Halloween Potluck

Here are some pictures from our Halloween Potluck. This is Fred as Sir Lancelot. Fred with a knife in his hand is a very scary thing indeed.
This is a photo of Sandra, Carol, Kay and Daphne. They may look harmless, but trust me...they are scary!
Here is a picture of a litter of kitties.

Or, a picture of kitty litter.

You decide.
This one is truly the scariest picture of all!!! Don't let those smiles fool you.
Underneath those innocent faces lies nothing but evil. ;)
Truly frightening.

Happy Halloween

Bush's Brain

Congressman Dennis Kucinich is questioning the mental capacity of Mr.Bush.

In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board, Kucinich said, "I seriously believe we have to start asking questions about his mental health."
He further states, "There's something wrong. He does not seem to understand his words have real impact."

Kucinich made his remarks in regard to the following statement by President Bush:
"I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them (Iran) from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."

Kucinich continues, "You cannot be a president of the United States who's wanton in his expression of violence. There's a lot of people who need care. He might be one of them. If there isn't something wrong with him, then there's something wrong with us. This, to me, is a very serious question."

I personally would like this question answered too. I think a neuropsych eval would be appropriate. After all, every President gets a yearly physical.
Why can't we get a report on his (or her) cognition and mental fitness for the job?

Kucinich is definitely someone I will listen to more closely in the debate tonight.

Peace Train: Cat Stevens

The original "Peace Train".

Peace Train

I know she did this to be funny. But, I like to think I might be having some influence with her. Go to Dylan and Co. to see the rest of Briana's peace march in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara

I took a long weekend off from work to meet an old friend of mine up in Santa Barbara. I had not seen Lynn in quite awhile, so it was good to finally catch up.
On Saturday night, we took a short walk from the hotel (or long walk, in my opinion) to a small little Mexican restaurant. We didn't actually know where the place was located. Lynn got the general directions from someone she works with. A place where all the "locals" go.
We finally found it when we stopped at a liquor store to try to get directions. The clerk had no idea what we were talking about, but there was a woman in the store who helped us out. We persevered up the street and finally found the place. What it lacked in ambiance, it made up for in great food. It is apparently a secret place, so I can't really tell you the name or exactly where it it. If you are interested, look for the "taco stand with the blue awning next to an empty lot with a long line coming out the front door."


Today, we walked up Cabrillo Blvd to State Street to see this memorial on the beach.

I came across this cross in the front. It caught my eye because Porterville is not very far from my hometown. I spent many summers at my aunt and uncle's ranch in Porterville when I was young.

Mike Mitchell was only 25 years old when he died in Iraq.

3,838 lives lost.

It simply makes no sense to me.

Maybe it will when we move on to attacking Iran.

Somehow I doubt it.

Burning Ring of Fire

California is in flames.

It occurred to me, it must be this man's fault.

Disaster really does follow him around.

Green Street

"In most cases, suicide is a solitary event and yet it has often far-reaching repercussions for many others. It is rather like throwing a stone into a pond; the ripples spread and spread."
-ALISON WERTHEIMER, "A Special Scar"

This is not the blog post I had planned to write tonight.

The post I had intended to write was a frivolous one about my 10 most favorite things.

But, that post will have to wait, as there is something else on my mind.

After working a few hours this morning, I came home and caught a quick nap before heading out to meet Briana, Ryan and Dylan for lunch.

Briana also worked this morning. When she was finished, she called to say she was on her way over to the restaurant. Ryan and Dylan, who had been at a local park, would also be heading over to meet us. So, I rolled out of bed and started the short drive over to Green St, anticipating a Tartintino's special with pepperoni and olives.

As I was driving, I got a call from Ryan saying that there had been some kind of accident in front of the restaurant and that the street was blocked off. He wanted to warn me so I could find other parking.


I found a side street and came through the back of the restaurant. I didn't see Briana or Ryan at any of the tables. So, I went out the door to see if they were waiting for me on the sidewalk out front.
On initial glance, I didn't see either Ryan or Briana.


Across the street from the restaurant, I saw a gathering of people standing in front of a hair salon. There were policeman and assorted emergency vehicles lined up along the curb.

I was about to use my cell phone to call Briana when I spotted her across the street, talking to a police officer.


I waited for the light to turn green and walked across the street to where they were standing. As I came up to the corner, I could see an enormous amount blood all over the sidewalk. That's when I began to realize she had, once again, been witness to something no one should have to see. Let alone twice.


Thoughts of last December, flashed through my head. The night she watched a man die on the side the road after a car accident. She couldn't have seen another incident like that, could she?

I was just wrapping my head around that thought when I heard her say to the policewoman that she had given chest compressions.

Chest compressions?

I had hoped she was just telling the officer that she had been across the street and that maybe she saw the car. Maybe she got the license plate number of the vehicle that hit this person.

The person whose blood was now running down the curb and into the gutter.

But, no. This person wasn't hit by a car. He had jumped from the upper floor of the building.

Briana had just pulled into a parking place when she saw the commotion. She raced over to see if she could help.

There was an MD in the hair salon, and the two of them began CPR.
Their efforts went unrewarded.

I can hardly comprehend the emotions going through my friend's mind. A mixture of sadness, confusion and disbelief.

And, anguish over not being able to save him.

I want her to know how proud I am of her. She did what most of the people on that street didn't do. She did what I'm not entirely sure I would do.
She tried to save the life of a stranger.

And, while she berates herself for not doing more, you know what I'm thinking?

She was a hero today.

Some Things Never Change

"Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal." [Shirley Chisholm, 1970]

"You cannot go to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian Accent."-Senator Joe Biden

"And I couldn’t get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia’s restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s run by blacks, primarily black patronship. It was the same, and that’s really what this society’s all about now here in the U.S.A."- Bill O'Reilly

Blacks and Hispanics are "too busy eating watermelons and tacos" to learn how to read and write." -- Mike Wallace

Regarding the Rutgers Women's Basketball team: “That’s some nappy headed hos there, I’m going to tell you that,” -Don Imus

'Hymies.' 'Hymietown.' -- Jesse Jackson's description of New York City while on the 1984 presidential campaign trail.

"I do know that it’s true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could — if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."-Bill Bennett

In the newspaper interview, Dr. James Watson (1962 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his part in the discovery of the structure of DNA) said there was no reason to think that races which had grown up in separate geographical locations should have evolved identically. He went on to say that although he hoped everyone was equal, "people who have to deal with black employees find this not true".

And, then there's this "satire" from Rush Limbaugh:

HUH????

WTF????

I think the city should focus on, oh I don't know, say..the gridlock on Fremont Ave??

October 17, 19#%

Yesterday, was the eighth anniversary of my 39th birthday.
I took the day off from work, as usual, to officially mourn the loss of my youth.
This is a scan of the hospital bill from my birth.
$144.50. What a deal!
At work on Tuesday, Fred brought a banana cake and we had that after playing a couple of hands of cards at lunch. A few hours later, the nurses brought out a cake to celebrate mine and Jen's birthday. Both cakes were great!
After sleeping in most of the day Wednesday, I went over to hospital to pick up this gift of my favorite tequila from my friend, Flora. Thanks Flo!
I then headed over to Ryan and Briana's for a special breakfast for dinner birthday meal. We had scrambled eggs with turkish sausage. And, if that wasn't enough, we had pancakes with a wonderful maple syrup from New Hampshire that Briana got for me.
She was also very sweet (i.e. I twisted her arm) and made me a german chocolate cake.

I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful birthday evening.
Thanks to Eva, who sent me her recipe for the cake frosting. Briana did you proud.

The day was made even more special with a rendition of Happy Birthday from my favorite toddler.

This Just In.....

Lynne Cheney has said in an interview that her husband, VP Dick Cheney and Barack Obama are distant cousins.

"Think about this," Mrs. Cheney said. "This is such an amazing American story that one ancestor, a man that came to Maryland, could be responsible down the family line for lives that have taken such different and varied paths as Dick's and Barack Obama's."

That's right.

Dick took the path of destruction that lead us into Iraq.

Hopefully, Barack's path will lead him straight into the White House next year.

Overheard in the Therapy Room

Therapist: "Tell me what you would do if you accidentally spilled coffee all over your shirt."

Patient: " I'd be in big trouble. I'm a Mormon."

Short pause.

Patient: "What the hell. I'm not the food police."

President Carter

Jimmy Carter made these remarks in an interview with BBC World News America.

Regarding Vice President Dick Cheney:

"He's a militant who avoided any service of his own in the military and he has been most forceful in the last 10 years or more in fulfilling some of his more ancient commitments that the United States has a right to inject its power through military means in other parts of the world."

"You know he's been a disaster for our country. I think he's been overly persuasive on President George Bush and quite often he's prevailed."

Say what you will about Carter's presidency.
But, you cannot argue that he is not an intelligent, admirable and compassionate man.

The Marvelous Wonderettes

Lisa took me out today for an early birthday present. We took a drive over to NOHO (that's North Hollywood) to the El Portal Forum Theatre where we saw the musical, "The Marvelous Wonderettes".
The first act is set in 1958 at Springfield High School's Senior Prom. The Marvelous Wonderettes perform songs like "Stupid Cupid" and "Mr Sandman". In the second act, it's 10 years later at the high school reunion with songs such as "Son of a Preacher Man" and "It's my Party".

I am so young, I barely knew the songs.
Lisa, on the other hand, knew every word to every tune. ;)

It was fun watching the audience dancing during the intermission. I told her my birthday present would be perfect if she would dance on the way out. Which she did. And, the birthday was complete.

I had a great time and wanted to thank her for the birthday present!

Bush's Cognitive Decline

I have always suspected he had cognitive issues...

Overheard in the Therapy Room

Therapist: "Tell me how you would find out this information. How would you find out the best route to drive somewhere?"

Patient: "I'd use a map. That reminds me. I knew this lady who got lost in downtown LA once. She was a foreigner"

Therapist: "Oh yeah? Where was she from?

Patient: "Hawaii."

Dylan at Cal Tech

I have not been able to post videos on this blog because, quite frankly, I just couldn't seem to get it to work.
But, tonight is different. Tonight, I conquered technology! I triumphed over YouTube! I persevered and defeated Verizon Wireless! And, now I have a video posted on my blog.
This little video was shot on my camera phone, then emailed to my email address, then downloaded to my computer, then uploaded to YouTube and then copied and pasted to my blog.
I know the quality is not that great, but the subject matter is cute. Don't you think?
Now, if I could just figure out how to get that dvd player to work...

Insect Tattoos

I have always wanted to get a tattoo. I can never decide what I actually want to get and where to have it placed.
Last night, I went to Ryan and Briana's house. Dylan and I decided everyone needed a tattoo. His Mom wasn't too keen on the idea of an insect tattoo, but she eventually gave into peer pressure.





Here's Dylan's grasshopper.

A group pose. As you can see, I am not as ashamed of my hands as much as my feet.

Next week, maybe snake tats???

The Wisdom of Ann Coulter

Ann Coulter is at it again.

After all, she has a new book coming out she has to plug. And when Ann is promoting a book, the barbs and attacks on the left start flying.

The title of this blog is The Wisdom of Ann Coulter. Or should I say "Wisdumb". Yeah. I like that better.

I give you the Wisdumb of Ann Coulter:

"We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity."

"God gave us the earth...God said, 'Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It's yours.'"

"The backbone of the Democratic Party [is a] typical fat, implacable welfare recipient."

"Whether they are defending the Soviet Union or bleating for Saddam Hussein, liberals are always against America. They are either traitors or idiots."

"I think we ought to nuke North Korea right now just to give the rest of the world a warning. Boom!...They're a major threat. I just think it would be fun to nuke them and have it be a warning to...the world."

"If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women."

Some say she says these things to draw attention to herself, to keep herself in the news, to increase book sales, to get more speaking gigs etc.

She is scary nonetheless.