to my fellow tomato/veggie gardeners......

From a post that I sent to my dear freind Iza.. regarding her soon-to-be in-ground garden.... a quick tip.....


A trick to bring up some worms (to add both aeration and fertilizer to your planting site... I've learned to ADORE worms!).... They're the BEST thing for your soil!

....Okay...get some starchy grains in a big bucket (like an old can of oatmeal you have in the back of your cupboard, some stale flour, and/or stale/moldy bread).... mix it with like 3 times as much dirt, and moisten...

Dig holes where you plan to put your tomatoes (like 8 or so inches in diameter and 10 inches deep)... Fill in the holes w/ your mixture, cover w/ a thick square of soggy newspaper or cardboard (cover the hole), top it with a big rock or brick and give it a month or 2 to mellow...

... by May (If you do it now), you'll have a wonderful, fertile little start for your tomato-lings!...

to a distant (but close) friend......

    In the most respectfull and coutious tone i can muster.... I wanna post this link...

My friend's homicide 

... you see, I worked with her.... not directly... but as an aquaintance... A victim of the most extreme form of domestic abuse....

     it's hard for me... I'm going to her service tomorrow.... but please read my letter to her son....  I hope to GOD it brings healing to him... Please give me your thoughts.... and please, be sensitive... family may read this...

   "Dear Mike, 

          It's funny how who someone barely even touched (albeit grazed) your life can affect you... I worked with her... sort of... in the next building over, sure... I knew her, though in a fairly superficial sense but in the last couple of days.... a piece was missing... I felt a tangible *absence* at work amongst my work family... and in my heart, too... You see, I feel for both her and everyone I left behind, sure, but in the descriptions and memories of those who knew her, my heart aches for not having the opportunity to get to know her better... and it makes me want to even that much more express how I feel about those who she left behind... my friends... my colleagues.... and my fellow human beings....   

the world ain't that small after all... and in a weird way, I wanna thank you Shawna, for making me realize that... The hole in my heart that you left on your departure from this world may just well be an opening to let not one, but many people in... You will not be forgotten... ...

and to Bill... May God give you the peace that may have escaped you in life... I can't speak for you man, but you too are a wake up call for me... there are many in pain out there.... christ knows I'm one of 'em... but if I could have been the guy to stop.. or at least diminish your pain... I dunno.... in a small way, I think I, as a member of your community, have failed you too.... 

...And to those left behind.... you are not alone... EVER!!!.... Read this page and NEVER forget it! ...

.......so maybe it's not superficial after all.... From now on, I'll hug my family a little tighter, take life a little lighter, and maybe take a chance and let the words " I love you" fly a little more freely from my lips...
Yours, 
-m"

Please, guys.... take this as a call for basic human sympathy... and not for a forum of judgment.... My fucking heart is breaking, for the whole family... Please keep any snide remarks private.... Thanks, luv's....
-m



--- update----

see her as I knew her.....

 

goodbye, my friend.....

Gauntlet-smashing time.... Game is on!!!

Here's where I stand on the whole "Health care" issue.... no more messing around... No apologies.... no mercy... I'm sick of the whole ball of CRAP!!!... and if you wanna argue w/ me, please indulge me...

• anyway...point one: historical....

     My grandfather, Gordon (or "pocky" as we called him) was a SERIOUSLY hardcore republican... and, more importantly, he was a physician... a family practitioner in the pacific Northwest, who also happened to serve in the U.S. Army in the European theater during the "Battle of the Bulge".... yes, in France, and amongst some of the most voracious fighting that this country's servicemen have EVER seen)...and he EVEN HE, after such time, was a proponent of "socialized [yes SOCIALIZED] medicine."... (his words, not mine).... in the 1950's.... again as a hardcore republican...

• ... another point... factual....

     Many people have pointed to the absolute failure of heath-care systems such as the U.K.'s or Canada's systems... Why, than is it that after 60+ years of British societal-wide public health coverage have they not, a.), turned in to a sickly 3rd world country, or b), a Marxist, totalitarian empire?.. I don't think ANY of the hardcore-y-est of hardcore pundits would accuse the U.K. of being an ideal model of worldwide Marxism! I mean, even Thatcher wouldn't have DARED to touch English health care as it stood/stands... not without SEROUS social upheaval! (and that's not EVEN factoring in such successes as the German, French, Austrian, or COUNTLESS other public health care systems throughout the WORLD, which are nary mentioned amongst critics...

• ...Another point.. personal/emotional

 I grew up with socialized medicine... I was a benefactor....

     Was it PERFECT?... of course not... man, I remember some lines.. sure!... but, as a son of a naval officer, did I(or my mum) ever doubt that I could get a check-up... or a strep test... or some antibiotics if I really needed them?... without paying ANYTHING (let alone wondering which credit card I could use to pay for it?)?
        ... no man, I didn't...and health care was NEVER a factor for me and my family, only because my pop was Navy....That sounds crass, man, but as I get older, I see more and more that that's the truth...

• My last point... for now...(even more personal)...

       ..I just lost about a third of my #2 top molar... just because I haven't had decent dental care in about 2 1/2 years... you see, my employer refuses to grant me benefits, 'cause on their books, I'm officially a "temp" worker... though I do 40 hours a week, but must dread holidays, because I don't get paid for them

an extension of what I call ... the Retail trick..

      Many modern and otherwise "ethical" employers hire on a majority of employees as "part-timers"... working them for 37.5 hours per week (with a strict 'no overtime' policy) while on the books, a full time employee would be anyone working 38 or more hours...and thus eligible for benefits...

            Do I bore you?... if you've ever worked for an honest wage at a humble trade, I hope not.. my intent, at the least, is to rally you.. to piss you off!!!

and if you can't relate at all.... well... I TRULY feel sorry for you... 'cause I don't think you have a soul... seriously....

          You wanna call me a Socialist?!?! ....Fine.... I can deal with that... But you'll only be telling me that your part of (what I hope is) a dying world... one that puts selfishness above your fellow man/woman... and I'll pity you... and I hope that someday you'll be able to see beyond your own petty, limited world...

G'night, and..... namaste', bitches...

-m