A fish story

Grandson Kyle caught his first fish over the weekend.  His pleasure was dampened somewhat by a rain downpour which shortened the Cub Scout camp out.

I told him I was reminded of my first fish.  We were enjoying a rare family outing on the Fourth of July, spending the day on Bayou Dorcheat. I was guided by an older cousin who was a veteran of many fishing trips. When my cork went under and I felt a tug I yanked, the fish came flying out of the water over my head and into a tree. I don't remember getting it down but obviously we did because I caught more fish.   Over the years, I often fished at that spot, which was occupied by fish who could eat all the bait off  while avoiding the hook.

That particular day when we were called to lunch, I baited a hook with a fish head, stuck the end of the pole in the bank, and left.  I returned  about 30 minutes later to find my pole bent toward the water and the line tight.  I pulled against a heavy weight and landed not a fish but a moccasin snake.

Obamacare -- hell is ahead

As I write this the stock market is dropping and the nation is headed to a shutdown of government.  This is just an early effect of Obamacare, which threatens to cause untold misery as millions lose their jobs or at best work part-time.

Investors Business Daily has a list of more than 300 companies which have either laid off workers or reduced their hours or both.  Millions of people who earned barely enough to live will have the impossible task of living on even less plus paying high costs of health insurance or  a fine.

A poll by Pepperdine has 63 per cent wanting a one-year delay while 27 per cent don't care if a delay does not happen.  Obama and the Democrats are committed against a delay, planning to grant waivers to favored group such as labor unions. For much of the middle class hell is ahead. 

Think what this will do to the economy.   Millions have been out of work for many months and cannot get jobs because jobs are not out there. Obamacare on top of this could be more than the country can stand.

What dishonor Congress has done

Although American people feel disgust, fear and even hatred of much of the evils of Abamacare, they have the most anger at Congress for giving themselves subsidies and protection from the pain of Abamacare.  How in hell could an honorable person do such a thing?  The answer is that Congress is not composed of decent people.

Oh, I'll concede that some members are on the whole good people and want the best for the public they are committed to serve.  Some though become arrogant shortly after taking office.  They lie in the bed with lobbyists; they punish unfairly those who disagree with them, and bribery becomes a way of life.

We need at the least an amendment to the constitution that would subject Congressmen to whatever they vote on the public.

A little about alligators

You most likely know that the catfish you enjoy in a restaurant are farm raised and the same is true of crawfish.  Less common are farm-rasised alligators, but in 2012, alligator farming was a 56 million dollar industry in Louisiana.

For some reason I receive the Louisiana Agriculture magazine, which has a picture of a baby alligator on the front cover.  An article inside reports on research going forward on dietary needs of alligators.

Other reports include articles on blue berries, rice, improving sweet potato production efficiency.

Coach Dietzel and the recruiting of Fred Miller

I seldom write sports on this blog, being more inclined to politics, but the death of former LSU coach Paul
Dietzel stirred a lot of memories.  One that stands out was after a victory by the Homer 1957 Iron Man team. Dietzel grabbed me around the neck and as we walked across the field gave me one of his recruiting speeches.  He emphasized that,  "We want Fred Miller more than any other player we are recruiting."

Fred's mother was a nurse and worked with a doctor who was a Tulane grad, and the principal not only was a graduate of Tulane but had been a star player for the school.   As expected, Tulane won that battle of recruitment.  Wait -- real LSU fans know that's not the end of the story.

Fred met the state's requirement of three years of English; Tulane required four.  Fred wound up at LSU, was an All-American defensive tackle, and played several years in the NFL.

New roof and chest pain

Well, the new roof is on.  The crew got here a few minutes before 7 and completed the job by 2:30.  Quite a difference from the time we had a roof put on, and the roofers would leave to get a beer, planning to return but failing each time.  This crew was larger and worked steadily.

The noise was terrific as they pounded the underlying wood to determine if there were weak spots.

Whether being subjected to seven hours of noise had any part in it I don't know,, but I had one of the worst spells of chest pain ever.  I gave up the bed and sat on the couch, finally being free of pain and returning to bed at a quarter of three.   I feel the effects this morning and my blood pressure is very high.  I hope to get better as the day goes on.

My sermon for the day

I felt so bad Saturday that I took to the bed at halftime of the LSU-Auburn game, something I've never done before.  Though I was not better Sunday morning I taught the Sunday School lesson and attended church.

It was at church that I began to look at things differently.  Pastor Tom read a long list of people in the hospital with serious problems, including one woman to be checked for a brain aneurysm.

Many times we have a reason to complain but we should look around and feel blessed instead.

That's my sermon for the day.