Pepe the Bad One

Just the other day I was at the thrift store and I ran across this book:
Pepe the Bad One.




I had to have it. I love the illustrations by H. Tom Hall but more importantly, it was just such a strong reminder of what's been going on around El paso lately, and I can't help but think of that kid who was shot by Border Patrol earlier this month. Pepe the bad one...well I think that rock throwing boy was Sergio the bad one, although the media is gonna allow people to try to paint him as a saint.

I haven't read the story yet, but I'm sure we will find out that Pepe ain't so bad after all. I can't help but wonder if Pepe is going to throw rocks or run into trouble with the law, or have a fight with gringos in this book. It was published in 1966, and the authors Frank and Agnes Johnston Dazey lived many years in Mexico. It states on the flap of the dust jacket that these authors wrote many screenplays and wrote more than half of the Mickey Rooney Andy Hardy series. I'll bet they spin a great yarn.

Yeah, I'm pre-judgung this thing, but I'll be sure to let you know just how bad Pepe turns out to be.

24-7 Nothing but BP Twenty Four Seven

Damn it to hell, what's up with this country?

We've got BP spewing oil all over the Gulf of Mexico
killing wildlife and industry, and people's spirit.

We've got BP killing illegals along the Mexican Border
causing spewing of opinion left and right
no end in sight.
Human rights, human rights?
Doesn't a Border Patrol Agent
have human rights?

The country needs a change.
A big change, with cojones to follow through.

I'm really sick of what big business
manages to do to our political process
with all that money they use
to sway and coerce our elected officials
with the greasing of the palms
and the sliming of our shores.
Our country has become
a stagnant parody of itself.
The political "we" scoffs at our own laws?
Scoffs at protecting our own,
to the detriment of our land
our resources and our people?

No way should we be drilling in the oceans.
There are too many alternative energy technologies available
to continue on this current path of self-destruction.
What has happened with the British Petroleum fiasco
is shameful, harmful, and outright pathetic.

Enough is enough.

No way should illegals enter our country
and not be deported immediately on discovery.
These illegal trespassing criminals
deserve nothing more than any other criminal deserves.
No way should a BP agent be chastised
for attempting to uphold our federal laws
in regard to patrolling our border!

I'm sick of the rhetoric,
I'm sick of the posturing,
I'm sick of the Mexican President's opinion
on matters of US policy.
Take care of your own for once
and stop trying to be the stepchild
of a United States who will not claim you, Mexico.
You are an orphan, and you must find your own way.
American citizens, and legal immigrants
should not have to foot the bill
for your inadequacies.

Isn't a secure border
a matter of National Security?


Damn it to hell,
No justice.
I'm sick of it all.

How to Break Free of the 2010 Tiger Curse

I'm not exactly positive the above title is appropriate,
but I want to break out of 2010 and go right on to 2011.

This year has been trying on many levels.
I blame it on the Chinese Horoscope I read in January...
it basically spelled out for me 9 months of bad luck
and 3 fairly decent months this year.
Who believes in such hooey?

Well, I'm sorry to say
that I'm right on track for those predictions.
I'm a Tiger and this is the year of the Tiger.
I guess that causes some major clash
in the psyche of the netherworlds
and ruins my year.

Not everything has gone wrong,
maybe because my husband is not also
a Tiger, but a Dragon--
and his good Karma is squashing my bad.
Yeah, he's destined for 9 good months and 3 bad.

Do I know how to pick 'em or what?
Wait, who believes in such hooey?
Not I!
Nope, no karma, no fate,
all odds of 50/50
no gods.

Astrology...
hmmm, I may just have to pay closer attention.
Really, Reesa.
How stupid can you get?

Wait, did I just say all odds of 50/50?
That's some wisdom from my Sister-in-Law.
The more often I hear it
the more I agree with it.
Something either happens or it doesn't.
50/50.

You want to redo the tile in your shower?
50/50 chance that there will be
some plumbing problem to go along with that.
I was on the losing end of this scenario last month.
And it ain't over yet.
Now I've also found a cracked drainpipe and
some major repair work ahead.
That skews the 50/50
or does it?

Need to go to Juarez for some dental work?
50/50 chance that you'll get shot down in the streets.
I will not be testing this one
but I sorely need some dental work
and this is the year for Tiger pain
according to that damned horoscope.
Oh hell, I'm getting depressed.

My swamp cooler looked like it was ready
to spring a leak when I looked at it in February.
It was so coated with hard water deposits
all gunked up and rusting.
50/50 chance it would be serviceable.
A lot of elbow grease in March and
a little can of marine coating for the pan
and some minor fixture replacement in April.
I dodged the bullet of a huge expense
and she started beautifully in May.
Hopefully I can eke out another full summer
on that maintenance, hey...50/50 chance
of getting this thing to give me
another full summer in 2011 too.

Yeah, I'm an optimist
when I'm not a pessimist.
See, there's that 50/50 again.
My Sister-In-Law is Brilliant!
That Chinese Horoscope is a bunch of hooey!

50/50 chance it is wrong!