Up in the air
Uncertainty is something I've always struggled with. When I know what's going to happen I can deal with almost anything. The best example I can think of is when my second wife finally announced that she wanted to separate. The issue had been just hanging there for weeks and weeks and she wouldn't broach it. When she finally did, it was a relief. That it took her another four months to get out of the apartment and the uncertainty that entailed is another story.
So naturally I'm way over the edge with uncertainty about tomorrow's tests at the hospital. That's to be expected. I've been telling myself in my mind that I am going to live, I have way too much left to do in this life. So if sheer willpower makes a difference (and I think it does), that's going to work for me rather than against me.
But this morning the uncertainty is about things today rather than tomorrow's much more important tests. I don't know what I'm going to be doing tonight. Playing trivia, if everyone is free. If someone can't make it, then there is a teammate who won't play as just a group of 3. If we aren't a team of 4, we don't play. Then there's the fact I have tickets to a screening, but no one I know wants to go see the film. Actually I know some who do want to go, but they have other commitments.
So here I sit, unable to control my night tonight. At this rate I may just stay home and watch "Southland", the best cop show currently on TV.
Other things I'm pondering this morning:
Why is the media so focused on asking Hollywood people for a reaction to the death of Hugo Chavez? Usually we ask political leaders for commentary on the death of a political leader. Who cares what Sean Penn, Michael Moore and others think about this man's passing? I'm more interested in how our President is reacting, how top Senate and House leaders are reacting, how other world leaders are reacting. Show-biz types should not be this important in this story.
What point is the Obama administration trying to make by cancelling tours of the White House starting Saturday? That they are sharing the pain of the sequestration? The people who are signed up for these tours may never again get to Washington D.C. and to use them to send a message during this time is cruel.
I just heard a new oxymoron on the morning news. "Compact SUV".
Here's an idea. Many of the L.A. city elections will require a run-off. Rather than spend 11 weeks of campaigning, why not hold the run-off 72 hours later, on Friday (assuming it is clear who is in the run-off)? The election infrastruction can be left in place, and it gives the primary winners 2 full days to campaign to differentiate themselves from their opponent. Campaigns become less expensive and we aren't subjected to weeks of endless, useless political advertising.
Sam Mendes directed "Skyfall" and he gets at least some of the credit for making one of the three best ever Bond films (it may well be the best overall); but now he's bowed out of directing the next Bond film. Citing a crowded schedule he announced yesterday he won't be involved. I'm sad. I wanted to see what he might have done next.
Props to Valerie Harper for courage, grace and for continuing to smile in the face of being told she has a terminal illness. Always liked her.
Rihanna is a beautiful woman, but those are some ugly-ass jeans. Would you wear those?
At least Lamar Odom wasn't in court in a hearing about custody of his children when he fell asleep in the courthouse.
Back in the 1970s and maybe even into the early 1980s, there were reports of soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army being discovered on islands in the Pacific, unaware the war was over. Now comes word that a Soviet soldier who went missing in Afghanistan in 1980 has been found. He "barely speaks" Russian. That sounds weird, until you discover how difficult a language it is to learn.
A Saudi billionaire is involved in a dispute with Forbes Magazine over how many billions he has. They say it's less than he claims, by around $10 billion. Numbers don't lie, Prince. If you can't balance your balance sheet, don't blame the messenger.
Tina Fey is unhappy that someone snapped a photo of her in a modest one-piece bathing suit. Get over it, Tina, you looked great.
Knives with blades less than 2.36 inches long can be carried on airplanes under new TSA rules. You think they have a measuring stick at security checkpoints?
A mother is offering $500 to anyone who will help her daughter find a job. She's standing on the street holding up a sign and passing out resumes to anyone who will stop.
The new Iron Man 3 trailer is out and it only heightens the desire to see this film on opening day.
This Date in History:
On this date in 1521, Ferdinand Magellan arrived on Guam. 459 years and six or so months before I arrived there. On a related note, knowing the story of Magellan's voyage should have garnered my trivia team one more point last night but I didn't see we'd put down the wrong answer to a question. No harm, we won by five points.
On this date in 1820, President Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise.
On this date in 1836, the forces defending the Alamo in San Antonio were defeated after a 13 day siege.
On this date in 1857, the Supreme Court ruled on the Dred Scott case.
On this date in 1869, Mendeleev presented the first periodic table to the Russian Chemical Society
On this date in 1945, Cologne is captured by American troops (they probably didn't smell good until after the capture).
On this date in 1951, the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg begins.
On this date in 1964, Constantine II becomes King of Greece.
On this date in 1981, Walter Cronkite signs off for the last time on the CBS Evening News.
On this date in 1992, the Michelangelo virus begins affecting computers.
Famous Folk Born on this Date:
Michelangelo
Cyrano de Bergerac
Antoine-Henri Jomini (famed French general)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Ring Lardner
Lou Costello (so who really was on first?)
Ed McMahon (there was a bottle of scotch born right after him)
Alan Greenspan
Gordon Cooper
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Marion Barry Jr. & Ivan Boesky (didn't they room together at Club Fed?)
Willie "Pops" Stargell
Mary Wilson
"Sensei" Martin Kove (we do not train to be merciful in this dojo)
Kiki Dee
Dick Fosbury (some say his birth was a flop)
Rob Reiner
Tom Arnold
Moira Kelly
Shaquille O'Neal
So naturally I'm way over the edge with uncertainty about tomorrow's tests at the hospital. That's to be expected. I've been telling myself in my mind that I am going to live, I have way too much left to do in this life. So if sheer willpower makes a difference (and I think it does), that's going to work for me rather than against me.
But this morning the uncertainty is about things today rather than tomorrow's much more important tests. I don't know what I'm going to be doing tonight. Playing trivia, if everyone is free. If someone can't make it, then there is a teammate who won't play as just a group of 3. If we aren't a team of 4, we don't play. Then there's the fact I have tickets to a screening, but no one I know wants to go see the film. Actually I know some who do want to go, but they have other commitments.
So here I sit, unable to control my night tonight. At this rate I may just stay home and watch "Southland", the best cop show currently on TV.
Other things I'm pondering this morning:
Why is the media so focused on asking Hollywood people for a reaction to the death of Hugo Chavez? Usually we ask political leaders for commentary on the death of a political leader. Who cares what Sean Penn, Michael Moore and others think about this man's passing? I'm more interested in how our President is reacting, how top Senate and House leaders are reacting, how other world leaders are reacting. Show-biz types should not be this important in this story.
What point is the Obama administration trying to make by cancelling tours of the White House starting Saturday? That they are sharing the pain of the sequestration? The people who are signed up for these tours may never again get to Washington D.C. and to use them to send a message during this time is cruel.
I just heard a new oxymoron on the morning news. "Compact SUV".
Here's an idea. Many of the L.A. city elections will require a run-off. Rather than spend 11 weeks of campaigning, why not hold the run-off 72 hours later, on Friday (assuming it is clear who is in the run-off)? The election infrastruction can be left in place, and it gives the primary winners 2 full days to campaign to differentiate themselves from their opponent. Campaigns become less expensive and we aren't subjected to weeks of endless, useless political advertising.
Sam Mendes directed "Skyfall" and he gets at least some of the credit for making one of the three best ever Bond films (it may well be the best overall); but now he's bowed out of directing the next Bond film. Citing a crowded schedule he announced yesterday he won't be involved. I'm sad. I wanted to see what he might have done next.
Props to Valerie Harper for courage, grace and for continuing to smile in the face of being told she has a terminal illness. Always liked her.
Rihanna is a beautiful woman, but those are some ugly-ass jeans. Would you wear those?
At least Lamar Odom wasn't in court in a hearing about custody of his children when he fell asleep in the courthouse.
Back in the 1970s and maybe even into the early 1980s, there were reports of soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army being discovered on islands in the Pacific, unaware the war was over. Now comes word that a Soviet soldier who went missing in Afghanistan in 1980 has been found. He "barely speaks" Russian. That sounds weird, until you discover how difficult a language it is to learn.
A Saudi billionaire is involved in a dispute with Forbes Magazine over how many billions he has. They say it's less than he claims, by around $10 billion. Numbers don't lie, Prince. If you can't balance your balance sheet, don't blame the messenger.
Tina Fey is unhappy that someone snapped a photo of her in a modest one-piece bathing suit. Get over it, Tina, you looked great.
Knives with blades less than 2.36 inches long can be carried on airplanes under new TSA rules. You think they have a measuring stick at security checkpoints?
A mother is offering $500 to anyone who will help her daughter find a job. She's standing on the street holding up a sign and passing out resumes to anyone who will stop.
The new Iron Man 3 trailer is out and it only heightens the desire to see this film on opening day.
This Date in History:
On this date in 1521, Ferdinand Magellan arrived on Guam. 459 years and six or so months before I arrived there. On a related note, knowing the story of Magellan's voyage should have garnered my trivia team one more point last night but I didn't see we'd put down the wrong answer to a question. No harm, we won by five points.
On this date in 1820, President Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise.
On this date in 1836, the forces defending the Alamo in San Antonio were defeated after a 13 day siege.
On this date in 1857, the Supreme Court ruled on the Dred Scott case.
On this date in 1869, Mendeleev presented the first periodic table to the Russian Chemical Society
On this date in 1945, Cologne is captured by American troops (they probably didn't smell good until after the capture).
On this date in 1951, the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg begins.
On this date in 1964, Constantine II becomes King of Greece.
On this date in 1981, Walter Cronkite signs off for the last time on the CBS Evening News.
On this date in 1992, the Michelangelo virus begins affecting computers.
Famous Folk Born on this Date:
Michelangelo
Cyrano de Bergerac
Antoine-Henri Jomini (famed French general)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Ring Lardner
Lou Costello (so who really was on first?)
Ed McMahon (there was a bottle of scotch born right after him)
Alan Greenspan
Gordon Cooper
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Marion Barry Jr. & Ivan Boesky (didn't they room together at Club Fed?)
Willie "Pops" Stargell
Mary Wilson
"Sensei" Martin Kove (we do not train to be merciful in this dojo)
Kiki Dee
Dick Fosbury (some say his birth was a flop)
Rob Reiner
Tom Arnold
Moira Kelly
Shaquille O'Neal
posted by me at 3:24 PM
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