WhaHappen?

Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren

Yikes – is summer already over? I must’ve blinked because last time I checked, we just launched it with the Memorial Day weekend post. Oy vey. That reminds me, for our Jewish friends, Happy New Year on September 18!

Anyhoo, having been off-line for a few months, I truly miss y’all and am now easing back into bloggyland. So whether you like it or not, I’ll be visiting your sites and will be commenting unabashedly once again. Stand by for my goofy/dorky remarks. (I apologize in advance; thank you for your forgiveness.)

And heads up – I’ll start blogging again in November, but probably just twice a week at the most. People, I am one tired mo-fo. I work my arse off all week long (mind you, with a 10% salary cut thanks to the ratbastards City of L.A. gods). Oh and I’m in school till 11pm on some nights. Yes – P.M.

But if you’re planning on burglarizing my house because you THINK I’m not home that night, plan on meeting Mister .45 Cal, and my favorite Rambo knife, nun-chucks, Trixie the Anti-Terrorist Catfighter, and the ol’ knee-to-the-groin-maneuver. And we will film Saw VIII when you show up.

Whew! I don’t know what just happened there. What a stress-reliever that was, just to envision what I’d do to some knucklehead, given the opportunity. It felt better than yoga. Okaaay…must think good thoughts now.

I just wanna give some shout-outs to friends, new and old, for checking on me here the last few months. I really appreciate all of you for taking the time to leave comments. Let’s go Romper Room-style with some acknowledgements:

And I seeee… Wizard of Otin, Cool Stuff For Dads.com, The Constant Complainer, Alantru, Betty, San Diego Realtor, and Hairball (who was on blog-hiatus with me but started up again – but I didn’t know, so all that time I was drinking Mai Tais all by myself on the hammock – click here for comment thread about that).

So everyone – GROUP HUG please. And no copping a feel! Thanks for stopping by and also tell me that you haven’t let yourself turn into an old fogey while I was gone. (Ugh, and I REALLY need to work on getting rid of my cellulite and folds.)

Video link “God Bless the USA”

“And I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me”

I’m suspending my blog hiatus this holiday to post about something that’s near and dear to me. There are only a few things in this life that turn on the serious switch for me. Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day always makes me reflect and feel so in awe of those Americans who fought, and continue to fight, for this country’s freedom. Here in the United States, we have an unrivaled freedom to live our lives and pursue success and happiness; a type of overall freedom that’s not offered everywhere in the world. Our troops that are stationed in less fortunate countries will tell us how lucky we are.

So I’m forwarding this message that my very patriotic Dad forwarded to me so that others can reflect on the daily sacrifices our military makes and to honor those of have indeed made the ultimate sacrifice. Never forget.

WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME

When a soldier comes home, he finds it tough…

…to listen to his son whine about being bored.

…to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

to be tolerant of those who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.

…to be understanding when a co-worker complains about getting a bad night’s sleep.

…to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.

…to control his stress level when his wife tells him to drive slower.

…to be compassionate when someone expresses a fear of flying.

…to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they’re worried about sending their kids off to summer camp.

…to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.

…to control his frustration when a colleague complains about the coffee being too cold.

…to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.

…to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

…to just walk away when someone complains they only get 2 weeks vacation every year.

…to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

The only thing harder than being a soldier…

…is loving one.

Queen – You’re My Best Friend

I just want to tell you how fun it is to visit your blogs. You make me spill my coffee when I spaz-giggle before setting my cup down. Sometimes I just choke and chortle or spit-laugh at my monitor.

Also, I feel like we have alot in common. I salute the playfulness in all of you. That said, I’m letting you know that I’ll still be visiting everyone while I take a half-hearted hiatus from blogging.

My cat Trixie convinced me this morning, while she laid luxuriously on the bed, that I have to get on with my other projects, by which I mean, sleeping — and “napping” when I’m not sleeping. It’s not that I’m narcoleptic, though I’ve been accused. I just wish my chosen art form was “hammock-tester” or sleep researcher.

So I’m still going to be around – you can’t shut me up that easily. I just don’t plan to post on a regular basis, until I can complete some of my other goals that I’ve set for myself this year. I actually have several entrepreneurial ideas I’m toying with and need to focus on. Most of them are not internet-based.

As I’ve mentioned, I’ll be frequenting your blogs and commenting as usual. Hey, you can’t get rid of me without an enforceable restraining order.

Meanwhile, feel free to comment on any of my past posts. I’ll always respond to all comments. And I truly enjoy hearing about YOU. By the way, I totally like it when you leave longer comments – because that’s what makes me feel like I actually know you. It’s also cool when you “talk” to each other here. I like that cocktail party atmosphere!

Also, be sure to check out the blogs on my sidebar. I’ll definitely be adding the rest of you who have been regularly commenting. But being the obsessive-compulsive categorizer that I am, I haven’t been able to put all you square-pegs into the right holes, so I have to get creative. But I’ll get you in there soon.

Anyway, til my next post (which might even be tomorrow) take care and keep playing. Don’t get old – I’ll be right back!

Here’s the link, if you have trouble viewing the video:

Gordon Lightfoot – Carefree Highway

My car just turned 102,000 miles. (Sigh) It seems like just yesterday when she (yes she) and I were cruising around the Westside with the open sunroof, new car smell, with only 70 miles on her odometer. I hope she sticks around for another 100,000, so I can pass her on to my daughter Jordan, who’ll be driving in 2 years. At least I know she’s reliable and will keep Jordan safe.

As close as I feel to my current car, a white 2003 Toyota Highlander, I have the best memories of my 1989 Toyota Camry. That car and I had been through ALOT together. Sad stuff like bad dates and failed relationships. But plenty of fun, youthful times too, like driving with friends along the sunny coast with the open sunroof and singing “Brown-Eyed Girl” at the top of our lungs.

Most of my cars had good juju. They weren’t evil Christines (as in the Stephen King book/movie) trying to kill me or set me up for a bad accident. My flat tires always happened where help was nearby.

Looking back at my first car, a yellow 1972 VW Beetle, kind of reminds me of life and the aging process. My brother let me have it in 1983 when he left for college. It was cute and youthful-looking with a new paint job. But over the next 4 years that I used it, it really fell apart. I don’t know, maybe it missed my brother.

First, the window handle broke off. For you youngsters, we used to have to manually roll down the windows by making a cranking motion with a lever. It’s similar to dialing a rotary phone or using a manual return on a typewriter. Oh, never mind.

Eventually , the rearview mirror popped off, the glove compartment refused to close. Alot of things stopped working: the speedometer, odometer, and gas gauge. It was tricky trying to not get a speeding ticket or not run out of gas. And of course all the big repairs came along: brake jobs, CV joints, alternators, until it was finally time to say good-bye and just let it flatline.

But my sad little VW taught me alot about people getting old too. For example, the parts started creaking, herky-jerky movements, alignment problems, smelly emissions, fluid leakage, you get the idea. But I sure get attached to my cars, just like how I’m sentimental about this old body. I like it the way it is right now and I’m not looking forward to the day I gotta put it out to pasture.

Meanwhile, I’m going to live it up more than ever before, squeeze every bit of fun in, and get the most mileage out of life. Come with?

Now it’s your turn. Tell me a car story and/or answer the following:

• What was your first car?
• Did you have a favorite car and why was it special?
• What’s your Dream Car and who’s your Dream Passenger?

Rihanna – Shut Up and Drive

Gary Numan – Cars