Tuesday Afternoon; 1.5 Miles

Huh! It's been exactly one year since I last posted one of these updates.

Fancy that.

Today was the first day I've been able to take my daily walks since I had the couch dropped on my leg during the move in January. I've been trying to take it easy and rest the leg and knee, and that's been going well to a certain extent. But at a certain point the couch cusions start to look a LOT like your backside, and boredom begins to set in. Plus I started to gain weight, which is Not Good. Plus my glucometer has been broken -- what, an ENTIRE MONTH???

Yeesh! Time to get organized here.

Mileage: 1.5 Miles
AM Glucose: Unknown
Weight Gain: 8 pounds

Blanco Road has these wonderful, wide medians that have been formed from tinted concrete that look like red bricks, and it seemed a perfect place to take our walk. (Samantha certainly seems to approve, anyway.)

we had to stop halfway -- Samantha was more tired than I was. But I didn't want to push it too fast, too soon, and make the knee worse than it was. Nevertheless, my thighs and ankles ached when we got home, which is a good sign I didn't atrophy too much.

Better yet, my knee felt better than when I started.

~~JD~~

"The buck slipped right past him"

Well, it appears one unanswered question from Hurricane Katrina is being answered finally: Why Did The Pumps Fail?

Because this idiot evacuated the Pump Operators!

La. parish president still facing lawsuits over Katrina
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 44 minutes ago

METAIRIE, La. - On the eve of Hurricane Katrina, massive pumps that keep water out of this New Orleans suburb went silent when the roughly 100 workers who run them were allowed to flee under a "doomsday" evacuation plan. With the storm raging, backflow from levee breaks in New Orleans had nowhere to go, damaging thousands of homes, shopping malls and businesses between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish.

For parish President Aaron Broussard, a populist Democrat who rose to power over three decades, the evacuation of the workers could be make-or-break politically and legally.

After the storm, parish residents along the lake's east bank dried out and scraped the muck from their middle class and upscale homes. Then they went to court against Broussard, with a judge recently refusing to dismiss him from lawsuits that hold him personally responsible.

At first, Broussard publicly accepted responsibility for the evacuation decision in August 2005. But about a month after the election, he swore under oath in lawsuit depositions that he didn't know of the doomsday evacuation plan before Katrina, saying he learned the pump operators had gone only after the fact. "He's changing his story to fit the legal situation," said Debbie Settoon, a civil engineer and president of the civic group Citizens for a Safer Jefferson.

In refusing to dismiss Broussard, state District Judge John Peytavin cited "unanswered" questions posed by storm victims' lawyers during a November deposition.

"Would you have agreed with that decision?" attorney Darleen Jacobs asked Broussard at that session.

"I don't know," he answered.

"Could you, as parish president, have vetoed the decision to remove the pump operators?" Jacobs asked.

"I don't know the answer to that," Broussard said.

Reading accounts of Broussard's sworn statements reminded Settoon of a placard in Broussard's office: "The Buck Stops Here." "The buck slipped right past him," she said.

~~JD~~

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer: Name something you would categorize as weird.

Pedophilia. That's TOO Weird -- those people need help -- or prison time.

Soup: What color was the last piece of food you ate?

It was a Subway Philly Beefsteak sandwich; so brown.

Salad: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?

About a 9. I grew up alone to a large extent, and learned to appreciate solitude.


Main Course: Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. The only way I can make this work is to either reveal my vote, or disparage someone else's -- neither of which I want to do.

Dessert: Describe your sleeping habits.

T-shirt and old, ragged, sweat pants I got for Christmas 12 years ago. Almost always sleep on my right side and on my stomach. Can sleep through any amount of noise, temperature changes, lighting, or other distractions. Would sleep ten hours a day if I could spare the time; but usually get only 4-5 hours.


Friday's Feast is a weekly meme brought to us by Susie at http://www.fridaysfeast.com. People sign up for her email alerts and every Friday AM we go to her site to get the week’s questions.

~~JD~~

Tuesday Morning Sunshine Interlude

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

Robert Frost (1874–1963)



A small Savannah; oak trees all.



A Sure sign spring is coming; the wildflowers are sprouting. I have no idea of the name of this little beauty I found in the savannah of oak trees, but it's a pretty little thing.



Single Oak, blue sky, weather fine.



Another sure sign spring is here; cats in the sun. This is Jeannie, as in Jeannie the Gray cat (a play on the X-Men character of similar name.) She's a Russian Blue, and we frequently put a Russian accented voice in her mouth. Imagine Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV saying, "I will crush you."




~~JD~~

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer: Name a color you find soothing.

Considering half of my closet is some shade of blue, that must be it.

Soup : Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.

4am, with my mom; old blue Chevy; parking lot only. (That's ten!)


Salad" What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?

Cotton. Breathes well, stretches, feels great in the heat or the cold.

Main Course: Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see?

I can't say I've ever seen the wisdom of worshipping pop culture idols, so I can't say I'd do that for anyone.


Dessert: What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc.)?

It's a tie between "O" and "N". That must mean my favorite word is either "ON" or "NO". Make of THAT what you will.

~~JD~~

I'mFairly Sure Medicare Wouldn't Approve THIS Expense . . . .

. . . however, knowing how powerful the AARP lobby is in Washington, I wouldn't bet against this legislation. I'm just wondering if this constitutes a Consult; or Rehabilitation Services.

Or maybe an approved Home Health Service? (Hey, if Medicaid will pay for a housekeeper if you're disabled, can this be far behind?)

(Sigh) Well, one more reason for the Muslims to be angry with Denmark. From Bloomberg.com

Call Girls at Nursing Home Fuel Debate in Denmark
By Christian Wienberg; April 16 (Bloomberg)

When a male resident at Kildegaarden nursing home in Denmark made an indecent sexual proposal to a member of the staff, the home's director, Inger Marie Kristensen, told a nurse to telephone for a prostitute.

``There was a considerable change in his demeanor after the escort girl had paid him a visit,'' Kristensen said in an interview. (No, really???) Nurses arranged visits by call girls three times in the past three years.

While Welfare Minister Karen Jespersen says Denmark's 98 municipalities are free to let nurses call prostitutes, some lawmakers are stepping up efforts to pull women out of the profession, which has been legal in the country since 1999. ``I don't want to contribute to keeping this industry in business,'' said Mie Bergmann, an elected official with the Social-Liberal Party in Skanderborg, who led a failed vote to end prostitution at Kildegaarden. (Politicians don't like prostitutes; too much competition!)

In a poll posted last week on the Web site of national broadcaster DR, 46 percent of 1,982 readers said nursing home staff should be able to organize visits by prostitutes, 45 percent were against the practice and 8 percent were undecided. A margin of error wasn't given.

Denmark's Society for Women started a campaign in March called ``Take a Position, Man'' urging men to sign up at a Web site to protest against prostitution. (Really? What position? Missionary? Doggie-Style? Kama Sutra?)

The Copenhagen-based Danish Sex-worker Association was established last month in a bid to protect the industry. The leader, who gives her name only as Susanne on the association's Web site, said prostitutes ``often'' visit Danish elderly homes. `To forbid vulnerable customers from obtaining the services of a legal business is discriminating, both against the sex workers and the people who need help to get the services,'' Susanne said in an e-mailed response to questions. (Why did I not suspect the "Danish Sex Worker Association had a Website???)

Ouch. Ouch. Laughing too Hard. Ouch. Hee hee hee hee!!!

~~JD~~

Mahrer Screed Against Christianity; Christians Riot and Behead Mahrer **UPDATED**

Oh, I'm sorry -- wrong "religion of peace" there.

Okay, I'm not Catholic -- far from it. But being an American, I respect anyone's right to worship as they believe, and respect those of other faiths with great faith in their version of religion.

Bill Mahrer has made a career out of bashing religion, so his screed here against the Pope and religion generally is not too surprising. What's really surprising is that this crap is tolerated by so many Americans.

Why DOES he have a TV show at all?



As Bill O'Reilly noted last night:

Now, Mr. Maher has made a career out of bashing religion, so his monologue comes as no surprise. But can you imagine if Maher had castigated a Jewish or Muslim leader like that? Or if he had branded a minority group with that kind of description? The American media would slaughter him.

"Talking Points" has stated this before, but there is no better example than what you just heard. It is open season on Christians in America. You can demean and defame them all you want, and the media will laugh along with you. There's no disputing this.

As a practicing Catholic, Bill Maher's opinion doesn't bother me. I don't care that he hates religion. He has a right to that opinion, and he's up front about it.

But as with the Reverend Wright story, if you attack America or if you attack Christians, do not expect to be held to account, because the media will give you a complete pass. Media Matters, not a word about Maher. Instead that vile outfit has now branded me a homophobe in addition to being a racist. NBC News, not a word about Maher. Instead, they continue to lie down with Media Matters. CNN, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, silence.

The addresses to write if your object to this moron:

HBO's Consumer Affairs Department
212-512-1208
Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
E-Mail Link HERE

Friday's Feast!

Feast One Hundred & Seventy Nine (from February 15th, 2008, one that I missed -- no feast this week, "The Chef is Busy!")




Appetizer: Name one thing that is unique about you.



I can sleep on demand for prolonged periods. I've slept through construction, traffic, and a Scud raid in Saudi Arabia. I can also conversely stay awake for prolonged periods when I really want to. I attribute it all to being a Nurse.


Soup: Fill in the blank: My favorite _________ is __________ but I like _________ too.

My favorite food is lobster, but I like steak, too.
My favorite pets are cats, but I like dogs, too.
My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip, but I like vanilla, too.
My favorite TV show is "Battlestar Galactica", but I like "Flip That House" too.
My favorite time to sleep is an afternoon nap in the sun, but I like nighttime, too.

Salad: What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings?

Hey -- I live in Texas. Everything's Oak here. That's just the way it is.

Main Course: Who do you talk to most often on the phone?

Nobody. The only time I use the phone is to communicate with my wife or son, or to get work from my Nursing Agency. I can let a telephone ring for hours and never feel compelled to answer it.

Dessert: What level of responsibility do you have in your job?

I'm responsible for the care of 12 patients at a time, and the supervision of the three dialysis technicians who care for them. So, mid-level management with hands-on aspects.

~~JD~~

Welcome to the American Political System

~~JD~~

The Lesson For Today

An interesting e-mail I received this morning.

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.

St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."

"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."

"That's wonderful," says St.Peter, "that's worth three points!"

"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."

"Terrific!" says St.Peter.? "That's certainly worth a point."

"One point!?!! I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."

"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.

"Two points!?!!? "Exasperated, the man cries. "At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the grace of God."

"Bingo, 100 points!? Come on in!"

We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and duct tape. God did it with a nail.

Amen!

~~JD~~

Absolut-ly Nuts!

You may have heard about Absolut's campaign ads trying to curry favor with the La Raza and Reconquista crowd. They go like this:



However, thanks to Ace of Spades, we Texans have an appropriate response:



Hat Tip (And MUCH more information): Michelle Malkin

~~JD~~

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.

How in the world anyone could ever improve on the Bluebonnet (the state flower of Texas), I don't know!


Soup: Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.

Speaking Voice; James Earl Jones. Singing Voice; Nichole Nordeman.

Salad: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?

Five or six, maybe. I wash my car twice a year, whether it needs it or not. I vacuum it almost every week, and wash the windows frequently. "Too Clean" cars get stolen here in south Texas.

Main Course: How do you feel about poetry?

Not bad, how about you?

If you scroll down a post or two, you'll see one I "wrote" about Bozo the Clown; which is a scary thought.






Dessert: What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?

The sun setting over San Antonio. Here it is.

~~JD~~

The Love Song of Bozo T. Clown

I wrote this in July 2001 for the Gary Post-Tribune as a tribute to the long-running WGN-TV "Bozo the Clown" TV show. I based it on T.S. Eliot's work (obviously). The Post-Trib printed it whole, without editing, prompting their TV and Movie critic to e-mail me "you are my hero!"


The Love Song of Bozo T. Clown

(With Profound Apologies
to Mr. Eliot’s Estate . . . .)

LET us go then, you and I,
When our senility is spread out against the sky
With Bozo euthanized on WGN-TV;

Let us go, through certain web-surfed streets,
The message-board retreats
Of restless nights in sleepless e-hotels
Whilst in the background the music swells:
As they take up baton for the "Grand March" one last time
With their insidious programmers intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question...

Oh, do not ask, ' What is it? '
Just wait ten years to get your tickets.


In the room the children come and go
Talking of their friend, Bozo.

And indeed there was once upon a time
When vaudeville routines crept into TV
Rubbing their backs upon the TV-screens;
There was a time, there was a time
To prepare a clown face to meet the children that you meet;
There will be time to pratfall and create,
And time for silly works and clapping of hands
That lift and drop a cream pie on your plate;
And briskly rub it into your face,
And time yet for Cookie's indecisions,
And for Wizzo's visions and revisions,
And Oliver O. Oliver Kentucky visits,
And Sandy the Tramp, Rusty the Handyman, Cuddly-Dudley,
Professor Andy’ and Big-Top Bob’s musical improvisations,
Before the taking of a lollypop, an Archway cookie and tea.


In the room the adults come and go
Talking of their childhood friend, Bozo.

And indeed there will be time
To wonder, ' Do I care? ' and, ' Do I dare? '
Time to turn back and fall over a chair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my red yak hair--
(They will say: 'The original Boze was so much better!')
My big blue coat, my ruffled collar mounting firmly to my chin,
Without necktie, nor a simple pin--
(They will say: ' But how his lips and nose are red! ')

Do I dare . . . Throw a pie at the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a knock-knock joke will reverse.

For I have known them all already, known them all--
Have known the "Bozo's Circus," the "Bozo Show,"
And the "Super Sunday Show",
I have measured out my life with awful puns;
I know the voices groaning with a terrible joke
Beneath the music from a shrinking Big-Top Band.


So how should I continue?


And I have known the stuffed shirts; known them all--
MBA's with Arbitron studies and Market Share
(But in the klieg lights, downed with light brown hair!)
Is it cigar smoke perfume from the Prez of Tribune Corp
That makes my show such a bloody mess?
Arms that lie along a table, or sign the final check.
And should I then presume?
To know what children want to watch?

They shall I say, "We have been out-competed by Children's TV
And watched the ratings go down the pipes"
These lonely CPA's in shirt-sleeves, tossing out the Bozo Show?...

They avert their eyes, these ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of cancellation seas.

No! Bozo was not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that rules Chicago Kids' TV
We'll sing a song, tell a joke or two,
Throw a pie, and do some vaudeville, too.
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Impolitic, not cautious, and fancy-footloose;
Full of spoonerisms, but just a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous--
Almost, at times, the Fool.


I grow old...I grow old...
Bozo wears bell-bottomed trousers bold.


Shall I wear a red Yak wig? To wear "clown white" paint?
I shall wear blue bell-bottom trousers, and a red nose on my face.
I have the drum a'turning, to pick children for the "Grand Prize Game."


I do not think that they will pick me.


We have lingered in the chambers of the TV
By cartoon clowns wreathed with seaweed red and blue
Till Bozo's Circus is cancelled; and we cry, too.

(C) 2001 by J.D. Long, baby . . .