Saturday, January 29, 2011
What's good for the goose
is not good for the gander. Only the goose is allowed to stalk, give out personal information, and encourage others to harass the person offline. Please send more items like this so we can continue to expose the emotionally disturbed.
Friday, January 28, 2011
"The State of the Chat Room"
(Written 1/28/11 by ChristopherK2 for the Uglier Marylanders Blog)
I decided to NOT follow Obama's themes in writing this. So you'll see no list of Big Problems with suggested Big Solutions, but with no way to pay for them. I'll follow columnist Bob Greene's lead and write instead about the ordinary people (not mere "fonts") who more clearly represent the State of the Chat Room, and their stories.
It's easy to rant about this cult or that clique. I do so often enough. But each "side" in the room is comprised of only 10 or so people, and yet they get the bulk of the attention. We tend to forget that there are now about 150 roomies, and the other 125 or so simply don't give a crap about the general ugliness.
My best example is ImCeeg... Cheryl. Cheryl joined the room a year or so after I did, and I met her at Champions in September, 1997. She's a very hard-working surgical nurse, raised four kids, and took care of her mom as she aged then finally passed away late last year. We spent many a fun times together at Clark's and other AOL hangouts, and I visited her in the hospital after a surgery. Cheryl's not a part of any of the current groups in the room, and gets along well with everyone. She's a great lady, smart, and fun. She did, however, quit the room for a few years because of the ugliness, so I'm sure she still doesn't like it.
I may be overstating her as an example, but like most, Ceeg seems to come into the room for an hour or so here and there to pleasantly chat with her buds and whomever happens to be available. She's otherwise way too busy with "life."
And aren't most of us? The vast majority go to work every day, and many have a spouse and raise kids. Some, as Ceeg did, also have to deal with aging parents. Others go to school part-time to improve themselves, and so on. And ALL of that... all of "life" is far more important than *anything* hateful that's said in a chat room. I sometimes forget that, and get a bit carried away myself. But I've kept it in mind about other people, and I've been continually fascinated to read in the room about how people's lives progress.
So, a few examples...
Marriages, Childbirths, etc.
These mini-lists probably aren't complete, so feel free to add to them.
Weddings--The only marriage I noticed in 2010 was Alan and Perky's. Hooray for them! They win the award for Room's Happiest Couple!
Divorces--The only one I noticed in 2010 was... well... MINE. Not sure if that merits a Hooray! or a Boo!
Births--The only births I saw mentioned in 2010 were to Chelle, and Cindy's grandchild. Hooray for them! Perky suggested I include Ham's "grand dog," so okay.
Deaths--Alas, there were three deaths in the group in 2010. Two of them were former roomies. Dartman655 (Robert Needle) died 11/1/10 at age 49 from complications of diabetes. TAZ350mph (Jon Arntzen) died 11/28/10 at age 43 from a heart attack. And we also lost one then-current roomie. Rixroost (Richard Johns, Jr.) died 8/7/10, age unknown (but OLD) from cancer. The only one I had met, Taz/John, was a very nice guy and a delight to be around. All are missed...
Newbies--This has been a weakness of the room for the last couple of years largely because "some" people attack newbies shortly after they arrive. The only ones I know who stuck it out in 2010 are Eyore, Jnr, and Felony. Hooray for them!
Returnees--We've recently picked up a couple of returning old-timers, Mdphoto (was AKA BrakeF) and ImCeeg. I will include Mensa, just because I can, although she really returned in late 2009. Hooray for them, and Welcome Back! I'm not sure whether Crabb returned in 2010 or 2011, but she's clearly a "Boo for you, and please leave again... SOON."
Gone, or almost so--This is probably my most inaccurate and incomplete list. Maybe some are just in the room at different times than I am. I know that Chitty moved south (TN?) and is seldom around anymore. To her, I add the following: A11waysanangel, Alzippity, Billb31970, BOO9989, Bychlips3471, CallMeHope, Chyandqt2, Curvvettee, DundalkBadGirl, FROSTKING9, KATNIP631, KIRK CAPT, NakeyMan, Padur1212, Sassystillhere, Sylvar Firestorm, Toadsrock123, and TSUFugazi.
A quick look at those lists clearly shows that people leaving the room way outnumber the new arrivals. So, the number of active roomies continues to shrink rapidly. People rarely announce their reasons for leaving, although I obviously have a few thoughts on that.
Socialization
General room social functions have died off totally except for the occasional funeral. There are, however, many gatherings of Zeeke and his Zombies, including a camp out and a picnic-type one. So, a begrudging Hooray for them!
Not So Expensive Solutions
I really don't have any that I haven't expressed often enough before. Drama queens remain so until they're gone-. Let me just leave you with this quote, from Bill Clinton's State of the Union speech in 1995 after his party took a beating the year before:
"Our civil life is suffering in America today. Citizens are working together less and shouting at each other more. The common bonds of community which have been the great strength of our country from its very beginning are badly frayed."
That is very descriptive of our room's present. Its future, however, remains very uncertain as I write this. And that saddens me deeply...
I decided to NOT follow Obama's themes in writing this. So you'll see no list of Big Problems with suggested Big Solutions, but with no way to pay for them. I'll follow columnist Bob Greene's lead and write instead about the ordinary people (not mere "fonts") who more clearly represent the State of the Chat Room, and their stories.
It's easy to rant about this cult or that clique. I do so often enough. But each "side" in the room is comprised of only 10 or so people, and yet they get the bulk of the attention. We tend to forget that there are now about 150 roomies, and the other 125 or so simply don't give a crap about the general ugliness.
My best example is ImCeeg... Cheryl. Cheryl joined the room a year or so after I did, and I met her at Champions in September, 1997. She's a very hard-working surgical nurse, raised four kids, and took care of her mom as she aged then finally passed away late last year. We spent many a fun times together at Clark's and other AOL hangouts, and I visited her in the hospital after a surgery. Cheryl's not a part of any of the current groups in the room, and gets along well with everyone. She's a great lady, smart, and fun. She did, however, quit the room for a few years because of the ugliness, so I'm sure she still doesn't like it.
I may be overstating her as an example, but like most, Ceeg seems to come into the room for an hour or so here and there to pleasantly chat with her buds and whomever happens to be available. She's otherwise way too busy with "life."
And aren't most of us? The vast majority go to work every day, and many have a spouse and raise kids. Some, as Ceeg did, also have to deal with aging parents. Others go to school part-time to improve themselves, and so on. And ALL of that... all of "life" is far more important than *anything* hateful that's said in a chat room. I sometimes forget that, and get a bit carried away myself. But I've kept it in mind about other people, and I've been continually fascinated to read in the room about how people's lives progress.
So, a few examples...
Marriages, Childbirths, etc.
These mini-lists probably aren't complete, so feel free to add to them.
Weddings--The only marriage I noticed in 2010 was Alan and Perky's. Hooray for them! They win the award for Room's Happiest Couple!
Divorces--The only one I noticed in 2010 was... well... MINE. Not sure if that merits a Hooray! or a Boo!
Births--The only births I saw mentioned in 2010 were to Chelle, and Cindy's grandchild. Hooray for them! Perky suggested I include Ham's "grand dog," so okay.
Deaths--Alas, there were three deaths in the group in 2010. Two of them were former roomies. Dartman655 (Robert Needle) died 11/1/10 at age 49 from complications of diabetes. TAZ350mph (Jon Arntzen) died 11/28/10 at age 43 from a heart attack. And we also lost one then-current roomie. Rixroost (Richard Johns, Jr.) died 8/7/10, age unknown (but OLD) from cancer. The only one I had met, Taz/John, was a very nice guy and a delight to be around. All are missed...
Newbies--This has been a weakness of the room for the last couple of years largely because "some" people attack newbies shortly after they arrive. The only ones I know who stuck it out in 2010 are Eyore, Jnr, and Felony. Hooray for them!
Returnees--We've recently picked up a couple of returning old-timers, Mdphoto (was AKA BrakeF) and ImCeeg. I will include Mensa, just because I can, although she really returned in late 2009. Hooray for them, and Welcome Back! I'm not sure whether Crabb returned in 2010 or 2011, but she's clearly a "Boo for you, and please leave again... SOON."
Gone, or almost so--This is probably my most inaccurate and incomplete list. Maybe some are just in the room at different times than I am. I know that Chitty moved south (TN?) and is seldom around anymore. To her, I add the following: A11waysanangel, Alzippity, Billb31970, BOO9989, Bychlips3471, CallMeHope, Chyandqt2, Curvvettee, DundalkBadGirl, FROSTKING9, KATNIP631, KIRK CAPT, NakeyMan, Padur1212, Sassystillhere, Sylvar Firestorm, Toadsrock123, and TSUFugazi.
A quick look at those lists clearly shows that people leaving the room way outnumber the new arrivals. So, the number of active roomies continues to shrink rapidly. People rarely announce their reasons for leaving, although I obviously have a few thoughts on that.
Socialization
General room social functions have died off totally except for the occasional funeral. There are, however, many gatherings of Zeeke and his Zombies, including a camp out and a picnic-type one. So, a begrudging Hooray for them!
Not So Expensive Solutions
I really don't have any that I haven't expressed often enough before. Drama queens remain so until they're gone-. Let me just leave you with this quote, from Bill Clinton's State of the Union speech in 1995 after his party took a beating the year before:
"Our civil life is suffering in America today. Citizens are working together less and shouting at each other more. The common bonds of community which have been the great strength of our country from its very beginning are badly frayed."
That is very descriptive of our room's present. Its future, however, remains very uncertain as I write this. And that saddens me deeply...
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Behold, the pageant contestants are entering
What would life be without gorgeous and sexy ladies?
Like Cindy Ton Ton Lois the Beaver
Shirley the enabler, 4 chin Nancy
Party Girl Pantry
I'm so hot like a Cadaver Rose
Perky the Pig
Rose and Ham with Dunlaps
Bleached Blonde Lynzzy
Sour Puss Diane
Patty's 12 year old picture
Like Cindy Ton Ton Lois the Beaver
Shirley the enabler, 4 chin Nancy
Party Girl Pantry
I'm so hot like a Cadaver Rose
Perky the Pig
Rose and Ham with Dunlaps
Bleached Blonde Lynzzy
Sour Puss Diane
Patty's 12 year old picture
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Ladies grab your men
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Clock
How many hours a day do you think the following people spend typing in the room? (Yet they all say they don't).
Zeeke
Ham
Pantrygal
Patty
Lynnzy
Nancy
Rose
Cindy
Vomit
Pikle
Zeeke
Ham
Pantrygal
Patty
Lynnzy
Nancy
Rose
Cindy
Vomit
Pikle
Monday, January 17, 2011
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech
... Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. ...
I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. ...
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers...
I have a dream that one day... the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. ... With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together... to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day...
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. ...
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last."
Rev. Martin Luther King
Delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.
Posted to the UglierMarylanders blog 1/17/11 by ChristopherK2
I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. ...
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers...
I have a dream that one day... the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. ... With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together... to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day...
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. ...
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last."
Rev. Martin Luther King
Delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.
Posted to the UglierMarylanders blog 1/17/11 by ChristopherK2
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"Top 10 Changes I'd Have to Make to be Like Zeeke"
(Written 1/12/11 by ChristopherK2 for the Uglier Marylanders Blog)
It's often said by Zeeke and the Zombies that I'm jealous of Zeeke. Well, let's see... how would I have to change to be like Zeeke?
I would have to...
10. shrink an inch and pack on 75 extra pounds, and switch my "tall, slim" classy wardrobe to mortifying green muscle shirts and other clothes in size XXXL.
9. trash the six diplomas I received after high school (especially the law degree).
8. forget all of the related knowledge and experience I've acquired in engineering, math, business, law, economics, investments, insurance, the sciences, etc.
7. figure out how to cuss at and insult people in an AOL chat room for 5+ hours a day without boring myself stupid.
6. replace my gorgeous, nice, much younger fiancee with "tearing up pussy" on the weekends.
5. get caught doing several disgusting or violent acts, as well get a 2nd divorce, to match his ugly MD Judiciary Site record.
4. purge most of my vocabulary and my understanding of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
3. pretend I like "Bean Spiller" Beth, "Everyone's Now Welcome" Ponie, "N-Bomb" Vomit/Pikle, and the other Zombies.
2. develop an apparently unquenchable thirst for cheap beer.
And the Number 1 Change I'd Have to Make to be Like Zeeke is to...
1. lower my IQ about 50 points.
It's often said by Zeeke and the Zombies that I'm jealous of Zeeke. Well, let's see... how would I have to change to be like Zeeke?
I would have to...
10. shrink an inch and pack on 75 extra pounds, and switch my "tall, slim" classy wardrobe to mortifying green muscle shirts and other clothes in size XXXL.
9. trash the six diplomas I received after high school (especially the law degree).
8. forget all of the related knowledge and experience I've acquired in engineering, math, business, law, economics, investments, insurance, the sciences, etc.
7. figure out how to cuss at and insult people in an AOL chat room for 5+ hours a day without boring myself stupid.
6. replace my gorgeous, nice, much younger fiancee with "tearing up pussy" on the weekends.
5. get caught doing several disgusting or violent acts, as well get a 2nd divorce, to match his ugly MD Judiciary Site record.
4. purge most of my vocabulary and my understanding of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
3. pretend I like "Bean Spiller" Beth, "Everyone's Now Welcome" Ponie, "N-Bomb" Vomit/Pikle, and the other Zombies.
2. develop an apparently unquenchable thirst for cheap beer.
And the Number 1 Change I'd Have to Make to be Like Zeeke is to...
1. lower my IQ about 50 points.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
More stalking from Cindy?
Why is Cindy driving to Edgewood to stalk Bob and his girlfriend in a truck?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
"The Cancer of Racism Spreads through the Zombies"
(Written 1/8/11 by ChristopherK2 for the Uglier Marylanders blog)
It used to be only Vomit who launched N-word bombs, and only Zeeke who spewed anti-Semitism (as far as I remember, at least). But lately it's become more popular in Zombie World. And it's now showing up in the early morning usually-otherwise-nice chat, as seen in these excerpts from this morning.
Xalan39o3x: joe [Biden] is a good guy
PikleSpllAisle6: go green
PikleSpllAisle6: I like him
Xalan39o3x: too bad he hooked up with that dumb n*****
PikleSpllAisle6: he was thinking "someone will shoot him"
Xalan39o3x: perhaps
ChristopherK2: Oooooo... a disguised N-Word.
PikleSpllAisle6: I think once iran tests one, the jews will end it
Xalan39o3x: why, north korea gets away with it
PikleSpllAisle6: pakistan has unsecured nukes
PikleSpllAisle6: wait till they get ahold of them
PikleSpllAisle6: bombs away
Xalan39o3x: happiness is a warm gun
PikleSpllAisle6: shoot shoot bang bang
PikleSpllAisle6: just like "woman, is the nigger of the world"
PikleSpllAisle6: he was high
Xalan39o3x: ive learned from our darker brothers, i got a looting list all filled out
PikleSpllAisle6: poor me
PikleSpllAisle6: poor you
PikleSpllAisle6: blah blah blah
PikleSpllAisle6: send cash money
Xalan39o3x: joo's
PikleSpllAisle6: west palm joos
PikleSpllAisle6: funny stuff
PikleSpllAisle6: I never see orthodox joos, just jackie gleason joos
Xalan39o3x: we need a new crown heights
Xalan39o3x: remember that?
PikleSpllAisle6: the town I was born in outside boston is nothing but orthodox now
PikleSpllAisle6: its still a nice town
Xalan39o3x: i can smell the salmon from here
Xalan39o3x: all we need is the mexicans to join up with the joo's and we're done
ChristopherK2: WB Auto... sit back and watch the racists rant.
Xalan39o3x: me too..........u should see our new bathroom!!
Automotive1: k
PikleSpllAisle6: I still find india indinans spooky
Xalan39o3x: yes
PikleSpllAisle6: like muslims
Semisweet2taste: ohh good
PikleSpllAisle6: spooky mother fuckers
Xalan39o3x: yeah they are
For those of you not familiar with Alan's "crown heights" reference, it relates to a very serious three-day riot in 1991 between Jews and African/Caribbean Americans in a section of Brooklyn, NY. It was started by an automobile accident in which a Guyanese child was killed by a car driven by an Orthodox Jew. One Orthodox Jew was killed during the riot, and there were many other serious injuries (including 152 police officers) and lots of property damage. A Brandeis University historian later called it "the most serious anti-Semitic incident in American history."
So, Alan is hoping for another ugly riot in which Jews are killed by African Americans, and cops and others are seriously injured? How nice... Martin Luther King, Jr., on the other hand, dreamed of "when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing... "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last."
Curiously, Perky didn't respond to any of those disgusting comments by either her hubby or Pikle. I guess she considers ugly racism and anti-Semitism as just "fonting." And Beth would probably say they were said just for "shock value" and not their "true beliefs."
Ya'right... ((cough, cough))
It used to be only Vomit who launched N-word bombs, and only Zeeke who spewed anti-Semitism (as far as I remember, at least). But lately it's become more popular in Zombie World. And it's now showing up in the early morning usually-otherwise-nice chat, as seen in these excerpts from this morning.
Xalan39o3x: joe [Biden] is a good guy
PikleSpllAisle6: go green
PikleSpllAisle6: I like him
Xalan39o3x: too bad he hooked up with that dumb n*****
PikleSpllAisle6: he was thinking "someone will shoot him"
Xalan39o3x: perhaps
ChristopherK2: Oooooo... a disguised N-Word.
PikleSpllAisle6: I think once iran tests one, the jews will end it
Xalan39o3x: why, north korea gets away with it
PikleSpllAisle6: pakistan has unsecured nukes
PikleSpllAisle6: wait till they get ahold of them
PikleSpllAisle6: bombs away
Xalan39o3x: happiness is a warm gun
PikleSpllAisle6: shoot shoot bang bang
PikleSpllAisle6: just like "woman, is the nigger of the world"
PikleSpllAisle6: he was high
Xalan39o3x: ive learned from our darker brothers, i got a looting list all filled out
PikleSpllAisle6: poor me
PikleSpllAisle6: poor you
PikleSpllAisle6: blah blah blah
PikleSpllAisle6: send cash money
Xalan39o3x: joo's
PikleSpllAisle6: west palm joos
PikleSpllAisle6: funny stuff
PikleSpllAisle6: I never see orthodox joos, just jackie gleason joos
Xalan39o3x: we need a new crown heights
Xalan39o3x: remember that?
PikleSpllAisle6: the town I was born in outside boston is nothing but orthodox now
PikleSpllAisle6: its still a nice town
Xalan39o3x: i can smell the salmon from here
Xalan39o3x: all we need is the mexicans to join up with the joo's and we're done
ChristopherK2: WB Auto... sit back and watch the racists rant.
Xalan39o3x: me too..........u should see our new bathroom!!
Automotive1: k
PikleSpllAisle6: I still find india indinans spooky
Xalan39o3x: yes
PikleSpllAisle6: like muslims
Semisweet2taste: ohh good
PikleSpllAisle6: spooky mother fuckers
Xalan39o3x: yeah they are
For those of you not familiar with Alan's "crown heights" reference, it relates to a very serious three-day riot in 1991 between Jews and African/Caribbean Americans in a section of Brooklyn, NY. It was started by an automobile accident in which a Guyanese child was killed by a car driven by an Orthodox Jew. One Orthodox Jew was killed during the riot, and there were many other serious injuries (including 152 police officers) and lots of property damage. A Brandeis University historian later called it "the most serious anti-Semitic incident in American history."
So, Alan is hoping for another ugly riot in which Jews are killed by African Americans, and cops and others are seriously injured? How nice... Martin Luther King, Jr., on the other hand, dreamed of "when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing... "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last."
Curiously, Perky didn't respond to any of those disgusting comments by either her hubby or Pikle. I guess she considers ugly racism and anti-Semitism as just "fonting." And Beth would probably say they were said just for "shock value" and not their "true beliefs."
Ya'right... ((cough, cough))
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Record Number of visitors
900 today.
Just think, that's about the amount of visitors to Zeeke's site all year. We rock!
Just think, that's about the amount of visitors to Zeeke's site all year. We rock!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"My Love/Hate of Holidays"
(Written 1/3/11 by ChristopherK2 for the Uglier Marylanders Blog)
As many of you know, I was raised in a small town back in the era best captured by Norman Rockwell paintings. Each of the then holidays (this was before disgusting crap like President's Day) was celebrated by everyone I knew in pretty much the same way. And the more major the holiday, the more uniform was the celebration. This sameness is also part and parcel of tradition, and I'm nothing if not traditional. So, the holidays have long given me great comfort as they have come and gone over the decades.
But also, shit happens in life...
Valentine's Day--Long my fav holiday because it's all about romance. Hearts, flowers, candy... great stuff. It sucks somewhat if you're not IN a romantic relationship at the moment, but even then it's still a reminder of what can be and what once was.
But also... my dad died on Valentine's Day just before I turned 7. I still have no idea how Mom managed to raise me to believe so strongly in the positive values of the day. And yeah, of course, I still think about Dad then.
Memorial Day--A somber and bittersweet holiday for those my age. Everyone I knew had dads and/or uncles who served during World War II, and I had two aunts who served. Many of us lost one of them. My near-identical twin Uncle Mike died in the invasion of Normandy. I've written extensively about that on the AOL message boards, and still post something about it every Memorial Day.
And nearly everyone my age has close relatives whose graves have military markers. The first one I vividly remember was for one of my aunts, who received a full military burial. The haunting notes of "Taps" strongly affect me even now. And I still have the flag given to Mom after my brother's funeral...
Father's Day--A great holiday IF you still have a dad or are one. I was a stepfather for seven years and loved every Father's Day during that period. I still have and treasure the "World's Greatest Dad" ballpoint pens they gave me.
But also... my big brother... who was so important in my life... died on Father's Day at his age 56.
So, I now essentially try to pretend that holiday no longer exists.
July 4th--When I was a kid, this was mainly a neighborhood-by-neighborhood celebration. One of the neighbors would head south to buy a huge supply of "illegal" fireworks, we'd spend the evening setting off *real* fireworks, a friendly cop would stop by 'cause some anonymous sourpuss complained and the cop would tell us to "keep it down" then leave, and we'd start blasting away again. Great times, especially for guys, and it probably started my love of "blowing up stuff."
Later, the holiday became for me synonymous with the Beach Boys on The Mall in DC... great music, an unbelievable fireworks display up close, and 500,000+ of your closest friends.
But also... I was married on July 5th, which turned out to be a very bad idea after we split. Kinda somewhat ruined that holiday thereafter...
Thanksgiving and Christmas--I have tons of great memories of both of these holidays. But they are mainly for family, especially children. For a childless orphan with no siblings, great memories must often suffice.
New Year's Eve/Day--We guys love the college football games, of course, although spreading them out to include *other* days is just plain heresy. Harumph! As to NYE, I really don't have many memories of it one way or the other.
As many of you know, I was raised in a small town back in the era best captured by Norman Rockwell paintings. Each of the then holidays (this was before disgusting crap like President's Day) was celebrated by everyone I knew in pretty much the same way. And the more major the holiday, the more uniform was the celebration. This sameness is also part and parcel of tradition, and I'm nothing if not traditional. So, the holidays have long given me great comfort as they have come and gone over the decades.
But also, shit happens in life...
Valentine's Day--Long my fav holiday because it's all about romance. Hearts, flowers, candy... great stuff. It sucks somewhat if you're not IN a romantic relationship at the moment, but even then it's still a reminder of what can be and what once was.
But also... my dad died on Valentine's Day just before I turned 7. I still have no idea how Mom managed to raise me to believe so strongly in the positive values of the day. And yeah, of course, I still think about Dad then.
Memorial Day--A somber and bittersweet holiday for those my age. Everyone I knew had dads and/or uncles who served during World War II, and I had two aunts who served. Many of us lost one of them. My near-identical twin Uncle Mike died in the invasion of Normandy. I've written extensively about that on the AOL message boards, and still post something about it every Memorial Day.
And nearly everyone my age has close relatives whose graves have military markers. The first one I vividly remember was for one of my aunts, who received a full military burial. The haunting notes of "Taps" strongly affect me even now. And I still have the flag given to Mom after my brother's funeral...
Father's Day--A great holiday IF you still have a dad or are one. I was a stepfather for seven years and loved every Father's Day during that period. I still have and treasure the "World's Greatest Dad" ballpoint pens they gave me.
But also... my big brother... who was so important in my life... died on Father's Day at his age 56.
So, I now essentially try to pretend that holiday no longer exists.
July 4th--When I was a kid, this was mainly a neighborhood-by-neighborhood celebration. One of the neighbors would head south to buy a huge supply of "illegal" fireworks, we'd spend the evening setting off *real* fireworks, a friendly cop would stop by 'cause some anonymous sourpuss complained and the cop would tell us to "keep it down" then leave, and we'd start blasting away again. Great times, especially for guys, and it probably started my love of "blowing up stuff."
Later, the holiday became for me synonymous with the Beach Boys on The Mall in DC... great music, an unbelievable fireworks display up close, and 500,000+ of your closest friends.
But also... I was married on July 5th, which turned out to be a very bad idea after we split. Kinda somewhat ruined that holiday thereafter...
Thanksgiving and Christmas--I have tons of great memories of both of these holidays. But they are mainly for family, especially children. For a childless orphan with no siblings, great memories must often suffice.
New Year's Eve/Day--We guys love the college football games, of course, although spreading them out to include *other* days is just plain heresy. Harumph! As to NYE, I really don't have many memories of it one way or the other.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Rumors are they true?
Anyone know the scoop on her sudden move? Was it an eviction?
Does toofless have a new entry on his long long judiciary court record after his drunken clan festivities?
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