OK. I just listened to the Republican response to the President’s address last week. It took me a while to get around to it. But, I had heard some negatives from some folks so before passing judgement on something I hadn’t heard first hand, I thought that I should sit and listen.

This guy is a moron. Or, maybe he’s super intelligent. But he comes across like one because he talks in baby-speak. I feel like I should have a plate of cookies, glass of milk and a fuzzy blanket curled up on my lap when he talks.

Does he really think people are that stupid? I mean when he says tells the story of the sheriff yelling in the phone. I had Mr. Rogers Neighborhood flashbacks. I envisioned the Governor of Louisiana wearing a cardigan and taking off his shoes.

It was really hard to get to the substance of what he said because of the kindergarten delivery. Awful.

But, there was substance in what he said. He condemned in his words “something called volcano monitoring”. What? I wonder if Governor Jindal replaced the word “volcano” with the word “hurricane” – if he’d think it was such an inane expendture. Come on! Do, folks who AREN’T in LOUISIANA deserve less protection? Or, maybe those folks who are dumb enough to live next to a volcano and persist on building in the path of a lava river get what they deserve? But, shouldn’t they be at least afforded warning that disaster is about to strike? Or, is that reserve for those in the Big Easy?

I think he ought to be ashamed of himself for his insensitive comments, unthoughtful conclusions, and moronic delivery. If THIS is the hope of the Republican party (some have even floated Jindal as a potential rival to Obama in the next Presidential election) the state of the Republican party has a lot more in common with our economy than I thought.

Which is to say, we all think it’s bad – but the truth is it may actually be much worse than any of us believe. Poor republicans – they may never, in this generation, be a viable alternative to the democratic or any other party.

That stands to reason. George W. broke the world – why wouldn’t the republican party be included in that?

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Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

A weekend here in Austin. Back home after a great California trip. 

Well. I made an agreement with myself I would sit down immediately once the scale dipped below 200 because in my mind, that would be a huge accomplishment!

Well, I’m now 7 months after my surgery. I’m still making progress! I’m averaging about 2.2 pounds per week weight loss. So, for today that accumulates to 80 pounds. I’m now 200 down from 280.

I think that’s amazing. I feel better and am able to move easier. I’m also seeing the first signs of baggy skin. eww. But, I think that’s a price I’m completely willing to pay for improved health. Friends all comment on the amazing transformation but I’m thinking when I see my friends in California next month and Detroit in March, all who haven’t seen me since before the surgery – they will really be surprised.

You can see from the graph, it really adds up that’s for sure.

This week was President Obama’s inauguration. I wish now I had taken the day off. It was too difficult to try and watch it at work. The internet streaming kept jumping and of course there were still clients in need – so I was pulled away so many times – I just gave up. I watched it at home that evening. It seems like so many folks were touched, I think it’s great that we had a national moment. I really didn’t detest Pastor what’s his face so much that day. I was too filled with hope to allow differences to diminish the feeling.

I hope whereever you were, and who you were with, were also filled with hope. With so much work to do – all of our hopes need to be with our national leaders these days.

Be well until I see you again.

I think that just plain crazy should be called such. It doesn’t really matter who proposes crazy does it?

I mean really.

I say this in all seriousness because it’s hard to take serious the new campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Their aim is to rename fish – SEA KITTENS.

It seems the folks at PETA have come up with the notion that if FISH are renamed people will be much less likely to commercially and personally angle for them. They are opposed to fishing.. or, excuse me, sea-kittening.

Somehow they believe that people who normally have no problem putting an earthworm on a hook (most likely it’s own travesty in PETA’s view) and putting it in the water to catch a fish would somehow conjur up different images if we associated kittens with hooks in their mouths.

All this is just plain ridiculous. Love me some pets. Hate mistreatment of animals. Even have come to not roll my eyes at my vegetarian friends. But this is crazy is, as crazy does. There’s really no other way to view it.

All this ranting has now raised my appetite. I’m heading to red lobster to eat me a plate of sea kitten planks.

Mmm Mmm Mmm.

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Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

I’m dreaming of warmer weather and running around Austin with the top down. The truck is in need of a new transmission but, it’s older so I guess that’s to be expected.

We spent this weekend hanging out and went to the Paramount Theatre to see Carol Burnett. We had the best time. It was so fun, and funny. She’s amazing and looked great for being nearly 76!

It’s been cold in Austin and I’m not going to complain too loud or long because I remember how hot it is in the summer. So, for now – we’re biding our time. We have fires in the fireplace, Uno the cat loves those. We’ve been doing around the house stuff, like painting and decorating – and spring will come soon enough.

In the meantime I hope your winter is wrapping up nice and you look forward to warmer days and hopefully us spending time together. I’m traveling to California next month and looking forward to that.

It’s going to be great. 🙂

Eric
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

It’s 2009 and all is well. It’s good to be back at work and settled back into the routine. I enjoyed the time off at the holiday break. We did get somethings done around the house. Ok, a lot of things. But, after all is said and done – there’s something nice about a familiar routine.

Eric came to visit from Dallas and that was nice. And, I’m looking forward to visiting California next month and maybe seeing some of you. Fun!