On Despising Winter... a mini rant...

If you're one of these nutcases who love winter... STOP READING NOW.  I don't want to hear how not nice I am.

People are posting pictures, saying how beautiful the snow is, and how much they love it.  However, your friggin' big ass four wheel drive cannot negotiate slippery roads.  This morning, I saw a full oil tanker on York Road SLIDE.  Every time the poor driver applied the brakes, the whole tank would sway and slide.  I felt bad for him, and remembered how many sleepless nights I had knowing that Lou was out driving in it.

See?  It really doesn't have to do with the weather bunnies, barbies, bimbos, bowties and assorted fruits and nuts.  It's really not about Skeletor McSkinnyass and her kickbacks from the supermarkets.

Yeah, the snow is beautiful.  For about the first 10 minutes.  After that it's just a menace and a source of danger for anyone who has to drive or be on the road, or has to work today.  So in effect, I don't know if I hate the snow more because of the cold, or because some people think their four wheel drive cars can do anything and drive as fast as they like.  What a bunch of MORONS some of them are.  You endanger those I love, and that makes you the ENEMY.  If you know me at all, you know there is one thing you don't want to be, it's my enemy.

If you have someone you care about who MUST be on the roads today... as I did, and still do, you will understand WHY I despise winter, snow, cold, and ice.  So yeah, it's pretty.  I'm over it.  MELT.

End of mini rant for now.  I still HATE HATE HATE WINTER.  But now maybe you understand a little of the reason.  If not, and you're offended, too bad.

Black Friday: A few thoughts...

First off... if you're one of the people who insist on shopping ON Thanksgiving Day and/or are easily offended....  STOP READING NOW.

I love Thanksgiving, always have.  I think it's even nicer in some ways than Christmas.  Christmas is nice too but somewhat hyped and way too commercialized.  In fact, it is at least as hyped as a Skeletor McSkinnyass snow forecast.

Now, the stores and big corporate stuffed shirts have seen fit to hype the madness of Black Friday by morphing it into Thanksgiving, or what is quickly becoming "Thankless" Thursday.  It is disgusting to think that these stores can't stay closed for a measly 24 hours to allow employees to be with their families, or just have a nice day off.  Don't give me shit about people being offered overtime either.  I don't want to hear it.  I am the wife of a man who HAD TO work every holiday, because the food business operates every day.  And as you well know, nurses, firefighters, police are always on duty out of necessity rather than greed.  The people who patronize these greedy non-essential corporate bastard stuffed shirts are as much to blame, for without the demand it wouldn't happen.

There was not one holiday from 1980 till 2002 that my husband and I didn't have to leave a family gathering very early so he could grab a few hours sleep before having to go to work in the wee hours of the morning.  We would have given anything to have a whole holiday off.  It didn't happen till he retired.

And now I can't even fathom WHY someone would want to go shopping on Thanksgiving.  I can't fathom why someone would wait outside in the cold for 10 hours to get a "bargain" of any kind.  I can't fathom what couldn't wait till Black Friday, or be bought online.  What, you don't think you can get the same sale and free shipping if you don't look hard enough?  No, sorry, won't believe it.

This morning, first story I see was how people trampled, yes TRAMPLED each other like damn ANIMALS to get through the door first.  People were hurt.  In the past, people have DIED.  Really, is ANYTHING worth that much?  Is your kid gonna die without the latest electronic beeping pain in the ass of the toy du jour?  Are you gonna die without the latest Iphone, Ipad, Ipod, IWhatever?  I don't think so.

Now, Black Friday might be another story.  Still the same amount of materialistic insanity but at least it's a little more 'traditional' if you will.  I know people who make a day of it, and have fun with it.  Fine if that's what you think of as fun, go with it.  But for cripe's sakes, don't KILL each other doing it.

There was a time I would go to downtown Philadelphia and loved seeing the stores, Strawbridge's, Gimbels, Lits, Wanamakers all decorated.  I'd see the light show at Wanamakers, have lunch at Strawbridge's restaurant, and just walk around to get into the "spirit".  Now, downtown Philly is a shell of its former self.  Macy's is a POOR rendition of a department store, at least the one in Philly is.  The other stores are all gone.  There is nothing left for me in downtown Philly, sad to say.  The Gallery?  Yeah right, that' place is nothing but a criminals and pickpocket's heaven.  After it turned that way I started taking Black Friday OFF so I didn't even have to go anywhere near downtown.  I'm glad my memories of the past are good.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong about Thanksgiving morphing into Thankless Thursday, and just another day of trampling each other for shit you don't need.

OK rant over, at least till Skeletor's next "snow event" and the rest of the weather bunnies, bow tie weenie boys or weathergeeks go all apeshit over a few snow flurries.  PFFFFFTT.

Today's Gospel... 10-27-13... one of my very Favorites...

Today's Gospel, according to Luke.

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a publican (tax collector).  The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, "O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or even like this publican.  I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income."

But the publican stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

Amen I say to you, the latter went home justified, not the former.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

The reason I posted this today... well, all week I've seen opinions, discertations and judgments of those who think differently than we think, about abortion, health care, politics.  I myself am guilty of this.  I'm sure I'm not alone.  But if you interpret a law, a sentence, or the Bible differently, it doesn't mean you're always right and the other person is wrong.   Not our job to judge since we are not God.

It is my hope that every one of us can take something from this reading, whether you put yourself in the eyes of the Pharisee who thinks they're better than anyone else, or the tax collector who was the picture of humility.  We have all been guilty of the first, and hopefully can examine ourselves enough to take the role of the publican...

This has always been one of my favorite Gospel readings... among others, the Prodigal Son, the Centurion's Servant, and on very top of the list, the appearance of Jesus to (doubting) St. Thomas the Apostle.  That's because I'm one of the world's biggest cynics and hardest sells.  If you don't recall these Gospels or are unfamiliar, just Google them.  It might prompt you to read a little Gospel.

It may not help... but it sure as hell can't hurt.  

On another note...  this week our family lost two members, both young and quite suddenly.  Their families won't come out of the shock of the loss for a long time.  That's another lesson... don't put stuff off.   Make sure your family and friends know you love them.  SAY it, MEAN it, SHOW it.

I know this is pretty uncharacteristic of one of my posts since there is no warning about being offended.  If you're offended by the Gospel... I just don't know what to say.

Have a good day... Do something kind.  Pay someone's tab.  Make someone smile.  

Reprint of the "red equal sign" Mini Rant, (with a few changes)

Mini rant for the day:  Before you read further, remember the name of this blog:  NOT SUGAR COATED.  If you are easily offended, STOP READING NOW.  Be warned.  This is a very close reprint of a mini rant posted a few months ago when everyone starting putting red 'equal' signs as their profile picture on facebook.

I'm noticing that there are lots of same sex marriages and such taking place in NJ and other states.  Whatever...  Blah blah blahhhhhhhh.  Here's how I feel.

If you are gay... fine.  I really don't care.  If you are straight, I really don't care.
If you want to marry... fine.  I really don't care.  If you don't, I still don't care.
If you want to marry your pet goat... fine.  I really don't care.  If you don't, I really don't care.
If you want to be happy with whoever... fine.  I really don't care.  If you want to be miserable, I don't care.
If you like broccoli... fine, eat it till you drop.  I really don't care.  If you don't... I don't care.
If you think marriage should be between a MAN and a WOMAN,  fine.  I really don't care.  If you think otherwise, that's your right, too.  And I will not judge you, it's not my job.

If you are some self righteous, judgemental person and want to interpret the Bible and say gays are all bad people and are going to hell, you're perfectly free to think that, but YOU aren't the ultimate Judge.  That's not our job.   It's not our job to say ANYONE goes to heaven or hell, including Hitler.  Who are YOU to say where he is???

If I used birth control and you think I'm going to hell, well, you don't know me, and still don't have the right to judge me any more than I have a right to judge you.

I don't believe that politicians should be involved if you want to marry your girlfriend, boyfriend, or your pet goat, pet lizard, or your neighbor's llama.   Elected so-called 'officials' should have a whole lot of more important shit to worry about, especially after acting like five year-olds this past month.  And also...

If you are kissing in public and are straight... I don't want to see it.  YUCK, EW, GROSS.
If you are kissing in public and you're gay.....I don't want to see it.  YUCK, EW, GROSS.
If you treat me badly and you're straight, I will not respect you.  If you treat me badly and you're gay, I will not respect you.
If you mistreat or hurt someone I love and you're straight, you might as well be dead.  If you mistreat or hurt someone I love and you're gay, you might as well be dead.

Noticing a trend here?  You're already all equal in my book.

If you love this blog... fine.  I really don't care.  If you don't, I still don't care.  Find a cereal box or something.

One Nation, Under GOD.

Since my laptop fried because of some software to register a new Garmin GPS, this rant is brought to you from my husband's desktop, which I have temporarily hijacked.  Subliminal message:  Don't buy a Garmin and try to download their software.  It may fry your hard drive as it did mine.

As always I will start this post with my normal statement:  If you are easily offended, stop reading NOW.  Go find a cereal box or something.

This morning on the news I heard that some idiots from Massachusetts, who are athiests, are trying to strike "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.  They are feeling "disenfranchised" and "excluded" by having their children forced to say the Pledge every day.  Wah.  This rant is aimed at them, even though they probably won't ever read this blog, and maybe can't because it don't have enough pictures.

Well, MORONS, if you like Freedom of Speech for yourselves, and you are in this country enjoying that freedom, please have an intelligent thought, and know that those who want to say "under God" have EVERY right to do so.  If you don't like what is said, don't say it.  But don't think you idiots can stop everyone else from saying it because.... yeah, there's that cumbersome Freedom of Speech thing again.  Another case of the minority trying to make the rules for everyone. And another case of the double standard "freedom of speech for me, but not for you if you don't agree".  No, dipshit, it shouldn't work that way.  This country isn't a dictatorship, and thousands of people died to make sure of it.  Because of those souls, and those who survived, we aren't speaking German or Japanese.  To simplify that for your weak intellect, if you don't want to say it, don't say it, and if you want to say it, say it.  

I bet you don't mind that In GOD We Trust is on all the MONEY you want, and need, and spend.  Do you burn every piece of currency that comes into your house because GOD is on it?  I think not.

I say this... if you are so damn convinced that there is no God, you'd better be damn hopeful that you're right because someday you're going to die, and if He exists... well, hope you're wearing the asbestos drawers because you just might need them.  I'm not judging, just throwing that out there.

And there you have it.  Rant over (for now).

Happy Independence Day: A Short "Rant"...

This rant was originally written July 3, 2010.  It's just as appropriate and meaningful three years later.  


I guess it's time for what's getting to be my usual holiday rant... This time it's about the fourth of July, which is America's Independence Day. The significance of the day is way more to me than I could write. 

When I was a kid in Southwest Philly, the streets in a two block span closed for a big cookout and block party. We'd decorate our bikes in red, white and blue, put baseball cards in the spokes to make noise, and hope for firecrackers, fireworks or at least a sparkler. We were taught FLAG ETIQUETTE. I can see that this is no longer taught since I always see Old Glory displayed in wrong and/or disrespectful ways. Does no one know the Flag should never touch the ground? 

The main significance, though, is the fact that a few men (and women, I'd imagine) decided that it was time to flee their native land to establish a new country which would allow religious freedom. Ironic that now, the very mention of religion of any kind offends some people to the max. Do you think the founding fathers ever meant for God to be so rejected in every walk of life? The life HE GAVE US????? We weren't supposed to declare independence from He who made us. 

This country's fathers cut the big British apron strings to bring forth a new country complete with FREEDOM. It wasn't easy and it wasn't free. How tough is YOUR life... you have the FREEDOM to declare your OWN independence... to take responsibility for your own life decisions. the question is, do you have the GUTS? 

Don't you think they took a chance... leaving all they knew, all they loved... to take the risk of a lifetime? Did not your ancestors come doing the same thing, whether they came on the Mayflower, were already here as Native Americans... or came through Ellis Island as my grandparents did? It had to be very scary for them. But if they hadn't done it...??? who knows. 

All things happen for a reason. We were given life by God, independence by our forefathers, and freedom by those who fought and died for it. We are ONE NATION UNDER GOD! 

Take the risk. Take a chance. If you can't take the smallest of chances, you can't win the smallest of victories or have the smallest of life's experiences. Cut the apron strings, declare your own independence, take responsibility for YOUR OWN decisions. If you don't try, you'll never know, and you'll always wonder... what if....? 

God bless you all, and God bless AMERICA. Happy Fourth of July! I love you. Oh and.. by the way... tell someone you love them today. SAY it, MEAN it, SHOW it! 

P.S., don't you love how Skeletor McSkinnyass and all the assorted "meteorologists", bow ties, weatherflakes and weatherfruits are now all whiny because it's Hot and Humid...  Wah.  Hey, dumbasses, it's called "July".  It's SUMMER.   Long awaited and appreciated, at least by this writer.  Thank you, and you may now return to your regularly scheduled schedule.  

On Turning Sixty... and Surprises.

Today I was invited to a combined 60th birthday party... for my friends Donna and Stephanie.  I knew about the party months ago, but THOUGHT it was only for them....  Boy was I WRONG.

The party was for them all right but it was a Surprise Party for MY 60th birthday.

We had already been to a 50th Anniversary party for our cousins, Roseanne and Mill Affleck.  I was watching the clock because the birthday party was to start at 2 pm.

We went to Fishers and I knew we were a bit late. I walked in, and saw the first face belonged to Steve Quinn, my friend and former boss.  I'm thinking "what the hell is HE doing here"... then look at the table he's sitting at and see Roseanne Gleeson, a co worker.  I look to my left and by now everyone is yelling "SURPRISE" but it's not making sense to me.  I look again and see a table with Anne Jones, and next to her is Marc Rapson.  Now my mind is reeling, what are THEY doing here???  I see Bill Thrower snapping photos, and see Donna and Stephanie.  Now I know THEY'RE supposed to be there!!

It took a full minute for me to realize I'd been royally HAD.

I was truly speechless, and for those of you who know me, that's pretty rare.  I actually cried a little, also pretty rare for me.  I've never been a 'crier'.

Anyway, it was a blast of a party, my Mom, Lou, my brothers, sisters in law, nephews, brothers in law and sisters in law (who'd just left the last party, too).  Of course I thank my friends who are also family, Steve Quinn, Jerry and Kathy Reilley, Bill Thrower, my "brotherman".

Of course I'd like to specially thank Anne and Chuck Jones, and my dear Rapson boys, Marc, Ryan and Sean.  (who was supposedly going to check on Ziva!)...  And of course, my sneak-in-chief of a husband, Lou, and his co-conspirators, Donna and Leon Makowiecki, and of course Stephanie Hickman.

I cannot tell you how much it means to me to call you all my family and friends.  I love you all beyond measure.  You are all within my "defending circle" and will always be there.

Thanks again for being there for me, always.

In love,

Patty  xoxoxox

A New Rant: Why I HATE Air Travel, or, the Unfriendly Skies...

Well here goes another one...  Today I returned from a wonderful trip to Florida with my friend of forty (yes 40) years, Donna.  We had a great time together, talking, laughing, visiting with her cousins, seeing her cousin Nick graduate as class Valedictorian.    

The only thing we both dreaded... flying.  Let me be clear.  I am not afraid to fly, but rather after today, afraid that I'll commit murder either getting to the plane or getting off the plane.  It's the people who fly, who think they are the only people in the plane or on the face of the earth that make me livid. 

Donna and I have decided that if we ever have any say in how an airline should be run, and how to make things easier for all concerned, the following rules will apply, with no exceptions:  

1.  There will be a STRICT carry on bag policy.  You will be allowed ONE small bag.  It will need to fit under the seat in front of you.  That's because there will be NO overhead compartments in which to cram your 500 pounds of shit.

2.  There will be NO charge for checking your bags, so you won't be lugging them into the cabin.  However, if you dare to bring a bag that doesn't fit under the seat onto a plane, you will be charged $100.00 on the spot AND it will be checked anyway.  You will pay for inconveniencing everyone who obeyed the rules.  Don't want to pay?  You and your shit get kicked off the plane.  Too bad for you.

3.  You will NOT be able to lounge your seat into the personal space of the person behind you.  There isn't enough room on the damn plane as it is, and now this inconsiderate ass in front of you has to be a jerk.  The seats on our airline will NOT move.  You will just have to sit up straight for the flight.  Don't like it?  Wah. Yeah, there's always USeless Air or one of the other ripoffs.

I cannot stand the fact that the airlines do NOT abide by or enforce their own carry on bag rules.  People drag huge bags onto planes, hold up everyone else when they try to cram them into the overheads.  There's never enough room in them to allow for every inconsiderate buffoon to stuff his or her shit in there.  But they will stand there in the middle of the aisle, and try.  They will stand there, holding everyone up, and powerlift a huge suitcase, duffel bag, skateboards, strollers and every other kind of crap you can think of in those compartments.  And then insist on opening and slamming them 40 times.

When you go to get off the plane (and believe me, after any flight there is nothing you want more than to get OFF that effin' plane) of course the aforesaid inconsiderate buffoons have to wrestle their damn shit OUT of the compartment, yet again holding everyone up who abided by the carry on rule.  

I don't understand why, even if airlines charge for the bags, the convenience isn't worth the money - not to have to lug the shit to the gate, put it on the plane, wrestle it to the compartment, get it down, hold everyone up, drag it out, all the way through the terminal.  All just to avoid... paying  the money?  The baggage claim?  Sorry I just don't get it.  You can't afford it?  Well, you paid for the damn ticket and probably stood in some sorry ass line for a $7.00 Starbucks coffee because you had to be at the airport two hours early.  

And last but certainly not least... someday some airplane builder will realize that a 14 inch seat does not comfortably accomodate a 20 inch butt.  And two feet of space in front of you couldn't possible accomodate a 6'4" person with any degree of comfort.  So you cram yourself into this tiny space, then the effin' jerk in front of you has to put the seat all the way back.  This puts the back of his seat not even a foot from your face, making it impossible to put your tray down or comfortably read.  

In closing, I have found that at least half of the air travelers I have seen are stuck up, inconsiderate, self centered a-holes who think they are the only ones on the plane, and don't give a damn about anyone else's comfort or time.

So if you are an offender of any of the above, don't expect to fly on MY airline.  And stay out of my way.  

Rant over (for now).  

Memorial Day... Lest We Forget what it's REALLY all about.

This may be the one and only post you ever see from me that probably won't offend anyone!  Believe it or not.

Contrary to some beliefs, Memorial Day is not all about picnics and beer... but it IS about those brave souls who gave their ALL for freedom. Yes, the Freedom to be able to have picnics and beer. So many of our brave soldiers have given their lives so we could enjoy what so many of us sadly take for granted. 

It is immensely important that we take a moment sometime this weekend and say a prayer for all those who gave their all. And to pray for those who gave their lives and have no one to remember them, and those who rest in foreign soil in many far corners of the world. 

I personally know several veterans of various wars. My mom's friend, Lou LaGioia, is a veteran of Iwo Jima and was very physically close to the flag raising. He is a hero but insists that the heroes are those who died there. He was on the burial detail and was one who saw the torture inflicted on very young men. They were teenagers and men in their 20s... hero children themselves.  Imagine that for a minute - some of you have teenage kids.  Imagine YOUR 19 year old seeing burned, tortured and mutilated fellow servicemen who had been their buddies, comrades, friends.   

Another friend is a Vietnam veteran who took a very long time to even talk about his war experiences because he was so emotionally wounded. When he finally opened up there was no stopping him and I have listened to him for many, many hours. He won the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.  He is a hero, too but insists that the heroes are those who didn't make it back. 

Yet another, our (great great) nephew, Tony Polichetti, serves now as we speak, in a foreign land and far away from those he loves. I pray every day for his safe return to his loving family. Thankfully he will be home in not too long a time. And there is also another (great) nephew, Matthew Polichetti, who recently joined the Marines.  There is another friend and co-worker of mine in the Air Force who served a few tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Bravery is a weird thing and has many interpretations... but there is no greater love a man has than to lay down his life, or be willing to lay down his life for his country and to protect the freedom which costs so much. Just for instance... 

As Gunny Hiway said in "Heartbreak Ridge" (one of my favorite movies),  "Jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft is not a natural act"...  and I think that people who do this are crazy bordering on insane. But that does NOT MEAN that I don't absolutely know that every man who was a paratrooper in WWII was a stone cold HERO. It only means I couldn't do it. 

But then again, most people didn't want to transport prisoners and sit behind a desk for Uncle Sam for 37 years. But I did it. Veterans, especially those who gave their ALL, public servants, whether paratroopers, US Marshals, local police, firefighters and first responders... take a minute this weekend while you celebrate, and say a little prayer. For them, for us. Thank God for giving us those who gave their all, and thank the soldiers and veterans you see today. It means more than you think.  I can't tell you how many times a young Marine has stopped the aforementioned Lou LaGioia, shook his hand and thanked him for his service.  It takes so little effort to make someone's day.

Shake their hands, give them a smile, say Thank You, and if you're in a restaurant and can do it, PICK UP THE CHECK. Get your sorry butts to Arlington National Cemetery and see the Changing of the Guard. Go to DC on a Tuesday night to the Iwo Jima Memorial and see the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill team. Its all good. 

Thanks for listening. Thanks, veterans. God bless you all. You ARE loved. 

Another Rant... Are you in THAT MUCH of a hurry?

As many of you know, I am a practicing Catholic.  Lou is, also.  This past Saturday, he went to the 4:00 PM Mass at St. John Bosco, our parish.  I went on Sunday morning to the Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia.  Our rant is thus:  And here's the warning, if you're easily offended, STOP reading now.  If you read on, and it applies to you, and you're offended, GOOD.

Lou, as I stated, went to the Saturday Mass at 4 pm which is heavily attended at St. John Bosco.  I mean HEAVILY attended.  I will assume most people are going because of their obligation, or because they want to, or whatever.  Here's the point...

The good God gave us life, blessings.  We have enough to eat, a roof over our heads, and are clothed.  Most of us have good families and wonderful friends, and people we love, who love us in return.

What God has for us is LIMITLESS, unconditional and absolute love.  Think of how your dog loves you, but make that love boundless and eternal. You could leave the dog after scolding it, and then come back five minutes later, and guess what, that dog still loves you.  You can leave God after sinning, and then come back after thirty years (as we did) and guess what, that God still loves you.  Maybe that's why GOD spelled backward is DOG.

Think of how you feel if you see someone you love that you haven't seen in a long time.  You hug, kiss, smile, laugh, and are joyful and happy.  When we walk into God's house, I like to think He is happy to "see" us.  I like to think that if I make a visit to the Adoration Chapel, it's like a surprise visit to someone who really REALLY wants to see me.  It's my way of "befriending" God and keeping a close relationship with Him.

Here goes...  WHY must people go to Mass, go to Holy Communion, which is reception of God Himself, and head STRAIGHT for the door to get out as if someone were chasing them?  What, you can't stay for the last FIVE minutes to receive the blessing?  Are you in THAT much of a hurry to just get out of the parking lot?  If a missed friend came to see you and made you happy, and you give of yourself to them, why would you be happy to see them RUN full speed out of your house?

Well, I think for a person to go running out of the church with Communion still in their mouths is not only disrespectful to the Sacrament, but it is, in my opinion, downright sacrilege.  What, are you SO damn much in a hurry to beat traffic out of the church lot that five more minutes are going to really matter?  And to leave without the blessing?  Seriously, are you SO important that you can't give God five more minutes?  After all He has given you?  Really?  He gives unconditional love, and you can't give (not even) an hour?  Wow, you must really think you're important.

My childhood pastor at St. Barnabas Church, Father Joseph LaRue, would STOP on the altar and call you OUT.  "Hey Mister, WHERE do you think you're going?  SIT DOWN."  Sometimes I think it's a shame that the fire codes prohibit locking the doors.

Think about what you're doing the next time you think that five minutes is going to REALLY matter.  What are you rushing back to?  Work?  House full of noise?  House full of chaos?  Housework?  You can't WAIT to get back to that, huh?  You afraid you're going to miss Early Bird at Warminster West or the Red Lion?  Suck it up, cupcake.

By the way, at the Carmelite Monastery, NO ONE leaves till after the recessional hymn.

OK, rant over.  (for now).

Entitlements? I don't think so... Warning: This is all about ME. :)

As always I will start this rant by saying... if you get offended easily, STOP READING NOW.

I worked for the U.S. Marshals Service for 37 years.  I worked HARD.  There were not many days I wasn't busy from the morning till I left.  I loved my job (up until the last year and a half).  It identified who I was for a very long time.  I was extremely proud of my job, and did it exceedingly well.  I had enough of a reputation to be called upon, several times over several years, to set up administrative controls for fugitive operations, called into Headquarters to teach, called to Glynco to teach.  I was a formative member of a Fugitive Task Force that still exists even to this day, having started in 1983.  Did a lot of traveling to nice places, and lots more to NOT so nice places.

So enough about the job....   here goes.

Jump forward to today - someone posted one of those facebook posts of "wisdom" that said, and I quote:

"ENTITLEMENTS?  I paid cash for my Social Security insurance.  Our benefits are NOT some kind of charity or handout!  Congressional benefits... premium federal healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, three weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days!  Now THAT'S welfare.  And they have the nerve to call my retirement an entitlement??"   Repost  yada yada

Well, guess what.  I don't like that this post makes it sound like ALL federal employees get 'entitlement' instead of 'retirement'.  This pisses me off no end.  I worked for THIRTY SEVEN years for my retirement.  Nobody GAVE it to me, I EARNED it, every fu**ing dollar of it.  FOR YOU.  I was a PUBLIC SERVANT.  I worked FOR YOU.  And don't give me that "MY taxes paid YOUR salary" shit, either.  That was always good to piss me off too.  I AM A TAXPAYER TOO,  you simple ass.

I don't get Social Security, and I'm glad.  I paid for my retirement, it's NOT charity.  I PAY for my 'premium healthcare'.  NOBODY gives it to me.  I do NOT have an 'outrageous' retirement package.  I do ok for giving Uncle Sam 37 years of my life.  I did NOT get 67 paid holidays or 'unlimited paid sick days'.  I did get 26 days vacation a year, WHICH I EARNED.  So get it out of your mind now, if that's what you think about what a federal employee gets.  (by the way, they pay into Social Security now just like everybody else).

These congressional ASSHATS make all the money, get all the perks, get all the paid holidays, unlimited sick leave, free travel, armed protection, and they get painfully little done.  If I were half as inefficient at my job as these effin' LOSERS are, I would have lost my job way before 37 years.  And they would have done it, as hard as it is to fire a federal employee.

Now that I've retired (as of July 3, 2008)...  I reserve the right to get up when I want, do what I want WHEN I want (OR NOT).  I can go to church, the library, shopping.  If I wanted to I could get a part time job, or volunteer.  I give blood, have time to go to lunch with my mother, or go to movies with a friend.  I sit at my computer, and read and WRITE, which I love to do.  I always wanted the time to write, and now I have it.  I read papers, blogs, and look at Youtube and whatever else I find interesting.  I cruise eBay.  I like Etsy.  I browse Pinterest and Facebook.  Not a day goes by I don't learn something new.

There may be some (I'm sure there are) who think I'm lazy because I always smile when I say "NOTHING" when people ask what I do now. If I wanted a job, I'd have one.  I looked forward to the ability to do NOTHING for a very long time, so if you think I need to go out and get a job, or do something, or whatever, guess what.  You can eat shit and bark at the moon.  

If you can retire at 55 and do "nothing"... translation:  whatever you want... more power to you.  I did.  I'm very happy, and that's what matters. I guess if you want to call THAT an 'entitlement'...  go right ahead.  Just know I EARNED IT.

If you're offended, tough.  Build a bridge and GET OVER IT.

"Music" at Masses: Songs, not Hymns.

This post is purely my unbridled, uncensored opinion about the so-called 'music' at St. John Bosco church in Hatboro.  I am critical, opinionated and brutally honest. Translation:  If you are easily offended... stop reading NOW.

I am a church going Catholic.  I love my faith, even though I was away for awhile.  I was in the choir at St. John's when they had a REAL trained choir director, Mrs. Winifred Bell.  She was a gifted, wonderful, patient woman, and a good friend.  When she retired, we floundered awhile until we were lucky to snag Dr. Lucy Carroll, another gifted, trained conductor and a wonderful musician.  She taught us much about singing and music.  Then... the pastor at the time, who was a creep, fired her, and we walked.  We went to the Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia to sing.

We remained at the Monastery for ten years, till a few years ago.  Their choir still does a wonderful job.  And I continue to love the music, the sacred, beautiful HYMNS and motets, polyphony, and chant.  I learned to completely despise the garbage they call music now at masses.  If that's what you like, oh well ok, but it's definitely not me, I don't think it is respectful or sacred.  I still go to the Monastery when I need to hear good, lovely and well executed hymns and music.

Back to St. John Bosco...  a couple of years ago they made their 7am Mass music-less.  Which, considering I can't stand the more 'modern' music, was a welcome thing to me.  I would much rather have silence than the awful din and unsingable excuses for music they pick, and 'sing'.  I have, many times, complained to the parish powers about their music choices.  They insist on throwing songs (not hymns) out there which sound like circus music and BAD 70s disco.  Now they removed their 'recommendations' section from their facebook page, but that certainly will NOT keep me from letting them know how I feel.   Now that it's Easter Season, we devotees of the 7am Mass must put up with their awful music.  Nothing worse than bad music done badly.

If their 'music director' is a trained conductor, I am a monkey's uncle.  She is at best, a lounge singer and at worse, a 'performer' when she should be leading the congregation, not performing.  Now let me say I know many singers, one in particular, who has a beautiful voice.  I have heard her sing everything from oldies to the National Anthem.  She does both well and appropriately.  If she were a cantor at a church, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't use the same singing style as she does in either of her other venues.  If she were meant to LEAD the congregation, I doubt she would make it all about HER.

But this 'music director' makes it all about her when she is supposed to be leading.  And she is over dramatic in her moves and vibrato.  She sings an octave higher than is comfortable for any alto (like myself) or any male voice.  Most times, NO ONE is singing with her because she's out of everyone's range.  Not to mention that the 'music' is so UNsacred and irreverent, und un-melodic.

I see no reason why, if you MUST have 'music' at the 7am Mass, you can't offer more traditional HYMNS as opposed to songs, and God forbid you should sing anything in the beautiful universal language of the Church, which is LATIN.  Not everything, just a hymn here and there.  Maybe to keep your older folks happy?  You think they want to hear the SCHLOCK you are belting out from the pulpit like some cheap lounge lizard?  I think not.  They probably would actually SING ALONG with some traditional hymns.

It's pretty bad when the chimes from the bell tower at St. John's plays better music than what is heard on the inside.  Really.

Get with it, Ms. "music director".  Give us a break.  Pick some traditional, sacred music, and preserve the respect and mystery that the Mass is supposed to be, and leave the Oregon Press schlock, tripe and crap alone for once.  You may be surprised to actually hear people joining in the singing, or even want to actually (gulp) join your choir.

And there you have it.  If you are grossly offended, too damn bad.  I warned you.

That 'equal' sign...

Mini rant for the day:  Before you read further, remember the name of this blog:  NOT SUGAR COATED.  If you are easily offended, STOP READING NOW.  Be warned.

I'm noticing that lots of people are making that red 'equal' sign their profile picture... in favor of equal rights for ... whoever.  Blah blah blahhhhhhhh.  Here's how I feel.

If you are gay... fine.  I really don't care.  If you are straight, I really don't care.
If you want to marry... fine.  I really don't care.  If you don't, I still don't care.
If you want to marry your pet goat... fine.  I really don't care.  If you don't, I really don't care.
If you want to be happy with whoever... fine.  I really don't care.  If you want to be miserable, I don't care.
If you like broccoli... fine, eat it till you drop.  I really don't care.  If you don't... I don't care.
If you think marriage should be between a MAN and a WOMAN, fine.  I really don't care.  If you think otherwise, that's your right, too.  And I will not judge you, it's not my job.

If you think I'm going to change my profile picture to an equal sign, I'm not, and that doesn't necessarily mean I agree or disagree with what it stands for.  It's because I think it's not an attractive picture.  You have a right to your equal sign and I have a right to a picture of my brothers and myself.

If you want to interpret the Bible and say gays are going to hell, you're perfectly free to do that, but YOU aren't the ultimate Judge.  That's not our job.   It's not our job to say ANYONE goes to hell, including Hitler.  Who are YOU to say where he is???

If I used birth control and you think I'm going to hell, well, you don't know me, and still don't have the right to judge me any more than I have a right to judge you.

I don't believe that politicians should be involved if you want to marry your girlfriend, boyfriend, or your pet goat.  They should have a whole lot of more important shit to worry about.

If you are kissing in public and are straight... I don't want to see it.  YUCK.
If you are kissing in public and you're gay.....I don't want to see it.  YUCK.
If you treat me badly and you're straight, I will not respect you.  If you treat me badly and you're gay, I will not respect you.
If you mistreat or hurt someone I love and you're straight, you might as well be dead.  If you mistreat or hurt someone I love and you're gay, you might as well be dead.

Noticing a trend here?  You're already all equal in my book.

If you love this blog... fine.  I really don't care.  If you hate it, I still don't care.  Find a cereal box or something.

"Habemus Papam!" (We have a Pope!)

This conclave was far shorter than I would have expected... I would have said definitely by the end of this week we would have a Pope.  But at the fifth or sixth vote?  Wow.

The newly elected Pope Francis seems to be a peaceful, humble man.  (Most Jesuits I know are neither!)  I admire his choice of name, and totally loved his asking for a moment of silence in prayer for him.  And you could hear a pin drop in St. Peter's Square.   I would have given ANYTHING to be there.  It would have been a million times better than being in Times Square on New Years Eve.

It is said that he was close in running when Pope Emeritus Benedict was elected, and that he, in second place, pleaded with his brother cardinals to NOT elect him.  Now knowing that, I'm sure that had something to do with the speed of his selection.  I hope God blesses him, and inspires him to be the right mix of traditionalist AND reformer.  God knows we need some help in moving the Roman Church forward and shaking it free of the chains of scandal which bind it.  It is said that St. Francis himself ventured to Rome and told the then-Pope that this church needed reformation.  Hopefully, his taking the name Francis will kind of point toward that end.

I loved his speaking Italian so beautifully, albeit with a slight Spanish accent.  And I understood every word he said, and wished that the woman translating for Fox News would just shut up, because I didn't need her interpretation and 'umms' and 'ahhhs'.  Geez, some people get PAID for speaking, you'd think they'd find someone who didn't stammer every other word.  But I digress!

Anyway, I guess the point of this little 'rant' is that maybe now the never ending media coverage will END, and that the haters will leave my Church alone.  Haters can't bash Catholics any better, and maybe they're having fun because they can't have this kind of published hate toward Muslims or other groups.  Maybe they can now go back to worrying about reality shows and how many times the KarTrashians marry and reproduce.  Let this seemingly humble man take the reins and guide the Church onto a better path, and Fox can go back to worrying about the Obam-ination and his bands of merry thieves.

May God bless Pope Francis, and may the Holy Spirit guide him!

The "Conclave' and my personal Catholicism...

Here goes the latest rant.

As we speak, the Conclave in Rome is taking place, with a hundred something Cardinals taking two votes a day in the process of selecting a new Pope as leader of the Catholic Church, and as Vicar of Christ on Earth.

I was inspired to write this by a young friend who also has a blog and has expressed her feelings quite well about the bashing of the Church which is taking place in the mainstream media.  I have had enough of this.  If someone in the mainstream media dared to bash Muslims, there would be an outcry like none other.  While I know there are good and bad people in all religions, I am particularly tired of hearing all the 'pedophile' and 'child abuser' jokes and tasteless excuses for 'humor' especially on facebook.

I have stopped watching TV about it, and cannot bear to read comments or editorials about the Church, or the Conclave.  I'm tired of hearing people preach about 'oh they should let priests marry' or 'oh they should have women priests' or 'they should loosen their restrictions on whatever'.  Get over it, people, it's NOT happening.  The priests will not marry (and I don't want any arguments about it), and there will be no women priests, not now, not ever.   I am tending to take the media's criticisms very personally.  Here's my opinion like it or not.

The vast MINORITY of priests and clergy have ever done anything unethical or unlawful to any child or adult.  And I don't believe all the accusers are being truthful.  That doesn't mean for a second that I condone bad behavior by any priest.  But like all walks of life, a few bad apples make the bad name for the majority.  I'm just sick to death of this though.  I've had it.

My Catholic faith was instilled in me first by my parents and grandparents, and then by the good sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and further by the seven different orders of religious who taught me at West Catholic.  My faith is rooted in my heart and soul, and is very dear and VERY important to me. It is not dictated by the actions of any human.  It has gotten me through some stressful and sad times in my life.  It continues to sustain me to this day.  I believe that prayer is important, whether it be the formal prayers taught to me in my childhood, or plain language prayer, which takes awhile to master.  I believe in the power of prayer, and have seen that power in action.

Please don't get the idea that I'm a 'fanatic'.  I refuse to sit in judgment of anyone, and believe firmly that God is the Ultimate Judge of what a person does or does not do here in this short life.  And please don't get the idea I've always been so religious.  (I do prefer the word 'spiritual' vs. 'religious'.)  Though I was raised in Catholicism, I drifted away in my early working life, and didn't venture back until the early 1990s.  I was away from the Church for more than 25 years when I was inspired to return.  I thank my neighbor, Anita, and the Pastor Emeritus of my parish, the late Fr. Joseph Dougherty, for the initial 'kick' back into my Church.

I was scared to DEATH of going to Confession after that long, but Fr. Dougherty made it painless, easy, and wonderfully uplifting.  He was a wonderful homilist, and a great priest.  I miss him greatly.  I am glad he's not around to see what's going on now, in the parish, and in the world.  (Even though I'm convinced he's watching from above.)

So, anyway... I know I'm very free with my opinions, and they are usually, as the title of the blog says, Not Sugar Coated.  And I realize that others are entitled to their opinions of the faith and the Catholic Church, good, bad or indifferent.

But that won't stop me from saying I despise some of those opinions, which I feel are based on the actions of a very few men.  I also believe this is a bad reason (and a COP OUT)  for saying you 'don't believe' in God, the Church, or Christianity in general.  Grow up.  There are a few bad people in all walks of life.  Not all people are bad, not all priests are bad.  Get over it.

In closing... may God bless the Cardinals, and may the Holy Spirit guide them!

The Oscar "Rant"

Ohhhhh.  I don't even know where to start this one.

First off, let me say the Oscars never did anything for me.  I've never been able to watch an Academy awards show all the way through without either getting disgusted, remarking how awful some people looked, or just falling asleep from sheer boredom.

This year, I watched maybe five minutes of it at the outside.  It was quite enough.  I preferred to wait till today to get the highlights (and LOWlights) of this year's colossal waste of money.

Seth McFarlane:  Stick to doing Family Guy.  It's funny, you're good at the voices and I love Brian and Quagmire.  The Academy Awards may not have been the right forum for "We Saw Your Boobies".  Juvenile, and some of the audience looked downright uncomfortable.  Yuck.

Jennifer Lawrence:  Beautifully dressed, and much deserving of the Best Actress award.  I saw Silver Linings Playbook and it was a great feel-good movie.  She was great in it.  I gave her props for looking so smooth (like it was SUPPOSED to happen) when she tripped up the steps.  Good one.  Adele:  I want your voice in my next life.  You make it seem so effortless.  And you looked great.

Some of the other "stars"... well, you could refrain from heavy drinking/drug use before going to the ceremony, and at least LOOK like you want to be there.  Several of the women (Jennifer Aniston) and a few of the men clearly needed to do something with their HAIR.  Like, you have money, for the love of Beelzebub, go GET YOUR HAIR DID.  If you're a guy, and you want to carry off the 'scruffy' look, please at least make it a clean scruffy look.  You can look scruffy and still look sexy.  All you gotta do is look like you took a bath.  And for pete's sake, BUY A MIRROR and use it.  Some of these gowns just didn't fit.  If you want to wear a strapless gown, maybe you should make sure you have something to hold it up with, and make sure you don't keep having to hike it UP every five seconds.  If you think a deep vee-neck gown showing your boobs being flattened down is attractive, look again.  It's NOT.

If it were up to me, the Oscars would look like this:  Host gets up, tells a few jokes (preferably FUNNY ones not cornball shit written by a sixth grader).  Introduce presenters.  Presenter, get up there, read the damn nominees without pretending YOU'RE going for the Oscar.  Cameraman, pan the audience for the nominees.  Presenter, announce the winner without the pregnant "American Idol" pause.  We don't need it.  Winner:  get up, wave to everyone, go to podium, accept your award graciously, say Thank You and GO SIT DOWN.

Nobody, at least I, don't give a shit who you voted for.  I don't care if you love every politician and have slept with half of them.  I don't care to hear about your views on gun control, how much you hate conservatives, immigration, the economy, the deficit, gay marriage or anything.  Just say 'thanks' and SIT THE F**K DOWN.

Tell me why in the holy name of Allah that the first "lady" had to be there?  Who paid for that little side trip?  Check your own paycheck if you don't know.  And I don't want to hear shit about oh, well, we should respect her, she's beautiful... please, don't make me throw up in my mouth.  I personally don't like her (or her old man) and she didn't need to be there and make the Best Picture award all about HER.  And she did, from what I saw.

And speaking of politician jerks...  I cannot stand any of them.  From the top down, whether Democrat or Republican.  Don't tell me how hard you work, yet have this nation facing the 'sequestration' shit you didn't think would happen.  Get your sorry simple ASSES to work and get this done.  And don't tell me you are working at it.  Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.

Until you asshat politicians get your shit together, not a single one of you should be paid, get any benefits, medical coverage, free rides (like I'm sure the first 'lady' got, oh wait, it wasn't free, WE paid) or any other perks.  Get your jobs done.  And I really don't want to hear anybody tell me who made it this way.  The point is it IS this way and these so called representatives of the people need to straighten it out NOW.  If there is a small faction of your idiot politicians who WANT this done, it doesn't seem you're making any noise about it.  YELL.  SCREAM.  The squeakiest wheel gets the oil first.

Ok, I feel better now that I've gotten that out of my system.  You may now resume whatever you were doing before this.  :)  Thank you.

The National Anthem RANT

Here goes.  I watched Good Day Philadelphia this morning and they had a segment about the rendition of our nation's National Anthem.  They made sure to only show the HORRIBLE renditions.  It's the Star Spangled Banner... some of these idiots who sing it make it sound like the Star STRANGLED Banner.

I think it should be sung ONLY by a Military or Military Academy Choir or Chorus, or just played instrumentally.  Here is why:

It is NOT your rock song to make 'your own'.  If you don't know the words, DON'T SING it.  If you aren't going it sing it meaningfully and respectfully, DON'T SING it.  NO putting your 'style' before patriotism.

It is NOT ok to SCREECH it, and put in all your little extra 300 note embellishments.  Just sing it right, the way it was written.  Don't drag it out (Alicia Keys), sing it disrespectfully (Roseanne), screw up the words (Christina Aguilera and lots of others), screech (Whitney Houston), or just be horrible (Steven Tyler).

Don't give me any shit about how people died to give them the right to be assholes.  Yeah yeah yeah.  But some things... are sacred to me.  The American Flag is one.  Our National Anthem is another.  You want to screw around with somebody's arrangement of an Aerosmith, Whitney Houston, Elton John etc etc song?  Fine, screw around and mess it up all you want.

You'd NEVER see the national anthems of England (God Save the Queen) sung as disrespectfully as these poptarts and idiots sing ours.  Please for the love of God LEAVE MY NATIONAL ANTHEM ALONE.  If you're not going to do it right, sit the hell down and Have a Nice Big Cup of Shut the F*ck UP.

Want to hear it as it's SUPPOSED to sound???

Go to Youtube and search for the National Anthem as performed at the Super Bowl of 2005, when the Anthem was performed by the combined choirs of ALL the Military Academies.  THAT is the way its supposed to sound.  Respectful, meaningful, beautiful!!!  The crowd LOVED it, and the teams loved it.

Offended?  Oh well you shouldn't have been reading this blog anyway then.

Lest We Forget... The Heroes of Apollo I

Ever since I was a little kid... I have been absolutely in love with the U.S. Space Program.  Alan Shepard blasted into space for a suborbital flight in May, 1961.  By the time John Glenn orbited the earth in February, 1962, I had a new love, NASA.  Nothing was cooler to a nine year old kid than someone blasting into space and coming back in one piece.  It was inconceivable to me that someone could actually survive being blasted into space atop a big fireball, and splash down into the ocean and be picked up.

I remember waiting for John Glenn to splash down, and be picked up by the helicopters of the USS Hornet.  I remember it clearly, as if it were yesterday rather than 50 years ago.

Throughout the years following, I don't think I ever missed a launch or recovery of a space capsule, from the Mercury flights, through the Gemini flights, through the Apollo flights, through the Shuttle flights.  I promised myself that someday I would see a live launch, and DID get to see the last launch of the Shuttle Atlantis in person, on July 8, 2011 from a highway about five miles from Cape Canaveral.  It was one of the highlights of my life, something I will forever remember.  It was incredibly exciting, and so loud the ground shook!  (Note: By the way, if you want to experience the feeling of real space flight, go to Disney's EPCOT and make sure you ride Mission Space.  Check it out on Google or Wikipedia... it's an awesome and intense experience.  And I DID IT!!  I figured it was the closest I'd ever get to actual physical space flight.)

On the flight of Gemini IV, in June of 1965, Ed White made the first "space walk" and I was spellbound and in awe that this human could be tethered to a spacecraft moving through space at an alarming speed, and survive.  When he had to reenter the capsule, he said it was the "saddest moment" of his life.  In July, 1969 I sat transfixed, immovable, in front of a black and white TV in the living room of our house, watching man land on the Moon.  Again, I was in awe and amazed at the footprint of Neil Armstrong, looking like a footprint in a puddle of flour. I instantly felt sorry for Michael Collins, the astronaut in the capsule orbiting the Moon as Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked and hopped around on the Moon like little kids.  He had to watch it and not be on the Moon with Armstrong and Aldrin.  Bummer!

I followed in fear as Apollo 13 was in danger of never returning to Earth, saved by the ingenuity of Astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, Fred Haise and Lead Flight Director Gene Kranz and his crew.  They rigged the life support system of the ship to safely bring them home, though it was a crapshoot, and very scary.  I don't remember the media making lots of noise about the problem, but I remember being scared for them, and their families.  I am proud to say I have James Lovell's autograph on the book he co-wrote, "Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13".

I remember being thrilled to the bone when the Shuttle Columbia launched for the first time in April, 1981.  Again, amazed that this craft not only took off from Earth but landed on Earth like a glider, piloted by a human crew.  I wept openly in my office on January 28, 1986 when someone told me the Challenger exploded, for the crew, their families, and for Mission Control.  I didn't breathe for hours as we waited for news of the fate of the Columbia as she fell apart in the atmosphere in February, 2003.  I prayed at the memorials of both shuttle crews and graves in Arlington National Cemetery.  I remembered the words of another of my heroes, President Ronald Reagan, as he eulogized the Challenger astronauts, saying they "...slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God."  (paraphrased from "High Flight", a poem, printed below.)

In all this, over the years I've heard people bitch about the money spent, the lives lost, and the 'uselessness' of NASA and space travel.  Though it absolutely INFURIATED me, I always backed away from those arguments.  No more.  If people bitch about it now...  I have a short list of things to throw at them.  Things that we would NOT have if it weren't for the Space Program.  For instance:  Teflon, GPS, solar panels, cable television, satellite radio, hand held video cameras, and hello... the INTERNET.  I ask if they like their little playtoys, Iphones, Ipads, GPS systems, HBO.  Most people just don't think.

ANYWAY, this started as a little tribute for the anniversary of the deaths of three of my childhood heroes:  Edward White, Roger Chaffee and Gus Grissom, the three astronauts of Apollo 1, which exploded in fire on January 27, 1967.  

So... God rest them, along with the heroes of Challenger and Columbia.  Thank you, astronauts, both those who gave their lives, and those still alive.  Thank you, National Aeronatics and Space Administration.  You gave me countless happy hours and inspired me to become the avid reader I am.  You gave me hope that yes, ordinary people could become astronauts.  You gave me a great interest in Astronomy and a love of science (even though I sucked at it in school) and in the skies, stars, and everything space related.  You gave me images from the Hubble Telescope which are awe inspiring and breathtaking.  You gave me the ultimate item on my bucket list, witnessing the thrill of a live space launch.  In my minds eye, I traveled with you all.  

HIGH FLIGHT Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

On this day in 1977, a very long time ago, I was in Washington, DC working at the then-US Marshals Service Headquarters.  It was the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.  It doesn't seem so long ago.

I remember having very little respect for him, but I don't know why other than I was pretty young then.  My first priority was trying to get ahead in the Marshals Service and make a name for myself.  And to maintain my meager, one bedroom apartment in Blackwood NJ.  I thought I was hot shit.  Rent $177 a month.  I had a car payment, utility bills, a charge card and a phone bill.  I ate baloney alot of nights and worked alot.  I just thought I knew it ALL.  My priority was to become an independent adult of the middle class.

I had a few years, a few bills, a few financial disasters to come before I can actually say it was a success.  Since then, I've retired from the US Marshals after a 37 year career which I mostly loved.  If not for the cheating little bastard that was my last boss, and that he wanted to 'cook the books' on arrest records, I might still be there.  But since I refused to cheat on the numbers, he made my life miserable.  It started an internal investigation which ruined my attitude toward my beloved job and squad, but maintained the integrity and honesty I swore to uphold when I took the job.

But that's another rant for another day.

Since I now am considered a member of the taxed to death 'middle class'... let me say this.  If you're going to be offended at my ranting about this president, or you're an outright Obama lover, for the love of God stop reading NOW because I don't want to hear about how offended you are.

I think this president is the worst one of my lifetime.  I think he is a know nothing, incompetent little committeeman from Chicago, who was a local yokel who rose in the ranks from 'community activist' to senator.  Then, by the stupidity of the American people, elevated to the leadership of the free world.  I have no respect for him, his rhetoric, his politics.  Of course he is not alone in my utter disdain of politicians.

It is my opinion that the lions share of politicians of BOTH parties are self centered, egotistical, greedy bastards who have absolutely NO interest in you, me, the lower class, poverty,  the middle class.  In fact neither the president nor Congress has any regard that the middle class is fading fast.  They only care about themselves, their 'free' travel, 'free' vacations and 'free' benefits.  Yeah, free.  WE are paying, morons!!!  YOUR tax dollars at work.  Hah.

Unemployment... they will try to get you to believe it's falling.  I call bullshit.  Companies close, people are laid off, stop looking for work and run out of unemployment. They say "unemployment fell".  Again, bullshit.  Then when companies want to hire part timers so they don't have to pay benefits or fall victim to the price of obamacare, they say how many people have been hired.  Yeah, unemployment fell.

Smokescreens.  And the American people believe it.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the Congress don't pass a budget, can't get along?  They shouldn't get paid, their benefits should be suspended.  The ARMED guards to which they think they're entitled should disappear.  Oh by the way, let's not even get INTO the debate about how THEY and this president are deserving of armed guards but some of them don't want YOU to have a legal firearm.  Ohhhh don't EVEN get me started on that one.

No I don't have the answers.  But I'm sitting here listening to the pompous ass and his pompous ass kissers taking oaths and making nice with all the other politicians and assorted ass kissers.  He has no clue. As I said, I offer no answers... I'm just taking advantage of my own blog, and my right to rant as I please about a man who masquerades as president and surrounds himself with idiots like Joe Biden.  Nuff said.

Offended?  Well I told you to stop reading.  If you didn't and you're offended, tough shit.