Five years ago today, I almost died.

This is the anniversary of the heart attack that sent me into the hospital; I ended up with a stent and found out that I'd had a couple of earlier ones that I didn't know about.  I also found out that I had sleep apnea, and that my breathing stopped on the average of 75 times an hour and probably contributed to the problem.
I'm taking a little better care of myself these days, so hopefully I won't have another attack in the near future; those things hurt.

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I was just looking over the email that my spamblocker has shuffled over into the Known Spam folder; I think the majority of it is either Viagra or promises to increase the size of my wedding tackle.  Next would be the myriad versions of the Nigerian Scam, and odds and end of other spam filling the remainder.
Judging my all the spam going out in the first category, I get this vision in my head of vast warehouses, overflowing with blue pills that are being frantically pimped in the emails.   I don't even like thinking of all the "enhancing" pills, devices, etc that seem to be piling up somewhere with no one to use them to gain a Wonder Wienie.
Amazingly enough, there evidently are still clueless idiots out there being nailed by the Nigerian Scam.   I have seen some that are claiming Nigeria, others claim to be from various people in the Mideast, I've gotten some purporting to be from Russia, South American countries, India, and some places that I think are pure invention.  Every one of them claims to want to give me free money.  Folks, if someone says they want to give you something for free, be very suspicious.  TANSTAAFL


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          "If You Could Read My Mind" by Gordon Lightfoot
         "Understand Your Man" by Johnny Cash
         "This Guy's in Love With You" by Herb Alpert
         "Leland Mississippi Blues" by Johnny Winter
         "Goin' Through the Motions" by Blue Öyster Cult
         "Autumn Leaves" by Cannonball Adderley/Miles Davis
         "Our Guessing Game" by The Moody Blues
         "I Wanna Go Back" by Eddie Money
         "Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
         "Ride the Wild Surf" by Jan & Dean


I think this one strikes a chord just about everyone, at one time or another.



This is one of those tunes that is made for driving on a warm summer night with the top down on the Jeep, and the volume turned up.



The old surfer music of the sixties was sort of simple, but it also had a light-hearted energy to it that mirrored a happier mood and simpler outlook on things. In other words, it was just sort of fun.

I was hoping to blog more often, but things don't always go the way we want.

In case you were wondering where the hell I was, I haven't been up to snuff lately.  Since I was here last, the weather has been typical spring stuff (cool and raining), which plays merry hell with my old joints and such.  My back has been doing its usual nasty tricks, my right shoulder feels like I've spent some time on the rack, and I haven't had much sleep to speak of.  All of which is taking place while I've been putting my yard into some semblance of order, and tilling up and planting my usual vegetable garden.  Thus, I've been spending a lot of time laid out with a heating pad on my lower back, and ice packs on my shoulder.
But enough whining about my problems, they're just a consequence of living past the age of 50.

"Start every day off with a smile and get it over with."
 -W. C. Fields

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The president of Mexico has decided to tell us how to run our country.  The president of our country has been hanging with him during this time, telling him how great it is they can get together over this.
To President Calderon: KMA.  Don't come up here telling us we're picking on your citizens, and causing trouble in Mexico.  The problem with Mexico is corrupt government and a class system that has most of the people on the bottom, and the aristocrats and criminals on the top.  Why don't you go home and put your own house in order before coming up here and spewing that sort of drivel at us; we don't need your advice.
To our president: why don't you quit bowing and scraping to everyone from every other country, and start showing a bit of respect for the American people?  Pull your nose out of Calderon's ass and start sticking up for us for a change.
Just my opinion.

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."
-Mark Twain

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 The Senate has passed a finance reform bill; this should be interesting.  Every time Congress or the Senate gets together and starts "reforming" things, it make me nervous.  What usually happens is that they manage to cobble together some sort of ungodly monstrosity that no one really understands completely, no one has ready from start to finish, and has all sorts of "Easter eggs" hidden in it.  One thing I notice is that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are immune; since they are two of the big problems that helped get us into this financial mess, that seems sort of stupid to me. 

"One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork."
- Edward Abbey

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I'll be going on a brief vacation with my wife on Memorial Day weekend; we're going to spend a few days down by Moab, Utah, one of our favorite areas.  I should have a few pictures when we get back.

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Any of these look familiar to anyone?  Any comments, complaints, or accolades? ; )

         "Woman, Woman" by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
         "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge
         "Concerto No. 8 for Flute and Orchestra in G/G-Dur/Sol Majeur" by James Galway
         "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash
         "We Don't Need Another Hero" by Tina Turner
         "Someday Soon" by Judy Collins
         "Dengue Woman Blues" by Jimmie Vaughan
         "Fresh Air" by Quicksilver Messenger Service
         "Chelsea Morning" by Joni Mitchell
         "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band