Cable be damned!!!

     I have had it with cable TV!  I know I'm not the only one who fells this way, but this is my blog and I will not be silent.  I signed up for Direct TV for the free NFL package they offered back in 2013.  I overdosed on football that year and realized I was not really interested in THAT much football...in fact I was not that interested in television anymore.  I did some research and found that the shows I do watch are all available on Hulu or Netflix and I found a couple websites that I can stream live sports from my computer to my TV... all for a lot less than cable.  When I tried to cancel my service and get that ugly dish removed from my balcony, I was told it would be $200 to do so.  So I cut my subscription to "basic" and they still charge me $45 dollars a month and took ALL the sports networks away...(no ESPN or anything!).  So the countdown has begun.  August 8, 2015 is the day I shed my shackles to cable TV.  I have internet service from my phone company, I will subscribe to Hulu or Netflix and will live free from the tyranny of useless television.  Can I get an AMEN!?  I can't wait to tell Direct TV to cancel my subscription and get that ugly thing off my balcony!  It's good to have goals...

     Thanks to Cousin Anna for the updates on Uncle Charlie...I am glad he is feeling better and was able to go home and I pray that they will be able to find a service to help Aunt Joan care for him.  It sucks that after all he has done in his life...served in the military during WWII including being a prisoner of war, being a dedicated educator and dean of a college, that services he needs now are not available to him without tremendous personal cost.  I know the VA is in turmoil, but something has to be done to pay back those veterans who put their lives on the line to keep us free.  What the hell has happened to our priorities in this world?  We pay athletes and movie stars millions to play a game and make movies, but our teachers, police and firemen are woefully underpaid.  Politicians get healthcare for life and ridiculous pensions while the homeless ranks keep swelling and and we pay for healthcare that doesn't cover necessities?  We live in the greatest country in the world and we feed others better than our own people...It's more important to develop a better phone than it is to find a cure for cancer and other diseases...(Don't get me started on this...there IS a cure but the drug companies won't give up their profits to allow us to have it!)  We can instant message around the world but we can't cure the common cold?  WTF!

     A reminder to all...(and especially me) that this is Holy Week coming up culminating with Easter Sunday next week.  I hope that people will remember the message of God's ultimate sacrifice for all of us in between the sales and Easter Egg hunts.  I hope that the Cadbury Bunny doesn't replace Jesus Christ as the symbol of Easter.  I also want to wish a Happy Passover to my Jewish friends and pray they will honor the occasion which I am sure they will.  Even though I do not attend a "regular" church, I keep communication with my "Higher Power" at a high level and hope that he will continue to bless me.  Thanks for letting me rant.  This blog is quite therapeutic.  The best to one and all!

Catching up (it's what I do)...

     Hard to believe is been a month since my last venture into blogdom... here it is the end of March and the Boys of Summer will be leaving and Opening Day of baseball is upon us.  Heck, even Easter is right around the corner coming early this year.  I will be celebrating Easter in the traditional (my tradition) way at the greatest non-denominational church there is...the GOLF course, or as I like to call it, the Church of the Immaculate Fairways...What better way to celebrate Jesus' triumphant rise from the dead then to walk in the beauty of nature, outside, and spend quality time with my golfing friends (and hopefully not use the the Lord's name in vain during the round...).  Eric from Jersey will be coming out to a convention in Phoenix that week and will be joining me in the Easter 18 (or 27 or 36 depending on how tired he is).  We also have a sunrise celebration planned for Easter Monday (a tee time around 6:30 or so) before he gives his presentation on Monday afternoon.  Always great to entertain another golf fanatic like Eric...(and thanks to him for the tip last time he was here).

     As for me, I have been working my new shift...(and LOVING IT!) and been working a couple days at the Convention Center to help out and make some extra cash.  I miss the events and don't plan to work too much but the a-holic in me gets in the way...(work-a-holic that is).  I have been sleeping much better since the shift change and my boss at the Convention Center refuses to wear me out with hours...(we'll see if she can keep her word).  For now I am working one day during the week (5 hrs.) and the occasional weekend day (this Saturday I am teaching the unarmed guard card class).  Last week I worked a shift at the Waste Management Nuclear Waste Convention...(no actual radioactive material was present) and had a ball greeting people from all over the world...I will be jammed on April however with overtime at Desert Highlands (April 4), Eric's visit for work, Country Thunder Music Festival (April 11 and 12) and then the Ultimate Women's Expo at the end of April...(so much for not working too much...I am such a work hound!).  Country Thunder will be great music and working security at a smokeless tobacco booth on the grounds with my buddy Redneck Chuck from Texas...lots of hours but not a lot of work.  Should make for some interesting blogs... and the Ultimate Women's Expo?  around 5,000 women and me.  Need I say more?

     I want to wish my friend Pat from Freehold a belated and well deserved Happy Birthday!!! yesterday.  I hope she had a great day and am sorry for missing the actual day.  Pat has been a faithful reader of these blogs from day one (why? I have no clue...he he).  Love you, Pat!  And to all those who continue to follow these rantings for the desert Southwest, I thank you for your support and will continue as long as I am able (that could be construed as good news or bad!).  Stay warm winter sufferers...talk to you soon.