Yellow Dog/Bleeding Heart

Yes, Christmas time is here again and the spirit of giving is in the air. The spirit of whining and asking for stuff is in the air too – and I am not talking about the children who don’t know any better. I am talking about adults who seem to feel that they are deserving of charity. It is to those people I address this letter. Dear America in December, If you are reading this you are not poor. You clearly have, not only the ability to read, but also a computer (or computer access.) Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Congratulations! You are certainly not alone. Lots of people are out there busting their butts just to get by. Rather than making you needy, it means you have a work ethic. It also means you are blessed to have a job. You are not poor. Do your kids want video games for Christmas? Congratulations! You have a home with electricity and a television. You are not poor. Are you sad because there are no presents under your tree? Congratulations! You are wealthy enough to hav...

I do not know what is up with me lately. I have been riding the emotional roller coaster like a fat bearded guy on a Harley. Or something. Maybe I am just sick of people. Like the guy who bought his 16 year old daughter a Hummer because he wanted her to be safe when she drives. What the fuck?! That is like buying her a shotgun so she will be "safe" about sex. If the little brat cannot be trusted in a car then DO NOT LET HER DRIVE. For gawd's sake do not put her on the road in what amounts to a weapon so she can hone her driving skills around nice innocent people in sensible cars. And while I am on the subject: If you are bitching about high gas prices and you drive an SUV... SHUT THE FUCK UP! You chose to drive that gas guzzling unnecessary monstrosity and I have no sympathy Also, lose the attitudes people. In the grand scheme of things we have such a short time here on earth why waste it in an endless pursuit of newer/bigger/better/more? I like my life, for the most p...

Sunday I worked all day in the yard and was hosing everything down when a beautiful banded pigeon waddled up to assess my work. He seemed quite friendly and not at all afraid. Eventually I had him eating birdseed from my hand and posing while I did an impromptu pigeon photo shoot. The sun went down and I scattered some birdseed, soaked everything with water and went to bed. The next morning as I pulled out of the garage I noticed the pigeon strutting around the garden. Some of the mulch was scattered, indicating he had bedded down there the night before. He was still there when I got home from work. At this point I was concerned about this little pigeon I had come to think of as Bucky. The bands indicated he belonged to someone who surely must be missing him. So, the next day at work I contacted a friend who works for a local aviation research facility. From her I was referred to a Falconer at the center who referred me to the State Wildlife Association who referred me to the area Game...

Luck. I have never been a big believer in it. I think everything happens for a reason. I also think we make our own luck. Take, for example, a happily married couple I know who just celebrated their 25 th wedding anniversary. Many people told them they were very "lucky to have found each other" and subsequently such happiness. The wife and I were talking about how this was not a compliment. "We worked very hard to get through some bad times. We almost split up once, but in the end we chose to work it out. It was not always easy, but it has always been worth it," she said. She went on to explain that they both view their relationship as something they maintain. They make it a point to work through the little things. Their successful marriage was bourne of choice, commitment and hard work. Luck had nothing to do with it. It is like when people tell me how lucky I am to work for such a wonderful employer. I did not just stumble into this job. I have worked a lot of c...

Furry and his mom came over the other night. I was also sitting for a neighbor's 7 year old. Bob stopped by. My sister called. It was one of those perfect spring evenings where my house seemed like the hub where all points met. There was a roast in the oven, laughter around the table, wine in the fridge and music in the air. It's nights like this that I cherish because I've learned what a luxury it is. So, with this in mind I witnessed a moment. The older boys were playing Trouble in the living room floor. Furry toddled over to watch, quietly planting his diapered butt between them. He watched the two boys take turns hitting the pop-o-matic and moving their pieces. Back and forth he turned his toddler head - eyes fixed on the player in action. He figured it out pretty quick and then he made his move. He stuck his arm in and touched the plastic dome; smiled and then pulled his arm back. He continued to do this for the next 30 minutes – never grabbing the board or mussing the...

So, Furry might be sick. Very sick. Cystic Fibrosis . I’ ve read med MD. I know the general prognosis. I also know that life is not always fair and I believe that everything happens for a reason. Regardless, it is a bit overwhelming to think that this child, whom we love so very much, may be ill. That we have taken his health and his future for granted. I’ ve asked a lot of people to pray. I’ ve reminded myself to pray. I’ ve promised that even if Furry is really really sick, I will still be annoyed by his brattiness . I will still tease him mercilessly and indoctrinate him into the ways of my family where we laugh at everything - even the bad stuff. Especially the bad stuff.

This morning my father took my sister, myself and Little Dog out for breakfast. As we finished the meal he leaned over to me an whispered, "See that young lady behind you eating alone?" I surrepticiously glanced around to see a young girl, about 20something, quietly eating her breakfast. I looked back at dad and nodded. "I can't imagine why anyone would be eating alone on Christmas morning," he said. "I want you to pick up her check from the table and tell her I'll take care of it...and tell her I said Merry Christmas." I did as he asked and the girl thanked him profusely as he walked by. He just smiled and wished her a Merry Christmas. It was a shining moment in my dad's usually negative outlook. His spontaneously deciding to do this - his even noticing the girl eating alone was a surprise to me. Perhaps the Christmas spirit is not dead after all.

What the hell is wrong with people?! Where did this sense of entitlement come from?! This Christmas season I have heard people bitch about their Christmas gifts; bitch because they had to buy Christmas gifts, and bitch because they didn't get a particular Christmas gift. Co-workers complained loudly that the food at our firm Christmas party - catered by one of the finest restaurants in this city - was "weird" or, more bluntly, "sucked." At the Lavish children's Christmas party the firm hosts every year I heard kids crying because they didn't get what another kid got. One child even tossed aside his video saying, "I didn't want that stupid thing." Man, if Little Dog ever behaved that way he'd quickly find himself present-less. In department stores people shoved and grabbed and let doors bang shut into the faces of people behind them. In parking lots horns blared as people waited for a spot. I have had the good fortune this year to be abl...

Recently an acquaintance of mine, who is in the entertainment industry, made a very public announcement about a very personal situation. Immediately the responses started pouring in and ranged from "You Da Man!" to "You're an asshole!" Within a short time the responses had little to do with this man or his situation and instead the responders had turned on each other. "Who are you to judge," they shouted at his detractors. "You're just as stupid and immoral as he is," they shouted at his supporters. And, of course, there was the inevitable cry of, "Until you have walked in his shoes you can't judge!" Well, newsflash people, yes, we can judge without putting on his size fourteens. We can, and do, judge people every day. We judge people based on their appearance, their accent, and what we know of their situations. We judge businesses based on their reputations, religions based on the actions of their followers, celebrities b...