John

Williams, that is. John Williams, probably the best known movie music composer there is -- Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, just to name a few. I went the Hollywood Bowl last night to listen to him. His music is always enjoyable particularly when he is conducting the LA Philharmonic.

Music has always been a big part of my life even though I don't play, write, or sing. My dad was a musician and along with radio and a short stint on TV, he worked on a two week contract for over 30 years at the same place. The place changed ownership and name a few times, but he was always there.

He was one of the lucky ones. He always had work. After traveling around the country with a well known band in the 30's and early 40's, he settled down in one place and stayed there for the rest of his life. While working 6 nights a week did not afford my mother much of a social life, it provided a great life for us kids. I was very blessed with a childhood filled with adventure-gaining experiences from both the city during the school year and the country on the weekends and all summer long.

My mom did not have to work. She was always home for us. Now days, she probably would have to work. The music business is not what it use to be.

My dad passed away a number of years ago not long after he retired. He did not really retire. After all, he said that he never worked a day in his life. He would have played for free and often did. Entertaining was enough pay. The money was extra.

How many of us can say that about the work we do today? I'm betting not many.

I miss my dad...

Parties

Much is being make of the parties that lobbyists (particularly the telecom companies) are throwing for the Dems at the convention. The pundits talk about how they get around the latest restrictions, such as not serving anything that requires a knife and fork, by using only spoons.

We don't need more laws against lobbying. We need congressmen that won't go to the parties! It's not like they are being forced to do it.

Republicans do it too, but I don't care about republicans! They are becoming extinct.

I have...

the best alarm clock in the world. At least as long as you want to get up at 6:25 am. It is only set for one time.

It is my German Shepherd. Every morning, without fail, she comes to the end of the bed and lets out a very light bark. If I don't move, she comes up to the side of the bed and hits it with her paw. If I still don't move, she licks my face. I don't know what would come next. I always get up by the lick.

She is not early. She is not late. I don't know where she hides her alarm, but she is always there within one or two minutes either way of 6:25 am.

Dogs continue to amaze me.

I wish more people were like dogs.

Cool Kids

I have been put to shame. I was watching a program this evening on a local TV station honoring young kids who are active in their communities. The things these kids have accomplished is truly amazing.

I think back to when I was a teenager, oh so many years ago, and I can't imagine doing the things they are doing. A common thread ran though each of their stories -- they were happy putting a smile on someone's face. They were not doing it to make ...

Whoops. A brief interruption. I have to remove a baby lizard about 1 inch long from my kitchen.

...money or for fame. They said they enjoyed seeing the recipients of their efforts smile. A smile! Made me want to cry.

Oh if we all could do things just to make others smile. What a much better world this would be.

It sure beats the hell out of shooting them!

Good Government?

Reagan said the nine most dangerous words in the English language are "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help". He then started the Conservative process of dismantling government and proving himself correct. And they have been fairly successful at it -- witness Katrina, Iraq, the economy, the military, foreign policy, etc.

The best run businesses in the US have a visionary, forward thinking leader who hires the most competent people he can to carry out his policies and provides a stimulating and rewarding atmosphere for his employees. Small companies do this best, but there are some very large companies that do it as well.

Companies that fail are ones that lose this vision.

What is the best way to show that Government does not work? Start with an incompetent leader and hire incompetent people to run it. Lose the Vision. Wow! That sounds like the last 8 years! It started before that; it started with Reagan. But it has really taken off with Bush.

The problem is not the Government. After all, we are the Government. We elect the leaders and they are the ones who hire the people to run it. We are the problem.

Even senile old White Males like me can do better.

Obama-Biden

Biden - an outspoken and sometimes over spoken candidate. Overall, good for Obama. I like Biden. I hope he keeps speaking what's on his mind. Downside - part of the establishment, 30+ years in the senate.

What if Obama had picked a black man? Would they had any chance at being elected? I doubt it.

It makes me think of a recent comment by a friend (well, not really a friend, not in real life. Actually barely an internet acquaintance, but I think we could be friends if we ever met in real life). She said that most of her White Male Friends are going to vote for McCain. (Capitalization is hers) I interpret WMF as meaning they are voting for McCain because he is white, and not for Obama because he is black.

What is the problem with us WMs? Obama has a black father and a white mother. So, he is as white as he is black. Why is he called black? Why not grey? Why does it matter?

I guess we still have a lot of growth left to do both as individuals and as a society.

Too bad!

Where To Begin

I've had many thoughts bouncing around in my head today -- children (joy and frustration), religion (are we gods pets), politics (where are the real leaders), and general confusion.

I am old enough to remember the energy crisis in the 70's. We had gas rationing and could buy gasoline only on even or odd days depending on your license plate number. I had two cars at the time, one with an even number and one with an odd number. I also had a couple of 5 gallon cans and a siphon hose. Hence I was able to game the system - get gas on any day and transfer it from one car to the other if need be.

I don't think I would do that today. I think I would try to help solve the problem (or at least go along with the solution) rather than try to get around the inconvenience. I see that as growth.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where the leaders are still trying to game the system. The rich and powerful (leaders) work the system to their advantage only and leave the rest of us out in the cold.

Over the last 30 years they have found a way to get control of the government and to convince the general population to go along with them using wedge issues that really have little impact on our daily lives. I mean, does it really matter if two women or two men marry each other?

Enough! That's not really where I want to go tonight.

I am sitting at the computer with my dogs at my feet (4 year old German Shepherd female and 7 year old lab mix). I had a nice bottle of wine with dinner. Half of the bottle acutally. I just finished a great cup of espresso and actually feel very peaceful. My life is relatively simple. I work for myself. I have been fortunate enough to have established a bit of a reputation over the years so that sufficient work comes to me without having to do any marketing or sales work.

I've been following the blogs of some people who are pursuing their dreams -- some with more success than others, but that does not matter. They are trying to make changes to better their lives and in the process are making the lives of others better also.

Think what a much better world this would be if more people did that. We don't need to torture people. We need to set an example for them. If we want people to follow us, then we should do things that others would want to do.

Well, enough of my crap for tonight. Some people probably think I'm nuts. Just remember, those founding fathers that conservatives love to refer to so often, were radical, liberal, revolutionaries of their time. They would be called terrorists today.

Thanks, Republicans

Listened to the bad economic news today. High inflation, etc. Thanks, republicans (you don't deserve a capital r). Starting with Reagan, you have destroyed the US economy and the middle class along with it.

You must feel proud. Mothers cannot even buy back to school stuff for their kids or put food on the table. I hope the rich ($5 million/yr plus according to McCain - and he is one of them) must feel good. BASTARDS

Why would an ordinary person vote republican? Don't they think? I'm sorry. I don't understand it.

On the lighter side of things, I had a good hike today. Glad the heart is still beating. Sometimes I wonder...

Voices In My Head

I have conversations with myself in my head about what I am going to post either here or as a comments to another blog. They always sound better in my head. I guess imagination is better than reality. Too bad!

Why McCain

Unless you are a vice president or higher in a major corporation, why in the world would you vote for John McCain for president? I'm serious. Why? I, personally, cannot think of a single reason.

And I am sick and tired of hearing about him being a war hero - like we need a war hero as president anyway. He is no hero. He got shot down. He's a failure. The heroes are the ones that did not get shot down.

So there! Chew on that!