To be continued...

When we left our hero, he was busily posting away at his computer during lunch. The scene opens with our hero sitting in a dark corner at the car dealership, desperately trying to finish this post while the creative juices are still flowing. Sick aint it?

....continued from lunch.....
The aforementioned football game is a real snore. That is unless you like watching the referees throw penalty flags, or see teenage boys painted green run down the track carrying flags....

Third quarter comes and goes. The band is usually dismissed to get something to drink at these times, so all of the kids go to the concession stand, except for Arrogant Shit. Devoted to his art, he stays with his drum and reminds the rest of the section that he wants them back with 8 minutes to go on the clock. A feeling of dread begins to fill me.

At eight minutes to go, the four-count them four- drummers load up and go stand in front of the student section, to do their own, lilly white rendition of the movie DRUM LINE. It was mortifying. I did not think things could get any worse until I realized that the students werent making fun of the drum line....they didn't even realize they were there! It would be one thing to have cat calls or whatever they call it today, but to be totally ignored.... that hurts. I went to the concession stand hoping that they would serve alcohol, but none was to be had. I went to my last resort, which was to sit down and talk to AD.

As I said before, I have known AD for a long time, and he was a big guy in high school. I would guess that he weighs 400 plus now.

I saw him at the barbershop several months ago, and I kid you not, this guy had trouble fitting into the barber chair. A woman probably does not have a frame of reference for this, but that would be like having trouble fitting on to a park bench.

I noticed then, that AD had an unusual bulge under his shirt, right around the waist line. I thought perhaps he was having trouble with a kidney, or even that it might be a colostomy bag. People that size tend to have those sorts of problems. Being the discreet sort, I pretended that I didnt notice it, and didn't ask.

I got the full story during fourth quarter. AD was revisiting how he built all of the sets for the band. He told me that he built one, so large, that it had to be stored on the roof of the trailer. ( I was getting that nervous feeling again at this point). The rest of the story goes like this.....
Those of you with weak stomachs may want to tune out right about now....

AD- so I was loading the set into the top of the trailer...
and I felt something give, kind of in my side..
Me- knowingly- Pulled a muscle, eh ( I threw that in for the Canadians)
AD-no, much better- got a hernia-
Me- (long pause) so that...umm... thing on your side...thats a hernia?
AD- Yep. Kinda cool aint it?
Me- ummmm-- you realize that isnt a good thing
AD yep, just waiting to save up enough money to have the surgery to fix it
Me- that kind of thing gets worse over time
AD-well I am taking it easy, being careful
AD - I figure if I aint puking or shitting myself to death, things are ok
Me- your work doesnt have health insurance?
AD- nope
Me- Who did you say you worked for?
AD- State Farm Insurance. I am a subcontractor for their computers

Another long pause

AD- oh hey, the game is going into overtime
Me- I think its time for me to go....

The whole drumline thing is out

Troubador

His mother must be proud

I went to my High School Alma Mater for the homecomeing game last weekend. It really wasnt on the top of my list of things to do, but since my son (who is in 6th grade) was invited to march in the parade, and since anything to do with marching band causes me to lose my senses, I cheerfully agreed to go.

I really was proud of my son, walking along in his jeans and T shirt- carrying, of all things, a saxaphone ( I was a percussion major). I thought that the whole evening would go along relatively uneventfully- we watch the game, we crown the queen, eat some pizza, play a few tunes, and then go home.

Famous last words.

I need to set the scene first. The town I live in is not exactly Mayberry, but it has a lot of small town tendencies, even though we are not far from Cincinnati. The high school I attended was a Catholic High school, with about 225 in each class. The school has gotten the lable "jock school" because they have historically been very strong in athletics.

To say that the town and the school are conservative, is an understatement.

So I bought my ticket, and walked into the stadium and found a seat next to the band. I happened to overhear one of the drummers complain that his fingers hurt. I told him that his fingers were hurting because he was gripping his sticks too tightly. Get this- he rolled his eyes at me, and said "yeah right" and turned his back. I marched my first band camp before this arrogant little shit was born, and I get "yeah right?"

One factoids that is important here, I taught that same drumline until 1999. When I was teaching them, they won every contest that they went to.

I chose to remain anonymous and just talk to me son about the parade.

Factoid #2 that comes into play: Farmer Hogget, in the movie Babe, is a character that I like a lot. He is well known for being a man of few words. I identify with that. I like that a lot of the time.

There I am sitting just watching people, which I love to do, and the assistant band director comes and sits next to me.

I know this man from when I was in school. I dated his sister in law ( another very long story)
Assistant director really needed someone to talk to, it seems

By the time we are finished with the first quarter, AD has told me about his job, his three kids, his wife (my almost sister in law) who is directing the color guard, how he designed an built the sets, how he designed all of the racks in the equipment trailer, and I can't remember what else. This is in between the time that he is giving his running comentary about the football game.

The band always plays a song or two at the quarter, so I saw my opportunity to get away, when he hit me with the zinger.

AD- "You know there are going to be 10 drummers next year"
Me- unglazing my eyes" Oh really?"
AD- Yeah, and we are thinking about having a Winter Percussion group this year
Note: this is the equivalent of offering an alcholic the keys to the beer truck
Me- Who are the kids?
AD - well , Arrogant Shit is the section leader......


I went back to nodding and smiling, and reminding myself that I had a quartet now and it was time to do grown up things

Factoid #3. I am not a homophobe. There are several gay men in the chorus and I like all of them. I am not sure that I understand their choice of partners (lesbians I understand- gay men puzzle me), but I think that they are for the most part really good people.

Factoid #4 I think that shows like "while you were out" make people beleive that if you go to Wal Mart and buy a hammer and a paint brush, you are already a carpenter or a painter. This applies to "queer eye" as far as I am concerned

The drum major for the band is a flamer. I can't put it any other way. When I was in school, even the mere implication that someone was a bit effeminate usually resulted in a scuffle.
DM was ready to burst into flame.

He helped the color guard put on their makeup

He helped them do their hair

He stood with his hands backwards on his hips

He did the whole air kiss thing with another flamer in the sax section-you know, the one that was ADHD and thought the every word that came out of his mouth was "hysterical"-I think I heard that word 100 times

He pranced around like he was in low gravity shoes

He re applied the product (whatever it was) to his hair after half time

He had his hands on everyone he could get close to--suggesting that we should do group shoulder rubs after third quarter.

and the coup de grace....

he knew the cheerleaders routines better than the cheerleaders did, going so far as to pretend he had pom poms in his hands and mimicking their moves.

I was nauseated

He would have never made it out of band camp when I was there

There is such a thing as Death by Swirly

to be continued...

Troubador

The saga continues

So I went to audition tonight.

Our chorus is so comepetative, that in order to compete in the upcoming District Contest, each member must sing their part with fewer than a certain amount of errors, in order to be permitted on the risers.

I passed, easily


The nice part, was that the VP of Music, as well as the Bass section lead, both talked with me about the incident with my truck.

Both of them assured me that there was a lot of research going on, behind the scenes, to relocate.

I was already aware of the politics that would be involved in moving, so I knew that this all had to be kept quiet. Thats why I am publishing it for all the world to see.
(or at least Cass will see it-which is pretty darn good if you ask me)

Anyway, I will not be leaving just yet.

You may go back to your lives now


Troubador

Scene of the Crime

My Poor Truck


This is what the fargin bastiges did to my defenseless truck



Me

Things I don't understand...

I know that I will not be getting that application form from Mensa this year, but I think that I have been blessed with a reasonable intellect. All that being said, there are some things that I just don't understand. If anyone reads this, and might have an answer, I am all ears. Here comes the list, in no particular order....

1. Why would people look at the Red Cross, with all of the money that they spend, and all the help that they give, and complain that somehow it is not enough?

2. Why would someone I don't know, and to whom I have done no harm, do $1000 damage to my truck?

3. Why would a woman, that I think is already beautiful, decide to get a tattoo?

4. Why won't my cat poop in the litterbox instead of the end of the hallway?

5. Why would a kid choose any of the Japanese cartoons these days over Bugs Bunny?

6. Why do people pay attention to Cindy Sheehan?

7. What would a chair look like if your knees bent the other way?

8. Why am I getting Viagra and penis enlargement e mails ?

9. Where did they get my E mail adress?

10. How did they know?

11. Why does the Drum Major in my High School Alma Mater have to prove to everyone in the band that he is gay?

12. Every five minutes?

13. For an entire football game?

14. When did the aliens abduct my mother a make her a radical liberal?

15. Why couldn't the priest who presided over my wedding keep his hands off young boys?

16. Why do people think that having a gigantic hole in their ear is cool?

17. What do they think is going to happen when they are 40 and they are applying for a job at McDonalds?

18. What sane person would think it is going to be cool to have a split tongue?

19. When most of our foreign policy crisis comes from countries that treat women as property, what will we do with a woman president? Will the countries in question honor agreements made by women?

20. Why is my dog afraid of ladders?

21. Why don't black people squaredance?

22. Why don't white people have rhythm?

23. What happened to decorum in politics?

24. Why do blondes have more fun?

25. Why didn't I see a single naked person on the beach at Miami, where clothing is optional?

26. Why are we even considering rebuilding New Orleans?

27. Don't people in New Orleans have insurance?

28. Why do I only get to have 18 years with my son?

29. Will there ever be a boy that is good enough for my little girl?

30. Is there anybody out there?



Me

I have HAD it

So.
I have been saying how much I like to sing with the Chorus.

That is true.

I never thought, in my whole life that I would be a world champion of anything.

That all changed one Saturday afternoon in July of 1992.

The only person that I have ever called my hero, besides my Dad,
was my first chorus director.

Jim Miller ( chorus director) is someone that I consider larger than life

I have sang in Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Theater, The Superdome, Cincinnnati Music Hall, The Calgary Saddle Dome, The San Francisco Cow Palace, The Miami Convention Center, Freedom Hall in Louisville, The Portland Arena, The Montreal Convention Center, and I don't know how many school auditoriums.

Last night, I went to rehearsal, and parked on the same street I have parked for 10 years











This morning I walked around my truck and saw the scratch

It went from the right rear turn signal

all the way up to the middle of the right hand passenger door

It was done with a knife or something else sharp

It was done on purpose

By one of the people that live in the neighborhood

One of the same people

That attended the free concert

that the chorus put on

in the heat

during the summer

with all the bugs

and the stink from the factories

for free












I wrote the chorus board a letter

telling them that I was leaving after October 15th

Telling them that I was not coming back

until they moved away from a neighborhood

where members cars get broken into

where members cars get vandalized

where members get held up at gun point










I told them that the trailer that I haul and store for free had to be moved

I told them that my son, who had busted his ass to get good grades

so that he could join the chorus

would not be coming

because I could not risk harm to him











I told them this today at noon












Its 10:30













Nobody has written back












Revised cause I was a hot head......












I need a new name



Me" will do

I get paid to fail....

I do the estimating for the family construction company. There is no logical explaination for how I got into this position. I studied to be a music teacher for 4-1/2 years for cryin' out loud. These two jobs couldn't be more different.

I guess the neatest explanation is that I am in the habit of jumping in where people need help. The estimator that we had at the time was up to his eyeballs in work, and needed help. I started helping him, and was getting the work done faster than he was, so my fate was decided.

The bulk of my job is on competative bidding. An owner/architect advertizes for bids for a project, usually three weeks to a month ahead of when they want bids. Once I find out about a project, we send for plans and start calling suppliers and subcontractors to do the work. Sound easy? Just wait....

Along with the the drawings there is usually a book called a Specification Book, or Spec book for short. In the spec book are the instructions for how the job is to be bid, when and where it is to be bid, who is eligible to bid it, and other qualifications and restrictions to the contract. Along with that information, supposedly every detail of how the project is to be built, right down to what fasteners you should use to what toilet paper dispensers go on the walls are contained in this book. Spec books for large projects can be several hundred pages. In some cases, when the specifications for a product, like concrete, for example, are so long that it would make the book too large, you are referred to yet another text to find the exact requirements.

Along with the spec book come the drawings. The larger the project, the bigger the set. No mystery there.

Now comes the first kicker. In almost every spec book I have ever read, and they number in the hundreds by now, there is the clause that says, "in case of ambiguity between the drawings and the specifications, the Contractor is to provide the greated quantity, or more expensive product." HOWEVER, what this also means, is that if an item, or a procedure or anything is mentioned ANYWHERE in the drawings or the specs, it must be included.

I could go on for hours, and probably will in another post about how this job can make a person crazy. Its making my hair fall out...

But the reason I told you that, is to tell you the rest.

Lets assume that there are no errors in the drawings, and nothing can be mis construed. Lets assume that the building is brand new, no existing conditions to deal with. Lets assume that there are no items left for interpretation by the lazy good for nothing no good ignorant architect. How then does one arrive at the lowest price for a bid?

One of two ways. Either settle for less profit, or make a mistake.

There are certain constants within the industry. Insurance cost the same, for the most part. Workers comp charges the same rate. Labor rates among the trades are pretty well fixed. Materials prices are pretty much the same.

The question then is, how much money are you willing to not make, or how big of a mistake did you make on the bid?

The first one is an easy answer. Any company worth its salt is going to know the minimum it has to have to stay solvent. The question is, how badly do you want the job.

The second question will keep you awake at night.

I had gotten arrogant this summer, because I had never made a mistake of any size.

Then I found out that I had omitted $45,000 worth of casework on a project that our bid was $185,000.00

We are all human.

Peace

Another one for Cass....

10 Years Ago: I was 29. We had just moved into our first house. We were thinking about another child. I decided to take time off from the chorus to go to Apprentice school. My best friend was dying from Leukemia.

5 Years Ago: I would have been 35. Moved into the company office full time to clean up the mess left behind when our book keeper was arrested for embezeling money. Found out that I had a talent for estimating, or at least I didn't hate it as much as anyone else in the office. Re-joined the chorus. I had been teaching a high school drum line and color guard. I loved it, but it strained my marriage a lot. Good move on my part.

1 Year Ago: Joe, Baritone in my quartet called and asked me to be in his wedding, and by the way did I want to sing in a quartet. In a word I was flabbergasted. Secretly, I was hoping that perhaps all these years later, someone was ready to fill the spot in my life that Tim had left empty. I still don't know the answer to that, but things are good.

Five Songs I Know All The Words To:(1) Hotel California by the Eagles.(2) Sarabeth by Rascal Flatts (3) Pirate Looks at 40 by Jimmy Buffet (4) Shower the People by James Taylor (5) Beautiful Girls, by Van Halen

Five Snacks:(1) Ritters Custard, Any Flavor (2) Butter Pecan Ice Cream (3) Act III popcorn(4) Hard pretzels with Extra Sharp Cheese (5) Recee Cups and Lays potato Chips

Five Things I'd Do With $100 Million:(1) Get Even 2) Retire to sing Barbershop full time (3) Start a foundation to form a brand new Drum and Bugle Corps (4) Form a corporation that would employ all my friends, paying them a ridiculous salary so that they could do the things they love instead of what they have to. (5) Most of all...take care of those who need it, and take care of my family. If I had the money about two years ago, I would have bought Fort Scott, and re opened the camp....

Five Places I'd Run Away To:(1) Calgary (2) Scotland (3) Lake Cumberland (4) Arizona (5) Alaska

Five Things I'd Never Wear:(1) Tattoo (2) Nose Ring (3) Speedo (4) Any other peircing besides an ear (5) Pants that hang halfway down my ass ( old man pants hiked up to my armpits are in that group too).

Five Favorite TV Shows:(1) Law and Order (Except for Criminal Intent) (2) NYPD Blue (3) Babylon 5 (4) Who's Line is it? (5) NFL Football (Go Bengals! Who Dey?)

Five Greatest Joys:(1) My Family (2) My Quartet (3) A great book (4) Southern Gateway Chorus (5) Music, Music, and Music.

Five Favorite Toys:(1) My Computer (2) My Stereo (3) My Camera (4)My musical instruments (too many to list) (5) My doggie (third child)

Peace

So why do I do this?

After looking at the schedule I posted yesterday, and becoming both horrified and depressed at the same time, I have to ask myself, "Why do I do this?"

Three answers:
1. Because I can
2. Because I should
3. Because I want to

I am still young enough that I can be involved in all of these things and it doesn't kill me, it just wears me out. The fundraising stuff and the involvement at my kids school I do because I think I can make a difference. Believe me, the shape that the programs were in when I got involved were terrible. I didn't fix it all myself, but I certainly helped.

The homework gig is one that is difficult for me, but I do it because I should. I am like most other people at the end of the day, and the last thing I want to be doing is my son's sixth grade math homework. The deal is, though, that last fall, after a teachers conference, we concluded that Joe is working way too hard for the results he was getting. After almost 8 months of evaluations and doctors visits, MRI's, visual scans and countless other things, we have determined that he has a learning disability.

This is crushing, not because we had any illusions that we had the perfect child, or that he would cure cancer some day, but if you met and talked to my son, you would never guess there was anything wrong. He has been in a school environment since he was 4, and it took us seven years to figure out that there was legitimately something wrong, that had nothing to do with a lack of motivation or effort. Coupled with the LD, he has developed some anger problems as well. There are days that I wish I could home school him, but I know that I cannot.

This is my only son.

There is nothing that I would not do for him. It breaks my heart to see him struggle so. I thank God that he is in the school he is in, with the teachers he has. The kids around him seem to be good kids, and he has not complained of being made fun of. I know that when I went to school we were merciless on kids that were different. I guess things change.

I actually consider it a privilege that I can somehow steer him through this.

The last reason, because I want to, is for all of the singing I do.

When I was in high school, I discovered Drum and Bugle Corps. To me it was like combining the symphony and the ballet, and putting it on a football field. I am hard pressed to think of a higher degree of performance combined with artistry. I wanted to march so badly, but as you can imagine, it requires a great deal of talent, as well as money, as well as ability.

The catch with Drum Corps is that you age out at your 22nd birthday.

I waited too long to decide that I was good enough. That is a road I can never take.

The good news, is that I discovered Barbershop. I visited the chorus in 1990, and realized that here was my chance at Drum Corps, albeit, on a stage, singing 4 part harmony, with men that were old enough to be my father or grandfather, but it was a second chance.

Since then, I have traveled all over the US and Canada, sang in some of the greatest halls you have ever heard of, and even won the International Championship in 1992. But once again, there was a higher level to strive for. For all that Barbershop choruses offer, it pales in contrast to quartetting. That puts you, on stage with three other men, singing other parts, trying to change lives, with your music.

I did my first contest this weekend, and we placed 7th out of 24. The judges were very complimentary, and we qualified for the next round. We will compete again in October for the District championship. In another year or two we should win it.

Then in April, we can compete in the International Prelims. If we score high enough, we will be invited to compete against the best in the world. I think this is within our reach this coming spring. Lord knows we have worked hard enough.

Last thought for the day, is that I don't sing for the glory, or the pats on the back, or anything like that. What I love to do, is make incredible music with people that I care about, and use that to ease the weight of the world from the people that are kind enough to listen.

Peace

This one is for Cassidy

This is my schedule starting from last Monday- and does not include working 9-1/2 hours a day.

Monday Kids soccer Practice
Quartet Rehearsal until Midnight

Tuesday- Help Joe with homework until 8
Chorus rehearsal until 10:00
Quartet Rehearsal until 11:00
Bed at Midnight

Wednesday- Joe therapy until 6:00
Joe homework until 8:00

Thursday- Work Bingo from 6:00 till 10 30
Pack for Quartet Contest

Friday- Leave work at 5:00
Travel with Quartet to Hermitage Pennsylvania until 11:00
Bed

Saturday- Up at 7:30
Breakfast, warm up with quartet, go to Contest
In Warm up room at 1:00
Onstage at 2:00
Contest results at 3:00
Judges evaluations 5:15 to 6:00
Dinner till 7:00
On the road again
Home at Midnight

Sunday
Work Athletic Committee Concession stand from 10:00 to 4:00
Cook Dinner
Help Joe with homework until 8:00
Bed

Monday- Joe homework until 8:00
Quartet Rehearsal until Midnight

Tuesday- Kids Soccer game 6:15 - 7:30
Chorus rehearsal 8:00 to 10:00
Quartet Rehearsal to 11:00

Wednesday - Joe Therapy until 6:00
Joe Homework

Thursday Katie Soccer Game- 6:15
Deliver Riser Trailer - Home around 9:30

Friday- Set up Risers at 4
Joe Parade and football game at 6

Saturday- Joe Soccer Game 12:15
Quartet Rehearsal 4:00
Pick up risers at 10:00
Home at Midnight

Sunday- Chorus Picnic- Quartet may perform but doubtful

Monday- Quartet Rehearsal



and mind you, I did this to myself

Troubador

3 Questions from Cassidy:

Cassidy said...
I can't believe it! I didn't actually think you'd do it - good sport, Troubador!
1. What book/CD/movie influenced a big decision in your life?
2. Do your family/friends know that you blog?
3. If you could choose a moment in your life to return to any time at all, which moment would you choose?

Of course I am a good sport!

1. I think the music of John Williams in Close Encounters, along with the encouragment of my Band Director prompted me into Music.

2. I have told my wife and a few friends that I blog, most of them think its a phase I am going through...

3. Ahhh....I have had so many fabulous moments this is hard choice. Seeing my wife walk around the corner to start down the aisle at our wedding left me breathless, holding my son the first time gave me goosebumps, same with my daughter. The most dramatic moment was in 1992. The chorus I sing with had competed and won the international chorus championship in New Orleans. During our acceptance package, one of the songs was The Irish Blessing. The entire chorus of 130 men was so locked in to our director ( a man that I idolize) and too each other, that I think our hearts were beating in sync. As he cut off the end of the song, and all 12000 people in the Superdome held their breath, I think that was the most electrifying moment I have ever experienced

OK, I will play along

I asked Cassidy three questions, which means that I leave myself open for questions to be asked of me. So! Ask me 3 questions. Any 3, no matter how personal, private or random. I have to answer them honestly. I have to answer them all. In turn, you post this message in your own blog or journal and you have to answer the questions that are asked of you.What fun!

When Government is the Catastrophe...

Thanks to Warcrygirl for pointing out this article.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168732,00.html

Troubador

A Million Words...

Subject: Flooded Buses in New Orleans



It appears that New Orleans had about 600 city and school buses that remained unused and most, if not all, are now flooded.? (See attachments) As I have watched New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin excoriate President Bush and other federal authorities for their slow and inadequate response, it seems strange that no one in the mainstream press has asked why the mayor did not follow the disaster plan and use the buses to evacuate those lacking transportation.? ?Could it be that there is some bias in the mainstream press?? The only place that I have seen the flooded buses mentioned is in the Drudge Report and Free Republic.?
?
If 600 buses had a capacity of say 45 each, they could have evacuated about 27,000 persons/trip.? There was enough time between the evacuation order and hurricane arrival to make several trips.? Plus, if the buses had been used instead of allowed to be flooded, they would have been available as valuable resource in the post disaster recovery.? ?Also, the cost of replacement would have been avoided.?
?
Here is the applicable part of the Disaster Plan:
?
?
Louisiana disaster plan, pg 13, para 5 , dated 01/00

'The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating'...



Pictures Don't Lie

Troubador

The Truth according to Roger

Folks: While I normally stay from political
> diatribe, I have been vocal to the extremes with the
> trash coming out of New Orleans in the wake of
> Katrina's damage. Yes, it is horrific as to the toll
> on lives, property and prosperity, however, there are
> two very salient issues I have:
>
> 1.) The Mayor of New Orleans assured the public all
> was in control up to two days AFTER Katrina.
> 2.) He DEMANDED HELP - not asked for it. We're a
> great country with people willing to help those in
> need--in our own back yards and around the globe. He
> (based on the multitude of reports being aired here in
> ATL and the transcript of the below e-mail) failed his people.
> Completely. Now, the finger pointing begins as he will not own up to
> his lack of leadership. Jeez-o-pete, how do you mobilize help to a
> region who has made NO EFFORTS on their own to help themselves?
>
> I am making sure that any donations for Katrina are
> earmarked for the great State of Alabama and for
> Mississippi. The storm has descimated *all* of
> coastal Mississippi, but they are HELPING EACH OTHER -
> not looting or shooting each other. There has been
> trailer after trailer leaving ATL and N. Ga bound for
> those areas, as they truly need help. For example -
> there was a tractor-trailer being loaded in Macedonia,
> Georgia. Macedonia isn't even incorporated -
> population around 600, but by-God, there were cars all
> over the place with people lugging things in by the
> box load. Reaffirms your faith in folks...and was
> really cool to watch this tiny little town transform
> into a relief center. Katrina went ashore in
> Mississippi, and all on the eastern band (MS and AL),
> STILL reeling from Charlie and Ivan last summer, are
> re-re-re (yes, 3 re-s) building and helping each other
> AGAIN. NOT DEMANDING anything, NOT BLAMING anyone
> else for anything, but thanking those who are helping
> them.
>
> Sorry for the 'blog' on this - I have heard more than
> enough about New Orleans when I see residents of two
> great states who have damage FAR WORSE....AND aren't
> turning it into a racial issue.

Some opposing points of view

Things You Have to Believe to Be a Democrat Today
By Jay D. Dyson.

Just to balance out the Things you have to Believe to be a Republican Today posting that generated so many comments.
1. Drug addiction is a disease that should be treated with compassion and understanding...unless the addict is a Conservative talk show host.

2. The United States should be subservient to the United Nations. Our highest authority is not God and the U.S. Constitution, but a collective of tinpot dictators (and their appeasers) and the U.N. charter.

3. Government should relax drug laws regardless of the potential for abuse, but should pass new and unConstitutional anti-gun laws because of the potential for abuse.

4. Calls for increased security after a terrorist attack are "political opportunism," but calls for more gun control after a criminal's spree killing is "a logical solution."

5. "It Takes a Village" means everything you want it to mean...except creeping socialist government involvement in the nuclear family.

6. Disarming innocent, law-abiding citizens helps protect them from evil, lawless terrorists and other thugs.

7. Slowly killing an unborn innocent by tearing it apart limb from limb is good. Slowly killing an innocent disabled woman by starving her to death is good. Quickly killing terrorists, convicted murderers and rapists is BAD.

8. Every religion should be respected and promoted in public schools the name of diversity, so long as that religion isn't Christianity.

9. The best way to support our troops is to criticize their every move. This will let them know they're thought of often.

10. Sexual harassment, groping and drug use are degenerate if you're the governor of California, but it's okay if you're the President of the United States.

11. Sex education should be required so that teens can make informed choices about sex, but gun education should be banned because it will turn those same teens into maniacal mass-murderers.

12. Minorities are blameless for the hatred of the racist; women are blameless for the hatred of the rapist; but America is entirely at fault for the hatred of Islamofascists.

13. Poverty is the cause of all terrorism...which is why the leaders of al Qaeda are typically U.S.-educated and were raised in wealth and luxury.

14. The Patriot Act is a horrific compromise of Constitutional rights, but anti-Second Amendment laws and Franklin Roosevelt's Presidential Order 9066 must be regarded "reasonable precautions."

15. We should unquestioningly honor the wishes of our age-old allies, even when said allies no longer act like our allies and have vested economic interests in propping up our enemies.

16. Socialized medicine is the ideal. Nevermind all those people who spend every dime they have to get to the United States so they can get quality medical care...that their nation's socialized medical community can't provide.

17. Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky and Natalie Maines are perfectly qualified to criticize our leadership, but Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlton Heston, and Dennis Miller are just ignorant political hacks.

18. John Lott's research on how gun ownership reduces crime is junk science, but Michael Bellesiles is still an authority on why gun control is good (even though he was forced to resign from Emory due to research misconduct over his book "Arming America").

19. Bush's toppling the Saddam regime was a "diversion," but Clinton's lobbing a couple of cruise missiles at Iraq in the thick of the Lewinsky sex scandal was "sending a message."

20. A president who lies under oath is okay, but a president who references sixteen words from an allies' intelligence report should be dragged through the streets naked.

21. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning Second Amendment rights and shopping the courts for judges sympathetic to causes that wouldn't pass in any legislature.

22. "The People" in the First Amendment means The People; "the People" in the Fourth Amendment means The People; "the People" in the Ninth Amendment means The People; "the People" in the Tenth Amendment means The People; but "the People" in the Second Amendment (ratified in 1791) means the National Guard (created by an Act of Congress in 1903).

23. You support a woman's "right to choose" to kill her unborn child, but don't believe that same woman is competent enough to homeschool the children she bears.

24. Proven draft-dodging is irrelevant, but baseless claims of AWOL status is crucial to national security.

25. Threatening to boycott Dr. Laura's and Rush Limbaugh's advertisers is exercising Freedom of Speech, but threatening to boycott CBS's "The Reagans" and Liberal actors over their asinine anti-American remarks is censorship and McCarthyist blacklisting.


And now the opposing View......


1. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you’re a conservative radio host. Then it’s an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

3. Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money but crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness.

4. “Standing Tall for America” means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.

5. A woman can’t be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

6. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

7. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans’ benefits and combat pay.

8. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican.

9. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won’t have sex.

10. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

11. HMOs and insurance companies have the interest of the public at heart.

12. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

13. Global warming and tobacco’s link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

14. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush’s daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a “we can’t find Bin Laden” diversion.

15. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

16. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

17. The public has a right to know about Hillary’s cattle trades, but George Bush’s driving record is none of our business.

18. You support states’ rights, which means Attorney General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have a right to adopt.

19. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the ’80s is irrelevant.

20. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.




Can you feel the love?

Troubador

Fireworks and Funerals

Every labor day weekend, the City of Cincinnati, and the local hard rock radio station, WEBN, spsonsors the biggest fireworks show anywhere ( as far as I know). We were lucky enough to be invited to a friends house that overlooks the river. This is like have seats behind home plate for the World Series, or on the 50 yard line for the Super Bowl. The view was spectacular, and the night could not have been better for the display. However, as I think about it this night was even more significant and most people don't even know why.

Saturday, we had the funeral mass for the father of the baritone in my quartet. I feel like I am becoming very close to Bari and his family, and that does not come easy for me. More than anything, I wanted to be there for him, and support him during a really horrible time in his life. As we sat in church and heard all of the prayers, the glorious music, and the comforting words from the priest, the thought crossed my mind that although everything that we were doing was a fitting and beautiful tribute to Bari's Dad, it seemed sort of an abrupt end to a long and rich life. We spend an hour in church, a half hour at the visitation, and then another hour at the cemetery, and its all over. It hardly seems to be enough. I think that an 25 minute fireworks display is a far better tribute to a man that meant so much to so many.

I will lose my Mom and Dad someday. We all will. I think that a proper tribute to them would be a solar eclipse.

Troubador