Threshold of Geezerdom

Yesterday I applied for social security, or socialist insecurity as some call it. It was amazingly easy considering the government is involved. I did it on line in about 15 minutes. But Uncle Sam is infamous for screwing up my records so we'll see if this continues to go smoothly or if I'm headed for a great adventure.

What has this to do with John Lennon? Nothing. I believe yesterday was the anniversary of his birth and I wanted to acknowledge it.

Another Meme Project

From Rick Robinson's blog comes this meme. The answers are titles of books I've read this year (authors in parentheses).

I am: THE LAST DOG SOLDIER (Joseph A. West)

I will never be: FRISCO FILLY (Jon Sharpe)

I fear: GALLOWS (Bob Randisi)

My best friend is: THE PAINTED WOMEN (Chad Calhoun)

What’s the weather like? MURDER IN THE AIR (Bill Crider)

Best Advice: YOU NEVER KNOW WITH WOMEN (James Hadley Chase)

I’ve never been to: MYSTERY RANCH (Max Brand)

Favorite form of transport: DEAD MAN'S SADDLE (Jon Sharpe)

I’ll never fit in at: NEVADA (Burt Arthur)

How I’d like to die: NO NICE GIRL (Perry Lindsay)

You and your friends are: TROUBLE IN TOMBSTONE (Richard S. Wheeler)

Thought of the day: PARDON MY BODY (Dale Bogard)

Your soul’s present condition: TRIP HOME TO HELL (Jack Bickham)

Miscellaneous Garbage

The Mariners lost 101 games this year. Hey, Joe Torre, want a job?

I won $204 yesterday at the Muckleshoot Casino. $160 on one 25-cent bet at a slot machine. I gave each of my girls $100 and kept the rest.

I have somewhere between 25 and 27 work days left. I had a cold last week and had to kill two sick days, so my count is off and with what I'll accrue between now and the end of the year, it'll be tricky making my Adios date.

October is zipping along and I'm eager for it to be over. I especially look forward to Friday, which is my holiday for Columbus Day.

The image of Homicide Hostess has nothing to do with this post. I just like it.

George Blanda, RIP

I've just learned that George Blanda has died. I was lucky enough to be an Oakland Raiders fan in the early 1970s where Blanda was a backup quarterback and place kicker. Whenever he came on the field I was certain he would pull out a victory in the last seconds, and I was rarely wrong. He played pro football until he was a month shy of his 49th birthday, and had to be pulled from the team kicking and screaming even then. What a hell of a guy. You can see a clip about him HERE

Homage to Republic

I wrote a short essay about the only Republic serial I saw as a kid for Laurie Powers' excellent blog. You can find it HERE. If you haven't bookmarked Laurie's blog, do so. It's consistently excellent and interesting.

Countdown Interrupted

Goldurnit, I had to stay home today with the beginnings of a cold. I hated to burn the sick leave, but I'm hoping I might nip this before it becomes a real monster cold. I'll probably spend the weekend feeling miserable. Goldurnit.

I think this means I still have 29 days to go before retirement. Work days, that is.

My illo today shows Senator C. Estes Kefauver in a coonskin cap. Estes was famous for his committee's public inquiry into organized crime and he was from Tennessee, as was Davy Crockett.

29 Days To Go

I hope my numbers are right in this Days To Go countdown. It seems to change depending on how I count them.

We're playing war games at work and the way things are going we might as well surrender and get it over with. Quel farce.

I need to get to bed early tonight. I'm reading Mississippi Vivian, by Bill Crider and Clive Wilson, as my bedtime book and it's keeping me up late. I was a zombie today. I'd like to be a bit more lively tomorrow.