To all you loyal fans of the Vikings I feel sorry for you.  I don’t feel sorry for this blog that I’m writing.  I feel sorry that you keep rooting for a team that keeps on cracking under pressure.  I know that somebody got to root for them.  I just feel sorry that it’s you!

The only way the Minnesota Vikings can ever win a Super Bowl is either cheat like the New England Patriots did with the deflated football.  They should had given up championship as their punishment.  They didn’t deserve to win or even be in the super bowl that year.

It seems when the pressure is on Vikings, they end up cracking under pressure.  Then when they lose they blame the coach.  It’s not the coaches fault!

They have been to 4 Super Bowl and lost all 4.  The only other team that done that was the Buffalo Bills.  Denver Broncos also did it.  Then when they returned to the Super Bowl for John Elway swan song and their 5th time in the Super Bowl, they won.  Congratulation!!

I’m not a sport fanatic like some are, but I do watch the Super Bowl and keeps a little up with it.

When I was younger I would route for the Vikings because they were the local team.  I just got so frustrated with them losing and cracking all the time that I just gave up on them.

I mean you can only stay loyal to someone or something so before you just want to give up on them.  It’s not good to remain frustrated on something or someone all the time.  Sometimes it is best to cut your losses.  That is what I did with the Vikings.  There are times I get frustrated with certain people or even my family or my job.  To remain healthy, you have to cut your losses.

There is one team I dislike more than the Vikings and that is the Detroit Lions.  When the Detroit Lions beats the Vikings; something is definitely not right.

The Vikings may had won their first game of the season against the New Orleans Saint.  They may win more.  They will crack in the end.  Matter of fact, they lost against the Pittsburg Steelers in today’s game.

Few years ago there was a debate about building the Vikings a new stadium.  I felt that they do not deserve one.  They have to earn it by at least showing their fans that they can be a team to reckon with.  If I was the governor of Minnesota, I would told them, “if you want a new stadium, you must earn it by showing that you really deserve it.”  But Governor Dayton allowed them to build a new stadium with the taxpayers help.  You know, you Minnesota’s taxpayers and loyal Vikings fans, you are overpaying for a team that keeps cracking under pressure and losing.  Not only do you pay in taxes.  You also pay parking fees, pay for the tickets, pay outrageous concession prices, etc.

Minnesota has other teams that they can route for.  Teams that played so much better than the Vikings.  I mean, The Twins had been to the World series and won.  They even put on a good fight this year toward putting them in the wild card race.  The Minnesota Wilds also done very well.  I can’t say the same about the Timberwolves but I can say that they haven’t frustrated me like the Vikings had either.

I used to not think much of the Dallas Cowboys either.  I thought the only good things about them was their sexy cheerleaders and the  television show, “Dallas.”  But the Cowboys had won me over with great football playing.

I will route for the Green Bay Packers before I route for the Vikings again.  At lease they had won Super Bowls, and so far without cheating, like the Patriots.

Up in North Dakota, half route for the Packers and half route for the Vikings.  If you go down to Minneapolis, you better be a loyal Vikings fans.  If you route for the Packers, you’re in big trouble.  I know when I travel through Wisconsin with people from Minneapolis on the way to Indianapolis. I made a comment on how beautiful Wisconsin was.  Believe me, that was a big mistake!

So to all you frustrated Vikings fans, why don’t you just let them go.  You can route for the Green Bay Packers.  You can route for NDSU Bison.  You can even route for Philadelphia Eagles, where the Bison own, Carson Wentz is the quarterback now.

Maybe the Bison can teach the Vikings on how to win.   Ya right!!

My new team to route for is the Seattle Seahawks.  These are the reasons.  One, they have won the Super Bowl the first time in.  Which was very amazing!!  I guess, you can say, I got family out there in Seattle and Washington State.  So I can be loyal to them.

So I’m sorry for you Vikings fans.  Not for this blog but that you choose to be loyal to the Vikings despite of them losing and cracking under pressure all the time.

There is favoritism around, either on the job, in school, or in your own family.  I never seen a job that doesn’t have some sort of favoritism.  It’s not right but it does happen.

A manager should treat all employees the same but somehow they choose to favored some over others.  Sometimes it’s their own family member.  Sometimes there are other reasons.

I have seen favoritism at both Kmart and at the Fargo Dome.

There are people at Kmart who gets away with certain things because they are favored.  I could go into details but I believe it is self-explanatory.

All I will say is this: those who are being favored are just good at brown-nosing the manager.  As my folks would say, (pardon my French here) “They got their nose up the manager rear end so far, if they turned quickly, it might twist right off.”

People like that I have very little respect for.  I can name names on those being favored but I won’t to protect the innocent.  I’m sure they know who they are.  I’m sure they know that other employees realize that they are being favored whether they see it or not.  I know that other employees sees favoritism going on.

Those who show favoritism believe that they are not doing it.  They believe that they treat everyone the same.  I got news for them.  We know!!

Even teachers show favoritism to their students.  They have their teacher’s pet.

Favoritism has been around for a long time.  It is even mentioned in the Bible in the story of Joseph.  Jacob favored Joseph over his other kids.  Joseph was one of the youngest and a son that Jacob had with his one true love, Rachel.  With that favoritism, Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many color to wear. In that time a coat was just a robe.  The other brothers were jealous of him, because of that favoritism.  They set out to kill him and instead they hid him in a deep hole and then eventually sold him into slavery.  We all know the rest of the story.  How Joseph thrive over the circumstances.

It happens in family as well.

The older kids in my family felt my folks favored Shirley and I over them.  They were jealous of us.

In that defense, we weren’t favored, we were just smarter.  We learned from them what not to do.  We learned from their mistakes.  Also I think when it came to us, since we were younger, our parents had more time to spend with us.  Remember, there was 7 kids in my family, and three of them were wild and wore our parents down.

We weren’t favored.  At least we didn’t see it that way.  We just knew what to do and what not to do.

I believe since the older kids felt that we were favored, their jealousy cause them to be extra hard on us after our folks died.

Even grandparents sometimes favored one grandchild over the others.  They may not see themselves doing it.  They’ll even say that they love all their grandkids the same.

I was told that my grandmother favored my cousin, Edwin and I  over her other grandkids.  The reason she favored Edwin was because of his own mother, Dorothy didn’t seems to care as much for him and his twin brother who died at age 12.

The reason, I was told why grandma favored me was because I reminded her of her oldest, John.  Also, I think, my mother and I lived with my grandmother until she died.  She took care of me while my mother worked.  Whatever I wanted, all I had to do was point to it and my grandmother would get it for me.  That was one of the I talked late in life.

My Aunt Dorothy even had her favorite.  She seems to favored her youngest and even favored his kids over her other grandkids.  There became a little rivalry between her grandkids because of it.  I won’t go into because you get the message.

My Aunt Millie even seems to favored her grandson over her other granddaughters.  There was a little jealousy in that family also. I think in that case, Millie had to take him under her wings because of the time of mother he had.

My mother always said that she had no favorites.  She loves all her kids and grandkids the same.  Even she was guilty of showing favoritism.  I mentioned how the older kids were jealous of Shirley and I.  Well even her other grandkids had jealousy as well.  Maybe in her defense, she just loved them differently.  They all had a special place in her heart.  She just saw her one granddaughter needing her more, like my grandmother saw me needing her more.

So you see there is favoritism on the job, in school and even in family.  Those who show favoritism doesn’t see themselves doing it.  Those who are being favored, doesn’t see themselves being favored.

One thing though:  God does not show favoritism.  He loves us all the same.  We are all equal in His eyes.

So you managers out there who are very much guilty of showing favoritism to certain people, here is my warning.  Remember, the other employees knows and do not approve.  As Taylor Swift new song states, “Look at what you made me do.”

There is one thing I learned how to overcome favoritism.  I was working at the Fargo Country Club.  There was this one co-workers who seems to get certain holiday off, like New Years Eve.  So this one time, I got smart, I put on the calendar way ahead of time to get it off before she did.  It seems you almost have to do that; especially when dealing with favoritism on the job.

It had been 20 years since her untimely death in Paris, France.  I’ll never forget that horrible event in history.

My friend, Roger and I was on a guy’s weekend visiting Bismarck/Mandan; his hometown, where he grew up.  He showed me his old home place. We took a riverboat ride on the Missouri River.  We then stop in at Kroll’s Diner in Mandan for a bite to eat.  It was there that we saw the horrifying news about Princess Diana on the television.

Before her death, she was being chased by the paparasie through the streets of Paris.  (forgive my spelling there)  It turned into a high speed chase in the night and dangerous streets and tunnel where she was killed.  They didn’t care.  All that they care about was getting their damn pictures for the fake media.  They didn’t care that she had 2 young boys at the time.  As she was injured and fighting for her life, they just kept on taking pictures of her in the backseat of the car.  They didn’t do anything to help or even called for help.

If you asked me, they should had been charge with her murder.  Because that was what they did.  They killed the world’s Princess and Prince William and Harry’s mother.

All they cared about was making a quick and easy buck, by taking her pictures and selling it to the highest bidder for a profit.

Were they charge with her murder?  Hell No!!  They just kept taking photos.  They are the lowest of the low.  They should had been charge and sent to prison for the rest of their life.  They are no better than telemarketer that calls and harass everyone.

Upon hearing of her unfortunate death by those bloodthirsty killer that chased her to her untimely death, just for measly pictures and to make a profit over her.  My heart went out to her sons, William and Harry.  They lost their mother and the world lost a Princess.

I hope those who took her photos and killed her for it are feeling very guilty for it.  They should feel guilty; but I doubt they did.  People like them don’t have a heart.  It’s almost like when a reporter comes to someone house after a person was killed.  I call them bloodthirsty vampire.

Princess Diana was a wonderful woman who loves her sons and everyone else. She wanted the best for them and the world.  Mother Theresa called her a saint and admired her very much.

Yet Princess Diana was a tortured soul.  Not just by those who were responsible for her murder.  She suffered from an eating disorder.  She was tormented other ways also.

Even though she married Prince Charles, he was in love with another.  She wasn’t really treated well by her ex-mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth.  Which you could say kind led to her divorce from Prince Charles.

She was a beautiful woman inside and outside.  She had a heart of gold and compassion for the starving children in the Third World country and abroad.  She put that upon the hearts of her sons.  She wanted them to be Princes to be admired.

Prince William is trying to instill that same teaching upon his kids as well.

Prince Harry may had his shares of trouble growing up but I see that he is turning into somewhat decent prince.

I think some of the problems that Prince Harry had was because he wasn’t able to grieve properly for the lost of his mother.  Both of them were taught that they had to be tough just for a show.  That is no way to grieve!  Prince William had to be even tougher, since he was the oldest, and he had extra responsibility, such as looking after Harry.

This reminds me of my sister, Barb, who after their real mother died, had to take on the role of surrogate mother to the other 5 kids before my step-dad met my mother.  It’s not easy.  You lose your childhood very quickly.

Both William and Harry lost part of their childhood the day their mother was murdered.  Then they were thrust into the spotlight that Diana tried to shield from them.  Maybe that is probably why they had problems; especially Harry.

This was similar to another event in History involving President Kennedy and his assassination.  I’ll talk about that later in another blog.  All I will say about this is that they were American royalty.

Princess Diana was not a princess for England, she was the world’s princess.  She will always be remembered by many.

That is why throughout the month of August the networks was televising remembering Diana.  We should always remember her.  She left such a good vibes and memories for us all.  May her sons keeps up with her legacy as I believe they will.

They are not just royalty for England.  They are the world’s royalty.

Diana would loved her grandkids if she only had a chance to see them.  Then again I believe that she is watching over them from heaven.

I recently read a book titled, “The Millionaire Maker”, by Loral Langemeier.

In this book she talks about how to act, think, and make money the way the wealthy do.

She talks about investments.  It just her way of investments differ from another book I read titled, “Rich Dad, Poor dad.”

There is nothing wrong with her way of investing.  Like there’s nothing wrong in investing the “Rich Dad, Poor Dad version.  It’s all depends on you.

In “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, the author took the more conservative route.  Whereas in “Millionaire Maker’, there is more of a risk.

Don’t get me wrong upon reading “Millionaire Maker’, I have had some thoughts.

When I was a kid, there was a Dunkin Doughnuts and/or Mister Doughnuts in Fargo, ND.  I was doing some thinking, now Dunkin Doughnuts also sell and make coffee, of somehow bringing it back to Fargo through a franchise.  Then when I did some serious thinking, I came to the realization that it would be a lot of work.  You almost have to be there 24/7.  I weighed in my age and how close I am to retirement and realize that would be a risk.  I would want to be able to retire and maybe even travel.  If I was younger, that could be a good investments.

After reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, that book talks about people who happened to comes into money either through big lottery win or inheritance.  Some people who comes into a lot of money, usually blow it in no time at all.  Then they are back to square one.  They are so excited about getting that money that they don’t bother preparing themselves for it.

I hate to talk about money especially about my own personal money.  The reason there are people out there who would takes advantage of you once they hear that you have came into extra money.  We need to protect ourselves from scammers.  They are everywhere.  They don’t just scam the elderly.

All I will say is that I recently came into some inheritance.  When I knew I was coming into extra money, I knew right then that I needed to protect that inheritance. First, I get what I needed though.

I did a little shopping around and asking lots of questions about what route to go.  I knew at my age, I needed to look at the more conservative route.  There is a lot of investments company out there.  You need to find one that you can trust and feel comfortable with.

I have an uncle who said be careful of investing in stocks unless you have a good financial advisor that you can trust to help you.

I have a cousin who said to put some money into cd’s because the interest rates might goes up.

There is this former pastor I know told me to put my investments into Wesleyan Investments.  Let it put it this way, this pastor is so cheap, when birds fly over his head they goes cheap, cheap, cheap.  That may work for a long-term investments.  Since I’m getting closer to retirement, I needed to think of a little better investment for my money. So I didn’t go that route.

I did check in on Edward Jones.  They offer a very good package and I almost went with them.  What stop me was I also check in with my bank to see if they have investments plan.  Though and behold they had a similar plan, give and take.

I like more the personal touch.  So I went with my bank and my financial advisor been helping me through this.

I also left some money in savings and also got a $1000  in cd’s, $500 a piece.  When the cd’s comes to the point of taking it out or reinvesting.  I’m looking at turning it into bonds.  My financial advisor will help me do that when the time comes.  The reason for me looking at doing that is because once again more research.  I learned that a person can gets more money for their investments with bonds than with cd’s.

I believe that my folks would be very proud of my decision I made.  They taught us how to make the right decision when it comes to investments.

To all those Trump hater out there, I have this to say.  Pres. Trump been good to me. So far my investments been increasing.  Even my investments through my retirement through Concordia College been doing a good job.

I may worked at Kmart but I have stocks in Target.  I get letters from Sears holdings but I will not invest in it.

We all know why.  I don’t need goes into it, because it would be a poor investments.  Even my folks would agree.

When a person thinks about investing for retirement they must also think about any assets they may have.  If a person ever becomes very ill and in a nursing home, the cost could drain you financially.  If you have too much assets, you cannot get the help you need.  My folks weren’t rich financially but they were rich in assets.  In a way it was a good thing that they weren’t in a nursing home for very long before they died.

To help with cost for my mother’s health and nursing home care, if my folks would had gotten a divorce, the county could had paid more on my mother’s nursing home care.  That is a crying shame!  But that is our corrupt government for you.  Everything they worked for can easily goes up in smoke.

Since they had money and assets, the county didn’t had to buried them.  My step-dad bought a nice headstone for their grave.  They were buried next each other.

On the other hand, when my step-brother, Bobby died, the county had to buried him.  He had to be cremated, which he didn’t want.

When making investments choices, you must also think about nursing home care, healthcare, and even funeral costs.  They’ll eat away on your investments.

As I said in a previous blog for Father’s Day.  My step-dad may not like who bought the farm but he would be overjoyed with the bidding war that occurred in the process of selling the farm.

Our parents put into the idea of making sound investments for our future through their teaching.  They would be very proud with how us youngest kids are doing with our inheritance.  It goes to show that we were paying more attention than the older wilder kids.  The older will goes through their inheritance faster.  One brother, pretty much drank up his money and probably doesn’t have much to show for it.  Sure, he probably had no real choice because the crooked government would had taken it away.  Just like my one sister with dementia, she too is on Social Service.  So be careful not to let the government to get any of your money.  They definitely doesn’t deserve it!

Tomorrow is the big day in this country.  It’s one of the most talked about as of lately.  No, I’m not talking about Pres. Trump or the racial uprising in Charlotteville , West Virginia.  I’m talking about the solar equips that will happen tomorrow around 11am.

I’m not very familiar on this topic but I had readers say that I should do it anyway.  So bear with me on this.  I’m not as knowledgeable on this subject.

They’re making a big event out of this solar equips because it doesn’t happen very often in our times.  The last time there was a solar equips was Feb. 26, 1979, around 38 years ago.

I was in Junior High at the time in Hawley, MN.  I was in the seventh grade at the time.  I was in history class with the teacher, Mr. Haugen, at the time.  Being this was very historical, he took time out of our history lesson to view this.  What he did to keep up from looking straight at the sun, he had the television on to reflect it; that way we wouldn’t look straight at the sun.

If you look straight at the sun as the equips is going on, it would be hard on your eyes.  They advise that you either wear protective eyewear or not look directly at the sun.

Everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least partial solar equips.

The total solar equips will cast a 70-mile shadow.

What is the solar equips?

It is when  the moon passes the sun and the earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to three hours, from beginning to end.

It is an amazing site if you are able to watch it fully.

The best area to get a good view will be Lincoln City, Oregon, 10:20am, their time.  The total equips will end in Charleston, S.C at 2:48pm their time.

For us in Fargo, ND, we will probably only get around 70% of the equips if we’re lucky.  Sound like the weather for tomorrow for us in Fargo will be partly cloudy.

It’s important that you protects your eyes during this equips.  It is never safe to look directly at the sun, except when the sun is completely blocked during the period of a total equips.  You must wear special sunglasses that you cannot buy in your local stores.  You can only gets them with the museum, schools, or astronomy club.

There are people willing to travel long distance just to get a glimpse of it.  They are willing to camp out.

Like I said it’s an amazing site to see once in your lifetime.  Once you saw it, the memory will stick with you for a long.  This happen now twice in my lifetime.  It happened before in other parts of the world.  It’s just our turn now.

Another total equips will enter the United States in 2099.  This one is predicted to enter the United States from northwest North Dakota and stretch through Minnesota and Wisconsin.

So I will probably won’t be seeing it again.  At least, that close.

It’s great to see, so I’m not going to discourage you from it.  I’m just going to warn you as you gaze upon it in the sky tomorrow.  Don’t look directly at the sun without protective sunglasses.  You may or may not be able to take pictures of it.  That might be hard though.

Whatever you do tomorrow morning, play it safe!!  Enjoy the solar equips especially to those who haven’t see the last one.  Don’t hurt your eyes!  They are precious.

As I mentioned last week, when Bruno Mars was at the Fargo Dome on last Friday, he had competition in the Fargo-Moorhead area.  That same weekend, there We Fest going on in Detroit Lakes, MN.  We Fest is a country music festival for the area. It is set for the whole weekends. It used to be Friday-Sunday.  Now it’s Thursday-Saturday.  It’s chance for the people to get out-of-town and hear country music live.  It is also a time where people get together to drink and to party.  I would say that it is milder form of Woodstock.  I’ve never been to We Fest; but I’ve been around that area.  The traffic is unbearable.

This past weekend, I went camping down by Alexandria, at Lake Geneva.  The weather was very nice until on Sunday, when it poured.

I stayed in a rustic cabin; so that is the closest to roughing it at my age.  I brought my sleeping bag and this time I brought an air mattress to lay on top of the mattress in the cabin. This way I was more comfortable this time around.

The meal can be very filling.  If you eat the all the meal in the dining hall. not only would it be expensive; but you could end up feeling blah and have no energy.  So I brought along some healthy camping food to eat for breakfast and lunch.  For breakfast, I ate organic cereal with banana and an organic bar.  For lunch, I ate salad on Friday and Cucumber on Saturday.  I had more energy by doing that.

We went on a pontoon ride on Saturday afternoon.

The weather was very nice.  The lake was calm.  It was very relaxing.

Even though I stayed in a rustic cabin this time; I had rough it when I was younger when I went camping then.  I remember going camping with my family up in Canada when I was a kid.  Back then, we didn’t need a passport.  We did a lot of camping and fishing up in Canada.  Canada is very beautiful.

As I mentioned in the last blog about 2 young men who got off the train in West Glacier to do some hiking.  I can also imagine that they did a little camping too.  That was very good to see.  So many young people would rather have their video or computer games, rather than get one with nature.

At Lake Geneva I saw more young people outside enjoying the beautiful weather and the lake for a change.  It was even good to see bonfires in the evening and roasting marshmallows and singing campfire songs.

That is what camping all about!

As Luke Bryan sang about in “Hunting, Fishing, Loving Everyday,”  if I could make a living hunting, fishing, loving everyday, I’d be happy.  I would rather be smelling the fresh country air than the dirty old city smog any day.

Awhile back I was talking with someone about the people were force to live off the land how many could actually do it.  This person said that he could.  I possibility could.  We actually believe that some of these young people probably couldn’t do it.  They would need their games, smart phones/I-pads, etc.  If they couldn’t get a signal, they would be up a creek and very upset.  Young women would needs their make-up, curling iron, etc.

It’s so very nice to get one with nature.  I knew a pastor, Pastor Lyle Bozarth, who would goes either up into the mountains or out in the wilderness just to get closer to God.  Believe me, you definitely can get close to God camping by the lake.

Even though I’m a people person, I can really enjoy being alone by the lake.

Actually, Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his best novels while alone on the beach.  I’m not really a Hemingway fan though, too complicated to follow.

I’m a country boy and as Hank William Jr sang, “Country Boy can survive.”

My advice to the young people out there:  Put away your video and computer games and smart phone/I-pad and get one with nature.  It is so very beautiful and relaxing.  There is no stress.

There is this one commercial on tv, that this young couple was camping out in the wilderness.  They said it was so nice and peaceful.  Then all of sudden, they heard an owl.  The moment they heard that owl, they turned on their smart phone; that they taped the city noise on just so they can sleep.  When I see that commercial I just laugh at how stupid they are.

A few years ago a friend and I went camping and fishing by Pelican Lake.  While camping overnight at the park near Pelican Rapids, (we had a tent) raccoons got into our campsite.  It was our own stupidity, but the raccoons got into some of our food.  One raccoon even was going to enter the tent where I was sleeping.  So it goes to show, if you don’t put your food up, you are going to have visit by wild animals.

I had experience bears and other animals near our campsite when I was a kid.

This doesn’t curb me from getting one with nature.  I’d rather be one with nature than with people.  You don’t have to deal with idiots.  You don’t have to smell the smog of city living.

As promised, I’m back from my trip 2 weeks ago.  It’s good to see that many had join in reading my blogs.  I hope that you will not be disappointed.

As I had promised in my last blog, I would give you an update to my vacation in my next blog.  So here is my version of Travel with Charley, without Charley though.

Travel with Charley is by my favorite author, John Steinbeck.  He wrote about the American dream during the depression era.  Some may say he was a little depressing.  I will say this, he may had been depressing, but so was the time he was writing in.  He didn’t sugarcoat it.  He wrote as he saw it.  You can say that is the kind of writer I am.

I don’t want to go too far into this because that is a different blog altogether.  So I will get strait to my travels.

As I said in the last blog I took a train out West and the reasons for it.  I told you the down of flying and taking the bus.  When I boarded the train on Tuesday, July 25, the train was filled.  Even though it was full, we weren’t pack in like sardines.  You were still comfortable.  You wouldn’t been comfortable on a plane if they full.  You would be pack in like sardines.  The same goes with being on a bus.  That is another reason against flying.

As I said, taking a train is a way to see America and see what this beautiful country has to offer.

You can bring your own snacks on the train.  You are not regulated what you can or cannot bring like you are when you fly. I brought snacks with me and mainly eat one good expensive meal on the train, that is supper(dinner).  But here is the surprise part that I didn’t expect.  While on the train, they offer to those who wasn’t going to the dining car to eat but rather stay in their seat; they offer for lunch, BLT slider, chips, bottle water, and a cookie for $10.  A very good offer I couldn’t refuse.  They even made an offer for a chicken dinner for $12.  Now that is cheaper than eating in the dining car.

Taking the train, you got a chance to see the Glacier National Park as they goes by it.  The Glacier is so beautiful.  There is history behind it as well.  We even saw the Cascades in Washington State.  That is also very beautiful.

Did you know that the longest tunnel in North America is in the Cascades?  I learned that while on the train from a tour guide.

Would you have known that while flying or even taking a bus?

While riding the train you finds a lot of interesting person who you will enjoy getting to know.  Everyday folks, like you and I.

There was a family who sat behind me.  It was their sons first time on a train.  These boys made a fort in their seat to help past the time.  Seeing that, it brought back memory when I had forts as a child.  One fort was an igloo that my step-brother, Ronny made for us younger kids.  Another fort was when my sister, Shirley and I made in the bedroom in the trailer house we lived in, in West Fargo.

There was a group of Hittites on the train, heading to the Glacier for a tour.  There was even 2 young men on the train that were heading to Glacier to do some hiking in that area.  To me that is way better than playing these video or computer games.  More young people should take advantage of the opportunity and do something like that.  Just put away those computer/video games and see America.  There is so much to see in this great country of ours.

The train depot in Seattle is a historical building that is just amazing site.  You got to see it.  The train goes by the ocean and what a site to see.  You can see ferry either coming in or taking off.  There is even an old ship dock on shore.  You can’t ride it anymore but it’s still great to see.

Seeing that train depot in Seattle, reminds me of the time I went to Indianapolis in 2001.  That city had bunch of historical buildings that was fixed up.  Instead of destroying, why not restore!  There is history in this country.  And I love history!

While out West in Washington State, I visited with cousins of mine.  I also visited with my only uncle left on both side of my family.  I saw a cousin that been years since I saw last.  The last time I saw her was in the summer of ’86.  I even saw her son again, and boy has he grown.  When I saw him the last time, he was just a kid.  Now he is very tall, one cousin may say, “A wall was put in front of us.”  I took pictures and pictures were shared.

My cousin, Tony has this amazing garden that I help with.  His beans were higher than the beans we grew on the farm.  He had black raspberry that was to die for, sweet and juicy.  You can see Mount Rainier from his garden.  What a beautiful site.  There was still snow on top.

Mount Rainier is very beautiful.  Even though I had a bad experience with that mountain up close and personal.  I wrote about that in previous blog.  I’ve been up in Mount Rainier then when I was in a car accident.  That been 5 years ago.

Do you know that they do a lot of recycling in Washington?

The reason my cousin, Tony’s garden was so nice was because he used mote, natural fertilizer.  So much healthier!

Do you also know that in the state of Washington there is now a law for distracted driver?  If a person is caught texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, you will get a hefty fine.  It also drinking and eating while driving but that isn’t much of a distraction as being on the phone.  I could go with that but I won’t because that is a different blog.

I didn’t see it this time; but I have been on the floating bridge going into Seattle.  I even have seen Seattle tallest landmark that is just amazing.  I’ve seen and been up it back in ’86.

The trip was wonderful.  I got back on Thursday, Aug. 3.  then on Friday, Aug. 4 I was working at the Fargo Dome for the Bruno Mars concert.  The concert wasn’t bad.  How I would describe Bruno is this:  He is more of an entertainer than a singer.  Don’t get me wrong he got some good songs.  He can entertain and he can dance.  I probably talk more about Bruno Mars next week.

Some may say that I am a world traveler; and that is fine with me.  When I retire I would love to see more of America.  There is so much to see.  I would even love to see Haiti, Germany, England, etc.

I have been other places that some was good and some not so good.  I’ve been as far south as Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.  That city is amazing.  Not like Indianapolis though.  I’ve seen where Royals and the Chiefs play their games.  I’ve also seen the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis, before it was torn down and a new one was built.  I’ve seen the Rocky Mountain and not just at Glacier.

It was the summer of ’75 and the family was driving out West.  We went up and around the Rockies.  It was scary but amazing.  It was only a 2-lane road.  You didn’t want to look down.

I’ve been up to Canada and at the Lake of the Woods.  I’ve been to Duluth, MN.

You may not know this but there is awesome site to see in boring North Dakota.  I’ve been to Fort Lincoln in Mandan.  Then this past 4th of July I’ve been to Fort Abercrombie, just south of Fargo, ND.

There is so much to see in this country.  Why not take advantage of it? I’ve been around Chicago and you can have it.  Wisconsin is a very pretty state.  Sorry Vikings fans!!!

Never been to California but love to go.  As I mention last week, I’ve been to the airport in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Hate to say this but I would love to see New York just to say that I’ve seen it; but that’s all.

I could go on with this seeing America blog but I won’t.  If you ever get a chance to see America take it while you can.  While you are at it, if you have the time, take the train doing it.

It’s that time of year again.  The time when people takes vacation.  I will be going on vacation this coming week.  So next week there will not be a blog.  I promise you this though, I will let you know how my vacation went when I return in 2 weeks with a whole new blog.

I’m going out West this week and I’m taking a train.  I’m traveling to Washington State to visit cousins and my only uncle still alive. He is going to be 82 next month.  He outlived his brothers and sisters.  He is my mother’s brother.  I’ll be there a week.  I leave the night of July 24/the morning of Tuesday, July 25.

You may wonder why I’m taking the train.  Why not fly?  In this blog I’ll tell you why.

It’s not that I can’t afford to fly or don’t like flying.  I’m a rewards programs through Amtrak.  When I finally earned enough points, I can eventually earn a free train ride.  On my bucket list before I die and when I retire I would love to take that famous train ride between Seattle to LA.

Even though flying is quicker, as Ray Stevens would sing about, “The Sky is not Friendly anymore.”  You can thank former President George W. Bush for that.  Remember, I didn’t vote for him in 2000, and I truly didn’t wanted him in 2004.

One of problems with flying is: you are limited what you can or cannot bring on the plane.  If you have extra baggage, you are paying for it.

I’m taking a suitcase and 2 small carry-on, on the train. One bag I can put with my suitcase as I board.  The other, which I will have a change of clothes and snack, I will carry on and up to my seat.  That way I can limit my spending on meals.

Another problem with flying is being constantly molested at the boarding gate.  It’s almost like they like molesting us.

Flying had become a contact sport, all because of Pres. George W. Bush.  He don’t have to be molested because he has his own plane; so he don’t care that we, the American people are being molested.

The reason I will not take the Greyhound is because:  even though it may be cheaper; it will take longer and is very uncomfortable to sleep.

I don’t have a sleeper, but I can still sleep and I will have a chance to see America.  There is so much to see in this country.  Shouldn’t we take advantage of that?

The meal may be expensive but at least you can bring snacks along with any Government regulations.

There is one thing that I hope Pres. Trump doesn’t do.  I hope he doesn’t try to cut into train traveling.  How will everyday people travel and see America  if that happen?  Not everybody can afford to fly!  No one likes to be molested.  That would happed if you fly or take the bus.  I’ll explain that later.

Not that I can’t afford to fly.  I don’t want to come across as being a bigot.  It just that people who fly are just too busy to stop and smell the roses.  I met some nice people when I flown the last time, and had a layover in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I was able to get someone to take my picture of me standing at the window of the airport, where you can see the mountain in the background.  They were helpful in getting through the big airports.  When I had a long layover in Salt Lake City, I ate at Popeye Chicken for the first time, and really enjoyed it.  So I was happy to get a Popeye in Fargo.

I took the bus for a short distant, so I know how uncomfortable they can be.  One time I was returning from the Minneapolis, after a group went to Indianapolis for work & witness.  It was night and very noisy and uncomfortable to sleep.  They make more stop than a train.

The people who rides a bus are the type that you do not want to get to know.  I would call them shady characters.  You would worry about being molested or killed on a bus by a complete stranger.

Believe me, I’m an extrovert.  I can be very friendly.  But riding a bus, I rather stick to myself.  It’s safer that way.

Some of you may ask, isn’t train uncomfortable?  No, there not!  Even the click-clack is hardly noticeable.

The type of people who rides the train is the type you want to get to know because they are very interesting.  These type of people are taking the time to smell the roses and see America.

I met quite a few interesting people on the train the last time I road.  I met family that wanted their kids to enjoy their vacation.  They couldn’t do that on a plane or a bus.

I met young college students who road the train just so they can see America.  They took lots of pictures and I bet they even wrote about it in their blog.

To some the train is very noisy.  Once again, not when you are riding it.

I plan in having a good vacation this coming week.  It will be about 2 weeks I will return with a new blog.  I’ll be back next week just in time to work the Bruno Mars concert at the Fargo Dome.  I will probably write about my vacation for that blog.  It will be my version of Travel with Charley, a book by John Steinbeck.  I may even write about Bruno Mars concert then too.

Have a nice summer and see you in 2 weeks.  Keep on reading my blogs.  I appreciate you all.  Don’t be afraid to subscribe!

Most recently Bill Cosby was trial for rape and the case ended up in a mistrial.  I want to say first, I had my doubt that Bill Cosby was guilty of rape.  I’m not here to dispute the women’s accuser story of rape, because it’s not the victim’s fault for the rape.  There was just something about that case that put doubt in my mind.  And I guess, the jury must had the same doubt; that is why the case became a mistrial.

First of all, why did the women wait so long to come forward?  Second, the model, Janice, was the kind of person I had a hard time in believing because of her reputation.  Third, Bill Cosby was America favorite TV’s dad.  He rated number 1.

Now let look at why the jury couldn’t find him guilty of rape.

First of all, was the fake news media responsible of only giving the information they wanted?  Thus leaving room for doubt to seeps in.  Maybe that is why I had the doubt in Bill Cosby being guilty of rape.

Second, didn’t the Prosecuting Attorney had enough evidence to prove him guilty?

Finally, did the Defense Attorney actually do their job in defending Bill Cosby?  If I was gambling man, I would say, that it may had been a combination of all 3 and the Defense Attorney actually did their job.  If that is the case, it goes to show that if a person got money, they can get a good defense attorney and they will defend them.  If they don’t have the money, they just get a court-appointed Attorney, and they get paid whether they defend their client or not.

Now that is a crying shame!  If they want to get paid, they should do the job of defending their clients.  Otherwise they shouldn’t get paid.

Let us look at 2 other past cases:

First, when O.J. Simpson was on trial for killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.  I don’t want to come across racist or even sexist because of this blog because I’m not.  I actually believe that if O.J. was a poor black man, race would not been made as much as an issue as it was.  Because O.J. had money and fame, he was able to afford a good defense team.  If he was poor, he would just had a court-appointed Attorney and they wouldn’t really defend him and make race an issue.  He would had been found guilty.

Now let us take a look at Michael Jackson’s child molestation case. First of all, I, myself felt that he was guilty of molesting those boys.  Since he had money and fame, he was able to hire a good defense team.  His defense team was then able to prove that the parents of those boys were just using the sons to get money out of Michael Jackson.  Shortly after he was founded not-guilty, there was a headline that states, “If he was on trial in North Dakota he would had been found guilty.”  That is only half right!

If he was poor, he would only had a Court Appointed Attorney and he would had serve time in prison and had to register as a sex offender.

It goes to show that if a person have money, they can get away with crime; but if they don’t have the money, they will end up in prison.  I’m not saying that everyone in prison is innocent.  I’m just saying that there is a high percentage of those in prisons who didn’t get proper representation by a decent attorney.

I used to be for the death penalty but now when I look at our legal system, I have to admit I’m not anymore.  But that is whole different blog.

I don’t think that they should leave the option open for an abortion in case of rape.  Especially when our legal system is the way it is.  If the woman doesn’t want the baby, she could claim rape, and if the guy can’t afford a good defense Attorney, his life will be ruin.  It would be a matter of he said/she said; and without a good defense attorney he couldn’t prove himself innocent.  Then his life would be ruin.  Not only would he goes to prison, he would have to register as a sex offender.  I could go on with this but that is another blog altogether.

When we’re hire to do a job, the employers expect us to do the job we’re hired for, right.  Well, it should be the same with the lawyers.  When they are hired to do a case, they should do the work to prove without a doubt that their clients are innocent.  It shouldn’t matter if their clients is rich or poor.  But it seems that it does!

Court Appointed Attorney are lawyers because no one else will hire them.

When I was younger, my mother wanted me to be a lawyer for some reason that she never told me.

Those in Washington should make a law that the attorneys must actually defend their clients if they want to get paid.  But that will never happen!  A lot of our Career Politician were/are lawyers already and so they will not change anything that will affect them.

This is one of the reason that healthcare is so expensive.  Doctors have to buy extra malpractice insurance just to protect themselves from malpractice lawsuits.

Something must be done to fix the legal system.  Because there is no justice for all.  When you are rich, you can afford a good defense attorney; but when you are poor, you get stuck with a court-appointed attorney.  They don’t defend you properly.  Remember, they get paid no matter what; so why bother doing the legwork. I think if they had to do the work if they want to get paid, that might lead to something better in the legal system.

Like I said earlier, I don’t want you to think that I’m accusing the women in the Bill Cosby case as lying.  Rape is not something to lie about. It is not a joking matter.  I could go on but that is different blog that I may or may not write.

The case was just a matter of those 3 things that I mentioned.  Was the fake news media at fault, was the Prosecuting attorney at fault, or did the defense Attorney actually do their job.  If Bill Cosby was poor, it would never had been a mistrial.  He would had been found guilty.

Just like if O.J. Simpson was poor, race would never been an issue.  He would had been founded guilty of murder.  And Michael Jackson would had been found guilty of child molestation.

There are other cases but those are the 3 famous ones.  So you can see, that there is no justice for all.  There is only justice to those who can afford a good attorney.  I could go on but there are other blogs that I can cover some of this in, in the future.

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I recently read a book called, “God grew tired of us.”  It was a memoir by John Bul Dau.  He was one of the lost boys from Somalia.

It was very interesting and got me thinking about others in the Third World countries out there.  This was a good missionary story.

Throughout my lifetime, there have always been people struggling in these 3rd world country.  These countries are very poor with poor food and water supplies.  They also have corrupt Government system; worst than our own government.

I remember in the ’80’s, when Nelson Mandela was in prison and the talk of apartheid was the talk in South Africa.  Pres. Reagan and the United States made it their business to get involved in the fight against Apartheid in South Africa.

You always hears about the starving children in Ethithopia.  They have poor water and food supply also.

The last few years the Lost boys from Somalia made their trip to the United States for freedom and to get away from the scrutiny in their home country.  A lot of them left family behind for a better life.  Even churches got involved to help them.  The Lutheran for example.

Some of the Somalians are Christians that been told the redemption story of Jesus by missionary that came to their country.

John Bul Dau and others lost boys wondered if God grew tired of them because of all the hardship they went through.  Something I think we all goes through in certain times.

Those aren’t the only country who has their share of troubles.  There are others.  The country of Haiti is one of the poorest country in our hemisphere.  There is always an outreach for Haiti.

There is Sanford Doctor that goes to Haiti to perform lifesaving surgery without charge.  The church I belong to, Bridgepointe Community Church of the Nazarene also works for the reliefs of Haiti, under the leader of Pastor Paul Aladin.  A great man of God!

I want to say when you feel like giving to help these poor countries in need, make sure you do your research to know if the money will actually go to the people who really needs it.

Also when you give to those in needs, as in Matthew 6:2-4.  “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”

There are people who gives around Christmas time; so that they can write it off on their taxes.  That is not what the Lord wants.  He wants you to give with a cheerful and obedient heart.

If you happened to see and hear about people in the Third World Country that are in needs, make sure that you do your research first before sending money.  If you send money to some of these organizations, it may not get to those who really needs it.  Some of them have to work with their government and ours.  Their governments is even more corrupt than ours, if that is possible.  That is one of reason why they are a poor country.  They are run by dictators.

My advice to you is to find a church that sponsor these countries and give through them.  Then you know the money will goes to good use.  The Christian church has a way of getting around the corrupt government.

That is who help the Lost Boys of Somalia.  It was the church.  Just Bridgepointe Community is helping to reach out to the poor in Haiti.  Through Pastor Paul and the mission trip, the church is helping to build a church and a school in Haiti.

Bridgepointe Community is not only helping people in Haiti, we are also helping people in Fargo-Moorhead.  We have a ministry with Church United(homeless shelter), we have a food pantry, and there is other help that the church has for those in needs in Fargo-Moorhead.

This is not a plea for money.  This is just a special blog to help those like the Lost Boys of Somalia.  I know I was touch by the book, “God grew tired of us.”  Then again I’m always touch by heartwarming missionary stories.  I wish I could go on more work & witness trip.

The last work & witness trip I went on was in 2001.  When I went to Indianapolis to work in the inner city to help those in needs.  It was amazing!  That was the year that my sister, Barb died of cancer.  By going there to help out, I could easily understand what she went through while she was alive.