Fresno Famous

Jarah... I owe you big time,,, you've provided a venue for the intelligent, (not to mention people who can spell..) -right on down to the daft,
-to vent their spleen, and think of said spleen vents, air vents, air jordans, air shocks, shock jocks, cups-and-jocks, cups and saucers, flying saucers, -and a very nice man who is starting a rival site in Modesto...

Remember that scene in 'Shipping News?' -where the older writer is explaining how to present a storm cloud? '...town threatened by deadly incoming storms,' (and if there is no rain,) '...deadly storms pass, sparing town...'

Kid,,, you got the room moving, and I'm seeing everything from Doc Martens, to cowboy boots to flip-flops and cloven hooves on the floor,,, niiiiice...

Old REM quote, 'standing on the shoulders of giants, leaves me cold.'

I have read the comments of the persons you cite in our 'anti-smack' attack...

Why do people make it to the big time, (the one guy even has a Best of Blogs report,) only to trash the defenseless?
This is supposed to be funny?
Does he take nuts and bolts out of walkers and grease stairways for hoots too?
-And what is 'butt wet?'
(it's a rhetorical question, PLEASE don't answer the last one, -and fergodssakes, nobody post pictures...)

I've been brewing all of the stuff that has been said on the threads... (does wonders for getting one's job done, lemme tell ya,)
--and what I don't like, (regarding the comments that were said in the other blogs,) was that they were just plain damn cruel.

--Now I will admit, I will go after anyone like a cranked-out pitbull if I see people doing dumb stuff, -and hurting others,,, even intervene if they are doing harm to themselves... (professionally trained to do this, in fact..) -and I'm as clumsey as a moose on hockey-skates, (though don't weigh quite as much,)

But there is a way to pull someone aside to let them know that what they are wearing isn't helping their efforts, (like: shirt tucked into their underwear, something stuck in ones teeth, or schnozzle.. lets not forget the schnozzle... Wearing OldSpice or LovesBabySoft,,,etc.) -but that is meant in love...
-Tearing down history, Racism, Appointing the Homeless as Docents for Downtown...
(-dumb, unforgivable, and ?,,, "do NOT leave the house looking like that, it is not good, I want you to look GOOD, -you wanna borrow a BonJovi T-Shirt instead? Around here it's a chick magnet, put the Bobby Vinton one away for now... just for now... bubbula, trust me on this, okay??")

From the moment I moved here, people were apologizing for the town... (I really don't understand this...)

-The police helicopter in a holding pattern circling above my street, the drunk folks crashing, the gangbangers banging, the pipers piping,,, -and little Nell, selling violets on the curb, (actually begging change for a funeral,) ------all tell me that there are things wrong...
I've written about some of them...

But,,, and I'd like to be really clear about this...
Having been given the option to leave, (once my original reasons for coming here turned from romance, to tragedy in three weeks,) I decided to stay.
This place is actually cool.
Sometimes I wonder if the feelings folks have about here are what cause others to pick on it...
Besides, why pay them any attention? Why give them ammo? Why listen to them? How bright is it, that a guy comes here, is treated like a guest, and then trashes the joint in print? -is that any sign of class whatsoever...bad genes and poor mentoring, I say.

I'm clinically minded... I discuss stuff.
I think, under the right circumstances, (with nurses, cub-scouts, a fire crew, and perhaps a profesional dancer standing by,,, -the worst of things should be approached and worked with, --to improve or confirm..)
It gets dicey.
-Some things you learn to stay away from... being a guy, there are some questions you just don't answer.
'...sir, do you know how fast you were going?'
-or the ever lethal,
'...does this make my butt look big..'

Somethings, like New Jersey's license plate slogan ('...New Jersey, our girls are so hot, you won't even mind the moustaches...') soften the blow of reality... (though, dimming the lights also helps.)

But, with out a doubt, Fresno's greatest assets are her people.

For example, regarding current events:
yesterday, while making the final turn down my street on the bike, I passed a few kids who were walking home from junior high or something, who had this little Mexican flag, the one coaching the others how to chant... This was cool.
-Not teaching each other how to roll a joint, Not singing along about 'bitches and ho's,',, No spray paint was involved in the making of this scene, just a few hispanic kids, trying to be cool, finding some sense of pride, and figuring out who they are... In someplaces, it's too dangerous to walk down the street, let alone sort out your identity on the way home from school.

My biggest complaint is when people either trash each other, or second rate themselves... Never, Never apologize, Fresno for being who you are... If you do something dumb, say excuse me, and change,,, but Never, Ever apologize for just being you.

Just let these clowns who can only dissrespect others, (or the town that made them,) go.
There are people who like it here, who want to see here really come on full tilt, and are quite impressed with not only the potential, but the way fresno looks when she's cleaned up and smiling.

Consider this a love letter,
Jarah, take a bow,

-and, as an older brother,,, lemme know if you need anybody beat up.