"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time." ~ Steven Wright

Hello and welcome. I know many if not most of my regular readers prefer something other than the political commentary that I serve up on occasion, however, I am pretty much limited to whatever I happen to be focused on and fussing about on any particular day. The good news is found in how easy it is to skip over, avoid, and if nothing else, completely ignore the material if it doesn't strike your fancy. I fear that way too many are doing just that pretty much all the time when it comes to the stuff going on in Washington, D.C. But, that's mostly what I wrote about yesterday so it is time to move on, on this Thursday, February 20, 2014. I could talk about the weather because we all do, but I think I've said about all I can think to say about it up to this point. I would caution any who might be persuaded to put away their coats thinking that winter is all used up for the season. It's just me talking here but I really don't think we will be waiting for the fall before we see a little more frost on the pumpkin, so to speak.

Our internet connection here at the office was cut on Monday and I went for 2 and ½ days serving a form of isolated confinement. We suddenly found ourselves slammed back into the old school mode of looking up information in something called the Yellow Pages, and using printed catalogs, manuals, and tools called a pencil and paper. How dependent are we on immediate online access all the time? I can only say I wouldn't want to figure out the full answer to that question because having everything at your fingertips and available instantaneously, well, as far as I can tell, in a practical sense, it's the only way you can get the job done today. I'm not sure that's altogether a good thing but I am sure that to try and go back and do it like we did prior to online access would be like returning to the stone age. Literally. I know. There are some people who refuse to connect into the brave new world. They luckily are most likely not at a competitive disadvantage for doing so. I will not say how many times I did, without even thinking, attempt to log in even though I knew we had no connection. The answer is more than a few and that just goes to show you how it does become integral to how we function each day.

Last week we were privileged to have our great grand Madi Girl staying with us for a few days. All I can say is that she is one funny girl. I know the wife was on the front lines during most of her visit, but, it's remarkable how much excitement that comes with having a four year old hanging around. I can truthfully say that she was lavished upon during her time with us, as in spoiled, but, it doesn't happen very often, and without a doubt I could tell she tended to enjoy it, and so did those pouring on the special treatment. I know I am a serial sucker for the déjà vu all over again but in this situation it's impossible not to mentally relive these same feelings we felt with Madi's mommy. I don't know that much about all the DNA and Genome matching stuff but I can tell you that little Madi is carrying around a near perfect match to her mom, at least at this age. I'm talking everything from demeanor to nuanced inferences. What a blessing! The wife was tired but I think she would be the first to say it was a good tired, and, as for me, the more or less innocent bystander, it was a blast because let me just say this about that, she is one funny girl! Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings to it. Amen. ….More later.

"The political spin in Washington is revolting, just revolting. It's a callous political game." Rob Bishop, Republican U.S. House Representative from Utah

Hello to one and all on this Wednesday. That's what my calendar reads along with the fact that it lands on February 19, 2014. One really has to wonder these days. When it comes to anything that has to do with government on any level, I ask this question: Is literally everything we hear, regardless of the source, influenced and contaminated by spin? That word 'spin' has to do with an individual taking information and presenting it based on their own personal persuasion or slant. A piece of information is released. One person reports that based on this information everything is lovely. Another person reports on the same information and says everything is lousy. While the factors used to come up with their conclusions are no doubt a part of the information, it's not possible that both of the reports are accurate. No wonder so many people stay confused and many of them choose to tune out. Or, you have those who are predisposed to embrace a particular viewpoint, therefore, they only listen to spin that agrees with their viewpoint. (Everything is lovely.) The opposite occurs with the other way of seeing it. (Everything this is lousy.) My belief is that everyone must do their own fact checking in order get a sense of the truth. That's the only way we can have an informed opinion. Sadly, I think perhaps I've arrived at the predisposed position that reflects this sentiment: "A pox on all their houses." And, to make matters worse, I actually think I believe what I just said, no spin intended.

No. I am not wishing that some virulent disease would befall all those in government. I am saying, however, that I have very little trust in those who wield power, regardless of their party affiliation. I am sure there may be notable exceptions but while I believe myself to be more well informed than many folks, I can't think of any off the top of my head. We have every reason to be wary of those who make decisions that impact our lives and perhaps more importantly, those who impact the lives of our offspring going forward. I believe our founders desired citizens who were actively engaged as opposed to a people prone to join the horde of lemmings mindlessly going off the cliff together. Here's what drives me up the wall. A black person says since President Obama is black, this means every criticism of him and his policies are only because of the color of his skin. In the same way, you have a gun rights person who says this President is not strong in upholding their constitutional right to bear arms, therefore, every vile and despicable thing they hear about him must be true. Here's what I say: During my lifetime there's been enough corruption of all types, sizes, and flavors, and it has abounded in all camps, regardless of the label being worn. While I consider myself to be conservative in my viewpoints, I am very much aware of politicians who espouse conservative principles while in reality they too are feeding at the hog trough filled with power and elitism. This does not mean I am down on our system, or that I am ungrateful for all the blessings we enjoy here in our country. It does mean that I do my best to be realistic about the way things operate, and, knowing this, I feel an obligation to do what I can about it.

I am also aware that many folks see it completely different than I do. They have their designated champions who they believe to be true blue in terms of their commitment to whatever viewpoint or cause they support. I don't have a problem with that. Our freedoms allow us to actively engage or to totally disengage from participation in the political process as we so choose. I suppose I did turn today's episode into my soapbox as opposed to sharing some lighthearted and cheery prose. Sorry about that. Some of you know that when I started this venture I had in mind to call it The View From My Pew but before I began publishing them I changed it to The View From Here. I thought that some might see the pew view thing as being a wee bit narrow although I didn't personally think it was. At any rate, maybe you got the pew view today, but, take heart, by tomorrow, no one knows what might be coming down the road. Lastly, let me again reiterate the overwhelming truth that always gives us hope. That is in knowing God and in realizing He is Sovereign and in control of all things, therefore, He will make all things right in His own good time. That's how we can stay positive even during these times filled with frustration and uncertainty. We can live each day knowing that His promise to us is sure: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans Chapter 8, Verse 28) Amen.  .....More later.

"I feel like B sides are always better, no matter whose record it is.” Alicia Keys

It's Tuesday, February 18, 2014, and I bring you greetings from that place I referred to last time, the flipside. That word was originally coined to indicate the other side of a popular record being played on the radio. The less popular side. The B side. I checked this out so that you won't have to write and straighten me out. And, if you were to try and straighten me out, you would, as they used to say back home, had better come early and plan on staying late. When you think about it, I have no problem calling most of my stuff B side material anyway. I occasionally produce a daily episode that stimulates a response. My little ditty on us watching Curling versus NASCAR got one fellow a little stirred up. He wrote me a note giving me the distinguished history of Curling. His view of NASCAR is of a bunch of race cars all turning left for three hours with the folks in the stands breathlessly waiting for a huge crash. I'm sure glad I didn't tackle watching paint dry. That may have insulted someone else out there. Just so you know, the fellow who sent me that note did so tongue in cheek. He and his sweet wife are devoted readers of my blog each day. Although he may not have been aware of an unintended message in his note because when he stated how they started their day by reading it, he either had a typo or a subliminal shot across the bow, he called it my bog.

I think we all know what it means to become bogged down. I can remember doing that in some of the backwoods where we used to hunt and fish when I was growing up. You could tell that you probably shouldn't try to make it through that muddy hole but you thought if you could just get a good run at it you could make it through. Typically, when you can barely see the tires, it's time to admit failure and call for help, as in, "Houston, we have a problem." No cell phones back then and if another vehicle was not with you, well, you just had to walk out and try to find someone willing to come pull you out. That's one form of being bogged down. The other has to do with getting stuck in the mucky stuff we all deal with every day. Often we can find ourselves not being able to see the forest for the trees. Jesus actually told a funny about some super pious religious elites and how they were hung up on the details to the extent they missed the point entirely. Bogged down, so to speak. "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 23, Verse 24)

You just have to love the weather around these parts. It's almost like being out of the frigid into the frying pan. Maybe it's out of the fire into....well, I think you get my point. We literally have moved within hours from shivering to sunning. We went from talking about how many layers to doing yard work and complaining about seasonal allergies. Take this week. We are supposed to make it up to nearly 80 degrees. Just last week we were concerned about driving on frozen roads. And, I don't know if those kinds of shifts are really hard on our bodies or not. Some say it is and typically people go from being cold to having colds and they blame it on the weather change. I wonder sometimes if it is what we think that brings on a problem, so we end up having the problem. You know what I am talking about. "As a man thinks, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) I can have my theories. I didn't say it was a proven fact, just my thoughts on how it might work. I suppose that's it for today where I urge you to keep on keeping on and oh yeah, and please pass the Kleenex box. (Joking only.) Take care and may God bless each one. Amen.   ...More later.

"The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon." President George Washington

Greetings friends and neighbors where I send out a howdy on behalf of your observer of life as it unfolds here, there, and everywhere. It's Monday, February 17, 2014, where we find ourselves observing President's Day, the federal holiday that still bears its actual name in the statue itself, Washington's Birthday, in honor of our first President, George Washington. I'm not sure how much time is spent teaching children about our founding father but there's some evidence that many of them are somewhat unclear on things concerning our history. Here's an actual student answer given on a 6th grade history exam: "Delegates from the original 13 states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of The Declaration of Independence. Franklin discovered electricity by rubbing two cats backwards and declared, 'A horse divided against itself cannot stand.' Franklin died in 1790 and is still dead." According to this 11 or 12 year old, that was likely the one and only time we had a contented Congress so maybe they were on to something. Whatever your political bent, anyone with any concept of how our nation came into being would rightly thank God for men like George Washington who served the cause of liberty. Amen.

I'm not one to be suckered in on those relentless TV commercials that run on certain channels at least 10,000 times a day. However, I did make an exception recently. I ordered me up some of those HD night vision wraparound glasses that you wear on top of your regular glasses. Why would I fall for something like that? I do have a reason. I don't see as well at night as I used to. I drive everyday forth and back into a land where the antelope play and the buffalo roam, if you know what I mean. I have been fortunate not to have had a close encounter of the worst kind in my more than seven years traversing across their territory in the wee hours of the morning. But, I have had plenty of those take your breath away near misses. So, I ordered me up some of those little 'light up your world' glasses. They help. They really do.

In fact, I like them so well I wear them as I drive around here and there during the day. And, that my friend, is where the trouble began. I had not planned on this being a comic prop but I have certainly stirred up the general population to look me over and respond with a hearty chuckle. What's wrong with people today? Haven't they ever seen an astute observer wearing his HD night vision wraparound glasses on top of his regular glasses before? My only thought was maybe they thought I was trying to do an impersonation of the late great famous Cubs broadcaster, Harry Caray. Go figure.

Even my wife. The other afternoon I came in all decked out in my new amber glow glasses and she asked me to please remove them. I asked why. She said because they made me look ridiculous. Memo to all the little critters: Please pay no mind to my critics, just be happy knowing that you will live another day to wrestle up some grub out of folks' trashcans. So. As you can tell, today just happens to be a slow news day. What's that you say? You think surely I have embellished this little story? Not on your life friend. We live in a very cruel world. I could have told the laughing folks that they actually are shooter's glasses. That may have wiped a smile or two off their faces. I, of course, didn't, and when it comes down to it, everyone needs something to smile about, and they might just be the ones I end up not hitting out on the freeway one day. My word to them: Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Bucko! Okay. Enough already. Have a great rest of the day Monday and Lord willing I'll catch back up with you on the flipside. I think I know what that means so until that time, may God bless one and all. Amen.    .....More later.

Genesis 29:20 “Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”

I bring you greetings and love on this day devoted to selling billions of dollars of goods and services, all in the name of love. That's right, it's Friday, Valentine's Day, February 14, 2014. It's like all the sports radio programs have been taken over by the hawking of chocolate, cards, flowers, teddy bears, and all kinds of restaurants, and other services. The nature of the ads are somewhat threatening. They want to shame the regular sports listener into coughing up some bucks, not out of devotion to their spouse, but rather, as a way of avoiding what might happen if you don't do it. I don't have a problem recognizing my wife today and everyday, but, I also know that if I do it under those circumstances, it would be a pretty poor excuse for what my devotion to her should be. I was thinking about our Dear Brother Milton who performed our wedding ceremony in 1964, and then some 22 years later he stood before our eldest as he and his bride were united in holy matrimony. That service was unique. He told our Chris that his bride may not always be as beautiful as she was on that day. She might suffer from age, illness, and other factors in life. He told him there might come a day when he would need to feed his wife by hand every spoonful because she might be unable to feed herself. His point? Love between a husband and a wife is a commitment that transcends the greeting card, happily-ever-after concept. Selfless commitment proven by action is the definition of true love as given in the Bible. (1st Corinthians Chapter 13)

Say hello to a big transition to my next little story. The other day I was out and about on the freeways when one of those big wreckers came up beside me. It was one of those where they wench up the vehicle to ride on top of the truck bed. He had a vehicle. I did a double take. It was a late model hearse and it looked pretty well demolished. I mean you have to know that if you put any vehicle on the road there's the potential for an accident, but, it being a hearse, well, it did look odd to me. I know something like that would have been dangerous to the driver but I doubt seriously the passenger traveling in the back of the hearse would have cared one way or the other. No. I am not switching to my morbid storytelling mode. It just looked odd to me in a kind of quirky way. I got to thinking about the police report: One previously confirmed dead man was pronounced dead again at the scene. Or something like that. I guess you would have had to have been there. Or perhaps it's best that you weren't. I think you know what I mean. Right, Vern?

We all know that it's important to make sure you know the situation before making a comment. I read about a fellow who was new to his job. A supervisor he had not met came into his area and made a little speech to all the employees. The new guy thought the supervisor was impersonating the cartoon character, Sylvester the Cat, therefore, when he finished his talk, the new fellow piped up with his best raspy voice: "Sufferin Succotash!" No one laughed. The supervisor was using his own voice and he had a speech impediment. I hope that new guy remembered his interviewing skills. We all tend to find ourselves at times chiming in when staying quiet would have been a better choice. Especially when we don't have a good understanding of what exactly is going on. I know. That's never stopped me before. But, it does give me something to talk about that might help us all. Now, here's the deal. Enjoy your Saturday and Lord Day's Sunday and I'll be getting ready to chime in once again on this same station come next Monday. Until then, may God bless each one is my prayer. Amen.  ....More later.

"President Obama may truly live to regret his unparalleled disregard for the Constitution, but so may all presidents who come after him." Editorial Page, Boston Herald, January 14, 2014

Hello friends and neighbors, it's only me, therefore, you can be at ease, but I wouldn't suggest that you take your eye off the ball on this Thursday, February 13, 2014. I mean that because we are living through some really upside down times in our nation's history. Power and politics are always the drivers behind most decisions coming out of Washington, but, the way our President is mangling the healthcare law to suit his party's political needs, well, it might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. (You can insert the donkey's back, the elephant's back or maybe even the tea party's back. I report, you decide.) The Democratic Party is reeling from the blow back coming from the implementation of Obamacare. They concede the House of Representatives but are feverishly attempting to save, at all costs, their control of the Senate. One way to help that effort is to keep delaying parts of the law that they know is going to add even more pain. Many who loudly supported this mess are now running away from it and the President. The problem is, as the old saying goes, 'You haven't seen anything yet'. The bottom line, we are supposed to be a nation of laws with separation of powers. There has always been dynamic tension between the branches of government in the exercise of these powers, however, the current administration has shown little respect for the co-equal branches as it pretty much decides to make it up as they seem fit. Caution: The previous comments fall into the category of opinion, therefore, you should check out the situation and form your own. I still think this is permitted here in our land of the free and home of the brave.

Okay. Enough of that for one day. When it's all said and done, most of it, regardless of party affiliation, ends up tasting the same, you know, like chicken. Where I come from people used colorful language to get their points across. ~ I got my tongue twisted up around my eye teeth and I couldn't see what I was sayin. ~ Pert near but not plumb. ~  It'll cure what ails you. ~ Well, if that don't beat all. ~ Caint never did because caint never tried. ~ He's dumber than a box of rocks. ~ I'll give you something to cry about. ~ More than Carter has liver pills. ~ Colder than the backside of a well digger. ~ That boy is so dull he couldn't cut hot butter with a knife. ~ No bigger than a tater bug. ~ Speakin of the devil. ~ Not the brightest light on the porch if you know what I mean. ~ Fuller than a tick. ~ There he was, grinnin like a sulled up opossum. ~ Now if those don't make sense to you, well, all I can say is you missed out. Here's how Freddy Fender, the country singer summed it up: "Hopefully I'll be the first Mexican American going into Hillbilly Heaven." And, if he is really blessed, he'll do so with a cup of hot, black, and strong Community in his hand.

No. That's not intended to reflect my theological viewpoints. But, since you are concerned, I will go on record regarding one thing. I think I can unequivocally assure you that there will be no Folgers up there. Calm down. It's all in fun. Lighten up a little, Buckwheat. I know some of the kids I grew up with used to tell me how that they were made to fetch their own switch when it came time for a whuppin. My mom never told me to do that. She knew that I would come back with the skinniest branch on the tree. She did her on fetching. Waiting for her to come back wasn't all too pleasant either, but, I'm thankful she did her best to discipline us with a desire that we might know the difference between right and wrong, and the penalties associated with wrong choices. As far as I can remember she wasn't too much into grounding, her punishment was swift and it left an impression, if you know what I mean. Switches do that but they also played a role in who I am today. Thanks Mom. Okay. Now it is up to you and I to get out there and git r done. Have a blessed day. Amen.   ....More later.

"It's not just a rock. It's forty-two pounds of polished granite, with a beveled underbelly and a handle a human being can hold. Okay, so in and of itself it looks like it has no practical purpose, but it's a repository of possibility. And, when it's handled just right, it exacts a kind of poetry - as close to poetry as I ever want to get. The way it moves.... Not once, in everything I've done, have I ever felt the same wonder and humanity as when I'm playing the game of curling." ~ Paul Gross, John Krizanc, and Paul Quarrington, Men with Brooms

Good Wednesday morning to one and all. It's a good day to rise and shine and give God the glory, here on this February 12, 2014. Can you hear that thunder off in the distance? It's getting closer. It won't be long now. That's right folks. The Daytona 500 will be raced on the 23rd of this month. It will be the 56th running of what is called the 'Great American Race'. The preliminaries will begin the weekend before, continue throughout the next week, therefore, we can get back to something other than folks spinning themselves dizzy on a frozen ice rink. We even watched the Curling competition the other evening. I know.

We are, at times, pitiful. I will hand it to the commentators because they were doing everything they could to make these guys playing a form of Croquet on ice as exciting as it could be. What skill! What strategy! But, alas, the American team attempted a double knockout of the other team's stones but their shot was slightly off giving the points to the Norwegians. I mean you have to like a game that includes two sweepers with brooms who are there to help guide the stone down the lane. They also have something called the hammer which isn't a real hammer but I think it is the ability to control play, but, I can't be sure about that. I think I would have been better off going to YouTube and listening to Peter, Paul, and Mary singing, "If I Had a Hammer."

I don't know how well NBC is doing with its ratings thus far, but it can't help when there's a headline that says, "'The Walking Dead' outperforms the Olympics." I don't know what the walking dead is all about but that most likely is not an encouraging sign. I will not deny that I do keep an eye on the medal count tallies. That's part of our American psyche. We want our nation to end up with the most, period, thank you, have a nice day. Since I'm not tuned in to the actual competitions to any great extent, the spoiler alerts that come throughout the day do not bother me at all. I know people who are very much focused on watching as much of it as they can. They know that unless you are available to watch in the wee hours of the morning that most everything of any consequence is time delayed so it can be shown in prime time. I get that. Rooting for a person to win a medal when they either did or didn't already has its own uniqueness I suppose. When I do watch I am engaged and pulling for my team even though it was decided hours ago. All laid up in my recliner with a steady rain outside in the dark of night as I watch that bright sunlit downhill ski slope should have tipped me off. Just kidding. I did see where you can go to some website and add your voice to the chanting of U-S-A, U-S-A. Don't know how it works but it does sound interesting.

I know what some of you are wondering. Why didn't I watch that serial rerun on for the 15th time of all the Duck Dynasty episodes back to back? I did think about it. But, we've seen them already multiple times and when you know them better than you do the reruns of Mayberry RFD, well, you might just know it's better to pass on watching them again. The other day the wife and I were watching one of those classic Andy Taylor and Barney Fife episodes and one of our teenaged granddaughters was watching along with us. She had not watched these but it didn't take long for her to laugh out loud. It was one of those where Barney was way out of control but as they say back home, it was funny as all get out. My point? Funny does not have to be trashy. My granddaughter who would likely never choose to watch a black and white rerun of an old TV program laughed for one reason only. It was funny. Back then, and still is today. I rest my case. At least for now. Y'all take care now. You hear? And, until next time, may the good Lord up above take a liking to you. Amen. ....More later.