It’s easy to take for granted the things that have never been taken from you, things like freedom.

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live in a country like China? How about Russia, or Iraq, or Iran? Maybe North Korea?

Citizens of these countries lead very different lives than the average American.

We as American citizens owe our many freedoms to the countless brave veterans of our country’s history. Free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of choice, an entire Bill of Rights, try to imagine your life without them.

It’s hard, because we have never had to live without them, but don’t be overcome by complacency, that is where the danger lies. These freedoms have, and will continue, to come at great cost.

Look around you today and think about how good you have it. Find a Veteran, thank a Veteran.

You are free. What will you do with your freedom?

Of course everyone was surprised and glad to see me this afternoon when the Kids got home from school. The dogs were especially happy. Of course, Marcia had siding put on the house while I was gone this year, I think it was the roof last year. She likes to do these types of projects while I’m out of town. I prefer it that way too. The house looks great.

The Shootout boat races are this coming weekend, and I will have to be back at Parkview Bay, because the race weekend is usually one the most (if not the most) crazy weekends of the year. This year it will be a toss up, between the Shootout, and Labor Day weekend, I’ll let you know.

It’s great to be back in my office in St. Louis. A good indicator of how long I’ve been gone is the “Born On Date” of my Bud-Light, March 15th, 2007. It tasted fine. It’s good to be home.

Today is my friend and neighbor, Joel Manesberg’s 50th Birthday. Joel and Elvis, what a combination. This last Saturday night his wife, Ms. Susan, held a surprise birthday party for him, at Morton’s Steakhouse. I’ve known Joel about 25 years and most everyone else in this picture has known him even longer than that. It was a great time!

Happy Birthday Joel!

It was about a year ago we deceided, as a family, to get another dog. Once I was sure it was really going to happen, I called my Vet & old friend Dr. Chris Moritz. Somehow, I felt it almost nessecary to ask his permission before getting a new dog, as he was the one that was going to have to fix all the things I screwed up. Chris & I have been through a lot together, on both sides of the fence. Dogs become like family, and a good Vet can too.

After telling him our plans I said, “I almost feel as though I need your permission.”

His response was, “Brian, I wouldn’t mind being your dog.”

I told him I intended to get a female this time and I was hoping to get one a little smaller than Monti, for Sarah’s sake. Sometimes, Monti can be more than even an adult can handle. He is as strong as a horse.

Chris responded, “That’s great! There will be no question about dominance.”

I wonder.

This is me with the son of Bela Lugosi. Unfortunately, I can’t recall his first name. This picture was taken by my good friend, the Amazing Zucchini, at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, April 21st, 2001.

It actually took me a while to find this picture as I couldn’t remember the year it was taken. After I found it, I went on a search for the name of this gentleman, to no avail. However, I did run across the Bela Lugosi site, which is fantastic. The bio featured on the site, I believe to be written by this same man. He refer’s to Lugosi as “Dad,” but never states his own name. I guess everyone asks the same questions, because many of the same questions I asked that evening are answered in the bio.

A few days ago, early in the morning, TCM or AE (one of them), was featuring Bela Lugosi movies. After getting my morning coffee and sitting down to read the news, I noticed playing on the TV was the 1931 classic, Dracula.

I would venture to guess I’ve seen this movie a couple hundred times. I even own it as part of a Bela Lugosi box set, so it was just background material as I enjoyed my morning coffee and read the news from my laptop.

It’s weird when you’ve seen a movie several times and suddenly you notice something you’ve never appreciated before. If you ask me, that’s the sign of a really great movie.

So I’m sitting there, reading the news with Dracula in the background, and suddenly, as if I’m hearing it for the first time, I notice the fantastic sound track of this movie. Out of curiosity, I did a search for the music and found it, performed by the Phillip Glass Quartet, on my favorite top secret music site, allofmp3.com. If you like strings, you’ll love it. I would have to call it extraordinary, even Amazing.

So watching this movie for the umpteenth time and listening to the soundtrack prompted the memory of this moment.

That’s the story and I’m sticking to it.

UPDATE 1/9/2006: I received an email from Timothy B. Lugosi (who, I assume is the Grandson), here’s what he had to say. . .

[Bela Lugosi] He had only one child, a son, and his name is Bela G. Lugosi. Thanks for the interest!

TIMOTHY B. LUGOSI
PASADENA COMPUTER WORKS

The picture itself could be anything. It may or may not be taken the day it was posted, and it may not even be taken by me, although it is likely it will be.

So here it is, today’s picture of the day. The morning sky from my back yard.