Allergy Season

Rolling Ridge Road was anything but the idyllic and picturesque boulevard suggested by its name. For one thing, ridges were few and far between in this part of central Indiana. Second, describing the slight changes in elevation found in the fields around town as “rolling” would be a stretch.

Rolling Ridge Road was a patched and aging street. It was not lined with old Victorian homes or even the ranches and split levels of the mid-twentieth century. It was a rather poor part of town. The street was lined with frame houses, bungalows and what in the South would be called shotgun shacks.

In the dust and crabgrass of what was the front lawn of just such a house stood Richard Sanders Jr. Richard was 9. He was a sickly scrawny and undersized. Richard’s mother took great pride in keeping a clean house and did the laundry regularly, but Richard always looked wrinkled and dirty. He had terrible allergies and his eyes watered and snot leaked from his nose every moment of the day. He was constantly sniffing and wiping the mucous from his upper lip with his sleeve or the side of his hand.

Richard was not well liked by his third grade classmates at Eisenhower Elementary. He was not athletic he was not particularly handsome. In addition, he was not too smart. Lately some of the boys had taken to calling him Little Dick instead of Richard. They always giggled when they said it. Richard did not quite get the joke. He guessed it was because his Dad was called Dick. One girl, Becky Myers, who was the fattest girl in school, never called him Little Dick. She always called him Colonel. He did not understand that either.

Richard Sanders Jr. was swinging his baseball bat on this fine early fall Saturday morning. Fall baseball was starting up in a few days at the Boys Club. Richard was determined this season he would not be the worst player on the team. He wanted to practice catching and throwing, but there was no one around. Besides he did not have a ball. The neighbor’s dog had chewed his up. His dad had whipped him for that. Richard had been told not to leave the ball outside.

Richard sniffed. He wiped the snot from his nose with his left hand and gripped the bat. He gave a mighty swing and in his mind he hit the imaginary ball right into center field. So small were the little boy’s dreams that he did not see in his mind a home run or even a double into the corner, but a little blooper into shallow center; anything but a dribbling ground ball that did not go past the pitcher’s mound. Right at the apex of his swing, Richard sneezed. The convulsion caused him to lose his snot slick grip on the bat.
____________________________________________________

Joe Moore was driving home with a box of donuts for his bride. He had been married just two months, and it took only a sleepy murmur from his young wife that “donuts sure sound good” to cause him to jump up and head to the store.

Joe was driving with the windows down on this early fall morning. A Beatles tune was playing on the radio. Outside of town farmers were in the fields harvesting soy beans and corn in the dry sunny weather. Dust and particles from the ground-up stocks filled the air in the distance. Joe shut his eyes for a second to suppress a sneeze. It did not work. Just as he sneezed he felt an unbelievable pain in his head. It was the last thing he ever felt.
____________________________________________________

Lynn Harper was considered pretty in high school. She was also considered “easy”. She found herself pregnant at sixteen. She apparently passed the promiscuity gene to her daughter and Lynn found herself a grandmother at 33. She was walking her grandbaby out of boredom. Her daughter was at work this fine Saturday morning. In fact, she had rung up some donuts for Joe Moore a few minutes ago. Lynn did not know that of course. Lynn did not mind babysitting. She had planned on going to some garage sales, but taking the baby in and out of the car seat was a pain. It was warm, so Lynn decided they would go for a walk instead.

Lynn stopped pushing the stroller to light a cigarette. She noticed that little runt across the street was twirling a baseball bat. She remarked to herself, again, how that kid was sure weird. She noticed the baby had tossed her stuffed Eeyore toy onto the sidewalk. As she bent to pick it up, Lynn sneezed. As she blinked away the sensation, she heard a car accelerate. She looked up to see a black Taurus heading toward her. She did not have time to move before the car struck her and the stroller head-on.

__________________________________________________________

As the bat flew end for end through the air, lives all over town would feel the impact. In one instant a bat flew from a snot-slick hand, Fate guided it through an open car window, where the bat hit and killed a man driving home with donuts. The dead driver’s car swerved and hit and killed a grandmother and her granddaughter before coming to rest against a light pole.

Little Richard Sanders Jr. stood in his front yard staring in confusion as snot dripped down his lip.

A nice tune for a Saturday

Idiots in Charge

No further evidence is required to prove the need for actual adults in charge of Congress. Today actor/comedian Stephen Colbert was asked to testify about immigration before a Judicial subcommittee.

Colbert spent ten hours working with immigrants in upstate New York last summer.

I once spent two days working on a Habitat for Humanity house. I am reasonably sure that in no way qualifies me to testify about the construction industry.

To the ruling Democrats, that makes me an expert.

Here is a report about his brilliant testimony.

I guess the Democrats in charge want to see a comedy act on the taxpayers dime.

Fucktards.

When you wish upon a star

Back in May, one of the occasional Liberal commenters here at this old blog showed some remarkable compassion:

I hope you have to have a heart bypass one day. And let me be clear: not because I want your life to be in danger, but because I want you to have to eat healthy food for the rest of your life. Every time you ate spinach (or whatever food you think is yucky) would be a victory for all thinking people worldwide. see here and here

In some kind of twisted logic I still do not understand, my old buddy Dave believes that if you are overweight you are stupid.  He still propagates this theory.*  If you are not overweight, I guess you are smart?  I suppose that is why we see so many Nobel Prizes for physics going to starving Ethiopians? Anyway, according to Dave, I am fat therefore I am stupid. He has repeatedly stated this theory even though I weigh between 2 and 6 pounds above my ideal weight for my height. This is true today and it was true in May.

But there is a ray of sunshine visible at the end of the tunnel. I am going to eat some spinach and other veggies.  I am going to eat more healthy altogether. You see, wishes do come true. At least sorta.

Last week I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. I poke myself twice a day and take some pills. I will have to watch my diet and change my eating habits. Some of my favorite meals are off the list for a while -- potatoes, noodles, white bread, pie, soft drinks. Healthy foods are in the plan.

As soon as I get my sugar controlled I will be smart! My Mensa application is filled out and stamped.

I know certain of you will be disappointed -- after all it was not a heart attack. But it is all about the means to the end, right?

Watch the news, thinking people worldwide will be celebrating their victory!

I hope there are fireworks.  I like fireworks.


* Seriously the guy has some real issues with overweight people.  I don't know if he did not get enough to eat as a kid and blames fat people? Or perhaps he is a closet chubby chaser.  Maybe he was the fat kid who got picked on in school? Was he abandoned by an overweight parent?  He needs some help.

Wrestling with pigs in the mud...

I've been slumming again. facts sure piss people off.

One step forward, three steps back

I live in a Hokey-Pokey world. I progress forward and something happens to set my life back. I suspect your life is much the same.

Yesterday the boy set off to the big city with some of his buddies for a Wednesday Boys night out at Hooters. They are teenagers, perhaps they have a thing for hot wings?

He called about twenty minutes after he left home. There is a detour and my first thought when the phone rang was he got lost. No such luck. As he left the detour and turned onto the highway the car would not accelerate.  He said it was like the car went into neutral. Oh Oh.

I drove over and he was right.  The car would not go into gear.  No reverse, no forward, no dice. I called a towing company and they are taking it to a local garage for analysis (the next county over).  The mechanic drove the tow truck.  He said that it was very rare for a transmission failure on a Honda (2002), especially when there were no symptoms  prior to the problem -- no slippage, hard to shift, etc. He opined it may be a corroded electrical component. I can only hope.  I expect a transmission for that car will run $1,500 or more. I am not sure the car is worth it.

The mechanic is going to check it out today and call me with the damages. I need a break. Cross your fingers.

edit.  Bad news, it is a broken imput shaft.  The mechanic is looking for a used transmission, he says that will be cheaper than a rebuild.  I neither case I am looking at some serious money.

Give back the money Dan Coates

In case you forgot, General Motors is owned by the US taxpayers (60%). The Federal Government has no business taking my money and your money and our kid's money and giving it to politicians for election funds.

It is happening.

Each of those recipients should give back the money.  If GM has the spare cash to throw around it should be paying back the bailout (and yes I know they paid back some of it -- using other bailout money). GM should use that money to buy back the Treasury owned stock.

Republican Senatorial candidate Dan Coates of Indiana took some of that taxpayer cash.  He should give back the money now.

Happy B-day Big Bro

Happiest of days to you Otter.

Give me a break

I am totally sick of the paparazzi following me around all of the time.

A special post to you

Things have been a bit sparse around this old place lately. I imagine many of you are clicking, yawning and moving on.  I don't blame you. Pretty soon the political landscape will open up and I will have some things to say.

Maybe not.

I have some issues going on in my life. Work is keeping me busy. I am sure you have no interest at all in what I eat for lunch, or my opinion on sports. Hell, you might not care about my opinion on anything!

Surfing my daily reads leads me to believe I am not alone in my blogapathy. For most of you, I don't care if you are disappointed in my lack of effort here lately. I will say to you, though (and you know who your are), I apologize and I will try harder in the future.

scary

Dear GOP

Don't you get it?  Voting for a RINO is the same as voting for a Democrat. So what if you have a "majority" if you cannot get anything passed because a number of your party vote with the other guys.

Again via the discount bin at WalMart

Me and Elvis are going to Blue Hawaii.

I should be back in time for football.

I must be off

Blogging will be light this morning.

Me and Elvis are going to a clambake, clambake.

Tax the rich, feed the poor

Go read this. It is a very nice description of how "socking the rich" is a failure as a tax policy. You Progressives out there, I would be glad to see your argument.

chirpity fucking chirp.

It is clear I was dead on prior to the election when I wrote that The Obama's economic policy was stolen from Alvin Lee and Ten Years After:

Everywhere is freaks and hairies
Dykes and fairies, tell me where is sanity
Tax the rich, feed the poor
Till there are no rich no more

I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

Population keeps on breeding
Nation bleeding, still more feeding economy
Life is funny, skies are sunny
Bees make honey, who needs money, Monopoly

I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

World pollution, there's no solution
Institution, electrocution
Just black and white, rich or poor
Them and us, stop the war

I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

The song is pure communism, but it is still an awesome tune:

Today's earworm

Dear GOP

Are you listening? Did you take a long hard look at the Delaware Primary results? We are sick of holding our nose and voting for the likes of Bob Dole and John McCain. We are no longer interested in voting for "electable" candidates.

We are a conservative nation.  When GOP candidates run under conservative principles they win (why do you think so many Democrats run under conservative themes?). When we try to be Democrats lite, we lose. We the people are no longer interested in voting for a candidate because they have an "R" behind their name on the ballot.

Fuck the RINOs. You, the leadership of the Republican Party better wake up.  Since you took big losses in 2006 you have failed to hear us, the voters. We threw you out, not in support of the other guys, but to send a message.  You did not heed our warning.  We sent a larger and far more painful message two years ago. Are you listening yet? Contrary to what many believe, The Obama was elected more as a referendum on GW and McCain.

Why do you think McCain's polling increased so much when he added Pallin to the ticket?  The same reason he chose her -- her conservative bonafides.

Pay attention you power brokers in the Party. Listen to the people, or you will find yourselves in the dustbin, along with the Whigs. A new party will take up the mantle of conservatism. It is not too late. Together we can win.

A story twenty four years old

Since I have nothing else to offer, I will post rerun from four years ago. Today s my little girl's birthday. She is exactly one-half my age today. I hope you enjoy this re-run:

A story two decades old


The doctor called at about 10:00 am on a Sunday morning. We were still asleep. When you are in your twenties, with no kids, you tend to stay up late and sleep in on the weekends. This was before I was conditioned to get up early. The doctor said we should come to the hospital right away. The wife insisted on showering and looking nice, I shaved and showered too since I could be done while she applied the makeup etc. We jumped into the car and drove the twenty-five minutes to Home Hospital in Lafayette. The doctor was impatiently waiting.

We went to the room they had assigned us. It had a nice view of the park across the street. The wife lay on her back and I had the uncomfortable experience of watching another man stick his hand between her legs. He poked, she yelped, and her water was broken. The doctor said she should start labor in a few hours and he would probably see us again Monday afternoon. My lifelong adventure had begun.

By four o'clock my wife was in serious labor and a lot of pain. The nurse told her it was way too early to start deep labor and she should relax. The nurse's attitude was that my wife was a wimp and crying wolf. They told her to walk around the hospital. By six o'clock I told the nurse she was in a lot of pain. The nurse said "fine, I will see if you are doing anything, but it is way too early". She gloved up with an impatient "lets humor this bitch" attitude. There sure was a look of surprise on that nurse's face when she discovered my wife was 8 centimeters dilated. Whoops, somebody screwed up and did not listen to the patient.

Sometime later the doctor was called. I should add an interesting tidbit here. My wife's OB GYN was a Mennonite. They are like the Amish, only they drive cars. He had the button pants, the hat, little beard and all. It was kind of interesting. I am not sure if he still practices or not. The doctor arrives, the room is broken down, the heavy labor is going on, my baby is on the way. This was the early days of letting the father in the birthing room and I was told to stay at the head of the bed and not move. We did the breathing thing, mostly I was useless. The ritual of pain and blood and birth remains the sole purview of woman, as it has through the existence of mankind.

Around 11:30 that evening, Sunday September 14, 1986 my lovely daughter was born. My real life had begun.

Sometime later I walked down the hall to get a drink or find the phone, I saw the doctor sitting in a room, still in his scrubs, head hanging in exhaustion. He did a good job, professional, and comforting, still the image of a doctor in my mind.

I got home around four in the morning. I was to go to work at six. I set the alarm and called in at about 5:30. The boss said since my daughter was actually born on Sunday, I did not get a day off work. He said I could come in at noon and work 2 hours overtime the next three days to make up for the lost time -- a real prince.

It did not matter, I had a little girl.

Happy Birthday, baby. I cannot believe you are twenty years old! I remain the proudest Papa ever.

Ta da

I have nothing today. Read the links over ther on the right.

An Astronaut, A fireman, President...

When  I was a kid I wanted to be a lawyer. When I embarked on my college career that was still my plans. Then I grew up and realized the law is not Perry Mason, or Clarence Darrow, or even F. Lee Bailey. It is not prosecuting heinous murderers. It is not protecting the innocent from the evils of the system.

The law is contracts and divorce and bankruptcy and wills.  It is traffic court and collections. The law is ambulance chasers and taxes. Being a lawyer is defending petty criminals and drug dealers. It is doing your best to defend a guilty person. It is cutting plea deals and prosecuting shoplifters. It is the corporate attorney and the guy out to hustle a buck.

I am not a lawyer. I decided early on I did not want to be one.

I went to the doctor this morning.   I wonder if the doctor feels the same way.  Is his profession what he thought it would be?

I never planned on selling widgets for a living. If I made a list of ten jobs I would like to have it would be around number 37. On the other hand, I like my job.  I cannot remember the last time I woke up and said "I don't want to work today". There is something to be said for that.

If  I were to do it all over I guess I would be a teacher or a chef. More likely, I would be doing exactly what I am today. Looking back and reliving the past is a waste of time.  I made the best decisions given the facts and situation at the time. I can see no reason I would take a different path without knowing the future.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Just an observation

The Liberal types are always telling us how much they love America. I have no doubt they do.

But did you ever notice how so few of them are patriotic? I have noticed that few of my liberal reads ever post tributes to Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day or 9/11.

They rarely miss Earth Day though.

Friday Five, on a Sunday. Movies you know by heart edition

We all have that favorite movie we have seen dozens of times. You know, that film you have watched 40, 50, or more times? Do you have that favorite film you recite the dialogue along with the actors? Is there a  movie you have seen so many times you recognize when the cable station has cut scenes or even parts of scenes and not do you notice, it pisses you off? do you have a film you have seen so many times you are sick of it, yet have to stop and watch whenever you run across it on TV?

Here is your chance, list those five favs in the comments.

Here are mine, in no particular order:

Wizard of Oz
Animal House
Holiday Inn
Blues Brothers
Hoosiers

And since I am in charge, I will add a bonus movie:

Cool Hand Luke

What movies have you watched too many times?

Commentary

As is my custom, there will be no 9/11 post today.

If you cannot remember, choose not to remember or fail to understand our country was attacked in the name of religion nine years ago this morning, there is really nothing for you here. On any day, but especially today.

President Obama, you are a damn liar

"He [Obama] repeatedly sought to justify the high-dollar actions his administration has taken to boost a sputtering recovery. And he blamed Republicans for holding back future progress by uniformly opposing other proposals on the table.  "  source

The President conveniently forgets the Democrats have been in control of both houses of Congress since 2006. He seems to forget that for most of his term, President Obama has enjoyed such a dominating control that the Republicans could not even stop a filibuster in the Senate. The Republicans could not stop one single piece of legislation the Democratic Party chose to advance. The Democrats still retain majorities in both the House and Senate. They have the votes to pass their legislation. Too bad many Democrats know what the ywant to pass is not what is in the best interest of the American people. It is not the Republicans stopping the liberal agenda.

Saying otherwise makes Obama a damn fucking liar. If you agree with him you are either stupid or a damn fucking liar too.

Enough already

It has been more than five years.  Yes it was a horrible catastrophe. Things happened that should not have happened. I get it; poor New Orleans. Katrina sucked. The Saints revived the city, gave the poor residents something to focus on besides their misery.

Still, it has been five years. For those who miss the obvious that is one half a decade.

Can it just be a football game from now on?

Just a thought

Let me see if I have this straight--

This nutjob in Florida should not burn the Koran because it will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

We must build the Ground zero mosque or it will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

We should close Gitmo or else it will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

We should build footbath and purification centers for cabbies at airports or it will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Support for Israel  will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

The existence of Israel will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Forcing Muslim women to have their picture taken for a driver's licence will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Showing your bare feet will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Converting to Christianity, if you are a Muslim, will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Building Christian churches in any Muslim country will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Night clubs, strip bars and beer will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Pig roasts will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Prosecuting honor killings in the US will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

The war in Iraq and Afghanistan enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism

Reporting that the killings at Fort Hood, the recruit depot in Arkansas, the aborted attack at Fort Dix and Times Square were committed by Muslims will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.


How many of these horrible things listed above were we doing on September 10, 1991?

It seems to me that no matter what we do short of converting to Islam at sword point and adopting Shari'a Law will enrage radical Muslims and cause more terrorism.

Well, it is a post...

I am late ggetting to the old blog today. I started in work mode at 7:00 am, and I have been on the phone non-stop. Customers are near line-down due to a freight company's inability to deliver.

I have a customer who needs parts. He wants to buy them from me. We have them in stock. Creating a customer part number and creating the required paperwork will take a week.  Sigh. This is the only place I have ever worked where actually selling product creates a sense of panic.

The NFL season begins tonight.  I am ready.

Let's do the time warp now...

In this morning's newspaper there was a flier from a local furniture store. The advertisement was promoting the Big Labor Day Sale. It informed me they would be open both Sunday and Monday for special Labor day hours.

I often feel like I live in a time warp.  Maybe now you can understand why.

Obama...

Obaaaamaaaa, come on now [whistle, whistle].

Down boy, heel.

Heel, Obama, heel.

Moving forward

Labor day is over. Birthday season is kicking off at the old Hoosierboy household. My daughter will celebrate number 24 on the 14th. My brother's %! on the 22nd. The youngest boy will be 17 on the 30th and the oldest boy will have circled the sun 22 times on October 1.

The passing of Labor Day also kicks off the political season.  Get ready to be bombarded by ads on TV and radio. In other entertainment news the new TV season kicks of in a few weeks. Finally something other than reruns.

I hope you had a great weekend. Works beckons.

Friday Five Holiday Edition on a Monday

I was listening to the old iPod last night and the little electronic jukebox played Turn the Page from Bob Seger's classic live album "Live Bullet". There are some great live recordings out there, so let us offer a list of five all-time classic live albums. Here are some of my favorite live recordings, in no particular order:

The Who                               Live at Leeds
Johnny Cash                          At Folsom Prison
Allman Brothers                     Live at Fillmore East
Frank Sinatra                         Sinatra at the Sands
Led Zeppelin                         The Song Remains the Same

Since I am the man making the list, I will not limit myself to five. Here a few more of my favorites:

Yes                                      Yessongs
Simon and Garfunkle             Concert in the Park
Peter Frampton                     Frampton Comes Alive
Bob Seger                            Live Bullet


What do you think are the five best live albums of all time? Come on, play along in the comments. If you do not comment, cats in heat will stand beneath your bedroom window. Babies will cry. Puppies will look at you with that head-cocked sad-eyed look. Buddhist Monks will set themselves on fire. Play along or Nancy Pelosi will do a strip tease at your next birthday. Flowers will die. Your Grandma will be sad. If you fail to comment fat guys in thongs will haunt your dreams. Come on, join in the fun. Do it for the baby seals, for the starving kids in India/Africa/Tibet/Mongolia/Thailand.  If you offer your opinion Catherine Zeta-Jones might come to your house wearing a French Maid outfit. The old Spice guy might come and clean your bathroom, ladies. The risk is low, the rewards are high.

Don't make me beg.

The view of the mountains is wonderful today

If you are sitting at your computer, refreshing every five minutes to see if I have provided any entertainment, insight, humor, analysis, or Hemingwayesque prose, you are wasting your time on this fine Sunday.

Get out. It is a beautiful long weekend. Do something.

Samstag

The coffee is good this morning. I hope you are doing well.  I watched the sun rise, as usual. It comes up later every day.  The calender is funny that way. On the bright side in a few months the days will start getting longer.

The TV is fixed. The old bank account took a $325 hit, but I has my big screen back. What the hell, it is only money. I have never had much of it, and this way I will not blow it on fast women and faster cars.

It was a cool 52 degrees when i went out to get the paper. The temps are expected to get back to the nineties next week. Some of the State got some rain Thursday evening and Friday morning, but not us. We have had less than 0.25 inches of rain since July. If it were not for the monsoons we faced in May and June every ditch, brook, and creek in the area would be bone dry. I bet the giant snakes that lived down by the brook at the old homestead are slithering up by the house with evil intent to get inside where they can drink from the sink and kill the inhabitants. That is what snakes do. I am glad i do not live there any more.

Have a great Saturday. I hope you all get laid.

Here is aclassic tune for your viewing pleasure. Rita is a bit older here, but still smokin' hot.

Catching up

Happy Friday.  I am working my ass off today. I just got an RFQ from a customer -- 60 line items worth several million dollars. So I am making the donuts as it were, baby.

The TV repair man is supposed to show up between 11:00 and 3:00. No sign of him yet. Let us all cross our finger it is a minor repair.

I am primed for the three day weekend. I am going to install a ceiling fan in the boy's room. I have to deliver a chair to the oldest boy. I suspect I am going to drink a beer or two and smoke a cigar to celebrate the unofficial end of summer.  It is supposed to be chamber of commerce weather in these parts. I am ready.

I have not had time to create a Friday Five or Friday Covers post for you. I am not sure I can top Mrs. Miller's covers from last week in any case.

I hope your Friday is going well.

maybe later

The need to earn a living trumps the need to post/read blogs.

Ladies -- now I get it

I came home from a business trip yesterday evening.  I was dog tired. I picked up the remote to turn on the TV. Nothing. The set would not turn on. Houston, we have a major problem.

After trying everything, including finding and checking the owner's manual ( call a service representative), I had the boy help me move the non-functioning set and replace it with the old set from the bedroom.

Watching a 20" screen is not nearly as pleasurable as watching a 52" screen. There is no doubt in my mind that bigger is better.

Why lunch is my favorite meal

I went to the Chinese buffet place for lunch yesterday. Sitting across the aisle, two rows up,  right in my line of sight was a sixty-plus year old woman.

She was wearing a crochet halter top. It was white and semi-see through.

I am pretty sure the only thing that kept her boobs from hanging out the bottom was her fat roll.

Impeach Obama

Without a doubt I think The Obama ranks right up there with Carter and Buchanan as one of the worst Presidents ever. If there was a Mt. Rushmore of failure Obama's visage would be front and center. The ghost of Millard Fillmore routinely looks down from Heaven and shouts a Simpsonesque "ha ha". at the current occupant of the White House.

 Obama's policy decisions are a disaster.  His economic theories are a complete failure.  He has championed social programs that are manifestly unpopular, and in my mind Unconstitutional. He has created a myriad of Czars and policies that circumvent Congressional approval and consent. He has involved the Government in private enterprises like banking, automobile production and health care.  His Government purchase of GM and Chrysler destroyed decades of bankruptcy court precedent. He sued Arizona for trying to enforce the immigration laws he will not. So what?

None of this rises to the level of impeachment. Obama is the hurricane Katrina of politics. He has left in his wake destruction of our freedoms and a flood of big government. And Congress, behind Pelosi and Reid, passed every bit of the regulation.  Sure, Obama obfuscated his agenda when he was running for President. He is a typical lying politician. We voted for him. We elected him. We have some serious buyer's remorse. That does not mean we can put him back in the box and take him to the customer service counter and claim he is "broken". Face it America, you got suckered by the Obama infomercial and now you don't like the big charges on the Visa Card. Sorry, there is no 'lemon law' in politics.

The President can be impeached for 'High Crimes and Misdimeaners'. That would include perjury, bribe taking, murder, rape -- your basic felonies. If the President committed treason he should be impeached.  Championing an agenda that is reprehensible to the majority, but still supported by a large percentage of lunatic lefties, makes for a lot of angst. Obama may be a socialist, an unrepentant progressive, an arrogant condescending elitist. He may send his wife on international jaunts and spend more time on vacation in one summer than most Americans do in a decade. He may throw a lot of parties and spend four days a week golfing. He might pal around with terrorists and be blind to the will of the electorate.  He has not committed high crimes and misdemeanors.

Pushing an impeachment agenda is a non-starter. It makes you look like a lunatic fringe extremist. Conservatives have enough problems.  The Republican hierarchy remains controlled by RINOs. The Democrat-Lite faction still does not get our anger and frustration. Pushing for impeachment of The Obama will not get their attention. If you do not like the current administration, vote them out.  If you cannot win at the polls, it is not yet time for your ideas. You do not have to like it. Get over it.

Regarding Pickled Beets

I had a bowl of pickled beets for lunch. I also had some Goldfish Crackers (insert copyright etc. here) on the side.

I made homemade ice cream late last week.  I put a couple of scoops in a bowl -- not the one that previously held the pickled beets-- and had it for dessert. I sprinkled some cashews on the ice cream and smothered it in chocolate syrup.

Monday Musings

We ran over to a neighboring town last night for a supper out. I was surprised to see a farmer harvesting corn.  I am not a farmer, but it seems awful early to be in the fields. I guess when it is ready, it is ready.

The notion we are entering harvest time is somewhat depressing. Even though we are facing temperatures in the 90's, combines in the corn are a sure harbinger of fall, of dreary days and the coming winter.

I have an overwhelming urge to sit on the deck and soak up as many rays as I can.

Too bad the need to earn a living trumps all.

Money for nothing

I have been chosen! Does anybody ever fall for this shit? She forgot to tell me my cut.

From: Mrs Celine Johnson


My Beloved one,

With profound respect and humble submission, I beg to state the following few lines for your kind consideration, I hope you will spare some of your valuable minutes to read the following appeal with sympathetic mind. I must confess that it is with great hopes, joy and enthusiasm that I write you this mail which I know and believed by the faith, it must surely find you in good condition of health.

I am Mrs Celine Johnson,wife to late David Johnson who was appointed Executive Accountant to Cote D'ivoire ( Ivory Coast ) Ministry of Resources and Energy for severall years. My husband died after a brief illness here in Cote D'ivoire and ever since then I decide not to marry again due to my religious belief. During the period of our marriage, we 're blessed with a son (Nelson Johnson) who is now sixteen years old.

Life's became sorrowfull to me since the death of my husband, and even more hopless, due to my cancer illness. It is sad to say that I have a liver damage (Cancer) and I can't live longer than four months from now, according to what my doctor told me.

I need you to do me a favour. please!

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $13,800,000.00 USD (Thirteen Million Eight Hundred Thousand USA Dollars) with a bank here in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire.The money was registered under Fix Deposit Account and It is still with the bank.

I cannot think of any body else trying to kill me, if not my late husband brother in order to inherit the money because my son is only 16 years old.

We lost almost everything we Inherited from my late husband during the last political crisis and besides, my late husband brother is giving us trouble every now and then.

I need you to assist me transfer the fund into your bank account and invest it for my son Nelson. I believe you can take care of him and give him a good education even when am no more.

I will issue an authorisation ( vital documents ) in your name to enable the bank release the fund to you before another political crisis arise here in Ivory Coast.

After the transfer of the money into your bank account,my son shall relocate to your country to start a new life under your care.

I hope that you will not betray this trust if i change the deposit documents to your name and make you the new beneficiary..

If you can be of assisatance to us,i will really appreciate it with all my heart.


This message is very urgent.

Remain blessed,

Mrs Celine Johnson.

Welcome to my life

H/T C&S

Bonus for your enjoyment on a Friday -- More Mrs. Miller

Friday Covers

can you dig it?



Then there is this version by Mrs. Miller: You have to listen all the way to the bridge.  You will thank me.



And the original by Petula Clark:




Here is some info about Mrs. Miller. More here.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie Flight of the Intruder is when Jake Grafton and Tiger Cole sing this song in the cockpit of their A6 after bombing Hanoi. Too bad the movie sucked donkey dick in so many ways.  I have no idea why they took one of the finest books written on the Vietnam War and changed the ending.

Dear you,

Listing your blog on your resume as writing experience is pretty much akin to a Civil War re-enactor claiming military experience.

Today's Earworm

Tin roof........rusted...

It would have been way cool to hang in Athens Georgia in the late 1970s to see the B52's and REM at the local bars.

Other Hoosierboys

learn more

Not only did J.W. “Row” Whitlock invent the first coin-operated music player and game machine and build forerunners to several modern marvels, he built and raced the Hoosier Boy series of hydroplanes. In 1924, he raced the Hoosier Boy between Cincinnati and Louisville. The 267-minute, 49-second record for the 267-mile course stands today. The boat and several Whitlock inventions are on display in the Ohio County Historical Museum.

source

On a completely different note, Josh and Dave love me. They have started a fan club.

Close to the edge, down by the river

The headache that caused me to be in a bad mood since last week continue. Since Sunday it has been a migraine. I know the cause -- it is the damn weather.  Allergies are affecting most of my family.  Even my wife who normally shows no allergy symptoms is sneezing. We need a good rain to beat down the dust and spores and nasty crap in the air. We had a sprinkle Saturday morning, it did not even wet the sidewalk, and before that I cannot remember the last rain. I bet if I still lived in the old house, the snake infested little brook would be dry.

In other news, there is no other news. Perhaps I will find some fodder reading around the interwebz. I suggest you check back several times an hour, just to be sure...

Stalling

Last night I bought a rotisserie chicken at the store.  I pulled the meat from the carcass and threw out the skin.  I pulled the meat apart. I covered it with BBQ sauce and put it on the stove for a bit.  I served on a bun along with some slaw, french fries and some leftover homemade potato salad from supper on Sunday.

The boy hated it. The wife did not like it much.  She said "It tastes like pulled pork, only made with chicken".

Yes. What was she expecting? I guess I will not make that agian. The two of them are so picky it is frustrating.  We eat the same meals repeatedly because neither will eat anything new. Yet the complain they are tired of everything. I guess we will have  *&^%$#@ spaghetti tonight for the billionth time.

Reading blogs and writing about this nonsense does not get the forecast done.

Quick thoughts for a Monday

Working on my quarterly forecast.  I have to get it in the mail by tomorrow for a Wednesday delivery to the muckity-mucks at corporate. I have only know it was due for about four weeks..

had a Salisbury steak TV dinner for lunch.  This is the first in about a month.  I used to eat at least one of these babies every week.  It tasted like dog food. I don't think the taste has changed, I am just sick of eating them.

The Cubbies really came up big for Pinella's last game. F-ing losers. F-ing Cubs.

Bought the wife a new iPad Friday.  It is way cool.

saw a poll over the weekend that says Bush is more popular than The Obama in some key Democrat districts. Wow, how low can it get for The Obama?

A recent study showed that young drivers who take driver's education classes are more likely to have a wreck. Some would conclude the State and school efforts to educate students do not work. The people at the state see the study as a need for the state to take over the curriculum and for the driving age to be increased. Everything in life is a contest between more government vs. less government. A sane person would say letting a dad teach his son or daughter to drive works better than the school (public or private) teaching kids to drive. A libtard sees the need for more government control.

Sometimes, when the boss is talking to me it sounds just like the adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon --Whah waa, waa whaa wah.

Hud is a damn good movie.

HRDM OUF VKGWSVI

Hjsdf umb duj nfkstw4 hsjjeeen.  Wpdjrkm dhug nsjdyet. T63jdscvsd moujs Fuck liberals gsiudkdodj.  Jusbdg hwtdvf klsn67 bsi.  Mowj d763 @ jsmkk okk I slsfjj/

L96fsd co2w gdy I jakdhytvc. Didjndhsat54 kl&sjsnf*m? So wjshsyf nsk4f hsjncvb. Moyd jsbftvsd. "kdls b nejskdm" nandshsu !

Busyt ndkdh gsndmdjf nsbsyr45 dmsstrvssk smsksoneeej. Jshsnf,copsmsy jsnsdfy tevenmdkd sski sks I tshsys gavdw5#w. Ijamfdmfhsy vwkssmt.

Milkweed fjsnskfi sm ksisk I and ksksf mksl.  Ha ha nsmidodld.

The mood pendulum swings the other way.

The power went out yesterday morning for about two hours. I cleaned the furnace filters and smoked a cigar. My mood improved, although the headache I had continues -- fall allergies.

I fell asleep on the couch last night.  When I got up to shuffle to bed around 5:00 am, there was lightning in the south.  It is drizzling right now.  The thirsty earth is sucking in the moisture and the air smells fresh and earthy.

I gimped out to pick up the paper a few minutes ago. The coffee maker is doing its thing in the kitchen. I am typing this. 

Now we are all caught up.

Do you have anything on your mind this morning?

Not today

I am in one of those moods. If I was a chick I would warn you I am premenstrual. Snarky, bitchy, aggressive, sarcastic and caustic could best describe my mood. Already I have had to refrain from dropping vicious comments at two or three of my daily reads.

I probably should stay away from the phone as well. Voicemail will shelter customers with idiotic proposals and coworkers from ruining my Friday.

If I could shoot lasers from my eyes you would be dead.

Please Algore, Founder of all things Internet, have a liberal troll spout his bullshit ideas on one of my posts, and stay around to argue.

Call me Mr. Telemarketer.

In my youth I would be heading to the bar, looking for a loud mouth to close with my knuckles.



It is a good thing I am home alone.  Maybe this looking for a fight mood will wear off.

I just want to celebrate

According to my handy desk calendar today is the 231st day of 2010.  There are just 134 days remaining in this year. More than 60% of this year has passed.

The news guy on the radio says on this date the average American has finally worked enough to pay the tax burden of Federal, State and Local taxes.

For the balance of the year I am working for me, not the Government.

This news makes me a little happy and a lot sad.

If you need explanation of the previous sentence you need to examine your political priorities.

My love - hate relationship with the Cubs

The Cubs cannot score runs. Last month they traded the player with the second highest batting average on the team.  Theriot also led the team in steals -- he had more than the  rest of the team combined.

Derrek Lee has batted .313 with six home runs and a .939 OPS since the all-star break. The Cubs traded him to Atlanta yesterday.  The Cubs also threw in some cash. They got three minor league pitchers, the best one is still in Single A ball in return. In a nutshell, the Cubs paid Atlanta to take one of their better players.

The Cubs cannot score a friggin' run for anything so they trade one of their best hitters (again) for three pitchers. Three pitchers who will possibly contribute in a few YEARS. Maybe.

It looks to this fan that the Ricketts are just like the Tribune -- cut costs, do not worry about the product. The Cubs fans will fill the seats anyway.

After all, they are used to losing.

I feel like an abused wife. The Cubbies keep smacking me around and I keep coming back out of  a sense of devotion or love or dependency. For crapsake I am wearing a Cubs hat as I write this! It is a replica of the cap the Chicago Cubs wore the last time they won the World Series -- in 1908. Nineteen fucking eight.

How many times can a fan's heart be broken?

How's that Hope and Change working out for you?

Eleven weeks before the Nov. 2 balloting, just 41 percent of those surveyed approve of the president's performance on the economy, down from 44 percent in April, while 56 percent disapprove. And 61 percent say the economy has gotten worse or stayed the same on Obama's watch.  Source

Here is a little challenge for you Democrats, Obamites and all around Progressive/Lefties. Look at the economy in 2005. Look at the numbers after the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006. Look at the trends up until now.

Report back in the comments.

I bet I get a big bag full of silence and cricket chirps.

Today's Earworm

We can cha a a a nge the world

Too bad the Chicago police did not bust a few more heads, those hippe mofos would not be screwing up the country today. Isn't it funny how the Chicago police get the bad rap in history, the press, and even in this punk's little video when it comes to the '68 Democrat Convention? I wrote a term paper in college about the Chicago Seven. My 1968 graduate of Berkley professor did not like it much. Unfortunately for him I presented the facts.  In those days I could actually write, so my narrative was entertaining. I did not give the favorable view of the rioters, so he argued with me, but I cited sources and got an A-. I deserved better and he knew it. I wish I still had that paper.Just a quick note to correct history as presented here.  JFK was long dead by the Democratic Convention of 1968. He was not turning the other ear, it had likely rotted off by this point.

Put on your love beads, slap on a pair of sandals and relive the good old days. I personally like the live version from the CSNY live album 4 Way Street better.

Rules and regulations, who needs 'em...

The Ground Zero Mosque

I don't like it. I think it is an affront to all Americans. Like mts said in the comments a couple of posts ago, the mosque proves who these people are. We need no more evidence than the planned grand opening": September 11. 2011. This is without a doubt, a victory mosque. There are nearly three thousand reasons to object to this mosque. The Ground Zero Mosque is wrong on every count but one.

In this country we have freedom of religion.  As James stated in his comments two posts below, sometimes the Constitution protects stuff we do not like. Do you feel the need to burn a flag, shout out your support for child molesters, piss in a jar drop in a crucifix and call it art -- all protected under the Constitution. Do you ant to to burn a cross while dressed in your good bedsheets with the yellow stains? Are inclined to  protest at military funerals, show your support for code pink?  Do you want to convince us that partial birth abortion is about women's rights?  Do you think every American can and should own a gun? The Constitution has you covered.

Every effort should be made to show the Imams in charge how painful this mosque's location is.  We should encourage them to build elsewhere. We should appeal to their compassion.  If this fails, then we should protest loudly and often.  Protesters should fill the streets, do their best to stop and delay construction in every LEGAL manner possible. We should stand outside the mosque with pictures of the towers on 9/11. We should shove the image down the throats of the "religion of peace" of victims jumping from the top floors of the Trade Towers. Every time a Muslim enters the mosque the last image they see should be the evil perpetuated in the name of their religion. Paint a mural of the burning towers on the buildings across the street.

We should surround the monument to terror with BBQ joints, gay bars, Jewish Synagogues and Christian Churches. Locate a payday loan shop and a strip joint across the street. I pray a butcher shop specializing in pork and sausage opens nearby. Every day citizens should sit and show the bottoms of their bare feet to the entrance of the mosque. The builders have a right to build, but no right to respect or kindness from those they are trying their best to insult.

But we have to allow the mosque to be built, offensive as it is. Those who scream about a limited government, about returning to the spirit of the Constitution, about freedom, can take no other position.

Feel free to fire away in comments.

This is the kind of Sh*^ That Goes on In My Brain

I am tightening my belt and shoe laces. It is a Monday and I know the day is going to suck. A whole herd of figurative black cats are crossing and recrossing and even stopping to piss all over my path. Mirrors are shattering at my feet as I walk under ladders.

There is no use crying about it, I bow my head and move forward.

I hear Errol Flynn shouting in my ear, "Are you with me men?" I growl as I hurl forth to battle life in its full fury.

I hope your Monday goes well too.

Just because

I wish I had something to say of interest.

I woke a little before six this morning. Sometimes I cannot shut off my brain at night.   I hate that.

You know it is humid outside when the windows are steamed up. In the summer.

The boy and I got the yard mowed yesterday. I have nothing on tap for today, although their is always housework and yardwork to be done.  I may work a little this afternoon, I am hitting the friendly skies Monday afternoon for  customer visit.

I did not even turn on the 'puter yesterday. Based on this entry, you can see why.

I am working on a post about the Ground Zero Mosque. I think most of you are not going to like what I say.

Have a great Sunday.

I wish I had a pithy title to insert here

Not much time to post today. I have a big contract negotiation this afternoon and I have to finish preparing. I have never been in favor of heavy negotiating on a Friday afternoon. Often one of the parties is mentally already starting his weekend. I hope it is not me. This is just the first shots of the battle. The customer will decide how vicious the war is going to be. My management has made my position clear, threats from the customer will not be tolerated. Things could get interesting. This is the part of my job I enjoy, the mental chess game of negotiating: pushing for something you do not care about, so you can relent later and get the goal that you really wanted in the first place. At the same time the guy across the table is doing the same.  It is my job to determine what issues are serious and what are giveaways. Sometimes you screw the other guy's plans by acceding to a point he did not care about.

The heat is expected to break by Sunday. The yard is a little scraggly so I will have to get it mowed this weekend. I prefer it not be 95 degrees with 98% humidity when I do it.

I had some Everly Brothers coursing through my brain this morning.  Is it weird to wake up with "Wake Up Little Susie" echoing in your brainpan? I had a good idea on some artists/songs for Friday Covers, but I do not have time this morning. I am sure you are all disappointed.  Everyone loves that feature.

The bottom line is I can work, I can read your blogs, or I can write a decent post.

Guess what wins?

Are Pringles an invention of the Antichrist?

I woke this morning with a real craving for tuna salad, of all things. Finally around 10:30 I could not wait any longer. I mixed up some tuna,relish, onion and mayo. I had a sandwich and 1/2 as an early lunch.

I find Pringles disturbing. How do they get them all alike?  It is like eating cloned potato chips.  They are good, do not get me wrong, but they are just a little off in their potatoey goodness. Pringles do go well with root beer and tuna salad though.

Did any of you read my previous post? I am sure after a few sentences your eyes glazed over in boredom. history is not fascinating to many of you, and my writing style does not help.  If we could sit and discuss it, I am sure you would have been more interested. Maybe Probably not. I enjoyed myself anyway.  Isn't that the point of this self-indulgent hobby anyway?

Historical ADD

History is  seductive mistress.  She draws you in and leaves you craving more. For instance, I was doing some research yesterday. In the roster of the 7th Indiana Cavalry (Co. I) I found this name and statement:

F. Lt [First Lieutenant] Charles H Hare Shelbyville, IN. Mustered Sep 30, 1863. Dishonorably Dismissed Feb 28, 1865. as a marauder & etc.

I bet you could hear the screeching of my mental brakes. There is a story here. Just what did Charles H Hare of Shelbyville, IN do to be booted from the service? Marauding and etc? The history muse Clio just showed me some naked breasties. I have to have more.

Through the marvels of the internet I came across this Civil War era report:

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 11, 1865. -- Expedition from Memphis, Tenn. into Southeastern Arkansas and Northeastern Louisiana.



Report of Col. Embury D. Osband, Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, commanding expedition.


HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, DEPT. OF MISSISSIPPI,


Memphis, Tenn., February 25, 1865

Buried deep in the report I found this statement:

...I submit herewith extract from [report of] Col. J. P. C. Shanks, commanding First Brigade, in reference to First Lieut. Charles H. Hare, Company I, Seventh Indiana Calvary:

On the evening of January 29, 1865, when in camp at Quindley, on Bayou Bartholomew, Private Hendrickson, of Company I, Seventh Indiana Calvary, presented him Lieut, Charles H. Hare, with a $20 gold piece, with the remark that he, Private Hendrickson made him, Lieutenant Hare, a present of it; and further, that or the evening of the 31st January, 1865, in camp at Furness, said Private Hendrickson delivered to Lieutenant Hare twenty pieces of gold coin of the value of $20 each, asking Lieutenant Hare to keep it for him. Lieutenant hare states that when camp was called the following morning he returned the twenty pieces of gold to Private Hendrickson and that Private Hendrickson left camp that morning before the column moved, and was the day captured (I have since learned killed). Lieutenant hare further states that he knew at the time he accepted the present of one piece of gold, and when he received on deposit the twenty pieces, that they had been gotten by Private Hendrickson on the expedition, and had been wrongfully obtained by him. Lieutenant Sloan, Company E. Seventh Indiana Cavalry, reports to me that he saw Lieutenant Hare in possession of twenty-one pieces of gold ($20 each) four days after Private Hendrickson was lost; and since his return from the expedition Lieutenant Hare had told Major Carpenter that he had the money after Hendrickson's capture, but that it was now lost. He has kept it so concealed as to be beyond recovery. I ask that first Lieut. Charles H. Hare, Company I, Seventh Indiana Cavalry, be dismissed the service dishonorably and without pay, and an accompanying order, that the order of dismissal be read in all the cavalry camps of the division.

I heartily approve and indorse the recommendation of the brigade commander considering that the interests of the service imperatively demand that an example should be made of any commissioned officer who so far degrades himself and the position he occupies as the countenance, in any manner whatever, pillaging or marauding... source

There you have it.  Further research teaches us that the 7th was part of Greirson's Raid through Mississippi. The events of this cavalry raid are depicted in John Wayne's Civil War film The Horse Soldiers.  I make a note to myself to refresh my memory on Grierson's Raid. I jump over to IMDB to read up on the Horse Soldiers.

Trying to find a little more detail of the 7th's campaign in Arkansas and Louisiana where Lt. Hare did his dirty deed, I found a compilation of the History of the Seventh Indiana. Chapter IX details the Louisiana campaign. reading the text you see why I have always said history is better than any novel.  Savor this excerpt:

...When the crossing was effected, the command pursued its march through a dreary, uninhabited country to Bastrop, Louisiana. From that place it marched north, crossed Bayou Bartholomew, and went to Hamburg, in Arkansas. Between these points the country was execrable. Human beings could not and did not inhabit it, except in an occasionally dry spot. It was given over by Nature, and Nature's God, for habitation,to frogs, lizzards, snakes and alligators. In such a country it was impossible to get subsistence for man or beast. Nearly all of the extra rations transported on the pack mules, were lost with those animals, as they sank out of sight in the mud and water of the swamps. The ammunition was lost in the same way. But that did not amount to anything as there was no enemy to use it on. It was pitiable to see the poor animals try to extricate themselves while they were all the time sinking deeper in the mire. They would cast appealing looks at the men and utter piteous groans... source

The narrative does not tell us about the perfididty of Lt. Hare, but it does tell a heart-wrenching tale of the refugee slaves that followed the regiment.

The soldiers had taken pity on a wench with a young babe, and placed her and the child on a mule. In crossing a muddy creek, the mule stumbled and threw the mother and child into the mud and water. The mother fell on the child and burried it beneath the water. Hastily rising, and lifting it up, she saw it choking and gasping, and after looking at it a moment, threw it back into the water, and exclaimed: Dah, go to yar Jesus, yar better off in his hands, than yah'r in mine," and abandoned it.

A soldier sprang into the water, but before he could recover it, it drowned. Source

See, we are diverted yet again! I have history ADD. Every novel fact or story sends me off into a new direction.

I never did find out what happened to disgraced Lt. Hare. I learned there was a Lt. Hare from Noblesville, IN who survived Little Big Horn.  (I bet some of you did not know that only about 1/2 of Custer's command was killed at "Custer's last stand".I forced myself to skip that entry.  I might find myself caught up with the later career of this Lt Hare and his classmates from West Point.

In the end, I did not finish looking up what I started searching on the intewrwebz to begin with; my ancestor who fought with the 7th Iowa Cavalry in the Civil War era. I might not ever solve the mystery of how a guy from Ohio, who lived in Missouri, enlisted in Iowa and served the war fighting Indians in Nebraska and Kansas, ended up in Central Indiana. There are just too many historical paths to cross without getting detoured.

Did I mention his wife (my great great grandmother) arrived on the Orphan Trains...

Your Government in action

Congress passed another stimulus bill, this time to aid States and "save" the jobs of teachers and municipal workers. The illustriouss leaders from the Democratic Party claim the bill is "budget neutral".  That means it will not increase the deficit. They are accomplishing this amazing trick of spending $26 billion by not spending money in 2014.

I will pause while you stop laughing.

Imagine the page going all fuzzy and out of focus while creepy dream sequence music plays in the background.

HB: Hello Mr. Banker, I want to borrow $10,000.
Banker: Ok lets look at your debt load and credit rating.
HB: No need, this loan will not affect my credit.
Banker: blink.  blink. How is that?
HB: I plan on paying for this loan in 2014, when my kids are out of college and I have more cash flow. Since I will have the money in the future, there is no reason to act as if this is a real "debt".
Banker: Blink. Blink.
HB: No need to worry, I will have the money.  My wife says she will not spend it in 2014. No  worries.   When can I get the dough?
Banker: Blink. Blink.

Fuzzzy image, sounds etc. as we come back to reality.

The EduJobs bill is deficit neutral.

Blink. Blink....????

Woes Me Wednesday

It is Wednesday. Hump Day. The first day of school. The wife is back to work, the boy is starting his junior year and I have the house to myself. I love my family, but they screw up my work schedule.

It is going to be a hot one here in God's country today.  It was already 81 at 6:00 am. The windows were fogged over due to the humidity and temperature differences between outside and the air conditioned inside.

I made some cinnamon rolls this morning for my first day of school housemates. Thank you Poppin' Fresh!

I have to take the car in for an oil change this morning.

I got an unexpected payday yesterday.  No money, just a candy bar. The wife picked one up for me at the store.

The Cubs won last night.  I should not have stayed up to see the whole thing since I had to get up early this morning to make breakfast.  The season is over, I do not know why I keep watching. Some of us are masochists I guess.

Are you satisfied?  Another post is up. It is filled with worthless stuff no one cares about, but it is a post. Take that slackers.


P.S. Confidential to you. Some of us are in favor of limited government.  That does not mean NO Government.  That would be anarchy.

Sunday Dinner

I got a good deal on some strip steaks yesterday. I threw four on the grill.  The boy got two. It is crazy having a teenaged eating machine at the table. I made a nice salad and some baked spuds to go with the steaks. The meat came out a perfect medium and everyone was happy.

I am off this afternoon to do my Willie Loman thing.

Help me Rhonda

Does anyone know how to ban comments on blogger? I am sick of that damn Chinese comment spam every day.

I do not want to go to comment moderation.

How Dairy Queen saved my life

It is Sunday morning.  The coffee is hot and the birds are quiet in the Japanese maple outside my office window. I have checked my email and I am starting my routine surf through the blog world.

The boy sleeps in the room next door This is his last weekend before school resumes on Wednesday. He is less than thrilled. I would agree.  It is too early to start school. The upside is he gets out by Memorial Day.

It has been a great weekend weather-wise.  The heat is supposed to return early this week. I guess I will have to get after the yard work today. I still have some bushes in the back and East side of the house that need trimmed. The heat of last week has kept the grass from growing much. But it remains green, not the brown crunchy stuff we usually see by this tine of year.

Perhaps I will smoke a cigar this afternoon instead of watching The Cubs lose another game. They cannot score runs. The pitchers do a reasonable job (until the bullpen comes into play) but there are no consistent bats to put them over the hump. The team traded the second highest batting average for a player with lower batting stats and clearly less defensive skills. The only advantage DeWtitt has over Theriot is youth. I do not get it. F-ing Cubs.

In high school I used to date this girl that worked at Dairy Queen. She made me cherry cokes that were 50% cherry syrup.  She would make me strawberry banana milkshakes that were so loaded with fruit it was like eating a sundae. It was a Blizzard before DQ invented the Blizzard (insert appropriate trademarks etc. here). She had a nice rack too. I married her. The kids liked to go to the buffet place on occasion when they were little. The local place had a self-serve ice cream machine.  The wife still makes that little curl on the top of the cone.  She cannot help herself.

I am just rambling here. Have a great Sunday.

Today's Earworm

Get yer hippie on.

Here is a bonus. Take a trip around the bay with Dr Leary:

The Enola Gay, Bockscar and Grandpa Hoosierboy

My grandpa loved harry Truman. Grandpa Hoosierboy was in the Navy in WWII.  After he graduated from basic training at Great Lakes, he was sent to additional schooling.  There the Marines taught him about land warfare, storming the beaches, etc. Grandpa Hoosierboy was slated to be part of the massive invasion of the home islands of Japan.  Later, unclassified documents would show military experts estimated it would require as many as one million casualties to take Japan.

Chew on that -- 1,000,000 American lives.

Grandpa would claim the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war and saved lives, both American and Japanese: and most importantly, his own.

Today marks the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. In sheer numbers more were killed in the fire bombings of Dresden or Hamburg. More damage was done to Tokyo during the bombing raid of 9-10 of March 1944 when 16 square miles of the city was destroyed and more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Yet there are some who are appalled that the US used the atomic bomb.  Today marks the first time in 65 years that an American representative will attend the ceremonies at Hiroshima. Some have speculated that Ambassador Roos' visit is a precursor to President Obama's visit to Japan later this year.  Some experts believe Obama will offer a formal apology for using the "bomb" on Japan.

Me, I think my position is more akin to that of President Truman.  He was asked if he was sorry for dropping the bomb. Truman replied he had not yet heard an apology for Pearl Harbor.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in tens of thousands of young men living a full life, raising families, building America into the greatest nation on Earth.

I can live with that.

Double fisted head scratching here, Boss

I read this at Nathan's yesterday. This is without doubt the stupidest thing I have ever read.

Please someone, anyone explain this to me.

Reason 1,497 you wish you were me

Wednesday is trash day around here. I put out my garbage late last night after I returned from a two day road trip. Apparently one of the bags on the bottom had a leak, so there was about four inches of rotten garbage liquid in the bottom of the can after the trash men hauled away the garbage bags. It has been hot the past few days. Maybe not Texas hot, but pretty close. The actual temperature was in the mid nineties at 11:00 PM last night and the heat index was still around 100.

You can imagine the stench from that garbage liquid. I could smell it when I came out the door. I am usually pretty tough when it comes to foul things, but I admit washing out the garbage can under these conditions made me gag a little. At least the maggots were not in full force yet.

Too bad there is not yet smell-a-vision for this blog. You will have to use your imagination.

In other news the wife made me some oatmeal scotchies last night.

No, I will not share them with you.

Obama, you speak with forked tongue

“What we can’t do is allow a patchwork of 50 different states, or cities or localities, where anybody wants to make a name for themselves suddenly says, ‘I’m going to be anti-immigrant, and I’m going to try to see if I can solve the problem ourself.’”--President Obama on CBS News Sunday

I guess we can expect lawsuits against Virginia and Rhode Island and any other state that checks immigration status when a suspect is detained. More importantly when will we see the Federal lawsuits against sanctuary cities?  After all, we cannot have every state and city create a patchwork of immigration policies...

A Rambling Post Regarding Cowboys and Relatives Long Gone

I watched John Wayne in The Cowboys yesterday. It is one of my all-time favorite westerns. I have liked westerns for years. In 1976 I was at my Grandma and Grandpa's house. I visited them almost every day. There was a paperback book lying on the footstool by Grandpa's chair.  I picked it up and started reading it.  Grandpa urged me to take it with me. I am sure he had not finished it, maybe he had not even started.  I don't know, but like any other self-absorbed 14 year old I took it with me. The book was Tucker by Louis L'Amour. I was hooked. Over the next several years I read every book written by L'Amour and most of his short stories.

A few weeks after Grandpa gave me that book I dreamed he died. I went over to visit the next morning.  Grandpa was watching a movie on TV. I was relived he was fine. I did not mention my dream (and would not tell anyone about it for years). He wanted me to sit and watch it with him.  I was a busy teenager and had better things to do. Grandpa died in his sleep that afternoon.

The character played by the Duke in The Cowboys always reminds me of my Grandpa for some reason. I am not sure why.  John Wayne was a big man, Grandpa was about 5'2".  Grandpa did not work on a ranch or a farm, he managed a lumberyard. Somehow, in my mind, there has always been a connection.

I still have that copy of Tucker. It is dog-eared and worn. I expect the glue to separate from the spine the next time I read it. Every few years I ride with Shell Tucker as he tracks down the guys that stole money from his family and becomes a man in the process. In the beginning Shell Tucker is an impetuous teenager that cares only about himself. In the end he learns responsibility and maturity. Maybe Grandpa knew what he was doing when he gave his 14 year old grandson that book.

One last thought

I have watched the Sherrod video in its entirety. She is one boring speaker.

So, if I understand her position, and the progressive media position, it is acceptable to be racist, as long as you later realize you did it and try to make things OK?

Really?

Music for a Friday Afternoon

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies , starring two of my favorite actors.

Happy Friday

Zzzzzz....

I took the afternoon off yesterday. Not to have fun or relax. I did some of the long put-off yard work. I cleaned out the flower beds. I pulled and cut down some weeds. I went around a couple of mulberry bushes and then cut them down. The wife did not think that was funny either. I trimmed some trees and bushes.  I mowed the yard. The past few times I have used the weed eater it has not run well.  This time I could get it started but when I went to take off the choke it just died. I tried adjusting the intake screws, but it just will not run. Whenever i give it the "gas" it just dies. I wish I knew something about engines.  I am sure it is simple, but I will have to pay someone to fix it, or buy a new one, I guess. It was a cheap one I bought about 4 or 5 years ago.

By the time an absolutely gorgeous evening rolled around, I was a tired boy. The temperature was in the low 80s and the humidity was low. The wife wanted me to go with her on a walk.  I made it a few blocks around the neighborhood, but cut my exercise short.  She went on and I came home and listened to music on the deck before the mosquitoes began to bite.

Given the above, you would have thought I would sleep well. Humph. I woke around 4:30 to hit the head (not unusual). I could not go back to sleep. I watched some of a documentary on the Tsars of Russia before finally dozing off and on until around 7:30.

And there you have another post filled with boring crap.

You are welcome.

More head scratching

The President of the United States, Honorary Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, did not have time to address the Boy Scout National Jamboree today.




He was too busy appearing on "The View".

I am glad his priorities are straight.






The Obama is going to make people think I have dandruff, or lice, or something...

Where the author scratches his head in confusion

I am not a lawyer. I never even played one on TV, but I can read English. As I understand the Judge's ruling in the Arizona 1070 case, the time it takes to check an ID to see if a person is a legal citizen infringes on basic freedom and is an unreasonable requirement.

So the next time I am pulled over for speeding can I refuse to give my ID as the time it will take to run my registration and drivers licence is an unreasonable imposition on my basic freedoms and an automatic assumption of guilt?

Is the Judge saying it is acceptable to determine the accuracy of a person's identification is acceptable except when determining legal immigration status?

Am I alone in thinking this is an idiotic position?

An open letter to Progressives

George W Bush is rated as one of the worst Presidents in history. He left much to be desired from my point of view.

I am challenging liberals/progressives/Democrats to tell me what policies of "The Shrub" you found most egregious, what did he do to make you hate him with such passion? Was it his policy in Iraq or Afghanistan? Was it the detainees at Guantanamo? Perhaps it was the wiretaps on foreign nationals. Was it his tax cuts, TARP?

I am calling you out. Don't make me list you by name. Here is your chance to educate me.

And by the way, I am going to next ask you why you support the current President? If he is continuing the policies of President Bush you found so horrible, you have some explaining to do.

For you betting types, the over / under on progressive comments is zero. Hypocrites never can defend their position.

You have been promoted

Nothing much to report. The Obama Government continues to leave me outraged. The drive to destroy our economy continues. Do you liberal idiots have any idea how many solar panels and windmills it will take to power our country?

Those of you who complained about GW taking too many vacations should be indignant that The Obamas are taking not one, not two, but three vacations in August.

They are taking a planeload of friends and family with them to Spain. The Obamas and friends have reserve thirty hotel rooms in five-star hotels. I wonder who is picking up that tab. Air force jets are not cheap. The British PM flew commercial when he came over here a few weeks ago. The taxpayers will cover the cost since the First Lady will spend about ten minutes with the King of Spain.

Don't feel bad -- you are rich. Everyone's taxes are going up in January when the Bush Tax cuts expire. remember the lie promise only the rich will see an increase in taxes? I guess we are all now part of the wealthy class. Dou you feel rich?

How not to fix the road to economic prosperity

It is Tuesday. You already know that.

I am just stalling here, trying to come up with a post.

I have plenty to say, but no desire to spend the time getting it down on electronic paper, as it were. I am pretty much preaching to the choir most of the time. Most of you understand that taxing a business results in higher prices for the end user. Higher prices result in fewer jobs and a slower growth of the economy.

For any of you who disagree with the above paragraph, I offer a challenge. Name one single instance where socialism/communism created a society where the average person's lot in life improved. Name a single time where the result was not rationing, long lines and a reduced standard of living. What communist paradise provides a standard of living even equal to that suffered by the poorest Americans?

Sure, when you are poor it sounds great to take the hard-earned wages of more successful Americans. What happens when your lot in life improves and they come for your money?

Leveling the socio-economic playing field does not mean filling in the low spots. It means grading off the top so we are all at a lower level. That is how Obama and his ilk want to fix the road to prosperity -- grading of the top. He does not believe in building up, He wants to fill the potholes by knocking down the highest points in the roadway.

Monday Grab Bag

I heard that my 30th High School reunion was Saturday. I did not go. I am sure no one noticed. If there was a vote for "Most Forgettable" I would win, only no one would remember to vote for me. I see on a regular basis the one guy from my high school class I care about. The other 250 or so -- yawn. To be honest I did not like most of them when I went to school and I could not care less about their lives thirty years later. If you think my feelings are wrong, consider that in 30 years not one of my classmates has tried to get in touch with me. But Hooierboy, you say, you have moved and they have lost track of you. Bleh, my parents still live in the same house and not one of my old "friends" has called them up to find out my contact information. Thank Goodness.

The Cubs took two of three from the Cardinals this weekend. They have dug such a hole they must win every division game.

I was flipping channels Sunday and noticed the Brickyard 400 was on. The cavernous Indianapolis Motor Speedway looked to be about 50% full. NASCAR, like a lot of folks in the entertainment industry is having troubles filling seats. The difference, the Hulman-George family has not backed up to the public taxpayer's trough demanding money from the City/State/County/Surrounding counties. The Pacers and Colts should look west of downtown Indy and see how an entertainment venue should be run.

I was at the airport last week, suffering the lines at security. A lady a bit further back in the cattle shoots was yelling to the TSA guy checking IDs. "Sir" she said, "Can I get up there, I have a plane leaving in 30 minutes."

He ignored her. She asked again. He ignored her. Finally, after her third plea he looked up and in the kindest tone told her "Lady, if any of those people in line in front of you want to let you go ahead, I have no issue with that. But if you want my opinion, the fact you cannot manage to get to the airport on time is not really any of the rest of these people's problem."

The whole line burst out laughing.

Weekend Funny

Another really easy quiz

Should local law enforcement arrest suspected bank robbers?

Bank Robbery is a Federal Offense.

If a cop in a given State (for the sake of argument how about Arizona?) stops a car and believes the driver meets the description of a suspect who just robbed the local 23rd Federal Bank and Trust should the officer detain that suspect for the FBI?

What is it about the Arizona Immigration Law that upsets you so much?

'Nuff said.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) ridiculed on Thursday an effort pushed by Republicans to allow lawmakers more time to read legislation. Hoyer dismissed a proposal by House GOP Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and other Republicans to require 72 hours to read legislation before a final vote on it is scheduled. Boehner launched a ‘read the bill’ effort on Thursday to promote the GOP's proposed reform, which the minority leader has said would be a key reform he'd make should he become speaker of the House.

‘His hypothetical is so unreasonable ... that it doesn’t bear commenting on,’ Hoyer said, mocking Republicans' chances of taking back the House in this fall's elections, a development which would make Boehner speaker. ‘This is beating a drum that's not relevant,’ the second-ranking House Democrat said.

--The Hill

Today's Earworm

A very hard quiz for your enjoyment

Here is a question I heard asked on the radio the other day. For those of you who believe the Tea Party is racist answer this:

If president Obama was a conservative, small-government President would there be a Tea Party?

Answer that honestly and you will know the truth.