You wont see many political opinions forwarded by me because it is a waste of time.  Fermenting discord messes with my aura and certainly gets my stomach and bowels in an uproar.  Old people should not do things that get their bowels in an uproar.  Tranquility is what we should be after.  Dont get me wrong, I dislike many of the things our government does for us as well as too us, but, we really have no recourse but to just stick it out.  Have you ever written you congressman and gotten a response?  Have you ever seen an instance where something was done in accordance with the people’s’ wishes?  Have you ever been promised something only to see that it is never done?  Well, that is politics.  We have one chance every 4 years to rectify an election error.  After the election we kinda have to sit back and see if we are going to get it stuck to us, in us or accidentally get lucky enough to receive some benefit from the one we elected.  Mostly we end up the stuckees.  We have a couple of years left on the present administration.  Hopefully we can last until we have an opportunity to elect someone else.  It is a cinch our current Prez will not serve again.  The best thing each of us can do is to be as informed as we can be about the people who serve us, and if they do not serve us in a manner that we feel is what we want, then withhold your vote from that person and find another candidate.  Use the time that you spend reading mostly untrue or biased statements to try and learn the real facts.  We will probably have a hard time finding out those facts but we can try.  Make a decision that is an informed decision and then, win or lose, go with the results.

Chuy the non-politician

Mother Nature, I want to apologize for any part that I may have in global warming or any other thing that may be messing with you.  Although I personally had no part in the development of the Industrial Revolution, which brought about the development of the internal combustion engine or the invention of the steel tipped plow, which allowed the change in the great midwest plains, I am guilty.  My wife and I have 4 cars, a farm tractor and a lawn mower.  However, on the bright side, we live next door to a couple who have 2 Prius autos so that should count for something.

Your changes in weather are having effects that are wide-spread.  The lowly wolverine is having a hard time of it.  As you surely know, a wolverine will not “den up” (mate) in an area where the snow melts before late May.  The lack of snow in Glacier National Park is making it tough on them.  Snowing in Florida is a waste of a valuable resource.  An elderly henna-tinted Jewish lady enrobed in a mink coat and wearing leopard print hot pants and red spike heels doesn’t really need a cold snap.  I think that you have sent enough cool nights to the hill country of Texas to ensure that the peaches set this year.  And the poor polar bears.  No ice floes, no ice holes thus no seals peeking out of said hole and getting gobbled up by the bear.  What are the bears to do?  They are going to start eating Eskimos is what they are gonna do.  This will cause an uproar among native Alaskans and they will demand open season on the Snow Bear.  I can’t believe you would want that. There is just no reason for having it snow in the South.  People south of the Mason-Dixon line do not know how to function in snow or ice.  It seems to me that you are just being vengeful and you are too good for that type of behavior.  Someone has to be the adult in this situation.

My suggestion is for you to let it snow all you want north of southern Montana.  That will get  the glaciers back in Glacier Natl Park, save the wolverines and cause the ice sheets to form in the Bering sea.  I know, it puts an undue burden on Canadians and folks in the very far north of the USA, however, they know how to handle it.  I mean, really, those people have a sport called Ice hockey as a pastime and they do dog sled races.  They would be happier than clams if you should happen to double snow output in their area.

Again, I am sorry for the hole in the ozone thing but you know it has been scientifically proven that much of the ozone loss is caused by methane produced by flatulent cattle.

Gary the environmentalist

The Little League champions have been stripped of their title for gerrymandering.  Thats right, gerrymandering.  Redrawing boundries of their league until it encompassed an area filled with championship quality players.  I believe officials became suspicious when it was learned that none of the players actually knew each other outside the time in which they practiced baseball.  The fact that all of the players looked as if they were about 25 years old could have also been a warning that something was amiss.

The mother of one of the players is overwraught about the actions of the commission.  It was not the fault of the players that their team cheated.  “The team was a way to keep the kids off the streets”.  Breaking the rules kept them from crime filled lives.  ” Was this about league lines or was it about race?”  was her next question.  I could not for the life of me find any reference to her being supported by Al Sharpton.  But if has to be.  Those are his thoughts.  Wait, maybe those are the thoughts of a majority of minorities.  All the ills that befall them are caused by racism.  None of their problems are caused by the mindset that makes it okay to cheat because in the end it keeps the kids safe from the mean streets of Chicago?  Maybe it is okay to produce generational welfare just because you cant train a generation to do for themselves without cheating the system.  Is pulling oneself up by your bootstraps something that no longer can be done without cheating?  What the hell was wrong with that mother just stating that it was wrong to put together a team of young players who all stood 6′ 3″ tall and had 92 mph fastballs.  What was wrong with her stating that being suspended might teach the young men a valuable life lesson that little can be achieved through bending the rules?

Gary

Now  I am resentful that some of my friends, who had this eye surgery earlier, didnt clue me in on how much fun it is to see.  Seems to me like you would have been happy to share that info with an ole buddy.???

When pre-registering at hospital this week, young nurse asked me how my first eye surgery was progressing and I told her that it was great. In fact, I said, I was very surprised and elated that apparently the lens that the doctor had inserted had given me x-ray vision.  I told her that she had one of the cutest clavicles I had ever seen.  She fell face first into her computer keyboard and I thought the interview was over.  I told her I had been admiring her bones while we had been walking down the hall and that I hoped the other eye would allow me some depth perception.  Currently I could tell there was two of some things but couldnt determine the size.  I think the young lady seriously considered changing professions before our interview was over.  Medical services are an unusually unexciting profession I would think.

The PHS Class Reunion of 1961 is progressing splendidly.  I have a few more confirmed attendees and the count is above 20.  We need everyone to contact anyone you know who was in our class and make sure they know about it.  It will be next month before I finalize the meals so need to know how many wieners to buy.  You know those damned things come 10 to a pack and the buns come 8 to a package?  However you can use the extra wieners to make beanie weenies .

There was a discussion on the Pecos People section of facebook where a resident was complaining that the fat cat oilmen, who were making millions from the oil in the Permian basin were not giving anything for  the people who inhabited the towns within the oil play.  These greedy businessmen were simply not doing anything to revitalize the city.  He also advised clearly that he was a veteran and thought he deserved better treatment than he had received.  This person is so typical of what I think is wrong with our way of life that he ought to be bronzed and put in the town square of Pecos.  First, I would like to thank him for being a veteran.  My dad and 10’s of millions of other men were veterans of WW II,  I do not remember my father ever mentioning that he thought the government owed him anything for his service other than a ride back home from Burma.  I dont remember any of the fathers of any of my friends making such claims.  They were thankful to have the opportunity to start a life and family and do it with freedoms that other countries dont enjoy.   I dont remember my father ever mentioning that any businessman owed him any help in keeping up our property.  When the fence needed painting he bought the paint, gave me a paint brush and that was a summer project.  Of course, he did have to listen to me bitch about having to do the actual manual labor.

The “GIVE ME” OR “OWE ME”  concept was developed later in my life.  I dont remember the exact time when the change came about.  People now have been trained thru the use of “the Lone Star Card” and WIC that they are entitled to be taken care of by someone other than themselves.  They buy an 18 pack of beer and let the groups of benevolent people in the community have “school supply drives” to get their children supplies for school.  My father would not have let me touch a #2 pencil and big Chief tablet that had been purchased for me by someone other than he and my mother.  When I am at the grocery store and the cashier asks me if I would like to donate to the school supply fund I politely say no, not until the grocery store stops selling beer.

It is not going to ever change back to the old ways.  I know that.  There are too many people who are “OWED” and who are training their children to be “OWED” for us to make the change back to a society that is made up of people who take care of themselves.  A society that gives a helping hand rather than one who thinks they deserve to get that help. There is a difference in those two types of people.

Gary

As the title of this blog indicates, I am a bigot. However,  I am not a card carrying member of the clan.

I am bigoted against the stupidity  of man and against those who think the rest of us are too stupid to either understand or care about our surroundings.

I have lived in south Texas for many years and am constantly bombarded with examples of the very thing I am talking about.  Case in point.  There exists a very large family of individuals here in Corpus that is made up of mostly attorneys.  They have about 3, possibly 4 generations of attorneys in the clan.  Watch an ambulance make a run down the highway and you can be assured that the next 10 cars behind said EMT vehicle will be members of the family.  One of generation 2 was caught a couple of years ago stealing from his clients.  $ 500K.  He was disbarred, fined, and put on probation, never to practice any type of law.  Did this stop him.  NO.  He went to work in a family law office and continued to practice like nothing had happened.  He was caught and sent to prison to serve the remaining 10 years of his sentence.  This week his attorney filed a motion in court to have his sentence reduced and to have him released from prison under “SHOCK PROBATION.”  This is where stupid comes in.  He stated that he was unaware just how bad his going to prison would affect him and his family.  He was miserable , he stated , and so was his family.  He could not sleep in prison and the food was horrible.  Folks, this is going to a hearing.  The judge who hears this case should give it about 3 seconds of his time and then send this man straight to Alcatraz.  If the judge doesnt send a strong message in this case, to the lawbreakers, then the judge ought to be voted our of office or possibly spend a few years in the next cell.

The trial of the ex-patriot football player started this week.  He is charged with murdering someone he barely knew, over something concerning a drink on his tab at a bar.  It will be brought out in the trial that this is not the first person he has murdered.  Here is a guy who had about all of the creature comforts one could ask for and he kills a guy over a damned gin and tonic.  And he thought he could get away with it.  Here is the chance for the justice system to stamp out his genetic life line.  Do not perpetuate this bloodline of arrogance and stupidity.

“Suge” Knight was arrested last nite for running over some folks and then backing back over them.  Did he think he wouldnt be recognized.  I wouldnt have known who he was cause they all look alike to me, but somebody in the area knew who he was immediately.  Every movie I have ever seen about the planning of a murder, the murderer planned it so he wouldnt be seen.  Here is a guy with enough gold jewelry around his neck to start a Kay Jewelry store and he runs some body down outside a bar.  His bloodline should stop also.

I hope I havent offended anyone with this little tirade about stupidly but damn folks, we have to tighten things up down here before the boss upstairs realizes he made a monumental mistake in sending his only son down here to save the souls of a bunch of folks that are too damned stupid to get in out of the rain.  I for one dont want to meet
St Peter and have him look me up under the “stupid” section of his big book.  He can look me up under bigot if he wants to and I will confess right there on the spot and take my chances, but I aint copin a plea to stupidity.

GHC

The spamoids are going at it full time early in the year.  They are lead by what I call the Nigerian mafia.  I just got one today stating that I had a ATM card waiting for me that would entitle me to withdraw $ 1.5 million dollars.  I wrote them and declined the offer.  I told them I already had one with a $ 2.5 million dollar limit and that was all I really needed.  However I did thank them for the offer.

Should have a good year as had some excellent black-eyed peas atop some mighty fine cornbread and my daughter’s first double crust pie turned out delis.  My refrig is full to the brim with left overs.  Will keep what is in there for one week then start over.  I found a product at the store this week called “slawsa” which is made of cabbage, mustard, onions and various spices.  I cant even describe how good that was on the black-eyed peas.  Better than chow chow, if you can believe that.  When I go to the store today I will buy all the slawsa they have so I will have a supply of the stuff.

I havent made a resolution yet as not sure I would keep whatever I resolved to do.  I would like to lose a 100 lbs or so but that would require that I replace my wardrobe and I find that very depressing to even think about.  I just finished several hours work shaving the little balled up thingys off the front of my favorite Nike sweatshirt.  I am kinda like Deets of Lonesome Dove.  I dont give up on a garment just because it has a little age and shows some signs of wear.  It takes a couple of years of wear for a garment to settle in and feel real comfortable.  Everyone of you has a set of ” go to grubbies” in your closet that you put on when you really want to feel comfortable.  Right?

I hope each of you has a great new year.  If any of you want that $ 1.5 million ATM card just  contact “we-b-crooks.com” and tell them I recommended you.

Chuy the bored

Wednesday is the day that the grocery store sends out its ads in the newspaper.  I always read the ads because they always have some bargains.  If you buy 50lbs of cat litter you will get a dust pan for free.  A 15lb turkey will get you a box of stove top dressing.  and so on.  I rarely ever buy any of the things they advertise but I like to see what they think I might want.  What I really want is for them to go down on their prices and quit giving stuff away for free.  I do not need a new dust pan.  What I need is the price of toilet paper to go down by about 50%.  Our maid is an Herbalife devotee and she spends about as much time in our bathroom as she does cleaning.

I have been observing the cookie aisle at our grocery store and it has begun to shrink.  Cookies used to occupy one side of an entire aisle.  Now there are no more that 12 ft of cookies and they are mostly made up of Oreos, Keebler elfs cookies and Mexican cookies.  What the hell gives with the cookies.  We miss having options.  I like Nutter Butter cookies.  I like those chocolate pinwheel cookies with the gooie marshmellow stuff in the middle.  Who the hell decided to quit selling those things?  Did some nutritionist decide that such a cookie would shorten the life of a 71 year old man?  How many of those things would I have to eat before I started showing side effects.  Hell, the medicine the doctor prescribes for me has more side effects than a good marshmellow cookie.

I am planning my New Year’s day menu.  I am having black-eyed peas, with ham hock, cornbread and chow-chow.  I have recently become enamored with stuffed jalapeno.  I may have some of those.

Tonight being the eve of New Years we will go out to dinner.  We usually do that about 6:00 and are in bed before the first fireworks start.  I can’t even remember the last time I was awake at the stroke of midnight.  Last year we went to a supposedly nice, high end restaurant and my daughter and a good friend were surprised when they went to the ladies room and found a couple already in there.  It was a man and a woman, who had been at the bar engaged in a grope fest and decided to carry it on in the ladies room.  My daughter let them know that she had been mentally damaged by seeing them doing what they were doing.  We are not going back to that place again.

I probably wont watch much football on TV tomorrow.  I have kinda lost touch with college football.  I did see where the Cotton Bowl had been renamed the “down-town Dallas civic bowl or some such name.  When did they change the word tradition to a 4 letter word.  I never did like the parades but used to watch all the big bowl games.  Alas, time marches on.  Down a dark alley as far as I am concerned.

I dont make resolutions as not sure what I have been doing needs that much tweaking.  I am getting new eyes so I might try to see the world in a different light.  I may try not to be so prejudiced against people who dont see things my way.  However I might warn some folks that may be planning a jihad in my neighborhood that my resolutions dont always come to fruition and I have increased my ammunition supply just in case someone wants to loot a liquor store in the neighborhood.

I hope each of you have a great new year.  I hope that each of you have good health and that your families enjoy the same.  I hope that each of you vote republican the next time you get a chance.  Or democrat if you just have to.

Chuy the resolver

We are closing in on the end of an exciting year for the Cowan family.  I have posted about most of the things we did but think a highlite reel might be in order.

We bought a small parcel of land in late 2013 and spent most of 2014 making it more comfortable.  We added a flush toilet and hot water with shower so we could get clean while doing our thing in the scrub brush of south Texas. We have added creature comforts almost weekly including last weeks purchase by Santa of a pressurized convection oven so I can have my biscuits of a morning.  I feel that it is important for a person to start the day off with a good biscuit, some sweet cream butter and a dab of real good jam.  The oven will see some meat loaf soon.  New blue-ray unit will allow us to watch as many John  Wayne movies as my family can stand to watch.

Dorothy and I took a trip of a life-time to Scandinavia in the fall.  We spent 33 days looking around the countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.  We saw some sites over there that were amazing.  Pretty countries, all.  Good food, even if some of it was not something we would normally eat at home.  Pickled hearing can be eaten with about 200 different sauces.  Our local store has about one.  Google “Danish brown cheese”, read about it and say you wouldn’t eat that on a piece of toast.

We have not had any major health problems, although old age is creeping up on us.  I go today for pre-op for my cataract  surgery on the 9th.  Guess I will be lucky if that is all the problems I have for a while.

We lost a few of our class mates during the year and that makes me sad.  I was trying to put together a reunion but could never get a good time in an appropriate place for all of us, then got busy with travel and all that.  Sorry about that.  Maybe I will get the urge this year.  Actually I am not a very good planner of anything.  I am more of a write a check type guy after someone else has done the work.  Poor character trait if you ask me but that is what I have so must live with it.

We are looking forward to 2015 and are already looking at travel books about our country’s national parks.  D wants to see Glacier and I want to see Yosemite.  I guess we will see both just as soon as my new light weight down jacket gets here.  Old people get cold.  Sequoia (red woods) would be nice to see also.  Could fly into San Fran, eat down at fisherman’s wharf, rent a car and do some touring.  Sounds about right.  There is a famous eatery down at the bottom of the hill near the chocolate place that I would like to eat at again.  Dont remember the name of the place but maybe one of y’all know it and will let me know.

David has been posting pictures of west Texas and those bring back some good memories.  I can damn near name the menu of Al’s Burger Bar.  Most people who comment on the pics love the same things that we all liked.  Sissy burger would be good about now, even for breakfast.

Here is wishing each of my forever friends a Happy New Year.  May you prosper, even if oil  is in the toilet.  May you enjoy another year of good health and most of all, may you be as happy as you can be.  I think happiness is way underrated, dont you?

G

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,100 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 35 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Woodrow Call stands in the ruins of Lonesome Dove.  A young reporter walks up behind him and asks if he is indeed Capt. Call.  When there is no reply, the young reporter states that people say that Woodrow and Gus were men of vision.  And simply asks, were y’all men of vision?  Capt Call stands there is the fading light and cogitates for a moment and says, Yeah, hell of a vision.  That happens to be one of my favorite lines in my favorite movie of all times.  I can almost quote the entire movie at anytime a person will stand still long enough to listen.

I wanted to be a man of vision.  I have read thousands of books about men of vision and I was jealous of every one of those men.  I asked myself a million times why I was not blessed enough to be a man of vision.  I could have explored the west, traveled to ancient lands and discovered mysterious things, had I only been a man of vision.  Was it the times in which I was born?  Was it the fact that I was born in a small west Texas town where visions were not that common.  Was I born in a time when visionaries were limited in places to discover.  I guess the answer to all those questions is yes.

Reading has helped me in my pursuit of a vision.  I am continuously amazed at the number of people who I speak with who can’t remember the last time they read a book.  Most are waiting for it to come to the movies or maybe become a TV documentary.  They simply don’t have the time to spend reading.  Could that be one of the things wrong with some of our young people who seem to not have a purpose?  Could they simply be lacking a vision?  Could be.

I will keep trying to become a visionary but time is running out.  Hopefully one day someone will ask if anyone knew if I was a visionary.  I hope someone can simply say ” Yep, hell of a visionary”

Chuy