Political Rant. Read at Your Own Risk.

Okay. I try to remain silent on social media as far as politics go. Mostly "presidential" politics. During the election, I had my fair share of arguments. Friends AND family. I was a supporter of Hillary Clinton. And although she was not crystal clear, I felt compared to anybody the Republicans put up to run, Trump especially, she was superior. Oh there were the "emails" and the "Benghazi" scandals, both of which nothing was found and after millions spent. But I continued to hear how it was rigged and she was guilty, all the possible corroborators ended up dead, etc.

But it didn't take a genius to know what Donald Trump was all about. Hateful rhetoric, bigoted statements, insults, inciting violence against this who opposed him at his rallies. This is all documented. No fake news here. Look. I can understand his appeal. Regular Joe, albeit a RICH Regular Joe, who was going to take on all those phony politicians in Washington and get rid of rich lobbyists, aka "The Swamp".

Okay. He gets elected. Then he starts tweeting. And lying. Things that can be proven. A scandal involving Russia. Possibly working to get him elected. Treasonous if true. He's nominating people who are rich lobbyists (the Swamp?) and benefactors of his campaign into positions they are unqualified for (Betsy DeVos?) But its still okay. He's great. The Russia thing? Fake news. No evidence. No evidence FOUND with Hillary either, but that's different. Where there was once diplomacy with our allies, he's now destroying. He lies continually. His ego is willing to start a nuclear war. Is this change his supporters wanted? Apparently it is. Eight years of Obama was SO terrible. I won't copy and paste any facts to refute this. Trump supporters don't believe it anyway. Fake news. He's gotten them to not trust the media. Dictators often do that.

I am a registered Republican. I have voted Democrat since I voted for Reagan. Oops. Bush Sr. actually. But there has not been a decent GOP candidate since. I hated W, but I would give my right arm to have him as president right now. Other than Cruz, Ryan or McConnell, give me anybody. Oh, no Gowdy either. He's a punk bitch. This country is spiraling out of control. Because if Trump. People I love and respect are still waving the Trump flag. I don't understand it. Why? This is not a Hillary thing. She lost. Maybe unfairly, and even though the majority of Americans voted for her (+3,000,000), she lost. Again, Trump wants you to believe, he NEEDS you to believe that the popular vote was rigged and he won that too. He didn't. But screw it. Did you all really sign up for this? This country being divided and the USA a joke on the world stage? Your children, grandchildren, loved ones, all at risk to die in a needless war of egos? Is that how America Will Be Great Again?

Again, this is MY forum. I warned you not to read if you were not going to like what I said. You all know how I feel. But if you can honestly say, that this is EXACTLY what you signed up for, and you are satisfied with this administration, and Trump is great, well then all I can say is FUCK YOU.
Like I said. My blog. My pulpit. This is where I can speak my mind. Unfollow, unfriendly, or whatever. If you agree with Trump, well...not sure where our relationship is headed anyhow. Don't tell me he's my president and I have to respect and support him. No I don't. And I REALLY hope there is evidence that will remove him and ALL his lying cronies out of the White House. Then where will his supporters be? I know. It was a witch hunt. Fake news. Maybe the start of another Civil War? It wouldn't last long. I believe majority of military would be against him anyway. The polls and approval ratings prove I'm not alone in this. That is, if you don't believe they're fake polls and fake news. If you are a Trump supporter you most likely don't.

So there's my rant. Trump is a liar. He's a narcissistic man child. He's ignorant to the position and highly unqualified. He's destroying our country, our standing in the world, and the planet itself.
We can only hope and pray that he is gone soon. He has no business in the office he is in. If you feel the opposite, I feel sorry for you and I'll pray for you. Even though I'm agnostic, I'll pray anyways.

So goodnight. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. We will need it. The world will need it.

My "Oldies" Station

As I was driving yesterday, I was enjoying the Eighties station on my two week trial of SiriusXM radio. Sometimes I listen to the Seventies station as well. The Eighties station has been my personal favorite of late though. I grew into young adulthood during this time. It was simpler then. No huge responsibilities, freedom, and fun.  Last years of high school, college, girls, heartbreak, fun times and not so fun times. But it seems that most every song brings a memory flooding back. Funny how sometimes you can't remember things, but yet when a certain song comes on, it's like television episode of your life comes on.

I remembered riding with my father in the car, whether we were going to the barber or somewhere else, he would always have WECK radio on. "The music if your life" was their slogan. Of course, it was a lot if Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra, Hank Williams, Bing Crosby and many others. He would love listening to the music and usually had a story to tell about some event that it took him back to, or traveling into Chicago to see them or playing them on some Juke in a bar.  Sometimes I would get bored of the "old time" music, wishing to hear some Elton John, or Wings, or anything else a little "newer." But many times I would enjoy the stories, seeing a different side of my father. A younger man. A guy who liked to do the same type of things I would do at times in my own adolescence.

So as I drove, listening to Pat Benatar, or Duran Duran, Wham!, Journey, or any of the bands of that era, it occurred to me that I had now become my father in that sense. This was my WECK radio. The Police had replace Glenn Miller, Doris Day was now the Go Go's, U2 and not Sinatra. That's probably what my kids think when I listen to my "old stuff." They want Lady GaGa (who I DO like) not the Bangles. But that's okay. Someday maybe they'll understand and realize the same way I did.
Now I have to get back to The Eurythmics and a certain girl I knew in college.

Max

Tonight I learned that my old high school band director passed away. I did not have him as long as others. By the time I got to high school, Mr. Maxfield, or "Max" as he was affectionately known, was close to retiring. I was lucky to have him a second time around when he returned to sub as director while we waited for a new director to be hired after his original replacement resigned.

Max was that teacher that you wanted to do well for. He inspired and motivated, like many of the great teachers we had at Wilson Central, through humor and understanding, and a strict love of teaching music and playing it. He had a pep band that played at football and basketball games, orange blazers and all. I can remember watching and listening when I was a younger attendee, hoping that someday I could be a part of it.

He was one of many teachers I had that inspired my teaching style for the relatively short time I taught. He was kind. And fair. And stern if he needed to be. I always hoped that I could motivate and make my students want to do well for me, like we did for Max.

Later on, years after I graduated, I was lucky enough to golf a few times with Max, along with my father, also a teacher and counselor at Wilson High. He was as much fun, if not more, to golf with and allowed me to get to know Max a little more than as a teacher. I also learned from my dad that Max was somewhat of a card shark, and most Thursday nights after my dad got home from the country club playing poker with the guys, that Max had won the most. I'd ask him, "Did you win?" and he would usually answer, "Some, but that damn Max won most of the pots!"

So tonight I say farewell to Mr. Maxfield. Max. You were one of a kind. I never heard any band student say they were glad you were retired. You were respected. You were liked. You were loved. RIP Max.