Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Thanksgiving and My Mom’s Birthday…!


 
Starting out the day, (November 22), my partner, Mike C., and myself stopped off at my mothers’s apartment to bid her a “Happy Birthday!” Only two days earlier, Joni (my mother pictured here) had arrived home after a month long vacation in El Paso, Texas.

 After presenting a cake for the special occasion, Joni posed for my camera. She was a-squintin’ as she prepared for this one…

Mmmmm…! Nothing like a sweet dessert for such a sweet person on her 29th birthday…

In turn, my mom took this photo of Mike and myself in the warm confines of her charming apartment…

 
- A transition from cake to ham:

Meanwhile, at The Romero House, my dad, Tami (my sister) and Jeff (Tami’s boyfriend) were busily preparing a Thanksgiving feast. My dad is carving the critter…

He used his steely knife, and yes, he could kill the beast………………………….

 
Collaborating on the Thanksgiving project, Jeff was a master chef of sorts as he helped cook and then carve the bird of honor, an oven-baked turkey. By the way - this was Jeff’s first experience cooking turkey - Now, that’s talkin’ turkey…!

 Dressed in glittering gold on this festive occasion, my longtime friend, Susie Autrey, posed for my camera. A vision of calm loveliness…

 

Mike Parlette and Susie helped celebrate the holiday…

Thanksgiving to one and to all…!

Posted by Tommy at 20:32:50 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

My Blessed Friends’ Wedding…

 

Saturday October 27, 2007, marked the occasion for my friends’ Halloween Party/Wedding ceremony, held at the Carmicheal Park Community Center. The couple who joined in matrimony were Phil Theilen and Billie Benedetti. Although I have only been to one other wedding in my life, I was relieved when Billie told me, “This wedding is going to be fun. Instead of the regular kind of formal event, we are asking people to wear Halloween costumes. It will also be a party!”

Dressed in white, Billie was a gorgeous bride. At her side, Phil was beaming with pride and joy. A perfect couple - and it couldn’t happen to nicer people!

 My partner, Mike, and I left Forrest Hill (where he resides) while it was still light, bound for the special event. In the speeding car and on our way to Carmicheal, I snapped this quick self portrait. At high speed and trying not to be late, Mike and I were on our way as fast as we could go…Good thing I have big lips - You try putting on lipstick with a car in high speed motion….Yikes! (It ain’t pretty…he he)

Arriving a bit late, I stopped for a brief moment in the parking lot while Mike C. took a quick snapshot photo. What was my costume, you might inquire? Courtney Love, maybe? No, I was an angel. My wings had broken the day earlier as I hastily opened the packaging they had been sold in. My halo was in tow; I just hadn’t placed it atop my head. In this photo, it looks like I’m saying, “OK, take my picture. I’m all dressed up fancy schmancy in this get-up. Now I have to behave since this is a formal affair….!”

 

The nicest down-to-earth folks were in attendance. Like me, this man dressed in flamboyant girlish attire. What fun…!

Take note - my brilliant sister, Tamara Skiens and handsome boyfriend, Jeff, are in the background snapping photos…

 

                                                                                                             Is there a nurse in the house?

A sweet angel friend of mine, Susie Autrey, was aglow at one of the dining tables. (See photo at left)


In dapper Halloween attire, Susie’s boyfriend and one of my best friends of all time, genius artist Mike Parlette, posed for my camera…(photo right)

 

A friendly chef…

                         
   What is a Halloween festivity without a witch present? (Photo to right)

 

A cute little princess greeted me…

The cute little princess’ supermom, Crystal Granite, stood nearby, glowing…

 

This man made a real pig of himself…

 
Looking young and sophisticated, it’s my wonderful father, Thom J. Skiens…

 

And yes, my handsome partner Mike (“Palooka-Bear”) Canepa escorted me to the event…appropriately dressed in black

The best costume prize (in my opinion) went to my adorable younger sister, Tamara Skiens and her boyfriend, Jeff. There they are dressed (picture to right) as Lady Gwenevere and Robin Hood…

 
The prize for the most unconventional couple on hand was perhaps, Mike and myself…Oh well, somebody has to bring the controversy….he he he!

Billie’s youngest daughter, Jordan, and best friend pose for me in their Halloween get-ups….

 

Another one of Billie’s daughters, Leslie, was on hand, looking on pridefully as her mother got hitched….(photo to left)

 
Leslie’s husband watched the procedings….(photo to right)

 

Billie’s third daughter smiled happily from her place at one of the tables…

 

All kinds of inventive costumes were apparent…

 

A pretty flapper girl posed for my camera…

There I am (with halo intact, thank you) and posing with some friendly folks…

What friendly folks…and so all-American…!

Mike Parlette and Crystal Granite…(picture right)

 

You’ve got to have friends.. Reunited comrades: Mike Parlette, Bille The Bride and Yours Truly…

 
One of my favorite new people met at the shin-dig was this very interesting woman named Susan. The moment she spoke to me with her elegent articulate English accent, I was smitten…

 

Lovely nuns were all aglow, adding that spiritual essence to a blessed event…

Phil’s son and girlfriend were an attractive coupling…”Are you getting married, too?” I inquired. “The children will be very cute.”

 
Who is that behind those feathers? A very lovely woman I spoke to briefly..(photo to left)

What stunning red hair…! (photo to right)

 

Another lovely guest with a beautiful smile…

This nice couple told me they’d been married for many years…What charming people….

 

What a colorful trio…!

 Billie took off her wedding dress and whallah - a siren in ruby red!

 

When all was said and done, the bride and groom were smiling, arm in arm and set for a fabulous honeymoon….

Congratulations to wonderful people, Billie and Phil Thielen….!

Posted by Tommy at 11:15:47 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

When God Made Me

   

 

  - By Neil Young -

Was he thinkin’ about my country
Or the color of my skin?
Was he thinkin’ ’bout my religion
And the way I worshipped him?
Did he create just me in his image
Or every living thing?

When God made me
When God made me

Was he planning only for believers
Or for those who just have faith?
Did he envision all the wars
That were fought in his name?
Did he say there was only one way
To be close to him?

When God made me
When God made me

Did he give me the gift of love
To say who I could choose?

When God made me
When God made me

When God made me
When God made me

Did he give me the gift of voice
So some could silence me?
Did he give me the gift of vision
Not knowing what I could see?
Did he give me the gift of compassion
To help my fellow man?

When God made me
When God made me

When God made me
When God made me

Posted by Tommy at 14:12:51 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Shock And Awe

         - By Neil Young -

Back in the days of shock and awe
We came to liberate them all
History was the cruel judge of overconfidence
Back in the days of shock and awe

Back in the days of “mission accomplished”
Our chief was landing on the deck
The sun was settig on a golden photo op
Back in the days of “mission accomplished”

Thousands of bodies in the ground
Brought home in boxes to a trumpet’s sound
No one sees them coming home that way
Thousands buried in the ground

Thousands of children scarred for life
Millions of tears for a soldier’s wife
Both sides are losing now
Heaven takes them in
Thousands of childen scarred for life

We had a chance to change our mind
But somehow wisdom was hard to find
We went with what we knew and now we can’t go back
But we had a chance to change our mind

Posted by Tommy at 13:56:56 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Yes…Let’s Do The Math For Those Confused War-Mongers!

     A few days ago, I received an e-mail that included the heading - “Trust The Figures, Not The Liars!”

    Out of curiosity, I went on to read the message sent to my personal e-mail. It read: “These are some rather eye-opening facts: since the start of the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the sacrifice has been enormous. In the time period from the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 thorugh now, we have lost over 3000 military personnel to enemy action and accidents. As tragic as the loss of any member of the US armed forces is, consider the following statistics: Here are annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 thorugh 2006:…”

     First point: the total of military personnel fatalities is over 3700 at this point, rising every single day. This incorrect figure right from the start didn’t give too much credence to what I would go on to read, but any way, I decided to read on…

     The author of the message goes on to carefully list, year by year, the total number of military deaths which occurred throughout the various past 26 years. The author includes statistics which reflect, he thinks, a startling revelation - that fewer deaths have occurred during the current administration than did during the administrations, of most notably in his opinion, the Carter and Clinton administrations.

     The author goes on to proclaim in victorious terms, “If you are confused when you look at these figures, so was I. Do these figures mean that the loss from the last two latest conflicts in the middle east are less than the loss of military personnel during Mr. Clinton’s presidency when America wasn’t even involved in a war? And, I was even more confused  whenI read that in 1980 during the reign of President (Nobel Peace Prize) Jimmy Carter, there were 2392 Us military fatalities! These figures indicate that many of our media and policiticians will pick and choose. They present only those facts which support their agenda-driven reporting. Our mainstream print and tv media and many politicians like to slant; that these brave men and women who are losing their lives in Iraq are mostly minorities. Wrong again…Just one more media lie. the latest census show the following distribution by race:

European descet (white)…….69.12%
Hispanic………………………….12.5%
Black………………………………12.3%
Asian………………………………3.7%
Native American………………..1.0%
Other……………………………….2.6%

     The author sums up his thesis: “…You do the math! These figures don’t lie. but media-liars figure…and they sway the public opinion! Now ask yourself these two questions: Why does the mainstream media print and tv media never print statistics like these? and Why do we have to find out this information on the web?”

     And now - My turn to respond! :

     Yes, it is true - statistics can be used, exploited and manipulated to express one’s particular slanted political agenda. Certainly this message is such a case in point. Not only that, it is just plain creepy. Who, but a Republican ,would go to such great lengths to make the argument which supports killing?

     And so what is the point here? Is this comparitive study of total annual deaths an attempt to justify  the numbers of deaths that have occurred in the current occupation in Iraq? The pro-war people use these kinds of figures to rationalize, how somehow it is not a startling tragic figure that nearly 4000 military members have been killed during this current and ongoing bloodbath in Iraq. The pro-Bush people use terms such as “collateral damages,” when referring to deaths, injuries, and dismembered arms and legs. This cold antiseptic right wing way of viewing the serious subject of death is an attempt to hide many of the true statistics, as follows:

(1) The total deaths of American men and women (now exceeding 3700 fatalities) and tragically building each and every day, while recruitment efforts are becoming an all time act of desperation.

(2) The wounded and injured thousands of military personnel, which includes those who have lost arms, legs, faces and other body parts. One in three of soldiers in the current occupation suffers from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

(3) The deaths of 800,000 plus Iraq citizens, many of whom have included innocent non-military women and children. (Take note: Republicans never consider these deaths as significant. Why not?)

(4) The deaths and seriously injured private citizens hired and contracted by the US government to help rebuild the Iraq infrastructure. To date, these figures number in the several thousands. Republicans never include these statistics, which are certainly a large portion of the total fatalities.

(5) The numbers of those killed and wounded by mercenary organizations such as Blackwater. Only a few weeks ago, 17 innocent Iraq citizens were killed.

     Interesting how the author of the e-mail goes to such great lengths to compare and contrast deaths incurred during previous administrations, and yet he falls prey to the very culprit he indicates as being  “slanted” and a matter of “picking and choosing” statistics which support slanted and agenda driven points of view.  He admits to being “confused.” And confused, he most certainly is, for he is attempting here, it appears, to be making an argument that is pro-war, pro-death….Creepy, just creepy.

     On the subject of race, Republicans (except for Abraham Lincoln, perhaps) have historically lacked in sympathizing with those who have been discriminated against. For the most part, the right wingers have remained cold on the topic of civil rights, even denying that there is such a thing as racism amongst our institutional, cultural, social, corporate, poltical, educational and certainly military ranks. It comes as no surprise that this right wing self proclaimed mathematician delights in listing (in almost ss storm trooper fashion) the exact percentages of fatalities, sorted in strict analytical fashion - “distribution by race.” Creepy, creepy…

     While the author of the e-mail urges the reader to “Do the Math!” any fifth grader who is learning simple percentages would tell you - of course there are fewer fatalities of minorities! Since these populations are fewer amongst the entire American population, likewise, this will be illustrated in proportion when counting total deaths in each group. 

     In doing this math, why does the author not include statistics which indicate the socio-economic level of those individuals killed in Iraq? The question “some politicians” are raising is not so much about race, as it is income level. How many of those military men and women who died for this cause came from middle-class, lower middle class and poverty stricken homes and families?

     As long as we’re DOING THE MATH, here are some mathmatical queries:

- How many of George Bush’s daughters have served in the military for this very noble cause? (Zero)

- How many Americans are totally against the current Iraq War?  Answer: 75% against….

- How many weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq? Answer: Zero…

- How many innocent Iraqi citizens have been killed? Answer: over 700,000 people killed

- How many innocent Iraqi and other mid-eastern soldiers have been apprehended and then tortured?

- How many phone calls and private e-mails of American citizens have been monitored illegally by the US government?

- How many lies have been told to the American citizenry in order to sell the Iraqi war?

Yes…Let’s Please do the math…These Republicans are confused….!!!

     

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Posted by Tommy at 21:52:03 | Permalink | No Comments »