Thank You, Kasey...from a Million Miles Away

Every once in a while, you find a song that hits on ALL cylinders, one that speaks to your current condition and mindset.  Kasey Chambers is an incredibly gifted songwriter.  She tours with Lucinda Williams, which makes perfect sense.  Her song, "Not Pretty Enough" got me through some tough points in my former life--giving voice to how others around me made me feel.

This one, though, goes even further.  It's almost like she got into my head and gave voice to my fears, my dreams of whatever future is left, and the need to make meaningful promises to myself and others...

...and remind me that I have to be open to complete failure and reset in my life, my love, my relationships with others, and my ties to God.

Here is the link to a YouTube video for "The Rain."  Sometimes it helps to hear Kasey's vulnerable voice express these meaningful lyrics.

I will try to break
Every habit that holds me
I will try to make everyone happy again
I will try to take anything you can throw at me
I will let the rain come in 

I will try to face everything that scares me
I will try to trace
Everywhere that I've been
I will try to wait for all of the hearts to be mended
I will let the rain come in 

And if I try too hard
Or maybe not hard enough
I'll be the one who says
"It's all gonna be OK"
And if it all falls down well its never gonna really matter
Because the rain washes everything away 

I will try to breathe
Deeper than all of the oceans
I will try to see
The battle instead of the winI will try to leaveAll that I've wasted behind meI will let the rain come in

And if I try too hard
Or maybe not hard enough
I'll be the one who says
"It's all gonna be OK"
And if it all falls down well its never gonna really matter
Because the rain washes everything away

May the rain wash away just the right things...for each of us.

Be blessed during this very dark time.  I mean that.  Always will.

Dealing with the Foreigners

"Man, there's refugees everywhere you look..."

Agreed, oh hypothetical white man.  They're even over there.

Violence in the Third World has made living in Syria untenable.  People leave war zones, whether they are civil wars or drug wars.  Right now, it's hitting Europe hard.  Hungary's government has proven incapable of making intelligent decisions, as has the "Fox News of Hungary."  Children die while legitimate refugee status gets delayed purposely.  People make analogies to Latin American immigrants coming to America illegally.  Donald Trump has exploited the "Texas Weakness" by hating Hispanic immigrants more than, say, Jeb Bush (W's brother).  Mitt Romney used that same weakness to take out Rick Perry four years ago.

Then there is the other side, where people a clamoring for an influx of Syrian refugees into the United States.  One article speaks to the comparison of Syrian refugee numbers to Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar?) and other countries.  I could address each country (especially Burma), but that would be dropping into the weeds on this argument.

The immigration issue is not an east-west issue.  It runs south to north.  This happens in both hemispheres.  Last summer, there was a massive influx of unaccompanied children.  The majority of those children (along with mothers and smaller children) entered the United States through Hidalgo County.

That was last summer.  2014.  We fixed that one.  Right?

We built "this:"

But it looks like this.  Ummm...  Well, those pictures are kind of hard to find.  Maybe an official picture of the unaccompanied minors or such.  Here's something:

Yep.  We handled it like we've done for the last two decades.  We built a detention center.  Several detention centers, really.  Karnes City is bigger, but I like Dilley (if only for that name).  Dilley, Texas is one of the more interesting centers.  In Dilley, we have a situation where "...these women are living in an environment that often exacerbates the trauma they have already suffered."

A couple of weeks ago, pro-bono immigration attorneys got thrown out of the Dilley Detention Center.  That may be related to a lawsuit from some of the women regarding poor medical care and general neglect.  Broken fingers? Drink more water.

Why are they still detained?  The Obama Administration claims that this is to deter others from making the flight to America.  This same administration produced an immigration speech summed best by Dan Kowalski:
The detention and deportation machine will continue as before. No mention, in the President's speech, of releasing the mothers and children from Artesia, from Karnes City, from Dilley, from Berks County.
Want the real answer?  Ask Corrections Corporation of America.  They made well over $60 million last quarter.  Guess how they became so profitable?  Uh-huh.  That story hit less than an hour ago down here.

We're not good at handling refugees.  We're not good at soccer, for that matter.

I know this sounds ridiculous to some.  I get that.  Here it goes, anyway:

We need to handle our own refugees first.

Now would be a good time to get that done.

Now.

When Goodbye Gets Ridiculous

Please note: the quotes inserted come from http://www.purplerow.com, one of the better baseball blogs.

Today was another in a long series of goodbyes. Some things just shouldn't happen.

Troy (deep breath) Tulowitzki (deep breath) is a (deep breath) Toronto (deep breath) BLUEJAY?!

The last time a trade this big happened at Coors Field, the staff ace left...and the owner got Romano's Macaroni Grill in return. Now, THAT's a crappy owner on par with Jerry Jones (no link inserted by design on THAT name).

Most readers of this blog won't care, but I do. You watch a guy play for 120 nights a year for a full decade, you get to expect seeing him. This man was the face of the entire franchise, and most of the current talent on that team can point to Troy as a reason for their success.

He was everything I wanted in a player: A ferocious competitor, a superstar you could build around, an incredibly hard worker who took prospects under his wing in the offseason, and a guy who understood how special it was for a fanbase to attach itself to a player who plays his entire career in one city.

The fate of a baseball team looms small in the lives of most people on this planet. To be honest, I openly admit that includes me. It's nice, but not necessary for happiness. I get all of that. I feel for the person who wrote:

Today is the saddest day of my life that didn't involve someone I'm close to dying. It hurts that much.

Look, I think--if you know me & my situation--that you can see the analogy. A boy can get tired standing on the pier waving goodbye to everything...repeatedly. The glass isn't half-full or half-empty--it's HEAVY after you hold it this long. Life doesn't ALL have to stay the same, but I'm trying to figure out what's left of the Paul Henley that lived in, say, 2010...or 2013, for that matter.

They're not just giving up a 30-year-old player, though. They're giving up the chance of having another franchise legend to slot next to Todd Helton in the pantheon of Rockies greats.

Tulowitzky autograph values kind of drop in Denver, long-term. No fan base will love Troy as deeply. Suddenly, a "franchise player" stands on the cusp of becoming a "journeyman player." Eventually, all these guys end up with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, anyway. This one still stinks, though. If he wins two World Series rings in Toronto, why would he become the first Colorado entry into Cooperstown?  In fact, consider this: Troy Tulowitzki worries that his son, Taz, won't remember when his dad played in Denver. Again, I can relate as a father. I'm fighting to stay relevant from 366 miles away. These trades change stories for generations, too.

"Yep--I can remember seeing Troy when he [insert whatever event you choose]. That was back when he played for Colorado and all...no really...he USED to be a Rockie (sic).  Really. No. I MEAN it..."

Whatever:

Ask an Orioles fan what kind of package that would have made it acceptable to deal Cal Ripken in 1995. Ask Padres fans what Tony Gwynn trade would make them go back in time and make them pull the trigger themselves.

Time is the great arbiter.

I leave for Budapest (that's right...Hungary) on August 4, 2015. I leave to "celebrate" what would have been my 25th wedding anniversary. If things are all going to change, anyway, at least SOME of that change should come from me. "My turn" should start at some point...perhaps this is a way to begin said turn. Follow my Instagram account to see what I find in what seems to be an incredible place. That account is Think17. That moniker is the mark of yet another dead dream.

Even as the major league team was terrible, Tulo was something to dream on. Now, that dream is dead. Not being able to watch him as a Rockie anymore is a devastating blow.

Hey, some dreams die.

Quote me on that one. I'm cool with that. Plans change. People change. Circumstances change. Everything changes. When it gets ugly, fight back.

Fight back, good reader. Fight back.

So--PROPS to D.J. LeMahieu, who plays at Wrigley Field with a chip on his shoulder because he remains convinced that the Chicago Cubs quit on him just a little early...

Props to those who have stuck with me--including my future hosts in Hungary. I've had "friends," "employers," "neighbors," and "family" desert me and leave me to wonder What the Hell Just Happened. I'm becoming convinced it doesn't matter what happened; it really only matters what happens.

For MEN Only...

Beloved Gentlemen--

I'm about to embark on an effort to assist MEN who seem to face ridiculous consequences when confronted by divorce or Title IX issues.  Please HELP THIS CAUSE by acting in accordance with the following:

"NO" Means "NO"

"NO" means NO.

"Not Now" means NO.

"Maybe Later" means NO.

"I Have A Boy/Girlfriend" means NO.

"No Thanks" means NO.

"You're Not My Type" means NO.

"*#^+ Off!" means NO.

"I'd Rather Be Alone Right Now" means NO.

"Don't Touch Me" means NO.

"I Really Like You But ..." means NO.

"Let's Just Go To Sleep" means NO.

"I'm Not Sure" means NO.

"You've/I've Been Drinking or on some medication" means NO.

SILENCE means NO.

"__________ " means NO.

Date Rape = Not Understanding "NO."

Look for the woman to say something like...I don't know..."YES!"

It's hard trying to do the right thing.  Please don't make it harder!

Thanks...

It All Starts with Texas...

One of the truly great things for those NOT living in Texas is watching what the Supreme Court (or voters) will change in 10-20 years. Without George W. Bush, America would not have had the guts to elect Barack Obama. Democrats, you're welcome. Republicans, blame Obama.

Today, the SCOTUS opened the doors to the remaining humans wishing to get married. I can remember anti-sodomy laws in Texas getting struck down in Lawrence v. Texas right before I arrived. With smirks, the legislators just left the law in place. Over a decade later, the legislature still chooses each session to keep that law on the books.

That wasn't the only thing that happened this week. Texas is currently using federal housing money to encourage or even inflict segregation in Dallas. It's called "disparate impact," and mighty Texas lost to the The Inclusive Community Project, Inc. yesterday. This will become more and more significant in the coming months. Mark my words--or mark the words of today's article from Kimberly Reeves.

Texas was involved in fighting Obamacare as a plaintiff, and lost that, as well. In all, our governor has sued the Obama administration over 25 times.  I can only think of one time he was truly "successful."

Yep, we got us a LEGAL statue on the capitol grounds. Probably spent $3 million defending this rock. Texas has a fifteen-story building filled with attorneys, and far too many of them spend their days defending whacky rules and laws coming from the Texas capitol. On the bright side, they lose a lot.

New regulations against abortion led to Wendy Davis becoming a household name in Texas. I look for them to be struck down soon. The immigration challenge against DACA/DAPA comes out of Brownsville, Texas--a fine city.

And in perhaps the most ironic response to today's decision, the kingpin of voter suppression (the Texas Lt. Gov.) had this to say:

I look forward to the day when ALL Texans vote. At that point, Texas will become one of the most progressive states in the Union.  And I will laugh.

Any ideas for laws we could make in Texas that would spur progress in America and the world? Perhaps a ban on flying cars. Mandatory global warming. We could start the ball rolling! Let me know your thoughts.

La Quinta Hotels, Corpus Christi, and Redeeming Love

Corpus Christi may be the "Happiest place on Earth."

This has been an awful couple of years, and this has been intensified by a strained relationship with a dream-come-true girl who is also my eldest daughter. Currently, a car accident has me struggling when under deep stress. That fact seemed to be manipulated this past weekend. "Fathers Day" had me waving good-bye while watching my ex-wife and two youngest children driving away from my home.

Fathers who care have no rights. We need to fix that.  (More on that henceforth...)

NB!--A dad needs to think. Thus, my thoughts are in italics.

On the loneliest Monday of my life, which followed the WORST Father's Day I am capable of surviving, I was visited by a friend. Talking can help after a brain injury (and rest). I sometimes think clearly--like a man capable of the position I used to hold at STC--and may hold again. A lot of my "interrogations" were based on my "ability to drive" and the "new car." No road trip is possible if an adult can't drive and a car can't function.

Meanwhile, I've just been "told" that my eldest will be with the rest of the family in Corpus Christi. All will be reunited on this day--except me.

Fathers who care have no rights. We need to fix that.  (More on that henceforth...)

This is a bad situation...
But I have a car--a 1992 Ford Thunderbird.
I have a brain--no matter what people seem to think.

Perhaps it's just just time to see if THIS brain and THIS car can make it to, say, Corpus Christi...

So, I know this much:

1. My daughter is allegedly in Corpus Christi
2. She's staying at a La Quinta
3. She's attending orientation at TAMU-CC

I drive as far as WHATABURGER FIELD, and...no answer to my texts or calls...

Turn around? Focus on surviving? Prove you can drive and the car works? There are AT LEAST five (5) La Quinta hotels in the Corpus Christi area... Maybe I just turn around.

No. I've done this too many times before. I have sat in my car across the street from this young woman's dormitory in Arlington, just to know a little more of what her life was like. I'm here. I may as well visit the campus. See where she will be attending class.

As I near the campus on the highway, suddenly there is a La Quinta. There's a Rudy's BBQ nearby. That place has great food AND gasoline...

I may as well just swing through the lot. I can't imagine her car would be there, anyway--probably at another one of these hotels.  It would be wrong to just blow past this parking lot. I mean, it's right IN FRONT of me...

Guess what? I notice her Subaru in the lot before I finish the statement in my own head.

I'll just park somewhere near her car. I'll pick up a gift card at Rudy's. That way, she/he can get BBQ and/or gas based on what they need. I'll just leave it at the front desk.  I'll put one of my cards on her windshield. She'll know I was here and cared...

I get the gift card and notice that the USWNT is playing in the "sports bar" between the Rudy's BBQ and the hotel.

Then I realize that I have three (3) things happening simultaneously:

1. I am within 1/4 mile of my beloved daughter for the first time in months.
2. I am on "neutral" territory for the first time in ages.
3. My daughter's boyfriend is walking toward me on the same sidewalk, along the same frontage road, off of a highway in a city none of us really know.

How could this be random? How could this not have meaning? How could I NOT be here right now???

"Hi! Good to see you! How was the orientation? Did you get over to the other college?"

He was walking to "the store" (Rudy's) to get her Gatorade and Chicken Lo Mein. My daughter was exhausted and unconscious. Seems like a good boyfriend. Just sayin'. No other family around...don't care why not right now. Without my asking, it's suggested I wake her to say "Hi." This is the room number. Turns out she didn't reply because she was asleep.

"Look, when in doubt a person should remember this--you regret the things you DIDN'T do more than any of the things you ACTUALLY DID."

My barely-awake daughter greeted me with a hug longer than those of my other children combined. For perhaps the most perfect of 15 minutes, I reconnected with this fantastic young woman who carries half of her DNA from me. It was one of the best Mondays I've experienced in my near-50 years.

As of now, I'm not sure that Corpus Christi isn't the "Happiest place on Earth."

Where You FROM, Anyway?

Props to Governor, ummm...Dennis Daugaard (RIGHT--thought it was still Janklow...). This is an amazing promotional campaign approach:

"WHY DIE ON MARS? WHEN YOU CAN LIVE IN SOUTH DAKOTA. We've got plenty of job openings and all the food, water and oxygen you need!"

Complete with grammatical error & Earth-like atmosphere--I bring you South Dakota's new economic development message: You (probably) wouldn't die here. 

Wow. In most states, this would be an ironic internal campaign. In THIS state, they really mean it.  Here's the bizarre video:  

https://m.youtube.com/watchv=HrX8OTFSFZI

All comes from this materwork of the ridiculous: 

http://www.youcanliveinsouthdakota.com/

No, really. They MEAN this. Really.