  Well, now. Thats just the kind of news I need first thing in the morning. Did you know? The number of child suicides in LA County has dropped to only 19 a year from 27? Aint that a silver lining on your morning? As usual, the local NPR station is fuzzy at my house, leaving me to opt for the KBCC affiliate out of the north. However more serious and depressing the news seems to be, at least I can rest assured that its not /my/ traffic report Im listening to. Joint session testimony by the President and VP today before the 911 commission. A bit suspicious that they need to be there at the same time as the other - as if their stories need to be shared together so as not to contradict the facts. I fantasize seeing Bush making surreptitious facial gestures across the room to Cheney to guide his testimony. Winks and little coughs. Bush, the third-base coach, loosening his tie and touching his nose and ears. Hope they dont get their signs mixed up. Pre-Op appointment this morning. Which has to mean Ill be getting my blood drawn.
(shudder) Then back up here from La Jolla to Vista to fit my foot with a foxy black boot. No, not patent, knee-high stilettos. I square-ish boxy looking thing, fortified with plastic and whatnot to keep my footsie safe while it heals. Ill be on my back for a few days. And not in a good way. Unless someone wants to come visit and change that. (cough, wink) Ok, I thought I was done for the morning, but Ive yet to get through Morning Edition.
Like listening to your senile grandfather talk about a long-ago world that no longer exists, the Pope opened his mouth again. Eyes rolling all across the globe. This time again interfering in the realm of our bodies, speaking out against [Catholic] hospitals who remove feeding tubes to patients who are trapped in a permanently vegetative state. Even if their living wills request it. Euthanasia by Omission I think is the translated tag I heard.
Now, if their Idol is a loving being, why are Catholics so concerned about returning to Him? Youd think the eternal afterlife was a housing project in New Jersey. I pray. I pray for the day that religion leaves this land. The world has outgrown its relevance. The Vatican is obsolete, dead as the Latin they speak. (Waiting for the obligatory lightning bolt sounding in the not-so-far distance) 
