I am betting than some day soon visitors from another planet will visit us soon and the unfortunate part is I fear they will land here where I live and will deal with the knuckleheads in my community. They will decide to annihilate earth or make the decision we are a bunch of fools and never return.

On December 23rd a customer at one of our restaurants brought his video camera into the store and left it after his meal. He returned a few days later and said that one of the other customers stole his camcorder. When I asked how he knew this he said, "I saw them take it" I remarked "you saw someone steal your camcorder and you didn’t say anything until 2 days later." "Look at the video you’ll see the guy taking it" stated the customer. I went back to the why did it take you two days to come and tell us about this. His response was, "Because I was eating"
This guy was too busy eating a freaking hamburger to get up, walk 5 or 6 feet and say something when it occurred, but two 2 days later he has enough energy to come into my office and complain to me.

We do have a security system but unfortunately no clear view of anyone taking his camcorder but I can see him entering our store with it in his hand. According to this customer it was a brand new "expensive" camcorder that he purchased to make videos of Christmas morning at his house. He had it with him when he went to get his lunch. He stated that he set it down on the counter so he could pay for his lunch. He took his lunch and sat down and proceeded to sit down a few feet away. He finished his lunch and left the restaurant and went home. Viewing the scene the camcorder is not visible on the counter ever. So as far as I can see maybe he kept the camcorder to him self, Hell I don’t know what happened to this guys camcorder. I called him and told him that we had no clear view of the incident and that I was very sorry for his loss. He said "Thanks" and hung up the phone. Some how I knew this wasn’t over.

Today he called to ask if we would have his check ready to pick up. I said, "Check. A check for what." "To replace my camcorder," he said. I then went on to explain that we were not responsible for his loss and that he should call the police and file a report if he feels that his camcorder was stolen. He doesn’t want to bother the police but wants a $1000.00 from me.
I told that I was sorry but were not responsible and that he should go see the police and file a report and we would try to help identify which customer allegedly stole his camcorder. He response was as expected, "FUCK YOU"

I am concerned that we will be visited from beyond and the first person on earth the aliens will try to talk to this is this moron. Heaven help us all.

My nephew returned from Iraq a couple of weeks ago. After debriefing and parties and seeing everyone else in the family he was around for Christmas Day. He was hesitant to talk about what happened even when pressed and especially when asked, “How many did you kill?”

He was in Fallouja when the Marine Corps went through that town like a hot knife through butter. While eating breakfast on Christmas Day the TV was on and a news report came on about the bomb that blew up the mess tent that the US Army had in Mosul. My nephew looked at the TV and under his breath said “Pussies” I said, ”Pussies” he said, “Yeah Pussies. Those Army pukes were eating in a tent. We rarely ate inside let alone a hot meal. They had hot showers and hot chow. You know on Thanksgiving Day we were killing these guys and someone from the rear came along and said hey Hot Chow. So we stopped killing these guys and went over to a truck and there were plates with turkey and potatoes and stuff. It wasn’t hot but it wasn’t a MRE. We finished the meal and then we right back to killing those guys.”

I asked him about the incident that was widely reported on TV about the Marines that shot that supposed un-armed Iraqi in the room. He laughed and said, Hey over there everyone is armed. Little kids run around with guns. Trust me he was not un-armed.”

He then started to talk about an incident where his squad got into a bit of a jam while clearing a couple of houses in Fallouja.

“ We were trying to clear a small block when suddenly we started getting small arms fire from all around. Everyone ran for cover in a different direction and we took off and headed for a corner that I thought would provide sufficient cover for my buddy and myself. We dove around the cover and were kind of laughing at each other and figuring we really did dodge a bullet. Slowly the firing stopped and we heard that the rest of the squad was safe and secure. We all re-grouped and moved out in a different direction and once again we had to find cover from the incoming fire. We humped it around this corner and realized that we were once again separated from the squad. I was looking at an Iraqi with an AK 47 pointed right at me and I froze in my track and figured this is going to hurt, really hurt. He started firing at us now and when my buddy came around the corner and he took a stray round in the shoulder. He dove back behind the corner and was yelling and screaming. I was in clear sight with no protection other than what I had on me and I figured that if I moved, I would take around or two. This Iraqi idiot was 20 or 25 feet away with an AK 47 and could not hit me. Finally the guy emptied his weapon and I took him out with a couple of quick rounds from my weapon. My buddy was fine; it was really just a scratch.

I sat there mesmerized by the story and asked well what did you do next? He said they went through the body and found his Iraqi ID card and $250.00 in brand new American currency. They kept the cash and when the rest of the squad returns from Iraq in January this dead Iraqi will be buying the squad drinks.

We will be taking him out for pizza and beer in a couple of weeks maybe we will get to hear some more stories.

Well so much for beautiful weather in California at Christmas. Rain in the forecast for the next 10 TEN DAYS, call Noah and see if we can get his Ark for a real cheap price. I want on the Ark because I definitely don't want to be on the road here. A few drops of water and the entire freakin' city forgets how to drive. Most of the clowns speed up and actually go faster when it's wet outside. Unfortunately I have to drive around the city for my job wish me luck.

and you thought your Christmas was bad! 

It was a beautiful day yesterday here in California. 85 degrees, no wind and a clear sky. It's the kind of day that everyone back east doesn't believe we have out here. I was watching highlights of the Chargers vs. The Cleveland Browns on TV. There was snow, lots of snow, fans in the stands huddled up and their breath oxidizing in the freezing cold and I am wearing a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops.

I was barbecuing a piece of chicken with an ear of corn. It was just like summer a warm afternoon, smoke drifting out of the vents of the BBQ and kids playing soccer on the lawn I sat down with a glass of wine, a small salad and enjoyed my BBQ chicken and corn. I had a small cup of frozen yogurt for desert and enjoyed the day out side on my patio. Looking back at the TV and seeing the freezing fans in Green Bay and in Cleveland I realized just how different this country really is.

Not bad for December 19th.

Merry Christmas from California

Christmas Party 2 (Read Christmas Party 1 before reading this)

Office Christmas Parties and alcohol go hand in hand. “Back in the day” we had 2 parties 1 for all of the employees usually held at a local hotel. We required everyone to dress up and behave. No booze just a large gift exchange; food, dancing and we gave out some awards. The party lasted 3 to 4 hours and it wasn’t exciting but it was a Christmas Party. With out fail year in and year out a few employees would sneak outside and smoke dope and get drunk at their car and attempt to re-enter. There was never any serious violence just some pushing and shoving a punch here or there.

The second party was a Staff party and was a blow out. Champagne, cold duck and wine flowed like water and there were always a few little finger foods that no one ever touched. It seemed year after year I left there drunk and drove home. One year I drove some one else home from the party and my car ended up on his front lawn. One year someone vomited in the elevator when leaving. A customer or client would come to the office and we would all stand at attention with a smirk on our face and bottle of champagne in our hands. One of us would start giggling and we would all end up laughing. The goal then was to see who could keep their balance with out spilling their drink. The party was on the last Friday before Christmas and began around 2:00 pm. By 5:00 pm most everyone was hammered and trying to figure out how they were going to get home.

With company growth we canceled the employee party and just concentrated on the Managers party. This year the company paid for the adult beverages. Each employee was given 2 red tickets for the purchase of 2 drinks. Any drink that wasn’t alcohol would be free from the restaurant. Great system in theory but most of us have access to the tickets and would grab a few tickets here and there throughout the year. 63 people in attendance 45 over 21 and we had almost 200 adult beverage tickets turned in. Just over 4 drinks per person and I know of a few wives that didn’t have anything but ice tea. This includes the extra tickets we gave to the late people when we ran out food.

The managers that are messing around with each other kept eyeing each other during the party. No physical contact just a head nod, a smile, a wink here a toss of the hair there. When dinner was finished gifts were exchanged and everyone got out their chairs and mingled. There were more drinks and some people filtered out and went home or left for the after party not these two managers, who by the way work in the same store. She is actually his superior, supervisor, and boss, whatever. These 2 “couples” came in the limo together that he paid for and this was that “the latecomers” group. She always seemed to be a bitch and he is an up and coming super star in our company. He will easily be promoted over her in the new future. He is personable and kind, she is cold and goes out of her way to be mean to most of the employees.


The female manager and her husband seemed to be disagreeing during the party. They would say something to each other and she would roll her eyes in disgust. He would then call her a name and she would push his hands away from her. He just seemed to disappear and I guess got a ride home. She seemed to become more open and was having a better time without the husband. The male managers wife became hammered and became loud and crude. She kept rubbing his crotch and repeatedly grabbed her breasts with both hands, (Good thing the owners had left) he was embarrassed by this situation and it seemed he was looking for a way to get her home and still go to the after party with his co-worker girl friend. His wife solved all of his problems when she asked if she could home right away and she told him he could go to the after party alone. His eyes lit up and he got an idea he borrowed somebody else’s car and told them to take his place in the limo and they would all meet at Sergio’s house for the after party. I have no reports of a hook up yet at the after party but reportedly they were the last two in the limo about 3:00am

Yes the after party! A manager invited everyone over to his house for more food and drinks. I was not an eyewitness to the after party but can only report second hand information. This after party really wasn’t my cup of tea as it was on a Wednesday night and I had to work early, (7:30 am) on Thursday.

Mix alcohol and young females with any age males and there is always going to be sex. No one appeared drunk or seemed to be falling down but when the after party started however one young lady was already asleep. There were excessive amounts of beer and tequila. The food was sushi, shrimp, and meatballs in a crackpot, empanadas, chips and salsa. The perfect foods for vomiting after having six or seven shots of tequila were available for all.

The house is large and rather spread out so the party was really in 3 or 4 different areas. The living room the kitchen, and the family room, which was adjacent to the outside patio. Older mellower managers were in the living room while a harder drinking group was in the family room while the youngsters were outside.

A group of people left around 11:00 am mostly the staff and their spouses and some of the managers that had to work on Thursday morning.

After midnight a young female manager became extremely drunk and began to vomit all over the back yard at the party. She was sick enough that she puked on her self and in her drunken stupor did what most every guy wanted; she took her top off. Blouse and bra gone she proceeded to paraded around for a few minutes with vomit on her slacks and bare-chested for all to see. The big boss in an effort to see the boobs off the young topless girl got a little too close and when she vomited on his suit he exclaimed, “ You just threw up on my $700.00 suit” Another young female manager watching this scene take place yelled at the big boss, “It’s all about money for you isn’t it. Can’t you ever have a conversation with any of us that doesn’t include how much money you have or how much money you have spent.” When the other managers heard the commotion outside, (drunk males looking at a woman with no top provides much in the way of a commotion). An older male manager took off his coat and put it around this young lady and he and his wife took her home.

Another young female that was a friend of a friend at the party decided that she was going to have a conversation with a few of the older male managers. I understand that she went to a few of the males and in a very sexy voice asked them questions regarding sex. She became very coy and asked them questions about oral sex, positions and how big they were. A couple of wives / girlfriends were pissed off but supposedly one of the wives/girlfriends put her up to it. Reportedly she took off her bra and opened her blouse a button or two to show a little extra something for everyone to look at.

A young lad who came with his brother who is a manager passed out drunk and peed all over himself in the back yard. Everyone just left him alone sitting in chair with his lap seeping urine.
According to others most people left around 1:00 am with a few leaving at 2:00am. One couple spent the night on the couch, the smartest of the whole group.

No violence to report, no DUI”S but the office assistant that was involved in a deadly DUI early this year was drunk enough that he should not have been allowed to drive. He still has depositions to attend in the accident that killed 3 of his friends. I wish I was there to make sure he didn’t drive or that he took a cab home.

Two days later a couple of the participants of the party mentioned to me that they were glad I wasn’t there. When I asked why one of them said, “Dude, you would have shit with everything that went on.” I replied back, “ I’m not the companies conscience or “Morals Manager”. That was a private party at someone’s house and we, (the company) are not responsible for what happens at a private party. Sergio is responsible for what happens at his house, not me. People are responsible for themselves and I am not going to spend the rest of my time being the “Morals Manager”” I asked them, “Would my presence have changed your behavior.” One of them said yes and one said No. The one who said yes commented, “you see things no one else sees and you remember it, dude”

I am really concerned about this statement, I have to ask myself “Is that how people really see me”?

Oh well I arrived at work on Thursday morning at 7:30 am sober and alive. I know that if went to the party I was going to get in trouble. Maybe if it was on a Friday or Saturday I might have gone yeah I would have gone, drank way too much, stared at the topless chick and would defiantly have made in-appropriate comments to that young lady asking the sex questions.

Is a first date really just a job interview with alcohol? Think about it!

Our company Christmas Party was last night and just like all company Christmas parties there was the wide range of employees, wives, husbands, dates and friends. The friends the dates and/or wives with fake body parts, fake jewelry. The annual battle of the Supervisors and their wives versus the Managers and their spouses is definitely worth seeing. Who sits with whom, do the Supervisors wives acknowledge each other with a handshake or maybe a hug or just a glance from across the room. The musical chair dance that takes place to see who sits with the owners seems to rival the TV show Survivor, “Outwit, Outplay Outlast”. Spouses move name cards; move drinks, move purses, and coats just to a closer seat to the owners as if the closer you sit the more valuable you are. The glances, the look the smugness of the winners and the jealousy of the losers add to the spectacle.

Managers that were in the hot seat a few days ago stand in the back as if they want to be invisible. A harmless incident the week of the party in past years has seen poor seating to a lesser bonus. Cautious glances from a spouse to a manager about where they sit can been seen when everyone takes a seat.

Whispers and close talking about who is sitting where and next to whom goes on for a few moments until a hush falls over the room, Who will be the first to get up and get in the buffet line. No one wants to be first and everyone is anxious to see “Who will be first?” Naturally I am always first, I don’t care and actually look forward to it to see who will be second and which manager and spouses will be last. The line is confusing with plates on both ends and different items on each side of a long table. People line up on different sides and crush into each other, someone spills a plate of rice and the usual comments of, “Is that all there is” is heard. No one wants to seem gluttonous or heavy handed, but it is obvious that some of the male spouses are very hungry. Heaping plates from the buffet and empting serving dishes are the result.

The late crowd shows up (a hour and half late), 5 managers and spouses and the buffet is out of food items and then the fun starts. The wait staff of the restaurant approaches the office manager to make sure that she understands that any extra portions will be added to the already agreed upon price. The office manager then goes from one table to another to see, “Who took all the food” While the late comers are getting their drinks, new fresh food is brought out and before the late managers have a chance to get plates, most of the “Hungry Man table” rushes to the servers and pretty much devours all of the new food brought in. It is then decided that rather than get “more” food the latecomers would each get a few extra free drinks. Everyone seems happy until it is discovered much later that all ten, (5 managers and spouses) are under 21. How many late people will there be next year?





The groups that show up at the party vary from the newlyweds to the couples that really only see each other at the yearly Christmas Party. The new managers that have never been to the party are nervous and clearly afraid that they will make a faux pau of some sort that will haunt them for decades. Older more senior managers arrive, rarely are they dressed formally, usually just a coat, no tie or just a long sleeve shirt, no tie or coat. Their wives are dressed up as if this is the only formal function they attend all year. They wear lots of jewelry, make-up and perfume.

Most of the male middle management is near the age of 21 and their idea of dressing up is to wear their work clothes with one of those fake black plastic leather “pleather” jackets. When asked why they didn’t dress up the look astonished that you think they are dressed up. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing” They bring a girlfriend that is young most are 18 years old or younger. These “dates” are dressed for the disco, short skirts, low tops and heavy make-up with huge hoop earrings that a buffalo could run through. One young lady wore low cut blue jeans with a top that that was so tight it would fit someone that is 2 or 3 years old.


The two managers that are having an affair show up with their spouses and sit at different tables. During the party they end up staring at each and rarely acknowledging the spouse they came with. I notice the “look of love “ but does any one else notice?

There are a few singles that show up alone and try to fit in with the different groups that exist. They flow from group to group never really fitting in, looking uncomfortable, interrupting a conversation with an anecdote or a joke then moving on.


More to follow: drinking, cursing, sex and the Chrsitmas Bonus.

Why is it that things go right for a while and then suddenly everything goes to shit.

I think I figured out what's going on. Tell me if this sounds plausible. First off, those who say Voldemort is linked to Harry are correct, but how? It has everything to do with how he survived! I’m guessing but how is Voldemort coming back? Simple.
He "stored" a large amount of himself in Harry's Lightning Bolt scar! This is why the scar aches, burns, etc every time Voldemort is feeling something strong, or using magic. What part of himself did he place in the scar? Probably the larger portion of his power! Did you ever wonder why the Wands are the same? Maybe it is because the power is the same! Harry may well have been born a squib!!!! He only has power because Voldemort left him self in the scar and Harry can use all of Voldermorts powers, snake talking, animigus, etc
Dumbledore didn't kill Voldemort because it is useless! As long as Harry is alive he will keep coming back! Voldemort needs Harry to die to release the power and allow him to fully come back! Until then he is a shadow of his former self!
In the end those who say they are setting Harry up for Sacrifice are correct, though he most likely will not have to die. Instead they will have him lose his magic to defeat Voldemort somehow. The precise vehicle for this defeat is unclear to me...

Something else... Has anyone considered that Hedgewig may be a very special owl indeed? We never saw him being "purchased". That task was done out of scene by Haggrid. I've thought for a while that Madam Hooch may be an animagus, and that she may actually be Hedgewig, set by Dumbledore to guard Harry.

The huge amount of SUV’s on the road today is unbelievable. It seems to me that most people drive a behemoth of a vehicle to go get a cup of coffee. I have employees working for me making minimum wage or a little above that drive $40,000.00 vehicles. My god the amount of money that they put into the down payment or what their payments are is mind-boggling. The kicker isn’t the money but that they drive it just to work and home and back and forth. I have teenagers working for me that have these vehicles as well

The kids that drive these monsters also seem to be on the cell phone as well. They drive wild, not paying attention to what happens around them. Oblivious to any one but themselves they seem to have no purpose than to otherwise drive around and annoy the neighbor hood. Other drivers can’t seem to drive fast enough for these kids or always seem to be in the way. No blinkers, never paying attention just running the streets

Earlier today a young lady driving a brand new Ford Expedition rides up behind me flashes her lights, honks her horn. Clearly she is in a hurry and I’m not, I pull over, she is on the cell phone and flips me off as she goes by.

She speeds up and turns a corner on the phone and turns wide and hits a van. When I pull up to the accident scene the older man driving the van is in bad shape. This girl, (really just a girl) drove to big a car, too fast, not paying attention and causes a bad accident. The first words out of her mouth are to the person she’s talking top on the cell phone. She is talking on the cell phone to a girlfriend about a party she’s going to while the driver on the van is bleeding to death. I call 911 and suddenly a few other drivers stop. A nurse happens to stop and helps stop the bleeding on the injured mans leg. Fire trucks and paramedics, finally the police. Swear to God the girl is still on the phone when the police pull up.

After a few minutes the police officer asks the girl what happened and she says,
”He hit me” The officer asks her to put her cell phone away while he interviews her, she asks the police officer, “Do I have too.”

The man is driven away in the ambulance when I approach the officer to explain what I saw and how she was driving when she went pass me. The young lady overhears my discussion with police officer, runs over and yells something at me in a foreign language. The police officer steps in takes my statement. When he looks in Expedition, he finds a bag of make-up all over the front seat and floorboards, a soda, (not spilled) and she says, “When he hit me I was putting on my make-up, look what he did to my face.”

I looked at the officer and said, “Thank-God this is your job”

A new study from UCSF states that stress takes a toll on your body all the way down to the cell level, and could shorten your life. REALLY NO SHIT. So now I have proof that my job is killing me.

If I could take your pain away with a touch I would fly to you and remove all of your sorrow. I laid awake all night thinking about you and your tears make me sad.

You and I have been through a lot and no matter the past, you and your heart are important to me. It pains me to know that you are hurting and all that I can offer is words. I take no joy in your pain and I pray that everything works out for you. Your happiness is all that I ever wanted.

Things like this happen for a reason (someone special told me this once) and I don’t believe you will be alone for very long. I will always be a friend for you, to you and with you.

Man is pack animal. We don’t like to be alone. We need friends, we need family, and we need each other. I’ve been loved and I been alone and believe me being loved is so much better than being alone.

Loved is warm and comfortable, alone is cold and tearful.