so many memories.....
three hundred ninety nine
SOMETIMES PEOPLE SUCK
I stepped up to rescue our annual sober men's camp out. That was a bold move on my part because I really don't like to run things but if there is a vacuum I will step up, but we did have plenty of critics.
For many years the camp was filled with camping trailers, tents, boats, plenty of grills and men cooking meat.
I have pointed out in a previous post; if you give any organization or group of people enough time it always reverts back to high school.
I thought I could promote the camp to a larger area and breathe a little life into it but I had no idea that after a half year of promotion I would be alone.
I set my expectations low but I thought there would be at least ten and maybe twenty.
In the past there were more then 40 but a little drama in our group, Covid, rain and cold effected the last few years of turn out. We almost voted not to have it until I volunteered to give it one last go.
Ironically this year it was sunny, seventy degrees, the lake was not crowded and the fish were biting.
I packed my motorcycle and headed out early. I set up my tent, ate, had a cup of coffee and gathered fire wood. It was just me until noon Thursday when a trailer pulled in. We both waited and waited but no one else came. The next morning no one came so 1 PM Friday I helped him pack his trailer said goodbye and didn't see another soul until Saturday at 4 PM.
We walked to the lake, ate some awesome ribs he brought fo the pot luck, lite the fire and visited until 8 PM. He had to get back to town.
I thought I would spend the night but I packed my motorcycle and rode the 80 miles in the dark. So much for our annual camp out.
I will hear excuses, get a few smart ass smiles and wise cracks but I will never volunteer again.
I did hear a rumor that the cool kids had a campout of their own at a different lake. I think I got what we called "ditched". I think that is what we called it in high school.
three hundred ninety eight
HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATS....
YING AND YANG
or what comes around goes around.
It seemed like a good idea.....
They look so harmless until you pet a cub....
But who reads signs.....
this one seems to be a little upset.
One thing for certain you can't fix stupid.
three hundred ninety seven
6789 MILES
Don't know when but planning is half the fun.
Practice is the other half.
three hundred ninety six
ACTIONS CHANGE ATTITUDE
Holidays can bring out negative emotions. The family is not around or perhaps they are around. The news has you worried and frightened. The walls seem to be closing in and life feels like it is slipping away.
Let go and let God take care of all of the bull shit you can't control.
Simply SMILE and know someone loves you.
three hundred ninety five
This movie was made in 1973 but the portrayal of the year 2022 is eerie. The euthanasia centers seem like the local news. Oregon was the first state to legalize assisted suicide. Canada has made it one of their health care recommendations.
Crime, poverty, inflation, homelessness, loss of freedom, propaganda are over shadowed by elite privilege.
I doubt we are eating people as of this post but stay tuned, the ball is still rolling.
three hundred ninety four
DREAM MACHINE
Here it sits with 5 mile on the odometer. I rode it home from the dealer last Friday. I have been receiving boxes for a week under the watchful eyes of my neighbor.
I spend hours and hours without instructions, not a macho thing they did not come with any. I ran into many opticals but never uttered a curse word, through a tool or punched a wall.
As a younger man I had a short fuse but with the help of loving discipline and 33 years of AA meetings I'm patient and even tempered.
I must admit this was a true test and I was pleasantly surprised.
This bike is designed for the long haul. It is able to handle freeways, back country roads and some off road adventures. It gets great milage and has the capacity to haul anything I may need.
three hundred ninety three
I MISS OUR BOAT!
Oregon has less than nine hours of daylight but Hawaii has eleven. The colder weather and snow are interesting but the short days really bother me. I miss our boat on days like today. The warm clear waters teaming with fish and exotic creatures has to be experienced once. We spent plenty of hours overwhelmed by the beauty of Hawaii.
Central Oregon has it's charm and days like today we get to shovel it.
three hundred ninety two
VOCABULARY WORD OF THE DAY
CRESTFALLEN
I recently helped a friend move along with several others. Since then they have purchased a new home and need to move again. I offered to help but he said this time they were hiring movers. At first I wondered if they thought we were bad movers but he says he doesn't want to take advantage. Well that's his story and he's stickin' to it.
I was texting one of the other volunteer movers and told him they were hiring movers so we were off of the hook. He said he felt crestfallen because we were not asked.
After I googled crestfallen I thought about giving him the beans. I wanted to heap scorn on, deride, lampoon and pillory him for using such an ostentatious, hyperventilated and fancy-pants term but I just laughed and learned a new word.
I am by no means a scrabble champion, I'm lucky to order food from a drive through (I use the numbers). However I am charmed to be in league with such an enlightened fidus Achate.
I do think he may be an alien or time traveler. He is un-naturally tall, has no apparent vices and I don't think he blinks or sweats.
three hundred ninety one
THE ART OF DIVERTING RESPONSIBILITY
People who are brave enough to make decisions are becoming rare but politicians who make brave decisions are almost extinct.
Polling, focus groups, strategists and media experts massage the message focusing exclusively on the political ramifications and benefits. Sadly this is the natural state of politics today.
The camera hogs, political hit men and media whores shape every word, facial expression, body language, hair style, fashion choice and mirror tested smiles. They wear glasses to look smart, deliver prepared pompous speeches and have their quiver full of snark filled talking points. If by chance they are put on the spot and asked an actual question they answer with condescending snarky insults, empty word salad fluff, meandering filibuster or simply run away.
Politicians call themselves experts and leaders but very few are actually experts and never actually lead. If they are forced to vote on a controversial piece of legislation their main concern is their own reelection.
I understand votes take a certain amount of wheeling and dealing and compromise but voting in the interest of their constituents rarely takes precedent.
The so called representatives of "the people" consider their constituents only at election time. Senators with six year terms focus on the needs of their states in the last year of their terms. The first five years they can play on a national stage ignoring or even hurting their own state. They simply bring money for a federal bridge, building or highway project then name it after themselves and they are good for another six years.
Representatives with two year terms have to be more crafty. They need to rely on money from their party and donors so their votes reflect the interests of these sources of campaign money not the people they represent.
The rare statesman usually has a short career because they don't play the game. Their ability to survive the sound bite world, avoid the wrath of the media and raising large amounts of money is not the major focus of a statesman. Because a charismatic person can navigate the political gauntlet doesn't make them any more equipped to lead a country, they are simply good at winning and election. In fact in my opinion this detracts from any chance they will make wise or well thought out decisions.
If by chance they do make a decision they are prepared for only two responses. Brag and take a victory lap if it can be twisted and framed as a success or blame the failure on their opponents because of their lack of support, usually money.
Taking responsibility can be political death because a vote will put them on the spot. We may or may not vote them out at the next election so this one is partially on us.
Omnibus bills are the latest tactic. Cram a bill full of pork and bad law then cover it all with a caring name and call it a crisis. We have lost all sense of fair play, winning and all cost is becoming the norm. Actual governing has turned into a bullying no holds bared power grab. The gloves and masks are off.
Some have abandoned any sense of honor. They view fair play as weakness, the rule of law as a weapon and free speech a one way street.
The courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, censorship and propaganda rule the day. The attitude of I know it is wrong but it will take time for the courts to rule on it. Buy the time they do we can blame the courts and our opposition for not caring and overturning established law.
The educational system, entertainment and media have created an entitled uneducated dependent class. Curiosity about issues and history are frowned on. Critical independent thinking or having a different opinion can now get you banned, fired and imprisoned. Quoting the Constitution, expressing a religious view or owning a fire arm means you are a bad person or worse.
Separating people is a well thought out strategy, Mao did it with class warfare we are doing it with race and gender warfare. History may soon repeat itself if it hasn't already.
I'm not some genius I just see what is right in front of me. It may not be what is being said out loud but with a minimal understanding of human nature and history it is clear as a bell. Once you see it it can't be unseen.
The hunger to hate other people and see bad things happen to them feeds a base human desire. People they disagree with are not viewed as people with bad ideas they are viewed as bad people.
Public shaming for not parroting the party propaganda has been replaced with political correctness, approved opinions and never questioning government approved science and intellectual authority.
The greatest offense is simply being identified as a perpetrator. This can be determined by class, race, sex or economic status. No matter how many generations have passed, how much progress has been made or how hard a person sacrifices and works, they can not change their perpetrator status.
On the other hand victim status gives the right to do just about anything to a perpetrator. All hatred, violence, cruelty, shame, abuse, loss of profession, rights, imprisonment, torture and death are justified. We can see this more and more each day. The steady erosion of our basic Constitutional rights, personal responsibility, freedom of speech and free will is alarming.
Our entertainment media now portrays the perpetrator class as the bad guys. They have southern accents, work blue collar fossil fuel jobs, own firearms, hunt, attend church, display American flags, quote the Constitution and serve in the military.
The one positive is they are saying it out loud and the mask is off. They openly blame others for the hate, lies, violence and bigotry but with any level of common sense anyone can clearly see the hypocrisy. Willful blindness is hard to maintain, it is like keeping a room completely dark in the middle of the day, one tiny spot of light illuminates the room.
Free speech is like that light, a small speck of truth can illuminate a million lies. Beware of those who want to limit speech.
Now the question is........
It is crunch time, politicians won't save us, violence won't save us and that special charismatic leader won't save us.
The only thing that can save us is an awake, engaged and informed population. It starts and ends with us. It is just as wrong to divert this responsibility to others as a blowhard politician. Until enough of us pick up this responsibility nothing will change......Wake up!
three hundred ninety
TIS THE SEASON FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO LET SANTA THROW UP ON THEIR LAWN
We have a tree and a few decorations inside but outside we look like Scrooge. We don't have family visiting or many local friends so the holidays can be a downer if we let it.
Our neighbors have the Christmas spirit and children to make it worth while to decorate. Several have these new amazing blow up decorations. We totally enjoy the night time hear but through the day it looks like a Chicago crime scene or the Jonestown massacre.
I'm not complaining because it is right up my morbid sense of humor alley.
Looks like Dancer and Prancer got caught in a cross fire. I know it is a twisted observation but that is my way of having holiday fun.
three hundred eighty nine
GOATS MAKE ME LAUGH
We spent Thanks Giving near Salem Oregon on a small farm. The accommodations were large enough for a large family so we had plenty of room.
The space was the entire loft of the barn. It was fun watching the birds learn to fly around such a large space. In fact they were intimidated for the first day but they soon enjoyed the top of the curtains.
We were only a few miles from McMinnville Oregon so groceries and restaurants were close by. The chicken, cows, horses, sheep, two yacks a donkey and two hilarious goats.
The family invited us for dinner with their five children. The meal was great and the pies were awesome.
The farm is a money pit even though they sell whole unpasteurized milk products. The husband is a tech guy with what I assume a good income. At best between the rental and minimal milk sales they break even.
The young couple love their work of which there is plenty. Up early moving stock, cleaning stalls, milking cows and feeding live stock brought back memories. We will return in the spring to see new pigs sheep and baby goats. I want to milk a yack just to say I did.
three hundred eighty eight
LIKE A SCENE FROM BETTER CALL SAUL
Central Oregon is not over cast like Portland or Seattle. The mountains toward the coast block the weather fronts. It rains on the coast then when the fronts hit the mountains they turn to snow. The bulk of the snows hit the mountains and dissipate before they hit the high desert. We get winter temperatures and ice but the snowfall is usually light.
Even though the temperatures are well below freezing the outdoor food courts are open the year around. They have fire pits, locally brewed beer and food trucks. The 26 local marijuana dispensaries supply the pot. I can tell people are baked but I rarely smell the smoke, I assume there is some new way to use it to get around smoking restrictions. No one is overly drunk or stoned, perhaps they have mastered the art of moderation, something foreign to me.
The gym is full of hard bodied young people, well young to me. I feel like a fat old guy but I can't see myself in the pool......yet.
I love the bone warming heat and love to sweat. I hold my own in the secret contest no-one talks about but every guy plays. Grown men, like little boys turn everything into a competition so staying in longer than the next guy is very important. As we quietly take a break to get our heart beats back in the normal range we collectively watch the water aerobics class.
There are 20-30 seniors in the class that lasts an hour so we all secretly know someone is peeing in the pool. I am just the guy who says it out loud.
A small room full of sweating people without cell phones is very interesting. No-one usually talks, some meditate, some struggle with the heat but there is always that one man or woman who does erotic stretches. One young woman taunts the young guys with flirtatious stripper poses. As one of the "safe older guys" she feels free to have a conversation. Her youth makes me realize I am one of the safe old guys.
My body sweats buckets and my mind races. I try to hold back every wise ass comment that pops into my mind, but I do occasionally throw one out there. One day I asked the question; "why do men have nipples?" What an interesting day, I was surprised how much people have thought about this topic, who knew?
It is neutral ground. With only swimsuits our bodies are no secret. If we are out of shape it shows and if we are in shape it shows. Piercings, tattoos, hair and no hair are visible. No one sees your car, knows where you live, what you do for a living, anything about you politics or social status, just a room full of men and women sweating.
Occasionally people who know each other talk. One day a man was talking about his disappointment with his daughter because she was engaged to a man in retail. Others talk about their jobs from doctor to ditch digger. Occasionally a homeless guy buys a seven dollar day pass to get clean and warm.
I don't wear my glasses so I can't remember faces. I had a young woman call me by name and introduce me to her husband. Evidently we had had a meaningful conversation somewhere but I could not figure out who she was. If you do wear glasses in the sauna you look a little creepy.
All in all I am enjoying this experience for the health benefits and interaction with strangers in a very unique setting. I may soon be one of the water aerobics club but I promise I'll try not to pee in the pool.
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