THIS IS THE DAWNING OF....

I had one just like this back in what I call "The Good Old Days." I refer to them as the good old days as in the drugs and sex were a hell of a lot safer and hitchhiking was still a viable means of transportation. No more. Mine did not have the external decorations--I needed no more to call attention to my lavender-tinted-octagonal-glasses wearing self. I managed to get arrested only once in the van. Add that to the three times for protesting the war in Viet Nam and today I could be in prison for life. What happened to Pat Brown and the Age of Aquarius? Never mind, I just looked in the mirror and saw what happened, not trusting anyone over 30 turned into "Oh, my god, I don't trust anyone under thirty!#$@"
I can see myself now in the assisted living transitional nursing home abode, rolling around in my wheel chair wanting my Beatles and Rolling Stones Stones turned up a little bit louder, demanding munchies instead of meals and, dammit, bring on my drugs!

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, HASN'T IT?

General malaise seems to be the operative mood of the day.

It may be a case of the ongoing weather, a grey period which has lasted for the entire summer...well, except for a couple of days, not nearly enough to be able to call this a summer. It might relate to the aging process of most sixty-two year olds, the arthritic hips, the memory drop outs, the inability to read small print or even not so small print. Or, who knows it could just be the way the world is.

I hate writing about feelings. Hell, I hate to admit that I have them. Maybe it isn't feelings that I am even talking about. Maybe it is just a feeling of time having passed and believing that there is so much more to do and I am trapped in a world of mundane living. Work, laundry, cook, shop, sleep, worry. Again and again and again. Okay, so that was a little dramatic, but sometimes it just seems that way. And sometimes I'm just morose. And sometimes the moodiness is just bad mood.

Is it disappointment? Or too much time remembering? Or not seeing what the "new" is going to be or where the "growth" is going to come from? Maybe it is just too many hours on Facebook or too many unpacked boxes or too many things that haven't changed that keep me from seeing the things that have. Is this a case of "poor me" and if it is, I better kick myself in the ass and get on with life since this is just not acceptable.

All suggestions are welcome. Jokes will help. And if you feel like you are suffering from this, also, give me a call, we'll mope together.

THE YEAR OF THE FEMALE EARTH OX

It is Tibetan New Year today, however many are not celebrating due to the oppression in Tibet.

"Dharamsala, Jan. 25: While lauding the progress China has made in terms of political, economic and military might, the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama said China “cannot perform the responsibility of a super power in this modern and progressive world if there is no freedom, rule of law and transparency in the country.”

The Tibetan leader today sent an open letter to the Chinese people wishing them on the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. “On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, I extend my affectionate greetings to all our Chinese brothers and sisters across the globe, including those living in Mainland China.”

The 73 year old Tibetan Nobel Laureate wrote that President Hu Jintao's policy of creating a harmonious society is indeed laudable but that “It cannot be brought about by brute force and autocracy.”

“Such a policy is indispensable for China as well, if it were to make a mark globally. Harmonious society should, however, come about through mutual trust, friendship and justice.”*

*Source: http://www.phayul.com/

HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY...OH, WAIT, THAT WAS MIGHTY MOUSE...

I had my cape on yesterday. It is invisible to anyone but me. It only comes out when I need to be a "crimefighter" and do good for the world. That happened yesterday.

Most who know me know that I have worked for a major book retailer (Bunns and Noodle*Thanks Alison Bechdel) for the past eleven years. You also know that I amnot shy nor easily intimidated. That came in real handy yesterday.

We had a shoplifter who had taken the music department for hundreds of dollars of boxed sets of music before we caught him. He had not left the store at that time, but he was banned from the mall and the store. Those of us in the music department are constantly on the lookout for him.

Yesterday, as I was finishing a transaction with a customer, he came sauntering in, laying his shopping bag on the counter so that I could see that he wasn't stealing anything and headed over to the box sets. It was extremely busy in the store and I was the only one in the department at the time. I gave a call over the intercom for a manager, but they didn't know it was for something as important as this and they were busy, so no one came right away.

I finished the transaction with my customer and came from behind the counter and walked up to the man as he was stuffing something down the back of his pants. I stopped right in front of him, held my hand out and asked him for what he was stealing.

I suppose now is the time I should point out that this man was 6'2", 250 lbs. and 35 years old. I am 5'6", 200 lbs. and 61 years old. And, I am no one to be messed with. I, after all, grew up on the streets of LA and can hold my own with anyone.

He looked at me and mumbled something that I didn't understand and just stood there. I reached around behind him and pounded on the boxed set he had down the back of his pants, looked back up into his face with my hand outstretched and demanded that he give me what he was stealing. I guess he figured he wasn't going to get past me, so he reluctantly reached behind his back and pulled out a $60 box set of Broadway musical songs. I took it from him and headed back behind the counter and along the way grabbed his shopping bag from the counter.

That got a reaction out of him. "Give me my bag, I've only got magazines in there and I paid for them." Right. I told him there was probably more stolen merchandise in the bag and wanted to see. Well, this is when good thinking took over from bravado and when he grabbed the bag from my hand I just let him take it. He headed out of the store with me directly behind him.

Other staff then noticed what was happening, but by this time he was out the front door. I explained to the manager what had happened and got the response that I probably shouldn't have done that (in retrospect, there might be a little bit of truth in that) and my safety was the most important thing. I explained that I truly felt that I was in charge of the situation and at any time that I had felt uncomfortable, I would have backed down and did.

I wish I had a video of the whole thing...

Opening scene: 61 year old, feisty broad looking up into the face of a young, 6'2", 250 lb. perp (hey, gotta get that crime jargon in there) demanding return of stolen property or else.

It wasn't until I saw it in my own mind that I realized how ridiculous it must have looked. Oh well, not on my watch is some young punk going to rip me (okay, the store) off. So, if any of you crime types are out there, be aware, I will stop your ass and put you in your place. Granny for justice has spoken.

BOOK REVIEW OF THE WEEK

ONCE AGAIN TO ZELDA Every once in a while, I will post some information about what I have been reading, but only if it is something that

1. I am willing to admit I have read
2. I think you will enjoy
3. I couldn't put down.Okay, maybe I could have put it down but i makes me look smart if I read it.

I now know why I will never be a writer. While I have suffered, it is obvious from this book that I have not suffered enough.

The stories behind the dedications to the books listed run from the tragic, to the more than tragic, to the most horrible thing I have ever heard. The authors are listed in chronological order and as we approach the present, the suffering does diminish somewhat. The real tragedy was that I missed it.

If you love books, gossip and information that is ...more I now know why I will never be a writer. While I have suffered, it is obvious from this book that I have not suffered enough.

The stories behind the dedications to the books listed run from the tragic, to the more than tragic, to the most horrible thing I have ever heard. The authors are listed in chronological order and as we approach the present, the suffering does diminish somewhat. The real tragedy was that I missed the tragedy, I missed the suffering, I missed the mayhem of the dedications.

If you love books, gossip and information that is only needed to win a Trivial Pursuit Game (with others with the same literary addiction) then this is the book for you.

(Should be made into a movie, oh, hell, many of them already have! Sylvia, In Cold Blood, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds, Shindler's List )

Read it...it's what we Minnesotans call a hoot..when we're not freezing our butts off that it.

HAND IT OVER, KEB' MO

in which I complete a meme, the very first ever, stolen from blah blah blah-er

What does your music library say about you?

1. Put Your ipod on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song.

What do your friends think of you?
Take Me To The Mardi Gras, Paul Simon

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
Big Bad John, Jimmy Dean

How would you describe yourself?
Revolution, The Beatles

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Dance, Jimmy Cliff with Wyclef Jean

How do you feel today?
Little Village, Van Morrison

What is your life’s purpose?
Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Bob Dylan

What is your motto?
Chaingang Special, Sonny Terry

What do you think about very often?
Ain't No Sunshine, Aaron Neville

What is 2 + 2? To Kingdom Come, The Band

What do you think of your best friend?
Mannish Boy, Muddy Waters

What do you think of the person you like?
I've Been Working, Van Morrison

What is your life story?
People Get Ready, Ladysmith Black Mombazo

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Star Spangled Banner, Jimi Hendrix

What will they play at your funeral?
Big Bunch of Junkie, Sinead O'Connor

What is your hobby/interest?
Rockin' Robin, Bobby Day

What is your biggest fear?
Mucho Mungo, John Lennon

What is your biggest secret?
Midnight Special, Lead Belly

What will you post this as?
Hand it Over, Keb Mo'

WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

That just about sums it up as far as I am concerned. I don't know that I want to be old physically since my mind still lingers in adolescence.

I reached this point via a number of roads. Bizarre childhood, youthful overindulgence, life on the edge for far too many years, medical practioner's incompetence and the "tough" attitude that I could and can do, eat, drink, overindulge in anything.

The price is somewhat of an aged lament of many I am certain. Many of my physical ailments are a result of being treated with steroids for a number of years for a disease I did not have, sports injuries, and plain old stupidity. Emotional problems stem from crazy childhood, escapist behavior and self medication. I have dealt with these issues the best I think I can...I can sleep in the dark, I don't smoke or drink anything that can put me in jail anymore, and the diet has been the funniest part.

Eating as many fats and calories only leads to stomach disorders, smoking of a variety of substances has led to CPD and the fact that I turn 62 next month means my days of youth and overindulgence are truly over.

Exercise is a weird option. Emphysema limits a great deal other than slow walking and moving. How much of that do you have to do to burn off a pound, much less fifty? Healthy meals seem to be a lot more troublesome and time consuming than a patty melt off a George Foreman Grill (slightly more healthy than frying, I suppose.) And why does philosophizing and book reading burn less calories than hunting and killing animals? Just doesn't seem fair, does it?

So, visits to the doctor increase exponentially, minor illnesses knock more of of the poop out of me and five hours of sleep a night just isn't enough. Ah, for the days of Hormel Chili and Cheese on Fritos for dinner. Oh, well...complaining and crankiness is just another symptom of getting old, so watch out.