Well, it has been some time since I made an entry here. Actually, more like felt like making an entry here.
It is September, 2016. The Packer and Badger football seasons are in full swing. the Brewers finished at the bottom of their division as is their custom. And I have yet another new job. Actually, I've been at this one for almost a year now. My relationship with Systems Control ended amicably, but, alas, on their terms, not mine. I was receiving unemployment compensation form Michigan, which was a total of 24 weeks. I looked very diligently, of course, for something new, but who was going to hire a fifty-nine-year-old for any reason? I was concerned for losing the unemployment compensation as I was not getting offers, even very few interviews, for that matter. So, I went to an agency that advertised for openings in our local paper (yes, I even searched hard copies as a source!). I turned out is was for a local food processing plant. And, as it turned out, it was for a position other than that for which I actually applied and interviewed, a packager. It would have been equal to the amount I made on unemployment. I supposed I could endure this job until I turned 62 and "retire" early. That was the initial plan. Well, I was hired as a Quality Control Technician, Pre-weigh for $3.50 per hour more than originally stated. My job was to pre-weigh ingredients for large batches of varied prepared food items. These large batches were 1,000's of pounds. I weighed odd weights, such as the last 13 pounds of the recipe, but in many instances, tens of times. It was physically demanding work, especially for a fifty-nine-year-old. I worked a split shift - 1:00pm to 9:00pm. I truly hated this job, but was grateful to God for it every day I had it as it was a decent bridge toward our retirement planning.
Eventually, by the grace of God, I found another CAD position. This time with MI-Tech Services. And, of course, I get to commute, this time to Fond du Lac. There is a good side to this. I am within 30 minutes of our granddaughters, which I have been able to utilize on several occasions. Anyway, this "new" (to me) company designs power distribution systems, that is, overhead and underground electrical systems to homes and businesses. I do the drafting the designers draw by hand and include their designs from their word documents that specify everything needed ad each point - pole, transformer or pedestal.
While all this was going on, I have been witness to the demise of our great nation. We have a lame duck president, Barack Obama - legally, Barry Soetoro - who hates us and our country to the point where he has ignored the laws and our Constitution. He apologizes at every chance he gets to other nations regarding our past leadership and exceptionalism. And, as of right now, we are in the throes of a political season never before occurring. Both major candidates are highly disliked by their own party loyalists, Hillary Clinton (yes that one) on the democrat side and Donald Trump (yes that one) for the republicans. Their first debate will be tomorrow.
With this America-hater as our president, we have, by his design, been divided greatly. We have multi-millionaire football players claiming "oppression" and refusing to stand for the National Anthem. We have a group of professional riot organizers going to any city where a black criminal is shot by police and doing what they're paid to do. We have this president now paying 100's of millions of dollars to our "former" enemies as ransom for politically held prisoners. We have a presidential candidate who lies about lying and does it to Congress under oath that she does not believe.
We need God's grace as a nation more than we ever have, even more than our founders did.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Thursday, January 29, 2015
62 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT MY WIFE
On my recently-celebrated sixtieth birthday, my wife made a list of sixty things you may or may not know about me. As is her custom, she is inclusive. She wrote a similar list for our thirty-five-year-old daughter, our twenty-two-year-old niece, herself, and is working on one for her eighty-six-year-old mother and our other daughter. I told her I was going to attempt such a list about her, mostly because she said non one else would. Keep in mind that I have known her for only about 2/3 of her life and that anything referred to before our meeting is from her very own telling to me, or by her parents. So, here goes:
1. Sherri is an excellent map reader. This is a good thing for me as I am a geography major.
2. She truly loves young children. She doesn't really consider her job a drag because of it.
3. Sherri and I have almost the same inseam.
4. She has become a very knowledgeable football fan. Also good for me.
5. She has become a good cook and likes to experiment.
6. Sherri is a very good financial budgeter. We don't have much, but, boy she uses it wisely.
7. She is a good vacation planner.
8. I have never been leery about her driving, even though she prefers me to do our couple driving.
9. Sherri has lost the use of one eye due to a botched retinal reattachment surgery in 1979.
10. This eye surgery occurred while she was pregnant with our youngest daughter.
11. She had very heavy eyebrows until part of the way through freshman year in college.
12. Sherri is one year and eleven months older than I.
13. She is not excited about Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day for us as a couple. Another good for
me.
14. We both have never celebrated the Hallmark-made Grandparent's Day.
15. Sherri was a 2nd place all-city tennis player at a young age (10 or so).
16. She suffered some sexual harassment when working for the local movie theater in high school.
17. Retrospectively, Sherri missed some good high school experiences because of her infatuation
with a boy.
18. She married her college sweetheart. (so did I).
19. She has a good sense of humor and has really nurtured it since having been around me all this
time.
20. She still laughs at some of my jokes that she's heard forever.
21. She doesn't care to see the world.
22. Sherri doesn't like flying all that much. It's not fear, just dislike of the entire experience.
23. She's not interested in ever taking a cruise.
24. Sherri occasionally likes to take "the scenic route" on our trips.
25. She's a good ice skater.
26. She's a good roller skater.
27. She ALWAYS over dresses for winter activities.
28. Sherri has coached cheerleading, but only one sports team with a fellow teacher in her first
teaching year.
29. She is generous to a fault, ask our son-in-law, Nathan.
30. Her memory is amazing. If you need to know the birth date of a high school friend, just ask.
31. She is a loyal friend.
32. She usually listens to the suggestions I make regarding her wardrobe choices.
33. She stills asks if she thinks I might be able to fix something, knowing I most likely cannot.
34. Sherri can get addicted easily to computer games.
35. But, just as quickly, can tire of them.
36. She doesn't mind dirt (soil).
37. A dusty house is not a bother to her, to a point.
38. She loves the sun.
39. Sherri will attempt to get a decent tan every summer.
40. She never really wanted a mini van. We settled for a couple of station wagons instead.
41. She is a saver, to a point.
42. Sherri likes the idea of a rummage sale, but
43. dislikes the time it takes to price and organize all the crap.
44. Sherri likes to play board games.
45. She never sits idle. She's always doing something.
46. She really loves to do projects with pre-schoolers, especially our granddaughters.
47. She hates drive-throughs.
48. She almost never calls in food delivery orders.
49. When we were dating, Sherri wore tight fitting clothes and very short skirts, and wore them very
well.
50. Sherri ran games at two of my company picnics and got paid for it.
51. She was the driving force in seeing to it that our daughters were excellent students.
52. Sherri doesn't care for baseball. It's too slow moving.
53. She was a cheerleader in grade school and high school.
54. Sherri was in a musical in high school.
55. She's been wearing glasses since about the second grade.
56. Sherri's favorite thing to teach her pre-schoolers is "Jesus Circle".
57. She doesn't like driving at night. She isn't afraid of the dark, she just doesn't like to.
58. The only real "critters" she's frightened of are snakes and
59. mice.
60. Sherri wanted more children. I said no and we settled for quality instead of quantity.
61. Sherri had many pets as a child, but we had only gold fish, hermit crabs and one cat as parents.
AND
62. She likes movies, but not going out for them as she generally considers them too expensive.
Well, there you have it. Let's see if her list stacks up to mine. Anyway, happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, and many more.
1. Sherri is an excellent map reader. This is a good thing for me as I am a geography major.
2. She truly loves young children. She doesn't really consider her job a drag because of it.
3. Sherri and I have almost the same inseam.
4. She has become a very knowledgeable football fan. Also good for me.
5. She has become a good cook and likes to experiment.
6. Sherri is a very good financial budgeter. We don't have much, but, boy she uses it wisely.
7. She is a good vacation planner.
8. I have never been leery about her driving, even though she prefers me to do our couple driving.
9. Sherri has lost the use of one eye due to a botched retinal reattachment surgery in 1979.
10. This eye surgery occurred while she was pregnant with our youngest daughter.
11. She had very heavy eyebrows until part of the way through freshman year in college.
12. Sherri is one year and eleven months older than I.
13. She is not excited about Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day for us as a couple. Another good for
me.
14. We both have never celebrated the Hallmark-made Grandparent's Day.
15. Sherri was a 2nd place all-city tennis player at a young age (10 or so).
16. She suffered some sexual harassment when working for the local movie theater in high school.
17. Retrospectively, Sherri missed some good high school experiences because of her infatuation
with a boy.
18. She married her college sweetheart. (so did I).
19. She has a good sense of humor and has really nurtured it since having been around me all this
time.
20. She still laughs at some of my jokes that she's heard forever.
21. She doesn't care to see the world.
22. Sherri doesn't like flying all that much. It's not fear, just dislike of the entire experience.
23. She's not interested in ever taking a cruise.
24. Sherri occasionally likes to take "the scenic route" on our trips.
25. She's a good ice skater.
26. She's a good roller skater.
27. She ALWAYS over dresses for winter activities.
28. Sherri has coached cheerleading, but only one sports team with a fellow teacher in her first
teaching year.
29. She is generous to a fault, ask our son-in-law, Nathan.
30. Her memory is amazing. If you need to know the birth date of a high school friend, just ask.
31. She is a loyal friend.
32. She usually listens to the suggestions I make regarding her wardrobe choices.
33. She stills asks if she thinks I might be able to fix something, knowing I most likely cannot.
34. Sherri can get addicted easily to computer games.
35. But, just as quickly, can tire of them.
36. She doesn't mind dirt (soil).
37. A dusty house is not a bother to her, to a point.
38. She loves the sun.
39. Sherri will attempt to get a decent tan every summer.
40. She never really wanted a mini van. We settled for a couple of station wagons instead.
41. She is a saver, to a point.
42. Sherri likes the idea of a rummage sale, but
43. dislikes the time it takes to price and organize all the crap.
44. Sherri likes to play board games.
45. She never sits idle. She's always doing something.
46. She really loves to do projects with pre-schoolers, especially our granddaughters.
47. She hates drive-throughs.
48. She almost never calls in food delivery orders.
49. When we were dating, Sherri wore tight fitting clothes and very short skirts, and wore them very
well.
50. Sherri ran games at two of my company picnics and got paid for it.
51. She was the driving force in seeing to it that our daughters were excellent students.
52. Sherri doesn't care for baseball. It's too slow moving.
53. She was a cheerleader in grade school and high school.
54. Sherri was in a musical in high school.
55. She's been wearing glasses since about the second grade.
56. Sherri's favorite thing to teach her pre-schoolers is "Jesus Circle".
57. She doesn't like driving at night. She isn't afraid of the dark, she just doesn't like to.
58. The only real "critters" she's frightened of are snakes and
59. mice.
60. Sherri wanted more children. I said no and we settled for quality instead of quantity.
61. Sherri had many pets as a child, but we had only gold fish, hermit crabs and one cat as parents.
AND
62. She likes movies, but not going out for them as she generally considers them too expensive.
Well, there you have it. Let's see if her list stacks up to mine. Anyway, happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, and many more.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
EVEN MORE CHANGES
As is my general practice, it has been some time passage between posts. My latest employment is progressing at a normal rate. I have completed my "required training" at the corporate HQ and manufacturing facility and now am permanently ensconced in my recticle in our Pewaukee office. Only five of us occupy the space at present, but there is space for six more, including an engineering assistant/clerical/administrative assistant. We also have an option on the adjoining suite that, if all goes as planned, will be completely filled before the end of this decade with approximately twenty-five staff. I pray for this to be so.
During my training, my father, whose health had been deteriorating consistently for years, but at a faster rate since the passing of my mom, passed himself. My prayers were answered as he passed with very little pain. Morphine is a wonder drug. Among his maladies was cancer, a similar type that took my mother. They even shared this. And now they share time with our Savior.
As for the political landscape, our fearful leader is at present ducking Russia and Syria, the Congress and, of course, and as usual, the American people by lying (again) about having set or not set a "red line" of use of chemical weapons in Syria. He warned of military action if this "line" was crossed. Syria crossed it and the "Commander-in-Chief" flinched. As I write this, it is the twelfth anniversary of the attack of the United States in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, not to mention the first anniversary of the killing of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, the latter having had no retaliation whatsoever by federal authorities of any type and the occupant of The Peoples' House is talking about beginning WW III. God help us.
Can the Noble Peace Prize Committee rescind a prize? If so, now is the time and this is the recipient.
During my training, my father, whose health had been deteriorating consistently for years, but at a faster rate since the passing of my mom, passed himself. My prayers were answered as he passed with very little pain. Morphine is a wonder drug. Among his maladies was cancer, a similar type that took my mother. They even shared this. And now they share time with our Savior.
As for the political landscape, our fearful leader is at present ducking Russia and Syria, the Congress and, of course, and as usual, the American people by lying (again) about having set or not set a "red line" of use of chemical weapons in Syria. He warned of military action if this "line" was crossed. Syria crossed it and the "Commander-in-Chief" flinched. As I write this, it is the twelfth anniversary of the attack of the United States in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, not to mention the first anniversary of the killing of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, the latter having had no retaliation whatsoever by federal authorities of any type and the occupant of The Peoples' House is talking about beginning WW III. God help us.
Can the Noble Peace Prize Committee rescind a prize? If so, now is the time and this is the recipient.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
MORE ABOUT CHANGES
In the last post, I discussed the changes undergone in the past eight years. One point I realized I hadn't made was that the Thursday pattern is not ended. I gave notice on a Thursday for my last day, two weeks later, for a Thursday, just before leaving for a four-generation Florida vacation. After that, though, the Thursday cycle is broken. I begin my new position on a Monday. The new position, while in Pewaukee, closer to my home, has a caveat whereby I must undergo "training" at the corporate HQ in Iron Mountain, Michigan. This will present its own unique set of problems, beyond the obvious.
First, I need to get routine maintenance done on my commuter car before leaving for Florida. I also need to buy some new work boots as some of the "training" will include the actual factory floor. The company reimburses up to $150.00 for them, but, as I am an anal type, I insist on getting these before I even am informed as to when I need them, just to be prepared, to continue my habit of being a good and faithful employee. Bedsides this, I need to get the lawn mowed and the car packed on the evening before the Florida debarkation . In addition, I need to have my items ready for the Iron Mountain trip which will be necessary the very same day we all return from Florida, thereby causing even more stress as some of the items I will have taken to Florida I will need for Iron Mountain. So, as a n extra added vacation bonus, after having driven about six or seven hours from somewhere in Kentuckyananois, unpacking a car and suitcases, I will get to repack yet the same suitcase with different items and drive another four hours to the north. The very thought of this makes my head hurt.
First, I need to get routine maintenance done on my commuter car before leaving for Florida. I also need to buy some new work boots as some of the "training" will include the actual factory floor. The company reimburses up to $150.00 for them, but, as I am an anal type, I insist on getting these before I even am informed as to when I need them, just to be prepared, to continue my habit of being a good and faithful employee. Bedsides this, I need to get the lawn mowed and the car packed on the evening before the Florida debarkation . In addition, I need to have my items ready for the Iron Mountain trip which will be necessary the very same day we all return from Florida, thereby causing even more stress as some of the items I will have taken to Florida I will need for Iron Mountain. So, as a n extra added vacation bonus, after having driven about six or seven hours from somewhere in Kentuckyananois, unpacking a car and suitcases, I will get to repack yet the same suitcase with different items and drive another four hours to the north. The very thought of this makes my head hurt.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
THE TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGIN'
The more things stay the same, the more they change. Take employment for instance. When I began my career, such as it is, I never considered how special the benefits were and how much the employer puts into them. Leap ahead 3 layoffs and 37 years later and I now have 20/20 vision.
Some history. Back in the "old" days, the later 1970's/early 1980's, the economy was booming, even with very high interest rates. Inflation was high, but manageable. Jobs were plentiful. I was young and life was good. A family was being raised and life continued. Then, after time, say 25 years, the economy decides to take a crap after a global war is begun. So, for the first time, I experience what my employer called a "layoff". What it was was a firing. The engineering firm for which I had been a loyal and productive, albeit highly paid, employee and for whom I had planned to complete my career, found itself "not diversified" enough to have created a varied and dependable client base and "had to let people go". They were sorry, but, because of my high wages I was expendable. The corporate office said so. No offer to take reduced wages or time. Just, Thursday afternoon sometime before Thanksgiving of 2007, good-bye and good luck. Oh, and you don't have to come in tomorrow if you don't feel like it. Oh, and, someone will walk you to your car after you've packed up your personal belongings. Great, a Christmas without a paycheck. Well, that'll be a new experience. Luckily, my wife is a planner and gifts had been purchased months in advance.
Not to worry, there was a thing called the internet that had information about job hunting and even had posted jobs. At this point I became familiar with the State's Unemployment Compensation bureaucracy. I learned that in order to be paid for a week, the application had to be completed by no later than Thursday afternoon the week before. I missed an entire week of it. Lesson learned. Anyway, the internet paid off and I began a new job right after New Year's. It was a small division of a larger company, not very well managed with a limited backlog, but, things were "looking up" and "we don't lay people off". I dug in, fixed the apparent problems I could, was a loyal and productive employee, but they were "not diversified" enough to have created a varied and dependable client base and "had to let someone go". They were sorry, but that's what the corporate office demanded. So, on a Thursday afternoon sometime before my younger daughter's August wedding, canned! This time I did get my time reduced, but to no avail. Timing is everything. Also, at this time my first granddaughter was coming home from Ethiopia.
The internet paid off again, and in a month, I had found a third job in three years after turning fifty. No small task. More proof to me that prayer works. This was new because for the first time, I get to drive in the opposite direction, to Madison. Another division of a larger company. Another "we don't lay people off". "We have HUGE project out east that'll keep us busy for years". A great Christmas party and a month-and-a-half later, on a Thursday afternoon (I dedect a pattern here), canned, after another year-and-a-half. Corporate blamed again. It is now February of 2010. I have just turned fifty-five years old. People my age are retiring from government jobs while I search for yet a fourth in four years. The internet sucks! Networking, however, pays off, as again, does prayer and a friend tells me of a possibility seventy miles away. I take a shot, talk my way into an interview, six months after my third layoff I beg for the job and assure and reassure them that a seventy mile commute will not be a hindrance to my promptness. I am correct.
Fast forward three more years. Being the loyal and productive employee that is my history but worried (more like terrified) of what the federal government is doing with health insurance and retirement, because the current employer can afford neither, I begin benignly searching for "other opportunities" (again on the internet), tossing up resumes a couple every week or so, seeing if any will stick, and, bingo, a hit on May 1, 2013. Yahda, yahda, yahda, wooing ensues and, after a site visit to the corporate office out of sate, mileage and hotel paid by them, a company with fantastic benefits offers me a position in a remote start-up just a half hour-or-so from my door, back in the easterly direction of which I am so familiar. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! So, for the first time in over thirteen years I am in total control of my employment future and I accept their offer. On July 22, 2013, after a long-awaited and well-deserved family vacation in Florida at our beloved St. George Island, I begin my latest and, hopefully, final job. God is indeed good!
Some history. Back in the "old" days, the later 1970's/early 1980's, the economy was booming, even with very high interest rates. Inflation was high, but manageable. Jobs were plentiful. I was young and life was good. A family was being raised and life continued. Then, after time, say 25 years, the economy decides to take a crap after a global war is begun. So, for the first time, I experience what my employer called a "layoff". What it was was a firing. The engineering firm for which I had been a loyal and productive, albeit highly paid, employee and for whom I had planned to complete my career, found itself "not diversified" enough to have created a varied and dependable client base and "had to let people go". They were sorry, but, because of my high wages I was expendable. The corporate office said so. No offer to take reduced wages or time. Just, Thursday afternoon sometime before Thanksgiving of 2007, good-bye and good luck. Oh, and you don't have to come in tomorrow if you don't feel like it. Oh, and, someone will walk you to your car after you've packed up your personal belongings. Great, a Christmas without a paycheck. Well, that'll be a new experience. Luckily, my wife is a planner and gifts had been purchased months in advance.
Not to worry, there was a thing called the internet that had information about job hunting and even had posted jobs. At this point I became familiar with the State's Unemployment Compensation bureaucracy. I learned that in order to be paid for a week, the application had to be completed by no later than Thursday afternoon the week before. I missed an entire week of it. Lesson learned. Anyway, the internet paid off and I began a new job right after New Year's. It was a small division of a larger company, not very well managed with a limited backlog, but, things were "looking up" and "we don't lay people off". I dug in, fixed the apparent problems I could, was a loyal and productive employee, but they were "not diversified" enough to have created a varied and dependable client base and "had to let someone go". They were sorry, but that's what the corporate office demanded. So, on a Thursday afternoon sometime before my younger daughter's August wedding, canned! This time I did get my time reduced, but to no avail. Timing is everything. Also, at this time my first granddaughter was coming home from Ethiopia.
The internet paid off again, and in a month, I had found a third job in three years after turning fifty. No small task. More proof to me that prayer works. This was new because for the first time, I get to drive in the opposite direction, to Madison. Another division of a larger company. Another "we don't lay people off". "We have HUGE project out east that'll keep us busy for years". A great Christmas party and a month-and-a-half later, on a Thursday afternoon (I dedect a pattern here), canned, after another year-and-a-half. Corporate blamed again. It is now February of 2010. I have just turned fifty-five years old. People my age are retiring from government jobs while I search for yet a fourth in four years. The internet sucks! Networking, however, pays off, as again, does prayer and a friend tells me of a possibility seventy miles away. I take a shot, talk my way into an interview, six months after my third layoff I beg for the job and assure and reassure them that a seventy mile commute will not be a hindrance to my promptness. I am correct.
Fast forward three more years. Being the loyal and productive employee that is my history but worried (more like terrified) of what the federal government is doing with health insurance and retirement, because the current employer can afford neither, I begin benignly searching for "other opportunities" (again on the internet), tossing up resumes a couple every week or so, seeing if any will stick, and, bingo, a hit on May 1, 2013. Yahda, yahda, yahda, wooing ensues and, after a site visit to the corporate office out of sate, mileage and hotel paid by them, a company with fantastic benefits offers me a position in a remote start-up just a half hour-or-so from my door, back in the easterly direction of which I am so familiar. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! So, for the first time in over thirteen years I am in total control of my employment future and I accept their offer. On July 22, 2013, after a long-awaited and well-deserved family vacation in Florida at our beloved St. George Island, I begin my latest and, hopefully, final job. God is indeed good!
Monday, April 8, 2013
IT'S TAX TIME. WHOOPIE!
With being close to the middle of April, that means the deadline to file our non-constitutional tax forms are to filed. I got mine (ours) submitted about a month ago. It's a task I despise with all my being. The Government (both state AND federal) take money from me (us) at some rate determined by knuckleheaded politicians to be "fair". Then, after a calendar year passes, we are required by a non-constitutional "law," under penalty of fine and/or imprisonment for not complying, to confirm our incomes and the amount of taxes they have taken from us, on forms these same dolts have written and approved. While doing so, we are to follow the unintelligible instructions again these same ignorami have written and approved, we are to determine whether certain deductions, exclusions, exceptions, etc. are to be applied to our being allowed to claim as valid.
Well, after a couple of hours of this paper juggling and chart surfing, I give up. Don't misunderstand, I complete the forms, I merely submit them to the best of my ability. I found last year that I made an error on one form and it was corrected for me, free of charge. So, this year, with great confidence, I submitted my forms assuming errors were made as I had no confidence in my ability to interpret the instructions. I noticed, too, that if I asked the IRS to complete my forms, they would gladly comply - for a fee of $1,000.00! A loophole I discovered all on my own. I saved myself about $75.00 or so in fees to TurboTax, H & R Block, etc.
This gets me to where I began. Having already received our state tax refund, corrected to $510.00 in our favor, we decided to check on the progress of our federal return. The IRS web site is very easy to use and very exact. It turns out, as expected, that I made an error on those as well, not in our favor, but, still a refund nonetheless. This was the surprise. Not that I made the error, but that we actually receive the refund.
This, again gets me to where I began. After all this riggamaroll, taking money from us, making us fill out forms, worrying if we owe MORE money, etc., they (the governments) took too much from us. They got to use this extra money, for free. I am just to be satisfied with the fact that I am receiving the overage as a refund. Fine, but next year I have to claim this as INCOME! The ultimate insult. I long for the flat tax.
Well, after a couple of hours of this paper juggling and chart surfing, I give up. Don't misunderstand, I complete the forms, I merely submit them to the best of my ability. I found last year that I made an error on one form and it was corrected for me, free of charge. So, this year, with great confidence, I submitted my forms assuming errors were made as I had no confidence in my ability to interpret the instructions. I noticed, too, that if I asked the IRS to complete my forms, they would gladly comply - for a fee of $1,000.00! A loophole I discovered all on my own. I saved myself about $75.00 or so in fees to TurboTax, H & R Block, etc.
This gets me to where I began. Having already received our state tax refund, corrected to $510.00 in our favor, we decided to check on the progress of our federal return. The IRS web site is very easy to use and very exact. It turns out, as expected, that I made an error on those as well, not in our favor, but, still a refund nonetheless. This was the surprise. Not that I made the error, but that we actually receive the refund.
This, again gets me to where I began. After all this riggamaroll, taking money from us, making us fill out forms, worrying if we owe MORE money, etc., they (the governments) took too much from us. They got to use this extra money, for free. I am just to be satisfied with the fact that I am receiving the overage as a refund. Fine, but next year I have to claim this as INCOME! The ultimate insult. I long for the flat tax.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
ANOTHER WISCONSIN ELECTION, ANOTHER WIERD OUTCOME
This last Tuesday, April 2, Wisconsin held its usual spring election. There were only two state-wide elections held, a position on the State Supreme Court and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Almost all communities also had local offices and county judgeships on the ballot. This column is focusing on the state-wide races.
The State Supreme Court race had an incumbent running who is a string constitutionalists who, according to her own words, believes that the legislature makes the laws and the SCOW is to base its opinions on those laws. The opponent was a Milwaukee attorney who has been in academia for a long time and has very little, if any, experience in an actual courtroom. A no-brainer, right? Not in Wisconsin. Fully 40% of this state hates our Republican Governor and the Republicans in the legislature so much, they vote against anyone associated with them. All a non-conservative candidate needs to do is convince about 10-1/2% of the voters to vote against the conservative because of those views. This usually occurs when the liberal money backs its candidate with union dues and Hollywood money. Luckily, this wasn't the case in the SCOW race and the real judge won re-election.
The School head was another story. The hand-picked union-backed, union hack incumbent was opposed by a former conservative legislator with no financial backing and out-of-the-box philosophy. So, my question is, how can the same voters who elected a conservative Supreme Court Justice turn around and elect a weak, union toady to run the most backward organization in the state? I guess the same ones who elected a conservative Governor a second time in two years and then placed the most liberal member of Congress into the U.S. senate and re-elected a Marxist for President.
Go figure.
The State Supreme Court race had an incumbent running who is a string constitutionalists who, according to her own words, believes that the legislature makes the laws and the SCOW is to base its opinions on those laws. The opponent was a Milwaukee attorney who has been in academia for a long time and has very little, if any, experience in an actual courtroom. A no-brainer, right? Not in Wisconsin. Fully 40% of this state hates our Republican Governor and the Republicans in the legislature so much, they vote against anyone associated with them. All a non-conservative candidate needs to do is convince about 10-1/2% of the voters to vote against the conservative because of those views. This usually occurs when the liberal money backs its candidate with union dues and Hollywood money. Luckily, this wasn't the case in the SCOW race and the real judge won re-election.
The School head was another story. The hand-picked union-backed, union hack incumbent was opposed by a former conservative legislator with no financial backing and out-of-the-box philosophy. So, my question is, how can the same voters who elected a conservative Supreme Court Justice turn around and elect a weak, union toady to run the most backward organization in the state? I guess the same ones who elected a conservative Governor a second time in two years and then placed the most liberal member of Congress into the U.S. senate and re-elected a Marxist for President.
Go figure.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
HOW GUNS KILL
Another mass murder has hit the airwaves. This one at an elementary school in Connecticut. And, as usual, gun banners have decided to use this as yet another "case" for banning guns, or restricting them. There was even a Facebook posting I read where the poster stated "We need to form a congressional committee that will find out why guns make mentally ill people kill."
This is wrong for many reasons. First, it is a purely, understandably, I guess, an emotional reaction to a tragedy.
Second, the poster calls for yet another government solution to a problem.
Third, the writer blames the gun for the action as opposed to the person, though in a dichotomy, calls the person mentally ill. Which brings another point. The shooter may not actually have had a mental illness. We haven't the knowledge to make that judgement, though I would draw the same uninformed conclusion as the act is not one any rational human being would commit.
My overall point in all of this is that had the school not had a zero gun policy in place, a teacher or other staff member armed with his or her own gun could have fell this person most likely 15-or-so victims sooner than he did himself and the only role for government would have been to allow the staffer to defend the defenseless instead of treating the weapon as the evil doer. A subordinate point is that perhaps news agencies should be as selective in reporting these types of incidents as they are when reporting violence by groups or individuals they support politically, i.e, that of the union thugs in Michigan earlier this week.
This is wrong for many reasons. First, it is a purely, understandably, I guess, an emotional reaction to a tragedy.
Second, the poster calls for yet another government solution to a problem.
Third, the writer blames the gun for the action as opposed to the person, though in a dichotomy, calls the person mentally ill. Which brings another point. The shooter may not actually have had a mental illness. We haven't the knowledge to make that judgement, though I would draw the same uninformed conclusion as the act is not one any rational human being would commit.
My overall point in all of this is that had the school not had a zero gun policy in place, a teacher or other staff member armed with his or her own gun could have fell this person most likely 15-or-so victims sooner than he did himself and the only role for government would have been to allow the staffer to defend the defenseless instead of treating the weapon as the evil doer. A subordinate point is that perhaps news agencies should be as selective in reporting these types of incidents as they are when reporting violence by groups or individuals they support politically, i.e, that of the union thugs in Michigan earlier this week.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
IT'S BEEN AWHILE...
My last post was really long ago. I was getting way too tired of elections, and, as it turned out, here in Wisconsin, we did very well. I pray for our country to turn around, however.
In the spirit of the season, Thanksgiving, personally, I have been truly blessed. We have a new addition to our family of a second Ethiopian granddaughter, the real joy of my life. I remain employed. by the grace of God, and, with His help, will remain to be. On a sad note, however, an old family friend was put out to pasture. Our 1998 Ford Taurus SE wagon was traded for a replacement. This car was actually like a family member. She took our daughters to and from colleges, took us to our beloved St. George Island, Florida thirteen times, including my older daughter's wedding and five year anniversary, as well as on countless other family excursions and hauling expeditions. The last trip being to a family vacation in , of all places, central Illinois. The car refused to give us cold air on a 98 degree return trip with a granddaughter in the car, so, it was time to allow her to retire. She will be remembered fondly.
We made another major purchase this week as well, replacing my commuter car, a 2007 Kia Rio5, in-kind, this one a 2013, signal red. Two cars in one week, another new first. If one looks a little deeper into our two purchases, one will notice a philosophy of moderation . Unlike the federal government, we purchased our cars with the intent of being able to pay for them, even though we incurred a little more debt, that being the second car. The first one has the same payment as the old one did. We even could have paid cash for the second one, but, we thought it better to hold onto a little more cash and spend a small amount on finance charges over time than lose the cash. I could never be elected in many places with a philosophy like this because there is no room for real expansion of a debt ceiling.
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to all.
In the spirit of the season, Thanksgiving, personally, I have been truly blessed. We have a new addition to our family of a second Ethiopian granddaughter, the real joy of my life. I remain employed. by the grace of God, and, with His help, will remain to be. On a sad note, however, an old family friend was put out to pasture. Our 1998 Ford Taurus SE wagon was traded for a replacement. This car was actually like a family member. She took our daughters to and from colleges, took us to our beloved St. George Island, Florida thirteen times, including my older daughter's wedding and five year anniversary, as well as on countless other family excursions and hauling expeditions. The last trip being to a family vacation in , of all places, central Illinois. The car refused to give us cold air on a 98 degree return trip with a granddaughter in the car, so, it was time to allow her to retire. She will be remembered fondly.
We made another major purchase this week as well, replacing my commuter car, a 2007 Kia Rio5, in-kind, this one a 2013, signal red. Two cars in one week, another new first. If one looks a little deeper into our two purchases, one will notice a philosophy of moderation . Unlike the federal government, we purchased our cars with the intent of being able to pay for them, even though we incurred a little more debt, that being the second car. The first one has the same payment as the old one did. We even could have paid cash for the second one, but, we thought it better to hold onto a little more cash and spend a small amount on finance charges over time than lose the cash. I could never be elected in many places with a philosophy like this because there is no room for real expansion of a debt ceiling.
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to all.
Monday, May 14, 2012
THE LIBERAL DOG WHISTLE
On Vicki McKenna's afternoon talk radio show on WIBA AM 1310 today, I learned about a liberal dog whistle. It works like a real one in that only certian ears are able to hear it.
The example given was in regard to, of course, the gubinatorial recall. It appears that, because Governor Walker is involved in a recall election not of his doing and his opponent was duly chosen by the very party loyalists demanding the recall, he is a racist. Why, because Mayor Barrett of Milwaukee is the mayor of the largest black population in Wisconsin. Yep, Governor Walker is a racist for simply running against Barrett, let alone actually pointing out the Mayor's record.
So, who hears this whistle? Why, the liberals in charge - of EVERYTHING! They are judge, jury and executioner in all things. They are the smart people. They are the elite class. Without them, we cannot possibly live our meager, meaningless day-to-day lives.
I wonder what would happen if these omnicient racist whisperers found out that blacks live everywhere in this state, not only in Milwaukee, and, that many actually do not walk in lockstep as massa liberals insist "they" all do.
The example given was in regard to, of course, the gubinatorial recall. It appears that, because Governor Walker is involved in a recall election not of his doing and his opponent was duly chosen by the very party loyalists demanding the recall, he is a racist. Why, because Mayor Barrett of Milwaukee is the mayor of the largest black population in Wisconsin. Yep, Governor Walker is a racist for simply running against Barrett, let alone actually pointing out the Mayor's record.
So, who hears this whistle? Why, the liberals in charge - of EVERYTHING! They are judge, jury and executioner in all things. They are the smart people. They are the elite class. Without them, we cannot possibly live our meager, meaningless day-to-day lives.
I wonder what would happen if these omnicient racist whisperers found out that blacks live everywhere in this state, not only in Milwaukee, and, that many actually do not walk in lockstep as massa liberals insist "they" all do.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
AN ACTUAL MEANINGLESS AMERICAN ELECTION
I never thought that, in the United States of America, I would participate in an absolutely meaningless election. Yet, that is exactly what happened yesterday, May 8, 2012 in this state of Wisconsin.
Some recent history is necessary here. In the 2010 Wisconsin gubinatorial election, there was a distinct difference in governance philosophies. On the one hand, let's call it the left, there is a tax and spend and steal philosophy that is still prevalent at the federal level. That is, spend money that we do not have, tax all exhorbitantly to the point where businesses fled the state and unemployment soared. Stealing occurred from itself by taking from funds moneies constitutionally intended for other specific purposes, thereby ignoring their own rules.
On the other hand, the right, was a unique concept of lowering taxes, eliminating imposed fees and, the unholies of the unholies, rescinding public unionized collective bargaining that was costing the state and other governmental bodies billions of dollars in unnecessary over paying.
The voters decided on the right hand. So, the losers, those preferring the left hand, decided that it was their responsibility to make sure that a do-over was to be forthcoming. So, after months of making complete horses asses of themselves by screaming and yelling at any and all events at which prominent conservatives appeared, occupying the state Capitol 24-hours a day for months with paid protestors and, ulimately, waiting an entire year to collect signautres on recall petitions, we came to yesterday.
A primary election was necessary to cull the herd of Demokrats for the purpose of having a do-over for a duly elected Governor, Lt. Governor and four state Senators because, god forbid, they did exactly what they promised they would do, specifically, clean up a democrat mess of eight years in the matter of six months.
The good thing is that, even though the sitting Governor had a faux candidate to force a primary, he still garnered more votes than the two top vote-getters on the othe side combined! And it was "their" election to boot. Payback is a hard lesson.
Some recent history is necessary here. In the 2010 Wisconsin gubinatorial election, there was a distinct difference in governance philosophies. On the one hand, let's call it the left, there is a tax and spend and steal philosophy that is still prevalent at the federal level. That is, spend money that we do not have, tax all exhorbitantly to the point where businesses fled the state and unemployment soared. Stealing occurred from itself by taking from funds moneies constitutionally intended for other specific purposes, thereby ignoring their own rules.
On the other hand, the right, was a unique concept of lowering taxes, eliminating imposed fees and, the unholies of the unholies, rescinding public unionized collective bargaining that was costing the state and other governmental bodies billions of dollars in unnecessary over paying.
The voters decided on the right hand. So, the losers, those preferring the left hand, decided that it was their responsibility to make sure that a do-over was to be forthcoming. So, after months of making complete horses asses of themselves by screaming and yelling at any and all events at which prominent conservatives appeared, occupying the state Capitol 24-hours a day for months with paid protestors and, ulimately, waiting an entire year to collect signautres on recall petitions, we came to yesterday.
A primary election was necessary to cull the herd of Demokrats for the purpose of having a do-over for a duly elected Governor, Lt. Governor and four state Senators because, god forbid, they did exactly what they promised they would do, specifically, clean up a democrat mess of eight years in the matter of six months.
The good thing is that, even though the sitting Governor had a faux candidate to force a primary, he still garnered more votes than the two top vote-getters on the othe side combined! And it was "their" election to boot. Payback is a hard lesson.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
SEEMS LIKE FOREVER - LIFE AND DEATH
It's been over four moths since I guess I've found it necessary to, or, that I have had interest in "blogging". My wife made a commitment to blog once every day for a year. I am not that ambitious nor prolific. But, I have things to say, but, mostly, they are yelled at the TV.
Let's start with ends. The Brewer season ended with a flutter, being beaten in the NLCS. The Badgers, under "coach" Beilema, lost in the Rose Bowl - AGAIN. The Packers laid an egg in the Conference championship, so, no Superbowl repeat. The worst end came just after New Year when my older daughter and husband traveled to Ethiopia to meet and adopt their son, my grandson. That's not the "bad", please keep reading. All went well. He was officially adopted, according to Ethiopian law, according to that same law, was not allowed to travel home at that time. Natnael Mebrat, it was learned a week after their return, was called to his eternal home from "complications of pneumonia". While we never met him, the remainder of the family will remember him as our son/nephew/grandson/great grandson nonetheless. "God bless you, sweet boy" as his father wrote in his obituary. We will cherish the day we unite in His presence.
As for the beginnings, we have news of a second granddaughter form Ethiopia. The same daughter and husband, and, this time with their daughter in tow, as I type, are traveling from Ethiopia after having met and officially adopted Soliana according to Ethiopian law, but, as was the case with Nati, according to that same law, was not allowed to travel home at that time. Another trip is being planned in four months to retrieve Soli. God, please keep her safe and well, if it be your will, in Jesus' name, so that we can revel in your mercy and kindness as always.
Let's start with ends. The Brewer season ended with a flutter, being beaten in the NLCS. The Badgers, under "coach" Beilema, lost in the Rose Bowl - AGAIN. The Packers laid an egg in the Conference championship, so, no Superbowl repeat. The worst end came just after New Year when my older daughter and husband traveled to Ethiopia to meet and adopt their son, my grandson. That's not the "bad", please keep reading. All went well. He was officially adopted, according to Ethiopian law, according to that same law, was not allowed to travel home at that time. Natnael Mebrat, it was learned a week after their return, was called to his eternal home from "complications of pneumonia". While we never met him, the remainder of the family will remember him as our son/nephew/grandson/great grandson nonetheless. "God bless you, sweet boy" as his father wrote in his obituary. We will cherish the day we unite in His presence.
As for the beginnings, we have news of a second granddaughter form Ethiopia. The same daughter and husband, and, this time with their daughter in tow, as I type, are traveling from Ethiopia after having met and officially adopted Soliana according to Ethiopian law, but, as was the case with Nati, according to that same law, was not allowed to travel home at that time. Another trip is being planned in four months to retrieve Soli. God, please keep her safe and well, if it be your will, in Jesus' name, so that we can revel in your mercy and kindness as always.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN
This 2011 Christmas will be my first without both of my parents. I know, I know, I'm almost fifty-seven years old, so what's the big deal? The big deal is that "this 2011 Christmas will be my first without both of my parents", especially with my mom's passing in September. By Christmas, it will have been very close to three months to the day. She liked Christmas. She especially liked the commercialization of it, the giving of gifts and the over eating. She insisted on having her Christmas on Christmas Day, even when our daughters were in school, had a large Christmas Eve religious service on that night and a family Christmas that same night, it was expected that we get to her house before mid afternoon in Christmas Day.
Mom always thought herself the "fun" grandma, the gregarious grandma, the generous grandma. She gave numerous, unusual, often meaningless gifts, but almost all of these had some sort of monetary reward in them, so one had to open the entire gift. She also gave "group gifts. All the "boys" received "like" gifts, the "girls as well and the two groups of gifts were completely different and unrelated. We had to sit in those groups and open the gifts together in the order determined by the hostess. I. of course, had to add a wrinkle by handing a gift given to me to someone else and saying that I believed I received that particular gift in error and insisted on a trade. We all, then, "traded" the gifts seeminly endlessly. That, then, had to be included in every Christmas thereafter. Tradition.
So, in wondering how Mom was going to manipulate this Christmas, she left us a pre-wrapped gift purchased five years ago in anticipation of her passing. Below is are photos I took of the gift.
Mom always thought herself the "fun" grandma, the gregarious grandma, the generous grandma. She gave numerous, unusual, often meaningless gifts, but almost all of these had some sort of monetary reward in them, so one had to open the entire gift. She also gave "group gifts. All the "boys" received "like" gifts, the "girls as well and the two groups of gifts were completely different and unrelated. We had to sit in those groups and open the gifts together in the order determined by the hostess. I. of course, had to add a wrinkle by handing a gift given to me to someone else and saying that I believed I received that particular gift in error and insisted on a trade. We all, then, "traded" the gifts seeminly endlessly. That, then, had to be included in every Christmas thereafter. Tradition.
So, in wondering how Mom was going to manipulate this Christmas, she left us a pre-wrapped gift purchased five years ago in anticipation of her passing. Below is are photos I took of the gift.
Ornament from Mom
Accompanying poem
It is a really nice gesture and I'm glad she did this for us all, but I am happier that she had the reassurance that she would be in heaven. We will speak of her frequently during the holidays. She will be with us still. Thanks, Mom.
Friday, November 25, 2011
2011 BEST FALL EVER UPDATE
Well, it's after Thanksgiving (more on that later) and some things have changed. The Brewers never made it to the World Series. The Badgers fell from grace after two straight Big Ten losses, one to MSU, the other to OSU, both in the last second. They deserved to lose the OSU game as they gave up a lead. Tomorrow is the last regular season game vs Penn State. If the Badgers are triumphant, they get a whack at the Big Ten Championship, if they fail, it's to some crappy non-News-Years-Day bowl game. The Packers, on the other hand, have remained solid and lossless at 11-0, seventeen straight including last season. It must be my special underpants. I still worry, but not quite so much.
Thanksgiving has come and gone for this year and, as usual, it was filled with family and food and good humor. We actually celebrated twice. Once in Oshkosh with daughter 1 and her family and daughter 2 and mate last weekend. While daughter 1 tended to her craft booth at a local event, we got to tend the meal, turkey and all the fixin's. The second was here and the same people, but different food and conversation Wednesday night and yesterday. Today was our traditional outside decorating day. We bought new lights for the gutters. We had to give up our swags for icicles . Icicles are packed in a box all scrunched up and tied in three bunches. the do not hang all nice and straight. They are very ugly when first hung. We'll see how they look after a few days of hanging.
Also while in Oshkosh last weekend, my wife suggested that I spend some of the gifted money from my Dad earlier this fall, before my Mom passed away. She remembered that we had an SLR camera when we were first married and the girls were small, but we had to sell it as it needed repair. Since then, technology has made everyday photography very easy and reproduction even easier. So, at her suggestion, I purchased a decent digital SLR, a Canon, Rebel EOS Ti2 with image stabilizing lenses. It was a great idea. I already like it. The photos are on my laptop and I currently do not have access to them, so samples of my work will have to wait.
Here is an update to this update. First, UW will play in the first Big Ten Football Championship game (vs MSU). Second, I have added two photos taken with my new camera. Niether was with the built-in flash.
The outside decor is a combination effort of both of us. Sherri did all the indoor herself. I carry the tree up from the basement entombment and assemble it. Sherri decorates it. She does much better than I do. I lose interest very quickly and my frustation level is high.
So, Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night!
Thanksgiving has come and gone for this year and, as usual, it was filled with family and food and good humor. We actually celebrated twice. Once in Oshkosh with daughter 1 and her family and daughter 2 and mate last weekend. While daughter 1 tended to her craft booth at a local event, we got to tend the meal, turkey and all the fixin's. The second was here and the same people, but different food and conversation Wednesday night and yesterday. Today was our traditional outside decorating day. We bought new lights for the gutters. We had to give up our swags for icicles . Icicles are packed in a box all scrunched up and tied in three bunches. the do not hang all nice and straight. They are very ugly when first hung. We'll see how they look after a few days of hanging.
Also while in Oshkosh last weekend, my wife suggested that I spend some of the gifted money from my Dad earlier this fall, before my Mom passed away. She remembered that we had an SLR camera when we were first married and the girls were small, but we had to sell it as it needed repair. Since then, technology has made everyday photography very easy and reproduction even easier. So, at her suggestion, I purchased a decent digital SLR, a Canon, Rebel EOS Ti2 with image stabilizing lenses. It was a great idea. I already like it. The photos are on my laptop and I currently do not have access to them, so samples of my work will have to wait.
Here is an update to this update. First, UW will play in the first Big Ten Football Championship game (vs MSU). Second, I have added two photos taken with my new camera. Niether was with the built-in flash.
Outside Decorations - 2011
The outside decor is a combination effort of both of us. Sherri did all the indoor herself. I carry the tree up from the basement entombment and assemble it. Sherri decorates it. She does much better than I do. I lose interest very quickly and my frustation level is high.
Christmas Tree - 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
WISCONSIN'S GREAT FALL OF 2011
(Note: See update at end of post)
As in my last post, I want to say how good a run of sports we here in Wisconsin, USA - for my international reader(s) - thus far this fall. The Badgers rolled over Nebraska, a powerhouse in their own right, in their Big Ten (+2) opener. The Packers have a ten game winning streak all the way back to last season and they still have lots of work to do to get as good as they were last year. Then there are the Brewers. Just last week they looked unstoppable as they were up two games to none in their divisional playoff. Then they had to travel to Phoenix.
Before they left Milwaukee, I stated that all the Brewers had to do was win one lousy game. Well, instead they lost two. A train wreak ensued where their fortunes reversed and the series was tied. I figured their season, though very successful and exciting, was over. Their mettle was tested and was lacking. They choked. Still, all they needed was to win one lousy game today; just one lousy game. They've already won over ninety, what's one more. Well, it was a good ride while it lasted and we will, as all real fans do, "wait until next season".
Long story short, yaddah, yaddah, yadda, wonder of wonders, the Brewers WON their fifth in the series in the tenth! On to the League Championship Series against....well we don't know yet. the other series, also taken to five games, was played after the Brewers-Diamondback series.
Still, a great time to be a sports fan in Wisconsin this fall of 2011.
Update: This just in: The St. Louis Cardinals defeated "the best team in baseball", The Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0. This means the Brewers get home field advantage through the NLCS vs the Cards beginning Sunday. Go, Brewers!
As in my last post, I want to say how good a run of sports we here in Wisconsin, USA - for my international reader(s) - thus far this fall. The Badgers rolled over Nebraska, a powerhouse in their own right, in their Big Ten (+2) opener. The Packers have a ten game winning streak all the way back to last season and they still have lots of work to do to get as good as they were last year. Then there are the Brewers. Just last week they looked unstoppable as they were up two games to none in their divisional playoff. Then they had to travel to Phoenix.
Before they left Milwaukee, I stated that all the Brewers had to do was win one lousy game. Well, instead they lost two. A train wreak ensued where their fortunes reversed and the series was tied. I figured their season, though very successful and exciting, was over. Their mettle was tested and was lacking. They choked. Still, all they needed was to win one lousy game today; just one lousy game. They've already won over ninety, what's one more. Well, it was a good ride while it lasted and we will, as all real fans do, "wait until next season".
Long story short, yaddah, yaddah, yadda, wonder of wonders, the Brewers WON their fifth in the series in the tenth! On to the League Championship Series against....well we don't know yet. the other series, also taken to five games, was played after the Brewers-Diamondback series.
Still, a great time to be a sports fan in Wisconsin this fall of 2011.
Update: This just in: The St. Louis Cardinals defeated "the best team in baseball", The Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0. This means the Brewers get home field advantage through the NLCS vs the Cards beginning Sunday. Go, Brewers!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A BLOG UPDATE
A lot has occurred since my last entry.
I've learned of a future grandson to be in our arms by Easter (hopefully). Tiz cannot wait to be a big sister. A boy will be a new adventure for me (us) as all other offspring of our generation have been female - my two girls, my brother's three and my brother-in-law with one. Even my son-in-law as three nieces.
Then, we've reconnected with two separate old friend couples. One, Sherri and Jeff, form college whose wedding we attended and Sherri wore my wife's dress of the year before. The other, Patti and Tom who shared our apartment building with us in our first as a married couple on our own away from familiarity.
I've also been reminded of the circle of life. Just as I learned of the joy of hearing of a grandson, I learned of the fate of my mother as cancer biopsies were undertaken. She failed the tests. That is, she was given six to nine months remaining with chemotherapy helping relieve her discomfort. Then as the first chemo was given, more tests, of course, and the prognosis not only changed, it worsened. The original was revised to two weeks and heavy pain relievers and the ceasing of chemo. Even more tests, with revised prognosis to maybe the weekend. As my mother was being transferred form the hospital of the testing to the hospice, the weekend prognosis proved incorrect as well. She barely made it to the next morning. On our way to our reunion with Patti and Tom mentioned above, we received the call from my sister, the P.O.A. and first contact, that Mom had passed. My wife and I stopped by to console my sister and discuss the next step(s). It was decided that nothing would be done over the weekend and postponing our trip would not prove anything.
The weekend proved cathartic and very therapeutic as both Patti and Tom have lost. parents as well as my wife.
Also, within this time frame, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their division title and home field advantage in round one, the Wisconsin Badger football team beat Nebraska, an annual powerhouse, handily after four straight weeks of inferior opponents and my beloved Green Bay Packers have dominated their first four (this season) to begin 4-0, and extended their winning streak to ten, including last season and the Superbowl.
All-in-all, it is a great time to be alive in Wisconsin right now, though, I know that my heavenly home is to be far more glorious and joy-filled.
I've learned of a future grandson to be in our arms by Easter (hopefully). Tiz cannot wait to be a big sister. A boy will be a new adventure for me (us) as all other offspring of our generation have been female - my two girls, my brother's three and my brother-in-law with one. Even my son-in-law as three nieces.
Then, we've reconnected with two separate old friend couples. One, Sherri and Jeff, form college whose wedding we attended and Sherri wore my wife's dress of the year before. The other, Patti and Tom who shared our apartment building with us in our first as a married couple on our own away from familiarity.
I've also been reminded of the circle of life. Just as I learned of the joy of hearing of a grandson, I learned of the fate of my mother as cancer biopsies were undertaken. She failed the tests. That is, she was given six to nine months remaining with chemotherapy helping relieve her discomfort. Then as the first chemo was given, more tests, of course, and the prognosis not only changed, it worsened. The original was revised to two weeks and heavy pain relievers and the ceasing of chemo. Even more tests, with revised prognosis to maybe the weekend. As my mother was being transferred form the hospital of the testing to the hospice, the weekend prognosis proved incorrect as well. She barely made it to the next morning. On our way to our reunion with Patti and Tom mentioned above, we received the call from my sister, the P.O.A. and first contact, that Mom had passed. My wife and I stopped by to console my sister and discuss the next step(s). It was decided that nothing would be done over the weekend and postponing our trip would not prove anything.
The weekend proved cathartic and very therapeutic as both Patti and Tom have lost. parents as well as my wife.
Also, within this time frame, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their division title and home field advantage in round one, the Wisconsin Badger football team beat Nebraska, an annual powerhouse, handily after four straight weeks of inferior opponents and my beloved Green Bay Packers have dominated their first four (this season) to begin 4-0, and extended their winning streak to ten, including last season and the Superbowl.
All-in-all, it is a great time to be alive in Wisconsin right now, though, I know that my heavenly home is to be far more glorious and joy-filled.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
I'M REALLY TIRED OF THE WHINER-IN-CHIEF
The last month or so in Washington, D.C. has been an awakening experience. We've seen partisanism at its worst, lack of real leadership anywhere, a press that no longer has a clue as to how to report the news and, mostly, a President who cannot and will not lead to cause a consensus, especially when it was pushed on us last voting session that he was the only person who could make this happen. Instead of bringing the sides together, he has placed an insurmountable void between them to the point where the sides had to finally exclude the President from negotiations all together. What a Statesman!
Since he began his presidential campaign in 2006 (or so), he has blamed his predecessor, George W. Bush, for everything from a bad economy to puppy hangnails. And, even though Mr. Bush has ceased being president in January 20, 2009, the current office holder has continued to blame the former. So, let's give the current President credit for inheriting a $400billion+ deficit and 7.5% unemployment, not to mention a constant 9% year-long unemployment rate. This President said he could and would "make it all better (I paraphrase)". Since he became President "The One" has overseen a government that added some 200,000 new employees, a $1.5trillion deficit and the worst public opinion ratings for him and the Congress in history. His own closest advisers are out of options, except, of course, to double-down on the same mistakes because the last ones were not "bold enough".
So, he takes to the air waves with a national address to whine how hard it is to do his job, that not everybody likes him and that he can't get his way, so, we, the people, but not you Tea Partiers, you're a bunch of terrorists, are supposed to tell our representatives to give into him. "Mommy, they won't play with me!"
I envision a conversation taking place in the Oval Office sounding something like this:
Since he began his presidential campaign in 2006 (or so), he has blamed his predecessor, George W. Bush, for everything from a bad economy to puppy hangnails. And, even though Mr. Bush has ceased being president in January 20, 2009, the current office holder has continued to blame the former. So, let's give the current President credit for inheriting a $400billion+ deficit and 7.5% unemployment, not to mention a constant 9% year-long unemployment rate. This President said he could and would "make it all better (I paraphrase)". Since he became President "The One" has overseen a government that added some 200,000 new employees, a $1.5trillion deficit and the worst public opinion ratings for him and the Congress in history. His own closest advisers are out of options, except, of course, to double-down on the same mistakes because the last ones were not "bold enough".
So, he takes to the air waves with a national address to whine how hard it is to do his job, that not everybody likes him and that he can't get his way, so, we, the people, but not you Tea Partiers, you're a bunch of terrorists, are supposed to tell our representatives to give into him. "Mommy, they won't play with me!"
I envision a conversation taking place in the Oval Office sounding something like this:
- P(resident: "So, now that I have my new debt ceiling what can we do to reach and exceed it?"
- C(abinet member): "Well, we could buy an brand new bus for you, one for some of us and ten or so for the fawning press and tour the Midwest to celebrate the budget victory you brokered and make the tax payers pay for it all"
- P: "Well. I like the travel and press part, but I'm not crazy about the bus part. And why on earth do I need to visit the Midwest?"
- C: "We thought of all that, but, the accolades in the Midwest crave your presence. And the bus worked for Palin."
- P: "I though I told you never to mention the 'P-word' in my presence again!"
- C: "I, apologize, Mr. President, but you needed to hear that."
- P: "OK, I'll do the bus thing, but for only three days. I don't want to miss my golf game".
- C: "Yes, sir."
Saturday, July 30, 2011
GLOBAL WARMING
Today I am again reminded that I despise hot weather. Sure, it's fine while on vacation in my favorite spot on earth, St. George Island, Florida, where I am either in air conditioning, a pool, the northern Gulf of Mexico, or next to a cool adult beverage or three, but having to deal with it daily is a drag.
My lovely wife and I rode a fifteen-mile in-town bike route in the late morning/early afternoon today as the temperature began rising from the low 80's to the high 80's (eventually, I fear, it will reach the mid 90's). As the saying goes, it isn't the heat, it's the humidity. Well. I say it's the heat too!
Since many politicians, all eco-nuts and many sheeples believe in "Global Warming", that is, man's ability to have modified the earth's actual temperature by his use of devices that produce flouro-carbons, or, as some have stated, merely by exhaling, why can't they convince us to influence the climates at will. I am actually able to accomplish this feat of environmental influence. I have a thermostat connected to my furnace and air conditioner. And I use it! I just wish the eco-nuts, etc, would cease and desist their useless taxing and spending on climate change policies so my environmental influences don't cost so much!
My lovely wife and I rode a fifteen-mile in-town bike route in the late morning/early afternoon today as the temperature began rising from the low 80's to the high 80's (eventually, I fear, it will reach the mid 90's). As the saying goes, it isn't the heat, it's the humidity. Well. I say it's the heat too!
Since many politicians, all eco-nuts and many sheeples believe in "Global Warming", that is, man's ability to have modified the earth's actual temperature by his use of devices that produce flouro-carbons, or, as some have stated, merely by exhaling, why can't they convince us to influence the climates at will. I am actually able to accomplish this feat of environmental influence. I have a thermostat connected to my furnace and air conditioner. And I use it! I just wish the eco-nuts, etc, would cease and desist their useless taxing and spending on climate change policies so my environmental influences don't cost so much!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
I'M BA-ACK!
Just as Randy Quaid's character in "Independence Day" yelled as he flew into the belly of the alien ship "I'm ba-ack", so, I am.
My hiatus was self-imposed as a fluke of computer sharing caused a really good anti-Obama screed to be placed on someone else's blog. However, I felt a little different not spewing on-line, so, I've decided to end the hiatus.
What has prompted this entry is a task I completed today. Some may think it so simple that it is curious why anyone would want to blog about such a thing. But, for those who know me, this is a big deal.
The aged ceiling fan in our kitchen has been eating bulbs as of late. The metal grooves inside the porcelain bulb fixtures, over time, have corroded and are no longer able to have the bulbs make contact at their terminus and the act of turning the bulbs was causing them to break at the last twist. Ergo (nice old word, ain't it?), my wife and I (yes, it was a mutual decision) decided to see what the local home improvement megastore had to offer us as a solution. We walked through the ceiling fan area to check out some of the styles and sizes of fan units with lights. Boy, are there choices, from $50 up to $300. After acquiring nearly permanent cricks in our necks, we began wondering if there wasn't a way to get off on the cheap, thereby replacing only the light fixtures as opposed to the entire fan.
To our surprise and thankfulness, there were boxes of light-only replacements. We went back home to do some closer investigation and examination of our fan assembly (as termed in the industry). I actually loosened the lights from the bottom of the fan and inspected the wiring. I determined that I, yes I could actually remove the lights and successfully replace them on the two wires that connected the lights to the fan assembly. To answer your question, I did trip the circuit breaker before I even touched the fan with a screwdriver. Thus, we came to the conclusion that we could and the decision to replace those lights.
We went back to the megastore and without help from any "expert" found our desired type of lights, which included the bulbs, and home we went. Just as a precaution, however, we did purchase some 40 watt incandecent bulbs (yes the type that Big Brother has deemed to be illegal in the future) to place in the old lights in case I could not make the switch, which, as is the custom in our household, is the rule rather than the exception. The next morning, after church, I, yes I, made a successful replacement of the lights on our 40-year-old fan assembly. As a celebratory act I decided to stop at this success and not to tackle any other home improvement DYI's until absolutely necessary.
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My hiatus was self-imposed as a fluke of computer sharing caused a really good anti-Obama screed to be placed on someone else's blog. However, I felt a little different not spewing on-line, so, I've decided to end the hiatus.
What has prompted this entry is a task I completed today. Some may think it so simple that it is curious why anyone would want to blog about such a thing. But, for those who know me, this is a big deal.
The aged ceiling fan in our kitchen has been eating bulbs as of late. The metal grooves inside the porcelain bulb fixtures, over time, have corroded and are no longer able to have the bulbs make contact at their terminus and the act of turning the bulbs was causing them to break at the last twist. Ergo (nice old word, ain't it?), my wife and I (yes, it was a mutual decision) decided to see what the local home improvement megastore had to offer us as a solution. We walked through the ceiling fan area to check out some of the styles and sizes of fan units with lights. Boy, are there choices, from $50 up to $300. After acquiring nearly permanent cricks in our necks, we began wondering if there wasn't a way to get off on the cheap, thereby replacing only the light fixtures as opposed to the entire fan.
To our surprise and thankfulness, there were boxes of light-only replacements. We went back home to do some closer investigation and examination of our fan assembly (as termed in the industry). I actually loosened the lights from the bottom of the fan and inspected the wiring. I determined that I, yes I could actually remove the lights and successfully replace them on the two wires that connected the lights to the fan assembly. To answer your question, I did trip the circuit breaker before I even touched the fan with a screwdriver. Thus, we came to the conclusion that we could and the decision to replace those lights.
We went back to the megastore and without help from any "expert" found our desired type of lights, which included the bulbs, and home we went. Just as a precaution, however, we did purchase some 40 watt incandecent bulbs (yes the type that Big Brother has deemed to be illegal in the future) to place in the old lights in case I could not make the switch, which, as is the custom in our household, is the rule rather than the exception. The next morning, after church, I, yes I, made a successful replacement of the lights on our 40-year-old fan assembly. As a celebratory act I decided to stop at this success and not to tackle any other home improvement DYI's until absolutely necessary.
Here's the proof!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
OUR PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN
What a surprise! Our not-so-beloved President (35% approval rating) has officially announced his re-election wishes. He kicked it off with a trip to, where else, LA. That's where most of his support is and almost all the money. It is believed that he will raise, or NEED to raise, one billion dollars. If he spent that kind of time and effort actually governing instead of raising money for a job that pays 1/2 a million dollars we just might be able to get ourselves out of the debt he's put us into. Instead, he treats a proposal by his political opposition as a mere exercise in junior high essay writing and he is reviewing it as a college professor. In his "speech" (it was not a policy presentation as he, his administration and party have no solutions) he was snarky (look it up!), condescending and downright mean
His usual, predictable statements were offered; tax the "rich", give more to those getting government money, blah, blah, blah. According to the IRS, if every income producer earning $100,000 or more next year gave every penny they made to the federal government, that amount would not pay off the debt our government has subjected us to for next year! That doesn't even begin to address the future economic problems.
We have people in power in this country who love the power, but cannot lead. I hope for real change come 2012.
Similarly, wealthy people have gone on television and demanded that the government raise their taxes. These are the people who have hedge funds, offshore accounts and trust funds hiding their money. I guess they are unaware that the United States Treasury accepts overpayments and/or extra payments with no questions asked. If they used this option the rest of us can live our measly little lives without worry of more usury. However, given the statistic above, it wouldn't really matter, but maybe they would feel better. After all, isn't that more important than anything else?
His usual, predictable statements were offered; tax the "rich", give more to those getting government money, blah, blah, blah. According to the IRS, if every income producer earning $100,000 or more next year gave every penny they made to the federal government, that amount would not pay off the debt our government has subjected us to for next year! That doesn't even begin to address the future economic problems.
We have people in power in this country who love the power, but cannot lead. I hope for real change come 2012.
Similarly, wealthy people have gone on television and demanded that the government raise their taxes. These are the people who have hedge funds, offshore accounts and trust funds hiding their money. I guess they are unaware that the United States Treasury accepts overpayments and/or extra payments with no questions asked. If they used this option the rest of us can live our measly little lives without worry of more usury. However, given the statistic above, it wouldn't really matter, but maybe they would feel better. After all, isn't that more important than anything else?
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