Stoic no more ...

My father was a stoic.In his work at the Philadelphia Naval yard , where he worked building and repairing naval vessels in war and peace time , he often suffered cuts , burns , and slivers of steel into his hands ... I know because I saw him treating his injuries, often at the kitchen table during the 1950's. I think that's how I learned that you don't go to Doctor's , unless the pain is so bad you can't stand up, or the bleeding just won't stop.The first treatment of myself that I recall was using a sewing needle to pry a pyramid shaped piece of clear glass out of a finger, where it had become lodged.Actually I was so entranced by what I was doing, I don't think it really hurt.When the local Doc came to our house, after tetanus set in after stepping on a nail, and keeping it to myself; Well that was some real pain when he carved out the wound twice without anesthetic. I clearly remember him saying "you can scream all you want , But don't move " , and I did scream loud and plenty ! But of course , as instructed , I did not move ... I remember smashing my forehead into concrete, on at least three separate occasions before I was eight years old , and there could have been more, that I have finally forgotten... That's a kind of pain that is in a distinct category , all by it's self.Around eleven or twelve I flew over the handle bars of my one new bike , and not wanting to hear that brain slosh sound again ( I fear it even now ), I stuck my arm out to fend off the street from my head, and sure enough it broke.A nice clean, straight across fracture of my right radius. The two U-turns at Chestnut Hill hospital suggested " Anesthesia will make you too sick to eat dinner, so you don' need it right? ". It only took about fifteen seconds to set the bone , but that was the worst pain a human being can feel. My whole existence turned into an exceedingly bright light , and the light was all total pain...I was introduced to Migraine on or about my twenty first birthday . They got worse until I was about 48 and then they eased off to,Oh no! Here we go again ! I remember almost breaking into tears, when I was about 32 , and I knew one was coming . Some women have indicated that they are similar to the pain of child birth , only the baby (in my case)was coming out of behind my left eye ! Once I recall getting a round about codeine capsule , and I was so happy to be spared (Just Once, until then ). The bottom line is over the years I had learned to accept pain without cursing or making loud noises... For instance , I trained myself to yell " God Bless America!!! " if I hit my thumb with a hammer. And as I often got severely pulled muscles, and back strains at work, as long as I could stand , or use the other arm , I would just keep smiling , with my nose to the grind stone.Of course that is by no means a complete list of my physical agonies ,and none were so bad or frequent as my psychological injuries. No more will I hide my pain . That's one reason I knew it was time to leave the work place.I felt a sense of honesty overwhelming me.I began to feel like screaming a demonstration of how I felt about the pain inflicted on me, be it physical or mental! I could be" Stoic No More!" And you must know , you can't walk around telling the truth , without risking your own crucifixion! Honesty had finally got the best of me! Now I find that I am a stranger , in a strange land.....

Life Styles of The Retired and Infamous

As a Teenager,I remember at the beginning of Summer diving into the cold water of a swimming pool, not yet warmed up by the June Sun . There was always that hopeful thought that , if I just hold on , I'll get used to it pretty quick ! Retirement was a lot like that...Except at first , I could not see much to hold on to ! There was no more fat pay check , no more minor wielding of authority , no more scheduled work periods,no more ego support from people who were glad you showed up to get their back ... In six months though it came to me that, now I did not have to vie for holidays off , and I would be off every weekend;in fact every day would be a Holiday! Lucky for me I have two great Grand Kids to take my mind off resting fairly regularly .And I can mow my own lawn again , which saves a tidy sum each summer. Of course any work or chore to be done around the house now days must be accomplished in a ritual manor . First there is the careful planning. Then comes the preparation stage.Then of course I can't start until the moment is right, energy and weather wise... I'm still generally an early riser, but I move slowly for the first twenty minutes or so.I don't want to rush into anything , so first I put on the T.V., right after I let the dog out. I am curious as to how the world is getting along without me and I like to check out the DOW futures are . The main thing I keep in mind is " I'm in no hurry ". Life in the after life is good...

Why has President Bush not been impeached yet ?

The Demoncrats have put the bad mouth on President Bush since before he took the oath of office. When JFK squeaked by Nixon by a suspicious hair in Illinois , The Future President Nixon didn't scream " I was robbed ! " , as he very honestly could have . Nor did the Republican party run around screaming the Demoncrats cheated ! When President Nixon got his turn at bat , he did get us out of Vietnam and he started The U.S. down the road of peaceful relations with the most populous nation on earth, China . He also kept our military strong enough to fend off communist Russia , and of course we had plenty of cheap gasoline to put in our muscle cars... During the Clinton Demoncratic administration , The Towers in new York were bombed, We had Waco , Ruby Ridge, A U.S. Naval Vessel was almost sunk in the middle east , one of our Embassies in Africa was blown up and of course their was the blue dress girl in the oval office! But the Demoncrat's didn't blame Clinton for every three wheeler that went off the curb ! Aw shucks ! That could happen to any President ?!! The most amazing idea I ever heard is G.Bush is some how responsible for 9 /11 ?!! On that date and time , my wife and I were on an airplane , that had to make a U turn half way across the Atlantic Ocean, to return to Spain , where we had been touring... Hardship was in the offing , but that's another story. But what really gauls me is how the Demoncrats used the screw ups of the Mayor of New Orleans, and the governor of Louisiana to Blame President Bush for the results of an Act of God , that they weren't prepared for. Sic : All of those "Poor People " could have been evacuated before the storm hit , in one of those thousand school buses , seen in parking lots , up to there windshields in water, after the storm... Never forget, Hurricanes don't just show up one morning,and go Boo! Nowadays , it is widely known three to five days before they get here !!! The Demoncrats say George Bush has done so many evil and illegal things . Why in the wide world have they not impeached him yet?!! It's simple ! It's because they are liars, without any proof for their fabrications and innuendos ! Now is the time for me to stop before my head explodes !

Politicians and lower gasoline prices

Both major political parties are having debates and Big speech making opportunities, as of late.They all want to let us know what their going to do about abortion , Iraq, the environment, free health care for illegal aliens , and aliens from mars ! What they never want to talk about is how they could greatly help almost every single American profoundly ! And without breaking the Government Bank ! Now as a preamble let me just say " I remember when , I thought a Dollar a gallon for gasoline was outrageous ! ". Like everything else, the cost of gasoline , and Home Heating Oil, ( Same as Diesel fuel) is predicated on " Supply and Demand ". We all know where the demand is ...What few people know is the Supply is squeezed out of too few Oil Refineries !!! Look at it like this if overnight we had a surplus of oil , that would not automatically mean cheap gasoline . No that oil has to be r e f i n e d , and that's going to take awhile at our too few refineries . Say when did they build a new refinery in the USA ? How about 30 years ago ! So , if a refinery in California has a fire and goes off line... Supply goes down , costs go up! And not just in California , but in Pennsylvania too! Some oil (like from South America) is so thick , not every refinery can crack it... Okay, What can those running for president do ? Well it's my understanding that Oil Companies can only build a new refinery with the Permission/ License of the Federal Government...So each presidential candidate should be asked on one of those TV wingdings if they will swear to strive to get ten new refineries built in the USA in the next five years , if elected ? Then we could hold their feet to the fire for that treasured second term! Also , that alcohol/gasoline made from corn is stupid ! Because the fuel would cost more to the consumer in the end , and it's already driving up food prices throughout the Western Hemisphere . Not to mention that there is plenty of oil off of our coast's , and in Reindeer Land , if the Tree Huggers would just let us get at it !!! Speaking of Huggers , How about if Chappaquidick Ted would allow some energy company to put up some nice Green Energy Producing Wind Mills in his back yard ?!! Teddy has already said "No way Josie !" Now every one who could live better with less expensive gasoline raise your hand. Mine's up !.....