Set aside for a minute that the sun does not actually rise or set. The Earth either rotates toward or away from the sun. Think of all the crappy poetry that would create if you had to substitute that definition for sunrise or sunset. Sorry for the redundancy of crappy poetry. Where was I? Oh, that was it. The difference between sunrises and sunsets and the people who embrace them is not a difference without a distinction.
Sunrises are beautiful in their own way. The way the sun reflects off the dew on the grass makes you squint. And the dew itself is pretty much a pain in the ass as well. You walk outside without shoes and you have to come in and change your socks. But the sounds of sunrise are my favorite part. The birds chirping away signifying the beginning of a new day. It would be their last day if I owned a shotgun. Folklore says they should be out getting a worm instead of performing an avian equivalent of Skynrd's Freebird outside my window. Just my luck I get birds who can't hold a job in my tree. But once a week I don't hear the birds at all.
Because every Tuesday is trash day. The birds know they cannot compete with the trash man. Our county has apparently contracted with the Gravedigger to haul our trash when he's not doing Monster Truck rallies. The windows actually shake when he rumbles up the street. If you have ever watched one of these trucks in action you need a life too. It is impossible for the trash to fall anywhere except in the back of the truck. Yet the driver will smash the dumpster a minimum of three times per can. It must be in his contract. I have been to skeet shooting competitions that create less noise. At least this is only once a week.
Sunrise also brings out the most mysterious creature I have ever met. The "morning person". These are people who wake up and immediately begin doing...well...stuff. They make coffee and and breakfast. Perhaps the strangest thing to me is they talk. A lot. And fast. It's like they have energy. And what do they have to look forward to? A nice long relaxing day at work. They have a to do list of things to accomplish during the day. I've had writing a to do list on the top of my to do list for the last twenty five years. I am not a morning person which makes them all the more confusing to me. Morning people truly embrace Carpe diem. I am more like carpe noonish. The thought of conversation with another human being before 9am is quite terrifying. My heart doesn't beat until close to noon. Sunrises are best when witnessed at the end of an all nighter. It usually is a sign of triumph at that point. To summarize the sunrise, you start out with wet feet, get audibly gang raped by birds and sanitation engineers and then are forced to engage in a conversation about what you plan to do for the day. Now for sunsets.
Shimmering waves of heat are still coming off the street as you pull into the driveway. You get into the house and emerge wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. Your feet feel the heat coming of the grass and it feels good. If you lay on the grass you could take a quick nap it's so comfortable. (Anyone who as had a few too many beers during the day knows this fact.) The afternoon breeze is kicking up right on time. The only sounds that can be heard is the sizzle of whatever type of beef is on the grill. At least until the ice cream truck makes his rounds in the neighborhood. Garbage versus ice cream, this isn't a fair fight.
Sunrise people begin to lose the stoned, eyes half shut look when the sun completely disappears. All of sudden the person who had the conversational skills of a mime for the daylight hours comes alive. Sunrise people will wax eloquent on anything from the merits of alabaster paint to Zeus being an overrated Greek God as long as the sun is gone for the day. They will complete an eight hour shift at work and then spend another hour in the parking lot talking to the same people they have been talking to all night. Vampires would be envious of the amount of work true sunset people can get done in the middle of the night.
What does the sunset bring? How about the anticipation of time with the family? Or sports or your favorite TV shows? Or maybe a little bumping uglies with your spouse? (Note: Even morning people don't like sex in the morning) It seems to me the real time to seize the day is when the day is about to end and the night begins. To summarize, the sunset brings on all that is true and good with the world. This comparison may be slightly biased.
Till next.....
Looking at life through the odd mix of optimism, sarcasm, love and humor and not always in that order.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
A real tragedy....Can you help?
I hesitated writing this blog because I have never wanted to ask anyone who reads it for anything except an open mind and a sense of humor. But this isn't about what I want. It's about a 16 year old girl named Emmie Brookins who lies in a bed at the Sheperd Spinal Center in Atlanta. It tells a sad and tragically true tale of how life can change in a couple of seconds.
Emmie just turned 16 earlier this year and by all accounts she is pretty typical. Even though she is small in stature she has the fighting spirit of a champion. She's going to need every bit of it. In the first week of July, Emmie and her friend went to a house two miles away for a little party. They got someone to use a fake I.D. and buy them some liquor. Just like I used to and I suspect a great many of you reading this as well. Kids just don't have the best judgement at times. They had arranged for someone else to drive them home but apparently changed their minds once the drinking started. Emmie took the passenger seat and her friend drove. They didn't go far.
The car left the road and hit a tree deploying the airbags. They were unable to determine if the collision or the airbag broke her neck. She was immediately paralyzed from the neck down. If her spine had been damaged one inch higher she would be dead or on a ventilator. As it was she was diagnosed a "complete" paralysis. When she arrived at the hospital they rushed her to surgery to install a screen to prevent a blood clot from doing further damage. Then they had one surgery to put a metal plate on the front of her neck. Then another surgery to put a plate on the back of her neck. Once she was stable enough she was driven by ambulance to Atlanta.
Miracles happen a lot at the Shepard Center and hopefully Emmie will be the latest one. She regained movement of both her arms. The hands and fingers have not progressed as much yet. She has some limited feeling in her legs and feet. These are very encouraging developments even though the doctors try to temper any excitement. She told her Mother that all she wants to do is something all by herself. Brush her own teeth, comb her own hair, go to the bathroom, anything. Not one day has past since I heard of the accident that I haven't tried to put myself in her parent's shoes. My mind just won't let me do it. It shuts down immediately. The thought of having to do that for one of my children or step children breaks my heart in a way I can't describe. Not when they are 16 years old. It just doesn't make any sense.
How do you ever not cry the minute your child leaves the house at night? Do you ever feel safe again? I don't know. I know that the medical bills were mostly covered by insurance. The other costs of a van to transport Emmie and a wheelchair is not. Making the house accessible to a wheelchair is not covered. Transportation to and from Atlanta for therapy will not be covered. These will quickly eliminate all the savings the family had. I am including the address and phone number on the bottom of the page for an account set up at Trustmark Bank for Emmie. If your heart calls you to donate than please do so.(No amount is too small) We all know how tough things are so if you can't donate or choose not to, please say a prayer for Emmie. If praying isn't your thing try and keep a positive thought toward her and her family. The last favor I ask of you is easy for everyone to do. Could you PLEASE share this on your Facebook page? The more people on her side the better the odds of a miracle.
When I first met Emmie four years ago I never knew she would become a step sister to my two boys. In blended family terms that means when the boy's Mother and I divorced she married Emmie's Father. Reality is slowly sinking into Christopher and Zachary concerning their step sister. At first they were mildly upset but didn't quite get the changes that were about to occur in her life. Every time they visit her at the Center it becomes harder for them. Hopefully God will give them, Emmie's parents and the rest of the family the strength they need. The fact that Emmie is still alive and fighting back tells me she has the strength she needs. Anything the rest of us can do would go a long way toward helping. Thank You in advance!!!
Shane and Kim Brookins c/o Emily Brookins
Trustmark Bank Lakeland Branch
3714 Canada Road
Lakeland, TN 901-377-3868
Any questions or concerns please ask for Nancy Harrell, Branch Manager
You can also follow Emmie's progress at http://www.carepages.com/ It's free to sign up. Also Facebook at prayforemmiebrookins. Sincerely, Thank you all again.
Till next.....
Emmie just turned 16 earlier this year and by all accounts she is pretty typical. Even though she is small in stature she has the fighting spirit of a champion. She's going to need every bit of it. In the first week of July, Emmie and her friend went to a house two miles away for a little party. They got someone to use a fake I.D. and buy them some liquor. Just like I used to and I suspect a great many of you reading this as well. Kids just don't have the best judgement at times. They had arranged for someone else to drive them home but apparently changed their minds once the drinking started. Emmie took the passenger seat and her friend drove. They didn't go far.
The car left the road and hit a tree deploying the airbags. They were unable to determine if the collision or the airbag broke her neck. She was immediately paralyzed from the neck down. If her spine had been damaged one inch higher she would be dead or on a ventilator. As it was she was diagnosed a "complete" paralysis. When she arrived at the hospital they rushed her to surgery to install a screen to prevent a blood clot from doing further damage. Then they had one surgery to put a metal plate on the front of her neck. Then another surgery to put a plate on the back of her neck. Once she was stable enough she was driven by ambulance to Atlanta.
Miracles happen a lot at the Shepard Center and hopefully Emmie will be the latest one. She regained movement of both her arms. The hands and fingers have not progressed as much yet. She has some limited feeling in her legs and feet. These are very encouraging developments even though the doctors try to temper any excitement. She told her Mother that all she wants to do is something all by herself. Brush her own teeth, comb her own hair, go to the bathroom, anything. Not one day has past since I heard of the accident that I haven't tried to put myself in her parent's shoes. My mind just won't let me do it. It shuts down immediately. The thought of having to do that for one of my children or step children breaks my heart in a way I can't describe. Not when they are 16 years old. It just doesn't make any sense.
How do you ever not cry the minute your child leaves the house at night? Do you ever feel safe again? I don't know. I know that the medical bills were mostly covered by insurance. The other costs of a van to transport Emmie and a wheelchair is not. Making the house accessible to a wheelchair is not covered. Transportation to and from Atlanta for therapy will not be covered. These will quickly eliminate all the savings the family had. I am including the address and phone number on the bottom of the page for an account set up at Trustmark Bank for Emmie. If your heart calls you to donate than please do so.(No amount is too small) We all know how tough things are so if you can't donate or choose not to, please say a prayer for Emmie. If praying isn't your thing try and keep a positive thought toward her and her family. The last favor I ask of you is easy for everyone to do. Could you PLEASE share this on your Facebook page? The more people on her side the better the odds of a miracle.
When I first met Emmie four years ago I never knew she would become a step sister to my two boys. In blended family terms that means when the boy's Mother and I divorced she married Emmie's Father. Reality is slowly sinking into Christopher and Zachary concerning their step sister. At first they were mildly upset but didn't quite get the changes that were about to occur in her life. Every time they visit her at the Center it becomes harder for them. Hopefully God will give them, Emmie's parents and the rest of the family the strength they need. The fact that Emmie is still alive and fighting back tells me she has the strength she needs. Anything the rest of us can do would go a long way toward helping. Thank You in advance!!!
Shane and Kim Brookins c/o Emily Brookins
Trustmark Bank Lakeland Branch
3714 Canada Road
Lakeland, TN 901-377-3868
Any questions or concerns please ask for Nancy Harrell, Branch Manager
You can also follow Emmie's progress at http://www.carepages.com/ It's free to sign up. Also Facebook at prayforemmiebrookins. Sincerely, Thank you all again.
Till next.....
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Confessions of an insomniac.......
For those who can roll into bed and blissfully fall to sleep, God bless you. The thought of actually sleeping a full eight hours is a radical concept to me. Most nights I get a solid three hours sleep and it suits me just fine. But when the real insomnia hits it's a bitch. Last week when I was nearing the completion of my novel it ramped up. Over the course of ten nights I crashed for eleven whole hours. Total. 66 minutes of sleep on average. When people hear this they actually say, "Boy could I get a lot done if I only slept that little". Let me address that for a minute.
It's Thanksgiving afternoon and dinner has been devoured. The Lions already lost by three touchdowns and the Cowboy game is about to start. Your pants are unbuttoned and you are prone on the couch and just before kickoff you feel yourself slipping into the inevitable tryptophan induced coma. But your eyes won't close. The neurotransmitters that are supposed to shut the brain down just go home early and don't quite finish the job. Every part of your body is so sleepy and groggy that just getting off the couch takes serious effort and forethought. Now imagine going through your day in that condition. Do you really think you would get anything done? Well that's what severe insomnia does for you. But there is good news.
Do you need to catch up on some reading? Plenty of time to wade through War and Peace. How about some television? With the addition of Netflix I'm on the third season of 24. Want to expand your sphere of knowledge? The internet is open all night long. I know more useless trivia than most Jeopardy contestants. Just ask me a question and I will set in motion boredom on steroids. What trees grow in Malaysia? That would be Mangrove and the Oil Palm. Along with over 8000 other plant species in the southeast rainforest. Last National Leaguer to win the triple Crown; Joe "Ducky" Medwick. Those are off the top of my head. The true benefit is if you are talking to someone you really would rather not be just start boring them to death. They will be looking at their watch and saying, "I got to run" before you even get to the eco-systems of the Amazon River. And when you're extremely tired it's even more fun than normal.
Even though I have found this more of a personality quirk than a true disease more research is being done on the effects of sleep deprivation. People who suffer from the type of insomnia I have generally die before they reach 40 years of age. That is a rather sobering number for a man of 49 to read. But until they come up with a real cure for it I will continue my duty as neighborhood night watchman. Not that it matters but it really isn't darkest before the dawn. It is darkest usually three hours before the sunrises. I've timed it. And you can count the stars in the sky. Anywhere from 238 to over 2300 depending on the conditions and location. The further in the country, the higher the count. Are you getting bored yet? They say you shouldn't eat right before bed. Whatever. I consume most of my calories between midnight and 4am. And I tip the scales at about 165 pounds.
The one thing that insomnia is really good for; late night blogging. Sleep well normal people. I'll have the light on for you when you wake up.
Till next.....
It's Thanksgiving afternoon and dinner has been devoured. The Lions already lost by three touchdowns and the Cowboy game is about to start. Your pants are unbuttoned and you are prone on the couch and just before kickoff you feel yourself slipping into the inevitable tryptophan induced coma. But your eyes won't close. The neurotransmitters that are supposed to shut the brain down just go home early and don't quite finish the job. Every part of your body is so sleepy and groggy that just getting off the couch takes serious effort and forethought. Now imagine going through your day in that condition. Do you really think you would get anything done? Well that's what severe insomnia does for you. But there is good news.
Do you need to catch up on some reading? Plenty of time to wade through War and Peace. How about some television? With the addition of Netflix I'm on the third season of 24. Want to expand your sphere of knowledge? The internet is open all night long. I know more useless trivia than most Jeopardy contestants. Just ask me a question and I will set in motion boredom on steroids. What trees grow in Malaysia? That would be Mangrove and the Oil Palm. Along with over 8000 other plant species in the southeast rainforest. Last National Leaguer to win the triple Crown; Joe "Ducky" Medwick. Those are off the top of my head. The true benefit is if you are talking to someone you really would rather not be just start boring them to death. They will be looking at their watch and saying, "I got to run" before you even get to the eco-systems of the Amazon River. And when you're extremely tired it's even more fun than normal.
Even though I have found this more of a personality quirk than a true disease more research is being done on the effects of sleep deprivation. People who suffer from the type of insomnia I have generally die before they reach 40 years of age. That is a rather sobering number for a man of 49 to read. But until they come up with a real cure for it I will continue my duty as neighborhood night watchman. Not that it matters but it really isn't darkest before the dawn. It is darkest usually three hours before the sunrises. I've timed it. And you can count the stars in the sky. Anywhere from 238 to over 2300 depending on the conditions and location. The further in the country, the higher the count. Are you getting bored yet? They say you shouldn't eat right before bed. Whatever. I consume most of my calories between midnight and 4am. And I tip the scales at about 165 pounds.
The one thing that insomnia is really good for; late night blogging. Sleep well normal people. I'll have the light on for you when you wake up.
Till next.....
It isn't over yet...
Today Rasmussen ran a poll that showed 15% of Americans think the country is on the right track. Said another way, 85% of those polled think we are screwed. With the Presidential election coming up next year the news and mudslinging will probably help drive that number even lower. The balance of power in the Congress is divided so any real legislation won't be passed any time soon either. Our economy has stalled and the real unemployment rate is close to 18%. Our national Debt is at a crisis level and both sides are committed to their ideology so much that they can't see the big picture. Sounds pretty bleak doesn't it?
Now for the good news; we have been in worse shape as a country before and not only came out of it but soared to new heights. Everyone knows about the 1929 Great Depression. How about the depression of 1920. It was far worse than 1929 and we came out of it in less than two years and went on to the "Roaring Twenties". Then there was the dark days of 1940 and 41 when the only thing standing between the world and a life of eating German food(I do not recommend ever eating German food) was the Brits and Winston Churchill. Until Japan lost their mind and decided to drag us kicking and screaming into WWII. After the war we again went on to prosperity and freedom that as been unequaled.
But the best example of our resolve was the Civil War. Over 600,000 of our own citizens died trying to right the wrong of slavery. (For those of you educated in the South, the war was about more than property rights) Families were torn apart. Brother fought agaisnt brother. That evil egotistical pyromaniac Sherman burnt most of the great city I now live in to the ground. And what happened when it was over? We once again rose to become the greatest nation in the world. History proves time and time again how resiliant we are as Americans.
What does happen if our economy and our way of life collapses? The next time their is an earthquake in Haiti will the Chinese be the first ones there to help? Or a tsunami wipes out Sri Lanka? Will the Russians be on the way there in 15 minutes like the U.S. Marines were? Earthquake in Japan? I guess France can send their military there to surrender. If it's not us, then who is it? We are the "shining city on the hill" that the world looks to. Sure, they run around and trash talk us but who do they call the minute a crisis happens? You, me and the rest of this great nation. We are the last best hope for freedom on the planet and I don't believe we are going to go down without a fight. We are still Americans one and all.
I wish Rasmussen would have asked a follow up question; Do you think America is still the greatest nation on Earth? That same 85 % that think we are screwed would have thought for just a minute before coming to the same thought I had. If we are not, than who is? I am still going to wave my flag proudly and beat my chest because I am an American. We have made mistakes but at least we try to fix them. Our system of government lets us voice our opinions and vote freely. We have freedom. We have the most generous, law abiding citizens in the world.
If we are not the greatest nation, then we really are screwed. We've been through tough times before so put a smile on your face and stay engaged. It isn't over yet.
Till next......
Now for the good news; we have been in worse shape as a country before and not only came out of it but soared to new heights. Everyone knows about the 1929 Great Depression. How about the depression of 1920. It was far worse than 1929 and we came out of it in less than two years and went on to the "Roaring Twenties". Then there was the dark days of 1940 and 41 when the only thing standing between the world and a life of eating German food(I do not recommend ever eating German food) was the Brits and Winston Churchill. Until Japan lost their mind and decided to drag us kicking and screaming into WWII. After the war we again went on to prosperity and freedom that as been unequaled.
But the best example of our resolve was the Civil War. Over 600,000 of our own citizens died trying to right the wrong of slavery. (For those of you educated in the South, the war was about more than property rights) Families were torn apart. Brother fought agaisnt brother. That evil egotistical pyromaniac Sherman burnt most of the great city I now live in to the ground. And what happened when it was over? We once again rose to become the greatest nation in the world. History proves time and time again how resiliant we are as Americans.
What does happen if our economy and our way of life collapses? The next time their is an earthquake in Haiti will the Chinese be the first ones there to help? Or a tsunami wipes out Sri Lanka? Will the Russians be on the way there in 15 minutes like the U.S. Marines were? Earthquake in Japan? I guess France can send their military there to surrender. If it's not us, then who is it? We are the "shining city on the hill" that the world looks to. Sure, they run around and trash talk us but who do they call the minute a crisis happens? You, me and the rest of this great nation. We are the last best hope for freedom on the planet and I don't believe we are going to go down without a fight. We are still Americans one and all.
I wish Rasmussen would have asked a follow up question; Do you think America is still the greatest nation on Earth? That same 85 % that think we are screwed would have thought for just a minute before coming to the same thought I had. If we are not, than who is? I am still going to wave my flag proudly and beat my chest because I am an American. We have made mistakes but at least we try to fix them. Our system of government lets us voice our opinions and vote freely. We have freedom. We have the most generous, law abiding citizens in the world.
If we are not the greatest nation, then we really are screwed. We've been through tough times before so put a smile on your face and stay engaged. It isn't over yet.
Till next......
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Stay sharp...It's so much easier
Doing my good deed for the day I mowed my neighbors lawn today. Unfortunately for me the blade on my mower is as dull as a three day insurance seminar. I ended up going back and forth over the same path several times all because my blade wasn't sharp and it occurred to me that it applies to much more than mowing the lawn. It really can be everywhere. Why do the older folks(Of which I am about to become) eat the early bird special at 4pm? Conventional wisdom is because they go to bed early. Not at all. It's because when you get older like me your teeth aren't as strong or as sharp. We just have to allow an extra hour to chew our food. It looks like Mr Ed with a really bad hangover. Lips are going in all different directions trying suck food out of places that weren't there before. It's not so much chewing food, it's more of a mashing process. Teeth have basically been replaced by mortar and pestles.
How about dull parenting? Is there a parent out there that has grown tired of telling the kids to do the same thing over and over again? If there is I haven't me them yet. Just about the time you are sure the imps are destined for a life of picking up trash on the side of a highway they succumb to your wishes. Are they all border line retarded? Not at all. Maybe the commands and requests are just dull. What if you put it in a way that makes them excited to do it? A way that gives them pride and ownership of wanting to do it right? What if you kept their senses sharp by switching up their chores or duties? Maybe they aren't the one's who are are a little slow? Is it possible that it could be us? Asking the same way every time and expecting a different result is insane. Once again, staying sharp is just easier.
Five or six days a week we trudge off to work to do basically the same thing everyday. How long does each day seem if it's dull? Longer than a baseball season. Do at least one small thing differently everyday and it's not so dull. It keeps you sharp which makes your day better and more valuable. Sometimes it's as easy as taking a different route to work. Or talking to a co-worker you don't usually talk to. Read a book at lunch instead of what you usually do. It doesn't matter what it is as long as it's different.
Dull is not a word that you want to be associated with. Sharp on the other hand; sharp dresser, sharp as a tack, sharp wit and so on. Dull on the other hand is just uninspiring. Dull colors, dull presentations, dull blog posts and so on. The next step after dull is blunt. Does anyone ever strive to be blunt? Even if you get clubbed to death they give you a boring autopsy, blunt force trauma. Who sets that for a goal. So stay sharp everybody. It keeps your mind fresh and gives you new things to look forward to. If you don't mind dull that's fine too. Maybe we can talk about it over dinner sometime? Say around 4pm at the local cafeteria?
Till next........
How about dull parenting? Is there a parent out there that has grown tired of telling the kids to do the same thing over and over again? If there is I haven't me them yet. Just about the time you are sure the imps are destined for a life of picking up trash on the side of a highway they succumb to your wishes. Are they all border line retarded? Not at all. Maybe the commands and requests are just dull. What if you put it in a way that makes them excited to do it? A way that gives them pride and ownership of wanting to do it right? What if you kept their senses sharp by switching up their chores or duties? Maybe they aren't the one's who are are a little slow? Is it possible that it could be us? Asking the same way every time and expecting a different result is insane. Once again, staying sharp is just easier.
Five or six days a week we trudge off to work to do basically the same thing everyday. How long does each day seem if it's dull? Longer than a baseball season. Do at least one small thing differently everyday and it's not so dull. It keeps you sharp which makes your day better and more valuable. Sometimes it's as easy as taking a different route to work. Or talking to a co-worker you don't usually talk to. Read a book at lunch instead of what you usually do. It doesn't matter what it is as long as it's different.
Dull is not a word that you want to be associated with. Sharp on the other hand; sharp dresser, sharp as a tack, sharp wit and so on. Dull on the other hand is just uninspiring. Dull colors, dull presentations, dull blog posts and so on. The next step after dull is blunt. Does anyone ever strive to be blunt? Even if you get clubbed to death they give you a boring autopsy, blunt force trauma. Who sets that for a goal. So stay sharp everybody. It keeps your mind fresh and gives you new things to look forward to. If you don't mind dull that's fine too. Maybe we can talk about it over dinner sometime? Say around 4pm at the local cafeteria?
Till next........
Friday, August 19, 2011
Get up in the morning, get on the bus.....
The Guess Who recorded those lyrics in a song titled Bus Rider sometime in the 1970's. Given the fact I was just a young child I never realized they were giving political advice. Sarah Palin, President Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton all have had grand bus tours across the country. Maybe I'm the odd duck here but riding a Greyhound doesn't inspire me. I'm not knocking traveling by bus but I don't really see the common man connection they are shooting for. How does riding a bus denote being in touch with the people of America?
Most of us at one time or another have taken a bus ride. The emphasis is on "one time". It's usually enough. My personal Greyhound experience was an eight hour trip. Of all the people I met and came in contact with not one of them made me think; there's a person who should be in charge of the country. Most of the people were obviously not in charge of soap. It did not seem to be a gathering of the best and brightest among us. (Myself included) So why do Republicans and Democrats put their tokens in the slot and hit the road? Could it be the plush seating that most of us associate with a bus? I believe Jimmy Hoffa is in fact encased in a seat cushion on a Greyhound bus in New Jersey somewhere. That material is tougher than concrete. You can recline almost a full 1/4 of an inch if you push back real hard to get some sleep. Or are they demonstrating their ability to endure pain like real Americans?
Perhaps it's just me but I prefer that people trying to run the country travel well. The thought of our President (or hopefuls) eating peanut butter crackers out of a vending machine and then deciding on an economic jobs plan seems crazy. Get a nice meal and come up with a smart plan. If you want to inspire confidence develop an energy plan, not take a field trip. Quit trying to be one of us and show that can you lead us. This is a bi-partisan act of stupidity that has seemed to increase over the years. The only reason people take a bus is because they can't afford to fly. Pretty safe to say that's probably not the case with politicians. If you're that broke your campaign has issues.
This is in no way meant to denigrate most Americans who take the bus. I have had to take a bus and not too many years ago I actually lived in my car. The BMW may be the ultimate driving machine but it sucks for sleeping. It will never be mistaken for a Select Comfort mattress. But I did it because I had no other choice at the time, not because I was trying to become a man of the homeless. One night after work a co-worker asked for a ride home because her car was being repaired. I gladly said I would but when we got in the car she turned and said, "Can we just go to your place?" I spread my arms wide and said,"You are in luck, here we are." That was the last time she asked me for a ride anywhere. Maybe she took the bus?
Till next.....
Most of us at one time or another have taken a bus ride. The emphasis is on "one time". It's usually enough. My personal Greyhound experience was an eight hour trip. Of all the people I met and came in contact with not one of them made me think; there's a person who should be in charge of the country. Most of the people were obviously not in charge of soap. It did not seem to be a gathering of the best and brightest among us. (Myself included) So why do Republicans and Democrats put their tokens in the slot and hit the road? Could it be the plush seating that most of us associate with a bus? I believe Jimmy Hoffa is in fact encased in a seat cushion on a Greyhound bus in New Jersey somewhere. That material is tougher than concrete. You can recline almost a full 1/4 of an inch if you push back real hard to get some sleep. Or are they demonstrating their ability to endure pain like real Americans?
Perhaps it's just me but I prefer that people trying to run the country travel well. The thought of our President (or hopefuls) eating peanut butter crackers out of a vending machine and then deciding on an economic jobs plan seems crazy. Get a nice meal and come up with a smart plan. If you want to inspire confidence develop an energy plan, not take a field trip. Quit trying to be one of us and show that can you lead us. This is a bi-partisan act of stupidity that has seemed to increase over the years. The only reason people take a bus is because they can't afford to fly. Pretty safe to say that's probably not the case with politicians. If you're that broke your campaign has issues.
This is in no way meant to denigrate most Americans who take the bus. I have had to take a bus and not too many years ago I actually lived in my car. The BMW may be the ultimate driving machine but it sucks for sleeping. It will never be mistaken for a Select Comfort mattress. But I did it because I had no other choice at the time, not because I was trying to become a man of the homeless. One night after work a co-worker asked for a ride home because her car was being repaired. I gladly said I would but when we got in the car she turned and said, "Can we just go to your place?" I spread my arms wide and said,"You are in luck, here we are." That was the last time she asked me for a ride anywhere. Maybe she took the bus?
Till next.....
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