The Times...They Are A-Changin'

Been a long time since I've posted but my brain has been telling me lately that it is once again to do so. One never knows how different episodes in life will ultimately change them, but they do. We go along happy-go-lucky and suddenly we stumble and everything changes. For about a year or so a dear aunt had an on again, off again cough coupled with what seemed to be some sort of low grade virus or some such thing. She would go up and down in how she felt and so on. Late last summer they discovered the underlying cause of all the troubles she was having. It was T-cell lymphoma. This hand dealt to a woman who always ate right, exercised daily, and did all the RIGHT things...slapped in the face with this THING. In October we lost this beautiful soul. I was reminded that it's three months today! Her sense of humor and her caring disposition is and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Left behind is my dear uncle

and their lovely daughter. These seemingly unexplainable incidents change a person and family.

Rest in Peace, Aunt Cissy. You've earned it.

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Life and locations change with tides and events as well. For the last couple of years, my wanderings always have seemed to take me towards my sister's place and the surrounding areas in Arizona. My mother and I have taken several short vacations there, as well. We were fortunate enough to be a the very FIRST Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch...Spring home of the Dodgers. Beautiful place. Well...seems I have been enjoying my trips and the beautiful...yes beautiful...landscapes of Arizona. The sunrises and sunsets in the desert are a sight to behold. Last year I began thinking about getting a small 'vacation' spot there--maybe in an RV park or some such place. My sister's RE agent pointed out that those places wouldn't really give me any equity, etc. So I began the dangerous process of thinking! Maybe she is right. Maybe I should be thinking future and long term. After all...my tax man keeps telling me I need DEDUCTIONS!!! Ok, cp, I hear you! My mom and I have had a couple of very nice stays at one of the newer Del Webb communities, staying in an actual home and living as residents of the community. Tours of the models were quite impressive. Especially with the amenities offered and what they were including as 'standard' features. This last July, I went with my good friend who lives in the area to once again check out the models (I already knew pretty much which one I liked). This was after viewing several homes in my sister's adult community, but NOTHING impressed us!

A decision was made to go ahead and have one built for ME...an easy decision once I was shown what lots were available and there was a nice corner lot that I really liked. At one point, I had been looking to buy a home near my mom in Burbank, but even the 'nice' ones needed work and were well into the 400 and 500k range. It bothered me to think of going into debt for that huge amount!

The new house was finished around Christmas and it's really nice. This picture is of the sky at daybreak. I took it from my front yard. Another trip is about to be taken to the new place and once again my car is loaded with STUFF! Yes...the times they are a-changin'. Never did I ever think I would want to do anything outside my comfort zone of So. Cal. But several events in my life have made me realize that there is really nothing actually HOLDING me here. Social circles have changed or diminished, and what work type things I do for friends can be done anywhere. Some of the things and people that mattered a lot still matter, but they are not as important to me as my own well being. Time for me to look out for me and try some new adventures while I still can. For the time being, I will use the Arizona home as my escape and such, but things here are rapidly changing and my desire to move on is very strong, so....eventually...this will become a permanent place of residence, relaxation, activity, and more. More pictures will be posted in a week or two, as people are now bugging me to see MORE. OK already!

Remembering 9-11

I remember that Tuesday morning vividly. I had just recently retired** and was up early, as usual without a care in the world. Went into the kitchen and turned on the coffee pot and came back into the living room to watch the 6 a.m. news. It was a few minutes before 6, but channel 7 always seems to be a bit early. I heard them say something about an explosion or accident or some such thing in New York. As usual, I stood in front of the set to see what they were reporting. Within about one minute, I saw--live--the second plane hit the tower. I simply could not believe my eyes. To this day--ten years later--that vision is as fresh in my mind as though it happened yesterday.

It was obvious that this was NO ACCIDENT. Slumped on the sofa, I sat glued--as did most of the nation. What in the world was going on? As I was sitting there, it became apparent that we had been attacked...twice. Then--a very short time later--came the news of the crash at the Pentagon.

I continued (as I'm sure most did) sitting glued to the television and then that horrible moment when one by one the towers simply collapsed was almost too much to take. It looked like a war zone, which is exactly what it had become. Those people at Morgan Stanley and the other large companies---they never had a chance. The brave men and women from the fire companies who risked their own lives (some didn't make it) to find and help others that might still be alive under the rubble that was once a New York landmark.

I remember later in the day watching and seeing notes posted all over the place from those in search of loved ones not accounted for in the wake of the disaster.

I had breakfast with a friend of mine in Burbank and we decided we needed to get ourselves new flags (Seems many others had the same idea). We couldn't find one locally and finally ended up somewhere around Venice and Fairfax to purchase our treasures.

The images of the day's events and events in the following days, weeks and months shall ever be embedded in my brain.

In recent weeks, Yahoo News has been posting 9/11 articles and videos of not only the people who were there, but of how America has changed in the ten years. They have done an excellent and very moving job of reporting.

As we now are commemorating ten years this weekend, I hope all will take a moment to reflect on this tragedy and to once again show your support for America by displaying our flag for ALL to see that we truly ARE the UNITED states of America. Peace to all.

**Retired on paper but continued working until 2007.

Governor cheats...just like so many of his species!

Oh look! The latest scandal involving our former governor and the fact that he cheated on his wife, blah blah blah is old news and nothing new. It's a practice that's been going on since the beginning of time and only reinforces a belief that it's STILL a man's world and that they ALL belong to a secret "Good old Boy's" club. It's a practice that I don't think I will ever really understand. It doesn't seem to matter if HE is married or if SHE happens to be married or maybe both. Maybe it's the 'risk' factor and such that makes the game so enticing. The old story about telling the spouse/close friend/girl friend they are either working late, or fishing, or some other such age old story is just that. We women are the fools of the century, for the most part. Why? Well--for one thing, we make the mistake of being entirely too trusting. Whether they are actually getting some action or just having a meal with a potential 'lover' doesn't matter. It's all a form of cheating.
My question to our former governor is why NOW to disclose/admit what you've been up to? Why, after fourteen years or so have you just decided to 'tell your wife' and then -- as a typical male -- you "apologize" for...blah blah blah. What was about to happen, Arnold? Was the 'lover' about to go public now that you're out of office? Is there somebody in the know that indicated the affair was about to be exposed? Why NOW, Arnold?
So you men go about your little "hunting" expeditions, knowing that some nice lady is home keeping the home fires burning and taking care of all that needs to be done while you play and do her dirt. Hey...what she doesn't know won't hurt her. If you or your 'lover' just happen to be married...all the better. No strings attached. No commitment. Just fun and games and....all the sex you can handle. And if your wife finds out, you'll apologize and perhaps buy some nice little thing to soothe her ruffled feathers and make nice. Trust me, ladies...as soon as you turn your back, the fox will be out hunting again.
So the former governor has admitted to cheating on his wife and fathering a child. Who needs the media cramming this old as time news down our throats. I certainly don't!

LAUSD and a drop in the money bucket

Today's news headlines boast of LAUSD 'booting' 19 consultants, most of which are construction consultants. My reaction to this "big" move is..."Big Whoop"! The few construction consultants are barely a tip of the waste iceberg plaguing the District and the entire educational system in Los Angeles.

Back in the 50's and early 60's the LA City schools were among the absolute top in the country. So what happend, you may ask. A lot, and most of it was not good for the system of education itself. Back in the glory days, the focus was on (gasp) education! We didn't have the bloated with consultants district. We had a district interested in actually educating the youth to become productive members of society. We gave them a "WELL ROUNDED" education, which included such bygone things as Home Economics, and Industrial Arts. It included basic and advanced art classes, as well as music programs. Wow! What a concept! And it's gone. Gone are the days when students learned to appreciate all forms of art and music. Gone are the days when students could make basic projects in wood shop and more. Gone are the days when students learned how to sew on a button. Imagine....what use could those classes possibly have?!? This was probably the precise thinking of those coming into power within the system. Forget education...let's just teach them HOW to graduate. Who cares if they actually understand what the tests are about...just get them to pass them, no matter how you do it.

In the 60's the board member make up also changed. In previous times the members were all members at large, serving ALL students. Some brilliant idiot decided to have the board members represent geographical districts within the system. Can you say political springboard, boys and girls. Now....the board members coming in were only interested in their own little piece of the pie and their own political agendas.

Another tragedy of the LAUSD was to do away with the shop, homemaking, and other practical arts programs. They cut back so far on art and music funding that most schools simply did away with them in an effort to satisfy the "testing" results. The brilliant politicans question why the drop out rate is high. Hellooooo????!!!! Not all are or want to be college students. There are those who actually LIKE working with wood, metal, material, and more. The District has taken away their reasons for attending school, and all that interest that segment of the youth population. From where will we get the carpenters, electricians, glaziers, locksmiths and more. How will we produce musicians? From where will the future Marc Chagal's come? It's sad to watch.

When will they learn that the real TEST is how well the students can function in society and how well they actually understand what's going on around them?

As I read the headlines and constantly ponder the stupidity of the LAUSD, I wonder how much of the 'education' monies produced from lottery sales has gone to pad the consultant levels within the system. It is just short of being criminal, and the ones who are hurt the most are the students.

While I'm on my soapbox, let's ask the real reason why they won't let Jamie Oliver into the schools. It is said that people who have nothing to hide hide nothing. The monumental effort being made on the part of LAUSD to keep Oliver out indicates to me that they have plenty to hide.

As a District retiree, with 40 years experience, I feel bad for the current employees who are facing more furlough time and pay cuts while those in command basically don't suffer at all.

Lose 90 percent of your consultants (especially the educational ones) and get back to the basics of teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. If the kids understand and master the basics, the rest will fall into place. Get a clue, LAUSD. Get a clue!