Monthly Archives: August 2008

Our friend David left yesterday.  For good.  He had been dealing with a brain tumor for a few years now.  The surgeons opened up his head and took it out but it kept growing back.  This time it was pressing on something up there that rendered him paralyzed on the left side of his body.  I think he tried really hard to fight it so he could stay with his beautiful wife and watch his young daughter grow up but he just got so tired of fighting.  You can’t blame a guy for trying. 

David was Ray’s boss at the bank in Chicago.  He was a couple of years younger than Ray.  I remember the very first time I met him.  He was one of those affable people who left a strong impression on me even though our first meeting was just a fleeting moment.  While I did not know David well, I really liked him.  He was just…instantly likable.  And now he’s gone.  I’m sad but at the same time I’m happy he doesn’t have to suffer.  I hate to see someone suffer.  While his wife–a very bright woman with a strong constitution–will be able to move on, I feel sad for his daughter.  Poor kid.

Last year at this time I was blogging about my uncle Bob being diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis.  He has since passed away joining his daughter (and my wonderful cousin) Margaret who died a couple years before at the age of 41 from cancer.  I felt really bad for my Aunt Nancy to have to deal with the loss of a child and a mate. 

Aunt Nancy has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.  They’re probably going to remove her lung. 

Please, say a little prayer for David and Nancy.  I don’t care if you belive in God or not, just wish some good vibes their way.  Ray and I have dealt with so much sickness and death over the last few years that we’ve become quite numb to it. 

I can tell you one thing; life is a beautiful thing.  Savour those sunsets, laugh at the little children and enjoy every day as if it were your last.

And for God’s sake–if you smoke cigarettes–quit.

Well, here it is, 4:34 AM and I can’t sleep.  This annoying cough is keeping me up.  There is something strange about the late night hours of insomnia.  Everything seems so scary late at night. . . in the dark. 

This year’s monsoon has been oppressive.  Every fucking day has been cool-ish (high 70’s, low 80’s and cloudy is cool by Arizona standards).  Summer is coming to a close and the days are getting noticeably shorter.  I’m so over the persistent rain and clouds.  I want the sun to come back out.  Perhaps my mood is a reflection of our political climate.  Will our country weather this never ending storm?  I just have to wonder:

When will  the sun come back out?

It’s no secret that Ray and I support Obama–and yes, dare I say it, Biden (It was an understandable political move to pick him for the veep spot even though he is quite the windbag).  I’m rather neutral politically.  I would consider voting Republican for the right person–if there was one.  I just can’t vote for a grandpa man who doesn’t even know how many houses he owns.  I see Johnny up at the podium like a deer in the headlights with that weird smile pasted on his face trying to figure out where the TelePrompTer is and think “Oh jeesh, gramps lost his teeth again.” 

Three words for McCain, Out. Of. Touch.  Yeah, yeah, yeah…we all know you were a war hero–in the last century.  Put it on your tombstone Johnny.  What have you done for me lately?

McCain graduated fifth from the bottom of his class at the United States Naval Academy (That’s 894th of 899).  Obama was accepted to Harvard University’s law school, where he graduated magna cum laude–and was elected president of the Harvard Law Review.  Doesn’t that mean anything to anyone?  We don’t need a dolt in the White House–we need an adult.  An adult who knows what arugula is and can pronounce nuclear.

Hey now, don’t get me wrong.  Mr. Obama is probably just as much of a politician as the rest of ’em.  They’re all cut from the same egomaniac cloth.  Sure, it’s all about supporting your constituents–after the photo op.  Smile.

Think about it, you’d have to be a nutcase to actually want to be the president of the United States.  It doesn’t pay much, you’re criticized for everything you do and the opposing camp basically makes shit up about you.  (In his defense, did McCain really call his wife a cunt in public?  I’ve yet to see it.)

The Obama campaign talks a lot about change.  Many folks are afraid of said change.  What they don’t seem to understand is that the change is already happening.  Technology has had a huge impact on our lives both economically and socially.  The standard crusty old business models are colliding like tectonic plates resulting in economic earthquakes.  A good example is the Internet.  Look at what it’s done to the entertainment/media industry.  Why have representation from a ginourmous greedy record label when you can self produce and distribute your own album?  Thanks Radiohead!  Why subscribe to a newspaper or magazine or cable TV for that matter when it’s all online, current and free?  Ray and I watched some of the DNC speeches live via high speed wireless Internet right smack in the middle of rural Arizona.  Take that Direct TV!

Another change: GLBT rights.  At this point, everybody knows someone who’s gay (or lesbian or transgendered–you all get the point).  The best part is that it’s no longer your mom’s queeny hairdresser.  It’s your dad, or your mechanic, or your vet, or the mom of one of your kid’s schoolmates.  Sean-fucking-Penn is about to portray Harvey Milk in a mainstream studio picture!  Ellen got married!  Public opinion of the GLBT community is being aged out.  People just don’t care about it anymore–although HIV cases are on the rise again because of irresponsible sexual practices which is not the kind of attention we need right now…but that’s another post…

Yet another change: Gasoline and energy.  Oh, boo hoo hoo, gas is up to four bucks a gallon here in the States.  Nice Hummer–asshole!  Ever been to Europe?!?!  Gas is way more expensive there –and it’s sold by the liter! 

Why are we still the only ones using the Imperial System of Measurement?

It doesn’t matter if you believe in global warming or not, we need to wean ourselves off of this finite–yes finite–source of energy.  Sure, wind farms are ugly but nothing compares to a thick horrendous blanket of smog–that you’re inhaling.  Imagine if we put as much money into R&D for more efficient renewable energy as we do for oil drilling and refineries. . . Imagine if our dependence for energy came from the sun and the wind and not from countries full of people who see us as the enemy and want to kill us. . . What would Iran and Iraq have if they didn’t have oil?  Tourism?  No, sand.

Yes, change is happening whether we like it or not and while I admit Barack is not perfect, I have to remind myself that no one is.  At least he embraces the unstoppable change (and can form complete sentences).  I have high hopes for him as our president and hope people realize that changing the state our country is going to be like pulling a u-turn on the Titanic.  It’s going to take a lot of time and effort and all the motherfuckers who don’t vote or participate in some way need to shut their pie holes.

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.  Thank you J.F.K.

OK, one last rant about Obama and his lack of experience.  George Jr. had the “experience” of fulfilling an entire first term and look at how much more fucked up our country is at the end of his second one.  Obama will have advisers and I’m fairly confident, unlike George, he’ll listen to them.

I was going to write a nice long post about my trip to Disneyland but I have been sick with some nasty hacking cough thing since I got home. 

Forgive my lack of writing.  Just waiting for the lungs to clear up.  Thank goodness for Mucinex.

OMG, J-Lo was heard back stage after taping a segment on Good Morning America saying that she couldn’t understand why everyone was talking about “that swimmer” (Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals and broke world records). According to Ms. Freakaziod Beyotch, she was the one training for a triathlon just six months after giving birth, and that was the big story right now, not “the swimmer.”

Doesn’t that just make you want to hang out with her?  Not!

Ray and I are off to Disneyland this week for THREE days!  We’re joining our niece and two nephews and some other family members.  I can’t wait!!  I adore those kids and am excited to $pend lot$ of money for our happy Di$ney memorie$. 

It’$ the happie$t place on earth. 

I may send a few posts through my phone…

Ray and I have been pretty diligent about working out daily.  I became frustrated with our basic free weight set because there’s only so much you can do on a bench.  We decided to look for an all-in-one system.  Ray suggested a Bowflex.  At first, I wasn’t so sure.  There are no weights on it, just bars or rubber bands–depending on which one you get.  The Bowflex Revolution is their top of the line system and at a hefty price, I wasn’t about to entertain the thought of buying one. 

On a whim, we decided to look and see if we could find something on Cragslist.  There is now a Craigslist for the neighboring town of Sierra Vista (the closest city is Tucson which is 90 miles away).  Much to our surprise, there was a listing for a brand new Bowflex Revolution.  The guy bought it in January and only used it about five times.  He was very motivated to sell it.  We basically offered him half of the MSRP and he took it.

It was a bit awkward at first but I think I’ll get the hang of it.  I really like the machine.  It does everything!  Ray and I are very thankful to have this fall into our laps.  Time to workout!

Ray and I noticed Brewery Gulch was getting some water during a desert rain shower.