Just heard this quote and I thought it was funny... although not PC at all... (which I guess most funny jokes wouldn't be...)

[Arguing over the internet] is like running in the Special Olympics... no matter who wins, you're still retarded.

I'm still trying to figure a place in some type of writing for that one. 

Anyways, I finally was able to drive by the old school.  So sad.  "There was where I had kindergarten..."  "Aww man, the cafeteria is all busted out."  At least it the mold didn't spread through the whole school... most of good parts are still standing.  Like where I spent 4th grade and up.  The Gym, Library (and all those Encyclopedia brown books I'd read... or that one with the gold bug on every page)... and the Art room.  Mrs. Carlson... what a great teacher.  She took a liking to me (I guess).  She must've thought that I had something?  But I guess I never really looked into it.  I think on my end, I never really liked anything that I drew.  Ironic because I do like animation and would want to create something entirely mine.  At least I got to see Mrs. Carlson when she was Cristina's art teacher.  She just retired last year though.  Time flies...

... and I'm still having to much fun.

Old School

Sometime in the past couple of years they (the town) found a mold that was growing in the old elementary school that all of us kids had gone to.  And so they closed it down... and pretty soon, this summer they're going to knock it down.  Once again, being the nostalgic guy that I am... I can't believe that it's going to be [different].  I mean, kindergarten to sixth grade, what is that, like seven years?  That's a pretty good chunk of one's life.  And this town ain't that big... so it was sort of the center of it all.  Man, I even had my Boy Scout meetings there.  First plays that I was in... first time that I read and all that... hehe the embarrassing moments of just being a kid...

It was cool when Cristina started to go to IEF (the school) and as luck would have it, she got the same kindergarten teacher as me... Mrs. Alchus.  I swear she hasn't aged... which makes me think that she must've been really young when I had her... and kids at that age just don't notice these things...

Heheh, honestly, I just got dragged into watching the salon or something... and my trains of thoughts are just passing me by...

I guess the point of it all is "The sun sets whether we cry or not."

Goin back to Cali, Cali, Cali...

Wow I forgot that they were bringing Regan's body back to Cali.  That's some man there... to get that much done for his burial.  Armed forces... Air Force One... It must be nice to be resting in his library over on that hill... And the music was amazing.  Never have I had a president die in my time.  It really is something to think about.  I bet my little funeral will be just nothing compared to that one... and this is even after I intend to be a great, great man.  (I'm still working on getting there...)  I mean for Regan they had the whole shebang (sp?)... from the 21 gun salutes... (howitzers and the trusty M14) to the missing man formation... to Amazing Grace on the bag pipe... everything about today was beautiful.  I think the only time that I really got teary eyed tho, was when they started folding his flag... and then the Captain of the USS Ronald Regan (aircraft carrier) gave the folded flag to Mrs. Nancy Regan... and it must have been something that he'd said to her...  but I thought that she'd just break out and bawl.  Stoic... and she didn't.  It breaks my heart to see her then place her hands on the coffin for the final times... (or even that time earlier when she rested her cheek on the still draped coffin...) It's sad (yet beautiful) how you can really see the love.  And yes even after a broken heart, I still want to be THAT much in love.  (flamer)

It's like I never really thought that there'd be anybody at my own funeral... but looking at the widow Regan... I want to be missed that much... I don't think I'd want to have like a million people watch it... just that one person-- my better half.  But knowing me... nobody'd be there.

Jelly Belly

It was sad watching Regan's funeral on t.v.  I mean, I think he was the first actual president that I could remember.  Or could care to remember.  You know, back in grade school... around election time, they'd always have these little newsletter? things that sort of quizzed you on the candidates... and back then as a kid, it never really meant all that much to me. 

And then there was the threat of communism.  And of course all the [great] movies relating to the fear of the bear.  Who can forget Rocky and "I will breaak you."  Or "Wolverines!" from C. Thomas Howell (Soul Man!).  And that odd looking birth mark on Mikhail's head.  And then there was Regan.  Still I wasn't much into politics back then-- just my GI Joes and cartoons... but for a good part of my life (back then) the times of Regan were good times (in America?)  Well good times for me anyways (speaking of my childhood).  I guess that's why I've got this fascination with anything that has to do with going back to my roots.  If there's an old school game on the newest console... I've got to have it.  Ms. Pac Man, Gauntlet... basically anything Nintendo related... I guess it's like a feeling that I'm trying to recapture.  It's sort of the reason why my DVD collection just keeps growing and growing.  I've got a million movies and for some reason I can tell you one single reason why I got each one... whether it's a scene, the cinematography, the director, (the producer?), or just something that happened when I watched it... there's always something there to remind me. 

...there is always something there to remind me.  ... and I'll never be free... you'll always be a part of me...

It's a sickness I guess.

And Ray Charles too... what was it, Diet Pepsi?  Am I getting to that age where the people that are dying are the people that I know? 

God Bless America

It's Memorial Day-- and it's raining.  Sort of feel sorry for all those sun bathers out there.  Makes me wish I was still in Vegas.  (Didn't rain a drop while I was there).  But first thing's first... let's give a [shout out] to all those involved in the armed services!  Nice job.  "Freedom isn't free."  Didn't someone famous say that?

I don't think I've completely ruled out joining some branch of the military.  I think it'd be particularly helpful for me... if I ever finish being a doctor.  (I'm so close I can still taste it).  The problem is, is that it's been so long and I can only keep [the dream] alive for so long.  When does one give up on one's dreams?  I guess part of it depends on the quality of the support sytem that one has.. i.e. family, girlfriend... (and here we go wandering into the "girlfriend" story) *but not tonight.*  I guess I'm not quite ready to give up MY dream yet.  But joining the army (or NAVY) would be still all right to me.  If I did, I'd go career too... for some reason it just sounds appealing that I'm already an officer if I get into the medical corps.  Captain, my captain.  Of course it wouldn't be the same caliber of rank as those that graduate from West Point... but still it's captain... and it's a start.  Maybe part of it's because I'm scared of getting out there on my own and having to start my business... (of healing)... and still the notion of making money off of other's [health]-- still sounds a little shady.  At least the government would be taking care of the bills and the salary if I joined a service.  And no, no, no... it's not all about the money-- a big part of it is still the medicine.  Don't worry-- some day I'm going to do a string of med missions back in the Philippines... (which technically isn't the "right" thing to do)-- but it'll help (for the moment).  Isn't it my obligation to help?  I think so.  It's pretty fun too-- I've already done a number of missions when I was a student... and all I could say is wow.  Luckily a friend caught this one picture of me... and my expression was just "classic".  I believe I was overwhelmed by just the shear number of potential patients there were.  Or I was scared because I didn't know the language as well as I do now...

And then there are the countless lessons learned from the month of community medicine we did in the dumps.  Payatas.  People actually live in the dumps.  Man, the things I've seen... Got to help... got to help.  Maybe that's part of the driving force to becoming a doctor.  (That and G A M B L I N G!)  I figure that I'd feel guilty if I lost my money that I've earned some other way... (yeah right).

Oh yeah-- today at Radio Shack the lady said in our conversation that Cristina was my daughter... actually she said that I was her dad.  You know?  I still got issues about the kids... I'm so grateful that I'm helping out... and it's so rewarding when the kids just hug you-- but it still breaks my heart when people percieve me as their father (Tess and Cristina)... God, I hope that I'll be a [good] father.  Shit, I hope that I'm a good [husband] first!