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

Guard On The Border

The President is going to send National Guard troops to the border along Mexico. Is that a good thing or not? The first question is what are they going to do? Just observe and inform the border patrol or can they stop illegals from crossing?

Generally speaking Federal troops cannot get involved with civilian affairs when it comes to law enforcement. But, are border crossings a civilian matter? It is Federal law that prohibits illegal immigration. Some states refuse to enforce those laws - an illegal act on their part. And, it is the states that control the National Guard, so some have already said no to the President’s order. Is this beginning to get confusing?

Mexico has proclaimed they are against any troops on the border, while they have strict laws against illegal immigration in that country. In other words, you can’t come in, but it’s okay to leave so long as you send money home.

Also, I need to mention that the Guard will not be armed. That has to be good news to drug dealers and gangs that operate along the border. In a case of direct contact with the Guard, the Guard will have to dial 911 and wait. That doesn’t work in most life and death cases. Remember, when the police are minutes away, it just may be far too long. Criminals can kill and be gone before police can get into their cars.

If you listen to the media and all the open borders people think this event is terrible. Those that support the move, have concerns, but don’t really understand what will happen. Confusion again.

After millions and millions have crossed into the U.S. it would be easy to classify the entire movement as an invasion rather than illegal immigration. An invasion without firing a shot. Except those fired by the drug dealers and gangs.

I have a suggestion for what the Guard should do. They should not go to the border, but should be charged with gathering information on every person supporting turning this country into a third world country - violence everywhere. Then round them up and send them to the border, unarmed, and watch what happens.

Or, the President could just order all "red necks" to go to the border and keep people out.

That will stop illegal activity and won’t cost anything, because they’ll go for free.

PMO
©2018

Nightmares

Some people have nightmares, or at least strange dreams. I know I have strange dreams from time to time, but rarely a real nightmare. However, I suspect that those that are of the liberal radical political persuasion must have nightmares on a regular basis. Just look and listen to all the media and those that make the news. These people live in fear and reek of hate.

So, I’ve come up with the perfect person for liberal nightmares: a white, heterosexual, Christian, conservative, gun owner, member of the NRA, anti-illegal immigration, constitutionalist, with any college degree except fine arts in animal rights, anti-abortionist, married male with a job, with strong opposition to paying more taxes.

These are easily identified.

Hillary calls them ‘deplorables.’

PMO
©2018

HVAC

Most people in the world use HVAC everyday, but may not know it. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning. We all just say the air conditioner. There was a time in my life when I had no HVAC except to open a window on hot days and keep it closed on cold days. Neither seemed to help much.

Like everything else, including humans, HVAC systems get old and eventually die. Therefore, I decided to replace the unit in our house before it died on a Sunday when the temperature was about 110 degrees in the shade. That’s when you will never get anyone to come out and work on the unit. A friend that owns a HVAC business came over with a crew and took out the old and put in the new. As expected, we had the unexpected problems.

Technology is in constant change. The equipment is about twice the size it used to be because of government regulations that prohibit using some refrigerants and the new stuff just ain’t as efficient as the old. This is not usually a problem on the outdoor unit, but when your indoor unit is in a closet in a house that was built 30 years ago, it is a problem. The closet was designed for much smaller equipment. The workers had to make some ‘adjustments’ to get the dang thing inside that little closet. But, it is now in there.

Then came the next step, getting the wiring done between the outdoor and indoor units and the thermostat. After much investigation they discovered they had wired some wires in the wrong order, which caused the unit not to work with the thermostat. I think it took all four of them to come up the solution.  The new system now works.

But, when the thing comes on, it sets off the sprinkler system on the lawn and tunes the TV to the home improvement channel.

They told me that my lawn will look nice and that’s their favorite show.

PMO
©2018

Stand For Something

A few years ago Aaron Tippin wrote a song titled, "You’ve Got to Stand for Something." The following are some of he lyrics:

"Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything"

If you stop and think about it, I wonder how many people today are willing to stand up for what’s right? We live in a world of compromise. When you compromise, both sides lose.

Abraham Lincoln said, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

Truly all it takes is for good men that know right from wrong, to do nothing.

PMO

©2018

Protest

Perhaps you’ve noticed that there is a protest somewhere just about everyday in this country. Heck, we have professional protesters that go about the country protesting. No, I don’t know what they get paid, although I’ve heard several different stories on the amount. The pay must not be bad or these people could just sit at home and draw some free money from one government pocket or another.

I have never thought about protesting anything, but perhaps I should. Maybe I could get a bunch of people to gather, shut down traffic and entrances to business for no other reason than to protest. We really wouldn’t be protesting anything, just looking for a little outing to get some fresh air and exercise. No pink hats, but, we would have signs in big letters that say, "We protest."

Should others that have a cause, or make believe reason, try to join us, we could all just go home.

And leave them alone in the middle of the street.

It will make them wonder ‘what happened?’

PMO
©2018

Therapy?

Sometime I wonder why I write this blog. I think it must be therapy. A place to vent my frustrations, irritations, aggravations, and limitations. That’s what grumpy old men do. For the past seven years I have vented about this and that, mostly that. There have been some really bad posts, some really silly, some confusing, some sad, but now and then there have been a few good ones too.

The intent has always been to opens the eyes of those that read the blog with a chuckle here and there, a bit of sarcasm, a little preaching and some teaching, a lot of disdain for government and the media, but mostly to let others know that there is someone else out here that feels the way they do sometime.

During the seven years there have been many thousands views, with a large number from other countries. Now, they know we are just as human as they are and suffer with a common, universal, problem.

You really can’t fix stupid.

PMO
©2018

All Alone

I suppose that everyone has felt alone at one time or another, even when surrounded by others. During the Easter celebrations, there is a very important point that is often missed. You die all alone. It doesn’t matter how many people are around you.

We often hear about someone dying surrounded by family or friends. Truth is that the man Jesus died surround by his enemies who mocked him and a few family and friends. But he died alone as evidenced by the writing from the New Testament: Around the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, saying "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34.

If he was the Son he claimed to be, then why would he feel forsaken? The answer is simple, he died alone to face all the sins of the world for all time. It wasn’t him that was forsaken, but the sins. And, that’s the way you will die - alone with your sins.

Pretty deep stuff, talking about dying alone. People don’t like to talk about death. You never invite some friends over for chips and dips and talk about who’s going to die next. But, you are going to die.

And, you are going to die alone.

Nobody can walk that walk with you.

PMO
©2018