Clones Are People Two....

OK, it's not a Mike "Original." But, you have to agree it was certainly worth stealing.

The World Famous Sapster-Wapster-Papster-Schmapster

My old girlfriend, Saps. Twelve years old, slowing
down, but still a lot of puppy in her. Showing off
her new Tee Shirt, which became absolutely filthy in
about two hours. This dog should by rights be bald
for all the fur she sheds.

As I write this she is sitting on my feet (not BY my
feet!) trying telepathically to get me to take her for
a walk.

Oh ALL RIGHT!! I don't (and will never) have anything
better to do.

my old sweetie...

Third Monday in April...

The Boston Marathon. The Grand Daddy of them all.
Traditionally run on the third Monday in April. 12
Noon start from the town square of Hopkinton, Mass.
Except for the Olympics it's the only marathon in
which one is required to qualify. My last one was the
101st running in 1997. My 17th (and probably last)
marathon.

I LOVED running Boston. It was the highlight of my
running calendar. This photo is from the 1988 race.
I finished in 2 hours, 42 minutes and eight seconds.
Good for 330th place out of several thousand runners.
For a "Ham and Egger" I wasn't too bad back then.

Even now I get a case of the nerves in the week
leading up to the date of the race. Spring for you
may start on March 20th, but for me it will ALWAYS
start the day after Boston.

roll the dice

if you're going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don't even start.

if you're going to try, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.

go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or
4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is a gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you'll do it
despite rejection and the
worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.

if you're going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the
gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

do it, do it, do it.
do it.

all the way
all the way.

you will ride straight to
perfect laughter, it's
the only good fight
there is.

-My Man - Charles Bukowski (from "What Matters Most Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire)

I Gotta Meet This Woman

live with intention.
walk to the edge.
listen hard.
practice wellness.
play with abandon.
laugh.
choose with no regret.
continue to learn.
appreciate your friends.
do what you love.
live as if this is all there is.
-mary anne radmacher

'Course she's probably 106 years old and her idea of living on the edge is to skip her Metamucil for a day...

Personalized License Plates

I'm a fan of Personalized Plates. I love to figure out their messages. The more cryptic the better. When they give a clue as to the owner's interests or identity, that's fine. Just plain funny is great.

But these people who can only declare the model vehicle they're driving are pathetic. You know the ones, "LXS" on a Lexus, "HUMMR" on a Hummer. That sort of thing. It seems they are always on a higher end set of wheels. What they are saying is "I have no imagination, no creativity. In fact, no brains. If I didn't identify the type of vehicle I am driving I wouldn't know what it is. But, more importantly I want YOU to to be aware what I'm driving." If that's all the better these morons can do they should A.) not be allowed to have Personal Plates, and B.) they should not be allowed to have a luxury automobile. Just a personal observation.

Do I have Personal Plates? Of course...GDDYUP!

I SMELL REFUND!!!

Really?!?! No. Not really. (That joke was old five years ago) With a few strokes of his trusty, rusty computer my friendly CPA with the bad haircut took me from the emotional high of a $1400 refund to $2700-Bye-bye-Oh. Ouch! More painful than a prostate exam. Thanks Mike. And for this I hooked him up with streaming internet radio so his customers wouldn't be subjected to the mindless blathering of the local AM talk station playing in his office?

The annual ritual of being roasted over the financial coals has passed.

But, we're still friends...

What I'd Give for a Close Shave

Did you ever notice no matter how hard you try and no matter what equipment or technique you use you can never get a truly smooth shave? Using twin blades, Mach 3 or Quattro makes no difference. Forget electric. I can shave my mug for a half hour and STILL as I'm driving to work I always find a spot I missed. Of course, that spot then bugs me all day.

They can put a man on the moon, but...