367 Days after

In 1988 he left the cuckoo's nest as the wizard of Oz. He struggled for a year or two, found away and stuggled to survive. 5 years later he had to come home just to reaffirm himself of his life decision. He eventually settled in made a family, bought a house and oooo that Starion with the extra teurbow boost, he was loving life. But as we all know as time goes on things change.
He had many trials and tribulations. The last time I saw him was 5 years ago, as things were really about to change for the both of us. But all is well now, he has a great relationship with family and friends, two adorable kids "paadon?" He taught me to play the guitar, he IS the guitar man! So on this day we continue to celebrate the Oktoberfest!

Happy Birthday my Friend and Brother

Photo: September 21, 2001 Richmond, Virginia

Also on this Day

The so called "United Nations" was established....Ask yourself , IS IT ? Just ironic, don't ya think?

Photo: Delegates to the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco, October 24, 1945

In lieu of Blogs

Please send checks payable to The Fifth World Foundation Inc. (a-for-profit corporation). Acceptable other suggestions: Gift cards, Western Union bank to bank transfers, unused flying miles, untorn jeans, 1 year supply of Heineken beer, U-Bolt differential part-preferably OEM but accepting a rebuilt one for a 1986 Mercedes Benz 190 E 2.3 123 body style. Washer and Dryer (preferably with installation included). Planned visits from the Midwesterners to Eastenders, even the FOB's (overseas).
Hair dye (please no red tints), Feregamo suit (used), Stradivarius violin restoration, 1 set of Gut strings for a Guild guitar, and last but not the least... A cure for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)...Please check off what you have picked so other guests will know what have already been chosen. He is registered at Goodwill, Target, K-Mart, Sears, Autoban Mercedes Benz, and in your right back pocket or Paris Hilton purses. FYI - All gifts are non refundable!...unless you are the little drummer boyl.

Mr. Jack Lord

Mr. Carding and Mr. Misho did some work in the past few weeks. Their work is superb, and is highly recommended. See for your selves and compare! By-the-way, That really is my Dad, while he is away in the land down under, we will be away for a few days "Jetting" off to Atlanta, Georgia, tonight, arriving at 6:00am tomorrow, Tee-off time with the brothers at the Atlanta Country Club at 9:00am, rehearsal dinner at 6:00 pm , bachelor's party after that, who knows till when. Next day 3:00 pm Church wedding, 7:00pm reception at the said country club. Get back to hotel and try to sleep. Next day leave for SF at 9:00 am, arrive at SF 12:00 noon then proceed to the Bridge School Concert at 2:00 pm. Whew! AND to think WE are the official photographers, we must be nuts!

Seventeen

Thanks for teaching me that eating yellow snow is bad! Happy Birthday Man!

Photo, Circa: June, 1991

A Jumpstart

He woke up and did his rituals, checked mail, blogs, then got dressed. Walked over to the local grocer for his daily vitamin water. Crossed the road and got on to his horse. It giddy-upped but started making a chity-chity-bang-bang sound. He tried hard to ignore it, but as he went on to gallop ahead, a few miles onto his jail, his horse started to buck, so he slowed it down to a trot. He then continued on his journey but it’s started bucking wildly this time, he actually had to get off it and check its horseshoes. Hmmmm, they seemed ok, so on he went again. Now that white steed just didn’t want to go any further without bucking and neighing wildly so he decided to turn back. Slowly walking it back to its stable. While walking back to his cabin he had to pony express a message to his masters that his horse is sick while suffering a blustery wind and a palpitating heartbeat.
They said it was Okay. He may have to put down his faithful white steed in the near future. Hopefully not. His equestrian vet may have some answers. How is that for Jumpstarts? And to think today is Friday the thirteenth!

"When you believe in things you don't understand then you suffer, Superstition aint the way" by: S. Wonder

Good Read

This was not meant to be anything. He just thought of certain conditions his close associates were experiencing. He is not the expert on this, in spite of his “handflick”. He deals with that issue in a way that they all do, some response, no response, or---BAD response. It’s all how we can cope. Some have an easer time than others. Some are medicated. Some are just free. Some study. A lot write! And that’s the best part, in spite of all the DNA that we as being “one” of them, we all try hard to cope. In spite of our shortcomings. “It’s the real thing…Cope-a-Cola”…..

The Funny Farm

It was his seventeenth year of life when he was exposed to the “real world”. He had to leave the oligarchy academy to go on with his education. It took him 45 minutes by bus to get there. It was strange for him to all this. He daydreamed as he rode those flying coffins. Looking at the cars that drove by, he felt a bit envious…. he said one day, he’ll get a red pick up truck with white rims on them and anchor down his motocross bike on to its flatbed. Of course he was still daydreaming. Eventually he became accustomed to the place, infact he felt a bit superior, one teacher even asked him what he was doing in that farm. She said he didn’t belong there and that he should go back to that oligarchy school. He was once caught whispering the answer to a question that his teacher asked to the class, and was aptly reprimanded for making his classmates sound smarter than he was. But that was when he could remember. Thinking back he actually appreciated getting out of that Olig. Academy to really know what his country was about. It helped him be very flexibe as to whoever he was relating to, whether it be a subordinate, co-employee, peon or a first lady of a country. That’s why he is the way he is. Till today!

Here and Now

He used to wake up from the sound of a motorized pedicab, the crow of a rooster, the sound of falling fruit against their corrugated galvanized iron long span above or the long ear-shattering revving of the neighbors fuel trucks starting their day or just the dime sized raindrops against the said corrugated galvanized iron, (which by-the-way makes you sleepier). Now it’s the sound of the train at 5:30 am, the humming bristles of the motorized street sweeper, the inconsiderate jack hammering (hey I’m awake and doing my job so who cares), or the wailing sound of the fire brigade, to save some old woman’s kitty cat and that dammed Westminster chime of the clock tower at the train station. He doesn’t miss the noise; in fact it is home for him, just in a different perspective. An example happened a while ago but made him think, is this where my taxes go? You be the judge.

P.S. this was to save a neon sign that had a dead pigeon shorting its circuit, It itook 6 fire trucks and a whole road to be closed plus another 6 police cars to put the smoke out. Which BTW, was less than making ihaw pork ribs! Go figure.

Find-Raiser

Thoughts on the suffocating pressure of smiling...

Happy?

Happy you write
Happy you wouldn't shut up
Happy you have been in touch
Happy you haven’t gone away

Happy you never left
Happy you could be there
Happy you stayed behind
Happy he could see you

Happy you could let go
Happy you held on too
Happy you were not wrong
Happy you had to hurt him

Happy you ignored him
Happy you bugged him
Happy you forgot
Happy we were Mr. and Mrs.

Happy you’re being happy
on your Birthday

Happy Birthday!

NOTHING

One Day

One day,
He’s going to sit down
and write a letter
to all the good folks he’s known,
and to try and thank them all,
for the great times together.
Though so apart they’ve grown.

One day, he’s going to write a letter
to all the good friends he’s known, one day,
and it will be a long one.

He’s going to thank,
that guitar player
and all those tough guys
who said he was a weakling.
He tried to burn bridges
and he knew he let some good things go.

One day,
He’s going to write a letter
to all the enemies he’s known-
one day, and it won't be a long one.

From that place
all the way to Yorkshire,
from New York,
to his home.
His family and friends are scattered,
like leaves from an old Santol.
Some are weak, some are strong.

One day.

Adapted From NY, CGI by: Jude