Camelback Displays

Camelback Displays

I was thinking about going to a trade show and advertising my mortgage business there. Actually I was thinking of ex-girlfriends and finding some way to pay off my car. Both girlfriends and car payments cost money. So really I was thinking about money. And since I can't print my own due to possible legal snags, I will have to do one of several things to get some money. I have thus far ruled out gigolo, male model and stock broker.

Let me append my address of the trade show idea. It was my brother’s idea. For me to attend a trade show, I’d have to find clothes that would fit. But even worse, I’d have to go somewhere which would mean leaving my house, shaving and many other preparatory tasks for which, socially, I am not ready for. I am not a hermit. I do after all go out every evening and meet with others like me. I work at home and I seldom leave my desk where I am unwilling to abandon my computer for any length of time if I can avoid it.

I am a mortgage person. I do mortgages at home with the help of the internet and modern technology. My meals are prepared in small packages by factories all over the continent and mostly contain sodium and substitute sweeteners.

My brother, on the other hand, is the monarch of industry and has built a small empire selling stuff over the internet. Collectively items one might need if he were going to hang a shingle at a trade show booth can be had by the efforts of my mother’s youngest son. So you see, this wasn’t my idea. However good of an idea it might be to pack up a laptop and shout over the noise at a trade show, standing in a booth explaining to foreigners at an east coast trade show pavilion why I am superior in all ways and how I alone posses infinite financial solutions exclusively available to the chosen few (but really the public at large), this will not tear me away from my “precious”.

My brother, the aforementioned monarch, can supply to the most feeble up to leaders of nations all kinds of things that only a simpleton might imagine and an unprepared merchant marketeer might take for granted. His city of gold, www.Camelbackdisplays.com is the fore runner of immeasurable variety and value. My brother’s trade show displays encompass every aspect of success and bannered excellence. From the flooring under foot to the trusses and lights above. Table covers, banner stands, displays and so much more.

With sterling and spectacular splendor shall you stand out amongst the herd of other merchants and vendors with the polish and gleam that conveys success with the very products and services offered at Camelback. At their site, you’ll find all the cool stuff that your competition will have to do without! (Chicks standing around in bikinis at your trade show booth optional).


Tradeshows might be out of the equation for me. And writing blogs may one day help me realize my financial goals. The future is always uncertain. But what is certain is my brother will continue to work diligently to find new and innovative products to add to Camelback’s showcase. Did I mention my brother is the owner? The mention of it may or may not get you a discount, but give a try anyway. But while I remain contently seated in front of my computer, do be sure and say hello to Camelback’s eager to please staff for me.

A Few Things and Theres Nothing I Hate About You….

When I first heard about the sudden and not so dramatic death of actor Heath Ledger, I too like so many others jumped to conclusions. But my only conclusion was he ODed on something. With celebrities all too often that happens. And it especially happens to great performers and artists such as the young Mr. Ledger. My most immediate memory of Heath was his role in the Movie “Ten Things I Hate About You” starring along side Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Krumholtz. Heath played a reluctant James Dean type who wondered into happenstance involving a beautiful blond prize, Julia Stiles. Later Heath would venture into bigger and more prestigious roles in movies like The Patriot and soon to be out, “The Dark Night” another Batman sequel.

Yes I remember “Broke Back Mountain” now that you mention it! Yes I saw the movie and I liked what he did for his character. The movie as a whole was very entertaining and original. But it had to be mentioned didn’t it? Why not? It was a movie about gay male love. And the innuendos must fly like all the political mud being thrown around on and off camera and all over the net and the airwaves. We must remember Broke fucking Back Mountain because maybe Heath denied God or Christ or something (by kissing a boy) and the only true repentance is death by sleeping pills. Until the first part of this week, I forgot about Broke Back.

If you want to mention that movie, you may want to mention its authenticity and the fact that Heath and co star Jake Gyllenhaal did a bang up job of being authentic! I must admit I wasn’t captivated by this flick. But I wasn’t equally inspired by Titanic either. In fact, as a joke, I mailed a copy of Broke Back to an extremely homo phobic friend in New Jersey as a joke. My best friend of several thirty years was out of the country when it arrived and his neighbors must have raided his mail because he never received it? Oops….. I wonder what his neighbors are saying about him now. A prank that yielded even better than expected results.

I forgot about Broke Back. Not that it should be forgotten. But why couldn’t Heath be remembered for his upcoming role as the legendary Joker in a Batman sequel? Batman is going to have one bitter angry teen on his hands this time around. Well, actually Heath is just this side of thirty. But he was certainly teenage and a very handsome heartthrob masculine type in the movie with Julia Stiles. Wait! Now I’m doing it too! Do I prefer a heterosexual role over a gay one? Aren’t I equally hypocritical?

You know what? It doesn’t matter what movie and it what context of a role he had played or would have played. Heath had a very keen and unpretentious real talent about him didn’t he? He was the kind of guy men of all ages wished they had been like at his age. You know the kind? The no nonsense approach, yet human, pretty faced yet manly, sword and spear talisman that guards kingdoms and only kisses chicks on the first date to help their self esteem because he’s a nice guy.

In Godfather IV, he could have played Anthony Corleone’s adopted cousin. In Legally Blond III, he could have played the politician’s accident prone son that Reese Witherspoon’s character would have to defend and of course succeed in doing so. I’m being silly.

OK. Maybe we should remember Heath for his part in Broke Back primarily over his other works save for the new Batman thriller! But in what context? And all for the purpose of labeling homosexuals as belonging to some sort of liberal montage or whatever? Can’t you hear Fox News blundering it now? “Heath Ledger. Best known for playing the homosexual lover in Broke Back…..died of a drug overdose……shear grief……sinful lifestyle….liberals are wailing…..dead career because of homo…..”. You get the picture.

I say we honor him! After all, he probably got to see Julia Stiles’ up close and personal…… There I go again.

None of it matters. He was a noble knight and a good man. A superb actor and a practitioner of the arts whose skill and attributes shall be remembered as a talent to be reckoned with and a soul redeemed. My heart goes out to his family who I am sure miss him even more so. I am sorry for your loss and ours.

Recognizing China

I appreciate and I am thankful for many things in my life. Good things as well as bad things. I appreciate all the things for so many years I have taken for granted. But most of all I appreciate Heather and Amy my two daughters. I can’t even begin to count the ways that I am so thankful that they are part of my life and all the great things they do for me and all the happiness they bring me. I don’t even know where to begin to describe how I feel about them.

Heather throughout her life had always been giving and respectful of everyone and always helped her family. Heather was instrumental in helping me raise Amy when she was little and all throughout Amy’s life growing up and going to school. But also to this very day. Heather sacrificed part of her childhood to change diapers, cook food and babysat Amy while I worked or ran off with my girlfriends. I’ll never forget the summer when I was working and Heather was out of junior high when she stayed home with her friend Lana and watched and took care of Amy. When I finally found a day sitter for Amy that summer, I remembered when Heather had cried to me as to why I hadn’t done that sooner and the summer was almost over.

When Amy was little, Heather always put Amy first before herself. As Amy grew older, Heather included Amy in her social life and did things with her that ordinarily older sisters wouldn’t do. Heather also looked out for Amy in all things like when kids would make fun of the way she looked or say bad things about her.

All in all Heather was a good older sister and a better than good role model. If Amy learned anything about being a girl, Heather was the strongest influence and had the wherewithal to guide Amy directly.

Heather has always been a good ally to her friends and people she has come to meet. Or at least that’s my perception anyways. But what has surprised me with great delight is she single handedly bridged some of the gaps on her mother’s side of her family simply by giving them love and attention and recognizing them and appreciating the good people that they truly are. She recognized China.

Recognizing China was something Nixon did as president. In spite of his corruptness and abundant misgivings, Nixon actually opened a new world and created a dialogue between two cultures unwilling and afraid of each other. His membership in politics precluded him form being all the virtue he could be. However, that small effort by and large afforded our society many different perspectives.

The perspective of Cecil, Mary Lynn and company have modestly changed by Heather’s kind and governing hand over the most recent years.

But overall, Heather has maintained being a good scholar for which if her grandfather were alive he would be overwhelmed with pride. As close as Heather was with her grandfather, I have wondered what it would be like now if he were around to see her graduate college and to have seen her do the amazing things I have seen. But also wonder about all the things they might talk about. I can picture them bantering away at some subject no one but they understand.

I remember when Amy was probably about 7 years old or so. I had a 10 day free membership at 24 Hour Fitness on Westheimer. This place had a nursery for people like me that needed a place to dump their kids while working out. I remember the nursery was all glass so parents could eyeball their kids during their workout. I remember watching Amy spending time with a little boy in a wheelchair instead of playing with the other kids. She made funny faces and did things to make the little boy laugh. I remember watching Amy help the daycare attendant take care of a little baby rather than sit and color like the other brats.

Amy is like the statue of liberty beckoning the “less thans” in life promoting “come here where I am. You are acceptable to me. If no one else will, I’ll be your friend”.

I also, remember Amy giving reassurances to team members on the soccer field whenever they were crying because they got hurt in the game or at practice. All this, with one coach in particular showing favoritism to the more athletic girls instead of Amy and in spite of her efforts. Amy had that one coach who loved Amy for who she was and still asks about her whenever he sees me.

Another moment in time included Amy practicing a Christmas song from school on her saxophone with my guitar and drum machine playing accompaniment. Or the time Amy gave grandpa his cane when he couldn’t reach it when she was barely old enough to walk. “Here ya go grampo”.

Amy used to hug her teachers in grade school. That’s the type of person she was destined to become. Thoughtful, loving and caring. Just like her older sister. But that’s just like Amy because that’s who she is. I have always known Amy to be ever vigilant of others’ feelings.

Neither Amy nor Heather had any semblance of a real mother although each was born by one and neither mother left the fold for worthier causes. Heather and Amy may well tell you it turned out better that way. The fact remains family members like their aunt Chris had to step in and give guidance from a woman’s perspective. Did Amy and Heather deserve better? A real mom? Yes. Absolutely.

As a result, neither Amy or Heather behaved badly as children and teenagers, didn’t run off and get pregnant and quit school, didn’t steal cars for drugs, didn’t run around calling ugly kids names, didn’t hang around kids with guns and onward. They turned out better than OK. Heather finished everything she ever started including but not limited to school and Amy is heading in the same path. Amy too has been very meticulous with the books. She has a grand array of interests and ambitions. Culinary school, psychology and film to name a few. Its always interesting to listen to Amy talk about film makers.

Heather is somewhat of an authoritarian. But she has always had to be. Early on she had to marshal strengths and optimism against odds that compelled her at an early age. Once when I was broke and out of a job, Heather stepped up to pay our phone bill that had been past due for some time. How many times would she have had to apologize for me and my behavior and my irresponsibility?

Amy is somewhat of a pragmatist. If its square why should we bother with a round hole? Let’s just leave it on the floor next to our dirty clothes and all the other unresolved stuff we’ll get to later. But what can we expect form a girl whose mother left her in a store room at a bar she worked at to go run off and take care of some bullshit. But what we can expect is Amy will in her own time get to all of it. The practical side is Amy approaches most everything head on and leaving no stone unturned.

Did Heather ask to be put to the test of making things right and being the authorative proctor in household and family circumstances? Did anyone at least ask Amy to go through life confessing inadequacy to those that define adequacy outside of a true and perceptive reality?

Everyone deserves better. However, everyone deserves dignity. My daughters earned their own.

I don’t think anyone will get a parade in their honor for not cleaning their room or folding clothes. Certainly no one will nominate you for the best cranky and bossy person of the year award. But the authoritarian will probably keep us all solvent and alive. The one with the sloppy room will put a smile on the faces of all the “less than” peoples around and everywhere and spread the good fortune of being humanitarian.

What the future brings is no longer hope. Because we aren’t in despair. The future brings the new opportunity! The challenge to pick up the dirty laundry off the floor and clean the dirty room. And to teach others the benefits of your experiences that you were lucky enough to learn early on by the wise grandfather, the froogle grandmother, the single father who drank too much, the funny yet understanding uncle, the aunt who likes to shop with you anytime, the dead beat mom and the soccer ball up side the head.

If anyone asks me, I’d tell them I am grateful to have such great kids and at least I was there to watch. And to the both of them and to anyone reading this, I hope you recognize China…