Do you believe in karma? I have lived a lot of years and I have come to the conclusion that it does exist and has been following me around most of my life. I guess the question is whether it is a good thing or not?
As most of you know I have prepared income taxes for many, many years and, when estimating my taxes I try diligently to break even with the government if I can. I don't want to make them an interest free loan for most of the year but I also don't want to short pay and end up writing a big check with penalties and interest. Don't get me wrong, if I can write a big check on April 15th with no penalty or interest I am just fine.
So this year circumstances with some compensation from a former employer resulted in a significant over withholding of taxes and hence, a sizable refund coming my way. So I received my last required form on Thursday and cranked the information into my tax software and voila! BIG REFUND! Daddy is smiling because that money will come in handy for our trip to see Emily and family in April.
Not so fast, Big Boy! Seems as if karma has other plans for that money. I get home Thursday night and tell Emma of our good fortune and she had a little good news from the dentist. She has $2,000 of dental work that needs to be done. Okay, I can deal with that. I am reading my mail and the car dealer had sent me a nice letter that very day telling me that the recent service I had done on my car indicates that I need new tires. Good bye another $400!
Well, that stinks but I am still positive about the situation. Until Saturday morning and Emma informs me that we have no hot water. Sure enough, can't coax a drop of hot from the faucet! So it looks like the plumber will be getting some of that as well. I can hardly wait for tomorrow to come!
The question is do I have good karma or bad? In some respects it is good that I am getting the refund because of these unanticipated expenses facing me. On the other hand, is this karma's way of telling me I really don't have control and that the money was going regardless of my plans. I choose the former rather than the latter because life will definitely be easier that the money is there. Regardless, Emma will get her dental work, the tires and the hot water heater will get replaced, and we will see Emily and family in April. Life is good!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Has Our Ship Already Sailed?
In the same vein as the last post to this blog another candidate has dropped from the race for the Republican nomination. Quite frankly I never did understand what John Huntsman was smoking when he decided to run but apparently it was primo! To think he had a chance was truly amazing. Nonetheless he ran, he lost, let's move on.
Depending on their finishes Saturday in the South Carolina primary I anticipate at least one more dropping out next week sometime. Probably will be either Perry, Santorum, or both. Perry needs to drag himself back to Texas and do the job he was elected to do. Santorum doesn't have a job so he needs to go fishing. Regardless, they neither one had much business being in the race so let's face reality boys!
That will leave Newt, who has no money but can give Romney what for, and Paul who can give Romney what for as well and has a little money. Paul is a crackpot and Newt is a serial adulterer and neither has a chance. So it may take Florida to knock them out but not much more. Let the coronation begin!
Don't get me wrong, I am not happy about this. (See previous blog post) But I am realistic and recognize that these week candidates are too far off the mainstream to get elected. Santorum could not even defend his Senate seat in Pennsylvania! He is a one-trick pony. To a lesser extent Rick Perry is a narrowly defined candidate also. The most important thing he has done for Texas is to stay out of the way. Good hair and smile about sums him up!
So let's jump forward and look at Mitt's prospects for victory. It can be summed up by answering this one question : How badly do you want Barrack Obama out of office? I personally think that another 4 years of him could be the death of our country. Too dramatic? I think not! It will allow for the full implementation of his healthcare program which will bankrupt our country almost immediately. So I would vote for just about anyone but him. That's a given. But what about that vast segment of the voting (or non voting) public that needs to be romanced by the candidates? Is Romney pretty enough for them? Can he "win" a debate with the Teleprompter in Chief? Will Romney's schtick be enough? He is the candidate of the press and the establishment Republicans but will the Tea Party rally behind him as their nominee?
My answer to this is NO! I believe we need to prepare ourselves for another 4 years of Obama. The administration, along with the press, has started the statistical manipulation of the employment figures and other economic data, building a story about an improving economy and happy days are here again! I anticipate the unemployment rate will get below 8% about September or October. Not really, but that is what will be reported. And, of course, in true Democrat fashion Obama will be giving away the store to his loyal base, the non-working/non-taxpaying voters. From the other side Romney will not have any credibility with the conservatives and will not be successful getting out the vote. I hope I am wrong!
So the best thing I see that we can do is really start looking for a REAL candidate for 2016. We will need one because there is a certain Secretary of State that will be running. Of course that assumes that we will have a country left.
Depending on their finishes Saturday in the South Carolina primary I anticipate at least one more dropping out next week sometime. Probably will be either Perry, Santorum, or both. Perry needs to drag himself back to Texas and do the job he was elected to do. Santorum doesn't have a job so he needs to go fishing. Regardless, they neither one had much business being in the race so let's face reality boys!
That will leave Newt, who has no money but can give Romney what for, and Paul who can give Romney what for as well and has a little money. Paul is a crackpot and Newt is a serial adulterer and neither has a chance. So it may take Florida to knock them out but not much more. Let the coronation begin!
Don't get me wrong, I am not happy about this. (See previous blog post) But I am realistic and recognize that these week candidates are too far off the mainstream to get elected. Santorum could not even defend his Senate seat in Pennsylvania! He is a one-trick pony. To a lesser extent Rick Perry is a narrowly defined candidate also. The most important thing he has done for Texas is to stay out of the way. Good hair and smile about sums him up!
So let's jump forward and look at Mitt's prospects for victory. It can be summed up by answering this one question : How badly do you want Barrack Obama out of office? I personally think that another 4 years of him could be the death of our country. Too dramatic? I think not! It will allow for the full implementation of his healthcare program which will bankrupt our country almost immediately. So I would vote for just about anyone but him. That's a given. But what about that vast segment of the voting (or non voting) public that needs to be romanced by the candidates? Is Romney pretty enough for them? Can he "win" a debate with the Teleprompter in Chief? Will Romney's schtick be enough? He is the candidate of the press and the establishment Republicans but will the Tea Party rally behind him as their nominee?
My answer to this is NO! I believe we need to prepare ourselves for another 4 years of Obama. The administration, along with the press, has started the statistical manipulation of the employment figures and other economic data, building a story about an improving economy and happy days are here again! I anticipate the unemployment rate will get below 8% about September or October. Not really, but that is what will be reported. And, of course, in true Democrat fashion Obama will be giving away the store to his loyal base, the non-working/non-taxpaying voters. From the other side Romney will not have any credibility with the conservatives and will not be successful getting out the vote. I hope I am wrong!
So the best thing I see that we can do is really start looking for a REAL candidate for 2016. We will need one because there is a certain Secretary of State that will be running. Of course that assumes that we will have a country left.
Friday, January 6, 2012
And the Field Narrows........
Thank God Iowa is over! If we can just survive the next inconsequential state primary in New Hampshire next week then we can get back to reality.
Here is the deal. The press and the establishment Republicans have decided that Romney is the most "electable" candidate in the race for the nomination. So with his "win" in the Iowa caucuses the rest of the candidates should just drop out and let him have it. Perry is too stupid, Gingrich is too fat, Paul is too wacky, and Santorum is whatever.
So we are supposed to let 100,000 hayseeds in Iowa decide who is going to run against the Teleprompter in Chief? The last I checked there were a couple of more people in this country (try 312,000,000) and those caucus goers in Iowa represent 0.03% of that population. Considering that Romney beat Santorum by 8 votes and received 25% of the vote that would mean that 0.00125% voted for him. Either someone is smoking something evil or learned their statistics at A&M because that is not a representative sample.
No Mitt, there is not a Santa Claus and you will have to earn the nomination. That means you need to put on your conservative mask, especially in the South, and do your best impersonation of Ronald Reagan. Rick Perry, the Stupid One, apparently didn't get the memo and is over in South Carolina stumping for votes. The fact that he has a great track record doesn't matter, he just can't Bo Jangles with Obama. Santorum, another Non-Believer, is in New Hampshire, just happy to be there. So because the same number of people (less 8 ) voted for him that makes him the great conservative hope? Santorum is a one trick pony and while I like his pony (pro life) I don't think it is enough to classify him as a conservative. He is a Pennsylvania Republican which is not much different than a Pennsylvania Democrat. (see Arlen Spector).
So will Romney get the nomination? Maybe. If he does, will he beat Obama? Not likely. Hello, he was elected Governor of Massachusetts! What does that tell you about his conservative credentials? Either he was lying then or he is lying now and either way he is a snoozer! He is pretty, has good hair, and is acceptable to the establishment. Unfortunately those are the same folks that gave us John McCain, Bob Dole, and George Bush (Both of them) THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OF THEM TO WIN THE ELECTION FOR HIM!!! I will vote for him if he is the nominee. I'd vote for a stump if Obama was his opponent! But what it is going to take to beat Obama is those lazy butts that need a foot well placed to get them to the polls. They need inspiration, imagination, leadership. Romney generates about as much enthusiasm as a buck of spit. Obama has his usual Kool-aid drinkers and takers that will go vote for him. That is almost half of the voters. Not coincidentally they are primarily the ones not paying income taxes. And when Obama starts doing his impersonation of Oprah and starts giving away the store he will get a large portion of the uninspired couch potatoes ready to go to whoever makes them the best deal.
So who do I want? I'm not sure he is in the race and that is disappointing. I have watched enough debates to know that they are all a bunch of professional liars and, due to the wussification of America, a real man is going to have trouble getting through the gauntlet. Ronald Reagan would have trouble getting elected in this political climate. I prefer someone who has actually had to earn a living, maybe even met a payroll with his own money. Wall Street types like Romney and Washington insiders like Gingrich instill nothing but suspicion and mistrust in me. Perry has been a career politician so we know where his allegiances lie. With himself! Huntsman, Paul, Santorum. Is that it?
It looks like another Christmas will go by with me not getting what I want: a strong, conservative president that will take the job seriously and get our financial house in order. Whoever is elected will inherit a $16 trillion + national debt and no plan to deal with it. In fact, if if Obamacare is fully implemented that debt will blow past $20 trillion before you know it. Wish I could end this on a positive note but I just don't have it in me today.
Here is the deal. The press and the establishment Republicans have decided that Romney is the most "electable" candidate in the race for the nomination. So with his "win" in the Iowa caucuses the rest of the candidates should just drop out and let him have it. Perry is too stupid, Gingrich is too fat, Paul is too wacky, and Santorum is whatever.
So we are supposed to let 100,000 hayseeds in Iowa decide who is going to run against the Teleprompter in Chief? The last I checked there were a couple of more people in this country (try 312,000,000) and those caucus goers in Iowa represent 0.03% of that population. Considering that Romney beat Santorum by 8 votes and received 25% of the vote that would mean that 0.00125% voted for him. Either someone is smoking something evil or learned their statistics at A&M because that is not a representative sample.
No Mitt, there is not a Santa Claus and you will have to earn the nomination. That means you need to put on your conservative mask, especially in the South, and do your best impersonation of Ronald Reagan. Rick Perry, the Stupid One, apparently didn't get the memo and is over in South Carolina stumping for votes. The fact that he has a great track record doesn't matter, he just can't Bo Jangles with Obama. Santorum, another Non-Believer, is in New Hampshire, just happy to be there. So because the same number of people (less 8 ) voted for him that makes him the great conservative hope? Santorum is a one trick pony and while I like his pony (pro life) I don't think it is enough to classify him as a conservative. He is a Pennsylvania Republican which is not much different than a Pennsylvania Democrat. (see Arlen Spector).
So will Romney get the nomination? Maybe. If he does, will he beat Obama? Not likely. Hello, he was elected Governor of Massachusetts! What does that tell you about his conservative credentials? Either he was lying then or he is lying now and either way he is a snoozer! He is pretty, has good hair, and is acceptable to the establishment. Unfortunately those are the same folks that gave us John McCain, Bob Dole, and George Bush (Both of them) THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OF THEM TO WIN THE ELECTION FOR HIM!!! I will vote for him if he is the nominee. I'd vote for a stump if Obama was his opponent! But what it is going to take to beat Obama is those lazy butts that need a foot well placed to get them to the polls. They need inspiration, imagination, leadership. Romney generates about as much enthusiasm as a buck of spit. Obama has his usual Kool-aid drinkers and takers that will go vote for him. That is almost half of the voters. Not coincidentally they are primarily the ones not paying income taxes. And when Obama starts doing his impersonation of Oprah and starts giving away the store he will get a large portion of the uninspired couch potatoes ready to go to whoever makes them the best deal.
So who do I want? I'm not sure he is in the race and that is disappointing. I have watched enough debates to know that they are all a bunch of professional liars and, due to the wussification of America, a real man is going to have trouble getting through the gauntlet. Ronald Reagan would have trouble getting elected in this political climate. I prefer someone who has actually had to earn a living, maybe even met a payroll with his own money. Wall Street types like Romney and Washington insiders like Gingrich instill nothing but suspicion and mistrust in me. Perry has been a career politician so we know where his allegiances lie. With himself! Huntsman, Paul, Santorum. Is that it?
It looks like another Christmas will go by with me not getting what I want: a strong, conservative president that will take the job seriously and get our financial house in order. Whoever is elected will inherit a $16 trillion + national debt and no plan to deal with it. In fact, if if Obamacare is fully implemented that debt will blow past $20 trillion before you know it. Wish I could end this on a positive note but I just don't have it in me today.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Resolutions?
ALERT! This is a repeat from my other blog, The Incredible Shrinking Man. So if you are on that distribution you might have read it.
Last year I changed it from resolutions to goals. In reviewing those goals I discovered it was a miserable failure. There is an old saying that, if you want to make God laugh, make plans. I won't bore you with the details but, if you read my other blog, The Incredible Shrinking Man, you will know that the weight loss didn't quite get done. I did make some personnel changes at the nursing home but, unfortunately it was me. Not exactly what I had planned but life is a cabaret! So with that happening in February, the year kind of meandered for a few months, headed in one direction, then ended in another. So I ended the year fully employed, with lots to do, and Emma right where she belongs, putting up with me. I guess I am a pretty fortunate guy!!!
Back to the resolutions. Lose weight, yeh, yeh. Pretty obvious I would say. It would make life a great deal more enjoyable. But I am thinking on a more grand scale. I see many problems in the world and I think I have a little something to offer toward solving them. No, I am not running for political office. I said I wanted to work on solving problems, not creating new ones or making things worse! So here are a few things I will be working on in 2012:
1. Hunger. No I have had breakfast. I'm talking about hunger in these United States of America. Not Bangladesh, or whatever they call themselves today. More specifically, I am talking about people going hungry in Caldwell County, Texas. Last year I was invited to participate in the Texas Hunger Initiative and it really opened my eyes. We have always supported our local food banks but this project is about identifying where the needs are and how to get resources to them. There are a bunch of poor people living in remote rural areas that have very limited transportation available. The problem is complex but our group is meeting in a couple of weeks to get our plan implemented. As many of these folks are elderly I have a special interest in their plight so I will update you on how this project is going.
2. Save My Church. One of last year's goals was to find a new church. Didn't happen. Not because there aren't any other churches around. But we have been members of this church for 15 years, in the denomination for over 30 years, and we like it there. We love the people but apparently we don't appeal to those looking for a church. Our membership has been dwindling over the past 10 years, along with our bank account. We just released our minister because we couldn't afford a full time position. There were concerns because she had not brought in new members but in fact, alienated some of the long-time members. This is not the place to air family business but I decided late last year that I was going to do everything I can in 2012 to work on rebuilding this church. You might even see me on television marketing it, perish the thought! I have some ideas but the membership, what is left of it, has to buy in or it will be a lost cause. Deficit spending cannot go on forever, unless you can print money. We need to pray, pull up our britches, and get to work!
3. Saving Those Future People. Yes, I am talking about the unborn children. I'm talking about defending those babies that have the misfortune to be in the womb of someone that thinks of them as "tissue". I served on the board of Central Texas Life Care, a pro-life pregnancy center in San Marcos, TX for several years and have been a supporter of the center for 10 years. They provide free pregnancy testing, free ultrasounds, free counseling, (notice "free"). They also serve as a clearinghouse for resources for the pregnant mothers. It is a Christ based ministry and has a great success rate.
4. Pet Population Control. Our county has a real problem with irresponsible pet owners and the resulting unwanted pets. Our shelters are overflowing and euthanizing is the only alternative. The local governments spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to deal with a problem that could be easily controlled if people would just be responsible and spay or neuter their pets. A local organization I support is Lockhart Cause for Paws. There main fundraising program is to pay for spaying and neutering of strays. They have no paid staff and all of the money goes to that cause.
Get the picture? My resolution is to be more charitable. More involved in my community and the people working to make it better. Obviously I would encourage you to support any of the above organizations but that is not the point. The point is that we, as individuals, have the opportunity and responsibility to be involved in the lives of those around us that are who Jesus referred to as "the least of us". My hope is that you will make this your resolution too.
Happy New Year and God Bless!
Larry
Last year I changed it from resolutions to goals. In reviewing those goals I discovered it was a miserable failure. There is an old saying that, if you want to make God laugh, make plans. I won't bore you with the details but, if you read my other blog, The Incredible Shrinking Man, you will know that the weight loss didn't quite get done. I did make some personnel changes at the nursing home but, unfortunately it was me. Not exactly what I had planned but life is a cabaret! So with that happening in February, the year kind of meandered for a few months, headed in one direction, then ended in another. So I ended the year fully employed, with lots to do, and Emma right where she belongs, putting up with me. I guess I am a pretty fortunate guy!!!
Back to the resolutions. Lose weight, yeh, yeh. Pretty obvious I would say. It would make life a great deal more enjoyable. But I am thinking on a more grand scale. I see many problems in the world and I think I have a little something to offer toward solving them. No, I am not running for political office. I said I wanted to work on solving problems, not creating new ones or making things worse! So here are a few things I will be working on in 2012:
1. Hunger. No I have had breakfast. I'm talking about hunger in these United States of America. Not Bangladesh, or whatever they call themselves today. More specifically, I am talking about people going hungry in Caldwell County, Texas. Last year I was invited to participate in the Texas Hunger Initiative and it really opened my eyes. We have always supported our local food banks but this project is about identifying where the needs are and how to get resources to them. There are a bunch of poor people living in remote rural areas that have very limited transportation available. The problem is complex but our group is meeting in a couple of weeks to get our plan implemented. As many of these folks are elderly I have a special interest in their plight so I will update you on how this project is going.
2. Save My Church. One of last year's goals was to find a new church. Didn't happen. Not because there aren't any other churches around. But we have been members of this church for 15 years, in the denomination for over 30 years, and we like it there. We love the people but apparently we don't appeal to those looking for a church. Our membership has been dwindling over the past 10 years, along with our bank account. We just released our minister because we couldn't afford a full time position. There were concerns because she had not brought in new members but in fact, alienated some of the long-time members. This is not the place to air family business but I decided late last year that I was going to do everything I can in 2012 to work on rebuilding this church. You might even see me on television marketing it, perish the thought! I have some ideas but the membership, what is left of it, has to buy in or it will be a lost cause. Deficit spending cannot go on forever, unless you can print money. We need to pray, pull up our britches, and get to work!
3. Saving Those Future People. Yes, I am talking about the unborn children. I'm talking about defending those babies that have the misfortune to be in the womb of someone that thinks of them as "tissue". I served on the board of Central Texas Life Care, a pro-life pregnancy center in San Marcos, TX for several years and have been a supporter of the center for 10 years. They provide free pregnancy testing, free ultrasounds, free counseling, (notice "free"). They also serve as a clearinghouse for resources for the pregnant mothers. It is a Christ based ministry and has a great success rate.
4. Pet Population Control. Our county has a real problem with irresponsible pet owners and the resulting unwanted pets. Our shelters are overflowing and euthanizing is the only alternative. The local governments spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to deal with a problem that could be easily controlled if people would just be responsible and spay or neuter their pets. A local organization I support is Lockhart Cause for Paws. There main fundraising program is to pay for spaying and neutering of strays. They have no paid staff and all of the money goes to that cause.
Get the picture? My resolution is to be more charitable. More involved in my community and the people working to make it better. Obviously I would encourage you to support any of the above organizations but that is not the point. The point is that we, as individuals, have the opportunity and responsibility to be involved in the lives of those around us that are who Jesus referred to as "the least of us". My hope is that you will make this your resolution too.
Happy New Year and God Bless!
Larry
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