driving

had to drive a package to kingman last night - got back at 5AM. Long drive. ran over a deer that had already been hit by someone before me.

stress test

Went and had my heart looked after today. I have been having a few chest pains and did not know if they were undigested mutton or mustard. Anyway, after four passes with the nuke machine, and chemical stress tests, they pronounced me as having a heart episode - no heavy lifting, stress, or strenous activity. In other words, not much of an answer. I go to the VA. And, I am very happy to say that I have not one complaint about the system. They have given me a triple bypass, surgeried my foot and generally kept me reasonably well over the years. I listen to the people in the waiting rooms complain about how they have to wait. They usually are walk-ins without appointments. Damn fools in my opinion.

news

I am a self admitted news junkie. No I am not going to check myself into some 12 step program to break my addiction. I have to know what is going on in the world. I do not ever think that my knowing will change any of the crap that goes on. The only thing that does get changed (sometimes) is how I view an issue. Michael jackson's funeral, in mty opinipon was over covered. I suppose that the ratings for the news outlets went up so the bottom lines got a bit of a bump. I do worry that newspapers will succumb to the tv and both will eventually somehow meet their demise at the door of the dot com realm. Doing the New York Times crossword is somehow less on the computer screen. At 75 cents a pop, newspapers are getting more expensive - Like beer cheaper than coke.

arizona heat

Hot here in the valley. 103 at 9AM. Out on the bike - had to run up to Fountain Hills (about 35 miles from home), Not a bad ride even though it was hot. Dry heat, I guess. I really miss the trees and grass and growing my 'jungle' back in Florida. Oh well . . . Monsoon season is here - I guess we will get some rain - about 4 drops so far.

Independence Day

Now the fireworks are over (for those who were lucky enough to see them this year) it is back to summer as usual. I had to go down to the Nogales area. I did stop at the Santa Xavier mission. Neat. The building is being restored and white washed. Indian market outside. If you are ever travelling south on Rte 19 toward Nogales, take a few minutes to stop. Terrible frozen tough steak for dinner. Since my kid years have tried to have salmon and peas for the fourth. Don't have any idea how that tradition started. Ate outside on the lawn. This year shoeleather and a glass of wine.

seniors

Yup, I'm here in seniorsville coping with Social Security, aches, pains and all the other crap that makes the promise of the golden years seem like a wisp of smoke from one of my occasional good cigars. No one tells us that the years will be filled with arthritis, acid reflux, fibromyalgia, intestinal gas and the like. Just look at the ads for the 'senior communities' - all are running around playing tennis, golf and lawn darts in designer duds. Hmmm, seems like advertising hooey to me. We areempowered by AARP (an insurance company front), 401k plans that are not worth the paper they are written on. 'Welcome to Walmart' - is this our real retirement destiny? Who has some other thoughts out there in cyberland?????

theatre decorum wicked

Went to see Wicked last nite. Cute. I was facinated by the attire and slovenliness of the patrons. Cut off jeans, dirty tee shirts, cell phone use during the performance. Sort of like a beatnik coffee house in the 50's and 60's. Maybe I am an old far* but I think that the venue and the performance should be shown some respect. Or am I from forgotten place in the dark ages? Sort of like most of the things around me. Conversations in 140 characters or less (twitter, etc.) are the norm. 'Hooking up' is the relationship choice. McWhatever is going out to dinner. Snapshots are of vulvas not faces.