Ya' ah' t'eeh Keshmish

I hope you all are having a kickass holiday season!!!! Merry Christmas and have an awesome New Year.

Goodbye Richard

One of my favorite comedy performers...he will be missed.

Remembering rare talents...

12/8/1980


12/8/2004

Just needed a breather

Man, what a tough autumn I'm having. Besides the drama of family, work has become work. We just landed some new projects and this time the product needs to be submitted in Microstation instead of AutoCAD. Oh well, I like to learn new stuff.

Well, anyway, I'm busy again and still truckin.......keeps me from pondering about world domination or running for the Navajo Nation Presidency.

Be safe out there when you're shopping for the holidays. Smile and be good.

a damned shame.....

Y'know what? There were grown men camped out in the parking lot at my work because the Target was next door......and for what? A damned X BOX 360. Ain't that some sad shit? A video game console. The last time I camped out for something it was for the morning sun, a wet fly, and some hot coffee. Wow, where our priorities are nowadays....and it was a school night!!! When I was a kid, video games were out but we didn't form our lives around it, no, we used our imaginations and still had a buttload of fun running around in the hills, climbing trees, riding our bikes, playing baseball and football. Isn't it a damned shame? I guess there has to be somebody to flip burgers between gaming sessions.

Now if they were 50 yard line Superbowl XL tickets and the Steelers were playing........then that's a whole different idea.

Rock on.

P.S. An XBOX 360 just sold on Ebay for $9000!!! Damn, I'm in the wrong business.......I wonder how much I can get for my old Colecovision? Hey, if you Simm freaks and thumb rangers want to see some kick ass graphics, just give me the $400 and I'll just kick you in the nuts and when you're squirmin' around on the ground with your eyes clinched shut ... graphics so awesome from your own imagination will come in ten fold, I promise.

I'm a pinonaholic

I'm like on my umpteenth sack of pinon nuts. My tongue is run ragged, my finger tips are pruny, and nothing tastes right.......but I need more...more, more, more.


AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH....I think I tore my sack!!! OH, the HORROR!!!

It comes.......the Mothership is near..... all ye who believe...... come forth....... the time is upon us.....

Have any of you ever noticed that at a certain time of the day, the digital clock just happens to be exactly 11:11?
I have. It is indeed a weird occurrence and one that is experienced by thousands, maybe millions, of people. I first noticed it way back when I was a little dude with a paper route. I won a digital watch from the Gallup Independent newspaper because I signed up the most new customers on my newspaper route. Ever since then, I began to notice the 11:11 occurrence on that watch and my clock radio. Now believe me, I wasn't contemplating the actual time but it just happened to occur at times when people asked for the time at 11:11, when I responded to fire pages at exactly 11:11 or at 23:11, or that I was up late doing homework and my mom would yell at me at exactly 11:11.

11:11

Tomorrow is 11/11

The Mothership is arriving at 11:11

Freaked out huh......check the time........it's 11:11 isn't it...

Did you all now that there are societies and cults that observe the time 11:11? Yep, there is. I didn't realize there was more people like me....

NVISIBLE

GOOGLE 11:11.....there's alot more

We shall come together and worship our saviors Danny White and Drew Bledsoe...It must continue...it is our destiny......

Happy Birthday Juvin!!!!

Miss you around here even though you cheat at golf.

The old stompin' grounds...

I had a site visit yesterday and the trip took me through the my old stomping grounds...... Window Rock, Arizona. Normally, I wouldn't go there on purpose and even much less Gallup. I've just got too many unsettling memories of my childhood that I much rather leave there to be forgotten. But, much of it came back to me when I saw the old place I used to call home.

Not all my memories of Window Rock are bad. I remember riding my bike all over the place with my buddies Morris, Mihio, and Adrian. We'd go down to Pizza and Cream, the WR Cinema, Royal Burger, and Fed-Mart. If you remember these places, yeah, it's been a while. I also remember walking around with my friends at night to all over and all we feared was an angry dog.

I saw the rocks we used to climb, including the Window Rock, the trees we used to climb, the lady's house we knew we could get a drink of water if we wanted (now boarded up), the trails we used to race on, and places we used to party at when we got older.

I also saw the place where I responded as a fire fighter to an accident that killed a couple of people, the place that I used to escape to when my step dad would come home drunk, the house that my old girlfriend lived in, the road where I bailed from her car when she just wouldn't stop yelling at me, and the place where she hit me with a car. Yeah, the shit memories. The memories that made me tougher and smarter. I hate them but I would still welcome them because they made me who I am now. Hopefully for the better.

We went on to Ganado and I took a trip, yeah...kinda like those but with out the substance. I remember packing my helmet and pads and stashing under the bus that Justin drove and jumping into my seat and donned my headphones. My buddy, Cedric or Jonny, would pile in next to me and we'd crack jokes about kiss ass teammates and how what's-her-name looked in those tight stonewashed jeans during Algebra.....whoa. We'd all get going because this trip was on a Friday night. Game Night. It would start getting darker as we passed over the summit. Coach would call us up to the front of the bus one by one to make sure we knew what to do to beat the Hornets. As we rolled into town the field was all lit up just to the north....fresh paint on the grass, refs, stands filled with maroon on one side and Columbia blue on the other, marching bands, and oh yes, the cheerleaders. Poof.......now it's 2005 and I'm 34, married with children and a mortgage.

Man, what a trip.

Oh well, that's what life is.

Donned my parachute pants and union jack t-shirt, dammit, where's my mullet?

11-02-05_2142.jpg
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Last night I went to the Def Leppard concert at the Tingley Coliseum here in Albuquerque. Damn, I thought I was going to be one of the old cats there but there were far older folks that managed to shake their asses at this gig.

Since I've moved to the Albuquerque area I've been able to see a few acts that I wasn't able to see when I was kid. I've been to a few shows when I was younger but alot of the groups either died off or broke up so I wasn't able to see acts like Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Queensryche, and Judas Priest. Now we are in a time where there are comebacks and revivals....man, I could probably actually see Keel, Krokus, or Loudness. Ha ha. Oh well, somethings should be left dead.

Well, it was a kick ass show. It was good to go back into ol' Tingley Coliseum and relive some old memories like when Ozzy Osbourne played with an opening act called Metallica in 1986. Those were the days.

P.S. I was going to stay around back of Tingley Coliseum to meet the band because I really wanted to ask Joe Elliot a question that's been on my mind for a couple of years............is it really true about you in that chain letter?

The 'Burbs

DSC00925
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

We had one heck of nice evening.

Trick-or-treating here in the burbs of Rio Rancho is alot different than running from dogs and dlaanii's on Manuelito Ave. in Window Rock. We actually got some good loot.

The girls both had fun trick-or-treating and we had a few friends over for some cocktails and pizza, and the Steelers won....it couldn't get any better than this.

BOO, aaaaayyyyyy !!!

Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween.

Click here for some fun.

The door to a family

Chuska Mountain
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

When I was a kid, I used to ride horses on this road to check on the cattle. It lead to my Nali's home at the base of the Chuska Mountains. I knew at the end of this road, I open the door at the Curley Ranch and I would find the smell of hot food on the stove and my Nali' Asdzaa would be flappin' some tortillas and tell me to sit and eat. After that, I'd be out and about working on the farm. Things got done. If it didn't, there wouldn't be hardly any food on the table in the winter months and you'd curse yourself for being so lazy. Those were times when all was simple. You worked and prayed, and did it all over again the next day.
Well, for me, the dying season has come and with it, a change, not for the better but for the worst.
In my mind, I can hear my late Nali' scolding us for what we have become. My late chei would have done the same.

"Why can't you do anything without us?"

"I know we have taught you better!"

Yes, we should have been able to overcome our loss and continue to live as a Dine' should without stumbling. In this case, it has gone in a more selfish direction that may not be fixed. It's almost gone. Some of us still cry for those who have left us for the next world...I know why they do but I don't understand why they can't stop grieving and walk with out falling. I feel that a great burden has been put upon me with great force and deafing clamor.



I hope the door can be opened again.

No longer zero...

Happy 1st Birthday to my Emi. I love you so much. Thanks for the head-butts this morning and the surprise in my shoe.

neglecting my readers because I'm ........ watching sports

I'm sitting here wanting to blog but I'm glued to the damned TV. Sorry. Since football has arrived and the Steelers are somewhat winning, I've been mush-brain. I can't even think of a good topic unless it related to Ben Roethlisberger or Hines Ward. Now the World Series is right around the corner. I can't help it. Please forgive me, I'm but a man with a remote,a bigscreen TV, my buddy, and a cooler full of juice boxes and beer.

Anybody out there know how the SCOUTS are doing?

GO SCOUTS!!!

I hope she uses her powers to do good

I think my wife can will things to happen. The other day, on our drive home, we were driving down Tramway towards the Sandia Casino and this dude in red car was hauling ass behind us. The dude just barely missed our left mirror and continued to move fast and pass other cars that were further down the road. As we were going, my wife said, "I always wonder if I'd ever see someone who drives like that wipe out down the road. Y'know, find his dead ass in a car wreck." I replied, "yeah, I know what you mean." Just as I said that we saw a cloud of dust splash up further ahead and we just kinda looked at each other and I said that he just crashed....she said in a weird tone, "what a dumbass....driving like that, you deserve to crash."

Well, we approached the scene and found his car on the other side of the buffalo fense. Some of you know where I am talking about. The Sandia Pueblo keep a small herd of bison behind a stout fence on the northern part of Albuquerque. But anyway, this dude tried to pass on the outside of a curve and ran off the road and did a Dukes of Hazzard jump over the fence. Good thing there weren't any buffalo around.

We passed and saw that he was ok. Some other motorist went to see if he was ok. We drove for a few more feet and I pulled over to call the Sandoval County Sherriffs Office to report the accident.

Then I looked at my wife. She may hold a gift of willing things to happen.... a Jedi?........... a Sith?............all I know is that I better not piss her off.

Fresh pack of skibbies...

Hey, I'm a year older today. Wow, I can remember my earlier years and gifts that I wanted but never got. Hmmmmm. At least I got some cool ass horizontal striped shirts...and a fresh pack of skibbies. I love my folks, they did what they could.

I love you MOM.

Well, I'm sitting here at work on a beautiful Saturday morning....on my birthday. I could bitch, gripe, and moan about it, but I won't. I can't. I'm doing a job that I certainly love and took me for frickin' ever to achieve. I do have kick ass birthday presents.....family, home, and work. Boy, I sure could use a cold one right about now....and a hotdog....or maybe a turkey leg down at the balloon fiesta park. Today is a long day, I'll get there.

For those that have wished me well, thank you very much.

Once Upon a time......bleh

A Cow's Ass
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Well, I've been prarie doggin' some kind of post for the last last week and I always manage to pinch it's little head off before it can emerge. Actually, I figured out that I'm a little stressed with a few little events at about this time of this year.....

1) Bunch of birthdays, including mine;

2) My mother-in-law is coming for a visit from NY;

3) Balloon Fiesta is coming, so a bunch of folks are going to want to crash on my couch;

4) Football is back on my T.V.!

Hopefully I'll get over this hump in my life.

Happy Birthday Boogah

Self Portrait
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Today, my little Kaitie is 4. Wow, 4 years old.......can you remember when you were 4? I think I can. I remember herding sheep with my big brother...and then sleeping with the sheep dogs. I miss those days.

This is what happens when you take two weeks off.....shit happens......loads of it!

Miles of Smiles
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Well, I took two weeks off. Y'know, alot of stuff happens when you turn your back....

First, I gain a brother-in-law, my grandma still loves me even if I have a hangover from a very special occasion (because I don't do it often and she still expects me to do what she tells me to do), winning at golf is sweet (even if it's by forfeit), I severed my hiatus from Wal-Mart without incident, I developed bronchitis (this shit sucks), my little Emileigh started walking (I am so a proud DAD!), Tom Brady is a pussy (true colors are shining through), and my Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 (fan since 1971). Man, I hope somebody misses me. Do you? I missed you guys...really.

Rest in peace, lil buddy.

Gilligan is dead. Can things get any worse?

If I were a dead Rehnquist, I'd say, "fuck it, SAVE THE FOLKS IN NEW ORLEANS!!!!!"

God Damn it. Do I need to say more? Aren't there more immediate problems more important than finding a replacement for the Chief Justice? Shit, there are people dying in thier own attics because some dumbass leader of their country didn't give a shit. Really, what would Rehnquist do? He'd say, "fuck it, save the folks in New Orleans!!!."

Prayers to New Orleans

I am stunned as to what's happening down in Louisianna. I can't even imagine what those folks are going through. It's been almost week and now just two days ago aid is finally coming, in the mean time, people are dying as I write.

I am so ashamed and angered at our government's response to this disaster. When other countries have needed our help, a statement from the president and a plan of response was at the ready. Shit, in this case, it is pitiful. Why the president took so long to even make a statement is beyond me. Damn him for draggin his ass.

Well damn, those terrorist fuckers are probably making plans right now and chuckling at our predicament. Federal response just shows them how how unprotected and seemingly unprepared we really are.

I am very happy to hear on the radio that so many people from the city of Albuquerque have contributed money and food for the hurricane relief. Headbangers are more than rebels, they care.

Here is a blog of a Navajo who lives in New Orleans. He has been blogging his experiences throughout the hurricane. Vernon, I hope you are safe and doing well brother.

Hickie Prevention 101 - Refresher Course

It's that time of year again people...The Navajo Nation Fair, Central Navajo Fair, New Mexico State Fair, and other places folks seem to congregate seeking "knowledge" of the opposite sex. I decided to repost this because I have seen too many hickie neck scapes in the last couple of weeks. Please, read carefully.

Originally posted April 22, 2005

Mad Sci

-The scientific term for "hickeys" is ecchymosis from the Greek "ek" for out and "khumos" for juice, in other words to suck the juice out of your neck or more medically speaking to extravasate blood. Indeed a hickey is nothing else than a bruise! Bruises are caused by ruptures of capillary blood vessels in the subcutaneous tissue. The extravasated blood pools into the surrounding tissues and cause the typical purple/red discoloration of the skin. The breaking of the blood vessels may be caused by a variety of physical abuses to the skin (bumping into an object, falling, strangling, etc...) but in the case of hickeys, the damage is created by the vacuum applied to the neck or other parts of the body by the lips and mouth of the hickey donor.
Note that hickeys are more likely to occur in areas where the skin is thin (and hence capillaries are closer to the surface) such as the neck or medial aspect of the arm or the abdomen. Areas such as the back or thighs benefit from a thicker epidermis and hence are much less susceptible to vacuum-caused ecchymoses.-

So, you woke up with silver dollar sized purple hickies that hurt like a bitch. You dumbass. He or she had better been worth it. Getting rid of them is a problem and you are trying to figure out how to remedy this badge of stupidity, especially if your significant other was not the one who gave it to you or if you are trying to hide them from your mom. If you like hickies, then this blog is not for you. You freak.

Dispite what you hear, there is no remedy to get rid of a hickie except for time. If there is one, the science community has not seen it.

Now, if you want to prevent a hickie, this blog can help you. Here is the *top 10 ways of preventing a hickie. Please, heed to every word...

1. Stay home.
2. Go to church.
3. Don't wash your neck for a week before your night out.
4. Don't look up, that's just inviting a hickie opportunist.
5. Pick your nose when making out.
6. Eat garlic before getting hot and heavy and breathe heavily.
7. Fart during getting hot and heavy, that turns off everything.
8. Dowse your neck with Habanero pepper sauce.
9. Wear a spiked dog collar.
10. Wrap your neck with duct tape.


*For neck area only.
** May experience side effects such as being called "Stinky Neck", public embarrassment, no second date, pepper burns, chafing, and a hairless neck.

It's up to you to say Hickie No Mas.

Any suggestions are welcome. This epidemic must be stopped.

Insanity in the Duke city

This has been a rough week for the largest town in the Land of Enchantment. It seems that all the degenerates across the Duke City wanted to come out and change the lives of everyone for the worst. Albuquerque's finest buried two of their brethren this week. Officers Michael King and Richard Smith were were shot and killed in the line of duty on August 18. In addition to these two murders were motorcycle shop workers Dave Fisher and Garrett Iverson, and NMDOT worker Ben Lopez. All the killings were allegedly committed by one person and he's pussin' out by pleading insanity.
It was cool to see everyone from people sitting at the bus stops to skate boarders stop what they were doing and watch the funeral procession as it trailed through the city. Man, it was a site to see so many pay their respects.

In other news, a woman was getting stabbed by her ex-husband in the deli department in a SE Wal-Mart when a man, a customer, shot him to death. THAT'S TRUE JUSTICE. The lady is said to be recovering from her wounds in an Albuquerque hospital. Oh, and this is the reason why I stay out of Wal-Marts now, because if I go postal in there, I'm might get gunned down.

Y'know I could go on and on about true justice but I'm in such a good mood today, I'd hate to ruin it. Honestly, I think a short rope and a long fall is in order for John Hyde. Punishment doesn't fit the crime anymore. Man, that would cut violent crimes in all of our cities if that were reinstated, wouldn't it?

Another Heavy Metal Christmas has come and gone

08-23-05_2140.jpg
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Well, the Ozzman cometh and wenteth...
Hey metal heads this was one of the best shows that I had ever attended. I remember the first time I saw Ozzy Osbourne was with Metallica back in 1986 at the Tingley Coliseum. Man, what a show.

Now in 2004 and 2005 OzzFest shows, he still does not let up on the true metal cause. I hope that I'm that active and crazy when I'm up in my 60's.....I just have to stop fuckin' cussing so much and injesting wobbly pop and sour mash. Hmmm....that's the ticket.

Well the show was a blast from the start. I got there a little after 1 o'clock and saw a bit of Kill Switch Engage who, by the way, is going immediately into my CD case as soon as payday rolls around.

Rob Zombie, the blood suckin weirdo, rocked us all and also invited little ol' Albuquerque metal brains to be recorded on a live recording. I hope we don't hit the cutting room floor.

Also being added to my list of new faves is Mudvayne. Whoa, a monkey suite does not make them an odd group of freaks.

08-23-05_2129.jpg
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Now here comes Velvet Revolver..... hmmmm. Either these guys are still on drugs or they needed alot more rehearsing. There seemed to be alot of things that just didn't seem to be in sync with their set. Scott Weiland's whiny voice didn't do it for me. It was cool to see Slash and Duff McKagen though.

Black Sabbath. I can't say anything that will sugar coat this bands evilness and mind blowing sound. I was before the metal geniuses of the 20th and 21st centuries. And they are closing in on being a century old. Of course, this is the last year of the Black Sabbath's headlining of the OzzFest tours, I am so glad to see them. Not once, but twice!

The whole day was generally warm, but not hot like last years arm pit heat. It did rain on us pretty well during the Shadow's Fall set. I was diggin' the white t-shirts ladies. Oh, yeah.

I rate this show, 4.75 stars out of 5 because of Velvet Revolver's lackluster performance and the absence of IRON MAIDEN. Rock on my good people!!!

Fishin' and prayin'

Big Un #2
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

I miss fishing. I just figured that out. Since I moved to the Albuquerque area, which was 2 years ago, I haven't wetted a line and felt the slight tug of a big bass slurping in a plum Zoom SS+U-tale worm. I know there's some fishing spots here in Albuquerque and some of the surrounding lakes but it's not the same as it was at Morgan Lake.

Yeah, I know, there's the APS powerplant and may make the fish undesireable for eatin', but I went there to fish and release what I didn't use. I assure you, take from an environmental engineer, it's ok to eat the fish, just make sure you discard the ones with ears and hands. Ha ha, I'm just joking, the fish are very safe to eat.

I'm digressing, I know but I really miss walking along the banks of the western dam Texas rigging around the rocks for some action.

At the time I was doing my most fishing was when I was still working at Sears and taking classes at San Juan College. I still continued through the times I attended NAU up until I graduated in the spring of 2003.

It was a time for me to think, plan, and talk to God. I prayed a lot when I was on the lake. Not for a fish to bite but for a glimpse of clarity of my life's path. I couldn't do this in a church. Someone once told me that I wasn't a Christian because I didn't do it thier way. "Huh", I said, "I'm glad I don't worship your god too."

Lately, I've been looking at my blog and I've found that my mood is not always good. I know it's part of my shtick but I find that it doesn't really represent who I am. For those that don't know me, I'm really not that grouchy, especially when I'm fishing. I guess I'll have to get out there soon and see if Bertha is still in there.

The fish you see measures about 26" long and weighed about 12lbs. I'm sure it would have been a Navajo Nation record and may be a New Mexico record, I just don't know. Fortune sometimes doesn't have witnesses. Well, God was there, he'll vouch for me.

*In case you were wondering, this fish was released.*

Sometimes shit happens and you wonder why the metal gods are still smiling upon you

Dream Theater
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Indeed they were this day. From the back row to the front row...well, just closer.

Getting seated at GIGANTOUR was an adventure in itself. In my concert-goer advanced age of 33 and with the order from my wife, I found my self looking at the Journal Pavilion website looking at the "what to bring and what not to bring" lists because I heard that a fan could bring a beach chair, disposable camera, small umbrella, snacks, and a sealed bottle of water not to exceed 1.5 litres.

Believe me, I would have just came with a camera and a fist full of cash for a concert T-shirt and a couple of beers, but she wouldn't have come if she wasn't comfortable. Sure, I thought, what the hell, it could be nice.

So, we went shopping.... first for some beach chairs (camouflaged ones because bright fucking blue and red is not tough), baggies for the snacks, frozen jugs of water, ice and some beer for the pre-event tailgating.

All was golden until we got to the parking area and read signs stating that alcohol is prohibited in the parking areas and violators would be severely prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Aww shit, and they were fucking cold too.

Oh well, we can kick back on our kickass beachchairs with a cold one inside the gates and watch the show while snacking on grapes and crackers. Please, don't ask me why, I would have stuffed a baggie with hotdogs and sheephead if I could, but she didn't.

Ok, now we were unpacking and we noticed, as I expected, we were the only ones to follow the advice of the list. I felt like I was going to the concert with only after my mom pinned my tickets to my shirt and that I had clean underwear on. The mosh seeking toughness oozed out of my ass at this point...but my wife was gleaming with excitement and she deserved it. Fuck it, I'm going to see a metal god too.

Well, we get to the gates after a short down ward journey with my metal countrymen and with luggage in tow......and only to be turned away for our beach chairs were too high because the were exceeding the 9" limit. Ok, OK....fuck, I couldn't find anything lower than these!!! Still smiling we said, OK, we'll just dump them in the truck and bring a blanket to lounge on. The trek up the hill began, but was cut off by Dave the golf cart dude. Hell yeah, we'll hop on......"too the truck Dave!"

Now we dumped the chairs and in hiding slammed a beer because we couldn't break the seal of the water bottles and because it was so fucking hot. Back to gates my love and she nodded! Dave was still there and we jumped back on the JP Express to the gates.

When we got there, the dude who rejected us the first time told us that the chairs were indeed allowed and they had tried with all their might to tell us that they were. My sweaty brow really didn't give a shit, so, "back to the truck, Dave!" On our second time up the hill, Dave was just as urked as we were because alot of the rules were not defined and known to the JP workers. Oh well, at least he was more than willing to cart us around.

Ok, another slam of a cold one and we were off again with our lawn chairs.... and then Dave asked for our tickets..... "hey, you guys are in section 4", he said.....I thought were were on the lawn along with all the other black garbed metal freaks. No, we actually had seats. Dave asked if we wanted to go see them and we obliged...... we went around the back way and found that the seats were close and somewhat centered, and on the fucking aisle, I could have cried. "Back to the truck, David my friend, we have got to unload these fucking chairs", and he again was more than willing..... I'm not sure why, but I think he felt like a hero for doing so. And again, after a little contraband of barley pop, we were carted back to the very spot where we were going to view the rest of the show. Dammit, we should have snuck in a real camera because Dave didn't seem to care what we brought. Wow, a ten spot is well deserved by The Dave......."to the can, Dave", damned them beers!

The moral of this story is ........ look at what you paid for and look at your tickets you dumbass, it could save you some cash, especially when buying beers at a metal show.

Rock on

Metal phonies and the metal devout

MEGADETH
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Well, my wife and I went to Gigantour. This is my 100th something concert and my wife's second, the first time I took her to a show was the Summer Sanitarium Tour in Denver with Deftones, Mudvayne, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, and Metallica headlining. What a way of breaking her into the concert scene, I thought she would never return to a show with me after she got tossed over the front barrier when Metallica started the Ecstacy of Gold. She did, with a grain of salt, accompanied me to see Megadeth, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, and a bit of new metal ensembles, Dillenger Escape Plan, Symphony X, Dry Kill Logic, Nevermore, Life of Agony, and Bobaflex. Compared to the big open floor stadium concerts of yesteryear this concert proved to be tamed and income controlled. I think Dave would have torn down all the little pussy chairs that were before the stage at the Journal Pavilion if he could have the chance, I would. As I looked around to see who attended this show it seems odd that the trueist of metal fans were up in the lawn trying to spawn a revolution against the privileged and the fake who were sipping wine down in front.

So she threw her panties at me as I sang to a crowd of thousands....

I'm a guitar player and singer. Maybe not a good one, but I'd win a karoke match for the effort. Well, maybe because I would suck less than everybody else.

On my way to work was non eventful but it did come to an apex at one point along the way. I got up, showered and dressed, hopped in my truck and drove north along Unser Blvd and then east on US 550 to Bernalillio. In my normal morning ritual of driving to work, I would tune into 94 Rock and listen to the 94 Rock Morning Show with T.J.Trout, Erica Viking, The Rainman, and Swami Rob on sports (yeah, yeah, shameless plug, but I'm trying to brown-nose for some fucking OzzFest Tickets because my poor ass self is a poor ass) and take the 40 minute drive to work, but this morning....one thing made it all different.

I got in my truck and immediately heard the sounds of Eagles from the CD I left in my head unit the night before. Ah hell, I left it to play....

...runnin' down the road trying to loosen my load, got seven women on my mind......

Ok, down the road I went with the windows rolled down. Witchy Woman and Lyin' Eyes came up....singin at the top of my lungs.....damn, I'm good if I do say so my self.....well, compared to Fenders II (not Fenders I) standards of a Fort Defiance Chapter House dance. I skipped the fourth track because I wanted to sing and rolled into Bernalillio.....

Deeeesperadoooooo....

I rolled to the second stoplight, minding my own damned business and still singing with 70's vigor.....

...do your feet get cold in the winter time...

and then I looked to my right as two blond girls in their car next to me were looking at me....applauding and hootin' and shoutin'..."BRAVO!!!" My face turned beet red, but I continued to sing as I drove away...but they caught up and continued they're fake deluge of fanatic grovel...I was indeed embarassed and at the same time...amused and noticed a swelling of my ego. Ha ha!!! Could I still have it? Well, maybe not but it's nice to think so. I wonder if Paula Abdul would try to nail me too if I was a contenda. Ha Ha Ha Ha. Rock on my good people!!!

The title caught your attention, huh.

The window

The window
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Lately I've been feeling like I'm at the end of my rope, and I want to let go. I have been asked to take on a very large responsiblity,a responsibility that should be taken care of by someone else who is very capable. Believe me, I'm am not one to pass a buck, I just feel that people should realize and accept they're weaknesses, and learn from them. Damn, the first part hasn't been figured out. One of the rules of being a Dine'(Navajo) is taking care of your family at any cost, I understand that totally but only if they know that they can't help themselves. In this case, capability is masked by stupidy and pride. Bullshit. Family means everything to me but I can't help in this matter. Maybe I'm being an ass, but I'm the first one to admit the that I fucked up. I'm just tired of people enabling others.

Throught that window there is light, and the light is good. Sometimes the darkeness brings comfort but only to the clouded mind.

What do you mean I don't pray to God, I talk to him every day.....

Hell yeah, my good people, I saw the red maned snarly one, Dave Mustaine and Megadeth. We saw them along with Dry Kill Logic, Nevermore, Symphony X, Fear Factory, and Dream Theater. Damn, this concert was kick ass in every sense. To see long hair flinging, fingers flying, denim and black t-shirts, it reminded me of the time when Heavy Metal was raw and honest. The love, hate, anger, and pain was all still there...Heavy Metal is alive and evil as ever. One just needs to see through the bullshit and bling bling; it sucks to see Metal bands that wE jammed to when growing up To become A money Lusting band of Lounge lizard lookIng group of a onCe awesome metAl power. It makes me sick, but that's probably just me. I hope to catch you all at the next show. Rock on metal heads...


I'll post pictures soon.

I turned Pro

My Trophy
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Well at least for a day. I played...OK, but this is so sweet to get. With this I earned 100 bucks in prizes at Golf USA....which means I'll get a new beaver head cover for my driver, mug of tees, a videos entitled, "How To Play Golf" and "The Secret to Golf - Make Sure You Play With Clean Balls", a sleave of exploding golfballs, a lesson from an old dude, and a pair of plaid knickers. Wow, I'm the best!!! C'mon people bring it on!

In all seriousness, my company has contributed to the Special Olympics of New Mexico for the last two years. Although, we did get company recognition and a sponsored hole, all of the entry fees are donated to the Special Olympics. What an awesome organization.

Only if the SCOUTS had a golf team...I coulda been a contenda...

I just might turn that plaque into a belt buckle and go to the Class Act and see what happens...

Much needed rain

Much needed rain
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Much needed indeed as well as other things such as love.

I haven't been able to blog lately because I have had alot on my mind. Last Saturday was my older brother's birthday, another that I'm glad to see. All week I've been stressing about what I felt that I needed to say to him. You see, my brother has been experiencing alot of problems that have affected the family and this day, on his birthday, we were to come together as a family for an intervention. All went well, but feel that his path in life has only taken a detour and has every potential of trailing back to the mess it has become. I only say this because I've seen it before as many of you have. However, he does have clean canvas to paint something beautiful. I can only do what I can and continue to love my brother, no matter what. Now, it seems, that I will have to take the role of big brother.

Another Cool night at the Ballpark

Cool Martinez Town Sunset
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Softball....sure beats robbing convenience stores. I hope you all had a good evening.

Something wicked this way comes

The belly of the beast is being erected near where I lay my head. I saw it with mine own eyes I did. It is nary two leagues to the south. I must warn the others!

Blast them for I will not succumb to it's forked tongue call!

We Lost but hey, I didn't strike out!!! Beers all around!!!

WRHS Baseball
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

We almost came back...we we down 32 to 18 in the last inning but still we came up short by 4. But I did not strike out!!! Woo Hoo!!!
Y'know it's not like I haven't played the game...I guess it's all this book learnin' that made me soft. Well shit, at least I'm out of the strike out slump. I was 1-4 with one over thrown base. What a cool evening but we did lose, we had a dumbass umpire calling the game and it cost us a couple of runs. Oh well, water under the bridge.

It's funny...the field that we played at (Martinez Town) is in the middle of the ghetto close to downtown Albuquerque. There was a bunch of gang members cruising around and we were approached by a hooker after the game. Ha ha ha. Man, I swore I heard a gun shot. It was definately not a firecracker. Funny but scary.

Well because of my other strike outs I brought beer for the dumbasses that I play with...they all went home early. So I got stuck with a shitload of hooch. hehe. Who says losing sucks? Have a good day y'all.

The list goes on.....

The Missing
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

I can't help but keep thinking of all that music. Keyeew at Less that Zero overturned a rock in my desert of a brain and saw all the little songs scurry about like crickets that just saw the light of day. This Yahoo station doesn't help either...I'm on the Big Hits of the 80's.

Hurtin' tunes are a blarin' and they won't go away.

Every Breath You Take - The Police
When the Children Cry - White Lion
House of Pain - Faster Pussycat
Love Hurts - Nazareth
Don't Know What You Got Until It's Gone - Cinderella
Every Rose Has It's Thorn - Poison
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
The Ballad of Jane - L.A. Guns
Pictures of You - The Cure


Moshing till you puke and black out tunes

efilnikcufecin - Anthrax
INDIANS - Anthrax
Caught in the Mosh - Anthrax
Heaven and Hell - Ronnie James DIO (Black Sabbath)
Rainbow in the Dark - DIO
Holy Diver - DIO
Balls to the Wall - Accept
Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
Run to the Hills - Iron Maiden
Dog Eat Dog - AC/DC
Ride On - AC/DC
Back in Black - AC/DC
Fade to Black - Metallica
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
One - Metallica
Mental Health - QUIET RIOT
Cum on Feel the Noize - QUIET RIOT
We're not gonna take it - Twisted Sister
I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister
Fuck like A Beast - W.A.S.P.
Hellion - W.A.S.P.
Blind in Texas - W.A.S.P.
God of Thunder - KISS
Detroit Rock City - KISS
Pear Necklace (hehe) - ZZ Top
Cheap Sunglasses - ZZ Top
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions
Black Out - Scorpions

Then a BUTTLOAD from the pre-Haggar

VAN HALEN

This is only the Tip of the ICEBERG!!! Dammit now I have to go find all these damned titles!

Dammit to hell, I even forgot the RAMONES!!!

AAAARRRRGGGHHHH ma brains hurt!!!

6 songs that make a Curley

Me on tour with DRI, circa 1989


Man, all this conjures up in my memories of music appreciation is me in front of a mirror singing at the top of my lungs.........Jesse's Girl. My little heathen dumbass should have been arrested and sent to Hilltop school with all the good boys and girls. Only six? I could have easily listed a cool one hundred.

But seriously folks, I must go deeper into the bowels of my memory to convey to you the music that makes up my being. Like Keyeew at Less Than Zero, my taste for music is not made up of just one genre. I think of it like a good stew with pieces of this and that. Some of it crunchy and soft, big and little, all mixed well to be served in a big bowl and slurped up with a big spoon and some of grandma's frybread.

Most of the time I play a certain piece to reflect my mood or to fit my surroundings. Some of them bring up the memories.......the good, the bad, and the ugly.

When I was a kid in the 70's out at Two Grey Hills I can remember the times my dad and I would got to look for cows in the ranch truck with Creedence Clearwater Revival followed by Gary Stewart's "Empty Glass" playing through that one speaker on the dashboard. KNDN seemed to play everything, well at the time it was only country and rock, but it was always well mixed with a little bit of Elvis, The Beatles, Waylon Jennings, Crystal Gale, and Buddy Holly.

As a kid:
6 - Empty Glass - Gary Stewart
5 - The Beatles
4 - Waylon Jennings
3 - Suzie Q - Creedence Clearwater Revival
2 - Elvis Presley
1 - Buck Owens

Now as I grew up into a dorky adolesent in Window Rock, my taste for music really had to take a certain road depending upon who you hung out with. However, I would still jam to whatever I wanted behind my closed doors. Being found out that you liked Earl Thomas Conley while wearing a Black Sabbath concert T-shirt is sacrilegous and would have been dealt with by a public melvin and then labeled a bronc. And when I discovered the meadow of fragrant flowers, you know who you are, I had to tolerate the sounds of Janet Jackson, Sheila E., MC Hammer, and New Kids On The Block just to make them happy. She was worth it though. I tried, I really tried to like this music but I just couldn't stomach it. I found that I was one of those.... a phony. So as I entered the last years of high school I was jamming with my fists in the air to Guns N Roses, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, the ever evil Black Sabbath. Rock N Roll Brotha!

This list will reflect my goofy years and the songs that make me remember them.

6 - Seek and Destroy - Metallica (weightroom mood music)
5 - I Miss You - Klymaxx (the chicks)
4 - Patience - Guns N Roses (I still see those headlights coming at me)
3 - Angel - Aerosmith (Because somebody constantly played that damned song in WRHS lunch hall jukebox!!)
2 - I Hate Myself for Loving You - Joan Jett (because I did)
1 - Heavy Chains - Loudness (you have to give them credit for trying)

Now I entered the lean years of my life and music evolved without me. I was broke for most of the early 90's. I remember during my first attempt at college in the fall of 1990 I had tickets to see Stevie Ray Vaughan at Tingley colliseum in Albuquerque but he died before I could see him. This started my appreciation for the guitar arts. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Al DiMeola, and Stanley Jordan were all could remember listening to exclusively as I tried to become one of them. I could never be like them. Now it seems that I just collect guitars.

Side A
6 - Dee - Randy Rhodes (First song I ever learned to play)
5 - Stormy Monday - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King
4 - Circles - Joe Satriani
3 - Hey you - Pink Floyd
2 - Red House - Jimi Hendrix
1 - Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan

Side B
6 - Passion and Warfare - Steve Vai
5 - Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker
4 - Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix
3 - Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan version
2 - Voodoo Chile(Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix
1 - Voodoo Chile(Slight Return) - Stevie Ray Vaughan version

Ok so I listened to alot of SRV.

In 2005, now I find myself in another evolution of music. Now there's the Ebonic evolution (everybody wants to be black), Cookie Monster Metal (still can't figure that one out), and country without COUNTRY (Keith Urban WTF?). Here I am with a bowl of music stew that just don't taste quite right. So I add some new stuff. A little of this and a little of that.

6 - Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
5 - Red House - Jimi Hendrix
4 - Country Boy - Hank Williams Jr.
3 - Master of Puppets - Metallica
2 - The Trooper - Iron Maiden
1 - Imagine - John Lennon

I must add a seventh......... 7 - Highway to Hell - AC/DC

So there. There are songs that fighting in my mind right now trying to make it to this list. Man this was hard. If I ever have to do this again it will change. So it is written.


Now I will pass it over to the lovely Tiger. I hope that she can make sense of the madness.

GO SCOUTS!!! "I betcha I can throw a football over them mountains..."

Notah Who?

Notah Who?
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Well I had a short day at work today and one of my friends called me up and said, "hey dude, let's go play the Dam Nine at Arroyo Del Oso?" Those words sounded pretty good at the time. For one thing it was hotter than hell out there at 100F.

"I shoulda stayed home and played with myself." - Rodney Dangerfield

Anyway if my adventures in slowpitch softball have captured your curiosity about Curley's world, this will again make you roll your eyes. I've got a slice so bad that will turn a block of Spam into pate'. Instead of going to bed early and sulking, I'll tell you a little about it. Really, it's not that bad (if you're everybody else that is). I don't know if any of you have ever played golf. Cool sport to watch if you like watching paint dry but it is certainly a game of precision and if you suck like me, a game of beer drinking and hitting a little white ball around a grassy field and hopefully putting it into the hole. Sounds like high school all over again.

Well my golf game has alot of ups and downs and today was pretty damned low. I shot a 55 on the Dam 9. That means that if I played 18 my score could probably be 110 in regulation play. If you don't know golf, an 18 hole golf course has about 72 total swings per round. In this case, that would make my handicap at about 110-72 = 38. 38 = suckville. Well, this is my first time out swinging the clubs since last fall. No excuses. I'll let you know more when I play 18 on the brand new Sandia Casino golf course. There aren't any trees yet. Shit, I hope I survive. Rock on.

Update:

Well I played it. Horribly of course but man, what a course! I recommend this course if you are just out and want to play your better game because there seemed to be no pressure to keep up. Make sure you wear a wide brim hat because it'll be another 10 years before the trees begin to offer any shade to this well designed course.

Sandia Golf Course

The tractor

It was still dark when I awoke. As manage to roll over with all those blankets, I could hear my chei walking around in the blackness. I knew it was him because of the way he would take his steps. Slippers rasping on a dusty wooden floor. How he moved in the dark without coliding with unseen obstacles was unlearned only until recently, he saw without seeing. He knew where everything was, the stove, the chizh, and the match. I guess when you reach a certain age, you pay attention to where everything was. Without learning, you would stumble alot.
A match was lit, only after the ashes were dumped and kindling was placed, and the fire was then started. As the little fire rose, he added larger pieces to heat the cabin and expell the mountain chill. There was dancing light on the ceiling, on two walls, and his face. He was a old man as I remember, the small fire casted his shadow on the ceiling, but he was an old young man. He placed the burner plates back and all I could see was the fire burning through the cracks and holes in that ancient trading post stove and smell of burning pine filled the one room cabin, chei finished getting dressed. He later walked out the front door and then to where, I didn't know.
I threw off the volumous blankets that protected me from the Chuska range cold and ran over to the stove to get warm again. My Ma'sani' was up also. She would tell me to make sure that I help Grandpa as much as I can because she was worried that he would hurt himself. You see, shichei was a man who would refuse to show weakness, especially in his seemingly old age. I looked out the window and I saw nothing except for the predawn glow of Father Sun coming out of his slumber. I also heard nothing. I wondered where he was as I turned like chicken in a Shiprock market rotisserie, as some of you know, the side of you away from the stove gets cold in a hurry. All of this and trying to stay awake made for a hard morning until the growl of the chainsaw reminds me of a work filled day. I was fifteen at the time, and I had the duty of driving the truck to haul the firewood. Chei took his trusty John Deer with the log hook. We would use his tractor to pull logs from piles to make them more accessible to remove limbs and cross cutting them into blocks and then fill the pick-up truck to be hauled back to the cabin.
We spent all day gathering wood. After finding the naturally seasoned fallen wood, dried by the Chuska Sun, he would saw while I held the log so it wouldn't turn or fall. If a supporting piece was cut off, I would feel it twist or fall but I couldn't allow it. Man those logs were heavy. All the while, my cheii would tell me the meaning of life. He taught me to always achieve. No matter what, strive to learn. Navajo or white, learn the ways so you can be better than nothing.
He asked my brother and me one time in his grumbly Navajo Godfather voice, "are you a shit-dog?"
All I could think was my chei cussed, but my little brother can only ask, "what's a shit-dog Grandpa?" The little dude saw a window to cuss.
"Well, a shit-dog is a dog that don't do shit", my cheii said.
Enlightenment abounds...alas the meaning was known. My cheii said that alot. "Don't be a shit-dog," he would say.

My chei was born in 1910 and was raised in the traditional light of the Dine', the Navajo way, but he always had a fascination of the whiteman and his ways. It all started when he was a little boy when he saw what they had. The car was one of the things that brought him wonder. He knew that the way of life for all the Dine' would never be the same, so he decided that he must learn and the only way of doing that was to go to school. He was one of a very few that actually ran away to school. He was not wanting to be white, he just wanted to know what they know because they seem to have knowledge from a different world, a knowledge that is not mostly mystical but logical.
Whenever we visited my grandparents as a young kid, I alway saw my grandad in the garage tooling around with engine parts or building something and he always had a book near by. He had all kinds of books and magazines which included subject matter such as horticulture, mechanics, manuals, and the news of the world. He used to tell us stories about the second world war and some of his adventures. Every time we came to see him he had a story to tell or a lesson to give. We always went home with something to ponder.

As the sun made the shadows from the trees longer, it was time to go back to the cabin and unload the last load of chizh. This time it was different, told me to drive the tractor. As far as I could remember, nobody was allowed to drive his tractor, nobody. Even asking him would be sacrilegous. But there I was with my grin from ear to ear and my heart full of pride. It was indeed an honor.
Well, my chei left this world in 2003 but not without seeing me graduate with an engineering degree. For him to tell me how proud he was of me made me feel like that day I got to drive his tractor.

I didn't know you get friggin' two strikes in softball. Who woulda thunk?

Damn, twice, yes, twice I struck out. Man this is getting ridiculous and expensive. First time I was up there I took the first pitch and it hit the plate, ball one, next pitch, the ball hit just behind the plate, strike. Then those damned drunk fuckers behind me are cheering me on because they're thirsty and watching me miss this pitch would confirm a full cooler next week. Damned degenerates. I know, I should keep better company. Swing and a miss. I looked like I was flailing at a pinata like an idiot with my pants down and my shirt over my head. To top it off, I stood there like a dumbass unknowing that I had struck out. I was remembering back to last week's equally humiliating K. Did I miss twice or three? No, twice. First swing was a foul. So I figured, first foul is a strike and then two swings, I'm out. No, this was SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL not BASEBALL and there are only 2 strikes allowed at the plate. Throw me a friggin bone here.

The second time I was up, I got 2 balls and a strike, a softball full count; the last pitch hit the corner of the plate and I started my trot to 1st base when blind bastard behind the catcher punched me out. I screamed, "it hit the plate, blue!" My appeal did me no good. Disgusted I walked to the dugout with my fans (yes, they are my fans now) giving me high fives and chanting,"60!" and "Viva Curley!" Maybe I'll go down to a South Valley liquor store and find the crappiest beer possible. Even worse, I'll bring Zima!

I should just stick with things that I'm still good at..... tetherball, checkers, and thumbwrestling.

Hear me now out there in internetland, NO MORE K's. !K NO MAS!

My Master Plan

So I say shit about his chain of stores. Then he dies. I didn't mean to start at the top. Closer to the dark side, I get.

I need to turn down my evil thoughts, they seem to be coming true.

But the place which we do not speak of still exists. RIP John-boy.

Escape

One in Sandia's Shadow
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

I feel like floating away in one of these balloons... seeing where the wind takes me. Far away sounds good.

Maybe on my return I'll sell my story for a gozillion bucks.

The Fast Way

Path once taken
Originally uploaded by jaecee.

Had to take a picture of this sign. Every where else they call them speed bumps but not in NE Albuquerque I guess. Maybe that's why there are so many weirdos here......everbody is just speed humpin'. It's probably just me because I might be the only one that finds this shit funny. Rock on.

Softball high lights and some other crap

First, the other crap

In the news, I turned on my tv and saw that waste of space, Jennifer Wilbanks. I take it back please don't ever ever come back to this good city because you would just make it suck. Central Avenue is too good for people like you (and Katie Couric). Why was this NEWS? Does it change the world? What happened to real journalism? As I have told you good people, don't worry about her she's laughing all the way to the bank. Sickening, I know.
However, I am so glad that boy scout was found!

This ain't baseball!

Hey we won yesterday. Holy crap am I sore. A dude was coming from third and for some reason here comes the ball from left center and dribbling towards me. I knelt down like it was the good ol' days of shin pads and chest protector.....but this was slow-pitch softball so there was non of that except the sweat pants that I was wearing. Boom. Ooowwwwww!!! Cheer!!! and then OOOOOOO!!!! It would have been a close call but I dropped the ball because the chump stepped on my left foot and slammed into my left elbow. After hopping around and cringing from the pain I continued to play.... there had to have been blood because I could feel it... flowing around the other piggy that was next to it. I was too afraid to remove my shoe yet, if I did I wouldn't be able to get my foot back in again. So my shoe basically held my foot together. To top this off, I struck out once after being 2-2 at bat. Damn, all I hear from the whole park was ......... "DAAAAAAMMMMMMMNNNNN"!!! The cost for such an act...30 pack.

Fun experience....priceless.



Rock on.

My Day being a Dad

Well the day started pretty well, got to sleep in a little, blogged briefly with my morning coffee...it was going to be a great day,but not without its fair share of events that just seem to test every parent's will.

In the Beginning.........

We had a couple of places that I would like to visit on this day of the Dads - Olive Garden for some Italian vittles, the bookstore, the golf shop, Home Depot, the grocer for some suds, and scoot back to the pad for an evening of relaxation. Hah, two out of 5 was the count. While in the Olive Garden my wife and I noticed something was amiss about the BooGah's appearance; her bangs were way uneven. So, after an extensive interrogation the truth came out. She had cut her hair with a pair of scissors that we had overlooked. Grrrr. After getting out of restaurant we decided to go to Home Depot for some parts for my new tailgating grill and some propane but it soon came to a halt when the BooGah decided to throw a fit because she wanted to go home so I opted to go to the bookstore to try and salvage the day because y'know, everybody likes books. Well, it didn't go that way either. After paying for my selections of a couple of Navajo language books, coloring books, and a copy of the new Team Sleep, we got back in the truck to hopefully go to the local Smiths for some German hootch but for some reason (if you are a parent of a 3 year old, I'm sure you will understand) I put little BooGah's coloring book into the bag along with the other books, but she didn't want it that way...she wanted to hold them. So without hesitation pulled the book out of the bag but it was too late, the deed was done. I broke her rule. But I'm the BOSS and it's friggin' Father's Day!!! "That's it we're going home," I shouted! I'm going to have a good day if it's the last thing I do. So home is where we went. I got some of my last batch left, that'll do and I don't need a new putter today, but the day was still young.

At about 6:45 in the p.m. when I was just settling down to do some last minute relaxing when the BooGah came running up to me telling me, with tears in her eyes, that she had swallowed a shiny marble. Well, we deduced it was a small ball bearing that I saw lying in a box that we were unpacking. Aaaarrrrrgggghh!!! I'm at my ropes end but I had a chance to become the hero again. To the phones!! After being on the phone for about 15 minutes with the local poison control, we were instructed that there shouldn't be any immediate concern, unless it had grease on it or if it was certain that it was indeed a steel object and not lead, which it wasn't. The conclusion....check the poop for the next few days. My baby girl is going to be OK. Wheww!

A Dad's job is never done. I love my kid, even though she has a screwed up haircut and ball bearing in her tummy and I have to follow her around with a magnet; it's all good. I wouldn't change a thing. You gotta love them or else we'd just eat them.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

A Father's Day Someday

M Age 3



Dear M,

You turned 15 this year. Wow, the funny thing is that, in my mind, you are still that little 3 year old that I used to hold and cuddle. There is not a day that I don't think about you. I hope someday that we be able to come together and share our lifes stories with each other, I'll be waiting because I have a lot to tell you. I always wonder if you know about me. I hope you do. Above all, I hope that you are happy.

You have two little sisters and I tell them about you but they are still too young to understand why their big sister isn't here. K, the older one, is 3 and reminds me of how you acted and played when you were 3. She looks just like you. She asked me one day what your favorite color was and I didn't know. I'm hoping that someday you can tell her yourself.

Love,
DAD

I've fallen and I can't get up!

Well, I'm having trouble getting started in my quest to become the mean lean fightin' machine that I used to be. Man, it's been like 16 years since I ran a football on old Judd Avey Field and I remember it like it was yesterday. I'm not sure who we played last but I remember that I felt like someone special died that night. I remember counting down to the last seconds and I had my uniform still on and I knew, I just knew that I could do it just one more time. But that was it. Nevermore. But, I remember those Friday nights with the lights and people screaming and cheering on the bleachers and side lines, especially when the Hornets or Wilcats came to town, damn, those were the days. I also made sure to get tackled on their side of the field so I could say hi to their cheerleaders. Hee Hee, you know who you are.

Now the Saturday mornings was a different story.... Coach made us come out on the Saturday morning to assess all injuries and review the game from the night before. I remember waking up in the morning and putting on my practice gear and helmet with the aches and pains. I would go to practice with a headache and ringing ears because of the head blows from helmet to helmet contact. Shins all scraped up, bruised hands, Charlie horses, and I had a sore neck from that face mask shit, damned Roadrunners. At first it sucked, for one you're pissed at the coach for fucking up Saturday morning cartoons and making you run your kinks out even though it's 38 degrees out and in the wind, but by the end of the practice.... it was all better. The pain was near nothing. Just a little ice was all that was needed.

Now, it's 2005, and when was the last time you fell down? Damn, well I fell down while out on a site visit for my job. Not too far.....just stumbled over some sage brush and then boom, there was the ground. I got up with no problem and went on our journey back to Albuquerque. When I got out of the car, it hit me.....pain from my knees to my wrist along with that the soreness from the small hike. Dammit. Dammit to hell!! I'm old and way out of shape. My once strong nimble muscles all at once screamed, "Set your old ass down because this walking shit hurts like a mutherfucker." Damn.

Well, here's the problem....I've been on a quest to reduce the girth of this Indian and my knees have never hurt before. Well they do now. I got to do something different than my usual routine of running around my block. I don't think I am going to be able to jump in to a rigorous routine of heavy lifting and running, although I am an experienced weight lifter and super stud. Heh heh. No, I have to take baby steps... baby steps, even that sounds "wuss". Well, I've taken up walking and biking to keep the impact low on my knees. I hope I can run someday soon without stopping for the pain. I can almost hear the Chariots of Fire theme. Wish me luck.

"I coulda been a contenda".

New Mexico, the Grand Canyon State.........you got me, I made that shit up.

Remember the runaway bride? A woman once thought to be kidnapped and taken to a place to be made into sex slave stew with leftovers found in mason jars...then to be found on the Central Avenue in beautiful Knob Hill community of Albuquerque, New Mexico and later confessed that she couldn't handle an extravagant wedding with the love of her life and witnessed by her closest of friends and relatives; yeah that still kills me, Central Avenue. You remember? Well apperently some of her bullshitting ways have rubbed off on another, the Whistleblower as he's known, Mr. Tommy Hook.

Mr. Hook got the sympathy of the nation with his purple, blood crusted, and puffy face framed by a c-collar. Yeah, at first I admit that I thought there had been a conspiracy to keep Tommy silent by the Los Alamos Labs Nerdville mafia. The story as it was that he was called by somebody that worked at LANL to meet at the Cheeks gentlemans club in Santa Fe and was later beaten to a pulp by thugs that wanted to keep him from testifying about financial irregularities at the labs. Well, it was working all the way until you got a lap dance. Uh huh, Tiffany sold you out...how you wanted it freaky and all. Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, I'm not sure what to say to you....your old lady woulda found out anyway. The evidence would have been everywhere. Glitter, that shit gets everywhere. It'll be in your shorts and you know for certain that you never ever took off your pants. Next time you go to the titty bar, just tell the truth about where you are going. I don't want to write about you again. But then again, it's fun as hell.

My Backyard Part One

It's like a blank canvas, a whole quarter acre. All I have back there is a gas grill, dirt, assorted weeds, a tennis ball, more dirt, two heelers, and dogshit. Hmmmmmmm. Pros and Cons.....I thought of wall to wall grass, too much water; concrete patio, too much concrete; flagstone, pissed off natives; gravel, too boring; astroturf, too fake.

I think a decision matrix is needed

Maybe I'll rent it out as a concert venue. Rock on.

Whewww.......

My hiatus from the evil place continues. This entry may, of course, may jinx my extended withdrawal. The dark side is lurking, always watching, like coyote.........waiting for you to fall.

I drove by two today........it was sitting there with a belly full of the once happy and the dumb. I throw a finger in your general direction...Ha Ha Ha Ha. You will not turn me into the festering chum within your gullet. I am free. I have found Target, Linens N Things, and the Albertsons. I shall not enter your doors of doom without vulerability or powerlessness. I shall persevere.

Ten Years of Bliss

To my lovely Karen,

Wow, ten years. Happy Anniversary Honey! As I wake each morning, I am truly grateful for you. You've stood by me through all the good and bad times. I don't think that I could have done with anybody else.

I remember the first time I saw you...toolin' around with that ditto machine, you are still beautiful, thoughtful, and kind as ever. I love you.

Fishin' with Arnell

In loving memory of my good friend Arnell (7/1972-6/1/1995)

June 2, 1995

My thoughts before the call...

-It was a hectic day. We were getting every thing ready for the big day tomorrow and for you chumps to show up tonight. We've got plenty of chairs, shade house is done, and I'm sure we have plenty of food. I haven't heard from any of you guys lately...I'm sure that I sent the invitations out on time. I heard that you were coming-

Jimmy and I were sitting in the living room and watching some stupid flick when the phone rang. It was Ryan. When he told me to sit down, a rush of chills ran down my neck and back because I knew what kind of phone call it would be. He told me you couldn't come because you had left this world to enter the next.

Those words still echo in my brain like a reoccurring nightmare. They've come back so many times that I will sometimes not believe it to be true. On occasion, I feel that I'll get a call from you out of the blue to bring some beer and my poles. We would go out to Red Lake like that one time we had the boat and fished with your uncles and sisters. There were so many of us in that damned boat that the trolling motor barely got us moving...Yeah, I would be there in a second. But the nightmare is true.

For a long time I was angry at you for dying. I know it sounds selfish and it is but that is how I felt. I was angry that I couldn't make up for the silence we had before. I had to live with that feeling for a long time and I think that's why I started to go fishing by myself. Even now I abhor fishing with anybody because it was a time that I could pray to God and talk to you. It was my church.

Well, it's been ten years. Dude, that's a long time. It's also been a long time since I went fishing. I'll make sure I go soon so we can catch up.