Change of pace

Time for a change of pace on this blog.  I need a place to hide and let it all hang out.  No more politics here.  No more fighting here.  Ya see when you get slapped in the face with your own mortality your outlook on life really changes, and for the first time in my life I am worried. 

What has started out as getting my blood pressure under control is turning into a search for what is causing me to have continued dizziness, headaches, lapse in memory and shortness of breath.  Today was the first in a line of tests.  I had an MRI done on my head and later next week I will have a heart stress test.  I fear the problem is in my lungs.  As sad as this sounds I am truly hoping the worst that is found is emphysema.  How sick is that?  I cannot deny there is a strong possibility that I may have cancer.  30 years of smoking increases that possibility.  We will see.

Let’s get something straight right here and now.  I have no fear of death if that is the Master’s will for me in the near future, so be it.   If all this is just another event in my life to stengthen my faith in God and his word, so be it.  I understand, believe and trust  what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said this in 2 Corinthians:

1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Earlier I said I was worried.  Heh!  Not about me.  I worry for my loved ones.  Seeing the anguish of waiting for news from the doctor is tough.  For so long I have offered comfort in times of trouble, how do I offer comfort now?  How do I offer comfort when it is my health that brings the concern?  I am more uncomfortable that “the attention” is turned towards me.

If anyone reads this and you share my faith, I do not ask for any prayer for me other than God’s will be done in my life, whatever that will may be.  Rather I would ask that you prayer for my wife and family that they may find peace during all this.

Maybe all this drama is over nothing, maybe not.  Who really knows what tomorrow may bring?  I don’t.

So I am sitting here minding my own business when

I go visit a friends blog and I reminded of some music that I have put away so many years ago.  Damn crying shame that I did that.

Ohhhhh shoot wait a second here and let me re-introduce myself to this neglected blog.  Ya see I am still around.  I have just spread myself a little thinner across the blogosphere. Heh! That is the only way I will look skinny again.

I am still “The Moderator” and part time contributor to lonestartimes.com and I have opened a for profit blog, squawkboxnoise.com.  It seems a little dusty here but there is a comfortable feeling, a familiarity that I have not felt in some time.

 Anyway is there anyone there that remembers the days of the story tellers?  I mean I grew up listening to the bands of the Woodstock era.  Shook my fist with Jefferson Airplane’s Volunteers, danced all night with Janis Joplin and woke up hungover too many time with Jimi Hendrix.  But through all that madness what I still enjoy to this day are the story tellers.

 We have story tellers today, but damn when I listen to those guys I feel like I just crawled up off the floor of a New York City cab.  Ummm having literally done that on more than one occasion, it ain’t a pretty sight.  No I am talking about the Arlo Guthrie type story tellers.  Singers that painted scene in words accompanied with instrumentals that did not insult my ears.  Harry Chapins that told stories that while at times sad left you with a feeling of hope. 

I remember the first time I heard Harry’s 30,000 Pounds of Bananas.  I was on the down hill side of a long climb leading into a town much like Scranton Pennsylvania.  I literally had to ease my car over to the shoulder and finish listen to that song.  (I was home on leave form the military at the time) Talk about your reality checks.  sigh.  I guess you would have had to been there.

In them days it was the story tellers that eased my mind. Todays story tellers give me a damn headache.  Who cares if life is hard for a pimp?

These guys always seemed to let you know there is a better place to be.

The Compean Family Needs Your Help

If you can donate just a little to help Patty Compean it would be greatly appreciated.

From Lonestartimes.com

Busted border agent’s family needs our help

by Matt ’Zilla’ Bramanti, CPO™

As you all know, former Border Patrol agent Jose Compean is serving a 12-year sentence for shooting a drug smuggler.

His wife, Patty, isn’t doing so hot either. Nor are the three Compean kids, age 12, 6 and 3 months. They sold their home to pay the defense bills, and Patty has no source of income.

KSEV morning hosts Pat Gray and Edd Hendee are raising funds to help the Compean family while their dad languishes in prison. If you want to help, you might consider donating to the Patty Compean Fund.

Just make a check out to Patty Compean, and mail it to:

C/O KSEV Radio
11451 Katy Freeway
Suite 215
Houston, TX 77079

Or you can put your check (or cash, if you like) in an envelope marked “Patty Compean Fund” and drop it off at Edd’s place of business. Here’s a map and directions from anywhere.

Lone Star Times

Technorati Tags: Texas, Jose Compean, Patty Compean, KSEV, Pat Gray, Edd Hendee, Border Patrol Agent

FAIR’s annual Hold Their Feet to the Fire rally

Our focus for this year’s Hold Their Feet to the Fire will be to drive home to the new congressional leadership that there is strong and widespread opposition to any proposal that includes increases in guest workers, expansion of government mandated immigration, and amnesty for illegal aliens (no matter what euphemism they devise for it).

In addition to coming to Washington themselves, the radio hosts will be inviting listeners to join them for a week of congressional visits. All 535 members of the House and Senate are slated to receive visits from constituents who will demand that their elected officials reject any legislation that includes a guest worker amnesty, and instead support a comprehensive package of immigration enforcement measures.

Radio talk hosts represent millions of listeners and their collective voice is a voice that roars! Join us to ensure that Congress hears our voices in April!

FAIR is also urging its members to join this national grassroots effort in Washington and counter the expected renewed round of illegal alien marches and boycotts.

Register now to receive updates and to reserve your place at this years events including lobbying training, Congressional meeting scheduling, press conference, reception and other event attendance. Please note: registration does not reserve or guarantee hotel accomodations. Please contact the Phoenix Park Hotel at (202) 638-6900 to make your reservations.

FAIR’s annual Hold Their Feet to the Fire rally

There’s an old expression that if you want to get politicians to see the light, make them feel the heat. That’s just what FAIR and dozens of radio talk show hosts from around the country are planning in April. FAIR’s annual Hold Their Feet to the Fire rally in Washington DC will be held April 23rd to the 25th.

Teaming up once again with popular San Diego talk show host Roger Hedgecock, FAIR and other advocates of true comprehensive immigration reform are gearing up for this year’s events where the stakes are even higher

Dozens of talk hosts from across the country have already made plans to attend this year’s Hold Their Feet to the Fire and will broadcast live from “Radio Row” on Capitol Hill with a unified voice against illegal alien amnesty. In conjunction with hundreds of listeners, activists, and congressional supporters, the event is designed to be a high profile, synergistic effort to pressure Congress not to pass illegal alien amnesty. This year’s event is expected to be the largest ever, with widespread media coverage.

Our focus for this year’s Hold Their Feet to the Fire will be to drive home to the new congressional leadership that there is strong and widespread opposition to any proposal that includes increases in guest workers, expansion of government mandated immigration, and amnesty for illegal aliens (no matter what euphemism they devise for it).

Dunh Dunh Dunh another one bites the dust

Warning graphic Content

Shiite Militiaman shoots self
This guy is wildly spraying full-auto rounds down an alleyway, hitting the surroundings and taking himself down with a riccochet.

This is a prime example why we can win the war in Iraq.

Hat tip The Jawa Report

Drug Seizures, Little Mules, and Tigers and Bears - OH MY!

I wonder how long it will be before we see a test-balloon tying this:
 

"The U.S. Attorney’s Office presented to the jury and presented to the public as if this guy Davila was a benign, hapless Mexican man who had just been recruited to drive a truck in order to raise money for medical expenses for his mother," Rohrabacher told FOXNews.com.

"Had the jury known that there were indications that he was a professional and he lied to his handlers even after they had granted him immunity for the first time, his testimony would have been worthless and it also suggests that he was more likely to have been carrying a weapon."

to this:

“Today’s actions deal a significant blow to the Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum drug trafficking organization, whose members are accused of importing and distributing multi-ton quantities of cocaine and other illicit drugs to communities across the country on a monthly basis,” Gonzales said. “These arrests demonstrate what can be achieved when domestic and international law enforcement partners team up against a common foe.”

[...]

The 20-month investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and aided by more than 100 federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies, has so far resulted in the seizure of approximately $45.2 million, 27,229 pounds of marijuana, 9,512 pounds of cocaine, 705 pounds of methamphetamine, 227 pounds of pure methamphetamine or “ice,” and 11 pounds of heroin.

Pardon me if my cynical side is showing; but, somehow, I can already see Johnny Sutton’s face on TV while he explains that he couldn’t have possibly revealed Aldrete-Davila’s real role (remember, he was characterized in the trial transcripts as a little mule - just a simple truck driver who needed to earn money for his mother’s medical bills) without jeopardizing "Operation Imperial Emperor." And I don’t think that fairy tale will play too well down on the farm, do you?

Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigration, News, Politics, Texas, US News, Aldrete-Davila, Johnny Sutton, Ramos, Compean, Dana Rohrabacher, Alberto Gonzales

Trans Texas Corridor Protest March 2

TTC Protest

Please Click the Links For more information

The Navasota Examiner

Want your voice to be heard in opposition to the TTC? Local residents can go to Austin…… from around the state will gather at the corner of First and Red River in Austin and march to the Capitol to protest…include speakers and a musical performance by Jimmie Vaughn.

http://www.navasotaexaminer.com/articles/2007/02/21/news/news07.txt

March 2 Rally | Farm and Ranch Freedom

Together with several other groups, we will be sponsoring a rally in Austin on Friday, March 2. …officials need to hear from the people! A parade of tractors, horses, and people will drive, ride,

and walk up Congress Avenue to the Capitol.

http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/dont-tag-texas

Waxahachie Daily Light - Bill: Kill the TTC A San Antonio-area lawmaker has filed… a rally in Austin…

www.waxahachiedailylight.com/articles/2007/02/04/dailylight/news/02-02-04-ttc.txt