Pandemic Paranoia

Like many of you, I have been hearing about the "Swine Flu" epidemic that is spreading around the world. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about it. I have learned that some of the symptoms are high fever, body aches, and fatigue... just like the regular flu. I have heard that Americans are being told not to travel to Mexico right now because that is where the "Swine Flu" seems to be hitting the hardest. I even heard someone on the news say that you should avoid anyone who has traveled to Mexico recently.

How are you supposed to know who has traveled to Mexico recently? Are you going to be introduced to someone and ask them if they've been to Mexico recently? "Hey, why are you so interested in going to Taco Bell all of a sudden? You got swine flu, man? Could that conversation conceivably happen in the near future? Hmmmmm!

President Obama has said that the strain in the United States isn't that bad, even though the first U.S. death from it was reported yesterday. I'm not overly concerned about getting it but, maybe I should be. I just have too many other things to worry about right now. (Famous last words, right?)

I work on the 7th Floor of a 17-floor building. On the first floor is the "Student Healthcare Facility", which is just a nice euphemism for "The Clinic". A lot of the patients have discovered that they have Herpes and they go there to get Valtrex. It's a running joke amongst folk in my building. Now, that isn't all that they go there for but, it's the thing that gets people giggling when we see some guy getting on the elevator (usually looking down at the floor) and his angry girlfriend (or, at least, his last sexual partner) is usually giving him the side-eye and stomping her foot (with her arms folded), as they hurriedly rush off the elevator at the first floor.

Here of late, more than a few people have gotten on the elevator sweating and coughing. This has caused a lot of folks (myself included) to back up in the elevator... thus, making the poor sick person feel like a leper. Could they have the dreaded swine flu? What happened to the days when we thought the sick student might have HIV or another STD?

Today, a couple of people had on hospital masks in the elevator. I got on and, at first, I thought I was on the elevator with a group of surgeons. As soon as we passed the mezzanine and first floors, these people took their masks off. I smiled to myself and thought, "Have we gotten that paranoid? Should I be a little more conscious myself? Are these people overreacting? Shouldn't they move the "health facility" (clinic) to another building? All are questions that I will be pondering, but honestly can't answer one way or another!

Switch, Then Bait

Senator Arlen Specter

He read my post yesterday and realized that he could no longer be aligned with these out of touch individuals. (He'll never publicly admit to that but, in his mind, you know he's thinking it!)

Veteran Republican Senator Arlen Specter disclosed his plans yesterday to switch parties, bringing the Democrats closer to the 60-vote super majority they need to push President Obama's agenda through the Senate. At a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Specter said... "This is a painful decision. I know that I'm disappointing a lot of my friends and colleagues. The disappointment runs in both directions."

Yeah, I'll bet it does. Did I mention that Arlen Specter is from my home state of Pennsylvania? I probably didn't. I also never mentioned that over the years, he has been the only Republican politician in this state that I've actually liked. I didn't mention it but, it's true. I respected Senator Specter even before he chose to do this. He has always been an independent thinker who voted his conscience and not just a knee-jerk politico who went with the party line... even when he knew in his heart that he didn't believe in what the party was selling. This is a quality that would be good for both Democrats and Republicans.

Senater Specter would give Democrats and their allies at least 59 senate seats. One vacancy remains from the state of Minnesota, where Democrat Al Franken holds a narrow lead in a race being disputed in courts. (Can you believe that five months after the election, they are still counting the votes in that race???)

American politics remains stranger than fiction!

Budget Zero

The week before last, I wrote a post called "Tea Anyone?" I was discussing the rash of anti-tax "tea parties" that were supposedly a "grass roots" populist movement but, it looked more to me like the remnants of the Republican National Convention last year. I thought that a so-called grass roots movement was supposed to be inclusive of a wide range of the nation's populace? These "tea parties" were so lily white and bordered so dangerously close to being Klan rallies that fellow blogger and Philadelphian, The Field Negro, and I were wagering on if we could find one token black in the crowd (kinda like a "Where's Waldo" type of thing)... only our game was called "Where's the Negro?"

Even more disturbing about the tea parties was that Republican National Party Chairman Michael Steele wanted to speak at one of these events and was not so politely told "Thanks, but no thanks." That was the first time I ever heard of an RNC guy not being allowed to speak at a Republican Party rally. But, oh... that's right... this was not a Republican Party rally. It was a grass roots, populist movement kinda thing. Right! No Blacks, no Native Americans, no Hispanics, and no Asians. If there were any gay people there, they were closeted. Okayyyyy! I seriously digress... but, I just wanted to get that off of my chest.

I asked if there was an alternative budget, did I not? In late March (a few days before my birthday), House Minority Leader John Boehner called a press conference to announce that there was indeed an 18-page alternative budget. He said he was tired of the Democrats referring to the Republicans as the party of "No" and especially tired of one "Maverick of all Bloggers" calling them out on a daily basis. (Okay, he might not have said that in public but, in private, he was thinking it!)

This document entered Capital Hill lore as one of the most preposterous things a politician has ever handed to a reporter on the hill with a straight face. This was intended to blindly oppose every Obama Administration initiative - without a real plan. Boehner said, "This President has said that we haven't seen a budget yet out of the Republicans. Well, that's not true because here it is Mr. President."

(Crickets!)

I'm serious here... all jokes aside. The 18-page pamphlet contained almost nothing of substance. The actual text included no specifics or numbers at all. It said things like "Republicans would fully fund our ongoing commitments overseas while devoting the entirety of any savings from reduced fighting to deficit reduction." One observer said that this was akin to war plans that simply said "Send ships, land troops, kill the enemy." Not only that, it looked like it had been written by a college student who was trying desperately to meet a professor's requirement of 20 pages by double spacing (not that yours truly would have ever done something like that in college himself). When a reporter asked for details, he was told that "this is a blueprint for where we are going. Are you asking for some other document?" My question is "Are you serious Mr. Boehner?" He's a holdover from the Bush Administration. Can't you tell?

We are in the middle of a deep financial crisis caused by greedy rich people, right? Within this 20-page document, there was talk of eliminating the estate tax and the flat tax of 25% on income above $100,000. In other words, two massive tax cuts for rich people. Again, I ask... "Are you guys serious? Does your head hurt just a little bit when you propose this?"

In closing, I seriously have to question whether these guys are sane or whether they think that the American people are that stupid, still? I thought that Sarah Palin might not have been the brightest bulb in the light socket but, here is Minnesota Representative, Michele Bachmann, who might win the 2009 award for dumbest person to ever sit in the House of Representatives for proposing within that same budget that we make the U.S. Dollar the "official U.S. currency forever and ever" (exact quote). Excuse me but, isn't it? Hasn't it always been? Was anybody thinking otherwise? I can't make this stuff up... this is what might have been the leadership of the U.S. Government had that election gone the other way in November of last year. As scary as the last administration was, these guys and their idea of an alternative budget scares me even more. You should be scared too!

A public service announcement by the Maverick of all Bloggers!

Another Day In The Life

Every day that you wake up is like a roll of the dice. Your life can go one way and it can go another way. It can be routinely boring and run of the mill or it can be fascinating. I always wake up expecting a fascinating day... forget the stories you have heard me tell on this blog that might lead you to believe that my life is one big drama. Most of my days are as routine and boring as yours. It's just that I've had my share of extraordinary days and this day was one of them.

It started as normal as any other Sunday Morning... my wife and I woke up to (unseasonable) 93 degree weather and sunshine, which was a relief. We have had a rash of cold, nasty, and rainy days so, this weekend was well needed and appreciated.

My Air Force unit was having a reunion picnic today that I planned to attend. Since I got on Facebook, I have been "discovered" by several of my old Air Force buddies. We have been talking back and forth on Facebook, through emails, and by phone. We agreed to meet up in Horsham, PA at the VFW post to attend our old unit's picnic and reunion.

One of my Air Force buddies lives about four blocks from me. We talked yesterday and agreed to go to breakfast this morning before we went to the reunion and I told him to pick the place. I was just glad that I didn't have to drive for a change. He picked a nice bar and grill in a suburb of Philadelphia that was on our way to the base. The first thing I noticed was, not only were we the only African Americans in the eatery but also, the youngest. Most of the guys in there were my father's age and older. An interracial couple (black man, white woman, and a child) about my age or a little younger came in after us and sat in the booth across from us.

There were two white men about my father's age sitting at a table right across from us. One guy who was talking loud and obviously inebriated (drunk). It was 10:30am, he looked at the couple, and then said, "Soon we are all going to be one race, you know... with all the mixing going on." His friend said to him, "Curt... Curt... will ya shut up and drink your coffee." But, Curt kept talking and said... "Well, you got your new President and he's half white you know. His mother is white and his father is African so, he's mixed. It's the new trend."

His friend looked at me and my friend and then, at the interracial couple. He admonished his friend and said... "Curt, would you please shut the hell up. People are trying to eat." Out of the blue, Curt then says to me... "Hey, pal... Are you a full-blooded negro?" The guy that was sitting with the white girl turned and looked at him. Then, my friend said... "Yo! What the hell?" I raised my hand to tell my friend to cool it. I looked at him, smiled, and said (using my best Stepin' Fetchit impression) "Why, yas suh. I sho' is... One hundred percent knee grow. And, how 'bout you? Is you part negro?" I was having a good time and it was obvious. The brother with the white girl looked at me and winked. Then, he cracked a smile but, his wife didn't find it funny at all.

Curt's friend was mortified. He looked at all of us and apologized... "I'm awful sorry for him guys. He's drunk and when he gets drunk he's a little irregular." I looked at him and said... "It's okay, I imagine he's not much different when he's not drinking, am I right?" Curt's friend grabbed him, hoisted him up, began walking him towards the door and replied... "You got that right buddy. Thanks for being a good sport. I'm really sorry." I looked at him and said, "It's okay. If I'm lucky enough to live to be his age, I'm gonna say the first thing that comes out of my mouth too." Then, they were gone.

The brother with the white wife and child looked at me and laughed. His wife said, "You were a lot nicer to that creep than he deserved. What a racist lout." I simply said to her and my friend, who was equally astounded at the man, "He was drunk and he only asked a question. He didn't call anybody any names." Her husband agreed with me. Then, my friend and I were off to the reunion.

This was the first time I had been anywhere near my Air Force unit in the three years since I retired (June 2006) and it was like a high school reunion. Here I met and got reacquainted with Black, White, Asian, and Latino people that I had served with in the United States Air Force for a span of 22 years. I caught up on who had gotten married, who had children or grandchildren, who had died, who was still "in", etc. It was a decidedly more civil racial atmosphere. We were one Air Force, one military, and our obvious differences had to take a back seat to the mission at hand. At least, that's what was instilled in us from boot camp.

Let's face it... even little children notice differences. It's just that, unlike adults, it seems that they don't let it bother them. They are just happy to play. We kinda lose that as we get older and drift into our tribes of differences. Today, on this brilliant sunny day with summer like weather, we were all one and it was good. A situation in a bar and grill, that could have turned into a big "rowdy dow" had someone else been involved that didn't share my sense of humor, was averted and peace ruled the day. As I returned home, I wondered why these bizarre events always seem to happen to me or when I'm around?

When you wake up, you never know what a day may bring your way. One day is boring and routine and another day is... well, like this one.

Weekend Joke

Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, his mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful his roommate, Jennifer, was. Brian's mom had long been suspicious of a relationship between them and this only made her more curious.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Jennifer than meets the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking but, I assure you that Jennifer and I are just roommates."

About a week later, Jennifer came to Brian and said, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I can't find the gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" Brian said, "Well, I doubt it... but, I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure". So, he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mom: I'm not saying that you "did" take the gravy ladle from the house. I'm not saying that you "did not" take the gravy ladle. But, the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Brian.

Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read:

Dear Son: I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Jennifer. I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with Jennifer. But, the fact remains that if Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love, Mom.

Love & Mayhem

I usually don't like to write about this type of thing... especially, on a Friday when I like to keep things kinda "smurfy" over here. What I'm about to tell you sounds like one of my potboiling fiction stories on my other blog, "Escapades" but unfortunately, I didn't make this story up. It's true and it puts yet another black eye on the city of Philadelphia.

Two days ago, in what should have been just another normal day for 35 year old Angela Jeffreys, a tragedy ocurred. She got her 11 year old daughter ready for school and her daughter was sitting on the passenger side of the car.. Neither one of them knew at the time that they were being watched.

45 year old Aleem Ali, Angela's estranged lover, approached her from the passenger side of the car and shot her several times. She was killed and her 11 year old daughter witnessed the entire thing. Then, Aleem turned the pistol on himself. He fired one shot and now, he was dead on the sidewalk. This wasn't just any old run of the mill murder-suicide (if there is such a thing). It gets better or worse, depending on how you choose to look at it.

Aleem and Angela had been seeing each other for seven years. Then, Aleem married Angela's supervisor and fathered a baby (now 18 months)with his wife. From what is being said, his wife found out about the affair and asked him to break it off. Angela was trying to break it off but, Aleem would not stop trying to see her.

A week before the tragic murder-suicide, Angela had called the police and they told her to get a restraining order. I can tell you from personal experience that they are not worth the paper they are written on. I had to get a restraining order against someone once and while I was in court getting a judge to hear me out... the person I was getting the restraining against was at my house!

The police drop the ball on these cases too many times and their unwillingness to do anything to the stalker makes it easy for them to do whatever they want to their victims with impunity. I don't want to sound like some right wing zealot but, sometimes it does seem as though the bad guys have more rights than the victims.

Angela never got a restraining order. Perhaps she tried and got just as frustrated as I did and said, "Oh, forget about it!" Well, it doesn't matter now... she's dead and her spurned and married lover, who just had to have her, is also dead. The taxpayers have been spared a long murder trial and the price of keeping him locked up as a guest of the state of Pennsylvania for the rest of his natural life or until they decided to poke him with a needle.

The losers in all of this... Angela Jeffreys, of course... her traumatized 11 year old daughter who was unharmed (at least physically)... Aleem's new wife, who probably will never know what to make of this mess... and an 18 month old baby who will never know their father. Years from now, can you imagine telling this child just how their father died? I wouldn't want that job.

Opinionated Diva wrote a post the other day about the perils of work place romances. Well, here was a work place romance in extreme. All three people in this sordid triangle worked for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services... and yes, if you're wondering, all three were African-American (not that this couldn't happen to anyone of any race or class). Love is just plain insane sometimes... regardless of what you look like or how much money you have.

401

Somehow and someway I must've gone crazy! This is my 401st post on Keith's Space! When I started this blogging thing, I wondered quite often how long I was going to keep doing it. I read in one of 12Kyle's posts where he originally planned to do one post and then retire, like Jay-Z. Thankfully, he is still blogging to this day. I never thought anybody would care about what I had to say or what I thought about anything. But, judging by your comments, support, and how many people tell me they read and enjoy my blog (not to mention the "lurkers" who read and don't comment), I see that I was wrong.

I've heard some bloggers say that they do this for themselves and that they don't care how many comments they get. I said that too and the truth is, I would still be writing even if I didn't get any comments (which I did for the first 3 or 4 months of this blog). But, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I do care and get a thrill when I look at both of my blogs and see all of the comments. I love it when I get tagged and a new blogger begins commenting. I also love it when I see one or both of my blogs on somebody's blog roll. I am just humbled and honored.

I never expected to get this kind of attention or make this many friends from around the country and, if I include Angel, around the world. Believe me, I am humbled and just full of gratitude for all of you. It makes me that more determined to keep at it and tighten up my game.

Fellow blogger CareyCarey said that we bloggers blog from the cheap seats in the arena and that we don't get to sit in the "good seats" with the other forms of media and he's right. But, at the same time, let's not forget that us "new media" folks (on Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) just helped the nations first African-American President get elected and that was no mean feat. We are movin' on up and we aren't going to be ignored much longer. The other forms of media are going to have to move over and give us our courtside seats sooner rather than later.

I'm just proud to be a part of this new thing. May we catch on like a forest fire... and many "thanks" to all of you again for your love and support. Here's to (at least) another 400!!!

The Devil's Playbook

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

For someone who is so avowedly anti-American, Iranian President and strongman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took a page out of the Devil's Playbook this past Monday.

I used to joke that when the economy was bad, the best thing for a leader to do was to start a war... that gets people together and it takes their minds off of their wretched condition. If you can't start a war, racism and nationalism will always do. It worked for Adolf Hitler and has been working for a score of politicians in both the Democratic and Republican parties for ages... not to mention in countries around the world.

On Monday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said countries that are boycotting the United Nations Conference on Racism, which is currently underway in Switzerland, are doing so out of "arrogance and selfishness". After his speech at the conference sparked a mass walkout by EU diplomats, Ahmadinejad told reporters... "In our opinion, this arrogance and selfishness are the root cause of the problems of the world."

The conference has been boycotted by the United States, Israel, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Germany. I was kind of disappointed that President Obama declined to have the U.S. participate in the conference. I roundly criticized President Bush when he also refused to be a part of this conference a few years ago but, I digress. Now, getting back to my man, Mahmoud...

Following his speech, the Czech Republic announced that it would be withdrawing from the summit over his remarks on Israel and the Holocaust. Dozens of western representatives at the UN-sponsored Durban II Conference Against Racism rose from their chairs and walked out of the hall in Geneva as Ahmadinejad launched a tirade against the Israeli government.

The Iranian leader also blasted the United States for its invasion of Iraq. The conference turned chaotic when two protesters in rainbow wigs tossed red clown noses at Ahmadinejad as he began his speech with a Muslim prayer. A Jewish student group from France said they have been trying to convey the masquerade that this conference represents. Earlier Sunday, federal agents in Geneva escorted Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz away from the Geneva Hotel, where Ahmadinejad and Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz were meeting, after he declared plans to challenge the Iranian leader about his views on the Holocaust and Israel.

That's right Mahoud... Turn all the attention on someone else and take it off the fact that just months ago, students in your own country were protesting the sorry state of the economy under you. It's those damn Israeli's, isn't it? And, the United States too. Hell, it's the entire west!

Somewhere, Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh are taking notes... their Tea party seems to have come and gone without any serious repercussions to the Obama Administration. Do you wanna bet that in the coming months, President Obama will be attacked for his foreign policy, closing Gitmo, and making the world "free for terrorists again"? Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are already saying things to this effect.

I sat and watched that circus on TV, a few nights ago and I had to laugh. It doesn't matter if it's a Republican incumbant (pick one), a Democratic incumbant (President Lyndon B. Johnson and his Vietnam debacle), or an Islamic incumbant (again, pick one)... all of them play by the same rules and they all do the same things in the end. They play on nationalism, racism, and fear mongering. I guess it works.

People in Iran will see their leader being mocked and attacked by Westerners (which is not smart on their part either) and will rally around him. At least, that's what he's hoping they will do. I think people are getting more savvy politically and they're not going to go for the okey doke and the old banana in the tailpipe anymore. Leaders are not going to divert people's attention from the sorry job they are doing by appealing to hate and fear anymore. At least, that's what I'm hoping they will no longer be able to do. There are still some very gullible and stupid people in the world... I just hope they are not in the majority. I hope we can file the Devil's Playbook away one day soon.

I'll stop here and quote our former president, George W. Bush, by saying... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... uh, er, uh, uh, uh... don't try to fool me again." Okay, that wasn't George W. Bush... that was Will Farrell playing Bush. It was funny, wasn't it?

Bully For You!

Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold

Ten years ago yesterday, in a suburban high school in Columbine CO, two young men shot and killed scores of their classmates and a couple of their teachers before they finally shot themselves to death. It is said that they were bullied because they were different.

One of them, Eric Harris (who I believe was the ring leader), had just been rejected for enlistment by the U.S. Marine Corps. If he had known what was coming (the second Gulf War), I believe he would have been thankful. His high school years were coming to an end, he had not chosen to go to college, and the one thing he really wanted to be, one of those "few good men", was now out of pocket. He was also rejected by the one girl he wanted to take to the prom. I imagine at 18 years old, he had to feel as if his entire life had just gone down the toilet.

So, he and his one good friend, Dylan Klebold, took up arms, went to school, and the rest is history. It wasn't the first school shooting but, at the time, it was the "worst" school shooting in American history. I'm not going to say that what these two kids did was justified... of course it wasn't. They shot innocent people who they didn't even know at random. They also killed a few that they did know but, that is still no excuse.

What bugs me about them (and others like them) is that both of these kids were bullied, teased, and shunned and no adult or administrative figure intervened or tried to put a stop to it. The same was true in a lot of the other cases of school shootings. The shooter had gotten to a point where they felt they had no other recourse... no one and no place to go... so, they did what they did.

Carol Joseph Walker-Hoover

Now, just a week ago, I read the story of a young Massachusetts boy, who hung himself just days before his 12th birthday because he couldn't take being constantly bullied. He too had complained to school administrators and just like the other cases, not one person stepped up to help this boy.

You can talk to a lot of "so-called" adults and they will tell you that bullying is "a part of growing up." They may even tell you that they took it and that they got through it. The thing that bothers me is that none of them will say that it is wrong. I've actually met people who have bragged about being bullies when they were younger, which has made me give them the side eye. What is there to be proud of? These people are actually proud that they made another human being's life a living hell!

The people who do the bullying never consider how bad they are making another human being feel and how their hurtful words and deeds can cripple another human being for life. They never think about that and it gauls me when people just write it off as "You know, children can be cruel... tee-hee."

No, it's not a laughing matter and it certainly isn't funny when it's your child that is being bullied or your child who is going to jail because he shot up his school or your child that is being punished for being the bully (provided THAT actually happens).

People are dead who might be alive if Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had somebody, some adult, who could have reached out to them, gained their respect and trust, and told them that it wouldn't be so bad. An 11 year old child is in his grave because, once again, the adults and people that were supposed to look out for him failed to respond as they should.

Columbine has taught us nothing... the death of Carl Walker Hoover just proved it. I don't feel good about that at all and neither should anybody else. I feel like going out and kicking a bully in the rear end!

The Death Of "Mr. Baseball"

Harold Norbert Kalas

You know, with all of the posts that I had scheduled for these past few days, I almost forgot that a Philadelphia legend departed from this life earlier this week. If you're not from Philly, New Jersey, or Deleware, Harry Kalas might not mean anything to you... but, for those of us who are, his death earlier this week at the age of 73 was like losing a friend.

From the time I was 13 up until now, I can't ever remember listening to a Phillies game on the radio without hearing his familiar "Swing... hit... ohhh boy... that baby is outtttttaaaa herrrrrre!" There's not a Philadelphian alive who hasn't heard that and known that it was veteren sportscaster Harry Kalas.

Harry was on the airwaves when you were a teenager with your portable radio tucked under the covers so your parents wouldn't know that you were still awake and wanting to hear that score. Harry was on your car radio when you ducked out of that wedding reception and flicked it on to hear if we were winning or losing. Harry was at the beach (Atlantic City or Wildwood), as you sat in the hot sun watching the waves, chowing down on a hot dog, and quaffing a cold one while you listened to the Phillies win or lose. My Favorite Harry Kalas moment was the first night my wife and I were in our new house...

In the mid-summer of 1993, the Phillies were playing in the World Series against Toronto and Harry Kalas was calling the play by play... "Ball two... uh oh... Swing... hit... Oh my Godddd, thaat baby is outtttttttttaaaa herrrrrrrrrrreeeee. Grand slam... I don't believe it!" I didn't want to believe it either. It was a Toronto hitter who hit a grand slam on us and ended our World Series run. I didn't even bother to watch the guy run the bases. As soon as Harry said "ouuttta herrrre", I turned the television off. My wife said, "Is the game over?" I just frowned and said, "Pretty much."

Thousands of Philadelphia fans, sports figures, and other dignitaries paid their final respects to the legendary "voice of baseball" yesterday at Citizens Bank Park. They say that a man is alive as long as someone remembers him. Well, to everyone in the tri-state area, Harry Kalas will always be alive then. He will never be "Outta Here".

In Memory of Harry Kalas
March 26, 1936 -April 13, 2009

Keepsake

I don't know why I'm even blogging about this but when I came to the keyboard, this particular post seemed to just write itself. I was going through my sock drawer and I saw it... a small copy of the New Testament. My grandmother gave me this when I was a small child. I've had it in my pocket at some point in time most of my life. She and my grandfather told me that if I was ever alone and afraid, to just read a few verses and to "talk to God... he's always listening."

All these years, this Bible is now literally falling apart... the back has come loose and has been taped together many, many times. The pages are falling out and it's in such bad shape, I can't carry it around with me anymore. It remains in its resting place in the bottom of my sock drawer. I have since purchased another pocket sized version of the New Testament. It's in considerably better shape.

I was never one to openly admit being afraid of anyone or anything out in the streets. Especially where I grew up and with the circle of friends I was running with. You just didn't and couldn't do that... but, at key times, my grandmother's words and that little Bible were on my person. When it was on my person and I was indeed afraid. The words were comforting and the knowledge that my little keepsake was on my person made me feel that much more secure.

I've been afraid many times. I've had a guy pull a gun on me and rob me and I was with a drunken kook who waved a gun in my face. I stood tall and stoic both times and said nothing. My face never betraying my fear yet, a peak inside my mind would've revealed a terrified man at those times. Yet, in both instances, no harm came to me. I always felt like this keepsake was my contract with God.

I had this Bible in my upper left coat pocket the entire 15 weeks I was pledging Kappa Alpha Psi. I was frightened many times when I was pledging but, only God and I know about it. I can't recall opening the little Bible at all while I pledging but, it was in my pocket the whole time. It made me feel secure I suppose. The knowledge of it being there helped me make it through the day.

That Bible was with me the very first time I got on a plane and flew to boot camp in San Antonio, TX. It was on my person the entire time I was going through that experience. In fact, I've carried it with me on every single Air Force mission I ever went on. I didn't have it on me when I was "sinning" with women though. Yeah, I somehow couldn't have my Bible on me when I was off doing that, which says a lot about my double nature doesn't it?

This Bible was in the pocket of my tuxedo the day I got married and it went with me on my honeymoon. It was with me the day I passed my driving test and it was with me the day I bought my first house. Where I've gone, so has my little Bible. Because I can't carry my keepsake around with me anymore, it sits at the bottom of my sock drawer right next to my shiny new New Testament. (It's funny but, I've never carried the new one around with me.) Yet, the words, the meaning behind it, and the sense of security it brought goes where I go and stays with me always.

Weekend Joke

A burglar broke into a Christian family's home one night. He shined his flashlight around the house looking for valuables, when all of a sudden he heard a strange voice echoing from the dark saying, "Jesus is watching you." He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.

After a while, when he heard nothing more, he shook his head and continued. Just as he pulled the stereo out so that he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard, "Jesus is still watching you." Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot!

The burglar whispered to the parrot, "Did you say that?" The parrot squawked, "Yep, sure did. I'm just trying to warn you." The burglar relaxed and said, "Warn me, huh? And, what is your name?" The bird replied, "Me? Why my name is Moses." The burglar laughed and asked, "Moses? What kind of people would name a bird Moses?" The parrot replied, "The same kind of people that would name that Pit Bull comin' at you, Jesus!"