This Memorial Day weekend began, as last year, in the Manitowoc/TwoRivers area where we rode the bike trails there that we enjoy so - The Rawley Point and Mariner Trails. The Rawley Point Trail runs from the north end of Two Rivers through Point Beach State Park to Lake Michigan. The Mariner Trail runs from the south end of Two Rivers into Manitowoc. All totaled it was about twenty-five miles of nice flat riding - a great way to begin the cycling season.The second day, Sunday, we ventured to the north end of Oshkosh (we stayed at the kids' house while they left town for the weekend) to find the largest cemetery I've seen since Arlington in DC. Here it is (sorry for the size).
This photo shows the Veterans' section of this vast expanse. This is a sobering reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by ordinary citizen/soldiers (service members, men AND women) in order for the rest of us to sit on our fat duffs and "celebrate" the day in their honor. As a kid I remember traveling with my dad to numerous cemeteries to honor the war dead. He was in an honor guard with The American Legion. He marched, fired blank rounds from an M-1 and other "Legion kids" and I scrambled to retrieve the spent shell casings. Most of them were returned for reloading at a later date, some we kept - don't know why. As my dad aged, he moved up the ranks in The American Legion and was elected the State Commander in 1972. That year I went to the Legion-sponsored Badger Boys State and dad was a big deal there. That's when I found out how big, anyway. I was actually elected County Sheriff of the "State's" largest County and, thus, a delegate to the "State" convention. This was my first real foray into any real politics. I was, however, student body president of my junior high three years earlier.Anyway, these numerous cemetery visits and parade witnessings were the excuses I have to skip these remembrances since, but I have grown to appreciate the valor and honor those having served and presently serving in our armed forces depict in their service to keep this, STILL, the "Greatest Country on the Planet". God Bless them and God Bless America!
For the first time in a long time Wisconsin politics is actually getting major media attention, though, as is the case in today's media, not the entire story. But I digress.U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan, a Republican from Janesville, is getting national attention as a stalwart, bright, energetic conservative, unafraid to question The One in person. Our U.S. Senator, Russ "Soupy Sales" Feingold may be in a fight for his seat, even with inferior opposition, just "because". Democrat U.S. Congressman David Obey (Oh-bee not Oh-bay, thank goodness) has decided to forfeit his twenty-second term because he is "tired". He is down in the polls to ANYone running against him as he is the architect of BHO's Porkulous Major.Also, the Milwaukee Common Council and maybe even the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education (a term used only very lightly in this case) have decided to make official a boycott of Arizona because Arizona had the audacity to pass a strict anti-ILLEGAL immigration law - one EXACTLY worded as the Federal law that is ignored everywhere in this country - to protect itself from illicit drugs, kidnappings, murders, rapes and other crimes. THAT ouhgta show 'em! (LOL) When asked how much business the MPS does with Arizona businesses, the Board member threatening to raise the resolution admitted that he wasn't sure. I give credit to the local television station (WTMJ4) for not only asking the question, but airing it and the response.See, it is getting interesting.
In the second time in as many months, two different Walmart stores have offered me employment. "Great! Congratulations!", you say? Well, not so great. The first one was a third shift stocker for $9.65/hr (including shift premium). The second was today as an Asset Protection Assistant for $8.95/hr. How do families make ends meet with wages like these? Even rents are in the high $500 to low $600 for decent apartments. Throw in kids and car payments and - voila - working poor. It's not Walmart's fault. It's their business model. I make more with unemployment compensation than the pretax take-home from either of these. AND, if I lost one of these jobs, the unemployment would be less than minimum wage, I fear. I've even just finished applying to four factory jobs, all paying in excess of $11.00/hr and within easy driving distance, or even local. I know I won't get any of these, but one can dream.God has quite a sense of humor, or the devil is quite the tempter.
