re: where have I been?

What started as a short (I mean that) message ended as a full blown rant. It felt good, but missed the point entirely.
I merely wanted to wish any and all a wonderful Day, and Season. No more than that, and surely, no less. Bless you all, especially if you don't need or deserve it.

Where have I been?

I'm not sure where the last 3 months went, but I do know that they are gone. I've had lots of opinions during that time, most of which are not fit for publication. Some of you will includes today's missive, but I can't help that.
While Congress argues over billions, and basketballers are warned that their millions will be locked out next year, I wonder what happened to the poor 'ol American public. If you're over age 50 and on unemployment, you can't even get an interview, let alone a job. If you're fresh out of college, you have no experience, and are in the same boat. Yet, jobs continue to flow overseas courtesy of what we always thought of as 'American' companies that are in reality owned by foreign conglomerates. How do they expect us to buy the overpriced Christmas toys they send back to us? McDonald's wages buy gasoline, little else. Health care is all but out of the picture, as is a small pittance for retirement.
Now that you're totally depressed, I'm sure you see why I keep most of my council to myself.
In the spirit of the miser, I hope that it will be said of you that "of all men, you know how to keep Christmas well."

The Last Tomatoes

I whined a long while ago about not having any tomatoes.  I should have know better.  When they finally arrived, I was inundated with the things.  It was my first garden in years, and I had high hopes for success. As it turned out, I had marginal success, due in part to the wettest Spring in recent memory, and pure inexperience at vegetable gardening.  The few veggies were reward enough, though.  I'll return next year to try again.  Now, off to figure out what to do with all the green ones.

The First Tomato

We recently got our first tomato from our very small garden.  It was wonderful, mostly because it had an unusual ingredient; flavor.  We haven't had a garden in the past few years due to bad luck, sunspots, El Nino, La Nina, sloth, carpetbaggers, and other reasons best left out of a family posting.  I promise, though, that this will not be the last attempt before I expire.  I had forgotten how satisfying growing you own can be.  I won't forget next season.  Meanwhile, there are more fruits out there to savor.

A Long Month

I now face a whole month of other people's vacations. You all know how the same amount of work needs to be done with one less person.  With all the problems in the economy there are no extra bodies around to lend a hand, as most business' are running lean these days. One person after another takes a week, all richly deserved, and anticipated for long months.  The rest slog along.  My only salvation is that MY vacation is last, and I have backed it up to the Labor Day weekend to get an extra day.  I'm sure I will pay for this brilliant idea somehow.  From this end, August looks very long indeed.

Birhtday/Fourth of July Parties

This evening I was held hostage at a gathering, that in retrospect, will in the future, rival previous parties to set a new high in lows.  The Host and Hostess having retired early this night, this lunatic assembly seemed to "party on" at a rather normal pace.  They left because they sensed the moment had run its course, and their presence was no longer required.  I pity anyplace that they re-assemble.

A Day Off

Here I sit, enduring the first of two, Doctor ordered, days off.  What to do?  Garden? No. Rain. Computer, maybe?  Mine is on it's last legs, and has a new habit of dieing once every half-hour.  Possibly read?  I guess it will have to do, although I'm not completely thrilled with my current tome. 
This time seems a complete waste, as there are so many things I can't do.
"Sit in the sun and relax" the Doc said. "Most of my patients beg me for a note to stay home; you are the first one to whine about being told to take a day off."
I suppose it's not that bad. After all, this is the perfect time for one of those projects that are always put off 'till a rainy day'
I'll get that guy for the "sit in the sun" crack, though, as a glance out the window shows my lawn chair in the middle of a huge puddle forming on the porch.

It's A Boy!!

It's a Boy!! the text says.  Later, at home, I inquire after height and weight, only to be met with derision.  "Silly", they say, "they only determined the sex today.  It wasn't born today."
Oh, how I long for the simple days when all babies were a surprise.  Technology is great, but I think it has met it's match when coming up against Mother Nature.  I remember friends who had closets full of pink, only to be presented with a boy.  Catchers mitts are usually of little use to girls, no matter what the father wants.  I hope the infant determined today to be a boy will have it easier when his time comes to be in my place.

Portland's Budget

The Mayor announced his budget for the next year early last week.  There were some serious cuts included. 
It seems to me that we could have a much better city if we stopped paying all these fees to study this or that proposal, often for the second time, as one person or the other didn't like the original outcome.  For example; we have done at least four reports on a new Interstate Hwy. bridge to Vancouver, Wa.  We've also done about three on whether, or not, to build Light Rail to Clackamas County; and just how to get the train across the river.
Why is the City involved with all of this, anyway?  They don't seem to be able to solve any of their old, regular problems, like crime, or homelessness.  I know they don't listen to the cry of the citizens who are tired of paying for this stuff.

Now It's Summer?

I guess we are having Summer on  Thursday and a Friday this year.

It Is Spring!!

I wondered, and it seems to have come true!  Spring!!  I'll now take time to revel in the warmth and sun.  Hope you have the chance to do the same.

Is This Spring?

Has Spring finally sprung? I'd like to think so, but don't want to jinx us, so I'll just sit quietly in the corner, wearing my Winter coat and mittens.  With the coat, it's too hot to mow the lawn, and the mittens make it tough to pull weeds.  And you thought I was crazy!

working on it

I want The Blazers to win as much as anyone who lives here, I guess, but I'm getting rather nervous about their prospects this year.  I'll just have to try harder to believe.

Feel the Pressure

Since I now have a follower, I feel the pressure to "publish", as it were.  I will now take an inordinate amount of time off to think about what to say.  I happen to know that the aforementioned follower is heavily into 'doom'.  Maybe this should color my decision.

Farside Cartoon Inspires Galloots?

Am I to understand that our entire Society was inspired from a Far Side Cartoon?
I am not sure that I feel comfortable with that.  After all, The Far side was awfully organized for our standards.

Football

I am so tired of listening to people talk endlessly about Oregon Football and their problems that I can't wait for the NFL season to start so that we can see some really professionally handled problems!

How Do I Do This?

Just starting out, so be kind to me.