Anniversary

Today is a special day for me. It's the anniversary of the date I met Mrs. Right. (Hmm...you know the odd thing about this? Mrs. Right has never remembered this anniversary.)

Of course she was just Ms. Right back then.

And met isn't the exact word. We were set up by a mutual acquaintance. I thought it was a good idea, but she was doubtful. You see, this "friend" told her just a little too much about me.

So...she said I had to call her. Later I found out I was being interviewed by telephone. We spoke for almost 2 hours. I don't think I'd spoken that much to any one woman over the course of our relationship.

Apparently I passed the interview, because she accepted a date with me for 2 days later.

We were married 5 months later.

And we've been together for 35 years.

Life has been good.

(For no particular reason, other than this song seems appropriate, here's We Five singing "You Were On My Mind.")

Taking a break

Blogging has been light. For some reason I find any number of reasons not to say anything. Depression? Nah. Just other people say it much better. Just see my blog roll!

Anyway, I'm at the computer trying to catch up on work...way behind!...and thought I'd share some of the tunes I've been listening to. Then I had to find them on YouTube. So, here they are. Is there a pattern? Don't really know. Anyway:

Keep on running

Rebels (a real fave)

Everybody Hurts

Ashes to Ashes

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

The Man has gots to have it!

Some days you just gots to have your meats, that is.

OCALA - Police have released surveillance camera images of a man they say swung a knife as he tried to steal two packages of steaks and a package of pork chops from a supermarket last Thursday.

A loss-prevention employee at that Publix at 303 S.E. 17th St. saw the man conceal the food in his jacket and walk to the exit without paying for it, according to an Ocala police report. When the employee and a store manager attempted to stop him, the would-be robber cursed at them and shoved the loss-prevention employee out the way.

The employee tried to grab the man, but he shoved the employee, took out a small knife and slashed at him. The employee backed off, and the man fled. The merchandise, valued at $16.52, was recovered, but the man escaped.

Are you as proud of your criminals as we are of ours?

Bill Nelson: The Messiah's Apostle

Man, were we ever blessed on Tuesday.

An apostle of the gracious Lord Obama appeared in our midst to, well check this out.

Sen. Bill Nelson visited the region on Tuesday with a simple message: Help is on the way.

But, he added, be patient, as reversing the current recession will take time.

Nelson made stops in Ocala and Gainesville as part of a five-city swing through North Central Florida to provide an overview of how each community will benefit from the Obama administration's $787 billion economic stimulus plan.

Nelson told the Marion County Commission that the objective of the package, which President Obama signed Tuesday, was to "save and create jobs" - 255,000 of which have been lost in Florida as a result of the recession.

That's right, folks. We've been assured that HELP IS ON THE WAY.

Whew! I feel better already.

Ocala-the Center of the Universe (Part 2)

Don't tell me we aren't the nexus of the universe!

Here's two current examples:

DUNNELLON - An 18-year-old Dunnellon resident is scheduled to provide online commentary via Webcam next week for MTV’s reality show “Room Raiders 2.0.” The show is scheduled to air at 5 p.m. Wednesaday, Feb. 25, on MTV.

AND

OCALA - Dory Funk Jr., who lives in Ocala where he runs a wrestling school, is going into the WWE Hall of Fame.

He will be inducted on April 5, during ceremonies at Wrestlemania XXV. It is the biggest event of the year in professional wrestling and will be held in Houston.

Who needs Hollywood or New York City. We got it all right here, baby!

Chivalry: Instances in Marion County

Three instances of Chivalry in Marion County. See if you can relate.

1) Chivalry not dead:

SILVER SPRINGS - George Riggs, 75, got a bloody lip Tuesday defending his girlfriend at the Chevron station at 16991 E. State Road 40.

Deputies say Albert Harward, the 51-year-old intoxicated man who beat Riggs, was taken to jail on a charge of battery on a person over 65.

*******************

In an interview, Riggs said Harward came into the store and was calling his girlfriend bad names, so he had to defend her honor. He said he and the clerk live together.

"I feel fine, other than a busted lip," he said.

I kinda like that guy. Still ready to rumble at 75, all for a girl.

2) Chivalry dead...and buried:

DUNNELLON - Deputies say they have arrested a Dunnellon man who, after drinking all day, reportedly beat his wife with a wrench and threatened her with a shotgun.

Albert Michaud 69, was first taken into custody undesr Florida Baker Act before being taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and false imprisonment, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The Baker Act allows authorities to temporarily hospitalize a person who, because of possible mental illness, appears to be a threat to himself or others.

It's not his fault of course. He was drunk...and nuts.

3) Chivalry...what's that?

Then there is this prize of a hubby.

DUNNELLON - Deputies said a 46-year-old Dunnellon man was arrested early Tuesday and charged him with aggravated assault, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and false imprisonment after he held his wife hostage and threatened to shoot her if she did not give him $600.

The woman's daughter called the Marion County Sheriff's Office after receiving a text message from her mother saying she could not leave the couple's home until she paid him $600 for a car.

When deputies arrived at the Dunnellon home, where the couple live, the man - William Keenan - put the shotgun on the floor and was placed under arrest.

He wasn't drunk. Just needed the money. Hey, this could happen to any loving family.

These 3 examples will either make you feel right at home in Marion County. Or to never want to even visit. I can understand either sentiment.

Religion of Peace, My Ass! (Part 23)

How to make an estranged wife into an ex-wife, Muslim style.

Step one: Behead her.

There is no need for step two.

And this happened right here in the USA. Gee, I wonder if the Religion of Peace allows this.

Of course, he could have just beat her for 15 hours like this bastard did. But that was probably too tiring-beheading was probably faster too.

And this also happened right her in the good ol' USA.

Yeah I know-this has nothing to do with Islam, blah blah blah.

Wow, who knew? (an update)

Well, it's true. The Republicans in the House have finally found enough cajones to stick together through 2 important votes. Not only are they the patriotic party ('cause dissent is patriotic, don't you know...or so the Dems used to think) but they are right.

And, I'll be damned. Even in the Senate, the Republicans actually grew a pair...or borrowed a pair from the House...expect for the 3 women, aka the usual suspects: Collins, Snowe and Specter.

Wonders never cease.

ALSO:

I know so many others have made the connection or commented, but it was appropriate for the vote to be held on Friday the 13th. Except this time it is not superstition...a truly bad thing was committed on this date. Dare I say, a date that will live in infamy? Okay, so maybe that's overstating, but I have the horrible premonition that a horror was committed against our nation on Friday. I'm saddened for our country...and from a purely selfish standpoint, I'm glad I have no children or grandchildren who will have to pay for this atrocity.

And for you people who voted for Democrats...assholes! (Over the top?)

Wow, who knew?

Who knew the House Republicans still had any testicular fortitude left?

I know this happened earlier this week, but I've taken a couple of weeks off from blogging.

But I have to acknowledge the balls these guys and gals have.

I wish they could share a pair with the Republicans in the Senate.

Who knows...maybe this will be a year for Hope and Change!

Florida State Budget Woes

In case you don't know, Florida joins so many other states who have serious budget woes. A few weeks ago, the Legislature had a special session to deal with the present problems with the current year. They'll get back together pretty soon to deal with next fiscal year's budget. And it'll be the Groundhog Day all over again.

It's kind of old news right now, but one proposal is to increase "sin taxes": well, mainly on cigarettes. I don't know why politicians always do that. They think that hard times is the best time to increase taxes on stuff everyday folks buy a lot of.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I was corresponding with an acquaintance about this issue and I started to blow off some steam. I was going to followup with a blog post, but life got in the way and I've done no blogging since then. Well, I re-read my thoughts of then, and find it said just about everything I would say now. So, here it is exactly as I wrote then:

It's typical of the state to try to raise "sin" taxes. Been done before, but Florida is much lower than many states.

But that doesn't make it right.

It hurts the "little folks" that so many politicians seem concerned about when they talk, but then forget these folks in their actions.

It will not raise the amounts projected. These taxes never do. It may encourage people to stop smoking (a benefit) but that only reduces the financial effect the increased tax is supposed to provide. Cigarettes are already a big bootlegged commodity. Look for more of that.

But my main objection is: I'm against these types of taxes...period. Many taxes are necessary to provide essential services. But trust government to keep sticking it to the people. I'm libertarian enough to be against any taxes on the free behavior of humans.

Besides, these "sin taxes" are only for stuff mom and pop like in their everyday lives. If you have any guts, make a tax on cosmetic surgery, abortion services, condoms and birth control pills, porn of any type, gay bath house memberships (if there are any of them still around)...well, you get my drift. By the way, I'm against taxing these also.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Right in Florida

Since that time there's been even more BS from state schmucks on the need to increase cigarette taxes.

And now the feds are back into it. "The U.S. House this month passed a reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program that includes a 61-cent hike in cigarette taxes to pay for it."

They never seem to have a clue.

I'm a former smoker and I go along with this post from the Babalu Blog:

I may just quit, not for health reasons mind you, but just to spite the greedy politicians who think they can f**k us over at will with confiscatory taxes on a legal activity. If they were so concerned about our health, they'd make tobacco illegal and enforce prohibition on its use. (And we all know how successful prohibition worked before.)

Well said.

Ocala-the Center of the State

Okay, okay...so this one is much closer to the truth.

TALLAHASSEE - As Florida lawmakers head toward one of their most difficult sessions in recent history, a likable, low-key lawmaker from Ocala has been catapulted from a largely ceremonial role into the high-pressure job as leader of the 120-member Florida House.

Although his assignment may only be temporary, lawmakers, lobbyists and friends say Larry Cretul - a 61-year-old real estate broker who was first elected to the Legislature in 2002 - has the personality and experience to handle the task as the acting House speaker as lawmakers prepare for their annual session that begins March 3.

I've had the pleasure of meeting and having some dealing with Larry Cretul. He's a good guy and an honest man. The Florida Legislature is in good hands.

But Cretul also acknowledged the major challenges facing lawmakers in the next few months, including a record budget deficit that they will have to resolve.

"In the months ahead, Florida's elected leaders have a lot of big decisions to make," Cretul said. "The challenge will be to meet the state's basic obligations without unduly burdening the people, slowing our economic recovery or making short-sighted - but hard to reverse - changes to the role and scope of government."

Cretul said he was "committed to presiding over a legislative process that is orderly, fair and deliberative."

I think we can depend on him to do the best that can be done in this trying time. All the best, Mr. Speaker!

Ocala-the Center of the Universe

Okay, so maybe that's a bit of an overstatement.

However, there often seems to be a nexus with important stuff going on.

Case in point...and it's a bit of a stretch... is the Super Bowl. It's in Tampa and of course you knew that. But, did you know that the Steeler's coach has an Ocala connection?

(Hey, we take our celebrities wherever we can find them!)

When the Pittsburgh Steelers walk onto the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa today for Super Bowl XLIII, one of the team's biggest fans - an Ocala resident - will be there rooting them on.

Click to enlarge

Ocala's Ed Tomlin is the father of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Ed Tomlin, of Ocala, is the father of Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin.

Ed Tomlin, 61, formerly worked at ClosetMaid as an assistant warehouse manager and was president of Marion County's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He grew up near Fort King Street.

Mike Tomlin, 35, is heading to the National Football League's championship game just two years after signing on with the Steelers for a reported $2.5 million a year, his first head coaching job in the NFL. He is the first African-American head coach in the Steelers' 75-year history.