Esoteric Bowl

I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but the wonderful people at Poetry.com have arranged for me to receive their Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Silver Award Cup in honor of my poetic accomplishments.

I’m overwhelmed.

They have invited me to the Spring Poetry Convention and Symposium, which is to be held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. They also want me to present my poetry in front of fellow poets from around the world who will also be attending the convention. Many dignitaries will be in attendance, including game show host Bob Eubanks.

I am so very honored.

Of course, I will be responsible for the cost of the plane fare. And I will need to pay for the hotel accommodations as well. And there’s also the minor cost of registration, which is $595.00. But I get this cool custom-engraved silver cup!

What’s that? Everyone received the same e-mail from Poetry.com? Oh. Nevermind.

Random thoughts while the morning coffee brews:

* Does Robert Blake still feel as strongly about the catchphrase, Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time?

* Do I increase my changes of getting struck by Cupid’s arrow by going outdoors?

* If I write all of my out-of-the-box thoughts down on paper and then place them in a box, is it considered counterproductive?

* I’ve mailed a check to President Bush for the sum total of REALITY.
I wonder if he will cash it?

* Is there truth in the adage, You’ll lose it if you don’t use it? And does masturbation count as prevention?

Coffee is done.

I went to Site Meter to review my current website stats. On the page, the header showed an advertisement. The advertisement had a small photo of Howard Dean in all his Iowa scream glory, and alongside the photo it read Democrats Have No Defense.

I wasn’t shocked nor awed to learn that the political ad was from the National Republican Committee. Such a stratagy to label the Democratic Party as soft on defense issues is a long-time ploy of the Republican Party. This stratagy has been quite effective in the past, so it would seem to make sense to return to the political playbook and go with the plays that have worked.

Despite the national debt surpassing 7 trillion dollars and rising $2.34 billion each day. Despite 3 million people losing their jobs since George W. Bush entered the White House. Despite more than 500 dead American servicemen and women in Iraq. Despite the decision to make a preemptive war against Iraq rather than focusing on apprehending Osama Bin Laden. Despite Chief Inspector David Kay testifying that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that U.S. intelligence got it wrong.

Despite all of this, the Republican National Committee and the White House want you and I to know that it’s the Democrats that have no defense.

More than two years ago I semi-adopted one of the stray cats that hang around my home. He doesn’t have an official owner, so I feed him almost daily and keep his dish outside my door. He always comes running to greet me when I go out front to check the mail, and then he and I walk back to the door together. I prepare his food and then sit with him while he eats, making sure the other cats don’t come and muscle him away from his bowl. Sometimes he comes in the house and just hangs for a while, but I know he prefers the outdoors.

For a long time, I just called him Kitty. He didn’t seem to mind the generic name. After a while I began calling him Wilson, after the volleyball character in Tom Hank’s Cast Away. He appeared to like his new name and it seemed to match his personality, and our relationship is somewhat similar to the one that Hank’s character had with the volleyball.

For the past six days, I haven’t seen Wilson. This is the longest period of time that he has been gone since he and I became buddies. I’ve looked all over for him, walking up and down the street and calling his name. Each day when I go to get the mail, I look around to see him, but he doesn’t come. It’s frustrating because I don’t know if someone took him or if he is hurt or somehow got lost or worse.

It’s around one in the morning here in the islands, and I’m watching Opening Day baseball on ESPN2. First game of the year is being played in Tokyo, with the New York Yankees versus the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I don’t want to jinx anything, but I think this may finally be the year for the Cubs. Fingers are crossed. Now, somebody get me a hotdog before I die!

In other news…

* Yesterday, I went to a yard sale that a neighbor of mine is having. She is moving to Ohio to care for her mother, so she is selling all of her possessions with the exception of her tv. Half of her things I can’t use, and the other half I can’t afford. She did have a nice desk, but it was a little pricey. She does have a patio filled with plants, so I was able to get a five foot palm for only five dollars, and a couple of other plants for a dollar each.

* I see that the latest national poll shows President Bush ahead of Senator John Kerry. It’s still early, so I imagine the polls will fluctuate with time. Despite the polls, I must say that I am completely disappointed in the republicans that continue to back Bush. These same republicans were so quick to criticize President Clinton on anything and everything under the guise of patriotism and decency. Where is the anger now as Bush destroys everything he touches? Where is the outrage for all the Bush lies? The next time there is a democrat in the White House (and there will be a next time) I don’t want to hear a single word of complaints from republicans. In my opinion, they have lost all of their credibility in their support of Bush.