My Dad

The story I am going to tell here is a compilation of what I as a 10 year old boy remembers and the discussions my Dad and I had later on.  I apologize if there are memory errors in the recollection, but it will be the best I can do.

As a child growing up, my Dad was either the richest som'bitch in the valley or "oh poor me!"  I remember the summer before he had his shock treatment it was my birthday and I had saved up a few dollars to buy a new fishing reel for my old fishing pole.  He took me to Sears and there was a sporting goods section with all sorts of neat gadgets.  I picked out a reel that just made my budget.  Dad reached up and picked up a pole and said, "You can't put a new reel on that hand me down rod."  He bought a fishing pole for me and i was thrilled.  After he had been gone for a few weeks, he was home and Mom asked him if he wanted to take me and go fishing at Beech Lake.  Man I wanted to go so bad I hurt.  After putting new line on that reel and that new reel on a new pole, I hadn't taken it to the lake yet.  Dad took his gear out to the car and as I showed up with my new outfit, he calmly looked at me and asked, "Where did you get that, Steal it?"  I had no concept that he had undergone shock treatments and really didn't know.  All I knew was that fishing sure lost its allure that day. 

I guess by the first of September, Dad had been in bed for a few days and mom tells me that she hid all the kitchen knives and shotgun shells for fear that Dad might do some harm to himself and others.   He was admitted to the hospital one day when we were at school and all we were told was he was in the hospital.  We had no knowledge that it was the rubber room and that he was about to be given electro shock, or convulsive therapy. 

Dad told me years later that he really didn't know or care where he was or what they were going to do.  He would know that they would give him a sedative and wheel him out of the room.  He would wake up and not remember anything.  In fact he said he had to look at the chart on the end of his bed to know who he was.  He would wake up with little short term memory and a blank slate for a past.  he said it was like getting over the flue but it was all in his head (or not). 

He was gone for about a month and even when he came home he was not in the large swing mode that his Bi Polar depression/manic  disease had been.   He sat on the couch and watched TV a lot.  I don't remember him reading anything except for the paper.  The kids were told to play outside a lot and we were not really aware of much.

Over the years, many different doctors tried many different things to help dad break the cycle that Bi-Polar disease caused.  He would be medicated to cut down the high and lifted out of the depths.  On year, Mom called me and asked me what she could do to help Dad get out of the hospital and if I thought Menninger's here in Topeka could help.  I drove to Wichita and when we went to the Hospital, dad was tied to a chair on a heavy dose of what I think was Thorazine and he was seeing things in the air.  he was trying to pick them out of the air and everyone could clearly see there wasn't a darned thing there.  We took Dad to Topeka and directly to Menninger's as fast as we could.  They admitted Dad and in just a couple of days had him detoxed off the meds and he was just depressed.  The worked on him for a week or so and soon presented to the family that there was a genetic link to his disease.  They started him on lithium and soon he was just another boring old man.  He had to work hard to remember his past .  He one time complained that when his mother started to fail, she reverted to a child like state and could remember what color dress she wore to the first day of  school.  He wondered what it would be like to not have any current memory and  no childhood memory. 

This is not a part of my dad's report but something I feel that is fairly relevant.  My Niece, was an air traffic controller in a tower near Sacramento and they were struck by lightning.  She was wearing a headset for the radio and while she has no memory of what happened, she shared the after effects of the shock therapy she was administered.  She basically came to in the break room and didn't know where she was or how to do the job she hired to do.  She had been a college graduate at UCLA in Physics and had one of the sharpest minds I had ever met. 

One day on a visit, I asked her what it was like to have the injury she had.  She was fighting with the FAA to get a disability and had been with a lot of Doctors.  She described her state as knowing that she knew things but when she would go to the place where that memory was stored, it was like there were holes and there would be nothing.  She tells of the times when her children would bring up a party they had attended and there would be nothing in her memory banks. 

Even this last month when we were at my in-laws house she talked to me about the experience.  It took her mother's skill to get the back pay and to be awarded the money she needs to live her life now.  She has a great spirit and laughs a lot.  She talks about how people says it is all in her head and she says it is all in her head, or not. 

MUD

New Thoughts about Old Things

This morning there was an article about how a young man had to adjust to things after he returned from his service in a War Zone.  I'll bet this was a pretty common thing for most of us no matter what war we served in.  For example:

I had a real problem with all the lights outside at night when I first returned home from Vietnam.  There was a light on a pole right outside our trailer in San Diego and it bothered me to no end.  

I was uneasy for a long while because I was on alert for people that didn't want to do me any good.  Getting shot at does that to you.

After a year of fighting an enemy, it was way too easy to get my juices flowing and to not just walk away from confrontations.  There was a lot of us that changed the motto live and let live to live and let die.  

I gave up hunting because carrying a gun and searching for prey was just way too much like combat. 

I am thankful that I had a wife to come home to and it was reassuring to talk to her alone about where we wanted to go with our lives.  I think I lifted and shifted my focus by going back to school and by touching the base of our common goals. 

As an officer, I was a lot more likely to be the person giving orders so getting up, going to school and to work was just a part of life and I didn't fight it.  

It is strange that being a forward observer, I had a map and always knew where we were and where we were going.  I have to fight the urge to tell the wife to get the map out and pay attention to where we are going.  I have a feeling that if I go somewhere once I can almost always get back there or home.  Living in a State that has most roads going one of the primary directions doesn't hurt.  I hate cloudy days where I don't have the sun to orient myself. I love the little compass in the Crown Vic. 

I will be the first person to admit that I am not as tolerant of people that say stupid things.  Not just wrong things, but things so stupid that I cannot believe they really believe what they said.  I can appreciate opposing opinions, but not people that can't appreciate any part of something others say.   Stupid shouted at me is just almost more than I can stand.  Yes, I do stay away from the Westborough Baptist Church crowd. 

For some reason, rules, laws and order seem to be things I like.  I would much rather live in a strict society than one without laws or people enforcing those laws.  

Being in another country (or many of them) gives me an attitude that things will have to get a lot worse here before we get nearly as bad as some of the places I have lived.   

I think that because the Military put us in places with a lot of diverse people, I have a love of meeting new people.  I have the feeling that I could talk with a CEO or a common laborer.  

It has taken me a lot of years to stop having dreams about combat and now I just have them about the other 30 years in the military.  

MUD

Do You?

Ever listen to talk radio for a good laugh?
Read some of the obscure stories on MSN to help you understand that a little alone time and down time is normal?
Go outside in short sleeves just so the warmth of the house and hot coffee are better?
Do something that is not normal for you?
Wonder how some people can think so poorly of one candidate and overlook the incumbent's failing record? 
Wonder why people can't find Romney's jokes funny when they truly are? 
Try to cook a meal outside of your normal range just to have something different?
Wonder what they say about you when they are so critical of others when they talk to you?  
Love the fall colors and hate the leaves once they start falling all over the place?
Have a car in the garage that you don't use?
Know that there are a lot of good things to do and yet you spend your time right here by the computer because you just can't get started?

Me Too!

MUD

A couple of Days!

There is an old saying about the difference a couple of days make.  The beautiful leaves here at Rabbit Run are well on their way to all falling off the trees.  Especially the  yellow leaves on the hickory trees on the west side of the house.  The 15-30 mile per hour winds have about stripped them all off.  I can look out to the south and see a lot of reds and yellows there but on the topside things are looking bare.  With piles and piles where the wind makes piles.

I would imagine that some time in the next month or so, Barb and I might take another trip down to Shawnee, Oklahoma but it will be with a GPS unit, hiking boots and take three days.  It is kind of a nice diversion but two days is just not enough time.  It took most of yesterday to recover.  We did find a nice Mexican restaurant on the south side of Shawnee.

Here at rabbit Run, we feed birds in the winter months.  They seem to know when the black oil sunflower seeds show up the supply is fairly constant all winter.  We also try to keep a suet block full for the woodpeckers.  There doesn't seem to be a steady overwinter group of finches but there is a flock that passes through in the spring and fall. The finch feeder will be full for a couple of weeks and then bam, it will be empty in a couple of days.  

Yesterday the BIG XII had their annual basketball meeting.  As usual, Kansas has a boat load of talent and will be in the hunt for their 8th consecutive conference championship.   We have some tickets for about 1/3 of the home games so we will get to see them at their best.  The Fog Allen field house in Lawrence is a special place for the Jay Hawks.  The first game we will see them play is our local Washburn University a Div II team that always does well no matter how bad they get their nose bumped by KU or K-State in the preseason.  Coach Bill self uses the early games to give his freshmen a chance to get some clock time and the fans love to see a  game where no matter who plays, it is an up tempo game.  

Better run and see what's on our agenda today.   

MUD

Why Not Obama?

In the past few weeks, there has been a running argument about why many of us don't feel that Obama is worthy of another term as president.  

• He inherited a mess and the republicans are guilty of making that mess.  After four years of spending money like a drunken sailor to fix what is broken, we have a record number of unemployed and on food stamps.   Just how long do we have to give it the old college try before someone says oops, we need to change.
• The Republicans just sat around and blocked Obama's efforts.  For two years the congress of the US was controlled by the Democrats.  Both houses and they were able to do whatever they wanted.  During that time there was no budget passed by them to show us what they were doing.  If you don't know what you are going to spend in your plan, don't expect any reality to develop.  
• Obama Care was what we needed.  Perhaps parts of the change was needed.  How about funding Social Security and medicare that are going to fail if we don't fix them.  I agree that the the provision against pre-existing  conditions should be fixed by having some kind of medical insurance that the Government underwrites.  But to put in a provision that makes people pay if they don't enroll in the government program is a step too far. Wait until that provision kicks in.  I'll just leave the part that Nebraska and Louisiana opted out of as a part to buy their votes.  
• Bush raised the National Debt by four million in 8 years.  Yes, and Obama cut that length of time in half.  
• Obama supports gay marriage.  Where were you when just this last year Joe Biden spilled the beans and Obama had to acknowledge the change.  The gay marriage is something that will need to be sorted out State by State.  Last time I looked the President doesn't have the power to change the laws on gay marriage.  I support gay marriage but that doesn't mean the laws will change.  
• Last night Obama said that everyone is painting him as someone that wants to make the size of the government bigger as a part of an effort to put people to work.  If you see a tiger and it has stripes, you can be pretty sure it isn't a lion who doesn't.  I am one of those voters that watch the feet of the politicians not just their words.
• Romney can't feel what the common man does because he has too much money.  What a wonderful way to be described.  There goes a man that knows how to get a job and make it pay.  After a life of working hard, I have enough to live a comfortable life.  Is it too much to want to keep it that way?
• Romney doesn't pay enough income taxes.   If the congress of the US wanted Capital Gains to be taxed at the same rate as ordinary income, all they had to do was change the law.  See the second bullet above.  They could have changed the law if they had wanted.  
• Take all the extra money from the rich and fix what's wrong with the US.  If you took all the rich's money it wouldn't pay back the debt we owe.  We have to find a way to stop the spending or raise the income.  Besides, those guys would probably have the same percentage of the wealth in a few years.  
• Barack thinks that his grandfather was benefited by the GI Bill to help him pay for his education.  Yes, and that same GI Bill is out there today for those that want to earn it by service and then go to college. 

One of the discussions that is ongoing is equal opportunity vs equal outcomes.  I and most of the people that went to school, got a job and worked hard feel that the equal opportunity is in the right to get up, stand up and make a good life for yourself.  How good and how well you do isn't something that Government can't guarantee.  Romney gave two years of his life as a missionary for his church.  He was a pastor in the Mormon church for 10 years and he saved the Salt lake Olympics from failing.  Don't tell me that he doesn't care about people and have a public spirit.  

MUD

Oklahoma Oil

Way back when we didn't really know what oil was worth, many people went out into the countryside and purchased the Mineral Rights on farms all over Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.  The good news about Oklahoma oil was that no one had to pay taxes on the possibility of the value of oil, just on the production once someone drilled, and produced the stuff.

When foreign oil was cheap, a lot of wells in Oklahoma were drilled and then capped.  Why pay the State taxes on oil you could buy for $16.00 a barrel from overseas.  Well boys and girls,  those days are over.  And to compound the problems many of the owners of the mineral rights passed on those rights to their heirs and no one has really  tracked them all down. The Oil companies don't really care, they send the unclaimed money to the State of Oklahoma.  

In Kansas, the oil in the ground has an estimated value based on the first year's production and an expected life of 15 years.  When the well continues to produce beyond that time, the County where the oil resides continues to tax it at some made up value through property taxes.  None of this find oil and cap the well stuff for Kansas.  If there is oil, it has a value and is taxed.  

At our first annual family reunion at Gulf Shores, AL one senior member of the family said that at one time he worked for an oil company and he knows there are at least 100 capped wells that were drilled in the gulf of Mexico.  If that is a good number, how many do you think there were drilled and capped on land?   I predict that as the price of oil continues to climb, more and more of these inactive wells will be brought back into production.  

That won't solve our problem but there are a few solutions offered by people in the know.  First there is a move afoot to scrap diesel fuel and to put the trucks on Compressed Natural Gas.  It is cleaner and cheaper to use and should cut the amount of diesel we need and use.   The next step will be for us all to give up our luxury cars and drive smaller cars that get 50+ MPG.  So far that hasn't worked but I think the view of $5.00 a gallon oil in California has made some people a lot more aware of the need to cut down on the use of cars and/or to improve the mileage.     

It is a rainy day here in the heartland and by this afternoon there is predicted to be storms.  Tornadoes in October are not out of the question.  I think our only tornado free month has been January.  By then we get snow up to our knees and ice storms.  

Keep your powder dry and your fire going.

MUD

How do we fix it?

The Congress of the United States is faced with a dilemma.  Either they get busy and fix what ails us or the sequestration will start is down that road.  Clearly they need to either fix the tax code, stop spending or cut deductions.  It doesn't matter if the government tries to fix our problems by giving more to people, or more to businesses, somehow we need to get moving down some road.  

How can you cut taxes without stopping some of the deductions?  How can you balance the budget if you don't cut spending?  How can you guarantee anything if you can't get together and talk about out problems in some manner.  

Clearly things have to change and if we do what we did, we will get what we got.  I think four years of spending more money than we have isn't the answer.  Making people dependent on the Government in the form of unemployment didn't work.  

Whatever they do, they better get busy doing it.  Republicans and Democrats alike are going to have to get on board and fix or the voters will.

MUD 

Mother's Note

I was going through a pile of things my mother had saved and while it was not clear if this was hers or my Grandmother's note I will reprint it here for you.

Keep On keeping on

If the day looks kinder gloomy and your choices kinder slim,

If the situation's puzzlin' and the prospect's awful grim,

If perplexities keep pressin' Till hope is nearly gone,

Just bristle up and grit your teeth

AND  KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON

Fretin' never wins a fight and fumin' never pays;

There ain't no use in brooding' in these pessimistic ways;

Smile just kinder cheerfully though hope is nearly gone,

Just bristle up and grit your teeth

AND KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON!

From the material written on the back of the poem, this appears to be a part of a church bulletin.  Knowing that my Father's Mother never passed up a chance to go to Church, and that Mother wrote the Minneha Baptist church bulletin for years, it is not clear who cut this out first or who kept it.  Either way, it is kind of fun to see what some people wrote/read to get through tough times.

 

Did you watch the debates last night?  I did and while I wanted to be on Ryan's side, I didn't see a clear winner from either side.  I think it is tough to defend the current policy on the economy and the whole world is on fire.  I think Ryan's closing that made this a clear choice for change was needed and that's the way I feel.  Whatever you think, get out and vote.

MUD

 

Interesting Problem

Dave drove the new car for the first time yesterday and for some reason the flap that caused the warm air to blow on the windshield didn't work.  I invited him over and we tore into the dash to find the root of the problem.  Little did I know that a goal of Dave was also to install his fancy dancy radio with more bells and whistles.   We got it all apart and after taking out the controls for the heater found a problem putting the dang thing back in place.  Dave has to work today and I will try to get it back together and working.  I will leave the radio sitting in the backseat because I'm not sure what features he needs. Kind of like the agreement that I have with the wife.  I do function and she does pretty.  I do heat and Dave will do the sound.

Fall has fallen here in the Heartland and even though they are saying cooler each day, they are predicting a pretty strong meeting of fronts with the possibility of severe weather (Tornado's in October is not out of the question).  The leaves are kind of piling up and there is no good reason to rake early with at least 2/3rd of the leaves still on the trees. Maybe the wind will blow the leaves off and down into the forest.

If the current VP takes the AMTRAC train home each night  who is living in the VP Residence in Washington D.C.?  Should be fun to watch tonight and see the young lion debate with the old gray lion.  I wonder if Biden can keep up the smile or will he turn into the attack dog so often as is the case.  I predict that he will become more aggressive than Bob Dole did.

Better get my work clothes on and get busy.

MUD

Middle of the week, Already?

Monday started as a small trip to the bank and then the library.  Yep, Columbus day had all the banks closed and that part of the trip got put on hold.   The library, lunch and a quick trip (about $130.00) at Wally-world took us the biggest chunk of the day.  Throw in a nap and Monday was history.  Tuesday was a trip to the DMV. That and a trip to the bank killed the most of yesterday.  Here I am in the Middle of the week and really haven't accomplished much of anything for the week.  I'll do my best to get a few things done today.   Not sure what yet but I'll work on that when I finish here.  

I have to be careful, the wonderful weight loss can reverse the field in a heartbeat when I don't stay active.  The excuses I can invent are killing me.  

I really need to go over to the rental house and spend most of the day working on the garage and the driveway.  The yellow house needs a coat of paint but that will probably have to wait until next spring.  Perhaps I'll have enough saved by then to throw in a new roof also.  We'll see.

Dave is now the driver of a nice little car and I sure hope it works out well for him.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles but that is generally a lot less to go wrong.   He will probably have his Best Buy buddies move the remote start to the new car.  I will see if I can figure out the vacuum leak and get the heater working on the Malibu.  The least I can do is to clean it up a little and get it ready for winter.  

For a couple of years, I have watched the TNT series "The Closer."  As the lead actress, Kyra Sedgwick, moved on, they have revived the group as Major Crimes.  It is OK to watch but it really misses the old spark it had.  I missed it last week and watched the old episode and the new one back to back this Monday night and found it hard to stay involved in the story.   Oh well, it is only TV and a new season will start soon.  There will be winners and losers and I will not get to see some programs before they fade off the air.  I do wish they would put Jesse Stone on as a series and lose that Blue program.  Tom Selleck is a great straight man and to me not as convincing as the Chief of Police in NY.  Chief of Police in a small Maine town is OK.

I moved my business account out of the Major Bank I have used for several years.  I have a partnership that divides Oil Revenue between the four brothers and sisters and they wanted to charge me $10.00 a month.  The Credit Union wanted my business and all they want is for me to have a $300 balance before it costs anything.  I keep trying to not put all my eggs in one basket but the big banks are driving me to a savings and loan more and more.  I'll bet I could walk into the small Savings and Loan and get a loan quicker than I could get all the paper work filled out at the big bank.  

OH well, Have a great day out there and remember to vote....

MUD

Million and 1 Birds

Today I went to the Annex for the Shawnee County Treasurer and spent my time in line waiting to tag Dave's new(er) car.  While there, a flock of birds came and perched on the telephone line that was over my car.  Something must have startled them and as they flew off, each one must have aimed and took a dump on the car.  There was a pile of bird crap on each three square inches of that car.  I drove it to the car wash and fortunately they were so fresh that a couple of dollars in quarters got it clean.

I think that is kind of a symbol of my day.  Nuff Said.

MUD

Seriously Folks

For some reason I have been in kind of a funk for a few days.  Today we went to Wally World and there were tons and tons of little kids that I got a chance to kid with and laugh.  I even got a smile or two in return.  I guess I either need to get out more or do more smiling.  I don't think of myself as a Grinch but have been accused of such on many occasions.  Even Barb said "Yes Sir Colonel," to one of my comments today.

Once upon a time I taught a class for one of the Major Telephone Companies.  The class was customer service and in addition to teaching the students to use a fairly complicated  system, I had to teach them the ins and outs of customer service.  One Friday evening after our review and test, one of the students asked me why I don't smile more.  I tried to convey that I thought I was smiling a lot and I loved teaching them and interacting with a great class every 6 weeks.   One of the students agreed that they learned a lot and I was a good instructor but I attacked the job like I had a mission.  (My old Colonel Mode)  

Another time, One of my employees came into my office and wondered why I had chewed him out in the e-mail I sent.  I re-read the message and for the life of me did not find it negative.  He did and I guess that's what's important.  I write probably more formal that most people and the 25 years of writing SITREPS, OPORDS and  Military letters just took the smile right out of my written voice.

Oh well, good thing is I'm not running for office and this is not widely read.

MUD

Green

When I look at the stats on my blog, I see that the State of Alaska is as green as the rest of the USA.  Makes me wonder what I said that has their attention?  Someday i do want to drive the ALCAN  Highway but not sure why.  I can assure you that it will be in the summer and not this year, or what's left of it.

MUD

Cold Weather.

Last night it got down into the 20's and Barb did her best to protect some of her plants.  It looks kind of like a high school toilet paper party happened here as she tried to cover some of the plants with strips of newspaper.  I covered up some of the plants in the garden with drop cloths and plastic sheets but I have little faith that the effort works for a freeze where it might for a frost.  We'll see.

For some reason, the check engine light on the Crown Vic threw a code and when I fixed what it said was wrong, it threw the same code.  It said the oxygen sensor on position one, downstream doesn't like the reading it has.  I might try to put the old sensor in the place where the upstream sensor was and see if that fixes the problem.  I need to find out where the rattle under the car is coming from anyway.  Perhaps this afternoon it will be warm enough.  Or not!

A couple of months ago I was a little worried that we were carrying a balance in the checkbook that was a little big.  Not to worry, taking a couple of trips, paying off a house and buying a car made that problem a non starter.  Please don't feel sorry for us, we are fine, just not as much cash poor, if there is such a thing.  In a month or so, the first half of the property taxes will be out and then the term land poor will be a lot more truthful.  No, I don't need to go back to work, even if it is only standing at the front of the store and saying "Welcome to WalMart."   Did you read that four of the top ten people in the USA have Walton as their last name?   Barbara and I hit the WalMart stores as we travel.  Clean restrooms and  a good place to walk around and who doesn't need travel snacks.

MUD

Feedin' Birds

In spite of all my years of hunting, you might not think I would be a person that loves to feed and watch birds.  Here I sit watching the flight into the bird seed feeder and enjoying the view.  I just added water to the freeze proof water bowl and so far they haven't made a line to that.  The woodpeckers are visiting the suet block and the finch seed feeder is full just waiting for the fall migration to pass through.

Today is Barb's birthday and we haven't made any plans yet.  I bought her a new telephoto lens for her camera and now need to find a card.  Does filling the candy bowl with M&M's count as chocolate?   It is also our niece Amy Potter's birthday today.  Just a note, it is about the right number of days after New year's eve for a baby conceived on that date to be born.  A couple of years ago I thanked Barb's parents for staying home on New years eve and celebrating.  He dad had been off to the war in Europe and I'm sure that's the new years present he wanted. Did I mention that Barb's parents are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this month?  I think the kids were planning on the 75th while there at this one.  They are in good health and with a little luck they will make that anniversary.  

I guess it really is fall.  I had to drag some plants into the house and garage to keep them from freezing in the early morning tomorrow.  There is a cold snap blowing with the jet stream.  It will warm up a little next week but not bunches.  

Oh well, I guess there are better things to do so I'd better get to doing some of them.

MUD

Fall Colors

Our Cooler nights are an indication that the fall colors are starting.  The Hickory tree leaves here are yellow and the 5 leaf ivy (aka Virginia Creeper) is turning red.  It is said that the colors of fall are better when it is dry.  Yes, it has been that and unless the first freeze this weekend kills all the leaves, it will continue to get prettier.  

Someone asked us if we have any travel plans between now and Christmas.  Barb and I both said almost at the same time, "I hope not."  We truly plant to spend time here just enjoying our lives here in the Heartland.  There will be a quick trip to the airport (or two)  as people are coming in for events here, but nothing more our of the area for us.

Social Networking is officially a big deal and the latest information is that some colleges are using them to screen applicants.  Makes me wonder if the future is that businesses will start to screen people using them also.  Why people post some of the stuff they do is a mystery to me.  Did I mention that the other day I noticed that on the edge of my page there was something like 129 bubble requests?  I haven't a clue what it was as I just delete things like that. I have also broke the code and know how to delete game requests.  In the past I had to unsubscribe from certain people now I just delete the games.  I'm sure that I have been the subject of deletes for some of my snarky comments.   Their loss.

Oh well, life and the debates go on. 

MUD

Making Up for Lost Time

Or killing time after a long weekend!  I did have to make a trip to the bank to make a few deposits and fetch some new milk.  A half gallon of milk is $4.07.  We have a dairy up the road that makes the best milk we can buy and it is worth whatever they can charge.  

I had a long discussion with my friend Ken about what he thinks is the coming disaster based on the fall of the dollar.   I heard a lot of good ideas but without preparedness to live if there is a disaster, he was a lot like "Chicken Little" saying the sky is falling.  Not that I mind, I just don't see it as impending as he does.  Yes, I know that in a disaster things could get tough but I don't know very many people that are stockpiling food.  I know a lot of people are telling me that gold is worth a lot of money but when the dollar is worthless, how are you going to break down that gold into a way to buy things.  The only answer that makes sense is money and if you don't own a wheel barrel don't expect to be able to break down a one oz gold coin and carry your change.  As I have been told, during the depression it wasn't just the shortage of money, it was the shortage of anything to buy.  If a Company can't sell things for more than they cost to make, they stop production.  

Is Water the next Gold?  I have listened to several people predict that the abundance of clean water is in danger and water is very vital in the support of life.  I know several ways to make water pure enough to drink and have unpotable water in a well.  Lots of water but not fit to drink straight out of the well.  Here in the Heartland we generally have enough water to grow a garden.  The shortcoming we have is the ability to can up the produce and live off it for the next year.  I can well remember the wonderful produce my grandmother had on the shelves in her fraidy hole/ underground storage room.  ('Fraidy holes are where the smart people go if a tornado appears.)

I guess I'll shut it off here and move on to important things.

MUD

Things I Stand For and Against

I will not try to make this a rant, simply a statement of a few things I stand for and against.

• People that say they are against prejudice don't understand that it has a positive aspect.  I personally love 57 Chevy's,  Del Monte Catchup, McDonald's french Fries and my wife.  If given a choice, I will choose them every time.  It is a way some minds sort out the decisions into a good, better and best along with the bad, poor and worst list.  You could spend a lot of time trying to figure out what to do, eat, love or read if it were not for a little prejudice in your life. 
• I am a fiscal conservative.  I believe that income should be greater or equal to out go in all financial matters.  Starting at the personal level all the way up to the National levels.
• In this world there are people that will not change.  It is wise to know that if someone hates you, they hate you.  It is not wise to spend hours and hours trying to change their mind of buy them off.  Make a list, cross off their name and move on.
• Yesterday on TV I listened to someone say that Goals without a plan to achieve the goals are just wishes.  Someone else once told me that a plan poorly executed is better than no plan executed well.  Without a plan or a budget to fund the plan, it is simple gambling with your life.  If the Government can't pass a budget, is it any wonder that they overspend by a Trillion or two?
• I am a Jay Hawker.  The root of that word comes from the love of Freedom and support of all people of all colors, back when they were trying to get this State (Kansas) started. I hate enslavement of anyone at any time. Enslavement can be ideological or Man made and I hate both.  If you vote a straight party ticket you are a slave to that party.  I vote for the person(s) that I feel best support things the way I see them. 
• Am I one of the few that remembers that Abraham Lincoln who fought a war to keep the USA together and freed the slaves was a Republican?    
• There was a sign in the cafeteria at school that said take all you want but eat what you take.
• If you really don't want to buy it, don't ask what it costs.
• Spend your last dollar on your last day.
• I abhor stupidity.  Not speech by the uninformed, but speech so stupid that everyone knows the speaker couldn't possibly and fundamentally believe what they are saying. Money Talks and BS walks.  If you don't do it, don't argue that any position is the only way.
• Most buffets will let you eat all you want, but don't expect to get invited back if you do.

Take this with a grain of anything you desire.  It is just a few of my thoughts.

MUD 

TV Movie Last Night

On one of the HD channels, there was a made for TV movie that took 32 Democrats and showed them from the euphoria of Obama's message in the last campaign and contrasted that feeling with the reality of today.  I think the real message is that it isn't just the difference between what could happen and did happen, but what he promised and what happened.  He said that Bush was a bad person for raising the National Debt 4 Trillion in 8 years.  It went up that 4 trillion in 4 years.  The Bail out was going to put people back to work and we have hundred of thousands still on unemployment and many more that can't find work and don't have any benefits.  One reason that there are more people on some form of National health care is that they get Medicaid.   

As I saw the message again from Obama's campaign he promised a new set of conditions and I paid $3.74 a gallon for gas when it was $1.83 when he came into office.  Go buy groceries and then listen to the message that inflation is nil.  I don't know where they are measuring it, but ask anyone trying to feed, house and clothe their family and ask them, what has happened to costs in the last four years.     

I am going on vacation for four or five days and I will not watch TV or listen to radio.  Bye.

MUD

Old Eyes - new Views

The other day I was doing something on my computer and the screen changed to a much smaller view.  Being an older adult, I considered filing a Older Adult Abuse complaint but it dawned on me that if it can get smaller, there must be a setting that makes it larger.  Yea, I can make it so big that I can actually see it and not have to move the bar at the bottom of the screen to see the whole page.  About 150% is pretty much right on.  Now if they can figure out how to help me hear Barbara from two rooms away. 

I have decided that there are just a few things that a person should have someone else do.  Shocks or struts on a 2004 Ford is one of them.  Another is Oil changes.  In the past I would crawl under the car and fight the filter off and drain the oil into a pan and then have to haul the used oil back to the parts house.  Now I just let the guy that gets paid to do that worry about how,when or where to recycle the stuff.  I might feel different if I really used the old oil myself.   Just how much oil can you run through the chain oilier on a chainsaw? 

On the odd side, I have noticed that the first load of laundry is almost Barbara's stuff.  I wonder if she is trying to tell me something or if my stuff is just dirtier than hers and she wants to not cross contaminate?  In the end it all gets washed but sorting by color (and then remembering to add detergent) is more than I can be expected to do if there is something else on my mind.  There was a time I could multi-task with the best of them, but times they are a changing.

On of my High School friends said her youngest is 32 today.  She wondered if that was possible.  If she had started raising kids as soon as she was able, she could have a kid about to turn 50.  We waited to start our family and our one and only is about to turn 37.  (If I can get my math right 2012-1975 = 37 right?) 

For the record, the first signs of fall colors have arrived here at Rabbit Run.  I see reds and yellows out of the windows.  Beautiful stuff.

MUD

You're Not a Word Nazi, Are You?

When I attended the Master Foods Classes, the instructors and some of the old ladies attending the class were just "Food Nazis."  One lady told me I had to place a measuring cup on the counter and level the liquid in the cup or it wasn't the right measurement.  I told her that for 30 years I had to level the bubbles on my howitzers and damn sure could tell when it is absolutely important.  After all, it isn't anything but cooking.   I would listen about cross contamination and clean kitchens but unless it is baking I do my cooking to taste and thickness.  Close counts in cooking, Illumination, Horse shoes, hand grenades and nuclear weapons. 

Today I read at least three comments where the writer wrote your instead of you're.  I know that noticing the difference is Petty but  I had that drummed into my head over and over in school.  In fact I seldom use you're and use the you are form so as to not confuse myself.  I know there is a time coming that I can hide my own Easter eggs.  I do not know what eggs and bunny rabbits have to do with the resurrection, but I did see  a program where Santa Clause went over to the manger to visit the baby Jesus.  I guess it all flows together after a while. 

I am about ready to hit the road again for the weekend and I am glad to get the heck out of town.  I won't get sucked into working on the Ford or Dave's Malibu where I am going.  I fear that we are nearing the time where we need to put in a heater core on Dave's car and I know that it will entail many hours of working under the dash with a sore back.  It is the cheap Charlie that keeps me from taking the car to a shop and having them do it.  

Oh well, life and me are not perfect so I will just try to keep on doing what I can and living as long as I can.

MUD

What Did He Know and When Did He Know It?

I think people are focusing on small things in this election and are spending more time on stupid questions than really trying to focus on what's wrong and how to fix it.  For two years, the President had the majority of both the House and Senate and not once did he ever get a Budget passed.  Instead of a budget, and instead of a modification to our Medical Insurance Laws, we got no budget and Obama Care.

Let me make sure that you know that I feel not everything in the Obama Care law is bad.  I think it is a good thing that people with catastrophic illnesses and preexisting conditions can now find coverage.  I am not sure that children up to the age of 27 should be covered by their parents Health Insurance.   21 Should be a good age to cut it off unless the child is in school.  Can you imagine my surprise when I read in my new Medicare Booklet that there is a provision for the Government to fine you if you delay paying for Medicare Part B?  

I think that everyone is running around and spending time telling lies.  If the truth is told, the vote should clearly go to the other team for four years and back and forth when things are bad.  People don't remember that just a couple of months ago, the pundits were saying that Barry is a worst President than Jimmy Carter.  Hello - Remember Billy Beer and Peanuts?  He was rightfully a one term President and we moved on.

The people that I really don't like are the 25% of the people that don't vote.  All that Crap about how we have disenfranchised those without ID cards is just that.  You can't cash a check, buy a cell phone without proving who you are.  Get some and Vote!

MUD

Sunday

Being retired, I find that every day is a lot more like the other days of the week and the need to rest up from restin' up is not such a big deal.  In fact, I often find myself doing things the hard way to take time and stay in shape.  Yesterday I took the lawn mower and ground up some old straw bales and put the residue in the compost pile.  I also tried to find about enough green grass to make it about 50:50 green to brown.  I really need to get a pickup load of manure from the dairy up the road to make it all work out well over the winter.

Today I am going to do my best to not tear into some large project.  I intend to spend the day doing things with the wife.  Well, she gets up later than I do and I read the paper alone and I'm pretty sure she will want to do the same.  After we both finish the reading, breakfast  and morning ablutions we will probably try to do something together.  Perhaps.

While reading a book last night, I watched at the K-State vs OU football game.  It was pretty clear that OU was amped up and were going to try to repeat their victory over K-State from last year.  Perhaps if they had just focused on the good honest smash mouth football they used in previous years they could have won the game.   Instead, K-State played hard and got the bounce on three turn-overs and beat those pesky Sooners. At Fort Sill, OK, it was the consensus of those in the Field Artillery OCS that wind does not blow in Oklahoma, it sucks.  Proof enough in the game last night.  In the fourth quarter K-State had the lead and the ball and managed to do something few have done.  You could hear the groans from the fans as they ball controlled the game to a final end.  Instead of the shouting, there was near silence at the end of the game.  Way to go Wildcats.

This morning I started out the door to fetch the paper and I grabbed a jacket off the coat rack downstairs.  It was about 38 degrees outside and I am darned glad that I put the jacket on.  In fact, I am still wearing that jacket to ward off the chill I got outside.  Sure hope that it is not a fever and the start of something I won't get over in 48 hours.  Thursday morning I have a date with an airplane taking us to Salt Lake City.  There is a birthday and an anniversary we will help my in-Laws celebrate.  I hope to get to see a lot of kids on the trip also.  Their smiles just spill over in my heart and I love it.  There is also a certain little dog there that just loves to sit in my lap and get petted.  Bonus.

Well, I hear those magic words, "Breakfast is ready" so I'd better get at it while it is hot. Oh, the other day Barb asked me to tell her those three little words every woman wants to hear.  "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk" immediately came to mind. 

MUD 

Thought For The Day

The race doesn't always go to the fastest, the battle to the strongest or the game to the wisest - But that's not a bad set of rules for betting.   

MUD

What Percent are You?

I for one don't understand what percentage I should be.  Here are the reasons:

• I worked all my life and paid into the Social Security System.  So did my wife.  Am I to be denigrated for wanting some of my money back?
• Barb and I paid into a separate retirement system. (Both took about 7% more than Social Security they also took out) if I recall. I damn sure don't back up to the pay table on payday.
• For all my adult life I have paid Blue Cross and Blue Shield for Insurance coverage.  Now they tell me I am eligible for Medicare through no fault of mine. 
• Like Mr Romney, I took advantage of the Tax laws and a part of my retirement income is treated different than earned income.  Unlike Mitt, I don't give 15 to 35% of it to charity.  I give it to the Petty charitable foundation and share it with family that need it.  
• I worry about the Government borrowing an additional 4 trillion dollars and the effect on the future generations.  
• If I bet on a horse in a race and he doesn't win, I damn sure don't bet on him again.
• I try to speak for those things I feel strongly about.  I am also the first to laugh when I screw something up.  
•  When the Government bailed out GM, it took my GM stock and told me to "shove it!"  They didn't do that to the Unions.  That stock I paid for when I worked for GM.  $47 a share was my adjusted basis for that stock.  Thank God I didn't have more.
• I believe in a strong Government, it is what that Government does that I don't love.  The Congress at both the State and federal level must think they need to invent Government.  I would like for them to just once go in and tell the truth about what they are funding and enforcing.  Kind of like a school District's budget they tell everyone about and not the record of the actual expenditures.  They tell the teachers there is no money in the budget for a raise and then at the end of the year buy buses out of excess funds.  Budget is what I plan for the money - Record of Expenditures what I really did with the money.
• I just expect people to tell the truth or tell stories.  My built-in BS detector goes off when I hear any of the National news casters talk.  At least I know where Rush is coming from.  
• I ride my recumbent bike to stay active.  I believe you don't stop exercise because you are getting older.  You get old because you don't do anything to stay fit.  I ate myself to 270 lbs and stopped eating as much to get down to 240. Yes, I come from a family of large livers.  Not long livers, large one's.

One thing I want everyone to know is that I love the USA.  There is no place else in the world that would have such diverse people as we do and treat them all fairly.  I think our Government is kind of like a pot of boiling water and the steam gets vented all the time.  That is unlike those places where people have to riot to get their voice heard.  

MUD

Free Vs Stupid Speech

Barb and I discussed the subject of Free Speech yesterday.  While we agree that you can't shout fire in a crowded theater or Bomb in an airport, we feel that there is a lot of area that is confusing.   I think Barb and I agree on the current definition for the most part.  What I personally don't understand is that what is guaranteed by our Government is not the rule in most of the rest of the world. Don't give other people from other countries the same rights we have guaranteed.

On our trip to Morocco, our host asked us to not speak out against the King.  In fact, I admire the difficulty of being the king in a time when the fundamentalists are flexing their muscles.  It is very difficult to tell people to mind their manners where protesting in the street is common.  The country of Morocco is in a lot of ways unchanged in the last 50 years.  I can't imagine living there after having the freedoms and up to date opportunities we have here.  I can see that their king is working hard to do what is best for his people.

I hate the Westboro Baptist Church's message that "God hates....."  Pick your subject and they have a sign that says God hates it.   By the same token, they have rights that are protected on many levels.  Free Speech, Right to Assemble and Freedom of Religion are all protected and I for one would hate to have any of my rights impeded to shut this stupid speech up.  It is a slippery slope that I don't want tilted towards having our Government close down stupid things.

I think our Government doesn't do enough standing up for the things we fully support.  We have a long time reputation of standing up for the right of people to choose their own religion.  It is difficult to understand our hard  line in the sand to protect both the right to say what we believe and what we defend.  Just because it seems stupid to you doesn't mean that we must stop it.  I think our Government needs to have a stronger backbone and be more Popeye.  "I yam what I Yam" 

MUD

Front Struts on a 2004 Ford

I went to the Auto Parts Store the other day and picked up some parts for the 2004 Crown Victoria.  I was nearing the end of the life on the spark plugs and I got a set of them.  I noticed that the rough bumps on Tecumseh Road was not nearly as nice as it had been earlier and with 80,000 miles I was about 30,000 miles beyond the replacement miles.  The counter man gave me the parts and I went home with a smile on my face.

I found a video on line about how to change the plugs and while it wasn't the easiest job, it was kind of fun to change them one at a time and see how and where they run.  I listened to the guy in the tape and did them one at a time just like he said.  

I wish I could say the same thing about the front shocks.  Nope, they are struts and you have to rebuild them.  There isn't a "Giffy Kit" that just replaces the whole thing.  You have to take the struts apart and "rebuild" them.  Not being one to read the manual fully, I managed to take the top nut off the struts while the spring was under pressure.  It went bang and shot the shock one direction and the spring the other.  It managed to scatter parts and tools everywhere and thank god I managed to not get hit or lose a finger.  The kinetic potential in that spring was enormous.  I did have to go back to the parts store and change the $33 shocks into a $96 strut rebuild kit.  I also had to rent a spring compressor to put the whole thing back together.  I had to conduct a police call on the driveway to find all the bolts and parts.

I managed to get one strut rebuilt and will work into the other side tomorrow.  I have a good bike ride in my schedule.  

MUD

Cool Nights

This is the weather that starts out cool enough for a jacket and ends in shirtsleeves.  The only problem is that it doesn't last long enough.  The even better news is that the trees will start turning reds and yellows soon and we are in for some beautiful days.  

This morning I started out the day with a nice piece of Peanut and pear butter toast and a cuppa coffee (X2).  Barb makes some great pear butter and it just compliments the natural peanut butter we buy.  I have trouble with cotton seed oil and the only brand we can find without it also has no sugar in it.  Throw in some honey or pear butter and man is that ever a treat on toast. 

We got a letter from AT&T yesterday and I almost just threw it away.  We cancelled them a couple of months ago over the way they reacted to a request from Barb.  Inside the letter was a check for just over $30.00.  Evidently they found a way to over charge their customers and the FCC made them pay us back.  Serves them right.  

I am listening to the Sugar Land CD again this morning and it sure is some good music.  I really love how varied their music is.  One song has a strong drum beat and the next song is a love ballad.  They have such an uplifting message in their songs.  "Open up your heart and let it in. Find the beat Again"

I think our country has forgotten just how strong and good we can be.  We have moved in the direction of Political Correctness and have spent way too much time apologizing for who we are.  We are the strongest country in the world and could obliterate any thing or anyone we desire and it is a testament that we don't.  Why when we have to borrow the money are we sending everyone money?   Instead of buying a new Mercedes, the Saudi's need to send some money to the oil poor countries.  Keep our money and troops home.

 MUD

Music

There have been times in my life that stand out more than other times.  Most of those times are surrounded by music.  It makes me glad to hear great music and even happier when I get a chance to join in and make some of that music.  The other day I was watching TV and flipping through the channels because there was nothing I really wanted to watch.  I hit on a channel that had a great sound.  I soon discovered that it was Sugar land and I was almost blown away by the great sound and the theme of most of the songs.  They are a little country but lean to the rock and roll side with just a  twinge of an accent.  Jennifer Nettles and her partner Kristian Bush write a lot of their songs and Jennifer's smile and music just makes my heart smile.

I am not sure where to place my love of music hard and firm.  I know we would go to my grandmother's house and sing loud and proud.  Grandmother and Mom both played the piano.  My sister, Carol,  (a Retired Music teacher) would platy the guitar and I knew almost all the words to the old songs.  That love of music carried over to Minneha Elementary where Mrs Hollaway  had us singing from day one and every day.  By the time I was in the fourth grade I was in the performance choir and from then on, I sang my way through school.  In High School I was in the best choir I ever sang in.  I was in the 20 voice Madrigal group and won a gold medal at State two years.  

Today I was in Best Buy to take Dave some Apple Cider Donuts that Barb made and I picked up the latest Sugar Land CD.  In that set was a DVD of them performing some of the music.  Best hour of the day.  Now I am listening to the CD while writing this.  I found it interesting that the only fear they had was the fear that they might not be able to find the spark for new songs.  I think they should know that all they have to do is sing with their hearts and the music will follow.

Tomorrow, Boys and Girls.

MUD

What I hate about Getting Older

First of all, let me tell you that The biggest problem is that my mental age (or the one I think I am) is much younger than my physical age.  It is that difference that really bothers me. But here are some of the major complaints.

• I think there is a conspiracy in the men's underwear makers.  Either they make the distance from the flap too short and we have fall out or so far that in a hurry we can't get to the business end fast enough.  
•  My sex drive is too high.  It is all in my head and I want to lower it.
•  I don't have a lot of excess energy and when I try to use what I have, I really pay for it the next day.
•  It takes me longer to get ready to work.  Too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. 

• At one time I loved to travel in the car.  Now I find a couple of days in the car and I am way too stiff and sore

• I wish we were more like automobiles.  A fast tune up, an oil change and we are ready for more things.  I did buy a new pair of tennis shoes and paid less than one tire so I won't complain about tires.  

I guess I need to get up off my butt and go do something rather than sitting here and writing about crap that just happens.  See ya' later.

MUD 

Life at the Beach

Well Hello Sports Fans,   We spent nearly a week at the Beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama near Fort Morgan and had a great time with the family.  Our Niece, Amy set it up and we were in a beautiful beach house with a pool and about everything you could want.  Carrie, another niece, said that on the last day of our trip she discovered a TV in their room and she hadn't turned it on.  I guess when there are so many fun people a TV just isn't needed.  There were two sides of the duplex and most of the non TV people drifted to our side.  Our Sports nut, Kevin watched some form of sports from the time he got up tot he time he went to bed over next door.  He is such a rabid fan that on the college ball game day he had a different t-shirt for each team he watched.  He even got out a stuffed bull dog when Georgia played.

I wish I could share with you how much love and passion for life that our group had.  We had some great discussions and one or two times where the voices got a little louder.  Like most of our discussions, most of them ended with everyone just moving on.  I don't think a fellow could really have a bad time with any of the people there.  'Cides, it was more fun to pick on the people that weren't there.  We always had Jenn to remind us that our perceptions were just that and some of them may be wrong.  

MUD and Leo

There were one or two times where the southern accents got in the way of clear understanding.  The fact that they take large words and make one syllable out of them and then one syllable words often have two or three does make for interesting conversations.  We had a swimming "poo" and that wasn't a punch bowl with a turd in it.   Something simple like head came out more like "he-a-id"   Even our former Yankee Amy was well on her way to picking up the accent.

We were blessed by having a Master "Grill/chef" with us and everyone tried to fix one or two meals that was their specialty.  Keith worked his magic on the grill and we had some wonderful food.  Yesterday I got on the scales for the first time in a week and I have gained back 10 of the 30 lbs I had lost.  I am back on that forced march diet for a couple of weeks.  I do want to lose another 20 or 30 by Christmas.  Yes, I know I will probably lose 20 and gain back 10 between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Here in the fall, there are a few projects that I want to get done so things will be winter ready.  One of the first is to spend today on the outside here at Rabbit Run.  Things look shaggy and a few passes with a mower will be a good thing.  I need to make a plan on where I want to burn a bunch of dead pine trees.  I may need to get a bush hog and clear an area in the field to be able to burn without setting the place on fire.  The good news is that this week we got at least an inch of rain so things aren't quite so dry.  I think there is a new green tint to things that were well on their way to dry.

During our trip, my cell phone divorced me.  I got a message that my SIM card wasn't registered?  I called the Customer Service line and spent 20 minutes with an agent that kept telling me that everything in her system was working and my phone was working.  I think when I shouted at her that my damned phone wasn't working that she finally apologized but had no solution.  I hung up pissed off and applied the old MUD, "I can fix anything" attitude to it.  I pried off the back of the phone, took out the battery, reset the SIM card put the battery back in and everything worked.  I probably am better off that I didn't have a working phone on the beach.  Salt Water and sand don't make electronics work better.

Oh well, enough of this, off vacation and back to retirement.  Yes, when you are you own boss, they are a lot the same.

MUD

Liberal or Conservative?

In the short haul, my wife and I agree that the USA is a pretty darned good place to live and our freedoms are partly what makes it great to live here. Barb and I are pretty different in how we want our Government to ensure the freedoms we have.  I think the Constitution backed by the Bill of Rights is a pretty darned good start and only minor tweaking is needed by the States and Local Governments.  Even that tweaking should be very minor and driven by the differences in the location of the States.  I feel that when Barb and I talk, she loves the ideas of the rights but feel the Government needs to step in more than I do to ensure the maintenance of those rights.  

Therefore, I as a conservative think that the Government intrudes to guarantee our rights and the unintended consequences of that intrusion offsets a lot of the gains.  In the 1960's, just as most of the States were becoming more accepting of the color of a man and understand it is character not color that is important, the US Government stepped in with a broad sweeping set of programs to ensure equal rights.  We created programs to build housing and throw money at the poor that in a lot of ways took their pride and inner strength away.  We housed them in projects that dehumanized them and were in a lot of ways not as safe as where they lived before.  Instead of building families, we made it easy for their families to survive without the male in the family.  In fact, I think we punished the typical poor married family by providing a surrogate dad to provide money, housing, parenting and day care.  Where did the vibrant black owned businesses in out small towns go to? 

I want everyone to have the opportunity to work hard and get an education.  Based on that body of work and the education, I want everyone to be as successful as they can be.  I will also refuse to feel sorry if the people out there don't get that education or training to get a job that pays them well enough to live like they want.  

One thing Barb and I do agree on is that the cost of an education is steadily growing way more than the cost of everything else and has reached a point where the return is often below the investment cost.  She attended Junior College in Kala-li-Fornia and attended for little more than the cost of the books.  OK, I understand that the great State of oranges and sunshine is going broke right now but who isn't.  My point is that education must change and stay fairly cheap if we are to progress.   Who said that all the brick and mortar Universities are important?  I got my education at one just as the Computer world was starting and little has changed at KU.  (Other than they have coach Bill self and a few more trophies)  If all the people in Academia worked as hard to find good ways to learn and utilize the computers, inter-nets and mass communication medias they could keep the cost down.  Or, even make it cheaper, lord forbid they would ever do that.

Sometime in the near future, I will be sitting on the beach somewhere south of here and kicking back for a week or so.  I plan on spending time with the boys (Austin and Ryan) and learning how to smile on my face as much as I do in my heart.  One time in the middle of a discussion period, one of my students asked me why in spite of a great attitude I didn't smile much.  I asked them what that was all about, couldn't they tell I loved the time I spent with them and was bursting with pride when they did well?   Well, NO! Was their answer.  I guess you can take the Colonel out of the Army but you can't take the Army out of the Colonel.

I am going to work on my smile. 

MUD

Yea, My Bike Buddy Rides Again

A few weeks back, my wife Barb slipped on the stairs and severely sprained her ankle.  That made riding her bike not a nice thing.  For three weeks or so, I would have to load up my bike and ride solo.  Today for the first time in a long time she rode three or four miles.  I am glad to have her back.  She isn't fast yet but she packs a camera and will stop and take pictures of the wild things in a heartbeat.  

I was informed that one of my first "girl friends" in life passed away last week.  As I looked her Obituary up on the Wichita Eagle web site, I saw that another of my 1965 class mates from Wichita east High School had passed away.   I guess when you get to the bottom end of the bell curve for normal life expectancy this is the beginning of the many times we will see our friends passing.  Both of those ladies were fine people so I guess there is nothing in life that will keep you off the list if it is your time. 

If I have my way, I want to die in one quick strike of an accident or incident.  I just hope that it goes quick and without not a lot of pain.  Years ago one of my friends told us that his 97 year old grandmother was killed when she stepped off the curb in front of a cement truck.  He laughed that the leading cause of death in his family was trucks.  Within a few short months he lost both of his parents and so did his wife.   Not long after that I lost my dad and then my step dad and finally about a couple of years ago my mom.  How does that old song go? "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child"   Not really, I know they will all be remembered for the fun things they brought to our lives.   

I have a lot of things to do so I'd better get on the stick and do some of them.

MUD

What Do I Want?

Lets be fair, there is room in our political scene for all sides to have a voice.  I don't want either side to clearly dominate everything and have things passed that are on the extreme side of the ledger.  My vision is that both sides will find ways to govern our country that is both fair and makes sense. 

Clearly, something needs to be done with the Government spending.  We cannot continue to borrow 40% of everything we spend without having a failure that makes Greece look like a pity party not a collapse.  In my humble opinion, we either have to cut spending or increase revenue.  If the GOP fail to cut some of the Military spending, that won't work.  If the Dems don't step back some of their spending ways, that won't work.  The congress must start with a budget and live within that budget.  For years, there have been laws on the books that haven't been funded.  These unfunded mandates either need to be eliminated or at least have someone stand up and make sure that the public knows what we will not fund.  I think Congress is so busy moving on with new programs that they fail to tell us what is really happening.

To be fair, the other day there was an online test to see who we most agreed with.  I agreed with Barack about 51% of the time.  I do not want to throw out the baby with the bathwater.  I agreed with Mitt about 90% of the time but I do not want my Government playing with women's rights to an abortion.  That is a matter between a woman, her doctor and her conscience.  

I guess I want a country that the Government tries its best to give us an equal chance, not equal outcomes.  It is up to me how hard I work to get an education and then how hard I work to make a good life for myself.  If I choose to have a lot of things early in my life, that is my choice.  What I don't want is for the Government to be so intrusive and help everyone else to the detriment of my chance to do well.  

I am opposed to a Government that intrudes into everything in our lives.  I would have trouble living in Morocco where you aren't allowed to say a disparaging word about the king.  Not that I think he has an easy job keeping everything moving forward.  I guess he tries hard for his country and that's all they can expect.

I personally am not that unhappy with the way things are right now.  I think if the congress would work hard to make things better not worse, we could wiggle our way out of the current problems.  The one thing I can see is that if we do what we did, we will get what we got.

MUD

Short Story told with Love

This is just a reminder that what appears here as fact is the memories of an old man that has told so many stories so many times that fact and fiction may have been intertwined.  With the passing of time, Obscure little moments get blurred and I can only tell you what I tell you and remind you that my reality is only my reality....

Many years ago in Wichita, I attended Minneha Baptist Church mostly because my mother made me.  I eventually stopped going  because I worked  on Sunday and was busy earning enough money to support my car and a girlfriend.  When I was about 15 or so, there was a blond haired girl in our church that caught my eye.   Sheila was a cute girl with a pretty smile and nice attitude about things that I found fairly compatible.  As I recall, I only had one date with her as she had taken a shine to that Dewayne Molen and not me.  The reason I am telling this story is that yesterday I got news that Sheila passed on and this is as near to a tribute as I could get.   By the way, Sheila married Dewayne and live her life near Wichita.

Moving on, or back to the story.  Sheila's mother, Bonnie, was darn near the Fried Chicken Champion cook in the whole world.  One time the girls took a box of food to a church social and who ever bought the box in the auction got to eat dinner with the girl.   I cheated and watched Sheila go in to the kitchen and and when she put down her box, I saw what color it was and I bought it in the auction.  In that box was several pieces of Bonnie's wonderful chicken and I think just eating that chicken was about the best deal a young man could ever get.  From that day on, I made it my goal to get invited over to Sheila's house for a Sunday lunch of that chicken.

The details of how I managed to get invited over elude me now, but one Sunday I did manage to get an invite.  All I can tell you was the entire meal exceeded my expectations and had I died right after that lunch, I would have died happy.  Her biscuits and chicken gravy were about the best I had eaten anywhere.

After lunch, we all went into the living room and sat down for a nice talk.  Bonnie got this serious look on her face and told us,  "You two are too young to be getting serious."  In my estimation, that was true but I hadn't even really held Sheila's hand, let alone kissed her.  Sheila looked her mom in the eye and said, "Mom you do realize that I am almost a year older than you were when you had me."  Marriage and kids, all I was there for was the chicken dinner.  I excused myself as quickly as I could and never worked hard to get invited over for another chicken dinner. 

My life got full after that time and I kind of lost track of Sheila except for updates I got from my mother.  It was only in the past couple of years that I became friends with her on Facebook and that's how I found out about her death this week. 

MUD

Sunday Morning

My Sunday morning starts with a trip out to get the paper.  I make a pot of coffee and sit down to a chance to read the paper in the quiet of the day.  I enjoy that ritual about as much as anything else.  Well, perhaps not as much as a chance to ride the bike over at the lake.  In fact, as soon as I finish here I will load up the bike and head over for 8 -10 miles of smiles on the bike path.  We had a rider killed on the road between here and there so I take the bike over in the truck and ride away from the traffic.

This last week we made a rush trip to Oklahoma to do some research for the family.  Went to Seminole, OK and found many neat things.   In My wife's family (Grisso) there was a member that built a mansion on the north side of town.  The Seminole Nation just bought it and are in the process of doing a lot of work on the grounds.  The mansion looks like it is about 3,000 square feet with a big workshop garage and a carriage house behind.  There is a basketball court, a tennis court, a swimming pool and a vineyard there.   We will probably watch the website and as soon as they have it available for rentals like a Bed and breakfast go down and tour the inside and stay a night.  

I won't get into the rest of the deal of why we were down there as it is a family matter and I am only an outlaw not a member.

Oh well, circles to make and miles to go.  Write if you get work.

MUD  

Be Smart

Over the years, there have been several lessons I have learned the hard way.  Here is a couple of things I have learned and will share with you.

Return on Investment -  You are paid for buying or investing your money so someone else can use it.  The higher you get paid, the more risk you have on getting it back.  Nothing is free and all investments involve risk.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  For me, I am a conservative when it comes to my money.  Simply put, the return of my money is more important than the return on my money.  I don't leave it up to someone else to do what I should.

A good will goes miles towards helping your family do what you want done with your stuff when you no longer need it.  It is simply a guide to what you want.  It doesn't need to be hard or complicated.  For me, I simply want my wife to have everything I have if I die before she does.  If we are both dead, I want out son to have everything.  Simple guidance can save a lot of heartaches.  Then, make sure that everyone mentioned gets a copy.

You don't get unable to play when you get old, you get old when you stop playing.  Walk, golf, ride a bike, swim or get up off your butt and do something.  There will be long enough later on that you won't be able to do things.  

It is never too late to learn.  Getting an education can include a life long passion for reading.  Then, only believe about half of what you read.  History is only what people remember and write down.  There is a lot of revision done after the fact and reading about the events can help you understand.

When bad people do bad things, a lot of time and energy is spent asking the question, "Why did they do it?" Most of the time there is no legitimate answer to that question.  Don't spend hours and hours wondering why things did happen the way they did.   It is time spent poorly.  I believe in seeking justice and don't worry about someone else seeking mercy.  Move on.

They say that money can't buy happiness.  It can buy a hell of a lot of contentment when your roof doesn't leak and your belly is full.  As my mother said, you don't find happiness by getting what you want, you get it by wanting what you have.  

MUD