A long December...

to steal a line from a song I used to enjoy... and there's reason to believe...

Thus far in December, I have:
1. Severely sprained my ankle -- damaging nearly every ligament in the joint... leaving me with very limited mobility on crutches...
2. Fallen down due to this limited mobility in combination with Madison already having received a blistering 16.5 inches of snowfall for the season. (This is only marginally below the pace from last year's 100+ inch winter)...
3. Had a violent case of stomach illness that has pretty much insured I won't ever desire the Asian Noodle dish from Noodles again...
4. The aforementioned ankle injury occurred during a heated basketball game, which given the severity of the sprain, may be the last truly reckless and wild bball game I will ever play... a dream smashed :-(
5. Gotten very far behind in my reading and blogging... which given all of the time away from work seems somewhat hard to believe, but as I age, I start to understand and grasp at what all this "being sick" truck is about.

So a shitty month, huh? Well, actually, it isn't that bad. Given my fortunate position in the job market, I have not missed being paid a single day though I've been out as much as in the office this month. On top of that, I haven't had to worry about the medical bills associated with this injury and illness, as I am fortunate to be covered by good health insurance. I haven't felt insecure about losing my job in the current economic crisis and I haven't had to worry about my place at work being undermined by being out ill... Honestly, lying at home this past week, I realized how lucky I am. It is a tough world out there... hope you each are finding your way through...



As I walk on
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walk on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

Jackass Journalism Awards...

Welcome to the first ever of my sporadic awards to be given at intervals of my choosing...

"Best Op-Ed piece regarding Obama's election"

There were a number of possible nominees, including pretty much anything found in the Washington Times or the National Review (especially online). But, after searching high and low for the best opinion piece related to the recent election I found it was indeed almost the Washinton Times -- just add the Herald, found back in Daviess County. The highly esteemed and venerable Tim P. breaks out the whopping (and prayer) stick with a combination of red-baiting, ad hominem, appeals to fear, and a red herring to boot. Just a little taste for you...

Make no mistake about it: A Barack Obama-Joe Biden administration means higher taxes for everyone, vastly increased wasteful government spending, defense budget cuts, an increase in terrorism, millions more unborn babies murdered and judicial activism run amok, which will threaten the liberties of every American.

The Bible states that God ordains the leaders of all nations, whether they be good or bad. As a Christian, I have an obligation to pray for the leaders of our country, including the president, Congress and the judiciary.

Not only will I pray for safety and good health for our national leaders, but also for a miracle in their hearts and minds. I will pray for a miracle in which they will turn away from socialism and liberalism and toward the conservative path of liberty and prosperity.

Now that would be a change I could believe in.

..but you really need to read the entire thing to appreciate the beauty of this op-ed piece and to fully comprehend how this was the hands down winner for the the innagural JJA!!! Congrats Mr. Pinkham.