It's Your Move

Last week end Sarah and Alan moved. I told them some time back I would help. Me and my Chevy truck. I expected it to be quite an experience. An under statement. basically, I have never moved. Now I know why.
I lived in the same house the first 17 years. I took a small valise, and joined the USAF. (Some move huh?) Three years later with the same valise I moved to a room in New Brunswick. When I married I took my clothes and moved to Wellington Place with my in laws. A year later I bought the house where I am writing this nonsense. I went three houses down the street. Moved all we owned by hand. I will never move.
I went to my daughter's house at 6:00 AM Sunday morning. We drove non stop to Wilmore Kentucky. Got there at five o'clock PM. A and S had the 16 foot Pensky almost loaded. We filled the back of the Chevy with boxes. Also the front seat of both trucks. A and S's car. I don't know how they figured it so close. Nothing left to pack, and no room to put it.
Monday morning after the Realtors walk through we left caravan style for Dayton Ohio. Alan and Sarah first, me in the middle, Mary driving the 16 footer. Me bringing up the rear. I had the address in my GPS, Mary had map quest, A and S had been there before. High hopes. Blue skies, sunny, all is well.
Some where in north Kentucky we hit a storm. rain, high winds lightning. It looked to me like a tornado sky. We got separated. Alan called me on my cell. I got back on track, but we never got together again. With the weather, road construction, it was every one for themselves.
I got to 3004 Martel drive first.Then Mary, and finally A and S. The real estate lady came right on time. We went to the office for the closing. Then back to 3004 to start unloading. Alan was lucky. He had three or four friends lined up to help. One of them actually showed up.
A and S had a good plan. We stopped to eat. Just kept unloading. Box after box, etc. I lasted until about nine PM. The rest of the crew went on til two in the morning.
Tuesday we put the finish on the unloading. Took the Pensky back, and headed for High Bridge NJ.
It was an experience I will remember for a long time. It was nice to spend so much time with my daughter Mary. We had lots of real talks. I got to know my great grand child Lucy. She is a real charmer. She calls me Grandpa Howie. I even got to hold Iris. Would I do it again? Yes of course. When they get settled, Cathy and I are going out to visit them.
When you think of it, Alan and Sarah did a bang up job on the planning. Moving into another state, to a house you don't even legally own yet. Packing, unpacking the trucks. Making sure we all had something to eat, a place to sleep. Even shower facilities. And do it all in a little over two days.
My hats off to the both of you. I can't tell you how much I admire, and love you both.

Still Walking

I try to make six miles a day. Sometimes in two parts. My favorite spot is going through down town Highland Park. Passing the same way time and again you begin to see familiar faces. The first several times you pass, you make eye contact. Then comes a "Hi". Maybe later,"nice day". Some even stop for a small chat. I met a Spanish lady who stopped every time we met. Very friendly. I ran into her in Dunkin Donuts. We exchanged pleasantries. Don't even know her name. But we talked for ten minutes.

Several people are fixtures. I see them almost daily. One man is Ira. Nice enough man. Dressed fairly well. Stopped me many times to chat. Then asked me to loan him five dollars. I gave him two. I told him my name. He said he would repay me. Now he calls me Howie, and asks for a loan. I usually give him one or two.
Another fixture is an old Polish guy. I must have passed him scores of times. Never said boo. Never smiled. No eye contact, Then one day in a parking lot, he saw me getting into my truck. "Hey he said" in a thick accent. "Why you not walking" We chatted for about five minutes. Told me all about himself. Now when we meet we stop to chat.
Last week, I heard foot steps. Keeping the same pace as me. I thought, speed up or slow down. I like to do it alone. Then I heard a sweet feminine voice "Where you going" it said. I looked. She was young. I told her I was going to B B Big coffee shop. We went about six blocks together. She was a post grad student walking to the Cook College lab. What a nice visit. When I turned off we stopped for a while to finish our exchanges.
There are more stories. I'll save them. I wonder how long I'll have to go through Highland Park before I become a fixture?

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.