Eros Den

Finding the way

2011-12-25T01:36:00.001-06:00

For many people, Christmas is a time to make the long journey across the land, to join loved ones in celebrating the holidays. As I packed my car with the last of the luggage and presents, the wind starts to pick up, the sky overcast and gray. But it's kind of nice, too. It's a little chilly as I pull on the hood of my hoodie. Looking across the neighborhood, I can't help but notice that I'm the only one out. It's quiet. The whole place is deserted. Seems as if everyone was either still out shopping for last minute gifts or they've all ready left to make their own long journeys home. The sound of the wind blowing is my sole accompaniment under the bleary skies. And in my lone state, I began to reflect. I think of the very first time that I drove alone on those many long miles for Christmas.

It was many years ago, after I had moved to Texas. That there was a long journey in itself--taking me two days to drive that hot, humid summer from the East Coast to the Lone Star State. Everything I owned was packed in that car--my first car. It was an old clunker that I had bought with a whole year's worth of savings; one of the back windows had to be pushed up to close all the way; the radio had a mind of its own, turning on and off whenever it wanted; the A/C didn't work. But the tape deck worked. So I had tapes of classic rock and top 40 music purchased from gas stations to enjoy as I drove with the windows down to keep cool from the heat along Interstate 10. And most importantly for later on, the heater still worked in that old clunker. That heater would keep me comfortable and warm for many long miles when I decided to drive up north for Christmas.

I didn't have any family in Texas. My closest relatives were on the West Coast. And while I started to make new friends in the area, my closest friends were all out of state. And during the years prior to my moving out here by myself, my friends and I had spent the past few Christmases together. The truth was, these people were my family.

We were an odd collection of people who struck out on their own, to find their own way. And somehow found ourselves working for the same company, making our own home so far away from the places we came from. And when the holidays rolled around, we found ourselves unable or reluctant to return to the places we came from. It was either too expensive, too far, or truthfully, too painful and too hard to return to the places we had left. So instead, we celebrated the holidays together, and it was a most joyous and wonderful time with friends. It was there that I learned one of the most important lessons of life: Friends are the family that you get to choose. And my new family was wonderful and amazing.

Those were some of the best years of my young life. I was fresh out of high school, just 18 and on my own. I count myself lucky to have fallen into such a wonderful group of adventurous, caring, and fun people. It was an exciting time in my young life. And I was lucky to have shared it with great friends who made every day an adventure and tedious, long workdays bearable and fun. We spent a couple of years together, sharing our lives and celebrating the holidays, having much laughter and joy and good times.

But life has a tendency to change things. And after a few years together, we started to grow up and began to go our different ways, to keep following the dreams and hopes that brought us together in the first place. I was the last to leave the company. Everyone else had left to go elsewhere the year before. It was a new chapter in my life, and I was excited to get started on the next adventure.

But as fun as it was to start a new life in a new place, I sure did miss my friends. So when Christmas came around, at the last minute, I accepted an invitation to spend the holidays with some of my closest friends who had moved far north to Chicago, the Windy City. I had visited them before when they first moved to Chicago. Back then, I didn't have a car. Instead, I purchased a bus ticket and rode the Greyhound bus across mountains and plains, through various cities and landscapes that made this vast country.

I arrived during the end of spring, and I was amazed by the sights and sounds of the Windy City. The architecture was stunning, the food was delicious, and I was excited to see and sample the variety of activities and offerings the city provided. The tall skyscrapers, the zoo, the museums, the lake, the people--it all made for such a great experience, and I knew I was going to visit this city more often in the future.

I remember taking out my winter clothes that I had packed away when I moved to Texas. No need for a winter coat and gloves in my part of Texas. A jacket or hoodie would do nicely most of the time. But for Chicago, I would need the winter gear and a map. My first visit to Chicago, I took the bus, and my friends picked me up at the bus station. This time, I was driving alone, and my friends had moved to a different part of the city.

I had written down the directions and left them on the coffee table next to my keys as I started packing for the long drive north. I didn't know how long it would take, and I reckon it would probably be just as long as my journey from the East Coast to Texas that summer--two days worth of driving. After grabbing my keys and making sure the place was locked up, I jumped in the car and started the long drive north.

I was excited because it was an adventure. I hated driving in the city. All that stop and go traffic and traffic jams are annoying. But I do love driving long distances--it's such a wonderful thing to see and feel the landscape change and roll by as the journey continues. I was fired up from all the excitement and Mountain Dew--I don't drink coffee, it's kind of bitter for me and I need lots of sugar and milk to drink it. So I got my caffeine fix from Mountain Dew instead--sweet, cold, and refreshing! Of course, this also meant that every couple of hours I stopped to fill up on gas, I had to take a leak before driving on.

It takes forever trying to drive out of the wide open spaces of Texas; and with the sun setting, I was still just a few hours away from leaving the state all together. I made a few stops along the way--to stretch my legs or just pick up a refill or snack. I saw some of the most beautiful terrain along the road, and I wished I had brought a camera to capture the spectacular scenery.

It wasn't until I got close to Texarkana--the city straddling the Texas and Arkansas border--that I made a horrible discovery. In my rush and excitement to hit the road and start the journey, I had left the directions to my friends' new place on the coffee table! Worse, I had also left my address book with their phone number on the desk and forgotten to pack it. Ah, hell! I had a big problem! I cursed myself for my idiocy and contemplated my next move. I could get to Chicago with no problem--I had a road atlas to get me there. It was finding my friends' new place that would be troublesome. I remembered the street name and the first two numbers of the address. It was the last two that I was unsure of. I now had to face the choice of either turning around and driving back home for those directions or keep going forward.

I had driven 9 hours straight to get to this point, and the thought of turning back was just ridiculous! There was no way I was going to drive back home 9 hours just to turn around and drive another 9 hours to get back here at this point! So after eating a fast food meal, I jumped back in the car and resumed my journey north. I was young and stupid and foolhardy. But mostly stupid. I was also very determined to make it to Chicago one way or another! I crossed over into Arkansas and made my way north. It was long after midnight when I passed the city of Little Rock. And a few hours more, I stopped at a rural gas station to fill up.

The skies were clear and the stars and moon were out. The air was cool, not chilly, and a few local teens were hanging out in front of the gas station--laughing, drinking sodas, eating candy, and talking. I wondered if this was the local hangout--probably the only place still open after midnight this far out in the country. I couldn't help but smile at their exuberance--there's an innocence and joy that comes with youth, the discovery of one's own self, the growing awareness of the bigger world out there, and a desire to experience it. I hoped that if they decided to venture out there, they would find that the world could be a wondrous and amazing place. And I hoped that they would find friends to share the experience, just like I had all those years ago.

When I left that gas station, I entered the woods and mountains of the Ozark region. I was alone on the road in the quiet darkness of the small hours of the night. The road curved gently along the slopes of the mountains and valleys. Nothing but woods on either side in the moonlit night. My headlights would occasionally catch the entrance to some dirt roads deep in the woods. But for the most part, I was the only car on the winding, empty road. A while later, I came upon a stunning sight. Snow! There was snow on the sides of the road. It had dusted the woods and clung to the trees and blanketed the ground, but the road was clear. It was a surprising sight to see all that snow. It had been years since I had last seen snow! And it brought a smile to my face and renewed my excitement at my destination.

When dawn broke out in orange and pink hues across the skies, I had crossed over into Missouri and was out of the woods. I started to see more cars on the highway as the sun started climbing. I turned into a rest stop and parked. I was finally tired and sleepy from a long day and night of driving. I cracked the window slightly, leaned back in the chair, covered myself with a parka and fell asleep. It was the best nap I had in a long while. And when I woke up about two hours later, I went into the rest stop to refresh myself, drove to a nearby cafe to eat, then I found a gas station to fill up, and hit the road just before noon.

As I continued the journey north, it started to snow. The landscape was covered with it. It had occurred to me that this would be my first time driving in snowy conditions. And heeding the wisdom and sage of advice of my friends from snowy regions, I slowed down and kept a respectable distance from the other drivers. I also followed the 18 wheelers, just far enough to brake safely and yet close enough to drive in their tracks. By the time I stopped for dinner, I was all ready in Illinois. By now, the winds had picked up and it was quite cold. The snow was starting to come down hard. I had to put on my gloves and a beanie to venture out of the car.

After eating and taking a short break, I bought a Chicago city map and plotted my course to my friends' street. Once I worked out my path, I headed back outside to fill up the gas tank in the blistering cold. I looked around and noticed how busy the truck stop was. Several 18 wheelers were parked on the side, a few filling up, some coming from and others going towards the interstate. While I was filling up, I was approached by a fellow about my age or so; he was a hitchhiker. He was asking me where I was headed. I told him I was heading north towards Chicago. He was heading south. He moved on to the other trucks in his search for a ride, while I finished filling up and got back in my car.

I was excited to be close to my destination. But an hour outside of the city, I couldn't help but start to feel drowsy. I pulled off the nearest exit and found myself at a large chain store parking lot. I parked the car and took a 20 minute power nap. And when I got back on the road, I was fully energized and ready to tackle the most challenging part of the journey: figuring out the exact address of my friends' new place! When I finally crossed into Chicago city limits, I let out a whoop of joy at finally making it this far! Now I only had to maneuver my way through busy city traffic and across the streets till I found the right place where my friends lived.

Of course, being unfamiliar with the city, I didn't know which streets were safe and which parts where sketchy. But I soon got a pretty good idea that I was in a rough part of the city. The graffiti walls and burnt out buildings were big clues. That and the fact that when I stopped at a red light, some skinny lady with missing teeth and skanky clothes ran up to my car and started tapping on the window, trying to get me to roll the window down. I couldn't understand what she was saying at first. Then I was stunned to hear her say, "Ten dollars for a blowjob. I'll make you feel real good!"

Oh. My. Gawd! It was a crack whore! The very first one that I've ever come across! I was definitely in the big city now! Now I really wish that I had a camera to capture this moment. Here was a holiday memory that I would definitely never forget. This city definitely puts the "Ho" in holidays! As soon as the light turned green, I took off and left the crack whore behind, eager to get the hell out of those parts.

Eventually, I made it to the nicer parts of the city. When I found the street my friends lived on, I parked the car and got out and looked up and down the houses that lined the street. I figured that I could start knocking on a few doors and see if anyone knew which house my friends lived in. Failing that, I could always find a phone book to look up their names, or as a last resort, find the nearest cop station and hope that they would find me an address based on driving records.

So there I was, snow falling gently down on me, going from house to house, knocking on the door and hoping someone would have an answer for me. Some people weren't home. And those that answered were pretty friendly, but unfortunately, didn't know my friends. After spending half an hour going down the street without any success, I was starting to feel cold and figured it was time to find a phone book or the nearest police station. But right before I got in the car, I decided to take a chance and head for the last house at the other end of the street, just a few houses back from where I parked. And when I knocked on the door, who would answer but my friends! I had found the right house!

After exchanging hugs and retrieving the stuff from my car, my friends asked me how my drive was. So I began to tell my tale of the adventure. And boy, did they laugh at my stupidity for forgetting the directions and my encounter with the crack whore. Apparently, I had driven in the sketchy part of the city. Had I followed their directions, I'd've been on the better side of town and would've have found their place much easier. But still, they cheered at my determination and we celebrated the miracle of my survival and finding the right place. It had taken me 27 hours on the road and through the snow to finally get here. But I did it! I survived! And I had a blast that Christmas and New Year's. Chicago is a fantastic place to celebrate the holidays.

And for many years, that has been one of my most cherished memories. Because I decided to take a chance and make the long journey on my own, with only a hard head and faith that I'd somehow make it. I also cherish it because I enjoyed spending that holiday (and the many that followed) with my friends. I had found my way to Christmas. And it was a great journey.

But over the past few years, I could not help but think about someone else I met on that journey. I wondered what happened to the hitchhiker who was headed south. I wondered if he made it to where he wanted to go. I hope he did. I wonder if he was running from something or maybe he was running towards something better. And I can't help but contemplate if I could've done something more to help him out. I was a hitchhiker once, too. But he seemed determined to go the other way. And I hope he reached his destination, and I hope he found his way. Just like I did so many years ago.

If you build it, they will come

2011-04-23T20:08:00.010-05:00

With temps in the 80s and climbing every week, summer is all ready here. And living by the coast has its perks, because going to the beach is one way to beat the heat. And one of the most fun things to do at the beach is to build sandcastles. And in this part of the world, we take it up to a whole other level! Last weekend, I got to enjoy the Port Aransas SandFest, the world's biggest sandcastle building competition.

Check it!

(Click on pics for a bigger view)

But it's not just sandcastles you get to see at the festival. You see some really amazing stuff!

I wish I had taken a camera with me on Saturday, when the builders started building and finished their works that day. But I still haven't gotten a replacement camera. So, Monday, I picked up some disposable cameras and went to capture what remained of the creations.

Some of the spectacular creations had been destroyed by wind and water. But quite a few still managed to survive. Check it!

And this is one way to enjoy the beach!

Wasting away again in Margaritaville

And my favorite sand sculpture:

It's the Peanuts gang!

Oh my! Linus is blown away by a gigantic Charlie Brown erection...

of sand!

And there's Snoopy in the back, getting a tan!

The Easter Bunny stopped by to drop off candy and eggs.

And speaking of eggs...

It's Lady Gaga!

Baby I was born this way!

Waiter! My egg is undercooked!

The beach is a great place to find hotties laying around.

Just remember to be safe when playing with new friends

or you might get crabs

Check out the rest of the fantastic sand creations:

Y'all come back now!

As you can see, there used to be two mermaids. But the second one got taken out by erosion...or eaten by a sand shark...or probably fell apart after some drunk idiot tried to hump it.

Good Housekeeping

2011-03-31T09:11:00.005-05:00

It's spring; time to sort out the clutter, and do some serious cleaning. And since I don't have a housekeeper nor a 1950s housewife, I have to do everything myself.

I'm a pack rat by nature. I don't like to throw things out because I don't like to be wasteful, and I'm afraid of getting rid of something, only to need it later on. Of course, this means I tend to accumulate a lot of junk. So every few months, I have to go through all my stuff and do some serious purging to clear out the mess and keep things organized. I don't want to end up like those people trapped in their homes with serious hoarding issues.

I don't mind cleaning out the bedrooms and reorganizing the closets. It took me a day to get everything in place, toss out the old stuff for donations or re-purpose them as cleaning rags. The winter clothes are packed away. I threw out those old magazines piling by the bedside and sorted the books on the new shelves I bought on sale a while back.

It took me half a day to go through the kitchen and rearrange the cabinets and appliances. I have a collection of mismatched plates and cups given to me by people who thought I could use them. And even after I bought proper matching dishes, I still kept the old plates, because they still look nice and work well. I threw out those broken items and lids that belonged to broken pots and pans that I got rid off ages ago. I cleaned out the stove and the fridge (after letting it defrost the night before). The linoleum floor smelled good after a thorough mopping with Pine-Sol. Who doesn't love the clean smell of pine?

It took me two hours to scrub down the bathroom and hang up the new shower curtain and mop the floor; less than an hour to vacuum the carpets. And I quite enjoyed doing the laundry. It's my favorite task to do. I like the smell of clean clothes and linen as I fold or iron them and put them away where they belong.

There's nothing like a good house cleaning to free up some space and leave one feeling good and accomplished. It's a very freeing feeling once it's all said and done. However, there is one task that I always find tedious, even with good music playing in the background to motivate me to work. And that burdensome task is sorting out paperwork.

It took me two days to go through all the paperwork that I accumulated over the past few months--receipts, letters, documents, etc. It's a struggle trying to figure out what to keep and what to toss away. At work, it's easy for me to figure out what's important and what goes in the trash. But at home, I find it's a little bit harder sorting the important files from the junk. For sure, all personal correspondences get saved and stored away. It's all the other stuff that takes me a while to figure out what to keep and what to toss away. Do I really need to keep grocery receipts from last year? What about bills I all ready paid on line? Truth be told, I'd rather scrub the toilet than sort out receipts and documents.

But it's finally all done and I can kick back and relax and enjoy the clean, organized, comfortable space. Now if I can only remember not to collect so much crap in the future...

Justice Friends! Assemble!

2011-03-23T15:33:00.003-05:00

Avengers (Marvel Comics) vs Justice Friends (Dexter's Laboratory)

[via]

Once again, I've been chosen for jury duty...it's like an annual thing now! It's my punishment for voting!

Except this time, I've been selected for federal court. The past few years, I've been selected for the state court, and I was only chosen to be on a jury one time out of four. However, this is the first time I've been selected for the federal court.

The nice thing about it: I can submit my jury summons information on line! How modern and convenient!

The thing that worries me: The dress code stating that I wear a tie and coat.

What am I? The defendant?

Now, I've often worn pressed dress shirts and pants and shined shoes for the other times at state court. But a tie and jacket in this weather? It's getting way too hot to be wearing that! I hope the A/C works well in the courthouse! Otherwise, I cannot be held liable for being cranky if the heat starts to drive me insane and antisocial and leads me to drink a nice cold alcoholic beverage during lunch break!

In the meantime, I have to find something to do while waiting the long hours at the courthouse. I've been told by a friend to bring something to read. Well, I haven't anything in my possession that I'd like to read at the courthouse; except maybe the huge, heavy book on art and architecture that I'm currently enjoying, flipping through it while I lay on the sofa. I need something light and entertaining. Perhaps a comic book! I haven't read those in years.

And if I'm lucky, one look at my reading material and the judge might excuse me from serving on a jury! Well, one can hope.

Still here

2011-03-12T18:18:00.002-06:00

First off all, thank you for the notes of concern and well wishes. It made me smile and I'm thankful and humbled to count you all as friends. You all make me feel great and happy to share your company and your friendship.

I'm still here. I've just been very busy. Work and life have gotten quite chaotic unexpectedly these past two months. But I'm okay.

It's nice to have some time to finally sit back, relax, and do nothing at all. Today, I listened to three messages from work, trying to convince me to come in and work over time this weekend. It felt good to ignore those messages and drink half a bottle of sangria while listening to the radio and laying out in the sun. Tonight, I'm going to feast on some smoked sausage and cheese kolaches and finish the rest of that sangria, all while sitting on the sofa in my underpants and watching some cheesy movies. And tomorrow, I'm going to sleep in!

So far this year

2011-01-11T09:27:00.001-06:00

So far it's been a very busy first month of the new year. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day I spent among friends--eating, drinking, laughing. Then I caught a cold that lasted just about a week. I had to isolate myself from the world. I sneezed; I coughed every time I tried to speak; my nose alternated between clogging up or running snot. I blew my nose so often that I actually had skin peeling off my nose by the 3rd day, like I had gotten a sunburn. Luckily, some lotion took care of the dry, irritated skin and the antihistamines and cold medicine took care of that cold.

Work is busy as always. And I find myself unable to say no when people ask me to come in and help out on my days off from work. I must work harder on saying no. Even the organizations I volunteer for are taking up a lot of my time. I really should start saying no to people. In fact, I'm going to start saying no this week. Of course, I do have a few commitments I agreed to honor in the next two weeks. So, for sure, by the end of the month, I should have more time off to myself.

It's getting really cold down here--down to the 40s. That's right; 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It's so cold that I had to close my windows and start wearing my hoodie every time I venture outside. It might not seem as cold as up north where it snows, but it's plenty enough cold for me! I find myself eating a lot oatmeal and soups and stews--perfect food for this chilly weather. Chilly, hmmm. That reminds me; some chili would be good eats for this weather, too!

One of my best friends is burying her mother today. And I wish I could be there for her, just as she was there for me when I went to see my mother in her last days. Alas, I cannot attend, because they're an ocean and several countries away. The best I could do was call my friend and tell her how sorry and sad I am to learn that her mother has passed on. And it was a very hard thing to do, because it reminded me of my mother passing away. But that's life. We never get over the loss of a loved one; we just learn to live with it.

I find it hard to believe that all of these events took place and it's only the second week of the new year! A lot happens in a short space of time. And it's a really hard reminder that life is short, and that time keeps on moving with or without us. So, I have to make the most of the time that I have. Which means, I really do need to say no to working overtime; no to overextending myself; and spend more time with the people that are important to me, doing the things that I love-eating, drinking, laughing with friends, including the ones I keep on line. In case I haven't said it lately, thank you for being a friend and for all your support. It gives me hope that there are still some good people left in this world, and I'm glad to count you among my friends.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T07:24:00.003-06:00

I know I haven't been around much lately. And the truth is, I've been busy. It's the holidays with all the festivities and craziness that goes with it. I find myself committing to too many social gatherings while work is busier than ever. Whatever free time I have, I've had to decide between sleep and recreation, and sadly, my recreation time is being reallocated for the time being.

But I'd like to take this time to wish you all a very Happy and Festive Holiday Season. I know that for many, it's crazy trying to find the right gift for people this time of year. And the stress of the holidays gets to be too much sometimes. But, aside from all the commercialization and chaos that often pervades this holiday season, I'd like to stop and take the time to truly remember what the spirit of the holidays is all about. It's about taking the time to be thankful for all the good things that have happened in your life, and it's about taking the time to let the people you love know how much you appreciate them and are thankful for having them in your life.

So, I'd like to thank you all for your support this year, and I'm truly honored and grateful to count you among friends. You're all a wonderful group of funny, smart, and incredibly caring and brave people. It's been a crazy year, and with your efforts and kindness, we survived, ready to face the new year with hope for better times to come. So thank you, for everything. And I want all of you to have a wonderful holiday season.

Now, I've put up on the side bar some old holiday posts to keep you entertained in the meantime. I've a few days after Xmas where I'll be free to roam the blogosphere once more. Until then, Happy Holidays to all, and Merry Xmas, everyone!!!

P.S. I know it's very, very, VERY late, but I'd like to send y'all some Holiday Greeting cards, so, when you've stopped laughing and shaking your head, feel free to send me a mailing address to eroswings AT gmail.com if you want a Holiday card from me (and yes, the AT means @ in the email address). Last year, I emailed e cards instead. This year, I want to mail regular holiday cards. I know, it's late, but hey, just be happy that I spent the postage to let you know that I want to wish you a very Happy Holiday Season! So cheers!

Something to talk about

2010-12-07T09:31:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, I wonder where common sense has gone, and how much things have changed. Take dinner parties, for example. When I was younger, I learned that the three topics never to bring up at dinner parties were religion, politics, and sex. It's always polite to talk about the weather and geography and the food. Either people haven't gotten this message or times have truly changed!

It started when my friend made a comment about how the weather was making her skin dry. I told her that I agreed with her, and that the dry, cold air was making my skin dry, too. Suddenly, my friend's elderly aunt--a former Hippie in her 60s--decided to join our conversation, stating, "Oh, you youngsters don't know the meaning of the word dry."

We paused to give her our attention. And I regretted it immediately when she continued, "At my age, everything's dry--my skin, my hair, even my vagina."

That's right. She said her vagina! At which point the other conversations going around the dinner table stopped, and everyone else started paying attention to what the old lady was saying, "I have several different moisturizers for my skin and sex is very uncomfortable with a dry vagina, so I have to use a lot of lubrication so I can enjoy it better."

That's right. She said she has to use a lot of lubrication! She continued, "When you get to be my age, after menopause, it's like a desert down there."

At this point, I imagined a vulture, circling the skies, looking out for dead and dying creatures on the desert floor that is this woman's vagina. Suffice it to say I kept my mouth shut for fear of what other tidbits this elderly lady might want to share. Now I know why they call it menopause. Because at that age, the things that these women say give men-a-pause! Whether it's hormonal changes altering behavior or these women just don't give a damn any more, I don't know.

Now, I may not read Miss Manners, but I'm pretty sure that dry vaginas are not topics one should discuss at dinner parties. It's a dinner party, not a gynecologists convention! This morning, after I met my friend for breakfast, she asked me to go shopping with her. I blame the fact that I'm not a morning person, that my brain was not fully functioning when I answered her question, "What do you think I should get my aunt for Christmas?"

To which I immediately replied, "A big bottle of lube!"

Where did November go?

2010-12-01T17:55:00.003-06:00

It's hard to believe that it's the last month of the year again. Once again, time went by quickly. When I think about what I did last month, I draw blank. But I'm sure I did some very important things. And when I think about it some more, really concentrate, I start to remember what those things were.

It's no surprise that I went out and voted on Nov 2nd elections. They may not be as popular as the Presidential elections every four years, but they are important. And I want to be sure to cast my vote for the candidate I believe will do the best job of representing my interests and shaping the policies and laws that affect our lives and our future. Not all the candidates I voted for won, but some did, and I feel good knowing that I made a difference in some of these tight races. I like being able to vote. In some countries, they don't have this right; some people have to brave bullets and bombings and death threats to cast their votes in hope of a better life. The way I figure, if you don't vote or take part in the workings of your government, then you shouldn't complain when the government doesn't work they way you want it to work. Government only works when people participate.

Work has been getting hectic. Not only has the workload increased, but we've lost key members of our staff, including some supervisors! Not that I blame them. The work is hard. I find myself taking on more and more responsibilities, doing management level work without the compensation and in addition to my own workload. And when middle management tried to change my classification into an official supervisory role (without any increase in pay or compensation), I declined! Much to their dismay and shock!

I'm not taking up any more stress and demands on my time without the proper compensation and official change in responsibilities. I can't do two different, demanding jobs at the same time! I've no doubt some higher up thought it would be a good way to save money, but there is no way in hell am I putting myself on the line for that kind of stress and hazardous working conditions! And did I mention that the workers have organized themselves and have made remarkable gains in membership and power in their dealings with the big corporation? It's a stressful time at work, but I confess that I'm also excited to see the staff starting to band together to create solutions to serious problems that have long plagued the workforce and driven away other good staff to the competition.

Some people like working overtime, for the money, I suppose. But I don't. I'd rather have my free time, my weekends off to do the things that make me happy, the things that make life worth living. And no amount of money can ever replace the time I use to enjoy life. You can't ever have enough time...once it's gone, you can't replace it. Life is short. Live it as best you can; do the things that make you happy. Spend time with the people you love and the ones who make you laugh.

And it wouldn't be November without Thanksgiving, the holiday celebrated on the last Thursday and Friday of November. It's basically a holiday to gather with loved ones and give thanks for all the good things that've happened in the year and to remember to be grateful for all the things you have and for the loved ones still in your life. It is supposed to remember how those early English Pilgrims, fleeing religious persecution in England and seeking a new land to call home, were able to survive that first harsh year in the New World, thanks to the American Indians. Those Native Americans took pity on those starving strangers, who had lost almost half of their original number since their arrival. The American Indians taught the Pilgrims how to farm and fish and hunt, how to live and survive in the New World. And with their first bountiful harvest, they held a 3 day feast to celebrate their survival and friendship. Or so goes the school children version.

If those American Indians had foreseen that in a few years, those immigrant Europeans would start taking their lands and killing their people and extinguishing their culture, I doubt they would've been so helpful and kind to the invading hordes. But no good deed goes unpunished. And now we're left with the remnants of a once great people whose lands were taken by deceit and blood and forcibly relocated to the wastelands, far away from their homes. Now, they struggle to survive and they are not finding the kindness they once showed these starving strangers returned to them. History is myth created from facts chosen by the victors. I say, give the Indians back their lands! So they can build more casinos! I'm tired of taking the bus for hours to get to Louisiana to gamble! I'd rather spend more time gambling locally instead of taking the bus out of state! Support local businesses!

Seriously, though, they didn't have turkey that first Thanksgiving. Just like Christmas, the whole Thanksgiving traditions were born after years of different people adding different ideas to create the Thanksgiving we know and celebrate today. Sure, it's much different from the first one. After all, it took those Pilgrims and Indians 3 days to chomp down on that feast. These days, we can chow it all down in one evening and go shopping the next day! I did get a turkey for Thanksgiving--for free, actually. And as soon as I got it defrosted, I roasted it and called some friends over that Sunday, and served it up with some fried chicken, sweet cornbread, potato salad, corn, gravy, mac & cheese, and with peach cobbler as dessert.

For Thanksgiving that Thursday, I went to 3 different dinners, bringing wine wherever I went. I had a crate of white wine in my trunk! The first Thanksgiving meal was celebrated before noon with a deep fried turkey! It was perfect as the weather was a little cooler but still good enough for outdoors cooking! That turkey was moist, delicious, and spicy! Around 4 pm, I went to another Thanksgiving gathering, where we were served Turducken--turkey stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken! It was delicious! And after playing some games with some friends, we went to the last Thanksgiving dinner of the day, held later that evening with a traditional roasted turkey, complete with sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, candied yams, and pumpkin pie. It was a wonderful feast! Heck, all three celebrations were tasty and fantastic.

There's a trick to eating this much food in one day, one that I've mastered over the years. You have to stick to the meat! Avoid fillers like vegetables and bread! Stick to the meat and you'll be able to eat as much as you want! And sample the dessert and decide if you want it. You can wrap it up and take it home to eat later!

After taking a nap to rest from the day of stuffing myself, I was dragged to the stores before midnight. Not because the stores were open, but because my friend wanted to be among the first to enter the stores when they opened at 5 am! We were fourth and fifth in line! It's a commercial tradition that's unfortunately become a part of the Thanksgiving tradition. It's called Black Friday, when stores slash their prices for a few hours to encourage customers to come shop for the holidays. It was freakin cold! We took turns making coffee runs and restroom breaks as we huddled against the wall. Luckily, this year, it was more organized, because the workers handed out tickets that allowed us to buy certain desirable merchandise on special sale. And the tickets were handed out according to line order. Was it worth freezing my ass off for hours, waiting to enter a store that I had no intention of purchasing an item from? Well, yeah, if only to see the look of joy on my friend's face.

She wanted several expensive electronic items--a large screen tv and a new laptop--that were on special sale just for a few hours, and they could only be purchased with a special ticket. So I used my ticket to get her that large screen tv on sale--she paid me after, of course. And as cold as it was huddling outside along wall, sitting on hard concrete, sipping hot coffee and dreading having to make another restroom break because all that coffee made me just want to pee, I had a good time.

We laughed; we talked; we shared a camaraderie with the others in line; everyone seemed excited and happy. I have to say it's the first Black Friday that I've been to in over ten years, where I actually enjoyed myself. I didn't experience any of the hustle and rudeness and mayhem usually associated with these sales. That was a nice change. And even when we hit the other stores that opened later, we were still able to find some good deals on great merchandise.

Would I do it again? Probably not on my own, because really, I didn't think I needed anything that was on sale. Still, if a friend wants me to go with them, I probably would go along, if only for the company and help them get what they want. Sure, it's time for giving, but it is the season where we do hope we get what we want.

And what do I want? The same thing every beauty pageant winner wants: World Peace! (and Harmony!). Here's to hoping we make the most of this holiday season, and may we find it full of good cheer, good company, and good friends.

Fall Festivities

2010-10-29T10:30:00.004-05:00

I've been very busy lately taking part in the Fall festivities. When I was younger and in grade school, fall semester was my favorite semester because we used to get so many days off from school to celebrate the holidays. And it was also the season when we got to eat delicious seasonal holiday foods.

Two weekends ago, I was at the Texas State Fair, the biggest state fair in all of the US, in operation since 1886! Most people go to the fair to see Big Tex, the worlds biggest cowboy--he wears a size 70 boot! He'll greet you and tell you about the day's events and schedule. Others go to ride the Texas Star, the largest Ferris wheel in the entire continent, at a height of 212 ft (64.6m), 21 stories high. You can see an incredible view of the city of Dallas on a clear day and as far away as the Fort Worth city skyline, 45 miles away. It lights up red and white and blue at night. As for me, I went to the Texas State Fair for the food.

As XL points out, the Texas State Fair is "the place for things on a stick and/or deep fried!" And he's right! This is the place where the corny dog made its worldwide debut!

Known as a corn dog outside of Texas, this heavenly creation is a delicious hot dog on a stick, dipped in batter and fried to a brown, crispy bun!

Goes great with mustard or ketchup and even some mayo! For the adventurous, try it with some chili. And those with finer tastes might want to dip it in some Ranch or Thousand Island dressing. Mmmm...delicious!

The Texas State Fair was also the launching pad for another famous treat enjoyed by movie goers and one of the staples of mall food courts, the nachos!

This inspired creation is a combination of crispy nachos chips topped with melted cheese and jalapenos! I like mine simple like that, with maybe a dollop of sour cream and avocado. Other like to pile on the beans and chili and salsa.

With such an illustrious history of serving up such delectable, spectacular fine fair cuisine, you better believe that I was making that pilgrimage to the mecca of deep fried food and tasty things on a stick!

Every year, a competition is held to decide the best food at the fair. Two categories up for grabs this year was the Most Creative and the Best Tasting. I only regret that I wasn't able to attend last year, when the Fried Butter--that's right, Fried Butter!--was chosen as last year's winner.

But this year's top ten finalists were fantastic. Among them was Fried Beer--yes, fried beer!; Fried S'mores Pop Tart; and Fried Club Salad--because all salads taste better when they're fried! Go here for a description the amazing ten finalists. I made sure to sample every one of these delicious treats!

And the Fried Beer won for Most creative. It was creative! Beer in a pretzel dough deep fried! And the beer stays liquid and tastes like beer. Me? I'd rather have my beer cold, but hey, that's some genius creation putting beer in a pretzel!

My favorites were these three:

3. The Deep Fried Frozen Margarita! You need to show proof of age to legally eat this treat! Margarita ingredients are fried in a funnel cake, spritz with lime and served in a salt rimmed margarita glass!

2. The Fried Chocolate! A mini candy bar is stuffed in a brownie, dipped in chocolate cake batter, then deep fried and served with powdered sugar, cherry sauce, and chocolate whipped cream.

1. My favorite and winner of the Tastiest Award: The Texas Fried Frito Pie!

via

XL has an outstanding recipe for making Frito Pie. Learn it! Make it! Love it!

The inspired creators of the Texas Fried Frito Pie took a great dish and transformed it into ambrosia! Food fit for the gods! All the exciting flavors of the Frito pie in a crunchy, deep fried shell! Heaven! Just an amazing taste! That food definitely deserved the top prize.

Sure they had other fun stuff to do at the Texas State Fair, like the shows and exhibitions, seeing all those performers doing fantastic tricks and watching those animals. And yes, they had rides and other carnival/fair games. But me, I stuck to the food map and hunted down those delicious, tasty treats that can only be found during the fair and when the carnival comes to town.

After a weekend of stuffing myself with those morsels, I spent the next weekend just laying on the beach, enjoying the sun for a little while longer before it gets cold. You could say I was recovering from the previous weekend's glutton fest. But I didn't spend all weekend just lazying about the beach.

I actually took time to do some volunteer work for Breast Cancer Awareness. I even got a pink T shirt from the event. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I've posted about this before, and I think that every month, if not every day, should be about Breast Cancer Awareness. So ladies (and gentlemen), take care of those breasts and do your monthly breast self exams, or have a friend help out

On a side note, I'm sure I've mentioned before that when I was younger, I wanted to be a background dancer for Janet Jackson. She had awesome music videos and dance moves back then. Then this cover pic came out and I thought, forget background dancer, I wanna be the guy who holds her boobs for foto shoots! Where do I apply for that job?

Anyway, there's only one big festive event left for October, and it's a big one, one of my faves: Halloween!!!

When I was a child, I loved Halloween, and mostly for the candy! Who doesn't like getting free candy just by dressing up and knocking on someone's door and saying, "Trick or Treat!" And I still like eating the candy! Every weekend this month, I'd buy two bags of candy, only to start eating them before the week is out. Now I've bought four bags and kept them out of sight, so I won't be tempted to eat through them like I did the last four bags of candy.

Nowadays, I look forward to dressing up on Halloween more than eating the candy. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still like eating the candy. But now I have a blast coming up with Halloween costumes. I have a blast making up my own costumes and being inspired by whatever is going on in the world. This year, I had a few choice ones to decide on.

Some friends wanted to go as a group and be vampires. I was excited! Until I found out that they wanted to go as those Twilight vampires, complete with the bushy eyebrows, the hair gel, and possibly glitter, angst, and douche bagginess. No thank you, I'd've much rather gone as a True Blood Vampire, dressed up just like this

It's a great look! Scary, sexy and it promotes Breast Cancer Awareness, by reminding people to do their monthly breast self exams, or get a helping hand (or two) from a friend (or two).

Since my friends still wanted to go dressed up as Twilight vampires, I decided to look for other options. I thought about getting a blond wig, putting on my jean jacket and dressing up as Canada's latest ~~atrocity~~ singing sensation, Justin Bieber!

I even had the dance moves and the lip syncing down.

But then I was watching the news and I had an epiphany! The perfect costume! This year I'm going as a Chilean miner, one of the 33 successfully rescued. I'm going as the one who has the wife and the mistress!

I've got a helmet, and I'm attaching a light on it. I've even got old raggedly clothes and old boots to wear with it. All I need now is the make up to make my face look dirty, like the mine caved in. I even have two friends lined up to dress as the wife and the mistress. It's going to be another fun Halloween.

I suppose fall is still a fun time of year. Truth be told, I still much prefer summer because I get to spend time hiking or being at the beach. But there's a magic and fun that makes the fall festivities a wonderful time. I like it, and I hope you get a chance to enjoy the fall festivities, too.

Discovery and Change

2010-10-11T10:10:00.007-05:00

It's Columbus Day today in America. It's the day dedicated to remembering Christopher Columbus landing in the New World on 12 Oct 1492, in the Bahamas. Coincidentally, it's also Thanksgiving Day for Canadians, so Happy Thanksgiving, Canadians! Enjoy your sweet pickled beaver and roasted moose!

When I was younger, Columbus Day was a federal holiday--still is; except back then, there was no school and banks were closed. Now, it's up to individual states how to celebrate the day of discovery. I liked being off from school, because it meant an extended weekend holiday and there were only four days of school left in the week. I never gave much thought to Columbus Day, other than wonder what life was like aboard the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria--and wouldn't it have been better if the Santa Maria was named something that rhymed with the first two, like the Quinta or the Hasta La Vista?

As I grew older, I was surprised to discover that some people actually protest against Columbus Day. I thought to myself, Good gawd! Who doesn't want a day off? Seriously? I was curious and started to do some research. Suffice it to say it was an eye opening experience. While everyone agrees that Columbus' discovery was a momentous event that changed the world, it's the impact of that change that's being challenged and debated.

I was in high school, in my late teens, and until I started researching, it never occurred to me that Columbus' discovery marked the beginning of some of the darkest chapters in human history. I never thought about how Columbus and the Europeans would see the New World as a resource, including the people, whom they considered inferior. I never thought about how the indigenous people of the Americas were subjected to slavery, slaughtered if they resisted European conquests, and were wiped out from the diseases and the destruction the Europeans brought with them. They don't tell you about this stuff in classes when you're making drawings of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

And they certainly don't tell you about how these native peoples were forced to labor in dangerous mines for gold and silver to fuel European conquests and religious wars. Not to mention how this was beginning of the global slavery of an entire race of people from another continent, kidnapped and forced to work in dangerous, difficult conditions.

The truth is, Christopher Columbus was a horrible man. He enslaved the natives, sold their children into sexual slavery, and butchered them for resisting. And these were the honest, kind natives who helped salvaged the Santa Maria when it was shipwrecked. Within 50 years, these native people were extinct, exterminated by Columbus with the blessings of royalty and the compliance of the Church. It was genocide. And when there were no more natives to enslave, an entire new race of people were kidnapped and forced from the African continent. And the slave trading of the African peoples would flourish for the next four hundred years, their dehumanization would last well into this millineum.

It was the beginning of the end for the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Europeans not only brought soldiers to subjugate the natives, they also brought their priests to wipe out the natives beliefs and ideology. For the next five hundred years, the accomplishments of the indigenous peoples, their history, and their very way of life would be exterminated and erased systematically by the immigrant Europeans bent on conquest.

It's kind of ironic how the American Thanksgiving was basically a day created by those Pilgrims to share with the American Indians their harvest, to thank the Indians for helping them survive in the harsh new world. The Native Americans taught these immigrants how to farm, and fish, and hunt in the new environment. Perhaps if the American Indians had foreseen the destruction those Pilgrims and their descendants would bring, they would've left those Europeans to starve and die. But they did not know that their kindness and mercy upon these foreigners would lead to the destruction of the Native American peoples and their way of life.

I suppose it's easier to look back in hindsight and see the mistakes that were made and the failures of the past. The truth is, those people did what they thought was right, what they thought was the norm for their time. We're doing the same. But times change, thankfully. We live and learn for the most part. And I'd like to think we've made some strides since those dark days. We've abolished slavery and women have been granted the right to vote. The history books are being rewritten as the achievements and legacy of the indigenous people are now being recognized and given their due. The surviving natives have embraced their culture and stand with pride. In some parts of the Americas, including the US, Columbus Day has been renamed and celebrated as a day dedicated to the native Americans. In other places, it's dedicated to the multicultural heritage of the Americas.

Everyone agrees that Columbus making contact with the New World was a global event that changed not only the course of human history and development, but has changed the world as we know it. Species crossed into new environments; landscapes were razed and reconstructed in the race to obtain resources; groups of people and animals and plants were wiped out from new diseases and war and the changing geopolitical and natural environment.

We still have some ways to go to improve the lives of not just the native peoples, but the people of the Americas as a whole. But out of the clash of the Old World and the New World, a new people was born out of the mixture of cultures and ideas. We've forged an identity of our own. And though we may speak many different languages and have many different ideas, one thing still remains, these lands are our home, and we all share a responsibility not only to care for these lands, but for all the peoples who live upon it.

I'm not sure how we should celebrate Columbus Day. I'd still rather have the day off. I support celebrating it as a day to remember the indigenous people of the Americas. But I also think that Columbus' achievement should also be remembered. After all, this was an event that changed the course of human history. And maybe that's what Columbus Day should be about. It should be about change. Whether or not that change is positive is up to the people who live in these times. After all, change only happens when people take action. And I'd like to think that Columbus Day is a day to remind us to take action and to do our part to learn from mistakes of the past; to do the right thing; and make the world a much better place for all of us: the immigrants, the natives, and all those who've come to call this place home.

C U Next Tuesday

2010-10-03T11:07:00.002-05:00

I was checking out blogs this morning when I came across MJ's blog. There, I learned some terribly sad news. It seems that one of our fellow, beloved bloggers has passed on. I was shocked and stunned at the news. I turned off the computer for a few hours, trying to take in this information. And when I logged back on, I was hoping it was a dream; but it wasn't; the sad realization finally set in. Piggy of Tazzy and Piggy, has passed on.

The first time I became aware of Piggy was on SNICKS blog. It was many years ago, and SNICKS was the first blog I actually read. I was looking for Fleetwood Mac songs to download from the internet, and during one of those searches, I stumbled on SNICKS blog--named after music legend and Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks. SNICKS no longer has a blog, as he's now a contributor to the AFTER ELTON pop culture website.

From SNICKS blog, I clicked on a link to Maidink, who no longer maintains a blog as well. But such is life. All things have a beginning and an end. And it was on Maidink's blog that I really started to notice Piggy. Every now and then, some rude, hilarious poster named Piggy would post something insulting but funny. And from Maidink, I made my way over to MJ and IDV and CP. And it was mostly at MJ's and IDV's that I saw a lot of Piggy and sometimes Tazzy.

What I remember most about Piggy was his welcoming spirit. He treated everyone with the same rudeness and fondness and mischievous spirit. I loved his posts about his travels (and the rude and hilarious pics that often accompanied them). I followed his adventures to the Smunts, SID, Connie and Tatas, and to IDV. I also loved his appreciation and enthusiasm for rollercoasters and theme parks. I, too, love rollercoasters and theme parks, and I can totally relate to the sense of joy and fun and excitement he felt every time he rode a rollercoaster and visited a theme park.

But what I remember most about Piggy was that underneath the rude, complaining, diva behavior, there lay a big heart, full of love and passion. Every now and then, he'd post something truly heartfelt and personal on his blog (and the many incarnations of his blogs). I remember being moved by his story about how music saved his life. He was depressed, and he hadn't come out yet, struggling with his identity, feeling stuck between what society had expected of him and who he truly was. I was moved by his story about how music kept him going, and how finding Tazzy gave him a new lease on life, gave him a reason to keep on living and enjoying every day.

And I remember being so proud of him for taking part in a protest for civil rights for gays and lesbians. He complained about the rain, about the lack of support from fellow gay men who rather cruised the bars and parks instead of standing up for their rights, to be treated as equal people under the law. And as much as he made fun of lesbians, he acknowledged that it was these women who stood with him in the rain, trying to make the world more just, a better place for them and everyone else. He had a passion for doing the right thing, even when on the surface he acted selfish and ungrateful. And for all the blustering, the whining, and the rudeness he projected, he could not hide his generous spirit, his passion for equality, and his love for his family and friends.

Piggy used to be fond of saying CUNT on the blogs he visited. It was like his signature style to call people cunts, especially people he was close to and called his friends. It won't be the same, not seeing him call anyone a cunt on the blogosphere anymore. It was a term of endearment from him. RuPaul has another use for the word cunt. On his show, Drag Race, RuPaul uses the term CUNT to emphasis the qualities that make a truly great, fabulous drag queen. A true star is someone with Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent. And Piggy was one of the brightest stars in the blogosphere night sky.

A few days ago last week, I visited Piggy's blog, and I learned that he was in the hospital for pneumonia. I tried to leave a message for him to "Get Well Soon," but the message wouldn't go through. I figured I'd try again later. Now it seems that I'm too late, and I'm really sorry that I didn't find the time to let him know that I was thinking about him and wishing him well.

I remember the last entry that Piggy wrote that really moved me. It was about his journey home, to Scotland, to see his ailing father. He was on a train, his heart heavy and his mind full of conflict. He looked out a window and saw a small bird flying in the air. Suddenly, a large bird of prey swooped down and took out that small bird. He was shocked to see it happen. But then an elderly man sitting next to him made a comment. "Such is life," and suddenly it all made sense. He was able to spend some time with his father and was there to keep him company until his father passed on.

Such is life. We live, we die. And in between living and dying, we do the best we can with the time we are given. I enjoyed having Piggy visit my blog from time to time. And I enjoyed visiting his and watching him have fun on MJ's blog.

Piggy, you will be missed. You were one of a kind, and in the brief moments you were here on earth, you touched so many lives and made a lot of us smile. You've done your part to make this world a much better place. Tazzy, I wish you so much strength, and peace, and love at this time. To Piggy's family and friends, I wish you serenity and much love. And to Piggy, thank you for making me smile, for making me laugh, and for showing me that there really are some good people still left in this world. And so long as we keep doing our best, making each other laugh, and looking out for each other, we can make the world just a bit more wonderful, a little bit brighter, and a bit more beautiful each and every day.

The Coven

2010-09-22T09:47:00.001-05:00

In case you didn't know, InexplicableDeVice and Tim are in the process of creating a new Coven, as three of their former members have left the astral/internet plane for more pressing matters on the ground. No one knows for sure what secrets the Coven holds and how its members are chosen. But secret footage has been leaked out!

People have mysteriously vanished in the course of capturing and secreting out this footage.

Behold, it's tall blond IDV interviewing buxom brunette CyberPete for a position in the Coven.

Warning: This footage is not for those of a delicate nature.

Did CP make it? Who else is going to join this new Coven? And was Kiss harmed in making of this footage? Let's hope not.

Running in the dark

2010-09-17T02:25:00.002-05:00

It's been about two weeks since I was able to get back into running again before the sun rises. Heavy rains and a busy work schedule kept me from my usual running routine. I like to run in the early dark hours of the morning, because it's cool and quiet, less traffic on the roads, too. On really clear nights, I can see the moon and stars. Most times, I'm alone on the roads. Every now and then, some cyclists would pass by and there'd be the odd runners that cross my route. I've seen people running in pairs on some occasions, but I never see them again, at least not regularly when I run.

But there is one who did keep up with me, for at least part of my route. The first time I noticed him was three years ago, when I took a different route home. He kept up with me for about half a mile, then he took a different path while I continued on home. I'd see him maybe two to three times a week, always there to keep me company part of the way. He'd never be out when it rained, of course, but he was there enough for me to take notice of him when our paths merged for part of the way. We never really talked, but there was a natural ease that came with our company. We just happened to share the wide open spaces on our journey. And after a while, there was a familiarity there that I looked for when I was on the last leg of my run. I knew that I was almost home when he joined me on my route.

He was shorter than me, but he had a presence that made him seem bigger than he was. He exuded confidence and energy and serenity, focused on his route, just as I was. Over the course of three years, we never really spoke to each other, just a quick nod of acknowledgment, a simple greeting. There was a camaraderie that came with just us sharing the path for part of our journey. No matter how tired I was, having him join my path re-energized me and made me try even harder, dig deeper, will myself to keep going just a little bit longer. Perhaps we motivated each other, or at the very least, he inspired me to keep on going. If someone as small as he was could keep on going, then so could I.

I didn't realize how much I looked forward to his company, as I never really thought about him after my run. I mean, there were times when I thought that maybe I ought to invite him over for a drink, to introduce myself properly and get a chance to get to know each other better. But those thoughts were as fleeting as the leaves the wind blew past us on some nights, forgotten the moment they left my sight. As soon as I ended my run, I'd think about taking a shower and getting ready for the day. The rising sun would only remind me of the tasks that lay ahead and the work I needed to get done. The ethereal world of running in the dark would fade away, along with any thoughts I had during the night. It was like waking up from a dream, and I could not remember what the dream was.

Three weeks ago, I went running, and on the way home, it suddenly occurred to me that I had not seen my running companion. And when I got to the spot where he usually joined me, he wasn't there. Twice more that week I went running, but my companion was nowhere to be found. Then came two of weeks of heavy rain and a busy work schedule kept me from my running routine, and I forgot about my running companion.

This morning, though, on the way back home, I kept an eye out for my running companion, to see if he would join me again. But he wasn't there at the corner where he usually met me. I doubled back, did a loop and returned to the corner, hoping to see him there. But there was no sign of him anywhere. So I kept going forward, all by myself. I ran on until I made it home. Usually, after a good shower and getting ready for the day, I'd forget about my run and go over on my plans for the day. But this morning was different. This time, the morning sun didn't take away the thoughts I had during my run under the starry, dark night. This time, I felt like I woke up with a very vivid memory of my dreams.

I thought it odd that I had not seen my running companion in a while. Strange that I would miss the sight of his small frame, keeping pace with me, falling into cadence as we ran in the dark night. I've not seen him for two weeks now, and I started to worry about what could've happened to him. Strange how I somehow feel like maybe I should've tried harder to be more social and invited him over for a cool drink after a long run.

All week I've been trying to keep a lookout for him when I'm out running. In fact, I've been running a lot more than I usually do in the hopes of running into my companion again. But I've come to the sad realization that he might be gone. Perhaps he moved. And I'm hoping he moved to somewhere better. The truth is, I find myself missing his company. Which is kind of funny, considering that one of the joys of running for me is the solitude, just me and the wide open spaces, pounding the pavement in the cool dark night. It's not that I need the company or want someone to join me on my pre-dawn runs. No, that's not it. I like running by myself. I just didn't realize just how much I did enjoy having company on the run, even for a brief part of the way.

I'd like to think the my running companion has moved on to a better place, be it a new home or the next world. Wherever he is, I wish him well, and I'd like to thank him for his pleasant company on those dark nights. He was a good companion, and running with him on those cool, starlit nights gave me a glimpse of what ancient man must have felt when he had a companion join him on his journey into the wild, unknown world.

So, wherever you are running companion, I hope that you are well. You've been good company and you're an amazing little dog. I hope your owners realize just how lucky they are to have you. You truly are man's best friend, and our journey into the world has been made all the better for having you join us along the way.

The Wet and Dry Experiment

2010-09-03T01:43:00.003-05:00

It all started about a month ago during a conversation with some coworkers. The topic of pets had come up, and while I don't have any pets, there are two stray cats that hang out at my apt building, specifically on my porch. They came with the apartment. Everyone in my building takes turns feeding them. And when I mentioned to the other coworkers that I fed the cats tuna from a can, one of them expressed shock and dismay, saying that cats can only be fed cat food. That led to a debate about dry cat food versus wet cat food and which one was better for the cats. Suffice it to say it was a very slow day at work when the hot topic of conversation was cat food.

Since we never did settle which was better for the cats, I decided to do a month long experiment to see which food the cats preferred--wet or dry. Mind you, I spent hours of research online and asking other cat owners which brand they'd recommend. Who knew that cat food came in all sorts of varieties?

For the first week, I bought a bag of dry cat food. For a whole week, I fed the cats dry cat food every day. Some days, they'd eat everything. Other days, they'd only eat half. I made notes of my findings. The next week, I tried out the canned wet food. Once again, there were days when the cats ate all the food; and then there were days when they ate about half. Interesting. Finally, today, I decided to mix the wet and dry cat food together, to see if the cats had a preference. The results? They ate everything. After comparing my notes and going over the data a few times, I came to the conclusion: Cats will eat anything when they're hungry.

Wet or dry, it doesn't matter. Cats have been eating lots of things for thousands of years--from rats to birds to fish to bugs. They certainly did well without commercial cat food. So as far as I'm concerned, the debate between wet food vs dry food is over. And that means when I run out of the dry and wet cat food, I'm feeding those stray cats some tuna and left over chicken and fish. They certainly seem to enjoy those morsels when I feed it to them.

Shoes

2010-08-25T14:38:00.003-05:00

I was enjoying my weekend in Houston. I had big plans to go out on the town and spend some money buying some items to indulge myself. Among those items were two pairs of running shoes, top of the line, very expensive. When I buy running shoes, I usually get the reasonably priced models that last long, but don't have a lot of the flash and extras the expensive models claim to have. Most times, I justify not buying expensive running shoes, because I go through a good pair of running shoes just about every six months. And for the price of one expensive, flashy pair, I could get two to three regular, reputable running pairs.

I had been working a lot of overtime to cover for vacationing and resigned coworkers. So I told myself that I earned the right to indulge myself in something frivolous. I figured I would buy two pairs of the expensive running shoes and see how they compare to the regular ones I always get. It was a great time to shop too, as this weekend was the tax free weekend in Texas.

A tax free weekend is a weekend designated by the state of Texas where sales tax is suspended on clothing, school supplies, and other back to school items. The goal of the tax free weekend is to encourage shopping and make items a bit more affordable for working class families getting ready for school. A lot of discounts and big sales take place during the tax free weekend as the stores attempt to clear out their summer stock to make room for the fall and winter stock. It's a great time to go shopping for deals. You get a lot more for your money's worth.

I woke up late on Saturday morning and ventured out into the kitchen to grab something to eat. I was crashing at friend's place--the night before, I had stayed out late, partying with some friends. My friend was babysitting another friend's kids. I greeted them and made myself a toast and egg sandwich, listening to the kids talk excitedly about their finds from an early garage sale they went to this morning with my friend. The kids were showing off the clothes and shoes they had gotten a good deal on. The stuff was in pretty good condition. I couldn't help but smile at their eagerness and excitement, knowing that they made some great deals that morning, and I, too, was hoping to score some great merchandise later in the day when my friend and I would go shopping. I thought it was very nice of my friend to take the kids out to do some garage sale shopping, buying them stuff.

At noon, the mom showed up to pick up her kids. Her kids shared their excitement of their finds that morning, and the mom seemed pretty happy with what the kids found. She had worked early that morning, trying to pick up some overtime. I asked her if she was planning on taking advantage of the tax free weekend and get some back to school shopping done. She told me she wasn't. Her kids didn't need anything. They had all their school supplies ready and had enough clothes for the school year. They left for their home in another part of town as my friend and I got ready to do some shopping.

First, we did some clothes shopping. We found some great deals on shirts and jeans and pants. Then we hit the home stores and found some great accents and drapes and linen. They were on sale. Even better, my friend had coupons we used to get even more discounts on the sale items. We were on a shopping bliss high, having found so many great stuff for really great prices. The last place we stopped at was the store where I would buy two pairs of expensive running shoes.

The store was packed with loads of people taking advantage of the sales. But the section where the expensive running shoes were located was a bit sparse. There was no discount on the high end running shoes, but with the sales tax suspended, it was still a pretty good discount--never pay full price! I felt a little indulgent as the sales person fetched a few stunning looking pairs and I tried them out. My friend laughed and pointed out that she would never have imagined me buying expensive running shoes, much less wear those flashy shoes out. It wasn't my style--and she was right. I'm very practical and tend to stick with casual, clean looks. Being flashy was never my style--nor was showing off expensive gear.

Still, I enjoyed trying out the different pairs. They felt different. I wasn't sure if I liked them or not. I told myself that I probably just needed to break them in. We talked as I tried on different pairs, jumping up and down, walking down the aisle and back. I told my friend that it was very nice of her to take the kids out to the garage sales and buy stuff for them while their mom was at work. My friend told me it was the least she could do, seeing as how things were a little tight with the mom and her kids.

I stopped parading down the aisle long enough to sit down and talk with my friend. I was surprised to learn that the kids dad hadn't been paying child support all year. The mom was struggling to pay the bills. This month alone, my friend lent her rent money and told her not to pay her back for a while--at least until she can afford to without being homeless. The church had been kind enough to provide the kids with school supplies. And the extra shifts the mom was working would be enough to keep her afloat for a while, and her bills would be caught up.

I didn't know how to take the news. Truth was, I was kind of shocked. The kids were happy, like they had no clue how hard things were for them. The mom seemed totally at ease, showing no signs of stress. Maybe they were just really good at covering things up. I don't know, but I suddenly thought back to a time in my childhood, after my dad died.

Things were pretty rough for us back then. We didn't have a lot of money after my dad passed away. And my mom worked a lot of overtime to make ends meet. When we got our school supplies, we made sure to take care of them, that they would last the rest of the year. We didn't get any new clothes for school, because we all wore uniforms at the private school. I remember my two brothers and I asking our mom that we wanted to go to a public school instead. We knew that it was costing a lot of money for us to keep going to a private school. My mother agonized over our request. She wanted her three youngest to have the best education possible. It's why my father and she started us off in private school. But eventually, she relented after that year, and the following year, we started public school. They still had uniforms, but at least public school was free, and my mom didn't have to work so hard just to pay off tuition. And my brothers and I worked just as hard in public school as we did in private school. And it was kind of nice to see some neighborhood friends in the class for a change.

The few times we did get a new set of clothes, it was usually for a birthday or a special event. We cherished those clothes, especially since we had gotten so used to hand me downs. I didn't mind the hand me downs. They were actually in pretty good condition. Most of the stuff was too big for me, as I was a very skinny kid. But I loved it, especially in high school when the retro look was in, and everyone wanted to know where I got the bell bottom jeans from. Even better, when hip hop became popular, I was the kid who started the baggy clothes trend in high school. Not that it was my intention. It was just that my older brother had gotten too big for his clothes, so he passed them on to me. I just liked wearing them, because they felt roomy and comfortable. I had no idea that I was being credited as a style setter.

Thinking about those days in the past made me realize something. I sat down and took off the new pair of expensive running shoes I was thinking about buying. I placed them back on the shelves where they belonged. I put on my old shoes and took off with my friend to the other aisle. I grabbed a pair of the regular, reasonably priced ones. Ordinarily, I would've purchased two pairs. But I only needed one for now. My friend raised her eyebrow, and she asked me why I changed my mind. I told her, the other shoes just didn't fit right. I paid for my new shoes and still had enough money left over to buy two new pairs of the expensive shoes. But we went home to drop off the shopping and headed out to eat.

The next day, I took a drive up to see the mom and her kids. I've known them for a few years now. I knew about the shaky history with the dad and how he left them hanging. I knew how tough things had been for them since, but I just didn't know how hard they had gotten. I waited half an hour in the parking lot for them to return home. They were surprised to see me, and the kids were waving. I waved back. The mom walked up to my car and asked me how I was doing and what I was doing there. I handed her an envelope with what was left over of my new shoes money. I told her maybe she could take the kids out shoe shopping or something else. She opened the envelope, looked at me, and then came over and gave me a hug. Her eyes were watering up, like she was struggling not to cry. She thanked me and asked me to stay for dinner, but I told her that I needed to be somewhere else, so we said our good byes and I got back in car and drove back to my friend's place.

I didn't want to see the mom cry, because I was afraid that would make me cry. And I didn't want the kids to get upset. I wanted them to keep feeling happy and excited about school starting soon. However hard life got, I wanted them to know that there was still some good in this world, and life can still be pretty wonderful if you got love and good people and each other to help you through.

Later that night, my friend noticed that I was wearing my new, regular running shoes. She asked me how they fit. And I smiled and told her, they fit just right.

Weekend Escape

2010-08-18T17:34:00.001-05:00

I haven't had a chance to catch up with everyone this past week. Things are very busy at the moment. Work is getting hectic, as I find myself working overtime to cover coworkers on vacation--and those who've decided to quit and find something better suited to their talents and preferences. I find myself spending most of the week waking up, getting ready for work, work, then come home, shower, then sleep. Then repeat. The few days I've had off, I've used to catch up on sleep. Although, I did get a nice 3 day weekend last week.

I went to Houston Friday afternoon to meet up with one of my best friend's younger siblings. The younger sibling is doing missionary work near Houston, trying to save people's lives and bring them religion--just as my best friend did years ago as a missionary in Asia. Naturally, I had to go and visit my best friend's younger sibling, to show some support, and take them out to eat. And quite possibly, try and tempt this missionary to see if they're just as wild and fun as their older sibling, my best friend--one of the best people to party with and go out on an adventure with. Okay, so seriously, I just wanted to see how they were doing and see if they needed anything.

If I remember correctly, missionaries are poor--and they're usually hungry after a long, hot day of knocking on doors and facing rejection and hostility. I met the younger sibling with his partner--that's missionary partner, as they send them out in pairs--and we went to a Mexican restaurant. Actually, it was a bar/restaurant. Sure, there were some guidelines that discourage the missionaries from going to bars, but given the choice between good food that someone was paying for or going to a bland fast food joint, the choice was obvious.

Just to be clear, I didn't suggest the Mexican bar restaurant to begin with. I was not familiar with the area. It was the missionaries who suggested the place, because someone they were talking to suggested it. They had no clue that it wasn't the sort of place missionaries frequent. The bar was packed, with the Friday night crowd with music and laughter in the air. Amid the crowd of casually dressed people, some showing more skin and tattoos than others, the missionaries stood out in their conservative clothing. I had to admit that I was curious about their reaction at going to a bar, but they handled it well.

At first, the sibling's partner seemed unsure, but my best friend's younger sibling pushed on ahead and adapted. It was a skill my best friend possessed--to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and make the best of it. I couldn't help but smile at the family resemblance. I was suddenly reminded of my best friend doing things that the church would certainly not recommend, but my friend has an adventurous spirit, as does the younger sibling. No one in the bar took notice when the missionaries and I started praying before eating the food. I didn't mind the the prayer. I used to do that when I was growing up.

We actually stayed at the bar a lot longer than we had planned, talking about everything and anything. We stayed out longer than the missionaries were supposed to. And I admit, a small part of me was curious. Since I had gotten the missionaries to go to a bar and stay out past curfew, I wondered, just how far would these two missionaries stray off the path? Not that I would intentionally tempt them. That would be wrong. Still, I wanted to let them know that if they were curious to try the off the beaten path, I'd be willing to accompany them on a short trip. Sometimes, you find the most interesting and fun and amazing things when you take a different road.

Saturday morning, I slept in til noon. I was woken up by a phone call from my best friend, joking if I was ready to be baptized or was I trying to corrupt the younger sibling? I had a late lunch with the missionaries again. I took them to lunch at a BBQ place outside their designated area. But hey, the food was good and they were hungry. I asked them to go to a baseball game later that evening, but they couldn't. They had people to minister to and other religious obligations to meet. Another long meal enjoyed with good food, good company, and lots of laughter, and we called it a day. They had appointments to keep. I told them that I'd be back in town soon to visit another friend in Houston, and I'd make sure to see them again when I come back. We parted on good terms with tentative plans for our next outing. They have a day off to do their own thing. I plan on taking them out on the town and showing them a good time--the church doesn't need to know what they do in their off time. Even Jesus liked to party and go places.

Later that evening, a few friends and I went to a baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates. We pigged out on hot dogs, nachos, ice cream, and drinks. It was an exciting game. And it was fun to get up and do the wave and shout cheers and do all the local chants the fans do to show their support for the teams. There was also much alcohol involved. The Pirates held the lead all the way up to the last two innings when the local team finally caught up and sunk those Pirates! Astros win! We screamed and celebrated wholeheartedly. And after maneuvering out of the gridlock traffic of people leaving the stadium, we went to a club to continue the celebrations. We stayed out late, talking, laughing, joking, dancing, and just doing silly things to make each other laugh. It felt good. We stayed til closing, then we hit a late night cafe, where we ate pancakes and sausages before going home to sleep.

Sunday morning, I slept in again to recover from the night before. Had a late brunch with other friends, then went to an impromptu pool party. It was hot. A friend had access to the local swimming pool, so we grabbed some food, some drinks, some music, and we headed over to the pool to cool off. Did some cannonball dives, played chicken fight in the pool,and played water polo. We made some attempts at synchronized swimming. Suffice it to say that we won't be making our debut at the London Olympics.

Later that evening, after a shower, a nap, and dinner, I got in the car and made the drive home after the sun had set. I made it home before midnight. I went right to sleep. It was a good weekend. It was exactly what I needed to relax from a long, stressful, busy work week. And I can't wait to do it all over again.

Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars~Henry Van Dyke

Relax

2010-08-04T09:39:00.001-05:00

I've not been able to visit around the internet as much as I'd like. I've been very busy at work. Since it's summer, some of my colleagues have taken off for vacation, leaving their clients in my care. I find myself working long hours, late into the night, providing excellent service to these clients. Though, I confess that all these long hours and the intensive, personal attention dedicated to servicing these clients are starting to wear me out.

My thighs and shoulders are sore from being in positions that I normally don't use regularly. At least, not until the client asks for it specifically and pays for it. And it would be nice to wear my regular, comfortable clothes for a while, rather than dress up to meet the clients needs and expectations.

And while I like the extra money I'm making and the repeat customers who enjoy my work, often requesting my services several times a week, I'm ready for a few days off. Rather than spend my time pleasing clients, I'd like to take some time to do the things that please me, things that I enjoy and find great pleasure in. I can't wait for this week to be over. I'm due for some much needed rest and relaxation.

Water, water, everywhere

2010-07-24T10:16:00.002-05:00

Two days ago, I awoke to the sound of a strange hissing noise. I didn't know what it was at first. I thought maybe I had left the sink water running. But when I stepped out of the bedroom and into the hallway, I got quite a shock as my feet stepped in cold water soaked carpet! The hallway carpet was wet!

I went into the bathroom, looking for the source of the water. Only, there was water on the bathroom floor, but it wasn't from the sink or shower tub. I tracked down the strange hissing noise to the small closet that held the water heater. And when I opened the door, there it was, the source of the water and hissing noise. The water heater had broken and was leaking water onto the floor. I couldn't figure out how to turn the water heater off, so I did the next best thing.

I picked up the phone and dialed the apt manager's office. I explained to her the nature of my problem. And within ten minutes, maintenance showed up and turned off the water heater by shutting off the power and draining the rest of the water through the tub. My 20 year old water heater had broken down.

I reached for a mop, but the maintenance man told me not to worry. They would clean up the mess and replace my water heater with a new one. For the next four hours, they shampooed, washed, and cleaned my carpet in addition to installing a new, energy efficient water heater. Then they put a huge dehumidifier and a large, industrial size fan to dry the carpets. I was told the machines would be in place for three days to ensure the carpets are dry and to prevent any mold and mildew from forming.

Now, I fall asleep to the hum of large machines in the dry air of my apt. It's better than dealing with the awful humidity outside after the summer thunderstorms pass on by. I'm really glad that I was home when the water heater broke down. I can't imagine how much worse the water damage might have been had I not been at home to catch it early on. And having great maintenance staff is one of the reasons why I like renting an apt. I can't imagine the hassle and drama I would've faced had I been on my own, left to deal with the mess. I wouldn't have a clue of where to even start, except panic that there was water, water everywhere and it was going to be expensive to fix and find out what's happening. Thank goodness for great apt maintenance staff.

Thank you!

2010-07-18T12:04:00.003-05:00

Thank you everyone for your support and your cooperation. All our efforts and hard work paid off. MJ's and Leni's missing comments have returned! And all their new comments are staying put, instead of being erased! We did it! Working with Blogger has paid off!

I want to thank every single one of you who took the time to spread the word, joined our campaign, and supported us over the past month. You took the time to make a difference. You made it possible to return Infomaniac after it was removed from blogspot. You participated and took time to join our group efforts to return the missing comments. Every step we took together in this long journey has finally resulted in achieving our goal: MJ's and Leni's comments have returned!

This whole month long struggle was more than just about returning some missing comments. It was about standing up and doing the right thing. In this day and age, we hear so much about the apathy and lack of caring that seems so prevalent in the world. They say people just don't care anymore, that we're selfish and all we do is complain. But they are wrong!

This whole experience proved that people still care! You've proven that there are still so many amazing, wonderful people in the world who choose to come together, form a community, and look out for each other. You've proven that the incredible power of a group of people working towards a common cause is alive and well. You took the time to bring about change! Your participation and support made it all possible! Together, we really did reach the stars and changed the fates!

Thank you so much for being strong, supportive, and for being with us throughout the whole campaign! You made it happen! You lent us your voice and your strength and made our group efforts even more powerful and successful! You were part of an amazing campaign, and you're part of an unbelievably wonderful and fantastic community of powerful people who bring about great change! You can take pride in your work and be proud of what you've done. You stood up for what's right and you came to the aid of people who needed your help. You made the difference. You made it happen. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for your support. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

And if I can ask you one more time for your participation. Please visit this thread here. (Right click on link and open in New Tab or New Window). And thank Nitecruzr, Gatsby, DarkUFO, and the entire Blogger Team for working hard to restore the missing comments and keeping the new comments from MJ and Leni from disappearing.

Thank you everyone! You're truly an astounding and marvelous group of people!

Help us restore MJ's and Leni's missing comments by getting Blogger's attention

2010-07-14T04:25:00.004-05:00

*Update: Thursday 15 July 2010 7:30 pm. Scroll to the end of the post please.

It's been two weeks since the surge got us a positive response from Blogger. Since then, Blogger has acknowledged that there is a problem with with Blogger automatically targeting and erasing MJ's and Leni's comments. And all old comments MJ and Leni have left on our blogs have been erased.

Since then, we've not heard anything else from Blogger, other than they are aware of the problem and working on it. Still, I've been monitoring the Blogger Help Forum for developments and I've learned something interesting. Blogger does acknowledge that there is a problem with MJ's and Leni's missing comments, and something needs to be done to prevent Blogger from erasing MJ's and Leni's new comments. However, they seem to classify this problem as a low priority!

So what does that mean? It means that we've made it on their "to do" list, but we're at the bottom. So, what course of action do we take now? Well, for one thing, we do need the Blogger team to solve this problem, so we've got to find a way to elevate the problem from low priority to high priority on their "to do" list. How do we do this effectively and keep their cooperation?

I've been thinking about this for a week now. And I've devised a two step strategy to help elevate this problem from low priority to high priority on the Blogger Team's to do list.
The first step is to start posting on the Forum at the thread that discusses the problem of MJ's and Leni's missing comments.

Starting Thursday, 15 July 2010 all through next week, to Wednesday, 21 July 2010, start posting at the forum thread to get the Blogger team's attention. The thread is here. (Right click on the link, then Open in New Tab or New Window to get to the thread and post your request).

Here's what we need to post. Feel free to edit these requests to fit your style:

1. Ask blogger what's being done to resolve the issue of all of MJ's and Leni's missing comments from our old blog posts. It has been a month since the comments disappeared on 12 June 2010.

2. Ask blogger what's being done to prevent the google/blogger bots from automatically targeting and erasing comments left by MJ and Leni using their Google/Blogger accounts. Why hasn't Blogger been able to stop the automatic erasure/censure of MJ's and Leni's new comments?

3. Ask blogger, what else is needed to solve this problem quickly and keep it from happening?

Then tell them we are looking forward to the Blogger team's response. Thank them for their assistance. Remember to be polite and respectful to them, so we can encourage their cooperation and their willingness to solve this problem quickly.

4. Please spread the word to let everyone know what we're doing starting Thursday 15 July 2010 til Wednesday 21 July 2010. The more people we have participating and posting requests at the thread, the more impact we'll have! The more of us who post there, the more power we'll wield in getting Blogger to respond quickly and effectively to our requests. There is a great power in numbers, and the greater our numbers, the greater our strength and power to bring about change!

The whole point of posting in the thread, is to get Blogger's attention so they can realize that this problem is not a low priority problem, but a big one. And by posting in the thread, we keep the issue visible and one of the first problems people see when they visit the help forum. All that attention will get us a response.

Remember, post in the thread to get Blogger's response.

After one week, and if by next Wednesday, 21 July 2010 that we don't get a response from Blogger, then we go on with part two of the strategy. A second surge!

We've all ready seen what the first surge did. All those multiple postings got Blogger's attention and we shook up the help forum to get some answers. They don't like it when multiple postings start showing up on the board, alarming the other bloggers and taking up most of the forum. All those multiple postings freak them out, which is why they asked us to cease and desist while they look into the problem. It's a heavy tactic that can cause chaos for the Blogger team, but it's one that's worked for us before. Hopefully, it won't come to that. But if it does, we do what we must to get to our goal: To restore MJ and Leni's missing comments and prevent their new ones from being automatically erased by Blogger.

So once again, I must ask for your help in this new strategy. Your cooperation and collaboration was successfully in getting Blogger's attention in the first place. And for that, I thank you so much for taking the time to work with us. You really made the difference. You are a truly astounding and genuine community who looks out for each other and comes together to protect and support one another.

Now, I call upon your strength and participation once more. Please spread the word. With your help, we can get Blogger to respond once again and help solve this problem. Apparently, until more people come forward and report that this is a problem, Blogger will not solve it any time soon. So please spread the word and join our efforts. The cease fire is off! We are back to posting requests on the Forum!

Remember, starting Thursday 15 July 2010 til Wednesday 21 July 2010, post here on the thread to request Blogger's help.

Ask blogger to restore MJ's and Leni's missing comments, and request that Blogger stop automatically targeting and erasing new comments left by MJ's and Leni using their Blogger accounts. Your cooperation and your support gives us incredible power to make things happen. Together, we can do amazing things. Together, we can reach the stars!

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.
~Nora Roberts

********Update 15 July 2010, Thursday 7:30 pm*********

Something is going on at Blogger. In the post below, two of MJ's comments have briefly reappeared. This one was posted on 1 Jul 2010 11:25 am, and it vanished on July 2, 2010 4:45 AM. But it reappeared on 15 July 2010 at 7:30 pm when I went on line:

MJ said...

Test comment using my regular Google/Blogger log-in/username/avatar.

Posted on July 1st, 2010 at approximately 11:25 AM.

July 1, 2010 1:25 PM

This other comment was:

Comment deleted

This post has been removed by the author.

July 5, 2010 8:39 AM

It was the first of two comments to which I replied:

eroswings said...

MJ, I'm copying this for evidence.

Comment deleted

This post has been removed by the author.

July 5, 2010 8:39 AM
Delete
Blogger MJ said...

Ooops...trying again.

Here I am with yet another test comment posted on July 5, 2010 at approximately 8:41 AM.

July 5, 2010 8:41 AM

I was over at Nitecruzr's blog and it seems that he's forwarded further evidence to Gatsby about what's happening to the comments being erased automatically by Blogger. I imagine after the weekend holiday, they'll start working soon on it and let us know what's going to happen. I'm hopeful we'll get a resolution soon.

July 5, 2010 10:00 AM

I take this as a positive sign that Blogger really is working on solving MJ's and Leni's missing comments problem, and Blogger is looking for ways to stop MJ's and Leni's new comments from disappearing! Great work, people! Your polite respectful requests at the Forum are having a great impact! Keep up the good work. As you can see, it's working! Fantastic job, everyone!

Help Restore MJ's and Leni's Missing Comments

2010-06-28T07:45:00.010-05:00

***Update 1 July 2010, Thursday:

Cease fire! Cease fire! Cease fire!

Ladies and Gentlemen, our surge has worked fantastically! We've gotten the attention of someone who may be able to help resolve this issue. Thank you! Thank you! Your hard work and participation in this action has paid off! We are now in talks with someone who can help fix this problem.

For now, I'd like to ask you all to stand down for the time being. Do Not Post Any More Help Requests At the Blogger Help Forum for now. The person who's helping us is requesting that we hold off any more multiple posts for help in order to help diagnose the root of the problem of MJ's and Leni's disappearing comments. We've gotten their attention, and now they need to focus on the problem.

We can help them expedite solving the problem by letting them work with MJ and Leni and not be distracted by any more posts from our surge asking for their help. So, for now, please Do Not Post Any More Help Requests at the forum.

The Surge worked! We're now holding a cease fire to engage in talks to resolve the conflict. Well done everyone!

Stand by for further developments! I'll bring you the latest news as it happens!

Thank you! Thank you so much for your continued support! You people rock!!!

Click here to follow what's happened. But please stand by for now. We're in a cease fire, so no new posts for help at the forum for now. We don't want to start a flame war. We want to engage in productive dialogue and cooperate with the Blogger Help Forum to solve this problem. The talks at the forum are heading in a positive direction. And your patience and hard work and support is very much appreciated. You people are just spectacular and astounding! Thank you so much!
********************************************

Original post dated Monday, June 28, 2010

In case you haven't noticed, there has been some serious issues with Blogger lately. On the morning of 12 June 2010, Saturday, it was discovered that Blogger had automatically deleted MJ's blog, Infomaniac, without warning or a reason. A day later, the same thing was done to Leni Qinan's blog, Escorita y Peligrosa.

MJ was blocked even from using her Gmail account, so she couldn't access her Gmail or contact Blogger to directly to find out what was going on. It was up to her blogging community to sound the alarm and come together to find out what had happened to MJ's blog. It was the united efforts of bloggers like you and me, working together, posting multiple requests at Blogger Forum to restore Infomaniac, that helped us get Infomaniac back online. Leni Quinan's blog was also returned. Thank you so much for your support and hard work in getting Infomaniac back. It only took us a weekend to get Infomaniac restored.

However, a serious problem still remains. When Blogger took down both MJ's and Leni's blogs, they also erased all of their comments from the blogs they visited and their own blogs! Even worse, any new comments they leave on blogs, including their own, are automatically targeted and erased by Blogger!

I've contacted Blogger Forum once again to report this problem, and with your support and requests at the Forum, we got some reply. Unfortunately, the Blogger Team either misunderstood the problem or even worse, they don't care. It's been over a week now, and still, the Blogger Team has not adequately addressed our concerns about why MJ's and Leni's comments have not been restored to our blogs, and why their new comments, if they post under their Blogger/Gmail accounts, are systematically targeted and erased by Blogger within 24 hours.

This problem is more than just about missing comments. This is about our shared history and community. MJ's blog was a hub on Blogger, a place where adults from all over the world could come together and share a laugh, to forget our worries for a bit and just relax and unwind. It was the home of a large, international community of bloggers who came together to share ideas, humor, advice, and celebrate and support each other during tumultuous periods of life. This was a community that celebrated diversity. It was a place where all minorities and people of all walks of life were welcomed and embraced, a place where we built up a community that not only values wit and humor and compassion, we also embraced free speech and freedom and equality for all peoples.

MJ's and Leni's comments were more than just replies to our blog posts. They were personal correspondences. They were written proof of our support for one another. Some of these comments were heartfelt, personal notes of support during times of crisis, when we experienced hardship or personal loss. And we've certainly lost a number of our community who were dear to us. The erasure of MJ's and Leni's comments is an assault on our community and a violation and despicable desecration of the memory and honor of those in our community who've passed on.

The continued and targeted, automatic erasure of MJ's and Leni's new comments is an attack on free speech and the diversity and equality that this community (and Google supposedly) embraces and holds to be true. We cannot sit idly by and let Blogger continue to systematically target and erase MJ's and Leni's comments.

Sometimes, bad things happen, because we have no control over them. We try to pick up the pieces and move on. But sometimes, evil things happen, because we do nothing and let it happen. In the words of Martin Niemöller (1892-1984), who survived the atrocities and Nazi death camps of World War II:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

Do not let Blogger continue this evil act of automatically targeting and erasing comments! It is a violation of free speech and an unprovoked attack on an international community that embraces diversity, supports minorities, and advocates for freedom and equality for all people.

Join us in fighting against this vile and deplorable act by Blogger. Help us restore MJ's and Leni's missing comments and keep Blogger from automatically targeting and erasing their new comments as well.

I am proposing a change in our tactics to get Blogger's attention in resolving this matter.

Our strategy will be executed in three stages to obtain maximum effect. First, we will create a surge. I need all of you to make this work. We will post multiple requests at the Blogger Forum to get their attention.

Stage 1 is to set the time for the surge. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, the 30th of June, 2010. I want you to post a request on Blogger Forum to ask why MJ's and Leni's comments have disappeared from your blog and why new comments they leave using their Blogger usernames are being targeted and erased within 24 hours. Click on this Post a question link to post your request. (If you use Firefox, Right Click on link, then Open in New Tab; If you use Internet Explorer, Right Click on link, then Open in New Window. It'll make it easier to copy and paste the following info). Under Choose a category, click on Something is Broken and fill out the Your question box. Copy and Paste the info below if you'd like, and feel free to edit it to fit your style.

In fact, here's a template of what I'm posting at Blogger on Wednesday. Feel free to copy and paste this request when you go to Blogger Forum to post your request. Edit it as needed to fit your style.

Title/Question: Help! Blogger automatically targeting and erasing comments!

I am writing to report that Blogger is targeting comments from two of my readers and has erased all their old comments and continues to erase new comments they leave within 24 hours. Comments left by MJ of Infomaniac (http://theinfomaniac.blogspot.com/) and Leni Qinan of Escritora y peligrosa (http://escritoraypeligrosa.blogspot.com/) have disappeared from our blogs (and theirs) since 12 June 2010 and new comments they leave using their Blogger/Gmail accounts are being systematically targeted and erased by Blogger within 24 hours. Why?

This problem has been reported before and yet no one appears to be looking into it to let us know that something is being done about it. Is this a virus? Or is this an intentional attack? Please let us know that Blogger is aware of this problem and is working on resolving this issue. It's a very disturbing thing to realize that Blogger is automatically singling out and targeting individuals to erase all their old comments and any new ones they leave. Please help fix this serious issue.

Thank you. We look forward to working with you in solving this problem.

Remember, the surge starts Wednesday, and I want everyone to keep posting a request at the Help Forum starting Wednesday and lasting all through next week, Tuesday, 6th of July, 2010. The goal of the surge is to get as many requests posted on the Blogger Forum as possible. The more requests we post, the more likely we'll get the Blogger Team's attention. The surge will only work when the Blogger Forum is suddenly flooded with multiple requests to restore the missing comments. There is power is numbers, and I need many, many, multiple requests at the Blogger Forum to catch the Blogger Team's attention.

So please, spread the word to all your readers to join us on Wednesday and start the week long surge at Blogger Forum to get their attenion.

Stage 2 is to click on this answer a few questions/feedback link and report your dissatisfaction with the Blogger Forum. (If you use Firefox, Right Click on link, then Open in New Tab; If you use Internet Explorer, Right Click on link, then Open in New Window). It's a short 5 question survey that asks for your satisfaction regarding the Blogger Help forum. The fifth question asks "What Blogger information were you looking for? "

It's a blank space where you will type how unhappy you are. Here's what I'm writing there, so feel free to copy and paste and edit to fit your style:

I am very unhappy and angry that Blogger is automatically targeting and erasing comments from certain bloggers, like MJ (http://theinfomaniac.blogspot.com/) and Leni (http://escritoraypeligrosa.blogspot.com/). I want the old comments from MJ and Leni restored to my blog and their own, and I want the Blogger to stop erasing the new comments MJ and Leni leave when they use their Blogger/Gmail accounts. Their new comments are erased automatically by Blogger within 24 hours. No one from the Blogger Team seems to be aware (or cares ) that this problem has been going on since 12 June 2010. Please fix this problem. You either have a virus or you're intentionally erasing their comments, censoring free speech and attacking our diverse community that embraces minorities and equality for all people.

Remember, click on that feedback link and reply as many times as you can. You don't need to sign in to fill this survey out. The more negative feedback Blogger gets, the more likely they'll look into the matter. Remember, our numbers count, so make sure to join in the surge starting this Wednesday, 30th of June and continues on to Tuesday, 6th of July. The goal is to show a massive number of spikes or jumps in the requests for help and the negative feedback on the surveys. That will catch the Blogger Team's attention and help us get some answers as to why this problem of disappearing and erasing comments continues. The more of us who post at the Blogger Forum and feedback link, the more impact we'll have on getting the Blogger Team to help us resolve this disturbing matter.

Stage 3 is to get the word out. Email your friends or let your blog readers know what's happening and to join us in our surge. Please help us spread the word and join in our group action starting Wednesday 30 June 2010 to Tuesday 6 July 2010. And after you've posted your request on Blogger Forum, click on another person's help request to restore MJ's and Leni's comments to show your support and post there as well. Remember, the more of us who post multiple help requests and feedbacks to Blogger, the more likely we'll get their attention. We need your help to return the missing comments and stop Blogger from automatically erasing new comments that MJ and Leni leave on our posts.

Your participation is necessary to make this a success. There are all ready plans and movements to elevate the scale of our actions to include contacting Google headquarters at

Google, Inc
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone: +1 650-253-0000
Fax: +1 650-253-0001

Leni has all ready contacted the Google head office. There are a bunch of other Google offices (one may be closer to you) that we will contact as well as part of our contingent plans after the week long surge. I've all ready started gathering information on government agencies and other organizations dedicated to free speech and equality for minorities and all people. I'm planning to reach out to them and the media to bring about public attention to what's going on at Blogger.

But the most important thing we can do right now is to spread the word about the surge starting Wednesday and for everyone to participate. Remember, the more of us who post at Blogger Forum and the feedback links, the more likely Blogger will have to take notice and step up to solve this problem. Your actions count, and I'm counting on you to take part in our community efforts to help our own. Your support has been invaluable in restoring MJ's blog, Infomaniac. And your continued support is necessary to return the missing comments from MJ and Leni. We need all of you to help us bring about a change that will rightfully restore the missing comments and ensure the continuation of free speech and diversity in blogging.

Please join our efforts. Please spread the word. The surge starts Wednesday, 30 June 2010. Remember, one person can change another; and two people can change the world. Imagine what all of us can do when we work together.

Thank you.

Help restore missing comments from Infomaniac

2010-06-17T00:36:00.009-05:00

*Updated 22 June 2010 at 0300 am--scroll to the end of the post please.

First of all, I'd like to say a very big and heartfelt Thank You to everyone who participated in our group action to restore Infomaniac on blogspot. You spread the word, you posted on Blogger Forum, and your support and efforts have paid off in returning Infomaniac. Thank you so much for taking the time and making the effort to correct an injustice to one of our own. Our multiple postings at Blogger Forum got their attention and got us action. All it took was one weekend (a weekend!) to return Infomaniac. Together, we really can move mountains!

Now, I ask for your help once more in solving a new problem. As you may have noticed, all of MJ's and Leni's old comments have vanished from our blogs. Furthermore, their new comments disappear after being posted. Please help restore their comments on our blogs (and theirs). I've started a new post at Blogger Forum requesting their help here. Let the Blogger Team know that we want the comments restored.

There are people who sit by and watch things happen; and people who wondered, what happened? We're the people who make things happen. I am asking you to join us once more and ask Blogger Forum to help us fix this problem and return the missing comments from Infomaniac and Leni Qinan. Click on the Post a question link on the sidebar to post your request to restore Infomaniac's and Leni's comments. We can make it happen when we work together.

Please support our efforts to help restore the missing comments. I really do believe in the power of our community efforts and group action to make changes happen. We've done it before and we can do it again. To paraphrase Dylan Thomas:

Do not go gently into that night! Rage, rage against those trying to put out our light! We ain't going out without a fight!

Thank you.

*Update 22 June 2010 at 0300 am*

I've posted a new request at Blogger Forum to help restore the missing comments from MJ and Leni. It appears that Google is not clear on the problem, as seen by their reply to Scarlet's request here. So I've posted this request to help clarify the situation. Please keep posting your requests and support to return the missing comments at Blogger Forum. Click on the Post a question link on the sidebar to post your request to restore Infomaniac's and Leni's comments. They are noticing and are replying. Our collective efforts are working. Keep up the good work so we can have Blogger solve this problem and return the missing comments from MJ and Leni.

You can also send them feedback at this link here. Tell them how you want the missing comments from MJ and Leni restored. And tell them what you think about their services.

Thank you for your support and for your continuing hard work to set things right. There is a great power that comes from a community that is united to change things for the better. Together, we can accomplish great things and overcome much adversity! Keep up the good work, people! Our efforts have an impact!

Help restore Infomaniac

2010-06-12T09:32:00.003-05:00

Some of you may have noticed that the link to Infomaniac shows that the blog has been removed by Blogger. This was done overnight and without warning. Infomaniac is one of my favorite places to visit online, because there are great people who visit there and share laughter and ideas and help keep blogging alive. It's where I met most of my blogging friends and encountered so many great people with fascinating ideas and views.

Since MJ, the owner, is unable to even sign into Gmail or Blogger to report this problem, I've posted at the Blogger Help site for assistance in resolving this matter. I asked the Blogger Team for help here. I'm asking for your support in resolving this matter. The more people we can get to request the Blogger Team to help resolve this problem, the more likely we'll be able to get Blogger's attention and get a quick, effective response. So please head on over to the help link here and ask the Blogger Team to restore Infomaniac. Click on the Post a question link on the sidebar to post your request to restore Infomaniac.

Your help is appreciated. Thank you.

Twenty Questions and a Bonus

2010-06-09T07:10:00.014-05:00

I've twenty questions that I plan on answering in this post. They're actually two memes in this one post. I was tagged to do one set; the other one I found interesting. I thought they were both actually kind of fun to explore so I went ahead and answered them. So here we go.

The first set of ten questions was posed by the lovely and enchanting Scarlet Blue. Scarlet asks:

1. Do you prefer asking questions or answering them?

What a fascinating question. I don't mind answering a few questions. In fact, I kind of like giving presentations and speeches and answering questions.

But I have to say that I do enjoy asking questions, because I like learning new things and finding out more about people. You learn the most fascinating things about people. Everyone's got a story. You just have to listen to them tell it.

2. What is your favorite joke? [Or favorite one liner?]

I can't recall ever having a favorite joke--as I like all of them. Mostly the dirty ones crack me up the most. I have a very wicked sense of humor. My fave one liner I thought upon accidentally, when I was put on the spot by during a lecture by the drug addiction counselor. I was sitting in the front and for some reason, he singled me out and asked me point blank, "Do you drink?"

And I replied,"Only when I'm thirsty."

The discombobulated look on his face was too funny! He wasn't expecting that! The class couldn't suppress the snickers and giggles.

3. Have you ever fantasized about being on Big Brother [the well known TV show... I'm not alluding to incest]?

Nope. I never want to be on reality tv. I value my privacy. There's a freedom that comes with anonymity. You can go wherever you want and do whatever you want to do without anyone all up in your business. Forget Fame; I'd rather have Fortune.

4. Have you ever wanted to enter a talent show?

I've actually been in a few talent shows growing up. In high school, I was a member of a few singing and dance groups and we actually won a few awards. I don't think I'd want to enter one now, only because I like my privacy.

5. Is Simon Cowell really necessary?

Only if there's a Paula Abdul. Simon needs someone opposite of him to balance him out. He was the Ying on American Idol and Paula was the Yang. Together, they created harmony. Apart, they're just painful to watch.

6. Tea or coffee?

I like iced tea (and where I come from, that means sweet tea. I was shocked to find out that there are places that served iced tea unsweetened! Who in their right mind drinks unsweetened iced tea? Bleh!). Hot tea is good for dipping stuff, like buttered toast and buttered crackers.

7. What is your favorite perfume? Or smell?

This is easy. Gardenias, the lovely, sweet scent of gardenias is my favorite scent in the world. It's a magical scent that takes me back to a time long ago, when I was just a small child, lying on bed watching the moon and stars through the open window, dreaming about all the wonders of the big world out there, while a gentle breeze blew in the sweet, serene scent of gardenias blooming in the front yard. To this day, I find the sweet, scintillating scent of gardenias to be relaxing and pleasing and ethereal.

8. What is the quickest route to Wales from where you live?

An airplane across the Atlantic, assuming the Icelandic volcano isn't acting up. Otherwise, it'll have to be by ship--one with lots of life boats and life vests and no icebergs in sight. And more importantly, one that's not carrying Celine Dion on board. The last time she sang on a ship, it struck an iceberg and sank!

9. What does the word 'Wales' conjure to your mind?

Dr Who and Torchwood! I luv those shows!

Would you like to play with my screwdriver?

10. Are you dreading dreaming up ten questions to ask six bloggers?

Nope. Not really. I'd probably ask silly questions like favorite color, favorite food, favorite cartoon, and favorite adventure. But I won't make up ten questions to ask people to answer. These ones that I just answered are fascinating enough on their own.

The second set of ten questions was posed by the well traveled and adventurous XL. He wasn't tagging anyone, but his questions caught my interest. XL asks:

1. Coke or Pepsi?

Ah, yes. I haven't drank soda in years. But back when I was drinking soda, my fave was Mountain Dew--for the sweet taste and energy jolt. I used to live in Atlanta, home of CNN and Coca Cola!

But I admit that I didn't like Coke that much. For one thing, Coke was kind of harsh tasting for me, a little too strong, acidic. Pepsi had much more flavor, and it wasn't as gassy as Coke. I always felt like I was drinking more bubbles than liquid in a Coke. I preferred Pepsi with meals, but Coke is my choice when making a marinade for ham or bbq chicken! Coke adds delicious flavor! Not to mention Coke is great for removing rust.

I luv your hot dog! It's so plump and juicy and fills me up just right!

2. Do you play a musical instrument?

When I was younger, I used to play the harmonica and learned the flute one year. But as I grew older, I discovered that my lips were better put to use on other more fun things. I would like to learn how to play the ukulele though. It's small enough to carry on the plane and it's perfect for beach parties and camping!

3. If you could go back in time, would you make a different decision in your life?

This is a very good question. There are often times when I think about the mistakes I've made in my life, sometimes wishing that I'd done something differently. But when it all comes down to it, I don't think I'd change a thing. Those experiences, even the painful ones, helped me be the person that I am today. I'd like to think those experiences made me wiser and more aware of who I am and where I'm going.

4. Which sport do you consider to be "football?"

The one where they play for the championship in the Super Bowl! The game where they kick a round ball into a net goal is called soccer! And rugby is the fun game where they run around passing a football in a different, exciting way.

5. Do you like to travel?

Yes! It's one of my passions in life! It's one of my favorite things to do, explore new places and experience local life and different cultures. It's a big world, and I want to see it all!

6. Do you like Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain?

Yes and yes! I like walking in the rain--heck I've gone running during the rain. I enjoy playing in the rain. And Piña Coladas taste great. I like the rain. I find it relaxing and refreshing. I think that rain is romantic.

7. Surely you like cats, right?

I sure do. But I don't have any pets right now. There are a few strays who like to hang around my porch though. I feed 'em from time to time, and I leave a bowl of water for them to drink. It's getting hotter now, so they need all the water they can get.

8. Beatles or Stones?

They're both good in their own way. I like Hey Jude from the Beatles. And Satisfaction is a great song from the Rolling Stones. I can't really decide. Okay, it's the Kinks for me!

9. Which foreign languages can you speak (regardless of fluency)?

Other than my tourist Greek phrases from my trip to Greece--Yia sas!, I'm trying to learn to speak Spanish fluently, and not just the tourist stuff.

10. What special meal would you prepare for me?

I'd make you my favorite--Fried chicken; potato salad; some pineapple grilled chicken; pineapple grilled pork chops; corn on the cob; sweet cornbread; rice; salad; iced tea; and some pineapple pie or peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Then some screwdrivers to wash it all down.

And finally, a surprise. I thought I only had twenty questions to answer, but that all changed. I was in the middle of answering these questions when I happened to take a break and surf the internet. Guess what I found? IDV has also given us ten questions to answer. And though he didn't tag anyone, the questions were interesting. That is the bonus! And so here we go, the bonus ten questions that the talented and timeless IDV posed. IDV asks:

1. What's your earliest memory?

My father and mother, taking turns rocking me to sleep when I was a baby, I was probably two or three. It was late at night. I was sick, feeling terrible, but having them hold me, rocking me, comforting me made me feel a bit better and helped me fall asleep. It was a very comforting feeling, and I felt safe and loved.

2. What was the last thing you ate?

Egg salad sandwich--just bread, hard boiled eggs seasoned with salt & pepper then mixed with mayo.

3. Would you support a comeback by Steps?

I have no idea who these people are. At first, I thought it was a question relating to Alcoholics Anonymous, in which case, I support their 12 Step program for recovering alcoholics.

4. What is your dream car?

Does a flying carpet count? It would seem much more practical and I wouldn't have to worry about parking. The one from Disney's Aladdin seems pretty cool. I'd want one of those for sure.

I've never really imagined myself with a dream car. But I have answered this question before over at XL:

If I could have any fantasy car, it'd be that Aston Martin v12 Vanquish from the James Bond movie, Die Another Day--and I want it complete with the rockets, the guns, the optic camouflage, and the ejector seat! A car like that would be handy during rush hour traffic or in case I have to do some espionage work for the shadow gov't.

I've also imagined myself going on wild safaris in a Toyota Land Cruiser!

And I'd definitely like a smart car like Herbie!

5. How tall are you?

Tall enough to enjoy the rides designed for adult fun!

6. Margaret Thatcher vs Queen Elizabeth II: Who would win and why/how?

My money would be on Liz! It's always the quiet ones you gotta look out for. You don't marry Phil and keep those troublesome kids in check unless you've got a high pain tolerance and incredible strength to keep it all together.

7. Mama Cass died choking on a sandwich. What sandwich filling would you happily choke on?

Egg salad--I just had one.

8. Has a pick-up line ever worked for you? If so, what was it? If not, what was the worst reaction?

I'm pretty bad at picking up signs that someone's trying to pick me up, unless they come right out and say it, which has happened a few times. The first time it happened, I was 19, out with a friend to enjoy a night in the big city of Atlanta. It was my first time in the big city, and my friend was an independent, free spirited woman in her early 20s who was showing me the night life in the big city. We were standing outside in line, waiting to get into a club, laughing ourselves silly.

We were still feeling the buzz from the shots we had earlier, when this statuesque redhead with a pixie cut, hoop earrings, and a black catsuit strutted up to me, and said, "I think you're sexy. I want to take you home and f*ck all night long."

My cool, suave response was, "Um, I'm with her," nodding to my friend. I was freaked out! This was crazy!

The redhead turned and looked at my friend up and down slowly. Then she said, "She can come, too."

I luv the big city life!

9. You find yourself inexplicably cloned. You would, wouldn't you?! Just out of curiosity, or maybe for some other reason?

I'm not sure about being cloned. But if I do, by chance, I'd probably have my clones try out all the things I've been curious to do, just so we could compare notes and see how it was.

Or we could hook up with Alice and her clones and start planning how to build our army and defend ourselves from the Zombies and other entities bent on taking over the world.

And when we're done saving the world, we'll start repopulating it!

10. How did you find this blog? Go on, indulge me!

I think from Snicks blog via MJ. I was looking for Stevie Nicks music online when I came across Snicks blog. Snicks led me to Maidink, who led me to MJ. From MJ, it was over to you.

And there you have it. Twenty Questions and a Bonus Ten more all answered. I had fun doing some of these. And a few of them really made me think a bit. But overall, I enjoyed it. You don't have to answer any of these questions. But if you do decide to go ahead and answer some of them, please let me know so that I can come on over and read your answers.

Settle

2010-06-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

I've been busy these past three weeks. Whatever free time I've had, I've spent doing chores and sleeping. I actually started on a new venture just a few weeks ago. I've decided to settle down for a little while and not travel as much for work. I have to confess, though, that I'm going to miss traveling, seeing new places, meeting new people, and just enjoying what different locations had to offer.

But I've been thinking about settling down for over a year now. Mostly, it has to do with going back to school and getting ahead professionally. I started a graduate program a few years ago, before I started traveling for work. I was getting tired of my old company--the office politics, the stress at work, and the never ending ridiculous conflicts that seem to happen on an almost daily basis. The truth was, after two and half years since I started as a professional in the industry, I was getting burned out.

Traveling restored my faith in my profession. It made me remember why I was a service professional in the first place. I've been able to learn a lot working in different locations for different places. My skills have expanded tremendously, and my expertise has increased greatly, earning me more money along the way. And the money has been much better than what I earned working for the old place. Traveling has given me many opportunities to experience different, fascinating places and meeting new, interesting people. Not to mention I've been exposed to a wide variety of clients whose needs I've successfully provided for. I've applied new techniques and ensured tremendous satisfaction in meeting their needs. Some of them have been great customers who've offered me a private position. But I just wasn't ready to give up the freedom that comes with traveling--I like being able to work at a place for a short, defined period of time, making good money and knowing that I can always move on when I get tired, bored, or just want something different.

But as much fun as I was having doing travel assignments, working in temporary locations, I was always bothered by the fact that I had some unfinished business back home. I like to finish what I start, and I knew that I had to go back to school to get ahead in the industry. Actually, I can get ahead without going back to school, but I'd have much more opportunities and versatility with the extra schooling. It would also help me advance much faster in the industry. But I think I just want to finish what I started so I know that I've done what I set out to do.

It's a little strange to be working in my hometown for a company as an associate, instead of a temporary contract agent. But I've met some great people so far. And I can't complain about the extra compensations that come with being a service professional on staff with a company. I do confess though that I started during a very tense and exciting time at the company. The other professionals have actually banded together and started to organize. Though I've not had much experience working for this company, I am familiar with their operations--much similar to other places I've worked at. I can't really complain about management here, since I don't know them that well--I am a very new member of the company. But I can say that compared to my first company, this current one is so much better. But, if the other professionals want to organize, then who am I stand in their way?

The important thing is that our clients are still getting the excellent service they paid for. And as service professionals, we aim to please and deliver the kind of service that leaves our customers satisfied and keeps them coming back when the need arises. Our reputation helps attract new clients. Our confidentiality is guaranteed. And our skills and talents are what keep our clients happy and well cared for; it's what keeps them smiling and returning whenever they need our services.

I do confess though that it was a little strange for me to work some of the hours that first week while orientating, getting to know the particular ins and outs of the company and the services it offers. I've not had to work during the lunch hour in years. I'm used to performing my services after hours and long into the night, entertaining the clients and meeting their needs. And I was asked to be in beginner positions that I've not tried in years. I've been specializing in more advanced services for the very particular and discriminating clients I've met in my years of traveling. And I've forgotten how labor intensive some of these beginning positions are. My thighs were sore after the first week! But some clients still prefer the basic services, and the basic maneuvers are still the best when dealing with new, uncertain clients who are both frightened and eager for our services.

It did feel good to start working my usual schedule though. As good as I am during the lunch hour, I'm much better after hours, when my skills and expertise are put to good use serving our clients. But I'm working more hours than I was when I was traveling. So, I find myself doing chores and sleeping in my time off. It's only a matter of time before I get used to the new schedule. And while the money is not as much as I used to make while traveling, it's much better than what I expected. And the compensation and perks of working for this particular company are excellent.

But I still confess to having some doubts and uncertainties about settling down. It feels strange to be considered a full on associate for a company, rather than a temporary contracted agent. Maybe it's the sense of permanence that unsettles me. What can I say, I like traveling. But in the end, I know that I'm making the right choice. When fall comes, I'm going back to school. And until then, I have the rest of the summer to adjust to my new venture and enjoy some of the perks that come with settling down. Hey, I still have a few days off every week to enjoy myself and take off to entertain myself and enjoy the sights and scenes out there.

Remembering Memorial Day

2010-05-30T21:45:00.005-05:00

When I was growing up, there were two important holidays that meant a family pilgrimage to the local cemetery: Memorial Day and Veterans Day. My family had several members who served in the military (and we still have a few serving to this day). It's part of family history and tradition.

We lived a small town that was home to a significant population of service men and women. The place was very remote, hours away from large cities and buildings taller than 3 stories. For many of our restless young people, there were three ways to leave town and head for life in the big city in civilization far, far away. You either had to have relatives all ready living in the big cities who could pay for your fare and give you place to stay. Or you could study hard and earn a scholarship to go to college and make it on your own once you got there. The third path was to sign up for military service.

There weren't a lot of rich families in town. In fact, when I think back, the whole area would probably be considered a poor region. It could still be thought off as a poor place to this day. But it didn't seem like a poor area. No one really starved. We lived off the land and the sea. The land was vibrant, green with trees; the sea, blue and rich with life. The air was clean. We grew food and learned to be self sufficient. We didn't have any homeless or starving people. In fact, the first homeless person I saw was during the summer I visited some cousins in San Francisco. It was my first time in the big city. I was shocked that homeless people actually existed and weren't some made up characters on tv!

Only a few families were able to send off their young ones to live with relatives who settled down in big cities. The hope was that these young people would make something of their lives. And while education was encouraged, there were only a few scholarships available to enable a few kids to go to college and make it on their own. So for the majority of young people restless for a bigger place and adventure, the only other option to leave was to join the military.

The military wasn't a bad option. It gave someone a job for a few years, helping them save up money and learn a new skill. And if they were smart enough, they'd take advantage of the GI Bill and have the military pay for college once their service was over. It was a chance to see the world and live life outside of our small, remote town. For some, it was the vehicle they needed to get them to their destination, to live life in the big city independently. For others, it was a learning experience that taught them that as much fun as it was to live life in a big place, there was no place like home. So in the end, a few returned, wiser and much more comfortable with their place in the world.

But there was a high risk that came with joining military service. There was always a chance that one would be called upon to go to war and risk life and limb in service to the country. Some served out their duty honorably and got out when the their time was up, going on to live the life they wanted. Others came back home, in coffins, to be laid to rest on family land or in the local cemeteries that were spread out across the region. Those were always hard. It's very difficult to watch a young person being buried, their time too short and their life gone suddenly just as they were beginning to live. You can't help but wonder about what could've been. You hope that the end came swiftly and painlessly, and they're in a better place now. You wish the surviving family members much strength to carry on with this enormous, tragic loss.

I know I was a mess when my cousin, only a few years younger than me, was killed in action. I could only think of us growing up, and I had baby sat him many times, playing with him, teaching him stuff about life, and helping him learn about himself and become his own man. When he died, it was terrible loss and I cried for months afterwards when I was suddenly reminded of him. He was like a little brother to me, and I miss him very much.

Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day, my family would make a pilgrimage to the local cemeteries and visit the graves of family members buried on family land. We'd take cleaning tools and paint and stuff for a picnic. We'd try to arrive early in the morning so we'd clean the grave sites before the sun got too hot. We'd pull weeds, sweep up the dead leaves, and pick up the trash and dump them in the garbage bins. Then we'd paint the graves a clean coat of white. By noon, we'd have flowers set up. We'd hold a little memorial to remember our loved ones and then we'd sit in the shade and have a picnic with the food and drinks we packed. Then afterwards, we'd head on back home and have a barbecue for the rest of the afternoon. We weren't the only family to do this. In fact, the whole town did the same thing.

I actually liked our Memorial Day activities. It was how we began our summer vacation. When I was younger, I just enjoyed going to the grave sites with my family and working together. And I really looked forward to the picnic and cook outs when we were done. When I got older, I realized that what we were doing was important. We were remembering our loved ones who served in the military.

When I left home to live in the big city, the first Memorial Day felt a bit strange. While all of my friends were excited about firing up the grill and drinking, I was struck with the realization that I wasn't going to make a family pilgrimage to visit the relatives. But I still found myself going to the nearest cemetery. There, I was pleasantly surprised to see troops of Boys Scouts and military personnel sticking little US Flags and poppies on the graves of service men and women. There weren't a lot of people at the cemetery. In fact, I don't see as many people these days during Veterans Day either. But the few that were there at the cemetery understood the spirit of the day. It was to remember the brave men and women who served our country proudly and honorably, often asked to make the greatest sacrifice--to give up their lives so that freedom and the lives of others can go on.

I didn't have a little US flag or a poppy to leave at the graves. I didn't even know anyone who was buried at this cemetery. But as I wandered around, I found myself standing over an old grave site of a serviceman. The grave was overgrown with moss and the paint had washed away a long time ago. I suddenly wished that I had a rake or some tools with me to clean up the grave. There was a pile of leaves burying one end and the name carved on the headstone was weathered and faded. But I was still able to read that this person was once a serviceman. It would seem that it had been ages since anyone had visited this grave.

The Boy Scouts and military haven't reached this part of the cemetery yet to plant a flag and leave a poppy. And under the cool shadow of the old trees in the afternoon sun, I couldn't help but feel a little sad standing by that grave; it seemed so lonely and abandoned. It was so eerily quiet and forlorn. So I took off my US flag pin from my shirt--I had purchased it the day before. I laid it on the headstone and held a moment of silence for this man and all those who had served our nation proudly and honorably.

A cool breeze sprang up and a bird started singing. A ray of sunlight broke through the shadows and landed on that pin. It started glinting in the sunlight like a precious stone. I smiled to myself and felt a whole lot better for some reason. Whatever sadness I had felt was lifted away by the gentle, cooling breeze and the song of happy, chirping bird. I left the cemetery, ready to rejoin my friends for some grilling and drinking. On the way out, I nodded politely to the Scouts and military.

When I first moved to Texas many years ago, I came across the sign for a town called Three Rivers. It's situated between Corpus Christi and San Antonio Texas. It's a very small town. But it's had a huge impact on American culture and history. And I just didn't know this until I moved here to Texas.

In 1944, Felix Longoria, a truck driver and father of a young daughter in the town of Three Rivers was drafted to serve in World War II. Seven months later on a mission in the Philippines, he was killed at age 25 by a Japanese sniper in 1945. It would not be until four years later, in 1949, that his remains would be recovered and sent home to his widow to be laid to rest in his hometown of Three Rivers, Texas.

But when his wife Beatrice went to the only funeral home to request chapel services for this fallen soldier, she was denied her request. The director refused to allow a Mexican American to have chapel services there because "the Anglo people would not stand for it." But he did offer to have this soldier buried in a Mexican part of the town cemetery, a section that was separated from the whites section by barbed wire.

The widow, encouraged by her sister and family, approached military veteran, Dr Hector P Garcia. Dr Garcia was a surgeon who returned to Texas in 1946 after serving a tour of duty in Europe, fighting in WWII. He went up against the US Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, because they refused to treat sick Latino WWII veterans, because they weren't white. Dr Garcia went on to establish the GI Forum, a civil rights organization dedicated to helping servicemen and Latino Americans fight against discrimination.

Dr Garcia tried to reason with the funeral director, but the funeral director did not budge. Times were different then--discrimination and racism was a way of life. Dr Garcia organized the GI Forum and sent telegrams to Texas Congressmen, protesting the discrimination and shameful treatment of an American soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his life for freedom and defense of his country, only to be denied burial in his hometown. The national media soon picked up on the story and people were outraged at the treatment this soldier had received. The small town of Three Rivers, thrust into the glaring, unflattering national spotlight, tried to offer burial services and honors for Felix Longoria, but it was too little, too late.

Then Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson--who would later become US President Lyndon Johnson--quickly responded and made arrangements to have Private Felix Longoria buried in Arlington National Cemetery. On February 16, 1949, four years after he was killed overseas in duty, Felix Longoria became the first Mexican American to be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, the honored resting place of the military.

Though he died an American hero, Felix Longoria became the martyr and unifying cause for Mexican Americans across the nation to unite and fight for their civil rights and dignity, to be treated as equal citizens under the laws and flag they've defended with their blood, their sweat, and their lives. With Dr Garcia's hard work, Mexican Americans began to stand up for their rights and overcome generations of discrimination and obstacles that had shackled their existence since the US took over the region. These people didn't move or immigrate here. It was the border that moved--they've always been here.

Memorial Day has long been intertwined with civil rights. The very first Memorial Day took place at Charleston, South Carolina on May 1st, 1865. It was at the Washington Race Course, now Hamilton Park, a Confederate prison camp for captured Union soldiers, and a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died there. Immediately after the end of the American civil War, the newly freed slaves exhumed the bodies from the mass grave and reburied them properly into single graves. The work took ten days. And the 1st of May, 1865, a mainly black crowd of ten thousand residents proceeded to the location for sermons, singing, and a picnic to honor the fallen Union soldiers who had given their lives to end slavery in America and advance the cause of freedom and liberty for all Americans. Many regions of the country held memorial days to honor fallen military men and women. And in 1967, it became a national holiday.

Over the last few years, many people seem to have forgotten the significance and spirit of Memorial Day. For a lot of people, it's just a day to barbecue, watch auto racing, and shop for furniture on sale. But there are a few of us who still remember the spirit of the day.

In his Memorial Day address, retired US General Eric K. Shinseki, now Secretary of Veterans Affairs, uses the quote,

“Poor is the Nation that has no heroes, but beggared is the Nation that has and forgets them.”

Tomorrow, I'm going to a cookout with some friends in the afternoon. But I have something important that I have to do first before I can celebrate. I'll probably visit the nearby cemetery. And at 3 pm on Monday, there will be a moment of silence to remember and honor all our military men and women who died while serving their country. Memorial Day is meant to honor those service men and women who gave their lives to ensure freedom and protect this country. Tomorrow, I will take time to remember these service men and women, and I will thank them and honor them for all they've done to protect freedom and ensure liberty in this country.

Signs: Recreation

2010-05-29T20:13:00.006-05:00

I've been busy the past two weeks. It's been crazy, chaotic, and exciting at the same time. Yesterday, after getting only 4 hours of sleep, I was on the road for 6 hours. I was feeling worn out, tired, and bit gruff. But about two hours before the end of a long drive, I saw this sign that made me perk up a bit and laugh.

That's right. It's a state park, called Choke Canyon at Exit 69!

I'm intrigued and plan to visit there when I find the time. It sounds very promising. I could use a little recreation.

Good health

2010-05-19T00:23:00.002-05:00

I had a physical exam done Monday. It's something I try to do at least yearly. Just a quick check up to make sure I'm okay. It doesn't cost much, and I figure this way, if I'm coming down with something, hopefully, it'll be detected early enough and treated before it becomes something more serious and costly.

I had some lab work done and my results were fine. My titers were good, but my immunization record showed that I was way over due for a Hepatitis B vaccine booster. The last time I got the shot was ten years ago. Now, they advise a booster shot every 5 years. Even though my titers showed that I still had good immunity, I decided to go ahead and get the booster shot. I didn't even feel a serious sting when the needle went in. I left the office feeling upbeat and proud that I was in good health, glad that I got my shots updated.

Then this morning, I woke up with a stiffness and soreness in my left arm, where I got the shot. It was a little hard taking a shower and getting dressed for work. By the time it was mid morning, the soreness and stiffness had spread to my left shoulder blade. My left shoulder was starting to hurt when I moved it, and it was very hard to type stuff while trying to keep my left arm in position. It was starting to distract me, and I found myself massaging my shoulder, trying to ease that growing pain.

I had forgotten how much it hurt getting that Hep B vaccine. I must've blanked it out--which probably explained why I didn't get that booster done years ago. I was starting to recall how painful and sore my arm was for days after getting that shot. I was really feeling it now. Right before lunch, my shoulder was throbbing! It felt like I had been hit by truck, robbed of my shoes, and left for dead on the side of the road!

I met a friend for lunch and he asked me what was wrong. I told him that my left arm was really sore and stiff from the booster shot I got during my check up. He cracked up and told me that I ought to try alternating arms when I'm giving myself a check up; and that using the other arm feels like it's a whole other person doing the check up. Bastard. I cussed him out and if my shoulder wasn't hurting, I'd've hit him. But I guess it's only fair, because last week, when he complained about a sore knee, I told him to try using knee pads when servicing his clients.

Luckily, after lunch, the pain lessened a bit and became tolerable. I was able to put it mostly out of my mind and finish my work. Now, it's just a dull ache. Tomorrow morning, I'll probably feel it getting worse again. But I've packed some pain killers to take to work with me. And in another day or two, the pain should go away all together, and I can return to doing more pleasant activities. But until then, I just have to remind myself that what does not kill me, makes me stronger.

Chow

2010-05-12T20:56:00.002-05:00

I've been watching a friend's dog while she was out of town for a few days. He's a medium sized dog. I'm not sure what breed he is, though my friend has mentioned it before. I wasn't the first choice to watch her dog, but her usual dog sitter was unavailable. While my friend knows that I enjoy playing with dogs and taking care of them, she doesn't understand why I refuse to let her dog lick my face, even after I cited very valid reasons.

Look, I done told her that I've seen her dog eat poop and sniff other dogs' butts. I'm not letting her dog lick my face when I know where that dog's mouth has been! And I don't buy that dogs mouths are very clean excuse. That's good for the dog, but I'm not a dog. My immune system is not as robust.

She left me strict instructions about how often to feed her dog: Twice a day, with a scoop and a half of dog chow each time. The last time she left her dog in my care, she accused me of fattening up her dog, because I fed him 3 times a day. Hey, I couldn't just eat a meal in front of the dog staring at me with those large eyes, looking pitiful and hungry. So whenever I ate, the dog ate, too. And it's not like all I did was feed him. I took that dog for walks and played fetch with him for at least two hours in the evenings and an hour in the mornings to start my day. That dog loves me; he comes up to me, wagging his tail every time I visit. He probably enjoys my company. Or maybe he just knows that I'm more likely to give him scraps from my plate when I'm eating.

And as much fun as I have playing with the dog, I know that I can't have a pet right now, no matter what people say. I just really don't have the time and my work requires me to go places and work long hours. I think it's unfair and unkind to take on a pet when you can't commit to care for it wholeheartedly. Since it was my last day to take care of the dog, I decided to spend an extra hour playing with him, having him fetch that tennis ball and letting him run up and down the park. And when we got home, I gave him two full scoops of food instead of the scoop and a half. He's earned it. And while I'm a little sad to see him go home, it's going to be nice to be able to sleep in a little longer and eat my meals without feeling guilty about the dog looking at me with his sad, pleading eyes.

Community Service

2010-04-28T02:45:00.004-05:00

Most times, I'm a nice person. I like to treat people well and be positive. I like to do things that help out the community and make the world a better place. Which is probably why I ended up volunteering to represent the profession at career day today at a local high school.

A small team of coworkers and I set up a booth and had handouts ready to deal with moody, rambunctious teenagers. A few of them were actually interested and asked pertinent questions. Most were just wandering around from booth to booth, collecting the free pens and enjoying time out of the classroom. Then there were the few idiots who like to cause mischief in order to grab some attention (even negative attention), if it helps them stand out, however brief.

One particular idiot was carrying a guitar and decided to approach our booth when we had quite a big crowd of students laughing at our cheesy presentation. The guitar idiot made his way to the front of the crowd and started making wise cracks about my profession. I didn't mind that, because we kept it light and fun for the students, and we had used the same jokes earlier in the day.

Then guitar idiot asked us about how much we made. I told him, We make enough to do the things we like to do for fun! When he asked, Like what?, I told him, Fun things only adults get to enjoy. That got a laugh out of the other students.

Then the guitar idiot started asking inappropriate questions about the opposite sex and office hanky panky. I tried to be polite and steer the discussion towards other subjects, but the guitar idiot just kept getting louder and more obscene when I didn't take his bait. There were women present, and I don't think they liked the direction the jokes were heading. Guitar idiot was getting on my nerves, because he was getting crass and rude. So I shut him down and said that anyone who comes to work just to play hanky panky instead of doing their job will soon get fired and be unemployed; and no one wants to play hanky panky with a loser like that.

The students laughed at that, and I could tell that guitar idiot was pissed and getting ready to make a smart reply. But the bell rang for lunch and the kids dispersed. By the time we broke down our booth in the afternoon, I was tired and feeling a bit grouchy. I wasn't feeling so upbeat and positive when we left the building to go home.

On our way to the parking lot, we came across guitar idiot, sitting on the curb with his delinquent friends, trying to look cool and playing his guitar. He saw us coming and made wisecracks about us so his buddies would laugh. One of my coworkers asked them why they weren't in class. Guitar idiot puffed up and said he didn't feel like going to class.

So I told him, "You should try to go to classes more."

He snickered, "Why? So I could be a drone like you, stuck in a boring job?"

I couldn't resist answering, "No, because I've heard your guitar playing and it sucks. Frankly, you're better off getting an education. Don't be a fool; stay in school."

Most times, I'm a nice person. But there are a few times when I'm not very nice at all.

When Trees Attack!

2010-04-21T18:00:00.001-05:00

Ah, Spring, the season of beauty and new life emerging from the long winter cold. It's the time of blossoming flowers and trees sprouting new leaves. But it's also the season when trees attack. They may look harmless, but don't let the fact that they can't get up and walk fool you. Trees are dangerous! We've been waging war against the plant kingdom for eons, and spring is the best time to catch the trees launching their assault on the human species.

Their large, heavy branches break off in storms and crash through your roof and on top of your car, causing serious damage. Their roots crack foundations and pipes. They dump all that yellow pollen all over your car, and that stuff doesn't come off in the rain. You have to wash your car to get that crud off. The only thing worse than the pollen is the tree sap dripping on your car! Those are a nightmare to clean off! And let's not forget that trees harbor those airborne disease carrying terrorists, birds, who like to crap on your car after you've washed it and wake you up way too early with their incessant chirping, depriving you of sleep!

The plants have managed to invade human culture and biology. We've become dependent on them for food. They've cultivated a loyal army of humans, known as vegetarians, who are out to convert the rest of humanity, to get them to become totally dependent on plants for survival. Meat! Meat is our salvation and weapon against this insidious plant attack!

And let's not forget that plants themselves have deeply invaded our society and become ingrained in our customs and arts. They've seduced us with their colors and scents. We associate flowers with beauty and put them in songs and poems and paintings.

Georgia O'Keeffe painted flowers, big, bold, beautiful blossoms. Some people claim that her flower paintings were actually depictions of the female vajayjay. But that's just ridiculous. She painted flowers, not vajayjays! And if you can't tell the difference between a flower and a vajayjay, then do humanity a favor and don't reproduce! We're trying to win a war against the plants; thank you, but we don't need your contributions to the gene pool if we're going to survive as a species.

Granted, flowers are basically plant genitals, but there is no way that they can be confused for human reproductive organs. But this bring us to perhaps the most insidious plant attack of all: The high pollen count, when plants release high volumes of pollen in the air, leaving yellow dust all over cars and people and causing hay fever suffers to have allergic reactions.

Do you know what pollen is? It's basically plant sperm! That's right! All that yellow stuff that's causing you to choke and cough, stinging your eyes, and covering your clothes and body is plant sperm! You've been sexually molested by a tree without your knowledge! And chances are, it wasn't just one tree who had their way with you! It was probably an entire grove! And the sad part is, you probably had it coming!

That's right. I said you had it coming. What did you think would happen when you started giving flowers to people you wanted to get intimate with? Flowers are plant genitals, and we give them to people we date so that they can smell them, admire them, and let them know that we want to pollinate with them. Is it any wonder then that the trees think you might enjoy some action, especially after seeing you stick your face into their plant genitals to get a nice whiff?

No one knows how the war against the trees started. Perhaps it was inevitable when we started eating their parts and chopping them down to build fires and homes. And as our species has grown in large numbers and taken more land, we've eradicated many more trees as we spread across the world. It's only natural that the trees would fight back.

We slaughter them, we burn them, and we annihilate them as we take over more and more of their territories. We cut them down in winter and display them in our homes like war trophies, decorating them with lights and colors, celebrating our victory in battle. But it's a Pyrrhic victory we win. We only destroy ourselves in the end. The sad truth is, we may not win the war against the trees. The reality is that we cannot live without them. Trees produce the oxygen that we need to breathe. And until we can find a way to recreate this complex process vital to our survival, we cannot live without the assistance of trees.

Trees can live for thousands of years; man can barely last over a century. And seeds can lay dormant for thousands of years. A 1,300 year old lotus seed and a 2,000 year old date palm seed have successfully germinated. That means that should the last man on earth die from a lack of oxygen or a plague or a man made disaster, trees can still grow again, and they'll go on without us. Like it or not, we need trees for food, for shelter, and for our survival. They provide us with nutrients and medicine and the air that we breathe.

So for this Earth Day, take the time to do something nice for nature. Pick up the trash; recycle some goods. Reduce waste and pollution. Call a truce on the war against the trees. Try planting a tree to say thank you, earth, and hope that someday, we'll be able to resolve our differences and live in peace with the trees. Because the truth is, we need them a lot more than they need us. By taking care of our trees and environment, we ensure our survival in the long run. And we can breathe a little easier, knowing that we are a valuable part of the ecosystem, and not sowing the seeds our own species' destruction.

Another meme about me

2010-04-10T11:10:00.008-05:00

The creative IDV tagged me to do a short meme. I've done a few of these before. But most of these questions are different and varied compared to the ones that I've done before. So, here we go. A short meme about me.

Where is your cell/mobile phone?

Bedside; silent mode.

Vehicle?

Out front; needs to be washed; but it's going to rain this weekend.

Hair?

Is a weird but fascinating musical. When it comes to hair, sure, I'll flow it; I'll show it; but I refuse to let it be a home for fleas and bees! Hell no!

Father?

Mother? I now have neither. And it's a strange feeling.

Your favorite thing?

Life.

Dream last night?

I was making a pound cake, which is really something I haven't had in a long while!

Favorite drink?

Water!

Alcoholic drink: Screwdriver!

2 parts orange juice
1 part vodka

Room you are in?

Living room.

Your ex?

Don't know; doesn't matter.

You are?

On the computer.

What do you want to be in ten years?

Still alive and enjoying life.

Who did you hang out with today?

Me, myself, I.

Don't want to be the bad guy
Don't want to make a soul cry
It's not that I love myself
I just don't want company
Except me myself I
Me myself and I
Just me myself I
~Joan Armatrading

What you're not?

I am not an animal!!!

I am a human being!!!

Muffins?

Are delicious.

One of your wish list items?

World Peace.

Where is the ____ ?

Love.

The last thing you did?

Shower.

What are you wearing?

Underpants. What? It's my home! And I can wear whatever I want!

Your pet(s)?

None. Although, there are a few stray cats that I leave out food for when they visit my porch from time to time.

Your computer?

Is old but still working.

Your life?

Is still my own.

Your mood?

Good.

Missing?

Everything but the girl...Like the deserts miss the rain.

What are you thinking about right now?

Damn! I wish I had eggs so I could make some pound cake!

Your shoes?

Are on the floor, by the door.

Your work?

Pays the bills.

You and me
We sweat and strain
Body all aching
And racked with pain
Tote that barge
Lift that bale
You get a little drunk
And you land in jail

I get weary
And sick of trying
I'm tired of living
And scared of dying,
But old man river,
He just keeps rolling along.
--Old Man River, Showboat (1936)

Your summer?

Will likely have hurricanes.

Hopefully, it'll be more of this kind of hurricane:

Your favorite color?

Blue. Although, I do like all the colors and their various combinations.

And there you have it. I'm not tagging anyone to do this. But if you do decide to go ahead and do it, then please let me know. That way, I can come on over and read all about you!

The Easter Hunt

2010-04-02T22:30:00.005-05:00

When I was growing up, Easter weekend was one of the busiest church holidays for my family. Back then, it wasn't about Easter egg hunts or getting all dressed up. It was all about church. And it wasn't just for Easter Sunday either. While we usually got Good Friday off from school, we didn't get to sleep in. Oh no. We had to go to church early Friday morning. That's right. We had to go to church on Good Friday. And it sucked! I hated it, because I was still sleepy at five in the morning, when I was forced to attend church. Someone thought it would be nice to have a sunrise service for Good Friday. I'd rather sleep in! And I didn't care that we could come to the service wearing jeans and t shirts. I was sick and tired of the church taking up all of my free time!

And it wasn't just getting up at o'dark thirty for an hour long church service that sucked. After church was over, we couldn't go home and crawl back in bed. Nope. We kids had to stay behind and pull weeds and clean around the chapel while the adults went home! That's why those bastards wanted us to come to church wearing jeans and t shirts--we were free labor! What the hell? The minister's wife was our overseer, and we the Sunday school kids were her slaves. And after spending all morning weeding and picking up cigarette butts and scrubbing floors and walls, we went back into the chapel to rehearse our production for Easter Sunday. That's right, we had to put on a show for Easter Sunday.

I hated those rehearsals. They took up a lot of my time and added stress to my day! The rehearsals started at least a month before. Every day after school and weekends, we had to go to church for at least two to three hours to rehearse. It was stressful because we still had to go back home, do our chores and our homework.

We were handed bible verses to memorize and sorted into either choir or actors according to the overseer's, um, minister's wife's whims. Her strict adult daughter was the director, and if you were one of her favorites--the suck ups and the kids from the rich families who made the biggest church contributions--you were a major actor, playing either Jesus or his family and closest disciples. If you had some talent, you were either a supporting actor with a short speaking role or in the choir. The best singers usually got solos. If you had no talent or she didn't think you were anything special, you'd get a short bible verse to recite either before or after the big Easter play production. If she didn't like you or you pissed her off, you'd play the Romans who whipped Jesus and help crucify him or you'd be one of the Hebrews who called for Jesus's execution.

My brothers and I started off, as most kids did, reciting bible verses. When we got older, we got different roles. My younger brother (only a year younger than me) was the quiet, peaceful one who often played the innocent roles of either Jesus's supporters or an angel or some other part that required large doey eyes and purity. He's still a nice, peaceful, friendly guy to this day. Although, a few people have learned the hard way that just because he's nice and peaceful doesn't mean he won't kick your ass if you mess with him. He's a tough one--it comes from having older brothers who like to pick on you and fight from time to time growing up. Not that we fight anymore. The last time we got in a scuffle was just before I started high school. Since then, we've all learned to laugh more and get along much better than we do with our older siblings.

While my younger brother was doing innocent roles, I was chosen for choir. Not that I had a spectacular voice to begin with. I was just really loud and clear when I sang. I had no problem projecting my voice. I've had a lot of practice yelling out to my siblings across the fields or calling in the chickens and hogs for feeding time. Eventually I started singing in duets and solos. But as much as I loved singing and performing on the stage, I was starting to get really irritated at the minister's daughter for being so overbearing and trying to tell me how I should sing and what I should do. It brought out the rebellious side of me.

Don't try to tell me what to do! That just pisses me off, because it reminds me of my older siblings trying to boss me around. And don't tell me that I can't do something, because that just fires me up to go ahead and do it anyway. I started putting some soul into my singing, altering notes and pitches and harmony like I was an R&B singer. It freaked out the minister's daughter the first time I belted out a soulful tune that Easter Sunday during our live production. The look on her face--horror and shock--was fantastic! And the church crowd loved it! They actually broke out into applause, which never really happens at my conservative, boring, up tight church. And I knew that I had accomplished what I had set out to do--the minister's daughter got the message. I wasn't just some dog she could have roll over and bark on her command. I was likely to bite her back! The minister's wife, on the other hand, was thrilled at my performance and started to groom me for future productions. I didn't know it then, but the stage was set for an epic behind the scenes battle that would culminate in the fantastic fallout during the Christmas pageant at the end of the year.

But my battle with the minister's wife was nothing compared to the war of wills her daughter and my older brother waged. My older brother was just a year older than me. We actually have other elder brothers and sisters who are more than ten years older than us. But the three of us youngest boys were the closest to each other--still are. It's an unbreakable bond forged from shared experiences during our trying times and the crises that we survived as we were growing up together. Granted, we bumped heads from time to time and fought amongst ourselves when we were younger--just stupid sibling rivalry stuff. But we stood up for each other and backed each other up whenever someone tried to mess with any one of us. My older brother is one of the toughest people I know. Growing up, he never back downed from a fight, and he was quick to defend us and his friends. He had a reputation as a fighter and some called him a bully.

My older brother was always blunt and honest in his opinions. He often called people out on their bullcrap. This caused some problems with adults whose hypocrisy he challenged. He had a strong sense of justice and fairness and wasn't afraid to speak up to anyone, including adults. The minister's daughter thought it was her job to break him down and control him. And when she failed to scare my older brother or get him to do what she wanted, she'd often cast him as a Roman during our Easter play and as Herod during our Christmas pageant. She thought that portraying him as a villain would make him feel bad. That just enhanced his tough reputation and my brother reveled in it. It wasn't hard for him to play a tough guy who scared people. He loved it!

The Easter that I decided to try out my new found soul sound was the last time my older brother participated in a church play. And by the end of the year, my younger brother and I would stop participating in church plays as well. I wished that was the end of my involvement in church activities, but my mother had other ideas. She made the three of us join the church choir instead. That way, she'd mingle with her friends and keep an eye on us at the same time. It sucked being in the church choir with mom, knowing she could tell when we were misbehaving, and we got disciplined for it afterwards. But it's hard not to clown around with your friends when you're bored in choir practice. Thank goodness we were allowed to leave church choir when we started high school.

After my brothers and I quit doing Sunday School plays, the Easter production scaled down tremendously. The play was much smaller. The play choir was opened up to allow all the children to sing. And the number of children reciting bible verses grew considerably. Still, a lot of the preteen and teen Sunday school children were opting out of participating in the productions. My last few years at church, they introduced an Easter egg hunt to recruit more kids to take part in church productions. I never got what Easter bunny egg hunts had to do with Jesus's death and resurrection. Turns out later, I discovered that the whole thing was a pagan rite, including the name Easter.

I never got to enjoy those great Easter egg hunts some kids experienced growing up. Like I said, we didn't have those where I grew up. My church didn't start having them til I was a teen. Perhaps it would've been more exciting if the eggs were those chocolate ones, but no, the church used hard boiled eggs--and the ones that weren't found really stunk up the place!

The truth is, I'm still ambivalent about the whole Easter egg hunt thing, as I find it hilarious that serious devout Christians would embrace a pagan tradition. But then again, most major holidays, including Christmas, are pagan traditions. Still, I have helped to hide eggs and set up some great Easter egg hunts when I got older and moved away to be on my own. I like seeing those kids smile and hearing them laugh and have fun while they search for eggs. I've also helped a few of them find the eggs that I'd hidden, just to see them light up with joy and be so happy to find those chocolate candy eggs and eat them. It's a good feeling to see happy children.

It wasn't always drama and church oppression that took place during Easter while I was growing up. I actually have some great memories of Easter. Most of those memories include the great food we actually got to eat on Easter. In addition to our faves, we had ham and lamb and fish and ice cream and cake. I remember that sense of anticipation and excitement my brothers and I would have during the service, eager to get home and eat some delicious food. We'd laugh and eat and play afterward. And we'd all sit together and watch the Ten Commandments. I never understood why they showed The Ten Commandments on Easter, instead of story of Jesus's resurrection. I mean, isn't that what Easter is supposed to be about in the Christian tradition?

I also have very fond memories of sitting next to my mother during Easter service. She always seemed so serene. I wondered what she was thinking about. But whatever it was, it seemed to give her peace. It was one of those precious moments where I felt really close to her, just by being next to her, and I felt loved and hope and believed that the world was a beautiful place, that life was good.

Over the many years I've been on my own, I stopped going to church regularly. I'd like to think I'm a spiritual person, that we're all connected some way, some how. I've enjoyed exploring many religions and beliefs, learning about them and the people who practice them. It's been a wonderful, tumultuous, and fascinating journey. But try as I might to distance myself and forget all the drama and prejudices of my old church, there are still some things that I still do. Maybe it's out of habit or maybe it's something more. I'm not sure. But chances are, come Easter Sunday, I'll probably be at church. I do the same thing for Christmas. It doesn't matter what church--Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian. I've been to them all. I'll usually find myself in a church somewhere, in the background, just sitting quietly and observing the Easter service.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for. Maybe I'm trying to find some sense of peace, find whatever it was that made my mother seem so serene, so long ago. Or maybe I'm just doing it out of habit, repeating a faintly familiar act, hoping to relive those good memories from a far away time when the world seemed full of wonder and hope. Maybe I am in a big Easter egg hunt, searching for something precious, something that would make me laugh and smile. I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to find, but I'll keep looking.

Curious Cooking Creations

2010-03-25T18:00:00.001-05:00

When I was a small child, I was a very picky eater. I didn't like spicy food and anything with strong flavors. My favorite food as child was either baked chicken or fried chicken--still is to this day. If I didn't like what we were having for dinner, my mother would always make something else for me. And I loved her for it! She wanted to make sure that I ate something. She worried that I'd rather sleep than eat. Truth is, I'd still rather sleep than eat!

Of course, there were times when my mother asked my older sisters to make me something if I didn't like dinner, like a sandwich if I didn't want to eat soup. That used to make my sisters mad, because it always meant more work for them and I was spoiled. It's true. But I didn't care about that. So long as I got what I wanted, I was happy to be picky. But that all came to an end when I was 10 years old.

My mother had made lamb curry. I didn't want lamb curry for dinner. I complained that I wanted a sandwich instead. My mother gave me a look. Uh-oh. It wasn't the look that signaled I was about to get a spanking. That look I was very familiar with. But this look was unsettling all the same. Maybe she was tired or maybe she realized that I was really a spoiled brat, but she told me that if I didn't like what we were having for dinner, then I could fix something else myself. I was shocked! Say what?

I didn't know how to reply. My mother asked me what I wanted to eat. I was relieved, thinking that she would make me my sandwich. Boy was I wrong! When I told her that I wanted a fried egg sandwich, she told me to get the ingredients and she would show me how to make a fried egg sandwich! I was like, What? But she was serious. So that night, I learned how to cook a fried egg--even flipped it over myself! I was proud of my accomplishment, which kind of took the edge off the shock that my mother was no longer indulging my whims. But I enjoyed eating that sandwich while everyone else had lamb curry. I didn't know it then, but my chores had just expanded. My mother had decided that it was high time I started to appreciate the efforts that went into making a meal and learn some life skills.

The next day, my mother had me help out in the kitchen making dinner. We were having fish stew. Blah. I wanted pancakes. So after making fish stew together-and I learned how to clean and gut fish that day--my mother had me get the ingredients for making pancakes and told me what to do. And by the time I was done making my stack of pancakes under my mother's watchful eye, the stew was ready. And for the rest of my time at home, I would help make dinner. My brothers would join in to from time to time, but I was the one who mostly enjoyed working in the kitchen.

As we got older, we took turns making a meal during the week. When I was 12, I was old enough to make dinner for the entire family. I made my fave--fried chicken! And it was good! When I was 13, I started experimenting with ingredients. I was fascinated by recipes, curious as to why we use some ingredients and not others. I looked forward to my turn to do the cooking. My family were the unwitting test subjects in my cooking creations. Their reactions told me all I needed to know.

I'm just glad no one got sick, although, my mother told me to stop experimenting on the whole dinner and just set aside the experimental portion for myself! Some of my experiments were successful--like soy sauce and honey glazed fried chicken, delicious! Those became a family fave. Others were failures--like cocoa flavored pancakes--awful! Just gawd awful! I learned that unsweetened cocoa powder is not the same as chocolate powder! It was bitter, salty and not sweet at all! The only thing worse than my cocoa pancakes were the soy sauce pancakes! Even the dogs refused to eat them!

Nowadays, I actually like all sorts of food, especially the spicy ones! I love trying out foreign dishes and local treats. Over the years, I still love to experiment with food. A lot of it comes from trying to save time or substituting ingredients because I don't have what's needed in the recipe. Once, I ran out of sugar and honey when I wanted oatmeal. That's when I discovered the delectable taste of hot oatmeal with chocolate candy bars; which led to raisins in hot oatmeal.

Pineapple marinated and glazed pork is just as tasty when it's pan grilled on the stove top as it is when it's grilled outside! Same thing with pineapple chicken, meaning I can make it whether it's hot outside or freezing--not that I've ever let the cold stop me from grilling outside. Once when I was visiting some friends for Christmas in Chicago, we had a bbq! That was so fun and the food was amazing in all that winter snow! Nothing like grilled chicken, ribs, and turkey tails for Christmas dinner! Egg salad--just eggs, mayo, salt & pepper--in a crepe is delicious! Grilled cheese with tuna, yum! Ramen noodles with ground beef served over Doritos chips, so scrumptious! Sweet cornbread with white beef gravy is fantastic. Coconut milk syrup over pancakes or hot rolls is divine! No milk or creamer for coffee? No problem. Vanilla ice cream in hot coffee makes for a sweet, delightful, flavorful creation.

Of course, there have also been some spectacular failures. This morning, I was hungry for pancakes, but I was out of flour and eggs. I looked in the cupboards and found a box of cornstarch. Well, I have used cornstarch to make pancakes when I didn't have any flour. Naturally, I had eggs then. But then again, I've made pancakes without eggs before, so I figured, eh, why not and proceeded to make cornstarch pancakes without eggs. I was sure it would be all right. But I was wrong! It was terrible! Just horrible! Gawd! I may as well have taken a spoon and eaten the cornstarch right out of the box! I had to brush my teeth to get that awful soapy, bitter powdery taste out of my mouth! That's one more thing that I would never, ever make again.

Thankfully, I had some ramen noodles, which I cooked and drained, seasoned and served with melted cheese--the breakfast of champions! Mmmmm. If there's one thing I've learned from years of kitchen experiments, it's that you learn from your mistakes and move on to create better things, lest you're doomed to repeat your failures and end up with a horrible taste in your mouth and hunger that won't go away. It's kind of like life. You live. You learn. And if you're lucky, you have more fun and good food along the way.

Spring and things

2010-03-21T16:05:00.002-05:00

It's been quite a busy week for me as I try to enjoy spring. There were a few nice sunny days, including St Patrick's Day, that made going to the beach really nice. There were lots of people down here for Spring Break, the annual week long break from schools when college kids and young people flock to the beaches to swim, sun, and surf. It's basically a week long beach party. We didn't have Spring Break where I grew up (and it remains so to this day), but we did have beach parties, and I certainly learned to enjoy Spring Break from the first time I experienced it.

Sometimes, it can get crazy with the mix of alcohol and hormones. Everyone is out to have a good time. Most times, it's a fun event. But there are some trouble makers who like to show off and try to impress people with how cool they are by either doing stupid stunts--like diving off the pier (I actually know a person who broke his neck doing that and became a quadriplegic); starting fights--because they think they're so tough with their friends behind them; or just getting stupid drunk with no designated driver (and I've seen a lot of them get arrested or worse, crash into buildings and other vehicles, causing harm to others). I'd like to think that nothing surprises me now at Spring Break. But I was wrong.

I was shocked to be out on the beach with some friends near midnight, when we came across three 13 year old girls wandering the beaches! Their families were visiting the area for Spring Break, and the girls decided to go out late at night to mingle with the crowds. Bad idea! Really, where the hell were their parents? My female friends tried to gently tell the young teens to head back to their hotel, where it was probably safer. And we walked them to their hotel, which was about 2 miles from where we we met these kids! I have to say, I was appalled that their parents would even let them out this late! 13 year old girls have no business wandering strange beaches at night, where drunk college kids and trouble makers roam and party, doing some pretty adult things.

Okay, so I did sneak out of the house when I was 12 to hang out with my cousin and the older neighborhood kids. But my cousin was an older teen, and he looked out for me, making sure I wasn't going to get into trouble. Granted, we ended up doing some juvenile delinquent things with my cousin and his friends, but we never really went out to hurt anyone or ourselves. At least my cousin and the crew made sure I would get back home in one piece.

Some of my friends from out of town came down to hang out for Spring Break. So once again, I was playing host. That was fun going to the beach with them. I took my camera out there and took lots of pictures. Unfortunately, I found out Friday that my camera is now malfunctioning. I probably need a new one. So I'm going to have to research for a new one, hopefully find one that's waterproof and shatterproof. I fear all my adventuring may have been a little bit rough on my old camera. It's been to mountains and deserts, woods and hills, beaches and lakes, across continents and many other places. That camera is over 7 years old. But it was great while it lasted. Kind of the sunny days in spring.

It got really cold and rainy Saturday. So no beaches. And it got really chilly too at night. It's still very chilly right now. I'm trying to enjoy the cool weather, because in a month, the heat is going to start burning up my part of the world. It's going to get hotter and more humid as the months go along. And come June, it'll be hurricane season again til the end of September. But that's life--things happen, time moves on, and things change. We just keep on living and moving forward.

Be Inspired

2010-03-15T08:00:00.012-05:00

Spirit in Motion-Paralympics Motto

In case you didn't know, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralymics started on Friday. I wish NBC would cover the events live, rather just do nothing but a delayed tape broadcast of a smaller part of the opening ceremony the following Saturday. I'm really disgusted with NBC and the International Olympics Committee. If they didn't want to broadcast the Paralympics, then there shouldn't have been any buying and selling of broadcast rights in the first place! I'm sure other local stations would've gladly broadcasted the ongoing Paralympic Games. Luckily, there is some live coverage going online, so I've had to go there to catch up on what's going on with the games.

How about that opening ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics? Just fantastic and so moving! Magnificent job, Canada! Though the acts and performers were smaller in size compared to the winter Olympics, they made the experience much more welcoming and celebratory. Those children were so amazing and absolutely enthusiastic in their performances, cheering on the athletes and exciting the crowd.

I'm looking for my babies daddies; those mofos owe me child support!

And some of those performances were stunning! How about that break dancer Lucas (Lazylegz) Patuelli? His break dancing moves were spectacular! That dude's got some serious strength and awesome style!

And of course, my fave thing at the opening ceremony, the Parade of Nations!

These athletes came out in style with the hot wheels!

As you probably know by now, I'm a big fan of the Olympics. That passion extends to the Paralympics as well. Whereas I am excited and amazed by the feats of great athletes in the Olympics, I am inspired and moved by the incredible athletes of the Paralympics.

I had no idea what the Paralympics were until I was in high school. We didn't have that where I grew up; and there was really no media coverage. But I was aware of the Special Olympics, a totally different and separate event. In the Special Olympics, all participants get a medal, because they're all winners for their efforts. In the Paralympics, top athletes compete for gold, silver, and bronze in their fields, and some have set world records in their events, even qualifying for the Olympics!

Did you know that Brian McKeever, of Alberta, Canada, actually qualified to compete in the Vancouver Olympics in cross country skiing? The 30 year old is legally blind. He is a famous Paralympian, and he became the first Canadian Paralympian ever to qualify to participate in the Olympics. Two years ago at the Beijing Olympics, two female Paralympians qualified to compete--Poland's Natalia Partyka, born without a right forearm and hand, competed in women's table tennis. In China, where the unofficial national sport is table tennis (ping pong), they dubbed her 'The Respectable Lady' for her amazing skills, wowing the nation with her prowess. South Africa's Natalie Du Toit was a 17 year old favored to qualify for the Athens Olympics, only to lose her left lower leg when a car crashed into her on her way home from practice. But she adapted and made history as one of the first athletes to ever qualify to compete for both the Paralympics and the Olympics. These athletes are truly astonishing for their stunning achievements, and I can only imagine how many more of them will make it to the London and Sochi Olympics!

Though I wasn't aware of the Paralympics until I was much older, I was familiar with a separate, different event, the Special Olympics. When I was a small child, my family would often go to the Special Olympics to cheer the participants on. We had several reasons for going. My parents liked to volunteer a lot in the community, and I did enjoy going to the events. It was much better than the road and beach clean up projects my parents often took us to. Who wants to pick up trash on a Saturday morning? Saturday morning is designated cartoon time! The Special Olympics volunteering was much more fun for me. And for a short while, we had someone close who was in the Special Olympics.

One of my cousins was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. When I was a very small child, I remembered that my cousin could walk and run and jump when we played. He was just a few years older than me, and he was always nice to me. I thought that he was so cool; probably because we didn't fight as much as I did with my brother, who was just a year older than me. Just typical childish sibling rivalry. Whereas my brother sometimes didn't want me tagging along, my cousin let me hang out with him and his friends.

And as we got older, my cousin got weaker. He started to lose strength in his legs. By the time I was twelve, my cousin was in a wheelchair, unable to walk. He was in and out of hospitals a lot, and back then children weren't allowed to visit the ward. But I remember one time when my Mom sneaked me in through the back door and I got to hang out with my cousin while my Mom and aunt visited outside of the room. He was really happy to see me, and we had fun just talking and playing. He was blowing bubbles and I would try to either fan them to make them go higher or just pop as many as I could. We had so much fun that visit, laughing and telling each other jokes, talking about everything and nothing at all. It's one my favorite memories of hanging out with him. A month later, he started to lose strength in his arms. Soon after he got weaker and was hospitalized more. And when I started high school, his body could no longer contain his spirit and he passed away. He was just a few days shy of his 17th birthday.

When I heard of his passing that morning, I didn't go to school. Instead, I went up to one of my favorite spots on the mountain where I escaped to when I needed some solitude, to either cool off or just dream and watch the horizon. I needed to be alone. I went there to mourn. It was one of the few times in high school that I actually broke down and cried. I wished that I had spent much more time with him. And I wished that I could've done something more.

I've been a volunteer and supporter of the Special Olympics for most of my life. It's one of the few family traditions that I've kept. It's very rewarding and heartfelt for me to be out there doing something positive for someone, to see them smile.

In 1996, the Centennial Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia. I was fortunate enough to get a job working that summer in support of the Olympic games. It was an incredible experience! It was my first time in a big metropolitan city--one that had a train for public transit and places stayed open 24/7! I was able to watch the preliminary events when US was putting together their track team. And on days that we weren't working, I got to see some of the events that the company had access, like track & field, equestrian, and field hockey! I have to say, the Australian women's field hockey team was the sexiest team that summer! It was such an amazing experience to see the Olympics live and in person! And it was so much fun meeting people from all over the world who came to support the athletes and enjoy the games! For me, it was an impossible childhood fantasy come true! I was at the Olympics! What had captivated and thrilled me as a child watching it on tv was now a real life experience!

And when the Olympics were over, my company scaled down and asked for a few volunteers to stay behind and take down our temporary headquarters that was set up to support the games. I volunteered to stay. I was loving big city life! And I also volunteered for the Special Olympics when the company asked for some of us to go and show our support. It was so wonderful to see all these children participating. My friend and I were even assigned a little boy to look after and make sure he would make it to his event--a short race on the track. He was just 5, full of energy and so enthusiastic. He had cystic fibrosis. He was such a joy to work with, and my friend and I tried our best to keep him in happy spirits til the event was over and he was returned to his school bus. He had a big smile on his face as we waved him off, and he waved back before the bus turned on the road and left.

Later that night, I looked up what cystic fibrosis was, and I was saddened and horrified by what I learned. Back then, most people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis often passed away very young, just barely out of their teens. I was reminded of my cousin, and how short his life was. And I mourned for this little boy, knowing that the odds were so stacked against him. I mourned for his family. Every now and then, I'll go through my foto albums and stumble across the pictures from that Special Olympics in Atlanta. We were all smiling and laughing in those pictures, because we were having such a good time. And every time I see those pictures, I'd stop and wonder how this little boy is doing now, wishing that he was still full of enthusiasm and smiling happily wherever he is. I can only hope for the best. These days, they've made some progress in cystic fibrosis research. It's not a lot, but it has enabled some people to live well up the their 40s. And I'm hopeful they'll find a cure or that treatments get even better.

A few weeks after the Special Olympics, the company asked for volunteers for the Paralympics. My friends and I volunteered to go. It was my first time ever at the Paralympics, and it was one that I will never forget! It was an incredible event, such an emotional experience. I met so many great athletes who were doing such astounding feats!

I met so many wonderful people who inspired me. There were athletes with missing limbs from accidents or illnesses. They were fast and strong and skilled! They were running at amazing speeds with their metal prosthetics! They swam faster and stronger than most people who had all their limbs! The blind athletes were able to race while tethered to a guide! And those guides had to be in great shape to run those races! And they even had whistles and sounds to signal where the targets were so the visually impaired athletes could know where to aim and throw! Not just javelins and discus and hammers either. We're talking about shooting at targets with rifles and pistols! And they were damned accurate, too! There were even judo matches where those blind athletes kicked serious ass! I had known about wheelchair basketball, but I was stunned to witness wheelchair tennis! And there was a demonstration of wheelchair rugby, which is now an official Paralympic sport!

The Paralympics moved me because I was so inspired by these athletes. They lost limbs or were blind because of illnesses or accidents. Their bodies may have been altered, but their spirits and their determination were superhuman!

During the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 winter Paralympics, I felt so proud and moved as I watched those athletes march in to the applause of the cheering crowds. The American flag was carried by 30 year old Heath Calhoun. He is a retired army sergeant, a double amputee who lost both legs in the Iraq war. He will be going for gold in the alpine skiing event, and I will be cheering him on. He is but one of many Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are taking part in the games. Everyone of them is a hero who sacrificed blood and body in service to their country. And now these heroes have found another way to continue to serve their country once more.

23 year old Toby Kane carried Australia's flag. He lost his lower right leg in car accident when when he was just two years old. He doesn't remember the accident, nor does he remember ever skiing with two legs. At 10 years old, he was discovered by talent scouts when he was skiing with his family on vacation. At 19, he was the youngest member of the Australian team four years ago in Torino, where he won a bronze in the Super G alpine skiing event. He's got a great chance at winning gold at the Vancouver Paralympics, where he is once again the youngest member of the Australian team.

There were so many heartfelt moments during the opening ceremony. And none was more poignant than seeing Terry Fox on the screen. When he was 18 years old, Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer and had his right leg amputated. He learned that just a few years before, his chances of surviving cancer was 15 percent. Research had given him a 50 percent chance of now surviving his cancer. He realized then the importance of cancer research. The night before the surgery to remove his leg, he read an article about Dick Traum, the first amputee to complete the New York Marathon. It would inspire him to do something great. Terry Fox was horrified to learn how little money there was for cancer research. He decided to do something that would help raise money for cancer research. So being a great athlete, he decided to train for a marathon. He came in last place, but his efforts moved the audience and competitors to tears and cheers. And from there, he soon started his Marathon of Hope, where he would raise money for cancer research by running across Canada.

What started out as a small movement by one person, soon grew into a national event. People didn't understand him at first; many doubted his commitment. He even skipped taking a day off for his 22nd birthday so he could keep running. He encountered rough weather and mean drivers and rude people when he started his journey. But as as the days and miles went on, more and more people began to show their support. By the middle of his journey, he had achieved fame as people learned of his incredible story. Thousands turned out to cheer him and donate money. The Prime Minister and Governor General met with him. He also met many of his heroes and national icons along his journey.

Halfway through his marathon across the country, his cancer returned. He fell ill and had to be hospitalized. He had run for a 143 days, nearly 3,300 miles (5,300 km). He had raised almost two million for cancer research while he was running. And while undergoing treatment in the hospital, donations poured in and he managed to raise over 24 million dollars. He planned on recovering and finishing his run. But it was not to be. He passed away on June 28, 1981, just one month shy of his 23rd birthday. Though he had passed on, he left behind an incredible legacy that inspired millions of people and has raised over 400 million dollars for cancer research.

His parents carried in the torch at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony. They lit the the other torches and helped select the person who would light the Paralympic cauldron. And that person was 15 year old Zach Beaumont from Delta, British Columbia.

Zach Beaumont is hoping to someday qualify for the Paralymics. He was born without a right tibia and knee joint. His right leg was amputated when he was just a baby. He is an avid snowboarder, cyclist, soccer player and swimmer. He hopes to compete in Paralympic snowboarding one day. I hope that the Paralympics include snowboarding for the Sochi 2014 winter Paralympics.

In 2012, the London Summer Olympics will take place. The Paralympics will take place there as well, coming full circle to their beginning. The founder of the Paralympic Games was Dr Ludwig Guttman. He was a gifted neurologist who fled Germany when the Nazis came to power. The British gov't asked him to set up the National Spinal Injuries Center in Stoke Mandeville near London. Dr Guttman believed that sports could be used as powerful tool in therapy, to build strength and self esteem. In 1948, on the day of opening ceremony of the the London Olympics, Dr Ludwig Guttmann organized a sporting event for the British World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. The athletes competed in wheelchairs in various track and field events. In 1952, The Dutch sent athletes to compete, making the event international. By 1960, over 20 countries participated in the games, and the first Paralympics were held in Rome, right after the Olympics.

I am very disappointed and disgusted with the lack of media coverage for the Paralympics. These are incredible athletes doing extraordinary feats! I am hoping that the 2012 London Olympics will highlight the return of the Paralympics to their roots. I am hoping that media will offer better coverage of the events, giving the Paralympics the honor and respect it deserves. The Paralympics is a worldwide successful event, and it's coming home to its humble roots. The Paralympians are an inspiration and a shining example of the indomitable human spirit. The Paralymics show us what we are capable of, no matter how hard life can get.

I have to admit that my eyes started to water when I saw 15 year old Zach Beaumont climb up to light the Paralympic cauldron. I was suddenly reminded of my cousin. The death of my cousin reminded me that I had so much more compared to others, and that I can do things that other people can't. I really shouldn't complain about walking somewhere far, because guess what? I can at least walk there using both feet. The Paralympics inspire me to do more. If these heroes can accomplish such great feats of strength, skill, and speed, then I can do better, too. I can overcome hardship and obstacles, I can be tougher. With my two arms, I can be stronger, I can lift things higher. With my two legs, I can go farther and faster. With my two eyes, I can see clearer and know where I'm going. With a focused mind and a fierce spirit, a beating heart and a passion for life, I can be more than I ever thought I could be.

The Paralympics is a testament that great heroes are not defined by how they look but by their great deeds. It is not our bodies that limit our potential; it is our mind and spirit that carry us farther and beyond the impossible. It's not just strength and speed that defines our heroes. It's their determination and dedication that inspires us all to to do better, to try harder, and to be the best that we can be.

Chop Suey

2010-03-12T02:37:00.005-06:00

Every now and then, I like to take food to work. Not just my own lunch, but something to share with the coworkers. We like to do that every so often; at least once a month, we sometimes have potlucks at work. I felt like making chop suey and I made a lot.

I like sharing food at work. Everyone likes free food at work! It promotes morale and feelings of good will. Well, mostly. As most of my coworkers were enjoying the chop suey, there was one coworker, the loud one in our group, who declared that what I had brought was not chop suey, but pansit, a Filipino dish. She went on to describe how she was friends with Filipinos and that they always made pansit, so she knew what pansit was, and what I brought was pansit, not chop suey.

And as she started breaking down the ingredients and their supposed Filipino connections, I was starting to get irritated. When she stopped her lecture to get herself a third helping, she turned to me and said, "Your pansit is delicious, but it tastes different from what I'm used to."

So I told her, "That's because I didn't make pansit. I made chop suey. I should know because this is how we've always made chop suey in my house."

She replied, "But this is pansit, I know it is. This can't be chop suey!"

So I asked her, "Have you ever had chop suey before?"

She paused, her forehead wrinkling before she answered, "Well, no."

So I told her, "Well now you have!"

The rest of the coworkers giggled and the loud one ended her lecture and finished her plate. For the record, I have tasted pansit; and I do like it. In fact, I like Filipino cuisine. But what pisses me off is when I make something, and someone else tries to tell me that I don't know what it is that I made! This ain't a cooking show or a chef competition! I didn't ask for a critique or food review! I made the damn thing! I know what I made. And if I made it, then I sure as hell can call it whatever I want!

Outdated and Unused

2010-03-10T05:30:00.006-06:00

It's time again for me to clear out the clutter. I'm getting an early start on Spring Cleaning, esp since the rain has kept me from going out to the beaches. At work, I'm very organized and keep to just the basic essentials; it helps me work faster and more effectively. My workspace is a model of efficiency. At home, it's a different story.

I'm a packrat. I tend to keep a lot of stuff, some of it I don't even need or use anymore. Part of it stems from my belief that I shouldn't throw out things that are in good working order. I don't like to waste stuff. Part of it is because I'm afraid that I might throw something out, only to need it later on. I often keep a lot things that are somewhat outdated. Some things I hold on to, because they have sentimental value.

I actually have jeans and shirts that I used to wear my last year of high school! I still have movie stubs and bus tickets from over ten years ago! I also have grocery receipts from last year, neatly filed away! I'm not sure why I still have those. But I need to get rid of them. I've also amassed quite an eclectic collection of plates and utensils from other people who gave them to me. I've got two slow cookers! And they both work great.

Every few months, I have to go through and sort out the things I've accumulated and try to get rid of the clutter and junk. I have enough old stuff lying around to open my own museum. And today, I'm going to show you some of that stuff.

Like this old telephone!

I don't even see this phone in office buildings anymore! I doubt many people even have it in their homes either! I found it in my first apt on the East Coast when I was living there many years ago. It works, so I keep it around. It's hardy, too. They don't make phones like this anymore! You can slam the receiver down hard or drop it and it'll still work. I still have a landline. It's useful, esp when the cell towers are down due to storms or power failures.

I've also got some old stuff that works but I don't use anymore.

Check this out.

No, that is not a laptop.

That is a word processor! Complete with a green screen and floppy disks! And it still works!

That thing is over ten years old! I haven't used it in ages, but I can't bring myself to get rid of it. It's the first major electronics purchase that I made, and it was very useful when I needed to type up papers back in the day.

And here's the printer that goes with it.

It's an old printer, too. How old? Just look at the connections. No USB, just a parallel port! It's the kind where you have to screw in the connections!

My stereo is old, too! Over ten years old! It can still play cassettes, which is good because I've a few on hand. I still have the original stickers on the front of the stereo! I kept them on after removing the stereo from its box.

I like to keep the plastic on things, just to see how long they'll last. It's one of my quirks. I still have the plastic covering on the keypad of the microwave and on my car stereo. It drives my friends crazy to see the plastic instructions still on the car stereo! They always complain when they see the plastic sticker still on stuff. And I like torturing them, knowing that they just want to rip the plastic sticker off but can't because it's not their car. The same thing with the microwave! Mwahahahaha!

Then I have new stuff that I don't use, because the old way still works for me.

I got this drink mixer from a friend as a gift.

It's still in the box. Still works. But I don't really need a fancy mixer to make a screwdriver or a milkshake. Actually, when I feel like a milkshake, I just melt ice cream and crumble cookies or cake in the cup. I'm not a milk drinker, so I don't use any milk.

I also got this rice cooker/vegetable steamer as a gift from some friends. They were horrified when they found out that I did not have a rice cooker. It's still in the box with the pretty, shiny bow on it.

I'm sure it works great. But I like to cook rice the old fashioned way:

That's right. I still use a pot to cook rice. It works for me.

I'm going to be busy over the next week tidying up and sorting through the things I've attained over the past few months. I've got some serious recycling and repurposing to do. I've got figure out what to donate and give away. I don't like seeing piles of stuff just taking up space. That just makes me feel claustrophobic and stressed out. It's my home, not a junkyard. And all that cleaning and decluttering actually leaves me feeling very accomplished and relaxed. Now if I could only figure out how to stop myself from getting a hold of all this junk in the first place.

Host

2010-03-08T10:00:00.000-06:00

It's been a week since the end of the Olympics meant my return to society. I'm usually a hermit during the Olympics, shutting myself off from the outside world, not returning calls, and turning down social calls and gatherings in order to maximize the time I get to watch the Olympics on tv. My friends often tease me about my obsession with the games, but they've learned over the years that unless it's an emergency, I'm not leaving the house to hang out with them. If it's your birthday, I'm dropping off a gift on the way to work but I ain't coming over for the party.

So it should've been no surprise to me that some friends called to say that they wanted to come down and visit me for the weekend. Their visit was timed perfectly to coincide with the end of the Olympics and my return to civilization. I like having people over. I just forget how much work it requires sometimes to host people, esp if they're spending a few days.

I don't have a coffee maker, because I'm not really a coffee drinker. So early Saturday and Sunday while everyone is still sleeping, I go to the gas station to pick up some cappuccinos. They taste great and they're really inexpensive. I had to buy milk, too, since I'm not really a milk drinker. I only buy milk if I need it for a recipe. And while making breakfast, I had to put up with 'helpful' suggestions, like I should keep Bisquick pancake mix on hand and buy a coffee pot. Why would I need Bisquick? I have flour and baking powder. And I don't drink coffee, so why would I clutter up the kitchen with an appliance that I don't really use?

I should mention that I don't make breakfast that often, either. I mean, I often cook really large dinner meals, enough to have leftovers last me a few days. But I rarely cook breakfast. To me, breakfast is usually just a hot bowl of oatmeal. But when I have visitors, I go all out and make pancakes, sausages, eggs, hash browns, toast, and tea. It's a lot of work, but I don't mind it; I like cooking.

And I have to admit that I like playing tour guide whenever friends from out of town visit. Which means I often do a lot of driving. I like to take them to all the local hot spots and eateries. But my fave thing to do is take them to the beach. It's actually the main reason why they come visit me anyway. And the weather was great this weekend. It's getting warm
now, in the upper 60s, which is nice and troubling at the same time. It's nice because right now, the weather is just right, absolutely perfect. It's troubling because I'm reminded that in two months, it's going to get really hot and humid around here, and it'll stay that way until November!

So from Friday night til Sunday evening, I was the cook, the housekeeper, the chauffeur, and the tour guide. All in a day's work for a good host. I'd like for my guests to have a good time, and my friends definitely had a good time. It's why they keep coming back. Sometimes, I wonder why I don't go into the hospitality industry. I certainly had a blast working in hotels when I was younger.

Now, I return to sleeping on the sofa with the tv on, eating leftovers, and planning what to do for Spring Break. If the weather stays nice, I'm definitely heading out to the beach again. Otherwise, I should get started on the spring cleaning.

Day 17 of the Vancouver Olympics: Closing Ceremony and a Phenomenal Finish!

2010-02-28T19:17:00.008-06:00

28 Feb 2010, Sun.
*Updated 1 Mar 2010, 5:00 am.

Let's just get right down to it! How about that hockey game!?! Absolutely Amazing! It was the most exciting and fantastic hockey game I've ever seen! What a thrilling and unbelievable way to close out the games!

It was an action packed match! The US and Canada fought hard! And it was Canada who scored first, 0-1! Then they made it 0-2! But the US fought back and scored 1-2! The Canadian crowd were cheering because the gold was within their grasp! And in the last few seconds of the last period of the game, the US managed to score one more goal to take the game into overtime! 2-2! The crowd is stunned! And when the overtime started, it was anyone's game with both teams fighting hard to control that hockey puck! But Canada managed to score one more goal, winning the game and the gold medal!

It's a fantastic and phenomenal win for the host nation, the home of hockey! This was the gold medal that meant to the most! And they fought long and hard to take it!

The Vancouver Olympics may not have started well for Canada, but Canada built up momentum and they finished gloriously! Congratulations to Canada! And congratulations to the US for a spectacular performance! That was the best game I've ever seen!

And over in the men's 50km cross country ski race, Norway's Petter Northug wins gold right in a photo finish! He sprinted right ahead at the finish line to take the lead! Germany's Axel Teichmann takes silver. And Sweden's Johan Olsson wins the bronze.

I'll be back later to update after the Closing Ceremonies!

*Okay I'm back.

A wonderful Closing Ceremony!

That was a great skit making fun of the post that didn't rise during the Opening Ceremony. I liked how they went ahead and raised it and lit it up in front of a cheering crowd!

And I luved watching the athletes mingle together when they came back into the stadium for the Closing Ceremony.

They broke out the big stars for this one: Neil Young, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan, Michael Buble, and Nickelback rocked! They brought out Catherine O'Hara and Michael J Fox.

Oh my gawd! It's Capt Kirk!
Princeline Negotiator!
William Shatner was funny! I only wish he sang a spoken word song!

I'm a Rocketman!

I usually don't mind one opera singer, but three is one too many! What was up with the Russian presentation for the Sochi Olympics?

Good gawd! Is Godzilla attacking the city!?! Because the Russians brought out Mothra!

And what's up with the ballet dancers? Dude! Where are your pants!

It's the winter Olympics! Way too cold to be running around in your undies! You might get frostbite on the tender extremities!

I luv the balloons, the dancers, and the all icons that make up the Canadian identity! The Mounties, the hockey players, the moose,

and their love of the beaver!

Fantastic performance Canada! The Maple Leaf Forever, indeed!

The Vancouver Olympics did not get off to a very good start. The weather was uncooperative, with not enough snow for some of the events. Then hours before the Opening Ceremony, there was the tragic death of the young Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. It's a terrible loss of a young life, and it would forever put a sad shadow over the Vancouver Olympics. I feel for his family and his friends. Then there was the technical malfunction of the fourth post failing to rise with the Olympic cauldron for lighting. But it seemed appropriate somehow--that fallen post was a reminder of the young fallen athlete from Georgia.

But even with all these challenges and hardships, the games went on, because they needed to go on. The Olympics are more than just games and sports. They represent humanity's best hopes and our wishes, our courage to go on when life becomes harsh and painful. And there was drama and joy and heartache every single day! We watched incredible athletes perform amazing feats! We rejoiced in their achievements. We shared their pain when they lost a game or worse, lost a loved one. And we cheered for those amazing athletes who went on to perform their best under the most tragic and challenging times. We admire their courage and we applaud their strength. They remind us that it's not whether we win or lose but that we finish the race. It's a lot like life. It doesn't matter that we fall; what's important is that we get back up and keep on going.

Thank you Canada for being a wonderful host! The Vancouver Olympics were outstanding!

It has been my great joy to be able to watch and share my views on the Vancouver Olympics. And I'd like to thank all of you readers for your comments and support. I've had a lot of fun watching the games; and I hope I've shared some of that fun with you.

It's kind of sad that the Vancouver Olympics actually over. Of course, now I can get enough sleep and resume having a social life. But I look forward to Sochi, Russia 2014!!! And the London Summer Olympics 2012!!! Here we come!!!

Day 16 of the Vancouver Olympics: Undaunted

2010-02-28T03:00:00.005-06:00

27 Feb 2010, Sat. Day 16 of the Vancouver Olympics had athletes facing tough opponents and undertaking treacherous challenges in their quest for gold. The strongest athletes were undaunted in the fierce fight for Olympic glory.

It was a great day for the women's 30km cross country ski race! Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk, world champion, won gold in a photo finish race! Then she apologized to silver medal winner, Marit Bjoergen of Norway. Earlier, Kowalcyzk accused Bjoergen of cheating, claiming that Bjoergen's asthma medicine gave her an unfair edge, esp. since Bjoergen has won 3 golds this Olympics! The asthma medicine is actually approved by both the International Ski Federation and by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Catfight!

Now here's a little history: Kowalczyk herself was banned from competition for doping in 2005! And she's worked hard to regain some respect and prove her skills. As the reigning world champion, it sure stung to see a veteran like Marit Bjoergen, who hasn't won any recent world events, have a spectacular Olympics, taking gold in events that favored Kowalcyzk. Marit Bjoergen handled the accusations and the apology with class. Finland's Aino-Kaisa Saarinen wins bronze.

Over in the speed skate team pursuit, Canada takes gold and the US wins silver. In the team pursuit, all three skaters have to cross the finish line to register their time. It was a close race between Canada and the US for gold. The US pulled a surprise victory in the qualifing rounds over Netherlands to take the spot to compete against Canada for gold. The gold winning Canadian team includes Denny Morrison--an alternate in the Torino Olympics--with former short tracker Mathieu Giroux and Lucas Makowsky. The silver medal American team was led by veteran Chad Hedrick and had teenagers Brian Hansen, Trevor Marsicano, and Jonathan Kuck. The Netherlands team--led by Sven Kramer and with Mark Tuitert, Simon Kuipers, and Jan Blokhuijsen--set an Olympic record in winning their bronze match against Norway.

No lead up to a final race has been as exciting as the women's speed skate team pursuit! Yesterday in the quarterfinals, Germany's Anni Friesinger-Postma fell at the finish line and had to flop and flap her skate over the line to trigger the time!

Damn! I'm still drunk from last night!

Move dammit! Move!

Then she buried her head in the ice, thinking that she had cost the team a chance to compete for gold.

But it was a miraculous save, beating out the US by 0.23 of a second!

No spectacular belly flops this time in the race for gold. Germany easily takes gold and Japan wins silver.

The gold winning German team included Daniela Thoms Anschutz, Stephanie Beckert, Anna Friesinger-Postma, and Katrin Mattscherodt. Japan's silver team consisted of Masako Hozumi, Maki Tabata, and Nao Kodaira. And Poland beat out the US for the bronze! Two US skaters, Jennifer Rodriguez and Jilleanne Rookard, crossed the finish line before the Poland team. But third US skater Catherine Raney-Norman was far behind, having run out of energy and exhausted. The Poland team was able to cross all three skaters before Catherine Raney-Norman crossed the line. The bronze Poland team included Katarzyna Bachleda-Curus, Katarzyna Wozniak, and Luiza Zlotkowksa.

Over on the mens parallel giant slalom, Canadian snowboarder Jasey Jay Anderson wins gold! Austria's Benjamin Karl takes silver, and France's Mathieu Bozzetto gets the bronze. It's a fantastic bronze medal win for Bozzetto, who actually came out of retirement to try for an Olympic medal.

Meanwhile in the last alpine skiing event of the Olympics, Italy's Guiliano Razzoli wins gold! It's the first time Italy has won gold in the men's alpine event since the great Alberto Toomba, Toomba la Bomba, won multiple golds in the 1988 Calgary Olympics! The last time an Italian man won a medal in alpine was in 1992, when Toomba won silver. Toomba is actually Guiliano Razzoli's coach and mentor, both are from the same region in Italy. It's amazing Olympic debut for the 25 year old, whose only victory was a World Cup win last year. He wasn't even qualified yet to compete at the Vancouver Olympics last summer, but Toomba and their ski club and fans went ahead and bought tickets to the games. They believed that Razzoli would qualify and make a great show at Vancouver. And their faith was rewarded with spectacular gold medal run by Guiliano Razzoli.

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic wins another silver, adding to his nordic combined silver win earlier in the week. Andre Myhrer of Sweden wins a surprise bronze! And it's a phenomenal bronze win by Myher, who finished 4th at Torino! Yet for the first time in 74 years, since the alpine events debuted in the 1936 winter Olympics, the Austrian men have not won a medal at any of the alpine events!

Speaking of Olympics history, for the first time in 62 years, an American team has won gold in the 4 man bobsled!

In 2002 at Salt Lake, the US won silver and bronze. I have not been this excited by one particular team since the Jamaican bobsled team debuted at the 1988 Calgary Olympics! Using great skills and teamwork, the Americans made great runs on the risky track that has claimed the life of one athlete and led to many crashes. Pilot Steve Holcomb led the gold winning team which included Steve Mesler, Curtis Tomasevicz, and Justin Olsen. Germany's silver team consisted of Andre Lange, Kevin Kuske, Alexander Rodiger, and Martin Putze. The Canadian team won bronze--led by pilot Lyndon Rush with David Bissette, Lascelles Brown, and Chris le Bihan.

I never knew I'd be so happy being crammed into a tight space with 3 other men!

Over at men's curling, Switzerland beat out Sweden for bronze. And in the gold medal match, Canada takes gold, leaving Norway the silver. Canada's men's curling team bring the host nation its 13th gold, the most of any nation at the Vancouver Olympics so far. But it's the Norwegian curling team who once again win the spotlight for being the best dressed athletes at the Olympics! Take note Vera Wang! No feathers or jeweled snakes!

Supermodel! Work!

Now turn to the left!
Work!

Now turn to the right!
Work!

Sashay! Chante!

Chante! Chante! Chante!

When it comes to looking good, no one does it better than the Norwegian curling team!

Finally, in the most exciting match of the evening, Finland and Slovakia battled it out for bronze! I have to admit, I was rooting for Slovakia, the underdog who came into these games and bitch slapped some of the toughest teams in the Olympics! They proved that Russia was beatable. The barely let the Canadians slide by in the semifinals. Had they had a little more time, who knows who could've been playing the US on Sunday for gold!

And they fought fiercely! Slovakia was able to score some goals and lead the game 3 to 1! But Finland fought back hard and closed the gap! And in the last few minutes of the game, Finland rallied hard and was able to score 5-3, winning the game! Still, it's the best finish for Slovakia, fourth this Olympics. I admire their moxie for going all out and rattling the best teams out there! The Finns also get kudos for a spectacular comeback after a rough experience this Olympics.

And the biggest game of all starts in a few hours, when Canada faces off with the US for gold! What a great way to close out the Olympics! And you better believe that North America is shutting down to watch the game live and root for their teams! I can't wait to watch it all go down!

Day 15 of Vancouver Olympics: Dash and Crash

2010-02-27T01:00:00.013-06:00

26 Feb 2010, Fri. Day 15 of the Vancouver Olympics had athletes in the mad dash for gold! Some would win, and others would crash in the pursuit.

In a thrilling women's curling match between Canada and Sweden, the game had to go into an extra end before defending Torino gold medalists Sweden wins the match 7-6! Canada takes silver. And world champions China takes bronze.

Meanwhile in the men's 4x7.5km biatlon relay, Norway wins gold; Austria takes silver; and Russia wins bronze. And Norwegian legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, nicknamed the Biathlon King, finally wins gold--his 6th in his Olympic career-1 in 1998 Nagano, 4 in 2002 Salt Lake. He's won a bronze in Torino. He's all ready won silver earlier in the Vancouver Olympics in the 20km event. This Norwegian victory was made possible by the accurate shooting and fast skiing of the entire team, which consisted of Halvard Hanevold, Emil Hegle Svendsen, and Tarjei Boe.

In the women's slalom, Maria Reisch of Germany wins gold, while her sister Susanne and friend, US skier Lindsey Vonn, crashed on the course. Maria Reisch has won gold all ready in the super combined event. It was a tough event, sking downhill around poles while the snow beat down hard. Marlies Schild of Austria takes silver. It's a fantastic silver win by Marlies Schild, who recovered from terrible accident in 2008 that resulted in an open compond fracture on her leg. She had multiple surgeries and took over a year to recover, returning to compete only in November of last year. Sarka Zahrobska gets the Czech Republic a bronze, the first alpine medal for that country.

Over in the women's giant parallel slalom, where they snowboard race around obstacles in two runs, Netherlands' Nicolien Sauerbreij survives horrible weather and a tough course to win gold! Russia's Ekaterina Ilyukhina was stunned to win the silver, as she was sure that the wet snow conditions had eliminated any chance of her performance getting a medal. Marion Kreiner of Austria takes the bronze.

But the real winners have to be the crowd who tracked up the mountain, then braved the wet snow and rain conditions to cheer the women as they competed in bad weather.

And in the exciting and furious sport of short track, more crashes and falls lead to drama and thrills!

Dude! Get your ass out of my face!

American Apolo Ohno was disqualified in the 500m short track final! Two other competitors crashed!

Canada's Charles Hamelin wins gold! South Korea's Si-Bak Sung, stumbles and falls to silver after Apolo Ohno's disqualification.

And Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay gets bumped up to bronze after falling.

And in the women's 1000m finals, China's Wang Meng wins her 3rd gold of the Vancouver games! American Katherine Reutter gets silver after holding off South Korea's Park Seung-hi, who claims bronze.

And in the most confounding and furious race that is men's 5000m relay, there was so much confusion and chaos as multiple skaters took turns pushing each other's butt for the long race!

Push it real good!

China and Korea battled for lead, Canada was in third. France was 4th and US was in 5th.

And as the crazy exchanges kept going, Canada pulls ahead of the pack, leaving South Korea and China to battle it out for 2nd and 3rd! The US manages to pull up to forth, leaving France behind!

And in the final lap of the exciting race, China slips as the US pulls ahead to 3rd! Canada wins the race, South Korea takes silver with US right on them for bronze!

A fantastic end to a crazy and thrilling race!

Sure Canada may have won the race, but they should've been disqualified for their horrific style!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you! That is a French Canadian redhead with dreadlocks!

And finally in the preliminary event that had Canada holding its collective breath til the end. Canadian men barely scraped by the Slovakians in the semifinal spot, going on to fight the US in the gold medal hockey match! This is the game all of North America will be watching! And I can't wait to see it!

And lastly, I'd like to focus on why the Olympics are wonderful. It's not just about athletes winning medals; it's about champions bringing hope and doing positive things for the world. Thanks to MJ for this article on Clara Hughes, the greatest Olympian ever! Canadian Clara Hughes, a cyclist and speed skater, is the only person in Olympic history to win multiple medals in both summer and winter Olympics.

After winning gold in Torino, she was inspired by US speed skater Joey Cheek, who donated his bonus gold and silver medal winnings to the charity, Right to Play. This organization was founded by Norwegian and Olympics champion speed skater Johann Olav Koss. The goal is to use sport and play to aid the development of children and youth in underprivileged areas around the world. At the time, Canada did not give bonuses for medal winners. So Clara Hughes took money out of her own bank account, and donated $10,000 to the foundation, because she believed in the cause.

And this Olympics, she does it again. Clara Hughes donated her $10,000 bronze medal bonus to the Take A Hike foundation, to help troubled youths recovering from addiction to take outdoor challenges to learn skills and build up self esteem. She was inspired to do something about the poverty and drug addiction that plagued Vancouver after she made a wrong turn on her way to training two years ago. She never forgot the sight of those people suffering, impoverished and in despair in the heart of one of Canada's leading cities. Clara Hughes believes that sports saved her life, as she herself was a troubled youth. And with her generous donations, she continues to give out hope and new opportunities for troubled youths to have a chance at a better life, to find a way to be successful amid all the challenges they face.

Clara Hughes is a perfect example of why the Olympics is so great. Even with all the scandals and all the troubles that often plague the Olympics, there are always heroes like Clara Hughes who embody the true Olympic spirit. She remind us that true Olympic champions represent not only our dreams, but our hopes and wishes for a better future. And if one human being can do something positive to help others, imagine what two or more can do to change the world.

Day 14 of the Vancouver Olympics: All or Nothing

2010-02-26T02:30:00.006-06:00

25 Feb 2010, Thurs. Day 14 of the Vancouver Olympics had athletes giving their all in the quest for gold!

In the women's Giant slalom, where the skiers race downhill while going around gates, there was a surprise upset! Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg made her Olympic debut, and it's golden! She's never won any of the major skiing events, and with her fantastic combined times from her run the day before and today, she takes the gold! Even she was surprised at her win. Slovenia's Tina Maze takes another silver to add to her super G silver earlier in the week. And Austria's Elisabeth Goergl takes another bronze, her first one was in the downhill skiing. Don't feel bad for Georgl! Bronze is wonderful! She could've gotten nothing!

Over on the women's 4x5km cross country relay, Norway takes the gold. Germany wins silver, and Finland, the bronze. And it's a great Olympics for Sweden's Marit Bjoergen, who has won 3 golds (sprint, pursuit, and relay) and a bronze (10km freestyle)! A respected veteran of the sport, her spectacular performance surprised a lot of people, esp. since she is currently ranked 6th in world! She becomes the first athlete to win 3 golds at the Vancouver Olympics.

And it's a great day for Americans in the Nordic combined event, where they combine the large hill ski jump and a 10km cross country ski race. American Bill Demong takes gold, and teammate, Johnny Spillane takes silver! Austria's Bernhard Gruber claims the bronze. It's a great bronze win by Bernhard Gruber, esp. since he wasn't even considered a top athlete in the individual event! But he proved his worth, adding to his gold win the team relay event.

But it's a spectacular Olympics for the Americans, esp. since the cross country ski events are often dominated by Scandinavians and Western Europeans! And you better believe the Nordic countries are upset after their poor performance! Americans have won 4/9 medals in the events, making them the surprise dominant force at the Vancouver Olympics! It's an amazing victory for the Americans, as they aren't even considered among the best in the sport! And it was a combination of great ski jumps and tactics in the ski race that helped the Americans win gold and silver in the event, adding to the team relay silver, and Johnny Spillane's silver in the normal hill event. It's a sweet victory for the American athletes, as they've never won an Olympic medal in the sport, much less get a gold! It's a fantastic performance all around!

Then we come to women's hockey! The game had to go into overtime as Finland takes the bronze in a fierce all out battle with Sweden.

Bitch! What did you say about my pickled herring?

And in the epic battle for gold, Canada takes their 3rd straight Olympic gold in the event. The US women take silver.

Over on the men's aerials, it was a high flying battle for gold as some of the medal favorites crashed and other competitors soared to great heights!

Zhongging Liu of China puts on a brilliant jump to bronze.

And American Jeret Peterson pulls of his signature hurricane move. This was a very risky move, one that cost him the bronze in Torino. But Jeret Peterson believes in going big or going home! All or nothing! Would the risk pay off or would he pay dearly?

Here I am! Rock you like a hurricane!

This time, he pulled it off! He flies to silver!

And Alexei Grishin of Belarus soars spectacularly to gold, winning with a clean and clear display of fantastic aerial acrobatics.

Finally, we come to the most dazzling and graceful sport of the winter Olympics: Women's figure skating. These are the people who keep the bedazzler industry in business. These are the strongest competitors to ever skate the Olympic ice. Some of them are better than the men! And every one of these athletes had great expectations to live up to and tremendous pressure to bear under the watchful eyes of the world.

And as beautiful and clean the American women skated, there was no way they were going to end up on the podium. At least, not against the best in the world!

And Miki Ando of Japan is the first to throw down the gauntlet! A wild and powerful performer, she can either outshine the competition with her fiery skating or she could burn out and fall apart on the ice. Miki Ando is an incredible athletic skater. She had more jumps than any other female skater. And her performance tonight was the most powerful ever, doing an amazing number of jumps and executing them perfectly.

It was a strong athletic performance, stronger than any of the other skaters! But she didn't have the artistic flow and transitional elements the other strong women had. And when she was done, she was in the lead, with the other three top competitors to follow.

Kim Yu Na of South Korea skated next, and she displayed why she was the best skater in the world. She was the perfect balance of athletic strength and grace, beautiful, strong, mesmerizing! Her long program, the free skate, is often weak compared to her short program. But tonight, she was perfection on ice! She danced, she glided, she flew effortlessly, effervescent and ephemeral!

And when she was done, she broke the record by scoring the highest points ever under the new judging system! The gold was all but hers.

And the only person with a slight chance of even reaching the heights soared by Kim Yu Na was Japan's Mao Asada. Mao Asada has made Olympic and international skating history as the only woman to ever successful land a triple axel in a program. This is the tough jump that knocked a lot of the top men out on their butts in the men's competition. But Mao Asada went further and included two triple axle jumps in her free skate, becoming the first woman to ever land 3 triple axels in one competition! And she had amazing transitions and spins, artistry that blended beautiful movements with unique flair.

She needed to skate a perfect program to even stand a chance at getting gold. But she faltered with two minor mistakes, and that caused her to land in silver instead. But would she hold on with one more powerful skater left to go?

And all eyes were on Canada's Joannie Rochette as she took the ice. She skated a beautiful performance, exhibiting her strength and her artistry, doing powerful jumps and wonderful movements across the ice. She made one mistake. But it was a phenomenal performance from a brave athlete who's mother passed away just a few days ago. But make no mistake, she is one of the best skaters in the world!

And in the end, Kim Yu Na takes the gold by reaching heights far above those of her competition. Kim Yu Na was magical and magnificent! Mao Asada secures the silver, and Joannie Rochette glides to bronze. Canadian Brian Orser, former world champion and two time Olympic silver medalist, and choreographer David Wilson have done an extraordinary feat of guiding Kim Yu Na to the top of the skating world. It was an extraordinary night of figure skating, one sure to go down in Olympic history.

But the most delightful skater of the night for me was American Mirai Nagasu. This is her first world competition! And she performed spectacularly, with the most graceful spirals and the fastest, most marvelous spins! She managed to move from 6th place to 4th! She is on the rise, starting her ascent to greatness. It's a fantastic world debut for this young skater. And what a wondeful way to end another great day at the Olympics!

Day 13 of the Vancouver Olympics: Fortune and Favor

2010-02-25T01:30:00.009-06:00

24 Feb 2010, Wed. Day 13 of the Vancouver Olympics was full of dramatic action as athletes competed for gold and glory. Some came in heavily favored to win, only to have their fortunes changed unexpectedly!

Exciting news in the men's 4x10km cross country relay! Sweden wins gold, for the first time since 1988! Norway takes silver, and the Czech Republic takes bronze. The Norwegians were a heavy favorite for gold in the race, but this Olympics, the Swedes came out and took a huge lead in the final leg of the race, guaranteeing the gold.

The lead was so huge, that Sweden's Marcus Hellner stopped by the crowd to pick up a Swedish flag and then continued on to cross the finish line, all while twirling his flag as if he were in a parade instead of a race!

And it was Johan Olsson, who pushed the lead far ahead in the second leg of the relay, giving the Swedes the huge lead that let anchor Marcus Hellner stop and smell the roses. With Andre Soedergren and Daniel Richardsson, the Swiss take first place in a thrilling relay race.

In the women's 5000m speed skate, Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova takes another gold, adding to her 3000m gold and surprise 1500m bronze. Stephanie Beckert of Germany takes silver, and Canada's Clara Hughes wins the bronze.

It's a sweet bronze win for Clara Hughes, at 37, she is one of the oldest competitors on the ice. This was her last Olympics. It is an extraordinary swan song for the legendary Clara Hughes, who is one of only four people to have ever won both summer and winter Olympic medals! And she's the only one in Olympic history to have multiple medals in summer and winter Olympics! She won 2 cycling bronzes in the 1996 Atlanta summer Olympics, a bronze in 5000m speed skating in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, gold and silver in the 2006 Torino Olympics. Truly, she is an Olympic legend, and what a brilliant end to an amazing career!

And in the wild and unpredictable sport of short track, the women's 3000m relay was full of excitement and stunning action! South Korea, going for their 3rd Olympic gold in the event, was up against China and Canada. The US made the fourth team in competition, but they were the weakest, and they were left far behind while South Korea and China battled it out for first! Canada was assured the bronze.

And in the final laps of the race, South Korea's Kim Min-jung bumped China's Sun Linlin, causing her to stumble and lose momentum.

Hey! Get your hand off my boobie!

South Korea raced ahead to finish first and they grabbed their flag and did victory laps around the ice! China and Canada also did victory laps for their medals while the US finished so far behind.

But wait! Something was up! They were taking too long to put up the final standings. The refs were talking with the officials. Tension was in the air. The noise died down as the official walked over to China's team and coach. The whole arena was watching. What was going on? Then the the Chinese team screamed and jumped in the air! It was official! South Korea was disqualified!

Oh, the shock! You better believe South Korea is up in arms over this! China moves up to gold! Canada takes the silver, and the US got lucky, bumped up to bronze!

That's right! Oh, the shame! Pink shoes and gold shoes with blue spandex? You better hide your faces!

Oh, how fortunes and fates change in the fickle and fierce sport of short track speed skating!

And more excitement in women's bobsled! Some of the gold medal favorites crashed hard on the track! Luckily, no serious injuries, and the athletes were able to walk on their own power. In the end, it was a 1-2 finish for the host nation! Canadian pair Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse win gold, and their teammates, Canadians Helen Upperton and Shelly-Ann Brown, get the silver!

Americans Erin Pac and Elana Meyers take the bronze. It's an incredible surprise bronze for the Americans, as they're not even considered the top American team! They've only been together for 3 years. Elana Meyers originally trained to be in softball, hoping to make it to the Olympics. But since the IOC removed softball from the summer Olympics after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Meyers decided to try the bobsled. And she teamed up with Erin Pac, who had just transitioned from being brakeman to pilot and was searching for a partner. It's an amazing victory for the rookies, winning a medal in the event!

Finally, big news in the women's aerials. This high flying sport is a combination between ski jumping and trampoline and diving, as athletes ski off a ramp, fly in the air, do amazing flips and turns high in the air before landing on the snow! It's a dazzling display of skill and beauty, full of danger with a high risk of catastrophic crashes!

Medal faves China, who are coached by Canadian Dustin Wilson, a former Australian aerials head coach, did very well. They've dominated the international competitions in recent years.

XinXin Guo of China jumps to bronze!

And China's Nina Li flies to silver, repeating her silver win at Torino.

China's gold medal fave, Mengtao Xu, was the last to ski to secure the gold. And she took off, reaching for the skies and the gold medal!

But she landed horribly and crashed! In an instant, she was knocked out of the podium!

And it was a flying Kangaroo, Lydia Lassila, of Australia who soars to gold!

It's an amazing performance from Lassila, and a wonderful win for Australia, which continues to be the first and only southern hemisphere nation to medal at the winter Olympics! It's a fantastic end to a great day of competition. And it just goes to show that anything can happen in the Olympics, no one is guaranteed a medal, no matter how heavily favored, fortunes can change in an instant.

Day 12 of the Vancouver Olympics: Under pressure

2010-02-24T02:30:00.007-06:00

23 Feb 2010, Tues. Day 12 of the Vancouver Olympics had athletes under intense pressure. Some would break spectacularly; others would power through and shine.

A stunning upset in the 10,000m speed skate! Dutch gold medal favorite, Sven Kramer, who won the 5000m gold last week, was the first to cross the finish line. But he was disqualified for missing a lane crossover! He was going the right way when his coached yelled at him to get in the inner lane, when he was supposed to cross over to the outer lane! That led to a disqualification after he finished the race in record time!

Ja, go that way! Trust me!

Oh, the drama! The Dutch were not happy! Sven was not happy! But the South Korean who came in second, Lee Seung-Hoon, was very happy! As were the other two guys behind him who got bumped up a medal! South Korea becomes the most successful speed skating nation at this Olympics! Russia's Ivan Skobrev gets bumped up to silver, and Dutchman Bob de Jong climbs to the podium for bronze!

What the f*ck, dude!?!

Don't tell me to f*ckin' calm down!

Bitch! Get your hands off me!

Motherf*cker!!!

It's a bad day in The Netherlands! The orange Dutch fans are turning red! It's a good thing they've legalized pot there, because they're going to need to get high to get over this scandalous loss! As for the Dutch coach, I hope he considers asking Canada for political asylum! Oh, poor Sven! Even his competitors thought he should've won, but that's speed skating for you! Unpredictable, even in long track!

Over on the women's 4x6km biathlon relay, big news as German biathlon powerhouse, Magdalena Neuner, who's won silver and gold all ready, took herself out of the team event, citing mental fatigue and wanting to give other members of the German team a chance to medal. Actually, she's not really a good shooter, so she might've cost them a medal by having to do extra penalty shots. She is a fast skier though. Yet, even without Neuner, their fastest skier, the Germans manage to finish with a bronze. France takes the silver. But nobody does it better than the Russian women, like sexy spies from a James Bond movie, who shot their targets better and skied faster than the competition, winning the gold!

From Russia with love

Meanwhile in the Men's Giant Slalom, the super G, where they ski fast downhill and go around gates, it's Carlo Janka of Switzerland who takes the gold! Known as the Iceman for his cool demeanor and not making much of a fuss over his wins, he skied effortlessly and efficiently to take first place. Norway's Kjetil Jansrud takes the silver, and Aksel Lund Svindal wins the bronze. America's best medal hope in this event, Ted Legity, finished 9th, while countryman Bode Miller missed a gate and was disqualified. The Austrian men, who usually medal in downhill skiing events, once again, do not make the podium!

Exciting news in the Nordic combined 4x5km team event! In this sport, they combine ski jump and cross country skiing. For the first time in history, the US wins an Olympic medal in the event, and it's a beautiful silver they fought hard to get!

We kick Nordic ass!

The sport is dominated by Europe, and Austria does take the gold and Germany holds on for the bronze. It was a sprint to the finish line, and Austrian Mario Stecher skied faster than American Bill Demong to take first place; Germany was far behind in third. But what an amazing accomplishment for the Americans; no one thought they would even make it to the medal podium!

And in the thrilling Olympic debut of women's ski cross, four women had to battle their way out of qualifications to earn a spot to race for Olympic gold! France's Ophelie David, the gold medal favorite and leader in the sport, crashed in the qualifying rounds. And it was Canada's Ashleigh McIvor who rockets down the course and leaves the competition far behind to win gold! The rest of the pack had to fight it out for 2nd and 3rd place in the furious rush to get to the finish line. And it was Norway's Hedda Berntsen who edge out a silver win, and France's Marion Josserand takes bronze. A fantastic performance from McIvor, getting Canada another gold!

Finally, we come to the crown jewel of the winter Olympics, women's figure skating. These aren't some fragile, pretty faces come to twirl on the ice. These women came to brawl! And they were fierce in the short program, displaying their awesome skills and incredible strength. You won't find many falls here! This ain't the men's side where they fall on their asses and break under the pressure. This is women's figure skating, where grace under pressure is an art form, and where beautiful skating belies deadly accuracy and tremendous power. This is perhaps the toughest field of figure skaters ever!

And one of the toughest Olympians on ice is Canadian champion Joannie Rochette. Two days ago, on Sunday, she received devastating news of her mother's sudden passing. An entire nation and the whole world supported her as she delivered a performance that earned her 3rd place, with 71.36 points (-7.14 from the lead). It's an incredible show of strength from the reigning world silver medalist amid the painful loss she is dealing with. She has the heart of a champion.

Another top competitor is Mao Asada of Japan. She's the only woman to ever land two triple axle jumps in the same program. This is the jump that caused a lot of falls in the men's competition. A former world champion, Mao Asada skated a very powerful short program, clean, energetic, and strong. She raised the bar high, landing in 2nd place with a score of 73.78 (-4.72 points from the lead).

It's an impressive feat, especially since she considers the short program her weakest!

But it was Kim Yu Na of South Korea, the reigning world champion, who breaks the records by scoring the highest points ever under the new judging system, getting first place with 78.5 points! And she skated right after Mao threw down the gauntlet with a dazzling performance! But Kim Yu Na shimmers and displays her sublime prowess, skating to the theme of James Bond, 007! She demonstrated why is the reigning world champion! She is the skater everyone else is chasing.

Nobody does it better!

Kim Yu Na doesn't break under pressure! She becomes a diamond under it and shines brilliantly, beautifully!

I hate to say it, but I seriously doubt if the Americans are going to even medal in this event. Our skaters are good, but they're up against the best in the world.

And perhaps the dark horse in this competition is Miki Ando of Japan. A former world champion, she's powerful on the ice! Known for taking risks, she either explodes fiercely on the ice, or she implodes catastrophically. She's under the radar, in the shadows of the great rivalry between Kim Yu Na and Mao Asada. She knocked out the Americans from the race, landing in 4th with 64.76 points (-13.74 points from the lead). She attempted a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, the most difficult jump of the evening. But her execution was not up to par, so she paid for the risk, but it was still strong enough for her to land in fourth.

Anything can happen in the long program. She's fearless. And she's the only female figure skater to ever land a quadruple salchow in competition! I luv a skater who takes bold risks! And if she skates a clean long program and throws a quad, she could go all the way to the top of the podium.

My favorite skater of the night is 16 year old American Mirai Nagasu, currently in sixth place with 63.76 points (-14.74 behind the lead). She's graceful and powerful, skating like a young Michelle Kwan. And she skated to Pirates of the Caribbean! Arrrgghh!!!! She is the best spinner out of all the women! She's even better than some of the top men! She spun so fast and so furious on the ice that she busted a blood vessel and had a nose bleed when she stopped spinning and finished her performance! Now that's a tough athlete!

It's going to be a fantastic finish as the women battle it out for gold in the long program on Thursday!

Day 11 of the Vancouver Olympics: Making history

2010-02-23T03:10:00.016-06:00

22 Feb 2010, Mon. Day 11 of the Vancouver Olympics was all about athletes making history in their quest for Olympic gold!

In the high flying world of the ski jump, the Austrians defend their Torino gold and win a Vancouver gold in the team ski jump. They jumped farther than the silver medalists, Germany, and the bronze medalists, Norway. The only other serious challenger was Switzerland, which won the individual normal and large hill events. But the Swiss did not have enough jumpers to make a four man team, leaving the door open for Germany and Norway to climb on the podium.

The last jumper was Austrian superstar Gregor Schlierenzauer, who all ready won bronze in the individual normal and large hill events. Gregor Schlierenzauer has a clothing line and is a photographer, one of the most famous people in Austria. But the 20 year old still lives with his grandmother, choosing family over fame.

And at the final jump, the crowd and the competition all ready knew that the Austrians had won gold with such a huge lead. The only thing left now was to see just how far Gregor Schlierenzauer would jump. And when he took off, he soared higher and farther than anyone before him. And then he landed and almost fell! He crouched low and held his left hand out to keep his balance, but he didn't touch the snow! And when he stopped, his had flown 146.5m! And combined with his earlier jump of 140.5m, his total score was 290.1m, farther than Simon Ammann, the Swiss who won the individual large hill earlier two days before with a score of 283.6! An amazing jump and save by Gregor Schlierenzauer, and a wonderful finish for Germany and Norway.

In the women's cross country ski team sprint, Germany's Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and Claudia Nystad take the gold! Sweden's Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag take silver. And Russia's Irina Khazova and Natalia Korosteleva win bronze.

Over on the men's side, there was some drama, as a last minute change took place in the Norwegian team! World champion Ola Vigen Hattestad withdrew the morning of competition after complaining of a sore throat. So Oeystein Pettersen steps in and teams up with Petter Northug. And it was a phenomenal race! Germany fought from sixth to lead the race in the first half. And by the second half of the race, Russia was right behind Germany. But in the final meters of the race, Petter Northug sprints past Russian Alexy Pettukov, and then passes German Axel Teichmann and leaves them behind to win the race! A fantastic finish! Germany takes the silver, and Russia wins the bronze.

But the most fantastic and exciting event of the night was ice dancing! The final portion of the ice dance competition, the free dance would finally determine who would win the gold! And would this be history in the making? Would North America finally knock Russia off the gold? This was an epic war for dominance, and all the athletes brought out their best!

Let's check out the competition!

Oh, how embarrassing!
We're wearing the same dress!

It's a comic book convention! DC Comics superheroes Flamebird and Nightwing make an appearance!

Hey! Who's protecting the world from evil while you're here ice dancing?

Oh, my gawd! It's another superhero! It's Batman, Christian Bale!

Nah, just kidding! They're my fave performers of the evening, John & Sinead Kerr from Great Britain. They made one mistake in their twizzle, but they rocked the house with their routine by skating to Krwlng by Linkin Park!!! Luved it!

It was a risky move since the old judges like the old, tired, overplayed classical crap. But it was a great choice and the crowd luved it! Anyone who comes to the Olympics and skates to Linkin Park rocks!!! And they were the only pair in which she went on ahead and held him up in a lift! Talk about power!

I am strong! I am invincible! I am woman!

Unfortunately for Kerr & Kerr, they face the same disadvantage 3 other ice dance pairs share in the competition. They're a brother and sister team. That's right. There are 4 pairs of brothers and sisters competing in the Olympics. And while that may work on the junior level, once you get into the senior level of competition, people really don't want to see a brother and sister skate out a romantic tango, no matter how good they are.

The top four pairs would fight out a glorious battle for first place.

Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, currently second, were the first of the top competitors to skate. And they skated an emotionally charged piece to the tune of Phantom of the Opera. Their lifts were incredible, dangerous, beautiful, and their spins were in sync, free flowing, fantastic.

And when it was over, they set the bar high with an incredible lead! But was that enough to win the gold?

And it was Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, currently first, who would take up the challenge laid down by their American friends and training partners. They performed an extraordinary dance. Their twizzles and foot work were flawless, beautiful, and their lifts were complex and dangerous but stunning, executed flawlessly.

And when they were done, their score put them in the lead! But with two more strong competitors to skate, was it enough to win gold and make history?

Torino silver medalists, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto put on a strong performance, showing off their amazing skills in lifts and transitions, excellent footwork.

But I have to say, their performance, while strong technically, was overly theatrical. The emotions they were trying to portray came out more exaggerated than genuine. And they just weren't able to communicate that fierce passion in their skating. And when they ended their program, they were in third.

And it was the Russians, Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, reigning world champions, who skated last. Their scores would determine who would get an Olympic medal and in what order. Could they save Russian dominance in ice dancing? Or would history be made tonight? And they skated a powerful program, full of energy and emotion. They used unconventional costumes, utilizing ropes in their costumes for their lifts and spins. But I have to admit, as much as I laughed when he grabbed that rope around her waist and tossed around her like a trussed up Thanksgiving turkey, they did have wonderful spins and turns.

And when it was all over, the whole crowd waited anxiously for their scores. Would Russia continue its legacy as the dominant force in ice dancing?

And the scores came out and said, No! They were in 3rd! It's a historic win for Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir! For the first time in Olympic history, North America wins the gold in ice dancing! What an incredible and fantastic win!

And with Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White in second, this is the first time North America takes gold and silver in ice dancing Olympic history! The Russians take the bronze, but the message is clear. The era of Russian dominance is over! And perhaps for the first time in Olympic history, the judging is not questioned for being crooked or fixed! Perhaps the new scoring system does work. But the real test will be in 4 years, when the winter Olympics take place in Sochi, Russia.

But with its talents defecting, its old territories separating and becoming independent, Russia has lost its place as the top powerhouse in winter Olympics. The great athletes and coaches who once epitomized Russian strength and power have all left or moved on to represent their own independent countries. It would seem that Russia's strength has faded. But in a way, Russia's strength lives on. It continues in ice dance; not just in the bronze win, but in the gold and silver as well. It is after all, Russian coaches, who defected from Russia, who taught these two winning teams all the secrets of Russian ice dancing. Still, it's an amazing win for Canada!

Perhaps the biggest lesson from this historic ice dance win is that talent and skills belong not to one nation, but to the world. Any athlete who works hard, with the right guidance, can reach heights unimagined. And while not everyone can be an Olympic champion, an Olympic champion can come from anywhere in the world.

Day 10 of the Vancouver Olympics: The Quest for Gold

2010-02-22T03:20:00.006-06:00

21 Feb 2010, Sun. Day 10 of the Vancouver Olympics was a thrilling day of competition as athletes battled each other in the quest for Olympic gold! For some athletes, the quest was successful! For others, the search continues.

In the 15km biathlon, Evgeny Ustyugov gives Russia its first biathlon gold in 16 years! The last time Russia won gold in the biathlon was the 1992 Lillehammer Olympics. It was a surpise win for Evgeny Ustyugov, who couldn't believe it himself! France's Martin Fourcade takes silver and Slovakia's Pavol Hurajt wins the bronze.

Over on the women's side, in the 12.5km biathlon, Germany's Magdalena Neuner wins her second gold of the Olympics, her first was in the 10km. Russian Olga Zaitseva won the silver medal and Germany's Simone Hauswald took bronze.

And it's a wonderful day for the speed skating nation of The Netherlands! In the women's 1500m speed skate, Ireen Wust wins the gold for The Netherlands. Canada's Kristina Groves takes the silver and the Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova wins the bronze.

In the men's super combine skiing event, American Bode Miller climbs to gold! His combined time of downhill skiing and skiing around obstacles put him first. It is his first Olympic gold, having won silver in the super G, and a bronze in downhill skiing! Bode Miller redeems himself after a dismal performance in the Torino Olympics, where he was more known for having a big mouth and partying, failing to live up to Olympic expectations. But a more mature, humble, and wiser Bode Miller has emerged and has done very well in the Vancouver Olympics. And he becomes the most decorated US Alpine skier ever.

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic takes silver, and Switzerland's Silvan Zurbriggen wins bronze. Ivica Kostelic continues a family tradition of skiing champions! He won silver at Torino in the same event! His sister Janica is one of the best skiers of all time, having won 3 golds at the Salt Lake Olympics, and 1 in Torino. She had a friendly rivalry with Anja Pearson, the tough Swedish skier who won the bronze in the super combine a day after a horrific crash on the downhill.

And it was a furious and exciting Olympic debut for ski cross! Ski cross is like snowboard cross, where four athletes race down hill after beating out other athletes in qualifying events. And it was a thrilling race to the end! In the final race, Switzerland's Michael Schmid pulls ahead into the lead, followed closely by Austria's Andreas Matt. Canada's Christopher Del Bosco, the reigning X Games champion, was in third.

But Del Bosco is not one to settle for bronze. When he races, he races to win! And he took a huge risk, getting big air in the the last jump in an effort to catch up to the leader. But it all went horribly wrong, as he crashed down, leaving the door open for Norway's Audum Goenvold to take the bronze. But what a gutsy and fantastic move by Del Bosco. He never plays it safe, and that's what makes ski cross so exciting.

And in the uncertain and dangerous sport of bobsled, crashes played a role in determining who would make it to the final race.

If you don't think bobsled is dangerous, think again!

Switzerland is ranked number 1, but they crashed in qualifying, taking them out of the final. Canada was also another medal favorite, but they, too, crashed on the track.

Check out the track burns on this dude after a hard crash!

Canadian women have sharp nails!

Don't worry, he's British! He's tough! And he's all right.

And it was Germany who once again dominates the sledding events! Bobsled pilot Andre Lange and his partner Kevin Kuske win the gold! And with this win, Andre Lange has a 4th Olympic gold--1 in the four man bobsled in 2002 Salt Lake, 2 in 2006 Torino in two man and four man events, and this Vancouver gold in the two man event. Andre Lange becomes the most decorated bobsledder in history! And it's silver for Germany's other team, Thomas Florschuetz and Richard Adjel. Russia's Alexandr Zubkov and Alexey Voevoda claim the bronze.

And in the hockey preliminaries, the most anticipated game in North America took place between hometown faves and medal contender Canada versus the US! And it was fantastic game! The Canadian team, with big National Hockey League stars, put up an incredible battle against the less famous US squad. It was a fight to the finish! Such an action packed game, with the US scoring first, only to have Canada turn it around for a tie! And there were lots of hard body checks and slamming going on as the two squads fought over the puck! In the last minutes of the game, Canada makes a surprising goal, coming just 1 goal behind the US, making the score 4-3! Could this be another sudden death match like the Canadians match against the Swedes, beating the Swedes out in the end?

No! The Americans score one more goal and the clock runs out! It's a 5-3 win for the US. And for the first time since 1960, US beats Canada in a hockey match! 50 years of losses is over! The Canadians won gold in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics on American soil. The Americans now advance to the quarter finals, with only 3 games to win in the fight for gold. The Canadians have 4 games to win now in their quest. But I wouldn't count them out. The Slovakians bitch slapped the Russians earlier in the week, proving that the Russians are beatable. It's going to be a thrilling play off for the gold!

And in better news for the Canadians, the original dance portion of ice dancing is over. The theme for the original dance had to be either a Folk Dance or a Country Dance. And I luved other countries take on what country dance is!

Save a horse! Ride a cowboy!

Check out the tramp stamp on this one's back! Extra points!

Yeeeee haaa!!!

Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win the original dance portion of ice dancing! They now lead with 111.15 points. This was their most difficult and complicated dance, and they performed an outstanding, sultry flamenco that brought the crowd to their feet! A lovely and lively performance!

Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's training partners, Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, move up to second, with 108.55 points (-2.6 from the lead). They went with a Bollywood number that excited the crowd!

Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin drop down to third, with 106.6 points (-4.55 form the lead). They used a slightly altered Aboriginal theme and costumes that offended Australian Aboriginals.

Torino silver medalists, Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Augusto are in 4th place with 103.33 points (-7.82). I have to say, that as wonderful as their execution was in the difficult technical parts of their program, their presentation kind of sucks. I mean, the music isn't inspiring, no connection with the audience, and the new costumes are terrible! It's like they're waiters at a Greek themed restaurant!

I'll take a gyro please!

Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin are the worst dressed couple of the evening! They should've been disqualified for wearing those horrid costumes! These are the slightly altered costumes that offended the Aboriginals in Australia!

I am offended by the sight of their ghastly clothes! Green leaves and loin cloths? If they were a rain forest, I'd cut them down and put a parking lot over them!

And tomorrow is the free dance, the best and most fun portion of ice dancing! It's the final event in ice dancing. I'm expecting great performances, horrible costumes, and lots of drama in the epic battle to end Russian dominance in ice dancing!