I've Got To Be Out Of My Mind

Been a while since I last wrote but I could not pass up the opportunity.

Remember when all the kids on the block stayed outside to play till the streetlights came on. When nothing quenched your thirst better than a drink from the garden hose... Kool-Aid was your daily drink, and soda was a treat. When a "stick" was actually a toy... and G.I. Joe had a "Kung-Fu Grip" and was almost as tall as Barbie. When you would dive over the neighbor's hedges so you wouldn't be "It" in a game of Tag, or climb secretly into them for a game of Hide and Seek ? When they actually HAD Penny Candy at the store and the best house on the block gave away "Bite Size" Candy Bars at Halloween (not those "mini" ones they make now).

This 3 year old little boy remembers all those, and many more. Take a moment to remember... I bet you'll smile !

How do you like the New Boobs !

Since I mentioned them, I thought you deserved to see them, so here they are.  

It took us all morning to drive to Lake Havasu City.  We got there around 9:30 am.  Monica, her 4 yr. old Zane, Zoe and I checked her into the hospital there and then Moni, Zane and I waited... And Waited... Aaaannnddd Waited.  Long story short, we checked out at 5:00 p.m. and drove to my Brother's house, 45 minutes away.  We spent the night there. (Thanks, John!)

When we got up, it was back to Havasu for a follow up with the Dr. and to have the drain tubes removed (Yuk).  Then we drove back to Vegas.

I'm Going to Lake Havasu to Get a Boob Job Tomorrow

I'm going to repeat that... Just because I can. I'm Going to Get a Boob Job Tomorrow ! Now that I have your attention, let me say that, in fact, that's true. One of my friends is having an "Augmentation Procedure". I will be driving her to Lake Havasu City for the procedure. The Dr. says that she shouldn't drive home the following because she'll be sore, and holding the steering wheel for a 2 hr. drive would be uncomfortable.

I just REALLY wanted to write that, though. The thought came to me this evening, in the car, and I laughed out loud at the thought of it. "I'm Going to Lake Havasu to Get a Boob Job Tomorrow"

Retraction

I feel it necessary to properly credit George Carlin with his statistics. My statistics came more from memory and the first Internet article I read. I now have a more reliable source for these statistics. Source: USA Today, June 24, 2008.

14 HBO specials, 23 albums, three best sellers, five audio books, 130 appearances on The Tonight Show, numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, 16 movies including 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and as the voice of flower-power-era VW van in 2006's animated Cars, four-time Grammy recipient and five-time Emmy winner and the first host on Saturday Night Live. He was also a regular headliner in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and was scheduled to be the recipient of the Mark Twain Award this year. He was also the narrator of the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

My Apologies !

Which road did I say to travel ?

I had a recording of an AA speaker, years ago, that I got at one of those "Motivational Speaker" type of events. Of course, I don't remember his name, but many parts of his speech stuck with me. I haven't always followed his advice to a tee, but the general impressions still linger.

He spoke of a time, about 5 yrs. into his sobriety, when he felt kind of "stuck". He had worked his AA program with zeal and ambition, yet it was kind of like the chain fell off the bike, and he was peddling, but going no where. This is one of his stories.

He said that his life was like walking down a path, and coming to a wall... right there in the middle of the path. He looked right and left and saw nothing. There was no way to tell how to get past the wall. He could try to climb over, but it was too high. He could try to dig under, but it was too deep. Being the good, dysfunctional Alcoholic that he was, he just stood there... looking at the wall, doing nothing. The only options were to turn right or left and try to keep going... but which way ?

I've been standing in front of that wall for about a month, now. I have NO IDEA which way to turn. I'm just staring at the wall ! (Duh, Um, What). The moral to HIS story was that we all come to these walls in our lives. What do we choose to do. Our "Will" is to believe that WE know best, turn and go. That usually doesn't work for the alcoholic... after all, it was OUR will that got us here. I need to close my eyes, stretch out my arms and ask God "Which Way", and trust (hard for me) that the right path will make itself clear.

Till then, I'm here, at the wall, waiting patiently for that guidance.

In Memory of the One Man who Always Made Me Laugh

George Carlin was born on May 12, 1937, ("God Winced") and grew up in New York and New Jersey.

The following is directly quoted from the Supreme Court Decision of FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, 438 U.S. 726, 98 S.Ct. 3026 (1978).

Mr. Justice STEVENS (delivering the majority opinion)

This case requires that we decide whether the Federal Communications Commission has any power to regulate a radio broadcast that is indecent but not obscene.

A satiric humorist named George Carlin recorded a 12-minute monologue entitled "Filthy Words" before a live audience in a California theater. He began by referring to his thoughts about "the words you couldn't say on the public, ah, airwaves, um, the ones you definitely wouldn't say, ever." He proceeded to list those words and repeat them over and over again in a variety of colloquialisms. The transcript of the recording, which is appended to this opinion, indicates frequent laughter from the audience.

The words of the Carlin monologue are unquestionably "speech" within the meaning of the First Amendment. . . .

Radio Stations throughout the country played the monologue in tribute. He won his first Grammy Award for that album.

He continued his historic rise to fame, becoming one of the most idolized and admired comedian of all time. He's received Grammy, Emmy awards, 2 time New York Times "Best Seller's List", is in the Comedy Hall of Fame and was Roasted by the Friar's Club. He was a regular HBO Special performer, and a Guest on the Tonight show for every host, from Jack Parr to Jay Leno, racking up over 60 appearances.

George Carlin was one of the most influential comedians of our Generation. He died from a Heart Attack Saturday, June 21, 2008. He Died with several years of being Clean & Sober !

Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony

It's the 62 Annual Tony Awards. I've gotten a chill down my spine for each and every performance. I've noticed, from all of the awards shows, and I don't think I've missed a Tony Awards in the last 10 years at least, The Award Winners, be they performers, writers, directors, all of them are genuinely ecstatic to win. They know where they started and are genuinely thankful to every person who helped them get there. Their commitment is stunning, their performances, most 6 nights and matinées on Saturdays & Sundays, are consistent each and every time.

In High School, I was in two, so I've seen a taste of what's involved, and I've seen 8 or 9 professional productions. There's Nothing Quite Like Broadway... and I've never been there. Shame ! I imagine heaven, sometimes, and I think it's a lot like the "Great White Way"... written by Rogers and Hammerstein, Music by Stephen Sondheim, and Directed by Mel Brooks.