Not Goodbye

This is not goodbye, but it is a notice that I am now unable to write the blog for an undetermined period. The chemotherapy is more than I expected and with each treatment, there are more and more problems.

It has become very difficult for me to type, and the "chemobrain" has gotten worse. That means that I have memory and concentration issues. The docs do say that this will get better, but they do not say when.

Neuropathy has caused me not to be able to use my hands to do simple task, and my feet don’t always want to do the walking. Because neuropathy is a nerve issue, opinions about any recovery are mixed. I am hoping I will get back to more normal at some point in time. Hey, being able to button my pants is important to me. I might add it’s important to some other people too.

There are more and more reasons not to write for awhile, but mostly because I am making less and less sense to me. Not, that I ever made sense to me.

So for awhile there may or may not be a new post, depending upon what the chemicals are doing to me at any time.  Does that sound like a possible maybe or what?

Keep checking back - I’m just stubborn enough to get through this.

PMO
©2018

Government Motors

My how time flies when your having fun. It hasn’t been long ago that General Motors (Government Motors) had to be bailed out by the taxpayers to prevent the auto giant from collapsing, along with Chrysler as both were basically bankrupt. Chrysler quickly formed a plan, if you can call it that, but it took until April, 2014 for GM to be officially free of taxpayer ownership.

Exactly how much did the GM action cost isn’t easy to find. Best estimates are between $10.3 and $16.6 billion. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, a billion here and there ain’t much, but when you have public funds keeping a corporation afloat, it does seem to be a lot. And, now there appears to be a threat to do it again.

General Motors is saying that they may have to raise prices and cut jobs to deal with tariffs. Somebody please, say it ain’t so. Is round two on the way? What will be the outcome this time?

We should at least be able to get a good deal on a car this time. "No deal, no dough." Who says that GM is too big to fail? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

How about if we get to submit names for new cars, and a few winners get a prize - like a new Ford. Here are some nifty names that might work. Pelosi Pusher - Clinton Coverup - Schumer Smoker - Maxine Machine.

Or, it could be that all models would simply be the "People’s Car."

Worked for Hitler.

PMO
©2018

Hear No Truth, See No Truth, Speak No Truth

Okay, let’s get back to some of what’s really happening in the world. First and foremost are the "children." You know those poor mistreated children that cost tax payers about $800 per day each to care for, because their parents broke laws and being held in separate facilities. It’s all Trumps fault, of course. Forget that the procedures were put into place by Bill Clinton and continued for two terms by Obama. Where’s the truth being reported?

Then, since the children are to be the current Democrat focus, what is happening on one of the other programs they support - abortion. Truth here is simple, you can kill them, but you can’t separate them from their parents. That must come under the heading of, see no truth.

Now the speak no truth. Using every possible diversion to solicit votes, the rabid left, cannot afford for the truth to be spoken. They are currently in melt down and should truth be suddenly told and accepted, their castles would fall - literally on the children.

Not to worry. The media has their back.

They will do whatever it takes to see that the truth is not revealed.

PMO
©2018

Bella

The Warning Sign is specific - "No One Under Age 14 - Beyond This Point - NO EXCEPTIONS." The sign is posted at the entrance of the chemotherapy room where I go. There are over 50 people in that room at any given time to be connected to machines that deliver the chemicals. As you can imagine, people are in various stages of treatment, attitudes, and attire. It is not a pleasant place, but the staff tries to make everyone as comfortable as possible in a positive caring manner.

There’s not much to do while you sit and wait for the clock to tick out the drops that fall from the IVs into your body. Some exchange brief pleasantries, but mostly, we just sit and wait and watch for the nurses to come answer an alarm when it signals the session is over.

Remember the sign clearly stated no exceptions to the policy. Enter Bella, at least that’s the name I heard her called. Bella is about 8 to 10 years old and is pulling a cart filled with give-a-way bags. She is with a member of the facility management and her mother. Bella has gathered, through donations, little things that she sees as helping make a spirit brighter. Then, she assembles the bags with contents and brings them to the cancer center, where they are usually stored and passed out by the nursing staff as patients needs become known. Not, this time, or as I understand, possibly one or two times before. This time Bella wanted to bring each person in that room, a goodie bag of their own - even the lady down the hall in isolation, because she is allergic to peanuts and there might be some brought in by another person.

I was sitting up front and first when she came it. She didn’t say anything, she just handed me a bag and moved on to the next person. I said, "Thank you" as everyone did while the mother and lady from the center smiled. From time, to time, Bella would stop and ask if she could go over to an area, and with permission she went and handed out another bag.

When she had made all stops, the two ladies and Bella left to store the bags she had left - a lot of them go to storage too. I took an opportunity to ask the lady from the center about Bella, so that’s where I got this post. When asked about the no exceptions, she simply stated, "some times there is an exception to no exceptions."  I can assure you that every person there that day had their spirits boosted by an exception - Bella.

A child that sees a need and fills it, feels really good to those that receive.

Thank you Bella. You are the exception.

PMO
©2018

Rabid Leftist

They used to be called liberals, but now they’ve up the ante. Democrat Maxine Waters of California is now declaring political war - literally - against Trump and any of his supporters. She wants them attacked anywhere at anytime - even at the corner gas station or local eatery. She encourages people to form a crowd and attack. HATE is the action word for the rabid left. They focus on pointing out hate in others when it exist or note. It is hate that drives them to hate anything that does not match what they want.

Last week, actor Peter Fonda said that Trump’s young son should be locked in a cage with a bunch of pedophiles. Talk about attacking children. Is this the new left? No. It’s just the cover coming off the old left.

How long can it be before the rabid left is faced with a civil war that they cannot deal with.

There are a lot of "rednecks" out there that can deal with it.

PMO
©2018

Chemo Day

No blog today - another 8 hour chemotherapy day.

I am officially now a toxic waste site.

Permit Patty

A woman in California has been dubbed "permit patty" because she appeared on her phone to be reporting an eight year old for selling water without a permit. The child reportedly was screaming out to get people to buy her water bottles so she could get money to go to Disney Land because her mother had lost her job and they no longer could afford to go. Horrors!!!!! Can you imagine an 8 year old not getting what she wants when she wants it?

The woman on the phone, video recorded by someone, now is facing death threats among other things for not accepting the behavior of the child as being okay. Fortunately, someone stepped up with four tickets to the amusement park and saved the day. It is nice to see that someone understands that if a child wants, a child gets - especially if the child behaves like she will die without it.

Don’t you just love my sarcasm?

If the child were mine, I would have spanked her until she found out what she did was stupid and she was not owed what she wants when she wants it.

PMO
©2018

Trading Cars

As mentioned several times before in the years I’ve written these ramblings, I’ve stated, that it’s hard to make any money trading cars - unless you are the dealership selling new and used vehicles. By the time you sign the final paperwork to make a trade, the vehicle you’re buying has depreciated in value. Nonetheless, my financial controller now has a new ride.

I’ve been planning to make a trade because of the health situation so she would have a new vehicle and not have to deal with that problem. As usual, when looking for a new vehicle, I check the specs and prices to see if it will fit the budget and meet the needs she has in an SUV - that’s all she wants. Cars went by the wayside several years ago. And, the battle begins with an unsuspecting dealership.

This time, I bought a model and manufacturer that I’ve never owned before. When I though I would buy this brand, I looked around to see how many are on the road, and checked with a couple of my neighbors to see if they are happy with the ones they have.

When driving around, I was aware of the brand and how many I would see - hardly none. Which can be a good thing. I’ve never liked being in the "in crowd."

And, I suppose you have experienced what I just did. After we drove the dang thing home, every other vehicle on the road was of the brand we got.

I saw at least five today, and I was just walking out to the mail box.

PMO
©2018

Can't Win

I really hate to keep writing about all the medications and treatments I have to endure now, but I am one of those people that rarely took anything but an aspirin, so I’m in "pill shock." The doctors keep telling me that I need to exercise but they give me medications that keep me from exercising, because of side effects which brings me to what I have found out about medicines.

It is best to read the side effects before taking anything, including an aspirin. Pills can kill you or make you wish you were dead. As a public service, I would like for you to review some of the most common side effects.

Many medicines may cause dizziness and you are warned not to drive or operate machinery. Other popular side effects are diarrhea and nausea. Then, there’s blurred vision. Muscle weakness and temporary loss of memory are in the top ten.

Before you take anything, do you really want any or all of those mentioned above?

Just imagine being dizzy, with diarrhea and nausea, with blurred vision and muscle weakness and not remembering where you are.

PMO
©2018

Open Borders

Being a creature of observation, it is obvious that the liberal Democrats want and will not stop until they have open borders for anyone and everyone to enter and leave this country. Currently they are using the tried and proven, "do it for the children" tactic the Clintons used.

Why do they want open borders? The answer is simple. If you transform America into a third world country, then you get to be the rulers. Forget what it does to the country - like drug cartels, unmeasurable crime, and open corruption. Illegal immigration is not immigration because of a multitude of reason. It is in fact an invasion of a mixture of people including criminals.

Unless borders and immigration laws are enforced. Everybody loses.

Even those that think they will get more illegal votes.

PMO
©2018

Attention All Men

Okay men, you had better pay attention. There’s a new sheriff in town. The following orders are to be strictly followed: "So men, if you really are #WithUs and would like us to not hate you for all the millennia of woe you have produced and benefitted from, start with this: Lean out so we can actually just stand up without being beaten down. Pledge to vote for feminist women only. Don't run for office. Don't be in charge of anything. Step away from the power. We got this. And please know that your crocodile tears won't be wiped away by us anymore. We have every right to hate you. You have done us wrong." - Northeastern University professor Suzanna Danuta Walters in The Washington Post

Once you get this down pat, the next order is to read Walters’ book.

"The Tolerance Trap - How God, Genes and Good Intentions Are Sabotaging Gay Equality."

And you said we don’t have a problem with higher education.

PMO
©2018

Life Rules

It has been a long time since I’ve shared some of my life rules. There are over 100, and probably will be more when ever I get inspired to write some more.  Life is full of rules and all one has to do is write them down and remember them.  They will keep you out of a lot of troubles and worries.  Anyway, here are a few to think about.

# 96.   Celebrities are not special people.
#102.  Your life doesn’t belong just to you.
#94.    You always have a choice.
#87.    Read the fine print slowly - twice.
#79.    Pain is a reminder that you are still alive.
#83.    Integrity is more important than money or power.
#85.    Sometimes, it’s okay to cry.

PMO
©2018

No News

You may noticed that I haven’t had much to say about current news recently. That’s because the "news" never changes. It’s the same old stories everyday. Trump did this or that or Trump is guilty of everything evil. He should never have been elected and if Hilldawg had won we would all be living high and free, so long as we bowed down to her.

Even the local news some how repeats over and over the same old stories. The story for the past year has been about renaming a school named after General Robert E. Lee. Because I don’t actually live in the city where the school is located, I can’t write a letter to the editor. But, as soon as they change the name, and they will, the next step has to be to change the name of the city. It is named after another slave owner and a member of the Confederate House of Representatives.

I also see and hear a lot about the country being divided and the existence of hate everywhere. If you are one to check the news, pay attention to who is trying to divide the country and spews hatred at anything that does not agree with their agenda.

No news is good news.

Well, at least it’s better than the news.

PMO
©2018

Uncle 'J'

Recently someone asked me a question, “When you were young, who did you admire the most?”  Perhaps I could have answered with one of several people, but I quickly replied, “My uncle J.”  As a boy then as a man I must admit that he was a character.  But, I admired him.

‘J’ was not educated, and very poor, but he seemed to me to posses important qualities, and he liked to have fun.  Perhaps it was because he served in WWII and saw and did what no man should have to see or do.  He came home with pure white hair although he was in his early twenties.  He was shot by a machine gun and so severely injured that he had to pick up his intestines and walk a quarter mile to an aid station.  He survived the war, but not the injury.  It would plague him all his life.

‘J’ would tell you that you couldn’t kill him because he had already been dead.  That’s the way he lived his life.  He took the little things in life as pleasures, and shared joy where he found it.
I could go on and on with stories about him, but everyone has at least one book in their life story.  And, this is not a place to write a book.

The lessons he showed me, not what he told me, were important, and I remember.

Don’t be afraid and treat everyone fairly.

PMO
©2018

No One Left

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. He is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

I had a friend that is now deceased. She was in Germany when all these things took place. She told me and others that the people loved Hitler because he brought hope and prosperity. The people were even willing to put up with all the atrocities, because their lives had improved dramatically. It was too late when the people realized what was really happening.  Think about this as you remain silent in all that is going around you to destroy this country.

And, remember, it was the Socialist the Nazis took first. Why, because they had laid the ground work for everything that followed to happen.

Silence can  be deafening.

PMO
©2018

Dad Day

First let me say, "Any fool can be a father, but it takes a special man to be a real dad."  Happy father’s day to all the dads - including me. Being a dad is a big responsibility that brings a lot of satisfaction whether you have a boy or girl or both, or even a bunch. It is not to be taken lightly. Raising children to do the right thing is really tough.

Mothers by nature are nurturing, I don’t care what you are told. Only they can do their part in rearing children. And, dads play a somewhat different role. Yes, dads should always have hugs and kisses when the offspring are young, but there is a time when he has to stand strong and be the go to for the really tough challenges of life. It is dad that must set himself aside and enforce the rules fairly and firmly.

In today’s world, dads are failing miserably because they are told they have to be all touchy feely and the goal is not hurt the feelings of a child. You could ruin them for life. The truth is that all children need discipline and rules. That’s the job of the dad. It does not mean that dads don’t love. In fact, it means that they do love enough to do what has to be done to get the child ready to survive and thrive as an adult.

How many dads today spank their children? The correct answer is not enough. A spanking when deserved and delivered without anger really gets attention. Spanking is not child abuse when the circumstances warrant it. My dad spanked me a few times, very few. My mother spanked me a lot, and I probably deserved it. But, the spankings I got from my dad were the ones that told me not to do something I did.

Now we have little snowflakes that can’t be told no or they will go to their safe space.

A few whacks on the behind by a real dad’s hand will melt a snowflake into adulthood.

PMO
©2018

No Crimes

Just in case you have been living off the grid, you will be thrilled to know that nothing has changed in Washington D.C. and anywhere else government is in control. Personally I am tired of all the investigations that lead only to a trail of tax payer dollars being squandered. Why don’t the all knowing elites ever wake up and realize that we, the great unwashed, are completely aware that they, the elite, cannot commit crimes or be held responsible for anything.

But alas, the talking heads keep spewing about this investigation or that as if they expect something to be found that would result in a prosecution. Hey, you have to remember that the media believes they are a part of the elite too, and not the useful idiots they are as they are manipulated to doing what the liberal politicians want them to do.

While there may be no crimes in D.C., as a private citizen, don’t dare spit on the sidewalk or off you go to jail.

If you have to spit, at least spit on a politician.

PMO
©2018

Do Need A Do Rag

Not that anyone cares except me, but, I have lost my hair because of the chemotherapy treatments. The medical people told me it could happen, but I didn’t expect it. I’ve thought about saving all the hair as it fell out and making a wig. That didn’t work out.

So, now I’m searching for a "skull cap" or better known a "do rag." I had no idea of where to buy one, but I do know that others that go through this experience find them somewhere because I see them at the cancer center. My financial controller suggest I check motorcycle shops. She is so smart.

Yes, I discovered on line that most shops have apparel. And, while I was browsing I checked out the motorcycles. If you are not a motorcycle fan, then you won’t understand when I say, "ain’t nothing sounds like a Harley." It’s sweet music that would put a baby to sleep.

While I have never owned a motorcycle, I have ridden a couple. And, I will confess that I favor the Indian bikes. So, now I am planning to visit a shop or two or three and check their selection of "do rags."

I wonder if I buy a motorcycle they would throw in a couple free "do rags?"

It’s got to be a great feeling, riding with the wind blowing where my hair used to be.

PMO
©2018

Confession

It has been said that confession is good for the soul. Whatever that means. Anyway, I feel compelled to confess that I did something that I have never done before. While I have had hundreds, even thousands, of opportunities to do so. It has been my vow that I would never do it, no matter what.

First, let me explain. It is my opinion that when I go into a store and make a purchase, I am entitled to the services that the store has to offer. The profits from my purchase include, or should include, access to basic service. This means that if I buy one or many products, I should have someone to check me out and put the stuff into bags to carry out of the store. I pay for the service. Hence, I never, ever, use the self-check out. But, I did today. At WallyMart. Because they only have one check out line or two at most, regardless of how long the lines get.

I did notice they have several employees monitoring the self-check out lines.

If they put them on the regular check out counters, there would be enough for folks to get better service.

PMO
©2018

Speaking For Hollywood

Robert DeNiro is a good actor. However, he is not very smart. And, I’m not saying there are a lot of smart people in his profession. Actors work in a make believe world and live in a make believe world, thinking what they have to say is important.

I will agree that De Niro thinks what he said about President Trump at the Tony Awards speaks for everyone in Hollywood and Broadway. But, what America heard was another foul mouth without a clue of how anything gets done in this country or any country in the world for that matter.

If Trump had made the same comment in the same or similar situation about De Niro, the media would have gone berserk for months.

It’s true. If the leftist radicals didn’t have double standards, they would have no standards at all.

PMO
©2018

Gotta Try It

I do wish my body would learn that I don’t have to get up early in the morning. Even on weekends when things are a bit less hectic around here, my eyes open around 6 a.m. or earlier. Since my eyes are open, the rest of me gets up - under protest. No, this is not about sleeping late, this is about painting.

There is a program on one of our TV channels about fixing up cars. The show comes on before 7 a.m. and I usually catch at least a part of it. Although I don’t understand all of what they are talking about and doing, I pay close attention, just in case they do something I do understand. This past weekend, the host was going to paint a cover for an engine part and the way he did it intrigued me.

He took a five gallon bucket and filled it about half way with water. He had selected four or five cans of spray paint in different colors. He took each can of paint and put the spray head almost touching the water and sprayed the paint onto the water. The end result was he had a variety of colors floating on the water. Then he took the cover and pushed it down into the water and pulled it out. The result was a beautiful design of flowing colors.

After letting the paint drip, he set the part aside and let it dry. Then he applied a couple of coats of clear coat to seal the paint job. The end result was fantastic, according to me. It is called swirl painting and you can look it up online. There are some varying techniques so you may want to check out more than one.

Now, I’m going around the house looking for something that needs painting.

If I had a really big bucket and a lot of paint, I would do my lawnmower.

PMO
©2018

A Bit Philosophical

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," said Charles Dickens in "A Tale of Two Cities" published in 1859. Is this an oxymoron? No. It is a descriptive of the times that exist every day around the world. That’s right, we all live our lives in the best and worst of times.

And, it’s often in the best of times that we are at our worse and in the worst of times, that we are at our best. Does that seem strange? Perhaps it is because that we learn more from the worst of times, but often get so overwhelmed with the good times, that we must venture through the worst times again.

Don’t blow a brain gasket tying to understand this little bit of philosophy.

Just think about it.

PMO
©2018

Growing Mayters

Just to introduce you to the lingo, in the part of the world where I live, there exist another language. Potatoes are ‘taters.’ And tomatoes are ‘may-ters.’ Onions are ‘un-gins.’ Well you get the idea.

I try every years to grow tomatoes - ‘mayters.’ In years gone, I’ve been successful with different varieties but now I focus on one - Early Girl. They are just the right size for slicing or cutting for salads. And, the flavor is the best. The problem is that all the elements must be aligned to grow them around here. It’s either too wet or too dry. There are insects that line up to eat the plants and fruit. Then there are the birds. Mockingbirds love tomatoes. They will wait for weeks for one to turn a little pink and then pounce on it like there is never going to be another one.

This year, either the plants drowned, a horde of insects came from another country, weeds that even God has never seen jumped out of the ground, or the birds held a family picnic. All of these make me mindful of why I never became a farmer.

Perhaps I should find another hobby, but I won’t. Oh, I may have to try another variety, but I just can’t stand the thought of not having, off the vine tomatoes. In the meantime, I will have to be happy with a trip to the farmers market and pay their prices, which is about 10% of what it cost me to grow my own.

Hey, it’s the sport of growing my own that counts.

PMO
©2018

Wait A Minute

You may not be able to imagine what is going on in my life right now, and I hope you never do. There are lots of things that one never thinks about, until suddenly you are faced with, "this may be the end." I have mentioned paperwork that has to be done, and then there are discussions about what happens if this or that happens and how to handle events that may or may not happen. And, now there is the issue of what happens to my financial controller. Does she stay in the house, move to another location or move in with my ace number one daughter and her family. The last option appears to be the plan. She will move in with the kids so she will be around those that can watch out for her and she can watch out for them.

As a matter of fact, this idea has caught on like wildfire. She and daughter have been looking at houses with a "mother-in-law" space. They have quickly identified two such locations. I mentioned that I ain’t dead yet and houses would have to be sold to buy another single dwelling. It was pointed out that you can’t wait until the last minute and the two houses we occupy now would sell quickly, so the process could begin almost immediately.

I understand that I may have no need to buy green bananas, but there is always an outside chance that I could outlive everybody.

It would help if they would quit checking my pulse.

PMO
©2018

Turn The Tables

The United Nations Human Rights Office has asked U.S. authorities to "immediately halt" the practice of separating immigrant children from their parents on the southern U.S.-Mexico border. "We are deeply concerned that the zero tolerance policy recently put in place along the US southern border has led to people caught entering the country irregularly being subjected to criminal prosecution and having their children—including extremely young children—taken away from them as a result," wrote Human Rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. Shamdasani went on to call the practice a "serious violation" of children’s rights and called the separations "arbitrary and unlawful." In other words, the UN thinks our laws and enforcement stink.

As usual, I have an answer for the UN. Why don’t we gather us 10 t0 15 million Americans with families and invade Mexico? What would be the reaction to that move? Mexico would pack as many as possible into filthy prisons and let the drug cartels take over those not sent to jail. What would happen to the children? You really don’t want to know.

To call illegal entry an "irregularity" only demonstrates their depth of irregular thinking.

So, get a few million of your friends and go to Mexico this weekend.

Surely you’ll get free housing, food, clothing, medical services and some pesos.

PMO
©2018

D-Day

On the morning of June 6, 1944, Allied forces staged an enormous assault on German positions on the beaches of Normandy, France. D-Day was the start to end the war in Europe. World War II was not just won by the courage and devotion to duty, but included a word we take for granted today - technology.

Radar helped the allies know what was approaching. Bombsights with complicated gyroscope technology allowed planes to pinpoint attacks. And, there was the synthetic material invented by Dupont for women’s stockings. Nylon was used to make parachutes, glider tow ropes, aircraft fuel tanks, and flak jackets.

The most widely known technology had to be the atomic bombs that led to the surrender of Japan. But, a small boat has been praised as the technology that won the war. Invented by Andrew Higgins, the LCVP, Landing Craft, Vehicle, and Personnel, changed the way troops and supplies could be launched and landed, thus overwhelming enemy positions.

It is because of technology that the U.S. today is the most powerful force to face in the event of a major war. Available technology keeps the peace. Those that would destroy us do not have the capabilities we have and they don’t know what all we have. Which makes it quite interesting that Google wants out of the technology business that supports our military and war strength.

The New York Times reported last week that they will not renew a Pentagon contract that upsets employees because the artificial intelligence technology could be in advance weapons. Reportedly about 4,000 employees demanded a policy stating that Google nor its contractors will ever build warfare technology. Google once had a motto of, "don’t be evil."

I guess now they should adopt a motto of, "stupid is not evil."

Stupid is just stupid, and it can't be fixed.

PMO
©2018

News/Comments

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a gay wedding because of his religious beliefs. Will this ruling prevent future attacks on religious beliefs? No.

There is a faction in this country that has met with some successes in forming a totalitarian government to dictate what people can do, say or believe. Because Christianity is the largest belief, obviously if they can force the Christians to bow down, their goals will move much faster. The freedom of speech has been seriously infringed and compromised. When that is gone, then the next steps will fall into place in short order.

I can’t help but to be curious about what will happen should the radical left decide to attack a Muslim baker. To my knowledge they’ve not done that because of fear and good sense. They borrowed the good sense.

News about illegal immigration separating families is making the talking heads go wild. To be sure I understand what is being said, what is happening is that parents are breaking our laws and bringing the kids along to avoid punishment. The law breakers believe that if they can gain sympathy, not only do they and the children get to stay, they will also get a lot of free services, including food, clothing, housing, money and a free cell phone. I wonder what happens when a parent commits another crime, like robbery? Does the parent get to stay with the kids or do the kids go to prison with the parents?

Next time you read, hear and/or see the "news" stop and ask a few questions. Then answer them yourself.

That’s the only way to get an objective answer.

PMO
©2018

Bucket List

Back in 2007 a movie titled, "The Bucket List" was released. It starred Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The characters are a billionaire named Edward and a car mechanic named Carter. They are complete strangers, until fate lands them in the same hospital room. The men find they have two things in common: a need to come to terms with who they are and what they have done with their lives, and a desire to complete a list of things they want to see and do before they die. Against their doctor's advice, the men leave the hospital and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. They each have their own "bucket list" of what they want to do.

It is the movie that promoted the term, "bucket list" and it commonly used today to identify things that someone hopes to do before they "kick the bucket." And, it does not matter what your financial or social status happens to be, deep down inside we all have or should have a list. Do not confuse this list with dreams or ambitions or goals. It is simply what you want to do that just may be within your means to make it happen, provided the circumstances should arise.

A "bucket list" is not intended to be an opportunity for failure. Just something that you would really enjoy. I know I had a list before the term ever came into being. Nothing big. Just to see a movie that I wanted to see. I did that. Another was to drive through New Mexico and Arizona. I did that twice and enjoyed it both trips. And, just this week, I checked off another one. I went for steak and lobster for dinner. It used to be one of my favorite meals when I could afford it. Pretty simple, but very satisfying.

Make yourself a bucket list and you may just find that you really can do some things that you may have even forgotten about but still want to happen.

Just remember to check your bucket.

Be sure there’s no hole in the bottom

PMO
©2018

Paperwork

I’m trying not to focus on the condition I find myself in, but things keep popping up that require attention. It has been said that nothing is finished until the paperwork is done. Did you know that includes dying? It does. And, it requires some effort on your part before you depart. If not, then your survivors may have trouble they are not prepared to deal with.

You should have a will and/or a living trust, medical directives such as a medical power of attorney or living will, and in some cases a durable power of attorney to manage financial matters before you die, should you become incapable of doing so.

There are things such as birth certificates, marriage license, military records, car titles, property deeds and other ownership records that need to be in a secure location - not a bank deposit box. Insurance policies, a list of financial accounts and how to contact them, as well as copies of Social Security cards and drivers license need to be in a safe place too. A safe bolted to the floor may be the best place to keep all these items. Even a locked file cabinet is better than a bank because the person(s) looking for all these things may not have access to the bank box and/or it will take some time and effort to get the box released.

Obviously, your survivors will need a copy of your death certificate. In Texas, it takes about two weeks to get one from the county clerk of the county where the deceased died. This document is crucial for life insurance and some government programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

These are some of the more important papers that have to be transacted when someone dies. It is better to have everything in order than not having anything in order - regardless of your age and health.

It is a lot of trouble.

Best thing to do is, don’t die.

PMO
©2018

I'm Back - Sort Of

Okay, I’m back. Well, I am sort of back. If I miss some days, it’s because I am not up to writing on some days, and just plain not up to anything on some days.

There’s nothing I like less that someone that has to talk about all their ailments and problems, so I will dispense with most of the bad stuff. Sure, I have an incurable cancer, but everyone dies of something, it’s just a matter of time. Then, there’s the possibility that I may just defy the docs and outlive everybody.

If I ramble more than usual, just be aware that I now have "chemo - brain." That means that I don’t think just right. Truth is I never have though like everyone else does anyway. But, I will try to point out some things that I think you might find useful.

First is that when you have an appointment with the chemotherapy treatment people, they are not in a hurry. When I was told that my long treatment would last six hours, I believed them. It took over eight hours. I have now worked out a plan to cut that time down by going to the treatment center the day before to have blood drawn which takes about five minutes. That cuts out two hours of waiting time.

Other things that jump out to me today, include that I am told that I must exercise. Then they give me a big dose of drugs that take away any strength I ever had. The only thing I can exercise is to walk from my desk to the coffee pot. Their instructions say I am not supposed to have coffee, but they serve it during treatment so I figure I can drink it at home too.

Then they want me to take prevention drugs to eliminate problems like nausea. Well I am lucky enough to have that, but the prevention drugs, make me even weaker than the chemotherapy. That means I get less coffee because it is too far to walk to get it. Maybe, they know this and that’s why they want me to take the pills.

There are so many do’s and don’ts it takes a private secretary to write them all down or carry a recording device. My financial controller is in charge of remembering what I am supposed to do. But, then she has always done that. That makes it an easy job for her.

Did you know that house cleaning is exercise? Running a vacuum, mopping the tile, dusting furniture, carrying out the trash, and stuff like that are supposed to be "really" good exercise.

Some parts of this whole process sound familiar.

On those items, I’m sticking with my long time practice not doing some exercises.

PMO
©2018

No Blog For A Few Days

I will not be posting this blog for a few days because I’m starting chemotherapy. Don’t know how it will affect me, but I do know I will need a few days off.

Check back.

PMO
©2018

Walter

At this point in life, beginning treatment for terminal cancer, the mind wanders about this and that. Of course my mind has always wondered. But, you get to thinking about who will miss you the most and even if some people will miss you at all.

Obviously, my family and I have had several conversations about matters that have to be in order.  I know the family will miss me. If for no other reason, my constant grumpy old man attitude. Thinking outside the circle - kind of - who will miss the most I thought. Walter.

Walter sees me at least once a week and always rushes to greet me. He is always glad to see me, no matter what kind of mood I’m in. Every Sunday afternoon, he waits at the front window of his home and watches for me to show up about 2:30 p.m. Occasionally he stays with me, and the routine is the same. Everyday, he waits for 2:30 to come around. Why you ask? He wants what I bring him.  Treats - left over meat scraps.

Walter is one of my daughters dogs.

Charlie, the other dog, is glad to see me too, but he can’t tell time.

PMO
©2018

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was started after the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday changed to honoring Americans that died fighting in any war. It is now observed on the last Monday in May, following the Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971.

During this holiday, honestly answer this question, "Are you willing to die for your country?" Those that died before you, said yes and that’s why you have the freedom to make a choice.

Never forget that in military service, all gave some.

But, some gave all.

PMO
©2018

Toothpaste

It’s a certainty that if you squeeze all the toothpaste out of a new tube, you can never put it back.  Okay, I’ll wait while you try.

The point is that there are some things that can not be undone.  Things like abortion, medical assistance for people that want to die, and total abandonment from morals.  When a society abandons basic right and wrong, wrong prevails.

It does not take an expert historian to know what has happened throughout history when people take a path to self destruction.  When, they know more than they know, and disregard all the facts clearly facing them from the past.

There has been and always will be a time when kingdoms fall and people are overcome by their desires to the point that only total chaos and destruction will cause them to regain the common sense they so willingly abandoned.

If this rambling makes no sense to you, then keep on working on putting the toothpaste back into the tube.

PMO
©2018

Driving

I have driven in a lot of places from Nashville, Tennessee to Los Angeles and points in between. Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston and Austin can have some serious traffic problems. But, driving in East Texas may be the worse.

It’s not so much the volume of vehicles, as it is the drivers of too many of those vehicles. The following scenario is my impression of what’s happening. Erle is a fictional character but may represent a lot of people. Just imagine what is being said to Erle as we listen in on his one sided conversation.

"Ethel, this is Erle on my new cell phone. I just got into town and stopped at one of them dang traffic lights. I don’t remember if green means stop or go. (Pause)  Are you sure? I thought the green ones is where you want to stop. There’s a lot of cars behind me that are stopped. Ask your mother. (Pause) Well, if she says so, she has driven in town more than me. Now all the cars behind me are honking their horns. I don’t know what their problem is, I got through the green light just as it turned red. What do the red lights mean Ethel? (Pause) How about them yeller ones?"

Makes you want to go for a drive doesn’t it.

PMO
©2018

Obama TV

Are you ready for Obama TV? It’s coming soon to a Netflix lineup soon. It’s certainly something to look forward to, if you are still holding on to a community organizer that is never going to let go of his ‘vision’ for America. You do remember his vision don’t you. To summarize, income equality and free bubble-up for all.

Don’t focus on his $8 million mansion in DC or the vacation homes in California and Hawaii. Surely he will share his $65 million book deal, $400,000 speaking fees or the tens of millions he and Mooch-elle will enjoy from Netflix. Remember, he hates capitalism.

Regardless of what he says the shows will be about, you should expect a continuation of radical left rhetoric to achieve his goal of not a United States, but a Divided States of America. I think it will be interesting to see if, and how, he reaches out to what is termed "flyover country." The places were cave dwellers still believe in God, the Constitution and Rights.

Perhaps Oprah can give him a few pointers. If she is busy, he can call on Woopie.

He is a divider organizer, so he will have a number of celebrities to choose from.

PMO
©2018

Supplements

I’ve been learning more than I ever wanted to know about cancer and all the related stuff you should know. I won’t go into details because you wouldn’t want to hear about the details any more than I do. But, there is one suggestion that may prove interesting.

Food supplements may be important to overcome lack of appetite and weight loss. My ace number one daughter and my financial controller have already started to get me things to drink. These are supposed to make up for protein and vitamins and a bunch of other things that bodies require. Unfortunately, they buy mixes or ready mix products that don’t always fit my taste buds. If it ain’t chocolate, I probably don’t want to drink a shake of any kind. However I did try one that is supposed to taste like a cake. It even had little sprinkles. But, not icing. I like icing.

If I’m going to have to continue to drink these things, I suppose I’m going to have to shop for myself.

So, now I’m on a quest to find a supplement that tastes like barbeque ribs.

PMO
©2018

Chevrolet Commercial

I suppose it’s because I am old and set in my ways, but Chevrolet runs commercials that tell me that GM is on the wrong side of morals. In the commercial, there are three car models and some young couples. The first couple is told while looking at car one, this is the car for when you move in together. In the next scene, a couple is told that when they have their first child, this is the car for you, car two. And finally, another couple is told about car three that this is the car for when you have five kids and a dog.

Not one time in the commercial is marriage ever mentioned. Just move in together and have kids. They didn’t say you should stay with the same one you moved in with the first time.

With the falling birth rate in this country, I hope Chevrolet goes out of business.

They can go to China where the birth restriction has been removed.

PMO
©2018

Dirty Jobs

Mike Rowe had a TV show about dirty jobs, where he revealed some pretty bad jobs. Well, they are bad if you think everything is pristine and smells good. Reality is that there are good jobs that pay well that are not filled because we have a generation that wants to keep their hands clean.

Today, young people are told to follow their passion. Reality is that just because you have a passion, you may not have the talent or skills to ever make the passion come true. Rowe says that one should come to realize that you don’t follow your passion, you take it with you into the real world where you have to earn money to eat and all that other fun stuff.

I don’t know if this country is capable making a cultural change back to where good, honest jobs are held in the esteem they once were. It will require that people make any job a good job by showing up for work on time and staying late if necessary to get the job done. And, it just may be that the passion you are told to follow, will follow you into a job that will give you income, and happiness.

My passion was to be a singer and a musician.

My talent is to listen to music and keep my mouth shut.

PMO
©2018

Everybody Does It

Tim Mcgraw wrote and recorded a song a few years ago about a man went to a doctor and found out that he was dying. The song tells about the man who said he spent the next days looking at the x-rays and talking about the options and sweet time. Reality is that we are all going to die. But, we never think about it because we don’t want to die and somehow by not thinking about it, it will go away. It won’t. Perhaps I am fortunate to know there is an end ahead.

Last week I was told, following a bunch of test, that I have a terminal cancer that has spread to multiple areas and is treatable but not curable. Soon I will begin chemotherapy treatments and maybe radiation, depending upon another test this week. The prognosis is not good.

I know how the guy in the song feels. Sure, we all know people that have health issues that are serious, but that’s someone else. Believe me, when it’s you, everything changes. And, it changes for those you love the most. The big question is, "What happens now?"

I don’t have any plans nor the strength to do some things I want to do, but I do have a different outlook that will hopefully make others be more comfortable with what we all face. It will be another journey for all of us. Years ago I made a decision to do the best I could and follow the Christ. He assures me that I will have a home with Him for eternity. And, I have assured my loved ones, that He will take care of them.

At least for awhile, I will try to write this blog, but if I miss a day or more I trust you will understand. Only time will tell how long it will last.

But, just so you'll know, I plan to go fishing. I haven’t been in years.

Seems to me, I need to get that done.

PMO
©2018

NRA Can Be Wrong

As might be concluded, I have been a supporter of the NRA for many years because they stand for the 2^nd Amendment and equal rights. However, it is reported recently the NRA supported an open carry bill in Oklahoma, with or without a permit to carry a gun. I don’t like that idea. And, neither did Governor Mary Fallin because she vetoed the measure.

In my opinion based upon experiences and observations, there are some people that just don’t need to carry guns. The police seem to agree. While background checks, classroom training and proof of proficiency with a firearm to get a license is not fallible, it is a million times better than letting people with no training with guns walk around with them.

A gun is a tool and tools require some training and knowledge to operate. Just try running a planner or a band saw without knowing how to use it. You’re new nickname will be lefty. Guns require a tremendous amount of responsibility, therefore they require a knowledge of what happens when you pull the trigger.

Let’s all hope and pray that the day never comes when we have to walk around with guns like in the old west. But, we must always be mindful that we also have a right to defend ourselves and our loved ones.

As I often say, "The second worse thing I can think of is having to shoot someone.

The worse is for someone to shoot me."

PMO
©2018

Royal Wedding

There are many things in the universe that I don’t understand and never will. But, the one that puzzles me the most is all the hoopla about the royal wedding. Truth is that I don’t care if they get married, and I sure won’t get up early and watch all the ceremonies on TV.

I really don’t think I would care if we were still part of the colonies.

Well, maybe if I was invited, and they had barbequed ribs to eat.

PMO
©2018

Same Old Tactics

I am really tired of the media and the liberal progressives. Their propaganda campaigns are starting to wear thin on my old brain. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just look and listen. The repeated messages on TV, radio, social media and in print, is the same - HATE. Hate anyone and everyone that does not agree with whatever they are selling that day. The two big ‘hates’ are Trump and white men. Just pay attention and see what is happening.

It is the same old tried and proven tactics used by Hitler and all the others like him. If you bombard a populous with lies and hate long enough, enough of them will believe to allow a take over in power.

When Hitler took over Germany, the people loved him.

Until they had no choice.

PMO
©2018

Rename

The movement continues to take down statues and monuments that are deemed offensive to some and to rename some institutions such as schools. First, let me assure you that there are people that are genuinely offended. But, history can’t be changed and hiding it a corner is dangerous.

We live near Tyler, Texas and right now they are trying to get enough money and support to rename two high schools - Robert E. Lee High and John Tyler High. And, as usual I have an opinion, although I don’t live in Tyler.

Both schools have been around for a lot of years, but names are changed for numerous reasons, not just offensive reasons. Obviously, Lee was an officer in the Confederate army and reportedly owned slaves. Truth is that from history one can learn that he actually was against slavery. John Tyler, the 10^th President, also owned slaves. He was instrumental in getting Texas to become a state in 1845.

It would make sense that if a high school must be renamed, then why not the name of the city? Are those that are offended not just as offended by the name, where ever it would be? To follow that thinking, we would have to change a lot of names - like Washington, D.C. and the state. George owned slaves.

My perspective is that slavery is wrong, but it is a part of our history. A part to be remembered because of how mistreatment has been overcome. From my point of view, the issue should be one of victory and a determination that these things will never happen again.

Changing names changes nothing.

Changing people does.

PMO
©2018

Jerusalem

The U.S. has now moved it’s Embassy to Jerusalem and a lot of people are not happy. People are dying and others are injured. But, let me assure you that the trouble you see on TV is nothing new. There is a long history of trouble in the Middle East. Why? Well I think blogger Frank Fleming says it best:

"I think you're always going to have tension in the Middle East when there's people who want to kill the Jews and Jews who don't want to be killed and neither side is willing to compromise." —Frank J. Fleming

Hope this helps in you understanding what is really happening.

Jews don’t want to be killed.

PMO
©2018

Politician Test

Just how are we supposed to know who to vote for, especially on a national level? There is nothing to go on but what the politicians say and that is often forgotten the day after the election. Therefore we just have to close both eyes and vote or stay home and hide under the bed.

To make matters worse, we have no way to know what the people in D.C. are really doing. The media only reports what they agree or disagree with. Well, there is a simple test to gauge a politicians worth in Washington.

Let’s just say a majority elects a new member to congress. He or she packs and heads off the land of make believe. Since we don’t know what he/she does, we elect he/she for a second term. Here comes the test.

If by the time he/she gets into the second term, if he/she is not at least a millionaire, then he/she doesn’t have a clue of what it takes to "represent the people."

We should never vote for he/she again.

It doesn’t matter which party.

PMO
©2018

Don't Understand

Okay, I admit it. I don’t understand some people. It is impossible for me to grasp why someone would kill another human as a matter of convenience. I guess mothers day caused me to think about abortions again. Since Roe vs Wade in 1973 there have been over 50 million abortions. That’s a whole country of people. There are about three million abortions in this country every year, but some states are beginning to place restrictions that could slow the count.

The obvious is what would have happened if those that get an abortion, had a mother that got one? And, exactly how is it a "right" to destroy a life that you created? The argument of, "it’s my body and I can do what I want with it," is ludicrous.  That line of thinking would justify prostitution, adultery, pornography, and worse.

I know I am old and not enlightened.

And, I’m not going to change.

PMO
©2018

Simple Mothers Day

The second Sunday in May was officially added to the National calendar in 1914, as Mothers Day. It was the dream of Anna Jarvis who in 1908 launched an effort to recognize mothers and the sacrifices they make for their children. Mothers are now recognized around the world on their special day.

Jarvis in later life tried to have the day removed because of the commercialization of a day she deemed to be a time for families to gather and celebrate mom. The flowers, cards and gifts were an insult to her idea of what Mothers Day should be.

Perhaps, it is time that families returned to the original reason to celebrate. Just a simple private time with the one that gave us life. The one that gave all she had to care for and raise a baby into an adult that everyone would be proud of.

Happy Mothers Day.

Where true joy comes from being with those she cares for more than herself.

PMO
©2018

Individuals

Try as we will to be a part of something, we are all individuals. Yes, we should all be a part of something, a church, a softball team, ladies sewing circle or about a million other things. But, regardless of what we may be a part of, as humans we all fall back to being individuals that deal with everything in our own unique way - right or wrong.

It is unhealthy to be an absolute loner with no inclination to interface with others. That’s what the psychiatrists say. While I don’t always agree with them, they do recognize the human need to be accepted and seek validation of our individual views and beliefs. It’s called human nature.

We all deal with almost everything differently because we are all unique, despite what we are told. Emergencies, serious medical issues and loss of loved ones are just a few examples to recognize how individual we are. Oh, you can be trained to set aside yourself and follow training, but at the end of the day, you still must deal with everything in your own way.

The trick is to recognize that what’s best for us is not always what we want to do or say. Each of us must learn right from wrong to function in society. And, we all must occasionally reach out to someone else for support to recognize our true self.

Pretty heavy stuff. But, this week I met a woman that was in pain because of some life events that caused me to understand that while I tried to help, it is up to her to find her own way.

I truly hope she does.

PMO
©2018

Say Thank You

It has become irritating to me for employees in stores to attempt to engage me in conversation by asking, "How are you doing today?" They expect a response of, "Just great, or at least just fine." Well, I am not always great or fine. And, if I respond honestly, I get a response like, "You need to think positive." This is coming from people that don’t know me and are not genuinely concerned about how I am. They are following some managers instructions to ‘be friendly.’

Of course there may be some benefit in positive thinking, but when you are having a bad day, you are having a bad day. And, all the positive thinking in the world is not going to change your personal situation. Just once I would like to hear someone reply to the question, "How are you today?" with an answer like, "I have terminal cancer, my spouse has left me and the IRS wants to take all my property."

It seems to me that employees should greet customers with a friendly smile, a sincere effort to help if needed and let it go at that.

No one has a good day everyday and some have serious reasons they are not having a good day. There is no reason to lie and say, "I’m good."

How about if they just say, "Thank you for shopping with us today?"

PMO
©2018

Still Waiting

Just a quick post today about going to have medical test done. Step one is to get an appointment which can be a problem. Medical services people like to call you and tell you when you can come in, usually the afternoon before the next morning early appointment. Step two is to show on time only to find out that you have been intentionally scheduled to experience the maximum amount of wait time.

I am so confused, more than usual. I recently had another test, scheduled for 7:00 a.m. and showed up on time. It was only after waiting for two hours that I found out that the doctor conducting the test was scheduled to show up at 10:00 a.m. and I would have to wait three hours after the test to be sure I didn't die from the test.

From now on when they tell me not to eat or drink for six hours before, I’m going to wait until I get there and have breakfast while I wait.

PMO
©2018

Ism vs Ism

Capitalism is where goods, products and services are sold for a profit. Profits are used to generate jobs, which result in taxes used to support government programs and provide for national defense. Capitalism allows some people to become very rich. And, it also allows for some rich people to support programs that provide support to those in need.

Socialism is where everything is free. Government provides food, housing, and medical services. Only the elite are allowed to be rich. One cannot rise to another level without the approval of the elite. The non-elite must work to support all the ‘free’ stuff.

There is a portion of the population that believe capitalist are greedy, money grubbing, heartless and evil.

They also believe that socialist are kind, generous, loving and protective.

I guess what one believes depends upon wether one wants to be free to make choices.

PMO
©2018

No Reason

There is no reason to argue about banning guns. One side sees guns as evil instruments used only to shoot children or innocent bystanders. The other side views guns as a sporting and hunting tool that can be used in self-defense or defense of others.

What would happen if guns were outlawed, but people continued to be murdered with guns? What would the anti-gun people say then? Would the pro-gun people say, "I told you so?"

Reality is that we are dealing with two mind sets that are not going to change. One side will always have to have something to blame for everything. The other side will continue to see the world for what it is - a dangerous place where each person must be responsible for protecting themselves and loved ones.

Both sides will continue to argue and neither will give in.

But, I do wonder who is going to protect the anti-gun people when they need it.

PMO
©2018

No Carnage

Can you believe it? The NRA held it’s national meeting in Dallas and there were no bodies piled high in the streets. There have to be a lot of gun haters disappointed. They know that the NRA sells guns and promotes shooting people. Of course they know a lot of other things that are not true either.

Yes, there were protesters, but apparently not much action. If a gun owner had spit on the sidewalk, the media would still be ranting and raving about it for days.

Looks like we will just have to wait until some mentally ill or criminally insane person commits violence again with a gun, before the anti-everything people can get into full speed again.

They are probably all sitting at home wondering what happened.

Surprise, surprise. Gun owners are good law abiding people.

Who would have thunk it?

PMO
©2018

The Winners Are The Losers

Last week as I was driving I listened to Rush Limbaugh for a few minutes. It had been quite awhile since I had heard him. He was commenting about how the progressive liberals (Democrats) never give up on attacking Donald Trump, and how they view this as the way to get their way. Rush said that what they, the liberals, didn’t understand is that their behavior is costing them votes and they will lose. He is half right.

While it does appear that more and more voters are waking up to the facts that liberalism is really communism in disguise, it really doesn’t matter. Oh, they would love to have the power so as to get the credit for leading us all down a road of eventual destruction. But, if they don’t get political power one way, they will get it another.

They have protesters against everything, political correctness, the me too movement, racism and the ever popular hate white males movement to do their dirty work. It’s pretty easy since they own the media, public schools and almost all the major universities.

Mr. Limbaugh you are correct except for that one nagging fact.

The losers are winning.

PMO
©2018

Gasoline is a byproduct of oil refining and the U.S. produces lots of it. The cost of gasoline is tied to the cost of oil which has be up and down for years. In the past, we were dependent on the Saudis for oil, but with all the other methods now, we have been able to be less dependent. The Saudis have found that China will take all the oil they can buy. And, Canada buys all the gasoline they can get from us. Those are the basic ingredients for understanding supply and demand and the cost of oil and gasoline.

If oil is $50 per barrel, gasoline is cheap - about $2 per gallon. If oil is $80 per barrel, gasoline is not cheap. The problem I have is that I don’t understand why gasoline prices rise immediately when oil goes up, but do not decline immediately when it goes down. Sometimes it will take months before prices drop to match the drop of oil prices. But, just one day of higher oil, gets higher gasoline the next day.

Right now gasoline prices are rapidly heading to $3 per gallon from less than $2.50. Some states are already predicting $5 before summer.

As usual, when I don’t understand something, I have a solution.  Quit driving and go back to riding horses.

And, watch the environmentalist go crazy.

PMO
©2018

National Prayer Day

The first Thursday in May, is National Prayer Day. A day when everyone should pray for the country, our men and women in uniform, our public servants, our elected officials, and of course our families and friends. I think that there are few that don’t realize that this country needs prayer, and we all need the practice.

Intercessory prayer has long been a core belief of major religions. It is because it works. Therefore we should all be lifting up our prayers.

But, to really change this country and other countries too, we need to earnestly pray for ourselves to change first.

All it takes is for each one of us to unite because we have changed for the better of all.

PMO
©2018

Hilarious

How would you like to live everyday like Donald Trump does? He is under constant attack from somebody or some group. Frankly, I don’t know how the man does it. My memory is not the best, but I do not recall any one in this country ever being publicly attacked like he is, on a daily basis. And, there is no end in sight.

Some of the attacks are amusing, but one is hilarious. Stormy Daniels, porn star, is suing Trump for ‘defamation of character.’

Porn star.

Defamation of character?

PMO
©2018

Racism

Here’s the solution to racism. Stop being racist. Everyone just stop being racist! Quit thinking that you are being mistreated because of your race - black, white, brown, etc. Just give it a rest and see everyone for what they are - human.

I understand that being human has its faults. Lots of them. But, yelling racism at everything is only blaming race for one’s own racist views. That kind of thinking will only get results that everyone will regret.

Behave like a company of soldiers in battle.

Your life depends on what happens to everyone else.

PMO
©2018

That's My Girl

I have shared before that we have a special needs granddaughter. And, I have mentioned that she and I have a deal, she does what she wants to and I help her. A bit of insight into this wonderful young lady, she loves fried chicken. Especially if we go to ‘Pops’ to get it. Pops is a chicken place not far from our house.

Recently, the group that she spends days with took a field trip, as they do often, to see a lot of baby animals. There were dogs, cats, pigs, and chickens. She was really excited about getting to touch the animals and marveled at the soft fuzzy baby chicks. As she, in her own way, told her mother about the other animals and the chicks, her mother asked if she would like to get a baby chicken. The answer was, "No." Her mother said, "But you said you loved chickens." Granddaughter replied, "Yeah, from Pops."

That’s my girl.

PMO
©2018

Waiting

As I’ve said before, this blog is mostly about those things that annoy me - a grumpy old man. I can’t think of anything that annoys me anymore than waiting past an appointment time. A few days ago I had an appointment for a medical test. I had confirmed the time three times because there was some confusion at the hospital. Well, when I showed up, on time, I had to wait over two hours. I was not a happy camper. It really upset me when I did not need to bet upset. The test took another hour and a half.

To add insult to injury, the radioactive material I had to drink, caused an almost immediate reaction. I was then, upset and quite sick at the same time. I am supposed to understand that these things happen everywhere. But, this was happening to me. Me is very important to me. When I talked to the doctor later that day and explained what had happened he told me that he had never heard of such a reaction. That was not comforting.

Okay, let’s look at the positives. I got the test done. I didn’t have to worrying about walking in the dark, because I glowed enough to light my way.

And, my cell phone battery stayed charged for an extra three days.

PMO
©2018

Alfie

You may be aware of Alfie Evans, the 23 month old child in the UK that the government would not allow the parents to move to another hospital because they considered the child as terminal.  Alfie has died.

The parents tried to get the child moved, even to another country, in desperation to save his life, but British officials made a decision to let him die.

I do not pretend to know if the decision to let the boy die was the right thing or not.  I don’t have facts that would have contributed to such an action.  Perhaps it was best for the child, perhaps it was not.  But, the one fact I do have is simple, it is the parents decision to make, not government.

Reality is that if you give government officials control of your health care, you give them control of your life.  You may want to remember Alfie the next time you are encouraged to vote for a ‘progressive liberal’ politician.

Be assured that Alfie is now where he will be treated as he deserves.

Like a king.

PMO
©2018

What's Up Doc?

I will not be posting the blog for a day or so - got to deal with doctors and tests. The last time I did this and they gave me a diagnosis and prognosis, I asked for a second opinion.

The doc said, "You're ugly too."

PMO
©2018

Christians Beware

California Assembly Bill 2943, if passed will forbid anyone from speaking about homosexuality - particularly encouraging gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or transgenders to revert back to traditional practices. Religious leaders and religion based programs will not be allowed to express their opinions nor implement their faith programs. 

The bill will eliminate freedom of speech and punish anyone that fails to do think what government wants them to.

Will the Bible be banned in California?

Not yet.

PMO
©2018

Justice?

My question for the day is, "do we really have justice for all?" The answers is no. We live in a society that blames anyone and everyone for whatever they have done. There is so much avoidance of responsibility that it is the norm. A recent example has been blaming the NRA and guns in general for someone using a gun to shoot other people. The shooters are viewed as misfortunate and misunderstood. It is the law abiding gun owner citizens that must suffer.

Texas has just forgiven over $1 billion in unpaid toll road fees. The law abiding travelers will have to make that up with higher fees. Another Texas example is a man that was sentenced to 50 years in prison for stealing over $1 million dollars worth of fajitas over a nine year period in a school district. Yet, people that commit murder get off with just a few years or a slap on the wrist.

Illegals invade this country everyday and cry for justice when they are detained or deported. Playing the part of ‘victims’ they increase crime and drug trafficking , while they punish tax payers through social programs that support them.

There is no justice for the unborn. Abortions punish babies for being created and the parents get off completely. The responsible parties had their fun, but there is no justice.

Politicians escape being brought to justice for crimes that would send citizens to jail for life. The list goes on and on.

When you hear someone crying out for justice, ask them if justice is what they want.

Obviously, it is not.

PMO
©2018

Which California

How would you like to live in California? Which one? A proposal may make it to the November ballot to divide the state into three states.

If the proposal passes, the Bay Area, along with counties north of Merced, would be considered as Northern California. Along the coast, from Monterey to Los Angeles, would be California and the counties to the east would be Southern California.

In the new governments, the current populations would produce 18 U.S. representatives for Northern California, 16 for California and 19 for Southern California, to go along with two U.S. senators for each of the three states. Overall, the Electoral College would add four votes. Politically, Democrats gain a boost despite the division.

While the proposal is touted as a way for government to be more responsive to citizens, it would be more confusing than what exist now. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. California is broke and if broken into three broke states, the end result is broke.

I used to think that California just couldn’t come up with any more stupid ideas. I was wrong again. Why don’t they just secede from the United States? We could make an exception to laws preventing them from doing that.

Then they can all sit around drinking free bubble up and eating rainbow pie.

PMO
©2018

What's Wrong

What is wrong with old people? A lot of them are obsessed with whatever ailment they have that day and that’s all they want to talk about. I try to stay in touch with friends I’ve had for years and I have noticed that we went from talking about the good old days to what the doctor told them at their last visit.

Obviously when you get old, you become more aware of your mortality. The time is closer for you to die. But, why old people want to share their latest ailment is a mystery to me. It could be they are looking for sympathy or perhaps just trying to relieve their fears, knowing the end is inevitable. Yes, I listen, but I have to control myself and not tell them to just hold on to what time you have and make the best of it. I have lots of health issues, but who really wants to hear about them? Especially if they tell you over and over again.

I hope this doesn’t sound cold and uncaring, because I do care about my friends. I just think our conversations should be about what we’ve done or what we need to do.

A few years ago country music singer Tim McGraw recorded a song titled, "Live Like You Were Dying." It was about a man in his 40s that discovers that he has a disease and is dying. When asked what he did, he said, "I went skydiving. I went Rocky Mountain climbing. I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu."  The point is that whatever condition we have, at whatever age, we need to look at living while we are alive.

However, I do not have any plans to ride a bull named Fumanchu.

I might ride one of those old coin operated horses that used to be a the grocery stores.

PMO
©2018

Important Stuff

We all have too much stuff. But, it’s important stuff, or at least it’s important to us. Why is that? Truthfully I don’t have an answer. Since this blog is about whatever I think about at the time I write, this is about stuff.

Stuff can be almost anything. Clothes, cars, boats, computers, the latest gadgets, balls of tin foil are all in the stuff category. We spend our lives collecting and rejecting stuff. Personally I have experienced the ‘two happiest days in a man’s life,’ - when you buy a boat and when you sell it. Now, I don’t have a boat, but I have lots of stuff that means nothing or almost nothing to anyone but me.

When I die, my heirs will look at all my stuff and say, "What are we going to do with all that junk?" They will have to hold an estate sale or garage sale and get as much cash as they can for my stuff.  Or, just hire someone to haul it all off to the landfill. Either way, there goes all my important stuff.

I have an old friend that I chat with often and one day I asked him, "When you die can I have all your stuff?" He said I could, but I would have to take his wife too.

I told him to forget I ever asked.

PMO
©2018

America's Grandma

"When all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family and friends," - Barbara Bush

PMO
©2018

16 Year Olds Vote

It appears that by the 2020 presidential election, 16 and 17 year olds may be able to vote in Washington D.C. and possibly some other places. A group of young people in D.C. say they pay taxes, drive and even help out with family members so voting won’t be a big responsibility. That attitude is exactly why they should not vote. Voting is a major responsibility.

Teenagers are just not mature enough to make major decisions. I once was a teenager and the only things that seemed important to me were girls and cars. Today it is girls and technology. With a little research you will find that the human brain does not develop critical thinking until about the age of 23 or so. Yes, some mature sooner, but some mature later. And, some never mature. They are at the mercy of political people with an agenda who offer them a false sense of importance without regard to responsibility and what responsibility really means.

If 16 year olds are allowed to vote because they can drive a car, will they then become adults and face adult prison time for crimes, legal obligations of contracts, or laws on child support? How about the obligation of military service in war time? The list goes on and on. I might also mention that the reason that teenagers pay higher insurance premiums for car insurance is because they are not responsible in their driving habits.

This movement is obviously an effort by liberal leftist to gain votes by misleading youths for gains at the polls. Remember Hitler’s youth? Better stop and think about how that turned out.

It is a terrible shame that we have people in this country that would stoop this low.

It is not surprising, but is a disgusting shame.

PMO
©2018

Phone Call Fun

If you have never gotten a phone call from someone saying they are a windows technician, then your phone must be broken. Their story is that they have detected a problem with your computer and then they want access so they can fix it. The easy way to handle these calls is to hang up, but now and then I just have to have a little fun.

In the past few days I’ve gotten several calls and hung up on most of them, but there were two that I decided to play with. On the first one, I told the caller that my daughter who takes care of my computer, works for the Attorney General’s office and she hadn’t gotten home from work yet. They disconnected the call. Next call. I told the caller that my son was a detective for the sheriff’s office and he handles my computer problems. When the caller had the gall to ask if he was a technician, I told her I don’t know, but he does work in the cyber-crime division. Another hang up.

It doesn’t take a lot to entertain me. I have plans for the next calls, like telling them my wife takes care of the computer and right now she is gone ‘potty’ and can’t come to the phone. Or, pretending to have a serious hearing problem and saying something like, "we don’t need any windows," we just had them replaced. You can also tell them that you don’t have a computer, but that’s no fun.

If you don’t want to play, just lay the phone down and don’t say anything.

PMO
©2018

Stranger Than Fiction

First, let me remind you that I don’t make up the events I share about having spent the past five years in East Texas, where I’ve had to adapt to a different environment and culture. As expressed in other posts, there have been some difficulties and surprises. For example, very few people work on the first day of deer hunting season. And, I’ve seen some things that cause me concern. Today was one of those days.

I go to an ENT doctor from time to time. The last time I was there was two years ago, and the doc ran what felt like a garden hose up my nose and down my throat. That’s why I only go about every two years.

The ENT clinic has recently moved into a new specially built facility. Because I had not been to that location before, I gave it a good looking over. After being escorted to an exam room in the back, I sat waiting for the doctor and could see out into the hallway. Lo and behold, there was a Craftsman tool box in the hall. I’m talking one of those big roll around tool boxes. The kind you’d see in a mechanic shop. Believe me, this was my first time to see a tool box in a doctors office. No, it wasn’t for someone working on the building.

When my doctor came in, along with his nurse, I explained to him that I had two concerns. First was that I’ve been having a chronic sore throat. And, secondly, if he planned to use tools out of that box to work on me, I was out of there.

I already knew how much discomfort was involved with a tube up the nose. I didn’t want to know what was involved with a 3/4 inch ratchet, a 12 inch extension and 1 inch socket.

Next time I have a problem, I’m going to cut out the middle man and go to a mechanic.

PMO
©2018

Dare To Compare

It is legal in Texas to walk around with a large knife or even a sword. Now, you can, if you have a permit, wear a firearm in full display, with some exceptions. Heck, you can carry a gun inside your vehicle, so long as it is concealed, without a permit. But, in the UK, you better not get caught with a knife, and so far as the police are concerned, you don’t have a need for a gun.

A surge of violence has prompted the London mayor to announce a massive knife control campaign. Carrying a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches is illegal unless it is carried with good reason. Self defense is not considered a good reason. The knife control measure will include 300 additional police officers to conduct ‘stop and frisk’ searches of individuals suspected of carrying a knife.

This action is driven by the number of murders in the first three months of 2018 - more than New York City. Over all the crime rates for thefts and burglaries while the home owners are at home have increased, because criminals know that citizens cannot protect themselves. It is questionable that using a kitchen knife to defend your self or family is justifiable.

What’s next in the UK? Will they ban teeth to keep people from biting each other?

Wouldn’t be surprised if they do.

PMO
©2018

Created Equal

One of the most misinterpreted phrases in this country comes from Thomas Jefferson, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." - The Declaration of Independence.

Contrary to popular beliefs, this phrase simply means, that everyone is equal from birth with the right to learn, work, and develop skills and talents on a path that brings them happiness. It does not guarantee happiness, nor does it say that everyone remains equal in anything but opportunity. Obviously those with better skills and talents may rise in wealth and status. But, they have no more rights, only more qualifications.

We have slowly grown to a nation that offers equality to all that are willing to sacrifice what it takes to attain their perception of happiness. Unfortunately, money has become the "equal" symbol for most. That simply is not true.

This week I heard about a young man that got a job right out of college that paid him a huge amount of money. He hated the job, but worked there for five years. He left that job that paid a seven figure income, (over $1million) per year, to take a job that paid very little by comparison. But, he found his "pursuit of happiness."

My personal experience included poverty, but a desire to live better. Although I didn’t really know what I was doing, I kept pushing forward to do better where I had a house and plenty of food. When I ran into roadblocks, and there were a lot them, I would find another way toward my goal. Like driving 150 miles round trip to college because my circumstances prevented me from moving close to the university.

And, there were lots of times that I didn’t feel like I was being treated equally. But, then life is not fair and it never will be. The point is, that if I can make a better life, anyone can. There are millions that can share the same story.

None of us, that are able bodied and of sound mind, should ever think that we are entitled to happiness because we have some illusion of rights that don’t exist.

We all are endowed by our Creator to be equal and we are.

In life and death.

PMO
©2018

Holocaust

Thursday was the day of remembrance for the holocaust. But, how may actually remember? Fewer and fewer know anything about what happened to six million people because they were of Jewish descent.

Some may remember many of the horrors associated with Auschwitz—gas chambers, medical experiments, working prisoners to death, but did you know these practices were pioneered in earlier concentration camps - death camps.  There are unthinkable atrocities that occurred in hundreds of places.  It was a time when inhuman actions ran rampant.

Let us all never forget, lest we allow it to happen again.

Zakar.

PMO
©2018

Trade

I have the solution to illegal immigration. Every illegal will have to come forward and be identified and counted. Then, we will select people to send back to where ever the illegals came from. Wait, you say, how will we pick those to send? It’s simple.

First, we will send celebrities and most of the media. Next will be those little ‘snowflakes’ and the mamas that coddle them. Of course all those that are living off the working people without doing anything to help themselves - genuine needy folks will be exempt. And, everyone that wants to another generation of young people that are ‘socially engineered’ to worry about things that don’t matter and hate those things that do. That brings up politicians next.

I don’t know if this is a fair trade or not, but if the originating countries get the short straw, then they can trade with another country.

We will have to be careful that we don’t get back the ones we traded.

Once the other countries get some of ours, they will understand what we have to deal with.

PMO
©2018

Jumping Ship

House Speaker Paul Ryan has announced that he is retiring and will leave office in January. There are reports of other Republicans making or will make the same decision. Not only is Trump draining the swamp, some of the rodents are jumping ship. Why?

In my humble opinion, the folks in D.C. are scared. They want to get out while the getting is good. The economic storm is moving faster than expected. This country has a multi trillion debt and it’s growing rapidly. And, the all knowing elite don’t have a clue how to stop it - Republicans or Democrats.

The American people are tired of politics and spending money like there is no end to it. Politicians are afraid of having their little playground messed up, so you will see more and more leaving.

Instead of jumping ship when the going gets tough, it is time to call for all hands on deck.

Damn the torpedoes.

Full speed ahead on fixing the problems.

PMO
©2018

Cowboys

I have a friend named James and he and I talk from time to time. This week we discussed how we can no longer do little things we used to do because of physical limitations. Here’s a tip, don’t get old or have everything done before you do.

In our conversation James mentioned how difficult it is for him to button shirts, because of his arthritis. Because I have the same trouble, I suggested that he start wearing western shirts - with snaps. He said he was going shopping for some immediately.

Next time I talk to him, I am going to advise him to get a cowboy hat, so he won't have to comb his hair.

Then a horse.

PMO
©2018

Semiannual Meeting

Among the things I do to stay busier than I want to be in retirement is hosting a retirees meeting twice per year. I am supposed to be replaced in that spot, but not yet. At our April meeting, we had speakers that addressed Alzheimer disease and elder law. Like most people, the attendees had never heard of elder law, but now they have.

Two ladies presented a broad brush of Alzheimer’s and did a great job explaining what it is and how to deal with it. There are a lot of misunderstandings about this disease and a lot of questions were answered.

Elder law is a specialize practice focused on helping people get their estates in order, provide guidance on rules and policies of programs available to seniors, and of course simple things that are not simple, like wills and trusts.

Naturally the point that stuck in my brain was a question by the law speaker. He asked, "Do you really need a will? The answer is no, because you will be dead.

It’s your survivors that need a will.

PMO
©2018

Local TV

When you live in East Texas you have to get used to getting less and paying more. I can give numerous examples. And, you also must accept less talent on local TV. Yes, I am aware that small markets, as they are called, cannot afford big salaries, but act as training stops for those that want to be a big star.

One of my million irritants is watching local TV news. We have three stations and they all are about the same. They use people from local colleges as interns to learn live television news. Some of them are terrible, and some are not that good. It seems that the stations get those dreaming of the way up or those on the way down. When you get too old, you come back to "home town" broadcasting. No, I do not expect network polished professionals. Hey, they had to learn somewhere too. But, it would help if the stations would at least teach their people to read, and then how to read without it being so obvious.

I have adjusted, a little, to this is what we have, so get used to it. And, I have found some that were entertaining. One fellow named Cedric was the ‘weather guy.’ I never missed his forecast. Not because he knew anything about weather, but he had a great delivery and real personality.

If you think I am just being too picky, you should know that one station proclaims, "When we know, we will tell you." I suppose that is true, but even that causes me concern.

The other day, they announced a ‘news bulletin.’

"The Japanese have just bombed Pearl Harbor."

PMO
©2018

Medicare Cards

Beginning this month, April, the government will be sending new Medicare cards to seniors and some disabled Americans. The process will take about a year. But, the scams have already begun with phone calls demanding information and even money. Read the following article, posted with permission, about the new cards and pass along the information to those that you know on Medicare, or are about to be.

In April, the government started sending out new Medicare cards, launching a massive, year long effort to alter how 59 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance program are identified.

Historically, Medicare ID cards have been stamped with the Social Security numbers of members — currently, about 50 million seniors and 9 million people with serious disabilities. But that’s been problematic: If a wallet or purse were stolen, a thief could use that information, along with an address or birthdate on a driver’s license, to steal someone’s identity.

For years, phone scammers have preyed on older adults by requesting their Medicare numbers, giving various reasons for doing so. People who fall for these ruses have found bank accounts emptied, Social Security payments diverted or bills in their mailboxes for medical services or equipment never received.

The new cards address these concerns by removing each member’s Social Security number and replacing it with a new, randomly generated 11-digit "Medicare number" (some capital letters are included). This will be used to verify eligibility for services and for billing purposes going forward.

Such a major change can involve bumps along the way, so there will be a transition period during which you can use either your new Medicare card or your old card at doctors’ offices and hospitals. Both should work until Dec. 31, 2019.

If you forget your new card at home, your doctor’s staff should be able to look up your new Medicare number up at a secure computer site. Or, they can use information that’s already on file during the transition period.

"We’ve had a few people contact us and ask ‘If I don’t have the new card at a doctor’s appointment, does that mean my provider won’t see me?’" said Casey Schwartz, senior counsel for education and federal policy at the Medicare Rights Center. "That shouldn’t be an issue."

Cards will be sent to people covered by Medicare on a rolling basis over a 12-month period ending in April 2019. Older adults in Alaska, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia will be the first to receive the mailings, between April and June, along with several U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The last wave of states will be Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee, along with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

"If your sister who lives in another state gets her card before you, don’t fret," the Federal Trade Commission explained in a new alert. Since the cards are going out in waves, "your card may arrive at a different time than hers."

If you think Social Security might not have your current address, call 1-800-772-1213 or check your online Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/, the FTC advised.

When you get your new Medicare card, don’t throw your old one in the trash. Instead, put it through a shredder or "spend time cutting it up with a pair of scissors" to make sure the part showing your Social Security number is destroyed, said Amy Nofziger, a fraud expert for AARP.

Those numbers remain sought-after by scammers, and AARP and Senior Medicare Patrol groups tell of receiving fraud reports related to Medicare cards since last year.

In one scam, reported by California’s Area 1 Agency on Aging, a caller purporting to represent Medicare or another government agency claims to need your bank account information so Medicare can arrange a direct deposit of funds into your account. The new Medicare cards are used as an excuse for the call.

In another, circulating in Iowa, scammers are threatening to cancel seniors’ health insurance if they don’t give out their current Medicare card numbers. "We’re telling people, don’t ever give someone this number — just hang up," said Nancy Ketcham, elder rights specialist at the Elderbridge Agency on Aging, which serves 29 counties in northwestern Iowa.

A month ago, Alfonso Hernandez, 65, who lives in Moreno Valley, Calif., received a call from a man who told him, in Spanish, that Medicare was going to issue new cards and that he needed to verify some information, including Hernandez’s name, address and Social Security number.

"I said no, normally, I don’t give my Social Security number to anyone," Hernandez said. At that point, the caller put his "supervisor" on the phone, who said the government needed to make sure it had correct information. Caught off guard, Hernandez recited his Social Security number and, "as soon as I did that, they hung up."

"Immediately, I’m like ‘oh my God, what did I do,’" said Hernandez, who quickly contacted credit agencies to have them put an alert on his account. "I just keep praying that nothing happens."

Just last week, California’s Senior Medicare Patrol program received a report of another scam detected in Riverside County: a caller claiming that before a senior can get a new Medicare card, he or she has to pay $5 to $50 for a new "temporary" card, according to Sandy Morales, a case manager with the program.

Nofziger of AARP said a Medicare representative will never contact an older adult by phone or email about the new cards and will certainly "never ask for money or personal information or threaten to cancel your health benefits." The new Medicare cards are free and you don’t need to do anything to receive one: They’re being sent automatically to everyone enrolled in the program. Don’t give out any information to callers who contact you by phone, she advised.

If you suspect fraud, report it to the FTC , AARP’s fraud help line, 1-877-908-3360, or your local Senior Medicare Patrol program.

If you get a scam call, just do what I do. Tell the caller that your spouse or a relative takes care of all such business because he or she works for the Attorney General Office and knows about these things.

The response you’ll get is ‘Click.’

PMO

©2018