Today is November 22, 2016. As of today I have lived 27,761 days - I still weigh 165 pounds - I can still wear a 32 inch belt - I'm still doing yoga, lifting weights and waking 2 miles a day. Life is good.
On this the day JFK was shot in Dallas in 1963 - it is also only 59 days until Donald Trump takes the oath of office as President of the United States of America. So it is a good day to start my BLOG again because I have some things I want and need to say. In other words I need to vent a little.
First, I don't want us Democrats to lower ourselves to the scumbag level the GOP did in 2009. When Barack Obama took office on January 20, 2009, Mitch McConnell, the GOP leader in the Senate, announced that the Republicans in Congress were going to see to it that Obama was a one term president and they would obstruct every thing he tried to do. They did succeed on one of them - and that was to obstruct everything he tried to do. But they failed in making him a one term president even though the conservative Supreme Court tried to make it possible when they gutted the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. Many of the GOP governed states then passed voter suppression laws but thanks to lower courts ruling them unconstitutional Obama was re-elected by 4-5 million votes.
So my FIRST PREDICTION is that we Democrats will not lower ourselves to their level. Thanks to President Obama and Vice-president Biden leading the way the Democrats will be taking the high road and will work with and not obstruct everything Trump and the Republican Congress wants to do. In other words we will be willing to compromise in order to get something done for the "common good." Something OBAMA was never got to enjoy.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Liberal Supreme Court - we need one.
Today is Thursday, March 31, 2016. I've walked 44 miles in March and weighed 165 pounds.
My quote today is from Tyler Burdick of NYC: "A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected."
My topic today is the Supreme Court vacancy: I get a kick out of the TV announcement supporting Senator Grassley on why he should continue to block the Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. What makes me shake my head is they say they do not want a "liberal" on the Court.
Well, I tell you what! If we had had a liberal majority on the Supreme Court we wouldn't be suffering through the Citizens United decision which is a disaster for our democracy. That decision has opened the floodgates to the unlimited number of dollars corporations (the ONE %ers) can now pour into our elections. They are corrupting our whole system of electing government leaders.
The other decision the conservative Supreme Court made was to gut the VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965. As soon as the conservative Court made that decision the GOP controlled state governments starting passing voter suppression laws. In particular making it more difficult for African-Americans, Latinos and college students to vote - all of which tend to vote for Democrats.
Aren't "conservatives" the most wonderful Americans? They really care about fairness and justice and democracy in America!!!!! They make me sick!!!!
My quote today is from Tyler Burdick of NYC: "A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected."
My topic today is the Supreme Court vacancy: I get a kick out of the TV announcement supporting Senator Grassley on why he should continue to block the Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. What makes me shake my head is they say they do not want a "liberal" on the Court.
Well, I tell you what! If we had had a liberal majority on the Supreme Court we wouldn't be suffering through the Citizens United decision which is a disaster for our democracy. That decision has opened the floodgates to the unlimited number of dollars corporations (the ONE %ers) can now pour into our elections. They are corrupting our whole system of electing government leaders.
The other decision the conservative Supreme Court made was to gut the VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965. As soon as the conservative Court made that decision the GOP controlled state governments starting passing voter suppression laws. In particular making it more difficult for African-Americans, Latinos and college students to vote - all of which tend to vote for Democrats.
Aren't "conservatives" the most wonderful Americans? They really care about fairness and justice and democracy in America!!!!! They make me sick!!!!
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Jones County Iowa GOP voters have onle one candidate to vote for
Today is Wednesday, 2016. I've walked 42.5 miles in March and weigh 165.2 pounds.
My QUOTE for today is from actress. Viola Davis: "I've never determined my value based on my looks or anything physical. I've been through a lot in life, and what has gotten me through is strength of character and faith."
My topic today is the Jones County GOP party platform. On March 12, 2016, the Jones County Republicans and Democrats had their county conventions. On March 24 their platforms were published in the Anamosa Journal-Eureka. The GOP platform caught my attention and that is what I'm writing commenting about today.
The first entry in the GOP platform was entitled STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. Here is what it said: A half-truth is a whole lie. We must expect honorable behavior from leaders. We need a system to remove from leadership those who are untrustworthy. I agree with the statement but who are the GOP voters going to vote for?
I don't think they can vote for either Trump or Cruz. Trump calls Cruz "Lying Ted." And one political analyst said Trump tells one lie every five minutes. If either one is elected they would have to be removed because they accuse each other of being untrustworthy. That definitely is not "honorable behavior."
Another Republican named Georg W. Bush lied the U.S. into invading Iraq in 2002-2003. He lied when he said Saddam Hussein was trying to buy nuclear material from Niger. He lied again when he said Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. He lied again when he famously said "Mission Accomplished."
The result of this unnecessary, ill-advised and idiotic war are as follows:
1. 4486 dead American soldiers;
2. estimates of the Iraq War dollar costs are - around $2 trillion plus $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans we'll be paying for many decades - so it could grow to $6 trillion over the next four decades.
My QUOTE for today is from actress. Viola Davis: "I've never determined my value based on my looks or anything physical. I've been through a lot in life, and what has gotten me through is strength of character and faith."
My topic today is the Jones County GOP party platform. On March 12, 2016, the Jones County Republicans and Democrats had their county conventions. On March 24 their platforms were published in the Anamosa Journal-Eureka. The GOP platform caught my attention and that is what I'm writing commenting about today.
The first entry in the GOP platform was entitled STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. Here is what it said: A half-truth is a whole lie. We must expect honorable behavior from leaders. We need a system to remove from leadership those who are untrustworthy. I agree with the statement but who are the GOP voters going to vote for?
I don't think they can vote for either Trump or Cruz. Trump calls Cruz "Lying Ted." And one political analyst said Trump tells one lie every five minutes. If either one is elected they would have to be removed because they accuse each other of being untrustworthy. That definitely is not "honorable behavior."
Another Republican named Georg W. Bush lied the U.S. into invading Iraq in 2002-2003. He lied when he said Saddam Hussein was trying to buy nuclear material from Niger. He lied again when he said Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. He lied again when he famously said "Mission Accomplished."
The result of this unnecessary, ill-advised and idiotic war are as follows:
1. 4486 dead American soldiers;
2. estimates of the Iraq War dollar costs are - around $2 trillion plus $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans we'll be paying for many decades - so it could grow to $6 trillion over the next four decades.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Trump and Tariffs
Pete's BLOG: Today is Tuesday, March 29, 2016. I've walked 40,5 miles and weigh 165.8 pounds.
QUOTE from James Barber: "Age is inevitable but growing old is optional."
My topic today is about DONALD TRUMP and his intention to raise tariffs.
While watching the GOP Comedy Shows (aka debates) my mind keeps coming up with questions. Most all the GOP candidates make me scratch my head but Donald Trump makes me scratch the most. He needs to read some history books so he doesn't repeat the same mistakes the GOP made many years ago. What I'm talking about is his idea of imposing a 45% tariff on goods coming from China and other trading partners. Here is what happened when we tried something similar from 1929 to 1934.
On June 30, 1930, President Hoover signed into law the Smoot-Hawley Act. It had been debated for all of 1929 and passed the Congress when the GOP majority voted overwhelmingly in favor of it. Smoot was a GOP Senator from Utah and Hawley was GOP representative from Oregon. What the new law did was impose high tariffs (aka taxes) on thousands of goods imported into the U.S. - it's goal was to protect American jobs and American farmers from foreign competition. It is the same thing that Donnie is proposing today.
I guess Smoot and Hawley were not smart enough to figure out that if we imposed higher tariffs on their goods they would retaliate and do the same to us. That is exactly what happened. Trading partners like Canada, Britain, France, Germany and many others increased their tariffs on American goods. The result was that from 1929 to 1934 U.S. IMPORTS DECREASED 66%, while U.S. EXPORTS DECREASED by 61% in the same time period - costing us billions of dollars and made unemployment rise to 25%. The worldwide "tariff war" decreased world trade by some 66% from 1929 to 1934.
So Donnie, I would suggest you do some studying about raising tariffs. The results were disastrous in the 1930s. And Donnie there are going to be a lot of people pissed- off at you if they have to pay 45% more for the many goods Walmart imports from China and other Asian countries.
In fairness to President Hoover he was against the Smoot-Hawley bill - he favored higher tariffs on agricultural goods but not on industrial goods. - but the bill had both. Hoover actually called it "vicious, extortionate and obnoxious." Over 1,000 economists asked Hoover to veto it. Henry Ford called the bill "an economic stupidity" and begged Hoover to veto it. The CEO of J.P. Morgan called it "asinine." But Hoover yielded to pressure from the Republicans in Congress and from business leaders and signed the bill on June 30, 1930. When he signed he had already received "protest notes" from 23 of our trading partners and all 23 threatened to raise their tariffs if he signed it - and they did. I think the results would be the same this time - so Donnie, you better give it some serious thought.
The Smoot-Hawley law was not the only cause of the Great Depression. But most economists agree that it was counterproductive and contributed to the depth and length of the Depression. And most they agree it was responsible for cutting our imports and exports by more than half.
QUOTE from James Barber: "Age is inevitable but growing old is optional."
My topic today is about DONALD TRUMP and his intention to raise tariffs.
While watching the GOP Comedy Shows (aka debates) my mind keeps coming up with questions. Most all the GOP candidates make me scratch my head but Donald Trump makes me scratch the most. He needs to read some history books so he doesn't repeat the same mistakes the GOP made many years ago. What I'm talking about is his idea of imposing a 45% tariff on goods coming from China and other trading partners. Here is what happened when we tried something similar from 1929 to 1934.
On June 30, 1930, President Hoover signed into law the Smoot-Hawley Act. It had been debated for all of 1929 and passed the Congress when the GOP majority voted overwhelmingly in favor of it. Smoot was a GOP Senator from Utah and Hawley was GOP representative from Oregon. What the new law did was impose high tariffs (aka taxes) on thousands of goods imported into the U.S. - it's goal was to protect American jobs and American farmers from foreign competition. It is the same thing that Donnie is proposing today.
I guess Smoot and Hawley were not smart enough to figure out that if we imposed higher tariffs on their goods they would retaliate and do the same to us. That is exactly what happened. Trading partners like Canada, Britain, France, Germany and many others increased their tariffs on American goods. The result was that from 1929 to 1934 U.S. IMPORTS DECREASED 66%, while U.S. EXPORTS DECREASED by 61% in the same time period - costing us billions of dollars and made unemployment rise to 25%. The worldwide "tariff war" decreased world trade by some 66% from 1929 to 1934.
So Donnie, I would suggest you do some studying about raising tariffs. The results were disastrous in the 1930s. And Donnie there are going to be a lot of people pissed- off at you if they have to pay 45% more for the many goods Walmart imports from China and other Asian countries.
In fairness to President Hoover he was against the Smoot-Hawley bill - he favored higher tariffs on agricultural goods but not on industrial goods. - but the bill had both. Hoover actually called it "vicious, extortionate and obnoxious." Over 1,000 economists asked Hoover to veto it. Henry Ford called the bill "an economic stupidity" and begged Hoover to veto it. The CEO of J.P. Morgan called it "asinine." But Hoover yielded to pressure from the Republicans in Congress and from business leaders and signed the bill on June 30, 1930. When he signed he had already received "protest notes" from 23 of our trading partners and all 23 threatened to raise their tariffs if he signed it - and they did. I think the results would be the same this time - so Donnie, you better give it some serious thought.
The Smoot-Hawley law was not the only cause of the Great Depression. But most economists agree that it was counterproductive and contributed to the depth and length of the Depression. And most they agree it was responsible for cutting our imports and exports by more than half.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Pete BLOGDay 26,899. What happened to Pete's BLOG?
What happened to my BLOG is this:
One of my New Year's resolution was to rewrite the Gratitude Journal I wrote in 2009.
So I'm going to spend my time retyping and in the process I will be tweaking, editing, deleting, adding, etc. I need to get it stored on the computer which I didn't last time. I lost the first six months in 2009 when I accidently hit the wrong key and didn't have it backed up. (everything was in Danish -it had been in Denmark)
I've already started retyping and I'm enjoying it. There are quite a few other things I've thought about to be grateful for so I will be adding them and deleting some of the more controversial entries.
Pete
One of my New Year's resolution was to rewrite the Gratitude Journal I wrote in 2009.
So I'm going to spend my time retyping and in the process I will be tweaking, editing, deleting, adding, etc. I need to get it stored on the computer which I didn't last time. I lost the first six months in 2009 when I accidently hit the wrong key and didn't have it backed up. (everything was in Danish -it had been in Denmark)
I've already started retyping and I'm enjoying it. There are quite a few other things I've thought about to be grateful for so I will be adding them and deleting some of the more controversial entries.
Pete
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Pete' BLOG: Day 26,688. Tampa - here we come.
Today is Saturday, December 28, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking outside of Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 54 miles. My weight was 166.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum "A Hawkeye victory in the Outback Bowl would make for a happy plane ride home."
My THOUGHT today is on Tampa and the Outback Bowl - the Hawkeyes versus LSU.
John and Lorna are coming tonight and we're flying out of Cedar Rapids at 7 AM tomorrow morning. We'll spend 4 nights at the Embassy Suites - the game is at noon (Iowa time) on January 1 at Raymond James Stadium - the home of the NFL Tampa Bay Bucs. We got a call yesterday from the travel agency and they said we could have "CLUB SEATS" for more money. We took the offer. I've never sat in Club Seats before for a football game. It will mean free food and drink.
We are so excited to get out of the cold and ice and snow. We have our swim suits packed plus walking shorts. The game time temp is supposed to be 74 degrees.
Go Hawks
QUOTE from Pete Bungum "A Hawkeye victory in the Outback Bowl would make for a happy plane ride home."
My THOUGHT today is on Tampa and the Outback Bowl - the Hawkeyes versus LSU.
John and Lorna are coming tonight and we're flying out of Cedar Rapids at 7 AM tomorrow morning. We'll spend 4 nights at the Embassy Suites - the game is at noon (Iowa time) on January 1 at Raymond James Stadium - the home of the NFL Tampa Bay Bucs. We got a call yesterday from the travel agency and they said we could have "CLUB SEATS" for more money. We took the offer. I've never sat in Club Seats before for a football game. It will mean free food and drink.
We are so excited to get out of the cold and ice and snow. We have our swim suits packed plus walking shorts. The game time temp is supposed to be 74 degrees.
Go Hawks
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,686. Some thoughts on the Tea Party and Obamacare
Today is Thursday, December 26, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes walking in side Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 49.0 miles. My weight was 167.6 pounds.
My THOUGHT today is on the Tea Party and Obamacare. Your coworker is complaining to anyone in earshot that his healthcare-care premiums went up because of Obamacare. Which of the following would you do?
a.____Remind him that health-care companies set rates, not the government.
b. ___ Point out that his rates might me lower if he weighed less than 400 and didn't break into a sweat just from breathing.
c.____Advise him he's three weeks behind on his job quota and he's going to be glad he'll have coverage when he's fired.
d. ____Give him a chance to experience the health-care system firsthand when you hit him in the face with a stapler.
My THOUGHT today is on the Tea Party and Obamacare. Your coworker is complaining to anyone in earshot that his healthcare-care premiums went up because of Obamacare. Which of the following would you do?
a.____Remind him that health-care companies set rates, not the government.
b. ___ Point out that his rates might me lower if he weighed less than 400 and didn't break into a sweat just from breathing.
c.____Advise him he's three weeks behind on his job quota and he's going to be glad he'll have coverage when he's fired.
d. ____Give him a chance to experience the health-care system firsthand when you hit him in the face with a stapler.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,684. I'm grateful for Christmas Eve
Today is Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - Christmas Eve. The temperature at 6 AM was 16 degrees below zero. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 46.5 miles. My weight was 166.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Victoria Osteen: "There is no better way to enjoy God's abundance than to share a meal together with people you love. From the beginning of time, there have been few things that knit us more closely together as humans than to sit down and share a meal."
My THOUGHTS today are on Christmas eve. This post is what I wrote in my Gratitude Journal on December 24, 2009.
Both Ruth Ann and I came from families that opened gifts on Christmas eve - it made it easier when we got married - it was one less decision we had to make. As a child it was the most exciting day of the year. I always got a lot of gifts - the least favorite was clothes while my favorites were toys and games. As I became an adult some of the excitement wore off but it was still so much fun when I saw the excitement of Brad and Carron and in recent years, the grandchildren. Santa Claus was never a big thing in the Bungum household - Mom and Dad taught us nine kids early on that Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I'm grateful to have such wonderful memories of the 69 (now 73) Christmas Eves I've had in my life.
QUOTE from Victoria Osteen: "There is no better way to enjoy God's abundance than to share a meal together with people you love. From the beginning of time, there have been few things that knit us more closely together as humans than to sit down and share a meal."
My THOUGHTS today are on Christmas eve. This post is what I wrote in my Gratitude Journal on December 24, 2009.
Both Ruth Ann and I came from families that opened gifts on Christmas eve - it made it easier when we got married - it was one less decision we had to make. As a child it was the most exciting day of the year. I always got a lot of gifts - the least favorite was clothes while my favorites were toys and games. As I became an adult some of the excitement wore off but it was still so much fun when I saw the excitement of Brad and Carron and in recent years, the grandchildren. Santa Claus was never a big thing in the Bungum household - Mom and Dad taught us nine kids early on that Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I'm grateful to have such wonderful memories of the 69 (now 73) Christmas Eves I've had in my life.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,683. Pope Francis and Pete Bungum agree 100%
Today is Wednesday, December 23, 2013. My stats today: 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 44.0 miles. My weight was 167.2 pounds - I'm getting fat.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: " He knows nothing and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a member of the Tea Party."
My THOUGHTS today are on Pope Francis. About a month ago Pope Francis released a paper he wrote about his populist philosophy. He sharply criticized the conservative trickle-down economic theory favored by Reagan.. He said, "This theory assumes that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, low taxes, and little or no government regulation will inevitably succeed in bringing about justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting." It has been 33 years since Reagan took office and this philosophy has led to growing economic inequality between the haves and the have-nots. But the conservatives still believe it will - how stupid. Trickle-down is supposed to lead to more jobs and income for the rest of society. The 33 year history of it proves that trickle-down doesn't trickle very far - only to the to the top 1-5% or so.
I agree 100% with the Pope. In the 1980s I was saying the same thing as the Pope. In eight years of Reagan we saw tax cuts for the rich, a tripling of the national debt, factories closing, jobs being sent overseas, and the middle class shrinking. The trickle-down wrecking ball had begun it's negative work on the economic future of the U.S. - a few more "haves" and millions more "have-nots."
Trickle-down only works for the top 5% - it's as plain and simple as that.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: " He knows nothing and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a member of the Tea Party."
My THOUGHTS today are on Pope Francis. About a month ago Pope Francis released a paper he wrote about his populist philosophy. He sharply criticized the conservative trickle-down economic theory favored by Reagan.. He said, "This theory assumes that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, low taxes, and little or no government regulation will inevitably succeed in bringing about justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting." It has been 33 years since Reagan took office and this philosophy has led to growing economic inequality between the haves and the have-nots. But the conservatives still believe it will - how stupid. Trickle-down is supposed to lead to more jobs and income for the rest of society. The 33 year history of it proves that trickle-down doesn't trickle very far - only to the to the top 1-5% or so.
I agree 100% with the Pope. In the 1980s I was saying the same thing as the Pope. In eight years of Reagan we saw tax cuts for the rich, a tripling of the national debt, factories closing, jobs being sent overseas, and the middle class shrinking. The trickle-down wrecking ball had begun it's negative work on the economic future of the U.S. - a few more "haves" and millions more "have-nots."
Trickle-down only works for the top 5% - it's as plain and simple as that.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,677: Brother John's birthday.
Today is Tuesday, December 17, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 36 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.0 miles for a December total of 33 miles. My weight was 165.4 pounds.
QUOTE today from FDR: "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who has never learned to walk."
My THOUGHTS today are on brother John's 71st birthday. There were ten of us kids born to Norman and Elsie Bungum. Paul was born in 1927, Betty in 1928, Don in 1931, Jan in 1933, Jim in 1934, Chuck in 1936, Me in 1940, John in 1942, Karen was born and died in May of 1944, and Mark in 1946. I was born on November 20, 1940 and John on December 17, 1942. So John and I were two years and one month apart. As a result of the two year spread we spent the most time with each other growing up. So we have a lot of memories of each other. We had our share of fights but for the most part we got along and spent a lot of time together - especially playing football, baseball, basketball in our back yard and in school at Chatfield Junior and Senior High.
We have maintained a good relationship as adults. I think the best thing we have done as adults is to take the Major League Baseball trip this past September. With my son Brad along we visited ten major league stadiums from Sept. 1 to Sept. 17. It is probably the best memory of our lifelong relationship that John and I will ever have.
Anyway, Happy Birthday John. Be grateful you've made it to 71 in good health.
QUOTE today from FDR: "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who has never learned to walk."
My THOUGHTS today are on brother John's 71st birthday. There were ten of us kids born to Norman and Elsie Bungum. Paul was born in 1927, Betty in 1928, Don in 1931, Jan in 1933, Jim in 1934, Chuck in 1936, Me in 1940, John in 1942, Karen was born and died in May of 1944, and Mark in 1946. I was born on November 20, 1940 and John on December 17, 1942. So John and I were two years and one month apart. As a result of the two year spread we spent the most time with each other growing up. So we have a lot of memories of each other. We had our share of fights but for the most part we got along and spent a lot of time together - especially playing football, baseball, basketball in our back yard and in school at Chatfield Junior and Senior High.
We have maintained a good relationship as adults. I think the best thing we have done as adults is to take the Major League Baseball trip this past September. With my son Brad along we visited ten major league stadiums from Sept. 1 to Sept. 17. It is probably the best memory of our lifelong relationship that John and I will ever have.
Anyway, Happy Birthday John. Be grateful you've made it to 71 in good health.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,674. The Tea Party wants to take back government.
Today is Saturday, December 14, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 28.5 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today are on a letter to the editor in the Anamosa paper. A lady named Jenn Jones wrote a letter to the editor entitled, It's time to take back government.
Jen a is Tea Party member and has challenged some of my letters. I'm trying to get a back and forth going with Jenn Baby in the newspaper.
Here are some of Jenn's words: The Bill of Rights were put in place to further strengthen the rights of the citizens, the states and further restrain the federal government. A national government could easily become a government of tyranny if not properly kept in check. A system that was intentionally designed to give the states all powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government has been turned inside out. Today, we have a federal government that has grown larger than probably even the founders could have imagined.
Jenn wants a convention of the states that would put forth, approve and ratify amendments to the U.S. constitution that will put restraints on the abuses of the federal government. She says it's time to take back government. It's a wonderful thought Jenn, but if you know any history I'm not sure you'd want to go back.
Jenn, there is a reason the federal government has grown. The main reason is that the state governments were the ABUSERS and the federal government had to put restraints on them in order to give equal rights to all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
Here are some examples:
1. I'll start with voting. From the late 1870s to the mid 1960s millions of African-Americans were not allowed to vote because of the Jim Crow laws in our southern states. The Congress of the U.S. passed the Voting Rights Law in 1965 to give our fellow black citizens the right to vote. If the state government had done their job the federal government wouldn't have had to step in.
2. And now that the Supreme Court has gutted part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act we are seeing again southern conservative Tea Party governors and legislatures making things more difficult for blacks to vote by passing strict voter ID rules, allowing less time for absentee voting, less time for early voting, and reducing the number of polling places. The federal government will have to step in again.
3. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and in 1968.. Why? The 1964 act made segregation and job discrimination illegal; it banned discrimination in public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, rest rooms, drinking fountains, parks and theaters. The 1968 Act extended these guarantees in housing and real estate. If the southern state governments had not abused the blacks there would have been no need for the federal government to intervene. But they didn't!!!
4. The Supreme Court decided on May 17. 1954 that "separate but equal" schools was not constitutional. Again, if the states hadn't been the abusers the federal government wouldn't have had to intervene.
5. In 1965 Congress passed Medicare to help our senior citizens pay their medical bills and not have to live a life of poverty in the retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything about it.
6. In 1935 Congress passed Social Security to help seniors have some financial security and happiness in their retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything.
7. This week the Michigan Tea Party controlled legislature passed a bill that women would have to take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care if they were raped. Is that abusing women or what? It is unbelievable!!
So Jenn the federal government would not be so large if the state governments had not been the ABUSERS of our citizens. It was the state governments that became the governments of tyranny. Do we really want to "take back government" to the states. I don't think so.
My THOUGHTS today are on a letter to the editor in the Anamosa paper. A lady named Jenn Jones wrote a letter to the editor entitled, It's time to take back government.
Jen a is Tea Party member and has challenged some of my letters. I'm trying to get a back and forth going with Jenn Baby in the newspaper.
Here are some of Jenn's words: The Bill of Rights were put in place to further strengthen the rights of the citizens, the states and further restrain the federal government. A national government could easily become a government of tyranny if not properly kept in check. A system that was intentionally designed to give the states all powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government has been turned inside out. Today, we have a federal government that has grown larger than probably even the founders could have imagined.
Jenn wants a convention of the states that would put forth, approve and ratify amendments to the U.S. constitution that will put restraints on the abuses of the federal government. She says it's time to take back government. It's a wonderful thought Jenn, but if you know any history I'm not sure you'd want to go back.
Jenn, there is a reason the federal government has grown. The main reason is that the state governments were the ABUSERS and the federal government had to put restraints on them in order to give equal rights to all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
Here are some examples:
1. I'll start with voting. From the late 1870s to the mid 1960s millions of African-Americans were not allowed to vote because of the Jim Crow laws in our southern states. The Congress of the U.S. passed the Voting Rights Law in 1965 to give our fellow black citizens the right to vote. If the state government had done their job the federal government wouldn't have had to step in.
2. And now that the Supreme Court has gutted part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act we are seeing again southern conservative Tea Party governors and legislatures making things more difficult for blacks to vote by passing strict voter ID rules, allowing less time for absentee voting, less time for early voting, and reducing the number of polling places. The federal government will have to step in again.
3. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and in 1968.. Why? The 1964 act made segregation and job discrimination illegal; it banned discrimination in public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, rest rooms, drinking fountains, parks and theaters. The 1968 Act extended these guarantees in housing and real estate. If the southern state governments had not abused the blacks there would have been no need for the federal government to intervene. But they didn't!!!
4. The Supreme Court decided on May 17. 1954 that "separate but equal" schools was not constitutional. Again, if the states hadn't been the abusers the federal government wouldn't have had to intervene.
5. In 1965 Congress passed Medicare to help our senior citizens pay their medical bills and not have to live a life of poverty in the retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything about it.
6. In 1935 Congress passed Social Security to help seniors have some financial security and happiness in their retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything.
7. This week the Michigan Tea Party controlled legislature passed a bill that women would have to take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care if they were raped. Is that abusing women or what? It is unbelievable!!
So Jenn the federal government would not be so large if the state governments had not been the ABUSERS of our citizens. It was the state governments that became the governments of tyranny. Do we really want to "take back government" to the states. I don't think so.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day #26,673. God would be pissed off at the Tea Party.?
Today is Friday, December the 13th, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 26.0 miles. My weight was 166.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: "If God gave his opinion about the Tea Party members in Congress this is what I think he would say. 'There's just something about your thoughts, words, and actions that piss me off.'"
My THOUGHTS today are about why I despise the right-wing conservative Tea Party members of the Republican Party.
After talking to, reading about and listening to Tea Party members I'm about ready to puke. Here are a few of the reasons why.
-Why do the conservative Republicans always go after the poor members of our society. Governor Branstad wants to charge the poorest people in Iowa 3% of their income in order to get on Medicaid. The poorest people are those making an annual salary of $11,500 or less. I'd like to see the richest folks in America pay an extra 3% on their income tax. That would make a lot more sense than having someone making $11.500 a year pay 3% or $345 a year for their medical care while on Medicaid.
-Then the Tea Party members in Congress want to cut SNAP benefits (food stamps) by $40,000,000,000 (40 billion) over ten years. These Tea Party people don't really care about the poor and their need for food, clothing, housing and medical care. They have no clue what's it's like to be poor.
- And they won't raise the minimum wage from a measly $7.25 an hour. Again they have no clue what's it is like to live on $290.00 a week - and they don't care. Their main concern is they want more tax cuts for their millionaire buddies.
-Some Tea Partyers I've talked to lately are really irate about the Strawberry Hill Apartments in Anamosa. These apartments are a subsidized federal housing project. Every time I talk to them they say every person living there is lazy and doesn't want to work. The thing is they have no proof this is true. They just think it is because they have been watching too much FOX NEWS or Rush (Drug Addict) Limbaugh. I know many of the people living in the Strawberry Hill apartments.. The reason I know them is that I walk and shop at Walmart and many of them are working at Walmart or at Theisen's Farm store. Many of them, but not all, are African-Americans. We are not used to seeing many black people in Anamosa and I have a feeling that has motivated much of the Tea Party hate. Many of these workers need a subsidy in order to live on their minimum wage from Walmart.
- This one is the clincher for my disdain of the right-wing Tea Party people. In Michigan the Tea Party controlled legislature has passed a law saying that women must now take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care from Medicaid or their private insurance company if they are raped. Can you imagine anything so despicable and unbelievable as this?
-What I've written about today are examples of what would happen if the Tea Party ever gets total control of the federal government or more state governments It is scary to even think about it.
The Tea Party believers do not know it and if they do they won't admit it but the reason we had the Great Depression and the Great Recession is because of Republican policies - mainly deregulation of the banks and other financial institutions.. For some reason the Tea Partyers blame everything on the poor. In my opinion the Tea Party people have AIDS (Arrogant, Ignorant, Definitely Stupid)(or dumb shits if you prefer.)
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: "If God gave his opinion about the Tea Party members in Congress this is what I think he would say. 'There's just something about your thoughts, words, and actions that piss me off.'"
My THOUGHTS today are about why I despise the right-wing conservative Tea Party members of the Republican Party.
After talking to, reading about and listening to Tea Party members I'm about ready to puke. Here are a few of the reasons why.
-Why do the conservative Republicans always go after the poor members of our society. Governor Branstad wants to charge the poorest people in Iowa 3% of their income in order to get on Medicaid. The poorest people are those making an annual salary of $11,500 or less. I'd like to see the richest folks in America pay an extra 3% on their income tax. That would make a lot more sense than having someone making $11.500 a year pay 3% or $345 a year for their medical care while on Medicaid.
-Then the Tea Party members in Congress want to cut SNAP benefits (food stamps) by $40,000,000,000 (40 billion) over ten years. These Tea Party people don't really care about the poor and their need for food, clothing, housing and medical care. They have no clue what's it's like to be poor.
- And they won't raise the minimum wage from a measly $7.25 an hour. Again they have no clue what's it is like to live on $290.00 a week - and they don't care. Their main concern is they want more tax cuts for their millionaire buddies.
-Some Tea Partyers I've talked to lately are really irate about the Strawberry Hill Apartments in Anamosa. These apartments are a subsidized federal housing project. Every time I talk to them they say every person living there is lazy and doesn't want to work. The thing is they have no proof this is true. They just think it is because they have been watching too much FOX NEWS or Rush (Drug Addict) Limbaugh. I know many of the people living in the Strawberry Hill apartments.. The reason I know them is that I walk and shop at Walmart and many of them are working at Walmart or at Theisen's Farm store. Many of them, but not all, are African-Americans. We are not used to seeing many black people in Anamosa and I have a feeling that has motivated much of the Tea Party hate. Many of these workers need a subsidy in order to live on their minimum wage from Walmart.
- This one is the clincher for my disdain of the right-wing Tea Party people. In Michigan the Tea Party controlled legislature has passed a law saying that women must now take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care from Medicaid or their private insurance company if they are raped. Can you imagine anything so despicable and unbelievable as this?
-What I've written about today are examples of what would happen if the Tea Party ever gets total control of the federal government or more state governments It is scary to even think about it.
The Tea Party believers do not know it and if they do they won't admit it but the reason we had the Great Depression and the Great Recession is because of Republican policies - mainly deregulation of the banks and other financial institutions.. For some reason the Tea Partyers blame everything on the poor. In my opinion the Tea Party people have AIDS (Arrogant, Ignorant, Definitely Stupid)(or dumb shits if you prefer.)
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,670. This is one happy day for Pete and Ruth Ann
Today is Tuesday, December 10, 2013. No stats today: My total miles for December = 18.5 miles. My weight today was 166.6 pounds.
QUOTE for today from actress Ingrid Bergman: "HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD MEMORY."
My THOUGHTS today are on Ingrid Bergman's QUOTE. According to the QUOTE I hit a home run this morning. The bad memory part is a given - that has deteriorated since age 49 just like Bill Cosby said it would. The good health part got a boost this morning at Doctor Vernon's office.
Since about November 30 I have been experiencing bloody stools. It was fresh blood every morning and enough blood to make the toilet water turn red (I actually took photos to have proof in case I went to the doctor.) My BMs had become very hard and large and it was a strain to do the job. I probably had eaten too much cheese and summer sausage on crackers while watching the Hawks beat Nebraska on November 28th. Anyway the bloody stools started after that and they have continued. I called for a doctor's appointment on Saturday and got in today at 9:10.
After giving Dr. Vernon the history of the blood and showing him the wonderful photos he agreed I may have eaten too much cheese (with a smile on his face). So he told me to drop my drawers and put his finger up my rectum. It was not comfortable but the good news was it showed no blood and he could feel nothing abnormal. Dr. Vernon is pretty sure that by getting constipated and being extra large that I had torn some tissue in the colon and that was causing the blood. I told him I had been on prunes for two days and they were helping. His advice was to continue the prunes and not to eat any more cheese (he was smiling again) until January 1st when I would be tailgating in Tampa where the Hawks will beat LSU in the Outback Bowl. We are going to Tampa on January 29 and come home on January 2.
I'm obviously very HAPPY today because: I do not have colon cancer; I will not have surgery; I will not have to have a bag because my colon is gone; Hopefully, I will not have to take any more photos of my bloody stools; Ruth Ann is extremely happy that I don't have cancer; and I'm relieved that it is nothing serious. As Ingrid said: HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD ___???_____. (What was that she said?)
QUOTE for today from actress Ingrid Bergman: "HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD MEMORY."
My THOUGHTS today are on Ingrid Bergman's QUOTE. According to the QUOTE I hit a home run this morning. The bad memory part is a given - that has deteriorated since age 49 just like Bill Cosby said it would. The good health part got a boost this morning at Doctor Vernon's office.
Since about November 30 I have been experiencing bloody stools. It was fresh blood every morning and enough blood to make the toilet water turn red (I actually took photos to have proof in case I went to the doctor.) My BMs had become very hard and large and it was a strain to do the job. I probably had eaten too much cheese and summer sausage on crackers while watching the Hawks beat Nebraska on November 28th. Anyway the bloody stools started after that and they have continued. I called for a doctor's appointment on Saturday and got in today at 9:10.
After giving Dr. Vernon the history of the blood and showing him the wonderful photos he agreed I may have eaten too much cheese (with a smile on his face). So he told me to drop my drawers and put his finger up my rectum. It was not comfortable but the good news was it showed no blood and he could feel nothing abnormal. Dr. Vernon is pretty sure that by getting constipated and being extra large that I had torn some tissue in the colon and that was causing the blood. I told him I had been on prunes for two days and they were helping. His advice was to continue the prunes and not to eat any more cheese (he was smiling again) until January 1st when I would be tailgating in Tampa where the Hawks will beat LSU in the Outback Bowl. We are going to Tampa on January 29 and come home on January 2.
I'm obviously very HAPPY today because: I do not have colon cancer; I will not have surgery; I will not have to have a bag because my colon is gone; Hopefully, I will not have to take any more photos of my bloody stools; Ruth Ann is extremely happy that I don't have cancer; and I'm relieved that it is nothing serious. As Ingrid said: HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD ___???_____. (What was that she said?)
Friday, December 6, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Gifr #30 - I helped a 9 year-old girl have a happier Christmas
Today is Friday, December 6, 2013, My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 13.5 miles. My weight was 165.4 pounds.
My THOUGHT today is on Gift # 30. I finished my 29 gifts in 29 days yesterday. It actually took me about 36 days to do it but I made it. But I was still in the giving mode this morning when walking inside Walmart. Walmart has a giving tree with probably 100 little green tags on it. Each tag has the name and age of a child in need and suggestions on what they want for Christmas. I picked the one that said Melissa, age nine, who wanted a crafts kit to make bracelets, necklaces, etc. So I found a crafts kit for $10.00 and got it for her. The Walmart cashier charged me for it and said you don't have to wrap it as Walmart will do it for me and they would make sure it got to Melissa. That was nice of them. I feel good that I will make Melissa have a happier Christmas. And better yet she will never know who got it for her.
Giving 29 gifts in 29 days(I should say 36 days) has been a great experience for me. It made me think everyday of what my gift would be for that day. When you have a project like this it makes a person think positive. It gave me great joy to think that I was making other people feel good and would have a happier day as a result of my giving. This is what life should be about - making other people feel better and happier. It is true - "It is better to give than to receive."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift # 30. I finished my 29 gifts in 29 days yesterday. It actually took me about 36 days to do it but I made it. But I was still in the giving mode this morning when walking inside Walmart. Walmart has a giving tree with probably 100 little green tags on it. Each tag has the name and age of a child in need and suggestions on what they want for Christmas. I picked the one that said Melissa, age nine, who wanted a crafts kit to make bracelets, necklaces, etc. So I found a crafts kit for $10.00 and got it for her. The Walmart cashier charged me for it and said you don't have to wrap it as Walmart will do it for me and they would make sure it got to Melissa. That was nice of them. I feel good that I will make Melissa have a happier Christmas. And better yet she will never know who got it for her.
Giving 29 gifts in 29 days(I should say 36 days) has been a great experience for me. It made me think everyday of what my gift would be for that day. When you have a project like this it makes a person think positive. It gave me great joy to think that I was making other people feel good and would have a happier day as a result of my giving. This is what life should be about - making other people feel better and happier. It is true - "It is better to give than to receive."
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,665. Gift #29 - three little gifts to myself.
Today is Wednesday, December 5, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 11.0 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
QUOTE for today from Harry Sheehy, former athletic director at Williams College: "It is your response to winning or losing that makes you a winner or loser." After watching the Auburn - Alabama game on Saturday I thought this would be a good quote.
My THOUGHT today is about Gift #29.
In Regina Brett's book, God Never Blinks, she titled chapter 25, NO ONE ELSE IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR HAPPINESS, YOU ARE THE CEO OF YOUR JOY. She went on to say in paragraph two that "Women and Men would both be a lot happier if they read their own minds and took care of their own needs and wants."
I agree 100%. So Gift 29 is to myself - in fact it is a gift I have been giving myself for about 6-7 years. When I had prostate cancer surgery in May, 2007 I made some decisions I was going to follow the rest of my life. There was the possibility that the cancer could spread to my bones and that could/would shorten my life expectancy by a few years or many years. One big decision I made at that time was that I was going to make every day count and pretend it could be my last one. And I was going to make myself as happy as I could everyday by giving myself little GIFTS.
So everyday I pamper myself with three little gifts.
1. In the morning when I'm done doing my yoga or weights or ball exercises and before I go walking I gift myself with a half a banana and some chocolate. Chocolate is the gift. I love chocolate and decided I was going to enjoy some everyday the rest of my life. I buy Giardello's 60% cacao chips and eat 6-7 chips every morning. So gift #1 is chocolate chips.
2. Gift #2 is ice cream. I also love ice cream. So I buy a box containing sixteen 100 calorie ice cream bars at Walmart. I cut the bars in half so I only get 50 calories. I gift myself with half an ice cream bar everyday after my noon lunch.
3. Gift #3 is herring and nuts. I love herring and nuts. So the 3rd gift to myself everyday comes at 3:30 in the afternoon. This is my afternoon snack time. I have 1/4 cup of mixed nuts and 2 pieces of herring.
CONCLUSION; Every morning when I awaken I have 3 little gifts to look forward to. Regina said life is good when you take care of your own happiness. This is one way I take care of my own happiness.
QUOTE for today from Harry Sheehy, former athletic director at Williams College: "It is your response to winning or losing that makes you a winner or loser." After watching the Auburn - Alabama game on Saturday I thought this would be a good quote.
My THOUGHT today is about Gift #29.
In Regina Brett's book, God Never Blinks, she titled chapter 25, NO ONE ELSE IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR HAPPINESS, YOU ARE THE CEO OF YOUR JOY. She went on to say in paragraph two that "Women and Men would both be a lot happier if they read their own minds and took care of their own needs and wants."
I agree 100%. So Gift 29 is to myself - in fact it is a gift I have been giving myself for about 6-7 years. When I had prostate cancer surgery in May, 2007 I made some decisions I was going to follow the rest of my life. There was the possibility that the cancer could spread to my bones and that could/would shorten my life expectancy by a few years or many years. One big decision I made at that time was that I was going to make every day count and pretend it could be my last one. And I was going to make myself as happy as I could everyday by giving myself little GIFTS.
So everyday I pamper myself with three little gifts.
1. In the morning when I'm done doing my yoga or weights or ball exercises and before I go walking I gift myself with a half a banana and some chocolate. Chocolate is the gift. I love chocolate and decided I was going to enjoy some everyday the rest of my life. I buy Giardello's 60% cacao chips and eat 6-7 chips every morning. So gift #1 is chocolate chips.
2. Gift #2 is ice cream. I also love ice cream. So I buy a box containing sixteen 100 calorie ice cream bars at Walmart. I cut the bars in half so I only get 50 calories. I gift myself with half an ice cream bar everyday after my noon lunch.
3. Gift #3 is herring and nuts. I love herring and nuts. So the 3rd gift to myself everyday comes at 3:30 in the afternoon. This is my afternoon snack time. I have 1/4 cup of mixed nuts and 2 pieces of herring.
CONCLUSION; Every morning when I awaken I have 3 little gifts to look forward to. Regina said life is good when you take care of your own happiness. This is one way I take care of my own happiness.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Pete'w BLOG: Gift #28 - DAV
Today is Tuesday, December 3, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 6.5 miles. My weight was 165.6 pounds.
Gift #28 today is a gift of $10.00 to DAV (Disabled American Veterans). I have a strong feeling about disabled vets in America, especially the ones who got their disability fighting in Iraq. If it hadn't been for the ignorance, stupidity and lies of George W. Bush and Dickie Cheeney these vets wouldn't be in their situation today. We had no reason to invade Iraq - it had nothing to do with 9/11 and it had no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction.) We were told lie after lie after lie by Bush, Cheeney and Rumsfeld to justify the invasion of Iraq. I wonder if these 3 idiots have one ounce of remorse when they see some of our disabled Iraqi vets. I doubt it.
Gift #28 today is a gift of $10.00 to DAV (Disabled American Veterans). I have a strong feeling about disabled vets in America, especially the ones who got their disability fighting in Iraq. If it hadn't been for the ignorance, stupidity and lies of George W. Bush and Dickie Cheeney these vets wouldn't be in their situation today. We had no reason to invade Iraq - it had nothing to do with 9/11 and it had no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction.) We were told lie after lie after lie by Bush, Cheeney and Rumsfeld to justify the invasion of Iraq. I wonder if these 3 idiots have one ounce of remorse when they see some of our disabled Iraqi vets. I doubt it.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,662. Gift #23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Today is December 2, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 4.0 miles. My weight was 165.6 pounds.
Brad and Alexandra have been here for a week so my daily schedule was not operating as usual. They went home to Denmark on yesterday morning, leaving here at 8:30 AM , driving to O'Hare, flying to Amsterdam and then Copenhagen.
My goal today is to get caught up on my 29 gifts in 29 days. The book said to try and give the 29 gifts in 29 consecutive days but if you can't just keep going or start over. Well, I'm not starting over. However, I will get the 29 gifts goal reached but it will be more like 35 non-consecutive days. So far I have described my first 22 gifts.
Gift #23 was on Thursday, November 28, 2013. It was a gift to Toys for Tots which is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. When I was walking at Walmart that morning I saw the box asking for gifts to Toys for Tots. I thought why make some little tyke happy for Christmas, So I bought a little three car choo-choo-train suitable for 6 months to 3 years.
Gift #24 was on Friday, November 29, 2013. For Thanksgiving we had our fireplace going with fire logs and real wood. Carron mentioned that she used fire logs in her fireplace all the time but she was out right now. While getting some groceries I decided my 24th gift would be fire logs for Carron. I delivered them to her house on the way home.
Gift #25 was on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Ruth Ann had mentioned to me several weeks ago that she had three crockpots but all three had problems: one didn't heat correctly, one had two legs instead of three, and the third one had both problems. So my 25th gift was a new crockpot for Ruth Ann - a big black oval-shaped one.
Gift #26 was on Sunday, December 1, 2013. Unfortunately Ruth Ann went into the hospital on Friday with colitis and diverticulitis. As I write this on Monday she is still at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Brad and Alex left for Denmark at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning. As a result of a week long stay there was a need to wash towels and bedding and straighten up the house and get things put back into place. My 26th gift was to do the following for Ruth Ann (and myself) so she would feel no stress about the house when she comes home tomorrow (or maybe today). So I spent Sunday washing, folding, and putting away three loads of clothes, getting all the dishes washed and put away, putting all the excess turkey into 8 Ziploc quart-size bags and into the freezer, and putting everything back where it belonged.
Gift #27 was today, December 2, 2013. My 27th gift was a visit to brighten the day of my friend Galen - to help brighten it I gave him a 6-pack of Busch Light. Galen is recovering from cancer - it was diagnosed last May. It was a large mass located in his right side. Thanks to chemo he has made a remarkable recovery. His hair is growing back and he looks like a healthy man again. We had a great visit with a lot of laughs and a hug when I left. Galen was custodian at the school for over 25 years. I like Galen and he likes me - we have great time together.
I talked to Ruth Ann this morning - she sounded much better. Thanksgiving night she came down with severe lower stomach pain. She developed severe diarrhea with blood in the mix. We went to the ER on Friday afternoon and she's been in the hospital since Friday night. On Saturday morning her blood pressure had dropped to 79 over 41 but they have it back to normal now. She was also dehydrated - more later - time to go visit her.
Brad and Alexandra have been here for a week so my daily schedule was not operating as usual. They went home to Denmark on yesterday morning, leaving here at 8:30 AM , driving to O'Hare, flying to Amsterdam and then Copenhagen.
My goal today is to get caught up on my 29 gifts in 29 days. The book said to try and give the 29 gifts in 29 consecutive days but if you can't just keep going or start over. Well, I'm not starting over. However, I will get the 29 gifts goal reached but it will be more like 35 non-consecutive days. So far I have described my first 22 gifts.
Gift #23 was on Thursday, November 28, 2013. It was a gift to Toys for Tots which is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. When I was walking at Walmart that morning I saw the box asking for gifts to Toys for Tots. I thought why make some little tyke happy for Christmas, So I bought a little three car choo-choo-train suitable for 6 months to 3 years.
Gift #24 was on Friday, November 29, 2013. For Thanksgiving we had our fireplace going with fire logs and real wood. Carron mentioned that she used fire logs in her fireplace all the time but she was out right now. While getting some groceries I decided my 24th gift would be fire logs for Carron. I delivered them to her house on the way home.
Gift #25 was on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Ruth Ann had mentioned to me several weeks ago that she had three crockpots but all three had problems: one didn't heat correctly, one had two legs instead of three, and the third one had both problems. So my 25th gift was a new crockpot for Ruth Ann - a big black oval-shaped one.
Gift #26 was on Sunday, December 1, 2013. Unfortunately Ruth Ann went into the hospital on Friday with colitis and diverticulitis. As I write this on Monday she is still at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Brad and Alex left for Denmark at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning. As a result of a week long stay there was a need to wash towels and bedding and straighten up the house and get things put back into place. My 26th gift was to do the following for Ruth Ann (and myself) so she would feel no stress about the house when she comes home tomorrow (or maybe today). So I spent Sunday washing, folding, and putting away three loads of clothes, getting all the dishes washed and put away, putting all the excess turkey into 8 Ziploc quart-size bags and into the freezer, and putting everything back where it belonged.
Gift #27 was today, December 2, 2013. My 27th gift was a visit to brighten the day of my friend Galen - to help brighten it I gave him a 6-pack of Busch Light. Galen is recovering from cancer - it was diagnosed last May. It was a large mass located in his right side. Thanks to chemo he has made a remarkable recovery. His hair is growing back and he looks like a healthy man again. We had a great visit with a lot of laughs and a hug when I left. Galen was custodian at the school for over 25 years. I like Galen and he likes me - we have great time together.
I talked to Ruth Ann this morning - she sounded much better. Thanksgiving night she came down with severe lower stomach pain. She developed severe diarrhea with blood in the mix. We went to the ER on Friday afternoon and she's been in the hospital since Friday night. On Saturday morning her blood pressure had dropped to 79 over 41 but they have it back to normal now. She was also dehydrated - more later - time to go visit her.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,660. Gift #22: To myself - i described gifts 1 to 8.
Gift #22 is to myself again - I'm going to bring my BLOG up-to-date. I'm doing this on Wednesday, November 27, 2013.
I didn't start BLOGGING about my "22 gifts in 29 days" until gift #9. So my gift today is to myself - it will make me feel better by posting the first 8 gifts so my readers will have all 29 of them.
Gift #1 was on October 30, 2013 My gift that day was to forward an email video to my siblings and friends - I had gotten this video from Brad. The video was about an eighth grade football team in Michigan who let one of their lesser developed teammates score a touchdown. He was mentally challenged and physically smaller than his teammates.. It was an amazing story and it brightened my day so I thought I would brighten the day of my siblings and friends also.
Gift #2 was on October 31, 2013. I visited Esther - my 88 year-year-old lady friend. She lives in the mobile home court - and has been a widow for at least 30 years. She is a remarkable woman, always in good spirits and one of the most loving and sincere people I have ever known. I visit her every couple of months. She appreciates me stopping in to see her - she says I always brighten her day - and she brightens mine.
Gift #3 was on November 6, 2013. The gift was a $15.00 donation to the Salvation Army . They are one of the best run charity organizations in the U.S. They do so much good in this world.
Gift #4 was on November 7, 2013. Brother John and wife Lorna had hosted a family get-together in St. Peter, MN the weekend before.. The gathering was to watch great- nephew Josh Bungum play football for St. John's College against Gustavus Adolphus College. Even though I had THANKED them profusely when we left I felt it appropriate to say THANK YOU again - so I sent an email thanking them again for their great hospitality and food. This expression of gratitude was my gift for the day.
Gift #5 was on November 10, 2013. This might not exactly qualify as a gift but it is to me. Ruth Ann and I made 53 lefse and 40 krumkakke. My gift to the whole affair was contributing my expertise at being the perfect lefse flipper and my expertise at getting sugar on the krumkakke and stacking them in perfect piles of four. The lefse would never have the right number of brown spots on it unless I had done the flipping.
Gift #6 was on November 10, 2013 - it was to give an extra $5.00 to my church. Every month our regular gift is automatically taken out of our bank account. As I sat in the pew that Sunday I was thinking that my gift today would be an extra $5.00 to be given anonymously. That's is exactly what I did - I dug into my pocket, pulled out a five dollar bill and put in the envelope with no name on it.
Gift #7 was on November 11, 2013 - it was to the server at the Hale Supper Club in Hale, Iowa. Ruth Ann and I go to the hale Supper Club once a week for Happy Hour - we have a couple of beers each and go home. Terry always waits on us and pours our beers and I always give her a dollar tip. My gift that day was to triple her tip to $3.00. She got a big smile on her face and gave us a big "Thank You very much." I brightened her day a little bit.
Gift #8 was on November 13, 2013 - it was a gift to HACAP - which provides free food for the hungry and needy in Jones County. On Sunday our church bulletin had an announcement that HACAP was running low on food and needed to be replenished, I went to Walmart and bought $15.00 worth of non-perishable food items like canned vegetables and fruit, Hamburger Helper and macaroni and cheese. I delivered them and got a nice expression of gratitude from the administrator. It made me feel good.
I didn't start BLOGGING about my "22 gifts in 29 days" until gift #9. So my gift today is to myself - it will make me feel better by posting the first 8 gifts so my readers will have all 29 of them.
Gift #1 was on October 30, 2013 My gift that day was to forward an email video to my siblings and friends - I had gotten this video from Brad. The video was about an eighth grade football team in Michigan who let one of their lesser developed teammates score a touchdown. He was mentally challenged and physically smaller than his teammates.. It was an amazing story and it brightened my day so I thought I would brighten the day of my siblings and friends also.
Gift #2 was on October 31, 2013. I visited Esther - my 88 year-year-old lady friend. She lives in the mobile home court - and has been a widow for at least 30 years. She is a remarkable woman, always in good spirits and one of the most loving and sincere people I have ever known. I visit her every couple of months. She appreciates me stopping in to see her - she says I always brighten her day - and she brightens mine.
Gift #3 was on November 6, 2013. The gift was a $15.00 donation to the Salvation Army . They are one of the best run charity organizations in the U.S. They do so much good in this world.
Gift #4 was on November 7, 2013. Brother John and wife Lorna had hosted a family get-together in St. Peter, MN the weekend before.. The gathering was to watch great- nephew Josh Bungum play football for St. John's College against Gustavus Adolphus College. Even though I had THANKED them profusely when we left I felt it appropriate to say THANK YOU again - so I sent an email thanking them again for their great hospitality and food. This expression of gratitude was my gift for the day.
Gift #5 was on November 10, 2013. This might not exactly qualify as a gift but it is to me. Ruth Ann and I made 53 lefse and 40 krumkakke. My gift to the whole affair was contributing my expertise at being the perfect lefse flipper and my expertise at getting sugar on the krumkakke and stacking them in perfect piles of four. The lefse would never have the right number of brown spots on it unless I had done the flipping.
Gift #6 was on November 10, 2013 - it was to give an extra $5.00 to my church. Every month our regular gift is automatically taken out of our bank account. As I sat in the pew that Sunday I was thinking that my gift today would be an extra $5.00 to be given anonymously. That's is exactly what I did - I dug into my pocket, pulled out a five dollar bill and put in the envelope with no name on it.
Gift #7 was on November 11, 2013 - it was to the server at the Hale Supper Club in Hale, Iowa. Ruth Ann and I go to the hale Supper Club once a week for Happy Hour - we have a couple of beers each and go home. Terry always waits on us and pours our beers and I always give her a dollar tip. My gift that day was to triple her tip to $3.00. She got a big smile on her face and gave us a big "Thank You very much." I brightened her day a little bit.
Gift #8 was on November 13, 2013 - it was a gift to HACAP - which provides free food for the hungry and needy in Jones County. On Sunday our church bulletin had an announcement that HACAP was running low on food and needed to be replenished, I went to Walmart and bought $15.00 worth of non-perishable food items like canned vegetables and fruit, Hamburger Helper and macaroni and cheese. I delivered them and got a nice expression of gratitude from the administrator. It made me feel good.
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,659. Gifts 19, 20 and 21
Today is Tuesday, November 26, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 49.6 miles. My weight was 166.2 pounds.
I'm going to get caught up this morning. Brad and Alexandra came Friday night from Denmark. Saturday we went to the Hawk-Michigan game and froze our butts off but it was worth it when we made a second half comeback and won 24-21. Sunday Alex's friend's from her 2008-09 yearlong stay in Anamosa had a surprise party for her at a local restaurant from 4-8 pm. She was really surprised and had a lot of fun renewing old friendships. Monday, our other granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate came for brunch and we visited until 3:30. So I haven't had a lot of time until now. I'm going to report on how my 29 gifts in 29 Days Challenge is progressing. Here I go.
Gift #19 would be for Sunday, November 24. #19 is a gift I'm giving myself. One day I heard I Hoda mention on the TODAY SHOW that every morning she read a chapter out of a book called God Never Blinks: 50 lessons for Life's Little Detours - by Regina Brett. She mentioned it was such an inspirational book. So I went and ordered it from Barnes and Noble. Thanks to Hoda, what a great gift I have given myself - it is truly a wonderful inspiring book. It is divided into 50 chapters - here are three examples: Lesson 3 is LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE TIME HATING ANYONE and Lesson 4 is DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY. NO ONE ELSE DOES and Lesson 50 is LIFE ISN'T TIED WITH A BOW, BUT IT'S STILL A GIFT.
I would highly recommend this book.
Gift #20 is for Monday, November 25, 2013. Monday morning my sister Janice called from her winter home in Mesa, Arizona. She said I have to ask you for a favor. My friend down here read your Gratitude Journal a year ago and was so impressed by it that she wants a copy to use for a Bible Study she is leading at her church. The Bible Study topic is on GRATITUDE and she wants to use my book for kind of a textbook or reference. Janice said she forgot her copy at home in Bloomington so she couldn't help her friend out. I told Jan I would put a couple of copies in the mail today and they would be there in a few days.
Later in the day Jan sent an email and said she would pay the postage. I told her what I was doing with the "29 gift challenge" and I didn't want any money. The books and the postage would be my 20th gift - SO NO MONEY AND TELLYOUR FRIEND SHE MAY KEEP THE BOOK - THIS IS A GIFT FROM YOUR BROTHER PETE AND HE IS GRATEFUL AND FLATTERED THAT SHE FOUND IT INSPIRING.
Gift #21 is for Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - it is another flower for Ruth Ann. When done walking inside Walmart at 7:00 this morning I saw poinsettia plants for sale. I know Ruth Ann likes flowers and always wants a poinsettia for the Christmas season. I have done this before but decided I would do it again and make my 21st gift a poinsettia for Ruth Ann for the Christmas season. She was surprised and grateful when I had it sitting on the kitchen table when she arose.
I'm going to get caught up this morning. Brad and Alexandra came Friday night from Denmark. Saturday we went to the Hawk-Michigan game and froze our butts off but it was worth it when we made a second half comeback and won 24-21. Sunday Alex's friend's from her 2008-09 yearlong stay in Anamosa had a surprise party for her at a local restaurant from 4-8 pm. She was really surprised and had a lot of fun renewing old friendships. Monday, our other granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate came for brunch and we visited until 3:30. So I haven't had a lot of time until now. I'm going to report on how my 29 gifts in 29 Days Challenge is progressing. Here I go.
Gift #19 would be for Sunday, November 24. #19 is a gift I'm giving myself. One day I heard I Hoda mention on the TODAY SHOW that every morning she read a chapter out of a book called God Never Blinks: 50 lessons for Life's Little Detours - by Regina Brett. She mentioned it was such an inspirational book. So I went and ordered it from Barnes and Noble. Thanks to Hoda, what a great gift I have given myself - it is truly a wonderful inspiring book. It is divided into 50 chapters - here are three examples: Lesson 3 is LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE TIME HATING ANYONE and Lesson 4 is DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY. NO ONE ELSE DOES and Lesson 50 is LIFE ISN'T TIED WITH A BOW, BUT IT'S STILL A GIFT.
I would highly recommend this book.
Gift #20 is for Monday, November 25, 2013. Monday morning my sister Janice called from her winter home in Mesa, Arizona. She said I have to ask you for a favor. My friend down here read your Gratitude Journal a year ago and was so impressed by it that she wants a copy to use for a Bible Study she is leading at her church. The Bible Study topic is on GRATITUDE and she wants to use my book for kind of a textbook or reference. Janice said she forgot her copy at home in Bloomington so she couldn't help her friend out. I told Jan I would put a couple of copies in the mail today and they would be there in a few days.
Later in the day Jan sent an email and said she would pay the postage. I told her what I was doing with the "29 gift challenge" and I didn't want any money. The books and the postage would be my 20th gift - SO NO MONEY AND TELLYOUR FRIEND SHE MAY KEEP THE BOOK - THIS IS A GIFT FROM YOUR BROTHER PETE AND HE IS GRATEFUL AND FLATTERED THAT SHE FOUND IT INSPIRING.
Gift #21 is for Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - it is another flower for Ruth Ann. When done walking inside Walmart at 7:00 this morning I saw poinsettia plants for sale. I know Ruth Ann likes flowers and always wants a poinsettia for the Christmas season. I have done this before but decided I would do it again and make my 21st gift a poinsettia for Ruth Ann for the Christmas season. She was surprised and grateful when I had it sitting on the kitchen table when she arose.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,656. Gift # 18. My salmon loaf.
Today is Saturday, November 23, 2013. No stats today as I'm at Kinnick Stadium.
I'm really writing this on Friday, November 22 - because I'm going to the Hawk-Michigan game tomorrow and will not have time to do Gift 18. I'm kind of fudging a little but I want to keep my gift giving journey going.
Gift 18 really took place the other night. Ruth Ann had been busy getting things ready for the Hawk game and making plans for Thanksgiving. To save her from having to think of anymore things I decided a gift I could give her was to make supper. I made my famous "salmon loaf" - it was enough for supper on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. She really likes my salmon loaf and I like it to.
I'm really writing this on Friday, November 22 - because I'm going to the Hawk-Michigan game tomorrow and will not have time to do Gift 18. I'm kind of fudging a little but I want to keep my gift giving journey going.
Gift 18 really took place the other night. Ruth Ann had been busy getting things ready for the Hawk game and making plans for Thanksgiving. To save her from having to think of anymore things I decided a gift I could give her was to make supper. I made my famous "salmon loaf" - it was enough for supper on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. She really likes my salmon loaf and I like it to.
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