I'm so exhausted I could cry

And yet there is still sht to do yet tonight.

And so much sht to get rid of.

And I am poaching a good network in a parking lot. Which was kind of ruined by the fact that the lady parked next to me named her child "Judgment".


Gonna be Craigslisting a lot of stuff once this is over. If I can just get it to the point that it's over with.

Empowering

You hear the word "empowered" thrown around a lot lately. It's usually considered synonymous with education, and it's a very unequal and incorrect assumption.

If you want to empower yourself, you better get out there and bust your ass and accomplish something. You can be told you are being empowered but until you accomplish something and get that feeling of empowerment washing over you, you are nowhere near there yet.
________________________________________________________


Today, I still had a lot of shit to unload out of the old place. Most of it will go.

And today, I borrowed my father's/brother's red 1985 ford pickup. It is a man's truck. It starts like a man's truck meaning you better know how to start that baby. You also have to handle it, back it up, and most importantly, not mess it up.

Today I did that.

There is nothing more empowering than driving an old pickup truck. I cannot explain it in any other way than this: a pickup truck embodies the soul of what this nation is about. You better know what you're doing and usually if you're in a pickup, you have something to do in a specific amount of time. Whatever you're hauling you have to get it out of where it is, get it loaded, secure it, and then drive it on the highway or freeway and not lose it. Then, you have to unload it, not just dump it off. And put the gas back into it because for every freedom is a corresponding responsibility.

The pickup is the soul of the nation.

Master the pickup truck and the art of work and the art of accomplishment, and you will find just one way of empowering yourself. If you're a short woman huzzah to you. If you have the opportunity to drive that pickup down a country highway, you will find yourself in the heaven known as the USA.

Dispatches from the UHS

My new apartment is just close enough to street level that I can see life happening. During my first afternoon at the new place, I saw something that really brightened my spirits. People. They were out taking advantage of the afternoon, and they live here.

People were living. They were collecting at restaurants near my place, walking with each other, and some of them were headed to the lakefront for a run. In the early evening I saw the same thing - people enjoying life and enjoying the summer.

I like the people that live and frequent this area. I like their behavior. Milwaukee has been home for a long time and I have seen a lot of bad behavior, but I don't want to dwell on that, right now.

I just want to savor what I have arranged for myself.

Welcome home, Phel.

Limited Access

My access to internet is pretty limited at the moment... TWC can't hook me up till the 3rd. And unsecured networks are few and far between. Just fyi for now on blogging and comments.

In the Lenin Closet....

h/t Fred

Finally Going Green

Haaahhhaaaa..... gotcha. Just kidding.

But I will be moving over the next few days, you know, so I can walk to work, put the car on blocks, whatever. Will post when I can. And I promise to respond to the MILF thread, there are a few things I want to chime in on.

MILFdom. Crossing the Abyss

I'd like to know what really qualifies MILFdom. Don't you have to be an M first?

Someone called me a MILF the other day. Yes, I was offended. Damnit. First, the presumption involved is pretty darned bold but secondly, it means I am no longer the basic thirtysomething. I have crossed some type of age abyss at least at the outset.

Calling someone a MILF is different than the poor soul who thinks you're his age and is genuinely startled when you catch him looking at you. That's harmless and indicates a good upbringing. But being bold and disrespectful is quite another.

If your parents won't punish you for being a punk, I will. Unfortunately for you, it will not be enjoyable, but it will be memorable.

Don't H8

Hooray! It's....

Let's get to work!

Saturday Tune - Desperado like you've never heard it

Not much for the visual, but I was able to find a copy of this awesome version of the Eagles' "Desperado" by one of my all time favorite bands....Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Blame Barack

Barack Obama hates airline pilots. How?

Today a United flight was cancelled after the pilot announced he was too upset to fly the plane. This was after an apparent labor related dispute.

And that Barack. He thinks that the gas prices are fine and dandy. If gas prices weren't so high, the pilot probably wouldn't be having said disputes. C'mon, we all know the airlines are in major trouble because of gas prices.

So there you have it. Barack likes high gas prices, pilots are jeopardized by high gas prices, therefore, Barack Obama hates pilots! BB. Blame Barack!

New Footage of Lake Delton Drain

Belling posted it on his site. And it is dramatic. What I couldn't believe though, was the asshole out on the lake in his boat.

Reasons to Love the Site Hot Chicks With Douchebags

ALERT! Now, with even more douchebags!




Reasons to Love the Site Hot Chicks With Douchebags


1) I can laugh at others....alas they are bigger fools than I could ever make of my self...voluntarily (while proudly and wrongly thinking I'm cool).

2) Commenter's screen names. Cases in point:

Don't Wheeze the Douche
Douchestopheles
Ratadouchie
'bag lanta
lacdouche intolerant
douchetoevsky
Scrotebob Douchepants
Ol' Dirty Douchebag
Social Douchestortion
moby douche
Steve Douchemi
Rubber Douchey
Hong Kong Douchey
Johnny Scrotten
Scoobydouche
the douche of monte cristo
Karl Rove: Part time Political Analyst, Full Time Douche Assassin
Deloitte and Douche

NEW UPDATES!
Douche of Earl
Douche Bigalow
david scroterfield
Salman Douchdie
Massa-douchetts
dawn of the douche

And I've saved the best for last...

"mahmoud ahmadinedouche"


Names were changed to protect the innocent

Name an Obama Accomplishment

and win a date with Phel!!!

Just kidding.

Courtesy of my wonderful friend Patti. I was astounded when I saw this but...not surprised.

Tit for Tat

Taxes are imposed on us
Mandates are imposed on us
Horrible judicial decisions are forced upon us, and the soul of our country - the Constitution.

All of that said, I say impose upon us something that will actually produce, do us good, and in turn benefit The Whole.

I say Bush should sign an Executive Order allowing us to drill in ANWR and off the coast of FL.

You don't like it, too bad. I don't like taxes, I don't like mandates, I don't like footing the bill for lazy people and socialism. I don't benefit from any of that, period.

But I do support something that will benefit everyone, even the lazy, able bodied, slothly and unproductive.

They will be sorted out, later.

Glenn Frankovis

On the comparison of Katrina with Iowa:

"Maybe I’ve missed it, but I haven’t seen the finger pointing, blame game and reports of looting and other criminal activity which were so prevalent in the New Orleans Katrina disaster. All I’ve seen and heard are hard working people, young and old, sandbagging and proudly fighting to save their cities, towns, farms and households....

but the point is they are not sitting back and whining about why somebody else isn’t doing more to help them and blaming everything on the government. And they continue to fight even though the flooding has not yet crested in many areas. These people are truly the backbone of America."

Well said sir. You have crystallized my rambling thoughts of the past week.

Capt. William Nowak

...director of the Milwaukee Fire Department Dive Rescue Team, on stupid people surfing down the river:

"This is not the Kalahari at Wisconsin Dells here," Nowak said. "If you get caught up in that, you're in big trouble....

"What you have is a big toxic cesspool coming down the river. You have farm runoff, pesticides, overflow, poop, sewer dumping, speed, velocity and temperature," he said. "Not good."

He also discouraged kayakers and canoeists from trying to navigate the water.

This means YOU - apparent adults who voluntarily put your children in harm's way. You should be charged for what it cost us to rescue you (in a time when the state is already billions in the hole in flood damages), and you should be charged with child endangerment. Stick with drinking your stupid mimosas on your stupid deck. At least your kids are on dry land and have a chance to run away from you and your stupidity.

Want to Bust Your A--?

Try just five of these

One of my Favorites

If you have the opportunity to watch the PBS documentary on Bob Dylan called "No Direction Home", don't pass it up. It's full of so many great moments and performances.

One of my favorites is Joan Baez's performance of Dylan's "Love is just a four letter word". It's a beautiful song, and I think of it as an earlier version of "Tangled Up in Blue". Full lyrics here.

And so many of Dylan's songs have such great lyrics. Case in point:

I said goodbye unnoticed
Pushed towards things in my own games
Drifting in and out of lifetimes
Unmentionable by name

So without further babbling...



However, her voice is more beautiful here - and she's got Earl Scruggs in the mix. Now that's great stuff.

Gimme a B!

For bicep!


Seriously. There is nothing in life that can't be solved by three things:

A sack of potatoes
Real butter
and free weights.

Ethanol: Time to lift the mandate. For real. Seriously. Not Kidding.

Flooding in Iowa and Illinois, and now Wisconsin, will no doubt put a horrible squeeze on corn supply this year. If you think it was bad before, Ma Nature just dumped Ronsonol on the fire. It's time to stop using gas for food because now, we need our food for food.

Just a thought. In the 60's and 70's, gas had a lot more energy in it. Gas wasn't this watered down crap that the gov't mandated so that they could collect more tax dollars. Put the energy back into the gasoline and we will not need to use as much or pay for as much.

Sorry government, the party is over.
------------------------------------------------------

If you don't believe me.....

Flooding In the Midwest:

Map of the Corn Belt

Mid Continent Railway Museum

I remember it flooding when I was a kid, but nothing like this. I hope that they are able to recover. Mid Continent has some very fine examples of rail history that are in good condition - no telling what it's like at this point. For more pics, visit their page.

If you can consider a donation they would really appreciate it. There is no government funding for private museums like this, and the restoration work is always volunteer.

So My #1 Hit Lately...

Is the commercial for Hey Love, the Sounds of Sexy Soul.

I'm so glad that a new generation has discovered the glory of the mid 80's. It was a great, great time to be alive. And it's where I first heard the song "Me and Misses Jones".

And yes, I must say it. "No my brother, you've got to buy your own"

I Has a Move Date

And I has a few moving funnehs.....

It's the weekend! Time to get some results

Wow, what a surprise

RIP Tim Russert. You'll be missed. That's all I have at this point.

It's Official, this is a fricking disaster

From the JS

Reports of major flooding are now coming out of Grant County, where residents are still being rescued from their homes and most state highways have been closed, according to the National Weather Service in Sullivan.

County Roads U, N, A and D are also closed and numerous town roads have been washed out, according to the weather service.

The Weather Service is also reporting major runoff four miles west of Lancaster, where a spotter measured 3.30 inches of rainfall this afternoon.

Careful everyone, and keep those affected in your prayers.

Why I Love New York

What other city could inspire a site like "Overheard in New York"?

Crazy man: I just decided to become a decimal point.

Large black woman on cell: Of course I'm loud, I'm fat!

Bus driver, on loudspeaker: Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best service we can provide at this moment. For any complaints please call the MTA [Pause.] And let me tell you this now... They won't do anything.

Homeless man to barking dog: You can yell at me all you want! It don't change a thing! I can hold shit and you can't cause you don't got thumbs, bitch!

One more from the Lemonheads

Just because I love 'em

The Good Old Days

Some are too young to remember, or are too old in the head and resistant to learning from the past. But the Jimmuh Carter years were horrible. Thank God that the windfall tax was killed.

It's very hard for me to fathom that anyone thought it was a good idea. Before anyone piles on in the comments and assumes I don't know - I know why it's a bad idea. What I'm saying here is that it's so out there, so stupid, so ignorant, that I can't wrap my mind around the fact that it almost happened. We were this >> << close to getting massively screwed. And it was a matter of the position of a FEW people f'ing all of us. It's only a matter of time before it backfires on these sheltered, spoiled, one-for-you, ten-for-me lawmakers.

How I'd love to see us lay our common hands on their pampered skin and watch it boil.

Monday Music

To dry out.... two from the newest album from one of my all time favorite bands, The Lemonheads.




This song is actually my favorite from the album, it's called No Backbone. Has J.Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. playing on the track. Great lyrics too.



And why these?

I have visions of Maryland in spring, driving up from the south in a Jeep Patriot. And because I won't always have the memory attached to the songs.

For The Love of All That's Green and Gold!

It's DUMPING! You know, like when you close the door and spend some time in the bathroom with reading material. DUMPING!

I mean really, are you going to say, "brb, gotta go Blend."

Stupid People in Dangerous Situations

I had to leave the house. There is no food in the house and I have been doing physical labor all day. So it let up a little, and I went to Pick 'n Save in the Tosa Village.

As I'm walking to my car from the store, I see numerous people on the 70th St. bridge watching the Menomonee river which was breaching its banks. Now the bridge that people were standing on is the bridge that has been closed in Tosa because it's falling apart. They closed it because there is a hole so bad that you can see the river below the bridge. That bad. The water was as high as the bridge.

I drive over the bluff to take a closer look. I'm not sure how to say this, but it wouldn't surprise me if that bridge collapsed overnight with the force of the water hitting it. And these dumb people were all standing on it like, hee hee hee, this is fun. Look at the water. In the five minutes that I was there, I saw the water cover a whole new part of the road. It was not a safe place to be.

So I turned around and went east one block to cross the river at 68th, figuring I could take the parkway home. No can do. I head east on the parkway and see that it's flooded out. Worse, I could see the water spilling UP over the road from the river. Turned back around to 68th, and looked at that bridge there, which is a different bridge. But you know what, I decided not to cross it. The water was also as high as that bridge. We're talking at least 14 feet above where the river normally flows.

Nothing is that exciting.

Rain rain rain....

The water was rushing down the driveway so hard that I had a little whitecap at the bottom of the driveway. Believe it or not, I was talking a little louder for this....

Now, you have to imagine Oprah is saying this....

O-Bonga!!!!!

Fabulous, hey? Courtesy of the wonderful Brenda Love

Hooray! It's Friday!

And time for an lolcat!

Hooray! It's Jazz in the Park!

And I made it home!

Hooray for summer!

And good hair days....

Who Wants a Moustache Ride

Sort of neat to see full length music videos that were filmed in Milwaukee. Here is the first video from my friend's band, The Response:

I saw this today

Yellow tarp and all. It freaked me out.

I agree with Belling on this

Enjoy Amy Winehouse now, because she'll be dead soon