Movie Magic, Nothing BUTT the truth! part 4 of the" Never Ending Story.":

     As an extra I have had an opportunity to see and understand why movie tickets are so expensive , which is one reason ( yes, Dear ) that's my wife and I haven't been out to a movie in quite some time. As a compromise I had her go out to the set of a big budget movie as an extra for a few days, I thought the L O N G days, L O N G waits, waiting on food and drink for long periods, protracted standing, clapping and cheering at the appropriate times, as directed, would cure her.But  NOOOO, She still want's to go sit in a crowded theater and eat overpriced pop corn when we have a box of ACT II, which has been in our cabinet  for months.
     When I was in the Army we were taught that it took 7 support people for every person on the front lines, that number for the production of a major film appears to be multiplied at least three fold. I have seen why it takes so many millions of dollars to make a film, most of the work is done by union people, I understand and generally support unions and what they do. On a movie set, among the crew, the man who carries the ladder does not climb the ladder, someone else does when he has adjusted a light and there is sound cable in the way, someone else ascends the ladder and moves the cable. On the set of my first movie I picked up an over turned trash can out side my "dressing" room. A member of the "transportation workers" union who drove the rig to the set and who was responsible for the truck and trailer and the area around it asked me not to do that  for fear that someone would see me and think he was not doing his job.
    That production was not going to be an Academy Award nominee, nor was it the intention of the Directors or Producers to do so, their plan was to make a movie of a certain genre which makes money by making people laugh.  From what I have seen so far regarding the film it will succeed. This same team has been very successful in the past.
    I had read that movies are not shot in sequence, recently I am learning that first hand. (I think one reason is so the extras will have no idea what the film is really about.) Just weeks ago on the same day, after a wardrobe change (we are always told to bring 3 options, although that have a tractor trailer filled with cloths, and they shop at Goodwill also.) We were instructed to change because the next scene would be three years later in the movie’s time line. We shot scenes weeks ago which will not be used until the last episode of the TV series we are working on. I have a friend who was working as a stand in, his “character” was killed off and now he is working as an extra in scenes which will be shown after his characters demise. In one film we had many changes because the film spans several years, we were often asked to return the next day in the same cloths we had worn for a specific scene that day. I thought I might need to number my garments so I could keep up.(my Mom did that to my underwear when I was in 4th grade so she would know if I changed every day.)
IN THE NEXT EDITION WE WILL BE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD WE LOUISIANA  EXTRA'S, A COMMENT OVER HEARD YESTERDAY "Well she is just one of those dumb Louisiana Extras." [ Note-In Hollywood extras are paid an established minimum hourly rate and benefits.] These Production Companies come here for the Tax Breaks and cheap labor,we are glad to have the work but they need to leave the attitude in "Fantasy Land."

"The Green, Green........"

GREEN; This word seems to scream at us from almost everywhere in recent years, I see it and other things come to mind, " The Green, Green Grass of Home" (Vietnam Era song, and I never knew for sure which kind they were referring to.),Little Green Men, Kermit the Frog and how I have felt after a long night out or really bad food, as in green around the gills.
       Today people are GREEN, businesses are Green, communities are GREEN, even motion picture production companies are going GREEN.(soon, no more plastic bottles of water on sets, just paper cups). I try to do my part for the environment by recycling (Walmart bags make great trash can liners and empty Starbucks cups are realy good car ashtrays.) 
     To be serious folks below you will find 10 easy recycling tips from a leading Woman's magazine;

        Recycling is easy when you know what you’re doing. You can get the whole family involved, reuse things you already have, and reduce your carbon footprint.(THANK YOU MR. GORE, how bout that Pulitzer and Nobel and Oscar and the Internet and...........)

Sort and store: Save drink holders to corral used cans and bottles. Wrap newspapers with twine and then simply stack them. Plastic lids and caps are generally made of a different material than their containers and need to be sorted separately.
Practical placement: Collect used household batteries to take to local drop-offs. Reuse shredded papers as packing material. Gather old phone books and magazines in a wire bin.
The hang-up: Keep a towel handy to wipe up spills. Scissors are useful for cutting twine or breaking down boxes. Post a recycling guide for quick reference. And don’t forget a hook for your reusable grocery bag.
Divide and conquer: Store items that may contain liquid in solid bins to prevent sticky messes. Sort plastic and cardboard by type.
Creative reuse: An old picnic basket holds used packing peanuts and bubble wrap. Save plastic and paper shopping bags for reuse.

EASY RECYCLING TIPS
1. Find a convenient place to collect recyclable items. Most things come from the kitchen, making it a good spot to set up a recycling center.
2. The great thing about recycling is that it lets you put your favorite old containers, bins, or baskets to use. Assign containers for glass, plastic, and aluminum. To avoid messes, choose solid containers for storing items such as glass jars or cans that may have a sticky residue.
3. Take leftover plastic bags back to grocery stores where they are collected and reused to make plastic lumber.
4. Check the bottom of plastic items to identify what type of plastic they are. If the type is not recycled at your local center, consider ways to reuse the container.
5. Save water and time when recycling cans and bottles. You no longer need to rinse them out or remove their labels.
6. Recycle junk mail or reuse it as scratch paper. To opt-out of certain junk-mailing lists, go to opt-out.cdt.org.
7. Newspapers, magazines, and white paper can all be recycled as long as the paper is clean and dry. Plastic wrap, stickers, or rubber bands should be removed, but staples and plastic window envelopes are OK.
8. Recycle worn-out rechargeable batteries like those used in cell phones, computers, or power tools. Go to www.rbrc.org to find a drop-off location in your area.
9. Divvy up recycling duties among family members and sort items on a daily basis.
10. Print out this list of commonly recycled materials. Post it where you recycle for easy access.

 "YOU HAVE JUST READ A MANDATORY PUBLIC SERVICE BLOG, YOUR REGULAR BLOG WILL APPEAR HERE TOMORROW."

On Growing Older....Retirement

 I am giving everyone a break from my Movie Extra Narrative for a few days !


Something for everyone; I think,
     
                I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less white hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant in my retirement.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.


I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning white, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore..
I've even earned the right to be wrong.

Extra, Extra, la troisième partie

        If your are bored with this narrative, please see the Archive of previous Blogs, there are some good things there. This commentary does have a point,and is in keeping with the theme of this Blog- a 60'ish Man working in a world inhabited primarily by people half his age- Political, Social, economic issues were discussed on set, and it is a heck of an environment.

     Well below the "Production Assistants" , the people with the cattle prods, come we lowly extras (background talent). I and many other extras I have meet have varied backgrounds and life experiences, I am not alone in having managed people (Military, business, parent etc) , I have a fair education and I may never have been "A Pillar of Society"but I have propped up a few walls.Regardless of ones background, being a movie extra is a truly humbling experience. For those young people not inclined to go into the military, or for those who want a taste of what basic training or Ranger School might be like, come out to a movie set. I actually think some PA'S may be my old Drill Instructors reincarnated.
        On one movie there were over 300 extras for several days and in those situations good "People skills" are an absolute necessity. Certainly order must be established and some extras, not being as reasonably as myself, did make the job difficult. I hope that our Southern Manners will blend with the skills of our new Movie friends and everyone can benefit. My mama taught that more flies can be caught with honey than with vinegar. I do acknowledge that it is a difficult job, but I saw many situations which good have benefited from good manners and tact.
  
      Respect is given to the fact that ALL the production people are on set when we arrive and so not leave until we are done.They do earn their pay, which is probably pretty good.
      I have had some work on one TV series currently in production, TV work moves faster as episodes are shot on a tighter schedule than a movie, (average 6-9 weeks). A lot of this work is done on a sound stage which is an awesome thing, rooms from buildings, whole buildings, inside made to look out side, lighting mimicking dawn to dusk. On this TV production was where I got a real feel for the costs associated with the magic of Hollywood. In one scene we were patrons at a community theater production, in fact we had "Tickets" in our hands and were given printed "programs" with a cast listed, phony paid adds inside, and the three acts of the "play" described. We came in and out of the theater and took our seats at least ten times and when the episode was shown it lasted maybe 2 minutes and consisted of a crane shot of us entering the the theater , taking our seats, then the camera focused on a close-up of the Actors as they exchanged lines, the "tickets" nor the "programs" were ever shown on camera..
       A few days later we shot a scene, where we were customers at a market,- brand new grocery carts had been purchased, we had REAL food items including fresh produce, meat and cheese.The front of the building ,which contains the sound stage, and the parking lot were appropriately signed to reflect the scene. For several hours we came in and out of the market ,pushed grocery carts with sacks of food out to our cars, while two actors exchanged a few minutes of dialogue in front of a car trunk as the female pretended to load her grocers.On TV no customers were ever seen.
 During the several hours the shoot took, my expensive Gouda cheeses melted into a squishy soft ball.

MORE TO COME !

Extra, Extra part Deux ....

After sending additional photos to the Casting Agency for review by the Director, I was selected for my first "big" part. This experience in my first "real" movie almost spoiled me. I was treated very well, I was allowed to park near the set, had a dressing room, ate with the cast and crew (usually the extras eat after cast and crew and /or separate from them as they must hurry and get back to set before we are needed, more on that later.) I met with the director within a few minutes of arriving on location. My "Name" was even on my dressing room door{my character name anyway}. I was taken to and from the set by Golf Cart, I was told I was a "first team" extra. As in any profession the movie people have a language all their own.
It was an exciting experience and put extra money in my pocket. The "bugs" stinger was now deepen embedded , I was hooked, ready for my next gig.
My next call was for an even bigger movie with Major Stars, now I was really on a roll, I was cast the first day of shooting, as, of all things an Iowa farmer. I worked a total of 14 days on this film I met and made many friends, and that, by far has been the best part of the experience. During this shoot I began to learn what it really means to be an "EXTRA", (sometimes referred to as "background talent", just to make us feel better.).
Reality sets in- extremely long days .never less than 12 hours and one even 20 hour day. meals never on time and one day not for 7 hours, scarce water or any beverage, extras holding was a "Circus Tent" much of the time and it does get hot in Louisiana.
Now to the treatment of Extras; in the motion picture production business as in any other business, their is an established hierarchy. At the top, Star Actors (talent) on an equal level, Producers, Director, some times screen writer, - next 1st and 2nd AD'S (Assistant Directors). Followed by and in a "pecking order" which varies from production to production, and can't be figured out. These are the "Gaffers", "Best Boys", "Cinematographers"-(electricians, lighting people, set construction, set designers and painters, wardrobe, make-up and hair, camera operators, set medics. (and "hundreds" of other people who do......?) .
Next comes the PA'S-Production Assistants- Probably the hardest working group out there- the tools of their trade are, Radios- plural, cell phones and Cattle Prods. Their task is to keep up with us extras and shepherd or herd us to and from the set.

TOMORROW IN PART THREE WE WILL DISCUSS MORE ABOUT THE LIFE OF A MOVIE EXTRA OR "PROPS THAT EAT" AS ONE AD DESCRIBED US.

Extra, Extra Read all about it......

The Movie and TV production business is booming in Louisiana and Texas, we are now being called the Hollywood of the South. Over the years some great films have been made here, "Steel Magnolias", "The Big Easy" to name two. Recent tax incentives have increased the amount of interest directed toward making movies here. Texas and Georgia have followed suite with tax breaks for production companies,This new business has been a welcome boost to the economy of an area which has needed help for a long time.
The people of the region and local city and Parrish/County governments are doing much to attract and keep the cameras rolling. Film "clubs" have been formed and local colleges are starting or adding classes related to film-making and associated crafts.Local film makers are producing independent films and acting classes are being offered.
The oil leak has put a new burden on an already stressed financial picture.We need this economic help and are working to bring and keep the movie "people" here. They have recognized the large talent pool and some locals have been given real opportunities to succeed in what is a tough industry.Many production people from both coasts have moved to the area and many of us are getting involved both in-front and behind the camera.
Just after moving back to Northwest Louisiana I began a new "career" as a movie extra. My home town had become a center for productions when in 2005 a local man leased some land to a production company for a set to film the Jack Black film "Year One". While not (yet) a classic film in the truest artistic sense it gave a rebirth to filming in this area of Louisiana.
I awoke early one morning to a phone call from one of my Sons "Pop,look out your back window", there were dozens of trucks and vans, a hundred people milling about hard at work, Action all over, I quickly dressed and walked down the street to be nosy and was bitten.... by the acting "bug" While in High School and again in College I took Drama classes, and occasionally through the years participate in Community Theater and even made a couple of Local Cable Channel commercials, I was even on a History Channel "Reality Show", called "Pawn$tars" twice.(please note the dollar sign correctly replaces the S in stars and it is PAWN.).Having been bitten before this time the bug left it's stinger.
I found out as much information as I could as quickly as I could regarding how to get involved. I connected to a Shreveport based Casting Agency, submitted a "profile" along with photos. Just 3 days later I was offered my first chance, as the movie has not yet been released I am pledged not to discuss my role, lets just say I will not be appearing on Letterman to promote the film and as in any business, a person must always start at the bottom.

PART TWO TOMORROW. Stand by, stand by.

FACEBOOK

You can block me, you can (even) delete me,
just don’t lie to me or cheat me.

If ya don’t like what I’ve got to say, just click that mouse the other way.
Or do what others do, they just log-off until I’m through!

Ya can change yer face from day to day, and lie about how much ya weigh.
Givin’ folks what ya think their due, an tellin’em off right out of the blue.

You can block me, you can (even) delete me,
just don’t lie to me or cheat me.

It’s a social site and an unalienable right !
Pictures of your scruffy dog, and yer boyfriend on his Harley Hawg.

Tellin’ all what ya had fer dinner and that now yer datin’ a Lottery winner.
And before ye’all head to the bar, please return my brand new car.

You can block me, you can (even) delete me,
just don’t lie to me or cheat me.

GUMPTION

This is a word not heard much these days. As a child I heard it a lot, probably because I come from a “Country” background and my parents were older when I was born.
My children know the word because if it was good for me it must be good for them. The dictionary defines GUMPTION as;
1. Boldness of enterprise; initiative or aggressiveness.
2. Guts; spunk.
3. Common sense.
The word gumption itself is from old Scots meaning 'common sense, shrewdness and a sense of initiative'.

Recently I have had some of my own words thrown back at me, not in a hurtful way, just “Pop, remember what you always told me ?”

My desire to retire was born out of several desires, A- I was tired of the daily grind after 30 years. B- “Burn out“, I never took much time off, people with gumption often don’t. C- I was disgusted and frustrated by what I saw going on in the medical field, Doctors and Hospitals raping the system in fear of coming Government control. Get what we can while the gitten’ is good.
[This subject to be detailed in future Blogs]

I also had other things I wanted to do- write, I have a book or two in the works,( doesn’t everyone). I had purchased and maintained a small “ranch”, all kinds of livestock and involved in very minor league Agribusiness. I had a promise of some part time work not related to medicine. My wife and I also had a small “shop” at a local swap meet, where we sold antiques and collectibles as well as my wood carvings and her photography.

Retirement though triggered a sense of nostalgia and home sickness. We found ourselves geographically isolated from our children and grandchildren, a Son and Daughter with their families on the west coast and a Son and Daughter in Louisiana. Knowing that the west coast would not be a good fit for us, we decided to return to Louisiana where my wife’s family lived as well.
Having returned we are trying to live off of our retirement income, which due to some changes in the financial markets and some poor decisions is not quite enough (what ever a enough is),
I worked for the US Census (not a lot of fun), part time at a local video store (whose parent company went bankrupt.) and now a few days ever so often as a extra (to be PC ‘Back ground talent’ in movies and TV).I get called if they need old guys or are doing a commercial for AARP or Nursing Homes.

My Sons point was that I might be in the GUMPTION TRAP-

"A gumption trap is an event or mindset that can cause a person to lose enthusiasm and discourage them from starting or continuing a project. The term has seen little literary use since being coined by Robert Pirsig in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance despite being an important part in the practical application of his Metaphysics of Quality.

There are two types of gumption traps, setbacks and hang-ups, which arise from external and internal circumstances respectively.

Setbacks could be anything from a small accidental injury to realizing too late that something has been overlooked and the project will have to be started again, possibly leading to long breaks and lack of interest in the project. Pirsig suggests preventing these kinds of gumption traps by being slow and meticulous, taking notes that might help later and laying out everything required in a logical manner.

Hang-ups are internal factors that can get in the way of starting or completing a project. Examples are ego, anxiety, boredom, impatience and an inability to re-evaluate facts that might seem unimportant. Dealing with hang-ups can be as simple as just taking a break from the problem for a while.''

While hating to admit he might be right (how dare or kids be smart or wise !) I am determined to claw my way out of the trap, even if I have to cut off a leg. I would caution all those retired or contemplating retiring to BEWARE the Gumption Trap.

I WANT MY GUMPTION BACK ! (Thanks Mom and Dad)

JUDGING OTHERS

For some reason, it is easier to jump to negative conclusions about people than it is to assume the best about them. When we do this, we see in them bad intentions and evil purposes that may not be true. We also reveal something about ourselves, for the faults we see in others are often a reflection of our own.

For example check out this story,

A very important man was taking a cruise to Europe and when he boarded the ship and went to his room he discovered he would be sharing his cabin with another man, after meeting his roommate he went to the Captain's office and asked if he could put his valuables in the ships safe, he told the Captain that he wasn't usually paranoid but after meeting his cabin mate he wanted to be careful. The Captain said " Sure , I understand the other man just left his things here for the same reason"

Remember never judge a book by it's cover.

Things aren't always what they seem.

Never step on anyone as you climb life's ladder, you may meet them on the way back down.

Luke 6:35-38
"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father does toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

Luke 11:40
"I know you clean the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. Stupid People! Didn't the One who made the outside also make the inside?

Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give.

Won't vs Can't

There often exists a blurry line between, won't and can't. I won't ever climb Mount Everest, I have always wanted too, but can't-age, health, finances. I can't get younger, I could do things to improve my health but don't. I could win the lottery or inherit a large sum of money. I can run across an Interstate Highway, but won't.
A dear friend posted an anonymous quote on Facebook recently which said
"NEVER MAKE SOMEONE A PRIORITY WHO MAKES YOU AN OPTION''.
Someone responded by referring to the Golden Rule which I try to apply as often as possible, others with WWJD.
I know some things he did do- He brought his message to anyone who would listen and left the response up to them. He fed thousands but not every day,insted the recommended they go out and feed others
The Old Testament tells us that Gods spirit will not contend with man forever, can we do MORE, I think not. The book of Proverbs is full of teachings regarding personal responsibility.
Over the years I have had people come to me and say "I just don't no anyone else to ask."
All of us,I am sure, have had this experience. Are these people who see us as their only option ?
It feels wonderful to be able to HELP someone. Being a giver brings a blessing. But being an enabler doesn't help them and usually causes you mental and emotional anguish.
Tough love is as tough on the one who administers it as he who receives it, none of us want to see anyone we love or care about in distress.
So let us not make cripples of them by being a crutch, love'em tough, refuse to be an option, make them have priorities other than you
"DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU"
Do you want to be an option or a priority.

PC HE/SHE

Clothes Encounters of the Absurd Kind

Yo Smith would be an expert on the men's and women's clothes at American Eagle (AE). As a cross-dresser, she's worn both! To some folks, that makes her the perfect AE salesperson. To the store managers, Yo's appearance is a side-show that drives away business. Unfortunately, the company's opinion no longer matters. According to New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the retailer will have to hire cross-dressers like Smith regardless of how uncomfortable it makes customers or employees. He cites the state's Human Rights Law, which grants special protections based upon gender identity. As a result, the 2,000-store chain has surrendered to state pressure and agreed to hire workers like Smith as part of a private settlement.

It started several months ago, when Yo took the store to court after it refused to offer her/him a job. "To avoid further expense and the distraction of a prolonged argument, [we have] agreed to a compromise settlement in this case, with the understanding that AE is not admitting to the findings," said an AE spokesman. "We wholeheartedly believe that transgender individuals should be treated equally." In the name of tolerance, American Eagle has been forced to take on a sales liability to satisfy the PC brigade. Shouldn't employers have the freedom to impose a dress code as they see fit?

But UPS will not Hire me with a beard !

Getting by in 2010 and beyond.

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without
a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids,
their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate
with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree
, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix “whatever”
that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get
lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library.
I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it,
and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time.Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely
tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of th
e cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have to run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.

I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered," No, but I do toot a lot."

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

This post from another site may get the ball rolling ! REMEMBER MY DISCLAIMER ! Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and others; We have stuck together since the late 1950's for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right for us all, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way. Here is a model separation agreement: Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a similar portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. We'll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and you can go with wind, solar and biodiesel. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell. You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them. We'll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless, homeboys, hippies, druggies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .. You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security. We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, political correctness and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N. but we will no longer be paying the bill. We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find. You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right. We'll keep "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The National Anthem." I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute "Imagine", "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Kum Ba Ya" or "We Are the World". We'll practice trickle down economics and you can continue to give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag. Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like-minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years. Sincerely, John J. Wall Law Student and an American P. S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & Jane Fonda with you.

Making Sense

The "Blogs" below, although all posted on the same day represent a sample of things written by me over the past year. I have sent many e-mails, and posted many comments and notes on Facebook. Some have generated enthusiastic responses (both pro and con)and I was encouraged to set up a formal Blog. Most thoughts are as original as any thought can be, I however truly believe there is nothing NEW under the sun. Some postings will be re-posts of things I deem important, and I will give credit when credit is due.. Humor is important to me ,I was a class clown and still enjoy seeing people laugh. Postings will be both humorous and serious and I will blend them when I can, as I know "A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down."

Thanks in advance for reading my stuff, please comment if you wish, although obviously opinionated I still am learning everyday.
Herb, The Old Guy

"When I was a child.....

When I was a child, I wanted to be A Missionary, Doctor, Archeologist all combined. It was a noble calling and I was convinced I could accomplish that goal. I wanted to share the Gospel, Help the sick, and learn about Man’s past.
Today I try to witness for Christ in word and deed, just retired from the medical field as a Cardiac Technologist and am an avid History buff. Having not met my expected goals, set when I was a child, Did I fail? 1 Corinthians 13:11
From Child to Senior Citizen, I have been a Soldier, Salesman, Firefighter, EMT, Nurse, Business Owner, Laborer, Student, Teacher, Chef, Waiter, Writer and Renegade, I have been in the Newspaper, on TV and Radio. I have traveled to numerous foreign countries and most of the fifty states.
I have stood relatively high on the social and economic ladder and found that no matter how far you fall it hurts and can be deadly, (you can trip on a rug, fall, fracture your skull and die) As the old joke says “It ain’t the fall that hurts, it’s the landing that gets ya”. In the words of Charlie Daniels “I was so far down I had to look up to see the ground”.
As people WE often look at people and are critical of what WE think they are and where WE think they are at, socially, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually, Shame on us! John 7:24 , Matthew 7:1 and 2
As Christians we need to remember, Adam’s great beginnings, Cain’s opportunities,
Jacob the fraud, Moses the Prince, David, a small Sheppard, Peter, a plain fisherman, Paul an accessory to murder and countless others whose end didn’t end where their beginning began,
Don’t get stuck where you are and most certainly don’t get stuck in the past. “Standing on the Promises “ is wonderful , but the real work of the Church is outside the doors. Stop being a spiritual hypochondriac, It ain’t all bad.
Wake up, sit up, get up, step up, look up, own up and wise up.
Just being in Church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car.

On being schooled.

While not wanting to sound too serious I want to share some lessons GOD has been trying to RE-TEACH me the last few weeks.
At sixty plus years you would have thought I had learned by now ( I have ALWAYS been an old dog, I guess) By nature I always try to see the best in everyone, I am still somewhat naive, I take people at their word and believe that human nature is basically good.
Areas to be reviewed;
Some people have two faces, some will talk about you behind your back, some cannot practice what they preach, some cannot "let their yes be yes and their no be no", some are judgmental "speck and beam problems",some are overly critical, not happy with anything, they know more, have done more and seen more on any given subject than anyone else but for all their experiance all they can do is tell you about it, "the proof is in the pudding", talk is cheep, some people talk only to hear their own voice, why we have one mouth and two ears and FINALLY the old saying "You can keep quiet and let people think you are a fool or open your mouth and prove it"
Thanks for your time, Herb