What a weekend! (Originally published on August 13, 2007)

I had an amazing weekend. You know what that means... time to blog.

I will preface the description of the weekend with a description of the week. In a rare fit of work addiction, I pulled some ridiculous hours and averaged about 5 hours of sleep a night. On Thursday night, I joined a young women (who will remain nameless because I feel the strange need to be mysterious at the moment) for dinner and live music. We went to a pub named The Shanachie where we listened to a group named The Malones and then hung out at her apartment. We talked into the wee hours as we are wont to do. On Friday, I worked a longer shift than planned. Lynne called and let me know that Justin, Fig, and Barb could use a ride to the Pines. I crashed around 8:00 or so on Friday night and didn't wake up for 14 hours.

Saturday involved just about everything. I went shopping for my sister's wedding shower, printed out pages and pages of directions, and rented a car. I also took my phone to the Sprint store to get it fixed. Over the last few days it has not been charging. I realized the LED indicator light wasn't coming on. It turns out the charging/syncing/communication port had come lose. Well, after waiting in a very unpleasant situation for an hour or so, it turns out that they can't fix it. They would have to replace it. Well, instead of just replacing it, they upgraded it to its replacement. Oddly enough, my contract is now up and so I am eligible for an upgrade. This is U.S. cell carrier speak for "If you renew your contract, we'll give you one of the ridiculous discounts on phones". For this reason, I had been eyeing up its replacement while waiting. I won't go nuts listing the features but it is taking a great force of will. End result: free new phone. Recommendation to others: get the insurance. That $6/month has saved me over $800 in the last year.

Saturday night we gathered at Barb's. I go to meet two more great people. We loaded up the car and headed for my favorite spot in New Jersey. We got there at about 2:00 AM. I danced and hugged and laughed and smiled. Describing the Pines would be like describing the family that were gathered there. One might as well try to right the definition of love. I did wish to note that the helicopter and the young man who got lost in the sun stood out. I'll have to touch base with everyone and see what became of both of them. I finally left at 12:30 as I had a previous engagement with my family by blood.

I drove from the undisclosed location to Brigantine. I parked the car down the street, got changed and tried to clear any ash from visible areas. I then walked into the pandemonium that seemed to punctuate my youth. Roughly 18 adults and as many children were gathered to shower my sister and her fiancee with gifts. I actually recall a couple of the names. I did make the mistake of sitting on the couch and fell asleep moments later. I spoke to my father as I often do and got the news from everyone. At around 8:00 PM, I left and took the groom and as many gifts as would fit into the Chevy Aveo (which only apparently got 24 MPG... bummer... sorry Mother Nature).

By the time I got home it was about 10:30. I called the the young women who will still remain nameless and crashed.

Can I do it again?

Desire to vent (Originally published on August 14, 2007)

Okay, I know it is a departure and I usually don't like to type out topics of conversation.

I used to write about completely abstract things and never put down the empirical, the real, the day-to-day. My life has changed since then. I have changed significantly since then.

Somewhere along the way I learned that all I can do is be. I learned to see the beauty in the world. I may not fix the world's problems but I will be the change I wish to see in the world. I will do what I can to lessen the pain of my brothers and sisters and I will do what I can to support the causes I believe in.

I am human and we get frustrated. My latest frustration stems from a see of discussion loosely grouped under the topic of immigration. As people shake their fists in the air and rattle sabers, pictures run through my head. The pictures were taken of third-class and steerage passengers on a little island off the coast of New Jersey. Not all of the photos are pleasant. The island was called the Island of Tears by some. Millions of people poured into this country from 1892 to 1924. They were men, women, and children that were hoping for a better life. Many of them would return to Europe to fight for their new country. Many would not be allowed in. Many would have their names changed indiscriminately. I would love to retell a personal story here but the Musick's were already here. They were from an earlier wave of immigration to reach our shores. A wave before photography.

The pictures are very different now. Men and women running across barren lend towards a fence while being chased by INS vehicles. A collection of rotted wood referred to as "a raft" slowly making its way across the Carribean. The words inscribed on a huge statue screaming "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free."

But we've done away with all that. Even marrying one of us doesn't guarantee you a right to live here. There are an estimated 30 million people living here illegally. Although I doubt this figure as it would represent 1/10 of our population, I'll allow it for the sake of argument. They pick our fruit, wash our dishes, clean our homes, and generally allow us to live the life we do.

I think people have tried the wrong tact in some cases when discussing this issue. I mean human decency can always be countered by lies and fear mongering. We are a capitalist country after all, so let us speak of this from a purely economical standpoint. Let's say there are 30 million people living here illegally. Then it would probably stand to reason that they are not paying income tax. Well, let me see we start by grandfathering people in. If you've lived here for 20 years, you are an American. Yes, this will be hard to verify. Oh well, more citizens, more taxpayers. Oh, that's right if you bring them on the payroll you have to pay them minimum wage. Minimum wage will actually be a pay increase in many cases even though it is abysmally low. Well, if you increase the wages of 40 million people guess what you end up with... 30 million consumers. Now, I know what you're thinking. If the wineries have to pay people minimum wage, what will happen. The answer: California wines will probably increase in price. Since wine is a luxury item and also taxed, the sale of more expensive wine will again increase the tax base.

But, you say, won't some growers go out of business? This is possible. The growers that are over stretched and rely on underpaid migrant labor for their picking may very well be adversely effected. But as it is illegal to hire labors that have entered the country illegally, I'm sure that very few growers are actually doing it. But what about the service industry? Won't they be hit? Again, are there people working illegally in kitchens? I am so surprised. I guess we would to pay them $5.85 an hour as well. Wait, if you start paying all the kitchen staff minimum wage won't the front of the house demand more money. I suppose so.

Waitresses and bartenders getting paid a legal wage plus tips! The outrage! I know, I dared to speak it. But I am not a communist. I am looking at this from a simple matter of capital. The ridiculousness of having people receive checks for null or for pennies leads not only to laughter among members of the industry but again to less tax revenue.

Basically, you can be evil and still support the opening of our borders and still let people live hand to mouth on the ridiculously low minimum wage. And you can do the most evil thing of all... hide your intentions. What will appear to the outside world as the only logical step will actually be brought about by greed. There are 30 million people that can be brought into the rat race of credit cards and debt counseling. It's an entire market to sell your products to. And the rich and powerful won't be negatively effected. I mean, do congressman actually drink California wines? They may have to start paying the servants, but you can't run for office and be connected with illegal labor.

Okay, I think I'm done now. I feel much better.

The impossible gift... an older brother (Originally published on September 26, 2007)

On Saturday two people were joined according to our legal system. As my brother noted, they were actually joined some time ago. The moment they looked into one another's eyes and thought "forever". My sister has now joined the ranks of the married.

I was given the opportunity to read during the event. I had read it a dozen times, written every word, but memory left me somewhere on that beach. Although I had not anticipated that, I was prepared for it.

The week passed too quickly. I packed on Sunday night and returned to this place I think of as home. There are a million stories from those 5 days. In the end though, they are already passing away. The story is simple really. John Scaringelli and Megan Musick were married in Brigantine, New Jersey. The event was witnessed by some 200 persons.

As for me, I saw love. I was surrounded by it. It poured forth in all directions. The walls that separate people were cast aside.

I now have 3 brothers according to the world at large. That's just fucking cool.