Brother

Yesterday, I went and had coffee with one of my old fraternity brothers / roommates.

Well, he had tea. I had the shittiest hot chocolate ever. Swiss Miss would have been better. (well, I'm guessing.)

I'm not 100% sure what possessed me, but he was in town taking his son to a college visit and he was free for hours on a cold cold day.

Well...he and his wife.

I guess curiosity got the better of me.

The year I moved into the fraternity house, I lived with Pat for most of the first year. Yesterday, he says he saw the house not long ago and our room was quite small, but I don't remember it that way. It wasn't spacious by any means, but it was not small.

Both Pat and I were thinner. Both of us had hair.

While I wasn't out at this time in my life (well at least to anyone in my house), Pat seemed to have this confluence of gay-dom around him, even though he was (and is) straight.

His big brother in the house was a flamboyant dance major. Yes, nothing says "gay" like a dancer named Jorge.

(side note: to bring the six degrees of separation closer - blogger bud, John, actually knows Jorge from some other point in time. From the theater. Shocking.: )  )

Pat's roommate before me was named Terry. Somehow, someone found Terry's stash of Blueboy magazines and he kind of fled from the house. That left a room open for me - another gay man in Pat's immediate existence.

I spent more than a few nights on the sofa in the living area of the house, as Pat would leave a tie on the doorknob. That frustrated me, but what kind of tramp would even want to sleep over in a fraternity house?

I mean - c'mon - show some self respect. Whore!

But Pat brought his wife yesterday - whom I had never met. And while we didn't talk a lot about ourselves today, it was more reminiscing which stands to reason. It was more about re-establishing our baseline.

I mean, he asked about and was genuinely interested in  710, which was nice. He asked if this girl who really liked me in college ever got over her crush. Me, being me, gestured to myself and said, "c'mon - does anyone really ever get over this???"

It was good for a laugh.

But it looks like his son will be coming to college less than a mile away from where we live, so the potential to see Pat is greater than it has been for the last three decades.

Before we parted, and while his wife was using the powder room, I made mention to Pat of Jorge, Terry and myself. He was light-hearted about it all and said, "well you know my dad was gay (I did not know that), so that pretty much makes me half-gay."

He went on to say how is dad claimed (humourously I'm sure) that he invented gay.

It was a nice way to end the visit.




Song by: the Kinks

My Music Monday

I won't lie, I struggled with a tune this week. I didn't give it much thought until the last moment (no real surprise), but nothing was hitting me.

Even rotating through iTunes and selecting the 10th song (no matter what) seemed to fail me. Whatever the song that came up, I did not feel I could subject you to that torture. Even I put it out of my mind whatever song title that was.

So I scrolled. And scrolled.

I totally forgot that Gary Allan was on my short list months back for Country Month.

I like him enough, but I kind of forgot about him.

His 2001 song, "Man of Me" is more than decent. Yes, you can call him and the song country, but if you took off violin, it is nothing more than a rock song.

I can almost guarantee that none of my readers have heard of him - and that's cool. I'm here to help.

To be honest, I don't know much more about him than this song. I know his wife - his third - committed suicide a year or two after this album was released.

The song is like 14 years old and I still like it, and I still play it. Maybe you won't mind it much either.

Ask

I've mentioned before my lack of social cues and me trying to change them.

I failed last week while going to those calling hours. But on the other hand, I went to the calling hours, which is a huge stride for me. And last year, I rewarded our friends and neighbors for finding an escaped Petey.

So, slowly but surely, I'm learning. Or at least trying.

This last weekend, we went over to my mother's house. We didn't make it there last week due to a Winter storm. But this week, we wanted to stop out since it is a few days post-Buddy. Overall, she's holding up well.

As we pulled into the drive, I saw a man across the street shoveling his drive. As 710 walked into the house, I said I'd be there in a few minutes.

In the section of street where my mother still lives (and has for 46 years) there are only four houses of folks who are original to their 'hood. I know no one else on the street. But the young couple who bought the house across my mom's moved in right before my father had taken ill last April.

They had seen the comings and goings of the ambulances from time to time and then came over to check on my mother to see if she or my father might need anything.

I found this to be extremely nice and out of the ordinary in this day and age. Especially since not only did they not know my parents, but there was a good 50-60 year difference in their ages.

Still, this was the first time I had seen anyone outside the house, so I made my way over, just to thank him for being so kind to my mom.

See? I'm learning.

As I was talking to Matt, his wife came out to help with the shoveling and she joined us at the bottom of their drive, so I got to meet Stephanie too. Knowing that she was the one who had been over a few times, I'm glad I was able to include her and not just have it relayed later.

They were both appreciative that someone (other than my mother) took notice.

....and then it got weird...and my social ineptness came back into view.

Stephanie asked a very sincere question: "so how is your dad doing......"

Oh boy.

Mind you, they're not friends of my parents, so there'd be no way of knowing. And it was the wee hours of the morning when the funeral home came to pick up my father almost six months ago, so they'd never have seen that activity either.

While I very politely informed them that my father had died back in August, I could see both of their uneasiness. And I felt uneasy for them - though as I said, it was sincere and no way of knowing. It just felt that the awkwardness kept ping-ponging back and forth between us.

But Stephanie asked if we could exchange numbers, so if there was anything I needed for my mother, she was happy to do or if she needed to get a hold of me for any reason, she could.

I thought that was incredibly generous. And while one of my sisters lives 10 minutes away, sometimes a quick call is even better. So we did that.

Since I didn't tell 710 what I was doing, and my sister and brother-in-law pulled in while I was doing this, I'm sure the kitchen was abuzz of my activity.

So my mother thought it was nice of me (and it was!) that I went over to say 'hi'. I think both my mother and sister gasped then laughed at my alleged response when I told her they asked how dad was doing. I told her I told them "oh - he's still the same....".

I guess I'm being less inept, but clearly I still have a way to go.




Song by: the Smith

One Small Heart

Petey Porn. Sophie Smut. Boomer Bling. And Valentine's Day. All at once.

And yet, I'm not feeling inspired this week in picture taking. It's been cold and getting colder. Walks have been limited and Petey has been enjoying the warmth of the house - and sleeping. A lot!!!!

But it is what it is.

My sister's dog (and Petey's former brother) Boomer, at my mother's house.

He is such a love. I'd take him home in a second, given the chance. 

Petey feeling he is being cheated from the last of the cereal milk. 

My favourite part of this is Sophie's tongue in action. 

They kissed and made up after the Great Milk Incident of '15. 

Or Sophie was just trying to keep warm. 

....and for good measure, another shot of Boomer. 

As Valentine's Day goes - I got nothing. And it falls on a Saturday, so there will be no going out tonight. The crowds and it will be below 0. I'll find something at the grocery and start cooking. No ideas as of yet.......but it'll be decent.





Song by: Mary Chapin Carpenter

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 60th (!!!!) 12 of 12. 

Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Now it's just Erik (and sometimes Jim) and myself - that I know of. 

I still continue to do this, because of all my consistent post topics, I actually like this one the most.

06:10.  No I did not spooge on my foot. 

Trying to make feet less cracked. Curél Rough Skin Rescue is actually working. Every morning it goes on....and after every shower. 

06:25. Mr. Pete gets b'fast. 

He's up earlier. He peed. He pooped. Now it's b'fast and pills time. He is an old man, isn't he?

08:45.  Post Petey walk. 

His holding area for used poo bags is encased in ice. Eons from now, archaeologists will be able to tell a lot about civilization when they study, when and if, these ever thaw.  

It is currently 8 degrees and headed to below zero for the next few days. 

10:05.  Mid-morning snack. Three of them. 

11:20.  Sophie keeping herself warm when in the kitchen. I will lose her later to a radiator she'll sleep on upstairs. 

12:00.  Soup for lunch. This is only one container of what is left over from the other night. 

13:30. This came from Rebecca. Apparently we are going to do these podcasts. Cool. 

14:22.  He is a lineman for the county.   (ok...the city!)

16:55.  On my way to Valley View. This is the bridge going over the valley. 

And yes, it is blurry. 

17:50. Networking event at Quaker Steak & Lube.

Honest to g-d!

19:44.  One great song came up through my playlist in the car. 

20:05.  We are not a family of lactose intolerance. 

....and your Baker's Dozen.....

22:00.  Dessert. Lately I've had a thing for Oreos. Sometimes I forget how insanely good they are. 

That is it for this month. #61 coming up in a month.

I'm an Adult Now

Winter nights are for comfort food.

Sure, I still make pasta dishes, or chicken and peppers on some nights, but that is because they're easy to prep and quick to cook. And it doesn't take a lot of thought. And I can be lazy.

But sometimes you just want something to have a comfort factor to it too.

Mac & Cheese fit that bill. Meatloaf. Stuff like that. The standards.

Then there is grilled cheese and soup.

Last week - though not noted here - I made a grilled cheese a different way. In that, you don't butter the bread, but melt the butter in the pan and put the bread in there. And you use shredded cheese. BUT - once you flip the sandwich, you add / press cheese into the top of the bread......then eventually flip again, so the cheese makes a crust on the bread. Do the same to the other side. It isn't bad at all.

But America's Test Kitchen (or was it Cook's Country?) last year did a show on Grown Up Grilled Cheese. It was actually a taste test of standard grilled cheese and the grown up version. Everyone (at least with clever editing) preferred the latter. So......why not.

I started off making a chicken soup with vegetables and pasta. That was easy enough. The grilled cheese was too.....in a way. The clean up was way worse than anything else.

For four sandwiches:

8 slices - hearty white bread
7oz - aged cheddar cheese (room temp)
2oz - Brie (rind removed)
2T - dry white wine (or vermouth)
4t - minced shallot
3T - room temp unsalted butter
1t - Dijon mustard

Cube the cheddar cheese into 20-24 pieces. I also quartered the Brie. Add the wine as well. Process for 20-30 seconds. 

I know. A food processor to make grilled fucking cheese. This is why clean-up for this dish is a little out of proportion for what you're actually making. 

It really makes a cheese paste, basically. Add the shallots, and pulse for 4-5 times.  

If you don't have a clean-up crew at the ready, like I do - I suggest getting one. They're happy to lick anything clean. 

 In a separate bowl - mix butter and mustard together. 

Spread the butter / mustard mixture on the outside of each piece  

On the inside - put the cheese / shallot / wine mixture. It spreads heavily. You can be generous with this mixture as well. 

Here is the big difference between regular grilled cheese and adult - patience. 

In a preheated non-stick skillet reduce the heat to medium-low and cook each side for 8-9 minutes. Yes. 16-18 minute cook time for frickin' grilled cheese. 

Then you have to let it stand two additional minutes. This is important as it helps the cheese set-up a little bit. I forgot on the first sandwich and cut in too soon. 

Still - it is kind of worth the wait (though I could have had two and not just one and a half). 

The combo for the two cheeses and mustard are great. I really think the wine brightens everything up in the flavour category too. And while it's only two tablespoons, I now have an open bottle of wine that must be consumed. So it is a win-win. 

Song by: the Pursuit of Happiness

Life is Sweet

I know - it's close to Valentine's Day and you don't know what to get your Boo.

Teddy Bears are passé.  Flowers? They'll die in a few days and be forgotten, save the requisite FB post saying they received them.

If you don't have a reservation to a nice place for dinner - you're too late for that.

Whitman Sampler or Russell Stover heart-shaped boxes of assorted candies that you pick up at Walgreens while getting your Doxycycline prescription? You know those were made July 2014 - right?

Well you might think of getting the love of your life - or your newer significant other a chocolate anus.

Oh, that's right. You heard me. A chocolate pucker.

A better gift has quite possibly never been concocted.

It's probably too late to order one (or more? I mean, who can eat just one?) for this year, but there is always Sweetest Day and / or his or her birthday. I mean, one can never have too many sweet buttholes to savor.

Yes, these are the eternal questions - to lick or bite.

Personally, I don't see why it has to be one or the other. You can do former then the latter. Or you can purchase multiple ones and do both.

You're almost - almost!!! - assured of it being dingleberry free (insert USS Enterprise joke here). I really don't know their quality control process, so one should watch out....you know, just in case.

I also know nothing of their manufacturing and distribution methods, but it is safe to say this gives a whole new meaning to the term 'fudge packer."

And speaking of..........Billy's dad is one.






Song by: Maria McKee

App of the Month

Another app that no one has any use for.

Well - I will rephrase:

Another app for which I cannot see anyone having a use. Ever.

Maybe there is a social media component to this app that I did not explore. But it looks like it is only an avatar creation program.

Anyhoo...it is the Mini Gay Me app.

While it doesn't ask you to prove that you're a homo....it's safe to assume that mostly homos would use something like this. Case in point: me.

And case in point: CB, as I snagged the idea from him after he posted his avatar on Facebook.

I will say, his seemed to be closer to him than I got mine.

The body type selections weren't plentiful. My boxer briefs are longer. The eyebrows and treasure trail might be dead-on accurate though. The lake? Totally fabricated!

And if there is any validation that this is a mini-gay Blobby, I'll direct you to the disappointing selection of clothing and footwear styles. Don't even get me started on the limited selection of glasses!

As if I'd ever wear that sweater!

And you know, the sticking out of the tongue: well I could be doing that raspberry thing at all of you, or well......you know, Je Suis Blobby.

It's a French thing.

Still, I don't quite get that this is anything new. Didn't Yahoo give you the ability to create your own avatar decades ago? I recall having one wearing a suit and tie. That's not even an option. Though I'm not sure Yahoo is much of an option these days either.

Of course, it's free.

I suppose I can use this as my FB profile picture.....but udder than that......I can't imagine me keeping it on my phone, taking up valuable storage space.

My Music Monday

Those of you who know me well, know that while I would go to gay bars where there was dancing, that I rarely participated in that event.

But never say never.

Sure, with alcohol or other chemicals in me, I might be persuaded to hit the dance floor. More often than not, it was with my friend Jon, and usually to songs we knew no one else thought were fun or cool. I can remember being one of the few out there when the B-52's "Channel Z" was played at the Garage. Or Midnight Oil. Or Pig Big.

But put Pebbles or Blackbox on the turntable and we'd RUN off the floor to the bar....or Obetz.

I think I was too young for the big disco years: Donna Summer, Chic, S'Express. Even Evelyn Champagne King and Shannon were just before my time.  710 hit it...and he and his friends love(d) it. Most of my education on this music came from them.....mostly through osmosis.

Sure sure....they'd play certain selections for years after I was out, but by that time, the Columbus bars had moved on to even shittier music like Expose, Taylor Dayne and the likes. {shudder}. Overall, Columbus 1985-1992 gay bar DJ'ing was tragic. Just tragic.

But now and then.....just now and then....the deep dive disco dance stuff was essential.

I'm not too proud to say these moments were fueled by a vast amount of alcohol, but more likely than not, other substances that were ingested or administered in other ways. And almost always, these musical times were at Corbett Reynolds' Red Party or his Rudely Elegant shindigs.

There is just a time when, or if, you did Ecstasy, that the beat just took you away. It was inevitable and inescapable. Some song that might seem simple and repetative as can be, could also be the most captivating...like this week's selection.

And while I don't remember dancing to Sister Sledge's "Lost in Music", I suppose anything is possible. There are many details I don't remember about these times and yet, unfortunately, many I can't seem to forget.

First off, I couldn't even tell you a song Sister Sledge did except "We Are Family". And when we heard "Lost in Music" on HBO's Looking, I still didn't know it was them.

710's first response to me was that it was Chic. And while it does have that vibe, I felt it wasn't them. Sounhound told me it was Sister Sledge, but the song was written and produced by Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards from Chic......so, in a way 710 nailed it.

The party in the woods scene that accompanied the "Lost in Music" sequence on the show was well done. While I never did go to a party in the woods, the vibe was similar to what one would experience at a circuit party. ...and the bass line and entire rhythm section just kind of flooded my memory of drug filled nights early mornings.

....but in a good way. So all those years of abusing my body with drugs wasn't all bad.

Start to Melt

Just a few items to chat about today - no big post, per se.

First off - a few folks have asked about Buddy. There is good and fair news.

The fair is: no one stepped up who wanted to take her directly off my mother's hands. That was disappointing to me, but I get it too.

So in the meantime, my mother filled out a Rescue Village application. They called her on Tuesday and Buddy went in for an 'evaluation' on Wednesday.

Naturally, they loved her. Who wouldn't??

They said she'd be on the website in three days. First she'd get spayed and microchipped, then get put up on their website.

The one thing they asked my mother was if they could change her name. My mother didn't quite say 'no', but stressed that she came if called by her name.

So yesterday, I checked the site and sure enough, there was Buddy, but renamed Bunny. I totally get that - stresses the female aspect and close enough to the original name where Buddy wouldn't be too much the wiser. And let's face it, the family choosing her will probably change the name anywhere.

But there was no picture of Buddy, but all the stats were there.

I looked back 5-6 hours later to see if they got a picture up and they did not. Because she was already off the site. She had already been adopted!!!!

So that was the good news. On the market for like 4 hours and she snagged a new home!!!! SCORE. I will miss her. And my mother will too, more than she realizes.

---------

In other news.....we've had a sort of thaw. Thankfully.

Mind you - the tons of snow we have gotten still remains in most places.  However, it's the ice build-up that is problematic.

In the last week, we've had lots of sunshine that has melted snow on the room, making it drip down into the icicles you see. But worse those icicles have begun to melt and refreeze on our walkway.

I can live with the mailman slipping and splitting his skull open on that treacherous walkway, but the bigger problem is Petey when he goes out to do his bidness. Even with his low center of gravity, it is a major slipfest.

So yesterday, I went out with an icebreaker and started to get to work on that.

I didn't get very far. Maybe one-third of the walk.

In some places, the ice is pushing 2" thick. It'll take a few more days to get through it, but alas, we are slated to go from 43 to 21 today. So I have to make hay while the sun shines.

The problem is the actual ice breaking. It's hard word and it doesn't hurt, but after 30 minutes, I found what it is like to have nerve damage. For hours I couldn''t quite grasp things like a spoon or pick up a carrot or use my iPhone. It wasn't painful - it was full on-set weakness.

710 said I couldn't have another malady this week. Between my elbow and my jalapeno incident, I was not allowed  - or at the very least it had to be on rolling week schedule.

I gave up and we dropped a ton of salt on the problem. Hopefully today we can finish clearing before the temps drop........again.

..................

Oh, and I'm drunk, so I apologize for the ramblings and typos.

More on the drunk part later.  Probably.




Song by:  Peter Bjorn and John

Visit Me

Saturday.  Pets. Pets. Pets.

Cuteness abounds.

A just washed blanket. A just walked Petey. All is good with the world. 

Sophie using me as a heating source.  Story of my life with her. 

My sister's cat, Wally. 

Petey, being a little bored with my mother. 

Actually, Petey LOVES my mother. Almost nobody gets a greeting from him the way she does. 

And he always gets the royal treatment from her. 

Song by: Electronic

Face the Face

I'm gay. Right?

Yes, the question is rhetorical.

But with that knowledge also comes with the fact that the homo by-laws have been updated to watch a pre-determined amount of either Food Network (the cooking shows, not the competition shows) or PBS for Lidia, Sara Moulton or Cooks Country / America's Test Kitchen.

Now during these shows, mostly the Food Network ones, it's a little more basic, and if Ina Garten has taught us anything, is that 'clean hands are a cooks best tool'.

Of course, while I know that, one has to apply that for it to be effective.

And it is not that my hands were dirty. So - don't be that grossed out, but still cardinal rule was ignored.

So.....anyhoo...........

My friend and wedding honour attendant, Rebecca is rifling through multiple ideas for doing podcasts. She axed me if I would was willing to be interviewed. Well of course I was.

A. I'm all for helping out a friend, and I love her.

B. I'm all about the attention, so sure, why not be interviewed?


The appointment was made for 17:00 yesterday. At 16:40 I thought I had better start dinner, just because I know I'd get distracted. Since I was making Chicken Tortilla Soup, it would overall be easy. Becca texted to see if I was ready and I said I needed 5.

Easy Peasy.

So, we start the call and we're all of two minutes in as Becky is setting up some sound / recording equipment. .......and then............I remove my glasses to rub my itchy eye.

As Dr. Smith would say on Lost in Space......."the pain.......the pain....."

Ya see......right before Becky called, I did the last thing for my recipe. The one thing in that linked post I did not do last time: add jalapeño.

The problemo was, I didn't wash my hands after cutting and adding the jalapeño. So, ouchy.

The thing is, I thought I could power through it. You know, make my eyes water enough to rinse it out. No can do, baby doll. No can do.

So while we were FaceTiming I walked to the kitchen to do....something. I didn't know what, but in theory, in the pain, rinsing out the eye seemed about right. But I didn't think this through.

If you've ever eaten spicy food, the worse thing you can do is drink water. It aggravates the situation. So as soon as I doused my eye with water, it was like a million.....nay....trillion....daggers in my right orbital.

You can see how fucked up my eye (my right, on your left) is looking. It hurt, but it was so much more painful when attempting to open it. And it was just an attempt.

Of course, I could see nothing.....let alone one of my best friends laughing, laughing, laughing at my discomfort.

With friends like this....who needs friends?

Seriously, the pain was so bad, I wasn't sure what to do. While clearly we were still talking and the podcast was still going, I made Becky Gooooooogle what to do, as driving to an emergency department was out of the question. She kept insisting on saline, but more water and adding salt seemed painful at best.

Her web search brought up milk. Whole milk, preferably, but all I had was skim. Milk to go in the eye.

It immediately helped......for 4.7 seconds each time. But I was pouring it out of a bowl. I know, I know....but it was right there and I could not see a thing. Of course, Becky mentioned a shot glass, so I found one and.....

....well she was there to screen capture it all. All the while telling me this is the best podcast she's done yet.

Yay me.

It took a few tries until the pain in the eye started to lessen. Oh, and I forgot, the pain was all over the right side of my face. That's right - if my face hurt, it was killing you.

After it subsided a bit, I opened a bottle of wine - as the plan was to do the podcast during happy hour, so alcohol was called for.

I'm not saying 3/4 of a bottle of red wine in a half-hour helped my situation, but it didn't seem to hurt it.

The podcast was fun. As much fun as it can be with two folks with ADD non-linear communication skills. We were all over the place, but it was a good time.

The idea came interview normal interesting people....during happy hour. The details aren't all worked out yet, but I'm thinking this could be fun.

More to come on that front.


On the plus side, the jalapeño really made the soup so much better. Or maybe it was that 3/4 bottle of red.




Song by: Pete Townsend

What You Didn't Say

So yesterday I went to calling hours for my friend who lost both of her parents in a house fire last week.

There was to be a memorial at the end of the calling hours, so, I'm almost embarrassed to say, I went early. I know Karen. I don't know her sister, I didn't know her parents. The sad fact is, the memorial would mean nothing to me.

It is possible I would have run into people I know had I hung around, but who wants to hang around a funeral home when you don't know anyone but one of the grieving?

Karen was very happy to see me, and I can't believe she went out of her way to make conversation when she clearly did not have to do so.

While I know Karen is a very strong woman, she was on a new level of strength or just operating with sense of shock.

I've never been to a double one of these. I went having an expectation, but also had that worse case scenario outlier in the back of my head. That was not needed, as it turned out - but as it turns out, I think I'm still creeped out by death.

I think I'm more uncomfortable with my social cues......or lack of them.....in these situations. I could hear the words coming out of my mouth, but not being able to stop them when I said to Karen, "how are you doing?". 

I mean, at least it was after the hug and giving her and her sister my condolences, but still.....she would have totally been justified to come back with "how do you think I'm doing?". 

Of course, Karen being Karen, she was gracious.

And while it was early, there was still a line of folks forming to talk, so I kept it brief and moved on - and out.

Let's hope I'm done with funeral related visits for a while. I'm not up for this.


Song by: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Infected

So much ado about the vaxx or anti-vaxx movements these last few days.

I'm more amazed on who weighs in, then on who does not. This of course, means folks from Congress or state governments.

Chris "Stapled My Stomach and I'm Still a Sow" Christie advocated for the anti-vaxxers than back-pedaled immediately. Or his office did. He hasn't seen a bike pedal since he was a pre-teen - and then it was just to ride to the DQ.

Rand Paul  - he without his M.D. or even a D.O. - saying that getting vaccinated gives you mental disorders.

Mind you, saying that makes it sound like science is somehow involved in his statement - that he has something to back it up. Yet Paul doesn't buy into climate change, where science is involved, where they do have data to back that theory. (though I bet he was vaccinated....so 'splain your mental disorders Mr. Paul!)

I do love how these folks cherry pick the "science" in which they'll believe.

And every 16th comment on-line is based on Jenny McCarthy and her anti-vaccination stance regarding her child's autism, which now she (or her docs?) don't think is actually autism at all. Ooops.

Never mind the doctor that she cited with all this 4-1-1 was not only discredited, but had his medical license yanked for life.  So......you know.....consider that.

Oh, and she smoke e-cigs, which have TONS of chemicals.....so McCarthy might not be the one to go to for medical diagnostics.

But parents are stupid. Well, people are stupid. Parents are doubly stupid. They decide to procreate and then leave it up the fate for their child's well being.  (ok, they're triply stupid for having kids in the first place.....but that's me.)

These anti-vaxx parents don't know what it's like to have to hold their child in a bath of ice water, as the kid struggles and cries, because their fever is so high. The reason they don't know what it is like is because their own parents had them vaccinated - and I'd say they turned out all right.

Though maybe Rand Paul has point. The anti-vaxx parents were most likely vaccinated themselves, but their now on-set mental disorder is keeping them from doing the same to their own kids.

All I can say is, if another non-vaccinated child infected their own non-vaccinated child, they'd be petitioning the school boards, health organizations, etc to keep those kids away from everyone else. It's ok for them - just not for anyone else.

And fine. Don't get your kid vaccinated. But when Susie gets the measles, mumps polio and well, eventually HPV and everything else under the sun - don't complain one fucking bit.  (actually, she won't get HPV because no one is gonna be fucking 'the iron lung girl'.)

Yes, guess what - vaccinations are big pharma. BFD.

And you know why? Because there were widespread diseases that dictated that solutions and cures be found to eradicate them. Because parents got tired of watching their kids get diseased and die.

And you know what?  Yes, these medications are made with - gasp - chemicals. Just like everything else you put in your kids bodies that you buy at Safeway. You might want to read the ingredient label on that Gogurt you're giving them.  Hmmmmmm.........tricalcium phosphate, potassium sorbate, red #40, vitamin A acetate, blue #1.

Thanks Union Carbide! You do a body good!  So don't be so high and mighty with your healthcare.

And of course, vaccines are not 100% safe or effective. Nothing is. Ever.

Get over that too. But if you don't want your kid vaccinated, you better stay away from common areas where you could infect others - schools, playgrounds, Disneyland! Feel free to stupid with your kid, but why should you be allowed to be stupid with others?

Oh, and find a doc who is anti-vaxx too. I hope more pediatricians take on the stance of one Dr. Michael Ginsberg.

All I can say if HIV was transmitted the way the measles and mumps are, there wouldn't be an anti-vaxxer alive who wouldn't call for quarantine of anyone with it. I mean, just look at how people treat people who come into contact with Ebola treated.

How many anti-vaxxers were on the side of the nurse from ME who went out bike riding when she was supposed to be indoors at all times?

I'm going out on a limb here and say: 0




Song by: The The

Tracks in the Snow

We made it through our first big storm of the season - and hell, it's February!

You know I'll complain about Winter at the drop of a hat, but it's hard to moan about 24 hours of snow,

24 hours and 11 inches.

Real inches, not internet inches.

The majority of it, came in about 7-8 hours. The rest came during the night.

710 got to clean the driveway on Sunday and I had to do another pass through yesterday around noon. It was at that point, I decided to see how much we got.

There didn't seem to be any drifting, so it was 11" across the board. And it was heavy snow too. Very heavy.

I made it out to try to save some of the evergreen and pine trees / bushes.

These pine branches are normally, and easily, 7' off the ground. I had to trudge through the elements with a shovel to hit them, so snow would fall off and they'd somewhat spring back. They didn't quite go back to normal, but hopefully there isn't too much damage.

The front yard evergreens have seen worse. but they're not there for looks. They are more for blocking the view from the street up to the house.


The biggest problem with the snow is, of course, Petey.

I cleared the walkways for him, but he still thinks he can get through the mountains of snow. And in a way he can, but there isn't enough clearance space to do #1 or 2.  So he ends up doing both on the cleared walk - which is fine.  But then he's not quite smart enough and comes back to the the door through the snow.  He could have just taken the plowed path.

...oh and his pee is freezing into yellow ice. But that's more my problem than his.

Now that the snow has passed, we are on our way to arctic blasts though. Single digits today...and on Thursday we go into the negatives.....not including wind chill.

Blobby ain't walking Petey for a little while. He'll be frustrated, but he'll be happier....even if he doesn't know it yet.



Song by: the Civil Wars

My Music Monday

It's Groundhog Day.

I have no songs with those varmints attached. And I could do a song about Winter or Spring, but......nah.

And I have a few 'shadow' songs....so I thought I'd go with that.

I'm going with "Shadows of the Night".  Two versions, actually.

Rachel Sweet put out her version in 1981, months before Pat Benatar's 1982 recording.

Sweet's recording was never a single, and Benatar's became a huge radio and MTV hit.

Maybe it is because I knew of Sweet's version first and was more familiar with it, but I always enjoyed her take on it more than Pat's.

In both versions, the recording artist added lyrics and got songwriting credit. Neither of them wrote the majority of the tune. Pat runs 'with' the shadows. Rachael runs 'through' them.

I have seen this scenario afterwards too. Both Susanna Hoffs and Cyndi Lauper recorded a song called "Unconditional Love". For the 500+ times I've listened to both of those versions, I don't hear one change in lyric. They seem identical, yet both got songwriting credits (on their own albums) for 'additional lyrics'. Maybe both changed the same fucking word - ya got me.

Both songs have their plusses and minuses. I always thought Benatar's was way over produced. I can do without the ever present 80s saxophone on Sweet's. They each sing their own harmony. But when it comes down to it, I'll let Sweet's play through while I might hit 'skip' on Benatar's.


Rachel Sweet - 'Shadows of the Night'





Pat Benatar - 'Shadows of the Night'

February

Wow. One-twelfth of the year already gone. How'd that happen?

So far, I'm not a huge fan of 2015. Some good folks I know have had tragedy befallen upon their house. Deaths of children and parents. It has not been auspicious start to the year.

Nancy, who is the female in the image, was my boss years ago. I will argue, she is one of - if not - the smartest person I have ever met.

That she was funny, clever and supportive was just icing on the cake. She has been my biggest and best career mentor.

The unexpected death of her college-aged son must be horrible. I couldn't even truly imagine how she feels. I haven't been able to talk to her - nor would I try at this early of a time - but I got a note off to her and her husband. Not that they're there to receive it. They are at his college, where a nice memorial was held, and Nancy, being Nancy, was nothing but gracious and articulate in the newspaper articles I Goooooogled.

The parent thing, was another friend - also a friend of Nancy's and myself. Both her parents died in a house fire the following day. Another scenario at which I am unequipped to comprehend.  I mean, what a shitty week.

At least (?) that is local, so I will be able to pay my respects in person, but still............

Or I should be able to pay my respects, depending on the arrangements and the weather.

Starting today, we're in for our first big storm of the season..............allegedly. Depending on which report or the pat of the storm we're looking at 6".....or 11".  It's just like last call at the gay bars.

Weather aside - let's hope February turns things around for this year. We still have a ways to go to make it better, but in my estimation is has nowhere to go but up.



Song by: Dar Williams