How NOT to do Key West....(216)

Going to Key West is always fun, but getting there can be a nightmare if
you do like we did and take the boat from either Marco Island or Ft.
Myers. The Marco Island boat kept getting cancelled everyday because of
weather, which for people of intellect would have figured it out that it
maybe is not the thing to do. But for the hard nose,stubborn and just
plain not the smartest bear in the woods, this became a challenge to be
met and conquered….Well we did that alright by driving all the way to Ft.
Myers and taking the bigger boat that was advertized to be able to take
rough water much better so it is hardly ever cancelled. It was four hours
of wave bouncing hell with sweet pea getting a tad sick going down. I
burped a few times because of the mixing I guess happening in the old tum
tum but kept it all down.
Bottom line is I would not recommend this way of getting to key west
anymore, it just was not fun and the trip back was just as rough and just
as long…Probably the best thing would be to drive down maybe stay
overnight or just make a long day out of it and drive back that evening
after sundown. …For us if we ever want to go again would be to take the
motor home to Blue water Key just 40 miles from Key West and stay a few
days there going back and forth each day and avoid the high lodging rates
of that town…Maybe the place is best enjoyed by the young and dum…older
and dum just don’t have that much fun there anymore I guess.

Funny stuff from the internet and wasting away in Margarittaville(215)

Well before you go any further do this...click on the title here which will take you to a very very funny video about an arangatang and a coon hound....it by itself is worth the price of admission for today's blog....ha

We were going to go to Key West today on the boat but we screwed up...the boat was full and we were thinking we did not need to make reservations...boy were we dum and asleep now that I think back on this...one yesterday was cold and rainy, two,  tomorrow is going to be cold and rainy...today was perfect....Hello when would people want to take the boat to Key West....if you answered TODAY, THE DAY OF GOLDEN SUNSHINE, then by golly you get a gold star.... and we get the dunce cap for not being very smart....

But that is the beauty of living here in Florida, we kind of hang loose like they do in Hawaii....yes siree, and we will brave the cooler temps of tomorrow and take the boat to key west then....and by golly we have a reservation too...we ain't pulling stupid two days in a row......Well maybe we are...they just called and said the trip for tomorrow was cancelled because of "incliment weather"...so now we be going thursday instead...
So I guess we will just see...interesting as a lot of folks I would say half of them got on the boat today with luggage intending to spend a night in key west and come back on Wednesday.. so these lucky folk will be stuck there another day...boy Margarettaville is fun.....

Today sweet pea relaxed with a good book and a couple good drinks...you will see the results of that to the right here....she's had a tough winter and needs some relaxing time...she is getting it....

Six toed Cats.... and lots of wild life here in Florida (214)......

Well as you can see by the pictures to the right side here, my camera has been busy of late....S.P. is coming to town tomorrow and that is good, real good...We will be heading down to Key West probably Monday on this boat, the Whale Watcher...I think it takes 2 hours and then by 10:30 we will be taking in the many sites of Key West...Will take her up to Hemmingways' place and check out the six toed cats that own his house there...If you click on the title here it will take you to the link and tell you all about the cats that he let kind of run his home there and when he died he left the place to the cats...yep they own the joint and lay around on the beds and do just about anything they want to do....then the museum that have all the pirate gold they have found on sunken ships in the area..And then there is the Truman White House also that is interesting....lots and lots to see in old Key West and sure we will have fun....

I enjoy a camera club that I am in down here...I need a wild life entry for next weeks contest...so will be on the lookout down there but may enter one of these shots to the right side here if I don't find anything better...I like the blue herron I think the best...but the other goofy bird whatever he is looks cool and of course the cute little coons may get entered just not sure...I have to decide can only enter one picture so maybe will let sweet pea help me decide which one to use....OK its bed time here as I got to get up early clean this place up an then head on up to the airport.....later....

The Coons and what we gotta do...(213)

It was a great day on the back water south of Marco Island...Did not see these coons today but last week they talked me into throwing them some junk catfish and oh my how they loved fresh fish...we are freinds for life...hopefully mine longer than theirs but ya never know...But today the "honey hole" that is there where the coons are yielded 4 nice sheephead over the 12 inch size limit..Three for me and one for Bud Lampkin and our Captain Ernie Maier caught fish but they were among the many we had to throw back to grow up.....there is no better fishing than the backwater of the Gulf of Mexico which lies west of Florida....We fished, we listened to Limbal on the radio and we injoyed the sunshine...Just being out there is what makes it so good, the catch is always a plus but just being there in that beautiful water and clean air, wow...And we are glad that the guy who chose to end his life in the airplane in Texas only claimed two lives, that could have been so much worse...Will be interesting when the full story comes out on this man and his hatred of the IRS....I suspect that possible the paying of taxes in general was the route of his hatred....we will see...

An insurance add on TV states will this be the great recession or the recession that make our country great?
I like this commercial because it will all depend on us as to which way this sucker goes...But we do have it in our power to make it the recession that will make our country great...But, we have to do it, not the fregin government...they screw things up big time...people have to step up to the plate here and do the job...they screwed up the bail out which should have never happened and they will continue to screw things up especially with the democrats in charge...but we the people must do it from the ground up not from the idiots's down to us...and don't forget about our duty as voters to research in depth the candidates and send the ones to hold down and conserve on money we just don't have to spend...when your upside down you knock off the frills.....

Jobs is the answer to our problems and until we all get a grip on this it is going to continue...But when we spend our dollars we MUST start from here on to make sure that it builds jobs for America and not China or Japan or anywhere else outside the USA....Look at labels people and make sure what you spend your dollars on is made here in this country...it is the only way we will build jobs...and you may be called upon as Americans to spend just a little extra to buy a product made in the USA... I hope you are up to it if you not and you always go for the lowest cost and don't look at labels then my friend you and I may be part of the problem and not the solution.

Another thing we can do is support the tea party movement in this country....We have to stop this spending in congress that is money we don't have...we got to tighten our belts for sure and we need to support reform...for get about party lines we need to do what is good for our nation....

:Lots of work ahead for us it is not going to be easy and quick, we are in for a long effort but we can make this the recession that made America great...let get started.....

Politics getting very interesting...Tis good......Huckabees Book (212)

Boy what a day...Evan Bayh Indiana's junior but good democratic senator announcing he will not run for office...No way is Evan afraid of getting beat in a coming election...And even if he were to get beat, it would not be the reason he is not running...My opionion on this is but one reason, Evan will challenge Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination....Mark my word he will do it...Why? because he would be twice the President that Obama is...I think he has a chance, I know the country would be better off...Would I vote for him? Well not if Mike Huckabee was on the other ticket for sure...Or Mike Pence...But if McCain was running against Bayh, believe it or not this guy would go for Bayh, yes I would....Obama will come to regret not bending a little and making Bayh his VP candidate...But Bayh would have overshaddowed Obama so he chose instead the not to swift Joe Biden...

And today I hear that McCain is being challenged by some guy called JD....Don't know who he is but he says he is more conservative than McCain....no doubt that sucker turned liberal during the debates for the election against Obama...Still a better choice than Obama but not by much....I say Go JD, kick the liberal out of the Senate and end his career...

But for the ultimate candidates we have got to get Huckabee and Pence 'hooked up' and there we will have it...A President and Vice thinking alike...And thinking alike on good conservative governnment...A friend of mine today told me that Huckabee told her that Pence is his very favorite congressman...so I think this all could happen...God willing and I sure hope so....it could at least start to save our nation...

Today I finished the Huckabee book "A Simple Christmas"...get a copy and read it and then dare tell me that this man is not qualified to be one of our best presidents ever....this man has it together....I love what he stands for and his ethics and ideas on government and his ideals on life in general....His moving into TV and Radio is no accident, he has worked in Radio since he was 14.. He is a communicator much like Mr. Reagan...Go Huck, Go all the way and take Mike Pence with you as your VP.....

Neat Church/ Randy Kington and good ole Fishin (211)

You know what is neat about this ole blog?  It's neat cause I can write about anything I want to...And today, I will write about something similar to what I wrote about a year ago...my buddy, a well decorated Viet Nam Vet Randy Kington...author of the best war story book on Nam I have ever read "What a Life"....
And I will write about a church that also impresses me, The Celebration Community Beach Church of Naples Florida and I will also finish by writing a little about what else empresses me down here, Fishin.....

Ok, lets get on with it all....Today Randy was invited to give the sermon or "his story which is a sermon" for the, he said 6th year in a row here at this church...And Randy always tells basically the same story but always in a different way, which I guess is why I keep going to hear him...I guess I just want to see how many ways he can tell this story...His story is basically a story about a horrific battle in Nam in which he recieved a severe life changing wound to the spinal cord with a bullet from a very brave Viet Nam soldier's rifle...And how that moment then affected the rest of this man's life....actually it all turns out OK because he met a great women who then became his wife in a VA hospital and the two of them with his darling wife's leading the way turned life's biggest lemon into lemonade.....if you know of anybody who is down and out because of a bad turn of events you should buy Randy's book and give it to them...it is a great beacon of hope.....

As per usual today Randy did a great job and Randy invited me to go to breakfast with them and some of his other friends after the service...Met a guy who actually fought on Iwo Jima at that breakfast today...sat right beside him.... he is 92 and looks like 80....plays golf and tennis, a very nice, very funny gentlemen....he tells me that he also was invited to and attended the dedication of the Marine Museum back in 2006 that my wife and I attended, and he also shares my position that the two of us have contributed enough money to that museum and are now waiting on some other good Marines to pitch in and finish the job....I was glad to hear him say that as I did not want to be the only one feeling that way...but like many good causes once they get your name man they just don't want to let up...I have given good sums about four different times the last of which was in August last year while at the Museum...I know there are lots of good Marines out there who have not even been asked so General Ron Christmas that is who you need to contact, the rest of them...

The Celebration Beach Church needs a plug here also there motto is "go to church, get a tan and change your life......it is a large church and has no building..they meet in city parks like the one today in downtown Naples...Next week there is an art fair there so they move to another park even closer to me, and if she will go I plan to take a guest there, sweet pea is coming down and I want her to experience this church, where we will meet on a beach and there will be hundreds of people there and the money they raise then goes to the poor and underpriviledged of Naples, Haiti or anyplace out that needs help...no building to maintain what a novel idea....

The fishin, my favorite topic while here in Florida, went twice last week with a good friend Ernie Maier who live here in the park also and owns a little pontoon boat...but we found a honey hole, and jerked 9 really nice Sheep head out of that hole in two trips into the backwater...They look like Convicts these Sheep head but that is just the way God made them...with stipes...actually come to think of it convicts, of old wore suits with stipes running horizonal on them...Sheep head God made with Vertical stripes...They are gorgeous fish and they are delicious to eat....I ate both sides of a 16 inch Sheephead last night...he can be seen to the right here posing with me....Its a shame it has to be that way but, I bet if he has been a 16 foot Sheep head and given half a change he would have eatin me instead, if I had fallen out of the boat....

The weather is horrible these days, even in SW Florida it has been of late 15 degrees below normal...Al Gore, the Drum Major of the Global Warming Craze and winner of the NO Bell peice prize for his efforts, could have not been further from the truth....This is a really cold winter and if anything is going on we may be getting colder as we go not warmer....The whole thing is a "joke"....to think that we have had anything to do with it and an even bigger joke is to believe we could do anything about it....Government is oversized, over extended and overdosed on addictive ideas that they can fix anything and everything, even problems that do not exist....

Reading great book and that horrendous Debt.....(210)

Reading a book titled a Simple Christmas by Mike Huckabee....Today in chapter 3 he writes about an uncle that came a couple times a year to visit and how he would beat him in checkers over and over until one day he was able to beat the uncle and how fulfilling that was...he writes this, "this might be hard to believe for those that are so afraid of hurting a childs self asteem, that they have created a society in which" everyone gets a trophy.....and no one loses, no matter how little they practiced, or how poorly they performed.   And goes on to state, "THIS IS THE RECIEPE FOR CREATING INCOMPETENT CEO'S who, when their companies fail miserable, rush to the government to rescue them, because they are "too big to fail".   It is also creating 'total idiots' in government, who feel they are doing these poor businesses, as well as the rest of us, a favor by bailing out the losers at the expense of the winners so everything will be fair....he goes on, "Call me crazy, but I believe there's something to be said for competition and for rewarding hard work, talent, and intelligence instead of laziness, incompetence and stupitidy.......

This book is a composite of stories about Christmas times in his early life time...I have laughed out loud so many times reading this book so far...but it gives insite into a man who really has it together in my opinion...I have watched him on his Huckabee show several times at 8 pm on Fox on Sat and Sunday evenings...Gosh the guy has so much wisdom and such a heart...Read the book if you get a chance, watch his show...I am thinking what a combo he as President and Mike Pence as VP would be together in 2012 to challenge the present set of "total idiots" we have trying to cram stuff down our throat that we can ill afford or even need..

I see that our national debt now has reached such a monumental status that if we divide all the people in our nation into the debt it would be over $40,000.00 per person....Can you imagine that if you are a family of 6 your share would be a quarter million dollars.  What the hell have our polititicions done to us over the years?

We have got to get a handle on this and soon, we I believe are moving very close to national bankruptcy and no one wants to talk much about it, nor address it...Only a few and we must seek their leadership and heed the warnings....Most nations in Europe are also bankrupt and at some point the dominoes could and someday will fall....Let us be about getting our house in order before it is too late....

 .

Da BREES 'dat' cooled da COLTS....(209)

Probably nothing could be more boring than a snap shot view of last nights Super Bowl,  than one done by a "Fair Weather" fan....But dat is just da way it gonna be here today.....

This may be the first time I ever watched both the commercials and da game totally...and I guess the reason I did is I really did want both teams to win, so I was at peace all through the game dat it would happen and dat probably sometime in da second half, warm in my bed I would as usual maybe "bore out" for lack of a better term and fall off to sleep, finding out in da morning who dat winner was....

When I heard early on in the broadcast dat the Saints had practiced "hard" all week long, I did figure dat was probably it for the Colts, who maybe had taken it a little easy, to save themselves for the game... My thoughts were dat maybe Drew the "little david" here, had carefully selected his rocks and was about to slay da giant being the mighty "Colts"....The colts looked good early on, but I think little david and his troops, did then sense that maybe some real good effort could take dat giant down....

And maybe just Drew on his own would not have pulled it off, but the whole team had their hearts in this game.  Dat kicker, wow he had 9 of the 16 points at one point...but the hard work of all, had gotten them to within range, and his slingshot foot put three long rocks dead on da target....

The second half, well dat 'onside kick' was a game changer for sure, and Peyton Manning had a somewhat worried look from then on...the interception dat went all da way downtown, was I think the nail in da coffin...It was an exciting game and no doubt about it da team that wanted it da most, won dat game.....
They are the Super Bowl champs and I wish both teams could have won, but dat don't happen, so dat is just the way it is....Great night for Purdue University with Len Dawson carrying the trophy onto the field and then Brees carrying it off, both good Boilermakers.....

Well dat's it, this boring commentary is over....have a good one....boilerup!!!!!!

Mike Pence...Maybe Senator, Maybe President and then the Pelican (208)

I have listened to Mike Pence a congressman from Indiana for years now on WIBC an Indianapolis powerful radio station.  When he was interviewed you could just tell this guy had it together and had this nations best interest at heart.  In 9 years in the house he has risen now to the number 3 man in the House of Representatives on the Republican side of the isle.  I hope you will click on the links and listen to his philosopy on serving the nation.  I think he may run for the Senate this fall but not sure I want him too...Evan Bayh is still a popular man in Indiana...He has challanged Obama's policies on many occassions and that just may get him re-elected this fall, we will see..So not so sure I want Pence to challange him and then maybe loose...I would sooner see Pence stay in the House seat and win with a huge majority this fall and be setting in a position of maybe being a strong candidate for President in 2012....He would be a strong President for getting our fiscal house back on a track of less debt and lower spending which would sure make a lot of sence following the run away train of "Everything for Everybody" that we have seen attempted this past year since "the occupant" of the White House was sworn in....It looks as though the run away train may be slowing up as it proceeds up grade now since the people of Massachuttes spoke out...Those great people of that state finally seen the light and by thier votes applied the brake to the democrats careless ways.

So I guess I am proud of this man Mike Pense, proud of his ethics, his convictions and his commitments to stand his ground and just see how far this all takes him...I met another ground stander yesterday with the picture to the right here.  The little fella did not allow the sign to not feed the Pelicans in anyway keep him from giving it his all...When it came my turn to clean fish I stepped up there and he moved in even closer placing the end of his beak against my blue jeans...Worried me a bit but he never bit me but he did stand his ground and I surely would have liked to have given him the remains of the fish I cleaned...But a game warden who had just checked our fish was still in the area and sure would have enforced the sign that was posted.  But for sure this was the bravest Pelican I have ever seen in Florida and the only one with the back bone to stand there and at least let you know, he sure would like some fish....I know why they have the sign though as if the feeding was allowed then there would be 20 Pelicans standing close by or even setting on the fish cleaning table...But like Congressman Pence this Pelican was saying I got a right to be here and someday it may all pay off...Till then he at least meets a lot of good fisherman.....

The Movie "THE BOOK OF ELI......and Drew Brees (207)

Rainy Day today so after my daily chores I saddled up the Silverado and went to the Movies.  About a month ago sweet pea and I seen the previews of The Book of Eli and I remarked, "hey that one looks pretty good".
Well unlike the previews I saw today of a couple new ones coming in March that look like garbage, to me this movie was excellent.  Yep I am giving this movie my full two thumbs up equal you know to 6 stars....

This is a faith based movie, if you got faith you will like it, if you are without faith then you may, or may not like it.  My faith today told me this is a really good movie.  A war pretty much destroyed the earth and most of the people 30 years prior, but some of the lucky ones are still around barely surviving...Denzel Washington does great in the hero's part.  I like it a lot and I think most of you would also...See trailer to the right. Click on it or click on the title of this story either way you will get the trailer to the movie.

Also today comes a video of the New Orleans Saints Quarterback and former Purdue University quarterback, Drew Brees....it is also faith based and very good...
Looking forward to the Superbowl this year, it will be maybe the most interesting Super Bowl I have ever watched or tried to watch.  Not being a red hot fan of most sports or maybe any sports, I count myself as a Fair Weather Fan of sorts...I watch the World Series Final game, The NCAA Basketball Final game and of course I always try and watch the Super Bowl....Never really had a team I would really really like to see win..this year I have two teams I would really really like to see win...Being from Lafayette it would be good to see Brees and the Saints win..Being from Indiana it would be good to see Peyton Manning and the Colts win....Folks guess what I can not loose, I am gonna have a winner...
Click on the video to the right about Brees and watch the video...

Watching the President, I hope I am wrong...(206)

I watched the state of the union address and yesterday I watched the meeting between President Obama and the Republicans in the House of Representatives.  It was like watching two different Obama's..the State of the Union Obama was pretty much what I have seen before and was not overly impressed.  He did not let on that he got the message that the people want good transparent government.

But yesterday he did, it was a side I have not seen and a side that I liked.  His meeting with them was covered by the media pretty well but all the networks showed and commented about it in a way that furthered their bais on politics in general...The best view of it was on CSPAN...they did not make comments and they also covered the hand shanking and greetings that many of the Republicans the President had afterward.  It was good watching them converse and smile at each other, no doubt promising better bi partisan cooperation in days ahead.  I was encouraged that IF OBAMA 'wants too', that he can indeed reach out and solve problems.  If he does this I think there is a possibility that he may be re-elected in 2012 for a second term.  He does have charm and can be Presidential no doubt about it.  I saw that side of him yesterday for the first time.

As he listened to the questions and answered them, he no doubt had the Miracle of Massachuttes on his mind.  Knowing that the electorate there mostly democrats had elected a Republican to the Senate, yes, but they were actually without a doubt telling their President they wanted transparency and bi-partisanship,
                                                                  OR ELSE.
And Mr Obama Got the message....Maybe we can visualize it like this, the night Massachuttes elected a Republican to the old seat of ted kennedy, his YOU GOT MAIL light, went on with a loud BONG...After watching the President yesterday I guarantee you he 'read the mail'....

The exchange was cordial and refreshing and the three members of the house in leadership were also very professional including Indiana's own Mike Pence. Now at least yesterday it looked good, but now we will have to see if this guys spots have changed just a little or will he flip flop back and forth when he gets in front of the camera's and is talking to the populace in general similar to the state of the union message...Will he allow himself to show he has changed when he works with the members of his party.  He promised to hold leadership meetings in the white house with leadership from both parties from here on....that came when some of the republicans relayed to him that Speaker Pelosi used dictator style tatics in the house and is absolutely not bi partisan when she thinks she has enough votes to cram liberal legislation down the voters throat.

Actually from here I doubt he has changed, I think he will still pursue the liberal overspending and nutsville legislation we have seen proposed, but Buddy the Cavalier seen below and I will be watching and I am hopeful that we could be wrong....

Don't ya just LOVE IT? (205)

Watching the Obama administration try and keep the plane in the air is starting to get interesting.  I am looking forward to watching the State of the Union message tomorrow night.  It will be quite interesting to see the spinster put a spin on "whats happenin now" in DC and the nation.

                                              Buddy keeps a "concerned eye" on the news.

Tonight I just had to burst into laughter when one congressmen said, that Obama's proposed spending freeze is like "going to a big pie eating contest and then afterward announcing you were going on a diet"....Later I learn that the cutting measures will actually cut a whopping one (yes 1) percent of the proposed budget of this administration...So basically this is just a knee jerk reaction to what happened in Massachusetts last week.

I guess it is good to know that they are at least observing what is happening with voters even though the reaction is kind of an insult of the voters intelligence.  But at least they finally realize that what they have been doing is "over the top" in fiscal responsiblility.  Now we wait till summer and see what the candidates have to say and then we do our duty as we see it in the ballot booth.

It is hard to believe that it took a year for the populace to start to notice that all this promised wonderment was being purchased by dollars that we really don't have...  It has been something to watch unfold these last 18 months from the time these wild promises were made and wildly applauded until the chickens finally came to roost...

You know really government can not operate indefinately spending more than it takes in, any more than a business or even a family can, we all know that but these clowns, I don't think really get it...I really don't think they do, to them it is disney land and everyone just lives happily ever after.  Especially if you can give unlimited amount of money to the less fortunate and lay the bill at the American tax payers door...But actually not because the plan is to borrow it instead and then lay the bill plus excessive interest at the door of our children and grandchildren...Now that is if we are even solvent at that point in time..The reason of course that we can not operate this way as a business or a family is the lender eventually says NO....  But in this case of government spending, we are the lender, and we someday soon here better "buck up", and just say no and we do that at the ballet box by who we send to Washington.....Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder how in the world it will all turn out and if 5 years from now we will still have the nation we all love.

Moving back towards a Republic with "some" Democracy. (204)

This nation did start as a Republic, a government of laws, a centralized government, mainly responsible for the nations security and our founders did fear that it would become eventually "too" democratic and fall into disarray.
Our pledge of allegiance bears that out, We pledge allegiance to the US and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation , under God etc........

We soon became more and more a democracy and that is not all bad if held within reason and not taken to extremes which is what has almost happened here with extreme spending issues that we have seen proposed of late and almost put into law.  When I say I would like to see us move back more to a Republic I am not naive enough to think we could actually get there.  I agree with a lot of what democracy is about, but I surely don't agree with it having become overpowering to the point of bankrupting the nation...We should all fear this as we are close to this point of falling off the cliff...So much so that the voters in almost totally democratic Massachuttes sent a Republican to the Senate this week...I think it was the shot heard around the world that the people have seen the light that we have gone to far with liberal careless spending...

I have seen it in my life time over and over again that the government we have evolved to thinking there is no end to what they can magically do for the people but at the peoples expense of course...I know we can not go all the way back to our early days Republic form of government, we have evolved too far to have that happen, but we can and should turn the direction of government around and at least sail our ship of state back towards those days of less government and not sail on toward falling off the edge...the earth is flat you know....ha

Kidding aside, the two parties of our government have become intermingled in what they believe and want for our people... It is tough sometimes to tell who is who.....In this last election even when McCain the Republican candidate seen the people admiring the liberal promises of Obama, he instead of warning the people of going to far on something we could not afford, he actually tried to "out lie the liar" so to speak.  His reteric sounded almost the same...So it became a contest of promises we could ill afford and we ended up with what we have..Old adage has it that the first liar does not stand a chance, but in this case he did as it was hard to keep ahead of so many generous promises that just seemed like what  a lot of people wanted....And thus the democrats felt they had a mandate of unlimited promises to fulfill and actually tried to do it....The mistakes they made was to do it at any cost, making deals to some and promising the people in the meantime that it actually could afford this....Luckily some of the people woke up especially in heavily democratic Massachuttes and it has gotten congress' and the Presidents attention...It was becoming obvious when the debt ceiling kept getting raised but at the same time telling us this was actually going to be lower cost...Lincoln said and let us not forget, "you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time", and that is what they tried to do...Abe was right and Massachuttes reminds us of that.

I hope this 'voters paying attention', continues this fall and that we the voters pay very close attention as to what candidates stand for and ask the right questions of them, and then do our duty and vote for the ones that could maybe bring our ship about and head it back into smoother waters.....The days of saying I don't vote cause they are all crooks needs to end...If they are all crooks then its cause we have not paid attention....

America Speaks for "real change" and they mean it....(203)

Don't know about you but I and many others are exhuberant about the elections in Massachusetts....Now I may not have spelled a couple words right here but you probably know what I mean...gives me hope that maybe this nation will not go down the tube after all...Obama administration had us greased and sliding very close to the swirling drain...the healthcare bill could have been the one that put us on a downward plunge....then came the Senate election to fill the seat of Ted Kennedy....Wow and the people spoke and spoke well to  the liberal democrats headed up by Obama and the congressional leadership...They sent a message and the message was recieved....I hope it will end the chain of nonsense that has been the adgenda of this administration....I really doubt that it will change what they want to do...This community organizer, couple with the likes of Polenski and Reid, the loose cannons directing this madness wants dearly to reorganize our country in a very liberal borderline communistic way...I want them to fail big time...I want our country to move back to a Republic form of government..It will take time and diligence on the part of the voter, but it could happen.....We need much smaller government not larger..we need to dump a lot of what government has grown to be....Gosh they made some really stupid mistakes..buying votes from some Senators, buying the loyality of the labor unions, really dum stuff....enough dum stuff that I think this momentum could send a lot of congressman and senators home to look for work come this fall...I surely hope so..I am excited for sure and recharged with hope for our Nation.

Now off to the right here is the harvest I found today when I arrived on the south 40....not acres but feet in width that  I habitate here in the third phase of my rotation Corn Beans and Naples.....
The Lemon tree is or was loaded but a lot of folk have taken me up on my offer to "hep yo self" to them...I guess there is maybe 25 nice ones left on the tree...The Starfruit tree is my "pet" and I do not make that offer to my buddies...I love those things and the tree last year produced none...this year maybe there are 30 hanging on it and about 6 have dropped to the ground about 6 are dead ripe and will be enjoyed by this writer in days ahead...and the other 20 or so will be watched with care as they ripen...I did give my buddies George and Gladis a couple today but they are special so I had to share...they take me fishin you know into the backwaters that I love...and we fry them suckers and enjoy them with great wines and maybe a nice salad and who knows what else...but it is always a lot of fun and all very good...

Very very good is how this writer feels tonight as I watch CNN twist and turn with this turn of events from the election out east......They actually are asking good hard questions and I surely love watching them eat a big big helping of "crow".....

Today 31 Years ago...........(202)

It was a day just like today..Snow everywhere, Purdue Agriculture Alumni held their annual Alumni fish Fry at the Purdue Armory...Very funny things happened at that event each year, why one year maybe that year that I can not remember, but those rascal ag alumni shot Purdue President Hanson threw a circus canon and he went throw a target bullseye at the south end of the Armory....Its true I saw it happen.....they do crazy stuff at Purdue..

But after that my brother Bob dropped me off at the Purdue Airport for an afternoon flight to Chicago, time was 2:45 PM. Destination was Sunny El Salvadore for 5 wonderful days of 90 degree temps, I couldn't wait.....I checked in had a few minutes to wait, and a good looking young lady was checking in also.

Well for the details of that you need to go back in my archives here and read my story dated Feb 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th, 2008, I won't repeat all that here, but it was titled Making it Rain and inside that is the story I wrote in the third person titled "Love was in the Air", of my meeting this lady at Purdue, but today is the 30th anniversary or will be a 2:45, of my marriage to Linda (Vanmeter) Randolph and a very good day for this divorced at the time father of five........

It was a marriage like most, up and down and sideways at times even topsie-turvey but through it all we never fell out of love....and I guess that is why on days like this I miss her and wish it had not happened the way it ended....She was suddenly diagnosed with lung cancer that had already moved into her liver and it really was incurable. She lasted 16 months of treatments that did not help very much. She passed on another 12th day of the month in April, 2007.....

But the best light I can put on it all is this, Linda was a Christian, I won't try and say to what degree or magnitude, cause I don't know, God only knows, but a good one, I do know she was a true believer and found comfort even in those last days of where she was headed. And I just like to think that "Business picked up in Heaven", and God needed a really good greeter. He needed to open a new check in lane maybe..And with that smile and looks and disposition, well I guess he knew for sure what he was doing and set it all in motion to happen...Only thing is I wish he had not a lot of days especially days like this.....Holidays, Birthdays and Anniversaries are remembered all to well after they can not be celebrated anymore. Life does go on though, and will starting tomorrow...but today at 2:45, I will try and remember the best of times......

If you care to read my story "Love was in the air" type the key word "Jane" into the search box in the upper left corn of this blog page..they will pop up three of he four chapters...You need to scan down to the bottom and read chapter one first then the second but for some reason chapter three is left out..for that you need to go back to the search box and type in Salvadorian Gringo Harvest,  and it will then pop up...

Winter Wonder Land (201)

Winter Wonder Land is right out my new back door, and for my friends who have migrated south I offer this picture...you have the cold but you don't have the snow and with cold you need snow so here it is...just do a right face and there you have it my view of Mid north Indiana this day January whatever, who's keepin track? We are to get up to 6 inches today and then tomorrow maybe some winds that might make some interesting drifts here and there. .....

But I am ready, yesterday I attached my 8 foot wide snow blower onto the back of my 90 horse power tractor...and I have the tractor inside my 45 degree barn beside my motor home so it will for sure start and do its job if needed. Kind of late in the season to be finally getting it attached but I did not know for sure...I have been confused of late with congress working so hard on a climate change bill I thought maybe it would not ever snow again...Sometimes, (actually all the time), I think that Al Gore's global warming dream is just so dam far from reality it is just plain laughable.
The guy is a wacko to the inth degree...the inth degree by the way is just about as wacky as a wacko can get....But the funniest part is the little wackoettes that buy into this horse shit and repeat it to confuse even more folk....even some in bonkersville where they hand out those comical no bell peace prizes.....

Those actually years ago meant something, an accomplishment that helped mankind...now a days they are nothing but political wishes as to how the wacko's wish the world to be....enough said lets move back to my winter in Indiana

It is for real, man it has been colder than a "well diggers", butt....and its headed colder a few days from now I seen a zero degree low in the forecast...but actually I have enjoyed it all...I have a new fireplace and I have firewood and I have finished my remodeling for now and kind of enjoy a crackling fire and the view of the snow falling huge flakes and kind of blowing a bit. A little country music piped through the Bose Speakers threw the house, a bowl of yesterday's chilli, gee pinch me, I must be dreaming.......

Tonight, I will crack open a bottle of Gallo Family Sonoma 2006 Merlot and share it with sweet pea as she tells me about her day....We will enjoy and maybe even share a laugh about how crazy it is with the economy being down that congress works on a bill to blame us for global warming and make our electric bills higher and our cars cost more all while its very very cold in the winter just like it has been for thousands of years....God help us and God help us elect good responsible people to congress next year....

PS...something else to pass your time....at the top of my blog there is a place to click on "next blog"...I sometimes do and you never know what you will get but it is very interesting...gosh there are a lot of great bloggers out there and some not so good, but when I come across a good one it is fun....try it...and if you find a really good one, save it to your favorites and check it out again another day.....

GRANT MICHAEL SMITH (200)

Well the years have somehow wandered by and I was informed today actually 10 minutes ago that I am now a Great Grandfather....Seems like yesterday I was a grandfather and before that maybe last week I was a dad...Well maybe a little longer ago than that, but time does move on...

Anyway a great grandson was born about an hour ago in Georgia on a Naval Base there. His father is Ensign Eric Smith and his mother is my grand daughter Mandy...And the new guy is Grant Michael Smith....I am for now anyway calling him Seaman Smith...He has a navy uniform, I know that as I got it for him as a shower gift last summer...Its a little big for him just yet but he will grow into it and wear it proudly I am sure...Especially when he sees his dad wear one and figures it all out....So WELCOME ABOARD SEAMAN GRANT SMITH......Maybe some day he will want to be a real Sailor or who knows he may want to join that other department of the Navy, the Marine Corps..Or he may just grow up and be a great solid citizen, who loves his nation and votes each election to try and keep it that way, we will just wait and see.....Will post a picture to the right as soon as one arrives......Ok got the picture up, hey he is one fine looking guy that is for sure, can't wait to see and hold him.....Great job and congrats to Mandy and Eric.....

Great Grandpa Lahrman

Stories from my sister Frances (199)

My Dear sister Frances and her hubby Ralph Hengst have been gone for a few years.
But she wrote some stories true ones about her life and her Grandson Rick Callahan
who is a writer for the Associated Press in Indy shares them from time to time...So
I guess Rick gets his desire to write honestly from his grandmother.  So this arrived
today from my niece Roxanne Winnings so thought I would today turn my blog site over
to a guest writer, my sister Frances Lahrman to share with you all...Stories are over
80 years old, closer to 90, but still alive here today. Note at right tells of the
basketball talent of Ralph Hengst..I had no idea but am not surprised he was a winner.
And the team may have lost a "valuable man" when he graduated but I think we all know
a young female who gained one....... 

By Frances Lahrman
"Just Pretending"
Just a glimpse of how my two older sisters and I used to spend our time, and what
times they were. When we three get together we sit and talk and laugh about the way
we used to pretend like we were Edra, Kreda Ay Mericaus, and Medra. Where we got the
names I don’t know. We would dress up fancy in some of mother’s old style
dresses and gee, but we did strut.
One time I went home to visit with grandmother and grandfather. Where grandfather
worked there was a handsome boy, Jim Fowler, who thought he was just it. And when I
saw him I did too, although I was only about seven years old. When I came home I
told my sisters of my new beau, Jim Fowler. After that, when we played house we were
always expecting Jim Fowler to call on us.
Then came the dispute _ which one was to have him? It usually settled that he should
never go steady. What fun we had just pretending we were someone else.

====="My Patent"
Between the ages of six to nine, one is prone to mischief. For one likes to explore,
or find out what isn’t clear to him. So that’s the reason this story can be
told.
There was a large pond on the Parker farm, where we used to live, that always took
my eye. Being little, mother never allowed me to go to the pond alone.
Each evening during the winter months, mother would drive the ducks up from the
pond. I would often go with her.
One afternoon as I was playing in the back yard, I spied the old red hen and her
seven baby chickens. I was just thinking how tiresome those poor little chickens
must be following their mother around from morning till night, while those little
ducks are out swimming all day long.
I went into the house to get a box, and sneaked out quietly, for I never dared let
mother catch me at this. Packing all seven chickens in it, I was determined to find
out why chickens can’t swim while ducks can.
When I reached the pond each little duck was swimming with the greatest of ease.
Well, that is very simple I thought. So I took one of the chickens and put it into
the water, but for all the kicking and flopping that went on, it then disappeared. I
thought if you want to play hide-go-seek, just go ahead. I took another chicken and
it went through the same gestures, and another, and another, until there were only
two left. I looked all around the pond, but not a chicken was in sight, when all of
a sudden two came to the top, and do you know they were floating on their side. I
was certainly surprised to find out that they had taught themselves to sink or
float. Later all five of them were floating.
As I was just ready to put the last two in the water, so they could float, one
chicken washed to the bank. I picked it up, but my goodness it was dead. I then
realized what I had done. I found out that ducks can swim but chickens can’t.
Most people try experiments, and if they are successful they receive patents, but as
you know my experiment didn’t work, therefore; I received something similar to a
patent but in a different form.

I got to share a footnote here about the first story that mentions "Jim Fowler"
My grandfather worked for the Fowlers on South Street which is now the Tippecanoe
County Muesum and called the Fowler House.  He was a custodian of some sort taking
care of the horses and buggies' and the wine cellar I have heard, maybe linking to
my desire to taste and partake in fine wines.  Well, I doubt Frances ever dated the
boy from the wealthy Fowler family, but she did date and marry the boy who lived up
the road at the corner of 200 South and 900 East.  Ralph was a gem and she could have
done no better....Picture at the right takes some explaining.  I know it is goofy
but it was taken for a purpose. The story is my brothers were in the service in the
1940's and my mom and sisters took this and sent it to him for a laugh.  He was
embarrased, and did not share it with his buddies but kept it quiet...good move

Another note the "parker place" she refers to is still standing, an abandoned farm
house and barn along I65 just south of the new Clarian/Arnett Hospital.

Christmas is over, but good as always. (198)

Well I have listened to my Christmas CD's playing now for at least a month. Everyday most of the day while I worked on the house, wrapped gifts, ate breakfast, enjoyed wine and cheese at 5, whenever, it has been good. All the old favorites, White Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting, I could go on and on but you get the idea and probably the idea that starting tomorrow I won't be listening to all these wonderful songs...for at least 11 months, then I will be ready again, I am sure. But for now, well I think I am ready for whatever is coming at us the rest of this year and then the bitter cold months, the Indiana Winter of January and February. They are just plain cold and I hope to spend at least part of this time in good ole Naples Florida....Which by the way is as my blog title states the third phase of my yearly rotation...First come Corn that I plant and followed closely by Beans, then a long lull while that stuff grows, matures and is harvested...But then the last phase the Naples part, and surely a welcome phase especially with what goes on here in Indiana those two winter months.

But getting ahead of myself here a bit, I do want to put a wrap on Christmas with this blog. Today was the last of the many parties I attended. Today my dear friend sweet pea had her party at her house with her family and close friends. She got me nice gifts too, I did well unwrapping my many gifts and she did well also. All of us did well, young and older, that would be me and even buddy the wonder dog did good. He got a nice winter jacket with a boilermaker logo on the back for him to wear out in this bitter cold winter ahead when he has to go outside and relieve himself....Buddy is such a good doggie, he never makes a mess anywhere, well except for onetime he got direa but we just won't go there, and I didn't but instead put him in the garage and kind of "left town". But anyway we ain't going there, were concentrating on Buddy being a real wonder dog which he is....Anyway I slipped it on him and to the right side here is the only pic I am posting from today of Buddy modeling his new Boiler Jersey...He loved it wore it all day long inside and out. I told him he looked stunning and marvelous in it so he just kept it on. He is a great dog, thinks himself a person and not a dog at all, his mom has spoiled him just a tad maybe.

Also over the right side is my Son John's family in their rendesion of the Christmas Story where the kid gets his wish of a Red Ryder BB gun...I love that movie, used to watch it each season, but anyway it is a comic spoof of this movie, good for a laugh.

Today I noticed an ad on my blog for Persimmon Trees. I kind of have a soft spot in my heart for exotic trees so could not resist the idea of having a couple Japanese Persimmon trees in my little forest here I call home. They are the really big persimmons that you see in the grocery stores all year long, just had to try them so I did. Now I wait till spring for them to be shipped and then I plant and hopefully someday harvest them as I do my Indiana variety.

So, here we are, I am glad it is all over for this year. Was a good Christmas, sometimes dampened a bit with memories of the past, but for the most part moving on an building some new ones, that can be built on then in future years. I hope that each of you out there had a good Christmas also

INVICTUS the movie......and Happy Birthday John..(197)

Gosh I can not believe it but Hollywood, via director Clint Eastwood has done it again...Sweet Pea and I have now seen three movies in a row that are kind of like the old days...They make sense and some times a tear or two...I love good movies and I detest most that are by my rating system "garbage". But here we are the streak of excellent movies now setting at three. First came the Amelia Earhart movie, Then Blind Side which I did not write about but it was one great movie...But now comes "INVICTUS", a really great true story about the first black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandella who was in prison for almost 30 years. But when Aparti I think it was called broke down he was released, ran for president and won....Morgan Freeman who looks like him played the part well...Matt Damon played the captain of the Rugby team...Anyway sports was used to unite the people of the nation, black and white...absolutely great movie, don't miss it.....

My rating is two thumbs up on this one which is equivelant to SIX Stars......

And 41 years ago my son John was born this date....I got 30 years on him but waiting on him to "catch up"....Seems like the older one gets for sure time does, "speed up"....I always heard that growing up and dismissed it as nosence, but like so many things I ignored and did not believe it is true. Time does speed up every decade after 40 I think time speeds up by 10% and not exaggerating one bit believe me....So not sure he can catch me as my clock is now running 30% faster than his...I better forget that idea, he ain't gonna catch me....

Happy Birthday John......

Christmas Traditions (196)

Well, I can think of two for sure...One being gaining weight, boy that is a tradition that goes all the way back to my childhood and I am sure yours. And probably as far back as when food could be cooked and shared with ones family...Its a great time of year to "push food" onto folk, makes ya feel good to share your food..And of course they can't say "no thanks", no way, so down the hatch it goes and guess what? Come January there is a New Years resolution to...................yep lose some pounds...

But another one and the one I want tell about for sure is the Lahrman Men's Christmas Breakfast.
I think my brother Joe or Bob came up with the idea and according to my brother Joe who lives in Mulberry this little tradition got started about 35 years ago he say's...Maybe more maybe a couple less I forgot the announcement he made at our meeting last Saturday morning....But anyway his memory serves him to say that at first it all started with just the three "farmin" Lahrman Boys getting together for breakfast for Christmas sometime in the 1970's....Joe said that after a few years of that that we decided to invite our banking brother Larry and let him in on the fun...After a few years of the Lahrman Boy's Christmas, liberalism crept in and we decided to allow the sons of the Lahrman Boys to attend our little shindig and the four brothers usually popping for the bill for their son's breakfast.....

Then after that the son's in laws were allowed and then we just threw open the doors at some point not too many years ago and we now allow in laws, out laws, as long as you are a decendant of our dad Lawrence Lahrman, who just turned 119 this month or if you are married to a decendant male or female...So our crowd grows, gets a little bigger each and every year...We meet at the New York City Grill on Teal Road, I think the first saturday morning in December and we take up the whole east part of the building...We have fun, we eat of course and we visit and we have an annual picture taken as you see here at the right side...So goes our tradition of the gathering of the Lawrence Lahrman decendants..If everyone has been good all year we usually pick up the tab for our linage, and probably one reason this event grows in numbers, and popularity....I hope I can make at least 20 more of these, and hope the money holds out, we will see...

Merry Christmas Everyone....

Family Christmas 2009 and Christmas Parade (195)

The family Christmas gathering happened for my family yesterday...We started with a "brunch" at 11 am...it was good, we had some really good stuff to eat and plenty of it...just what we all probably did not need but, "its Christmas"...Will we ever learn? Probably not because that is the way we Americans seem to celebrate the Holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Easter, they are all eating and drinking events it seems.....We are stuck with it and I for one don't know what to do to change it..Maybe the Democrats will come up with something on that, they are very big on change, so who knows after Heathcare, Global warming, the economy, and the wars are solved well these genius's will maybe just take on and change Holiday Celebrations...

OK how in the hell did politics get into the middle of my Christmas message here? Lets move on here, it was a good day and all went well...Again the food was fabulous, the gifts we all got were very nice, Sweet Pea made it out, all my kids were here and looking successful. Most of the grand kids were here but some were tied up elsewhere, in School, in the military, or at work...But for the most part as my picasso of pictures to the right will show a lot were here and all had a good time. We had the meal, shucked our gift wrap and looked over our gifts recieved and stayed on schedule to make the Lafayette Indiana Christmas Parade. We had too because again this year a member of our clan was elected "Snow Princess" from an elementry school...Yep Sophie Post was our snow princess and the reason a lot of us froze our tookis's off until her magisty had passed in review...I for one would be for holding these Christmas Parades in maybe September. The problem being the darn thing last so long, as they put half the people in Tippecanoe County in the parade, so then the other half of the people have to show up to watch it. My son John has used his car for our family snow princess's and prince, the last few years and that is great but he don't even get cold...He has a heater in that car, and I'm sure it is on high, so yeal bring it on, drive slowly down main street, smiling and looking at the viewers struggling to raise their arms and produce a smile on their faces. Most of our politicians show up for this, the smart ones walk, just to stay warm but some dress real warm and ride on floats....smiling and probably wondering what the hell did I do to deserve this?

Well that's my family Christmas so far...While typing this I consumed a can of candied pretzels, figuring that a pretty balanced lunch for this time of year, and called the Tippecanoe County Clerks office to find out that I owe them $127.50 for a "ticket" that I was lucky enough to obtain on one of my last days of harvest....Just a normal preventive check there Mr. Lahrman the DOT officer said...Hit those brakes Mr. Lahrman, ow ow, must be a fuse out, most likely that's usually it Mr. Lahrman, and hey 3 of those tires on the tag axle sure don't have much tread...Here you go Mr. Lahrman call this number they will let you know if you owe anything....fuse 98cents, tires and tubes 760 bucks at All Star Tire... the experience "priceless" everything else went on my mastercard...

Merry Christmas out there everyone, everone needs a little "stimulus" this time of year, especially this year with change in the air....don't forget those good missionary's and charities...

Obama on Afganistan and my Christmas Tree (194)

The occupant of the white house, has finally done something I approve of. Gee I almost called him the President but will hold that respect to see how some of the nutsville stuff he has going on turns out. But for now he is the occupant, and the occupant did finally make a good decision I feel on his long awaited decision on this war. And I am not too upset on his approach to making the decision. Some of my Marine friends are but I think sometimes sleeping on things a bit is good.

I like the idea of 18 more months with a larger force to hunt down and destroy as many bad guys as we can find. I also like the idea that we shift this war to the people who benefit from the freedom they can have if they are willing to step up to the plate and grab the vision of a free nation.
Maybe they are not capable of that if not then I say and I hope the nation will say that they are not then worth the price of our blood on their battlefields. In 18 months we will have a handle on that and if not then start the withdraw of our forces except for a few trainers maybe. But this old business of staying there forever like we have in Europe and Korea is not good, not good at all. And we should do likewise as soon as possible in Korea...Let them know this is their freedom and do you want it or not...and then get the hell out of their also and Europe...By the way Mike Huckabee has also complimented Obama on his decision and that is why Mr. Huckabee would make this nation one whale of a good President/commander in chief...

If things go good and Obama gets reelected, I guess so be it but I hope not...I hope it is Huck or Mike Pence with maybe S. Palin as the VP choice...we will see.

But to more important matters, its Christmas time and hey I got a tree...its ugly, I know but it's my tree....I walked across the field to the west to a fence line where it has been growing and I have been watching it for maybe 6 years. It has no distinct top at all and its as fat as it is tall but once cut, I had not the heart to put it on my burn pile until it had its turn as my first tree in a long time...You see Linda and I got into the habit of doing Naples before Christmas so we got out of the habit..but I thought it would be fun and the family is descending on my place this Sunday morning for a brunch and exchange...wine, poo-poo's you know all that goes with it, maybe even my award winning pumpkin pie and persimmon pudding...and then we are all going to the Christmas Parade where yet another grandchild will be riding in the back of a convertible...Sophie Post got the job this year at Cole Elementary...by the way she is turning out the lights on my participation at cole after this year. I went to grandparents day and I said well where is Tabby at and she informed me that Tabby who was snow princess a couple years ago also had moved on to Wainwright...She said I am the only one here now grandpa and next year I go to Wainwright also...So that's it for Cole, I am out of there, no more visits for me unless I live too long, and get invited to great grandparents days there....who knows?

Gov.Mike Huckabee at Purdue (193)

Sweet Pea and I went to Purdue last night to the annual Right to Life banquet....It was great and the Overtones quartet provided some great singing...even impressing the main speaker Mike Huckabee...I would not be surprised to see the boys from Rossville Indiana invited someday to be on the Huckabee TV show on Fox network.

Gov. Huckabee gave a great moving speech about the importance of the sanctity of life from the "womb to the tomb"...The man is a great American and would if this country were to do the wise thing be a great President for this nation. But I doubt that the voters will embrase this man, as the average voter today does not want a man that will be good long term for the Nation. Instead the average voter today wants a man that will be good short term for them....And that same lack of wisdom goes all the way into congress on many matters...Not what is good for the nation but what is going to get me noticed and reelected. Lets face it we are a nation of very very spoiled people.

There was a 12 year old lad who got up and gave a memorized 15 minute speech also on the sanctity of life...Good greif was this kid good..when he finished he got a long standing ovation from the maybe 8 to 900 people there. Gov Huckabee had a hard act to follow I kid you not. When he first was introduced he stated that maybe we had seen a political career launched here tonight, not mine but this young lad, Collin Knolhoff. Mike Huckabee said my goodness this lad has more going for him at 12 than most serving in congress right now...He was totally amazing, I think I have and all of us not seen the last of Collin Knolhoff, mark my word. I would not be surprised to see him invited to the Huckabee show also....

My friend Connie Basham served as master of ceremonies I would say and did a great job. We would be well served with her in the Courthouse, the state house or congress...She like Gov Huckabee would do the things good for our nation long term win or lose she would take the high road.

Two of my daughters attended with spouses and some grand daughters, it was a wonderful night.......Oh yesterday was my dad's birthday...he would be 119.....gosh I miss him.

No pictures, I forgot my camera but just as well the crowd was so large I was never close to the Governor....

Happy Thanksgiving to All (192)

Tomorrow is the best Holiday of the Year, Thanksgiving and this farmer/blogger is going to just enjoy the day. I am going to just be thankful for all I have. Thankful for the lessons learned in my life. Thankful for the friends I have met along the way. And the good family I have still. The lady friend that I met just over two years ago now, and enjoy a caring loving relationship with. Thankful for my children, a great son who is a better dad than I ever was, four wonderful, loving daughters who are great homemakers and socker moms with lipstick to boot. A great daughter in law and four great son in laws.. Thankful they all have good work and provide well for their kids and planning for retirement some day.....Thankful for good health, a warm comfy home with even a new fireplace and work yet to be done on it. Thankful for a shingle roof that does not allow water into my home. Thankful for a nice Chevy truck that now is no longer a Perdidal, but instead has two working headlights, fixed today under the good Chevy warranty. Thankful for my buddies in my Promise Keepers Bible Study....Thankful for grass to mow in the summertime and thankful that now it has taken a break from growing till spring...Thankful for a snow blower that may be needed this winter. Thankful for 19 grandkids of all ages...Thankful they all have jobs, doing well or are still in school. Thankful for the RV that sits in my barn and awaits the trip to Naples each winter. Thankful for memories of great times past, and even dreams that some nights transport me back in time to revisit those memories.

I have a lot to be thankful for but foremost for a loving God that forgives my many sins and mistakes of the past. And the assurance of salvation for an eternity given by HIS grace to all believers....We don't earn it nor deserve it, but we can claim it, that is a huge gift to surely be thankful for. With that I will close this and thank him in advance for all the good food we will all partake of tomorrow Thanksgiving Day....

Happy Thanksgiving to you all....

The Fireplace (191)

Today it happened. A fireplace was born right here in this house. Randy Denham told me a few weeks back that Rick Zellers was maybe the best brick mason in Indiana. After today, I think he may just be right. His work is precise and creative. Rick ask me a couple times if I wanted this or wanted it that way. Finally I said, "you know Rick, your the doctor here, you make it look the best you can and I know I will like it...Sure enough I loved the fireplace, it just looks warm and cozy without yet striking a match. I told Rick when it was done that "I knew if I just kept my mouth shut it would turn out great, and it did...Experience and creativity carried the day here. Will wait a couple days for it to "cure" out before starting a fire but I am excited about it. It will offer a great place to watch a fire burn, maybe with a glass of my favorite Brown County Wine, Old Barrel Port and maybe a little cheese and crackers.

Yes they are a bit dirty and messy at times, but for my money there is nothing like watching the glow of a fire place burning and crackling and popping. Never the same twice, always something different, kind of like a sunset I guess. Always the same but always slightly different. And of course the warmth of it all especially on those first few really cold days of winter ahead of us. Maybe the first really good blizzard with snow blowing every which way but Sunday. Yes that is when its the best, cold and lots of blowing snow, that is when you know you did the right thing, installing a messy, dirty fireplace....Yes it was the right thing to do...

OH and one other important fact...I looked up the chimney and if Santa has not put on a lot of pounds he can make it down....Merry Christmas

Warren Buffet and Me on Taxation (190)

Warren has a bit more money than I, so I think we will talk about his ideals but I do agree with him that the very wealthy have been getting way too big of a slice of the pie for way to many years. On WGN one of my favorite radio stations (AM 720) yesterday was a news item that Mr. Buffet stated that his secretary who he pays $60,000 a year, paid about a 30% tax rate last year. He earning I think it was 51 million paid a rate of 17%. And he just used the legal deducts etc. available to him and the other very rich of the nation. And maybe the reason he voted democratic to try and rectify this injustice. Why would a guy like him blow the whistle on getting to big a slice of pie? Well I think because he is an honest man who loves the American system of free enterprise and knows that the rich are being allowed to get unfairly favored in our system. For what its worth I agree with Mr. Buffet. I was always under the assumption that when you got into the millions that you paid something like 50% tax rate. Well that is probably so if you don't take advantage of what deducts that are available legally to use.

So maybe this Republican is kind of a "hybrid" republican as when it comes to taxes I do believe in paying my share and willingly do so. But I don't like hearing about others that are legally allowed to not pay what they maybe should. This needs fixed for sure. And I know that correcting this will not even come close to balancing the budget of this "budget busting" administations grandure everything for everybody for votes spending....But it is surely a good place to start.

But I do know if I were the "taxations czar" how I would proceed and it would surely balance the budget.

1. In any given year congress would be forced to tax equally for dollars spent. A common sense fix to this nightmare we are in.
2. If this was the case pork barrel spending would end because tax payers would insist on bare essential spending because they would know they would have to pay for it that year and it could not be paid by borrowing and burdening the future generations. And that it would not be paid by just printing additional money and lowering the value of our dollar.

We are I think very close to a breaking point for our nation and I am very concerned that one day maybe not far off we will be a nation of "have nots"....Not just the poor but all of us if the dollar collapses which it could we could go from recession to depression and into chaos in rapid order. It would not be a pretty sight when folks realized they now have nothing. I don't even like to think of chaos is the streets and man turning on each other just for survival but we may not be far from it....gosh I hope I am wrong.

Using what you have including a son in law (189)

I did not know what to call this story. But my old antenna on my 40 foot tower was down to two CBS channels...It was getting to me, with Katie Curic as my only choice for the evening news "I was hurting" to say the least. She loves Obama and anything he thinks of to do and I fully understand the guy is a "promise them anything and everything" kind of guy. So me and Katie just don't mess well anymore. So I had to do something. My son in law Cris Post is an electronics wizard, works at Caterpillar here in Lafayette, very successful so this little job was really "small taters" for him.
But he said you know there is not many rods on that antenna of yours anymore it could be time for a new one and while were are at it a new rotor as they don't cost much.

So that is what we did and wouldn't you know it the day I planned to lower the tower 2 son in laws and my son were "out of town". So it was Cris and I and the thinking cap had to go on to work this out. Usually in the past 4 people stand by the tower and one on the roof with a rope tied to the tower and the 4 on the ground kind of "walk it down" and then walk it back up when its repaired. So instead we put the front of the loader against the tower and just backed up...it worked.

So we came up with putting the front end loader on the tractor and replacing the manual labor part. Then we usually laid it across the grain truck and then used a ladder to get up to the antenna to work. But while shelling corn that morning it came to me that maybe if I filled the hopper with corn to stand on that the height of this machine could be about perfect for a platform for my electrical engineer with a masters in business I will add, to perform his magic. Well as you can see to the right it was great, a well oiled machine we were that fine day and what a beautiful day it was.

And now the exciting part we got it back up put the bolts back in the hinged base and went inside for the test. Cris set it to scan the channels and low and behold I went from two very liberal Network channels to a selection of 29 free TV digital channels and I am located 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. And did not even turn the rotor around to take in maybe Ft. Wayne or Champaign Ill, maybe could pick up 2 or three more? Hey, I am in "tall cotton" here now. I got the local fox channel, I got NBC and ABC and all the public and christian tv anyone could ever want...But mainly I don't have to watch Katie anymore worship her idol the current occupant of the white house. Actually CNN is the real Communist Network News for sure but CBS is leaning hard in that direction the last year or two...Fox leads the polls and for good reason....

By the way the corn harvest is progressing slow but good....the yields are about average in some fields, very good in the one I am in now and not so good in the one I did last week. But the main thing is its getting done maybe about a week left at the present 2 loads a day pace. All of my corn goes directly to the two Tate and Lyle corn sweetener plants here in Lafayette. And my corn having gotten planted a little late not because of mono or lazyness, but wet weather, is still carrying pretty high moisture content. Tate and Lyle is working with me on it and taking two of my wet loads per day and it blends in with other dryer corn that is coming in...they are good people to work with....all is good...corn going to town and now watching NBC and ABC and Fox....

Oh, by the way Veterans day was great, I do agree with Obama's assesment of the current men and women serving our nation. They equal the "greatest generation" of WW TWO...they are a great dedicated group of warriors...

And the nation is responding to celebrate veterans day more so than in the past. At noon I stopped by the" Applebees" eatery, and enjoyed a free 6 oz steak with some potatoes and veggies.
Last night I talked sweet pea into accomponing me to eat at the "Texas Road House" which was again free for me and on my way I went by "Mike's Car Wash" for a on the house honor veterans wash job. Then after dinner on my way home Susan called and alerted me that Culvers Ice cream, which she passes on her way home, was offering a free Sundae to all vets...But I had enough honoring for one day, I proceeded to my new "Denver Mattress" king size bed for the ultimate treet, 8 hours of rest....

Happy Birthday to the Marines (188)

Today is the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps. Happy Birthday Marines!

Three years ago today my wife and I were honored to be present when the President and other dignataries dedicated the new Marine Corps museum near Washington DC. It was a day about like today, partly sunny and fairly warm. It was a great day and Linda although hurting from her oncoming cancer, I think enjoyed the day. She got to see the President maybe 150 to 200 feet in front of us. He gave a great speech and then awarded the first medal of honor in the war on terror to a Marine who had given his life in Irag. His parents were there to accept the award but did not come forward. A couple days later we saw them accept it in a white house ceremony. Also today was the day that Marine Captain from South Dakota, honored Linda by pushing her around the grounds before the ceremony. It was a good day, I will never forget it, nor the Captain, nor the time I spent in the Marines. ( The Captain and my Linda can be seen at right here at the bottom of all the pictures)

Today there was an honor ceremony at Ft. Hood also. Those that died by the hand of the Army Major Muslim terrorist were remembered. Our current occupant of the white house has trouble using the work terrorist or war on terror. I don't know his problem but he definately has one about the whole matter. But had this Major shouted out Jesus Christ before the shooting I am sure he would have been a religious finatic of the first degree...but for now he is just a burned out counselor who kind of flipped out....I hope soon our occupant of the white house will evolve from a community organizer to become our commander in chief and turn to the job of protecting this nations from all enemy's foriegn and domestic, and forget about all these socialistic ideas and ideals that go along with everything for everybody. That is communism and will not work.

We will learn a lot more as time passes but can you believe that this man bought two guns in August, sent emails to know terrorist and even spouted out before many soldiers how wrong this nation is to fight muslim terrorist? I can't nor can I believe where this nation may be headed.

Amelia Earhart the movie (187)

We went to see the new movie last evening about Amelia Earhart. Sweet Pea said the ratings have not been that good on the movie but we went anyway. Man, I don't know who rates movies and who decides what to make movies about. But I tell you instead of 1.5 stars in our paper this movie needs 5 or maybe 6. We are giving it two thumbs up and that converts to 6 stars. I watched the other night the real biography of Miss Earhart a four part deal so that I would know the facts before hollywood added its take on it. They followed the facts well and that impressed me and the movie was done well. I got into it could not help admiring this couragous young woman and surely felt sad at the last when she was lost in the pacific. Not to ruin the movie for you we all know she lost her life in real time trying to fly around the world...Almost made it but there was blame there in the end that maybe should not have happened that would have allowed her to succeed...

I guess Hollywood spent quite a lot of time here at Purdue University gathering info about her and Purdues envolvement with her life. They did a good job portraying this and Purdue was well mentioned and well represented..Go see the movie Hilary Swank did a great job and the resemblance was pretty darn true to life's real pictures of Amelia..Richard Gere was good also as here promotor and lover...

When I go to movies and watch the many previews we just set there and share our heads thinking why on God's green earth would anyone in Hollywood waste their money on some of these movies? And then my head keeps shaking when I think, OK they do it for money but why would anyone spend good dollars seeing this junk? And then a really good movie hits the scene and it gets a low rating...go figure....see the movie

Persimmons and wet corn....(186)

Well this harvest is somewhat "frustrating" for me at least. My soybeans are done and that is good as these rains keep coming which is not good for soybean harvest conditions...But now the corn is next and that is not going so good. I have all of my corn contracted .to the Tate and Lyle corn sweetener plant here in Lafayette. And they like to have the moisture content on the corn coming in at 18% or lower. A week ago I took samples in from two of my driest fields. It tested 19% and 21%. I told them well I guess I will work on my house for a week and see what happens. I did that and guess what happened the moisture did not go down. I took samples in today and it was the same, so here I set waiting for better drying weather. But I had other harvest that needed done and that was picking persimmons and today I got the last of them, about 4 to 5 gallons. Last week I picked 3 gallons of persimmons and squeezed them, run them through the colendar and I got 1 gallon of pulp to make goody stuff like persimmon pudding with. Last year sweet pea did some for thanksgiving and it was DYNOMITE...Really good stuff so I know what I am doing here, I am gather goodness to be had at some later date. I can not wait, I kid you not Persimmon Pudding is just borderline "too good". But I figure, hey you don't have to eat all of it at Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can spread this stuff out, have some at Easter time, First day of spring, 4th of July whatever as good as that stuff is whatever day you pick will be a good one...So tomorrow I will get the pulp from them and should get about a gallon and a half of the sweet goodness and into the freezer it will go.

The persimmon picking today was kind of a war between me and the little beetles that seem to be everywhere these days. They kind of look a little like lady bugs maybe, but they are basically pains in the ass, as far as I am concerned. They were on a lot of the persimmons, did not notice them 10 days ago or so when I picked the first of the crop...But today I had to blow them off a lot of the persimmons before dropping them into the bucket...I will need to check them good tomorrow before squeesing them...Sweet pea will not tolerate beetles in the pulp. I just killed two of them crawing up the inside of my sweet shirt. I crunched them with my fingers, they should have stayed outside.

I mowed my lawn today also for the "last" time this year. I think the two favorite times to mow your lawn are the first and last time each year. In between well it's fun but not as much fun as the first and last times. I noticed the trees are telling us that winter is just around the corner here in Indiana. The cypress needles are turning brownish in color. I should take picture as it is pretty. Some of the trees have lost the leaves some are just beginning to fall, but it all says, "get ready", winter is coming. I don't like winter, I guess it reminds me that we are all mortal maybe, I don't know but I don't like winter at all. I guess the only good thing about winter is spring coming next, that I like, I like it a lot.

OK amigo's that does it for tonight....semper fi.....

PS... just got an email from Shirley Claiborne in Florida. She tells me my lemon tree is loaded.
My God will this harvest season ever end? Well maybe the neighbors will use them up before I get there...I hope so the thing I really like about that lemon tree is when it blooms in Feb and March..the fragrance is pure heaven.

New Challenges for College Kids (185)

Just came across this video to the right of an advertisement for a College in Chicago. Maybe a whole lot of "tonge in cheek" going on here but we all need a laugh now and then and this one made me laugh. So click on, watch it, laugh and then move on and get on with life as we know it here in 2009. My blog is not much today, am tired and fussy, worked hard today, need a bath and then a nice warm bed....Good Night Amigo's

Subaru of Indiana Auto Plant and then Pa Pa's (184)

Yesterday was a good one..I toured the Subaru Auto Plant here in Lafayette for the third time in 20 years it has been in operation. I was totally impressed with this tour given by our guide named Tom. It was great and in this day and age of depressed everything this plant and Subaru in general is a shining light of what we can do if we just decide to 'get it on'.......

Maybe I paid better attention this time but my heavens they are doing it right there. I have to say that if I were in the market for an automobile I would have to consider this companies products at or very near the top of the list...And if Subaru is too hard to say they also make the Toyota Camry there also. About 800 Camry's a day as a matter of fact and about 850 Subaru's also. 3000 men and women are enjoying employment there at this time. I am proud to say I live almost within the shadows of this plant, well I am 2 miles south, but I can if I climb up my TV tower I can see the smoke stacks on the plant. But without smoke, they do a terrific job of holding down emissions and re-cycling at this plant. Nothing goes to a land fill, it is an absolutely clean, lean impressive place here in Lafayette Indiana.

A couple stats I remember hearing on the tour that impressed me were the average auto purchased in the US gets traded by the original owner in 2.5 years...The average Subaru owner keeps his car 7.4 years and 95% of the Subaru's sold are still running on the road 10 years later.
The work force is non union making 22 bucks an hour to start and moving to 25 after 3 months. Health care is provided with 0 deductible. Is it any wonder they have a 3.1% turnover in employees each year? I suspect you take out the retirees and it don't leave a whole lot leaving there for a better job if any. So I proved it again the slow learner mode of this writer, it took 3 tours over 20 years but I finally got it....Subaru is one fine auto and auto manufacturer and one I will definatly someday consider heavily and most likely own and see if I can help add to that stat of owning it for over 7.4 years.

If you are contemplating a new car, I would recommend strongly that you take this plant tour and look at the cars in the entry way to the plant. They do tours about everyday Mon-Friday and although most are scheduled groups if you were to call and talk to Tom Elger 765-449-6250 and explain your looking before you buy I know he would let you tag along on one of these tours.
But you can go on line and see some of the things on the tour by clicking on plant tour and taking a look...here that is,

www.subaru-sia.com


Now after that excellent part of my day I called sweet pea and said, "hey lets go pa pa hunting, as it's got to be about the end of the season for it"...She called a friend she works with Sharon who along with her hubby "Lar" own a 40 acre heaven on the middle fork of the wildcat creek.
Friend Sharon allowed us to tromp her woods near the creek and shake a few of the Pa pa trees that grow there in the flood plain of said creek. We had a great time, got a few burrs on our clothes but that comes with the territory I guess. But we each had a 5 gallon bucket and when we finally tired of this we had them half full and they started to be a little heavy to carry for too long a period. So we called it quits for this year but the picture to the right shows what 129 Indiana Pa Pa's look like as they ly there for a couple days ripening just a bit. Then when they are soft to touch we will eat a few but most of them will be wrapped in newspaper and put into the freezer for winter off season treats. And treats they are we thaw them cut them in half at the belt line and with spoon in hand proceed to scoop out the wonderful custard like insides. Working the large seeds around inside your mouth as you enjoy the fruit then very professionally spitting the seed back onto the spoon to be deposited in the trash can or saved to be planted next spring if your the Johnny Pa Pa seed type like someone I know.

Right under my pa pa picture is a link to a private citizens assesment of the new health care bill being shoved down our throats...I tell you what boys and girls if you have not taken the time to watch this video your missing something worthwhile...nuff said...

2009 Harvest is underway and Healthcare be commin (183

Well its always good to get harvest started. The soybeans are always ready first and then the corn. But this year it is all going to be late. Normally I would have been harvesting beans a month ago but the crop went in late due to wet weather. And speaking of wet weather that is what we have today and tomorrow. As the fall proceeds forward it seems that the good days get fewer and the not so good for harvest days, become more plentiful. I am thankful that facing this that I am a small hobby level farmer these days. I feel for the guys with a lot of crops to harvest before winter this year. My harvester is 24 years old this fall, but still a good machine. I rebuilt the sicle or knive on the grain head of the harvester day before yesterday. It had a few years on it since I had done that...It will probably be the last time I will ever have to do that, I think it will last at least 3 years and my guess is that by that time I will be ready to fully retire as far as farming goes. But not totally sure, the way the country is headed it may become a necessity to have this additional income. Our economy is not a pretty sight, I don't see how it will ever recover. I hope it does, but we have this love affair with imported lower cost goods that are made outside the USA. By getting all these items real cheap it leaves us enough money to purchase cell phones, which by the way are no doubt made in china or japan, for everyone even the kids. Some are like little computers and my heavens you can play lots of games and send text messages even while driving to your friends. Or setting in class at school or college maybe...Whatever these low cost imported goods allow us other luxuries also not made in the USA. I wonder what percent of jobs needed for us to support ourselves have to leave the country before we figure it out? Maybe all of them, I guess I am not the sole slow learner.

And when most everything we consume comes from other countries that is a lot of jobs that have been moved to those countries. It was profitable for the companies to move there because they could then sell us the stuff at much lower cost which we all just dearly love....Everytime Walmart slashes everyday prices lower you can bet another job left the country. So where will our people get jobs if we are not making the goods that we consume? We really need to start paying attention to what we are doing. A friend in my Bible study told me resently that his wife purchased a can of peaches made in China. Is that a good thing when we grow peaches in Georgia and Michigan?

So maybe for now I will hang on to my day job of hobby farmer. Takes about two or three days to get a harvester ship shape and then you never know if it will run well all through harvesting or if you will be repairing many many more things as time goes on...I guess that is a little stress that a farmer must endure and maybe makes him not a stranger to prayer, even to "keep it running Lord".

So back to harvesting, I have 15 of my 75 acres of beans complete so I guess that would put me at 20%, at least a respectible first day considering not starting until 3 PM because of wetness from a slight rain the day before...The warm sunshine and slight breeze dried out the damp pods and allowed them to pop open and release the beans as they passed through the harvester ending up in my grain tank and then my truck and thus a once a year paycheck for the farmers.

My harvesting will keep me manually busy for the next few weeks but mentally I will be concerned for our country and where it is headed. This administration seems content to busy itself with getting us all health insurance at who knows what horrendous cost to us all...How that will address the real issue of getting people back to work I have not got a clue. And with leadership of change for changes sake and for no good reason, we are in some deep doo doo...and I fear with this particular "occupant" of the white house and the equally unqualified leadership in congress our ship of state is sailing into the perfect storm....buckle down the hatches...

Healthcare bill explained and an encounter today with Dolly Parton (182)

I think every American should take the time to click on the two segments to the right side here that will bring up a excellent explaination of this Healthcare Bill being shoved at us by our president and his congress...His name is John C. Crawford, I admire his efforts for us all.....Please click on Part 1 and then Part 2 and listen what this man from Texas who has studied the bill has to say about it...He used his own money and represents no party but himself but he represents all of us very well with his video that he sent at his own expense to all the members of congress...

OK today is our last day in Branson MO.....we have had a great time...I tell you this it is a great place to come and enjoy the over 100 great shows that are offered and relax...It is a place of much talent, and a place honoring God and Country like no other....We like it here and now have also found that it is a great place to fish for trout and will be coming back here hopefully next march for a week of fishing, camping and yes more shows to watch...

But I must share that today we went to see a Dolly Parton impersonator....she was for real, and had it all, the blonde hair, "the girls", she called them, and the voice and the figure...Anyway we sat in the middle back behind most of the people...during her act she would come off the stage and set on some of the mens laps and mess with their hair and stuff and sing to them...was all fun..getting to the tail end of the act she moves back where we were and moved into our row which was empty except for Susan and I....Susan said "aw aw here she comes"....sure enough she came over to me and said I bet you being bashful and all, thought if you were to set all the way back here that you would be safe didn't you?...I said yeal I hoped so...she said I need you up on stage with me to help me out and I pleaded please no but she would not take that for an answer so away I went up on the stage...there was a stool and a cowboy hat...she sat me down messed with my hair, said it looked like kind of a birds nest, unbottoned my shirt and ran her hand around my chest...thought I would die yeal right,,, anyway then putting the hat on me setting on my lap and singing a song about me coming in here dressed like that or something like that...not sure of the title...she finished the song and I was "let go", thank God....it was scary but kind of fun and would you know it we left the camera in the motor home....so no pics, maybe best anyway left with only words...