"ooooooohhh! Augie caught a crappie!"


"BWAAAAHHAAHEHEWHHHE! IT'S FLOPPING ALL OVER THE DOCK! YIIIIIIIKKKKEEE!!!!!!"

"The fishy is gonna DIIIIIIIIIEEEEE"

He doesn't know it yet, but I am posting my cousin Tom's email to me from this afternoon. We started out about having a conversation about Georgia which of course cannot be had without a conversation about the way American's consume. I asked him about his take on drilling off shore and the energy crisis - here is his response:





"As to my thoughts: I agree with Paul Erlich that if we put on a WW11 style assault on the energy crisis we could solve it, but, sadly we probably won't - there's just too much money to be made in it by the Bush/Cheney's of the world.



Drilling, cheap gas, etc...is, in my opinion, the worst possible thing that could happen to our kids. It will mean that in our time, we'll prolong the "party" while in their time the shit will really hit the fan, making the Depression look like a vacation.



That said, I'm a proponent of a reality based solution. By that I mean, admitting the fallacy of our economic model and lifestyle. Unfortunately no one seems to talk about this. No matter what analysis you read, liberal or conservative, the issue is not about us changing an unsustainable economic model, its about finding an alternative energy to continue our current - and hallowed - "way of life." We must start by calling that what it is - bullshit - the way the modern economy works is unsustainable and if we really care about our kids (read: "family values") we'll admit the truth and stop the fiasco before it kills them, because if we don't deal with it, it probably will be our kids who will really suffer.



I'm for the WW11 style assault on both transportation/lifestyle changes as well as development of new green energy economy Many could be gainfully employed in the process. We could cut our military budget by 2/3 and get it on big time.



Then again, there's plate tectonics..."

Un emigrate - is that even a word? Can I do it 3 generations on?

I just finished up this article from Foreign Policy in Focus. I know what you will say - (you being My Father) that is naive and simplistic to be annoyed with the fact that the US can't keep their fingers out of anyone's pie, and that If US government did stick their fingers in other countries for my benefit, I would not live my cushy middle class life that I have.

But, I can't help but be depressed and disappointed in how, seemingly, there is no place on the planet that can can say it is totally free of the Plucking of the Political Web by the US.

This pressuring and politicking, the tweaking from afar that the US imposes on other countries always seems to result in unintended eventualities that end up killing people or fucking up economies or blowing up common laborers houses. I realize that one can't see every eventuality or unintended consequence. But it does seem to me that if your own agenda, hidden or not, shapes your position and focus to the point that that is the only lens you see things from, then you start to JUST NOT CARE what happens to other people if your agenda is served.

And I am sorry to say that I am just not ok with that. I don't like it and I am embarrassed that the government behaves like that. Call me naive, but the US government looks suspiciously like perpetrators in my financial exploitation cases - give them 20 minutes, ask some simple questions about the allegation, and their hidden agenda is glaring at you. I don't want to be associated with this. It is wrong. It is against my midwest sensibilities -my sensibilites that don't translate to the McMansions and the credit cards and the excessive consumption of junk and junk news and i could go on and on and on and on).

I fear that no matter who becomes president, it is a foregone conclusion that the US is out of control and I often don't recognize it. Or maybe it was always like this and I just didn't want to look at it.

So maybe I will move to Sweden and drive a taxi. I am 3 generations removed from the language and all I can say is Hej Doa! (hello/goodbye!)

Is it too much to hope that we could just stay out of other people's business and take care of our own?

Joel: I just farted!!!!

Augie: Joel, STOP IT!

Poppo: Kristin, just
take the picture.





















Joel: I love Poppo

and I love

Poppo's head...


Augie: I love Poppo....

California's funniest home videos

I was desperate for a laugh yesterday, so after I amused myself by nominating someone for a game show, Fussy directed me to one of her archives that is quite possibly the FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
You can link to it here. The comments complete the hysteria.

Like Beef? You're invited to our house for dinner - for the next week

We discovered that the deep freeze door was left ajar by Unnamed Yet Contrite Forces Living Amongst Us. Consequently pounds of our organic grass fed beef were thawed. Some spoiled. Some in the latter stages of unthaw.

As a result my spouse is downstairs right this minute making three pot roasts and preparing dry rub for some dozen or so odd steaks. Please, I beg of you, stop by tomorrow night for Beef Fest

Stephanie

Stephanie is the most adorable, cute, sweet, calm, gentle chocolate lab I have ever met since Gunnar. She is 1 1/2 years old and her whole body wiggles when she wags her tail in that way that only labs have. I decided I loved her as soon as she nudged her muzzle against my leg.
I called Brian about her, and told him I was going to bring home a new Lab. I thought he would reign me in with some irritating, rational statement. Shockingly he said, "sure, bring her home".

There is a little, teensy problem. Aside from the problems of already having a dog, not being able to afford pets and vet bills, not particularly liking the yard being full of dead grass and the problem of general responsibility for pets that we lack.

The teensy problem is this: she belongs to a client. Mr. Client is going to be removed from his home by the sheriff's because his home foreclosed and his redemption period has expired. He can't read or write, has a brain injury, is on cumodin, has COPD and is an alcoholic.

But boy he has a nice dog.

He will have to move, likely, to a subsidized apartment because his income is so limited. He is not sure what will happen to Stephanie, and he doesn't want to have to part with her. She hunts pheasants with client and keeps him company.

I actually called my supervisor about it and in an astonishing show of clarity, he said it was "ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE" and forbade me to take Stephanie. He reminded me that in addition to dogs, I also cannot accept money, goods or services from clients in any shape or form.

But I think Stephanie is supposed to live with us. This was meant to be.

You won't believe this but a police officer I know offered to take her and then a week later say he can't keep her and bring her to our house.

I am actually considering this.

I've lost all common sense and my boundaries are at that ALANON meeting I've never been to.

Someone please reign me in.

Tabloid distraction

For all my friends on their holidays in Portugal - This is worth a 45 second break from the beach.

National Night Out - A Pancreatic Assault

Joel: "Augie, I had TWO Capri Suns and THREE SIPS OF DENNIS' COKE!!!!"

Augie: "Well I had an ice cream cone, a brownie, a cookie, two bags of Doritos and TWO SIPS
OF DYLAN'S COKE!!!!!"