Sunday, December 16, 2007

Farewell

Hi All!

This is written by Paul's (WOG) youngest son Andrew.

My dad passed away on November 4th, 2007 at 8:20 p.m.
He died peacefully and lovingly surrounded by his wife and three children.

To the readers: Thank you so much for reading this blog; it was a HUGE part of my father's life.

WOG: YOU WILL BE MISSED!! WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!





Comments are appreciated..

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Malaise

Hi All!

I apologize for not coming up with any posts. They will come back, hopefully.

Health is dreadful and I have zero energy. A trip up the stairs leaves me gassed and needing to sit down.

MRI found a growing mass on the liver, so I got a CT which doesn't tell if it is cancerous. So off to the U of M I go next week for another MRI, bloodwork, and perhaps a biopsy. The way I feel really makes whether it is the big C a moot point.

Suffice it to say that nowadays I am very inactive, sleep a lot and my mind is consumed with worry that this is close to the end.

I'm not ready, but I guess I never will be.

Cheers!

Labels:

Saturday, October 13, 2007

This is Pretty Funny


I hate to resemble one of the cute/funny chain emails one gets from earnest family and friends but this parody of the Republican Convention logo is a laugh, albeit an easy one.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Unweaved and Unraveled

Hi All!

Strange juxtaposition, I know.

Let me explain.

Today, I drove the Bug through the engineering marvel that is called "Unweaving the Weave" which is taking way too long, but the clever detours have already made the 694-35E junction move traffic much better.

Going South on 35E just south of County Road E, one enters a narrow single-lane "chute". The brakes always come on where it starts, but then people drive through the semi-scary no shoulder, concrete barrier restricted detour. Once cars get in the chute, they drive like bats out of hell. Today I was driving in it at only 5 miles over the posted 55 limit only to watch the line of traffic that ahead, for which even anticipated, I had to initially brake, disappear into the distance.

Couldn't catch up and was very comfortable at legal speed.

Then my reckless, hell-raiser self kicked in. I prodded the old soldier to 75mph thru the chicanes. Never caught the crowd, but got a good rush out of it.

As I rejoined normal traffic, the untied lace that had held my "leather wrapped" steering wheel material on, totally unraveled, twisted and caught in the steering column, forcing me to turn hard to break it. That thing has been on since 1975. I am totally depressed. The skinny big wheel feels like crap and it's slippery. I don't think the wrap is replaceable but I am sure going to hit Google to be sure.

Ah well, the poor bug has taken a beating this summer and the paint is flaking and crazing and rust is appearing for the first time in 25 years since I had it restored. It is on the market and I will not get much for it, but I will get my money out of it for sure.

Sort of a metaphor for life: One can unweave and unravel but if one is lucky, one gets the money out of it...or can lose it all.

So it goes.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Hornblower

Hi A11!

My first submission to LookTrueNorth.com has been accepted.

I am capable of much better, but to get my toes wet I launched some excrement toward the wall and it stuck!

Read it here: Wog On True North

Monday, September 10, 2007

Heading True North

Hi All!

An exciting new bog, "Look True North " has just hit the blogosphere with a splash. The best conservative bloggers in Minnesota, if not the whole country have been picked to write for it and I don't doubt that it will be huge.

It's all about collecting the best work of individual bloggers in one site, so one does not have to remember to check many blogs each day.

And they let me in as a contributer.

And I am terrified and it will be awhile before I dare post something. I will be a practice squad guy watching how the pros do it, and if I should happen upon a pearl that others missed, I will venture forth.

It's hard to imagine that I am good enough to run with the big dogs, but darn it, as Al Franken's Stuart Smalley famously said, "You're Good Enough, You're Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like You."

I'm smart enough, and a lot of people really like me. Not sure about being good enough, but I am excited at the prospect of proving even that I am good enough. I haven't been good enough, enough. Here is yet another chance to show my stuff.

Cheers!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Omigod, Not Another Lyric!!!


Hi All!

If I started posting all the lyrics that tell me lifestory I will use up billions of bytes. So, sorry, last one for now...

"Strangers", Ray Davies (Kinks in case you didn't know)

Where are you going I don't mind
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
So where do I go what do I see
I see many people coming after me
So where are you going to I don't mind
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
So I will follow you wherever you go
If your offered hand is still open to me
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
So you've been where I've just come
From the land that brings losers on
So we will share this road we walk
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
'Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
All the things I own I will share with you
If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Holy man and holy priest
This love of life makes me weak at my knees
And when we get there make your play
'Cos soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
In a promised lie you made us believe
For many men there is so much grief
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
And if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

Changing Direction

Hi All!

Man oh boy have I had my head buried in my navel lately?

(and the crowd voices it's enthusiastic agreement)

As an honest politician would tell you, "Never doesn't necessarily mean 'forever'."
CLICK THE PIC - check out the humming birds

So I am taking my personal life pretty much off-line. Heading out for uncharted waters with thoughts unshared.

I have hit a big fork in the road and I need to make some decisions within the constraints of what I have the freedom to decide.

I will still do general topics and tilt a bit back toward politics, 'cos I am an inveterate observer with strong opinions.

I am hoping to be accepted into some heady blogger company on a new website. Pretty exciting.

I need excitement.

I need to work past the many physical and mental pains and suck whatever happiness life still holds for me.

I need people to like me.

I feel like $1,000,000.00 when I hang around with American Legionnaires and fellow Trivia players. It's a high that cannot be replicated by drowning in booze. I have had a lot of trouble balancing that with the old temptation.

Now I am starting to say too much.

A very wise old man who has read my blog religiously told me that he has kept a "secret journal" to pass on to his children when he goes. Thick as a phone book, he says and I believe it. He is a fantastic writer and a sensitive person and I'm sure that journal will be editable into a best selling book once it sees the light of day.

"Paul," he told me, "Don't bare your soul to everyone in the world. It's none of their god damned business."

If things play out the way I wish they wouldn't, this blog will go quiet. The silence will tell volumes.

In the meantime, I will keep posting to this work of love called Wogsblog -- not for anyone, just for me because it is one of the pieces of the puzzle that keeps me going.

Fin

Stop Me if You've Read This Before

Hi all!

"Too Much on My Mind", Ray Davies.

There's too much on my mind,
There's too much on my mind,
And I can't sleep at night thinking about it.
I'm thinking of the time,
There's too much on my mind,
It seems there's more to life than just to live it.

There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can say.
There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can do
About it,
About it.

My thought just weigh me down,
And drag me to the ground,
And shake my head till there's no more life in me.
It's ruining my brain,
I'll never be the same,
My poor demented mind is slowly going.

There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can say.
There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can do
About it,
About it.

There's too much on my mind.

Living in the Past with My Bug

I have been driving the '72 Texas Yellow Bug much more than average this summer.

In 25-some years I have only put a few thousand miles on it.

This morning on the way to Mass I was reminded of a great old Mott the Hoople song which featured the inimitable sounds of a VW engine cranking up, revving and up-shifting and the ratcheting sound of the setting of the parking brake as that sweet, sputtery engine note died off. They got the horn wrong, but otherwise it was and is a great song.

It's called "Drivin' Sister Rock and Roll" and was written by Ian Hunter.

Eight-track machine playing 'Half Moon Bay'
Drivin' in my Volks down on Hamstead Way
Her mother got bust on a 88
And her brother got stuck on my number plate

Hey mister bartender won't you gimme some wine
I gotta get outta town, meet my baby on time
He put five gallons in my petrol tank
You know we just about made it but her breath sure stank yeah

Drivin' sister rock'n'roll
She's got feel on the wheel
Drivin' sister rock'n'roll
She don't make with no brakes

Drivin' sister rock'n'roll
She's an automobeat on the street
Drivin' sister rock'n'roll
She's much too much on the clutch

Drivin' sister rock'n'roll
She got her feet on the wheel
Drivin' sister rock'n'roll
She don't make with no brakes

I said drive, drive, drive, drive
And drive little sister drive
I said drive, drive, drive, drive
And drive little sister, drive on.

Cheers!

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Right Said Fred?


Hi All!

He ain't Reagan, but he's all we got.

The masses are asses and Fred Thompson is a perfect foil for Billary Rodham.

Quick prediction here, write it down. Once elected she will be President Rodham. Bet my life on it, which is a pretty conservative bet.

It's all about charisma, when you get right down to it. Fred has it, the dragon lady don't.

I pine, as so many millions, for another Ronald Reagan. Fred Thompson is not the second coming, but I honestly believe that he could save our country.

With a Queen Bitch at the helm and a lapdog congress, the future would be impossibly bleak.

Cheers!

Fate and Such


Hi All!

I have been pondering fate of late.

Tiny little confluences of innocent actions magnified by circumstances can really make a difference in a life, to say the very least.

I finished 2nd for a Fullbright Scholarship to Germany. The Fate of it was that I was an early loser in the new game of Affirmitive Action. My teacher/mentor/sponsor told me as much. They needed more women although I ranked better.

Instead I started a business and a family. Seemed like a good twist of Fate.

To save a long story, my Fate has twisted like a deadly tornado. Sometimes it's hard to appreciate all the good turns in favor of dwelling on the foundation ripping furies.

I'm not sure why I put this stuff up for all the world to read. Ego? Reaching out? Looking for sympathy? Maybe a combination of the three.

It's hard to live in a world of hurt all by oneself.

Thanks for your understanding and if you have any sort of Faith, put a good word into your Higher Power for me. God knows I need it.

Cheers, always

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Full Moon?

Hi All!

Y'know, I haven't checked but I think the full moon happened a few days ago.

It must have been a humdinger, if the experiences of the last few days are any evidence.

I shall spare you 99% of the details in keeping with my new policy of avoiding posts where I describe the world as a dog and me being a fire hydrant.

An old client called out of the blue just lately and offered to take me to the BB King Blues dealy at the State Fair Grandstand tonight.

After the Suicide Commandos, I was well satisfied enough not to wish to trek back to the fair, but I guess I'll be forking over another $11 gate fee to see a concert for free.

Now if that doesn't sound like a super duper upper to YOU, than you are enjoying life more than me, but I'm not sure I envy you.

I take what I can get.

Cheers!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Cloud Nine

Hi All!

Well I saw the Suicide Commandos for the first time in 30+ years. They were awfully far away compared to the old days, but god damn they haven't lost a beat.

Fountains of Wayne were icing on the cake, but judging from the crowd response and my own total bias, the Commandos upstaged those youngsters.

To top it off, the fireworks were the best I've ever seen at the Fair.

Of course, the weather was perfect.

Last night I went on a bus trip to a dirt track race in Wisconsin. It was a long night and by this afternoon I wasn't sure I could overcome the fatigue to "be there" for my Commandos. Laid down and suddenly decided that I was gonna fight thru it and get to the Fair.

Now I am so pumped that I will have a hard time getting to sleep.

What a night. What a weekend. Life can be really good.

Cheers!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Jason Gets a Career Boost

Hi All!

According to Rush, the Twin Cities' own bloviating talk show host Jason Lewis will be given the golden EIB microphone for a couple of days at the end of next week.

I wonder how he is gonna fit his head through the door at KTLK today!

Cheers!

PK