Oh, The Places I've Been!

OK. I have had a number of jobs, I know. I tried to make a list once, but I ran off the paper, and kept having to insert here and there, so I just gave up. My wife and her friends like to rub it in, and I probably deserve it all.
So then I get curious about this Google search thing. I decided to google "sam eastman". It turns out, in addition to my extensive resume, I have forayed into areas unknown. I dabbled once as a muscular, rugged American soldier of fortune mercenary; a doctor on "The Lloyd Bridges Show"; an ensign on the USS Miranda; a British "football" player; a school teacher; a gay writer; a member of the hard rock band, Irish Lion; a founding member of the fire brigade at La Habra Heights; and a passenger train engineer (boy, have I got a story to tell you).

I enjoyed my time as an environmental researcher; a fly fisherman; an advertising attorney? (I thought this whole law school thing seemed a bit too familiar); chairman of a Federal labor camp (see p. 36, I am a "magnificent appearing man" who could never read nor write); and a singer.

I even spent a few years playing hockey for the New Jersey Devils, where I made the all-stars (but who's bragging?).


While I found some great friends as a student at London Central High School in England, perhaps my most memorable experience was as a
honeymooner at Niagara Falls with my wonderful wife Margaret (Isn't she a doll? We had such a good time there).

It turns out I also own some property over in Salinas, CA. Mindyluhu, I wonder if you could go check on that land for me.

Yes, folks. Life has been good. It has been full and exciting. But most of all, I have lived the dream(s).

I've been made

Every now and then I like to look thru my sitemeter to see if anyone other than my usual following could possibly have any interest in what I have to say. Generally, this blog is accessed thru my wife's blog, or by the two or three family members who even know it exists. Occasionally, I find that someone from somewhere I've never heard of is accessing the blog. "Welcome!"

But the most intriguing access is the one that came from a Google search. Someone apparently googled "sam eastman arkansas". Two things came to mind: 'uh-oh' and 'cool!'

'Uh-oh'... Who? Why? I mean, that is a pretty specific search. Wait a minute, I know what it is. At the beginning of the school year, I ran for the Honor Code Review Board. I'll bet one of my opponents was trying to dig up dirt on me. So now I have had to change my profile so my name is no longer associated with this blog. That way, no one will know that, by day, I am a mild-mannered college student, while by night (well, at least once or twice a month) I am a champion of all things practical.

On the "cool" side, however, I am a fictional character in a book somewhere.

Patches, the Saddest Song I'll Never Hear

Have you ever had a song that just stuck in your head, but all you knew of it was a couple of lines? I had heard this song a long time ago, on an old 45 rpm. I don't remember where we had gotten it, and I have no idea whatever happened to it. But it struck me then as perhaps the saddest song I would ever hear in my entire life, and I have never been able to shake it. I have not heard it in probably 25 years or longer. All I could remember were a few lines from the chorus: "Patches, I'm depending on you son. To something, something, something..." And that was it. Every now and then, I would ask some old timer country music afficianado, and I guess it didn't stick with anyone else like it did with me, because no one had any idea what I was talking about. The best anyone could remember was a different song called 'Patches' about some girl. Well, that one was by Dickey Lee from 1962, but it wasn't my sad, sad song.

I love the internet! After sporadic diligence, I finally have uncovered the mystery. Well, most of it, anyway. My song, the one I have sought my entire life, is also called 'Patches' and was written and performed by Clarence Carter. Unfortunately, all I can find are the lyrics. One day, I just know that I will hear that beautiful, sad song again. With my luck, it will come on just as I have to get out of the car because I am already running late. But at least will know the lyrics.

Do they make these for the driver's side?

I want to see if I could get one for my bus! I mean, really, you can only drive around in circles for so long before the mind starts wandering anyway.

Resolved. Senators are Morons.

The Senate is getting all worked up over a non-binding resolution to remind us that they don't like Bush, therefore, they don't like his troop build-up plan. McCain called the plan 'intellectually dishonest.' I'm gonna have to agree with McCain on this one. I guess the Democrats ran out of things to legislate after graciously providing a pay raise for the five Americans who have been working at the same minimum wage job for the last 12 years and never got a raise. So now they have nothing to do but run around pecking the ground and pushing through meaningless resolutions that will have no affect short of sorting the morons from the imbeciles. So, once all the vital negotiations are completed, our overpaid and under worked senators will be able to overwhelm the media with little sound bites about how they support our troops but have no faith in their abilities to succeed. (Huh?)

Wow, can you imagine when they make the movies about this one. "Men!" says Mel Gibson, "We need to take this sector. Our illustrious Senate has so graciously allowed us to pay you, and they send their support, but they just want me to remind you that they have no faith in you. Well not you, really. They have no faith in us, your commanders. Especially your commander-in-chief. They want you to know that we are incompetent, but at least they support you. So go forth into battle, boys. Raise your voices high! This is obviously a failed mission, so if you don't succeed, don't worry about it." And then the music crescendos... well, sort of. Wow! What a blockbuster.