I’ve a cousin who proudly proclaims her conservative views. She knows who she is. Anyway, at the reunion the other day she told this joke: Do you know why the North won the war? Well, the South threw dynamite, the North picked it up, lit the fuse, and threw it back.

Now, I’m not saying the joke is funny (it’s all a matter of taste, after all). But, and I think this is important, it’s the first time I’ve heard a joke mocking the South’s loss of the civil war. Having been in the Navy and been to all four corners of the Continental United States, I can say for a fact that the North was mocked on a regular basis, but not once did I hear the South get mocked.

This, by the way, is from Balloon Juice:

………. The other day Dr. Mrs. Dr. F. was sitting in traffic in the university part of town behind a lifted pickup flying that huge rebel flag. A couple of college kids, chatting on the crosswalk, stopped and did a double take. The black guy told the other guy, who was maybe south Asian, something about the flag and then he started laughing. The spouse watched him call out to the rock-still white kid in the pickup cab, (roughly) “Really, dude? It’s the twenty first century”. Then he shook his head, laughed again and walked off before the light changed. Now having people hate your symbol and fight against it, that is more or less the point. Hating something is just another type of respect. But nowadays ol’ Dixie is clearly in retreat (again), the reddest of red legislatures have started abandoning it and people who should feel intimidated just laugh in your face.

The Civil War was just the start of the overall battle about slavery, race, and bigotry. I think we’ve started to see the final loss of the South. They no longer have the ability to claim heritage, they get mocked and ridiculed openly on the streets, and even the most Southern of states have removed the flag.

Will ol’ Dixie ever completely disappear? No. Like an infectious virus it will linger in out of the way places, dormant, waiting for a chance to spring forth. However, the vaccine to combat this infection is going strong (despite some peoples’ claims otherwise) and the struggle to inject it into the populous has finally worked; it is self-replicating. All men are created equal.

A while ago I installed a Gallery Plugin that helps with organizing pictures for posts. Specifically, it does a side show. I’ve just not gotten around to playing with it. I’m thinking I just might do that today. So, hopefully, pics to follow!

Okay, it’s a bare basics, time intensive plugin. It’s going to get removed.

Looking to see if the Facebook plugin I installed on my blog is working. If it is, I suspect it should post to Facebook automatically! I have my fingers crossed.

Update: Well, I finally got the Facebook links to show up on the posts! I still don’t know if it automatically sends a post from this blog onto Facebook.

Time, that is, to do laundry. I’m about to hop into the shower and then pack everything into Tina’s van so I can run up to the local laundry mat. There’s one right here in Willow River, but the machines are old and small, and the dryers are unreliable.

So, anyway, what’s happening in your part of Sunday morning?

It’s been a while since I’ve actually supplied a link here at the ol’ castle, but this is seriously funny.

(Bark Bark Woof Woof):
Pollster: Do you favor such a proposal, yes or no?
Me:  Yes.
Pollster: Is that a strong “yes” or a somewhat “yes”?
Me:  It’s a binary question: it’s either “yes” or “no;” there’s no gradations to that kind of question.
Pollster (after a pause):  I understand, but is your answer a strong “yes” or a somewhat “yes”?
Me: Yes.

Now, go read the rest……..

It was thirty years ago today that I took the road to recovery. Since then, not a drop of liquor, beer, or any other type of alcoholic beverage, nor any type of illicit drug, has passed by my lips. It’s been an interesting road, with a lot of failures, and a lot of successes. Thankfully the successes far out paced the failures over time. What’s really changed is that where I once saw life as struggle and misery, I now see as simply challenges and lessons to be learned.

Along the way I’ve made some enduring friendships, many whom I may only see once a year, or even farther apart than that. Yet, when I see them, it’s as if we only last saw each other yesterday. Even with our paths taking different directions, that connection of growth has lasted longer than any so-called times of fun when drinking and using.

In the end, I have to acknowledge that my recovery has been because of others – their stories, their insights, and their courage have helped me to take risks and move down roads with unknown outcomes. Many have pointed out my errors in thinking, and my poor behaviors. Many continue to do so; all to my betterment.

My 30 years of sobriety is not just a testament to my efforts, but the efforts of hundreds of others over the years, both in the program, and in my personal and professional life. So, this Milestone is less about bragging and more about being thankful.

So, my gratitude goes out to all that have helped me.

And yes, I am also still bragging!

Update: Corrected for spelling. One simple mistakes, sheesh!

Okay, I have to admit that since Thursday I’ve been ill. I believe I actually came down with the flu. I haven’t had anything worse than a cold or mild respiratory infection in over 20 years.

This illness messed me up. First, I had aches and pains in my hips, and eventually my whole body. I had something going on in my chest, but it didn’t cause any sinus blockage usually associated with a cold. Nor did I cough all that much. But when I did it tore up my throat.

I stayed home from work Friday – which I am loath to do – and just sat in front of the TV watching movies and basically drifting in and out of sleep. On Saturday morning I managed to crawl out of bed and take a shower, but I had a hell of a time moving and keeping my balance.

And the worst of it? Everything tasted like shit! Even coffee.

Yes, you read that right.

EVEN. COFFEE.

That’s how seriously ill I was.

I was just too wiped on Friday morning to make a pot. Somehow, despite how miserable I felt, I managed to get dishes done Friday evening and set up my coffee pot for the morning. So, when I got up on Saturday I started the pot, got in the shower, and then – after getting dressed – promptly laid down on top of my bedding to rest and fell asleep.

Now, I’ve no problem with coffee a couple of hours old. But when I finally managed to crawl off my bed – and that took some serious effort – and pour myself a cup it tasted horrible. I ended up pouring it all out!

There’s just something fundamentally not right about pouring out coffee. I shudder now just thinking about that atrocity. I might actually be scarred for life.

Well, anyway, I no longer suffer the aches and pains of the last two days. I’ve still the cough to content with, but it too is not nearly as painful. And instead of feeling weak due to sickness, I feel weak due to hunger!

I ate yesterday, and the day before, but not much. It was an effort to eat anything since it all tasted like crap. Since my coffee tastes delicious this morning, I’ve no fear about food.

Okay, enough about my illness. I’ve got to get into the shower now and get ready for the trip to the cities –  I’ve “The Hobbit” to see with The Fuskers™!