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