The Third Year I Won't Be Flying Old Glory
I've always loved Flag Day, don't know why. Maybe 'cause it's the 1st "holiday" after school lets out(it was where I grew up). Maybe 'cause it signals Independence Day is just around the corner.

I wore a lot of red, white & blue as a little kid, especially in the summer. Even though the Vietnam War was unpopular in our house, summer was bar-b-q, fireworks, and boating on the lake decked out in multiple combination of those colors. I couldn't wait to decorate my bike with crape paper, make paper chains, and stick a little flag with stars & stripes in the middle of the handle bars.

In 2000, I moved into a house with a flag pole holder already attached to the porch. Being late July, I waited until the Labor Day rush to buy a shiny new nylon flag of the United States of America. I dutifully brought the flag in when it rained or when the wind became too gusty. It was was lit at night, and I'd read that you didn't have to lower a flag at night if it was lit. My neighbors also had flags, mostly up for holidays. An older neighborhood for the Midwest, we averaged about 7 flags in 2 short blocks.

More flags showed up after September 11, 2001.

I moved to a much smaller town November that same year. Many more flags waving than I seen on previous visits(before 9/11/01), and I raised my flag at my new place.

Late March, 2003, I lowered my flag of the United States of America, and have not since raised it. I have a tiny flag that I keep on my desk, to remind me of the pledge I used to speak, then later take daily. At the time I didn't know that the Pledge had been changed because of the Red Scare, and by the DAR even earlier. Today I honor that pledge, without the addenda.

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I think I'll include the original "with equality, liberty and justice for all." now that I know about it.

Chinquapin(working to reclaim the "...land of the free and the home of the brave.")

June 1, 1972
That's the 1st image seen in "All The President's Men". Mr. Man & I watched it tonight, just to remind us of all the sh*t that happened when we were young and carefree(Star Wars isn't gonna make it better this time).

God, I hope we've seen the date of the beginning of the end of "The Most Devastating Detective Story of THIS Century".

Chinquapin

Oops, I forgot to say, "Thanks Mr. Felt".

Off The Wall
What happened Michael? I thought the young man in the tux was so cute.

Chinquapin

As Ohio Goes...
Now Playing: So What
Looks like Republican Senators Voinovich & DeWine(former Ohio Gov. & Lt. Gov. respectively)are more moderate than their party would like.

Embrace the "Purple". 2006 is right around the corner.

Happy Birthday Miles.

Chinquapin

How Many Years Can A Mid-Life Crisis Last?
Mister Turtle doesn't have a clue.

Folks, The Nut House has a new theme song.

IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
Peggy Lee (lyrics by P.J. Harvey)

SPOKEN:
I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire.
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up
in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames.
And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire?"

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

SPOKEN:
And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to the circus, the greatest show on earth.
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears
And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.
And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle
I had the feeling that something was missing.
I don't know what, but when it was over,
I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a circus?"

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

SPOKEN:
Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in the world.
We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes.
We were so very much in love.
Then one day, he went away. And I thought I'd die -- but I didn't.
And when I didn't I said to myself, "Is that all there is to love?"

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing

SPOKEN:
I know what you must be saying to yourselves.
If that's the way she feels about it why doesn't she just end it all?
Oh, no. Not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment.
For I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,
when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my lst breath, I'll be saying to myself,

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is


I'm not wallowing, I've just got some "life choices" to make. Being a grown-up can be a b#*ch.

Tonight's drink, a Why Not?

Chinquapin(tomorrow I'm startin' the day with Peggy Lee's "It's A Good Day".)

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
OK, I'm gonna try to start getting back to regular hosting duties at The Nut House.

Nessa, congrats on the up-coming move to a Blue State.

MtAnnie, glad you had a blast at the wedding.

Wally, what can I say. Sometimes one just isn't in the mood.

So, what will it be next weekend, Star Wars Night, or Desperate Housewives Afternoon Tea?

Chinquapin(oops, I forgot to tell you about my good deed biting me in the ass- next time)

OK, I'm A Bum.
Cinco de Mayo and what am I doing? Watching TV & going through old magazines.

Oh ya, and a mid-life crisis.

Maybe this weekend we'll have a white labcoat and big insect net party. Or a "Come as your favorite Nut" thing.

Chinquapin... whose too damn chilly to enjoy her Frozen Margarita.

Nobody Expects The Spanish... Filibuster?
So what will it be: "The Comfy Chair" or "...the filibuster of the people of faith"?

The following excerpt from a CBS article reveals some repubs need Ginko Biloba.

"Even votes that did occur were often delayed for months and even years. In late 1999, New Hampshire Republican Bob Smith blocked a vote on 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Richard Paez for months by putting an anonymous hold on the nomination. When Majority Leader Trent Lott could no longer preserve the hold, Smith and 13 other Republicans tried to mount a filibuster against the vote, but cloture was voted and Paez easily confirmed. It had been over four years since his nomination.

When his tactics on the Paez and Marsha Berzon nominations (Berzon was filibustered along with Paez, more than two years after her nomination) were challenged, Smith responded with an impassioned floor speech in defense of the judicial filibuster: "Don't pontificate on the floor of the Senate and tell me that somehow I am violating the Constitution of the United States of America by blocking a judge or filibustering a judge that I don't think deserves to be on the circuit court ... . That is my responsibility. That is my advice and consent role, and I intend to exercise it.""

See you at High Tea.

Chinquapin

Britney's Pregnant, I miss Sir Rancelot
More to come...


Chinquapin

There Are So Many Excuses...
Nice weather, taxes due, work, poor sleep, freaked out cats, spring cleaning... but I really don't have the time, energy, or desire to list all of them.

This was not the weekend I needed to lose an hour.

Chinquapin
P.S. Can anyone tell me what Redbull tastes like? The acid in black tea is starting to get at me.