Ranger Smith: [showing a "Do Not Feed The Bears" sign to Yogi] Read this sign. Yogi Bear: [deliberately reading incorrectly] Uh, "No Smoking In The Forest"? Ranger Smith: You know what it says, Yogi, and it applies to *all* the bears, especially you! Yogi Bear: Uh, yes, sir.

Hello and welcome. It is Tuesday, February 3, 2015. The wife did return. Oh, that's right. You didn't know that she had left me again. She left last Thursday for a visit with her sister over in Louisiana. In fact, all four siblings were there together, again. Their reason for meeting was to plan the upcoming reunion that is currently penciled in for March. At any rate, I was all alone. Again. Our eldest and I did get some projects accomplished on Saturday. We did a couple of things to my old flivver of a car and we installed an ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliant toilet in our downstairs bathroom. Thanks and appreciation go out to him for helping me get these things done. (He doing most of the work. Me doing most of the observation.) You know people really make you wonder sometimes. I read that story about the 'bear lady' over in North Carolina. She had been feeding black bears for years in and around her home. The photos showed some of the bears eating out of her hand. She will not be feeding any bears any longer. She was discovered dead in a wooded area near her home. Where? On a known bear path. Foul play is not suspected but death by bear attack is. I suppose some might think she at least died doing what she loved. I'm sorry but it just seems like trusting wild ferocious animals to not do what they are naturally inclined to do, well, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

There's always a 100% chance for hypocrisy pouring here, there, and everywhere in Washington D.C., from all sides, but, there's a particular case that caught my attention recently. The President in his State of the Union address went on and on about how that under his leadership we are cutting the deficit. That has to do with the difference between what we spend versus what is covered by the tax revenues received each year. He touted that as a major accomplishment. (A side note here: The deficit may be going down on an annual basis but our total debt is continuing to spiral out of control.) Most experts believe the budget caps passed by Congress, that the President very reluctantly signed, where increases in spending were minimally constrained, called sequestration, was the primary reason for any deficit reductions. Got that? Now we have the President's new budget where he will be recommending the removal of these caps because in his view these have been draconian in imposing their limitations. "But, Sir, they are the only reason for your highly touted deficit reductions?" "Don't bother me with trivial details." Now, according to the administration the restraints on spending have been horrible and crippling and his new budget will try to undo them. What a difference a few days makes. Right? It might be funny if it wasn't so sad. I think you understand what I am trying to illustrate here.

I know. He's not the first to play loose and fast with the facts. It does, however, add to our unhappiness with the way things are done, supposedly, on our behalf. It is a flawed system because flawed folks are involved. I will still take it over all the other forms of government around and I am so thankful for our founders who did their best to deliver a free and democratic process to the generations that followed. I add what I think is pretty clear to most of us, from the very beginning God had a hand in it as well, therefore, we thank Him for this country and for us being citizens of it. We are a people with differences and it is true that we have many challenges and issues that divide us, but, I think back to the aftermath of 9-11 and how we all came together as a nation. It was a revival of sorts in that it caused us all to pause and consider the value of the freedoms we hold dear. It also drove many back to the houses of worship to seek God's help and favor. The scholars might call it mostly a time of symbolism and flag waving but I can remember the look we all had in our eyes. It was a look of connectedness regardless of race, creed, or color. It will always be one of the most horrific times for us all, but, the response of unity and sharing will stand out as an example of the principles upon which our great nation was founded. I think we should go forward by going back. It will always be true that seeking God and His face works best when it is the norm. Amen. ....More later.