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Fan Mail!
Had a good laugh reading these comments! As for rejection letters: When I was submitting poems to various journals and magazines (plus two collections to book publishers), I got a boatload of rejection letters. Even though seventy of my poems got through the "anti-newbie defense system" that most publishers and agents maintain? I still, like most writers, saw far more rejection letters. That's OK, though--I had a way of dealing with them that was not only cathartic, but also useful as well. One of the complexes I lived at in O'side allowed grilling with charcoal. What I did was pile the charcoal on top of the rejection letters; took the most vulgar of the letters and rolled it into a thin tube; inserted the tube into the center of the charcoal pile; soaked the whole thing with Wizard; then touched off the paper tube. The tube acts as a fuze, setting off the pile wnen the flame reaches it. Trust me, nothing tastes better to a budding author than a charcoal-grilled (fill in your favoite grilled food here), kindled by the very things that bring you pain! Love your work, fellow! Buena Suerta y Buenas Tardes! --RKJ— October 5, 2009 3:25 p.m.
A Day in the Life (of traffic court)
Yo, Josh! First, m'man, read the summons fully before you set out. If you had noted that the "Day Of Reckoning" was in November, your day would not have gone as it did. Second, I wish you luck with traffic school. I had to do my time in that barrel in 1986, and I chose "Lettuce Amuse You" for my Saturday From Hell (albeit at the Vista Entertainment Center). No "ketchup movies" shown here...just a straight traffic-safety lecture and a comedy schtik in the middle. That bozo might have a career in another field of work, but as a comic--EE-YUK-UPCHUCK! Third--I never had another cite for the rest of my driving career. After I had my accident in E'do (T-Bone at the corner of Fig and East Valley Parkway), I now just stick to public transportation. Too expensive these days for someone on my budget! Like I said, man--good luck with both the courts and traffic school. --RKJ— October 5, 2009 3 p.m.
Sweeping Up The Shards
The horror of Alzheimer's (or any other terminal illness) is that you and you life-partner (or family member) know that they are dying...yet nothing can be done to save them. I went through the same thing with my wife after her last stroke. Soon, the woman I loved and cherished was gone forever...and in her place, someone cold, abusive, and nasty. There was nothing I could do to bring the woman I loved back...for she was now in the Mists of Time, never to return. Your poem was haunting beautiful--and brought a tear to my eyes. I miss her so--yet I know I can never have her back. I still cannot listen to "Golden-Oldies" Rock without remembering...and changing the station before I totally lose it. May The Lord smile on you, Nan...you deserve that and so much more! --Robbiebear— October 5, 2009 11:22 a.m.
A Few Musings Before My Birthday...
Morning, folks! Thank you for the kind comments. Yes, Nan, you may call me Robbiebear. PP: Though I do not drink to get blasted, I appreciate your words just the same. Look for Farve to be watching for somebody to pull a Theismann on him...the hate runs thick on both sides! I'll be tuning in on XX-1090AM to catch the game (with some ribs w/garlic and lemon pepper rub on the grill)...unless I get a much better offer. .Don't have cable in my house, but I like the radio just the same B-Day +2- Stay in touch! --RKJ— October 3, 2009 11:05 a.m.
Some Musings On Our Fast-Food Culture...
Hey There! Lots of good entries today...got me to enjoy a really deep belly laugh ( a rarity in it's own, to be savored) while reading you comments. PP: Wnen I do pass into the next life, it will be in bed...after ejoying a Lucullan supper that would be a real last meal! Besides, I'm not a vegan. My prefered "grill fare" is chicken or turkey thighs (Henry's if I can afford to go, Von's if my budget is tight), marinated or lightly spiced (Chicken w/ marinade of the Electrobachi tonight). I also prefer to make my burgers from ground turkey with a dash of seasoned salt and garlic powder, grilled well done, and with brown mustard and catsup on the bun faces. As for my allergy to mayo. It's not eggs, but soy and the preservatives used in most commercial mayo. Even the smell is enough to make me blow dinner--and "Miracle Whip" has the same effect! So, that is why when, even at Applebee's or Chili's, I not only order my burgers sans mayo...I also check the buns for it as well. A bit of preventive checking prevents a E/R run if I don't. --RKJ— September 30, 2009 3:42 p.m.
Roman Polanski...Be Grateful You Were Not Extradited To Poland!
RKJ again... I meant to say "fugitive from justice charge" in the first part of my comments. Another blown phrase...must be really tense today. More than likely, Polanski will walk...if his attorney can do a proper job. Mr. Polanski wasn't a good choice to use in this piece, I can see now. Still, the difference between Poland's new law, and our own, makes for great comparasion/contrast here. Wherever such a horrid crime happens (I survived two molestation episodes, btw, so I know of where I write), judicial retribution is deservedly swift, harsh, and long-lasting. I survived, but the scars in my soul will be there until the day the Reaper comes for me. I do not wish my violators eternal damnation in the Ninth Ring of Hell...that's God's decision. But as for child molesters in general? Their "delight" becomes their eternal pain...and they deserve every moment of it! Just pulled a turkey thigh from the Electrobachi, and put number two on (soy sauce, terriaki sauce, and Italian Dressing marinade). We'll cover the other issue later. --RKJ— September 29, 2009 7:13 p.m.
Roman Polanski...Be Grateful You Were Not Extradited To Poland!
Hi, RKJ here! Fish, you got me there. Mea Maxima Culpa on that point. However, the point of my entry was that if the extradition is valid, and Mr. Polanski has to take his lumps on the molestation conviction, that what awaits him in the US is far, far better than in his native Poland...if the conviction is, indeed, upheld. The place I found out about Poland's new after-sentence punishment for child-molestation is on Yahoo News. I sent a copy to my dad, since he finds such odd things amusing. As for using the Comments for each blog entry in my book: Thank you for educating me on this...something I do need to know. Right now, the book in question is merely in the transcription/forming stage. Whether or not your comments get used, indeed, will be upon the advice of my agent and/or attorney. This subject will be covered at a later time. Now, onward! --RKJ— September 29, 2009 6:53 p.m.
Wnen The EKG Goes Flatline...Was It Worth It?
Yo, SDaniels: A few points to clear up here! 1: Just because I relay stories about KFC does NOT mean I eat their sleazy product in the first place! In fact, I very rarely eat out to begin with. I do all of my own cooking--and most of my meats go on the Electrobachi grill I keep here at my place. In fact, I have some chicken breast halves (with a sprinkling of lime and seasoned salt) on the grill right now. In fact, if you had read the story I related about CH Sanders reaction to the "gravy" he was served, you see another reason that any poultry I eat..I prep-and-cook it myself. If KFC suddenly went bankrupt, I'd laugh my head off! The same for Church's "Oilier Than The Persian Gulf" Texas-Fried Chicken, or most any other fast-food joint, for that matter. Let Ronald and Jack deal with Chapter 11! Also, I have my choice of four "made from scratch" marinades that I pop my meats into for 12-48 hours before grilling! When I have half of my apartment complex salivating...then I know that marinade will be used again! 2: La Placa Rifa is ok to call me, but know that "Robbiebear" was the nickname given to me by my late wife, as well as by two other lovers. Call me what you will, SD...just don't call on me at two in the morning with a shotgun in hand and homicide on the mind! --Robbiebear— September 28, 2009 9:23 p.m.
Wnen The EKG Goes Flatline...Was It Worth It?
All right...looks like we have a good, lively discussion going, w/o the slinging of mud-scented caca. Like it, love it...want some more of it! Oh, RG--I have found that a great story on gravy comes from the history of KFC. H. Sanders devised a gravy formula that he said was so good "that you could throw away the chicken and eat the gravy." Well, the research kitchens at KFC came up with their final formula...and presented it to Col. Sanders. Sanders took two bites, spat it out, then roared: "How are people supposed to eat that slop, with a (Golf-Delta) straw?" The more things change... --Robbiebear— September 28, 2009 4:14 p.m.
Wnen The EKG Goes Flatline...Was It Worth It?
Oh, forgot to add a bit of news regarding this blog. After having a chat with a couple of friends of mine, I went and printed up every entry in this blog...but for a good purpose. You see, Vista Blues is going book form! Right now, I am transcribing each entry into Microsoft Word 2007 format and setting the entries into book form. I'll have the manuscript ready for publisher/agent review by next late spring. This, however, does NOT mean the end of Vista Blues--far from it. I enjoy sharing my ideas with you fine folks, and will continue to do so until they pry my cold, dead fingers away from my keyboard! The working title of the manuscript is: "VISTA BLUES--BOOK 1" And yes, your comments on each entry (that has reader commentary) will be in the book as well. Thank you folks for reading and enjoying my work, and I'll be back-on-blog later tonight! Who Dares To Care, Wins! --Robbiebear— September 28, 2009 12:53 p.m.