Significant daily events

blawless · October-5th-2007, 01:07 PM

A few interesting updates from the life of Blawless.

I found a rooster today as I was going in to work. It emerged from behind a large concrete flower planter by the employee entrance and gave me a significant look. (That's where the idea for this thread came from!) As a one-time Catholic, I should note that a rooster on a Friday doesn’t augur well, as it often precedes someone getting betrayed or crucified before the day's up. Better be on the lookout, y'all!

My coworker in the office next door to mine had a murder yesterday in his condo complex. Complex indeed. I don’t want to give too much away, but the victim was… no, let’s skip that part for now.

I crossed paths with a nice but rather oafish fellow I know slightly as I was heading out of the washroom. He was having some problems removing the hygienic toiletseat tissue from the dispenser mounted on the wall. I didn’t get a close look, but it appeared that he had taken out two by mistake, or his was still attached to the next one in the box due to a bad die cut, etc. I am myself a nice fellow, so was forced to balance the competing impulses to rush to his aid or leave quickly to spare him the shame of being witnessed in his predicament. As is my wont, I chose to flee.

This just in. My beloved wife forwarded me by email a photo of our new niece—the month-old daughter of my wife's brother. She looks remarkably like the developmentally disabled singer from TV, the one with tousled hair and no eyebrows—is Clay Aiken his name? Scratch that, on second thought. The resemblance is to Mike White. I will send the photo right now to my jerk of a brother-in-law.

Monte Smith · October-5th-2007, 06:14 PM

What a morose thread. OK!

After 27 years of talking about it, my mother has finally broken ground on a new patio. There was a half motion made about it fifteen years ago or so, enough to get the back wall knocked out and a new door put in. Said door opens to a four foot plummet to ground--it's a miracle of Christ that no one has been hurt in the intervening decade and a half. As I loudly congratulate my mom for finally getting off her ass about this, I quietly reflect, "Well, Monte? What have you been doing for 27 years that you couldn't have gotten the patio job done for your mother?" Good question. And the miserable answer is that for 27 years and more I have had my indolent nose in a book. It's the same reason I have accomplished nothing--attempted nothing--in what you people who aren't near-sighted Ichabod Cranes call the actual existing world. Before these kids came along, really the only thing I cared about was reading. Burgess Meredith in that episode of Twilight Zone is me. The world ends and he is alone and he rejoices because now he can read without interruption and then his glasses break. Now, don't get me wrong, there are upsides to this bibliomania and its the life I chose and choose. Those upsides are all quiet and interior. They mean nothing to other people. So reading has ruined my life.

Also frightening is the fact that for about 25 years, my mom has talked about killing my father. So once the patio is wrapped up, here we go.

Scott Dolan · October-5th-2007, 06:27 PM

So have you officially dropped the John P. Cooper moniker, Billy?

Enforcer · October-5th-2007, 06:33 PM

I killed a guy by accident today. He was driving really slow in front me on my way home and it made me really mad. I slammed the accelerator and slammed into his car as hard as I could. The collision sent his car reeling out of control and into oncoming traffic. He was struck by a cement truck and died. Although I wanted to hurt him really bad, I obviously didn't want to kill him. I felt bad about it and went home. Talking about it is making me feel better, though.

blawless · October-5th-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

So have you officially dropped the John P. Cooper moniker, Billy?

I've been away for a while, and am sad to see John's nowhere in sight, Mo. I loved him! His obesity, his mistrust of ethnicities, his wistful memories of making friends for life at Sam Goody's... all puzzling and repugnant--but somehow endearing--things. Like recognizing the smell of your own farts on the couch and feeling at one with the world. In an important sense, we are all John P. Cooper, you see.

Monte Smith · October-5th-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Talking about it is making me feel better, though.

It's made me feel better, too. I'll have to try that.

Scott Dolan · October-5th-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blawless

I've been away for a while, and am sad to see John's nowhere in sight, Mo. I loved him! His obesity, his mistrust of ethnicities, his wistful memories of making friends for life at Sam Goody's... all puzzling and repugnant--but somehow endearing--things. Like recognizing the smell of your own farts on the couch and feeling at one with the world. In an important sense, we are all John P. Cooper, you see.

It wasn't a bad routine until you started in with the anti-Semitic garbage.

Have to admit I lost a little respect for you on that one.

blawless · October-5th-2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

It wasn't a bad routine until you started in with the anti-Semitic garbage.

Have to admit I lost a little respect for you on that one.

Your credulity is causing my respect for you to ebb, so maybe we're even...

Scott Dolan · October-5th-2007, 09:20 PM

You certainly never denied any of it.

Mike Schwartz · October-5th-2007, 09:55 PM

creatively enhanced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

I killed a guy by accident today. He was driving really slow in front me on my way home and it made me really mad. I slammed the accelerator and slammed into his car as hard as I could. The collision sent his car reeling out of control and into oncoming traffic. He was struck by a cement truck and died. Although I wanted to hurt him really bad, I obviously didn't want to kill him. I felt bad about it and went home. Talking about it is making me feel better, though, because the NHL season started this week.

clinthopson · October-7th-2007, 01:11 PM

Larry there's this one old coot out here who insists on staying at 50% of the speed limit. Could you possibly motor out here and take care of that doofus?

stonemonkts · October-10th-2007, 01:58 PM

This is probably more insignificant, but what the hell.

I pull into a local strip mall, get out of my vehicle, and walk inside a shop to do some business. Ho hum.

Five minutes later, this man burst into the shop, exclaiming "someone's car just rolled into another car, with nobody inside!".

I shrug, yeah whatever.

Well, I was the genius who left the car in neutral and failed to pull up the emergency brake. Luckily it rolled into another car, and not out into the street, or into some little kid.

Oy vey.

Canuck Don · November-11th-2007, 11:08 AM

I'm sure most here have seen the famous and most influential photo of the child Kim Phuc running down the road naked after being burned by napalm dropped on a village.On June 8 -1972 an American commander ordered napalm bombs to be dropped by the South Vietnamese.The plane mistakenly dropped its flaming napalm on South Vietnamese troops and civilians. Nine year old Kim fled from a temple where she and her family were hiding.Her parents walked two more days to reach Saigon, checking hospitals along the way. They finally found Phuc in a small outbuilding where hospital staff brought they children they could not help to die.

Meanwhile the picture brought home the suffering of innocent children and the brutality not only of the Vietnam War, but of all war to people the world over.

Two reporters working on a followup found her and were able to get her to the American hospital, where she spent 14 months recovering. In all she underwent 17 operations.

“Inside me was a strong girl determined to live,” she said.

But it was also a strong girl in pain – who wondered why her; who worried she would not grow up to marry and have children; and who was frustrated by the fact she would no longer be able to ride her bike, play with her friends, and attend school.

Although she recovered physically, mentally she was still the little girl, an unfortunate victim of war. After the war the Vietnamese government used her as a propaganda tool, trotting her out for interviews.

She despaired. She was not enrolled in school, but the government allowed her to spend time in a library.

At 19, after finding a copy of the New Testament, she converted to Christianity. The religion’s message of forgiveness resonated with her and helped her find a meaning for her suffering.

There was still pain – and still is to this day – but now she had a way to deal with it. “I never concentrate on the pain. I found when I focused on it got bigger and bigger and bigger. ... I let it go,” she said.

Forgiveness didn’t happen overnight. It was a long process to accept and to continue living.

A decade ago Kim Phuc was rediscovered by the world’s media in Toronto. After years as being used as a propaganda tool by the Vietnamese government she was allowed to attend university in Cuba. She met her husband there and in 1992 on their way back from their honeymoon in Moscow, they sought asylum as their plane refueled in Gander, Newfoundland.

They moved to Toronto and eventually settled in Ajax. The 1999 book The Girl in the Picture details her story, as does the CBC documentary Kim’s Story: the road from Vietnam.

In 1996, while filming the documentary, she spoke at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D. C.

There she met John Plummer. In a tearful scene she forgave the United States Air Force captain who called in the air strike that nearly killed her.

“I should have died like the others. With the four bombs, my skin should have burned off. But you see the skin on my hands and face is still beautiful,” she said, receiving a loud round of applause.

For decades Phuc has been the girl in the picture. But she has changed. She knows the static black and white snapshot has as well. While it portrays the evil of war it also shows a message of hope.

“When you see that little girl running up the road, you see her crying. Don’t see her as crying out in pain or fear. See her crying out for peace."

She is 44 now. She resides in Toronto. She was guest speaker at a small Brethren In Christ Church about 15 min. from me on past Sat. Not my Church but I went to see and hear her. I think I bit my lip through her whole speach, telling about her experiences and horrors of that time over there..I walked out of there and never talked to anyone the rest of the day...It was one emotional ride for me for sure...Pic . below.

tippy · November-12th-2007, 08:21 AM

Hey Don, I saw a report on her I think it was last year on maybe 60 minutes. Very interesting. I bet hearing her speak and being in the same room was a very powerful experience. An opportunity not to be missed and I am glad you got to experience that.

Enforcer · November-12th-2007, 08:52 AM

Great story, Don. That's very cool that you had a chance to hear her speak.

Gentle Giant · November-12th-2007, 09:38 AM

Good for her. Amazing she can forgive.

Gary Sisco · November-12th-2007, 10:57 AM

Amazing she lived to forgive.

There aren't many napalm-attack survivors. If the jellied gasoline's flames or heat didn't get you, the intensity of the fire sucked the oxygen out of the air, and that would.

The guy who took the photo covered the whole American war, including Cambodia, the extremely brief North v South VN war, and was finally killed during a coup in Thailand.

GoodSpeak · November-12th-2007, 11:22 AM

Everytime I see that picture of her, it just tears my heart out.

What a horrible wretchedness that must have been for such a little child.

Gary Sisco · November-12th-2007, 11:27 AM

and millions more.

clinthopson · November-12th-2007, 11:54 AM

I have a fucking cold.

Gary Sisco · November-12th-2007, 12:05 PM

Keep it to yourself! :-)

It's one of my worst nightmares right now. There's no one to do the horse and barn work for me, or take of Bronwyn most hours of any day, so, if I get sick, I get sick, but the days' work will have to get done anyway, sick or not.

GoodSpeak · November-12th-2007, 04:25 PM

Took both my kids in to the dentist to get teeth pulled today.

My son, had four wisdom teeth taken out @ 6AM. Looked like he'd been in a fight after he came out. Poor guy. The drugs are helping him rest, so he's good.

My daughter, OTOH....whooo, boy. It took her two hours and a near take down [she flipped out under the medication] just to get her calm enough to take a couple baby teeth out. Wow. Been one helluva long day, but her Daddy bought her a nice, big chocolate milk shake and she's OK now, too.

BTW, I made sure I bought the largest size they had.

Note to self: Don't do both kids on the same day ever again.

kedoane · November-12th-2007, 04:29 PM

I took my late mom's dog out for a walk today. At least it gets us out of the house. Lately, I have been taking him to a local dog park. He rather hang with humans than play with other canines.

Noj · November-12th-2007, 04:43 PM

I spent Sunday bedridden with a migraine induced by a hangover of epic proportions. I had my first beer on Saturday at 8am tailgating at the Rose Bowl and had my last beer at a party that night at 10pm. The headache is still lingering today.

clinthopson · November-12th-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noj

I spent Sunday bedridden with a migraine induced by a hangover of epic proportions. I had my first beer on Saturday at 8am tailgating at the Rose Bowl and had my last beer at a party that night at 10pm. The headache is still lingering today.

Watching the Bruins these days would give anyone a headache.

GoodSpeak · November-12th-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Watching the Bruins these days would give anyone a headache.

Boy howdy.

A fair catch on the three yard line....?

Noj · November-12th-2007, 05:43 PM

Yes, the Bruins do stink. They gave those weak #9 seed Dirt Devils a run for their money though. The kid Rashaan (sp?) shows some promise at QB.

RBS · November-12th-2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

Took both my kids in to the dentist to get teeth pulled today.

My son, had four wisdom teeth taken out @ 6AM. Looked like he'd been in a fight after he came out. Poor guy. The drugs are helping him rest, so he's good.

My daughter, OTOH....whooo, boy. It took her two hours and a near take down [she flipped out under the medication] just to get her calm enough to take a couple baby teeth out. Wow. Been one helluva long day, but her Daddy bought her a nice, big chocolate milk shake and she's OK now, too.

BTW, I made sure I bought the largest size they had. :

Note to self: Don't do both kids on the same day ever again.

Good dad.

Ron Thorne · November-12th-2007, 10:20 PM

My wife was doing some cleaning today in a seldom-used part of our house and came into the living room exclaiming "I just found something which I think will make you very happy." Indeed it did, when she handed me the cassette tape of the rehearsal, made over 20 years ago, on the eve of a special performance with the late jazz saxophonist, Jim Pepper.

By the way, he dubbed our band for this concert performance . . . Custer's Revenge.

It was a wonderful, only slightly belated birthday gift to me.

Tomorrow, I plan to make contact with a friend of mine who owns a professional recording studio in Anchorage, and meet with him to get this tape properly archived.

We haven't found the performance tape from that evening, but I'm sure we will, sooner or later. Too much stuff in a too-little-house.

(L to R) Peppercorn, Jim Pepper - June 19, 1987

Thanks, Patti!

patricia · November-12th-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Too much stuff in a too-little-house.

What was it that George Carlin said about "stuff"???