Scenes from 1958's Thunder Road with Robert Mitchum and Gene Barry




Wore one of my new Hawaiian shirts today. By Nader's after meeting to tell him about Palm Desert Gun Exchange; then on home and check e-mail and news sites with girls, cheese, and crackers. Try calling Tom Snow but his cell phone isn't taking messages. Watch some of Rush's show on 24/7 Ditto Cam. Beth calls and we talk. Cut tags off new shirts and re-hang them. To living room and watch recording of Robert Mitchum's Thunder Road. Talk Beth again then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Open mail. Feed girls. To office and work at computer. Beth calls. Outside and clean up side yard. Inside and sweep floors. Beth home and we talk. I fix salads and we eat. She off to H&I meeting. Dallas calls for her. I watch the end of O'Reilly. To office and listen to a great tape from Rush's show today - Susan from Glendale, CA. Beth home and after she calls Dallas back, we watch premier of NCIS which we recorded last night. Later ~

Davey Sharp and Eddie Dean in scene from Colorado Serenade

Roscoe Ates; Eddie Dean; Mary Kenyon; Charles King in scene from Colorado Serenade

Haircut after meeting; then home to check on girls. To Dr. Shultz's office for sonogram of back. Stop by Beth's place of employment and we talk, Home and have lunch while watching Eddie Dean and Davey Sharp in Colorado Serenade (in two-strip color). Talk to Beth then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls; then open mail. Talk to Beth. Work in office. Talk to Tom at dialysis. Beth calls and wants to go shopping. I clean side yard; and sweep fast. She home and we drive to Costco and Home Depot. Dinner at the Yellow Basket. Home and try to watch CSI: Miami - interrupted by phone call - then it's shower for her and: later ~

Gene Autry sings in Columbia's The BIG Sombrero - 1949

Stop to get car washed on way home from meeting. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls, crackers and cheese. Talk to Tommy. He's back at facility and settling in (says he'll be home in a week). Off to drop slacks for alterations; on to Tommy Bahama's to buy some more Hawaiian shirts; and to gun shop to buy a small .38 for Beth. Drive by Beth's place of employment and pick up ironing. She upset because I used wrong credit cards. Oh well ~ Home and eat lunch while watching Gene Autry's color extravaganza, The Big Sombrero.. Down for nap with girls. Up and pick up mail - none next door. In and open mail. Pills and feed girls. Hang Hawaiian shirts in laundry room. Write here. Clean up side yard. Talk to Tommy in rest home - he's going to heart doctor at Loma Linda in a.m. - will do his dialysis in p.m. Sweep floors. Jimmy George calls from Misissippi. Work at computer. Beth home and help unload her car. She putzes outside - then we have lemonade and Dr. Pepper while we talk. To office and she goes online to search for old insurance money. Dinner and talk. I to office to catch up on a few things. She showers. Later ~

My Good Friend, James Jenkins, from Florida

Sleep in Beth up and off to Hall. I up 5:45. Shower and dress; trim beard. Breakfast. Then it's off for grocery shopping. Home and put away stuff. Beth here and she helps. I work in office; then I clean out my basket drawers and get rid of stuff I never use. We have lunch which I brought home from Albertson's Deli. Talk to Tom Snow - he's going back into nursing home this afternoon - just can' do it himself, he says. I down for nap with girls. Up and dogs have been fed by you-know-who. She's done my pills and I put them away. James Jenkins calls. Into office where we talk. After I back to kitchen and Beth. Tommy Snow calls again and we talk about football and his going back to home. Fix some cheese and chips and we have dinner. To office and we both work at computers. Try Tommy to see if he made it to nursing home - his cell phone is not on. Later ~

Marshall Reed (center) on Johnny Mack Brown set - Iverson's Ranch 1951

Pamela Duncan and James Ellison on the set

Johnny Mack Brown and his leading lady, Noel Neil

Up at usual time; breakfast; snooze; but don't go to meeting. I'm staying to make sure girls are OK. Beth off but I stay here to wait for carpenters who will re-build my closet in our bedroom. They arrive before 7:00 to set up their workspace in drive. Girls are very interested. I work at computer while they work. Talk to Jimmy George. They are done before 9:30 and out of here. I get ready to go to dialysis center as Beth comes home. Take her car to Eisenhower to see Tom in center. He's tired and we don't talk that much; finally I leave so he can sleep. I to Von's and get us some lunch. Home and set up for lunch - we eat and talk. Blind Man coming over to put new blinds in my bath. I down for nap with girls while he work in bathroom. I up 3:30. Work in office with Beth at my side. We get ready and drive to Indio for a dinner celebration at Leather Plus commemorating their partnership with Parkinson's Disease group. Drive home. Called Tommy several times and on last call he told me he was going back to nursing home tomorrow. Home. Get ready for bed. Later ~

Rush Limbaugh on The Jay Leno Show last night

Stop for IC on way home from meeting. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and no snack (had too much to eat at meeting). Finish watching Young Billy Young. Talk to Beth for awhile; then off to shop for cruise at Macy's. Buy some burritos at Chipoltes. Home and talk to Beth. Eat half a burrito and watch some more TV. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail - ours and neighbors'. Open mail. Feed girls. Bring in this morning's purchases. Call Tommy and talk for a minute. Watch the Rush Limbaugh segment on The Jay Leno Show on Rush's web site. Write here a little. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Watch some news and the beginning of O'Reilly. Beth home and we talk over lemonade and Dr. Pepper. Dinner, burritos. Then it's Rush on Leno recording from last night. Later ~

Gun Belt with George Montgomery

Stop at Nader's to gas up on way home. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls, cheese and crackers. Work at computer for awhile. Beth calls frantically and needs some info from her desk. I get it and pass it on. Talk to Tommy for awhile. He got through a second night at home. To TV and watch Gun Belt with George Montgomery. After that finish the Gene Autry, Peggy Stewart Trail to San Antone I started yesterday. All this while having lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in our mail. Back out to get neighbors' mail. Open our mail. Talk Beth. Talk to Tommy. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Call Tommy - will see hi tomorrow at dialysis. No time to turn on O'Reilly as she is home. Help her unload. We sit and talk. She to office while I make dinner. We eat and talk. Then we watch premier of new season NCIS. She shower. Later ~

Gene Autry and Peggy Stewart in Trail to San Antone


Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls, cheese,and crackers. Off to dialysis center to visit Tommy at 9:30. We talk for a few minutes. Then I upstairs to Dr. Shultz's office where I meet Beth and we have pre-op meeting with doctor - I will be having several fatty cysts removed next month. To market and home. Have leftover pizza for early lunch while watching Gene Autry's Trail to San Antone on TV. Talk Beth. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail; open mail. Feed girls. Talk to Beth. Talk to Tommy; and talk with Jimmy George, who has been in a terrible rain storm. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Beth home but not inside - she works in yard. Finally she's in and I start dinner. Talk while cooking. Then we eat. TV: Premier of CSI Miami. To bed and she watches Dancing with the Stars while I go to sleep. Later ~

With Brian Keith on Studio Center Back Lot (formerly Republic Pictures) - Family Affair - 1968

Filming Family Affair on Studio Center Back Lot (formerly Republic Pictures) - 1968

Leave meeting early to do blood draw. Stop at Von's on way home foe IC then Nader's for cinnamon bun. Home and make small breakfast as I was fasting. Jimmy George calls and we talk awhile. Try Tommy but no answer - leave message. Beth calls with info on Tommy. Bill told her he saw Tommy this morning and that he's planning on going home today. I call Bill to get more lowdown. He truly is going home. His daughter will be helping him make the move we've guessed. TV: Entourage while I eat lunch. Then some of Gene Autry's The Old Corral. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Open mail for Beth. To office and work some. Tommy calls and asks if I can drive him to meeting tomorrow. My car - Expedition - is too big. He'll call George Widman. Talk to Beth. She's picking up pizza on way home from work. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Start O'Reilly as she pulls in. She brings pizza and we eat. She off to H&I at Indio Jail, I work at computer. Call Tommy. I go down to bed before she gets back. Leave TV on for her Dancing with the Stars. Later ~

The Fugitive set - local Los Angeles location - 1966
Ray Rich, Key Grip, on left; Bob Rubin, 2nd Assistant Director, Ken Gilbert, Script Supervisor; and Jack Wilson, Make up, with back to camera

Camp Runamuck set at Columbia Ranch - 1965 Seymore Freidman and Irving Teminar at phone; Ida Lupino in blue scarf; Howard Duff beside her; and Hall March behind bush at bottom of photo

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:11 - shower, dress. Beth home and without breakfast, we off to Bermuda Dunes Airport to pick up pilot's car: the tracker, and take it back to her employers' place. Home. She dives into cleaning and mopping while I work at computer. Fix some lunch and we eat. ice cream cone for dessert. I down for nap with girls while she puts liners in kitchen drawers. Up and she's fed girls. We talk while she watches QVC on TV. Into office to type some here. She in for moment at computer. Tommy Snow calls to confirm he's going home Tuesday - maybe tomorrow. We think he's out of his mind to agree to this. He can't even walk any distance with his walker yet. His daughter, he says, will move him and shop for him before she leaves tomorrow or Tuesday. Beth and I cook and eat while watching TRU.TV. I to office and work on computer for awhile. Beth showers. Later ~

Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman - 1990

Grocery shopping after meeting; home and put it all away. Check e-mail and news sites with girls. Beth is at her employers' place this morning helping them to get ready to fly home. Then it's off to the dialysis center where I run into John Conolly again before I see Tommy. Tommy is sleeping when I arrive. I wake him up but he's dead tired; so I leave and come home. Watch more of the Alan Ladd movie from yesterday while I eat lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and Beth is home. She's fed girls and brought in mail. I spend some time in office while she dusts. We call Tommy, His daughter is there visiting; plus one of his ex-wives, Diane. Work in office for awhile; Beth does too. I fix dinner and we eat while we watch Huckabee. After that we watch a movie I recoreded this afternoon, Pretty Woman, with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Later ~

LeRoy Anderson - RIP
LeRoy was a good friend who took care of our girls when we were out of town.

Stop by Nader's station to talk on way home. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and pretzels. Call Tommy. Listen to some Rush; install some programs on Beth's computer; then take off for Sam's Club - forget my list and go back to get it. To Sam's where I meet Eric (he's got a cold), and he shops for Hall while I pick up some things for home. We have a hot dog lunch. He off to Hall; while I head home for a dessert snack; some TV; then down to nap with girls. Up and bring in our mail plus the boys next door's mail. Feed girls. Talk to Tommy who tells me "they" have told him he's going home next Tuesday. I can't call Beth as her employers are in town so I call Bill White. He will get in touch with Rick Mesa who is legally in charge of Tom. Call from Jimmy George. Clean up side yard; sweep floors. Work on computer. Beth home and we talk. I cook and we eat. Then it's today's recording of the Glenn Beck Show. E-mail from Norman about LeRoy's passing. Later ~

Typical Dialysis Center

Kidney Patient under going dialysis. I was on dialysis three and a half years before my transplant. This photo is not Tommy; just a sample I found on the Internet

Home after meeting and check e-mail and news sites. Call Tommy to tell him I'll meet him at dialysis center in an hour. Check some things out; try to set up a program for Beth and have no luck. Off to Eisenhower and the dialysis center. Run into Johnny Connelly in waiting room, He lost his transplant after 23 years and is now on dialysis again while on waiting list for another transplant. We talk over old times. In to see Tommy. He's in good shape - mentally. His leg still mending - now a bed sore. I call Beth then meet her at Bermuda Dunes airport where she's dropped another car for her employers. We stop at Mexican place on Washington where we used to stop after church with Eric and Glenna. Drop Beth and home. Dessert and check computer. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. I brought in mail before nap so I now open it for Beth. Phone call from Ed Mohler, my old Corriganville fight partner, who now lives in Louisiana. We talk while I clean up side yard and start sweeping floors. Continue sweeping and Beth home early. We sit and talk over lemonade and Dr. Pepper. I cook and we eat. Then it's the recording of today's Glenn Beck Show. Later ~

George "Gabby" Hayes

George Hayes and his wife Olive

Stop for ice cream on way home from meeting. Home and put away. Check e-mail and news sites with girls - no snack. Brenda here to clean for Beth. Brenda does the high stuff. I off to Health Scan place for a scan of my right leg to see if the clot discovered 6 mos ago has dissolved - if so, I can stop taking coumeden (sp). Home and watch some 24/7 Rush Limbaugh - a guy called A.J. from Houston talked for a long time. He was right on about a lot of stuff. Into living room and start watching Lights of Old Santa Fe, with Roy & Dale and Gabby Hayes. Have my lunch while viewing. Brenda leaves. I down for nap with girls. up and bring in mail. Open mail. Feed girls. Call Tommy Snow in nursing home and we talk. Talk to Beth. To office and call Jimmy George in Mississippi. Clean up side yard; sweep floors. Turn on O'Reilly just as Beth drives in. We talk then I make dinner and we eat. I to office to work a little. Beth works outside then she showers. Later ~

Gene Autry with Elaine Riley in Hills of Utah

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls, cheese, and pretzels. Talk to Beth. At 9:30 I drive over to dialysis center to visit Tommy until 11:00 am. He's in good mood. Home and eat lunch while watching Gene Autry's Hills of Utah - filmed in California. Sprinkler guys are back to do more work. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Open mail; then feed girls. Beth calls. I drive to Bermuda Dunes and meet her - she's driven the Geo out there as her employers are flying in for a day tomorrow and the Tracker is for the pilot. By Tommy's house for mail on way home. Also stop by Pegasus - to see if we could still find it. I drop her and head for home, Clean up side yard and sweep floors. Write some here. Turn on O'Reilly. Beth home and she checks sprinklers. She joins me at table for lemonade and Dr. Pepper. Watch O'Reilly and some Hannity while we eat. After that, to living room and watch recording of today's Glenn Beck Show. Later ~

Old Columbia Ranch when Western Street was Still There:
Bottom Right

Sprinkler guys here all day and dogs are confined to house. let them out periodically but Misty never pees.
Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Talk Beth. Call Tommy and he's having breakfast with a friend - will call later. Work at computer for awhile. Living room to watch some TV. Beth calls. Tommy calls. Somebody else calls. Finally get to watch latest episode of Entourage. Have some lunch while watching some of a Gene Autry western. Beth call. I down for nap. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls and let them out. Off to Beth's place of employment. We to SavOn for flu shots. Drop her and home. Talk to Jimmy George on way home and Tommy when I get home - now he's watching football. Quick sweep. Beth home and we talk. Fix dinner and we eat. Office for a minute; then we watch recording of today's Glenn Beck Show. Later ~

Gunsmoke's Dodge City set - looking one way

Looking the other

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:00 am - shower and dress; breakfast and paper. Trim beard then sweep floors for Beth. Talk quickly to Tommy. Beth home later and we talk. She and Brenda cleaned Tommy's house after Hall. She's hungry so I fix us both some lunch. We eat and talk. She starts mopping in bedroom so I can go down for earlier nap with girls/ I up and write here. To kitchen and talk with Beth while she watches Tiger win another one. Then we drive to Palm Springs for a visit with Tom. He's not feeling up to par and when his physician's assistant arrives, we head home; sopping at Cat City Yellow Basket for dinner. Home and both exhausted. Decide to go to bed early but it's nearly 8:00 and we haven't made it yet. Later !

Today, September 12th - Huge Anti-Government Rally in D.C.

The Great Glenn Beck

Grocery shopping after meeting; then home, unload and put away. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and no snack. Beth home and we talk. I off to Dialysis Center to sit with Tommy for an hour or so. He's back looking good: as if nothing serious had happened in the last four days. His daughter is coming to visit. He hasn't seen her in 38 years. Home a little before 11:00 and watch Glenn Beck's September 12th special show on march in Washington. Lotta folks at that rally; plus many more at tea-party rallies across the country. We eat lunch while watching. Beth leaves for Fran Jacob's wedding shower. I down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Write here. Beth home and we talk. Watch Huckabee and eat. After she washes hair and showers. We watch movoe PPV Horsemen with Dennis Quaide. Later ~

Our Boy Rush!!!

Call Tom Snow at hospital before leaving Hall parking lot and will check in later as he'd just gotten up. Stop to get tuna on way home; plus drop AA! book to Tom in Ohio and a QVC return for Beth at Rancho Mirage PO. See Glenda and Heidi. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and tuna and cottage cheese. Work at computer for awhile. Watch Rush Limbaugh on 24/7 web cam. Talk to Beth. To living room and finish up end of Sterling Hayden movie from yesterday. Watch some more TV while I eat lunch with girls. Talk Beth again and call Tommy in hospital - he thinks he'll be transferred back to nursing home later and will call me after my nap. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail - including four boxes for Beth from QVC. Feed girls and open mail. To bank and make deposits for Beth. Home and write some here. Call Tom and he's tied up so I'll call back in a little while. Clean side yard. Sweep floors. Beth home and she unloads as I didn't hear her come in; i was still cleaning in bedrooms. We talk. Call Tommy who is back at nursing home. He's doing better, it appears. I will see him at dialysis tomorrow. I fix dinner and we eat. Beth has a few things to do; then we watch recording of today's Glen Beck Show. Later ~

Stop for ice cream on way home from meeting. Home and put away shopping. Check e-mail and news sites with girls, tuna and cottage cheese. Talk Beth. Call Tommy in Eisenhower and talk for a few. He's doing dialysis at hospital today and I'll call bask later this afternoon. To living room and start watching an old "color" Gene Autry Show - interrupted by calls. Lunch with another western, Terror in a Texas Town, with Sterling Hayden and Sebastian Cabot. Off to take nap with girls, Up and bring in mail - open it for Beth. Feed girls. To office to read e-mail. Talk Beth about Dr. Stone and her long talk with Glenda. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Try to call Tommy but no answer. Call Beth. Watch some O'Reilly and Beth home before I get into it. We have Dr. Pepper and lemonade while we talk. I fix dinner and we eat. Call and finally get through to Tommy at Eisenhower where has cat-scans and a visit by his surgeon today, plus his dialysis. Then we watch recording of today's Glenn Beck Show. Later ~

Scene from Range Beyond the Blue - Eddie Dean, far left - Roscoe Ates, beside Eddie

Tom Snow Report:
I called on way home from meeting but he was brushing his teeth; I said I would call later. I tried calling again around 10:00 am, but got no answer - didn't leave message. Beth called minutes later to tell me he was being transferred to Desert Hospital because of intense pain and possible infection. At present, Beth says they may be transferring him to Eisenhower so he's closer to his surgeon. I just called our mutual friend, Bill White, who happened to be with Tommy today when all this happened. What I've just written is pretty close to what happened; and he confirmed that Tommy is now headed for Eisenhower.
I call Tommy on way home from meeting but he's brushing his teeth and we'll talk later. I home and check e-mail and news sites with girls, tuna and cottage cheese. Talk to Beth. Drive to hearing aid place for three month check up. See Jason and then drive home. Try Tommy and no answer. Start work on doing our ship boarding paperwork online. Beth calls and fills me in on Tommy's predicament which was happening as we spoke. I finish up printing our boarding passes, etc. To living room and watch Eddie Dean western, Range Beyond the Blue, with Roscoe Ates; have lunch while viewing. To office and talk Beth once more then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Open mail. Feed girls. To office and call Beth again. Then I call Bill White to verify the story on Tommy. Write some here. Jimmy George calls and we talk for a few. Beth home and we talk at table. Beth checks hospitals and finds Tom has not been transferred to Eisnehower as of 7:00 pm. I cook dinner and we eat - watch 0bama speech to congress on health care - Phhhhtttt! Both into office and we work at our own projects. Later ~

The Original King Kong - produced and directed by Merian C. Cooper

Leave meting early to go to blood draw. Then on to Sherry's for a haircut. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and tuna. Call Jimmy George. Over to dialysis center to talk with Tom Snow until 11:00 am. Home and eat while watching TV - an hour documentary on Merian C. Cooper, producer and director of King Kong; and partner of John Ford for many pictures. Call Beth then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Open mail then feed girls. Into office to work a little. Spend some time on computer. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Beth finally home. we talk. She phone. I fix dinner and we eat. After, we watch today's recording of Glen Beck. Later ~

Happy Labor Day - from The Lodge Residence

Stop to shop for lunch and ice cream on way home from meeting. Beth to her place of employment to check a few things. I work at computer for awhile with girls. Michele by to go shopping with Beth. They leave; I turn on TV - end up watching same channel as we did last night. Beth not home so I eat. Just as I finish lunch Bet returns so I make here lunch and sit with her while she eats. Then it's down for nap with girls or me while she watches golf on TV. I up and she's already fed girls. I join her at kitchen table and we talk and TV. Call Tom Snow on the house phone and use speaker phone.
I into office to work on few things. Call Jimmy George. Beth joins me then realizes she has to go into jail tonight for H&I. I fix a quick dinner and we eat. We talk for a few minutes then she takes off for Indio. I write here. I watch some TV. To office and get ready for bed. Play at computer. She in later. Later ~

Steve Lodge - Radio Star

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 5:45. Shower and dress; breakfast and paper. Trim beard. Sweep floors. Clean side yard. Beth home and she mops floors. We get ready then drive to Tom Snow's house to pick up mail; then on to see him at Palm Springs nursing home. Rick Mesa is there and we all go to the day room to talk. We leave just as a friend of Tom's from his neighborhood drives up. Home and we eat a nice salad she made last night. Dessert. She watches QVC while I rest and snooze on couch. Into office at 1:45 and get ready for Cincinnati, Ohio radio show phone call. Tom Blixa - the producer - calls me a little after 2:00, puts me on hold for a few minutes (I can hear the show in progress) then I'm introduced by the host of the show, Chuck Douglas. We talk a lot about my years in Hollywood and some of the shows I worked on. I take one call from an audience member; then it's back to question and answer with Chuck. My portion of the show is over by 3:00 pm. I to dining room and talk with Beth. Call Tom Snow and Bobby Hoy. I into office and putz around. Into dining room and turn on TV. Channel 61 show about sheriffs on Lake Havasu; and a show about a grand opening of a place caller Rehab-X a giant pool party at a huge hotel. We eat and watch. Then we take it to the 42-incher in the living room, continue by watching a couple of episodes of Cops. Both get ready for bed. Later ~

Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace (below) from Taken


Grocery shopping after meeting; home and unload, put away. Check e-mail and news sites with girls. Beth home - jockey's cars. I off to dialysis center to sit with Tom Snow for about an hour or so. He's in much better shape. Still wears the brace he'll be wearing for a few more months. Home and have lunch with my beautiful wife. Down for nap with girls. Up later than usual. Spend some time at computer. She watching QVC. I to computer and putz around. Call Tommy and start writing here. Beth makes dinner and we eat. We order pay fr view: Taken, with Liam Neeson and Maggie (lost) Grace. Write here then: Later ~

My Good Friend, Mark Rizzo

Some of the Rushmore Section will be taking Tommy a meeting later today.
I stop to shop at Von's on way home from meeting. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and pretzels. Talk to Beth. Work for awhile at computer before diving into an e-mail response to a letter to the editor. Here is the letter and my response:

THE LETTER
Whatever happened to courteous debate?
September 3, 2009
On the one hand, it is good that people still feel passionately about issues and feel they can have an effect upon outcomes. But on the other hand, whatever happened to courteous, even thoughtful, discourse?
Instead, we have people shouting down others, using gross hyperbole, distorting and twisting things, not in the interests of the common good, but just in getting their own way.
I submit that 10 percent of the populace is radical left, 10 percent is radical right and the rest of us are tired of their strident, immature bickering. A moderate liberal or moderate conservative is crucified by the extremists (who are always the loudest) of their own party and thus nothing meaningful ever gets done.
We need government, but we need good government, moderate government and government more responsive to the middle 80 percent.

Doug Graham

MY RESPONSE:
It appears to me that Doug Graham of Indio (Whatever happened to courteous debate? – Sept. 3) has never heard the old expression, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” During our present political (health care) crisis, debate seems to have been wiped from the table. Obama has already told us that the bill will pass. The bill will pass is what the president has decreed and no discussion, discourse, or debate, courteous or not, will stop it from passing. At least both “radical” sides – the 10-percent right and the 10-percent left – are standing up for what they believe in: the left stands behind their president unblinking; while the right does all it can to save our wonderful country from disaster. It’s just too bad the rest – the moderate 80-percent – won’t take any stand at all. Perhaps if they did, they’d realize just what’s going on in America.
Stephen Lodge

To Chipolte's to meet Mark for lunch. Mark helped me with And Action! book. Nice talk and good friendship. Home and dessert. Down for my nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls; and open mail. Talk to Tommy Snow - the meeting went so well they'll have one every Friday - same time; same station. Bring in trash bin. Write here for a minute. On my way to clean up side yard then sweep floors. Beth by to pick up several checks then she to bank. She home for good - unload her car and we sit and talk for a few minutes. Dinner is a burrito for her and half a burrito for me from Chipolte's. After dinner we watch recording of today's Glenn Beck Show. Later ~

Monthly Conservative Round Table

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and pretzels. Talk to Beth. Drive over to hospital and spend time with Tom in the dialysis center. We talk for about an hour or so. Then it's drive on to Indio for a visit with my only AA Baby, Joel, at Leather Plus. Then on to the Chinese Place for our monthly Conservative Round Table discussion group. Leave at 2:00 pm. Home, call Beth; feed girls; I have dessert; then I down for my nap with girls (late). Up and start writing here. Talk ro Beth. Call Tommy. Clean up side yard; sweep fast. Some trash out. Beth home and we talk. I fix dinner and we eat. She washes her hair; then we watch recording of today's Glen Beck Show. Later ~

Our Friend, Eric

His Better Side

Good friend, Bob Phillips passed away. He had tumor on his neck.
Call Tom from parking lot at meeting. Home after meeting after I stop for gas at Nader's station. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls, peanuts, and pretzels. Off to pet store and buy dog food for girls; then on to Sam's where I meet Beth and Eric and we shop for Hall; Mission; her employers'; and our home. Lunch together at Yellow Basket. I home and dessert. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Get dog food out of Expedition. Put dog food into large dog food can. Feed the girls. Call Beth. Call Tom Snow. Clean up side yard; and sweep floors. Work at computer. Beth home and we talk. I fix dinner then we eat. She does some office work. We watch ecording of today's Glen Beck Show. Later ~

The Historic Menger Hotel - Alamo Plaza - San Antonio, TX

Up at 1:20 am to try to register for 2010 International Convention. I'm told I have to wait until 10:00 Eastern/7:00 Pacific. Stay home from meeting and keep trying for about an hour before I am able to register. Drive over to Beth's place of employment she she can do the hotel reservation stuff. I on to hospital and dialysis center to spend some time with Tommy while he has dialysis. Beth drops by to turn the hotel reservation stuff back to me. I home an dive tight in tot he reservation stuff - and believe it or not, I am able to register - at the Historic Menger Hotel - without any hassle. Eat some lunch while watching some TV Western. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail. Talk Beth and she gives me phone number for Tom. Try Tom and his cell phone is busy. Sweep floors and clean up side yard. Get hold of Tom and give him phone number for Beth. Talk to Jimmy George for a few minutes. Beth home. We talk then I cook and we eat. Start to watch Glen Beck recording but she gets phone call. I into office to work on computer and write here. I assume she'll hang up and we'll finish Glen Beck - But that may not happen. Holy shit~! It did happen. Later ~