Musings 8....."Happy New Year!"

It has been a quick week here at the old print shop. We got back from Virginia late Tuesday and were back at work on Wednesday.

The psunami death toll is somewhere around 123,000 souls. I guess this is the most dead from a natural disaster in my lifetime. The drought in Africa a while back supposedly killed a million. That's apparently hard to verify, but the psunami could easily hit half a million if Indonesia are correct. Nothing like starting the new year weeping. I guess you can say that 2004 end quite badly. Hopefully, 2005 will be better.

GW kind of shot himself in the foot again by not jumping out front and leading on the world stage. I said this to a friend of mine and got chastised for being a Bush basher. But, you know what...you got to feel the pain, for sure. People used to laugh at Slick Bill Clinton when he used that statement, but at least he new how to show sympathy. It doesn't matter if it's real or not--although I think it was--it just matters that you show people that you care. Bushies like to say talk is cheap and that action speaks louder than words. Well, maybe...maybe not. Timely words from the heart means a lot in the early part of a tragedy. Later, money means more. We all like kind words when a loved one is lost. Of course, if you have no compassion then it is sometimes hard to show it. Fish on, GW...fish on.

Hey, Pat...here's to ya and all your guys in the field. Hopefully, you'll be home safe and sound by this time next year. Whiskey for the men and beer for the horses. Kinda sounds like a song title...

Barbara and I are going to go home and make a pot of chili. We used to have "the party" of the year on new year's eve, but, alas, we've settled into being old frumps. It happens. I kind of like it.

I may shoot off my shotgun at midnite...or, I may not. Looks like a good movie night to me.

I'll have some new year resolutions later. To all that read these musings...happy new year and a great 2005. Remember, only 995 years to go before we reach 3000. That doesn't seem so long now...does it? Think social security...2042...naw, that's for next year.

Mike...hope ya got moved ok.

Tommy keep doing what you are doing. It just takes common sense.

Ruth...hugs and kisses...

That's about it...fade to black!

Musings 7--the buck stops...where?

I really try to find a reason to at least say something good about President George W. Bush. I really do. Honest.

As mentioned yesterday, I watched the CSPAN replay of his 55-minute press conference. I commented on his pained expressions. I felt that he just didn't want to be there. Upon further reflexion, I think that he thinks that he is in a hole. The most telling statement made during his press conference was when he said, and I'm paraphrasing, "what are you asking me for?" The buck doesn't stop in the white house anymore. I just wish one journalist would have said, "Ah, because you're the President of the United States."

Now for something completely different.

There is snow coming our way. Will it hit. Who knows. Stay tuned.

I'm studying up on social security. Might have some words of wisdom to say about that topic later. I will make a prediction here...now...congress will not jump through hoops for the President over social security, aka, FICA taxes.

Marshall Universtiy plays in Fort Worth on the 23rd. They are probably better than their 6-5 record indicates...or, maybe not. If they win, they are; if they lose, they are not. This one is easy to figure.

The basketball team is struggling. That's a nice way of saying that they lose a lot. They are averaging 19 turn-overs per game. You might say that is a tad high.

Repeat.

42...it's coming to the big screen...................don't forget your blanket.

Musings 6.1

Some of my blogs are messed up....

Oh well, what else is new.

At least it is warmer.

42....for all you babblefish fans.........

Musings 6

I am not sure that I ever really sleep any more. It seems that I go into a dream state and never quite get to the deep sleep I can remember as a child. Thus, at 3:45 a.m. yesterday I came fully awake when my face got cold.

We have gas heat on Greasy Ridge. Usually it is nice and warm and toasty. However, when the gas ceases to produce and it is -1 degree outside, you tend to know it...or, at least, I do. Barbara just pulls the blanket over her head and hopes...hopes I'll take care of it.

So, at 4 a.m. I'm stalking down the hill to the meter. Well, to make a long story short, by 8 p.m. we had gas again. Makes for a long day...a long, cold day.

Change of Subject

I watched President Bush on CSPAN last eve during his news conference. He makes my stomach flip when he tries to be witty. Also, he was back to the pained expression mode that he implores whenever anyone questions his motives. George you're not a King...yet! He really has a distain for journalists...and the white house press reporters in particular. I guess the up side is that at least he is having press conferences...now. He'll tire of it, I predict, and retreat back to hidding whenever so one ticks him off. It'll happen. Yep.

Christmas is coming and there's not a thing I can do about it except grin and bear it. We plan to take a trip to Roanoke, Va. on Christmas day. It will be good to see the southern family.

Had pizza with Tammy and Ben on Saturday. Solved most problems of the world, but I forgot the solutions before I got home. Short term memory is the first to go.

News flash:

24 starts in January...ya rah!

Musings 5

Did you know that up until last month if you died in Iraq the government would only pay the family of the deceased $6,000. Wow, life is cheap. But have no fear, Congress, knowing that they should take care of the troops took care of the problem--they doubled it. Again, wow! Let's see, "Sorry you son/daughter, husband/wife died defending the richest country in the world. Have $12,000 and have a good life."

Maybe Congress ought to earmark a billion or so of the money that they are sending to Iraq for the people who give the ultimate sacrifice. That would seem only proper, don't you think.

Hey, if the dead troopers had of opted to take the government sponsored insurance plan and pay $20 per month, their survivors would have gotten $250,000. Thus, if the soldier wants to bet against himself, he is insured. Thanks Uncle Sam...Is this a great country or what?


On a lighter note, it is warmer today and tomorrow is Friday. Hopefully my wife gets her dividend check so we can have Christmas...(Mick, I'm negotiating your part...heh, heh)...

My wife is getting hunger and she sounds a bit pissy. I guess I'll have to got find some food before she scratches me.

The tree is sort of decorated.

No boots today. Feet feel fine.

Who's this Kreegal guy?

Read Mo Dowd's column today in the New York Times...I have her book BushWorld...it is pretty fair reading...in small doses.

Ocean's 12 won't make as much money as Ocean's 11...

Part two is history...on to part three....

Got an e-mail for Lt. Col. Pat in Baghdad. He sent me pictures of the royal palace. He's just outside the green zone. Says he can't go outside unless he's heeled and carrrying four clips. He said the mortars were shaking the chandelars as he was writing me.

I used to have a hat that said "Kill'em all and let God sort'em out." That may be a sad but true statement soon enough.

GO GET FOOD!!.....I'm out of here.

Musings 4

Talk about a blank...that's my mind. Sometimes its easy to write; other times its downright hard to complete a thought.

I got into the printing business because I liked the way words look on a page...

I enjoy creating something from literally nothing and giving it order and purpose...

My wife, the photographer, expresses herself through photographs...

I can't see things as uniquely as she...

Christmas is coming and I need to get into the spirit of things. I've been playing carols and that doesn't seem to help. I used to have a screensaver that had a church in a snowy field. It played Silent Night. Santa Clause would run through and leave a package. When I cleansed my hard drive over the summer, I must have tossed my screensaver. Thus, I can't get into the spirit. I got a new screensaver that makes a Christmas tree and then snows, but it is not the same. I want my Silent Night screeensaver back. Alas, I have searched the web but have come up empty.

I screwed up the web site. It is www.commonsense.cc...sorry about that TH. Don't you think blue is a great color. Red is so...so...cold.

My feet hurt . I wore my new boots today. New boots should be broken in gently. Kinda like a new...er...ah...nay, won't go there.

Michael, my son, is living in California. He sent his Christmas list to his mother. He sent me a copy. I find that fascinating--as Mr. Spock would say.

More later....................maybe..........maybe not

Musings 3

Hmmmm... (isn't that how one is suppose to begin musings?)

Ten more marines are dead this weekend. Somewhere there will be a saturation point for the American public. It may not even be the number of deaths as much as the number or severely injured. I think I'll coin a phrase here...let's call that saturation point from this day forth "the point of zero tolerance." It will be interesting to see the reaction by G. W. and his merry band of elves when this happens and the public has had enough.

Good news: gas is down to $1.82...cheapest in a while.

It's snowing...yea!! If it is still snowing later in the day...boo!

For those who care: Take a look at commonsense.com...it's a very well thought-out web site.

Musings 2

Why is Liberal a bad word? Does anyone care that unions, social security and medicare are all liberal ideas.

Since when does Conservativism mean religious right? That Jesus guy was probably not of the conservative sect of the jews. He had some rather free thinking ideas...........oh, well..

National Treasure is a great movie...unless you detest the order of Masons...

A great book is The Five People You Meet In Heaven... but you have to be able to read more than "My Pet Goat"...or a newspaper...or a comic book...or the back of a wheaties box...

Musings 1

Help!