Random Thoughts

Teabagging is all the rage with the wingnuts. Who knew?

Rush is slapping himself upside the head in an attempt to simulate torture. Why not the real thing?

McCain campaign manager says GOP should support gay marriage. An Epiphany.

The crew of the Maersk Alabama are union members; GOP surprised they did their job. Don't tell anyone.

Chavez and Obama shake hands; no smell of sulphur detected. You never know.

The GOP is the party of ideas. All bad ones.

Sarah Palin thinks she's running for President. She's not running Alaska very well.

Fox News defends the Bush Administration's use of torture. Surprised?

Having received the recipe for the official cocktail of New Orleans from Galatoire's via a friend, I am going to attempt making a Sazerac on my own. I ought to have enough courage to play mixologist in about 2 hours.

More later.

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Not so Happy in Texas

I really don't think Gov. Rick Perry has thought this through, but he had the small crowd riveted with his rhetoric and, um, makeup:

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax "tea party" Wednesday with his stance against the federal government and for states' rights as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, "Secede!"

An animated Perry told the crowd at Austin City Hall -- one of three tea parties he was attending across the state -- that officials in Washington have abandoned the country's founding principles of limited government. He said the federal government is strangling Americans with taxation, spending and debt.

Perry repeated his running theme that Texas' economy is in relatively good shape compared with other states and with the "federal budget mess." Many in the crowd held signs deriding President Barack Obama and the $786 billion federal economic stimulus package.

Perry called his supporters patriots. Later, answering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, though he said he sees no reason why Texas should do that.

Maybe, just maybe, Perry hasn't figured out that should Tex-ass secede, that would likely give the Democrats in Congress a filibuster-proof majority. Maybe someone should tell him to be careful what he wishes for. Then again, maybe not.

Read the whole thing HERE.

More later.

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That Was The Week That Was

Not many folks will remember the TV show, but believe me, it's true in this case. Today is my first day off in over a week. And look, someone found the rainbow's end! (Click to embiggen.)

Worked three days at job #1, and trained three in a row at the new job where a lot more goes into making it work than previously thought. There's a science to everything involved. I continue to be coached, while learning the logic and common sense behind every decision that must be made. A far cry from when I worked a similar job in New York when I was 22 years old - that would be 40 years ago - when there was little responsibility surrounding the post.

Well, I have nothing if not common sense, so it's only a matter of time and experience before I get a good handle on things.

Topped off yesterday with a wonderful gift from G*d - my friend Elizabeth come down for a few days and wanted to have dinner together. Before meeting at Dos Locos, she had a hair appointment, and since her birthday is next week, treated herself to a Thai massage (which she insists I must have, as well). By the time we were seated she was relaxed and energized, we had crab legs and our signature Sapphire Martini, laughed a lot, talked about serious stuff a bit, totally enjoying the company we were in for two hours. A real love fest. All in all, a fantastic ending to a hectic week.

She reminded me of how far I've come in the past three years since losing everything in the break up and was astounded that I have taken on a job that is out of my comfort zone, but something at which I will be very good. From her mouth to G*d's ear.

BTW, Dos Locos is also the site of the new job.

Today will be a quiet one. Cooking, music, NPR, a walk, and reading my fave blogs are the order of the day.

Tomorrow it starts all over again but I can look forward to two days off next week. Whatever will I do with myself with two whole days to myself? We'll think of something, for sure.

Today life is good and I feel blessed.

More later.
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Call Center Caturday

Truth is just truth. You can't have opinions about truth. - P.D.Q. Bach

From HERE, of course.

More later.

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Happy Teabagging Day!

"If you are planning simultaneous tea bagging all around
the country," says NBC's David Shuster, "you’re going to need
a Dick Armey."

Enuf said.

More later.

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Will He Make it Through Summer?

As unbelievable as it may seem, even to myself, I made it through the first 9 days of working two jobs. Two TOTALLY different jobs. And...my next day off is 4 days away. Yes, Saturday.

The first few days at the new job were harrowing (to be expected), because aside from the details of the position, I wasn't prepared for standing in one place for the better part of 5 hours, but by Sunday I hit my stride and began to feel more comfortable - and the ability to move around more.

I won't get rich off either job, but I like them both for different reasons. The old one is familiar and I love the people I've worked with for 12 years. They were my life line during the breakup and supported me in so many ways. The new one takes me back into the community - back to the world of the living - after two years of self imposed exile following the end of the previous life. Amazingly, those from that life seem more uncomfortable seeing me than I could possibly imagine. Shock is evident as they freeze up when I give each a hug. WTF?

Working on Easter turned out to be a lovely and satisfying experience. I am sure it was due to the positive energy exchanged. As I headed back to the apartment after work I felt filled with energy offered by others that I accepted. I slept well Sunday night. Being totally exhausted helped, for sure.

That I have not addressed the nature of the new job is no accident. I will reveal that info if I make it through these first few weeks. I don't want to jinx it (or as we say in New Orleans, "put a gris-gris on it") and jeopardize the whole thing.

If I make it through the summer, I will have put a big dent in the debt owed to the hospital and ER from last November. I hate having debts hanging over my head, so I hope to pay off most of the ER bill and at least a third of the doctor's bill.

May my words enter the ears of G*d.

More later.

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LSU to Fire Hurricane Researcher

I suppose there is no place at the University for anyone who speaks out about the lack of preparation prior to Katrina. Amazing!

Louisiana State University has removed Ivor van Heerden, an outspoken hurricane researcher, from his post as deputy director of the university’s hurricane center and has told him that his contract as an untenured research professor will not be renewed when it ends next year, according to The Times-Picayune, the New Orleans newspaper.

Mr. van Heerden said the university would not tell him why he was being let go, and a university spokeswoman told the newspaper that she could not comment on personnel decisions. But Mr. van Heerden has been a frequent critic of the Army Corps of Engineers since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005, and may be called to testify against the Corps of Engineers when a suit brought by flooding victims goes to trial later this month.

In the wake of the hurricane, Mr. van Heerden was appointed to lead a state investigation into the failure of the levee system around New Orleans. In November of that year, The Times-Picayune said, two assistant chancellors told Mr. van Heerden “to stop talking to the press, because it threatened the university’s ability to get research dollars from the federal government.” Another university official said later that Mr. van Heerden, who was not trained as an engineer, should not have been commenting about civil-engineering topics.

The year before Katrina struck, Mr. van Heerden predicted in an interview with PBS that a Category 3 hurricane could have “the potential for extremely high casualties” in New Orleans, and that the city, once flooded, would remain so for “months and months and months.” —Lawrence Biemiller

More later.

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Happy Easter!

More later if I survive this day at work.

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Stupid News: Tea Baggin' and a Bow

CNN and Fox Noise are all over the really important issues facing the American people. Of course, you know what these stories are, don’t you?

Why it’s all about “tea bagging” or President Obama’s bow to the Saudi King while in London.

Yes folks, the likes of Wolf Blitzer (who should be taken behind the barn and bitch-slapped) and practically all the morons at Fox are obsessed with this bow thingy. Continuous coverage of that incident (playing the bit of tape over and over and over and over…and how Obama has demeaned this country. They're saying this with a straight face after 8 years of GWB?

Really? Let’s see…hm, what happened when, following the 9/11 attacks, George Bush (G*d, I hate typing that name) flew the entire bin Laden family out of the country while the American public remained grounded. Nothing! Absolutely NOTHING!!! No coverage of that little incident until the details appeared in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 did the so-called liberal mainstream media reluctantly begin investigating. Something that ought to have been exposed immediately after the attacks; not two years later.

No one was even curious that a single government approved jet was making stops in various states, much like an international Greyhound bus service picking up the clan, then spiriting them out of harm’s way. No one reported on the coordinated effort to execute the plan quietly and quickly.

And let’s not forget that GW kissed and held hands with prince Bandar Bush whenever he visited. No outrage there, either. WTF?

Now, the conservatives with their tea parties are going to tea bag the White House and many members of Congress. Well, it's clear that Larry (wide stance) Craig and David (diapers) Vitter are already drooling. However, one has to ask the hard question here: Does the ultra wingnut crowd even know what “tea bagging” is? After all, how can the White House be tea bagged when it ain’t got no testicles. I’m just askin’ is all.

Oh, and if you don't know the difference between tea-bagging a man and a woman, just leave a comment and I will explain - with graphics.

The stoopid, it burns!

More later? Maybe.

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New Job - Old Body

I worked seven days this week. On Tuesday I began training for (at) my new part time job and I'm only now getting beyond the leg and back pain from being on my feet all day. Thank G*d for support shoes; they may not look great, but they sure do the job.

Since fracturing my lower back last November, I haven't had any problem taking long walks; it's the standing in one spot that is the killer. It feels as if gravity is pulling me towards the floor. The first two nights I awoke in the middle of the night with leg cramps and lower back pain.

Thursday I was at the other job which offers the ability to sit most of the day until a customer walks in. That break with the addition of Quinine tablets and tonic water helped the cramping a great deal.

I trained a bit longer shift Friday but experienced little pain, probably due to the quinine coupled with more walking and less standing around in my appointed spot. I slept like a baby last night and didn't wake until 7 am - unheard of for me.

This is my first day off and I am relishing the quiet, resting, and doing a bit of bulk cooking because next week will be another 6 day work week. I train again tomorrow (the first time I've worked on Easter in 20 years) then work three days at the other job and training for another three. I pray those days aren't back-to-back, but...

Of nearly 20 applications over the past three months, this is the only business to call back. Possibly, this was a good thing. I like the people I will be working with, who are taking time to train me well, and seem supportive. The bosses are tough task masters, but in a good way. After all, their reputation is at stake, so I'm learning the right way - not the quick way - to get the job right. I think I can handle that.
So far, so good.

The image above is a reference to the 'old' part of this story. This is the Atlantic Sands Motel circa. 1965 when I used to visit Rehoboth Beach. The Sands is still here, though vastly larger and a very popular place for tourists to stay today Click the image to embiggen.

And so it goes.
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Gay Pirates?

Arrrgghhh! Who knew?

more later.
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Cross Caturday

No, not that kind of cross - the grumpy kind.

It's been pouring rain almost all night and it's just turned torrential on us. I'm grateful to have this one day to myself (I work on Easter, something I've not had to do in 20 years) to rest up, regroup, and recharge. I also plan to make a pork loin roast smeared with garlic, fresh rosemary, and olive oil cooked in broth and white wine.
But that's for later.

More later, maybe.
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