70

A happy would have been 70th birthday to John Lennon.  And for all my family, friends, and others----enjoy:

Beatles In My Life-Video by Joe Guse - Celebrity bloopers here

And They Were Gonna Name Me Fred........

When I arrived at the mud shack from the Mesilla Valley Animal Services shelter, my parents needed a name for me.  Since we'd only been acquainted a few hours (and I spent a lot of that time in the Nargle with the other pirates) they weren't sure what to call me.  They went out to breakfast and solicited suggestions from the wait-staff---Chile Pepper, Gabriel......They had an old Frommer's Guide to New Mexico and tried place names---Zuni, Raton, Moriarty.......All pretty yucky.
Then came people they knew.  And they considered Fred for quite awhile.  One of their friends here is named Fred.  They also considered naming me after Frederich Nietzsche, the philosopher.  Something called the "existential question", which in New Mexico is "Red or Green?"----as in which chile sauce on your meal..........
But the Red Sox and the cocker spaniel won-----They remembered the magical year and the pitcher Pedro Martinez, current 2nd baseman Dustin "Little Pete" Pedroia, and mom's first pet, a cocker named Pete.  So here I am, christened Pedro Little Pete Martinez Z---newest and smallest of the Pirate Dogs.......

Welcome to the Nargle

And a new recruit has been added to the crew----Pedro "Little Petey".  After the loss in action of the midshipman Bertequila the crew had to continue on and the search began for reinforcements.  The humans were at the farmer's market on the downtown mall and happened upon a couple of volunteers from the animal rescue league walking about with available dogs in tow.  One chihuahua looked independent and probably not suited to the crew of the Nargle.  (Capt. 'Roid will have no truck with trouble-makers.)  But the young dog seemed very shy and overwhelmed by the cacophony of vendors, music, and humans chattering about this and that, frequently to no good end.  And those spleeny, bulgy eyes that looked out from the crook of the woman's elbow.............the humans were finished.  They proceeded about five steps before capitulating to the inevitable.  And Pedro was conscripted for the crew.............

Pedro

Note the resemblance to the progeny of Anton Chico

Exploring with the Sharprador

Clipatorium

Once I got groomed on the High Plains.  The groomer thought I'd be so cute in ribbons and bows.  Also they left a lot of hair and made me appear more schnauze- then chi-huahua.  See what I mean??

But now we live in the Land of Manana.  I got groomed yesterday and what a difference!!!!!!!!  Now the truth of my lineage from the proud race of Anton Chico is completely discernible!!!!

See----more Chihuahua than Schnauzehuahua.  Miss the top knot a little though..............

Felled in Action

So the brightest and youngest stars find oblivion sooner rather than later.


We Pirate Dogs embarked on a quest.  And our midshipman perished in the action.  Bertequila will be missed and always remembered by his shipmates.

Death be not proud-----you cannot conquer the indomitable spirit of the Pirate Dogs even though you may have claimed the youngest and smallest of them........Requiescat in pace, Bertie.

Avast There!!!!!

      First Mate Leny               

Crow's Nest Weetzie

Midshipman Bertequila

So our niece Isabella is in high school---She's a Wheatland Pirate!!!!

Welcome aboard and we are so happy you joined with the rest of us buccaneers!!!!!

Congratulations and L O L

The Captain

Some Saturday Morning Random

Over the top---------was sent this video of a politician's speech---

The comment was that the sender wasn't paying attention to how over the top some politics had gotten.  My suggestion is to read Gail Collins in the NY Times---this is a link to today's post: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/opinion/11collins.html?hp

I would recommend regular reading of her column because Gail has pretty consistently pointed out many of the absurdities and gaffes in this year's election campaigns.  It's done with some humor and both sides have been the subject of her barbs.

As for the economy,  one word----STIMULUS.  More is needed.  Don't just take the word of Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics.  Read this leader from The Economist magazine dated Sept. 2, 2010:
http://www.economist.com/node/16943653?story_id=16943653

Interest rates are at or near zero.  There's precious little that the central bank can do to get unemployment down and the economy rolling again. Real growth needs directional change from policy---it has to come from the politicians!!!  You know, those people with no cajones because it's an election year-----god forbid we'd do anything constructive that might help THE PEOPLE..............so if you're a Democrat just try to be pandering and ingratiating so you can keep your seat; if you're a Republican just say NO.  And please don't worry---the middle class won't come out to vote because they get the shaft either way.

As John Mellenkamp says---"Ain't that America, land of the free....little pink houses for you and me."  Except we ain't got that guarantee no more thanks to the economic downturn and the lack of intestinal fortitude among our elected representatives.