Food For Thought

Subject: DEPT. OF ENERGY

Does anybody out there have any memory of the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ... during the Carter Administration?

• Anybody?
• Anything?
• No?
• Didn't think so !
  

Bottom line ... we've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency ... the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember.

Ready??????? It was very simple ... and at the time everybody thought it very appropriate...

The 'Department of Energy' was instituted on 08-04-1977 ... TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.

Hey, pretty efficient, huh?????

And now 32 years later ... the Budget for this "Necessary" Department is at 24.2 Billion dollars a year.

For that amount we get:

• 16,000 Federal Employees
• and approximately 100,000 Contract Employees

AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE!

• Gas Companies making Billion dollar Quarterly Profits.
• Gas Prices averaging $2.60 per gallon for Regular Unleaded.
• Automobiles and Trucks that suck the gas up with amazing fuel efficiency of 15 mile per gallon.
• Plans for High Effiency Nuclear Power Plants that still sit on the drawing table.
• Millions of gallons of unrefined oil waiting to be drilled for in the Continetal US.
  

>>> THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD
AND SAY "WHAT WAS I THINKING?" <<<

Ah, yes, good ole bureaucracy ... And NOW we are going to turn the Banking System, Health Care & the Auto Industry over to them?

A Child's Prayer

Dear God,

Please send clothes for all those poor ladies in Daddy's computer.

Amen.

A Friend Returns Home

Sorry for the long time between posts ... Verizon managed to cut my cable for the Internet and it took COMCAST 5 days to repair it. The more I deal with any large corporation the more messed up they seem to be. All is well around the homestead except for it being so cool. We had frost last night (May right?) It has been fun the last few days not having cable or Internet, reminds me of the 60's though the kids didn't like it. I did manage to read a book, "The Shack" by William P. Young. It is well worth reading in my humble opinion. I am still puzzling over some of the things that were said, even after finishing it. Perhaps shortly I will blog about it some. A friend wants to sit down and discuss it, so that should prove most interesting. Last week, I learned a friend died on May 10th. He and I had bowled together for some 22+ years. I met him every year at the National Tournament. I will miss him and the times we shared letting the bowling lanes beat us up. The funny thing is we have now lost a bowling team member every year for the last three years. Is God telling me something?

Vincent Russell
September 01, 1932 - May 10, 2009

Wild Mom is getting nearer her deadline as the weekend grows closer. Now we just have to get her to slow down and just let things happen. Lady is getting ready for her birthday weekend coming up. I am still not sure what we will be doing but we will do something. No change in the job status for #1, #2, or Peanut. Good thing the unemployment is only 4% here ... if it was higher like most other places there would be a chance they would become permanent (for life) guests. The grandkids are a source of many laughs and chuckles. They each try an out do each other. AJ will stand in front of the TV and dance. Nothing is too sacred to not climb on. Lil Princess remains the center of attention and demands such. Lew is independent and acts like it. The similarities between him and #1 are uncanny and too numerous to count. Starr is still modeling and enjoying it. I think the telemarketing shine has worn off and it has revealed it self as the pain it really is. Peanut is consumed with "mommy duties", though she has managed to do some cooking. Believe it or not, but she is good. --- DISCLAIMER for my safety ... Lady is still my favorite cook. ---

Youth bowling has started and will run for 14 weeks. The season looks bright and full of optimism and hopefully one that is successful. The adult league will start the last weekend in August.

Work is the same and no one changes. We do manage to escape to WAMD to work. That gives us a 4+ hour window to recover and experience the real world. Don't they teach you virus scans and hard drive scans take time? Noting is instantaneous, well, except for their questions on why "MY System is broke."

What is it about Washington Sports ... the teams always seem to lose in the most ugly manner? Their skill level makes you wonder if they ever finished Junior Varsity sports.

Mothers Day 09

It was a great day. Lady had all three grand kids (Lew, Lil Princess, and AJ) go to Church with her. That was an adventure in itself. Lew managed to get a good shiner when Lil Princess hit him with her head. All three of them got some good time swinging on the swing set while Lady counted the morning offering. Then #1, Peanut, and #2 prepared dinner for her. It turned out very good though #1 kept worrying about it. Lady was very happy at the whole day. Even Starr was able to get through on the phone and talk with her. I had a great day because Lady was happy. Plus #1 managed to get the whole yard cut so the weeds aren't higher than the basement windows.

Wild Mom had a good day that included going out to eat. I sure missed having her around but I know she enjoyed being with her friends after her long vacation.

Thanks for the Great Memories

The weekend finally arrived. Our Bible Study group started a new course of study just doing Bible questions. The kicker is that we just can't give the answer ... we have to give the verse to support your answer. That makes it a little tougher. Of course you have a week to do 20 questions and you can use any resource you like. Friday Night was Chili Dogs and Brats at our friends house. Instead of dropping $125 eating out we made sandwich's and watched a movie, "License to Wed", all for less than $20 bucks. Eating out is nice but we would rather save the movie for the cruise which is 7 months away.

To Wild Mom, Lady, and Peanut ... I hope your Mother's Day is the best. I love you all and wish I could do more for you. Maybe one day I will be able to give you everything you want, until then I give you my heart and love.

Wild Mom is doing well and getting things done for the Reception. That is scheduled for the weekend of the 23-24 May. We haven't decided about going yet especially since it is Lady's birthday. Lady is fine and losing weight. Her and Peanut are losing weight using different programs but talk about it a lot. I just hope they both don't put a bikini on and ask me who is doing better. That would be a kiss of death for me. Peanut is fine and relieved that AJ is doing so well. The Cardiologist says every thing is good and he will not have too go back in. AJ is really active now and very opinionated. Chairs are not for sitting but standing up in, especially rocking chairs like the one he got for his 1st birthday.

#1 and #2 are pretty much the same ... still unemployed. #1 did do the yard work this weekend and I am very happy about that. Lil Princess and Lew aren't here yet since Lady and Peanut went to the Sister's In Christ banquet together. Too bad the other two couldn't find time. Last year when all three went Lady was unbelievably happy. Starr has an excuse and we love her just the same. Starr is doing well and working at her new job. I think Dave works their too. Hopefully they don't sneak off to the janitors closet too much and put smiles on their faces.

Work is the same. Cheng does his best to make it nice but the Stupid one's we can't fix seem to get more radical and father from reality. Thanks Cheng for doing it right.

We are trying to plan several things for the summer:

• A trip to Indiana so see Lady's parents.
• A weekend at the Cheat River Lodge in West Virginia. It has been a while since the last one.
• A weekend on ChincoTeague Island.
• A weekend in Florida for the Reception in May.

I got my first pay statement where they took less tax withholding out. Yes, it is nice to have the extra dollars but that means my tax bill will be larger next year. They don't mention that I will have about $1900 more to pay since they withheld less. Thanks Obama for the secret wedgie.

I see the Media must have been paid off since the gas prices have been creeping up (now at $2.17) and they haven't said one word about it. Last time they were screaming all the time. I guess Exxon's 400 Billion profit wasn't enough ... they need more to fund the exorbitant bonuses for the Executives.

Way to Go Manny ... you have been busted! You would have thought when the heat was turned up only a fool would test the waters ... oops ... you are the fool!