Count on Me

I came across this video tonight and it reminded me that when I was in high school, I knew someone who became sort of famous - Craig Chaquico. He was very good with a guitar and was eventually asked to join the Jefferson Starship. In the video below you can see Craig at the beginning, on the far left, sitting on a chair and playing the guitar ...

Dem debate

I'm watching the Democratic debate in South Carolina. It's just beginning but already I hate Bloomberg even more than previously - he's obviously used to getting his way all the time and it really is chapping his ass to have to answer all these pesky questions about his dubious past actions. Can't see him lasting too much longer in this race.

And PS - who knew that people attending the Democratic debates must pay for tickets? The tickets for this latest debate went for $1,750 to $3,200 ... With Tickets $1,750, Debate Audiences Are Elite of the Elite. But That’s Not New. No wonder the audience booed Bernie for criticizing the rich.

Yay!

Fixing a hole

A few days ago I had an appointment with the reconstructive surgeon who will fix the hole in my face that the dermatology doc will make in taking away the area of skin cancer. Scary. I can still remember how upset I was when I had to do this before, about 10 years ago. It looked so horrible right after the operation, though now people say they have to look twice to see the scar at all. Still, it takes time for it to look not Frankenstinian and I'm dreading that. I'm lucky, though, because this time my insurance (medicare/medicaid) will actually pay for a plastic surgeon to close it up - last time I didn't even realize that was a possibility.

One disturbing thing was that they sent me to get an EKG first. I haven't had one of those since I was 25, when my mom had a heart attack and my sis and I were asked to get one. The results were sent to me via the online messaging site of the hospital. I'm not sure I understand what it means and no one has talked to me about it, but it seems to say I have PVCs and maybe that I had a previous heart attack (one of the "silent" kind?). I feel ok though and I didn't drop dead mowing the lawn today, so maybe it's not a worry.

Meanwhile, the operations will be at the beginning of March. Gulp :(

Valentine's Day

Love :) ...

The Pope

In the news: Pope Francis Won't Allow Married Men As Priests, Women As Deacons

No great surprise here. Those who had hopes that this pope would be an agent of change on the issues that matter to most Catholics ... clergy sex abuse, married priests, women deacons and priests, birth control, divorce/remarriage, gay people and their relationships, etc. ... have been disappointed. Let's not pretend anymore that Francis is progressive. He is a social conservative, a sexist, a homophobe, and a protective church traditionalist. He won't let the church change, as living things change, and that's why it's dying.

Dina ...

Having a snack on the kitty couch ...

Town hall

Here's a bit from a CNN town hall tonight in New Hampshire, with Bernie Sanders answering a few questions, including one about his Jewish heritage ...