Zona

For good or for bad, these are the things coming my way in 2007..........so far.

I've been invited down to take pictures, "all the pictures you want", of Matthew Good working in the studio on his next CD.

I travel again in March. Maybe around Arizona, maybe Vegas, maybe Mexico.

I celebrate 25 years of marriage by returning to the scene of the crime, Bolivia, for a month.

My third child graduates high school.

My second child travels to Japan.

My oldest child contemplates giving her marriage another chance.

My youngest child sits back and watches it all go down. (Something I wish I could do)

I make several more attempts at that elusive lottery win.

I contemplate a serious cutback on the amount of Coke I drink and chocolate I eat.

I dive deeply back into black and white photography.

Ten things I expect from my government in 2007

1) An honest year's worth of work
2) A serious answer in the illegal alien issue
3) A reduction, if not a total withdrawal of troops from Iraq
4) Balls
5) An apology
6) An end to the Homeland Security paranoia
7) Religion put back in the chapels and out of government buildings
8) Oil companies forced to rebate to the consumer in the form of lower prices so they merely break even profitwise
9) Prescription drug price freeze
10) Many "I am not seeking reelection" announcements

What I will remember about 2006

It's the year I became old.
It's the year I received more correspondence from people I have not met than from people I have met.
It's the year I welcomed my daughter back home.
It's the year I decided to get into jazz music heavily.
It's the year I was welcomed into the home of one of my favorite people for an evening of music and good conversation.
It's the year I stressed out way too much over things that really don't merit the attention I gave them.
It's the year that I realized some things that are way too personal to mention here. It was a jolt, but something that I will definitely be able to get over.

Hello. My name is Sabrina.

My grampa has told you something about me. Now let me tell you something about him. He is very comfortable. When I am laying in the playpen in the living room and I hear his voice I know that when I cry out to him he will pick me up. Now I don't understand much about this place I am in yet but when he says, "shhhhh, bah bah's got you now", I know everything is okay.

He loves to recline on the sofa and lay me on his chest so I can go back to sleep. He fills his chest up with air and lets it back out and it rocks me to sleep. I know he has a big heart because I can hear it. He must like the top of my head because he kisses it a lot. He rubs my back when I stretch and moves me up and down with his arm.

I have the best grampa ever.

TV!!!!

Goodfellas on channel 40? Nope. Seinfeld on 31? Nope. Death of Ford on 18? Nope.

Sci Fi had a documentary on Star Trek fans.

This is what I learned.

A Trekkie is somebody who watched Star Trek when it first came out way back when.

A Trekker is somebody who is a fan of the later series.

Trekkers are considered to be more "active". Hence the verb sounding title. "They are coming along".

Trekkies are more "docile". Interplanetary couch potatoes as it were.

Quote that made it all worth watching. A man in Star Trek garb proudly boasted that "a girl actually came" to one of their Star Trek parties.

There was the woman who is referred to as "Commander" by her co workers at the photocopy place. There were the people who thought the future should follow the blueprint laid out by Roddenberry. There was the Generations actress who enjoyed the drawing a fan sent of her character wearing only a bra and panties and laying on top of another character who was nude. There was the couple who acted like true Klingons in that you show affection to the opposite sex by slapping and wrestling.

I think they, and the actress, fantasize about the day the Star Trek convention is held in a building next to a porn convention.

Live long and prosper.

Zona Boy's Psychic Predictions for 2007

England's Prince Philip dies. Queen Elizabeth, as always, fails to reveal any emotion whatsoever but decides to step down and Charles is crowned at King of England. Canada decides against removing the image of Elizabeth from it's currency. There is internal bickering amongst the royalists in Canada but nobody else really gives a shit.

A major sports team is devastated in a plane crash.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie divorce.

Snoop Dogg, for the first time in many years, is not arrested for anything.

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, realizes the mistake he made by referring to Bush as the devil at the UN, and instead begins referring to Bush as a lesser known satanic personality named Omar.

Tom Cruise ends his "marriage" to Katie Holmes and starts dating Lisa Marie Presley.

Survivor is cancelled once an for all after the death of a contestant.

Two world leaders are assassinated.

Christmas morning "show me the f'ing love" notes:

Lady: "Is this what you really want to be doing this morning?"

Me: "Do you really want me to answer that in front of your children?"

Lady: "Probably not."

Number of people who think I'm rude because I didn't respond "Merry Christmas to you too"?

All of'em

I'm glad it's over. It's a stressfull time for me because I always feel I fell short with the family and what they want or expect of me.

Happy Birthday Baby!!

I love you!!!

I've become my father. Christmas edition.

Growing up, we kids used to always ask my father what he wanted for Christmas and if he didn't say "nothing" he said "socks and underwear".

I use the nothing answer when my kids ask me.

So today me and the missus was out shopping and she tells me she doesn't know what I want. I told her that I posted my list on the blog. She says that the kids didn't tell her anything. So I get to help her pick out what I want so the kids can give them to me.

I enjoyed shopping this year because we have the two grandkids with us. I also enjoyed shopping for the missus because I found something she really wants. Something I didn't expect to find because it's to good for the stores to normally have in stock.

My son flies in from Edmonton on Thursday (my wife's birthday) and he just wants clothes so we get to go shopping again. I prefer to do that. Just take the kids shopping and say "pick out what you want". I mean, since I get to cruise the mall parking lot and eat food court food why would I want to add to the torment by having to wrap?

See? I've become my dad.

My dad was great though. We had all the excitement of opening the presents and he saw that, and it was worth many times the money he had paid. You have too wait until YOU'RE the parent to know those things. Now I watch the kids and a NEW wave of kids having all the fun and I feel blessed for having been able to make it happen.

I know I'm blessed which is why I'm also giving to those who aren't so blessed this year more than I ever have in the past. I wish you could have seen the looks on the toy drive firefighter's faces when I pushed the cart full of toys towards them and said "here ya go fellas".

"ALL of it?"

"Yep."

What a cop out. What a big pile of steaming bullshit.

Ten people who qualify more that me for Person Of The Year.

1. The guy lip syncing Cherry Pie on the new XM radio commercial.

2. My granddaughter

3. The first person who can tell me how to turn off this double space crap.

4. UCLA Taser Man

5. The photog who got the shot of Britney's C section scar.

6. That guy downtown handing out sandwiches to the homeless.

7. Jon Lovitz. "Eat STEAK"

8. Keith Olberman

9. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest winner

10. The guy who risked robbery, beating, murder, and arrest in order to get to the U.S., find a job, work way too many hours, get paid way too little for it, and live with four or five other guys just like him in a cardboard shack near a small stream in some field so he could send money back to Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, or some other such place, so his family wouldn't starve to death while at the same time being subject to ridicule from people who take what they have way too much for granted. People who look at their immigrant heritage with pride and attend church and pray for God to stop the suffering of the poor people as long as the poor people remain in their own countries and die out of sight and out of mind while they watch Deal, or no Deal on TV.

Time, you blew it. The illegal alien was this year's Man of the Year.

I just answered the phone because my wife is busy with the grandson.

"Hello, please wait for an important business call".

*click*

I wonder how many fools actually wait.

As you know I meet many famous people. It's a lot of fun sometimes. Sometimes it's a real thrill. Rarely is it a true honor.

Today was one of those times.

A woman came up to me. An attractive woman. She had an aura of grace and confidence combined that I rarely see.

Her name is Nesreen Barwari. She is from Iraq.

NESREEN BARWARI born in Baghdad, was the only daughter among nine children. In 1981 at the age of 14 Barwari and members of her family became political prisoners. Ten years later, following the 1991 war, she became a refugee in the mountains of Turkey.

After completing undergraduate studies at Baghdad University in architectural engineering and urban planning, Barwari attended Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government where she received her Masters in public policy and management in 1999.

Barwari's career began in an emergency relief program with the International Organization for Migration which functioned in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees assisting refugees and internally displaced persons to return to their homes in destroyed communities in the Kurdistan Region following the 1991 war in Iraq.

Barwari continued with the UN Iraq Relief Coordination Unit, a division of the erstwhile United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs to support the coordination of relief efforts primarily in reconstruction and resettlement, but also in health and education, water and sanitation, agriculture, and landmine activities. Upon commencement of the oil-for-food program, she continued with the UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq supporting the coordination of a greatly expanded and exceptionally well funded program.

During the oil-for-food program Barwari served as the first local staff member in Iraq to head a United Nations field office (UN-Habitat, Duhok) where she focused on reconstruction and resettlement of hundreds of destroyed communities.

Upon completion of graduate studies in public policy and management Barwari was appointed Minister of Reconstruction and Development in the Kurdistan Regional Government. Following the April 2003 fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein, Barwari served in three interim national governments in Baghdad as Minister of Municipalities & Public Works, one of few ministers to be retained.

Barwari was honored by the Arab League with 'Distinction in Public Participation' as one of ten distinguished women from the Arab world, the United Nations, by the UN Human Settlement Programme with the 'UN Scroll of Honour, 2003') for "outstanding commitment to the welfare of displaced and vulnerable persons in Northern Iraq" and at the World Economic Forum at Davos, as a prominent leader and chosen as a member of the Young Global Leaders organization.

(Harvard University Institute of Politics)

What that article DOESN'T say is that during the time she served as an Iraqi Government Minister there were three attempts to assassinate her.

I could feel a force coming from her that I cannot explain. My voice almost cracked as I referred to Iraq by saying, "I just don't know what to say anymore". She replied, "Neither do I. We can only hope that someday the situation improves".

She is one of those women you point out to all young girls and young women and say, "SHE is what you want to be".

I opened the door to my son's room at 7:30 this morning. It jolted him awake and he let loose a loud grunt.

"Happy Birthday, now get up"

Dads are always warm and fuzzy that way.

The kid, my youngest, is sixteen today. He's got it all figured out. His best buddies agree with him. He's announced that when/if we leave Canada next year he's staying behind.

"Where are you going to live?"

*blank stare*

Yep, just like me at sixteen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!!!

Love,

Dad

Will I ever learn to keep my big...........mouth.............shut?

On Saturday my daughter wanted to go to the mall and my other daughter said "let's go to Metrotown". "Cool" says the older daughter. Then Saturday all that falls apart and I say, "if you want to wait until Monday, I'll drive you over to Metrotown". "Great daddy!"

So today being Monday I found my blabbermouth in Metrotown. I DID see that special touch I wanted to add to the game room I will have one day when all of these mall-wanting-to-go-to-people are living off somewhere near a mall.

Me?

Golf course please.

Ten things about right here, right now.

1. There's a fly trapped between the screen and the sliding door
2. There's a kid slap shotting a ball into a goal next door
3. It's cloudy
4. Joni Mitchell is singing Fiction
5. I have 3 days growth
6. The house plant could use some sun and warm air
7. The printer is broken
8. My son ate all my cheetos
9. My wife should be home from church by now
10. I need to change a light bulb in this room

TAG, you're it. Do it this time willya?

Chilean Dictator Agusto Pinochet is dead

May he burn in hell if there is such a place.

His son told the press that his father expressed a wish to be cremated so that his grave would not be the constant target of desecration.

He wasn't that stupid I guess.

I knew that he would never be tried for his crimes just like the military leaders in Argentina will never be tried. What I would like to see is Pinochet's family stripped of every dime of blood money and cast into poverty.

VIVA Chile! ABAJO Pinochet, hijo de puta!

I figured out how to make lists in Windows media player. "Clearly my talent lies in other areas", is something I use to not feel like a complete computer moron. So the list I just saved is called "Women". Three hours of some of the best singer songwriters on the planet.

Doria Roberts
Fruit
Joni Mitchell
Tori Amos
Rickie Lee Jones
Suzanne Vega
Jonatha Brooke
Jann Arden

Rolling Stone magazine is putting a list together of the to 25 women in rock. Madonna seems to be gravitating toward the top. I'm way too old school to consider what Madonna does as being Rock and Roll.

I saw a 2007 Punk Rock calendar in the used record store in Nanaimo. One of the months had a photo of The Go Go's.. Makes sense doesn't it? The Ramones, The Dead Kennedys, Gang of Four, The Go Go's.

Why not? Lindsey Lohan is an actress, Paris Hilton is a celebrity, Emilio Estevez is a film maker, the Simpson girls are gold record recording artists.

Funny thing is that there are people running around saying the end of the world is coming because the poles are melting down as fast as the middle east.

I think I'll be okay if I can haul my computer downstairs and listen to this list in front of the open refrigerator.

I have a friend in Mexico City. A good friend. That means I have a place to stay. It's her, her man, her son, and five bedrooms. She repeatedly tells me to come down. I told her that I would love to get down there and travel to Guerrero, Guanaguato, and Nayarit. Those are some of the cool places in Mexico. The places the tourists stay away from because there's no Denny's or McDonald's.She tells me, "life is short, JUST DO IT"

I have enough of a credit limit to call and get about $30K deposited into my bank account. They'ld never find me. They'ld stop looking. Never returning Stateside wouldn't be a big deal. Hell, my mom would gladly make the one hour trip to the border to say hello.

Fuck work. I could teach English in Mexico. I'm a Mexican citizen. I could do anything down there.

It's just a shame that I'm somewhat of a responsible adult with a few people depending on me to act responsibly while they still don't have too.

Then this guy comes along.

"Hey Corbin, when's LA Law coming out on DVD?"

"Man, tell that to my wife and my daughter, and the college fund!"

Good guy

And then somebody like this drops by with nice conversation for a few minutes and a wonderful smile.

So I was at home relaxing when my daughter tells me the phone is for me.

Telemarketer.

NOBODY else outside of my family calls me.

Ever.

It's from one of my credit cards. The guy has an Indian accent which means my U.S. based bank has moved their call center to India. He proceeds to tell me something I already know.

My balance is ZERO.

Then genius reminds me WHY my balance is at zero. The interest rates on purchases is 28%.

I tell him that I can get better loan rates from the mafia.

He wants me to transfer balances at 5.9%. Says he can do it instantly and they'll be on my statement within three days.

I tell him I'll think about it and get back to him.

He tells me......

*click*

From Binsk

My top seven Jeopardy categories

Plastic fruit
Profanity
Golf
Sex
Breakfast cereal
Arizona
Classic Warner Bros cartoons

There are not enough profane words for me to comment adequately on this.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- A fed-up mother had her 12-year-old son arrested for allegedly rummaging through his great-grandmother's things and playing with his Christmas present early.

The mother called police Sunday after learning her son had disobeyed orders and repeatedly taken a Game Boy from its hiding place at his great-grandmother's house next door and played it.

He was arrested on petty larceny charges, taken to the police station in handcuffs and held until his mother picked him up after church.

"My grandmother went out of her way to lay away a toy and paid on this thing for months," said the boy's mother, Brandi Ervin. "It was only to teach my son a lesson. He's been going through life doing things ... and getting away with it."

Police did not release the boy's name.

The mother said that her son was found in the last year to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but that his medicine does not seem to help.

She said he faces an expulsion hearing at his school Wednesday. Rock Hill Police Capt. Mark Bollinger said the boy took a swing at a police officer assigned to the school last month. He has been suspended from school since then.

The boy's case will be presented to Department of Juvenile Justice officials in York County, who will decide what happens to him, Bollinger said. His mother hopes he can attend a program that will finally scare him straight.

"It's not even about the Christmas present," she said. "I only want positive things out of it. ... There's no need for him to act this way. I'd rather call myself than someone else call for him doing something worse than this."


There is a vulgar word that starts with the letter "C" that some people use to refer to women. For me to call a woman this word she must do something qualify her as beyond the "B" word. Before I read this there were only 5 women on the planet who qualified. Now there are six.

Things have changed a bit since I was a kid. But one thing hasn't really changed. It's always been commercialized. I don't know why everybody always bemoans that fact. Go buy the gifts and enjoy the lights and get together with family. Enjoy this time to do that. If you're really a good Christian a specific date shouldn't have anything to do with adoration of Christ.

My political thought of the season.

I found another GREAT online radio station you guys should try.

KBCO out of Boulder, Colorado.

Great eclectic rock station.

I BLEW IT!!! I missed my 1000th post. Scroll down to see it. I'm SO bummed

You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Can I get away with not shaving?

2. How much cash do you have on you?
Nothing right now

3. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR?"
Bore

4. Favorite planet?
Earth

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your mobile telephone?
I have no mobile phone

6. What is your favourite ring tone on your mobile telephone?
See answer to #5

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Just a plain white t-shirt

8. Do you "label" yourself?
Married, fat, 48 year-old. Keeps me grounded

9. Name the brand of the shoes you're currently wearing?
I'm not wearing any shoes.

10. Bright or dark room?
Medium

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
Minge is fabulous

12. What does your watch look like?
Like a black and silver Bulova

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
Ahem (pointing up) #5

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
About a mile and a half

16. What's a word that you say a lot?
Hello

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
My daughter

18. Last furry thing you touched?
My grandaughter's head

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
One if you count caffeine

20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
Zero. Gone digital

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
20

22. Your worst enemy?
Lex Luthor

23. What is your current desktop picture?
Me and the grandkids. Scroll down and you'll see it

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
Night night

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
$$$

26. Do you like someone?
Several ones

27. The last song you listened to?
Part one from The Way Up by Pat Metheny

28. What time of day were you born?
6:04 PM MST

29. What's your favorite number?
1

30. Where did you live in 1987?
Tucson, AZ

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
Yes

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
I hope so

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Aruba. We watched on TV and then they closed down the airport (where I was working) and I went back to the hotel. I watched more TV until I couldn't watch anymore. Then I went to dinner. About 8PM I walked into a casino with $40. I walked out at 4AM with $840. I won most of it playing blackjack at a table with four women and a middle eastern man

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
My attorney advises me not to answer

35. Do you consider yourself kind?
Sometimes

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
On my forearm

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Chinese

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
Did that

39. Are you touchy feely?
To some women

40. What's your life motto?
Fuck'em

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
Out in public: Watch, big turquoise ring, underwear

42. What's your favorite town/city?
Tucson

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Two McDonalds apple pies and a milk

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
Last week. Many of you should be getting one soon

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
Yep

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
Nothing

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
Back to the Mexican revolution. Two of my great great uncles fought with Zapata

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
A suit last Christmas because I went to church

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
My left heel

50. Have you been burned by love?
Yep, but I got even. I make more than the man she had to marry

I was in the library reading one of Vancouver's local fish wrappers and they had a survey. They asked men and women what their ideal dating partners were. It was broken down by professions.

The top six for women were:

Doctor
Architect
Lawyer
Property Agent
Fire Fighter
Accountant

The top six for men were:

Doctor
Model
Flight Attendent
Dancer
Musician
Nurse

As ALWAYS it appears that women are thinking long term while men are thinking that after one or two dinners it's time to screw.

Men are pigs. Women are gold diggers

When asked about marriage, the women left their list of professions in pretty much the same order. The men left skid marks.

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Zona Boy's Psychic Predictions for 2006

Angelina tosses Brad. Still possible.

Tens of thousands of Canadians plunge into depression when another U.S. based hockey team, namely the Nashville Predators, wins the Stanley Cup. It wasn't the Predators. It was the Hurricanes which was actually much worse.

The Yankees fail to win the World Series again. Cha CHING!

I will officially be told that I am leaving Canada. Wrong. My tour was extended.

Tony Pierce will find the woman he will marry. (but the marriage won't be in 2006) Still possible.

Canada will lose one of it's most beloved. Still possible. I was thinking Don Cherry.

The U.S. will lose one of it's most hated. Still hoping. I was thinking Dick Chenney

Despite everybody predicting a breakup for Brittany Spears she will announce after the summer that she is pregnant again. So close. She had another kid and now seems to be set on showing everybody just where it came out.

I will have a life altering experience. Kinda sorta. Grampa again and they're living with me.

W's poll numbers will continue to decline even AFTER Bin Laden is located and killed. Numbers went in the toilet. Bin Laden still thought to be alive.

Fidel Castro will die. Still VERY possible.

Stay tuned for 2007 predictions. I'll give you a teaser. The Royals are involved.

The year in pictures

I went back and found twelve pictures that are my favorite shots of the year and listed them, as you can see, as People, Places, and Things.

I did it this way because it's easiest to post this way and I liked to keep it simple. Four of each. Travels, and events, and one invitation. Many simply stumbled upon by being in the right place at the right time.

A road I happened to take. A place I happened to park. A street I happened to venture down.

To me those are the best kind of photos. I'm not into elaborate setups. I prefer natural light.

More pictures than photographs.

Yes, there are some favorite family pictures, and I decided to post those separate.

Holy shite people. I'm posting like a freshman looking through the peep hole into the girl's shower room. I even did a post in shaz's comment window.

It's this great tune I'm listen to over and over. It's been a while since I've been this hyped up. Please scroll down to everything today. Some important stuff and an interactive thingy you'll dig.

Lots coming up this month as I wrap up the year. Best, worst, photos, etc.

YO! Givin' a shout out to all you playas and bitches. I'm a month old today but I crap like a two month old!

This was Zona Boy post #1000!!

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Copy and paste that stuff above into the address line of my blog and hit enter.

Double dog dare ya.

Don't worry. You won't damage anything. Try it on yours too if you like.

Thanks JaG.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The South
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

I know I have a FACE for radio!