Digging deep, going back to the stone age, I need to Introduce you guys to Steve. Steve and I made some amazing music together, for many years. He started with a fender Guitar Copy, white, with a maple neck. In contrast I had a Mosrite Copy, a semi Hollow Bodied guitar that was quite similar to what Ted Nugent used for many years and may still do. Been awhile since I have seen Ted play. My guitar, when we first met was in it's natural colorage. It was a sunburst stain with a deep yellow paint job over most of the body. It looked great if you were into Country western music, but I was into, and still am into Rock and Roll. Preferably fast loud progressive music of my own creation.

But it certainly wasn't that way when we first met. I had probably been playing guitar for about 4 years. I could play, sort of, and I knew how to tune it real good, which helped tremendously. Steve had a great ear for tuning as well, so if nothing else we were always in tune when we played. At first, Steve was able to out play me. He could play rhythm and lead guitar,which I was totally jealous of. I could Play rhythm, mainly and totally sucked at playing lead. I had the one amp, A Fender pro reverb amp which I still have. Its a beautiful marvel of Human engineering and provides great amplitude to the music I provide to the front inputs of the Amp. 100 watts, 2 - 12 inch Celestion speakers, a solid heavy frame and that great Fender name. It has Tube technology which doesn't really fit hand in hand, because tube amps are not technically advance, and their in lies their beauty.

Tube amps, especially this Fender, has such a nice warm tone to it, which you would be able to hear, if I din't have the guitar plugged into anywhere from 2 to 4 different "toys" before the music finally hits the amp. The sound has traveled from my guitar, through a distortion unit, which has taken the original sound and transfered it into a rough rock necessary sound. It also goes through either one or two flangers (which I am not even going to be able to describe what the effect is within this blog. Some day when I have a day or two I might try to explain it, but it iis so much easier to just hear the effect in use. I think it is amazing.) Then last might be a waa waa pedal, but not very often. (to be continued)

I just watched a great movie called the Soloist. If you haven't seen it yet I give it two thumbs up.

But it got me to thinking about 2/3 thirds through the movie about My life and how I could relate to the Los Angeles Times writer in the movie. Dealing with an individual that wasn't all there mentally and what I have gone through in that regard.

Steve came to mind, but there have been others. I got to live right next to Steve. He was always taking meds for his illness. I'd wouldn't want to think what he would have been like if not for those meds, But I'm not sure they had the mix quite right back then. I knew Steve long Time ago. The stories I could tell and may just cover some of them.

I will Never forget one year near Halloween. Probably 2 weeks before the 31st of October, Steve came over to my house. It was probably about 50 yards from his front door to my front door, if even that. Steve cam knocking, well, his way of knocking. He'd come to the front door and stand. We , the wife and I, usually had the front window curtains open, and Steve had to walk by the window to get to the front door. If I didn't see him walk by, well ... Anyway, this day I saw him walk by and then stop by the door as he would do.

I wanted to show him my new Mask I had gotten for Halloween, so I let him in. He sat down and didn't say anything, as was usually the way it went with him. I had to start the conversation.

Me: How ya doing, Steve?

Steve: Ok.

Me: So whats new?

Steve: Nuttin.

Steve was a great Talker. Not. Unless he had had his coffee. Oh My gawd. The it was the complete reverse. I think the caffeine did something to his meds. because you literally couldn't hardly get him to be quiet. But this day he wasn't talkative.

Me: I got a new mask for Halloween. Hang on, I want to show it to you.

I went into the next room and got the mask and put it on. It was a great hairy latex creation that fully covered my head. It had a great open mouth with sharp latex teeth and a large red tongue and I had add some paint to the teeth and added some red to the pointy ends of the teeth to make it look like blood. I thought it looked awesome.

So I walked into the living room with this thing on. I was going to let out a loud growl, but thought better of it. Good Thing. Steve had gotten up out of the chair and was facing the large window facing to the west, by the front door. I just stood there, just inside the living room, and waited for him to turn around.

He finally turned and saw my mask, and he freaked out on me. He let out this blood curdling scream and stared shaking and fell into the chair where he had been sitting and covered his face with his arms. He let out another scream. Instantly, I took off the mask, threw it into the room where it had been and tried to comfort him. He was shaking something fierce.

Some ten minutes later I finally got him to uncover his face. He looked at me and wanted to know where the monster went. I explained to him again and again about the mask, that it wasn't real, that it had been me.

Once he calmed down, he got up and walked out the front door with out saying a word. I followed him to our gate and he yelled at me not to follow him, to stay away.

We never spoke of the mask again. Steve had to of been in his late 20's. I spoke to him the very next day and everything was cool, just like he hadn't freaked out or anything. I lived Next to Steve for about another 2 years.

September 3rd, 2008

I talked once before about being an assistant Manager at this lovely Department store. Let me explain, I don't smoke cigarettes.

One year, I got to help setup a brand new store and to help train the new crew coming in to work at the store. It was at times a 24 hour period that we would be working on setting up the store, not that I would work 24 hours straight. I would just work 14 or 16 hours straight. Loads of fun.

So, I'm working one grave yard shift with this lovely crew and I'm the only one with the key to the front door or any other door, with orders to only let the crew out during lunch. We got an hour break for lunch. Lunch only - strict orders.

So 1 1/2 hours into our 9 hour shift and me on about hour 9 or something, (It was a big blur a lot of this time) One of the crew members decides that he is wanting a cigarette break. I told him in 2 1/2 hours he would have an hour break. Get back to work, here, put all these packages of toilet paper in this row and these shelves. Great.

15 minutes later, with me all the way across the store from where this guy is supposed to be, he appears with 3 other people. They are all wanting a cigarette break. I tell them no, I have strict orders, you'll get let out at lunch. A few minutes later, I now have traveled to the front of the store. I couldn't believe what I saw.

The whole crew is standing by the front door and the kid that first hit me up for a cig is about to get on the PA system to call me to the front of the store.

Me: Why aren't you stocking Toilet paper?






Him: I need a smoke.

Crew: Yeah we need a smoke.

I look around and I am now surrounded by about 15 people, all with Nicotine fits, with the Kid looking the worst. I told them again, at lunch I'll open, uhm, strict orders ...

Him: I'm in a bad way.

He holds out his hand and it is shaking. Great. He's looking pale. Fantastic.

Crew: Let us out! Now!

Me: Fine.

Crew : Yaaayy!

Half of these people had their cigarettes lit before they even got out of the store. I am imagining the sprinklers going off in the store and the fire department showing up directly. I get that way after a damn near 11 hour day with no lunch and about 5 hours sleep. I try to get out of the way as they rush the door.






They were Ok with their cigarettes till they had their lunch, but then about 2 hours after their lunch, cig break time was demanded by the crew again. This time was even more demanding than last time, with the kid leading the charge again. I reminded them after they were inhaling deeply that I was the acting manager and this wasn't good that they were giving me orders. See the place I worked for didn't have a great sense of humor when it came to mutiny by the crew.

The next shift, there was a whole new crew in there, with training starting all over from scratch. Each of the other crew had been given their walking papers. See, all of the behavior of the crew and myself was recorded, sound and all, then reviewed by the upper management of the Company when they showed up to see the progress of the store and how it was going.

I tried to tell them.

PS: Thanks Monkey man.

August 26th, 2008

I had mentioned before about my previous cooking profession, 95% of the time as a dinner cook (flipping eggs in an egg pan was not my forte, a very popular way of cooking breakfast eggs in most restaurants). The ying to my cooking's yang, if you will, would be the food server. The one who would basically let me know what it was that I was to be doing, and to whom my finished cooked product would go to.

Most Waitresses are very hard working and very good at what they do. They have to be to make sure they get good tips from their customers. Most waitresses are forced to wear some kind of uniform decided by the owner or the manager of the eating establishment. Most waitresses don't deal with Bar patrons as well.

This one Kitchen I worked at was very different from the norm. And no one informed me about her.

I was cooking as usual one night when a lovely voice came at me from another window from one where most of my food was delivered to. It was about my second night in the Kitchen, and it then that I discovered that I was not only cooking for a Coffee shop attached to a bowling alley and a Formal restaurant, but also a small Bar.

I looked around and found where the voice was coming from:

"Can I have an order of French fries." I found the 3 Foot wide window that was probably as High also. The window had a ledge on it about 2 feet wide. There was two forearms crossed on the ledge. The sleeves of this red top stopped at just above the elbows. There was no head visible. But was extremely visible was a huge pair of breasts barely contained in the briefest of a red sweater. There was the window, there was forearms, and their was cleavage. The cleavage was ordering french fries.

I said "Excuse me", trying to make some sense of this surreal encounter with these breasts. I had no idea where this window led to and no idea we served a bar from this window. Communication was not a big deal at this kitchen.

"I need some french fries for the bar." the breasts said. I said "Ok" and turned to start cooking up a batch. Theses breast moved a few times, but they mainly just stayed there the whole time, leaning on the forearms and the shelf or small counter. I got busy cooking other items and finally took the french fries out of the deep frier. I put them on a plate and took them to the window. There was no place to put them, for these breasts were taking up most of the counter.

I said, "Excuse me." again and the breasts moved away from the counter. I placed the Plate of fries on the counter and the hands attached to the forearms took the plate. The window smelled strongly of cigarettes and some kind of great smelling perfume. I poked my head through the window and saw the rear view of the lady with the red sweater walking away and then turning. There was a door some ten feet from the window with the ledge that I eventually was able to go through and found the bar in the back. But just then, a food order came in and I had to retreat back to the Kitchen.

The Next Day, I found the chef, and asked her about the Bar Waitress.

"Is she for real?"

The chef said, a woman as well, "I have known her for years and she has always dressed like that."

And for the next few months I worked there, that is what she always wore, Tight, very low cut tops to more than show off her God Given Attributes. I am sure she made lots of tips.

August 25th, 2008

This one takes me back to my days delivering Pizza. It was a Sunday, early about lunch time. The Apartment door faced North. One in a string of ground floor apartments. I drove up about ten feet from the door and got the pizza out of the Passenger side door of My Mustang. I turned and went to the allotted apartment letter. I knocked on the door and stepped back a bit.

Just then, a very busty lady in cut off blue jeans shorts and a Small bikini Bathing top answered the door. She didn't say anything as she looked down and saw her large Sunday Newspaper.

Now you have to understand, My experience with Women's Breasts was very minimal at this time in my life, as how I was seventeen and hadn't really had a girlfriend yet, at least one which would allow any, uhm, messing around. So, I was rather taken back, when this woman stood up from getting her paper and one of her prized breasts was no longer covered under the small area of cloth provided by her bathing suit top. She noticed it staring at me almost immediately, and very casually allowed for the breast to be recovered by her bikini top.

She adjusted and maneuvered stuff till it seemed right to her. Then she finally spoke about her pizza.

"How much do I owe you?"

What I felt like saying was "You don't owe me a thing, I think I'm needing to pay you."

But what I somehow managed to say was the proper price. She brought money from somewhere, and I tried not to stare as I handed the pizza to tit's rightful owner.

She told me to have a nice day. She had no Idea how nice a day she had made it.

( and Yes, I left the misspell in it's original format - something subconscious going on there I think.)

August 24th, 2008

I don't know why it lately, but the topics of Boobs has been seen by me lately, at least the 3 days. So following in that trend, I'll give it a go.

I worked at a small Hospital in the linen room many years ago (yes, a different career) and with that Job, I got to go into every department of that hospital at least once a day and some departments got a visit by me 3 or more times a day.

One of the departments I visited 3 times a day, every day, was the ICU department. This was the Intensive care, where you really were supposed to be very sick and in dire need to get in there. They, the nurses, really didn't have much of a sense of humor there with difficult patients.

So I was in one of the departments (they had 2 sides) and was trying to figure out what was going on in a bed just opposite from the linen cart. There apparently was a young black man in cardiac arrest and he was being rushed by any number of nurses to try and save his life. They had already placed a hard stiff back board behind him and one of the younger nurses was climbing up on the bed to give him cardiac compression.

Now, if this is done correctly, it is nothing like what you see in movies, for you can get broken ribs from this procedure. That is how hard these pros are pressing on your chest. They are trying to squeeze your heart through your chest cavity and trying to compress your heart on your spine.

It is serious folks. Life or death for sure.

So this young nurse is now straddling this guy and proceeds to press in on his chest. Right then, he reaches up and grabs a hand full with each hand. The guy is now laughing, but not for long.

The nurse reared back and slapped the guy right across the face. I heard the slap all the way across the room. I'm guessing the guy was in his early 20's.

She jumped down off this fool and was cussing him out the whole way. Apparently, he disconnected the wiring to his monitor I guess, he faked a straight line somehow, and here were 5 or 6 nurses staring daggers at this guy. He's asking why they didn't think that was funny. 3 of the nurses wheeled around and let him know in no uncertain terms.

It was an amazing site.

August 14th, 2008

Let's see, going back to that Chicken Delight place where I delivered pizzas, one of the jobs I had was answering the phones. So it was a late summer afternoon and I answered the phone.

Me: "Hello. Chicken delight. We Deliver." (Funny how stuff like that gets etched into your brain).

Customer: (Something along these lines) "I'd like a large pepperoni pizza delivered to blah blah blah H street."

Me: "Ok. That will be so and so dollars and 25 cents"

Now back then we took them at their word and didn't call them back or anything. The pizza got made and as it was I was to deliver it. So I jumped into my 1966 Mustang and headed south. I finally found the address way south of town with a large dirt driveway leading off the road. I pulled into the driveway.

As I came closer tot he house. I noticed a figure sitting on the stairs leading to the front porch. These stairs must have been 20 feet wide and the front porch which was covered in screen had to be twice as big. This house had two huge trees in front that covered the rest of the front of the house. There was probably 40 or fifty feet of shadow from the trees in front of the stairs. It was quite an expansive setup. Then this tall, willowy figure stood up, dressed in a long white cotton dress, with a large brimmed white hat that covered most of her face. She had long blonde hair curled in big, lazy curls that came down the front of her dress just past her bare shoulders and framed her face very nicely. Looked like something from Gone in the wind, a image from the yesteryear of the deep south. I was trying to take all this in, the huge trees, the giant stairs and the tall lady. So I climbed out of the car, bent back in and got the pizza from the warmer, and turned around to walk towards this lady.

As I got closer, I asked her if she ordered the Pizza. She nodded yes. So as I walked towards the stair, she gracefully glided down the stars and greeted me at the bottom of the stairs. First thing I noticed was that she towered over me by about 5 inches and I was probably 6 feet tall then. Then she spoke.

"Glad you made it out here so quickly." I glanced up, responding to the deep male voice that I heard. She / he handed me my money from white, lace and cotton gloved hands and said "Keep the change." which I swear was even deeper. I some how managed to say thank you and got back in my car.

Strange times, those '70's.

August 6th, 2008

My last night on the graveyard shift at AM-PM, it was close to the time to lock up the beer doors, to keep people from getting more beer. I had just helped a customer with their purchase and watched as these two Bozo's walked into the store. They split up once they came in and I watched them casually while doing odds and ends. It was cold out and both of these guys had heavy coats on, so anything was possible with these two as far as stuff walking out the front door.

They met up at one time, about 10 minutes after they had come into the store (it's not that big a store) and were looking at their wallets. I walked behind the counter and piddled around. Just then, I heard one of the doors to the beer cases slam shut and one of these guys went running out the door with two cases of beer, one under each arm. The strange thing was, his buddy had just walked up to the counter. He was wanting to buy a candy bar.

Now we had pretty decent cameras in the store and one of them pointed over my shoulder and faced the counter where this guy was standing. As the beer went out the door under this one guys arm, I grabbed the zipper area of the coat on this other guy and pulled him firmly towards me, One hand firmly grasping on each side of his coat. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure the camera was pointed right at him and moved over just a little and moved him to where there was no way his face wasn't going to be filmed.

He asked me what I thought I was doing. I told him his buddy just ripped me off of two cases of beer. He denied knowing anything about it. I sad that's ok, I'm just making sure your getting on the camera, I let loose with one hand and pointed up to the camera. His eyes got the size of quarters. I told him it was my last night there and he really made it a good one and then I let him go. He ran out without his candy bar.

August 5th, 2008

One of my other jobs from years gone by involved working the graveyard shift at an AM-PM Convenience store. This place sold Gasoline, Beer, fast food, and groceries. It also sold Cigarettes.

Now we were supposed to "card" customers we thought weren't old enough to by cigarettes. They were supposed to be 18. Many folks tried to buy them that weren't old enough. It was some times a real hassle, especially when the young "individual" ( I have a few other choice Nouns I'd like to stick in there) thought that they looked old enough and didn't have their ID with them.

One of these occasions was one night or early in the morning. It had to be about 2 or 3 AM. I was busy trying to get ready for the Farm workers rush at about 4 or 4:30 - cooking of lots of food and getting lots of coffee made. I didn't need these two Bozo's to come into my store and give me a hard time.

I didn't even notice these guys come in. I was that busy. I turned and they were all ready at the counter, which I didn't like. I liked to be aware of the people coming in my store, as I was the only one working that shift. The fewer surprises the better. I opened the stupid little door that allowed me to get behind the counter and waited for them to say some thing after greeting them a "Good Morning".

Guy # 1: "Yeah, what ever." In this fake deep voice. "I need some cigarettes."

I looked at him trying to gauge how old he was. See there was a tiny little problem with his appearance:



Me: "Can I see some ID ?"

Now what this means is that this guy reaches into some pocket or wallet or something and produces something which shows me that he is old enough to buy cigarettes. That's it. It doesn't mean you turn to your buddy behind you an start bad mouthing the big guy standing behind the counter.

Guy # 1 talking to Guy #2: "Is this guy kidding? He must be crazy"

Guy # 1 turning back to me: "Are you crazy? Asking ME for MY ID?"

I looked at this fool and said: "Yep I must be crazy. Here I am working Graveyard shift at some stupid AM-PM store asking some moron with as giant green star painted on his head for ID."

Guy # 1: "So, you going to sell me some cigarettes?"

Guy # 1 didn't get it. Without the ID, he wasn't going out the door with cigarettes. I turned to his buddy and tried to get him to explain it to Star Head. He tapped Guy # 1 on the shoulder, Pointed towards the door and started walking out. Guy # 1 stood there looking at me, shaking his head, and muttered something about how crazy I was again, then followed his buddy out the door.

The Next customer in line was a normal looking 40 year old buying a cup of coffee. He asked me what that was. I couldn't answer him.

July 31th, 2008

It was my Junior Year In High School. It was a Friday, late in spring, early in summer, the trees a good full green, the heat just starting to rise. It was the last class of the week, English. The weekend was here. I just had to get home and enjoy it.

I was walking out of the class, being towards the back of the room, I was usually one of the last ones to leave along with a much smarter, much smaller student by the name of John Walsh. John was one of these guys that didn't need to work at getting good grades. They came to him, it seemed effortlessly. I knew him for all 3 years in High school, a member of the Orchestra playing piano, a member of the debate team, A very smart, articulate kid who I loved having talks with. This day, this conversation was one I wouldn't and haven't ever forgotten.

John, as we left the doorway and the other students rushed to leave the building: "I'm not coming to school on Monday."

Me, walking alongside him: "Why, you going on vacation?"

John, as we entered the stairway to go down the four flights of stairs:"Nope, I'm not coming back to school."

Me, thinking he was pulling my leg: "Yeah Right. You not coming back to school, that's a good one."

John: "Yep. I'm not coming back on Monday, You'll see."

Me: "John, You'll be back here. Cut it out."

John: "Brent, I'm not going to be here on Monday."

Me: "Ok then, I'll see you on Tuesday."

He was quiet the next 2 flights of stairs. I was busy thinking about what I was going to watch on TV that night and couldn't wait to see Johnny Winter On Don Kershner's Rock Concert. He was and still is one of my Favorite Guitar Heroes. We finally got to the double doors to leave the Building.

We hit the doors together.

Me: "I'll see you next week."

John: " No ... You won't"

John walked across the campus from me as I stood there and watched him walk away. He didn't say another word. He blended in with the other students and I turned to leave the campus myself.

Monday Came. It had been a great weekend for me. I was really upbeat and glad to be getting towards the end of the year for me school wise, but I could tell something was wrong. I sensed a sadness over the campus. It wasn't till I got to my first class and the teacher came up to the front of the class to inform us that John Walsh had died over the weekend. I was sad to hear that, but the conversation hadn't returned to me yet.

At Lunch I heard a rumor that John had been playing some stupid game of acting like Tarzan, swinging from a rope in his garage, a rope tied to a rafter and some how the rope had made it's way around his neck. He had died of strangulation.

Luckily, it wasn't till I got home that day that the conversation had returned to me.

July 30th, 2008

Alleged carjacker leads almost an hour long pursuit

The Bakersfield Californian | Tuesday, Jul 29 2008 12:10 PM

Last Updated: Tuesday, Jul 29 2008 3:25 PM

A 26-year-old Bakersfield man robbed a woman at gunpoint for her BMW Monday night, and then led police on a 50 minute pursuit through city streets Tuesday morning before being caught and arrested, police said.

The 26-year-old woman said she had parked at the 4200 block of Columbus Street and gotten out of her 2001 BMW 325i


when she was approached by Carlos Rivas, who was armed with a gun, police said. He demanded the keys and drove away in her car at 9:45 p.m. Monday.

At about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, Bakersfield police officers saw the car driving south on Inyo Street. The Police attempted to stop it, but Rivas didn’t stop and led officers on a 50 minute chase. The chase finally ended on the 4400 block of Monitor Street when Rivas ran and entered a home there, police said. He was arrested a short time later with the help of a police dog, police said.

Two other suspects, Mark Azua, 24, and Ray Behill, 20, both of Bakersfield, stayed in the car and were taken into custody. A stolen loaded gun was also found in the car.

Rivas was arrested for carjacking, parole violation, weapons violations and gang participation. Azua and Behill were arrested for weapon violations and gang participation.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The reason I am posting this local news story is that the Ray Behill in this story used to live next door to us. See, Mr. Behill decided that he needed to let the air out of two of our Brand new tires on my wife's car with a knife through the side wall of the tires about 6 years ago. We caught him red handed and had video proof. He was found guilty and was supposed to pay restitution. We got 25 dollars out of the deal.

So Mr. Behill, enjoy your time back in the grasp of our local law enforcement. Lets hope you get to pay the full amount this time around.

July 24th. 2008

I was an assistant Manager at a retail Department store for a while, actually 2 and 1/2 years.

One of my job duties there was to manage the stocking crew. Now when I walked Into this Job, I had zero experience in stocking and merchandising and this crew of mine had years. Two of the Gals had probably 15 years between them, mostly with that store and the one guy in the bunch had about 6 himself. Then I had another lady with about 4 years.

So here were my crew: 3 ladies and one man with more than 25 years experience versus my Zero. A fair combination don't ya think.

I had to somehow win these guys over to get them to do some of what I was asking of them, because for the most part at first, they really didn't give a damn. So after about 4 months of beating my head against the wall and really not getting much cooperation from them, I decided to try and see if they were interested in Movies.

See, I really needed to have been listening more to what they were saying and less on being so concerned about getting the quote right. So I asked them one very early morning when they were in the zone and working like little bees not doing what I was needing them to do. Yes, Not doing it. They had there own ideas and that is what they did. My boss, the area manager had his own ideas. And they were to follow what he said. They didn't like his ideas, so there in lied the problem, me being stuck in the middle between two very hard headed factions, one of which could fire me.





Me: "Hey you guys like movies?"

Them: (Two ladies and the one man) Silence.

I was use to this response.

Me: "Have you guys ever seen "Rain Man"."

Them: Mumbling something, probably like what is this stupid white guy talking about.

Me trying to get the quote right: "I really Liked it when Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman were driving along and and Dustin Hoffman was saying "I'm not wearing any underwear. I get my underwear at K-mart, yeah K-mart." I thought that was so funny."

They stopped dead in their tracks and looked at me.

The guy: "Did you just say your not wearing any underwear?"

Me: "What, .. No. It was a movie ..."

The ladies burst out in laughter. A first.

The guy asked me again. "Cause I could have sworn you just said you weren't wearing any underwear?"

Me:" You know Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man ..."

Them, pretty much in unison: "We've never seen the Movie."

Me: "Oh, so you guys have no idea what the heck I'm talking about."

Them shaking their heads no.

Me, trying to gain some kind of dignity back: "Well, it's a great movie and if you get a chance, watch it."

That, and a few other not nearly as embarrassing moments and some very serious conversations from my boss with them finally got me to get those guys to do about 2/3 of what I asked from them.

That and them finding out I was the one that did their annual reviews for raises.

July 14th, 2008

I have to thank a fellow blogger who let me know in no uncertain terms that she did not appreciate being called older than she is. That and maybe a few other smart ass remarks I had left her. Hey, that's part of the fun of blogging in public, Right? You toss out your comments and the public gets a chance to throw back. So any way (this is becoming a whole lot wordier that I thought it would be and this explanation isn't helping matters at all) She said two words which took me back.

"Bite Me."

Lovely little phrase. Hardly my favorite and I don't know how she was wanting it to come across, but for me it comes with a memory of one of my first jobs. It was delivering Pizzas, chicken and other goodies on the Chicken Delight Menu. I got paid an hourly wage plus mileage (I used my own car) and any tips I got. I also had a bunch of experiences which I shall draw from for the next few days of postings.

So the bite me phrase - well, it came from the mouth of the head pizza maker in this small facility down on 21st street in Bakersfield, California. I can't remember her name right now, but she made quite the impression on me.

I feel the need to set the stage properly for you to get the full effect of these two words. I had just started at this job. The building was narrow, but long. The oven setup was at one end of this building right near the front door. There was a table set in front of the oven where the pizzas were created. There was a large window, floor to ceiling, where you could look out onto all the drunks going to Central Park and watch the homeless people going by in their splendor and various stages of aroma. I believe her name was Ann, or it was something very simple like that. Ann was short, probably about 5 foot tall, with this quite large chest area. She wasn't fat at all, (well maybe a little) just very busty. I was about 6 foot 2 inches tall, so to look at her I had to look down and she had to look up, which she didn't like.

Ann was very opinionated. Not just a little, but a whole lot. Like on a scale of 1 to 10, she was probably about a 15. One of the things he let me know right off the bat was she didn't like people looking down at her and she didn't like looking up at other people. (I really think she was wanting to just give me a hard time, for she excelled at that) This was the first words out her mouth after being introduced to her.

"I don't like tall people and I'm not going to look up at you, so get use to it."

Ok.

I was told she also made the pizza's and if I wanted one she would be "more than happy" to make me one. Cool. Free food. My Fave. So I got introduced to some of the other folks that worked there and shown the ropes of the job. Time went by and my stomach started growling. Free food.

So I told Sarge, my boss and the owner of this place, I was taking my lunch break. It was probably about 7 pm. His words from his very gruff voice still ringing in my ears - "more than happy" that and "just ask her". Great. She was busy throwing a huge pizza pie in the oven and turned to look at my stomach or chest, I don't know which, but it wasn't my face.




"Yeah, Sarge said you'd make me a pizza. I'd like a pepperoni and cheese, please." Those famous two words with out a pause. This was the second time I had talked to her. -

"Bite Me!!!" and she stormed off. Now I am not exactly sure how to portray how those two words came across. Kind of like a shot to the gut. Full of poison and venom and total disgust. I stared in disbelief as she walked away.

I'm thinking, hold it, free food, pizza, hungry, free food, damn, Sarge said ...

That and I didn't know the first thing about making a pizza. I knew how to eat them. I had that down to a science.

(more to come)

went Bye bye.

It's a shame. It was nice and long and was full of venom and spit. But upon more thought, not worthy of the time it too to post.

Tony Snow at age 53 has passed away to day. He died from Colon Cancer.

I can closely relate to those with Colon Cancer. My dad had this cancer and it was one of 4 cancers he finally passed away from. My dad, if nothing else, made sure I learned full well about the suffering tied into cancer. It sucks. It is a terribly long drawn out way to die.

If you haven't had a clolonoscopy yet, get one. For me, it was a painless operation and I came away greatly pleased with the results and the procedure. The hard part is what you get to do prior to the actual exam. Your colon needs to be cleaned out. They have a lovely liquid which I got to drink. You consume a large amount. The details aren't pretty, for involves the toilet a lot, but very necessary. Get the exam. Compared to the illness, cancer of the colon, it is a piece of cake.

Tony suffered with this terrible disease for 3 years. My dad had it for about 5 years. It's painful, at times very embarrassing and there were many visits to the doctor and the hospital. Trust me, you don't want to have to deal with it.

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On a side note, there is a blog named KSHIPPYCHIC. She has a post where she is talking about her Garden and some of the odd things her veggies are doing. She has mutant tomatoes, spooning squash and a large Pumpkin, which she says is female. Anyway, check out her interesting blog.

She also has a Photo blog with some very nice Photography from Kansas.

July 8th,2008 I awoke this morning with a whole list of things I could post here. I guess My subconscious was working overtime feeling guilty for not posting here. I don't know. Most of the list seemed to be in the embarrassment field, My embarrassment. Sure it would be entertaining. And sure it would be easy to post for they were vivid memories. And I was grateful, actually, that a whole list of stuff was just right there, in the mist, drifting ... slowly ... away ...
So here it is 2 hours later, and it is dawning on me about the list and I'm trying my damnedest to remember any of them ....
And it's not working.
lol
Oh well there is always tommorrow morning. I guess I need a note pad alongside the bed, eh?

June 23rd, 2008

I realize that I get visitors from all over the world and some of you may not know who David Letterman is, But I found this Video and found it very profound. This was His first show back after the attacks on 9 - 11 and I think it is very important that we do not forget all the mayhem that took place that fateful day: