http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/ solitaire's Blog en-us © 12:01:24 Greasy.com All rights reserved. Tue, Sep 12:01:24 7 GMT 30 http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/responsibilities_grandfather.html I'm a grandfather three times over. Two grandchildren live far away (Honduras). I'm a miserable grandparent to them because we're seldom in contact. I recognize their birthdays via email, but that's about it. They hardly know me (They're 8 and 5). On the other hand, I'm working very hard to be known to my grandson (11 mo. old) who lives 40' away. I've seen him twice in three days over the weekend. I have the priviledge of baby sitting him this coming Saturday for 6 hours. Bonding with a gr ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/responsibilities_grandfather.html#comments Mon, 6 Sep 2010 13:01:42 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/sounds_silence.html Perhaps I should title this post, "Walk, Don't Run", but that usually doesn't apply to me. However, the day after my 5k run last week, I "took it easy" and walked 5 miles through the countryside at daybreak. I was truly amazed at how quiet it was, realizing this after I heard a cow bawling a half mile away. She broke the silence. Then I started hearing other sounds--crickets, birds, rustling corn, and a far away truck. Walking down a county (or country) road can be a very serene experience ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/sounds_silence.html#comments Sat, 4 Sep 2010 12:54:46 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/narrow_mind.html As we all know, the Mosque building issue near the WTC site has created quite a divisive following. It shows once again we are an intolerant society here in the good old US of A. The Becks and Palins really get hatred stirred up. I'm going to have to tell a golfing "friend" to quit sending me disgusting e-mails with anti-Obama rhetoric. I'm sick of the whole thing. Yes, we elected a "black" president (half black, anyway). It's probably a good thing few people knew his mother was an atheist ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/narrow_mind.html#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:49:07 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/good_times.html I walked, jogged, and ran an average of 9 miles a day for the past 3 months (270 miles in 30 days), all for the glory of a puny 5k (3.1m) run I have just now completed (3 hours ago). There were 75 runners of all ages and sexes, and I placed 23rd. My time (for "imaginaryfriend" Jennifer and interested others) was 26:04. I'm sure I did that last mile in less than 7'30". I was flying past runners. I easily won my age group(65+). Afterall, at age 67, I was 13 yrs older than the oldest of the o ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/good_times.html#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:28:34 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/moi.html I'm beginning to wonder. My first wife moved out to "find herself" (back in '90) and never returned. (She was also cheating on me.) My second wife walked out (2000) so she could be nearer to her children (100 mi away), or so she says. My youngest daughter moved in with her mother (#1) when she was a Jr. in high school. I was "too strict" (ha). My son also left home to stay with his mother (still #1) when he was a Senior in high school. (20 miles away) Now my sister, who moved in with me ba ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/moi.html#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:44:46 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/regarding_opinions.html We all have opinions. It's what makes the world go 'round. We're all experts--know-it-alls. You name the subject, there's an opinion. We all know what we're talking about. This isn't bad (having opinions), it's just a fact. But quite frankly, I'm tired of other people's opinions, whether I agree with them or not. I suppose everything we say is an opinion ("Nice weather we're having"). But I'm referring to more controversial topics, like whether it's proper to build a mosque near the World ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/regarding_opinions.html#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:31:57 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/eaarth.html No, not a misspelling of our planet, but a book by Bill McKibben I thought I'd write something about. He's altered the spelling because, according to him, our earth has changed so much, we should rename it. It's not the same earth. (As of how long ago, he doesn't say.) Our people and its so-called leaders have ignored the warnings of a warming planet far too long. A massive change is not only unavoidable, but already under way. McKibben declares (with evidence) "our old familiar globe is s ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/eaarth.html#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:50:37 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/teacher_lawsuits.html In "the good old days", a teacher could get away with just about anything when it came to disciplining a student. "The paddle" was used by many, if not most, male teachers. While I rarely swatted a student (maybe 5 in 32 years), I've had female teachers ask me to spank one of theirs. In recent years, paddling a student has become objectionable, even prohibited in most school districts. I'm in agreement with that policy. (I only used my paddle to belong to the "macho teacher club".) Not eve ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/teacher_lawsuits.html#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:31:54 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/big_god.html There's a loaded question for you. Really, how big is God? Is he (she, it, whatever-and no caps) human size (in our image)? Is he small enough to see minute things, even microscopic? Is he as big as a house? Is he actually inside the church, or looking from above (like a blimp)? And, as an aside, can he see through walls? When he's watching a football game, can he see all 100,000 people at the same time? (And did he influence the outcome of the game?) And while I'm at it, I wonder why he d ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/big_god.html#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:39:31 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/family_doings.html Sometimes I use my "post time" as a diary (although I already keep a journal). This is one of those times. Barb (sister) and I visited my daughter, SIL, and grandson yest. PM. The boy is 10 mos. old and close to walking. I played with him and helped feed him. I think he likes me. The parents are really struggling with their "truck farming" business. Sick chickens, too much rain and heat, weeds, poor business, etc. They are really despondent. Emily was canning tomatoes. I'm so proud of her, ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/family_doings.html#comments Mon, 9 Aug 2010 12:54:09 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/1281185003.html Well, it's August, and that means fruits and veggies out the wazoo. I have my road stand set up for "free for the taking" apples, peaches and tomatoes (so far). I may set out sweet corn today. I live on a county road which is not heavily traveled. And those that drive by are "locals", many of which have their own gardens. So most of my give-aways remain sitting and rotting on the saw-horses. I think my best "customer" is my newspaper lady, from town. I hate to see good food go to waste. I' ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/1281185003.html#comments Sat, 7 Aug 2010 12:43:23 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/founding_mothers.html I read a pretty interesting book by Cokie Roberts last week about the women behind the men, the men being our "Founding Fathers". Not much credit is given to Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and so many others, for their contribution to our political heritage. They're rather ignored in American history text books. Dolly Madison and her flag is about the extent of it. These "Founding Mothers" didn't so much try to influence their husbands (and some ladies weren't even married), but the pub ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/founding_mothers.html#comments Wed, 4 Aug 2010 21:06:58 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/heart_is.html My little "home town" (Rossville, pop 1500) finally has a welcoming sign. On it, the words "Where it feels like home" proudly declare we're the best small community in the world, or, at least, we rank right up there. In my blue highway travels across the country, it seems many, if not most, small towns have some little ditty that conjures up visions of grandeur and glory. I had a bunch invented in my mind, but you get the message (no pun intended). The funny thing is that few of these town ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/heart_is.html#comments Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:44:59 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/way_see.html From my local newspaper, I wish to comment on several news items. I see that a local middle school is starting a dress code for students this year. Boy do I have problems with that. I understand the theory behind it, but I agree with a student that says, "it sucks". I believe in individuality, not conformity. Besides, good teachers have no discipline problems due to clothes kids wear--if that's the issue. I know it's supposed to be gang and clique related, but a dress code isn't the soluti ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/way_see.html#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:00:14 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/1280159985.html Something compelled me to visit Blogster yesterday. I wanted to see if I was still on their "mailing list. I was. I also wanted to see for myself what was going on over there. Pretty vicious and foul-mouthed posts/replies. I even posted something (first time in 28 months) to see if anybody noticed. Several people commented. I may have recruited some "newbies". I won't be visiting again for some time. It runs very slow, by the way. I'm here for the long haul. http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/1280159985.html#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:59:45 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/meltdown.html Got up at day-break to beat the heat jogging. Did 6 miles and never saw a car or another person. Two dogs ran at me, however. That's always scary. My house stays relatively cool without using AC (which I have but don't like). I open a basement window and "attic" windows, which allows cool air to rush through the house. True, it's humid air, but the house stays around 75, even if it's 95 outdoors. Perfect. I'm a little hot under the collar at my doctor. Remember he brushed off my contention ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/meltdown.html#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:52:56 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/news_day.html Hello, fellow bloggers. Just a little update on what's going on around Rossville, Indiana, pop. 1500+. First, I played my usual 18 holes of golf (73 and won in league play). The fairways are dry and the ball rolls a long way. Any rain has gone right around my neck of the woods. Today, I finished washing all the windows I'm going to wash. Plus I got my truck washed and waxed! Except for a few dents and dings (from hauling firewood), my 6 yr old Dakota looks like new. Following cleaning my t ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/news_day.html#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:55:23 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/drop_ins.html I probably shouldn't complain, but I'm going to anyway. Three times this week, I had uninvited visitors. True, they were (are) friends. But the Hoosier tradition of dropping in, unannounced, bothers me. One guy (former teacher friend) comes in on his motorcycle just as I'm in the middle of preparing supper. He sat right through while I was eating my meal! That was irritating. The second guy, my farmer friend, came two nights later as I was washing dishes. He stayed for an hour complaining ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/drop_ins.html#comments Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:21:20 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/eh_say.html After suffering the past 5 days with a hearing loss, I went to the doctor today. I thought I had wax buildup, used "softener" and water wash, but to no avail. It's my "good ear", and now I can't hear worth a ding bust. It's driving me crazy. Well, the doc says "no wax", ear drum infection. So I'm on an antibiotic which will, if indeed it is an infection, take a week or more to clear up. NOOOO! If patience is a virtue, I'm going to be the most virtuous person in the world. There are some be ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/eh_say.html#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:34:19 GMT http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/mulligans.html I read a book recently ("Another Shot: How I Relived my Life in Less Than a Year") that got me to thinking. In golf, a second shot is called a Mulligan--a "do-over". Of course, they're not permitted. In life, we have few "do-overs"--another shot. It's like first impressions: you only have one chance. In looking at the big picture, I would have to say I have no major regrets in my life. I had a good childhood with good parents. I was a reasonably decent student and participated in extra-cur ... http://my.greasy.com/solitaire/mulligans.html#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:08:22 GMT