View From The Ditch Bank

HAPPY NEW YEAR: Those of you that know me well are aware that I don't make New Years Resolutions. I feel that if something needs changed, do it then, not wait weeks or months until the new year to make that change. Having said that, I will now say that I do feel that each one of us should have a time to reflect on what we have done, and what we still want to do, and perhaps make a course adjustment, if that is called for. Perhaps circumstances either under or beyond our control has come along to get us a little off track. So maybe you don't need to make a resolution, just make a course correction. I also think that this time of year is a good time to do that. MLWFAE and I recently decided that an increase in funds for a short time would be beneficial to some of the things that we have decided we want to do. So, when a job opportunity came my way, I signed up. I will be returning to the ranks of the employed soon. Officially, I am already hired and have went through some refresher training, just haven't been given a start date yet. This was not a new year's resolution, but a course adjustment that we decided to make. I have the option at my age to readjust that course as soon as I decide I want to. Resolutions that have no meaning or no real resolve are just useless time wasters. I recently read a tongue in cheek face book post of a friend that it was now time to start the diet/weight loss resolution that goes from Jan. 1 to Jan. 3. It seems to me that many new years resolutions go like that. I am not against true resolutions and changes made. I'm all for it. I just don't make them, for the reasons already stated. I hope that each of you will have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. And prosperous does not always mean money. Happy and healthy can make for a good year. Hope it happen's for each of us. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch Bank

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

As we celebrate this time of year, I pray that we all remember that Christ is the reason for the season. That we all reflect back on the past year and give thanks for the many blessings he has given us. There is much of tragedy throughout the world. Many of us have been touched somewhat by this, some more than others. Still, as we contemplate on the many things that have happened, most of us, if not all, have much to be thankful for. A saying that has been around for some time is "Wise men sought Him; Wise men still do." I pray that each of us are counted among those who are wise enough to still seek Him. As many who read this blog share the same religious view that I do, I hope that as we seek Him, we will also seek the blessings of attending the temple often. That we acknowledge Him in all our coming and goings, and give the thanks to Him that we should. As we give and get this Christmas season, that we include in those precious gifts, the giving away of hatred, pride, bad attitudes, superior feelings over others, and get the gifts of Humble Prayerful attitudes. Of doing good to all men. Extending a loving hand to all, even those who revile us. May you all have a great Christmas Season and may the Lords blessings attend to each of you throughout the coming year. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

AN UPDATE: New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson, has just a few days left in office. He has served, now, for 8 years. Two terms. For a lot of those 8 years, he has been tinkering with the idea of giving a pardon to William Bonney, alias Billy the Kid. I have blogged about this in the past, and if you missed it, you can scroll back through past posts to find it, somewhere back in the past. Kinda like where Billy the Kid is. Back in the past. He was a killer. By design, by intention, by accident or incident. No matter, he was a killer. Now he may not have actually killed 21 men. Many of those he is accused of killing were killed during the Lincoln County war,and since no one knew who exactly killed them, Billy was blamed. Maybe he killed them, maybe not. But it is a proven fact that he killed at least 4 people. And not by accident, either. 2 were deputies he killed in order to escape jail. He supposedly made a deal with then governor Lew Wallace to testify in a trial, in exchange for a pardon. For whatever reason, governor Wallace did not extend that pardon. Now Governor Bill wants to pardon Criminal Billy to do what Governor Wallace failed to do. No one knows why Wallace didn't. But for Governor Bill to do so now would be a travesty of justice, not to mention a slap in the face of the Garrett family. And the Wallace family. Both who have protested to Governor bill on this matter. I have already done so, but if any of you would like to comment to Governor Bill about what you think, you can do so by sending an e mail to btk.comments@state.nm.us and voice your opinion. Governor Richardson, who is now, as I write, on his way home from North Korea, has said he will make a decision on Billy before he leaves office on December 31. He needs your comments by the end of this week. Feel free to say whatever you think, but for me, I hope you send an e mail of protest. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

NOSTALGIA, OR, CAN ALL CHANGE ACTUALLY MEAN PROGRESS?: For the few of you that actually spend time reading my drivel, you will know that I don't blog about myself much, but this time I am going to make an exception. Kinda. Back in the 1950's, when I was a teenager old enough to think I knew more than I actually did, to run around with buddies who had cars, and to get a car of my own, there were a lot of places to eat and party. That is Party 1950's style. Which was very tame, compared to today. There were also many places to eat good food. I am going to talk about both of these things somewhat, as compared to current times. Now, we ate and danced from St. Johns, Arizona, to Silver City, New Mexico, although both of those places were on the extreme edges of where we mostly went. Mostly we went to Springerville and Eagar Arizona, better known as Round Valley. And to Reserve and Glenwood, New Mexico. In Round Valley, one of the best places to go to a good ol' country dance was a place called the Arvazona. And, yes, that is spelled correctly. Also, a good place to eat American food was the Safire Restaurant, and the best Spanish food was the Spanish Inn. In Silver City, you could eat at the Hilltop Cafe or Druley's. And dances were in the high school gym in Reserve or at the Mound House in Glenwood. To live bands. Someone DJ,ing a dance? Unheard of. Now, I don't know if the Arvazona is used any more or not. I think not. The Mound House, mostly empty, is used occasionally for specially booked parties, I think. And in the little mountain valley where I was raised, we could go to the two room school house and dance, or roller skate, or even watch a movie from time to time. Back when movie stars didn't cuss or undress, at least in public. It was replaced many years ago by a three room school house, but the old building stood for many years to be used for above mentioned events. Even Square dances. Does any one do that any more?? And if Bar room dancing was your thing, you could dance at the X A Bar in Springerville. Now, my wife and I have eaten Spanish food from Southern California to West Texas, from Northern Utah to Southern New Mexico. And for the most part it was good food. I even tried it one time, back in the 60's, in Kansas City, Mo. Now that was an experience. But no one, I repeat no one, has ever, in my humble opinion, been able to touch the Spanish Food of the Spanish Inn. Except one place. Maybe. A Spanish restaurant in Silver City called the Kountry Kitchen. There are several Spanish restaurants, and many other restaurants that serve Spanish food in Silver City, but to me, the Kountry Kitchen is the best.
OK, now a little update. The Spanish Inn is no more. It moved many years ago, from the side street where it used to be, to a more main street place, but it is now no more. The building where it was is now a laundry, I think. One of the watering holes of back then is now a funeral home and the XA Bar is just an empty building. The Hilltop Cafe is now a Chinese Buffet and Druley's gave way to a highway extension. Now, there are McDonalds, Arby's, Sonic's, Burger Kings and Taco Bells. Not to mention several other fast food places. Back then, you could order a burger and fries, and a malt, ( you can't get malt's much any more) and then wait while they were cooked, to your specifications. And they were good. The Safire Restaurant burned and was rebuilt, at the same location, but on a different footprint. And the food isn't as good as I remember it being. Different atmosphere there also. Maybe I'm just getting old. But all has changed from the 1950's and I can't think that it is all for the good. Or that it is necessarily progress. The only thing that remains the same is the Kountry Kitchen. Oh! wait. My wife and I ate there a few days ago and were told that they would be closed from Christmas to New Years, so the new owners could remodel and update the menu's. New Owners?? we ask. Yep, there will be some changes there also. We can only hope that the food will remain good. I'm getting to old to change every thing. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

WHERE DO OLD POLITICIANS GO? Well, I don't really know. Mostly don't really care. President Kennedy was killed while in office. President Nixon killed himself, politically and left in disgrace. President Carter wasn't really a good President, but I have to admire him and his wife some, for the charitable works he has participated in since leaving office. The two Presidents Bush have not been very visible, but they have been involved in a few things. President Clinton, who I didn't vote for, and given the opportunity wouldn't vote for again, has been very visible, poking his nose into things every chance he can make. So, I left out a couple of presidents and a lot of other politicians. Check on them if you are interested. I am going to mention a few New Mexico Governors now. Our current Governor, Bill Richardson, who leaves office at the end of this month, but left the country today to visit North Korea, has said that he is turning down a $1 million a year job running the Motion Picture Association. Given his penchant for all things Hollywood, that is a surprise to many in the State, including Moi. He has said he wants to remain in the State, probably in Santa Fe', and be a gentleman rancher. Well, OK. Past governors left office, and Santa Fe' and went: Garey Carruthers moved home to Las Cruces. Gary Johnson never liked Santa Fe' and now lives in Taos. Jerry Apodaca and Toney Anaya remain in Santa Fe', but you hardly ever hear of them. Bruce King returned to the family ranch in Stanley, where he raised cattle. A little aside. The incoming Governor, Susana Martinez, has been touted in the news as a possible U.S. Attorney General, or even a Vice Presidential candidate. Uh! She hasn't even taken office as Governor yet. Maybe we need to wait and see what she will do in that capacity, before shipping her off to D.C. In the preliminary, I like her. She does have her opinions on what she wants done, and I hear she was very strong in her opinions while serving as a District attorney. I think that is what we need in a governor. I'm sure she will be cross wise with the Legislature quickly, though. Stay tuned. I will end with this observation. A cattle rancher raises cattle. A horse rancher raises horses. A sheep rancher raises Sheep. A sugar rancher rancher raises cane. :-) So, since Bill Richardson wants to be a Gentleman Rancher he will raise... No, I don't think so either. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

WHO IS ON OUR SIDE; CHAPTER TWO: In my last post I mentioned a bit about my uneducated understanding of the political situation on the national scale. I'll expand on that just a bit more, then mention a bit about the local situation. I assume that the few of you that actually read this blog are aware of the current state of affairs in Washington. The President is caught in the middle of the Repub's and the Dem's on the tax break situation. Neither side likes any thing that is taking place. And some of the President's allies are turning on him. Again, this is what THEY want, with us caught with the Pres. In the middle. While they fight over us. Oh! well. Same song just using different words. Same solution, namely, we pay, regardless. Now, on to the local scene.
Back in October, slick Bill, the Governor of New Mexico and his group said that the deficit in the State was $240 Million. Susana Martinez, and Diane Denish both said they could balance the budget and not touch education. And they may have been able to do so. We will never know. Just two days after the election in November, it was reported by the Gov and his henchmen that the deficit was actually $450 million. Uh! what happened in the few days before and after the election that caused the State to be an additional $200 million in the hole. When Governor elect Martinez ask that, and blasted Richardson and his staff for lying to the public, he said, "Well, Mrs. Martinez just doesn't understand how the budget works, and if she had ask, she would have been told that it was actually $450 million. She, along with others, including her opponent Mrs. Denish, did ask, and were told the lower amount. Just another example of the type of politics that the Richardson administration has been ruining, uh, running this State. Oh, by the way, in case you haven't heard, Richardson and his people are still under federal investigation for pay to play cover ups. They may get him yet. More posts to come on the budget and the new legislature in the future, but the next one will have a tongue in cheek look at the future of the current President, the outgoing Governor and the incoming Governor. And maybe a few other things. Stay tuned to the View From The Ditch Bank.

VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SO WHO IS ON OUR SIDE: In November the American people voted out several congress people. In January, the house will be controlled by the Republicans, the Senate by the Democrats, but just barely. Now, many of the newly elected are saying that they received a mandate from the people. And that is to cut spending. Also, Mitch McConnell has said that he and the Republicans want to make President Obama a one term President. So, they want him to fail. I have no problem with him being a one term President, but in the meantime, what does that do to us? The Republicans refuse to raise taxes, the Democrats refuse to eliminate Entitlements. They both say that Americans want a balanced budget, and they are most likely correct. But they disagree on how to do that. What I, as an American want, is for a balanced budget, by cutting the fat and waste that is permeating D.C. And State governments. But more on the State side of it in the next post. So, in the next two years, the President and the Democrats will strive to raise taxes, saying that the Americans want the things they are used to getting. The Republicans will try to hold taxes down and cut Entitlements. And see that the President and the Congressional Democrats look like the bad guys, so Obama doesn't get the things done that he says he wants done, thus he fails and the people will vote him out. The Republicans won't get any thing done either, cause they will be too busy fighting the Democrats and causing the downfall of their causes. And the Democrats will be busy voting against anything the Republicans want to do. And the rest of us? We sit here in the middle of the fighting and say; Vote them all out and start over. And if the new ones can't do the job, vote them out also. My advise: cut the budget waste. Cut the pork. Cut the fraud. Do things that actually benefit the people. Forget their little power trips and do what is best for the country. Oh! well, it has probably never been that way, and until the Millennium, probably never will be. But it sounds good any way. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

IS IT TRUE, OR IS IT JUST ME? Does it seem like we are a two region country? New York and Washington, D.C. for the East and Los Angeles/Hollywood for the West. And the rest of us just filling or binding that holds the two together. Or apart. If you watch the news, and we here in the Rocky Mountain West, yes I said West, have a big storm, lots of snow, or wind, or rain, or some other so called ka trass tro fee, we might get an honorable mention. Or dishonorable mention, depending on what exactly is being mentioned. But have those same events in the above mentioned regions, and the talking heads on the news carry on forever. Like it never happened to any one else. OK, OK, so I understand that when we get a large winter storm, for example, it affects only a few people, maybe a few hundred thousand, and on the West or East it affects millions, still we just seem to be the step children to these two regions. Like nothing can come out of places like ours any way. And I am not feeling bad about it, or feeling sour grapes or any thing. Just filling up space on my Friday blog, while I put together a little better written blog for Tuesday. Not that it will be any better written, just perhaps more factual. But wouldn't those puffed up people that report on the news, or make the laws, or the movies, be surprised if they discovered that there are many of us ( or am I alone in this ) out in the real world, that work, sweat, play, pay our bills, go to church, go to bed at night and arise early in the morning, mind our own business, and don't really get excited about, or mostly don't even care about, most of the thing's that takes place in these "important" places. Is it legal in literature to write a sentence that long? Just saying. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

BLACK FRIDAY: Did you survive it? How about Cyber Monday. Now, I don't have a problem with either of those days, on a personal note. I don't participate in them as a lot of people do. I do wonder, though,about a couple or three of things. One of those things is, What is so important in a store, that would warrant camping out, in cold to freezing weather, for a day or more prior to Thanksgiving, just to be the first one in a store to buy something. And how about Cyber Monday. I heard that many people shop on line on that day, from work. Ummm, Uh! aren't these people supposed to be at work. Being paid by an employer to do work for said employer. On said employer's computer. Do employer's condone employees using company computers to shop online during business hours? I wouldn't, but then I'm old and old fashioned. Still, a days work for a days pay should be the mantra. And I wonder how many spend money they don't have, to buy things they don't need, to impress people they probably don't even like. And then spend most of the following year paying off the credit cards or store charge accounts. For said unneeded items. Well, maybe this year, not so much. I heard a tic ( that's a politician, for any who may be new to this blog ) say on the news a few days back, that the economy wasn't rebounding because the American people weren't spending money. Well, Duh! A lot of them are out of a job and don't have any money. Many that do have a job, are concerned that they might not have a job for long, so they are saving money. And the tic wanted those people to spend their money and not save it. Guess when you are a tic, you have enough money that you just don't understand that most Americans just don't have the spendable income that they do. Course, most of what they spend is the tax payers money any way. Maybe, when, and I'm optimistic enough to say when, the economy rebounds, people will spend money throughout the year, and businesses won't have to depend on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Then people can visit family on Thanksgiving day and employees can actually work and not shop on Cyber Monday. Yeah! in a perfect world. We could only hope. And That's the View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

NO, I DON'T REALLY NEED IT. Just this morning, on the Today Show, some gentleman was telling Matt Lauer about the latest electronic gizmo's. ( Heh, Heh a little play on words ) I don't remember all the things he was talking about. Fancy phones that do a lot of things. Some of them even make phone calls. There were gadgets that you can play on the TV, and I don't know what all. My point here is, he said These are things YOU NEED. Wrong. I don't need them.
Now, I have a cell phone. Sometimes I turn it on and make a call. I have several camera's, from a number of old 35 mm's to newer 35 mm's to a fancy digital camera. No added lenses, but still a nice camera. I want another camera, and I have one in mind I would like. I also want a Droid. I may get both of them next year, I may not. BUT I DON'T NEED THEM. I don't even need the ones I have. I lived very well with out ever having a cell phone. In fact, I live very well now without even turning on the one I have most of the time. I don't have a HD TV. I would like to have one, and probably will get one. But I Don't Need One. I don't even really need a TV. MLWFAE and I have friends that don't have TV's or if they have a tv to watch rented movies on, they don't have tv service. And they do just fine, thank you very much.
So, all these fancy things are very nice. And I use some of them, and will continue to take advantage of many of them. Like this computer that tells me when I misspell a word. Which is often. But, I don't need them. Oh! wait. maybe I need the computer. And how many of the other things I mentioned will eventually become needs. No! I resist. I will not succumb! I will not! I will not! I will not! I will not! I will not! And isn't that the way we are. We resist until we are wore down by the ads and the people telling us that we need these things. Well, I will succumb to some of the wants, but I still say, we do not need most of the things we are told we need. Food, shelter, clothing, those are needs. Transportation is necessary, but not as fancy as we are told we need. In this Thanksgiving time, there are so many in the world who have very little, or nothing, when most of us have so much, that I think we need, yes need, to contemplate on just what it is we actually need, and put it in perspective with the rest of the world. I wish for all, even all the world beyond those few who actually stoop to read this blog, a happy and satisfying Thanksgiving Day and a good Holiday season. And that's the Wish From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

WOULDN'T IT BE FUNNY. You know, if animals actually had a sense of humor. The fall deer hunting season is about over. Bears are getting ready to hibernate for the winter, many animals will be moving down from the high country to the low lands. Deer will be wiping the sweat of tension from their faces, as they won't have to be looking out for the legal hunter. Turkey's may have to be aware for a little while longer. That includes those with beaks and feathers. The other ones are always in season. But; maybe just one last prank, you know, to get the tension out. Before settling down to the activities of winter and having to put on a red nose and fly away, pulling a sleigh. Oh! different deer. Sorry. Well, have a good Thanksgiving day and a good holiday Season. May only post once next week, then back to some serious posting after that. Maybe.

And that's the wish From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE A BOOK? One that is seldom read. I think a lot of people in this country could feel like a book, with the book ends being Los Angeles in the West and Washington D.C. in the East. Probably New York City backing up D.C. And what makes these book ends alike. Well, one makes the laws and the other ignores them. Or thinks they are above them. Wait, don't a lot of those making those laws think they are above them also. Guess they are a lot alike. Have you been keeping up with the Charlie Rangel thing. In case you haven't, you haven't been keeping up with the news. Good time Charlie has been under investigation by a House ethics committee for the past two years on ethics violations. And now they have found him guilty. And he is upset. But will he be sent to jail. Nope, Just censured by his "peers" in the house. Maybe. And, Maybe he will lose a few perks. He could be ousted from his job, but probably won't be. We will be watching, though. And perhaps commenting. Still, a house ethics committee finding one of its own guilty of ethics violations is kinda like a cop that speeds up and down the high ways when they are not in "hot pursuit' and then pulling over a private citizen and giving a ticket for speeding. Makes you wonder how they can do it. And with people like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen crying foul when they are arrested for their crimes, and people like Nancy Pelosi wanting to stay in power in the face of people not wanting her there, and the many other politicos wanting to keep the tax dollars rolling into their pockets, those of us that try to pay our taxes so they can fill their pockets, and abide by the laws of the land, feel squeezed between these two bookends. Those who make the laws and those who ignore them. Oh! wait. Maybe there are a lot of books in the middle that fit the bookend mold after all. And maybe "mold" is a good word to fit them with. Maybe it is actually people like me that hopes for a better future that fits the party mentioned in the Andy Capp cartoon. And That Is The view From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE? Flashing red and blue lights behind you and you pull over. Officer: "I need to see your license and registration and insurance papers. OK, I am citing you for littering and spreading a hazardous material on a public highway. You may choose to see a judge if you like." Driver: Well, I like.
Judge: How do you plead?
Driver: Not Guilty, Your Honor.
Judge: But the officer has the indisputable evidence.
Driver: May I present my defense, Your Honor.
Judge: OK go ahead
Driver: Well, it is like this. I saw an ad on TV for a brand of oil that would get me 30% better gas mileage, so I bought it and had it put in the engine of my car. Then I saw an ad on TV that said that their tires would give me 40% better gas mileage, so I bought them and had them installed on my car. Then I saw an ad in a car parts store for a spark plug that would give me 30% better gas mileage, so I bought them and had them installed in the engine. Then my dealer told me that if I would have their new improved air filter installed it would save me 15% on gas mileage, so I told them to go ahead. So you see, your honor, that added up to 115% better gas mileage and my car was making gas, so I had to remove the gas cap so the gas would have somewhere to go. And that is what the officer saw. If you need to blame someone, blame the advertisers that show all the savings that their products will bring about. And that's why I am not guilty. And that's the tale, er View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

AS THE SUN SETS: How was your morning. Last Sunday morning, to be exact. If you live in Arizona, USA, or Queensland, Australia, it was the same as any other Sunday morning in early November. Most every where else, you got an extra hour of sleep. Uh! sure. the body and mind will wake up according to what they have been doing for the last several months, regardless of what the clock said. And the birds will sing, the roosters will crow and the cows will need milked and the other animals fed according to a schedule that has nothing to do with the clock. Except that those things that have to do with human interaction will also change, according to the human set clock. The sun rises with only a minute change in time and latitude as the earth continues it's tilt to the north, sending the sun to rise more fully in the south for a period of time. On December 21, we here in the northern hemisphere will experience the shortest daylight day of the year, winter officially begins, and the earth will begin it's tilt back to the south, bringing the sun back north to lengthen the daylight time here. And in March 2011, except in those places more attuned to whatever it is they are attuned to, we will once again experience that change of the clocks, back to daylight saving time. I sure would like to know where they save it. The daylight, that is. And who they are. The Indian says daylight saving time is like cutting a foot off of one end of a blanket and sewing it on the other end to make it longer. Well, just like that blanket, the day is still 24 hours, regardless of where the hands point on the face of the clock. So, as the sun sets on the 2010 daylight saving time season, I think we would be better off to just decide where we want the hands to point on the clock for a 24 hour period and leave them there. Changing the clock don't change the sun, the spin or rotation, or tilt of the earth, or the time the rooster crows. Sometimes us humans just aren't satisfied with the way nature regulates things. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

IS IT REALLY OVER: The election. No it isn't. Seems that a couple of States have yet to finish counting a few ballots. But THE ANNOYING ADS ARE GONE. I really didn't think I would revisit the political scene this soon, but decided I have a few thoughts to put to paper, uh! computer, before leaving that topic for a time. Maybe I'll wait until January 2011. Probably not, but who knows? And why then? You ask. Cause the new State legislature convenes for the 60 day session to decide what to do to us in 2011. New Mexico also has a new Governor to begin the new year. To me, she is the governor, and, I HOPE, will be a good one. But for those who like to keep track of those kind of things, she made history on two counts. First, she is New Mexico's first woman governor. Second, she is the Nation's first woman Hispanic governor of any state. While news media types have mentioned this item, many times, she has never mentioned it at all, that I have heard. Her opponent, Democrat Diane Denish, stated that the people made a mistake and she would have been the better choice to move this State forward, but she did ask her Democrat friends in the legislature to work with Mrs. Martinez and the Republicans in the legislature for the good of New Mexico. The legislature, like the State, is heavily Democrat populated. We will see what actually gets done. The first thing that Mrs. Martinez said she wanted done was to audit ALL State Departments and see which ones could actually sustain cuts and which ones could not. While many of us agree with this, there are those who say she can't or won't do it. We will see.

On the national scene, the President has decided the people want a change from his politics and was upset the the enemy ( that's what he called us Republicans) gave his party such a shellacking. He has decided that maybe he needs to work closer with the repubs now and see what can be done to get the economy moving. Of course his government pumped an additional $600 billion into the "Economy" right after the election, to the dismay of the Republicans and a lot of the people of the country. Just ran up the country's debt some more. A debt that the young people will have to pay off, if they ever can. He has called a meeting with the new and old leaders of the house to work on this. Oh! wait. he can't do that it yet. He's out of the office, again. Even out of the country until the middle of November. He's making a stop in India. Maybe he's checking out the Billion dollar house there. Getting ideas to remodel the White House, perhaps? Or a place to retire to, when he is out of office. Well, we can only hope that all works out in 2011 and 2012 for the good of the country. And that's Oh! the picture at the beginning of this post. Well, read the title of this blog.

View From The Ditch Bank

IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU: I assume that the few people who actually choose to read my ramblings took some time out of their day to vote. Assuming you were eligible to do so. And except for a possible few County or State politicians, most of the people running for office that said it was all about you, well, it ain't. It's all about them. And the power and perks that they envision they can collect.Especially the power. And about Democrats staying in power, and Republicans taking it away from them. But never about the people. I will note here, however, that the Republican Lady, Susana Martinez, did win the Governor position over the Democrat, Diane Denish. Mrs. Denish in her concession speech said that she would have been the better choice. Mrs. Martinez paid honor to Mrs. Denish for the years of service she had given to the State. Then she gave a good speech, and told what she wants to do. Time will tell if it happens. I hope so. Now, for most of those elected yesterday across the country, If they really wanted to be of service to the country, and since most of them in the National arena politic have more wealth than those of us average people can even dream about, they would take of that wealth and do some good with it, like Bill and Melinda Gates do. Quietly, going about doing good. But since it ain't gonna happen, I will comment on that in my usual uneducated manner.

Does the weather seem to be getting a little cooler now. It is, after all, fall, but the weather predicting type of people say it is one of the warmest falls on record since records started being kept over 100 years ago. Well, it will cool down now. In spite of what the weather people say, you know, about jet streams and La Nino or La Nina, or what ever is in the atmosphere, the warmth has been all that hot air coming from the mouths of those tics wanting to get your vote. And the burning of the millions of dollars on TV ads. Now that the mouths have been closed, and the fires have been doused, the weather will cool.

I was not raised in Arizona, but spent some of my youth visiting that State from time to time. Being in my teens during the 50's, that's the 1950's, I visited a cafe in St. Johns, Arizona from time to time. And on a placard on the wall was a poem that I memorized. Since we are now much removed for the 50's, and I am much past my 50's I have forgot exactly how the poem went. But, I have filled in a line or two of my own, and will quote the most of what that poem said. Here goes.

ELECTIONS ARE OVER

RESULTS ARE KNOWN

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

IS CLEARLY SHOWN

SO LETS FORGET ALL OUR SQUABBLES

AND SHOW MY OUR DEEDS

THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE

WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS

AS WE LET ALL OUR DIFFERENCES

BECOME PART OF THE PAST

I'LL KISS YOUR ELEPHANT

AND YOU'LL KISS MY...DONKEY

I have often wished I could find a copy of that poem again, although that is mostly how it was written. Well, I hope all of you who are eligible actually did exercise you privilege to vote and did so for the candidate of your choice. But today many are probably seeing red and many more are feeling blue but whatever your feelings are, if you did not exercise your right to vote, but could have, well then I will quote another placard from the 50's that was on the wall of the above mentioned cafe. It simply said

KWITCHERBELLYAKIN

And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

911 WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY? Caller--"I'd like to report a drunk driver" Operator--"What is your location?" Caller--"I-25 in northern New Mexico" Operator--"OK I'll notify law enforcement and get an officer headed that way." Caller--Uh! an officer is already here. He is the drunk driver.
Ok Ok so this is a fictional call. Kinda. earlier this week, on the news from Albuquerque, it was reported that a Deputy Sheriff for a northern County was located on the side of -I-25, passed out in his patrol car. And he was on duty. And he was MIA. When State Police found him, they gave him a sobriety test, twice, and he tested 4 times over the legal limit. Which is .08. So this makes his alcohol content about 3. something. He admitted to drinking during the day and a bottle of Tequila was found in his patrol car. The following day, it was reported that earlier in the day before the deputy was found drunk, he had lost a 14 year old prisoner he was transporting to jail. The 14 year old was later apprehended by another police department. So, can't you just see the hilarity that could take place in court.
Judge to Deputy. "How do you plead. Not guilty, your honor. Uh! yeah I was under the influence, but I wasn't driving, I was beside the road asleep. Judge--You were passed out. OK Ok so I was passed out, but I had to stop and take a nap so I wouldn't have a wreck. So that makes me a responsible person and not guilty of driving drunk.
Judge to 14 year old. In addition to the previous charges, I am charging you with escaping while in custody. 14 Year old. But your honor, I had to get out of the car. He was driving drunk, and my parents taught me to never ride with a drunk driver, so I was protecting my life, and am not guilty of escape.
Ho Hum, just another day in the life of Law Enforcement in New Mexico.
And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

The View From The Ditch Bank

THERE ARE WINNERS, AND THEN THERE ARE WINNERS: A few weeks ago I received in the snail mail, an envelope from someone. A law firm or someone like that, I believe. Inside was a lot of papers, basically saying that someone who holds a popular credit card had filed a lawsuit against said credit card company, and had hired an attorney. This was subsequently turned into a class action suit, and according to the credit card company's records, I qualified to receive an amount of money, should the plaintiff's be successful. I had some options. I could toss the papers and do nothing. And if a settlement was reached, that is what I would get. Nothing. I could hire my own attorney and join in the lawsuit on my own. At my expense. Or I could sign my acceptance of the law firm that had been retained, and then receive an amount of money when a settlement was reached. Depending on just what, exactly, my status was with said credit card co. I would receive an amount, credited to my account, somewhere between $30.00 or so up to $57.00. Yep, tops, $57.00. Well, a $57.00 credit on my account, sometime in 2011, would be fine,and since all it cost me was the price of a stamp, I signed said paper and sent it back. By the time this all comes to an end, I will probably have forgotten about it. Oh! and the law firm. If they win, they receive $12 million. Clearly the big winner. Well, maybe not. I am sure there are enough card holders to make the $57.00 each add up to probably millions more. So the Card Co. is the big loser. Well Maybe. This situation has been going on for 15 years or so. How much money did the card company make in that 15 years. Did they anticipate this coming up and put money aside, in an interest bearing account, to combat this, in the event it did come up? Don't know. I do know, however, that governments and company's do accounting different than us common people do. They don't say "Well, I have a hundred dollars, I can spend a hundred dollars without going in the red. Nope, the government raises taxes and company's raise prices and do other accounting things that I don't understand. By the time said company actually pays the attorneys, and the card holders, they will have figured out ( probably already have figured out ) a way to take a tax deduction, or whatever they do to show a loss, without actually losing, and will do all the other things that company's do to spread this around. So they will not actually lose any thing, in the long run. And my credit card statement. Oh I'm sure it will be charged a fee somewhere and somehow along the line, that will make back the $57.00 for the company. And after that, they will keep on receiving that fee. And while I may be a little winner for a time, and the attorneys will be a big winner, I think in the long run, the Credit Card Company will turn out to be the Biggest winner of all. And That Is The view From The Ditch Bank.

The View From The Ditch Bank

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THE CLICK: I remember one time many years back, when I had been working in the mine for just a short time, An assistant foreman was watching me at my job and perceived I had done something wrong. I was a truck driver of a truck similar to the one in the picture. He pulled me aside and commenced to perform the proverbial chewing. After a bit, as I was explaining what had actually happened, it dawned on him what I was saying and that he was wrong in his perception. You could just see that light bulb click. It was gratifying to me to realize that he was wrong. I wondered why, though, he wouldn't apologise. Instead, he just mumbled a few more words, got in his pickup and drove off, leaving me to get back to work. Have you ever been in a similar situation. It sure is funny when it happens. except, of course, when it is you who comes to the realization that you are the one who is wrong. Still, there is that moment of "Click".

Well, now I am having more and more of those clicking moments. Oh! wait a minute. Maybe I am changing the subject a bit. But things are really clicking for me now a days. You know, in my knees, my hips and my elbows. Yep, clicking all the time. Now if I could just get the clicks in time with each other, maybe I could start a rhythm band. No? Well, guess you are correct. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch Bank

IS IT EVEN WASHABLE? The politics of today's world. I don't know about the ads in your area, but here they are DIRTY. And after all is said and done, and before this is over I think all will be said and done, I wonder how the winner can look at their selves in the mirror and think they did good. I will assume that any of you who may actually read this blog, have seen the ads being talked about on the news. Those of a "National" interest. So I will write about a few in the State of N.M. Actually, some of them just leaves us in a state of confusion. There are three congressional districts in this State. The race for congress in the 1st and 2nd districts are getting so dirty it will take a box of Tide to clean up. The accusations are flying back and forth till you just want to say, Vote for neither of them. In the 1st district, The Republican ads are blaming the Democrat incumbent of spending billions while in Washington the last two years. Will, he did side with Pelosi on a regular basis, but he didn't do this all by himself, like the ad implys. the Dem is accusing the Repub of messing with Social Security as a lobbyist. Well, he didn't, and it has been proven he didn't, but the ads keep on coming. In the second district, both candidates are from the eastern part of the state. Neighbors, almost. Both very rich oil men. The repub has had the job before. He dropped out two years ago to run for the Senate. He lost. Now he wants his house seat back. He is being accused as being the most crooked member of congress. And selling his oil company for much more than it was worth, and then voting for items that would give the new owners perks. the dem incumbent is accused of taking a 3 million bonus from his company and cutting the health insurance of his employees. Just days before Christmas. He doesn't deny that. He says, I haven't taken any salary or bonus's from my company for the last 21 months, and and I had to make cuts to keep the people working. Um, perhaps so. But with the 3 million bonus and his congressional salary, he didn't need to take a salary from his company. And the ladies running for governor. The repub, who I will vote for, has, according to the polls, a 12 point lead over the dem. The Dem is the current Lieutenant Governor, and has been so for the last 8 years. She is saying she will create jobs, cut taxes, etc, etc. ( The repub says the same thing ) But the Dem has made a few mis steps in her ads. The last one, she accused her opponent of being a Tejano. Well, she was born in El Paso, but has lived her adult life in N.M. The dem is from the Southeast part of the state, and that area has been referred to for years as little Texas. Texans now joke that whoever wins, they will have two governors and New Mexico will have none. Who ever wins, it is getting nasty and dirty. On second thought, this is too tough a job for Tide. I think it will take Oxydol and Clorox to clean this up. Here and nationwide. And that is the View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE: OK Bear with me. I have been writing this post in my mind off and on for a few days now. If I wrote every thing I have thought to put in it, I would need to divide it into chapters and look for a publisher. Having said that, I will post some thoughts about the recent rescue of the Chilean miners, and the bond they now share.
We all have a bond with something or someone. A family, a church group, a work group, a community or even more than one of these. Growing up in a small Mormon community, I felt that bond of church and community. Marrying and moving away, I lost that sense of community and have not found it again any where I have lived since. I worked for a few years for a regional airline. Even though as a station agent in a small airport, I felt a kinship with airline employees every where, even though my contact was with the pilot's and stewardesses when the plane was on the ground. The rest of the employees were known to me only through teletype messages. Still, all these many years later, I feel the anguish when a plane goes down, or the lift of kinship when a plane is landed on the Hudson river. None of those employees know me. I have been out of the airline business since 1968. Still, there is a feeling in me when these things take place. I recently retired after 40 years in the mining industry. It is an open pit operation, with very large mining equipment. Never been underground. Still, my wife and I watched, with the world, as the 33 miners were brought to the surface one by one, until there were none left to bring up. We listened to the talking heads on the various channels, mostly CNN and Fox, as the hosts interviewed "experts", mostly Doctors. Most of them, maybe all of them, had no clue what they were talking about. We talked about what they didn't know. These 33 miners were in a survival chamber. They knew rescue was on the way. They didn't know how soon, so they went into survival mode. A mode that would make the TV show Survivor look like children playing in a sandbox. They have a mindset to even go underground that the "Experts" don't know any thing about. After their survival was discovered, they were given food and water, and video access to the outside world. Their health, mental and physical, now astounds the Doctor's. I feel that my experience around large equipment makes it easier for me to understand the effort that was expended to bring in the equipment that was able to level a spot on the side of a mountain that would hold the drills and other equipment needed to effect this rescue. The GPS system that told the engineers where the survival chamber was so they could drill in the right place the first time. I felt a bond with those operating that equipment and the miners waiting to be rescued. The different personalities of those miners was evident as they surfaced. Still, they all had a job to do, and they did it. And they survived. And they will continue to do so. Did it change them? For sure it did. Will they have mental problems? Undoubtedly some will. But I dare say that they will continue to astound the medical profession with the recovery most of them will make. And when this event is talked about, I will feel a bond with those men that is hard to put into words. A bond, even though I don't know them and they have never heard of me. And never will. Still, I understand somewhat of the mentality it took for them to survive. And long live the bond that forges us all together as human beings on this earth of different people. Different nationalities, different cultures, different politics and even different religions. Still, a bond that all should understand each in our own way. And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch Bank

THINGS HAVEN'T REALLY CHANGED ALL THAT MUCH: This past June there was the start of a 150th anniversary of the Pony Express. The first celebration I am aware of was in June in El Dorado, Calif. and the last I am aware of was a Labor day parade in Fallon Nevada. I know there were other celebrations in Calif., Nevada, Missouri and Utah through out the summer. The one in June starts in Ca. and ends in St. Joseph Mo. a reenactment of the original ride. Some events are in conjunction with this event, others are independant of it. What? you aren't aware of the Pony Express? Or the celebration's going on this year? Well, it was a short lived operation. It began in April 1860 and ended in October of 1861. It covered a 2000 mile route from St. Joseph. Mo. and ended at Sacramento, Ca. Postage was $5.00 a half ounce ( about $75.00 in today's money ) but eventually fell to $1.00 a half ounce. The fastest time recorded to cover that 2000 miles was seven days and 17 hours to deliver President Lincoln's inaugural address to California. The completion of telegraph lines across the country spelled the demise of the Pony Express. The enterprise ended $200,000 in debt. Now, the post office, or snail mail, delivers the mail at a lesser cost, but not much faster. And they are millions of dollars in debt. And are asking for a raise in rates. Just like the telegraph lines spelled the demise of the Pony Express, will e mail, face book, twitter and whatever else is now available, not to mention ( OK I won't ) what ever else is out there or may yet come about, spell the demise of the post office? Just a bit about the Pony Express riders. Even though the picture shows a pistol, they were not issued uniforms nor weapons. They were told to outrun interlopers. Mostly they did. It was an innovative enterprise for the time. Just like all the electronic medium is today. What will be the next thing to go by the way side. Already, e mail is becoming almost extinct. And I am just learning how to use it, kinda. All in all, I think a national postal service is essential to the nation. Just how it will evolve to become financially solvent, we will see. And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch bank

ALL I REALLY WANT IS: My wife and I belong to a couple of those big box warehouse type clubs. You know the ones. Where you can buy bulk items. There isn't one here in the little hamlet ( that's a small town, not a little pig ) where we live. And we haven't been to one for a while. And we are getting low on a few things. Like dish detergent. We use Dawn. No, this is not a commercial for Dawn. I'm sure whatever you use is just fine. We just happen to like Dawn. So, a few days ago, when we were in a big box store, ( a little brother to one of the big box warehouses ) we decided to buy a bottle of Dawn. Oh my gosh! What a choice. Now, they don't have the big bottles like we get at big brother. Just a regular size like you buy in a grocery store. But the choices. There were bottles of Dawn with Aloe, bottles that smelled like Cherries, or Lemons, or Oranges, or Cinnamon Apple, or Springtime or day time or like sunshine or a cold winter day. Well, maybe I made up that last one, but not most of them. The colors were yellow, orange, pink, blue, green, cloudy white, clear,and probably a few other colors and smells that I have forgotten about. Well, I don't know about you, but I don't need to use most of these. And I can dry my hands and then lotion if I want to. Does the dishwasher care what the detergent smells like? I think not. Maybe all those smells make working in a sewer plant more pleasant. No, I don't think so either. And there is one called original scent. After all this, which one is the original one. I don't remember. However, whether you wash dishes by hand like we do, or use a dishwasher like most people do, after all is said and done, I don't need detergent that smells like it came from the garden or an orchard, I just want dishes to be and smell clean. As in, no smell at all. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED? We used to be a great nation. Well, we are still a great nation, but something has happened. Have you been keeping up on the Education Nation that is/was going on in Washington. The D.C. one. It is all about education. I am in favor of education. I wasn't a good student when I was in school, but that wasn't the fault of the school. I just wasn't a good student. I would be a MUCH better student now. I guarantee it. When I was in school, teachers had control over the class room. Cafeteria employees had control over the cafeteria and bus drivers had control over the bus. And physical punishment, by the teacher any way, was not only allowed, but expected. Now, I am not, I repeat, I am not, in favor of teachers being allowed to whip, or beat a student. I do favor a teacher being allowed to discipline a student. I my few years, well 12, of schooling, I know of very few times that a teacher resorted to using spanking as a form of punishment. One of those was in high school. Yes, they had high school's even back then. And the student deserved that punishment. But now, that is not allowed. A good thing, perhaps, but some form of discipline needs to be allowed the teacher, without the parents crying fowl, oops, foul. This is a nation that developed nuclear submarines, put a man on the moon, and many other good things. And maybe a few bad ones. We had good schools and good teachers. Mostly. And we scored high against other countries. Now, we score very low against other countries when it comes to education. Why??? I don't know. That's why this blog is the uneducated opinion of me. But I do know this. The last President Bush started a program called No Child Left Behind. A noble idea. I don't know what all was involved in that idea, and have seen and heard many reports that said it didn't work. Or isn't working. Again, Why? The Democratic party is wanting to put money into Charter Schools. This is one of the things I have heard from the Education Nation reports. I find that ironic, somewhat, as the Democrat lady running for Governor in the State of N.M. is against this and accuses her Republican opponent as wanting to do that. Seems like the Repub. is in tune with the national Dems. Did you see the young teacher's comment on the news during an early report on the Education Nation. She wants to teach. She said ( and I will probably not quote exactly ) Some students are slower that others and need extra help. Sometimes she would like to stay a little longer after school and help this student, but she can't. Why, Cause the union won't let her. She would like to work extra with this student, and give him or her the extra help and assistance they need to learn, but she can't, cause the union won't let her. Those few of you that know me well, know my opinion of union's, so I won't comment on that. I do know that something needs to be done. And this State is getting ready to cut millions of dollars, again, from the education budget. Both candidates for Governor say they won't, but they have the LFC and the Legislature to contend with. I think a lot of fat can be cut from the bureaucracy of both federal and state budgets and leave education alone. The inventor of Facebook has committed $100 million to New Jersey schools and Bill and Melinda Gates have committed $60 million to education. That will help, but will it be enough? Not until parents step in and help their children from an early age, instilling a desire to learn, and teaching them readin, writin, and rithmetic long before they start pre pre school. Some parents do. Some don't. Some can't. And, unfortunately, some just don't care. And that's The View From The Ditch bank

View From The Ditch Bank

HO HUM! Here we go again. What do Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Johnny Tapia all have in common. Doing the crime, not the time. Although Paris Hilton was recently not allowed to enter Japan to promote her clothing line, or whatever it is she is promoting. She said, " That's OK, I respect their laws". Uh! If she had respected the laws right here in the U S of A, she wouldn't have been denied entrance into Japan. But then, if she were incarcerated in Japan, would they let her out after serving a few hours of a much longer sentence. And Lohan. She was jailed without bond. But a different Judge set bond at $300,000.00 and she bonded out. I have no problem with her bonding out on the bond set. She can afford it. I have a problem with her being let out constantly after breaking probation and then finally being jailed without bond, just to have someone else give her a bond so she could get out of jail. And Johnny Tapia. Who? you ask. Well, he's a nobody as far as I am concerned. He lives in Albuquerque, N.M. and is a world champion boxer. Ever heard of him? Probably not. But he is constantly being put in prison for Heroin and Cocaine use. Like Hilton and Lohan, he constantly breaks parole and is put back in jail. Then let out if he will behave. But he never does. Or, "I need to get out so I can train for my next fight." And he is let out, only to be found guilty again of using afore mentioned drugs. And put back in jail, only to be let out again, to go search for a missing relative, or whatever current excuse he may come up with. Do I blame these Celebs. Of course. But I blame the Judges more. Seems they could have the backbone to just say, Stay In Jail. I am sure there are many local "celebs" who fit this same MO. How much does it cost the tax payers to fund these people's shenanigans, as opposed to just letting them stay in jail until they have served their time. And how many judges around the country let them out, time after time. Personally, I am not impressed with any of the three mentioned, or any of the others that seem to be swooned over in Hollywood or on the Today show. There are just too many common folk that would be much better company in my uneducated opinion. And I will blog more about that in a future post. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

IS THE CRISIS REALLY OVER: I don't think so. I'm starting this blog talking about the recent oil spill in the Gulf. The well has been capped and plugged. No more oil is spilling into the waters of the Gulf. The crisis is over. Uh! no. Not really. Scientists are still finding oil deep within the ocean waters. Tar balls are still washing up on beaches. The shores are still polluted. Fisherman still can't go back to work fishing. I saw one news report from Alaska, where it was shown that just by digging down a foot or so on the beach's there was still oil pooled up there. After all these years. I think the Gulf will suffer for many years to come from this pollution. Not only the waters and the land, but tourists will be slow to return, fishing will be slow to resume, and people will be uncertain if the fish is safe to eat. Won't bother me, as I eat very little fish anyway. But I am just one person, so the economic impact from my non fish eating will be as nothing. Not even a drop to start concentric rings moving across the water. How will it affect BP. I can't even begin to guess, but the impact on those who actually make a living from the gulf and fishing will be devastating.

Now, a little side trip. Did you see the news article about the people of Bell, California becoming upset with the tics that was running that city. They had voted themselves incomes of hundreds of thousands of $'s. And they got caught. Literally. They are now in jail, unless they have bailed themselves out. The people of the city, and the their attorneys, have charged these officials with fraud, and corruption. And they have the proof. So they swept them out of office. Wouldn't it be funny ( read, good for the country ) if that was just the ringing of the starting bell, there in Bell, for the sweeping out of office of all corrupt politicians, going from there up and down the coast, then heading East sweeping out all of the corrupt tics before the broom of justice. Don't forget to make a big sweep right here in New Mexico as the broom goes by. If this was done, clear to the Atlantic ocean, when all these corrupt tics were swept into the ocean, the BP oil spill would be hardly a blip on the radar in comparison to the pollution that would then take place. While that would not be good for the Ocean waters, it would sure nuff be good for the land. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

ARE WE ALREADY THERE. I read a little story the other day and it went something like this. I say something like this, cause I'm gonna paraphrase some of it. "A man was fishing from the boat dock of a small sleepy coastal fishing village in Mexico. A Mexican man came to the dock in his boat with a nice catch of yellow fin tuna. The man admired this catch of fish and ask the Man how long it took him to catch these fish. Not very long, he replied. "Then why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican man replied, "Because I have enough to support my families needs. I live a very full life, Senior, he said. I sleep late, I fish a little, take a siesta with my wife, play with my children, go into town in the evening and play guitar with my friends. The man on the dock then said, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. If you would fish longer,you could catch more fish and then you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fish. What then, senior. They you could buy more boats, catch more fish, sell directly to the cannery, making more money, where by you could buy the cannery or start a cannery of your own. What then, Senior. Well, you would have to leave this village, move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles or New Your in order to run your financial empire. And how long would all of this take, Senior. About 20 years, the MBA replied. Then what, senior? Well, then you announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and make millions. Millions, Senior. Then what? Then you can retire, move to a small coastal fishing village in Mexico, where you sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, go into the village in the evening and play your guitar with your friends.
Sometimes it seems we make our lives too complicated. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE? Time of the year, that is? Recently I received one of those forwarded messages that gives someones opinion, and ask you to put in your opinion and forward it on. I did so. One of the questions ask was, what is your favorite holiday. I don't really have a favorite, but finally put down July 4Th. I will do a post at a later time about my uneducated opinion on our holidays. At least the more popular ones. For now, well, I got to thinking about that forwarded message and thought, I guess I have a favorite time of the year more than a favorite holiday. And we are coming into it. The fall. Now, I like all seasons. This area where I live advertises that it has 4 gentle seasons. I guess it does. The summer has very few days that get over 100* and the winter has few, if any, days that get down to 0*. We do get some snow, and several freezing nights. The spring is probably the really bad one, as it has weeks and weeks of sustained high winds. But I like the winter, when the land is put to bed and life slows down somewhat. The spring time is a time to reflect on the things that didn't get done last year, and preparation for this year. The summer is usually busy, with long days and lots of time spent in the garden, and traveling a little bit. But the fall, with it's colors, the harvest in, the nights cool enough to sleep with just a sheet, but the windows still open, the morning cool and crisp, no noise except the birds singing ♪ ♫ ♫ ♪ in the trees, and the yipping of a distant Coyote, serenading the moon, or whatever it is that Coyotes do. No noise from the neighbors, yet ( like I'm hearing now, blaring music) and just cool weather setting the crisp flavor in the apples that are not yet picked. A few veggies still left to harvest from the garden. Fruit and veggies have been frozen, bottled or pickled. And it is just a good time to set back and relax. I guess that I like fall the best, and that would include Thanksgiving, so maybe I made a mistake on the forward message about my favorite holiday. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE HEARD IT ALL, you realize you haven't. There are head gates, fence gates, Watergate. But have you heard about Cabbagegate? You haven't. Well, even if you have, I'm going to tell you about it. It seems that a man, Steve Miller, in Clarkston, Georgia, has been fined $5,200.00 for growing too many vegetables in his back yard. Yep, you read that correctly. Why did they fine him. Well, his garden is 1 and 1/4 acres. And the area is zoned against urban agriculture. But still, it is his back yard. And it is his garden. He has been raising a garden there for 15 years, giving away veggies to friends and selling some in farmers markets. But last September the Dekalb County Code Enforcement officer cited him for doing this. Cause it is against the law. A zoning law. So he got the zoning changed to allow him to garden. While getting that done, he quit working the land, and allowed it to lie fallow. Then he was fined for hiring workers to clean the weeds from it while it was lying fallow. A landscaper by trade, he said he does not garden as a living, and would have to sell his house if he tried to do so. Many are up in arms about this, and laws are being looked at and changed around the country. Such as backyard beekeeping allowed in New York and backyard chickens in Seattle and New Haven, Conn. Mr. Miller is happy that the people helped him get the zoning laws changed, but he is still having to pay the fines. He has appealed, and the County refused to comment as the case is still pending. Well, We would sure be in trouble if this law applied to us. All though we haven't sold any products, we sure have given a lot away. If we were to be fined, we may be calling on those who received the fruit and veggies, for assistance. :-) And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch B ank

LOCAL TICS, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS: Just a short note about the Koran/Mosque item. I have stated in a past post that I don't think it would be a good idea for the Mosque to be built near ground zero. Whatever happens in that situation is yet to be determined. I am glad, however, that the Preacher in the South decided not to burn the Muslim Holy Book. If the media had not jumped all over that issue, I think it would have died a natural death anyway. Now, Donald Trump has offered to buy the building where the Mosque will be built. At a prophet, uh profit, to the Muslim's who own it. Sounds like a win win situation for every one. Well, except maybe Mr. Trump.
Now for the local political scene. Slick Bill just returned from a trip to Cuba, and is now in Spain. Why Spain??? Well, he says it is to help people in New Mexico find jobs. And help the State economically. Oh! Well then, if that is what he is doing, then good for him. Unfortunately it is not why he is there. So why is he there. Cause he can and cause he is Bill Richardson, and cause he likes the national and international limelight. That's why. It would help the New Mexico economics if he would stay home and govern.
Now, to the ladies who would replace him. They have finally agreed on something. They both want something better for New Mexico. They disagree on how to bring this about. They both agree on the fact that they want to fund education, they disagree on just how to do this. What they don't say is that whatever they want to do, they have to convince the legislature to pass the necessary bills to bring that about. I assume they know that, they just don't say that. According to the polls, ( who can really believe a poll of 1000 people or less, when there are 1000's of voters ) Republican Susana Martinez is several points ahead of Diane Denish. Now, the past legislature abolished the death penalty in New Mexico. Mrs. Denish wants to keep it that way. Mrs. Martinez wants to return it back to the State Judicial system. According to the polls ( see above statement) the majority of the people in the State want the death penalty back. Including me. The Richardson administration, which includes Mrs. Denish, has given around 50,000 illegal immigrants drivers licences. While Mrs. Denish wants to rework the law, she thinks giving these licenses is OK. Mrs. Martinez wants to abolish the law, and repeal the licenses that have already been issued. One of her ads states that once these illegal people get a license, they then are able to drive any where in the states, with documentation. Maybe she has something there that we need to think about. In a serious manner. One last thing. The legislature, under Slick Bill's governance, passed a law to make medical marijuana legal. It is still against Federal law. Mrs. Denish supports that law. Mrs. Martinez does not. I am against the law. A point of view, from a Doctor friend of mine, who happens to belong to the same faith I do, has stated that Marijuana is similar to booze, and we have legal booze, so we can legalize marijuana, and collect the taxes from it, just like the state does from alcohol. A point to think about. But perhaps the Federal Government needs to do the same. time will tell. Wait and see. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTROL---Not quite two years ago, Barack Obama was elected President of this great nation. Along with him there were several democrats elected to congressional positions. Now, two years later, the complete house of Representatives and a number of Senators are running for office, again. And the President is leaving the office that was given to him when he was elected to office, and going on the campaign trail, stumping for Democrats in states where they may be in a position of losing. To a Republican. And if enough of them lose, then the Republicans will regain CONTROL of the house and or Senate. If the Democrats can win, then they retain CONTROL. In all the speeches I hear, it is all about control. Very little is said about what they can do for the American people. Except in passing, when talking about health care, or jobs, or the economy. But mostly, though, it is about retaining or regaining control. And I don't care if it is the Democrats, or the Republicans, or the Tory's or the Whigs, the Tea Party or the Coffee Clatch, it is all about control. Oh, their speeches may differ in content, and passion, and accusations, and their lies may be different, but still it is all about control. Mr. Obama was elected on the campaign of change. Well, look at the changes he, and they, have made, listen to the changes he and they say is yet to come, decide if it will happen and then make an intelligent decision and vote accordingly in 8 weeks, And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch bank

ARE THEY SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE--I'm talking about commercials on TV. You know the ones. Oh! you don't. Well, I'll mention a couple or so. First, there is Discount Tire. You surely know this one. If ever you don't like our tires, just bring them back. And a woman, ( I assume it is a woman ) throws a tire through their window. And they say " Thank You." Now, I assume that Discount Tire is advertising their tires and wanting you to buy them, and if you are dissatisfied, they will take them back. I assume that they are saying that you will not be dissatisfied. But the ad indicates that someone was dissatisfied, and, to me, maybe I don't want a Discount tire. I may not like them. Does any one else have that kind of a reaction to this commercial? No! Just me then. And have you seen the ad by Sonic, advertising their FOOT LONG CONEY HOT DOGS? The kids in the ad show that they are listening, but McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King say nothing. So, Sonic has them, others don't. Uh! Well, maybe the others don't cause they aren't healthy. If it is so heavy they have to deliver it to me with a crane, I don't want one any way. I'll just go get my heart attack at Wendy's, thank you very much. Just another weird way to look at a commercial. Oh! and one last thing. I won't mention a particular medicine, cause they are legion, but take your pick: This medicine will help you with_________ you fill in the blank for the medicine of your choice. Not advised if you are pregnant, have a kidney condition, a liver condition, ( I wonder why they don't say it's expensive, so don't take it if you have a financial condition) and on and on. My cause sleepless nights, ( wondering how you are going to pay for it?) may cause you to get drowsy, ( OK, so am I gonna be sleepy or wide awake?) cause head aches or back aches. I get a headache with too little sleep, and I can get a backache with hard physical labor. I don't need a medicine, that they can't tell me what it's gonna do any way, to help with that. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Some times I think it would just be better to be sick. Instead of taking the medicine and be sicker. Oh well, That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

Peaches

Apples

Cucumbers, Jalapeno's, Bell Peppers, and an apple

Plums

Apricots

Cherries

A BOUNTEOUS HARVEST---For the two or three of you that may have been reading this blog from the start, know that I said the blogs would not be about me. And mostly they haven't. This one, however, will be, kinda. MLWFAE and I have some fruit trees and a small garden in our small back yard, as well as an Apricot tree in the front yard. Since we water the garden from a hose, and pay double rates for the water, our garden is small. Our fruit trees will bear fruit some years, but the blossoms usually freeze in the one last frost around the first of April. This year they didn't. Freeze, that is. And they all bore fruit in great abundance. And the small garden did the same. MLWFAE (my wife, for those of you that don't know ) has canned and canned, and is still canning the things from this harvest. Also, we have had a lot of rain this summer, and that has been a big help. So, at times like this, we all need to stop for a time, and give thanks to our Father above for the bounteous harvest He has provided. May you all have a good and happy fall. And that is the wish From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

DON'T WE ALL BELIEVE THE SAME; KINDA--I have read the many news stories, watched the TV news, read the political blogs of some, and listened to the you tube postings of others, all relating to the Mosque that some are wanting to build around the corner from Ground Zero. To some it is a bad thing, to others it is a good thing, to still others it is shoulder shrug. Evidence points to the fact that those who practice this religion have done this on other occasions, in other places, when they declare a victory over a Christian State or Nation. Perhaps so. And if so, then this Mosque is a very disturbing thing, indeed. My personal opinion is, I am not as close to it as those in New York, and they don't want it. So, if Islam, or who ever is building this Mosque, actually is doing so in peace and want's to get along with their neighbors, then find somewhere else to put this Mosque. To continue to force the issue, in the face of so much public opinion against it, seems to this uneducated person, to be saying "I don't really care." I cut an article from a paper some years ago, and this is what it said.

Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Islam: "Not one of you truly believes, until you wish for others what you wish for yourself."
Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor."
Hinduism: "Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you."
Buddhism: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."
Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss."
Sikhism: "I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all."
Baha'i: Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you."
Jainism: "One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated."
Zoroastrianism: "Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself."

Now, I have not heard of the last three of those listed, and don't know where they originated or where they practice. I don't really care. BUT; if all these religions believe what these sayings say, why can't we all just get along. I am a Christian, and don't know any thing about other religions, so can only assume that what was printed in this article is correct.
However, if Islam actually believes the principle stated here, I believe they will not persist in the building of this Mosque. If this is not actually the true Islam religion driving this project, then it probably is terrorist driven and we need to be aware. And put a stop to it.
And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.