IT IS A SHAME! Who Is Responsible?

When my children were small I removed certain words, like quit, from the dictionary.  I did not remove the word blame but I wish that I had.  There is a real tradegy taking place in our country.  If there is blame, there is plenty to go around.  I have my own opinion of who is most  responsible.

I just bought a new, gas grill from Sam's Club.  I have had my eye on it since the first of the year and I decided to buy it before they all sold out.  Although I will use it this summer, I really didn't buy it for that purpose.  I grill a lot--ON CHARACOAL GRILLS!  Why?  Although they are a bit of a bother, I am convinced that food tastes better cooked over characoal.

MY NEW GRILL, ALL THE WAY FROM CHINA

I already have a large gas grill at home.  I told Julie to give it away.  It, like several others before it, was given to me.  I haven't used it.  Why did I then buy a gas grill now?  Well, one of these days, but not this year, I am determined to build me a shanty boat.  Fire is a boat's worse enemy so characoal is out.  This little grill, however, will fit perfectly on the small front deck of my planned shanty boat, when ever, if ever.

So, what is the tradegy?

I bought the grill still in the box  seeing only the floor sample.  When the guys loaded the box in the van I brought it down to the lake and rolled it out of the van, up the stairs and into the front door. (It was too heavy for me to lift and too complicated for me to assemble).  I saw printed proudly on the box MADE IN CHINA ! Made in China.  I mean, don't the folks in the USA know how to make grills?

WHY IS IT MADE IN CHINA AND NOT USA?

It is a long ways to China.  I know, I have sailed both the East and South China Seas.  Still and yet, this grill was manufactured in china and shipped all the way to the USA cheaper than it could have been made right here in the USA.

NOW, THAT IS A TRADEGY, TO MY WAY OF THINKING!. 

Who is responsible for that?  Well, to some extent I am for buying it, although I didn't know where it was made at the time I bought it.  It is difficult today not to buy a product made overseas.  Buy an American car and probably half of the parts come from overseas.  Mostly, it is cheap labor.  I eat blackberries a lot, they come from somewhere in South America.  Again, cheap labor.

Choosing who is most responsible, I would have to say the American labor unions.  Incidentally, I am not anti union.  I recall my Dad opposing the CIO and AFL merger in the late 1940s.  He was in the CIO.  Both of my brothers were union steel workers.  My youngest brother, Ray, was the union president at a steel mill in Alabama.
 
None-the-less, when a garbage collector in New York makes more money than a commerical airline pilot, something is wrong.  When the result is grills from China, the end result is quite clear.

A long, long time ago my eldest brother, Henry, was a steel worker working at the Ravenswood works of  Kasier Aluiminium.  The union was on a strike lasting for months.  In the end labor won, or so they thought at the time.  Among the benefits, they got the right to have 20% of the employees on a three month vacation all the time.  My brother, rascal that he was--runs in the family--was elated.  Yes, a lot of new people were hired to make the new contract work and my brother constantly changed jobs to stay in the vacation group.

I TOLD HENRY AT THE TIME THAT THE UNION JUST SIGNED THEIR OWN DEATH WARRANT!  I  W A S   R I G H T!  You have to be an old person today to recall when there was a Kaiser Aluiminium plant in Ravenswood, WV.

One of my very best friends is a member of the United Rubber Workers, the URW.  When he is laid off, which he is from time-to-time, he will not take another job.  He will tell you he cannot afford to work for the money that the potential nonunion job pays.  Seemingly, he always gets called back before his benefits runs out.  I  WISH HIM NO ILL!  My neighbor does the same as does a lot of folks I know.  Where does the money come from to pay these people for not working?  THINK ABOUT IT!

So, what happens?  Business, looking at their bottom line as they must always do, saves money by letting the folks in China make the grill which they sell for more profit and America ceases to be a manufacturing country.  You get the picture, as I see it

GOV. CHRISTY TAKING THE LEAD IN NEW JERSEY

Teachers, and I appreciate teachers, my daughter-in-law is a teacher and one of the best, and government workers are destroying the country with their contractual rights.  Rights they have negotiated in times past that today cannot be paid.  Several states are standing up for a responsible correction.  Governor Christy in New Jersey set the pace that is being followed by Wisconsin, Ohio and others.

I blogged a couple years ago on the subject of police retirement in Ohio.  It is way out of line with the retirement pay for police being  about double that of the average working pay for the general public.  More than triple my retirement from two employers where I was an associate vice president at last and, earlier, a senior manager with hundred of employees, uh, a non union senior manager.

THE TEA PARTY



.

I don't know the answer.  I most certainly don't know the outcome.  I think the Tea Party is on the right track.  At 80 years of age I am thankful to have lived in America's golden era.

God bless you and yours and God bless the USA!

HURAY, HURAY! Warm, Dry Weather, at last.

Mentally, I knew it would not be cold and rainy forever.  Emotionally, I wasn't too sure.  It has now been hot and dry for two days at  Knox Lake in north central Ohio.  With temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s it is shorts and tee shirt time.  I am so happy!  This great weather is projected to continue for at least the next week, too.  Just better and better.

WALT IN GARDEN LAST YEAR

It is quiet here this morning.  Julie went home last night after a long, Memorial Day weekend.  It was such a progressive weekend.  The first thing Julie does, of course, is a thorough house cleaning.  Not that I am dirty but she is C L E A N !  It is pretty nice to be in a shiny house hold for a change.

House cleaning was just the start.  The grass, which was as high as an elephant's eye, looks respectful now.  And, huray, huray, huray, the garden is not just plowed, it is also planted.  It was still too wet to plow but I plowed it anyway.  I hoed up the hills and Julie planted the cumcumbers and squash.  Only got half the squash planted as it was still to wet to work the ground in a corner of the garden. 

I made the holes and Julie planted yellow peppers and green peppers, about a dozen and a half plants.  that will give us all the peppers we can eat plus peppers to freeze for winter use.  Then together we planted four different kind of tomatoes, including Julie's favorite beef steak tomatoes.  We also planted about a dozen Hillbilly tomatoes, multicolored red and yellow, which are my favorite.  Altogether, we planted  twenty six hills of tomatoes, enough to eat and enough to can for use throughout the year.

SLICED, HILLBILLY TOMATOES

I didn't get the pole green beans planted.  In my landscaping plans I want to plant them on the lakeside fence.  I've got to plow up that part of the lawn to grow on the fence and I'll work on that today.  I also have five trees to plant--I must get them in the ground today.

ISN'T LIFE JUST WONDERFUL?

Julie didn't stop with cleaning and working out-of-doors.  She also cooked and cooked.  One night I grilled steaks, BIG, SEASONED STRIP STEAKS!  Julie fixed a salad, corn-on-the-cob and baked sweet potatoes.  Together with a great red wine, could it have been more perfect?  Maybe!  The next night she served me steamed mussels, crab cakes and clam-on-the-half shell along with all the trimmings and white wine.  I was so full!   

STEAMED MUSSELS

Oh, yes!  We got sun burned.  Julie's face and arm look like a boiled lobster.

Read? Absolutely!  Love my Kindle, thanks folks.  Finished reading A Season in Hell by Jack Higgens.  The Kindle library is now approaching the 700 book level and I'll start a new story today.

At my last physical exam the doctor told me that if I want to enjoy the good life at age 90 I had to get on top of my blood sugar.  He schedule me for a diabetes seminar, which I attended.  It was worth while.  Since the stress of the hip replacement and the meds I took, my sugar has been high.  The doctor doesn't just want it in the safe zone, he wants it low, in the 100-110 range.  The safe zone, I learned in the seminar is 70-130.  It was 127 this morning and I have set a goal of averaging 110 by the last week in June.  I WANT TO DO MY PART TO ENJOY LIFE AT 90!

 This promises to be a great week.  Julie will be back on Friday night.  We need to get together with my son, Mark, and his wife, Mary Kay, for a belated birthday dinner for him on Friday evening..  Hopefully we can do a fish dinner at our favorite local restaurant, the V & M in Belleville.  It is just a little hole-in-the-wall but people drive from Cleveland and Columbus to eat there on Friday nights.

Fishing?  My boats aren't water-ready yet but I'll do some shore fishing for bass tonight.  I've had my "free" fishing liscense for some time now.  The water will soon be warm enough for the crappies.

I have also started a writing chore and need to spend a few hours each morning on that.  My daughter, Kimberly, is editing the work then my friend, Maude, in California is reading it for interest and content.  I haven't figured out yet how to email the work to Kimberly but will figure that out with Mark's help this week.  I am also out of ink for my new Canon printer.  I can't see the errors reading the computer, need to hold it in my hand.  HA

Memorial Day is the start of summer time.  Are you ready to blast off?

God Bless!      

RELAX! Enjoy a chuckle and smell the roses.

Very Clever

Sense of Freshness...

A while ago a new supermarket opened in Topeka, KS..

It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh.

      Just before the mister goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and experience the scent of fresh mowed hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies.

I don't buy toilet paper there anymore!

I go to Walmarts. un huh!

This cute story was emailed to me by one of my readers, and a dear friend.  She got it from her daughter who is a physician.  MY ONLY PAY FOR WRITING A BLOG IS HEARING FROM  YOU,   FROM ASIA, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AND ACROSS THE GOOD OLD USA.

Thanks for writing!  Feel free to reply on the blog, or as most of  you do, email me at http://www.walsinepierce@aol.com/.

Life can be difficult and challenging.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  Let's just remember to have a good chuckle from time-to-time and always make the time to smell the roses.

May God bless you and yours!

PENNIES MAKE DOLLARS: Dollars Make Millionaires

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC

On April the third we quoted Ben Franklin.  He said "A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned"!  Today,  I say to you that "Pennies make dollars and dollars make millionaires"!  Ben and I are both correct, of course.

No!  I am not a millionaire, but I do save pennies. 

Now, my question to you is "Did you heed my advice and save a few pennies?"  If you didn't, shame on you.

IN THAT APRIL 3RD ISSUE I MENTIONED THAT JULIE BOUGHT FOUR, TWO POUND CANS OF COFFEE FOR $4.99, THAT'S $2.50 A POUND.  She was just adding to the six cans she had bought earlier for even less. 

Coffee prices have out paced gasoline prices in the last year.  A one pound can of coffee that sold for $5.10 in April is up 40% from the $3.64 of a year ago.  A gallon of regular gasoline that averaged $3.83 on May 24th is up 37% from a year ago.

While fuel prices are expected to moderate, in fact are doing so now, coffee prices are expected to rise for some time.

J. M. Smuckers Outlet Store in Orville, Ohio

Smuckers, the "with a name like Smucker's, it's gotta be good" jelly people, own many well known food brands, including Folgers and Dunkin' Donuts coffee.  They said  yesterday that they are raising the prices of their coffee products by 11%.  That is their fourth increase on coffee in a year.  Other brands are doing the same.

Over all, coffee crops increased 8% last year with strong supplies from Ethiopi, the Ivory Coast and other countries.  There were weather problems in Indonesia and elsewhere but their is no shortage of coffee.

WHY THE PRICE INCREASE WHEN THERE IS A GOOD SUPPLY OF THE PRODUCT?  In addition to fuel price costs, China, with their strong economic growth and upwards mobile work force, is increasing demands on the world's coffee supply.  BEST WATCH CHINA!  They are eating our lunch in a lot of areas.

IN GENERAL, DUE TO SOARING OIL AND GRAIN PRICES, GLOBAL FOOD COSTS ARE AT THEIR HIGEST IN 20 YEARS!

HEY, BROTHER!  CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?  That was a familiar cry during the Great Depression.  Well, it will take more than a dime to get you a cup of Starbucks today.  Starbucks said yesterday that they were raising their one pound coffee prices from $9.95 - $13.95 to $11.95 to $14.95.

WHAT'S A PERSON TO DO?

Reread my last blog, where we bought Campbell's Pork and Beans for half price.  Yes, that was a price loser with the entent of getting you into the store to buy something else.  What did I buy when I was in the store?  Three, 24 can cases of Campbell's Pork and Beans, for only $23 I must add. Watch, you'll see a "come on in" price on coffee.  Stock up.  You will use it, why pay more?

JULIE, FLYING HIGH IN A HELICOPTER OVER MAUI
To live this good life, we must watch our pennies

Oh, yes!  I should also say to be thankful, VERY THANKFUL, if you are blessed with a thrifty spouse like my Julie.

BTW, DO I APPEAR TO BE HUNG UP ON THIS SUBJECT?  It's worse than you think!  I am into my 3rd book of THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins.  Yes, on my Kindle, of course.  Thanks family, thanks Mark!  

Take care and God bless you and yours. 

NOW, HEAR THIS! NOW HEAR THIS! A Naval Alert!

Last month I sounded four NOW, HEAR THIS!  NOW, HEAR THIS!  Aboard ship, action was immediately taken in response to this call.

MY HOME AS SHIP'S RADIOMAN FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS

It might simply be Sweepers, man your brooms, sweep down all decks, ladders and passage ways.  Dump all trash.  Sweepers man your brooms.  It might be right in the middle of a great crap game, but the sweepers immediately headed for their brooms.

And, of course, if the call was proceeded by the UGGA UGGA UGGA, and General Quarters, General Quarters, Man Your Battle Stations, everyone forgot the crap game and hit the deck a running!

YOU STILL IN THE CRAP GAME?  WAITING FOR A BUZZARD TO POINT THE WAY?

ANYTHING FOR YOU, including a buzzard to point the way!

My blogs of April 3, April 19, April 21 and April 26 were all about the potential of really difficult economic times and what to do about it.  I listed the results of a day's shopping showing how we laid aside food in the event of these difficult times and saved more than half on the cost of our food day-to-day.

The big buy this week was Campbell's Pork and Beans, 3 cans for a dollar, half price!  Beans is just a basic food and is good alone or with a lot of things, including hot dogs.  They are packed 24 cans to the case.  Three cases, or 72 cans, costs only $23.

While this is not a lot of money, folks, it will provide the basis for 72 meals, more than once-a-week, for a year for my wife and I.  I also stored away another case of peas and a bit of canned salmon.

THREE CASES, 72 CANS, CAMPBELL PORK & BEANS

YOU HEARD THE BATTLE CRY!  DID YOU GO TO YOUR STATION?  WITH WHAT DID YOU ARM YOU AND YOURS FOR A MOST LIKELY ECONOMIC STRUGGLE TO COME?

I also bought five more fruit trees, 3 sour cherry and two peach, to add to my small orchard at the family's lakeside retreat.

I have considered the potential problem.  I have come up with a plan.  I am executing that plan.  Just a plain and simple way of life for me.  I AM NOT ANXIOUS!  When we have done what we know to do, then we must simply trust in God to get us through.  As I have faithfully done my part, I am confident God will do His.

ACTUALLY, I COULD FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE WHOLE THING IF I KNEW THAT YOU WERE RESPONDING TO THE "NOW, HEAR THIS!"

Old Gunner, Ready, Willing and Able!

Yes, as then-candidate Obama opined, I cling to my guns and Bible.  And, I have a serious dog, who got clipped today.  My dear Mother's last words on earth were "Yes, Lord".  When it comes right down to it, concerning doing my best for me and mine, I too can say "Yes, Lord!"

God Bless!

THE KING'S SPEECH: A Follow Up On Westminster Abby Blog

Julie, my wife, insisted that I watch a movie, The King's Speech with her.  I really did not want to, knowing that it was about a person with speech problems.

Having suffered thoroughout my life with a speech impediment, watching someone else with the same problem did not sound enjoyable.

As I so often am, I was wrong!

It was a great movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  A great part of the enjoyment was in that I lived through that part of history, and also that I have visited the site of the movie.

Like in the movie The Quiet Man, the first movie filmed on site, overseas, where I visited the little village of Cong in County Mayo, Ireland, called Innisfree in the movie.

THE QUIET MAN, FILMED IN CONG, COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND

Last week I wrote a blog about visiting Westminister Abby.  In the blog I mentioned seeing the Throne of England, KING EDWARD'S THRONE OVER THE STONE OF SCONE.  In this movie, The King's Speech, the Throne of England plays a part.

     

KING EDWARD'S THRONE
Really, it didn't look this fancy in person or in the movie

We also visited the Tower of London to view the Crown Jewels.  The official Crown of England seemed small and insignificant compared to the other jewels on display.

THE TOWER OF LONDON WHERE THE CROWN JEWELS ARE KEPT



If you read my previous blog you may recall that I said it was just a plain wooden chair over a big stone.  The speech therapist, in the movie,  commented that it was just an "old wooden chair with some writing on it over a rock".  In indignation, King George VI informed him, in the movie, that it was the Throne of King Edward and that it was the Stone of Scone. When you see the movie, and I bet you will, watch for this scene.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISIT TO IRELAND DRESSED IN GREEN
At one time the English would hang the Irish if they wore green.

Bye the bye, did you notice last weeks visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II?  She is the first English Monarch to visit Ireland in 100 years and the first to visit a "freed" Ireland.  In the above mentioned movie about her father, King George VI, she is the oldest of his two young daughters.

Life is good!

God Bless!



CHURCH ATTENDANCE: A Simple Joy

WELCOME TO CHURCH REQUEL - 6:00PM SUNDAY

Last Sunday evening I experienced a joy few men ever do.  I attended church where my eldest son was the Pastor.  Actually, I have enjoyed this experience for years before as my youngest son, Todd, is also an Ordained Minister,  now retired after some 30 years in the Ministry.

Mark getting  State Church Charter

The oldest son, Mark, sold his financial firm a few years ago to become a full time Minister.  A year or so ago he started a different kind of church, CHURCH REQUEL. 

 A prequel is something that is going to happen, a sequel is something that has happened and a requel is a different way of doing something. Church Requel is different.

First of all, Sunday Worship service is on Sunday evening, not Sunday morning.  Tough Saturday night?  Sleep in, church is at 6:00PM.  Come-as-you-are, no fancy clothes at Church Requel.  Short of funds?  Not to worry, they don't take an offering.  THAT'S PRETTY REQUEL, HUH?  Offerings are needed and appreciated.  Just put it in the box at the rear of the church.

CHURCH REQUEL BAND CHANGES FROM TIME TO TIME
Their music, however, is always upbeat and alive!

 And, the music!  Hold on to your pew!  They have music.  The band changes from time to time but it will always be LOUD AND ROWDY!  Uh, did you notice the building keeping tempo with the bass?  You will never go to sleep in Church Requel, that's for sure.  The folks get into their extensive musical program, on their feet with their hands together.  Their special singers are truly special.

THE WORDS TO THE HYMN COMES TO MIND, "It is Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory"!

CHURCH REQUEL CHRISTMAS GIVING - OUTSTANDING FOR SIZE OF CHURCH
One of several teams standing in line to present gifts to one of many needy families!

A church should be about love.  At Church Requel it is abundantly clear that the Pastor cares deeply for each and every member.  It is also abundantly clear that each and every member cares deeply for their Pastor. 

Will Church Requel ever become a mega church?  I don't know.  I do know that Christ said that "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I shall be in their midst", something like that.  A lot more than two or three at Church Requel, about double the attendance of my home church. 

On a cross country motor trip Mark and I listened to sermons by he and his brother Todd.  Mark inquired how I would compare the two speakers.  I replied that when he spoke people leaned forward, got out their notebook and started to taking notes.  When Todd spoke, people leaned back, crossed their legs and started to grin.  Mark's sermon on PRAYER was delivered with great skill.  It was  inspiring and uplifting. 

Walt with Nancy Roop, 20 Yr. Off. Mgr. at Pierce Financial & Dear Friend

WEB SITE ARTICLE HEADING - http://www.churchrequel/

Friendly!  You feel it as soon as you enter and are offered a coffee and assorted, home made cookies.  It continues until you leave.  You know you are an important person at Church Requel!  There are a few older folks, but a lot more children.  The ages are mostly young to middle age.  Being a church young in age, most are computer literate.  Communication is something beautiful to behold, and, like the church members, I check it faithfully,  http://www.churchrequel.com/.,  check it out.

SANCTUARY EASTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

I am a member of the Easton United Methodist Church, a little, white country church dating back to the Civil War.  The same organist has served for 30 years.  Two "quiet" hymns, and a chorus with a guitar is the normal musical program, with a special singer for Easter or Christmas.

The "Call to Worship",  responsive reading, will be different each week but, mostly, the bulletin could be from last year or fifty years ago.  The Pastor, a PhD with several book publications, reads his well written sermon. After his prayer, followed by moments of silence, the Congregation joins in the Lord's Prayer. Same-O Same-O?  Absolutely not!  It is heart felt worship.  We are Methodist, uh, Method--ist.  Get it?

The Methodist are real "feeders", however, and I am right at home.  Computer literate?  Well, there are a couple of us who have and use computers.  Children? A few.  Old people?  Lots and lots!  I miss them terribly when I live at the lake in the summer time.

DESSERT TABLE AT METHODIST DINNER - I brought Apple, Peach and Cherry Pies 

I am absolutely convinced that life is better, uh, make that much better, for people who attend church.

Take care and God Bless.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Not Really, Not Yet!

MARY KAY PIERCE, RN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS

Once, when the family was playing a game, I think it was called "Scruples" where one's answer to an ethical situation could be challenged, my lovable daughter-in-law, Mary Kay, shown here receiving a Nursing Award, said "No, she would not steal food, even to feed her hungry children".

No one challenged her negative answer because she is such an honest person.  I did tell her, however, that she had never had hungry children so she didn't really know the answer.  Although she would pray for forgiveness as she took the food, in my opinion, she wouldn't hesitate to take food to feed her children.  But, then I could be wrong.

I am not wrong when I recall how honest people took what was not theirs to take in extremely difficult economic times.  I've walked with my Dad, when I was just 4 or 5 years old, as he walked through a corn field that he didn't plant, carrying the corn as he picked it.  It was field corn but no one was choosy in the Great Depression.

UH, NO, I DON'T RECALL DAD ASKING FORGIVENESS, AT LEAST NOT AT THE TIME!

THIS IS NOT THE GREAT DEPRESSION!  And, what was stolen from my wife Julie was not food for hungry children.

SOME WORTHLESS PERSON STOLE SEVEN OF THE ROUND, RIVER ROCKS FROM HER ROCK GARDEN!  Those rocks are pretty heavy.  I'm sure whoever took them used a car, meaning it was an adult.

It is not a great loss, in fact, I have spare rocks down at the lakeside retreat just like the one's that were lost.  IT IS JUST THE PRINCIPLE OF THE THING.  If they would have asked about the rocks, I would have given them seven rocks! 

JULIE'S ROCK GARDEN, NEWLY PLANTED IN 2010 

When the flowers around the large maple tree were mature, last year, it was spectacular!  It added greatly to the beauty of the community.  It adversely effected no one.  It brought joy, not only to my wife, but to all who drove by the house.  Some stopped to take pictures.  

WHAT MAKES THIS WORTH A BLOG?  If people, in relatively good times, will steal something as worthless as a round, river rock, what would they do in extremely difficult times?  YOU WOULD DO WELL TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOURSELF BEFORE IT BECOMES IMPORTANT.

WILL THIS SPOIL MY DAY?  Not in the least!

This morning a repairman is coming to repair the depth control on my roto tiller.  I am then having lunch with my lovely daughter, Kimberly, and touring a Napa-like Vineyard for an outing with my Dining Group.  IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.

THE SUN IS SHINING, THE BIRDS ARE SINGING AND THE BEES ARE ALL MAKING HONEY!  Doesn't get any better than that!

Natalie Clifford Barney:

"Why grab possessions like thieves, or devide them like socialists, when you can ignor them like wise men"?

God Bless!

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH: At Last

There is nothing new about getting "cards" in the mail.  Without even reading the "story" I just cut the cards up.  I do use a debit card to access my cash, but do not own a credit card.

Unfortunately, in today's world one must have a credit card to do a lot of things, ie, renting a car, staying in a motel.  My wife has credit cards.  Sorry to say, she also uses them, as do most people.

The card I received today was neither a credit nor debit card.  I am thankful to get this card.  I anticipate needing it badly from time-to-time.  IT IS A "I HAVE HAD A HIP REPLACEMENT CARD". 

Why is such a card necessary?  As the letter with the card explained, I'll trigger every metal detecter I pass through.  The card certifies that I have a metal hip.

I never gave it a thought.  If the question came up, I could quickly show them the six inch scar where the new hip was installed.

The letter also encouraged me not to be discouraged in recovering from the operation.  It said that in "12 TO 18 MONTHS' I could expect to be back to normal.

THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE OPERATION.

Specifically, the doctor said I would get  up the day of the operation.  He said physical therapy would not be necessary, that JUST WALKING would be the best therapy.

I LIKED THE DOCTOR.  I WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPERATION IF HE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THE "WHOLE" TRUTH BEFORE THE OPERATION.  I AM GLAD I HAD THE OPERATION, THE PAIN IN THE WORN OUT HIP WAS BAD!

Based on the information I had prior to the surgery, I thought I could make a long distance bike trip in April and ride GOBA, the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, in June.

WALT RIDING TRIKE IN CALIFORNIA

I will be going down to Cincinnatti soon to have my son, Todd, get my trike into riding condition and start riding it down at the lake this summer.  I have been quite agressive, my wife keeps cautioning me, in my recovery.  The people who worked with me tell me I have progressed more than most do.

I STILL WALK WITH A CANE--I CAN WALK WITHOUT IT BUT AM NOT OVERLY STABLE AND I DON'T WANT TO FALL.  It has now been four months since my hip replacement.  I appreciate hearing the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, AT LAST!

God Bless you and yours!

JUST A FUNNY OR TWO: Chase Away the Doom of a Cloudy Day!

'IT'S TRUE!  I'VE GROWN OLD! Not bad considering the alternative!

My pretty wife of 32 years is mowing my overgrown west lawn at our lakeside retreat, finishing just as it started to rain again.  Donna picked up fruit tree prunings.  I need to do some roof repairs here but cannot do so until it is dry and above 50 degrees.  I just checked the weather and that won't happen in the next week.

If you are as tired of the seasonal GLOOM AND DOOM as I am, let me share some funnies.

GENERATION Y, WHY?

People born befor 1946 were called THE SILENT GENERATION.

The BABY BOOMERS are those born between 1947 and 1959.

GENERATION X people have been born between 1960 and 1979.

GENERATION Y were born between 1980 and 2010.

Why do we call the last group GENERATION Y?

I always thought it was because they say.......

Y should I get a job?

Y should I leave home and find my own place?

Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?

Y should I clean my room?

Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?

Y should I buy any food?

Then a cartoonist explained it very eloquently below:

         

                            TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY, RIGHT?

A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas, and talked with and old rancher.

He told the rancher "I need to inspect your ranch for illegal drugs."

The rancher said "Okay, but don't go in that field over there"..., as he pointed to the location.

The DEA officier verbally exploded saying "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me!"

Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher.   "See this BADGE?!  This BADGE means I am allowed to go wherever I wish...onto any land!!  No questions asked and no answers given!!  HAVE I MADE MYSELF CLEAR, do you understand?!!

The rancher proudly nodded, apologized, and went about his chores.

A short time later, the rancher heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the DEA officier running for his life, being chased by his big, prized, Santa Gertrudis bull.......

With every step the bull was gaining on the officier, and it seemed likely that he'd sure enough get gored before he reached safety.  The officier was clearly terrified.

SANTA GERTRUDID BULL

The rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs......

"YOUR BADGE, SHOW HIM YOUR BADGE......!! 

..................................................................................

BTW, you  might be wondering what we do at our little, lakeside retreat in cold, rainy spring weather.  I'll tell you.

 Julie and Donna and I got here a bit before dark last night after taking our daughter and family out for dinner.  After "carrying in", a chore because Julie will bring "more" all season long, Julie and Donna cleaned.  I always clean before they come, but I got confused about what day it was and had to run leaving everything in my verson of "life at the lake" when I realized it was Saturday instead of Friday.

When everything was in order, we watched movies until nearly 4AM, ending with A Walk in the Clouds, a favorite of ours that Donna hadn't seen.  Although I did have to get up at 8AM to let the dog, Gunner, out to take care of his business, and eat grass, we all slept in until nearly 11AM.  Julie fixed a great breakfast and we all went shopping for the day.  Uh, I took my Kindle and finished another book!  They went to Lowe's, Aldis, Big Lots, Krogers, Farmer's Fleet and Walmart.  I kept the Kindle company in the van.  What did they buy?  Nothing to brag about.  

We didn't get home until nearly 7PM, and Julie fixed an awesome Gumbo Creole.  Was it spicy?  The dessert was banana split ice cream.  At the first bite, steam streamed out of Donna's mouth to keep the tears streaming down her cheeks company, as she kept muttering something that sounded like "Oh! My Acid Reflux"!  Un Huh!

Dinner is over, IT REALLY WAS GREAT AND WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WATCHING ONE ANOTHER COPING WITH THE SPICE!  Big Chunks of sausage and chicken to go with the okra in a delightful rue.  YUMMY!  They are cleanning up after which it will be movie time again.  Tonight's feature?  Return To Me, another favorite of ours Donna hasn't seen.

Donna with tissue watching a sob story!

LIFE IS GOOD AT THE LAKE!

Remember what Henry Wadsword Longfellow had to say - "Into each life some rain must fall"..

God bless!