Weekend Wild Card — 3.13.10

48 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

• 

  brentandrews on March 13 at 7:43 a.m.

  Cuz is dying on drugs. Meth and Loritab. His mom and wife took him to the doc. He was having paranoid fantasies, including jumping off his roof looking for a “poacher” hunting the animals on his farm. Very very crazy. So they take him into the doc. Point out the symptoms. His wife is thinking Alzheimers - the last thing she wants to do is confront his drug problem, because it means confronting her drug problem. So she’s suggesting Alzheimers, really accepts this as his problem. He’s 47 years old and takes Loritabs like Pez candy. So the doc listens a while. Then he writes a prescription - for Loritab. Luckily cuz’s mother has brought cuz’s pills with her. She pulls a bottle of Loritab from her pocket. “Don’t you think he has enough pills, doc?” she asks. Doc didn’t write the prescription and they left. Cuz went back a couple of days later, and the doc write the prescription.

  Today we’re doing an intervention. Hopefully we can get Cuz in rehab, before he turns up dead. Meth and pills and doctors - Lord, help us.

• 

  brentandrews on March 13 at 8:25 a.m.

  I’m going to be really sad if we lose ole Cuz to meth and pills. He’s always been my backup. A bronc-rider and bar-fighter, he has a soft side that sees him taking in neglected horses and dogs - he loves horses and dogs - and feeding them through hardscrabble winters. He talks to them like they’re babies, affecting a sweet high baby’s voice so out of place coming from the toughest cowboy in three states who has given and taken so many beatings. He’s thoroughly beat up now, ole Cuz. Puffy in the face. Limping with a busted knee that was never right after all that cowboying, which suffered further damage in his jump from the roof after the “poachers.” Poor Cuz. He’s in the late stages of drug addiction - the paranoid fantasies are a sure sign - he’s going to die, and soon, if we can’t help him. His mother came to me yesterday. Me, of all people. Could I talk to him? Of course I will. You might be surprised, if you know me and The Pot Plan, that what I recommend - again and again - is not the pot plan for addicts, but sobriety, rehab, the traditional route back into clean living. If that doesn’t work there’s always the pot plan. But it’s a last resort. Today I’m going to try to talk Cuz into going into rehab. I’ll need God’s help. When you pray, you can move mountains. So I imagine the whole diverse HBO crowd praying for me today and with that behind me there’s no way I can fail - I will get through to Cuz, and help his mother save his life which is worth saving not because he’s my Cuz, and I might need his backup again one of these days, but because he’s a child of the Heavenly Father, noble and divine through lineage, if not behaviour. And because I care enough to say you look terrible, you’re dying, you’d better get help right now, or else.

• 

  Bent on March 13 at 9:10 a.m.

  Man, what a tough place to be, good luck to you Brent… I’ll pray it comes out positive for you and your family…

• 

  JBelle on March 13 at 9:15 a.m.

  I believe in you, and I believe in him. I’ll think of you..

• 

  keithincda on March 13 at 9:23 a.m.

  Remember the guy in California in the Toyota Prius that had to be stopped with the help of CHP patrol cars? Seems as if it may have been a fabricated

  hoax:http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/12/toyota-autos-hoax-media-opinions-contributors-michael-fumento_print.html

  From the article:

  “So why did he do it? Sleuth work at the Web sites Jalopnik.com and Gawker.com reveals that Sikes and his wife Patty in 2008 filed for bankruptcy and are over $700,000 in debt. Among their creditors is Toyota Financial Services for a lease on a 2008 Toyota Prius, with value at time of bankruptcy of $20,494. The Jalopnik Web site shows a copy of Toyota’s secured claims form, though when Jalopnik questioned Sikes by e-mail he denied being behind on his Prius payments.

  Sikes also has a history of filing insurance claims for allegedly stolen items that are slowly coming to light. In 2001 he filed a police report with the Merced County Sheriff’s Department for $58,000 in stolen property, including jewelry, a prosumer mini-DV camera and gear, and $24,000 in cash, according to Fox40 in Sacramento. His bankruptcy documents show a 2008 payment of $7,400 for an allegedly stolen saxophone and clothes.”

  Craaaazzzzyy…

• 

  keithincda on March 13 at 9:41 a.m.

  oops somehow that last word ran into the link, here it is:

  http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/12/toyota-autos-hoax-media-opinions-contributors-michael-fumento_print.html

• 

  Bent on March 13 at 9:42 a.m.

  Wow, keith, when you look at the snowball effect this had, this guy should be in jail…

• 

  keithincda on March 13 at 9:47 a.m.

  Bent…check your email I sent you a youtube vide about this…!

• 

  Me on March 13 at 9:49 a.m.

  Good luck Brent - so hard to see someone you love fade away and turn into someone else.

• 

  Phaedrus on March 13 at 10:01 a.m.

  Brent, not easy watching people kill themselves, especially people we care about.Prayers that he wants to live.

• 

  JamesBond on March 13 at 10:24 a.m.

  I have no problem with Cindy being in charge, so long as this place doesn’t become like Oprah. :-)

• 

  Soaf on March 13 at 10:31 a.m.

  JamesBond on March 13 at 10:24 a.m.

  I have no problem with Cindy being in charge, so long as this place doesn’t become like Oprah. :-)
  =================================================

  Oprah is OK here JB as long as there’s a touch of Jerry Springer!

  ;-)

• 

  danofthecommunity on March 13 at 11:02 a.m.

  I’ve been in your shoes before Brent and will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

  Regardless of the outcome you are doing the right thing.

• 

  Cindy_H on March 13 at 11:04 a.m.

  @JB: Bet you’d change your mind if I gave away new cars to all Hucksters who comment next week ;-)

• 

  JohnA on March 13 at 2:15 p.m.

  DFO, I read with interest this morning the CDA Press article about former U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt and his concerns about our nation’s increasing illiteracy on civic issues. He states that a survey by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute taken by 2,500 adult resulted in an average score of just 49% (missing 17 of 33 questions). College grads weren’t much better at just 57%. Faring even worse were public officials (sorry, Dan) at 44%.

  I went to the site expecting with those results that the survey must be very difficult. You can judge for yourself if you agree by taking the 2008 survey at:

  http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/

  Amazing results, actually, if you ask me.

• 

  Charlie on March 13 at 2:45 p.m.

  Took the test and initially thought I’d do poorly but surprise surprise, I remember my high school civics and passed. What are they teaching in the schools today? Have seen some of the man in the street interviews by Leno and some of these people are “dumb.”

• 

  JohnA on March 13 at 3:05 p.m.

  I’m with you, Charlie. I got 30 out of 33 and was kicking myself on missing the three.

  I would say that if this test is any indication, It’s a shame we’ve fallen so far on the education front over the years. There’s no excuse for a nation as great as ours to have such an ignorant populace.

• 

  JeanieSpokane on March 13 at 3:15 p.m.

  Brent, I am with you in spirit and pray for your strength and perseverance in this intervention thing. Mechanic Man’s best friend is dying of alcoholism. He’s young - 51. No amount of friends and ex-wives telling him he had a drinking problem - YEARS - ago was denting his brain. HE did NOT have a drinking problem. We all were talking “intervention”, when his current wife **asked** if he would mind her having a glass of wine. This was for Thanksgiving (he’d been home from hospital and nursing home for a couple of weeks). It wasn’t seconds that he broke his plan, and had THAT drink. He didn’t make it to rehab, but a second hospital stay in January and the docs gave up. His liver shut down and now he’s on his last days. It’s a crying shame and I mean that literally. I am crying and pissed at the same time.

• 

  danofthecommunity on March 13 at 3:22 p.m.

  I got 31 out of 33 so I guess I’m above the mean for some public officials…sorry John.

• 

  hmoffsuite on March 13 at 3:30 p.m.

  Brent. I have been thinking about your situation with the Cuz all day. I just don’t know what to say. Bad situation for sure. And, you are a good man to try to help him out. I don’t know much about interventions and think maybe someone, perhaps a professional, can help you out with technique, do’s and don’t’s, etc. The problem with these sorts of things, imo, is that the person you are trying to help doesn’t ‘hear’ what you are trying to tell them, and what you are saying. Obviously, they just aren’t thinking clearly, if thinking at all. So, words, logic, reason, and the typical methods used when trying to convince someone of something, just don’t work. So, that leaves ‘emotion’ as the last tool to use to try to get through to them. Does Cuz have children? A loving wife? Parents? Pleas by those with whom he has emotional ties, might be most effective. With, perhaps, the threat of abandoned relationships. I think you need to find the soft spot within your Cuz and use that vulnerability to get through to him. I sure wish you luck. Maybe, if anyone on HBO has seen the movie, they could chime in. Kendra, I think it is, got thru the addiction. Someone with some success might have valuable insight into how to best help your Cuz. Just a couple thoughts.

• 

  BethB on March 13 at 5:39 p.m.

  Brent, heartbreaking. I’ve seen it too, sometimes in my own family. I agree with hmo, in that he has to want it for himself. Though the process for everyone else doing what they can is important too, even if it is so that you know you did what you did, and why you did it. Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.

• 

  hhuseland on March 13 at 5:46 p.m.

  Washington beat Cal for pac-ten title.

• 

  Me on March 13 at 6:00 p.m.

  Hiked Tubbs Hill this morning. It had been a long time since I had been there and my husband had never hiked the whole thing. What an amazing gem we have right in our backyard. So beautiful. Everyone is friendly on the trail and the parking is free and easy. I know in the middle of summer its probably a whole different thing, but for right now it’s heaven.

  I’ll have some photos soon on my blog.

• 

  hhuseland on March 13 at 6:01 p.m.

  OK, I got only 28 out of 33 right, but I plead loss of memory due to aging.

• 

  hhuseland on March 13 at 6:05 p.m.

  Also, my hearing is getting real bad and at the Lincoln-Douglas debates, I was too far back to hear well.

• 

  mia on March 13 at 7:05 p.m.

  Hilarious, Herb! Nice jab at yourself!

• 

  spokelooneh on March 13 at 9:05 p.m.

  96.97, missed one question.

  The fact that the general populace gets about half my score, 49%, validates what Phadreus said the other day regarding the ignorance of the general American citizenry, for which a bunch of you people chided him for. He was right.

  The American population will fare far better though, on a survey about sports, or pop culture. Civics, not so much.

  Franklin said they gave us a Republic, if we can keep it. That’s in jeopardy at this point, as the Founders also recognized that only an engaged, informed electorate could keep this grand experiment going. It ain’t happening.
  ––––––––––––––

  Hope the intervention was successful, Brent. Difficult issues, difficult times…

• 

  Arpie on March 13 at 9:07 p.m.

  Any word on Today’s parade? How was the Grand Marshall greeted? As a liberator? Any airborne tomatoes?

• 

  geoffocache on March 13 at 9:11 p.m.

  Can I get some feedback on this? The family and I went out to dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday. We went to Twigs on the South Hill in Spokane. We had a party of seven plus a one year old baby. They charged us a mandatory gratuity for having eight people. My one year old did not oder, did not have a place setting, did not make a mess and was not cause for a bigger table. Does anybody think that it is right for them to consider a little baby in this situation a cause to force gratuity of their choice on us or is this birthday boy being a little to whiney?

• 

  Arch_Druid on March 13 at 9:18 p.m.

  Finally got my green house completely built. You do know about kits, an “easy” kit that takes at least two weeks to build, looks somewhat slipshod and definitely unprofessional in appearance. But, it works. I have greenhouse plastic to put over it as I get more seeds planted. I also have the remnants of a glorified cold frame that broke apart in a strong wind. I can salvage some of the racks at least and place them in the new at least sturdier structure. That way, I have more room to put up more seed flats. So, right along with Dave, I am now commencing to do some gardening.

• 

  eagleeye on March 13 at 10:09 p.m.

  Cleam Water,
  Counting a one year old as the 8th person was nuts. I am totally against these mandatory gratuities. Your server got greedy. Back in the day when I was a server the place I worked at charged an 18% mandatory on tables of 8 or more. I would override that and never charge the mandatory because I usually earned and received more than 20%..What would have happened if your service was terrible ? Anyway, you are justified in questioning what happened to you tonight.

• 

  JBelle on March 13 at 11:50 p.m.

  Birthday Boy is being whiney. Sorry. It’s true, though. Why are you taking a baby to a restaurant like Twigs anyway? That’s what they are telling you. Get a sitter. Go to pizza. Twigs is not, strictly speaking, a kids’ or a stroller restaurant.

• 

  JohnA on March 14 at 4:18 p.m.

  Gee, how they fell: After losing their championship game this week, the Zags will have to shuffle off to Buffalo. I guess Palookaville was already booked.

  As an 8-seed, they face a tough Florida State team, and if they survive must then face Syracuse, the nation’s #1 team recently.

  Oh, well. Maybe that’s what this team needed, to be underdogs against great teams, on the road. We’ll see Friday.

• 

  poolman on March 14 at 5:39 p.m.

  Wow - What was their lowest ranking this season - around 23? Seems to me they hung around 13 most of the season. An 8 would imply they are in the 29-32 range. I fully expected them to be a 5 or 6 and play somewhere west of the Mississippi. An 8 and having to go x-country? - ouch. Apparently the Zag AD hasn’t been greasing the right wheels. This is not a slap in the face - this is a sucker punch to the groin…

• 

  Stickman on March 14 at 6:09 p.m.

  Me: I know you have wanted a new stick of late, please come by next time you are in the area and pick out one of the all time greats. I would want one of those in your hands, if only to make your son jealous.

• 

  JIMMYMAC on March 14 at 6:31 p.m.

  I have to say RE: Zags seeding, if the Cuse’s big man is in fact seriously injured, this could work out quite well. If we get past Fla State, It’ll be a home game in Buffalo for sure, BUT that didn’t help us down in Las Vegas. Go Zags!

• 

  hhuseland on March 14 at 7:01 p.m.

  Two messages. Stickman, get yer mutt up here if you want all that maple. I can probably supply 50 or more of the right size sticks.

  @Bent. Yer aol address ain’t workin. Please send me the operative one. I’m at: www.bayviewherb@gmail.com>

• 

  Me on March 14 at 7:10 p.m.

  Thanks Stickman - I hiked Tubbs again today - and of course looked down on your place and thought of you. I will probably hit Tubbs again next weekend so I’ll make sure to stop and get a new stick.

• 

  JohnA on March 14 at 7:10 p.m.

  Good point, JimmyMac, about Syracuse’s injury issue. The problem is the location, and that team is way too good even without their big man to play poorly in a home game.

  No, the Zags blew it by losing to Loyola and San Fran. Those were more devastating than the St. Mary’s loss.

  But, I’ll try to be optimistic that something good might come from the seeding. Let’s hope the good Zag team shows up this weekend. Heaven knows no one wants to play them when they are ON.

• 

  chatterbox on March 14 at 7:55 p.m.

  Stickman -
  We did some major tree trimming today (I know, it shoudda been done last fall … but I was still battling cancer, then) so I have some terrific branches for you to work your magic on and make into walking sticks. I will drop them off next weekend.
  Can I bring you a beer, too?
  :)

• 

  spokelooneh on March 14 at 8:15 p.m.

  Stickman, get anything good a the Gem and Minerals show?

• 

  Stickman on March 14 at 8:39 p.m.

  I thank you all for having my back, except Herb of course, who never let’s me know where he is or where he’s at. I guess I will pass Herb, as I have never gotten a message from you and where the heck I am supposed to go, even if I have a clue where I am going. Thanks anyway, it seems to be a lost cause. spokelooneh, yes I was there, as I am every year. I bought a few things to give away to the kids of this world, and actually went with my son, which I enjoyed very much. Me, I expect a visit soon, as I have many sticks that you would love and your son might be jealous of. I am here every single day of the year. Today was a very special one, as many came by and they had the time of their lives. It’s why I do what I do.

• 

  Stickman on March 14 at 8:48 p.m.

  chatterbox; I welcome any and all contributions to what I do. If you leave them in the driveway, I will know it was you and will always thank you. I find things in my driveway almost every day, and appreciate any and all that contribute to the things I do on a daily basis. I was gone this morning for once, to the Spokane rock and gemshow, which I attend every single year. It was great, and I did find things that I will pass on to the kids of this generation, just because.

• 

  fortboise on March 14 at 9:10 p.m.

  33/33. Just sayin.

• 

  spokelooneh on March 14 at 10:55 p.m.

  “fortboise on March 14 at 9:10 p.m.

  33/33. Just sayin.”

  Well done.

  It would be interesting to see which questions were the most missed, and then there are some that if you missed… that, you’re completely retarded.

• 

  brentandrews on March 15 at 10:13 a.m.

  Drove out to Cuz’s house in the country expecting him to be in a three-day funk like his mother said he was prone to lately, only to find he was out getting eyeglasses. I got him on his cell phone and he seemed busy and happy; he was laughing with his wife and her friend about how he had already broken five pairs of reading specs; he sounded tired but pretty normal, you know? So, there was no intervention. Not this time. We’re going to keep working on him. The goal is to get him into rehab, away from the meth-cooking neighbors, away from the pills and into the hands of docs who aren’t just going to hand him more pills. I’ll get out there this week and tell him people love him, and are worried about him. Thanks to everyone who commented and prayed. We will get through to Cuz. Lord help us.

• 

  Stickman on March 15 at 12:06 p.m.

  Herb; 765-2049. My Jeep just broke down, but I expect to have it back by the middle of the week. How about at the end of the week, say thursday or friday. I have no way of reaching you, maybe I will try your e-mail addresss that you just left for Bent. I want the sticks and could surely use them, I have been very busy around here of late. Thanks.

• 

  brentandrews on March 16 at 10:31 a.m.

  Stickman, I’ve wandered far and wide and I’ve never met another Stickman. You know my beautiful ‘Leopard Print’ stick is still in Idaho? I couldn’t risk having it seized by the flying authorities. The plan is to get it when I drive out there. I might be an old man before that happens. But I’ll still need the stick. I have no doubt it will outlast me and be an heirloom for my son. Meanwhile it’s in good hands.

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