Billary – Obama ’08!

Is the dream ticket a possibility? Is the dream ticket a dream or a horrible nightmare? The idea of Barack Obama watering down his ethics and his ideals to crawl into bed with the Clintons disturbs me. Fight an honest and fair fight. Who would you want to answer the phone at 3 a.m. in the White House? The White House Operator should be answering the phone; it is her/his job. Should we examine the credentials of this operator, should I wrap my children in aluminum foil and have them sleep in a bunker at night? Did we not hear these same tired scare tactics during the Reagan campaign and were they not recycled during Bush 41 Part Deux? What qualifies Hillary to be C-I-C? Where are the examples of her impeccable military judgments? Rise of above the fray and let the American people determine who they trust. The fact that she has all of this “experience” scheming, manipulating, and sweeping dirty back door deals under the rug does not lend credibility to her campaign nor win the hearts of the American people. As evident by Mr. Obama’s campaign, he is able to procure experienced, intelligent, level headed advisors to assist him. What was the inexperience George 41 lacking… good advice! A president is often defined by the team he brings to the White House. The American people should have no doubt Barack Obama will have his choice of ANY running mate and advisor. Jump on the Barack band wagon while it is shifting gears, it will be hard to catch once it starts accelerating in the next ten days!

I am more than a little disturbed Barack Hussein Obama is frustrated by the use of his middle name? I have a very good friend with the middle name of "Alvin" and I understand why he is sensitive.
Simply look into the camera (I can't believe he can turn his head without finding one.) and say, "I have faith in the American people. I believe they know I am an American, I love this country and when I kneel at night at the bedside of my daughters I pray the Lord's Prayer and I seek solstice in the arms of my Jesus. If my opponents think so little of you that they believe my name makes me an outcast, they should not have the right to call themselves Americans. This country was built on the backs of Kajewski's, Chen's, O'hare's and Garcia's and their names did not stop them from working tirelessly to to make this country great. Have you ever walked through Arlington Memorial Cemetery? Have you ever read the names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall? Tell the families of those who died for our freedoms they did not have the right to represent the people of these United States!"
Simple.

Holidaze

My wife and I had a repeat conversation regarding the holidays. Her family was, and still is despite lack of proximity, very close. Her brother and her mother speak to her regularly. Her mother calls at least every other day, and her brother often speaks to her daily. Prior to her Grandmother’s death, sugar cured rawhide (sweet and tough), they would have family gatherings that included cousins, second cousins, grandparents, play cousins (ask a black friend if you do not know what this is), friends and neighbors during “major” holidays. My family…. I didn’t see or speak to my mother or father for a month and they live two blocks from me. My sister lives next door, I mean literally next door to me and there are months that go by when we do not see or speak to each other. My sister in the next town I see during Christmas or near death experiences like my ninety-two year old grandmother survived. It is not that we do not care for each other … Hmmm? I wish I had a simple explanation but I do not. If my father calls in need, I am there. If my mother calls to “talk” I listen. If my sister next door needs her lawn mowed, I mow. Well, actually I send the boy to mow. What is the point of having a son 6’1” tall and 206 if he cannot push the mower. Lord knows the food he consumes devours my overtime pay. Nevertheless, I see that it gets done. I realize it is a reach, but I am going to take it and nothing will deter me. My wife feels left out when we are not all gathered together for a holiday. My mother may have a grandchild or two come by and eat, or my sister may invite my parents over, but rarely do we plan anything together. I wish I had an answer. I often justify our distance because of my father’s twenty-plus years in the Air Force. We did not have cousins, aunts, etc… nearby when I was growing up. We were forced to interact with each other ALL of the time. I appreciate what good friends we were to each other when I was a small pain in the arse of my brother and sisters, I mean small as in physical size not the amount of discomfort I caused, and the love and care the showered on me. I can recall so many wonderful moments with all of my siblings. My younger sister was the best kick ball player in the family. She could punt the football fifty yards and was fast enough to catch it before it hit the ground. We were best friends for a loooooong time. My brother was the stereotypical big brother. He was always in trouble but would never allow me to make trouble of my own, and when I was sly enough to escape his eye he always took the blame for me. (My parent’s assumed he was guilty and I was their angel and we didn’t want to disappoint them with the truth.) We were best friends for a loooooong time. My oldest sister was my teacher, confidant, protector and friend. She was always such a grown-up (still is) and I could count on her to forgive my indiscretions faster than my Labrador retriever. We had to both get old before I realized how much she gave up to take me with her everywhere when she could have been “out”. When everyone outgrew me and I was a pre-teen without transportation, my father was the one I played tennis, basketball, walked the dog, and threw the football and baseball with. My father is still my closest friend. When I am looking for something to do, I think of him first. He is quite the busy man, now that he is retired, with providing ninety-nine percent of my ailing grandmother’s care but he knows that he call count on me always. My brother and I have reconnected and we often get on each other’s nerves, but nothing has changed since we shared a room for sixteen years. Strange…. I seem to be missing them more than I have in years!

Sex Offenders

I would have never imagined a duck would fit there and once discovered would have never inserted it… Never mind that; why do people have affairs, liaisons, trysts and random freak nasty one night stands when they are married? I have a friend… No, it is a coworker…. Actually, it is a random stranger I happened to be speaking to in a bus terminal in Hobbes, New Mexico... no, you don’t know them and their first name started with a number and they had no last name at all. Anyway…
Somewhat attractive young lady, having lost forty to fifty pounds, is now on the prowl for a man. The fact that she is married doesn’t seem to stop her. A beautiful woman with a seemingly pleasant husband cannot keep her hands or her breast to herself. Terribly unattractive man with a very attractive wife practically, and I am sure literally, begs for female attention. I am not surprised to hear they all have marital problems, but I am curious as to which came first, the marital problems or the inappropriate behavior.
One random stranger I happened to become acquainted with during a brief stay in a Kurdish prison in the 1980’s; justified his affair as a curse from God. God had blessed, or cursed him with an insatiable sex drive and, though he is not a sex addict, is compelled to bed as many women as possible without the use of force. He loves his wife and feels no guilt prior, during or after a sexual conquest. How do you love someone and not feel guilt when you purposefully hurt them?
A woman I met on a midnight train to Nashville is seeking a sexual partner to help her out of her slump. After dropping the weight she feels hot and needs a man to agree. She believes an extramarital affair will spark her marriage and make her a happier wife and mother. No, really, she believes lying to her husband and sharing her body with another man will help her marriage. No, don’t laugh, I’m serious. She is looking for a special man. Not just any man will do. She would like to sex him two to three times a month when things are a little slow at home. Apparently, her husband works a difficult shift to manage with small children and is often tired when her motor is running, unavailable when the children are asleep and ready to rock and roll at inopportune moments of the day. Making arrangements for alone time is apparently more troublesome than arranging a rendezvous in a seedy motel during the lunch hour. She loves her husband, he is a good father, provider, caring husband, but she needs to feel wanted. Rob a bank for goodness sakes; don’t ruin your family! She knows, KNOWS, he will forgive her if he catches her. You get the feeling he is pulling his train into another station?
Wait just a moment, I will be right back.

My wife and I had a repeat conversation regarding the holidays. Her family was, and still is despite lack of proximity, very close. Her brother and her mother speak to her regularly. Her mother calls at least every other day, and her brother often speaks to her daily. Prior to her Grandmother’s death, sugar cured rawhide (sweet and tough), they would have family gatherings that included cousins, second cousins, grandparents, play cousins (ask a black friend if you do not know what this is), friends and neighbors during “major” holidays. My family…. I didn’t see or speak to my mother or father for a month and they live two blocks from me. My sister lives next door, I mean literally next door to me and there are months that go by when we do not see or speak to each other. My sister in the next town I see during Christmas or near death experiences like my ninety-two year old grandmother survived. It is not that we do not care for each other … Hmmm? I wish I had a simple explanation but I do not. If my father calls in need, I am there. If my mother calls to “talk” I listen. If my sister next door needs her lawn mowed, I mow. Well, actually I send the boy to mow. What is the point of having a son 6’1” tall and 206 if he cannot push the mower. Lord knows the food he consumes devours my overtime pay. Nevertheless, I see that it gets done. I realize it is a reach, but I am going to take it and nothing will deter me. My wife feels left out when we are not all gathered together for a holiday. My mother may have a grandchild or two come by and eat, or my sister may invite my parents over, but rarely do we plan anything together. I wish I had an answer. I often justify our distance because of my father’s twenty-plus years in the Air Force. We did not have cousins, aunts, etc… nearby when I was growing up. We were forced to interact with each other ALL of the time. I appreciate what good friends we were to each other when I was a small pain in the arse of my brother and sisters, I mean small as in physical size not the amount of discomfort I caused, and the love and care the showered on me. I can recall so many wonderful moments with all of my siblings. My younger sister was the best kick ball player in the family. She could punt the football fifty yards and was fast enough to catch it before it hit the ground. We were best friends for a loooooong time. My brother was the stereotypical big brother. He was always in trouble but would never allow me to make trouble of my own, and when I was sly enough to escape his eye he always took the blame for me. (My parent’s assumed he was guilty and I was their angel and we didn’t want to disappoint them with the truth.) We were best friends for a loooooong time. My oldest sister was my teacher, confidant, protector and friend. She was always such a grown-up (still is) and I could count on her to forgive my indiscretions faster than my Labrador retriever. We had to both get old before I realized how much she gave up to take me with her everywhere when she could have been “out”. When everyone outgrew me and I was a pre-teen without transportation, my father was the one I played tennis, basketball, walked the dog, and threw the football and baseball with. My father is still my closest friend. When I am looking for something to do, I think of him first. He is quite the busy man, now that he is retired, with providing ninety-nine percent of my ailing grandmother’s care but he knows that he call count on me always. My brother and I have reconnected and we often get on each other’s nerves, but nothing has changed since we shared a room for sixteen years. Strange…. I seem to be missing them more than I have in years!

Dwarf's Penny

… and despite the fact there is nothing to do except hunt or fish, it is a very good time. The town has a great deal of character that is rapidly evaporating, much like the lake is being drained to support the rapid population growth, and the influx of the “I long for the simple life” rich that always succeed in bringing the complexities and overcrowding of the city with them. Despite change, Jefferson has succeeded in maintaining a quaint atmosphere.
My wife and I, prior to the birth of our second son seven years ago, made a biannual pilgrimage to Jefferson. I would read and wander the bayou/river or walk about the lake and my wife would head downtown to antique shop. Being incredibly hot in Jefferson in July, I decided to accompany my wife on one of her explorations in the shops and entertained myself by eating non-stop and people watching. Curious how one could identify the local Negro versus the visiting the manicured quaff and the “smooth as a babies bottom hands” of those of us “Vistin”. We encountered a General Store that was fascinating and I discovered a huge rain barrel of “antique” coins rendered as tender in brothels throughout the Ole West. Now I am a reasonable man and I have my doubts that coin such as these would be minted in such large quantities, and if it were fiscally responsible, the chance they would be in such abundance today. Nevertheless, I did purchase several and carry them about from time to time as a conversation piece.  
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So, another day dies

So; after another successful day, I lay down my head and sleep the sleep of blessed wrapped in the cloak of protection and warmed by the love of Jesus.
Please explain why my uncomplicated life is not full of bliss. Why would someone who has obtained so much, with so little effort, is anything but bathed in Grace? What do I want? I don’t know; now hurry up and give it to me! I don’t want anything for myself. I want my imperfect clones to obtain contentment. I don’t want my youngest stressed and I don’t want my oldest to watch the parade of dreams pass him by. My boys are everything kind and gentle in the world. They are loving, giving and expressive. Caleb is not verbose but he is quick with a cub hug and smile. Johnathan can still tell his father anything, even “I love you” and seeks my advice when it comes to the ladies. Pardon me while I digress…
The enigma that is I struggles with advising my son in regard to the ladies in his life. My perspective is warped by time and experience. My younger self valued the conquest and my middle self played the game with confidence and Skill (If I do say so myself) but my present self has immersed himself in love and flows with the tides. (No, this is not a reference to the menstrual cycle; it is a true Oceanic reference to the ebb and flows, highs and lows, of life.) So, how does one advise his young, fit, good looking son in regard to women? The rules have changed, to the detriment of all, and young ladies are far to willing to surrender control of the one commodity I valued as a youth. Speaking of “My Cousin Vinny”; I disagree with Marisa Tormei as the Oscar award winner for best supporting actress but Fred Gwynne was hilarious. My son faces few challenges and without pressure and heat, coal never becomes a woman’s best friend.