William Fitzsimmons

I've been downloading a lot of this guy's stuff the past couple of weeks.  He's a great songwriter and artist, with a melancholy, quiet sound, and is really enjoyable.  Great artist.

And now the good folks at NoiseTrade are offering a free sampler of some of his selections.  Definitely worth the download.

Enjoy...




Also, as a reader of this space, you know I'm a big fan of the Rosebuds.  Here's a great remix they're offering that is worthy of your download as well:

Ann Coulter Exposes Newt Gingrich (and It's Not Pretty...)

I know some people have a tough time with Ann and see her as a bombastic, caustic voice in the political arena.  Personally, while I can do without some of the vitriol, I think she's intelligent, steadfast, and principled. 

In her blog today she peels away the emotional onion that is Newt Gingrich and gets down to the core facts.  What's left is, frankly, quite ugly. 

I encourage you to read the whole thing.

State of the Union Recap

Miss the speech last night?  Don't worry, we at Yellow Dog Patrol have you covered!  Just click the link below.

Is it Groundhog Day today?

1,000 Days

This morning marks the thousandth day since the US Senate passed a budget.

The Democratic Senate (53 to 47) has sat on their collective rear ends for nearly three years and has done nothing. 

It would seem to me that their sole responsiblity would be to set the fiscal agenda for the country.  Instead, these cowards would rather protect themselves and the President rather than conduct the most basic of their duties.  They cannot put down, on paper, what they intend for their country.

Think about that for a second, and ask yourself, "Why?"

Then steel yourself to vote out every stinking one of these bums that are up for election this fall.

KC Recap

A long weekend was spent with the Gang of Four, and we had a fabulous time.  While the weather could have been a lot better (it was a hell of a long way to go for 25 degree temps), the company could not have been.

Every time we get together, so kind of story comes of it and that was clearly the case this time as we nearly froze poor Pauly to death.  Thank God for Starbucks. 

I'll have photos up shortly.  In the mean time, it is back to work - tired, but grinning from ear to ear.

Ode to a Buddy on the Occasion of His 60th Birthday

Twas a cold winter's day on the date of your birth

and for sixty long years you've trod on this earth

Career, marriage, kids, accomplishments many

But reviewing all that, well there won't be any

Instead, dear Mr. X I would  like to implore you

to drink up as we're discussing how the Gang of Four know you

I guess it all starts with softball where you weren't a feared batter

But feared in warming up, now that's a whole different matter

You'd saved your best performance after the game at the bar

Where you abused Pauly's AmEx and made me drive your car

With pheasants you'd always have trouble staying in line

And would be off following Sam at some point in time

You'd just disappear, and we'd say "what the f--k?"

But knew that eventually we'd meet at the truck

As for darts you're performance was always the same

Be it a 301 contest or that other limey game

Harder and faster, throwing darts like you're mad

Only getting worse with the more drinks that you had

And at golf we could say "brutal" is the appropriate word

Given the amount you're OB and profanity heard

But as a golf betting negotiator your skills are spectacular

Securing us strokes at best-ball (by your vernacular)

In Vegas your antics make the dealers all frown

And caused a nice Asian woman to say "Gee, guys settle down"

But you were quite harmless and only raised one stink:

"Sir, he's not gambling." "I don't care, get him a drink"

As a fishing guide, there's less fishing and more drivin'

And get the hell out the way if you call "Crazy Ivan"

You're choices on when we move, well they're not very fair

As when a guy has to poop, we'll we're staying right there

You're musical tastes, they just make me just furious

As "Shitty Song of the 70's" is your favorite on Sirius

And your baseball allegiances should be considered a sin

as I loathe my voicemail messages of "The Yankees Win"

Your hard drinking days gone, you're now kind of boring

By the time Mongo rides to town you're usually snoring

But it is all understandable - you're getting up there in age

And as you move to your 60's it's the turn to a new page

So here's to you Mr. X.  A birthday toast if I might:

May your blessing be many and your burdens be light

As you sail the uncharted waters of your 60's, go forth and have fun

or as Commander Krill might say, "Welcome to the revolution!"

Trigeminal Neuralgia Update

The past 6-8 months have been fabulous.  I never went off the meds, so I don't know if it was a full remission period or not, but it didn't matter as life was pretty damn good.

That all changed two days ago.  Things really got bad after lunch that day, and hit a peak at a 4:00 meeting I was having with some on my team.  I was barely functional because I was in so much pain.  

I left the office at 5:00 that day, came home, and went right to bed.  I was able to fall asleep for an hour for some much needed relief, but when I work things quickly went back to a dull ache.

This morning, after turning off the alarm, things started right up again.  I fed the dog and let her out, and the cold morning air (wind chill this morning is -15) immediately hit me hard.  The cold has been a trigger for me in the past, and that was clearly the case right now.  So instead of driving to the club and working out this morning, I'm sitting here typing this.  I just couldn't bring myself to go outside.

I have two weekends coming up in warmer climates, and I'm hoping that will help.  I'll also likely be upping my meds as I'm currently taking a dose that is lower than what is prescribed for me.  Hopefully all of that works.

Packers Loss Drunk Chick's Fault

It wasn't that Rodgers was horrible.  Or that Finley couldn't catch a cold.  Or that Nelson disappeared.  Or that they turned the ball over three times.  Or that the defense allowed Eli Manning to take the hike from center, make a sandwich, take a couple of bites, call his mom, scratch himself, and check his email before getting any pressure on him.  

Nah.  It was the sparkles in the nail polish!  Of course!

Either that or the Clay Matthews jersey.

Either way, it's nice to have that settled.