My Red Sovine Autographed Record

Hey, I got part of my Red Sovine wish. One day we were heading into a thrift store and I honestly said I wished I could find some Red Sovine records. But I didn't find any.

Then just the other day, Saturday, I was at a garage sale and bought a box of 45s, approximately 10 inches worth, just records in a box without sleeves (mostly). I made a mad dash through them later and stuck paper towels between them to minimize any damage. I picked a few out and just left the others in the box to examine later.

Today I was picking out a few and this was one of them. Red Sovine - "Giddyup Go" and "Kiss and the Keys," Starday 737.

The strangest thing to realize was that it was actually signed by Red Sovine. So I checked on the internet for a couple examples of Red Sovine autographs and they more or less matched this one. Real close. Which was a cool thing.

I've only listened to it once, each side. "Giddyup Go" is the strange story of a truck driver, whose kid names his dad's truck "Giddyup Go." But one time the dad comes home and the mom and kid aren't there anymore. He must not be too curious about what happened to them, because he's back on the road. Then years later he sees another truck that says "Giddyup Go" on the back of it. And it turns out to be his son as a truck driver. (I think that's what happens. I heard it once.)

If I'm the kid I might say, "Dad, all this time between the time I was a kid and a truck driver, couldn't you have been at least curious enough to look for me?" Twerp.

The other side, "Kiss and the Keys," is peppy and singing. ("Giddyup" is kind of a narration thing, like Red Sovine did with "Teddy Bear.") I can't remember much about "Kiss" except it ends up with a woman jailer falling for a prisoner, who seeks a "Kiss and the Keys."

I'm happy to have this record.

Cheers To Michael Moore

Screw any Democrat who won't govern like a Democrat.

If a Democrat is against reasonable, progressive health care reform, then there's no reason we should be supporting him or her. I can't think of any reason. Our support needs to be earned. Don't take it for granted.

I like it that Michael Moore is saying that. The Democrats think they can win the last election, then get in there and govern like Republicans, think again. We have a majority to get things done as Democrats.

Michael Moore is threatening to campaign against Democrats who betray us. Cheers to him. If that's what it takes, so be it.

There's a big warning to Max Baucus, Ben Nelson, and some of these other losers. If you're going to be Republicans, switch parties.

Getting Health Care Reform Approved

Is anyone else as fed up as I am with the non-ending circus that Congress is in the process of supposedly getting health care reform approved?

Good grief, wake me up when it's over! This is such a slow moving process, I just hope they get it into effect before I get sick and die. And I'm feeling pretty well at the present moment.

One thing, we haven't got the Republicans on board. And they're nothing but civic vandals. Put forth any plan to actually help people and the Republicans will be there to smear it, kick it, swat it with an ax, and deface it in any way they can.

I've asked the question till it's almost ridiculous, because there's not really a good answer. Why would anyone vote for the Republicans, in light of the blatant fact that they do not mean an ounce of good to the American people? They are so in the pocket of big business interests, big business has to unbuckle their pants a few times a day just so the Republicans can breathe. (I say, Wear tighter pants and sit down more often!)

Some of the Democrats aren't much better, but at least the majority appear to be on our side. Government of the people should mean something. Unlike the Bush years, when it was entirely false.

Just get it done! I'm sick of this slow as molasses process.

Card-Carrying ACLU Member

It's a good thing to say you're a card-carrying member of the ACLU, right? I know it's not a good thing to some people, hotheads, or those who don't know what's going on.

Speaking of hotheads, we have all these protesters now, the right wing variety, who are probably against the ACLU. But if anyone ought to be for it, it's anyone who protests occasionally. Since, believe it or or not, the ACLU would be there with bells on if anyone ever infringed on their rights.

I'm not really card-carrying. Although I have a card. It doesn't do me any good, that I can think of, to have a card in my wallet. It doesn't pay for anything. There aren't any meetings at which I need to flash it for admittance. I already know I'm a member and don't need to check my wallet to verify it for myself.

The card, over neck to the actual card that you need to detach, says, "Carry your Membership Card with pride throughout the year ahead." To which I will exercise my right of free speech to ask, "Yeah? What for?" Am I more proud because I have a card in my wallet?

I'm glad to be a member of an organization that I think does do positive work in helping to keep our rights protected.

One thing about them I don't like, the annoying calls for more money beyond what you originally paid. But they no doubt need more money. Don't we all? I know I do.

I'm A Clock Watcher

It's like the old song: "I'm a clock watcher, I'm a clock watcher, watching clocks go 'round, all around. I'm a clock watcher, I'm a clock water. Hey, there's one now .... umm umm."

Little does that clock know, she's puttin' on a show for me! Like a quick peek at cleavage, you know, what it reminds you of when it's 12:55. 5 till 1 is a tight V.

I seriously am a clock watcher. Digital, hands, Roman numerals, block numbers, no numbers ... it doesn't make any difference. What time is it? I'm always checking. It's always some time. The guy who says it's always NOW is right. But I need to know when NOW is.

How long does it take to do a particular task? I want to know. Can I beat my old time? I want to know. Can I get more done in a more efficient manner? I want to know. When will I literally go insane from this? Don't tell me.

I'm looking at the "old clock on the wall," as they used to say on TV. And it says it's time to say "Goodbye."

The Beginning of Illness

I saw someone on Twitter say she hates the "beginning of illness" feeling, like if you wake up from a nap and you're sweating through your clothes.

I know how that goes, even though I don't get sick very often. Somehow, I don't know how, I just rise above it. But that doesn't mean that any second now I couldn't come crashing down. It definitely has happened in the past ... as is true for almost everyone.

There's some sickness in my family now. She has a bacteria problem in the lungs and needs to take an antibiotic, I think it's called, Z-Pack. I used that once with bronchitis. This can be deadly stuff and I hope I don't catch it.

Last night I caught myself making a clicking noise in my throat, which is usually the sign that something incipient is about to blossom. But I quit doing it, forgot about it, and woke up in the morning feeling fine. Just so I wake up tomorrow feeling fine. That'll be good too.

I don't suppose positive thinking has anything to do with it really. But I something think if you think you're not going to get it, you won't. Sometimes works!

Too Many Christmas Decorations

We have a lot of Christmas decorations. There's someone in the house (not me) who likes to accumulate Christmas decorations.

And it's about that time of the year. I guess thrift stores probably get Christmas stuff all year long, but then squirrel it away in totes, boxes, or cupboards through the year. Then around September 15, into October, they put it out. You suddenly see it.

The next thing, it's at my house. Skinny Santas, fat Santas, Santas with beards so big they've barely got a face, reindeer wall hangings, tinsel, and everything else that goes with the season.

I imagine sometimes how it might be, you know, if I were left with all this stuff, like by inheritance. And what I might do with it to get rid of it. Since it doesn't do quite as much for me personally. If I showed up at the thrift store, would they chase me out? "We don't want a whole truckload of that stuff! Bring it back, a little at a time. Wait till September!"

What's This? The Generals And Sarah Palin

What's this? I'm hearing something about active duty generals in Afghanistan brewing up some dissension from President Obama's policies. Agitating for certain a certain level of troop increase, etc.

What happened to the unquestioned commander-in-chief concept we had in the Bush years? Which I would agree with, actually, when it comes to the soldiers. You got something to say against the commander-in-chief, shut up. Or wait till you retire, then spill your guts.

And what's this? I'm hearing that Sarah Palin went to Hong Kong and was badmouthing President Obama to a bunch of communists. Can this be right? Do we not have a policy that "politics stops at the water's edge" and that you don't badmouth our government overseas?

I seem to remember something about the Dixie Chicks -- who aren't even government (or ex-government) officials -- saying some little thing about President Bush while overseas and getting a lot of lumps for it.

So what? Palin can just get away with it. Why is that? Is it the airhead discount she's entitled to?

Dogs Live So In The Moment

I took my dog to a scenic place today, so I could get some photos of the first day of Fall.

She had no idea where we were going, of course, since we rarely go there. And since it's a little far, she took the trip with some resentment, since she doesn't like riding in the car long distances.

But when we got there, she was very happy. Frolicking happy. And I'm snap, snap, snapping my pictures and enjoying it myself.

We left and got home, and, as far as I know, that's it for her. There's no hashing it out in her memory, nothing she can say. It was happening now ... but now has moved on.

I, on the other hand, needed to look at the pictures, reduce a few, crop one or two. And I'm definitely still thinking of it.

Happy Fall!

Mayberry 101

I got a cool book at a thrift store today, which sometimes is a rare occasion but it's nice when it happens. "Mayberry 101," about the Andy Griffith Show, by Neal Brower. It says it's Vol. 1.

Just looking around, I see this book doesn't cost very much new, like in the $12 range. But 50 cents is also pretty good price. And this copy's barely been touched.

I'm sure I'll enjoy myself leafing through it. Maybe I'll read one a day.

It's not a rundown of every episode, but focuses on 79 episodes written by particular writers. It says it's a "projected three-volume series," and since the date of publication was 1998, probably the other two volumes are already written. Just guessing.

1998. And now it's 2009. And this book is new to me. What else am I missing?

UPDATE: I checked Amazon and I don't see any sign of two other volumes.

Edwards Denies His Own Kid

I find it equally or more disgusting that John Edwards (apparently) denied his own child as I do his gambling with the Democrats' chances for the presidency in 2008.

If the kid is his and he denied her, what's he going to say someday? "Yes, honey, for political expediency I denied you were my daughter."

Thanks, Dad, love you too!

So-Called "Values Voters" Are Rude

At the "Values Voter Summit," put on by people who apparently have bad values, MSNBC reporter Brian Mooar was heckled by audience members while he was trying to do a story about their gathering.

It's amazing the kind of thuggery from the right these days. Speaking of values, get some, morons.

The Kind Of Political Ad I Like To See - Caught Red-Handed

Here's what we need more of, political ads that brutalize the Republicans for their underhanded, nefarious ways. Caught red-handed taking money from health care interests, then voting against reform.

This one is about Republican Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH). It was released by MoveOn.org and started running in his district today (Thursday).

There's another one, probably similar, for Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA).

Both these scoundrels serve on the House Ways and Means committee and voted against reform.

God bless MoveOn.org!

Eggs In A Basket

Uncommon wisdom: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. For maximum safety, use a separate basket for each egg.


In unrelated news:
I try to learn one fact a day. Today I learned that Rush Limbaugh is still a jerk.

Disapproval Of Wilson Passes By Comfortable Margin

The public scorn of Rep. Joe Wilson for his egregious outburst at a recent joint session of Congress came to a head in a vote of disapproval by the House of Representatives. The motion passed by a comfortable margin: 240 yes, 179 no, and 5 saying present.

We can assume the 179 who voted no will each make a similar outburst next time the president gives a speech, since they don't disapprove of Joe Wilson's practice. If they approve, doesn't it stand to reason that they also ought to be waving pitchforks and shouting bloody murder?

My personal opinion is that Joe ought to get help, some kind of therapy for his rage. And having done that, speak with the House chaplain any time he feels it coming back and threatening to get the best of him. And just for everyone's good, it would be good if there were a fence between him and the president anytime the president is in the area.

Other than that, I'm willing to forgive and forget. I'm not turning a blind eye to this outrage, like it may sound. But I'm willing to give Joe another chance. A great nation like ours is overflowing with mercy. At least that goes for the Democrats and any other rational people there might be.

Pink's Heart

Pink definitely doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve. In the first place, no sleeves. And it's gotta go somewhere!

Government Health Care For All

I keep thinking of the strange disconnect, that members of Congress get government health care, yet they think government health care isn't any good and that the rest of us shouldn't get it. If they don't think it's any good, why don't they get something else?

They would say they get government health care because they're employees of the government. That's true. But what is the government? Isn't it "of the people, by the people, and for the people"? Since it's "of the people," that means you and I are just as much a part of the government as they.

Therefore, each of us should be entitled to the same benefits.

Got To Get You Into My Life

One of the differences in the mono version of this song -- by The Beatles on the Revolver album -- is it's longer.

It's a little jarring, in that the place where we're used to hearing it fade out, it continues on and sounds like it skips. I'm hoping that's the way it's supposed to be.

Maybe that's why it was faded out earlier on the more common stereo version. There's around 10 seconds difference between stereo and mono.

The Beatles' Set Not Numbered

Back in July when I ordered the Beatles' mono CD set, they said at Amazon it'd be a limited edition of 10,000 and numbered. I wrote about it at the time, wondering what number I'd get.

So yesterday when I got my set in the delivery, the first thing I did was to get the mono box out and see what number I had. Hmm, no number on the outside, must be inside. How tricky, I assumed, because no one can keep their copy sealed because they'll never know what number they got.

But inside ... no number either. So I figured I personally got screwed. Which didn't make any sense. But who knows? I'd heard later there was 13,000 copies for the U.S. market, which would mean 3,000 on top of the 10,000 numbered copies.

Checking around, though, I now read there's no numbered sets! They decided it wasn't "feasible." OK, jokers, you make a decision like that before you advertise they're going to be numbered. Or is marketing just not your thing? This was a major disappointment. But at least we're all in the same boat. And it takes away the conundrum of what I would've done if I had a real low number, etc.

Still, I think we deserve something for the letdown, getting screwed over like this.

I think I deserve an all-expenses paid trip to England, to hang out with Paul and Ringo for a week. We'll rent a bus, fill it with eccentric people, and travel around England, filming our adventures. Only then will I be happy. And maybe a few concert tickets, with backstage passes. And some holographic visits with John and George from wherever they are.

Don't let me down! Don't - let - me - down!

A Republican Thought Conundrum

Would you like to live long and prosper? The Republicans hope you drop dead. If there's ever anything wrong with you, they won't lift a finger to help. You're on your own.

How can the Republicans get support for these kinds of ideas? They have never met one program that would do anyone any good that they actually like. To them we're all just in the way. They "love America," they just happen to hate Americans.

So if you want to make the Republicans happy, drop dead. Or if you want to make them sad, support government that is competent and does some good.

It's seriously a thought conundrum I have. How many times do they have to beat someone in the head with a 2 x 4 before they'll vote Republican?

The Republican Response

"Blah, blah, blah -- I'm a heart surgeon -- blah, blah, blah."

These guys are such worthless clowns.

The Republicans. Ideologically, intellectually, morally bankrupt.

Tonight, some lying idiot named Boustany.

What'd You Do In The War, Grandpa?

I notice no one ever wants to know about anyone else's childhood. I always grew up hearing about all the stuff you'd be able to tell your grandchildren. And all that.

But I personally never meet anyone who goes, "What'd you used to do" at such and such a time? Like when you were a kid. Or a teenager. No one is especially interested.

I struck up a conversation with a guy about my age -- he's two years older -- meaning he was an older teen in the '60s. He was looking fairly more worse off than I, having had a stroke and needing to use a cane. I'm blessed in that I haven't had a stroke ... yet ... and if my doctor knows what he's talking about, there's not one in the near future.

Anyway, there he was, sitting there. And I got into a conversation with him. And asked him about what he was up to in the '60s. He still has his hair down, almost like a Beatles haircut, which doesn't necessarily look that great on an older guy, but it indicates something about what he was probably into 40-45 years ago.

When I asked him about this, he looked very happy. Got a smile on his face. I said something about "kids like us," etc., and he was happy to say a few things about what he was doing as a kid, how he met a particular girl, etc. Very happy.

Why would he be so happy? Because no one is interested. I don't know him but I'd bet there's not one other person in the last 10 years who's come up to him and asked about his past, what he was doing way back when.

So if you want to make someone happy ... try it ... get them aside and be interested in what they were doing when they were young ... people really want to tell you ... and you'll probably have a friend for life.

I'm Glad I Don't Know Annie Leibovitz

I saw a headline that says, "Photographer Annie Leibovitz Must Repay $24 Million Loan By Tuesday."

She's not a friend of mine in real life or on the internet. And we're going to keep it that way.

Visiting The Cemetery

I was out tonight with the dog and decided to buzz by one of the local cemeteries and check in on some friends of mine buried there.

I left the dog in the car so she wouldn't be desecrating any graves in her own special way. I think that's wise.

And there were my friends' graves, looking good. I got out and looked at the tombstone, thinking of the passage of time since they died, and thinking over the things we shared when they were alive. It's hard to believe, sometime, the passage of time, and how fast it seems to go.

Then on my way out, I almost stopped at another old friend's grave. I believe she died in 2005. I got very close but didn't want to turn the car off and walk over. So I just looked in the general direction but couldn't see the tombstone. Next time!

There's a lot of interesting tombstones. A lot of them have seen better days. Like the folks under them.

An Ancient Nancy Wilson Cassette

I got an old cassette tape by Nancy Wilson. This isn't one that was put out 10 years ago, but this is one of the older cassettes you occasionally see from the '60s.

Since the album "Son of a Preacher Man" came out in 1969, this is when this tape was from. So it's 40 years old. I got it at a thrift store. And right away I noticed the little fuzzy cube that butts up against the tape against the player head was askew. At first I didn't buy it but then I figured I could always put something in there if it didn't play right.

I got it and put it in the player and it immediately broke upon the rewind. The clear leader was stuck to itself and the tape snapped away from it. So ... that's no good.

My big option at this point was to break open the case and then unscrew an old cassette to transplant it in it. That didn't go well with the first cheap (Halloween sound effects) tape I unscrewed. So I had to do another one. I picked out one I could dispense with if necessary and made the switch.

Finally I recorded the thing on an MP3 player and it's on my iPod now, sounding pretty good.

I'm keeping the paper insert to the album. It advertises other Capitol stereo cassettes from the time, including The Beatles. The last one listed is "The Beatles," meaning the White Album.

I almost could've sent this in to Capitol for replacement. But looking at the warranty it says "If any manufacturing defect becomes apparent within 30 days of purchase..." I'd be able to mail it in for replacement. But this wasn't a manufacturing defect, really, but just the leader had gotten itself stuck by the passage of time. Who knows? Maybe there was some moisture at fault.

The Old Clock On The Wall

The other day my clock on the wall was suddenly not working. And since they're very simple to operate, unlike a computer where a million things can go wrong, if you change the battery, it's likely you've fixed it. That's what I did and it took off.

But it made me think. It seems like it used to be you'd put a battery in a clock and it'd run about forever. Because it's sucking very little power out everyday. But it seems like I've been changing batteries in various clocks around the house more frequently.

I even have one of those optical mouses now, never having had one before like 6 months ago. And the batteries wear out in it pretty frequently too. The other day my mouse function just suddenly quit working. I thought it was a computer problem, but flipped the mouse over and the red light was out. This is probably the third time I've changed batteries in it. I can't believe it wears out so fast.

Alberto Gonzales Backtracks On Torture

It'd be great to be privy to the Republicans' emails and phone calls.

Every time one of them say anything, whether it has to do with Rush Limbaugh, the terror alerts, or now, the torture probe, you can wait a day and hear them saying just the opposite.

Today it's Alberto Gonzales, who supported the CIA torture probe the other day. Now he's spun around and is against it. What happened in the meantime? We can only guess, but it possibly involves a severed horse head.

The other day it was Tom Ridge, who couldn't backpedal fast enough on whether the terrorist alerts were raised for political reasons in 2004. At first he said they were. Now he says they weren't.

Here's a clue for you all: They were.

But come back tomorrow and I'll say they weren't.

When You're Here, You're Family

We ate at Olive Garden today, which is a pleasant experience for us.

Since their slogan was or is "When you're here, you're family," it was nice to see several of my cousins serving tables. Including one cousin who tended to us in particular.

I had the Tour of Italy plate. That's a big plate with a few different things on it, including lasagna and noodles alfredo or something and I don't know what the other thing was, some kind of chicken. It was good but I started filling up, after all the bread sticks and salad.

I've been wanting to get over there for a while. I had a $25 gift card someone gave me back in June. That plus a little bit of money, twice that actually, and we had a decent time.

Then when you leave, you're no longer family.

Michelle Bachmann's Slitting Her Wrist

I don't know if I've heard anything this crazy in a long time. And believe me, I'm listening!

But maybe the craziness factor is compounded by the fact that this is from a Congressperson. Who, at least at some point in my past, I always figured to be at least semi-sane.

Minnesota's favorite daughter, Michelle Bachmann, though, is setting a new low for the reputation of members of Congress. She is so loony it's scary. This is no longer funny performance art -- I try to be generous. She has passed over into something so bizarre even Sarah Palin's shaking her head.

What did she say now? How about this:

"What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing. This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn't pass."

She's talking about healthcare reform. Isn't that weird? You know, she cuts her wrists, the first thing they'll do is rush her to the hospital. And being a Congressperson, having government health insurance, we'll be paying for her recovery. There's some irony there!