Rick in the early days of LSD.

Footage recently obtained from the UC Berkeley Hallucinogen Testing Labs where Rick worked as a 9 year-old. That's him in the vest.....

Vance said this, not Rick

...but it's not a bad idea.

Rick in the morning

Hey, I LIKE Fedoras...

Elijah Wood has always creeped me out.

But this settles it.

Merry Christmas from East Coast Pie....

From the East Coast Moonpie office, we say Merry Christmas.

I'm so happy I got my Sax for Christmas but I want to know why.....

why are my pants around my ankles?

Oh dear.

Stay tuned for New Years hi-jinks.

Landscaping tips from Vance

Unsightly areas of loose turf can be safely stretched and hidden using XXL-large clothespins.

Why you should hire Vance as your landscape maintenance guy

Reason#1

Attention to detail.

Vance leaves no turn unstoned when it comes to ridding your property of unsightly leaves and debris.

Why I THINK I no longer do drugs....

For years I thought this day had involved magic mushrooms.... hence the "Panda taking my photo" hallucination.

I found this photo in a shoebox the other day. Turns out the Panda was real.... which means I got totally burned on the shrooms!

How I feel.......

The thing with the holidays is that, being as how I have nearly a month off, I tend to not get dressed very often.

Important to follow the rules....

Have one on us...

Merry Christmas from Moonpie West!!!

Hallelujah, everybody say 'cheese'! Merry Christmas from the fam-uh-leeeeeeeee!

Rick just wanted to share a few of his gifts with everyone. The first is a reminder of who calls the shots in our family.

 

The second shows the shots I get to call.

The voices in my wife's head may tell her what to tell me to do, but they also told her to get me a bottle of 15 year-old Balvenie single malt.

Have a great Holiday, one and all!

Brother Tod's Secret Identity

So it's recently come to light that Vance's brother, Tod, Is NOT really an insurance agent in Rio Rancho, but is, in fact, MegaStar Kenny Rogers!!!

You can see from the above photos -- the one ln the left is from Tod's Insurance company webpage. The one on the right features Kenny Rogers with Charo!

What more proof do you need, ladies and Gentlemen?

Whats happening today...

Having turned 54 years old yesterday, I decided to go on an adventure. I bicycled 389 miles in New Mexicos Gila wilderness......

Then I jumped on my horse, 'Dice" and rode to the Jemez mountains and crossed over into Pagosa Springs, Colorado....

To wrap up the day, I finished my log cabins great room with a little stucco and Spanish tile.

So, what did you do today?

Christmas cheer...

When enjoying the Holidays with friends and family(well...maybe just friends) always drink responsibly. And have a glass of fine rum by Captin Morgan Freeman. Cheers.

Martin's Traditional Tequila Christmas Cake

This is always a favorite around Moonpie Headquarters!

Martin writes:

Once again this year, I’ve had requests for my Tequila Christmas Cake recipe so here goes:

 Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year!
1 cup sugar 1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup water 1 tsp. salt 1 cup brown sugar Lemon juice
 4 large eggs Nuts 1 bottle tequila 2 cups dried fruit ..
.
Sample the tequila to check quality
 Take a large bowl; check the tequila again to be sure it is of the highest quality..

 Repeat
 Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.
 Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.
 At this point, it is best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.
Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck iin the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor.
 Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver.
 Sample the tequila to test for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something.

Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven.
Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner
Finally, throw the bowl through the window.
 Finish the tequila and wipe the counter with the cat.
 Cherry Mristmas

Lighting the Way.... In High-Def!!

While some cultures light pansy-assed luminarias or farolitos to light the way for the Christ-Child, Vance and I have always believed in going whole hog and bringing out the big guns to welcome the Big Guy! This year was no exception, and we barely waited until the first day of December to get started. That's Vance you can here calling the Son of God to show him the way to the Quality Inn down the road.

(if the side of this video is cut off, right click on it and select view all. Then enlarge it for full screen. Also, click the HD icon for hi-def.)

Oh brother......

Baby brother with Miss "chootchie, chootchie" sex-pot Charo at LAX. I don't know how he does it, but he seems to always be in the right place at the right time. Good on ya bro!

Best Christmas ideas for children....

Oh, when I think back to ALL the fun we had as children around Christmas time. Parents and Grand-parents stone-blind drunk, Uncles getting in fights and storming out of the house.....

well, you get the idea. Thankfully, toy makers switched gears in the 70's and pulled out all the stops with great products like this. I still remember going to bed grinding my teeth.....wow.

Hell, I'm doin' alright.

Sick as a dog, but not too shabby right this second.


Come on and sing a little song with me....

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...

...always look on the bright side
of life...
(Whistle)

Always look on the light side
of life...
(Whistle)

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle
- that's the thing.
And...always look on the bright
side of life...
(Whistle)

Come on.

Always look on the right side
of life...
(Whistle)

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain
with a bow
Forget about your sin - give the
audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance
anyhow.

So always look on the bright side
of death...
(Whistle)

a-Just before you draw your terminal breath...
(Whistle)

Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
You'll see its all a show, keep 'em laughin as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you

And...
Always look on the bright side
of life...
(Whistle)

Always look on the right side
of life...

C'mon Brian, cheer up

Always look on the bright side
of life...

Always look on the bright side
of life...

Worse things happen at sea you know.

I mean - what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
- you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing.

Always look on the right side
(I mean) of life...

what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
- you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost?

Always (Nothing.) look on the right side of life...

Nothing will come from nothing ya know what they say?
Cheer up ya old bugga c'mon give us a grin!
There ya go, see!

Always look on the right side of life...
(Cheer up ya old bugga c'mon give us a grin! At same time)

There ya go, see!

Happy 11/24/11 day......

In America today, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. I have no idea what they are doing in Cambodia today.

I just know that almost 54 years ago I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the 'bread-basket' belt of the central United States. All-in-all, my family and my friends families have done well and become educated, pay taxes and live in a civil manner towards all they come into contact with. This Country isn't perfect, but I'm not going anywhere else.

Take a minute today to help someone you don't know. Happy Thanksgiving to ALL Moonpie followers and viewers.

Now, pass the chipolte....

Go to any site that has James Taylor, "Country Road". Hit the site, listen and be amazed. This is a good song that I do not have te ability to download to Moonpie, but says everything I want to say to ALL Moonpie viewers.

This is my song to Rick, so that he may be able to take a deep breath and understand that life is short and he has all going his way. Peace bro.
Can't wait to get back to Albuquerque and chill.....

Intercounty Connector Reaches Milestone - Video - WBAL Baltimore

Intercounty Connector Reaches Milestone - Video - WBAL Baltimore

After three years working on this job, the road is open. To much sadness to some and joy for others. If you watch closely, you will see me passing behind the new Director of 'something' as she is interviewd by Channel 11, Baltimore. Pictures to follow.

Click link to watch news cast.

Hey, we even had Occupy protesters on hand.

Keith Olbermann Takes On The 12th Richest Man In The World

Keith Olbermann Takes On The 12th Richest Man In The World

Cars, driving? I got your drive.....

Last week I drove into the city to flag tree locations on 11th st, Washington, DC. I decided to film a minute of the relaxing drive to the Tidal Basin and the Washington Monument.

Cars 2

You know, Cars was a pretty great little animated film A great message. great animation. A real winner and a feather in the cap of Pixar and Disney both.


Then came Cars 2. And for some reason the cars needed to become spies. And shoot things. Seriously?

Look at this picture. I mean, yeah, the coloring is scary. Especially the two different colored eyes... sort of psycho. (Cut me some slack. I was in a hurry to finish so I could go out and play.) But do we really need a redneck tow-truck with this kind of fire-power mounted on the hood? And then make it into a coloring book for six-year-olds? What kind of whacked out horseshit is that?


I think not.

And now you know

the rest

of the story.

Good

Day.

Driving home from the vet is much less traumatic than going.

Rick says.......

Happy Halloween

From Moonpie West

Forget the wedding in Cana of Gallilee...

The wife and I were hitting a couple of Halloween parties on Saturday. As we were leaving the first one, who should come pushing his bicycle up the sidewalk, but Our Personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I wanted to stay, but we had to move along.

A friend posted this photo to Facebook later. I'm sorry I missed it.... Apparently Jesus turned the keg of Coor's Light into 40 year old single malt whisky!

Although I'm surprised he's not wearing his Tuxedo T-Shirt, because it's formal, but it says, you know, I'm here to party.

Give this dude a job, man!

In the spirit of the earlier Joe Dirt post, I offer you the resume of Ricky Santangelo. Seriously, how could you NOT hire this guy?**


**Vance, you need any day laborers for your crew?

How I met my wife...

Joe Dirt - YouTube Janet and I met at the fair in St. Marys county 12 years ago. Sweet...

After the politics.....there are ex-wives

After a long week of political turmoil, we turn our attention to ex-wives. Ex -wife #14 looked NOTHING like this photo and never will. As a matter of fact, Moonpies ex-wife series never had an ex that was built like this. (Proof that she was an ex, see ring in photo), photos prove EVERYTHING is TRUE! Have a great week and see ya on the weekend. Wow, nice boobs!

Occupy what?

I just wrote a long statement that was quickly lost in my hurried attempt to make this post. Briefly I will say, when I speak about shit that I don't understand, I will get many facts wrong. The "fun" I wanted to have with this photo and post has been lost at this point but that won't stop Moonpie. I just thought the picture was funny because the guy looks like old friend Ben Z. from Albuquerque.

I believe West and East Coast Moonpie need to Occupy a Fat Tire and a pinner.

Occupy Wall Street is not difficult to understand

Rick "The Canadian" Raab-Faber

NOTE: The following essay is reposted from The Daily Kos as a public service of Rick Raab-Faber as a result of several disturbing conversations he has had with people over the past few weeks.  It's not funny nor intended to be funny. It just happens to be one of the most cogent explanations of the Occupy movement that I've read. For people who think Occupy is a bunch of Anti-Corporation, Anti-Rich, Socialist Hippies, read on. We're just looking for fairness, equity, and a serious hope for our future. If you think the protesters are in the wrong place, think again. Unless they are bothering the rich, the rich aren't going to complain to their underlings in the Capitol.
Also note that the author, Hunter  from The Daily Kos, is directing this toward political pundits from the media. Again, Rick didn't write this -- he's just reposting it.
(The views expressed are only those of Rick and do not represent those of other members of Moonpie.)




Occupy Wall Street is not difficult to understand
by Hunter

Here's a helpful tip: if you are a political pundit and you still don't know what Occupy Wall Street stands for, you are an idiot. If you purport to make your living analyzing the political landscape, or from parsing the effectiveness of various political messages, or if you write columns explaining what the American people want based on your deep, intimate knowledge of what the American people want, but you still, after a month, cannot quite grasp what these uncouth people in the streets are going on about, then you are categorically bad at your job. If you find yourself tuttering and tsking over how the protestors are merely a group of fringe figures, and you do not notice or care to notice the polls expressing wide support for the message, you are a fraud.

It really is that simple, at this point. No supposed "pundit" should be able to say with a straight face that they cannot possibly understand what message the protestors have. Here, I will give it to you in a mere few words: the Occupy Wall Street movement is a protest against rampant income inequality, against corporate excesses, and against a government rigged to protect and worsen both.

It is a protest specifically against the members of the financial sector, who were bailed out at taxpayer expense after wrecking the economy with self-perpetuated fraudulent schemes against one another, and who have learned not one damn thing from the experience, but instead have continued on their merry, privileged way. They assert themselves to be masters of the universe, and pay themselves accordingly, and whether the world they supposedly run hums like clockwork or burns to the ground makes no particular difference to them.

It is a protest against the perceived entitlement of the wealthy, for whom any slight economic injury (say, from taxes) is seen as an apocalyptic event, and for whose sake austerity must be imposed on every other group, from schoolchildren to the elderly, from the poor, the sick and the comfortably middle-class alike.

It is a protest against a government that seems to exist solely to meet the needs of wealthy and corporate benefactors, a government that cannot competently even execute routine functions anymore, but which is instead dedicated single-mindedly to the premise of cutting taxes on the rich and balancing the books on the poor.

It is not a protest against TARP; it is a protest against the failure of TARP to achieve even a stick of reform in exchange for the body blow dealt to the rest of us. It is not a protest against political parties, but against a system that has been so corrupted that the needs of the one percent are considered of greater merit than that of the entire rest of the population.

It is not "against corporations." That is so wrong as to be stupid. It is against the excesses of corporations, most specifically corporate corruption and a whole passel of things that ought to be called corruption, if we were being the slightest bit honest about it. Reasonable environmental protections for communities should outweigh shareholder demands to make a tenth of a cent more profit on any given quarter. Corporations that raid the pension funds of their workers should be considered criminal enterprises, not "creative thinkers."

It is not "against the rich." It is against the rich being catered to at the expense of every other citizen, and against wealth through parasitic behavior that does not a damn thing for the larger world, save make it worse, and especially against wealth protected by implicit guarantee on the backs of the rest of us, when precious few of the rest of us can claim similar government attention. It is about the unemployment crisis going unmet, being absolutely ignored, in fact, so dedicated government is to instead pursuing whatever policy would best serve an excruciatingly narrow band of financial elites.

It is pro-worker, in that it is a reaction against workers being treated as increasingly disposable, abusable commodities by the companies that employ them. It is neither pro-tax or anti-tax; it is against the disparity of treatment between rich and poor, when it comes time to pay those taxes. It demands a voice in government, and a voice in the punditry that struggles so painfully to grasp what the little people are going on about. It is afraid of future financial disaster, and even more afraid that another disaster will be met with yet another surrender to whichever elite crooks might cause it, pampered souls who gambled the fate of entire economies with the sure knowledge that they could simply charge the losses to the rest of us, if the worst was to happen.

Above all, perhaps, it is an objection to the notion that corporations do not just have rights and privileges equal to people, but in fact have rights superior to the rights of people, rights which are appended on in the name of free enterprise and seen by lawmakers and courts alike as being far more obvious and inviolate than those of you or me. It is this treatment—this premise that corporations are super-people that are entitled to more government access, immunity to normal laws, the "right" of profit even if it injures someone else, the "right" to author their own regulations or to dispatch those they find too onerous—that is the most objectionable. Corporations have been declared to have the unlimited right to meddle in elections, unencumbered, as a matter of free speech, but the same right of free speech finds a phalanx of limits set on it early on, when it comes to camping out in a public park or marching on a public street.

The message is very straightforward. It is not difficult to understand. If it is difficult to understand, or if it seems like socialism or communism to you, or if these pleas for basic fairness in the way governments treat their citizens sound radical to your ears, then the fault is yours and yours alone. Those demands were not outrageous in previous decades, so demands to return to similar policies can hardly be considered radical now. If you have your head so very far up a rich man's ass that you think "not a penny more charged to the rich because that would be socialism" is a reasonable statement, but "repair financial regulations whose dismantling helped lead to economic collapse" is in fact the more crazy of the two statements, then there is no hope for you. Perhaps you are merely an oligarch.

So a declaration: no more dawdling columns explaining that you cannot possibly understand what the Occupy Wall Street protestors are upset about. No more sniveling that they have no concrete grievances, or can propose no concrete solutions, when people around you can easily tick off a list of both. No more throwing around words like radical, so dull from overuse as to be rendered mere parody, or burping out intellectually incompetent uses of the word Marxist merely because your worldview is has been so ideologically narrowed in the last decade that you consider anything that might bring a speck of good to anyone to be a communist-inspired plot.

The penalty for breaching any of these is to be exposed as an ignorant, hollow fool. You cannot claim to have your pulse on the mood of the public if you cannot figure out the very simple, very consistent message sent by a now-nationwide group of that public. The founding name itself, Occupy Wall Street, should give you a damn fine idea right off the bat as to the target and goals of those involved. The movement has higher public approval ratings than the tea party. It continues to spawn related efforts worldwide. If you feel ideologically bound to ignore it, fine, but claiming you do not understand it only brands you as a mind too easily taxed to be of much use in the public sphere.

If you understand the grievances of the Occupy movement, feel free to either engage or rebut those complaints. If you do not understand them, then go away, for you are too lazy, too self absorbed, or too ignorant to do the job.

Moonpie Tucson visits Rocky mtn Moonpie REVISED

It's been a while since I've posted any pictures from the Moonpie books, so in honor of Martin's recent visit, here's a golden oldie from back in the day when Martin, Dave, and Greg worked for Texas International. The fact that they worked for it has nothing to do with its current state of defunctededness. Pictured here is the page with an actual logo patch thing from one of the guys' uniforms. I think Vance probably stole it from them.

Holy shit!!! It's Martin!!! And yes, Sherri, (sp?) we ARE old!!

RIP.......

British Indy car driver Dan Wheldon died today after a horrible crash in Vegas during the Indy car 300. This young man had just signed a deal to drive full time and would have been one of the sports most magnificent drivers. Moonpie tips our hat to this outstanding driver and young man.

Officer Obie

This is a photo of the (apparently very real) Officer Obie of Stockbridge, Mass. If you've never listened to Arlo Guthrie's song "Alice's Restaurant," you're missing something special. Just be sure to set aside about a half-hour to listen -- it's a long long song.

Here's a little snippet....

"After the ordeal, we went back to the jail. Obie said he was going to put us in the cell. Said, "Kid, I'm going to put you in the cell, I want yourwallet and your belt." And I said, "Obie, I can understand you wanting my wallet so I don't have any money to spend in the cell, but what do you want my belt for?" And he said, "Kid, we don't want any hangings." I said, "Obie, did you think I was going to hang myself for littering?" Obie said he was making sure, and friends Obie was, cause he took out the toilet seat so I couldn't hit myself over the head and drown, and he took out the toilet paper so I couldn't bend the bars roll out the - roll the toilet paper out the window, slide down the roll and have an escape. Obie was making sure, and it was about four or five hours later that Alice (remember Alice? It's a song about Alice), Alice came by and with a few nasty words to Obie on the side, bailed us out of jail, and we went back to the church, had a another thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat, and didn't get up until the next morning, when we all had to go to court."

Ex-wives No. 102 / America's Got Talent

Penelope was one of the more talented of my ex-wives. She's just showing off here -- With cuffs on she could also roll a J, bathe the dog, and bake an apple-brown-betty that would knock your socks off! Unfortunately, the cuffs were rarely just the result of some kinky fun and more often had been applied by Officer Dougie of the RCMP.
Image from this isn't happiness™ (America’s got talent, TTCT)

Steve Jobs tribute. Here's to you, Steve. One of the crazy ones.

I guess I really should post (or repost) a tribute to Apple Computer founder Steve jobs. When I first got into using computers, it was with Macs at design college. The first computer I owned was a Mac. I worked and played on Macs for the majority of my career as a graphic designer. In my house today there are, 4 iPods, 2 iPads, 2 iPhones, and an iMac.
I think if it weren't for Steve Jobs (and Woz)'s vision, we probably wouldn't be looking at blogging and graphic design and the internet the way we do today.
Thank God someone had the balls to think different -- and make it commercially successful.

Trident's Hole? UTK?

One of the two. This was a typical scene in the Albuquerque foothills pre-1983ish. Back when it was still a wild and wooly wast(ed)land that the cops were too afraid (or apathetic) to come bust. Once the yupsters started building houses, the place got cleaned up some.
Of course this isn't an actual photo from those days. This shot is from a group of enthusiasts who get together on weekends and recreate horrific moments from the 70s for the tourists.

Happy 80th birthday George.....

George Jones turned 80 the other day and I'm glad I got to see the day.

This cat had more than 300 songs on the radio and albums over the years. Who can forget songs like: The one I loved back then, A good year fort the roses, A picture of you without me, Choices, Cry baby cry, D-I-V-R-C-E,Golden ring, The Grand tour, He stopped loving her today, Hotter than a two dollar pistol, If drinking don't kill me, Jonesy, Louisiana man, A picture of me without you and my favorite, Who's gonna fill there shoes, written by T. Seals and M.D. Barnes.

Yes, Moonpie pays tribute to all sorts of writers and singers. Happy birthday George.

I must learn to read.....more..

Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer has won the 2011 Nobel prize for his writings. The Swedish Acadamy said it recognized the 80-year-old poet "because, through his consdensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality."

I have made this post in an effort to show the West Coast offices of Moonpie that I can be cerebral at times. I have great respect for those who can write.

"Waking up is a parachute jump from dreams. Free of the suffocating turbulence the traveler sinks toward the green zone of morning. "

Someday, this post will be about Ricks writings. Nice job Tomas.

1%er or 99%er?

Remember when being a 1% was a badge of honor (at least among bikers)? Now the 1%ers are the corporate fat cats.

Join the 99% who make up the rest of us....
Find out about Occupy Wall Street and post your own message!

Or click here to see Rick's message.

Wheels on the bus go round and round...

Janet got her CDL and is now driving a bus in St. Marys county. My child bride has done well and I'm proud of her. I have plans to install a Weiland blower and a NOS system after she gets her first paycheck.

I... am Caine...

I wish I had the time to go back and watch this whole series.

i forget....

there was something i was going to say.... i dont even know what picture this is....

Ahh, yes. I wanted to say that I'm enjoying the hell out of playing with all these photography apps for my phone. I mean, this is nothing special here, just a random shot, but, damnit, photography is FUN again!

Cheers from the Patio

Sent from my iPad

2011 Emmy Awards...

Finally, Vance received an Emmy for his work on Lonesome Crow. Two years of filming in New Mexico with Robert Duvall and a host of others, Vance's dreams have finally been seen. The 38 hour mini-series came to the T.V. screen despite protests from animal rights activists. Tonight he received the highest praise by the public and his fellow actors, the elusive Emmy.
"It has been a long journey and I finally made it. All the hard work was worth every minute away from home and my family. At the last minute there were protests that my outfit was not authentic enough to garner an award. They said something about my cowboy hat not being completely accurate." Robert and I have plans for another made for television movie called Lonesome buzzard, this would be our triumphant triple crown in the "Lonesome" series. I'd like to thank my employer, Placido, for letting me take time off to make the movie. Meanwhile, Rick's career is about to skyrocket with the release of his new novel.....stay tuned.

I must say......

When you get right down to where the rubber meets the road, this guy is killer, I must say. This is how my thought process goes all day long. Wow, it's not easy living like this.

Ex-Wives (A real one!)

In an old box of old photos (The box was from a pair of Puma running shoes! How old is that?!)from my dad, I came across this photo of me and my first wife, Gayle. I think we had this taken while we still lived near Tacoma, but it may have been someplace in New Mexico. I must have been relatively fresh out of the Army, though long enough to have grown the beard-- which took a while to do in those days. Unless she actually worked in a brothel, and I was a riverboat gambler, this is probably circa 1983.

I'm not sure why my dad had it, but I'm kind of glad he did.

Some day I'll tell the story of the first "date" Gayle and I had.

Moonpie East coast remembers....

I will not post the photos I took on 9/12/01 of the Pentagon smoking or the armed guards at the entrance to Georgetown in the District of Columbia. I will not recount the smells, sights and sounds that surrounded the Washington, DC metro area that day. I will not engage in the argument of who was hurt worse- DC, New York of the folks in PA.
All that the East Coast Moonpie office will say is, "If you are reading this right now, be thankful that you are alive."

Many suffered that day in 2001. Many are suffering today, on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Be safe, love your neighbor and never forget.

we remember... hell, how could we forget?

On this 10th anniversary of the day things changed I want to say something awesome or poignant or bittersweet or, at the least, encouraging.

But I can't. I got nothing.

Ironic since I study 9/11 literature and am working on a novel about that day.

All I can say is that some sad, crazy, Man's-inhumanity-to-Man shit happened that day, the likes of which we'll likely see again.

I guess instead of Patriot day, we should call it "The Week we all got along Day."

We've gotten our revenge sevenfold. Let's try to get back that spirit of cooperation we had early on. Let's get back to the feeble advances against racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia that we had made before 9/11.

If we can't do that, then the terrorists really WILL have won.

Jobs we've had...

Rick joined the Army, hoping to get into the Queen's Own McKamikaze RegimentI got booted out for being afraid of heights.

Oh, hell. OK, here are a couple more Monty Python Scotsman-themed sketches.

Jobs we've had...

Our friend, Jim Jones, joined the navy after viewing this advertisment.

The Larch...

There's a reason why Vance got into the landscape business and not Rick. Here we see a young Rick, Martin, and Jonesy being interviewed for their tree identification skills. Rick and Martin can't even say their names right! "Uh-Rick" and Michael".... Jeeze.

The Cottonwood.....

When selecting a tree, make a informed decision about using the correct tree. ALWAYS consult a expert.

What...me worry?

I rarely let the economy worry me, but I thinks we might be on a slippery slope. The wife and I have not taken any trips this summer and we don't have any plans for the near future. I know this is the case for many more people than myself or the wife. So, hang in there and smoke 'em if ya got 'em.

Baltimore Indy car race...big success

Will Powers drove to an amazing Victory in Baltimore's first Indy car Grand Prix.

The stage was set, the crowds were massive and the weather was perfect. There was only one problem with the race, they wouldn't let me enter my race car. Something about my car not passing the Tech Inspection. Hells bells man, my stuff is as good or better than these high class automotive open wheel super cars!

I was so pissed off that I took to the streets of Baltimore (much to the dismay of local law enforcement) and drove straight to Polock Johnny's for a brew and a brawt. Nothing like an ice cold Natty Bo on Labor day weekend, hon.