Blog is back up! Was down for a bit, didn't know when it would be back up so I could ramble some more.
They are hitting us from every side these days, eh? Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, Communists, all trying to get a seat in the boat. Each and every one convinced they are right and every body else is wrong. The "New World Order" is coming and we're all going to be slaves to the rich people! Good grief.
Look, I'm no expert on what's going on in the world, but even I can see we've taken a very high dive into the deep end. I know, I know, if you look at history you'll see just as much loud argueing between political parties and individuals as long as there have been politics. We didn't just dream up dirty politics in this country in this generation, it has a long standing tradition here, as well as around the world. That's the problem.
This attitude of: "I'll do anything, I'll say anything, I'll condone anything in order to get elected to public office is so shameful as to put the lie to anything we say we stand for. Our political process has become so ugly, so stained with vile words and deeds that the people feel dirty after having particpated in even the least important elections. In colusion with the politicians is our media.
We used to be able to consider our media a protector of the people's right to know. We used to be able to actually consider our news media pesonalities as journalists who would bring us the world and tell us what was going on with some credibility. Now, they are no more than entertainers with their own agenda and with license to use the airwaves to tell us what we should think and how we should "feel" about issues they bring to the fore. I remember when all politicians were fair game to the news media, everybody got taken down a notch when deserved, regardless of party. These days, they are more interested in defending one party against the other, instead of defending US against them ALL!
I don't know. I miss Huntley and Brinkley. I never knew what their political beliefs were. I didn't know where they stood on gun control, or abortion. I just knew what they reported in the news. I respected them for that. I used to respect Walter Cronkite, till he went all wobbly and decided expressing his opinion was more important than reporting the news. I know there is so much going on in the world that it is sometimes impossible to get it all right the first try, that's just life. But the cable news folks with opinion piece shows on constantly, advocating either a right-wing or left-wing slant to their entire production, have made it seem that we can no longer get anthing close to an unbiased report on anything! News reporting should very much be like a police report: Who, What, When, Where and How. You very, very, very rarely include the WHY because that is where you get in trouble with trying to be accurate. One source tells you one thing, and another source tells you another thing, and you then have to decide which is more accurate or true. Good luck with that.
Mac
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Saturday Night Reflections.....
Let's see, how does the old song go?
"It's another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody,
I got some money cause I just got paid.
How I wish I had someone to talk to,
I'm in an awful way."
Such is life, eh? I kind of got on the subject of getting older thanks to several things that have happened lately. My kids started having kids, I realized I'm overweight and out of shape, and I just don't heal up as quickly, or as well, as I used to.
So I decide I'm going to lose some weight and start a mild workout program to try and get is some semblance of shape. So first thing I do is give myself a simple little physical fitness test to see just where I am before I start a program, right? Something simple, something I'm familiar with and can keep doing regardless of whether I have a gym handy or not. So I fall back to my old army days and figure I'll start out with the old PT test we used to do. Simple, right? Push ups, sit ups, and run. Nothing to it.
Now, I don't run, so it's more of a push ups, sit ups and walk, so that makes it even more simple. Just something to get me up off the couch and doing something. I used to do the PT test twice a year before I retired from the Army Reserve and maintained myself in between tests fairly easily. I can do this. I used to max the points on the push ups and sit ups, but I was no body's runner, so I would just try to pass that part, and maybe make a few extra points if I could. No problem.
The test was a two mile timed run. I used to pass it with no problem. Now I can't run around the block if you gave me most of the day to complete it. I used to do about 50 sit ups in two minutes, now I can do 15 and I was DONE. I used to do about 56 push ups in two minutes, not I did 15 and I was DONE. There was no running. I just walked, on a treadmill, for five laps and I was DONE. I've never been in such bad shape in my life.
So I got three iPhone apps that will help. One gives you a program to get you up to being able to do 200 sit ups. One gives you a program to get you up to 100 push ups, and one is called, Couch to 5K, which obviously is supposed to help you gradually work your way up to being able to run 5 kilometers. So I start the programs! The first day of the push ups it has me to sets of push ups, with a rest period in between each set. I believe it was 12, 7, 7, 9, 8+. Five sets of just a few push ups, and then you're done.
The sit ups program was much the same, obviously starting me off very, very slowly. Then I walked again and actually did 6 laps before being completely wore out. I knew that I'd be a little bit sore as a result of doing all this for the first time in a long time, but I had NO idea of how miserable I was about to be.
Ibuprofen and Alieve are my friends. I love them. I shall leave something to them in my will one day. about 24 to 36 hours after my little gung ho episode, I was so sore I couldn't put my shirt on. I couldn't fall asleep because I'd only wake up the first time I moved in my sleep. It was a real nightmare. Finally, it started to ease up and get better, so I was able to move, and to sleep, normally. Usually, as a result of something like that, I'd shy away from making it happen again, but in this instance, I really, really can't.
I have to do something about my weight. I have to do something about what bad shape I'm in. I have to. As I mentioned before, my kids are having kids, and I want to be around as long as I can to enjoy that as much as I can. I am so proud of my kids. They have really done such a great job with their lives so far. I can hardly wait to see what comes next for them.
As for me, yup, still single and unattached, but gainfully employed, just went over 20 years with this employer, 31 years in the business. Been single for 16 years straight now, which is a record for me, lol. I'm not sure if I'm sparing myself, or sparing any other poor woman from having to put up with me, LOL. I guess it is just in how you look at it. Who knows, maybe someone is actually out there just waiting to meet me, or not.
Mac
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Another long, long time since I last posted anything. Sigh. Oh well, no need to get all guilty about it, just do better...
First, and foremost, Osama Bin Laden is finally with the fishes, er, no pun intended. Oh heck, pun absolutely intended!! I have to admit, the only negative thing about the entire episode is the whining and caterwauling of the poor tortured souls who cannot come to grips with the fact this is a good, good thing.
"Oh, oh, we shouldn't be celebrating the death of any person", "Oh, how terrible of us to be glad this man is dead", "Oh, oh, we are just terrible people for killing an unarmed man in his bedroom".
OH PLEASE! GET A DAMNED GRIP people! You know what, in the normal course of human events I would agree in almost every case, BUT, in this case, this guy EARNED his death, and richly deserved it in every single way imaginable. You people need to put on your big girl panties and buck up! This was justice DONE! If ever there was an exception that proves the rule, this guy is the poster child. If anyone out there has ever wished President George Bush dead, then lamented when Bin Laden was killed, you are a HUGE hypocrite!
"Oh, oh, we shouldn't show the pictures, it might inflame Muslim sensibilities", that one from our current President. Sheesh, talk about being in need of big girl panties.....
For some reason, the administration has decided that we should not "inflame Muslim sensibilities" even though "Muslims" have no problem doing the same to us. Pictures and videos of every kind of senseless killing and beheading that can be shown, HAS been shown. Ever since Mogadishu the "Muslims" have no problem with parading the bodies, and body parts, of Americans killed around the globe before the global audience, and proudly! And the very same Democrats who are now saying we should not show such photos (because it could cause some of our troops overseas to be subject to Muslim violence) had NO problem, and in fact, couldn't release the Ahbu Graib prison photos FAST ENOUGH! Funny how a couple of years makes such a difference, eh?
And we take the time to give the body a washing, a wrapping, and a drop in the ocean after an "appropriate" Muslim ceremony. Okay, is it me, or does anyone ever remember ANY of the Americans killed by Muslims getting the same treatment? The "oh so sacred" tenant of burying bodies within 24 hours, etc? I seem to remember those guys in Falujah hanging from the bridges for some days, don't I? The bodies of our helicopter pilots, and two MOH winning Green Beret operatives being dragged through the streets by gangs of Muslims. Oh, wait, that is only for "believers", that's right. Us "infidels" are not subject to such consideration. Or is it crusaders? I always forget which terms are correct at the moment.
Funny how tolerance has become a one way street, eh? As for "moderate" Muslims, yeah, right. The definition of that is: Those Muslims who want to have their cake, and eat it, too. Demanding freedom of religion wherever they go, but try to walk down a street in Saudi Arabia with a bible in your hand. Yeah, good luck with that. Let me know how that works out for ya.
Okay, I hear you now, saying "But THEY don't represent ALL Muslims! They don't speak for all Islam!" This is the deepest bullshit of all. When Christian nutjobs here in the U. S. try to bomb buildings and kill people we put all of our resources toward stopping them, period. Sometimes, like with Timothy McVeigh, we don't intercept them in time, but we still hunt them down and make them pay. We don't celebrate them and make them into heroes and claim they are "holy warriors". And when we put a needle in Tim's arm and made him go bye-bye we said good riddance to bad rubbish. Are there still people out there like him? Sure there are, and if they pull anything we can't stop before they succeed we'll take them down as well.
But we don't put those people up as some kind of martyr on a national basis or on a religious basis as a nation. We are ashamed of our nutcases, unlike the Muslim world.
So forgive me if I can't "feeeeeel" bad about Bin Laden getting a fatal case of lead poisoning. Shit happens. Especially to evil people like him. And good riddance to bad rubbish.
God Bless the Navy Seals.
Mac
First, and foremost, Osama Bin Laden is finally with the fishes, er, no pun intended. Oh heck, pun absolutely intended!! I have to admit, the only negative thing about the entire episode is the whining and caterwauling of the poor tortured souls who cannot come to grips with the fact this is a good, good thing.
"Oh, oh, we shouldn't be celebrating the death of any person", "Oh, how terrible of us to be glad this man is dead", "Oh, oh, we are just terrible people for killing an unarmed man in his bedroom".
OH PLEASE! GET A DAMNED GRIP people! You know what, in the normal course of human events I would agree in almost every case, BUT, in this case, this guy EARNED his death, and richly deserved it in every single way imaginable. You people need to put on your big girl panties and buck up! This was justice DONE! If ever there was an exception that proves the rule, this guy is the poster child. If anyone out there has ever wished President George Bush dead, then lamented when Bin Laden was killed, you are a HUGE hypocrite!
"Oh, oh, we shouldn't show the pictures, it might inflame Muslim sensibilities", that one from our current President. Sheesh, talk about being in need of big girl panties.....
For some reason, the administration has decided that we should not "inflame Muslim sensibilities" even though "Muslims" have no problem doing the same to us. Pictures and videos of every kind of senseless killing and beheading that can be shown, HAS been shown. Ever since Mogadishu the "Muslims" have no problem with parading the bodies, and body parts, of Americans killed around the globe before the global audience, and proudly! And the very same Democrats who are now saying we should not show such photos (because it could cause some of our troops overseas to be subject to Muslim violence) had NO problem, and in fact, couldn't release the Ahbu Graib prison photos FAST ENOUGH! Funny how a couple of years makes such a difference, eh?
And we take the time to give the body a washing, a wrapping, and a drop in the ocean after an "appropriate" Muslim ceremony. Okay, is it me, or does anyone ever remember ANY of the Americans killed by Muslims getting the same treatment? The "oh so sacred" tenant of burying bodies within 24 hours, etc? I seem to remember those guys in Falujah hanging from the bridges for some days, don't I? The bodies of our helicopter pilots, and two MOH winning Green Beret operatives being dragged through the streets by gangs of Muslims. Oh, wait, that is only for "believers", that's right. Us "infidels" are not subject to such consideration. Or is it crusaders? I always forget which terms are correct at the moment.
Funny how tolerance has become a one way street, eh? As for "moderate" Muslims, yeah, right. The definition of that is: Those Muslims who want to have their cake, and eat it, too. Demanding freedom of religion wherever they go, but try to walk down a street in Saudi Arabia with a bible in your hand. Yeah, good luck with that. Let me know how that works out for ya.
Okay, I hear you now, saying "But THEY don't represent ALL Muslims! They don't speak for all Islam!" This is the deepest bullshit of all. When Christian nutjobs here in the U. S. try to bomb buildings and kill people we put all of our resources toward stopping them, period. Sometimes, like with Timothy McVeigh, we don't intercept them in time, but we still hunt them down and make them pay. We don't celebrate them and make them into heroes and claim they are "holy warriors". And when we put a needle in Tim's arm and made him go bye-bye we said good riddance to bad rubbish. Are there still people out there like him? Sure there are, and if they pull anything we can't stop before they succeed we'll take them down as well.
But we don't put those people up as some kind of martyr on a national basis or on a religious basis as a nation. We are ashamed of our nutcases, unlike the Muslim world.
So forgive me if I can't "feeeeeel" bad about Bin Laden getting a fatal case of lead poisoning. Shit happens. Especially to evil people like him. And good riddance to bad rubbish.
God Bless the Navy Seals.
Mac
Friday, February 26, 2010
Well, it's been a while, again, since I last posted anything. Sometimes I forget I even have this thing and it's a surprise when I see it in my favorites list. Then I'm aggravated that I've forgotten it, and feel I must post something right then in order to not feel any more guilty for the neglect.
The move is complete, the apartment is fine, blah, blah, blah. I had to spend a week at home a couple of weeks ago after another eye operation and I found myself watching a lot of television. I think if I have to listen to one more rant by a political figure, about other political figures, I shall scream until they take me away to that proverbial rubber room.
What in the hell has happened in this country? When did we become such slathering beasts when it comes to politics. When I was stationed in Puerto Rico in the Navy I can remember being startled by the intensity and passion of the people down there when it came to politics. I was sincerely shocked by their loud protests concerning their candidates and their platforms. It was a learning experience for sure.
But now, it seems we are trying to outdo them at every turn. Mean spirited tactics, dishonest debates, fact free diatribes, total abandonment of compromise, and the term bi-partisanship has become a not so inside joke. The political parties in this country no longer talk to each other, they preach at each other. There is no discourse, only political maneuvering and posturing in order to stake out a bigger piece of the pie for themselves and their supporters.
Not one of them thinks anything about putting in pork barrel requests for penny ante projects that will make them look good at home, while wasting millions, and billions, of our tax dollars every year. Both sides of the aisle think we are so stupid that we cannot fathom the fact that while they decry the deficits, they add to them every year with such tactics.
Are we that stupid? Are we falling for the tactic of divide and conquer? Do they keep us so stirred up against one another that they can then do whatever they want?
Yes, I do believe we are.
Mac
The move is complete, the apartment is fine, blah, blah, blah. I had to spend a week at home a couple of weeks ago after another eye operation and I found myself watching a lot of television. I think if I have to listen to one more rant by a political figure, about other political figures, I shall scream until they take me away to that proverbial rubber room.
What in the hell has happened in this country? When did we become such slathering beasts when it comes to politics. When I was stationed in Puerto Rico in the Navy I can remember being startled by the intensity and passion of the people down there when it came to politics. I was sincerely shocked by their loud protests concerning their candidates and their platforms. It was a learning experience for sure.
But now, it seems we are trying to outdo them at every turn. Mean spirited tactics, dishonest debates, fact free diatribes, total abandonment of compromise, and the term bi-partisanship has become a not so inside joke. The political parties in this country no longer talk to each other, they preach at each other. There is no discourse, only political maneuvering and posturing in order to stake out a bigger piece of the pie for themselves and their supporters.
Not one of them thinks anything about putting in pork barrel requests for penny ante projects that will make them look good at home, while wasting millions, and billions, of our tax dollars every year. Both sides of the aisle think we are so stupid that we cannot fathom the fact that while they decry the deficits, they add to them every year with such tactics.
Are we that stupid? Are we falling for the tactic of divide and conquer? Do they keep us so stirred up against one another that they can then do whatever they want?
Yes, I do believe we are.
Mac
Monday, December 7, 2009
Life During A Move.
So I decided to move to another apartment this summer when dealing with several shortcomings of my current abode. I started looking in August and found what I wanted this past October. Since my old lease wasn't up till January 1st, 2010, I had to wait to lease the new place, which put my move on December 19th, right in the middle of the holiday period.
So I've been slowly, and I must put much emphasis on SLOWLY, been packing up my things in order to move them to the new place. For some reason I am without any enthusiasm for packing boxes and sealing them up in preparation for the movers to come and get them. I find that if I can make myself load up a single box a day I am satisfied. I'm now down to about 12 days till the move, and I have about 20 boxes to go. I think it will take more than one a day to get the job done. Yet, I still do not speed up, I feel no sense of urgency, I cannot seem to motivate myself to get it done. I procrastinate, watch TV when I should be packing, or decide that after loading a single box that a nap is in order.
I cannot decide what exactly is wrong. I love the new apartment. I will have my very own individual garage to store stuff in. It has a pantry. It is upstairs so there are no loud feet walking across my ceiling at odd hours aggravating the heck out of me. It is five times nicer and better laid out than my current place. I am even EAGER to get out of my current place. Yet, I procrastinate anyway. I guess I am the type of person that needs that last minute crisis in order to get things done. I will wait till it is only five days before the move and then pack like a madman, and get it done with little problem, instead of getting it done in advance and being more relaxed. I need a more immediate deadline I guess, lol. Oh well, while it will be a pain in the ass, it does seem to work for me.
My new couch, love seat, and chair is also scheduled to be delivered this month sometime, and I am looking forward to it a great deal. I've not had a recliner since I was stationed in Puerto Rico with the Navy in the late 70's, and this set has TWO of them!!! I almost fell asleep in the store when I went to try them out they are so comfortable. When I have my large screen TV hooked up and my recliner love seat set up, I shall be in heaven for sure.
I can hardly wait.
Mac
So I've been slowly, and I must put much emphasis on SLOWLY, been packing up my things in order to move them to the new place. For some reason I am without any enthusiasm for packing boxes and sealing them up in preparation for the movers to come and get them. I find that if I can make myself load up a single box a day I am satisfied. I'm now down to about 12 days till the move, and I have about 20 boxes to go. I think it will take more than one a day to get the job done. Yet, I still do not speed up, I feel no sense of urgency, I cannot seem to motivate myself to get it done. I procrastinate, watch TV when I should be packing, or decide that after loading a single box that a nap is in order.
I cannot decide what exactly is wrong. I love the new apartment. I will have my very own individual garage to store stuff in. It has a pantry. It is upstairs so there are no loud feet walking across my ceiling at odd hours aggravating the heck out of me. It is five times nicer and better laid out than my current place. I am even EAGER to get out of my current place. Yet, I procrastinate anyway. I guess I am the type of person that needs that last minute crisis in order to get things done. I will wait till it is only five days before the move and then pack like a madman, and get it done with little problem, instead of getting it done in advance and being more relaxed. I need a more immediate deadline I guess, lol. Oh well, while it will be a pain in the ass, it does seem to work for me.
My new couch, love seat, and chair is also scheduled to be delivered this month sometime, and I am looking forward to it a great deal. I've not had a recliner since I was stationed in Puerto Rico with the Navy in the late 70's, and this set has TWO of them!!! I almost fell asleep in the store when I went to try them out they are so comfortable. When I have my large screen TV hooked up and my recliner love seat set up, I shall be in heaven for sure.
I can hardly wait.
Mac
Monday, November 30, 2009
Well, here we are again at the start of the holiday season, 2009. Thanksgiving is now history, and Christmas looms on the horizon.
My daughter Brittney turned 18 this past September, and Jeffrey is now 15. The fact that my older boys are now 30, 29, and 25 does not make it any easier.
Facing up to turning 53 this past October is just another day in the long line. Turning 50 didn't pinch as much as I thought it would, so a year or two in addition really hasn't added any deep concerns either. I still have a few years to go at the current occupation before I can retire, and I have to wait till I turn 60 in order to start collecting the Army retirement pay. So to say I am still in a limbo of waiting would be about accurate.
Sarah Palin is still giving the Liberals fits, as President Obama, Harry Ried, and Phoney Pelosi are doing for the Conservatives. It seems that everyone is more worried about who is doing what, instead of what they are actually doing. No one is addressing the actual problems we have, instead they are feathering their political nests at our expense. It does seem that we very well might need to throw the bums out! Start over with an entirely new crew, both Dem and Repub. Vote out every incumbent Representative, Senator, and President, and just start over. Wouldn't that be something to see?
Yeah, when pigs fly......
Mac
My daughter Brittney turned 18 this past September, and Jeffrey is now 15. The fact that my older boys are now 30, 29, and 25 does not make it any easier.
Facing up to turning 53 this past October is just another day in the long line. Turning 50 didn't pinch as much as I thought it would, so a year or two in addition really hasn't added any deep concerns either. I still have a few years to go at the current occupation before I can retire, and I have to wait till I turn 60 in order to start collecting the Army retirement pay. So to say I am still in a limbo of waiting would be about accurate.
Sarah Palin is still giving the Liberals fits, as President Obama, Harry Ried, and Phoney Pelosi are doing for the Conservatives. It seems that everyone is more worried about who is doing what, instead of what they are actually doing. No one is addressing the actual problems we have, instead they are feathering their political nests at our expense. It does seem that we very well might need to throw the bums out! Start over with an entirely new crew, both Dem and Repub. Vote out every incumbent Representative, Senator, and President, and just start over. Wouldn't that be something to see?
Yeah, when pigs fly......
Mac
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Well, summer 2009 is nearly past, actually, it is past. It was a wild and wooly one as summers go. No long trips, no adventures, just life.
My youngest son Jeffrey did come down and spend a lot of the summer with me, but he also spent quite a bit of time with his grandmother, my mom, which I was actually glad to see. My own grandmother, my moms mom, passed away a few weeks ago but don't worry, it was not all that sad. If I were to make a toast to my grandmother on my moms side, it would go something like this, "Here's to Geri Shicklegruber, and I call her Shicklegruber because calling her Geri Hitler would be just a bit over the top, but only just a bit."
It's a shame that some people live their lives in a total, all out effort, to make other people miserable. My grandmother should have things written about her concerning how loving she was, and how much she cared for her family and friends, how kind to kittens she was, etc.
But all that would be wasted words when it came to my grandmother. She was one of those way west Texas oilfield women who was tough as nails and as ornery as an old mule with a sore hoof. She went out of her way to cause chaos and mayhem in the family every chance she got, and took offense at every opportunity at the smallest and most insigificant incident of dissagreement or even just a personal opinion that didn't agree with hers. She was one of the most selfish and obnoxious women it was ever my misfortune to know and she treated my mother like crap her entire life.
I would say good riddance but that might be a bit harsh for a grandson to say about his grandmother. But I can't say she'll be missed by anybody, at least no one has owned up to it so far. And that is a very, very sad thing.
Farewell maama. I hope, for once, you are happy now. I truly do.
Mac
My youngest son Jeffrey did come down and spend a lot of the summer with me, but he also spent quite a bit of time with his grandmother, my mom, which I was actually glad to see. My own grandmother, my moms mom, passed away a few weeks ago but don't worry, it was not all that sad. If I were to make a toast to my grandmother on my moms side, it would go something like this, "Here's to Geri Shicklegruber, and I call her Shicklegruber because calling her Geri Hitler would be just a bit over the top, but only just a bit."
It's a shame that some people live their lives in a total, all out effort, to make other people miserable. My grandmother should have things written about her concerning how loving she was, and how much she cared for her family and friends, how kind to kittens she was, etc.
But all that would be wasted words when it came to my grandmother. She was one of those way west Texas oilfield women who was tough as nails and as ornery as an old mule with a sore hoof. She went out of her way to cause chaos and mayhem in the family every chance she got, and took offense at every opportunity at the smallest and most insigificant incident of dissagreement or even just a personal opinion that didn't agree with hers. She was one of the most selfish and obnoxious women it was ever my misfortune to know and she treated my mother like crap her entire life.
I would say good riddance but that might be a bit harsh for a grandson to say about his grandmother. But I can't say she'll be missed by anybody, at least no one has owned up to it so far. And that is a very, very sad thing.
Farewell maama. I hope, for once, you are happy now. I truly do.
Mac
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