tom wopat's demise

When I listen to Nick Drake's "One Of These Things First" I have this overwhelming urge to put my arms out to the side all 5 year old playing airplane-like and swoop around until I get dizzy and fall down.

Eggplant parmesan was wildly successful. It was served alongside some pasta that was merely coated with butter, more parmesan, and some black pepper and yet for some reason that got rave reviews as well. Unfortunately I was less than impressed with the episode of the Sopranos. They usually handle dream sequences really well, but last night fell way short for some reason. It may have had something to do with my guilty conscience for continuing to spend my evening as planned instead of having the invalid escape his sick-bed prison for a much needed respite at the compound. I think I'm fired from my role as Florence Nightingale.

Everybody's all talking about the 3rd anniversary of the Iraq Conflict. I think the administration may be taking some serious hallucinogenic substances as they seem to be under the impression things are going swimmingly over there. I gotta get me some of what they're taking! I don't know if I'd go so far as Allawi and call it an all-out civil war, but he's at least closer to the truth than G.W.B. and co. And have I mentioned my complete adoration for Sen. Chuck Hagel? He's a Republican who's eyeing the White House in 2008 (more electable than McCain...). I'm not certain what he means by "low-grade civil war" (it doesn't warrant staying home from school, but you'll still feel pretty shitty for the day?) but I can dig on that. The biggest challenge with this Iraq situation is that we have no idea what the definition of victory is. Saddam is gone, democratic elections have been held, a constitution is in place, I saw G.W.B. fly onto an aircraft carrier and say "Mission Accomplished"...can't we just call it done? Obviously no, as withdrawing would be monumentally stupid, but then when do we get to declare it over? I hate to say I told you so, but hasn't the left been screaming about obvious comparisons to Vietnam forever? Vietnam was a monumental failure because there was no clear strategy. We were fighting an ideology, not a specific enemy. And we involved ourselves in a civil war. The U.S. "strategy" revolved around one of escalation--that's never a good way to go.

Switching gears to a little McPaper News (my petname for USA Today):

"The House of Representatives is on track this year to be in session for fewer days than the Congress Harry Truman labeled as do-nothing during his 1948 re-election campaign...Through Friday, the House was in session for 19 days, compared with 33 for the Senate. If they stick to their current schedule including two weeks off in April, a week in May and July, plus all of August House members will spend 97 days in Washington this year...Lawmakers will make $165,200 this year. Leaders earn more."

I obviously copied and pasted the beejeezus outta that thing, but this is a pretty good example of why alot of Americans may hate their government. Now, granted, just because they aren't in D.C. doesn't mean they aren't working and there is something to be said for spending more time with constituents, but given just how many hours a week the average American works and how much time off they get per year doesn't it seem a little...I don't know...tacky that the House of Representatives is on track to spend only 97 days in Washington?

And lastly, to lighten things up a little around here, I was not surprised to learn of Tom Wopat's demise this weekend. My one interaction with the man included him being stinkin' drunk at the revered and beloved Barrymore's (may it rest in peace!), leaning over our very crowded table, and pointing to a picture of John Barrymore whilst claiming it was "the other Barrymore."

And to think, Luke was my very favorite Duke brother.