10 best things about spring break

1. the break
2. I haven't heard an alarm clock in 9 days.
3. working on the house. I'd intended to paint the living room, but removing nonessentials made it look so much better I left it the original color.
4. two dinners with three friends.
5. lap time with 2 cats.
6. initiating the new barbecue.
7. appreciating how much the back yard trees have grown: there is actual afternoon shade now, meaning it will be a splendid summer for sitting out.
8. quality time with Jane, doing projects and doing absolutely nothing.
9. lunch in Orlando, champagne for no reason.
10. sun, flowers, new garden, freshly mowed lawn, culled closets and white wine by the pool.

1 not-so-good thing about spring break: Easter is not a holiday, it's an end.

To the homophobic nutjob who wrote that letter in today's paper:

Re: “Gay Military: Parental Heartbreak”

Richard Grant, a former Marine drill instructor must have been a grossly ineffective trainer if he believes “no matter how much instruction is given by their leaders” the rank and file will become criminal gangs wreaking havoc on barracks life. It seems, by his assertions, the homosexual soldiers are not the problem: the heterosexual ones are. Perhaps DADT should be amended to also forbid straight soldiers from discussing their personal lives while on the military payroll? Perhaps, instead, more attention should be focused on the job, and not who is doing that job. If Mr. Grant believes the men and women in the armed forces are incapable of being professionals on the job, I’m grateful he is no longer in the service.

In fairness, I must acknowledge he had one valid point. He stated that “we are becoming a pathetic nation with no clear moral values.” Considering he maintains that he’d rather see his son wounded or dead than gay, I have to agree: that is, indeed, immoral and pathetic.

all quiet on the eastern front

As predicted, day went well, not at all traumatic. I wish I didn't hit bottom with dread, but I know this about myself & know I'll suffer & get over it & life goes on. What a predictable, uncomfortable state of affairs. Help me out here - how can I turn this personality defect into a sign of greatness?

shameless wallowing

School starts again tomorrow. As hard as I'm fighting it, the same old stress is hitting as if no vacation had happened. There's a rock in my chest. I'll hide it well enough, I know. I'll do my job, I'll pretend it's great. I'll lie to everyone and myself well enough to fool most of us. I'll deal with the sleep disturbances again. I'll deal with the killer dull routine. I'll deal with the fact I can do this job in my sleep. I'll deal with the same problems, the same solutions, the same sucesses, the same everything. I'll deal with the concept that boredom = death. I'll squash this down enough that I'll get through. My question is how can this be life? It is for most people, most don't expect too much. Here's to another 5+ months of complete fiction. Just not really good fiction.

Peace, love and coffee

What I need most in 2010.

Peace: inner, outer, world. Piece: pie, pizza, slice of life. Peas: green, snow, frozen. Please, often, please.

love: interpersonal, intrapersonal, pets, 'ver, bad tennis.

coffee: stimulation, aroma, ground, whole, hot, iced, au lait, essence of life itself.

Merry Christmas

Hope the day finds you warm, happy & fed.

We're enjoying the usual traditions today - watching the cats pull their new toys out of their stockings, smelling the turkey cook WAY too slowly, playing with our gifts and listening to an hour of frightening holiday music on WWOZ-New Orleans. "I got a used tube of toothpaste for Christmas, kind of squished, but what's the difference?" to the tune of Deck The Halls. And the perenial favorite, "Christmas in Chalmette"...and "Drive-thru Daquirie Shop".

I'm enjoying my red & green toe socks with jingle bells, and Jane's wearing her new slippers with stuffed felt cats on the top.

Did I mention the turkey smells way too good to wait another hour?

Happy day to all. We're warm, happy & about to be fed.

The Cannon litany

Overheard at GM service department:

I wanted both hip replacements at the same time but my doctor said it would be too debilitating. I guess he went to school, he should know...

When I had my operation, II had to go to a nursing home because no one could take care of me at home.

I had a knee replacement, but it felt better immediately.....

My daughter is a policeman in Las Vegas. she's figuring out it's probably not for her. You'd think she'd figure that out in school.

In other news, archeologists find Jesus' village. Could it be his home? Just think, these are the buildings Jesus passed in the street when he was a boy. and the stone dishes were obviously Jewish. They could have been used by Jesus.

I don't know about this global warming. I mean what caused the glaciers? Bows & arrow aimed at the sky?

(on cell phone) Hi, baby. I'm getting my wife's Cadillac serviced, then going home. I'll see you later.

a good three hours were had by all.