Saffron is Nekkid!

What the hell are you looking at? At least that seems like what Saffie is saying. She got shaved again - she was leaving tribles all over the house, so we had no choice. Below she is showing off her sexy gams - we call them her pork chops.

Knitta, Please!

I read this great article in the Houston Chronicle today about a group called Knitta Please, a "knitting graffiti crew." They "tag" all over Houston by wrapping street signs, trees, car antennas, and door knobs/handles. Their work is signed by gift tags reading, Knitta Please and the tags include their website address.

On their website they write:

Knitta began in August 2005, when AKrylik and PolyCotN were discussing their frustration over unfinished knitting projects: half-knitted sweaters and balls of yarn gathering dust. That afternoon, they knitted their first doorknob cozy. Then it dawned on themA… A tag crew of knitters, bombing the inner city with vibrant, stitched works of art, wrapped around everything from beer bottles on easy nights to public monuments and utility poles on more ambitious outings. With a mix of clandestine moves and gangsta rap A— Knitta was born! Today, Knitta is a group of more than 10 ladies of all ages, races, nationalities, religions, sexual orientationA… and gender.

What a bizarre and wonderful way to spread a little joy.

For Gina - Congratulations!!!

Gina, we are so happy and excited that you are signing on for the long haul. Since we are going to be family and you are about to make an addition to our family, I thought I would let you know what you are in for.
In our family, it starts out like the first picture. Our little bundles of joy are all sweetness and light.
They are a cuddly joy to be around, have wonderful personalities and great senses of humor.
Sometimes they go through a grubby phase, but we still love them - more from a distance at times - but we love them just the same (even more after a bath).
Sometimes they develop hobbies - or obsessions. You make the call...

Then they turn 13. Thirteen in our family is an unfortunate development, but inevitable. Just remember, this too shall pass. So far, we have all survived it, so I know you will, too; )

Happy Birthday Connor

Connor got an exciting birthday party at The Magic Island this evening. He and his friend, Alex, hammed it up for the camera before we left for dinner. They looked adorable dressed up and wearing ties.

Sky, Con, and Alex enjoyed their meal in one of the themed dining rooms, but Alex could barely see over the table. Sky absolutely cannot take a bad picture - she's a beautiful girl with beautiful manners.
In this shot you can see Mom on the right, Dave grinning for the camera and Marilyn glaring at Alex. Unfortunately, Alex has food issues. Specifically, he only eats chicken fingers, french fries, and buttered pasta, and lucky for Marilyn, he only eats them while chewing with his mouth wide-open. Marilyn did the best she could under the circumstances.


Mom and Dad joined us for Connor's transitional birthday party (fancy restaurant, with a magic show). After we finished desert, we took in a magic show at the Palace of Tutankhamun, then the kids got to watch close-up magic at the Gallery of Ramsese. The kids really enjoyed interacting with the magician. A good time was had by all, in spite of evidence to the contrary - if you look to the far left, you can see Marilyn glowering at Alex.

Miami Vice Reruns

I am going to admit it; I have become addicted to Miami Vice. Twenty-two years after the show started, I have rediscovered how incredibly cool it really was. The new Sleuth channel airs MV every night at 10:00 PM and for an hour, I am transported back to the 1980’s, in all of its cheesy glory. The clothes, the hair, the music and the guest stars were so perfectly 80’s that I find myself grinning like a goon while I watch this show. The acting was over the top – just slightly more believable than the most perfect show of the 1970’s, Starsky and Hutch.

The guest stars I’ve seen so far:

Nathan Lane – playing decidedly against character as a stand up comic who is not only straight, but a rapist

Bianca Jagger – in a bit part, playing an assassin

G. Gordon Liddy – playing a black ops spook

Miles Davis – playing a pimp with a heart of gold

Jimmy Smits – as a drug lord

Ed O’Neil - as an FBI agent who may have crossed over to the dark side

Dennis Farina – Mobster who turns states evidence

Dan Hedaya – Drug dealer

Bruce Willis – Wife beating drug dealer

Joan Chen – as Capt. Castillo’s long lost lover

Glen Frey – as a smuggler

Phil Collins – as a game show host/con artist

Pam Grier – New York cop

John Turturo – Pimp

Ving Rhames – Jamaican immigrant

Esai Morales – Home invader/robber

William Russ – Undercover agent

Peter Allen – Man in the Gallery

Charles Dutton – Eccentric drug dealer

Kyra Sedgwick – a drug dealer’s moll

Ted Nugent – psychopath

John Hurd – Mob Attorney

More actors who either were or became household names: Terry O’Quinn – from Lost;

David Strathairn – most recently from Good Night and Good Luck; Michael Madsen – from Kill Bill; Garcelle Beauvaise- NYPD Blue; Clarence Williams III – from the Mod Squad and Purple Rain; Dean Stockwell – from Blue Velvet and Quantum Leap; Lynn Whitfield – from the Josephine Baker Story and Strong Medicine; Harvey Fierstein from Torch Song Trilogy; Michael Richards – from Seinfeld; Richard Belzer – stand-up comic and Homicide/Law and Order star; John Leguizamo – Stand-up comic/Actor...the list goes on.

Miami Vice had great recurring characters with fabulous names like:
Izzy, Ample Annie, Noogie, and Pepe (played by Shabba Doo).

Miami Vice had inspired casting, using musicians, singers, and celebrities to act in bit parts and recurring roles:

Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of Sha-Na-Na fame

Glen Frey of the Eagles

Phil Collins of Genesis

Joe “King” Curasco – Sings on a yacht

Peter Allen

Suicidal Tendencies – the whole band played “Institutionalized” (The Pepsi Song) in one episode

The Fat Boys – were funny in a beat boxing street scene

Little Richard – also pretty funny as a street preacher in all of his spangley glory

Eartha Kitt - as a Santaria priestess – what else would she be?

Power Station(with Michael DeBarre doing lead vocals singing Bang a Gong")

Frankie Valli – of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons as a Mobster

El Debarge – of DeBarge

Patty D’Arbanville – from I’m With the Band fame (groupie/author)

Iman – super model/wife of David Bowie

Jan Hammer – the man behind the music of Miami Vice did a cameo as a wedding musician in one episode

Leonard Cohen – Great Songwriter (not so great voice)

Roberto Duran – Boxer

Frank Zappa –innovative musician/songwriter - played a murderous drug dealer

Lee Iococca – chairman of GM

The music is quintessential 80’s pop and rock. The first episode included the songs:

Rolling Stones, Miss You
Lionel Richie, All Night Long (All Night)
Rockwell, Somebody's Watching Me
Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Phil Collins, In The Air Tonight

Episode 2 included:

The Tubes, She's A Beauty
John Waite, Missing You
ZZ Top, Sharp Dressed Man
Devo, Going Under
George Benson, This Masquerade

All of this is just from the first two seasons and the show ran for five years. It is like opening up a time capsule from the 1980’s – better the second time around. I used to watch the show, but had no recollection that the Don Johnson character, Sonny Crockett, lit up a cigarette and smoked it in almost every episode – they even smoked in the police station. This show is a slice of glittery, pastel, no-sock wearin’, Cavaricci and shoulder pad sporting history.

Democratic Pariahs, I Salute You!

End The War by Finijo

I often feel like I am living in a Republican stronghold - mostly because I do. While driving through the Braes area, I happened upon a home with an anti-war/anti-Bush sign in the front yard (if you click on the pictures, they will enlarge). As out of place as I feel, the people who own this home must feel like they are living in the enemy camp. For that matter, their neighbors look upon them as pariahs. I expect to find the sign gone fairly soon - the homeowners are due for a midnight visit from the Deed Restriction Committee, in which their door will be kicked in and they will be slapped with a lien on their home.













Bush Lies by Finijo

Iomega

I finally got a back up drive, and I love it! Now I can get back to work on my genealogy, and back up everthing on both computers. 160 GB - it's overkill, but I got a GREAT deal.

Fin and Con's Night Out

Marilyn went to her office party tonight, so Connor and I had a night out of our own. We started off with dinner at Katz's Deli and followed up with a visit to Barnes & Noble. I picked up a biography of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Connor was happy to get a chance to peruse the manga and play some video games at the Game Stop store that connects to Barnes & Noble. We got the chance to talk about out the trip to Memphis we have planned for next month while we shared a hamburger. Con is excited about seeing his cousin Steve and about getting to sit in a hot tub outside - that will be a new experience for him. I told him that we would see if Carrah (his pen-pal/crush) could come to visit while we are there and he grinned from ear to ear, then blushed. We also got a chance to talk about his birthday and he is counting the days, literally - seven days and he can hardly wait. The birthday beans were spilled, so he now knows that we are taking him to Magic Island, but he keeps telling us he doesn't believe we are really taking him there. Goofy kid. It seems like I enjoy him more with each passing year. I hope he can say the same about me.

The Bureau : The Secret History of the FBI

I finished reading The Bureau: The Secret History of the FBI by Ronald Kessler recently and found it both facinating and disturbing. Kessler recounts the history of the FBI from beginning to the anthrax attacks that took place after 9/11. The early history of the FBI is fairly well known to anyone who watches the History Channel, but the author includes testimony of former and current FBI personnel, which helps add to the authenticity of Kessler's claims. He addresses everything from the rumor that J. Edgar Hoover was a cross-dressing homosexual to his manipulation of members of congress and presidents through the use of scandalous information he compiled about them in his secret files. Kessler also exposes the arrogance of the directors who followed Hoover and their mismanagement of the FBI and misappropriation of bureau funds. He seems to have a bone to pick with each of the FBI Directors, with the exception of the current director, Robert S. Mueller. Overall, I would recommend The Bureau: The Secret History of the FBI because it provides insight into how the FBI works and why it works the way it does. Considering the FBI is one of the most powerful agencies in the world, we should all know more about its history and its future.

The Good Neighbor

Regarder en soi-meme by Verene Quadranti


Today my crazy neighbor lady brought the plant I gave her to my door. She banged on my door and ran back and forth between her apartment, my door, and the parking lot - presumably trying to figure out why my car was outside, but I was not coming to the door.

With my keys in my hand and my purse on my shoulder, I finally relented and opened the door. Talking a mile a minute, she shoved the plant at me and started telling me that I was right - the plant perked up and was looking good, but "sometimes the leaves fall off and just lay in the dirt. Why is that happening? Oh, also, could you give me a pot of Mother-in-Law Tongue?" I told her, "Yes, but not now, I am going to pick up my nephew." Before I could get out of the gate, she called me back again and said, "Sometime soon, I want you to come over for dinner. I'll order pizza or something." Without a pause I said, "I would prefer not to." I let the words hang in the air between us. She looked a little embarrassed and stammered, "Oh, O.K., I'll try not to take that personally." I told her with a perfectly straight face, "It's not personal, and it's not about you. I am friendly with my neighbors, but I am not close to my neighbors. I am a private person." She seemed like she was having difficulty processing what I had said, but she also turned around and walked back into her apartment, which helped me to deal with the fact that I had just been very rude to a neighbor. The truth of it is, I still write and call some of my neighbors who moved away years ago. One my best friends in the world was once a neighbor of mine. It is personal - I cannot deal with her. I feel rotten about it, but I would feel worse if I fostered a friendship with someone who stresses me out more than I can possibly express.

So, I processed my guilt over my incredible rudeness by writing a poem.

The Good Neighbor

I am a good neighbor.
If you need a cup of sugar or an egg,
I will gladly help you out.

When the TV belonging to the old lady
who lived downstairs blew up,
I took up a collection and bought her a new one.

When she was too weak to pick up her
case of Ensure, I toted it from the store to her door -
week after week.

When the single mom was caught with illegal cable
I loaned her the money to have it
turned on legally.

When Allison came to town and
the floodwaters rose, I woke everyone up,
and loaned strangers my phone.

Even while the floodwaters
were lapping at our door, I worked on
the plumbing for the old lady next door.

When my sickly neighbor fell down
and could not get up, I called 9-1-1,
because it’s the neighborly thing to do.

For two years and counting, I have collected one neighbor’s mail,
Delivering it to her, because she’s in a nursing home
and cannot let go of the dream of living again on her own.

I understand that you cannot help screaming at the voices in your head.
I understand that you have little in the way of social or coping skills, and
I understand that none of this is your fault.

Your presence is overwhelming and your need is all encompassing,
but nothing about you is stronger than my will to live in peace
without your drama.

I’ve tried my best to be friendly and helpful- to be a good neighbor
to all of my neighbors, because I enjoy it and it is the right way to live,
but you are insane – and I have to draw the line somewhere.

Jury Duty

Today I had jury duty, so I took my camera downtown to get some shots. Once again, I sat around for hours and did not get picked. I guess I should be careful what I wish for.













Metro Light Rail by Finijo
I parked my car close to Marilyn's office, then took the Metro light rail to the courthouse. I got my first ride on the train and I arrived on time, thanks to Marilyn's perfect directions.



















Deli by Finijo

I met Mike for lunch at the deli pictured above. The cheese ravioli tasted better than it looked.














Lunch by Finijo














Cenikor with GRB by Finijo
This is one of the views from Mike's training room. The building being wrecked is the old Cenikor building. Mike pointed out that they did not implode the building, they have just been hacking away at it. The red, white and blue building is the George R. Brown Convention Center and the tall, brown hotel (behind the crane) is where the attorney jumped out of the window a month or so ago. There are a thousand stories in the naked city...




















Beehive 1 by Finijo
I found that there are numerous fountains shaped like cones or hives downtown. They are a little bit startling just jutting up from the pavement the way they do, but I think I like them.














Beehive 2 by Finijo

The Rise of Uber House

My brother is building a house. Not just any house, but the kind of house that makes you hear the theme from 2001 a Space Odyssey as you walk up to it. He sat down with an architect and helped design exactly what he wants in his new home. From the pictures you can clearly see that what he wants is more space. No, not just more space... he wants more space and lots of windows. He wants more than that... more space, lots of windows and a large deck. There's something else... he wants more space, lots of windows, a large deck and a waterfall. That just about sums it up. Nicely done, Dave!

Bible Bumps

I want to apologize to everyone I ever told to hit their bumps with a Bible. While I still believe that the basic theory behind curing "Bible bumps" is soundly based in mountain folk remedy, I accept that whacking errant bumps with large books may be a poor substitute for so called "medical treatment." To recap: bumps should be tended by doctors and Bibles should be read, or used to prop open large doors - your choice.

Unrequited

Hesitation by Stephen Lamb

I checked my e-mail and found a letter that was either meant for someone else, or it is some kind of phishing/scamming thing. It was addressed to someone with the same first and last name as mine, but with a different middle initial. Also, I don't know anyone named Kurt, and I am not old enough to have been in a relationship with someone 30 years ago. I took out the identifying info, but here it is:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 01:11:30 -0800
Subject: Just some thought on our relationship

Dear Karen;

As you know I have spending a lot of time pondering this relationship that has developed between us.

I'm still trying to figure out where all these emotions came from and why I have such strong feelings for you especially after 30 years of being a part. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I might be able to explain it if I was all alone and I had a deep longing for some companionship or if I was trying to fill some big void in my life. But that's just not the case, I am happily married, it's not a perfect marriage but from what I have seen of others it's pretty damn good one. I actually feel very fortunate that I have a wife like Ann. I have two kids still at home and that certainly fills up your life. So its not like I'm out looking for someone to fill a void in my life.

I think most people want similar things out of a relationship:

Physical intimacy is probably the strongest attraction between two people. To be able to touch, feel the warmth of a kiss, and share the ecstasy of making love are overwhelming desires that bring two people together.

People also are looking for someone to build a life with. Someone that you can share simple day-to-day activities and to be there for those special moments. Someone you can come home to and be there when you need a hug. Someone to plan your future and have a family with.

I think we all need a sense of feeling needed and wanted. Having that sense of security from having some one that will be there by your side no matter how bad things might get.

(Those are some pretty profound thoughts coming from someone that spent so long running from relationships. Sometimes I read what I type to you and think "did I really say that" )

Then I look at our online relationship and it has none of that. All those things that draw two people in to a relationship are either completely missing or greatly diminished from what you experience in a face-to-face relationship. So why is this so compelling. What has drawn us together with such incredible force?

This has gone far beyond two old friends just catching up on old times. There is a deep bond between us that has survived to 30 years of separation. I've discovered feelings for you that I didn't know existed; I have a deep and ever lasting love for you. There are many time I want to be with you so bad that it hurts.

I Love you

Kurt

My gut instinct tells me that this message is too polished and too rehearsed to have so many spelling and grammar errors. I can't help picturing a prisoner sitting in his cell whiling away his long, lonely hours trying to work out all of the things he thinks a woman wants to hear, in an attempt to lure women who will be so impressed by his ardor, that she will want to get to know him on line. On the other hand, it could be totally legit, and there is some poor schlub out there trying to figure out why he didn't get a response after all the hard work he put into pouring his heart out. Either way, it is sad and a little creepy.

TRIO Gone!

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that one of my favorite channels, TRIO, started showing mystery and police shows at night. I thought it was more of TRIO's Brilliant But Cancelled Series, but it turns out that the channel no longer exists and has been replaced by Sleuth, a mystery channel. This is the message I found on the TRIO website:
They had really great programming, so I am glad they are going on to a new incarnation as a Web channel, but I will miss having the TV channel to fall back on when there is nothing but crap on TV.

As much as I already miss TRIO, I think Sleuth will be an interesting channel. Without even realizing it, I started watching Sleuth a couple of weeks ago when I noticed they were running old episodes of Miami Vice. It is really weird to see the fashion, hair and music of that era, having lived it. You find yourself smiling and cringing all at once. I guess it must be the same way our parents feel when they see reruns of Laugh In or That Girl. They have a full line-up of 80's action crime shows including: Simon & Simon, The Equalizer, The A-Team, and Knight Rider. The 90's line-up includes: Homicide; Life on the Streets, Deadline, EZ Streets, Karen Cisco, and LA Dragnet. I think they should hit up the 70's archives and show: MacMillan and Wife, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Kolchek: Night Stalker, Police Story, S.W.A.T., and maybe Baretta thrown in for good measure. Since the shows are coming from the "vaults of NBC Universal," most of these shows will probably never make it into the Sleuth line-up, but at least they are bringing back some of the great ones, like Homicide: Life on the Streets.