A Whovian...Evermore

It used to be so uncool. In my younger days, friends and schoolmates would ask me what I liked on television. There would be the typical early '80s answers, but then I would pipe up with "Doctor Who". By far the majority would ask, "What the heck is that?" But I would watch episodes on our local PBS affiliate with Tom Baker as the toothy and bescarved Doctor, traipsing throughout time and space in a small blue box, outwitting rubbery fake-looking monsters and overacting evil-doers with panache and an offer of "jelly babies". The writing was always imaginative, though, and the Doctor and his companions were always fun.

Once the 7th actor to play the Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, left the air, there was a long gap in the program's existence until some folks in the U.S. tried a Doctor Who made-for-tv movie with Paul McGann as the Doctor. The movie wasn't great, but it was so wonderful to see the Doctor again that I didn't care. I taped (yes...taped) it and watched it many times.

Fast forward to 6 years ago, when the Doctor returned to the BBC, and Christopher Eccleston took on the role, and the show hasn't looked back. David Tenant and his somewhat out-of-place, enthusiastic cry of allons-y added a huge number of fans, both male and female. Finally, the newest and youngest actor to play the role, Matt Smith, along with Karen Gillan as companion Amy Pond (come along, Pond!) have moved the show into the stratosphere. At the most recent San Diego ComicCon, 6500 fans crowded a room to hear the two stars chat about the program. And that 6500 was standing room only. A coworker attended and loved it. ("She is so thin!")

The show, broadcast over BBC America, constantly draws huge numbers. A recent poll in England determined that the average British person's television show to watch is Doctor Who. The terms "sonic screwdriver", "regeneration", "TARDIS", and "fezzes are cool" are no longer met with blank stares 100 % of the time. Now it's closer to 60%, I suppose. Still, even though I hate the idea of being a "hipster" who loved Doctor Who before Doctor Who was cool, I am happy that I recognized the fun of the show long ago, and take pleasure at seeing each new incarnation of the Doctor. Being a Whovian isn't so strange anymore.

Now, grab yourself a bag of jelly babies, a banana ("bananas are good"), put on your fez or Stetson, and sit down in front of your telly and either grab the dvd for Doctor Who season 1 with Eccleston, or join in when the show returns in August. Old-timers like me will welcome you with open arms.

Even if, upon seeing the show for the first time, you will ask (as all companions and visitors do), "How is the TARDIS bigger on the inside than the outside?" You'll see...and you'll love it.

What a Weekend

I had to ask myself a question: How do I look at the events of this weekend and find any semblance of sanity in the world? The answer? I can't.

Let's start with the worst of it all - Norway. The details are still coming out, but the gist is that a lunatic blew up a government building and the same lunatic, or a cohort, went to a youth camp and killed a large number of young people. His excuse seems to be that he was trying to alert everyone to the dangers of Islam. The dangers of Islam? When you shot a bunch of young people? Instead, what we see is the dangers of overreacting, hatred, guns, extremism, etc., etc.

It's amazing that anyone could try to justify such a reaction in their own mind. This guy thought that he was helping to wake up Norway to the dangers of a religion by killing people who weren't even of that religion. And yet, we see similar attitudes (although not taken to that level) in right wing fundamentalists, extreme left-wingers, zealots, and others. These folks should be asking themselves if they aren't a little bit wacko themselves. And Glenn Beck should be ashamed, as should his sponsors, for opening his big yap by saying that the youth camp in Norway "sounds a little like the Hitler youth". Really? These guys were training for antisemitism and concentration camps? Really? Why does anyone even listen to this moron?

Folks...this gunman is nuts. He thinks he has done a favor to the world. Instead, he has just proven the sickness that exists in the minds of extremists.

How about another story? Amy Winehouse. Is anyone shocked? I mean, are you really shocked that she died young? The woman may have had talent, but she was a walking billboard for the dangers of drug abuse. It is sad, and the people that enabled her drug habit should be ashamed and held accountable. But people, when you are checking TMZ for stories on drug abusing celebrities and drool over each tidbit of info that comes out, don't be surprised when they pop up dead on a regular basis. It's another example of the sickness pervading this world.

Finally, let's look at football and the U.S. government. Football...labor deal...arguing over billions...while how many people are unemployed? You people stink. Not because you are trying to make a living in the sports / entertainment industry, but because you lose sight of the big picture. People are suffering out there, and you are more concerned with getting your "fair share" of billions. That's sick.

Along with that, the Republicans and the Democrats are so focused on getting reelected by their extremist money-donating base of voters, that they don't see what they are doing to Joe Average who needs a job. Again I say...you people stink. Get off your ego trip and do what is right. Everyone...and I mean everyone...who has the means needs to pay their fair share. And it is disgusting that a single human being in this country should go hungry or go without medical care or a place to eat when CEOs and other muckity-mucks are raking in millions of dollars in salaries every year. Is their job tougher or more demanding than that of the guy trying to earn a living pulling weeds? I'm not saying they should be equal, but the government needs to remember that people are hurting, and that cutting the most needy never fixes the problem.

What's the point of all of the ranting THIS time? Go back and read the "model prayer", also known as the "Lord's prayer". You wonder why Jehovah's Witnesses go door to door telling people that God's Kingdom is the only solution that will work? Read the news from this weekend again. I dare you to ask that question.

Summertime Blues

The United States is currently sweltering under a massive heat wave. This meteorological misery is causing temperatures to feel like it is 115 degrees or more when you add the humidity. Roads are even buckling in some places due to the heat. (To those who don't believe that man can affect the environment adversely, I say "bleah"!)

Here in the Central Valley of California, we have dealt with late rains, relatively mild heat, and a strangely mild summer. What that means to most people is a more comfortable visit to the California State Fair, less sweating, and more drownings in local rivers because people are too stupid to take precautions against cold, fast currents.

What it means for me is that it is still too hot. I hate summer. I hate heat. I hate sweat. And I happen to live with two people who love the sun. I'll be calling the authorities on them soon to have them checked for insanity.

It also means higher utility bills, as I am one of those insane people willing to plop down an extra $50 or so a month to remain comfortable in my "man cave". Let other people fan themselves and perspire. I want air conditioning, and I want it now! Sadly, it also means that I am probably contributing to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. (Great! Now I have guilt! - Rex from Toy Story)

I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make here. Is it just for the purpose of blogging? Perhaps. But perhaps it is also to point out to all of those "sun worshipers" out there that not everyone likes the heat. It is also to send out an invitation to the following people:

River recreation folks who don't take precautions
People who go out for hours and hours in the sun without sunscreen
People who think that hot weather calls for riding motorcycles in t-shirts and shorts

The Darwin Awards are accepting applications.

Shows I Watch

It's been a little while since I discussed television shows, so now, without further ado (or further adon't) it my list of currently watched television shows. You may feel free to disagree with my choices, but you would be wrong.

Leverage: This season has started out a bit weakly, but the chemistry between the characters is still strong. I would like to contrast this show with another one that I immediately decided was not for me: Alphas. As I watched that show, I decided that I would rather have all of the characters violated by the TSA rather than root for them to succeed. The characters were all intensely dislikable, and thus an interesting concept landed with an overwhelming SPLAT.

Deadliest Catch: Why? Why? Why do I continue to watch this show? I hate reality shows, and this one is about crab fishing...every season. And yet, I watch. I watch, and I cannot resist. I will be petitioning the FCC to determine if this show is adding subliminal messages causing me to keep watching.

Top Gear: Do I really need to explain? I'm just waiting for season 17 to begin so that I can get my fix. If you haven't watched this on BBC America, you are a fool. I hereby assign you to do penance by watching either the Bachelorette or Basketball Wives for 3 hours straight. At which point, you will die. Or wish you were dead. Instead, watch Top Gear and be a very happy camper.

Burn Notice (with a caveat): This show is very close to jumping the shark. I am watching suspiciously, but something had better change. And soon.

Eureka: One of the most imaginative shows on the air....again. I just watched the first episode of the new season and it is still great. I just hated waiting so long for it to return. Where else could you find an artificially intelligent robot deputy wanting to marry a house endowed with artificial intelligence. What...she wasn't ready to settle down? On top of that, the Sheriff rode off with his injured robot deputy on the back of a horse to save the day and what do we hear? The deputy (Andy) yelling, "I'm on a horse!" Classic.

Doctor Who: On break until the end of summer. Nooooooooo!!! I need my fix!!! Now!!!

That's it for now. Other shows that make honorable mention are NCIS (on break), NCIS:LA (on break), Top Gear USA (need new presenters), and Psych (on break...otherwise it goes to near the top of the list!)

Don't like my choices? Let's debate! Oh...you lose.

Budget Battles

Does anyone really think that the people in charge of the government have people's best interests at heart? There they are...meeting and cajoling and meeting and digging in, and they can't come to any kind of agreement. Why is that?

The simple reason is that they are only interested in doing what gets them reelected. Period. They have to appeal to the most extreme end of their political base so that they get the fringe element, while hoping that those toward the center will choose them as the least harmful choice when election time arrives. In the end, though, it is Joe Lunchbox who gets the shaft.

It's funny. The Bible teaches us to pay to Caesar what is Caesar's, and that includes taxes. Yet the people that are elected to decide how the money is spent stops caring about those who are giving the money, unless of course you are talking about the top 1/2% of wage earners who give a big chunk to campaigns, or big companies that prop up this stupidity.

The model prayer in the Bible teaches us to pray for God's Kingdom to come. And yet there are those who think that humans can do the job. Take a look at the news this evening. I dare you to come back to me and believe that they can. But if you do watch the news, avoid Fox. They might be tapping your phone to see what you think about them.

No Responses

I don't blame anyone but myself. I'd be shocked if anyone even looked at this blog more than once a month. Still, the offer still stands.

On other notes...here's a look at some of the topics that have caught my eye:

Rupert Murdoch: Come on now...is anyone REALLY surprised that this guy is a scumball? Really?

NFL Lockout: Lots of people making lots of money. Getting organized is important, but the rookie wage scale needs fixing. (See: Russell, JaMarcus) Also, they need to take care of the guys who are done with the game who can't even dress themselves or remember their families.

NBA Lockout: Two words will fix most of the problems: revenue sharing. Do you really want 4 teams each in NY, LA, and Chicago? That's where this is heading if small markets like Sacramento can't compete financially.

iPad 2: Got mine. Love it. Only complaints are that I can't afford 3G in addition to my iPhone (when do we get tethering??) and I really wish this "Flash" issue would get resolved.

Cars: (real cars...not the movie) Does anyone else think that the influx of boxes on wheels is ridiculous? I mean, come on...the Scion xB, the Nissan Cube, etc., etc. I really like small cars with some personality: e.g., Mini Cooper S, Fiat 500, or even the Ford Fiesta. You want boxes on wheels? Go back to the U.S. made cars of the 70s.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading.

This Is It

I'm tired of this. I'm tired of starting to write...stopping for awhile...remembering that I have a blog...etc., etc.

How do I get myself excited about writing a blog? And more to the point, how do people decide what to write about?

I've been told that I am a decent writer, and I would really like to write a book. I tried to write a few chapters of the "France" book I had in mind, but it never really took off in my heart. I just couldn't get excited about it. So now I'm stumped.

I'm sarcastic, but I don't want to write a book sarcastically, as that would get annoying to readers, I think. I love the way that Douglas Adams wrote. There is no way that I could or would duplicate his style, and a series like "Hitchhiker's Guide" only comes along once in a lifetime. So what do I do?

I am pleased to note that in the past I have had upwards of 3 readers of my blog. Three! Count 'em! OK...I'm done counting already. But perhaps if those three would tell others, I could get some more people reading and I would be inclined to write more. I would also love it if I could get some brainstorming ideas of what would make a good book for my writing style.

So here is my challenge: anyone who is reading this post...please get another 2 people to read it. Then, I would like it if those folks would comment by either clicking on the "comment" link or by clicking on my profile and sending me an email. I would really be grateful for ... note the following ... useful comments.

Thanks in advance. I'm gone.

Two Dreaded Words

There are all sorts of envelopes that you don't want to see when you open your mailbox. The return address is usually a dead giveaway: IRS, DMV, Franchise Tax Board. But sometimes those can be good things, such as refunds. Yes, that's rare, but it has happened in the past. Still, an envelope that never brings good news for me always shows the return address, "Jury Commissioner".

I hate jury duty. It isn't because I don't value the idea of having a trial by jury if my life ever took a turn in that direction. Frankly, I am pretty sure that I would rather be judged by twelve members of the general public rather than a single, or even a tribunal, of judges who may be bored, angry, unloved, or just plain mean. But that doesn't mean that jury duty is a joy. I hate the idea of arriving at the courthouse at 9 am, waiting for my name to be called (assuming that it DOES get called), and then sitting down and waiting some more for an Assistant D.A. or attorney for the defense tries to find out if I have preconceived ideas, relatives in law enforcement, or even post-nasal drip. Doesn't there seem to be a need for a better way? I mean, sometimes the trial gets postponed, dropped, settled, etc., before it even gets underway. And I have wasted my time going down there just to be told, "Never mind."

I have to report this Tuesday at 9 a.m. What can I bring? What can I do to occupy my mind until I am either seated or released? I could read a book. I could play with my phone until it dies. Maybe I could write letters. Let's see...return address....anything but Jury Commissioner.

The Doctor Is In

I used to be a television addict. When I was young, you couldn't drag me away from television. But now, as I look back at what I used to watch, I shudder in shame. Certain shows just don't hold up with time. (See: animated series from the 80s.) However, some hold up quite well. Go back and watch some episodes of Night Court, Barney Miller, and the Benny Hill Show (a guilty pleasure, but he was an absolute genius with wordplay...even if you think the ladies in scanty clothing was sexist.)

So what do I think of television today? There is still some good stuff on, but I tend to be more selective. I don't watch much, even though from time to time I will look in on a series. Here is a list of some of the shows that I think are good, or even great:

NCIS (both series)

Castle

Mythbusters

Leverage

Eureka

Psych

Top Gear (Absolutely the show I can watch over and over again!)

And leading the pack for over 40 years on the air: Doctor Who.

I know, I'm a geek, right? Well, hear me out.

Doctor Who has been on the air a long time, with props and costumes ranging from the cheap to the silly in the old days of Tom Baker. Special effects have improved dramatically with the newest incarnation of the series, but two things have remained consistent throughout the run of the show: the writing and the Doctor.

The writing has been imaginative, clever, and thought-provoking. It never shies from staring down the bad in humanity, while still expressing hope for what can be good. It also takes us to worlds and times beyond imagining and throws in humor to boot. I love the work that has been done on this series. (Want a great episode? Look for "Blink". You'll never look at a statue the same way ever again!)

But despite the age of the series, it remains fresh thanks to the men who have played the title role throughout the years. In a bit of forethought that remains unrivaled in television, the writers of the early series thought that when the time came for a lead actor to leave the series, the series didn't need to end or even have a new actor try to play the role in the same way. Instead, the Doctor would regenerate, having the same memories but a different face and personality. So, we could have Tom Baker followed by Peter Davison and believe that either one is the Doctor.

Moving to our day, when David Tennant decided to leave the series, many thought it might be the end. Next to Tom Baker, Tennant was probably the most popular Doctor ever. The powers-that-be had the gall to choose the youngest man to ever play the role, Matt Smith. He is young, thin, rather goofy looking...and a fantastic choice to play the Doctor (Geronimo!)

If you have never watched the series, and want to understand it, it's fine to start with Christopher Eccleston (the first man to play the Doctor in the new series) and go from there. If you can get past your pre-conceived notions of what the show is, I'm sure that you will find it to be one of the best things on your television.

For me...my television viewing re-starts on Saturday, April 23, as the Doctor's TARDIS materializes in my television on BBC America. Allons-y!

I Stink At This

OK. Did you ever get the feeling that your entire blog consists of apologies? That's all I seem to do. Still, if it means anything...I'm sorry. I've been very busy.

My topic of the day is the Sacramento Kings and the demise of the Maloof public image. For the longest time, the Maloof brothers, owners of the Sacramento Kings, swore up and down that the team was in Sacramento for the long haul; that they would never move the team. Then, the downhill slide began. The team started losing, the economy soured, the arena got old, the local government couldn't or wouldn't come up with a solution for a new arena...and the Maloofs forgot what made them popular owners.

These brothers began to think that they were the star attractions, making lame Carl's Jr. commercials and thinking they were the be-all and end-all of popularity. They stopped caring about their image with the fans and cared about their image of themselves. They wanted a new arena, but didn't act as though they wanted to help with the plans. Instead, they expected city leaders to hand a new arena to them on a platter. "Here are the keys, Misters Maloof. Enjoy your new playground."

Sadly, the public couldn't justify spending hundreds of millions of dollars of tax money on an arena while teachers were being laid off and thousands of people were losing their homes. What a surprise. Instead of being patient, enthusiastic, or even giving the impression that they cared, the Maloofs instead began losing money themselves; selling their beer distributorship, watching their casino start a slide into the negative category (losing money on a casino??), and putting a poor product on the floor in Sactown to save money. They experienced a new surprise there...fans stopped filling the seats.

Anyway, I digress. The Maloofs showed their final bit of scorn for the fans in Sacramento by not attending the final game of the season against their bitter rivals, the Lakers. Instead, they were winging their way to New York to try to convince the powers-that-be to let them move the team that they swore they would never move.

What is my point? I don't really know. I only feel scorn and disdain for the Maloofs right now. I feel they are cowards and liars. They think that being the worst team in a three team city will be better for them than being the only game in town in Sacramento. What a joke. Wait a few years, Anaheim, and the Maloofs will be moving somewhere else. They will act as though they are in Anaheim to stay, and that they have the best fans in the world. Then, the Pond will get older and the shine will wear off, fans will stop paying to see a third-rate product when they can see their beloved Lakers win and win again, and the Maloofs will have to find somewhere else to park their toy.

Well, begone miscreants! We still have hope for the future. Perhaps Kevin Johnson's plan to bring in financial angels will work. Maybe we will have another team to join the Sac State Hornets (the Sacramento Hornets?). But that just means that New Orleans - a city that has suffered more than any should ever have to - will lose their team. At least they have a Super Bowl championship. All Sacramento has right now of memories of being a jilted lover.

Joe and Gavin...you are the worst kind of cowards. Not just lying to a city, but not even daring to state your case to the fans, or say "thank you" on the last night of the season.

Just go away. I'm done with you and any teams that may have the misfortune of calling you owners.

A Grandmother I'll Never Know

My Grandmother died in January in North Hollywood, California. That's sad. It's sadder still, because I never knew her.

As readers of this blog know, I am adopted. I hired a private investigator to help me to locate my natural mother. Fortunately, the clues and research I already compiled led to the discovery of my mother's address and phone number. The investigator contacted my mother, who quickly told the P.I. that she wanted no contact with me. The amazing thing was that she was at the home of her mother, my grandmother, who was not doing very well. My grandmother was 94 years old as of her last birthday. 94! That was incredible to me, and gave me hope that my genetics would help me to live a good, long life. Still, I had hope that if I wrote to my mother, she might at least agree to send me some information on my family, if for no other reason than tracing my family tree.

As you might already know, she refused and, in fact, didn't even answer my letter.

As I picked up my research again through Ancestry.com, I ran my grandmother's name through a search engine, hoping to pick up some other information. I did. I found a two-line obituary notice, stating that she had died about two weeks earlier.

I didn't know this woman. I don't know what she was like. I didn't know any stories that she might have kept in her memory about her ancestors, and what led her family here to the U.S. from Ireland and Scotland. And yet, I feel a profound sense of loss, precisely because I didn't get to know her.

It isn't the kind of mourning where you weep over someone that you knew and loved. It is just a knot in the pit of my stomach, and a bit of bitterness towards my natural mother who refused my overtures. I'm sure it is hard for her, and a bit shocking, to be contacted by the child you gave up for adoption 47 years before. But I told her that I didn't want a "relationship" of "mother and child". I just wanted to know where my ancestors are from. I just wanted to know a little of what kind of genetic material drives my personality. Perhaps I could find out a bit about my natural father. And perhaps I could have learned a bit from the woman who was born just before World War I began. Now I never will...and I will have the regret that I didn't start my search ten years earlier, which might have allowed me the time to make inroads and perhaps establish contact with my grandmother.

Goodbye, Mrs. P. I never knew you except through my family tree. And I am truly sorry for that.

Kitties are Gone

Life sometimes kicks you in the teeth. And sometimes, it's your own fault.

We had to send the kittens back to the rescue organization today. To make a long story short, Stig wasn't getting any better, the stench was making the other two folks in my household physically ill, and the vet bills were beginning to mount. Overall, it was a lose-lose situation.

How do I feel? Lousy.

I actually grew to love those kittens very quickly. Even though they drove me nuts, I understood that they were kittens, and certain behaviors were common to young kittens. The other members of the family had a harder time with that. Yet, when I think of Jezza sitting on my shoulder asleep, purring in my ear, my heart starts to break.

This is going to take some time to get over.

No pets. Ever again. I'm done. I just can't take the hurt.

The Latest...

Another quick note. Life is hectic right now, especially due to the continuing saga with Stig. He is no better after three antibiotic treatments. We are getting plenty of advise from plenty of people, including our vet, but nothing is helping. Frankly, the frustration level continues to reach dangerous levels. (Dangerous for my blood pressure and sanity.) We just cannot get his issues resolved, and on top of that, my allergy-based asthma seems to be cropping up. Within the next week we may hit a "make or break" situation, where things have to improve or we are going to have to look at getting rid of the cats. If that happens, we'll have to call it a very expensive mistake in judgment.

Please continue to be patient. My family and my congregation requirements take precedent over all other things (including blogging).

I wonder if sticking a cork up Stig's....no....never mind.

Delay of Game

Just a comment to let everyone know the reason for the delay of game in my promised posting.

The kittehs are adapting to live at Chez Moi, but Stiggy is still having some major digestion problems. He has been to the vet, received worming meds, been placed back on his original diet...and still no change. It's odd, because in all other respects, the Stig is an active, fun-loving kitteh. It's just the problems with...well...digestive releases in a gaseous and liquid form that are causing issues. So, between that, friends visiting from the East Coast, and trying to get things ready for next week (4 parts in two days...yikes!) that is causing my "procrastination".

I promise...things are coming. Kitteh stories....France stories...and other picture postcards...coming soon.

OK...I promised...

All right. I promised. I have to deliver. Now that I'm back in the States, I'm going to be writing a bit more about France, from the point of view of this vacation. It has been 7 years since my last trip, so I was curious if anything had changed. I must admit that it has, and I'll be trying to chronicle some of the "misadventures" that took place on this trip.

However, that's to come. As for now, I'm just going to place a bit of updated information here.

Today is "kitteh day" in our household. Our rescue kittehs are here, and they have refused to be timid and wait in the single room that we had set aside for them. Instead, they decided that running down stairs and investigating everything was far more fun.

They are still a bit skittish when it comes to noises and being held, but as time goes by we hope that they will relax and become people cats. They already have some of those inclinations, and after the newness wears off, I'm sure they will let it show.

What have I learned about kittehs so far? First of all...poop stinks. Even with deodorizing litter. It stinks. But it isn't as bad as the bathrooms at work can smell, so that's good.

Second, they are indeed "kittehs". I use this spelling as a salute to the "ICanHazCheezburger" website. These two, Jezza and Stig, are already showing major personalities and I can see lots of photo ops in the future. They are nuts and are truly of child/adolescent age, and will attack anything within the immediate area that needs attacking.

Finally, I wish I hadn't waited so long to get cats again. I forgot how wonderful it is to see these creatures at play, and while they can be a pain in the keister, they are also well worth the effort. So, the "kitteh years" begin in our household.

By the way, if you are interested in very helpful information about cats, be sure to check www.about.com and search for the section written by Frannie Syufy. It's quite good.

Back to the kittehs, and watch this space for the vacation observation complications.

Coming Attractions

I can't give any details here, but I will be posting some very new stuff shortly. Give me about 10 days from now. I can't promise you'll enjoy it. I can't even promise that you'll want to read it. But at least it will be new!

Ready For Kitties

You know what? First pets are expensive! When you stop to total everything you need to own a cat, it really adds up.

First, there's the adoption fees. In our case, $75 per kitten. But for that, we have 2 healthy, neutered, well-taken-care-of-and-well-loved little buddies. But let's add the rest, shall we?

Dry food (not the cheap junk that will ruin their health), a variety of healthy canned food to see what they like, litter box, litter, litter disposal container (not required, but huge benefit), pet bed (they have to be comfy), scratching posts and toys (to keep them from destroying what they shouldn't), food bowls, collars, tags...man! It's like preparing a nursery!!

Still, when one considers the cost, one also has to consider the benefit. You get two little creatures who can actually show affection, who lower blood pressure (in some cases), who amuse...I think it's worth it. I don't deal well with losing a pet, but hopefully that's a long way off in the future. For now, I find it amazing that God created creatures like this who can provide humans with happiness and who have such amazing abilities. (How do they jump like that??) And, let's face it, kitties are cute. They are. Even the most jaded heart can't look at a kitten and think, "What an ugly creature." No way.

So, I'm looking at 2 weeks and counting until we have our new little friends. Life will never be the same. And I'm glad.

Long Time, No See

Okay. I admit it. I got lost. Somewhere between recovering from injury and learning French and taking care of everyday mundane matters I forgot that I had a blog.

I do that a lot.

Still, it isn't all bad. Very few people read this blog, and those who do haven't said anything. Until today. Until I got a frowny face with a tear from Asiavou. (Sorry, Asia.)

So where do I go from here? I think I'll try to get back into this over the next few weeks, with new observations about culture shock, cultural differences, and a variety of experiences. One of the newest experiences will be that of raising pets again. No, not children...pets.

My wife and I have gone ahead and arranged to be adopted by, not one, but two kittens. They are about 5 months old and were rescued by an organization called Itsie Bitsie Rescue. We will pick them up at the end of the month, but have already met, and fallen in love with them. I'll give you a brief description in today's blog.

The kitten that caught my eye was a beautiful little orange tabby. He was named Cheeto at the time, but we have decided he will be called Jezza (a salute to Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear). This kitten's markings were so unusual that I had to adopt him. He has a circle on either side of his body, with stripes around them, and three racing stripes down his back. He is a purr-machine and seems to think that he is part parrot, as he loves sitting on shoulders. Why? I don't know. He's a charmer, though, and we can't wait to have him running roughshod over our house.

We were worried about Jezza being lonely, though. So we asked if he had a best friend at the rescue organization. They gave us an enthusiastic "yes" response, and with that we met a cute little white male kitten with a dark gray mask and "cape". The name "Stig" was a natural. He is much calmer, and is a bit hesitant around people, but he was very glad to be held and is best buddies with Jezza. The "foster parent" was worried that Jezza was a bully to Stig, until she watched them interact for awhile. When Jezza would playfully attack Stig, Stig would wait until a bit later when Jezza wasn't looking, and then...revenge! (Best served cold, eh?)

Anyway, we are hooked on these two kittehs (the lolcat word for kittens) and can't wait to get them home. It should be fun, and it will certainly create some experiences to blog about. Stay tuned.

A Waste of Time

It's amazing. I have lost a month. Oh, I've been relatively conscious and aware during this lost amount of time. However, I realized today that a month of recovery time has passed and I have accomplished absolutely nothing. Nothing!

Sure, I've been doing my physical therapy to try to regain mobility. But other than that? Not a heck of a lot.

I have asked myself why this may be. Why have I gone over 30 days without even trying to write a chapter of my book, doing more ancestry research, or even starting a hobby such as trying to build a model using only one foot and no hands? I don't know. I guess it could be some form of depression. Perhaps it is merely incredible Garfield-type laziness. All I know is that I've done nothing.

I still have a few days. Can I do something? Probably not. The only writing I foresee is the writing off of this rehab time as a complete waste.

Yeah...some form of depression. I'll buy that.

Working My Way Back

It has been nearly a month. During that month, I have spent about 95% of my time in my living room downstairs. Stir crazy? Me? Absolutely.

Still, there have been some positives during this time of rehabilitation. For example, I have discovered that the insurance companies that I chose for my health coverage and my motorcycle coverage have been top-notch. Aetna has been great, and I have not had to worry about what is covered and what is not. Sutter Hospital has also been fantastic. I was treated great and had full confidence in my doctors and nurses. When you consider that I am scared of hospitals in themselves, it was nice that they made me feel so comfortable. Finally, I was covered by Allied Insurance for my motorcycle coverage. Not only did they not make me feel like slime for filing a claim, but they processed matters quickly and professionally and seemed genuinely concerned for my recovery. All in all, I was very impressed with all parties involved in helping me get back on my feet.

My motorcycle is dead. The insurance company has determined that it is irreparable and are "totaling" it. Even though I am glad that I don't have to deal with the repair and sale of the bike, I am still saddened by the loss of my pretty little motorcycle. What a waste.

So where am I on my recovery? Well, I am in a walking boot, even though I am not supposed to walk in it. (Should it be called a walking boot?) My right arm is doing better, even though I still have some pain. My left shoulder is still in bad shape. It's going to take a lot of physical therapy to get it back to semi-normal. And yet, I am very grateful that it wasn't worse. I am hoping to get back to work shortly, perhaps as early as next week. I have to get to the point where I can use my left arm to move my wheelchair around my workplace.

Thanks to everyone who has offered words of support and has helped me in concrete ways as well. (e.g., those who provided dinners for two weeks after I got out of the hospital.) I don't wish an accident like this on anyone, but I'm glad it isn't worse. To those who think that riding motorcycles without proper protection is a fun and "free" thing to do...think again. Please...wear armor. Spend the money for a high-quality helmet. Recognize that all it takes is a moment for you to be badly injured or killed. You may not always think so, but it is certain that someone would miss you if you died. And it is also certain that if you were badly injured that someone would have to change their entire life to take care of you. If you won't wear protection for your own benefit, at least consider others.