Birthday Presents

I don't much care about birthdays anymore. When I was a kid it was exciting because you got presents. I don't much care about presents anymore. I don't much like stuff, things. For my birthday my sister got me a really nice shirt, I needed one like it and really appreciated it. A few people want to take me out to dinner or lunch, I like that a lot, a chance to be with friends over a meal, I am always down for that.

On Friday a young woman who works for me gave me a couple of little things, they were not wrapped in party paper, just in a little bag. The items were small; but what really impressed me was that she kept them in the little paper bag. She didn't say happy birthday, she handed me the little bag and said she had got this for me. I liked that.

At my work I will gladly throw a few bucks in for someone's birthday. I don't like cake and don't like birthday parties. I don't care about my own. I don't mind aging (I prefer it over being young) and I am happy to say my age, 51. I am not a Jehovah's Witness, I just don't really care about most celebrations. Institutionalized parties. I don't need to recognize "official holidays". My favorite holiday is Martin Luther King day. On that day me and my fellow van poolers should have died. On that day an earthquake dropped the overpass that I ride everyday at the exact same time that we would have been on it. It was a holiday so we were not on it.

I used to enjoy Halloween, I don't eat much candy anymore. I enjoyed Christmas with the family, a time together, I don't see it as a religious holiday and really don't like the idea of running around to get presents. I don't want any presents, just time with family and friends. I like Thanksgiving because I like two days off and a chance to cook, eat well and watch movies with my family and friends.

My holidays are the days I don't have to work and get to enjoy being around loved ones. I celebrate God on a daily basis. I regularly thank him for letting me be me. I don't need presents, if I need something I will buy it. I will buy presents for others, I can't explain it.

I would rather focus on relationships than on requirements. I help a lot of people, I have housed the homeless, more than once. I have helped people in business for free, regularly. The day to day things, the way we treat each other is more important than presents that you feel required to give because of some date.

I know a lot of men who are really irritated about Valentine's Day. Many feel it is a test. I used to bring flowers home on a weekly (or more) basis. I didn't need Valentine's day to remind me to bring home flowers to my ex. If you tell someone you love them, don't complain about Valentine's day unless you are constantly bringing them flowers.

On a separate note, I made a post of a paragraph a few days ago. I will continue with the paragraph.

We turned the corner and I could see a small, sidewalkless street. The house stood in the middle of the street on the top of a hill. I got out of the car and told my father that I would call him when the party ended. He left. I looked at the stairs leading to the front door, a story and a half high. My mind was confused to say the least.

I was anxious as I climbed the stairs, there was too much going on, in my life and in my head. I wondered if it were a joke, if I was the victim of a cruel hoax; but, in my heart I knew I was not, my heart knew more than my head. I knocked on the door and was greeted by the most beautiful woman in the world. I entered.

Oh Pimpernel, you are such a tease. Yes, I am, two paragraphs is generous and you shall have no more tonight. I tease my readers, I want to see the 10,000th visit. Be well and enjoy tomorrow.

Vernon, the City of ?

Now it is announced that the District Attorney wants to disband the City of Vernon. I told you so, I told you so, I told you so. Vernon is going to be the most fun of all of the little cities.

Lets recap. A friend of Mayor Villaragosa (in conjunction with CIM Group which is funded by CalPers and Lacers) bought land in Kern county that the City of Los Angeles wanted to buy for a wind farm and for the water rights. The City of Vernon has it's own electric utility company. Now, Vernon is to be disbanded. What do you think will happen next?

Hmmmm. I bet you the City of Los Angeles ends up getting that land even if it has to buy it from the County. Read the whole article, drink it in and understand where it will lead. They want us to pass a law that would allow cities to become unincorporated if it had voter fraud and an elected official found guilty of something. Guess what, that is every City in the United States. When, not if, this passes they will unincorporate every little city with money in order to take it.

These little crooks in these little cities were allowed to continue because they served a purpose, it allowed us to keep dirty industries in the area. Now, we need their money so they will be absorbed by the bigger cities and the county. Do I hear someone playing a Roman fiddle?

VERNON, VERNON. All that lovely tax revenue and the coming business tax and all of the businesses grandfathered in. All of the revenue and none of the political backsplash. MONEY, MONEY. In Los Angeles the ballot measures are moving forward to change the retirement system for new hires. I am against it, I think existing employees should bear some of the burden and that includes me. It is easy to get people to vote against what the other guy gets. Sheep attacking sheep to protect what they have (in reality it is getting yours first and we all lose).