Waiting For Santa Paws

Rose by any other name

 

Bob Schiffer 12 10 2006 Comments on Face the Nation

This marks the end of what may have been the least productive Congress of modern times. And, what finer way to remember it than two stories that broke last week?

First, when Democratic leaders announced the new Congress would work five days a week instead of the barely three days a week they worked this year, Democrats and Republicans howled.
Democrat Debbie Wasserman said it would force her to reschedule her daughter's Brownie troop meetings. Republican Jack Kingston said it would mean less time with his family and showed Democrats didn't care about families.

Earth to Congress: there are a lot of working parents who have to juggle family and work schedules. Maybe another line of work would better suit your lifestyles.

And there was this: The House Ethics Committee concluded House leaders had probably known for years that former Congressman Mark Foley was making inappropriate contact with teenage pages but chose to ignore it. Yet the committee decided bad judgment didn't mean house rules had been violated so they recommended no punishment - not even a reprimand - for anyone.

As the father of grown children who once interned at the Capitol, I believe the time has come to shut down all congressional page and intern programs. Congress has demonstrated it has no real interest in protecting kids from what they might encounter there.

As for Congress working too hard, we should not only demand it work five days a week, but that members punch a time clock like many working Americans. That way, we would at least know where they are

Ice Wars

Tonight, after weeks worth of advertising was the ultimate battle, the world vs the US. Now I was making dinner and did not turn around right away to see the visuals, but in my mind there was images of soldiers fighting terrorism, smoking out the Taliban, civilians standing up against communism, and cats and dogs ripping ears off of each other and as the music boomed and the pyrotechnic flares shot out and when all came to settle what I saw shocked me. Scott Hamilton in a top hat, ascot, and tails fladditing around a hockey rink with the boards taken down. Cut to the last shot in the promo, he lifts his hat and tilts his head and winks to the camera.....sound bite " ICE WARS-US VS the World.. Wow, was I scared? I do not think so. I felt the urge to go out and find me the best pair of Ken Cole fusion dress shoes in black with a four hole eyelet. Complete with 32 CM laces.

Anyway, I did not give that much thought to it. I mean do not get me wrong, I do not hate figure skating. I was around ice rinks since a child and I actually love the concept of all nations of the world resolving all conflicts with an international skate off like the Jets and Sharks, rather than billions in weapons and millions of lost lives. But something bothered me. This was not a war. Here are my reasons why this was not a war.

1. In war, the combatants wear camouflage to become stealth like and surprise the enemy. In Ice Wars, the combatants wore bright colored spandex with Lycra bunting around their wastes and they were followed by a spotlight. I have never fought in a war or ever want to but, if I had to I certainly do not want a spotlight on me for the enemy to snipe at me and I certainly do not want to be found dead in a spandex outfit with glitter and bunting.
2. In war triage centers are set up to help the wounded as they come back from battle. The Doctors in these mobile medical centers encounter perhaps some of the most complex injuries known to man in this age of technology. In ice wars, the "sports therapists" are on hand to deal with an array of bruises, muscle strains, sprains, and minor cuts. In war Doctors may need to amputate mutilated arms and legs as a result of war trauma. In Ice Wars they may need to apply ice packs and band aids.
3. In war, the winner is declared as the person or side that has control of the war zone after the shooting has stopped. The dead are bagged and tagged and sent to air bases in Germany before final arrival at home. In Ice Wars, the soldiers sit together and hold hand with each other as number pop up on the screen. A judge calls out a winner and both hug and cry.

Shat came out tonight and announced he was a fairy...Brought out last weeks contestant and now the game is on. But before the first question, everyone lets dance.. Only actor to win for acting and screen writing and he says Tom Hanks... Wait wait Shat is getting very close to Bill and tells him there may be a whammy..140k and he lost it. Emma Thompson is the answer.

Next question..The first animal to go into space's dog name..Answer is Celica. He passed. I know the Matt Damon answer..Mystic Pizza... He gets to pick a girl.. 20k is he right or wrong... Oh he got it wrong, what did he say. I thought he said that but I guess not..Oh well lets dance out to commercial break

I have to say the show is losing energy after the first night. I think it is the Blue Angels. No it was Thunderbirds..Next one he has to pass on too but I did not know that either. Evening shade for the next one???I know it is not Duke's of Hazard. Answer is Picket Fences. Up next the kid rock song who did the original... Bad Company

I turned over to America's Next Top Model..Its hotter. The girls have to complete a dance tonight with their Spanish counterparts. All the girls did a nice job. Winner is Eugenia and she picks Amanda to share in the prize which is surprising since she is more friends with Caridee. She did it because Amanda never won anything. They get clothing. Unlike Shat's show, they fight when they go to commercial.

Back to Shat and our dumb friend is 90k in the hole and he has to pick a prize after locking in with Sean Connery. 160k..He was wrong. HE BLEW IT.. But they have one last dance

Back to ANTM....Girls are ready for their photo shoot and they have to pair up tonight and float in the water. The girls are having a hard time since the water is cold and the girls are freezing. Almost like CK and water. The girls all do horrible since they are so cold.

Back from commercial and the girls are discussing what went right and wrong. They are ready to meet with Tyra. Tyra always looks great. Once again she explains the prizes and introduces the judges..The girls are shown their best shots and asked to dance..The shots looked good of the water and the dancing. Miss Jay and Tyra danced. The judges are going to meet and discuss who gets to go home.

Here come the girls who is safe..first is...Melrose...Eugenia....leaves Caridee and Amanda..I think Caridee is going home. Winner is...Caridee wins and Amanda goes home. I agree though because I do not think that Amanda and her twin should have been there to begin with. As we leave she cries and I think inside we all cry a little bit for her. We all want to be winners in a world of losers....Perhaps we see a little bit of her inside of us

Thanksgiving 2006

Thank God its Turkey Day and not Deer Day. I was able to walk within about 10 feet of this beautiful little buck. That is how my day started. Now this little man in training laid in the woods trying to keep warm and dry for many hours. When the rain broke, the young dude walked over and began to nibble on some plants. I walked out to the deck and there we were, man and deer gazing into each others eyes with compassion, understanding differences, and a peace.

Then my mother walks out the back door and around the side of the garage and screams..GET OUT OF HERE, LEAVE.....The deer startled at first, looked me in the eyes and slowly turned and walked away. I realized that we were the same. Not scared by my mother, but just did not want to put up with her nagging and yelling.

Other than that we had a great Turkey day. The meal fantastic. The turkeys were some special breed from the south of Spain. We argued about religion and politics and played name the tune with some old time standards. Two of the appys were great but one did not cook as well due to hot spots in my parents oven. As Meatloaf said..Two out of three aint bad.

Suzie although walked 12 times by my sister, let loose on the carpet with a stream of urine for no reason. She enjoyed the day but became overwhelmed and tired by all the attention. At one point she was unable to keep her eyes open and fell asleep in her mash potatoes. Go figure. She tried to blame it on the tryptophan. That was until we explained to her that she did not have any turkey. Then she just started to crack rats and blame them on me as well. I was only responsible for about 10%. The other 90% she was lying.

We stayed the night since it was a holiday. Will do it again on Xmas eve. I always like being home during Xmas and Thanksgiving. I remember when I lived in GA I would save the measly days off they would give me at GE and take them off at Xmas. I would have to argue and fight for the days and remind them that I did not have family in the area and if I did would give them the days off so they could spend it with their friends and family if they lived far away. They hated me big time.

The best part about Xmas in those days is that I had no money and would fly home once a year. It would be the Friday before Xmas. I would take the MARTA to the airport and fly up. I remember I would see the AC Casinos (when I was on the right side of the plane) and then as we came into Newark,would see the lineup of planes flying in a big circle, holding for a chance to land on time.

The greeting I would get at the airport was small but always at the gate. Today it is a hit and run pick up when we get someone at the airport. One time I came home we were able to take the new RT 24 all the way to Morristown which was amazing and so quick.

The best part about coming home was the following: Once you got home there was always turkey and other cold cuts laid out for you to make a sandwich. The next best part was for the first time in months, you woke up to the smell of coffee rather than getting up and making it yourself. You never forget moments like that in your life. Made you feel safe, made you feel taken care of.

Another Shat Shot

 

Shat Dancing with Winner

 

A Shatteriffic Thanksgiving Eve Event

Tonight is the night that we have been waiting for. Show me the money.... We were all treated last week to a sneak preview. Tonight is the real deal.

Here we go. Show opens with girl shadows dancing and clapping. Standing O for Shat who is surprised at the welcome... He said he feels cash-tastic. .. He calls Paula up who has brought him a pie, a butter milk pie. He is making comments that she is big but he asks her to say hello to the million dollar dancers and now they are all dancing. He explains the game and now the first question.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the answer which she knew. She has locked in. Now she has to pick the dancer. My God she has the easiest questions..YMCA. After that one Bill cleaned his ear. Medusa is the next and she passed on the first question. Ouch she passed on a second easy one. She is up to 480 K and as Bill says ladies lets dance

Back from break she said she will leave her job. Next question...Come on it was Barry Williams ..Greg. Come on another easy one. Alyssa Milano.. She now needs to pick her next girl. She is now up to 700k if she wins and she is right...And the Shat says..Lets go girls. She has locked in with the Jerry Springer show.. She got it. They hugged and then she announced that the staff had her tape her titties down so the did not kill the Shat.

Back from break and she needs one question..and she does not know the answer and she says it is Ted Kennedy..Its the Tom dude though..She picked Mimi..Oops John Warner and she is down 100k.. Next question..She passed on the first...and passed on the second she is forced to answer a shakespere question and she answered Hamlet..They go to break but no dancing...

Back from break and she has to pick a dancer and she lost 40k. Still needs one more to win..Here we go... Dr Ruth....And she has such..Here we go she needs money and she gets 120k..Is she right..Here we go..She won and they all dance

Bill up next to take his chances. A NASCAR fan with his good luck charm a lug nut. Lets play. Easy answer Paul from the Beatles and htis guy would have to be so out of it to pass. Shat is letting him know what a dumb ass he is. Next one is easy too... Brittany..He does pull it out and lets see how much he could win?? This guys is a shouter...and it is very annoying.. Next question...Easy Hung, and he know the correlation. He picks 120k..200k in the black.

Back from break and this will be the teaser segment or the loser segment...5 mins left..The guy is starting to cry on TV and so is his dad. He is giving his academy award speach thanking everyone that helped him get to this point and answer two easy questions..Answer is Hee Haw is correct.. He is picking and he gets 220k. He wins and then in classic Shat style plugs his other TV show. Not as great as the first one and lost steam in the middle

A Coach With A Tie?????

Come on. There are no coaches in football that wear a tie on the sidelines. Either he has authority issues with his players or he thinks he is a basketball or hockey coach.

Odd thing is his sucky team is beating the Giants right now. The Giants do not know how to play football, Plexico is lazy, and Shockey is a cry baby. Time to fire all of them

What Suzie Was Hunting

 

Suzie On The Hunt

 

Broad Street

Ragweed

 

Woodpecker Hole

 

Woodpecker Hole

 

The Woods

 

Blue Cross- NYC in the Background

 

Seaton Hall Law-Newark NJ

New Devil Stadium In Newark

 

Newark Skyline-Saturday

 

Lil Bro and Underestimation

This is my little bro Josh. We do things from time to time. He likes computers, and stupid yu-gi-oh cards, and PlayStation. He is reckless and breaks things with his abundant energy.

I collect chess sets and he always asks to play with them and plays with them like they toys which aggravates me.

Tonight he asked if he could play and I said no again. I asked him if he really knew how to play and he was not sure if he taught his mother or if she taught him. I figured, I would waste him and put the game away and be done with that.

Game Afoot.

The game started and he began moving his side pawns which was dumb and confirmed my suspicions that he does not know how to play. Two moves later he had my queen. Two moves after that he had my rook. I began to realize I was in trouble. He systematically began taking down my big pieces until I was almost dead. I was on the run and he made one careless mistake that allowed me to win, but I was sweating it. I underestimated how good he was and it cost me. I will never do that again.

I went on to win both games but I was humbled. Touche Mr Blue Jay, and many props to your game

Relaxing

 

CK and Her Trip to India

My friend CK is going to India.. I do not know why. This is a clip from an Indian movie that I watch every night when I come home from work. It makes me laugh. CK is going to come back from India and she is going to be all Bollywood. She will be very hard to deal with then.

The Other Girls

Want to make sure that my posts are not too one sided. I have two other rescue animals as well that are living large. In this picture they over time have taken over Suzie's pad and so as a treat this weekend I put it up on the counter so they could relax and sleep safe from growls of an earth bound dog and head high to a quick rub and kiss from me. Funny little creatures these two who are enjoying their days fed and loved and not too concerned about having to fight and kill for their survival.

I guess I am just a mean person 

The Breeders Cup, TV and Computer Commandeering, and My Friend CK

Like all of these CK posts, I always start it the same way. "I really like my friend CK, but..." Well I do, but last Saturday I received an urgent call. Now I have been telling CK to get a nice flat screen to replace her 1972 black and white 13 inch rabbit eared TV, but she never hears anything I say. She also complains that I have way too many TVs for my place and for one person. I have also been telling her to get cable. At the very least the 13 inch b&W picture will come in better and she will not have to worry about the rabbit ears falling to the floor and god forbid put the slightest scratch on her hardwood floor. But she did not heed my warning.

Fast forward to last weekend. CK calls up in tears telling me that the Breeder cup is on ESPN. I am like wow that it is fantastic. Then she asked what I was doing. I told her that I was about to give blood for the second time that week to save a dying man and then probably watch the Notre Dame game. She told me to quickly wrap up the blood letting and get home because she needed to watch the Breeder cup. Be there no later than 11:45 or else I start knocking windows out with bricks. Then she hung up.

I arrived home just as CK was cocking her arm to take out the first window. I was able to talk her out of throwing the brick and we entered into the house. I was a little weak from all the blood giving but as soon as we got in CK insisted that I turn the TVs on to ESPN and to shut my mouth so she can watch the pre-game. She pulled out her copy of Thoroughbred Times with it feature article, Back to Churchill Downs. She went to sit down and then screeched.... I said CK, what is the matter. She said there is a dog hair on the couch..How am I to sit here. I said CK I have two cats and a dog, and I have not had a chance since you gave such late notice, and I am weak from giving blood.. She said, I will count to 30, get a vacuum with a fresh hepa filter and eradicate this area of all dog and cat hair. I need to eat my Asian rice crackers in a secure environment. Go, she screamed and I sprang into action. I fainted twice but was able to clear an area in which she felt safe.

In trying to make small talk with her I asked if she liked that it was on a bigger screen and in high Def.. Apparently this was lost on CK and she felt that her 1972 13 inch B&W provided a much better picture. I thought to myself...How?? The rabbit ear reception must be horrible in her place provided she cannot even talk on her cell phone because she lives on our planet's only sunspot smack dab in the middle of Hoboken. I tired to continue making small talk but was quickly told to shut up and bring her Coke and Asian Rice crackers and only speak when spoken to. She grabbed a knife from my cutlery set and threatened to cut me and my dog if I did not comply. I quickly got quiet.

I began preparing my drawing for this years 2006 Xmas cards, when we came to a commercial break. CK was ready to talk and I made what I thought would be a very reasonable request. Since there was 30 mins between each race, I thought at 330 we could watch the Notre Dame game between the races. You would have thought I reached into her chest and ripped her lungs and heart out and threw them on the floor. She screamed....What??? What??? Are you kidding??? I do not know what you are watching but down here on this crappy HD 42 inch TV we are watching the Breeder cup, which by the way does not end until 1130 pm. At that moment I knew my fate and day was sealed. At 4pm I found myself in my bedroom watching the Notre Dame game as CK watched the run for the cup on my TV and computer. I was denied water and food.

The only time we interacted after that moment was when she would yell to me...I need more soda get it now. At that moment I was granted access to the downstairs area. For the most part I sat in my bedroom, folding clothes, comforting the animals that she scared with jer demeanor, and looking out the window as if to ask the higher spirits when will this ordeal be over. Did the hostages in Iran have it this bad. I think not.

With my game finished I went back downstairs and just sat quietly in my kitchen as the races progressed. She was rooting for the horses whose owners were some how connected to the 9-11 terror bombings. She reminded me that money laundering, if not caught, is not a crime and the Meadow lands race track and people are a cesspool. I sat there until almost midnight when the last race went off. At the end, she took her magazine, threw it at me, and then took a fork and stabbed my dog Suzie in the ass. Suzie did nothing because she is used to this behavoir from CK. Sadly, I have become numb to it as well.

Election Day Fall 2006

This morning our President George W. Bush said " Not matter what your party affiliation is, get out and vote". So very sad. He has been cast down to a MTV staple cause of get out the vote. So, for the first time, since he asked me to and since all the candidates up for re-election where I live are crooks or party line dumb asses. I did not vote and have accepted that the dice have been cast and I will live with what I did not vote for. I have been doing that for 6 years already and most of them I hope will be arrested and impeached within the next few years.

Life

In discussions with people today and in observations a thought came to mind because I was telling them that I was mapping my life with google earth.

Looking about the earth and who I have known and where I have been is amazing. The places I have lived and have shared my life with those that I have lived with or near makes me such a rich person. The times in my life both happy and sad can be mapped.

Tonight I was told that a person that I have known died from cancer. I am going to map her house. I cannot map the pain that others will feel from her loss. She died on a day where one person had a bday.. The person that I knew her through, it was her bday. The person who died was close to her. This day will always be in her thoughts. I called her today for the first time on her bday. Ironic that today that someone close to that person died on a day when I called them.

Today Roe died and her family is sad. The years, days, hours, and minutes that she was here will be recounted in all of our minds. The days, hours, and minutes that she will not be here will measured in tears.

Roe, although not related to me is representative of the woman and men that I grew up around and in my family. Strong, independant, and a free thinkers. The times that we spoke to her, interacted with her, or thought about her are magnified. She will missed. Today will always be her day.

Map your life in your head, on a map, or on the internet. Map the happy, map the sad, map the tragic, and map the moments that mean nothing now. They may mean something one day and you may look back upon them as what they may become. A defining moment in your life that may be huge or small.

Dogs and The People That Own Them

Sad but happy at the same time. I took in a dog with many issues. I have read and spoken to people on what is the right thing to do by the dog.... I watched a PBS special on dogs, read books and articles, watched shows and sought the advice of experts.

Many people have different views on how to make a dog mold to the owner. I know people that want to control their dogs and make them behave in the right way.

My dog was abused and hurt. The only thing I have shown the dog since I got her is love and trust. Not rules. She does not act right all the time, she frustrates me, and she is not right.

All that aside, I think she is happy. She is safe and she is loved and she knows it. I will not envoke rules on her and I will not demand she follow a heritic law that I am more advanced than her and that I own her.

She thinks and she feels and she is a viable creature in the eyes of a greater spirit.

She is my dog. She is my friend. She is my Suzie.

I am not her owner, I am a friend that is trying to show her a better way.

Sunday, Fall 2006 in Branch Brook Park

Today, after getting coffee and spending some quality time pooping and pissing, Suzie and I took a nice walk around Branch Brook Park as we do every morning. Today it was a little later and it was me pooping and pissing in the park, not her...I kid. The following posts are of the view that we gazed upon as we sipped from the relaxing nectar of life.

Sunday, Fall 2006 in Branch Brook Park

No Fish In 2048

This post is for nephews or god forbid one of my kids but they announced today that our oceans will be dead of edible fish in 2048. Now I have been saying for years that they should only allow fishing of the seas every other year. But that will never happen. My predictions are as followed.

2047 we begin breeding farm raised fishes in hatcheries across the nation on a huge scale.

2049 The rich will be able to dine nightly at our larger city aquariums. Camden property will triple overnight on 1 1 2049

My Email Barak Obama-One Strike

Shame on you senator... I am an independent from NJ leaning more towards the Democrats then the Republicans. Knowing NJ politics you know how dirty Essex county Dems are and how dirty Robert Menendez is. Don't you think it is odd that they are asking a Senator from Ill to come in to help out a crook. I know you are not that dumb and it is shameful that you spoke so proud during the convention and your election about the future of this country and then you sell out like a shill for the party.. Did you have to have Bob come speak for you..Do you think NJ voters are that dumb. Shame on you sir. Bob has lost my vote due to your stunt in Hoboken and you have lost my vote for your run for President which seems to be your agenda rather than helping the people of your state... I hope Corey Booker is not the person you are...Stand up for the good people in your party..Not the ugly low lifes that Bob is.

A Note About Halloween

Halloween used to be fun. We knew what it was about. It was a ritual in which the night before All Saint's Day, you put on your scary costume and walked about the earth making it safe for the saints. You know kind of scare them away. To the lesser developed minds of the 70's it was the day that you went out and got candy. But mine was a little different.

Halloween was a two day event. A night of mischief and a night of celebration. Now we were good kids and we liked being out on mischief night but we were not terrors. There was one name in our town that was associated with that terror though...The Keating Brothers... One was pure evil and the other was evil with a softer side.
Now at that time, they were evil in its youngest stage. Simple acts of random nuisance terror is what they were into. Pulling fire alarms, and framing others, beating kids up after school, and on Halloween their signature small town terror acts... Smashing the pumpkins you carved in the middle of the streets, and taking the candy you collected.. Kind of endearing now that you look back, but at the time it made you scared and mad at the same time. It kind of made Halloween. They were adorable little punks that rocked our world.. Kind of taught us more about good and evil then our parents ever could have.

But all Hallow's Eve has changed even more over the years. I am talking about the quality of the holiday and the character of the Trick or Treaters.

Back in the old days, I had some really rag tag costumes...Our costumes were always dreamed up a day or two before and being the only boy between two girls, I got the worst. My older sister got the nicely tailored costumes by my Godmother the seamstress Mary. My younger sister seemed to get the best costume from the Woolworth store. I got a hodge podge array of hand me down costumes through the years that bordered on the ridiculous to the sublime.

One such sublime costume started out as a tribute, but by today's standard would be considered the most stereotypical racist costume ever worn by a young child. I was to be a wise China Man. Now I say sublime because I went through intense training on how to act as the wise man. If asked what I was, I was to bow and say Domo Arigato (sp) and Assso...Wise for the time...But there I was putting on a karate outfit, a stocking over my face to make me look Asian or a theif, and a yamika with a long braided pony tail in the middle that hung behind my head. Now do not get me wrong. It was original, but had you given me a bike, a basket, some throw away chopsticks, an extra menu, and a number 69 (broccoli and rice), I would have been a short step from the Emperor of Japan to local Chinese food delivery boy.... But I did get a lot of candy that year...and fortune cookies.

Other costumes included a gypsy (chic) and girl cat, and a witch...Not a warlock but a witch. Now I know the economics of the time dictate you use what you have got, but come on.... I was an after thought at best or at worst my parents thought I was gay and were trying to give me the push to come out... Stone Wall had just happened in the village and we were a very liberal family...

Be that as it may, the holiday itself has changed. We wore dark costumes and walked on dark streets. We were a minute away from becoming a hit and run. Our parents did not go out with us after the age of two but did provide us with a flash light with batteries that were partially used and usually died a few minutes into the first dark driveway we had to walk up. I remember one night in my girl cat uniform when a car wized by and the wind from the car ripped my mask off and it flew into a pile of leaves into the street in which there was no sidewalk to the side where the Keating boys were about to light the leaves on fire committing their third act of arson that night. You cannot replace moments like those.

Tonight I had the usual...Parents collecting candy for thier kids, just like they do when they sell girl scout cookies, greedy kids reaching into the bowl and trying to steal more than their share, kids with no costumes, the uncomfortable conversations between a 40 year old man and children, and souless bodies that walked up and down the street making no attempt to go up to a door, ring the bell, and say those magic words..Trick or Treat..Instead they passed by my place like Sockeyes trying to get to their spawing grounds and me like a bear trying to pass out candies instead of feasting. A very sad statement on the times.

Oh, by the way I retreated into my place and took a photo of the candles I was burning for Halloween, but apparently the country left me off the memo in which they said all houses had to have 6 systems of safety lighting before any trick or treater was allowed to enter the property....