Back the real world for a while

Well, it's been a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Lots of great food - 2 big family celebrations. Did some Christmas shopping. Relaxed quite a bit. Now its back to work - for a while anyway. 3 weeks from now will bring Christmas break. Sometimes, it is really good to be a teacher! Of course, the downside is, my students will be pretty jittery for the next 3 weeks. Lots of things to get done by Christmas break despite the fact that their hearts won't really be in it ("visions of sugar plums danced in their heads..." that sort of thing).
Start going to the club again tomorrow. Hope to decorate for Christmas this weekend. Not much else to say I guess. I WANT to comment on all the crazy stuff going on in the world but just don't have time this morning. Maybe tomorrow. Does anyone really read this anyway?

I survived Black Friday

Yes, I survived the dreaded "Black Friday" where half-crazed Christmas shoppers line up at stores in the pre-dawn hours waiting for that "killer sale." And the local merchants coordinated themselves nicely! All I had to do was get up at 4:00 a.m. and line up at store #1 for a couple of rock bottom prices (over 50% off the usual price - only that much savings could lure me out so early) on electronics for the kids. They opened at 5 a.m. By 5:45 I squeezed back out of the store that resembled some cattle feed lot more than anything else and headed across the street to store #2 that opened at 6 a.m. They were not nearly as organized though and it took some considerable belly pushing and a final snatching up of the last 2 of the items I was on a mission to get. But by 6:45 I was home with the prizes - a successful hunt and me the Great White Hunter. Hopefully, my dear wife can do the rest of the Christmas shopping at a more leisurely pace?.... :o)
If I could have done it all online I would have in a heartbeat. But I know, these items are to lure us into the store so we will buy even more! FAT CHANCE! Have you been in the stores on such days - it is sheer bedlam. It takes 15 minutes just to walk 50 ft. Every line is insanely long. I'm sorry - the volume of customers totally defeats the "bring 'em in and they buy more besides" idea. I got what I needed and got the heck out of there as fast as I could.
Has anyone else braved the hordes today?

Stages of Democracy

The following was in an email that I received several months ago. I was unable to track down the name of the original author (sorry). But I HAVE heard much of what it has to say before in political science lectures while at college. It bears some serious thought....
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"About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." (emphasis mine - he continues...)

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these
nations always progressed through the following sequence
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage "

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota... believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase." (end quotation)
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IF that really is so - then the only stage left is #8 - From dependence back into bondage. What might that look like I wonder? Possibly the welfare state becoming openly socialist and increasingly totalitarian - possibly even a dictatorship? One thing is for sure - our civil liberties will become extinct in the name of "the public good" or "safety."
You know, the Founding Fathers saw this coming and cemented our inalienble human rights in the constitution so that all future laws and govt. actions had to keep these in the center of their thinking and rulings. But social progressives constantly want to redefine these rights and the constitution so that it can be "applied" to modern situations. In the end, all that does is make it easy for some dictator(s) to "redefine" our rights and the constitution so that they can "legally" take them away (so much for inalienable). Pretty scary!
What do you say?

Grumpy Old Man?

My wife said tonight that when she first read some of my earliest blog posts, she thought I was being very grumpy. She said I ought to rename my blog "Grumpy Old Man." LOL.
Well, I suppose I DO get grumpy but honestly, it gets so tiring to hear people blather on and play so loose with the facts or with common sense. I mean, if a fellow can't get it off his chest in his blog - where can you go?
Anyway, I watched the History channel's special "Desperate Crossings" which tells the story of the Pilgrims. They did a good job giving the background of the reason WHY they wanted to come to America. I learned some stuff which is always a good thing. But in one part they had some native American woman say that colonization from Europeans deprived her people of their God-given right to live the way they wanted to. And while I wouldn't necessarily deny that statement out of hand, it made me start thinking about why I always feel so testy when listening to native Americans complain about what happened to them.
First, let me say categorically, that I think that the destruction of their cultures by disease and being pushed off of their land was a terrible blow to their people. You would have to be an idiot to deny that! But I WASN'T there. I didn't make those decisions and hopefully, might have made different ones.
But in my opinion, it was almost inevitable as the world began to shrink. Does anyone REALLY think that Europeans or other peoples would have stayed away from North and South America forever? If the British and French had not colonized North America, the Spanish would have eventually gotten around to it. And the Dutch, Russians or Portuguese would have brought diseases with them just as easily as the British did - frankly anyone from off continent would have innocently brought diseases the indigenous peoples would have had problems with. Nobody did it on purpose! They didn't even know what caused diseases or how to prevent them. How could they have deliberately brought disease as a way to "get rid of the Indians?" Frankly, they just didn't have the know how to do it.
So if the Pilgrims had not landed, somebody else WOULD HAVE a decade or two later. And as callous and inconsiderate as the British were, the Spanish conquistadors would have been FAR WORSE! Just look at how they hit the Aztecs, Incas and peoples of South and Central America. They took what they wanted and exterminated anyone who even remotely might have gotten in their way - just to be sure! The pilgrims, for the MOST part, treated their neighbors with honor and respect (perhaps out of fear at first but so what?). There was that corn stealing incident and a few graves opened up when they first explored Cape Cod but after that - things were much better. Later, Roger Williams (who founded the colony of Rhode Island), befriended the Indians and was well liked by them, treating the indigenous peoples with respect and dignity. And let us not forget how eager the Wampanoags were to have an alliance with the pilgrims so they would more secure in the face of some rowdy neighboring tribes. I believe much the same happened again in the settling of Connecticut - Indians invited the English to settle so that they would help protect them from a fierce tribe in the area. So the British didn't always steal the land it would seem. Though it is undeniable that as the colonies began to thrive, the lands of the Indians were taken from them.
That's not cool - I'm not saying it was. But honestly, how would it have turned out any differently? The only way they could have preserved their way of life COMPLETELY intact would have been to not have ANY settlers at all anywhere on the continent. Sorry, but I really don't believe that would have happened. We live in a changing and shrinking world - we are constantly told - but somehow, native Americans think that the world should have passed them by and left them alone. I honestly don't think that is a realistic thought - thus it is a waste of emotional energy. Life is change. Some changes are unwelcome, some are not. What can you do? Often, not much. Trying to stop settlement would have been like trying to hold back the tide. Pretty much a futile effort. Maybe instead of pining for what could have been, we need to find a way to help them become O.K. with the changes that have overtaken them. I honestly don't know how to do that - but I DO get tired of hearing them bash the pilgrims, calling them genocide soldiers... Rubbish! History doesn't bear that out. OTHER colonists that came along later may deserve that more and the Spanish conquerors certainly deserve all the bad press they get...
Awww, I dunno - I'll probably get trounced in comments but honestly - is it really healthy to dwell on what happened 2 1/2 centuries ago? I dunno - seems like a waste of time to me - and it tends to make me a little testy to have to hear it again.

The Holidays are here already????

Yikes! I just realized that Thanksgiving is next week! As a student of history and a fan of tradition, family and food - I love this holiday. It is SO good to focus on what we are thankful for for a change instead of what we are missing or what is wrong etc. I like to try to make a Thanksgiving ceremony that involves reading the Scriptures, some poetry, some of William Bradford's journal, singing and some round the table sharing of what we are thankful for. But it is often hard to do with a big crowd - the focus falls so much on the food and getting it all cooked and passed around.
Then comes the 1st Christmas shopping day after that! Wow - the Christmas shopping season is at hand - how did that sneak up so quickly. Seems like it was just hot and sticky summer a few weeks ago. But I won't complain because as much as I love Thanksgiving - I love Christmas even more. I adore the music!! I love the decorations and the traditions. I love the giving spirit that pervades even the most cranky individuals this time of year. And, of course, there is the 2 weeks of vacation too! That really makes the holiday sweet!

Day 3

Well, I skipped yesterday's workout - so tired! But resumed this morning - that makes Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I plan to go tomorrow with the kids and swim for a while for my 4th workout this week. I am making a committment to go at least 4x each week. I'd like to go more but am not sure if that will be realistic every single week. This gives me a disaster/drop day without having to deal with a lot of guilt. Gotta go!

I Survived

Well, today I started a new morning routine at the health club in our town. I get up around 5:30 a.m. and shuffle off to the club and have a 30+ minute workout. Mostly cardio right now - but plan on doing some weight training and lap swimming too - to give some variety if for nothing else. Then I cool down and have a quiet time in the corner of the lounge area. Then it's back home for a shower and breakfast and out the door for work.
So - today was my first day. I didn't stroke out or even get that winded (I just used the treadmill) as I listened to Rush's greatest hits. Hopefully I won't pay for it too much - it has been a few months since doing any regular exercise.

Funny thoughts (not mine own)

Gentle readers, I cannot claim the following witticisms as mine own - nor can I tell you where I got them - I came across them in an old Word document on my hard drive. So, to the fellow(s) out there who first came up with these funnies - than


For those who love the philosophy of hypocrisy and ambiguity.

1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.....

3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

5. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

6. What if there were no hypothetical questions?

7. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

8. Is there another word for synonym?

9. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

10. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

11. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

12. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?

13. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

14. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

15. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

16. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

17. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines? (Somebody please explain THIS ONE to me) (I know there's a logical explanation, but it escapes me)

18. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?

19. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

20. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

21. How is it possible to have a civil war?

22. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown, too?

23. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?

24. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

25. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have "S" in it?

26. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?

27. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

28. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of God?

Stuck Again!

Well, the plague is pretty much subsided in our household - a mere 48 hours after it began. Hooray! As I was reading my emails this morning, J2 decides to put his elbow inbetween the tines of a dining room chair and is stuck fast! Now this is the same kid that 5+ years ago used to get his head stuck in all sorts of things; a bucket, the railing of a staircase, the anchor porthole of a sternwheeler - all sorts of stuff. It was a regular occurance in those days. I had thought those days were long gone - wrong! LOL
Anyway, I was able to get his elbow out w/ no bruising and I didn't even have to use any butter or break the chair! LOL I guess some things never change!

The plague has struck

Uggh, the plage has struck our home on swift and nautious wings. As my poor in-laws were driving in the driveway practically, my oldest comes out to tell us the youngest has just thrown up. GREAATTT! Within an hour both my wife and I are feeling pretty nauseated and are running a fever w/ lots of aches and pains to boot. This morning (after 2 more vomiting sessions from the youngest in his bed in the middle of the night)my oldest crawls into the living room where I am trying to finish my night's sleep to tell me that he hurts all over. Within the hour, he rushes into the bathroom to spend a good 15 minutes hurling. The kids all seem to be bouncing back pretty fast - so we have high hopes this is a 24 hour bug but my wife and I still have a little fever, some aches and upset stomachs. Here's to hoping and praying it really is just a 24 hour stomach flu! Uggh and double yuch.

Going on the Rack!

Today I meet with a personal trainer at the fitness club we just joined. I am just sure he is going to put me on the rack! I have been largely desk-bound ever since I started having a series of sores and infections last May. Prior to that I had been walking 4-5 times a week and was really starting to feel the difference in my energy when wham - health problem after health problem. Thankfully, that is a good 6+ weeks behind me now and I am alot more informed about exercise health issues - avoiding blisters and chafing etc. Still, hope I don't stroke out and this turns out to be my last blog entry (especially since I have'nt written out my funeral service yet!). Hopefully I'll "see" you tomorrow!

Welcome to Bizarro world

O.K., so I'm pretty disappointed (extreme understatement alert) with the situation in D.C. this morning. Despite their pledges to the contrary (how can you tell when a Democrat is lying - their mouth is moving), get ready for "vindictiveness 101" in the congress. Make no mistake about it - nothing serious will get done. The party in power as of this morning will mire the congress in ENDLESS "investigations" and inquiries into stuff that happened 5+ years ago. And for what purpose? To stick it to the party that used to be in power and dared to do things they didn't like. They won't solve the Social Security dilemna, they won't touch the illegal immigration problem (other than to grant amnesty so that they can paper the problem away), they won't deal with our nations over-dependency on foreign oil, they won't improve the ethics on the Hill, nor will they improve the tone of politics in D.C.
How do I know that? Because if they do ANY of those things, they will anger some chunk of their whacko liberal base (full of fanatical tree-huggers, silver spoon/limousine socialists, big union thugs, and inner city minority groups dependent upon the money and programs they are constantly promised). This might threaten their ability to remain in power. And they will do ANYTHING to stay in power. They will say anything, pretend to be moderate or conservative - all of it justified by the holy grail of staying in control of the purse strings of our society. So, they will talk, they will form endless committees and they will float a few completely absurd ideas so that it looks like they are doing their job - but Democrats were in power for over 4 decades prior to the 12 years of the Republicans - and they refused to deal with those issues when it was on their watch. So why should we expect them to change now? Drunk with power, they will first turn on their opponents and eviscerate them and then will caper and cavort around enjoying themselves - all while we are forced to watch and live with their decisions. Oh yeah! I am looking forward to the next 2-4 years (sarcasmo alert).
By the way, the Republicans earned this defeat by NOT standing up for what they believe. They foolishly tried to "look nice at all costs" and spent money like a drunken sailor - trying to look enough like Democrats that the electorate might ignore the shrill shriekings of the Democrats. It didn't work! The Democrats have absolutely despised Bush since his first day in office. He wasted his time trying to curry their favor - they only grabbed what he offered and shrieked louder. They were NEVER satisfied or grateful, but he kept doing it! Pure foolishness. They squandered SO many opportunities to provide strong leadership or at least counter the obvious lies and distortions of the Dems. They should have acted like the party in power (which is what the Demos have always done) and enacted legislation that was based on their party's principals and platform - which WOULD have been good for the country. But they loved being in power too and shrank back from being true to their platform. Well, look where it has led. Now, we get at least 2 years of Pelosi's Bizarro World. Uggh and double Uggh.

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Well, we are on the eve of election day in the good ole US of A. Sure to be a wild and agonizing day. Which is really unfair because it is also my birthday. Some years that is way cool and the results add to my "special day" festivties. Other years, it sucks all the joy out of the day as I contemplate where I might move to escape the insanity. Truly - the agony and the ecstasy. Holding my breath - waiting for tomorrow...

Politics - geesh!

Well, its only a few days before election day - the airwaves and phone lines are crammed with political ads - all of which paint things exactly the opposite as the "other guy's" ads and claims. It's almost enough to make a guy buy the "there is no such thing as absolute truth" claims of the postmodernist.
Don't you get tired of having to wade through so much offal and refuse to get at the real position behind the hype? I sure do. I have been a life-long republican - and ONLY for the reason that I find their stated platform values to be closest to my own values and beliefs. But I find myself almost willing to vote for a democrat if he or she just told the honest truth - no spin - no half-truths to pick out of it - just the plain ole' truth. I say "almost" because there ARE some who tell you what they really believe but they are often on the extreme edges of the spectrum and they can be, well, kind of scary! Though I find that kind of honesty refreshing - I am not sure I am crazy enough to want to put one of those crazies into office just to spite the incumbent. Yikes!
Having been schooled in political science and history in college, it is also hard to maintain the personal perspective in politics. The big ideas can make it easy to forget how those ideas impact "real people." And yet, if that is your only perspective - how it impacts individuals - you can become paralyzed in the face of having to make a choice between 2 or 3 less than "warm and fuzzy" options for policy. Sometimes the good of the many isn't good for a few. We all want to find a Win-Win solution to every problem but history teaches us that this isn't always (even often?) possible. The world of International Politics, in particular, can be a cold blooded place and as a follower of Christ, that can make me uncomfortable. And yet, sometimes you DO have to punch a bully hard in the nose to protect the rest of the playground. It can get confusing can't it?
I DO know one thing - my sense of outrage and donwright anger over the insanity and stupidity in state and federal governments seems to grow larger every election cycle. I've said it before - "Has everyone in govt. taken stupid pills?" Well I haven't and it is sickening to see officials and candidates taking them by the dozen and foolishly thinking we don't notice or care.
Would you call this a rant? Sorry :o)