The thought of our choices of President in our two party system bothers me more and more every 4 years. I was raised in a strict conservative household. I think it was 6th grade, We were asked to make campaign posters for who we thought should be president. Carter and Reagan are the names I remember. I made one for Reagan because that's who my dad was going to vote for. All I ever heard, in a nutshell, was "Carter bad, Reagan good".
My depth of political knowledge was only that deep at that age. As the 80's progressed and the Reagan years came into full swing I moved as far away from the Alex P. Keaton necktie wearing Right as I could. Mainly as an act of defiance against my father's ideals. After high school I slipped off the left hand side of the scale and became what most might say was an anarchist. I don't believe in anarchy now and I didn't believe in it then. I started to believe that all politicians were full of crap.
I did join the Army but not for political reasons. I joined because I wasn't ready for college and it was a good way to get money for school. For six years I drove a tank for Uncle Sam. Six years and I could count the political conversations on one hand if I were a three toed sloth. Being a pseudo-anarchist did make me stick out a bit but I was smart enough to stay out of real trouble. I did, after all, want the college money. Getting kicked out of the military meant no college money.
After the Army and as I grew older I found myself thinking about Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative things again. It was a slow progression but I found myself thinking more like my dad. "If you're not a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative when you're 40, you have no head." There are many variations on that old quote and attributed to just as many. Doesn't matter who said it or how, that has been my thoughts up until recently. Lately, I've found myself on the fence. Instead of leaning left or right though I find myself kicking at the hands that are trying to pull me either way.
I thought I was feeling almost too nostalgic over the last year or so. Now, as a write this I think I may be regressing, at least politically. All politicians are full of crap! ANARCHY FOR THE U.K......um.....er...I mean the USA!

Smile! In four years we get to go through it all again.

The boys wanted to ride their bikes to school this morning.  All but Max that is.  I drug out the little kid trailer and hooked it up to my bike.  It is designed to hold two kids but barely had enough room for my oldest.  He was fine with it though and we were on our way.  Things were fine except for the occasional sudden stop my youngest would make. I almost fell over twice to avoid hitting him. We all got to school without any new potential scars and they went to class like any other day.  I loaded up their helmets in the kid trailer and set off for home.  As you could imagine my ride home was much quicker.  As I approached the house I had to cross in front of a car to get into my driveway.  It wasn't a close call by any means but I did crank the pedals a little harder  to get out of the way.  Those couple of extra turns of the sprocket and the fact that I was making a hard left into my driveway caused the kid trailer to roll over on to its side.  It dragged behind me but did not pull me over.  I'm fine.  I did chuckle though when I thought what must have been going through the head of the person driving the car as it passed. I'm sure it looked completely horrific to them.  I did worry for a second when I thought they might call someone to check out the possibility of child endangerment.







The kids call it the "chariot".  I guess I did have a Ben Hur moment

I want to say right off the bat that the following link might take you somewhere to see something you might not want to see.  It's not gross or perverted.  It just might not be your cup of tea.

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

T-shirt design

Now , if you saw the design, imagine it on a mother picking her child up from elementary school.  And to think I thought I saw the worse.  I can't wait for what's next.  Anyone want to buy a house?

Please reference this for the first part of the story. It has been a couple of weeks since that post so i hope not to confuse anyone.

 As he looked into the churning water he suddenly felt an unexpected firm push from behind.  He expected the worst.  In that split second all he wanted was to have his feet securely under him.  He was not that lucky.  He then promised himself  if it were to actually happen he would turn around and head back through the foreboding forest and find his way back no matter what it took.  It's amazing what your mind can process in such a short amount of time.  before he fell completely he was jerked to a stop as a tug on his belt tightened around his waist.  He was now dangling half way into the unknown. He thought he was the only one out here but apparently the same hand from nowhere that he was pushed by is now the same hand holding his fate.  The swirling pool looked so inviting before but now it is a truly scary place. He looked back to see who or what was keeping him in this limbo.  All he could see was a face.  It was a familiar face but there was something different about it.  Different enough that it was almost unfamiliar. 
"PULL ME BACK!" he shouted but remained in his precarious position.
"Please pull me back" This time without the shouting but still the words fell on deaf ears.
"What can I do to get you to pull me back?"  The desperation plea came too quick but still no response, either physical or verbal.
He just hung there.
Totally at the will of this familiar stranger.  Time became indefinable. "Had I been hanging here minutes? Hours?  Days? "  He thought to himself.
The longer he was held there the more it didn't matter which way he went he just wanted to go.  Either way he would be able to get on with things.
Into the dark unknown or back to find what he once knew. 
Anywhere is better than now.

I used to hang out in the front room.  It was well lit.  The conversation was something I could relate to.  Maybe from time to time I would just sit quietly in my easy chair and listen.  Still, I felt llike a contributing member of group.

Then one day I woke up in a dark, tiny room in the basement.  I found myself listening but it was hard to hear through all the other noise.  i opened the door to my cramped room to try and get a better listen to the conversations I once participated in .  Problem was the conversations were so intermixed with the other noise that I no longer recognized it.

They are having fun up there I'm sure but that door gets harder to open.  I don't know if I want waste any more energy trying to get out that way any more.  There's cool new kids in the house. 

I'm OK with who I am but I have to make a decision.  Do I:
a) bust out of this dark, musty hole and make my way through the noise and give my well wishes as I make my way through the front door
b) bust out of this dark, musty hole and cuss the noise as I slip, unoticed, out the back door.
or
c) sit here, doing whatever it is I do, and hope that I can get used to the noise and learn how to deal with it.

Only I can figure out that answer. 

*I really hope no one comes down here to pat me on the head and tell me everything is going to be fine.*

Most will not like my channel music but it is something I was into starting back in the early to mid 80's.  I'll change it as soon as I post a new story.

The name of the band, Dead Kennedys, is not slam on the unfortunate assassinations of John and Bobby.  It is supposed to be a commentary on how American society shifted to the Me generation of greed  and the "what's in it for me" attitude that began around 1980.

the former lead Singer Jello Biafra was and is very outspoken on his political and social views.
I think he is a very interesting person even though he may be very  controversial.

the songs lyric are dated but what do you expect when you write songs about the then current political environment. 

"California Uber Alles"
Dead Kennedys

I am Governor Jerry Brown
My aura smiles
And never frowns
Soon I will be president...

Carter power will soon go away
I will be Fuhrer one day
I will command all of you
Your kids will meditate in school


California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California


Zen fascists will control you
100% natural
You will jog for the master race
And always wear the happy face
Close your eyes, can't happen here
Big Bro' on white horse is near
The hippies won't come back you say
Mellow out or you will pay


California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California


Now it is 1984
Knock knock at your front door
It's the suede/denim secret police
They have come for your uncool neice


Come quietly to the camp
You'd look nice as a drawstring lamp
Don't you worry, it's only a shower
For your clothes here's a pretty flower...


DIE on organic poison gas
Serpent's egg's already hatched
You will croak, you little clown
When you mess with President Brown


California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California

I would have posted a video but Jello is kind of hard to watch.  Besides they never made videos just live stuff and fan produced videos.  Check out YouTube if you are interested..  I won't force it on you.

More organizing = more discoveries

I found an old newspaper from April 28, 1984.  it is our small town newspaper the Edwardsville Intelligencer.  No real news mostly local interest stuff.  You'll see why I still had this paper in my possession.

As I passed through the family room today I heard a M & M dark chocolate commercial.  In the commercial they spoof the Addams family, the 1964 TV version.  The theme song was instantly stuck in my head.  As I drove to work it was still there and mutated into debate inside my head.  The debate?  It is probably pretty obvious:

Which do you prefer The Addams Family or The Munsters?

According to IDBM they were released within weeks of each other in September of 1964.  the Munsters did better in the ratings but both shows ultimately met their demise at the end of the following year.

I decided to break down my feelings on the subject.  I hope it doesn't skew the results.  Who am I kidding we're not solving world hunger here so what difference does it make if I skew the results.

Let's start with the patriarchs of each family:

Gomez Addams(John Astin) vs. Herman Munster(Fred Gwynne)
Fred Gwynne was a great talent as is John Astin but my nod has to go to Gomez.  It was obviously a much more subtle character comparatively speaking.  If Gomez was in line behind you at the bank you probably wouldn't notice but behind the smile lies some weird twisted stuff.  Herman, on the other hand, sent people running to the hills at the mere sight of him and rightfully so.  Winner: Gomez

Morticia(Carolyn Jones) vs Lily(Yvonne Decarlo)
Morticia was demented and I like that.  I can picture Lily as one of those older women with too much make-up, a ring on every finger, big hair and a cigarette hanging from the corner of her mouth at the bingo hall.  I think they were both supposed to be vampires of some sort. Personally, and in the most shallow sense, I would rather be bitten by Morticia.  Winner: Morticia

Uncle Fester vs Grandpa
Uncle Fester was strange, very strange but tended to act a bit like Curly from the three stooges.  Grandpa had a cool car and he was a cool grandpa.  This is a close one for me but I think grandpa noses out Uncle Fester.  If I was roommates with Uncle Fester and grandpa I think Fester would get on our nerves after a while.  Winner: Grandpa

Pugsley vs Eddie
Pugsley could take a beating but put Eddie in his shoes and I believe he would quickly crack.  Pugsley takes this round on constitution alone.  Winner: Pugsley

Wednesday vs Marylin
Wednesday was tough and knew what she wanted and she took it.  Marylin was the ugly duckling of the family always concerned about her black sheep appearance.  Marylin might be beautiful but I don't respect the whiny attitude.  Stick it to 'em Wednesday.  Winner: Wednesday

Peripheral characters:
Addams Family - Lurch, Cousin It, Thing and Grandmama
The Munsters - Spot(the dragon under the stairs)
Granted, having a dragon living under the stairs would be pretty cool but it is not enough  to compete with: Lurch, a very hairy little man wearing a bowler, a disembodied hand and a wacky Grandma.  Winner: The Addams Family

Very lopsided I must admit going into the final battle.

The House:
Maybe it's out of pity but I thought the Munster's house was creepier, both inside and out.
Winner: Munster house

Random thoughts on the subject:

- Could someone explain to me how a Frankenstein monster and a vampire get together and have a werewolf for a kid?

-I think grandpa from the Munsters and Grandmama should get together they would be a hoot to hang out with.

-Ted Cassidy, who played Lurch, also provided the hand acting for Thing.

Wow less than 8 hours and I'm at it again.  What can I say.  Well let's just see.

Had to get up early and get the boys ready for football, please use the American definition.  Since I have to go to work before they get back I stay home and amuse myself.  So here I find myself in a pseudo-awake state.  What do I do with my time?  I read old stories on Groupee along with the comment threads.  I have found a theme in the comments.  There are a lot of "welcome back" or "where have you been?" type of comments. 

Reading these old stories actually made me laugh out loud a couple of times. 

I am constantly worried about being egotistical by saying "I" and "me" a lot but it just occurred to me that it is nearly impossible to avoid when the title of the Geecast is "What's on my mind".  Doug can be pretty dense some times.  3rd person is annoying and doesn't work.

I've got this show on the TV called "Sell This House".  It is a reality show about people who can't sell their house and a crew led by a good looking woman host comes in and spruces up the house, usually for less than $1000, so it is more visually appealing for potential buyers.  Part of the premise is they set up hidden cameras and potential buyers come through and critique the house before and after the renovations.  I watch the show not just for the host, James, but for tips on how to sell a house since we are planning on selling this house in about two years.  One thing does bother me though.  The potential "buyers" (i add the quotes because I don't actually believe they are buyers) come in before the changes and rip the place apart.  Not literally, they just talk about how horrible the place looks.  Most of the time, they pick apart the personal effects or decorating choices.   It just seems mean for the sake of being mean.  If I were buying a house i would never walk in, look around and make a decision on buying based on how ugly the bedsheets are in the guest bedroom.  I exaggerate a little but not much.  the after is always glowing reviews which lead me to believe these "buyers" are actually paid to come in and give opinions.
"Sell This House" producer to prospective "buyer" - All right you PEOPLE!!  I need you to go in there and be total jerks.  If you are not jerky enough for the before segment you will not get your fee.  If you do not suck up enough for the after segment, YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR FEE!  Remember, once you sign this contract you are legally obligated to be a jerk, then come back in a couple of days and be a suck up.  you don't want to hurt our designers feelings do you?  Once you've filled your contractual obligation you will receive your $50 Home Depot gift card. 

I am scared.  I am scared for Christmas.  I know it's barely August but my wife has already started talking about the need for a THIRD full size Christmas tree.  you see she is an ornament junkie and instead of actually leaving some ornaments in a big box in the basement she thinks a third tree will solve the problem.  the amount of money we've spent on ornaments through the years is probably bigger than annual budgets for most smaller  countries in the world.  Again, I exaggerate but not much.

I was organizing our kitchen and came across a  beer stein I got at Oktoberfest in Munich  back in 1988.  I got online to look it up.  It is worth 20 times what I paid for it.  To say the least I was pleasantly surprised.  Now, the questions are:
Do i want to sell it?
if yes, How do I find a buyer?  Ebay?
if no, How do I protect it from any, and i mean any, possible demise?  Did I mention i have 4 little boys?  There could be an earthquake, flood or tornado.

Sick of me yet?

I must have been really sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of the people around me today at work.  It was not a good day. 

How did lb become the abbreviation for pound?  there is no l or b in pound best I can tell.

they make cordless phones that are rechargeable and have a paging function that helps you find the phone if you can't find it.  Why have they not come up with a remote control with the same features?  If they have already it probably cost way too much.

Not sure what i think about the whole music focus thing here.  i know it's not up to me but i like writing these little diversions.  I'm just afraid things like this will be pushed into the corner to collect dust.  I'll try to accept change.  it doesn't help that i feel totally out of touch with modern music.  Sorry to say i am stuck in the 80's to early 90's.

Who's the sicko that invented the necktie?

Anybody up late enough to realize that for the most part the only channels that don't run infomercials are the channels geared toward children.

The only real thought I had going into this entry was the pound/lb abbreviation thing.  Now i feel like I'm just padding that small thing with a bunch of junk so I think I need to stop.