I'm back already...

...and it's only been a week.
Got some bad stuff yesterday morning; I took this picture after getting back from physical therapy (I go from 6AM to 8AM Mondays and Wednesdays). Not very cheerful, is it?

Supposed to get colder and wetter, so my joints should be giving me interesting weather updates for a while. Something to go along with the sore throat and head cold I seem to have picked up.

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From the No-Shit-Sherlock department comes a study that almost half of high school students have had experience with bullies.

The survey findings are from the Ethics of American Youth Survey by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, a non-profit based in Los Angeles that has surveyed teens on conduct and behavior every two years since 1992.

It took them 18 years to figure that out? Hell, dealing with bullies is one of the things kids learn to deal with from the time they get around other kids. There have been, and always will be, some people that are going to try and pick on others, clear up into adulthood. It's not nice, it's not fair, but that's just the way it is. If you don't learn to deal with it when you're young, you are going to be in for just as rough ride as an adult. If you have kids, it's up to you to try and guide them through this, and also make certain they aren't bullies themselves.
Just my opinion.

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Election time is coming up, and the mud is flying in the media. The Republicans are running on the platform that they aren't Democrats, and the Democrats are still running on the platform that they aren't Bush.

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office."
- Aesop

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

"A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them."
-P. J. O'Rourke

"Liberals are very broadminded: they are always willing to give careful consideration to both sides of the same side."
- Anonymous

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A lot of oldies, some newer ones.

"Pirates Of The Caribbean" movie soundtrack
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" by Gene Pitney
"No Milk Today" by Herman's Hermits
"See Me, Feel Me" by The Who
"Hey Baby" by The Buckinghams
"Eli's Coming" by Three Dog Night
"Look What You've Done " by Pozo Seco Singers
"Jenny Take A Ride" by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
"Kerosene" by Miranda Lambert
"I'm That Kind Of Girl" by Patty Loveless

Hi, remember me?

Still not feeling up to snuff. Have been getting about 3 to 4 hours sleep a night, so I tend to be a little rundown during the day, and have trouble doing any really focused thinking. Still working on my shoulder, but it is not responding as quickly as the therapist would like. I still can't raise my arm high enough to the front to even shake hands with people. Shoulder feels tight and throbs continuously due to the physical therapy, but it has gotten a little stronger in other areas. The holdup seems to be one head of my bicep. My bicep was torn off, and had to be re-attached, so it is responding slowly. So goes that battle.

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Looks like some nitwit decided to take potshots at the Pentagon, luckily no one was hurt. I imagine those on the far right will blame it on Muslims, and those on the far left will claim it was done by militia or tea party members. I'm betting it's just some dumbass with a rifle and no common sense.

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Both parties are getting ready for the voting in a couple of weeks. I expect the political ads to get even more heated the closer we get to elections. Both sides will be lying to the public, and the mainstream media will be right in there with them, depending on which side they are on at the time. I'm hoping there will be a few shakeups this year; some of the incumbents are getting too comfortable in their positions.

“The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn.
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it. ”
-P.J. O'Rourke

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Any favorites or comments on this bunch?

"Spooky" by Classics IV
"Angel of the Morning" by Merrillee Rush
"With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles
"I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
"I Can't Help Falling In Love " by Elvis Presley
"The Girl From Ipanema" by Astrud Gilberto
"Goodnight My Love" by The Happenings
"Crying In the Rain" by A-ha
"Got My Mind Set On You" George Harrison
"California Dreaming" by Beach Boys



I like this version better than the old one by the Everly Brothers.




One of my favorite Beatles.




Good arrangement of an old classic; I like the instrumental selection a little better than the original.

“Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet”. -Unknown

Was hoping to get back here before now, but shit happens. Between stuff going on, and not sleeping well, I don't seem to have as much time and energy sometimes. Hopefully my shoulder and back will get better over the next couple of months.



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Last Tuesday my brother and I went up in the hills again, found a few more interesting photo ops.

Click pictures to enlarge

Lambs ears

Wasp nest (luckily it was unoccupied)

Brown trout

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Saturday I had to go out to my mom's place; there had been a grass fire that had hit part of her home.  She was checked out and is physically fine, but it's not a good thing.  Evidently, a bird managed to blow a line on top of the power pole running to her trailer, and the sparks started the fire.

Click pictures to enlarge

The culprit

Area where fire hit the trailer

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A lot of old stuff here. Anything familiar, any comments?

"Misery and the Blues" by Maria Muldaur
"Hellhound on My Trail" by Robert Johnson
"Maggie May" by Rod Stewart
"Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright
"Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins
"Stardust" by Artie Shaw
"Gimme All Your Lovin'" by ZZ Top
" All Strung Out" by Nino Tempo and April Stevens
"Wild Summer Nights" by John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
"Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel

You can certainly hear Phil Spector's hand in this one.



This one always makes me think of driving on a warm summer night with the top down on the Jeep.



I've always been fond of these guys; not only can Paul Simon play guitar, he writes lyrics as only a poet can.