Ahem ... excuse me ~~

I was going over my friend list today and some names popped out at me. These are folks on my list that I haven't heard from in awhile; folks who haven't been to Boomer's in quite some time, and it got me to thinking.

Y'know, these computers are amazing things. They have opened up the world to so many of us. We can reach out and touch each other globally if we want to. I suppose if one were so inclined, you could live out your life now and never leave the confines of your own comfortable home. You can order food. You can buy clothes. You can get books and music. You can get your medications. You can buy booze. You've got a 24/7 reference library at your fingertips. A trip to "see" your grandbabies is only a mouse-click away.

And then there are the friends. You can get up close and personal with people all over the world. You no longer need to go next door and borrow a cup of sugar to meet your neighbor. You don't have to hook up at church, or in a bar, or at the grocery store. Just get on-line, and you can connect with more people than you could meet face-to-face in a lifetime.

You can be anyone you choose to be. You can be old, young, rich, poor, fat, skinny, educated, a rube, black, white, yellow, brown, red, or green purple polka-dotted. The anonymity of the computer screen, and the enormous unlikelihood of your ever meeting most of the folks "in the flesh" is an enormous draw to a lot of people.

And friendships are forged. Solid, earnest friendships. Many times and in many ways we feel closer to some of our on-line friends than we do those in our "real" life. So what's the problem?

A few years back over on MySpace, I had a wonderful on-line friend named Norm..."King Normie" was what he called himself. He was one of the most colorful characters I've ever "met" and he was so very dear to me. We talked together. We laughed together. We cried together. We shared our secrets, our lives. And then one day, he was just gone. Disappeared. Didn't answer any of his e-mails. Didn't sign on like he usually did every day. Well, it turns out that we had a mutual friend on MySpace who actually only lived a short distance from where Norm did. She took it upon herself to go and check on him ... and found him dead in his home. As traumatic an event this was for our mutual friend who discovered his body, at least we knew. None of the rest of us, living in Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, or anyplace else where Norm had on-line friends, would ever have known.

I guess the point of all of this is to say that the people you reach out to and connect with on-line aren't just names on a screen. We're friends. And if something should happen to you, believe me, we really would want to know. None of us [particularly on this site] are getting any younger and the reality is any of us could "go" at any time. And how would your on-line friends ever know? How would the people handling your affairs even KNOW to let your on-line friends know?

My solution is that my daughter has the e-mail addresses of a couple of my closest on-line friends. When I die, or if something catastrophic happens to me, she will contact those people and let them know what has happened. Hopefully, then they will spread the word. I urge each of you to make a plan now while you're still able. Just remember: There are people out here who love you ... G-d only knows why. LOLOL

I now return you to your regularly-scheduled life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Addendum: When I wrote this blog, little did I know that in 3 short weeks one of my biggest fears was realized. My wonderful, precious friend Bob Perdue died on February 3rd, and I didn't find out about his death until over a week later ... and then it was something I stumbled over. Had I not, he would just have disappeared out of my life without a trace. Please, please ... don't let that happen.

Tags: Something To Consider

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The Iowa caucus. And so the race begins in earnest. For the next several months we will be subjected to an onslaught of political posturing, pondering, prognostication and pandering. Vote for me because .... No, vote for me because .... Each of us [I hope] will listen to what the candidates say and throw our support behind the one we think would be best for our nation. There will be primaries, straw-votes, caucuses, and polls. The lamestream media will tell us who is "ahead". They will throw themselves behind whatever "candidate du jour" happens to stir up the most controversy. After all, sensationalism is their business. Some of us will pay heed to their crap. I'm hoping that most of us won't. But eventually, the Republicans will come up with one person to run against the incumbent in November. And that is when, my friends, the real battle begins.

There is not a single candidate the Republicans can give us that will unite us politically. By this I mean that there are things about each which are good, maybe even laudible. However, in my opinion, none of them individually are worth all that much. I have problems with all of them. It's like it would be so wonderful if we could do a "frankenstein" and make ourselves a candidate: 6 parts Romney, 5 parts Gingrich, 2 parts Paul, a pinch of Santorum, a dash of Bachman, a squeeze of Perry. But that we cannot do. So where does that leave us? Well, it depends, I guess, on what our true objective in November must be.

In the last election, we had probably the grandaddy of all "bottom of the barrel" Republican candidates. I did not like McCain. Pure and simple. And while I liked Sarah Palin's "chutzpah", I really don't think she was vice-presidential material. So on election day I took myself to the polls and voted for Ron Paul. That'll show 'em, I said to myself, even though I knew with every fiber of my being that he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning. I registered my protest with my vote. And I had people I know who didn't go vote at all, saying that they just couldn't support McCain and they certainly weren't going to vote for Obama so, in protest, they just didn't vote. Well, on election night we were all shown what a stupid decision we had made when Obama was elected. All of those "protests", either by writing in a candidate, or voting for a third party candidate, or not going to vote, gave Obama just the margin he needed, and you know the results. 

Therefore,  in light of all of this, I've decided that in this presidential election, my objective is to get Obama out of the White House. Period. I know for a fact that I'm not going to "fall in love" with any candidate the Republicans throw up, but I do know that any one of the ones running right now would be a better choice than what we have.

So go ahead. Back you own particular candidate during the "running" process. I'll do likewise. However, once the candidate is named at the convention, I say that we ALL get in back of that candidate and do everything we can to get him elected. Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it or not, the fact is that in January, 2013 either a Republican or Barak Obama will be inaugurated as President of the United States. There is your choice. The outcome is up to you.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled life...

Tags: politics and people

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I love dogs. I love 'em when they're puppies and lick you all over with that special smell only puppies have. I love the way they snuggle up in little balls with their littermates. I love the way they attack my toes. I love the way they look at me with total love and confidence, knowing that I'm going to keep them fed, give 'em a warm place to sleep, take 'em to the vet whenever they need it, sit by the fire with them, splash in the water with them, grow older with them, and when [and if] the time comes, release them from their pain and let them move on to the next place.

There are those who feel the same way about cats. I don't personally understand why, but there you have it. And one of my very good friends feels that her 26-year-old parrot is the light of her life. I've got friends who love their snakes, their lizards, their turtles, their rabbits, their ferrets, their hamsters, and their rats every bit as much as I love my dog. I even had a friend once who kept a bullfrog as a pet.

But you know ... there are some people who should never, ever have pets. [Just like there are some people who should never, ever have kids]

I worked for a time as a volunteer at an animal shelter. Usually in June we were inundated with unwanted rabbits. Why? Well, folks discovered that those cute little fuzzy bunnies they gave to their kids for Easter turned out to living creatures who pee, poop, tear things up, need to be fed, need to be watered, need to be properly housed, need to have appropriate shots and other vet care. In other words, they trusted the humans who brought them in, and they expected to be cared for and loved. Guess again, Bugs ...

Pet ownership, like parenthood, is an awesome responsibility and one that not everybody is cut out for. Before you bring a pet into your home, ask yourself some basic questions: Is my 1-bedroom apartment really the right place for that adorable Irish Wolfhound? Yes, he's cute as a button now, but what about when he grows up to be one of the largest dogs you've ever seen? What about his food? What about his exercise? What about his veterinary care? What about just being there for him when he's lonely and needs some loving?

And oh yes, what a conversation piece that albino corn snake will be at cocktail parties ... but are you prepared to maintain a herpetarium that will probably [if done right] cost you about $100 per month ... and that's not counting the live baby mice you'll be responsible for feeding it. The examples could go on and on.

Pets are living, breathing, needing creatures. They pee. They poop. They need to be fed. They need to be "medically" treated occasionally. They need to have us around them. They need to be loved. They're pets. That's what they do, and why we have them, supposedly. If you are not willing or able to make a lifetime commitment to your pet, then do both of you a major favor and stay pet-less. It's a hard choice to make, just like staying childless is a hard choice to make, but in the long run, it really does work out best for all concerned.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled life.

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Happy holidays to one and all. Yes, it's that festive time of the year when we all rush about madly, bake ourselves into a frenzy, spend money like there is no tomorrow, eat ridiculous amounts of unhealthy foods, drink things alcoholic beyond our perceived capacity, bow our heads to give thanks for the birth of Jesus, celebrate our tribal cultural heritage, make merry, gentlemen, or just ignore the season entirely...holding ourselves "aloof" [and sanctimonious] from the madness.

Though no one has asked me to do it, nor was anyone even given the option, on behalf of the entire group of people who follow the religion of Judaism, I would like to wish you all a Happy Hannukah. [or Chanuka, or Channukka, or Hanukkah, or however you were raised to spell it...there are so many choices! You Christians have it easy: Since "your day" is called Christmas, about all you have to decide is if you call it "Christmas" or "Christ's Mass".] Anyway ...

That having been said, let me assure all of my Christian friends that it will not offend me in the slightest if you wish me a Merry Christmas. Further, the sight of a nativity scene on the courthouse lawn is not going to throw me into a frenzy. And no, if you do have such a scene, you don't have to throw up a menorah beside it to "pacify" me and mine. I mean, the acknowledgement of difference is nice, but we're really not going to get our panties in a wad over it. Enjoy your Christmas songs. Some of them [many of them] are quite lovely. I myself am particularly fond of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song [a.k.a. Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire]"...both of which, by the way, were big hits for two sweet-singing Jewish people: Barbra Streisand and Mel Torme!! 

On the night of December 20th, we will light the first of our 8 candles and begin the celebration of the military victory of the Jews over the Assyrians. This is not a "religious" holiday for us. It most definitely is nothing even remotely akin to a "Jewish Christmas". [If you must compare it to a holiday you might be familiar with, try Memorial Day or the 4th of July.] But it has never had the same importance in our lives [or perhaps a better word would be "significance"] as Christmas has to Christians. For eight nights we will light our candles, eat latkes and brisket, spin our dreidels, exchange gifts, have fun. As it should be.

I will let someone more versed in its traditions to explain Kwanza'a and offer the appropriate greetings. I just hope that if this is something you celebrate that it's a joyous and meaningful time for you and yours.

And to those of you who profess no particular belief in any of the traditions of this season, well ... I hope that you are happy in that. Go on about your business, do whatever it is you want to do, but please: Just like you don't appreciate it when people try to push their beliefs down your throat, show other people the same respect by not trying to shove YOUR beliefs down their throats. Let people have their Christmas trees, their carols, the nativity scenes, their menorahs, the festive dinners ... whatever. It does you no harm. And who knows, if you'd just lighten up a little bit, it might do you more good than you think!!

Tags: Holidays

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"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

... With confidence in our armed forces and with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.

... I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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Well it's that time of year again. "Deck the halls with advertising...fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la; 'tis the time for merchandizing...fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la" As we go about the hustle and flow of the season, I thought you might like to have some idea what it might cost you if you decided to "gift" someone with all the gifts mentioned in that old Christmas favorite, "The 12 Days of Christmas". Now, bear in mind that if you follow the song explicitly you will be responsible for buying a total of 364 gifts to spread out over the entire 12 days. But for the sake of space and my failing math skills, I only include here what you would have to buy on the 12th and last day ...

1  Partridge in a pear tree: $220

2  Turtledoves: $110

3  French hens: $30

4  Calling birds: $60 [cheap parakeets]

5  Golden rings: $700

6  Geese-a-laying: $420

7  Swans-a-swimming: $5600

8  Maids-a-milking: $50 per maid

9  Ladies dancing: $4800

10 Lords-a-leaping: $4400

11 Pipers piping: $2500

12 Drummers drumming: $2300

Now, according to my poor math skills, that brings your one-day total to $21,600.00. Of course, it being the 12th day, it would also be your most expensive day. So if you're looking for that perfect gift for the "man/woman who has everything", you just might consider it!! LOLOL ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

Tags: fun little facts

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You've all met them. The man or woman who is "in love" with that certain someone. He loves absolutely everything about her. She can't believe someone like him actually finds her witty, attractive, and just generally fun to be with. Maybe they're the same religion. Maybe they work in the same field. Perhaps it's a case of opposites attracting. Whatever. And so they're "together". But ....

One night maybe he's not home on the dot at 6 o'clock like he usually is. Or, she goes out to the market and is gone for 4 hours, even tho' he knows she only had a few things to pick up. Then the cell phones start buzzing. Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with? No matter what the questions actually asked, it all boils down to the one question: "Why aren't you here right now making me the center of your universe?"

I knew a man once who was so insecure in his relationship with his wife that he would follow her around like a damned puppy. The poor woman couldn't even go into the bathroom by herself!! And some women I've known are every bit as bad. You'd think that because her husband [or significant other] had stopped off at a bar with some friends after work that he'd killed Kennedy!!

Don't get me wrong. I mean, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Sometimes these folks are "screwing around", but even if they are, I always ask the question: "Are my needs being met?" I mean, does he still come home and find me attractive? Do we still have a satisfying sex life? Is he still good with the kids? Are the bills being paid? Is our nest egg together growing and strong? If the answer to all those is "yes", then what's the beef? I've always felt there was a big difference between marital love and "horsing around". Like my friend Linda always said: "I don't give a damn where he gets his appetite, just so long as he takes his meals at home."

I guess that's why when my husband of 17 years walked in one night and informed me he had met the love of his life on the internet, after I absorbed the initial shock, I told him that okay...if that was what he felt, then he should go for it. I did say that I wanted to wait until the school year was up before any major changes were made [about 3 months] and he agreed. When we divorced we went through mediation and forged an equitable agreement. Six months later my divorce was final.

I have never regretted how I handled things. It's just been that way all my life. If the person you're with wants to be someplace else, then what good does it do anyone to just keep holding on? What you had once is no longer there, so keeping up "appearances" or trying to hold on is like trying to hide a corpse in the closet. After awhile, it just stinks.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled life ...

Tags: personal relationships

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For those of you who read my status-thingie, you already know that I'm fond of using other people's words to sort of jump-start my mind for the day. Today's quote [by Saul Smith] is no different. It got me mulling over, yet again, this nonsense of "political correctness" that seems to permeate everything we do, say, feel, think, respond to, whatever, any more.

When I was in college [yes, children, they did have colleges back when "dinosaurs roamed the earth"] I was asked out by this guy in one of my classes who happened to be black. He asked me several times over the course of a few weeks, and every time I politely declined his invitation. Finally, he stopped me one day and angrily threw in my face the "fact" that the only reason I would not go out with him was because he was black. That kind of took me aback, but I looked him right in the eye and said "No. I won't go out with you because I think you're an asshole, and I suspect you'd still be an asshole no matter what color you are."

That's the first time that I can recall where "political correctness" tried to rear its ugly head in my life. Hell, that was before it was even called that. Who knew? Unfortunately, it was not the last time this beast would show up. In fact, this beast bred with a like-minded beast [the "I'll do or say anything you want if only you'll like me" monster] and they had babies who have now grown up and moved into just about every neighborhood in America.

I'm old enough to remember a time when you could choose those with whom you associated for your own reasons. Maybe you shared a similar religious faith. Maybe you worked together. Maybe you lived next door to each other. Maybe you went to school together. Maybe you shared similar political beliefs. And you could choose to NOT associate with people for those very same reasons. Not so anymore.

Take the last presidential election, for example. It's no secret that I didn't vote for Obama. I found the man to be inexperienced, to have a suspicious background, and who counted as his  friends people that I found to be of ill-repute. I didn't agree with his agenda or his plans for "change", as I found them to be promises of "pie in the sky" and totally unrealistic and unworkable. And yet, when I told so-called "liberals" that I could not support the man, what was the first thing they threw at me? "Well, you just don't like the idea of voting for a "person of color"." Uh ... excuse me? I live in San Antonio, Texas. The population here is 58% "non-white". We've been voting for "people of color" around here for decades. But because I chose to not support or vote for someone I considered to be inexperienced, untrustworthy and a political hack line-slinger, I'm a racist!! Go figure.

I think that "political correctness" as it is viewed now is far more divisive than the redneck, Jim Crow type situation that existed for so long [and, honestly, that still exists in some circles today] I long for a day when the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will really be true ... that we will judge each other by the content of our character and not the color of our skin; [and that means "black" skin AND "white" skin] when we can look at each other just as people, and not make so damned many assumptions because as we all know, when you assume anything you just make an ASS out of U and ME ...

I now return you to your regularly scheduled life ...

Tags: personal opinion

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My fellow Americans. In response to numerous [I think it was 3, actually] inquiries, I have decided to declare myself a candidate for President of the United States. Under my "devine" guidance, my administrative stances will be as follows:

As to foreign policy: I will announce to all countries of the world that America is reliquishing its well-earned role as Sugar Daddy to the planet. Hence forth, while we will be willing to "help out" when we can, the first time you try and take a bite out of this hand you are wanting to feed you, you will be roundly kicked in the ribs and all monetary contributions to improve  your sorry-ass lives will be immediately terminated, never to begin again. [Do it to me once, shame on you. Do it to me twice, shame on me.]

Further, should you require our assistance in the latest version of the same war that's been going on in your homeland for millennia, please be advised that in all likelihood, American troops will be busy elsewhere that day...probably darning their socks, giving their cats a dandruff treatment, or some equally important tasks, so you'll just have to work it out for yourselves. When you've done your best to kill each other off [usually in the name of G-d], give us a call and maybe we can do business.

In taxation: The IRS will be immediately disbanded. Now don't think that this means you're not going to have to pay taxes. Just because the government will no longer withhold any money from your paychecks, doesn't get you off the hook. This applies to corporations as well as individuals. Depending on the first letter of your last name, every 15th of the month [A-B, January; C-D-E, February, etc.] you will write out a check to the Treasury Department of the United States for an amount equaling 10% of your TOTAL income. Yes, this means YOU. If you earned so much as one thin dime in this country, you will be required to pay tax. There will be no deductions. No deductions for being married. No deductions for having kids. No deductions for charitable donations. Zip. If you earn $2000 per year, then on your designated date you owe the government $200. If you earn $200,000,000 per year, then on your designated date you owe the government $20,000,000. Simple, no?

A Constitutional ammendment will be proposed that would make ALL federal elected offices [other than the Presidency] a 5-year term, with the elected person being allowed 1 re-election and then that's it. If you can't get the job done in 10 years, you shouldn't be allowed to run again. Further, it will be stipulated that Supreme Court justices will not be allowed to serve longer than a 20-year term, no matter what their age.

All members of the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative arms of the government will be required to enroll in and actively participate in the Social Security system. This will be their only retirement program. Further, while a "group plan" can be developed for the health care of actively participating legislators, health care for their families IS NOT included for free. That is the responsibility of the legislator, not the taxpayer.

I will push forward legislation that puts an emphasis on domestic energy research, development, and supply. This is to include fossil fuels, wind, water, solar, cows farting or whatever else works. I will introduce legislation that will place an exorbitantly high tarriff on anything made outside the United States that is brought in to be sold inside the United States. They want to save money? Build it here. Employ workers here. Oh, and every company that wants to "out-source"? These companies will be charged a fee of $100K for every worker such a move kicks to the curb. This money would be put into an account from which the worker could draw to meet his/her expenses and pay for the re-training of his/her choice.

That is but a sampling of the far-reaching, important changes I intend to put in place. Of course, I do acknowledge the fact that my chances of succeeding in any of this border somewhere between slim and none ... that is, not unless every money-loving, in-it-for-him/herself, conniving politician in Washington, D.C. drops dead from a heart attack or something. But at least the "change" I'm talking about could be done, if only ...

So remember: On November 6, 2012 [I think] be sure and write in the "real people's" candidate:

MISSA LANEOUS ... and my running mate, NONA D. ABOVE

Tags: Politics

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