'Cause Everyone is Going to Die Alone...

We are now on day 27 with no heat. We’ve left the Westerholds and have been staying with my parents for the past week now. The warranty people still haven’t responded to our latest efforts to settle. Today will be the straw that broke the camel’s back. If we don’t hear back today, or don’t hear what we want, we’ll be forced to step things up a notch. Ugh, I’m seriously considering calling 6 on your Side.

My great aunt died night before last. While that may seem sad in itself, I must say the magnitude of its effect will truly only be felt by one woman: my grandmother. My grandmother was one of 14 children, born somewhere in the middle, and as of two nights ago is the last living remnant of that family. Can you imagine outliving 13 of your brothers and sisters on top of losing your husband and oldest child? Can you imagine how lonely that must feel? And let me just tell you, she was definitely the last to know. NO one wanted the responsibility of being the bearer of that bad news. And yet, as Clint and I sat down to dinner that night I heard my mother pick up the phone. After a few minutes of frivolities, I hear my mother say the words, “Jean is dead Mom. She died last night in her sleep.”

My Mom’s a pretty brave woman if you ask me.

Not much else going on. We’re leaving town Friday for California. I can’t freaking wait. Hopefully I’ll be a little more mellow when I come back, and maybe I’ll have a cool picture or two. Until then here’s to vacations, wine, friends, and Red Mountain Music.

Bullshit “Christian” Macho Americanism

Asked whether the American commanders on the scene were right in not attacking the Iranian boats that had come within 200 yards of 3 American destroyer ships on Sunday, Mike Huckabee said he backed their decisions, before warning Iran: "Be prepared, first, to put your sights on the American vessel. And then be prepared that the next thing you see will be the gates of Hell, because that is exactly what you will see after that."

Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator and Law & Order star said of the Iranian boat crews: "I think one more step and they would have been introduced to those virgins that they're looking forward to seeing." The crowd cheered.

I was forwarded an email about a month ago called: Can a Muslim be a Good President? The litany that followed was based on incorrect information and bloated bias and was peppered with Christian ideas. But that wasn’t even what made me angry. As I neared the bottom of the indictment of all Muslims, it said:

“Barrack Obama, a Muslim, wants to be our next president!!”

I can understand wanting to share an opinion, but for Christ’s sake if you’re going to rake some mud at least get your fucking facts straight. Barrack Obama is a CHRISTIAN. He was baptized in the Church of Christ. His father, who at one time WAS a Muslim, renounced his faith and became an atheist later in life.

For a “Christian” forward, it sure did sound like a hate message to me.

A lot of things scare me about the American government: a mounting deficit, a sense of entitlement to infringe on its peoples' inalienable rights, a piss poor foreign policy, and the lack of preparation for the impending windfall of baby boomers hitting 65 over the next two decades. But what scares me more than anything is how the Republican Party is bolstered by the support of bullshit fundamentalist Christian macho ‘Americanism’. That, “We’ll put a boot in your ass it’s the American way” kind of mentality. I am a firm believer in separation of church and state, but even if I wasn’t, this strange, misguided nationalism is not Christian in any sort of way. It’s hateful and twisted. It’s got a hair trigger and a closed mind. I hate it that this is what politics in evangelical Christendom look like: anti-choice, anti-gay rights, pro war, pro hating of anyone that doesn’t fit into our polished little box. It’s not only NOT Christ-like but it’s just plain CRAZY. And frankly not even Hillary with her one payer system and on-demand water works display scare me more than Republicans Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson.

Winter Storm '08

We’re now on day 16 with no heat. I talked to our lawyer this morning and he suggested we file a lawsuit in circuit court. I never thought of myself as a suing kind of person, but man I really can’t wait to crush our Home Warranty Company. We have an incredible case. So yeah, here’s to the Wells first lawsuit.

Since it’s been too cold to stay at home, the Westerhold family has graciously opened their home to us. Within 10 minutes of arriving, we go to let the doggies in the back door and there is blood everywhere! Little red paw prints all over the place. Poor Wilco had stepped on a piece of glass and sliced off a chunk of one of his paws… Well, picture this: Josh is holding Jackson in the air, Abby and I have Wilco pinned and we’re yelling at Clint to grab some cornstarch to stop the bleeding… we have no medical tape so Abby gets some gauze and the clear tape they’d used for packing boxes and we ghetto rig the hell out Wilco’s foot. Insert some yelling, confusion, slight gagging on my part and you pretty much get the gist. Despite all the craziness and the stress, it’s really been a fun time though. I made a pot of chili last night and we all hunkered down to watch some Season 3 of The Office. Like Abby said, it’s kind of like a slumber party!

In other news, looks like Birmingham, Alabama will be making headlines tonight with a bona fide Winter Storm, guaranteed 1-3 inches of snow. Don’t believe me? Check out the pictorial guide below:

Good luck trying to find milk, bread, or batteries within a 250 mile radius.

Don't fuck with this guy while he's praying

He might kick you.

It's a little bit funny

Top 3 Searches that bring people here:

1) "Dinkin Flicka" from the Office. It's a made-up phrase that Darryl from the warehouse teaches Michael that's supposed to mean "That's life".
2) "Ryan Adams Pedalboard"
3) "How do you trust God?" Does anyone else think that this is a weird thing to be googling?

In other news: still no heat. We're supposed to hear back from the home warranty people today on whether they'll pay to replace the system or we're going to have to sue their asses. Either way it'll be an interesting day...

Oh, and Casino Royale is so fucking badass I can hardly believe it.

If anyone out there still prays...

So our furnace broke. Again. I know, right? We've lived at this house since October 1st and this is about the millionth time our heat has gone out. And wouldn't you know it would be on the coldest night yet. Last night the thermometer in Clint's car (which usually reads a number) actually just said:

ICE

Yep. Ice.

So Clint's at home right now hanging out with a space heater waiting on the Homeshield people to show up and fix it. Again. So if you pray, pray that:

1) Clint doesn't get hypothermia in the meantime
2) They fix it today
3) If they don't fix it, or they "fix" it and it breaks again, that I won't be forced to throttle someone.

Thanks, and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,
The Wells & their igloo