Hi folks!
I have been planning this post for a few days. CNN has hired Piers Morgan to host some evening show. He's a famous British journalist. The thing is, the commercials announcing his up-coming show feature him saying "I'm Piers Morgan", but when it comes out of his mouth, it sounds like "Abysmal".
I watched an interview with him and Anderson Cooper, and he seemed to be an OK guy.
But he has to change the commercial!
Abysmal!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Epiphany, or the Feast of the Three Kings
Hi Folks,
Many have speculated about the number, names, and origin of the visitors to Bethlehem after Jesus' birth. In any case, it is treated as the point at which Jesus' existence became known to the world...hence, Epiphany (a sudden understanding).
Over the last three days, I have had my own Epiphany. A friend has been lying in bed for two months, after suffering a back injury, then complicated with a hip injury. At 64, and having worked in physical labor all of his adult life, he's having a hard time healing.....not to mention that he recovered from bone cancer about 2 years ago. When he collapsed the day before yesterday, as we were trying to transport him to a doctor's office, I had no choice but to call in paramedics.
Whatever my struggles and stresses may be, this man has seen more. Whatever my aches and pains may be, this man has suffered more.
I have been privileged to help him and his family deal with this situation. I checked him out, based on simple first aid things I learned in the Boy Scouts, and from military folks along the way...He had enlarged lymph glands under his arms, under his chin, and down his sides. We found him a motorized hospital-type bed, went and collected it, and installed it in his room.
Anyway, the paramedics came, stretchered him and took him to a hospital. All on the taxpayer's dime! He has no insurance!
Wake up, people! Suffering is not a Human Right. Suffering is not a Civil Right enthroned in the Constitution. Health insurance is not a guarantee, unless you pay for it, but it should not be denied to anyone.
We all need to take a step back from the chasm of more and more uninsured people rushing to the emergency room only because they are close to death, and then it may be too late.
Call your Congressperson or Senator or both, and tell them to vote against health-care repeal.
In Other News:
Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar may have known something that we often forget.
The end is in the journey.
Love and Peace to All!
Many have speculated about the number, names, and origin of the visitors to Bethlehem after Jesus' birth. In any case, it is treated as the point at which Jesus' existence became known to the world...hence, Epiphany (a sudden understanding).
Over the last three days, I have had my own Epiphany. A friend has been lying in bed for two months, after suffering a back injury, then complicated with a hip injury. At 64, and having worked in physical labor all of his adult life, he's having a hard time healing.....not to mention that he recovered from bone cancer about 2 years ago. When he collapsed the day before yesterday, as we were trying to transport him to a doctor's office, I had no choice but to call in paramedics.
Whatever my struggles and stresses may be, this man has seen more. Whatever my aches and pains may be, this man has suffered more.
I have been privileged to help him and his family deal with this situation. I checked him out, based on simple first aid things I learned in the Boy Scouts, and from military folks along the way...He had enlarged lymph glands under his arms, under his chin, and down his sides. We found him a motorized hospital-type bed, went and collected it, and installed it in his room.
Anyway, the paramedics came, stretchered him and took him to a hospital. All on the taxpayer's dime! He has no insurance!
Wake up, people! Suffering is not a Human Right. Suffering is not a Civil Right enthroned in the Constitution. Health insurance is not a guarantee, unless you pay for it, but it should not be denied to anyone.
We all need to take a step back from the chasm of more and more uninsured people rushing to the emergency room only because they are close to death, and then it may be too late.
Call your Congressperson or Senator or both, and tell them to vote against health-care repeal.
In Other News:
Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar may have known something that we often forget.
The end is in the journey.
Love and Peace to All!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Homeless man with a radio voice
Hi Folks,
Many people who might or might not read this blog may or may not remember when baseball was mostly on the radio....before cable TV brought us live games from every state in the nation. We followed our teams through the season, into the playoffs, and hopefully into the World Series. In itself, the World Series has been decried by some as a misnomer, because it only includes teams from the USA and Canada.
The World Cup of Football (Soccer), on the other hand, seems to be more inclusive. Maybe the reason why, as I've grown up over the years, and lived in a lot of places where baseball is non-existent, that I like the beautiful game more than the game I was raised on. My dad tells me that he hit a home run once as a young player. I never did. Never scored a goal, either, because I mostly played goalie and defense. Or I just never got myself in the right place at the right time.
There is a guy, Ted Williams is his name, who was in the right place at the right time....
He has a radio announcer's voice, and was homeless....he will now be a millionaire. Someone gave him a chance to get back to his true calling--good voice on the radio.
Ironically, Ted Williams is also the name of one of baseball's greatest hitters in history. I believe he averaged a career batting average of around .400....this means that nearly half of the time he went to bat, he got a hit. I only pitched one season, and I sucked, but I don't think many other pitchers would have done better against Ted Williams.
Look at this new Ted Williams....the black homeless guy with the radio voice. He's batting 1000 now (that means that he gets a hit every time he bats). Second chances are great. I guess that is part of God's plan. St. Peter got three chances....it seems he blew them. I hope we don't.
Love and Peace to All.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Stink-bugs are a bore
Hi Folks,
Merry Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or whatever you celebrate! At least we can all agree on the fact that a new calendar year is coming tomorrow. Time for resolutions? Haha!
I just had a really good week with my kiddos....unbelievable fun and good jokes around the dinner table and Christmas tree. My brothers are never short for pranks and jokes!
Now it's back to the job-hunt. Seems like there are some good options out there, but all the HR departments are shut down for the Holidays. Why is it that HR people are the first ones to bug out when holidays come around? Well, they are the ones who manage the holiday schedule, and the leave approvals for everyone else. So, if there is a workforce requirement of 75%, they can make sure that they are in the 25% who is missing. I love it! Need to get a job in HR!
In other news, and back to my original topic......
When I got up this AM and went to install my new printer, I noted that there was a buzzing noise around the ceiling fan in my living room. (You could hardly call it a living room, it's more like a 16' X 12' junkyard with a TV and a table--think Sanford and Son.)
Anyway, I checked on the ceiling fan, and it was fine. However! There was a stink-bug flying around in the wake of the fan! Buzzing around in circles due to the draft from the fan. The little shit is still up there as I write. Going around and around, beating his wings and his tiny heart to death, I guess.
As I watch him spinning around, I can't help but think of our modern life....turning around and around on the wheel.....like the bug on the wake of the fan.
Should I trap that bug, put him outside and let him free, or take him out of his lonely, pointless existence?
Hmmm.
I guess he can fly around my house for now, since he doesn't bite, and doesn't stink unless you crush him.
Love and Peace to all!
Merry Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or whatever you celebrate! At least we can all agree on the fact that a new calendar year is coming tomorrow. Time for resolutions? Haha!
I just had a really good week with my kiddos....unbelievable fun and good jokes around the dinner table and Christmas tree. My brothers are never short for pranks and jokes!
Now it's back to the job-hunt. Seems like there are some good options out there, but all the HR departments are shut down for the Holidays. Why is it that HR people are the first ones to bug out when holidays come around? Well, they are the ones who manage the holiday schedule, and the leave approvals for everyone else. So, if there is a workforce requirement of 75%, they can make sure that they are in the 25% who is missing. I love it! Need to get a job in HR!
In other news, and back to my original topic......
When I got up this AM and went to install my new printer, I noted that there was a buzzing noise around the ceiling fan in my living room. (You could hardly call it a living room, it's more like a 16' X 12' junkyard with a TV and a table--think Sanford and Son.)
Anyway, I checked on the ceiling fan, and it was fine. However! There was a stink-bug flying around in the wake of the fan! Buzzing around in circles due to the draft from the fan. The little shit is still up there as I write. Going around and around, beating his wings and his tiny heart to death, I guess.
As I watch him spinning around, I can't help but think of our modern life....turning around and around on the wheel.....like the bug on the wake of the fan.
Should I trap that bug, put him outside and let him free, or take him out of his lonely, pointless existence?
Hmmm.
I guess he can fly around my house for now, since he doesn't bite, and doesn't stink unless you crush him.
Love and Peace to all!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Hi Folks,
I was just looking through some music that I did with my friend Deon in Iraq. Don't know if I uploaded it all to the Blog....
Some really good songs we did together, and some that Deon did on his own.
My brother, Mike, also has really good songs.
Perhaps we'll make a record some day!
Meantime: Happy Holidays to each and all! I can't wait to see my kiddos!
Love and Peace!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Snow in the nation's capital
Hi Folks,
Yeah, we had a little bit of snow overnight. Guess you can't say much for it compared to last year.
The neighborhood kids with whom I played soccer earlier in the fall came by to shovel the steps and the driveway. For $5 they cleared the steps, swept the car, and salted everything. I can't believe it!
I think when my brother C and I were kids we used to get $5 for the driveway and sidewalk.
These kids are Latinos, though, so perhaps they're used to less!
Either way, it's good to see kids getting out and doing something to earn a bit of money.....
I was so happy to give them $5. I even went out with them to solicit other business. I think I'm still wearing my Dad's jump boots.....but he doesn't know what he's getting for Christmas.
Hope everyone has a good Holiday season!
Love and Peace to all!
Yeah, we had a little bit of snow overnight. Guess you can't say much for it compared to last year.
The neighborhood kids with whom I played soccer earlier in the fall came by to shovel the steps and the driveway. For $5 they cleared the steps, swept the car, and salted everything. I can't believe it!
I think when my brother C and I were kids we used to get $5 for the driveway and sidewalk.
These kids are Latinos, though, so perhaps they're used to less!
Either way, it's good to see kids getting out and doing something to earn a bit of money.....
I was so happy to give them $5. I even went out with them to solicit other business. I think I'm still wearing my Dad's jump boots.....but he doesn't know what he's getting for Christmas.
Hope everyone has a good Holiday season!
Love and Peace to all!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Day One
H Folks,
Today I realized that my separation benefits are going to run out soon. So I applied for unemployment. Can you believe that I actually talked to a real human being, and a kind, smart one, to boot?
The guy was really friendly, and got me through the application process with no trouble, and a few jokes here and there. He was super!
I've applied to a school in Ghana for a teaching position....perhaps English, maybe World Politics and Economics. Should be a good gig, if I can get it. Salary is not great. but benefits are fair, so we'll see where it goes.
Done with Christmas shopping. The budget is more than busted. But at least all the gifts are wrapped.
Insh'allah I will spend a week with my kiddos soon.
Hope you are all well!
Love and Peace to all!
Today I realized that my separation benefits are going to run out soon. So I applied for unemployment. Can you believe that I actually talked to a real human being, and a kind, smart one, to boot?
The guy was really friendly, and got me through the application process with no trouble, and a few jokes here and there. He was super!
I've applied to a school in Ghana for a teaching position....perhaps English, maybe World Politics and Economics. Should be a good gig, if I can get it. Salary is not great. but benefits are fair, so we'll see where it goes.
Done with Christmas shopping. The budget is more than busted. But at least all the gifts are wrapped.
Insh'allah I will spend a week with my kiddos soon.
Hope you are all well!
Love and Peace to all!
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