Had to go to a family wedding last weekend. Was glad to do it, it was important for my wife to see her nephew married, and I love her family. They are awesome people. I was very happy for John.
The problem was that one of my oldest friends turned 50 this past weekend, and his brothers, who are also friends (one was my, Best Man) flew in from out of state, and I couldn't see them. When, Deb could still see, it wouldn't have been a problem. But since it's a long WALK to Southern Nevada, I had to do the driving. Life is about choices. And since I want to stay married to this woman, I made the right choice.
The wedding was in the LDS Temple in St. George, Utah. No way in heaven or hell, I'M getting in there, so we're just attending the reception in the brides hometown of, Logandale, Nevada.
Turns out, Logandale is about half way between, Mesquite and Las Vegas, and is not just some little, wide spot in the road. But a, "Big Assed" suburb of Las Vegas! Who knew? It's far enough south of I15 that as many times as I'd been through there, I'd never seen it.
So, I'm spending last Saturday night in a Ward House in rural, Nevada. Those of you who know me well, or have known me a long time are now, "LYFAO" at that statement. Go ahead, it IS funny.
I remember a quote from the 70's off the back of a, Marshall Tucker Band, or maybe, Charlie Daniels Band album, "Here's to whiskey and women and SATURDAY NIGHT. Pistols and poker and hellacious fights" (emphasis mine) that I tried for a long time, to live my life by. Now? Not so much.
Whiskey is consumed at home, not in, The Green Parrot after hockey games, been with the same woman for 27 years, Saturday night is when I watch, COPS, I still like pistols, but don't have to wear one everyday, don't play poker anymore (but I did take the Casa Blanca for $100 playing .50 Cent roulette on Saturday afternoon) and it's been many, many years since I've even been CLOSE to having to get in a fight. I gave up ice hockey AND law enforcement. Those two things will pretty much take you out of EVER having to get into a fight at my age.
We spent Friday and Saturday night in Mesquite because our condo in St. George was booked. If I'd known how close, Logandale is to Las Vegas, I'd have just spent all 4 days there. But I booked us a room in the casino. Big mistake.
I gave up smoking cigarettes about 9 years ago. And even though I smoke 1 or 2 cigars every week, you don't, intentionally, inhale cigars. And they just smell different, even when my garage is FULL of cigar smoke from me and Phil and EJ, "burning one down", I don't have any trouble breathing. Not so with second hand cigarette smoke.
Our room was on the same floor as the Casino. And even though it was a good 200 yards down the hall, the room smelled like smoke ALL THE TIME! It was awful! And it was awful at $145 a night! I couldn't wait to get the hell out of that place!
We had lunch there on Saturday, and it sucked. The food was marginal, the service was shitty, and the prices were way too high. Please avoid the, Casa Blanca Casino in Mesquite, Nevada if at all possible.
I have to give some, "props" to Mesquite as a town, though. They now have a Wal Mart. And as much as I hate everything ABOUT, Wal Mart from their labor practices to their merchandise, if it had been there when my dad moved there in the early 2000's, he would have STAYED there and not come back to SLC. He loved Wal Mart, but he was cheap bastard, and right winger. Would have made my life easier in 2005 and 2006. And the place was nice to spend a couple of days in. The new discount liquor store is awesome (thanks to my buddy, Diane for the tip). Even found some Korbel brandy I haven't seen outside of California.
When we got there on Friday afternoon, it was 80 degrees, and my wife decided she wished she had packed some shorts, it gave her a place to go buy a couple of cheap pair without driving back to St. George or on to Las Vegas. Yeah, our Audi was the ONLY Audi in the parking lot. I guess those rich folks who bought golf retirement places in Mesquite don't shop at Wal Mart? Imagine that?
We spent the next 2 days at one of our time share's in Las Vegas, and it was great. Sunday, we rolled into town really early and of course hit, Trader Joe's in Henderson. Bought ten boxes of their vanilla, almond, crunch cereal because my kids can go through a box a day. And if my son's soccer buddies are here? More than that. So if I want any, I have to buy enough to hide some.
In N' Out for lunch, then, Costco for gas and checked into the condo. Why are all the, In N' Out Burger's so far away from Murray in THIS valley?
A month or so ago, when I knew we were going to the wedding, I got on the Internet and found out that, Penn & Teller work on Sunday night. BONUS! I got VIP seats, 4Th row, for about $100, which is less than I paid to see, Chelsea Handler in SLC last summer.
I know what you're thinking. I'm a prick for taking a blind woman to a magic show. Guilty as charged. But it was important to me, so she agreed to go. And she actually had a good time. They were really funny. And Teller tried to get her up on stage at one point, but when we explained, "the situation" with her eyes, he was very gracious and said, "I understand, and I'll find someone else". He CAN talk, he just doesn't in the act, it's part of the schtick. Did anyone NOT know that?
And the show was so funny, and so clean that I would take my kids or my mother to it and be fine with it. On top of that, they were out in the hallway after the show, talking to fans, signing autographs, posing for pictures, totally gracious and approachable. If you ever get the chance to see them, you should.
Spent Monday hanging out on the patio of the condo, reading a magazine and enjoying 80 degrees. Went to dinner that night at, Capo's. A great restaurant Phil and I found in December when we were down there, with my old friend, Melissa Timmerman and her husband, Mike and her sister, Mary. It was a great weekend.
But, I'm glad to be home. I always am, after traveling.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
How Much Do You Love Your Dog?
Man, I love my old dog. She's 10 years old. A Black Lab. When she was young, she was so, "Hyper" we called her, "The METH Lab". Just wouldn't stop. She could burn a hole in the lawn chasing a tennis ball.
Taking her for a walk was getting taken for a drag. This was 70 pounds of coiled muscle. And it was TIGHTLY coiled!
Ten years ago, when we moved back here to Murray, and right by the Parkway, she was in heaven. We would walk the Parkway all the time. Deb and I were younger, and we could control her. Now? Too many back surgery's, and knee surgery's later? Not so much. But, she's no longer the, "Meth Lab". She's old. She can't go up the stairs as fast as I can. And I've had three surgery's since 2008. I'm now on a Cpap machine. She just snores.
Every weekend, when my 15 year old son spends his nights in the basement, playing video games on line, sometimes with his friends who are actually in the SAME room with him, as all his soccer buddies spend the night a lot of the time, the old, "Meth Lab" will come down here, and crawl in between her boys, and spend the night with them. Makes the dog happy. Doesn't seem to bother the boys.
When the old dog was young, every chance she got, like after my wife got up to feed my son and send him to school, since I usually went into work later, as I spent my NIGHTS at work, she would come into the master bedroom, jump up on the bed, and rub her snout and head on me until she woke me up, and demanded attention! I had to wake up, rub her ears, pet her, generally give her, "dog loves" and then she would curl up in a ball between my bent knees, be happy, and sleep until I had to get up and go to work. The time depending on when I had to be in court or out chasing bandits that night.
Now, tonight, it's a school night. No boys in the basement. Just me on the computer. The place the boys crash, on the carpet between the couch I bought for my dad when he was in assisted living (which is PLUSH, and LEATHER for crying out loud, but all they will do is SLEEP on it!) and the TV is empty.
Except for one, very, old, dog.
No blankets. No VISIBLE food scraps. Or as we say in our house no, "Fall out" from humans eating.
Just the old dog.
I have to think, that as much as this gets vacuumed, and cleaned, the dog knows better. She has a Hyper Sensitive sniffer. So, to her, this place smells like, "her boys".
And she's rolling/sleeping in it. Like going to the car wash and asking for an air freshener labeled, "Teenage Man Ass".
When you think about it, many times, these guys hit the video games right after playing a soccer game. And LONG before deciding a SHOWER is a good idea. And I just put in a tank less water heater, after remodeling the bathroom last year, so there was plenty of room for LOTS of towels IN the bathroom, a good vent. They can ALL take a SHOWER, one right after the other! No, real waiting. But do they? No, they lie there and STINK on the carpet for a while!
So does my dog.
So tonight my dog is reveling in the smell of, "teenage man ass", sweaty soccer cleats, ground up Doritos, spilled, Red Bull and, Five Hour Energy Drink, AXE body spray, some perfume from some of the girls they have brought in here in the last few weeks (yes, I'm in THIS room on the computer making sure nothing happens, while THAT happens. Why did you ask?) . Now, she's under my feet, here on the computer.
I have to ask. All things considered, when she gets up on the bed in the morning like she used to. Is she rubbing up against me to get me to give her attention, and make me give her, "Dog loves" and rub her ears? Or is she just trying to rub off of her snout, what she slept in last night?
I think I might need to go shopping for a bedspread today. Just on principle.
Shedding would be another issue. And summer IS coming up for all you folks who own dogs that do when it gets warm. Just get a new furnace filter EVERY month, and sweep a lot.
Taking her for a walk was getting taken for a drag. This was 70 pounds of coiled muscle. And it was TIGHTLY coiled!
Ten years ago, when we moved back here to Murray, and right by the Parkway, she was in heaven. We would walk the Parkway all the time. Deb and I were younger, and we could control her. Now? Too many back surgery's, and knee surgery's later? Not so much. But, she's no longer the, "Meth Lab". She's old. She can't go up the stairs as fast as I can. And I've had three surgery's since 2008. I'm now on a Cpap machine. She just snores.
Every weekend, when my 15 year old son spends his nights in the basement, playing video games on line, sometimes with his friends who are actually in the SAME room with him, as all his soccer buddies spend the night a lot of the time, the old, "Meth Lab" will come down here, and crawl in between her boys, and spend the night with them. Makes the dog happy. Doesn't seem to bother the boys.
When the old dog was young, every chance she got, like after my wife got up to feed my son and send him to school, since I usually went into work later, as I spent my NIGHTS at work, she would come into the master bedroom, jump up on the bed, and rub her snout and head on me until she woke me up, and demanded attention! I had to wake up, rub her ears, pet her, generally give her, "dog loves" and then she would curl up in a ball between my bent knees, be happy, and sleep until I had to get up and go to work. The time depending on when I had to be in court or out chasing bandits that night.
Now, tonight, it's a school night. No boys in the basement. Just me on the computer. The place the boys crash, on the carpet between the couch I bought for my dad when he was in assisted living (which is PLUSH, and LEATHER for crying out loud, but all they will do is SLEEP on it!) and the TV is empty.
Except for one, very, old, dog.
No blankets. No VISIBLE food scraps. Or as we say in our house no, "Fall out" from humans eating.
Just the old dog.
I have to think, that as much as this gets vacuumed, and cleaned, the dog knows better. She has a Hyper Sensitive sniffer. So, to her, this place smells like, "her boys".
And she's rolling/sleeping in it. Like going to the car wash and asking for an air freshener labeled, "Teenage Man Ass".
When you think about it, many times, these guys hit the video games right after playing a soccer game. And LONG before deciding a SHOWER is a good idea. And I just put in a tank less water heater, after remodeling the bathroom last year, so there was plenty of room for LOTS of towels IN the bathroom, a good vent. They can ALL take a SHOWER, one right after the other! No, real waiting. But do they? No, they lie there and STINK on the carpet for a while!
So does my dog.
So tonight my dog is reveling in the smell of, "teenage man ass", sweaty soccer cleats, ground up Doritos, spilled, Red Bull and, Five Hour Energy Drink, AXE body spray, some perfume from some of the girls they have brought in here in the last few weeks (yes, I'm in THIS room on the computer making sure nothing happens, while THAT happens. Why did you ask?) . Now, she's under my feet, here on the computer.
I have to ask. All things considered, when she gets up on the bed in the morning like she used to. Is she rubbing up against me to get me to give her attention, and make me give her, "Dog loves" and rub her ears? Or is she just trying to rub off of her snout, what she slept in last night?
I think I might need to go shopping for a bedspread today. Just on principle.
Shedding would be another issue. And summer IS coming up for all you folks who own dogs that do when it gets warm. Just get a new furnace filter EVERY month, and sweep a lot.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
What Have YOU Got To Hide?
Wow. The schools are underfunded, the air is a mess, we increased the tax on FOOD, or all things, while making sure the rich don't pay any more taxes. But what piece of legislation got through committee, House and Senate in 48 hours? Even though it was opposed by such a level headed guy as, Chris Buttars? I shit you not, Chris Buttars OPPOSED this law.
The one to keep the public from being able to access public records. Wow. What ARE these folks, meaning the Legislature, afraid of?
Well, for one thing, they don't want the public to be able to see the UHP video when the Speaker of The House gets arrested for DUI. It makes it tough for him to go back to his district and claim to be a good, Mormon, Republican when he's been arrested for DUI, doesn't it?
I spent 20 years working for the State, and was being held to a higher standard in my public behavior because for the majority of the time, I was a sworn, Peace Officer. Only once did I get accused of doing something OFF the job that might have affected my job, but it was totally made up, and went nowhere. On the job? Oh, I got accused of a LOT of stuff. That will happen if you're a Probation/Parole Agent, and actually doing your job. You tend to piss people off. Goes with the territory.
When you piss them off, they will complain. On time, I got accused of, "being scary". True story. I was cover to my partners contact on a home visit. I didn't even open my mouth, because she did all the talking, it was her case. I just stood behind her, being backup. The next morning, my boss called me into his office to ask me about it. Then we had a good laugh about it.
And of the things I really did do that I screwed up on? Mostly, I got a letter in my, "file" that told me not to do it again. We all screw up.
But many times, I got that letter after the same supervisor had praised my performance for doing exactly the thing he had to write that letter about later.
Working for the state is tough. You should be on your best behavior. But you should NOT be ten feet tall and bullet proof, with no one being able to see what you are doing while you're doing, "The Peoples Business"!
I don't care what my Representative, "tweets" on his personal account. But if he's using the State's phone, and doing the STATES business while he's being totally inappropriate about a constituate? Yeah, I think we should have the right to know about it.
And as far as dash cam video from Police or Highway Patrol goes? Even if it's of a Legislator? Oh, HELL YEAH, you better give that up, and FREE for any news agency that asks. Why should it be secret when our Cops do it, but it would sure be on TV if, "COPS" was here and did it? Makes no sense.
Unless you don't want the public to know what you're doing in their name. Or on their dime. Or with the phone they bought you.
All public records should be open, and free to any media that wants it. That's how we have a free society. That's why the media has always been known as, "The Fourth Estate". The fourth part of Government. Because they keep government honest.
But, here in Utah, it appears that some don't want it open. And that's WRONG! There should be NO charge for public records, it's part of having government that you RELEASE your records so people who vote have ALL the information they need.
I'm betting that, Governor Herbert, who has no college education, and has to cater to the, Tea Party Right Wing to keep his job, will NOT veto this bill. Because if he does, they will toss him out at the next Republican Convention when he has to run again in four years.
But if he had any integrity, he would. Of course, he has no integrity. He's a Republican in Utah. And any guy who shows he's not as smart at Chris Buttars, which is a pretty low bar to jump over, is lacking in education, common sense, AND integrity.
The one to keep the public from being able to access public records. Wow. What ARE these folks, meaning the Legislature, afraid of?
Well, for one thing, they don't want the public to be able to see the UHP video when the Speaker of The House gets arrested for DUI. It makes it tough for him to go back to his district and claim to be a good, Mormon, Republican when he's been arrested for DUI, doesn't it?
I spent 20 years working for the State, and was being held to a higher standard in my public behavior because for the majority of the time, I was a sworn, Peace Officer. Only once did I get accused of doing something OFF the job that might have affected my job, but it was totally made up, and went nowhere. On the job? Oh, I got accused of a LOT of stuff. That will happen if you're a Probation/Parole Agent, and actually doing your job. You tend to piss people off. Goes with the territory.
When you piss them off, they will complain. On time, I got accused of, "being scary". True story. I was cover to my partners contact on a home visit. I didn't even open my mouth, because she did all the talking, it was her case. I just stood behind her, being backup. The next morning, my boss called me into his office to ask me about it. Then we had a good laugh about it.
And of the things I really did do that I screwed up on? Mostly, I got a letter in my, "file" that told me not to do it again. We all screw up.
But many times, I got that letter after the same supervisor had praised my performance for doing exactly the thing he had to write that letter about later.
Working for the state is tough. You should be on your best behavior. But you should NOT be ten feet tall and bullet proof, with no one being able to see what you are doing while you're doing, "The Peoples Business"!
I don't care what my Representative, "tweets" on his personal account. But if he's using the State's phone, and doing the STATES business while he's being totally inappropriate about a constituate? Yeah, I think we should have the right to know about it.
And as far as dash cam video from Police or Highway Patrol goes? Even if it's of a Legislator? Oh, HELL YEAH, you better give that up, and FREE for any news agency that asks. Why should it be secret when our Cops do it, but it would sure be on TV if, "COPS" was here and did it? Makes no sense.
Unless you don't want the public to know what you're doing in their name. Or on their dime. Or with the phone they bought you.
All public records should be open, and free to any media that wants it. That's how we have a free society. That's why the media has always been known as, "The Fourth Estate". The fourth part of Government. Because they keep government honest.
But, here in Utah, it appears that some don't want it open. And that's WRONG! There should be NO charge for public records, it's part of having government that you RELEASE your records so people who vote have ALL the information they need.
I'm betting that, Governor Herbert, who has no college education, and has to cater to the, Tea Party Right Wing to keep his job, will NOT veto this bill. Because if he does, they will toss him out at the next Republican Convention when he has to run again in four years.
But if he had any integrity, he would. Of course, he has no integrity. He's a Republican in Utah. And any guy who shows he's not as smart at Chris Buttars, which is a pretty low bar to jump over, is lacking in education, common sense, AND integrity.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Teachers Are The Reason For The Failed Economy?
Really? Teachers Unions are the reason for the Deficit? Teachers, and Firefighters, and Cops are the reason that States are thinking about going bankrupt?
Bullshit. Total, unadulterated, BULLSHIT.
Teachers, and their unreal amount of PAY and BENEFITS, like their being able to go to the Dentist, are the reason this country is in the poor shape it's in?
Really?
Um, I have to ask. Do you work for a State, or, City, or County, or even the Federal Government, and do you vote for Republicans? Cause if you do? YOU are FUCKING Crazy!
The, R's want to BUST the Unions, and end your benefits, and make you work for nothing, with no benefits. They want the Teachers to work for nothing, because they teach the TRUTH, teach, SCIENCE, Teach that evolution is real, and religion is bullshit!
It's Wisconsin NOW, but it's spreading. Ohio, Indiana, and who's next? Union busting is the current thing the R's want to do. It's the latest thing they can do in the battle to repeal, "The New Deal" that gave us medicare and Social Security.
If you work for a living. And you make less than $300K a year, and you vote, in ANY race, local, national, for anyone with, R after their name? You're out of YOUR mind!
You think that abortion is an issue? And that the R's represent YOUR feelings on it? Wake, The Fuck Up! In the last 30 years, the R's have been in control of the legislature, the White House and the Supreme Court for MOST of it. Did they overturn, Roe V. Wade from 1973? Not only no, but, HELL NO! They don't want that overturned! If it was, you people who think that it SHOULD be would quit giving them money!
You're worried about your guns? That the Democrats are coming for them? Bullshit, again.
I'm a Democrat, and I have an 800 pound gun safe in my basement. Yes, it's full of guns. I LOVE my guns. Love to shoot them, think they are great machines. Like having them around. I even keep some of them accessible all the time, as a former, Probation/Parole Officer, because I worry about people trying to come and hurt me. I have a concealed carry permit, and carry a gun with me most of the time when my son is playing soccer in West Valley and Magna where I worked as a PO for 10 years and I put a lot of people in jail/prison.
I worry that they might recognize me, but I won't recognize them, and they will try to hurt me.
Today, a really large, scary woman kept giving me, "The Evil Eye" while I had lunch with my friend, Phil in the, "La Frontera" in West Valley. I could tell from her look, and her tattoo's that she had been in prison. I was not sure if I had put her there. But she sure took an unnatural interest in me.
I was wearing my .38. So I was OK with it.
The, D's are NOT coming for you guns. So get over it!
If you work for a living, you SHOULD belong to a Union. Because if you work for a living, you owe your job, and your pay, and your health care, and your vacation days TO a UNION!
And if you can read and write? You owe that to a Teacher. Who was a member of a UNION!
And if you work for someone who gives you health insurance, time off with pay, vacation days, sick leave, and Saturday and Sunday off? Even if you don't belong to a Union? You OWE that to everyone who DOES belong to a UNION.
Bullshit. Total, unadulterated, BULLSHIT.
Teachers, and their unreal amount of PAY and BENEFITS, like their being able to go to the Dentist, are the reason this country is in the poor shape it's in?
Really?
Um, I have to ask. Do you work for a State, or, City, or County, or even the Federal Government, and do you vote for Republicans? Cause if you do? YOU are FUCKING Crazy!
The, R's want to BUST the Unions, and end your benefits, and make you work for nothing, with no benefits. They want the Teachers to work for nothing, because they teach the TRUTH, teach, SCIENCE, Teach that evolution is real, and religion is bullshit!
It's Wisconsin NOW, but it's spreading. Ohio, Indiana, and who's next? Union busting is the current thing the R's want to do. It's the latest thing they can do in the battle to repeal, "The New Deal" that gave us medicare and Social Security.
If you work for a living. And you make less than $300K a year, and you vote, in ANY race, local, national, for anyone with, R after their name? You're out of YOUR mind!
You think that abortion is an issue? And that the R's represent YOUR feelings on it? Wake, The Fuck Up! In the last 30 years, the R's have been in control of the legislature, the White House and the Supreme Court for MOST of it. Did they overturn, Roe V. Wade from 1973? Not only no, but, HELL NO! They don't want that overturned! If it was, you people who think that it SHOULD be would quit giving them money!
You're worried about your guns? That the Democrats are coming for them? Bullshit, again.
I'm a Democrat, and I have an 800 pound gun safe in my basement. Yes, it's full of guns. I LOVE my guns. Love to shoot them, think they are great machines. Like having them around. I even keep some of them accessible all the time, as a former, Probation/Parole Officer, because I worry about people trying to come and hurt me. I have a concealed carry permit, and carry a gun with me most of the time when my son is playing soccer in West Valley and Magna where I worked as a PO for 10 years and I put a lot of people in jail/prison.
I worry that they might recognize me, but I won't recognize them, and they will try to hurt me.
Today, a really large, scary woman kept giving me, "The Evil Eye" while I had lunch with my friend, Phil in the, "La Frontera" in West Valley. I could tell from her look, and her tattoo's that she had been in prison. I was not sure if I had put her there. But she sure took an unnatural interest in me.
I was wearing my .38. So I was OK with it.
The, D's are NOT coming for you guns. So get over it!
If you work for a living, you SHOULD belong to a Union. Because if you work for a living, you owe your job, and your pay, and your health care, and your vacation days TO a UNION!
And if you can read and write? You owe that to a Teacher. Who was a member of a UNION!
And if you work for someone who gives you health insurance, time off with pay, vacation days, sick leave, and Saturday and Sunday off? Even if you don't belong to a Union? You OWE that to everyone who DOES belong to a UNION.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Legislature Is Out Of Control, Of The People.
Al Mansell used to be a Legislator. He's always been a Realtor. Past President of a national realtor's group. He's the lobbyist leading the fight to move the State Prison from Draper. Even though an audit by the State shows that we, the taxpayers, could lose as much as $378 MILLION DOLLARS if we do this, Al Mansell could develop that land, and make a fortune for himself.
Anyone who reads this knows I used to work for the Department of Corruption, er, Corrections. So I have a little insight into this matter. And history will show that the current prison was built in the 1950's when the one that occupied the area that is now, Sugarhouse Park was too old, and decrepit to keep open. In the 50's, the State decided it would make a good place for a park. In this decade? It should be a monetary boon to a Republican, former Legislator who is a realtor. He's actually got the balls to insist that the State not open the land up for bid, that it just, basically, give it to him!
OK, I'm sure there are people in Draper who are not happy that the prison is in their back yard. Too, fucking, bad. You moved in next to a prison. It did NOT move in next to you! And if you think about it, anyone who escapes from it, does their best to get as far away from it as soon as possible. They don't stick around. And the truth be known? After the 80's, I don't think their has BEEN a successful escape from the prison. It's pretty secure these days.
Now, I'm going to tell you all the reasons it's in the right place, right now, and, Al Mansell should go piss up a rope and suck on the wet end, because he's trying to rip us taxpayers off and feather his own bed. And he's an asshole for even suggesting this.
First of all, most of the population of the state lives along the Wasatch Front. Between Ogden and Provo. And the current prison location is Damn near in the MIDDLE of that. Why is that important?
Well, for one thing, if you're in prison, having your family be able to visit, and keep in touch is important to your rehabilitation. Family support is very important to inmates who will get out, and almost ALL of them, eventually get out, if they are going to make it on parole.
When I retired from Corruption, er, Corrections five years ago, almost 80% of the people on probation and parole lived in SALT LAKE COUNTY! That is where they were getting treatment for their addictions, training to help them get jobs, where the job opportunity's are, and where their family is. If you give a damn about these people hopefully changing their lives for the better, and I did as a PO, that was my job, why would you move them to someplace where they couldn't get ANY of that?
So Al Mansell could turn the prison property into, "The Hot Springs Condos"?
When I started at Corrections in 1988 you know what one of the real money makers of Utah Correctional Industries was? Tropical fish. Yeah, I know, you had no idea. But the geothermal springs on prison property made it a great industry to be in. I don't know if they are still in that business, but they should be.
This Legislature is out if it's mind, and not, by any stretch in control of the people who elected them. They are ALL about guys like, Al Mansell being given everything they want. Taxpayers could lose $378 MILLION dollars moving the prison, so Al Mansell could make a few bucks, while we can't afford to fund our schools. WTF?
I don't know if feral animals are a big problem, since I don't live on a farm, but even so, do we want THAT to be our national image? Is trying to take Tenure away from college professors because some nut ball from Provo couldn't attain it when HE was teaching, really a good idea? Do you really want anyone to be able to carry a gun, out in the open, even if they don't have any training on how and when you should use one under Utah law?
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the whole state is full of the kind of nut balls who would vote for, Chris Buttars and, Carl Wimmer, and they live in, "Glennbeckistan" which is, South Jordan, Herriman and Utah County. But I hope not. I hope these people are not just waiting for the feral animal bill to pass so they can take their AR15 with the extra magazines to the local dog park and get in some shots at moving targets.
I have a feeling, and it's not a good one, that I'm right. Guess I should keep packing my concealed gun. If I believed in God, I'd ask him to help us. But that's a sucker bet every time.
Anyone who reads this knows I used to work for the Department of Corruption, er, Corrections. So I have a little insight into this matter. And history will show that the current prison was built in the 1950's when the one that occupied the area that is now, Sugarhouse Park was too old, and decrepit to keep open. In the 50's, the State decided it would make a good place for a park. In this decade? It should be a monetary boon to a Republican, former Legislator who is a realtor. He's actually got the balls to insist that the State not open the land up for bid, that it just, basically, give it to him!
OK, I'm sure there are people in Draper who are not happy that the prison is in their back yard. Too, fucking, bad. You moved in next to a prison. It did NOT move in next to you! And if you think about it, anyone who escapes from it, does their best to get as far away from it as soon as possible. They don't stick around. And the truth be known? After the 80's, I don't think their has BEEN a successful escape from the prison. It's pretty secure these days.
Now, I'm going to tell you all the reasons it's in the right place, right now, and, Al Mansell should go piss up a rope and suck on the wet end, because he's trying to rip us taxpayers off and feather his own bed. And he's an asshole for even suggesting this.
First of all, most of the population of the state lives along the Wasatch Front. Between Ogden and Provo. And the current prison location is Damn near in the MIDDLE of that. Why is that important?
Well, for one thing, if you're in prison, having your family be able to visit, and keep in touch is important to your rehabilitation. Family support is very important to inmates who will get out, and almost ALL of them, eventually get out, if they are going to make it on parole.
When I retired from Corruption, er, Corrections five years ago, almost 80% of the people on probation and parole lived in SALT LAKE COUNTY! That is where they were getting treatment for their addictions, training to help them get jobs, where the job opportunity's are, and where their family is. If you give a damn about these people hopefully changing their lives for the better, and I did as a PO, that was my job, why would you move them to someplace where they couldn't get ANY of that?
So Al Mansell could turn the prison property into, "The Hot Springs Condos"?
When I started at Corrections in 1988 you know what one of the real money makers of Utah Correctional Industries was? Tropical fish. Yeah, I know, you had no idea. But the geothermal springs on prison property made it a great industry to be in. I don't know if they are still in that business, but they should be.
This Legislature is out if it's mind, and not, by any stretch in control of the people who elected them. They are ALL about guys like, Al Mansell being given everything they want. Taxpayers could lose $378 MILLION dollars moving the prison, so Al Mansell could make a few bucks, while we can't afford to fund our schools. WTF?
I don't know if feral animals are a big problem, since I don't live on a farm, but even so, do we want THAT to be our national image? Is trying to take Tenure away from college professors because some nut ball from Provo couldn't attain it when HE was teaching, really a good idea? Do you really want anyone to be able to carry a gun, out in the open, even if they don't have any training on how and when you should use one under Utah law?
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the whole state is full of the kind of nut balls who would vote for, Chris Buttars and, Carl Wimmer, and they live in, "Glennbeckistan" which is, South Jordan, Herriman and Utah County. But I hope not. I hope these people are not just waiting for the feral animal bill to pass so they can take their AR15 with the extra magazines to the local dog park and get in some shots at moving targets.
I have a feeling, and it's not a good one, that I'm right. Guess I should keep packing my concealed gun. If I believed in God, I'd ask him to help us. But that's a sucker bet every time.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Union Busting. Wisconson First, Everywhere Else, ASAP
The American Labor Movement. The People Who Brought You The Weekend! Like your 8 hour day? Thank the Unions. Think a minimum wage is a GOOD idea? Thank the Unions.
Like to be able to hold onto your job, even though you have reached the high end of your earning scale? And truth be told, even if you screw up one time? You BETTER like the Union Movement.
Think teachers should be HARD to fire because EVERYONE thinks that it's the TEACHERS fault that their kid is failing? Even though, the truth be known, it's YOUR kid. Trust me. Been there, it's MY kid. Not his teachers.
The Koch Brothers HATE unions. The Unions cost them money. They have to buy safety equipment for the poor people who work for them. They have to pay them a living wage they negotiated for with the UNION, and they have to provide health insurance to their employees.
And the EPA, and OSHA, cost THEM money! If they didn't have to make a safe workplace for their workers, they could save a BUNCH of money! After all, killing poor people is a LOT cheaper than giving them a safe work place in which they are making you a LOT of money!
I don't know how they did it, but just after we elected a Democratic President, and had a Democratic controlled Congress and Senate, the guys who want to take away the Middle Class, and keep giving tax breaks to the "Super Rich", got everything they wanted! WTF?
Barack! TAX the RICH, PLEASE! I'm RICH and I WANT you to TAX ME! Lay off the middle class. This is just wrong.
Republicans just want everyone else to pay the tab. While they pay nothing. Pricks.
END the tax cuts for the rich, KEEP the tax cuts for the middle class, and you will create jobs. There is no, "Trickle Down" economics. It's just the rich pissing down your back. It's never, ever, worked.
Stay the course, Wisconsin. Union is the WAY to live. Keep the Labor Movement alive in America. It's up to YOU!
I say what I think, that the Company Stinks, because I'm a UNION MAN! It's the movement that gave you the weekend, and made our country. Keep fighting Wisconsin!
Like to be able to hold onto your job, even though you have reached the high end of your earning scale? And truth be told, even if you screw up one time? You BETTER like the Union Movement.
Think teachers should be HARD to fire because EVERYONE thinks that it's the TEACHERS fault that their kid is failing? Even though, the truth be known, it's YOUR kid. Trust me. Been there, it's MY kid. Not his teachers.
The Koch Brothers HATE unions. The Unions cost them money. They have to buy safety equipment for the poor people who work for them. They have to pay them a living wage they negotiated for with the UNION, and they have to provide health insurance to their employees.
And the EPA, and OSHA, cost THEM money! If they didn't have to make a safe workplace for their workers, they could save a BUNCH of money! After all, killing poor people is a LOT cheaper than giving them a safe work place in which they are making you a LOT of money!
I don't know how they did it, but just after we elected a Democratic President, and had a Democratic controlled Congress and Senate, the guys who want to take away the Middle Class, and keep giving tax breaks to the "Super Rich", got everything they wanted! WTF?
Barack! TAX the RICH, PLEASE! I'm RICH and I WANT you to TAX ME! Lay off the middle class. This is just wrong.
Republicans just want everyone else to pay the tab. While they pay nothing. Pricks.
END the tax cuts for the rich, KEEP the tax cuts for the middle class, and you will create jobs. There is no, "Trickle Down" economics. It's just the rich pissing down your back. It's never, ever, worked.
Stay the course, Wisconsin. Union is the WAY to live. Keep the Labor Movement alive in America. It's up to YOU!
I say what I think, that the Company Stinks, because I'm a UNION MAN! It's the movement that gave you the weekend, and made our country. Keep fighting Wisconsin!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I'm A, "Murray Guy".
I was sitting around the wood stove in the garage this afternoon, smoking cigars and drinking some whiskey with some, "Murray Guys". Jim, EJ, Phil.
The memories we have of growing up in Murray, of being at Murray High, seem to be so much the same even though we are all not in the same class. Phil was two years older than me. Jim a year younger, EJ, ten years younger.
At one point in my life I played football for Ron Haun at Murray High, and later worked for his older brother, Pete Haun when he was the Director of the Department of Corrections. Spent a couple of nights in a car outside, Pete's house guarding it from a guy who had made some death threats.
Worked for, Joe Borich at Corrections. He played football at Murray High with Ron and Pete. Can't remember how many Sundquist brothers I worked with, played ball with or knew over the years. If it weren't for, Jeff Sundquist talking me into it, I might have never gone to work for Corrections and I'd still be a, "wage slave" for the Juvenile Court.
So, I'm a, "Murray Guy". I was born in a little town in West Virginia, but Murray is my home. My daughter was born in Murray. My son has grown up here. We moved back here when he was starting kindergarten, and this is the only place he's gone to school.
In the winter of 2001, before the Olympics started, my son was playing rec league basketball here in Murray. At the, "NEW" high school gym. The one built a few years after I graduated from Murray High. There is a trophy case outside the door of the gym and my daughter was looking at it and said to her brother, "Hey, Danny! Come and look at this trophy, it's got dad's name on it!"
It was the 1976 State AAA Football Championship Trophy. Just happened to be turned the right way that the panel with my name on it was showing.
I never started a Varsity game at Murray High. I played sophomore, and JV, and was on the team as a senior. But I was slow, and when I got in as a senior, the game was already more than decided. But that was OK, because I played on the scout team, and I showed up for practice everyday, so I got to play football everyday. And I loved it. I did my part. And for that, I was rewarded with my name on that trophy, and a varsity letter for having played all three years I was there.
My daughter showing my son that trophy might be the proudest moment of my life. I still tear up when I think of it.
I'm a, "Murray Guy". And we were talking about what that meant this afternoon around the wood stove.
My son has had three of his friends leave his Murray Max Soccer Team over the years to go play for teams that had a better shot at playing in a Premier League. He gets a ton of mail every spring asking him to try out for them, but I won't let him.
The purpose of the Murray Max program is to get these kids to play together all the way to high school, so they are good at that level. Not to win national competitions.
His buddies are now back trying out for the Murray High team. What, you couldn't make the, "Impact High" team, or the, "Sparta High" team? Oh, they don't exist? No kidding. Well, then you're not a, "Murray Guy" so maybe you shouldn't get the privilege of playing for Murray.
EJ's son is a good hockey player. He could go play somewhere else with more prestige, but no, he's going to stay here and be a, "Murray Guy".
Phil's son, Alex is the reason I sold my home in West Jordan and moved back. Watching Alex pitch for the home side his last summer in Legion ball just made it too hard to stay in West Jordan. I didn't like it there anyway, even though we built the house the way we wanted it. I just never felt comfortable there. Too Mormon, to Republican. Just not my kind of place.
Alex just bought his first house. In Murray. He's a, "Murray Guy".
My friend, Alphonso and I bought, unknown to each other, new Camaro's within 3 days of each other last spring. What color did we both buy? Orange and black for hell sake! What would you think?
Al's a, "Murray Guy" too. He lives just up the hill from me, and not far from, Phil. In Murray.
When we got to move back here, ten years ago, my daughter was in 8Th grade. At the first parent teacher conference at Riverview Jr. High in September it seemed to my wife, who grew up in California, that I knew everyone else's parents from high school. At the end of the evening, as we were walking out, she said, "My God, this place is, Brigadoon! You people never leave!"
Guilty as charged. Even when my son was playing baseball at Grant Park, where I played Little League baseball, he was on a team with a Rompus. When over the speakers we heard, "On deck, Rompus, in the hole, Stickley" I turned to, Dino and said, "Just like 40 years ago, huh?" And it was.
We are all, "Murray Guys". We don't leave, and if we have to? We come home to make it better than we left it. We hope.
Flip Nielson, Phil Markham, Greg Hill, Kevin and Lynn Potter, are all, "Murray Guys" who stayed here to make Murray a better place to live. I'm sure there are a lot more I don't know about.
I noticed a few years ago when my son started to play baseball and soccer I had come full circle in my clothing colors. When I started school at the, "U" most of the shirts and jackets I had were orange and black and said, "Murray Football" on them. Now, 40 years later, I have an inordinate amount of clothing that's orange and black, and says, "Murray" on it somewhere.
I don't think there is any place quite like this. Not in Utah, not anywhere. And that's OK. I hope it never changes. The Greeks, the Italians and everyone else who came here in the 1800's made it a great town. And it's awesome that most of them stayed. I'm glad we're diverse, and accepting, such a great place to live.
My State Legislator, State Senator, and Congressman are all Democrats. Anyone else in Utah who doesn't live in Salt Lake City who can say that might live in a city as cool as mine.
Danny thinks I bought the Camaro in orange and black so he could drive it to high school. Fat chance. That's 406 bhp he's NEVER going to get to drive. But I'm proud to drop him off at soccer practice in it.
Last spring, the boys played, and beat, a team from Park City down here by my house at the Willow Pond Soccer Complex. And as we were loading the chairs and stuff into the back of the big orange and black beast, one of the Park City moms walked buy and took a good, long look at the car, and said to my wife, "Boy. You must REALLY love your team."
Lady, you have NO idea how much.
If you're not a, "Murray Guy", you will never know how cool it is to be one. We might not always win, but even when we don't, we get to come home to Murray. And that's better than any place YOU get to go home to.
The memories we have of growing up in Murray, of being at Murray High, seem to be so much the same even though we are all not in the same class. Phil was two years older than me. Jim a year younger, EJ, ten years younger.
At one point in my life I played football for Ron Haun at Murray High, and later worked for his older brother, Pete Haun when he was the Director of the Department of Corrections. Spent a couple of nights in a car outside, Pete's house guarding it from a guy who had made some death threats.
Worked for, Joe Borich at Corrections. He played football at Murray High with Ron and Pete. Can't remember how many Sundquist brothers I worked with, played ball with or knew over the years. If it weren't for, Jeff Sundquist talking me into it, I might have never gone to work for Corrections and I'd still be a, "wage slave" for the Juvenile Court.
So, I'm a, "Murray Guy". I was born in a little town in West Virginia, but Murray is my home. My daughter was born in Murray. My son has grown up here. We moved back here when he was starting kindergarten, and this is the only place he's gone to school.
In the winter of 2001, before the Olympics started, my son was playing rec league basketball here in Murray. At the, "NEW" high school gym. The one built a few years after I graduated from Murray High. There is a trophy case outside the door of the gym and my daughter was looking at it and said to her brother, "Hey, Danny! Come and look at this trophy, it's got dad's name on it!"
It was the 1976 State AAA Football Championship Trophy. Just happened to be turned the right way that the panel with my name on it was showing.
I never started a Varsity game at Murray High. I played sophomore, and JV, and was on the team as a senior. But I was slow, and when I got in as a senior, the game was already more than decided. But that was OK, because I played on the scout team, and I showed up for practice everyday, so I got to play football everyday. And I loved it. I did my part. And for that, I was rewarded with my name on that trophy, and a varsity letter for having played all three years I was there.
My daughter showing my son that trophy might be the proudest moment of my life. I still tear up when I think of it.
I'm a, "Murray Guy". And we were talking about what that meant this afternoon around the wood stove.
My son has had three of his friends leave his Murray Max Soccer Team over the years to go play for teams that had a better shot at playing in a Premier League. He gets a ton of mail every spring asking him to try out for them, but I won't let him.
The purpose of the Murray Max program is to get these kids to play together all the way to high school, so they are good at that level. Not to win national competitions.
His buddies are now back trying out for the Murray High team. What, you couldn't make the, "Impact High" team, or the, "Sparta High" team? Oh, they don't exist? No kidding. Well, then you're not a, "Murray Guy" so maybe you shouldn't get the privilege of playing for Murray.
EJ's son is a good hockey player. He could go play somewhere else with more prestige, but no, he's going to stay here and be a, "Murray Guy".
Phil's son, Alex is the reason I sold my home in West Jordan and moved back. Watching Alex pitch for the home side his last summer in Legion ball just made it too hard to stay in West Jordan. I didn't like it there anyway, even though we built the house the way we wanted it. I just never felt comfortable there. Too Mormon, to Republican. Just not my kind of place.
Alex just bought his first house. In Murray. He's a, "Murray Guy".
My friend, Alphonso and I bought, unknown to each other, new Camaro's within 3 days of each other last spring. What color did we both buy? Orange and black for hell sake! What would you think?
Al's a, "Murray Guy" too. He lives just up the hill from me, and not far from, Phil. In Murray.
When we got to move back here, ten years ago, my daughter was in 8Th grade. At the first parent teacher conference at Riverview Jr. High in September it seemed to my wife, who grew up in California, that I knew everyone else's parents from high school. At the end of the evening, as we were walking out, she said, "My God, this place is, Brigadoon! You people never leave!"
Guilty as charged. Even when my son was playing baseball at Grant Park, where I played Little League baseball, he was on a team with a Rompus. When over the speakers we heard, "On deck, Rompus, in the hole, Stickley" I turned to, Dino and said, "Just like 40 years ago, huh?" And it was.
We are all, "Murray Guys". We don't leave, and if we have to? We come home to make it better than we left it. We hope.
Flip Nielson, Phil Markham, Greg Hill, Kevin and Lynn Potter, are all, "Murray Guys" who stayed here to make Murray a better place to live. I'm sure there are a lot more I don't know about.
I noticed a few years ago when my son started to play baseball and soccer I had come full circle in my clothing colors. When I started school at the, "U" most of the shirts and jackets I had were orange and black and said, "Murray Football" on them. Now, 40 years later, I have an inordinate amount of clothing that's orange and black, and says, "Murray" on it somewhere.
I don't think there is any place quite like this. Not in Utah, not anywhere. And that's OK. I hope it never changes. The Greeks, the Italians and everyone else who came here in the 1800's made it a great town. And it's awesome that most of them stayed. I'm glad we're diverse, and accepting, such a great place to live.
My State Legislator, State Senator, and Congressman are all Democrats. Anyone else in Utah who doesn't live in Salt Lake City who can say that might live in a city as cool as mine.
Danny thinks I bought the Camaro in orange and black so he could drive it to high school. Fat chance. That's 406 bhp he's NEVER going to get to drive. But I'm proud to drop him off at soccer practice in it.
Last spring, the boys played, and beat, a team from Park City down here by my house at the Willow Pond Soccer Complex. And as we were loading the chairs and stuff into the back of the big orange and black beast, one of the Park City moms walked buy and took a good, long look at the car, and said to my wife, "Boy. You must REALLY love your team."
Lady, you have NO idea how much.
If you're not a, "Murray Guy", you will never know how cool it is to be one. We might not always win, but even when we don't, we get to come home to Murray. And that's better than any place YOU get to go home to.
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