It had  been a  harsh winter  and I  was  sleeping  soundly recovering from the day’s assault of bone chilling wind.  I was startled awake when the phone rang around 3 a.m.  It was the kind of ring you hoped to never/… Read full post »

I am named after my father and I thank him each day for not burdening me with the lifelong tag of Jr.  I am the II, which looks and sounds so much more distinguished. My father was not a wealthy man, even though he provided me with a wealth of knowledge… Read full post »

I will turn the BIG 5-0 this month.  This is the year that George Clooney, Eddie Murphy and President Obama (to name a few) also turn fifty, so I am in good company. Even little Cindy from the Brady Bunch will be fifty this year (someone's feeling really old right now). To/… Read full post »

Let me preface this post by saying that I understand very little about the Israel / Palestinian situation.  And I would venture to guess that not many of our national politicians know or understand any more than I do even though they have responsibility for voting on such matters thereby, have/… Read full post »

In 1973, I turned 12 years old.  Schoolhouse Rock premiered that year; as did some of my other favorites like The Six Million Dollar Man, Police Story and Kojak.  Other than our preacher and Yul Brenner, Telly Savalas was probably one of the only other bald headed men that I had/… Read full post »

With the following Qualities:

·         Intelligent

·         Serious

·         Disciplined

·       &nbs… Read full post »

Let me start out by saying that I've been away for a while and I wish everyone a Happy Sunday.

                           _________________________

Recently my daug… Read full post »

Two years ago, around this time, I received notice from my then financial services employer that I was being laid off – downsized, right-sized, RIFFED.  Whatever terminology you prefer, or are used to, the bottom line was that I would no longer be gainfully employed in the midst of the wor… Read full post »

As the 111th Congress comes to a close and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) steps down as the 60th Speaker of the House of Representatives, I reflect on her rise to power and the history of women in Congress.

Nancy Pelosi has represented the 8th Congressional District of California sinc… Read full post »

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." – Edmund Burke 

Nationwide there are more registered Democrats than there are registered Republicans. Despite that fact, the GOP has seized control of the House of Representatives.  Consequent… Read full post »

I was born in a log cabin; the very same log cabin and during the very same time as a boy named Abe.  He grows up to be President and I do not; I could not, at that time.  Oh no, I am having that same dream (my nightmare) again. I/… Read full post »

I originally posted this on October 19, 2009.  I don't spend as much time on OS as I used to, but when I wrote this I was truly obsessed with this site. I chose that font to magnify my deranged feelings, at the time, from lack of sleep, worry (will anyone read, comment, rate?)… Read full post »

The September unemployment numbers were published on Friday.  An increase in private sector jobs was nullified by a substantial decrease in the public sector. So the official unemployment rate is still over 9.5%. Sometimes, especially during difficult times like these, one has to go beyond… Read full post »

This group has come up with some of the most amazingly creative and FUN music videos over the last couple of years.  You may recall the Treadmill Video.  Well, here's a new one that includes friends. Apparently there were some 1 million hits for this video in one day.

My apologies… Read full post »

1.       San Francisco is my favorite city

2.      I have moved across the country 2.5 times 

3.      20 years ago, a buddy & I drove across country in 40 hours

4.     … Read full post »

I was born in June, in a sand state, so my love for summertime is biological.  Many of my best memories are from the months June through August and as fall approaches I reflect on some of my favorite summers of the past.

Summer of 1974

This was my first and only year of… Read full post »

Throughout our lives, we are reduced to either a series of numbers (social security number, driver’s license number, phone number, patient number, employee number, etc.) or other ways to categorize or label us. Here are some of the labels and categories that I fall into:

 — UPDATED —

(see links to all responses to the Open Call below)

As I was compiling the list of my Top 15 Albums, Cassettes & CDs, I was thinking of why I like responding to these types of Open Calls.  What I came up wi/… Read full post »

THE RULES: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen albums you've heard that will always stick with you. These are not your recommendations for quality. This list is about which albums are important in your life. {Mark R. Trost}

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Plain and Simple, I love Ja… Read full post »

… gather in the United States of America with …  

… more Blacks, Whites, Jews,

Hispanics, Asians, American Indians,

Pacific Islanders, Middle Easterners,  

Multiracial, Catholics,

Protestants, Mormons,

Muslims,

Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals,

Transgender

and the

Physic… Read full post »

Ken Burns’ series on our National Parks and last weekend’s Travel Network marathon, on the same subject, made me think about one of my scariest experiences.  While in college I spent a summer working at Yellowstone National Park.  I worked in the Yellowstone Lake area and I assi/… Read full post »