My bad on this one

Club Schmitz is closing, unfortunately today. I should have said something sooner. I knew it was going to close, never heard when till just now.

Is Club Schmitz four star dining, hell no. Is it a great place to have chicken fried steak and a beer or 6 on a Tuesday afternoon at two, hell yes. It is the type of place that if you use the word ambiance in any shape, form, or fashion you are being an idiot. Is it a dive, of course not I liked going there.

This may only be important to the area and maybe just a few people in Dallas, but it is important. I don't know exactly what time the doors are shutting, but if you are in Dallas right now head straight over. It is on Harry Hines underneath a new DART bridge beside a large chain gas station. It is a couple blocks south of Northwest Hwy.

I don't know all the details. Apparently corporate interests wanted the land and/ or the owners were ready. Anyway it is closing. And not for the better, but is the type of place that doesn't move well or have new owners try to carry on. It was definitely Club Schmitz and could only be Club Schmitz. Sometimes you had to park on the dirt in the back, was never built to be popular, but a place for the regulars to enjoy. Located on the other side of town from me so didn't get to go often, but always enjoyed the few times I did get to go.

Wherever you are take a moment to enjoy your local diner etc, in today's increasingly corporate world these places are dying out and tis shame. No chain restaurant can ever replace places like Club Schmitz.

Cheers and good night ya'll.

surprise! surprise! surprise!

Wow, whoop de do, the tea party won big in the Texas Primary run off. Made major headlines here and even nationally like someone actually expected different.


The first surprise is I am kind of bored with the Tea Party. I still feel worrisome about their agenda etc.., but for some reason they aren't making my blood boil right now. There are many issues they have that trouble me and I am going to touch one a bit this evening. And it is not their issue, it is more of it is nobody's issue, but they seem to be doing a good job of ignoring like everyone else.

And earlier today I had thought of a humorous line (at least I thought it was funny) but for the life of me I can't remember it. I was poking fun at myself and thinking the borg(tea party) had assimilated me. Yes it was a joke about paying taxes and expecting something in return from our government. Anyway that was the theme.

More importantly and this really hit home this week we need to do something about elder care. I have brought it up before. I don't always talk about why I think it is important, but I have very strong personal reasons and because of that I have seen some of the horror of bad elder care. Not every organization is bad, but there is enough to worry a nation if we don't start doing a better job.

I may be wrong, but I worry people don't realize the depth of the expense this nation is about to face. And I know if you support Obama you are also very supportive of the ACA. It is hard to get the supporters of Obama to realize there is still much to be desired. I know the Republicans have beat the issue to dust because they just don't want Obama to even begin to look like he did something worthwhile, but I hope people could understand that for real healthcare reform there is much lacking. Yes more people have insurance, but healthcare is still run by the people making billions; the insurance industry and institutional healthcare providers. Which leads me to my issue and my conundrum. The healthcare providers etc are making a fortune of our parents. Their major product development is in ways to keep people alive longer at greater and greater expense (read, their profits). This is putting a burden on families and our taxes as most of elder care is paid by medicare and medicaid.

My conundrum is I am a believer in dignity of life till grave. How do I understand when a person's life is no longer a life? That is my personal issue. What I would like you to think about is how we can create a better health care system that is actually productive and helps those who truly need it, plus one we can afford. Unfortunately the ACA is woefully inadequate. Too many lobbyists had their paws all in it long before it became law to really create healthcare reform and elder care is just one example of it's inadequacies.

I know Reps and tea party are just trying to repeal it out of spite, so please don't look at my criticisms the same. I truly believe we can do better, we must, and somehow reduce the coming financial albatross on the next few generations.

I have watched one parent die a very long painful death. It went on for years because person was a fighter. Now watching another parent dying an even worse death. Unfortunately this person has received horrible care and family was suppose to be taking care and monitoring, because they took elder care for granted. Long story short: I watched my wife and her brother drive overnight with their Mom dressed only only in a hospital gown strapped to a wheel chair in the back of a panel van to get her some place better overnight. She was needing immediate medical care, but the facility she was staying at had so dropped the ball this was actually the best choice for her. Did anybody in the family do bad , no, but if you aren't careful and diligent things can go sour fast. Their lack of attentiveness put this woman in jeopardy. Now the woman, who was already very sick, suffers much more than she should.

And get this, the facility she was in is a : for profit institution. You would think their need to make money would create a desire to do a good job. Nope. Anyway sorry I got a bit melodramatic, but I fear things aren't going to get better without serious concerted effort. And this brings me full circle to do I have any confidence the tea party can create any decent legislation on any issue (nope again) much less do something for this most critical issue.

Anyway we have my Mom in law back near us not doing well. My wife is happy she got her back. The situation is sad for us for the obvious reasons, but also because for a few years we took care of her in our home doing the best we could for her. Now to see her is frustrating. We did better as family than a professional organization did making money off medicare and medicaid. She was becoming sick to the point of needing 24 hour care so it was sad for my wife to give her up. Now it is sad to realize we, as a society, aren't prepared for what is coming.

The scene I described above actually happened over a year ago. There was an article in the local paper where she was previously detailing problems other people experienced with this facility published this week Brought up some bad memories.

a few of what needs to be obvious

First, Happy Memorial Day again everyone. I want to thank my cousin who posted some family pictures on his facebook page. He had some great pictures of family who served going as far back as WW I.

Now it just seems strange that on this weekend we take time to honor all the men and women who gave it all for our country there has been some major headline news about senseless violence. From South Carolina to Las Vegas to the horror in California. So much greatness is being over shadowed by some of what is wrong with our society right now. We have got to get a handle on mental health issues and with the LV issue what kind of values our children are being taught.

And then there are all the Republicans touting how pro second amendment they are now. I don't want to touch on the gun issue since everywhere you read it is being discussed. I am talking to those who say they are conservative because they are so pro second amendment. Folks there are 9 other amendments that are in much more trouble than the second amendment. The whole bill of rights is being flushed down the toilet into the Potomac by all these so called conservatives. We have judges, who take an oath to uphold the Constitution, doing some of the most damage. The House, too, but sheesh how do we protect us from people who have lifelong appointments who don't seem to know what the bill of rights are all about. And they call themselves conservatives. I don't think so.

Our illustrious Governor Perry is at it again touting how much of a job creator he has been as the Governor of Texas. I mentioned this before when he was making these claims in 2012; the Governor of Texas is not the primary driver of legislation etc in Texas. It is the Lt. Governor who wields the most influence in Texas. The Governor is more a figure head. He does sign legislation into law, but the Lt. Governor really controls what is brought up for votes in the legislature. And Texas has been a "business friendly" state long before Gov. Perry was elected. I would take anything he says with more than a few grains of salt.


Hate to be so critical on this most important holiday, but we do need to reset our thinking on a day like today when our values are so misconstrued by so many.

I do hope you enjoy this day given to us and if lucky will have someone in your family share pictures of your loved ones we honor today.

Some of the obvious

The tea party is hurting for a decent/quality candidate.

Huffington Post though maybe right when it says the tea party is winning because the Republicauns are moving even further to the right.

What is sad is Huff Post rehashed their own story to try and make headlines for this week's primaries. They had a very similar story a few weeks ago.

I don't know who is the bigger lap dog. Is it Fox News to Republicans or Huffington Post to Democrats?

The tea party noise has emboldened the Rep. establishment to go completely off the cliff. You can forget rational workable conservative agenda, the right is so full of itself they can't see past their eyelids.

If we don't do something soon we are all going to be owned by the billionaire de jour via a bloated federal govt that cannot afford to meet any of its obligations. There will be no middle.

China is being an absolute genius and absolute idiot at the exact same time. They had Russia where they wanted them, then signed the gas deal. They should have made Russia wait longer. And yes they are on Russia's side against the west, but they could have made Russia wait to get more than natural gas concessions, especially when it comes to the South China sea.

And speaking of that: "the more things change, the more things stay the same.; So do we side with Vietnam or let it go. It has always been about the oil in the South China sea.



Back to primaries, in the Texas run off for Attorney General, they say "liberal Republican" instead of RINO. Liberal is a four letter word here in Texas. Okay, okay to some.

Paul George means much to the Pacers. I hate it when injuries have effects in the playoffs. Thunder hit by this bug also, probably worse, but both teams may be losers because of the players lost, even if temporarily.

You wonder how all these billionaires became billionaires the way they are throwing good money after bad supporting all these tea party candidates. Not getting their money's worth of late. So who will win in the billionaires vs billionaires game? We already know the people have lost.

And if you don't think our federal govt is overrun bi inept bureaucracy, go ask a Vet trying to get into a V A hospital. And thanks Jon Stewart for also piping in, sometimes we forget who really deserves credit for how great our country is (hint its not the billionaires). Happy Memorial Day everyone. Remember those in your family and all Vets in general

after all that

I know it is only one game, but hey it looks like the Pacers are actually living up to my prediction. I probably just jinxed them, but what the hay. We will see.



And I am truly afraid of many things right now. Let us hope I am wrong. Why are people so afraid of wanting our country to truly live up to its potential? Things are really scary nowadays.

Lets play a TV game show

The answer is: The only non partisan policies in Washington D.C.?

cue music

And the question is: what is corruption, graft, and greed? All under the category we, the people, are screwed for a 1000.




And still thinking about the Nebraska primary, interesting the split of the tea party candidates and the moderate coming in second. Trying to find some time to read more. Overall the picture is still developing.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope every woman who has raised child(ren) has a most wondrous day. And if any Mom has to work today I hope you receive double blessings.

Life is too short for circumstances to force you away from your family. It is important to put your family first. This helps to lead to a stronger value system.

Enjoy your day, you have earned it.

a couple of quick hits

Yes the Cowboys need a quarterback, but if Mr Jones drafts Johnny Football I am going to puke publicly. Drafting him is more about marketing and selling Jerseys than team and championships.

Haven't digested how important of a win for the "establishment"Republicans was yesterday. Candidate that won seems to have a pretty serious history of supporting tea party platforms and I am starting to think many tea partiers will take anything over a democrat. The primaries are just getting started so we will see.

And with all this talk about wanting change in D.C., that really isn't going to happen. We are about to get same ole same ole round 40+.

random thoughts

What do you say when someone is being polite to you? For example you step aside to let someone pass and they say, "excuse me".



Are the Germans ready for Arizona to succeed from the U.S.? Seriously, is Senator McCain losing it or what?



The two keys for the Mavericks to win on,Sunday are energy and execution on defense and offense for the full 48 minutes. I sure hope they pull it off and win Sunday. Go Mavs.


May is upon us, the next two months will be fun watching the primaries.

Have a great night and weekend.