11:02 and counting down

Soon complete strangers will be kissing each other on the streets of Times Square if you would believe the popular media. Hell, I hope so. There is a need for more kissing in the world.

Fire works are beginning to pop around here, although we still have nearly and hour in the old year. It just sounded like someone knocked at the front door, and as I went to answer it with my Hi-Power held just behind my hip, I realized as I opened it that it was fireworks. I strolled around anyway, just for the hell of it. It never hurts for the neighbors to see that someone is awake and alert.

2007 has been a roller coaster ride in many ways........struggling to remain afloat for most of the year to reaching a point where at least the necessities are assured for the foreseeable future is a good feeling. We've been blessed indeed.. I've got a shop/storage building to put most of my stuff in. I won't have to sleep with the dog in her plastic barrel lined with straw if I really screw up. I can clean off a shelf and wrap up in the two sleeping bags out there if necessary. Even have a hot plate.....but I'd have to raid the house for something to cook on it.
The piddling I do to bring in a few bucks has really picked up the last couple of months. Hopefully i'll keep enough of a head of steam up to keep moving down that track.

I've written more this year than before. A little less crazy ranting and hopefully a few cogent thoughts. I really have to thank all of you who drop by for visiting and occasionally commenting. I see you out there........even occasionally a visitor from other countries. I wonder what they think in China or Norway when they stop by here. It'd be wonderful to start communicating with other countries residents and learn of what they are thinking.

We've been subjected to political campaigning from numerous candidates for president of the U.S. in 2007. I look forward to that being over with so we can get down to complaining about the final result in 2009. And you know we will........rather you know I will, because I intend to exercise my franchise and encourage all of you to do the same. Oh you can complain if you don't vote........but we'll just consider you a hypocrite if you do.


So Thanks to all of you out there in the blogosphere. God Bless us all.

Happy New Year.

Now this is just wrong

Decency (and I'm not talking about showing a little skin) used to be the standard for most Americans, especially we expected it of our law enforcement.

No more.........tactics such as these are beyond the pale. Entrapment does not begin to explain it. The entire police force in that town should be made to resign, along with the city council, the District Attorney and his or her entire staff and put on trial for offenses against humanity. The poor guy would probably have just sat and talked with her if she hadn't enticed him to go further than he should.

Makes me sick to be an American if this is what we have become.

Uh-Oh

Here it comes. The post-coi.......er Christmas depression.

All that build up to the climax of the season. The excitement......the anticipation......the frantic rushing around to get everything done on time. Gifts bought....and wrapped. Lists made and carefully checked off so as not to miss anybody. Lights to hang.......and bulbs to replace. Bows and ribbons to carefully tie which will be ruthlessly ripped apart in a joyous, eager burst of conspicuous consumption.

And now.............

Every one has gone home or at least on their way. Farewells shouted and waves waved. Newly activated Tomtoms plugged in and programmed to get us home by the fastest route......one which we've traveled many times before.

We're gradually working our way through the last of the leftovers.....the sight of 3 day old turkey begins to make us slightly green around the gills.

We begin to see the old year come to a close and a new tax year approach.....I wonder if I can claim the cost of that new outbuilding??? And I wonder if the New Year will really bring anything new.......or different? Did I do the things I sat out to do at the beginning of the old year........WHY not? Should I make new plans or just try to finish some of the old?

Over a year ago I bought an old (relatively speaking) phonograph.....remember those?....with the intention of listening to recordings of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies Nos. 4, 5 and 6 by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. Events (moving to Athens) forced us to store many things in a rental storage unit for lack of room in the new abode.

Now with the building in the back yard storing all the accumulated junk which isn't in the computer/sewing room, all that sits on a shelf. I think tomorrow would be a good day to dust off the record player and finally listen to the old queers work.

The No. 6 Symphony is called "Pathetique" which appropriately describes my dedication to actually doing the things I say I want to do.

Most often my regrets are of the things I neglected to do rather than the things I actually did. I've lived a varied life doing many different things. A 'Jack of all trades, and master of........well.....a few', and I intend to keep on doing things I want to do rather than those I have to do.

I just intend to do more of them next year. So what really started off as a depressed sort of post has kinda fired me up a little.

If you have things you've been putting off, better get started. None of us know when we'll be meeting up with those who've gone before. I hope when that meeting happens and they ask "Did you do all you could?", I'll be able to say "No.......but at least I gave it a shot".

The wages of Sin

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Well I really don't know how much they pay.......but every one is always talking about it from the pulpit. I mean Jimmy Swaggart probably gave a thousand sermons on the importance of fidelity to one's wife and then goes out and hires a hooker or two. Did they cut his salary? Probably gave him a raise for temporarily increasing the number of people who tuned in to his broadcasts.......if only to point a self righteous finger or two at him.

The sin I'm speaking of thought is the sin of GLUTTONY.........

Really it's not my fault. People kept giving me chocolate kisses and Herseys dark chocolate bars (Love the dark chocolate), bags of pistachios (another real weakness), Cans of cashews, cookies, pies, bowls of home made banana pudding.......

Whewwwwwwwwwww.......... if I were Catholic I'd go say a mess of Hail Mary's or something, cause I do believe all that consuming has about caught up with me. Goooooooddddd thing I don't drink on top of all that. The projectile vomiting would not be a pretty sight to behold.

As soon as I get down off this sugar high and the blood pressure returns to something resembling normal, I'll have to hunker down and make up a bunch of New Years resolutions to never do any of this again. Ha! like that would do any good. I'll just do as always and blame my need for sweets on low blood sugar.

Hoping all your stomachs have started returning to normal.. We could take a clue from the pooch........go out and eat a bunch of grass.....

Full .....Full ......Full....

We've arrived back safely and a little bushed, but filled with the joy that a good time shared with family and friends will give you.

Gifts were exchanged...wrapping paper, boxes and kids with toys all over the floor. Even the pooch received his own stocking stuffed with goodies.

Much food was consumed...turkey breast deep fried in peanut oil...moist and delicious...ham, Elk tenderloin, deviled eggs, potato salad, all those things that make a wonderful feast. Topped off with CAKES & Pies & Cookies & banana Pudding made from scratch (two big bowls). All this blessed by our 4th grand child Lee, who did a masterful job of it, with only a little whispered help from Grandpa.

Oh Yeah! Kudos to the eldest Daughter for baking me a Japanese Fruit cake. I wondered why I was having a hard time getting the wife to look up the recipe so I could post it. They didn't want anyone else to make me one. Four layers tall it was. So high the cake plate cover wouldn't fit by at least an inch. 3/4s of it returned home with me. There goes my diet. Well there is always next year.

Through it all we were blessed with the most wonderful sweet spirit. A gift from the greatest gift of all.

Christmas Eve

Here it comes.....the big day. All the little kiddies will be all excited tonight before bed and be hard to settle down to sleep. Threats will be made and a few even carried out. Last minute assemblage of various geegaws will happen accompanied by curses that parts don't fit, and equally fervent pleas to "just read the instructions".

Cookies and milk will be left out for the fat man and someone will go to sleep with crumbs on his chin.

Last minute shoppers and travelers to Over the River and thru the Woods will be crowding the mall parking lots and the highways and byways. Travel safely if your one of them.

We're off shortly to our oldest Daughters to spend the night and tomorrow with them. Food and sweets will be eaten in abundance and for those who partake maybe a beer or margarita or 6.

There'll be laughter and perhaps a few tears. Tales of olden time and not so olden, friends present and late remembered.

But in the midst of all this jubilation and merry making, let's not forget the real reason the season was started. Whether the date is correct or not........it's the thought that counts.



Merry Christmas to all...........and may God bless us..........everyone.

Just for me

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I stole this from Sparrow, a lady of rare talent and insight. I hope she'll forgive me.

I've generally been a little apathetic about the political field before us till now.......but no longer.



If I have to tell you why...........you wouldn't understand anyway.

Freie Nacht

We had a bit more rain here last night and this morning. A little over 1/2 inch according to the ABS Jones cattle breeding gage in the back yard. I've had it for 32 years now and unless something happens will likely for years more.

This afternoon the front came through and pushed all the clouds out and the sunny clear skies were so bright and beautiful it made you draw a deep breath and almost forget to exhale. The moon is almost full, and will be full for Christmas Eve. If you have snow and clear skies be sure and look out and enjoy the beauty.

While you're at it...........say a little prayer for safety and protection of your troops in the field in Afghanistan and Iraq and other places around the world far from their homes and loved ones.

Maybe they'll hear from somewhere the strains of music being played bring peace to their hearts.



A peace which every soldier desperately wants no matter their religion. For they truly know the price that must be paid.

Happy Birthday Eve

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I'm off to my middle sister's where we'll enjoy a bit of conviviality, a scrumptious meal and a little catching up with her and her spouse, along with the youngest sister and her family.

It's a funny thing to me, I'm the oldest of six and the only one with gray in my hair. 10 years ago I was the only one with out. I want some of those fountain of youth pills they must be taking.

If any body is thinking of what to get me for Christmas, you may be guided by the incomparable Mr. Bennett

It'll never happen here

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The only two white Christmas's I've seen in Georgia in real damn close to 58 yrs now was two years when I was about 12 or 13 when we had back to back ice storms for Christmas.

But that doesn't keep everyone from saying that they wish for a white Christmas..........and it would be nice to be stranded wherever you are with a blanket of snow to muffle the sounds and make you glad to be inside with friends and loved ones
..............sooooooooooo

Let it Snow

Counting down

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Not long now boy and girls...........Soon the Jolly old elf, Santa Clause hisownself will be paying a visit to every girl and boy. At least that's what all the retailers would have you believe. 98 more hours to go........have you finished your shopping and preparing?
On the other hand Christian Churches across the land are having or preparing to have programs devoted to showing how Christ was born in a cattle shed and then laid in a manger where shepards and wise men came to pay him homage...........completely ignoring that it was more likely spring (maybe April)when he was born, and if the Star started shining when he was born the the Wise Men would have had to travel weeks if not months to come from maybe Persia or areas around Iran or Iraq to see the child.
But don't worry about revisionist history.........the child Emanuel is the point of the story.............a gift to mankind.

I love this time of the year. Cool weather.......even a little ice in the water bucket of a morning.....always makes us think that there is just a chance we'll see a white Christmas here in NE Georgia. The neighbor borrowed my ladder to hang lights along the eves on the front of his house (after much threatening from his wife). So far I haven't seen them burning........maybe they'll wait till Christmas Eve.

All my moneys are spent, I'm at the mercy of the weather and the Fed Ex deliveries until after the big day, and then another looong weekend for New Years.

So I'll be spending a lot of time roaming the blogosphere, reading about all the festivities around the country and listening to classic Christmas songs on youtube.com. I'm too cheap to actually go out and buy the CDs or anything.

So I think I'll post one of what I listen to hear each night. You will have likely heard it 10 times the day before.......but I'll tell you a secret..............I'm doing this for me.......'cause I love Christmas.

Let's try a little Sinatra, shall we?



Dang,......now I want some Egg Nog and it's to late to go to the store.

Traditions

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Ask most anyone who knows me at all and they'll likely tell you I'm an opinionated, stubborn, throwback to a different time and era. Is this a bad thing?

Do any of you remember when singers could sing and enunciate the words at the same time. I know that it's not just because i need bionic ears.........really I only got them so the wife would stop shouting at me. What I really need are mufflers for the ringing in my ears and the advertising jingles that repeat over, and over, and over, like an eight year old in the backseat of a '59 Mercury repeating endlessly "are we there yet?"...........sort of like me when I read the directions on the shampoo bottle........."Lather, rinse, repeat.......Lather, rinse, repeat....Lather, rinse, repeat.......

Anyway, I was driving the Red Ram around the highways and byways and on the radio (AM.....OK......it's my radio) comes this caterwauling and screeching like I'd never heard before. I pull over to the side and try to figure out what's wrong with the speakers.........till I realize there's nothing wrong on this end, but on the other end is some diva or other (maybe that Cilon Dejon Canadian twig) singing her version of Silent Night. Every other word....and it's in French or some foreign sounding heathen tongue (she's Canadian fer Christ's sake, an English Commonwealth country, speak English stupid)..........she's shrilling like a cat with her tail caught under a rocking chair..........hitting notes that would crack a walnut much less crystal. I mean this broad (Ha nothing wide about her) is trying to impress everyone with how long she can go between breaths.........or when we'll stuff our fingers in our ears.

What happened to the good old days when you could listen to a song and the beauty and emotion came through with the clarity of the words.

Something like ol' Bing here.........



Or even that Redheaded cowgirl, Reba



Don't go messing with my Traditions

In the Garden

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I guess I attended about half of the memorial services for the 100 or so Troops we lost from my unit along the DMZ more than half a lifetime ago. Most of them I knew........slightly or better. In an aviation unit all the pilots know each other and their crews and mechanics.. The infantry squad was less well known but familiar on sight. Being back at the base at night mostly we weren't out on patrol so were expected to attend. As is right and proper.......

But, somewhere in there, it just was enough, and any excuse could be found not to attend. That way you could pretend that it wasn't anyone you knew. One day they were there........and then.......simply not. Don't ask, Don't tell........no one needs to think about it. Higher ups who had been there any time at all wouldn't give you any grief about it although their sense of duty required their attendance no matter their preferences.

As you age you gain a perspective about the whole live or die thing and it generally becomes easier. If you're a believer it's a thing to look forward to (although you don't want to rush things. If you're not then it doesn't matter anyway except that you'll be shorter of acquaintances than before.

Whence this navel gazin' you may ask? Damn if'n I know. Not sure how I got there but for you who enjoy fine writing and story telling that'll draw you to the conclusion like a risin’ will always pop, ease on over Here and read all three tales.

Mostly I don't think you'll be sorry you did.

Perhaps you'll remember someone like the little lady who heard ghosts.

Taboos

I've often heard that there are two topics which are not to be mentioned in civil discourse or polite society as they are sure to cause conflict.

I've sometimes been called polite, but rarely civil. I'll certainly extend to you the same and more courtesy as you extend to me, but it irks me something fierce to have to put up with someone who is an asshole or claims to know better than I what is best for me.

I read somewhere that there is no sin in enlightened self interest. Probably a libertarian concept or something from an Ayn Rand novel, although it may have been addressed in The Law by Fredrick Bastait. I'll have to go back and check.

Nevertheless I look with skepticism on those who put them self forward as knowing what is best for me and everyone else and will provide same if we will only vote or follow them to the promised land, especially if it requires me to turn over control of any aspect of my life to them, the government, a particular party or cause. I know what I believe and exactly why. I can tell you the place, time and date.......and a lot of the reasons. I don't ask that you believe me......only that you accept that I believe it.

We have over 10 months till the next national election. People have been campaigning since the last one 3 years ago. Very few are putting forth radical new solutions to the problems we all face. Most are more interested in convincing us of why we shouldn't vote for the next guy or gal. If truths are distorted, or stretched, if honesty has to take a back seat, that is excused in the name of electing whoever so they can push thru whatever scheme they hatched last night or took from the communist manifesto and sugar coated it.

I looked for some one or group to break out of these norms and give me something to hope for. Still looking. But there is one group which is trying to effect change in a rational and unique way. A way that requires people to decide what is important to them and our nation as a whole.

You can read their proposed platform HERE
if you've a minute or an inclination to. If not, that's OK too. Your actions are only relevant to me inasmuch as I'll consider them when I decide what I'll do to either accept them or decide how I'll avoid the consequences of them.

Oh, yeah, the two subject are politics and religion. Mother's milk here in the Kudzu grotto.

Home again........

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...........jiggity jog.

Just returned from an overnight visit with the missus up to N.C. visiting daughter Joy and her family. An early Christmas visit as they will not be coming down here to Georgia this year because her husband has a doctors visit scheduled for the 26th. He had surgery on his neck in September to fuse 3 vertebrae damaged when another driver rear ended the work truck he was in. Several months of preoperative doctoring and physical therapy gave no relief and surgery was the only alternative. He's doing well but still not 100% with a good bit of pain yet.

Don't you just love the excitement of young children (they are 8 (girl) and 4 (boy) years old) when they get Christmas presents they really love. I had more fun watching them last night than would have seemed possible to me. Really put me in the Christmas spirit, especially listening to them unconsciously singing Christmas songs as they played.

Today we got some much needed rain which made for a dreary and cool day.

I was a little anxious about leaving so late from their home since my eyes still see halo's around oncoming car lights at night after the lasix vision correction. But we made it mostly OK.

Well.........if you discount the fact that I didn't quite get slowed down in time to miss the second deer about 20 miles away from home. The Red Ram 1500 showed only a slight bit of damage to the front bumper, but I'll bet the deer fared somewhat worse due to being smacked at about 35 miles per hour by a 5000 pound truck and then run over by the wheels. By the time we got away from the little bit of traffic and found a spot to look for damage the deer was either off to the side where we couldn't find it or made it farther than one would expect. Glad it didn't happen on I 85 while doing 70 in heavy traffic and rain. That probably wouldn't have been a pretty sight.

We did see the result of 3 different crashes on the way home, caused no doubt, by the combination of speed and wet highway. No one hurt apparently but one sporty little car in particular won't ever see the highway again.

Hope you all arrive safely if you travel during the Christmas holidays.

The back deck

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I sit on the back deck after dark, watching the stars that manage to shine through the surrounding lights of houses and security lights. The air is warm and calm, belying the nearness of official winter only 9 days away.
Airplanes pass silently overhead from west to east, flashing their lights of white, green and blue.
She comes padding silently on bare feet to lean between my legs and rest her head upon my chest. Wordlessly demanding my attention, insisting that I stroke her head and neck, she is totally mesmerized by my touch, seemingly aware only of the touch of my hand and soft murmurs of affection, she arches her back and snuggles close as if to merge our two bodies into one.
We stay like that, enjoying one anothers company, the warm night air, the leafless white oak rising massive against the night sky, two tall thin pines standing silent sentinel by the back fence.
No irritating buzz of insects as in summer, only the distant bark and call of neighboring dogs. She has no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive........wanting only to be as near to me as she possibly can, touching and being touched. Love totally communicated, loyalty eternally pledged....peace surrounds us and calm washes over us like the warm waters of a jungle pool.

As I gaze into her eyes outlined in black against her white face......smoothing the hair behind her ears.............she looking lovingly back, then........

........licks my face.


Damn dog..........I think you need a bath.

The good thing about Grand children

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It is often said that the good thing about Grand children is that you can play with them a while, keep them a while, enjoy them a while, be frustrated that an eighteen month old can be so independent, spoil them, and then give them back to their parents.

We had a great weekend for watching the youngest. The temperature was mild (got into the 70's today) not too much wind. Her mother and father went deer hunting, also the paternal grandparents, so we were elected, or blessed, take your pick.

Unfortunately both the grandbaby and grand mother picked this weekend to be sick. Wife had a sinus infection and the baby a cough and runny nose.

This didn't seem to affect Callie's desire to play and generally keep us entertained. She played so hard it wore both of us out. Naturally drawn more to her grandmother (she sees me as the one that puts her to sleep in the easy chair) she proceeded to have to be fed, play with the etch-a-sketch, blocks, demand to be read to, play dress up with strings of beads and frustrate the pooch by repeatedly telling him "NO, NO Toto" (her version of Toby) and trying to keep her treats out of his reach. The poor wife was soon down for the count and had to lie down so it fell to me to be the host.

I'm here to confess that they don't make a vitamin B12 pill strong enough to keep up with her, but finally she was calling for her baby (doll) and milk.. Rubbing her eyes in frustration for they were disobeying her by trying to close. Took me the better part of half an hour reading, singing, rocking and finally just letting her cry to get her and I an hour and half nap, only to be awakened to be sent out for burgers for supper. Bedtime was another case of letting her get so tired that she couldn't resist the sand man.

E. T. Sullivan once wrote these interesting words: “When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother’s heart, and she puts it into the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies.”

I'm here to affirm that when it comes to resisting the wants and needs of a small child I'm always in that proverbial tight spot between an irresistible force and an immovable object. Sweet torture. And they do change me more than I care to admit.

We hear and read on a regular basis of someone abusing a child. I'm not talking about a little spanking to get their attention, which is sometimes necessary, but acts of cruelty so horrific that even I (who sometimes wishes the darkside wasn't so alluring) can't wrap my mind around it.

Just an ol' softy noodling at the keyboard here in the kudzu grotto.

The power of the internet

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According to THIS nbc has had a change of heart. The article says nothing about what was surely a massive amount of negative emails and phone call, but you know they didn't just suddenly grow a conscience or heart.

Middle America needs to realize the tremendous amount of influence we can have on public officials and life for good. The blog world changes everything.

We ought to now email them and thank them for running the ad, and advise them that we will be watching their programing with a critical eye expecting them to cater to their base instead of trying to shovel their own ideology down our throats. We don't have to continue to eat shit and like it.

Intention

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Dr Wayne Dyer has a book out (out for a while now) called the "Power of Intention".

I've not read it but have seen parts of his speeches based on the book aired on PBS. (and you thought all I watched was Porn and Action Movies with Steven Segal or Chuck Norris) Ha.
Anywho as all who know me suspect, I don't have a real job, but I do piddle at things which I happen to have an interest in and enjoy. So.......i get up around 7:30 am most days. Occasionally a little earlier, (depends on how good breakfast smells)sometimes a little later.

This Phd (piled higher and deeper) suggests that there is a power of intention in the universe coming from God or whomever you prefer which intends for all people to have and do good. I have no idea whether he is right or wrong. I just know when I go out with the intention of having a good productive day, it seems to happen that I will.

I left out with the intention of going to pay a debt. (which I did) Along the way I stopped at a few of the places I frequent in my piddling, and as I did so I picked up about 2 lbs of silver, 1/2 lb of scrap gold and about 3 carats of fair diamonds. With these I intend to turn a profit.

Let's hope the Gods of intention are as nice to me as the Weather Gods, who intended that I have a nice sunny day...........and I did.

Hope you intend for your tomorrow to be a good one.

The day before

The day before....... we were contented enough. Work was picking up in many areas. New industries were being started to produce goods not needed or wanted a couple of years before. The government had many job programs available for those who wanted a steady paycheck. You might be building roads, parks or dams, but you had a job. Many still weren't able to say that. Farming as always was hard, grueling, sweaty work, but prices were picking up and if you didn't have too much debt or the drought hadn't run you off, you at least had a roof over your head and enough to eat......grown in your own garden.

Sure there was talk of trouble in other places, but we had the barrier of two vast oceans between us and them. Goods were sent, more promised, hopefully, that would be our contribution.

The day after.................we were at war. Out Pacific Fleet for the most part lay in ruins......smoking and sinking to the bottom of the harbor few had heard of. Men and even women were lining up to volunteer to go fight the foes of this country, and our politicians were united behind a president that had to make the most difficult decisions of his lifetime, and he rose to the challange............WE rose to the challenge.............

The challenge handed to us on Dec. 7th, 1941. A day that will live in infamy.........and honored memory for the valiant patriots that answered the call.

Today we live in greater wealth than those hardy souls of 66 years ago could have imagined. People, machines, industry, money, information move with speeds undreamed of a short time ago.

We have more of everything...................

......or do we?

Well that cuts it

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I am now offically on Owlgore's shit list as being a contributor to global warming.

They have apparently never walked under a forest covered with Kudzu and felt how much cooler the air is there. And when the kudzu is in bloom the lavender fragrance takes you away from the cares of the world and induces relaxation an such a sense of well being that actual cognitive thoughts begin to form in your brain and you realize that all these global warming nuts are full of shit for brains and will say anything to make you think that they are true conservationists and are going to save the world for the spotted owl.

Buncha freaking nuts