obit plus

Here it is Dec. 3rd - of 2016
I don't write here consistently enough.  You might say I don't write consistently when I am writing.  It could be because I believe I am writing to myself - which I am.  If you are reading, that is nice.  I thank you.
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Today is a miserable day.  Not a heavy rain, but a drizzle keeps oozing from the skies. I think I'd rather have a full blown hard rain and be through with it for the rest of the day.  Oscar feels the same  (dog).  He is unhappy because I won't go outside and play ball in the rain.  Sweet dog.
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BUT, back to today's topic:
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In today's Corsicana paper was an obit which I found had an historical / social-type comment about politics, this is, politics of yore.  Now, before you roll your eyes at the "politics" word, wait for just a moment.
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I was born on November 4, 1940.  This is the day that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was elected to his 3rd term of office.  Prior to this, no president had served more than two terms.  For the historical illiterates, FDR was elected later to his 4th term prior to his death and reluctantly turned the White House office over to his vice president, Harry S. Truman of Missouri.
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Our local obit was for an 84 year old guy "Red" Carroll.   [ side bar:  I wonder what color his hair was as a younger man? ]  His newspaper portrait shows a fairly bald big, nice-looking guy in a suit.  As far as I know, I never met the gentleman, and he has never met me - or cared to meet me.  Who knows?
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Now for the politics.
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Red was born on November 1, 1932.  That would have been - give or take - 4 or 5 days "BEFORE"  FDR was elected to his first term of office.  Knowing this fact, I am saying that Red's parents were very, very strong Democrats.  follow this now....
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Red was born before FDR was elected.
I believe and state that his parents would have been planning to vote Democrat and for FDR.
How do I know?
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The rest of the story.
Red's full name was   Franklin Delano Carroll.
His parents named him after FDR before FDR was elected to office.
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I think that says a lot about the political climate of that year.
The question, which I hope NOBODY answers, is:   would you name your next child Hillary or Donald?  And if you would, would you have used that same name (remember to utilize the middle names too) before the election was held?
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Trying to get back on track

Help !!  I've fallen  { behind reading my daily newspaper } 
and I can't get  { caught } up.   
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Yes, I am behind in more than one thing, this bluggy blog being one.   I couldn't think of a "B" word for one.   bluggy blog being bone  - see that doesn't really make it.  Add the "B" and it changes the meaning altogether.  But, we move on.
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While falling behind for sure, I have been a busy bee  (more of those B words).  
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Yesterday, a Friday, as an example, it was hot.  For those not living around here in Texas, hot means hot.  I think it got up around 109 or so yesterday in the shade "and there was no shade."   We had originally planned to go to First Monday Trade Days in Canton yesterday.  On Thursday when the TV weather man on channel 5 predicted a high of 105 degrees, a change was in order.
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Friends of ours:  Jerry and Brenda Ballew live in Teague about 30 - 40 miles south of us.  Jerry is the "Boss" business manager of the Corsicana Swing Orchestra of which I have written more than once - and Brenda is the band's singer and Jerry's boss, I assume.  My wife bosses me - should work that way in most houses.  Both are retired now primarily working on their home and other civic projects.  Well sir we HAD made plans to go to Canton with them.
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We called Thursday afternoon.  Right off hand we learned that Jerry was not home; he had gone to the auto parts store - a rather nice adventure I am sure.  Almost the first thing out of her mouth was Jerry coming in from outside talking about the heat.  That led us right into our conformation of the same news.
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Let me stop here and point out that conformation is normally spelled confirmation. However, I felt in this case, we were confirming her information - thus a combination of the two words seemed to be Presidential.   Which brings me to...
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We decided that we would drive to Teague and pick them up, then, drive on to College Station to visit the George HW Bush (#31) Presidential Library.  We had never seen this library and thought it would be a good excursion.  The big drawback of course is College Station, the home of A & M.  I try to avoid anything Texas Aggie in nature.  We did that.  Out of here before 9 a.m., picked them up about 10,  Brenda B gave my Brenda M the grand tour of their home built in the 1920s, and in College Station before noon.  We found a nice Cracker Barrel and ate lunch.  Don't you just love to walk around their gift shop area.  We found 4 different 16 month Duck Dynasty calendars to buy - didn't.
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Now, folks, if you have not been to that Bush's Library, lemme tell you, bring your reading glasses.  There is a lot to read, and I finished little of it.  Of course, of course, we were scanned and prodded and searched and seen by security at the front door. Only one machine really; we kept our shoes on...  Often wondered if they check George and Barbara when they visit or if it is merely us gangsta types. The big exhibits include a full sized fighter airplane, a 195? red Studebaker, and his Cigarette boat.  You add in many beautiful gifts they receive in office and special displays about their family and Barbara Bush - it was a busy afternoon...a busy afternoon of looking and reading.  They have had quite a family history.
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I figured  ( planning ahead & based upon visiting the LBJ Library in Austin )  that it would take about 2 hours tops.  They ran us out at 5.  I barely had time to browse the gift shop.  I would explain more about the Library, but you need to go see.  Libraries have a way of glorifying the residing President, as they should.  So if you have a Bush hangup, this may not be for you.
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The trip home on I-45 at 75 mph was truly an adventure.  The Labor Day holiday traffic was beginning to pick up.   All in all, really enjoyed the day - the wife did too - we talked a bunch about the museum later - and it was fun spending the day with the Ballew clan.  If you know us, you know we are not quality social animals.  We have never socialized much.  I always used my band directing job as an excuse, and she let me.
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So getting out like this was fun.  We have postponed our trip to Canton till October if all goes well.  I love to just walk around Canton and see the people and stuff.  The puppies are fun too.
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This brings me to a slow close here.  I have several other projects to recite that have happened over the past couple of weeks.  My thought is to stretch those out over several days instead of writing a book right here.  
so y'all take care.
and think of George HW and Barbara in your prayers.
m3

  

Fraser on Leno

Politics -  one of my all time favorite songs comes from the Musical Fiorello.  Y'all rent that musical and watch it.   fun stuff.   The song is   "Politics and Poker"    Love that song.  Even sing it out loud at times.

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FRASER is on Leno show.   Accidentally saw it since I never seem to watch Leno anymore.  (Kelsey Grammer)

anyway it was discussed about him (Kelsey) going into politics.....

then, I learned, he is a conservative. How bout that. Rare breed for sure.


Leno asked his take on the present Republican field. He made brief statements. When he got to Romney, he pointed out that it was interesting - in the last series of elections, Romney was the only one who had only been married once -- a Mormon. A Mormon had the fewest wives. Now, that does make you stop and think.

(not whether having wives - one or more - is actually a prerequisite for being a great politician) Nuff. Some people get all too upset about another's religion in these races. )
so I close.
mtz

Keller news blip

When you open AOL there is a news bit.   Below is one of their news stories.  I have a copy of the actual recording but do not know how to put it here.  It is a MP3 download....oh, well.  Surely you can google it.....the aol article has a photo of him in a 20 gallon hat.  Cute.
====================================================Crockett Keller, Texas Gun Safety Instructor, Refuses To Teach Liberals And Muslims

Store Bans Obama Voters and Muslims A controversial ad for a Texas gun store warns 'non-Christian Arabs' and people who voted for Obama they should go elsewhere.



Store Bans Obama Voters and Muslims


A controversial ad for a Texas gun store warns 'non-Christian Arabs' and people who voted for Obama they should go elsewhere.


Owner's reason for refusing service:   For Crockett Keller, the customer is always right -- or at least right-leaning. That's because the Texas firearm safety instructor refuses to teach liberals.


In a radio advertisement that could cost him his ability to teach concealed handgun safety classes, Keller made it clear that an Oct. 26 course at Keller's Riverside Store in Mason wouldn't be open to people who voted for President Obama and Muslims.

"If you are a socialist liberal and/or voted for the current campaigner-in-chief, please do not take this class," Keller says in the advertisement, which is described as "controversial" on his own website. "You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision as required under the law."
"Also, if you are a non-Christian Arab or Muslim, I will not teach you the class. Once again, with no shame; I am Crockett Keller ... thank you and God bless America," the radio spot concludes.


Keller's restrictions could infringe on the rights of Texans seeking to acquire concealed weapons permits, but the 65-year-old told KVUE that he is just trying to protect his rights as a teacher.


"I call it exercising my right to choose who I instruct in how to use a dangerous weapon," Keller said, according to the news station.


"The fact is if you are a devout Muslim then you cannot be a true American," Keller reportedly added. "Why should I arm these people to kill me, that's suicide."


The Texas Hill Country businessman told The Houston Chronicle he has received many calls from neighbors who are supportive of his stance. Attempts to reach Keller by phone and e-mail were not returned by Huffington Post deadline.  A spokeswoman at the Texas Department of Public Safety, the agency that certifies Texans to teach classes on concealed handguns, confirmed that the agency has launched an investigation into Keller's business practices.


"The department became aware of the statements in question yesterday and has begun an investigation into the matter," she said in a prepared statement. "The department will take appropriate administrative action based on the findings from the investigation."

It was a message intended to bring in some extra business, a radio ad for a concealed handgun class at Keller’s Riverside Store in Mason, located in the heart of the Texas hill country. view full article

made a political error

I have two posts to do - this one is stupid politics - the other has to do with OU - UT.

I have an exstudent, girl - actually she is more of a young lady now I would suppose - from Manor.  She was different than most - walked to the beat of a different drummer - somewhat mystical thinking.   She wasn't quite a Goth, but still different.  I really liked her and the independence she had.

On facebook, she sent me an invitation to Occupy Austin.   People send me invitation to all sorts of Facebook things.  I ignore all.  This one rang a bell in my brain.  It asked if I would attend:  yes, no, ignore.
I clicked No.   C'mon, I'm not going to drive to Austin and stand around with a bunch of strangers holding signs accomplishing nothing.   I think they are complaining about dastardly corporate greed, mean ole business people, and especially rich people.  There is nothing worse than a rich person...he had to cheat to make the money  or at the least he took it from some widow or orphan.

So I clicked "no"  and made a couple of comments like -- I'm not going to any Obama rally  --  and  ask yourself who is paying for all of this.   Anyone who thinks these gatherings are financed by independents, is just simply out of touch with reality. 

To make a long story shorter, all of a sudden I am getting facebook message from all sorts of strangers who are fussing at me.    I did add a couple more little comments, and, then, told them that I would delete any further contact from strangers.

What did I learn?  These comments to an invite - them thar are not private.   I have tried to quit arguing with Liberals and Obama worshipers.  It serves no purpose - just like here - if you add a comment fussing at me, it will be ignored.  So there.
m

Dallas Morning News

The FBI is serving a search warrant at the Dallas County commissioner’s offices in downtown Dallas, sources say. More details to come.

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In my email - I just got this notice from the Dallas Morning News -- "yippers" (Bro Jim's famous word), the newspaper is going to be more fun to read soon.

You'd think conflicts would settle down once in a while. Just give us one month of peace - just one month...oh, wait, I don't live in Dallas County.  I wonder if the local TV stations will be there with helicopters like following OJ down the highway.   I do hope so.  That would prempt Oprah and all the soaps.   GLORY BE !!!