I was never a soldier... but I was young once.

I've just started reading this book. I've already cried twice. Vietnam tears my soul apart.

I remember in 1969 at the age of 16 going to the San Diego Airport with my sister to say goodbye and good luck to her boyfriend - a 26 year-old returned Mormon missionary - now Army Officer. Fresh from OCS, he was wearing his dress greens with a 1st Cavalry Division insignia on his shoulder. He had a smile on his face, sparkling blue eyes and orders in his briefcase - Destination; Vietnam.

It turned out to be more than a "goodbye". The next time I saw him was in a coffin. Same dress greens. No smile. No sparkling blue eyes. A landmine had taken his legs and his life. His name along with 50,000 others are engraved on the The Wall.
http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=44469 (click on "Personal Comments or Pictures" link from this page to see more)

Every time I see Marian's brother Mike I want to give him a bear hug and thank him. He was an Army river-rat, front-line infantry radioman. In his early twenties his Delta House days were traded for the Mekong Delta. Vietnam didn't take his legs nor his life but it took part of his light for many years. As good a guy as Mike is Vietnam took something forever away from Uncle Mike.

War is Evil. War comes from evil. War is darkness not light. There is only one person that smiles when good, young men and women on opposing sides kill each other.

February in Cancun

Sometimes you work hard and you don't make anything... Sometimes you work hard and you are rewarded. Moral... Always work hard! This year for all my hard work I get a trip to Cancun. I'll take it! February 2010 right around my birthday. Three months to carve Adonis... OK, realistically, I'll do my best. I'll at least visit the tanning salon before going. I don't want to blend in with the white sand and have a tractor try and smooth me out. Pictures will follow.

Liar Liar?

All fishermen are liars but not all liars are fishermen.
-Anonymous fisherman
I don’t agree with Rep. Jim Wilson shouting out in Congress at the President of the United States, “you lie”. Bad Form! Bad Manners! But I also don’t agree with former President Jimmy Carter, for whom I have the utmost personal respect, calling Jim Wilson’s comments racially motivated. Where does that segue come from?

I, along with most intelligent Americans haven’t read the entire content of the President’s Health plan proposal. What brought the comment out of Jim Wilson was when President Obama said, “illegal aliens will be ineligible for federal subsidies to buy health insurance”. Maybe Jim Wilson has read the Presidents plan and doesn’t agree with the wording and the interpretation of the President. I agree with President Obama if he really means that illegal aliens will not be entitled to these benefits. In fact the bill should specifically state, “No person in the U.S. illegally has any claim or right to benefits under this law…EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!” If it were written that way in H.R. 3200 then I figure Jim Wilson wouldn’t have grounds to call the President a liar. But again, I haven’t read it. If it says something other than that and with the way the Supreme Court interprets things these days we better be damn clear on our intent and meaning, and maybe Jim Wilson has a point (But still bad form)

I am of the opinion that everyone should have the right to health care, those that work full or part time, the elderly, children and even those that can’t afford it. I am not for giving free health care to people that break the law and are here illegally with their hands out. This doesn’t make me a racist either.

The US Taxpayer recently spent $700 billion on a bank bailout, and $130 billion on an automaker bailout, both of which I disagreed. Under the Capitalism that I subscribe to; those that run a good ship survive. Those that don’t nor heed the warning of the lighthouse crash on the rocks, as well they should. Who knows what the cost of Universal Health will be. But we need healthcare reform more than we need inefficient automakers and poorly run banks.

Has anyone documented what the cost has been to Joe Taxpayer who currently funds healthcare for millions of illegal aliens? Here’s a quote from an article posted 9/11/09 in the Contra Costa Times. (East San Francisco Bay Area, California)

“The state Department of Health Care Services estimates 768,400 undocumented immigrants will receive coverage this fiscal year through Medi-Cal, the health program funded by state and federal tax money. The cost: $1.2 billion.”

I think Jimmy Carter should stick to the wonderful job of sponsoring Habitat for Humanity and not assume he understands the underlying intent of a rash comment. I think Joe Wilson should sincerely apologize to the President and control his emotions. I think President Obama should be clear, no, make that crystal clear to the taxpayers of America, who does and does not get money under this plan. Because if Universal Healthcare becomes a reality and I find out that illegal aliens are getting benefits, then I will call the President a name worse than a liar.

Thermopylae

Brutal read. Brutal battle. Defending your country, your farms and your family brings out an unheard of courage and commitment. I scratch my head in unbelief at the Spartiate warrior culture. Samurai's to Seal's have nothing on these guys! I bet the Spartan in every fight. At least one of these 300.

Rick's Garage

If all else fails I can open a garage and get a bunch of shirts with my name on them.

I went to the storage unit with the old beater truck Saturday morning. Great intentions of hauling out a few loads. I shut the tailgate on the first load, moved my black lab Pele out of the drivers seat and turned the key. Nothing! … Well not really nothing. I did get some white smoke coming out of the right corner pocket of the hood. That’s never a good sign. It’s actually an Indian signal for, “We’re screwed now Martha!” I lifted the hood and could readily see that the battery cable was loose and the resultant arcing had melted the clamp in half that attached the cable to the terminal on the battery post. WTF? Fortunately I have a rusty tool-box in the truck with enough tools for MacGyver to rig something up. I cleaned off the melted lead as best as possible and wired the cable to the terminal post at least to be able to start the car and get home. Viola! It worked.

I went right to the parts store to get a new clamp and fixed the problem on the spot. Well… maybe not the whole problem. My starter had been whining for a couple of weeks and I knew it was not long for the world. You guessed it. It started up fine in the driveway back to the storage unit but as soon as I began to enter the gates the #*@#% stalled. I turned the key and got this sick whirring sound that basically tells you the starter is toast. OH CRAP! Unbelievably our neighbors were coming out of the storage facility at that very moment and gave Marian, Cecily, Pele and I a ride home. God loves me! Well, he loves Marian, Cecily and Pele.

Long story short. An hour later I replaced the starter in the street outside the storage unit. Actually, Bryan my capable son did with my help. I got the truck back home and blew off any more trips to storage. I am just glad I am mechanically inclined.

New cable clamp - $2.99.
New starter - $54.99.
Tow truck charge to a mechanic for diagnostic of white smoke and whirring sound and having them do the same repair - $350 or more!

Qualifying for a job with my name on my shirt - Priceless!

I am hoping my next post isn’t about cars!

New Car

Well we found a suitable replacement for Grandpa's Taurus. Upgrade in car and upgrade in age perception. An '06 Nissan Altima that someone babied for 2 years. Low mileage, good MPG and not a scratch. Not quite the X5 BMW Marian had in mind but it will do for a year or so till that becomes a reality. I can still buy a beater Jeep in the meantime unless Keegan trumps me with a '68 VW Van. He's already bored with the '76 Bug we restored this summer. Cars.... What an American Cultural oddity.

The Beast is Dead!

It wasn't all about the water pump and the power steering pump. It was the leak in the rack and pinion and the blown head gasket. Despite my best ass-pocket mechanic efforts the beast is dead. I'm proud of the work I did. At least someone will get some new parts when the Kidney Foundation hauls the car to a wrecking yard. Oh well. I guess we get a new car. What's the downside?... A car payment I haven't had in almost 20 years. Not particularly looking forward to spending Labor Day weekend on car lots either.

Car Repair

I decided sometime in 1994 to start working on my own cars. I enjoy the work. It's a type of therapy. It allows me to do something with my hands other than dial a phone. ...And I can swear and no one will hear me.

Yesterday I tackled the water pump. The power steering pump went out all of a sudden and I had suffered long enough with a weak water pump so I decided to go for a "two-fer". I could invest a day and $150 or pay Pep Boys $500 and not worry about it. "Which would you prefer...?"

I elected the do-it-yourself approach. I don't take that much time off and besides it was a Thursday I probably wouldn't have made $350 so I decided to save it instead. I realize that a mechanical engineer of most auto designs was never a mechanic. Knowing how to draw it up and build it does not necessarily mean you can repair it. I cussed these engineers all day long. I wanted them to figure it out. I wanted them to be there busting their knuckles and bruising their forearms and experiencing those "wtf" moments with me. All of you ass-pocket mechanics and my sons will understand what I'm talking about.

Here is a picture of the water pump I replaced. What you don't see is the alternator, power-steering pump, pump-bracket, coolant reservoir, 3 pulleys and a serpentine belt the size of a hula-hoop I removed to get to this. The picture makes it look like a cake-walk; other than the 12, yes 12 bolts that hold on the water pump. The water-pump gasket instructions say, "clean old gasket material off mounting flange to assure good seal." Sounds simple enough. An hour of scraping with a razor blade, chisel and grinding with a wire brush disc on my drill assured the "good seal". I wanted to take the designer of this car and the writer of those instruction and spend an hour grinding their butts flat with a razor, a chisel and a wire brush on a drill to assure a good seal to the STUPID CHAIR!

End of day...Water Pump replaced. Power Steering pump replaced. Car works fine. Saved $350 and got the day off work and off the phone. ArrrArrrArrrr...... I proved once again I am a manly man!

15 BOOKS

My daughters "Tagged me" on Facebook and shared their list of 15 with me. So I responded in kind and am including the list on my blog. I realize I could add 10 or 20 or take any of these off but I'll stick with my guns.

Here are 15 books that I read that will always stick with me. Not in any order or degree of importance or with any explanation. Grisham didn't make the list and I have read most of his. Creighton could have had 3-4 on here. And do you remember reading JAWS by Peter Benchley when it came out! Talk about a page turner. These are books I own in hardback - because that is a true commitment. And books I would recommend to my friends. I wonder what a list like this really says about a person?

1. Centennial - James Michener
2. Hawaii - James Michener
3. Winds of War - Herman Wouk
4. War and Remembrance - Herman Wouk
5. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancey
6. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
7. The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Sparks
8. Sphere - Michael Creighton (Creighton rocks!)
9. Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
10. Jesus The Christ - James Talmage
11. The Discoverers - Daniel Boorstin
12. Contact - Carl Sagan
13. Shogun - James Clavell
14. Noble House - James Clavell
15. The Eye of the Needle - Ken Follet

OK...

I'm tired of this...
No, I'm sick and tired of this!...
NO! I'M *#$%^@* SICK AND TIRED OF THIS!...

I want to play the drums in a rock band!
I want to play the guitar like Jimmy Page!
I want to ride a bike across the country!
I want to get a ticket for going a 120 in my new, fast, hot, black car!
I want to swim in big surf again!
I want to pull my kids and grand kids up skiing behind my 21 foot speed boat.
I really do want a Harley!
I want to roll 7 or 11 - 5 times in a row at the craps table in Vegas, draw a crowd, pump my fist in the air and yell HELL YES! at the top of my lungs as I walk away with an armful of chips.
I want to finish my funny, freakin' book about "Mikey" and have someone call me and beg to pay me millions for the movie rights!
I want to say on the phone to people exactly what I think, not what is politically correct.
-If you suck, you suck.
-If you lie you are a liar.
-If you are Chicken-S#^* then I want to call you out.
-If you can't make a decision I want to tell you that you are spineless, indecisive toothless 3rd cousin of a jellyfish!
If I order a #3 combo and you give me a #5 I want to walk in the restaurant throw it back at you and shout,"WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT PUTTING 3 TACOS AND A CHALUPA IN THIS LITTLE BAG WHEN I ASK YOU FOR 3 TACOS AND A CHALUPA!
I want to tell people to SPEAK UP and SPEAK ENGLISH!
I want people to understand there is a difference between RIGHTS, and RIGHT and WRONG!
I want the Lakers and all their smug fans to lose!
I'm tired of people half my age with half my experience telling me how many blocks they've been around!
I want to tell Doctors that if I have an appointment at 1PM then dammit it's at 1PM. I'm as busy and important as whoever they think they are!
I want to tell all celebrities to keep their screwed-up political opinions to themselves. THEY'RE ACTORS FOR HELL SAKE!
What part of "Abraham" do the Jews and the Muslims not understand! HOLY CRAP!
I want a Navy Seal to use a 50mm bullet as a Q-tip on Osama bin-Laden left ear.
YES. SAVE THE WHALES! HUG THE TREES! SAVE THE RAIN FORESTS! GO GREEN! AND KISS MY A** IF YOU CAN THINK OF A REALLY GOOD REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T!
I want to be a disc jockey and have my own radio show. What's the downside? A Talk show!? HELL NO! A DO SHOW!
Turn up the Rock n' Roll! It makes you think clearer!

Right about now my kids are thinking to themselves.... "Something's wrong with Dad."

Yes! Something's wrong with Dad.

Maybe this was caused by the guy in Burger King the other day who's hand I wanted to shake but didn't. A well-worn USS IOWA hat welded to his grey hair. Lot's of pins on it including a small purple heart. Mid 80's. Short. Grizzled. In need of a shave. A limp. And eyes that have seen around blocks I will never travel....thanks to him. After lunch he and his wife climbed into a Ford parked in a handicap stall and slowly drove off. He played the drums in a rock band!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope it's a fine '09. No, I'm not going to spend the next few minutes telling you all my resolutions and all the crap I think I'll do this year. Who am I kidding. They are the same one's I failed at last year. You can read last year's if you're curious. If I do them, I do them, If I don't, I don't. It's as simple as that. There's nothing magical or special about January ONE... oh, we do begin a new tax year, that's about the only certainty.

I don't want to sound fatalistic but I don't want to strap myself with unreasonable expectations, fail, then carry guilt around for the rest of the year. I'll tell you what, I'll do my best, That's it. That may not be good enough for some people but it will have to do. I'll do my best. I'm a good guy, I'm friendly, I work hard and I am attentive to those I love. Those things won't change.

I'll do my best