GOP Self Destruction is Complete

From Ana Marie Cox (the original Wonkette) at the Guardian. This is one reason I read the European news outlets.  You wouldn't see stories like this one in the American press anymore:

Conservatives are stuck in a perpetual outrage loop. The reappearance of Todd Akin, the horror-movie villain immortality of Sarah Palin, the unseemly celebration of the Hobby Lobby decision – these all speak to a chorus of "la-la-la-can't-hear-you" loud enough to drown out the voice of an entire generation. Late last week, the Reason Foundation released the results of a poll about that generation, the millennials; its signature finding was the confirmation of a mass abandonment of social conservatism and the GOP. This comes at a time when the conservative movement is increasingly synonymous with mean-spirited, prank-like and combative activism and self-important grand gestures. The millennial generation has repeatedly defined itself as the most socially tolerant of the modern era, but one thing it really can't stand is drama.
Republicans were already destined for piecemeal decimation due to the declining numbers of their core constituency. But they don't just have a demographic problem anymore; they have stylistic one. The conservative strategy of outrage upon outrage upon outrage bumps up against the policy preferences and the attitudes of millennials in perfect discord.
We all can recognize the right's tendency to respond to backlash with more "lash" (Akin didn't disappear, he doubled down on "legitimate rape"), but it seems to have gained speed with the age of social media and candidate tracking. The Tea Party's resistance to the leavening effect of establishment mores and political professionals has been a particularly effective accelerant. Palin's ability to put anything on the internet without any intermediary has rendered her as reckless as any tween with a SnapChat account. Akin's whiny denouncement of Washington insiders is likely to make him more credible with a certain kind of base voter. The midterms are, as we speak, producing another round of Fox News celebrities, whether or not they win their races: the Eric Cantor-vanquishing David Brat, Mississippi's Chris McDaniel and the hog-castrating mini-Palin, Jodi Ernst of Iowa.

The rest is HERE.

More later.
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Just a Thought: Irish Proverb

Chemo is the Culprit

The scary episode from yesterday has been attributed to the Chemo drugs - caused by Mucositis - and the diagnosis rolled off the doctor’s tongue as if I should already know all about it.  You know, on the one hand they tell you not to check out treatments and drugs on the web, but on the other, they expect you to be informed about some of the most obscure details of drug side effects. Go fig!

Sure, I’ve been asked the 20 usual questions before infusion about all aspects of bodily functions, but never connected the “Do you have acid reflux problems” to what happened to me yesterday. Who knew that Chemo caused these problems?  I’ve always associated Acid Reflux to poor diet or diets of rich and spicy foods - not necessarily good for you.

I got a flash, crash, and burn course in the true meaning of the question in a Chemo-centered clinical setting, and the news ain’t good. I won’t go into it here, you can read all you like at the link above. I’m just grateful to know what happened to me is not rare and is treatable.  Though I wish they had asked the right questions at the outset of my treatment.

Live and learn.  Or, you don’t live very long.

Tomorrow is the last Chemo treatment in this monthly cycle and I’ll be a happy puppy when it’s over.  Three weeks for the body to recuperate. The body is a mass of bruises, welts, and giant red blotches.  Now, I must say that the suggestion of smearing Evening Primrose Oil over the affected areas has proven effective in reducing that swelling and pain, though the bruising remains. I can deal with that. 

I feel well enough to have a real (albeit small) meal this evening. I am starving but the thought of the incredible pain returning turned me off. I have one new prescription that I start today, that should begin the healing so the eating can begin.  Two other prescriptions kick in tomorrow.

And so it goes.

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Happy Bastille Day!

Life goes on and on. Play it again, and again.

More later.
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Bad Night All Round

Don’t know how it happened. No, really.  Though it is likely caused by the disease, the Chemo, and associated stress. And, oh, do I have stress! It happened so quickly.

I was eating supper when a mouthful of food became lodged in the esophagus making it impossible to swallow or bring it back up. I wasn’t choking, but damn near it as I struggled to work the food either up or down.  

I thought if I drank a large gulp of water it would help dislodge the food and it would make it’s way to the stomach and out of my care.  It wasn’t meant to be.

I was suddenly in a fit of coughing and vomiting in an attempt to relieve the strangulation.  The vomiting became so violent that I almost passed out. Still, the lump would not move.

Breathing became a problem, but I held my own - breathing deep and full breaths as possible. I hadn’t eaten much food all day, but the amount coming up was enormous and painful to expel.  It took a good half hour to finally get things to settle down. I couldn’t lie down if I wanted to breathe. 

The vomiting continued off and on for the next 3 hours to the point that my chest was aching from the massive efforts to rid my body of this problem, until I crashed onto the bed in a cold sweat, and propped up on pillows. 

The weight on the chest was almost intolerable, there was no way I was interested in drinking water, juice, or even soup. I calmed myself down, finally falling into a fitful, uneasy sleep at midnight.  

Everything ached with any movement, and even now I am afraid to ingest a liquid diet. Even an Ensure is scary to contemplate.

I would have gone to the ER, but I couldn’t trust myself not to vomit while behind the wheel - and I wasn’t about to call 911 for an ambulance. I managed.  I survived.

The pain is subsiding, and I am starving, but not ready to chance food at this moment. 

I have a Chemo appointment today, I’ll see what they suggest.  In the meantime, if I get hungry enough, I’ll knock back an Ensure and see what happens

When I have to go, this isn't the way I want to do it. This has been one horrible night. One not to remember, but I’m sure I will.

And so it goes.

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Good Credit? Want Some More?

I seem to have hit a jackpot in the credit card applications contest. Although, truth be told, they are really pre-approved. Am I a lucky guy, or what?  I think I’ll go with “or, what” Alex for $100. 

It's not this easy anymore.

I didn’t realize that so few card companies (read - banks) offer up so many different cards for various customer needs.  What’s wrong with offering one card and allowing the consumer to pick their choice of award/reward?  Dunno. 

There are no bargains in these applications and all cards come with a $75. to $150. annual fee. The three cards I use have no fee and offer points, cash, or mileage. There is something wrong with this picture. Years ago, the card companies would target groups for certain cards and services.  Now, it’s  blanket mailings to anyone and everyone, hoping to net a few live ones to boost their sagging numbers.

My card companies run special deals throughout the year. 10% off all dining (breakfast, lunch or dinner)  for a month. 5% cash back for 90 days at certain retailers. Another will offer 5% off all gasoline and grocery purchases for a month or 3-month period.  These programs come in handy. 

I’ve been with American Express since 1974 and I’m a happy camper.  Special incentives aren’t so special if you don’t normally use the product or service, (I have no need of a 15% discount on major appliances, living in an apartment) so it’s easy for me to pick and choose as I wish.  Shopping sprees at high end department stores don’t do it for me anymore. The nearest Nordstrom or Sak’s is 90 miles away.  Hardly enticing having to plan the day around the parking for a few hours of shopping. 

As I may have mentioned before, the nearest low-brow mall is 45 miles from here. (J. C. Penney is the anchor store,so that should tell you all you need to know.) There is nothing in the world I want so badly that I’d drive that distance to get my hands on it.

So, where am I going with this?  Well I’ll tell you. The banks have taken a new tack with “follow-up phone calls” to sell you on their cards. I think it’s illegal, but when has that stopped the banks?  I’ve suddenly been receiving phone calls from 800, 866, and 888 exchanges. I don’t answer all the calls, but let them go to voicemail. Most are recorded messages asking if the application was received and if I have any questions. 

One call I answered was a live person (?) with a very bubbly attitude until I declined the offer. 

She:  We offer 6 different plan options for every card member.
Me: Do you offer one without an annual fee?
She: Oh no.  No card company does that any longer.
Me: Really?  Funny thing, I have three of those in my wallet right now.
She: Well, they must be very new cards, then…
Me: No, I’ve had them since the 1970s and 80s. So, unless you can offer a better option, please stop calling this number and remove it from your call list.

She hung up without even saying goodbye.   No need to be rude.  One less annoyance to contend with. In my experience the worst to deal with for nastiness and outright bullying are Barclay's, Chase, and Bank of America. BoA is really the pits.

And so it goes.

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Just a Thought: It Is...

Pilfered from Peter's Place (Tippin' the Scales).  After all, I use the phrase quite a lot.

And...It Is What It Is.

And so it goes.
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Because... Baby Jeebus

A few weeks ago, tired of staring at this sorry-ass face of mine, I decided it might be interesting to re-grow my beard. I had one for many years. (As you will see if you stop by TBT most all photos show a bearded me.  About 25 years.) 

Since I’m losing hair everywhere else - due to genetics or the Chemo - sprouting facial hair has been a nice diversion.  The doctors and nurses love it.  Shop owners and friendly cashiers like it, too. Love to stroke it, run their hands through it…you get the idea. Everyone is amazed at how quickly it grew out (I’ve already had to trim it) in less than a month.

So you can imagine my surprise today when I was confronted by a Xristian Xrazy in reference to the fuzzy face, who laid it on me about my going straight to Hell.  Yep!  That’s what she said. And she's  good friends with the baby Jeebus, so you know it's true.

As she sat on the boardwalk bench beside me, she explained that only Muslim men wear beards (Not a Duck Dynasty fan?) and that baby Jeebus would be confused, probably not recognize me as Xristian with facial hair. (Never mind historical facts, they count for nothing here; think blond-haired blue-eyed Jeebus with his smart, fashionable, wispy goatee.) And since He doesn’t like to be confused (evidently, it upsets him no end) He will deny my entrance to heaven and send me - forthwith - to Hades without so much as asking a single question. So, there!

Here I am looking about as much like a Muslim as Elmer Fudd; dressed in cargo shorts, sport shirt, Inkkas, shades, and sporting my festive chapeau. I wanted to laugh, but she was dead serious and I didn’t want the police to remove a crazy person from my tired old body.  Instead, I told her I would shave as soon as I got home.  That I had no idea that Jeebus would be annoyed or confused. She was fine with that.

Though I must say, when I caught a glimpse of my refection in a shop window later on, I looked like some character who had fallen out of a Tennessee Williams novel - hat and all! I laughed my head off. 

Anyway, she was appeased and moved on to another bench to see what she could find that Jeebus would be offended by with the next poor soul in her path. 

Then the fog began to lift.  Seriously.  There was pea soup fog this morning and as I made my way back to the car, the sun began burning it off, turning the day into a sunny and mild one - whenever people decided to wake up and enjoy it.

No, I did not shave off my beard for Baby Jeebus. I figure if he can’t recognize me - clothed, naked, bearded or clean shaven, his observation skills suck, he's a shitty prophet, and he ain’t much of a Son of God.

I need a glass of wine!

And so it goes.

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UPDATE:  I wonder if my xristian xrazie lady flew in with the super moon? I forgot it was saturday. 

Dino Killer? We Are Doomed!

Christ on a cracker.  Literally thousands of dumb-asses on the Interwebs think this prop shot is REAL.  That in 2014, Steven Spielberg really and truly shot and killed a dinosaur that's been extinct for 66 Million Years!

It's deep in the land of stoopid for us all. One comment is embedded with the photo.  As usual, Click to embiggen.

More later.
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Homecoming Caturday

Kittehs do it, too.

I have something in my eyes.

More later.
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Rolling Coal, The Weekend, & Card of the Day

Hooray for me!  I saw my first “rolling coal” vehicle (which ought to be illegal) on the highway today. It was a pickup truck with a king cab packed with 5 rednecks swilling beer (which is illegal), playing  loud music, and howling. I call it "black smoke with a side of stoopid." And man, does that smoke stink.  Well, it is coal after all. No briquettes baby, this is the real deal. I can just imagine that nasty stuff ruining the engine of that nice big red truck. 

Summer traffic being what it normally is (heavy, bumper-to-bumper, etc.) on a Friday, they didn’t get their point across.  Instead of the black smoke billowing out behind them as they ripped down the highway, (see image above) they sat in traffic with hundreds of others, that black smoke belching upward (for some reason, the exhaust pipes are installed vertically) then falling and coating nearby vehicles in ashes and soot. Other drivers were not amused - especially those in convertibles. I hope that is the last of those contraptions I ever have contact with.

A reminder that a few miles to the west of here it is mostly redneck country where big confederate flags fly, high power rifles are part of fireworks displays, tiny brains abound, and common sense is in short supply.  

To read about this stuff, or to see video is one thing, but who’da thunk it I’d see the real thing on a local roadway making dreadful noise and giving free asthma attacks to anyone in the vicinity.

Then, there’s the tale of the obese, practically naked, good ‘ol boy rescued from his pontoon boat when he sliced through his penis while cutting bait for his crab traps.  Yes, he was under the influence at the time.  Like you had to ask? 

Or the little girl who went temporarily blind after sticking her face in the bowl of the (running) cotton candy machine. Of course she is fine, will probably breed and the whole scenario will be repeated in the future. Always something to look forward to...glad I won't be here.

But, these are stories for another time.   Maybe not. 

Like I say, you can’t make this stuff up.

I went to thrift stores hunting for Chef’s knives today and  found a 6” Victorinox and a 5.5” OXO. I gave them my box of kitchen things to add to their collection and they wanted to knock a few bucks off my purchase. Christ on a cracker, everything is already so inexpensive, I declined the offer. They put the money to good use helping families in need - and there are a lot of those around here. I am not that needy. 

I have (had) Victorinox knives and know they’re some of the best, but had not heard of OXO until recently, but I hear they’re good and hold an edge.  We’ll just see about that.

Oh, and apropos of nothing, here is my card of the day:

Card description: Honor. 

The symbolism is honor through the forces or accomplishments of the purity and power of spiritual undertakings. This is honor unmarred by ego, something wholly, entirely and completely outside of self. There may be an element of self-satisfaction in that one is closely allied with the source of honor, but the honor is deserved only by the selfless entity symbolized by the flowering rod. 

Note: Rod = Wand, Stave in other decks.)

Anyway, the weekend is here. No more Chemo until Monday (Yay! for me) so all my poked places have a chance to heal before the next 2 rounds.  If the sun makes an appearance, I get to take a few Dawn Patrols walks on the boards - sporting my festive new chapeau. 

And so it goes.

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Who Is This Man?

Anyone know who this guy is? I see his picture everywhere. I know he’s an actor and currently in the TV show, Game of Thrones, but know nothing about him. Not his name, nothing. I’ve never even heard him speak.

I just want to say that I think he’s extremely sexy.

That great scruffy hair…

That beautiful mouth. 

Those incredible eyes. 

Oh my!  Prissy, get the Rose Water!

When I look at these images my gaydar makes my head itch, so I wonder if he might be gay. Not that it matters. 

As you can tell, I know absolutely nothing about the TV show, which I am told I would probably enjoy. Well, I found something I enjoy about the show, already.

And so it goes.

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