March madness starts this week and 66 teams will get the chance to strut their stuff on a basketball court and see who can win out. The talk has been that many feel that WSU didn't play a tough enough schedule and now the Tournament Committee has stacked the deck on them. Guess what? Every bracket has teams that will come to play you and beat your butt if they can. Ask Larry Brown's team (SMU) who can't Dance because they didn't get an invite. Would they want to play anywhere on the bracket's. You bet they would.
All three of the Kansas teams will play in Saint Louis on Friday. Should be a fun week passing the time until that happens. If WSU and K-State both win all their games, they could play each other in the Sweet 16. KU could play the winner of that game in the finals but I won't hold my breath.
A long time ago, I read that the race doesn't always go to the swiftest, the fight doesn't always go to the strongest - But that a pretty good way to bet. In short, if you look at history, not every final four is populated by teams that were selected as the number one seeds in each bracket. So what ever you do, don't bet it all on any one team. There are people that have the winner of the tournament tattooed on their body and the first game hasn't been played. Now that's stupid - It's Just basketball Maynard.
I think I am going to see if the shop can fit the Ford in sometime this week to replace the spark plugs. I would call it a tune up but most of the things done in the old days is now done electronically. The coil, points and condenser are just not there any more.
The other day, I saw an automotive program that "Tuned" up the acceleration of a car electronically. I wonder if they can tune down the acceleration and increase the mileage the same way? I stopped reading the Super Chevy Magazine when I was strongly attacked by the hot rodders when I wrote a letter to the editor about my desire to see a hot rod get 25 MPH rather than have 600 horsepower. I for one have to buy my fuel at the gas station and don't give a rat's hind end how fast I can do a 1/4 mile. at almost $4 a gallon getting 25 MPG beats the hell out of 10 MPG and a low ET.
In case you haven't noticed, I am a fiscal conservative. The top priority on my list of things that must be fixed is the budget needs to be balanced. Balanced hell, we also have to pay off the National Debt. Yes, there will be little things like COLA's that get cut, defense purchases cut back and the overall size of Government needs to be trimmed. How about a goal of cutting the purchase of foreign mgf. goods by 5% in a couple of years. Our Manufacturing jobs would employ 100,000 workers each time that happens. How about cutting the Billion dollars of foreign Aid we want to give the Ukraine now that they have elected to go back and join Russia. Let them pay if they want to play.
The other day, I saw that there is a proposed budget out there that doesn't cut the spending from the last one. In my perfect world, I would start cutting it by 1% per year until Income is greater to or equal to outgo. Afghanistan can go protect itself next year and no more aid to them from us.
MUD
3/17/2014
3/16/2014
Makin' Stuff Up
This morning on day 9 of the missing airplane, CNN is as busy as ever making stuff up. Even Rush Limbaugh (with a Doctorate of Making Stuff Up) commented the other day that the scenarios are just getting wilder and wilder. He then went on to make up his own version that made as much sense as all the rest. By that, once conjecture sets in, I tune out.
Once upon a time, The Kansas Guard wrote a Future Plan that was to help us look at the trends in Kansas and help us shape our Force Structure or what units we need. Clearly, because the funding comes from the Feds, their kind of units really dictates what kind of units we are given. With the cuts in federal Force Structure, there will be another round of changes and I am sure that again the size and kinds of units will change.
With that said, here is my vote for the best kind of National Guard Units a State would have. Because one of the requirements of the Governor is to preserve Law and Order, at least one company of Military Police is needed. Engineers are always a good thing to help clear the streets of debris after a Natural Disaster. A transportation Company helps move equipment and people where they are needed. The State should always have a fleet of busses to move Guardsmen from one area to another also. The final question is a big one on the National Stage. My vote is that we have more combat units in the Guard to back up the Active Army. Cut the Active force to less than 400,000 and we need the ability to expand our presence. It should be noted that the Russians have about 600,000 men and God only knows what China has. If you add the 160,000 Ukraine forces to the Russians, they will have us 1.5:1 headed to 2:1. I also wonder what will happen when the additional 100,000 service members hit the streets. Right now that part of the population ahs the highest unemployment levels.
Oh well, I'm not in charge even in my own deluded state of mind.
I finally got the 57 Chevy out of the garage and into the storage shed. I need to get busy and do some polish on the chrome and get a dust cover to help protect the paint. I will probably look for some of those dolly jacks that allow me to move it around inside the building with out the motor running. Barb wants me to get it running and at least once or twice a month start it and drive it around. I really should find it a good home where the new owner will have the time and money to fix it up and keep it that way.
Oh well, today we'll get the word on where and when KU will play. At one time we were set to be a number one seed but now if we don't slip to number three we'll be lucky. We didn't finish the season strong for many reasons.
MUD
Once upon a time, The Kansas Guard wrote a Future Plan that was to help us look at the trends in Kansas and help us shape our Force Structure or what units we need. Clearly, because the funding comes from the Feds, their kind of units really dictates what kind of units we are given. With the cuts in federal Force Structure, there will be another round of changes and I am sure that again the size and kinds of units will change.
With that said, here is my vote for the best kind of National Guard Units a State would have. Because one of the requirements of the Governor is to preserve Law and Order, at least one company of Military Police is needed. Engineers are always a good thing to help clear the streets of debris after a Natural Disaster. A transportation Company helps move equipment and people where they are needed. The State should always have a fleet of busses to move Guardsmen from one area to another also. The final question is a big one on the National Stage. My vote is that we have more combat units in the Guard to back up the Active Army. Cut the Active force to less than 400,000 and we need the ability to expand our presence. It should be noted that the Russians have about 600,000 men and God only knows what China has. If you add the 160,000 Ukraine forces to the Russians, they will have us 1.5:1 headed to 2:1. I also wonder what will happen when the additional 100,000 service members hit the streets. Right now that part of the population ahs the highest unemployment levels.
Oh well, I'm not in charge even in my own deluded state of mind.
I finally got the 57 Chevy out of the garage and into the storage shed. I need to get busy and do some polish on the chrome and get a dust cover to help protect the paint. I will probably look for some of those dolly jacks that allow me to move it around inside the building with out the motor running. Barb wants me to get it running and at least once or twice a month start it and drive it around. I really should find it a good home where the new owner will have the time and money to fix it up and keep it that way.
Oh well, today we'll get the word on where and when KU will play. At one time we were set to be a number one seed but now if we don't slip to number three we'll be lucky. We didn't finish the season strong for many reasons.
MUD
3/14/2014
Help Me, Ive been Momed
This morning Barb did a Mom on me. She didn't ask me to eat breakfast, or even what I wanted. She played Mom and asked me if I wanted shredded wheat or Great Grains. I know that she used that technique with Dave a lot. Don't give kids an open ended question if you really want to control the choices. Manipulation of my rights at least. Well, it really wasn't a big deal but she also didn't start one of those philosophical discussions that could lead me to another blog subject. Have to make this stuff up on my own.
Yesterday, I read on line that one of Barb's Nephews and his wife are expecting their fifth child. They are an amazing couple and have four of the nicest kids I have ever met. She home schools the kids and you can bet they are like their parents and a package of smart cookies. I'll bet the boys get a good lesson on tools and will be handy like most of the males in Barb's family.
I read in the paper that the City of Topeka will celebrate St Patrick's Day this Saturday rather than on Monday. Yep, it does seem a little strange that we celebrate the Saint that brought Christianity to Ireland by drinking lots and lots of green beer. Can you tell that I am not Irish and no longer drink? Sounded a little like sour grapes to me too.
It was fun to watch KU play basketball yesterday. To watch them beat OK-State was even more of a pleasure. I enjoyed the K-State Iowa State game even if it was a loss for K-State. People that don't enjoy a good game probably don't understand why I liked that game. On the other hand, the Texas, West Virginia game put me to sleep. It was probably the end of the season for West Virginia. Oklahoma will go home but probably will be in the Big Dance. The only question is where KU will be in the rankings. I predict a number two seed even if they win the rest of the way in the tournament.
It must be getting on towards spring. The solarium is so full of plants that it is a wonder that the DEA hasn't highlighted our house as an illegal plant grow location. The lights are on 24 hours a day and I'll bet our water bill has doubled. I slept in a little late this morning and Barb actually went out to get the paper. I think it has to be at least 50 for that to happen.
I am still about halfway from completing the transition of junk to the new storage shed. I finally got the trailer pulled up by the garage door and am making great strides in actually throwing stuff away to go to the dump. There is a lot of stuff I just didn't want to throw away and an equal amount of stuff that I was just to lazy to haul off. At least I can make it worthwhile to haul off an entire load.
Oh well, I am nearing 200,000 hits on this blog and am still thinking about a hiatus for the rest of the year. We'll see.
MUD
Yesterday, I read on line that one of Barb's Nephews and his wife are expecting their fifth child. They are an amazing couple and have four of the nicest kids I have ever met. She home schools the kids and you can bet they are like their parents and a package of smart cookies. I'll bet the boys get a good lesson on tools and will be handy like most of the males in Barb's family.
I read in the paper that the City of Topeka will celebrate St Patrick's Day this Saturday rather than on Monday. Yep, it does seem a little strange that we celebrate the Saint that brought Christianity to Ireland by drinking lots and lots of green beer. Can you tell that I am not Irish and no longer drink? Sounded a little like sour grapes to me too.
It was fun to watch KU play basketball yesterday. To watch them beat OK-State was even more of a pleasure. I enjoyed the K-State Iowa State game even if it was a loss for K-State. People that don't enjoy a good game probably don't understand why I liked that game. On the other hand, the Texas, West Virginia game put me to sleep. It was probably the end of the season for West Virginia. Oklahoma will go home but probably will be in the Big Dance. The only question is where KU will be in the rankings. I predict a number two seed even if they win the rest of the way in the tournament.
It must be getting on towards spring. The solarium is so full of plants that it is a wonder that the DEA hasn't highlighted our house as an illegal plant grow location. The lights are on 24 hours a day and I'll bet our water bill has doubled. I slept in a little late this morning and Barb actually went out to get the paper. I think it has to be at least 50 for that to happen.
I am still about halfway from completing the transition of junk to the new storage shed. I finally got the trailer pulled up by the garage door and am making great strides in actually throwing stuff away to go to the dump. There is a lot of stuff I just didn't want to throw away and an equal amount of stuff that I was just to lazy to haul off. At least I can make it worthwhile to haul off an entire load.
Oh well, I am nearing 200,000 hits on this blog and am still thinking about a hiatus for the rest of the year. We'll see.
MUD
3/13/2014
I'm the Captain of the Ship of Stuff
Here comes another Boatload. I am starting to really enjoy the early morning discussions with the first mate and she has been managing to get my juices flowing so I can share with you my view of life. We had a discussion of free speech, with a side of stupid speech thrown in, and how it is often viewed as tied to some freedom of religion. This is aided by the fact that the Freddie Phelps, the Homo Ranger and his band of merry sign waivers are from Topeka. The only good thing I can say about them is that in front of the White Concert Hall his a Capela choir did carry a tune.
I personally think it is not what we want for Ted Cruise to criticize Dole, McClain and Romney. We want leaders that lead up to the solution not another person poking fun at what didn't win. He pointed out that those three Republicans campaigned from the middle and I think the pundits say that has been the rule for years. Most of the Presidential Candidates have campaigned from the middle and then moved back to their previous position once elected. The one Major Exception (Notice the capitalization) was Eisenhower and no one really knows where he came from or ended up. He was the Master of Joint because of his WWII leadership, and just kept us on track by building up the economy and then telling us to beware of the Military Industrial Complex. He left his fingerprints all over the Bay of Pigs and then Kennedy wound up looking like a feckless fool for not supporting it.
As noted by the First (and I point out that I pray she is the last mate - I hope) there are several inconsistencies in the Tea Party Position Paper that she doesn't understand. I hate to admit it, but in a lot of ways I agree. According to the TP pundits, the Government Intrusion in our lives is too large. Yet, they want to swing their position papers like a sword to stop abortions. Let me be clear on this, I will continue to walk the fine line in the middle on this issue. I personally think that Abortion is a horrible way to conduct birth control. But, I for one don't want the Government intruding into the sacred ground between a woman and her doctor. I also won't take my position to the point where I intrude on your right to feel any damned way you choose.
I struggle with the issue of division of Church and State also. We have Freedom of Religion not from religion. That means to me that you have the right to worship your god any way you see fit so long as it is legal. If that is true, why do we have an escape clause on Churches and taxes. I think they should escape taxation on the part of the church that includes the worship or giving to the needy. Why does the parsonage and the vehicles driven by the minister not get taxed? How on god's green earth does the Catholic Church escape taxation on the reparations they pay for the wrongdoings? That sure as hell doesn't fit my test of religion in any manner.
That leads me back to a position I have often taken in the past. One of the toughest problem in Washington is the results of what they do because of the Law of Unintended Consequences. I think it looks good to give the Ukraine a billion dollars. But, where the hell are they going to get it to give? What are we going to have to cut to get towards a balanced budget? We all know that the government is headed to the time like in the Jimmy Carter days we will have to make cuts. It is just that no one there wants to have their name associated with the end of the free spending ways they have had for years. I vote that you can blame it on me, MUD. From the school of Joe Schmoe Financial Planning comes the new spending plan that is called MUD. If it floats in the punchbowl of balanced (income vs. outgo) financial management, it should get called a turd and be eliminated. Start funding the things mandated by the Constitution and quit when you run out of money. See, simple but not popular.
I challenge all of you that are thinking about buying a foreign car - for every additional 5% of the spending we spend in the USA, we can add 1,000,000 jobs. I just wish there was a Sinclair gas station that uses only USA crude oil near me. They would have 100% of my business.
MUD
I personally think it is not what we want for Ted Cruise to criticize Dole, McClain and Romney. We want leaders that lead up to the solution not another person poking fun at what didn't win. He pointed out that those three Republicans campaigned from the middle and I think the pundits say that has been the rule for years. Most of the Presidential Candidates have campaigned from the middle and then moved back to their previous position once elected. The one Major Exception (Notice the capitalization) was Eisenhower and no one really knows where he came from or ended up. He was the Master of Joint because of his WWII leadership, and just kept us on track by building up the economy and then telling us to beware of the Military Industrial Complex. He left his fingerprints all over the Bay of Pigs and then Kennedy wound up looking like a feckless fool for not supporting it.
As noted by the First (and I point out that I pray she is the last mate - I hope) there are several inconsistencies in the Tea Party Position Paper that she doesn't understand. I hate to admit it, but in a lot of ways I agree. According to the TP pundits, the Government Intrusion in our lives is too large. Yet, they want to swing their position papers like a sword to stop abortions. Let me be clear on this, I will continue to walk the fine line in the middle on this issue. I personally think that Abortion is a horrible way to conduct birth control. But, I for one don't want the Government intruding into the sacred ground between a woman and her doctor. I also won't take my position to the point where I intrude on your right to feel any damned way you choose.
I struggle with the issue of division of Church and State also. We have Freedom of Religion not from religion. That means to me that you have the right to worship your god any way you see fit so long as it is legal. If that is true, why do we have an escape clause on Churches and taxes. I think they should escape taxation on the part of the church that includes the worship or giving to the needy. Why does the parsonage and the vehicles driven by the minister not get taxed? How on god's green earth does the Catholic Church escape taxation on the reparations they pay for the wrongdoings? That sure as hell doesn't fit my test of religion in any manner.
That leads me back to a position I have often taken in the past. One of the toughest problem in Washington is the results of what they do because of the Law of Unintended Consequences. I think it looks good to give the Ukraine a billion dollars. But, where the hell are they going to get it to give? What are we going to have to cut to get towards a balanced budget? We all know that the government is headed to the time like in the Jimmy Carter days we will have to make cuts. It is just that no one there wants to have their name associated with the end of the free spending ways they have had for years. I vote that you can blame it on me, MUD. From the school of Joe Schmoe Financial Planning comes the new spending plan that is called MUD. If it floats in the punchbowl of balanced (income vs. outgo) financial management, it should get called a turd and be eliminated. Start funding the things mandated by the Constitution and quit when you run out of money. See, simple but not popular.
I challenge all of you that are thinking about buying a foreign car - for every additional 5% of the spending we spend in the USA, we can add 1,000,000 jobs. I just wish there was a Sinclair gas station that uses only USA crude oil near me. They would have 100% of my business.
MUD
3/12/2014
Information or Noise?
Our breakfast discussion this morning was how is it that so many people don't seem to be making the right decisions. Starting with the Kansas Legislature working on Laws that will surely get overturned, to the Congress of the United States being so divided that you might think they represent armed camps ready to start another Civil (or un-Civil) War. (I secretly wonder if this is an information campaign my wife has started to influence my blog?)
My wish for everyone is to take a step back and take a deep breath. Have we all got so shallow that we forgot what our Rights are? My freedom of Religion does not mean that I must support or pay for your religion. If you are in business, you need to provide your goods or services to anyone without even knowing their religion, color, race, ethnic or legal sexual preference. Yes, as much as I hate to say it, stupid speech is included in our Freedom of Speech. Barbara once had one of her teachers tell a classroom of future teachers that our children should have a built in "Crap Detector." For me that has always been the Attention Deficit Disorder that tunes me out after the headlines on the news. I must also throw in a plug for spell checker here.
Simply put, I am amazed that the rules and Law and Order people can survive with the information overload. Several times, I walk into the room when Barb is watching CNN and ask her what is going on. She will tell me that something important happened but now they are just "Making up Stuff." When the talking heads use the same phrase for the third time, I usually tune them out. Today there was an explosion and a fire in NY City and the person on the ground talked about the dense smoke. The fire fighters were pouring water on a very hot fire and you could see steam making it difficult to see details. The important part of the story was the fact that no one knows how many people were in the building when it exploded but for the fourth or fifth time we were told about the dense smoke. Tell us what's happening and go away until you can give us details. Most of us in Kansas think there are buildings in NY City that could blow up and not change the way we live. Other than the horror of 9-11, it really hasn't changed my daily life much if any.
There was an election in Florida where outside interests poured in about $50.00 for each voter in an election. I think it was reported as 9 Million dollars to influence the future outcome of the National elections this fall. I wonder just how many of the pundits think that Joe Schmoe here in the Heartland will be influenced by an election in Florida? It is my personal opinion that we as people need to put on our "Crap Detectors" and start being responsible for our own ideas and information. I guess I was one of those people that was offended when people quoted Readers Digest so it should not be a surprise when I tune out CNN and the rest of the crowd that tell me more than I care to know about anything. I am an old school Journalist that wants people tell me in the first paragraph the who, what, where and when and then move on. Everything below the first paragraph is just ads and I don't read them very often.
The weather here is just a little below average for March and yet after a day or two of 70 is seems colder. The News paper today had a column by the editor Mike Hall that asked the question, "Why in the winter time do we heat up our houses to temperatures that in August we just swelter in and complain about the heat?"
I guess like the water buffalo that walks around the outside of the herd looking for some lion butt to kick, I will pay attention to the lions and ignore the gazelles jumping through the grass watching
for snakes.
MUD
My wish for everyone is to take a step back and take a deep breath. Have we all got so shallow that we forgot what our Rights are? My freedom of Religion does not mean that I must support or pay for your religion. If you are in business, you need to provide your goods or services to anyone without even knowing their religion, color, race, ethnic or legal sexual preference. Yes, as much as I hate to say it, stupid speech is included in our Freedom of Speech. Barbara once had one of her teachers tell a classroom of future teachers that our children should have a built in "Crap Detector." For me that has always been the Attention Deficit Disorder that tunes me out after the headlines on the news. I must also throw in a plug for spell checker here.
Simply put, I am amazed that the rules and Law and Order people can survive with the information overload. Several times, I walk into the room when Barb is watching CNN and ask her what is going on. She will tell me that something important happened but now they are just "Making up Stuff." When the talking heads use the same phrase for the third time, I usually tune them out. Today there was an explosion and a fire in NY City and the person on the ground talked about the dense smoke. The fire fighters were pouring water on a very hot fire and you could see steam making it difficult to see details. The important part of the story was the fact that no one knows how many people were in the building when it exploded but for the fourth or fifth time we were told about the dense smoke. Tell us what's happening and go away until you can give us details. Most of us in Kansas think there are buildings in NY City that could blow up and not change the way we live. Other than the horror of 9-11, it really hasn't changed my daily life much if any.
There was an election in Florida where outside interests poured in about $50.00 for each voter in an election. I think it was reported as 9 Million dollars to influence the future outcome of the National elections this fall. I wonder just how many of the pundits think that Joe Schmoe here in the Heartland will be influenced by an election in Florida? It is my personal opinion that we as people need to put on our "Crap Detectors" and start being responsible for our own ideas and information. I guess I was one of those people that was offended when people quoted Readers Digest so it should not be a surprise when I tune out CNN and the rest of the crowd that tell me more than I care to know about anything. I am an old school Journalist that wants people tell me in the first paragraph the who, what, where and when and then move on. Everything below the first paragraph is just ads and I don't read them very often.
The weather here is just a little below average for March and yet after a day or two of 70 is seems colder. The News paper today had a column by the editor Mike Hall that asked the question, "Why in the winter time do we heat up our houses to temperatures that in August we just swelter in and complain about the heat?"
I guess like the water buffalo that walks around the outside of the herd looking for some lion butt to kick, I will pay attention to the lions and ignore the gazelles jumping through the grass watching
for snakes.
MUD
3/11/2014
They do what on the Internet?
The other day, one of my wife's aunts commented on several things going on in Barb's life. She asked me how would her aunt know all those things? Yep, sometime when you have a couple of hours, Google yourself and see just how much of your life is out there on the net for everyone to see.
Just because you don't take the time to follow that advice, it doesn't mean that your life is not out there. I for one don't worry about what it says because I am so dull and boring that I ask people to repeat any bad things they find about me. I think the word in Hollywood is that even bad publicity is publicity.
The other day, I listened to a discussion about what's wrong with the USA. In my humble opinion, a lot of it starts in the homes across this great land. I can remember the conversation with my Dad about what He wanted for me. He said that I could make a living by digging ditches but he thought it was not the way I would want to live. He gave me a dream not directions. It wasn't until I met my life partner that I saw this determination to have a life plan come to full action. One night I casually asker her what she wanted out of life. I was given the complete plan and dang if it isn't pretty much what has happened. My (then Girlfriend) wife said that she was going to finish her degree, become a teacher, get married, have children and own a house. I am not sure when she invited me into this scenario, but I could see that it was where I wanted to hitch my wagon.
I think that it is important to share with our children the view that life is a wonderful place to express our wishes and dreams. In this world, I would do my best to help fill their lives with the wide array of possibilities and dreams. I would never tell them that because you are poor, black, Hispanic that there are serious limitations. Life is full of possibilities and living is what makes it all possible to overcome. I don't know about you, but I grew up poor as did my wife. We never let that start hinder us in any way. I think we were filled with love and an understanding that our limits had little to do with where we started. After all, isn't it the way we end that is important? Well, Perhaps the journey is to be lived and it will be as good as we make it.
I hope you think that the people we share our journey with is as important to you as it is to me. I know that the new found career path our son is on, make us proud. If I think I miss the pitter patter of little feet, I am reminded that our almost grand daughters are in Morocco. There is a set of Grand nieces in Kansas City that love to share time with us. In fact next Tuesday Lucas and Isaak will come over for dinner and it will be a hoot. Those guys can make about any even into a party.
Where I hope you realize from this is that the job of our parents is to help us think about the possibilities. It takes a lot of work to make that happen and kids are worth it. There is a basic need for food, shelter, health care but nothing can beat a set of parents that love and care for their children. No Government can do that for us.
MUD
Just because you don't take the time to follow that advice, it doesn't mean that your life is not out there. I for one don't worry about what it says because I am so dull and boring that I ask people to repeat any bad things they find about me. I think the word in Hollywood is that even bad publicity is publicity.
The other day, I listened to a discussion about what's wrong with the USA. In my humble opinion, a lot of it starts in the homes across this great land. I can remember the conversation with my Dad about what He wanted for me. He said that I could make a living by digging ditches but he thought it was not the way I would want to live. He gave me a dream not directions. It wasn't until I met my life partner that I saw this determination to have a life plan come to full action. One night I casually asker her what she wanted out of life. I was given the complete plan and dang if it isn't pretty much what has happened. My (then Girlfriend) wife said that she was going to finish her degree, become a teacher, get married, have children and own a house. I am not sure when she invited me into this scenario, but I could see that it was where I wanted to hitch my wagon.
I think that it is important to share with our children the view that life is a wonderful place to express our wishes and dreams. In this world, I would do my best to help fill their lives with the wide array of possibilities and dreams. I would never tell them that because you are poor, black, Hispanic that there are serious limitations. Life is full of possibilities and living is what makes it all possible to overcome. I don't know about you, but I grew up poor as did my wife. We never let that start hinder us in any way. I think we were filled with love and an understanding that our limits had little to do with where we started. After all, isn't it the way we end that is important? Well, Perhaps the journey is to be lived and it will be as good as we make it.
I hope you think that the people we share our journey with is as important to you as it is to me. I know that the new found career path our son is on, make us proud. If I think I miss the pitter patter of little feet, I am reminded that our almost grand daughters are in Morocco. There is a set of Grand nieces in Kansas City that love to share time with us. In fact next Tuesday Lucas and Isaak will come over for dinner and it will be a hoot. Those guys can make about any even into a party.
 |
| Can you tell she knows what life has in store for her ? |
Where I hope you realize from this is that the job of our parents is to help us think about the possibilities. It takes a lot of work to make that happen and kids are worth it. There is a basic need for food, shelter, health care but nothing can beat a set of parents that love and care for their children. No Government can do that for us.
MUD
3/10/2014
Theme or Not to Theme?
Our Barbershop Chorus is working on the show for 2015. The discussion is to do a theme or not? One year I sang with a group that did show tunes as that year's theme. Our, "If I were a Rich Man" with dark suits and brief cases was a hit. One idea for a theme is "Dream a Little Dream" with music from each decade worked in. I for one would like to see our group stretch a little and not just perform in our tux's on the risers. I love applause but miss laughter from time to time. A few goofy things can change it from a forgettable performance .
Last night I was watching TV and they covered the Indiana State Fair where Sugarland's stage was blown down and people were severely injured. Their last DVD has a bunch of shots of the set and it was one cool stage. I guess mother nature just didn't get into their planning. I imagine that there are enough law suits over that mishap to keep Sugarland from ever getting back together. That is a shame as they were really creative and I loved their music. Yes, I thought Jennifer Nettles was easy on the eyes also.
Why the fuss over the Ukraine? Right now it looks like the Russians are there and helping the country not slip into a Civil War. The same old song about it is all about the Oil is being sung by many people. We weren't in Quait or Iraq for the oil so why does everyone think that of Russia. Is John Kerry so out of touch that he thinks that every dispute can be settled by diplomacy? Technology might help, but having boots on the ground is often the only way you can separate armed opposing forces. Why is it not Russia's turn to intercede?
As I find the days getting warmer and warmer. my attention is turning to things outside. There are piles to clean up and landscaping for the new building to finish. If the amount of plants under the grow lights is any indication, we will be up to our arses in tomatoes this year. Barb went to the Farmer's Market last year and bought a lot of different kinds of tomatoes and it should be fun to see what will grow on all those tiny plants.
Barb is off to an eye exam this morning and it will be interesting to see what the Optometrist recommends for her cataracts'. Even more fun will be to see what she does with his recommendation.
I guess I had better get cracking.
MUD
Last night I was watching TV and they covered the Indiana State Fair where Sugarland's stage was blown down and people were severely injured. Their last DVD has a bunch of shots of the set and it was one cool stage. I guess mother nature just didn't get into their planning. I imagine that there are enough law suits over that mishap to keep Sugarland from ever getting back together. That is a shame as they were really creative and I loved their music. Yes, I thought Jennifer Nettles was easy on the eyes also.
Why the fuss over the Ukraine? Right now it looks like the Russians are there and helping the country not slip into a Civil War. The same old song about it is all about the Oil is being sung by many people. We weren't in Quait or Iraq for the oil so why does everyone think that of Russia. Is John Kerry so out of touch that he thinks that every dispute can be settled by diplomacy? Technology might help, but having boots on the ground is often the only way you can separate armed opposing forces. Why is it not Russia's turn to intercede?
As I find the days getting warmer and warmer. my attention is turning to things outside. There are piles to clean up and landscaping for the new building to finish. If the amount of plants under the grow lights is any indication, we will be up to our arses in tomatoes this year. Barb went to the Farmer's Market last year and bought a lot of different kinds of tomatoes and it should be fun to see what will grow on all those tiny plants.
Barb is off to an eye exam this morning and it will be interesting to see what the Optometrist recommends for her cataracts'. Even more fun will be to see what she does with his recommendation.
I guess I had better get cracking.
MUD
3/09/2014
Too Much of a Good Thing
Basketball started early yesterday and ended late. It was sad to watch KU go through that game like it didn't mean anything. Had Wiggins not played his best game of the season, they would have lost by a bigger margin. Kudos to VW on their hustle and work ethic.
It is such a treat to watch WSU play basketball. They don't ever let any possession get away without a solid performance. The rebound, fall on the floor for loose balls and play defense every play. I am looking forward to watching them play today. But I won't watch any other games today.
This morning, I went out to fetch the paper and in the distance, I heard the turkey's gobble. The sun was just going up and it has a spring feel in the air. I could also hear the birds chirping from almost all of the trees. The temperature feels like it was just about 32 degrees and headed for 50 today. I can't wait for it to warm up a little so I can get the garage better organized.
I think I will pull my trailer down by the garage door and start filling it with the items that need to go to the dump. I might even call the County and see what they charge for me to bring up a bunch of old paint and chemicals to dispose of. I know that the first Saturday of the Month they have a free day but I am not sure I can wait that long. I have at least half of a pickup load of old stuff. A lot of it is paint.
As much as I don't like the President, I sure hope he can get this Ukraine deal right. We need another war like we need a hole in our head. We have leaked enough money on other people's problems and it is about time we saved for ourselves.
A friend of mine, Frank Wright, works for Capital federal here in Topeka. The article in the paper talked about how the cash on hand in the local banks is down a couple million in two years. Frank said that a lot of that has to do with the Stock Market doing well. In case you haven't noticed, the Baby Boomers as they get nearer to retirement age are shoveling money into the Market as fast as they can. The banks are paying almost nothing on our money and unless you want the return of your money not return on your money they are a lousy place to invest.
Did you know that if you are Federal or State Civil Service your Social Security payments are often reduced? Even though I qualified with enough quarters prior to joining Civil Service and pay the going rate on my income after I retired, I find my payment reduced to about 1/3rd of what Barb is getting. I am not in dire need of the money, but I sure as heck could have found a better investment than Social Security if I had been given the choice. I guess people like me are just making up for what my parents drew. I know they were rewarded by the system and it had to come from somewhere. Just quit telling me it is an entitlement like a gift and not return on the investment we pay in.
Oh well, I guess I have ranted enough today.
MUD
It is such a treat to watch WSU play basketball. They don't ever let any possession get away without a solid performance. The rebound, fall on the floor for loose balls and play defense every play. I am looking forward to watching them play today. But I won't watch any other games today.
This morning, I went out to fetch the paper and in the distance, I heard the turkey's gobble. The sun was just going up and it has a spring feel in the air. I could also hear the birds chirping from almost all of the trees. The temperature feels like it was just about 32 degrees and headed for 50 today. I can't wait for it to warm up a little so I can get the garage better organized.
I think I will pull my trailer down by the garage door and start filling it with the items that need to go to the dump. I might even call the County and see what they charge for me to bring up a bunch of old paint and chemicals to dispose of. I know that the first Saturday of the Month they have a free day but I am not sure I can wait that long. I have at least half of a pickup load of old stuff. A lot of it is paint.
As much as I don't like the President, I sure hope he can get this Ukraine deal right. We need another war like we need a hole in our head. We have leaked enough money on other people's problems and it is about time we saved for ourselves.
A friend of mine, Frank Wright, works for Capital federal here in Topeka. The article in the paper talked about how the cash on hand in the local banks is down a couple million in two years. Frank said that a lot of that has to do with the Stock Market doing well. In case you haven't noticed, the Baby Boomers as they get nearer to retirement age are shoveling money into the Market as fast as they can. The banks are paying almost nothing on our money and unless you want the return of your money not return on your money they are a lousy place to invest.
Did you know that if you are Federal or State Civil Service your Social Security payments are often reduced? Even though I qualified with enough quarters prior to joining Civil Service and pay the going rate on my income after I retired, I find my payment reduced to about 1/3rd of what Barb is getting. I am not in dire need of the money, but I sure as heck could have found a better investment than Social Security if I had been given the choice. I guess people like me are just making up for what my parents drew. I know they were rewarded by the system and it had to come from somewhere. Just quit telling me it is an entitlement like a gift and not return on the investment we pay in.
Oh well, I guess I have ranted enough today.
MUD
3/08/2014
Gettin' Ready for the Big Dance
The paper had an interesting article today about the Jay Hawks and their scheduling to prepare them for a run in the NCAA Tournament. I found it kind of interesting that a team can schedule themselves in a way that they can lose 7 or 8 games and still be consider as high in the seeding as they are. It appears that KU has an expert that schedules teams to play in the pre-season that have a high RPI. Yes, a San Diego State will sneak in from time to time and beat them but the overall experience makes them better and more ready to play in the Post Season Conference Tournament and then the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't hurt that KU has managed to win 10 Conference Championships along the way. Having fewer home losses than conference championships over the last 10 years doesn't hurt. Having KU in the conference raises the RPI of the BIG XII and that helps support their high RPI. Kind of a loopy loop system but it works.
I have talked about the players that are "One and Done" in the past but I feel I need to point out that a lot of people are saying that Wigging, Selden and Imbid would all be asked to play in the NBA development League if they get drafted this year. Isn't that what the College NCAA teams are for? All three would be better players if they stayed at least one more year. Marcus Smart should have gone to the NBA last year. At least there he would have money to pay the fines for stupid behavior.
With all that said, what would add to the BIG XII to make it a better conference? I think WSU and Tulsa would make great additions to the competition. The lack of a football team at WSU does make them somewhat a hard sell. One of my friends always brags that his college team is undefeated in football. Without a football program the fans at WSU can say that. I am not sure which is worse. No team or one with a record of losses, and not a lot of wins - a lot of losses like KU.
With the hawks playing their last game of the regular season in West Virginia, they are playing at 11 AM today. The good news is the coverage of the Missouri Valley Tournament doesn't start until 12:30. Unless WSU plays in the first game, I will get to watch some of the KSU game against Baylor. That game can help or sink Baylor in the tournament seeding. I think KSU will go NIT if anything. I did read that South Carolina's coach, Frank Martin was suspended for a tirade that went Viral on U-Tube. He was such an ass hat at K-State that it should not surprise anyone that he has a team with a losing record and not getting much better.
Yesterday I got a lot of the shelves installed in the metal building and now I need to tackle the job of organizing the mess in the garage. I am tempted to bring the trailer over by the door and make a major throwaway program unfold. There is a free hazardous disposal program run by the County but it takes stuff only on the first Saturday of the month. I have a lot of old containers of things that need disposed of and just throwing them away won't work. I noticed that one can of battery post cleaner leaked onto one of the metal shelves and I will have to throw away the can and shelves.
Better get cracking.
MUD
I have talked about the players that are "One and Done" in the past but I feel I need to point out that a lot of people are saying that Wigging, Selden and Imbid would all be asked to play in the NBA development League if they get drafted this year. Isn't that what the College NCAA teams are for? All three would be better players if they stayed at least one more year. Marcus Smart should have gone to the NBA last year. At least there he would have money to pay the fines for stupid behavior.
With all that said, what would add to the BIG XII to make it a better conference? I think WSU and Tulsa would make great additions to the competition. The lack of a football team at WSU does make them somewhat a hard sell. One of my friends always brags that his college team is undefeated in football. Without a football program the fans at WSU can say that. I am not sure which is worse. No team or one with a record of losses, and not a lot of wins - a lot of losses like KU.
With the hawks playing their last game of the regular season in West Virginia, they are playing at 11 AM today. The good news is the coverage of the Missouri Valley Tournament doesn't start until 12:30. Unless WSU plays in the first game, I will get to watch some of the KSU game against Baylor. That game can help or sink Baylor in the tournament seeding. I think KSU will go NIT if anything. I did read that South Carolina's coach, Frank Martin was suspended for a tirade that went Viral on U-Tube. He was such an ass hat at K-State that it should not surprise anyone that he has a team with a losing record and not getting much better.
Yesterday I got a lot of the shelves installed in the metal building and now I need to tackle the job of organizing the mess in the garage. I am tempted to bring the trailer over by the door and make a major throwaway program unfold. There is a free hazardous disposal program run by the County but it takes stuff only on the first Saturday of the month. I have a lot of old containers of things that need disposed of and just throwing them away won't work. I noticed that one can of battery post cleaner leaked onto one of the metal shelves and I will have to throw away the can and shelves.
Better get cracking.
MUD
3/06/2014
Senior Night at the Phog
It was Texas Tech's misfortune to be the designated loser for the 2014 KU Men's Basketball Team's Senior Night. Texas Tech gave the Hawks a challenge at their house but they had to come to the Phog Allen Field House for our last game at home. Our imported Stud Tarik Black, beat his opponents like a cheap drum. He was truly a man amongst boys. I hope that Bill Self watched and the next time someone man handles Joel Imbid he remembers to insert Mr. Black . With less than 10 games left on the road to the National Championship, there will be enough time for everyone to get playing time.
I really have mixed emotions about the players that go to college for only a year and then move on to the NBA. I guess the money is such a big draw that they can't help themselves. I know that Marcus Smart at OSU and Wiggins will move on. The unanswered question for now is will Joel Imbid follow them also. At one time the scholarship was enough but no contest to the money a rookie can make in the NBA.
I offered to take Barb to Kansas City to look at new chairs for the living room. We have an old couch to replace and are thinking that a pair of chairs might be the best choice. They can't be a matched set as she can't put her feet down on the floor in a chair made for me and I don't fit comfortably in one her size. We'll see.
Yesterday I started to put together one of the new shelves in the garage. For some reason the box was short a couple of the upright posts. When I called the Company, their entire Customer Service section must have taken off early for lunch. To add injury to that insult, they didn't have a 1-800 number. I had to call long distance on my dime only to get an answering machine. The girl said it would take a couple of days to get me the posts. I told her that it was their problem and they needed to overnight the missing parts. Again, time will tell.
Barbara wrote a letter to the editor a couple of weeks ago. They finally published it. She basically chided the Legislature for doing stupid things that will wind up being overturned in the courts and making us look like the butt of the late night shows jokes. She reminded everyone that they have a job to do in putting together a budget and funding the running of the State. In the past few years, they spend so much time on stupid legislation that they have had to add days to their schedule to do the required work. I don't know if you have noticed, Kansas has been at the forefront to put the spanking question back on the roster. Add to this the right to discriminate is an attempt to drag us back about 50 years. The aim is to allow discrimination against gays in the guise of religion. Open that door and we will slide into the question of just what is allowed. How long will it take to have those hated signs of reserving the right to refuse service back on the walls. Perhaps Kansas will want to bring back the KKK next.
I am confused about what is going on in the Ukraine. From the coverage on TV, it appears that the Russians have inserted troops into the Crimea region to stop the violence. They don't appear to be fighting anyone, only peacekeeping kind of actions. Our former Secretary of State has indicated that Putin's actions are Hitler like. Today she is back peddling as fast as she can to dial down her comments to be reasonable. What an idiot. Speaking of Idiots, can our system deal with another 100,000 of unemployed soldiers as we try to cut the budget to a manageable level. Who thinks that a budget bigger than last year's is something we can live with? Oh I know the answer, send another Billion to the Ukraine. That's the answer. (?)
Better move on.
MUD
I really have mixed emotions about the players that go to college for only a year and then move on to the NBA. I guess the money is such a big draw that they can't help themselves. I know that Marcus Smart at OSU and Wiggins will move on. The unanswered question for now is will Joel Imbid follow them also. At one time the scholarship was enough but no contest to the money a rookie can make in the NBA.
I offered to take Barb to Kansas City to look at new chairs for the living room. We have an old couch to replace and are thinking that a pair of chairs might be the best choice. They can't be a matched set as she can't put her feet down on the floor in a chair made for me and I don't fit comfortably in one her size. We'll see.
Yesterday I started to put together one of the new shelves in the garage. For some reason the box was short a couple of the upright posts. When I called the Company, their entire Customer Service section must have taken off early for lunch. To add injury to that insult, they didn't have a 1-800 number. I had to call long distance on my dime only to get an answering machine. The girl said it would take a couple of days to get me the posts. I told her that it was their problem and they needed to overnight the missing parts. Again, time will tell.
Barbara wrote a letter to the editor a couple of weeks ago. They finally published it. She basically chided the Legislature for doing stupid things that will wind up being overturned in the courts and making us look like the butt of the late night shows jokes. She reminded everyone that they have a job to do in putting together a budget and funding the running of the State. In the past few years, they spend so much time on stupid legislation that they have had to add days to their schedule to do the required work. I don't know if you have noticed, Kansas has been at the forefront to put the spanking question back on the roster. Add to this the right to discriminate is an attempt to drag us back about 50 years. The aim is to allow discrimination against gays in the guise of religion. Open that door and we will slide into the question of just what is allowed. How long will it take to have those hated signs of reserving the right to refuse service back on the walls. Perhaps Kansas will want to bring back the KKK next.
I am confused about what is going on in the Ukraine. From the coverage on TV, it appears that the Russians have inserted troops into the Crimea region to stop the violence. They don't appear to be fighting anyone, only peacekeeping kind of actions. Our former Secretary of State has indicated that Putin's actions are Hitler like. Today she is back peddling as fast as she can to dial down her comments to be reasonable. What an idiot. Speaking of Idiots, can our system deal with another 100,000 of unemployed soldiers as we try to cut the budget to a manageable level. Who thinks that a budget bigger than last year's is something we can live with? Oh I know the answer, send another Billion to the Ukraine. That's the answer. (?)
Better move on.
MUD
3/05/2014
Mark Your Calendar
I will buy tickets for any family member that can attend. I promise you it will be a fun time. Just let me know and mark it on your calendar.
MUD
Oh, The Joys....
Yesterday I went to the new Menard's Store and bought some shelves for the new building. I discovered that I needed to have a couple of shelves to load stuff on before I could move the old shelves from the garage to the new building. I also bought some plastic storage containers so I could somewhat organize the "Stuff." I use the term stuff as that is the way it was in the garage -Stuffed!
Money won't buy you happiness but it will buy you a lot of stuff. Stuff that will take a whole lot more time and effort than it is probably worth. I think I could have my own yard auction that would take most of a day. I went to an auction in North Topeka one time and I swear the guy had at least three of every kind of shovel there is. He must have collected them from both sets of parents when the family closed out their sheds. I think we went there to buy a storage building(s) but the owner wanted way too much money for them and I built one for Barb instead. I found a kit on sale and had I known it would take me the better part of a week to build it, I would have just paid any price for the one at the auction.
In my perfect world (Dream on Dennis) I would offer all my family and friends advice on how to build their perfect world. The good news is that I have a lot of ideas. The bad news is that it was appropriate for the time I lived but just how appropriate would it be now? A lot of the fun in life is self made and I guess I could be just as happy with a little less stuff. I would encourage people to find that place where they are centered and enjoy what they are doing at whatever level of income they are at. Every day, I think I am a little less able to get out there and work hard. When I do work hard, I find the aches and pains the next day take longer to go away. The two areas that I think have not changed is in the area of Love and Money. Life is much easier without the fight over money. Barb loves to have control but she also lets me have a small pile that I control. She has us solvent and comfortable so why fight it. My father told me years ago that when I marry, make sure it is the right person and work hard to make it last. I guess 46 years is about right with no end in sight. One nice thing is that while we enjoy our time together, we both have some things that keep us busy on our own. I love to sing and Barb loves to grow things. Until they have a Singing Master Gardener's group or a Green House Gang in the Barbershop Chorus we will just have to work on those things.
Oh well, I had better end here and go se if I can find happiness in organizing my Stuff.
MUD
Money won't buy you happiness but it will buy you a lot of stuff. Stuff that will take a whole lot more time and effort than it is probably worth. I think I could have my own yard auction that would take most of a day. I went to an auction in North Topeka one time and I swear the guy had at least three of every kind of shovel there is. He must have collected them from both sets of parents when the family closed out their sheds. I think we went there to buy a storage building(s) but the owner wanted way too much money for them and I built one for Barb instead. I found a kit on sale and had I known it would take me the better part of a week to build it, I would have just paid any price for the one at the auction.
In my perfect world (Dream on Dennis) I would offer all my family and friends advice on how to build their perfect world. The good news is that I have a lot of ideas. The bad news is that it was appropriate for the time I lived but just how appropriate would it be now? A lot of the fun in life is self made and I guess I could be just as happy with a little less stuff. I would encourage people to find that place where they are centered and enjoy what they are doing at whatever level of income they are at. Every day, I think I am a little less able to get out there and work hard. When I do work hard, I find the aches and pains the next day take longer to go away. The two areas that I think have not changed is in the area of Love and Money. Life is much easier without the fight over money. Barb loves to have control but she also lets me have a small pile that I control. She has us solvent and comfortable so why fight it. My father told me years ago that when I marry, make sure it is the right person and work hard to make it last. I guess 46 years is about right with no end in sight. One nice thing is that while we enjoy our time together, we both have some things that keep us busy on our own. I love to sing and Barb loves to grow things. Until they have a Singing Master Gardener's group or a Green House Gang in the Barbershop Chorus we will just have to work on those things.
Oh well, I had better end here and go se if I can find happiness in organizing my Stuff.
MUD
3/04/2014
Great Practice
Yesterday I spent the day listening to and singing along with my Barbershop Chorus Music and almost skipped going to the Practice because of a sore voice. When I got there, it seemed the entire chorus had spent a lot of time from the last practice to now getting ready for our concert on the 3rd of May. We will sing at 2 PM and 7 PM that day. We will perform at the Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene at 7th and Fairlawn. In addition to our show, we will have one of the 2013 International Champion quartets "the Crush", a couple of award winning teen quartets and several of our own quartets. If last night's practice is any indication, we will set out to Wow you and make the chords ring. I for one am pumped. On a cold night in march, almost everyone got to the practice. By the end of the evening we were right on pitch at the end of every song and had a great sound.
I am hoping that soon I will be able to start moving items into the new storage shed. They asked me to let the concrete set at least a week and preferably 10 days. Today is the 8th day and I can hardly wait. If it does get as warm (Yes, I know that mid 30's is still pretty cold) I will start at least moving some small items out to the shed that aren't as heavy. I could also start building shelves to organize things. My goal is to by mid week next week to be able to park the Ford inside our regular garage. I think if I take my CD Player out there things will go faster.
At last night's practice the director asked us what we thought about the practice last week at the rotunda of the Library. I told him that it was difficult to hear the other parts of the chorus and while it was great to see so many people get to hear us, it was kind of frustrating. The other guys said that it was the difficulty that made us blend our sound and several of their family members said it was great. I thought we might go there and sing our version of "Home on the Range." Instead we sang our entire chorus show schedule.
Oh well, better get on with my day. Barb saw that it was National Pancake Week and started our day out with her famous Cashew Blue Pancakes. Mighty yummy.
MUD
I am hoping that soon I will be able to start moving items into the new storage shed. They asked me to let the concrete set at least a week and preferably 10 days. Today is the 8th day and I can hardly wait. If it does get as warm (Yes, I know that mid 30's is still pretty cold) I will start at least moving some small items out to the shed that aren't as heavy. I could also start building shelves to organize things. My goal is to by mid week next week to be able to park the Ford inside our regular garage. I think if I take my CD Player out there things will go faster.
At last night's practice the director asked us what we thought about the practice last week at the rotunda of the Library. I told him that it was difficult to hear the other parts of the chorus and while it was great to see so many people get to hear us, it was kind of frustrating. The other guys said that it was the difficulty that made us blend our sound and several of their family members said it was great. I thought we might go there and sing our version of "Home on the Range." Instead we sang our entire chorus show schedule.
Oh well, better get on with my day. Barb saw that it was National Pancake Week and started our day out with her famous Cashew Blue Pancakes. Mighty yummy.
MUD
3/03/2014
March
No not March as in Forward March, but the month. Barbara is busily filling our sun room with new plants and it was almost zero last night. With the wind chill it had to be 10 or 15 below when I went out to fetch the paper. How can we have had 70 degrees one day in February and below zero in March? Doesn't mother nature know that I have things to do outside and we need to get on with spring?
Oh well, there are Basketball games that will help me struggle with the weather. Barb and I both like WSU and KU and would be thrilled if they could meet in the National Championship game.
Guess who is both a WSU and Kansas Fan?
MUD
Oh well, there are Basketball games that will help me struggle with the weather. Barb and I both like WSU and KU and would be thrilled if they could meet in the National Championship game.
Guess who is both a WSU and Kansas Fan?
MUD
I Cooked it, I Don't Have to Name It!
This Blog is dedicated to busy mothers all over the world that do their best to serve good healthy meals to their children. Special notice is given to my mother who served some of the most varied and different meals to her family. When one of the kids would look into a pot and see something they had never seen before, Mom would often quote the title to this Blog. "I cooked it, I don't have to name it." Mom has always been an inspiration to me and I loved her dearly, but she has become the butt of many jokes about her cooking. The kids that were forced to eat some of her meals when she was getting old really laugh at her misadventures in the kitchen.
Before I get into some of the lighter culinary moments, I do need to point out that several of Mom's meals rank high on my list of things I would want for my last meal. Dad was in the Navy and I am sure that he urged her to cook Navy Beans and ham with a side of cornbread. I have started using pinto beans not those plain white beans that I use only in my white chicken chili. Our next door neighbor, Carrie Longhoffer taught Mom to make kraut rolls (aka beeroaks, Bieroaks or bierocks) the same way she learned from her mother-in-law. I can sit down and eat a plate full of them. Barb remembers that the baked steak my mom served her for her first meal in the family was one she always remembers. Ground steak, onions, potato, seasoning in an aluminum foil packet that is baked for about an hour, or until the potato is done. See, mom did have some good things. I will tell you that her first goal was to cook and use as few pots as possible. Her pork chops cooked in the electric skillet and then to make Spanish rice on top of that was one pot of goodness. Now for the part that is more funny than it should have been. I forgot the meal of pimento cheese sandwiches she served to my sister-in-laws on the visit to Kansas. Barb said that the look on their faces was priceless when Mom said, "Who doesn't like pimento cheese?" I guess they didn't.
My mother once was in the store and she saw a brick of some mystery meat they called chili, took it home and added beans and tomatoes and served it to the family. My father added a pile of crackers, a cup of catsup and ate it without comment. At least he didn't utter his favorite line, "Looks like the dog got sick." It may not have tasted that way but it did look like chili. My dad used catsup in a quantity way above the national average. If that didn't kill the off taste of some of the concoctions, he would add Tabasco sauce to the catsup. I didn't eat breakfast with dad often because he would add catsup and tabasco sauce to his eggs. Just the sight of that would gag a maggot.
Mother thought she was the pie baker of record. For years she would make two pies that none of us liked. Her Sour Cream and raisin pie had a funny texture and ended with the slightly off and sharp taste of sour cream. He other pie was mince meat. It tasted like someone had started out to make a fruit cake and it turned into a pie. Texture aside, the taste was "off putting." I will say that Mom made some great pies but it took an intervention to get her to understand that Mrs. Smith or Marie Callender was our pie maker from then on.
At least once a month or so, Mom would make a meat salad that would turn into yummy sandwiches. A big old bowl of it would turn up in the fridge (Yes, I still call it an ice box) and we would gobble it down on many loaves of Wonder Bread. One time I pulled one of those, "I'm sick" days and stayed home from school. Mom brought home two beef hearts and a tongue and put them in the pressure cooker. I then watched her grind them up into a bowl. I guess if you add enough onion, celery and mayonnaise you could eat paper sacks. That ended the mystery meat caper once I let the cat out of the bag as to what was in it. I am not sure who first uttered the line, "tongue -Gross."
When I was a kid, the Minneha Baptist Church was building an addition on the side of the building. On Friday nights, those good Baptist men would show up for an evening of brick laying and a home cooked meal made by one of the women. Mom thought her chili was just the ticket but this time she tried to make it from scratch. I don't know what she used for the chili, but it was so hot that it would tarnish stainless steel spoons. She tried to dilute it by adding more beans and tomatoes but it was the talk of the church. Hell had no heat compared to Mom's Chili. Several years later, when Mom's eyesight started failing, she made chili for one of the family soup contests and used cinnamon instead of chili. My niece that was staying with her didn't say anything but made sure that everyone tried Mom's tasty chili. I am not sure what it tasted like but it was "tasty."
One of Mom's tricks was to buy a nice roast and put it in the oven with potatoes and onions and go off to church. I guess if you had set the oven at 250, you could be gone for over two hours and return to something edible. Often as not, it was a tough slightly smoky tasting chunk of meat that a bottle of catsup just might cover. That was the one meal that there would be enough left overs to make a stew out of.
That reminds me of waffles. I hate waffles to this day as it was one of the Sunday night meals Mom would make over and over until I just can't abide the taste or texture of a waffle. Perhaps as a morning meal once or twice a year but not every Sunday night.
The funniest story of all of them is the Arkansas Hash served to us at the end of a trip to Arkansas. We took all six of us, my Aunt and uncle and their three kids and Grandma on a trip to Arkansas. There was only a cabin built in the side of the hill there and the women were forced to cook on a wood stove. A wood stove in that tiny cabin made hot dogs on a stick the meal of choice at the end of a day spent swimming in the Buffalo River. I got the story years later but it seems that at the end of the vacation, there were several cans of staples left over and the women just threw them together in one big pot and called it Arkansas Hash. Several time over the years I heard people asking for Mom to repeat that wonderful meal. They would beg her to give them the recipe. She finally told me that she could no more replicate that meal than she could fly. I think it was just a happy accident.
I hope that you don't think that I hated my Mother's cooking. I know that she did her best. That was the generation that the men didn't cook unless it was to grill something outside. I often said that my father would have not known where the kitchen was except that he had to pass through it to visit the bathroom. They are both gone and I make sure that I have catsup and tabasco sauce to cover up when I make a mistake.
MUD
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| My Mom with my Niece Mel at her Wedding reception |
Before I get into some of the lighter culinary moments, I do need to point out that several of Mom's meals rank high on my list of things I would want for my last meal. Dad was in the Navy and I am sure that he urged her to cook Navy Beans and ham with a side of cornbread. I have started using pinto beans not those plain white beans that I use only in my white chicken chili. Our next door neighbor, Carrie Longhoffer taught Mom to make kraut rolls (aka beeroaks, Bieroaks or bierocks) the same way she learned from her mother-in-law. I can sit down and eat a plate full of them. Barb remembers that the baked steak my mom served her for her first meal in the family was one she always remembers. Ground steak, onions, potato, seasoning in an aluminum foil packet that is baked for about an hour, or until the potato is done. See, mom did have some good things. I will tell you that her first goal was to cook and use as few pots as possible. Her pork chops cooked in the electric skillet and then to make Spanish rice on top of that was one pot of goodness. Now for the part that is more funny than it should have been. I forgot the meal of pimento cheese sandwiches she served to my sister-in-laws on the visit to Kansas. Barb said that the look on their faces was priceless when Mom said, "Who doesn't like pimento cheese?" I guess they didn't.
My mother once was in the store and she saw a brick of some mystery meat they called chili, took it home and added beans and tomatoes and served it to the family. My father added a pile of crackers, a cup of catsup and ate it without comment. At least he didn't utter his favorite line, "Looks like the dog got sick." It may not have tasted that way but it did look like chili. My dad used catsup in a quantity way above the national average. If that didn't kill the off taste of some of the concoctions, he would add Tabasco sauce to the catsup. I didn't eat breakfast with dad often because he would add catsup and tabasco sauce to his eggs. Just the sight of that would gag a maggot.
Mother thought she was the pie baker of record. For years she would make two pies that none of us liked. Her Sour Cream and raisin pie had a funny texture and ended with the slightly off and sharp taste of sour cream. He other pie was mince meat. It tasted like someone had started out to make a fruit cake and it turned into a pie. Texture aside, the taste was "off putting." I will say that Mom made some great pies but it took an intervention to get her to understand that Mrs. Smith or Marie Callender was our pie maker from then on.
At least once a month or so, Mom would make a meat salad that would turn into yummy sandwiches. A big old bowl of it would turn up in the fridge (Yes, I still call it an ice box) and we would gobble it down on many loaves of Wonder Bread. One time I pulled one of those, "I'm sick" days and stayed home from school. Mom brought home two beef hearts and a tongue and put them in the pressure cooker. I then watched her grind them up into a bowl. I guess if you add enough onion, celery and mayonnaise you could eat paper sacks. That ended the mystery meat caper once I let the cat out of the bag as to what was in it. I am not sure who first uttered the line, "tongue -Gross."
When I was a kid, the Minneha Baptist Church was building an addition on the side of the building. On Friday nights, those good Baptist men would show up for an evening of brick laying and a home cooked meal made by one of the women. Mom thought her chili was just the ticket but this time she tried to make it from scratch. I don't know what she used for the chili, but it was so hot that it would tarnish stainless steel spoons. She tried to dilute it by adding more beans and tomatoes but it was the talk of the church. Hell had no heat compared to Mom's Chili. Several years later, when Mom's eyesight started failing, she made chili for one of the family soup contests and used cinnamon instead of chili. My niece that was staying with her didn't say anything but made sure that everyone tried Mom's tasty chili. I am not sure what it tasted like but it was "tasty."
One of Mom's tricks was to buy a nice roast and put it in the oven with potatoes and onions and go off to church. I guess if you had set the oven at 250, you could be gone for over two hours and return to something edible. Often as not, it was a tough slightly smoky tasting chunk of meat that a bottle of catsup just might cover. That was the one meal that there would be enough left overs to make a stew out of.
That reminds me of waffles. I hate waffles to this day as it was one of the Sunday night meals Mom would make over and over until I just can't abide the taste or texture of a waffle. Perhaps as a morning meal once or twice a year but not every Sunday night.
The funniest story of all of them is the Arkansas Hash served to us at the end of a trip to Arkansas. We took all six of us, my Aunt and uncle and their three kids and Grandma on a trip to Arkansas. There was only a cabin built in the side of the hill there and the women were forced to cook on a wood stove. A wood stove in that tiny cabin made hot dogs on a stick the meal of choice at the end of a day spent swimming in the Buffalo River. I got the story years later but it seems that at the end of the vacation, there were several cans of staples left over and the women just threw them together in one big pot and called it Arkansas Hash. Several time over the years I heard people asking for Mom to repeat that wonderful meal. They would beg her to give them the recipe. She finally told me that she could no more replicate that meal than she could fly. I think it was just a happy accident.
I hope that you don't think that I hated my Mother's cooking. I know that she did her best. That was the generation that the men didn't cook unless it was to grill something outside. I often said that my father would have not known where the kitchen was except that he had to pass through it to visit the bathroom. They are both gone and I make sure that I have catsup and tabasco sauce to cover up when I make a mistake.
MUD
3/02/2014
My Fears
I start most days the same,
same place, same routine, same, same and same.
But not boring.
I read the paper but don't remember the small stories.
I am almost always amazed by something but can't remember an
hour later.
I leave the breakfast table armed with the theme for a blog.
Often I can't remember by it by the time I get signed on.
I have such great intentions, but lousy follow through.
I fear I have gone so far off subject I can't find my way
back.
I am a fan but don't play.
I have fond memories when I really try to remember.
I love music but often can't remember the words.
My biggest fear is that I don't remember to have fears.
MUD
Teachers
A Facebook friend of mine posted an article that asked, "Are you tired of teachers being overpaid?" I jumped up and without reading the article told him that anyone that has not taught just doesn't understand. He told me to open the article and read it. The article said almost exactly what I said. Barbara had been a teacher for almost 40 years and in the end she made about what a GS-9 worker would make. Add to that all the hours she had to perform to get ready and then all the extra money she had to pay to remain certified, she darned sure wasn't the most highly paid person. The salvation of all of this is that she saved and invested our money wisely and we are living a life I never thought possible.
There is a sign that says, "If you can read this, Thank a teacher." Just when I want to thank all the teachers that made a difference in my life, I find I don't remember their names. The two teachers that really did make a difference in my life were my sisters who taught me to read. From there, I have traveled the world stage and loved it. This blog is just and extension of my life and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.
Well Boys and Girls, we are ending another great season of basketball. The conference championships are almost fixed and the tournaments are about to start. It never ceases to amaze me how it all turns out. Teams that could not hit the rim two shots out of three play their hearts out and come out a winner. Just when we thought Syracuse would win out, they have melted down. Just when WSU looked like another mid-major, they play team ball and go 31-0. The BIG XII is still beating each other up and KU slipped in another Conference Championship. It is unfortunate that KSU hasn't played up to their potential on the road. A few more road wins and they too could have been in the top instead of being in a giant tie for third place.
The weatherman was wrong about the snow here in the Heartland. It just got too cold too quick to snow and this AM we just have an inch or so of snow and Zero degrees being wind blown to a -15 or so wind chill. I went out to get the paper this AM and even with a sweatshirt and a coat wasn't prepared to be out very long. I am sure glad that I don't have to fire up the tractor and drive over to clear driveways. Add 15 to 20 MPH to the wind of 15 MPH and the wind chill gets very extreme.
Oh well, on to better things. Barbara started our day out with the smell of cooking bacon. Man, a cuppa coffee and French toast with a side of bacon sure hit the spot.
MUD
There is a sign that says, "If you can read this, Thank a teacher." Just when I want to thank all the teachers that made a difference in my life, I find I don't remember their names. The two teachers that really did make a difference in my life were my sisters who taught me to read. From there, I have traveled the world stage and loved it. This blog is just and extension of my life and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.
Well Boys and Girls, we are ending another great season of basketball. The conference championships are almost fixed and the tournaments are about to start. It never ceases to amaze me how it all turns out. Teams that could not hit the rim two shots out of three play their hearts out and come out a winner. Just when we thought Syracuse would win out, they have melted down. Just when WSU looked like another mid-major, they play team ball and go 31-0. The BIG XII is still beating each other up and KU slipped in another Conference Championship. It is unfortunate that KSU hasn't played up to their potential on the road. A few more road wins and they too could have been in the top instead of being in a giant tie for third place.
The weatherman was wrong about the snow here in the Heartland. It just got too cold too quick to snow and this AM we just have an inch or so of snow and Zero degrees being wind blown to a -15 or so wind chill. I went out to get the paper this AM and even with a sweatshirt and a coat wasn't prepared to be out very long. I am sure glad that I don't have to fire up the tractor and drive over to clear driveways. Add 15 to 20 MPH to the wind of 15 MPH and the wind chill gets very extreme.
Oh well, on to better things. Barbara started our day out with the smell of cooking bacon. Man, a cuppa coffee and French toast with a side of bacon sure hit the spot.
MUD
2/28/2014
Body Image
This morning on TV one of the spokeswomen for Dove soap spoke about their campaign to get more people to accept their body image. Their question was, "When was the last time you smiled at yourself in a mirror?" Well, I guess if when I first walk into the bathroom I didn't first see my dad looking back, I might be more likely to smile. It is not the fact I see so much of my dad, but the fact that my mental image of me is much younger.
Just how young do you feel? I am damned glad to be alive at any age, but if there was just some way to physically look like I feel it would just make my day. About a month ago I shaved my chin whiskers off and Barbara said it made me look 10 years younger. If I would break down and go with her to her hair dresser, I could look another 10 years younger. Lets see, I now spend about $12.00 a month for a hair cut vs. the $75.00 (+Tip) just how much younger and at what cost do I want? I think a smile just subtracts years from my age. Hanging around with the nieces and nephews also helps.
The other day, on of the TV shows showed what Photoshop could do to make their stars look younger. Heck, I know that Barbara can make anyone be anyplace and doing anything with Photoshop. It is clear that we should no longer believe anything we see or read. I am still blown away that many people believe that if it is on the Internet it is fact. They watch CNN and Fox news and thing they are getting the straight facts. Time and time again a lead in of a few facts cause people to sit there and listen to opinions about the shoulda, coulda, woulda. In the good old days we got the straight who, what, when, where and on occasion the why. With the reliance on the number of viewers watching at any given time it is no wonder that a lot of hype is put out there as fact.
This weekend, one of those February (soon to be March) winter storms will blow in here and start with rain, followed by sleet and then snow. The only good thing is there will be some darned good basketball games on TV. I think WSU has one more conference game then they start the "Arch Madness" That's the Missouri Valley Tournament in St Louis. KU has a couple of games left and need only one win to win their 10th BIGXII conference title in a row outright. It matters little what happens for the next week or so. I'm not sure it matters what happens in the BIGXII tournament starting Mid March. They both will get to play in the Post season tournament and winning there is the name of that game. One win and go home. Just remember that 64 teams will play down to 16 teams in one weekend. It is pretty clear that a bunch of someone's will go home unhappy. I love this time of year and the process is just as important as the outcome.
Oh well, better get moving or my butt will become my body image right here in front of the screen.
MUD
Just how young do you feel? I am damned glad to be alive at any age, but if there was just some way to physically look like I feel it would just make my day. About a month ago I shaved my chin whiskers off and Barbara said it made me look 10 years younger. If I would break down and go with her to her hair dresser, I could look another 10 years younger. Lets see, I now spend about $12.00 a month for a hair cut vs. the $75.00 (+Tip) just how much younger and at what cost do I want? I think a smile just subtracts years from my age. Hanging around with the nieces and nephews also helps.
The other day, on of the TV shows showed what Photoshop could do to make their stars look younger. Heck, I know that Barbara can make anyone be anyplace and doing anything with Photoshop. It is clear that we should no longer believe anything we see or read. I am still blown away that many people believe that if it is on the Internet it is fact. They watch CNN and Fox news and thing they are getting the straight facts. Time and time again a lead in of a few facts cause people to sit there and listen to opinions about the shoulda, coulda, woulda. In the good old days we got the straight who, what, when, where and on occasion the why. With the reliance on the number of viewers watching at any given time it is no wonder that a lot of hype is put out there as fact.
This weekend, one of those February (soon to be March) winter storms will blow in here and start with rain, followed by sleet and then snow. The only good thing is there will be some darned good basketball games on TV. I think WSU has one more conference game then they start the "Arch Madness" That's the Missouri Valley Tournament in St Louis. KU has a couple of games left and need only one win to win their 10th BIGXII conference title in a row outright. It matters little what happens for the next week or so. I'm not sure it matters what happens in the BIGXII tournament starting Mid March. They both will get to play in the Post season tournament and winning there is the name of that game. One win and go home. Just remember that 64 teams will play down to 16 teams in one weekend. It is pretty clear that a bunch of someone's will go home unhappy. I love this time of year and the process is just as important as the outcome.
Oh well, better get moving or my butt will become my body image right here in front of the screen.
MUD
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