Dear God letters

When things are tough, or when there's something really important about to happen and I want the outcome to be positive, I will write a "Dear God" letter. I basically write better than I talk (sometimes it's hard to tell with my grammatical errors emitting from this blog like stinky sludge).

So I write down what I have to say to God. I usually write 90% of the letter in shorthand (a written language that was once used by office secretaries, but is basically a dying art with the advent of dictaphones). I write it in shorthand so that others can't read what I wrote. I wrote one this morning amid all the problems at work. I don't know if I mean it or not, but I said I would accept whatever the outcome the bosses decide on. I really can't imagine continuing working with someone so incredibly insufferable that she puts no value in my work. Making this all more poignant is that there are other attorneys that value my work. Yes, that's true. I'm not lying. I didn't stay at this law firm for 2 1/2 years doing crappy work.

I wrote my prayer. Dear God, I hope you read it and will act accordingly. & yes, I will follow whatever the decision is.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! I hope everyone has something good they can contribute to making the environmnent a little better.
Politics in the USA has been predicated and dominated by bitter partisan debates. This has been going on, unfortunately, since 1991, probably after the 1st Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). It went on during the 1st Bush presidency, it was especially bad during the Clinton era, there have been times it's been bad now. One thing that I think is especially encouraging is that political & even religious leaders that are absolute polar opposites have been sitting on a bench together and sending out a message. The message is: our planet is in trouble. Together we must come together, European, Asian, African, Austrailian, North & South American, conservative, liberal, centrist, atheist, Muslim and Christian and help create and act out a strategy that will allow us to stop global warming. The 1st commercial was Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson. Wow, can't imagine 2 more different people than that. But there they were smiling, joking and speaking the above earnest message. The 2nd pair was Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich. Again, you look at them sitting on the bench together, smiling and you say wow. Could this mean something new in politics? Could this mean that bitter partisanship with mindless conservative talk shows talking about how the government messes up everything (well maybe in Iraq they did) and the same shows demonizing certain political figures like Hillary Clinton. (No we're not going to say what she's doing, we'll just exaggerate and distort all her views. Then we'll tell everyone who cares to listen what Barack Obama's middle name is and tell everyone he really is a Muslim. (HE ISN'T, DAMNIT) These talk show people like Rush Limbaugh are just scum.

But at any rate, I'm glad leaders from different political stripes are getting together and agreeing that yes, the earth is worth saving. That we all really need to do something. I wish this meant that change is underway and that there won't be this corrosive bitterness in Washington D.C. I wish that; I don't know if it will happen.

Saturday vs. Sunday

I have been at the same law firm for 2 1/2 years. Last week, it's safe to say was the worst week I ever had there. So the weekend was looked forward to: get away from work, regroup, put a smile on my face, relax.

Well, it certainly didn't start out well. Friday night, I walked Brianna to her friend's place because she was having a sleep-over. I was wearing earth shoes with a crack in the sole. Well guess what found it's way into the crack of the left shoe & into the ball of my foot?? Yes, an inch long thorn/briar off of this thorntree. I started saying "ouch" repeatedly and quickly took my shoe off and was going to put the shoe back on but the briar (I quickly noticed) was still in it. So I pulled this long briar out and kept walking Brianna to her friend's place. Since the briar went through the cracked sole it probably went 1/2" to a 3/4" into my foot, it was very sore. So my daughter, Brianna, (BLESS HER LITTLE SOUL!!) said, "Here Daddy, I'll hold your hand and we'll walk the rest of the way over to Bella's place." At first, I thought well that won't help and was going to say no thanks, but then I thought that would be a terrible mistake. If Bri wants to help me, then for God's sakes let her! More importantly, how often will your little daughter offer to hold your hand and help you out????!!??

Saturday, I could not sleep in because I was helping Maribeth with her craft show. My foot hurt and I was terribly miserable, because I was brooding over the bad problem at work. I felt terrible in a number of ways, (WAAA!). No, I didn't cry but was brooding terribly. Then I explained all this to Maribeth and she said she understood in a voice so tender that I thought, "Oh my God, Maribeth just comforted me. How awesome is that?!?" That's when I started tearing up and dabbing around my eyes.

The craft fair was a minor success for Maribeth and her sister. They did slightly better than breaking even so you can't complain about that. Now, more people know about them too.

Sunday was so much more different. I got to sleep until after 8, then I laid in bed listened to music and read the Sunday paper. I stopped thinking about the problem at work, and was finally happy. It's amazing how sleeping late changes a sad outlook. In fact, the whole day I didn't let last week's woes get to me much so we can chalk it up as a good day. The bed is really becoming the nicest, most sublime place to be.

But we all have to remind ourselves of Neil Peart's saying, "You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes, no matter what your dreams might be!" I won't be able to pay any bills sleeping. But one thing for sure. I really don't know how I did it working all those night shifts at Ingalls Hospital for 3 years.

trying, I'm really trying!

In my attempt to not sound to stupid, pathetic and worst of all, unreadable, I'm trying to work on sounding more dignified. I'm going to resist the urge of talking about how hard it is to get up in the morning, the fact that I sometimes feel very sad, why it's so very important that I take enough simethicone and activated charcoal and being horribly embarassed when I don't.

I'm not going to talk about the latest argument with Maribeth (& besides it was decreed that I wouldn't). I'm not going to talk about the latest person to leave the law firm and how bad it makes me feel.

I do want to talk about politics more, but I'm too tired to do that now. (oops I wasn't supposed to mention that, was I).

a meme, I think (?)

• 1. Rate your life from 1-10 (1 being very miserable) 7 for some reason I thought the original meme said rate your life on a scale from 1-5. Oh well, poor reading on my part.
• 2. Is your hair long or short?A: Moderate length, no crew cuts, bald heads b/c I hate them.
• 3. Do you have many real friends?A: I think so.
• 4. Name friends you last hung out with?A: There’s a few friends I work with and we work in the same room.
• 5. Do you love chicken?A: I don’t mind eating chicken but it’s my least favorite meat (Beef is my favorite)
• 6. Last three drinks you had?A: Mountain Dew, Water & water
• 7. Do you eat fish?A: Yes, I love fish: tuna, haddock, catfish, salmon, others. Surprisingly, I don’t eat much fish until Lent comes along in the late winter/early spring
• 8. Do people mispronounce or spell your name incorrectly?A: First name: No; Last name: Yes
• 9. Who was the last person you hugged?A: Maribeth
• 10. Last guy you think about?A: I take it this means last woman you think about for me, right? That would be Maribeth
• 11. Any food that made you smile today?A: My cold cereal was pretty good.
  12. Name one thing you have in common with your friends?A: They share my taste for music.
  
• 13. Do you trust your friends?A: Yes
  
• 14. How old will you be in five years?A: Almost 50
• 15. Do you believe in love?A: Yes, you haven’t really lived until you loved
  
• 16. Except for family and friends, who are you in love with?A: Never thought about that…..no one.
• 17. Do you honestly believe you have found the right guy/girl?A: I will say this. I am very grateful for Maribeth, because unlike so many other women, Maribeth gave me a chance and said “yes”. (She did this by being in a relationship with me) Maribeth has done more for me in the last 17 years than anyone else on the face of Planet Earth. I will also say that I can’t imagine being with anyone else right now.
  
• 18. Are you someone's best friend?A: I don’t think so. I had a best friend before 1990, but he died in a train accident.
  
• 19. Do you love music?A: I most definitely do. It is one of the ways I can be defined. Long live ROCK N’ ROLL!
  
• 20. Last song you listened to?A: Rust never Sleeps (Rock & Roll Will Never Die) by Neal Young. I’m hearing it now.
• 21. What's the instrument you wish you were able to play?A: Lead guitar. I would give my 3rd toe to do so!!
• 22. Who was the last person you talked to?A: Coworker
  
• 23. Who was the last person to call you?A: Renee, my office manager at the condo I am president of.
• 24. Would you consider yourself a worrier?A: Definitely. (“I wonder if I’ll make it through the day! I hope I don’t get in trouble!!” L!)
  
• 25. Do you consider yourself as a happy person?A: No. See above answer. I am thankful and greatful, but there’s too much that’s wrong with the world and my immediate surroundings to be happy.
  
• 26. Do you believe in saving yourself for marriage?A: No (I’m sorry, God)
  
• 27. Last person that pissed you off?A: Maribeth
  
• 28. From whom have you missed the most calls in the last 5 days?A: I don’t know I missed them and don’t know about it. & by the way this is moreso because I lost my cellphone Friday.
  
• 29. Who's the first person you call when you're having a bad day?A: I think Maribeth or maybe a co-worker.
• 30. Last person who made you laugh like crazy?A: Maribeth (actually she was laughing like crazy and I was watching her with much delight)
  
• 31. Who's your greatest inspiration in life?A: Good question but tough question. There’s people that do inspire me: my kids, my Dad, trying to live up to the expectations of my family in WI, being true to certain friends. Maribeth is an inspiration because I often try to prove that I’m worth the fuss I cause her.
  
• 32. Are you a good guesser?A: I would rather not guess.
• 33. Who was the last person to sing your current favorite song and what song?A: myself. I was singing “In My Time of Dying”. Sorry for being so morose.
• 34. Who makes you laugh the most?A: my kids
• 35. What have you been telling yourself lately?A: don’t be so sad, you live a blessed and lucky life. Thank God I have such great kids.

if your happy and you know it clap your hands

I'm sorry to all my readers for writing about "downer" subjects in the last few posts.

First of all, it's Monday and I don't feel bad. I'm comfortably numb and only mildly concerned of what this new day will bring me. Mildly concerned is just fine and perfectly normal, don't you think?

I went to my parents place this weekend. They live 200 mi. NW of me in Wisconsin. It's 1/3 of the way through April, and Wisconsin was still getting snow flurries. Hey, but it's my hometown and I was glad to be there if only for a day. I was really happy because (did you hear that???? "really happy" I said) my brothers Bill & Jerome and sister Kathi were all there and I wasn't expecting to see them. I had to listen to Kathi & Jerome talk conservative politics, and I was about ready to walk out of my parent's house, but hey, if that's the price I have to pay to see my siblings well I guess I will happily pay it. Then Kathi decided when coming to Dad's birthday party (he's 83) to show off her lacy bra. I was aghast. Kathi is very thin, very prim and very proper. So to see her fail to have her shirt halfway unbottoned rivaled the absolute shock that my niece is going to have triplets and she already has 3 kids. & she already has stopped working because she's so big. Poor, poor Annie!!! How in the world will they manage. But then again, "If God is for us, who can be against???"

The Cooling Board

"When I got there, she was layin' on the cooling board." - Son House's song "Death Letter"

I have been listening to a ton of White Stripes lately. One of the songs I enjoy hearing was their cover of the above Son House song "Death Letter". The song was a very powerful narrative of something that happened to an unfortunate young man back in the early 1900s. In those days, there were no phones, no Internet. He had a long distance relationship, and so when the girlfriend suddenly died, he found out by the relatives writing a letter sent via US mail and telling him to go see her/attend her funeral at once.

The story is similar to a story that my maternal grandfather told me. Previously, I knew that Grandpa Nachreiner's mom died when he was about 12 or so. Then his father remarried, but sadly, it was to the proverbial mean stepmother (how many stories have we read about the mean stepmother who afflicts the surviving kids?) . So my grandfather left home and became an adult in his early teens. In those days, you could do that. He began smoking at 14, 15 yrs. of age and died when he was 95.

So, we can say that not only did Grandpa's mother die, but at that same moment so did his childhood.

One Sunday, I think in the late 70s, without being prompted, he talked about his mother's death. He didn't explain what she died from because in this story that wasn't important; it was the fact that she was no longer going to "mother" him or be there to guide him and soothe his fears and misfortunes as only a mother can do.

He explained that one of the first things they did after she died was remove her from the house. It was during the summer. Now since this happened sometime between 1903 - 1905, there were not morgues and if there were, Grandpa's family surely could not afford to have his dear mom in one.

They laid his mother on a cake of ice. By keeping her cool (remember the song above talks about the "cooling board"), she would not decompose and literally smell dead. However, it was a hot summer, and she laid dead, outside the house for well over a day. By the time of the funeral, when she finally was given the dignity of a coffin, she was laying not in a cake of ice but a puddle of lukewarm water.

Grandpa never cried in front of me before or after that story. Even though it happened to him over 75 years earlier, the memories were still raw enough for him to well up with tears at the end of the story. What a way to lose your childhood!

I saw and heard this video

Sunday morning, for some reason we had either VH1 or MTV on.
I heard the video/song Kid Rock's "Amen" He talks about some of the things that are wrong with this country, but sadly enough, doesn't venture very far outside the cliche or the superficial. Here is one part that I took particular exception. He sings,
"...these wolves in sheep clothes pastors/Now damnit I'm afraid to send my children to church"

Sexual abuse among the clergy is a terrible, deplorable problem which has given the Church a very, very black eye. But Kid Rock's above lyric sounds and is stupid in several ways.
Afraid to send your kid to church????

Really? & how many priests abuse kids right in the middle of a church service? It would seem to me that going to church is one of the safest places to be. Also, why is Kid Rock sending his child to church, why the hell isn't he going to church with the child??? Are we sleeping off a hangover from partying on Saturday night??
It just goes to show you that when some people make criticisms it sometimes reveals more of the person who is doing the criticizing than it does the subject of criticism.

Weekend vs. Monday, Part 2

Monday morning again, & I felt like crying. It didn't help that I lost my watch the day before and I felt like a fish out of water. Then I had to take the later train. Every little thing was bothering me. When I take the later train, there are 3 women I usually talk to and crowd into these 2 benches in the back of the train (facing each other) and the leg room is absolutely cramped and with my old, stiff knees, it's just a killer. Well, one of the women didn't show up, instead it was a guy. So my legs were meshed into his legs (again it's because the boothlike arrangement of the seats make it that way). I'm so glad that for the most guy this guy is either sleeping or acting like it doesn't bother him, because it certainly bothers me. It's like, "Please, man, I'm not gay, I just have absolutely no room." I know you all think that's ridiculous that I would think like that, but guys do think like that, we're different from women.

The weekend was nice and relaxing. It's so funny because the highlight wasn't going to a restaurant twice in the same weekend but laying down and taking a nap in the middle of the day and feeling really good after I woke up.

But even on the weekend there were problems. The NCAA basketball teams I bet on were disgraceful and lost decisively. I lost my watch & I still feel lost!!

The lowlight of the weekend was my verbal fight with Sal, our Handyman. Sal is a man of the streets. He got a girl pregnant when he was 14, he left home and stopped going to school shortly thereafter. It completely stands to reason that his way of thinking is completely different than my wife's way of thinking and my way of thinking. Even my kids can't believe he lives the way he does and disapprove.

So why in the world do we even hang around this man? Because we keep needing things fixed both at our place and at our condo. Also he needs us because he doesn't have a valid driver's license and needs to be taken places and most of all, he has no money, no person wants to hire someone with a checkered past. Yet, Sal is a very talented individual inspite of his very checkered past. This is a man who re-sided in a very expert, workmanlike manner my father in law's house . This is a man who took a mouse & rat infested house (again my father in law's house) and turned into a decent respectable place with nary a varmint and nice, hardwood floors. A place that could sell for over $200,000.

So basically, Sal needs us and we need Sal. Saturday, Sal really irritated me because I extended him a courtesy by telling him that I would be a certain place later on, and he took it as being bothered. I told him he wasn't being bothered and he damn well better mind his manners because I was damn sick and tired of him making stupid accusations against me. I had been nothing but nice to Sal since November of 2006, but my patience with him has absolutely come to an end.

So anyway, here I am feeling very sad at work and needing to get on with life. One adjustment I really must make is my management of my meds. When you have to take medication, you sometimes get the urge that you really don't need them that you're tough enough to withstand life without them. So during weekends I'll think, "If I'm taking time off of work, then I'll take time off of my other medicines." Then Monday hits me like a ton of bricks and there's no anti-depressants flowing through my blood stream. That's bad planning on my part.

So let's go and get on with the week!! & be smarter!!

Yahoo: It's not as good as it use to be

At least 10 times a day, I look up my Yahoo e-mail and see some title like: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHOTOS AND VIDEOS! I yawn wearily and spam it out. I'm so tired of spaming out the porn promotions. I think I went astray once a while back and they all learned my e-mail address and now I'm paying for it in "spades". ("Spades" is a saying about getting a heavy punishment; in this context, it has no racial implications WHATSOEVER!).

I am struck at how boring and tiresome spamming out all my porn is.

• NAUGHTY MOTHERS & THEIR WILLING NEIGHBORS - yawn, sigh, spam out
• FUNKY CHEERLEADERS & THEIR HAPPY SPECTATORS - roll my eyes, spam out

NASTY SLUTS with EVERYONE ELSE - not at all surprised

So the flipside is, "Well, Vince, how much are you paying for your Yahoo Mail? Yes, it's free. So what do I want for nothing?? Huh??????
Well, many of us know that when the spam filter is active it takes spam mail and puts it in the "BULK" folder. It used to be that the BULK folder would reach 1,000 e-mails (LITERALLY, THAT'S NO EXAGGERATION) in 3 days! But at least then, I wasn't getting all this nonsense porn. It used to be better. No it sucks. I have to wade through all the cesspool of spam to get to messages that actually mean something.

The other thing is people who I love dearly and think the world of sending me these enlightened, inspirational messages but then they ruin it at the end by the message going
"If you don't send this to anyone, you're going to hell
If you send this to no less than 10 people, you are going to get something really nice.
If you send this to 100 people, you have a great shot at heaven.
If you send this to 1000 people, you are going to be canonized a saint!! "

ONE OTHER NOTE OF CLARIFICATION!!!! I am not directing this last paragraph at anyone who puts on their great blog questions about you, what are those things called, memes?? tags?? I'm so clueless I forgot. (like name 5 things you're impassioned about? what are your 5 favorite bands or musical artists). No I don't mean anyone whose my blogging buddy. They have been nothing but kind and I love them. xo!

Y'all know what I'm talking about now, don't you??

Sunday morning/Monday morning, a sad contrast

The contrast of Sunday morning and this morning could not have been more stark. Yesterday, I was in bed, sleeping late or reading the papers while I was listening to good music when I wasn’t getting my daughter to and from CCD. The bed felt, oh so nice!! It was so nice, so undemanding. Even the kids helped and didn’t ask me to get out of bed and help them with things. My God, I was so content. & I knew it would be so different 24 hours later.

This was one time I wish I wasn’t so right. This morning, I woke up about a ½ hour before the alarm went off. I still let the snooze alarm go off once in a feeble attempt to sty in the place that was my refuge (the bed). I got up later and Maribeth was in a foul mood and getting upset with our oldest son because he couldn’t locate his keys.

Then, it also hit me that we have the problem with the pool at the condo, and there’s no real solution to getting it fixed or even a timetable to getting it fixed. I felt terrible, getting ready, driving to the train, being on the train. It didn’t even help getting some Rolos candy which I usually enjoy.

All the words of consolation were like so much water falling into a big fire. Here’s how I feebly tried to cheer up:
Well, at least I have a job, it would be worst if you didn’t have anywhere to go on a weekday morning………..SSSSSSSSST! (sound of water hitting fire)
If I didn’t have a job, I wouldn’t be able to help or do anything for my household, that’s what would be depressing……….SSSSSSSSST

There’s so many people in the world who are worse off than I. Heck you could say that well over ½ the world is considerably worse off than I………..SSSST & everyone you know at work and at your club has a house whereas you have a limited little condo. Everyone around you is driving a nicer car, has a better paying job and has a nice home. YOU LIVE IN OAK FOREST, AFTER ALL!!SSSSSSSSSSSSSST!

So, I sat there and took it one minute at a time. I was too upset and down to take it 1 day at a time. I would just go through the motions and do what I normally do.

Then finally, late in the morning, early afternoon I felt better. There was enough to think about at work, and enough that I got off my chest about our pool problem that I simply felt better. Let’s hope that nothing goes wrong for the rest of the day.

& I am thankful that I do live in a decent place with a decent car and job, & the Lord is in my life. The morning was a sign that he needs to be in my life more so that I can deal with these situations better.

something to cheer me up

I really, really love history, so, obviously I enjoy talking about it. During work, there was a general announcement to shut down your computer. They were doing some work to the network so everyone had to turn them off. Well, in a law office, if the computers go down there is nothing to do, 99% of your work is done from the computer and I'm not even exaggerating.

So, we went into this lawyer's office and talked about history and current events. We were saying how Bush is probably going to go down in history as one of the worst presidents since Harding. We were pretty amazed that his vice president would ask, "So" (who cares?) when told that 2/3 of the American people were against the war. Bush thinks the same thing that happened to Pres. Truman will happen to him. (Truman retired in 1953 very unpopular because he put us in the Korean War, then history gradually rehabilitated his reputation now he is considered a great or very good president). But there's a difference. Iraq didn't invade anyone and in the Korean War, N. Korea did invade in 1950. There's a really good show on last night and tonight called Frontline on PBS channel talking about the war.

----------------------------

Another topic.

I'm not sure if anyone local (in the Oak Forest, Midlothian, Tinley Park, Frankfort area) reads this blog but if you do, please come to our TMA Clubhouse the afternoon. It's April 19 in the afternoon; my sister-in-law is having a crafts show (bring $$, it's good stuff!).

Amel, we will rent you a jet so you can fly into Oak Forest, Illinois and come, too. (he, he)

a few issues

I got up this morning and after getting the kids off to their grandpa, I felt anxious and very worried. At first, I couldn't put my finger on it (have you ever been worried for no apparent reason??? I actually have).

• But then it hit me as to why I was worried. As my profile on the side says, I am the president of our 28 building, 160some unit condo complex. We have an apparent problem with our pool because there is buckling near the pool. But we have to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to find out what the problem actually is!
• Our Treasurer says that we will have to pass a special assessment/bill to all the owners to pay $100 per month for 3 months. It makes me cringe just telling people about that. They are going to hate us! It just makes me feel awful.

I think the other reason why not only me and others are not so happy is that this has been such a long, cold, snowy winter and it's March 25 and we are still having days where it is literally freezing.

laughter and more laughter

Maribeth usually has a saturnine personality. Work at Loyola is tough for her and her co-workers, and there’s obstacles that come up at home, not the least of which is paying all these expenses for a household with 3 kids. So usually she’s not too happy. Maybe in one respect, I’ve failed her because I’m no comedian and she would be happier if I was one.

So here’s what happened all 3 of the kids, Maribeth and I were watching Family Guy. The punchline at the end was pretty funny. Yet, Maribeth thought it was hilarious. She laughed very hard, then she laughed more. She was laughing as I hard as I ever saw her laugh in about a decade!!!
Seeing her laugh so hard was really a wonderful thing to see. Just for those 5 minutes or so, it seemed like all was right with her world. It seemed like none of her problems at that small point in time mattered. At that point, Maribeth rose decisively above her worries and enjoyed laughing. When she was laughing, I just stopped and stared at her. It was really, really a beautiful, sublime sight to see Maribeth laughing so hard. Just for those few minutes. it was really nice to see a ray of sunshine brightening up her world.

a little note about the pix on the last post

Due to my backwardness and complete lack of savvy making my blog (I need to learn!). I put 3 pictures together. I wanted the 2 pictures of the WhiteStripes/Meg White to be together but not with the picture of "happy plant". I don't want people to have the idea that I'm associating the White Stripes with "happy plant". My intent was to put MJ at the bottom with the White Stripes being at the start of the post. But blogger outwitted me & I gave up. I'm so GOMER!

Lists inspired by Chocolate Mint Girl

I credit these lists to Chocolate Mint Girl. There were a few lists I had a lot to say, so I went to 10 instead of 8. Sorry, everyone, I still am not sure what a meme is and how to effectively use one. Really, I am!!!!!!!

10 things I'm passionate about:

1. Good rock and roll music.

2. My religious views, my pursuit of being in tune with God.

3. Politics, I’ve been a political junkie since I was 7 (I memorized the names of all the US Presidents in the summer of 70’)

4. Being a good friend.

5. The idea of being in love

6. My 3 kids – Andy, Ted & Brianna.

7. Doing well at work as a paralegal.
Now the negatives of my passion

8. I hate cynicism.

9. I hate sweeping generalizations (for example remarks like “all men are pigs”, “all politicians are corrupt” “all couples cheat”). Sweeping generalizations are such an exhibit of human stupidity, and I do know people who are convinced that all couples cheat (or as this one cynical woman would say “all men cheat”)

10. I can’t stand people who don’t listen to reason and who blindly, stubbornly cling to stupid, ill-informed views.

8 things I want to do before I die:

1. To buy a home of our own.

2. Go to Washington DC. and get a first-hand look at the institutions that I frequently read about. & getting a very good “dose of politics” :)!

3. Possibly hold a political office (I am an elected official, but want to go “further up the ladder”).

4. To be thought of as someone who tried to help and someone who made a difference.

5. To be thought of as someone who was a good father, and did a good job of preparing his kids for adulthood.

6. To feel just a little bitty ounce of financial security such that I won’t be petrified of retiring poor (like I do now).

7. To be in love again.

8. To use and listen often to an I-pod. (at the present time, I’m too poor).

8 things I often say:

1. “That’s so ‘gomer’ “ Gomer meaning something that’s backwards or poorly done or stupid.
2. “like” For example, I could say, “Like it’s so strange to say ‘like’ so much. You’d think I was like a Valley Girl.
3. I swear a lot so we won’t list those words, but I must confess that I do swear in front of my kids. (so much for being a good father?)
4. "I love that song."
5. "I need to get that CD."
6. "Why is she so tough on me??"
7. "This place is a mess…..& it’s partially my fault."
8. "I’m so happy to have my Chevy Cavalier back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

8 Things I've recently read/currently reading:

1. My beloved issues of The New Yorker.
2. A lot of medical bills and records for my job (part of my job is finding out how bad my clients are hurt in their respective car accidents).
3. State of Denial by Bob Woodward.
4. The Chicago Tribune and The Red Eye.

That’s definitely enough reading for one man, thank you, very much.

8 things I could listen to over and over:

1. The White Stripes (Currently, I am literally listening over and over again to DeStijl, White Blood Cells and Elephant.)
2. Led Zeppelin
3. Rolling Stones
4. Nirvana
5. “All Day and All of the Night” by the Kinks. That opening guitar riff is one of the most ferocious, the most righteous, most awe inspiring guitar riff EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
6. Nine Inch Nails (playing this band loud is a great way to vent anger)
7. Reggae
8. Certain songs by John Lennon which are wonderful to get stoned to (& they are “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “I’m the Walrus”, “#9 Dream”, “Baby You’re a Rich Man” “Cry Baby Cry” “Julia” “Sun King”) now, of course, I don’t listen to this group of songs over and over because I get stoned maybe once or twice a year. Yes, & I do it in a secluded spot & someone else is watching my kids, far, far away.

9. The Violent Femmes first album.

8 things that attract me to my best friends:

1. When they actually like me. Being appreciated and sincerely praised is a pretty nice feeling.
2. A good sense of humor.

3. A CALM PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Tolerance - we can be different if we respect our differences.

5. An effective and sometimes creative problem solver.
6. Shared interests and passions. (If I fell in love with a woman who loved History, was a liberal and loved the same rock n roll I did, I would worship the ground she walked on morning, noon and night!!!!!!)
7. Someone who loves my kids.
8. A great lover.

sometimes it's better not to do anything

As I noted before, the only problem with my car is that the thief stripped off the ignition guard. However, there's no problem putting the key into the ignition and turning the car on. Since I've learned it's important to make the car safer, I have gotten a steering wheel club and have the doors locked 100% of the time when no one is in the car.

The steering wheel club (for example, THE CLUB) basically sticks out so far that the club bangs into the windshield and stops the steering wheel from turning or it hits the part between passenger and driver so it stops the steering wheel from turning right.

I mention all this because I had an insurance adjustor come out and assess what's wrong with the car. His estimate said that the ignition needs to be replaced, the locks and cardoor handles need to be replaced. That I totally disagree with they only want the door locks replaced because if they change the ignition than they necessarily will change the carkey. If they change the carkey, they figure they better change the door locks so the carkey can, not only turn on the ignition, but open the car doors (like it can now). But that's total NONSENSE! If I have a key to open doors, a different key to turn the ignition and it would safe me over $300, then I would gladly do that than pay over $600 for changing the ignition and change the locks.

• So today, I go to the repair place that the insurance company directed me to. I said, "you can replace the ignition but I don't want you to change the locks or the rear cardoor handles" (why that has to be replaced remains a mystery)
• The manager said, "No, we have to do what the insurance adjustor's estimate says, we have to do everything".
• "Well, no, you're not going to do anything if that's the case", I replied. She said she understood and we ended the encounter amicably but it seems silly that they feel that they have to tak orders from the insurance company when I'm paying 100% of the repair bill.
• So, I have decided that since the car is working just as it did before it was stolen (except that the area around the ignition is not as uglier), then I will not take it anywhere. The cost of the car being stolen then will be around $40 which was the cost of taking a cab out to where the thief left it over at 11365 S. Western Ave. in Chicago. Yes, I am really lucky and got off very lightly for having my car stolen.

another funny conversation at work

In the following blog, I had to use bullet points because I can't get line breaks from using just the "ENTER" key. If you know of a less awkward way to create a line break, pleeeze let me know!

• I work at a personal injury law firm. Many of our clients are injured in car accidents in the Chicago area and in the northern 1/2 of Illinois.
  Here’s a conversation between my boss, Whitney, and me:
• W: Vince, are you working on the Arriaga discovery? (Discovery is fact-finding work done before a trial).
• Me: Yes, I know we got a 201k letter in that.
• W: Yeah, we received another bill.
• Me: Ok, can I get it?
• W: Yeah, it’s on my desk, don’t lose it.
  
• Don't lose it? What an insult! I walked into her office laughing. Maybe it should upset me but if that’s her attitude, I figure it’s her problem not mine. I just don’t care. She can get another clerk. Yesterday, I had another lawyer that had a crisis with getting a large group of documents to the opposing attorney. Who was going to solve his crises? ME!!!!! He was nearly apologizing that I had to do it because I'm not assigned to do his work.
• In a way, I'm kind of proud of myself because that type of remark would have really upset me a year ago or even 6 months ago. But now I say, "the hell with her"
• HA! HA! HA!

strange, interesting conversation

There's a woman who works at our law firm but in a different department. Today is payday. When I went to the bank and deposited my check, this woman (who I don't know that well at all) came up to me and gave me $40.

She said, "Vince, can you give this to Claribel? I am not going back to the law firm today."
I said, "Ok. I'm surprised and a little honored that you would trust me."
She replied, "I know where you work!" (basically a veiled threat if I don't give Claribel her $40)

Still surprised

When I get in my car now, I'm just like, "Wow, I'm driving my car again! I didn't think I'd see my Cavalier again, and I'm driving it!!" I really am not taking my car for granted. The adjustor confirmed what I suspected, and that is the only damage the car suffered was the problem with the ignition. This should cost about $300some which is a far, far, cry from spending $7,000 on another car. Now, I'm going to go to Pep Boys and buy the Club. The Club keeps a thief from steering the car if they try stealing it. They used to have a deal that they would pay you $500 if someone ever stole your car and foiled the Club. I hope they still have that deal. I feel the need for more protection.

I was talking about car thefts to other people on the train today, and one of them said their father was going into the store and made the mistake of leaving the engine running. Anyway, a guy who just committed armed robbery jumped into his car and left. Luckily, they found the car the next day.