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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Thoughts for the Day

A few random musings.

Josh and I went to Strawberry Reservoir for a closing fishing trip and had some pretty good success.  Things were slow for the first couple of hours but by the end of the night we had landed several large trout (one which we kept for Josh).  Nice way to end the fishing season.  Here is an article that shows what it was like.

Lots of work and meetings on the Sabbath but an enjoyable day.  I did have some heavy congestion and figured it must be an allergy but nothing seemed to fix the problem.  Went to bed wondering if I would be healthy for school the next day.

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Have you ever tried to greet someone and found that your mouth was moving but no words were coming out?  That was my experience as my students came to class.  The best I could do was an almost inaudible whisper.  The positive is the kids really had to listen in order to hear what I was saying.  They also felt like they had to answer all my questions in a whisper.  With my bad ears, most of what they said I couldn’t hear but we got through the ordeal

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After a second day of whispering, Teresa convinced me to go see the doctor.  She (the doc) told me I had a viral laryngitis and the best remedy is to stop talking.  After I finished laughing, she suggested that she was not kidding.  For the next few days I will be resting my voice (makes me feel like some great opera singer) and hanging out at our home, trying not to get in Teresa’s way.

The other day I received notice that I have officially completed my Wood Badge requirements.  The next court of honor we have, someone from the district will come and award my beads and I can finally be a “real” Scouter.

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Just watched the Texas Rangers beat the Yankees in the 4th game of the American League championships.  I have always disliked the Yankees so any team that beats them is my friend.  Does it affect our exaltation to really despise a baseball team?  Or a football team (Dallas Cowboys)?  How about basketball (Lakers)? 

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My favorite college football team is having a difficult year but I’m not really concerned.  The future is bright and good things will come.  Patience is rewarded by excellence.

 

Made a huge mistake the other day.  My normal dry-cleaner closed its doors so, rather than look for another, I decided to take our clothing to Red Hanger.  The expectation was that the price would be a little more than normal but still in the realm of affordability.  Imagine my shock when the bill totaled more than $100.  For once, I was afraid to tell Teresa what I had done… but I ‘manned up’ and took my beating.  Sorry sweetheart—it won’t happen again.  The pain was too great (the money, not the flogging).

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

God Given Rights

Elections are coming up shortly and I (along with the rest of the U.S.) have been wondering what will happen when new folks are voted into the leadership positions in our government.  I suspect that we will see little change from the ways things have been working over the past few decades.

Republicans will work to cut taxes and help small and large businesses succeed and Democrats will respond by accusing them of forgetting the ‘common people’ in the haste to make a buck. 

Democrats will ‘fight’ for the rights of the oppressed and abused by making new laws to limit what the individual can do and Republicans will continue their assault on the erosion of individual freedoms at the hands of “BIG GOVERNMENT”.  In other words, nothing much will change.

Except that the ‘people’ are becoming more and more disinterested in the pet projects of each party.  What we want is a government that is dedicated to the rights and freedoms we have been promised by the

Constitution and the Will of God.

Most Americans are reasonably satisfied with their lives and would like a chance to live without undue interference from Federal, State, or Local governments.  That means a reduction in ‘services’ offered and forced on us.  It also precludes all government, of any kind, from imposing their will on the masses because they think something good may come of it.

Remember, the will of the government SHOULD be the will of the people. 

A wise man once said:

Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law--to do your business by the voice of the people. (Mosiah 29:26)

The only way to make sure this is the government and system we enjoy is to participate in the process.  It is true, one vote does not make a huge difference, but one vote is all we have now and if we fail to use it, we will lose it.

So Get out there and Vote!!!