“FOR SALE”. A lovely A-frame home on 5 acres with view. Reason for moving? The neighborhood is getting crowded. Not really. Seclusion is perfect for authors, poets, horse-people, eccentrics, Democrats.
Half-Truths: Morale
Of general interest
The visit
My visit to Mom lasted almost as long as the Sonoran Desert’s Fairy Dusters bright orange- pink shimmered up there around her house. Sure it was an awfully long way to escort and assure her when she went for her eye surgery and follow up. But thanks to a good deal on airline tickets and some free days of a car rental, not to mention my mom looking so much stronger, there was much less to stress over.
There is something cathartic about weeding and watering my yard when I come home from a trip. I am sure my neighbors haven’t a clue as to my motivation. But it starts with walking my dog immediately upon my return. Since I was already moving, the idea of falling into the couch and becoming one with the universe was put aside. (And it was also that Matt was kicking me out since he chose THAT moment to sweep, mop and pick up the living room.) It wasn’t an hour after stepping out of the car, that I donned my scrubby jeans, and ran the derelict which passes for my mower. After dodging stones it kicked up, I am pleased that the job was finished before the tank’s remaining gas leaked out between the tank and the engine.
And now it is time to kick off my shoes. I am glad that I have long ago quit griping about chores that my now young men could have been doing while their mother and I were out of town. It is nice to have a clean living room courtesy of one son and to have been picked up from the airport, punctually, by another. The house is quiet save for the baseball game on TV at both ends of the house. Now if I only had a beer to go with the pretzels.
Arizona is Calling any eccentrics, or others with hard cash
Some days I can see why militias, meth lab operators, poets and one mad British-born elderly woman chose remote areas like that of my current hostess, in southeastern Arizona to take up residence. It’s quiet, well, remote for sure – when you can’t get something as ubiquitous as Cable TV or a Starbucks out here, THAT’S remote! In the decade or two that Mom has been residing in the shadow of the Santa Rita mountains, there have been perhaps a half-dozen eccentrics and artists living within a quarter-mile or so. Now you see, the three miles of bone-jarring dirt road and the half-mile sometimes Jeep-track side road doesn’t welcome lots of visitors.
Great times for the coyote-watcher, hawk-lover, and desert-rat, but not so inviting for the DINK, or mom, pop and 2.5 kids average family looking for a reasomable alternative to the violent street gangs or bland suburbia. Not that it isn’t a great alternative – with the coming anarchy sure to grip America in the next decade (thanks to rubber-check economic policy and criminalizing healthcare-insurance-avoiders), I think many folks would appreciate high-ground to monitor revenuers and trespassers. With a well on the property, chicken coops -long disused as they are, and an inventive mind, all sorts of people should flock to this area to bid for this land. You see, Mom has to move closer to me and my family. Unfortunately, as long as the money is tight and the eccentrics are few and far between, the lovely A-frame some distance up an old dirt road will remain “in the family”.
I wonder if I seeded the land with some medical marijuana and placed ads in editions of Craigslist, would I be able to write off the whole enterprise as part of the healthcare bill — there’s sure to be a buck in that rag for such “research” . We could even change the canyon’s name to Obamizona!
When a working dog works her master over
I’ve owned an Australian Shepard-mix, shelter dog for 13 of it’s nearly 14 years. I originally adopted Sydney as a companion for my Lab mix, Happy who died earlier this year. When I would take them to Dog Beach, to parks or to other open areas to run, Sydney would often apply her herding instinct to my calls to retrieve Happy off in the distance. Though she has had a sweet disposition throughout all her life, this has masked an annoying character: Sydney has been a constant “flight-risk”. Over the last ten years, my dogs caused me embarrassment and irritation in taking themselves for a walk. At least twice a year, from a loose fence plank, a poorly-shut gate, or a frequently-open front door (3 teenage boys grew up here during these ten years) one or more of our household has gone in a wandering-dog search – or met the neighbor coming to the door. These times, including two occasions when retrieved from the County Animal Shelter, Sydney and Happy – who always took his cue from her – cost me embarrassing encounters with my neighbors. A month ago, this dog got out, and during the night – started shaking and drooling uncontrollably. That episode cost me SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS and a day in the Veterinarian’s care – and little wear on the little beast. I just suffered another moment – as my neighbor informed me that Sydney was down the road again.
Now back at my feet asleep, I am considering what my pet’s contemplating for her next escape.
The Lucky Ones
Last week I read in the Google News feed that scientists have discovered that parallel universes do exist and that it is possible to be in two different but likely states at any given time. How fortunate for us! Politicians probably have always known this as they routinely appear to take different approaches to the same issue at any given time, depending on the audience!
I wonder if there might be a universe where the political, fiscal and social conservatives actually hold sway – as I would certainly like to find this. Some may think this is Lollipop Land, where the government is a servant of the People, roads have few potholes, and there isn’t some bureaucrat digging into my pocket for my last bit of change. I would also like to be proud of my President and my country, not hunkering down, wondering when the Chinese or Mexican flag will replace our national ensign. Hell, these groups either own the country outright through funding our debt – or through majority of the population in this universe.
Imagine the possibilities as I can hop in my time portal and see the outcome of tonight’s lottery numbers, or maybe not earn a traffic citation, but instead swap donut shop directions with the local politizi. But lets be real. The Government will only permit the universes that enhance their power or prestige (where Socialism is still the norm, where Prez B can have his 3 story billboard – a la Soviet leaders of old – displayed everywhere), or where taxes are the rule and earning a buck is illegal unless that is what is leftover after a 99 percent taxrate!
Can you imagine the genius of it! Anyone wishing to travel to Rod Serling’s Twighlight Zone -esque new universes will first have to pay a tax and then be frisked by the dimensional TSA!!!
Now, of course, there always has been and will be a universe that I will prefer above all others. But don’t tell the Atheists or the ACLU — Saint Peter probably is a registered Conservative!
Christmas traditions
It’s Christmas Eve and we’re gearing up for another spirited celebration with family and friends – this time over TWO days rather than trying to do it all in one! We slept in till 7 AM, we started the coffee, and started making the dinner preparations. The missus has been in the kitchen over a couple weeks making her famous peanutbutter chocolate treats, I’ve got to get out for the last minute gifts and find some eggs for breakfast. There are presents still needing to be wrapped, but I have to find ’em first. I actually, for the first time in ages, got these bought days before Christmas countdown but they were “strategically” dispersed around the house. By now everything is under laundry, in closets, under the stacks of mail we haven’t gone through yet, or in the tubs we store the christmas lights in. I actually got all the lights up outside a week ago, brought out the Christmas music – Frank Sinatra CDs, and am revving up for my part in the pre-guest activities: laundry has to be gathered, washed, dried and put away!
IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! Wishing all my family and friends good cheer! Now where is that brandy I heard the missus mention….. it’ll go wonderfully in the coffee this morning. Wooo-Hoooo.
With Apologies to Morpheus and Neo
In the movie, “The Matrix”, the idea that we are all living in a dream world managed by computers, is of course, a good plot, but what if our reality – the universe if you will – actually IS a creation of an Almighty God? Fifty years of living, thirty or more as a working man, and ten since engagement and marriage, active belief is fundamental to my relationships. As far from a fervent, dedicated, and thoroughly indoctrinated biblical Christian as my own self-perception is, I still choose to believe that everything exists because of a loving Creator. While so much of the world is consumed by basic needs – power, recognition, gratification, hunger, comfort, I can enjoy going to a Christmas party that my wife held for her staff at a pizza place. Almost everyone came with family, were obviously enjoying themselves from the infants to the oldest adult,and the young waitress was genuinely touched when Sheri settled the bill and tip. It’s Christmas-time! When I think I could have taken the Blue Pill and remained aloof, frustrated but comfortable in my old cynical life, I see all that I would have missed.
Things Really Did Go Better with Coca-Cola
Yesterday I interviewed a woman for the Navy Reserve who was born in 1986. And I thought, what a different world to have come of age in, than the one I remembered. The Nineties had already seen the beginnings of capitalism occuring in Russia, the second decade of a U.S. economic boom – jobs, cars, and homes, and since Desert Storm, a large and ongoing military presence in the Middle East. After Vietnam, the government was such a mess it couldn’t or wouldn’t take care of veterans with PTSD, or Agent Orange exposure, and in the Nineties it continued to deny that Desert Storm vets were exposed to chemical agents when they went into Iraq and the smoke of burning oil wells in Kuwait. We hadn’t heard before 2001 of Al Quaeda, but that the Soviets had lost in Afghanistan. My generation knew all about radicals, but lumped together the Jim Jones cult nuts, a few old 60’s Patty Hearst -type groups, paramilitary groups in Idaho and a few drug traffickers. Before advertising warned us of HIV and STDs, and condoms for junior high students, we still were educated in grainy black and white film about sex organs and where a baby comes from. GM and Ford were going downhill – and Dodge already had been bailed out.
We hated Iranians who had seized our embassy, lobbed missiles at Saddam Hussein when he kept plotting to kill our Presidents, and were frustrated why Israel and the PLO could never have peace, but American politicians always thought they were able to “fix it”. When I cast my first Presidential voting ballot, I cast for a former Navy man and peanut farmer from Georgia.
It was easier then to be liberal – young, inexperienced, and idealistic. After seeing the mess that a Democrat President and Congress made on the world stage, the crazy inflation, gas lines, and even with college, very little opportunity, it was easier to be cynical, conservative, and Republican. Those men and women who came of age in the Nineties – the Gen -X – are now trying to settle into family life, careers, and looking what the future holds for their children. Today, after the smashed idealism of voting for and now seeing the effect of an Obama Presidency and Democrat Congress, these folks as well as an old Conservative, hope to somehow claw our way back from utter national bankruptcy. So you see, not much has changed in the generations, except our currency value has crept closer to Monopoly money with each multi-billion payout. I think fondly of the Coca-Cola ad where everyone had joined hands across the world and sang for harmony, but today I am more akin to Toby Keith whose current song about the world in crisis- it’s all going to hell, but the world keeps turnin’ regardless.
Basketball Moms
It begins. The first basketball game of the Senior year, for two of the Santana Sultans. These two warriors,Jesse and Matt more “linebacker” stature for their hard bodies, are playing together for the first time in quite a while. Coming back off season-ending injuries, each young man is playing to win this year, for team reputation and to cap a seven-year career. The team is a fluid work of athletic ability in the paint, with each man responding as a unit, passing the ball,laying up, and putting away foul shots. A blowout result for the first game.
Success in this high school sport, the teamwork, the camaraderie, and the absolute single-minded determination to be the best is undiluted by money or fame or influence.
What a pity that the professional athlete, just a few years or more beyond these men, has too often forgotten the joy of the game, but loves his place in the lights, the roar of the crowd, the collecting of trophies, whether houses, women, pandering assistants and public relations teams.
Basketball moms – the mothers of these high school players have attended each game, tournament, have fed them and driven still others all over the county for the last several years. They have funded through their volunteer efforts for the school, the team meets, travel, or uniforms and accessories.
While moms still have a control over high school students, they obviously have little influence over the professional athlete. Sometimes I would like to think were a team mom still on call for these athletes, we would have much less infidelities, DUIs, brawls, or other unprofessional behavior.
Let’s all thank the basketball moms at schools everywhere who keep their children on the path set by team discipline, athleticism, and focus, and for just a little while, help all of us feel so awed by the uncomplicated drive and accomplishment of high school athletes.
And now, a word from our sponsors
At the gym today at 6:30 AM, I worked out on a treadmill. Now these are some of the latest machines, with cable TV monitors on them. I hadn’t considered before how much I enjoy NOT hearing the sound – I never bring headphones. But you can’t escape advertising! Sometimes it is subtle – the Nike workout pullover, a Pure Fitness, t-shirt, the Polar watch display so you can monitor your fitness. Or the big banner running news feeds and “colon-cleanse” 800 numbers.
You drive anywhere and the billboards are driving around with you. Television, radio, and internet all inject a little entertainment into the middle of hawking cars, gold, credit-repair, or local casinos. Crazy.
At home, I retreat to my humble abode, which itself is an advertisement — I continually get flyers offering to repair or upgrade my home or the landscape. My home screams for a remodel. My bank screams for me to save more money -that I don’t have – with it. I wonder if I can turn the sound off on those things?
Albondigas soup cures sick PCs
A long day at work today ended where it began, with a software-controlled device I was testing no farther along in development than when I started. Stubborn system indicated a problem that should have been evident previously – the same routine was used with prior successful tests, but perhaps it was not flawed hardware or software, but the human at the controls??
Once home, I met a friend’s questions on connecting his new computer to a wireless router, with perhaps less-than-clear instructions.
An hour later I am at his home, diagnosing the obstinant wireless connection. A bowl of albondigas soup later, and the situation becomes clear. In minutes, the connection is made and my friend has joined the Wireless-N generation, Pretty good considering we are both relics of the IBM PC era!
Now I wonder if albondogas soup will cure what ails my work project?
Birthday wishes
One of my very best friends, Jose, is having a birthday today. In the ten or eleven years of our friendship, our christian faith, expressed as two brothers helping each other through discipleship has strengthen us, our families, work, and difficult times. I congratulate him on his example as a father to his college-age son and devoted daughter -with whom he has developed into quite amazing horse-people. As a husband and father, he sets an example of the hard-working, God-fearing and family-centered man. Feliz cumpleanos, mi amigo!
Truths, Half-truths, and Sea Stories 