A little birdie told me

Trump was in Iowa yesterday in a city close to us and the
righteous indignation has begun. Iowa gets around 36% of its
energy from wind turbines and during his speech the president
said “I don’t want to just hope the wind blows to light up your
homes and your factories as the birds fall to the ground.”

These few words caused one of our Senators to proclaim “Trump
would succeed in ending the production tax credit in Congress
over me dead body.” Supporters of green energy spoke out and
gloom and doom was predicted over a simple sentence. Yet the
consensus is that those who attended the event cheered the
remark.

Wind energy is like ethanol in Iowa and considered by many to
be the only answer to our many problems. Both have been around
longer than people think. I am one Iowan who believes both are
over rated. Wind energy is still more expensive and ethanol is
just a stepping stone until something better comes along.

It is fun to read, and hear, all the people forecast the end of
the world as we know it if changes are made. We lived before
these fads came along and will continue breathing when they are
gone as long as the good Lord is willing. Too many people take
this stuff too seriously.

We, on the other hand, have a life. And since the wife has a
few days off in a row we are going to cruise the two lane
blacktop to somewhere, spend the night in a motel, and cruise
back when we’re ready. Until then I will have no internet
access but will post upon our return.

So enjoy our Friday, it’s the last one we get this week.
Comments are always welcome.

Strange things

I went and had my chest x-ray today in an older hospital that
had just been remodeled. At one time I could find anything in
that hospital with my eyes closed. Now they added curved walls,
meandering halls, and confusing signage. I guess the updates
were needed but still saw nothing wrong with old straight
walls.

I read in the newspaper that people were surprised at the
small turn out in the 3rd Ward election to narrow the field
from 6 candidates to 2. Perhaps it had something to do with
the fact that the issue was more important to the politicians
than the voters.

And last night while I was cruising the information highway
something strange happened. There I was rowing through the
gears and speed shifting the tabs when an IM noticed popped
up. That wasn’t unusual but what made it a Twilight Zone moment
for me was the message came from my cousin who recently died.
All the message said was “Thank you”.

Then we all know common sense has died as surely as we know
Elvis has left the building. The way things look today Mr.
Sense has company. Common courtesy is no longer with us if we
disagree and debate has turned into hate filled rhetoric aimed
toward those of us who haven’t drank the Kool-Aid. The sad
thing is that those who argue the loudest and protest the most
are the problem and don’t have the ability to figure it out.

Political parties have become opposing sides in a war against
imagined rights and innocent slights. Our lawmakers are once
again the butt of jokes while they imagine they actually doing
something that would help the average citizen. I think a lot of
people need a nap.

Enjoy our Thursday as the weekend is almost knocking on the
door. Now I need to get some mowing done or declare our yard
a tropical rain forrest.
Comments are always welcome.

Longest day?

Today we will experience the longest day, and shortest night,
of the year. It is now summer. I was leaning toward yesterday
being the longest day as I got distracted and that lasted all
day.

Yesterday after a busy morning the clouds and critters called
me outside and I hardly went back inside the whole day into the
night. There was something to see everywhere you looked.

The critters were really enjoying the day and everyone of them
from the common grackle to the house finch. Even the squirrels
were out and about enjoying the day.

So I was happily distracted. No cell phone, no TV, no
computer, not even a radio to bother me and the sound of nature
was all I heard. Sometimes you just have to tune out all the
commercials and nonsense what passes for news and get back to
basics. It recharges your soul and clears your mind.

And as I watched the sunset through all the power lines that
crisscross the alley it was a perfect ending to another great
day here on the east coast of Iowa.

So I am now ready for the longest day of the year and hope you
are too. Enjoy our Wednesday, we won’t have another until next
week.
Comments are always welcome.

Talk with Dad

Went over to see Dad this morning and he was pretty talkative
for a change. He was in good spirits and we joked around until
the physical therapist arrived, then we joked around some more.

We talked of many things, from the farmhouse that never did
have running water to the weather and even critters. His
therapy sessions at home are going to end and I could see the
mischief in his eyes when he heard the news.

If I’m old school he is antique school and the therapist
finally got it today. She recommended he use a walker when he’s
up and moving and he just replied he’d use his cane. She had
the common sense not to argue.

She did push for a bench to go in the bathtub so he could take
showers and Dad seemed to like that idea. She also pointed out
that he shouldn’t try it on his own. While he said he wouldn’t
the glimmer in his eye gave away the fact that he is going to
try it.

We don’t know where this idea will go but it’s his call. Like
he says, he’s 92 and running out of time but wants to do as
much for himself as he can. I can respect that.

Now I have a yard to mow and bushes to attack. All should be
dry by now after yesterdays rain and if I don’t get going it
won’t get done. Enjoy our Tuesday. Before we know it tomorrow
will be here and today a memory.
Comments are always welcome.

Weekend wrap up

We made it out to the Heartland Nova Reunion show, met up with
an old friend, and saw a few more while checking out the cars.
Held at the Casino nestled on the banks of the Mississippi a
constant breeze made the morning perfect.

We haven’t been to a show in a quite a while so it was nice to
get out, meet some old friends, and stretch the legs a bit. We
had good intentions to go along the levee later and get some
pictures of the river but I got distracted so it didn’t happen.
That is on the list.

Back at home we noticed the critters were out in abundance and
acting goofy. Don’t know if they were celebrating Father’s Day
early or got into some fermented fruit. One little bird just
kept jumping in place. He didn’t go anywhere but he sure was
working his legs.

There was even a cardinal who I think believed he was Jack
Nicholson! You could almost imagine him shouting “Here’s
Johnny!” We glad the critters were enjoying the cool down and
they did put on a show.

And as the sun set here on the east coast of Iowa we gave a
nod to our God for allowing us to share another great day.

I stopped by Dad’s Sunday, had a good visit, and we may
write more about that in a later post.

Enjoy our Monday. We’re going to give it our best shot. Now I
smell some leftover pizza that wants to be my friend.
Comments are always welcome.

They were right

The sky was something to behold last night around sunset and
the TV folks who try to guess the weather were predicting
possible doom and gloom up to, and including, quarter sized
hail. After watching the remnants of the day I went inside and
the severe thunderstorm warnings were announced effective until
22.30 hours.

So I went back out with 20 minutes left on the warning to see
for myself. A slight breeze and some thunder and lightening to
the west were there so I awaited the rain. I went back inside
when conditions didn’t get worse and thought we were misled.
With about 10 minutes left on the warning all hell broke loose.

The wind picked up, heavy rain came at you sideways, and the
lightening lit up the sky while the thunder reached its peak.
And after what seemed like a few minutes, the storm was gone.
What a show.

This morning on the way to the grocery store we noticed a few
trees down on the way but our neighborhood did ok. The sky
still held more clouds than should fit, but the rain hasn’t
returned. We needed the rain but don’t want it as a frequent
guest. Just enough to help the corn grow and flowers bloom
would be great.

So those who guess the weather on TV were right this time, it
rained. I guess the odds predict they have to get it right once
in a while. Now I have to go clean the car that I just cleaned
before the storm. Enjoy our Friday, it could be the beginning
of a great weekend.
Comments are always welcome.

What happened?

Last night we had a strange sunset after a short burst of rain
so I decided to stay up and get a few pictures of the moon
through the remaining clouds. But as sometimes happens, just
when you think you have things figured out the rules get
changed.

The moon didn’t show in the time I allotted for it to do so and
even though it was the wee hours of the morning when I ventured
back inside, sleep wasn’t in the cards. Finally around 5 am the
sandman came and I didn’t move again until the wife woke me
around 9.

Even with a solid four hour snooze I felt tired because while
I was sleeping I dreamed I never went to sleep because I was
outside waiting for the perfect shot and drinking coffee all
night. It wasn’t as vivid as some dreams, but I knew it was a
dream because I rarely use a tripod.

That and the fact that we don’t have a spiral staircase on
the outside of house. There was quite a view from the top of
the imaginary staircase though. Of course this made me ponder
a few things. Like why are the yellow pages yellow?

Or how many people know Dr. George Horace Gallup was born in
Jefferson, Iowa? If you can’t place who he is just remember
he is the founder of the Gallup Poll and a pioneer in public
opinion polling.

Sorry, got off on a side track. Enjoy our Thursday, we’re that
much closer to the weekend races.
Comments are always welcome.