Scary Times

I just got word that my grandfather (86 yo) has a small cancerous growth in his colon. I think they caught it early enough to have a good prognosis, but anytime someone of that age has to have surgery it's not a good thing. What amazed me, in talking to my grandmother, is that Medicare will only pay for one colonoscopy every 10 years. I think that is entirely insufficient. Had my grandfather's doctor not made the executive decision, they may not have found the cancer until it was too late. My grandpa is a tough ex-marine, and he will pull through this just fine!

To read more about colorectal cancer check out CDC | Cancer.gov | Yahoo Health

With this news and the recent heart surgery of my friend's father, I am nervous for our future. Facing the realities of surgery, cancer, and death is too much for me to handle... Paxil only takes care of so much.

Love your family. Love your friends. Love your body because it's the only one we'll ever get!

BLOCK ROCKIN BEATS!

I'm Running Free, Yeah, I'm Running Free!

Listening to Bruce Dickinson fire up the crowd at the Long Beach Arena, circa 1985, on Maiden's Live After Death just got me nostalgic. That was probably my fav record growing up a skater on the streets of downtown Phoenix. I would skate all around downtown including Encanto Park (Spanish for enchanted), parking garages, and the most vert "launch ramp" I had seen at that age (thanks to my fathers handy work). I never exceled at skating, but it made for a good mode of transportation. I think all those summer days of hitting the pavement explain why my brain fucntions the way it does.

This weekend, T and I set up in our normal spot for the Duluth Fall Festival parade. As usual, the parade was lined with kids, marching bands, surgically enhanced women from Wild Bills, Elvis, and tractors. I commented to T that the tractors weren't nearly as clean as they were last year. Some of them still had weeds and dirt clumps hanging from the bottom. We ate our fill of candy, boiled peanuts, and BBQ pork sandwiches before heading home. I love a good tradition, especially when it involves food. The afternoon was filled with studying Corp. Finance, shopping for mixing bowls, and picking up stuff for dinner. I couldn't find the exact recipe, but essentially I made Nachos with black beans and goat cheese. GOOD Stuff.

Bottlle Neck in Houston

Thankfully, folks are making an early evacuation out of the gulf coast of Texas while RITA is breathing her CAT-5 halitosis down their necks. I hope that that this storm disapates before landfall, but it doesn't look that way. According to mainstream media (isn't it all?), the early response being taken in the soon to be affected areas has been much improved in the aftermath of Katrina. It is so unfortunate that our emergency response lessons have to come at the hands of over 1,000 dead.

Things to do this coming weekend:

• Make our 4th pilgrimage to the Duluth Fall Festival. I will be screaming "candy, candy, candy" and in years past, and taking pot shots at the KOOL-AID man.


• Study, Study, Study
  

News You Can Use...

My friend's father pulled through what ended up being quadruple bypass yesterday. I guess if the bad guys of inner city Detroit couldn't bring him down while he was "serving and protecting", heart surgury didn't stand a chance.

No doubt about it...

Here is an important thing to remember as you pass through life.



Buzz Martin paved the way for other muy muy macho mission statements like, "Thou who wears a Speedo, must not be modest" and "Where there is an H2, there is lies a man with a small package. "

Positive Thoughts...

Today my best friend's father is having triple bypass surgury. I hope that all goes extremely well and he is quick to recover. It scares me to think of my parents having to face such things, and it frightens me even more to have to think about facing those things myself.

A couple years ago, I had a spell of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) that lasted six months. It was terrible. I had CAT Scans and MRIs before I was finally sent to an ENT who performed the Epley Manuever. That has been my biggest health concern in the past 15 years, so thinking of something far worse gets my blood pressure skyrocketing. Of course being a hypochondriac doesn't help matters. After reading the definition, maybe I am not a hypo- in the truest sense.

The work week is back upon us, and I have lots of odds and ends to do... So ROCK OUT MAIDEN style.

Strutting East Atlanta at 6:30 in the A.M.

No I have not started moonlighting as a "hustler". For one I don't know if there is a market for it in East Atlanta, and secondly I am not an early bird. I was there to volunteer for the East Atlanta Strut from 6:30 to 10:30. My super-duper-top-secret role was to direct the artists to their proper booth locations for the Artist Market on Flat Shoals Rd. I had a good time and met some nice people.

I will have to do it up again next year.

Numerators and Dominators...

Tops and Bottoms... is the best way to start this Friday off right. The weekend is hours away, and I am ready to blast out.

Nothing all too exciting to report other than finally downloading Rancid's ...And Out Come the Wolves last night. That disk completely reminds me of my years in Seattle (94–97). Mr. Christian (Mr... not Sister) and I would blast that disc as we were on our way up to the mountains to snowboard, or cruising through the U-district. Good times back then for sure.

New season of Survivor started last night. I think that will be the only tv show I will have time for this fall. Instead I will be filling my time with T, the booshkas, school, family, volunteering, football and the like...

Looking for a pic of me and the happy Mrs.? Look no further. This was taken at Famous Pub in Toco Hills. We were seeing off our friend Mr. Schuman.

Have a rockin weekend all!

Family Fued

I am sure everyone has their moments of family stress... My moment came this morning. After listening to a sibling go on about something that happened 3 months ago, they asked me if T or I were harboring any ill will... Huh? I thought I was going to have to send a sonic bitch slap through the phone. Another one of my siblings (age 19) is "moving" to San Diego this week. Only a couple catches.... Hasn't worked in a couple months (so no $), No place lined up to live, no car, and not a whole lot of common sense. I imagine this will quickly turn into a one- or two-week bum style vacation. The third of said siblings is also out west living a life of luxury in NM.

Yesterday, I failed to mention that the Green Lantern was wearing suspenders. I couldn't believe that I was seeing a man in his early 30s in a business casual environment... wearing suspenders! I kept hoping that his arch-enemies would knock him down and give him a proper blanket party.

Looks like the inside info I had the other day proved to have no long lasting harm. Some people's ego are big enough to allow psychos to roll in and roll out like the tide.

ROCK, ROCKIN IT...

Deslizadizo Cuando Es Mojado

I am not sure why the title for this post is "Slippery When Wet" in Spanish. Perhaps I am paying homage to the hardest working guys in New Jersey, or maybe I am lending support to Aqua Net Pink. Regardless, I have no idea where I am going with this... so I hereby end it.

Last night was filled with highs and lows. Highs came at the hands (or paws) of a young pugglesworth named Riley. He came over for a play date with the good doctor. They ran and ran until Peppy woke up...The low was watching my Aussie grill fall to the fate of the elements. First one of the handles rusted within the stem making it impossible to turn on one side of the burner, and the other side was flaming erratically. With these latest developments and the impending doom of feisty home owner’s association rules, I will soon be forced into the world of charcoal.

For a week now, I have been thinking about the UPS commercial and wondering “What Can Brown do for You?” Well we finally got our answer yesterday. The fool realized that he had nowhere to go but down, so he resigned. I guess he can always go back to working with Arabian horses… Wait a minute….NO, He Can’t…..

The Atlanta Falcons won last night 14-10 over the Eagles. Once again I barely made it into the 3rd quarter of a night game. Where is the stamina these days???

Keep on ROCKIN!

Weekend Warrior Sometimes...

So T and I completed our first volunteer effort over the weekend. We manned (and womanned) the phones at the Salvation Army Hurricane Command Center for a few hours, and then we helped pack boxes and unload cars. It was a satisfying time spent. Everyone seemed so positive and energized by the assistance they were providing. My personal "mission statement" is to continue these efforts going forward. Not just for my own conciense, but also for the memory of Steve Lotti, and all those that lost everything in the Gulf Coast region.

Yesterday was not just the 4th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but it was also our one year anniversary (common-law birthday) for Beansies In Betweensies, MD. We helped him celebrate by filling up his KONG with liver paste and treating him with a new stuffed monkey. He has been an amazing addition to our family, and I couldn't imagine not having his fur-face around.

Now as I settle in to do some work, I want to remind each and every one of my two faithful readers that I love you all.... and you just keep on ROCKIN!!!

-JW

Unwanted Knowledge

Do you ever know something about someone that you really don't want to know, although you are curious to know? I didn't think so. Any how...I came to find out something before the person it affected found out. Kinda sucks sitting on that kind of knowledge... Shows to go you that there are some extremely self involved people out there that have some growing up to do. Thankfully, I don't have anyone like that within my close circle.

During lunch today, I ran by Target and picked up some school supplies to donate to a student displaced by Hurricanrana Katrina. I really enjoyed picking out the little scissors, markers, crayons and such. My favorite part was the sweet Spiderman backpack that some kid will get to sport. I can't wait to do that for my own lil booshaka some day. No pressure T :)

Weekend is almost upon me! T and I are going to chomp down on some sushi tonight, and then tomorrow is the volunteer day for Salvation Army. I am totally charged up for that.

I just read that my boy Brown (FEMA) has been recalled to Washington, DC. Day late and a dollar short, but this guy had to go...

PATS continued their winning ways last night...

Green Lantern must be out carrousing with his Justice League at the Pink Pony, because I have not had one siting today :)

Welcome Back My Friend...

NFL Football starts up tonight with Patriots and Raiders. I can't wait to plant myself on the couch for the first half and snuggle up with T in bed for the second.

I am a little disappointed that I won't have the NFL Ticket this year, but what was I to do? We don't have a clear view of the southern sky! But we do have INDemand. What a waste that is... I always seem to knock myself out of an episode about midway through. Why can't everything in life have the TIVO interface. SIMPLICITY is Bliss.

Kadooc, Kadooc and I just fast forwarded commercials
Kadooc, Kadooc and I just recorded Glengarry Glenn Ross.
If given the chance, I would Kadooc, Kadooc about half my day...

Only one Green Lantern siting today. Passing through in a suit and some silky-looking open neck shirt thing. You gotta wonder where these super geeks get their fashion sense.

Gotta run... Gotta get to the gym... or couch... or floor....

Hilarity Persued...

There is not anything hilarious to report this morning, other than the images of dunking the Green Lantern in Lake Pontchartrain running through my head. Once again, he is strutting around here like a peacock and making sure everyone can hear him talking shop.

Last night was a busy, busy, busy. From work to the DeKalb Farmer's Market. Then home to walk the Booshkas before whipping up some dinner. The menu consisted of...Jungle Curry and Tom Yum Goon. After that was all done, minus the cleaning which I left for T (sorry), I was off to skrewel...

Speaking of T... She and I are going to volunteer at the Salvation Army this Saturday. We will be packing up boxes that will be making their way to NOLA and the Gulf Coast. I am sad that it has taken a national disaster and the passing of a friend to motivate me to help others. I guess everyone has a different kick in the pants. We are getting involved through Hands on Atlanta, which seems to be a great way to find volunteer opportunties in the area.

I still want to:

• See The Constant Gardner
• Listen to a Sultans cd
• Lose some Weight

Here is a funny line from Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO:
New Rule: Tulips aren't flowers. They're some kind of gay onion.

Mad Ups.

So I totally stole this story from FARK.com. With all the bad news happening in the world:

• Hurricane Katrina
• War in Iraq
• Gas Prices

it is nice to have a good story to read.

Laboring through the day of the same name...

The end of a long three day weekend is upon me. Don't all the long ones (and short ones for that matter) seem to pass too quickly? I still have a good 4~7 naps in me if given the opportunity to lounge with Dr. Beans and the Pep Sharoop.

This weekend T & I:

• built a basketball hoop upon which I will never play.
  
• watched Dirty Pretty Things with Audrey Tautou. I would give it an 7.5/10.
  
• Swam, dove and people watched at the Emory Pool. I wish I could go back in time and save my eyes from the beast in the lime green.
  
• Studied finance until I had a headache.
  
• Put a decent dent in a Corona 12-pack

Things on the Gulf Coast are still looking bad. The W-monkey is nominating Roberts for Chief Justice the day after Renquist passes on. I thought you had to already be on the Supreme Court before you could be the Big Shot Chief...tell me if i'm wrong...

Football is back with us this weekend with shocking upsets to Oklahoma and Auburn. The Beeg's Domers looked good, and my Radio-coached Huskies stunk up the joint against Air Force.

I haven't read any good celebrity juice this week. I did like Kanye West's comments at the telethon. Props to Mr. West for not reading the teleprompter.

Rock On!

Gotta Ante Up!

In case you are wondering, I did make it back from MI without a scratch...even though I was imported and exported through Flint. I had a good time, but I did have the impending doom of Hurricane Katrina on my mind.

As we are four days into the aftermath, I am still amazed with the images I have seen on tv and online. I cannnot imagine how scared these people must have been. On the Today Show this morning, they showed footage of the storm surge ripping through a Gulfport, MS Holiday Inn. The carnage caused by water and wind was mindblowing.

Make Cash Donations to the American Red Cross for the Hurricane Kristina Relief.

Yesterday was the memorial service for Steve Lotti and his mother Sherra Hambrick Young. It was beautiful, and all those that knew and loved them were in attendence. T and I were amazed with how broad their love and influence had reached.

Memorial Donations can be made through the Peace Corps. Help out Bolivia, where Steve had spent the last two years of his life.

The Gas Saga of Atlanta 2005 also took place yesterday. Upon driving around for 40 minutes, and passing through one sold-out gas station after another, we were finally able to fuel up the blue beast to the tune of $45. HUH?!?

There is so much going on right now that it is tough to wrap my mind around one thing for more than a couple minutes...