What is it Americans do not get about bankrupt? The U.S. is bankrupt and going deeper every single day into that mess. Why can't all of you see it? Why can't all of you stand up and be counted? I don't care what party you are, what color, creed or nationality. You are all AMERICANS.
WHEN YOUR GOVERNORS ARE STRUGGLING TO CUT BUDGETS TO SURVIVE - WHAT DO YOU DO? Do you say "Go ahead,please, and save us from bankruptcy and financial ruin." No, you whine and complain about your pet project losing funding, a school is closing, people are being laid off, the market is plunging and the dollar loses value every day. Do you try to help by backing up these demands for savings? No, you still want your cake and eat it too.
Sounds like your kids whining, doesn't it? Well, that is what we are all acting like = a bunch of spoiled rotten kids who won't give up anything to save America.
How about you march in FAVOR of cuts and saving programs. How about you attend meetings and say just that. How about each and everyone of you realizes (finally) that we HAVE to do this or go under. You can't buy your way out of this mess - ever!!! Only by cutting to the bone and learning to do without will we ever get back on an even keel.
A very long time ago, my parents were faced with losing our home. A 20yr. mortgage was half paid off and we were going to lose all of that and our house. What does one do then? Well, I'll tell you. You bite the bullet and you find a way. Our bank put our house in escrow and we had to pay $10 per week on the mortgage and taxes and to miss even ONE week meant we lose everything. Did we do it? You bet your life we did. My Mom took in washing and everyone of us kids worked at something - anything - that would bring money into the house. How did it turn out? Well, it took 40yrs. to pay off a 20yr. mortgage but we saved our home and it still stands and is more beautiful than ever and worth l0 times what we paid for it.
Can't we all do what is necessary to solve this problem? Of course we can. but the question is - will we???
Are you listening Americans? This is the turning pint. Either we all do it now or we all lose - and it will be so much worse (than"29) this time because we have been pampered and spoiled and we will find it hard to do. But do we have a choice?NO,NO,NO. Wake up America - this is war of finances and we must win it. Give up your childish ways and spoiled behavior and act like responsible adults and save AMERICA. God help us all if we don/t.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
It has been sometime since I posted last. Just too busy keeping up with email and genealogy. By the way, if you have been missing "Who are You" on TV, by all means give it a try. The fascinating thing about genealogy is not so much where you came from, but where are you going? Your past and ancestors have laid down a path for you and all you have to do is forge ahead.
My ancestors came, primarily, from France (via Canada) and Ireland (Scots-Irish) on my father's side. My mother's side(which has not been thoroughly searched) leans toward French, English and Scots. What they gave me is a sense of courage, devotion and the ability to put myself out there and go for it. They all left homes and family in the old country to come and settle in a new land full of dangers and poverty. They survived and I expect I will be a survivor too. Hopefully, I have taught that to the next generation as well.
Among my ancestors you will find farmers with large families, masons, woodsmen,literary people with the best education they could afford. They worked hard for everything and yet never felt beneath anyone, or better than anyone. What does that translate into these days? Well, it does not speak of royalty or blue blood but it does endure and it brings responsibility, honesty, determination and a desire to be your best at whatever you tackle. No work is beneath you if it pays and you need it. Education is essential and primary. Reading and writing are not just subjects you endure - they are your life blood and will serve you well all your life. Having to work your way through school teaches you the value of what you get and want. There was never time to dally and waste the best years of ones life.
Those of us who are left of that generation have much to be thankful for. Those opportunities may never come again and they were not diluted by machines and speed, which rob you of initiative and curiosity. So, look up your ancestors, say Hello, and try to find your pathway set down for you. It may be the most important thing you do in your life and the most valuable. Good Hunting. PENMOM at 83
My ancestors came, primarily, from France (via Canada) and Ireland (Scots-Irish) on my father's side. My mother's side(which has not been thoroughly searched) leans toward French, English and Scots. What they gave me is a sense of courage, devotion and the ability to put myself out there and go for it. They all left homes and family in the old country to come and settle in a new land full of dangers and poverty. They survived and I expect I will be a survivor too. Hopefully, I have taught that to the next generation as well.
Among my ancestors you will find farmers with large families, masons, woodsmen,literary people with the best education they could afford. They worked hard for everything and yet never felt beneath anyone, or better than anyone. What does that translate into these days? Well, it does not speak of royalty or blue blood but it does endure and it brings responsibility, honesty, determination and a desire to be your best at whatever you tackle. No work is beneath you if it pays and you need it. Education is essential and primary. Reading and writing are not just subjects you endure - they are your life blood and will serve you well all your life. Having to work your way through school teaches you the value of what you get and want. There was never time to dally and waste the best years of ones life.
Those of us who are left of that generation have much to be thankful for. Those opportunities may never come again and they were not diluted by machines and speed, which rob you of initiative and curiosity. So, look up your ancestors, say Hello, and try to find your pathway set down for you. It may be the most important thing you do in your life and the most valuable. Good Hunting. PENMOM at 83
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Nature at its Best
Nature is certainly smarter than we are. We have been filling bird feeders for years, and feeding peanuts to our family of squirrels. Each year our birds bring their new babies to our yard and teach them how to feed. The Mother squirrels live in trees across the road from our yard. As soon as their babies are big enough to cross the road, she brings them to a very old nest in our giant maple tree - just a few feet from our feeders. She keeps them up in that nest until she has recovered her long spell with no food, and then she teaches them the cautious way of feeding at our yard.
But there is more to it than that, as I found out today and tonight. The mother birds brought a host of babies today and they landed on our big bird bath. The mother drank her fill and then went to the feeders. The babies sat looking at their reflections in the water, but did not drink. Why? Then the mothers returned, one at a time, with seed and fed the babies, who were waiting there. When all had been fed the mother drank again, and the babies, watching them, also learned to drink safely. In the meantime several larger birds took a bath and sprayed all over the place.
I tossed out the days ration of peanuts (not in the shell) to my squirrels and suddenly four pigeons and 2 bluejays swooped down and gathered up the peanuts before the squirrels could. I had never seen them steal the peanuts before. No wonder the squirrels remained hungry. Then tonight, around l0PM> I smelled a skunk in the area and wondered where it was. They are rare around here. Well, taking a peek out the side window ( there is a yard light that illuminates our feeders out there) I spotted the skunk digging up the peanuts the squirrels had buried. Then he wandered off down the yard, across the street, and to the yard area behind an apt. house over there. Apparently, his home is in that area and he is using our yard for feeding purposes also.
So I will switch back to peanuts in the shells and hope the squirrels take them back to their nests and not bury them in our yard. Hmmm.
My advice is never try to fool Mother Nature, or the wild animals that know her. Ha!
But there is more to it than that, as I found out today and tonight. The mother birds brought a host of babies today and they landed on our big bird bath. The mother drank her fill and then went to the feeders. The babies sat looking at their reflections in the water, but did not drink. Why? Then the mothers returned, one at a time, with seed and fed the babies, who were waiting there. When all had been fed the mother drank again, and the babies, watching them, also learned to drink safely. In the meantime several larger birds took a bath and sprayed all over the place.
I tossed out the days ration of peanuts (not in the shell) to my squirrels and suddenly four pigeons and 2 bluejays swooped down and gathered up the peanuts before the squirrels could. I had never seen them steal the peanuts before. No wonder the squirrels remained hungry. Then tonight, around l0PM> I smelled a skunk in the area and wondered where it was. They are rare around here. Well, taking a peek out the side window ( there is a yard light that illuminates our feeders out there) I spotted the skunk digging up the peanuts the squirrels had buried. Then he wandered off down the yard, across the street, and to the yard area behind an apt. house over there. Apparently, his home is in that area and he is using our yard for feeding purposes also.
So I will switch back to peanuts in the shells and hope the squirrels take them back to their nests and not bury them in our yard. Hmmm.
My advice is never try to fool Mother Nature, or the wild animals that know her. Ha!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
What is Beauty?
We often say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". What do we mean by that? Simply put, each of us sees things differently and with our eyes and our feelings we record beauty in our own way - not necessarily as others see it. On the front page of our newspaper the other day was a gorgeous picture of Keene Valley, N.Y. For those of you who do not know what, or where, that is, I will explain.
Keene Valley is a tiny hamlet nestled among many mountain ranges on one of the few roads up into the Adirondack Mountain Preserve (Forever Wild). After you leave the main highway North (Rt.87 - called the Northway) you take a side Rt 73 and begin to climb steadily up into the mountains toward Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. It is breathtaking, steep and narrow - crawling along the sides of cliffs and clinging to the earth as best it can. There are the Cascade Lakes - deep and blue - and the danger of falling rocks. This is mountain climbers heaven. But Keene Valley nestles in the middle of nowhere and the ranges are green and awesome. In the picture it is just a tiny,little opening in the greenery and it marches uphill to Keene, the on to the Olympic Complex and Lake Placid and another 9 miles to my hometown of Saranac Lake. It is then that you see the beauty of a thousand little islands in a long, long string of lakes and rivers - all green, all plush, and forever wild. Without this road - this whole area of upstate N..Y. would be cut off from the rest of the world, as if it didn't exist.
You can visit or settle in - to the perfect , ideal place to be at peace and enjoy every day without the confusion of traffic or people. You may wonder why I ever left it. Well, that is another story, but I love my mountains, and I often drive up these roads to be among them again. It always refreshes me and my spirit and no matter how far away you go, once you have lived there, you will always come back. It doesn't change much and perhaps that is what draws us back. It is forever wild, and it is THERE.
Keene Valley is a tiny hamlet nestled among many mountain ranges on one of the few roads up into the Adirondack Mountain Preserve (Forever Wild). After you leave the main highway North (Rt.87 - called the Northway) you take a side Rt 73 and begin to climb steadily up into the mountains toward Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. It is breathtaking, steep and narrow - crawling along the sides of cliffs and clinging to the earth as best it can. There are the Cascade Lakes - deep and blue - and the danger of falling rocks. This is mountain climbers heaven. But Keene Valley nestles in the middle of nowhere and the ranges are green and awesome. In the picture it is just a tiny,little opening in the greenery and it marches uphill to Keene, the on to the Olympic Complex and Lake Placid and another 9 miles to my hometown of Saranac Lake. It is then that you see the beauty of a thousand little islands in a long, long string of lakes and rivers - all green, all plush, and forever wild. Without this road - this whole area of upstate N..Y. would be cut off from the rest of the world, as if it didn't exist.
You can visit or settle in - to the perfect , ideal place to be at peace and enjoy every day without the confusion of traffic or people. You may wonder why I ever left it. Well, that is another story, but I love my mountains, and I often drive up these roads to be among them again. It always refreshes me and my spirit and no matter how far away you go, once you have lived there, you will always come back. It doesn't change much and perhaps that is what draws us back. It is forever wild, and it is THERE.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Vietnam AGAIN?
On the news today I heard that the commander over in Afghanistan is being called on the carpet for some remarks he made about the situation there, and how it is being handled. I agree with him and applaud the courage it took to say so, knowing he would probably be sent down for it.
When politicians make the decisions in a war (and this is a war) the U.S. and its troops lose. Why? Because you can't fight a war from behind a desk and when you are trying to get re-elected or playing the Washington game. Who is thinking of the lives involved here? The politicians, the Pres.,the press??? Not by a darn sight. They guy who has to order them to go to their possible death is the only one who cares or even knows what is going on. While he is sending them out on deadly missions, the Washington crowd are having Afghanistan's Pres. to dinner and patting him on the back.
Why would he want the war to go well,? If it did, and we had any idea of WINNING , he would lose all that money and status and be nothing again, just like before. This is politics. This is not war. This is not winning anything for anyone. We will not be better off, Afghanistan will not be better off, only the terrorists and the Taliban will be better off and that is exactly what they are waiting for. Vietnam all over again and with the same results.
When we go to war with no hope of winning, and all kinds of restrictions that prevent that - there can be no good outcome for anyone and a lot of decent boys and gals lives lost. What for? Politicians, that's what. Come on people, isn't it time you voted and had some say in this. Maybe your son is there and maybe not, but everyone's son is worth taking the time to undue this horrible mess we are in. REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!!!! Penmom
When politicians make the decisions in a war (and this is a war) the U.S. and its troops lose. Why? Because you can't fight a war from behind a desk and when you are trying to get re-elected or playing the Washington game. Who is thinking of the lives involved here? The politicians, the Pres.,the press??? Not by a darn sight. They guy who has to order them to go to their possible death is the only one who cares or even knows what is going on. While he is sending them out on deadly missions, the Washington crowd are having Afghanistan's Pres. to dinner and patting him on the back.
Why would he want the war to go well,? If it did, and we had any idea of WINNING , he would lose all that money and status and be nothing again, just like before. This is politics. This is not war. This is not winning anything for anyone. We will not be better off, Afghanistan will not be better off, only the terrorists and the Taliban will be better off and that is exactly what they are waiting for. Vietnam all over again and with the same results.
When we go to war with no hope of winning, and all kinds of restrictions that prevent that - there can be no good outcome for anyone and a lot of decent boys and gals lives lost. What for? Politicians, that's what. Come on people, isn't it time you voted and had some say in this. Maybe your son is there and maybe not, but everyone's son is worth taking the time to undue this horrible mess we are in. REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!!!! Penmom
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
SPRING HAS SPRUNG
Spring has sprung, the flowers has ris, I wonder where the birdies is? That is an old line used frequently by Seniors like me, but it does say it all. My flowers are indeed rising, and our feeders are full of birds and the squirrels have come to fill up on peanuts. I just love having the yard full of animals,etc. and they are so cheery. The gardens are early this year and I hope a late frost doesn't get the new buds. The lilacs are out, the lilies are up and about ready to bloom, all the perennials survived the winter and are flowering out. The Funkia grows an inch per day and that is no joke. However, no one but my brother and I seem to know what Funkia is. Well it is similar (but not exact) to Hosta. I have 5 varieties of Hosta among my Funkia, but it is easy to tell the difference. The Funkia has curly leaves and is much prettier than most Hosta plants. It came from a very old batch that grew on the stonewall of my brother's greenhouse land. When he moved South to live, he gave me a large clump of the bulbs and I planted them. They are now totally covering the garden in front of the house and I have spread them to the side and back yards as well as giving away a lot. In the old days this kind of plant was seen around old farms and houses and you didn't buy it. It had to be given to you, as was my starter bunch. So maybe that is why it is different and the name suggests "earthy smell" as described in my books.It gets the usual blue flowers in mid-summer but they are slightly different than all the other varieties.
Our feeders are emptied every single day with our Cardinals, Goldfinches, Red-headed sparrows, Red-headed woodpeckers,etc.etc. Most of our regulars spend the winter with us and don't migrate. We feed them all year long. They are so used to us they sit on top of the feeder pole while Fred fills and changes the feeder tubes. Then they feed like he hadn't even been there. If anyone has garden stories, I would like to hear them. Much of what I have planted all around the house are varieties that are very old or unknown now. Interesting.
Our feeders are emptied every single day with our Cardinals, Goldfinches, Red-headed sparrows, Red-headed woodpeckers,etc.etc. Most of our regulars spend the winter with us and don't migrate. We feed them all year long. They are so used to us they sit on top of the feeder pole while Fred fills and changes the feeder tubes. Then they feed like he hadn't even been there. If anyone has garden stories, I would like to hear them. Much of what I have planted all around the house are varieties that are very old or unknown now. Interesting.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Slavery
I'll bet the first thing that comes to your mind is the Civil War and black slaves. Well, there are many kinds of slavery, in many colors and many disguises. Be wary.
No one thinks about being a slave to computers, Black Berrys, IPods, Cell Phones, emails, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs,etc. - but how many people do you know, right now, that are slaves to most all of those. They can hardly get through a day without constantly attending to their masters (the above electronics). SLAVERY! Heavens no, I am not a slave to those - they serve me. Oh! really, think again.
If we lose our freedoms of opinion, the media, and speech (without fear) are we not slaves? You bet! Yet, we give away more of those every single day. The inroads are clever, hidden, inching along day by day. When something like the Health Care Bill scared us half to death, we began to wake up and notice - but is it too late? Have we waited to long to protect our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution?
Women, for centuries have been slaves to house work - mostly because they love their families - but when they were needed in WWII to fill in for the men who had gone off to war, they were suddenly liberated. They were productive, they learned, they were independent and making money, yet still taking care of their families. After the War they were all expected to return to the home and forget everything they had attained. Who became the slave then? But they had tasted freedom and wanted more. So they went on to combine job and home and what happened? They were soon slaves to both. They wanted it all, but couldn't balance all of it without losing something.
So when you think of slavery today, you need to remember that there are all kinds, and our Constitution can no longer protect you from any of them if you don't wake up and save it, for all of us. Congress will not help you. They are slaves to politics and its demands. Each of us must look to our own vote and use it wisely.
No one thinks about being a slave to computers, Black Berrys, IPods, Cell Phones, emails, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs,etc. - but how many people do you know, right now, that are slaves to most all of those. They can hardly get through a day without constantly attending to their masters (the above electronics). SLAVERY! Heavens no, I am not a slave to those - they serve me. Oh! really, think again.
If we lose our freedoms of opinion, the media, and speech (without fear) are we not slaves? You bet! Yet, we give away more of those every single day. The inroads are clever, hidden, inching along day by day. When something like the Health Care Bill scared us half to death, we began to wake up and notice - but is it too late? Have we waited to long to protect our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution?
Women, for centuries have been slaves to house work - mostly because they love their families - but when they were needed in WWII to fill in for the men who had gone off to war, they were suddenly liberated. They were productive, they learned, they were independent and making money, yet still taking care of their families. After the War they were all expected to return to the home and forget everything they had attained. Who became the slave then? But they had tasted freedom and wanted more. So they went on to combine job and home and what happened? They were soon slaves to both. They wanted it all, but couldn't balance all of it without losing something.
So when you think of slavery today, you need to remember that there are all kinds, and our Constitution can no longer protect you from any of them if you don't wake up and save it, for all of us. Congress will not help you. They are slaves to politics and its demands. Each of us must look to our own vote and use it wisely.
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