The Perfect Sunday Morning

Once in a while, you get to spend a Sunday morning the way you want.

No work, no doing yard work...just a nice relaxing morning doing nothing. If i'm not gonna go fishing on the beach, I might as well sit and suck coffee and piddle around on the computer...

This particular Sunday is perfect for the doing of nothing. Nice and cool, a bit overcast and in the 75 degree range. A good morning for a wake-n-bake and some jazz. I kind of compromised this morning. Casablanca happened to be on TV, so I've got it on. Cool! Bogie AND jazz!

Play it, Sam!

Lazy? I think not!

What, me lazy? No way, man.
I've been busting my ass lately. My new job is a lot of work - 12 hour days are no longer out of the question. The upside is better money and room for advancement. I'm getting too old for those 12 hour days, though... not to mention they cut down on my computer time! ;-)
When I'm not working, there's always shit to do around the house. Between keeping the yardwork done, doing the cooking and keeping 5 fish tanks going, I don't get a lot of time to fuck around. There's always something that needs to be done, and the list keeps getting longer, y'know? I'm right in the middle of building a storage shed that I need to get done. I ought to be working on that, but this morning,I think I'll keep my butt in this chair except for trips to the coffee pot.
Hell, I'm even trying to teach myself Spanish right now. I got a course from somewhere with bittorrent, and I listen to lessons before I go to work. I'm in lesson 6 right now and it's still pretty basic, like
"where is the hotel?" donde esta el hotel? and
"do you have any pesos?" tiene usted pesos?

The real question is can you teach an old dog new tricks? Who knows? But with all the Mexicans I have to work around, I figure the Espanol will come in handy. Maybe if they see somebody making an effort to understand them, they'll try to learn some bloody English, for Christ's sake!

Anyway, I like to learn new stuff, and I kind of have a thing for languages, so I figure what the hell?

Here's looking at you, kid.

Bogie just said those immortal words...man, what a great movie. I've seen it a dozen times and it never loses it's appeal.Bogart was the man.If there's a Bogie movie on, I'll usually watch it. Sorry... now back to the blog!

Datil Pepper Update

Since my last post was in FUCKING MAY I'll give an update on the old datil pepper farm...the plants themselves are beautiful...big and bushy. Unfortunately, they don't produce at temperatures over 95* F. They would get blooms all over them and then we'd get a week of 97-98* days, and all the blooms would drop. Now that it's cooling off, I ought to get a good crop before winter. There are buds all over them now...if they all become peppers, I'll be good to go! The habanero is and has been producing a shitload of peppers. We had a party not to long ago and a guy ate a whole habanero right off the bush. Needless to say, he was hurting for quite awhile....dumbass!

That's enough bullshit for one post. See ya in another 5 months...lol

Summer's Comin'!

Summer:My Favorite Season

It's warming up. After a May that has been somewhat cooler than normal, it's starting to get hot. I'm back to wearing shorts and going barefoot. It's time for fishing, gardening, and bikinis!

Pepper Time!

My favorite harbinger of summer is the datil pepper. These wrinkly little peppers love the hot weather as much as I do, and it seems like they capture the sun's heat in the fiery little fruits. Once the weather warms to over 80 degrees, they really start shooting up.

I love these peppers. I use them in just about everything from a pot of beans to my own hot sauce. There's nothing better than a cold beer, a sunny day at the beach, and a nice barbequed slab of ribs painted with some hot datil BBQ sauce.

I can't wait for the weekend so I can get up early and go to fishing at the beach There's nothing like an ocean sunrise...especially when the fish are biting! Now that I think about it, tomorrow might be a good day to call in sick!

See you at the beach!

Goodbye, Fetchin' Kitty

One of my favorite cats died this week. Her name was Daisy, but I called her "Fetchin' Kitty" because she was the only cat I ever saw that would fetch.

She was a specialist, though. She would only fetch a wadded up cigarette pack.

We would roll up an empty pack, throw it across the floor, and off she'd go, chasing the pack, playing a little kitty soccer along the way, and finally picking up the pack in her mouth and bringing it back, dropping it at my feet.

She would look up at me and meow till I threw it again.

I have a shelf that has about 4 inches' clearance underneath, and that cat could be batting her pack at full speed and slide headfirst under the shelf. I liked that because she kept the dust-bunnies cleaned out that way. ;-)

She also liked to hang out in beer cartons when she was tired from all that fetchin'...

Sometimes I think she thought she was a dog, the way she followed me around. She also thought she was queen of the house. She thought my bed was her bed and she spent most nights curled up next to my head.

She died on Tuesday due to problems giving birth to her first litter. Rest in peace, Fetchin' Kitty.

Remembering an American Hero

The Best of the Best

On April 4th, 2005, the President of the United States presented the Nation's highest honor (posthumously) to Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith.

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Sgt. Smith was assigned to B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in the United States Army. The following is the from the official citation issued to Sgt. Smith from the U.S. Army:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.

The medal was presented to his son, David, who accepted it in a solemn ceremony at the White House last Monday morning, with his wife Birgit and his daughter Jessica attending as well.

Say what you want about the war in Iraq and the politics involved, but as far as I'm concerned, this man is a true hero. He selflessly gave his life for his comrades in an impossible situation in an impossible place. Because of him, other men's families still have a daddy, a husband, a son. His selfless sacrifice is an example to us all, regardless of race, creed or religion. My hat is off to him and my best wishes go to his family. HOOAH!

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Special thanks go out to Ernie at EHOWA for bringing attention to this brave man and also for the great pics of the events in Washington.

Another Day In Paradise

Let's start off light, shall we? Think J-Lo is one sexy biatch? Well, then, check these pics out. Still think she's sexy? Nothing like a booger nosh, is there? You kiss your mother with that mouth,J-Lo?

I'd hate to be in Rome right now. Millions are arriving to pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II, and Rome looks like Times Square on New Year's Eve right now. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't stand in line for hours to see a dead guy...I saw him on TV-- good enough for me. Meanwhile, the conclave of cardinals is in the process of electing a new pope. There is talk of the new pope being African or Hispanic. Token pope? We'll see.

A recent poll asked what issues Americans want the new pope to address and it seems we want women to be more involved in the church. 69% would like to see priests allowed to marry, and 65% would like to see women priests. I don't know if that'll happen, but it sure would cut down on all those altar boy molestations, wouldn't it?

Finally, are you a fucking cunt? Apparently I am...;-) woo!

Some Fun Links

Like to paint? Check out this cool little flash paint thingy at art.com

Transparent Monitor Screens? Check 'em out here.

The Ultimate Coloring Book! (NSFW)

Here's a great little movie for ya...

more later...

Happy Easter!

Jesus, Eggs and Bunnies

Easter isn't just for Christians any more. In fact, all the little symbols of Easter we have come to know and love, the colorful eggs and little bunnies full of chocolatey goodness, have roots based in pagan traditions much older than the story of the resurrection of Christ.

Spring: Time of Fertility and Renewal

Easter has its beginnings in ancient pagan fertility rites. The word "Easter" is probably derived from either the Scandinavian "Ostra", or the Teutonic "Ostern"- both goddesses of spring and fertility in ancient beliefs. Festivals in their honor were held on the vernal equinox: the first day of Spring.

Fertility is where the eggs and rabbits come in...;-)

Rabbits for a fertility symbol is kind of a no-brainer. Being the most fertile and prolific animal the ancient pagans knew, it was the obvious choice for representing new life in the new spring season.

The modern Easter bunny has its roots in Germany, it seems. First references to it are found in German literature from the 1500's. The first edible bunnies were made of pastry in Germany in the 1800's.

Easter was introduced to America in the 1700's by the German settlers in Pennsylvania Dutch country where it quickly became second only to Christmas in popularity among children.

Anticipating a visit from the Easter bunny,(the "Oschter Haws", children would make a little nest for him somewhere in the home or garden, to be rewarded with a nestful of colorful eggs. The kids would use their caps or bonnets to make the nests...baskets came later as popularity spread through the country.

Easter a Jewish Holiday?

Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Christ, coincides with Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating their escape from slavery in Egypt. As a matter of fact, early Christians, many of whom converted from Judaism, considered Easter a new feature of the Passover festival, recalling the advent of the Messiah as told by the prophets.

Happy Easter!

Whether you're a Christian, Jew, or Pagan, Easter is a time of happiness, thansgiving and anticipation of the renewal and bounty of spring and summer. Enjoy the season however you like...eat some bunnies, hide some eggs, go to mass or have some unleavened bread.

Just do it with someone you love...as for me,I see some deviled eggs in my future!