JUST SOME POSTS

This is the first post I have ever attempted to do without at least a good idea of what I am going to write. (I don't know how other people do this kind of things, but what I do is see/hear/remember something and then do a general outline in my head. Then I sit down and write it from beginning to end in one fell swoop. I never go back and correct or change except for spelling and gross grammar mistakes - at least the ones I see). This one is just coming as I type, basically because I felt it was time to do a post for my adoring fans (I know they are there somewhere!). I was thinking about how life today is soooooo different, especially for kids, than it was was for me. (when I start waxing nostalgic like this, I always have a deep seated desire to put on a cardigan, some slippers, and develop a quiver in my voice, but I digress) I cannot imagine my world as a kid adding computers, video games, 100+ channels of TV, cell phones, and all the other modern "conveniences"

OK, I am blowing the lid off the Two Men & a Truck scam!! (for more, see "Truth in advertising" from 1/24) I was taking Bailey to school yesterday and we passed a Two Men & a Truck - truck. I looked in the cab... you guessed it - ONE MAN! Now unless Two Men & a Truck put one of the men in the back, I am calling them out! Two Men, HAH ! BTW, I have a dream of starting a company called - Two Men & a Duck. I am not sure of all the details yet, but I guess I am learning that I really don't need two men. But, I digress. On the whole Global Warming thing,(for more here, see "Global Warming - don't turn up the A/C yet" from 11/17/07) the more savvy of the "environmentalist left" is now calling our problem - Global Climate Change. With good reason. It now seems the same figures that they have been using for proof of global warming now say there has actually been quite a bit of cooling since the mid-seventies. I am telling you now, this

This might be more meaningful and enjoyable if you read (or re-read) the first post - from 12/24/07 - "Party, Party, Party". Check it out. "So, how are things going in school, son?" asked the dad as his son walked in . "OK I guess" was the reply. "The teacher says I don't understand our political system." "What?" exclaimed the dad. " Did you tell her about our talk?" "Yeah, and that was when she said I did not understand. I don't really think she agreed with what you told me . " was the son's reply. " Well" the dad continued, "sit down. Let's talk some more." "So" said the dad , "You told her we talked? Then what?" "Yeah, I told her what you said about the Dumb party and the Stupid party being the same, and how people that voted just for the party were stupid.", was the son's reply . "She said they were not the same. One was

OK, the second in one day - something is going on! I wanted to do a blog on perspective. Life and our evaluation of it is based a LOT on perspective. I got a great example of this yesterday. My wife is disabled!! Officially. Perspective - - - On face value, that would not appear to be a good thing. Disability is not to be cheered. Ah, official disability is (or can be). My seventeen year old was here yesterday when my wife opened the letter and we were cheering for disability. She made a comment that is was weird that we were happy with Mom being disabled. I explained we weren't, but... My wife's condition is affected not one bit by what the doctors, bureaucrats, or anyone else labels it. She is no more nor no less disabled or ill than prior to getting the letter. However, getting the letter signifies official legal acceptance of her disability. That will hopefully lead to a lessening of the financial burdens of her condition and let us deal exclusively with the physical

"Does your monkey bite?" I heard that thousands of times over the years. My Uncle Lou owned a farm where he "saved" old circus animals. I used to go and work there summers. He couldn't pay me (or anyone else most of the time) but he did offer me a pet one year. "Pick what you want" he bellowed. Lou was a little hard of hearing, so he yelled most of the time. Now I, being a sensible type, picked a monkey. He was retired from a life with an organ grinder. Really, he used to wear the little hat and coat and beg while his owner played. His name was Mickey, but I called him Steve. Steve was awesome. He was about as smart as most of my friends. Hey, he flung some poo occasionally, but we all have to let off steam. He learned to interact with most of our family activities. I remember him cleaning up on weekend mornings. We usually let him vacuum and sweep. I had sawed the handle off of a broom to make it easier, and he loved the Hoover. He would try to vacu