Going back in time

Shirley and I have spent the past several days in Berkeley with Mike. It is a neat city that is as vibrant and old as back in the 60s. Nostalgia set in. The hippies are still here with the addition of a bunch of pounds and minus a bunch of hair. I don’t remember that much due to too many pina coladas in the years since. I do miss the days when I had those double knit, sans–a–belt, hip hugger, elephant leg bellbottom slacks.(They look really cool when I do the Robot). I wore them well into the 80s. (Jill really misses those days as well. She had this nightmarish fear that one of her friends might see me in them.) I still like to wear the Mr T starter set of gold chains but only with his nicest Rayon shirts (4 buttons unbuttoned).

Shirley goes back to school

A one hour class on butterfly friendly plants ... what could be the harm? I'm not sure where my mind was when she mentioned it but I clearly wasn't thinking straight. As soon as she said it was at the Arboretum my mind should have gone: Arboretum ... spring ... flowers in full bloom ... Walden will not match up ... develop emergency plan NOW! But instead I said something clever like "fine."

Next thing I know I'm taking a day off work and hauling railroad ties, rocks, etc. around the property so we can build a 30' x 10' butterfly garden. Then she wants dirt. I thought we had 126 acres of dirt. It not like it isn't proven dirt with something already growing in it but I hear it isn't "processed" properly. 50 bags of topsoil, 10 bags of landscapers soil (same as top soil for 3 times the price) and 4 bags of compost later we have an empty planting bed and a tired husband.

... and the planting begins. ... and Shirley wonders why I don't take more days off. These are the days I really miss having Michael around Walden. Not that he would do any planting but that Shirley does not like to displease him. When she wanted a "gazebo world" around the lake he firmly opposed it in favor of the natural habitat. I still owe him for that one.

Jury Duty

I arrive in downtown Sherman about 8:45 for a 9:00 jury summons at the old courthouse in the middle of the traditional town square. The square is surrounded by the offices of ambulance chasers, retailers had moved out to the highway years ago. Most of my extra 15 minutes was taken up trying to find a place to park in a downtown that hasn’t seen any new construction in decades. I wonder why all the retailers left?

I managed to find a seat in a full courtroom, roughly 250 people, about 30 of whom were in the hallway by the time everyone got there. The County Clerk started into her routine about 9:15. She wanted us to know that we were as important to democracy and our way of life as those soldiers fighting and dying in those two wars across the water … and she was really proud of us. She also wanted to know that through her hard work they have really made this jury thing much more efficient. We would be on a case or on our way home by 10:30. She turned the proceedings over to the security guard who told us to leave our guns and switchblades in our cars because they wouldn’t let us take them into the real courtroom across the street. …. And he told us how proud he was of us.

About 9:30 the Clerk read off the names of the 1st jury pool, there were 4 scheduled for this day. 9:45, the 2nd reading of names. 10:05, the 3rd reading of names is postponed because there were some people in the hallway at the courthouse and the judge didn’t want any comingling with a jury pool, heaven forbid. Take a 20 minute break. 10:30, hallway must be clear, the 3rd reading of names. The Clerk informs us that the 4th pool might not be needed. We need to wait for the judge to call but the Clerk is tired of us. She goes back to her office and leaves her assistant in charge, who has been waiting in the wings to tell how unbelievably wonderful all of us are for doing our duty today.

I beginning to think maybe this is voluntary, that I wouldn’t be arrested if I didn’t show up. I reread the summons, no such luck. 10:45 the judge has called and he is coming over to talk to us. 11:15 the judge finally shows up from his walk across the street, it should have taken him about 3 minutes. He kept us there because he wanted us to know how proud he was of us and what an important role we had played today in defending the free world. Ah freedom and the price we pay.

The Table ... otherwise known as both my fathersday and birthday gift

 

Eat Rice

Jim Collins of "Good to Great" fame is researching talent which he believes comes mostly from effort … generally around 10 years of well focused, hard work. Asians being smarter than white people is a result of 1,500 years of growing rice. Rice is a crop that takes more work and better focus than growing corn or wheat. David Landes points out in "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations" that no great, innovative city or country is located inside the tropics (pre air conditioning). He attributes heat, requiring most people to take the middle of the day off. Those fortunate enough to live on a pacific isle could generally pick and catch their food needs for the day within a couple of hours … and take the rest of the day off. Cold climates require a lot more work and thus most great innovation and cities come from these regions. Rice farming is apparently the pinnacle in developing the talent to build great societies.

But before we go off and start growing rice … I’m thinking eating rice might be just as good. I think I’m pretty smart (Michael, I don’t need you to bring me back to reality). My friend Albert Ku once told me that I eat more rice than any white man he has ever known. I think it works. Unfortunately, I heard about 8 months ago that the healthiest thing a non-smoking person can do is lose weight. I’ve managed to lose 15 pounds but in doing so, I gave up rice. I guess I won't get any smarter … (and Michael, once again I don’t need your help on this.)

Replacing perfectly good furniture

Shirley and I have a fundamental difference in our furniture philosophy. My tendency is is to take my time, when I see something I like, I buy it. I'm not done with it until a leg falls off or the fabric is in shreds (and not necessarily even then). Shirley, on the other hand, believes that if there is a space, it needs to be filled. Replacement time occurs when she sees something she likes better.

Last week, while leaving Sam's, she sees a set of chaise lounge chairs she thinks would be great on our patio, replacing a couple of perfectly good ones. She likes these chaise because of the thick cushions. The ones we have are a woven plastic. I explained that my experience with the thick cushions is that they collect yard debris and turn shades of green and black in the seams. I don't think she heard me because when the weekend arrived, she announced we were going to Sam's to check out the chaise ... which means she needed me to load them.

We got to Sam's and it turns out that the chaise were really chairs with footstools and part of a six piece set for roughly two grand. It wasn't what she wanted. You may be thinking that I am happy with this but not if you really know Shirley ... for the journey had just begun. Everywhere we go (even a trip for dirt at Home Depot) now involves a search for outdoor furniture. That night she asks how would I like to eat dinner at Macaroni Grill. She knows I really like the Parmesan crusted sole but she never liked the place. Turns out there is a new Casual Living store right next door.

We enter Casual Living and she says "Wow, look at that table." It was a combination onyx, petrified wood and other stone. It was beautiful and I agreed. Then we continued our search for the perfect chaise. They had a large selection but the only thing I noticed was that a single cushion sold for $200 (actually $199). She asked if I liked any of them and I casually responded that the $3,000 table was the only thing I saw that I liked. She responded with "You just have to have that table don't you. Well OK but it is both your father's day and birthday gift." The table arrived Monday and the only good news is that it occupies the exact space designated for the new chaises. At least the journey is over for now.

Time vs. Money

We spend a lot of time thinking about money, especially how to get more of it. We think of what it can buy us but rarely about what it can't buy ... time. Think about it. Warren Buffett is 78 years 8 months old. He's got billions, he's a nice guy and has a good family. He is always ranked either the richest or 2nd richest man on earth. Would you trade your wealth and age for his? I wouldn't and I'd probably be giving up a lot fewer years than you. Time is worth more than money. Spend more of it appreciating that which you have it. ... and don't waste it.

btw - money is fifth. After Family, health, time and repect.

You remind me of your father

... are among Eric's least favorite words these days when Landry's on the loose. They are generally not heard because Landry just picked up his room, did a good deed for his mother or helped his sister. And they seem to come mostly from those of us who knew Eric when he was Landry's age. And they are said often, even more often lately. Though it should be said that while Eric is not that thrilled, Jill and I are loving it.

Landry and Audrey came to visit the other day. Soon they asked for their requisite snacks, chips and dip for Landry, a cheese tortilla pizza for Audrey. Then Audrey surprisingly says she will get the chips for Landry. She emerges smiling from the pantry carrying Bailey's and Becket's bacon strip snacks. Shirley tells her that those are dog treats. The smile widens. Between giggles she says "I know." Oh Eric, too bad (hee hee hee).

Defense budget continues to rise … at a slower rate … but still

Spending on defense with an amount greater than the rest of the world combined has not made us safer. In fact, what our politicians have asked our military to do has had just the opposite effect. Cases in point are:

• Iraq – hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced from their homes … has that made us safer?
• Afghanistan – have you noticed it is getting worse and we are sending more troops? … did this work for the Russians or the British … or us in Viet Nam. We supported the Taliban against the Russians in Afghanistan because we wanted it to be their Viet Nam. History does repeat.
• Pakistan and their nukes – Has our presence and billions made them more or less stable?
• Gitmo – enough said.

Things that make us safe are:

• A strong economy
• The world greatest innovation and infrastructure
• The moral high ground

These motivate others to be more like us and want to help us. Defense spending takes from these and creates that budget red ink that our children will need to pay (and us through inflation). Green technology and communications infrastructure will protect this country more than another tank or jet fighter.

Tale of two Tylirs

Tylir headed back to the farm when Jill requested that he pick up a bag a lettuce at the new Braums on the way. She hung up with him as he got there. Dutifully he found the lettuce and went to check-out, looking at his text messages as he got there. The clerk scanned the lettuce and Tylir saw $2.19 on the video display. He handed the clerk a $5 bill and was checking a text message when he realized he had 20 cents, which he promptly pulled out of his pocket and handed to the clerk. The clerk had rung up the $5. He looked at the 20 cents, looked at Tylir, looked at the 20 cents, looked at Tylir, looked at the 20 cents, looked at the cash drawer, looked at Tylir ... Tylir could see progressive levels of panic on the clerks face with each successive look. Tylir finally said "Just give me $3.01 in change." The clerk nodded and uttered an "uh, okay." Looked at the cash drawer, looked at Tylir a couple of more times and put the 20 cents in the drawer. Tyler looks at the video display again and it says $2.81 ... an says "Oh wait, was it $2.19 or $2.81?" The clerk looks at Tylir, his video display, the cash drawer in a unending loop. That is when Tylir noticed that his name was Tylir. Back on the farm we were saying "I wonder what is taking Tylir so long?"

btw .. the 2nd Tylir really spelled his name Tyler.

Take your daughter to work day

Jack Henry announced that it is supporting a "take your daughter to work day" this month. It got me thinking, it might be an easy day at the office. Jill probably a little old at thirty something to hang with me but then I thought of the grand daughters. I could really impress everyone with those two beauties. Audrey the princess at four would be great ... but then she's not real fond of strangers. Hayden at almost one and still loves strangers ... but then there is that diaper thing. I heard on the news about a guy who took his 4 year old daughter with him to rob a convenience store. Maybe this isn't such a good idea.

Wanted - pretty, young, female journalist

Shirley introduced me to a new TV show the other night, "Castle". It is about a who-done-it mystery writer suffering from writer's block. He has found that hanging out with a NYC, young and beautiful police investigator might help. They exchange a lot of witty dialog and seem to have fun. I've blogged about my own bouts with writer's block and I'm thinking if it works for Castle, why not me? I don't exactly want to hang out with a cop but a journalist sounds interesting. So call me if you know of any young, pretty journalists that want to hang out with a balding, young-at-heart sixty year old man. Well,maybe not so young-at-heart. Getting a good nights sleep is one of my favorite activities these days. I need to go to bed.