24 May 2010

Monday Musings...
I want to EASE into this week, as it appears as though the temperatures have finally caught up with the season.
We're staring at (here in Indiana) highs all week in the mid-80s, and lows in the 60s.
Summer IS indeed...coming.
And what better way to demonstrate that than with some pictures, right?
We've got TWO (count 'em, 2) bearded Irises blooming (out of HOW many bulbs that have been in the ground for years?), and the roses are beginning to pop out. Lots of columbines are along the fence, and our yucca looks like a bloomer this year, too. And, naturally, we've got the curious "woodland" creatures, coming by to marvel at those humans who feed them every day.
Doesn't matter if 'ya have four feet or two wings...they're all welcome here.
But it's always the two-footed ones that are usually the problem...
We'll speak to that directly, but first, let's a take a little ride on "Bob's Tangent".
You can see we take a little pride in home ownership (and the property the house sits upon). We tend the garden, feed God's creatures, and basically keep our noses clean.
I did get to mow two of the (three) lawns on the corner.
The front lawn doesn't grow as quickly, so I might be able to fudge it for another week. While that's tiring (pushing a mower UPHILL, even if it IS electric), it LOOKS nice when you're finished, and anything around this area that has a pleasant appearance IS a godsend...and all too infrequent. It's nice to have a sens of ACCOMPLISHMENT now and again...just to let you know that whatever it is you do DOES have value...and is worth doing in the first place.
It's that sense of "stewardship" I speak about often....God sees fit to allow you to HAVE something, so you take care of it, because it's never REALLY "yours"...you're just holding it for the Creator for a spell.
And it's that way with everything in life.
One funny analogy would be those times when Dad used advise me: "Son, you never BUY beer...you RENT it".
Even if we "purchase" something...anything, we're all just caretakers of whatever item we bought...until we use it up, sell it, or whatever else might befall that item. If we're not taking good care of something...we WILL find out soon enough. If we are careless while in stewardship of whatever it is that we might "possess", it WILL manifest that carelessness.
So you can see that what's HAVING is worth TAKING CARE of....doesn't mean if it's an appliance, a vehicle, or a house. This ALSO applies in the realm of RELATIONSHIPS. You take care of a relationship, and it WILL (usually) endure.
You take care of something OR someone, and it / they will take care of you right back.
It's that simple....and I love doing "simple" (especially early in the morning...lol)
But meanwhile, back at the South side ranch....
We were discussing those TWO-footed creatures and the problems they cause, weren't we?
Luckily, one of those problems MOVED this past weekend (but alas, not the ones we'd LIKE to see move).
Yes friends, there are just SO many that need to move, and yet do not. I consider those my "works in progress".
I'm getting to the point where I will call into the police if they "cross the line" (or the property) in ANY way, shape or form.
I see them hanging near MY house - "suspicious person".
I hear any noise from their house - "nuisance", loud music, party, or a "disturbance".
It's the house down the street, that had those NINE police cars over the other week, that I'm talking about.
The house with the "domestic" calls that went into dispatch.
Yeah...THAT house.
They have a newbie stopping by and she (oh, yeah...the females of this species are JUST as loud...and JUST as arrogant) has a older Thunderbird that she loves to park "off-street" with the stereo thumping away, sometimes for a half hour.
Naturally, NO ONE ELSE will call this in (must be a case of "selective deafness").
And you know I'll be "featuring" this in my monthly "report" to our quadrant captain.
I'm saying that here...NOW, so you will be able to see "IF" and "WHEN" this problem is addressed...(if at all).
I figure if it's "public knowledge", then YOU can gauge whether or not the police are being AS EFFECTIVE as they CAN be.
Like I say, I'm a staunch supporter OF the police...BUT they have to be allowed TO police, and that means not going about and "warning" people time after time, after time, when a citation is truly warranted (after about the 37th warning).
You know where I'm coming from there, right?
You do already know about "Mr. Loudass" - that white f$cktard in that Buick LeSabre that's been booming around here for MONTHS and has not gotten caught, cited, or had the damn car impounded.
So, you get an idea as to the efficacy of some aspects of the department.
They let enough of the "small sh*t" go ignored and unpunished, and these locals will invariably escalate it into the bigger sh*t, which includes the homicides and drugs...amazing how that works, isn't it?
The other day, I used a Franklin (and Jefferson) quote about making people UNCOMFORTABLE in their poverty to get them out of it.
Same applies to this situation...perfectly.
If you make these locals UNCOMFORTABLE with doing all this stupid-ass "small sh*t" such as littering, and noise making, and loitering, and basically permitting an unaccountable attitude to be assumed BY these "people", they will stop doing it...or at least find ANOTHER place where they can get away with it all over again.
Hell, they might even start to become DECENT citizens...whatta concept.
And that might trigger a movement...BACK to responsible behavior (for everyone). Talk about equality running rampant, hmm?
You never know what can happen whenever a pebble is tossed into an ocean, do you?
It certainly wouldn't HURT to force these locals into some sort of accountability, would it?
And it sure as hell would make OUR lives down here a lot more tolerable.
Isn't that what life SHOULD be about?
Shouldn't it be about, at worst, being tolerable, and at best, being enjoyable?
We all fall somewhere in between many times, and occasionally, we slide off to one side or the other.
We take the good with the bad.
We attempt to work through that which is tolerable, and welcome that which is enjoyable.
Not a bad gig, if you ask me...
It's that appreciation for all those little things we oft times pass by that makes up for a LOT of the crap we happen upon each and every day.
If there's one thing we should always like to be...it's appreciative.
Because no matter where we find ourselves, we didn't get there all by ourselves...we had help.
And one should never be to prideful to ask for help when it's needed.
Appreciate the day, have a great week, make a difference to someone, and be sure to...
Stay safe out there, America.

10 comments:

Keith said...

Hey there. Great photos. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Thanks for your comment on my latest post. Have a fantastic week ahead.

Ann T. said...

Dear Bob,
What a lovely garden! You know I love that. And it does contrast the oasis that your place must be for all the birds and small animals looking for peace and quiet.

The contrast you have set up reminds me of my stepson. He did not know how to do anything when he came to live with us . . . thought you had to have everything ready-made.

We taught him a lot of DIY--cooking, making book shelves, sharing tasks, preparatory to him moving out and being on his own. Those were simple pleasures and they were very foreign to him. But they were what he needed to get started in life. They gave him confidence.

Electronics are all very well, but a job is better,

LOL,
Ann T.

Bob G. said...

Keith:
Right back at'cha, buddy.

Thanks for swinging by.

Bob G. said...

Ann:
It's not a huge garden or oasis...just a damn sincere one!
(ask my squirrel...LOL)

School gave me the tools to get by on a basic level...and there was a time when that was sufficient.
Many of us went from school RIGHT into something OTHER than college.
And that was OK.

But that was also before we became an "information-gathering" society...

All of what I have learned SINCE school was by either my OWN hand, or by others that took a chance on me and gave a damn to pass on what THEY knew.

And the neat part about it...you never know where tutelage might come from.
That tracks straight ALL through one's life.

To me, it still works pretty damn well, don'cha think?

WE are custodians of our future, and with proper instruction, subsequent generations can benefit greatly from what we have to offer...no matter how trivial we might think it to be.
(even gardening...lol)

Hey, thanks for stopping on by and taking time to comment.

Have a great week.

indy said...

we had this hummingbird fly into the common area then fly back out again (its an open stairwell type of area). that was exciting. then my daughter was outside on the patio and that hummingbird came back to say hi. lol you would have thought a giant bee was coming to attack her. it was hilarious. :)

i'm getting ready to put my stuff out too. i'm behind the ball but it will be fun to watch whatever does grow.

Bob G. said...

Indy:
You have GOT to get a hummingbird feeder out!

They are so cool to watch (and they also teach PATIENCE...as in being able to WAIT for them to come by...LOL)

Family Dollar usually has some "cheapie" feeders for a couple bucks.
Just add sugar and water...
(and proportions can be found online to get the proper mixture).

Happy bird-watching!

And thanks for stopping on by.

ms nk rey said...

Your yard looks so calm and peaceful.. thanks for sharing.

Ann T. said...

Dear Bob,
For sure, the quality of life depends on those teachers--in class, out of class, the sharers of knowledge and principle. It was a real pleasure to reflect on that today . . . thank you.

Ann

Bob G. said...

MSN:
WHat I've attempted to do was to make our yard as close to my late Grandma's place in N.E. Philly...as possible.

I call it our "island of serenity in a sea of chaos".

It works for us.
(now, if only the locals would take a hint)

We can always hope.

Thanks for stopping on over.

Bob G. said...

Ann:
Our quality of life is predicated upon teachers...no matter where we find them.
All every one of us has to do, is avail ourselves of the lessons being taught.

Think that about covers it...

:)