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