Civil War

In view of recent events, if there were to be another civil war in this country, would it be a huge leap to assume it would be between the political parties as opposed to race or religion? Perhaps Saturday's tragedy in Arizona, including the death of an innocent 9-year-old will cause people to slow down and catch their breath.

Because up to now the anger that is broadcast daily is truly reprehensible. When one hears about "taking back our country" it sounds as if we've been invaded and our government doesn't reflect the will of the people. The fringe of our society, the one's who's brain's aren't wire quite right, then feel its their responsibility to do just that. Violently!

Well, we need to find better solutions than that. Our politicians were validly elected by majority vote (such that we have it set up, anyway). Should our politicians not perform to our nearly impossible expectations, then we will have the right to select those we feel will.

Most of us have a rational view this. However, increasingly many, do not. And their skewed view of our world is consistently reinforced by syndicated talking heads who have no qualms about spewing ideologies that in many cases are without merit. Remember "death panels"? As if this great nation would ever sanction such a thing.

Of course the vomit that shoots out comes from both sides of the aisle. So we must all strive to stop the "sky is falling" mentality and learn to discuss our differences with restraint and as adults. The sky is not falling. Our country will perservere as it always has despite its past political fractures. The next election will almost certainly balance out the perceived flaws of the last one. We can fight with our vote. Anger and hate and feeling that those who think differently from us are inferior is counterproductive. We're better than that.

But then, adult conversation, respect for those who feel differently and efforts to grasp another's point of view don't make for good radio or television, do they?

More Blatt

Nobody's interested in the disgusting details about how I barfed on New Year's Eve are they?

Merry Christ(***BLAT***)mas

A stomach bug for an entire family does not make for a Norman Rockwell-type Christmas. My 8-year-old declared it the "worst Christmas ever!". But then, she's only had 7 that were better. So, the optimist that I am, I delcared it a top-10 Christmas! Right?

Least she got a shitload of loot! I got an e-reader. Its sooooo cool.

Inked

I got myself an early Christmas present. I got another tattoo. A few years back I posted about the one I had done to honor my daughter. I even mentioned at the time that if I had another child I would get one to honor him.

So I did.

Last Friday I took a 90 minute lunch and a terribly nice guy did the artwork based on an idea I had drawn up years ago. However, I don't remember the other two hurting like this one does. Its still sore but I totally dig it so it was well worth it!

Now, my wife is not huge on tattoos. When I came home to tell her I had new work done in the name of our son, she genuinely seemed excited to see it. And when I showed her she said she really liked it. That meant a lot to me.

Its the Chinese symbol for "family" with my son's initials.

(its still a litle scaley)

Then last weekend, we went to visit my parents for the holidays. While my mom would never lecture me about something such as that I just didn't want to deal with it. She didn't go wild about my others. I don't remember the comment, but there definitely was one. Again, I just didn't want to deal with it. Do you know what I mean?

We really had a terrific holiday visit and I think moms think of their kid's bodies as their own. So I guess that's why I usually reveal it on my own terms and that didn't seem like the time. She knows of my other two and she can find out about this one too; eventually.

Funny, though, Friday night my brand-new tattoo stained her sheets! Like ink and blood stains. Evidently, I rolled over onto my side and stayed there a while. Therefore, a direct mirrored replication of the tattoo was on her sheets.

Guess what we did? Tell her? No. Clean it? Nope. We bought new sheets even though they don't quite match. Knowing my folks, my dad will probably change the sheets and I can't imagine he'd notice. But if they realize, they may think my dog, wife, or child had an accident. I wonder in any event but we found it funny, our little caper.

Then I decided to cut out the swatch of fabric from the sheets we stole and scrap book it for my little guy. Who knows, maybe it will mean something to him some day.

Then Where Did It Go?

Our office has been here 17 years. I've been in my particular office within the office probably the past 13 years. Since I cannot stand anything in my pockets (phone, keys, wallet, change, etc.) I typically put all my change in a plastic cup in my desk drawer. I've done this forever and it comes in handy those days I just need a coffee and left my wallet somewhere, or whatever.

One morning, about 2 years ago it went missing! It was not low, like someone skimmed it. It was gone! The entire cup. At that time two things were new -- the cleaning crew (who merely bought the business, they used to do the cleaning before that) and a new receptionist/clerk/do-everything guy who actually does nothing except screw shit up and surf Facebook.

But he's related to one of the partners.

With me so far?

So I mention the missing money and there was a tepid investigation that went nowhere. Management believed the kid. The cleaning crew swore up and down they did nothing, etc.

So now I hide my change in my office inside a campy chessboard of all places. Its not even about the money. What's a cup hold? $6? But sometimes its nice to have it available and the principal of it along with the fact there's some asshole going through my desk pissed and pisses me off.

That was, as I said, about two years ago. Flash forward to lasst week ---

I drive a company car. Its a big piece of shit that I may have blogged about, but it saves me wear and tear on my own vehicle and its only marginally embarrassing to be seen in. In the center console I put change that I accumulate on the road as I park in various towns that have meters.

Well clerkboy used the company car a few days when his car needed some service (remember, he's related to a partner). Yeah, you guessed it. Next time I parked, all the fucking silver I had put in the console was gone! I was so pissed I parked with the meter red hoping to get a ticket that the company would pay for. Am I a rebel or what?

Surprisingly, after 90 minutes, no ticket. If it was my car there sure would be one.

Anyway, I didn't say anything because I wasn't completely sure there was change as I have used up all the silver in the past. But I was pretty sure there was. Again, its not the money but if he did it, what balls!! I mean, its MY money. Its not company money and he knows who drives 99% of the miles on that car.

Guess I won't store money there either. Perhaps I'll add a couple bucks to my expense report.

Accomplished

Got the tree up.

Decorated the house with lights.

Had some nice Egg Nog and spiced rum.

A chill and some flurries was in the air.

Wife threw her back out.

Which doesn't belong and why? Poor thing. She's at the doctor now.

Bad Day

Man, I'm having a bad day at work.

Ever have one of those days? You know, where just NOTHING goes right?

Take today for instance. I've spend the last 90 minutes trying to load album art onto some of the songs on my Blackberry that doesn't have any. Still working on it too!

Damn work!