seriouslyscorpio

thoughts of the moment and of my life

Tag Archives: america


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GUNS……JUST WONDER’IN


Ever wonder how the ‘founding fathers’ would look at the presence of AK-47s in our homes? I’m sure they would look at the proud owners and ask quizzically, “why?” Now before you fly into a rage and demand your rights….let’s just look at this little scenario and wonder why ourselves.

How many people on our block have the same equipment? How many times have they used it in the last week, or month? Is it kept locked up for the safety of others in the home? How quickly can one get to this machine, if the need arises?….1 minute, 5 minutes, 20 minutes? How much longer does it take if it is 4AM?

Did all your neighbors start with guns and musket balls, as was the norm when the ‘fathers’ created our ‘rights’? Did the right to bear arms include cannons and flaming oil shot from catapults? Hey.don’t get upset, I’m just ask’in……

If we need to hunt for a living or for sport, do we do so with a revolver, and a gun using hundreds of rounds a minute? If we use pelts and skins for beauty and survival, do we like them with bunches of holes?

Well, these questions and answers can call for good discussions in many households as well as government buildings.

Defense, yes.But, of course, it is my right….but to what extent. The ‘founding fathers’ did not fathom 47s…..they did not imagine clips that allowed killing indefinitely. They really had no idea what type of weapons the future would hold, and to what end their rules would be expanded.

So here we are…way past the point of no return. California is expected to sell 100,000 rifles this year. Can’t imagine how many more of what, both on the legal and illegal market. Remember too, there are different rules for different states and even cities. Paperwork by the ton to try to keep records of all who apply and are back-ground checked. And yet, we die, we maim, we hurt the innocent,by mistake….and yes, it is our right to have the equipment to do so. I’m sure if 99%  of those shot in the US were guilty of something where they NEEDED to be shot,we wouldn’t  having this discussion however that is not the case.

I’m just asking for a fair playing field…..when it comes to guns and pain in America.  How about let’s go back to the musket ball.  It’s killed plenty of people, so no one can deny it isn’t a weapon.  Our country became our country ….. and let’s see, isn’t that the reason we were allowed to carry arms in the first place. Seemed to have worked to help a bunch of mismatched men and women come together to be the USA!  

So let’s just go with the gun/musket ball plan.  Good guys and bad guys alike. Hunting for sport will be more fair to the animals.  One shot, reload, one shot, reload…..in fact, I think it would help one really think about the situation he was in, as he was in the reloading part.  Maybe, when thinking it over, it would be better if everyone were to just quit, go home, and solve the problem in a more sensible and humane manner.

Dueling would be good too…..again, planning the time and place and thinking over the problem vs the pain could deter some snot nosed idiots to go on to duel another day.  That would also make it safe for those not involved, thereby solving other problems.

I cringe when listening to the 6 o’clock news… I am sad people cannot solve problems without shooting one another. No, in this day and age, I am appalled!  Does it sound more stupid to have a place to go kill one another, than the way it is now?   People don’t allow the death penalty in their state, but it sure seems to be fine to kill one another in the street.  The people we are killing are not  enemies of the state….they are us. Sure there are countries making plans for another 9/11, however, today we have watchdogs in place to make it very difficult to do so. I know, we can argue all night about how good the defense is, but not now Other countries survive without the daily bloodshed we have here……you wouldn’t hear a word from me, if those who had guns, used them in only a matter of defense of their home. It is an argument heard time and time again…to defend my home and family. However, how many of us shoot intruders on our street, in our town….weekly…..monthly…..yearly?

Just say’in…..just talk’in…..just think’in….just wonder’in. why……


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SUM-SUM-SUMMERTIME…… WHEN I WAS A KID


I remember……(and that’s saying a lot sometime), how it was to be a kid on Outer Drive South in the summertime……It was outstanding……but, I’m sure, not by today’s kid rating.   We played….I mean really played.  We played outdoors…..in the yard, under the magnificent shade of maple trees. We day dreamed with the clouds..as they displayed magical formations, that, in turn, gave us magical ideas. We played in sandboxes, using spatulas, sifters, rocks, wood, and whenever, Tonka.  We had peanut butter sandwiches, a banana, and milk for lunch before heading for the summer afternoon…..or the ever favorite, grilled cheese and an apple..

There was always the sprinkler to keep us cool, and then we would all lay in the grass, looking for a 4 leaf clover, as the sun cooked the landscape. We played hopscotch, using rocks for chalk, and when it got to be close to suppertime, we’d sit on the front step and wait for our daddy to come home

We didn’t know about air conditioning…..well, we did, but it was called….a fan.  Our grandparents had ‘summer kitchens’ to keep the house cool, and we had summer porches, screened in rooms where we slept when going for a visit.

There was always the ice cream man and we could set our watches by him…..money was not in abundance, so it was truly a treat when we got change from the house to get something.

There was a field in the back of our house, even tho we lived in town.  One year it was corn, and the next beans, then maybe it was weeds for a year or two…..It was our ‘extended’ playground….close to home for safety and yet a place to run races, and hide between the stalks.

There were girls and boys, but not girlfriends and boyfriends…..C’mon, this was in the 50’s when kids actually acted like kids.  TV’s were what the ‘rich people’ had…..and Mickey Mouse was just beginning his club of followers.

When the sun went down, it was time for ‘kick the can’….only to be played at night…..and did we play. We had at least 3 houses each way, plus the ‘field’.  The ‘gas thing’ out in the front yard next door was ‘home’ and 10 kids disappeared and reappeared, running in for ‘free’, as the lightning bugs covered the fields of hazy central Indiana. 

When mother range the bell, it was the close of the day……we would scamper from wherever and whatever we were doing…..cause the bell always ment ‘come and come NOW’.

Oh, summer days are still beautious, and the lightning bugs still hover the cornfields, but the memories of being a kid in the 50’s, can hardly be duplicated…..It was so, so very special.

 


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obits….good reading for grads.


learn good life lessons in reading about others…..especially those who have just departed. A job well done by them, thru feast and famine….another chance to see just what it takes, in the lives of most of us ordinary folks.


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OBITUARIES……..GOOD LESSONS OF LIFE


As one ages, their perspective of life, in general, tends to become mundane and then intense in a matter of moments. When once Christmas came every million years, it now comes every three months. When the difference between a 2nd grader and a 4th grader was, like grandparents and kids, it is now the  age difference of people we befriend,date, maybe and marry.

And, as we age, we lose lots of things, including a firm body, naturally blond hair, the ability to wear a 2 piece anything, chemistry formulas, and friends.

For this reason, I’ve begun reading the obituaries.  I no longer live in the same town where I was born or raised, however, I to cling to many wonderful memories and friendships.  It still is a surprise, however, to see friends die.  I am 68…..and, as one once stated, “68 when I look in the mirror, and 28 when I look away”.

Today, I see the obituary of one gal I never knew personally, however, it would have been a pleasure to meet.  Her  name is Joan and she was born in Pittsburg, Pa. on a wintry day in December. She grew up loving softball, tennis and the outdoors. She was married to Alan for 58 years and together, they ran a honeybee business. Joan laughed and cried. She loved and forgave. She learned and blossomed with her kids, cherishing the opportunity to work in her community.

Then  there was Al, who died at age 91 after a brief illness.  Al formerly lived in Akron, Ohio before retiring. He served in the Army and was in Vietnam for 9 years with the 101st Airborne where he earned many badges and medals.  He loved his wife Sarah and they were married for over 42 years.After his tours, he became a policeman and was very very proud of his work there.

Helen passed away having lived the wonderful profession of being a housewife and professional in small midwestern town.  She and her parents and siblings had grown up during the depression, farming their land next to her grandparents.  She became a nurse and worked until her children were born. After the third one was in school, she went back to her beloved nursing and worked for another 20 years.  She was active in her church, in scouting, and dedicated to husband and children. She left children, grand and great-grand children, and many friends. 

All of these wonderful, ordinary people, touched more wonderful and ordinary people, to make this life better.  They may have had gardens, they may have volunteered at church, they may have done bake sales, and they may have invented what you use today. And now they are a memory.

When I was a kid, I believed my parents, and grandparents, would live forever.  Now I know….they do live forever, only here in my heart, and in their heaven together.  So as my heart aches for family and friends, theirs are rejoicing as they are, once again, reunited with family and friends. Who knows,…….they may talk about their abundant gardens, or how they made it out of the war.  They may remember the depression, and also the Christmas of 47, as their children waited for Santa.  And, I hope they remember us…….

Til we meet again…..


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WHY I CHOSE DIRECT TV…….YEAH, RIGHT!


Channel 77    Selling the    ‘best vacuum ever’

Channel 78    Flat, sexy abs…..(best vacuum ever comes on next!)

Channel 83    Kettleball Fitness, followed by Best Pillow Ever!!

Channel 88     Get Your Hair Back

Over 100 channels of shows 75% of us have seen. That is not 100 different movies…..just 100 channels.

Channel 220  brings us Dr.Ho Relieves Back Pain

Channel 225    Food Lovers Fat Loss 

Chanel 226      is the wonderful  “Mint Green Fluorite”, over and over again

Thank goodness HGTV and DIY come to aid my TV nightmare

I make it til about Channel 268 with shows, serials, and movies and then comes  Dr. Hoe Relieves Back Pain…..again  on Channel 270

Some things  like ID channel, NASA channel(which is usuala video file) and Green HD, can be interesting….they are in the higher 200’s, but the 300s want to show me   Precious World of Pearls on Channel 313 and Perfect Sleep with Serta on 316

Channel 318 is the award winning “Best Mineral Makup”, followed by ” Shark Steam Mop” and then  MORE “Magic Mineral Makeup” on 319, and then the re-viewed and re-viewed ‘Get Luscious Hair”….with many repeats

When I’m about to scream, I finally find the news channels….will watch and watch….good news or bad

From Channel 389 thru most of the 600’s, it is pay and sports, which is also pay….not to mention ‘upcoming’…that’s an especially good channel.  Also, cannot forget the Timberwolves and the Clippers which is shown on 764-764-1….765 and 765-1  (regular and hd)

To close out my channel choices, we have the 9500 series of Direct TV Satellinte Test channels…..too cool, game loading ( you pay) in the 9900 area

The day is saved by the 800 series which is music… would much prefer XM, but I don’t want to sound petty……..

Just a suggestion……have a Direct TV Shopping Channel….and let me enjoy FX, TNT, Fox/CNN, Reelz and TCM.  If you can’t do that, at least put them in numerical order, (regular and HD) so I don’t have to wear out the ‘flipper’….thanks


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cruis’in the caribbean


It was a nice cruise…..especially since we were leaving 2 days after the accident off the coast of Italy.  Sure got us thinking about how to exit, in case of emergency.  Always look around, planes and ships….serious business

But this is not about that…you know.  This is about what it says in the ads and what life is really like, on some of our stopovers.  We enjoy the opportunity to meet people, and enjoy new places.  We are very lucky to have seen a lot of the United States and know, without a doubt, it is the best place ever.

Having said that….our 5 stops offered us a little of what the Caribbean is like.  Its beauty, its people, its history, its colorful buildings, etc.  I cannot deny there is  all of the above….but very little of the magic one dreams about.

There is no running water on some islands…no running water!!  The only water one gets, comes from rain, caught in a container!  Sounds romantic unless you have 4 kids, and 2 dogs and 10 plus loads of wash a week.  Does not work well in a place with no running water.

There is no sewage disposal on some islands….mmmmm  need I say more.

YOu  may not wear any type of camo clothing on a certain island…..don’t want to mistake you for either a bad guy,or the real police.

Unfinished houses are passed down from parents to children.  If the current family makes any overage during the year, they add a cement block or two and put in more rebar. It continues to be built slowly,  not in months but years/generations.

Most make their money off tourism…..tourism that lasts from November to April.  They sell all the same things one can find in any tourist town…t-shirts, pens, cards, dolls, towels, etc.

Most island businesses who are successful in the tourism portion of town, sell alcohol, diamonds, tanzanite, and perfume.   “Big deals”, they say are offered……doubt it very much.  Bailey’s sells for the same there as it does here. Most brand name hard stuff, sells for about the same too.

Don’t want to rain on your parade…..just offering some insight as to how 3rd world some of these island are.  Their land is beautiful, their lifestyle is not to be envied. (At least that is my opinion)

And lastly, I sometimes felt like the ‘queen’ coming off a magnificent cruise ship….Would they trade places with me……in a moment.  I was embarrassed. I hear of so many  US tourists ‘showing off’ on their journeys to other lands.   I wanted to be sure I was not one of them.

I am one lucky SOB…..I know it!  I think most of you are too.  Just keep some of these things in mind when you travel.  Be gracious, be understanding, be careful, and be thankful!        later


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so sorry God


been looking at Greece and Syria, not to mention Africa, Mexico, and Iran. I apoligize for those who do not try to do unto others as they want others to do unto them. If I keep trying with my own neighbor, maybe it will spread to Greece and Syria


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CRUIS’IN……ON A SHIP, THAT IS!!


just back from a cruiseon NCL….dang, lots to talk about. So glad I am an American, so so glad.
later


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NEWS FLASH!! OCCUPY — I DON’T THINK SO…..


The ‘protestors’ showing up in some major cities to complain, have used the word ‘occupy’…They’ve united in the word, but everything after that becomes a little messy in its interpretation.

The people protesting (for or against whatever or whoever) should take a good look at what occupy means……cause most of us think they should be protested upon for occupying.  Those areas, sidewalk, parks, front steps, beaches, and street corners are owned by all and subject to fair use by all.

“To have, hold, or take as a separate space,possess, reside in or on, or claim”, part of the word definition occupy, is not what I have in mind as to what to do with my portion of the above. Now, they can use it for a little while, but I take a dim view of them camping on it, peeing on it, and trashing it, among other things. 

The thing is, if I’m homeless, or loitering, or selling drugs, or drunk, on a normal, everyday day…….I am going to, sooner or later, get arrested. Even tho part of that open area is mine, I have to be good and ‘share’.

Another declaration of” “occupy’ is to be a resident of, a tenant of, or dwell in”. Now hold on…..I am a part of that description…..even tho I don’t use it 24/7. I don’t even monitor it.  I don’t have a ‘list’ of people I allow….I pretty well say you can use it as long as you don’t abuse it!   Aha!!!!

I bet there are homeless in Los Angeles that would take better care of my portion of the occupied territory, than some of those ‘occuppying’.

In fact I think the ‘occupiers’ are more in the description of “to take control and possession of, and to make one’s own”…..not nice, I repeat NOT NICE.

I understand your right to protest persons, places or things….(either proper or regular), however, do me a favor and do it 8 to 5. I’ve got places to go and things to do and I don’t want to walk in or amongst your signs, your dirt, or “f” words, or your dirty clothes, and  your thrown together toilets.

Downtown business owners have bent over backwards to be good neighbors, and stewards.  Local police have been patient in their actions, and regular people going about their daily activities, have tried to be understanding.

8AM to 5 PM  please……and do so in an orderly fashion. Wear a suite and tie or, for women, a nice  skirt and sweater. Check your spelling when preparing your signs. Bring water and a gallon jug to refill your 18 oz bottle. Take it home at the end of the day. Do background work on what you a speaking on….and don’t ask for Obama Money or something similar, just because you’ve heard it somewhere.  Be prepared to debate without losing your temper.  Be prepared to have proof in what you say.  If you can’t do half of anything listed above……go back to school, live with mom, or watch Beavis.

later