You never know where inspiration will strike, but BFD's son, Toothache's Revengge caused me to recall an incident where I learned respect for Colonels. I was not in the military, just a military brat.  Attending a dependant school in Europe and about ready to graduate. As such, I was also looking to go to college and being the son of an NCO, had to pay my own way.  So that meant working lots of hours at my PT job. One of the classes I was taking was Advanced Placement English.&nb...

Well, yesterday was a mile stone of sorts for my blood donation.  It represented my 13th gallon (official) since I have been donating.  I was a bit concerned that I would get a ditzy phlebotomist that woudl blow out my vein, but I was lucky.  The only problem was computer related (of course since that is my vocation!),and they cleared that up in about 10 minutes. Last month, they had a get together for all their "century" donors.  I was unable to attend since I was in Cali...

I saw death this past week.  Just briefly. He visited a friend.  A friend who welcomed him with open arms.  A friend who had lived a very good life, but at the end, was tired.  And sad.  Sad that he had cheated death long after all his friends had embraced the grim reaper. But it was not the grim reaper that came, but a welcome friend.  The last one he knew.  His life had been full, yet now it was empty.  All the people he had known were gone.  The...

It has been a while since I posted anything other than a quick outrage at some insanity going on in the world.  That is not really bad.  I have had precious little time to read or post lately.  Not all due to work.  A lot of it due to personal life (as in it has been full). In the last 6 months, it seems I have lived a life time.  My mother was diagnosed with cancer, had a pneumonectomy, and is now doing very well.  Work has increased to the point that 60 hour ...

I recently had the opportunity to take my mother computer shopping. Now for those who know me, don't faint! Yes, my mother now has a computer! For those who don't know, my mother is soon to be 75. She spent her entire career working on big iron! But in her retirement, she has refused to have one! Just plain refused. Until now. While visiting with her, she found an Ad for a laptop at Office Depot. $329! Now that is a damn good price! So I took her to get it. We got there, and were looking f...

How many times have I written that on this site?  I really dont know, and in the end, it really does not matter.  Doctors make mistakes.  Doctors Don't know everything!  Doctors are not Gods! But when the rubber hit the road, I was yelling "Why did not the doctors know!  They did all the tests!  What the hell were they thinking!  How could they be such fools!". Yea, I was mad, angry, upset, pissed off, and down right outraged!  It took we a...

In honor of Zoo's birthday, and his leaving his teen years behind, I donated my 101st (official) pint of blood.  With the local service having changed systems 4 times since I started (30 years ago in September), and the fact that I gave before I moved to the area, the unofficial total is more like 150. But I decided to donate this pint to celebrate Zoo's birthday and told them to credit him for the - Excuse me?  can it wait?  I am writing my blog right now. Hold on fol...

Last year, I purchased some items from Deep Discount for Christmas.  You know that big holiday that most people in the western world celebrate (even if they do not believe in Christianity)?  I am sure you have heard of it, and most people (this side of a vegetable) know it always falls on December 25th, every year! But Deep Discount does not!  No, after ordering the stuff well in advance, and figuring even with a slow boat from China the stuff will get there by Christmas, I w...

Nope not what you think!  But I am now official!  Although I long ago passed the century mark, it is now official with the VBS that I have donated that many pints! (They have changed systems 3 times since I started giving and "lost" about 30 donations - plus another 20 or so made before I moved to the area). I am now a centenarian!  Lot of blood poured through these veins in the last 30 years (I donated my fist pint to VBS - which was RMBS back then - in September 1978), a...

Good morning JUsians.  My name is Sinum.  I am Sally's oldest brother, and alpha male at this house (that Guy thinks he is, but I run things!).  Do you know what that Guy did?  He is trying to cage me up!  He put pieces of wood around the high eating place, and then tried to lock me in there!  Why? just cause I like to roam around and visit the other tall animals that serve us with food.  But I got him!  I dug out! "Digger" he says!  So, what?&...

Perhaps that is misleading.  As in did we ever have it?  I know at times we all get "het up" about posts and blogs.  But with the banishment of a couple from the left, and the absence of some of the right, for the most part, we have a very knowledgeable and opinionated group.  That can at least discuss and debate the issues of the day.  But that seems to be missing. I once was a regular on the religion forum.  I started posting some articles on my faith.  Bu...

Ok, it is pushing 120 here.  And we all know about the arguement of dry versus humid heat.  I am one of the ringleaders in that debate.  And recently we had 105 with humidity - it was worse than a sauna. But I am here to tell you that high humidity has one advantage over real heat!  My feet! I have hated shoes since I had to wear corrective ones as a child.  As the others ran and jumped in their keds (sorry kiddies, no Nikes then), I was forced to klod along w...

I saw recently (well about 3 or 4 months ago) where Sir Gideon had done his 2000 blog.  After posting my last one (after a session with my 6 string guitar son), I saw that I was at 1499.  So this is my 1500th.  Dont expect any great revelations or controversies.  This one is for him, as I can think of no one better to talk about right now (ok!  his music selection got to me!). I have been blessed with 4 children.  2 Girls and 2 boys.  Paltry by my mother's s...

Yes, my son, the movie critic, the music afficianado, the one that loves my music!  Oh, he loves some of the new stuff as well.  But to give you a hint, his favorite group is the Doors! (one of my top 5). I was listening to some of his stuff, and saw the Song Bang, Bang - by Nancy Sinatra.  It is not bad.  But I told him the hit was by another artist(s).  can you guess? So he downloaded the Sonny and Cher version.  Yes, that one is better.  But that he ha...

But you cant catch me cause I am the BLOOD man! Yep, just gave my "official" 97th pint to the VBS (about 150 total since I started giving). They were talking to me about doing a double. Hey! That sounded good! Take 2 pints and call me in 16 weeks! Takes a little longer (they put the plasma back in and just keep the red cells), but hey! No needles for 16 weeks! Who would not go for it! So I said yea! So I sit down next to the machine (they use to stick 2 needles in you and do it manually -...