Wednesday, September 30, 2009

In Days Gone by....

I was talking to a friend of mine, and we were matching
some of the things we remember. Wonder if any of you
remember them and what else you may remember.

Do you remember when margarine came in package,
and it was white. It had a small yellow/orange bulb in the
corner that you squeezed and it would break and spread
on to the white. And you would squeeze the package and
mash it with your hands until the whole package turn
yellow. Then you open the package to use it?

Do you remember putting the clothes on the clothes line.
You would have a spindle at the house and a rope ran thru
it and the other spindle that was on a pole across the yard?
Do you remember frozen sheets?
I remember one day, talking to a friend before I went in
the house, and I had the corner of the sheet in my hand,
I was bending it back and forth and it broke off in my hand.
Sure caught hell for that one.

Do you remember the night whistle at 9pm. All kids were
suppose to be in their houses with curtains pulled.
You had dark curtains.

Do you remember practicing getting under your desk at
school, during the WW II and Korean war.

Do you remember drinking out of the hose and playing
hard ball. Where you kicked or threw the ball at a line
of kids. You squared off with equal amount of kids in
each of the 2 lines. Wonder we didn't get hurt. Must have
been tougher kids in those days.

My friend remembered rationing of gas, sugar and silk
stockings. Women took a eye brow pencil and drew a
line down their legs. So people would think they had stockings on.
Heck we don't even have lines down the stocking now, do
they?

And we remember when everyone paid cash for everything.
If you wanted something from the store you could put it
on lay away.... and when you finish paying for it, you got
it. If you wanted a car or house, you could go to the bank,
and if they decided you were a good risk, you could get
a loan for them.

I don't know if it was the good old days or not... but kids
today sure missed out on some great times.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Life's little pleasures

Who would have thought that a boat would give so much pleasure.
I have two son's, who also have pleasure riding boats. Both so enjoy
it with their families. So it wasn't a great surprise that we like ours.
I guess it was me, who I was surprised at, who enjoyed it so much.
The King has wanted a boat for some time for fishing. He has had
varies sizes, mostly small. So when he decided he wanted some
thing in the 18 to 20 feet size, I told him he would have to save for
it as our budget was minimum at best.

So two years ago, he started putting anything extra away in a
separate account. If he sold something, he would put it in there.
When he got a retirement job, a quarter of it went into the account.
And finally this year, he found a boat, and the guy was willing to wait
the extra 2 months while the King got his finally money to have the total
for the boat. Then we went on the trip to Wisconsin, that I was saving for.

So now we are into the 3rd week, and God has been good with great
weather. And fishing the King did go with his brother. We wives, got
lunch and met them at the dock and we went out in the afternoon.
It was really a lot of fun. Then this past weekend was so wonderful.
We even took the dog out with us (knew better than to invite the cat).
I really did enjoy going and look forward to next summer. As the weather
is not looking good for too many more, if any. Plus it is hunting time.. And the
signature that I have at the end of my emails which is below, sure does
apply here.

So I will be a hunting widow for a month or so.. hummm, I wonder, what
kind of project can I come up with for this one... hummmmm.


He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not,
but rejoices for those which he has.~Epictetus

Monday, September 28, 2009

THE HEALTH CARE PLAN...

I am sick and tired of hearing about
THE HEALTH CARE PLAN. Or
OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE PLAN.

There is no such thing. There is 4 different
plans. And so far I read the one called THE
HEALTH CARE PLAN. The 1000 page thing.
Yes, I took the time, well times, as it took
more than one or two sittings. The other 3
I have not found the place to read them. But
considering there isn't any one plan, bill or what
ever, I am not really in a hurry to read one.
Not until they actually have one they will vote on.

But the talks of this one and that one. The Baccus
one (I think that is what it is called) is suppose to
help the insurance companies... supposedly.. Well,
that is part of our problem. The insurance companies
are the ones that need to clean out and actually
cover what they are suppose to be covering. And
with no fine print. Or when you need it, you get
the denial for reasons you never heard of.

What do you say, we let every one just keep
what they have. Being the media tells us that
we are so happy with what we have. And those
who scream at the town halls, say they are happy
with what they have.

And then have the ones who need it, but can't buy it,
be given insurance by scale of what they have for
income. And the insurance companies have to insure
them. Or they can be run under MEDAID, and having
to pay like we do with Medicare,but according to their
income. And those who are
not citizens, have to pay cash up front. Like some of
us have to do. Those who refuse to buy insurance in
any form... have to pay up front also.

This is just my humble opinion

Friday, September 25, 2009

Misty fishing trip

We are off.... the King has to drive, but I ride so my ears will flap...

Alright we are heading to the boat and I told him I could walk...
Can't you walk faster?
Are you sure there is enough gas in here? (it is for the small motor)


What do you mean I have to push off...my legs aren't long enough..how about some help.


I am driving....



ok, ok, I call shotgun...



Well, this is all the King caught.... a $50 net...not too bad.. better than nothing.




Long day, I am ready for port....and home..


Thursday, September 24, 2009

Blogging Time

It seems like Spring and Fall are the hardest times
for me to blog. I even try to do it at night time and
post date it. But of late that hasn't worked. As you
can see I didn't get to it yesterday. By night I am
run down and tired.

I have my daily morning routine, paper/coffee, exercise,
straighten up the house, get the wash going if it is Monday
or Thursday... but now I have the yard to deal with again.

In the Spring it is to get it together, to get it started for the
summer. Now it is time to harvest what is left of the garden
after our deep freeze of Sunday. I need to dig up bulbs and
separate them. Cut back some of my plants, and bring in
the hoses, that we aren't using now. So much to do, so
little time.

Yesterday, I took some time out to take a friend shopping
and we had lunch. Friday, the King and I have on our
list, one last boat ride together. Hunting is starting
soon on his list, and the down hill side of his summer job
as it comes to a close. Winter job starting a week later.

So blogging is taking a back seat... So if you don't see
anything new here, believe me, I am alive and well. Just
busier than an one arm paper hanger.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Where am I traveling thru?


Yesterday, I traveling thru great vastness of land... most of it like this....
at least there were miles of this... it is great to see. Because as you can see,
not all land has been turn into houses. Up here in Bonner county where it
seem like a lot of farm land is going into houses... it is nice to travel thru
out the state and see that it isn't true of all areas. Thankfully the farmers are
still out there doing their thing.
Yesterday was mostly traveling...and to day is working... not much time
for blogging. HAPPY AUTUMN

Monday, September 21, 2009

Hunters and Animal Protectors

The hunting season has opened up. Bow is open
right now with rifles coming in shortly. So we will
have the letters to the editors about the animal
cruelty and etc. The call to police for trespassers
who aren't, as they are in the forest land across from
the caller.

But I really don't understand these animal protectors.
We all are, within reason. But the true of the matter is
MONTANA, IDAHO, WASHINGTON STATE, COLORADO,
and most parts of UTAH, OREGON, and upper CALIFORNIA.
Are hunting areas. The northwest has been hunting areas for
centuries. Even the south, Texas, Arkansas and etc. have had
their hunting areas.

So why does a person come from another state to these heavy
hunting areas (Washington, Idaho, Montana and etc.) and think
they are going to change things? Because unless you live in a
gated area or towns, you are more than likely to have at least 50 hunters
who hunted in your neighborhood for years. They aren't going to
change. Neither are the hundred of thousands of hunters in each state.

So driving down your driveway at dawn with your horn blaring and
cussing at a guy/girl or guys in camo/orange with a rifle is not going
to change anything but maybe get you some of your own
language back.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Summer time and easy living is leaving....

beautiful blue skies and our flag flows with the wind. To quote parts of Frank Sinatra song.....
"But now the days grow short
I'm in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
from fine old kegs, and it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year"
the garden is down... and I actually got apples this year

and thanks for the example of Toni, my flower pots did well...

GOOD BYE, SUMMER OF 2009

Thursday, September 17, 2009

TOMATOES

You plant your tomato plants in your garden, have them on
the patio, and as they grow, you stand with pride. And then it
is getting the cages to fit around them.. Making sure they aren't
dragging the ground. Big plants, green plants... so proud you stand.

Then the yellow flowers all over, and you smile... with pride... Yes,
I will have tomatoes...

The first pink one comes, and you are so anxious for the taste of the
first one, it is barely orange before you have picked it, and sliced it.
Or if they are like a lot of mine, the cherry tomatoes...you eat them
like peanuts. And then there is a hand full for the salad...BUT...

The trouble with tomatoes is that you get one and then another red one...
and then bang you have 20 ripe and then 40 more and you are picking
as fast as you can... and the next morning there is 20 or 30 more...
and you are making stewed tomatoes, canning tomatoes..
eating them as fast you can... giving them away... Tomatoes everywhere.

Because you don't want waste, and the frost is coming on, you pick your
green tomatoes..wrap them in paper, box them in a dark area, and letting
them slowly ripen. Or hand up side down inside, the plants, to let them ripen.
Checking every so often, to see how many are getting ripe.. or you have
forgot them for a month and go remove the rotten ones, and then make
sure you check them... Tomatoes every where.... YET....

Come next Spring, you can't wait to start all over again.

UPDATE....
take your extras to the food bank ...they will love you for it.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

THIS AND THAT....

What is with Jay Leno's hair? The
Teddy Kennedy do? Why is it men
with money have such crappy hair cuts?
Such as Leno, and Trump.
Get these men to a barber.

I see that Avista (Gas and Electric) Company
has said they are lowering their gas rates. So
our bills should be lower. Want to bet that in
2 months we will see that they are raising their
rates again. Seems like they do this often, do
they really like jerking us around? No wonder
people get upset with them. Especially after you
read in the paper that they donated to someone's
election coffers. If they are making so much money
that they can donated $100,000 of money, how about
us?

Well, I am off to a special surprise lunch today for a
young lady... she is 90... she may be 90 but she looks
and acts like about 60. So does that mean that the new
90 is 60? I just hope if I live that long, I can do it like she
has.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

From a empty mind.....

Some days are roses and some days are dropped petals...
I am late today, posting my blog because I have nothing...
Nothing at all. No complains (that is good), no "what the
H?" No yahoo moments... Nothing...

Wait a minute... yes I do I have WE HAVE A PAVED
ROAD... after living here 11 years... in town... we have
a PAVED ROAD...



Monday, September 14, 2009

Fraud!!!!!

I was reading my AARP newsletter the other day and
saw there is a new type of fraud. Seem that companies
can send a product to you, for little or nothing, even telling
you it is free. You only have to pay for the shipping and
handling. What they don't tell you, or tell you in fine print,
is they are going to start charging your credit card a charge
for their product or services. So if you don't send it back or
write back and tell them NO, you don't want the services,
or product you will continue to get it and charges will be
adding up on your credit card billing.

One woman found it out by taking over her elderly mother's
bills and finances. Found out her mother had been charge
$80 a month for a service which is doubtful she got, for 3
years!! The mother not knowing or checking, just paid the
money amount to her credit card. Another woman found it
quicker as she and her son have a joint card. And a sum came
in that neither of them could explain. Found out it was again,
a service for free, that the paper work was thrown away because
they had no interest in it.

So when I received a package in the mail on Friday, one that I
did not order, and was quite puzzled about, I read the paper work
with it. And lo and behold, it was for FREE, just $2.95 for SHIPPING
and HANDLING.(which they so convientily charged to my credit card)
with the promise of sending one every other week,
at the tune of $25.95! BINGO, lights and whistles start to ring off.
And my blood pressure surely went up as well.

See I had bought a product from a company associated with this one,
last Spring. Which I sent right back as it was not what was advertised.
I sent it back so they had to sign for it, I called them but only got a
answering machine. Called my credit card and told them I had trouble with
these people and to not accept a charge from this company. They ended up
being able to call the company and told them they were cancelling the charges,
and that there had been a block put on. Then the credit card called me back
and told me about it. But it seems they kept my credit card information, and decided
they were safe enough to use it with their other name.

Which to back track a week ago before this package showed up, the credit card
company called from their fraud dept. questioning two charges. One which I ok'd.
and the other I didn't know what it was. The person said they thought it was a
video game charge. While it was only $2.95 (sound familiar?) they felt my account
had been compromised, so closed the account and had me assigned a new number.
Not knowing who had my credit card number and where it was done, it of course gave
us quite a concerned. We are really careful about our cards and not letting them out
of our sight, asking for receipts given us, and if there is a carbon, asking for that. So
to find out we had a problem worried us. I got the bill and the charge was off and the
rest were ok. So getting the package today was a double edge sword. Relief to find
out the business we used were ok, but mad as hell, to find out I had been slammed
by another company. I called the credit company and talked to the fraud department to
let them know. They are sending me paper work to fill out so they can go after them.

Oh, when I called the company to tell them that I was sending it back, and I was
upset...I was told to hold for the next service person...and then, guess what? no human,
only a recording...tell me to leave a message...(nothing about getting aback to you) well,
am sure they will delete that recording. As I told them, with out cussing, exactly how
I felt in spades!!

So watch out for what you think is junk mail. It could be one of these new scams. Which
I guess there is no law against sending something for free and then charging your credit
card for it. So keep checking your credit card bills, and make sure what you "junk" mail
says.

Friday, September 11, 2009

That Morning.....

It was getting close to the end of my shift. I am doing
the last minute touches on the hair of the lady I just got
up and ready for the day. Then I placed her wheelchair
in front of the television with the other lady I had all done
and ready for the day. I step over to the bed and pull up
the sheets and straighten out the blanket, making the bed.

I walked out of the room and looked for the day crew. I had
already gave them report of the going on of the night. But
wanted to let them know I was leaving and the ladies in room
110 were up and watching television.

I walked down the hall and went in and clocked out at 6:03am.

I got in my car, started it up and the voices of the married couple
that had a talk show in the early morning rang with their familiar
voices, and I backed out of my space and headed for the road.

As I started to head towards home, the man said there was a
word from AP (American Press) and it said that a airplane, had
hit one of the World Trade buildings in New York. His wife asked
what kind of plane. He said he didn't know, it didn't say. He guess
that it was a small plane, probably a new pilot who lost control, he
figured.

As I pulled into my drive way 12 minutes later, the man was excited
and said no, it was an airliner that had hit the building, and smoke was
coming out of the building. So I hurried into the house and turn on
the television, to Good Morning America...but it wasn't the usual show.
There is panic, an excited newscaster, explaining that one of the airlines had
hit the World Trade Building and then they showed it with the smoke
coming out. I call my daughter, as she would be getting ready for
work, and told her that one of the United airliners hit the building. She
turn on the television and we watched in horror as we saw another
plane fly right into the other building, next to the first one. We couldn't
believe our eyes. Who would steal the planes and do that?

She had to leave for work, she had been watching NBC, and she
said to me, they say the Pentagon has been hit too. "I am heading to
work, let me know if that is true... when I get to work", she says. I called
her to tell her it is true and they also have another plane,Flight 93, that is down
in Pa. She says, they were getting updates on the computer.
I told her that they said there were terrorist and that they now say there
were passengers on those planes. That they had been hi-jacked.
She said, I know..and we hung up.

I often wondered about the women who I sat in front of the television that
morning. Neither of them spoke. And when I said have a good day, I will
see you tonight, one smiled as the other was starting to fall asleep in her
chair. I had hoped as I remember them, while I was at home... I had hoped
that both slept thru it... as I can only imagine what she might have thought.

I sat there, watching as they showed the buildings, and the smoke,
and hearing the newscasters talking on the phone to people in the building.
Telling the newscaster their names and for them to tell their families they
are fine, it will be a while before they can get out, as the stair case is full
of people. The newscaster telling them to be careful. And then the
collapse of the buildings. First one and then the other... watching as people
jumped out of the window, hoping they could survive and didn't.

Like the rest of the nation, sittingt there, stunned that this could happen. And how
could it happen. Seeing the rubble of broken cement, and cables, people running
thru the streets, trying to get away. And firemen and police running towards
the buildings... over and over the news played it, thru the day and into the night.
I went to bed as I had to work that night... getting up again at 2pm and seeing
them talk about it, showing the scenes again, over and over. Talking about the
brave men on the plane in PA. And the "Let's Roll became a national catchphrase.

With all the different stories, and rumors and lies that past around.. who cares
anymore.. The people are dead. Their families will never be the same.The ones
who survived and wonder why, will never be the same again... And
even our country will never be the same again.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Chance Conversations....

This would be kind of under the heading...
"I didn't know that"

When talking to my cousin who is 5 years
older than myself... we were talking about
our parents. His father and my father were
brothers.

By chance he mention that he had a fire
alarm in his house as a kid. And also a
phone other than their own. It was for the
fire department that was next door.

Seem when the people in the town called the
number for the fire department, they got my
aunt. After setting off the fire siren for the
volunteers, she went next door and called on
the radio of where the fire was. And then
proceeded to the corner, stopping traffic
for the fire trucks that came out of the station.
That was up to 40 years ago.

Which I said those famous words....
" I DIDN'T KNOW THAT"

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

I am of the wrong generation...

I don't understand... what happen to civility?
You know where you talked to people. Not
scream in other's faces.

I see these town hall meetings, with people screaming
at each other with in inches of each others faces. What
is with that? Has politeness gone out the window?

And then you have the President talking to the school
kids about staying in school, studying hard, do well.
And the adults have a fit. Screaming at others, taking
their kids out of school, stopping cars and telling others
to keep their kids home.

When President Bush, Reagan and Eisenhower talked
to the kids at school, no one said a word. Oh, they were
Republicans. I am not a Democrat, but I am sure glad
I am not a Republican. They sure seem to be an angry
bunch.

happy birthday, ew,th

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Children, drones or open minded...

This morning there will be children heading
to school. some for the first time this year,
others have been in for a few days...maybe a
week.

Some children won't attend today by parent's
choice. Some will be there but will not have
the television on in their classroom or will be
put in another room for a short time.

All of that because adults have over reacted
to the announcement that President Obama
has chose to address the children in school.

Presidents have been addressing the children
in school since Eisenhower. I can remember
going to the auditorium myself, with the rest
of the children. A large television up on the
stage. I don't recall how long his speech
was for. Something to do with studying hard
and blah blah blah... because that is what
most of us heard. We were thinking about
the classes and what teacher we would have
and which of our friends will be in our class.
Much like the children of today who do get
to watch it, will be thinking about.

I don't understand how adults, parents, who
don't want their children to see the PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES, talk in their class room.
He isn't talking about the economy, or health care,
but to encourage them in their studies. Yet the
parents who opt out, don't want them to hear it.
They show their children how to fear the unknown.
Fear of words, fear of a man who has, maybe, different
ideals than they have... even though that is not the subject.

I applaud the parents who decided not to opt out. And
I hope the teachers and the principals of the school won't
opt out on their own, in fear of parents and conversations.

I applaud the parents who leave their children to have open
minds. To hear what is to be said. Be it this time or another.
And if the parents have concerns about the subject their children.
listen to... to have conversations about those subjects. I did.
My children where the age of the first sex education classes.
Not something that I was fond of my children learning from
someone else. But we had conversations about their class.
Only two of them had it. Don't know why the rest did not.

Wish parents would have an open mind, and open conversations
with their kids. . They learn values from watching you, not
only by what you say.. So talk to your kids about concerns you
have, and have an open mind... it makes better adults.

For those who missed it...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/


Prepared Remarks of President Barack ObamaBack to School Event
Arlington, VirginiaSeptember 8, 2009
The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.
So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.
And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

Monday, September 07, 2009

LABOR DAY

Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia says of Labor Day:
"Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from
the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers .
Celebrated on the first Monday of September.
The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight-hour day movement,
which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest."

Considering that the economy is in the toilet, and Labor Unions are losing ground it is a
wonder we still have Labor Day. Hope you enjoyed yours.... now we get down to
business... your next holiday is Thanksgiving...

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Busy as bees...

With only one day left before the Labor Day weekend and the beginning of
school on Tuesday, the workers on the addition to the Kootenai School are
working fast and furious...

Here are the pictures of what is going to be.. first one is the new bus land,
and then the walk way for the kids as it as sidewalks now.. and then there
is the lane for parents to drop off their children. There is also a new parking
area across Second Avenue from the school.


This part you can see, isn't going to be done...in fact the buildings aren't going
to be done in time... and believe me these men have been working all summer
long, to try to find some order for it, so they can run the school while they finish
the insides. This is where the cafeteria, if I understood right, is going to be and
I don't know what is going to be on the second floor. It is near what has always
been the gym.

Where these trucks are parked will be the bus lane... Sidewalks on both sides
They have been working hard this month to get the playground in some kind
of order...but I would say, I doubt the soccer field will be ready this year. The
whole school should be finished by next year...


Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Things I don't understand.....

I understand the difference between gross and net incomes.
What I don't understand is, why when someone is trying to
determine how much money you have to pay bills with, the
amount that counts is the gross income. A good share of
which one never gets to see.

The usual deductions are Federal taxes, State taxes, S.S.
and Medicare. At least those are the minimum. Then there
is retirement, insurance and a few others.

Fed and State taxes you are lucky if you get to see 7%
back as a refund. S.S, you have to wait until you turn 65
or get disable before you get to see that and even then
it is in small payments over years. And if you die young
you never see it, or only a small part of it. Same thing with
retirement. And insurance depends on how sick you are
if you get a return on that. And you actually don't get it,
the doctors and hospitals get that.

So WHY ON EARTH, do the loan companies count the
gross amount. When you don't get that money, some of it
ever. Why don't they count the net. That is the part you
actually get to take home with you. That is what you get
to buy things with. Have the comforts of home.

And if you are a parent putting a child into college, well,
those of you who already been there, did that, know you
can be over waged, when in actuality you are under.

One who gets about $44,000 actually gets about $26,000,
if they are a single parent. Where is the fairness of that?

How can you claim you get more money than you actually
get? How can the companies make you say you get more
money than you actually get to take home?

I know, I know, this has been going on for years..but for the
life me, I don't understand why

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Well, this is a Revolting Predicament

I really hate it when I go to bed well, and get
up with something wrong.

I have spent most of the last two days on
my back... and good share of it on the floor.
No, I have not joined the second oldest profession.
(oldest being a politician)

I got up on Sunday morning, with muscle tightening
up on my lower back. The more the day went on, the
worse it got. I tried Aleve, which always takes care of
these things... didn't faze it. I did some floor exercises,
that usually work... didn't faze it. So laid flat out on my
back with my legs up on the coffee table, and after 2 hours,
that helped 5%. At least I could stand 85% up straight.

I found that I could sit fairly well, I could lay really well, and
stand fairly well. But walking? that was a witch with a B. Every
step, brought a grimace.

This morning, it is slightly better...
AH, MY GOLDEN YEARS!!