Back In The Saddle

My mind has been in a vacuum all summer. Between activities, Facebook and online poker (yes, I'm hooked), I left my blog behind. One of my friends finally emailed and said, yes, she reads my blog and what the Hell have I been doing all summer? I really wasn't sure anyone would even notice.

It must be Fall. I ushered my first Griz football game of the season yesterday. Well, I wouldn't really call it a game. The Griz pounded Western State College, a division II team, 73-2. I know teams get paid to play up a division, but I can't say it looked like much fun for either team. The Griz scored 21 points in the first two minutes. The most exciting play of the game was when a lightning storm blew through the stadium and shut the game down for approximately 45 minutes. I don't recall that ever happening before! Let's hope that the Griz play some teams that provide a bit more competition in the near future and the heavens provide warm weather for the remainder of the football season.

The kids returned to school. My son entered 7th grade with a positive attitude and my daughter rolled into 10th grade with a smile. Each day, I thank the Lord that my kids (young adults) have their minds squared away. Both bring home good grades on a regular basis, have solid friendships and hobbies that keep them on a positive path.  My son seems to have turned the switch to "on" this year. He actually said he was looking forward to heading back to the classroom this year and stated that he likes all his teachers this year! Dance will soon envelop my daughter as the 10-11 season kicks off in about a week. She completed driver's ed this summer and has been chauffeuring the family around town for the past few months. Although, I'll worry when she finally heads out on her first solo journey, I'll also enjoy the fact that she can transport herself to her multitude of activities.

So here I am, enjoying my favorite season, Fall. I love the coolness in the air, changing colors, predictable schedules, sunny comfortable days and a general sense of calm. For some reason, Fall gives me pause from this planetary craziness and reminds me to breathe slowly again.

How about a dose of Rich:Poor?

Rich: The right and privilege to vote each November. Whatever be your political view, we have in America the right to freely elect our political leaders. One of my sisters may disagree (and I think she's right), but the democratic system allows us to peacefully choose the direction that our country takes. A few days ago, the CEO of the company for which I work, sent out an APB email and reminded all employees of the awesome responsibility that we hold as voters. I've always taken that responsibility seriously. In all of the years that I've been able to vote, I have done so. You should vote as well.

Poor: The other side of the voting coin. Increasingly, I have soured on the not the American political system, but the politicians that have filled the slate. If our national elected officials had any nards, they would get off the dole and take a hard look at how they are spending OUR money. I'm willing to bet that, out of all of the national elected officials, only a very small percentage is NOT on the take in some form or another. If you look at the poll numbers, a majority of  Americans feel the same way. This is not news, but for today's politicians, the goal is to get re-elected, get a bigger paycheck and fatter retirement benefits. 


I've soured recently to the point of considering a pass on voting. Never would I thought I would get to that point. But between the very real idea that our elections have been rigged for at least the last four presidential cycles and the fact that politicians on both sides of the aisles have become SO sleazy, I'm thinking about stepping back from the booth. 


And, no, I don't think the Tea Party has any merit whatsoever. The Tea Party is a front for anti-government nut jobs that have tried to legitimize their position for years. Every few years, they reinvent themselves and try to capture frustrated folks. I am frustrated, but smart enough to stay away from the lunatic fringe! God help us if they actually elect a Sarah Palin/Glen Beck clone to a position of national prominence. Trust me, this group is as phony as any Washington insider. You can't hide a racist, right wing agenda behind a flag and a Sarah Palin face.


What we need is a return to common sense, integrity and decency. How do we get there? I don't know, but I really believe that most Americans want decency and common sense more that anything. That is really all we seek. Maybe someone will step forward and lead us in that direction.


Rich: Family Ties. I come from a family of one dad, one mom, one step-mom, two sisters, one half-brother and one half-sister. Yeah sure, it's complicated but few families are not these days. Through it all, I love each and every member of my family. 

Members of my family openly and many times, painfully, share our views on topics ranging from politics to our our personality disorders ( :) ), but through it all, love shines. As I age, my appreciation for my family's dynamic grows. Thank you to ALL of my family members for your care, kindness, thought provocation and open dialog over the years. I've enjoyed our time together, despite the miles between us.

Poor: The Bush Iraq (make our friends REALLY rich) connection. As we gain perspective on the whole Iraqi situation, time will show that Bush/Cheney spoon fed giant defense contracts to their buddies' companies while completely taking the American people to the cleaners. The latest Blackwater revelations merely scratch the surface of the level of corruption that occurred during the Bush/Cheney years. 


What Bush and Cheney did to the American people is sick and illegal. Both should go to prison for the rest of their lives. Why is our country on the edge of financial disaster? Look no further than the Bush/Cheney Iraq war years. While a handful of Bush buddies, gained extreme wealth through illegal contracts and shell companies, the American people got handed a pile of shit in the form of long-term debt and deficits. Throw the bastards in prison! We'll never recover the money, but they should at least pay for their sins against the American people.


And if all of that information doesn't really rub you raw, read this article from the Washington Post: 


The true cost of the Iraq war: $3 trillion and beyond


That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!  


We're in for a few more rocky years. Hunker down and try to stay positive.




all material copyright 2005-10