110630 Just a Day in Which I was Bummed About Politics

I should have read the Word this morning. After this, I shall. Political commentary makes me angry, as does lack of a certain kind of exercise. Neither situation is anything new in my life. In the early 70s, I took history from a brash native Texan with a famous Texan surname. She taught me world history and/or American history. (Texas history was taught in 4th and 7th grades by other native Texans who drilled FREEDOM into my head. Texan Braveheart, anyone? My high school history teacher was certainly of Scottish descent.)

One comment she made may have been a quote, but I clearly remember the way she said it. "Tell a lie long enough and loudly enough, and the people will believe it." She was referring to Hitler's claim of German superiority. As a German descendant, from a town with a German name and a region made up of a great many German descendants, I know that Germans do a lot of things well. Few cultures match theirs in diligence, perseverance, and attention to detail. At one time, the finest machines and the finest engineers came from Germany. That is why such a tiny country almost took over the world in the last century. Even as late as the 1960s, it was GERMAN scientists who provided the brain power for the space race. That, however, does not make them 'superior'.

Today, politicians are blasting us with other lies. Here is a partial list:
1. Man has more effect on climate than the sun does. Tell that to the dinosaurs.
2. Keynesian economics works, or Reagonomics was a fluke that simply appeared to work. Reagan turned what was almost another Great Depression into prosperity inside of three years, and that was while fighting Congress every step of the way AND backing down the USSR.
3. American liberals are kind. (They physically and openly attack anyone who does not agree with them -- on sight. 'Hate speech' and derogatory terms from a liberal are not considered 'hate speech'. Example, calling Sarah Palin's daughter a 'cunt' is truth, but pointing out that the decline of two-parent families has lead to more juvenile crime is 'hate speech', even when facts and figures prove it. There are more examples of this than I can even recall! Some vicious acts have been done to people I know personally!)
4. All conservatives are either wealthy CEOs who cheated to get their money, or ignorant, inbred poor white trash who just do what they are told. (I am a free thinker who is neither rich nor ignorant. Neither do any of my conservative friends fit that description.)
5. American oil companies make too much money, but Venezuela, Iran, and Iraq don't? (American oil companies want to hire Americans, and they make less than 1% profit. The other countries make 1000% profit, or more, and that money goes straight into terrorism.)

Can we come back from this? Or are people my age and younger so indoctrinated into the socialist propaganda of 'equal results'? Everyone is NOT the same! Some people work harder or work smarter than others. Some people want a free ride without effort. Some people have higher moral standards. Some people say there is no such thing as a moral standard. Some people work for the greater good. Some people actually pay attention and know that the greater good is the freedom to make mistakes.

Only God can sort out this mess. Is this the end? Oh, that would be convenient! I'm sure that many people have wished that in other terrible times. What is the worst it can get? I'm sorry, but I can imagine it a lot worse. World wide communism? World wide Islam? Something like The Matrix, where humans are all slaves? Yes, it can get worse. It will get worse when Christ takes away all those who are born again. We are all that stands against total chaos. As bad as it seems to be, we are not yet seeing the wrath to come!

110629 Car Update

Took it to the shop, and it will cost $2000 to $3000 to fix, and that does not include body parts! I am reusing what was damaged. While the car runs, there was significant damage in the engine compartment. She has a job, now. Guess all the proceeds will be going to the car. The good news is that a friend is loaning me a vehicle for the week.

110627 Car Accident.

Moon had a car accident while driving two friends to something. She was not going to tell anyone, but it was difficult to hide. The SUV she hit didn't seem to have any damage whatsoever, but the driver filed a claim with our insurance anyway. Our car may be undrivable. The hood will not go back into place, and the body has been pushed so that one of the back doors is crinkled. The steering did something really odd yesterday, and it makes extra loud road noise. To top it off, Moon resented it when I took her keys! She wants to know why she cannot drive. Two accidents in two months maybe? She will have to pay for her own insurance now, too. I will not be able afford to cover her with this kind of record.

110623 Depressing

All week, my feet have been swollen. Today it is particularly painful. Finally, we got some rain Tuesday night, and my daughter has the dreaded 80s Hair. Like my sister, she could have said, "Some people pay a lot of money to make their hair look like this!" It is not, however, the 80s, and she will spend a useless hour with the hair straightener. An hour after that, the curls will come back.

How can I get a job if I cannot stand? Two people told me to look into medical billing at home. I looked into it. I am not qualified, because I have to have a certain education and/or bonding. Bonding sounded expensive and complicated. A friend recommended that I do tech support for computer and other electronics. Fine, I took the company test and failed it by one point. Test giver said to take it again in a couple of days. The next time I took the test, I missed a lot more questions. I don't even know what to study. I'm too old, too educated, too ignorant, too much a relic of a time passed.

I have enough money from the house to live for awhile, but that will be gone and what will I have? I feel so useless. If I didn't have the girls, I would just die. Guess I'm not a fighter.

110614 Bad Attitude

I have a bad attitude today. It may be I am suffering withdrawal from ginsing, taurine and l-carnitine...

Twenty Questions

1. Make a list of 5 things that you wish were in reach: JT, water, exercise bike, TV controls, margarita

2. What is your favorite holiday? Resurrection Sunday

3. What is one item of clothing you wish you could always wear? T-shirt

4. What do you plan to do after this meme? Check mail

5. What are you listening to right now? "Stricken" by Disturbed

6. Who was the last person you hugged? Agent for her help mopping triumph.

7. What random song just popped in your head now? "Broken, Beat, and Scarred" by Metallica

8. What did you do today? Got up, washed clothes, took Ariel home, dropped Moon at Espi's, went to bank, answered call, ran home, stopped leak, and mopped. Then cooked supper and now computer time.

9. What was the last text message you received? "Any Bookcases?"

10. What websites do you always visit when you go online? Facebook. I spend far too much time there.

11. What is your next big planned purchase? A home.

12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Back to Alaska

13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Retired and living in an RV

14. Where's your tattoo/Where would you like a tattoo? Where's your piercing/Where would you like a piercing? One hole in each ear is quite enough. No tattoos. Ever.

15. What are you doing this weekend? talking with my landlord sat, then Pentacost celebration Sunday.

16. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play? I already play piano, flute, drums, and chanter. I want to learn bagpipes and banjo.

17. What's the one thing you need the most now? JT

18. Are you a creeper? Only to creepy people.

19. What was the last thing you ate? Japanese Sea Grass

20. Do you play the game? Nope, and YOU LOSE!

110609 Two Views

There are two ways one can look at this. Today is karate day, but Agent decided to stay home while Moon and I went out. The bank finally got their computers fixed, so I got my money and was tending to bills when I received an uncharacteristic voice call from Agent.

One way to look at what happened next is to moan about 'why!?' "Haven't we suffered enough!!!!"

I decided that there was a bright side.

1. Normally, Agent would have gone with us to town, but she stayed home.
2. Normally, when she stays home, she sleeps or sinks her full attention into video games.
3. Normally, when a problem seems insurmountable, she gives up.

Today, she noticed that water was leaking from the laundry room.

1. She got a towel and made a dam for the water.
2. She called me, and tried to follow my instructions to turn off the water main.
3. She mopped until she almost puked.

I am proud of my little sweetie. She is growing up just fine.