An open letter (slightly edited)
On 26 September the primary intake water pipe for The Possum Den shattered at the reduction joint, which was on the wrong side of the main shutoff valve. For approximately 30-40 minutes, the fully-finished basement took on an estimated 50-gallons-per-minute of Notla Water Company's finest vintage, until an intrepid guy from the water company showed up to close the valve at the meter. (You try charging down Scorpion Hill at 2130 in the dark in a wheelchair; fearless people balk at driving their cars, trucks, and motorcycles up here!)
Looking back on it, I joked that I felt like Gene Hackman in "The Poseidon Adventure," wrestling with the high-pressure gusher and shouting "close the [laundry room] door!" as though the house would suddenly list to starboard and capsize. I'll be writing a blog commendation for ServPro™, who has been on-scene since day one, and is indeed trying to make it "Like it never happened."
Needless to add, I am up to my ass in alligators, insurance adjusters, mold-remediation specialists, contractors waving estimates, and various other distractions. This is not conducive to jotting down the thoughts that occur to me as I watch Those People spout denial, like a blackout alcoholic in his first AA group, about the upcoming election.
Nothing has been posted at United Possums or Facebook for a while, and this is the first time in many days I've even checked e-mail. Nevertheless, my site meter reports that 23 of y'all checked UPI last week; presumably to see what the madman had to say. Thank you for that. Your faith will not go unrequited; my attention is somewhat, shall we say, fragmented these days. After a few years of retirement, my nerves of steel are somewhat rusty, and the decision-making process requires more attention to detail than it did back in the day.
I suppose that electoral ballots were designated as "privileged" in Ye Olde Days because many potential voters feared reprisals if they voted the "wrong" way. I don't fear the SEIU or the Black Panthers...I bow to no king nor bend my knee to anyone but The Higher Power. I'm proud to say that my [absentee] ballot is already in, and I had the luxury of voting my principles this year. With the exception of three key Republicans - a Senator, my Congressman, and a state representative whom I know personally - I voted a straight Libertarian ticket for every partisan race, and against the incumbents in every non-partisan contest. (Yeah, that's a bit of a cop-out on principles, but the aforementioned Republicans are, as Edmund Burke suggested, "associated with the good." Pragmatism still rules, and the alternative was unthinkable. We are at a critical juncture in history. Besides, every pig needs a turn at the trough.)
The e-mail that follows says it all.
I have more bubble gum than I can chew on tomorrow's agenda. Thanks again for your faith, interest, and check-ins. I'll try to have something more substantial when I dust off the keyboard next time.
Meanwhile, happy birthday to Red Liz and Cal Girl. I'll try to send cards, but things are happening fast.
Oh, and like the man said, get out on 2 November;
Vote early and vote often!
Confederately,
Robert
-------Original Message-------
From:
Date: 11-Oct-10 7:33:58 PM
Subject: FW: Indian Wanting Coffee
Sorry no photos sent to me, however it's a great truth!
nick
Indian Wanting Coffee:
An Indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand, pulling a bull buffalo with the other.
He says to the waiter:
"Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Sure, Chief. Coming right up."
He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee.....
The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, causing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere.
And then he walks out.
The next morning the Indian returns.
He has his shotgun in one hand, pulling another male buffalo with the other.
He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter:
"Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Whoa, Tonto! We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"
The Indian smiles and proudly says,
"Training for position in United States Congress:
Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day."
VOTE 'EM ALL OUT!
And my last word at three weeks until the election:
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."
Edmund Burke
a.k.a.
“All that is required for the triumph of evil is for good men to stand by and do nothing.”
Looking back on it, I joked that I felt like Gene Hackman in "The Poseidon Adventure," wrestling with the high-pressure gusher and shouting "close the [laundry room] door!" as though the house would suddenly list to starboard and capsize. I'll be writing a blog commendation for ServPro™, who has been on-scene since day one, and is indeed trying to make it "Like it never happened."
Needless to add, I am up to my ass in alligators, insurance adjusters, mold-remediation specialists, contractors waving estimates, and various other distractions. This is not conducive to jotting down the thoughts that occur to me as I watch Those People spout denial, like a blackout alcoholic in his first AA group, about the upcoming election.
Nothing has been posted at United Possums or Facebook for a while, and this is the first time in many days I've even checked e-mail. Nevertheless, my site meter reports that 23 of y'all checked UPI last week; presumably to see what the madman had to say. Thank you for that. Your faith will not go unrequited; my attention is somewhat, shall we say, fragmented these days. After a few years of retirement, my nerves of steel are somewhat rusty, and the decision-making process requires more attention to detail than it did back in the day.
I suppose that electoral ballots were designated as "privileged" in Ye Olde Days because many potential voters feared reprisals if they voted the "wrong" way. I don't fear the SEIU or the Black Panthers...I bow to no king nor bend my knee to anyone but The Higher Power. I'm proud to say that my [absentee] ballot is already in, and I had the luxury of voting my principles this year. With the exception of three key Republicans - a Senator, my Congressman, and a state representative whom I know personally - I voted a straight Libertarian ticket for every partisan race, and against the incumbents in every non-partisan contest. (Yeah, that's a bit of a cop-out on principles, but the aforementioned Republicans are, as Edmund Burke suggested, "associated with the good." Pragmatism still rules, and the alternative was unthinkable. We are at a critical juncture in history. Besides, every pig needs a turn at the trough.)
The e-mail that follows says it all.
I have more bubble gum than I can chew on tomorrow's agenda. Thanks again for your faith, interest, and check-ins. I'll try to have something more substantial when I dust off the keyboard next time.
Meanwhile, happy birthday to Red Liz and Cal Girl. I'll try to send cards, but things are happening fast.
Oh, and like the man said, get out on 2 November;
Vote early and vote often!
Confederately,
Robert
-------Original Message-------
From:
Date: 11-Oct-10 7:33:58 PM
Subject: FW: Indian Wanting Coffee
Sorry no photos sent to me, however it's a great truth!
nick
Indian Wanting Coffee:
An Indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand, pulling a bull buffalo with the other.
He says to the waiter:
"Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Sure, Chief. Coming right up."
He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee.....
The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, causing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere.
And then he walks out.
The next morning the Indian returns.
He has his shotgun in one hand, pulling another male buffalo with the other.
He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter:
"Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Whoa, Tonto! We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"
The Indian smiles and proudly says,
"Training for position in United States Congress:
Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day."
VOTE 'EM ALL OUT!
And my last word at three weeks until the election:
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."
Edmund Burke
a.k.a.
“All that is required for the triumph of evil is for good men to stand by and do nothing.”
posted by Robert at 10:25 PM
2 Comments:
Perhaps we could draw some type of allegorical parallel between your flooded home and the state of things in this country.
Have we reached the saturation point yet?
Wow! Sounds like you had your hands full (or maybe your shoes were full) of water. Bummer. Who needs a mess like that?
I've been in and out of Jury Duty for the last few days. Finally got called into the box today, gave my spiel about being the victim of a crime and about testifying in a federal case. It took 'em only 1 minute to excuse me. So now I'm good for another 3 years (assuming I remain in New Jersey).
Sorry about your minor disaster. Hope it doesn't turn out to be too costly.
Best regards...
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