WHY DO PEOPLE DO THE THINGS THEY DO. That is a statement that can readily be turned into a question. I occasionally travel the highways and byways of this great State and some time other States, and the things people do never cease to astound me. I will mention a couple or three of them and then mention one thing about me that I have noticed.
1. Why, when I am traveling somewhere, and doing so at the posted speed limit, does someone feel the need to speed past me, then slam on their brakes so they can make a turn off the highway onto a side road, causing me to have to slam on my brakes also. Knowing they were going to make that turn, couldn't they just stay behind me, at the posted speed limit for 60 seconds or so?
I have to wonder.
2. I own a vehicle or 2. None of them are new by several years, although they don't look very bad. My wife and I have tried to take care of them over the years, and when we go to a store, such a Wal-Mart, or a shopping center in a distant city, we park far away from the normal line of parked cars. As in, in the North, or South, 40. So why, when we return to the car after the shopping, with numerous parking spaces in the lot, does someone feel that they have to park in a space right next to us. Even if they are trying to take care of their own vehicle, and parking in the aforesaid 40, they do have a choice to park in a spot away from me. So, why do they feel the need to park right by me. I have to wonder.
3. Another traffic issue. Why, when I am traveling down the road and approaching a construction zone, and the speed limit is dropping and the sign says a certain lane is closed ahead, and I move to the appropriate lane and slow to the posted speed limit, why does the people in the vehicle several vehicles back feel the need to speed up and then crowd in at the last minute where the orange barrels are scooting them over, causing the line of traffic to all slow even further to accommodate them. I have to wonder.
4. And finally, what is it with me. Many years ago I would watch general conference and wonder how much longer is this going to go on. It seemed like a two hour meeting lasted forever. Now, in my dotage, it seems like I have just turned the meeting on and it is already over. I just have to wonder.
I assume that my age, and the passage of time, going by faster and faster every day is the culprit.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Monday, April 4, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
A FEW RAMBLINGS
YEP, I'M BACK WITH MORE RAMBLINGS ABOUT THINGS THAT I OBSERVE IN MY UNEDUCATED WAY. So, most of these are not even related to each other. Well, maybe.
1. Why are Catholic Nuns concerned about a birth control bill in their insurance policy. That should not even be on their radar. OK, I know there is more to this than meets the eye of the media, but sometimes you just have to wonder, the way the report is presented.
2. Do I even want to get into the political scene at this point. It seems to me that the tics are doing a worse job on each other than I could ever do, even if my blog were to be read by many. All I can say at this point is that there is some common sense come November. The problem is that common sense is just not that common.
3. The Staff of life. We have been without water off and on for the past two days. You don't realize how much you depend on water being there until you don't have it. Oh, we had water to drink, and there are emergency supplies, but still, the convenience of water is a given until it is not available at the turn of the tap.
4. Weather. Here where I live we have wind and dust. And lots of it. Well, today hasn't been so bad. But just a few miles, well a few hundred miles, although it is only across a State line, Colorado is buried in a winter blizzard of snow. Welcome to spring time.
Hope you all have a happy Easter and remember why we celebrate it.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
1. Why are Catholic Nuns concerned about a birth control bill in their insurance policy. That should not even be on their radar. OK, I know there is more to this than meets the eye of the media, but sometimes you just have to wonder, the way the report is presented.
2. Do I even want to get into the political scene at this point. It seems to me that the tics are doing a worse job on each other than I could ever do, even if my blog were to be read by many. All I can say at this point is that there is some common sense come November. The problem is that common sense is just not that common.
3. The Staff of life. We have been without water off and on for the past two days. You don't realize how much you depend on water being there until you don't have it. Oh, we had water to drink, and there are emergency supplies, but still, the convenience of water is a given until it is not available at the turn of the tap.
4. Weather. Here where I live we have wind and dust. And lots of it. Well, today hasn't been so bad. But just a few miles, well a few hundred miles, although it is only across a State line, Colorado is buried in a winter blizzard of snow. Welcome to spring time.
Hope you all have a happy Easter and remember why we celebrate it.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Monday, March 14, 2016
SOME MORE OBSERVATIONS
WELL, A COUPLE MORE OR SO. WE WILL SEE.
1. I guess I am getting to be a sour old man. Why? you ask. You already knew this, you are just wondering how I discovered it. Well, I'll tell you. I used to like candy. Lots and lots of candy. I really liked Snickers and Milky Way bars, with a Coke. And peanuts. A 20 oz. bottle of Coke. I still like Coke, and peanuts, but don't drink them much any more, but any time I break down and buy a Snickers etc, I can hardly eat it as it is so sweet. Same with most of the store bought cookies that I used to like. Just don't like most of them any more. Well, except Fig Newtons. I still like those, so maybe I have not completely soured. Just mostly. I do like most home made pies and cookies. And Ice Cream. As soon as I don't like them I will have made it all the way to sour.
2. Have you bought any honey lately? Just wondering. It has gotten so expensive even Pooh may have to change to Syrup. Sopapilla Syrup, that is. Have you had any Sopapilla Syrup lately. Bet you have if you have gone to a Mexican Restaurant and ordered a Sopapilla with Honey. And you got Honey. Nope. Syrup. Don't believe me? Google Sopapilla Syrup and see what you come up with. Let me know.
3. Have you seen the commercial for eye glasses where the guy comes out in a pink body suit. Or whatever it is. May get someones juices flowing to buy glasses from them. Not mine. I hate that commercial so much I am not really sure who they are advertising for.
4. I have often heard, during an election year, May the best man win. I have often replied that the best man is not even running. I read something a few weeks back that said the best man or person, is not running because the best man don't want to govern his fellow man. Yep, that about sums it up. So, as a result, we live with what we get and always hope for a better future.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
1. I guess I am getting to be a sour old man. Why? you ask. You already knew this, you are just wondering how I discovered it. Well, I'll tell you. I used to like candy. Lots and lots of candy. I really liked Snickers and Milky Way bars, with a Coke. And peanuts. A 20 oz. bottle of Coke. I still like Coke, and peanuts, but don't drink them much any more, but any time I break down and buy a Snickers etc, I can hardly eat it as it is so sweet. Same with most of the store bought cookies that I used to like. Just don't like most of them any more. Well, except Fig Newtons. I still like those, so maybe I have not completely soured. Just mostly. I do like most home made pies and cookies. And Ice Cream. As soon as I don't like them I will have made it all the way to sour.
2. Have you bought any honey lately? Just wondering. It has gotten so expensive even Pooh may have to change to Syrup. Sopapilla Syrup, that is. Have you had any Sopapilla Syrup lately. Bet you have if you have gone to a Mexican Restaurant and ordered a Sopapilla with Honey. And you got Honey. Nope. Syrup. Don't believe me? Google Sopapilla Syrup and see what you come up with. Let me know.
3. Have you seen the commercial for eye glasses where the guy comes out in a pink body suit. Or whatever it is. May get someones juices flowing to buy glasses from them. Not mine. I hate that commercial so much I am not really sure who they are advertising for.
4. I have often heard, during an election year, May the best man win. I have often replied that the best man is not even running. I read something a few weeks back that said the best man or person, is not running because the best man don't want to govern his fellow man. Yep, that about sums it up. So, as a result, we live with what we get and always hope for a better future.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
JUST A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS
OR THREE. Do you watch TV? Do you pay attention to the Ad's? If so, maybe you can enlighten me.
1. Why would an insurance agency feel the need to insure a bunch of deer having a pool party>
2. Although Ben Franklin thought the Turkey was a smart bird, are they really smart enough to high jack a meat delivery truck and cause the driver to tremble in fear? And the insurance company feels the need to cover that?
3. And why does Tarzan need car insurance any way. He just swings through the jungle on a vine?
4. And finally, if all the money spent on the Dems and the Repubs trying to get into the white house legally, was actually spent on feeding the hungry or paying sown the national debt, just think how much better off the country would be.
JUST SOME ERRANT THOUGHTS FROM THE DITCH BANK
1. Why would an insurance agency feel the need to insure a bunch of deer having a pool party>
2. Although Ben Franklin thought the Turkey was a smart bird, are they really smart enough to high jack a meat delivery truck and cause the driver to tremble in fear? And the insurance company feels the need to cover that?
3. And why does Tarzan need car insurance any way. He just swings through the jungle on a vine?
4. And finally, if all the money spent on the Dems and the Repubs trying to get into the white house legally, was actually spent on feeding the hungry or paying sown the national debt, just think how much better off the country would be.
JUST SOME ERRANT THOUGHTS FROM THE DITCH BANK
Thursday, February 25, 2016
SORRY, I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF
I HAVE HELD OFF ABOUT AS LONG AS I CAN. I just feel I need to express myself on the current state of the election campaign. So, bear with me, as I may ramble a bit. OK OK a lot.
First, the Dems. Actually, there were three candidates, but one has dropped out, so now there is just Hillary and Bernie. Neither of which is a good choice. I almost want to leave this right there, but will say a couple of things. Bernie is an avowed socialist. Never has socialism worked for a country without problems. Although we have a lot of things headed in that direction, the last I checked, this was still a democracy. Shouldn't Democrats want Democracy? And Hillary. What can I say that I have not already said? Not much, I guess. She continues to deny the things she has done wrong, and while the media will mention these things, they continue to not call her on them.
Now to the Repubs. As of this writing, the field has dropped from 16 to 5. Donald Trump continues to lead the pack. And the pack he is leading is the public that continues to vote for him. All I can think of is a pack of ravening wolves, with Trump the leader. Depending on your point of view, Trump is a successful business man. He has shrugged off the many bankruptcies he has had as just business as usual. He is a bully and he uses the kind of language most bullies use; foul and often misleading. He attacks any of hos opponents that start to get too close to him in the polls. When Cruz won the primary that he did win, Trump threatened to sue him for stealing the election. He stated that he hated to lose. Well, too bad. We can only hope that he does lose even more on Super Tuesday. I like Ted Cruz. He is campaigning on the issues more than any candidate and he is not attacking his opponents like the others are. Following Cruz, I like Marco Rubio. I think either one of them would be preferable to Trump. I like Ben Carson, but he has fallen so far behind that I feel he will eventually drop out, along with Mr. Kasich, leaving a field of three. Time will tell, I guess.
So for a final wrap up on this post. I do not like Hillary or Bernie or Trump. I made an agreement with one of my daughters that if she would not vote for Hillary, I would not vote for Trump. If it comes down to the two of them in the general election, I release her from that agreement, as I may have to renege on my part also. While I don't like Trump, I think he will be better than Hillary. Not good for the country, but better than Hillary.
And I will say this. I read an article a while back that while the Democrats look at the country's problem and the solutions from the Democrat point of view and the Republicans look at them from the Republican point of view, Trump looks at the problem and tries to find a solution to the problem, with a point of view of a business man, not a politician. So be it. Maybe that is what we need, but still, I find Trump hard to take.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
First, the Dems. Actually, there were three candidates, but one has dropped out, so now there is just Hillary and Bernie. Neither of which is a good choice. I almost want to leave this right there, but will say a couple of things. Bernie is an avowed socialist. Never has socialism worked for a country without problems. Although we have a lot of things headed in that direction, the last I checked, this was still a democracy. Shouldn't Democrats want Democracy? And Hillary. What can I say that I have not already said? Not much, I guess. She continues to deny the things she has done wrong, and while the media will mention these things, they continue to not call her on them.
Now to the Repubs. As of this writing, the field has dropped from 16 to 5. Donald Trump continues to lead the pack. And the pack he is leading is the public that continues to vote for him. All I can think of is a pack of ravening wolves, with Trump the leader. Depending on your point of view, Trump is a successful business man. He has shrugged off the many bankruptcies he has had as just business as usual. He is a bully and he uses the kind of language most bullies use; foul and often misleading. He attacks any of hos opponents that start to get too close to him in the polls. When Cruz won the primary that he did win, Trump threatened to sue him for stealing the election. He stated that he hated to lose. Well, too bad. We can only hope that he does lose even more on Super Tuesday. I like Ted Cruz. He is campaigning on the issues more than any candidate and he is not attacking his opponents like the others are. Following Cruz, I like Marco Rubio. I think either one of them would be preferable to Trump. I like Ben Carson, but he has fallen so far behind that I feel he will eventually drop out, along with Mr. Kasich, leaving a field of three. Time will tell, I guess.
So for a final wrap up on this post. I do not like Hillary or Bernie or Trump. I made an agreement with one of my daughters that if she would not vote for Hillary, I would not vote for Trump. If it comes down to the two of them in the general election, I release her from that agreement, as I may have to renege on my part also. While I don't like Trump, I think he will be better than Hillary. Not good for the country, but better than Hillary.
And I will say this. I read an article a while back that while the Democrats look at the country's problem and the solutions from the Democrat point of view and the Republicans look at them from the Republican point of view, Trump looks at the problem and tries to find a solution to the problem, with a point of view of a business man, not a politician. So be it. Maybe that is what we need, but still, I find Trump hard to take.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
UNCHARTED WATERS
OR ROADS OR TRAILS; or whatever appeals to you. You do know what uncharted waters are. This is someplace no one has ever been. Waters, or land or even space, that has yet to be explored. So, today I am stepping into uncharted waters, or trails or somewhere. Actually, these places are really charted, as others have been there before me, but for me, having not been there, this is uncharted territory. So, whereof do I speak? or write? Well, this blog, in a way. When I started this blog a few years ago, I said I would not delve into personal things. Like my life. But I would make this a view from the ditch bank on my uneducated opinion of things going on around me. Got the most part, I have stuck to that dictum. I have made a couple of ventures into the personal on a limited scale, but today, I am going to get really personal, at least for me. It may never happen again. So here goes. The uncharted territory.
55 years ago my wife and I got married. We were young, but we got married any way. We have survived that 55 years in classic fashion, I guess. Even though others have been getting married and raising families for eons, this was uncharted territory for my wife and I. We had to make our own way as we went along. So what has this 55 years brought? Well, it has been a bed of roses for the most part. But before you think I gloss over any thing, please remember that roses have thorns, and to actually lie in a bed of roses is going to cause you to get stuck with a thorn. So, yes, we have had our ups and downs. We have had good days and bad. We have survived thick and thin, mostly thin, I sometimes think. Now, in the sunset years of our life here on the third rock from the sun, we still have each other to rely on as we make decisions that affect what we do on a daily basis. We have 7 children, 28 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. No more children, probably no more grandchildren and who knows how many great grandchildren may come of this. We have survived job stability and job layoffs. We are now retired and just going along the golden years. You all know what the golden years are. That is when we have the years and the Doctors are getting the gold.
Being members of the LDS Church, we have been sealed by one having Priesthood authority for eternity. So, this 55 years will continue for who knows how much longer here on the earth and will continue on forever side by side through the eternities. This is just a learning stage. Here's looking forward to those years.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
55 years ago my wife and I got married. We were young, but we got married any way. We have survived that 55 years in classic fashion, I guess. Even though others have been getting married and raising families for eons, this was uncharted territory for my wife and I. We had to make our own way as we went along. So what has this 55 years brought? Well, it has been a bed of roses for the most part. But before you think I gloss over any thing, please remember that roses have thorns, and to actually lie in a bed of roses is going to cause you to get stuck with a thorn. So, yes, we have had our ups and downs. We have had good days and bad. We have survived thick and thin, mostly thin, I sometimes think. Now, in the sunset years of our life here on the third rock from the sun, we still have each other to rely on as we make decisions that affect what we do on a daily basis. We have 7 children, 28 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. No more children, probably no more grandchildren and who knows how many great grandchildren may come of this. We have survived job stability and job layoffs. We are now retired and just going along the golden years. You all know what the golden years are. That is when we have the years and the Doctors are getting the gold.
Being members of the LDS Church, we have been sealed by one having Priesthood authority for eternity. So, this 55 years will continue for who knows how much longer here on the earth and will continue on forever side by side through the eternities. This is just a learning stage. Here's looking forward to those years.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Monday, February 8, 2016
WHO LIKES ICE CREAM>
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS: But I do understand that there are people who do not. I don't know why they don't, but well, they don't. But this post is not about ice cream any way. It is about bowls. Super bowls, to be exact. Does every one know what a super bowl is? Well, there are several descriptions. One of them could reside in a bathroom. One of them could be a large bowl to eat ice cream, or cereal from. Like in a large bowl. And then there is the one that took place yesterday. February 7th to be exact, in case you are reading this after February 8th. While I mentioned a few other types of bowls, I will talk a little bit about the super bowl game yesterday.
I didn't watch the game. I have never watched a super bowl game. I don't see watching a game any time in the future. But I do follow the news items and a lot of it is about the advertising that goes with the game. And the unbelievable amounts of money these companies pay to have these ads played on the TV for the "pleasure" of the viewing public. The Today Show played several of these ads today and the hosts, who are supposed to be grown up individuals, just cackled and carried on about these ads and how funny or endearing they were. They especially liked the Dorito ad. I found this one, as well as the others they cackled over, disgusting. I like Doritos, but if I had not ever ate them and thought I might like to, I sure wouldn't be enticed to do so from this ad.
And can I just mention the half time show. Well, this is my post, so yes, yes I can. Once again, the Today show hosts just carried on and on about the half time show and how great it was and how great Beyonce' was and how this was a good place for her to showcase her new single that will soon be released. I listened to the "song", I use that word loosely, and I could not understand any thing she said, er sang. I did see something on facebook about the song being an anti cop song. All I could hear was a lot of jumbled up noise.
Well, enough about that. I'll just keep a large bowl for ice cream and let others watch the foot ball game.
Now I want you to notice I did not mention the tic race. I am holding myself in on that, but I am not sure I can hold on much longer. After tomorrow I just may have to comment on things. I will try to be nice, but I assure you in advance, it will be difficult.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
I didn't watch the game. I have never watched a super bowl game. I don't see watching a game any time in the future. But I do follow the news items and a lot of it is about the advertising that goes with the game. And the unbelievable amounts of money these companies pay to have these ads played on the TV for the "pleasure" of the viewing public. The Today Show played several of these ads today and the hosts, who are supposed to be grown up individuals, just cackled and carried on about these ads and how funny or endearing they were. They especially liked the Dorito ad. I found this one, as well as the others they cackled over, disgusting. I like Doritos, but if I had not ever ate them and thought I might like to, I sure wouldn't be enticed to do so from this ad.
And can I just mention the half time show. Well, this is my post, so yes, yes I can. Once again, the Today show hosts just carried on and on about the half time show and how great it was and how great Beyonce' was and how this was a good place for her to showcase her new single that will soon be released. I listened to the "song", I use that word loosely, and I could not understand any thing she said, er sang. I did see something on facebook about the song being an anti cop song. All I could hear was a lot of jumbled up noise.
Well, enough about that. I'll just keep a large bowl for ice cream and let others watch the foot ball game.
Now I want you to notice I did not mention the tic race. I am holding myself in on that, but I am not sure I can hold on much longer. After tomorrow I just may have to comment on things. I will try to be nice, but I assure you in advance, it will be difficult.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
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