Monday Musings...
Last Monday we have SNOW...this Monday...FREEZING RAIN.
So where is this "early Spring" we heard tell about 3 weeks ago?
Naturally, Wifey's school corporation didn't even DELAY for 2 hours, and considering they have the MOST BUSES on the streets, I suppose neither the SAFETY of the STUDENTS or the TEACHERS matters much to them.
It must STILL be all about those damn TEST SCORES.
Of all the recent winters we've suffered, wouldn't you just KNOW that THIS one has to be a "beaut"..and not the best one to NOT have the heaters/defroster working in one's car (like the Wifeymobile).
I swear, someone must really want us stressed out...and it's all we can do to keep from getting there.
If it's not the WEATHER, its some of the local aborigines. And if it's not them, it's something with the house...or the car...
I realize that we can't "really" WIN (perhaps a Pyrrhic victory?), but breaking even now and then WOULD be a welcome respite from ALL of this crap.
With that preamble, let's get the ball rolling, because God knows where it will wind up today.
*** Apparently, low-income black households (calling them a "family" in MY part of town would be a misnomer) STILL do NOT know what TOYS are when it comes to their progeny.
They're still in the "stone" age (pun intended).
And here's the reason why.
Last Friday afternoon, I heard a LOUD THUMP outside the house (like someone struck by a car...THAT kinda thump), so I look out and see this "preteen" attempting to lift and toss a huge rock (kinda like the one in the picture here).
The prior "thump" was his FIRST toss (all of THREE feet...it was THAT heavy).
So, outside I go and I say: "Hey, put that damn rock BACK where the f$ck you found it. That's NOT a play-toy".
This kid (obviously NOT from this particular part of the ghettohood) stood there alongside a another young male, both with a "who the f$ck are YOU to tell me anything?" look on their faces.
I said: "Are you DEAF as well as dumb? Put it BACK...NOW."
He grudgingly picked it up and carried back to the pile we have at the base of OUR driveway.
By this time, I was up and perched on our fence ready to vault over it...like a vulture...waiting to swoop down for that next meal.
THEN, the wise-ass made a big mistake...he opened his mouth.
"Stone-Age" then said: "You're just a RACIST".
( *ahem*...here we go again - I thought 'that was the WRONG thing to let slip out of that piehole, kid.')
I said: "I didn't say ONE damn thing racial to you AT ALL, so don't even pull that card from your ass. I'm getting sick and tired of you people trying that shit, and I'll tell 'ya...it don't float with me, so just get the hell up where you belong, before I call the police."
The kid said: "I ain't afraid of the PO-leese".
Now THAT really red-lined my blood-pressure!
I said: "You damn well better LEARN to fear the police...that's the trouble with you...NO respect for anyone, but you EXPECT it from everyone else...for free."
He said, as he left: "I bring my dad down here."
I said: "You DO that, and I'll straighten HIS tie, too."
(my right hand moved my jacket away and behind the HOLSTER I had on my hip...complete with PISTOL - I NEVER go outside on my property WITHOUT one).
The kids does a "180", and says: "Wow...lemme see."
I said: "This AIN'T for show." and went inside the house...the kid moved along down the alley...case closed.
(rolls eyes)
Somehow, I knew this was gonna be the start of another "stellar week" in the ghettohood.
And today kind of keeps that whole thought-chain going, doesn't it?
Still, it wasn't ALL bad news.
*** I actually sat down and watched most of the Daytona 500 yesterday, and it had one of the best finishes I had seen in a while.
Trevor Bayne, a mere twenty-year old won the race, in only his SECOND NASCAR start...not a bad deal there.
Driving for the legendary WOOD BROTHERS team, it was nice to see that number "21" car back in Victory Lane.
Now, my favorite driver, Bobby Labonte came in 4th, and his brother Terry came in 15th (provisional start), with none other than Bill Elliott finishing 12th.
Almost felt like the good old days...none of the "superstars" of NASCAR were to be found (up FRONT, anyway).
NO Harvick, NO Johnson, NO Gordon...Dale, Jr got wrecked two laps from the finish...loved every minute of it!
And one of the first things this 20-year old did was thank GOD and talk about praying before the race...glad to see that.
This young man will do well in life with an attitude such as that. Congrats to him and his team.
*** Another young man didn't make out as well, as this link tells:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/hero_unwelcome_Zi3u1fwtRpo87vXAiAQfSN And this one:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/20/wounded-iraq-vet-gets-heckled-columbia-university-speech/
The NY Post article goes into more detail about the Columbia University students that booed and heckled a wounded Iraq veteran was was there to speak on the misperceptions of the military.
Personally, I can't think of ANYTHING other to say to ANY veteran, but to THANK THEM for their service, and for their sacrifice.
But then again, I was brought up to RESPECT such people, and to hold them in a higher regard.
It's men and women like former Army S/Sgt Anthony Mascheck who make it possible for us to live free and enjoy our liberties...and that includes every one of these snot-nosed kids that attend Columbia University, having their heads stuffed with all that liberal rhetoric from those leftist professors.
When I see or hear about this, I think right back to our troops being spat upon and called "baby-killers" when they returned from the 'Nam.
It's starting all over again, and some of us have apparently learned NOTHING from that era, have we?
*** Another neighbor leaves our ghettohood...
One of the LEAST problematic neighbors we've the "pleasure" (?) to have living near us is bugging out (naturally, they're WHITE).
I mean, the male there DID wear a military ACU and must be in the NG (he's never gone that long, though).
And he didn't have TOO many faults...for a "youngster" starting a family (no one else worked there).
He DID play his music a bit LOUD (must be in the ARTILLERY division of his guard unit...lol), and he NEVER changed his GEORGIA tags over to INDIANA tags (after a year...that was odd - and illegal), and he DID have two barking dogs out back, and he would leave the garden hose draped alongside the house for weeks on end, and always parked WAY too close to the fire hydrant, but other than that, they were the best of the worst around here.
That still doesn't say MUCH though...does it?
Now, what I envision is another BLACK "family" moving in (probably a single mom with 3 kids and a new boyfriend every month...that's the usual M.O. around here for most any of the recently rented hovels).
I got an email last week that summed this mindset up very well.
Here's a part of it that makes SO much sense.
(( The problem with public housing is that the residents are not the owners.
The people that live in the house did not earn the house, but were loaned the property from the true owners, the taxpayers.
Because of this, the residents do not have the "pride of ownership" that comes with the hard work necessary.
In fact, the opposite happens and the residents resent their benefactors because the very house is a constant reminder that they themselves did not earn the right to live in the house.
They do not appreciate the value of the property and see no need to maintain or respect it in any way.
The result is the same whether you are talking about a studio apartment or a magnificent mansion full of priceless antiques.
If the people who live there do not feel they earned the privilege, they will make this known through their actions. ))
Now I can't think of a BETTER way of describing my "neighbors"...And the whole public housing issue.
And that's WHY we have ghettos in America.
*** Lastly today, our nation finds itself in a precarious situation.
Every one of us is concerned about our homes, our bills, our spending, our children...whatever.
But all of this (and more) is part of the bigger picture.
We are players in the global arena, when we hoped we could just be spectators.
I mean, we PAID the admission costs and got a good seat, but we're still actively involved...much like a Greek theater performance.
We can't sit idly by and watch the spectacle unfold any longer.
We must voice our concerns...we must speak up.
Now, I don't recommend we all dash down into the arena, and commence to scrapping with whoever is the opposition.
But we CAN do something, however small it might be.
Remember I mentioned a while back about those ANTS...so small, and yet, when they all work in unison, they can deforest an ACRE of a jungle.
We need to come together so we can help this nation get on track and stay on track.
This country was the "grand experiment", and so far, it's worked out for us.
I believe we can make it work long after all of us are gone.
But, we DO have to participate, and teaching the next generation is a damn good start.
Morality, civility, ethics, integrity...just some of the keystones of the human condition.
These SHOULD be ingrained in us all from little on up.
THAT is where it needs to begin.
And that is what this nation was founded upon.
Have a great week and take it easy out there...winter's not over yet, folks.
By the way...a Happy President's Day to you all.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.