Casa MD

For those unaware… “Casa” is the Spanish word for “House”.

Yes! A double blog day!

WHY!?

Well, I forgot to mention it earlier…

The list of things separating me from my favorite TV show is dwindling by one more…

The list originally consisting of:
*A belief in God
*A medical degree
*A perfectly fine right leg
*I can’t play the guitar, piano, or anything but the iPod (and I struggle with some of them)

So what are the similiarties?
*I lose friends to my honest
*When it comes to other people I’m always right (when it comes to myself… not so much)
*Uber arrogant and cocky and prideful (and am ok with it)
*I not so secretly have a thing for a beautiful woman with a Jewish background (not race, beliefs)
*I have a best friend who enables me and not only lets, but also helps me get away with a lot of shit. Except I make sure mine knows he is appreciated and loved (isn’t that right Andrew)

Ok, I’m not going any further before I incriminate myself…

The important thing is this…

My right leg, is now, home to my bad hip joint.

Because, it wasn’t enough in High school, for it to have my bad ankle. It was not enough for it in early college to be home to my bad knee. And it has never had enough problems being the leg with more muscle pains and cramps than the other.

No no no…

Now; it feels the need, to hurt where the femoral head meets the acetabulum of the Ilium

Or for those who need something in English:

“…the leg bone connects to the… HIP bone…”



Oh I wish it was the musical instrument or medical degree thing…

Dirty Job #9

Really, twas just a continuation of Dirty Jobs 5 and 8. Today I started out harvesting string beans in the morning, but then moved on to just becoming a general farm hand.

I started the day about 8:30 in the morning, which was almost on time. String beans grow on vine like plants low to the ground, so basically, yes; I’m bending down like a Mexican getting strawberries. I have a new farmer tan (any scout friends, yes, its equivalent to “Viper’s”, almost worse).

Then there was lunch, I almost just had the pb+j I brown bagged from home for lunch, but Ray’s gf happened to be making pasta, and Ray said, “whatcha gonna go on lunch for, just wait a few minutes, and have lunch with me, we’re having pasta”. Twas good, the Italian fest continued. Now, I don’t like olives, but Ray, believing that every good Italian boy should like olives, before I could even say “no thanks” decided to dump a third of a bowl on my plate… guess who got to eat a whole pile of olives today…

We spent a good portion of the day brain storming, planning, scheming, and strategerizing a new business, yes, I’m talking about the one that he offered to be partners in earlier, I think I’m going to take him up on it. Apparently though, he was thinking of having his family do the physical work, and I’d market it overseas (especially to military families). In other words, I might go to one of the father-lands and home of the greatest empire of the world this summer (don’t worry Mims, you’ll still have the boot all to yourself, if it happens, it won’t happen till August).

After lunch, we went back to work packaging the freshly picked string beans, and then… there was a visit from my “Rachel” (reference to yesterday’s blog “I could be a Jacob…”)

Sigh…

During lunch, I found out she isn’t married, and suddenly, a faint bit of hope arose within me.

Then there was more work, picked/buddled a variety of other vegetables. Then, towards the end of the day as we where washing everything and prepping it all for Ray to go to the market tomorrow, I became a mohel for corn.

A mohel (pronounce moy-el) is a Jewish man specially trained in the art of circumcision.

How did I become a corn mohel? Very glad you asked. Ray likes his corn to look good, and so, I went through an entire bin of freshly picked corn, and cut the tip off of them.

Then, as the day was finishing, my “Rachel” returned once more, however, she brought my competition for her heart, yes, her boyfriend. I believe he has a slight advantage over me however in the fact that he also happens to be the father of her kids that I mentioned earlier.

Sigh… Fail…

Anyway; hard work aside, today was a really good day. Ray gives my Italian skills a lot of credit, a lot more than I give them that’s for sure. He tells all his family that swings by to talk Italian to me, and emphasizes the .000003% Italian blood that I might maybe have. It is neat though. When his daughter (my “Rachel”) came back 6 hours later she said, “wow, your still here helping my dad!” at this point, I was about to make a move, until the massive guy walking behind her came up. So I just smiled and nodded, her reply, “you seem like a good hard worker”, Ray stepped in,
“ah, he’s a real good Woggy boy”.

Oh, if I forgot to mention it earlier, they call Italian immigrants (specifically farm hands) “Wogs” (and “Dagos” and “Wops”). So, right around 8:15, we finished working, yes... nearly 12 hours after starting. That's alright though, why?

I like working with Ray, and from the sound of it, I’ll pretty much be finishing up my time in Leeton working with Ray.


Bona Note Amici.

I Could be a Jacob…

NO BAKERSFIELD NURSE CLUB…

I AM NOT REFERENCING TWILIGHT!

I am talking about the Bible. The real one…

Dirty Job #8

Today I did some errands, and went back to Ray the Plum guy. Last time I had worked with him, he mentioned a project when the weather cooled down, well, that time is now, and I need money. So I go over and talk to him, and apparently (this is where Jacob comes into play) Ray has una filia multo bella. Translation: he has a very beautiful daughter. This is the same guy who also offered me the chance to live in Calabria on some of his family’s property as a business partner.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about when I bring up a Jacob from a book that doesn’t involve being a werewolf and fighting vampires in Washington… I turn once again to Wikipedia:

“Arriving in Haran, Jacob saw a well where the shepherds were gathering their flocks to water them, and met Laban's younger daughter Rachel, Jacob's first cousin; she was working as a shepherdess. He loved her immediately, and after spending a month with his relatives, asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban.”

And so… as I worked my way down the row of string beans, I thought of myself and this lovely Italian beauty, raising my employer’s grandchildren on a beautiful plot of land at the tip of the boot (Reggio Di Calabria – GoogleMap it if you have to) overlooking a river that passes right by the house and of course Sicily on the distant horizon.

Aaaahhhhhhh…

As it turns out however, Ray has grandchildren already. Contrary to what I believed when I first met her, she would not be classified as a “panther” had it happened (a woman who is within 5 or so years difference of a younger man) she would in fact be full on “cougar” status.

So, that wasn’t exactly my great news of the day, what was my great news of the day is the fact that I will have work for at least a week at a steady and consistent rate of pay. Also, Ray agreed to practice Italian with me, which I pretty much could use some work on. I am getting practice though which is good.

I also hardly had any headache today, the little bit of the one that I did have was cured shortly after drinking my Pepsi ration of the day however…

Losses and Victories. The story of every day really. Today also I found out through Myspace.com happens to be my 100th day since leaving California. I’m not gonna lie… I could go for a either a tri tip sandwich or a carne asada burrito. Jan’s pasta tonight though was still quite an excellent way of ending my very Italian filled day.


Bona Note Amici (good night friends)

You Know…

…We fought the redcoats to avoid this stress.

Good news first.

My parents have decided that they would like an Australian adventure of their own. They get here at the end of April, and go back the day I’m supposed to. So assuming I don’t get my ticket extended, we’ll go home the same day (how nice and family like).

This does of course mean…

GREAT BARRIER REEF!!!

Hurray for Capt. Dave!

So, yes, you could say I’m a bit excited at fulfilling my dream of diving in the GBR.



But now… the thing at the forefront of my mind for the day.

Today I did one of the only things we can be certain of in life. I’m alive to tell you about it, so by process of elimination… yes, I did my taxes.

I wouldn’t have minded so much except for the fact that I nearly tore my room apart looking for my W-2 freaking out that I didn’t pack it.

Then the epiphany moment. I left at the beginning of December, of course I didn’t pack it. So, Jan having a much better memory than me, staved off my potential panic attack by saving my paperwork from being lost forever. You see, it happened to be in the same envelop as my new driver’s license.

Sigh… what a reh-tah-d

I also realized something today…

In a way, EVERY American, is a molestation victim, because our Uncle Sam rapes us every year.

I believe in taxes, to a certain extent. Most of you know that I am registered a Republican, I primarily vote on the conservative side, and yes, Ronald Reagan is my hero. When I run for President, it will be, as a Republican, due to my belief of it being the lesser of two evils. So, I am definitely not one of those crazy-ass Tea Party people.

I will say this though;

WTF Washington!!!

I am fine with paying to make our Military the best in the world, and I’m fine with paying to make our schools the best in the world. But hand outs, and useless spending?!

Here is a clip from a favorite movie of mine (“Dave” starring Kevin Klein)




Sigh…

And yes, I am a flat tax person, and yes, I’ve heard the argument that it favors the rich, but you know what, we should all try to become that, so doesn’t it give you an extra carrot to chase.

Anyway… Julie F. you are like totally my hero of the week by the way, I love you and your immeasurable help that you give me year after year.


OH!

In other news, apparently Autumn comes in the form of a small hurricane that lasts a half week, and you forget what summer was like. Aaahhhhh 20 degree days again… just like on the Central Coast. I never realized how cold 20 C was until I’ve lived 35-40 C on a regular basis.

So spoiled growing up on the Central Coast…

Apparently I’m an addict

I failed.



This was the start of week 2 of my third trimester in my detoxification process. Monday, today, was suppose to be my very first day without a Pepsi.
This is the second time that I’ve messed up my daily ration. The problem is, I was not suppose to have ANY this time!


Not only that, my headaches are getting worse and worse. AND NO! I will not just use Aleve, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen to get rid of the headaches, because then I’ll just become an addict to something else.


Today, I was sitting alone while the family was in Narrandera, and I had this TERRIBLE headache like one wouldn’t believe. I got up, went to the fridge. Pulled out a Pepsi, came back to my laptop, and drank. Within 5 minutes… my headache was completely gone.


Which, kind of proves to me how dependent I apparently am…






Sigh…

Raphael is cool…

…but rude.




If you have not yet, go back two months, and read my tribute to my good friend Phil. I’ll even make it easy for you:

http://eabelton.blogspot.com/2010/01/michelangelo-is-party-dude.html




It’s ok… I’ll wait…
…
…
…


Done yet? … well then hurry up…
…
…
…


OK, so… as I was saying, two months have gone by, and the saga continues…
I referred to “The Separation Years of the Turles”. Well, you see, Isaac Miller Elementary school had these “tracks” and they where supposedly fair and equal right… my ass.

You see, A track, had all the REALLY white kids (and for some reason the only 3 black kids). B track had white kids, and white-ish Mexicans. C track had Mexicans and mexicany white kids. And then… there was D track, Mexicans… an ALL brown track. Keep in mind though, this wasn’t racist. Well, the four of us met in D track. Anyone that takes a look at Val, well, no duh D track, and Phil, well, his personality puts him in D track, and… by looks alone, I might have been able to pull off C track. Luke… Whitey McWhiteWhite he could be used as a reflector at night. The school realized this mistake about 3rd grade. Luke disappeared to A track. Then, Phil moved to a different school.

We were not very good planners back then, and Facebook was not in existence (plus we where only like 8) and so, for some reason, none of us really exchanged each other’s numbers. Phil knew mine, I knew my own… but, looking back on it, I don’t even know if I knew Val’s phone number until about 9th grade cause we saw each other so much. Well, all this led to, not one of us having Luke’s number, nor him having ours, so, when A track and D track did not line up, he didn’t exist, nor did we to him. Sad to say, and I regret the time lost, but, that’s what happened. Then, Phil moved away, and it wasn’t convenient for us to hang out with him anymore. We talked to each other like on holidays, and each other’s birthdays, occasionally see each other over break. Then after graduation, he moved to the LA empire, and just when I thought we’d be reunited, he left. Lucky for us, the LA empire didn’t work out for him like he hoped, and he returned to the Central Coast. Val and I were so happy to have our friend back. Then a new semester at college started, and on the first day of my Astronomy class, I saw this skinny white guy who looked REALLY familiar walk in. Turns out… it was Luke. I wasn’t waisting another chance, we exchanged contact information right on the spot, I called up Val and Phil, and reunited us! From 4th grade until about four years ago, we were separated. We had no Luke, and we where only lucky to have Phil around every once and awhile, and so, that’s how “The Separation Years” started and ended.

Well during those years… it was just down to me and Val in D track. Even when we weren’t in the same class, we still had the same lunch break and recess to catch up. PLUS, like I mentioned before, our single Mom’s where both friends, so the two of them tag teamed raised us. On holiday’s I’d go spend the mornings with Val while my mother worked, weekends where the only time me and him didn’t see each other. Then, in 6th grade, he was going to go to Valley Christian Academy, sure, if I had gone to one of the other High Schools, I’d run into one of the other guys, but the last two years have been about Val, so, why risk it, at VCA, I KNEW I’d be near him, because the place is so small. So, Val left Miller a semester early, I held out till the end. Making me, the only Turtle to START D track in kinder, and END D track at 6th grade graduation. I joined Val at VCA on the first day of 7th grade. It was not what I expected it to be. Jr. High, if not for Val, would have been, a completely useless time in my life. In fact, to this day, I don’t remember much of it, because of how many memories I’ve purposely regressed into the back of my mind. Pretty much… a combination between Scouts and Val kept me from trying to put an end to it all. This is the same time period when my mistrust in “christians” began.

2010 marks my, Val, and Luke’s 20th anniversary. The thing is… out of 20 years, for nearly half of that, it was only me and Val. Sometimes it seems like Val and I have an unfair advantage in our foursome friendship. Truth is, we do. We weren’t a team for almost half the time that the four of us have known each other. For half that time, it has been a partnership. He and I have had 10 years worth of adventures together. Riding dirt bikes near his apartments, learning different swim techniques in the pool, and all sorts of other fun things that usually ended with one of us (usually me) hurting ourselves.

Together he and I learned about life, survived temporarily losing our other 2 best friends, and when his appendix blew up in sixth grade, I spent every minute that I was allowed to at his bedside until he recovered. Then he did, and we went on to Jr. High together, and then covered each other’s back during High School. I went on his first “double” date with his wife. Despite differences, fights, and arguments that allowed us to slightly drift apart in High School, we still had the same schedule and classes during our first year in college.

Now we are “grownups”. He was the first of our team to complete his Bachelors degree and he was the second one to expand our family by getting married. Now, he is preparing to buy his first house with his beautiful wife Deanna. The great part about when Val expanded our “turtle family” is, he has a good problem to have, unlike most guys, he can’t really make Mother-in-law jokes. Why? Cause he actually has a pretty awesome Family-in-law. When you look at the quality of people that make up his Family-in-law, it’s really no wonder how great his wife turned out. And when you know how great of wife he has, you realize, why he is so happy in life. I’ve been replaced as number one partner, but, it’s a replacement that is perfectly fine with me. If I have to be #2 (technically #3, but if you’re not counting God in all this), I’m really glad that it’s to Deanna.

Ya know… When I first started writing this blog, I thought, psh, Val, ya, no problem, I could write about the last 20 years of my life no problem. But, now that my hands are on the keyboard I realize… how exactly am I suppose to put into words the bond that he and I have? I mean, this is someone who I’ve grown mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually with for over 4/5ths of my life. I can’t really write about him without making it sound like I’m talking about myself, and if he were to take the time to really give it enough thought, I’m sure he’d come to the same conclusion about me.

Now, two months ago, when writing about our dear friend Phil, it was easy finding a light hearted video that compared Phil to Michelangelo, but, I’ve found it surprisingly harder to find one that compares Val to Raphael, because what really makes Val Raphael, is Raphael’s relationship to Leonardo, and vice versa. So, being home with a hurt back and plenty of rain to keep me indoors, I figured, forget depending on YouTube. Instead, I just put my own together.

Pictures do better than words, I’m sure video does better than pictures. The following is a Hollywood look at our friendship. Starting with our youth, going on adventures like Indiana Jones (“Without a Paddle”). To an example of how we use to fight and get over it in no time. To how I felt the day that Val felt better from his Appendix blowing up. Then, how he probably felt (and feels) when he first started dating and when I act my stong willed self. The ONLY thing that would make the City Slickers reference more accurate, is if Billy Crystal’s character was named “Val”, because the other two are “Ed(ward) & Phil”. To those that are wondering… YES I do want to run with the bulls, and YES, I am trying to rope them into it also.


It has been a great 20 years, ups and downs yes, but, totally worth it, and I’m looking forward to the next 20, and the 20 after that, don’t know if I’m looking forward to the 4th set of 20 though, cause, we’ll really be up there in years by that point, but, se la vi.







Happy Birthday Val, I philos you, and miss you.

Me = Still a Bad Catholic

OH my back.

Been home, being useless the last few days. Hate it. The being home part and not working isn’t bad, it’s the feeling of uselessness I don’t like. So, I kinda cleaned the bathroom, de-trashed the car, and did the dishes.

Sadly… that’s about it.

I’m getting headaches with more and more frequency now. As soon as I drink a Pepsi, one goes away, but then I get another hours later. This week is my first week where I will have a day without Pepsi completely. I chose Mondays as my descalation day, why? Simple. Mondays suck.

Yesterday was nice though, I Skyped my parents while they had my stepdad’s birthday party going on, so I got to be a floating head virtually crashing the party.
Going back to the title.

I slept through my alarm. Purposely.

Other than that though, I haven’t skipped any other Lent commitments.

I miss the Estonians…