« June 2006 | Main | August 2006 »
July 31, 2006
Soldier Ride - A Day With Heroes
On Saturday, FbL arrived in her chariot and whisked Little Dude and I away to San Clemente.
We were going to meet up with Patti Patton-Bader - the wonderful woman behind Soldiers' Angels - and others for lunch and then head off to the beach to greet the participants of Soldier Ride.
Without loading you down with endless details, let me say what a wonderful day it turned out to be. Patti is an amazing lady and exudes warmth and energy like you wouldn't believe. The luncheon proved to be quite fun. Little Dude and I ended up sitting next to Peter Ford (Glenn Ford's son and a former actor himself), across from Wayne Eggleston - the Mayor of San Clemente - and, eventually, we were joined by a nice family whose matriarch has been supporting defenders of freedom for quite a long time. It seemed no matter where we turned, there were recognizable faces and people of power. Later in the day, we even met Matthew Modine (star of Full Metal Jacket).
But the real stars of the day were those who were injured in battle - our troops. They deserve the spotlight and our respect. Well, they needn't worry about the latter here - these men and women have always been my heroes and I know most of my readers feel the same way.
I will fill in more of the blanks later, but let's just say the highlight of the entire day came down to one thing: our Wounded Warriors inspire hope in all they do. I've never been so moved in my life. Each rider had an incredible story to tell and each found more than sore muscles at the end of their journey.
My connection is spotty, at best, right now but I will share more photos and the rest of the story soon. Until then, do yourself a favor and not only visit the following sites, but support them with your donations (large or small - every bit helps!): Soldier Ride, the Wounded Warrior Project, Soldiers' Angels, and/or the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:36 AM | Comments (6)
July 27, 2006
Threes
FbL started it, so blame her.
Here are Three--
1. --things that scare me:
a. Not having money
b. Needing someone
c. Leeches
2. --people who make me laugh:
a. Little Dude
b. Craig Ferguson
c. All of humanity
3. --things I hate the most:
a. Ignorance
b. Indecisiveness, I think
c. Network programmers
4. --things I don't understand:
a. Network programmers, they're idiots intent on giving viewers repetitive stress injuries from having to use the remote to switch between four shows airing at the same time
b. My doctors
c. All of humanity
5. --things I'm doing right now:
a. Fighting nausea and other dyspeptic symptoms, as well as a headache
b. Blogging while avoiding writing a major article due yesterday
c. Laying on my back with the laptop on my stomach.
6. --things I want to do before I die:
a. Have a real marriage
b. See one of my photos on the cover of a magazine, one I don't have to publish myself
c. Fly a plane
7. --things I can do:
a. Take photos
b. Write (even if most don't get a chance to read my best stuff)
c. Talk your ear off
8. --ways to describe my personality:
a. Goofy
b. Creative
c. Loving
9. --things I can't do:
a. Sing (unless you like offkey vocal stylings)
b. Touch my toes unless I'm sitting down
c. Watch anything with Jay Leno/Carrot Top/Renée Zellweger
10. --things I think you should listen to:
a. Joe Bonamassa, natch (Start with You & Me, then get Blues Deluxe, Had To Cry Today, A New Day Yesterday, and So It's Like That)
b. Anything by Honeyboy Edwards
c. The wait staff as they give you the daily specials
11. --things you should never listen to:
a. Activist groups or Michael Bolton, whichever you find more heinous
b. Whiners
c. Guitarboy
12. --absolute favorite foods
a. Steak
b. Meatloaf
c. Mashed Potatoes
13. --things I'd like to learn:
a. Guitar
b. Knitting
c. How to effectively use the DNR function on PS Elements 4.0
14. --beverages I drink regularly:
a. Water
b. Iced Tea
c. Lemonade
15. --shows I watched as a kid:
a. Brady Bunch
b. Wait Till Your Father Gets Home
c. Laugh-In
16. --people I'm tagging
a. Madame B
b. Brian B in Oregon
c. Madman, or Sarge - whoever's on duty at the time
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:34 PM | Comments (12)
Mister Potato Head! Mister Potato Head! Back Doors Are Not Secrets!
A friend got me thinking and that's such a dangerous thing. Y'see, he had some thoughts on global warming and I began to reply in his comments. Then I realized I had the makings of a post.
So, here goes.
Now, you don't know this about me - most don't - but I'm a conservationist (oh, the secret life I lead) and have spent a great deal of time focusing on the environment, fluctuating animal populations, and habitat destruction. This, of course, includes the concept of global warming.
While we are experiencing an upswing in temperatures at present, it likely isn't so much a direct result of industry, etc., as it is a result of recovery after a mini-ice age. And guess what? We could well be approaching another mini-ice age. Well, more Europe than us, but climate changes in one part of the world impact the rest of the world. Always. The thing is, if this is
That said, I think we could do more to reduce pollution and our impact on the environment. But, compared to the massive pollution of the early industrial revolution, we're doing pretty damn well.
Now, let's see...I have one light, the fan, the TV, and my laptop on. I can't unplug the fridge and my car isn't being driven (sort of a non-issue). I recycle. I've reduced my consumption of plastics (I take my own bags to the grocery store) and paper. And, I reuse just about everything I possibly can. I think I'm doing a fairly good job holding up my end of the bargain. If I resort to using my air conditioning twice in a two and a half year period, I think that's pretty damn good. Especially when I could easily use my stomach flu as an excuse to keep it blasting during the hottest parts of the day.
I understand the finger pointing and the cries of global warming, but when was the last time the vast majority of the environmentally concerned looked at weather patterns over the last few centuries? "But they couldn't track weather like we can now," you say. Ah, now there's some thinking! True, we are now more technologically advanced than ever before, but that doesn't mean people weren't keeping weather records. And we need to look at those carefully. We also need to look at what we can glean from natural records, those records etched in stone, ice, sediment, and growth patterns in our forests and tundra.
Global warming is (pardon the pun) a hot topic right now, but we can ill-afford to resort to reactionary finger-pointing judgments and politics. We don't know for certain the impact of our actions on the environment, short of global thermonuclear war ("Shall we play a game?"). Not fully, anyway. It's presumptuous to think we humans hold the future of the entire world in our hands. It may well be true, but we don't know with absolute certainty just yet.
We now have the technology to expand our studies and we have to trust some of our current theories will prove false, just as some will prove true. Until such time, however, we need to keep the handwringing to a minimum and simply treat our planet with a bit of respect.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:49 PM | Comments (8)
July 23, 2006
Long Distance Calls and Other Stuff
Doc in the Box called the other day. I was rather surprised to hear from him since he's in Iraq and all, but once I figured out who it was (the number was different), I was quite excited.
Sean's doing well and rarely gets to check blogs. Only three months left. Yay! I'm sure his wife is happier about this than the rest of us are, but we friends are still pretty damn happy.
Other news? It's hot in San Diego. Super duper hot. So much so, we've resorted to air conditioning. In the two and a half years I've lived in this place, I've only had the AC on once before. An out of town guest was staying with me and even he thought it was pretty freakin' hot at the time.
The AC was on today but only worked for a short time before the circuit went. It's back on now, thankfully. Sure, it's heading into the evening, but at least I can cool down for a bit before I turn it off. Maybe I'll sleep a little better.
What else? I got to meet FBL! Yes, yes, yes! She of the fantastic Project Valour-IT fundraising abilities. She is as sweet and lovely as one imagines and I'm very glad we had the chance to get together. Mrs. Smash, Gracie, Mikey, Mikey's youngster, Little Dude, FBL and I got together for a nice lunch at Souplantation. All you can eat in sumptuous air conditioned comfort. We dined, we chatted, we laughed, and then we passed around the phone to talk with Smash. (Like Doc in the Box, he'll be home in a few months, too.) And, dagnabbit, that $16 and coin for LD and I to eat in comfort for a change was more than worth it. We don't eat out often, but when we do, it's a great treat for us. The $20 I just spent on a haircut? Also a treat and also worth it. (My hair was getting too long and too hot.)
Best part of it all, FBL will be able to join our crazy group in some of our many activities. Plus, we get to join her in some of the Soldiers' Angels activities. All good things. Very good things.
That's about it for an update. I'm off to read more of Kevin Smith's blog.
Oh, and just in case anyone cares, I think the entire purpose of the TV show Lost is to take a huge, meaty-pawed swipe at Scientology. Yep. That's my theory. And if you look at all the Dharma Initiative stuff, the odd things happening, the creepy appearance of William Mapother, and the fact J.J. Abrams left Scientology, it all seems possible.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:37 PM | Comments (7)
July 16, 2006
Drinkin' and Drivin' - Remarkable
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:18 AM | Comments (8)
July 15, 2006
Little Dude's Big Night
A year ago, Little Dude and I saw a wonderful acoustic blues musician perform at a very unique venue. LD was fascinated by this man and they hit it off right away. Just a few hours ago, they met up again.
The highlights of the evening:
- LD's name was mentioned in a song
- His guitar was signed
- He was given a signed poster from the show
- Three personally inscribed CDs
- A blues society newsletter with an interview with this musician autographed
- An invitation to play on stage together someday (just as soon as LD is proficient enough on guitar)
Think somebody went to bed an exhausted, but happy camper? You betcha.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:10 AM | Comments (5)
July 11, 2006
Close Encounters
Little Dude and I had a very close call today. As in, thisclose.
Since my car blew a head last week (yeah, it's nothing but fun and excitement around here), our new roommate has been kind enough to occasionally loan us their car. That's normally a really good thing. Means LD and I can get out of the neighborhood and do a little exploring, or grocery shopping, or banking.
Except when the brakes fail.
Oh yeah. Talk about scary!
My heart was pounding so hard, I thought I was going to keel over right then and there.
I was sweating so much, I could practically wring out my shirt after.
More than anything, I went into massive panic mode about LD. He was fine. Absolutely fine. And, not surprisingly, he was the most levelheaded.
We were pulling into a (disabled) parking spot (I have a placard, it's allowed) over by the grocery store and weren't going very fast. Like, less than five miles an hour. But the car didn't want to stop, ran up on the curb, and if not for those disabled parking signposts, we would have ended up going through the window at the store. I threw the car into Reverse and managed to spin the wheel fast enough to avoid hitting cars parked behind us. I was praying no one was behind us walking or anything. I wanted to avoid hitting people, cars, buildings, EVERYTHING.
Finally, LD said, "Mom, why not just turn it off?" D'oh! I'd tried Neutral, Park, and Reverse, but not OFF.
Thank God for my kid having it together enough to point out the obvious. Fuck a duck. Believe me when I say "fuck a duck" is the mildest thing I've yet uttered about the incident. I think LD heard more expletives in 5 seconds than he'll ever hear in his entire life.
Called the roommate, relayed what happened, and then collapsed in a big sweaty, exhausted heap.
I had been planning on writing a post about how tired I am of being driven around town for therapy and such, but after today's experience, I think I'm ready for a full-time chauffeur. No, I KNOW I'm ready.
Any takers?
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:45 PM | Comments (14)
July 03, 2006
In The Middle
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:39 AM | Comments (8)
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:36 AM | Comments (0)
July 02, 2006
Unmasking
"Even without your masks, you're all caricatures." - Jason Foster
In keeping with tradition, the Twilight Zone marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel remained on my TV all day. This was a great break from all the normal crap one finds on TV on a Sunday afternoon and evening (excepting Entourage and Lucky Louie), and it also served as a tribute to a friend.
One episode in particular stood out amongst all others -- "The Masks". It struck me as more than a little apropos, given the circumstances of the last week. A dying man invites his family to gather at his home during Mardi Gras. He asks each to don a mask, one which is the antithesis of how they view themselves. Of course, the masks represent the worst of who they really are and Jason Foster makes good use of the props to expose his offspring's true nature.
Sometimes, death, or impending death, brings out the best in people and sometimes it brings out the worst. I think we've all seen our share of both.
Emily: [referring to the Mardis Gras masks he has presented them with] ... Father, you don't mean we have to WEAR these ugly things...?
Jason Foster: Only for a few hours, my dear. Only until the unmasking at midnight.
Paula: Well, I won't wear mine.
Wilfred Jr.: Me neither. It's stupid.
Wilfred: Well, Father... It seems we're somewhat at odds here.
Jason Foster: Not really, Wilfred. You all came here for one purpose, and one purpose only: to watch me go and cry "Bon Voyage!" To put coins on my closed eyes, and with your free hands start grabbing things from my shelves!
Emily: Father, that's cruel!
Jason Foster: That's TRUTH! You came like the IRS: to reap everything I've sown, to collect everything I've earned, to claim everything I've built! Well, I shall not disappoint you. Everything is yours! The will is prepared and the four of you inherit everything I own -- money, house, property holdings, stocks, bonds, everything.
Wilfred: Father, you're breaking our hearts!
Jason Foster: Well, that's the most touching thing you ever dredged up by way of conversation, Wilfred... But I must include this addenda, this small proviso: You shall wear your masks, as directed, not taking them off until midnight. Should even ONE of you commit the SLIGHTEST DEVIATION from this proviso, from my estate, you shall each receive train fare back to Boston. And that's IT!
Wilfred: ...Well, we won't be spoil-sports! If this is your pleasure, Father, we'll indulge you!
Like Jason Foster, Rob always managed to get people to show who they really were in the end.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:56 PM | Comments (6)