My Friend Jerry

My old friend Jerry died on Monday night after a long and ugly battle with cancer.  He leaves behind his adored wife of 49 years, Beverly,  his son Greg, daughter Kelly and several grandchildren.  Jerry and I worked together for several years and I only saw him on occasion after he retired but I loved him dearly and will miss him, even though I know he's in a better place, free of the pain of the last couple of years.

Jerry was from a different era in my job, before the insane pressure, back when we could enjoy our jobs and could get to know each other.  He retired 10 years ago and as it goes, I did not think of him every day but sometimes small things would remind me of him.

Jerry loved chocolate and one Christmas we chipped in and gave him one of those giant Hershey bars.

Jerry whistled all of the time and would get caught on one song and whistle it for days until one of us would call the force desk to beg for another song.  I never hear 'Spring Spring Spring' from 7 Brides for 7 Brothers without hearing him whistle it.

Jerry had a joke about a parrot named Chet, who if you put a lighter under his left leg he sang 'Silent Night', if you put a lighter under his right leg he sang 'Jingle Bells' and if you put it dead center he sang 'Chets nuts roasting over an open fire'.    I never hear that song either without thinking of Jerry and that stupid joke.

Jerry will leave this world in a plaid shirt just like I remember him every day.  As Tim the Toolman Taylor always sad about Al:  He's 1 part pasty white, 2 parts plaid. 

Rest in peace, dear friend.  We'll meet again someday.

Roman Polanski

Today there was a story on the news that a group of Hollywood directors at Cannes are signing a petition in support of Roman Polanski.  He is a director who left the US in the 1970's because he was convicted drugging a 13 year old girl and having sex with her.  He moved to Europe to avoid going  to jail.  He has not set foot in the US since.

For some reason I don't understand, a lot of people in Hollywood over the years have defended him and have lobbied to have his conviction set aside because he makes movies.  Why the love?   Do these people seriously have no morals?  Do they not see anything wrong with drugging a little girl and having sex with her?

Now another actress says he raped her too,  She was old.  16. 

Serial rapist.  Nothing wrong there either.  Not in Hollywood.  Are these petition signing directors sending their little girls onn over to "work " with him?  

Ipod

Actually, it's my Iphone but I've been listening to it for a couple of hours, while I made cookies, while I cleaned my kitchen, while I played on the computer and I have to say I have really good taste in music.

Brown Cars

Everywhere I looked today I saw brown cars and they are all ugly.  I would never buy a brown car.

Oh My Gravy, Its a Pink Tie Affair

My cowboys lost the Amazing Race but are using they are using their celebrity to host a dinner in their hometown to raise money for Relay for Life.   What are the bozo whiners who won doing to make the world a better place?

Road Construction

University Avenue from 82nd north to the loop or farther is down to one lane each way right no...6 lanes are now 2.  It's supposed to be that way for 6 months so they can repave.   Why oh who can they not do yit in stages?    Why not tear up a block, fix a block?  Grrr