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Ah Potato or is it Potatoe?

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Today I decided to write about something off of my normal track.  I love my country and as so I am deeply concerned about this presidential election.  The news is full of constant arguing between Obama and Clinton’s corners.  This tends to dilute and hide the issues that we all should concern ourselves with.  More focus on how to resolve job loss in the US, illiteracy, poverty and disaster recovery to areas that have been devistated by natural disasters seem to me to be of more importance than slandering each other.  I am perplexed at the moment as to which way I will vote come election time, but right now I feel like it is going to be an election to choose the lesser of all evils.  Who will do the least harm to this country should be in our minds.

I have started to review, in more depth, articles I find more off of the beaten path.  They tend to be about the speeches made by the candidates.  I received an email that talked quite a bit about Obama’s mistakes and turn-a-round statements.  Here is the article : Barack Potatoe Obama
It tends to parallel Obama’s faux pas to those made by Dan Quayle and point out how the media jumps on McCain’s age for his mistakes but raise Obama up as “Captain Competent.”

I don’t know who to believe these days, but I am tending to lean towards voting as they did in a movie that I liked quite a bit.  It was called Brewster’s Millions and I want to vote for

“None of The Above”!

How Are You Going To Vote?!?

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Whew!  We Made It Through Number One Daughter!

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Yup that is correct!  Our oldest daughter graduated from college on May 18th with a degree in Integrated Marketing and Communication.  Now what the heck is that you ask?  So did and do I to this date.  All I know is that she has landed herself with a Bachelor of Science Degree from The Park School at Ithaca College.  That means that she went to a prestigious school for landing a job in the fields of marketing, advertising, public relations and television and film!  What does that do for our gal you say….

Well that means that she has landed herself an internship at a moderate sized PR, (Public Relations), firm in NYC.  Thats right, our country bumpkin is going to be taking a bite out of the Big Apple this summer!  Unfortunately for us that meant she was heading off to Gotham exactly 1 week after graduation day!!  Oh sure don’t stress the rents out at all.  Just give us the shortest time to pull together everything needed for a Grad Party in 3 1/2 days, as we returned home Tuesday evening and had to have the party on that Saturday, May 24th, as daughter dearest had to head to NY on Sunday Morning since her internship commenced on Tuesday.

Well this is Tuesday and she is in NYC at her new job and I am here typing so that means that we all made it through!! I have to tell you though that I did have my doubts a few times during the preliminaries of the party and send off.  What do I mean by this you query?  Well, let us just say that my love and better half whom I rely upon more than you can ever imagine got nailed with one of the most horrific of migraines that I have ever had the misfortune to see anyone ever come down with!!!  It was so terrible that she was forced to stay in bed for the majority of Friday and most of the morning on Saturday in an effort to loose the headache, nausea, temperature, hot and cold sweats as well as total loss of strength!  It was so bad that I had to call the doctor on Friday evening and disturb him on his off hours, thank the big guy upstairs that I have the Doc’s personal cell phone number on speed dial because of my problems.  After relaying all of the symptoms and things to him he called in some prescriptions for her and it was off to the local pharmacy to get the all necessary healing pills!!

So Saturday comes around and it is time for the festivities to begin and where are the Mrs. and myself?  Why at the grocery store where else would we be, at the party awaiting the arrival of our guests you say?  Nope we are all geared up and running on full speed like crazy people trying to get the last minute forgotten items we needed to have to lets just say cool the beverages and cook the food!!!  MHM we waited a bit to long to get them so we were late to our own party!  I must say however that when we did arrive we pulled it all together and a wonderful time was had by all!
Tune in next time for as photo montage of the festivous grandeous!!

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Can You See Me Now?

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Well I knew it would come one day, but who would a thunk it would be so soon!  The eye doctor had told me that I had fast growing cataracts caused by steroids that I take to keep my asthma under control.  In New York the doctor decided that I could go without having them removed as long as I could see and they weren’t really bothering me too much.  All was well and good.  No in Michigan I went to have the eyes checked as I was getting more frequent headaches and eye pain as well as occasional blurring vision.  The verdict …. have them removed.  First thought—YIKES!!!

SO I prepared myself to have the surgery expecting as things usually go to have to wait two to three weeks.  Little did I know the doc was talking in days not weeks!  Well the day comes to be at the outpatient surgery center at the crack of 8 am and the nerves are going faster then the body is moving.  I get to the center and its zip right into the pre-op area to get put into one of these gowns, but at least if I were to go I was able to keep my pants and boots on so it wouldn’t be that embarrassing.  Now I lie down on the gurney and they check the vitals, name rank and serial number, which eye as only 1 gets done at a time. and the numbing eye drops begin.  After about 20 minutes of numbing drops and staff introductions it is into the OR for the slice and dice of the old eye lens and in with the new.  In the OR I’m given more numbing drops and an IV cocktail to calm me down for the operation.  Here I am thinking that I’ll be out cold for this, but unbeknownst to me you need to only be in a twilight condition.  This is so you have some control over your eye muscles.  So the doc starts the water flowing to the eye to keep it moist and lubricated and they have the speculum keeping the eye lids spread wide open. Then its slice and a sonic blast to the lens and then they suck it out.  Then they place the new one in and use the water to help set it in the right spot.  After a few minutes, about 25 to 30 minutes the doc says look up, look down, look right and finally look left.  Then its insert the antibacterial goop and you hear those lovely words… OK it looks great take him to the recovery area.

So you breathe the longest, deepest best deep breath you’ve ever had and next thing you know your wheeled over to an area in the prep room where your better half is waiting and they give you some crackers and juice and tell you to hold the cotton ball over the place where you just had the IV yanked out.  Then with one last check of the vitals and a quick change you receive the parting gift of new meds to put into your eye 4 to 6 times a day, the new “Old fogey” glasses, as my daughter and wife called them, the directions and signs to watch for trouble and the dos and do nots for the next month or so, you make the next appointment for the following day and it is homeward bound only to get there and pass out, on and off, for the majority of the day. 

I have to admit that once you get the first one done it is really awkward until the second one gets done!  Thankfully all went well for the first one and perhaps tomorrow I’ll recant the saga of eye number 2 and what transpired until that one was completed.

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Here Cometh the Tax Man!!!

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Ah yes ‘tis that most beloved time of year for us rulers of the realm!!  NOT!!!  Even us elite must file with the supreme lord and master, The IRS!!  Yup that is correct I was ensnared for the past few weeks fumbling my way through all of these confarned receipts, w-2s 1099 INT, DIV, Rs …etc!!  All just trying to finish and get them mailed by the 15th of the month and send them off to the Infernal Revenue Suckers!! 

I thought that this year it would be nice and simple.  We started an envelope for all the receipts we collected during 2007 and continuously put them in it.  As all the forms came in we added in to the envelope and I even went as far as to purchase one of those illustrious programs to be my aide de camp.  HA I say!  Ha!  After hours of questions from the stupid thing it was finally time to enter my…  whoops hold on,  “Dad can you do my taxes for me?!”  “Mine too!!  ” And don’t forget you have to do the business as well Dear!” Oy Vey I say!  So…
After I finish doing them for the little minions and then getting roped into doing them for my father-in-law and his wife, I trudged forward with the business and then my personal taxes.  All in all what should have taken I would estimate about a week at the most ended up being a good 3 month ordeal!!!  Thank God for the reliability of the previous King and his wisdom, yup Dad sure was a BIG help, I wouldn’t have ever been able to get Our taxes done in time!!  Finally running the review on them in the program and finding no errors, I decided to do it the easy way and electronically file my returns. Push enter and off they go!  Yeah right!!  Error, Error you can not file electronically because you have a $0.00 amount on line 8 million which cannot be a zero, it must be a minimum of $1.00. Well what the heck !?!  SO back to the old drawing board, pull the papers and look at the documentation that supports line 8 million ans see that it is in fact $0.00!! NOW WHAT!!  Yup its break out the envelope and get the pen start signing and folding and sealing and off to the post office we go!!  Hooray for us of they.. Nope not yet what was it I read?  Oh yes “make certain you send your taxes in Certified Mail.  This way the IRS accepts the taxes as being received on the day of mailing and if they do get lost as long as you have that little piece of paper with your receipt you are in good steads!!!

NOW WE WAIT!!!

Any day from 2 weeks to 3 months a we will get our refund!!  Hmm that doesn’t seem right?  No deadline for them to get them back to us?  Oh yeah right hold them to task!  I don’t think so!!!

  All I can say is I hope you Finished Your Taxes ON TIME!!

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Ready Set Lets Get Cooking!!

Monday, March 10th, 2008

OK so I made you wait long enough here they are once and for all!  Yup that is right!  They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, so here are Tens of thousands of words for you about Benihana Cooking by your’s truly!  The King! wink  Yeah yeah I’ve been a bit lax in posting up the pictures so here goes nuttin!!  At my station I was honored to have my younger daughter, ,  our “Voted On Our Island” daughter and her Highness The Queen, ( who hates pictures so naturally is not in this one).
Soon the fun will start!    Any Day Now!!
I’m moving now!! See my hands are a blur!!
DO you think they like my Chicken Fried Rice?  Now for the Shrimp Appetizer!

Unfortunately resulting from my Giant stature in a Japanese restaurant, I am unable to flip and catch the shrimp tails without decapitating myself on the grill hood!!
Now let us move on to the meal! Wait I think I see a volcano forming! Yes yes I see it!  Whoa Check Out that one its A Smoker!! Whoops I forgot this is the NON-SMOKING Section!! Sorry!! wink   Let’s not forget the main dish…MMMM Steak!!
The Finished Product!!
Finally I get to FEAST! “Yum-Mo” as Rachel Ray would say!

All in all a GREAT TIME was had by everyone!  It was an experience that I will personally never forget!  Kudos MY Queen!! You out did yourself to find me this one! cheese

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Can He Cook, OR Is He Just Another Ruler?

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

Well the Queen thought that I should try something different for a change of pace. So, as a special gift I was given a chance to try my hand as a real Chef for a day.Or at least a chef in a restaurant for my family. 

Just after New Years my wife told me that she was able to secure me a place in a special program that was being offered by one of the Benihana Restaurants that we eat at.  It was a chance to be a Teppanyaki Chef . grin  The gift included a 2 1/2 hour training course on Day 1 and then on a second day you served a meal to your guests at the restaurant.  SO here it is day one and I am as nervous as one could possibly be, confused , or so I thought.  As usual, we arrive as most New Yorkers do, Fashionably Late!  At least I wasn’t the last one to arrive and the session hadn’t begun as of yet.  Shortly after we all were there we were brought to a back dining area consisting of 5 hibachi grill pit/dining tables.  We all were seated at one of these tables and the Grand Master Teppanyaki Chef, Denai, came out and introduced himself and explained a bit about the meal we were going to prepare and the performance that typically accompanies the cooking process.

After the instructions, Denai proceeded to demonstrate the whole process for us from the introduction through the shrimp tail flipping to the volcano onion and finally to the plating of the food.  The only item that was not done was the chicken fried rice. We were informed that this was a difficult task and the chef that would be assisting us on the day of our “performance” would be doing the rice for us.  Also, as a result of insurance reasons, we were spared the tedious process of cleaning the grill surface before, during and after the show!  How great is that!!

Well now it was our turn to try out the whole shebang, and we broke out into groups of 2 at each of the Teppanyaki Tables and awaited our instructors to guide us through the process as we ourselves prepared the meal.  For our test on how well we did….. gulp…. we had to eat what we cooked!!. sick 
As I am sure you have figured out by now, I SURVIVED DAY 1 and MY OWN COOKING!!  cheese  TO BE CONTINUED!!

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The Truth or Not the Truth

Monday, October 8th, 2007

The Truth or Not the Truth that is the Question…

It seems that these days you can’t believe even what the Doctor tells you!  That’s right the Royal Physician hath fibbed to the King!  Well I can not blame the actual physician for the fib, it was actually the Anesthesiologist.  The operation the Doc performed was a beauty,  the healing is going great, except for some stomach pains that just seem to stay with me all the time.  The problem comes from one of those people who think that their SH** DON’T STINK!  I’ll tell you what theirs SURE AS HECK DID!  It was so bad a spraying skunk smells like a fine French Perfume compared to theirs!  Well maybe theirs did too perhaps like Eau De TURD En La Toilette!! 
Here’s the deal…
I was scheduled for my surgery with the normal anestesia process.  The Anesthesiologist comes in to meet me as I await the dreded time of carving.  Well talk about arrogant, loud pompus, better than you person with a major chip on their shoulder, this was her in a nut shell! She was so loud and spoke over everyone else as if the weren’t even in the room.
Tells me everything is good to go and should be no problem.  SO the tension eases and I start to relax just a bit. BIG MISTAKE!!  I get wheeled into the OR only to find out that she now is going to anestatize me by Epidoral in my spine!  YOUCHY OUCHY OOOOOH DOES IT HURT!  I didn’t mind the first two or three attempts, but when it got up to the 9th to 12th times I had it!!  Well they decide to give me a little in the old Oxygen mix and before I knew it it was time for me to wakey wakey!  SO I start to come out of it only to find that I am in the old Crucifix stretch on the OR table.  Boy did that do a number on my right shoulder that got injured in a car accident in 2005.  Well next thing I remember I was in my room telling them I had to use the facilities and was getting a pain in my tummy from having to go.  SO they Scan my bladder and tell me that I have less than 50 CCs of fluid in there so I shouldn’t have to go.  I say well tell it to my tummy it hurts and I have to go.  So they help me from the bed to my “FEET” that I only feel pins and needles for,and proceed to waddle to the Bathroom, only to find out that I pulled a Hansel and Gretel the entire way.  So now they ask me if I can feel my parts and I say some of them, so they ask if I want to stay the night.  Of course I want to be home and say NO. In the meantime I have NO CLUE what they are asking or what is going on from the Medication after effects.  SO its cover up, change clothes and wheel me away bandaged belly, pain med pump and all.  SO we get to the van and now I have to stand up and get into the van——Yeah like that’s gonna happen!!  Well after 3 failed attempts it was call in the reenforcements!!  That’s right my darlings it took 2 security guards, 1 nurse and my wife to help hoist this buttocks up and steady it while I got out of the chair and into the van!!  Hourray its off to the old castle we go!!

We get home I manage to get in the house, get changed and settle into the guest room that my wife and daughter had setup for me.
Ah sleep what a glorious thing it is at that!!  SO I sleep away the majority of that day and into the next barring the trips to the bathroom.

Then it starts!!  The killer headaches, sweats and nausea hit anytime I go from a laying down position to upright.  As the day goes on the pain and all get worse and worse.  SO the wife calls the doctor and gets anti-nausea pills and that does absolutely nothing.  Then the next day it had gotten so bad it is off to the ER!!  DIAGNOSIS——SPINAL FLUID HEADACHES!  How you ask did this occur?  It seems that our most arrogant and pompous Anesthesiologist did it to me by puncturing the membrane in my spinal column on one of her attempts at the Epidural!!  SO heavy pain meds, LOTS and LOTS of Caffeine and 3 wasted days in the hospital the headaches ebb enough for me to go home!!  Yippee!  You see I was lucky that the caffeine worked, for if it didn’t, then they would have to give me a “Blood Patch Epidural”.  What is that you ask – - – well that is when they take your own blood and give you another Epidural so that it can scab over the hole in the membrane and seal the puncture.  Well here is the problem – it’s a Crap Shoot!!  They have to find the one that caused the problem, remember there were 12 attempts that we could count after the fact, who is to say which one caused the problem and there is always the chance that she could puncture the membrane again and then things would be worse!!  Yep it sure was a good thing that the Caffeine worked on this here King!!

Kings Edict: Don’t ever trust a pompous Anesthesiologist especially when they change the game plan!!

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Homage to John Gordon Rosenbauer - 1962 to 2007

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Into my life he did come.
He added some mystery and some fun.
Course and gruff did he appear on the outside,
but gentle and kind hearted was he truly inside.

Hard working, talented and loved by all.
Always there to help you, just give him a call.
Easy to talk to always ready to listen no matter what it might be
Truly no greater friend was there to me.

My world is now saddened and full of sorrow you see
For my friend has now left us, gone to a better place has he.
God has called him to come to His side.
Up to His Kingdom in Heaven the Lords Angels were his guide.


Fear not for he has not left us all alone in our sorrow,
for he is always with us in each and every tomorrow.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
he is the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
he is the soft stars that shine at night.


Do not be selfish and mourn for you loss,
But be gladdened and happy for to a better place did he cross.
In God’s loving arms is he now embraced,
His troubles and woes will no longer need to be faced.


Speaking of us all to God is what he will do.
To ask Our Lord to Shine down upon us and fill us with his Grace.

May you Rest in Peace.

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Darkness Falls Upon Our Realm!!

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

The day was Sunday, August 26, 2007. All seemed to be in good spirits, as good as they can be with a few hundred miles of travelling left before we reach the castle we call home. Yes we were on our way back from the last of the remaining “junk” pickups from the old castle in NY. As we settled into our designated seats aboard our “Beast”, yes the big van, the happy tune of “Sweet Home Alabama” emanates forth from my cell phone.  Commenting to each other how ironic it is that we had spent a good portion of the previous day talking about him,grin , I answer jokingly “Its about time you decide to call us back, we only called you 2 days ago!” Strangely a different voice says “Hello” and asks if this is the Mrs.?” Taken aback, I query as to who was calling using “His” phone. “This is “His” son. Then the surreal takes over. The most unthinkable occurs. To this day I still can’t understand or believe it happened. An eerie darkness settled over our hearts, perhaps one that shan’t ever leave us. The fate-full words were spoken – I am sorry to have to make this type of call and tell you this over the phone, but “My Dad passed away last night.” In utter shock I stammer forth “What- No- Oh MY GOD! It can’t be so!! I AM SO SORRY! We will be there as soon as we can!” gulp
It still hasn’t sunk in all the way. I can not believe he will not be there to talk to anymore. He was my best friend, he was a big part of my life and the one who taught me a great deal. He made me believe in myself and realize that there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it. He help me build confidence in myself and to feel good about me. He was always there when I needed someone to talk to, complain about life to and the first one to tell my good news to and hash out ideas with. He was the first to know that I had met the Lady that would one day be My Queen. He was/will always be my Best Man. I am proud to have known him, to have called him friend, Brother. He will always hold a special place in our hearts and thoughts.

His name – - John Gordon Rosenbauer. Born December 18, 1962 Left this world for a better place August 25, 2007. Please take a moment to view the following link

, In Rememberance of John G Rosenbauer and then say a prayer for him as he ventures forth now into God’s Kingdom.

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Top O’ The Mornin To Ya!!

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

And a Grand Fine Day It ‘Tis!!  I’d be wantin to wish All me fine fair subject the grandest of days and a

! As ‘tis the norm in our fair land will be a visit from the royal parents.  A fine meal of the Irish heritage shall be placed upon our table.  Corned beef and cabbage, boiled taters and carrots shall be the main thoroughfaire.  Last but not least shall be the Soda Bread!! And what a fine bread it did turn out to be!!  The hearty meal passed muster and all had the hearts fill!!  We were even blessed by avisit of the Wee Little People!! We just happened to catch them when they weren’t watchin, so if you look real closely ya might even catch a glimpse ye self!!

‘Twas a grand fine time had by all!!  The only down side was the few hours we spent hackin at the ice coverin the driveway and the walk ways tuckered the Mrs and me out in the biggest way.  Not to mention that the Mrs took a nasty spill, although she maintained all the grace and dignity of her Queenlyness stature!! wink SO once again I say Happiest of St. Patrick’s Day to you all!  P.S> Look quickly and you might be seein a picture of Me self!!

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