernspurten-mitz-weimache-luber-hundsfut- gumberaber-shonedanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm

Meet Reaper Man!

2009-02-14T21:20:00.002-05:00

My First MII
Christine helped

Lessons in Bad Parenting: Lesson 7

2009-02-11T15:43:00.002-05:00

The Continuing Saga of Raising Children of the Corn

The Parent/Teacher conference went okay. The Boy is lazy and stubborn. We've all agreed on that. He can do the work, he just won't. /mumbles/...the bloody little git...

If the reinforcement of the importance of education and the modeling that I do myself doesn't spark the fire in him, I have no idea what will.

We're going for bribery.

"If all else fails, bribe the brat." --lesson in Bad Parenting #7

I Know I am Boring and in a Bad Mood but....

2009-02-10T21:34:00.003-05:00

does that mean my non cat doesn't even want to hang around?

Didn't mean to bore you non cat (but you're welcome back anytime)

How Do I...

2009-02-07T22:58:00.001-05:00

How do I get a voice recording when I don't have a microphone anymore?

Because seriously, y'all have to hear this dog snoring to believe it's coming from a itty-bitty, 19# cocker spaniel.

I Know You Are Tired Of Hearing It....

2009-02-03T20:57:00.002-05:00

Just got off the phone with Dad and am feeling good realizing how lucky I am to such a cool Father.

Yeah the conversation gets circuitous some times but I'm lucky to have a parent that is so good to me.

The Only Thing Worse Than Fox News At Night?

2009-02-02T10:51:00.003-05:00

Fox News during teh day!

It's like watching a train wreck. I can't turn away.

These people are certifiable.

But I'm sure when Mitch McConnell is on in 20 minutes he'll bring an air of dignity to the broadcast!

the pizza man only rings twice

2009-01-31T20:13:00.002-05:00

so i get home tonight and am dead set on ordering a pizza which i do (you like the ee cummings thing i gots going on?)

and the pizza guy knocks and i open the door in in runs my cat

yeah cat!

Some Thoughts From My Head

2009-01-27T19:43:00.007-05:00

Gots to love my local wingnuts on WCBM here in Balteey-More
played 2 Barry X sound bites where he said (and the order for the words are important to the wingnuts) teh following:
Christians
Arabs
Jews

He said AIR-RABS before for JEWS.

ZOMG!!!eleventy-million11!!!!

And don't even get me started about his first interview (which is chronicled much better here)

And then the snow set in today. And tonight rain ice and more snow!

I think I only closed my door and screamed twice today at work. I must be getting better LOL

Dad got back from California last night so I need to give him a call this evening.

You all would be proud of me. I used the Tee Vee remote tonight. I could not handle listening to Chris "Tweety" Matthews say "contraception" one more time. So instead a couple nice reruns of Scrubs on Comedy Central.

(and as a side note obviously helping out state budgets in these hard economic times regardless if it is contraception or other things is too big a concept for most of everyone on tee vee to handle)

Have I mentioned I'm ready for golf?

And this is what you get with bad weather. Me coming home early and acting like a drunk (Dutch?) monkey with a keyboard.

We're Alone Here Right?

2009-01-22T22:24:00.002-05:00

Pursuant to Cat Vlog at my place the the long day was because of this.

We let 13 people go today.

And that kills me.

I hate it.

I hate it when good people through no fault of their own show up at work and leave unemployed

It made me stop caring for the last 2 hours today about my job. I had a quick meeting with my employee before teh mas email went out and to let him know the company will not be matching 401K contributions for 08 or 09.

Yes I am sad when these things happen and I read them in the paper or the inner tubes. When it happens to people I know it hurts that much more.

I think that sounds shallow and selfish of me but I am who I am and I have cat sleeping on my bath mat.

Reality has started to set in and it sucked and now it sucks more

For Ouyang Dan

2009-01-20T20:52:00.004-05:00

for Random Babble
I got a spare shoe to throw
(even if I didnt follow all the rules I'm a rebel like that)

Safe travels my friend

I've Been Tagged!

2009-01-19T21:41:00.002-05:00

New Blogger and friend Wits and Giggles

And it is the 6 things meme
here are the rules

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules....
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 new people and link'em....
5. Let each of the new tagees that they've been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when you're done.

1. I ran the re-election campaign for Richard Nixon in my grade school (I even got a letter from him thanking me)
2. The small container of my mothers ashes on my mantle no longer freaks me out and sometimes we end up having some good conversations.
3. I was really caught up in the Watchmen movie craze (hey it helps my bidness) but now am leaning to thinking while visually it will be great content wise it may suck.
4. I once broke the motor on the boat of the commander at Carswell Air Force base in Ft Worth Texas.
5. I once stole a McDonald's Chicken McNuggets banner (it was college don't ask lol)
6. I've seen Kenny Rodgers in concert

Feel free to play along if you like!

I HAVE NO DUCT TAPE

2009-01-15T22:05:00.001-05:00

What the hell is wrong with me?
I mean who doesn't have a roll of duct tape?

You know who?
ME

*sigh*

Home Depot here I come tomorrow

Not Sure I'm Handling This Right But I'm Trying

2009-01-13T22:13:00.004-05:00

So this is where I find myself.
Siter1 and Sister2 both have 17 year old children who soon will be going to college.

And Dad is being harder on Sister1 and her plans on paying for college. She is a single Mom and only has the most beautiful child (I guess I should say woman) as a daughter in the entire multiverse (yes I'm biased).

Niece1 wants to go to UT. We are 18 months or so away from her going anywhere.

I think anyone who reads here or at my cardboard box underneath the overpass of the innertubes knows how much I love and respect my Father. He is the best person (ok a close tie with Mom) that I have ever known. And I realize how lucky I am to feel that way about him.

But I had to dress him down tonight.

I had to (hopefully) remind him he raised 2 great kids and me and that while being worried about Niece1 is fine and normal he should also remember to tell Sister1 "Hey I trust you know what you're doing here is my advice I love you talk soon"

And I know he does he just does not express it very well so Sister1 takes it the wrong way and here is Pido stuck in the middle with you lol.

It was a very different conversation I had with him tonight.

When he asked me "So what are you saying?" and I said it and we continued on the conversation. (That's how cool he is he didn't hang up on me :) )

I think this whole me being on the brink of being an adult is messing with me.

Can I go back to college instead of the kids? PLEASE?

Say Who's The Barber Here?

2009-01-07T22:38:00.002-05:00

My finger hurts (no jokes please lol)
It is not a splinter but I have something under my fingernail that is making it hurt.

Being the educated human I am my course of action was, of course, run cold water over it.

And yes it still hurts.

but it reminded my of this SNL sketch. So at least I got something out of it.

Who needs 1000 words?

2009-01-04T23:36:00.002-05:00

An Island Vlog

2008-12-29T22:14:00.004-05:00

yeah I'm rambling but go with it

I Am On You Tube Again

2008-12-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Another great shot if I do say so myself

I Remember Things Or I Am A Horible Brother You Decide

2008-12-09T20:21:00.004-05:00

It was about 4 months before Mom died.
I was on one of my many weekend jaunts down to Texas to spend time with Mom because none of us know how much time we have left.

I got in my rent a car and headed out of the airport and was going to meet my sister at a Chile's off of FM 1960 as this was on my way (albeit in a round about way) to 290 to get up to Brenham.

So there I am sucking on a very bad margarita and my sister shows up.

And we start talking about Mom and her condition and hospice and everything else.

Now at this point, while I knew in the back of my mind that I would one day get "the call" up here in Maryland I still held out hope Ma had more time. And she did about 4 months.

But as my sister and I were talking she looked me in the eye and said very matter of factly "Steven our mother is going to die.

As I thought about what she had said I became mad. And thought bad things about my sister. Why could she not think like me?

Hey ya never know? Maybe she's drinking some of that magic water that Madonna is hawking that will cure her? Anything's possible.

It wasn't until the night of my mother's death when I saw my sister with our mother that I realized that was how she protected herself.

She didn't want Mother to die but she had accepted it and when it happened that's when everything came crashing through for her.

So fast forward to today or really this weekend.

My sister was really tired. Having not been around her a lot as she tries to kick cancer's ass I was not sure if this was normal or not and just accepted it as the way it was.

So tonight my sister is in the hospital waiting for surgery tomorrow to have a stint put in her leg because of a blood clot.

This in and of itself did not alarm me yesterday.

I called her today and she told me she also had two pints of blood in a transfusion because her blood was low.

And I flashed back to Chili's and substituted the "Mom" with "Sister".

And I don't want to type or speak or acknowledge what comes next.

At some point I'm going to have to.

But for tonight it was enough to crank up the CD player in the car in hopes it would push it back in my brain a little more.

A Few Good Thoughts Are Welcome

2008-12-08T21:46:00.002-05:00

Michele is in the hospital tonight.
They found a blood clot in her leg when she had her MRI last week.
They will put a stint in her vein tomorrow.

Overall she seemed good this weekend just tired.

But I got to hug my sister goodnight and tell her I love her as she went to bed so what more do I want from a weekend trip?

Not a thing.