I truly don't understand...

I was reading an article in yesterday's paper.

It was an article about the food bank and the

out going head person.

It told how it started and how they get the

food from donations from stores as well as

donations of funds so they can buy food.

One of the stories was about how the

backpack of food for weekends, for the

school kids.  Which I haven't been a fan

of.  But they were explaining why it was

started.  Seems there was a local school

nurse who talked to her and discussed the

fact that a couple of children came to school

on Monday's that were not in the best of shape.

Dizzy and etc..  And the nurse found out that

the children had not eaten since the Friday

afternoon before at lunch time.

As much as I would like to understand that, I

just can't.  What kind of parent lets their child

go from Friday afternoon's lunch to Monday

morning with out a meal.  Sorry, but that has

to be a pretty low base person or persons.

I even mention to a friend of mine. She said

she could understand, as she, in the 1950's

went to school hungry.  That they didn't have

enough to eat. But at least they ate daily.

2 to 3 meals. .maybe small but meals.  

I didn't say anything to my friend.. except I

was sorry that she had to go thru that. 

See I knew her father was in the bars all

the time, as she had talked about it many

times.  And her mother smoked.  Those

are some people who drive me nuts.

Because my kids came FIRST.  And yes, we

had some terrible years..  with lay offs and

strikes.  And yes, I stood in the commodity

lines for cheese, peanut butter, meat in a can

flour and sugar.  The strike gave us $25 a week,

so we had to depend on the commodities.

My second husband while laid off, ran a mechanic

shop, working on local's vehicles.  And we had

a time, when the kids had oatmeal for breakfast

and dinner and he and I ate pop corn. Needless

to say, I started banging on doors of those who

owed us money for repairs. Ended up getting

$600 of the $1, 000+ money on the books.

I then, put up a sign in the shop.. "we have an

agreement with the local bank...we promised

not to do loans on repairs, and they promised

not to work on auto's. so please be prepared to

pay for the repairs when you come to get your

car".    Then I had my husband give me the

keys to the autos when he finished them. And

they came to the house to get the keys. No

money, no keys.. Funny how they could come

up with the money. They called me what sounded

like witch, but I think it was with a B. I didn't

care. 

But my point is.. with all our kids.. we never

went with out 3 meals a day. Sure they might

not have been the best of meals.. but it was

something.  I would NEVER EVER let my

kids go without eating for 2 or 3 days. NEVER.

There is food banks, there are neighbors, there

are churches.. and I would swallow my pride

any day, all day.. to make sure my kids ate.

Maybe when the school finds this type of situations

the welfare office should work with the parents.. teach them

how to garden, fish, hunt, and help with

managing their money.  In these days of

Welfare... why should any child go with out

eating over a weekend?

I just don't understand. 

  

As we get older...we lose more...

As we are getting older, and this is just

as true of those of our parents and grandparents,

we lose people...

Our headlines read of the passing of the likes of

Patty Duke... and others.. that we spent our

childhood or young adult life with..

It is like a piece of us dies with them.. A piece of

our childhood.  Singers we sang in our cars with

or saw on American Bandstand.  And some times

those people's deaths come in 3. And it seems

like our childhood times are cracking apart.

But life marches on until the next piece falls off.

  

Come on Spring...

The weather report says starting Wednesday.

there will be warmer weather, even in the 60's.

I sure hope so... 

As there isn't much going on for now.. we are

in the stagnate area of between Easter and

Memorial Day...

There is the starting of the seeds for those of us

who have green houses.. and with the help of

a heater, they might have a chance of starting.

Seems like the year is started so soon.. this is

the end of March.. and bushes are budding.

I am really looking forward to working outside

as there isn't anything on television...but

Basketball March Madness. and the ship of

fools Republicans...   They keep lowering the

bar... and when you think they can't go any

lower, they seem to find a way to get it lowered.

I guess they didn't have an answers to the questions

of what are you going to do FOR our country and

how are you going to pay for it?

So it is sunshine, warm weather, seeds, boxes,

watering...oh, yes, I am so looking forward to this.  

I know life is not fair....this I know...but still....

I am old enough to know life is not fair.

I know the old saying of, the rich get richer

and the poor get more kids...

I was raised knowing I would never be wealthy.

Not even well off... I would be working for the

low end of the scale... and when they talk about

the low income and find out mine isn't even

that much.. for most of my life.

I always lived within my means.. always thinking

can I afford this, if I was on unemployment. If not

then I did without.  

Second hand stores have always been one of

my priority shopping centers.  When I had kids

it was a necessity.  New clothes were for Christmas

for replenishing school clothes.

And I never really minded as it was life and we were

happy. We had ourselves and friends.. the things that

really mattered.  As long as we had a roof over our

head and food for us to eat.. the bills paid.. we were

good.  We enjoyed outdoors, fishing and hunting..

camping out.  We didn't miss going on vacations.

This was life and we figured life was good. Maybe

that is when things got bad twice in the country,

we didn't notice, as we weren't high spenders in

the first place. You can't miss what you never had.

But I got to say, as I watch shows like 60 minutes,

with the towns in Virginia and West Virginia.. and I

know they are far from the only ones...that are so

poor with mines and etc. closing down and etc.

That they have a free clinic motorhome that

travels from town to town, giving free health care

to those who can't afford it.  Not even Obama

care.  They have food banks, that give enough

food to the families for a week. For those who's members

worked in the mines and got laid off a couple years ago. 

They tell how one woman who died since they broadcasted

the show.. and a  young man who died of diabetes

complications.   We know of all the families who

are living homeless in their cars...and the Vets.

So when you read about how Hilary Clinton gives

herself $250,000 salary while she is running for

President.. out of her campaign money (I didn't

know that was legal) and the millions AND

BILLIONS being spend on campaigns by ALL the

candidates.....................

Well, it is just hard to understand.. It is hard to

understand, that hundreds of thousands are

spend just to print their name or say their name

on a television ad. Millions each, being spend to try to

get people to change their minds..........

while children go to bed hungry IN THE USA.

How the government.... Congress... demands

you find health insurance some how.. or you

will be fine..... while they sit there in Washington

DC... with the best, finest high ended health insurance

that you and I as tax payers are pay for.

Don't know about you....BUT..that is hard for me..  

The Amazing Trail of Local News...

In the old days, we had to wait for the newspaper

to be delivered to hear the local news..

If it was in the neighborhood, it would be said over

the fence like.... called gossip.

But in this day and age..all you have to do is

go to your computer or your cell phone...and

there is the latest and greatest or not.. news.

Case in point ... yesterday, we had a police

car spin around in the parking lot across the

street from us....with lights going aglow...

heading back out to the highway.

So we turn on the handheld police scanner I

bought about 30 years ago or more..

With the crackling of the air ways, we found

out there was a police chase. and heading

out Highway 95. 

And then the internet came alive.  One of 3

different Facebook pages, came a blow

by blow description of the chase, as it

went thru each neighborhood, down the

highway, with about 17 police cars coming

from everywhere. 

Slowly thru the evening, there was word,

of it being in a certain area.  And for those

who lived there.. to lock their doors.  Word

from posters, warning their friends...and

word of having your vehicles locks.. and

having a cell and your gun near by.

There was the Sandpoint Local Forum,

there was the Sandpoint Yardsale,

which serves as a notice of things going

on as well.. and then there was the

Sandpoint Police Department Facebook

page.  After a couple hours, pictures of

the fugitives, who allegedly stab some

one in Southern Idaho.  It was a couple

they were searching for. 

And then darkness, and the warnings still

staying... and as we all went to bed, no

word of the capture of them..  The area

they chose to run to.. as they left their

car behind... is woods, and mountain

beyond...

It was amazing the flow of information.

With 99% being true... warning friends,

of the danger... friends asking if their

friends were safe in that area.. and

reassurance that they were.

We do live in a fast times.   

WE WENT, WE SAW, WE VOTED.

As I said before, I have never been to a

Democratic caucus before... it was sure

different.

There was good rally together, as the two

groups sat in the middle of the room but

separate... and the Undecided sat slightly

behind.  Letting out howls when their

candidate's name was said.

It was an hour we waited.. after all we got

there early to get a reasonable parking space

as well as a chair... We got both..

Then they started.. naming the rules and

regulations... and talk of having speeches

that would be timed... And we were wishing

they had timed her's.. as she went on for

40 minutes.  Now I realize the rules and etc

take time.. but really.. 40 minutes. Then we

had to turn in our white sheet that we filled

out at the door.  They took those to count..

and then the speeches started.. Another

half hour spent... why they didn't hand out

the ballots, is beyond me...

Then more talk, and more talk... still no ballots.

We are heading to 7:30, as we have to sit thru

two more who state why they think Hillary is

a wonderful candidate and Bernie is a great

candidate... THEN they passed out the ballots.

With in 15 minutes they came and got them.

More waiting and talking.. Why they didn't

have the people talk about Hillary and Bernie

again.. while they counted, is beyond me.

They have them talk again, in case you have

a change of mine. And the uncertain ones,

might change their mind from the first vote.

Then the big news... Hillary 172... and

Bernie.. over 700, couldn't tell you how much

over 700, I don't know, as the yelling and

screaming of joy by the Bernie group, was

so loud and clothes being thrown in the air.

Then the second ballot was getting ready,

as the two talked about their candidate, again..

We are hitting 8:20pm.. they said this will

be faster yet..  AND then we will have

more speeches by the people who are

going to be the delegates who go to Boise.

They collected the second ballot.... you

know there is not going to be much of a

change...except maybe the uncertain picking

one (8:40pm.. still counting.) and talk of the

speeches coming up...

We looked at each other, she has to go 

to work and still a half hour drive home..

Told her.. let's go,  I could care less who

the delegates are going to be, besides

I doubted I even knew the people anyway.

So we went, we listen and listen and listen

and voted.. first ballot, second ballot.. and

feel they were so disorganized. why didn't

they have the white paper turn in when we

were heading to our seats? And give us

the empty ballots (they give all 3 of them to

you at one time).  And while they were tallying

why not have the speakers at that time?

Drew a 2 hour thing out to a 3 hour session

and 4 counting the being there when the

doors open.. 

The Republicans might have it bad, but at

least they have the primary right.. Walk

in, make your mark, read the results the

next day in the paper.. or on line.. Might

not be as much fun, but after awhile the

fun fades to boredom as you wait and wait

and wait...  Only highlight was the crowds

reaction to finding out that Bernie won

by a 7 to 1 vote.   Sad Hillary faces, thrilled

Bernie's. 

Going to the circus tonight.....

Going to do something I have never done before

Today is the Democrat caucus...

I have never been to one before...

My daughter is going, so I figured, why not.

Now neither one of us is a Democrat.

But unlike the Republican party, the Democrats

like us unaffiliated ones... or at least let us

vote.

Now this is where it is one of those, you aren't

voting for someone, but against someone, at

least for us.  And we know we are blowing in

the wind...but at least we will feel like we did

try.

I also look at it as a learning curve, to see

just how all this works..  because the Republican's

have a primary... so it is easy, just walk in..tell

them who you are.. (in our state, you have to

sell your soul and sign a paper that you are a

Republican for the day)... and then you go

make your mark.

With a caucus, from what I have been told,

it is kind of like a circus....  you sit or stand

in an area of the candidate you like or the

lesser of the 2 or 3 evils.. they count you..

and if they like the count, you get to go

home..  tale is, you count on a 2 hour deal.

Why do they have to make it so long and

hard... after all in my state.. there aren't

any real Democrats.. as everyone knows

we bleed RED... and they control us.. making

all the rules.. (see how the Republicans

have a closed primary)

So this ought to be interesting..

Storage Sheds....

We went over to check out my sister in laws

storage shed.. to see what we have gotten

ourselves into...  

Heck, easy peasy... it is only a walk in

closet size... we can do this..

Thankfully better heads than ours prevailed.

As we had two couples who volunteered

to help.. who also had pick up trucks.

We put the boxes of papers in ours.. as it

had a cover.. and then started to fill up

the first truck.. I say the first truck as it

ended up.. not only ours.. but BOTH

of the other two trucks..

With one in each truck to stack, and

the other 4 hauling out of the shed to

the truck.. it went fairly fast.. about

25 minutes.. but we all were saying,

how much is in this place anyway...

Then the job of going thru each box

of stuff...not counting the boxes of papers

to be done later... it took us 3 hours..

To decide what was good.. what went

to Goodwill, what was garbage, and

what some of us decided we wanted...

which was darn little.

By the time we got done.. the King

and I felt like we were 90... we hardly

could get out of the truck when we

went to dinner at our daughters...both

of us saying..OH, I AM SO TOO OLD 

FOR THIS... and the King mention something

about how we needed to adopt some kids.. lol...

OH, SO NOT.. at our age..

St. Patrick Day....

So Happy St. Patrick Day to

all those who are Irish, and

to all those who want to be.

And there are a lot of those who

want to be.. even see the shirts,

"I am Italian, but today I am Irish".

or what ever nationality they are.

Some say nothing but enjoy the

joy of beer and partying.

The Irish are a proud group.

And full of laughter. But those

who know Irish history, know

there were a lot of bad times.

Hard times. But they are strong.

I can remember if we did not

wear green in school we got

pinched... something to do with

some King in England.  And

those who were brave enough

to wear orange, really got pinched

hard.  Something about that King

being the King of Orange.. what

ever that meant.  After googling

some of it.. seems his name was

William III also know William of

Orange, as he and wife were the

rulers over Scotland, Ireland as

well as England..  well, you can

go google it as it gets kind of

complicated.. as he was also

known as William, the silent and etc.

Guess I didn't want to..

Usually I come up with an idea the night before my post. 
But last night, I had nothing... and some days are like that. 
Guess I could have pulled from the past ... like I did in part
yesterday... But yesterdays was an answer to a question
someone had about my mother's horse, so thought it was
worth of a blog story. 

About a horse that was valued at nothing, and made a great 
deal out of himself in his life. 
Much like some people. 

Anyway, later I put the blog out of my mind, and
so had nothing to put here ... so you open to yesterdays
only... 

Some days... you just don't want to.. and guessing
to day is that day, for me.   
So get outside and enjoy the sunshine.. 

The tale of HOLY SMOKE....

This post is pulling from another one

about a few years ago... but this time

just about the horse...

In 1950, my mother and a friend
went to a horse auction in New York.
Across came a dark grey tall horse.
17 hands. He was a steeplechase
jumper in Ireland. But he had some
damage done on the way over to
American on the ship. It effected
his breathing. So endurance races
were not going to be his suit anymore.
He went pretty cheap. I think she said
he cost her $100. Pretty low for a horse
of his experience. She was the only bid.

But no one was really interested in him as he was
damaged as they said. Should go to

the slaughter house, they said.. not any

good to anyone.. But my mother thought

other wise.. she was in love.

He was called Holy Smoke. Because
that is what Mom said when she saw him,
just as everyone else had, when they
approached him. My mother would
get up on the chicken coop jump when
she had to get on him by herself.
Otherwise, someone had to boost her on.

There was a 16+ year love affair with
Holy Smoke and Mom. She won
class after class. Year after year.
He did so well, I can remember
having to sleep in the barn before
a few show, with my girlfriend. They
were afraid someone might come
and give Smokey (as we called him)
a shot. Even through the money
was not really big in those day, the
prestige was.

Smokey was a sweetheart, he
could be ridden by a child, he was
so mild. A child could walk under
his tall legs, and never have to
worry about him stomping. He
was a baby. The only flaw that
Smokey had was he could not
eat green grass. Yep, he got
colic in a flash. We spend many
a nights walking him for hours.
Putting on the twist, so we
could get the meds down him.
Which was a dandy trick when
all he had to do is raise his head
and no one could reach him.
We would all take turns walking him

thru the night..

Holy Smoke won New England
Champion Jumper for 5 years
straight. He was a proud horse.
And when he entered the ring,
he came alive. Dancing as he got
ready for the jumps. He flew over
them with such ease.   Yep, for

a horse they thought should go to

the slaughter house, he did pretty

darn good.




Smokey died at the age of 28,
he was retired to Mom and Dad's

new farm.
He had a donkey for a pal. And
he seem to keep the young Hackney's
that the folks switched to in their 50's.
all in line, when they act up. He was the
old man of the new farm. They seem to
respect him.

He and Mom's ashes are buried
together on the farm. 

Patience

What is patience?  Some of the words are:

endurance ?  staying power?

lack of complaint ? persistence ?

fortitude? serenity?

Patience is waiting for your child to do a chore,

taking up to a half hour or an hour, to do what you

can do in 5 minutes.  Waiting for them to accomplish

something so hard for them, so easy for you... and

seeing the look of pride on their faces.

Patience is waiting for your elderly parent, putting

on a jacket, or their shoes, while you wait for them

to go with you, and not doing it for them. Making

sure you don't take their independence away from

them.

Patience is waiting for a new clerk to get your order

done, when you know you are in a hurry, but

remembering your first day on a job.

Patience is remembering not every day is a good

day for everyone...and having the patience to get

thru the foul disposition of a worker who is waiting

on you.

And having patience with a situation, when you

want to scream.. PATIENCE BE DAMN, I WANT

TO GET THIS DONE NOW...   

Family History....

It is amazing what you can find out on line...

There are several sites that you can go to.

Ancestry.com, of course is the most famous

one.. That one has a fee...   but there are

others that have information, for free...  and

then there is the census. And even gravesites.

Thru the census, I learn that my grandfather

at the age of 36 was the President of the

company he worked for. While I knew that he

worked for them and started as a timekeeper,

later in life got to be the CEO... but didn't

know that at the age of 36 he was already

there.... I figured when he was 50 or more.

I also learn a few more relatives... and then

about several of the women who traveled

by themselves to England and such.

And the census also told of some of the trades

of the men...   women were 99% housewives.

One did own her own furniture store at the

turn of the century, in St. Louis, Mo. 

It was some pretty cool stuff there.. and believe

it or not.. there was not one horse thief there.

Although there was a horse trader.. nothing

about the honesty or not of him.  haha..

Once again, Idaho in the headlines...

On Sunday, there was a shooting in the town 43 miles

south of us.  It was a Pastor.  Luckily for him, none of

the 6 gun shots were life threatening... And he will

recover.

Then on Tuesday night, word got to all of us, that

the man was caught.  And in all places.. Washington,

D.C. at the White House fence.   Throwing stuff

over the fence.

So once again, Idaho will make head lines..

How did this young man, drive

to Boise and boarded a plane to fly to Washington,

D.C.?  I bet some heads will roll in that airport. As

there was an all point bulletin out for him and his

car.   So the ball was dropped there, big time.

But the real story here, is once again.. it is a

mentally ill young man with a gun.  I don't know

if there was anything to flag this guy as a problem,

so he probably came across the gun legally.

One of the things said is, he was in the service,

but he was an airplane mechanic.. so did not see

combat.  And has been out of the service for 5 years.

So I don't see the service being a reason.. but there

is definitely a problem there.. and hopefully he

will get the help he so needs. 

And prayers for his family... The Pastor has a

whole load of people praying for him and his

family.... hopefully some of those prayers spill

over to the man's parents.. and even the

young man who is so tortured to think the

Pastor was an Martian.  

Civility.....what happen to it?

Civility

synonym = same as

Civility = Politeness, Courtesy, Good manners, Graciousness,    Consideration, Respect

Oppose of civility is... rudeness    

One thing that these debates have showed us, is how low the bar

can go.... especially on the Republican side... Democrat side

Hillary is the one who will walk over the top of Bernie talking.

If it turns out to be Trump and Hillary at the national debate.. we

are in trouble. as it will be a yelling fest.   I personally think

the moderator or someone off stage.. should be able to cut the

sound to the mike of the aggressor..

What these people have showed us.. who ever speaks the

loudest, gets the most attention...... and bad attention is

good in their book.  Me.. I have always thought, who

ever it is.. national or in my own family, when one starts

to yell over the top of the other.. it means they are losing

the battle, and if they are louder, they will take back the

discussion that is turning into the shouting match. Which

louder does not mean more truth .

And God help us, when the person who gathers enough

electoral, goes over seas and doesn't like what the foreign

representative says. 

And the saying, I will be more Presidential when I win,

well if you keep sounding like you are in a bar brawl, you

just might not be in the office, if people find their common

sense again.  

What happen to subjects like, foreign policies, the economy

and how you plan to get more jobs here?  

When did we lower the bar to the candidates body parts?  Gag reflex.