The Merits of Doing Well

Hello Friends;

  It's cold and windy out today... I think I'll stay in and write.

Recently I read just a bit about "The Society of St.Vincent DePaul".  Like any organization, I would bet it has a share of less than dedicated volunteers mixed in with those who are real in their mission, and I would bet that some aspects of reality strike at their mission to feed and clothe and house the poor.... but with all that said, I like the premise.  I like the idea of sanctifying oneself through service.  Not sure it is for me, but the concept is simply beautiful.

 I would like to imagine that such are the people that, in deference to some of you who don't believe, if there is a God, that He looks down in pride and love.  I imagine Him saying "My Good and Faithful Servent, Well Done".  I want to believe that He makes the way for resources and what have you to be made available.  It's a good life in a hard job, I bet. Perhaps, as the old saying goes, one can live one's life helping his fellow man and come to the end of life to find that there was no god waiting for him with arms wide open.  But, in such a case, that person lived a life filled with love, caring for his neighbor.  It's a good life, I think.

  I was thinking about some of the things I am seeing recently in politics.  And, of course, this is why politics and religion should not meet.  They just don't play on the same field.  But, over and over again, we hear from the conservative right that we are giving too much in food voucher (snap), too much in unemployment insurance, too much in health care.   At the same time, we seem to step on ourselves trying to give ever more breaks to those who don't need the help - wealthy corporations, tax breaks for wealthy individuals, buying off other countries' politicians, etc.  You see, what bothers me is that these same conservatives will thump their chests proclaiming themselves of such and such religion, decrying the actions others take as blasphemous and horrible by the basis of that religion, and yet routinely acting in direct opposition to the very dictates of the man/God for which their own religion is named.

I think I now understand, acknowledging a belief in God is a necessity of Government because it maintains the understanding and humility that the government is not the ultimate, pinnacle, acme, end-all/be-all of life.  There exists something greater.

  But, to be a good leader, it is necessary to do what is best for the country, making the horrible decisions to put one need above another.  Sometimes that does mean putting limits on money spent to help the poor, the sick, the homeless... It's simple economics:  in my home if I don't allocate enough money to the heating bill it gets really cold in the winter.  If I give all my money to the heating and walk about in here like it's the tropics, I can't eat..... well, so goes government.  They have a job to do with the money allocated and sometimes cuts in food allocations or such are required in order to do a good over-all job.
Scary thought, eh?

Now, then comes this question:  Are our leaders in fact doing what is best for the country?

Fall colors in Michigan, or, what goes up a tree must fall... and be picked up.

Hello Everyone;

  It's been a while, but a bit ago I went to see my parents.  I thought I'd put up the pictures from that endeavor.... I just took a few... I'm posting these differently, so please let me know if they suddenly disappear on you.  I'll redo the post the old way.

This, of course, is my Gracie.  We hiked down to a near-by campground area early Saturday morning.  As you can imagine, Gracie loves it up there.  I believe if heaven exists for dogs, it would look a lot like this.

I liked this picture.  Sort of has all sorts of elements of a good photograph; movement, leading lines towards the center while above the eyes are able to easily open back out and view the whole, color, reflection, hard and soft colors.... now only if it had a good photographer to capture it!  Gracie went down these stairs to get a closer look at the creek and I tried to get a picture of her on the stairs.  I'm too slow.
  After a moment, I followed to get my own look and Gracie followed a squirrel smell off into the area above, then suddenly realized she couldn't find me.  Poor thing panicked.   Isn't it nice to be needed?

These two are from the folks house, looking out over the lake.  My parents bought this place when I was 11, going into it with my two aunts/uncles.  This is where we spent a great deal of time since it fairly well tapped out any reserve any of them had, but I lived on that lake as a kid.  Terrorized the poor bluegills and swam until I looked like a prune.    I hated to leave at the end of the stay - life seemed different there; the horrible things didn't seem to be there or I was off on my own so much that I simply escaped them.

And, now, a bit of the reason I've not been on line so much doing postings...

Fall has arrived!  I work my day shift job from can't see until 3:15, then come home and clean up leaves until I can't see anymore.  I love this time of the year, but I do get tired of doing leaves every dang day!

I hope you all are doing well right now.  I know November, especially in the northern states, can be grey and cold, depressing.  Write me if you like, we can be cold and grey together :) lol       Hugs!

The Butter Battle...

This story was written for kids.  It's the story of how two peoples who are basically the same, get deeper and deeper into hate, vengence, weapons... all for something quite basic and simple.  Originally it was written with the U.S/USSR cold war in mind.  I wonder if this also looks like congress?  If this also looks like gay rights/religion?

It's the story of how the world comes to the brink of destruction because two peoples can't simply acknowledge that each does something differently, does something that seems and feels and is right for them.
Maybe it doesn't work for anything but the cold war.... but maybe it is also a good lesson.  

hugs

Scottie do not read this post.

Hello Friends;

  I ran across a pic today, sparked my interest.  It is below and speaks for itself.

When I was much younger, I hunted some.  Mostly, I shot things... trees, cans, targets.  I no longer own guns, and for the most part don't need or want to.  But, I thought I would tell you my story about guns...

I've told you all about when I was 11, and was raped by one of my neighbors.  I don't need to go over that again.  In the ensuing period afterward, I recall quite clearly getting my father's gun and putting it to my head.  As you can imagine, it didn't go off.  I don't recall if I didn't load it, or if I loaded it wrong... I remember pulling the trigger and nothing happening, then putting the thing back where it was and going into my room to stare at the wall for a while.

  In time, I was ok.  Mostly.  I had some fear issues and self esteem issues, still do.  I also had anger issues, and those still get me now and again.  Perhaps it just isn't something that can be fully put behind a person?  

  I, of course, had a bb gun when I was a kid.  I think my Dad may still have the darn thing stashed somewhere.  He's not good at throwing things out.  My friend and I got quite good at target shooting, and like most kids, were more creative than wise.  We would play war, shooting each other as we ran through the woods with the rule:  no shooting in the face.  Seemed quite safe then.... right?
  In time, I moved up to a .22.  Just a plinker rifle, cheap but accurate.  I recall coming home one day on the day before rent was due and getting stopped by the neighbor kids.  I talked with them for a while, and seeing their mother come from my house with something in a towel had me curious but unconcerned.  Well, come to find out, while I was at work my room-mate decided to pack up and leave, on the day before rent was due.  Since he was still there, the neighbor decided it was likely best if she removed my gun from the house before I got there.  It startled me at the time to realize how that was probably a good idea.

  So, I don't own guns anymore.  Don't need them, don't want them.  But, many people do, want them at least.  And, for those who are safe with them, I am mostly accepting of their rights.  But, look at my history with guns above.  Scary stuff happens, dumb stuff happens, and even accidents happen....
  

...  and when those scary, dumb, accidents happen, no amount of "oops - sorry" brings back the bullet.  

There be monsters there...

Hello Friends;

  I recently ran across a picture that startled me.  I, like most people, have certain things I focus on in my reading, other things seem to slip by without notice.  But, the pictures below made me think about other things, such as how the republicans seem intent on giving this country to corporations at every turn.  An article printed in 2011 by GreenBiz.com is an example of that.
  If you look beyond the article, you will see what the republicans seem desperate to arrange.  The sky in this picture right here is beautiful, but look what happens when unchecked emissions enter the environment.
  This is why I believe the republicans are the most dangerous little critters to arrive on this planet.

WASHINGTON, DC — The new spending plan laid out by House Republicans would slash theEnvironmental Protection Agency's budget by nearly a third and prevent it from using funds for greenhouse gas regulations.

The plan (PDF), referred to as a "CR," or continuous resolution, would reduce the agency's budget by $3 billion, while its research-driven Global Change program would also see about a 30 percent hit.

Other agencies working on energy or climate-related matters would also see their funding shrivel up, including the Department of Energy, Department of Interior, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The moves are part of Republican efforts to trim $100 billion from the budget, largely driven by a raft of Tea Party candidates who joined the House of Representatives after the 2010 mid-term elections. The GOP originally sought cuts totaling $32 billion, but freshmen legislators forced the party to ramp up cuts and make good on their campaign promises.