One! Zero! Zero! Zero!!!!

In spite of yesterday's "bitching" post, it just dawned on me that this is my one thousandth post!!!   I'm happy about my little space here on the internet and I'm glad I started this.   My inspiration back then?   It was the birth of my grandson!   He's here just over seven years now and still calls me Dude!!!   Yes...in spite of the "bitching", I'm happy and I'm grateful for all that I have!!!

The Invasion of Iraq! Happy 10th Anniversary!

So far...here's what the numbers are saying ... at least to me, that is!

This IRAQI debacle has cost the American tax payer just over two TRILLION dollars under Dubbya's regime!

• Over a total of 190,000 people were killed/bombed/nuked/droned/whatever!
• Of that number...100,000 were Iraqis.
• another 4,000+ Americans died hunting for "weapons of mass destruction"!
• another 32,000 Americans were wounded and there are an untold number of American soldiers suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome)

Aside from PTSD...we have no idea of the number of Americans and its' allies that had their young/innocent heads "f*cked up by this invasion!"

And according to other war mongers...aside from (and including) Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield and a few others...this fiasco would eventually be funded by the supposed "cheap flow" of oil from Iran once Dubbya got rid of Saddam!

Postscript:
Just filled up my tank!   $4.39/gallon.   I can't complain.   It was $4.59 this time last year...and under $4.00 in Providence Forge, Virgina   Thanks Dubbya!

Google's - Year in Review! Awesome!

Friends of a Certain Age?

OK...another article in today's   (Sunday)...New York Times.   The subject is friendship!   I can definitely relate to this.   The premise is that our closest friendships are established in high school and college...and during our early years of employment.   The article goes on to say that creating new friendships becomes more difficult as we grow older.

Per the article..."Our story is not unusual.   In your 30s and 40s, plenty of people enter your life, through work, children's play dates, and of course, Facebook"   (I'm not there yet!).  

"But actual close friends - the kind you make in college, the kind you call in a crisis - those are in shorter supply"!

Personally for me, my high school and college experience/memories are a big part of who I am...and so are my friendships!   I am very fortunate!   My wife and I attended the same high school...but that's a whole   'nother story!

"I'm sorry!"...an apology...

OK…quite honestly…in my case...I don’t think you or anyone else might be impressed!   But that's another story!   See entry below!

Brilliant…absolutely brilliant.   Oldest daughter tweeted this one!

David Fullarton…you are a genius...and I love your work/illustrations!

Some of my best friends are...

I don’t know where to start with this.   I've touched on this before.  This entry could wind up taking me all over the place.   But I need to keep it short for now.   Bottom line…suffice it to say that I am extremely fortunate to have family, friends and acquaintances from all walks of life.   Notice I said fortunate…not “blessed” (that’s a whole ‘nother story).

I know there’s the infamous cliché…”some of my best friends are" _________ (fill in the blank).   Well I can expand that to say all the people that I love and hold dear to my heart are!   Are what?   White, Latino, Asian, gay, Christian, Jewish…and the list goes on.   Hell…there’s even a few Republicans and Evangelical Christians in the mix!   I’m extremely lucky to have all of them in my life.   We have our differences, but we respect and love each other for who we are.

I feel sorry for people who live in isolated enclaves.   Not only for them…but for this country as a whole.   If they could broaden their sphere…they would see how much we all have in common.   There’s really nothing to fear.   I’m sure it would eliminate a lot of the hatred and prejudice…especially here in America…not to mention the world!   Yeah…definitely the world too!

Gonna post some more about this soon…but I’m a procrastinator…so we’ll have to see how soon is soon!

PS.
One of my best friend’s daughters is getting married this summer and I plan to attend the wedding in Iowa City Iowa no less.   He is a devout Evangelical Christian (and an old fraternity brother).   I plan to fly to Chicago and meet another old fraternity brother (a Republican).   We’ll drive to Sioux City together.   Amazing…if I say so myself.   I’ll probably be the only black person there…but I can deal with that.   It won’t be the first time!   But…I’ll be with friends and loved ones!   That’s what’s important!

Image compliments of the University of Tennessee.

I could write a book on this!

First…it was “Don’t Quote Me on this”!   Then it was “Don’t Get Me Started”!   Now it’s “I Could Write a Book on This!"   Why the name change?   I think the “Don’ts” may have had a negative connotation.   No?   Agree?

This whole thing started because my daughters often repeated my favorite saying…"I could write a book on this"!   So that’s what I’m going with from here on in.   Maybe one day I’ll write a “book” book…but for now…this is it!