CALL OF DUTY

WADESTOCK ’08!

You are invited to a party for
Wade Wilkes Varner
Friday, March 21, 2008 at 6pm
At Anthony & Emily’s

Come see Wade before his deployment to Iraq.
BYOB and meat for grilling….egg hunt possible!

Define “Classics”

Last night while channel surfing I checked out the station AMC to see if maybe “Citizen Kane” or “To Kill a Mockingbird” would be on. AMC stands for American Movie Classics so it would be logical to believe that you would find something worthwhile to watch on this channel.

When the commercial break ended I was shocked to see that they were airing “Sister Act”. When did this movie become a classic? Isn’t it a given that any movie with Whoopi Goldberg cannot become a classic?

The “Flying Nun” maybe, but singing nuns, I don’t think so.

Michigan Budget SNAFU

The Final Countdown

It has been a scary summer wading in the cesspool that is the Michigan State budget. On October 1st, the budget year starts and we have yet to see our legislature cope with the looming 1.7 billion dollar deficit. In the past the state has relied too heavily on the restricted funds (gas, lottery, hunting licenses, etc.). Now that those resources are dried up due to our tanking economy, both sides of the aisle need to take direct responsibility for the general fund. If we ever get past this current partisan pissing match, the end result will have to be a combination of spending cuts and increase in the income tax. Now we just got to get someone to pull the trgger and act.

After lunch I checked the current agendas for today’s Senate (Republican majority) and House (Democrat majority) sessions:

-Sentencing guidelines for child abuse & abuse exacted by caregivers on old people or caregivers stealing their bank accounts.
-Give business a tax credit for actual expenses incurred for equipment necessary to collect those old dirty pop/beer cans & bottles.
-Provide for interim funding in the event no budget agreement is reached by the deadline.
-A resolution to encourage pharmacists to warn parents about the dangers of prescription drugs.
-A resolution to urge the Federal government to give money to the US Army Corp of Engineers so they can keep recreational harbors dredged deep enough for big luxury boats.


What budget? Hence my frustration! Way to get on it, guys!


Note to self: Next election do not vote for any incumbents!

Never Forget

A Great Light Has Gone Out - Shakespeare

I have been playing Puccini’s Nessum Dorma on repeat today. I wrote a paper in college about Pavarotti's ability to bring opera to the masses. Regardless of your taste in music it is impossible not to be moved every time you hear Pavarotti tackle this piece. Below is a link to his last performance.

Nessun Dorma by Pavarotti at Torino 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaufjDVYivc

Quote of the Day

“Democrats are people with no ideas where as Republicans are the people with bad ideas.”

–Lewis Black

Moms Everywhere!

My New Niece or Nephew

Relay For Life

Hey all! Check out this link if you are interesting in supporting a great cause!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=205953&lis=1&kntae205953=71DAD3045CD942EEBE12922B6D024694&supId=167187493

All is Good in the Hood!

Reports from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and more specifically in the vicinity of Gobbler's Knob say spring is "right around the corner". Phil didn't see his shadow and run back into his hole, though I gotta say that after years of harassment Phil is probably a pretty mellow guy. This celebration, polka music and all, is an old hat. The guy Phil met at his doorstep may not look like that threatening of an individual but Phil doesn't look too happy. Next year my money is on Phil getting a little more resourceful so that these people will leave him alone. Poor groundhog!

Besides the idea of Phil becoming militant, another thing that has me excited today is the news that Brett Favre is coming back to the Packers for one more season. This guy is the Cal Ripken of the NFL. He holds the record of starting 257 consecutive games. For a quarterback that is kind of a big deal. (Even Shane Falco's got to respect that.)

Well not much else to report on. I am on my way to brave the cold to get groceries. Heard us Michiganders are due for some sub-artic temperatures thru Tuesday so I imagine I will be biding my time like the rest of you, under a warm blanket wondering if we are experiencing the beinging of the next Ice Age. This storm system is called an "Alberta Clipper" since they come by way of Canada. Think I prefer the Canooks' Molson and free healthcare instead.

All for now!

Our State of Dis-Union

It’s a big night for Bush and he needs to find his inner “thousand points of light” to come through it. This is an unlikely feat but I enjoy watching the underdog. With his approval ratings sagging to 36% and his new troop surge into Iraq not picking up much enthusiasm as hoped for, the president’s new strategy is not too hard to guess. Instead of focusing on his coined “axis of evil” from years past, he will try and score points with the environment and immigration. Both of these issues were good plays with the public in his first years on board with the nation and he can gain more ground offering solutions here than anything that he could add with the Iraq debacle. I remember watching him during the debates or one of his first televised speeches before Congress when he declared something needed to be done about America’s dependency on oil. Odds are he will pull out that phrase again tonight along with some other gems from his first campaign. Bush will spend time on Iraq but at this point he is putting it on the Democrats to quit complaining and find a way to make things work over there. I was impressed with Hillary Clinton on the Today Show this morning who confirmed this willingness to start making headway here. She was of course pandering a little since her 2008 opponent John Edwards has been giving her grief in Iowa.

On to Michigan!


Our State of the State address isn’t till February 6th but Grandholm has a big budget deficit to explain. Unless you are out on a skiff in the middle of Lake Superior or live in a tepee in the great north woods, odds are you heard about the $800 million dollar shortfall in the state’s budget. Earlier projections said we could have a $375million shortfall so Grandholm is going to have to account for that extra $400 million by doing cuts, big ones, to local services and schools and then increase taxes. If the tax receipts are $570 million below projection people must be literally running out of the mitten. Whatever our governor has cooking downtown right now better be good. It’s going to take a lot to turn around this one way train to discontent.

One question I stupidly pose, if not rhetorically is how this does happen in an election year? They could only get away with this over sight in an election year. No one is shocked that Michigan has problems, but $400 million of unaccounted for problems is a fine example of what happens when a poor economy meets and inefficient state government.

In my area of the biz, I’ve talked with school districts about dealing with the school aid cut of up to $220 per student. About half the schools in the state are going to go into deficit as a result since budgets are already tight. I’ve heard some ideas like “pay to play” sports programs or cut tutoring programs. In other areas in trouble: prisons are to release non-violent criminals early on tethers, cuts in police and fire protection, trash pick up, road repairs, and many other services. The list goes on.


Hope this didn't get you too down, fellow Michiganders. Much like the weather here, this too will pass...hopefuly sooner than later. As the Monty Python always says, "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition." Believe it or not it could be worse. Cheer up ya old buggers!

If You Can Read This You Do Not Need a New Monitor

It is the end of days....

I just spent hours on the phone with tech support in India to verify that my screen has burned out. Unfortunately the powers that be won’t just take my word for it and ran me through various troubleshoot exercises in between half an hour breaks of holding so that I could enjoy some easy listening music. I since have attached an external monitor so that I am able to check in and blow off some steam.

To add a twist of irony, the main printer is jammed up and awaiting repair while the office manager cleverly spilled his latte down the motherboard while figuring out how to plug in a new speaker in his computer. The lights also went out momentarily because of something to do with the weather. Brilliant. Now people are rushing around trying to answer this single question posed to themselves, How can I cope with this? In the financial world, where I live, this series of set backs is an equivalent to the arrival of the four horsemen of the appocalpse. My boss is in his office pouting, the secretary is telling stories from the old days of non-dependency on technology and our office manager is curled up under his desk in the fetal position wishing today never happened.

I am reminded of the Terminator movies where the machines rise up against humans. For what small problems we have going on in this office today and the attitude around here, you would think that the next time you walk by the fax machine it might in fact try to eat you.

For now, all we can do is cling to hope and wait on DJ our techie who is our lone guardian on the frontier of the machine up rising.

Back from Hiatus

A hiatus isn't just for tv shows like Lost and Battlestar Gallactica and really smart professors.....shut up! Battlestar Gallactica is a good show! Watch it before you judge!

After watching the president's address last night, I decided that I too should check in with the people of the world, however I usually try to say something of substance if I say anything, else I'm wasting your time. As for George, nothing he said was surprising. I think it was a necessary speech to make to the public since we have only heard sound bites on CNN or the Daily Show (wherever you get your news) and the addition of 20,000 more troops in Iraq will be good though overdue. He at least left me with the impression that he is trying opposed to outright indifference which I wondered about at times. There is still the issue of how to get Iraq to stand on it's own and at what point does the US determine Iraq a lost cause and just pull out. As they say, only time will tell. As much as I am frustrated with this mess, I do have to give George props for telling leadership that if they want to come forward and oppose him, then they should offer their opinion of what should be done. It's easy to complain but to offer a clear strategy has yet to be done by the other side of the aisle. State of the Union here we come!

After finishing the year off on a low note...back injury, car issues, work craziness...etc. I learned a lesson. There is no such thing as karma. It seems we only think of karma only when plagued with bad luck. I was on a slippery slope and as much as I believed things would turn around, I couldn't right myself with the universe no matter what I threw over my shoulder or how many random acts of kindness I performed. Don't get me wrong, I still think what goes around comes around and eventually we all pay the piper, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah, but I also can say with certainty that that old t-shirt slogan is right. Sometimes shit just happens. Sorry to swear, but is there a better way of putting it?

Well, I am no longer hanging out in my mechanic's garage talking about Rolling Stone albums as we wait for car parts to arrive or laying in bed under heavy medicatation (though that wasn't all bad!). I am back on my feet. Haven't been able to pull out my tap shoes or run a few miles yet but well enough to celebrate Christams and the New Year. (That's me getting picked on on the right, a family tradition.) As you can tell we are a very jolly bunch.

My brother-in-law was missed. He is in Iraq still, We haven't been given a come home date yet, but my sister said that it is looking like the beginning of February. This picture was taken last September while he was out on a patrol. I found it the other day and it affects me a little differently now that Saddam is dead. History has happened. Be safe, Chris.

All for now. I have a feeling 2007 is going to be a year of change. Seems like everyone has something in the works. I for example have gotten on My Space...okay not a major thing or a good example but things are happening people. I will keep you posted. Until then, keep trucking.

Merry Christmas

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.

- Garrison Keillor

Aunt Gertie

"Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." - Rossiter Worthington Raymond

The Last Thing I Needed, The First Thing This Morning...

….was to go back to work.

The long weekend has ended. Thanksgiving is past, but before I finish my construction paper chain which counts down the twenty five days till Christmas, thought I would check in with a November recap.

1. Which one is the turkey?

George pardoned "Flyer" which surprises me considering he did very little pardoning if any when governor of Texas. Is George getting soft on crime?

2. Deer Camp 2006: Lay off the doves but Bambi is fair game. After Prop 2 got turned down at the beginning of the month, people seem to have even more enthusiasm about going out into the north woods and bringing back a slab of venison. Now I’m not one for guns, but a fat dove sits on my bird feeder and honestly, I have considered what it would be like to point a gun at him. All the little finches and bluebirds don’t have a chance once he sets up shop. This physical representation of peace in my little microcosm won’t stop eating. He is a gluttonous eye sore and a bully to all the other birds. I’m not even sure how much longer my bird feeder will be able to hold him.

3. The Democrats are coming!… After twelve years of humility, the Democratic Party is in the majority. My conservative friends believe this is a sign of the apocalypse while my liberal buds are going around with stupid grins on their faces. I’m still on the fence. Politics has never been polarized for me. In the mean time I have been enjoying the ever complex infighting between Hoyer and Pelosi. These are two big democratic senators who just can’t get along. The Democratic Party is splintered and Fox News is having a field day over their lack of ability to get a consensus on what to do about the war. Realistically though, the Republicans never defined a good plan either, so give them a break. It’s only been a couple weeks…relax everyone. Rush Limbaugh is still a blubbering idiot so at least we can count on that.

Speaking of politics, as a joke a coworker gave me a bumper sticker this year that reads, “Don’t Blaim Me, I Voted Libertarian”.

4. Pam and Kid on the rocks. Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock are ending their four months of wedded bliss. Breaking up seems to be the in thing this November in Hollywood. Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon, Britney Spears and K-Fed….who’s next?

5. Mama Mia! Abba is getting a museum!! "It is nice that someone feels compelled to take on our musical history," the four members said in a joint statement. "We think this will be a fun and swinging museum to visit." It will be in Stockholm to open in 2008. If I ever get to Sweden this is the first place I am going to go. I have seen the movie “Muriel’s Wedding”, watched the musical “Mama Mia!”, danced to “Dancing Queen” a thousand times with unbridled enthusiasm, I believe attending is my destiny.

Well, this was the highlights since the last posting. I know you all expected more politically charged rants, but I'm still in thankful mode. Perhaps when I venture out later to pick up some groceries and get bombarded by the commercialism of Christmas I will be able to rattle more cages. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. All for now!

Veteran's Day

Irony and Political Endorsements

Today I am looking up some election related info since tomorrow I will be going to the voting booth along with the rest of the nation to exercise my civic duty. (Those that know me, probably can picture the sarcastic tinge in my voice as I read that sentence out loud. Its not that I don’t believe my vote counts, I just grow weary of the mudslinging during these final days. If they haven’t changed your mind by now, will they seriously do it by Tuesday?) So, instead of determining who stands for what, during this time of the campaign I look at which way the endorsements are falling and what that means.

I came across a type of endorsement I have never thought much about. Now that I have considered it though, I am getting fired up. Newspapers and media…they give endorsements? Isn’t this hypocritical? For example, the Kalamazoo Gazette is endorsing Grandholm. How can a newspaper back a candidate when they strive on a daily basis to maintain credibility? They have columnist and editorials where individuals can give their two cents but a news organization reports the news, it shouldn’t interpret it for you. I understand bias in unavoidable in many cases and that is why we should take news with a grain of salt. I just am surprised they are this obvious about it.

I find this whole issue ironic. Am I wrong?

Woes of Halloween

CANDY! AHHHH!!!!! Too much sugar over the past 48 hours. Nor sure how I use to stomach all this junk back in the day!

Goodbye, Aaron

Many people would consider birth to be the opposite of death. I disagree. The opposite of death is life. Living.

My cousin Aaron fought cancer for the past two and a half years. His situation was always grave but a few months ago during a late night talk he told me that he learned that his life didn't stop just because this disease made everything seem so uncertain. He was not dying of cancer, he was living in spite of it. He said this with a grin on his face because as he was pointing out, he wasn't waiting for cancer to win. Perhaps living with cancer made him more brave when you consider what he accomplished in the time he had.

Along with that, the most important part of his "adventure" at least from my perspective is that Aaron, though dramatically changed physically, never became different from the goofy, red-head kid he always was. Sure he was forced with some pretty harsh realities, but that didn't stop him from picking on this older cousin when she came through the door or goofing around with all the rest of the unruly gang at get togethers.

Tomorrow is his funeral. I am sad to say goodbye to him but I will appreciate that he lived a pretty full life for the 19 years I knew him. In letting him go perhaps I will find courage to open my eyes a little wider, put on an brave face and live. The time we are given is a gift.

I'll miss you, Aaron.