Ah, 2011, it was a very good year.....

As I turned 71, it was a very good year…
While some think of it as the winter of their
lives, I found it to be a second breath of life.

This year of 2011, found a winter that was taking its
time leaving us… and as April came around to add that
extra year… it also brought some extra money.

So the year started, with demolition derby. As we tore
apart walls and took out drawers and cabinets and sink.
Out went the old door, hello French doors.

Then it was time to put it together.. May came and went,
and I finally had a sink again. No more washing dishes
on the back deck or in the shower… In went insulation, and
a new dish washer.. Up went beautiful wood cabinets and out
with the old orange metal ones.

July brought the rest of the kitchen in to form… and a start
Of taking out the old deck and in came the new one, just in
time, with a pergola joining it. Just in time as the family gathered
to send off the youngest into her new marriage life.

August brought in the marriage and lots of laughter with it.
But also took a grandson away, as he headed out to Hawaii.

September brought the first of friend funeral… and then another one
In November. Sadness.

But over all, it was a very good year… that old 2011….

So enjoy throwing out the old, and bringing in the new.
Does anyone walk out the old year and walk in the new, at
Midnight? Like we did as kids, when we were allowed to stay
Up?
Well,…………
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S to you all, talk at you next year….

Politics is a joke... but no one is laughing...

What ever happen to politics? I know Will Rogers use to make fun
of the politicians… and politics as well. That is well known.. but
this year? This has to be a new low even for them.

First off, you have the reality show called Republican Debate.
Thru the run off’s each week…. each one has had their
week, or even two weeks before they crash and burn..
only to come back again the following week..

I don’t know if they are plain stupid, or is the bonus at the end enough to keep them climbing on to the sinking ship called Republican Party.
And the people who are still throwing good money after bad at them, well, they got what they paid for, I guess.

Then you have the government body itself, called Congress. Which has their own reality show. It is called, Boo.. “let’s scare the daylights out of the elderly, and the rest of the citizens.. with our indecisiveness’ of on anything that is brought in for us to vote on…and if we can scare them while telling them we will close down the government. Well, all the better. And of course it has to be done near the end of the month, so those government check might fail to come out. How many elderly ended up at their doctors office, with anxiety attacks, while wondering how they were going to buy groceries and pay their electric bill. SHAME ON CONGRESS…. As they always decide to do the decent thing… at the last minute. Why put the citizens thru all of that.

Sadly they are a joke, but we citizens aren’t laughing.

Failure to follow directions....

Why is it those of who love more power…. Don’t seem to like to pay attention to directions much.. I am just as guilty as others.

For Christmas, the King got me the MORE POWER, BIGGER THAN A LOT,
KITCHEN AID PROFESSIONAL 500 MIXER…. I use capitals not to shout, but
so you understand… this is MORE POWER… I love machinery of MORE POWER, be it appliances or cars… MORE POWER, LOUDER MUFFLERS.
That is just the way I roll…

So here I was…. With my MORE POWER MIXER, in my kitchen. Standing there proudly… well, maybe it was me, standing there proudly. Anyway, I had the booklet in my hand. So I sat down with a cup of coffee and skimmed the booklet. Well, don’t start shaking your head… I skimmed it, which is better than a lot of times, when I figure I know how to operate things… until modern inventions started to get ahead of me… But what could go wrong, after all a mixer is a mixer. Put things in the bowl and hit the switch, and when you feel ok with it, hit the higher speeds… Love my Vita Mix.. MORE POWER…

So I made my two favorite recipes for Christmas time. Christmas Fruitcake cookies (no, they don’t taste like fruit cake, just has the same fruit) and my around the year recipe, of Chocolate Zucchini Bread. As that is what I give for presents.

The cookies went great… the difference between mixing with the old wooden spoon was priceless. They came out great… That left the bread… I put in the eggs, sugar, butter, shredded zucchini,chocolate and spices , then blueberries and nuts… starting out with slow and running at full power, at the end of that section… Only thing left is the flour.
So I put in the first cup, and that is where I got into trouble… as it was POOF… and it wasn’t the magic dragon. I reached to the switch, to turn it down to low.
As soon as I could see it… And there I was, white, the counter…white, and the mixer… white…. I guess they really meant it when they said, when adding flour, use low speed… Dang, got to get that all clean up before the King got home, didn’t want to have to explain that one…

He was not having the best of day, so figured I would give him a laugh.. told him, and his words were…..you got it… did you read the directions? I replied, “
kind of” He shook his head and said..."figures".

MERRY CHRISTMAS....to you ALL...

Once again I am going to rely on the wise words of George A. Gladden Sr.

MY CHRISTMAS CARD LIST
I have a list of folks I know,all written in a book,
And every year when Christmas comes,
I go and take a look.
That is when I realize these names are all a part,
not of the book they're written in,
but of my very heart.
For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime,
And in that meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme.
While it may sound fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed of each remembered name.
And while you may not be aware of any special link.
Just meeting you has changed my life much more than you think.
For once I've met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face.
So, never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between.
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,
It's because you're on the list of folks I'm endeared to.
For I am but a total of the many folks I've met,
And you happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget.
Whether I have known you for many years or few,
In some way you have had a part in shaping things I do.
And every year when Christmas comes I realize a new,
The best gift life can offer is meeting folks like you.
So may the spirit of Christmasthat forevermore endures,
Leave its richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours.

My Christmas Card List written by George A. Gladden, Sr

So once again...I wish you all.... my dear readers...A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS........and especially to George A. Gladden Sr. where ever you may be...
Yak at you next week some time...

Reality Shows

I am not much for reality shows.. I, once in a while, check out
The Biggest Loser, usually the last show or two… just to see who is left. Reminds me too much of slavery. The Big Race, is that’s name? I sometimes check that out. Lost interest in Survivor way back… season two? Maybe?

And the Bachelor or Bachelorette to me is just short of a pimp show. Why 25 women would want to humiliate themselves like that, is beyond me. Makes me hang my head to be a woman. We came a long way, baby, for this?

But even lower on the scale, if possible is one that is not listed as a reality show. But has become one… they call it the Republican Debates. But I got to say, it does have its own comedy to it. It has become boring to most of us, I know I have passed the point of tune out and let the minute bits of the news tell us how bad it is.. even then I am not interested.

They seem to think that all of it will end next month at Iowa and New Hampshire, but I have a feeling it will be around for a long time coming. Getting to the point, only the die-hard Republicans are interested. Or those who are looking for stupid mis-remarks.

Nope, I am not much for reality shows, you just can’t fix stupid.

Failure to Commuicate...

I am not talking about the normal every day type of communication. I am talking about what they commonly called the, what we have here, is the failure to communicate..

The times that some people can really get to you and certain words fly. Now Bill Cosby has it right… that those who cuss are people who ran out of intelligent things to say to get their point across.

But there are times… when my feelings get so hurt, I am being treated so disrespectful,(words to explain they teed me off) and the person has pushed my buttons so badly, that intelligence is not quite in play, and I realize, the words do fly. My own children, when they heard the beginning of such words, knew it was time to vacate the area, as they knew they had gone over the limit.
Those words are so bad, that I could not type them here. Oh, I could really, after all this is my blog. But no child be allowed to read my blog again, and my Christian friends would never talk to me again.

But darn it, somehow …. some how the release of those other words does let off the steam that was building up, and “Oh, shucky darn, you should not have said that or did that to me”, just doesn’t cover it…

Sometimes we forget....

I don’t know what it is about the doom and gloom
of winter, but it sure drags me out… I have a hard
time getting up. I want to snuggle down in my covers.
No sun light, cold… well, I should be grateful for no snow.

It isn’t the cold so much as the lack of sun. The mountains
are locked into the fog line, everything is grey. Just makes
me feel blah.

And I have 3 and half more months of this. I have things
I could be doing.. but don’t feel like it. I end up with the
ambition of a dishrag. Not even the holidays are perking
me up. But then again, I am not a Christmas person. Hate
the crowds of shopping. Grouchy people, who are on a mission and rudeness seems to be high on their list.

I just wiped out the other half of my post… Instead of the ho hum.
Let’s turn this around. Yea, it is drab out there in the white and grey of the day. But I have a warm house to be in.. others sadly don’t.
As I figure out what to have on the table this late afternoon for dinner, I realize, I have food to fix. And a choice of what that is.
And while I am far from rich, we do have enough money to cover our bills, get food, and buy gas to go where we go. Others do not.

I felt bad, because I had no shoes…..
Until, I met a man who had no feet……

Have a great day, enjoy what you do have..

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

Christmas Migration...

In about a week, there will be the beginning of the Christmas migration.
The hard times of Christmas. Taking a lot of trust and flow of tears.
Then to be continuted thru the holiday… ending with hopefully a peaceful
migration back.

This is when the airlines get inundated with children. Children who will need
an airline personal to escort them to the proper place at the proper time.
And hopefully the airline will not foul up, like they have in the past. I think last year they lost two children, got sent to different parts of the country.

This is a hard time on the parents involved… and depending on how they handle it, is how well the kids will handle it. It takes a lot of trust on both sides.

I am talking about the traveling children of divorced parents. It is stressful.
As all divorced parents don’t play fair. Sometimes using their children as pawns.
Pawns for their own ego’s. Hopefully time will mellow these parents and they will figure it out, it isn’t about them, it is about the children.

HOW DARE THEY?

For those who read my blog, you should have gathered by now,
that I am a strong supporter of our troops. The ones we have now,
and the ones before… I think the government is lackadaisical with their support,
for health and moral purpose especially.

The nation as a whole should be ashamed of the way they treated our men and women who fought in the Vietnam war. They are doing better this time around,
But still there is a lot more that the government could do. Especially those who come back with post trama problems. Yes, there are a great deal of troops who are taken care of in the hospitals and rehab. But there are a lot who are not.

You hear about the ones who get caught inbetween the cracks. The ones who lose limbs and get letters from the branch of service that they are in, and charged with breach of contract as they can’t fulfil their obilgations to the group. You go, what? The guy is in the hospital with one leg missing and they say what? Letter to their senators and etc. straighten it out, but to put any service family thru it, is disgusting.

But now we read about the many bodies that were cremated,and then were tossed in the landfill. It seems there were 274 bodies, and more body parts that were cremated and then taken to the landfill to be dumped. This was in Dover, Maryland.

HOW DARE THEY? These men were/are heroes. Many of them were burnt, blown up, (that’s why there are body parts) 1762 some odd body parts.
And when asked about this, and asked who and where? The New Jersey Representative was told it would be too hard to go thru the files. And no, they had not intentions of notifying the families involved. It was only when the Washington Post pushed it that they even came out with a number.

HOW DARE THEY? What shameful actions done by the United States Air Force.
Our men and women deserve the highest respect. And what the heck is this going to do for our men and women who are still fighting? Are they going to wonder if their families will get their remains… or will their body be sent to a landfill. How degrading.. And I surely hope heads will roll… pun intended.
Who ever … who ever is respondible for this behavior should be court-marshaled.

Even if there are body parts that can not be identified, still the throw them
in a landfill is disgusting… there has to be a better way.. even if it was the spreading of the ashes over the cemetery.

Snow on the roof, but racer in the heart...

Down the road from where I live as you head to Sandpoint,
there is a 4 lane part of the highway at Kootenai Cut-a-cross Road
light.

Direct right is for turning right, down Kootenai Cutacross Road going to Wal-mart.
Direct left, for turning into Ponderay. In the middle is 2 lanes. One for going
to Sandpoint, and the other for the life of me, I don’t know why they put it there.
As the road narrows to one lane in about 30 feet. And it never fails that
someone will get in that short lane, in hopes of jumping the gun and
out running the straight road traffic.

Well, the other day, I had it. A youngster, for lack of better wording, I will
refer to him as a whippersnapper. He sits there ready to go, and the light
turns green… I push the petal to the metal and out ran him.

I know, I know… road rage. But sometimes, you just get sick of it. And besides
there is some of the old Cis still in here… So I as I passed him, I waved and smiled… Never underestimate an old broad, and her Mercury. Look on his face, priceless.

There might be snow on the roof, but there is a racer still in her heart.

I mention this story on my facebook.. And the comments that came in.. From my daughter-in-laws… ‘’ So that is where your son gets it.” Each one of them. Even
a grandson got in on it…saying it isn’t just the son’s it is all of (family name) men.
Yea, go Nana… Then some old friend reminded me of the time she was with me when I raced the Washington State Patrol car. But in all honesty, I didn’t race the WSP. I was driving down the highway, with such friend, when I noticed I was
doing 55. And it was a 60 mph road. So I stepped it up to 60. My girlfriend just about had a cow… and yelled out.. “Oh, my God, Cis, you are racing a trooper.”
As I looked over there were two troopers in the car, and the passenger one looked at me, like you got to be kidding… I stayed at 60 and THEY pulled away from me… now who was racing whom? But the look on the trooper was funny, and the reaction of my friend was priceless. And 30 years later, it was suprising she still remembered it.

Also when one of my sons came to visit with his girlfriend, we went to the King’s mom’s house. I had a nice 1972 Ford ¾ ton 4 wheel drive pickup… with straight pipes that I loved. When we were coming down a steep hill, I down shifted and the pipes sounded out… I heard his girlfriend say, “now I understand you”, as she looked at my son.

But in all fairness, I came by this honestly. You see, my father’s favorite trick was to sit at a stop light, when there was a younger guy next to him in a hot car.. and revving up the engine… my father .. in his 60’s …. would rev his motor up too…and they would look at each other, daring the other when the light would change.. EXCEPT… my father… while the light was red, would make his car jump forward, and the other guy would run the red light… and if there was a police car around, well, that was icing on the cake. Dad did make sure there wasn’t any cars coming thru the intersection at the time. But he sure had fun with his trick. So you see.. it runs in the family.

Yes, there is snow on the roof, but a true hotrodder always remains inside.

Day of Infamy

The words of President Roosevelt was 'A Date Which Will Live in Infamy'.
And that it has. Even tho, some think that the World Trade Center over shadows
this day and the memory of those who lived during that time.

As a person who has visited Pearl Harbor, a little over 2 years ago, I can tell you that it is still a place of somber. As our little boat approached the memorial, there was great chatter… but as soon as each one went up the stairs and stepped inside, there was silence. Only whispers. And we were lucky to witness a group of chorus singers who were also visiting, started to sing our country’s song. Not a dry eye in the place. These college age singers, pulled on all of our hearts.

Some times during our daily lives, we forget some of the past. And even on this day, some forget. I am glad there are survivors who still travel to Pearl Harbor, to be honored. To remind some who forget.

THANK YOU, Pearl Harbor Veterans … those who are still among us…and those who have gone before us.. and mostly for those who died that day.. nurses, pilots, and so many others… Our hearts are with you specially today. God Bless

All the names of the men who died on the Arizona

the oil still leaks to this day...70 years later

WHAT THE H...

Things that I read are driving me crazy… and I have to
say what Whoopi Goldberg says… WHAT THE HEY?

First off, Newt Gingrich, isn’t he the one who had the great plan for United States, years ago, and it ended up sinking the Republican Party? Around the days of Clinton. I can’t believe that Party. Here they have all the cards in their hands, so to speak, with Congress, and this is the best they can do for leadership…to run for President?
What a shame.

Next up is reading about United States exporting refined oil. They are on the verge of exporting more than we are importing. WHAT THE HELL?
Excuse me… aren’t we the ones paying high prices for oil, because we are importing from other countries? And now you are telling me, that we are on the verge of selling more than we buy?
How and why is that? I believe the words were, we shipped more auto and jet fuel overseas, than it imported in 6 of the 9 months of this year… And we are doing that, why? Are they telling us that overseas pays more for ours, so we don’t sell local? I am sorry, but that just baffles me. We are paying more for airlines because of the cost of fuel… we are paying more at the pump because of high cost of imported oil. Some one want to explain that to this old broad’s mind, because I can’t wrap my mind around that. Are we stupid?
And we can’t fix stupid.

I am not even go there, with the whack job’s who decided to pepper spray other shoppers. I am sitting here, shaking my head. I knew common sense died 50 years ago.. but still.. people get a grip.

One family member's bore, another's fantastic stories

I am sure you all had a family member who use to tell stories of family history.. and some have told of local history. If this member was your father or even your mother, then they were BORING..and was met by the rolling of the eyes.

My father was not one of those… but his brother, my Uncle Richard was. When my husband and I had moved back East for about 4 years, our first rental was a waterfront property, which rented lower for the winter. But my uncle would come to visit us and thrill us of stories of planes landing across the street from our driveway. Some of them were the usual landings and some were a thrill a minute. We were living on a fairly large island for that area… and my father’s family was born, grew up and lived there as young adults. So there is a lot of family history that wove with the local history.

My grandfather, with two friends, started the first theater on the island. A theater that was being restored and opening up soon (at that time). So it was really neat to hear about the building of it and what shows he remembered being showed there as well as the live acts.

Also my grandfather had the first taxi service from one side of the island to the other side. As the mainland didn’t have a bridge to the island and another from the other side to the other mainland. Now there are two bridges and Jamestown is merely a stepping-stone for the traffic from Newport to Warwick/North Kingston area. But in my grandfather’s time, he had horse and buggies that transferred the people from the ferry on one side to the ferry to the other side. He had a grocery, and then gas station combo in the middle of the town where the main part was. Later on starting a Ford dealership there, and in Newport and Middletown on the mainland.

Uncle Richard also worked for Gorham Silver in Providence until the 1960’s. He was a machinist, I believe. Then went to work for a place that made material .. which was a box of wonder for me when he came to visit and brought me what they called ends. So I had all kinds of material to make shirts and shorts for the kids.

Yes, Uncle Richard was a fountain of history for us nieces and nephews.. but the roll of eyes for his son. And now that his son is over 70, it is kind of neat, as he has been come the story teller, which I never get tired of listening to his recount of things in Providence. As he started his own towing service at the age of 16. I sure hope his grandchildren ask the right questions.. as he can tell them so many things about the area they live in.

So while you might not think much of your parents or your aunt’s and uncles boring stories… maybe you should listen and hear what happen in your town, when they were young. Sure is different from the town you are living in now… and you get your own family that weaves with that town history.

Attention, holiday political correct police...

What do you call the holiday when you talk about it in general?
As I have caught flak and see others catch flak for saying Happy Holidays.

This is a term or saying I have had for years.. before it fell from grace of the times of politicial correct police. I have said, I wish you happy holidays… I have written, Happy Holidays on cards… been doing for … what 20, 30 years? I start about this time of the year.

Why do I do this? Because I don’t feel like I have to list each one to say to enjoy these holidays… Do I really have to stand there, or write/say.. Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year… or can I say Happy Holidays?

I do say Merry Christmas, when it is very near that day… and on that day. I greet people the morning of…with MERRY CHRISTMAS…. But in general… I say Happy Holidays.. I also say it with inclusions of other religions too…

I was raised in the town of the oldest Synagogues in this nation.. The Touro Synagogue, 1600’s (before the USA.) so I was raised around a lot of Jewish kids… they would wish us Merry Christmas and we would wish them Happy Hanukkah. And we didn’t get mad when they had Yon Kipper off and we didn’t.
So chill out people…

So for now…HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! On December 24 I will tell you Merry Christmas….. and December 31st Eve. I will tell you Happy New Years!

Food terms that brings terror to the faces of your family..

Smorgasboard is another word for leftovers… It is a way of creative
mixing all the boxes or bags of food you put in the refrigerator for your
husband to eat for lunch and he didn’t… so now he gets all of them in
one meal…

Chef's Surprise, brought terror to my children faces, and still does for my
husband. It was not having a clue of what to make, so you make up something that none of you have ever ate before..

Freezer Roulette means picking unknown items in the freezer. You know the stuff you put in the container or bag, but now you can’t figure out what it is, so you have to thaw it out so you can recognize it once again.. and then force to so
something with it… or throw it away… of course, your husband is opting for the throw it away.. But one time it was something he put in, that I could not figure out what it was.. so I made something with it.. turn out to be a grouse that he was saving. Saving for what.. the second coming?

Why is it we think we will eat some of this stuff that we put in the freezer? After all if we had it in the refrigerator for a couple days, and no one eats it… what makes us think we will eat it a month or so, when we look thru all the containers?
Of course, desserts don’t count.. they are good in any form, or later…

So what is your terms for your food that brings terror to your families faces?

Spam ...isn't just online

Those of us over the age of 65 have been overwhelmed with
mail for the past 3 months… and thankfully it will end
next week on the 7th of December…

No, I am not talking about Christmas charities, which is
also heavy in the mail. What I am referring to is the Supplement
Insurance offers. Some of them are so deceptive. I have had
some that come looking like it is from Social Security itself.
A lot of them have AARP on them. But there are others.

My biggest worry is not if my shred machine is going to wear out
thru all of this.. because that is where mine go.. but of those who
are not up on what spam looks like. That don’t read all of what is
on them, to know it didn’t come from the Social Security Office.

And how many of them are frauds? So if you have elderly parents,
and see their mail, check it out… if you don’t see their mail or live
in another state, talk to them about it.

Most of us have agents who handle our supplement insurance. So
if in doubt, ask them. There was one a couple years ago that sounded
too good to be true… and it was.. When they offer it for $9.00 a month
and throws in a health club membership for little to nothing.. You know
there is a side effect to all of this. Limited coverage, and other hidden
policies limitations… so be careful out there.. Read everything well.
Ask around before you make a decision. The new limitations that Congress
wants to pass, could be effected by these policies as well.

Be informed… if you don’t understand… ask someone.. Remember the
only dumb question is the one you didn’t ask and cost you money.

BAH,Humbug, has already started.....

I am watching the Thanksgiving Parade.. Two of my yearly loves is the Thanksgiving Macy Parade and the New Year’s Day, Rose Parade…

And each of the years coming it gets worse.. and this year is just another one of them. I was watching the CBS as my NBC was breaking up… but from what I could see, it wasn’t any better.
(I have antenna so limited channels, but worth every bit of no monthly bill)

What is it with these channels? What happen to my parades. A parade is not suppose to be in the background.. What part of Macy Thanksgiving Parade did they forget?

The host keep chattering… about everything and anything but not to do with the parade… If you can’t tell me some background information about what I am seeing in the background (because I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU) then shut the heck up!! I want to know about the float, or the band.. I want to HEAR the marching band.. my favorite of parades. I don’t want to see a glimpses of the float coming up the street and then you two talking.. and then the end of the float as it goes around the corner…

And I DON’T want to see someone singing, or dancing.. I can watch a talk show for talking, or MTV or what ever video station, or bring out one of my cd’s, if I want musicals or dancing…

I want to SEE the parade… I want to HEAR the bands… I want to see them march… I want to see the floats that people have been working on for months…
I don’t want to see some small time or even big time star tell me what they are going to do for Thanksgiving… go to the talk show for that.

WAKE UP NATIONAL NETWORKS…
SHOW ME THE PARADE!!!!!
Bah Humbug turned off… for now..…

Happy Thanksgiving...

This picture is about 30 years old... it is generation past.... It is one of my mother
taken by a friend, Jo, who came to dinner for over 30 years before Mom's health
got bad.. and the last Thanksgiving, then Jo brought the meal to Mom and Dad's..

This year, we.. the King and I, are passing the tradition on to the next generation...

Thanksgiving has been for the past 20 years or so, the King's delight... but this year

he is grateful that one of the daughter's has stepped up to the plate...

So we are joining about 14 others, and going to our local daughter's house.

SO HAPPY THANKSGIVING, may your day be full of good food, great visits,

lots of laughter.... and a safe trip home, for those who travel...

THE WORDTOSSER...

Who Blinks first???

It is the time of the year.. and I have an early start.
As one who waits until the last minute… I have out done myself.
I am talking about Christmas cards… for the second year in a row, I have got my cards all done before Thanksgiving.. this year even sent them out Monday.

But it is also the time to see who blinks first. Meaning on the list, there are some who you have sent them out for years.. I mean lots of years.. 25, 35 years.. even 50 years.. for us older ones… and you wonder.. is the person getting tired of it. Would they love to have you skip a year so they won’t send you one and then you won’t send one back. Who do you scratch off the list? Do you wait on some, in hopes they won’t send you one and then you don’t have to?
Last year, one of those long time ones, passed away. I got a card and note from her daughter… so sad…See this was one of my teen years friend, who passed away.. So at my age, you start to have some of those friends pass away.

But do you have someone you would like to drop off of the list but don’t because you are afraid you might hurt their feelings? And at our age, do you fear dropping someone in fear they might think you died? Lol…
Good luck with your list..

Out of the woodwork, another political party...

Seems there is another political party starting..
We have seen the start up of the No Party Group, meaning you
could not run under any party name..
And then there is a renewal of a very old party, Whip Party.
And of course we hear about the Tea Party.
Along with all the regulars we see on the ballot each year.

Now we have a new party, which is big on electronics.
Meaning you get to tell what you want in a President.
And after they find one who they think is what the American
people, who own computers wants… then they will ask that
person if they will want to run under their party.

Confusing, huh? Well, the way I understand it. You all or should I say,
we all, go on line and leave a message of the things we want in a President..
the qualities.. even the like Roosevelt, (naming which one) or Kennedy like..
again naming which one. Or even someone in your own state… When they
get enough ideas of what the people in U.S. A. want in a person, they find
that person..
And then they ask that person to come on board, and the (the party)
will back them. It can be anyone.. They can be in the parties of now.

When you go on their site, you give tell your views of what you want.
Then you give a questions for a questionnaire for the candidates. You have
to be a register voter to do this. This is done this winter..

In April, they hope to have it narrowed down to 6 finalist. In May the
candidates that are picked have to opt in. After all they could come up
with someone..but that person may not want anything to do with this new party.
Those 6 different persons, then have to chose their own running partner..
AND (this will be a kicker) that person has to be from another party other
than their own. Their thoughts on this is, so a fringe group won’t take
over the process.

Then in early June of 2012, the 6 top tickets face off in a on line voting.
If there is an overwhelming majority, then that is the candidate. If not,
then the top two have a run off.

In late June the committee of this party, which is independent will decide
and name their candidate. They will then be involved in the polls… and if
the numbers are good, then they will be on the ballot for all 50 states.
As this committee of this party, back them, and have already started their
drive to have a spot open for them on all the ballots in each state.

I keep calling this a party but I am not sure if that is correct wording..
Maybe group would be a better description. So who is this group?
They call themselves Americans Elect. You can look up their name and
find information..

They have their own site, for you to sign up.
www.americanselect.org
“Americans Elect gives you the power to directly nominate a
president in 2012. Who will you choose?”

Is this a good thing? I honestly don’t know. I know those dieheart
Republicans and Democrats are going to freak out. As they think the
country should run with only these 2 parties.. And in the past we have
had several parties that run, but don’t get much media. The Independent Party,
the Liberation Party to name a few.

But with everything going electronic, this doesn’t surprise me.
Scares me, but doesn’t surprise me. I find it interesting, but scary.
It kind of runs in the thing of being scared or hate what you fear or don’t
understand. And that would kind of include me. I am not going to even
try to say I understand all of this. I don’t hate it. So far don’t fear it..but
there is a lots more reading to do, before I do understand..

Sounds like just what the Occupy ____________ (fill in the blank)
ordered. The 99% ers.

Occupy what? and Why?

We have been subjected to the media about the Occupy
______________, you fill in the blank.

It is still in disarray, no matter where it is at.
Even though the media has had reporters down in the middle asking people what is it that they want. No one seems to really know. And definitely no two people come up with the same answer of “hum haw, of let me see, I want jobs, I want us to have money.
Power to the People”… and etc. Which I have mention in previous posting, and it hasn’t gotten any better… also the fact that how many are really there for the original reasoning. How many are free loaders? There for a place to stay, a place for free food, even free health… and a place to spout off what ever comes to their mind, even if it has nothing to do with what the reason is. There is talk of a library being there… come on people, you are not a flaming city.

The other thing that makes me wonder, is why are the cities allowing it.. right from the get go, when the crowds were smaller.
After all if you are a group, and you want to have a public parade, you have to have a permit. A permit of what, where and how many. So they could have been told to leave or be arrested for having no permit. Even if they get a permit, there should be a time limit.. And no, gathering in the town square, at the beginning of a bridge, is not a right.

Now let’s put this into another context… what if this was the National Rifle Association, who decided, they don’t like the gun laws, and etc… and they gathered, like these Occupy people. How long would not only the cities tolerate it, but all the non gun people. And there are a lot of them.. And what about any other group. We have the Aryan Nation, and God forbid (no pun intended) what about the Muslims? What if they were to protest that they are profiled across the nation, and therefore deserve better respect? Would all of you people who are romanticizing this group, be so thrilled?

How can you stand behind at group of unruly people, who camp out, make a mess of your city, have people being hurt, raped and etc. And then when the police come and tell them they have to vacate, turn it into a riot. What right do they have to make a mess, have the strain on the cities for police protection.. of the cities as well, as their (for a nice word) rearends as well. What makes the media, show the people who are having the sit out…but not of the injuries, of some of the people. And when the police have to enforce their Mayor’s words of removal… after warning the people don’t leave, what do you think they should do? Say oh, sorry, you don’t want to obey the law, we will turn our backs. It is ok… now remember, the Muslims, the NRA… and etc. groups, would you say that is ok too? When they are asked to leave.. given a dead line of the next day to be removed their things… and no one does.. Just what do you think? You think 2 months is not enough to get their worries over to the public?

Sorry, I have lost my respect for these people. And I don’t care if you are 85 years old… the law is the law.. you have been asked to leave nicely… you were told what was going to happen…
Nope, you are responsible for what happens to you now.

By the way, so far, I have not heard of any foreign country trying to tell us how to take care of this mess… which is more than I can say for us, when the foreign countries have trouble with their citizens. No one is shooting anyone here, some say.. I thought there was one.. but even so… what if it starts, there is already talk of throwing a Molotov bomb in Macy’s.. how many others will take up the call of violence? It is only a matter of time.

Yes, Occupy what ever… you have had your 15 minutes of fame, over the past two months…now if you REALLY want change, then go about it the proper way. Start by running for council in your own town, then in the Senate or House of your state, and make changes… go to council meetings, go to Senate meetings, go see and talk calmly to your Senator or Representative.. have solutions to your problems.. because yelling in the streets is on our deaf ears now.. As the people who are barely hanging on, job and home wise, don’t need more taxes to pay for your antics.

You are not going to change in 2 months.. what has gone down hill for 100 years… especially the last 50. Get off the entitlement train, and start looking for solutions, real ideas, real problem solving solutions.. not yelling in the town square.

Regis is gone....

Why is it I hedge the fact that I watch Regis and Kelly Live?

After all it is just a show… with two people. Not rock star type of people…just slightly higher than the average people. But for some reason, I enjoy looking over the top of my paper, walking by with the laundry, and seeing what Regis has to say. I have to say, that the part I like the best is the first 15 minutes. The rest depends on the guest or skit they do.

I started out with Regis back 50 years ago when I lived in San Diego, California. He had a noon type show with, I believe Mary Hart. It was a fun show and a nice back ground as I fed the kids lunch. Then the Joey Bishop Show.. but Regis doesn’t wear well as a lower sidekick. It was like he worshipped Joey. And it wasn’t that great to watch. Then years went by, and I caught up with Regis on national TV in the morning with Kathy Lee. They worked well together. Then Kathy Lee left. And Kelly Ripa joined him.
I knew Kelly from All My Children. And I didn’t think this was going to work very well. To my surprise it worked out better than he did with Kathy Lee. And it is funny, as Kathy Lee caught heck a lot…because she talked about her kids on the show… and as Kelly’s children came, she talks about the kids just as much. I kind of liked it as it made both women more human.. and you can work and raises kids too.

I kind of took Regis for granted. But realize how important he was, when he wasn’t there and someone else was with Kelly. The only one who filled in, for him that worked well, was Kelly’s own husband. Same thing worked the other way. When Kelly is gone for her family vacation, the only fill in who worked well with Regis, is Joy, his wife. So it will be interesting to see who they chose to replace Regis. He is a little man, but he has big shoes to fill. As he is the sneaky kind.. someone who you think it is ok that he isn’t there… until…. He isn’t.

Maybe part of the attraction is that Regis remind of my father.
They both are/were (dad is gone) short, both have black hair in their youth, and freckles, both have a wide grin.. and dancing eyes when up to mischief. Both looked great in their 80’s.

Also I think the show works for me.. because it is like your favorite old loafers… no matter how old they get, they just feel good and make you feel good.

GOOD BYE, REGIS… GOD BLESS…

Saw it on Facebook....

Saw this one Facebook... and I liked it...
besides, I have nothing in my head to say today of my own....
Some days are like that...

Sometimes when I reflect on my past
I'm reminded that every moment made me who I am
and brought me to the close family and friends I have today.
If you've ever made me laugh, thank you.
If you've ever made me cry, screw you.
And if you ever were mean to me..... IN YOUR FACE!!!!
Bahaha.... What?
Did you expect me to always be a Hallmark card?
Get real! Thanks

The Lairs of Politics...

Once again we have a stand by your man woman.
Standing in front of the media, saying this is not,
this man’s nature to do… fill in the blank. This time
it is Mrs. Herman Cain… whose husband is running for president.

She is taking quite a slam thru the talk shows women, who think they know her.. or shake their heads as they speak of her.
In all honesty, I don’t know if what she speaks is the truth. And in this day and age of politics as normal we know the biggest liars of them all, are politicians. They are, with their “people”. Oh, I forgot it isn’t a lie when they say it, it is a spin. Spin is just another way of saying lies. Just they figure we are too stupid to realize the difference. And judging some of the words you hear, that might be right.

See I am a cynic as well, as one who doesn’t believe everything she hears. I remember the great Bush lie.. oops, spin… on McCain when they were running as Republican president candidate. Where Bushes group spread the word of how McCain’s adopted child was his illegitimate child, born out of wedlock. Rather than see his family destroyed… McCain folded. Which that in its self was not good. Too bad he didn’t show strength. Tell his child of people’s lies.. and have his wife and he, stand up and call Bush on his lies.
Same thing with Perot, another one who lies/spins were against his family. So when the stories start coming out.. It is hard to believe everything you read. And having the ambulance lawyer like Allred, is like having Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton show up.

Besides, didn’t our parents teach us to believe half of what you read/hear and ¼ of what you see?

Me, I will judge Mr. Cain by his issues.. not the personal ones. At least for now. So far he has show a couple of ideas, which sound good, until you read all of them and what they truly mean.
And so far… next November is going to be a bust… at least for me.
Once again it will be a vote of the less of the two evils.. and who knows, I might vote like I did in the Bush/Kerry one.. ‘NONE OF THE ABOVE. Sometime, you just got to do, what you got to do.

There she blows...

Back home there is a saying..if you don't like the weather.. just wait a bit, as it will be to your liking before the day is over.
Well, yesterday, I was enjoying the sunshine. Then about 11 after I got the mail, I was opening and reading it. All sudden it got dark, dar enough I had to turn on the lights. I looked outside and this is what I saw..

Why I love living in Bonner County, Idaho

When the King goes hunting, and I ride along.... he shoots with a gun, and I shoot with a camera.
As you will see, I got more shoots than he did... not a deer in sight.
This is just a 20 minute ride from our house... but a nice slow ride thru just one of our ridges.
Looking through our windshield...

As you can see winter has come to the high ridge... Everything looks so beautiful..

Trees with their snow coats on...

This is a branch that is hanging over the road...

we slowly go under, so we don't break our antenna, and scratch the truck.. or

break Mother Nature's branches... this is a view was the branch goes across the

windshield... a few leaves still on.. in the snow..

there are many of trees that lean with the heavy snow across the road.

As we got thru each one slowly, the snow flies, and the trees stand at attention once again.
As we came out of the woods, and back to civilization... here was a flock of wild

turkeys...

And around the corner we come to see across the valley, to the mountians.. and

sunshine..

TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
TO ALL WHO SERVE AS WE SPEAK….
WE HUMBLY SAY….
THANK YOU….
Words so little, but so large in our hearts..
On this Veteran’s Day and every day…
THANK YOU….

And to number 4 child….
HAPPY 47th BIRTHDAY…

Sometimes you just wonder how things happen....

In this Michael Jackson case, where the Dr. is up for
sentencing now that they found him guilt. One thing
I don’t understand.. how did he get possession of that
much drug?

I know he is a doctor.. but really, this is a drug that is
to be used in a hospital only.. so how does ANY doctor
order out that drug from the hospital? And that much.
Hell, he had enough to put an elephant herd to sleep. And
this is not the first time Jackson had it at his home. Even
had a nickname for it.. milk. He was trying to break himself
of the habit supposedly, but that night begged for it. So that shows he had it before.

I worked in a health care center for 17+ years. And those nurses
had to count each pill, before they turn over the cart to the next shift. Every nurse, every cart… and they had to count what was in
the med room. One time when there wasn’t a nurse around to count with the on coming nurse… I was asked to witness the counting for the on coming nurse. (Nurse had to leave because she was sick)

My understanding that hospitals have to do the same.. So where
didn’t it bring down the red flag? It is my understanding.. that he
didn’t buy it thru a black market type of deal… so how did he get
his hands on that much? I heard from one of the news it was 4 gallons? Surely that must be a mistake.. 4 bottles maybe, surely it
wasn’t 4 gallons worth. But I think the hospital or supplier should
have to be accountable to how it got in the good doctors hands. Who signed this stuff out?

Next, there should be blame spread around. Don’t get me wrong, I
think the doctor should have been found guilty. No doctor should have a patient overrule good judgment. If I don’t do what my doctor says, he would tell me to go else where. But of course there was a lot of money involved. But still. Blame should also go to
Mr. Jackson, himself… after all he is the one who asked, begged for it.. and he was far from a victim here. Same thing with his family… same thing with Elvis If you really think your family member could die from drugs.. you need to do a family meeting with that person.. intervention. If you can’t get to them.. call the police.. drugs are illegal.. The star could have his/her career effected? Well, that is better than being dead?

Morning of heartbreak or thrills

As everyone wakes up this morning. It is a morning of
heartbreak or thrills… some found out last night.. those
who stayed up long enough to see the results…but then again
there is the write ins and mail ins, that need to be counted as well.

And in Washington state that came be most of them..
As most of them mail in.. not sure if all do.
Here in Idaho, it usually is only a small percentage that mail
in theirs. Personally, I like going down to the polls and make
my mark the old fashion way. And in my little town, that is
still true, as we don’t have the automatic machine that some do.

But there had to be a lot of celebration last night, and the close one
had to wait until this morning.. and some of them have to wait yet.
Some will be cussing.. some will think maybe they should have voted, as they figured their person was a shoo in.. But those who didn’t vote, have no say now.. Missed opportunity…

Over in Washington, the people will be heading to the grocery store to buy their liquor, as they voted out their state liquor stores.
So we will see if what they had to say, the pro’s and con’s, is true or not..

I had no horse in this race. As ours were all unopposed. We now
have a new Mayor. A really nice gentleman and he is a gentle man. And our to be ex Mayor, will be stepping down after many,many, many years of holding down the fort. She definitely will feel the lost of being in the know. But then again, maybe relieved too. So those of you who voted.. Hope your person got in, and your bill went the way you voted. The rest of you. who didn’t vote.. Sorry.. Your mistake.. Sad.

Having a hard time not being a bitch...

Seems like more and more, the mail makes me a bitch.

I got today in the mail… an envelope saying Medicare
Changes, Then you open the dark inside of the envelope
and there is a postcard. Telling how there are Medicare changes
and how these changes could affect my current plan.
For me to fill in my name, birth date, and my spouses name
and birth date as well… and phone number… Nothing saying
where it is from. But in blurry, small letters it says Brad Mill,
license insurance agency could be contacting me.. And the front
of the post card says.. SD Reply Center in Rockwall Texas.
My worry is that there is a senior citizen out there who won’t recognize this
as an advertisement… and being a post card with their name and birth date on it..
along with their spouses… is an open candidate for fraud or identity theft.

Then there is the request for donation for Hospice Education.
Now I have the highest regard for Hospice… but I sure the heck not going
to send money to the state of Maine….
Idaho has Hospice too. Each county, just about, has their own..
we have ours here in Bonner county. I have taken classes there when I was an aide.
But Maine, I don’t think so… reminds me of a line from one of
the judge/court shows, where she says, stay in your own lane… So
Hospice of Maine, send your request for your Hospice to people
Of Maine. Idaho people will send theirs to their local unit, thank
you very much.

Then there is the Toys for Tots. I have gave to Toys for Tots for
years.. I once paid for a picture that the Sandpoint magazine used,
and had them donate the payment for that, to the Toys for Tots..
There is no way I am going to send donations to Des Moines, Iowa!
The Lions club here in our town does it quite well…
Iowa Toys for Tots… stay in your own lane/state..
Yes, I am afraid that makes me a bitch… but it isn’t my fault..
they just tick me off… and it come out

Have you ever wonder who came before you?

I am sure there are a lot of you out there who have gone back
a branch or two on your family tree… So you get to know the names…
and if you are lucky you know what they did for work.

One of my family members asked about some of mine, so I got my folder
out of the old filing cabinet, and started to proceed looking over the pictures
and etc. I decided to scan pictures and papers, on one side for now.. I found a
booklet that one of my great aunts did in the 1960’s …long before computers…
(well, for her at least)
It is all on my grandmother’s side, which is also hers.

I sat and started to read it, as I was trying to find out connection.
And I tell you, after reading for half an hour, I feel my head start to spin.
Holy cow.. so many names, so many same names. There ware so many
William’s, John’s, Hannah’s, Daniel’s, Elizabeth's and Harriet’s. I finally
found the right Daniel who was married to the right Harriet, which is my
great, great, great grandfather from England. But I couldn’t find any more..
but luckily it did list his children.. which was my great great grandfather…
but I tell you, I felt like my brain was on a merry go round… and I was dizzy.

I think I need a rest from this.. before I start the other side.. at least
all their names are different.. well, there is quite a few Elizabeth’s there.
But when you get to the Swedish section, I can’t even spell them never
mind pronounce them.

Maybe I should have just copies the papers and sent them to her.
But I did get to go to a site and came out looking at the church cemetery
in England where quite a few of them are buried. That was cool

Some people's memory sure is different than mine..

One hears about different Republicans..
There is the Tea Party Republicans,
Ultra right wing Republicans
Middle of the road Republicans
And the one that baffles me the most is the Reagan Republicans

They talk about him like he was some kind of a wonderful hero of the Republican
Party… and may he was…..to them… sure wasn’t to the rest of us.

Why the ultra right wing have grabbed him is beyond me. After all I thought the
ultra right wing was/is the highly religious Republicans. And Reagan did not
wear his religion on his sleeve.. does any one know what religion he followed?

So I am confused, and I sure don’t remember the President or even Governor
called Ronald Reagan in the same way as those who proclaim him the Republican
of all Republican… Heck, even the Democrats refer to him, as
a great man of ideals… Which is all ironic, as he raised taxes, and
increased the National Debt as much or more than others.

Some will say, well, you are just looking at the political side of it.. Could be
as I was a citizen of California when he was voted in as a Governor. And
we cussed about him and his policies.. but the one that stuck out in my mind,
to even today… was when he cut the food budget for the nursing homes.
My neighbor was an Administrator of a nursing home.. And she was really
fed up with the new policies of soup and sandwiches for dinner. And their
lunches were to be stews, or casseroles and etc. But the long and short of
it, the citizens of California were far from happy.

Now jump ahead almost 20 years later… Reagan ran and won the President
Election. To those of us who ever lived in California dismay. Now my family
Is living in R.I. My now, deceased husband, was on Social Security Disability.
After having 6 different operations for blocked arteries, 3 doctors had decided
there is no way he could go back to being a welder or a diesel mechanic, that
he had been for over 34 years. We were on about a year, when Reagan
became President.. and thru his policies… we, along with many families,
got dumped off of the SSD, with one week notice. With the message of
now prove again, why you should be on SSD and you will do that with our
doctors, not yours. Long and short, it took us 10 months to prove once and
for all, that he deserved to be on SSD. After being thrown on welfare, which
horrified both of us, as both of us were independent people. They took the kids
savings and told us to spend that before we got any money.. and gave us food
stamps. I started some classes as I hadn’t worked for 30 years other than help
my husband in a small scrap iron company we had years earlier. It was a long
10 months, of lost dignity, and explaining to my kids that all the money that
they had saved (I think maybe $110 among the 5 kids we still had at home)
and why the government would make them take it out of the bank and spend
it. Against everything we had taught them about saving.

Also there was a man in a wheel chair, who lived in New York or New Jersey,
Who was turn down by the SSD… who after fighting it out with different agents
of the SSD… went to the office one day, with one more try, and went to the lobby
and shot himself… with a note in his lap… NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY
MY FAMILY AND GIVE THEM BENEFITS.

And that is what I remember about Mr. Reagan, that is why I am confused about
why people would call themselves… Reagan Republicans. To me that is not a good thing..

CHRISTMAS???

A lot of my friends are starting to get into the Christmas spirit.
BAH HUMBUG… I usually wait until at least a week or so before
Christmas. But last year about sent all my friends into a major
shock by mailing out my Christmas cards. Usually I pull the waiting
game. You know where you wait and see if so and so is sending
you a card this year.. hoping one of us is skipping a year, so the
other has permission to quit sending a card?

So to think of Christmas, now.. I am just getting thru the Halloween
Mode. Trying to get set up for Thanksgiving mode, and they are throwing
Christmas at me.

Ok, so now I have thought about Christmas… still Bah humbug… now leave me
a lone… now let me see, where was I… oh, yea, are we doing Thanksgiving here
or are we traveling this year. Wonder what the weather will be?
That will be the deal breaker of traveling for then.

Rich? poor?

The old saying was the rich get richer and the poor get more children…
I don’t know.. I guess I am an old ball.. because I never minded the people
who were rich.. they had their lives and I had mine. Kind of it is what it is type of deal.
Now those of you who are screaming and starting to pull your hair out… I don’t consider the rich lumped in with bankers… and I don’t compare those with the CEO’s who get huge bonuses. Those huge bonuses never made sense to me.. why would anyone get a bonus of more that 8 times the working man’s wages? Never understood that. They already got a huge wage, so why the bonus? But that is for another day.

I was raised in Middletown, R.I. and we had quite an arc on incomes in our county. We had the farmers who if they had a good year, broke a little more than
even.. We had the people who lived in a place called Park Holm, and they were
low end wage earners or welfare for what ever reason.. We had Tomney Hill, which had the poorer Naval families.

And then we had just a mere 4 miles away.. Newport Ocean Drive and Belleville Avenue. . The home of the Vanderbilts, Belmonts, Wetmore, Berwind and Morris families… to name a few.. A lot of them, I never heard of while I was growing up.
Vanderbilts were probably the only one I was aware of at the time.. We kind of didn’t run in the same circle, you might say. While they flaunt some of their things…it was mostly their crowd was aware of it.. Once in a while stories would leak out… like in the 1920’s and Mrs. V wanted the U.S.Navy to paint their ships
white and moor them on the sea area view from her house.. for her WHITE PARTY.. that was where everyone dress in white with white wigs and etc. And
of course the USN decline her invitation… And then there is the one who built their own Japanese house for a Japanese party she had. But again these were before my time… I had a neighbor girl friend whose father was the gardener from one of the rich people, but not a big name one.. We got to go there while the family was gone and went swimming off of the pier… and I almost drown. She
grabbed my hair and saved me. We had a good laugh the following year when I graduated from the 8th grade and it was in my future to be a swimming guard.

But the rest of our county was middle of the road wage earners. My father worked civil service for over 35 years. So I guess we were in the middle.
He had good benefits and a slightly better wage than the farmers, gas station people and etc. But I can also remember my mother figuring out what groceries she was going to buy with her food budget of $10. And they never bought on time payments.. their only monthly payment was the house mortgage at the bank.

So you see, those of us in the middle wage families, didn’t see any big deal that some were richer than we were.. Like I said, most of them didn’t flaunt it. So it was never in our faces. So some in my class went to college, some join the service, some went to the work force.. And knew there was two ways to get
rich. One you were born into it and worked for your father, or you worked really hard to become an owner of your own business. Hard work was the name of the game. The rest of us.. well, we would work hard, but also had families, so that is where our money went. Still never feeling a big difference. Even if you had a wealthy friend, it wasn’t a big deal.

We knew if we worked hard, we could save for something.. as there wasn’t any credit cards then. There was lay-a-ways at the local clothing stores. That is where you put down some money on your purchases, and you were given a time limit of when you had it paid off. They kept the merchandise in the back room until you had it paid for. The only payment plan was your house.. and then cars
also came to play but that was thru a bank. And you had to have really good job to be even considered.

So where am I going with all of this? I guess it is that I don’t understand the 1% against the 99%. For one thing the numbers are all wrong. There are a lot more than 1%.. you take in sports stars, movie stars, music stars, the computer whiz kids like Gates, and etc.. and add them to the CEO’s with the big bonuses, and who ever else there are.. it has to be more than the 1%. After all the computers and video games, and etc. made millionaires out of thousands or millions in the 1980 to 90’s.

While there are some who have foreclosures because companies lay off the people… and I feel bad for that… but there are others, who were so far out of their range. So it is a toss up, the bank or the people who knew they were not able to pay… I had a measure when I bought.. could I afford this on unemployment… if not, then I didn’t buy. So shame on both sides… and the payments of $1,500 a month, some of them more, is insane…

Sorry, but that is just how I feel… I always figured out if I can pay what ever I was pay for… and thought of the worse scenario. So I guess I just don’t understand.
And yes, I have been poor… yes, I have been single mother, and poor… even been married and poor… where the kids had oatmeal to eat 3 times a day for 4 days.. and my husband and I ate popcorn… and only afford hamburg meat and pasta for weeks on end.

So if someone is rich because they worked hard, or had an idea and that made them lots of money…. Good for them… it just didn’t work out that way for me. And I don’t begrudge them, their money… from what I have read and heard..a lot of them are like the Gates and have helped others.

Happy Halloween...NIGHT

Happy Halloween...

By my daughter... double pumpkins...

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

WHO IS GOING TO CLEAN UP THE MESS?

All these protestors. All the different cities… Thousand of people
at some of them.. Heck, New York is almost like a little city in it’s
self… People sleeping on the streets, in tents, sitting in chairs.
milling around. Food being supplied… paper plates and cups.
Then the first aid tent, massages tents or chairs…

I got to ask.. who is going to clean up this mess when they all
leave? After all they have to leave sometime. The
weather should be turning cold soon in the Northern states.

If you have ever been around an area that many people have
gathered.. even for just a day, there is garbage all over the place.
Even with garbage cans all thru the area… They end up overflowing.
There is garbage left behind, clothing left behind.. lost items.. Dirt,
from everyone walking all over the place…

How much money is this going to cost the city to clean this stuff up.
Every city is complaining about their budgets stretched to the max as
it is… And those in the Northern states are looking at snow coming,
have a limit budget for that. How are they going to clean up and
remove snow?

I think the cities should give each one of the protestors a large bag, and
Half of them, brooms… and let them clean up their mess..

Salesmen can be fooled just as taxi drivers are...

As I told you yesterday, working in the nursing home can be funny.
Today’s tale is about a gentleman and a truck…

One day a man decided he wanted a truck. He lived at the local
nursing home for about 8 years. So he called up the local taxi
and requested a cab.

The cab arrived and the gentleman walked out with his walker
and got into the cab. He requested the driver to take him to
the local Ford dealer.

The gentleman dealt with the salesman for about half hour and
went for a ride in the truck of choice. That the salesman allowed
him to drive… with the walker placed in the bed of the truck.

When he arrived back at the dealership, he gave all of the information
to the salesman. And the salesman gave him a ride back to the
nursing home , helped him out of the truck and gave him the walker.

The salesman went back and worked on the paper work so he could get
the deal thru asap. But he had to called the house number
to talk to the gentleman as most of the credit record was over 10 years old.
Only to find out he was talking to the gentleman’s adult daughter who informed him that….
Dad has been in a nursing home for 8 years.
Dad had his driver’s license revoked 9 years before.
And that the daughter is the one who controls Dad’s money
As dad is delusional and has been for 9 years…
And was just notified by the nursing home, her father had taken
a taxi ride..and just returned.. as they had been looking for him for more
than 30 minutes.

The poor salesman was the butt of many jokes around the dealership.
Don’t know if he still works there or not… as that was over 5 years ago.

These two stories are true, I swear with my hand on a bible…

Working in the nursing home...

We had a gentleman name Francis...
One day Francis called for a taxi... Francis had dementia...
The taxi came and picked up Francis without question...
Francis told him he need to make an appointment in Spokane (75 miles away)
So off they went...

Only trouble was when they got to Spokane and Francis couldn't come up
with an address and thru the conversation, the taxi driver discovered
he probably shouldn't have picked up Francis in front of a nursing home..

He ended up having his dispatcher call the nursing home to see if they were
missing someone called Francis.. Sure enough they had discovery he was
gone and were totally surprised that he was in Spokane... long and short ..
he had to return Francis to the nursing home.

But it gets better....

The Taxi company decided to sue Francis for not paying for the ride.
(why they didn't sue the nursing home I don't know ... unless because
the nursing home did not know that Francis had called and didn't discover
he was gone until about 45 minutes later)....

The girls were told to have Francis's suit clean by the laundry gal..for him
to show up in court the next day. When it came down to time to take Francis
to court, they went to the laundry and got his suit. It was the only thing he
had to wear to court...

Well, thru the laundry the suit shrank.. it was 3 inches too short on the sleeves,
and about the same for the pants... but he went anyway with the Social Worker...
The Judge took one look at Francis as he was called and walked up to the bench,
looked at the Taxi Company man, and said... YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING..
The taxi driver shrugged his shoulders... and the Judge said this case is dismissed...

OK, NOW WHAT???

Everyone seems to be thrilled at the death of Gaddafi. While I never
am thrilled about a death of anyone or thing.. if I was, he would be a
close first (all with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden) …
Gaddafi had based his throne on the bodies of many…as did the others.

So there are the rebels, shooting off their rifles… which I do have to ask
two questions.. first where do those bullets come down.. and hit what or whom?
Second, they have that much ammo, that they can waste it shooting at least
10 and some 20 times… and you times that per rebel..

But as we have seen with Egypt, after the rebels take over, it isn’t a easy
fix.. Egypt is still up in the air with no real leader. And the military that is running
the show isn’t too much better than Mubarak. When the people go to the polls
to vote, they don’t necessarily get who they vote for… as that person has to be
approved of by the military… Which isn’t necessarily who the people want, as
you remember the military stood to the side while the rebels took over.

I don’t know how the other countries that the rebels are taking over are faring.
but so far, with the ones that the rebels have won… I have to say…
Now What?

I can't sing

No, really, if you heard me, you would know I can’t sing..
In Church I am like Bill Cosby… remember he talked about
his brother Russell and he singing, but only mouthing the words.
And how he almost got caught as he had mouth the words AMEN,
only to be almost caught as he had to shift his mouth for the words
that turn out not to be AMEN, but FOREVER MORE…That is me.

I was told when I was in my 20’s and had a husband at that time who
played guitar and sang. One day I decided to sing with him as I knew the
words… only to be shut down by an instant stop of guitar playing to silence,
and a glare… and words of… what ever made you think you can sing? You
have a terrible voice. Needless to say my singing was done from then on
in….. in the shower when I was the only one home.

About 15 years ago, I was taking my grandson to a soccer practice and
a rock and roll song came on, and I started to sing along with it, forgetting
he was in the car…. To hear him say, “Nana, don’t give up your day job.”
Smart mouth kids.. lol… I had a night job anyway… but I knew what he meant.
So still, I don’t sing with others within hearing distance… only if I am home alone.

I got to admit.. I couldn’t hold a tune, if it came in a bucket… But it does
Remind me of a song about 40 years ago, I think it was sung by Red Sovine.
About Brother John, who was in the church choir and couldn’t hold a tune
either and the others had shamed him so bad.. he left the choir and the church.
And the Pastor came to his house to see why he wasn’t coming to church.
When he explained, the Pastor told him.. that to God, all of us sound good,
after all he was the one who gave us our voices.. Which I thought was a
nice thought, but I sure wish the good Lord had gave me one that was a
little more pleasing.. to others… I didn’t want to sound like Loretta Lynn,
but just good enough so people don’t get this painful look on their face if they happen to catch me singing..

Men need.....

Men need hunting season… I know this does not mean all men.. as there are a lot of them who don’t hunt… Some view hunting as just a reason to get rid of the wife and kids and have a drunken party…

But a true hunter takes hunting very serious.. and if they are lucky to have several friends who hunt, then it is a great time together… to bond, to be just themselves.. very much like women do when they have a girls night out. Or a women’s retreat.. Sometimes, no matter how much you love your spouse, it feels good to take a few days or a week to unwind. Both come back stronger than before…

Now ladies, don’t get upset, I know there are those of you out there who also hunt.
And do it very well… but unless you are hunting with your husband or boyfriend, it is a day time hobby for you. Where the men have a community up there in the hills. Huge tents, campers, canopies, little tents, with coolers, campfires and tarps, and all the stuff that guys can think of to go camping..

All this starts at least a month before they actually pull out of the driveway. There is a driving force, and one mind set, almost a tunnel vision you might say…
This is the same guy who won’t touch a suitcase, or help you pack the car for a trip. But saying hunting season, and they get this glaze over there faces and the race is on… packing the camper, clothes, guns, food, and all the stuff that goes with it..

Now I think this is great.. because that is the time I get to do a project. A project that I can do in my own speed, which is usually faster, than if I have help. Also I don’t have to have dinner fixed by a certain time, I can start any time I want to,
I can have a cup of coffee, read the paper, and then start out there without anyone getting impatience with me. This weekend’s project was laying down weed block and about 10 bags of pea gravel between the raised garden.. I was tired of weed whacking it… and the King has talked two years about we should do that… Well, two runs to Home Depot. With my little car loaded down with bags of pea gravel.. in my back seats.. laying low to the ground, we made it home.

Kind of sad, in some ways.. see we have two.. yes, two pickups.. and the King has both of them. One with the camper, and one with the 4 wheeler loaded up in the back.. and they all have to go to camp.. That just isn’t fair… but ever underestimate the power of a woman and her little car.

Now… I wonder what I can think of for next weekend…

Life is not fair....

That is what I use to tell my kids… That if they are waiting for life to
be fair, they will miss out… because life is never fair. This conversation
usually started because one of my son’s thought life should be fair.. as
He was always saying, “it’s not fair.”

He wanted every thing, right down the line to be fair… I use to have to divide up M&M to colors, exact amount of M&M AND the exact amount of colors per child.. ( had to eat the leftovers, and that is why I was fat.. that was my excuse and I am sticking to it)…. So when he grew up, I figured he was going to be a civil rights lawyer, as he always wanted things to be fair.

But I learn fast that life is not fair… I can remember an article in the Sunday paper the Parade in the 1980’s… about the CEO’s of companies bonuses. I don’t recall all the companies they talked about, but it cover quite a bit.. But I do remember the Sears guy got $700,00!!!! BONUSES.. A bonus of $700,000… do you understand this.. a bonus.. on top of the hundreds of thousands he already got for his job.

I am sorry, but I don’t believe people should get bonuses when they are already over paid for a job, like most CEO’s are. After all where can you work where you get fired and still get money. They fired the CEO for K-mart quite a few years ago, and he got a firing package… FIRING PACKAGE? The only firing package I got was a pink slip… This CEO, who got fired… got millions worth of stock in the company..plus a pay off… Have you ever been fired and they paid you on top of it? Unheard of, in 99% of the jobs. And a $700,000 BONUS.. which is more than 80% of the nation makes a year… And now, I understand it is millions they get instead of hundreds of thousands. And they wonder why the nation is fed up?
You wonder why there are OCCUPY (fill in the town) protest going on?

The people don’t want a hand out, they just want a fairness in it all. They understand they don’t have the education of a CEO of banks or any other company… but they just want fairness. The CEO’s get paid plenty.. but you got to understand without all the little people who are making the product, selling the product, they are just as important as the CEO. So outlaw bonuses… bring on an even tax… straight across the board, no deductions… for anyone.. I thought 30 years ago, if we had a straight across the board 7% income tax for everyone.. from the ditch digger to the CEO… with no tax breaks.. the country would have enough money.

So when people see that the CEO’s get a high wage in the first place, get tax breaks that the average joe doesn’t, and then stack on top of that HUGE BONUSES.. well, like they said on the movie Network… “I’M MAD AS HELL, AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE’…. War of the classes, yea, I guess you can call that, when the rules aren’t the same for everyone. One of the places they could start with is…. The Congress person’s. the biggest welfare system we have.. Different insurance than the country has, different wages and automatic raises, and the rest of the bennies… that the average guy or gal will never see… yep, mad as hell and not taking it anymore..
So if you are expecting a change.. don’t hold your breathe… there has always been the very rich and the poor… and some in the middle… back hundreds of years… so if you are hoping for a quick change.. not going to happen…
They don’t have the old saying… the rich get richer and the poor get (poorer or more children, depending on which one you have heard) …. So changing something that has been going on since the beginning of time, isn’t going to change…

Life just isn’t fair… never will be… get use to it…

Living in Bonner County, Idaho

When my deceased husband and I moved here with 4 of our children, we
moved to Priest River first… then to Vay. The moving to Vay was frustrating, as we were moving a trailer we had bought in Priest River to land we bought in Vay.
My frustration was with the county. As they required, moving insurance, in case the truck driver broke down on the road.. but he had the insurance, so that was ok…then they required property taxes to be paid in advance. I don’t know what was with that… we had already paid for the trailer property tax for that year. But that wasn’t good enough. They wanted next years up front. Then there was a moving permit. And it seem like it went on and on. The electric was a headache, as we had to have it all installed and the first part was the permit and impact fee of $100. I didn’t see what the impact was besides my wallet..

I was sitting one day thru all of this with my friend Wayne, who had lived here about 10 years before us. After hearing me for a few minutes he told me…” Cis, you got to understand… you have moved to Idaho. And Idaho is like the two bulls on the hill top… One old and one young. When the young one sees a herd of cows below, he tells the older bull, let’s go run down there and get one of those cows… of which the older bull said, no… let’s walk down there, and get them all… That Idaho, especially Bonner County, is like that, they take their time and they get us all”. That story has stuck with me ever since.

So seeing the newest wrinkle in the county commissioners doesn’t surprise me. They haven’t had a good mix up for quite some time… I forgot about the meeting on Thursday.. but I am sure there were a lot of people there giving voice to their concerns… and election next time.. just might be interesting. The commissioners have woke up a sleeping giant, called the citizens.

The Disorganized Organization

I am frankly confused when I read about the organization of the OWS group.
(that is Occupy Wall Street). First off, not all of them are in New York where
Wall Street actually is. Seems like a lot of towns have their own group. Even some of the small towns (compared to New York).

I haven’t really paid much attention to mass crowds who protest. It rarely gets anywhere, but I also wonder if all of the group is there for the right or same reason.

Many years ago, we all remember the groups of protestors of the 1960’s. Most of them were college age and a lot of them were on the college grounds.. But one of the things that came out, that there were people who showed up to these groups to make more trouble than the ones who really organized the protest. That they had no real interest of the protest, but they like to stir up the crowd and get them into a frizzy, and step back and watch. Getting glee from the riots they had cause. This came out in the famous Kent College riot that ended up with the National Guard shooting some students, some which died.

So I wonder about this new group, which seem more like a FLASH MOB, which has become the newest rage of the past couple years. That is where they email, text a large group to show up where ever. Most of them are harmless. You see them on the internet on U-tube… singing hymns, or other such things.

As I watch on the news, and some of the people they have interviewed, they don’t seem to be very organized except for the fact they are all there. They have almost a community among themselves. They have free food, free physical therapy, (they showed people receiving back rubs for stress) free medical help and other things that are free to those who show up. Which makes me wonder, how many showed up just for the freebies.

Also, when they interviewed several… none of them seem to know what they wanted. When the reporter asked, what bill do you want to have passed to fix what you are protesting for… the person had kind of a blank look on their face and then mumbled something about, they didn’t think there was a bill that would fix it. Some were asked what did they hope to have happen at the end of the protesting… and what did they really want? And again, the blank face, and said I don’t really know. There was at least 8 people, who were asked these questions, and none of them seem to know exactly what they wanted. Also they were upset with banks, but it was the stock market they were blocking..

Another thing that was kind of funny to me… was they were protesting big companies. And those with stock on the stock market. What made this funny to me, was the fact that one gal had a name brand jacket on, while carrying a lab top computer. I don’t know if it was an Apple or a Microsoft type, but that seems to be kind of counter productive.. It would be kind of like a PETA protesting while eating a hamburger. I was shown a site that is suppose to state what their leaders want, but that too was first off confusing.. and not practical.. more like the combo of Ron Paul and the Tea Party. http://www.infowars.com/dissecting-the-ows-list-of-demands/" Don’t know how accurate it is…


I don’t mind protestors, but I hate the ones who decided to block traffic, so no one can get thru. A few years ago, there was one in Seattle… caught up in it was a woman, whose small children get home about an hour after she gets off work.
She was stuck in the traffic blockage for 5 hours… this was before cell phone were really popular. Also was a woman who went to town to the doctor, and got stuck in the same traffic… her handicapped husband was home, and she was suppose to be there giving his meds… and couldn’t. When you block traffic for that long without thinking about those it will effect, that is criminal. Protest all you want.. just don’t put others in harms way.