Police state

Last month, in Wolcott, CT, at Wolcott High School, a chilling announcement came over the P.A. system one morning. It warned that an intruder, an armed, dangerous intruder, had entered the school, and the kids were to kill the lights in the classrooms and get in the corner. I can only imagine how this must have felt to these kids, as children of the Columbine age, Virginia Tech, the shooting in Norway in July, and so many other crazy acts of violence across the country, and the world. Must've scared the fuck out of those kids.

The intruder wasn't real, you see. The school administration, or the cops, or someone made this story up, and for what? Why would anyone do that?

To look for drugs. To have the cops bring in their drug doggies and walk up and down the hallways, sniffing for weed in lockers.

Drug dog. Get it?

They told the kids that there was an armed man in the building, to get the kids to cooperate during a search for drugs. Which they never found. These are people who have been entrusted with the safety and education OF OUR CHILDREN.

I just can't believe that someone would be so stupid. What if one of those kids was related to a shooting victim? What if that terrified a kid so badly, that he or she now has PTSD? What about the next 'authority figure' who tells these kids to sit down and shut up, and is told to fuck off? What. The. Fuck?

It's incredible that this sort of thing happens. They had no probable cause, no reason to bring in the dogs at all, and looking for drugs isn't the problem here anyway. The problem is THEY TOLD THE KIDS THERE WAS AN ARMED AND DANGEROUS PERSON IN THE HALLS RIGHT NOW LOCK THE DOORS AND HIDE when there was no such person. What the fuck is wrong here? Is it me?

 I hope they don't wonder why their kids don't trust anyone over 30. They don't seem to have much of a reason to. I hope one, or more, of these kiddoes folks is feeling litigious. These kids could need a lot of therapy after this shit. That's expensive. And, some dumb fucker needs to lose his or her job. Anyone who thinks that this was a good fuckin idea, that just the guy you don't want steering the ship, know what I mean?

Of course, now they know just what treacherous fuckers cops and authority figures can be. And now they know why to never, ever trust their bosses, or the traffic cop that pulls them over, or anyone, really. Way to go, Wolcott. Way to break a buncha young people.

The online paper I got this story from, the writer said the if you want teenagers to trust you and what you say, its best not to lie to them. That means that kids aren't as fucking stupid as you think, Wolcott, Connecticut, you assholes. He also said that we don't as a society, set kids on fire so that they will take fire drills more seriously. Careful, dude, you don't wanna give those hayseeds in Wolcott any ideas.

Peace.

Turgiving

When I got here, I was really down. For a good 6 months after arriving on these shores, I was miserable to be with. I missed home, my friends, my family, all that is familiar. I was no fun to be around, and made my family here miserable too, just because I was bummed.

Me, 2 years ago.

Thing have since changed. Nothing around me, I have just stopped taking shit around me for granted, and started appreciating the things and people around me that, for whatever reason, have welcomed me into their lives and homes.

Today was a good example of that. Today we celebrated that holiest of American holidays, Thanksgiving. And folks, I'm not gonna lie to you, we did it right. The turkey was great, the company was great, the wine and beer flowed, the desserts were amazing. We had a baby, sullen teenagers, family, friends, the only thing missing was a football game.

Thank you to all my family and friends, for just being yourselves. You all got a spot right here. Thank you to France, for giving me a place to call home. Thank you, Jessica and Daniel. Thank you for everything.

I hope you all had a terrific holiday. I hope you spent it with those you love, and if you couldn't, I hope you know that you were thought of, and you were missed. I'm looking right at you, Sean.

Peace.

No title for you!

So. The most recent post here was about me getting lost in the woods. That day sucked for a lot of reasons,  not the least of which is I lost my cool-douchebag shades.

Snap into a Slim Jim!

All I need is some wrestling shoes, and Bad Boy Club pants, right? Oh, and a sweet mullet. Look, I know they aren't the most FASHIONABLE sunglasses around. But they have been all over the U.S. with me, are great on a motorcycle, or mountain bike, awesome on a snowboard, so there.

So today Daniel and I went and found em. We went, again, up to La Pinea, down the back side, and to Point 1321(I don't know why they call it that).

Here. See?

There, we ran into a hunter, got directions, and started hotfooting it down the road, the other way than last time, hitched a ride (Daniels first time!) with the same hunter and his buddy, and went on down to Proveysieux, and waited Jessica to come get us. Long ass walk. It's really great, you know, hoofing it around, with your kid, laughing, talking, telling fart jokes. I mean, I know that it's great wherever you are(hopefully), and whoever you are with, but if you can be somewhere like here, that seems to be conducive to what? thoughtful conversation? AND have the added bonus of being with a guy like big D, well shit. You got it made, mon ami.

Dalton?

This isn't fun anymore

Today, I left the house at about 10 this morning, I thought I would climb the little mountain behind us, and then cross the top of the ridge to the Charmant Som, then come down the road from the fromagerie. I've done it a couple times before, its not that big a deal. Some kick ass views, chilly breeze, and too many damn uphills. But, its fun, takes about 2.5-3 hours. A lot less, if you don't need to stop a lot, as I do. Today though, I was feeling froggy, so instead of making a right at the top of the ridge, I went straight(ish) to La Pinea, which is a meadow with a badass view of Sarcenas, Le Sappey and that side of the valley. From where we live, the surrounding landscape is several valleys heading toward different parts of Grenoble. Grenoble could be described as 'T' shaped. You go this way, you end up on the top bar of the 'T', you go the other way, you end up on the down part of it. Get it? Either way you are heading south, but either southeast, or southwest.

Dom dom dom.

 Anywhoozle, I went up to La Pinea, south of my apartment. Now, La Pinea, as I said, is a big ass field. On a slope. A steep slope, and at the top of the field, is these big ass rocks. Apartment building size. They look like teeth, and I think that's what they are called. Its the top of the mountain.  I'm feeling froggy, as I said, and went on through the gap in the teeth, going west, and down. I thought I was gonna end up on top of the ridge, on a trail I know, and back home by 3 at the latest. I keep heading down, trying to keep where I know my apartment is on my right. No bubbles, no troubles. Needless to say, the road I was looking for remained conspicuous in its absence. Then I started seeing signs for Col de Charmette, and I know where that is, it's way fuckin far from my goddamn house, and this is starting to worry me. And, I'm not about to climb that mountain behind me, but that is what I should've done. So I'm walking along, and I hear voices. Its a couple forest service guys. Awesome! I tell them I'm lost, and all that shit, while somehow managing to not sound too much like a 4 year old, and the guy tells me that its too confusing to tell me how to get back to Col de Porte, but he's gonna give me a lift to where the directions are easier. Off we go.

They turned me into a really good looking vampire.

Him and his buddy take me 4 wheelin (Land Rover Defender, 'So no one can find the bodies'), past Col de Charmette,  over to a logging road on the back side of the Charmant Som, let me out, and basically said, 'Go that way, angle to the right after awhile'. That way being up. Way up. After climbing for an hour, I got to the really steep part, I mean really steep. I finally made the top of THIS mountain, turned out to be the freaking Charmant Som! By now it was about 3 oclock, and YESSSS! Cell service! And, most importantly, I finally know where the fuck I am. So, I called Jessica, who was clothes shopping, and asked her to come to the top of the mountain and get my uber tired ass.

The thing is, I have a pretty good sense of direction, and knew that wherever I was, it wasn't real far from home. But I kept not taking the right path, for example I could have turned halfway up the second mountain, and ended up at the fromagerie, instead of the tippy top of the Charmant Som, but I wasn't sure where I was yet, and thought the the path I could've taken might just take me back down to Col de Charmette, and I didn't want to go to Col de Charmette , you know? And I hoped that if I got just to the top, I would know for sure where I was. I did. I could see my apartment from the top. What a relief. So, down the hill I walked, slowly, to the fromagrerie, and then J showed up, and here I am. Adventures suck when you are having them.

That peak right there in the middle? Where I started.

So, there you go. Chris gets lost. That sucked. Peace.

Ok, then

I have something to confess to.

I watched Twilight.

And I really, really liked it.

Really.

Ok, that last part is a lie, but I did dig some of the outdoor shots of the northwest. Some of you may be aware that I really like that part of the United States. I'm sure that most of it was CGI, but I'm easily entertained, so fuck it. I enjoyed looking at the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls, and the look of small town Washington. I like it.

The rest of the movie blew, as you probably know. I found myself wishing death upon each and every character, but as much as I tried to look away from the TV and immerse myself in the world of Dalton (who is awesome), my eyeballs kept finding themselves focused back on that vampire weeny and his whiney, dumb girlfriend. I think that the fact that I am not a 13 year old girl may have contributed to my intense dislike for these made up people. Just sayin.

I am considering starting a non-profit organization to get Stephanie Meyer a writing class or two. Character development is evidently not her strong suit, but maybe that was editing. I'll never know, because I have instructed my family to please end my life if they see one of the Twilight series of books in my possession, or around my person.

I read in the news today a story about a Nebraska man who has started a petition, because he is pissed off about having to work on Thanksgiving. Dude pushes shopping carts around the parking lot of a Target in Omaha, and is scheduled to work starting at 11pm that Thursday, because of the whole Black Friday rowdeedow.

First, Homeboy, be glad you have a job. There is a metric fuckton of folks who would love to be in your position right now. Your sense of entitlement is one of the reasons the rest of the world laughs at us Americans. Talk about a first world problem. Well the whole article is chock full of rich white guy problems. First, Douchebag McPetition and his 'OH SNAP, I gotta go to beddy bye early on Turkey Day', and then the woman who is upset because she, being a stereotypical American consumer, now MAY HAVE TO SKIP THANKSGIVING to go wait in line at a fucking Target. Fuck, man, talk about having goofy priorities. And yes, before you ask, she does have a family. She does this shit with her 4 goddamn sisters.

This. Holy shit.

I shouldn't judge, but WTFever. People spend so much energy acquiring stuff. You think her family gives a shit about her Hummel figurines, or 9/11 commemorative plates from the Franklin Mint, or do you think they would rather they share each others company? I dunno, if I had a relative that was that in love with hemorrhaging money, I might WANT them to go. Whatever lady. Go buy your rubber dogshit and whatever else. I really shouldn't judge this woman, but I can't help it. She, and the dingleberry who's pissed because he has a job at a time when so many others don't, are the kind of people that... Shit, I don't know. It takes a village, and it takes a village idiot. Thanks, Don.

Chamechaude

Chamechaude with my house at the bottom

The top of our chair lift. Might open this year. Send snow!

Charmant Som from the south.

Chamechaude

Looking south toward Grenoble.

So, I just read a headline that says 'School welcomes porn star, get a, 'F' in judgement'. What happened is, this actress volunteers with Read across America, and went to read a book to 1st and 3rd graders in Compton.

The problem is, she has been, and may still be an adult film actress.

Here is my problem. We all, or at least the vast, vast majority of us, have sex on a semi regular basis. I don't get why we are so afraid of it. Well, we seem to be ok with having sex ourselves, but terrified of other, consenting adults doing it. Heehee, I said 'doin it'. Obviously, the parents were afraid she was going to rip off her clothes, and molest these kids, show them her movies, and teach them that the word 'fist', can indeed be a verb. People are so goddamn stupid. Not stupid. That's wrong. People spend an awful lot of time mistaking their emotions for thoughts. They see a situation, judge it with emotion, and then go about their day. The brain remains off. No thought involved. Just a hastily made first impression, mistaken for a well thought out one.

I like this part. This woman makes no apologies for the career choice, and nor should she. She is an adult, and fully capable of making her own choices, and fuck you if you don't like it. She's not gonna stop volunteering. And just because she has fucked on camera, doesn't mean she is some deranged freak, out to corrupt your children. Americans, and maybe people the world over, are terrified about what goes on in OTHER PEOPLE'S PANTS. Can someone explain that to me?  Why are so much? Most folks are just fine with their ability to tell right from wrong, but we all assume that we are the only ones who can. No one but us is capable of ant sort of self control, yet society seem to keep plugging along.  How does that happen? Talk about hubris.

Maybe it's the fact that American society is a descendant from a Puritanical one. As individuals, we don't seem to be to afraid of our own sexuality, but we are terrified of everyone else's. Its weird. ' It's ok for me to bang hookers, but you can't handle the responsibility!' sort of thing.

L8R.

Today was a humdinger, beautiful, not a cloud in the sky day, so we went to the same spot the last buncha pictures were taken.

I took this picture, then simply walked into Mordor.