Amazing, absolutely amazing. What is so amazing, you ask? Science is, that's what.
The week started out slowly with a colonscopy for me. No big deal, until I woke up with a Fox TV crew up my butt! I think they found out where Glen Beck and Michael Savage hang out, at least it felt like it. Dr. Savage probably should have done the procedure, although his medical credentials are not in that area. His master's degree in botany certainly explains his vegetative like remarks. And his Ph.D in epidemiology and nutrition sciences certainly qualify him to make such viral comments that sour on the stomach. Talk show host credentials? ________ But I digress....
The week ended with my brother getting rhythm. Literally. Jim had a heart problem and his heart would get out of rhythm. I told him all he needed was a little soul, that he just had to listen to more Aretha or Temptations. Maybe some Beyonce or Lil Wayne. It was the Country Music that was messing up his heart. But no, he had to go to some Doctor who claimed to be a cardiologist, but does not have his on radio talk show. This guy proposed that he be allowed to give my brother an electrical shock... kind of like you see on TV where the guys have paddles and they yell, "CLEAR" and then the paddles send out a shock, the guy jumps and sometimes the heart stops, sometimes it starts...
Anyway, this morning Jim let this doctor do his voodoo that he do so well... AND it worked. At last report, my brother was eating his breakfast comfortably. He said he feels like dancing and has this urge to watch Micheal Jackson videos. Peg, his wife, told me that since the procedure, he has kept drumming on the table. And finally, he is on beat... not off.
Great to have you back, Bro. I hear the musical "STOMP" is holding auditions in Pittsfield this week. You're a shoo in!
Doughnut
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sock hops and Be Bops
As promised, here is the excerpt from my upcoming book, "Growing up Doughnut" This part of Chapter 15 deals with lunch time at John Greer Junior High School. Sock hops were a time when we relaxed. Things like that don't happen anymore as education has changed for the worse. Test scores are down? Because teachers are boxed in, kids are stressed to the point where they turn education off. But, in this era, kids were allowed to have some fun during the day.... I hope you like this... let me know what you think.
________________________________________________________________________________
Sock hops were essential for social structure and engineering. There were barely any students in the school who did not attend and either dance or sit in the bleachers and talk while listening to the evils of Rock and Roll. When we entered the gym, we had to go to the bleachers with our shoes on, or remove them and gain access to the gym floor for dancing. It was during this time that new alliances were formed, new loves found and lost. The lights were left on, so any dancing was done in full view of others, and could be a somewhat enlightening or embarrassing experience depending on the level of co-ordination and rhythmic ability one possessed. Girls peeled sweaters and revealed body parts that I never knew they had; and shook in places, which to this time in my life, were a mystery to me. I am certain that these sock hops contributed to my academic demise, causing me a great deal of consternation for the next few years as I discovered more of the opposite sex. The sounds of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Monkees emanated through the air; I held girls in my arms for a fleeting moment and dreamed of things that I had no business thinking about as Johnny Rivers sang “Poor Side of Town,” and Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” became my theme song as I strived to find that certain someone. Every girl was “the one” and I became good friends with many and “like a brother” to all. Mrs. Mitchell and her Bell Club opened up new avenues to me that had been barricaded, and as junior high progressed, and I grew comfortable in that adolescent form, it was this organization that helped me have confidence to try other organizations and discover new interests.
Doughnut
________________________________________________________________________________
Sock hops were essential for social structure and engineering. There were barely any students in the school who did not attend and either dance or sit in the bleachers and talk while listening to the evils of Rock and Roll. When we entered the gym, we had to go to the bleachers with our shoes on, or remove them and gain access to the gym floor for dancing. It was during this time that new alliances were formed, new loves found and lost. The lights were left on, so any dancing was done in full view of others, and could be a somewhat enlightening or embarrassing experience depending on the level of co-ordination and rhythmic ability one possessed. Girls peeled sweaters and revealed body parts that I never knew they had; and shook in places, which to this time in my life, were a mystery to me. I am certain that these sock hops contributed to my academic demise, causing me a great deal of consternation for the next few years as I discovered more of the opposite sex. The sounds of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Monkees emanated through the air; I held girls in my arms for a fleeting moment and dreamed of things that I had no business thinking about as Johnny Rivers sang “Poor Side of Town,” and Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” became my theme song as I strived to find that certain someone. Every girl was “the one” and I became good friends with many and “like a brother” to all. Mrs. Mitchell and her Bell Club opened up new avenues to me that had been barricaded, and as junior high progressed, and I grew comfortable in that adolescent form, it was this organization that helped me have confidence to try other organizations and discover new interests.
Doughnut
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tax Season...
It started yesterday...the season everyone hates and does not like to talk about. TAX SEASON!
The season of the witch... or switch... or stitch... when all the yearly anxiety comes to a head and we find out that all our hardwork goes out the window to support the government and other entities. We work almost six months a year for these people, and they get to go on the trip to Amsterdam at our expense. I heard yesterday that 200 members of Congress, Senate and their wives went to the hot air conference on global warming. They paid over 1000 dollars EACH to fly on military airplanes to get there. Is that considered an unreasonable charge? I want to know if any of them got spa treatments while they were there, played golf, went to the theatre on our dime.
I made about 1/3 less than I did last year. Afterall, I am fully retired now and this is my job. But, guess what? I may have to PAY this year. Last year, I paid the AZ Income Tax of 439 dollars. This year, I may owe TWICE that! And that is for a state that just sold it's State House to raise money and is closing almost all its state parks! What am I getting for my dollar? A legislature that argues and fights and can't come to grips with the smallest ideas like speed cameras.
The Feds are going to get a larger chunk, too. Remember, we made 1/3 less and are going to pay more! That is true tax relief for the middle class. I may have to take out a loan to pay my tax bill. Maybe I will go to one of the companies that got a bailout.
I retired early to be able to relax. I am more stressed now than ever before. I need to go back and get a real job, I guess. But now, I am over-qualified for most positions. And no one in broadcasting will speak to me out here. Welcome to the big city.
I know, I promised an excerpt from my book today...but I got fired up. Look for it tomorrow.
Doughnut
The season of the witch... or switch... or stitch... when all the yearly anxiety comes to a head and we find out that all our hardwork goes out the window to support the government and other entities. We work almost six months a year for these people, and they get to go on the trip to Amsterdam at our expense. I heard yesterday that 200 members of Congress, Senate and their wives went to the hot air conference on global warming. They paid over 1000 dollars EACH to fly on military airplanes to get there. Is that considered an unreasonable charge? I want to know if any of them got spa treatments while they were there, played golf, went to the theatre on our dime.
I made about 1/3 less than I did last year. Afterall, I am fully retired now and this is my job. But, guess what? I may have to PAY this year. Last year, I paid the AZ Income Tax of 439 dollars. This year, I may owe TWICE that! And that is for a state that just sold it's State House to raise money and is closing almost all its state parks! What am I getting for my dollar? A legislature that argues and fights and can't come to grips with the smallest ideas like speed cameras.
The Feds are going to get a larger chunk, too. Remember, we made 1/3 less and are going to pay more! That is true tax relief for the middle class. I may have to take out a loan to pay my tax bill. Maybe I will go to one of the companies that got a bailout.
I retired early to be able to relax. I am more stressed now than ever before. I need to go back and get a real job, I guess. But now, I am over-qualified for most positions. And no one in broadcasting will speak to me out here. Welcome to the big city.
I know, I promised an excerpt from my book today...but I got fired up. Look for it tomorrow.
Doughnut
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Not so full of it anymore
Sometimes, well most times, the weather is the first thing I comment on. It is the first thing that comes to mind that is PC and everyone can identify with. Now comes a new meaning of PC...Post Colonscopy... Things are definitely different after having a full colon cleanse. I actually feel better. Maybe I am not so full of crap anymore...Yeah, Right.
I have really found that I feel a bit better since the procedure. I do have to say it was a little disconcerting to wake up and find them still on my insides, though. I was watching something out of Fantastic Voyage (the movie where people are shrunk and take a trip inside the human body.) Although the pressure that I felt because of the air that was blown up my butt was great, the pictures were out of this world...or rather, inside mine...
It reminded me of the time I had my wrist operated on and was awake. I felt this great pressure on my arm, looked up, and there was the surgeon kneeling on my arm to hold it down! He was using a Craftsman Skilltwist to tighten the screws! "Wanna watch?" He said. "Sure" I answered, and he pulled back the drape and I watched on the screen as he adjusted the gap in the hand. Another time, I got to view the video of my knee surgery. Everyone should have and take the opportunity to see what they have inside.
I think this especially applies to politicians and other leaders. They need to see that they are human and not above the rest of us. They need to be told, "...take your clothes off and lie on the table." They need live how it is to put yourself totally in the hands of someone else and trust them with your life and welfare. As a male, lying there totally naked in front of women that I had no knowledge of and trusting them to violate me carefully to see what was inside, and then waking up and not being able to leave until I pass gas was certainly self debasing. I have had former students who have become nurses catheterize me, and that is certainly uncomfortable!
If we want to go forward, then we have to trust. I certainly questioned my doctors before the procedure; I researched and read about what was going to happen. I trusted my medical team, and most of all I prayed that they were guided by a greater hand.
After 22 surgeries and many different procedures, I know that I am being watch over.
Tomorrow, an excerpt from the upcoming novel, "Growing up Doughnut."
Doughnut
I have really found that I feel a bit better since the procedure. I do have to say it was a little disconcerting to wake up and find them still on my insides, though. I was watching something out of Fantastic Voyage (the movie where people are shrunk and take a trip inside the human body.) Although the pressure that I felt because of the air that was blown up my butt was great, the pictures were out of this world...or rather, inside mine...
It reminded me of the time I had my wrist operated on and was awake. I felt this great pressure on my arm, looked up, and there was the surgeon kneeling on my arm to hold it down! He was using a Craftsman Skilltwist to tighten the screws! "Wanna watch?" He said. "Sure" I answered, and he pulled back the drape and I watched on the screen as he adjusted the gap in the hand. Another time, I got to view the video of my knee surgery. Everyone should have and take the opportunity to see what they have inside.
I think this especially applies to politicians and other leaders. They need to see that they are human and not above the rest of us. They need to be told, "...take your clothes off and lie on the table." They need live how it is to put yourself totally in the hands of someone else and trust them with your life and welfare. As a male, lying there totally naked in front of women that I had no knowledge of and trusting them to violate me carefully to see what was inside, and then waking up and not being able to leave until I pass gas was certainly self debasing. I have had former students who have become nurses catheterize me, and that is certainly uncomfortable!
If we want to go forward, then we have to trust. I certainly questioned my doctors before the procedure; I researched and read about what was going to happen. I trusted my medical team, and most of all I prayed that they were guided by a greater hand.
After 22 surgeries and many different procedures, I know that I am being watch over.
Tomorrow, an excerpt from the upcoming novel, "Growing up Doughnut."
Doughnut
Monday, January 25, 2010
Forced Day Off---New found Treasure
My thanks go out to all of you who check in me regularly. Today will be very short.
I am having a colonoscopy today and an endoscopy. Basically, the docs are looking down my throat and up my bum. Hopefully they will use different instruments, or at least do my throat first.
Today could be one huge pain in the.... but it is not as bad, I understand, as the prep for it. For more information, you can Google colonoscopy yourself.
More tomorrow. Thanks for understanding.
_____________
Addendum.....
Things went well today. The only thing they found was a small car that I swallowed when I was three. (I think I will take it to Barrett Jackson and sell it at auction. It has to be an antique!) I did wake up at the end of the procedure and watched the final few minutes. There was a lot of pressure, but the panoramic view of my insides was awesome! After some sleep and a small meal, I am feeling well and ready to get back to work. The doc did take some blood and is doing tests to find out why I have developed anemia. But, 0nce they get the results, then we can move forward.
Thanks to all for the phone calls, they were greatly appreciated.
Doughnut
I am having a colonoscopy today and an endoscopy. Basically, the docs are looking down my throat and up my bum. Hopefully they will use different instruments, or at least do my throat first.
Today could be one huge pain in the.... but it is not as bad, I understand, as the prep for it. For more information, you can Google colonoscopy yourself.
More tomorrow. Thanks for understanding.
_____________
Addendum.....
Things went well today. The only thing they found was a small car that I swallowed when I was three. (I think I will take it to Barrett Jackson and sell it at auction. It has to be an antique!) I did wake up at the end of the procedure and watched the final few minutes. There was a lot of pressure, but the panoramic view of my insides was awesome! After some sleep and a small meal, I am feeling well and ready to get back to work. The doc did take some blood and is doing tests to find out why I have developed anemia. But, 0nce they get the results, then we can move forward.
Thanks to all for the phone calls, they were greatly appreciated.
Doughnut
Friday, January 22, 2010
We're Not in Illinois Anymore, Dorothy!
Survived last night, although it was frought with trepidation and anticipation.
For three days the intrepid weather forecasters of the news stations out here in the Great Southwest warned of an impending storm of Terminator proportions was moving through California and into our state. Usually all the forecasters have to do is say, "Sunny today, with a high of ___________" But they earned their money this week as they kept track of everything from blizzards in the North High Country, and the Southeast Mountain Ranges to heavy rains and flooding here in the Valley. This normally desert weather pattern received four inches of rain, and rivers that never flow, like the Agua Fria and the New River, were filled and flowing. The normal tranquil Tempe Town Lake had to open its dam and let water flow... Roads that are built over washes like Mckellips Road will be closed, possibly until spring.
When we heard the alarms go off for severe weather on TV, we wondered what was going on. Just like the Midwest, they let us know that the unusual Tornadic activity could happen. Contrary to the midwest where when conditions become ripe for tornadoes a watch is issued, here they issued a warning. Good thing they did for the people of Scottsdale. Folks at the Russo/Steele car auction had some tents blow down and hundreds of thousands dollars worth of collectible cars were damaged. Dorothy and I just went to an interior room and read. (She read, I watched TV, something you should never do during a storm.)
My good friend Colin Flaherty called to let me know we were having a storm. ( like I did not know that) and that he, too, was hunkered down in his underwear in his house while an ice storm raged outside. I reminded him that most of my day is spent like that... in my underwear. (Too much sharing?)
Anyway, all is well out here. Only nine days til pitchers and catchers report. The rest report a couple days later.
Oh, Yeah.... My beloved Cubs are still coming to AZ for Spring Training. Mesa will probably build an 84 million dollar facility for them, and the team will stay for 25 more years.
Hope springs eternal.
Doughnut
For three days the intrepid weather forecasters of the news stations out here in the Great Southwest warned of an impending storm of Terminator proportions was moving through California and into our state. Usually all the forecasters have to do is say, "Sunny today, with a high of ___________" But they earned their money this week as they kept track of everything from blizzards in the North High Country, and the Southeast Mountain Ranges to heavy rains and flooding here in the Valley. This normally desert weather pattern received four inches of rain, and rivers that never flow, like the Agua Fria and the New River, were filled and flowing. The normal tranquil Tempe Town Lake had to open its dam and let water flow... Roads that are built over washes like Mckellips Road will be closed, possibly until spring.
When we heard the alarms go off for severe weather on TV, we wondered what was going on. Just like the Midwest, they let us know that the unusual Tornadic activity could happen. Contrary to the midwest where when conditions become ripe for tornadoes a watch is issued, here they issued a warning. Good thing they did for the people of Scottsdale. Folks at the Russo/Steele car auction had some tents blow down and hundreds of thousands dollars worth of collectible cars were damaged. Dorothy and I just went to an interior room and read. (She read, I watched TV, something you should never do during a storm.)
My good friend Colin Flaherty called to let me know we were having a storm. ( like I did not know that) and that he, too, was hunkered down in his underwear in his house while an ice storm raged outside. I reminded him that most of my day is spent like that... in my underwear. (Too much sharing?)
Anyway, all is well out here. Only nine days til pitchers and catchers report. The rest report a couple days later.
Oh, Yeah.... My beloved Cubs are still coming to AZ for Spring Training. Mesa will probably build an 84 million dollar facility for them, and the team will stay for 25 more years.
Hope springs eternal.
Doughnut
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Kids Need the Captain.
AAAHHHHH, it's good to be home. Don't get the wrong idea, here. I am still in Phoenix my home, but with the weather up north and here, it feels like Central Illinois. Flagstaff is getting hammered with 4-6 feet of snow today; interstates 17 and 40 are closed into and out of the city. Other northern areas are also deep in the white stuff. Here in the Valley, we are getting around 4 inches of rain coupled with high winds. There is some flooding. My pool will be overflowing by mid afternoon. Unpredictable weather is awesome!
Unpredictability in anything makes life fun.
Take for instance last week's game between the Cardinals and the Saints. It started off well for the Cards, but soon the game diminished into a fiasco. The viewership plunged at halftime. In contrast, the game before against the Packers which ended in an overtime thriller was one of the highest rated games ever. People want to see and to feel unpredictability in their lives.
Teenagers often tell us that they are "bored" that there "is nothing to do". Are they full of bunk or what? Lethargy is their problem. They have to have someone else stimulate them. As parents, we have taken the unpredictability out of their lives. We seem to think we have to plan their day for them because they are incapable of doing it. Whatever happened to getting the guys together for a basketball game in the backyard? Going for a bike ride? "Back in the day" we would leave in the morning and report back in when the street lights came on.
Some will tell you that the times are different; that innocence is gone. Who is to blame?
Barney....
Yes, Barney,that innocent dinosaur who lets us know, "I love you, you love me..." it has to be his fault. Personally, I blame CBS for taking off Captain Kangaroo. Sure, Bob Keeshan is dead, but why not get someone else to fill in? The Captain is like Santa, an idea, a figure of better things to come. He represented innocence and kindness (even if he was high sometimes). We grew up with him and Bunny Rabbit, and Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Moose, and Dancing Bear. And we were never threatened, never felt the need to go destroy something. Now, however, CBS feels that an Early Show that is live and has visions of death and destruction is the way to start the day. Kids programming, true kids programming, is dead.
Captain Kangaroo warned Congress and the networks that once programming like his show was relegated to early Saturday Mornings, lives would change.
He was right.
Doughnut
Unpredictability in anything makes life fun.
Take for instance last week's game between the Cardinals and the Saints. It started off well for the Cards, but soon the game diminished into a fiasco. The viewership plunged at halftime. In contrast, the game before against the Packers which ended in an overtime thriller was one of the highest rated games ever. People want to see and to feel unpredictability in their lives.
Teenagers often tell us that they are "bored" that there "is nothing to do". Are they full of bunk or what? Lethargy is their problem. They have to have someone else stimulate them. As parents, we have taken the unpredictability out of their lives. We seem to think we have to plan their day for them because they are incapable of doing it. Whatever happened to getting the guys together for a basketball game in the backyard? Going for a bike ride? "Back in the day" we would leave in the morning and report back in when the street lights came on.
Some will tell you that the times are different; that innocence is gone. Who is to blame?
Barney....
Yes, Barney,that innocent dinosaur who lets us know, "I love you, you love me..." it has to be his fault. Personally, I blame CBS for taking off Captain Kangaroo. Sure, Bob Keeshan is dead, but why not get someone else to fill in? The Captain is like Santa, an idea, a figure of better things to come. He represented innocence and kindness (even if he was high sometimes). We grew up with him and Bunny Rabbit, and Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Moose, and Dancing Bear. And we were never threatened, never felt the need to go destroy something. Now, however, CBS feels that an Early Show that is live and has visions of death and destruction is the way to start the day. Kids programming, true kids programming, is dead.
Captain Kangaroo warned Congress and the networks that once programming like his show was relegated to early Saturday Mornings, lives would change.
He was right.
Doughnut
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