Just Where Do You Draw The Line?

I would venture to say I am a mostly ordinary average white guy. I wake in the morning and have my coffee and my breakfast, I take my daily dose of meds that cost waaaaay too much and try to have some semblace of a "NORMAL" life.I turn on the television and I hear people accusing my leaders of doing horrible things to people because of their color,I hear stories of available aid not delivered because it is a seriously democratic constituancy and we have in place a republican government.I hear the suits tell me that there is anarchy in the streets. Young able bodied people are raping,looting,killing, people of their own race and any others. I hear stories about help being availabe and it was turned away because it was not ordered by the appropriate people. Food and drink and being witheld from starving, dying people by a government that is supposed to bring aid in times of strife.I hear these stories at every turn of the channel at every twist of the dial at each page I turn. these horror stories are being shouted at me.
I can`t believe it ..........I WON'T believe it. I live in a ethnicly mixed neighborhood and in the space of time that I have lived hereI have been through two major disasters, I have been evacuated from my house by boat. I have had a fire that could of cost us all our lives . I point this out to show you that I am no stranger to calamity . No newcomer to the twists of fate that are delt us.I have not seen in my personell experiences what they are showing me on the tv. I have not heard what they are shouting at me on the radio.
I have HEARD genuine offers of help, I have SEEN my neighbors show up and help all day in horrible jobs like shovelling the muck of the river mud out of my basement.I have personally FELT the pats on my back reassuring me that although it seems impossible things will return to normal. I have had my FAITH in man boosted to the point where I no longer sweat anything. The help,the neighbors, the family, the government,the red cross, the salvation army will be there. They will do as good a job as they can with what they have.
So why the discrepancy? Why the blatent differences in responses to a citizens need? I don`t want to say it is racisim, because it isn`t, I don`t want to say it is politics, because it isn't.I don`t want to sa it is unpreparedness because it isn't. What I will say is we got hit with a horrible storm. It was way beyond anything we were/are/will be prepared to cope with.Man in his over abundance of ego cannot hope to stand up to Mother Nature. If a flood is what she wants a flood she will have, or a fire ,or a earthquake, or a volcano erupting.We are visitors here at her willingness to suffer us.
Now forget all the name calling/finger pointing crap and lets help our brothers and sisters get over this latest of calamitys.

ENORMOUS 

I Couldn't Believe My Eyes.

When you take in the enormity of the special venom of Katrina,it is mind boggeling when you realize that the area affected is larger in square miles than Great Britton,it kinda sinks in how intimidating getting much needed aid to the area truly is.There are almost 1,ooo,ooo homeless people.These people are spread over a large area so it is extreemly difficult to set up a concerted response to a specific need.Not only do the victims need a variety of services the responders have need of shelter and food and transportation to and from the affected areas.There is also a huge requirement for service vehicles and the fuel to run them, the operators with the skill set to use them properly, and the ancillary support system to make sure they don't break down and if they do, the people to tow, repair,supply the parts must be in place.All this and more moved from God knows where to the area to help these people.
I am chagrined to hear people play the race card and suggest that the respose was less than it could of been because the victims were black.I wish you folks would open your eyes and realize the enormity of what has happened here and realize that no one could of responded faster than what was evident in Katerinas' wake.
I've heard people say that George Bush didn't act fast enough. The truth of the matter is that it is up to the Governors of the affected areas to solicit the aid of the Federal Gov. Otherwise it would be interfering with the states rights.
This job is huge and there are going to be errors in many areas of this recovery but please people, don't cry race on this .We are all Americans . We are all helping Americans, and we will all come out of this a stronger Nation.

A Disaster Of Epic Magnitude

My heart goes out to all these poor people who fell to Hurricane Katrina.There is no firm number of dead, they don`t even know how many may be missing. There will be bodies turning up for months on end.There are tens of thousands homeless. They have only what they carry on their backs. They are suddenly homeless and unemployed. Many people will return to find their family homes simply gone. Others will return to find their home untouched in the middle of destruction,for who knows what reason.There is probably 100,000 or more who as I write this are hungry hot and homeless.
If you can donate to the Salvation Army first or the American Red Cross. They will both do a great job of trying to help. I suggested the Salvation Army first because characteristicaly they are there before the red cross shows up.
Keep these people in your prayers and thoughts, if anyone needs it it is them.

Top 100 songs from my youth

The game goes like this.strike through the bad ones..........sorry all good

1. The Ballad Of The Green Berets, Sgt. Barry Sadler2. Cherish, Association3. (You're My) Soul And Inspiration, Righteous Brothers4. Monday, Monday, The Mama's and The Papa's5. 96 Tears, ? and The Mysterians6. Last Train To Clarksville, The Monkees7. Reach Out I'll Be There, Four Tops8. Summer In The City, Lovin' Spoonful9. Poor Side Of Town, Johnny Rivers10. California Dreamin', The Mama's and The Papa's11. You Can't Hurry Love, Supremes12. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted, Jimmy Ruffin13. These Boots Are Made For Walkin', Nancy Sinatra14. Born Free, Roger Williams15. Strangers In The Night, Frank Sinatra16. We Can Work It Out, The Beatles17. When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge18. Winchester Cathedral, New Vaudeville Band19. Hanky Panky, Tommy James and The Shondells20. Good Lovin', Young Rascals21. Paint It Black, Rolling Stones22. My Love, Petula Clark23. Lightin' Strikes, Lou Christie24. Wild Thing, Troggs25. Kicks, Paul Revere and The Raiders26. Sunshine Superman, Donovan27. Sunny, Bobby Hebb28. Paperback Writer, The Beatles29. See You In September, Happenings30. You Keep Me Hangin' On, Supremes31. Lil' Red Riding Hood, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs32. Devil With A Blue Dress On and Good Golly Miss Molly (Medley), Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels33. Good Vibrations, Beach Boys34. A Groovy Kind Of Love, Mindbenders35. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, Dusty Springfield36. Born A Woman, Sandy Posey37. Cool Jerk, The Capitols38. Red Rubber Ball, The Cyrkle39. B-A-B-Y, Carla Thomas40. Walk Away Renee, Left Banke 41. Daydream, Lovin' Spoonful42. Time Won't Let Me, Outsiders43. Hooray For Hazel, Tommy Roe44. Sweet Pea, Tommy Roe45. Bus Stop, Hollies46. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, B.J. Thomas and The Triumphs47. Ain't Your Puppet, James and Bobby Purify48. Ain't Too Proud To Beg, Temptations49. Dirty Water, Standells50. Elusive Butterfly, Bob Lind51. I Am A Rock, Simon and Garfunkel52. Crying Time, Ray Charles53. Secret Agent Man, Johnny Rivers54. The Sounds Of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel55. Lady Godiva, Peter and Gordon56. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?, Lovin' Spoonful57. You Baby, The Turtles58. Barefootin', Robert Parker59. Homeward Bound, Simon and Garfunkel60. Uptight (Everything's Alright), Stevie Wonder 61. Bang Bang, Cher62. Sloop John B, Beach Boys63. 19th Nervous Breakdown, Rolling Stones64. Wipe Out, The Surfaris65. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, Temptations66. No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach Is In), T-Bones67. Just Like Me, Paul Revere and The Raiders68. Love Makes The World Go Round, Deon Jackson69. The Pied Piper, Crispian St. Peters70. Coming On Strong, Brenda Lee71. Somewhere My Love, Ray Conniff and The Singers72. Almost Persuaded, David Houston73. If I Were A Carpenter, Bobby Darin74. Don't Mess With Bill, Marvelettes75. Cherry, Cherry, Neil Diamond76. Working In The Coal Mine, Lee Dorsey77. Message To Michael, Dionne Warwick78. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing, Lou Rawls79. Barbara Ann, Beach Boys80. Gloria, Shadows Of Knight 81. Dandy, Herman's Hermits82. Rainy Day Women #12 And 35, Bob Dylan83. Guantanamera, Sandpipers84. Psychotic Reaction, Count Five85. Land Of 1,000 Dances, Wilson Pickett86. Oh How Happy, Shades Of Blue87. Woman, Peter and Gordon88. Five O'clock World, Vogues89. Black Is Black, Los Bravos90. Hungry, Paul Revere and The Raiders91. My World Is Empty Without You, Supremes92. Baby Scratch My Back, Slim Harpo93. She's Just My Style, Gary Lewis and The Playboys94. The More I See You, Chris Montez95. 634-5789, Wilson Pickett96. Yellow Submarine, The Beatles97. Nowhere Man, The Beatles98. Zorba The Greek, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass99. Shapes Of Things, Yardbirds100. I Fought The Law, Bobby Fuller Four

} A Disaster {

My heart goes out to the thousands,perhaps even millions of storm victims.In 1985 I was a flood victem, so I can appreciate what they will experience in the next few hours, days, weeks, and even months.At first it will seem overwhelming. The enormity of it all will be daunting. The fact that almost everything you owned is now destroyed will be overpowering. You will not even have a change of clothing. The flood waters are full of fecal material,chemicals,poisons,mud and who knows what else.
When the water recedes they will be better able to see the extent of the damage.They will be able to tell if their homes can be rebuilt or will they have to consider alternitive housing. That will be the case in many instances.Soon the help will come pouring in . Tetnus shots, warm dry clothing,fresh bottled water to drink,ice,sanitary facilitys. On the surface they are all mundane needs but believe me , it is sooooooo appreciated by these people.Very soon the National guard will show up to patrol the streets to prevent looting as much as possible.They will also assist in removing most of the debri and search for missing people. They will even find some.
The insurance companys are already working on a way to dispute most of the claims. They will call it a act of God so we don`t have to pay. The government will try to help with disaster loans and in many cases they will provide nearly enough money to do most of the work.
In the end of it all the American spirit will shine through and we will rebuild. We will have the super bowl in the super dome all those people who sheltered there will luckily enough may come back to watch the gme.Volunteers from all fifty states will show up to help. There will be so many good things come of this disaster that very soon the horrors of these last few days will pass .It will be back to normal soon. I know it don`t seem possible but it is. I know cause I lived it also.
All of my prayers go out to these people. They want their familys reunited and that will happen more times than we think possible.We WILL survive.

} LIKE A WELL OILED MACHINE {

A grand time was had by one and all !!!! Nearly 45 people showed up to wish my lovely wife a happy happy birthday. She was totally surprised once more...........I don`t know how we pulled it off but we managed somehow. The food was awesome, the beer was cold, and we sang late into the night. I truly wish to thank all who worked so hard to put the festivitys together,and all those people who came to help her celebrate. Thank you one and all.I am so happy you all love her as much as I do.

For The Birthday Girl 

} SURPRISE {

I hear it's your birthday !!!!!! Today is my lovely wifes birthday and unbeknownst to her there is going to be a surprise shindig for her at a friends house. I am so looking forward to this celebration today. There should be plenty of good food and good company and if i'm lucky even karioke!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOO that should be enough for anyone.

Peachy Keen 

} A Rememberance Of By-gone Days {

They say your senses are powerfull tools to help you recall people or places or events in your life. They may not be earth shattering events or perhaps barely worth recalling except for the fact that somehow or another the stimulating of that particular sense touches you in what may be a deep dark place or a thing of wonder that you loved as a youth.
A dear friend knocked gently on my door yesterday. I opened it and saw her there ,smiling as she always seems to be. She had a good sized box in her hand and as she stepped towards the door it hit me. A aroma from my mis-spent youth.It was sweet and warm and oh so delicious.It seems she had a windfall of peaches and wanted to share them with us.The smell of the treasure contained inside that box was incredible. She sat the box on the table an removed the lid and the smell of those peaches took me back some fifty years to my youth. We used to get peaches just like thes. They are almost the size of soft balls,with a fine coating of fuzz on the skin. The skin is a beautifull blending of red, yellow,and almost a deep purple. I could not help my self I reached into the box and took one and it was still warm as though it was picked from the tree only moments before.The first bite sent peach nectare running down my chin,over my hand and towards my elbow to drip carelessly on the floor. The flesh of that fruit was golden as could be.Then it hit I was about six years old and sticky from peaches.It was a sweet summer moment that I thankfully relived yesterday. Thanks for the peaches, I `ll call when the cobbler is ready and thank you sooo much for the ride on the time machine.

Action Team 

Things You Did't Know

Back in the day when I used to actually work for a living, we had a band of co-workers who were, to be kind, opinionated., but somehow or another they would say what was on their minds, sometimes with humor, sometimes without. One of their favorite sayings was “It only takes one awwww shit to wipe out a thousand atta-boys. No truer words were ever spoken.
I think that is mostly the case with our media actually reporting what is going on in Iraq. They focus on all the bad things to discredit our efforts there and to make us look bad in the eyes of the world.
Well there are great and noble things going on also. Things they refuse to report. Things that they would rather not have you know. Things that show our troops are human and things that show them in a positive light.
Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq? Did you know that the Iraqi current government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people? Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are underrehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schoolshave been built in Iraq? Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating? Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States inJanuary 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program? Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?! They have 5- 100-footpatrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operationalsquadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transportaircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night,and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers? Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a CommandoBattalion?Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trainedand equipped police officers? Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over3500 new officers each 8 weeks? Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq?They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroadstations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electricalfacilities. Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have receivedthe first 2 series of polio vaccinations? Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primaryschool by mid October? Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq andphone use has gone up 158%? Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radiostations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations? Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had arecent televised debate recently?OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? - OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US! Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flagburning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs atpresidential motorcades. The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes. It isintended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thusminimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage Americancitizens. ---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website.

Hello Again

Hello All !!! So sorry to have been away for a few days but my PC has been ungoing renovations and improvements. Lets hope that I am up to the task of being equal to my equipment.
There is still more to do but I expect to be posting regularly by tomorrow. I hope all you wonderfull readers will return to make some sort of sense of my scratchins here. Be well !!

} Lambert Was Right {

I never would of believed it if I wouldn`t of heard it with my own ears.Several years ago, Jack Lambert a All-Star linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers ,voiced his opinion on a change of the rules. It seemed like the NFL changed the rules on how rough you could be on the quarterback.
On the surface it seemed like a good thing or at least it would help prevent some injuries to the QB.Jack was the kind of player who enjoyed the full contact of football. He regularly played with injuries like broken fingers, broken noses and such. He felt it was part of the game. When they changed the rules ,Jack protested and said "You might as well let the quarterbacks wear dresses now"Not only was he a legandary linebacker he was a profit. Todays game ...Steelers V Dolphins is unfortunately delayed by rain. Rain of all things. Not a chilly rain it is nearly 80 degrees still today in Pittsburgh. We wouldn`t want em to catch a chill and not be able to play. But the poor fellows are gonna get wet . Damn I have seen it all. Rain stopping a pro footbll game. What in the name of "THE GIPPER " is going on here geeeeeeeeeeeeeeze
I may have to take up watching knurling to have a little excitement now.....

} BTK {

This horrible man recieved 10 consecutive life sentances for his crimes. That ammounts to a minimum of forty full years served in prison. Now forty years is a long time,BUT, it is forty years of life however feeble and degraded it is. These poor people he bound and tortured and killed have NO life to live because of his direct actions.
Is this a fair punishment? What would be a fair punishment? Who would dole it out? There are a lot of hard questions associated with felons like him.
Personally I feel like he should be tortured to the brink of death at least twenty times and then killed in the most horrible manor anyone could come up with.Would that make the victems familys satisfied? I think not cause it won`t bring back their loved ones.
Whatever the punishment I hope it is long and very painfull and frieghtening and maddening to his mind and anguishing to his soul so that he may enjoy the sort of things he brought to his victems.
Sorry folks ,this is a side of me that I want to keep hidden away but I have no use at all for any one that would torture someone for their own pleasure.

The Things You See.............

I had occasion last evening to go out to take care of some business and along the way we decided to stop and eat our dinner out since it was getting late.
There was a young man who was seated close to where we were. I say young man but he was just past boyhood.He looked enough like Lile Loveitt to be related to him.
I was particularly taken by his tee shirt which had a statement on it which I thought ,while very nearly true,he was very bold to wear.It said APE OD.
I am not one to make fun of a fellow because of his looks but this young man had those craggy features that truy made him look simian. Well,live and let live I always say so I paid no more attention to him.
As they were preparing to leave I once more noticed the young man as he stood.His shirt held in a odd configuration due to him being seated now fell straight and it revealed its mysteries to me. It became obvious his shirt said CAPE COD.
With this revelation he lost his simian appearence and became just one of the youth of America............. Funny, once you get a perception of something all it takes is a slight alteration in it to totaly change what you percieve. No wonder homicide detectives have such a hard job.

The View 

} SUNRISE {

I woke this morning,as usual at 5 am. It was that certain kind of quiet that comes just befoore the day. Even the birds are still as they try to get the last five minutes of sleep before the world rushes in and the day begins.The air was still not even the slightest breeze stirred yet.
I stumbled through my morning abolutions and made my way to the kitchen. My shaking hand successfully poured the water into the coffee pot and almost instantly the aroma of what America is waking up to, filled the room. I poured a cup and headed to my back deck. I am so blessed to live where I do. I live on a river and it is, in my opinion, one of the few pristeen areas I have ever been to. Across the river is what most flat landers would call a mountain but in truth is only a good sized hill. It is tree covered and in the fall a portrait of a million colors is presented to me everyday.
This day as I sipped my coffee I looked to the east and saw a brightening in the sky and once more the world has come full circle and I was to be blessed with another day. Soon the entire sky had brightened and I could see the river. It was still and looked like a mirror. I could make out the image of the mountain behind it between the whisps of vapor riseing from the water.
The birds began their racous shouting to their friends and I was treated to a beautifull song to enjoy as I sipped my coffee. A gentle breeze stirred the mist from the face of the river and as the breeze stiffened it gently disturbed the surface of the river.
Small ripples covered the surface as the sun burst above the mountain and as the suns rays struck the river it seemed as though there were a billion diamonds scattered there. They sparkled and glistened and it was almost to pretty to look at.
I am so blessed to live here.

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