Snow

I love snow.  I get very excited when it snows.  It's snowing now, and sticking to the grassy areas around the house. 

But, I must be mellowing in my old age.  I can't get excited about it.  All I can think about are all the people still without power and heat since last week.  I've heard reports that it can take up to another week to months to fully restore gas and electric to the affected areas.

They are in our prayers.

Post Election Thoughts

It's a sad day for America.  The "Gimme Generation" has won.  Now there will be handouts for everyone who does not feel the need to work and produce for society.

Now that the election is over, I wonder if the president will finally give us the answers we deserve on a number of events. 

I'm talking about the Benghazi attack on September 11, Fast and Furious gunrunning.  Will he be willing to at least speak with the Republicans?

Will the director of the infamous video who was arrested on a probation violation and imprisoned for exercising his 1st Amendment rights be released and allowed to give interviews?

Will all the states now submit their information so that we can have an accurate reading of the unemployment rate?

Will the Ft. Hood massacre finally be classified as the terrorist attack that it was and not workplace violence so that our brave military can receive the benefits they deserve? 

I have many more questions, but that's enough for today.

Shades of the 70's

I'm sure by now, everyone has heard about the gas shortages here in the NY Metropolitan area.  We in NJ are having the same problem.

On Saturday, a friend called me to let me know about a gas station that was open, although it had a long line.  She had waited about 1/2 hour, but was able to fill up.  The next day I set out to fill my tank, especially since I heard we may get another storm on Wednesday.  I lucked out, only had to wait 15 minutes.

It reminded me of the 70's when we had much longer waits for gas.  We also had the odd/even rationing.  We made it through then, and we'll make it through now.

It also reminded me of my, then, 3 year old son's favorite game.  After hearing about the lines from us and the TV, he would line up his cars and trucks and play "gas line".  Who says TV doesn't influence children?

The Way It Should Be

I am so proud of my former neighborhood of Woodhaven, Queens, NY.  They have been collecting food and clothing for the residents of Breezy Point, Rockaway, Broad Channel and Howard Beach, Queens.

The people in those areas have lost so much to Sandy.  What was not flooded and destroyed by the ocean were burned to the ground.  I don't know about loss of life in this area, I do know that most of the residents followed the evacuation orders.

The Woodhaven Residents Block Association has made numerous trips to the affected areas with these donations.  This all-volunteer organization is still collecting food, warm clothing, blankets, etc.  They didn't wait for the government (taxpayers) to bring those supplies, they just got together and donated whatever they could spare for their neighbors.  It's the American way, neighbors helping neighbors.

There is a place for the government in a tragedy like this.  They should make sure that everyone is safe, that all downed wires are no longer "live" and that trees and debris are removed to avoid the danger of accidents.  They should make sure that power is restored so that the clean-up can be done. They should also make sure that gasoline is available for first responders, cars,  private generators and that the local towns have enough gas for the fire engines and police cars.  I've heard that some places have only a 2 day reserve.

I saw an interview with a man on Staten Island (another borough that suffered major destruction) who lost his restaurant and his home.  He ended the interview by expressing his concern and prayers for those who had lost family members.  He felt blessed that at least everyone in his family was alive.

I was one of the lucky ones.  I only lost power for 2 1/2 days and experienced no flooding, just some discomfort, but I hear that the surrounding area is devastated.  There are so many downed trees that some roads are closed.

All we can do for now is pray for those who have lost their homes and that while they are rebuilding,  they can find some place to live as the colder weather arrives.

The Debate

I've just finished watching the last (thankfully) debate of this presidential campaign.

I just have a few thoughts.  I felt that the president was mocking Governor Romney when he spoke about the size of the military saying that we had fewer ships than in years past, but we also have fewer horses.  He also said that we have something called aircraft carriers where airplanes can land and take off.  I felt that this was uncalled for.  It's not necessary to speak down to, or mock, your opponent to get your point across.

After the first debate the president was criticized for not looking Romney in the eye.  I think he overdid it this time, he just stared or at times, it seemed like he glared.

I am a little disappointed in Governor Romney.  During the discussion about jobs being shipped to China, he should have mentioned that Jeffrey Imelt, the head of GE and also head of the president's jobs council, has sent one of GE's divisions' manufacturing jobs to China.  I guess that's because he didn't ask my advice.  I am glad though that he mentioned Solyndra and two car battery companies that received loans from us and are not producing.  That was money wasted.

Now all we have to do is get through the next two weeks and while I would like to see our unemployment rate go down, I'd like to see it reported honestly by all states, not like the last time.

I wonder what the "October Surprise" will be.

I admit that I am a "news junkie".  I like to know what's going on, even though it is sometimes disturbing like the report I heard yesterday.

It seems that there has been a delay in some states in getting the absentee ballots to our military in the middle east and other places.  In fact, our own department of justice is SUING the state of Ohio because Ohio wants to give our military an extra 3 days to vote.  The pentagon has had over 3 years to set up offices in the middle east so that these absentee ballots can be collected and returned home for counting.  They have not done so, resulting in some of our military to not have their vote counted.

This is so wrong.  If anything, the votes of military personnel should be counted before those of civilians.  They are out there working to preserve our way of life, including our right to vote and yet, they may lose their vote.

The military favors Gov. Romney by a wide margin.  Could this be the reason for their not getting their ballots in time to make their vote count?  I hate to think this may be true, but is there any other reason why our own justice department is suing  Ohio because Ohio wants to give our military 3 extra days to vote?  The way things are going, I'm tempted to believe this is true.  What do you think?

The Vice Presidential Debate

Last night I went out to dinner with some friends and so missed most of the debate.  I've been listening to some of the comments on Fox News this morning and had get up to voice my comments.

I caught the last 15 minutes and was quite surprised by the childishness of Joe Biden after Paul Ryan gave his closing statement.  Biden pointed out that he expected to get as much time as Paul Ryan.

Now to the comments on parts I missed.  It has been said that Biden was smirking and laughing during Paul Ryan's time to speak.  This should not surprise anyone.  It seems to be a democrat response.  I have seen this many times when Fox News is presenting both sides of a story.  The democrat spokesperson laughs at the republican/conservative point of view.  This is so offensive, and so common.

I am so looking forward to next week's presidential debate to see how the president will behave.  Will he continue the childish behavior of the vice president?  Or will he behave as a mature professional and stick to the facts?  We'll find out soon.