Often times, as I write this blog, it is easy to get frustrated with the absurdity that is the news today. While our freedoms are attacked from the death by 1000 paper cuts mentality that is the .gov establishment, it is hard to find quality time to just forget about things for a while.
So, while I was busy the prior weekend catching a boat load of fish with the wife and my parents, I didn't think twice about my blog, or politics. (Ok, maybe that's a lie, I probably did). Over this weekend, I repeated that opportunity while planning a little cookout with some family for Saturday night and then again on Sunday with some friends for crabs and beer. Living in Maryland may have drawbacks, but the perks are sometimes worth the payout.
Family is great. They don't have to understand you to love you, and if they are like my family, the endless ribbings are a challenge unto themselves. A few beers and shooting the breeze for an evening, while catching a bit of my Ravens in preseason football was a nice distraction. No thinking needed, just enjoying life without all the worries.
I'm also fortunate in that my wife else enjoys my side of the family (like I, her's) and that she gets along so well with the younger generation. The cousin offspring of my older cousins is the ripe age for rough play and hard sports, and I was envious that my bum knee kept me from returning the favor from decades ago. Oh well, it'll be healthy again, and the next time there is a family sporting event, I'll be out there.
As we head into the Labor Day weekend, most of us will visit friends and family. Use it as a good distraction. Try to avoid politics and the upcoming election if you can. Trust me, it will do you some good!
02 September 2010
01 September 2010
ABSURD! Reality of Our Country
Even in absence from publishing, I am on the watch for good stories and other items that will provoke my readers' neurons into firing at unprecedented levels. Well, really I just want you to think a little more critically about your surroundings.
Unfortunately what surrounds us is the title for this post; absurdity. Every new day there is a story that completely makes myself go "face-palm" and wonder how we have let our country degrade into such tumult. Mark Styne sitting in for Limbaugh today used the Space Balls line "LUDICROUS SPEED" today and yesterday, Say Uncle finally gave me the headline story to run with the absurd post title. While I am not shocked that a citizen got tossed from a city council meeting for rolling their eyes at their elected officials, it does make me feel disgusted that such stupidity reigns from those in charge of the asylum. More "new normal" that must be created in an effort to destroy the traditional civil society.
The more that we see these absurd stories, the less sensitive we become too them, or at least that is the theory from the establishment. For the last five or so years, many people have heard the life cycle of the republic, but never did I realize just how far along the decent into servitude we have slipped until I awoke to pay great attention about my surroundings. Yes, I'm sure some of you are saying "but we're still better off and you're just over reacting," but ask yourself how it is we can go from an outrageous headline to outrageous headline. Go pull up the DrudgeReport on any given hour of any given day and you'll find several topics that want to make you shake your head in shame. From the linked city council meetings, to immigration, to GPS trackers, to the First Family's gallivanting, to capital hill, to town hall and back, it is not hard to be completely amazed (not shocked but amazed) at the transgression away from our National founding. Mostly our forefathers wanted to be left alone, now we would gladly pay hard earned money for added privacy!
Unfortunately, ignorance is not bliss, but education of the situation is far worse; it drives ya down right nuts at times. Until we have fully corrected a new return to Constitutional governance, I doubt we will ever feel completely secure in our lives from absurd news. Perhaps, the colonials felt the same way up until the point they said enough is enough. Either way, we have found a normal that is not acceptable to the majority of people in this country as we are seeing the start of a second "Reagan Awakening." Let us just hope that this one is not squandered in the ways the 80s were. Our non-frugality has almost assured us this one will have to be different.
Please, if you find more absurd stories, send them my way to wherespatton (at) gmai (dot) com.
Unfortunately what surrounds us is the title for this post; absurdity. Every new day there is a story that completely makes myself go "face-palm" and wonder how we have let our country degrade into such tumult. Mark Styne sitting in for Limbaugh today used the Space Balls line "LUDICROUS SPEED" today and yesterday, Say Uncle finally gave me the headline story to run with the absurd post title. While I am not shocked that a citizen got tossed from a city council meeting for rolling their eyes at their elected officials, it does make me feel disgusted that such stupidity reigns from those in charge of the asylum. More "new normal" that must be created in an effort to destroy the traditional civil society.
The more that we see these absurd stories, the less sensitive we become too them, or at least that is the theory from the establishment. For the last five or so years, many people have heard the life cycle of the republic, but never did I realize just how far along the decent into servitude we have slipped until I awoke to pay great attention about my surroundings. Yes, I'm sure some of you are saying "but we're still better off and you're just over reacting," but ask yourself how it is we can go from an outrageous headline to outrageous headline. Go pull up the DrudgeReport on any given hour of any given day and you'll find several topics that want to make you shake your head in shame. From the linked city council meetings, to immigration, to GPS trackers, to the First Family's gallivanting, to capital hill, to town hall and back, it is not hard to be completely amazed (not shocked but amazed) at the transgression away from our National founding. Mostly our forefathers wanted to be left alone, now we would gladly pay hard earned money for added privacy!
Unfortunately, ignorance is not bliss, but education of the situation is far worse; it drives ya down right nuts at times. Until we have fully corrected a new return to Constitutional governance, I doubt we will ever feel completely secure in our lives from absurd news. Perhaps, the colonials felt the same way up until the point they said enough is enough. Either way, we have found a normal that is not acceptable to the majority of people in this country as we are seeing the start of a second "Reagan Awakening." Let us just hope that this one is not squandered in the ways the 80s were. Our non-frugality has almost assured us this one will have to be different.
Please, if you find more absurd stories, send them my way to wherespatton (at) gmai (dot) com.
Slice of Life: Good Day Fishing, Means A Good Day
As the saying goes, a bad day of fishing beats a good day of work, so what happens when you have a good day of fishing? Well, that means even when you snap one of your rods in half and get beat by your wife for the biggest fish, it's a damned good day.
Two weeks ago, the family foursome (the wife, parental units, and I) were out on my dad's boat down near Chincoteague, VA. A peaceful day started out fairly uneventful and in search of the fish we went. The waters down around the Virginia island can be quite shallow and quickly changing which means that the captain (read dad) has to be on his game at all times. This time he was, and we had an excellent day at hooking up to 60 Croaker. Definitely one of the better days I have had saltwater fishing in the last five years and it reminded me why I buy a fishing license every year. Everything is better on a boat!
I can't wait for the fall flounder season and the prospects of surf fishing from the beach in October certainly are on my mind after that productive day. Maybe I might let my wife catch the biggest fish again. ;-)
Two weeks ago, the family foursome (the wife, parental units, and I) were out on my dad's boat down near Chincoteague, VA. A peaceful day started out fairly uneventful and in search of the fish we went. The waters down around the Virginia island can be quite shallow and quickly changing which means that the captain (read dad) has to be on his game at all times. This time he was, and we had an excellent day at hooking up to 60 Croaker. Definitely one of the better days I have had saltwater fishing in the last five years and it reminded me why I buy a fishing license every year. Everything is better on a boat!
I can't wait for the fall flounder season and the prospects of surf fishing from the beach in October certainly are on my mind after that productive day. Maybe I might let my wife catch the biggest fish again. ;-)
QOTD: Punchbowl
Punchbowl: noun 1) A social entertainment device; 2) A large bowl with which fruit punch, fruit, and alcohol are mixed to provide lubricity of a social gathering; 3) Alternate Definition for Federal Reserve Meetings
That was the reply this morning with AK Fan said "I would love to sit in on a fed meeting and listen to their actual concerns." We were discussing the link to the zero hedge article and yours truly came up with the alternate definition of a punchowl. Remember, unlike Helo-Ben, please drink responsibly.
A Federal Reserve meeting is just a bunch guys standing around a bunchbowl lighting cigars with $1000 bills.
That was the reply this morning with AK Fan said "I would love to sit in on a fed meeting and listen to their actual concerns." We were discussing the link to the zero hedge article and yours truly came up with the alternate definition of a punchowl. Remember, unlike Helo-Ben, please drink responsibly.
31 August 2010
Return to Blogging: Hopefully Tomorrow
Sorry for the few day absence it's been pretty busy at work and in life lately. Posts coming tomorrow!
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