blueginjava

My friend Greg Beggs died today.  He was WAY to fucking young.  I have taught beside him for 15 years.  He was a damn good teacher that did what was right by kids even if that was not what was “politically correct”. 

I AM SO MAD AND SO ANGRY!

He has been in the hospital with an “unknown pathogen” for about a month.

Beggs has always been a big, strong, opinionated man that some fucking “pathogen” wouldn’t be able take down.  I truly thought he’d “make it”.  I just thought he was “big and strong enough” to make it… of course I believed that … I HAD TO!

We argued about computers, bitched about the adminstration, were always hopeful in the face of reality … 

I’M JUST SO SAD and ARGRY!

SO sad and SO angry. 

I’m pretty darned excited about the return of SNL tonight.  Tina Fey is hosting the first night back after the writers strike.  I think this could be a night where SNL has one of those great nights after all those weeks off.  I’m hopeful!

I’m trying to be a good sport about it, but DAMN, this winter stuff has GOT to lighten up!!

Yes!  What a night last night was … Barak won each state by a sweep and a beagle named “Uno” won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show!  This makes me smile! The front of the Star today reflected this and it made me smile.  I guess I’m pretty happy about this as I see it as a great triumph of the “Underdogs”!  Does anyone remember the “real” Underdog?  He was a beagle … and he had a magic pill in a ring … maybe Barak has a ring like that … I hope so!  

Perhaps all those who are sick of the way things are going are the secret “pill” in that magic ring!  I hope we are! 

OK - so yesterday, Mitt Romney “suspended” his race for the White House.  I about fainted!  Now because I’m a Romney fan, which of course, I’m NOT, but this was the Republican equivalent of taking your ball out of the neighborhood game and going home!  RATS!  This just spoiled the Republican “game” that I was going to get to watch for the next few months!!  

We had a great race going on that was wonderfully fun to watch.  We had the far right conservative Christian Huckabee, the “independent” and respected McCain who has made the “conservatives SO angry, and the “Mr. Business - MORMAN” Romney!  What better mix could you have in a Republican race for the White House!  Sheesh!  This was SO fun to watch!  DRATS!  Now McCain is the going to be the nominee!  Did anybody think this would be the case 4 months ago?  I really respect the man but I’m not sure I want him to be the Republican nominee. Grrrr!

 OK - then I let out a HUGE sigh  … 

Here’s why,

I figure that no matter what happens in the election in Nov. - America has moved WAY more to the middle!  Seriously!  McCain is the Republican nominee to follow the Bush adminstration!?  The most hated member of the Republican party is now their nominee!?  Whoa!  Every die hard Democrat I know could “live” with McCain but of course we all want a chance to redeem the last 8 years with a president from the other party.  But, we could all live with McCain!  What does that say?  I think it says a LOT!  I don’t like his policy on “No Child Left Behind” because I think he just doesn’t understand it - and I think his illegal immigration policy needs help, but really … look what this says!  It says the  American people are really fed up with the condition that the last 8 years has put us in.  This make me hopeful - but not as much as some other outcomes would. 

I’m still firmly in the Barak camp.  I have been ever since I heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic convention. Yea, he’s charming, he charmed me that night I was in Salem, Mass. and had returned to my room at a bed and breakfast just to watch the convention … but he also reflects the America I know and live in.  He is no more than 10 years removed from the upper end of middle class, he and his wife have great minds and are blessed with a terrific education, he has a Kenyan (albeit absent father) and a white Kansas born mom, he has a half Asian and half white Buddhist sister, he was raised with the whole world in in sights (he has a global perspective), and I think he’ll pick a cabinet that reflects a much much MUCH broader approach to the issues Americans face.  I so want to see him have a chance - I really think he reflects the best approach to our future.  

 … sigh …

but, I sure wish I could have watched the Republican drama for a few more months … 

at least “the other side” has picked a man with a serious sense of honor and independence.

“Rear Window” is on TCM … that is such a great movie!  Now matter how many times I’ve seen it, I can’t turn it off if I run across it.

Yep, this is certainly the year of change.  Thank god it will bring about a change in the White House, changes at work, changes at home, the start of blogging, way more photography, in fact … changes just about everywhere!

The purpose of this mobile blog is to have a place to share thoughts - thoughts about funny things I see and hear, my “photo of the day”,  rants about politics, comments on food and cooking, links to images and art, and various fun “facts”.  I’m sure there will a host of posts about cool happenings in the amazing world of science too.

I hope you like it … comment if you do!