History Repeats

Don’t think for a minute that this economic crisis is something new, or even that the approach by our government is a new one. This is not new ground at all, but certainly not the worst place our economy has ever been. It just might be the worst response though. Even at the worst of the great depression, the government did not own banks or get very involved in salary or other corporate decisions. The shouldn’t have then, they shouldn’t now. This cartoon from 1934 pretty much says it all.

Clear Vision

Glasses are a Godsend.  Bifocals were invented by Benjamin Franklin, one of the writers of our United States Constitution.  His intention with bifocals was go give us clear vision. The framers of the constitution wanted to give us a clear vision of liberty.

Liberty is more important than any other factor in the human condition. More important than the economy or global warming. 

Almost Spring

I keep wanting to think it is already spring, but not quite yet. It’s almost spring, a time for me that is harder than the last of winter. The sun comes out and it even warms up a bit at times. But then it is much like poor Charlie Brown, the football is pulled away at the last second. But soon there will be fresh apple blossoms and wonderfully green leaves. I can hardly wait.

WorldBook

Remember when we used to use books to keep our information? I’m not saying that electronics are not as good, but there was something so good about having good references. Solid volumes that were leather bound and so clearly illustrated.  You just can’t get that with an LCD screen and lithium-ion battery.

Sweets

Sometimes you just have to nibble on something sweet. I like pretty much all of the traditional Easter candies, even Peeps. Peeps are most fun in the microwave though, they grow and shake like a monster.

Emerging Life

I love springtime, even though it is not really all that warm or welcoming. I need a bit of time to adjust to the idea of summer after that long winter. The temperature today is barely in the 40s but the wonderful signs of life are everywhere now. Birds are singing, trees are budding and life is beginning to emerge from the ground. 

Simple Things

Some simple things are the most useful. I’ve had this sewing kit for about 30 years, from early in my Army career. I have used it over and over. Lost buttons, torn sleeves, darning socks and even to repair a sad daughter’s stuffed toy. It puts a smile on my face when I see it.

I am not that partial to cityscapes, but the night lights of Tucson looked pretty good to me tonight. Nothing special, just a warm glow.

Willing to Work

I applaude anyone who is willing to work. There are some who find it beneath them to do the jobs that are not cool or "normal", and there for live on the public dime. Then there are guys like this one who do what it takes to be on a payroll. In the hot sun, in a lizard suit, on a busy street corner, dancing and playing air guitar with his sign. Making the most of what some would consider a bad job. My hat is off to you, Mr. Lizard.

Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm not sure what really makes something beautiful, but to me the colors we find in flowers are beautiful. Today I was drawn to these flowers, I'm not sure what kind they are, but they just look so good to me.

WWII aircraft seem so primative by today's standards, but were quite marvelous in many ways. Probably the most amazing thing is that so many were produced in such a short time. America pulled together in those days, it wasn't all about what the world could do for me but there was a sense of common goal. It truly was a better time for us.

Our History

It is easy to think of America from the perspective of the Pilgrims or the mostly English and French that settled much of what we now call our own. In the south and particularly in the American Southwest, the Spanish were first and remain a strong influence. Today we visted San Xavier Mission near Tucson. It not only is a reflection of that history, but a genuine place of worship and reflection still in use after over two centuries.

Gila Monster

It's not every day you see a Gila Monster, but I did see one today. And a rattlesnake. It was an amazing day of hiking in Arizona.

Not everyone likes butterflies, but I enjoy seeing them flutter around. This one was in the desert in Arizona. I was waiting to watch some raptors fly, the ultimate in natures flying creatures by many standards, but this gentle creature landed near me. There probably was more to that than mere coincidence.

Sonora Sunset

There is no doubt of the existense of God for me when I witness events like the sunsets in the Sonora Desert. I cannot imagine anything more wonderful that man could make or even think of than what He provides for us.

Travelling

I travel quite a bit, but it always seems to be an unnatural set of events. Packing always takes more space and time than you plan for. Getting to the airport at the right time is stressful and an inexact science at best. Once through airport security I am generally at ease. I ache for the “old days” when you just had to check your bags and go. I think the terrorists who attacked on September 11th must be smiling a secret smile now. They have affected much more than they could have hoped for.

Computer Guts

Computer guts are not all that attractive. They are mostly

brightly colored wires and lots of things that make very little sense to the uninitiated.  I started building my own computes back in the “386” days when computer didn’t need more than 640 kilobytes of RAM and computers cost thousands.  Now I am more inclined to buy it ready-made. 

 

Steeple

Grand Rapids is a town full of churches. Many are your run of the mill buildings, but some have wonderful architecture. We were walking to our car and I spotted this one tonight. To be honest, the building shouldn’t matter much, but it is nice when those that worship do so with so much style. I’m guessing this church was built long ago, but it is a timeless design, with an even more timeless message. 

Let’s hope that worship will always be as free as it is today here in America. 

Spring Program

This is the season all parents and grandparents love. School Spring Program season. There really isn’t much in this world that is cuter than a bunch of pre-school kids dressed up for a program and singing their hearts out. This one was perhaps the best run program I have seen. It started on time and was done in half an hour, 7 songs. By the way, Ckaya was the cutest.

Geocaching

Geocaching has been described as a sport where participants use multi-billion dollar satellites to find tupperware hidden in the woods. That about covers it really. You go to a website to find coordinates and clues that you use, with your GPS,  to find a container hidden by other geocachers. You don’t really get anything but a log entry to show you found it. It is loads of fun and gets us outdoors, we love it.

Ironwork

Today we were walking around Grand Rapids, mostly along the Grand River. It was a glorious, almost spring day. Lots of sunshine and not all that chilly.  There are several bridges across the river, but none quite like the Sixth Street Bridge. It was built in 1886 for $31,000 and remains the oldest metal bridge in Michigan. It was made well, but also has some artistry to the work. The railings are as beautiful as they have proven durable. We could use more of that today, pride in good work and artistry in the small details. 

Seasons Change

Very few things are certain, nearly none in the man-made world. In nature there is certainty in the fact that the seasons will eventually change. Here in Michigan, the winters are long. We really can’t depend on warmth to return until well into May, but sure enough, it will.  That of course will be followed in turn by the cold again, but that is all good.

The Hurdy-Gurdy Man

My friend Jim is a real hurdy-gurdy man. He not only plays it, but he built it. Tonight I was fortunate enough to be in the company of artists who write, sing and play music that comes from the heart. Drew Nelson released his CD, “Dusty Road to Beulah Land” tonight. It is wonderful, Midwestern, American-to-the-heart, rockin’ and folk music. Another piece of the fabric that makes America great.

The Birds

The Birds was a classic Hitchcock movie. We say things are going to the birds when we want to comment on decay. I suppose that all the negativity is because some people are afraid of things that can fly around their heads.  We love our birds though. They now have a new cage that they seem to like a bunch. It’s big and has their favorite treats.

My First Robin This Year

I got a look at my first robin of the year today.  My wife saw one several days ago, but this was the first with my own eyes.  There is still some snow left in our yard, but this robin and the 3 others with it did not seem to mind. It really is getting to be closer to spring. Hope spring eternal.

Words to Live By

I spotted this sign when I was watching a band from Ireland perform in Grand Rapids tonight. The music was very good, light and fun. It was uplifting and spirited, a good time for everyone, except maybe the wait staff. I spotted the sign across the room and smiled.  I think I need a sign like that in my work area.

My Friend

This is my friend, though I am not sure what his name is. He comes by for a quick bite and a little chat pretty much every day. Funny how we have so much contact with folks at times and know so little about them. 

Rainy Days

I like rainy days. I like how everything looks shiny, and how it sounds as it drums out a beat on the roof. I grew up in Washington State where we had world-class rain so I appreciate a good soaking here now and again. 

Heading for Work

Every morning it’s the same thing, drive to work through traffic. This morning the traffic was fairly light, but some days it is bumper to bumper and slower than walking.  I miss living close enough to walk or ride my bike.

A Man’s Home is His Castle

A man’s home is his castle. Having a home is central to feeling as if you are in control of your life, to feeling safe. It doesn’t matter if you rent or own, it is good to have a place to call home.

Some well-meaning politicians thought it would be good for everyone to own a home. In theory, a good plan. They made it possible to get a loan even if you were probably not going to be able to pay it all back.  That was not such a good idea and was a big part of the reason the economy tanked.  Sometimes it’s best to let business drive business, not government.

Organic Bananas

We have been buying organic bananas lately.  I think we tried them at first because they are supposed to be better for us or for the environment or something like that, but they turned out to just plain taste better. There really isn’t any reason to buy more expensive bananas unless they do, I suppose. 

Old Fashioned Stuff

We all love the nostalgia that having old fashioned stuff in our yards and homes gives us. Few people really use hand pumps or iron spoke wheels for anything but decoration, but that is a useful purpose too.

Nostalgia has no place in how the government spends our money though. This isn’t the dustbowl days or the great depression. We are in a global, modern economy that is based on free enterprise and capitalism. All the government spending can’t resolve the issues. 

Eating light

I am pretty happy with my general health right now. Kris and I have both lost over 60 pounds and have been living a fairly healthy lifestyle. That being said, lately we have slacked off a bit and some meals have not been that good for us.  I am getting back on track now. Tonight I had a great meal, it even looked good. Tzatziki, fresh vegetables and steak. It isn’t everywhere in the world you can get this variety of fresh veggies anytime, any city. I love America.

Upside Down

We watched some snowboarding “rails” competition today in Grand Rapids.  It was a bunch of fun, we hadn’t seen that sort of competition before. It was very cold, but the sun was out enough to give us the feeling that spring was coming.  But our toes told us another story.  Anyway, it was a great day to be out and about.

Blue Sky

This day has been a wonderfully sunny, blue sky day. After a long, dreary winter, it is a welcome sign of the spring yet to come. It was cold, not getting much above 25 degrees, but it had a hopefulness to it that was so pleasant. People were out shopping and enjoying the day, also seemingly hopeful.  I love days like this.

Hohner Accordeon

I like music and everything about it.  I wish I could play, but I don’t seem to have much talent for that.  When I come across a particularly beautiful instrument, I can’t help but wonder how it was made and love to look at every detail.  This old accordion probably isn’t one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen, but it is interesting none the less.  There are so many well made parts that all come together in an artistic finish. Life is full of these unexpected pleasures if you look for them. 

Mmmmmm

I really enjoy ice cream. I eat it almost every day. Some of my favorites are Rocky Road, Cappuccino Chip, Butter Pecan and Mint Chocolate Chip.  Probably my most favorite though is vanilla with cherry topping from The Cherry Hut in Benzonia, Michigan. It’s just a little storefront during the winter, the main store near Crystal Lake shuts down then. It is an old, family owned business that still puts the homemade touch in everything. Doesn’t this look great? 

Wish Books

We used to call catalogs “wish books” when I was a kid. My brother and I would pour over the pages, carefully marking the things we wanted. We rarely ordered anything, but it was fun. Catalogs are sort of going by the wayside now with Internet shopping, but we still get a few in the mail. 

The bottom line was: you can’t always get what you want. That’s still true today.  That is unless you are in congress. The recent “stimulus packages” and the Omnibus Spending Bill are bloated bills that are loaded with earmarks. What are they thinking?

Branches in the Sun

The pines in the backyard were bathed in early evening, late winter sun earlier. I’m a bit sick of winter, but it was a beautiful sight none the less. 

It is times like this that I wonder how people can deny that there is a God. Man can’t come up with anything to compare.  Life is good, even in the long winter.

Lighting the Darkness

Darkness can hide so many things.  Some of those things are beautiful and when you shine the light on them, they seem to come to life.  Other things seek the darkness to be able to prey on the unsuspecting.  I keep flashlights handy, I don’t like being surprised by things in the dark.

A responsible press is our light in the darkness that some in government would like to keep us in. Good journalists who research the facts keep us safe from bad things in the dark. Don’t let congress pass the so called “Fairness Act” that seeks to keep the lights darkened.

She Loves Me

I truly love my wife and she loves me.  She ran the snowblower today because I am recovering from hernia surgery and can’t.  That’s not all that she does for me, but that’s what I have a picture of today.  And I do love her.

13th Hole

Some day soon we’ll be able to hit the links. This is how it looks from behind the 13th hole at a local golf course. I don’t golf, but I am looking forward to seeing people out there. 

Jambalaya

Jambalaya is Cajun for “just good food”. I got the andoule sausage and chicken at Delski’s, got the freshest produce I could find and made a big old pot of it. It was hot and spicy, just perfect after a long, cold week here in Michigan. 

Staying Real

Tonight we listened to David Molinari, Lauran Bittenger, and Michael Van Houten play at One Trick Pony. There is so much of what makes America great in this. These musicians played a wonderful show, we truly enjoyed it. This picture is of Michael playing a song he wrote for his son before he was born.  One Trick Pony is a restaurant owned by real people, Dan and Lisa. The food is excellent and it is a great venue.  These are local musicians who play songs they write as well as cover some of our favorites, but their own way. Nothing here is commercial, just people who live in our world and share their gifts with us.  America is doing well here.

Seeing Clearly

I suppose as I have aged my eyes have weathered the storm worse than some of my other parts. I am more nearsighted than I was, by far. To add insult to injury, now I need help reading and generally seeing anything up close. Glasses correct all of that and I’m glad to say that I got used to the progressive lenses quickly.

That doesn’t make me a “Progressive” though. I think that takes dark shades that don’t work well for reading.

First Signs of Spring!

I was outside for a bit today and saw the most wonderful thing, fresh, new, green leaves coming up in the grass as the snow recedes.  I can’t think of a better way to make a day better than to see this.

Still Winter Here

It's still winter in West Michigan. I can't shovel right now, but my wife is taking good care of me. I am looking forward to spring.

Sweethearts

I love Sweethearts. I like the cheesy captions, I like how they crunch and I like the flavor.  Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.

Electric Candles

Electric Candles make a lot of sense. They don’t drip, they don’t smoke and you don’t have to light them or put them out. 

Progress is funny that way.  The more progress we make, the more we want to keep things as they are.  Therefore we have electric candles.  And “progressive” politicians.