God Willing

Well, I’ve been off and distracted so I haven’t been able to come up with anything especially insightful or witty. The things I’ve read lately have been fluff, though I have read some pretty good comic books. Most recently I have enjoyed “Superman: Red Son” which may be one of the top five comics I’ve ever read, and “Powers” volumes 1 through 3 by Michael Bendis. Those are also classics, just like Bendis’ work on Ultimate Spider-man.

Saw “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” which was like watching a live action Max Fleischer cartoon, and equally enjoyable. Angelina Jolie in an eye-patch; God bless that kid. Seriously though, it was very well conceived and produced and a nice break from standard fair.

My state sent me a second absentee ballot. The first, which I commented on before, was only a write in, so supposedly the state sends one to ensure you can vote in case your regular ballot doesn’t arrive. Seriously, that’s what they say. So I actually got to vote against Bush and Kerry and for Badnarik twice! Gosh I hope they count them. I’m also trying to get Fichus on my county board of supervisors…

Right now I am listening to symphonic Pink Floyd in between rocket attacks rattling the windows. One thing being here has shown me is the ability of humans, which I must claim as my species, to adapt. Sure, some are reduced to quivering masses of tear producing flesh, but the majority of us go about our business and count our fingers and toes after they hear the boom. A mortar shell bouncing off your roof does get your attention though.

I had a friend get shrapnel this week, and he is leaving Babylon to go home. He’ll be OK, but we had some worried moments. There are three awards I never want to receive from my firm: the Purple Heart, the POW medal, and the Congressional Medal of Honor; too often those are awarded posthumously. I’m not scared of death, but I’m really enjoying this plane of existence right now.

We had a couple of people here leave this plane of existence earlier this week. I had coffee with one of them the night before. He stayed up late watching Al-Arabiya TV, then went in the morning to get a shower. A 107MM Chinese rocket, which the Babylonians aren’t supposed to have, landed about 20 feet from him. Not fair, not unjust, just was his time. There’s no real defense, there’s no real prep besides wearing some protective gear. What do you do?

Go on living. Listen to Pink Floyd and watch Angelina Jolie make eye-patches look sexy. Read comic books. Post a blog. Insh’allah.