My big adventure or 2010 began yesterday. Left my young son's Springfield, Ohio home in the afternoon and drove five hours into central Illinois. I'm on the cheap so I looked for an economically sound(inexpensive) motel. Motel 6 sometimes fills the bill; had to make sure there were no bed bugs. The desk man is a former high school coach and we chatted about folks we know from the Illini state. Nice guy. Gave me a room with wifi, cable tv for $40. Today, it's on to St. Louis to visit with a man I have not seen since 1969. It could be interesting. My understanding is his last employer was Rupert Murdoch. After a day on the links I'll head to Olathe, Kansas to see number one son, his wife and my two grandchildren. On Friday I'll head up to Boone, Iowa for a three day visit with Ma and my big sis. Minneapolis awaits on Labor Day with my friend of sixty years. He's just the nicest man God ever created. Next stop, Ten Mile Lake and Lizzie awaits. I'll be there one week then head out for Duluth to hook up with my buddy and his six other fishing friends for the fly-in to northern Ontario. I'll load my car with Oklahoma bodies, drive eight hours north of Duluth to Armstrong, Ontario, park the car, then hop a plane for a three hour flying adventure. That, my friends, is up there!
We return, hopefully, on the 25th. My long time best friend in Nekoosa, Wisconsin awaits for fun and golf. After seeing him it's on to visit cousin Gary in Milwaukee for a few hours. He's been under the weather so I'll make our get together brief. It's only a short drive down to Racine where my good buddy, TB, awaits. Get to play golf with him and spend the evening chatting. Next day is a drive through Chicago and if I can get that done I could be back in my bed on the 28th. Hooray!
The point of this entire post is, don't expect to see another for a month. I'll keep my diary, though, to report any and all things unusual.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Bucket List
I've been giving some thought to the movie, The Bucket List, with Jack Nicholson and that other guy who got his start on the kids show, Electric Company, oh yeah, Morgan Freeman. I'd never heard of a 'bucket list' until then. Now, it seems like a fairly good idea. Last week, in this column, I mentioned that one of the things on my list was to have a Massey's Pizza, made in Columbus, Ohio. They're supposed to be tasty. I haven't gotten around to doing it yet but any day now------.
In three weeks I'll be on a fly-in fishing trip to the far reaches of northern Ontario. That qualifies as a 'lister' but it's almost too big time for me. I'm more into the KISS type of lists.
In the last few days I've fulfilled a couple of dreams. Since Lizzie has abandoned me by going to the lake I've checked off: running the clothes washer, clothes dryer and dishwasher. This is actually one of life's milestones and three more items have been checked off. Touche'!
A sole came off one of my golf shoes. Rather than take it to the cobbler(shoe repair man) I purchased what's called Shoe-Goo and did it myself! Another item in the can.
Once again, for me, the whole idea of a bucket list is to keep it simple: high expectations yield high failure rates which leads to frustration and massive depression. Then I give up and become content to watch TV; a very useless option.
In the next thirty days I plan on constructing a large list of kick the bucket ideas. Feel free to make suggestions. If I don't like them I'll check them off the list. This, too, would qualify for the bucket list. Ideas I don't like, and some people, warrant a huge check off.
You see, my philosophy in life mirrors that of Percy Kilbride in the "Ma and Pa Kettle" movies of the Fifites when he tells his wife, Marjorie Main, "We didn't get much done today, Ma, but we'll give 'er heck tomorrow". He's my kind of guy except I don't own a rocking chair. Aha! Buy a rocker. The list is endless.
"List on, my friends".
Where's Radu
I used to get a lot of intelligent response, constructive criticism and creative wit from Radu. Seems he's left the country. It's sort of like 'where's Waldo'. I keep looking but can't find him.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Obama Administration Indicts America
Editorial from The Washington Times:
Move over Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria. The State Department has made it official: The United States violates human rights. In an unprecedented move, the Obama administration submitted a report to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights detailing the progress and problems in dealing with human rights issues in this country. The document is a strange combination of left-wing history and White House talking points.
It describes how the United States discriminates against the disabled, homosexuals, women, Native Americans, blacks, Hispanics and those who don't speak English. There is the expected pandering to Muslims, noting that the government is committed to "challenge misperceptions and discriminatory stereotypes, to prevent acts of vandalism and to combat hate crimes," offenses that the American people evidently keep committing. And the current economic woes are blamed on the housing crisis, which itself was the result of "discriminatory lending practices." The implication is that if Americans had only been less racist, they would be enjoying prosperity today
Move over Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria. The State Department has made it official: The United States violates human rights. In an unprecedented move, the Obama administration submitted a report to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights detailing the progress and problems in dealing with human rights issues in this country. The document is a strange combination of left-wing history and White House talking points.
It describes how the United States discriminates against the disabled, homosexuals, women, Native Americans, blacks, Hispanics and those who don't speak English. There is the expected pandering to Muslims, noting that the government is committed to "challenge misperceptions and discriminatory stereotypes, to prevent acts of vandalism and to combat hate crimes," offenses that the American people evidently keep committing. And the current economic woes are blamed on the housing crisis, which itself was the result of "discriminatory lending practices." The implication is that if Americans had only been less racist, they would be enjoying prosperity today
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Bumper Sticker
I'm not a big believer in bumper stickers. They give far too much information and usually elicit groans from me. I broke down, though, and purchased one from Cafe Press. It's placed on the back window of my car and says, "Conservatism IS change that believes in you". It's clever but not offensive. Anyway, I was listening to the local radio station early this morning and one of the lead stories dealt with the beginning of school for Columbus, Ohio students. Our Superintendent of Schools was being interviewed about the 53,000 students going back to the classroom this morning.
She made a pledge that graduation rates needed to and will be higher than normal this school. Evidently, school doesn't seem to be very important to some. Go figure!
In order to combat this rampant dereliction of duty the school system has hired a number of 'graduation coaches'. Good God, what a joke! Think about it. As I recall, one of our greatest thinkers, Abraham Lincoln, practiced something called, 'readin', writin' and rithmatic'. Old Abe had only one coach and that was his Ma, Nancy Hanks.
Some people impress me more than others. There is a young couple just around the corner from us. They are in their late thirties. The wife is Carolina born and bred. Her husband grew up in our community but is the son of another Carolinian, one of my wife's dear friends. Since he lived in Florida and South Carolina for some time he's more than considered a native of that part of the world. They are 'education coach's. Three nights ago two other couples, myself, and these kids sat outside talking. After awhile, the six people, Baptists all, started singing hymns. It was like Mayberry RFD with Andy Taylor strumming on the guitar and Barney and Gomer singing along. These young people have two son's, ages three and six. They are home schooled and it's easy to recognize it. Why? Well, it's because the boys are polite, intelligent and courteous to their elders.
Now, think back to my bumper sticker. These young adults are practicing my bumper sticker. They are doing for themselves what others, too many others, expect to be done for them. It's exciting to know that there is hope and change going on in our America and it doesn't come from Washington D.C., either.
She made a pledge that graduation rates needed to and will be higher than normal this school. Evidently, school doesn't seem to be very important to some. Go figure!
In order to combat this rampant dereliction of duty the school system has hired a number of 'graduation coaches'. Good God, what a joke! Think about it. As I recall, one of our greatest thinkers, Abraham Lincoln, practiced something called, 'readin', writin' and rithmatic'. Old Abe had only one coach and that was his Ma, Nancy Hanks.
Some people impress me more than others. There is a young couple just around the corner from us. They are in their late thirties. The wife is Carolina born and bred. Her husband grew up in our community but is the son of another Carolinian, one of my wife's dear friends. Since he lived in Florida and South Carolina for some time he's more than considered a native of that part of the world. They are 'education coach's. Three nights ago two other couples, myself, and these kids sat outside talking. After awhile, the six people, Baptists all, started singing hymns. It was like Mayberry RFD with Andy Taylor strumming on the guitar and Barney and Gomer singing along. These young people have two son's, ages three and six. They are home schooled and it's easy to recognize it. Why? Well, it's because the boys are polite, intelligent and courteous to their elders.
Now, think back to my bumper sticker. These young adults are practicing my bumper sticker. They are doing for themselves what others, too many others, expect to be done for them. It's exciting to know that there is hope and change going on in our America and it doesn't come from Washington D.C., either.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
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