the moving walkway is ending

so, here's the skinny on the KC vacation wedding weekend. we arrived at Midway around 7 o'clock only to find out that our flight, which was scheduled to leave at 9:05 was already posted as DELAYED until 11:10. damn! we looked at the board and there was another flight scheduled to leave at 7, but was delayed until 7:35 so we booked it through security with minimal hassle and got our names put on the stand-by list. it looks good. it looks good. they board ("they" being the passengers booked on said flight) and our names are called. we're set. we get our tickets and go to the door. it's closed? what the...The plane is pulling back? what the...We're not getting on the flight? what the FUCK?!?

we're there for a while. we're there until at least 11:10pm. let's get a drink. we do. play some cards while putting a few back. there's a couple lively Irishmen sauced off their green asses trying to pick up a nice Latin woman. she's enjoying them. they're telling her how pretty she is...even without the make-up, you're a pretty woman. they've been there since 2pm. their destination is Chicago and apparently they don't feel like going into the city, so they've kept at the airport bar until now. until about 10. wait. that's when we left.

I don't know. we got to our gate way to early because for the next two hours all we heard was "caution! the moving walkway is ending" over and over again. the flight didn't leave until midnight. two hours of "caution! the moving walkway is ending."

the flight was relatively neutral. tried to sleep, but couldn't. we landed at MCI in Kansas City at 2 am. the folks, family that is, didn't come out to pick us up. it's understandable. what was freaking intolerable was that upon walking out of the airport where you usually have your pick of taxis, there were none. there was a phone to call a cab, so I did. they'd be there in 20 minutes. what the...they arrived in 30 and we were off.

at the hotel, 3 am. sleep.

woke up at 11:30 to get ready and grab some grub with family at Winsteads. it's like steak and shake, but better and only in KC. steakburgers for breakfast! yummy.

the wedding wasn't until 6 so girls went shopping and the rest went to see dad play in a raquetball tourney then nap and get ready for the show. I got a new suit. that was sweet. Madeline looked sexy as ever. that was sweet. pictures and dinner happened before the ceremony, which was short and sweet. that was sweet. drinking and more drinking surrounded it all and we danced until midnight when it was finally time to call it a night. oh! yeah, Madeline caught the bouquet. no comment... =-)

brunch the next morning and more family time. slowly ending with kisses and hugs and hope to see you soons. good to see yous and great to meet yous. back to the airport for another flight. on time. turbulence then the el back to Clark & Lake. cab ride home and some NY style pizza for dinner. dropped the lady off and went back home. crashed.

less than 48 hours in the City of Kansas. what a world what a world.

that sounds like theatre to me

the cafe was buzzing, brewing with activity of all sorts. the Chess club was making their moves quietly. Queen took rook and bishop caught knight. the White King was safe for another seven moves, but a Black mate was inevitable. the Goth club was discussing whether it's o.k. to pierce yourself in the morning when the sun was shining and the day was bright, "does this not contradict our entire belief system," said an old black cat in a monotone voice hoping not to be outcast for believing in something. "it's exactly what makes it goth," spoke the young girl in an unusually chipper voice highlighted by her black ponytailed hair. "who cares," spoke the voice of reason and truth in the group as he vanished from sight never to be seen again. on stage a group of a dozen artists read some Funny Valentine and the Endurance of this band of merry players was tested as the noise level in the place left little room to project a proper performance. in a better world we could have all sat around the same table and talked of things in common, but in the Mercury it was every man for himself and some of the women had to unsheath their swords. the ensuing battle was only ended by a 9 o'clock curfew, closing time they call it. where did the evening go? who knows...

"things done for gain are naught, but great things done endure." - Ernest Shackleton

Rape Victims

Politics, like many have already come to understand, is a tricky dick. I have come late to politics in my life. Hoping to catch up with the rest is futile, so I absorb and understand what I can. Sometimes the best insights come from those savants having years under their belts. Sometimes they come from the idiots. The fools, if you would.

Recently, I came into another interesting conversation about politics and accountability. Discussing the current state of affairs, it was posited that someone had to be accountable for our, well, current state of affairs. The President of these here United States would be the man, as he is the elected, unfortunate turn of phrase, King. I wonder why, however, it must be this one man. I do believe he is a true work of ineptitude and disgusts me time and time again with his mere presence on the radio, television or through the, well, current state of affairs. He should be held accountable for what he has done, but is he the only one who should be held accountable? Obviously, his entire staff is bred from a hell unmatched by any literary record known to man, though they have certainly been compared. They, of course, should also be held accountable, but is it just them?

What about the American people?

I, for one, daily feel very responsible for the current state of affairs. As I've stated before, I have never voted in an election. I pride myself in this fact. I am proud to live in a country where I have the right to vote, along with the right not to vote. A vote is a voice and I am very adamant that not voting is a voice as well, but it is, admittedly, not a very loud voice.

Quite honestly, there has never been a candidate that has stirred in me the desire to vote. Nor have there been a party that falls within my belief set that I would blindly vote for whichever candidate runs so that the other party doesn't win. I believe that a vote "not for a candidate" is an irresponsible vote.

So, who is accountable for our current state of affairs? I think it is too easy to blame the talking head. We get closer when we blame an entire administration and even closer when we blame the system, but we are still hiding behind our own fear of being responsible. Being accountable. Voting is a voice, but there are other voices as well and we should all speak our minds.

Be heard. Be responsible. Be accountable.

i thought this was pretty insightful

"People complain about endings a lot, but they don't know really what they're talking about. They talk about 'God out of the machine', but they don't actually mean that. What they mean is, you can't win the game with a new piece on the board. You have to have seen already what the downfall of the enemy will be, but not recognized it for what it is. That's what they mean.

Across the board, you have to introduce the element that's going to end your show disguised as something that was self-supporting, there for its own reasons. A self-supporting gag. Done, we don't worry about it anymore, forget about that. Then -- there you go -- it's come back! People love that."

– Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling)

It's Madeline Long in "The Case of Missing Pastries"

this is an early synopsis of the next installment in the It's Madeline Long series. To catch the earlier pieces visit www.itsmadelinelong.com.

Madeline, asleep, is awaken by a noise in the kitchen. She checks out the scene and notices the refrigerator door is slightly ajar. Opening the door, she finds an empty case of pastries. She is upset. She is angry. Someone has stolen her pastries!

She notices the window to her apartment is also ajar. She crawls out and down the escape ladder in search of the culprit. It's late. It's dark. She's not scared. A man walks by looking like he's eating a pastry. Nope. It's a hot dog. Further sleuthing. Madeline Long is empty handed. The case is gone. She returns to her apartment distraught. Decides to go back to sleep...

There's more, but I can't very well give away the ending, duh!

COMING SOON!!!

Speak Your Mind

is it anarchy when you believe there is another option out there?

while visitng relatives during my vacation the political button was hit now and again. i am used to being chastised for not voting in any election since turning 18. it turns out that it's my fault and not Ralph Nader's for the state of the world. I can't complain about anything either. when explaining the situation, my feelings that neither party spoke to me and I'm thankful everyday that I live in a country where I have the right to vote as well as the right NOT to vote, I am posed with the question... "so, you want anarchy to reign?"

First off, I don't think anarchy can reign. it's an oxymoron. second off, I find it very narrow minded to believe that if it's not one of two parties, it must be anarchy. I recently sat down for a bowel movement and picked up a copy of Newsweek I now have coming to me after I donated to Chicago Public Radio. The last page is always by the same guy, and I haven't felt the urge to remember his name for no reason until this issue I had in my hand. He goes off on the political minded who feel a third party would benefit the country. I believe he was talking mostly about Bloomberg's current stand. Not only would a third party, but a fourth, fifth, sixth, etc., greatly benefit our nation. None of these parties has to be anarchic to be fitting.

The lesser of the two evils is quite possibly the worst cliche I have ever come across. If there is not a candidate out there who I believe will lead this country back to the truth and justice we once stood for, then I will once again abstain from voting. I hope, as I know many out there do, that Mr. Al Gore will make a run. I know it is an anarchic view, but I hope he runs as an Independent. I think the popular opinion out there is that we need a change. Wouldn't this would be one we can all stand behind? He has talked of revolution. Not of a revolution creating chaos. Revolution to resolve the chaos we are already in.

So, I've spoken my mind and feel much better for it.

my first pictorial blog

it began on a flight to Cabo from Chicago that I almost missed because they wouldn't let me check my bag in so close to my flight. I guess I should have got up earlier. Oh! well, I proceeded to security, who let me through, no problem. Sunset Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico...

Cabo is beautiful and sitting in the pool all day long drinking and eating great food is the way to live, not to mention the cigars, the drinking and the good food. well spent family time, I'd say...Off the LA next to see the stars...There are a lot of them near this theater...

and a few footprints/handprints stuck in cement...















ah! the stars...











it's Hollywood and Vine!













some research on the upcoming production of Soldiers: The Desert Stand...





that's his fist.



more stars!











more research...



more stars!!!









a park in downtown LA...



the library (i think)...



i went to San Diego to visit my cousin who lives on the beach. i am jealous, but I got to be a bum for the weekend. we didn't see seals here, but they usually lay about...



San Diego is a nice place to be...



some seals and birds of some sort if you can see...



back in LA to catch one more star...



I didn't see this play, but it seems funny...



probably a tragedy...



malibu...



i met up with Madeline in Maryland/Virgina. one is for crabs, the other is for lovers. i got both. oh! yeah!!!



so those are the pics. i should probably write something substantial on the whole experience, but for now, enjoy. they are cellphone pics, so don't complain about the resolution.

good to be back in Chicago.