Can it be Wednesday already?

Wow! Two days since Christmas! Time is just moving by too, too quickly.

I had a list of things I wanted to do yesterday...none done. It was a shit day. Yeah, shit day. I was in a mood yesterday morning that was foul. I took about a half-hour snooze in the afternoon and felt better. I played on the PC a bit and did some genealogy digging. Then I went to the Preds/Blues game. Met Vaidas and his wife Jurgita and some friends there. They pulled me out of the funk! Nashville won the game in a shootout. They played awful the whole game. Here are the Blues...one of the worst teams in the league and Nashville could only manage a tie through 65 minutes of play? The first period was blah...second period picked up some steam and third period was hard hitting. Jordin Tootoo was a dynamo on the ice and made bone crushing checks that caused the Blues to meltdown. After one such hit and the accompanying brawl that followed, a Blues player was penalized 19 minutes! The Blues goalie, Manny Legace, called Tootoo a "donkey" on the ice. Yes, donkey was the actual word. But in all, it was a thrilling game. Next home game is Saturday night versus one of the original six....Boston Bruins.

When I got home I watched a PBS special I had wanted to see on the White City. That was the locale in Chicago for the 1892/3 World's Fair. I caught the last half hour. It was amazing. I need to see the whole thing, and both Part's I and II.

Then I flipped channels and saw the sad news that President Ford had passed away. I got back into my funk of earlier. My heart grew heavy and I thought back to 1974. Gerald R. Ford was the start of my political awareness. I remember that exact time and place that I became a political junkie...and the exact words... It was August 9, 1974. I was at my grandmothers house in Bridgeport in Chicago. She had just moved into a new flat. I was washing the windows on her back porch. The porch faced north and there was Sears Tower right there as big as life. It was about noon and she had the radio on. They broke in and I was half listening....but how vividly I remember the words, "Our long national nightmare is over. Our constitution works..." I sat and listened to the remaining words of his speech. The voice was soft, calming, like an old friend. I was 12 years old and I had heard all the Watergate saga, saw Nixon's news conferences and speeches, especially his resignation speech of the previous night. But this was a new voice; one that was firm and reassuring. After that, I was hooked. And I have been a political junkie since then. President Ford helped heal the deep wounds in the nation and oh what would have been if he had won re-election in 1976! But "what-woulda's" don't count. We dealt ourselves Jimmy Carter and his ineffective treatment of the Iranian hostage situation and other problems in the Middle East spurred the ire and resentment of radical Islam that we see manifest today.

Someone they interviewed in Michigan today made a statement that with President Ford's passing, a generation has ended. I believe they refer to that in which the politician was a common man. They made mention that his first morning as President, Ford got up and made his own breakfast. He was a Republican as I was a Republican...in the mode of Eisenhower. Not the rabid fundamentalists of the modern right-wing party. I believe with all my heart that you cannot legislate morality. The aims of government is for the common good...not special groups. I am still a fiscal conservative; and a social moderate. The two main parties are so polarized right now. They cater to the minority groups on either end and kow-tow to their every whim to get their vote. What about us? What about Middle America? We are the ones who make the goods, pay the taxes, keep the economy going. When with Washington listen to us again?

So, Godspeed Mr. President. You were good for America and your service was well done!

Today I had to go back to work...UGH! But I only stayed until 2:30. I had a visit to the dermatologist to get some stitches out. On Dec 15th I had a mole, or nevus, removed from my back. Lab report had no mention of cancer. Had 15 stitches as it was a big slice of 30 centimeters. So I guess I am back to 100% for now. But keep me in your prayers...I have another test to go through shortly.

Going to Chicago January 4 - 7. Winter in Chicago! Who could ask for anything better?!

Just finished watching back-to-back episodes of Bones on FOX. I really like that show. Guess I'm a nerd like the rest of them. Unfortunately, the next new show is January 17th, I think. It centers around a forensic anthropologist, Dr. Brennan, working with an FBI agent, Booth. They solve all kinds of murders. A bit graphic at times...hence the series name "Bones".

Was looking over all my Christmas presents tonight. I did good...from moccasins to a new blanket to a tackle box...cash...archival quality photo album...a book "On Bullshit"... The blanket will definitely come in handy tonight. Temps have fallen here and it is cold. Heavy frost on the car this morning. Supposed to warm up by the weekend and have bad storms with rain, hail and potential for tornadoes.

Today, December 27th, is the feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. He was the last of the Apostles to die and wrote the last book of the Bible, Revelation, along with the gospel which bears his name and some epistles.

God our Father, You have revealed the mysteries of Your Word
through John the Apostle. Through his intercession and our prayer
and reflection may we come to understand the wisdom he taught.
 
This Apostle was the beloved of Your Son and reclined on His
breast. Through his intercession, may we come to understand and
experience the love of the Sacred Heart for us.
 
At the foot of the Cross, Your Son gave Mary as a mother to St.
John. Through his intercession, may we grow in a tender relationship
with Mary our mother.
 
All this Father, we ask in the Name of Your Son, Jesus, Who lives
and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Signing off for now.  Catch you later.