THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERSHARK in 1905

I bring forth parables.  This is inspired by the song "New Horizons." The greatest thing we need  is love.  

EPISODE 4

Over the 150some years that SUPERSHARK lived there were times of much joy and sadness. 

He had great memories especially of loving the beautiful, smart Blue Whale.  Blue Whale & Supershark were tough warriors who fought valiantly to eat away from the terrible Great Pacific Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California. He remembered they zoomed through the passage between Antarctica and the southernmost tip of Chile.  They zoomed back to consume plastics in that part of the Pacific Ocean.  They grew older and weaker from the plastics. They learned the following:  

IN 2050, the oceans will have too much plastic.  Mass production of food is sometimes poisoned from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which allows fish-eating plastics that the poor consumed.   The poor, the working class eat of the plastics which threatens planet EARTH.  As the world turned, more of these sad people eat that fish and food.  They ate mass-produced food low on vitamins, great with fat and sodium.   As the poor in Alabama, and Mississippi eat mass-produced food; they have less insurance than others.  Many die before the age of 75.  Worse still, the poor throughout the Earth eat increasingly more of this food; they are fat and have reactionary minds!!!!!!!!!!!  

In the US, the agents of greed/avarice  produce bad food for poor people.  The people of the South have worse medical bills going unpaid than the people of the North.  For example, Kentucky used Obamacare, but the next governor greatly limited this insurance. More are insured in the North than the South.  

Back to the Parable

There were ecological warriors that had the superpower of drinking oil and keeping the Atlantic O.= clean. When they bore 4 calves north of Puerto Rico.  They had a golden time when their calves were born. The calves were named

President Jackschau who spiritually kept the oldest party in check (see later episodes in the coming weeks).  Through his mighty reading & vision powers from father and mother, he tried to kill the bad but was better at fostering the good. With so many fishmammals, it was hard to know who were his friends. 

President Thorshau who mightily could detect good barges for krill from evil oil and coal barges.  Through his mighty powers of cognition, reading and vision powers from father and mother, his powers are seen in the present!

Madame President Superfortresschau could use the powers of reading, vision, quiet stealth to foster more and more wealth to feed the fishmammals prowling the oceans.  

Evil RusiaNazi who mother and father could not figure why he turned into a Sith-like figure.  He possessed the 3 terrible deadly sins:  ENVY, GREED & LUST  (this was inspired from StarWars series; although parents have much influence, it is up to the next generation to succeed!) The 4th child was kidnapped and was raised in Texas by parents who were oil barons.

BLUE WHALE & SUPERSHARK grieved for their evil son.  With their mighty superpowers, they could swim with superspeed through oceans.  Their superpowers allowed them to evade the evil spawn of the 4th child born LATER.  

Sometimes, they could escape to the Mediterranean Sea and grieve where they went wrong.  The 4th evil child could never enter the Strait of Gibraltar. They were chagrined at where they went wrong as the 4th child spread crazykrill to his odious offspring.  They died and went to heaven decades into the 21st Century. 

Before they died, they experienced THE GREAT FLASHBACK 

In 1905, after a terrible divorce off the coast of Greenland, they met in the beautiful spawning place.  The divorce occurred from Winds of Changing Time and eating good and bad krill.  They had been gouged by ships that killed whales & sharks; however, they became too smart and swift to avoid those evil ships. 

On that special morning in 1905, in their special sanctuary, tired and hurt, they suddenly sparked and made love with each other.  After their fortnight of work, they mated.  It felt like the old times of the 1890s.  They produced much love.  Out of love came the other great type of krill, smartkrill.  They remembered their divorce but they would always remember love.  Bluewhale said, "I left you, because I didn't want to hate you." 

Supershark in depression replied, "I should've done better. We just lost our way from the sins of RAGE and PRIDE."  After they mated, BlueWhale said, "you don't smell so good."  

"But look at what we see in 1906 after mating.  We have given forth to the 7 Seas the helpful, healing  food Smartkrill."  For 5 very good years, they were together with their 3 children.  

In later years, they swam deep in the Atlantic Ocean where Blue Whale mated with SmartChicago. Supershark mated off the coast of Cuba to the loving AngelofBroadview. 

But were the krill good or bad? The evil 4th son bred offsprings of COALSHARKS, SLAVERY STINGRAYS & MASS MURDER MACHINEGUN BULLET OCTOPI.  

Evil RusiaNazi represents evil relatives that we may not even know about who spread Greed and LUST. It's about Prince Andrew of UK.  He has screwed like a mink; he's caught in scandal and lawsuits. King Charles III has driven him out of power. Sadly, he's about my age.  

to be continued.................

THOSE WORDS!

 

The observation you made during a pleasant conversation was harsh, jarring, and just plain wrong.  Why would such a nice woman say something so nasty? Past words of kindness sit oddly by the disappointing, cruel story. I know how to relate to your pleasant conversational ways, but what the hell am I supposed to do with the latter??

You're so kind to me; I can tell you want the relationship to go deeper.  Yet, you have no idea how your crazy, racist viewpoint repels me.  Your remarks are like grease smudged across your face!

What am I supposed to think?
What am I supposed to do?

What I Really LOVE in a Woman

 When you think about what you would like in a woman, you can think about their sexiness

how tall they, or what color their hair should be.

There's absolutely no trait, no characteristic that is so wonderful, makes her a dream and a "forever woman" than this: 

                        a woman who loves you back and let's you know it!!

God bless all woman who really show that trait!

God bless you for keeping me calm when I was sad. 
Bless you for saying I shouldn't be so depressed.  

Thank you for telling me to keep going.  That I was fine! 

Bless your beautiful soul,  I will never forget you!

BEHOLD THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW of 2023!

I left Wisconsin, in the awesome year 1989.,..  

You remember that year, right?  Well, you should if you're older than 37.  Even if you were younger than 37, you read about it in the history books!  ...............

....June 4, 1989  POLAND  The nation votes in favor of Solidarity with a new president that isn't a communist!  Communism in Europe comes undone like a spool of old movie film rolling around the floor!! 

(Not quite in history book)  August, 1989 I get hired at the Chicago Archdiocese of Chicago as a 5th grade teacher. 

later in August, 1989   The Late, Great, Frank Kaul  my honorable BFF, moves me into 1140 N. LaSalle St.

I love Chicago and damn those who don't! JMO

One thing this 26-year-old SELF noticed right away was that Illinois drivers were "considerably better!!!"  

Better than those slow drivers I had to deal with in LaCrosse as I zoomed in my tardy-driving, sorry-ass first car (82 Dodge Aries)  to my job at the  biggest LaCrosse grocery store  (at the time or still is??)  of them all, QUILLINS. 
As an old man with a driver data recorder in my car, courtesy of ALLSTATE, my views of LaCrosse drivers have changed.  

more Hx of a substantial nature   

October, 1989  The Cubs win their division and go to the playoffs (only to meet the Atlanta Braves).  

November 9, 1989   The Berlin Wall FALLS!                 even better than the Cubs making the playoffs in the perspective of ALL. 

So, people across the nation of ours, no, wait a minute, around the world know about the annual Chicago Auto Show.  This amazing event is held at the McCormack Place.  

What was the first thing to greet me at this august, spacious, just-right location for the Chicago Auto Show........................a nice fountain. 

The first thing I did was realize a dream I had for over 2 decades-drive a battery-powered car. I've wanted to own one for well over a decade, but it's fiscally irresponsible. 

  Still, I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem of global warming. It grieves the person, grieves the soul that there's still those who don't believe in global warming.  I HATE the idea that old rich men from Texas and other parts of the globe want to drive, AND GET RICHER from  the internal combustion AD INFINITUM! 

I'm proud to stand foursquare with Nancy Pelosi on the idea that it's wrong for people to hate people!!

Driving the cars, the electric vehicles was anticlimactic.  I can't even tell you what kind of car I drove or the color of the vehicle. Must be sensory overload!;

In the past, present and, hopefully, the future, I deeply love the idea of reducing petroleum of its current exalted pedestal.  

I love the idea of reducing rich, old, avaricious MEN in TEXAS who profited off this planet by mining petroleum; 

I love the idea of knocking them off their pedestal. Sophomoric ideas, much?  

Yeah, I do.  I can't get to work without petroleum. I can't go to my hometown of Ithaca without petroleum. We couldn't have gone to the CHICAGO AUTO SHOW without petroleum.  If I wanted to date (hypothetically), I couldn't without petroleum. 

Yet, the idea of helping save this planet and my tiny corner of the Earth is NOT sophomoric and is sincere love, if not concerted. 

 I got 2 tickets from my awesome friends, Casey & Lisa Hyland.  With the exception of 2 people, they have done more to help me grieve, and recover more from the loss of my dear Girlfriend of 12 years and friend of 32 years.  

The pictures below indicate that it was a helluva show! One I would love to go next year! 

So, that inclined path was actually driven by a JEEP, 

and it hurt my neck and back. I liked the pain, but love my 2 friends far more! 

End Part: 

I will state to you honestly and unequivocally that this "End Part"   MUST give credit to the Late, hedonistic, tragic figure of Hunter S. Thompson from his book, Gonzo Papers, Vol. 1, THE GREAT SHARK HUNT, from the article "The Temptations of Jean-Claude Killy." Published by Warner Books, 1979

IF I KNEW THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW WAS GREAT, I SHOULD HAVE GONE SOONER! 

I read about the great Jean Claude-Killy (born in occupied France in 1943), the winner of gold medals in the winter Olympics of 1968.  He was the object of a Sunday sports show on CBS (yes, I even remember the theme music) skiing back in the early 70s The Killy Challenge.    Yes, as a little boy, I watched him...

He was best highlighted by Hunter S. Thompson who wrote of O.J. SIMPSON (yes, that fuckin' OJ Simpson!!) and Killy going to the Chicago Auto Show.  I even read Gonzo Papers, Vol. a little less than 20 years after it was published.  

He talked about how hard and diligent Mr. Killy worked at discussing a great car at the Chicago Auto Show.  Most masterfully, HST contrasted that with the effortless, glib promotion of cars by Mr. Simpson.  

THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW WAS GREAT WHEN HUNTER S. THOMPSON wrote about it, just as it is august, amazing, yet not exhilarating in 2023. 

HUNTER S. THOMPSON, Father of Gonzo Journalism
Yet it is a journalistic form taken to sinful lengths before, during & after his death in 2005.

OH, NO!!! A Scratch

 Loved that Super Bowl.  I loved it  Good storyline, better game. 

You know what made it better?  I was with people I loved 

Bri, her boyfriend, his lovely mother and family were hosting it.  Maribeth, Bob & TED were all there!

Honorable mention goes to Andy.  He fought the good fight working at Marshalls, as he kept his wolves from the door. 

3 dogs all pit bulls really wanted to give me a welcome.  One of the dogs, Tiny, I love.  Ace has come to know me.  Then there's Red.  Ace jumped up and his nails got to my ribs.  I grunted, then that dog or Vehement RED scratched my arm right here.....upper half:.....damnit 

So, now my 2nd source of income is totally stopped for another week!  It's already been one week and now it might, if and only if SUPER LUCKY, will I be able to earn $$$$ on Thursday, February 23. 

If I work at a hospital for my primary income, then what is my second income. 

I give plasma.  I wrote about this all in an older blog about a decade ago. So, dear Reader, if you want to know more about it, then either ask or I'll tell you where it is.  

To give plasma, I have to be in very good health.  Don't have to be in great health or even excellent health. You don't have to have big, athletic veins popping out.  So,, what is very good health. 

Here is the criteria: 

1./  Well hydrated with a good hematocrit score. 
2. Not have male gay sex for 6 months.(no, it's not discrimination!!!)
3. Decent blood pressure

4. Not too much weight gain or loss
5.  Not being on too many prescription drugs.  If you have acne and take accutane, FORGET IT.!!
If you take Avodart, because you want to keep your lovely hair in your old age, FORGET IT!!!

6. and don't you DARE HAVE BLEMISHES ON YOUR ARM AT ALL!!!!!!
Not even on the secondary right arm you like to use to donate the second time that same week.

You give plasma as a new donor and you can make around $800.  Old reliables,  like me,  who have gone to the same plasma center for 7 years, get over $400 if they weigh over 135 lbs. Needless, to say I weigh almost 100% OVER that amount. 

The perks, my Platinum MasterCard still in the New file folder.  The platinum rewards of $10 extra ever couple months. Yes, it's reliable money..............UNTIL IT ISN'T! 

Would I go to my daughter's boyfriend's family hosting the Super Bowl, Feb 12?

HELL YEAH!!!

^

know what is objective, DON'T mislead

 

Roy Rogers most famous quote was said in the early 30s, "I never met a man I didn't like." That wasn't his exact quote.  

There's another even better saying of his.  He was referring to Herbert Hoover, the 31st president.  This quote was cited by a presidential candidate. It's vital! In general, people aren't well enough researched in the vital issues of today.    Here's the Roy Rogers quote, cited in 1984, 

It’s not what he doesn’t know that bothers me, it’s what he knows for sure that just ain’t so!

There's too many people who say, "my mind is made up. Don't confuse me with the facts!"

 

She's gone

 My girlfriend of 12 years, friend of 32 years is dead.  She died of heart & kidney failures, cancer and anorexia. I feel so weak that I can barely move.  I haven't cried yet, but it's not from any strength, just emptiness. I don't have anything to emote b/c there isn't anything in me, it seems. 

The Cough

I've had a cough since about December of 2019.  There's times it's been on the wane since that time. I brought it to my Dr.'s attention the summer of 2020.  He thought it was allergies.  Claritin helped but it only reduced the cough some. I think that it has something to do with post-nasal drip like when I clear my throat.

Let's talk about the cough.  First of all, I DON'T WANT to cough.  Coughing once is like seeing 1 insect.  If I cough once, I will cough over and over after that (with insects if you see one, there's plenty of them you don't see).  Sometimes, it feels like when I inhale there's a speck that just sticks to my throat out of nowhere, and I cough and cough.  But while I don't want to cough, I can't repress the cough, because the irritant goes deeper, and I not only cough, but I gag.

Another important principle I know is that since the cough is caused by an irritant, the cough is tolerable as long as it doesn't move down the trachea. Coughing is ok.  When it's further down the trachea, I will start to gag.  I had to gag today, and it still feels sore from that gagging. When I gag, my eyes water, the stomach acid comes up to irritate my air passage even more, and I have to rush and pop an antacid.  

The only thing I do is take cherry cough drops (and they MUST be cherry or they don't help AT ALL!).  That reduces the amount of time I cough.  I cough in bed just like I could cough at any time of the day.  I worry about what the cough drops will do to my teeth.  As we know, if you have a sweet substance in your mouth, that is bad during bedtime.  Sugar in mouth + nighttime = cavities and tooth decay.  

I go through many cough drops.  Sometimes, if I am not coughing but I still have a big cough drop in my mouth, I take the cough drop out of my mouth, take the wrapper it came in and rewrap it for the next time I cough.  Because, there will ALWAYS BE A NEXT TIME!!! Today, was frustrating.  I thought I was done coughing and rewrapped the cough drop. No sooner did I finish wrapping, then I had to rush the cough drop back in my mouth, because I was coughing again. 

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't cough.  Some days that are really good, I cough a few times a day.  If it's bad, I will go through 12 -15 cough drops.  It will involve gagging several times.  It seems worse when I go to work.  Our carpet in our hospital telemetry rooom is really dirty and very old.  I'm coughing as I write, and I have to stop because now I gagged.  Today was a bad day.   :(  

Now, I'm better.  Should I put away the cough drop because I don't feel like coughing???  Better wait awhile.  My stomach is unsettled because of gagging. 

Also, it means that I shouldn't eat something that I love like chocolate malts, because that thickens my mucous and causes more coughing. Nothing like being prevented from enjoying the things you love!

So, I had a chest x-ray and will have a pulmonary(lung) function test once it gets scheduled. I feel like the realization that the cough is due mostly to post-nasal drip then if they can thoroughly stop the post-nasal drip, then it would seem like I would stop coughing.  

I hope and pray that happens.

I got scammed at the Center Lodge (in Richland Center, WI)!

 I had a family reunion. I was really looking forward to it.  I rented at a local hotel. 

The hotel was the Center Lodge located in Richland Center, Wisconsin.   I reserved a room 2 weeks ago. The big day occurred Saturday and my family arrived at the hotel.  The owner or manager of this hotel completely scammed me. I had a reservation for this hotel made, in advance, 2 weeks ago. When I arrived at the hotel the owner/manager (whatever he is) told me because of me being at the hotel before and problems with my bank, he demanded a $200 deposit IN CASH for the room reserved as well as the standard charge (ALSO IN CASH) for the hotel for 1 night.

It gets worse! I reserved a room and my son rented a room. Through no fault of my son, the owner/manager (whatever he is) made him also pay $200 cash deposit and make him pay cash for the night's charge. Where swimming was free for everyone else he was going to charge us $5 extra. & why did he do all this? A case of mistaken identity. Someone rented to him and their bank bilked the hotel. It wasn't me. I rented a room from them last summer without incident. They paid by credit card with no problems whatsoever. This weekend was a big weekend locally. We tried to rent at other hotels none of the hotels nearby or even 20 miles from that hotel were available. All were booked up. Think about it, if I knew how much this owner/manger (whatever he is) hated me, I could have rented elsewhere with no problem and NO HASSLE!! This is a poorly run hotel!! You can be accused of things you never committed and be made to pay cash rather than credit card like normal customers would do!

(The picture does not show the actual hotel. The Center Lodge is not nearly as nice. But the nasty rejection shown is similar to what happened to my family and me.)

Milwaukee Bucks WIN!!!

 

The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 to clinch their 2nd championship in their 53-year history.  Ironically, they won their first championship in their 3rd year as a franchise.  Yet the wait was long for this championship.  Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points to seal the deal.  
I wanted to share a story with you.  It talks about the unique qualities of Milwaukee. 
So, please take a little time to read this. 

It talks about all the times Milwaukee and Wisconsin have been ridiculed and the notion that we took the joke but still learned how to thrive.  

https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/terrible-city-title?fbclid=IwAR3iJ7g6F1F1eLQh-xauEnhWmgcbUJp-C6vFKalr-aGBUHDb114yE-xm3mU 

Zoom counseling comedy

 

I had a counseling session today.  It was done online, b/c my counselor moved from a local office to one that was in another state. The session was good and productive.  I don't see much difference in what we accomplished.  I like my counselor. 

But I laughed and still am a bit blown away by a moment in our session.  During the session, she whipped out some lipstick and applied it.  I barely managed to stifle my laughter. Now, we know that if I was in-person counseling, she would not have gotten her lipstick out. But, it's NOT a criticism of her. 
Did it affect how she counseled me? No
Did it affect me getting the help I need? No
Was it funny? YES! 
So, I just wanted to share a little comedy with you, dear Reader!

Turning corner with money

 I received some very good financial news from a law firm I hired. 

Back in 2017, I grew very concerned about the amount of money I was spending just on interest/financial charges on my credit cards. When you think of someone in financial trouble, you think of them spending too much money, doing vacations, new cars which they can't afford. That's not the case w/ a lot of people and it certainly not the case w/ me.  A vast majority of it was having a car w/ 100,000 miles on it and it required lots of repairs to stay drivable. How do you cough up $400 all at once so that you can get your brakes fixed? 

In 2017, I looked at 1 of my credit card bills that was solely related to car repairs. 30% interest to finance something like $5,000-$10,000.  That's a lot of money.  I tried to go with several programs that would help me borrow $$ at a much lower interest rate. But I was rejected 

About the only place that offered help was Gitmeid Law Office which has a nationwide debt relief program.  I paid them money each payday.  The lawyer went to each of my credit card owners and said, "He is in very difficult financial shape.  We ask that you reduce the credit card balance he owes you from (the reduction is somewhere between 25-60%).  Your choice is simple.  We can guarantee that he will pay ___% of what he owes you.  Otherwise, he may go bankrupt and pay you nothing." Negotiations occur.  When credit card company agrees, they are paid a lump sum (which they like) from the money I've been paying into the escrow every other Tuesday.  
So, I had quite a bit of credit card debt. One disadvantage of the program is the credit card companies go to all 3 credit bureaus and report that I'm only going to pay part of my debt.  Then my credit score goes down.  But that's a small price to pay compared to paying $10,000 a year interest to finance credit card debt. 

They said that I would be finished in about September. But something good must have happened b/c I got done Tuesday.  With the last credit card debt, I owed less money than expected (or maybe Gitmeid came up w/ a better deal than expected).  So I not only was told I no longer have to pay Gitmeid $480 a month, but they were depositing into my bank account nearly $700 (money left over after paying all debts).  

That's good news, happy news.  My problem and reason for getting into debt was that I was not making as much as I needed to make in the middle of last decade. It wasn't from excessive spending. I am happy I decided to go w/ the Gitmeid Law Firm debt program.  If you are falling further and further in debt, you must do something!

One of the BEST sayings I know & live by

KNOW HOW TO TAKE A HINT

I saw a list of sayings in a magazine back in 2004; they were in an ad for a bank. 

The one that became the most meaningful and helped me the most through the rest of my life was "know how to take a hint."  I remember showing a close friend the saying. She was a woman younger than me. Our relationship didn't end well, sadly enough.  But she read this saying and looked at me and said, "well can you?"  I should have said "no"  or "not very well."  

There are so many misunderstandings in life.  I want to tell you something, especially to the women reading this.  If you have something to say to someone especially if they should back off (& I'm not necessarily saying this about a dangerous situation) and not be so emotionally close, DON'T SEND MIXED MESSAGES. Please understand that some people are dense.  A guy will wish he was with you that he doesn't want to understand or take into account any discouraging or "let's play it cool" hints you send to him.  The last thing you should do is give him any encouragement or even compliments!  DON'T SEND MIXED MESSAGES. You want to be socially graceful and not mean, but any kind of encouragement will necessarily mean a "green light" to him!  Don't give it to him!

When I took this saying to heart, I saved a lot of women who I have come to know a lot of awkward moments.  I learned to take a hint.  When I was really infatuated in an online relationship well over 10 years ago, instead being the stupid "puppy boy" that was encouraged by any encouragement I was given, I learned to take a hint.  I still wanted more out of the relationship, but I read her cues better than I did with any other woman.  & it paid off!  It helped me with the relationship I am in right now with the love of my life.

When I mess up, I can attribute it to not taking the hints that I should have. But I sure am trying.  We all need to be students of life!

An ominous development in politics!

 I read an article from the New York Times (Yahoo republished it and that's how I found it). 
It was "Why Political Sectarianism Is a Growing Threat to American Democracy."
The article articulated what has gone wrong in U.S. politics, actually politics in many parts of the world, including the United States.  
I'm sick and tired of how polarized, how angry and blind partisanship in politics has become.  When I say "blind," I mean that if you are a conservative, you become blind to anything good that the Democratic party.  You would rather "walk on hot coals" than complement who you consider your enemy. 

Sectarianism is this looking at the other party that you don't belong to as "the enemy."   According to Nate Cohn in his New York Times column on April 19, 2012, sectarianism, "is an outlook that makes compromise impossible, encourages elected officials to violate norms in pursuit of an agenda or an electoral victory.  And it undermines the willingness of the loser to accept defeat-an essential requirement of democracy."....
Sectarianism is about two hostile identity groups who not only clash over policy and ideology, but see the other side as alien and immoral.  It is the antagonistic feelings between the groups, more than differences over ideas, that drive sectarian conflict."   (emphasis in italics added)

All of this is painfully obvious, not only when we read politics but when we deal with other family members, neighbors and co-workers.  There's divisions in all of these groups!  It's hurting our country; we have come to realize that, at long last, our democracy is fragile, that it's not so difficult to imagine our nation to slide into a dictatorship.  
When Joe Biden won as president, I was relieved more than happy.  But Donald Trump wanted all those who were against him politically, including those who voted against him, to be fearful.  And he succeeded!  I was worried as were my friends that Biden's victory would be nullified that somewhere in our court system that Trump would prevail.  That perhaps the Supreme Court would agree with Donald Trump.  After all, they had a negative impact in the 2000 election; they have acted in a partisan way.  I was especially concerned on December 14, 2020 when the electoral college convened at all 50 of the statehouses as well as the District of Columbia to vote in the same way as the majority vote did on Election Day. 

The electoral college followed the majority.  To my immense gratitude and relief, the courts ruled against Donald Trump's lie that he won the election but had it stolen from him.  Then the shame, sadness and embarrassment of January 6, 2021 occurred.  For the first time, insurrectionists stormed into the US Capitol.  For the first time, we had most members of Congress and former Vice President Pence fearful of their lives.  So, I was concerned about inauguration day, January 20, 2021.  Would there be a similar uprising, revolt????? There wasn't.  Were the Capital Police were unprepared for January 6, they and other members of law enforcement in the DC area were very prepared and no hostile incidents occurred during and after Joe Biden was sworn in.  

What I find ironic in the awful, pernicious sectarianism that occurs now is that no matter how angry or contemptious we feel about "the other side,"  neither side is happy with what is occurring in US politics.  Both sides agree that the future is a scary, a matter of concern.  That what will happen to the United States in the coming years may not turn out so well.  Both sides are upset that US politics are a zero-sum game; that if something good happens with the Democrats, that necessarily means something bad happened to the Republicans.  

Finally, it's important to understand that once your candidate wins and assumes office as a president, senator or representative, it's not over. In Georgia, after both Democratic senators won.  The Georgian state government passed voter suppression laws.  Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia may have won in November and January, but he will have to run again next year, and that race will be tougher than the one a few months ago! Biden may have won the election but will enough meaningful laws, budgets get passed that will change our nation for the better?  Or, will congressional gridlock stop it? Will the elections of 2022 mean that the Republicans will come back with a vengeance, and we are assured of gridlock? It's not over.

Don't Go!

Names changed for better security for the woman written about.

 There was a time when I fell in love (it was a love of a greater magnitude, than I had before 1991), and we married.  We have three awesome adult kids. But, when we separated and were divorced, I went through the lowest period of my life.  Aren't the worst times when we feel there's no one we can love and who can love us back?  Aren't the worst times in your life when you felt as though you failed??
Yes, there are numerous sayings, cliches where you are supposed deny or "spin"  failure.  But I don't live nor ever lived that charmed or Polyanna type of life. 
We both have a friend named Ann.  In fact, I knew Ann before I met my ex-wife. I was a teacher, and her son was my student.  After Ann helped me get a job at Loyola Univ. Medical Center.  I learned the art of interpreting ECGs.  Ann was the first woman to love me after moving from Wisconsin to Chicago. She told me she loved me.  She gave me an awesome CD by Queensryche for graduating from Roosevelt University.  Yet, I told her that I loved her as a friend, not a lover.  Then, at work, I met my ex-wife, a nurse at Loyola.  She has now put over 30 hard years at Loyola.

One day she told me that Ann left for Atlanta.  She told me after we were divorced.  My heart sank. I was afraid I would never see Ann again!!  Ann is the most altruistic, loving woman (outside of my dear Mom) that I ever met.  
Yes, Ann knew how to fight and argue, but she rarely did. 
Yes, Ann could get angry and accuse a person of their misdeeds, but she rarely did.  Ann is such a sweet loving woman that my ex-wife and her are dear friends.  That speaks positively to both women.  
A few years later, my ex-wife told me that Ann left Georgia and moved back near Loyola. She was working at Loyola again.    

A breath of buenos' aires  flew into my body, my mind.  
I must talk to her! 
I must see her!!

I called the very night that my ex told me.  I called her as she was working night shift.
Hearing her sweet, loving voice was so soothing but also very emotional. 
She said the kind words that I heard her say before and would hear her say in the future.  
At the end of the call, I couldn't stop myself from crying as I said, I love you so much!!"
"I know," she replied cheerily.  We hung up. 

I couldn't help thinking, "I got to, got to SEE HER!!"  I took her to a football championship game.  Within a month just as I wanted, just as I needed, we fell madly in love.  I even wrote a post on this very blog about 2 people in love back in 2010. 

The next year, 2011, was very rough.  We all were sad when my awesome father-in-law died.  We were relieved that my Mom managed to have Dad in a nursing home (where she visited him every day). but it still was sad!!!  My Dad could no longer live with Mom, because he suffered severe Alzheimer's. 
Then it happened.  After years of suffering from Alzheimer's Dad died in the first month of autumn.  Ann was there to comfort me.  Coincidentally, when we came back home to see my Mom and siblings, in laws, my high school class reunion took place. I was so proud that Ann was by my side. 
Then my mother died the 3rd month of the very same autumn. She died after everyone left her Thanksgiving meal/celebration.  Not I, though. I was frantic to get money whenever and wherever I could (yes, I had a job, but it didn't pay a lot).  I did not visit my mom and family in Wisconsin as I was about 250 miles southeast in Illinois.  

Ann made the agony of that year much easier, because we were in love.  Also, much credit goes to my 2nd son who decided to live with me instead of with his mom.  He said he wanted to live in a place without all the drama.  

In 2013, Ann moved in with me.  We were together and loving each other so much!  I was struggling to find a decent job, but Ann made the burden lighter. I found one that year in September.  Like the one in 2011, I thoroughly enjoyed the paralegal job. Then in the 2nd year, the law firm assigned me to do many more things.  I took my work home; I worked weekends.  I worked so hard.  Yet, it was all right, because Ann cheered me up when I was down.  

For the first time, I dreaded and became scared working at the law firm. People were depending on me to help them get money from the case they won, or we settled. I hated negotiating liens! Ann and my second son were worried about me.  I was worried about me. The next year, I left the firm.  
From that point thereafter, I was never the same paralegal. I lost my confidence.  I fretted over my mistakes.  

Because of Ann, I was not as depressed as I was in 2002-2003.  I never really wanted to commit suicide as I did 17 years ago.  However, the next four years were difficult except when I was working full time at UPS, and they liked my work.  

My favorite teacher in high school said that any serious, long-term relationship will go through changes.  I did not know what he meant.  I found out 3 decades later in my current, loving relationship with Ann.  We went through limerence, and it was exhilarating! Then, we changed to settling down into a routine where we helped each other, nurtured each other, talked about our problems together, and looked each other in the eyes and said, "I love you."

We changed together.  Our relationship would change again.  After four hard years, I finally found a decent-paying job with benefits. My self-esteem improved, and I felt very relieved!  Sadly, weeks before I was hired just before Christmas, 2018, Ann told me to sit down. 
My heart was sinking in dread even before she told me, "I have cancer." The nature of the cancer was heart-breaking.  Yet, in 5 months, she had all her radiation and soon, we learned the good news that she is in remission.  The crisis was over.  I would continue to work hard at my job; Ann would work hard for a few more years at Loyola and retire. We were hopeful and happy.
Yet, God had other ideas. Pat complained early in the new decade about the severe pain she had.  It took a long, long time to figure out what the pain was from. Painfully and with anguish, Ann nearly died in the summer of 2020.  Her pain turned into shortness of breath, lack of vitality. Weeks after coming home from the hospital, we knew very clearly that she would never work in a hospital again.  She was just too weak! 
Then, we learned she needed a cardiac bypass. Later, she began bleeding.  She went to the hospital again and again.  She was so forlorn, she hated going to the hospital even though she received excellent care. She cried, and I understood her melancholy when the physician said her hemoglobin was too low for her to be released from the hospital; she was bleeding too much.  Yet, they found a way, and she went home a week later.  

She had kidney failure, she needed weekly dialysis.  She needed cauterization surgery for her bleeding.  The dialysis sapped the vitality out of her every morning when she had it.  A painful question made itself very obvious.  If Ann became sick as she repeatedly did in 2020, what would happen to her while I was working a 12-hour shift??  Her loving daughter had a beautiful home in Yorkville. There were four adults living there, they could provide my dear Ann 24/7 care.  As an added bonus, she would see the granddaughters that she loved with every fiber of her being!

During the years 2019, 2020 and this year, our roles changed noticeably.  Previously, when we lived together, and I was going through vocational hardships, Ann was consoling me.  I felt like a failure when I couldn't find work. She told me I wasn't!!
Now that I had the decent job, I needed, really wanted to be there for her.  She lost vitality; how could she look at life the same?  She praised me for being there for her treatments, for her hospitalizations.  Obviously, it was a no-brainer for me.  I wanted to help her.  When I wasn't there, her dear daughter and others were there for her.  Yet, after her summer hospitalizations, I started to hear her say, "I can't take much more of this."  When she despaired over losing so much energy, she said, "this isn't life." I listened, but wondered if I gave enough encouragement.  

Today, I heard the same sentiment. Today and yesterday, we celebrated Valentine's Day; we were happy for awhile.  But, her health problems made their presence known loud and clear.  She still lives with her daughter. This afternoon, it was time to bring her back. Of course, I felt bad.  In the car, I discovered that I had Matthew Sweet's sorrowful CD, GIRLFRIEND.  The album was made after Sweet's sad, depressing divorce.  Listening to the CD, I brought Ann to her home. I made sure that she was ok with the CD.  After an hour of driving, I kissed her goodbye.  

I certainly was in a sad enough mood to hear the heartsick GIRLFRIEND album again.  Yet, the song "Don't Go"  played.  The song was not necessarily about divorce but something just as sad.  It made me think over a decade ago.  I asked a widow, "What do you think the difference between divorce and a spouse's death is."
She replied, "It's just as sad, but as a widow, I feel less guilt than you did after your divorce." There's no way of telling when Ann or even I will die. We talked about that today. We simply need to wait for God to order us when.  But here are the words that took my breath away as I heard Matthew Sweet sing: 

"Oh, don't go, I can't watch them put you in the ground/Don't go!

Don't go, don't make me have to say goodbye/'Cause I need to look you in the eye, oh, don't go.

I still need to look you in the eye, don't go!!!" 

 from Matthew Sweet (who is my age and also got heavy, but still just as good an entertainer as 1991) in the song, "Don't Go."

That's Matthew above with Susanna Hoffs.

Yet, there is HOPE. 
If Ann can make it through the first procedure, and it goes well, then we can do what we really are hoping for.  We can go to class, learn how to do home dialysis.  The dialysis won't be as taxing as now, because she will have it when she goes to sleep at night!  If only, she can make it until then!

We will use hope, faith and praying to God, the Holy Trinity to will her to making it! 

Oh the irony!!!

 

NO words to say!!!  No, wait, am I wrong to say, "I wish he were dead!"  ??
Discuss what's next for this nation!

Daughter breaks up with Patriot

anything considered true IS NOT, BUT PURELY COINCIDENTAL!

 John had a terrible problem with his daughter, Violet.  John and Deb always envisioned that their kids would grow up to be gainfully employed, mature adults.  That worked out well with their 2 sons.  One worked at a factory, and the other had his degree and worked at home for a computer software company.  The only thing Anthony complained about was that the rest of them were too damn loud along with their odious, relentlessly-barking pit bull.  How many times he boomed out from the basement, "I'm helping write software!!"  no one knew, but it was about 600 times in Violet's fateful 1st semester.  

Violet decided to piss off her parents in a number of ways.  While they fell in love in '92 helping, in a very small way, get Bill Clinton elected president, Violet defiantly announced in October that she would be voting for Trump along w/ the Reds.  

"Oh, John!  If she is in the Reds did she join an offshoot of the gang in Los Angeles?  What if she gets shot by the Crips?"  she cried. 

John quietly assured that she was off the mark.  Little did her daughter know, but John had been employing one of her friends.  In the smallest office in the only large office building in town, John gave Violet's friend, Lori, $15 an hour on his internet business.  

John explained to his wife, that 1 night, Violet decided to stay overnight at Lori's house.  Violet explained that there was this splinter group away from the Will County Young Republicans.  They called themselves the Reds.  Violet had smiled to Lori and drunkenly announced that she was the girlfriend to the leader of the Reds, Geoff!

"Oh my God!" Deb exclaimed, "who is this, 'Geoff,' that you speak of?" 

John took a deep breath; he calmly said, "it gets worse Deb.  He quietly told her that Geoff led the Reds.  They were a group of 30 of them.  They had 6 former gang members.  Geoff and the gang members held parties, at 5-10 members homes.  Most of the ones hosting the parties weren't even in college but sold drugs. They would go downtown while the bars were still open and outdoors.  They came with their t-shirts or coats emblazoned REDS. They smoked by the bars and if anyone asked if they were "Commies" a few of the Reds would beat the living shit out of the person for calling them that.

Lori told John all this during the work lunch. "It gets worse, Deb," Lori then explained that Violet told her that if the hapless victim had friends then Geoff and the former gang members would descend on the group and pounded them into submission.  Then they ran and hid in 1 of their cars. When it was quiet and the red lights were gone, they drove home, drank and partied more.

Deb lowered her voice, "is our daughter sleeping with this Geoff?"

"Yeah, Deb, it gets worse." He explained that when Lori and Violet were drinking at Lori's mother's house, Violet told her about the second time she met with the other Reds. Geoff singled out their daughter.  He was his most charming self.  He told her that he was on the baseball team.  He even knew her before, because he would go to her high school's softball game and watch her play first base.

As Violet told Lori her drunken story, she smiled in a daze and said, "Do you know when I really fell in love with Geoff?"
"No, when?" asked Lori. 
"When he gave a blow by blow account of when I hit a 3-run homer to beat Lemont.  I hit a 3-run fuckin' home run in the last inning.  Then, in the last half of the inning, in Lemont, I did my own double play, caught a bullet and tagged the runner going to second base!!" recounted Violet. 
"Wow!!" 
"Do you know what?" Violet started to cry in Lori's bedroom. "He kept talking and knew all the names of the ones who gave me high 5s, and even Jenny who gave me a big kiss after the game!"   

When Geoff recounted her favorite high school moment, he took her back to his place.  He had his own apartment.  He explained during the day he went to their college.  To her surprise, he still sold marijuana in Illinois.  Even though it was legal in Illinois, Geoff was able to undercut the legal dispensaries who almost never sold pot in increments of $30 or less.  Geoff explained that Illinois loves their taxes and charged the dispensaries a steep price in sales tax.  He informed her that he had a clientele of over 50 regulars selling cheaper pot.  
"Then what?" asked Lori. 
"Well that asshole spiked my wine. Next I know,  I woke up at 2am. He was eating me out and there was a used condom was by my hips.  I figured, well, he can't be all bad if he eats me out well and uses a condom.  Wow, what an orgasm that was a few seconds later!" laughed Violet as the 2 young women laughed and fell on the floor in their drunken awkwardness.
"Well, that's terrible!"
"You're just jealous, Lori.  No, really, I mean I was negative on the pregnancy test.  Got checked out for all kind of venereal diseases including HIV at the campus healthcare, and I was clean as a whistle. That's true love when your boyfriend is looking out after you, Lori."

John told his wife all this. Deb was sobbing by now and tearfully asked, "is that...is that w-w-w-why you got in that big argument about Trump versus Biden on her 19th birthday?" 
"Yep," replied John stoically, "that was the worst October 15th of my life!  Deb, I gave Violet a bribe; tomorrow, we are going to meet the fearless leader, Geoff!"
"How much did you give her?"
"A hundred dollars."
"You IDIOT, JOHN!!!!"  Deb shrieked.  "Do you realize that she probably used that money to buy drugs wholesale for her damn boyfriend?!?  Did you not see how quiet Violet has been lately?  I haven't been able to say 'jack' as she marches to her bedroom and won't talk to me!!" Deb's face was still red from crying, but now her face turned to beet-red rage, and she slapped John across the face.  
"Sorry, Deb."
"You should be, Asshole!!" she yelled.   
"Well, at least Biden won," John mused. 
"Just shut the fuck up, John!!" her voice settled lower into a cold. harsh menace. 

"You know, Deb, I think I forgot something at the office," he left their house quickly. 

PART II

 John awoke at 9:30 am and wasn't surprised that Deb wasn't beside him.  He found her in the kitchen mopping the floor.  "How long have you been up?" 

"4:30, I asked you to help me before 7, but you didn't budge," she hissed in reproach.

"Well, it's hard to move when you're asleep."

"Take the garbage out!"

An hour later, they heard a loud Ford Mustang drive and park outside the house.  Violet and a tall, unshaven, well-muscled male walked behind her.  Geoff looked as uneasy about meeting her family as John's look at him.

Violet introduced him and said, "Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Geoff.  Geoff, this is my mom and dad."  John reached his hand out to him as he had shook hands after an introduction so many times before.  

Geoff shrunk back, "Don't forget about COVID, John.

"Wow," smiled John with a trace of sarcasm, "we're already on a first-name basis!" Deb forced a laugh as Geoff and Violet wanly smiled.

"Would you two like something to eat or drink?" offered Deb.

"No, Mom.  We are going to a meeting," asserted Violet.

"What kind of meeting?" Deb and John asked.

"Do you have to ask so many questions?" Violet defensively replied.

"Well, maybe I want to go," John mockingly answered back.

"No!" answered Violet and Geoff.

"You gotta love a couple who think so much alike, you speak in unison," John observed patronizingly. 

"Wait! You just got here, Violet," Deb pleaded.

"We're not late for anything, especially a Reds Meeting," Geoff replied.

"A Reds meeting?" they both asked. John shot Deb a smile with a "here we go again" look.

"Um, we'll see you later, Mom and Dad," mumbled Violet and Geoff as they nearly ran out the door. 

Deb and John looked at the door for a long time.  John put his arm around Deb, and she put her arms around him resting her head on his shoulder. "We're really screwed, aren't we?" she asked. 

John exhaled sadly, "we're in for difficult times in the near future."

"Where did we go wrong? Our neighbors say we're good parents. But they really don't know the half of it, do they?" she asked in frustration. 

"No." John slowly let go of Deb to eat in the kitchen. 

"How can you eat at a time like this?!?" she demanded. 

"Eating this club sandwich beats the hell out of feeling bad," he calmly replied. 

"It won't help."

"Tell me something I don't know," John quietly answered.

PART III

Deb was doing the chores that she and her husband hated the most. As Deb ironed the clothes , ironing clothes.  She heard her phone ring and frantically punched a button to answer Violet's call. 
"Mom, can you meet me at the Homer Glen Library?" Violet asked.

"ARE YOU SAFE?!?" Deb shrieked into the phone. 

"Yes, Mom," calmly replied Violet, "just come over to the library."

"What's wrong?" John asked.
"I don't know. I think Violet has a flat tire at the library," Deb ran out the door as John looked confused.
Deb couldn't get over there fast enough.  She often criticized John for speeding, but she had no shame in driving, speeding like him now!

After meeting Violet at the entrance, Violet said, "I reserved a small study group room for us." When Deb followed Violet, she was impressed that Violet was organized and smart enough to get a room where they could speak privately. 

After Deb closed the door to the private room, she asked, "what's wrong, Dear?"
Violet looked calm and slowly said, "I broke up with Geoff." 
"OH!" Deb tried to conceal her joy and was struggling for something to say, "how can I help you?" 

"I just was shocked at what he did.  I wanted to talk to you about it.  I even wanted to talk to Dad about it, but he might make a sarcastic remark about it," Violet replied in the same deadpan voice that concealed her total embarrassment.

"He wouldn't do that at a time like this!"
Violet told her the events, "Anyway, two days before New Year's Day, Geoff wanted all the Reds to meet. He told us that we were to meet at the White House on January 6.  He said there was a good chance the Reds and other groups would march on the Capitol and get inside. 
He outlined all the plans. He said we would drive for 12 1/2 hours.  I would be driving half of the time.  We were going to use two minivans.  He said only the Reds who would fight and really help the cause would go to DC, to the White House.  He said we couldn't afford  to take more than 2 minivans so only 13 people could go; we needed to allow for gear, he explained. 

He yelled out, 'THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES.  THE PATRIOTS PREVAIL! WE FOLLOW TRUMP!'
Then like usual, all 30 of us shouted back, 'FIGHT HARD!'

Then like usual, Geoff persuasively, quickly spelled out the plans. 
He was in touch with a few of the Proud Boys. They gave him details on what to do:
1.   Drive to Washington, D.C on January 5. 
2. Meet at a point a few miles away; location undisclosed.
3. On January 6, Geoff would get a text on where to meet and go to White House for Trump's speech!

4. The Proud Boys would provide the gear to possibly storm the Capitol while Congress certified the odious Electoral College votes. The key was that Proud Boys wanted to provide us the mob gear, so that we could have as many of the Reds come to DC. 
Geoff screamed at the group asking why the hell the 30 of us couldn't come up with more money? If you 17 weren't going, then why didn't they contribute more money?
Members of the group felt so guilty (even the 17 not going) that in a matter of 20 minutes, Geoff got $350.  I didn't give him a damn cent!  I thought he was being an asshole. In several months of being with Geoff there were times he was an asshole. Going to see Trump taking all the money the Reds gave to him made me start to hate him.  Now, look what happened on January 6!"

Deb's motherly instinct told her not to cry.  She hugged Violet; Violet hugged back and held her in an embrace.  Deb fought back, but she immediately thought that Violet hugged her with this much need since she was 12.  Maybe, her daughter loved her after all.