Resuming?

 Well, it’s been quite a while since I last posted on this site (MB--deux), and there is a reason for that, as there is a reason for almost anything any of us do or don’t do. 

 

My reason is just this:  My initial blog, "Morningbrain, what keeps me up nights," was cast aside by me by mistake.  You see, when I had gone beyond 50 posts, it appeared the initial posts were being cast aside by the blog rules.  But appearances are not always right, as I found a while after starting a secondary blog, Morningbrain—deux.  Seems I had selected 50 for the number of posts of that initial blog and when I exceeded that number the initial posts were hidden to allow for my given number of 50 posts.  Interestingly enough, the earliest posts were there, they just were not obvious. 

 

In any case, after establishing a second blog, and using it for a while, I discovered this initial Morningbrain blog was, still, usable.  All I needed to do was change one number in my description of the blog and all was well.  Interesting.

 

So, what did I do?  Well, I returned to this first blog and began to post there again.  Now what I guess I ought to do is incorporate the posts in Morningbrain—deux into the original blog and move forward from there.  Come to think of it, maybe this little note needs to be on both blogs.  Who knows--there may be a good reason to keep both of  'em!  (Which is what I will do--for a while, anyway!) 

 

Ain’t Blogger great?  Well, I like it, in any case. 

Sandwiches for lunch?

Well--‘twas my day to prepare lunch at the Geddes Ranchero and, thanks to an ingredient a neighbor (Ms. Wilma) provided, I was able to put together two pretty good sandwiches. On taking them to my spouse, and pointing out what they were, she asked “where, pray tell, did you find any Elk?” Well, that being said, I told her I’d explain completely, after she evaluated the sandwich. Which she did, very positively, I might add, and with a smile on both our faces, I pointed out we already had the Eggs, and the cheese, and when Wilma came up with with the lettuce, our “Elc” sandwiches were just the thing for our luncheon menu. Interesting, wouldn’t you say?

Of course, this will not be passed on to our one and only grandchild who still maintains a few illusions about our “Christmas” gatherings!

Scientific problems--scientific solutions

Working on a post for my facebook play book, and one of my neighbors caught me at it! Seems one of the neighborhood "children" found some of my cat food attractive--well more than just attractive, I guess, more like mama than anything. You see, another baby possum pretty much left the wet cat food and the dry cat food alone while sucking up the entire helping of moo-milk that the cats also, normally, may or may not find attractive. Guess it was a good time for possum youngster, more like a second or third grade possum than a baby, this one, in any case. If I were inclined, I could have caught and tamed it. Luckily, I was not so inclined. My dog would not have appreciated it, and my wife would not have appreciated it, and I would not have appreciated the rearrangement I would have found for my night-time accomodations.  

Well, that's just what is on the agenda for this evening--pointing out one of the neighborhood denizens. I think they live in the sewers most of the time, coming out if there is a really bad storm, of course. I expect there are worse places to live--the sewers are fairly high in moisture, which really isn't a problem for our little buddies, their accoutirement is not negatively impacted, and the water, such as it is, beats the alternative, especially when one is relatively resistant to the various other creature life that may be carried along in the water. Mankind isn't as resistant as possumkind, I suspect, when it comes to dealing with bacteria and other life forms that may be found in our rainfall and waters of other description that may be found in our drainage sewers.  

Which brings up one additional question--while we are looking for people having resistance to covid-19 by having recovered from said infection, I wonder how such might be handled by our marsupial cousins? Could it be they would be more resistant to this somewhat major distraction than we? I wonder.  

Then, again, maybe a cold-water solution might be worth considering. We do eat fish, don't we? So, if we were to infect some of these little friends of ours with our disease of interest, and find they are not particularly offended with our little problem, maybe a serum made from the blood of this God-given food source would be worth considering. While we are searching for solutions, why exempt any of our food sources?  

How about it, CDC? How about it?

Chocolate chip cookies, and Charlie

Sitting here in our living room, my wife and I were finishing up our breakfast snack. Taking a bite our of a chocolate chip cookie she handed me, I looked at the remainder before putting it in my mouth, first mistake of the morning (and if you believe that, read on, friend!)

Still here? Well, thanks. In any case, looking at my remainder of the chocolate chip cookie (from Fresh Market, at that,) I took it over to Jennie and said “look at this.” Which she did, for about two seconds, before that look of recognition appeared on her face. “It’s Charlie!” She exclaimed--pointing out the nose, eye, mouth, and little colorations of brown on top of the golden coat of our son’s Lab. And, what she saw was exactly what I had seen a few moments earlier. We were in total agreement, for the first time all morning. Thank goodness for small favors.

I returned to my seat on the couch, looked out our living room window at the front lawn, and casually polopped the cookie into my mouth.

Now some things you just should do and some things you probably should not do. This was the latter. I, the sometime auspicious photographer, at that, ate Charlie. Nearly made me sick. If throwing him up would have done the least bit of good, that is exactly what I would have done. Poor Charlie.

I went to my bedroom and stretched out. Nothing seemed to help. I went back to the living room and told wife about my misdeed. She laughed. That did it. Guess I won’t be sick--at least not over this.  Plenty of other things to be sick over (the noon news should do the trick!)  Guess I’d better call Stash to be sure all is well with dear old Charlie! Anyone agree with me on this? (Yep, there goes one hand up in the back of the room.)

And thanks for that, my friend!

Covid-19 vs Us

 A friend of mine and I needed a place to sit down and discuss the news of the day, and we thought the City’s Carolina Bay outdoor area might suit our needs. We met there at 9 AM this morning and took a look at the trail around the bay before sitting down on the covered outdoor structure at the bay. We were able to observe the outdoor life: A couple of Canada Geese, a few turtles, and a number of other bird species provided a bit of entertainment as we had a brief discussion of our understanding of the problems of the day. We were the only two people there which, considering the time of day, was not unusual.

After we had enjoyed each other’s company for about an hour, a city truck drove up. The driver told us the structure, and, indeed, the Carolina Bay area itself was closed to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the City’s thinking the use of its facilities could promote the passing on of the disease. Whether this is the case, or not, it is a decision that was made by our city council, or so we suspect. We were not aware of the prohibition of using the structure we were having our coffee at until the city employee informed us of that fact. We thanked him and left. Hopefully no one who might have used the structure prior to the time we were there left anything that could cause either of us any difficulties. No telling if this might be the case, or not. Guess we will know in the next couple of weeks, though, and will pass any info we might be party to at that time on to anyone else who may have an interest. So, what can I tell you? Keep reading, and let us know how you are faring in today’s viral environment if you develop any problems.

Just out of curiosity, though, we wonder how many people have been tossed off the walk/run track at the park. It seems quite a few walkers are not maintaining anything like a 6 foot separation which, we are told, is something we should be doing to protect ourselves. Is this a problem? If not to them, then why were we considered as being in danger from our interaction? Neither of us has experienced any symptoms of a viral attack. So what might be considered as being the problem here?

Is it just possible that too much is being done to help us all stay healthy? Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter? If so, maybe a phone call to City Hall might be in order. In any case, do what you can to protect yourself, and to protect me in the mean time too.

And thanks for that, my friend!

Another Paul Harvey?

Today I thought I’d like to work up another entry for the blog. Guess I’ll start out by going to Textmaker, my current msword-like document creator, something that was available for purchase at my local megastore, Walmart. Which I quickly purchased, it being quite economical, as opposed, that is, to the rentals our previous great word processing programs are going to in order to suck as much money as possible out of the pockets of their users. I do hope this company can resist that temptation. If they don’t, I just guess I’ll have to look around some more.

For now, though, this program works fine: Now, for that Blog.  I’ve been writing blog articles for quite a few years, now, and I guess what I need to do more of is to come up with a way to find ideas for the blog that I can use for a source of popular topics that would draw people to read my writing. Paul Harvey used to come up with some pretty good ideas, and he put out a column for many years that I used to enjoy--before the internet he was on television and before that on the radio, and boy did he have us all hooked, listening till he finished up with, “and now you have ‘the rest of the story!’ ” One of the greatest of all time broadcasters.

So how, you say, is our “Mister Wannabe” going to attempt to join the ranks of a “Paul Harvey?” Damn Good Question.

 Such a good question that I am going to put off providing my answer for a few days. In the mean time, I am hopeful that a few of you readers might give me a bit of a literary push by providing the answer you would give if the question were posed to you.

How do you think a “Steve Geddes” should go about attempting to join the ranks of a "Paul Harvey?"

Well...?

Corona virus issue 1

I am titling this "Corona virus issue 1" since it discusses who just might be "hurting" the most.  Good luck to all. This thing is bigger than our politicians' capabilities to even try to respond. The problem I see developing is with politicians closing this and regulating that, the little people are suffering even more than they deserve. They are the ones who have the least ability to react to this dangerous time, and they are the ones who are suffering the most with loss of jobs, loss of the ability to pay their rent, to buy food, to do anything. The lowest rung of our society is the one being hurt the most. They need help to just survive. Who will help!!!! And HOW !!!! PLEASE, EVERYONE, ADDRESS THIS MOST REAL NEED !!!!  

That being said, what can be done?  Help me with this, if you can, by writing your newspapers, your politicians, your churches, your everyone who might be able to help in the least!  Do this, and do this today.  

The poor do not deserve to be turned out into the streets, do they?  They do not deserve an enforced diet of whatever, perhaps dandelion because it is edible and growing well these days, but dandelion what--root, leaves, with what kind of dressing?  Why dandelion?  Because they may be found growing at the side of the road, and the price may be all that our lower rung may be able to pay.  

And what if someone in this bottom rung actually catches a cold?  First thing will be to go to an emergency room for treatment, and hope they do not catch Covid-19 in the process, right?  

We all have problems because of this virus but, unless we are in that lowest rung, our problems are minor--until we, ourselves, catch the virus.  Then what is for us--whatever we have to look forward to at that point in time, what would be our situation if we were on that lowest rung of our county's financial society.  

If the hospitals are full, and we have nowhere to go, what will be our fate?  Sick, hungry, out in the weather?  Is that what anyone deserves?  Am I wrong here?  Who will take them in?  

City of Aiken Helps!

What’s happening today? Well, all things considered, it being just 3:30 PM, and wife and I are in our living room watching “The Virginian,” not much is going on here in Aiken. This AM though, we had a visit by a City-endorsed contractor to get our backyard forest trimmed just a bit (something we had looked at with a couple of other contractors but had not done due to the prices we were quoted.)

This is interesting. We had discussed getting the back yard bush hogged but had been given prices that were outlandish. The City had a contractor who gave a price to do the exact work we were looking to have done for a pretty reasonable price--$275, to wit, and when we found out about this, after a city inspector wrote us a letter saying we were out of compliance with our backyard maintenance, and mentioning the given price to get the work done, we were happy to be “out of compliance.” The work was done this morning, and the price was paid. The City was happy, the contractor was happy, and, best of all, we were happy too!

Well, wonder what else we might want to get done on our property that the City might be able to help with? Interesting.

Need work done? Our City might be able to help!

( “Covid-19?”)Copied from Morningbrain--what keeps me up nights.

3:56 is what my clock says--guess it’s time for a little Morningbrain session. Actually, that morningbrain has already struck. It is why I am up and in my livingroom and not lying in my bed in comfortable repose. And to what purpose has my dear old brain brought me to wakefulness? Well, would the term “covid” be something anyone else may relate to? How about “covid-19?”

Well, now that I have your attention, let me first point out the obvious and then ask one question.

It is obvious that there are people out there who have recovered from an attack from these little viri. These people now are relatively free to live their lives and go about their days with a bit more confidence in their abilities to win should they be attacked again by these viri, and why not--wouldn’t you feel more confident than the average one of us who has not had these individuals’ opportunities to confront the disease and win? Of course you would.

That being said, let me now propose a little swap--a “tit for tat,” so to speak, or, more specifically, a pint for pint.

If the powers that be, and I mean scientific powers that be, not political ones, if those scientific powers that be can determine if this proposal would have the least bit of merit, I would like to propose a swap of one pint of my blood for a pint of blood from one of our successful covid-19 recovered battlers, that pint to be used for a half-dozen of the organizations deemed most likely to have the expertise to take a sample of that blood from that successful combattant and determine what about that combatant made them succeed in their battle with the little buggers. Surely there will be something, something about their blood that just might be used to provide protection for you and me, and, if my hope is correct, that organization just may be able to produce what is needed to give you and me the protection we might need to have should we be attacked.

A worthwhile thought, you say? Well--what to do now? Guess that is obvious, too.   Find that person, collect that pint, replace it with my donation, and let the scientists begin their examinations, determinations, and eliminations of our problems-to-be.

Two pints of blood should do it--shouldn’t it? You tell me. Better yet, tell your congressman. They are the ones who can take this idea and run with it. And, the sooner they do, the better.

SVG 3/23/2020

Another Rainy Day

Well, looks like today will be a bit drippy. Not a problem, probably a good thing, this being a little less that one week from the first day of Spring, 2020! Need the rain to give the plants the boost they need in the near future. Could be a good Spring, maybe even a good Summer. I sure hope so, in any case.

I have a little grow starter set up in the garage. Bought it about a year ago, and started to start it a couple of months ago, then forgot about it. Need to start it, for real, real soon, though--if it is to be of use to we Geddi this mid spring and summer, which is when we could have a crop or so of whatever (I really don’t know!) Tomatos? Squash? TGreens? YES! Yes! yes! Or, perhaps, yes!, Yes!, YES! In any case, that is my hope. Now if I can only get my Lazy B up outta this chair and into my backyard, I just may turn my thinking into our eating. Or so I hope. Check with me in about a month, OK?

Whoever said “Hope springs eternal from the human breast,” really knew what he or she was talking about!

A little late for Morningbrain--but, what the Hey!

Creatures and UFOs

Ever wonder at your creaturehood? No, not the creatures in your neighborhood, but yourself as a creature on this planet. And, for that matter, ever wonder about UFOs? It wasn’t all that long ago that UFOs (and that’s “U,” “F,” “Os” for anyone who might be wondering at this point) were a frequent visitor to our skies, or so it would seem. Reports were seen on our televisions, and in the newspapers, and, so far, if anything definitive was discovered about the flying objects behind these sightings, I, for one, am unaware of just what they might have been (or are, for that matter.) These “unidentified flying objects” remain unidentified--to me, if to no one else. Which is a bit bothersome to my brain this morning, if not every morning.

But, beginning with those creatures.... We are the top of the line here on our planet, if not everywhere in this universe of ours, and that is something. While some other animals may be said to use tools, their use seems to be limited to that of using a stick to get something to eat out of an ant or termite village--not like tools we utilize in our daily lives. Spoons, hammers, washing machines, automobiles, computers, and other things and materials, like explosives and gasoline, are not things we would find being used by any other of the creatures that share this earth with mankind. We are the tool makers and users on this planet. Why no others can claim this distinction may be disturbing to most people. The answer to this “why” that I would propose is it is “we” who are the reason for this observation, and a bloodthirsty “we,” at that.

As we were developing into the we that we are, other similar creatures may have been moving along the pathways we were travelling. Who can say why they are not living down the road from us today? We can say, I think, if we are willing to put ourselves in the places we once were in and do what we once did, that we actively eliminated our competitors. Those that are still with us pose no ultimate threat to mankind and his rule over the planet. Birds seem to do pretty well, in spite of having not developed a dependency of having and using tools. Other animals also do well--lions for their size as well as most other carnivores seem to do well in spite of not having tools like we use. Sharks in the sea seem to do quite well, as do the dolphins and whales. None of the animals that remain on planet earth could be said as having posed an existential threat to mankind--which is why they still are alive today (if not, exactly, alive and well.)

And yes, it is my contention that it is the “we,” and the bloodthirsty “we,” at that, that is the reason that most, if not all, of our major competitors of the past are no longer with us. We killed them.

Creatures on this earth are just that--creatures. We are the ruling ones, though, without question.

As to those UFO’s--what do you suppose that was all about? Well, considering the fact that the nearest planet to us that may be considered “earth-like” is light years away from us, how do you suppose those UFO’s got here? A good question, you say? Well, if you didn’t say this, I’d like to know what you were thinking about my question here. A light year being something travelling at the speed of light--the fastest thing I can think of--is something that might travel a long way in a year’s time, a very long way. Again, how did the UFO’s of the past get here?

I have no answers here. Maybe someone else does. Care to share?

And “answers” do not include “suppositions.”

OK?

Consider this: If we, the ruling creatures on our planet, are just that because any and all other creatures that may at one time have been considered our competitors were destroyed by their competition, us, why has the same thing not happened to us? Could it be the answer lies in the distance any other competitors might have to travel to get here to destroy us and eliminate us as competitors to those creatures? Well, if there is an answer, this might be it.

If we were to want to find out what might be on a similar planet to ours, a planet that we may have discovered light years away, how might we go there to “take a look?”

Lacking any other way, if we were to start blasting into space tons of the material we use to shoot our rockets into space and stockpile this material in an orbiting platform above us, could we not use this material to shoot a “living compartment” our “Livcom,” to one of those closest planets at one of our nearest stars to investigate what or who might be sending the UFOs to us? I guess we could. Assuming problems that would preclude this being done were solved--say we actually unified all countries of the world under a single political system--could this be done? Sure it could. If we all decided (or if our leaders decided, depending on what kind of unification we had,) i.e., decided this was in our best interests. And, were this the case, we could set up our “Livcom,” with an attachment to a freight train of fuel to use to send our crew to the star we were headed for. As we used up our fuel, we could cut the containers loose, one at a time, continuing our quest a little lighter while going a little faster. And, if we wanted to get back to old Sol, we would have to carry, at least twice as much fuel as we would have needed to get where we were going. Could continue on with the details here, but will let you use your own imaginations here (tired of typing.)

Arriving at our destination would allow us to be a “UFO” there. Unless, of course, they already had mastered space travel and didn’t particularly appreciate the competition. Guess they could put us in one of their zoos. Which, unless they determined breeding us might be useful to them, would be the end of that, in a matter of a few years, in any case.

Well, guess that is that. Like I said, if anyone were to wish to extrapolate this little bit of thinking, I guess that anyone could join the ranks of quite a few writers (T.C., you there?) who use this kind of thinking in their work. SciFi, anyone? Nothing wrong with that. Do you remember a book called “1984?” Well, I do (and you can Google that , if you wish) and at the time it was written, it was definitely a SciFi novel. Luckily, things did not play out the way its writer envisioned things playing out, and we are where we are today, instead of where we might have been. Thank goodness for that.  Like to try something different?  How about
           https://stephenvgeddes.blogspot.com/2011/09/morningbrain-first-august-2009.html

Tired of this? Well, I am. Thanks for reading--back soon?  I hope!

Ciao,

              Steve

Thinkers needed!

Good Morning breakfast clubbers, we’re glad to see you! Well, If you remember that, you’re not exactly a youngster, are you. No matter. Whoever might be reading this is top-notch in my book--older, younger, no matter, as long as you are one thing--a THINKER. And, if you meet this criterion, you know why I think that is the one most important thing for all Americans today.

And why is that? Well, we have an election coming up this year, an important one at that. And who do you suppose will win out in that election? Well, if you are one of the thinkers, you will also be something else: You’ll be a VOTER! And you know why. Who do you want to have making selections for our next group of congressmen, and a third of our next group of senators, and our president? Well, if you think the opinions of those “followers” are more important that the opinions of the thinking public (YOU, my friend,) then there is no reason for you to vote. If you agree with me, though, that a bit of thought is what is needed before a ballot is prepared, then you will vote, and your vote will provide us with who we need in DC to protect this nation of ours, and to do so better than those who are there today. We need a Congress and president who knows what Mr. Smith knew (if you don’t know what I mean by that, see if you can rent a copy of an old film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” and watch it, and you will see what I mean and a representation of the kind of people we need in Washington.)  A whole new group of “Mr.’s” and/or “Ms.’s”, for that matter, are definitely needed, and needed across the board!

Too many (not all, of course, but too many) of those who are currently there are there working diligently for whom? Well, for themselves, that’s who. That was more than evident to everyone who watched the impeachment hearings and trial. How many people in those rooms voted as their consciences would have had them vote? Not many, I’m sure. The issue that was being considered was not voted on. What was voted on was “what is your political party?” And the results of those votes, first in the House and then in the Senate were totally predictable. And the determination from the whole process was bogus. Should DT have been impeached (he was, by the way)? Should DT have been convicted and removed from office (he was not)? What were the facts in both cases? Facts didn’t matter. Which is why the Senate refused to hear all witnesses to the supposed problem. All that mattered in the votes seen in both cases was the political party of the voters. No hearings were needed, folks. We knew from the beginning what the outcome was going to be.

And did the voters in the two hearings do their jobs? Some did, we can be sure, but many, or most, just voted their party line. Which was a sham, and the result was bogus, and would have been bogus regardless of which way it went.

We need a new Congress. We need one that will do its job. And that job would have resulted in a much different result than what we saw. It would either have been a resounding acquittal, or conviction of the President. None of this vote for the party would have been the least bit acceptable. We need a new Congress--We need a Congress of Mr. and/or Ms. Smiths. Had we had that, we would either have had a convicted and removed Mr. Trump or a totally exonerated one, one that did not even require a “trial” by the Senate.

Think about that. (If you don’t, or can’t, then we know who you are, and you are not someone who this note was written to.)

Ciao

  SVG

Another day, just another day.

Good grief Charlie Brown--another morning?  More stuff for the in-file, I guess.  Oh, well, that's just what I'm thinking this morning.  It's another Sunday, and that means we will get up and give church a passing thought and do no more in this area until Trinity in Augusta begins its broadcast, which has been our weekly dose of for-sure religion for a long time now. 

I keep telling myself I will be going back to the church of my youth any day now, but so far that just has not happened.  No problem with the church--it's just that every day is just another day.  They all start out the same and proceed for the most part in the same manner and end up just as almost all days before in the recent past have ended up.  A good thing?  Sometime yes, sometime, well, can't really say.  In any case, other than that day when I awoke to get a drink of water and ended up in the Sleep Inn fearfully wondering what might come next, every day has been pretty much a repeat of many days before in this life of the Geddes Mimosa Circle grandparents.  (How's that for a personal reminder of what seems to be our fate?)

And while things are not all that bad, they are not all that fantastic, either.  They just are what they are. 

The question is, what to do next?  Well, I guess we could travel a bit--that's what seems to be the solution for many of us these days.  For me, though, I think why?  I don't really care--I've seen all the world I need to see, and nothing is really worth it.  Travel, travel, travel.  Fun for old folks, I guess.  For me, though, it's "why bother?"

Well, there is that second cup of coffee awaiting in the kitchen, and the time keeps on changing (it's going on 7 AM.)  Seems like it was just 5:30, wasn't it?  Dark outside, coffee water heating up while I walk out to get the morning paper, everyone in bed but yours truly?  Yep--a little late, but until the Sunday Morning confusion begins, I guess I can still claim a little morningbrain time, or so I hope.

So here comes Tobi.  Back out front for a couple of minutes.  Back in.  More light outside (why, where does that keep coming from?) 

Back to the couch and this.  What was that line--"Make the world go away?"

Good Grief.  Another day.

Ciao.

Newspapers are nice, but Blogs can be better!

If you are in need of knowing what might be going on in your world--and your world encompasses the Aiken, South Carolina area (and then some,) you certainly should subscribe to the AikenStandard. Whenever something might happen from the Savannah River to the North branch of the Edisto or from Edgefield to Williston, for that matter (to cover the cross direction,) you just might, again, find the AikenStandard writer happily settled on his, or her, for that matter, “beat” doing what they do best bringing the news to you on a daily, or maybe even more often if you are a digital subscriber, basis. That, my friend, is one thing I know and like about our local “traditional press.”

If, though, you happen to write just a bit, and you don’t necessarily like getting up every morning in the early AM to get to the office to begin your daily travail, you just might appreciate knowing a bit about “Blogger,” which, if you are reading this little bit of typing, is exactly where you are at this moment.

Blogger is an internet program, presented by Google, that gives a writer a place to present his or her ideas that may be accessed by the general public. It is free, secure (as far as I can tell,) and can be used to display your work for who knows how long. So far I have been using it since 2011--nine years--with no known issues. And, I have had quite a few views (depending on my advertizing of certain presentations) and have had no difficulties. So, if you have an interest, all you have to do is go to Blogger’s site and follow the instructions you find there.

And that site? Well, if you really think you would like to set up an account, (a "WebLog", at that,) try https://support.google.com/blogger/ . This should be enough to get you started. And, the price is right (unlike some sites that some find useful, but that charge for their services.) How google makes their cut here is uncertain to me, but I’m sure they get something out of providing the service. I am also certain that quite a few people have read what I have published on their site--over 500 views on my initial article, which isn’t bad since I don’t do much advertizing (all I’ve done, for the most part, is mentioned various articles on Facebook.)

In any case, if you don’t find Google provides what you need, just enter “blog” into your search box and see what comes up. What works for me may not be what you want. Plenty there, if that’s what you want to do. (And, I understand, some people make a good bit of money off of their blogs--not me, though.) (So far, anyway--Geesh!)

Things may change, but some things?

This morning I was looking for something in the back of one of “my” closets, and I came across a strip of metal that was a piece of a small kit I received one Christmas. Anyone remember those “erector sets” that used to be a popular item in those “letters to Santa?” Well, most of my set has long since disappeared, all but that one piece, that is. And this brought to mind one thing that happened at a meeting of boy scouts at my church one Monday evening.

My friend in scouting, Andy Smith, would remember the days when his dad took the helm and led us. Mr. Smith, our Scoutmaster and a Southern Bell technician, I believe, was someone who it was easy to follow. He didn’t make many demands on us scouts, and he always seemed to enjoy what we were doing. This morning I remember how, one time, I seemed to get on his nerves, though.

Seems one time Mr. Smith said something that hit my early Junior High School brain just the way he hadn’t meant it. I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t really help myself, and I began to snicker, under my breath at first, but, eventually, loud enough for Mr. Smith to hear it. His comment: Geddes, what are you laughing at? I didn’t answer--just kept on trying to squelch my snickering.

Again, Scoutmaster Smith asks, “Geddes, what are you laughing at?” Still no answer from Geddes.

At this point, Mr. Smith reviews his own thoughts and what he had shared with the group. His conclusion? “Geddes, you have a dirty mind!” Which didn’t stop the snickering one bit.

Now, I don’t remember just what brought on my amusement, or why I couldn’t stop my snickering those many years ago, but one thought came to mind this morning when I found that item in my closet.

Viagra?

Hmmmm.... Do you suppose Mr. Smith might have been right?

Suicide your game?

If you are like me, you haven't considered suicide, ever.  And that is a good thing.  BUT, all people cannot say this.  I have friends who cannot say this--I know this from talking with them.  I also have friends who I can no longer talk to because they thought about it and decided suicide was a good thing for themselves and they are no longer with us, here in the world of the living, that is:  Mike, definitely; Richard, possibly; and, Margaret (or so I think) too.

Today I was at Aiken Opthalmology on the Aiken/Augusta highway, and, while waiting on my appointment, I saw an article in one of their magazines about Suicide.  The article, touted on "Time" ('s) cover as "Solving Suicide," (by Mandy Oaklander,) was in the November 4, 2019 edition of the magazine.  I had the time (I was a bit early and, as we all know, Docs try to leave plenty of time for each appointment in case plenty of time turns out to be needed.)  In my case, all went well with the Doc, and I was able to read the article, three pages or so.  Which was a good thing.

Too late for my friends, each of whom might be with us today if someone (myself, perhaps) had talked with them at just the right time to give them just a bit of hope for the future.  It seems it doesn't always take all that much, just a bit of help in a time of need, a time when a friend doesn't even know just a little bit of encouragement might be needed.

It seems avoidance of that act of suicide can occur if just the right bit of thinking is injected into the process at just the right time. That injection can come from a talk with a professional, a brief phone conversation, or something as simple as a greeting card or note from a friend.  The trick is to have just a little bit of encouragement when that little bit might be needed.

And when might that be?  No one knows.  What is known, though, is it doesn't take much.  This article is one worth reading--I'm glad I had the time in my Doc's office.

Take a look.  You might be able to save a life.  (I might have been able to save several.)


The article is currently available on line at:  https://time.com/5709368/how-to-solve-suicide/

And that's it.  C'est ca, hepsi tamam!

Steve

Presidential discretion or overreach?

                 He can shoot someone, right?

As for our President's cutting back on our National Parks to allow for his giveaway plans to his buds in large industry, drilling for oil in our national parks, for example, this practice needs to be terminated and so done in such a manner that it is made clear and made clear to all involved. Trump does not own our National Parks, and Trump cannot do whatever he wants with them. 

Same thing goes for our adjoining oceans and his plans to permit drilling in places where our state governments have prevented drilling in the past. Trump doesn't own this property and Trump cannot dictate how these properties are used. Congress needs to make this clear to the President. Both the House AND the Senate need to point this out to the President in no uncertain terms. If Republican representatives think the President should be able to degrade or downgrade the people's properties, then these legislators need to be given a vacation at the very next election when they are required to run. I don't care if Democrats replace them or Independents or other Republicans. If our current representation is not willing to protect the people of our nation from a President who thinks he is able to do whatever he wants with our American treasures, then We the People need to take issue with those legislators who are willing to throw away our country's assets to a President who thinks he has capabilities greater than those which the constitution gives him. 

He started doing this shortly after he was elected when he began to allow drillers to discharge poorly treated discharges to ravines or gullies leading to streams that were protected by EPA under clean water regulations and congress did nothing. With that beginning, he continues to try to take greater and greater liberties with his control over the country. It is time to bring this kind of activity to a roaring halt. And it is the Congress that will have to do this.

Any questions? 

Political rain

Well, what is new. My day started about 2 hours ago when Tobijuan let me know it was time to water the lawn. My job? Let him out. His job? Well, guess I can say, “the usual.” We both finished our work in record time and returned to where we usually find ourselves at this time. He to sleep, me to muse. Geesh! 2 hours of “musing” is just too much. Back to this (what B. Rain seems to do best at this time of day as you probably well know.)

Politics reigneth, or so it seems. The morning AikenStandard assaults me with its front page header, “Senate rejects witnesses in Trump trial, ensuring acquittal.” Which was expected, I guess, if not desired by many, expected, though, by most voters. Guess the Senate will have to pay for this decision in November. If I am not wrong here, November will bring their payback, in any case. Personally, I don’t hate the guy. I just think I understand him better than these great “Legislators” do. A sociopath does what a sociopath does. That is, he takes care of himself, first, regardless of what that might do to the country. And the Senate seems to feel their help is necessary. Well, we’ll have to see how that goes Mr. Graham, Mr. Mitchell, et. al.? We’ll see how that goes for you, too. Any South Carolineans politically inclined? This could be your time to succeed. Same goes for you Kentuckians. Politics can be good, if you time your moves well. These two guys just hacked a lot of folks off. What do you suppose that will mean for them?

Guess we’ll have to wait and see. Or, better yet, we could “work and see,” right? Work is what gets the job done if you time your efforts right, and now just may be a very good start for someone. In South Carolina there are more than just a few who have, in the past, given this some thought.

Could be my time to do something too.  You think you might want to run in South Carolina?  Could you use a few volunteers at your side?  Give me a call--I just might know a few.  Mr Graham had my vote for many years.  His alliance with the Sociopath in the Whitehouse has changed that, though.  Unfortunate.  Could be my political side might be something just the right Democrat might be able to use to his or her advantage.  This could be our year to change things for the better here in one of our original 13 states.  A major one at that.

In any case, we’ll see.  First thing we will need will be a candidate.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Any volunteers?

Memories--we all have them--a good thing, no?

Yesterday, Jennie and I were priviledged to be able to share our dinner time with three old friends of miue (“old friends?” have I any other kind? Well, of course, but....) Well, moving on, here I am in my bed, for a change, with my two bed partners ignoring, or pretending to ignore me and what I’m doing. Which is OK--it is Morningbrain time, after all, and this is what I do when I wake up and find I need something to do and the time is right. But what am I doing talking about being in bed? Back to those “old friends,” OK?

Judy, David, Barry, Jennie, and I, at Romas, OK with you, I hope? Good friends, good food, a good time of the day--everything I always need, you see. So here goes.

First, just a few things I need to remember. Really, people. There is Ms. McMillian, (change that is to are) Mrs. Carr, Ms. Verenes, and Ms. Bobo, at least that’s it for this time and place, and those ladies were all English teachers and were, three out of four, at least, favorite teachers of mine from my past. Ms. Mcmillian started things off for me and gave me an enjoyment of the subject that remains mine today. Mrs. Carr, my friend Steve’s relative, at that, gave me that book, “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,” for which I owe her my love of the subject and my wish to do one of my own. Ms. Verenes provided a reminder of how the words are to go together, and I remember her for two things, first comes the diagrams on the blackboard showing how a sentence is put together, and second is that time when dad and I stopped at a large house at the side of the road while we were looking for a certain address to deliver a thanksgiving meal to and found it was Ms. Verenes house and she gave me a pleasant memory while also giving us directions to find the house in question. And finally was Ms. Bobo, respected, sometime hated last teacher of the subject who gave me my only “D” and also my only “F” in the subject, why, I can’t really say. Guess there was something about me she just didn’t like. Oh. well, it didn’t come up till late in the year, my Senior year, and had no lasting effect on me, so that’s all I need to remember or to say. Excepting one thing which I will save for later.

Back to Romas, and to good times. The three people Jennie and I found ourselves with over dinner were three good people anyone might find themselves with most any time. I suspect my new years day meeting with Judy had the most to do with our dinner arrangements as anything. You see, Judy, like me, enjoys an occasional walk in the woods, Aiken’s Hitchcock woods, at that, and we almost passed without a word, which is what would have happened had she not queried, “Steve” at almost the last moment, giving us both the opportunity to stop, smile, and discuss why we were where we were at that time. Which was more than just fine. Seems I am able to pass by most anyone when I’m thinking about something and not even see them. Well, that didn’t matter. Judy saw, Judy said, and we both smiled.

In any case, that started the wheels turning that left us both sitting across a table at a nice restaurant enjoying each others company as well as the company of several other friends who we were fortunate enough to be able to call our own friends for one reason or another. Jennie, of course, was the odd “man” out in this group, but she was well able to take care of that and contribute to the conversation meaningfully, which made for a most enjoyable evening for all, I’m sure. The food was good, the conversation was good, and all went away with another good memory of another time worth remembering.

Barry and I had one thing we chose to discuss, and that was our time in scouts together. One trip in particular was brought up (really two, though) and the Edisto river started us off. That was the highlight of my Explorer scouting carreer, and it was something that Barry, too, remembered well. Barry brought up a bend in the river and a rather well-mannered water moccasin that we both had seen there. Having written about the very thing, I passed on my memories quite well, I think, and all now share in how my dad and I heard things differently. “Snake, stay in the grass” and “Snake, stay outta the grass” make sense to you? Well, it does to everyone at that table, at least today it should, and a good laugh was had by all, or so it seems! Dad and I fought over where we were going as we went through that bend in the river and the memory is still fresh. Hope the snake enjoyed it as much as we did.

In any case, none of us would have been able to predict that dinner at Romas or the laughter that ensued, I’m sure. The snake story reminded us of another, one where mosquitos were a major culprit, and Barry was able to correct me in my enumeration of the bites he got on that second trip. Seems jungle hammocks work quite well so long as one doesn’t roll over and leave one’s arm pushed up against one’s mosquito netting, Fifty bites sound like a good number? Have to ask Barry!

Oh, well, as they say, a good time was had by all. (And that doesn’t even count the mosquitos and the good time they had!)

So much for my memories, and Barry’s, and now, Judy’s, Jennie’s, and David’s too. Never thought dinner at Romas would be so much fun! And now for that “one thing” which I was to “save for later.”

It seems that last English teacher of mine was to get a “remembrance” she didn’t quite appreciate. You see, when I went off to Georgia Tech, one thing I took with me was a pretty good standardized test score that was meaning to summarize my abilities in the subject, that subject being English, and one thing Georgia Tech did with that summary was to exempt me from the need to participate in their fine English training courses while I was a student with them.

I was counseled on this decision of theirs and was asked one question--“Is there anyone at your high school you think would appreciate knowing about our decision on this?” Boy, was there!

When Ms. Bobo received that notification, she took it to our Principal, Mr. J. O. Willis, who, in addition to being the Principal at Aiken High was also a volunteer piano player in the High School Sunday School class at St. John’s United Methodist Church. Which, coincidentally, was also my Sunday School class. Mr. Willis passed on to my dad the comment he made to Ms. Bobo when she brought him the notification of my exemption to the English classes at Ga. Tech., with her question, “should I do anything about this?” His comment? “I think you’ve already done more than enough,” Dad could do little but share a laugh with Mr. Willis at that point. And that is, as Paul Harvey might have said, “the rest of the story.”

Till later,

Steve

Presidents come and (hopefully) go

When Donald Trump calls the leader of the opposition party, “Crazy Nancy,” and when he throws a similar epithet at Adam Schiff, the leader of the committee who brought impeachment charges against him, what does he think he is doing? Calling the leadership of the opposition in congress unsavory names is something a junior high student might do, but an American President?

How long should we give this guy to man up and become the leader he needs to be. He has been there almost three years now, and still he comes up with this baloney?

Really now. When does supporting the guy become something most reasonable people would begin to consider being an unreasonable response to his childishness?

Did we ever have a president who this guy might be said to be following on to? Not in my memory. He is, supposedly, intelligent, but, if that is indeed right, why does it not show through in his official comments? He’s more of a kid than anything, or, at the most, a fraternity pledge just trying to fit in, and is this someone we can afford to have as our national leader? Again? I think not.

One time is one time too many. It’s hard to believe some think this guy should be reelected.

Really hard. Guess some just do not think on a plane with some others of us. While I can see some who voted for him because they thought his opposition just was not what we needed--for whatever their reasons might have been. But, that being the case, how do those same people continue to think that was a really great decision. If hating Hillary was a reason one might have had, is that a good reason to like Trump? The two thoughts do not have to coexist.

And, if that is where you might find yourself, remember: The new year will bring on a new choice. Just because you voted for Donald Trump last time should not automatically bring on a need to vote for him a second time. I guess the opposition is who will need to make a few good choices here--choices that make sense to Trump voters who have come to see him as a good choice when Hillary was the other option, but not so good when someone else is the opponent. America can come through this a winner, after all. Next year, in any case.

Morningbrain, And a gift from my Dad

Well, it is 6:30, just a bit late for morningbrain, but that is because I ignored its call just a bit earlier--5:30 or so--when it began as I stumbled out the door and across the front lawn to field the paper which our carrier thoughtfully provided around 5 AM if she (I think) was on schedule as has been her wont for the past year or so. In any case, that being done, Tobi and I returned to our places alongside Jennie--he to return to sleep, and me to engage in my usual, if a bit later than usual, morningbrain activity.

That’s just how it works, although a bit later than usual, as I said, today. In any case, it’s still quite dark out, something that will begin to change pretty soon, though. And mb and I are slowly coming together with a few thoughts. (Have to laugh at myself here--when doing my first edit, I thought I had made a mistake. Not so, though, as mb well knows,)

First up is that business of those end days, starting with my dad.

When he passed on, I was there, but just in the beginning. One thing he did while I was there was to begin moving his arms, in almost a swimming nature. Which was something I did not understand. Nor did the three others who were there with me. In any case, if they, Leo, Walt, and my old scouting friend, had understood, they did not pass on any advice. I will pass on just a bit, since learning was accomplished, thanks to a bit of recollection about what Dad was wanting. A touch was all, a touch which I did not give. Something that I regret but need never regret again since it was the last thing I learned from him. His last gift to me.

And thanks to that learning, when Uncle Marshall was passing, and when he, like Dad, reached out, I was there and I took that hand and, hopefully, provided what uncle wanted, a small thing, a touch. He calmed immediately when I took his hand, and when I passed it on to another shortly thereafter. Which, I suspect was a good thing for us all. It was just a short time later that he left us--peacefully, it seemed. Something that may not have occurred, if Dad had not taught me what he did teach me as he was passing.

Just one more thing to thank him for, the next time I see him.

There. Morningbrain struck, and morningbrain did its job.

Thanks, mb.