Okay, found this at alt.binaries.clipart. Have fun. Trackback to me with your creation! (And, NO, you cannot borrow my bootleg copy of Photo-chop. Do your own damn dirty work!)
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I was digging through some photographs to swap out of my frame at work and decided I want this one on my desk for now. As always, click for larger image.

This photo was taken July 15, 2001, as we drove into Houston from California the weekend I flew out to drive this car back to Texas. It’s our replacement vehicle; our previous 300ZX was lost to the floodwaters of Tropical Storm Allison in June of that year.

Fair warning that if you thought the posts on my blog were sparse before, they may very well become even more scant. Or not. It all depends on how I feel.

My love, my best friend in the world, my partner in crime, Robert, is in the hospital with a spinal/epidural abscess. He collapsed Thursday morning and couldn’t use his legs. I took him to the ER immediately, but it got progressively worse. In the morning, even though he couldn’t use his legs, he could still feel when people touched them. Toward the evening, he had no feeling. They did a “stat” MRI (at 2 AM this morning) and then did an emergency laminectomy later this morning.

The prognosis is not good for the return to use of his legs, but the doctor was a bit more brusque than I’d have liked. There is simply no room in my world for absolutes, especially things like “never” walk again and “never” regain the use of his bladder. Fortunately, this doctor was merely the neurosurgeon who performed the laminectomy and his involvement (and negative attitude) are out of our lives now.

When I got to the hospital this afternoon, I spoke to his neurologist, a nice woman who held out a bit more hope than that (that wouldn’t be hard, really).

I hope Robert’s innate stubbornness will rally him and hopefully he can regain some function in his legs. They are treating his infection, he’s got a breathing tube down his throat right now which I’m sure he’s not enjoying. He has to resort to hand gestures, which I’m not very good at interpreting. But I’m trying.

It’s hard to see someone that you consider your pillar of strength, your knight in shining armour, so helpless. But he nursed me through my cancer back in 1990 and it’s time to repay that debt.

And I don’t even want to know what’s going on in his mind. I’m going back this evening. The neurologic ICU operates a bit differently than the rest of the hospital. For one thing, no eating in the room (yeep! maybe I’ll lose weight!), and they kick all the visitors out between 6A-8A and 6P-8P each day for shift change and paperwork. I’m headed back up there shortly and will probably only stay until midnight or so. I’ll hang around the house and run errands, do housework and computer work. And of course, then it’s back to the daily grind on Monday.

There are still some test results we are waiting on so I remain hopeful that everything will have a positive outcome.

I apologize in advance to anyone who is owed web work from me. Please be patient. I’ll roll up my sleeves and tackle most of it this weekend.

I’m not an overly religious sort and not one prone to prayer, but I could probably see my way clear to do this….

Dear Lord,
I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
For Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods;
Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength
I’ll beat him to death.

Amen!

I got a nice, unexpected care package in the mail the other day. I am speechless! Well, almost. (You didn’t really buy that one, did you?)

To my thoughtful friend I say…
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In my Inbox this morning.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
One old love she can imagine going back to; and one who reminds her how far she has come..

Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to.

Something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.

A youth she’s content to leave behind and a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to retelling it in her old age.

A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

One friend who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry.

A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family..

Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.

A feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW
How to fall in love without losing herself.

How to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

When to try harder… and when to walk away.

That she can’t change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.

That her childhood may not have been perfect, but its over.

What she would and wouldn’t do for love or more.

How to live alone, even if she doesn’t like it.

Whom she can trust, who she can’t, and why she shouldn’t take it personally.

Where to go … be it to her best friend’s kitchen table or a charming inn in the woods … when her soul needs soothing.

What she can and can’t accomplish in a day, a month, and a year.

KPRC News reported a fatality accident Saturday when a truck was struck from behind by a drunk driver and pushed off the freeway overpass. The driver died at the scene; his teenaged son is in the hospital with a severed spine. The fucktard driver? Well, he’s now behind bars on two $50,000 bonds. Trouble is, he’s not one to particularly feel that laws as we know them apply to HIM. His illustrious criminal history includes three DWI convictions, a drug possession charge and a Driving With a Suspended License charge.

At least if you’re an old money Texas family like the Moncriefs. Read about the feuding oil barons here. If Larry McMurtry hasn’t written about it yet, he sure ought to.

Time for the Friday Five…
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I have never read James Lileks' blog.
But I've seen photos of his dog.
Although I may never read his blog,
I can tell you he isn't lying when he says
he has a damned fine dog.