A LOVE STORY-THE GENUINE ARTICLE

Bluebelle the WonderCat in the grey suit

and

Angel Orange aka Angelpie

bedecked in orange.

We ARE family.

The best fam ever!!!

I’m a common story. Pretty healthy except for some emotional concerns, until a few years ago. Came down with pneumonia. First time. Felt like being kicked in the chest by a few mules. 200/100 blood pressure. 2 months later needed radiation for an endocrine disease. At the end of that year 10 months of chiropractic hadn’t cut the mustard so I saw Dr. Howard Lantner associated with St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. He botched a NON-FDA approved amalgam implant as attested to by a Yale neurosurgeon when he had to do corrective surgery one year later. While at Yale Hospital a deadly pulmonary embolism was found in my lung, cutting my O2 levels, and threatening to enter my heart and kill me imminently. So an implant was installed to prevent my death.

In October 2013 my cell phone was out of commission and I was suffering severe chest pains. I had to struggle to my neighbor’s house where he called 911 and ambulances carted me off. It was pneumonia caused by a chronic disease discovered in recent years, polycystic kidney disease which is slowly eating both kidneys. After getting out of the hospital a week or so later I was having severe chest pains again (one good thing about chest pains is the ambulance ride and no waiting at the ER) so Wallingford’s bravest were out again to cart me to the hospital. It was a pneumothorax--a lung collapse. I am prone to them because of certain of my genes I’d like to annihilate. This was followed up by a pneumothorax again a few weeks later, along with two chest insertions, and two different lung surgeries.

Just a few of my scars

from recent chest surgeries.

There's one more of those,

two for spine surgeries

and one for

heart surgery in the past 

2 years. :(

There have been times when I’ve been unable to keep up with housework--cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. I haven’t been able to work at all. My income fell and I can’t afford a car, TV, cable--nought. I have no kids on purpose, knowing at a young age I was a bit--shall we say--eccentric and that the world needed two more white Dadless kids like it needed nukes in South Asia. 

Live Action!

Angel and Bluebelle 

just this morning!

My family is me, Bluebelle the WonderCat and Angel Orange (Angelpie). I have been offered an opportunity to live in one of the best elder/handicapped care communities in the nation, right here in Wallingford. The Masonicare Campus now includes much more than dependent living. Founded long ago by the Episcopalean do-gooders and Friday night beer swillers, the Masons, it’s reputation is unparalleled. It has the Wright Residence just designed for mostly able bodied folks like me, but who are chronically ill and weaker with lots of bad days. 

The Wright Residence wants me to be part of their independent living community and I’d love to live there. I’m scheduled for a tour with the CEO on April 3rd. But when our phone conversation left the sublime and we got down to brass tacks, two issues arose for me. Number one was a no pets policy. They have a community bird. Really. Number two was that I can’t bring a 50cc scooter there. Really? 

There are lots of pluses to such a move now. I’ve been deathly sick all winter, and this is a guaranteed home through all bad weather. I haven’t been able to take care of paying bills and record keeping, the arrangement at the Wright Residence would eliminate those concerns. They serve three great meals a day (I’ve eaten there many times for benefits...) and I have access to a community kitchen. I’d have a kitchenette and an efficiency, private bath, and routine cleaning--including laundry and linens if I choose. 

I could always find a place on grounds to stash the scooter. My mind is made up. Simple. Bluebelle, Angelpie and I are a family. Unless and until I’m convinced they are safer with somebody else, we have a loving family unit that really does depend on me for certain provisions. That includes food, shelter, health care, and love. LOVE. More than anything else I need to show these kitties, one rescued literally out of a backyard wishing well and the other abandoned by some wretched soul in the dead of the upstate New York winter, LOVE. 

They’ve shown me so much love I could never repay it. When I adopted Angel I knew risks were involved. Bluebelle is a tiny kitty with no claws, and Angel is big with claws. Angel gave Bluebelle time to accept her into our home, and has never once threatened Bluebelle that I’ve seen. She defers to Bluebelle, even though she knows she could kick her ass to Kingdom come if she chooses. She loves her. She loves me. She’s a great lapcat and she likes to bump your nose with hers.

Bluebelle has been with me since she was born 5 years ago. She’s forgiven me for some stupid stunts I pulled with her when I was married. She’s taught me all about forgiveness and UNCONDITIONAL Love. Bluebelle is the Queen of Unconditional Love. She’s earned her own bunk box--a shelf in my dresser. She loves it. 

They’ve saved my life like other pet family members have in the past. And even now as I write this story they’re teaching me even more lessons about LOVE. If it’s not unconditional then it’s not love.

Why would I have it any other way, no matter how inconvenient. I’ve never had it so good. I rescued two kitties and they plan on repaying me with LOVE every day they live. No complaints here. If you’re in a position to do so, I highly recommend being a hero and rescuing a K9 or feline today! Just call your local shelter. I don’t know anybody who ever regretted it. I love you Bluebelle the Kittie. I love you my sweet Angelpie. Always and forever.

la-spca.org

MY GUN STORY

Please click and listen to Melanie Safka sing

Peace Will Come

Uncle UL and I live in Connecticut, not very far at all from where all those little 5 and 6 year old boys and girls and their teachers were killed just before Christmas. :(  Uncle UL asked me to write a few words about that horrible day and my story. He says this is the most popular story on his blog page by two times over, even though he originally meant it to be only politics and satire. I think it's popular because deep down everybody wishes there was no need for guns. Yeppers, I sure do. Even those mean guys who talk big for the NRA and even cops who act like Clint Eastwood. Yup, I suppose some people want rifles to hunt critters, and even though I don't like it, I understand that they would want to. I like to fish, so I can't say they shouldn't hunt. Right? 

But WHY can't we stop people from having guns and stuff that let them

wipe out 27 people in 10 minutes?? Why??

People aren't allowed to have intercontinental missiles, right?

They can't have nuclear bombs? Right?

Nobody can privately have a load of tanks, can they?

The line has to be drawn somewhere is common sense to me!

And NOBODY should be able to have an assault rifle.

NOBODY should be able to stick a cartridge into a gun

and fire THIRTY shots in seconds.

And NOBODY should be able to buy a gun without

being checked at least to see if they've committed

gun crimes before, or if they have a mental

illness which might get them into trouble

with a gun.

I'm proud this is Uncle UL's most popular article. 

But I'm even prouder of his readers because it tells me

that people don't want guns designed only to shoot people.

At least deep down they don't.

I updated the story a bit, I hope you don't mind, and I hope you

like it. 

Peace and Love

Lisa

Me:"Reverend Sara, can I talk to you for a minute, please?

I know you're really busy. But I have to ask you a question. OK?"

Reverend Sara: "Sure Lisa, ask away, I always have time for questions."

Me: "Reverend Sara, what's a sword?"

Reverend Sara: "Hmmm. Good question. A sword is a weapon people

used to use a long time ago in battles. The used them for fighting."

Me: "What's a catapult?"

Reverend Sara: "Well...  A catapult is a bigger weapon they used

in the old days to hurt people with."

Me:  "This is a real important question, Reverend Sara. What's a gun???"

Reverend Sara: "That IS a real important question, Lisa. A gun

is a weapon to hurt people with bullets and used to maim and kill people and animals."

Me:  "What's a rifle?"

Reverend Sara: "A rifle is a long gun used to shoot from long distances."

Me: "What's a handgun, Reverend Sara?"

Reverend Sara: "A handgun is a short gun that isn't so accurate at long

distances."

Me:  "So, Reverend Sara, if long guns are good for shooting from

far away, they use them for shooting cute deers and bears and stuff?"

Reverend Sara:  "Yes, Lisa. You sure are a smart girl."

Me: "Now this is another important question. What are handguns for? Animals

always run away, and you can only hit things close up with a handgun.

Are handguns designed to kill other people, Reverend Sara, ARE they???"

Reverend Sara: "Yes, Lisa, yes they are. They're only designed for killing

other people. People practice target shooting, but besides hitting

fake targets their only purpose is to kill people."

Me: "OH MY GOD!!! That's horrible."

Me:  "What's a missile, Reverend Sara?"

Reverend Sara: "A missile is a rocket designed to carry bombs."

Me:  "You mean like to hit buildings and stuff?"

Reverend Sara: "Yes Lisa."

Me: "ONO!"

Me: "Reverend Sara, what's a nuclear bomb?"

Reverend Sara: "Lisa, a nuclear bomb is the worst thing ever invented.

It's a bomb so strong it destroyed two whole cities in an instant. One was

called Hiroshima and the other was called Nagasaki. Hundreds

of thousands died instantly, and hundreds of thousands suffered until they died

years later. People got burned, got sick and had broken bones and kids and old people, women, men and children died. Cats and dogs. All the buildings

were leveled. It was a huge disaster!"

Reverend Sara: "War is horrible, and just a sin. Violence is never the answer,

Lisa. Never.

It is always the problem. And nuclear war is the worst

kind of war. It's horrible."

Reverend Sara:  "I love you sooo much Lisa. You are so

gentle, kind, considerate and thoughtful. You are beautiful, too.

I pray that you never see any war. I pray that all violence ends today.

I especially pray that nuclear war never happens again!"

Reverend Sara:  "Promise me you'll always work for peace, please Lisa?"

Me: "I already do! I am right now."

Reverend Sara: "What a smart girl you really are. You ARE working for

peace right now, aren't you?  Who sent you in here just now?"

Me: "Jesus."

Me:  "Reverend Sara, turning swords into plowshares means using

your sermons to preach for peace. Huh? Right?"

Reverend Sara: "Yes, Lisa, you're right."

Me: "How come you never give sermons about ending war and anti-nuclear bombs and stuff? Why??? How come? Please start. OK?"

Reverend Sara:  "Well Lisa, sometimes people in church don't want to hear

those things, and I hafta tell them what I think they CAN hear."

Me:  "I think they need to hear about Jesus, and Unconditional Love, justice, equality, ending war, non-violence, ending guns and understanding ALL the time. I think that anything else is wasting time. I think Jesus said a lot that was hard for people to hear, but He said it anyway. I think he stood up for his convic..convi..how do you say it??  His convictions!!! I think you should say Jesus' name and say love a lot more in church. And I think you should tell people on Sunday mornings just like you just told me about Hiroshima and Nagasaki just now!"

Me: "Saying the truth and standing up against violence is the only way to

end it once and for all. Then everyone will be happy!"

Me: "I KNOW that if you preach more about ending war and violence,

and if you talk about Jesus and Love a whole lot more on Sunday mornings and the rest of the time that I'll sure be happier! :)"

Reverend Sara:  "Jesus certainly did send you! What a good girl. And what a great little messenger. I will spend my sermon next Sunday talking about war, guns, nuclear bombs, Love and say Jesus' name a lot more often. I promise."

And Reverend Sara and Me, we hugged and hugged and hugged.

The End

For Now

***********

Please take a look at the work John Winston Ono Lennon's

Widow Yoko Ono Lennon has done since his untimely

death by handgun assassination

December 8th, 1980

and especially

her contributions

to his legacy

and memory

via the

Lennon Peace Prize.

yoko-ono.com

Originally Published September 24th 2011.

‘THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!! KINDERGARTEN RHETORIC OVER UKRAINE BY PRESIDENTS!!!

The ever

Sadd, never gladd

man from Vladd -

imir Putin

and our own Barack Obama

John Lennon

along with a backup band of his

oddly named The Beatles

had it right.

NO MORE WAR!

Love IS All We Need, sirs.

 

 Vladimir Putin: “reserves the right to use all means at our disposal to protect” Russian speakers in the country’s south and east if they are in danger. “I want you to understand me clearly. If we make such a decision, it will only be for the protection of Ukrainian citizens.”

Hey Vladd! How come you have

your shirt on?! I don't think I like this!

 

Arsen Avakov, Ukraine’s new interior minister: “What is happening can be called an armed invasion and occupation. In violation of all international treaties and norms. This is a direct provocation for armed bloodshed in the territory of a sovereign state.”

Ukraine’s interim president, Oleksandr Turchynov [to Putin]: You’re “trying to provoke an armed conflict.”

Barack Obama: “Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe.”

 

Barack Obama [yes, again, sigh...]: I am “deeply concerned by reports of military movements” and he says that there “will be costs for any military intervention.”

 

Ah! There we go.

The world's a safer place when you're swimming.





 





Putin:  Your people, Barack, have interfered in Ukraine “from across the pond in America as if they were sitting in a laboratory and running experiments on rats, without any understanding of the consequences.” “All threats against Russia are counterproductive and harmful,” blathered Putin, adding that Russia was ready to host the G-8 but Western leaders who did not want to attend “don’t need to.”

 

 

At this point the former KGBer and long too long Russian President/former Prime Minister [who, as you may recall, after an hour talking to him through Russian language interpreters, George Dubya Bush gazed into Putin’s eyes in a press conference proclaiming him a “friend” and somebody he could “trust”--I suppose he could be forgiven since his second in command, Cheney, was NOT a friend to anybody] might as well have added--after telling Mr. Obama “across the pond” that he was still going to stay in the G8 despite threats, and that our president “don’t need to” come to the summit he was hosting--”Nyah nah nah nah nahhhh!!!”

 

But it is our Democratic President Obama who is now talking about “costs” after getting in big trouble almost exactly two years ago talking testosterone-driven junk about “red lines” at Syria’s Basher, Bashir Assad. Lest you’ve forgotten here’s my best transcript of President Obama’s threat of the day:

 

 

Barack, sir,

THIS is a what a red line looks like.

 

“I have not at this point ordered military engagement in this situation. But the point about chemical and biological weapons is critical. It's a critical issue that doesn't just concerned Syria, it concerns close allies in the region including Israel and concerns us. We cannot have a situation where chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people. We’ve been clear not only to the... Assad regime, but to other players on the ground that is a red line for us. If we see a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my whole calculus. That would change my equation.”

 

This red line nonsense has haunted Mr. Obama ever since he uttered them in off-the-cuff White House comments, and he has too much testosterone to say I’m sorry. Instead he gave the man from Vladd, the never gladd, KGB operative turned “statesman” Putin the chance to look good by twisting his nearby friend’s ( Basher Bashir Assad) arm into handing over a ridiculously huge stockpile of chemical weapons to the UN.

 

Here’s a simple map forya, President Obama. As you can plainly see, Russia shares a huge border with Ukraine. They also are just a few hundred land miles from Syria. Despite our bloated Army, Navy, Air Force and all the Marines we could muster sir, we have to face that fact that Putin could send ground forces to both places without any of his troops getting their feet wet. In other words he has a strategic advantage. These places are REALLY close to Russia and they could walk to wars in both places should they choose. We have the Atlantic, all of Europe AND the Mediterranean between us and them, sir, regardless of what the missile-envy uniformed brass are tellingya. They have an entire Military Industrial Complex to feed. So stop the idiotic rhetoric, sir, please.

 

 

While Putin calls our President and his staff a bunch of “rats,” essentially, President Obama still hasn’t learned his lesson. THE LESSON HERE FOR ALL INVOLVED--THE NEW UKRAINIAN LEADERSHIP, OUR PRESIDENT. THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE--WE ARE NOT IN KINDERGARTEN. WAR SUCKS. THREATENING WAR OR SILLY SANCTIONS, SUCH AS BOOTING RUSSIA FROM THE G8, ARE NOT ONLY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE , BUT MAY RESULT IN THE RAPING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND THE TORTURE AND SLAUGHTERING THAT WAR REALLY IS. OUR MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL-COMPLEX NEEDS NO MORE FEEDING. PLEASE LET EVERYBODY IN THE REGION WHO DARES TO CALL THEMSELVES HEADS OF 'STATE’ TO GROW UP!!! PEACE MUST WIN. ANOTHER WAR IN EUROPE WOULD BE ABSURD. GET THE TESTOSTERONE OUT OF YOUR RHETORIC. END DRONE STRIKES AND ASSAULTS IN ANY SOVEREIGN NATION BY ANY OTHER NATION NOW!!! PEACE, PLEEEEEZE.

VICTORY!!! POSTCRIPT TO: WALLINGFORD (CT) HOUSING AUTHORITY BRINGS DOZENS OF DISABLED/ELDERLY TO COURT-OFFERS NO AID!!

Bluebelle The WonderCat and Angel [a.k.a. Angelpie] Orange

Sorry to say I'm beginning to run low

on tunes pertaining to greedsters.

Here's a quality little performance

of their "Money" by none other than

John Lennon and a backup band he called

The Beatles.

YES, IT'S TRUE! My loving family--Bluebelle the WonderCat, Angel [a.k.a. 'Angelpie'] Orange and I will not have to live in a tent for the duration of New England's currently brutal winter! YES WE CAN! We did a very good job in eviction court yesterday. :)

My own trusty steed has earned her own name.

This is the company vehicle transporting

me from Wallingford (a.k.a. Wallyworld)

to New Haven.

"Hi Ho Silver, AWAY!"

<3 b="" silver="">

The company vehicle that can't ride 

company (Wallingford Housing Authority)

tenants, only employees.

1 WHA

even has a vanity plate

paid for with YOUR tax dollars.

Tracy Blackwell,

ace Resident Manager

and self-described

Court Liaison

drove in this vehicle,

don't worry about him being

 subject to the 17 degree

weather at the bus stop

I waited at for 33 minutes.

In the courtroom itself, after his attorney plumped me down in a seat directly in front of the guy who refused me a ride to court, New Haven/Wallingford Housing Authority employee Tracy Blackwell, I leaned back and said to this dude sporting a 1980's style fade "I checked it out, Tracy, your company vehicle has a current retail value of over $21,000 even used!" 

Yes, fades ARE apparently still possible,

34 years later,

with the proper barber shears!

In the same courtroom I asked him if it was really true that the vehicle can't ride residents, when I asked in whispered tones why the WHA has it at all, then, he was stifled. So I helped Mr. Blackwell out. "Then it can only ride employees, right, Tracy?" I queried. Tracy affirmed this. When I pointed out that the Dodge Ram Nitro company vehicle has 5 seats and the WHA only had 3 full time employees, Tracy was again stifled. Ever helpful, I asked Tracy if he didn't like what I was saying. Believe it or not this WALLINGFORD [OR IS IT NEW HAVEN--EVEN THE HOUSING COURT CHIEF MEDIATOR DIDN'T UNDERSTAND NEW HAVEN'S ROLE IN THE WALLINGFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY NOR DID SHE KNOW THEY WERE 'RUNNING' THINGS HERE, NOW] HOUSING STAFFER ACTUALLY HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT TO HIM "WHAT YOU SAY DOESN'T MATTER." Dejected and rejected, I quoted Tracy repeatedly in private and before the court that WHAT TENANTS HAVE TO SAY SHOULD MATTER TO HIM!"

After a one mile trek uphill with my trusty steed,

Hi Ho Silver,

we finally arrived at OUR destination.

The bus stop at Sylvan and S. Main

in Wallyworld.

17 degrees Fahrenheit, no less. :(

So, by 10am I was actually in the shadow

of this amazing structure:

THE NEW HAVEN COUNTY COURTHOUSE!

And by 10am I was in the courtroom, and nothing happened [oh, yes, the judge made 3 brief appearances, including one in which a heroic attendee actually briefly refused to rise for the robed white guy, like me--white guy, that is, I left my robe home] for me for two solid hours. A stiff wooden chair for that time, until Attorney Mike Burdo called me out of the courtroom--so rude and self-absorbed that he felt introducing himself was unnecessary [he knew who I was because he was there when I arrived and announced myself to the recorder--I stuck my hand out and said "My name is Steve. And you are???"] And then there we were in the hallway with the mighty Tracy Blackwell and his fade haircut.

The Halls of...

of...

um.. er..

The Halls of...

I forget--

What halls are these???

Once in the hall, after Burdo tried to deny that I'd attempted to negotiate a 3 month deal through him to the housing authority [detailed in the prior article linked here: http://unabashedleft.blogspot.com/2014/02/wallingford-ct-housing-authority-brings.html ], and demeaned me in other ways--including demanding repeatedly that I tell him my medical expenses for this month [I finally told him I was seeing a psychiatrist for ADHD, I kid you not--I AM proud to be an UNABASHEDLY left wing fellow and to report that I said this solemnly to Mr's. Burdo and Blackwell]. LOL! We struck a cash deal during this lobbying, before appearing before New Haven's Chief Housing Arbitrator Cynthia Tiexear to sanctify it. I admit that I was rather harsh on Tracy during our hearing, but Attorney Burdo [whom I couldn't stop referring to as "Mike" in front of the arbitrator, rather than Mr. or Attorney Burdo because of his boyish looks and the fact that during the last year we had become VERY familiar by phone despite his attempts at denial of our near constant contact] had NO right to do what he did next. Wallingford Housing Authority Mike Burdo actually THREATENED me by saying that I'd better go easier on Tracy or he could "negate the agreement and have me removed in 5 days." Shame on you, Mike--I mean... MISTER Burdo! But also a some shame goes to you, Cynthia [who was actually nice otherwise, and showed some of the humor I was displaying as well--when I leaned over once to talk with an empty chair next to me pretending MY attorney was there, Cynthia pointed to a chair behind her and told us Mr. Murphy--of "Murphy's Law" fame--sat in that seat at all times] for not either recognizing or rebuking ATTORNEY Burdo for threatening me.

This is my plea to WHA Attorney Mike Burdo

and to the 

Wallingford--nay New Haven--Housing Authority.

Cynthia was given a copy of our previous article-- http://unabashedleft.blogspot.com/2014/02/wallingford-ct-housing-authority-brings.html -- but said the judge was unlikely to read it lest the purity of his objective mind be tainted. Cynthia and the New Haven Housing Court were clueless prior to my appearance yesterday that New Haven was running the WALLINGFORD Housing Authority. She was fascinated by the dollar amounts I was throwing out [Tracy actually said "You know more than I do"], but more by the shear volume of eviction cases that the WHA was bringing as I alleged that she began looking back to the caseload back to 2012 during our hearing. LOOK SOME MORE PLEASE, CYNTHIA AND I ASK THE COURT TO COMPELL THE WHA TO CEASE AND DESIST WITH THEIR ABUSE OF THE COURT AND TALK WITH, REASON WITH AND EVEN HELP TENANTS LONG BEFORE SERVING EVICTION NOTICES! I repeatedly reminded Tracy [in front of the court, his attorney and in private] that his and the Authority's primary job is caring for their elderly and handicapped tenants, not threatening, abusing and tossing them on the streets as I have been observing since New Haven took over WALLINGFORD'S Authority! But, most importantly, Angel, Bluebelle and your intrepid unabashed correspondent need not sleep in a Wal-Mart tent in 4 days as Mike Burdo threatened. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A HOME [unlike the poor lady neighbor of mine, mentally incapacitated and dependent upon her electric wheelchair for mobility and now housed in the New Haven homeless shelter]!

So after court, off I meandered off with my trusty steed,

Silver,

to the bus stop on New Haven's still

somewhat attractive [from a distance] green.

The second is a shot of a building I love 

much more than the courthouse:

New Haven Free Public Library!

As if to add an insult,

while waiting for the bus

with high winds and freezing cold

snowflakes began to fall under

the partly cloudy skies,

even as the sun shone.

But fortunately I am NOT homeless, nor

are my beloved pets.

It can happen to anyone.

Even YOU.

At any time. 

Please remember that

WE ARE OUR BROTHERS' AND SISTERS'

KEEPERS.

WE MOST CERTAINLY ARE,

TRACY.