Pigeon wants a puppy - a study in low self esteem

Recently at work, a book was passed around. The pigeon wants a puppy, by Mo Willems.

Is this a children's book, you might ask?

Well... yes, it is being marketted that way. However, this innocent looking book is much, much more!

Pigeon wants a puppy is an interesting social commentary on our times.

You see, Pigeon, the main character, can seem to only find happiness in material things. In this case, a puppy.

Pigeon needs validation. His life and emotional stability revolves around gaining a puppy who he will love. more importantly, who will love him.

Sad? Yes.

But how many times have you heard someone say that they need something, or they will just die. Do they??? No. Disappointed when they do not keep that promise? Yes!

But, I digress.

Think about what can make you really happy, people! Not puppies. Not jewelry. Not someone else. Only you can make you happy! YOU!

And would you like to know the secret of how you can make yourself happy?

Go to the library and check a book out on it!

Or, donate money or books to the library... a selfless act like that will make you happy. Really. It is not because we are on a tight budget, and I want to keep my job. No! This is about YOU. Your happiness. And your happiness depends on libraries, and happy librarians.

Really.

Would I lie to you?

Happy Earth Day!

To everyone out there...

Happy Earth Day!

EARTH DAY POEM

by Jane Yolen
I am the Earth

And the Earth is me.

Each blade of grass,

Each honey tree,

Each bit of mud,

And stick and stone

Is blood and muscle,

Skin and bone.

And just as I

Need every bit

Of me to make

My body fit,

So Earth needs

Grass and stone and tree

And things that grow here

Naturally.

That's why we

Celebrate this day.

That's why across

The world we say:

As long as life,

As dear, as free,

I am the Earth

And the Earth is me.

New look for a classic cartoon

In the years since I was a little boy, things have changed a lot.

Take the characters from GI Joe for instance. They have now been updated for a more realistic and modern feeling. While they may look like the cartoon characters you grew up with, they have changed with the times!

Check them out. I dare ya!














Now how did that one song go? OH YEAH. Something like this ... "My blood runs cold- my memories have just be sold..."

I have connections, baby! Yeah!

A good friend of mine has a younger sister.

Her younger sister has a friend named Erika Lujan.

This friend, Erika, was recently caught with a small arsenal of stolen firearms.

Erika, and a few friends, were involved in a robbery of a gun collector. They stole a van full of guns, intending to sell them, and nearly got away.

A note to thieves and gun-runners. When you have an SUV full of illegal weapons, drive carefully. It seems they crashed, and flipped over while on the freeway. Guns went everywhere.

My friend is a bit disturbed that one of her sister's friends was doing this for extra cash.

Personally I think it is kind of funny. In a roundabout way, I have some serious connections! Plus it makes me feel a bit better about my freaky family.

If you would like to check out the story, here is the link.

Not much else to say

Here is a link to a post I just read from a friend of mine. 'Nuff said.

If you feel like a little Italian...

Okay, I am going to take a moment from my Disney memories to share some important information.

On Saturday a few of us got together for dinner and a movie. It was a welcome home bash for a friend of mine. He had been gone for a while to get some training down in So. Cal. Actually he was staying in a hotel about 10 blocks from Disneyland. A company paid-for hotel room down near Disneyland. Some guys have all the luck!

Anyway, he got home on Friday, and the bash was Saturday. We decided to play it by ear and see what happened.

This was, after all, supposed to be a cool outing. A celebration! Finally we decided to go to the Garlic House in Oakdale. We roll up only to discover that the location was no longer a beloved establishment, but was now Bocelli's Restaurante.

We decided to give it a go. We walked in the door of this little hole-in-the-wall eatery, and entered an extremely elegant Italian restaurant. The restaurant was charming, the staff on the ball and cheerful. And the food.. out of this world! If you have the good fortune to enter this realm of fine dining, I highly suggest trying the chicken linguine with goat cheese. Don't be put off by the cheese.. this dish is completely amazing. Other dishes, such as the lasagna and seafood raviolis are also fantastique!

Seriously, this place could give any of the nicer restaurants in the area a serious run for its money.

This is a place you want to take someone to impress them. It's a little bit of a drive, but totally worth the time! Besides, on the way back, you can catch a movie at the Riverbank Galaxy theatre.

Check it out and enjoy!

The ones that got away

During my recent visit to the happiest place on Earth... DISNEYLAND.. there were a few interesting events.

I was there with just a couple of people, a friend of mine and his son. My friend made a couple of new friends. They followed him EVERYWHERE with their cute pink pastel blue backpacks. It was so cute, they even asked him- and his son and I- to dinner. His son was holding on to my hand, and I think they thought that he was my child, and my friend was... well.. available.

When we said we already had reservations somewhere else, they started talking to my friend. Would he like to go to the arcade later? What about ice-cream after dinner?

You know I am the very soul of kindness and compassion. Out of the depths of my heart I offered to take the little guy back to the hotel after dinner, so my friend could have a night off to himself.

The guys then asked him about going on some rides? I had a hard time not laughing. I said that my friend looked like he needed... a ride. I thought he was going to kill me. My friend declined the offer.

Over the next several days we saw them several more times. Each time they were very friendly towards my friend.

As for me? Well I will never let him forget the ones that got away. What else are friends for?

By the way, we ran into them in the Buzz Lightyear line at one point. After the ride Disney allows you to send yourself a free photo- taken on the ride. Instead of choosing the photo of me, or my friend and his son (we had tons of those already). I selected the photo of the two guys who were after my friend.

I figure I can print it out and send him periodic reminders. But for now.. here are the guys!

It's my ass, not yours!

I love Disneyland. I really do. It is the most wonderful place on earth. That said, I ave to admit this last trip was a bit disturbing.

Why you may ask. The park was great. The rides thrilling. The attractions were attractive. The food was edible and pricey.

So what was my problem?

The kids. I know I know. You are thinking that Disneyland is for children. I agree, it is. Actually I think Disneyland is for everyone.. but definitely kids. HOWEVER my ass is not. That's right, my ass is not for kids.

At Disneyland I learned a disturbing fact. My ass is a kid magnet. I started keeping track.. 18 adorable little tykes grabbed my ass at one point or another. Toddlers would grab to hang on in order to walk. I had one kid rub my butt. Another kid put his hand in my back pocket and walked along.

Hello! Private territory there!

And the parents did not seem to mind. That was the creepy part!

The kid who put his hand in my pocket, for instance... his parents were about seven or eight feet behind me... I looked back, and there they were looking... but not doing anything. I had to say "Excuse me, but I think I found one of your children." before they actually did anything.

I have long known that I am adored by kids and animals. I think it is because I am on their intellectual level or something. I have a pretty calming effect on them... but come on! It's my ass people! So your kid is smiling.. so what? Letting your child play with the ass of a stranger is NOT a good thing.

Luckily one of the people I was travelling with is 4 1/2 years old- who has a problem with strange children. When other kids touched my ass, he would stick his hand in their face and say "Go 'way." God I love that little guy. But it is pretty bad when I have to say that my ass was protected by a four year old little guy.

Ok, I am finished ranting. I'm still disturbed and deeply traumatized by this issue, but I am done ranting.

DISNEYLAND BIRTHDAY BASH

You are all invited!

Well I just got back from a trip to thre happiest place on Earth.. Disneyland! While I will have plenty of exploits to blog about, I wanted to issue an invitation first.

You see, I found out that the Small World ride opens back up on my birthday. So, to celebrate this year I am hoping that friends and family will join me in a birthday bash at Disneyland. You have until November to save up, but make plans and reservations now!