Boy - it's been a while since I posted but here's one.

With all the convention and political posturing going on, it might be nice to reflect a bit on some other important things to think about.

Regardless of how you feel about the various sides to the story, people are getting killed. Cops, Citizens, Good Guys, Bad Guys..............lots of bad things happening. If you're a caring person, despite whatever your political and social leanings may be, you should be saddened by all of this and sincerely hope that solutions can be found that will stop the madness.

Cops exist because bad people exist and, without them, we would quickly lose all semblances of a safe society. They risk their lives to protect ours and, while yes some may be poorly trained, too quick on the trigger, or hot headed, most aren't. I do believe that the things that have happened recently justifiably alter their demeanor a bit and, at the minimum, make them more cautions when dealing with any situation.

We also should be able to agree that you don't kill people just because they may back talk, or fail to comply by reacting with non-life threatening resistance. Restraint is an important human characteristic and one which we all need to practice. I'm not advocating letting people off the hook for criminal acts, but rather gauging our reactions to those acts in a manner commensurate with their severity. Another characteristic is empathy - both from and towards the police. The importance of maintaining a civilized reaction to any encounter with law enforcement can't be over emphasized - they are doing a job that benefits us all so help, don't hinder their attempts to do so.

Anyway, that's my thought for the day.

Christmas is almost here - again,

I've neglected this blog for quite some time but it seems to stick around and be there when I look for it.
My life hasn't changed much since the last post. I'm a bit older but we are still around, still loving the two places I live in, and still able to pay the bills. I guess by any reasonable standard things are pretty good. Christmas makes one be a bit introspective, maybe a better word is thankful. Yep, that's the word and I hope it's in everyone's mind this time of the year.

Snow Keeps Coming Around Here Lately!

Wow. Winter in these parts just won't quit. It's 10 degrees this morning and icy remnants of the two back to back snow and ice events still sit on the ground, waiting to catch unsuspecting people who don't look before they leap.

Me? I am going to head someplace warmer - probably not by more than 20 or 30 degrees but maybe there won't be any ice around, or snow to shovel. I got a pretty good workout this past week, at least until my gracious neighbor introduced me to his new snow blower. What a difference that thing made and, when the second snow storm hit, it got even better because I paid his son to do the blowing.

I bought a truck in November - a 4 wheel drive job. Good thing too since, even though our other vehicles are either 4 WD or all wheel drive, the truck is there, already dirty, and proven itself to be able to handle this weather. I guess I'll have to take it south in order to wash it though since the roads around here, would just get it dirty again. Besides, the outside water spigots and hoses are probably frozen for the season. Florida sounds like a great idea - too bad it's so full of old people. I hate to add to that list.

Winter Weather? What Winter Weather?

It's January 5th, 2015 and was 62 degrees today at 6 PM. This is crazy, not that I am complaining about the temperature, but the rain can quit anytime now please. Just returned from SC and it was pretty much the same weather there.

Here's hoping we don't get any big changes and the winter is a mild one. Snow is something I can live without.

Rain and More Rain

It's been raining at the beach for the last five days and more is expected. If I had been on a vacation that cost me money, I would been croaking right now. Supposedly it will clear up in another day or so. The lack of activity is a real drag. Come on sunshine.

Wow. It's Been a Long Time.

Blogs take a bit more care and feeding that one may realize. In order to do it right, you need to do it often and have enough going on either in your life or your head to make it interesting. I need to do better so perhaps I should live an edgier life but that might get expensive.

What to do? Maybe switch from jeans to khakis?

It's Blog Time Again,

I've gone for quite a while without a blog post, primarily because I haven't had much to say and little time in which to say it. Work sometimes takes my focus away from things not work related, blogs included. Things are a bit quiet right now so here I am.

Winter is still going strong, despite the fact that today is about 60 degrees, sunny, and entirely beautiful. The massive amount of snow from a week ago is nearly all gone and people are actually washing their cars....most of them needing it too.

We're hoping to get away to NC early next month and also hoping to find things in good order when we get there. Usually, that ends up being the case, thank goodness. Maybe we will see some South Carolina family in the process.

Well, as you can see, I have nothing monumental to talk about...oh, I did grow a beard but that's not gonna last much longer. It looks so urban, almost so much so that a cardboard "help me" sign wouldn't be out of place. 

Anyway, have a great day and look for an upcoming post with a bit more splash in the future.

OMG I Forgot about You.

How about that....I totally forgot about this blog. Nothing has changed, every day the same....drive, shop, teach, pay bills, get things repaired, repeat. 

Not posting much lately.

Wow, it's been a while since I posted on this blog. I've been distracted, what with teaching, tripping, and just doing what you need to do in order to take care of life's business.
It seems to me that life is more complicated than it used to be. Bills to pay, repairs to get done, people to visit, and meetings to attend. I am giving serious thought to becoming a recluse but need to pick where I will reclude to when I do. Maybe a cave would be nice. Perhaps I could house squat. Anyway, I gotta run....have a meeting to attend.

Off to the Circus!

It's September 30 and today we're off to Cirque Du Soleil to see Totem. Hopefully, it will be a cool Fall day but not rainy. From what I can see, the cool part is on tap, but so is some rain.  Oh well, it's under a big tent so what the heck.  Happy circus and Happy Fall.

Politics isn't hard to understand

There are two kinds of voters in this country; honest, hardworking people who obey the law, support their family, and pay their taxes; and those who don't.
With 50% of the nation paying no taxes, and 57% of all tax revenues coming from 5% of the population, it isn't really hard to see who does and who doesn't contribute their fair share.
The food stamp program has nearly tripled in 4 years. Unemployment is rampant. Housing prices are slumping. In short, we can't afford to chance another round of promised hope and change becoming hopeless change.
No smooth rhetoric can make the fundamental problems disappear. No glib talking, fact twisting ex president, already debarred from practicing law for lying to a judge, can explain it away. Only a change in leadership and philosophy can put us back on the course first charted by our founding fathers.
Think carefully before you vote. This may be your last chance if you do it wrong.

Quelch Town has been deserted lately!

It's almost become a ghost town. Don't worry, it is still around, I've just been busy.

The night the sky exploded.

On June 29, 2012, at around 9 PM, the skies in and around Northern Virginia and Washington, DC exploded with rain, wind, and lightening. Power was knocked out in hundreds of thousand homes. The wind blew and lightening struck, bringing down trees in many locations.
In my own neighborhood, several very large trees were felled, one literally crushing the roof of a house, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. This was just one instance among hundreds in the area.
This was indeed a terrible storm, certainly one for the record books and one whose record won't be broken if we are lucky.

Here is a referral for you

Go to www.churchofthewordanddeed.org and check out the blog site there.

February Blahs

If you don't stay busy, February can be a boring month. Outside activities are limited, inside activities aren't usually too much fun.
Shopping, or rather running around stores to kill time, is one pastime to consider. I guess a person could take up bolling or go to movies.
Anyway, the forecast here in Northern Virginia is for snow this weekend. Me? I think a trip south would be a good bet, but then, it's supposed to rain there. I guess my options are pretty limited.

A Multicultural Day!

Had Greek yogurt for breakfast, Taco Bell for lunch, and General Tso's Chicken for supper.

Check out my latest website and blog

www.churchofthewordanddeed.org

Spiritual messages from a non spiritual believer. You are welcome to subscribe and to consider yourself a member of our group.

What is it with that red light anyway?

Stupid red light on ejector pump alarm panel stays on. Plumber says pump is working. Right now, my house looks like one of ill repute.

Apple Pickers at Marker-Miller Orchards

Patti and Brad October 6, 2011

Winchester Virginia

Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better still.

When one emerges from adversity, one realizes that it is that very adversity that plants the seed of appreciation for happiness.