I'm doubly down

I'm so down, down, down.  First, I fell --yes again.  I was at this little trailer which  houses an inspection station when my feet slipped and I crashed down on my back and my head hit and bounced.  I could not get up; thankfully, Jason  had  gone with me and he finally heard my calls and helped  me get up.  I didn't break any bones but I re-injured a shoulder and am generally banged up..

That's only part of the reason I feel so down.  I  checked the R. W. Norton oral history web site  and found all the images and part  of my naval history has disappeared.  They are listed -- my two discharges, my notice of separation, the Astoria newspaper and  my two pictures -- but they no longer exist.  It wouldn't be so bad but all those items were displaced or lost.

Obama vacations while nation is in danger

Obama and his family will enjoy a vacation in Hawaii costing taxpayers four million dollars while he tries to push America over a "fiscal cliff.:"  What other president has lived so lavishly and costly to us while claiming to be for soaking the rich?  It is not the real rich such as the Waltons, George Soros and Warren Buffet who will be hurt by his "make the rich pay their fair  share"  dictum; they employ accountants and attorneys to take advantage of every loophole ad deduction to keep their tax rates lower than that of person who earns barely enough to live after paying taxes..

A person making $200,000 a year is not rich today, especially  if living in a city and state with high taxes such as New Jersey and New York. A person making that kind of money in Texas or Florida can live comfortably but is far from what most of us would designate as rich.  Yet, these are the people Obama insists on punishing plus scorning them to make points with takers.  Folks, we had a chance to maybe save this nation and we threw it away.  Of course, an organization called "Skewed Polls" has exposed many examples of fraud and outright vote theft to support its claim that Obama stole the election. How could Obama receive more votes in some districts than were eligible voters?  All votes went to Obama.

Pleasant memories of baseball years

What brought this to mind, I have no idea, but I am  remembering the glory days of the Big Eight semi-pro baseball league that included as members towns mostly in Northwest Louisiana. During the latter half of the l950's and early l960's the Big Eight was not only a sports phenomenom but  a social and economic player.

Teams were fielded by Ruston, Minden, Homer, Bernice, Farmerville, Dubach, Bastrop and Springhill. Games were played under lights three times a  week -- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Local players were favored, with a restriction on the number of players from colleges.  As best as I recall former professionals could play if they had been out of baseball for l0 or more years.  I believe a team was allowed only one qualified professional.  I remember Bernice had a pitcher who was still outstanding after l0 years. Homer never fielded a player classified as a former professional.

We got players from SMU, Baylor, Centenary, Louisiana Tech, Magnolia, Texas A&M - -but our main connection was with LSU in Baton Rouge.  One reason for that is that two of our locals plsyed for LSU. I remember that one season we had three first team LSU football players and the star of the basketball team.

We were still recovering from WWII and people seemed starved for entertainment; even the bank president was a regular attender  at home games.  A group of girls, dressed as if going on an important date, would arrive shortly before the game began, make their appearance, and occupy a box behind home plate.  Since I was official scorekeeper and newspaper editor, I attended all away games, usually with a carload of passengers.  I remember being accompanied by five girls to a game in Bastrop, 70 miles away, and got a round of applause for catching a foul ball headed towards the girls.  The Big Eight continued important for several years, with the coming of television probably contributing to its decline  in importance.

Several players went on to successful professional careers in sports.  Perhaps the spectacular play of "Johnny Football" reminds me of a l7-year-old freshman left-handed  pitcher from Texas A&;M.  who played for Homer. He struck out batter after batter, sending them down swinging.  He didn't like to do the
work necessary to stay in shape and wasn't as effective his sophomore year. I don't know what happened to him.

This is the first time in many, many years that I have thought about the Big Eight; the memories are all pleasant.

Young workers being robbed

Young adults are being robbed but, apparently, they aren't smart enough to understand it or they wouldn't have voted for Obama again.

Medical insurance companies set rates based on risk.  I once wrote policies on young males that had only a hundred dollar deductible and cost only 35 dollars a month.  Young men  between 18 and 35 seldom need a doctor or hospitalization, but check  out rates and coverages now. And it is going to be worse under Obamacare as rates will be set to subsidize elderly so their rates will be lower.

Frankly, as one of the elderly, I am fed up with what amounts to punishment of the young who are employed. Of course. we know  of many healthy young men and women who  choose not to work, choosing to be one of the  "takers" instead of the producers.  All workers contribute payroll taxes to support retired and disabled through social security,  We elders paid into social security our working lives and feel justified in receiving social security and medicare benefits.  The difference now is that workers pay but face a future with no guarantee of ever getting benefits.

No, I do not have an instant miraculous solution, but I wish  our political leaders would have the courage to admit the problem and try to alleviate it if a solution is unlikely.

I sorta screw up but who cares

I went by the church office to leave a contribution from the Vision class to be included in the gift of appreciation to Nikki,  who is retiring after years of service in the church office.  The door was locked and the office appeared dark.  I knocked on the door and someone came and opened it.  I immediately said "this is from the Vision class in appreciation to Nikki " --then I saw it was Nikki who had opened the door. We were both a bit embarrassed only to enjoy a laugh.





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Where has the year gone?

Wow, has this year sped by or what.  My car has a November inspection sticker and I feel sure I  had it inspected only two months ago.  We've one hectic,  wild spending, bill paying month left.  I know there's going to be  a 2013 because I have received 17 calendars from  organizations seeking donations.  What can I do with all those calendars?  Some are just  too beautiful to throw away but they are headed for recycling. 

In addition to monthly bills -- utilities, credit cart etc., December 31 is the deadline to pay property taxes for the city and parish.  Add to those bills property insurance for the coming year and  some joy goes out of the Christmas season, which brings its own share of bills.

Let's tell ourselves that some joy is ahead as the president and Congress arrive at a sensible solution to the country's financial troubles.  Yeah, count on it; just don't bet your house.

Courage needed to solve economic problems

                Don't take funds from you;
                Don't take funds from me;
                Take funds from the man behind the tree.

Folks, it's not going to work that way; cuts in spending have to come from the places that get the funds, and that can include social security, medicare, medicaid, welfare and maybe food stamps and unemployment insurance. (Also, no more handouts called stimulus.)

This country is spending much more than it takes in.   Everyone agrees that we need more jobs and an improved economy which, no doubt, would bring more money into the treasury.  Jobs must come from the private sector, from companies willing to take risks.  The president and Congress seem bent on passing bills that discourage industrial expansion and the creation of jobs.  Punitive taxation and regulations are just opposite the policy we need to get the economy going.  An example is the president's stated goal to eliminate the development and use of our fossil fuels.  This is beyond stupid and smells of the president's hatred of certain industries and his love of others.

An answer to our problems is not hard to find, but determination and courage to take the required actions has been lacking.  --And time is short.