The Thing About That

So...there's a ton of coverage of the sudden death of Michael Jackson today.

Nearly every network chat show (Today, Good Morning America...anything broadcast live(ish)), has "special coverage".

The thing about all of that is this:

Michael Jackson was a troubled soul. So abused and neglected as a boy, so exploited, and so very very much a money making machine that everyone that could have helped - that should have - turned a blind eye and looked the other way.

I didn't know Michael Jackson, and I'm guessing that for the most part, people reading this didn't know him either.

Oh, I knew the public persona. The nice looking young man that morphed into something scary as he went deeper and deeper into whatever world his mind created for him. An outward manifestation of the monsters he was fighting, in my opinion. He was a bona fide musical prodigy that was able to bring amazing tunes to the world. He always came across to me as a fragile man-child that didn't quite "get it". But, again, just my impression. He was a man with more people hanging on to him for whatever they could leech from him than one with true friends that looked out for him. Was he a child molester? I don't know. I suspect he was more molested child than molester, but I wasn't there. He certainly paid the price as if he were - both in real terms of money and in other, more ethereal terms of isolation and ridicule and disgust.

My current disgust is directed at the media and all of the people that now praise him as an icon and the perfect person that he never was. While the man was alive, these same people threw figurative stones at him, enjoying his pain and reveling in the fact that the once "high and mighty" was now down and out in many ways.

Michael Jackson was a flawed man. Musical genius? Probaby. Abused by "friends and family"? Likely. Odd beyond understanding? Definitely. Tortured soul? Yeah, I really think so.

And now that he's died so suddenly and unexpectedly, he's "the king of pop" and "the most incredible musician of his generation".

Where were these people when he needed someone to step in and say the hard things? To get him the help that he seemed to desperately cry out for? Or at least so desperately needed...

Leeches...it's all we are when we allow this kind of hypocritical bs to happen without comment. We are no better than the ones shoveling it if we don't say "enough!". I'm not watching the "special tributes" or the legions of semi-stars lining up to get their share of his sad spotlight in death.

No, what I'm doing is remembering the people that I've lost. Some of those were suddenly and unexpectedly taken away. Some were more expected, but it's never expected enough to mitigate the pain of their loss.

And in remembering those people, I try to remember how precious and fleeting life is for us all. How it's fragile and amazing and confusing and sad and joyous. And I reaffirm my intention to live a better, more purposeful, more graceful and peaceful life. No matter how many years I have, I don't want to waste any more of those minutes than I can help, by being angry or trying to control things beyond my control. It's not an easy task, but I'm working on it. :)

So, today I am thinking about people I've lost. And I'm remembering how that felt and still feels.

And today, regardless of whether I knew them or not, I'm sending wishes of peace to those that have lost someone that they've loved. Everyone should be lucky enough to leave someone behind that misses them. And those are the people that I relate to and feel sad for.

That's the thing about that...

Just sayin'

The Putting Together of Toys

As Bubby's first birthday quickly approaches, there are things that need to be put together so he can play with them right away.

Kids, when given a new toy, do not want to wait around while you figure out how to put it together. And that's not even the hard part with some of these things these days...have you tried to get a toy out of the package it's embedded in lately?

If you have little Barbie collectors in your circle, you know what I'm talking about. Geez, you would think that they are putting those dolls in the package with the thought of it's withstanding a nuclear bomb. Forget about the 800 twist ties binding that doll to the cardboard prison...they literally SEW her hair onto the package as well. It takes nearly half an hour to get that puppy outta the packaging.

And then there are those sealed plastic clamshell things. What the heck is the point of that? I don't really know anyone that hasn't gotten some kind of cut trying to get through those. I'm sure there's a class action suit looming somewhere about that...haven't any of those packaging designers heard of "zip strips" along the back of the plastic? Come on, cardboard boxes (like what you get sandwich bags in, for instance) have have them for years...get a clue and save someone a sliced tendon, won't you?

But, I'm digressing.

As you can see from the picture, the Fire Car wasn't in a clamshell, and it wasn't twist-tied to cardboard...it was just in a lot of pieces. I wasn't particularly daunted by it though. Throughout the years, I've put together my share of stuff, and this was just one more.



It took one hour and forty-five minutes to assemble this little car. My main sticking point was the driver's side roof post - that puppy needed to not only snap into the frame, it had to also encompass and provide support for the door hinge-pin. I think that took the most time of all - other than that, the assembly went rather smoothly I think.

And it's cute as hell :) I'm sure Mr. Bubby will be well pleased with his new wheels. I know I am. I'm most pleased that it makes noise...bwahahaha.

Now, if I can only find that fire hat that has a siren on it, life will be even better!

Just sayin'

Aha!

The other day I was quietly minding my own business (trying to take a nap, actually), when I heard a strange noise...

I looked up, and what do you think I spotted? In broad daylight even?

A MOLE! (I think it was a mole, it could also have been a "pocket gopher" but for now, I'm going with mole) :)

It brazenly came up from a nearly invisible hole, walked across a little way to another hole I hadn't seen before either, and then...

disappeared.

Hrmmmmm

Nothing running around under the lawn, eh?

BAH!

Time to gather up the safari gear and big ammo...

Just sayin'

Contemplating the Relative Usefulness

...of night vision goggles.

I was out mowing the lawn today - well, what passes for a lawn here, considering the fact that I've decided not to water the moss anymore - and as I was bumping and bouncing over the newly engineered "critter" tunnels, I began to wonder what the heck I could do to encourage them to engineer elsewhere.

There is some controversy over the critters. Several landscapers have told me they don't exist, when clearly, they do. Haven't seen them myself, but I do see their handiwork. They seem to tunnel around every so often (particularly after I've stomped and rolled over (and over and over) their tunnels with the tractor - hmmmmm, coincidence? )

Anyway...

I got to thinking...I haven't actually seen whatever the heck it is that is tunneling around the yard...maybe it's nocturnal. That led me right into the night vision goggles idea. (it's how my mind works - lol).

I'm wondering if I sit still in the dark with night vision goggles on, if I might see the engineers at work? And if so, perhaps I can "encourage" them to do their building in the woods. I also wonder if I can get some evidence of their existence (other than the damn tunnels and intermittent holes that would seem to indicate to a rational mind that there is something down there doing that).

I wonder, too, what else night vision goggles might be useful for. Other than looking at things in the dark, can't really think of much. I might contemplate that for a while too...

Or, I might just forget about it all and get a bunch of fireworks at the reservation and "plant" them around the tunnels...bwahaha.

*shrugs*

So...that's what I was thinking about...scary, but true.

Just sayin'

There and Back

Hi Y'all

I've been wanting to do a short slideshow of a road trip for awhile. so...here it is...shot from my iphone while driving across the I-90 floating bridge (and back). I mean, someone else held the camera and took the pics while i drove. Seriously, I wouldn't drive and click ;)



I actually like this, but I'm interested in your thoughts too. Let me know what you think, eh? Be nice, but constructive criticism is never wrong. I didn't do much other than throw the pics into iPhoto and make a slideshow, so there isn't a huge investment either. I just thought it'd be fun!...god, i love Macs!

Just sayin'

Pioneering

While Mini-Me (MM) was visiting last week, we had a ton of things to do. We had school and homework, and riding around in the roadster, and soccer game & practice, and tie-dying and math, and yardwork...oh! and BBQ's!!!

We also had to figure out how to build a covered wagon (model) for MM's Pioneer studies in school. Apparently, 4th grade is when you study those things.

It was fun, because it was something we could do together.

So, we did some research on the internet, and drew some plans, and went to get supplies.

The result is shown above (in it's pre-colored state). MM and Goofy made the cover (which isn't attached yet in the photo - painting wasn't done), and also made burlap sacks with the staples those pioneers took with them.

There's a little left to do, but all in all, I think we did a fair job - considering we are NOT pioneers.

;)

Promises of a good weekend ahead

Seattle is supposed to have a nice weekend coming up. In most places, considering that Memorial Day is the opening of the summer season, this wouldn't be much to talk about.

In SeaTown, however, the fact that we have any sunny days, let alone a weekend and never mind a HOLIDAY WEEKEND, is newsworthy indeed.

Generally, around here, we are nearly guaranteed to have clouds and rain as a matter of course - especially on holiday weekends.

Blue tarp camping originated here, and for good reason - it rains... ALOT!

So, for this upcoming weekend, we are anticipating sunny days. Warm, sunny days fit for BBQ's and family gatherings.

We'll see...keeping my fingers crossed!

Headaches and Black Licorice

I have a headache.

Have had for two or three days now.

I'm wondering if it's brought on by the black licorice I bought the other day and have been snacking on from time to time? It's somewhat coincidental that the headache and the licorice arrived at nearly the same time. I'm thinking it is coincidental and anecdotal rather than specifically pointing toward symptomatic. At least that's what I'm telling myself at the moment.

Hrrmmmmm.

A Sunny Seattle Weekend!

We had something of an anomaly here this weekend...SeaTown had sunshine! And on the weekend! It was lovely.

Around here, sunny weekends mean working outside. While Goofy used the pressure washer to get the patio ready for the summer bbq season, I tackled the lawns. They are all mowed (YAY). And the best news is, there's a new gardener being interviewed this evening, so there may be a chance that I'll be fighting the lawn less in the future (it's nasty, and despite all my efforts, it usually beats me ;).

After that, I sanded the deck stairs and got them sealed with water seal.

(i'm sore today...lol)

The weather was beautiful...and since COPPER RIVER SALMON arrived in Seattle this past Friday, we got the bbq's fired up and planked some fish! Invited some of the family over, and had a lovely time in the beautiful outdoors...sigh...it's really what it's all about in Seattle...we live for the sunny days....and then we go crazy like we've never seen one... lololol.

It was wonderful...and relaxing...and felt great to get some things done outside...ahhhhhhhhh! It's all relaxed and contented around here...sigh...

Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Mother's Day

This isn't the greatest picture ever taken of my mom and me...but when I look at it now, I can feel the comfort and safety of being held in her arms. Feeling her breathe, and laugh and just casually kissing me on the head. The absolute and utter love of a mother.

For a brief moment, I'm three again. No troubles, no worries beyond dodging bedtime to be able to stay for a few more minutes just like this. If I'd only known then how precious those moments really were...but, ahhhh...who does really?

I'm very fortunate to have known her for as long as I did. She was amazing as a person and a friend and a mother. But most of you already know that about her from my other musings on the subject.

Today, I'm reminded about my mother for obvious reasons. It's mother's day.

It's also the 13th anniversary of the day she left this earth for adventures that I will hear about someday when it's my turn to leave.

On the face of it, you might say it's extremely painful for me to recall this day. And in some ways I am right there again in that nondescript room holding her hand and praying that her brother and grandmother were there to help her through.

But in ways that matter, it's less about the day that she died than it is to reflect on how very much she impacted not only my life, but the lives of so many others around her. I"ve talked about that before here too. She was so fortunate to actually have people she cared about tell her how much she meant to them. She really had no idea how much her thoughtful insight mattered to people. But she didn't leave not knowing. And she didn't leave without knowing how very very much goofy and I loved and appreciated her.

And, this is also about the strong women in my life (and likely in yours if you think about it) that have - at one point or another - have been there when they were needed over the years. In huge ways and in little ways that made a huge difference..

They are not my mothers by blood or birth, but they have had impact on my life nonetheless. They are my friends and my family by choice. They are older than me, my age and younger. They are precious.

So, for the sake of the day, I salute all the women in this world who support not only the children they give birth to, but the people that cross through their lives that needed them for that minute or day or year. Some of those people stay with us forever, some are here and gone. But they made huge differences for their being in that place in that time.

Happy Mother's Day. To my mother, and yours and all the women that support us all.

I love you Mom...I still hear you...and I miss you every single day.