Why Haven't I Heard About Tamika Houston?
I hope Natalee Holloway is found safe and sound. If you don't recognize her name, you should if I link it with "18 year old missing in Aruba".

I also hope Tamika Houston is found safe and sound. If you don't recognize her name, it's not your fault. I just heard about her an hour ago. She's been missing since May, 2004... over 1 year ago!

What the h*ll is wrong with this place? Just one more reason to watch BBC World News, at least for international news.

Chinquapin

Is There A Bad Moon On The Rise?
Get those Quake-Kits up to date people.

Tonight's special: Earthquake Cocktail

Chinquapin

I Was Gonna Write About How Greatful I Am To Be An American
BUT...

I had to share that while talking to my mom on the phone, she asked me if I'd heard about a "sizable" earthquake that just happened. No, nothing on the news, nothing on Yahoo's home page. So I went to USGS-CA/NV page & I didn't see anything. I checked back in a minute, and a 7.0 GIANT RED SQUARE popped up off the coast of N. California/S. Oregon. Check the web news again, turned on the TV... nothing.

Back to links from the USGS, and I found out the quake was 90 some miles west of the coast. Oh-oh, Tsunami is my next thought. So I did a search and guess what, there's a TSUNAMI WARNING from the CA/MEX border up to the northern border of Vancouver, BC. A Tsunami watch from BC to Alaska.

OK, 50 minutes after the quake, the Channel 9 news(which airs from 8pm-11pm) which started 10 minutes after the quake, just announced the warning, and didn't really make much of it.

I'm guessing that San Fran is a little more on the ball, and I certain that Oregon doesn't take any chances, they have regular Tsunami drills.

All in all, I'm still grateful to be a non-white, non-male citizen of the USA in the year 2005.

Chinquapin

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.