sttropezbutlersays
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
WTF
So it has been nearly three years since 9/11 which the lovely Shrub continues to remind us.
In this time we have seen he creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Millions have been thrown at this vague, unknown, huge behemoth that apparently is good for nothing.
There are no communications in New Orleans. I just listened to the Governor of LA say she couldn't talk to Slidell officials because there were no communications. Why? What the hell has Homeland Security been doing for the past two years. Isn't this something that the Department of Homeland Security should concern itself with? If a terrorist had bombed the port of New Orleans, would we be facing the same things? From what I have seen thus far this country is TOTALLY unprepared to deal with what is happening.
Now she says let's have a day of prayer tomorrow and to thank our Lord. Give me a God Damn break.
New Orleans will never be the same. Never. Ever.
Where's the Shrub?
Oh, back in Crawford, cutting his vacation short by a day. Gee thanks asshole. So compassionate.
What the fuck?
In this time we have seen he creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Millions have been thrown at this vague, unknown, huge behemoth that apparently is good for nothing.
There are no communications in New Orleans. I just listened to the Governor of LA say she couldn't talk to Slidell officials because there were no communications. Why? What the hell has Homeland Security been doing for the past two years. Isn't this something that the Department of Homeland Security should concern itself with? If a terrorist had bombed the port of New Orleans, would we be facing the same things? From what I have seen thus far this country is TOTALLY unprepared to deal with what is happening.
Now she says let's have a day of prayer tomorrow and to thank our Lord. Give me a God Damn break.
New Orleans will never be the same. Never. Ever.
Where's the Shrub?
Oh, back in Crawford, cutting his vacation short by a day. Gee thanks asshole. So compassionate.
What the fuck?
THE SUN COMES UP
And on the twelfth day I walked.
Alarm off at 5:50. Check the outside temp. 80 with 80% humidity. Almost got back in bed, but instead slip on the shorts and tee, grab the socks and shoes. Find my keys and out the door by 6:00. Can tell right away it has been a while. My right hip aches. My toe hurts. I keep walking.
It is dark. In 12 short days the days are visibly shorter. The monologue in my head starts. All the whys and the why nots. The truth is I've missed this. My entire attitude changed when I was not walking. I know that once I am back at this for twelve days I am going to feel different. I want to feel different.
I only walked about four miles today. Right now my back hurts, my knees ache and I'm nothing more than a ball of sweat. But I'm back. And when I got home the sun was up.
Alarm off at 5:50. Check the outside temp. 80 with 80% humidity. Almost got back in bed, but instead slip on the shorts and tee, grab the socks and shoes. Find my keys and out the door by 6:00. Can tell right away it has been a while. My right hip aches. My toe hurts. I keep walking.
It is dark. In 12 short days the days are visibly shorter. The monologue in my head starts. All the whys and the why nots. The truth is I've missed this. My entire attitude changed when I was not walking. I know that once I am back at this for twelve days I am going to feel different. I want to feel different.
I only walked about four miles today. Right now my back hurts, my knees ache and I'm nothing more than a ball of sweat. But I'm back. And when I got home the sun was up.
Monday, August 29, 2005
IS MOTHER NATURE A TERRORIST?
Okay people. I can't quantify.
I do know that what just happened in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida is going to impact our lives for years to come.
No, Dubya won't be able to direct our wrath at some bogus enemy, but the reality of what happened on 8/29/05 will impact on our lives for years to come.
And now we have #13 on the way.
Is this what happens when you lie? Let's ask Pat. Let's ask Dubya. Let's ask all the haters......and you know who you are.
I do know that what just happened in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida is going to impact our lives for years to come.
No, Dubya won't be able to direct our wrath at some bogus enemy, but the reality of what happened on 8/29/05 will impact on our lives for years to come.
And now we have #13 on the way.
Is this what happens when you lie? Let's ask Pat. Let's ask Dubya. Let's ask all the haters......and you know who you are.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
OVER THE HUMP
Finally the New York Times has an editorial about what an idiot Pat Robertson is. And I'm with CrackerLilo, I hate him. Yes hate him. Which is okay for me because I am not a Christian. I don't however, wish him dead, because I am a human being and I have morals. (Side note here, which has nothing to do with anything, but I can't leave a comment at GayMadHousewife and I'm hurt about this. It says I am not a team member.) Well it is true I am not a housewife...but please...I am GAY!
I think not walking is really catching up with me. I was never really a believer in endorphins until this week. It has been almost one week since my "toe" incident and hence one week since I've not been walking.
At first I thought, okay, after nearly a year of walking almost every day, a bit of a break can't be a bad thing. I have enjoyed sleeping in till 6:30, instead of getting up at 5:50 and getting dressed and out of the house by 6:00. I have loved not being all sweaty by 7:15 at the end of my walk. Now I am wondering.
I noticed it two days ago. I was screaming at other drivers. This is not a good idea anywhere, but in Houston, Texas, US of A...this is downright stupid. These jokers carry guns, and hey, they'll shoot you if they don't like you. Happens all the time. Hell, they don't even carry news stories about it anymore it is such a common occurrence.
Then I noticed that I was screaming at the TV. Now I have always screamed at the TV, but not ALL THE TIME. Suddenly, every time I turned on anything remotely resembling a news broadcast I was SCREAMING. Who cares about the missing woman in Aruba? Sure I know, her parents and friends do but hey folks, Pat Robertson just advocated killing someone. Is this not NEWS? Iraq passes a "constitution" that is no constitution at all. Somebody want to do a quick comparison of this version versus the previous version under Saddam? This is worth the deaths of soldiers and Iraqis?
The list could continue, but here is what I think. My endorphins are a mess. Here is the definition for endorphins:
Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain. Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions.
Endorphins are promoted by exercise!
So perhaps I am over the hump. It is Thursday and I'll be able to walk again by Monday. I will just have to turn my TV off and stay out of my car! And please GMH, may I please leave a comment on your blog?
I think not walking is really catching up with me. I was never really a believer in endorphins until this week. It has been almost one week since my "toe" incident and hence one week since I've not been walking.
At first I thought, okay, after nearly a year of walking almost every day, a bit of a break can't be a bad thing. I have enjoyed sleeping in till 6:30, instead of getting up at 5:50 and getting dressed and out of the house by 6:00. I have loved not being all sweaty by 7:15 at the end of my walk. Now I am wondering.
I noticed it two days ago. I was screaming at other drivers. This is not a good idea anywhere, but in Houston, Texas, US of A...this is downright stupid. These jokers carry guns, and hey, they'll shoot you if they don't like you. Happens all the time. Hell, they don't even carry news stories about it anymore it is such a common occurrence.
Then I noticed that I was screaming at the TV. Now I have always screamed at the TV, but not ALL THE TIME. Suddenly, every time I turned on anything remotely resembling a news broadcast I was SCREAMING. Who cares about the missing woman in Aruba? Sure I know, her parents and friends do but hey folks, Pat Robertson just advocated killing someone. Is this not NEWS? Iraq passes a "constitution" that is no constitution at all. Somebody want to do a quick comparison of this version versus the previous version under Saddam? This is worth the deaths of soldiers and Iraqis?
The list could continue, but here is what I think. My endorphins are a mess. Here is the definition for endorphins:
Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain. Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions.
Endorphins are promoted by exercise!
So perhaps I am over the hump. It is Thursday and I'll be able to walk again by Monday. I will just have to turn my TV off and stay out of my car! And please GMH, may I please leave a comment on your blog?
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
SPAM
What is up with this spam shit? I can not believe it. Now they (who ever they are) have figured out how to spam our comments. Damn it to hell. This sucks.
Since I use Haloscan for my comments (thank you Rosie) I am not sure how I will tackle this problem if it infects my blog. I did advise RQM last night to add some protection to his blog. There is a new layer of verification available and I suggest we all use it.
Damn, I'm as angry about this as I am about the WAR, about the A__holes who don't use their indicators when turning, and the bozos who want ID taught as "science."
Jeez. I love this blog world and I love reading others comments and I want these stupid spammers to get a life and get out of this world and go back to the slime where belong.
Or is this an example of evolution?
Since I use Haloscan for my comments (thank you Rosie) I am not sure how I will tackle this problem if it infects my blog. I did advise RQM last night to add some protection to his blog. There is a new layer of verification available and I suggest we all use it.
Damn, I'm as angry about this as I am about the WAR, about the A__holes who don't use their indicators when turning, and the bozos who want ID taught as "science."
Jeez. I love this blog world and I love reading others comments and I want these stupid spammers to get a life and get out of this world and go back to the slime where belong.
Or is this an example of evolution?
Friday, August 19, 2005
SCREAMING AT THE TV
I did it again yesterday. I stubbed my toe on my love seat. I've done this before, only the last time it was my little toe. This time it is the toe in the middle and boy does it hurt. Means I had to cancel my walk today and hope that by tomorrow the pain has lessened and walking won't be an issue.
I avoided the TV yesterday until around 7:00. Then I watched a great and never seen by me Irene Dunne movie about a small town woman who writes a racy novel and all then deals with all the problems that ensue because she lived in a town with far to many narrow minded individuals. It was pretty amazing, having been made in 1936. Being a movie, it all ended with everyone happy. If only.
After the movie I was flipping around the dial and came across ABC's Primetime. I'm no longer a fan of TV magazines for the most part, but the teaser caught my eye. It was to be an inside look into Family Court. And what a look inside it was.
The program profiled two families. In one family, there was a young 9 year old boy and in the other family there were two young girls ages 12 and 15. Without going into the details cause I'd get them wrong anyway, I just want to say that if there was ever a reason for having laws against having children, these two families could be the Poster Families for such a law.
The hatefulness, the stupidity, the truly selfish behavior of the "adults" was staggering in the extreme. It was clear that unless a miracle happens that three children are going to grow up and do exactly the same stupid things their parents did and are doing.
I am a gay man who has never wanted children, doesn't particularly like children, and yet is amazing around children, and who has been a baby sitter throughout his life. Yet I am demonized because I am gay. In over 23 States I would be denied the ability to adopt a child simply because I am gay. Yet we seem to be unable to deal with the people who are straight, who have children willy nilly and use them as ping pong balls as they traipse through their lives.
Something is so wrong with the picture.
I was screaming at the TV.
I avoided the TV yesterday until around 7:00. Then I watched a great and never seen by me Irene Dunne movie about a small town woman who writes a racy novel and all then deals with all the problems that ensue because she lived in a town with far to many narrow minded individuals. It was pretty amazing, having been made in 1936. Being a movie, it all ended with everyone happy. If only.
After the movie I was flipping around the dial and came across ABC's Primetime. I'm no longer a fan of TV magazines for the most part, but the teaser caught my eye. It was to be an inside look into Family Court. And what a look inside it was.
The program profiled two families. In one family, there was a young 9 year old boy and in the other family there were two young girls ages 12 and 15. Without going into the details cause I'd get them wrong anyway, I just want to say that if there was ever a reason for having laws against having children, these two families could be the Poster Families for such a law.
The hatefulness, the stupidity, the truly selfish behavior of the "adults" was staggering in the extreme. It was clear that unless a miracle happens that three children are going to grow up and do exactly the same stupid things their parents did and are doing.
I am a gay man who has never wanted children, doesn't particularly like children, and yet is amazing around children, and who has been a baby sitter throughout his life. Yet I am demonized because I am gay. In over 23 States I would be denied the ability to adopt a child simply because I am gay. Yet we seem to be unable to deal with the people who are straight, who have children willy nilly and use them as ping pong balls as they traipse through their lives.
Something is so wrong with the picture.
I was screaming at the TV.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
AND SO TASTY TOO!
Dinner was fun.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
THE DINNER PARTY
I woke up this morning at 4! I woke up because tonight I'm having my older sister and her wife over for dinner. Did I tell you that I am one of five siblings? The three of us who are still on the planet are gay. Yes, my two sisters are gay. And of course we all "chose" this "life style." Yeah right. But anyway.
Yes, tonight, after living in Houston again for over a year, I am having my sister M and her wife M over for dinner. The two M's! Yesterday in the interest of being Martha Stewart, I used a recipe from Everyday Food from which I had hoped to make a really delish dessert. It was a recipe for Coconut Cream Cookies. You baked the cookies and then you made your own ice cream sandwiches. I figured my sister would love them, since she always demanded and received a birthday cake that had coconut icing. Personal note: I used to detest coconut.
So I read the recipe, but not closely enough, and ended up mixing the ingredients out of order. I formed the dough into a loaf "for easy slicing" and froze it per the recipe. I baked the damn things per the recipe as well and nearly burnt the first batch to a crisp! Managed to bake the rest of the dough and now I have my cookies, but they don't really work as an ice cream sandwich so I'm just going to serve them with a scoop of ice cream. I feel this recipe failed because Martha was in jail when this issue of Everyday Food went to press.
Why am I nervous about having two people over for dinner. In France, where I used to work, we often had 18 for lunch and turned around and had 26 for dinner. God I hated those days. 18 for lunch meant a great deal of food had to be taken from the main kitchen to the pool house kitchen. This in it self was a trek, but once in the pool house kitchen I had to find a place to store said food prior to lunch. Making Pimms for everyone, setting the table, getting the food on the table, eating the food while at the table, clearing the table, cleaning the kitchen and then getting the serving pieces back to the main kitchen became an Olympian task. This process started at 11:00 for lunch at 2:00 and finished at 6:00, just in time to start preparations for dinner at 9:00.
When we had 26 for dinner we dined on the terrace. This meant that extra tables had to be set up. Table cloths ironed ( thank you Evelyne) and places set. It meant two to three wine glasses depending on what was being served. Appropriate silverware utilized. Plates had to be warmed or chilled depending on how they were to be used. Flowers for the table had to be created and candles placed. Prior to any guest appearing for drinks, the terrace had to be fluffed. Upwards of 30 candles had to be placed and cushions plumped.
Guests were asked for 8:00. We often had 10 guests staying in the house and then would have 16 invited guests coming for dinner. Cocktails were served, which for the most part consisted of either Vin Blanc or Champagne (but we had virtually anything anyone might want if they asked.) Drinks would be had on the terrace for an hour and then I would announce dinner.
Off we'd go. I'd somehow manage to get 26 starters on the table, wine served to each guest and then sit down and eat my own starter while making polite conversation with the person on my right. I would be keeping my eyes open, so that when the last person finished their starter I could scoop up the plates and move on to the next course.
Next course on the table, S and I would zip around the table replenishing wine and water. Then it was conversation with the person on my left as I consumed my main course. With the main course finished we had a 15 minute break before dessert. Finally dessert and then coffee and chocolates would be served in the salon. I would finish clearing the tables and then move into the salon for the end of the evening.
So really what am I worried about. I'm going to start off with asparagus wrapped in Parma ham. For the main I'm serving grilled pecan crusted salmon with broccolini and a petite tomato salad for color. Dessert will be the aforementioned cookies and since these dames don't drink coffee they'll be out of here in no time!
Easy Peasy.
Yes, tonight, after living in Houston again for over a year, I am having my sister M and her wife M over for dinner. The two M's! Yesterday in the interest of being Martha Stewart, I used a recipe from Everyday Food from which I had hoped to make a really delish dessert. It was a recipe for Coconut Cream Cookies. You baked the cookies and then you made your own ice cream sandwiches. I figured my sister would love them, since she always demanded and received a birthday cake that had coconut icing. Personal note: I used to detest coconut.
So I read the recipe, but not closely enough, and ended up mixing the ingredients out of order. I formed the dough into a loaf "for easy slicing" and froze it per the recipe. I baked the damn things per the recipe as well and nearly burnt the first batch to a crisp! Managed to bake the rest of the dough and now I have my cookies, but they don't really work as an ice cream sandwich so I'm just going to serve them with a scoop of ice cream. I feel this recipe failed because Martha was in jail when this issue of Everyday Food went to press.
Why am I nervous about having two people over for dinner. In France, where I used to work, we often had 18 for lunch and turned around and had 26 for dinner. God I hated those days. 18 for lunch meant a great deal of food had to be taken from the main kitchen to the pool house kitchen. This in it self was a trek, but once in the pool house kitchen I had to find a place to store said food prior to lunch. Making Pimms for everyone, setting the table, getting the food on the table, eating the food while at the table, clearing the table, cleaning the kitchen and then getting the serving pieces back to the main kitchen became an Olympian task. This process started at 11:00 for lunch at 2:00 and finished at 6:00, just in time to start preparations for dinner at 9:00.
When we had 26 for dinner we dined on the terrace. This meant that extra tables had to be set up. Table cloths ironed ( thank you Evelyne) and places set. It meant two to three wine glasses depending on what was being served. Appropriate silverware utilized. Plates had to be warmed or chilled depending on how they were to be used. Flowers for the table had to be created and candles placed. Prior to any guest appearing for drinks, the terrace had to be fluffed. Upwards of 30 candles had to be placed and cushions plumped.
Guests were asked for 8:00. We often had 10 guests staying in the house and then would have 16 invited guests coming for dinner. Cocktails were served, which for the most part consisted of either Vin Blanc or Champagne (but we had virtually anything anyone might want if they asked.) Drinks would be had on the terrace for an hour and then I would announce dinner.
Off we'd go. I'd somehow manage to get 26 starters on the table, wine served to each guest and then sit down and eat my own starter while making polite conversation with the person on my right. I would be keeping my eyes open, so that when the last person finished their starter I could scoop up the plates and move on to the next course.
Next course on the table, S and I would zip around the table replenishing wine and water. Then it was conversation with the person on my left as I consumed my main course. With the main course finished we had a 15 minute break before dessert. Finally dessert and then coffee and chocolates would be served in the salon. I would finish clearing the tables and then move into the salon for the end of the evening.
So really what am I worried about. I'm going to start off with asparagus wrapped in Parma ham. For the main I'm serving grilled pecan crusted salmon with broccolini and a petite tomato salad for color. Dessert will be the aforementioned cookies and since these dames don't drink coffee they'll be out of here in no time!
Easy Peasy.
Monday, August 15, 2005
BY THE WAY, HOW DID I END UP HERE?
Toledo, Ohio
Ada, Ohio
Montclair, New Jersey
Ada, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Houston, Texas
Chicago, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Houston, Texas
Los Angeles, California
San Francisco, California
Los Angeles, California
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
New York, New York
Houston, Texas
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
St. Tropez, France
Houston, Texas
Kept it Moist, Kept it Moving
Ada, Ohio
Montclair, New Jersey
Ada, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Houston, Texas
Chicago, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Houston, Texas
Los Angeles, California
San Francisco, California
Los Angeles, California
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
New York, New York
Houston, Texas
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
St. Tropez, France
Houston, Texas
Kept it Moist, Kept it Moving
Friday, August 12, 2005
LETTERS
I used to write letters. Well truth be told I used to type letters as my handwriting was impenetrable, so typing seemed to be the way to go. Perhaps that's why I can still type today.
I thought writing a letter was the coolest thing. I didn't write a letter hoping to get a letter in return. I wrote a letter because I had something to say to someone. (Or so I thought!)
First, I 'd always ask about the health of the person I was writing to. I'd say something like...Hope this finds you in good health or hope you've been fabulous lately...or hope this finds it hanging in a place you want it to hang. I tried to make it catchy...which didn't often work!
Then it was really on to the purpose of the letter which was to talk about myself. I'd ramble on about whatever happened to be on my mind at the moment I had sat down in front of my typewriter. Sometimes it was to tell someone about something I'd seen, sometimes it was a rant about something that had happened to me, sometimes I was just writing to say hello and I'd been thinking about you.
I'd end with the usual stuff about letting me know how things were going and hope to hear from you soon...blah blah blah. Truth be told most of the people I wrote to never wrote back. That was okay, as I said, because really the letter writing was all about me anyway.
Then email happened. I remember telling a friend that email for me was really like a postcard. Rather than a letter, one could whip off a quick thought or note to someone as the thought occurred. It could be anything from the...I just bought the best new hand soap...to...did you see that jerk who's president making an ass out of himself on TV? It was immediate.
So with email the ratio of returns improved. I heard from more and more of my pals via the written word. I liked that. I found out I liked hearing back! Course there were the abusers too. The pals who would never answer a question you'd asked, they'd simply send you the latest stupid joke circulating on the net. This of course would (and does) drive me crazy. I don't want a joke you joker, I want a response.
Now there are web logs....blogs and I don't really have to write letters. You want to know about me...check my blog. It's a fairly clear indication if I'm feeling good, feeling blue, feeling foxy or just feeling period. I tell my pals that they can check on me via my blog. More than one has said to me, "what is a blog?" "How do you access a blog?" "Why do you have a blog?" I just laugh and say figure it out. I did. You can too. And I hope they do, because I still want to know about their lives. Happily I've found other lives that I'm learning about and that thrills me!
What I do miss is my stationary! I used to have mine made at Tiffanay & Co. How's that for pushy. I don't do that anymore. I just sit down at my Compaq and type away and push the send button or the post button and voila. It's out there to be seen.
I thought writing a letter was the coolest thing. I didn't write a letter hoping to get a letter in return. I wrote a letter because I had something to say to someone. (Or so I thought!)
First, I 'd always ask about the health of the person I was writing to. I'd say something like...Hope this finds you in good health or hope you've been fabulous lately...or hope this finds it hanging in a place you want it to hang. I tried to make it catchy...which didn't often work!
Then it was really on to the purpose of the letter which was to talk about myself. I'd ramble on about whatever happened to be on my mind at the moment I had sat down in front of my typewriter. Sometimes it was to tell someone about something I'd seen, sometimes it was a rant about something that had happened to me, sometimes I was just writing to say hello and I'd been thinking about you.
I'd end with the usual stuff about letting me know how things were going and hope to hear from you soon...blah blah blah. Truth be told most of the people I wrote to never wrote back. That was okay, as I said, because really the letter writing was all about me anyway.
Then email happened. I remember telling a friend that email for me was really like a postcard. Rather than a letter, one could whip off a quick thought or note to someone as the thought occurred. It could be anything from the...I just bought the best new hand soap...to...did you see that jerk who's president making an ass out of himself on TV? It was immediate.
So with email the ratio of returns improved. I heard from more and more of my pals via the written word. I liked that. I found out I liked hearing back! Course there were the abusers too. The pals who would never answer a question you'd asked, they'd simply send you the latest stupid joke circulating on the net. This of course would (and does) drive me crazy. I don't want a joke you joker, I want a response.
Now there are web logs....blogs and I don't really have to write letters. You want to know about me...check my blog. It's a fairly clear indication if I'm feeling good, feeling blue, feeling foxy or just feeling period. I tell my pals that they can check on me via my blog. More than one has said to me, "what is a blog?" "How do you access a blog?" "Why do you have a blog?" I just laugh and say figure it out. I did. You can too. And I hope they do, because I still want to know about their lives. Happily I've found other lives that I'm learning about and that thrills me!
What I do miss is my stationary! I used to have mine made at Tiffanay & Co. How's that for pushy. I don't do that anymore. I just sit down at my Compaq and type away and push the send button or the post button and voila. It's out there to be seen.
TGFB!
Cindy Sheehan ROCKS!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
ZIPPING AROUND
Today I am zipping around.
I zipped around the park this morning for my walk.
I zipped through my breakfast.
I zipped through my shower.
I zipped to my dentist to have my teeth cleaned. Lynn rocks. It's a shame I only see her twice a year. Today she said, "see you next year," cause my next appointment in in Feb 2006! We both laughed. We were zipping.
I zipped to Target after the dentist and zipped through Target rejecting anything I wanted and only buying what I needed. Such a tedious way to shop.
I zipped to my local Kroger to buy a lottery ticket for this evening. Lately I've been playing 13 bucks a shot. Don't really know why it is suddenly 13 bucks and not the usual 20 that I've been plunking down for years. It changed in my head. Something said 13.
I zipped home, but on the way to my apartment I stopped into the office to discuss the repair of my parking space. My covered parking space. Last week a very careless and casual driver managed to nearly knock the entire structure down. Gloria has been living uncovered and I wanted a new space and credit for the amount of time Gloria has had to deal with the elements.
I zipped into my house and zipped around doing a quick tidy. Actually that is usually fairly easy because I am sort of naturally tidy. Could this be why I live alone?
I zipped through the blogs today. Boy, I got a funny vibe from them. Can you get a vibe from blogs? Well I got one.
Perhaps I just need to zip it!
I zipped around the park this morning for my walk.
I zipped through my breakfast.
I zipped through my shower.
I zipped to my dentist to have my teeth cleaned. Lynn rocks. It's a shame I only see her twice a year. Today she said, "see you next year," cause my next appointment in in Feb 2006! We both laughed. We were zipping.
I zipped to Target after the dentist and zipped through Target rejecting anything I wanted and only buying what I needed. Such a tedious way to shop.
I zipped to my local Kroger to buy a lottery ticket for this evening. Lately I've been playing 13 bucks a shot. Don't really know why it is suddenly 13 bucks and not the usual 20 that I've been plunking down for years. It changed in my head. Something said 13.
I zipped home, but on the way to my apartment I stopped into the office to discuss the repair of my parking space. My covered parking space. Last week a very careless and casual driver managed to nearly knock the entire structure down. Gloria has been living uncovered and I wanted a new space and credit for the amount of time Gloria has had to deal with the elements.
I zipped into my house and zipped around doing a quick tidy. Actually that is usually fairly easy because I am sort of naturally tidy. Could this be why I live alone?
I zipped through the blogs today. Boy, I got a funny vibe from them. Can you get a vibe from blogs? Well I got one.
Perhaps I just need to zip it!
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
TEARS IN MY EYES
I must be old. I had tears in my eyes as the shuttle landed in California today.
I realized that for me Space was the last Frontier. I guess kids born in the 60's don't feel that way.
I should have been crying about the hideous Energy Bill that was signed into law by the Shrub yesterday. What a CROCK as Mary used to say.
I hope that Cindy Sheehan takes her protest to Washington after the Shrub decides to go back to work. I hope also that the MSM will cover her story and put it before the America people on a regular basis.
Hey it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium and off I go on my appointed rounds. Hats off to TOD.
I realized that for me Space was the last Frontier. I guess kids born in the 60's don't feel that way.
I should have been crying about the hideous Energy Bill that was signed into law by the Shrub yesterday. What a CROCK as Mary used to say.
I hope that Cindy Sheehan takes her protest to Washington after the Shrub decides to go back to work. I hope also that the MSM will cover her story and put it before the America people on a regular basis.
Hey it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium and off I go on my appointed rounds. Hats off to TOD.
Monday, August 08, 2005
EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS FAVORABLE.....
I was up at 3:20 a.m.(CT) to watch the shuttle landing. For some odd reason, which I'm still in the dark about (pun intended,) I felt compelled to be up and watching. Something told me that this was the visualization of an end to an era. Such a drama queen. And then to be told that even though things look favorable they have decided to pass for a second time and land 24 hours later. C'est la vie.
PJ leaves the planet. Having smoked myself for a long long time and also having quit and currently not smoking, I could relate when he mentioned on air as he was telling us all he had cancer that he'd started to smoke again after 9/11. It's a wonder all of us haven't started to smoke post 9/11 and during the years of George Bush.
Did a political fundraiser this weekend for Victory Fund. If you haven't heard of them, do yourself a favor and if you've got 35 bucks...join up! Sure you'll get tons of mail from them asking for more dollars (hey it is a PAC) but they are a direct action group putting people in power who need to be in power. At this event we listened to Chrissy Gephardt who had flown in from Washington, and
Elena Guajardo who is the first openly gay City Council-person elected in San Antonio. Her election was a direct result of training and bucks she received from Victory Fund. Also there, Anise Parker, openly gay Houston City Controller for Houston! The event was hosted by my sister and her wife. I slipped into my old butler role and had a great time.
Truly can not wait for this month of August to end. Houston in August is certainly not St. Tropez in August and trust me when I tell you St. Tropez is August is a total nightmare. But this is a different kind of nightmare. It is just that the heat and humidity and dare I say air conditioning really start to impact. One feels almost hermetically sealed and living in a bubble. Which is odd, because I am out six days a week in the ozone filled air doing my walk. Oh well.
What's Monday without a WHINE?
Please make mine rouge and French!
PJ leaves the planet. Having smoked myself for a long long time and also having quit and currently not smoking, I could relate when he mentioned on air as he was telling us all he had cancer that he'd started to smoke again after 9/11. It's a wonder all of us haven't started to smoke post 9/11 and during the years of George Bush.
Did a political fundraiser this weekend for Victory Fund. If you haven't heard of them, do yourself a favor and if you've got 35 bucks...join up! Sure you'll get tons of mail from them asking for more dollars (hey it is a PAC) but they are a direct action group putting people in power who need to be in power. At this event we listened to Chrissy Gephardt who had flown in from Washington, and
Elena Guajardo who is the first openly gay City Council-person elected in San Antonio. Her election was a direct result of training and bucks she received from Victory Fund. Also there, Anise Parker, openly gay Houston City Controller for Houston! The event was hosted by my sister and her wife. I slipped into my old butler role and had a great time.
Truly can not wait for this month of August to end. Houston in August is certainly not St. Tropez in August and trust me when I tell you St. Tropez is August is a total nightmare. But this is a different kind of nightmare. It is just that the heat and humidity and dare I say air conditioning really start to impact. One feels almost hermetically sealed and living in a bubble. Which is odd, because I am out six days a week in the ozone filled air doing my walk. Oh well.
What's Monday without a WHINE?
Please make mine rouge and French!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
THE BARKING DOG
My upstairs neighbor leaves for work everyday at 8:30 or 8:45. I am then forced to listen to her yappy, ugly, bitch for at least two hours before the damn thing shuts up. OK, don't hate me. I have nothing against pets. I have something against pet owners who leave their animals in apartments all day long and pretend that they love their pet. Figure it out kids, your pet isn't happy. Do something about it.
But...that isn't the point of this post.
Because of annoying dog owner and dog I have been listening to music everyday for the last month and a half. You see, when the dog starts to bark I flip on my Creative Zen Player and select whatever I'm going to listen to. Lately I've been listening to Pop Vocals. Now for those of you who have yet to go digital, I loaded all my CD's on to my Zen Player and now I can create playlists, have genres and all sorts of fun stuff. I guess when I loaded my CD's one of the choices was Pop Vocals. Well for me Pop Vocals includes everyone from Joe Jackson to Judy Garland to Judy Henske to girlyman. The songs play randomly, so I'll go from Joni Mitchell to Madonna to David Bowie. It is a hoot.
I have heard songs I didn't know I had. One of the interesting features of how music is stored on this thing, which is the size of a deck of cards, is that if you have the same song by several different artists or as is the case with Judy Garlic, you have the same song recorded seven different times, you hear those all in a row. It's sort of cool.
Right now it is Dusty Springfield. Perhaps after that it will be Peter Allen. All I know is that the good thing about this damn dog barking is that I've got to hear a lot of stuff I didn't know I had and I haven't had to hear that damn bitch barking!
Cheap Thrills.
But...that isn't the point of this post.
Because of annoying dog owner and dog I have been listening to music everyday for the last month and a half. You see, when the dog starts to bark I flip on my Creative Zen Player and select whatever I'm going to listen to. Lately I've been listening to Pop Vocals. Now for those of you who have yet to go digital, I loaded all my CD's on to my Zen Player and now I can create playlists, have genres and all sorts of fun stuff. I guess when I loaded my CD's one of the choices was Pop Vocals. Well for me Pop Vocals includes everyone from Joe Jackson to Judy Garland to Judy Henske to girlyman. The songs play randomly, so I'll go from Joni Mitchell to Madonna to David Bowie. It is a hoot.
I have heard songs I didn't know I had. One of the interesting features of how music is stored on this thing, which is the size of a deck of cards, is that if you have the same song by several different artists or as is the case with Judy Garlic, you have the same song recorded seven different times, you hear those all in a row. It's sort of cool.
Right now it is Dusty Springfield. Perhaps after that it will be Peter Allen. All I know is that the good thing about this damn dog barking is that I've got to hear a lot of stuff I didn't know I had and I haven't had to hear that damn bitch barking!
Cheap Thrills.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
OZONE, NEW SHOES, AND WHAT'S THAT AGAIN?
The ozone levels in Houston have be "unhealthy," or "bad," or "unacceptable," depending on where one gets his or her news. What amazes is that this isn't a major news story. Schools reopen here in two weeks, and I suspect, although I don't know, that children will again partake in "recess" activities. I assume these activities still occur outdoors. Where is the outrage. Oh, how can you be outraged when you are too busy looking for the least expensive gas to fill up your SUV?
Inger asked me the other day if I am still walking. Proudly I say, yes I am still walking. I've modified my approach a bit. I now give myself one day off a week. Mondays I can sleep in! This past Sunday I noticed my shoes were looking a tad tired and thought that it was time to toss them in the washing machine. Because we've had so much rain of late they were a tad muddy, so I decided to scrub them off prior to putting them in the machine. Well to my shock and delight, I noticed that in just under six months I had managed to wear the treads off my tennis shoes. Yes, the 30 miles a week or so that I have been walking had taken a toll on my shoes! I washed them anyway, but yesterday went out and bought a replacement pair. Of course in the 6 months since I'd bought the last ones, a similar pair cost 10 bucks more! Oh well, I wore them today and who knew? No wonder my ankle had been bothering me last week!
The ever charming Christian Right has been scoring victories in Texas again. Lovely piece in the NY Times yesterday about putting the bible into the class room via the ever elusive standard of teaching NOT the bible, but teaching ABOUT the bible. Oh please. You know it seems to me if these jokers spent half the time they spend trying to intrude in other's lives actually doing "good" works, the world might be a better place to live.
Lovely that the Shrub has rewarded a fellow liar with a post at the UN.
Perhaps we should give Bush the Nobel Peace Prize.
And maybe I can become Miss America.
Inger asked me the other day if I am still walking. Proudly I say, yes I am still walking. I've modified my approach a bit. I now give myself one day off a week. Mondays I can sleep in! This past Sunday I noticed my shoes were looking a tad tired and thought that it was time to toss them in the washing machine. Because we've had so much rain of late they were a tad muddy, so I decided to scrub them off prior to putting them in the machine. Well to my shock and delight, I noticed that in just under six months I had managed to wear the treads off my tennis shoes. Yes, the 30 miles a week or so that I have been walking had taken a toll on my shoes! I washed them anyway, but yesterday went out and bought a replacement pair. Of course in the 6 months since I'd bought the last ones, a similar pair cost 10 bucks more! Oh well, I wore them today and who knew? No wonder my ankle had been bothering me last week!
The ever charming Christian Right has been scoring victories in Texas again. Lovely piece in the NY Times yesterday about putting the bible into the class room via the ever elusive standard of teaching NOT the bible, but teaching ABOUT the bible. Oh please. You know it seems to me if these jokers spent half the time they spend trying to intrude in other's lives actually doing "good" works, the world might be a better place to live.
Lovely that the Shrub has rewarded a fellow liar with a post at the UN.
Perhaps we should give Bush the Nobel Peace Prize.
And maybe I can become Miss America.
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