Fringeville #166: Wrambling Wramblings

I’ve been away from direct involvement in politics for an entire season. I am still waiting for the withdrawal to kick in. I am beginning to suspect it won’t. There are a handful of folks I will work with/advise but the rest of my life is a mess that I have to sort out and it’s taking priority.

* * *

My return to my former energizer-bunny self is not yet complete. I tolerated the radiation treatments very well, but it is still and insult to the body. Add to that the side-effects from the Casodex and I am still struggling to get back on track mentally and physically. That’s all I’ll say on my health right now because, as Lou Holtz says, 80% of folks don’t care about your troubles and the other 20% are glad you have them.

* * *

I wasn’t planning to see any live Penn-State football this year, but my brother got tickets for the Georgia State game (with awesome parking) and that was slated to be our one and only trip to Beaver Stadium. The football gods smiled on us, however, and a pair of Pitt game tickets fell in our laps a few days before the game. I have never seen a Lions-Panther battle, so this was a treat.

* * *

I am writing in little chunks right now because I’m just coming out of the creative fog. Just roll with it, and my apologies as always for taking so long between posts.

* * *

I am distressed a bit at the polarization of virtually everything in America these days. Anything one says or writes is likely to be seen through red or blue glasses. I am sorry, but I simply can’t function that way anymore. I believe in the inherent goodness of all people, and I can’t dismiss vast swaths of them to fit a political agenda. Perhaps it is the only wise thing I am doing these days.

* * *

There is something rejuvenating about working outdoors. I am limited to how much I can do before pooping out, but the exertion, the sweat, the focus on the task at hand …all of that is a tonic. Winter is over the horizon a bit, but I am already missing the work outdoors that comes with the other seasons. The snow blower’s fun, but not much.

* * *

I exist for coffee. It’s my only vice. Tell me to give it up and I’ll make a counter-offer: take me out to a culm bank and just shoot me. A person’s gotta have something. I can even live **shudder** without wings. But my last day on the planet will start with coffee if I have any frigging say about it.

* * *

That’s it for now. Yes, I rambled. It’s how I am these days. I’m working on it, that’s all I can say.

Be good to each other.

* * *

Fringeville #135 July 24 2015

Need....coffee...now....

7AM. No coffee. Waiting for routine bloodwork. Really want that coffee. But the news is waking me up.

Hillary has more e-mail trouble. No surprise and only elicited the slightest of eyelid quivers.

But Wilkes-Barre came through for me. An amended campaign finance report for the Democrat candidate for mayor, Tony George, appear to be a disaster.

I have filed countless reports for candidates and committees.They ain't that hard.

They are just a tad tedious. Some attention to detail is required. But it's not rocket science, kids. If he wins, the budgets should be fascinating.

Last thoughts on this: I can't imagine any circumstance where I would forget or confuse the origin of a $2500 contribution. Of course, I work with Republican candidates and committees in NEPA so a $2500 contribution is like finding a pearl in a wing platter.

* * *

I am mobile-blogging today. It is also the first day of my parish festival at St. Maria Goretti in Laflin. This might get interesting. Expect food pix. (Probably was a good idea to get the cholesterol checked BEFORE 3 days of feasting.)

* * *

(A quick follow-up on this Fringe post) First day of the parish festival is in the books. I ate like a pig. I'd like to give a shout out to Dan Yeager & Century Security for their help with my end of the festival. Dan's a great guy, and has an impressive resume. We had a chance to talk a bit and I really enjoyed the conversation. If you have security needs (and they do more than just security) give them a holler. Hats off to Laflin's Dorothy Yazurlo as well for pointing me toward Dan. It made one of my headaches go away. For the next two nights I can concentrate solely on trying to triple my cholesterol levels in 72 hours. I am well on my way.

What to have tonight...hmmm...

...to no one's surprise...I'm downing wing bites on Saturday at the St. Maria Goretti Festival in Laflin. Or maybe the clams. Or clam chowder. See, here's my problem: I WANT IT ALL!!!

* * *