To Vote or Not to Vote

It is 911 (time not date). I am not sure if that mean anything other than the time but I always thing of the emergency phone number, or course, and the World Trade Center bombing or disaster or whatever the official marketing term is for that terrible day. Just type "911" in your search engine and see what photos come up. I wonder what other numbers cause us to get distracted that way? 411, of course. I am very find of the number 13 so that one always sticks out to me. 123 is a big one the world over probably. I really do just write about nonsense don't I?

Yesterday afternoon, into the night, I was burning leaves in the backyard fire pit as Cha Cha raked them into piles. It is great to have so many beautiful trees in the yard but it is always a sad day when I have to cremate all of the fallen heroes (the leaves). Do you think the word "leaves" comes from the fact that they fall from (leave) the trees? I realize the singular form of the word is leaf but, if the leaving part weren't the reason for the plural word "leaves," wouldn't they have just been called leafs? The hockey team isn't called the Toronto Maple Leaves. That could be because the Canadians (not the Montreal ones) seem to be more sensible with their language. I also tend to go off on tangents because I wanted don't I?  I just wanted to tell you about Jeff (our dog) and not the words leaf/leafs/leaves. Jeff was out there with me the entire time. He even ignored his Great Dane girlfriend Kona who eventually went home. I don't think she was a big fan of the burning leaves anyway. Don't worry, they made up - he is over in her house next door right now; I probably won't seem him the rest of the day. Anyway, it was very amusing. Jeff looks like Two Socks from Dances With Wolves (no Wolfs) right down to the two white front paws. He was doing what Border Collies do - he was rounding-up the smoke. He was circling the fire pit over and over while trying to catch the smoke in his mouth. He would jump up about four feet into the air trying to eat the smoke. By the end of the night his tongue was hanging out continuously. I had no idea his tongue was that long. I am glad that he is just a typical boy and loves fires just like me. It is even nicer that he does not have opposable thumbs so he cannot work a lighter or matches. Seriously, opposable isn't a word spell-check? I wanted to finish burning the rest but it rained and now the leaves are wet.

Jeff (Two Socks) and I burning leaves yesterday

Today I am working on the laundry and such. Being a homebody is kind of sucky though I am getting a lot done around here. I just put my event monitor in the mailbox after the ten days with the stings attached. Now, I have no strings attached. That monitor was a total pain and I am not certain that it was anything more than a placebo. I am fairly tech-savvy and it was a a joke many times. I cannot believe they would give this thing to elderly (more than me) people. Some people in my family cannot even figure out a cell phone so this would be a nightmare. There would be messages on the screen that the battery was"critically low" after I had just charged it all night long and the screen read "battery charge 100%" just moments ago.  Hillary Clinton probably has her own monitor she is so tech-savvy. Anyway, now they will tell me what or what not they found. With my luck I will have an episode today, right after I am monitorless.

Today is election day and I may walk over later and vote. Now that I think about it for a second, literally, I may not vote. George Carlin had always said, "if you vote you have no right to complain.  When things get screwed-up by the politicians I, who did not vote, am in no way responsible for what these people have done and  have every right to complain as loud as I want because of the mess you (the voter) created that I had nothing to do with." I believe I will NOT vote because I love to complain. I need more blog MATTerial anyway. Also, I ALWAYS vote and Cha Cha does for the big elections (Presidential...) and Jill gets sent notices for jury duty about three or four times a year and I NEVER get these notices. I would love jury duty. Can you imagine the blog material? It isn't because of where I work because I have only been at this job for about four years and I never got an invite before that either. Is it sexist? Do they just want smart people? Beautiful people only? Based on her getting lots and me getting zero I cannot believe it is random. It is outright prejudice! I am no longer drinking the Kool-Aid starting today!

The dryer is calling again so I will take that as my cue to stop, Thank you for letting me rant for a bit. I keep hearing from people that I never realized read the blog and that always makes me smile. I am sure there are many things that I write that you agree with and many that I write that you don't agree with. I imagine some times you think I am a moron and occasionally you think me wise. I just throw a whole bunch out there and some sticks with some and some sticks with others and some strikes nobody. I think maybe that is life in a nutshell. I am just grateful that you give me a reason to continue to write.  Have a great rest of your day and night. I will find time to blog again tomorrow. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Mustaches and the PeaCOCK

I mentioned in the blog a few days ago that I miss playing fantasy football. Shortly after that my friend Dave who I worked with at a sport and concert venue several years ago sent me a message that he and his brother play every year and are always looking for players. I have put it on the calendar on my phone and I intend to play fantasy football league this year. Dave lives in Massachusetts but I figure his brother and, probably many of the players in their league, still live in the Chicagoland area so we will probably be an Illinois-based league. The series The League is based in Chicago so I would feel more like a purest if that were the case. Plus, for tax-purposes, when I win, I need to know where the league is based. Even though, like all leagues this is for entertainment purposes, I am certain, and no cash will change hands. Additionally, I am always excited to find out who reads the blog.

When did Colonel Sanders get a job at the advertising firm?

The season premier of the final season of Mad Men was on last night. I expect a lot of excitement with this being the final season. The show sped-up over the break and it is now the 1970's (at least 1969 as the moon landing was on the show).  I could not get over the funny mustaches. I hope, at the very least, Roger shaves his soon. I found the 'staches very distracting though entertaining.

A lot of people are making a big deal about Hillary Clinton using her personal cell phone rather than her company phone as Secretary of State. My dad keeps trying to goad me into that discussion and I always just skirt the issue. My dad, somehow, has become a hard-line Republican (I know how but that doesn't make a difference). Maybe some of the older folks are intimidated that Mrs. Clinton (67 years old) can figure out technology. I am intimidated by it but I am also impressed by it. I supposed, just like I have Cha Cha and Splenda and Fabio to ask all of my techy questions to. she has lots and lots of pretty smart people surrounding her.

I just went out on the patio after letting Jeff out into the yard and I see that one of the houses that backs right up to our house is having a new roof put on today. I cannot believe that we have "minimal damage" and everybody around us has enough damage to have an entire new roof (shingles and such) installed. I know insurance companies and roofing companies are in business to make money but I still have a problem believing that this isn't insurance fraud. I believe the insurance companies send people to check the roofs before they approve payment but, you know they are making money too with all of these claims. We will probably all have our insurance rates raised because of this. If that happens I think I will complain to the good neighbors at State Farm and, if nothing is done about it, look check out some cut-rate insurance place. I suppose this is what they call playing the system and why I will remain happily in the MIDDLE for the rest of my life. I am mostly honest unless I am playing poker or something.

I have never really liked trash-talk much. I know people will say that, for a person who doesn't like trash-talk, you sure do it a lot. If they investigate they will find that to be true but, dig a little deeper, and they will see that I have rarely, if ever, started the talk. I do not have a problem giving it back (and I think I am pretty good at it) but I prefer good sportsmanship. I do try to avoid conflict (as I do with the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stuff with my dad). With the new MLB season underway and me being a St. Louis Cardinals' fan living in Chicago Cubs country I take a lot of abuse. I am a big boy and I actually don't mind it at all. I can imagine their frustration and admire them sticking with a team like this team. Almost all of the trash-talk is done in good fun and that has always been part of sports. Many of the people that give me the business for being a Cardinals' fan just chose the Cubs as their favorite team because of their proximity or because it is a family tradition or something. We all choose our favorite everything for a reason and those are as good of reasons as any but, the White Sox are right there too!

In the MIDDLE of the night last night, when I discovered I could not sleep AGAIN, I decided to watch Saturday Night Live that I had recorded. Michael Keaton was the host. I have always liked him (since Night Shift) as an actor and he seems like a nice guy to me (he could be a pompous jerk though). During one of the sketches I found something that I think may have been unintentionally funny; it was at least funny to me. The channels keep their logos on the screen all the time so we morons can know what we are watching. I suppose it is really so people cannot make videos or take photos of their programming. I was very amused by the position of the NBC peaCOCK (I hope me taking a photo of my television isn't copyright infringement but it was in MY bedroom and I do pay for the programming (DirecTv) so I will take the chance. Was that positioning just a coincidence (probably). Would I have positioned it that way on purpose so some moron would blog about it later? (definitely).

Is Keaton's barn door open and he has a weird tattoo? What a braggart!

On June 30th this year there will be an extra second in the day called a "leap second." This will be the 26th leap second added to the calendar/clock since 1972. If you have one of those clocks that counts down the seconds it will actually show 23:59:60 instead of 23:59:59 before 00:00:00. It has something to do with the Earth's irregularity in rotation at atomic time. So, does this mean that I am about 30 seconds older than I thought I was? How does that effect my life insurance? I should find out soon because Cha Cha may have to cash in on that soon. Not really - I am not quite that bad-off as far as I know. Ignorance truly is bliss.

I went over to the Human Resource department of my work today to discuss my situation. They were very kind and helpful though I have to get a few more things for them. It is so much easier to be healthy than ill for so many reasons. I am happy that I only have the rest of today with my wireless event monitor. I get to throw the whole thing in the prepaid envelope they gave me and put it in the mail tomorrow. It is a pain to take a shower with taking these electrode thingies off and then having to reattach them. The pain mainly comes from my hairy sternum and chest. Yes, I shaved the areas where the stickers are applied but there it is pretty difficult to get them all. Tom Selleck and I really feel for you ladies with all of the leg shaving and bikini waxing and such. Also, I am thinking it may behoove me to drop my State of Illinois Cigna insurance and apply for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) insurance. I will look into it but I am not sure what that would entail and if I can just do that.

I have to end now. I am sorry that this dragged-on. I cannot believe that the Cardinals and Cubs have off days after one game. I would love to watch another ballgame tonight. Thank you for stopping by so I could complain and wax poetic. I hope you have a great night. I will surely blog again tomorrow between going insane and the many other things I have on my plate. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Sometimes I Blog Like a Nut...

Or, maybe, I am just nuts!

Happy Easter to all of my Christian friends. Happy Sunday to all of my non-Christian friends who are reading this on a regular
Sunday. Happy whatever it is you want to have happy for the rest of you.

I woke-up this morning and my back did not hurt. BONUS! They say that sleeping is when the body heals itself and I am happy for the back not hurting but I wish my brain could learn how to prioritize a little better and start with some of the things that, in my non-brain opinion, have been more of a hindrance than my aching back. Maybe, if I see that the brain is doing something, I will cut her some slack and she will quit revolting so we can work together to get some of this stuff ironed-out. Are you paying attention brain? I am ready to work with you to get all of this stuff over-with already. I would have thought that my positive mental attitude would have demonstrated that but maybe, in retrospect, that was you and not me?! So, just as Jesus supposedly pushed aside the giant boulder that blocked his dead body in a cave, I am ready! I thought I was all along but maybe that was just you.

I said I would probably not blog today but I lied again. Sometimes I need the therapeutic properties of writing and the illusion that it helps. It is 0702 right now and we are not having our brunch until 1230. I have to clean the kitchen but that will only take about ten minutes. I am starting to think, more and more, that if I am going to be a prisoner I may as well work one of  my many book ideas. Aren't things supposed to happen for a reason? I know we always look for a romantic reason like destiny or fate but I think that is just our optimistic outlooks as human-beings. I know many who don't share my optimism but that is on them. I rarely see the benefit of being pessimistic. I suppose that makes me a romantic or a dreamer. You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm not.

I told you badgers were tough - can they beat Blue Devils?

If you were smart and paid attention to the blogs you may be retiring or heading on a fabulous vacation today. On March 29th, in the blog, I said Wisconsin would upset Kentucky in the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament. I will wait a moment while you scroll-down to see that I am telling the truth (or, you could just believe me since it would be silly to lie because then I would have lost all blog credibility). The Badgers beat the Wildcats last night 71-64. When I tweeted that same prediction ton March 29 I attached my buddy Norm MacDonald to the tweet to tell him to cut me in when he won on my tip. I will await that check in the mail. Now Wisconsin will play Duke for the National Championship on Tuesday night. So, I will put my streak on the line and say Wisconsin will be the National Champions. I am afraid, unlike my last prediction however, that this one may be based upon sentimentality because of this current positive prognostication. Bettor beware!!!!

I am going to end so I can go take a shower. It takes a little longer right now since I am not supposed to get my marionette stings wet. I hope you have a nice day. In my part of the MIDDLEwest it is sunny right now and it seems like it will be a nice day for Cha Cha to drive Miss Daisy and the gang to brunch. I hope it is nice where you are too. Since tomorrow is Monday there is a good chance (98% for) that I will blog. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

I Just Want To Be a Real Boy Again

Cha Cha and I watched the third season of Derek on Netflix yesterday. Season one and two were great and season three, which is just one episode long, was great too. It kind of wraps the whole thing up. I am a big fan of Ricky Gervais. Between this, The Office (the original English version), Extras, The Ricky Gervais Show and An Idiot Abroad I will pretty much be a fan for life. I know he will do something else and he can count me in.

I heard an old African proverb yesterday that I really like.I think I heard it in Derek. "If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together." Sometimes I like to go fast but, most of the time, I would rather go far. Why can't I go far fast?

Now we are watching The League. I am surprised that Jill likes it too. We are big fans of Nick Kroll but she has never played Fantasy Football (the central character in The League) so she has a lot of questions. I don't mind. I am trying to get her into it so she will play in a league. I know that will NEVER happen. I have not played fantasy football for a couple of season but, if someone is looking for a team owner this season, throw me a line.

All of this convalescing time is making me want to be a movie media  reviewer, I am watching a lot of stuff. I guess I am reviewing things here so that is good enough. I am also getting many things done around the house in between my viewing. I can also review a lot of things on Pandora as I listen to that a lot while I am working on projects.

Tomorrow is Easter. We are going for brunch with: my parents, Fabio and Cha Cha's sister at the crack of 1230. It is 1929 Easter Eve and I am really tired and my back is killing me. Like I don't have enough problems! I really miss being a real boy. I hope I am a real boy again someday. The longer this continues the less and less I think that will happen. I am not depressed but I am slightly whatever is just short of depressed. Hey, how come we celebrate New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve but Easter Eve is never considered? What makes a holiday Eve-worthy? Maybe if a holiday is always on a Sunday it isn't entitled to an Eve? It is guaranteed a weekend already. Or, maybe if it is just on the same day of the week each year it is not offered an Eve. Thanksgiving, which is always on a Thursday, isn't given an Eve either. I call shenanigans!

I have to end. My back is killing me and I am going to take something for that and then maybe lie on the floor and watch more The League episodes. Have a great what little is left of tonight and a nice tomorrow. I will not blog tomorrow (96%). Thank you for coming by. Sorry this was one of my less exciting blogs; at least I gave you some good ideas of things to watch if you are looking for some entertainment, I just hope I have not been inscrutable. TTTMonday...MITM (out) TA!

The E Ticket Blog!

This journey to take me where I am headed continues. I know my ultimate goal is to be 100% well again. So, knowing my destination as The Island of 100% Wellness, I am taking steps toward the island every day. I think I may have just passed The Island of Misfit Toys. I have always heard that "a journey begins with a single step" and I have also been told that "you can't get to your destination unless you know where you're headed." What this tells me is that my life is full of cliches. Currently, I have another four doctor things set up now before the end of the month. One of those is only to get some test results and another is a follow-up with my primary care physician as to what is going on. If I were a betting Matt (and I am if somebody is looking for some action on this one) I wager there will be more appointments scheduled or altered.

The EEG yesterday was really cool. I am one who has always liked to try new things and this one was an E Ticket ride. I guess I am showing my MIDDLE age with the E Ticket comment but I guess they used them as recently 1981 (when I graduated from high school). Those tickets were a pain in the butt. You would always run out of the good ones and then have to go over to Tom Sawyer's Island because we didn't have cell phones and you're parents could, conveniently, not be found. Anyway, they strapped a hat on my head. It looked like one of the old leather football helmets like Red Grange wore back in the 1920's but this one had little connectors all over the place so she could snap the little electrodes to it once it was on my melon. Then she took a little needle thing and scraped my scalp through all of the connectors so she could get good contact. Then the wires were all snapped into place. I just lied back in a relining chair while she watched a television that showed her the reruns in my head I guess. I think I even fell asleep at one point which, I was told at the beginning, was okay. Then she warned me that she was going to blink lights to see how my brain responded. That was really cool It was like a cross between watching fireworks and going through that tunnel in Space Mountain (what is it with me and the Disney theme parks today?). It was weird that I could see the lights with my eyes closed tightly; I guess everything really is all in your head like they say. Anyway, looking at the squiggles on the screen she thought that everything looked like it is supposed to (she probably wasn't supposed to tell me that but I am extremely charming) but the Neurologist will have to decide that so he can earn his bank. Next up is my MRI a week from today.

Jill and I watched a movie (documentary) on Netflix last night about film critic Roger Ebert called Life Itself. I always kind of liked him and thought his long-time television partner, Gene Siskel, was kind of a jerk. I came away from the movie thinking that I may have been completely reversed on them. I think Siskel came across as jerky because Ebert was a bit self-absorbed. Siskel and Ebert were both brilliant men. I also think Roger Ebert was a lot like me in that he was good in small doses but, spending too much time with him, would drive you mad with his (I am not sure what to call it)... Large personality? Self-absorption? I am aware, and he was probably too about himself, that I am like that but, try as I might, it is a difficult trait to squelch. I know it is one of my largest character flaws. "What is my major malfunction numbnuts did mommy and daddy show you (too much) attention when I was a child?"  Ebert was an only child so I guess he had a better excuse that I did. One thing Ebert's wife talked about was a phrase he liked to follow - "make your heart your face." That really struck me. I think I have always tried to do that without labeling it. Maybe it is like "wear you heart on your sleeve?"  He was Catholic and, looking into it, that phrase appears to come from some Catholic teachings.Weird to do a review on reviewers.

I should probably wrap this up so I can get to some of the busy-work that Cha Cha is giving me. We both know that idle hands are the mind's chance to make you feel sorry for yourself or the devil's playground or something. Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to listen to me whine and wax poetic. If I remember maybe I will write about some of the projects that we are working on like: the door being installed on the patio going into the garage and the French Doors in the Tiki Room. We are getting all fancy aren't we? Have a great day and a nice Friday night. I may cook on the grill tonight. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Why is that Matt Naked in the Kitchen?

Spider brain, spider brain, does whatever a spider brain does...

Yesterday the doctor ordered a couple of more tests for me. I have to have an electroencephalogram (EEG) this afternoon and, when they can get it cleared by Cigna, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). I waited for the "April Fools" but that never happened. Will they have to shave my head? I am ugly enough with hair. I cannot imagine how hideous I would be in bowling ball form. So, I am not cleared to do anything extra. One thing good about me is that I have a pretty positive attitude about most things. Maybe I am too dim-witted to know that I should not be positive. Nope, Que Sera Sera (that worked for Cha Cha when she seemed to be in dire straits and it will work for me too). My version of the song is a bit different because she loves Doris Day and I don't want to steal that from her. Another nice thing about these two procedures that I am to have are that they are both performed in my current hometown of DeKalb. They talked about another couple of things that may be next but one step at a time.

I seem to be sleeping through the night (with a bit of help) but I still feel tired most of the time. I hope that it is because my body is working on healing whatever it is that is broken and it knows that it can get caught-up with the rest when it is appropriate, I think we are always trying to cure what ails us. Last night I woke up with one of my puppet strings detached from my baby episode monitor so I figure I must have been tossing and turning. I am tired of talking this.

This morning a pretty good thunderstorm rolled through the area. Man, I love thunderstorms. I love the sounds and the darkness and the light show and the pressure and the smell and the coolness of the air. Jill's parents lived in the country and their back second-floor outside deck overlooked a cornfield to the north. Her dad and I would sit out there and watch storms come in. It drove her mom crazy because she was deathly afraid of storms. This love and curiosity of storms comes in handy since I am trained weather spotter. I do not mind standing out in the, so-called, bad weather. I have only called the super-secret weather spotter number once from the Mattphone when I saw a funnel cloud but I am always at the ready to make that call to save lives whenever the opportunity arises. We just recently had a refresher course at work; we have that training every year. The symbolism that today, the day that we may find out what kind of violent storm could be going-on in my mind and/or body, is the day of this crazy weather. You can certainly tell that I am part Native American with my love of symbolism and nature and weather. I guess we will have lots and lots of May flowers if the April showers are starting right at the beginning of the month.

Adam West and Burt Ward (most of us MIDDLE-aged and beyond people recall them as television's Batman and Robin) have announced that they will once again don the capes and cowl/mask (sort of) and play the dynamic duo again next year. They will be the voices of the caped crusaders in an  90-minute animated movie coming out in 2016. That will be 50 years after the television series premiered in 1966. I was a big fan of the television show as a kid and I have liked most of the films (Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Will Arnett, Benjamin McKenzie, Gus Lewis, George Clooney, Adam West, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck?) but I doubt that I will watch an animated version.

"I could have been warned there was a dinner party here tonight!"

I am back on the watching my girlish figure thing again. I had been feeling sorry for myself, apparently, so I was eating whatever I wanted again. It is curious how the foods that are the worst for us are the ones that are easiest to get and eat. Most of them are ready to eat (chips, snack cakes, cookies, donuts, candy bars, drive-through windows...). I suppose that could also go for healthy foods now that I think of it. Fruits and vegetables are pretty-much ready to eat. Drive-through windows also have salads. Jill had a great idea to move the scale down to the kitchen. The one thing that worries me is that, since I usually weigh myself naked for consistency and continuity purposes, when we have people over they may find that a bit off-putting. It may be good for other peoples' diets too. I could just say that it is because of my "condition." If they find something wrong with my brain  I am turtlely going to use that for my amusement.

I have to wrap-up so I can get some things done before finding-out how hollow my head is this afternoon. I appreciate you coming by; the welcome MATT is always out for you. Have a great day. Hopefully, I will have something to report about my noggin tomorrow. I doubt that they will find anything quickly. I think this is Thursday so this would normally be one of my weekend days. That means I won't feel guilty about being off of work tonight. How do I have all of this guilt about things I should not feel guilty about? I guess Cha Cha being Catholic must have rubbed-off on me. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Sex & Religion (not April Fools)

Happy Amateur's Day! (that is how I refer to April Fool's Day). I will not play any practical jokes today or lie on the blog more that I usually do. If you want a good trick to play I will tell you one of my favorites. Get some of those little snap-and-pop things and tape them on the bottom of the toilet seat (where those little parts touch the porcelain). Gently lower the seat down and when somebody sits on the seat they will have an "EXPLOSIVE" experience. If they poop their pants with fright at least they will be in the correct spot.

Because of the great pressure from this blog Indiana Governor Mike Pence has announced that he will repeal the hate law that he had just tried to implement. No business may refuse service because of sexual orientation in Indiana. I imagine it had something to do with other people too like: defending NCAA Champion UCONN basketball coach Kevin Ollie and USC Athletic Director Pat Hayden will not attend the NCAA Final Four. Also, the state of Washington is banning state-funded travel to Indiana and George Takei is calling for a boycott of Indiana too but, they were just following my cue. These are just a few that have come-out (no pun intended but recognized) against this insanity. The repeal is actually going to be a "re-working" of the bill they are saying. I still think something else is coming and this was all a big smoke-screen.

Hello, my name is Brother Matt and I am happy that I don't live in Indiana!

While I was stripping wallpaper yesterday the doorbell rang and Fabio answered the door. As Blog is my witness, it was two Jehovah's Witness members who came to the door. I wanted to hear "hello, my name is elder Price" but Fabio said they didn't say anything. They just handed him the flyer and moved-on. Apparently they are working on volume. If you are interested (since part of my blog is to witness and spread the joy of whatever so I can get into Heaven) there is a meeting April 3rd at 1900 at Faranda's Banquet Center at 302 Grove Street here in Dekalb. If you cannot make that date there will be one at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sycamore on April 12th at 1530. If you do go to Faranda's make sure to go at 7PM and not 7AM (because their breakfast is not what it is cracked-up to be). Do you think that this timing is coincidental that The Book of Mormon is back at the Bank of American Theater in Chicago? Interesting. It may have worked on me - I am thinking about going back to see The Book of Mormon again. It was one of the most enjoyable times I have ever had watching a stage production. We have Jehovah's Witnesses in town here all month long as they use our local arena for their meetings (they are huge meetings using a basketball stadium). I worked at one of these concert-sided meetings when I worked at that local venue. They were all among the nicest people I had ever met.

I have always had a lot of respect for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. During a televised Chicago Mayoral Debate last night the moderator was asking Emanuel's opponent, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia something along the line of, "if you cannot even keep your son out of a gang how can you battle gangs in Chicago...?" Emanuel chimed-in, before Garcia answered, and said "I don't think this is a fair line of questioning." That blew me away. That just shows me even more about the integrity of this man. I wish that was how politics were all the time - with some integrity and honor. I know that is only a pipe-dream.


I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. This one and the one I was SUPPOSED TO HAVE on Friday are the two that, hopefully, will figure out what is up with me. Oh, you noticed me yelling "supposed to have" there? The sleep study people called yesterday and said that they are still awaiting approval for the procedure and I am now rescheduled for April 24th (which is actually two days after the date of my follow-up with my primary doctor). They say that they may move the sleep study up if they get approval before than - she could tell that I was agitated. I will continue to bug them because that is what I am supposed to do.

I heard that there were several secret tunnels under the Playboy Mansion that led to celebrity homes in the area. Blueprints were just found that showed tunnels from the 1970's that led to houses of celebs like: James Caan, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Kirk Douglas. Supposedly, the tunnels were closed in 1989. Matt In The Middle attempted to contact them all (as well as Hugh Hefner) with no comment. I couldn't even trick the 98-year-old Kirk Douglas into talking to me by saying that I was Michael Douglas. Were these guys trying to hide from their wives? The press? These guys were all Hollywood tough guys but this makes me think they were sniveling wussies. A few of them were even known as ladies men and womanizers so this would have been good press for them. I guess that is why they call it acting.

If you have a trained eye like I do you might see a hidden celebrity here

I am just about done stripping the wallpaper from the walls (of course) in the laundry room. I just have about a one foot section up by the ceiling. I also have to go-over the walls and check for all of those little straggler pieces of white paper-backing that you cannot see while they are still wet. That will give me something to do after the doctor's appointment. My guess I will not be able to go back to work until after the sleep study - I hope that is not the case.

I think I will get started with that wallpaper before I have to get ready for my continuing adventure. It would be nice to be able to come home to nothing to do (I did all of the laundry yesterday while I was in there anyway). I know it sounds like I am pushing-it but I am taking it slow. Luckily, Fabio is on Spring Break to keep an eye on me.