Friday, December 23, 2005

~ SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS ~

So, this is Christmas. I haven't posted anything for some time and I hope I can get through this posting. I am sooooooo not emotionaly prepared for this holiday. I have always been strongly tied to my family and that has not changed,nor will it ever.
I have had a rocky familial beginning and when I started with my very own family I swore that I would hold them all dear and close to my heart. I have and they have responded in kind. As a result we have become a very tight knit family,wanting no more than to share the company of one another.As often happens the best laid plans of mice and men at times don't pan out the way you think ,or would like.
This Christmas,the sole reason for "the magic" will not be here. I am so upset about this I have lost my joy about celebrating our Saviors birth. I will reflect appropriately on the birth of Christ and the Christmas story but I`m so sorry to tell you Virginia..........there really isn't a Santa. After nearly sixty yearsof my believing and seeing the miracle happen,this year santa really isn't comming.As a matter of fact i'm not sure that he will ever come again. My entire innocence has been lost this holiday season and I truly feel like this has been a set back that I will never get over.
For all of you out there who still believe.........Merry Christmas enjoy the holiday and all that it represents. As for me and my broken spirit...........Bah Humbug.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

~ BROKE ASS MOUNTAIN ~

John Wayne,Gary Cooper,Tom Mix,The Lone Ranger, the list goes on forever it seems. How many of the heroes we grew up with would embrase broke back mountain as a viable cowboy storie? How many kids are going to get off their hobby horses and start riding their playmates? What in the world has these times come to? Hollyweird keeps pushing the envelope. All of a sudden rules have changed and not for the better. Language standards have changed. Films are a gamble now a days ...not if they are entertaining or not but if they are offensive or not. Can you just take anyone to a movie and not worry whether or not they will be offended?No No No. Even pg 13 rated movies has some sort of distastefull content. As a general rule of thumb there is so much nudity in todays films they far exceed what used to be a pornographic film is now no more than a rated r movie. I think it is time we start checking films content again. I am not in favor of censorship just more accurate labeling. Call em what they are.At least that is the way I see it.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

~ N MEMORY ~

I would be remiss if I didn't note the passing of one of the funniest men who ever lived. I wish I knew how many times he had me in stitches over his situations or observations . He was downright funny and he had a amazing youth. His Momma was a prostitute and he lived with her in the whorehouse. I think this is where he developed his inate ability to observe people and touch their funny bones. He transended all of the things that most people would consider a hindrance to becomming a succesfull comedian. He survived a horrible accident when he was burned severly and later developed MS and fought that valiantly. Hats off to you Richard Prior you was one funny motherfucker man!!!!!!

Thursday, December 01, 2005

~ SPIN ~

It seems that the spin doctors are hard at work trying to discredit all of the accomplishments of the coalition forces so far in Iraq. They try to show that we were there under false pretenses and although there were no weapons of mass destruction found it in no way shape or form means that there are none in the country. It is a land mass about the size of the state of California. It takes no huge imagination to figure that say 95 % of the country is a over grown sand dune,easy enough to hide anything . A few good buldozer operators and I promise you I could make a aircraft carrier disapear. Or perhaps those weapons of mass destruction were simply moved to Siria or Egypt or any number of countrys who percieve America as the Satan of the world.

Why isn't our news people interviewing the average Achmed in the street ? Most of the Iraqi people knew Sadam as what he is, a murderous animal not deserving of basic human kindnesses. He killed and tortured and raped his way through the Iraqi public like shit through the proverbial Christmas goose. Why aren't they telling how hospitals are open and operating,schools functional where there were never schools before,Highways are open or being repaired.Water is being ditributed to areas that never had clean running water before. The citizens are happy we are there and are trying to help every way they can.Children are approaching,giving our military valuable info,they are glad to have us. It is time that the media tells it like it is and not worry about who is gonna pay them or promote them or let them keep thier cush jobs. Do as our troops are doing..their duty.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

~ MORE SHENANAGINS ~

Once more they are attempting to bring Sadam to trail for his crimes against humanity. How is this any sort of suprise? Sadam has never ever had anyones intrests at heart other than his own. He even went so far as to abuse his own family memebers to gain power along the way, or perhaps to hear a bit of gossip that was being said against him at the last family gathering."Either tell me Achmed or will have your whole family killed and make you watch"

He wants to feel once more that he is in charge,and in a way the judge is allowing him to proceed in that manner. He is disruptive and the judge in intrest of a fair and orderly trail grants a recess. Sadam uses these times to think up how to be more disruptive. He shouts orders at the judge telling him what to do. He complains of being handcuffed in transit.He complains about anything if he thinks it may work and he even has his Generals trying to do the same thing.

Sadam will only understand ONE thing the way he ran ramshackle over his countrymen and familys and even his own family. If I were the judge I would give all of these defendants this one chance. Stop being disruptive and quit complaining as to your treatment when you know full well that is fair and even handed. Either stop this or I will take measures. I will bind and gag,I will shackle, I will tie you firmly to a chair if you can't be silent enough to let the due process of law happen. I will go so far as to have you removed to a remote location and have your trail piped in so that only you can see it and hear it and regardless of what you do the trial will proceeed by Hell or highwater I will see that you have a fair trial before you are hung by your neck till your death.Now Sadam you may of been dictator of a third world nation but you gotta know............................................HERE COMES DA JUDGE !!!!

Sunday, November 27, 2005

~ The Benefits Of Supporting Our Troops ~

It is about time that the American puplic learns that to support our troops is a good, no, a great thing. One that should be embrased by each and every one of our citizens.We are a financially motivated society and I am going to attemp to motivate all of our citizens with money. Thats right cash,greenbacks,Georges in large quantitys.

How am I gonna do this? How am I gonna motivate all these good people? By waving profit under their noses. First a little background...The Coca Cola Co. You see there has been a old saw about paying attention to history and it will profit you. And to finnish the saw for those who don't pay attention to history it will come back to you and bite you on your butt. Sometimes a really huge bite like the U.S.S. Cole or The World Trade Center (you may take your pick here it WAS attacked by similar groups only a few years apart)You may insert your favorite terrorist action here.

Now for the motivational part.......The gentleman who owned Coke at the onset of World War Two was in fact a strong supporter of our troops and was so touched by our troops sacrifices that he vowed that he would make damned sure that where ever they were in the world that our brave men and women in the military would be able to get a iced cold coke for what they paid for it at home .....5 cents. Thats right 5 cents. not only was coke cheaper then, most other things were also. Still it posed a problem for the board of directors of Coke. It would cost a lot more to make it here at home and ship it to them, also the manpower was lacking because most of America's young men were in reality fighting to bring freedom to the rest of the world once again. (It seemed like everyone had forgotten our earlier attemp.... .World War One.)So being the great business people they are, the folks at Coke decided to build Coke factories in all of the theaters of war so that our troops could have a iced cold coke when the oppourtunity presented itself.Well today we know that that worked out well for our favorite soft drink company because you see they got to keep the factorys that Coke had built all over the world which gave them a handle on a world market for a refreshing soft drink when the war was over.Today they are a multi national company with profits in numbers you and I can't understand.

So wake up folks....SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and perhaps someday you too will reap the rewards of a greatfull military and live in a land that has unlimited freedoms for you and yours,who`s standard of living is better than anyplace I have ever been.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Hiya !!

I'm so sorry I haven't had much to say in the last week. My time was full of taking preperations for Thanksgiving and still trying to watch my food intake. It is very hard trying to act as I always have but still watch the calories. Oh well ....if I wanna keep on blooging I must do this deed,regardless how distastefull I find it.I know I have knocked off a few pounds although I am not sure how much..........wish me luck I NEED re-inforcement.

Friday, November 18, 2005

I saw on the news this morning that there was a new law passed by the local government for the area of Texas where Mr. Bush makes his home. It seems that they have banned road-side camping. Good on em I say !!!! Mrs Cindy Sheehan is now forced to change her plans from spending Thanksgiving loitering outside President Bushs' home to spending it in some non specific campground. Instead of Miss Cindy staying home with her family and enjoying one of the holidays her son WILLINGLY gave his life for, She chooses to continue disgracing the gift of freedom that her son so valiently gave. There ya go cindy lets see ya get the turkey and fixins in the camp stove you unappreciateive bitch.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Are You As Fed Up As Me?

I have had a occasion to contact one of my utilities and I am in such a state of anger about it that I finally had to bring it to the blogworld and see if it is just me or is anyone else as fed the hell up with the answering process used by most utilities and big bussiness.
Here in Pennsylvania I have the sad misfortune to have my electricity supplied by Allegheny Power. I am very satisfied with the level of service they provide and the dependability of service BUT just try and get them on the phone and my friend you will jump through hoops trying to get human to speak with.
I have been on the phone for a total of 2 hours and five min already counting both phone calls. I called 1-800- blah blah and a automated system kicks in and you must answer three hundred or so questions before you get to the point where you can punch in that I will hold for a live representitive. Along the way I put my phone on speaker so that I don't have to hold it to my ear. Occasionally a voice breaks in saying that everyone is to busy to talk to me and if I still wish to hold please press #1 if I want to leave a message please press 2 and if you would like to start over please press 3. Before I could believe my ears on that option it was to late to press option 1 ...continue to hold. A generated voice came on and said goodbye ......click.
I am really ticked off now and still not having resolved my problem this freakin machine hung up on me . So i called back and weaved my way through the process again and I am waiting till someone answers so that I may apprise them of my opinion of the quality of service. I know at the first sign of @%$#^*&&&(*))*%%##%^^%#$^%^ that they so hartily deserve that they will hang up on me but by golly I am gonna abuse that poor persons ears.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

A Continuing Saga

As you folks all know I am attempting to get my health issues under control. I am in the process of getting bi-pass surgery done so that I can lose weight and get back to a normal life style. For those who aren't aware I had a serious fall about five years ago and due to the enforced inactivity during my recovery I had little to do other than eat. I was unable to exercise due to the damage my body recieved from the fall, and before I knew it, I was in the condition that I am in.

Last week I had to travel to Pittsburg and see the surgeon for a preliminary exam to determine if I were a viable candidate for the bi- pass. There are a number of different proceses available for the physcian to use and after a nearly three hour exam, it was determined that I would probably not survive the most radical process which is called a Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass . This is called this because it has meaning as to which sections of the stomach and the intestine are cut and how they are re-attached. This process gives the fastest results and is most effective in helping get rid of almost all of the bodys stored fat.

The evaluating surgeon determined that I would be best served by a banding by-pass which has had 100 % success rates with no fatalities but it is only approximately 80 % as effective as the Roux-en Y. She does not do this process though but someone else in her group does and it seems that I am going to b accepted as a patient.

I must complete the following.....6 months of nutritional counseling,a psychological evaluation, I must be seen by a internalist for a complete history and a physical and this must be documented and submitted to the surgeon, A complete work up by a cardiologist, A sleep study test, clearence from a pulmanologist, a gang of blood work, an ekg, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, chest- x ray , and all pertenant medical records from the last ten years must be faxed to the surgeon. I also will be required to continue dieting and if I gain any weight at all I will be removed from the program

I must do this but it seems to me that it is a lot of hoops to jump through. If I would need say.............. heart surgery ,no problem, hop on the table and we will have you home by the end of the week. I hope it is done this way to keep it from becoming a dieting process and it is only doled out to those who are in trouble but six months is long damn time and six months of carrying this extra weight is even further debilitating me.Send those prayers and well wishes I 'm afraid I'm gonna need them.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Missing In Action

Sorry folks I have been very busy trying to take care of some things as well as being not even being home for a few days . Sure home to sleep but up and running again so ........please forgive I should be back to my self soon/ And for those who worried that I was ok.............Thank you

Monday, October 31, 2005

 Posted by Picasa

~HAPPY HALLOWEEN ~

Today is a day that children throughout America consider one of the most incredible days of the year. All you gotta do is knock on someones door and when they answer shout out....."Trick or treat " and chances are they will give you a candy bar or "treat " you instead of the alternate "Trick" wich might include soap on your car windows or perhaps toilet paper strung through your trees or some tricks that I won`t even mention.
There is more to this day than the quaint picture I set out in the last paragraph. Throughout time it has been a magical sort of day when perhaps your predicessors in death may come to re - visit you . To perhaps settle a score or to prepare you for following them. Who can know the reasons,who can know if they are true?
Science has been trying to prove that there is no such thing as spirits or ghosts or goblins with no success. They can no more disprove it as the "Believers" can prove it.All I know this is my tale and I swear on my childrens lives that it is all 100 % true.
Being Irish in ancestry I love Celtic things. I have a dear friend on the internet whom I asked a huge imposition of and she complied willingly and cheerfully. I was greatfull for her effort then and even more so now.I asked her if she could find a metalsmith and ask him if he would craft a Celtic cross for me that I could wear, something, that would reflect my heritige.Very soon she had found the man for the job and he crafted a fine cross out of pewter and in its center it had a small green unpolished stone about the size of a green pea. She felt it should be unpolished since my being a manly man sort of man, if it were polished it would be more like jewlery as opposed to it's being a symbol of my deep and abiding faith.
She accomplished this task and would not take a penny for it which made it all the more valuble to me. She said anything that a man would use to get closer to his God should be given free, gratious. That if money were tied to it it would somehow spoil it.She sent it to me as soon as it was done and I put it round my neck and there it stayed untill the chain broke and I removed it from my inside my shirt and held it as I took a leather boot lace off my boot and strung it up gain and put it round my neck till I could find another chain. I had it fixed on the next trip to town and it stayed around my neck ever since and has not ever left ....BUT............. The stone fell from it and was lost somewhere. It was a dull stone with no luster and a natural color so that it would blend in anywhere and how it pained me I can never let you know because it was a lovely gift given by a dear friend and it had importance to me.
About a year later we bought new living room furniture and I will be the first to admit my chair is a great place to nap.It is overstuffed and it is brown corduroi and very comfortable. Very. I stress that because as I was sitting in my chair one afternoon . I was all alone and the house was quiet I was watching my favorite John Wayne movie, "THE QUIET MAN" and I had a habit of fondeling my cross absent mindedly. I fell asleep and as I heard the VCR begin to rewind I woke up and had a great need to use the bathroom. I extended my hands to the ends of the arms of the chair and I felt something under my left hand. I raised it carefully and there on the arm of my new furniture was the stone from my cross. How it got there I will never know. Ido know I am greatfull it has been returned to me .Very . I stress this very also because I found out a few days later that my friend who had my cross made for me had passed on at the same moment I was sleeping in my chair. Are these things related? I don't know But I wish I did. One of these days perhaps I will see her again and if I do I am sure gonna ask her if she did this for me.


Wednesday, October 26, 2005


IN MEMORY Posted by Picasa

~ 2000 ~

News has been recieved from Iraq of the 2,000th soldier killed in Iraq. While 2,000 lives being snuffed out with so much life left to live and promises to give is horribile and should make any Americans blood run cold, I must call on you Mothers and Fathers and Sisters And Brothers to not enter into why we either stay or go from Iraq. I need each and evry one of you to stay strong. To stay the course. Your family member was doing what they believd to be the right thing for the right reasons. They so believed in what they were doing it cost them their lives and it cost each and everyone of you their presense in your lives.
Please support the continuance of our efforts in Iraq. Make their sacrifice mean something. Do NOT cheapen it by calling for our withdrawal. We all feel that one death is too many but reality bites as as it tells us to honor our loved ones who were killed in service of their nation.
2000 Deaths, 4,000 Mothers and Fathers grieving, unknown brothers sisters cousens and aunties.
Who knows the number of loved ones who are affected by this, their friends, co-workers-people who somewhere in the future their lives paths will cross. The untold contributions to medicine,music,poetry,art, or just being a friend.
Listen up America 33,000 men made the roles as casulties of war on the first day of the invasion of France on just Normandy beach. Was Euoropes freedoms more important than those of todays Iraqi? Was the horror of torture and the brutality of Auswietz more horrific than what was commited in Saddams torture camps?
Please America support our troops . Don't make them come home to what I was greeted with when I left Viet Nam . A nation who thought we were bad guys for all we gave A Nation who thought we were crazed killers and drugged out freaks. We weren't. We were your sons and daughters whose family was made to feel ashamed of what we tried to do.We weren`t wanted in Viet Nam and we weren"t wanted here. Don`t do that to these awesome Americans that are giving their all. You didn`t help us .......help them.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

~ IT JUST AIN"T FAIR ~

I could barely believe my senses this morning as I looked out on my deck. We have already accumulated almost two inches of snow. Although that is no great shakes it is pretty incredible because our trees are still green and we are still cutting the grass. Even my neighbors flowers look great with their little white borders of snow. Guess I gotta go find the sled.....hehehehehe

Saturday, October 22, 2005

~ For Good Health ~

To all you wonderfull readers out there in Bloggerland, If you want to stay healthy avoid Drs. visit like the plague. I think sometimes they pay the nurses a little overtime to spray a handfull of germs in the waiting room before the patients start coming in. That way regardless of why you are there to see the Doctor, you will have to make another appointment to get rid of the cold or flu or sniffles or what ever sort of malady the nurses were able to set out to keep em commin Doc.
Of course I know that is false, they dump the germs in the hallways and foyers. That way everyone can share in the wealth of our misery.Well I am sure you get my jist seems like every time I go I catch sumpin in the waiting room. I have sent out a request for permission to use dangerous and addictive drugs so that I can shake this dreaded malady and I am earnestly praying that someone will bring me that noxious bottle of vile tasting but works so good medicine so I can rest. Hope to post more tomorrow or maybe later if the meds don`t wipe me out.

Friday, October 21, 2005

EUREEKA !!!!!!!!

Just a brief posting to let my friends and family know.... I recieved a phone call yesterday informing me that on Nov. 8 th I will have to travel into the city and I will have my first appointment with the surgeon and they say it will last nearly three hours. They will want some nudes and I hope I am not too embarrassed considering my doc is a female.. I am sure I will get through it with no problem. I will post more after the exam and let you know the particulars.


And to a matter that has absolutely NO significance it is really easy to remove a comment from a individual posting or if I deem it worthy I can have the offending ,mis-informed, maladjusted scum sucking example of pond scum, banned for life with a simple key stroke.........Hmmmm shall I press or not? Only the shadow knows Bwahahahahahaha

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

~ One More Step ~

Yesterday was a truly wasted day. I went to the Doctors for a 8:30 Am appointment and he showed up around 11:00 and considering that I wasn't first I had to wait even after that.Finally He came into my room looking suprised to see me. "what brings you in today ? I wondered why on earth he would ask that when written on my chart in his own illegible chicken scatch follow up apptment in two weeks.He asked me to weigh in again apparently he had forgotten his scale wasn't up to the job.He cleared his throat in his most docterly manner and asked "well, are you ready to start on a licquid diet? " Appearently he forgot that I told him the time before last that I was there that I couldn't afford the nearly 200 bucks a month that that would cost. I informed him as much and he told me that He is ready for me to partake in a six month supervised dietary program. I informed him that I didn't think that I would still be alive in six months and he nodded and said to his nurse get him fixed up with the nutrishinist They informed me at the desk that I should return on the 11 of November to begin my 6 month diet. and todays visit will be 25 dollars thank you very much.I think it will be a miracle if I live long enough to even see a freakin surgeon. Wish me luck I need to learn patience and I mean NOW

~ Dearest Sheba ~

I wondered at first just what you were going on about and then I realized that I am in the presence of a intellect far far greater than my own. In light of this fact, please E~Mail me and I will give you the necessary permissions to also post on my blog so that all these good people no longer need to read my clap trap and can give your wittisims all the considerations they deserve.I look forward to your responce. OR You can kiss My ass you worthless piece of festering crap. Do you think I give a rats ass as to your opinions? I blog cause I am a pompus ass and I don`t give one whit as to what anyone thinks.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

~ Mans Inhumanity To Man ~

I was appalled yesterday to see our local news report about a terribly appaling story. It seems that there was a lady in a trailer park that was pregnant and her neighbor and friend decided she wanted her baby. She knocked her friend in the head with a baseball bat and tried to remove the unborn fetus from its mother with a razor knife. The mother recieved a six inch deep cut in her attempt to steal the child. Fortunately a young man riding his quad came upon the scene and seeing immediately what was happening went and got his Dad and told his Mom to call 911. Thanks to this young man Mother and child are alive and doing ok and their attacker is being held in jail till her trial. I am so proud of him to survey what was going on and then do the right thing, required nerves of steel and he is to be commended for his responce.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

~ Things That Make You Go HMMMM ~

As I sat this morning in the exquisite calm and quiet of my kitchen , slowly sipping that elixer of the Gods that help me make it through the day, I reached for the remote control (funny now that things have remotes that it is considered broken and unusable because you would have to get up and manually adjust it ) and absently pressed the power button. It hummed and whirred and brightened the room and before I could get another sip of coffee the news story flashed to the hospital room of a 38 year old woman who had just given birth to her sixteenth child. Her family encircled her bed and I realized that it would be decades before she would ever have the ultimate treat of a quiet morning and a good hot cup o joe. The poor dear said they were considering having more children in the future but damn just damn aint that enough? My mother in law always said that you can eat sugar till it tastes like salt and I imagine that she should have a pretty salty taste in her mouth by now.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

A Deck With Built In Live Music

It was a great delight to find my neighbors having a live band on their deck this afternoon. I was able to sit on my deck and enjoy a Sunday afternoon concert !!!!!! Again many thanks to the band. You guys are soundin great !!!

Saturday, October 08, 2005

A Change I Could Live With

This came to me in a E ~ Mail and was so good I wanted to share it with you "We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights." ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything. ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be. ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy. ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care. ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair. ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure. ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness which, by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights. ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! lastly.... ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!! If you agree, share this with a friend. No, you don't have to, and nothing tragic will befall you if you don't. I just think it's about time common sense is allowed to flourish. Sensible people of the United States speak out, because if you don't, insensible people will.

Friday, October 07, 2005

A Ongoing Tale........

It seems so long ago when I told you good people that I had decided that I would undergo gastric by-pass surgery in a effort to help me lose some weight and become once more, a productive member of society and more importantly my family. Finally I have been able to talk my primary care physcian into helping me accomplish this very thing.
I had a doctors appointment on Wedensday morning and as always, his office was crowded. He has a tendency to overbook,God forbid he should have a five minute gap between patients, we wouldn't want him to be unproductive even for a moment. It probably means the difference between him driving the basic Cadilac sedan or that hottest new edition Porshe that has been on all the commercials. At least he has the decency to install a high def TV with souround sound in the waiting room and a smaller version in each of the exam rooms. I thought it was very considerate of him to go to that expense for his patients, but I came to find out that it was to provide better patient privacy so he isn't looking at the business end of a law suit. I guess as my mother in law always said "what you see may not always be the fish you are being sold."
After a 1.5 hour wait I was pleased to see his nurse hang a sign on my door that said simply~ doc next ~ I am so much more at ease knowing that he has to be told who is up next.As is his custom he came in and asked what was the reason I was here today and what was bothering me. I had to refresh his memory as to my reason for being there is to get his referral for gastric by- pass surgery. You would think that somewhere in that weighty file placed on the door for his perusal that he would notice that I can not even weigh on his scale any longer.Perhaps he sould get one of those really attractive freight scales with the LED display. That always is patient friendly when he dosen't have to yell out to his staff to see if I can go over to the meat market accross the street for a accurate weight.
After much cajoling I finally convinced him that I could wait no longer and that if I don`t get on with this process damned soon He could just as well come to the funeral and after a decent time has gone by, make the wifie a decent offer on the property.He had his staff pull out all of the surgens in this area who do this surgery and will accept my insurance and it was whitled down mearcefully to three groups. I recieved instructions to call them all and attempt to make my appointment as soon as humanly possible and that he would do all he could by way of letters and recomendtions to help me get this going on. Wooooo Hooooooo On the way !!!!!!!!!!!
Well enough of that jocularity reality sat in when I called the top one on the list and his staff said sorry he no longer accepts that insurance. Undaunted I called #2 on the sheet. His staff said he only does a not really good version of the proceedure . He uses a banding method and it in reality is fraught with peril.On to good ol #3. Her staff tells me she only will accept patients that have been on a 6 month supervised diet. Well I have been on with my primry care guy and the staff tells me he would have to confirm that in writing . No problem he said he would so I am still hopefull. Next they wanted almost a complete history over the phone and of course ,desperate now I complied. They told me that they will send out a packet of information asap and to look for it in the mail. True to their word it came today. I eagerly tore this weighty document open only to find about fifty pages of info about the process and its indications for doing it and possible problems and expected stages of recovery and almost every thing you could want to know including 10 web sites,where I could get almost any question answered at any time of the day.That I'm sure will come in very handy good to be informed about things.
IT ALSO HAD a 34 page questionair about what drugs i am on and why and the dosages and how long and pevious surgeries and othe problems and how my ancestery has helped me be in this pedicament in the first place. It took two and a half hours to gather all this information and record it dutifully in each of the little boxes they provided. I folded it carefully and put it in the envelope they so thoughtfully provided and licked the awfull tasting glue,sealed the flap and even spread the brass tab for additional security. I turned it over in my hands to be certain that their label was adequately affixed when i n o t i c e d t h a t
t h e a d d r e s s w a s ......................Magee Womans Hospital. Imagine my chagrin when I saw that. I called ,holding my breath, and the staff member informed me that it is ok that they work on men also now.
So I guess I am under way now .......I will keep you posted as to what where when and how. I thought this would make for some interesting reading ,if you dear readers think not please tell me.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Be Back Soon

Hello good people ! I'm not sure that anyone has noticed or even cared for that matter but I have been under the weathr for a bit and am feeling much better now. I will return to a regular posting (Of sorts) soon. Perhaps as early as tomorow. Scary huh????????????

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Just Where Do You Draw The Line?

I would venture to say I am a mostly ordinary average white guy. I wake in the morning and have my coffee and my breakfast, I take my daily dose of meds that cost waaaaay too much and try to have some semblace of a "NORMAL" life.I turn on the television and I hear people accusing my leaders of doing horrible things to people because of their color,I hear stories of available aid not delivered because it is a seriously democratic constituancy and we have in place a republican government.I hear the suits tell me that there is anarchy in the streets. Young able bodied people are raping,looting,killing, people of their own race and any others. I hear stories about help being availabe and it was turned away because it was not ordered by the appropriate people. Food and drink and being witheld from starving, dying people by a government that is supposed to bring aid in times of strife.I hear these stories at every turn of the channel at every twist of the dial at each page I turn. these horror stories are being shouted at me.
I can`t believe it ..........I WON'T believe it. I live in a ethnicly mixed neighborhood and in the space of time that I have lived hereI have been through two major disasters, I have been evacuated from my house by boat. I have had a fire that could of cost us all our lives . I point this out to show you that I am no stranger to calamity . No newcomer to the twists of fate that are delt us.I have not seen in my personell experiences what they are showing me on the tv. I have not heard what they are shouting at me on the radio.
I have HEARD genuine offers of help, I have SEEN my neighbors show up and help all day in horrible jobs like shovelling the muck of the river mud out of my basement.I have personally FELT the pats on my back reassuring me that although it seems impossible things will return to normal. I have had my FAITH in man boosted to the point where I no longer sweat anything. The help,the neighbors, the family, the government,the red cross, the salvation army will be there. They will do as good a job as they can with what they have.
So why the discrepancy? Why the blatent differences in responses to a citizens need? I don`t want to say it is racisim, because it isn`t, I don`t want to say it is politics, because it isn't.I don`t want to sa it is unpreparedness because it isn't. What I will say is we got hit with a horrible storm. It was way beyond anything we were/are/will be prepared to cope with.Man in his over abundance of ego cannot hope to stand up to Mother Nature. If a flood is what she wants a flood she will have, or a fire ,or a earthquake, or a volcano erupting.We are visitors here at her willingness to suffer us.
Now forget all the name calling/finger pointing crap and lets help our brothers and sisters get over this latest of calamitys.

Saturday, September 03, 2005


ENORMOUS Posted by Picasa

I Couldn't Believe My Eyes.

When you take in the enormity of the special venom of Katrina,it is mind boggeling when you realize that the area affected is larger in square miles than Great Britton,it kinda sinks in how intimidating getting much needed aid to the area truly is.There are almost 1,ooo,ooo homeless people.These people are spread over a large area so it is extreemly difficult to set up a concerted response to a specific need.Not only do the victims need a variety of services the responders have need of shelter and food and transportation to and from the affected areas.There is also a huge requirement for service vehicles and the fuel to run them, the operators with the skill set to use them properly, and the ancillary support system to make sure they don't break down and if they do, the people to tow, repair,supply the parts must be in place.All this and more moved from God knows where to the area to help these people.
I am chagrined to hear people play the race card and suggest that the respose was less than it could of been because the victims were black.I wish you folks would open your eyes and realize the enormity of what has happened here and realize that no one could of responded faster than what was evident in Katerinas' wake.
I've heard people say that George Bush didn't act fast enough. The truth of the matter is that it is up to the Governors of the affected areas to solicit the aid of the Federal Gov. Otherwise it would be interfering with the states rights.
This job is huge and there are going to be errors in many areas of this recovery but please people, don't cry race on this .We are all Americans . We are all helping Americans, and we will all come out of this a stronger Nation.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

A Disaster Of Epic Magnitude

My heart goes out to all these poor people who fell to Hurricane Katrina.There is no firm number of dead, they don`t even know how many may be missing. There will be bodies turning up for months on end.There are tens of thousands homeless. They have only what they carry on their backs. They are suddenly homeless and unemployed. Many people will return to find their family homes simply gone. Others will return to find their home untouched in the middle of destruction,for who knows what reason.There is probably 100,000 or more who as I write this are hungry hot and homeless.
If you can donate to the Salvation Army first or the American Red Cross. They will both do a great job of trying to help. I suggested the Salvation Army first because characteristicaly they are there before the red cross shows up.
Keep these people in your prayers and thoughts, if anyone needs it it is them.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Top 100 songs from my youth

The game goes like this.strike through the bad ones..........sorry all good

1. The Ballad Of The Green Berets, Sgt. Barry Sadler2. Cherish, Association3. (You're My) Soul And Inspiration, Righteous Brothers4. Monday, Monday, The Mama's and The Papa's5. 96 Tears, ? and The Mysterians6. Last Train To Clarksville, The Monkees7. Reach Out I'll Be There, Four Tops8. Summer In The City, Lovin' Spoonful9. Poor Side Of Town, Johnny Rivers10. California Dreamin', The Mama's and The Papa's11. You Can't Hurry Love, Supremes12. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted, Jimmy Ruffin13. These Boots Are Made For Walkin', Nancy Sinatra14. Born Free, Roger Williams15. Strangers In The Night, Frank Sinatra16. We Can Work It Out, The Beatles17. When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge18. Winchester Cathedral, New Vaudeville Band19. Hanky Panky, Tommy James and The Shondells20. Good Lovin', Young Rascals21. Paint It Black, Rolling Stones22. My Love, Petula Clark23. Lightin' Strikes, Lou Christie24. Wild Thing, Troggs25. Kicks, Paul Revere and The Raiders26. Sunshine Superman, Donovan27. Sunny, Bobby Hebb28. Paperback Writer, The Beatles29. See You In September, Happenings30. You Keep Me Hangin' On, Supremes31. Lil' Red Riding Hood, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs32. Devil With A Blue Dress On and Good Golly Miss Molly (Medley), Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels33. Good Vibrations, Beach Boys34. A Groovy Kind Of Love, Mindbenders35. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, Dusty Springfield36. Born A Woman, Sandy Posey37. Cool Jerk, The Capitols38. Red Rubber Ball, The Cyrkle39. B-A-B-Y, Carla Thomas40. Walk Away Renee, Left Banke 41. Daydream, Lovin' Spoonful42. Time Won't Let Me, Outsiders43. Hooray For Hazel, Tommy Roe44. Sweet Pea, Tommy Roe45. Bus Stop, Hollies46. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, B.J. Thomas and The Triumphs47. Ain't Your Puppet, James and Bobby Purify48. Ain't Too Proud To Beg, Temptations49. Dirty Water, Standells50. Elusive Butterfly, Bob Lind51. I Am A Rock, Simon and Garfunkel52. Crying Time, Ray Charles53. Secret Agent Man, Johnny Rivers54. The Sounds Of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel55. Lady Godiva, Peter and Gordon56. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?, Lovin' Spoonful57. You Baby, The Turtles58. Barefootin', Robert Parker59. Homeward Bound, Simon and Garfunkel60. Uptight (Everything's Alright), Stevie Wonder 61. Bang Bang, Cher62. Sloop John B, Beach Boys63. 19th Nervous Breakdown, Rolling Stones64. Wipe Out, The Surfaris65. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, Temptations66. No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach Is In), T-Bones67. Just Like Me, Paul Revere and The Raiders68. Love Makes The World Go Round, Deon Jackson69. The Pied Piper, Crispian St. Peters70. Coming On Strong, Brenda Lee71. Somewhere My Love, Ray Conniff and The Singers72. Almost Persuaded, David Houston73. If I Were A Carpenter, Bobby Darin74. Don't Mess With Bill, Marvelettes75. Cherry, Cherry, Neil Diamond76. Working In The Coal Mine, Lee Dorsey77. Message To Michael, Dionne Warwick78. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing, Lou Rawls79. Barbara Ann, Beach Boys80. Gloria, Shadows Of Knight 81. Dandy, Herman's Hermits82. Rainy Day Women #12 And 35, Bob Dylan83. Guantanamera, Sandpipers84. Psychotic Reaction, Count Five85. Land Of 1,000 Dances, Wilson Pickett86. Oh How Happy, Shades Of Blue87. Woman, Peter and Gordon88. Five O'clock World, Vogues89. Black Is Black, Los Bravos90. Hungry, Paul Revere and The Raiders91. My World Is Empty Without You, Supremes92. Baby Scratch My Back, Slim Harpo93. She's Just My Style, Gary Lewis and The Playboys94. The More I See You, Chris Montez95. 634-5789, Wilson Pickett96. Yellow Submarine, The Beatles97. Nowhere Man, The Beatles98. Zorba The Greek, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass99. Shapes Of Things, Yardbirds100. I Fought The Law, Bobby Fuller Four

} A Disaster {

My heart goes out to the thousands,perhaps even millions of storm victims.In 1985 I was a flood victem, so I can appreciate what they will experience in the next few hours, days, weeks, and even months.At first it will seem overwhelming. The enormity of it all will be daunting. The fact that almost everything you owned is now destroyed will be overpowering. You will not even have a change of clothing. The flood waters are full of fecal material,chemicals,poisons,mud and who knows what else.
When the water recedes they will be better able to see the extent of the damage.They will be able to tell if their homes can be rebuilt or will they have to consider alternitive housing. That will be the case in many instances.Soon the help will come pouring in . Tetnus shots, warm dry clothing,fresh bottled water to drink,ice,sanitary facilitys. On the surface they are all mundane needs but believe me , it is sooooooo appreciated by these people.Very soon the National guard will show up to patrol the streets to prevent looting as much as possible.They will also assist in removing most of the debri and search for missing people. They will even find some.
The insurance companys are already working on a way to dispute most of the claims. They will call it a act of God so we don`t have to pay. The government will try to help with disaster loans and in many cases they will provide nearly enough money to do most of the work.
In the end of it all the American spirit will shine through and we will rebuild. We will have the super bowl in the super dome all those people who sheltered there will luckily enough may come back to watch the gme.Volunteers from all fifty states will show up to help. There will be so many good things come of this disaster that very soon the horrors of these last few days will pass .It will be back to normal soon. I know it don`t seem possible but it is. I know cause I lived it also.
All of my prayers go out to these people. They want their familys reunited and that will happen more times than we think possible.We WILL survive.

Monday, August 29, 2005

} LIKE A WELL OILED MACHINE {

A grand time was had by one and all !!!! Nearly 45 people showed up to wish my lovely wife a happy happy birthday. She was totally surprised once more...........I don`t know how we pulled it off but we managed somehow. The food was awesome, the beer was cold, and we sang late into the night. I truly wish to thank all who worked so hard to put the festivitys together,and all those people who came to help her celebrate. Thank you one and all.I am so happy you all love her as much as I do.

Saturday, August 27, 2005


For The Birthday Girl Posted by Picasa

} SURPRISE {

I hear it's your birthday !!!!!! Today is my lovely wifes birthday and unbeknownst to her there is going to be a surprise shindig for her at a friends house. I am so looking forward to this celebration today. There should be plenty of good food and good company and if i'm lucky even karioke!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOO that should be enough for anyone.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005


Peachy Keen Posted by Picasa

} A Rememberance Of By-gone Days {

They say your senses are powerfull tools to help you recall people or places or events in your life. They may not be earth shattering events or perhaps barely worth recalling except for the fact that somehow or another the stimulating of that particular sense touches you in what may be a deep dark place or a thing of wonder that you loved as a youth.
A dear friend knocked gently on my door yesterday. I opened it and saw her there ,smiling as she always seems to be. She had a good sized box in her hand and as she stepped towards the door it hit me. A aroma from my mis-spent youth.It was sweet and warm and oh so delicious.It seems she had a windfall of peaches and wanted to share them with us.The smell of the treasure contained inside that box was incredible. She sat the box on the table an removed the lid and the smell of those peaches took me back some fifty years to my youth. We used to get peaches just like thes. They are almost the size of soft balls,with a fine coating of fuzz on the skin. The skin is a beautifull blending of red, yellow,and almost a deep purple. I could not help my self I reached into the box and took one and it was still warm as though it was picked from the tree only moments before.The first bite sent peach nectare running down my chin,over my hand and towards my elbow to drip carelessly on the floor. The flesh of that fruit was golden as could be.Then it hit I was about six years old and sticky from peaches.It was a sweet summer moment that I thankfully relived yesterday. Thanks for the peaches, I `ll call when the cobbler is ready and thank you sooo much for the ride on the time machine.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005


Action Team Posted by Picasa

Things You Did't Know

Back in the day when I used to actually work for a living, we had a band of co-workers who were, to be kind, opinionated., but somehow or another they would say what was on their minds, sometimes with humor, sometimes without. One of their favorite sayings was “It only takes one awwww shit to wipe out a thousand atta-boys. No truer words were ever spoken.
I think that is mostly the case with our media actually reporting what is going on in Iraq. They focus on all the bad things to discredit our efforts there and to make us look bad in the eyes of the world.
Well there are great and noble things going on also. Things they refuse to report. Things that they would rather not have you know. Things that show our troops are human and things that show them in a positive light.
Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq? Did you know that the Iraqi current government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people? Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are underrehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schoolshave been built in Iraq? Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating? Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States inJanuary 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program? Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?! They have 5- 100-footpatrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operationalsquadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transportaircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night,and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers? Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a CommandoBattalion?Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trainedand equipped police officers? Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over3500 new officers each 8 weeks? Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq?They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroadstations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electricalfacilities. Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have receivedthe first 2 series of polio vaccinations? Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primaryschool by mid October? Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq andphone use has gone up 158%? Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radiostations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations? Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had arecent televised debate recently?OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? - OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US! Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flagburning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs atpresidential motorcades. The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes. It isintended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thusminimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage Americancitizens. ---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Hello Again

Hello All !!! So sorry to have been away for a few days but my PC has been ungoing renovations and improvements. Lets hope that I am up to the task of being equal to my equipment.
There is still more to do but I expect to be posting regularly by tomorrow. I hope all you wonderfull readers will return to make some sort of sense of my scratchins here. Be well !!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

} Lambert Was Right {

I never would of believed it if I wouldn`t of heard it with my own ears.Several years ago, Jack Lambert a All-Star linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers ,voiced his opinion on a change of the rules. It seemed like the NFL changed the rules on how rough you could be on the quarterback.
On the surface it seemed like a good thing or at least it would help prevent some injuries to the QB.Jack was the kind of player who enjoyed the full contact of football. He regularly played with injuries like broken fingers, broken noses and such. He felt it was part of the game. When they changed the rules ,Jack protested and said "You might as well let the quarterbacks wear dresses now"Not only was he a legandary linebacker he was a profit. Todays game ...Steelers V Dolphins is unfortunately delayed by rain. Rain of all things. Not a chilly rain it is nearly 80 degrees still today in Pittsburgh. We wouldn`t want em to catch a chill and not be able to play. But the poor fellows are gonna get wet . Damn I have seen it all. Rain stopping a pro footbll game. What in the name of "THE GIPPER " is going on here geeeeeeeeeeeeeeze
I may have to take up watching knurling to have a little excitement now.....

Friday, August 19, 2005

} BTK {

This horrible man recieved 10 consecutive life sentances for his crimes. That ammounts to a minimum of forty full years served in prison. Now forty years is a long time,BUT, it is forty years of life however feeble and degraded it is. These poor people he bound and tortured and killed have NO life to live because of his direct actions.
Is this a fair punishment? What would be a fair punishment? Who would dole it out? There are a lot of hard questions associated with felons like him.
Personally I feel like he should be tortured to the brink of death at least twenty times and then killed in the most horrible manor anyone could come up with.Would that make the victems familys satisfied? I think not cause it won`t bring back their loved ones.
Whatever the punishment I hope it is long and very painfull and frieghtening and maddening to his mind and anguishing to his soul so that he may enjoy the sort of things he brought to his victems.
Sorry folks ,this is a side of me that I want to keep hidden away but I have no use at all for any one that would torture someone for their own pleasure.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

The Things You See.............

I had occasion last evening to go out to take care of some business and along the way we decided to stop and eat our dinner out since it was getting late.
There was a young man who was seated close to where we were. I say young man but he was just past boyhood.He looked enough like Lile Loveitt to be related to him.
I was particularly taken by his tee shirt which had a statement on it which I thought ,while very nearly true,he was very bold to wear.It said APE OD.
I am not one to make fun of a fellow because of his looks but this young man had those craggy features that truy made him look simian. Well,live and let live I always say so I paid no more attention to him.
As they were preparing to leave I once more noticed the young man as he stood.His shirt held in a odd configuration due to him being seated now fell straight and it revealed its mysteries to me. It became obvious his shirt said CAPE COD.
With this revelation he lost his simian appearence and became just one of the youth of America............. Funny, once you get a perception of something all it takes is a slight alteration in it to totaly change what you percieve. No wonder homicide detectives have such a hard job.

Saturday, August 13, 2005


The View Posted by Picasa

} SUNRISE {

I woke this morning,as usual at 5 am. It was that certain kind of quiet that comes just befoore the day. Even the birds are still as they try to get the last five minutes of sleep before the world rushes in and the day begins.The air was still not even the slightest breeze stirred yet.
I stumbled through my morning abolutions and made my way to the kitchen. My shaking hand successfully poured the water into the coffee pot and almost instantly the aroma of what America is waking up to, filled the room. I poured a cup and headed to my back deck. I am so blessed to live where I do. I live on a river and it is, in my opinion, one of the few pristeen areas I have ever been to. Across the river is what most flat landers would call a mountain but in truth is only a good sized hill. It is tree covered and in the fall a portrait of a million colors is presented to me everyday.
This day as I sipped my coffee I looked to the east and saw a brightening in the sky and once more the world has come full circle and I was to be blessed with another day. Soon the entire sky had brightened and I could see the river. It was still and looked like a mirror. I could make out the image of the mountain behind it between the whisps of vapor riseing from the water.
The birds began their racous shouting to their friends and I was treated to a beautifull song to enjoy as I sipped my coffee. A gentle breeze stirred the mist from the face of the river and as the breeze stiffened it gently disturbed the surface of the river.
Small ripples covered the surface as the sun burst above the mountain and as the suns rays struck the river it seemed as though there were a billion diamonds scattered there. They sparkled and glistened and it was almost to pretty to look at.
I am so blessed to live here.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005


Welcome Home Posted by Picasa

} Welcome Home Brothers {

This week 12 American familys were given a priceless gift. They have had their loved ones remains returned from a mass grave in Viet Nam. It has always been the policy of the American military to leave no one behind and true to policy our government after intense negotiations with the Viet Namese government was able to recover the bodies of

Marine PFC Robert Lopez, of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Army Sargent Glenn E. Miller, of Oakland, California

Marine CPL Gerald E. King, of Knoxville, Tenn.

Marine Lance CPL Joseph F. Cook, of Foxboro, Mass.

Marine Lance CPL Raymond T.Heyne, also of Foxboro, Mass.

Marine PFC Thomas J. Blackman, of Racine, Wisc.

Marine PFC Paul S. Czerwonka, of Stoughton, Mass.

Marine PFC Barry L. Hemple, of Garden Grove, California

Marine PFC William D. McGonigle, of Wichita, Kas.

Marine Lance CPL James R. Sargent, of Anawalt,W.Va.

Marine Lance Cpl Thomas W. Fritch, of Princeton ,Ky.

Marine LCP Donald W. Mitchell, of Princeton Ky.

These men gave their lives so that the cries of Liberty and Justice will never be silenced.They were killed in a ten hour battle on 9May,1968 on a patch of muddy ground about the size of a football field. Their remains were discovered in 1998 and still more in 1999. It has taken almost six years to do the forensics,.
Four of these fallen heroes will be buried by their familys and the others will be interned at Arlington National Cemetary. A greatfull nation salutes you and a brother welcomes you home.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005


In memory of their sacrifice Posted by Picasa

} A Mothers Love {

A mothers love is a awesome force. It causes one to overcome huge obstacles, overlook gigantic character flaws, and sometimes can cause a mother to think with her heart instead of her head.
At this very moment in time there is a Gold Star Mother who is camping out on the roadway to President Bush`s vacation retreat. This Mom is addament on not leaving her camp site till the President agrees to meet with her. The media is telling this story without mention of her earlier meeting with the President.
Her son was killed in the Iraqi War and she feels like we should have no involvement in Iraq. She feels like because there were no weapons of mass destruction found that we should not have any presense there.
I am so very sorry to say Ms. Sheehan that you are disrespecting all of our troops involved in the war. Perhaps worse than that, you are demeaning your son's ultimate sacrifice.The very worst thing the general public can do to our troops is withdraw our total support of their efforts. The public has stated that we can support our troops but not support the war. How stupid are you people out there? Oh I love you honey but I hate what your doing. I realize that you are far from home and aren`t getting your proper rest or eating good home cooked meals, but the reason you are sacrificing all of these things is a crock of shit that is based on a lie. I know you believe in what your doing enough to re- enlist in many cases but you must be a booger eating moronic mouth breather to think that your country would support your sacrifices.
For Gods' sake people just look at what your opinion has done for the Viet Nam vet. To know that all you have went through was valued enough by your fellow citizens to be spat upon when you came home. To be refused jobs because the company was afraid of you cause you were a un-stable Viet Nam vet.These things happened, they really did. Our military today deserves our respect and our gratitude.They deserve to be honored by a gratefull Nation and most of all they deserve to be remembered and their sacrifices noted by at least their own mothers.
At least thats the way I see it here on Arrathorns Alley

Thursday, August 04, 2005


What a ride!! Posted by Picasa

} KENNYWOOD {

Kennywood,Kennywood .It was a day I looked forward to for all of my summer. This was the treat of the season,in so many ways, better than Christmas.For those of you uninitiated,Kennywood is our local amusement park. It, in my humble opinion, is the finest park that I have ever been to in my life. I have been to the Disneys (world & land). Knottsberry farm,Sea World, Six Flags and a few others that have since closed.
In my youth the entire community went to Kennywood on our comunity picnic day. The whole town would shut down and in my youth get on the train, and latter on the busses, and then finally the personel car. We would have our picnic baskets because they would have really great pavillions with cold water and bathrooms and a sink if you needed some hot or cold water. Everyone left their baskets on the table. They were all unsecured,not a one was locked, and not a singe one was ever tampered with.
The kiddos would be ready run the moment we got there. The first coasters inside the park was the Racer and the Jackrabbit. They were built in 1927 and 1921 and rebuilt in 1990 and 1991. we would pile up to the booth to buy your ride tickets and off to ride those two. On to the Pippin built in 1924and rebuilt as my personel favorite THE THUNDERBOLT It was named as the best wooden rollycoaster in the world three times. Later there would be bigger faster stronger versions like the steel Phantom with a length of over 3000 ft a drop of what seems like 500 feet because it follows a climb of 250 feet and it reaches 80 mph also.
It also offers the best park food in the world. French Fries at the potatoe patch, corn dog with mustard at the corndog stand, hot sausage at the sausage pagoda,a square ice cream cone covered with chockolate that you got and ate on the trainride that went in a continous loop around the track. A funnel cake with stawberrys and whipped cream and soon the lights would come on all the rides and it would cool and be sooooooo nice. a last few rides befor the park closed and on the loud speaker they would play thank you and goodnight (a great oldie that still takes me back as though it were yesterday. )We would stop at the
fudge stand on our way out if we saved the money from our allowances nd fall imediately to sleep on the softly swaying train. Dreamin dreams of next year.
Well this year I did not go.And I am sad.. .....It's ok I will go next year

Sunday, July 31, 2005


I`m fine,I can drive ok Posted by Picasa

} HELP {

Please kind readers, I need help. Some where out there in this huge Blog -O- Sphere there must be a answer for this overwhelming delema.
I suppose I should begin this posting by explaining the problem, it seems like I would have a higher expectation of actually resolving the issue. DON 'T let friends drive drunk. On the surface that seems like a idea that has arrived none too soon. In reality it is a problem.
On five seperate occasions,with five different people,I spirited the keys for the vehicle, away from the inebrieated (seriously) person. ON five seperate occasions I ran into serious problems with the person who wished to take a two ton ,loaded,weapon of mass destruction on the highways and biways of America.They had in their hearts no thought of how seriously this could effect anyone other than their loudly voiced desire to drive as proven by the statement of "I`m ok . I can drive. I`ve been drunker that this and have driven myself home.
Options had been given these wonderfull, loving, otherwise normal family members and friends. Stay here for the evening, Ok I will drive you home. Ok I will drive you home and another sober person can drive your car home. Look your not going anywhere it is too dangerous. Come on I will walk home with you.
Objection s have been raised like so many democrats on a entitlement program the reason against anything acceptable poured fourth.I need my car there so I can sleep. I am afraid to leave my car here cause someone will mess with it( please don`t allow the fact that I have already told you 20 times you can take your keys home with you and I would pick you up as early as 5 am to comeback after your car if that is what you want.)
In a few cases I was able to actually get them to agree to let me take them home. How foolish I prooved to be when twenty minutes later they showed up in a cab with the spare keys to get the vehicle that was so rudely taken from their control.One got so angry he decided to walk home got as far as the highway and promptly fell asleep on the side of the road.
~ THE CHASE ~
How in the world do I get them to go along with my simple request because I don`t want to go to their funeral. I don`t want to watch any of these good people crumble because they have crippled or killed another human or perhaps a whole family of those same humans. I know it would crush them ,I know it would make them feel like their hearts were breaking every moment of every day. How do I get them to know this and accept this. I don`t want their car. I don`t want it parked in front of my house as a status symbol. I don`t wanna go for a ride to take them home, I just want to see them live another day. A day with a ray of sunshine because you didn't kill a family or deprive a mother of her hugs and kisses from her child for the rest of time? How do I do this? Please help me. How............

Friday, July 29, 2005


I Need MORE $$$$$$$$$$$$$ Posted by Picasa

} Here We Go Steelers.........{

Make no mistake, I am a dyed in the wool Steeler Fan and will always be BUT in the current negotiations with Hienz Ward, He has determined that he should hold out for more money. I absolutely disagree with that so called "wisdom"
Not to bring up ancient history but one of my personel heroes is a former Steeler legend named Rocky Blier. The Rock was a hero on more than the football field He is a Patriot and served his country honorably.
During his first year as a Steeler, Rocky was drafted and after boot camp was stationed in Viet Nam. He was unfortunate enough to step on a land mine and was told that he would never walk again let alone run. He told Mr. Rooney of his injury and Mr. Rooney held his position on the team.He held his position for two years untill Rock could re-hab himself good enough to return to the team and become one of the Steelers best. This little story was told to set the stage. The steelers are more than a team you play we pay scenario This is a team that will make a commitment and stand by it.
Now back to Hienz Ward, I have no clue as to what he has been offered and I honestly don`t care. I do know that he has been offered a eight million dollar bonus for signing his contract. If my memory isn`t failing me I recieved $100.00 as a bonus for signing my last contract. I realize that I can`t play football but I`m sure that Hienzwould run after the sight of a clogged toilet that I coped with on a daily basis.
Jerome Bettis has slowed a little and gained a few pounds and last year he stated that he would re -negotiate for a lower amount. Turns out he had the best year of his career. I think it is because he is a team player and Ithink that Mr. Ward would benefit from being a team player also.
At least that is the way I see it here on Arrathorns Alley !!

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

}Arrests Made{

I was so pleased to see the Brits were able to arrest at least four suspected terrorists and I just bet they will "willingly" give up everything they know about the terror network world wide.
I know that the civilized Brits would never use anything but gentle techniques in their efforts to interogate the terrorists.
Oh and why is there no clamor about them accidently killing a innocent man just because he had a bulky coat and a heavy sweater on in record high temperatures, and oh yeah did I say he refused to halt after he was told to? Well no matter, Good thing he wasn`t in Gitmo everyone knows how us Americans abuse our prisoners.
Truth is as I see it is no matter what sort of torture the Brits or the Americans have to do to get to the bottem of this it is all necessary.Do it and do it now.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005


A Journey Begun Posted by Picasa

{ A New Beginning}

I am so very happy to see the shuttle launch sucessfully today. Not very many people realize how many benefits we enjoy and take for granted because of the space program. Take for instance this very medium was stretched to be able to take care of the needs of the space program. In fact you are sitting on more computing power than all of NASA posessed in the fledgeling years.
All of the telemetry that you take for granted in monitoring your heart when you are in the hospital are a direct result of the research done for the space program.
Amost anything you can think of that is miniturized has been shrunk down to accompany even more things into space.
Even your basic $5 watch with a led or even a lcd readout has been developed for the space program.
The space program even helped Lance Armstrong win his seventh Tour De France by utilizing the streamlining techneques, and using the plastics and the titanium alloys that were developed for the space program.
If things have always been basically true then chances are they will always be basically true so project out what escalating our involvement in space will mean to us stuck here on Earth in even greater technologies to make our lives so much sweeter.........Hells Bells even good ol Tang was developed for space ....how can ya beat it.

Sunday, July 17, 2005


What A Woman Posted by Picasa

The Quiet Man

After all these years this film remains my all time favorite. It has something for every one from the coolest fight scene to one of the hottest romanantic scenes ever shot. It is after the wedding.....She is very disapointed that her brother won`t give her her dowery..........This to her represents a 300 year history of her familys` women scrimping and saving and putting this treasure together so that someone in the family can move into a better sort of life because of the "treasure" She explains this to her new husband who truly seems to love her. she tells him that untill she gets her treasure that she will not consumate the relationship. She explains that she will cook and clean and keep the land and be the servant tht she had been up untill she agreed to marry him but untill she can get her treasure she will be no more than that........ a servant. She turns and goes to the bedroom and slams the door in his face and he is ok with that untill she slides the dead bolt closed and that is when he knows he must show her that he is the head of this house. He kicks the door in................grabs her roughly in his arms........... Tells her that there will be no locked doors between us Mary kate except those in your mercenary little heart..........kisses her hard.........seemingly taking her breath ....sweeps her off her feet and carrys her to the bed and throws her onto the bed.....everyone knows he is going to have his way with her and he does.................he turns and walks out side and spends the night on the porch. He spoke volumes in that brief scene...........He made his wife know in her heart that there can only be one head of the house and it was him he also showed her that he respected her enough to not ever try to force her to do anything, and he showed her that he understood now why she wanted her dowery. At first he thought it was the money but now he knows it is the history and sense of family that went with the treasure. Wowsa what a movie !!!!!

} Viva La Difference {

Just a brief posting concerning the difference between the troops trying to restore order to Iraq and its citizens and the terrorist who were in charge previously.
U.S. Army PFC Stephen Tschiderer, A proud memeber of " THE BIG RED ONE" while on routine patrol was shot in the chest by a terrorist (note I did not say insurgent). After being shot and protected by his body armour Pvt Tschiderer recovered his wits and within a few seconds began to return fire along with the rest of his patrol. Within two minutes of him being attacked he had secured the person who shot him and was administering first aid to him.
That is the difference between terrorists and soldiers who are attempting to bring liberty to a country that has not known freedom for centuries.Oh by the way it has not been shown on the networks as far as I know and there is video available..........perhaps the msm wants our citizens to have a different view of the reality that is Iraq.At least that is the way I see it here on Arrathorns Alley

Friday, July 15, 2005


Just Me And My Shadow Posted by Picasa

} I DID NOT KNOW THAT {

After a one hour meeting with my primary care physcian last night the road ahead apears daunting and i`m afraid a gazillion problems. I am a firm believer in the greatest journeys beginning with a single step and last night I took my first toddeling step at reclaiming my life.
He said that I must go through a complete physical to make sure that there is nothing wrong with me before I can become a candidate for the surgery. I must have a colonoscopy (brrrrruuuuuughhhh) thank you very much, a upper and lower GI Series. All sorts of testing like a stress test ( Bah ..we all know a 350 lb. guy has no stress at all) and extensive physocologic evaluation before they can decide if this choice is right for me.
I also must continue to diet in a effort to lose weight so that it is easier to have the surgery. Alright question number one.................. If I can diet sucessfully why do I need the surgery? I think there is a lot more to this than I suspected in the beginning. Is this a trick set up or are they really trying to see if my body refuses to lose despite my best efforts? I will look for answers in the next visit.
Doc says this will be about a three month long process I just wish it were done and I were on the road to recovery. I suppose the time will fly or so they say when your having fun.........More to follow when I know it so will you...........................

Monday, July 11, 2005


Better Days Are Comming Posted by Picasa

A Journey Begins........

Well friends , I have decided that I will recieve many theraputic benefits from sharing my ordeal with you kind readers so I suppose I should start at the beginning.
About five years ago I fell from my roof and severely damaged my leg and foot. It was such a severe injury that it prevented me from working again. I ended up going on social security disability.
I could do nothing at all. Almost any activity was prohibited by the pain that that being on my leg/foot would bring. Needless to say I grew. People would bring me pies,cookies,cakes,feed me,all given in the name of love and so greatfully accepted.The pounds added up and soon I was a extra person. I have ended up with severe breathing problems, and a over taxed heart. I can`t lose weight by any traditional method because at this point I am so debilitated I can`t stand any activity. It is such a ordeal to bathe that it requires me stopping many times in order to get my breath. My body aches from head to toe due to fibromyalsia and the inalbility of my normal sized lungs to get enough oxygen to exchange my blood gasses. OH I forgot to mention I smoked like a old Dodge and as a result have emphysema also.
Well enough about the downside of this I have decided on a course of action which I hope helps me save my life. I have a great deal to live for and I want to live and see what my future has in store. I, after, much discussion with my physcian and my family and efforts of traditional dieting will attempt to go through the gastric by-pass process. I will be meeting with my doc this week to attempt to schedule a intial visit with a gastroenterologist who I hope can manage my case from beginning to end. I will keep all posted here as to my progress and I also hope to continue my meager attempts at writings that affect me enough for me to comment on these issues.
Let me say before this begins that I am hopefull that this will help me regain my life and help me get in good enough shape so that I can enjoy it.I will keep you all posted.

Saturday, July 09, 2005


Ot Oh Posted by Picasa

} For Those Who May Of Noticed{

To you kind readers who have missed my humble efforts at writing,I thank you for your patience. I have been in the hospital again in a effort to resolve a continuing problem. I have a temporary handle on it for now but it will require further intense resolution on my part which I am prepared to call on. I will get into its nature as soon as my plan of attack is more definitive.I hope throughout this ordeal that I will be able to share this experience with you all and perhaps gain a little support from you .As this unfolds I will keep as well posted as I can
.

Monday, July 04, 2005


Our Roots Posted by Picasa
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free!



This was a excerpt of a speech by Richard Skelton He is better known as Red Skelton . He claims he heard this speech as it was given by his principle in Vincantes Indiana in grade school. It was made by his principal.


Boys and girls ,I have been listening to you recite the pledge of allegiance all year long and it seems as if it has become monotonous to you, or could it be you do not understand the meaning of each word? I would like to recite the pledge and give you a definition for each word . I meaning me , a committee of one PLEDGE meaning dedicate all of my worldly goods ALLIENGENCE meaning my love and devotion. TO THE FLAG meaning our standard, old glory a symbol of courage, and where ever she waves there is respect. because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody’s job OF THE UNITED that means that we have all come together, STATES individual communities that have formed fifty great states. Fifty individual communities with pride and purpose, all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united by a common cause .and that is love of country OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC A republic a sovereign state to which the power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern and the government is the people .and its from the people to the leaders not from the leaders to the people FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION meaning so blessed UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE incapable of being divided WITH LIBERTY the freedom for one to live his own life without fears, threats or any sort of retaliation AND JUSTICE the principles and qualities of dealing with others FOR ALL For all boys and girls, it is as much your country as it is mine

Friday, July 01, 2005


whoopie Posted by Picasa

Happy Birthday America

I know that throughout this great land people will celebrate the holiday and use the time off to maybe relax and enjoy the family, or swim, or perhaps a round of golf. We will BBQ all sorts of foods and drink all sorts of beverages. We will watch the children play Frisbee or badminton or maybe a game of backyard wiffleball. There will be children of all ages running through sprinklers and dreaming dreams of yesterday or maybe tomorrow. Dusk will come and Moms and Dads will light the sparklers and pass them to the youngins with the warning to be careful. The kiddos will write their name in the dark or maybe just make circles, but everyone will have fun doing it .Soon full evening will come over this great land and the big fire works will come out from their hiding places or the communities will start their displays or perhaps a American Legion post in small town America. They will burst into the night sky with the brilliant reds and whites and blues that only fireworks can bring coupled with the thunderous retort from the explosions that you can literally feel in your chest. Then perhaps those of us old enough to remember will remember the meaning of these explosions and take pride in this great nation. There is none like her anywhere in the world.

This great nation is so like the liberty bell that symbolizes our country. Sound ,sturdy, works perfectly .except for that little crack The manufacturers of the bell offered to fix that crack but we chose not to have it done. America is represented by that crack. Like the Liberty Bell we are not perfect, most likely we will never be. The crack reflects our little flaws like racism and sexism and God knows how many other isms. But America is strong and sound just like the bell. It symbolizes freedom and justice and will continue to for as long as we can hang together.

So somewhere in between hotdogs apple pie and our Chevrolets lets all remember what brung us to the dance and wish America a HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!!

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

We Must Stay The Course

President Bush was on last evening speaking about our involvement in Iraq and as He said our involvement must continue untill the situation is resloved. NO sane person wants war but when it becomes evident that it cannot be helped it must be carried out to the end......regardless of the cost.
Near the end of his speach the emotion he felt for our militarys sacrifice came to the surface. As he choked back the emotions I to felt A lump that reminded me of the price our military is paying. I knew in the mid sixties that the cost of freedom is not cheap,and I know now it has only become more valuable as time has gone by.God bless our troops!
At least that is the way I see it here on Arrathorns Alley.