Just What Do You Do With It All?

So, I see that Exxon Mobil corporation broke a record for profits among U. S. corporations in the third quarter, nearly 15 billion dollars. This leads me to wonder what you do with all that money.
If I have a few extra bucks I go on down to the bank and put it into a savings account and get a few pennies of interest. See what I mean.
Does an armored car pull up to a bank and drop off, say, half a billion? Can you imagine that happening? The manager at my local bank would fall over in a faint. I'd like to know, I'm curious.
Maybe they could send a few billion to some of those businesses we taxpayers are sending our money to. Just a thought.

It's all in what you say.

I happened to catch a movie called "Mermaids Chair" the other evening. Good movie, I thought, but one I can't recall hearing anything about. The movie was finely acted, well photographed and the script was done by someone who knew how to use the language to tell a story. As proof there was not one bit of vulgarity throughout the entire movie. How about that!
Now, I'll tell you up front I've used some words I wish I hadn't over the years; I'm not proud of it but that's what happened. These days I find the English language capable of providing me with enough material to verbally slam anybody I choose and still be able to use the sentence on television if I need to.
It's hard to go to a movie and not notice the foul language used almost always without justification. See, I allow for it in a movie or a book if it fits the character and the location but when the stuff is thrown in almost at random I see it as coming from a lazy, untalented writer who isn't capable of doing better. This seemed not to be a problem for the writer of the movie I watched.
I like good movies and good books; I like them more if their writers can get along without using a four letter word for a crutch.

Don't Vote? Don't Complain

I noticed a line of Talkback posts arguing back and forth about the priveledge of voting enjoyed by all of us who are legal residents of the United States. Every four years we decide on a president with no military takeovers, no riots in the streets, no one going door-to-door dragging out members of the opposition party. We just get a new president or we keep the old one for four more years.
Between the times given over to those historic national moments we vote for candidates to lesser offices: council, school director, senator, etc. It all comes down to us needing to go to the polls nearly every year though, in truth, some years are more interesting and exciting than others.
Be that as it may, the importance of voting for whoever you want is something that can't be understated.
There are a lot of reasons to go to the polls whenever you possibly can and I won't go into them because you've probably already heard them a hundred times. I will say, though, that it some times boils down to one small reason for me and it is enough to keep me going to vote even when the election that season is equally obscure. It is the fact that if I don't vote then I don't have the right to gripe about anything government on any level does. That, dear reader, is a right I will never give up.

Oh Those Crazy Kids

I grew up in a much different era but I refer to it when I need some grounding to judge the present by.
My era taught that going to college was a priveledge and that it will be viewed that way. You didn't get into trouble, you didn't do any damage, you paid for the extras you wanted by working at a job and, above all, you never forgot that you were in college to study so that you could make something of yourself later on.
Of course those rules were violated once in a while but a riot over a football game? True, my era saw a few riots but a riot over a football game? Can't recall one of those.
In State College this past weekend the joy of Penn State's win over Ohio State got so many folks carried away that police in riot gear had to be called out, according to reports. It was also reported that light poles were taken down along with street signs and people jumped on cars and tossed things off balconies. Cars were damaged and several small fires were started though none got out of hand. Those folks, in their joy of winning, celebrated by throwing shoes, toilet paper, pots, pans and even a newspaper box according to that same published report.
Well, just come crazy kids having a little bit of fun on a Saturday night I suppose; as an additional treat, reportedly hundreds of people got their first taste of pepper spray which doesn't really taste that good but serves as a badge of courage the next day, I suppose.
Good to see those youngsters blowing off a little steam. Good for the school, wonderful for the communities reputation and think how pleased the taxpayers who had to pick up the bill for police and cleanup must be.
Those crazy kids. Don't you just love 'em.

Pay Now---Buy Later

What a novel idea: the layaway plan
Used to be that was the wise thing to do. You picked out what you wanted to give someone as a Christmas gift and began to pay on it. The store kept it in a back room for you to retrieve when you finally made the last payment. Of course you got no interest on the money you paid but the upside was that come the day after Christmas you didn't owe anybody anything and look at the interest you saved.
Somewhere along the way Instant Gratification reared its ugly head and we began to feast on credit, taking big bites to help answer the question, "What am I going to give (fill in the blank) for Christmas?" We bought a lot of things hoping that at least one of them would be the right thing but in doing that we ended up with a bellyful of payments that came due in January.
I saw a story the other night that said layaway plans were coming back and that more shoppers were taking advantage of them. Seems like an old/good idea may get another run.
I like it. Seems better than sharing my income with a credit card company.

LOOK! Out there...

Some while back I decided that it was a good day if I could get out of bed and walk to the coffee pot on my own two feet. There are those who are not as fortunate.
On my travels to said pot this morning I noticed what a difference a night can make. I went to bed under cloudy, drizzly skies and, lo and behold, I awoke to a pretty nice morning. Lots of sun, a good breeze, chilly but just fine. It was a surprise and a very pleasant one at that. I am more than lucky today and I am having a very, very good day,

Who Was That Caller?

I got a call from the Governor here at the ranch the other day; said he was fine and wanted to make sure I went out to vote, even suggesting who I vote for just to make it easier on me.
I also had calls from Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama as well each asking for my vote. Neither of the vice-presidential candidates have called but I expect they will very soon...election day being right around the corner and all.
Funny how it is you hear so much from those big folks in Harrisburg and Washington every four years or so and then very little the rest of the time. Makes you wonder what happens to them, doesn't it?

Some Sand To Play In

I think we all should have a sand box to play in. I'm convinced of that after spending some time in one in the company of a young friend of mine,
A little bit of make-believe road building, a good helping of "Sand Cake" or simply digging a hole using a truck and shovel (making the appropriate truck sounds all the while of course) is a wonderful way to get rid of the days frustrations or irritations. You have some great company, fresh air, a little acting like a kid again no matter your age; what more could you ask?
Of course I know this idea will never even get off the ground for it doesn't cost enough nor require a prescription so I doubt it'll gain any altitude.
If you don't mind, though, I'm going to go along with my little friend on as many trips to the sand box as I can. Feels great and that's a good enough reason for me.

10 - 1

So, here it is October first and time again to ask the question, "Where did the summer go?"
Got me!
Seems I was just rolling into it, preparing to enjoy and evening on the porch, a picnic lunch, a canoe ride and maybe even a little fishing. Almost none of that happened and what did was in terribly small amount.
I woke this morning with the realization that today marked what I consider to be the official start of autumn. That day in September when fall begins according to the calendar is merely a date, everything that follows a warm up for the fall season. October first, though, that means business.
I have a little fun driving a tractor that pulls a hay wagon up to an orchard. This Sunday I expect it to be busy for a lot of people share my opinion, I think, that October first is really the start of autumn; time to think of apples and pumpkins and scary ghost stories. Autumn is here, enjoy it or, like the summer before it, it'll be gone before you know it.