It was Tuesday evening of last week that my father called to arrange a trip to Vegas. Harry Hill was playing poker at Dad's and we spoke for a few minutes. After the poker game ended, Harry went home and died in his sleep.

Another good man came to the end of this life. Harry was a good man to me. He may not have been the best father or the best husband; but he was good to me. Part of who I am is because of Harry Hill.

May he rest in peace.

The rains have come and gone. The sun is here. Great weather in Southern California.

Me: I am sick. I have a cold and it is sapping the energy from my being.

More rest.

The GOP creed (followed by my comments):

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored. (How can the GOP continue to fight a war on drugs? What is freedom?)

I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability. (But government, at the federal level, should be in the marriage business and responsible for defining what constitutes marriage?)

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity. (So do I. )

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn. (Does this mean running huge deficits to fight wars. (on drugs and in Iraq only to defer the payment, with interest, so our kids can pay it?)

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least. (If today's GOP buys this, my asshole can sing opera!)

I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people. (Is this why we need an amendment to the Constitution of the United States addressing marriage?)

I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times. (If these principles differ from those above, then I can't support such.)

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world. (Not if we can't sell our ideas to our time-tested allies! I am not a go-it-alone; let's future generations pay for it, while we say "God said to do it!!!))

FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government. (I am having serious second thoughts.)

Change will happen. The question is, "What will motivate it?"