FamGuyToday by Aunty Fox

'til, "Drinks on the Beach". Then we have Cinco de Mayo, and something the next day, but I forget.... Oh Yeah! Kari's wedding. Time to actually think about packing. We're just about there. Bailey asked me, today, if I knew what feral meant. Seems like she and Bella are going to become 'feral', whatever that means, while we're gone. Oh well, we'll see...

why women like their pedicures so much. At the urging of my lovely wife, I got my first pedicure(and added a manicure for $10) this morning. No wonder you ladies like to do this. First you sit down in one of those magic massage chairs and this cute little Oriental girl comes out and,,,, it just gets better from there. So, if you see me on the beach in Mexico, notice my lovely nails. Not just for women any more.....

to those lucky ones going to Mexico next week. Tanning beds are good to get a bit of a base so you don't burn so easily, but don't forget get a little of the Colorado sun on the tops of your shoulders, too. That's where I always get a burn, from swimming and playin' around on the beach, which is where I'm gonna be in about 5 days. Yahoooooooo......

Seems like I can go a long time without adjuster work, then, as soon as I have a trip lined up, like Italy, or Mexico this time, I get a call to head out. It happened again. Got a call to go to the Dallas/Ft Worth area with Dave Rankin. He left this morning. Forty claims waiting with more promised later. Seems they had some high winds, hail and tornadoes. Not that I like working in Texas that much, but I would have gone. Oh well, Mexico seems much better, but it's kinda crazy how it always seems to happen....

on one of my earlier blogs, where I outlined the govt's policy of 'the big lie', whenever it suits them, this time concerning Jessica Lynch, the soldier who was injured when her troop carrier ran off the road. Won't go into the whole thing again, how the govt made up a story about Rambo like heroics, then rape, then a daring rescue, but she is testifying before congress today, along with the brother of Pat Tilman (the ex-NFL star who was killed by friendly fire), concerning the lies put out by the military, whenever it suits their agenda. What? The Bush crew would LIE to us? Pretty hard to believe, huh? Some people have believed the lies for so long, they either don't know or don't care what's going on. I don't know which is worse......

"It's Only Just Begun", ( I know, it's actually 'We've Only...'), would be a good way to describe the tumbling housing market. This month's plunge, the largest in two decades, follows a lousy Feb showing. Prices falling for 8 straight months, as was just reported, is unprecedented in the history of the U S real estate market. Wow. Who could have seen this coming? I know people don't like to hear it, BUT, you ain't seen nothin' yet. This trend is picking up steam, and is gonna roll through the whole economy. If there was ever a time when I would LOVE to be proven wrong, this is it. I've been preaching this collapse for over a year and see nothing but confirmation on the horizon. Only time will tell, but I'm sayin', buckle up, we're in for a wild ride.....

'til 'Drinks on the Beach', according to our backwards counting sign. Seems like it's gone kinda fast, but I bet these last few days drag out F O R E V E R... Am gradually getting some color on the white old body, and got my beach haircut today, YIKES! Gonna have to start drinkin' at noon to get in the mood. Should be a good time for all, and it's ONLY one week from Wednesday. Yahooooo...

April 18th blog entry, "Letters to the Editor", was actually published in the Broomfield Enterprise, just as I wrote it. I am totally serious, Vic Boccard can show some amazing ignorance with his right-wing rants and I was glad to point out his obvious mistakes, Now, on the the Denver Post and Rocky Mntn News.....

Am feeling pretty good today, except for getting totally beaten up by the aerator. I do have a plan, though. If I 'forget' to pay my share to the neighbor who rented it, maybe they'll 'forget' to invite me to their sadistic aerating party next year. It's worth a try. That thing is a KILLER! Anyway, I bet I'm still feeling better than the crew that continued the party at the strip bar with the unlimited drinks. After golfing/drinking, then poker/drinking, I could tell I was right on the verge of hangover country, so I passed on stage three. Let the boys party without the old fart. Probably didn't need to have those images of my son-in-law burned permanently in my brain, so I came home early, and am probably feeling better than 'the boys' today. 'The girls' might be doing their share of suffering this morning, too. You just never know....

(if anyone reads this). I mentioned awhile back that several small towns in Vermont were calling for Bush's impeachment. Well, the resolution carried in the state senate. A call for the impeachment for Bush AND Cheney, for "misleading the American people", among other things. My prediction? This won't be the last state senate to pass this resolution. As more facts come out, along with heads from rectums, there will be a groundswell of support to send these crooks to prison. Too little, too late, but it's a start......

but when I see another story, involving the 'hijacking of America', involving the current occupant, it just really bothers me, and the best way to get over it is to post it here, and get it out of my system. Anyway, this involves John Ashcroft, former Atty General of the US. His claim to fame was the fact that after one term as Guv of Missouri, he ran for re-election and a week before the election, his opponent died. The amazing thing is, the good people of MO, after being subjected to his incompetency, overwhelmingly voted in THE DEAD GUY. Knowing anyone had to be better than Ashcroft. Kind of a funny story, that most people find somewhat interesting. GW not only was interested, he named this clown as the Atty General of the United States. He was so bad, he couldn't last, even in George's cabinet, BUT, he has a legacy. By far the largest number of his appointees, over 150, to the Justice Dept, came from Regent University. Never heard of it? Google it. A small Christian...

It's not the big one, or is it? Kari informed us last night that she and Ted are getting married tomorrow, at the Jefferson County Justice Center. That will be the 'official', legal wedding, because a legal wedding in Mexico, for gringos, is jus too complicated. SOOOO, just like that, with a 2 day notice, she will be Mrs. Ted Royer, after only 7 years of dating. Wow.... Pizza and beer, after. So begins the wedding process, concluding with a summer honeymoon, after a June reception, following a May ceremony. It should be official after all that, and we will be 'empty nesters' at last. Real mixed feelings, but glad for Kari, that she found a great guy like Ted. Couldn't have picked a better guy, for her, myself. Congratulations daughter. Hope you guys are as happy as your mother and I have been. Luv, ya'...

Broomfield Enterprise, reply to Op/Ed piece, 4-18-07, from Solson: I would like to respond to Vic Boccard, your resident right-wing fanatic. A few of his MOST OBVIOUS mistakes include, but are not limited to; "Few can deny that the environmental movement is the modern home of the socialist movement." WOW. If that doesn't imply skewed reasoning, I don't know what does. According to Vic, concern about the environment=socialist. He then says, " What I'd like to see is an honest, open debate between scientists who believe in global warming and those who do not." Well Vic, if you weren't so factually, as well as chronologically challenged, you'd know that those truly in the scientific community, NOT counting politicians, are well over 10-1 in the "Yes, global warming is REAL" camp. Unless you get all your news from FOX, global warming isn't even debatable. Look at every graph, every scientific temperature measurement and it is OBVIOUS th...

"Why would that be scary?"(having the Carlyle Group own Clear Channel) BECAUSE, most people these days don't read the newspaper, and instead of the evening news, it's a re-run of 'Friends'. EVERY city I've ever worked in, and that's alot, has their local version of Denver's (KRFX) FOX, radio, and with their 'Classic Rock' format. Plus, with many other formats, including "Country"and right-wing talk radio, ( Yes, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly are EVERYWHERE) they control a HUGE majority of the airwaves. (Ask the Dixie Chicks about their power and influence.) When my buddy Matt, who did the commercial "tenant finish" for the local Clear Channel headquarters, and I, talked about how a radio station could POSSIBLY make any money after paying over $50,000,000 for a Denver radio station, plus building costs, DJ's salaries, etc. It's TOTALLY impossible and doesn't make sense, UNLESS you see it for what it is. ...

cause it helps you understand what's just under the surface. Clear Channel, one of the largest communication/information companies in the world, (largest number of radio stations in US with 675) was just bought out by Bain Capital Partners, LLC......Google BCP, and you find out it's a front for The Carlyle Group. Google "Carlyle Group", I dare you, and find out who's gonna control the news. Disregard the 'official site', and read ANY of the others, (I recommend "Meet the Carlyle Group") that tells what they are really about. I don't know about you, but it scares the hell out of me to realize this group is joining FOX news to totally distort the truth. The Bushies aren't stupid, except for W, and they know information, (or in their case, disinformation) is power. Hate to be so conspiratorial, but this is SCARY....

give his condolences to the Virginia Tech crowd, shows what a true hypocrite he is. 33 dead is an unbelieveable tragedy. All the friends and relatives, that must devasted by the deaths of innocents, are feeling unconsolable heartache. It's all a matter of perspective...This would be a GREAT day in Iraq, and the white house spin-meisters would say, "It proves we're winning." According to the US gov't, with it's own agenda for numbers, 100 Iraqi's are killed every day. John's Hopkins says it closer to 400/day on AVERAGE. These are nearly all civilians. Men, women and children. This doesn't count the terribly wounded survivors, or those who die from war caused disease, etc. All for George's War. These people all have friends and relatives too. Over 4 years now, and he's escalating his war plans, against nearly ALL advice from all sides. In the paper today, buried in the back, Muqtada Al Sadr's representatives, a major player in Iraq'...

when you fill up, at $2.85/gal this week, and realize gas was $1.35/gal when this jackass took power, and you multiply it times the 'tens of millions' of fill-ups, across the nation and world. You will realize the reason HE is in power. SURPRISE, we lose, THEY won, HA, HA, HA, they are laughing at you.......Do you realize how many 'hundreds of billions of dollars' we are talking about???? Do the math, and you will understand, unless you are one of the FDS, those with the, 'fact deflecting skulls', who think it is just a 'coincidence' that Texas Oil Money, took over US politics, and, SURPRISE!, oil prices more than doubled. SORRY, didn't mean to disturb the 'Status Quo". He's just a 'good ol' boy' with our best interests at heart. Talk about IGNORANCE....

Stem Cells Offer Hope for Diabetics (April 11) - Thirteen young diabetics in Brazil have ditched their insulin shots and need no other medication thanks to a risky, but promising treatment with stem cells — apparently the first time such a feat has been accomplished. Though too early to call it a cure, the procedure has enabled the young people, who have Type I diabetes, to live insulin-free so far, some for as long as three years. The treatment involves stem cell transplants. "It's the first time in the history of Type 1 diabetes where people have gone with no treatment whatsoever ... no medications at all, with normal blood sugars," said study co-author Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern University. But, don't get your hopes up if you happen to live in the good ol' USA, though. King George has vetoed stem cell research in the past and promises to do it again. He'd rather dump already harvested stem cells, rather than let researchers study them to cure d...

to write a check to the gov't like I did today (April 15), knowing part of it goes to pay for Georges' War. Especially after reading an article in the paper this morning, with an interview with Justin Colby, a Ft Carson soldier, one of the growing numbers of'deserters' from the Iraq Debacle. He said he initially enlisted because he wanted to make the Iraqi's pay for the Twin Towers, and, he couldn't find a decent job. It was a huge shock to him, and several of his fellow recruits, when he found out Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. But, by then , it was too late. He found himself in Baghdad, knocking down doors in neighborhoods where IED's had gone off. In over 200 searches, he said "we never found more than an occasional rifle." But, while women and children were held at gun point, they handcuffed and removed all males over 5 ft, to local 'interrogation centers', (George supports torture, but 'only' when other methods don't wor...

home, by myself, while Carol is at Kari's shower, I can't help but think of my little girl, especially after hearing her theme song just play. Have had Carol's Ipod, loaded by Nate, on "Shuffle" and have been listening to some good tunes. Just heard Cyndi Lauper's, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun",and couldn't help but think of Kari. If she ever had a theme song, that was/is it. She can make a birthday last a month, or a wedding last two. Yeah, she's been spoiled, partially because she's had so many surgeries, and we're just happy she's still here. But, ever since she's been just a little girl, she's always had that "let's have funnnnn" attitude. Just a quick Kari memory. Will NEVER forget walking around Italy with Kari.... She had been living in Amalfi, hiking up and the down the steps, kinda skinny 'cause she'd been sick AND away from her mother's cooking, without much money, well tanned, with...

San Francisco or those pointy headed intellectuals in Massachusettes, but rather, rural, staid, Vermonters, who are calling for Bush's impeachment. In an area of the country, where town hall meetings go back hundreds of years, more and more city councils are demanding that their elected representatives in Wasington, start impeachment proceedings against Bush. For falsifying intelligence to mislead us into war, and supporting torture, among other crimes. First one small town, then five more the next week, now several others, have huge majorities calling for his head. Let's hope this signals the beginning of the end for that bunch of crooks in Washington, who just happened to lose all the pertinent E-mails relating to the firing of US attorneys who didn't go along with their bogus witch hunts. Let's hope this 'groundswell' movement gains momentum and we finally have some accountability for some of the permanent damage this "Cowboy Conman" has caused...

after several months away from home and loved ones, how eager I always am to come home, after being gone on a storm. Once I get it in my mind, that it's time to come home, and I feel I've earned a break, it always "upsets" me, when I get a few late claims and have to stay an extra week or two. Fast forward to Iraq. Imagine you've spent 11 1/2 months in the desert, your buddies have been killed and wounded, the locals hate you, and you've earned your way home, to your friends and loved ones. About the time you're all packed up, King George decides to ignore the will of the people, the Bilateral Commission, his own generals in the field, and orders a "surge", but the military, already stretched to the breaking point, doesn't have the 'numbers' to pull it off. Too bad. Another 3 months in hell, for you. Do you have ANY idea how long 3 months is, in a situation like that? I can sort of imagine, after living away from home for months at a ...

Blog post #200. Who'd a ever thought.... I realize almost no one reads me, but it fulfills a need to communicate. Maybe it's a bad thing, 'cause sometimes I write here instead of actually talking to people. At least is gives me an outlet to unload on 'the current occupant', absolutely the WORST president ever, and I don't have to bother Carol with my frustration. If nothing else, it is worth it for that. In case you haven't noticed, I REALLY don't like the guy, or anything about him, and I believe history will prove me right. It sure has so far.... Anyway, it has made it much easier around here, 'cause I don't bitch to Carol about him, and that's worth A LOT.... Just realized, most people I know, aren't even aware of this drivel, and that's just fine. I enjoy toiling in anonymity. When I'm gone, and the way it's going, that may be sooner, rather than later, this will be a glimpse into the murky, dusky, rescesses of m...

Carol is SO spoiled. I just got her an Ipod Nano, and Nate loaded it with some GREAT tunes. Anyway, I am hangin' 'round playing music for her while she makes food for Kari's shower tomorrow. Which brings me to THIS song, that's on now. "Little Wing", by Stevie Ray Vaughn. It really takes me back to Houma, LA, and my trailer on the edge of the swamp. This was one of my favorites, at the end of the day, when I'd take a break, about sundown, 'cause that's when the dragonflies would come out. About a hundred of them. BIG, green and blue ones. One of them, who I named Evinrude, adopted me, and would come and land on or beside nearly every evening. I could pet him/her. VERY strange, but I took it as some kind of cosmic sign, not sure what, but I felt like I wasn't alone. SOOOO, whenever I hear "Little Wing", I'm back on the bayou, having a well-earned beer, and Evinrude is letting me know, 'everything's gonna be alrig...

both of you, there is a great deal on Craigslist. Some guy has 2 houseboats on Lake Powell, and has, what I think, is a real bargain, if you like that kinda thing. We used to go to Lake Powell EVERY summer, and always had a great time. For $550/person, (and I bet we could bargain down the price, with a group) you get an entire week, with EVERYTHING, included, including gas, food, ice and drinks. In my contact with him, the captain says, "just bring a blankie and hopefully, a toothbrush." August is a great time on the lake, and I bet we'll all be ready for another vacation by that time. Think about it, and check it out, on Craigslist.com....

that Bush reiterated his promise to veto stem cell research, AGAIN. At first I couldn't understand how he could be so blatantly go against overwhelming public opinion, but then I realized who this guy is. Basically, his only support is from the right-wing, Bible-belt conservatives. Take away this constituency, and his approval rating drops from the 30's to single digits. These are the voters who gave him the 2004 election, whipped into a frenzy by pastors who received HUGE checks from the gov't, for "Faith Based Initiatives". a brilliant plan by Karl Rove to make sure the largest voting bloc in the country was firmly behind the oil company's stooge. And it worked. Praise the policies, (support the war) and you shared in the untold millions of dollars given out to churches for social programs. Preach against the war, and the gov't would threaten to take away your tax exempt status. Sounds impossible, right? WRONG. It happened. Anyway, even W understands tha...

this morning from Mark Twain. "A patriot supports his country all the time, and the politicians when they deserve it." You bet your ass I'm a patriot, I just can't stand the crooks in power...

I'm BORED. When I'm able to ski, or golf, or spend time with my honey, things are fine. BUT, that still leaves some time to fill. I need a project, a plan, a reason to get up in the morning. I gotta admit, it's been really nice not HAVING to do anything, other than helping with housework. In addition to golf and skiing, I've read some great books, played with kitties, enjoyed time with my family, a great HD TV and some fantastic music. And, at any minute I may have to head out to 'who knows where' for some disaster, but who knows when that will happen. In the meantime, I'm open to ideas, as to ,"What would you do if you were a 57 year old guy, somewhat healthy, somewhat financially independent, with a few good years left?" Am open to suggestions, and they can be anonymous. Seriously, what would you do in my place? I think of the Jethro Tull line, that goes something like "too old to rock n roll, and too young to die". Neither is totally ...

so will try to lighten up, again. I know Bush is a stooge, Dr. Jerkass is incompetent and the housing market is in a swoon, but the world isn't about to end,,,, this week. Bailey is still fun, CROX is coming back and we have the wedding/reception to look forward to. Mexico is gonna be a blast. In the meantime I have read some good books, in case anyone cares. Finished local author, Steven White's, "Dry Ice", which, like all his other books, takes place in/around Boulder. OK, but nothing special. I REALLY like Lee Child, and "Running Blind" is very good, though not as good as "The Hard Way", the first book of his I read. Am saving his other books for the beach, as that is my idea of a fantastic vacation. It's hard to beat good books, a chaise lounge situated between the pool and the ocean, surrounded by friends/ loved ones, and the only decisions to be made concern which snack/drink/water sport is next. I know I'm getting to be an...

this morning, that D.R. Horton, the nations' largest homebuilder, based on volume, 2nd in total price, says it's normal spring 'kick-off' of sales has failed to materialize. In California, which leads the nation in most trends, sales for the first three months are down 59%. The CEO was quoted as saying, 'Sales are going to suck, for the entire year.' Hmmm. Pretty plain talk from a CEO. Hate to say it, but once this snowball starts picking up speed, and we're already rolling downhill, we are in for a MAJOR correction in the housing market. Strap yourself in and get ready for a wild ride.....

the WORST part of the right wing, totally indefensible, position that those wackos hold dear to their heart, is the fact that they can rationalize, in their tiny little brains, that there is only ONE true news organization. FOX News. How deluded do you have to be, NOT to realize, that of ALL the independant news organizations out there, you would choose to believe, as TRUTH, the ONE organization OWNED by a political party? To anyone with a rational thought process, and I admit, that excludes some of you, it is obvious that "legitimate" news organizations, (Not Fox), are in unanimous accord, that the Bush Administration is a disaster for the average American. BUT, never mind, you idiots have made up your minds. Long live Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of the right-wing propaganda machine. When do you mental midgets FINALLY recognize a mistake. FIFTH YEAR not enough for you? Oh yeah, we just need a few more years, a few hundred million more dollars, a few tho...

our goofy-cute, kitty. She wears a 'safety collar', that will release when she gets hung up, rather than strangle her. A good idea with a clumsy cat like her. Anyway, last night, when we were just about asleep, we heard a loud 'kitty noise', then nothing. This morning, Bailey was in bed with us, without her collar. Obviously she had snagged it somewhere and it had released like it should. The crazy thing is, Carol and I have looked ALL OVER the place for it, but can't find it. I imagine it will show up somewhere/sometime, but I am VERY curious to know where. I'm thinkin' she surprised a burglar, and it is somewhere near his throat....

Has a good article on the world's best drives. The first one listed, is the first that came to my mind. The Amalfi Coast. They say, "A good coastal drive should involve small doses of terror: hairpin turns hugging harrowing cliffs; icy breakers crashing on jagged rocks below; and a treacherously narrow road, like the highway on Italy’s Amalfi Coast , which John Steinbeck described as “carefully designed to be a little narrower than two cars side by side.” Speeding along the exhilarating edge between land and sea, there’s a certain thrill to losing oneself in the scale and enormity of nature." An amazing drive, and a pretty cool place to live, unless you're clumsy enough to fall and break your ankle. Then things get a little "dodgy", right Kari?

Kari's name for Dr Wolter, has been ignoring the Chief Medical Officer's attempts to interview/discuss my complaints after Kari's "experience" with him. Dr Stadnyk, finally got in touch with me and after a 30+ minute converstaion, I am convinced something, not sure what, will be done, concerning Dr Jerkass. Kari also spent over 15 minutes detailing her many problems with him. Wolter is a new, 'subcontractor', at St Joseph's, not a regular member of the staff, and Dr. Stadnyk, his supervisor was interested to hear of our experience with him. I think he's gonna have some 'splaining to do' after doing nothing for over 5 days, refusing to consult her former physician, then deciding to do 'exploratory abdominal surgery' on her. I consider him arrogant, condescending, incompetent and just plain dangerous, and was able to express my concerns to his 'boss' who seemed very receptive to my complaints. Luckily Kari was able to 'esc...

for "preaching", again, but many people still don't fully understand the basic agenda of the current administration. At it's most basic level, all you really need to know, and everything else becomes obvious, is that GW was /is the culmination his father's "off the chart", obscenely wealthy, Texas oil money, (not to mention their Arab buddies,), contributors, installing "their guy" to increase the price of oil. Viewed in this light, just look at W's actions, and it all makes sense. Sad, but true. Attack the oil patch of the world, guess what? The price of oil goes WAY up. SURPRISE! But, back to my latest rant. I don't think most people realize how the production of ethanol is going to affect ( or effect?) them.. If you believe educated, informed "experts", (the bane of the Bushies) ethanol costs more, in oil products, than it produces. By 25 to 40%, when ALL factors are considered. A very real side effect, other than oil price...

Just to let you know, I have been pursuing Dr Wolter, as per letting the proper authorities know what actually happened with Kari, under his (lack of) care. Initially, the patient care, feedback site, was very responsive to my inquiries. BUT, they have totally "dropped the ball" as to pursuing any meaningful dialogue. NOTHING from them for the last week, although I have been continually after them. Am not giving up. Am gonna continue to make Wolter answer some basic questions as to why he refused to confer w/Dr Winston and why his final diagnosis was 'exploratory abdominal surgery' It won't be easy, but am gonna try to get some answers. I still consider him 'dangerously incompetent', and plan to let others know. It is personal, at this point.....

Just found out yesterday, from an aquaintance who gets all his news from FOX, a "fact" that I had missed. That surprised me, because I make a real effort to keep up with the news. Not that I'm proud of it, but I just realized my daily routine includes: Waking up to TV news, my "Fav" button takes me from ABC, to CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX, who has some 'interesting' views. I then read the Rocky Mntn News, pretty thoroughly, before going to my laptop, where I check out the New York Times on-line, then it's on to AOL news, then my favorite source of all, MSN news. There is a lot of duplication, and I obviously don't read it ALL, but I get a very comprehensive slice of 'what's going on', each day. I find most newspaper stories come from on-line news of the day before. I consider myself pretty well informed, as I am a voracious reader and have the time to pursue my addiction to "The News". That's why I was surprised when m...

going on again. Bella is visiting, with Kari, for a few days, and is mercilessly atacking my poor little kitty. Hope Bailey has no permanent injuries... But seriously, it is fun to watch them play. The big game is to sneak up on the other one, or wait 'in hiding', and pounce on an unsuspecting victim. Then RUNNNN. Of course, that takes a lot of energy, so naps are very important. That's when all is forgiven and they curl up together. Then one wakes up first, and whap, kitty wars again....