I never thought I would see the day

...that I would so enjoy the sunsets and sunrises like we have here on the water almost daily. Right here is New Jersey!

...that I would use such wondrous and magical tools like the internet. With applications like Facebook, the net eliminates the boundaries of distance and even time. I have traveled back in time to reconnect with long-lost friends. Friends from grammar school, high school, college, Air Force, my working career that has spanned 36 years. These renewed friendships enrich my life and provide an unique joy to this journey once again.

...that I would be shocked that a man who once posed totally nude in a magazine could get elected to the Senate. He happens to be a Republican. What happened to "family" values that party is so proud of? By the way, there is great irony in this victory as the seat that was filled was Ted Kennedy's, the champion of Healthcare reform.

...that I would be asked to play Andy Rooney in an upcoming company video. OMG, do I look that old? Please don't answer! Now what's this I found in my desk drawer? Carbon paper?

...that I would hear the vitriolic ranting that the conservative and liberal media hosts -- not to mention politicians -- offer to their listeners. Olbermann calls Scott Brown every foul name in the book on air just after Brown is elected. Limbaugh says "Haiti is tailor-made situation for Obama" as if Obama can score points from it. Hannity compares Obama to Hitler, the greatest monster in history of mankind. Does anyone else find this repulsive? Why the hell aren't sponsors bailing out on these guys? Free speech -- yes. Lying and slandering -- no. It's up to us to tune out and then advertisers to bail out fom these guys.

...that I would be disappointed that the seemingly smart and educated people we elect to represent us as Senators and Representatives turn into gang members in Washington, They join one of the two political gangs in Washington and they apparently swear allegiance to the red or the blue and they vote as if they share the same brain. When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way.

...and that I would be amazed that Apple named its new tablet computer the I-Pad. There couldn't have been a woman in the room when they picked that name!

Who Was the Man in the Mirror?

How can the death of Michael Jackson become such a focus for so many? So many others have died having lived much more noblely and were more worthy of our interest and sympathy. Farrah Fawcett, for one, fought all the way out. Her celebrity pales in comparison to MJs. His courage pales in light of hers. Michael just "eased on" down a ruinous road. So why all the uproar about Michael?

Was it that he dazzled— really dazzled — us as a performing artist like no one else ever did?

Was it that he was such a freak show — especially for the past 25 years?

Did his life peak too early in 1983 with the release of the music video “Thriller?”

Was the low point reached during the trial for child molestration?

Was it that we could see ourselves in his brilliance?

Or did we recognize his failures all too well?

Was he a hollow man in the end ?

Has he lived in a drug-dream all his life?

Did he leave here with unfulfilled dreams?

Did his life intentionally parallel that of Elvis – the King of Rock and Roll? Even to go as far as to marry Elvis' daughter?

Was he anorexic? Did he really have a skin disease? Was he in chronic pain all the time?

Does anyone really pity the Jackson family? Does Michael, himself, deserve our pity?

Did Michael ever really grow up?

What did Michael see in the mirror? What did he see?

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

There Are Still Only Two Possible Outcomes

It's 1971 and I am sick with a very bad cough.  So at the urging of my wife, I visit the New Cumberland Army Depot Medical Dispensary. I am stationed here. I am an Air Force Recruiter here in eastern Pennsylvania.

The dispensary is small, as is the Army Depot, and there is only one doctor here during weekday hours. He is Dr. Wojewicz. He looks to be about 80 years old (to these 23 old eyes). Too old to be practicing medicine I think. And he speaks with a heavy eastern European accent. It crosses my mind that this doctor may have participated in WWII. It also crosses my mind that he could have been on either side.

My concerns are put to rest by the kindly doctor as he asks me "What is you here for?" I explain this brutal cough, and even demonstrate it for him. He listens to my chest, checks my throat, thumps me on the back and says: "you pretty well to me." Embarassed, I hack furiously, hoping some sputum will appear to vindicate my visit to sick call. I don't want to be known as a "goldbrick." But nothing comes up or out. Even my cough is kinda prissy.

The good doctor says: "Okay, G.I. You return to duty." He has obviously deduced I am a malingerer.

"What if I keep coughing?" asks I.

"Only two outcomes," he says, then he winks. "You will either get better, or you will die." He then hands me a bottle of green cough syrup, which is known to servicemen the world over as G.I. Gin.

Ed. Note: G.I. Gin was a term used for Army cough medicine, a combination of 50% grain alcohol, juniper berry flavoring and water and syrup. Soldiers would show up at sick call just to get a bottle of this potent cough suppressant.

Now it's 2009. I had both knees replaced 4 years ago last November. It's a pretty intense experience and I still have to take the prescription drug - Celebrex -- once a day to control inflammation. I have to call for renewal every three months My doctor is a very young, bright, thorough and intensely competent internist from India. I call the doctors office and leave a message for a renewal. I get a call the next day from a nurse who says that the doctor wants me to take a blood test and then come see her before she renews it.

Hmm. OK. She is very thorough, and that a good thing. I arrange for the blood test, take a half day off to go in for it, then schedule an appointment with the doctor.

The appointment day arrives. I am now in the examination room and the nurse asks me why am I here. I tell her. She says the doctor will be in shortly. And she is. She has my chart and is apparently studying it closely.

I am getting a little nervous. "What is it, Doc?" asks I.

She looks at me and puts her hand on my shoulder and says: "Just promise me one thing. "

She now has my complete attention.

"If you ever feel like killing yourself," she says solemnly, "please call 911!"

My mind is now racing. Did my blood test indicate suicide was imminent? Does she think that I will kill myself if she won't prescribe Celebrex? Is suicide a side effect of Celebrex?? And if I am suicidal, I should call 911, not even her? YIKES.

I blurt out "In my darkest days I have NEVER considered suicide! I am here only to get a Celebrex refill!" "Good idea" she says, abruptly leaving the death talk behind. "While you are here, let's get a blood test."

"Uh, I had one earlier this week at your request," I mutter, now wondering whose chart she was looking at. "Oh, yes" she says flipping through the papers. "Here it is. Looks good although your HDL is up a little. You should exercise more often" she advises. "OK," I lie.

Even doctors have off days, and this is one for my normally great doctor. I won't hold it against her. Even though she wants me to call 911 instead of her if I want to off myself!

As she writes my Celebrex script, I ask her what will happen if my HDL stays at this level for any period of time. She smiles. "There are two possible outcomes."

"Don't tell me, I know," says I.

The Older I Get...

The more I like work (!)


The less I like commuting to work.


The more I find people fascinating.

The less I like large get-togethers.

The more I like prefer small groups of people.


The less of think that "more" of everything is better.

The more I appreciate birds. and nature in general.

The less I trust government.

The more I like football and baseball.

The less I watch basketball and hockey.

The more amazed I am at how heroic average people can be (check the front page of any major newpaper during a catatrophe).

The more disappointed I am at how greedy people can be. (Check the financial sections of your newpaper).

The less I think that law is about justice.

The more I think justice can actually be prevented by lawyers.

The more I like independent films.

The more I like Hollywood films, too.

The more I realize that you can't get peace through war.

The less I like politicians who claim we can.

The more I realize that the truth is not absolute but lies are absolute.

The less I like political races.

The more I like the concept of life.