Mom passed away. It was two weeks and one day ago but I've been too devastated to post. I have her obituary half finished and just can't seem to pull it together. October 14, 2010 at 5:25 in the morning. What makes the time so interesting is that is the same time Dad died.
The week before she passed I was frantically trying to locate my brothers to let them know, but only one responded. K called the day before she died. K, I want you to know that her face lit up when you were talking to her. She had this bright inner glow when she heard your voice. The hearing is the last to go, you were a lucky man. Thank you for calling, but please don't be a stranger.
I can't believe how much I miss her, we lived together for 33 of my 54 years and now all I have is a big empty space. Who would have thought that would happen? I ran away from home and joined the Army when I was 18 and she packed my bags when noticed I was making preparations to leave. All the anger and resentment I felt being stuck with her as she aged has disappeared. As with my father the last words we ever spoke to each other were "I love you."
The Friday before she passed I came out of the bathroom and found her on the floor of her room. It's the only time I didn't hear her fall. Edie and I gt her back into bed and I called the hospice nurse to let her know. Mom was staring vacantly off into space and I thought she was leaving then, but all of a sudden her eyes cleared up and she turned and grabbed my arm. She made sure she had eye contact and said "I love you." I said "I love you too Mom" and she said "No, I LOVE you" and drifted off never to make verbal contact again. The next thing I knew all six dogs flew into the room and from that point on Sha Shai only left her side to eat and relieve herself. She stayed with mom until the mortuary people asked if I could move her so they could take mom out of the house.
The hospice people were great, unfortunately their recommendation for the mortuary has inflicted mental trauma and emotional pain in a way that I wasn't expecting. From the first meeting I expressed the necessity of getting the death certificate as soon as possible so that I could file for a small life insurance policy and pay for her cremation. I can't afford to take her back to California to bury her, but I can take her ashes and have them interred in Dad's grave.
This past Wednesday I called the funeral place and asked about the death certificate because after being unemployed for so long while I cared for her, I now don't make enough to pay my portion of the rent and other debts at the beginning of November. That's when the crematorium told me I had an outstanding balance of $650 that had to be paid before they would release the certificate to me. The crematorium is holding my mother's body as ransom. I was stunned.
I have called every agency and support group I could and there is no help out there at this point in time. I informed the hospice people of what was going on and they were as shocked as I was and the social worker said she had talked to the crematory owner and he would be calling me back. It's been three days and I've called and left messages to no avail. I'm about to lose everything and the disrespect to my mother is painful in a way I can barely describe.
On Thursday I borrowed my roommate's car and drove to Carson City to visit the Vital Records Office where I spent $11 of my last $12 and got a certified copy from there and then mailed in the claim form. It takes 7 - 10 business days for them to resolve the claim and send the money. Unless I can get extensions on the automatic withdrawals, I will be in trouble before the money reaches me. And even then I have to worry about the California tax lien. The fun never ends.
I'm going to try and have Mom's life story up by the end of the weekend, it's the least I can do.
BBB
Showing posts with label Rest in peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rest in peace. Show all posts
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Avoidance And More Avoidance
One would think that rocking out and John Denver would be mutually exclusive, but one would be wrong. Sunshine On My Shoulders may make me happy, but it doesn't induce the urge to play music so loud that my neighbors would call the cops. And if it was Thank God I'm A Country Boy, maybe he should have been playing Take Me Home, Country Roads on his 8-track as he traveled back to his Rocky Mountain High because Leaving On a Jet Plane (I much prefer Peter, Paul and Mary's version) left Mr. Denver a tad disjointed.
I've been totally ignoring the NBC late night fiasco for several reasons. One, I watch Letterman if I haven't turned off the television or I'm caught up with Stewart and Colbert and two, I never liked the Tonight Show after Carson left. It was a shadow of its former self and Arsenio Hall was much funnier. Leno can whine all he wants, but his ten o'clock show went a long way to ruin television for those of us who don't require child approved fare before the news. Whether Conan's ratings weren't as high as people wanted given all the competition he faced that Leno didn't have to, is besides the point. Conan and his crew moved from New York to California for a job that no longer exists. And not because Conan failed, but because NBC screwed up and Leno can't let go. They were warned it wouldn't work before the season started and they snowballed ahead anyway. Conan, his crew and his fans (whoever they are) are just the damage picked up before the snowball flies over the cliff into oblivion
I took a creative writing class when I was in high school and everyone was going on about this book called Love Story. Being a die hard science fiction fanatic, I told people I wasn't interested in reading some romance crap that didn't exist in real life. Our teacher, whose name escapes me at the moment, asked if anyone in the class had a copy. Somebody did. It wasn't bad, a simple but entertaining read. I finished it by lunchtime. I propped it up behind my assigned reading and read it in class and returned it to the person who loaned it to me. I was pissed when Patton won Best Picture instead of Love Story. Only one of the many disappointments the entertainment world had in store for me. I learned early on that if I thought it was interesting, it would be canceled. Thank goodness for cable. Rest in peace Erich Segal. Thank you for your work. I have two versions of Love Story's theme on my iPod, Arthur Fiedler's and Henry Mancini's. It seems funny to think of Tommy Lee Jones as the inspiration for Ryan O'Neal's character.
For as many times as car dealerships have screwed their customers, this one should admit it made a mistake and move on. Not try and get an additional $7,000 two weeks later because of a "clerical error".
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!!!! Unfortunately, it's going to be on Fox. You know, the people who canceled Firefly and Dollhouse because they didn't get "it". And John Barrowman might reprise his role as Capt. Jack Harkness. Yippee! It's a shame about Ianto, I had already decided to name my next dog Ianto. Yanto, easy to say, difficult to spell.
Can anyone tell that I'm completely fed up with politics?
BBB
I've been totally ignoring the NBC late night fiasco for several reasons. One, I watch Letterman if I haven't turned off the television or I'm caught up with Stewart and Colbert and two, I never liked the Tonight Show after Carson left. It was a shadow of its former self and Arsenio Hall was much funnier. Leno can whine all he wants, but his ten o'clock show went a long way to ruin television for those of us who don't require child approved fare before the news. Whether Conan's ratings weren't as high as people wanted given all the competition he faced that Leno didn't have to, is besides the point. Conan and his crew moved from New York to California for a job that no longer exists. And not because Conan failed, but because NBC screwed up and Leno can't let go. They were warned it wouldn't work before the season started and they snowballed ahead anyway. Conan, his crew and his fans (whoever they are) are just the damage picked up before the snowball flies over the cliff into oblivion
I took a creative writing class when I was in high school and everyone was going on about this book called Love Story. Being a die hard science fiction fanatic, I told people I wasn't interested in reading some romance crap that didn't exist in real life. Our teacher, whose name escapes me at the moment, asked if anyone in the class had a copy. Somebody did. It wasn't bad, a simple but entertaining read. I finished it by lunchtime. I propped it up behind my assigned reading and read it in class and returned it to the person who loaned it to me. I was pissed when Patton won Best Picture instead of Love Story. Only one of the many disappointments the entertainment world had in store for me. I learned early on that if I thought it was interesting, it would be canceled. Thank goodness for cable. Rest in peace Erich Segal. Thank you for your work. I have two versions of Love Story's theme on my iPod, Arthur Fiedler's and Henry Mancini's. It seems funny to think of Tommy Lee Jones as the inspiration for Ryan O'Neal's character.
For as many times as car dealerships have screwed their customers, this one should admit it made a mistake and move on. Not try and get an additional $7,000 two weeks later because of a "clerical error".
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!!!! Unfortunately, it's going to be on Fox. You know, the people who canceled Firefly and Dollhouse because they didn't get "it". And John Barrowman might reprise his role as Capt. Jack Harkness. Yippee! It's a shame about Ianto, I had already decided to name my next dog Ianto. Yanto, easy to say, difficult to spell.
Can anyone tell that I'm completely fed up with politics?
BBB
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
This 'N That
Remember the riddle "who's buried in Grant's tomb?" Technically the answer is no one since Ulysses and his wife are entombed, but at least people know where they are. The same can't be said for some of those who are buried at Arlington. Like the atrocious conditions at Walter Reed revealed a few years ago, this is also a national disgrace. Why is it so difficult to treat our soldiers with the respect they deserve? After suffering the ultimate sacrifice how can they be treated so poorly by those who were entrusted to preserve their remains? It used to be an honor to be buried at Arlington, now it's where's Waldo.
Jeff Huber (wish he'd been my CO but the Navy didn't take me seriously when I tried to enlist in 1974) has his usual insightful observations on the fallacy of thinking we can win the debacle in Afghanistan. The original mission was never accomplished and has been lost to the caskets of history, so of course we must continue to involve ourselves in another fruitless and never ending land war in Asia. Is it because the Afghans don't look like the Japanese, Vietnamese or Koreans that people don't realize that Afghanistan is in Asia as are Iraq, Iran and Israel? What the heck are we fighting for?
Regime change in Iraq was discussed before 9/11. Then why didn't the troops have all the equipment they needed? Probably for the same reason that they aren't receiving all the help they need once they are injured or discharged. Because the goal was to topple Saddam and consequences were never considered. Not to the troops, their families, innocent civilians or the stability of the country.
The phrases "there's nothing new under the sun" and "what's old is new again" have been around for a long time...because they're true. In If A Man Answers (1962) Sandra Dee's character trains her new husband (Bobby Darin) to be more attentive by using the techniques from a book on dog training. Today's parents are discovering the Dog Whisperer's techniques also work well on children. Or, as my baby brother said after a few months of training his dog, "I should have had a dog before I had children." As is pointed out in the movie and in this article, it's really the trainer who is being trained. Consistency is the key and my parents excelled at that. If it was no when I was two, it was no when I was eighteen unless it had been due to a height or age requirement. I really miss my dad.
Adopted children should be able to find their biological parents after they are old enough to understand the consequences. For Matthew Roberts those were definitely more than he planned on. It isn't every day that one discovers that their father is one of the most hated murderers on the planet. That's really sad.
BBB
Jeff Huber (wish he'd been my CO but the Navy didn't take me seriously when I tried to enlist in 1974) has his usual insightful observations on the fallacy of thinking we can win the debacle in Afghanistan. The original mission was never accomplished and has been lost to the caskets of history, so of course we must continue to involve ourselves in another fruitless and never ending land war in Asia. Is it because the Afghans don't look like the Japanese, Vietnamese or Koreans that people don't realize that Afghanistan is in Asia as are Iraq, Iran and Israel? What the heck are we fighting for?
Regime change in Iraq was discussed before 9/11. Then why didn't the troops have all the equipment they needed? Probably for the same reason that they aren't receiving all the help they need once they are injured or discharged. Because the goal was to topple Saddam and consequences were never considered. Not to the troops, their families, innocent civilians or the stability of the country.
The phrases "there's nothing new under the sun" and "what's old is new again" have been around for a long time...because they're true. In If A Man Answers (1962) Sandra Dee's character trains her new husband (Bobby Darin) to be more attentive by using the techniques from a book on dog training. Today's parents are discovering the Dog Whisperer's techniques also work well on children. Or, as my baby brother said after a few months of training his dog, "I should have had a dog before I had children." As is pointed out in the movie and in this article, it's really the trainer who is being trained. Consistency is the key and my parents excelled at that. If it was no when I was two, it was no when I was eighteen unless it had been due to a height or age requirement. I really miss my dad.
Adopted children should be able to find their biological parents after they are old enough to understand the consequences. For Matthew Roberts those were definitely more than he planned on. It isn't every day that one discovers that their father is one of the most hated murderers on the planet. That's really sad.
BBB
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Random Musings
Eight years into the war in Afghanistan and all we have to show for it is that we are stuck in another land war in Asia. Osama bin Laden hasn't been accounted for, our troops are dying at the highest rates (more have died from March to now than in the first three years) since the war started and the Taliban are freely reimposing harsh penalties on Afghani citizens for participating in democracy. Next thing you know, they'll be talking to a Sicilian.
Eight years in and the military in Afghanistan have very few hi tech hospitals. How can this crap still be happening? I understand about going to war with the army you have, but shouldn't the army have weapons, armor and decent medical care by now? 70 minutes to get to a decent hospital after you've been involved in a roadside bombing doesn't sound very efficient. Or lifesaving.
Science doesn't seem to be a big thing in Texas. If the fire marshal had training instead of strutting around like Fire Marshal Bill, Cameron Todd Willingham might have been exonerated instead of spending the next thirteen years before he was put to death trying to get people to believe he was innocent. Just because he wasn't an angel doesn't mean he was a devil. Further prof that the death penalty process is barbaric and an in your face example of cruel and inhuman treatment. Even more so if you're innocent.
Do you ever think about what you're thinking about? I know I'm strange and I've known for a long time. I'm not autistic but it would be a good bet that my baby brother and I have more than a touch of Asperger's. As a small example I really don't like bright lights or loud noises. During my last year of school I wore sunglasses and a hat (at night) because I couldn't take the fluorescent lights anymore. And the hum was a constant that grated on my nerves. As a child I could spend hours watching the dust motes in the light or follow patterns in the ceiling and I still do. As an adult I catch myself doing long division when I'm not actively paying attention to something else. And now there is an application that will let me expand my mathematics skill, such as it may be. Now if only I could convince myself that washing dishes was a repetitive action that I enjoyed...
Rest in peace Senator Kennedy. Thank you for all you did and I hope that there will be someone who can take up the liberal torch. Not liberal by the conservative standard, but liberal in the truest sense of the word.
BBB
Eight years in and the military in Afghanistan have very few hi tech hospitals. How can this crap still be happening? I understand about going to war with the army you have, but shouldn't the army have weapons, armor and decent medical care by now? 70 minutes to get to a decent hospital after you've been involved in a roadside bombing doesn't sound very efficient. Or lifesaving.
Science doesn't seem to be a big thing in Texas. If the fire marshal had training instead of strutting around like Fire Marshal Bill, Cameron Todd Willingham might have been exonerated instead of spending the next thirteen years before he was put to death trying to get people to believe he was innocent. Just because he wasn't an angel doesn't mean he was a devil. Further prof that the death penalty process is barbaric and an in your face example of cruel and inhuman treatment. Even more so if you're innocent.
Do you ever think about what you're thinking about? I know I'm strange and I've known for a long time. I'm not autistic but it would be a good bet that my baby brother and I have more than a touch of Asperger's. As a small example I really don't like bright lights or loud noises. During my last year of school I wore sunglasses and a hat (at night) because I couldn't take the fluorescent lights anymore. And the hum was a constant that grated on my nerves. As a child I could spend hours watching the dust motes in the light or follow patterns in the ceiling and I still do. As an adult I catch myself doing long division when I'm not actively paying attention to something else. And now there is an application that will let me expand my mathematics skill, such as it may be. Now if only I could convince myself that washing dishes was a repetitive action that I enjoyed...
Rest in peace Senator Kennedy. Thank you for all you did and I hope that there will be someone who can take up the liberal torch. Not liberal by the conservative standard, but liberal in the truest sense of the word.
BBB
Monday, July 20, 2009
Reporting In
First Huntley, then Brinkley and now Walter. Another large chunk of my childhood is gone, along with any pretense of journalistic integrity. News reporting hasn't been the same since Mr. Cronkite retired, it's more infotainment than informative and I don't trust very many of what passes for journalists these days. Rest in peace Walter, you deserve it.
As some of you may have surmised, I have been out spending the money now that B of A has let me have it. The first thing I decided I needed was tires for my car. What an adventure that turned out to be. The original equipment tires are 2/5/R65 V 95s. Well, I was able to find 215/R65s but that V rating turned out to be very troublesome. It is sometimes called the speed rating and it turns out that they don't seem to make the V anymore. Both Costco and Wal-Mart will not install tires of a lesser rating due to insurance issues (theirs) and were willing to let me drive around on the currently installed (and very bald) 205/R65s, which makes little to no sense to me. I kept telling them that I was never going to drive 149 mph since I rarely go over 70, but it was still a no go. Finally Big O Tires took pity on me and installed tires with an H rating, which means I can only go 139 mph. Whatever. I still have to go back on Wednesday and have the rack and pinion assembly changed since it has a small leak now and fixing it now while I can afford it will prevent it breaking when I don't. She is also scheduled for a maintenance check/tune-up and then I will feel much better about driving her for the next five years.
Since I have the car back I feel like Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy. All the old ladies like to have me take them to their appointments and to the casinos. According to them, my car is the most comfortable and easiest for those who are handicapped to get in and out of. I'm glad that somebody besides me loves that car.
Mom is becoming more unsteady as the days pass. Last week she went to get up and did a face plant into the wall. She looked like someone beat her up. All those years of smoking has made her skin paper thin and she is constantly cutting and bruising herself. On Friday she cut herself getting out of the car and when I wasn't looking took the band-aids off and turned a clean cut into a big hole. It won't be long before I have no choice but to put her in a home.
I also bought a few new clothes which revealed another problem. Besides being more overweight than I should be I can also see the damage that all the Prednisone did to what used to be an hourglass figure. Now I look like I swallowed a beach ball and have normal legs and arms sticking out of it. I hate the funhouse mirrors and the ugly lighting that they use in the fitting rooms.
I purchased a pair of shorts that were rather snug, as in I could barely get the zipper up, and three hours later they were barely staying on. They have become pull on shorts and if I don't pull them up constantly I look like I'm trying to show off next week's laundry or trying to look like the kids of today. What's up with that?
Well, that's all the news that's fit to print since I've been ignoring politics and trying to get my life back into some semblance of order. Now I'm off to buy a bed for mom and a computer desk for me.
BBB
As some of you may have surmised, I have been out spending the money now that B of A has let me have it. The first thing I decided I needed was tires for my car. What an adventure that turned out to be. The original equipment tires are 2/5/R65 V 95s. Well, I was able to find 215/R65s but that V rating turned out to be very troublesome. It is sometimes called the speed rating and it turns out that they don't seem to make the V anymore. Both Costco and Wal-Mart will not install tires of a lesser rating due to insurance issues (theirs) and were willing to let me drive around on the currently installed (and very bald) 205/R65s, which makes little to no sense to me. I kept telling them that I was never going to drive 149 mph since I rarely go over 70, but it was still a no go. Finally Big O Tires took pity on me and installed tires with an H rating, which means I can only go 139 mph. Whatever. I still have to go back on Wednesday and have the rack and pinion assembly changed since it has a small leak now and fixing it now while I can afford it will prevent it breaking when I don't. She is also scheduled for a maintenance check/tune-up and then I will feel much better about driving her for the next five years.
Since I have the car back I feel like Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy. All the old ladies like to have me take them to their appointments and to the casinos. According to them, my car is the most comfortable and easiest for those who are handicapped to get in and out of. I'm glad that somebody besides me loves that car.
Mom is becoming more unsteady as the days pass. Last week she went to get up and did a face plant into the wall. She looked like someone beat her up. All those years of smoking has made her skin paper thin and she is constantly cutting and bruising herself. On Friday she cut herself getting out of the car and when I wasn't looking took the band-aids off and turned a clean cut into a big hole. It won't be long before I have no choice but to put her in a home.
I also bought a few new clothes which revealed another problem. Besides being more overweight than I should be I can also see the damage that all the Prednisone did to what used to be an hourglass figure. Now I look like I swallowed a beach ball and have normal legs and arms sticking out of it. I hate the funhouse mirrors and the ugly lighting that they use in the fitting rooms.
I purchased a pair of shorts that were rather snug, as in I could barely get the zipper up, and three hours later they were barely staying on. They have become pull on shorts and if I don't pull them up constantly I look like I'm trying to show off next week's laundry or trying to look like the kids of today. What's up with that?
Well, that's all the news that's fit to print since I've been ignoring politics and trying to get my life back into some semblance of order. Now I'm off to buy a bed for mom and a computer desk for me.
BBB
Saturday, July 04, 2009
I Don't Want To Shock Anyone, But
I had a stroke of good luck. I know, I know, it's not normal for me but every once in a while something nice happens. And this was very nice. Not that I had the money to be doing this, but I was over at the Atlantis playing a penny machine for 60 cents (max bet is a $1.50) with something called Goldbeard's Treasure and just after 4 in the morning, when my eyes were looking for matchsticks to keep them open, I hit a little jackpot. And suddenly I was wide awake.
There are five progressive jackpots in this game and it randomly eliminates them one by one. I figured I would win the $6.28 but it was eliminated first. Then the $44 one disappeared, followed by the $50 one. That left a $100 and one worth a very small five figures. Which then started blinking "Winner." You have no idea how surprised I was, I believe the exact quote was "no fucking shit?" Other than the taxi home the first thing I did was get a ticket to see Ron White tonight at the Peppermill.
Now that I have a little money in the bank (and of course B of A put a 7 day hold on it), I am loathe to spend it. I need a car and a bed for mom would be really nice, as well as a computer desk (I'm using stacked beer cartons to hold the iMac and I prop the keyboard on my lap) and a lamp. I loved the Infiniti but knowing what I know about the maintenance costs ($900 for a tuneup, premium gas only) makes me hesitant to replace it with another, but driving a beater car doesn't appeal to me. I like things such as air bags, ABS brakes and the ability to smoothly move out of the way of trouble. The heated seats weren't bad either. Oh well, courtesy of the bank which has my balance at -$260, I have a week to look for a car. And a new bank.
On the other hand, the woman who bought my car lost her job so I offered to buy the car back. Then I could take some of the money and do the maintenance. I like that alternative.
The maverick strikes again. Since when does writing a book and giving speeches qualify one to run a country? Especially one that thinks it's supposed to be the world's policeman. Palin supporters are a different breed. Of idiot. Quinn Hillyer of the American Spectator writes that anyone who cuts and runs from elected office without finishing the term they were elected for is not to be admired or respected for their decision and the wingnuts came out in droves to support her and call him a twit, a fool and a mental lightweight. And that was in the first four comments. Funny how the army determines leaving your post to be desertion and to most employers it shows that the employee is not a good bet in the future because they didn't finish the job in the past. While I thought the Bush supporters had drunk too much Kool-Aid, the Palin supporters have intermarried once too often.
Oops, in a surprise to researchers, self-help doesn't work. It seems that the brain knows when your life isn't going well and resists efforts to convince it otherwise. The brain prefers reality, what a concept.
Strange. How can people follow me on Twitter when I never post? Or maybe that's the point.
Today makes eighteen years since dad passed away. I can't believe how much I still miss him. Rest in peace, I love you.
BBB
There are five progressive jackpots in this game and it randomly eliminates them one by one. I figured I would win the $6.28 but it was eliminated first. Then the $44 one disappeared, followed by the $50 one. That left a $100 and one worth a very small five figures. Which then started blinking "Winner." You have no idea how surprised I was, I believe the exact quote was "no fucking shit?" Other than the taxi home the first thing I did was get a ticket to see Ron White tonight at the Peppermill.
Now that I have a little money in the bank (and of course B of A put a 7 day hold on it), I am loathe to spend it. I need a car and a bed for mom would be really nice, as well as a computer desk (I'm using stacked beer cartons to hold the iMac and I prop the keyboard on my lap) and a lamp. I loved the Infiniti but knowing what I know about the maintenance costs ($900 for a tuneup, premium gas only) makes me hesitant to replace it with another, but driving a beater car doesn't appeal to me. I like things such as air bags, ABS brakes and the ability to smoothly move out of the way of trouble. The heated seats weren't bad either. Oh well, courtesy of the bank which has my balance at -$260, I have a week to look for a car. And a new bank.
On the other hand, the woman who bought my car lost her job so I offered to buy the car back. Then I could take some of the money and do the maintenance. I like that alternative.
The maverick strikes again. Since when does writing a book and giving speeches qualify one to run a country? Especially one that thinks it's supposed to be the world's policeman. Palin supporters are a different breed. Of idiot. Quinn Hillyer of the American Spectator writes that anyone who cuts and runs from elected office without finishing the term they were elected for is not to be admired or respected for their decision and the wingnuts came out in droves to support her and call him a twit, a fool and a mental lightweight. And that was in the first four comments. Funny how the army determines leaving your post to be desertion and to most employers it shows that the employee is not a good bet in the future because they didn't finish the job in the past. While I thought the Bush supporters had drunk too much Kool-Aid, the Palin supporters have intermarried once too often.
Oops, in a surprise to researchers, self-help doesn't work. It seems that the brain knows when your life isn't going well and resists efforts to convince it otherwise. The brain prefers reality, what a concept.
Strange. How can people follow me on Twitter when I never post? Or maybe that's the point.
Today makes eighteen years since dad passed away. I can't believe how much I still miss him. Rest in peace, I love you.
BBB
Monday, June 29, 2009
Two Strange Questions
It's been a few days since Farrah and Michael have left us and as the media frenzy continues, I have a question. Having had the unfortunate opportunity to experience both sides of the equation, I do have an opinion, which I will share after the question.
Some of the doctors felt that the patients should be made comfortable to the end, but usually not the end of the patient's choosing. As if being drugged out of one's mind for the last 72 hours, emaciated and in control of very few bodily functions was a graceful way to the depart the planet.
Some families were so unwilling to say goodbye that they considered and implemented treatments that added nothing to the quality of the patient's last days, but added much to the hospital bill, the pain of their loved one and created desperately unhappy memories.
Some patients held on for dear life, one woman was still smoking twelve hours before she died of breast cancer. Others couldn't leave until all family members were taken care of and they could die in peace. There was one woman who had her hair done, a mani-pedi and called her family into her room. She told them that she loved them but that they needed to go home so she could get some rest and before they were out of the parking lot she had passed on to the other side.
I've watched someone pass away from cancer at home and seen the toll on the family. As the daughter (also a nurse) said after he passed, she was glad that someone had dug up old video of him when he was healthy because she didn't want her memories to be the last few week on his deathbed.
My father died July 4, 1991 at 5:35 in the morning from a massive heart attack. He was 60. While I was watching what passed for fireworks (really nothing more than multi-colored fog with big booms that shook the glass in the skyscrapers) in Santa Monica, he was expiring in an emergency room in Santa Barbara County. I didn't find out for another thirteen hours and I can honestly say that those were some of the happiest hours of my life. Not because I was having fun, but because I didn't know. I got thirteen more hours where he was gone but he was still here.
On the other hand, I've spent the last four years of my life watching my mother disappear before my very eyes. After the stroke her reasoning skills in regards to her safety have deteriorated at a rate that is unbelievable. She has become incontinent, sometimes forgets how to swallow but was able to figure out that the "Miniature Killer" had used carbon monoxide by way of the fireplace and occasionally catches the sarcasm behind Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. She thinks Bush is an idiot and that Cheney should shut up but will leave the burners on while she washes my ten inch chef's knife with her hand grasping the sharpest part of the blade. It's frightening to walk in the door and see that.
Given my druthers, I would rather go out like my dad than wither away like my mom. Yes, it was a shock and I miss him terribly, but at least I miss him and really do remember mainly good times. With mom there's nothing to miss since her body is still here and every once in a while, her mind joins her but the day in, day out care is grueling and in the end, unrewarding.
Grief shouldn't rob years from the living before you're gone and it shouldn't root others to one sad and inescapable moment in time. As Jim Morrison so aptly pointed out, no one here gets out alive.
And from the really quirky side of my brain, have you ever been watching recorded television while surfing the internet and when a commercial comes on picked up the mouse to skip the commercials? I keep doing it and it makes me snicker every time. I know what runs my life.
BBB
Is it easier to lose a loved one out of the blue, without warning? Or is it better to watch them slowly fade away, being able to say their goodbyes?One involves shock and disbelief, the other the opportunity to prepare. While at that wacky acupuncture school, one of my clinic shifts was at the San Diego Hospice and I had the opportunity to speak with health care professionals, families and patients. Some were angry, some were sad and some were oblivious. Opinions varied quite a bit on depending upon medical training, religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds.
Some of the doctors felt that the patients should be made comfortable to the end, but usually not the end of the patient's choosing. As if being drugged out of one's mind for the last 72 hours, emaciated and in control of very few bodily functions was a graceful way to the depart the planet.
Some families were so unwilling to say goodbye that they considered and implemented treatments that added nothing to the quality of the patient's last days, but added much to the hospital bill, the pain of their loved one and created desperately unhappy memories.
Some patients held on for dear life, one woman was still smoking twelve hours before she died of breast cancer. Others couldn't leave until all family members were taken care of and they could die in peace. There was one woman who had her hair done, a mani-pedi and called her family into her room. She told them that she loved them but that they needed to go home so she could get some rest and before they were out of the parking lot she had passed on to the other side.
I've watched someone pass away from cancer at home and seen the toll on the family. As the daughter (also a nurse) said after he passed, she was glad that someone had dug up old video of him when he was healthy because she didn't want her memories to be the last few week on his deathbed.
My father died July 4, 1991 at 5:35 in the morning from a massive heart attack. He was 60. While I was watching what passed for fireworks (really nothing more than multi-colored fog with big booms that shook the glass in the skyscrapers) in Santa Monica, he was expiring in an emergency room in Santa Barbara County. I didn't find out for another thirteen hours and I can honestly say that those were some of the happiest hours of my life. Not because I was having fun, but because I didn't know. I got thirteen more hours where he was gone but he was still here.
On the other hand, I've spent the last four years of my life watching my mother disappear before my very eyes. After the stroke her reasoning skills in regards to her safety have deteriorated at a rate that is unbelievable. She has become incontinent, sometimes forgets how to swallow but was able to figure out that the "Miniature Killer" had used carbon monoxide by way of the fireplace and occasionally catches the sarcasm behind Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. She thinks Bush is an idiot and that Cheney should shut up but will leave the burners on while she washes my ten inch chef's knife with her hand grasping the sharpest part of the blade. It's frightening to walk in the door and see that.
Given my druthers, I would rather go out like my dad than wither away like my mom. Yes, it was a shock and I miss him terribly, but at least I miss him and really do remember mainly good times. With mom there's nothing to miss since her body is still here and every once in a while, her mind joins her but the day in, day out care is grueling and in the end, unrewarding.
Grief shouldn't rob years from the living before you're gone and it shouldn't root others to one sad and inescapable moment in time. As Jim Morrison so aptly pointed out, no one here gets out alive.
And from the really quirky side of my brain, have you ever been watching recorded television while surfing the internet and when a commercial comes on picked up the mouse to skip the commercials? I keep doing it and it makes me snicker every time. I know what runs my life.
BBB
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The King (Of Pop) Is Dead
Long live the king! Unfortunately I don't know who that would be since packaging has replaced talent in the last fifteen years.
My father adored that song and believed that more people should look in the mirror. I haven't hurt like this since Princess Diana died. And I'm crying almost as much. And for the same reasons. Neither money, talent, or popularity will spare you from the Grim Reaper.
I remember The Jackson Five performing on American Bandstand and watching Michael Jackson and realizing that nothing I ever did would make me as famous, talented or as popular as he was. The fact that he was younger than me didn't help. I remember watching old videos of him as a child and seeing the fan reaction (people literally ripping the clothes from his body) and realizing that he was never going to be normal. And he wasn't, but then those of great talent rarely are.
My favorite celebrity quote came from someone I wasn't expecting but it nails how I felt about his talent.
Does sort of put life in perspective, doesn't it? Michael, rest in peace and thank you for everything. No matter what they say in the next few days, I will always remember you fondly. Not fondling.
BBB
My father adored that song and believed that more people should look in the mirror. I haven't hurt like this since Princess Diana died. And I'm crying almost as much. And for the same reasons. Neither money, talent, or popularity will spare you from the Grim Reaper.
I remember The Jackson Five performing on American Bandstand and watching Michael Jackson and realizing that nothing I ever did would make me as famous, talented or as popular as he was. The fact that he was younger than me didn't help. I remember watching old videos of him as a child and seeing the fan reaction (people literally ripping the clothes from his body) and realizing that he was never going to be normal. And he wasn't, but then those of great talent rarely are.
My favorite celebrity quote came from someone I wasn't expecting but it nails how I felt about his talent.
From Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese, who helmed Jackson's "Bad" video:When I wrote about Farrah Fawcett's passing I was going to put in a line about who would be next since famous deaths usually occur in threes, but decided to pass since I thought I could include David Carradine along with Ed McMahon. Obviously I was mistaken. The entertainment world has taken some severe hits in the last two weeks but this one has really rocked me.
"Michael Jackson was extraordinary. When we worked together on "Bad," I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion. He was wonderful to work with, an absolute professional at all times, and — it really goes without saying — a true artist. It will be a while before I can get used to the idea that he's no longer with us."
Does sort of put life in perspective, doesn't it? Michael, rest in peace and thank you for everything. No matter what they say in the next few days, I will always remember you fondly. Not fondling.
BBB
Thursday Morning Quickies
The Supremes surprised me this morning. I thought the decision on the strip search was going to be 8 to 1, in favor of the school not the girl. Instead of Ruth Bader Ginsburg being the lone voice of reason, it turns out it was the sexual harasser who was the holdout in favor of humiliating a girl. Somehow that isn't a surprise.
I agree, Johnny Depp is one cool dude but now the whole world (aka the IRS) knows the waiter made an extra $4000 in tips this year. It would have been really cool if the poor guy didn't have to pay taxes on it, sort of like the politicians and bankers who manage not to pay their fair share of taxes.
Filling out the paperwork for student loans isn't hard, it's tedious. Just like college. And unlike college it can be done online, at your leisure. If the FAFSA has to be simplified for students to understand it, how do they think they are going to understand their classes? Just wondering.
Senators (the usual suspects) are introducing legislation to insure that the Iranian people are able to evade censorship and Ahmadinejad is complaining that Obama is the one interfering.
Goodbye Farrah, you made many a teenage boy and quite a few older men happy by reviving the pinup poster in the seventies. Your work after Charlie's Angels revealed a depth of character that had been overlooked and highlighted the issue of abused women. Thank you for being you and rest in peace, you deserve it.
BBB
I agree, Johnny Depp is one cool dude but now the whole world (aka the IRS) knows the waiter made an extra $4000 in tips this year. It would have been really cool if the poor guy didn't have to pay taxes on it, sort of like the politicians and bankers who manage not to pay their fair share of taxes.
Filling out the paperwork for student loans isn't hard, it's tedious. Just like college. And unlike college it can be done online, at your leisure. If the FAFSA has to be simplified for students to understand it, how do they think they are going to understand their classes? Just wondering.
Senators (the usual suspects) are introducing legislation to insure that the Iranian people are able to evade censorship and Ahmadinejad is complaining that Obama is the one interfering.
Goodbye Farrah, you made many a teenage boy and quite a few older men happy by reviving the pinup poster in the seventies. Your work after Charlie's Angels revealed a depth of character that had been overlooked and highlighted the issue of abused women. Thank you for being you and rest in peace, you deserve it.
BBB
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Book 'Em, Dano
I have always loved this song, it brings back happy memories for me, and yes it is on the iPod.
Rest in peace Mr. Bogle. Many tried to imitate you, few rarely succeeded.
Rest in peace Mr. Bogle. Many tried to imitate you, few rarely succeeded.
Friday, June 05, 2009
We Never Promised You A Rose Garden
Bitch, bitch, bitch. Geez, we can't make anybody happy and truthfully, it isn't our job. We elected Obama President of the United States and I'm sorry that he isn't the world leader you wanted. He isn't the world leader I wanted but I've learned to deal and so will you. He's better than his predecessor but that is only because the bar was set so low. Be grateful he isn't worse.
Can I have what Horowitz has been smoking? Exactly how are the Iraqis better off now than eight years ago? Their cities and infrastructure are in ruins, hospitals are without doctors, women have lost most of their rights, electricity and running water are scarce, their economy is in shambles, tens of thousands of men, women and children are dead and we're leaving them to hold the bag. This is improvement? I'd hate to see what bad looks like.
Speaking of bad places to live, I'm headed off to California for the day. I need to go to the DMV to get another title to my car, I lost the one I had. Being a prudent person I called to make sure they were open and found out that it will take them six to eight weeks to process the paperwork. I need the title ASAP because I need to get a title loan, not the smartest financial move but this is an emergency. I cracked a molar right off the filling and every time I move my tongue the sharp point that is left scrapes the side of my tongue. To say nothing of the constant metallic taste in my mouth. On the bright side I've lost a few pounds this week because nothing tastes good. And it hurts to chew.
Grasshopper, we hardly knew ye, maybe the KY Jelly would have been a better choice. Rest in peace Kwai Chang Caine,
Can I have what Horowitz has been smoking? Exactly how are the Iraqis better off now than eight years ago? Their cities and infrastructure are in ruins, hospitals are without doctors, women have lost most of their rights, electricity and running water are scarce, their economy is in shambles, tens of thousands of men, women and children are dead and we're leaving them to hold the bag. This is improvement? I'd hate to see what bad looks like.
Speaking of bad places to live, I'm headed off to California for the day. I need to go to the DMV to get another title to my car, I lost the one I had. Being a prudent person I called to make sure they were open and found out that it will take them six to eight weeks to process the paperwork. I need the title ASAP because I need to get a title loan, not the smartest financial move but this is an emergency. I cracked a molar right off the filling and every time I move my tongue the sharp point that is left scrapes the side of my tongue. To say nothing of the constant metallic taste in my mouth. On the bright side I've lost a few pounds this week because nothing tastes good. And it hurts to chew.
Grasshopper, we hardly knew ye, maybe the KY Jelly would have been a better choice. Rest in peace Kwai Chang Caine,
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
For Lance
My friend's mother passed away this morning and I'm not there to help, nor can I go back for the funeral. Warren Zevon wrote this song for his family when he knew he had very little time left and the sentiments are most appropriate, even if it does bring tears to your eyes.
I'm so sorry, please take care of yourself and if you need anything, please let me know.
I'm so sorry, please take care of yourself and if you need anything, please let me know.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
For Jade Goody
I was playing Sudoku on the ole iTouch and this song came on and as I listened to the lyrics, I literally started to have palpitations which made it impossible to beat my best time. As anybody who knows me will tell you, I despise reality television. But if one thing she did in her last few months of life benefits her children, she has done as much as a mother could, or should to provide for her chidlren. Rest in peace, may I give it as good as an effort when my back is against the last wall. I may not cry for yesterday but I will did cry for the tomorrows you will have missed.
No matter how bad one may think that their life sucks, someone else's life always sucks worse. My heart goes out to her family and especially to her children. Lindsay, Britney and Paris should get down on their hands and knees and thank the Universe every morning that Thanatos has overlooked their worthless cabooses one more time and took Natalie Richardson and Jade Goody instead.
If only Blackdog knew how much he was really going to be missed. If only he knew.
BBB
I made a typo of Ms. Goody's name and corrected it.
No matter how bad one may think that their life sucks, someone else's life always sucks worse. My heart goes out to her family and especially to her children. Lindsay, Britney and Paris should get down on their hands and knees and thank the Universe every morning that Thanatos has overlooked their worthless cabooses one more time and took Natalie Richardson and Jade Goody instead.
If only Blackdog knew how much he was really going to be missed. If only he knew.
BBB
I made a typo of Ms. Goody's name and corrected it.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The End Of The Saga, I Hope
As most of you know, mom and I have been having an extremely hard time for the last six months. It has been an ugly roller coaster ride with enough thrills and chills to weaken the knees of the strongest of people. To this day I still have no idea why my landlord decided that mom and I didn't deserve to live in this dump of a park but child molesters, meth addicts and prostitutes do. I have made myself ill trying to figure it out and finally came to the conclusion that I just don't care anymore.
We're supposed to be out on the 29th of March but the downstairs apartment that I found in Reno we won't be able to afford (first, security, pet deposit) and it won't be ready until May 1st so my current landlord will just have to wait until the lease is legally up. Or he can go through the process of taking me to court, whichever makes him feel like more of a man. I'm betting that he starts the court process, which is his right, but he's going to look pretty stupid after he has to acknowledge that the only reason I owe him any money is because he refused to take it three separate times, then changed his mind and hit me with three separate pay or quit notices. Which I paid. Then he hits me with 30 day notices. I don't know what he thought I was going to do, pay double rent during the same month and leave quietly?
I'm taking a chance with one of the places that I found on Craigslist. The owner and I have the same name, are only a few months apart in age and she has this idea that the economy sucks and that most people's credit reports don't look very good so she isn't checking them. I told her my credit was bad, that my manager would give me a good recommendation and that the dogs are well behaved. They don't normally have pets in the complex but she will allow them for us. Thank goodness.
Hopefully between my nephew's pickup, my car that needs the $1K tuneup (platinum spark plugs and you have to take half the engine off to get to where they're located but an oil change is only $30) and my friend's Tahoe, we should be able to get everything important from point A to point B.
Both mom and the dogs are going to be pretty disoriented by the move, this is to be expected. Elderly people with dementia don't adapt as readily to big changes and the dogs are going to be in a completely different environment. Me? I just have to worry about the logistics (electricity, tv for mom, etc.), the budget and finding a job when I get there. Fortunately the complex seems to have a few elderly people, maybe mom can make a few friends and I'll be able to find a job that will allow me to support myself after she's gone so that I won't have to face this load of trouble again.
Nevada doesn't recognize my acupuncture license from California so there's five years of school and $100K down the drain. Sometimes the only reason I think I have the degree is so I can help my mom and advocate for my friends when they're in the hospital and answer all the medical questions on Jeopardy. Oh well, I have other skills that are just as useless, it's time to develop some new ones.
After the loss of Blackdog a few weeks ago I did some hard thinking that was reinforced by the recent unfortunate passing of Natasha Richardson. My life isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination but at least my eyes are open, I still experience a sense of wonder at new experiences and there is hope on the horizon. What more could anyone ask for?
Other than for my current landlord to chill out, for mom to be able to handle the move in good health, that I accidentally find a chunk of money to help with the move and for nothing else to go wrong.
Thanks for sticking by me, hopefully I can get back to what really makes me happy; making caustic observations about the media, politics and whatever else interests me at that moment.
BBB
We're supposed to be out on the 29th of March but the downstairs apartment that I found in Reno we won't be able to afford (first, security, pet deposit) and it won't be ready until May 1st so my current landlord will just have to wait until the lease is legally up. Or he can go through the process of taking me to court, whichever makes him feel like more of a man. I'm betting that he starts the court process, which is his right, but he's going to look pretty stupid after he has to acknowledge that the only reason I owe him any money is because he refused to take it three separate times, then changed his mind and hit me with three separate pay or quit notices. Which I paid. Then he hits me with 30 day notices. I don't know what he thought I was going to do, pay double rent during the same month and leave quietly?
I'm taking a chance with one of the places that I found on Craigslist. The owner and I have the same name, are only a few months apart in age and she has this idea that the economy sucks and that most people's credit reports don't look very good so she isn't checking them. I told her my credit was bad, that my manager would give me a good recommendation and that the dogs are well behaved. They don't normally have pets in the complex but she will allow them for us. Thank goodness.
Hopefully between my nephew's pickup, my car that needs the $1K tuneup (platinum spark plugs and you have to take half the engine off to get to where they're located but an oil change is only $30) and my friend's Tahoe, we should be able to get everything important from point A to point B.
Both mom and the dogs are going to be pretty disoriented by the move, this is to be expected. Elderly people with dementia don't adapt as readily to big changes and the dogs are going to be in a completely different environment. Me? I just have to worry about the logistics (electricity, tv for mom, etc.), the budget and finding a job when I get there. Fortunately the complex seems to have a few elderly people, maybe mom can make a few friends and I'll be able to find a job that will allow me to support myself after she's gone so that I won't have to face this load of trouble again.
Nevada doesn't recognize my acupuncture license from California so there's five years of school and $100K down the drain. Sometimes the only reason I think I have the degree is so I can help my mom and advocate for my friends when they're in the hospital and answer all the medical questions on Jeopardy. Oh well, I have other skills that are just as useless, it's time to develop some new ones.
After the loss of Blackdog a few weeks ago I did some hard thinking that was reinforced by the recent unfortunate passing of Natasha Richardson. My life isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination but at least my eyes are open, I still experience a sense of wonder at new experiences and there is hope on the horizon. What more could anyone ask for?
Other than for my current landlord to chill out, for mom to be able to handle the move in good health, that I accidentally find a chunk of money to help with the move and for nothing else to go wrong.
Thanks for sticking by me, hopefully I can get back to what really makes me happy; making caustic observations about the media, politics and whatever else interests me at that moment.
BBB
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Penny Wise And Pound Foolish
Either the fish run out of water or we run out of food. 400,000 of 611,000 acres of farming land lying fallow. 80,000 jobs are expected to be lost this year alone and the harm will continue to spread. This is going to be a global problem in short order and fun times will not be had by all. Or even many.
Ah yes, the glories of the American business model. Form working at Universal Studios where they cut back the secretaries health benefits and overtime to cut costs while having weekly champagne parties for producers and subsidized executive housing loans at less than three percent, nothing much has changed in the work world. Lay off employess at the bottom, give the people at the top a bonus. And if they do manage to sell the company, all they've sold is blue sky since the people who did the production work won't be working there to make anything to sell. And then there won't be any people to buy the products but nobody seems to think that far ahead. Until it's too late.
Flambeing their own. I hope crow tastes as bad as it sounds. When the Republicans get around to blaming themselves for being willing and active participants in the destruction of their party and learn that saying no reflexively is not what the American people want to hear, they might be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and become a respectable party again. That would mean ignoring the Coulters, Malkins and Limbaughs and since hate seems to be more comfortable for them, I don't hold out much hope for change.
Conservatives want the border fence so that illegal immigrants can't sneak in and take jobs nobody else wants. Meanwhile the border seems to have more serious problems such as kidnappings, home invasions and executions. So, in typical fashion, Congress is going to hold hearings on the whether we're prepared to defend ourselves if there is even more violence. Right off hand I would have to say the answer is no as the National Guard and their equipment is off defending other countries on the other side of the world.
Goodbye Mr. Harvey. While I didn't agree with all your politics you were a bright spot on the Armed Forces Radio when we were stationed in Germany. For some reason you reminded us of home and between you and Kasey Kasem we listened to the both of you faithfully. Thank you for helping us not to feel too lonely. Rest in peace, you will be missed.
So which was is it, 2003 or 2005? The BBC article was a little confusing but research showed it was 2003. I had front row seats for a Siegfried and Roy performance back in 1987 and I remember thinking "maybe a front row seat isn't the best place to be when you have an elephant on two legs looming over your head." It was still a great show and it's nice to have them back even if it was for one show only.
I went to get my hair cut yesterday and as I looked for a place to park a guy came out of the barbershop and headed toward his car. Out of nowhere this woman started to attack him in the middle of the street. He didn't respond and tried to get into his car. She wouldn't let him close the door and kept hitting and screaming at him. I had a front row view because I was waiting for the space. Another person left the shop and I circled around to get his space after I offered the poor guy my phone so he could call the police. At no time did this man lift a finger towards this woman who was clearly out of control.
The police arrived in short order and the first thing they did was put the man in cuffs and put him in the back of the cruiser. Then they talked to the woman, refused to take the statement of the witnesses watching and finally let the guy go after threatening him with arrest if he didn't wait down the block for the bus to pick him up. Did I mention that the woman was Filipino and the man was black? I asked the cop when I left and he said it was just a domestic disturbance and no charges would be filed against the woman. I told him that just because she was ineffectual at that moment didn't mean she didn't need anger management classes and that the second time she had burst into the shop both the patrons and the workers were afraid she had a gun and would use it. No response. When I drove off they were impounding the guy's car and flirting with the woman. As I told them when I passed them the last time was that if it had been the guy hitting the woman, he would have been in jail so fast his head would be spinning. Which is why this is video is disturbing. I guess might really does makes right.
BBB
Ah yes, the glories of the American business model. Form working at Universal Studios where they cut back the secretaries health benefits and overtime to cut costs while having weekly champagne parties for producers and subsidized executive housing loans at less than three percent, nothing much has changed in the work world. Lay off employess at the bottom, give the people at the top a bonus. And if they do manage to sell the company, all they've sold is blue sky since the people who did the production work won't be working there to make anything to sell. And then there won't be any people to buy the products but nobody seems to think that far ahead. Until it's too late.
Flambeing their own. I hope crow tastes as bad as it sounds. When the Republicans get around to blaming themselves for being willing and active participants in the destruction of their party and learn that saying no reflexively is not what the American people want to hear, they might be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and become a respectable party again. That would mean ignoring the Coulters, Malkins and Limbaughs and since hate seems to be more comfortable for them, I don't hold out much hope for change.
Conservatives want the border fence so that illegal immigrants can't sneak in and take jobs nobody else wants. Meanwhile the border seems to have more serious problems such as kidnappings, home invasions and executions. So, in typical fashion, Congress is going to hold hearings on the whether we're prepared to defend ourselves if there is even more violence. Right off hand I would have to say the answer is no as the National Guard and their equipment is off defending other countries on the other side of the world.
Goodbye Mr. Harvey. While I didn't agree with all your politics you were a bright spot on the Armed Forces Radio when we were stationed in Germany. For some reason you reminded us of home and between you and Kasey Kasem we listened to the both of you faithfully. Thank you for helping us not to feel too lonely. Rest in peace, you will be missed.
So which was is it, 2003 or 2005? The BBC article was a little confusing but research showed it was 2003. I had front row seats for a Siegfried and Roy performance back in 1987 and I remember thinking "maybe a front row seat isn't the best place to be when you have an elephant on two legs looming over your head." It was still a great show and it's nice to have them back even if it was for one show only.
I went to get my hair cut yesterday and as I looked for a place to park a guy came out of the barbershop and headed toward his car. Out of nowhere this woman started to attack him in the middle of the street. He didn't respond and tried to get into his car. She wouldn't let him close the door and kept hitting and screaming at him. I had a front row view because I was waiting for the space. Another person left the shop and I circled around to get his space after I offered the poor guy my phone so he could call the police. At no time did this man lift a finger towards this woman who was clearly out of control.
The police arrived in short order and the first thing they did was put the man in cuffs and put him in the back of the cruiser. Then they talked to the woman, refused to take the statement of the witnesses watching and finally let the guy go after threatening him with arrest if he didn't wait down the block for the bus to pick him up. Did I mention that the woman was Filipino and the man was black? I asked the cop when I left and he said it was just a domestic disturbance and no charges would be filed against the woman. I told him that just because she was ineffectual at that moment didn't mean she didn't need anger management classes and that the second time she had burst into the shop both the patrons and the workers were afraid she had a gun and would use it. No response. When I drove off they were impounding the guy's car and flirting with the woman. As I told them when I passed them the last time was that if it had been the guy hitting the woman, he would have been in jail so fast his head would be spinning. Which is why this is video is disturbing. I guess might really does makes right.
BBB
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Reading Is Fundamental
Reading is a hobby of mine. It has gotten me through some of the worst moments of my life and it was a savior during my childhood. The library was where I went to escape the world and discover it at the same time. When I walked into the room at my ten year high school reunion, everyone said "look, it's the girl with the book!" I'd read so much that I didn't recognize hardly anybody.
I read mostly fiction and what few biographies there were on women, but preferred science fiction from a very early age. Somehow, I had this stupid belief that the future was going to be better, that we would be living in space and be getting ready to humanly explore outside the solar system and that we would have met or seen evidence of another space faring race by this point in my life. I had originally planned to spend my fortieth birthday on the moon we had landed on 26 years before.
I totally get why aliens haven't contacted us, I wouldn't get into a cage with a lion either. I've often wondered why we think we can successfully attack a vehicle that came from an obviously superior system, but I guess kneejerk reactions will prevail. Personally, I'd rather take a chance and find out what they wanted before I tried to dissect them. But I digress.
Reading is fundamental. It really is. If you have the ability to read you can learn just about anything., including how to make things. You may not be able to do everything you read, but it stimulates the mind and enables you to imagine something similar or allows you to explore the world of another person. The ability to read has taken me to countries I've never physically visited and met people I would never meet on the street.
In fourth grade it was a requirement to learn how to use the school library. The Dewey Decimal system was explained and it was suggested that successful book reports and essays could be done with what was available if one was willing to use the service. I preferred the base library because it was bigger and had more fiction available. It as where I hid out after being kicked out of Sunday School for asking what they determined to be a heretical question (I didn't think that if you lived off of Patagonia (it was the sixties)and had never seen a white man or heard of the Bible that God would send you to hell because you hadn't heard of Jesus Christ) and while I waited for church to start so I could be honest and tell my dad I went to church every Sunday.
As I grew older (twenties) I started buying books. By the time I had moved away from the San Fernando Valley, Crown Books had expanded its scifi section in three different stores. For really interesting books I went to Change of Hobbit in Santa Monica (not there any more) and that unfortunate trend is continuing in both schools and state budgets.
Having access to city libraries as schools cut back on everything that makes learning interesting is crucial for inner city and rural children to expand their imagination, to teach them that Wikipedia isn't everything and being able to feel a book in your hands and have your eyes track the words and paragraphs helps to reinforce that more than one person has information on any given subject. It shows them a future that is possible and that they can be a part of it. It can help make up for the deficiencies in the school system.
As much as I love the internet, and I do, I also belong to the local library and check out books for when I don't want to watch a movie, I want to have quiet time, don't want to type and still be entertained. If Abraham Lincoln thought reading was so important that he was willing to do it by firelight, we should be expanding access for our kids to more authors, more information and let's face it, more organization. Numbers or letters, they both work at the library.
Goodbye Mr. Updike, I wasn't one of your faithful readers but you gave so much to others that the literary world will definitely miss you. Thank you for your contributions and the pleasure your brought to so many.
BBB
I read mostly fiction and what few biographies there were on women, but preferred science fiction from a very early age. Somehow, I had this stupid belief that the future was going to be better, that we would be living in space and be getting ready to humanly explore outside the solar system and that we would have met or seen evidence of another space faring race by this point in my life. I had originally planned to spend my fortieth birthday on the moon we had landed on 26 years before.
I totally get why aliens haven't contacted us, I wouldn't get into a cage with a lion either. I've often wondered why we think we can successfully attack a vehicle that came from an obviously superior system, but I guess kneejerk reactions will prevail. Personally, I'd rather take a chance and find out what they wanted before I tried to dissect them. But I digress.
Reading is fundamental. It really is. If you have the ability to read you can learn just about anything., including how to make things. You may not be able to do everything you read, but it stimulates the mind and enables you to imagine something similar or allows you to explore the world of another person. The ability to read has taken me to countries I've never physically visited and met people I would never meet on the street.
In fourth grade it was a requirement to learn how to use the school library. The Dewey Decimal system was explained and it was suggested that successful book reports and essays could be done with what was available if one was willing to use the service. I preferred the base library because it was bigger and had more fiction available. It as where I hid out after being kicked out of Sunday School for asking what they determined to be a heretical question (I didn't think that if you lived off of Patagonia (it was the sixties)and had never seen a white man or heard of the Bible that God would send you to hell because you hadn't heard of Jesus Christ) and while I waited for church to start so I could be honest and tell my dad I went to church every Sunday.
As I grew older (twenties) I started buying books. By the time I had moved away from the San Fernando Valley, Crown Books had expanded its scifi section in three different stores. For really interesting books I went to Change of Hobbit in Santa Monica (not there any more) and that unfortunate trend is continuing in both schools and state budgets.
Having access to city libraries as schools cut back on everything that makes learning interesting is crucial for inner city and rural children to expand their imagination, to teach them that Wikipedia isn't everything and being able to feel a book in your hands and have your eyes track the words and paragraphs helps to reinforce that more than one person has information on any given subject. It shows them a future that is possible and that they can be a part of it. It can help make up for the deficiencies in the school system.
As much as I love the internet, and I do, I also belong to the local library and check out books for when I don't want to watch a movie, I want to have quiet time, don't want to type and still be entertained. If Abraham Lincoln thought reading was so important that he was willing to do it by firelight, we should be expanding access for our kids to more authors, more information and let's face it, more organization. Numbers or letters, they both work at the library.
Goodbye Mr. Updike, I wasn't one of your faithful readers but you gave so much to others that the literary world will definitely miss you. Thank you for your contributions and the pleasure your brought to so many.
BBB
Friday, December 26, 2008
After, After
Did the Wall Street Journal just call Gore smart? It's amazing how when you don't like someone new you can wax poetical about someone you disliked many years ago.
national Fox TV? The world is definitely changing if these two examples are any example. See what happens when you stop drinking the Kool-Aid? If only it had been sooner. Like eight years ago. Unfortunately, it's more likely they changed the flavor for the new guy.
Coincidence? I think not. Sales are up to 75% off and 75% of the American populace are glad to see Bush go. And not a moment too soon. Too bad it isn't off to jail for crimes against humanity, but there's always some sort of hope. Even the futile
I have always loved Eartha Kitt. From the first time I saw her playing Catwoman on Batman to hearing her sing "Santa Baby", she was always a favorite of mine. I even used to have part of "Santa Baby" as my outgoing answering machine message durin the holidays, at least until Madonna screwed it up. Eartha you had a long life, if not a particularly happy one, but I will miss you and your talent. If I could sing I would say you were my inspiration. Rest in peace and thank you for all the happy memories.
Pull a prank, get sent to jail. That's where kids now get to learn the really good stuff like how to steal cars, break into homes and how to set up a successful street drug operation. Just as every crime is not the same, neither is every criminal. And now states that didn't want the rich to suffer by paying a few taxes that they wouldn't even notice, we will all suffer the results of kids learning to be hard core criminals instead of learning how to compete in the global market. As if there was nothing wrong with the economy that a little jail time couldn't fix. But those criminals are too busy spending their bailouts on things that will do nothing to improve the economy of the have nots and much more to insulate themselves as the have mores.
Gee, I hope it isn't the same group that determined the air was safe in New York after 9/11. Just because all the fish are dead is no reason to worry.
BBB
Mr. Obama's troops palpitate with excitement at the prospect of $1 trillion in "stimulus," though any net benefit to the economy likely will be incidental. Al Gore has thrown out the window any unpopular carbon taxes in favor of direct subsidies to his green energy investments. He sees the moment for what it is -- alarm about global warming has degenerated into a pretext. Billions will be diverted from useful purposes to create "green jobs" that deliver no meaningful impact on climate or the accumulation of atmospheric carbon.And Malkin said that Bush allowed the subprime crisis to fester on
Coincidence? I think not. Sales are up to 75% off and 75% of the American populace are glad to see Bush go. And not a moment too soon. Too bad it isn't off to jail for crimes against humanity, but there's always some sort of hope. Even the futile
I have always loved Eartha Kitt. From the first time I saw her playing Catwoman on Batman to hearing her sing "Santa Baby", she was always a favorite of mine. I even used to have part of "Santa Baby" as my outgoing answering machine message durin the holidays, at least until Madonna screwed it up. Eartha you had a long life, if not a particularly happy one, but I will miss you and your talent. If I could sing I would say you were my inspiration. Rest in peace and thank you for all the happy memories.
Pull a prank, get sent to jail. That's where kids now get to learn the really good stuff like how to steal cars, break into homes and how to set up a successful street drug operation. Just as every crime is not the same, neither is every criminal. And now states that didn't want the rich to suffer by paying a few taxes that they wouldn't even notice, we will all suffer the results of kids learning to be hard core criminals instead of learning how to compete in the global market. As if there was nothing wrong with the economy that a little jail time couldn't fix. But those criminals are too busy spending their bailouts on things that will do nothing to improve the economy of the have nots and much more to insulate themselves as the have mores.
Gee, I hope it isn't the same group that determined the air was safe in New York after 9/11. Just because all the fish are dead is no reason to worry.
BBB
Monday, December 08, 2008
Is Stupidity Stranger Than Fiction?
Sometimes people's names reflect their personality. Michael Savage is one of them. Instead of taking on the attributes of his angelic first name, he prefers reveling in the negative qualities of his last. The safest place for him is Arkham Asylum.gags diapers are removed. The sad part is that these two burbled and babbled about how civility is practically nonexistent in the Democratic party. As opposed to being completely nonexistent from the last remnants of the I need my daddy to make it all better party.
Every once in a while the Supremes remember what their job is supposed to be (clue, they're not kingmakers) and refusing to review Obama's birth is one of them. Accidents of birth happen all the time. Let's use Paris Hilton as an example. She may have been born into wealth on American soil but anyone with half a brain knows she isn't qualified to be President much less a garbage collector. I, and my two brothers, were not born in the contiguous United States. We were, however, born on American ground while my father served his country when we still had bases that were located outside the continental US to protect us from the Red Menace, by virtue of being born in a United States hospital and are considered natural born citizens. Period. McCain was born while his father was overseas defending his country and that should not be considered a penalty. Obama was born in Hawaii after it became a state and that should be the end of the matter. At least it would be for thinking people, but it appears others escaped Arkham along with the potty mouths.
Over the last few weeks my friends have been having a difficult time and I've tried to support them as much as possible. My friend, we'll call her Lin, ruptured the maxillary artery on the left side of her face. It started as a simple nosebleed and with Kaiser's wonderful efficiency they sent her home twice in one day. On the third trip to the ER, one of the ER people finally noticed that the blood was spurting and not leaking. By the time they had admitted her she had lost half of her blood volume and it was five days before she was strong enough to survive the surgery to repair the aneurysm. This vibrant woman, who hapens to be a psychiatric nurse, lost over 20 pounds and a lot of the oomph from her personality.
My next door neighbor, we'll call him Dale, had his beloved dog die the other night. I would have a picture of Tycho but it was scheduled for the day after he was gone. All the dogs in the neighborhood knew something was up. Losing one's best friend is devastating, Especially for those of us who treat our dogs as our surrogate children.
On an even stranger note, every since Sarah Palin hit the airwaves my keyboard keeps dropping the g. Very frustratin.
Oh yeah, are we human or are we dancer? I must be old because I don't know what that means, but my signs are still vital and my hands are warm.
BBB
SAVAGE: Then we got into the dominatrix (he wishes!) issue. I don't understand that part of it. I truly don't understand it because any heterosexual woman today over the age of 25 who grew up in America is basically a dominatrix. You ask any heterosexual guy. Within a short period of time -- what do you think it's going to last? Ehhh -- 90 days and after that you're living with a dominatrix anyway, so what's the difference? Why do they have to go to a professional? What does a professional dominatrix do that an ordinary woman doesn't do in America today? Half the women look like post-op transvestites to begin with, trying to look like they're gay or keeping up with the mores of the society. You ever see what they look like? They thin themselves down, they're on some kind of diet pill. The lipstick looks like it was applied by, what's her name, Joan Rivers when she was high. They all have a mouth on them, and the guy is, like, pushed into the background. It's any wonder I'm in talk radio. The safest place for a man to be today is in talk radio and listening to it.Perhaps a little time reading the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln, a name that has been tossed around quite a bit lately, would help him on his so far fruitless quest for humanity.
Better to be silent and thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.But that would require reading, knowledge of history and logical thinking and those qualities do not go very well with the diarrhea of the mouth that Savage, and his companion toddler Limbaugh, spew when their
Every once in a while the Supremes remember what their job is supposed to be (clue, they're not kingmakers) and refusing to review Obama's birth is one of them. Accidents of birth happen all the time. Let's use Paris Hilton as an example. She may have been born into wealth on American soil but anyone with half a brain knows she isn't qualified to be President much less a garbage collector. I, and my two brothers, were not born in the contiguous United States. We were, however, born on American ground while my father served his country when we still had bases that were located outside the continental US to protect us from the Red Menace, by virtue of being born in a United States hospital and are considered natural born citizens. Period. McCain was born while his father was overseas defending his country and that should not be considered a penalty. Obama was born in Hawaii after it became a state and that should be the end of the matter. At least it would be for thinking people, but it appears others escaped Arkham along with the potty mouths.
Over the last few weeks my friends have been having a difficult time and I've tried to support them as much as possible. My friend, we'll call her Lin, ruptured the maxillary artery on the left side of her face. It started as a simple nosebleed and with Kaiser's wonderful efficiency they sent her home twice in one day. On the third trip to the ER, one of the ER people finally noticed that the blood was spurting and not leaking. By the time they had admitted her she had lost half of her blood volume and it was five days before she was strong enough to survive the surgery to repair the aneurysm. This vibrant woman, who hapens to be a psychiatric nurse, lost over 20 pounds and a lot of the oomph from her personality.
My next door neighbor, we'll call him Dale, had his beloved dog die the other night. I would have a picture of Tycho but it was scheduled for the day after he was gone. All the dogs in the neighborhood knew something was up. Losing one's best friend is devastating, Especially for those of us who treat our dogs as our surrogate children.
On an even stranger note, every since Sarah Palin hit the airwaves my keyboard keeps dropping the g. Very frustratin.
Oh yeah, are we human or are we dancer? I must be old because I don't know what that means, but my signs are still vital and my hands are warm.
BBB
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Protection, Depression And Tragedy
The economy is going to crash further if Bush doesn't put a sock in it and leave the job to someone with a little more intelligence. If he hadn't been so busy protecting his buddies under the guise of "free trade" and had understood that he was supposed to protect all Americans, the U.S and the world wouldn't be in this mess. And exactly who is this "we" Bush is babbling (after the last meeting he was referred to as "befuddled" and "down-at-the-ears" in an Egyptian newspaper) about? Shouldn't one have to suffer (i.e. not flying around in private jets) or be poor to be included as a victim in the financial crisis?
Congress seems to be suffering a little doom and gloom. Somehow I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for them. Perhaps if they had been doing their jobs all along they wouldn't be in such a panic now that the reality is finally dawning on them that their constituents are in a world of hurt.
It's that day again. Every year fewer people remember. Or care. 45 years ago today I was complaining because I couldn't find any cartoons on television and didn't understand what was so important about somebody being shot and why everybody was crying and saying "no, no, nooo). Whatever it takes, please, please, don't let it happen again in my lifetime. We have no more innocence to lose and tragedy is not a good way to run a country. The reaction to September 11 should have taught us that.
Strike two. While there are a handful of big stars making big bucks, the rank and file falls into the have not category. Maybe if the production companies didn't waste so much money on repetitive advertising and perks for the people on top, they would have enough money to pay the little guy who does the brunt of the work and still keep a reasonable profit. The Dark Knight has made almost half a billion dollars and if it can't show a profit then maybe the production companies are doing something wrong.
BBB
"Recovering from the financial crisis is going to take time, but we'll recover, and in so doing begin a new era of prosperity," he said.For whom? Since most of us weren't included in the last "era of prosperity", why would we think the new one is going to be any different?
Congress seems to be suffering a little doom and gloom. Somehow I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for them. Perhaps if they had been doing their jobs all along they wouldn't be in such a panic now that the reality is finally dawning on them that their constituents are in a world of hurt.
It's that day again. Every year fewer people remember. Or care. 45 years ago today I was complaining because I couldn't find any cartoons on television and didn't understand what was so important about somebody being shot and why everybody was crying and saying "no, no, nooo). Whatever it takes, please, please, don't let it happen again in my lifetime. We have no more innocence to lose and tragedy is not a good way to run a country. The reaction to September 11 should have taught us that.
Strike two. While there are a handful of big stars making big bucks, the rank and file falls into the have not category. Maybe if the production companies didn't waste so much money on repetitive advertising and perks for the people on top, they would have enough money to pay the little guy who does the brunt of the work and still keep a reasonable profit. The Dark Knight has made almost half a billion dollars and if it can't show a profit then maybe the production companies are doing something wrong.
BBB
Monday, September 15, 2008
Great Gig In The Sky
Richard Wright of Pink Floyd has passed away from cancer at the age of 65. I am so bummed. Rest in peace and thank you for being a member of of my favorite band of all time and I'm grateful that I had the chance to see you play. Little did we know how prescient this song would be.
May you find friends in your afterlife, this fan will never forget you. You will be missed.
BBB
May you find friends in your afterlife, this fan will never forget you. You will be missed.
BBB
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