IS IT SPRING YET?

Hey I love Michigan and all its seasons, just not in the same week!!! It's crazy carrying an ice scraper, umbrella and sunglasses everywhere. Anyway been bugging the Burt man to get my hummer (hummingbird) feeder up to see if my buddy Humvee makes an appearance. Hmmm bugging about a bird feeder. I guess it's related. I could say badgering but then that introduces another species.

Anyway despite our best efforts to destroy the environment, my daffodils have come up for the record 29th year and the tulips are cautiously expanding and furiously retreating as the temperature plays havoc with their colorful destiny. The boat has made it from storage to the garage, but hitting the lake is a whole other story. The grass is lush except where the moles have made merry.

I believe we are heading directly into summer - do not pass GO - do not collect spring dollars. But darn it, we don't care what the thermometer says, shorts and sandals are in evidence everywhere. Now the young people I get, they wear them all winter. But the chick I saw today was over 65 unless I miss my guess. Funny how the older I get the more age I have to put on it to describe an "older" person. LOL. At any rate, ewwwwhhh.

JUST SAYIN'

What a joyous week. Michigan House passed a budget that taxes seniors and the poor, takes from schools, does away with property tax and charitable credits while giving big business a huge tax break. Now I know it's been since the early 70's since I took college econ, but I do believe I remember the old supply and demand scenario described by Professor MendelScleck. When you tax the crap out of the widget buyers, they don't buy widgets. Instead tax breaks allow huge bonuses and large salaries for short-time CEO's who do nothing to improve the bottom line. But apparently it's all the fault of the workers or the pensioners or the poor. It had nothing to do with Wall Street and the Banks greedily absconding with all the money (which funded the pensions btw) or large businesses run into the ground by inept management. Again basic economics says the company deserves to go under if it is not run efficiently. New economics apparently is strip the company of its assets, pay the top couple of folks and blame the workers. Sad part is, "we the people" are buying into it that it's all our fault and hating on each other. Hmmmmm

For 40 years the r's have been saying cutting taxes will lead to jobs. Uh duhh, definition of stupidity "keep doing the same thing and expect different results". I'm no genius, but I do think cutting entitlements to special interests and lobbyists that benefit a few, chasing fraud and waste rather than assuming "everyone" is on the "take" and taxing services would be palatable and would involve "all of us" to participate in the cure. Oops too logical I guess.

LOVE & OTHER MUSINGS

Mother told me when I first got engaged. Love is easy to find. Staying in love is hard. Being in the throes of exciting romantic love I did not fully understand what she meant.

Now 40 years later I think I am beginning to understand.

JUST SHOOT ME

Opinion this week on the legislation presented this week on doing away with "no gun zones" - churches, schools, sporting venues, etc.

"Carrying to a sporting event, a street festival or school without incident appears overly optimistic. Police are highly schooled on when to draw their weapon and even they make mistakes. With sports fans threatening referees on a decision and parents physically attaching other parents at their children's events, I have to think there will be times when good judgment will probably not prevail."

NO APOLOGY

Heard something today that underlines what I have been thinking for quite awhile. I am so tired of our constant "glamorizing of ignorance" and putting down education and intellectual abilities. We truly need the best of us, the most intelligent, the most educated to help solve the problems of this world. And we need to quit putting down compassion and offering a hand up as un-American.

Are you listening SP and others of your ilk? Notoriety does not give you the right to have a worthwhile opinion on matters that are clearly above your level of intelligence and experience. Those getting the press are merely loud entertainment. Meanwhile the worthwhile people of the world are quietly going about their business making it better for us all. Thank you.

ENTITLEMENTS

Why is it ok to provide bailouts, tax breaks, etc. to large corporations, banks or Wall Street but not a handout to individuals who need assistance? I can only conclude that it is far easier to hate an individual and assume they are lazy then to blame the corporation who caused the situation.

BUTTERFLIES ARE DISTRACTING

Odd thing happened today. At the very moment Dad called to see if I wanted something he and Mother received as a wedding gift many moons ago, a butterfly was frantically trying to get my attention at the window. I know that messenger, so I said "yes". Symbols are where you find them and I always had a thing for brushed aluminum anyway....