Ugly

Some days just start ugly. Today was one of those days. One of the dogs barfed on my bed this morning at 6 AM. I was out of a job at noon.

On the brighter side, today was our third wedding anniversary. So it wasn't too ugly all day.

I need to figure out what I really want to do. This last job was never right. I didn't get along with the boss, working conditions were totally ghetto and I didn't get along with the boss. Did I mention I didn't get along with the boss? Tomorrow I will be the housewife, clean the floors, pick up the poop in the yard and work on the tomatoes. Oh, sleep in late maybe, write a speech I am giving on Thursday, clean the guinea pig cage and print business cards.

As demoralizing as this feels, it is more demoralizing to the not have a job where one is appreciated. I am liberated. OK, maybe I am working on that one.

Tillman again

Don't give up the fight, no we never give up the fight. Bob Marley

The latest chapter of the Tillman tragedy. Please ready it and be a witness to Pat Tillman's life and the lies told to coverup his honor.

Tillman

Sheesh, gone from the computer for one business day and the fur, I mean subpoenas are flying everywhere in DC! I think today was a sign that gawd listens to prayers since the flying house is coming down on Gonzalez and rove is getting bitch slapped by Congress, FINALLY!

But the worst is the continuing saga of Pat Tillman's death. Now from the AP is

of Army demotions and attempts by Army staff to have his death investigated immediately after his demise. Here are some of the lowlights of this story:

_ In his last words moments before he was killed, Tillman snapped at a panicky comrade under fire to shut up and stop "sniveling."

_ Army attorneys sent each other congratulatory e-mails for keeping criminal investigators at bay as the Army conducted an internal friendly-fire investigation that resulted in administrative, or non-criminal, punishments.

_ The three-star general who kept the truth about Tillman's death from his family and the public told investigators some 70 times that he had a bad memory and couldn't recall details of his actions.

_ No evidence at all of enemy fire was found at the scene — no one was hit by enemy fire, nor was any government equipment struck.

Over at Firedoglake, there is discussion that his death by fragging was a result of his anti-war opinions. Not just fratricide but a deliberate murder to cover up for BushCo. What's makes this really disgusting to me is that I can truly believe this story because of the lies. We lost our humanitythe day Pat Tillman died.

Now

Today I went to the funeral of a man who lived across the street from my family on Toledo Av. He was 83 years old and had been married to his wife for 54 years. While it was sad at the funeral and ungodly hot in the church, the get together afterwards was a great moment in life.

To be around some of the women I grew up with was a laugh riot, something to savor and a time to remember. We caught up on all our illnesses, our parents, kids (not that I have any to report) and childhood nicknames. We took pics together and ribbed each other about things like fainting in church.

It sure would be nice of we could find ways in our busy lives to get together for something besides a funeral. I making a mental note to do that before October. A neighborhood reunion before another funeral. What a concept.

tomato tragedy

I had no idea gardening could be so dangerous.

For people who know me, this is not news. I am very short. I can also be a tad impatient. The combination of the two elements caused me grief yesterday.

As I have said before, the tomatoes are growing briskly. There are many cages up to keep the plants up and off the ground. I spied tomatoes in the middle of the jungle yesterday afternoon. So rather than wait for Jo to come help me, I just started leaning over and leaning over and then I was surrounded by tomato plants having fallen into the garden. Flat on my ass, crushing I don't know what.

I finally asked Jo to come over and help me try to put everything back together with the new cages I had just bought. A timely purchase.

But dammit, all that work and now my vibrant veggie garden looks schmoozed. Not to mention how embarrassed I am.

Oh well, back to work and waiting for someone tall enough to pick the toms.

You say tomato

I am starting to giveaway the tomato fruits of my labor. My tomato plants are over 6 feet tall and starting to pop out cherry toms plus I plucked two today of some sort of heirloom. It is called something weird like Uncle Bert's radiator mortgage lifter. I am waiting to see the Black Pineapple variety not to mention the Early Girl that has disappeared in the wilds of this garden. The cherry toms are now wrapped around the 7 foot sunflower.

The squash is really taking off which is nothing short of frightening. My aunt in New Mexico wants some squash flowers because she cooks them. She said just get the male flowers because they won't produce fruit. Which of course begs the question of how do you tell a male flower. She got me when she said to look for their little balls.

It is now the middle of summer and I am much more interested in the progress of the tomato jungle than the jungle of legislation. Watching the garden grow is much more of a contribution to my sanity thus providing inner peace for moi.

Summer in this part of California is a time of lovely evenings, green grass, picnics and barbecues. And now tomatoes. I am doing my best to enjoy all of it.

So goodbye politics for the day, hello ripe veggies. Funny thing, I don't even like tomatoes. But many people around me do so I am making my contribution to salads and salsas, sauce and shishkabob. Ahhhhhh, summer.

El Jardin

I have gardened for a number of years. I tried veggies in New Mexico and I failed miserably. You see in NM, there is no soil, simply volcanic remains.

In California I have 8 foot tomato plants that are beginning to produce. I have harvested a couple of big ol squash, onions and divine garlic. Whoo, there is no bush in that garden except tomato bushes.

And that, my friends, is the moral of the story, bush is only good for tomatoes.

A thought

I am stealing this from across the room.

Living by a Hopi elder's prophecy

"To my fellow swimmers:

There is a river now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid, wo will try to hold on to the shore: they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know that the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river and keep our heads above water.

And I say 'See who is there with you and celebrate.' At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves, for the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the lone wold is over. Gather yourselves. Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. For we are the ones we have have been waiting for."

Taken from an address given by an elder of the Hopi Nation, November, 2006

Spare me

Today is Jo's California graduation party. We are anxiously putting bags of ice together with clam dip, sodas and key lime pies. I think I will have to put up some pics here from familia and friends who join us today.

What a great way to forget the sorry state of the world, the country and the total lack of integrity by Republicans. Senator Vitter of Louisiana and his addiction to prostitutes both in LA and DC is a real knee slapper. I enjoy this even more since the self-righteous hypocrite claimed at one point that the need to install homophobia in the Constitution was the single most important issue in this country. He was one of the lead sponsors on the Defense of Marriage Amendment.

Hypocrisy thy name is Vitter.

In the meantime, we at this lesbo house will enjoy the company of family and friends. with children in the front yard running theough sprinklers. So who has the real family values?

7/7/07

Just got back from a 70's flashback concert featuring Sly and the Family Stone. It would have been easy to feel ripped off because Sly only was on for two songs. However, it would appear that the promoter was a boob, hired really bad sound guys who never managed to have a band up on stage without feedback. So it wasn't a case of Sly being flaky or anything, he was jamming and really getting into the music.

Sly is about 60 something now. He came on stage looking weary. He looked like he had really lived through the 60's and grabbed every slice of whatever was offered. But that voice was unmistakable. However thanks to the sound people, his mic didn't work, we couldn't hear his organ, two of the singers had to share a mic and oh yes, there was feedback.

On top of it, the sound system was so f*cked up, it took forever in between the Average White Band and Sly to try to get things going. So while we were politely waiting, the boob promoter got on stage and started doing a God speech. Dressed for a party, mister want-to-be-important started telling us about God in his life. Whatever.

Then he made a comment that he would stop talking soon and people started clapping. He was shocked, I tell you, shocked that we didn't want to hear him. A precious moment in the evening.

At any rate, the band was jamming, we were dancing and then, boom, it was over. Seems there is a city ordinance that no music can be played after 9. So with all the technical f/u's we were all left a little hungry for more of the man.

The tickets were cheap, we had a girls night out so I don't feel bad about the evening. We heard from Tierra, El Chicano and Malo playing their greatest hits. Average White Band was impressive and played a fabulous set. There was no alcohol so the crowd was very mellow. The weather was nice, the tunes were great and we got to see Sly. Ah yes, summer in California.

Too hot!

Today I ran up to San Francisco for a rally in support of students who are fasting for a week in support of the DREAM Act. That particular bill died last week with the rest of the immigration bill. Students from all over the state are fasting and have now converged in San Francisco to try to get Nancy Pelosi's attention. I heard her staff person telling them they should be talking to Zoe Lofgren's office. Students have been out there for three days fasting away.

Of course I am much more interested in the latest Villagairosa gossip. Seems the woman he has been having an affair with for A YEAR has had previous dalliances with Fabian Nuñez and other Latino political types. Summer is much more fun with gossip.

This however, makes the 2010 gubernatorial race much more interesting. Now Gavin is back in the race because his indiscretions are even up with LA's mayor. Handsome boy cheaters for Guv.

Amor, amor

In the latest round of mayoral telenovelas, here's the newest about LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Seems the mayor has taken up with a local Spanish language tv anchor. According to Ms Marinucci, she actually broke the story that the mayor separated from his wife. I guess this brings a whole new meaning to covering politics.

Different scooter

I have a different take on the Scooter Libby get out of jail crappola.

First, I have to say I find it outrageous that Paris Hilton served more time than Libby. Hell, I have served more time than Libby.

Second, is this the dame crowd that howls at the moon every night over "illegals" crossing the border? Is this the same crowd who was apoplectic over "amnesty" for undocumented people? Is this not amnesty for Scooter? Is this not the same frigging thing except one guy belongs to the country club and the other people are just plain brown? I say yes.

So while people are outraged over this piece of caca from Bush, let us not forget the people who go left by the wayside last week with the collapse of the immigration bill. They will still live in the shadows while the real criminals live in DC.

No cells

I feel like such a jet setter. I went to LA today, just for the day. Back at home now with a meeting first thing in the morning with Congressman Honda's office then to meet with the college students on a hunger strike. Fun. But I have no brain. Hopefully those cells will return tomorrow. But it still sucks that Nixon, I mean Bush, commuted Libby's sentence today. The spouse pointed out today that the jurors in the case must feel particularly empowered today.