Sunday, October 08, 2023

My Country Tis of Thee!

As a kid you grow up hearing or seeing spoofs of songs or stories.

One of the ones I grew up with was a ditty of the song "My Country Tis of Thee"  

The original lyrics is as followed;
My country 'tisThis wee sweet land of libertyOf thee I singLand where my fathers diedLand of the pilgrim's prideFrom every mountainsideLet freedom ring
There's is more to the song but the above is the part everyone knows, I hope!?!

Now the version I grew up with goes like this

My country tis of thee, Sweet land of Germany, My name is Fricks! My father was a spy, Shot by the FBI, Oh what a horrible way to die! My name is Fricks

Now thinking about that ditty I realized it probably an insult to the Germans because various versions of the original song started after WWII! Makes a lot of sense!

I wonder if today's kids in NYC still recite the Pledge of the Allegiance? National pride to be an American seems lower these days and I'm not sure why? I'm proud to be an American!

Sunday, January 08, 2023

My 1st Real Win For 2023

Since last fall I've been playing a lot more poker both in person and online. I'm getting better with my game but since my big win from Nov 2022, I haven't placed 1st or won any money until now.  

Tonight I decided to try a new online group for a cash game with a buy in of $30-300. I'm certainly not rich so I started with $80. For a while there I wasn't winning. In fact I had to go all in at 1 point because my bank was so low. And in the last 3 hours I played with a fun group of players. One guy DW, he was so chatty via the app and near the end was not so talkative after losing all of his cash and doing 2 more rebuys. He was heckling me when I 1st started to play. And it was clearly all men because the chat upon arrival was all talk about cum and wanking off etc etc. That died down with in the 1st 5 minutes and then DW was heckling me so much that I wrote. I'm just here to play and then he backed off and even said to relax and enjoy myself. Then I did.  I managed to end with over $440. But I still don't know what constitutes as a big pot? Cuz if you want to leave after winning a big pot you have to announce and then play 15 more hands. 

It is so surreal the world of poker but irl and online. I'm enjoying it tremendously and making lots of new friends a long the way too.

But more importantly having such a nice win tonight helped remind me.  I still got it! Heh heh! 

So far 2023 is off to a good start!

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Derailment!

My life in the last 5 years has completely gone off the rails. While I may enjoy some career successes and advancements my home life has been in shambles. Never knowing if I'll get to stay or have to go. 

Breaking my ankle last August was hard but I'm so happy today I walked without a limp!

This year's holidays with my Sweetie has not gone well at all. I'm very disappointed. It is what it is. 

I just keep trying to move forward but the stress of an unstable home life has taken a tremendous toll on me. Either way it is coming to an end. 

I'm more than ready to say goodbye to 2022! 

Friday, October 28, 2022

Microagression Ugh!

Sigh I'm debating whether to confront a colleague about their acts of micro agression. Twice now in a public settings they said things that made me look bad. And while that may not be their intention, I'm not okay with it. 
I think next week Monday I'll email and let them know that from here on out. They need to refrain from speaking about me and their personal opinions on how I do my job in public settings. If they have concerns or feedback they can do it in private to me! But today when I shared a concern they jumped on board and then tells me to be patient! Uh first off I don't need you to tell me to be patient when I've been at my job 10 years longer than you have! And I don't need you to take over for me either while I'm trying to share my concerns!
The worst thing is they say they want to collaborate more! They have looked down at me from the git go! So I'm not sure why all of a sudden they're trying to be buddy buddy with me. I can't stand hyprocrits. I trust this individual as far as I can throw them! 

Friday, October 07, 2022

A Little M&M Humor

Spotted on Facebook earlier today in the comment section that was hilarious!

Sometimes, whenever I eat M&Ms, I like to hold two m&m's in between my fingers and squeeze as hard as I can until one m&m cracks. I eat the cracked one, and the one that didn't crack becomes the champion. Then I grab the other m&m, and force it to compete with the champion in this deadly game of m&m gladiators. I do this until I run out of m&m's, and when there is only one m&m left standing, I send a letter to m&m's brand with the champion m&m in it with a note attached that reads: "Please use this m&m for breeding purposes."

Happy Friday!

Sunday, October 02, 2022

Nigel Kamm, Tough As Nails

Talk about coincidences.
While my uncle David was here in town. We decided to binge watch the TV show "Tough As Nails" first season. In I think the 5th episode the contestant Lia Mort mentioned her nephew Nigel committed suicide a while back from being bullied.
I immediately stopped the episode and said to David, could it be the same Nigel, his son Bobby's best friend from my home town who committed suicide in 2008? I mean really? How many Nigels do you know? Sure enough, Lia is from Lititz, PA! Nigel's father Andy owns a record store and was friends with my Mom while I was growing up. I remember Andy had a pet Rat too! https://www.recordconnectionpa.com/ 
Then in elementary school my nephew Bobby became best friends with Nigel! 
I'll never forget I was working in media services at the Teachers College when Baba informed me by text Nigel had died by suicide and there was no warning. Bobby said they rode the bus home and would see each other the next day. Bobby was crushed by his death. 
Evidently uncle David said Nigel was a sensitive soul and an easy target to bully! And Bobby has never quite gotten over losing his best friend in middle school. I sadly never had the chance to meet Nigel, but I heard about him all the years he and Bobby spent together.
I still think of Nigel every Thanksgiving because it occurred shortly after Thanksgiving before Christmas in 2008.
It was so nice to see and hear Nigel's name immortalize by the TV show. Now millions of people know Nigel's name and how his life mattered to his family, his aunt Lia and my family and many others! 
And now you too become a witness, a testimony of Nigel's impact on the world. 
We need to say their names, the ones who died at their own hands. They are not forgotten! Remember his name, Nigel Kamm!

https://www.snyderfuneralhome.com/obituary/nigel-sage-kamm/ 

https://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/nigel-sage-kamm/article_3b6da650-4b88-5bbe-8679-6e6bc9c5b03f.html 

Monday, September 12, 2022

I Still Love You The Best!

Today marks 5 years since you passed away Mom and I have missed you every single one of those days! There is so much I miss about you.  Your jokes, playing skipbo and acey deucey which no one else knows how to play! Homemade birthday cakes, your cooking, you reciting poetry from memory, going out to run errands together and our yearly trips to Red Lobster with Baba. I still feel cheated you departed so soon! I love you forever and a day! As you would say to me "I still love you the best!"