THE YEAR IN REVIEW

A TIME FOR INTROSPECTION:  Is that actually a word?  Does it even mean what I think it does?  Maybe.  This is a little different type of post for me.  One on looking back and making a few comments on what has been, with perhaps a comment on what can be.  We will see what happens, as I have no idea what I am about to commit to print.  Hang on, if you dare.
Before I start on the year of 2013, I am going to comment on this time 14 years ago.  Do you remember what was going on 14 years ago?  If my math is correct, and I admit it may be faulty, we were on the verge of Y2K.  Remember that.  The world was in a tizzy.  Especially the world of technology, electronics and all things tech.  People were preparing for the worst and expecting it to happen.  Predictions of computers crashing as the change was made from the 1900's to the 2000's. Planes would crash, or fly blindly across the skies without guidance and finding a place to land was up to chance.  Ships would said endless seas with out a way to navigate, grocery stores were stocking up supplies, not sure when the next shipment would be able to find it's way to them.  People were stocking up on food, clothing, and tools of all kinds.  Electric generators were being purchased in record numbers, to take care of electric things in homes that would be without electricity after midnight.  Birds would not be able to find their way back north in the spring, bears would forget to hibernate, and the snow would forget to fall.  OK, I made that last sentence up.  But the panic of the people was real.  Have you forgot all this in the last 14 years?  One group of people that was not predicting doom and gloom was the leaders of the LDS Church, a church to which I have belonged all my life. Why were they not predicting doom and gloom?  Because they knew that all would be well.  And they have been telling the members for decades to be prepared for what ever may come along.
All that being said, I will now get to the purpose of this post. A review of the past year. As I give this some thought, I really have very little to say.  My wife and I ushered in the new year in the same manner we have for the past several years.  In bed, sleeping.  As we will probably do again this year. We are in the 8th decade of our life and just really don't go out at night if we don't need to.  There was an eye dr. visit in Tucson, Arizona followed by a visit to my mother in Mesa, Az.  There were Dr. visit's to Dr's in Las Cruces and Albuquerque, New Mexico. We had been looking for over a year for a full size pickup, probably a 4 door Ford F250 4x4.  The ones we had found were either well used and wore out, or new and very expensive.  Although the last several vehicles we had purchased were new off the lot, we had decided to buy a used pickup.  We just couldn't find one.  Until the last of March, we saw a vehicle on a Ford lot we were at for another purpose.  It was a 2007 F350 Power Stroke with 83,000 miles.  In very good shape and at a price $5000.00 below blue book price.  Even with the price we paid, it was still $30,000 to $35,000 below a new pickup just like it.  During the summer we remodled our bathroom and did some touchup work outside of the house.  We also did some work on Property on the ditch bank. Making plans for a possible future move there and taking down an old corral that had been built on the property nearly 40 years past.
In October we made a trip to northern Utah to visit family and attend a LDS Conference session.
Also, a grandson joined the navy and entered flight school, the husband of a granddaughter returned safely from a deployment to Afghanistan and the husband of another granddaughter graduated from Duke University, was commissioned an officer in the Air Force and deployed to Texas.  Two other Grandsons are serving in the Marine Reserve and the Army National Guard. I guess that makes us a highly military supportive family. So glad I don't watch football.  It may be difficult to know who to root for.
We had a daughter and son in law, two of their dasughters and one of their husbands and a son here for Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed the company.
Christmas was quiet. We heard from most of the family by phone or e mail.
Now, we are about to enter a new year.  2014.  What will the new year bring. That is a statement, not a question. We will definitely have a repeat of some of the events mentioned for this year.  Dr. appointments.  No vehicle purchases, though.  A continuation of the remodel of the house we live in. Perhaps growing a garden big enough to can from.  Hopefully a bountiful crop from the fruit trees.  Visits from family, and maybe even a visit to family. And, of course, keeping up with duties in the church.
This is a long post for me, but probably didn't say near any thing of what went on during the past year.  Still, this is what you get.  I wish each and every one a Happy and Prosperous 2014.
AND  THAT'S THE WISH FROM THE DITCH BANK

25 DECEMBER 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS:  As my wife and I arose this morning at 5 a.m. to find a glorious morning dawning, we want to wish a Merry Christmas to one and all.  As the dawn breaks over the horizon, the sun making an orange glow before bursting over the mountains to the East, we leave the house for a quick walk of 1 and 1/2 miles.  I say quick, because we walk it in about 20 minutes. Then back home to a cup of hot chocolate and breakfast, then later to open the presents we have received.  As we contemplate the reason for the celebration of this day, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we know that the gifts we give to others and that others give to us are a symbol of the gifts that were given to the Christ child.  But even more, the gift He gave to each of us by being a perfect human on this earth and giving His life as an atonment for the sins that we each will commit while we live here on this earth.  His only request is that we live the commandments and repent from those sins. 
We have seven children and 27 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  And soon to have seven great grand children. And all of them live other places.  The are scattered from Utah to Texas to Florida and down under to Australia.  Although none of them are here this day with us, we have heard from some of them at this time and will hear from others as the day goes on. Still, we can spend a quiet day in contemplation and enjoy the day with a simple holiday meal later in the day.
I hope each of you have a good day, and keep in mind those who are suffering from storms and no heat in their homes or no homes at all.  And those who are serving in battle zones or other military posts far away from family and friends on this day of celebration.
May each of you have a good day and a Merry Christmas.
And THAT'S THE WISH FROM THE DITCH BANK

SELFIE

I LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES: I take a lot of pictures.  Some of them are actually kinda good. Some of them are kinda not so good.  Some of them are down right bad.  Some of them or of family members, but most of them are flora and fauna type pictures. 

None of them, however, are of myself.  Now, I know a lot of people, if they were to read this blog, will get upset with me over this.  But, I just don't understand the idea of selfies.  For any one who may have the mis fortune to actually read this, and is wondering what a selfie is, I will tell you.  This is a picture you take of your self, usually with you cell mate, AKA cell phone, and then post said picture on the web.  On a social media like facebook. Now, this is a popular form of expression that is sweeping the country. Maybe a lot of countries.  It is talked about on the media, and pictures of "stars" are circulated.  No, not the ones that actually glitter and are pretty, but those of the people variety that have a false glitter and are seldom really pretty. But the media, who are all in love with these "stars" ooh and aah over these people and carry on like they were most improtant thing in the world.  They are not, but you can't tell the media types that. 
But back to the purpose of this post is to state my position on selfies.  Take them if you must.  Post them on face book if you feel so inclined.  Just know that they will go viral and if they are something you don't want any one to see, too bad.  I, for one, will stay behind the camera and post my pictures of scenery, if I feel like posting any thing.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SCATTERED THOUGHTS

JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT A FEW RANDOM THOUGHTS:

1. Do you like Sardines/Anchovies?  Well, since I don't like or eat Pizza, I don't eat Anchovies. I have ate Sardines in a time far away in the past.  They were salty and they didn't smell very good.  I have seen people at work, back when I had a job, open a can of Sardines and eat them with crackers.  Saltine crackers.  Man, the Sardines were bad enough, but the crackers were just added salt.  I checked the internet for Sardines/Anchovies and learned that they were not the same fish. However, after reading about each of them, I can't see me eating either one of them any time in the near future.  Or the far future.  That being said, a segment on the news this morning that said Walnuts, Macadamia nuts, Onions, Leeks and Anchovies were cancer fighting food.  Guess any self respecting cancer cell would run from the last three of those and the nuts are just a healthy snack to make you feel better.  Yep, that is what it is.  Although I like Onions and Leeks.

2. Affluenza.  A new disease?  Nope.  A criminal defense.  Yep, you read that correctly.  There was a news story recently on the TV about a 16 year old boy, and I will repeat that, a 16 year old boy, who was driving drunk and crashed into some people and killed them.  This is a crime that would automatically result in a sentence of several years in prison.  What did this boy receive?  A few years probation.  Why?  Cause he was suffering from Affluenze.  And what, you say, is Affluenze?  Well, if you really don't know, it is a case of his Parents are Affluent.  As in rich, wealthy, having more money than the boy knows what to do with.  And thus, according to the courts, he has affluenza and there fore has no feeling of right and wrong and he wouldn't be able to be in jail cause he isn't used to that kind of life.  No Kidding.  Who is?  So, he didn't pay for his crime of underage drinking and driving under the influence and killing people, cause he is under the influence of affluence.  Well, I don't have to worry about that disease.

3. I Pad Apps.  This is for a phone, not a piece of gauze that will protect your eye when you have an injury.  This piece of electronic marvel will do things that I don't really want done.  It will start your car while you are still in the airplane on the runway.  That way, your car is warm, or cool, by the time you find your lost luggage and get to the parking lot. It will check and lock your house for you in case you forgot to when you left. It will turn off the TV, or turn it on. It will turn on the stove so your dinner is cooked by the time you get home. Now, if they will get one that will pick the winning lottery numbers, I will consider buying one.  Till then, I will manage with the out dated phone that is already smarter than me any way. 

4.  Twerking.  I saw the disgusting display by Miley Cyrus on the award show a few weeks back. I have only just learned that what she was doing was a new dance called twerking.  Twerking?  Who ever in the world came up with that dance, much less the name?  Well, I like to dance, or I used to before I got old.  I was no where near a good dancer, but I managed to get by with our crushing my partners toes, for the most part.  But back then, when we did a jitter bug we danced fast, but with our feet on the ground. When we did a slow dance, like a two step or a waltz, we danced close and in time to the music. Now, there are lifts and floor mopping and throws and bumps and grinds and well, twerking. 

5.  Well, guess I'll forget the little fish, and stick to bacon and beef, and I'll be just a poor boy with an outdated phone and when I dance with MELWFA I will stick to a slow dance, both feet on the ground and let the janitor clean the floor.  At my age, bumps and grinds are what I have from hitting things and what my joints do when I get up in the morning.
AND   THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE HOLIDAYS

I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS:  Well, maybe not every day that is designated as a holiday.  New Years Day, for example, is just a day that starts a new year on a calendar. New years eve is a day to celebrate the ending of one year and the eve of a new year to come.  Labor day.   A day to pay honor to those who work to earn a living.  A good thing to honor, of course, but not a holiday I spend a lot of time looking forward to.  Well, actually, I don't spend any time looking forward on what to do on labor day.  Presidents day, Valentines, Halloween, all days for a specific purpose, but not a day I spend a lot of time looking forward to.  Maybe I should. Especially Valentines.  Memorial Day and Veterans Day are days that we should spend time remembering those who have gone before us and to pay honor to them. They mean more than Labor day.  Mother's day should be a special day for each of us.  And Easter is a really special day for the Christian world and should be spent in a time of remembrance of the supreme sacrifice of the Savior of the world.  There are days that should be special to each person or family, such as birthdays, anniversarys, graduation days and so forth.  And they should be celebrated according to the desires of that person or family. 
The days that I am talking about specifically for the benefit of this post are the "HOLIDAYS". Those that are upon us at this time of the year.  Yes, I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are times that should be celebrated for the reason for which they were created.  And they should be celebrated with family and friends. 
So what is the purpose of this post.  To make a comment on these two holidays.  Yes, I love the holidays. Yes,I hate what goes on at this time of year. Advertisements that say buy this or buy that. This is the gift every one wants.  No, EVERY ONE does not necessarily want that. EVERY ONE does not necessarily want most of what is advertised for sale at this time of year.  MLWFAE and I watch and shop from the shopping channel QVC. But they get carried away with what they are selling.  yes, I realize that is their job.  Selling people things they say is needed. They say you can buy this for you postman, your dog walker, your hair dresser or barber, the person who delivers your pizza, maybe someone who jogged by and waved hello.  I made that last one up.  But to listen to them hawking their wares, I can't help but think, Wow, no wonder people go into so much debt at this time of year if they buy all those gifts for all those people.
But the one thing I really do not like are the ads for the Clapper and the Chia pets.  If any one was so nice to me to give me one of those, I think I would be just as nice and give it back to them.
So, even though Thanksgiving day is past, and Christmas day is coming up, lets all keep in mind the true purpose of these days and give thanks in a manner that is appropriate. Be appreciative of family. Be thankful for the things you have.  Christmas lights should be displayed in a tasteful manner and be symbolic of the light of Christ.  Gift giving should be done in a manner that is heartfelt and meaningful, keeping in mind the gifts given to the Christ child and most of all the gift He gave to all the world.  Under no circumstances should gift giving be done in a manner that is just a show of   Look what I did.  Look how much money I spent on gifts for people that drove by and honked their horn.  Just enjoy the season and say
MERRY CHRISTMAS.  After all, that is the reason for the holiday.  Be happy, but say Merry Christmas.    And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK 

THE WAVE

WHAT DOES THIS MAKE YOU THINK OF? The Wave.  Atlanta Braves Baseball, maybe. A new dew at the beauty shop.  If not a dew, maybe a frost. Maybe you are a surfer on the ocean.  And then, there is me.  Blogging about the wave.  The one I am talking about is people waving to each other.  You know.  Like neighbors do. Or used to do.  Do you wave?  To neighbors? To firends you meet while shopping?  How about perfect strangers?  Well, no, not to them.  Cause there ain't no such thing, as a perfect stranger.  They may be strange.  Some of them are probably stranger than others.  But never perfect.  So, now that we have established that, do you wave to strangers.  I do.  When MLWFAE*  and I travel I will wave when we meet oncoming cars. Or the people driving them.  When we travel north from where we live to where the ditch bank is, we will meet people heading south, and the majority of them will wave.  Some returning the wave I had performed, and some actually initiating the wave, which I return.  Many, however, won't wave. Some just don't.  Some are looking away and don't see the wave I offered them. Some are looking down.  Texting, Perhaps?  But still, when I go in that direction, most will wave.  Recently I took a short 40 mile trip south of where I live.  I did a test.  A kind of survey, if you will.  I waved at the people in oncoming cars.  Some returned the wave, none initiated the wave, most didn't wave at all.  Makes a person wonder why.  Maybe they don't like baseball.  Now, when driving on divided highways, freeways and the like, a survey of this type will be difficult, if not impossible.  This works on most city streets and two lane highways where the cars meet mirror to mirror.  So, I ask you readers, if there be any, to take a similar survey and see what happens.  If you do, and if you would like to, report what happened here, in the comments section.  Nod or speak a greeting to imperfect strangers you meet as you shop. How many return the greeting.  Up close and personal, I venture a guess that most will.  On the highways, who knows.  Well, if you do the survey, you will.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK. 
*my loving wife for all eternity

SUPERSTITION

ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS?  That is a question I ask my Dad when I was growing up.  "Nope" was his answer.  "Nope, I am not superstitious".  And he stuck to that statement all his life. At least, if he ever changed his mind on that, I never heard it.  But one day, when I was in my teens, we were going to the woods to get a load of firewood. He ask (told) me to go to the wood pile and get the ax and meet him at the pickup, where he would be loading the saw and gas. As I left the woodpile, I could see that Dad had not yet left the house, so I, for whatever reason, walked into the house through the back door, and on into the front room where Dad was.  I don't recall exactly how the conversation went from there but is was something like this. Dad,  Why did you bring the ax in the house.  Me.  Well, you weren't at the pickup yet, so I came in.  Dad--(Visibly upset) Take the ax out of the house, (and as I headed for the front door) No, do not take it through the front door.  Take it back out the back door.  When I ask why he said "It is bad luck to bring an ax in the house, but if you do, you do not take it through the house, you take it back out the same door you brought it in.  I remember grinning and saying " I thought you were not superstitious."  He replied  "I am not, but don't bring an ax in the house."  That's his story and he stuck to it.
So now I ask again.  Are you superstitious?  I will say   I am not.  I have worked with people who were and they stuck to it.  I have walked under a ladder, broken a mirror ( not on purpose) and had black cats run, or walk, in front of me.  The number 13 is just a number between 12 and 14 and Friday the 13th is just the day between Thursday the 12th and Saturday the 14th.  Just another day.  I once worked with a woman who, when I bent down to pick up a penny from the ground, said loudly, "do not pick up that penny". I stood up and ask Why, is it yours.  No she replied, it is tails up.  So What.  Cause she said, if you pick up a penny that is tails up, that is bad luck.  I bent back down, pickd up the penny, put it in my pocket and said,  Well, I guess it is your bad luck, cause I have the penny.   I have picked up literally hundreds of pennies over the decades, many of them tails up.  If I have had bad luck because of it, I don't know what it was.  Or any of the other things I mentioned.  I don't hesitate to step on a crack in a sidewalk and my mothers back has not suffered because of it as far as I know.
I know that there are many people who are superstitious and some are very much so, to the point that they have a hard time living life because of the things they feel can effect their lives.
Many follow their horoscopes and live according to them.  I don't, although I do read the one that is in my month from time to time.  I haven't noticed that my life has been effected one way or another by what someone said was in the stars.  I know who is in charge of the stars, and it is not the horror scope writers. 
The problem with walking under a ladder is you could knock it down on you, or if you break a mirror, you could cut yourself.  Cats, black or otherwise, do as they please and don't cause bad luck.  And the number 13.  Well, that's just a bridge to get from 12 to 14. 
So, no I, like my Dad, am not superstitious, but don't bring an ax in the house.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

NUMBERS

DO YOU FACE BOOK?  I don't have a face book page, but my wife does.  So, I snoop on hers from time to time.  OK   all the time.  Recently there was a face book thing going around like a contagious disease. It was someone posting a number of things about themselves that they assumed most people wouldn't know.  As this ailment went viral, one of my children posted some things that they thought people wouldn't know. OK several of them posted things about themselves, and the one common thing seemed to deal with a fetish with numbers.  Along with some other people who had posted things about them selves, it seems that most of them also had a thing with numbers.  Some don't like odd numbers.  Some don't like a particular number.  Some count things in their mind as they go along.  And to add to all this, members of our extended family also posted their thing with numbers.  Members of the family from both sides of the family.  Mine and that of my wife's.   Although we didn't post it, my wife and I also admitted to each other the not so unique things we have or do with numbers.  Ha!  Wouldn't you like to know.
So, what do you do with numbers? Do you have a fetish?  Do you use them to count your money? Or other possessions? Or your blessings? How many friends you have that are actual friends, or just face book friends. I have a grandson who is a pilot and he uses numbers to calculate what ever it is that pilots have to calculate. 
People use numbers to determine what time it is, what day it is, how many days it is until their birthday, or Christmas, or what ever holiday or event date they are waiting for. So, yes, numbers play a large part in our lives.
It is just the way so many of us use numbers that actually have nothing to do with the statements in green that we all had a chuckle over. So go your merry way, count your steps and don't be embarrased if someone sees you counting, cause they are likely doing the same thing.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

DO YOU HAVE A BUDGET?

AND DO YOU USE IT? Not really asking for any personal information from any one.  This is a question for thinking about.  So, now that you have thought about it, do you have a budget and if so, do you follow it?  Exactly as you have it planned out.  All who do raise your right hand.  If not, raise your wrong hand.   This really isn't a post about your budget, just something to dither about. But think about it.  If you do have a budget, you probably are like the bulk of people in America, or even the world.  And you have a budget because you have a finite amount of money to use.  Whether you spend it all as soon as you get it, whether you spend some and put some in savings, or whatever you do with it, it is a finite amount that you have to deal with.  If you get a raise then you have more funds to budget with.  Obviously we do not all have the same amount to budget with, but we budget according to what we have.  So, on to the purpose of this post.  The Government.  As if you didn't already know what was coming.
The government recently went through a shutdown.  Or a partial shutdown.  There are many theories or thoughts about all of that; who caused it, why it was caused, who gets what out of the resulting back to work.  I am not going to go into that, except to say this:  The solution will only last until early 2014.  Then here we go again.  And congress wants to balance the budget by a series of methods.  Raise taxes, cut spending, ( yeah! like that is going to happen) but one of those cuts is one that will seriously affect senior citizens.  Of which I and my wife are two. Now, I have paid into the social security system since the 1950's when I was still in high school and got a social security card and a job.  I have paid into the medicare system since it went into effect.  My wife and I have $104.00 a month, each, held out of our social security checks to continue to pay for medicare.  Now, the government says this is an entitlement and cuts need to be made to them.  Well, I guess it is an entitlement, cause I have paid, and am still paying, into this system, so I am entitled to it. 
My version of an entitlement government program is one that the government pays to someone who has not paid into the system in any way.  And while that will hurt someone, if any cuts need to be made to entitlement programs, then those are the ones that need to be cut.  Not that I am suggesting that.  There are so many ways to balance the budget without cutting these programs that the House, the Senate and the President just won't look at that it is mind boggling, to say the least. Not that I would stop at the least.
So I guess what I am asking from this post, if any one actually reads it with a serious state of mind, please pay attention to what your legislators from your State are doing and then let them know that they need to do what is correct for the American people.
And one of the best ways to get these things done is to get the people back to work, in actual paying jobs to grow the economy, not government jobs that require their pay from the taxpayers.  I realize the government needs paid employees, and I am not saying that it does not, but I am saying that the economy will grow only when the american people get back to work. And paying taxes to pay the debt down.  In case you missed that, I said PAY THE DEBT DOWN.
Now, back to the budget.  When I have a budget, I have to stick to it, or, like the government, I will be in the RED.  The difference, I can't raise my debt limit and keep borrowing.  I have to pay it back.  Encourage your State Politicians to do this, or vote them out of office.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WHAT IS TODAY FOR?

TODAY IS VETERANS DAY.  No, I am not a veteran.  I will not go into the reasons here for not being, just suffice it to say that I am not.  However, I have many relatives who are.  Brother's Brothers in Law, Grandsons and Granddaughters married to vets, Son in Law, Daughter in Law etc.  So, while I don't share that brotherhood with any of them, I do respect them for what they did, or what they are doing. 
I would wish all people would feel the same way I do about this country.  Show respect for the Flag and the constitution crafted by our founding fathers.  Sadly, many do not.  Many who were born and raised in this country want to pull it down.  There are many who want to come here.  If the media is to be believed, there are 11 million already here that aren't here legally.  Many more that are not here who are trying to get here by legal means.  maybe those who don't like this country should trade with those who do and then we will all be happy.
So, this will be a short post on this Veterans day.  I encourage all who happen to read this post to pay attention to what your elected leaders are doing, in Washington, in your State Capitol and in your County Seat.  Or City Hall.  If they are not doing the things that build this country up, then vote them out of office and elect someone who is interested in serving the country.
AND THATS THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE SUN ALSO SETS

THE END OF AN ERA:  I retired from my job as a miner in an open pit mine at the end of January 2009.  Since some of my children were writing blogs, they encouraged me to start a blog of my own. I said no.  I didn't feel that the world was interested in my daily activities, and I sure wasn't wanting to tell the world about them any way. Not that the world would be or is reading my blog.  However, on December 12, 2009, I started this blog, with the intention of posting my uneducated opinion of the things going on around me, with no posts about myself.  For the most part, I have stuck to that theme.  I have now decided to end that theme.  After a lot of thought, and I mean a lot, I have decided to end this blog theme.  No, not the blog, just the theme.  Well, not end the theme, just amend it a little.  So, in the future, the few of you that actually read this post, will see an occasional post that is of a more personal nature.  Maybe even a few pictures that I have taken, though not of family.  We will just have to see how far down I actully fall from the "lofty" ideal I set for myself when I started this blog nearly 4 years ago.  I say that a little tongue in cheek.  

Now, back to the business at hand.  Politics is always good for a post. Along with all the other things in the news.  Such as K Mart's announcement that they will open a 6 a.m. Thanksgiving morning and stay open for a long time to get a jump on Black Friday.  Others following suit. And that is just wrong, wrong,wrong.  I think all businesses should shut down on Thanksgiving day and not open until Friday Morning.  Black or not.  On the other hand, if people did not support these stores, they wouold not open.  So, stay home with family on Thanksgiving day, Sunday, or other  holidays and then the businesses will not open.  Yea! not gona happen.  Unfortunately.  So for now,  THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE SUN ALSO RISES

CAN I BE SUED FOR PLAGARISM?  Probably not, after all these years since that novel was written.  And did the title intrigue you?  Again, probably not.  So why use it for a blog post title?  The answer, cause it appealed to me.  So, what is the actual point of this post?

Well, it is November 1.  Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is coming on faster than a speeding bullet, and we are in the throws of a government sponsored event.  No, not the health care plan, but something thatr has been around for, well decades.  Many of them.  I think even Benjamin Franklin suggested something like this.  What is it? Time. As in what the clock says.  Do you have a clock that sounds like a fox?  But I digress.

In two days most of the world will set their clocks back 1 hour.  A couple of States in the United States won't, cause they didn't set them forward to start with.  And, as far as I know, one State in Australia won't set their clocks back for the same reason.  And maybe other places in the world that I am not aware of.  But for much of the industrialized world, clocks will change back one hour at Two a.m. Sunday morning, their local time.  But, the Sun will still make it's appearance according to it's time table, not what is on the hands of the clock.  Cows will still need to be milked, eggs gathered, stock fed, and people's lives will continue on.  The only thing that actually changed was the hands on the clock.  Well, for those of you who don't know about hands on a clock, the numbers on your cell phone or digital clock will change, or have to be changed. 

And in four short months, the government will have us change back to the daylight savings time by changing our clocks again.  Forward this time. And we won't actually save any time. Just continue doing things according to what the clock says.  And the sun will continue to do it's thing, regardless of what the clock says. Or the fox.

As my wife and I went for our morning walk this morning, starting prior to the sun coming up and finishing after it was up, I realized in a few days we would do the same thing, but the clock and the TV news programs would be in a different place.  But not the sun.  It rises, unperturbed by what governments do.

And We could take a lesson from the sun, and go about our business and put government where it belongs, and not let it regulate our lives to the point of distraction.  Ours, not them.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WHAT' WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE

JUST A FEW THINGS THAT MAKE YOU WONDER:

1. Obama Care.  I have posted my opinion of President Obama in past posts. I have also posted my opinion of the Obamacare AKA The Health Care act.  Therefore I am not going to get into that in this post, except to say this.  On the news this morning, they had a clip of President Obama saying that the Health Care web site is not working, but the Health Care law is.  The news cast continued on to say that even though the web site is not working, the law still is, therefore, those who have not signed up, who should have, will still be fined. There is something wrong with this picture. 

2. Bringing home the Bacon.  How many times do we hear that phrase?  Often.  But, is there an obsession with bacon lately.  Now, I like bacon with breakfast.  I also like BLT sandwichs.  But, it seems that every where we turn lately, there is a food fixed with bacon.  I DO NOT want bacon on my hamburger.  I do not want bacon fried in a strip with my hot cakes. And the last straw ( although it probably won't be ) is I sure don't want a strip of bacon wrapped around my pecan sticky bun. Really something wrong with this picture.

3.  I was raised in the country, and one of the chores I had was to do the evening milking.  Yes, I milked the family milk cow.  I even milked a goat for a time. I didn't like milking the goat.  But, I understand the process of milking.  Have you seen the commercial for the alternative milk.  Called, I believe, Silk.  Almond milk.  Now, i just have to ask the question.  How do you milk an Almond.  I understand milking a cow, or even a goat, but an Almond.  There is something wrong with this picture.

Stay tuned for more pictures that leave you scratching your head in wonder.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

HOLDING MY BREATH, PART TWO

WHY AM I HOLDING MY BREATH THIS TIME? Well, I really am not.  As I write this, Congress is on a long weekend off.  Monday is Columbus Day, so they won't be back to work until Tuesday. At this time the government is shut down.  Well, partially shut down.  Republicans and Democrats are fighting each other over money.  What to pay for, and raising the debt ceiling and Obama care.  The House, as is their responsibility, has passed a budget, kinda, but the Senate has rejected it, saying that the House has left out key peices of legislation.  Legislation that will fund Obama care, which the House don't like and want's to dispose of.  The House has said, lets get the government back to work, and then discuss the health care plan. The Senate, and the President said no.  Pass a budget to fund it, along with the government.  All or nothing.  So far it is not all, nor is it nothing.  And every one has an opinion, including me.  Of course, mine is the one that counts, at least as far as this blog post is concerned.  Now, there are a lot of things in the health care plan that I don't like, primarily the provision that says a person will be fined if they don't buy into the program.  There are some things I do like, such as people here to fore uninsurable can now get insurance.  And people with pre existing conditions can now not be turned down for insurance.  That being said, we will have to wait and see what happens.  But I'm not holding my breath.  Will an agreement be reached by the members of congress, the government put back to work, the debt ceiling raised, the health care web site fixed, and a bipartisan cooperation come into play among the three branches of government.  Not holding my breath. 
Members of government, from the President on down, were elected by the people, to work for the good of the people and the country.  They no longer do that, and they all are being held in disgust by more citizens of this country that ever before.  So many people are saying, Just vote them all out of office and start over with new people.  I agree.  However, two or three things will prevent that ever happening.  And those things.  So many of the people in office have such a political empire in their districts, that they will not be voted out of office. Not impossible, just won't happen.  Also, many will point fingers.  Like, I tried to get things back to normal but someone else kept blocking it.  this will come from both party's. The main reason, though, is that the politicians will get the government back to work, they will raise the debt ceiling so we can go deeper into debt and the people will forget this debacle, and those in office will continue to be voted in office.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE NOT BREATH HOLDING DITCHBANK.

HOLDING MY BREATH???

AM I HOLDING MY BREATH?  No, not even until my face turns blue.  And why should I?  Well, according to those in the knows, uh nose, uh news, I should be.  Why, you ask.   Cause, every one, and I MEAN EVEYONE, at least according to the news people, just every one is holding their breath to see if Castle proposes.  Well, I don't watch Castle, so I don't know if he is going to propose, and if he does, to whom, or what.  And if I did watch Castle, I would not hold my breath waiting for him to do so.

And this week is the final episode of Breaking Bad.  At least that is what the local TV news people are saying.  And carrying on  and on and on about.  Since the show was filmed primarily in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque news people can't seem to get enough of talking about it.  Well, I don't watch that show either.  But it seems that a lot of people do, or did.  And the Albuquerque businesses have jumped on the band wagon.  You can go somewhere in the city and by Breaking Bad beer, or Breaking Bad donuts.  You can even buy a pair of underwear worn by one of the actors  on the show.  And I can only say, Why would I want to?  Why would I want them if they were free, even?  And people in Albuquerque are throwing a party to end the show, or the final showing or something.  On and on ad nauseating.  And some are wondering if the main character is going to die on this show.  Jay Leno said yes.  He died at the hospital while filling out Obama Care paper work.  Guess that was supposed to be a joke.

I do watch some TV.  Mostly the news.  I like NCIS.  I watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. I watch a few of the so called reality shows.  But I don't hold my breath so see what is going to happen.  I don't hold my breath waiting to see if someone will be eliminated.  I just watch for the entertainment value.  And sometimes to get a topic for a blog.  But never with held breath.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE GOVERNMENT

SOME GOVERNMENT THINGS ON MY MIND:   I am using red print cause the government is in the red.  I may change colors during the post, if the feeling to do so occurs.

OK   it occured.  I have several ideas for a post, but think I will do a few government type posts and save the others for a later post.  So on with the view.  Mine, not the TV one.

Where to start. I guess I will kick it off with Nancy Peloci.  Always good for a kick,  uh, off.
The Pelosi said on national TV, that there was no where to cut any expenses.  The budget is cut to the bare bone already and that the people just had to understand that.  Uh, no, I don't think so.  I think she said that, no, I know she said that, cause I saw the report when she said that.  No to that there are no places to cut the budget.  Lots of them.  I will mention two.  In my opinion, of course.  Voice yours if you so desire.  On budget cuts as well as Pelosi's statement.

The new health care program  AKA Obama Care.  This law, in spite of the Ted Cruz filibuster, will kick in next week.  Should it be defunded?  I don't really know.  I do know there are some good things in the bill.  People won't be denied insurance.  People with pre-existing conditions can't be denied insurance.  That is a good thing.  What I don't like is that people are legally bound to get insurance, even if they don't want it or can't afford it.  If they don't get insurance, they will be fined. If they can't afford insurance, can they afford to pay the fine? And affordability aside, I don't like the government telling me ( I have insurance ) that I HAVE to buy insurance or be fined.  And the price of this insurance?????  Probably yet to be determined, although Nancy Snyderman is trying on the NBC nightly news to convince people that they can afford it.  Kinda.  Different rates for different States, she says, and the more money you make and the older you are, the more it costs.  Final opinion to be determined, but I think there could be a lot of gevernment money cut here.

And last.   The Post Office.  Right now the Post Office delivers mail 6 days a week.  Sunday's off.  But the postal workers work only 5 days a week, so there has to be employees working every day to cover.  WHO REALLY NEEDS POSTAL SERVICE ON SATURDAY?  Now, I said Needs, not wants.  Who really needs it?  Large corporations? I think not.  Even though these company's may work 24/7, the peopel who get mail delivery do not work on Saturday. And the government? Shoot, they don't even work half the time during the week, much less on Saturday.  Nope, cut Saturday mail delivery and the service will need less employees.  Now, I am not advocating the firing or lay offs of a large number of federal employees from the postal service.  But if this cut was made, then through attrition, the required number of employees would eventually be reached.  Of course, the postal service would have to be required to not fill open positions left by those individuals who left the service through this process. 
I would venture a guess that there are many other branches of the civilian services that could do the same thing, regardless of what Nancy Pelosi says.

Of course this same process could filter down to local and State governments.  What a novel idea.  And speaking of novels, a book could be written on this, but I won't.  Maybe a poem.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THINGS ON THE NEWS

MY COMMENTS ON A COUPLE OR FOUR THINGS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ON THE NEWS, OR SOMEWHERE:

1. THE NATIONAL PARKS ARE RACIST:  What?  How can a National Park be racist?  Well, it seems that a survey was taken and the majority of people that attend National Parks are Anglo.  So called minorities are in the minority when it comes to attending the National Parks.  Now, they are not restricted from attending.  They are welcomed in if they come.  They just don't come.  Why? Well, the news people didn't really say. Just that non-white people didn't attend, so that makes the Parks racist.  All I can say is, Bull.  Maybe they just don't want to be there.  Maybe they have other things they want to do.  If the news people are going to run a story like that, then interview a respectable number of people to get a reason why?

2.  A QUESTION ON THE NEWS; ARE PILOTS GETTING TOO DEPENDANT ON ELECTRONIC CONTROLS, THUS CAUSING ACCIDENTS. Hummmmm.  My opinion.  I don't fly enough to judge and I am not a pilot.  But, are we as a people getting to dependant on these electronic controls in our automobiles.  And I am not talking completely about the controls that operate the car.  I am also mentioning Smart phones and ignorant people that think that a car can drive itself while the talk and text on said phones. 

3. RACISM: This maybe should have been number 2.  Just my opinion on racism.  I think people like Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey do more to set back the racial issue than most of the "run of the mill" people, regardless of their race.

4.  THE DEBT CEILING:  President Obama, in a news cast, said that people are not understanding.  Just because the debt ceiling is raised, doesn't mean the national debt will go up. Well, technically, he is correct.  But the debt ceiling, according to him, has been raised 100 times.  I can assure you that the debt never went down during any of those raisings.  When the ceiling is raised next month, and I can assure that it will be, in spite of the protests of those in the house, the debt will go up. 

5. AND ON TO MICHELLE:  Michelle Obama, who I don't like to side with particularly, is on a health kick. You know, healthy meals for school kids and now she wants people to drink water.  Well, I agree with the healthy meal thing, and my kidney Dr. requires me to drink a minimum of 2 liters of water a day.  Milk, juice or any thing else liquid is not part of that 2 liters.  So I agree with her.  My fingers almost cramped.  So why this post.  Well, it seems that Michelle has angered the environmentals.  UH Why?  Don't they like water?  Well, yes, but they want you to drink tap water and part of Michelle's program requires bottled water and the environmentals don't like bottled water.  Well, I drink tap water when I am home, but it is hard to do when I travel, so bottled water it is.  And I assume that to be true for a lot of people.  Maybe even an environmentalist or three.  And her program does call for the use of water bottles that are used many times over and are environmental friendly.  They actually have such things?  Well, guess I'll end this post and go get a drink.  Of Water.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

EPISODE THREE

THINGS THAT MAKES A PERSON JUST SHAKE THEIR HEAD:  Well, me any way.  this is the third post of things I just don't seem to understand, or that just make me shake my head in wonder, or disgust, or just plain I Don't Understand.  Some of these things have been in the news and some on facebook.

1. This issue has been posted and re posted on facebook and most people feel like I do. That issue is the New York Librarian who punished, or banned, a boy for winning the summer reading contest because he had won for the last 5 years.  Well, Duh!.  He likes to read. So the next winner will be picked by a drawing of all who enter the contest. Wonder how that would work at the Olympics, or the Super Bowl or the World Series. Boy, can't you just see the reaction to that. And I think the Librarian is just wrong.

2. Here in the good old State of New Mexico, in Albuquerque, a photographer was taken to court and fined $7000.00.  For invasion of privacy?  Nope, for refusing, on religious grounds, to photograph the wedding of a same sex couple.  The couple found another photographer without any trouble, but filed the law suit any way.  OK, their priviledge.  But for a judge in a court of law to actually agree with the couple and fine the lady for refusing to photograph them is just wrong.  And an abuse of power, in my opinion.

3. The news recently reported that peoples incomes have gone down since 4 years ago.  And I needed the news to tell me that?  Duh.

4. A military trial recently put a man, Badley Manning in prison for a long time.  But Mr. Manning said he is not a man, but a woman and would now be called Chelsea Manning.  The military put him in a male prison and will not go along with him on what he wants.  Why do the news people insist on calling him Chelsea.  Come on, don't do that.  Call him Bradley.  Or stupid.

5. A car manufacturer is advertising a car that is so smart that it can see accidents before they happen.  Well, not really, but it can see and evaluate an accident before the driver does.  And take appropriate action.  Well, good.  But it seems to me that when the car wants to do one thing and the driver wants to do something else, that will cause an accident as the car and driver have conflicting actions.  Who will win.  Probably neither.  Or the body shop.

6. This one is an ongoing theme with me. And that is peoples worship of "celebraties". The most recent episode was people who waited in line on the Plaza for a week in order to see the band One Direction.  OK   they make music, but to wait in line for a week just to see them.  No one is that good.  No One.

7. Man Cave.  What the heck is a man cave.  And why the need for one?  Guess I just don't understand the need to "get away" from the family scene.

8. Michelle Obama.  Any one who knows me knows I am not a fan of the Obama's.  But a recent article left me shaking my head.  It said, as near as I remember, that Mrs. Obama's program to fight childhood obesity and have schools provide more healthy meals had failed.  I don't know if that is fact or not, but that is what the article said.  It went on to say that Michelle was now promoting drug use among children.  She is promoting a song named   Hip Hop Lean.  Now, the article said, Maybe Mrs. Obama just wans't up on the language of the street.  Hip Hop Lean is a type of drug.  And the song is promoting it's use.  According to the article.  Maybe, it said, Mrs. Obama thought it was promoting lean eating.  Don't know about her, but you couldn't prove it by me.  I don't understand the drug scene and it's terms either.

9.  A company is now promoting a washing machine that determines, as it washes, that your clothes are new, and it will wash them accordingly.  The reason, they will remain looking like new.  Hey, I want one of those.  Buy a few new clothes and the washer will keep them new.  Never have to buy any more clothes.  Just wash them and let the washer take care of them.  Yeah, right.

10. And finally.  Did any one of you who may read this blog, watch the music award show last night.  Me neither.  But the news couldn't keep from showing and showing Miley Cyrus, over and over.  Why?  Not because of her singing, but her lack of clothes.  She came on stage in not much of any thing and wound up with even less.  Even a Victoria Secret model has on more clothes than Miley had on when she finished.  Tamron Hall, NBC today show news lady, said "I just don't know what to say".  well, Tamron,  How about     That is just disgusting.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SOME MORE THINGS

SOME MORE THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND: I realize that my opinion's count for naught to other people, even if they (other people) agree with my opinion.  Still, I feel inclined to voice my opinion in my blog from time to time. So, here are a few more things that people do that I don't understand.

1. Tattoos:  I am allergic to pain. I have several allergies and pain is one of them.  I have never had a tattoo, never had a desire to have one.  I also understand that they are painful. And since I am allergic to pain, I wouldn't want to get one.  Why deliberately cause myself pain when I can do it accidently often enough for me. 

2. Piercings: I understand that the ear lobe has little or no feeling, so to pierce it for a pair of earrings is understandable.  If you are a woman. But to pierce the nose, the tongue, and parts better left unmentioned, is totally not understood by me.  And men doing this is way beyond my point of understanding.

3. The Mona Lisa:  I saw on the news a few days ago that officials are digging up the lady who posed for the Mona Lisa.  Why?  Well, they said that they wanted to do a DNA test to prove that she was the actual lady who posed for the picture.  How they are going to take a DNA sample from the painting is beyond me.

4. Glasses: I have worn eye glasses since I was in the eighth grade.  Being an old man I am used to them, although having cataract surgery a number of years ago, my vision is pretty good with out them.  Not perfect, but pretty good.  But contacts?  I just don't understand how any one can deliberately put a piece of something in their eye, even if it does help them see better. And the maintainence seems to me to be more than I would want to put up with. 

5.  Legal terms:  There has been a few cases on the news lately about someone killing someone else and then pleading not guilt by reason of insanity.  OK. 
That is the law.  I just want to say why?  He ( or she ) is guilty.  So, why not change the term to
Guilty but insane.  The results should be the same, but the person is still found guilty.  OK, so the other way they are found not guilty, and thus get off with the crime or something.  Maybe we should start a crusade to change the termination.  Oh Wait. I  just did.  ( I have a daughter in law who is an attorney.  Maybe she will weigh in.  Or not. )

6. While talking about the law, another news item was one where a woman and her boy friend couldn't agree on what last name to give their child. His first name was Messiah.  The judge in the case changed the name to Mark or something like that.  Why?  cause, the judge said, only one person had earned the name of Messiah and that was Jesus Crist, and so she denied the mother the right to name her child by that name.  The news went on to say that Messiah was number 356 on the most used names list in the United States.  What business is that of the judge. This name was not in dispute between the parents.  Just the last name.

7. And the last one for this post.  Words.  Namely words that people use that are not exactly the correct word, even though it sounds OK.  As in Bear and Bare.  New and Knew. And There and Their.  And, Your and You're, and   Well, you get the picture.  Or if you don't, you are probably someone who uses the words in the wrong place.  Like me, at times. 

And    THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SOME THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND

I REALIZE I AM PROBABLY A MAJORITY OF ONE. Well, maybe my wife will make it a majority of two.  At least in most cases.  Still, I just don't understand some things and this list will not be all inclusive, so I may visit this subject again in the future.  Or have I already did this at least once.  (shoulder shrug here, cause Frankly, My Dear.)

1. Why is the media, and supposedly the "world" so obsessed with the death of that "TV Star" from Glee.  He killed himself with drugs.  Call it that and get on with other things of more importance.  But to talk about it day after day after day is not necessary.

2. Read statement Number 1 and substitute the name of Michael Jackson.  Same thing. Just another drug induced death.  By Michael, even if a Dr. did the final injection.

3. Why spend so much time out side of a hospital waiting for a baby to be born.  When nature says it's time, he or she will come into the world of priviledge, and all the watching will not change that.  And I like Natalie Morales, but for her and NBC to spend time and money while she waits in London for this baby is just nonsense.  Spend that money on world hunger or something worthwhile.  the world will know when the baby arrives and sitting outside the hospital for days on end won't make it happen any sooner.  Even the Queen can't change that.

4. Pizza.  I guess I could stop right there, but this is my blog, so I won't.  However, I do understand that most people do like and eat Pizza.  I don't.  Have I ever ate Pizza.  Yes.  Will I ever do so again. Maybe. But if you invite me to dinner and you are having Pizza, please tell me in advance so I can get something to eat before I show up. I haved ate Pizza Hut Pizza, Papa Johns Pizza home made Pizza's, store bought frozen Pizza.  This over several decades.  I have yet to find one I like.  And why would any one eat a slice of Pizza, when they could have a TACO, or a steak from Texas Roadhouse, or a Filet Mignon from the Texas Land and Cattle Company.  Or a PB&J sandwich.  Just sayin.

5. Hollywood.  I haven't been to a movie in years.  Not cause I don't like movies. I do.  Or I did. I just haven't seen any thing advertised that I would like to go see.  With the potty humor and the serious movies full of filthy language, I am just not interested.  Most TV shows are getting to be the same way.  And while there are, or were, actors/actresses I liked, I never fell in love with any of them and didn't understand when I was younger, a lot younger, the obsession of my peers over the stars.  As I am now decades older, I understand that obsession with stars, singers, actors, sports players, even less.  The fact that we don't even have a movie theater in our area has nothing to do with me not going to a movie either. Maybe Eleanor Burns or Ree Drummond would be appropriate people to admire.  At least they are real people.  In my opinion.

6.  Cars.  What's this obsession some people have with cars. Muscle cars, old antique cars, car shows, big pickups and trucks.  The 18 wheeler type.  Oh! wait. I totally understand that one.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

ARE WE GOING TO THE DOGS

REALLY:  My wife and I walk for 2 miles most mornings.  This is not a walk around the park, or even around the neighborhood. It is a walk around the hills, up and down and through sand washes that border the little town we live in.  Others walk there also.  Some in the morning when we are walking, others later in the day.  Most with their dogs.  Now, before any dog lovers get upset, I am not castigating dog people.  We both grew up with family dogs and as a family of our own, as we were raising our children, we also had dogs.  A problem we have is that so many people who walk their dogs let them do their business in the middle of the trails that we, and others, walk on, and do not clean up after them.  Or at least scoop it off the trail.  So we watch where we step.  A young couple that lived next to us for a year or so, had a dog.  Sometimes two.  I ask them to please clean up after the dogs, especially in the summer, as the heat created a bad smell.  The just moved out and I went to the yard for a reason unrelated to their dogs, only to discover the yard littered with dog litter. 
We also have been told by many who have moved here that they came to the "country" from the city so they could let their dogs run, without a leash.  Even though the town, and the county have a leash law.  I have a lot of other things on my mind to say about this, but will get on with the subject that prompted this post in the first place.
On the news this morning, it was announced that this fall the Dog Channel will be launched on DirectTV.  This will be on 24/7 and is designed to baby sit, or dog sit, your dogs.  The idea is that you can turn on this channel in the morning when you leave for work and your dogs will be entertained all day.  With their own channel.  All I can say is   "What Next?"  will cat lovers cry foul and demand a cat channel. Or will others cry fowl and want a fowl channel.  On second thought, I don't want to know what's next.  Just take care of your dogs, or cats or fowl and let the rest os us do the same.   And  THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

When did it change

TODAY IS THE 4TH OF JULY.  What are you doing.  Celebrating with family.  Watching parades and fireworks, going to the beach or the mountains, playing horse shoes or golf.  Or did you go shopping.  SHOPPING??? On the 4th of July.
This morning after going for our walk, my wife and I watched the NBC news for a while, before turning away from it in disgust, as we do each morning.  While we were watching, they had a segment on where to go today for good shopping bargains, and listed several stores that would be open today for your shopping pleasure.   Oh! and just in case you are curious why we turn away from the Today show in disgust, we do so because they are so enamoured of all things Hollywood and they seem to think that the people who inhabit that city and genre and sports stars walk on water and they gush over them so much that I just can't stand it.  There is so much of of America that has nothing to do with Hollywood and sports stars gone bad that the national media never even mentions.
But I digress.  When did we as a poeple decide it was OK to keep shops open on the 4th of July.Or Easter, or Thanksgiving or Christmas.  These are holidays that every person should have the opportunity it observe in their own way, and not the way of a greedy employer.
Now, I understand that because all people will not observe the laws and rules, Law Enforcement peosonnel will be required to work on the holidays.  Like wise, fire fighters and medical people in hospitals.  I also know that there are plants that need to run 24/7, like power plants and some factories that would be very expensive to shut down and start back up for a 24 hours period.  I am not talking about that type of employee required work.  I am talking about grocery stores, walmarts and other big box stores, and any department store that chooses to remain open during the holiday season. 
I also believe said businesses need to shut down on Sunday.  I realize they have the option of remaining open, but people also have the option to refrain from patronizing these businesses on
Sunday or holidays.  So, if they are open, we will come.  And we do, in droves.  I am speaking we collectively as a people, not as individuals, as there are those of us who do not attend these businesses on Sunday or holidays.  If we all, as a people, would stay away, they would close and their employees could enjoy the day in their own preferred way.  Bur as long as we the people support them, they will remain open.  And that is a bad thing.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE

WHISKEY OR WATER?   Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, is accredited with saying  "Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over".  I am sure he was somewhere in the West when he said that.  I am also sure that all those people back east running around like ants from a den have no clue how precious water  in the West actually is. Well, maybe not all of them.  There may be a few who live there that immigrated there from the Western climes.  And if they did, they probably did so because of the above mentioned water.  Here in the Land of Enchantment, there are two water wars going on in the courts.  There is a town, or village called Magdalena that has lost it's water.  Why, cause it's so dang dry the town well went dry. And caved in. They have been receiving help from the State and neighbors hauling in water to the people there for 3 or 4 weeks now.  The State is finally about to decide to let them drill a new well.  A few miles south of this village, in a flat stretch of land called the St. Augustine Plains, an Eastern company, with foreign money backing them, wants to drill about 300 wells ( I may be wrong on the number ) to a deep aquifer and pump thousands of gallons of water every day until the aquifer runs dry.  Yep, you read that correctly and of course this case is in the courts and so far the judge has ruled against the water well drilling company.  So far the local residents are winning, but most of them are just working people and don't have the funds to fight a court battle against a large company.  We can only pray that the courts continue to see the stupidity of allowing foreign ( as in east of the Mississippi river ) entities drilling for and extracting what little water we have.  The other case is similar to this one, but is a little farther North, in the area around Albuquerque. I haven't heard a lot of details on this one yet, but from what I have heard, the case is similar to the one mentioned above.
On a related note, in Colorado there is a large brewery, brewing a popular beer. Considering the wild fires there and the water needed to fight it, and the drought that is in that State, as well as here to the south, I have to wonder how much water goes into a beverage that causes nothing but heartache, not to mention head aches. Consider all the brewerys across the country that make not only beer, but Whiskey, if they all shut down and people just drank water, then perhaps Mark Twains saying would need to be changed.  And just perhaps, even, there would be a little more water for the benefit of all, not just those who choose to drink whiskey and fight over water.  I can assure you, the water fights are real and will continue as long as the west exists.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION

THERE'S THIS OLD QUOTATION ABOUT OPINIONS: You know the one.  If you don't I'm not going to quote it here.  Just to say that every one has an opinion.  Of course those opinions aren't always in agreement.  So, I'm going to mention a few things political here and then ask for you opinion.  If you choose to express it.  I will qualify this to this extent.  Most of what I will write here has been taken from the media.  Maybe not the popular media of the day, but the media just the same.  And it all is taken from the items that seem to be playing out on the popular news of the day. So, here goes.
From an article written by Larry J. Eastland, PhD. he comments on Obama's fading Presidency.  I won't quote his entire article, but just highlight a few of the things he said, but I will quote these.
1. The "Transformational President didn't transform.  If any thing, the divisiveness is worse.
2. The new age of a Permanent Democrat Majority lasted just two years. Today there are fewer Democrats in Congress, in State Legislatures, and in governorships than when Obama took office. And George W. Bush is as popular today as Barack Obama. Not exactly a mandate.
3. The "I can cut unemployment in half in my first term didn't cut it.
4. Obamacare--his only legislative achievement--is as unpopular an idea today as it was the day it passed--if not more so.
5. The "most transparent and honest administration in history" has shown to be...well...you know.  Nuf said.
Now, those are the opinions of Mr. Eastland, and here are a few highlights of why he said them.
Obama is fading cause it's his second term and he can't run for president again. No one will have to run with him on a ticket, so they have nothing to fear. There fore, they are turning away from him. Also, all through out this presidents terms, he has been over shadowed by the Clintons.  And while a lot of people don't like President Obama, a lot of people like Bill and Hilary Clinton.
Next he commented on a comment that someone made is not about how a leader leads in a crisis, but how he leads in a mess.  And Obama has three or four messes on his hands right now, and not a lot of friends to help him out.  The democratic party is distancing themselves from him and they don't seem to understand the Hole theory.  As in, when you're in a hole, stop digging.  They just can't seem to stop.
I will comment on just a couple of other things that Mr. Eastlan mentioned.  Not a lot of people know a lot about Presidednt Obama.  They see him on TV doing Presidential things, kinda like a TV show, and what goes on when not on TV is rarely seen.  Also, in his second term, many of those who now work with him realize that their jobs will be in jeopary in a few years and they will be jumping ship soon to find good jobs in the private sector, leaving Obama to find who ever he can to fill the jobs that need filling.  And they will not necessarily be the best people for the job.
There was more said in the article, but  was just quoting facts to support a lot of the things mentioned, or just other things along the same line as those mentioned.  I do fear that I didn't do the article justice, however, and I will give any one the reference to this article if they want to read it in full.
Now, I will mention a couple of things that are still political in nature, although not necessarily all Obama generated. Will, maybe not all.
The first one is the C-CPI.  I will assume that any of you who may actually read this drivel, know what the CPI is, but if you don't, it is the Consumer Price Index. The other C stands for chained, as in the Chained, CPI.  It is a new way to calculate Social Security and Veterans benefits, and President Obama included it in his most recent budget proposal.  If it is adopted, it will decrease the Social Security and veterans benefits in the future. While most of the comments focused on these two things, it could also raise taxes.  Like this. Every year, the Internal Revenue Service makes adjustments, based on inflation, to income tax brackets........These adjustments help prevent bumping tax payers into higher tax brackets and making them pay more because of inflation. The chained cpi would yeild smaller increases than the current formula, there fore more of your income will be taxed at a higher rate.  Taxpayers with an income of $10,000 to $20,000 would see their taxes raise the most by almost 7% over 16 years, while the higher tax bracket for those earning over $ one million would pay only a .2 % increase.  This would cut Social Security by $127 Billion over 10 years while raising taxes by $142 Billion in that same time period.
Now, some of the solutions to these things are as follows, according to Moi.
Congress should not pass this budget that includes the C-CPI.  Who ever is in charge should crack down, hard, on waste and inefficiency in the payment of Medicare.
Many who currently collect Social Security should not.  This program was originally designed for a retirement benefit, for those who pay into it, but it has been expanded over the decades by changing the  rules by those in government that allows all too many people to collect this benefit, often without paying much into it. I didn't get into the Obamacare program, and will not do so, as I have done so in past posts.  Just pay attention to what is happening with this going forward.
I encourage any who read this to pay close attention to all the things that this administration and the congress are doing.  I don't care if the members of congress are Democrats, Republicans, Independants, Tory's or Whigs, theie first priority should be the welfare of the people they represent, and to take care of the business of the country.  And they are not, as a body. There may be individuals on both sides of the aisle, or in the middle of the aisle who are so inclined to take care of the people, but as a body, both house and senate, are so busy worrying about who is going to get the best of the other, that the purpose for which they are elected has gone by the wayside. So, I repeat, pay close attention to what is going on in Washington, regardless of the party in the white house or in the house or senate, in State houses, county offices and city offices.  And then vote for those that seem to be the best, regardless of party.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK 

I'M GOING TO LIVE A LONG TIME

HOW ABOUT YOU?  Do you know how long you will live?  Well, I don't actually know how long I will live.  In years.  But I do know this. I'm in the beginning years of my 8th decade of life. And I saw on the news the other day, ( qualification, at my age "The other day" could have been a day or a month or even a year or more ago ) that said that a person would lose 3 sets of keys and 4 cell phones in a life time.  Refering to the opening statement, I will live a long time, cause I have yet to lose my first set of keys and my first cell phone.  I would purely hate to lose my keys.  The cell phone, not so much.
So, I will ask for some comments here?  If any one feels so inclined.  Which would you like to lose, if you had to lose something.  Either of the items mentioned, or something else.  If you were to lose one of those items, and you had a choice, which one would you like to lose.  Keys, or cell phone?  Just curious. 
In my humble opinion, there are a lot of things worse to lose than a cell phone or a set of keys.  Like your mind, or a eye or limb. A Good friend or family member.  Or your testimony of the gospel.  Personally I would rather lose the alloted number of keys and phones than any of the other things I mentioned.  Opinions, any one.
What would make you feel really devastated if you lost it.
One last note;  The best thing to lose is your temper when you are angry.  Anger makes your mouth work faster than your brain.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

I MUST BE HAVING FUN

WHAT ABOUT YOU?  You've heard the expression, I'm sure.  You know the one.  Time flies when you are having fun. Well, time seems to be flying, so I must be having fun.  Let me back up a few years, uh, decades, and give you a little background information.
For the few of you that may have read this blog from the beginning, you know that I spent the bulk of my working life in the mining industry.  For the other one or two of you that haven't read this blog much, well, I spent the bulk of my working life in the mining industry.  And during that 40 years and 2 months I worked in the mining business, I worked 16 different schedules.  But the one I will talk about in this post is the one we called the 8 day off schedule.
It worked like this.  We worked 12 hour shifts. 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the night shift and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the day shift. Sometimes we had to be earlier for a safety meeting or some other type of meeting, but I won't get into that for this post. Suffice it to say I am talking about 6 to 6 when I talk about the shifts we worked.  Now, the schedule worked like this.
We would start night shift on a Thursday and work for 4 nights; Thursday, Friday; Saturday and Sunday, coming off shift Monday morning at 6 a.m.  Then we would be off Monday and Tuesday.  Then on Wednesday we would work the day shift for three days and be off on Saturday and Sunday.  Then we would go back to the night shift on Monday for three nights, being off then onThursday and Friday and then starting the day shift on Saturday for four days.  Which meant that starting Wednesday you were off for 8 days.  Yep, 8 days off in a row. Every month.  In case you haven't figured it out by now, we worked 14 day and were off 14 days in every 28 day period. So after the 8 days off, we then went back to the night shift on Thursday to start the cycle all over again. And it took forever for those 8 days to come around. Cause, again, if you haven't figured it out, coming off shift at 6 a.m to start a day off, most of that first day off was spent resting, leaving you with one day to do something. So you looked forward to those 8 days off.  Which took forever to come around.
Now, I mention all this to get to the point of the post.  We have a young couple living next door to us and the man works in the mine, on the 8 day off schedule.  And his 8 days off seem to come around really fast.  He probably don't think so, but to me, being now on the outside and looking in, as it were, it seems they come around for very fast.
So, I must be having fun, cause time sure is flying by.
And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WHERE DO YOU FALL ON THE LIST

NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU PERSONALLY: But the place, or State, where you live.  What list? you ask.  Well, the list of corruption.  I think the two or three of you who actually wade through this drivel I call a blog are aware that I live in New Mexico.  And a lot of New Mexicans will say that New Mexico is the most corrupt State in the Union.  Many years ago, even decades ago, a New Mexico politician commented that if you want a degree in political corruption, go to Chicago.  If you wanted a Masters degree, go to Louisiana, but if you wanted a Doctorate, go to New Mexico.  People from the East Coast will probably say New York or New Jersey are the most corrupt, so it might just depend on where you live on what you think about corruption in Politics.  For this post, however, I will concentrate on the Land of Enchantment. 
Residents of the State will point to Manny Aragon, a politician serving prison time for kickbacks on a federal courthouse contract. He is also drawing a pension check while in prison, cause he's "eligible".  There are others serving prison terms for a variety of reasons. Our past Governor had to withdraw from on offered cabinet post in the Obama administration, cause he was, ( and still is ) being investigated for receiving big campaign contributions in exchange for campaign advise.  The pay to play is still working it's way through the system. I could mention more things, but I think you get the idea.  A past report put New Mexico as the 45th worst State for corruption, but a more recent report has us at number 39.
I am now going to mention a few things Martinez.  As in Governor Susana Martinez.  In case you haven't realized this yet, I like her.  Is she a perfect Governor. No. Has she made mistakes? Yes. But as a general rule, she has done many good thing for the State and has tried to do more, but has been stymied by the legislature. I will mention just a few.
During the 2013 Legislative session, she sponsored a bill to fix the above corruption items.  Her bill never made it out of committee. She has tried to get the policy repealed of giving drivers licenses to illegal residents.  A practice started by the previous governor. The legislature just don't seem to understand the word Illegal. And they come up with some of the stupidest reasons for not fixing this problem.  Our County Senator among them. One more item. Or two. Our State's corporate taxes were the highest in the region.  She wanted to lower it in order to attract more businesses to the State. Without going into the things that took place, this bill was passed.  Many legislators fought this bill, including our own County State Senator, saying that the State would lose money.  It was finally passed because the legislative persons are in love with all things Hollywood and this bill meant those filming in the State also got a tax break.  And what has happened since this bill was passed.  Businesses are already moving into the State and more businesses are looking to move here.  Lower taxes, but more businesses, thus more jobs, thus more taxes.  A win win situation, it seems to me.
So I'll end on this note.  Our legislature, including the afore mentioned State Senator, has worked with Governor Martinez on a lot of things to improve the State and it's people.  They have worked together to cut spending and to balance the budget and keep the State in the Black. Something Washington requires of States, but not of itself. I think if those in Washington would take a lesson from our Republican Governor and mostly Democrat Legislature and how they are willing to work together for the good of the people, at least most of the time, we could find our nation once again in the black financially and that our unemployment rate would decline as more people would have jobs. Now if we could just get the State politicos away from the corruption trough.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCHBANK.

DO YOU REMEMBER

IN A DECADE NOT SO FAR AWAY, AND THE NOT SO DISTANT PAST: But farther back than the memory of my grandchildren, and maybe even some of my children, a president resigned from the presidency because he was caught spying on people. He was a Republican.  I am not writing this post to hash over all that took place with him and his consorts back then.  It is ancient history. I just brought it up as a way of reminding us of what happened during that time. A quote says that history repeats itself, and I wonder if it may be doing that now.  The Infernal Revenue service spying on groups, delaying their applications over a word in the title of their group.  Spying on news reporters.  Boy, that got the media's attention. 
Now, there is political posturing on both sides of the aisle.  Instead of trying to do what is the best for the country and it's people, the opposing parties seem only to point at each other and try to make the opposite party look bad. Fingers are being pointed.  The President says he won't stand for things and calls it Republican posturing.  The Republicans are blaming the President and his cohorts of cover ups.  In my Ditch Bank viewpoint, I think they are both right. And both wrong.  But in any case, they neither one are concerned about the country.  And Nancy Pelosi recently said that the Obamacare bill was lowering insurance premiums. I ask, how can she know.  Most of the bill doesn't even kick in till next year. I do know that my retirement insurance premium has went from $106 a month 4 years ago to $260 a month now, 4 years later.  I know that my Medi Care insurance premium went from $90 a month to over $100 a month now.  And less is being paid.  We will wait and see what happens on this one, but I fear the worst, and hope for the best. 
In that not so distant decade, there was watchable TV shows and movies we actually looked forward to attending.  Now, we refuse to go to a movie and we watch very little TV.  Most of the shows are not only vulgar, but stupid.  The so called comedys aren't even funny.  Except in a potty mouth kind of way. 
Well, I got those things off my chest.  And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCHBANK