As we all know if you don't pay the piper he'll pipe a merry tune and lead all you precious children out of town and into the forest, never to be seen again. I hate it when that happens. Don't you?
Not to worry........
Here's a good way to pay him.......well at least for the next year.
With a hat tip to Karl Uppiano and much thanks to Bill
Although we've not been gone far. I've been reading my favorite bloggers and visiting new ones for most of the past month. I've just not been able to work up enough of a give a damn to post something of my own.
Not that the month has been with out thing of interest........
I had an older lady run into the back of the Red Ram while I was stopped at a red light about a mile from home. Thank goodness for a nice new chromed hitch ball and bar. It centered her front bumper and only hurt Red's feelings, while bending her bumper around it and demolishing her name tag. (Inez, if it matters)
Neither of us was damaged, as I first thought, and though I'd left my license at home, since neither of us wished to make a report the nice Highway Patrol Officer gave me back my insurance card and wished us a safe trip home.
The Kdzu Wife had her throat cut. Not by terrorists, but by a young man who, looking too young, claimed to have preformed thousands of spine operations and taking cadaver bone fused a couple of her top vertebrae and relieve the pressure on nerves to shoulder and arm which had for a while threatened to paralyze her left arm. Guess you can't judge a Doctor by the apparent lack of facial hair big enough to require shaving on a regular basis. She is much improved and came home a week ago today after a one night stay at St. Mary's Hospital here in the Classic City with a much greater appreciation for pain relievers and muscle relaxers.
We have a small garden planted with two squash plants, four tomato and six pepper plants, along with two short rows of green beans. I planted them in the new topsoil I had dumped in the sinkhole that had been growing steadily bigger in the back yard. Happy to report that everything is looking good.
The recent violent weather in the south only brushed us a little bit late one night. Some needed rain and lots of rumbling and flashing but thankfully none of the Tornadoes that devestated areas to the west and north of us. I hope none of you were seriously affected. If anyone has heard from Eric SWG let me know as he's been suspiciously missing from the blogosphere the last few days. Hope he and Mrs SWG are alright. So many people are not. Over three hundred dead. Towns and communities wiped out. Many without electricity or other public services.
Say a prayer of blessing on all those affected and another one of thanks if it isn't you.
In light of these recent events the political and financial melt down of this country I love doesn't seem quite as relevant as it otherwise might. If you've been paying attention to the price of gold and silver and their reaction to the actions of the Fed Chairman Mr. Bernake and politicians of all stripes you see that my assertion that we're all screwed has not yet been discredited. The violence in places near and far including McDonalds in this country indicate that my prediction of Feb. 21st is still on track.
While you're on you knees for yourself and those lives disrupted by mother nature be sure to request a blessing that this nation will turn back to God, for that nation that turns away will be cursed until they once more remember him.
Keep well dear visitors. I'll probably be back.
Richard Nixon declared "War on Drugs" in 1971. Are we winning?
Lyndon Johnson, carrying forward initiatives started by JFK declared "War on Poverty in 1964. Are we winning?
George W. Bush Declared "War on Terror" in 1971. Are we winning?
VA psychiatrists, psychologists, and even outside evaluators all agree that I'm not 100% correct in all my thinking. But.....are they right?
Damnifiknow.
I just have to wonder though, if we haven't all been acting a little crazy for the last 50 years or so.
We willingly cast our ballots every two or four years for politicians who say, "give me your vote and the authority and I'll solve all these and other problems".
Do you want to lesson the costs associated with drugs? Declare them legal. Stop prosecuting people for possession. Start a program of treatment for anyone who wants to quit or control their desire for mind altering substances. Is someone in pain? Let them and their Doctors use whatever gives the best and greatest relief without fear of governmental oppression.
After all that if someone harms someone else through force or fraud because of, or while under the effects of, said mind altering substances, have a simple penalty...... Death by hanging to be administered immediately upon conviction after a trial in accordance with Constitutional standards.
Do you want to end Poverty in our time. Stop paying people to be poor. But provide lands, fertilizer and equipment whereby they may grow their own sustenance, build their own housing, raise cattle, whatever. Support them in this effort for one year with whatever they require.......after that provide only the land.....that they may realize that they have to work hard, save and preserve what they can, and above all they don't eat their seed corn. If they do eat the seed........let 'em make it as best they can.
Want to end the War on Terror? Fully recognize the Second Amendment at all times and in all places. Stop trying to tell anyone else what to do, whether in this country or without. Deal honestly with other countries in full transparency to the public in every country. If anyone wants to mess with us........
Fuck 'em. Long, hard and repeatedly until they either quit.....or die.
But then they do say I need to keep taking the meds.
Whatta I know?
Just this.
If we don't change things soon......we're fucked.
I have a new love of my life.
(well my ranting and raving over political correctness and idiot politicians life anyway).
Go over here and watch Anne Barnhardt Give 'em hell
Watch the second video first. I promise you you'll not regret it.
Woo haa!
What are you afraid of?
That "tsk tsk tsk" as you sit in the Doctors office? Opening the electric bill at the first of the month? Of not hearing the car pull into the drive at 11:00pm the night your daughter has her first date? Watching the boss bring the checks out at the end of the week and hoping there's not a pink slip in yours? Standing at the grocery checkout and watching the numbers add up higher and higher?
We all, even those of us too proud to admit it, have those things which cause us a bit of concern, whether great or small.
I used to worry that my falling asleep before I got to the "amen" in my bedtime talks with God might show a lack of proper respect.
But there is one that most of us don't want to talk about, except in whispers, only with like minded friends.
Check out this article over at Whiskey & Gunpowder.
April 15th is coming soon. Don't tell me your heartbeat doesn't pick up about 2 beats per minute.
I just came in from walking the pooch down the drive for his nightly sniff and snoop, combined, of course, with whizzing on ever spot he thought appropriate to leave his mark. At all of 18 lbs. (which granted is a little chubby for a Yorky) he thinks he's 10 feet tall and bullet proof.
Truth be told he owns the Kudzu Grotto (KG) and will loudly protest any incursion....... even if he only thinks he heard something approach. Woe betide any other dog that should approach the chain link boundary of his domain. He may not be able to get to them but you'll think he's gonna chew through the fence and gnaw them down to kibble size.
Some people live with delusions of being more important than they actually are also. For instance most all politicians of whatever stature.........even if it's only county marshal of Franklin County, GA, one step up from dog catcher, but he get's to ride around in a county truck that has Marshall painted on the side.
We've got a lot of deluded people up in D.C. also. They think they are great leaders, but take a look at the fine messes they've gotten us into.
Some of us think we have the power too........after all we contribute to the parties and pull the lever for the above mentioned bozos.
It's a clear night here close by the Classic City. A little chilly to be walking the dog in pajama bottoms and a cotton tee, but as I walked with the pooch back toward the house.... I looked up and thought to look for the North Star. I immediately spotted one that I thought was it. And then I second guessed my self and had to look for the Big Dipper, or Ursa Major, to confirm identity. I was gratified to see I was still able to spot the North Star (actually at my age I'm glad to be able to see it) and to know I could count on it to give me a sense of my direction.
It's hard to get lost when you know what direction you're headed in......
Maybe we all ought to look up in the night sky a little more often......
Maybe make it a requirement for any political office to be taken blindfolded out onto a hill on a dark night and pick out the North Star within a minute.......no second guesses allowed.
If they can't find it, make them walk home. Alone.
While I might have chosen to call it something other than dollars, I hardly think This amounts to terrorism.
Heaven forbid that someone get the idea that the current Federal_Reserve_System"> notes (every penny of which represent a debt instrument obligation of our treasury to the Central Bank) issued coins and paper money are somehow less valuable than pure silver.
I wouldn't be surprised to find this guy disappeared to GITMO before long.
I would probably have wagered a smallish sum.......perhaps a nickel, against the chance of me ever agreeing with anything Louis Farrakan ever uttered.
Color me Embarrassed .
After a day of lounging in the shade of a pine tree on Fox Lake, watching those with more willingness to brave the sun than I, pluck crappie after crappie from the water, and come home to a TV dinner followed by homemade Banana Pudding, to see on the news feed that my government has launched cruise missiles into Libya........I have to ask the same question of Obummer. "Who do you think you are?"
I wonder what the reactions of the good citizens of the USA would have thought if after the last election when the GOP won a majority in the House of Representative and listening to all the caterwalling from the Left if Libya had launched missiles into Washington, DC in support of the Democrats?
What do you think the people of Libya think about what we unleashed on their sovereign soil?
For some reason, I don't think we won any hearts and minds even though we are supposedly supporting the rebels. We still sent bombs into their country because Obummer was embarrassed by media reports of how ineffectual he has been.
This will not end well............no matter the outcome in the short term.
Just my opinion.
Unintended Consequences they never quite turn out like you think they will.
I suspect the Muslim Brotherhood and Bin Laden are laughing their asses off right about now.
......the situation in Wisconsin for a moment.
With all the lay offs all over the country, what do you want to bet that double the number of teachers who are shutting down the schools there could be found among the unemployed and might me more than happy to fill those positions for 3/4th the salaries the protesters were making.
Fire 'em all and hire non-union workers immediately.
Could it be done?
The is so much anger being shown by people around the world this week that I truly am at a loss for words.
Most anybody that's spent more than 5 minutes with me will tell you that's not an everyday occurrence. Give me an opening, no matter how small and I'll attempt to fill it with my tongue............wait that didn't come out quite how I intended it.......
Let's just say that I have an opinion on most everything, and mostly am not shy about expressing said opinions.
Lately, however, I've begun to think that maybe I should just keep my thoughts to myself. (Who says you can't teach and old dog new tricks?) The jury is not in however and maybe I'm leaping to conclusions a little too fast.
It has been said that change is inevitable and that our ability to change with the times has a lot to do with how successful we will be. (take a look back at the dinosaurs for instance, or the Native Americans......well up until they got the idea of running the gambling houses to get their due one mark at a time.)
By the time this coming summer ends I expect to see more traumatic change in the world than has occurred in many a moon.
Whatta ya think? Am I just whistling in the dark?
Early (for me) on a Wednesday morning.
I was awakened by the wife in response to a note left on the coffee maker. I've become much too used to awakening when the urge strikes me and have determined to get up at an earlier set time. We'll see how it goes.
One thing about my avocation.........not a job, as it's self imposed, is that I get to do a little traveling around North Georgia and see some of my friends made over the last 16 years. Yeah, we do a little business........but, I'd be just as glad to see them over a coke at the local convenience store. Most people are pretty nice one on one and it seems to me that if we could get more of that type communication going between peoples of the world that international relations might go along a bit better.
Of course for that to work we would have to keep the politicians and bankers completely out of the picture.
I know........ a dreamer I remain.
On the other hand, for some of the asshats in the world we just need to use a neutron bomb on them and take all their usable land and stuff.
This has the advantage of directness and efficiency and would soon eliminate either all the asshats or us........whichever came first.
Of course, I, as ruler of the world and Regent Potential of the Universe, would be in charge of deciding which ass hats would hear the gong.
We've had a couple of very nice days here in NE GA. Bright sun and warmish temps...
.. just a long sleeved shirt and it's pretty nice by mid day. A little cool in the mornings......I always check before starting down the ramp off the back deck, to see if there is any frost that might cause my feet to slip. A few more sudden smack downs of that nature and any brains in by buttocks will start slipping out the cracks.
Ya'll have a good day.........go out and make some money.....then convert it to gold or silver so as to actually have something of value.
It still surprises me that people will actually trade those items for pieces of paper with green ink on them.
The handwriting is on the wall and I have little faith the people in Washington are smart enough to keep us from going into default.
We got the ol' Grump planted today.
After several emotional days with lots of people to call......lots of people calling with condolences, questions about arrangements, visits to the funeral home, the viewing, the renewing of auld acquaintances, the sharing of memories, looking thru his picture boxes, (remind me to post the picture of Miss Panama City Beach 1971, my better half in her pink Bikini) (I'm thinking of making it my screen saver)), the murmurs of, "Oh, don't he look natural, just like he's sleeping", (and the Funeral home did do a good job ), the Au Capella singing by the members of the Shoals Creek Primitive Baptist Church of the always favorite In The Garden and Amazing Grace, 4 of the Fulmer Sisters blending their sweet voices in harmony, and a comforting message by the Preacher and his son Chris, who have for the last 5 years had made it a point to drive 40 to 50 miles each month to bring the love of Carl's brothers and sisters in Christ to him, we got the Grump laid in a clear area of the cemetary surrounded by oak and poplar trees, then partook of a delicious meal prepared by the ladies of the Church.
If that is a long, run-on, blurry sentence, it is exactly how it seemed. Time rushing past with much to do, much done, and finally we can look forward to taking a deep breath, a little bit slower pace, a time to adjust to having only two people and a neurotic pooch in the house. (It just may have been more stressful on the pooch than on the wife and I).
Several people expressed their condolences and sympathy here and I very much appreciate it. Very kind of you. While I've only met and known you through your blogs and your occasional visits to mine, you feel like family and I appreciate you much more than words on a screen can express. Thank you.
Tomorrow is another day. We plan to sleep late and take the pooch for a little ride which he loves to take.....if only for the opportunity to stick his fuzzy head out the passenger side window and get brain freeze as his ears and hair are pushed back by the wind.
After all is said and done.......here we remain. Projects waiting to be undertaken and accomplished. Leaning on one another for support. Looking forward to another 43 years of marriage...(well, at least I am. The wife is not so sure she'll make it that far).
And so it goes.......Another Saturday Night at the Kudzu Grotto.
The ol' Grump passes during the night........sometime after midnight when I finally lay down.
He'd had a busy day with visitors and was tired. He'd gotten up around 7:30pm to eat 2 bites of an egg and cheese biscuit the wife had cooked for him...took his pills and had his first nebulizer treatment.
When I put him to bed he wanted to keep his quilted jacket on over his PJ's and apparently at some point he got too warm, sat up on the edge of his hospital bed...took both the coat and PJ top off.......put the quilted jacked back on, buttoned it neatly and simply fell back with his feet off the bed.
Quicker than maybe we were expecting, but more gently than I expected also.
So the end or one more period of time. New beginnings for us all as we'll adjust to the absence and he to the presence of those gone on before.
So: R.I.P Carl Edward Murphy (12-18-1928 - 2-8-2011)
Who in their right mind 60 years or so ago would have predicted the messes we would find ourselves in today.
I expected anti-gravity levitation belts that would whisk me effortlessly anywhere I wanted by now. Not that I'm complaining about the ride in the Big Horn Hemi-powered Dodge in the yard.
We've been paying bribes to Egypt for the past 30 years to prop up the government there and what has it gotten us? A government that spent the money on keeping themselves and their enforcers in power and trickled little to none down to the population at large. Hit them with an increase in food costs past what they can afford and I'm surprised the resulting riots have been as small as they have.
What would we do here? With millions of privately owned weapons and vehicles to get places can you imagine the carnage that would have taken place?
On the other hand the fast food diet we subject ourselves to is now claimed to Lower Our IQ's
DUH. Huh.
Keith Olbermann is now going to send tingles up Pope Al Gore's legs.
Obama's people have no concept of the "open to the Public" idea.
Must be all those Big Mac's with super-sized fries.
Not only is Joan Rivers still alive , they feature her in a Superbowl ad that doubtless has teenage boys all over the country jerking off in the closet.
Oh sure we believe that's really her. She's had more nips and tucks than an Amish Quilt. Doubtless she has to shave her throat already, you can only imagine whats hanging between her shriveled dugs. Probably looks like the backside of an ol' Jersey cow. (shiver)
Ya'll come back when you recover from that image.
The past eight days have been a little hectic.
The news on the ol' Grump is that he's still kicking but not very high. Kidneys started back up somewhat, but circulation to extremities is decreasing. Feet are swelled past the point of being able to get his house shoes on him. Bigger size coming up.
The hospice nurse comes out twice a week and takes vitals, adjusts medication and consults with the wife. Tuesdays and Fridays are bath day and thank goodness hospice provides people to help with that. The first two had him laughing and giggling but the one today was older and a little more dour, although she did sing off key which aggrieved the Grump somewhat.
We continue to adjust to the changes. More of a stress on the wife of my youth.
Ya'll keep here in your prayers
The ol' Grump has been sent home from the hospital. He has had 4 days of people paying more attention to him and he's eating it up. Every memory he's ever had is told and retold.
The situation with the Kidneys has not changed, so they quit giving any medication for it. They also disabled the defibrillator he's had for the past 5 years.
A hospital bed has been moved into his room and the old double bed moved out back to the tool shop. The hospice nurse will start visiting tomorrow.
As they say, "time will tell", so all we can do is all that will get done and finally his preacher will get to preach him into the ground.
The Grump is OK with it.........it's been a long life with all it attendant ups and downs.
And so it goes.
The phone awakened the wife and I around 2:30am. After fighting with, and nearly being strangled by the mask and hose to the CPAP machine I finally made it to the phone before the ol' Grump's nurse hung up.
It seemed the ol' Grump was living up to his nickname and giving the staff at the hospital fits.
Accusing them of trying to rip him off and rob them for his money......the insurance companies were all thieves who weren't sending the checks when they should, how in the hell was he going to pay.......
I dressed and instructed the wife to go back to sleep. (does she listen.......NO)
Arriving at his room I calmed the ol' Grump down and finally got him to lie back and let me pull the cover up over him. It only took 40 minutes or so. I stayed til 6:30 and came back home since I had to make a trip to Cleveland this morning. The wife went to sit with him.
Trying to drain the fluid from him is not working......kidneys shutting down... Dialysis not much of an option...the Doctors about of options......friends and family coming round.
We'll see.
Ya'll pray for the wife.......and the ol' Grump, if so inclined. We'll see how it goes.
Finally the week is drawing to a close. I'm ready.
Sunday started out with my left shoulder attacking me at odd times for no apparent reason. WTF (winning the future, Right, thanks presbo) is up with that. I know the rotator cuff is torn, so is the right one, but this would make my knees wobble and stop me in my tracks while I was just walking along.
Monday morning I hie myself down to the local bone popper, Dr. Hooper, Chiropractor, having figured out that if I turned my head to the left and down the pain would shoot to my shoulder. A quick ride on the massage table then a few well considered adjustments to the spinal bones and, voila' no more pains. This was great news since I'm a wimp when it comes to pain.......I mean come on, I take enough central nervous system suppressant to not feel being hit by a train, I don't have to take shoulder pain.
By Tuesday I'm all kinds of disgusted with the noise coming out of the talking boxes and the interwebz. If you are into that sort of thing you can check out Drudge Reports or visit your local leather clad dominatrix student of the school of Marquis de Sade. I'm ready to find 50 or 60 wooded acres with a bubbling brook and go sit myself beside it until the mushroom clouds dissipate from over the major cities or the smoke from the riots blows away.......whichever comes first. Don't bother me, let me listen to the water and the wind in the river cane.
Wednesday I'm wondering if gold is going to fall back to 1980 levels, and the coming financial, job, food, energy holocaust is indefinitely postponed.
Thursday, the ol' Grump needs to go to the emergency since he has swelled up with fluid 'til he can hardly breath and get around. The wife takes care of that while I take care of business, which I was glad of since my favorite thing in the world is to wait around in the hospital emergency room waiting for someone else to be seen.
He is admitted and kept overnight while they try with medicine to get him to take a leak larger that half a teacup. Wife is some stressed and the poor pouch having to stay in the house most of the day totally by himself is near catatonic with distress. His joy when the wife got back home is pure unconditional joy and love.
Friday, the ol' Grump is still no better, maybe a little the worse since he is more disoriented than ever and is afraid the cost of hospitalization will be too much. This from an 82 year old with money in the bank, social insecurity, a county pension which includes insurance in addition to medicare, a supplemental policy for everything else and holds a note on the rental home I bought from him. He ain't got to worry about money, but he does.
And I.....well I found this little item this morning.
1929 100 Lire, issued by The Sovereign State of the Vatican, 90.8% gold with a portrait of the then Pope, Pius XI.
Out of a mintage of 10,000 this one fell into my hands.
1929 was the year my father was born in Birmingham, Alabama. This one is probably a keeper. Researching a coin online will get you more information than you can use sometimes, but the end results are almost always interesting even if the coin has no great value.
Still it may be comforting to meditate upon as I sit in the cane beside the creek.
We'll see what tomorrow and next week bring, if I'm still around and if I feel like it.
Hope your weekend is great. Get off your ass and go somewhere and do something.
and not so far away, I owned a dairy farm. Well I owned the cows and equipment, part of the land with my mother and sisters, and all of the debt.
And life was good, well except for the getting up at 4am and getting slapped in the face by a wet shitty, half frozen bovine tail while trying to milk the ol' hussies. But, mostly good. Because we could sell all the milk we could produce, even if our government set allotment was lower, the Atlanta Dairies Cooperative, which not only bottled milk but made ice cream and had a Cheese plant to take care of any surplus over the demand for milk and ice cream.
A lot of dairies cooperatives were not so fortunate and were selling milk to the Federal government as powdered milk, Cheese and butter which the gov't would dole out to less fortunate countries, less fortunate citizens (read those on the public dole).
However even with all their largess the gov't still had to pay billions to store milk products, with the amount growing larger ever year. They did this because the farmers had an awfully good lobby in Washington, DC which funneled much moola into the pockets of congressmen and senators. And life was good for them and us.......
Well, up until the gov't in it's wisdom decided they couldn't afford the cost of storage anymore and sought to reduce the amount of milk purchased.
You'd think that would be easy enough, just stop buying the surplus milk, right?
The farmers were smart enough to figure out that reducing the size of the herds, feeding less high protein grain and other measures would work and within a week, voila' no more surplus.
Wrong that would be way too simple. No.......the gov't in it's wisdom would pay the farmers not to produce milk.
I'll not bore you with the process, let's just assume the gov't got to spend billions more. And the farmers went on to other profitable pursuits.
Today we have a problem with unemployment in the nation. Rates, depending on who you ask are over 9% according to the gov't figures and in actual fact are closer to 20%.
Many and varied are the solutions put forth by the experts, most of them long on predictions and very, very short on specifics.
I have a plan.
Want to really fix the unemployment problem? Listen up. Eliminate all bailouts, subsidies, giveaways and support systems - both to business and to labor. Abolish all employment restrictions and employment paperwork. All free labor - undocumented non-citizens - to compete equally with native-born workers. Cut taxes to a flat 10% rate for everyone. Abolish every government agency that begins with a letter of the alphabet. Then abolish the rest of them.
I confidently guarantee that the nation would be back at full employment within 30 days.
I can be confident because everybody except the criminal element would be busy working their fingers to the bone growing a garden on any available piece of dirt, and defending it with extreme prejudice to the criminal element many of which would be left to rot where they lay, or thinking green, we could use them for fertilizer. Or in more rational societies they'd be hooked to plows to till more ground.
As long as the feds take the pressure off labor to make adjustments. Giving food stamps, minimum wages, unemployment compensation, make-work, shovel-ready boondoggles - all these things cause workers to think they can continue as before...that a "recovery" of the good ol' days is just around the corner...and that they'll soon be earning as much as they were in 2007. Maybe more!
Tain't gonna happen.
Remember the cooking, gardening and canning advice your grandmother tried to give you. You'll wish you had her around for a little advice again.
.....Why I ever try to put thought to keybord.
Especially when there are people like Vin around.
Go Here and read his "I like to pay taxes, with them I buy Civilization".
... What do you consider necessities.
Food, water, shelter, transportation (I love my Truck), a source of income that allows you to provide yourself with these things and hopefully a little more.
I could add chocolate (dark) but my body would probably be better off with out it, although my mental state might get a little out of kilter. (Heaven knows I'm not fit to be around most of the time, but deprive me of a source of comfort and I won't be held responsible. Just sayin'......)
From whence cometh this rambling you might ask? Well, you might although there are few enough of you that check in here, statistically we matter less than the gnats bite on an elephants ass.
But as we were riding by the public housing (welfare housing) the other day it was pointed out to me that *..... lived there now along with her off sprung because she is mentally incompetent. This led to me asking, "what purpose does it serve the government to maintain this waste of air and her equally useless youngun,for it too will never be capable of much, at the citizenry's expense"?
The answer came quickly, "They've got to have something to spend the money on".
Well said. But more correctly, the government has to have something to spend the tax money's and the money's they borrow on else how could they stand before us and say, "Look what good use we have made off all that money and beside, you are not having to take care of your own defects and self created problems yourself". Lord knows none of us want to take responsibility for our old, incompetent, burdensome relatives, repeatedly pregnant daughters, drug addled, alcohol besotted, or simply too sorry to work, sons. Do we? Well?
If the government didn't take at least half of everything you earn in some form or other, of which half or more is spent on the bureaucracy administering this clusterf*** do you think that costs of care for these individuals might not be greatly reduced?
Just wondering about the necessity........
I must confess to stealing the following paragraphs from an email received from The Daily Reckoning.
Look...according to our new Daily Reckoning theme...political parties, voting, the blah, blah of partisan debates...as well as Paul Krugman...
...they are all almost irrelevant...all “products of the past”...
...relics...emblems...icons...symbols...
...full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing.
The real trends are bigger than that. What is at stake here is a model of government that began with Otto von Bismarck. It is a model in which the state supposedly serves the interests of the citizens. (Under the previous model, there were no citizens...just subjects who owed a duty of obedience to the sovereign...and in exchange received protection.) In Bismarck’s model, citizens give up a portion of their output...and stand ready to protect the state with their lives. In return, the state gives them the right to participate (through elections etc)...provides protection from foreign states and domestic outlaws...and makes sure that their physical needs are taken care of.
This model seems to be headed for bankruptcy. The big question is: when the state is unable to provide the benefits it has promised...what will happen? Will the masses accept less? Or will they revolt? Or will a new model evolve...peacefully?
You can get a free daily email, just google Daily Reckoning and I'm sure somewhere you'll be given an opportunity. Of course you will have to put up with your fair share of advertisements, but, I reckon (poor pun) it's a small price to pay for another view of the world.
Often after reading thoughts that are not programmed into my consciousness by the MSM I ponder how different input requires different outputs.
The question is......"Or will they revolt"?
Not so much of a question as I'm pretty sure they will, just when and how bad will it get seems a more pressing question. Which leads to further questions. Will the military be used against us on our own soil? Will the leaders of the military follow those orders.
Do I have enough of.............. (fill in your own blank)
How safe is my present location? If not how can I get to a better one.......and how soon?
Questions and answers differ.......or is the question relevant?
Noise is, it seems, increasing every day.
Not only the constant ringing in my ears, the one truly constant companion of the last almost 40 years, but the noise of planes, trains, automobiles and especially the noises from all the electronic devices that we have made such a part of our daily lives over the last 100 years.
We've taken the telephone, that I can remember from the late 50's as being a source of irritation because the curious neighbor from up the street would stealthily pick up when she knew it was our ring, to a constant companion that tracks us every where and is answered no matter where one is, whether in the middle of a conversation to the solitude of the toilet facilities.
Radios which once were listened to only in the evening, or perhaps only on Saturday night when the Grand Ol' Opry came on, to a little bud with wires growing out of them to remain in a persons ears 24/7.
You begin to see the trend?
We've become so interconnected, so used to all the information constantly bombarding us that we lose our perspective.
Last weekends shootings in Tuscon, while deplorable, and tragic to the individuals involved who were killed or wounded, distressing to those that witnessed the violence, horrible to those who's loved ones died or were hurt, has become another source of noise, eagerly jumped on by the media who's only existence it seems is to ensure that not a single, breathing human on the planet has not only heard about it, but is to react to it as if it had happened to their family and made to react in ways that someone else wishes them to react.
Way too much noise methinks.
For I, personally, am not so much moved by this latest event. Indeed had I never heard, read, seen any of the reports my life would not, and has not, really been affected.
I mean really, am I supposed to take upon me some additional burden in my life over a shooting in Arizona? Is this supposed to add to some collective angst we must all share in? Am I to bear some responsibility for what happened?
I think not.
Since before recorded history began, I suspect, there have been those, who for what ever reason, have wanted to pick up a stick, or rock, and bash in the head of someone or destroy something, for reasons the rest of us cannot truly imagine.
Perhaps their wiring is faulty.
So..........I shall continue on my way, vigilant to the same degree as I generally am, as oblivious to the same degree as always, trying to get through the day despite the ringing in my ears and the noisome world around me, living for the now, since I'm convinced that none of us are assured tomorrow, much less the next 60 minutes.
At least more of the ice and snow melted away yesterday.
I was awakened in bliss as only a grand father can be when the youngest grand daughter shook me and said, "Paw Paw I had a bad dream, tell me a story".
How's that for fearless? To have a bad dream and then expect me to tell a story that will make it all better. Truth be told, I can do that when necessary.
The best thing about stories for the g-daughter is that you just ask what story she wants to tell and she'll give instructions on what it is to be about, who the characters are and what they are to do. Simply follow along and the storyline will be given in great detail.
I did doze off a couple of times there and had to be roused by the question, "Paw Paw, what happened then?"
So the day is off to a bright shiny start. I've eaten my two eggs, (over easy) my bacon (not too crispy, just right) cheese grits (yummy).
Ya'll have a good day. I'm off to play.
.....May be a complaint more often heard of in the frozen regions of the artic, but coop up a southern country boy with no way to get out short of slippery suicide on iced over streets with other maniacs and the tension builds to almost intolerable levels very quickly.
Thankfully the weather was sunny enough today and enough other idiots had to get to work, or elswhere, that their combined traffic created just enough warming to thaw narrow tracks on the surface streets that I was able to get to Fedex today. Traffic was thankfully light and most people were keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road that I saw no current accidents, although several people were trying to pull their car or truck out of the ditches.
By this evening it was good enough that a couple of people stopped by to see us. Economic necessity will override common sense most days. Let's just hope that the economic necessities of the nation will not cause an overwhelming loss of common sense in the general population.
While many people speak of the problems, fewer have any workable solutions to put forth. The consequences of the necessary tough actions that must be taken if the Republic is to survive, much less return to thriving health, may lead to an even worse situation when so many find out that their make work jobs have just ended or their grip on the public teat is useless as that dug has withered, dried up and fallen off the skinny breast like a three week old umbilicus cord.
It somehow seems almost appropriate that there are so many vampire movies, tv shows and popular book series these days.
Do vampires ever consider what might happen once they have turned everyone into a blood sucking monster? Do they have the foresight to maintain the herd at maximum health even at the expense of controlling their darker nature?
Does the herd have enough understanding of what is happening to it, and more importantly the will to resist the temptation to submit, or the strength to break the ties that bind them?
Despite the blathering and bleating of pundits port and starboard, tv, radio, print and internet all of them claiming that their vision and version of America is right, do we really understand the problems and their potential outcomes?
Do we even really want to know?
Maybe we don't, maybe like Darwin thought, we really are descended from Monkeys.
A good possibility as Fred Suggests.
You should read and ponder whether any of the things he sees coming can be stopped, or even delayed for very long. I'd personally love to hear any of your ideas. Maybe if enough of us put our heads and hearts together we will be able to create a different tomorrow.
If not...................
What???
When you have a bit of snow in the South people nut up and use it as an excuse not to go in to work.
I did take the Ram out this morning to carry a package to Fedex with every expectation that they would be open. I mean after all they can get a package around the world overnight and be able to track it every step of the way, you'd think they wouldn't let a few inches of snow stall the works, would they??
Turns out they will.
After careful navigation, with my usual superb driving skills, honed lo these last 45 years, I arrive in front of the building only to find that some people aren't as dedicated to work.
Wussies.
With the freezing over and possible icing this evening it may be a while before I'm able to get out again.
Fortunately, the larder is stocked with comestibles, stores of propane are in readiness, squirrel beds are located and 12 gauge shells loaded, we're ready to withstand at least a 3 day seige.
I'd hate for it to become a Donner party thing though, the ol' Grump would make mighty tough and stringy eating. Perhaps with enough boiling and some dumplings and lots of pepper.........
Nah, better hope we don't run out of squirrels.
Sheesh, we've about 4-5 inches already and more coming down.
Unusually for me the cold seems to have found it's way into my finger joints this morning. Does this portend worse weather later today? No idea, as this is unusual. 
Of course this Global Warming is unusual too. Reckon it has something to do with a lack of sunspot activity the last year or so?
Why haven't we been hearing from that bloated wind bag Albert Gore lately? Even meek little Tipper finally got fed up with his lies and booted his ass to the curb. Of course he can just give her half of everything and still have enough money to draw the bimbo-flies and environmental moonbats to his swollen carcass. A waste of resources to keep him alive, methinks.
Of course, I have been accused of being a little intolerant of idiots. I mean come on, they're fun to laugh as for a while, but you soon become weary of shooting fish in a barrel.
Speaking of shooting.......I finally took the time to peel the camouflaged tape off the barrel of the Ruger Model 77 Mark II I picked up a while back and gave it a good cleaning and lubrication. Nice gun, stainless steel barrel and action with composite stock and topped with Leupold 4 X 12 VX-II scope.
Hopefully, I'll be able to take it over to the ARC range next month and sight it in.
I have no real need for a rifle of this calibre, but, like I've always heard...... you can never have too many guns, or enough ammo.
Well, I've had my grits and hen apple for the morning, I'm sure I have a lot to do if I'll just get too it. Hopefully I'll be able to get to the Fedex office before the icy part of this winter wonderland hits later today. Right now it's fun to look at, but if we get any ice on top of it the pines will start snapping onto the power lines and the real fun will start.
Stay warm and come back now, hear.
I read much these days, some of it very discouraging and pessimistic. I find it very easy sometimes to want to throw my hands in the air, take my guns, ammo, such food as we have stored, a few coins of silver, the wife and ol' grump and find a place in the deep dark woods to await the zombie hoards and whatever end may come.
This following account, whether true or not, is part of the reason I do not. Not yet. Not while people such as these are part of our armed forces and citizens of this land. And make no mistake, there are men and women like this out there. They are Tea Party Patriots, Republicans, even some who vote democrat perhaps, people from all walks of life. People who like the signors of The Declaration of Independence, will be willing to Pledge their lives, their fortunes and their Sacred Honor in defense of liberty and freedom.
They do exist......I've met some of them. Let us look for them, challenge them, support them and, if possible, elect them to the highest offices in the land, that this once great nation may remember her heritage and rise taller and stand brighter than ever before.
The Last Six Seconds
On Nov 13, 2010 Lt General John Kelly, USMC gave a speech to the
Semper Fi Society of St. Louis, MO. This was 4 days after his son, Lt
Robert Kelly, USMC was killed by an IED while on his 3rd Combat tour.
During his speech, General Kelly spoke about the dedication and valor
of the young men and women who step forward each and every day to
protect us.
During the speech, he never mentioned the loss of his own son.
He closed the speech with the moving account of the last 6 seconds
in the lives of 2 young Marines who died with rifles blazing to protect
their brother Marines.
"I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they
are...about the quality of the steel in their backs...about the kind of
dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and
forever after as veterans. Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S.
and Iraqi forces, in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine
infantry battalions, 1/9 "The Walking Dead," and 2/8 were switching out
in Ramadi. One battalion in the closing days of their deployment
going home very soon, the other just starting its seven-month combat
tour.
Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan
Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one from each battalion, were
assuming the watch together at the entrance gate of an outpost that
contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines. The same broken down
ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also my men and our
allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city until
recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda. Yale was a
dirt poor mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and daughter, and
a mother and sister who lived with him and he supported as well. He did
this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the other
hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island. They were from two
completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would
never have met each other, or understood that multiple America's exist simultaneously
depending on one's race, education level, economic status, and where
you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines,
forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond
they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader
I am sure went something like: "Okay you two clowns, stand this post
and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." "You clear?" I am
also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison
something like: "Yes Sergeant," with just enough attitude that
made the point without saying the words, "No kidding sweetheart, we know
what we're doing." They then relieved two other Marines on watch and
took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station
Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq.
A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley
way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine of
concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the
two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically.
Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A
mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck's engine came to rest two
hundred yards away knocking most of a house down before it stopped. Our
explosive experts reckoned the blast was made of 2,000 pounds of
explosives. Two died, and because these two young infantrymen
didn't have it in their DNA to run from danger, they saved 150 of their
Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.
When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours
after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as
something about this struck me as different. Marines dying or being
seriously wounded is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless
of rank or MOS to stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in
the process, if that is what the mission takes. But this just seemed
different. The regimental commander had just returned from the
site and he agreed, but reported that there were no American witnesses to
the event-just Iraqi police. I figured if there was any chance of
finding out what actually happened and then to decorate the two Marines
to acknowledge their bravery, I'd have to do it as a combat award
that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the bureaucrats back
in Washington would never buy Iraqi statements. If it had any
chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.
I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a
half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story. The blue truck
turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way
through the serpentine. They all said, "We knew immediately what was
going on as soon as the two Marines began firing." The Iraqi police then
related that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety
just prior to the explosion. All survived. Many were injured...some
seriously. One of the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling
up said, "They'd run like any normal man would to save his life."
"What he didn't know until then," he said, "and what he learned that very
instant, was that Marines are not normal." Choking past the emotion he said,
"Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and
done what they did." "No sane man." "They saved us all."
What we didn't know at the time, and only learned a couple of
days later after I wrote a summary and submitted both Yale and Haerter for
posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras,
damaged initially in the blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It
happened exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly
six seconds from when the truck entered the alley until it
detonated.
You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives. Putting
myself in their heads I supposed it took about a second for the two
Marines to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on
once the truck came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly
no time to talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they should
do. Only enough time to take half an instant and think about what the
sergeant told them to do only a few minutes before: "...let no
unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." The two Marines had about five
seconds left to live.
It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their
weapons, take aim, and open up. By this time the truck was half-way
through the barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording
shows a number of Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now
scattering like the normal and rational men they were-some running right
past the Marines. They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines'
weapons firing non-stop...the truck's windshield exploding into shards
of glass as their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the
son-of-a-bitch who is trying to get past them to kill their brothers-
American and Iraqi-bedded down in the barracks totally
unaware of the fact that their lives at that moment depended entirely on
two Marines standing their ground. If they had been aware, they
would have known they were safe...because two Marines stood between them
and a crazed suicide bomber. The recording shows the truck careening
to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines. In all of the
instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all
reports and by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even
started to step aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their
feet spread shoulder width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing
as fast as they could work their weapons. They had only one second left
to live.
The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to
their God. Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families,
their country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but
more than enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty...into
eternity. That is the kind of people who are on watch all over
the world tonight-for you.
We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he
could bestow to man while he lived on this earth-freedom. We also
believe he gave us another gift nearly as precious-our soldiers, sailors,
airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines-to safeguard that gift and
guarantee no force on this earth can every steal it away. It has been my
distinct honor to have been with you here today. Rest assured our
America, this experiment in democracy started over two centuries ago, will
forever remain the "land of the free and home of the brave" so long as
we never run out of tough young Americans who are willing to look beyond
their own self-interest and comfortable lives, and go into the darkest
and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who
would do us harm.
God Bless America, and....SEMPER FIDELIS!"
This is the nation's Corps of Marines. The feckless leaders in the congress do not deserve such men protecting them. May God protect the Corps from the evil that is being imposed upon it.
At least I thought that was what the year was supposed to be doing.
Around here ol' Father Times doesn't seem to have lost a step since June. Busier than a three legged dog in a rabbit hunt. Still, while I left at 9am and drove back and forth for over 200 miles, sometimes at 80 mph (like the time just before I saw the Sheriff's car parked beside the abandoned hotdog stand just outside Franklin Springs) I wound up back here, right where I started from. I can travel farther and make less progress than anybody I know.
The snow from the weekend is mostly gone except for a few patches in the shade, although it's been windy and cold enough to mostly dry out the ground that's now showing.
I think I'm just going to forgo the rest of this year and stick around home till after the weekend. I'm sure it will ring on down to 2011 just fine without me. Still if the fire works Friday night sound too close and too much like Tec-9's I may be forced to rouse myself and light off a few .357 cherry bombs. That reminds me......I need to make a run to Wally World to the sporting goods section soon. You can't have a really good New Year's celebration with out enough noise makers and those little annoying thing-a-ma-jigs you blow into that sends a paper annoyance uncurling into someone's face.
It's been quite a year here at the Kudzu Grotto. Lot's has happened and nothing much seems to have changed.
I'm looking forward to the New Year and the onslaught of potential presidential candidates announcing there intention of running for office in 2012. More than ever the internet will have to do yeoman's duty to hold their feet to the fire.
Get out there and do your part.
It must be all that Global Warming stuff.
In the last 100 years it has never happened in this area of Georgia.
Before we'd left the festivities in Gwinnett County where our eldest and her family live we were beginning to get snow sticking to the ground. The stuff of songs and movies, something little children (and some adults) had wished would happen for generations. Just that little something extra to make the holy day merry and bright.
By the time we had driven 40 miles to the east we were back into only rain.
Never mind. We had truly experienced a White Christmas. Not for the first time, since the wife and I had three Christmas' in Germany once upon a time, but, a first for our home stomping grounds.
Later, after the wife and pooch had turned in early for much deserved sleep, I watched as the drizzling rain here turned into snow. By the time I turned in around 11:00pm there was almost an inch on the porch railing.
This morning we awoke to 3 inches of the icy fluff, and it was still falling.
Although the roads and paths are a bit too warm for it to entirely cover the ground it still makes for a nice picture and give us hope that it will soon be gone.
Don't get me wrong.......I love to see it come, but the remnant of the farmer left in me remembers and hates the mud that comes after it.
It's quiet and still here at the kudzu grotto this evening.
The ol' Grump is abed with who knows what running thru his head, the wife and pooch are already down at the eldest daughter's preparing for tomorrow. It was sunny and nice today with a slight chance that tomorrow will see the first snow on Christmas in Atlanta in over 100 years, though I can remember two back to back Christmas' where we had ice storms in the early 60's.
May you receive the spirit of Christmas tonight and keep it all through the coming New Year.
I feel so much safer NOW
On the one hand they tell us to let them know if there is anything suspicious, and on the other they hassle you if you suspect that their policies are stupid, wrongheaded and designed more to control a people that think because they live in the USA that they are a free people.
It's coming.
Prepare now. Don't think that because we've elected a few new people to the congress that everything will be alright.
Because it won't.
If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is wrong, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one ever was truly harmed.
.
Marcus Aurelius
While the reptilian portion of my brain say, 'cut him into little chunks and make fish chum outta him', another portion asks the question, 'what if our government took George Washington's advice and avoided entanglements with foreign governments'?
I realize that politics has gotten to the point that, like sausage making, we really don't want to think too much on how we get to the finished product, but, I sometimes wonder how things would be if, as individuals, and as a country we could stand forth boldly saying, 'these are our guiding principles, we will stand by them. We do not ask that you necessarily have the same ones, but, we require you to respect ours. Ours are embodied in our Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. We will defend them and this Nation against all who wish us, or them, harm, both foreign and domestic, until the last breath'.
I'm not so naive as to think this will happen now at this late date and in light of all the things that have happened in the world.
I just get to wandering on the paths thru the kudzu every once in a while.
Who says there is no Justice in the world anymore?
Vigalante or Concerned Father you decide.
Maybe she is old enough to decide, maybe not. Age of consent.....probably. Age to make responsible choices.......probably not.
I suspect the father and many other people consider his actions justifiable and appropriate. Personally I'd have been tempted to do the same.......possibly more. For sure there wouldn't have been an opportunity to call the police when I finished..
...
Maybe a few more bratwurst for sale down at the corner wurst stand.
Windy, cold, drizzly suck ass weather.
Damn, I'm glad I live in the south where this is only a 2 or 3 month thing.
Pity th' fools what lives in the North.
For lo these many years now we have slide ever more deeply into the morass of political correctness in this country.
Laws are enacted forbidding you to even possibly think a negative thought about anybody, any race, any country, any religion or sexual persuasion. Soon we'll all have to wear blinders like the ol' mule hooked to the plow lest we even acknowledge anyone else's presence let alone notice that their eyes may be of a different hue.
An alien from outer space landing in this country for the first time would think by noting the vast number of laws against everything that each and every individual in the world hated every other individual, group, cult, gang, whatever, in the whole world.
Just Dang.
Personally, I'm of the opinion that we need very few laws in these regards. Indeed,we need far fewer laws period, and like some of my libertarian friends we need only to ask the question, "Was anyone harmed by force, fraud or violence?". If yes, then let the punishment fit the crime, but let's get over the idea that we have to legislate every aspect of an others life.
Today in this country there are vast numbers of people enjoying the idea that they are pitted against vast numbers of.....Those, Them......whoever it is politically, financially, racially, political party affiliation, skin color or whether they dye their hair orange and wear black lipstick. It's tearing the fabric of this once great nation apart. Fear, whether a real danger exists or not, will drive people to do insane things, horrible things, things most of us don't want to admit to, even in our darkest nightmares.
Personally I'm of the mind like our old good friend, Rodney King asked after he'd literally had the sense knocked out of him while rampaging on PCP, "Can we all just get along?".
But no, apparently we can't, despite laws and regulations too numerous to count. There are laws benefiting or restricting every group or individual you can think of. Whatever happened to the concept of equality, under the law, for all, so that we are each able to pursue whatever we think will bring us happiness or fulfillment.
Perhaps we need less legislating, more common sense, and a whole lot more individual responsibility.
Unfortunately it may take two generations to turn the tables around again.
At least that's what it looks like as I peer out of the Kudzu Grotto.
The ol' Grump fell again tonight.
Second time in a week, the first time hitting his back on the edge of the dresser. This time hitting his head lightly on the floor and tearing some of his paper thin skin on both arms. A good bit confused.
He seems to be getting weaker and more confused with each week that goes by. Plans to attend a nephews wedding may have to be put off.
If you care for an elderly parent you know the stress it can place. The wife of my youth doesn't need any more stress above what I cause her, but with two elderly and not so healthy parents, one living with us and one 30 minutes away, both of whom don't eat right and one smokes like she's on fire, my dearest is stressed out. I'm not very good at being her Rock of Gibraltar and it's painful.
Ya'll that are inclined are requested to keep us and them in your prayers.
Thanks and Ya'll come back now.
First I see 4 or 5 young truants with their hoodies and dreadlocks walking down the pipeline that bisects the neighborhood. A couple minutes time takes them over the road to Nowhere and a pistol sounds off.......maybe a 9 maybe a .380.
Another couple minutes and I see them hurrying back up the pipeline close to my chain link fence and through the yard next door where at least one of them live. They keep watching me furtively as I hold the cell phone to my ear and watch them. Called no one, just gave that impression.
Imagine my surprise when 5 Clarke County police cars converge on the edge of the road at the corner of Smokey at a house on the otherside of us.
Thinking they might be responding to reports of shots fired I walk over and volunteer what I'd seen and heard.
They'd actually come out because a deputy had driven by while they were across the road and they'd scattered like a covey of hard hunted quail. Thinking it suspicious the constable called it in.
While the K-9 unit worked the Now here road side, two other deputies questioned the youngsters next door.
Apparently satisfied the deputies all converged back to their cars and the Juveniles next door along with either the mother of some or a girlfriend piled into their own 3 cars and left the scene toot sweet(sic).
Does anybody want to trade about 20 acres out in the country for a 3 bdrm, 2 bath house in an excellent neighborhood with all the amenities?
It's been a typical late fall day here at the Kudzu Grotto.
Threatening rain (although all we've gotten has been a little drizzle from time to time) with winds that have all but died out since darkness came creeping out of the east. Cooler tonight with the week ahead forecast to be in the 40's for the highs. Just damn.
Made a run up through Carnesville to Toccoa mid-day then back to the Grotto with only a smallish amount of work to get started. Then a very nice nap in the rockin' recliner, awakening in time to heat up a boiler of oyster stew with soda crackers for supper.
Ah, the high life.
I've been reviewing the pictures taken last night at the youngest G-daughter's ballet recital and Nutcracker production.
At 4 1/2 years old you can only hope that their 3 minutes on stage will be satisfying for them and fun for us.
I have to report that it was all that and more.
Although the lights were more of a glare onstage than Callie could manage without squinting and holding her hands over her eyes trying to see mom and dad in the audience, she gets an A for effort and the hope that her parents will keep her in dance as long as she enjoys it.
She really got into the period after the intermission sitting in her Nannies lap and wiggling along to the music. 
That's her mom sitting to her left.
I enjoyed the entire production even more than I had hoped to. The younger dancers gave great efforts even including a little 'Break Dancing' from a couple young boys.
The production of 'The Nutcracker' by the Classic City Dance Troupe was icing on the cake of a wonderful evening.
There was one young dancer that I think caught the attention of a large portion of the audience...
This picture is the best I could get of her. She had to get a Gold Star for her performance. Although the smallest and apparently youngest of her group with slightly baggy leggings her style and grace sat her firmly head and shoulders above many of the older more accomplished dancers. It was apparent that she truly loves dance and is willing to give her all for it. What will happen when she discovers boys and the hormones kick into overdrive is anybodies guess...but, she could be a contender.
Who knew that an ol' redneck would have such a good time at the ballet?
.......If you don't like it just wait a day or two....especially in the fall and winter.
Rain, clouds, thunder, lightning: all occurred yesterday with even a tornado or two thrown in for good measure, though, thankfully, not too near the Classic City. Just up the road a ways they were holding onto their roofs only to watch them sail away like a kids balloon in a Wal-Mart parking lot. This will be the first time a lot of roofers and carpenters have worked in a while. Hope they are able to hold onto a little of this (pardon the unintentional pun) unexpected windfall, it may have to last till the spring storms.
All that changed overnight. A front moved through and we had the coolest temps of the season here. 26 degrees overnight according to the truck thermometer, with a frost heavy enough on the windshield to require about 10 minutes of idling to clear the windshield. Yes I know I could have taken the little ice scraper thing and gotten underway a little quicker, but it was sort of nice sitting there looking at a white nothingness for a few minutes. I wonder if that's what heaven is going to be like..........sitting in the clouds with whiteness all around?
The day warmed up nicely as the sun rose higher in the sky......brilliant blue with only a light breeze. Gradually the layers of clothing came off to a point that we were comfortable.....thankfully before the neighbors had to call the decency committee on us.
Tonight......well, we'll see. It's supposed to be a bit cooler in the morning (reminds me I've got to go drain the garden hose). That didn't take too long.
Whatever comes tomorrow.........let it come.
Ya'll come back though.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/opinion/26iht-edcohen.html
Lavrenti Beria, Stalin’s notorious secret police chief, once said, “Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime.” The T.S.A. seems to operate on the basis of an adapted maxim: “Show me the security check and I’ll find you the excuse.”
The assaults on common sense, decency, and any honest Citizen that happens to Not to work for the flea-brained federal gubbermint will continue until we remove from office or position the obungler and those of like ilk who want only to increase their own status and power.
Put a person in a position where the more he spends, whether it's in good cause or not, who is promoted for making positions for more employees, whether they actually do anything or not, who receives bonuses not based on how much greater productivity increased, rather on the size of next years budget increases and you get the same sort of people that are in charge of the (usps) post office, where losing $6,000,000,000.00 last years is not good enough........they increase it to $8,000.000.000.00 this year.
It is time to cut the size of the Government by no less than 50%. Ninety percent would be even better, but lets wait til we get some positive job growth numbers before putting them all out of work.
Now that I think of it though.........it might be a good idea if we just laid them off with full salary and benefits for up to two years, with a full payment of the salaries up front as soon as they get full time work. Make them have to repay that if they quit their new job within 5 years.
We'd save money because they are not screwing with us and making new regulations and asinine policy decisions.
Give it some thought.........I'll just bet you can think of lots of government employees and departments from the president on down that we could do without.
Suggestions and ideas welcome.......maybe we'll submit them as a petition to the new congress.
Never mind the stated reason given in this article, another shot has been taken at Liberty.
http://antikakistocrat.blogspot.com/2010/11/dhs-seizes-internet-domain-names.html#comment-form
Would it not have been more lawful to simply sue, arrest, try and then convict the person or persons responsible? Then,if justified, dispense punishment consistent with law.
Oh No, we are a people ruled, not governed, by a bunch of irresponsible pre-schoolers who have not yet learned to keep their hands out of the fire.
As long as they don't feel the heat they are going to get closer and closer........
Provided we don't give a little stern guidance they will continue to overstep the boundaries.
Our annual day of Thanks and family fellowship was today (Saturday, because of work constraints for some and hunting season for others.)
All of the good things for which we should be very grateful.
Hugs from the children and grand children. Son's in laws and daughter in law to make one proud. A pre-school-er with a heart full of love and a zest for life, a grown grandson who's in love with a cute vet-tech student and hunting.....I'm not sure of the exact order here. A Goth barely teen and ll year old grand son who will either be a preacher or politician as he never knows when to shut up, but falls asleep watching the science channel and I swear learns in his sleep. Great in-laws and wild deep fried turkey as well as store bought along with dressing and gravy, deviled eggs, sweet potato souffle, banana pudding (from scratch, not a can).
I'm truly blessed and very thankful.
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At age 77 you'd think they would just let Willie Nelson have a little pot. By now he's earned it.
We've been engaged in a War On Drugs for over 40 years now. It has evolved from an effort to reduce drug use to a revenue enhancement department for every law enforcement agency in the country from Washington on down. You'd think by now they would realize that legalization and treatment would reduce both the usage and criminal activity.
I realize that the effects on individuals and families can be devastating, but turning such a large portion of a nations population into criminals is equally devastating, for the individuals, their families and the nation.
Besides, we've been at war on poverty for just as long and have had just as much success.
After 40 years we need to try new remedies on both problems.
Some how I get the idea that like the fight against cancer the amount of money thrown at the problem is just making some people rich at the expense of those who might have made a bad decision along the way.
I am convinced there is a better way. I don't claim to have the answers, but, we need to look in different directions.
Jeezly Crow, what a week it's been.
I've begun to feel like the proverbial three legged dog in a rabbit chase.
Never fear though intrepid readers, in spite of your fervent pleas and prayers I continue to rant and rave. I'm determined to be like the Energizer Bunny: to keep on running until I get it right at least once in my life.
Fall has finally fallen here at the Kudzu Grotto (KG). After a couple of days of light rain, and some wind, the ground has suddenly become covered with leaves of red, yellow and gold, along with quite a few ugly brown ones. I almost had the urge to rake a few to put atop the pathetic patch we refer to as the 'garden'. You'll be happy to know that I've resisted that urge so far. Nothing says 'Redneck' quite as well as an un-mowed and un-raked yard unless it's cars up on blocks in the overgrown front yard (well, I still have to jack up one of the cars and set it on blocks) (does it count if the tires are flat?)
The better half and I seem to have beaten back the sniffles for a while at least. Now the ol' Grump has taken to his bed with a cold. Might keep him from having some skin cancer patches removed on Wednesday. I watched as they removed three spots from his arm and back for biopsy a couple months ago. That wasn't too bad. But, to see how fast the little tumors grew in those spots 2 days later was a bit much. Still, hopefully, nothing more than skin cancer of the small and ugly kind.
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The TSA. (Touching Sensitive Areas)
The recent furor has caused RCOBOE (red coating of blood over eyes) to the point I can hardly see.
Never mind that I have not the funds to fly anywhere; I would not be subjected to that sort of treatment at the hands of my own government. Not since I was subjected to the ol' "turn your head and cough" at the hands of a female army nurse oh so many years ago have I felt so embarrassed. At least that served a useful purpose.
Can you name just one instance of pat downs and X-rated scans stopping even one terrorist?
It's nice to hear and read the outrage of a portion of the American Citizenry. A few people are finally awakening to the fact that government agencies always, A.L.A.W.Y.S extend their reach and authority over what they perceive as the subjects to the Royal Government, when in actual fact it is they who are supposed to be the servants.
What is the highest office in the United States of America??
If you blurted out "the president" you are a fool and part of the problem.
The highest office in this country is Citizen
That's right, you, you and you over there with the ring in your eyebrow and tattoos on your ankles.
We, I, you, as individuals have delegated to that sometimes nebulous concept called 'the government' (small letters to designate their ranking) some of your rights to defense of your person, your liberty, your property as is your right as a Sovereign Individual.
If you don't think of yourself in that light you are nothing more than sheep awaiting the fleecing and slaughter that you so richly deserve, along with the appellation sheeple.
Oh, I know, you have become so used to thinking that the government is actually going to follow the intent of the framers of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence that you have allowed yourself to become soft and weak. (those of you that were actually taught or read anything about those intents. But, by damn, you are more than that, you are a citizen of the USA. If you are not, whether you are here illegally or not, then you should go back home, your own country needs you.
Maybe you'll take a part of what you felt here back with you.
The rest of you: get off your asses, look around. If you don't assert your rights as a Citizen, who will? Obungler and the crowd in the Asylum on the Potomac?
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I had originally intended to link to article after article in the media of the day in the rant above, but the spittle and froth is making it hard to see the monitor and as said before, it's been quite a week, and a day, and the medication and Tylenol PM taken a while back have combined to take the edge off my rage.
You should,however, consider thinking about this Article before you go.
A bit off the rant I know........but still something to ponder.
There are still heroes among us. Likely we pass a few everyday. Likely not a single one of them started out to become one.
"Just a mediocre guy." (clicky click)
A mediocre guy, who saw what needed to be done and did it, heedless of the possible personal consequences.
God Bless you Sgt.
We survived the elections.
Now What?
We only startled the Leviathan for a moment. Never think that just because you caused him to swerve away because you punched him in the snout that he's not planning his next run towards you will lips drawn back and all those pointy teeth pointed outward and all the massive power available thrown into the charge.
As long as we Citizens want to sit back and send a representative to speak for us, instead of standing firm in the middle of the road with dogged determination that, You Shall Not Pass in every fiber of our being.
I'm mightily afeared that the road will be rough, rocky and dusty in the coming few years. If you do not have a bit of the blood of the pioneer Revolutionaries in your blood you may not be able to stay the course. Or a bit of the Irish, but then, were all madmen you see.
There are many who would forecast out there. A bit of an article I read this evening........
I’m not a pessimist but our top and best advisor who seems to be always correct offers the following. If he is correct, and I suspect he is, we have a long slow Japan-style slog in the economic mud with a major system breakdown, like Russia’s bust-up some years ago. I suspect somewhere along the trail in this movie, the USA Sheeple go to pitchforks and torches.
Why can't he bring himself to say Guns and Knives?
I sure hope not but it almost seems inevitable. What a shame that a few Marxists can do so much permanent damage to my beloved America. All political parties are guilty.
“The midterm elections are anticlimactic and change nothing. In the short term, it makes no difference how many Congressional seats the GOP captures. The Dumb-O-Crats have already won. Since taking control of Congress in 2006, Hussein and his wrecking crew have jammed through more socialist legislation than all the past liberal agendas combined (had) ever hoped to accomplish. It's a done deed.”
“If anyone thinks that changing the mix of Congress with more elected conservatives will fix things; (they are) dreaming. The new Congress will be just as clueless, incompetent, corrupt, and swayed by the lobbyists. The only priority will be to get re-elected, as usual. Any hopes and promises will be dashed by reality. The reality is any legislation that the new Congress passes to try to undo Hussein's Marxist programs will be simply vetoed. The GOP will not have the votes to over-ride a Presidential veto. This is a Dead-End.”
Maybe not this next two years, bet we can hope for is Gridlock. Better luck in 2012.
“The Constitution gives the responsibility of appropriating funds to the House. They may be able to shut-off any additional funds for existing programs, such as Obamacare, etc., but the basic funding of those programs is already the law of land. Control of the Federal purse strings is of no help to undo the damage already done.”
“So, there will be two years of legislative gridlock. In the mean time, Hussein will expand (entrench) his new socialist programs with a blizzard of Presidential executive orders and appointees by-passing Congress. These Dumb-O-Crat political appointees in charge of hundreds of Federal agencies, set policy that interprets, and bends the intent of new and existing programs to the socialist ideology...encasing them in concrete. It will require literally decades of political dedication and action to undo the damage…and that is not likely to happen.”
It will only happen if we faint not, and stay the course, no matter the pain. And their will be pain. Maybe even all out WW4!
“On top of all the political shenanigans, is the meddling of the FED with the money supply. The greatest theft of public money, ever, will continue on an even grander scale to transfer even more to the bankers, the Wall Street Boyz, and the politically connected. That is the one, and only, sure outcome of these elections. The citizens (Sheeple) aren't even a consideration, other than to ratify the rip-off with their votes.”
If You've ever had a determination to succeed in your life financially you better do it now........it will stand you in good stead down the road.
You might use some of it to prepare. Maybe not to the extent recommend in the link below.......
Click Here
......but you can't help anyone else if you yourself are not first prepared.
