Medical Marijuana, Maher Mayhem, & More!

So as of the day I'm writing this, September 11th, I am "legal" to buy medical marijuana. I celebrated by finishing off the last of my "illegal" dope. But as I was leaning out the window, overlooking Hyde, and blowing smoke out, an older man across the street, middle-Eastern (irony alert!), stopped from walking up Hyde towards Sutter to look across the street where it seemed he looked right at my window/me.

So I just stood there, looking around, and of course assuming he's a terrorist because Rush says he fits the profile, and blah blah blah, before he slowly starts to walk off, but he keeps pausing to look across the street, and of course I could just be paranoid, but it did seem like he was looking at me/my window.

But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. :)


He turned east up Sutter, and went (skulked!) around the building on that corner, but I waited to see if he would pop back around to try and "catch" me or whomever he was gawking at. I decided, if he did that, I'd have to call the FBI on him.

But seriously, what's sad is, if I were someone like, say, Peter Krause in Civic Duty, I could probably make a big deal out of it. Which is just gross. Awful movie, BTW--and not just because of the stereotyping; I was actually embarrassed for Peter Krause. Anyway, as the movie does show very well, tho, this country is still very, very ill--despite Obama's optimistic speech.

Like with medical marijuana. I know for a fact that it helps me with my glaucoma--as well as the band that's still around my eye. And, also, lately, it has helped me from sliding into too deep of a depression worrying about Kyle.

But somehow, it's preferable to "medicate" those symptons with either chemicals in my eyes on a daily basis, and then Xanax or Paxil or Zoloft, blah blah blah--rather than something that grows naturally. I mean, I don't get it.

And, luckily, for all of its other problems, I'm fortunate enough to live in a state that allows for it. It's ludicrous that the Republicans can't get behind this coz then they can help control how it's taxed. And of course it'd bring in a buttload of money, and seriously curtail violence here and in Mexico over the trade. I mean, honestly, what century are we living in?

Why are we letting, why did we ever let, a slack-jawed, dimwitted, electorate outmanuever "us?" (i.e., the 70% of the country that's NOT crazy--although I think Bill Maher might be generous using that percentage figure; see link at end).

Yeah, Obama won, and maybe he'll get something done on health care, but where's the big symbolic gesture that could be made, that would cost nothing but a "stamp of approval" from him or an executive order? I'm not even suggesting it had to be in support of legalizing marijuana or gay marriage; I'm just saying that moments like this in history don't come around that often.


And the moment never proves to be more important than the follow-through. I mean, how could it? If he wanted to embrace the idea that he came in facing as great a challenge as FDR, then he should have been better prepared to move like FDR did when he took office--to immediately put the Republicans on the defensive reacting to policy change announcements, drafts of legislation, executive orders, bully puplit speaking, etc.


And I'm only angry because of how badly--how very badly--Bush responded/took all the universal goodwill felt toward the United States after 9/11 and not only squandered it, but beat it to a pulp and fed it to jackals and crows. Word.

Freaky coincidence. The day after I wrote the above, a friend forwarded me the following video--Maher said it almost as well as I did! :) Click here.

Scum of the Earth: Baby Boomers & Tourists

Okay, down chicos, I'm just playin' - a little. :)

One thing I don't miss about living in Petaluma (coming soon: the top ten things I miss about Petaluma--as soon as I can think of 10!) and working in Marin, is/was the Marin & Sonoma Co. drivers. NO concept whatsoever of the usage of the left/passing lane (psssst, I just gave you a hint!), WAY too brake heavy--hello? let up on the accelerator and you'll slow down, as well!

Most all of them generally drive in one of two modes: Timid and Panic.

I'm generalizing, of course, but the other thing I noticed about the drivers "up there," is the bad ones were all like late 50s and up--you know, the effing Baby Boomers (of which I am, admittedly, on the "cusp" of). Either that, or the driver was talking on his/her cell--because, for some reason, that law doesn't apply to them--and despite their swerving and 30 mph driving on the highway, oh no, it doesn't distract them.

Confession: I have to admit this is one time I hope there is a heaven and hell and that there is a special "level" in hell for those who have caused an accident while messing with their cell. It'd be on the level below mean and hateful customers, but above Dubya. Word.

Anyway, the other thing these old drivers do is OHMYGODITSASLIGHTBENDINTHEROADIBETTER SLOWDOWNANDSLAMONTHEBRAKES


Which, of course, provides you with the opportunity to see the truly skilled ones incorporate timidity and panic at the same time!

Or substitute "slight rise or hill" for "bend in the road" above. Repeat.


I mean, I know people get more cautious when they're older, but can't they be cautious out of my way? Dammit, why won't they just get out of my way? Discuss.


So having escaped those old people in Marin/Sonoma, I now get the joy of "interacting" with tourists. Driving tourists. The movie would be, "Driving Miss Davey Crazy."

The two modes that the tourists drive in, are, of course, Timid and Panic.

Can't we just stop them on the outskirts of the City, find out what all they were going to do, what level hotel they were planning on staying in, etc., and then just take the equivalent amont of money from them, give them a few t-shirts, and then they go back home??


Poll time!


J/K

Back in the City

So "Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom!" relates primarily to me being back in San Francisco (after a 7-year hiatus) and living alone for the first time in 7 years, with my son Kyle getting his own place the same weekend (due, admittedly, in no small part to vigorous pushing by me).

And while I'm totally psyched to be back in the City, I do miss that boy already, so let's hear it for "Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom!"

The title also pays homage to Gary Larson, of "Far Side" fame, who I know has a cartoon with either this exact line or one that is VERY close in meaning. Anyway, I didn't know until I just googled him that "The Far Side" started in the San Francisco Chronicle. Click below for that bio page I found--this is on the beta version of NNDB, which could turn out to be a cool/useful site; also on that bio, fans of his cartoons will surely smile when they see what Laron's parents' names are! :)

http://www.nndb.com/people/281/000022215/

Finally, the title of the blog ties in with my general cynicism regarding the way America is run these days. The fact that we have the Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom! to re-elect Dubya is ironic, at best.

Anyway, I wanted to start this blog with an obervation/question. I'm doing this blog partly to be trendy and I've always thought it made sense since I like to write. You know, write stuff like sense since. But I also have been VERY lax in keeping up any semblance of a personal journal, which I used to do regularly and highly recommend not only for its therapeutic properties, but for your own amusement years later. Trust me on this one: no matter how boring you think your life is right now, check your journal in ten years and you'll be like, "WTF?" Word.

Okay, but my actual observation is this: I'm kinda thinking my experience with living in so many different cities/states is a little unique--trying to make myself feel special. But then you always hear about how mobile this country is. But then again you hear that weird statistic about 75% of people dying within 10 miles of where were born.

So I'd like to hear back from people about how many places they've lived--not actual homes, mind you, just cities/states. I'd also be curious to know how unique you think you are in this regard; or how typical.

Also have a little poll so we can see what actually is typical. Please share this with as many folks as possible to see what kind of breakdown we get.

Anyway, I'm also thinking that I just love city life, and that there will be some really cool goings on and doings for me to yap about. And if no one else ends up reading it, at least I get something to go "WTF?" over in about 10 years. :)

So here's a link to the poll and a cool site if you're interested in doing polls. For some reason, I can't get the actual poll imported here like they say you can, but then, I'm probably doing something wrong and am too lazy to figure out what.

http://www.micropoll.com/akira/mpview/644733-195126


COMING SOON: An old man and his terrier! Or is it schnauzer? PLUS: a threesome from some "furren" place!!