Can you spell Empress

 

Bring me some herring. And bring it now!

Je regrette

I’ve been listening to Édith Piaf, the chanteuse of France in the forties to the early sixties. If you’ve never heard her song “Non, je ne regrette rien”, listen to it on YouTube, or any number of channels. Her voice is amazing, you don’t have to understand the words.

Anyhow, the title basically translates to: “No, I regret nothing”. Wow, I wish I had nothing to regret. The mistakes I have made over my life would require writing day and night for a thousand years.

I’m going to share with you one of gravest mistakes. And there are many that achieve this dubious honor, but this one is hitting me tonight.

It was near Christmas 1984. I was the night manager at the Sheraton in the City of Industry, and was invited to the manager’s party at a chic restaurant in Beverly Hills. Doug and I were anticipating the experience. We were a couple at the time and had been for five or six years. Shortly before the event (maybe a week), I was informed that one of my co-managers would be ‘uncomfortable’ if Doug attended. His invitation was rescinded.

I knew at the time who it was. It was the woman who espoused right wing rhetoric. Just as a side note, her husband beat her regularly. Heavy make-up couldn’t always cover the bruises.

But I went anyway.

I am a fucking coward.

Someone is calendarically challenged

 

Meet Junior. His roots go way back to a plant that lived with my mom and dad.

I sat him down and tried to teach him how to read a calendar. It wasn’t successful. He glommed onto the 25^th bit and is happy as a clam.

It's Almost Earth Day

 Let's all do something radical: hug a tree, pick-up some litter, take the day off from driving, turn off an unused light. The possibilities are endless.

Me, I'm making ice to send to the poor, starving glaciers in Switzerland. I do what I can for the common good.

April 20th or 4-20

 Meet you out back behind the gym, as school as soon is over, say 4:20.

Got some good weed!

And another surprise bloomer

 

Meet Gloria, an Echevarria 'Elfstone'. How was I to know she blooms!

It's tax day!

 Well, kinda sorta. If you squint really hard it is tax day.

And, as I have been taught by my father, you wait until April 15th: you start preparing your taxes about 1PM and then at 11:00PM you drive to the post office at the airport to ensure they got postmarked on the 15th.

Well, that tradition ended for me; when my nearest airport was over an hour away. I took are more tolerant approach, and waited in line on the 15th to mail my taxes.

Now in this digital age, nothing is sacred. But I waited until the 15th of April to file my taxes. (Dad never taught me what to do if taxes weren't due on the 15th. That was not something he included in his lecture series.)

I am accomplished now.

A tumultuous two days:

It starts on Tuesday, if my memory is correct.

I awoke, made coffee, came back to my desk and sat down and turned on my computer. My normal morning routine.

 My computer popped up a message:

“Dear Mac,

 It has been an honor to be your computer for these many years. My manufacturer has asked me to let you know I am now unsupported. No more tech support; no more spare parts. Nada. Best wishes with your new computer.

Love,

(gasp…gasp)

I did what any sane person would do. I ran out and spent thousands of dollars on a new computer. I stretch the truth. I spent six hours on line, deciding what computer to buy. I spent less than a grand,

And then on Wednesday I find myself in the emergency room at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta.

Hand infected like before

Old hat

Waiting for today’s adventure!

It's the Parker Brothers Birthday

 Happy Birthday Richard, Howard and Bob.

Somehow it isn't as much fun as it should be.