Catchup Funnies

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Ten Things This Week

I TELL U WHAT

It's been a wild couple of weeks for me...
Put my Dad in the hands of Hospice as he suffers with Metastatic Melanoma.
Been busy taking care of his effects, banking, and all the necessary business that an Only Son takes care of in times like these.  Every step has been a hurdle...
Anyway, that explains my absence in the blogosphere, oh, and I had a birthday...

Here's ten observations for ya:

1. Dallas has the most corrupt city government in the country. Whether it's the schools, the cops, the DA, the city council, whatever... Dallas hides taxpayer money like none other... Here's the latest debacle.

2. Del Frisco's is good, but Perry's Steakhouse in Austin is the shiznit. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE AND YOU LIVE IN AUSTIN, FOR SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!

3. Early voting totals for DFW are down compared to '08. It's always fascinated me how many of us DON'T VOTE. Less than 100,000 people early-voted, in a city of 3 million people, that is a goddamn joke.

4. If you have a home or a condo, go ahead and spend some money to fix it up and enjoy it!  Hell, you may even find a tax break if you do... Radiant barriers and Surge protectors are just a couple of ways you can improve your quality of life and lower your bills.

5. Mitt Romney is a Mormon.

6. When dealing with an unstable hospice, you do have the right to fire them and transfer to another hospice. It felt good to fire VITAS hospice in Dallas this week. They didn't listen to me, communicate with my family, or execute documentation properly. You know, basically they failed to do their job.

7. Mitt Romney is a big, BIG Mormon.

8. I received season tickets to the Dallas Theatre Center for a birthday present. I can think of no better gift for a guy like me; I encourage all Texans to check out their local professional, collegiate, and HS productions. There's some amazing talent right here in our little state.

9. The OMB released a new chart showing spending for every president since Reagan. Guess who's bar was the shortest? The black guy.




10.  Mitt Romney is to Mormons, what Donna Summer is to Disco.

THE Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds everyone that early voting has begun as it brings you this week's blog roundup.

Off the Kuff finished his interview tour of Texas with a conversation with Domingo Garcia in CD33.
  
BossKitty at TruthHugger will not weigh in, whether or not the truth was actually served in court, when a black woman fired a warning shot into a wall. Firing a gun in irresponsible ways is natural in Texas. But Florida has contradictory laws that allow courts to pick and choose who gets punished for similar irresponsible behavior. You can decide for yourself how good a job of it they do.

Rick Perry came to Williamson County this week and endorsed John Bradley -- the man who whitewashed the investigation into whether the state of Texas executed an innocent man -- for District Attorney. WCNews at Eye On Williamson has the rest of the story: Birds of a feather.

It was a good week to be gay if you were Barack Obama and John Carona, and a bad week to be gay if you were Mitt Romney and Dan Patrick. And if you think that's confusing, wait until you read what PDiddie at Brains and Eggs said about Greg Abbott's rose petals and Joe Arpaio's pink panties.  

Lewisville Texan Journal looks at the Republican candidate for HD 106 Pat Fallon's residence, and addresses whether he committed voter fraud by voting from an address where he apparently did not live.

At TexasKaos, lightseeker asks: Could the education cuts be the beginning of the end for Texas Republicans? Check out the details.

Neil at Texas Liberal endorsed Sean Hubbard in the Democratic primary for the open U.S. Senate seat.

Sunday Gay Funnies

Funny Papers

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Funnies

Don't Forget About Your Ol' Dad

My Step Dad(63) lost his life to skin cancer almost 10 years ago and now my Bio Dad(72) is lying in a hospice bed with the same thing. I'm doing pretty good all things considered, but that's only because of the overwhelming love I've received from family and friends. 

If I've learned anything it's this: Have your legal matters in order, be sure to always use your sunscreen... and go see a dermatologist.

 

Born in Houston, Texas in 1939, then moved to McCamey, my Dad was a "West Texas Boy." Class Of '59, McCamey High School.  He was voted most popular by his classmates. He had a way about him that made it easy to be his friend...

After a brief stint at San Angelo College he joined the Navy and loved every minute of it. Upon  completion of basic training he was assigned to duty in Hawaii where he worked as an accountant. Later he would move to San Diego which is where my parents lived after they were wed. The Navy gave him an education and an experience to last for his lifetime and mine. Tidy, well kept, and on time. He was no "Slouch" as he would like to say...

Good with numbers and balancing books he worked for many successful businesses in Texas after 5+ years of service in the Navy. One of his favorite jobs was working in the original Haltom's Jewelers that was in downtown  Ft. Worth. As a child, I remember visiting Haltom's with Mom and how impressed I was that he worked someplace so fancy. 

My parents were small town kids from humble means and they both worked very hard. It wasn't long before we were enjoying the fruits of their labor. They built a house in Hurst, threw lavish parties, traveled on cruise ships and took pride in their meticulous yard. Dad was now a partner in his own business- a cleaning service in downtown Dallas- and enjoyed great success... And then great failure...

Having gone into business with a despicable business partner, Dad's dreamboat life hit the rocks. He experienced tremendous lows in his life and it was at this point he and my Mom divorced. Money, nerves, marrying too young, whatever the reason my parents marriage was over. I am their only child.

Now living in Houston, he continued working and doing the best he could. I visited him yearly and got to know the city of Houston for it's good and bad... He loved Houston. He loved to tell the story of when he saw Tina Turner at The Summit. He took me to AstroWorld, BookStop stores and out for Chinese food. I cherish the day he took me to see San Jacinto Battlefield and the Battleship Texas. He studied history and consequently so do I. 

On the deck of the Battleship Texas 1981

 

After working for a few banks in Houston like Sunbelt Savings, he moved back to the DFW area to care for his ailing parents and found a "J.O.B." at Lomas Mortgage. He was happy working there and living in Grapevine in his parents Mobile Home. Not your ordinary mobile home to be sure-- those of you who saw it know what I mean-- he had it beautifully decorated and landscaped...

My closest friends who got to meet and know him can tell you of his famous patio parties. Always friendly to neighbors, it was a small porch off the side of a mobile home packed to capacity on weekend nights. Good times...

To say Dad was a smoker is an insult to smokers everywhere. He took smoking to a new level. (Think Mad Men circa 1963 but this is 2012.) He was terrified to be caught somewhere he couldn't smoke a cigarette. I think once, on a plane, he may have eaten one.

I have so many good memories of my Dad. He wasn't always there for me physically,  but he was there in spirit. At least I like to think so. He used to say, "You only have one Mother and one Father in this world." He had such a way of cutting right to the sadness of life in one sentence and thereby forcing you to face your own reality. I've used his quotes many times to advise friends for good or bad.

 We always kept tabs on each other, he would call and remind me "Don't Forget About Your Ol' Dad!" 

I helped him every way a son could and towards the last 5 years... above and beyond the call of duty...

Dad never had a bunch of money but he looked like he did, and he certainly talked like he did. A lesson that can carry you far in life. 

He may not have been the model Father Figure, but he's still my Ol' Dad whom I love and wish well. Always...