We All Get Old....

Brutal!  The only word I can think of to describe what I just witnessed on my television screen.  Well maybe 2 words.....brutal and friggin' old!  Actually those are 3 words which describe Sir Paul McCartney's performance during the overblown, over the top and overly boring Olympic Opening Ceremonies.   I may never  be able to listen to the Beatles the same way ever again with the images of what I just witnessed now  transferred into my short and long term memory.  I could go on and on, endlessly with no point or meaning, but this is not the refrain from "Hey Jude".  I will just say good night, a bit disappointed, a bit saddened and a bit older than I was when I started.

Free As A Bird Now!

Well the offspring had traffic court this afternoon to face the music for her "failing to yield" blunder. We practiced what she needed to say to the judge. The first and most important words to come out of her mouth were to be "not guilty". So we showed up to the address posted in the letter, 4000 Saratoga Ave, at about 12:30pm for the scheduled 1pm court date.  It turned out the court proceedings were to be held at an ancillary court facility which was actually the local American Legion Hall (VFW Hall), 4000 Saratoga Ave....weird.  The temperature was at least 105 degrees in the direct sun, ouch, as we made our way to go inside.  Well, they did not open the doors until about 12:50pm. My Mennen Speed Stick wore off about 12:35pm. Thank Joe Pesci the place had great air conditioning, so the effects of the heat wore off quickly with the exception of my Mennen Speed Stick's effectiveness. Needless to say it was crowed and I did not expect to leave the place until at least 4pm. Plus I could not get that Twilight Zone Episode out of my head.  I did not want to spend the rest of eternity trapped in a VFW hall with these people! I am sure they were all nice once you got to know them; but brevity, not nice was my priority. The judge was awesome and did move the proceeding along very efficiently. I ascertained very quickly he was a real nice dude and was not out to lay down anything heavy on anyone unless they  provoked him.   I deleted  George Carlin's  7 words you can not say from my temporary memory cache.  Our last name was one of the last to be called. But hey, it was only 1:50pm! The judge had dispensed about 40-50 case away already!  I may still make it to the gym today after all.  Forget that, had to focus! Ok Syd...whisper to me, one more time (we had practiced her plea and explanation of the accident all day Sunday,  otherwise her nerves would have slain us all in our sleep). She began, "Not Guilty", "I was proceeding south on Fairview doing the speed limit", "I had plenty of time to make my turn" etc. etc. Then all of a sudden we heard..."WOJCIAK!". "Here your honor!" my daughter said confidently and then leaned over to me whispering "Don't worry dad, I go this". We then approached the bench...let me type that again...approached the bench. The judge, the cool dude, said coolly, "Good afternoon Sydney, is this you dad?" "Yes sir" she replied. "Hi dad" he replied back. He then looked, all official like, at a piece of official looking paper and semi-shouted to the entire courtroom, "Is Pat Mushe here today?"  He said again "Pat Mushe?"  There was no reply, silence, golden silence. The person who was the recipient of Sydney's left handed compliment was not in court. "Case dismissed!" the judge decreed. He bounced his gavel once or twice and shazaam, it was over. "Have a nice day" he said with a smile. Say what?   Say nothin'!! She was free as a bird now, and this bird and her daddy bolted for the car whistlin' Dixie. Ronnie Van Zant would have been proud. So the car accident fiasco is finally legally over.  And with the exception of a jack up insurance rate, all's well that ends well. No blood and no foul! Crack me a beer and rock on!

Ray Davies May Have Said It Best....

Wow....another 100 degree day.  Well at least today is Sunday!  I do not have to go outside for any reason other than to get it the pool; and, that decision is my choice, no one else's.  Yee-f'n-ha!
What a excellent week too!  My wife passed her Nursing NCLEX Exam!  The culmination of 6 years of dedication, sacrifice, pain, frustration etc. etc.  Once the check clears, she will be a licensed nurse!  Second,  I got to work out 3 days last week (and the soreness is going away)!  Third, there are no new cuts or bruises due to the  SPP behavior plan.   Finally, Sammy's dental trip to the vet went great without any complications!  What more can you ask for than 7 healthy and happy mammals!
Our normal stress level reading for the last few years has been at least 6/10 on a daily basis.  Finally the level seems to be going down a bit as our family is moving forward into a new chapter.  No one knows what the future holds, but knowing at least 2 or 3 of the 5 cards is better than none.
So...the wife and daughter are out shopping (it's cheaper than therapy) and us 5 boys are just hangin' out.  As a celebration of sorts, I got me a bag of pretzel rods,  a cold beer, firing up the xBox  and lazing on this sunny  Sunday afternoon.  Live in the now and rock on!

Something Bigger Than Ourselves?

Self esteem, a belief in ourselves and selfconfidence in our own ability, we all have it, to varying degrees. It allows us to  get through the rigors, challenges  and events of everyday life. But, is it enough?  Can we always find the strength deep within ourselves to overcome any situation life can bring?  Can we get to the deepest recesses inside of us and summon the will to free us from emotional, physical or spiritual pain when we really need to?
Or....do we need faith or a belief in something "bigger" than ourselves?  (I may be paraphrasing Pete Townshend from a song on "Odds & Sods" now that I think of it).
This "bigger",  does he/she/it have the ability to come to our aid when we are really, really, really, really, really in need?   Do they hear us? Maybe they give us  a "sign",  maybe a "sudden intuition" aka "gut feeling", or maybe a divine or supernatural intervention of some type?  Like great seats to an Iron Maiden concert....I'm still waiting. 
I can understand how when one is really empty, clueless or just lost in any aspect of life, the need to find another source of inspiration or hope is almost a given.    A faith in something "bigger" is human necessity, the carrot dangling in front of the listless horse.
And maybe the faintest sliver of hope is enough to get us moving forward again.  Maybe it is us reaching deeper inside our  soul or inner being than we ever thought possible. Maybe this something bigger is really inside us all and we just need to tune  into it properly.  Maybe our inner "bigger" is what links us all together is metaphysical way.  Maybe.......

Goin' Crazy?

Just a quick post about the overall "craziness" out in public these long hot summer days. I am not talking clinical "crazy", just plain everyday batshit nuts.   Yes, the heat can do weird things, but I swear this is the craziest summer I think I have ever witnessed.  Car accidents, rude people, unpleasant cashiers,  smileless drones wandering aimlessly, scowling clergymen,  you name it.
The crazy virus must lay dormant somewhere and emerge at a rate directly proportional to the outside temperature.  Now remember, I am not talking stupid, I think stupid is a growing trrend not affected by changes in temperature or barometric pressure (effected? take off points for grammar).  This is just unexplainable, nutty, rude, crazy human behavior.  So as long as I see a "9" as the first character on my car thermometer, I am staying inside or in my pool.  I swear the heat is even starting to get to me...I'm singing David Lee Roth solo stuff!  Cool out and rock on!