Education

I have a friend who went back
to school to be able to keep her job.
That the school district put
demands on the job description,
that one would need more education.
This is just for teachers aides.
Not for a teacher. So this
isn’t even for the big bucks.

Anyway, she did excellent in school.
Great grades. I should ask her if she
did as well in high school 30 years
ago. But it got me to wondering….

Where would we all be today, if we
had applied ourselves to school as
we do today. Are we smarter today
than we were at that time. Has the
school of hard knocks made us
smarter? Maybe we should postpone
colleges.Or do we become more
experienced by the employment?

I personally am not impressed with
college’s. I think they are over rated
and under educating when it comes
to the first 2 years. I believe in trade
schools. (Drs. and Lawyers being the
exception.) Let’s get with the program of
what your job is going to be. Let’s have
classes in what you want to do for a
career. I like to see that started
in high school. Some of it is… I
understand they have a Health class
that heads you towards nursing career.
Last I had heard that they downsized
the auto mechanic classes.

The girls seem to have a better jump on
a job, than guys do.There was always a
business subjects for girls to become
secretaries or bookkeepers. But is
there welding for guys and girls and
the other types of jobs classes? But for the
most part, high school really doesn’t do
a lot of heading our youths towards
a job. And the discipline leaves a lot to be
desire in high schools now. I am not talking
about punishment. I am talking about
showing up for class on time. Dressing
appropriately, Respect for their elders,
meaning teachers. 60% of the class is lacking
all this. So when they go to be interviewed
for a job, they don’t make a good impression.

Some ways it seems things haven’t
changed. College first year. is almost a
repeat of your high school last two years.
In 1986, when one of my sons was going
in to college, to get an education of
computers and even the mechanic of
computers, he wouldn’t be able to touch
a computer for a year and half. To me
that was a waste of time. They should
start off where the kid wants to go job
wise. Trade School would have serve better.
As it was he dropped out, because he
had 2 jobs as well. Ended up getting his
education thru the service.

But I digress… how much more would
you have done, if you had asserted
yourself at the right time of education?
Could you have been a contender? Were
you not, because of your attitude, or
because all you could think of was the
freedom from the parents rules or worse
yet, the financial condition of your
life at the time. After all college and
even trade school, is almost as expensive
as a home now.

The Price of Toys

Toys

$399. for one toy…

I know… kids call it a game..
And a game it is… but
considering that this is mostly
For kids… it is a toy.
$399. and that isn’t counting
the games.. Which run
from $29.95 to $45.95 a piece.
Which is a 1 and half inch
by 1 and half inch, and little
thicker than cardboard.

I remember when my kids
were being raised..$25.00
was the top price for their
major gift. I sure feel bad
for parents who feed into
this frenzy.

Heck, that gift is almost
the same as my monthly
S.S. check!

While at Costco, I saw one
of the toys from my days.
TINKER TOY..The super
size was $29.95. It was
$9.95 when I bought it
for my kids.

Also the Chocolate fountain
that I wrote about before…
I saw it at Wal-mart. For
$28.95, don’t know if it is
the same brand or not. But
this seems to be a hot item
these days. You can use it for
caramel too.

Still a lot of money to pay
for something you will use
once or twice and then put
it in your cupboard, to be sold
at a yard sale 3 years later.

40...nice years

My number 4 child turn 41 last
Friday. Yes Veteran's day...
I joke about how I was a veteran
of having children when she
came along...... and it sure was
a memorial when I had the twins
on Memorial Day, 4 years later.

Any way I was thinking ... which
is a dangerous thing in itself, that
maybe that's reason in my mind I am
45... is because being in your 40's
is a good place to be in life.

No, it isn't because I want to be
younger. I am satisfied here at 65.
But 40 is a good time in your life.
In your 40's you have gotten rid of
all your wild times, and insecurities.
(at least I hope you have). And
life is starting to mellow out. You
have learn what to worry about and
not to worry about. How to address
the lumps and bumps of life.

With me, when I was in my 40's
I had some major upheavals. I
became a widow, I went
back to school to learn a trade
(Reg. Cert. Nurses Aide) and went
to work at the age of 46. After
many years of just being a Mom
and wife. I don't think I would
have handled it as well had I
been in my 20's or 30's.

And 40's as you are handling
life, you are still young enough
to enjoy life to the fullest. To have
the physical body to do the things
you still want to do. Dancing,
snowmobiling, horse back riding,
playing baseball, and all the good
things in life, with ease.

Yes, being in your 40's is a good
time in life. Maybe that is why
they said... Life starts at 40...

And here I told everyone life starts....
when your youngest one leaves home
for their own life. Come to think...
I was 48 when that happen.... lol

THANK YOU

Serving during World War II

Herbert Brownell
Everett F. Linekin
Harold C. Richardson
David Emanuel Hagstrom.


Serving during Korean War Time

Marvin K. Hughes
Charles W. Chalfant
Herb Huseland

Serving during Vietnam WarTime

Parker Linekin
Gary Gors
Sandee Millius
Dean Thompson
David Hudlet
Thomas Summers
Garlyn Tupper
Richard Garofalo

Serving Now
Shelley Sorrel
Stanley Worel
Blake Brown
Michael L. Austad


And to all of you other
Veterans who served, are
serving, and for all those
who lost their lives, so we
could live free.
Thank you....

Council and Discisions

Our little town is about 300+ people
in it.

But will be joined by 100+more
in just two new additions to our
town that annexed in. We have
another one that is promising 60
homes more for starters..

We are a very small town,
that is starting to burst at the
seams. Our council is not
going to have it easy. . We
have a lot of new contractor,
and some old ones who are
having a tough time adjusting
to what use to be the good ole
boys system and now has all
kinds of rules and regs. And the
council has to stay on top of it.

We will be losing a great brain
trust soon because of health.
The remaining 2 who have
worked hard for the town for
little pay, and the new gal, is
going to be great addition, will
have their hands full.

Then the Mayor watching the
town grow more than double
what it was when she first ran.
I know they have the best in
mind for the townspeople. But
it is hard to make everyone
happy.

I have been going to our council
meeting for about a year now.
My husband is just finishing his
4 year run. He was asked to step
up to the plate about a year or
so before that. Even he has said
it is getting so complex. With
new rules and regulations, more
consultants, newer laws, he felt
he was getting in over his head.
Just trying to represent your fellow
townspeople is not enough anymore.

That is 50 per cent of the job. The
other is to make judgments on
how much to bring to the town. What
is it that the townspeople want of
this town. There is commercial zoning
to consider. How much does the town
need? How much does the town want?
You can give a simple thing for someone,
and have it turn into a can of worms.
And while they like to help out those
who want to do more with their property,
they have to make sure it is safe.
They have to make sure, what seems
like a simple thing on one property,
but do you want it on every property?
Because what is good for one, has
to be good for all. And they want to
keep the community the nice small
town that we all moved here for, years
ago. Then there is the outside discisions
the new Highway200 Corridor Improvement
Project and the Urban Area Transportation
Plan, are these good for our town. Yes and
maybe no.. The council has to decide. The
townspeople have to speak up.

No, being a simple quiet little
community is not an easy job for
the townspeople nor the ones
they vote in.

No, Thank You, Not Me

When it comes to national scares, I don't
scare easy. And it is my mother's fault.

The frenzy over the bird flu brings to mind
the years of the 1950's. We were taught
to jump down and under our desk at a certain
tone that was given over the P.A. system.

I was in high school at the time. I really felt
sorry for one teacher we had. He would shake
at the sound of the warning. We learn later
that he suffered from shell shock from World
War I, Some of the boys and maybe
some girls were cruel, as they would slam
their books on the desk just to see him duck.

In the 1950's there were bomb shelter built
in people's back yards. I don't recall any in
friends of the family. But then maybe they
didn't talk about it. Because along with
the scare that the Russians were coming,
was the scare of your neighbors breaking
into the shelter and stealing your food and
water. So mum was the word.

I asked Mom why we didn't have a bomb
shelter, as it was on the news, in the
paper and magazines. (Life, was her
choice). She always had the attitude
that the Russians weren't coming.
A bomb shelter would do no good
if there was a bomb. As you had to
have air in a shelter. If you have air
coming in, so would the gases. So
you are dead anyway. So why bother.
Dad, seem to be in agreement, as he
never talked about it either. So we
went thru the 50's not really knowing
or caring about the threat.

Sadly, I was so absorbed with my
teen years, of horses, girlfriends,
boyfriends from afar, Coke, Pepsi,
smoking cigarettes, and Elvis, that
I missed out on the Korean War and
what it meant. We didn't have
any friend or family that was in the
war. Dad worked civil service since
before World War II, so life had
not changed. And by the time I
went to work for the Naval Exchange,
we were thru the war and living what
we now call the good times.

So over the years, when "they" say
beware, it is coming... what ever the
scare of the year is, I tend to just go
about my business. Even when we
had a flu scare a few years ago, I didn't
get a flu shot, even though they were
given at work for free. It wasn't that
I wanted to get sick. Just I have been
one of those lucky ones who usually
has good health. I don't usually get
colds. And it only is the last 5 years,
that if I do get one, I get the bronco one
and the best way to get thru it, endure it.
At the place I worked, I saw just as many
get sick that had the flu shot as the ones who
didn't. The residents, were guarantee to
be sick with in 2 days of the shots. Thus,
finding out that the shot only lessen the
effect of the flu, not prevented it.

The only time I had a flu shot was
the year before I retired. We were
told if we did not get a flu shot, that
we would not be paid for sick days.
As we brought it on ourselves by
not having a shot. Being I believe in
the Gods that will prove you wrong,
I decided to get the shot, even though
I didn't think I would get sick. As
the law of averages was not in my
favor. Never is. Murphy's law is
alive and well, in my life.

Even when we had the scare a
couple years ago, of Anthrax.
The country was gathering up
shots for that.

I was sitting in the back
of the room, at the in-service we
had on it, so I could bolt out the
door, if they decided to hand
out free shots. But they said
they didn't have any as there
was a shortage. Then the
in-service person who is of
good knowledge, told us that
on the food chain of life, we
in Idaho were on the low side.
Besides that Anthrax was all
over the field floor in Montana
where cows eat daily, for many
years... That was good enough
for me, no shots.

So any of you, who want the shot,
and if they are short, just them
you know a gal in Bonner County
who is going to refuse the shot, and
you would like to have hers...

Guess I didn't read the book
Chicken Little, well enough, or
too well.

Election Day 2005

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.....
START YOUR ENGINES!!

You have just slightly more than 12
hours to make your choice of
candidates. Every vote counts.
Just ask the ones who were running
for Governor in Washington State.
If you don't vote, then you have no
bitching rights.

There is a lot to vote on in other
cities. In our own little town we
have nothing ... none of the candidates
have anyone running against them.
I don't believe Bonner County has
anything running so we are
a peaceful voting town this time.

But I am going. It is my right.
And choice or not, I will vote
for those who I want in... and not
mark those who I don't. But in
this case, it is going to be a vote
of confidence in our council.

My husband chose not to run
this time. And the gal who is running
in his place is a good choice. So I will
go and mark my ballot. They
usually have about 31 that vote here.
Out of 300+ people... but of course
some of those are children.

I will be interested in how others did.
In San Diego, the mayor race. In New
Jersey, the Governor race, and New York
City, the Mayor race. And little more local,
how Mike Kennedy does. I have Dish
for my television viewing, so I see the
races back East. And some of them
have been the using dirty tricks.

Politics, if nothing else, is interesting.
So get out there and make your mark.
After all you could be in Iraq and
have to fight to get to vote. Be kind
of neat if we could get a purple finger
to show we voted...

Dreary Saturday

No, I am not going commercial...
but here I was, alone, on
a Saturday morning, (the King
and grandson out hunting)
and in the email I get this....

"Dream of it... hot fudge sundae
type machine." On a
dreary, rainy, overcast, cold day...
Hot Chocolate Fondue
Fountain ....On Sale....
A FOUNTAIN of CHOCOLATE...
oooooooooooooo,
sounds so good....

Life is not fair. How do they know
what kind of a day it is. To send this
alluring ad to my computer
Just happen to happen? I don't think so.....
And all that Chocolate!! never
have see so much chocolate for sale..
50 POUNDS!
Chocolate ... Heaven...

So I hit the DELETE button fast... well, not
too fast, had to do the blog you know...

Subject: Chocolate Fondue Fountain - On Sale Now!
Home. Chocolate Fountains Fondues > Chocolate Fondue
Fountain CFF-884
Reg Price
$99.99
Sale Price
$49.99(You Save 50%)
And look at this ...chocolate, I never seen so much
chocalate..
24 Hour Red Tag Sale Going on Now! Use Coupon
Code RED to get an ADDITIONAL 5% OFF
Buy Ten Pounds of Regular Chocolate $39.99
Buy Twenty Pounds of Regular Chocolate $79.98
Buy Thirty Pounds of Regular Chocolate $119.97
Buy Forty Pounds of Regular Chocolate $159.96
Buy Fifty Pounds of Regular Chocolate $199.95
Buy Ten Pounds of White Chocolate $39.99
Buy Twenty Pounds of White Chocolate $79.98
Buy Thirty Pounds of White Chocolate $119.97
Buy Forty Pounds of White Chocolate $159.96
Buy Fifty Pounds of White Chocolate $199.95
.

I am Woman, I am invincible.........

The question on some of the blogs...
was the question that Oprah asked.
Who are you?
Not what are you, but who are you?

As a young person I did depend on
what I was. Was I popular? No,
I was the class nerd without the smarts.
I was a farm girl. Folks didn't let us
do much like kids do today. After school
stuff. We had chores anyway. Did I look
ok, would people like me? All the young
insecure of what are we.

Then from 1960 to 1988, I considered
what I was... to who I was, all rolled up
in one ball. I was a mother. That was
an important job, lifestyle, and being
to me. I figured if I brought a human
being into this world, I should take care
of, protect, love and nurture that human
being, that was who I was. As it turn
out there were 8 to do so with. It was
a lifestyle of many ups and downs. I
know for sure I didn't do it perfect.
I am not even sure I did it well. But I
took everything in my being to do it
well. I had many obstacles thrown in
my path. I was tore apart thru the
journey, and I had a lot of joy in the
journey. I was mother, Mom
(most of all) and MOTHER!! and
MOM!!! many times. We all
made the journey, and then they
all went their own paths. To return
from time to time..
And that is what I wanted.

I tried my best to build a good
foundation under them. Giving
the lesson of honesty, stand up
for yourself, you can be what you
want to be, and most of all and
thru it all, I taught and showed
LOVE. The rest was up to them.
And they have done well.

Now they are on their own path.
And what am I? I am a wife,
mom, grandmother,
great-grandmother,
mother-in-law, sister,
cousin, niece and friend,
mostly in that order, but not necessarily.

But who am I? I am a woman,
I am love, I am mostly good health,
I am honest, I am considerate,
I am comforting, I am concern
about others, I am compassionate
and try my best to do my motto....
Do no harm... Not only am I this to
all others, but to myself as well.
It took me 65 years to be comfortable
in my own skin. To know my limits
and to stretch them from time to
time. I am not the cure for all the
problems of friends and family.
I can not fix all the problems of
friends and family. But I can be
there to stand with them to comfort
them as they go thru their problems.
With kind words and with hugs.
I am woman and I am invincible...
says the song. I don't think I am that....
but I do like myself.
Too bad it took me so long to find that out.

Autumn? or Winter?

Wondering....

What would happen if you left the
leaves on the ground in the fall...
for the snow to rot and dissolve like
mother nature does? After all who is
raking up the leaves in the forest?
Who is munching the lawns of the
forest?

I don't have trees that shed. I only
have one tree which is of the cedar/fir
family. That is the way the King wants it.
We had a small tree here when we
moved in. But the King dug it up and
donated it to our daughter who has it
now. It is a willow of some sort.

But what does happen in the forest?
Why is mankind determine to rake
and munch the leaves? Doesn't mother
nature have them fall for a reason?
Doesn't it protect the ground?
Just wondering.

And we have skier's delight... Snow
in the mountains... winter is closing
in on us...