So Tired

Have you ever been really tired? I mean so tired that you feel as though you could fall down where you are and just sleep?

Yeah. Me too. It's been that kind of a month, and things don't appear to be getting any better. Still, like so many others, I'll deal with it. Besides, things could be much worse.

I could be in Iran right now. What a situation. The strange thing is that some people are hollering for the United States to get involved. Yeah, they should get right on that. The U.S. can simply add another front to the battles already being fought. That'll work. Besides, the issue for Iran is internal. It's an election fraud battle. Hmmm...wonder what would have happened if people got that angry back during Bush/Gore?

I could be one of the many, many people who have been laid off. I have so many friends who are going through this. It's heartbreaking. I hope things improve soon. Which leads to...

I could be a California legislator. Don't you feel sorry for them? They are so wrapped up in their party differences that they just won't put the people first. Awwwww.....poor babies.

I could be a school-aged child. Did you ever notice that cuts tend to hit the schools first? It's amazing. Sure, administrators could probably do a better job budgeting their funds, but it doesn't help that legislators think that selling the kids down the river is a budget-cutting option. When they graduate, they'll be as thick and unlearned as the legislators that are running the show and...wait...the legislators are breeding new legislators!!!

No. I think tired is okay.

Soooo lazy

Man, it's hard to believe that I have such a difficult time posting to a blog. It's just that I forget about it, especially since I don't know if anyone is reading it.

Anyway, I'm just going to add a quick update here, and try to do better in the future.

French is still a tough language. I have people tell me that I'm getting good at it, but I don't hear it. Why is that? Is it due to self-dislike, lack of self-confidence, or what? Anyway, I have to keep working at it, because I'm going to have a ton more work in a few months, and it isn't going to be pretty.

Still loving my Ninja 250. It's a blast, and it handles so well. I've gotten used to riding again, and I realize just how much I missed it. My only concern is that it's going to start hitting 100 degrees soon, and even my new highly ventilated jacket is going to feel broiling. Oh well, it's better to be safe. Just a warning to all of you in cars: when bikers split lanes, it isn't always because we just want to get ahead of you. For instance, sometimes when it is hot, you forget that we don't have air conditioning on our bikes, and sitting for 10 minutes waiting to move to the front of a line at a light can cause us to start dehydrating. So please, if you see one of us coming down your line between cars, give us a break. We aren't all doing it to show off.

I heard former governor Jesse Ventura talking on a radio show the other day, and he was saying how many of the problems in the world today can be chalked up to organized religion. I was struck by how much that sounded like a shot across the bow for the destruction of Babylon.

Convention next month in SF. Wish I could go to the one in Paris or North Carolina, but money's tight, as many people are experiencing. Maybe next year.

One more thought: change the NBA lottery! There's no way that the team with the worst record should only have a 25% shot at the top pick. That's ridiculous! Weight it so the team has at least a 40% chance at the top pick, 20 at the number 2 pick, and is guaranteed no worse than #3. The Kings getting the number 4 pick after a 17 win season is ludicrous.


Posted 30 minutes later: One MORE thought! PETA and its members should get a freaking life! Now they are upset at President Obama for killing a fly. A fly!!! It is an insect, known for carrying disease and serving very little purpose. Why don't you people worry more about human beings? A fly....for cryin' out loud. On top of that, they are upset at the fishmongers in Seattle for tossing fish. Dead fish. Not live fish. Dead fish. Fish that are bereft of life. They are pushing up the daisies! (Sorry...having a Monty Python moment there.) Does PETA think that the fish are embarassed being thrown? Perhaps they aren't really dead. They're not QUITE dead. In fact, they're feeling better and think they'll go for a walk! (Whoops. Another Python moment.) I say again...GET A LIFE! GET A CLUE!!! GET A REAL JOB!!!

I'm not saying that animal abuse is acceptable in any way. However, these are flies and dead fish. Flies and dead fish. I can't even wrap my brain around the way these loons think. I'm going to take some Tylenol now and try to get these dorks out of my brain. (Loonies.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31422688/ns/us_news-weird_news/

Why Closed Adoption Records?

Today I decided to try once again to find out who I am.  Let me back up for a moment.  I was adopted as a baby back in 1964.  I never had a huge desire to find my birth parents, but I did feel the need to find out some health information.  Every time you go to the doctor, they ask if there is any family history of heart disease, diabetes, etc., and every time I have to answer, "I don't know...I was adopted."

I understand the desire of a birth parent to remain anonymous.  Back in 1964, it was still unacceptable for an unmarried woman to have a baby.  It was still a stigma.  Today, many woman have babies despite being unmarried.  It's the way times have changed.  I'm not saying that I approve of it, but that's how things are.  But I digress.

I wrote to the adoption agency who handled matters and received a nice letter from the woman who actually handled my adoption!  Of course, she was very limited in the information that she could provide.  I found out precious little about my birth parents.  My "father" had forced his intentions upon my natural mother, and then his father helped him to skip town.  My mother was very young and decided to put me up for adoption.  I'm grateful to her for this decision, not because I think she would have been a bad parent, but because she could have had an illegal abortion!  I think I prefer living, thank you very much.  Anyway, through conversations with my adoptive family, I garnered one precious piece of information.  My sister remembers seeing the file at the adoption agency with the name "Baby Boy Pringle" on it.  Pringle.  That had to be my mother's last name!  So, after a lot of research, I found one piece of information to corroborate my sister's recollection.  In a database of birth records, I found the following:

Last Name:  PRINGLE

First Name:

Middle Name:

Birth Yr, Mo, Day 1964 (and the birth date matches, too!)

Mother's Last Name:  PRINGLE

Sex:  MALE

County of Birth: LOS ANGELES

It all matched.  So I went back farther to see if there were any Pringles who would have been around 17 or 18 at that time.  I could only narrow it down to females born in Los Angeles county in 1945 or 1946.  The chances that a woman would have remained in the same county all her life up to that point were slim.  Still, I found two:  Donna Jo Pringle born in 1945, and Penny Lee Pringle (mother's maiden name Pfeil) born in 1946.  Frankly, I doubt if either one of these are correct.

I even had the adoption agency put a letter and Consent to Contact note in my file to allow my birth mother to reach me if she chose to do so.  She has yet to make contact, and it has been over 10 years since I added that to my file.

What's the point of all of this?  Those of us who are adopted need a little more than our birth place as information.  At the very least, we need medical histories that are as detailed as possible without giving away our birth parents' names or addresses.  It isn't fair that I don't know if my family has a history of cancer, genetic diseases, or even insanity!  (I may be proof of the latter, who knows?)  There are a number of diseases or problems that I might be able to prevent if I knew my family history.  As is, my medical life is a roll of the dice, not knowing what might happen and not knowing if I could do anything to stop a future issue.  I deserve to know these things.  Not just for my own peace of mind, but for that of MY family, who depends on me to provide for them.

If anyone reads this or searches on it and may know anything, please drop me a line.  Even if you don't know anything, just take a moment to think about how beneficial it would be if birth records included medical histories.  It could save a life.

And to birth mother, with the maiden name Pringle...I'd like to know you if you would like to know me.  But even if you want to stay anonymous, a little note to the adoption agency with a medical history for me would be helpful.  

Swine!

So, we're having flashbacks to the swine flu fiasco of 1976.  That was the last time that people panicked so that the government panicked so that they gave inoculations that ended up killing more people than the flu did!

I've been noticing a strange disconnect between this version of the flu and the facts about flu.  In reality, quite a number of people die in the U.S. every year from a variety of flu types.  This version is no different.  The reason it seems different is because a number of people in Mexico have already died from this version, and the current flu vaccine doesn't carry antibodies for this type of flu.  Okay.  So what do we do?  Act like it's SARS version 2 and walk around wearing surgical masks?  Go ahead.

How about this?  If you're sick, stay home from work or school.  Instead of thinking you are brave or saving up your sick pay or PTO or vacation, use the hours and avoid spreading the virus!  I hate it when parents send their kids to school because they "can't afford to miss a day", and they end up contaminating a bunch of other kids.  If our children have so much homework that they can't miss a day, then that's another matter that needs to be addressed by our school boards and governments who think that passing a STAR test or a High School Exit Exam is a good determiner of future success.  (Getting off track.  Sorry.  But I really hate the way schools do things these days!)

Another thing you can do is something quite novel:  wash your hands.  With soap.  And warm water.  For more than 5 seconds.  I can't tell you how often I see someone leave a bathroom without stopping to wash his hands first.  It's disgusting, it spreads disease, and...it's disgusting.  (It's even worse than seeing someone talking on a cell phone while he is using the urinal!  And that's another story to harp on some other time!)

Influenza is a virus.  It can't really be killed easily, but its transmission can be halted.  Just use some common sense, don't panic, and follow basic cleanliness regimes.

And for goodness sake, if you have the flu, STAY HOME!!!  (And stay out of my office!)

Nonsense Thoughts

I realized that I haven't added a posting for a little while, so I thought I would write a quick blurb of a variety of thoughts.

1) I stink at learning French. Period. I hate it because I have absolutely no gift or skill at it whatsoever. Frustration talking? Maybe. But I really am not getting the hang of this.

2) The Kings are changing coaches again. I can't see Kenny Natt continuing as coach.
2b) I don't see Beno Udrih remaining as the starting point guard much longer, either.

3) Jay Cutler is a whiner, and the coach of the Broncos is an egotist. (Like I care about the Broncos, Bears, or Cutler...)

4) One of the great internet comic strips out there is Real Life. (www.reallifecomics.com) Greg Dean rocks.

5) Riding a 250cc motorcycle in 40 mph gusting wind is scary. Not fun.

6) Did I mention that my French stinks?

7) Red Dwarf is a funny British series, but very uneven.

8) IMHO, some of the best tv on the air right now includes: Psych, Burn Notice, and House.

Tune in next time for something that makes more sense.

Keep It To Yourself

It seems as though I like to talk about my new motorcycle a lot. So sue me. It's a blast to ride again and it makes me happy.

What I don't like about it is the opinions of others who are convinced that I am going to end up an organ donor. I don't verbally slap people for this, but I sometimes wonder if they don't say these things because they like to be fatalistic rather than the idea that they care about what happens to me. "What, do you want to die?" "Why would you buy a death machine?"

The negative to positive comments run about 5 to 1. I don't mind if people say, "Be careful when riding." I appreciate it when people say, "Nice bike! Are you wearing the proper protective gear?" Those kind of comments express genuine concern. But comments like the "organ donor" statements and such are just for the sake of sounding like they are smarter and wiser than you are. Guess what? I know the dangers. I know the dangers of riding a bicycle on the street. I know the dangers of walking through bad neighborhoods. I know the dangers of letting a dog lick your face! OK! I recognize the dangers, accept the dangers, and take all the appropriate measures to avoid damage. Driving a car is dangerous. Driving like an idiot is incredibly dangerous! Riding is dangerous. Riding like an idiot is often fatal.

If you want to express concern, do so. Do it in a way that acknowledges that I am an adult and not an insane person with a death wish! You want danger? Go on a carnival ride at some county fair. (Not implying that all rides are dangerous, but you do frequently hear of injuries and deaths on these things!) When I ride, I wear a high quality helmet, padded gloves, armored jacket, etc. I keep my head on a swivel and try to be aware of everything going on around me. I assume that other drivers are going to pull out in front of me or not stop when pulling up behind me. I'm sure you do the same thing in a car. But I'll tell you one thing; if I see a car not stopping as it pulls up behind me, I have a chance to get out of the way by scooting out of the way. You can't do that in a car.

For those who care; thank you. I'll ride as carefully as possible.

For those who ask if my wife took out extra life insurance on me; thanks...for nothing.

Bad News Keeps Coming

It's getting scary out there. The economic news gets worse and worse.

I can understand why people are nervous and being cautious with money. However, the people who are panicking are making matters worse, not better. Look at it this way: the economy depends on people investing, spending, and for want of a better expression, living their normal lives. When money is pulled out of the economy, businesses fail.

I am not going out to purposely spend money I don't have. Far from it. However, I'm also not going to stop spending entirely. If there's something I need, and I have the money, I'll buy it. For example, my watch conked out on me last week. I started to go through convulsions not having a watch on my wrist! So, I decided to get a new watch. Did I NEED a new watch? Well, need may be a strong word, but I sure felt like I did. Thus, I looked around and found a nice Pulsar (made by Seiko) for under $100. I love the watch, and I pumped a little bit of cash into the economy.

I didn't go out and buy like a madman. (Except for the Ninja, maybe.) But I bought groceries, I went to Ikea and picked up a few things. (Does anyone else love that crazy place as much as I do? Used to hate it. But that's a blog for another day.) We need to be careful with money...always. It's overextension that got us into this mess. But careful and reasonable isn't the same as panicky and miserly. Don't stuff your mattress. Use the banks for your savings, and make your reasonable everyday purchases. It's confidence that pulls an economy up.

And tell the stupid politicians to quit arguing and get to work, will ya? (Just kidding...none of my business, that's for sure!)

Rainy Days and Mondays

No, I'm not going to sing. (Even though I still am trying to find a talk show that will interview me. My purchase of the Ninja has solved the drought!)

I just found out that my homebuilder, John Laing Homes, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Now, I'm not vindictive. Also, this isn't good news for my home inspections and warranties for the first year of ownership. In fact, I haven't heard from them yet to schedule the walk-through! But I am beginning to be a believer in "What goes around, comes around". They were so jerk-like at times during the negotiation process that I almost feel as though they are getting what they dealt. Still, I don't wish anyone out of work, and there were several very nice people who worked with us on our home purchase. I hope all of them are doing okay.

But to all of you out there who think that just because you're in sales that you have to hard-sell and hard-line your customers...be careful...you never know what you're setting yourself up for! What's the old saying? Be careful as you climb the ladder of success. Don't step on anyone on the way up, because those are the people you'll have to deal with on the way back down. (Or something like that. It's Monday, for cryin' out loud!)

The Bike

It's been a few days that I've actually been able to get on my new motorcycle and ride for a bit, so I thought I'd post some thoughts about the bike.

1. It's a great little bike. Anyone who says that the Ninja 250 is for people who just want to pretend they are racers is out of their mind. It is very comfortable to ride, is responsive on the throttle and in the turns, and feels far more stable than the cruiser bikes I've ridden. Besides, the thing is not designed to do 120 mph.

2. Good equipment is vital. I don't feel invincible with my jacket and helmet, but I feel a bit safer. Knowing that I invested in one of the best helmets on the market and that I have armor in my jacket makes me feel that if I do happen to hit the pavement, I have a better chance to walk away from it. Still, I may invest in some good pants and boots next, just to be careful.

3. The bike is beautiful. It gets looks, that's for sure. Mine is a fantastic blue and just knocks your socks off. It doesn't need stickers or other stuff on it. The clean lines, the color, and the design of the bike is all you need.

4. It begs for a few extras. I would like to get sliders on the side, just to protect the bike if it does fall. I would also like to replace the rear seat with a cowling to make it even cleaner. Also need some kind of security, although if someone wants to steal a small bike, they'll probably do it. LoJack anyone?

Overall, as the engine begins to break in and I get more familiar with the bike, I feel as though I made a great choice, thanks to the wife and son. I really missed riding, and this motorcycle not only gets me back into it, but I don't think I'll be trading up anytime soon. It's juuuust right!

Drought v. Riding

OK...I'm torn. I know we need the rain, and we've been getting a good soaking lately. But I really want to be riding my new motorcycle. I think that makes me a selfish person in a way. Far more people are affected by the water shortage than are affected by my needing to hitch a ride with my wife to work. But still....

Well, I guess I can wait to ride. Our city has announced that they want everyone to cut their water usage by 20%. If that doesn't worry people, it should. Many people let showers and sinks run and run without thinking about how much water they use. Or, they water their lawns until the precious liquid flows down the sidewalks and into the storm drains. It's funny, but when I stop to think of how much water I waste, I think that I do pretty well compared to some in the savings department. But still, I see that fresh water going down the drain and wonder if I can't do more.

Next stop: the local Home Depot / Lowe's for a couple of new showerheads to reduce that water usage. (Along with an egg timer for my son's bathroom to keep him on schedule!)

I guess I can wait to ride. Keep the rain coming.

In House, and On Two Wheels

It seems like I blog less and less month by month. Part of the reason is that no one is actually reading this silly thing. But then, who would want to read something that only gets posted once in a blue moon? (sigh....)

But, here I go again.

We are in our new house - finally - and have turned in the keys to our apartment. The house isn't perfect, but it is our home now and we are enjoying that aspect of life. It is strange not to have people stomping around overhead. It is very odd to be able to pull into a garage, open the car trunk, and walk into the kitchen with groceries and not get drenched while walking up to a second floor apartment and avoiding a hernia. It is unusual to have bulky mail either put into a large mailbox and have a key left in our mailbox to access it, or to have UPS actually drop things off at a secure spot at our home. Packages actually arrive without being crushed into a small apartment mailbox!

Yes, things are better in many ways. Granted, our bills are higher, and our mortgage is much higher, but that is the price one pays for a home. I can deal with it for now.

In addition, my car went splat. The stick shift was starting to struggle again, and then the electrical system pooped out. I had a choice. I could either fix the car - again - or get something else. Strangely enough, it was my wife who suggested that I go ahead and buy a motorcycle. Even though it would cost more than fixing the car (this time), over time it would be less expensive. So, after doing my research, I narrowed things down to 3 bikes, all of which were small enough to be affordable.

Yamaha V-Star 250 - Cruiser bike. Okay, but nothing special.
Honda Rebel 250 - Cruiser bike. Smaller than the Yamaha in terms of seat height. Hasn't changed its style in 20+ years.
Kawasaki Ninja 250R - Sport bike. Me? On a sport bike?

The winner? The Ninja.

Yes, I know. I've heard the comments. "What? Do you WANT to die?" "You're an organ donor, right?" "Why do you want a crotch rocket like that?"

Guess what? Part of the safety concern centers around the rider. It's up to the rider to be attentive to his surroundings and to ride like everyone is going to pull out in front of him or t-bone him. It's up to the rider to obey traffic laws and posted speed limits. Nothing is perfect or perfectly safe, but a rider goes a long way to helping himself by riding safely and wearing high-quality safety gear. That's what I've done. I didn't skimp on the helmet or the armor. In addition, the Ninja has a more comfortable riding position and is more stable than the other bikes. Thus, I am the proud and happy owner of a 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. So sue me.

One more thing: the California legislature acts like a bunch of children, don't they? You wonder why I have no confidence in humans to govern themselves? Just look at California and even the U.S. Congress. Pitiful behavior.

I think I need to go for a ride.

Everything Going Better

Just a quick note to say that Comcast has made everything right.  Of course, I had to escalate matters, but with that done, the construction team was out the next morning and the technician that same afternoon.  We have internet, we have cable, and I have a headache.

More later.

Moved In, But.....

Just a quick note to say that our move to our new house went rather smoothly. We had good weather, good friends, and I have a wife who did an incredible job. Little incompetent me even had the ability to install curtain rods, which has left me in a state of shock to this very moment.

One snag, and it's an annoying one; Comcast stinks.

Let me tell you a little story of incompetence. A couple of weeks before the move, I scheduled an appointment for Comcast to come out to my home on the morning of the move to hook up our internet and cable service. Right on time, the contracted technician came out and started the work. A problem arose. The conduit was blocked with some form of junk, and he could not run the cable to the house. Thus, he had to schedule a "conduit blow" with the Comcast construction team. They said that they would be out that afternoon or the next morning, and then a technician would come out to complete the process.

By 11:30 the next day, we still had no word from Comcast. So, I called their oh-so-helpful "800" number. The lady said that it was scheduled for 6:00 that evening. (Just a bit later than the Saturday afternoon I expected, don't you think?) Anyway, that time came and went. This morning, I called again. They said it could take up to 5 days for a crew to come out, but that they would escalate it and someone would call me. Five days! Thus, if we stick with their schedule, I would hopefully have my internet and cable service by Saturday, the 27th! Only one week later than scheduled originally!

Cable companies say that they are improving their images, making service appointments with smaller windows and striving to provide service that matches the extravagant prices we are paying. Then, something like this happens, and it reminds me just how much I despise Comcast. To make a long story short, this is the epitome of incompetence and customer DISservice.

May they get pimples for the joy that they have taken in causing me grief.

Moving Day

Well, the day is finally within sight.  We are moving on Saturday.  It has been a long and draining process to get into this home, but now it is getting exciting.  As we have been moving in our new, smaller furnishings and our new items, the house has begun to look like a home.  Once we get the rest of our things in, it should feel real.

It's a big jump, moving from an apartment to a house.  And at my age, it's a bit scary.  Still, I hope that I'll be up to the tasks involved in ownership: cleaning, maintenance, etc.  

I feel particularly blessed that we have such good friends who have volunteered to help us, and my wife has been incredible throughout the whole matter.  Here's hoping that Saturday runs smoothly, especially compared to what we've been through so far with this house.

Almost Ready to Move

Here we are at the beginning of December, and I have almost reached my limit on the preparations for moving. We have (read: my wife has) finished the painting and went with colors very different from our original plan. Still, she did a great job, especially considering that it was her first attempt at this kind of painting. (My wife is amazing!)

The big frustration has been trying to find the furniture, ceiling fans, and window treatments that we need to be comfortable. We still...STILL...have not found a living room chair / recliner to complete the living room The wife lovingly wants me to be comfortable, but she also has requirements for size and color of the chair. Thus far we have not found it at a price we can afford. Therefore, the search goes on.

The ceiling fans are done, so we now have light in the rooms. However, we are trying to decide on window treatments, and there is more to it than just, "Let's get THAT one." Blinds or curtains; vertical or horizontal; rings or clips; regular or decaf? It's all insane, not to mention expensive! Sheesh! It's just fabric, for crying out loud! Anyway, hopefully we will have the treatments decided on by the end of the weekend, and maybe the chair as well. Then, we have to buy a bed and get moved.

In addition, my other son is being nagged by his mom (my ex) to get his driver's license. Thus, the only date that we can get him down and schedule the test is...wait for it...the weekend we are moving. sigh....

And...we have the special week for our congregation this week, and are making preparations for our French group to become a congregation. Then we have a two-day assembly the week after we move.

I'm going to cry now.

Or at least go fetal.

Got the Keys

Well, we picked up the keys to the house yesterday, and I realized something: I just spent a honkin' lot of money! Yeah, I know we got a house, and that builds equity (eventually). But still, the way it hit was funny. I was standing in the kitchen with my wife, made my statement, and watched as her eyes got really big. Then she asked me to not say that again. (She's so cute.)

Anyway, now the real insanity begins. Grout sealing, painting, appliance delivery, garage door opener install, ceiling fan install, furniture moving...AAAUUUUGHHH!! I think I just sprained something thinking about it!

I did, however, order new checks, business cards with our new address, and got the gas, electric, garbage, etc., changed over. At least there is SOME progress.

Keep watching this site, as my brain slowly turns to mush.

First time homeowners

I haven't written in awhile...quelle surprise! Things have been insane. I will write more in the future, but for now, just a comment.

After over half a year, my wife and I have completed the purchase of our first home. I never thought that I would buy a home for the first time in my mid-forties, but sometimes things work out that way. We were getting so tired of our apartment; having rude upstairs neighbors who think that imitating an ogre stomping through the brush is a nice way to say "hello" is just a blast.

Still, without our city's affordable purchase program, it never would have happened. So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to be involved in painting, grout sealing, purchasing, installing, and moving a variety of items to get moved in to our new place. I'm nervous. I haven't changed residence in over 15 years. I hadn't changed congregations in 13. Now, I'm in a French congregation and am moving in to a new house. May Jehovah give me strength...I'm going to need it.

More later as we go through the process. I'll try to keep a running update to put my insanity into words.

September - Isn't this supposed to be Fall?

Well, here it is, September 30. It's around 91 degrees outside. I hate California summers. I have lived here all of my life, but for one semester I spent autumn in upstate New York. Mind you, I hated the city I lived in. But autumn there really felt like autumn. There was a crispness in the air and the leaves were turning incredible shades of yellow, orange, and red. Here in California, the pine needles are a lovely shade of brown from the summer heat, and sap from the trees rains down upon my car windshield, making a sticky, opaque mess.

What in the world am I talking about? I don't know. I just hate hot weather and am looking forward to cooler temps.

I just thought I would jot down a few thoughts as of today.

Paralegal: I have finished my paralegal courses. Due to my hard work and focus, I have determined that I don't want to be a paralegal. Not now, anyway. Not until attorneys actually band together and determine that they will use the English language as the basis for all paperwork used in contracts, legal documents, and discussions. No wonder people hate and mistrust lawyers; no one can understand a word they say!

Baseball: Who cares? The A's were destroyed by midseason trades and the Giants had one good player.

Football: Al Davis needs to volunteer to be the poster child for the American Alzheimer's Association. "Please...don't let this happen to your family members. Support the American Alzheimer's Association." Al, sell the team.

Basketball: What's this tingling in my chest? Could it be...I'm excited about this year's Kings team? I see a positive aspect in Ron-Ron's departure? Or is it just that I had one too many bean burritos for lunch?

A personal note: Without going into a lot of detail, we've been in the process of buying a house. We should have closed 2 weeks ago, but for issues faced with the builder. I won't talk about it now, as I don't want anything else to interfere with the deal. Once everything is signed, sealed, and delivered, and we are in the new house, I'll tell you all about it. (Shameless plug for the future...)

Rant Time

Okay. It's time for a rant. My topic today: personal responsibility. In this case, the personal responsibility I mean is taking responsibility when you have done something wrong.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were out and about in our relatively new car. I say relatively because it is 1 1/2 years old, but looks brand new. We get home and I look down near the rear tire and realize that someone has hit our car. Not hard, but hard enough where the other car left paint on our car, the rim was scratched, and the bumper was dented. The dent wasn't bad, but it popped the bumper out of place on one end.

The person that did this had to know that he or she hit my car. Had to! I would like to say that no one is stupid enough that they wouldn't notice, but I'm sure I would be wrong. Anyway, there was no note; no phone number; not even a scribbled "sorry" on a gum wrapper.

I took the car to my repair shop to see if they could pop it back into place. They informed me that they could not do so due to damage to the underside of the bumper. It would have to be replaced at a body shop. I haven't priced it, but you can probably estimate around a grand.

I'm not going to get it repaired right now. I can't afford to blow a thousand dollars on a small thing like this. But where is the person that did it? Where is the personal responsibility for one's actions?

The Bible says that "he who is faithful in little is also faithful in much". If someone is this irresponsible for something like this, would you hire him or her to work for you? Would you trust the person to babysit for you?

Frankly, I'd like to say this as simply and honestly as I can as an open comment to the wrongdoer (yeah...as if he or she reads this...or if he or she CAN read): You, sir or madam, are a coward of the first degree. Your insurance might have covered it, or you could have paid for it, or if you were broke, I might have said to forget the whole matter. But instead, you ran. You left without an apology or taking responsibility. You are a wuss and a weasel.

Am I harsh? Maybe. But forgiveness comes with repentance. This person obviously had no intention of taking responsibility for his or her actions, so it seems there is no repentance.

May a weasel get loose in your shorts.

I'm done now.

How Long Has It Been?

This post is basically a placeholder. Why? Because my brain is about to fall out of my head! Busy, busy, busy.

Quick update on HOW busy: improving my French by conducting meetings and WT at French Group; finishing up my paralegal courses (7 weeks to go); househunting/buying; work; work; field service; work; congregation; work...etc., etc., etc.

Random thoughts:

You ever get the feeling that people don't want ANYONE as President? Everyone complains that they don't like either candidate...again. (That's why I support the Kingdom government, folks!)

Artest gone...just a few more to go before the true rebuilding can begin.

I thought I saw the sky the other day...and it wasn't brown!!!

I hate rude upstairs neighbors, and idiots who think that screaming and playing the harmonica outside at 4 am is a good idea. Jerks.

Coffee...gooooood....

Sleepiness...baaaddddd....

Maybe more later...maybe not.