Old West? OK corral style

Today I woke up after 4 hours of sleep to take my folks down south to take in a part of the old west. We headed down south of Tucson way to take in some sights. We started off with a real quick visit to San Xavier del Bach, a pure whitewashed church and mission just south of Tucson. It was a magnificent sight. A little ragged and old, but it still had enough interest and history.
I ended up getting a candle and my annual xmas tree ornament there for a couple of bucks. Not bad for a hand painted piece.
We left there and headed southeast to our destined location, the old west town of Tombstone, AZ. After the old west days died off into he early 1900's, the town saw some revival in mining for metals in WWI and for lead in WWII. Afterwards, the town pretty much became a ghost town until they embraced tourism as a source of income. So in a nutshell, the town wouldn't exist if not for the nostalgia. The main historic area consisted of about 5 square blocks of old west town. The rest of the city is tiny and sparse.
We ended up seeing a skit show and shootout at an amphitheatre like venue called Helldorado.
Pure cheese baby. The actors are old school bit part actors and stuntmen throwing out cheesy one-liners. But, for as cheesy as it was, it was very amusing and definitely worth the $5 a head you drop to go in. Go ahead and check it out for shits and giggles.
On a side note- the main actor/host that played the sheriff was a decent actor for his old age. I forgot his name, but he was in the recent Tombstone movie, played Abe Lincoln in Bill & Ted's excellent adventure, and tours the country acting as Abe Lincoln for various events.
We walked around town a bit looking at various stuff, taking in the knowledge that these streets once had blood shed on them and famous figures once walked the streets. I would have done more, but I didn't push the folks to go into a saloon and have a beer and a whisky or take other tours of other historical shit. There will be other visits for that stuff.
We took plenty of pictures, and saw a lot of cool stuff. We headed home for the 2 hr drive and hit up Texas Roadhouse for a good old western prime rib dinner...which was...and always is fucking to die for! So now I have some serious food coma going on and am thinking of heading to bed a little early. Tomorrow is gonna be a fun day...time for the dentist again. I get to have another filling and a fitting for my prosthetic in the morning, bright eyed and bushy-tailed.

Mind your P's & Q's Mister!

I think that I am going to personally take on a crusade. A crusade of what you may ask? Something that has been bugging me especially lately, and I see it more and more on a daily basis.
Manners...Yes, you heard me right, manners! People have forgotten the essentials of manners, common courtesy and general pleasantries-and its driving me insane. This next generation of xtreme sports and reality show shock jocks hasn't been taught right. Ranging from a simple excuse me, to could you pass the salt please? All these little nuances have been forgotten.
So yes, I'm starting a crusade. It may not be a massive world changing event, but at least a personal crusade that will hopefully affect at least one person. I see it at work on a daily basis, directed at me most of the time. People are just fucking rude.

"uh, hey man...can I get a jack and coke and a bud light?"
"Um..No."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Well, you forgot to say fucking please man."
"Oh...Oops, may I please have one?"
"That's better...Sure...Here you go brother man!"

Honestly..Is it that FUCKING hard to say? To spend that extra 1/4 of a calorie and 1/2 second to say one fucking word that makes life so much easier to stand, let alone function in? Don't people realize that they can get where, what, how and who they want easier and faster if they apply common decency and respect in their daily lives? I know its a irrelevant question seeing that I already know the answer. The answer is no...Of course not. Its all about the Me and mine..The I generation. Hell, I'm all about the "I" generation too...I just achieve my means faster by treating people better.
What do you think that poor high schooler is gonna do at the Subway shop when I go up and say please when ordering? He aint gonna drop anything on the floor by "accident", or skimp on the mayo, spit on my food, or even rub his ball sweat on my bread...unless he's that fucking cruel for no reason (which would, by Karma's balance scale, mean that his dog is gonna get run over by a semi later on that day). If anything, he may throw on an extra tomato or "forget" to ring up a soda.
What I'm trying to say is that the long forgotten teachings of manners DO pay off. You may get a random little bonus like having someone lite your cigar for you or even get out of a traffic ticket.
But the best reward will be to walk away knowing that someone doesn't hate you and thinks that you are a decent person. If we could all do that..Then we could actually live with eachother.
So, if you come into my home or bar and find me being short and acting like an ass to you for apparently no reason, check yourself out to see if your etiquette is lacking around me.
That's my rant...and I'm stickin to it!

Wally world

Now, I know two things for a fact. One, Walmart is a Mecca for times when, at 3:30 in the morning, you really need to go get a toothbrush, roll of duct tape and a cubic zirconia ring all for $20. Secondly, the fact that besides my father, my Mom is in love with Walmart. As common with most 68 yr old women, she falls square in that demographic. Add to the fact that where home is in the Bay Area, she doesn't have one close by to go to..say in a 10 mile radius. Here..Its across the street. Excuses are made up to go walk to walmart...gee..that milk looks low...Let's walk to walmart. You need some dryer sheets? Walk to Walmart. The brand new bag of dog food had a cup served out of it this morning...Lets walk to Walmart. Walmart, Walmart, Walmart. Did I fail to mention that there is a nasty annoying habit of her to repeat the SAME story over and over again..like 5 times in an hour? We just ate dinner and I heard her say Walmart like 10 times, and tell a story about the bakery and produce section there three times.
Ok, I know you got bread there yesterday, and donuts there this afternoon. I had one, they were tasty...now finish eating your chicken dinner. For the record, I did not buy the chicken at Walmart..Just so that I wouldn't put more fuel on the fire to talk about Walmart.
God help me, if there would be anything wrong with the folks moving down here, it would be to hear the same story on a daily basis on how a French bread loaf cost her a buck fifty. The only thing worse than hearing that would be to know that more than likely...there would be another story on another item waiting for tomorrow. Its a viscous cycle.
But god bless her and Wally world...Its still a wondrous place.

Judgment Day

It ws judgment day for me at the doctor today. For all of you interested individuals out there, I passed with flying colors.

The doc couldn't find anything wrong with my lungs, or how they function. He ended up diagnosing it as severe allergies and prescribed me some heavy duty allergy meds to see if they will put a dent in my symptoms. IF they don't work, then he can have me consult an actual allergist, but it probably won't come down to that.

Everything else passed as well. Nothing on my xrays, the bloodwork came out fine, and by golly, I passed an STD screen also. Nothing like being free and clean and breathing easy again.

So celebrations are in order! It is amazing though, the power of the human mind and its ability to play tricks opon itself. I had convinced myself that I had everything from asthma to emphysema. That is my mind though, always the worrisome one and bit of a hypochondriac at times. It just makes the end result of nothing being wrong taste all the more sweeter.

Now I can center on other stresses in my life. The usual ones, like job, family, love life, whether I have enough milk in the fridge to last through tomorrow..Etc...

But kudos and thanks to all of y'all that have been concerned about my health the past month. It hasn't gone unnoticed and it makes me happy to know that I have friends out there who care. May karma smile opon and reward you greatly!

All I want for Christmas

The holidays are coming soon and I was asked the question the other night by a friend of mine what "I" wanted for Christmas. I said that I didn't really ever ask for anything, and just hoped that no family member gets me that cursed holiday sweater that I would never wear. She said that I should start saying what I would want or need to avoid all that trouble and to make it easier on people to shop for me.

So without further adieu....my Xmass list.

1) an Ipod Nano mp3 player with at least a 4gig drive.

2)a new carpet steam cleaner

3)a authentic custom jersey of my favorite football team

4)a new hammock and stand from www.hammocks.com

5)a new headboard and footboard for my bed

6)a spare dvd player for the bedroom

Granted now, these are too big and bad. I don't think that Santa will be able to fit all them in his sleigh...so instead, this is what I really want.

THE REAL LIST

1)good health and luck to all my family and friends to make it through another year.

2)good health for me

3)to be able to see my family again

4)to have our troops overseas come home safe.

5)dog toys for Jenny

6)a renewal for my membership to the Surfrider Foundation

7)6 pairs of new socks, and 6 pairs new underwear

8)to take a roadtrip somewhere in 2006 with friends

9)anything history related, books, movies..Etc.

10)for someone to donate to the USO.

For the boys-author unknown

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,How shall I deal with you ?

Have you always turned the other cheek ?

To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell."

It's the Soldier,

not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.

It's the Soldier, not the poet,

who has given us the freedom of speech.

It's the Soldier,

not the politicians that ensures our right to Life,

Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

It's the Soldier who salutes the flag,

who serves beneath the flag,

and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

THESE COLORS DON'T RUN

Showtime with Tom Walbank & Dick Dale

The Dick Dale concert was last night at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix.
There is just something about a small venue coinciding with a great show. The last concert I went to was like 14 years ago at Shoreline Amphitheatre in the Bay Area with like 70,000 people. The show I went to last night was about 150 people in a venue no bigger than my house. Simply one of the most entertaining and musical appreciating shows ever.
When we first got there and waited in line outside, we noticed that we were pretty much the youngest people there. It was nice to see all the old time die hard desert surf heads out there. The 70 yr old longboarders with the surf shirts and surfboard logos on them, topped off with a grizzly addams beard.
We got in and situated, grabbed a cocktail and waited for the show to begin.
Now, I haven't listened to Blues in a long time, and have never been to a live Blues show, but the opening act was simply like honey in my ears. If you get the chance look up Tom Walbank and the Ambassadors.
They are a Blues band out of Tucson, and trust me, they have their shit together. Funny thing is, that this Blues band consists of 3 white boys. You will love them. I almost didn't care if they were just an opening act, I wanted to hear more, but I still had the sweetest act coming up next. I ended up picking up a copy of their CD there for $10.
There was about a 15 minute intermission between acts, and Dick Dale entered in style. The drummer and bassist were already on stage, and Dick started to play outside in the parking lot. He walked in doing a rippin guitar solo. Dick is by far the king of surf rock, if there is even another person out there who can compare to him. He played for about an hour, mixing in some blues and soul, did a great rendition of House of the Rising Sun, and ended with a tribute to the boys overseas by finishing with Amazing Grace. A former Air Force man himself, it was a fitting ending to the show.
All in all, the venue was spectacular, small and cozy-and the music was simply to die for.
If you are interested go check out Tom Walbanks site at www.tomwalbank.com
and Dick Dick Dales site @ www.dickdale.com

Let the rain fall.

Well...after a lovely camping trip, I am partially convinced that whatever condition I have is allergy related. Up in the mountains for 5 days, I was breathing fine (except for the strained shoulder). The SECOND...second I descended into the valley, stuffy dry sinuses, nosebleeds, and the same old shortness of breath feeling in my chest. There has got to be something in the air down here. Hopefully this rain will clear out some of the pollutants, allergens and excessive grass seeding in the valley. Anywhos, I did get my pulmonary function testing and xrays done at Desert Sam this morning, so I should be going to the doc to hear the results within a week. At least the tech at the testing center said everything looked fine, even though she didn't really know what to look for.
One hell of an apparatus they have there to test your ass with though. Strap a hose into your mouth connected to 2 computers, two scuba tanks and a generator. Easy enough, and normally there is no pain. But do you think that it would be that easy for me? Fuck no. I work Sunday night, get out at 4 am, need to be up and at the hospital at 730 am. That wasn't so bad. The fact of me sleeping for those 2 or so hours wrong and throwing a rib out was nice though. So every breath I took hurt like a bitch. And the tech wants me to breathe into this Frankenstien-like machine deep and fast???It sucked. I had to apologize for wincing to her as she tested me, and am sure I could have performed a lot better if not for that damn rib out.
Got back and slept for a bit. Ok...I slept for 6 hours. Short nap. Get up and scrub baseboards for the impending parental visit. Pretty fun day. Add in a rainstorm all day and you'ld need a bottle of prozac.