In A Mixednut Shell

I know I’ve been neglecting you little blog, but daddy’s home now. 

So much has been going on around here that my head is spinning from trying to keep up. Lots of major changes are approaching and I’m either very excited or very scared.

Some background:  About four years ago my wife and I split after being together for almost 15 years.  We were as tight a couple as you could find and did everything together.  I can’t point the finger and say it was all one person’s fault, I know I’m no angel. But I will say it had a LOT to do with a meth problem.  And I don’t do meth.  So, after a few somewhat violent encounters, I moved out for a short time at her request.  I resisted at first, thinking we could work it out together, but eventually, it became too unbearable to stay.  Several months later, with the beginning of the new school year approaching, I made the hardest decision of my life and filed paperwork to have her, and all twelve or more of her “friends” that were living there, kicked out so my son and I could move back in and try to restore our lives.  I’ll never forget the day that, after a two week warning to either get her “friends” out or leave with them, she told the judge “they have nowhere else to go”.

Since then I’ve tried to keep everything as stable as I could.  Same house, same school, etc. But the burden has become too much for me to bear alone.   I’ve been hoping that his mother would come to her senses and help out a little.  No such luck.  I could tell you horror stories about some of the decisions she’s made since the split, but that’s another post. 

So now, the final push is on to sell the house.  It’s been on the market for almost a year now and I’ve only had one offer (that I agreed to immediately) and that was back in December.  This is THE worst time to have a house on the market in SoCal. Once again, timing is everything. I’ve re-fi’d twice and can’t go any lower.  It’s been tough trying to keep it by myself but it looks like it’s time to move on.       

And this whole business of trying to keep the house spotless 24/7 just in case someone wants to look at it, well I’m just about done with that.  I mean, hello?, we still LIVE here.  Come on in and look around, but if you happen to catch me on laundry day, just picture it without the dirty socks and step over the beer cans.

It’s been a long time since I moved residence and the last time I did, I didn’t have a son to consider. So much to do. I’m a little freaked out, stressed out, and just plain worn out. I’ve been feeling this way for the past several months and somedays are good and other days, I don’t feel like doing shit. Those are usually the weekends that the Punkster’s with his mother or grandparents when she’s incarcerated out of town.

But something strange has also happened within the past few months. An angel appeared. Out of nowhere, and within two weeks after my mom passed away, this angel came to me and has since renewed my spirit in ways I could not even have imagined. The timing, in this case, was perfect and I firmly believe my mom had everything to with it. And it is because this angel is by my side, figuratively speaking, that I know I will make it through whatever curves life is going to throw at me.

Summer Time

It was pretty hot this past weekend, so I took the boat out.
Nice day for a boat ride but I think I need a bigger motor.

Moving Pictures

These guys…

…are playing the Hollywood Bowl on Monday…

…and I am sofa king there!

Rush is definitely my favorite band of all time. My very first concert was at the Forum during the Moving Pictures tour and I have not missed a tour since. On a few tours, I went to more than one show. They never fail to amaze me.

The music, well that speaks for itself. But I have never seen a band so tight!
They are incredible musicians and they have a blast doing it. They are very playful onstage and that is just so cool to watch. You can tell they are really having fun.

I knew they were coming to town months ago, but I didn’t think I would be able to go. I don’t go to nearly as many concerts as I used to back in the day. Instead of a couple of times a month, I only go now about twice year. And it’s been a while!
I checked it out online and found there were some decent seats left.

So I thought, what the fuck! I need to blow off some serious steam and what better way to do it than to rock out with your cock out!! Ok…maybe not completely out.
I don’t want to miss the show.

Classic Clip

After all these years, this clip still cracks me up.

Two Memes

My good friend Teri tagged me with not one, but two memes. Thanks Teri!

The rule is you type in your birth month and day into Wikipedia, then list 3 events, 2 births and 1 holiday.

Events

1783 – The volcano Laki, in Iceland, begins an eight-month eruption which kills over 9,000 people and starts a seven-year famine. (Iceland has volcanoes?)

1949 – Such celebrities as Helen Keller, Dorothy Parker, Danny Kaye, Fredric March, John Garfield, Paul Muni and Edward G. Robinson are named in an FBI report as Communist Party members. (Helen was a commie? WTF?)

1984 – Homosexuality is declared not a crime in the state of New South Wales, Australia. (A crime? Holy crap!)

Births

1927 – Jerry Stiller, American comedian and actor. (Serenity Now!)

1944 – Boz Scaggs, American singer and songwriter (Hell yeah!)

Holiday

World Ocean Day (Another good reason to celebrate, wooo-hoooo!)

Mutation meme

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

8 random facts/habits:

8. I’ll eat just about anything. I’ve turned people’s stomaches when I tell them what I’ve tried. But I will NEVER try Rocky Mountain Oysters. You gotta draw the line somewhere.

7. I love my stereo more than my tv. I could get by with a 13″ standard POS tv with no cable. But don’t even eyeball my Cerwin-Vegas!

6. Orange juice or a power shake is my coffee in the morning. Power shake = equal parts OJ and milk with the frozen fruit of your choice (I like mango, strawberry and blueberries) with a banana, blended. Bee pollen optional. (pfft!)

5. For the first time I recently performed one of my pet peeves. Backing out of a parking space while on the phone. It will never happen again! *hangs head in shame*

4. I love the Bee Gees. There! I said it! I feel so much better

3. I am not lactose intolerant. But I feel for those that are.

2. I have a problem with high places, but yet I love the big roller coasters. Go figure.

1. I never cry. I’m in drought country.

Tag eight people? That’s a lot of pressure. If you made it this far, consider yourself tagged!

Random Thoughts

Keeping the week long birthday tradition alive, I took my son out to lunch today.

A couple of WTF moments arose, to me anyway:

I couldn’t help but overhearing a waitress ask an elderly woman, after taking her drink order, if she would like to upgrade to Bacardi 151. She told her it was a more superior type of rum than the regular stuff. Afterwards, I could see that she ordered a Pina Colada. But this woman had to be in her 70’s, at least! Are you trying to kill her?? 151 is almost twice the proof and is as flammable as gasoline. Hellll-ooooo?

THEN, the people that are seated next to us come in wearing flip-flops, which is no problem, it’s summertime. But keep the fucking things on your feet while you’re here. I guess it’s ok to come in wearing “shoes”, but once you’re seated it’s ok to leave them under the table while you cross your legs on your chair? I can see your skanky-ass feet. Puh-leeese!

We’re living in a society here!

Beach Trip

Pack your sunscreen everyone.

Punkster has his 11th birthday this week and last weekend I asked him where would he like to go.

“The beach, of course.” was his reply. Owwww…twist my arm. You don’t have to tell me twice.

Our favorite spot lately has been between the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. It’s one of our faves because you can walk north to the pier, which has a roller coaster among other other fun rides, games, shops and restaurants, or south to Venice. If you aren’t molested by the homeless, or you don’t happen to catch your foot on the exposed nails or splinters on that raggedy-ass pier, then consider it a good day!

We rode the coaster, the boat that rocks back and forth at ninety degree angles, and a bunch of other rides that would make most people want to toss their cookies.

Then we hoofed it south to Venice beach which offers a variety of unique shops, eateries, and some major people watching.

It’s between these two places we like to venture out into the surf. We must have spent a good 4 hours out there trying to body surf and letting the waves give us the washing machine treatment. Most days the beaches are fairly clean and free of used condoms and syringes. Just keep your eyes peeled. But seriously, on a good day, in six feet of water you can see the gang members, that didn’t make the cut, on the bottom. It’s worth bringing your diving mask.

Later this week we’ll have some more celebrations. I’m a believer of week long birthday parties, rather than just one day. Maybe I’ll throw his birthday bash at Hooters. What the hell.

Here’s some pix:

This is the Santa Monica Bay, facing north towards Malibu.
Y’know. The place where all the celebrity homes will be
underwater in say… 5 years?
On a bad day, SoCal’s toilet.

Cool RV. Clicky here for a much larger view.

The grill.

A lot of people come down to Venice and do whatever they can to make a buck.
Like this…person.

This guy performed some amazing bicycle tricks.
Including riding while standing on the handlebars!

Some shops.

Since the pier is not that big, everything is packed close together.

Beach musicians.

Stopped by Rusty’s Surf Ranch for some…

My pride and joy, the birthday boy!
Happy Birthday my son. May you have many, many more.

Hotter Than Hell

Well now that it has cooled down from 115 plus to a mere 100 I thought I would share this recent e-mail I received with Teri’s sister Prissy in mind. Stay cool.

You know you’re from Arizona if…

1. You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
2. You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
3. You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
4. You can listen to the weather forecast of 115 degrees without flinching.
5. You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour…and it will be over 100 degrees.
6. You discover, in July it only takes two fingers to drive your car, because your steering wheel is so hot.
7. You can make sun tea instantly.
8. You run your a/c in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
9. The best parking is determined by shade…..not distance.
10. You realize that “Valley Fever” is not a disco dance.
11. Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one.
12. It’s noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people.
13. You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
14. Sunscreen is sold year round, kept right at the checkout counter.
15. You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box.
16.Some fools will market mini-misters for joggers and some other fools will actually buy them.
Worse…..some fools actually try to jog.
17. You know hot air balloons can’t rise because the air temperature is hotter than the air inside the balloon.
18. No one would dream of putting vinyl inside a car.
19. You see two trees fighting over a dog.
20. You can say “Hohokam” and people don’t think you’re laughing funny.
21. You see more irrigation water on the street than there is in the Salt River.
22. You have to go to a fake beach for some fake waves.
23. You can understand the reason for a town named “Why”.
24. You can fry an egg on the hood of a car IN THE MORNING!
25. You hear people say “but it’s a DRY heat!”
26. You buy salsa by the gallon.
27. Your Christmas decorations include sand and l00 paper bags.
28. You think a red light is merely a suggestion.
29. All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.
30. You think someone wearing oven mitts while driving is clever.
31. Most of the restaurants in town have the first name “El” or “Los.”
32. You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard.
33. Your house is made of stucco and has a red clay tile roof.
34. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
35. Most homes have more firearms than people.
36. Kids will ask, “What’s a mosquito?”
37. People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out of-state or nuts.
38. You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you’re wearing shorts.
39. If you haven’t worked for Motorola at some time, you must be a newcomer.
40. You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.
41. You can pronounce “Saguaro”, “Tempe”, “San Xavier”, “Canyon de Chelly”, “Mogollon Rim”, and “Cholla”
42. You start sweating profusely after you enter an air conditioned building.
43. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends.

Safe And Sane

Just thinking about the holiday gets me all giddy inside. I love the whole idea about celebrating our country’s discovery. The vibe in the air while everyone runs around buying gifts and decorating trees.

I remember when I was a youngster, my mom and I would go down to the local patch and pick out the biggest pumpkin ever. Then we’d go home and light some candles and dye some eggs.

As usual I will probably have trouble falling asleep tonight, being too excited to sleep, wondering what the tooth fairy will bring.

Happy Holiday Everyone! Get out and blow up some shit. That’s what our forefathers would’ve done.

That’s It?

I stole this from my good buddy Dick at Dick Small’s Blog. Thanks Dick!

Damn. And I was really hoping for an NC-17.

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