Friday, April 04, 2008

April fourth...

...and I'm not lovin' it, no sirree.

Woke up early, as I had to get a refill for a prescription I'm taking. Since the medics at the hospital wrote me only a month's supply with no refills and I am sans health insurance, I had to make an appointment at the local "community clinic"...for 8:00 a.m.

I finally got out of there at 11:30, with prescriptions but in a totally foul mood. I won't describe the scene; if you've never been to a "community clinic," I envy the hell out of you.

Moreover, all the grief and general horse dung being heaped on me by work continues unabated. Once again, I'll omit details. Suffice it to say I am rethinking my decision -- made so many, many years ago -- to quit my job as delivery driver/counter boy at the local pharmacy to go to school and seek out a real job.

There's more, but why go on?

And to think I woke up this morning with fragment's of Sheriff John's "Birthday Song" coursing through my head. During my post-toddler years I, like every other kid in L.A., was glued to the TV when "Sheriff John" Rovick's show was on the air, complete with cartoons, live-action serials and lots of songs and helpful growing-up advice from the good Sheriff...



Every April 4th for a number of years, I thought he was singing that damn song for me, was blowing out the candles on the birthday cake for one dumb little lonely, fat, ugly kid out in the hinterlands.

What he was really doing, as we watchers found out one day when the commercial break ended a moment too soon and caught him puffing out smoke he was trying in vain to conceal (the joys of live TV!), was wishing he could grab a quick cigarette.

I know how he felt, Jim. You figure those things out when you end up a dumb big lonely, fat, ugly grown-up.

It has not been a fun day so far. A few welcome good wishes, but no presents. Certainly not the present I would have most enjoyed getting...but enough of that. I wasn't expecting it anyway.

I guess I should be grateful that I don't feel any older than I did yesterday.

I sure as hell am grateful that the day is half over.

Guess it's time to go for a walk.

Bah.

26 comments:

Dorrie said...

Happy Birthday Scribby!! {{{hugs}}}

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday. Btw, I telephoned Blogger girl to be sure she saw the pic of the animal with the shirt ... like a dog only smaller.

Was rewarded with the hoped-for awww. Great pic.

Fin

MrScribbler said...

Fin -- My guess is that it was one of those Japanese transistor-dogs. Amazing what they can do with micro-circuits these days.

Anonymous said...

~Happy Birthday Scribby~

John0 Juanderlust said...

Happy birthday
I know you don't mean all of that. Just most.
I wouldn't want to wake up with a kids show birthday guy singing, at least not Skipper Chuck, Miami's version of your sheriff. Looks like they were conditioning you early for the police state. I would have figure you guys had Hugh Hefner or someone like that.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Ray!!!!! glad you're here to celebrate it too!

Bud

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, old man. (I can say that since you're 4 months older than me. Haha.) I'll spot you the "lonely" part...for now, but you're not fat or ugly. And why some wonderful lady hasn't jumped at the chance to spend time with you is a mystery to me. Hope you have a better year ahead, and maybe we can have a face-to-face someday soon, too. Kelly says Happy Day, too, friend. :)

S

MrScribbler said...

JohnO -- we also had Engineer Bill, Skipper Frank, Chucko the Clown and others.

I can remember some of Chucko's theme song, but try to forget. He was "Chucko the Birthday Clown," after all....

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to you! I'm glad you're here to celebrate another birthday. ((hugs))

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Scribbs! I remember Sheriff John..."laugh and be happy, and the world will laugh with you"...heh. Put another candle on my birthday cake, indeed. Crusader Rabbit and Rags the Tiger were pretty good, though.

MrScribbler said...

emd -- Could it be you have forgotten Clutch Cargo?

Say it isn't so, bro!

Anonymous said...

Aww... Scribbs... I'm sorry sorry I almost missed your birthday! Wish I could take you out for a drink tonight.

Gill

John0 Juanderlust said...

Yikes. Abirthday clown. Now that is the stuff of nightmares. I prefer the sheriff.

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCRIB! I will be calling you later to sing my Marilyn Monroe version of that ever-so-lovely song.

Doug said...

It's still April 4th where you are, so I can still wish you a happy birthday.

Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Big Happy Birthday - hope you have a GREAT day and do a little celebrating for me, too, will ya?
bb

becomingkate said...

Happy Belated!
I hope this next year brings you some new adventures. Maybe you could get a part time job at something you really enjoy doing, meet some new friends, and save money for your trip up to Alberta for Christmas :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Scribbs....sorry I missed it but the sentiment is the same. Hope you had a wonderful birthday! I am glad you were here to enjoy another day in the sun. Hugs!

Anonymous said...

You didn't answer your phone... should I be offended or did you find something wonderful to do to celebrate?

MrScribbler said...

Sugar -- And you didn't leave a message? I must have been downstairs doing laundry at the time. Otherwise, I was here all evening.

Doggone it. I was lookin' forward to that call....

Anonymous said...

Oh MrS!
Belated Happy birthday from Indiana.

Remember the video you posted about getting older?...that was one of the cutest ever!
I wish I had saved that link.

Hope you are having a good "New Year."

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! Look at all these nice greetings. Too bad we couldn't all get together for a party. In fact, I made a carrot cake today. I will dedicate the next piece to you. Many more.

Anonymous said...

Many Happy Returns!

(B.D. card @ your yahoo addy).

WMC

Anonymous said...

Clutch Cargo? Good lord. I'm drawing a blank on that one. I've gotta research that one. I did play "Red Light, Green Light" with Engineer Bill, though.

MrScribbler said...

emd -- You don't remember ol' Clutch? The square-jawed animated action-hero guy with the live-action mouth?

Heavy stuff for the mid-1950s, man!

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday!