President's Day, An Alarmless event

President's Day, was established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington. It is still called Washington's Birthday by the federal government. Technically Washington's birthday was on the 22nd of February, allegedly, nobody really remembers, nobody I asked anyway. It was moved as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971. This was enacted to provide another three day weekend for the members of congress.

Once they had a three day weekend they decided unanimously to take the rest of the week as a recess. Reasoning that all the really important congressing stuff happened on Monday there was not much point in showing up Tuesday.

And, since one week was hardly a recess at all, they voted, and approved, without dissent, to make it a two week recess. There were several abstentions, mostly because of the mad dash toward the exit. Which was the same reason for a broken leg, a concussion, and several dislocated fingers.

But, as a father, I like to apply a liberal dose of patriotism, and take the day off. Mostly because my
wife and sons have it off, and that way we don't have to set the alarm clock* or pack lunch**.

As great as a three day weekend can seem one of the most wonderful benefits is the four day week that follows. Which means one less time of being dragged from the bliss of sleep by the foul alarm clock*.

So, I am setting at home, and typing this out on my computer, in comfy clothes drinking a third cup of coffee, and about to "transition" into a fourth, and then I am off to the gym for some sweat, exertion, and the labor of self improvement. Is this a great country or what?


And, of course here is a gratuitous video, starring the Father of our Country, and the J. Geils Band, I love them both.

* The cruelest invention of modern society.

** Since I am the poor soul who has to pack the lunches this is a particularly patriotic act.

Happy Birthday, Mom*

I would like to do something a little different today. It is my Mother's birthday, or it would be if she were still alive. I am not really sure how old she would have been, or exactly how many years ago she passed away. It seems like a hundred years ago, and it seems like yesterday. Memories and regrets don't understand the passage of time.

She was a remarkable woman in many ways. having a robust sense of humor and an almost infinite capacity for forgiveness. Both of which her only son tested often, and severely. I thank the heavens almost everyday that my sons are better children than I was. And even more often wish I had been better.

Every year vacation would be spent visiting "the Grandmas," my mom, my aunt (who was really like Mom 2), and my wife's mom. Now they are all gone and memories, a few pictures and some stories are all that remain. Unfortunately for anybody who has made it this far you are about to read a few.

She was born and raised in hard times, and in many ways never really managed to escape. But, she never used that as an excuse to stop trying, or complain about her fate. She worked until she couldn't. And it never bothered her.

We would take my Mom to visit people. It was only a couple of hours, and she enjoyed the trip, or at least pretended to. And I know she loved to see the people. These were her past, her family, and her connection to her long departed husband. Whose passing weighed on her almost daily.

Looking back, it is certain she had fun, and everybody enjoyed seeing her, too. It was a joy watching my family having such a good time. My Uncle Kenny (married to my dads sister) always teased her about being younger than she was, and he was, by a whole day. His birthday is tomorrow.

She was proud, and wanted to pay her way. One time she wanted to pay for breakfast, and headed
toward the register, my cousin Rick took chase. A waitress, almost a perfect fit for a small cafe in a small town in the west, said, "he's going to catch you." She picked up the pace and managed to pay.

We would see her brothers Joe and Matt (the twins) on the way through. It was just for a cup of coffee, maybe a light lunch, but the connection was immediate, and wonderful. Life's simple pleasures can be the best. Why does that always take so long to learn?

She suffered through a degenerative eye disease, and her doctor told her she should quit smoking. She did, though she complained bitterly I think she was always proud of the feat, a woman in her eighties, who had smoked for 60 years and she quit. Of course, she had enough fight in her that she made my little sister promise to tell everybody that quitting smoking is what killed her. She never lost her sense of humor, or irony.

A double mastectomy, also in her eighties, hardly slowed her down. She spent the night, and the next at the hospital, but on the second day, she got up, made her bed, and called my sister to come get her, because I was too slow. "People were looking at me." Yes, mom, you had your time in the sun, after major surgery, now stop eating all their broth, clean up your mess, and get out.

When we went to check on her after she went home she was having difficulty with some of the post operation hygiene, and it was more than I could handle, I rushed to the car, got my wife, and sent her in to take care of things, she really is a good wife (I have tested that also). For years afterward I would remind her how I was there when she needed me. My wife and my mom had a good laugh about that.

So happy birthday, Mom, thanks for everything. In the words of James Joyce "Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghole of a world a Mother's love is not." I always knew she loved me, deserved, or not.

*Sorry this went on so long. She deserved better and I guess this is my way of apologizing. 

Ah, the good old days.

Sometime today I will be 54 years old.  It used to seem like 54 was old, and anybody who actually lived that long was probably very lucky, took very good care of themselves and was either on a transplant list for something, or in cryogenic storage, waiting for some fortunate soul to discover the Fountain of Youth. Now, it seems pretty young (heck, most days I still feel like a child, no more than 48).  Everything is relative.  Our view of the world depends on where we are.

I am old enough to "remember" when everything was better, athletes, music, television, movies, all of it, a golden age of life too powerful for any of today's generation to endure, let alone understand.  Of course, on the few occasions I run across someone even older than me they tell me how good things were in their youth.  Maybe, they are right, maybe "progress" is not helping.  Maybe we need to look into stagnation for a while.

Albert Einstein is supposed to have said, "technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."  Well, that does not sound like a very good idea, and considering how much the man helped with the progress of technology lends a little weight to his words.  So, what can we do?

I am glad you asked, because I have a plan, 54 years in the making.  One day every week we turn off all of electronic devices.  Cell phones, tablets, lap tops, televisions.  Everything needs to be shut off.  Don't use the microwave, or oven, grill all of your food, or better yet, eat it raw?

Timing is critical, nobody wants this to happen on a really good television day, last night was game 5 of the NBA finals, (never mind that sports used to be infinitely better when I was young, like everything else) and nobody should have to miss something like that.  And, if you need to check scores you can switch on one internet connected device up to twice a day.  These are important things.

If you are checking the scores on your cell phone, you might as well check your text messages, and voice mails, oh well take a quick peek at emails as well.  Since you have gone this far it would probably be all right to make a few quick phone calls.

Hey, don't forget to post that picture of yourself wearing the beer vendor racing uniform, complete with flashing police light helmet, driving that golf cart down the drag strip, that one is great.  Nobody will top that!  Here, let me start my phone, so I can be the first one to like it.

While you were posting that picture I saw that the original Godzilla vs. Mothra is on TV in 20 minutes.  What do you say we fire up the blender, whip up some margaritas, make some nachos, and microwave popcorn and call it a party?  I love that movie.

Well, that is all we have time for today, don't forget to tune in tomorrow when we discuss how to decrease your carbon foot print by starting a bicycle delivery service, and how to get home after delivering the bike.  Spoiler alert, have your friend pick you up in his huge SUV.

Dr. Dawg celebrates with a Grateful Nation.

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