I guess it's about time

Boy where does the time go. Can't believe I haven't written since September. Actually this is just off the cuff, as I don't have any thing in particular in mind.
Cathy's sister "Snookie" passed away Nov. 7Th. Very sad. She had emphysema. A sixty year smoker. Cathy is a sixty year smoker. Can't quit. She has emphysema real bad. Her quality of life is going in the tank. No one can reach her. She is going to do it her way. To the bitter end. I have learned to cope. The serenity to endure the things I cannot change.
The other sad part of the wake and funeral. I picked up a germ. Been sick ever since. I've had this before. Sore throat one day, cough the next, sneezing,etc. Then comes the earache. Had it for days on end. My head is full. Ringing in my ears. When I speak, it's like I'm in a barrel. I am seeing my doctor today. Of course right after I made the appointment, I felt better.
I have joined a group of golfers. Three really neat guys. Was playing nearly every week day. Missed a few times because of feeling under the weather. Will get back again next week. Never thought I would enjoy cold weather golfing. Never thought I would enjoy being 80. Never thought I would like my computer. That's my problem. I don't think enough.
I shut the farm down the end of October. Very sad. I should have waited. The weather has been warm. Could have been still going up. Ah well. Other things to do. Looking forward to the "wrap" party at Carl's. Am thinking about a trip. Don't know where or when. It depends on how Cathy is. I may even go solo. But it would have to be with her blessings. Am not sure how she would feel. Requires more thinking.

Four Score

Saturday, Sept 26Th we had a birthday party. To celebrate my 80Th. It was a smashing success to say the least. It's been a while since I had so many family members all together. I think we exceeded fifty five. Everyone was in a festive mood. The gang from Delaware brought appetizers. The catered food was great. The hall was decorated in my favorite color scheme. Red black and white. I wore a red shirt, white tie and black trousers. Cathy wore a red jacket with black pants.
The Spring Hill band supplied the music. It was grand. Carl sang mine and Michele's song, by Gilbert O Sullivan. Everyone told me how they liked the music. I love their songs from the sixties.
I really enjoyed the cake cutting and every one singing Happy Birthday. The real highlight was my children saying all the nice things. Carl told some stories about growing up. My daughter Mary was so eloquent. I loved to hear her telling how she felt. One lady said she wanted to cry. I was close myself. I knew Joe would just give me a hug. And how about Ron. Cathy's son in law. Wow, couldn't get any better.
Cathy and I opened all the cards when we got home. I am going to make a display with the poster and the cards.
I also got a photo album. It is named "Treasured Memories from Your Delaware Grandchildren". All the times they spent at our house when they were young. It's strange, I always worried, were they having a good time.
I will never forget the September 26Th, 2009 party. I really felt the love of everyone. I want to thank all who helped make it possible. I love you all.

Obamacare

Hoo Boy. here we go again. We escaped Hillarycare, but we may not be so lucky this time. The 535 rascals in DC led by the Pres are attempting to turn our health care system over to the bureaucrats. You might have had some complaints when the AMA and HMO's and all the other alphabet soup,organizations ran it. Just wait, as I said Hoo Boy. Why do so many folks believe the Government can run health care? Isn't the Post Office, Amtrak, and all the enterprises they ran into the ground enough proof of their inability to be efficient, economical or effective? The best one of all is Off track Betting in NY. They actually are losing money. Here is a group who couldn't even run a bookie joint at a profit.
Before buying a car, wouldn't it behove the buyer to ask people who own one. I recall in my day the quality car was the Packard. For years their slogan was "Ask the man who owns one" Lets apply that logic. Why not ask the people in the UK. They opted for National Health Insurance in 1948. The NHI said the cost would never exceed the projection. The first year it went 52 million pounds higher than the projection.Canada went to NHI in 1984. They outlawed all private plans.Last month the Supreme court overturned it. Too late.The damage has been done.
Here are some actual quotes from Daily Mail "Kidney Cancer Patients Denied Drugs By NHS" This from the Times "Girl Three, Has Heart Operation Cancelled Three Times" This from the daily mail" Our Cancer Shame,We lag behind even after spending Billions" !,000 people in a small village waiting for a dentist. They have just one NHS practitioner. That's why children go to the hospital for teeth extractions.Here a goodie from the Daily Mail(Canada) "Why Ontario Keeps Sending Patients South" I think my geography is good enough to know who is south. Hoo Boy.This from the Acton Institute march 3rd 2008."Will Socialized Medicine in the US Kill Canadians?" They certainly know something.
Why do we think it will be different here? I think the first item in this law should read. The 535 rascals passing this bill will give up their medical and be enrolled in this new Utopian plan.( From the Picture "Fat Chance") It's only good for us, not for them.
Why should the feds be trusted to put our house in order, when it can't put it's own in order? I shudder to think that the government will decide whether someone should live or die because the treatment is expensive. Will we become tolerant for euthanasia as is our acceptance of abortion? I don't think government is the cause of all problems, but I know they are not the solution to all of them.Positively not this one

Why I don't run for office

The problems are mounting. I believe the best approach is to take them one at a time. I would start with the California deli ma. They are number one in job loses, have the largest state debt, rank near the top in crime. The population of 36,756,666 has a hefty per cent on government pay outs. The natural calamities have become a money pit for FEMA.
From the fires in Riverside County, the mud slides in Santa Barbara, to the political unrest of Haight Ashbury and all the quakes along the fault line. They can surely be considered a liability.
I have a solution. First we send our Government Purchasing crew to Mexico. They buy up all of Mexico's gold, silver, precious metals and all their petroleum. Plus all the rights to produce them. This will cost us about 30 trillion dollars. We will now have a pile of assets.
Second part of the plan is we have no intention of paying for any of these commodities. When they insist we meet our obligations, we go into the third part of the plan.
We offer them the state of California. The temptation would be so overwhelming, the Mexican Government would leap at the chance.
Now lets look at what we have rid ourselves of. First is the 55 electoral votes. No longer will a national election be given to the candidate who sucks up to them the most.
We lose Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein not to mention the" terminator". All future activist demonstrations in foreign countries will be reminded Jane Fonda, Barbara Streisand,Sean Penn George Clooney Sally field and that list is long, are no longer American citizens.
We also throw out 53 members of the House of Representatives. Whose voting record is what caused most of our problems to begin with
And one other benefit. This one can't even be measured. We give up Hollywood to Mexico. I'm sure they can come up with a better rating system. At least now everything that the motion picture industry of that town produces will be classified as a foreign film.
If you would like to go surfing or skiing, simply bring your passport.

Our March to Socialism

When you look at the facts, you will understand how Obama was elected. The popular vote and the electoral college are slanted to help the liberal. The candidate who promises the citizenry the most always wins because of the way it's set up.
Let us take the United States and over lay a grid. Draw vertical lines one mile apart from top to bottom. Then repeat going horizontal, one mile apart. Now we have divided the country into tens of thousands of squares each one square mile in size.
Now looking at the election results we find that 80 % of the one square mile blocks voted against Obama. However the remaining 20% of the blocks contain the majority of the votes.
Lets call the 80%Er's Peters, and the 20%Er's Pauls Our beloved politicians long ago discovered That if you rob from Peter to pay Paul, Paul will always vote for you. And the system has been working for them since the 1930's.
However the method might contain a major flaw. Could it be that in time we will run out of Peters? Or will the Peters rise up and revolt? Looking again at the grid, I think you'll agree, the 80%Er's are the land owning, working middle class. The 20%Er's are the large urban areas, where the majority of the transfer of money ends up. This is not rocket science.
Looking at history, no empire has been able to stem the tide of socialism. And no socialistic empire has long survived.

Frugality

I tried to teach all my children to be thrifty. By setting an example. I told everyone I was frugal,economical and penny wise. All I got was a reputation for being cheap. I think my attitude towards saving money began when I was quite young. My mother bought a bank made from a tree branch. Complete with the bark. She got it in Minnesota. They make a lot of stuff out of trees. Nine months of winter does that to folks. I took the top off the bank. I didn't want the coin slot. Just a place to put money. It probably held twenty dollars in coins. I put in only quarters. I loved to swim at the natatorium. The fee was twenty five cents. My goal through the winter was to have enough so I could swim every day during the summer. I did odd jobs for the neighbors. I even baby sat. I saved it all. In my little tree bark bank. I rode my bike to the "Nat". Swam all day, then peddled home. I knew that with out the quarters, it would be a long summer. I never had a problem denying myself stuff to put it in the bank. I still don't today. I think of that bank often. It made a big impression. I look at everything in life with that philosophy. If you don't put something in, there is nothing to take out. The morale. Do your children a favor. Give them a bank....made from a tree.....with the bark and all.

When does it end?

Our 535 beloved congressmen are at it again. Doing what they do best. Trying to get re elected. Their plan is simple. Find out what the majority of the populous wants. Example. People want gun control. Fashion a bill, title it "gun control bill" Pass it, then shout hooray. Does it control guns? No. People want a balanced budget.Fashion a bill. Title it "balanced budget bill" Pass it, then shout hooray. Will it balance the budget? Not on your life.
Now, with their collective fingers to the public wind, they have deduced we the people would like a economic stimulation. Not a problem. Fashion a bill. Title it "The economic stimulus package. Pass it, then shout hooray. What will it stimulate? Certainly not the economy. However it does wonders to the size of the federal government. And boy will it fatten up our national debt.
When the 535 take their next break. (Soon) They will show up in their home districts. Smiling, beaming, shaking hands and proclaiming, "Well guys,We did it again , Don't forget me come next November."
I dint have that much income tax left to pay. I know my children, grand kids, great grands, etc. Will be paying for this all their lives. I Wonder if they will ever have a time to shout "Hooray"

Trying to keep in shape

Reading Alex's blog I remembered some of my physical ailments. My right knee in a cast for six weeks when I was 17 years young, A broken arm at age 9. Now it seems I enjoy almost pain free existence. I'm up to walking six miles a day. I do get some discomfort in my knees, or my hips. And my asthma crops up for brief periods from time to time. However since I'm living in a smoke free house. (Cathy hasn't used in three weeks) I have noticed a decrease in those episodes.
The hike to the meeting at the church in the AM is 2.8 miles. I can do it in 55 minutes. Not really all that slow. I would tell you the MPH, but I'll let you do the math. I tried walking just for the sake of it. Not much happening. I do well if I have a destination. I use Omega three, and Clucosamine Sulfate. These are for joint health. I think they work.
I'm not even sure the AA part of the meeting is the attraction. I just like being with the members, and sharing about our lives. It is such a nice group of people. It's a big part of my social connection.Playing pool on Thursday night with six guys, talking and writing to my friends. Reading all the blogs, It keeps me sane.

A New Twist To The Gas Tank Robbery

Got a call from Ron Johnson this AM.He had an appointment with the gas man from Suburban. They were to discuss the installation of a torpedo style tank. 300 gallons, heavy, big, hard to steal, etc. The installer said it's best to do it in the summer time, as a trench needs to be dug for the pipe lines. But he said the point is moot, as we found the original 100 gallon tank. WHAT? (I'm sure that was Ron's response) Here's what happened. Suburban issued a remove tank order for Cole Hill address. The driver got the wrong house and took my tank by mistake. Of course when I called them to report the missing tank, they did not put anything together. And everyone involved considered it stolen. So the Sher riff call, the Allstate insurance involvement, etc, etc. was for not. I sent the check back to the insurance company. All is back where it was.
Ron and I both expressed relief over the fact it was not a robbery.The gas companies fiasco is laughable, thievery is not funny. So all is well that ends well. And I apologize for all the evil thoughts I had of the up state locals.

Our national Pupose Is Kaput

I think our biggest problem today is we can no longer solve our problems. Think of some dilemma we had a few years back. Is it gone? still there ?or is it worse? Think of this scenario. Ever walk into a pizza parlor, and stare at the huge stack of pizza boxes? Card board. Once was a tree. Dwell on the carbon foot print here. Logging, transport. grinding, chopping, pulping, making into card board. Printing, delivery. You get the idea. How long is it's useful life? Drop the pie in, take it home, slide the pie out, wham into the garbage. What a waste of energy and resources. How much carbon went in the atmosphere? Now what if the powers to be got an idea. Simple solution. Eliminate the box. Made it illegal to make, sell ,or transport a pizza box. Each customer would supply his own carrying devise. An insulated box. Use it, wash it. Have it ready for the next time. Yeah, go ahead and propose something like this. Try to imagine the repercussions. Might even have rioting in the street. You can't get the populace to make even the smallest of sacrifice for the common good. This is an allegory, but you can apply like solutions to any of our problems. The results keep coming up negative. Maybe I'm getting cynical. I hope you younger folks have better thoughts. I hope better ideas too.