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Funnies

Don't Forget About Your Ol' Dad

My Step Dad(63) lost his life to skin cancer almost 10 years ago and now my Bio Dad(72) is lying in a hospice bed with the same thing. I'm doing pretty good all things considered, but that's only because of the overwhelming love I've received from family and friends. 

If I've learned anything it's this: Have your legal matters in order, be sure to always use your sunscreen... and go see a dermatologist.

 

Born in Houston, Texas in 1939, then moved to McCamey, my Dad was a "West Texas Boy." Class Of '59, McCamey High School.  He was voted most popular by his classmates. He had a way about him that made it easy to be his friend...

After a brief stint at San Angelo College he joined the Navy and loved every minute of it. Upon  completion of basic training he was assigned to duty in Hawaii where he worked as an accountant. Later he would move to San Diego which is where my parents lived after they were wed. The Navy gave him an education and an experience to last for his lifetime and mine. Tidy, well kept, and on time. He was no "Slouch" as he would like to say...

Good with numbers and balancing books he worked for many successful businesses in Texas after 5+ years of service in the Navy. One of his favorite jobs was working in the original Haltom's Jewelers that was in downtown  Ft. Worth. As a child, I remember visiting Haltom's with Mom and how impressed I was that he worked someplace so fancy. 

My parents were small town kids from humble means and they both worked very hard. It wasn't long before we were enjoying the fruits of their labor. They built a house in Hurst, threw lavish parties, traveled on cruise ships and took pride in their meticulous yard. Dad was now a partner in his own business- a cleaning service in downtown Dallas- and enjoyed great success... And then great failure...

Having gone into business with a despicable business partner, Dad's dreamboat life hit the rocks. He experienced tremendous lows in his life and it was at this point he and my Mom divorced. Money, nerves, marrying too young, whatever the reason my parents marriage was over. I am their only child.

Now living in Houston, he continued working and doing the best he could. I visited him yearly and got to know the city of Houston for it's good and bad... He loved Houston. He loved to tell the story of when he saw Tina Turner at The Summit. He took me to AstroWorld, BookStop stores and out for Chinese food. I cherish the day he took me to see San Jacinto Battlefield and the Battleship Texas. He studied history and consequently so do I. 

On the deck of the Battleship Texas 1981

 

After working for a few banks in Houston like Sunbelt Savings, he moved back to the DFW area to care for his ailing parents and found a "J.O.B." at Lomas Mortgage. He was happy working there and living in Grapevine in his parents Mobile Home. Not your ordinary mobile home to be sure-- those of you who saw it know what I mean-- he had it beautifully decorated and landscaped...

My closest friends who got to meet and know him can tell you of his famous patio parties. Always friendly to neighbors, it was a small porch off the side of a mobile home packed to capacity on weekend nights. Good times...

To say Dad was a smoker is an insult to smokers everywhere. He took smoking to a new level. (Think Mad Men circa 1963 but this is 2012.) He was terrified to be caught somewhere he couldn't smoke a cigarette. I think once, on a plane, he may have eaten one.

I have so many good memories of my Dad. He wasn't always there for me physically,  but he was there in spirit. At least I like to think so. He used to say, "You only have one Mother and one Father in this world." He had such a way of cutting right to the sadness of life in one sentence and thereby forcing you to face your own reality. I've used his quotes many times to advise friends for good or bad.

 We always kept tabs on each other, he would call and remind me "Don't Forget About Your Ol' Dad!" 

I helped him every way a son could and towards the last 5 years... above and beyond the call of duty...

Dad never had a bunch of money but he looked like he did, and he certainly talked like he did. A lesson that can carry you far in life. 

He may not have been the model Father Figure, but he's still my Ol' Dad whom I love and wish well. Always...

Sunday Funnies, European -- or maybe American dog-style -- socialism edition

"Under Romney, dogs are given the freedom to feel the wind in their fur. But under Barack Obama, man's best friend has been forced into government-controlled vehicles..."

Mid-Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance honors the life of Dick Clark by bringing you a weekly roundup with a good beat that you can dance to.

Off the Kuff began a series of interviews with Congressional candidates in contested primary races, publishing conversations with Congressman Silvestre Reyes, state representative Pete Gallego, and former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.

Republicans are talking like they want a race war. Either that, or they want to just kill all the liberals. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs documents last week's conservative verbal atrocities.  

BossKitty at TruthHugger has had enough of 2012 Zombie Voters.  

BlueBloggin wants American voters to understand that until they force honesty and accountability from the leaders they elect, they will become subjects to the Koch Brothers Machine versus American Destiny.

We do, in fact, have a revenue problem in Texas. But there are few of either party willing to admit it. WCNews at Eye On Williamson points that out in this post: Little human interest side notes.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees the republicans escalating its war on women.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw brings us up to date on what Governor Oops is up to, and it isn't pretty. Read Rick Perry Grovels for Norquist While His War On Women, Children and the Poor Continues.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted the newsletter of Occupy Wall Street: Houston. A strong effort is being made to reboot the Occupy effort in Houston, as OWSH is meeting on a regular basis and has a new Facebook page where you can join in and take part.

Stace at Dos Centavos tells us about a study which slams higher education in Texas. The post is basically an "I told you so!" about Texas' screwed-up priorities in pushing Tier 1 funding while leaving retention and graduation rates to suffer.

Sunday Funnies On Wednesday

Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance is happy to contribute its fair share towards the maintenance of our great nation as it brings you this week's roundup.  

TruthHugger is appalled that the same old lies keep working on Americans. Whatever happened to "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" (George Santayana). BossKitty has a ringside seat to watch Mother Nature bite the ass of clueless politicians, and is so grateful that God has different plans for Rick Santorum.  

BlueBloggin is very skeptical that the enforcement efforts of the Texas Ethics Commission will actually work: Texas Wants Ethics? ROFL 

Planned Parenthood gives Texas a taste of its own litigious medicine. Off the Kuff has the details.

The lies we've been told for the last 40 years are simply not true. We can't have it all and low taxes. WCNews at Eye On Williamson points out that taxes are the solution.

The Harris County Democratic Party's dirty laundry spilled out of the basket and blew all over the neighborhood this past week. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs spent some time wrangling it, but finally... uh... tossed in the towel.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants everyone to know that the batsh*t crazy states have higher rates of teen pregnancies. Republicans ARE waging war on against women.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted about a petition drive in Houston to put two anti-immigrant ballot issues up for a vote in 2012.