HEAT WAVE HODGEPODGE!

     Well, here's another set of thought provoking and fun questions. I don't know where Joyce comes up with these, but they are fun to answer. Won't you join in?

1. Picture postcards were first printed back in the mid-1800's and deltiology is the official name for postcard collecting. When did you last send a postcard?  Receive one? Do you save postcards sent to you? Do you collect and/or send postcards when you travel?

     A couple of years ago SWMBO and I took a trip to Niagara Falls, NY. We were thrown out of Canada on that trip, but that's a story for another time. I think we sent a postcard or two during that trip. I don't remember the last time that I received a postcard. I do not collect them, however, I do on occasion send them when traveling to a place of interest.

2. What treat do you most like to indulge in while on vacation?

    SWMBO and I have a sort of unofficial rule when we're on vacation..."All Diet Restrictions Are Off!" That means that while we are on vacation we might eat  or drink something that is not on our normal eating regimen. My list might include an ice cold beer, corn on the cob, watermelon sherbet "anything", or some decadent, cream filled pastry thingy, just to name a few!

3. Are you good at hiding your feelings?

     I am with most other people. Sometimes I am with SWMBO, but if something is really bugging me, she usually knows.

4. Does your town/city/county still deliver telephone books to your home? Do you check the yellow pages when searching for a local business number or has the internet replaced the phone book in your home?

     We do get a phone book now and then. In our town it has morphed into a business directory of sorts. A lot of people have done away with their "home phone" and rely exclusively on their cellphones. The internet has practically replaced the telephone directory.

5. Would you rather be first or last?

     When we have a potluck meal at the church I generally will go last. I think that it's only fair to give everyone else a fair shot at getting their food before I attack the buffet like Grant took Richmond. I don't think that I have ever had a burning desire to be first at anything. I am more than okay with waiting for my turn, in fact I prefer it that way.

Yosemite National Park

6. July is National Park and Recreation Month (in America, but everyone can still play along)...where and when were you last in a park?  Did you participate in any recreational activities while you were there?

     Several years ago, SWMBO and I flew out to San Diego to join our son and his family on a trip to Yosemite National Park. That was one of the best vacations that we have ever had. We all took a raft ride down the Merced River. That river had the coldest water that I have ever been in, including Hampton Beach, NH, and the North Sea off the coast of England. 

     Yosemite is one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on the entire planet. I highly recommend it to you.

7.  What was one of your worst ideas?

     Only one? On that Niagara Falls trip that I mentioned earlier, I figured that I would leave the interstate and take a shortcut across upstate New York to get to one of the ferry crossings  to cross Lake Champlain into Vermont. Well, I got lost and dragged SWMBO and the dogs with me. She was okay with it for the most part, but it was not my finest hour.

      Another time, I ate some Indian Pudding that my mother in law made and....

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

        We are in the throes of a typical New England heat wave. The temperature has exceeded 90 degrees and the humidity is somewhere in the 60 percent range for a few days now. It is so hot and uncomfortable that most "normal" people are longing for the cold of winter. 

        Interestingly enough that's the way it works up here in the northeast. A Yankee by definition is a person who in the winter complains vociferously about the snow and the cold and in the summer complains as forcefully about the heat and humidity and when you ask him "Well, if you're so miserable, why don't you move?" Their answer is "Because there is no better place on earth to live!"  I'm a proud New England Yankee. It doesn't have to make sense, people, that's just the way it is!

       Oh by the way, when I talk about the so called "normal" people, that excludes SWMBO. That's right, my beloved SWMBO is not normal! When the temperatures are so hot and the humidity is so high that the simple act of breathing brings sweat from every pore, SWMBO does not sweat...period! It's amazing, no matter how miserably hot it gets, she basks in it like a turtle on a warm rock.

       The other side of that coin is that during the winter months I seldom, if ever, get cold. My whole existence is dedicated to keeping SWMBO warm during those times. Such is the Yin and Yang of our existence. You see, opposites truly do attract. God bless you all!

AFRICA HOT - HODGEPODGE!

     The temperature in New Hampshire has been in the high 80's and low 90'w with tropical levels of humidity. In short, it has been miserably uncomfortable for all, with the singular exception of my beloved SWMBO who doesn't even break a sweat in this weather.

     Our friend and fellow blogger, Joyce from "From This Side of the Pond" has come up with some more thought provoking and fun questions. Don't just sit there, play along and answer the questions yourself.

1. What's something people might ask you for help with?

   
     I am willing to help out in almost any way that I can. People may ask me my opinion on a question of law because of my law enforcement background. People ask me to help with rides to medical appointments or to church. I also am well versed in the contents of the Bible so I am asked to help out and preach a sermon or teach an adult Bible class from time to time.

2. What's something you might ask someone else for help with?

     I do ask for help and/or guidance with repairs around the house. I am not the most gifted when it comes to the building trades. I also might ask for financial counsel because I don't have the greatest business acumen either.

3.  Did your family take summer vacations when you were a child? If so, where did you go? If you're a parent, did/do you plan summer vacations with your own family? Did/do they resemble those you took as a child?

     We didn't take vacations per se when I was a kid. My dad had a brother who lived in Quebec, Canada, so we'd all cram into the car and drive up to Canada to visit him for a couple of days. 
     When my kids were little, we'd take day trips. One year we spent a few days at a resort in the White Mountains. Another year we spent a couple of days in Quebec City, Canada. Most of the time we would take day trips to the beach, to a lake, or someplace else as our work schedules and finances permitted.

4.   Pool-lake-ocean...which one is most appealing to you on a hot summer day?

     I'd  love to spend a week or two in a cabin on a reasonably remote lake. That appeals to me alot. A close second would be to spend a few days by the ocean.
     Anyplace is acceptable as long as SWMBO is with me. Nirvana would be having SWMBO, our kids and our grandkids in the same place at the same time for a week.

5.  Have you ever justified using the expression, 'you gotta be cruel to be kind'?  Was it really necessary or were you rationalizing?

     I don't know that I have. There are times as a parent when you have to be "brutally" honest and that sometimes causes pain to your loved ones. You don't like to do...but you do it, but only if it is in their best interests.
     As a devout Christian it is sometimes difficult to tell the unvarnished truth about someone's possible eternal destiny if they choose to reject the grace and salvation that God freely offers. We are called to make disciples of all people teaching them everything Jesus taught while He was on earth. One of the the things that He taught was about Hell. Not a very happy or positive topic, but a necessary one if we are to fulfill the "Great Commission!"

6.  The Journal of Psychology recently mentioned the results of a survey identifying the ten most hated foods as-liver, lima beans, mayonnaise, mushrooms, eggs, okra, beets, brussel sprouts, tuna, and gelatin.  Of those foods, how many do you actually hate? Anything you'd add to the list? 

     I hate liver! I don't like okra. The rest of the list are perfectly palatable, as far as I'm concerned. One food I'd add to the list is "Indian Pudding." That stuff is poison!
     

7. What's your favorite book or movie set in a beach or lake town?

     I like the "Jesse Stone" movies based on books by Robert Parker which is set in a seacoast town called Paradise, Massachusetts. There's a number of movies where Tom Select plays the title character which are well worth watching.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

     The Obama Administration recently announced that they were going to postpone enforcement of the "Employer Mandate" of the Affordable Care Act which President Obama signed into law a couple of years ago. The law calls for enforcement of the mandate to go into effect on January 1, 2014. He wants to put if off for a year, until January 1, 2015.
      I have a couple of problems with the President's decision. First, the President does NOT have the authority to unilaterally change a law that was duly passed by the Congress and that he signed thereby enacting it into law. Congress may certainly amend the law and the President may sign the amendment enacting it into law. However, the President cannot legally change the law by himself.
     Second, the president took an oath to "...to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States. To preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States"
     Article II, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution specifically requires the President to "...take care that the laws are faithfully executed." 
     The Constitution is clear that the president "MUST" take care to execute the laws that are enacted. A cynical person may conclude that the President is trying to put off the pain that is "Obama Care" until after the mid-term elections in 2014.
      Whatever the reason, what the President is doing is clearly wrong! What the President is doing is clearly illegal! What the President is doing is clearly unconstitutional! The law was duly passed by both houses of the Congress and he duly signed it, enacting it into law.
      Thomas Jefferson would call what the President is doing "TYRANNY!" I fail to see where Mr. Jefferson is wrong! 

INDEPENDENCE DAY HODGEPODGE!

1. What's one simple small pleasure on your summer 'to-do' list? 

     I love Watermelon Sherbet so sometime this summer I hope to partake of some. Dunkin Donuts used to have a Watermelon Coolatta. Thankfully they don't anymore, I don't need to sugar!

2. Do you have strong feelings or opinions regarding the immigration debate in your home country? Feel free to share your thoughts, but please play nice.

     I believe that illegal conduct should not be rewarded. I believe as a sovereign nation the United States must secure its national boundaries. I believe that any person here in violation of the law is NOT entitled to welfare, college tuition, food stamps, driver's licenses or any other services that are paid for with tax dollars for the benefit of legitimate citizens. I suppose that makes me a neanderthal, but that is my opinion.

3.  What's something in your home or wardrobe that could be described as 'star spangled'?

     I don't have anything that is "star spangled."

4.  Is your house set up for a party?

     We have a back deck. We have a gas grill. We have furniture! We have music players. So, yes, I guess that we are set up for a party.

5. What one never-before-visited city in America, would you most like to see?

     I would love to see the lights of the Las Vegas strip. However, my choice would be Denver, Colorado. I'd love to see the Rocky Mountains.

6. Your favorite red food? White food? Blue food?

     My favorite red food would be watermelon. My favorite white food would be vanilla ice cream. My favorite blue food would have to be blueberries...only because I can't think of any other blue foods.

7. What freedom do you value the most, and why?

     Freedom of Speech! I really appreciate the freedom to say whatever I want about anything or anyone I want, no matter how obnoxious or unpopular, without the government being able to silence  or retaliate against me.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     I really admire the genius of our founding fathers. They created an entirely new paradigm of government where the "just powers" of government are derived from the consent of the governed and not by might or divine right!

     I admire the genius of the U.S. Constitution that they created for the purpose of securing the blessings of liberty for them and their progeny, that is, us! The three branches of government were designed to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful or oppressive. The founding fathers believed that the natural inclination of government was growth in both power over and control of their citizens.

     We are far from perfect, but within the system the founding fathers created are the tools to make those corrections that may be necessary to bring our government back to the founders original intent without violence, by peaceable means. Happy 237th Birthday, America! Happy Independence Day Everyone! 

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY - SUMMERTIME EDITION!

1. Summertime is a season of reunions, weddings, and other family celebrations and gatherings...are any of the above on your calendar in the next two months?

     We already had a reunion of sorts when my neice came up from Texas. She recently gave birth to her first child, a daughter, and so she and her husband came up to introduce Evelynn Ivy to her extended family. It was really good to spend time with my brother's kids and their families. 

2. June is National Iced Tea Month...are you an iced tea drinker? If so, how do you like yours (sweet, flavored, etc)? 

     I am an iced tea drinker. I like it sweet with a little lemon. I do like flavored iced tea, also. My favorite flavors are rasberry and peach.

3. When were you last nervous?  Looking back, was the 'event' actually nerve-worthy?

     Really? Last time? Since June 2012 and every doctor visit since! Yes, the event(s) are nerve worthy! All kidding aside, we have good days and we have less-good days. Sometimes the nervousness is warranted, other times, not so much!

4. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China on June 26, 1498...not sure how that date was pinned down so precisely but, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being sick to your stomach and 1 being not at all, how nervous do you feel when you're headed to the dentist?  Do you see your dentist twice a year?

     I am usually somewhere between a 2 and a 3. I used to see the dentist more regularly but have not in recent years.

5. What's making news in your town this week?

     The local police issued a warning to lock our cars. Apparently there has been a spate of car thefts in recent weeks. Also, the local police are participating in a "Torch Run" to raise funds for the NH Special Olympics. Finally, a local couple wants to contribute several parcels of land to the Town for public use. That's about it.

6. Curtains, drapes, blinds...your window treatment of choice? Are there any bare windows in your house? Is that by choice or because you haven't gotten around to covering them? 

     Curtains and blinds! One bare window over our kitchen sink looking out into the back yard. 

7. Summertime is officially here (in the Northern hemisphere anyway)...what one song is a must-have on your summer playlist?

     "Too Much Time on My Hands" by Styx

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

     I have been lavishly blessed by God in my life. First, He put people in my life who patiently pointed me to Him. I now have a wonderful relationship with my Heavenly Father and have experienced first hand His amazing lovingkindness.
     I am married to a woman who is so remarkable in oh so many ways. I am most privileged to be able to share a life with my beloved SWMBO! Another blessing from my loving God.
    God has put amazing people in my life who love me unconditionally, who gently hold me accountable and who call me friend.
    God has put a number of godly men in my life who modeled for me what being a Christian man is all about.
     These just scratch the surface of the many lavish blessings that I have received. I am eternally and profoundly grateful for all of it.
     My sincere prayer is that all of you reading this would come to know the God of whom I speak and come to know and love Him a 100th of how much He knows and loves you!

HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH YET?

     I have been watching the news over that past several weeks and have become saddened by the current state of affairs. I am fearful for the future of our beloved republic. There are things going on that if they do not change does not bode well for the liberty interests of the citizenry. Let me explain what I mean.

     CASE #1 - THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE: You may recall that back in the 1970's President Nixon was about to be impeached. One of the specifications on the Bill of Impeachment alleged that President Nixon used the Internal Revenue Service to harass and punish his political enemies.
     The information that has been made public to date clearly shows that the Internal Revenue Service has been targeting groups that espoused conservative views and that worked to try and educate the American electorate to what they viewed as bad government policy. These groups that applied for tax exempt status had their applications deliberately held up for unreasonably long periods of time, often exceeding years, for no other reason than because of their stated political beliefs. These applications were flagged on the basis of their conservative sounding names.
     These organizations were required to answer numerous illegally intrusive and inappropriate questions under the penalty of perjury before their application for tax exempt status would be acted on.
     Meanwhile, groups that espoused views friendly to the current administration had their applications for tax exempt status reviewed and acted on more expeditiously. These friendly groups had their applications reviewed and approved in a matter of a few months.

CASE #2- GIBSON GUITAR CO.: The Gibson Guitar Company in Tennessee was raided by heavily armed federal agents in 2009 and 2011 and approximately five million dollars worth of materials was seized. The material consisted of exotic wood that had been imported from Indonesia and Madagascar and is used in the manufacture of Gibson Guitars. 
     The company was never charged with any crime!   The company did pay a "penalty" of $300,000 dollars to avoid criminal charges. The company also made a "contribution" of $50,000 dollars to the National Fish Wildlife Fund.
     The CEO of the company, Henry Juszkiewicz, is a Republican and has contributed to support the election of Republican candidates.
     Conversely, the Martin Guitar Company uses the very same wood to manufacture their guitars. The CEO of the martin Guitar Company, Chris Martin, is a Democrat and has contributed to support the election of democratic candidates for office, most notably President Obama.
     Here we have two guitar companies engaged in the same business, using the same materials. One CEO is a Republican, the other CEO a Democrat. The Republican's company gets raided by heavily armed federal agents, has millions of dollar worth of it's property seized and is then extorted to pay a hefty penalty and forced to make a contribution to the National Fish & Wildlife Fund.

     American citizens have an ABSOLUTE RIGHT to hold and espouse ANY views, beliefs and opinions that they may choose, even if those views are abhorrent to the majority. All American citizens are entitled, pursuant to the 14th Amendment to the United State Constitution, to equal protection under the law. 
     WHENEVER the government takes any action against ANY American citizen that is based upon that citizen's views, beliefs or opinions, and not on the basis of law, tyranny has raised it's ugly head. 
     Our founding fathers warned us about how government if left unchecked will always become too large and oppressive. They established the system of checks and balances to keep the branches of government from becoming too powerful. They believed that the other two branches would keep the third branch of government in check.
      The words of Thomas Jefferson keep coming to mind "Where the people fear the government there is tyranny. Where the government fears the people there is liberty." People today fear our government and that should not be! If things do not change, I fear for the future of our beloved Republic.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY HODGEPODGE!

     At the risk of appearing to be self serving, I cordially invite you all to participate in this edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there!

1. What do you think makes a good dad?

     I have heard it said that most of succes in a person's life consists of "just showing up!" Any human male can become a father. It takes commitment and diligent effort to be a Dad! It is imperative that men stick around, show up, to teach and model for their sons and daughters what it means to be a man. Men must show by example the proper way a man shows up and conducts himself when times are good and when times are bad. 

     A Dad shows up and demonstrates how a man should treat women by the way he treats his wife and how he treats his daughters. How a Dad treats the women in his life also teaches his daughter(s) that she should expect to be treated in a respectful way and not to accept anything less. A Dad shows up to press home that point to any male who would treat his daughter(s) otherwise. 

     So, in short, what makes a good Dad is a man who consistently and reliably shows up!

2.  What's something you learned from your own father?

     My dad taught me how to make simple repairs around the home. He did this by making me help him when he made such repairs in our home.

     My dad instilled in me a love of country and impressed upon me the necessity of public service. He believed and taught his two sons that we must give back to our Nation for the freedoms and lifestyle that we enjoy.

     He did not tolerate ANY disrespect to our mother or any other adult. He taught us to treat every adult we encountered with courtesy and respect. 

     He taught me how to be a man!

3. It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

     We are having Devil's Food Cake with Vanilla Frosting. What else?

4. When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons? 

     I reason everything out, weighing the pro's and cons. I further solicit advice from people wiser than me in the area under consideration. I also research most issues before coming to a decision. Once the decision is made, I generally stick with it and accept the consequences, for good or ill.

5. June is National Dairy Month. What's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item? 

     My favorite dairy item is ice cream, of course! My most often purchased item is milk. I love a glass of ice cold milk.

6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910....what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore?

     I would love to load SWMBO and the fur-babies into an RV and explore the breadth of this great country. I'd love to visit and explore the various monuments and National Parks from Acadia National Park in Maine to Yosemite National Park in California and all the wonderful places in between.

7. Are you typical of your generation?

     I am a baby boomer through and through. I grew up in the turmoil that was the sixty's. I served in the armed forces in the seventy's. I served the Community and raised a family with my beloved SWMBO in the eighty's, ninety's and well into the 21st century. I don 't know if I'm typical, but my life has certainly been interesting! 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     When I was growing up, my concept of God was the wrathful God of the Old Testament. The God who destroyed Egypt with ten plagues. The God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone from the sky. The God who created Hell to eternally punish Satan and the angels who rebelled with him against God. The God who will consign all who sin to that same Hell.
     As a young man, however, God displayed His lovingkindness to me. He taught me that He was truly a loving Father and that because of His love for me went to extraordinary lengths to adopt me, and everyone else, into His family so that we might spend eternity with Him.
     God, through Jesus Christ paid the penalty that He did not owe for our sins and clothed us with a righteousness that is not our own. Because of this new righteousness we are beloved of God and have become His adopted children.
     I learned that we ALL will spend eternity somewhere. I also learned that the choice is ours as to where that will be. 
     I strongly urge everyone who is reading these words to choose life with God! He will not force you to choose Him, but you must choose, of your own free will! There is no better choice than choosing life with God! If I may be of assistance to you in making that choice, please ask! I stand ready to help!
    Happy Father's Day everyone!

WOO HOO! IT'S WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE!

1. Have you learned more from success or failure? Explain.

     I have learned more from failure than I have from success. The simple reason is that I have had more experience with failure than I have with success. I suspect that I am not alone in this. Often from many failures comes tremendous success. Consider Thomas Alva Edison. He tried using over a thousand metals before finding tungsten to create the light bulb. Does failure ever result from success? I don't think so!

2.  What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents? If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

     I never knew my paternal grandparents. They both died before I was born. However, as a boy we lived with my maternal grandparents. I called them "Memere" and "Pepere." My grand kids call me "Pepere." I love hearing them call me Pepere! My heart just melts!

  

3.  You're invited to a luau.  In keeping with that theme, what dish will you bring to share? 

     I think that if I was invited to a luau I would bring some grilled ham with pineapple slices and a stir fried rice and vegetables dish.

4. Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know about?

     My choice would be Thomas Jefferson. He was a scholar, a gentleman farmer, an inventor and a founding father. He served as President of the United States. He was the U.S. Ambassador to France. He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and his writings on "Liberty" are particularly relevant today. Thomas Jefferson is definitely one of my favorite historical figures.

5. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or Disagree? Why?

     I Definitely agree! It never ceases to amaze the amount of negative energy people expend over "Small Stuff." I learned throughout my law enforcement career to not sweat the small stuff. Given SWMBO's and my current circumstance more things have been added to the "Small Stuff" list. There are greater issues and life, so it is good advice to not sweat the small stuff. We will be more content and healthier if we diligently follow that advice.

6.  June is National Rivers Month. When were you last on a river? What's the prettiest river you've ever seen? What's a river you'd like to see? 

     I grew up practically on the shore of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. I spent many days fishing and playing along the river. The coldest water I ever experienced was during a trip to Yosemite National park. We took a raft trip down the Merced river. The water was crystal clear and colder than the north Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Hampshire. The Ausable Chasm in upstate New York is a beautiful work of nature. I would like to cruise the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.

7.  Speaking of rivers-paddling, fishing, swimming, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose. 

     Truthfully, my answer is all of the above. However, you did say that I had to choose so I choose fishing.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     My thoughts are with the residents of Texas, Oklahoma, and other states where severe weather has caused such widespread devastation, injury and loss of life. My heart goes out to them! My prayers go out for them! 
     I am heartened to see neighbors helping neighbors. Churches are mobilizing to provide support and assistance with the recovery. Americans are giving of their means, their time, and their skills to abate the level of suffering, to mitigate the amount of loss and to provide physical and emotional comfort to perfect strangers for no other reason than that those stranger are hurting and but for the grace of God, it could very well be them.
      Despite our many flaws, Americans are a noble and generous people! This fact is never more evident than in times like these. God bless America and hasten the recovery of all those who have suffered loss.