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. 

I could write a blog in honor of the 4th of July; but I decided to make this one very special for a change. I have other times to do that.  So this blog will be in memory of my folks; who were married for 40 years as of July 3rd.  They’re not around anymore but this blog is a special honor to them.

Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson was there song.  There was never a rose garden and their marriage wasn’t all that rosy either.  There must had been some love there for their marriage to last that long.  Like another country song by Michael Martin Murphey, called, “What Forever For,” could also describe their marriage.

My mother wanted to get married on the 4th but the Priest wouldn’t do it.  So they compromise and got married on the 3rd instead.

Their marriage had its ups and downs.  You can decide if it was love or co-dependence.

They met in a bar.

There was a time when they were dating and I guess my real father walked into the bar.  He saw her with him.  My future step-dad said, “If he didn’t quit his staring, he was going to have to let him have it.”  My mother calmed him down by saying that he was my father.”

You tell me would you put up with that jealousy rant?

My mother didn’t knew at first that he had 6 kids at the time.  He thought he only had about 4.  When she was doing special cleaning for an elderly lady who read fortunes, she had her fortunes read and was told that she would marry a man with 6 kids.  He didn’t want to bring all 6 kids to live with us.  He would left 2 in foster care permanently.  One was already of age and the other was practically of age.  The only 2 he would had taken was Barb and Shirley.  Barb for babysitting duty and Shirley as a playmate for me.  My mother told him all of them will come to live with us.

As I mentioned in my blog, “The Lesson I learned from Dad,” he asked me if I wanted him for a dad.

One night while mom was sleeping in the house in North Fargo, he got inside; back then you really didn’t had to lock your door.  He knelt down by mom’s bed and said, “Either you marry me or you will never see me again.”  Mom thought that was romantic.  what do you think?  Was it romantic or was it creepy?

When they got married, none of us kids weren’t there out of fairness.

After they were married, they came to pick me up at my babysitter.  I ran outside to the car and trip over the sidewalk.  Once I got into the car, I asked, “Daddy, kissed my owie!”

I remember going to Duluth, MN with them shortly after.  I even got pictures.

Right around my birthday was when the rest of the family came to live with us.  It was exciting and yet scary at the same time.  Ronny went with mom and I out for my birthday and I guess I was so excited that I told everyone who would listen that he was my brother.  If I only knew then what I know now; but that is whole different blog.

In my family was like the Brady Bunch from tv; at least I thought.  As I grew up, I came to realize that we were far from it. I’m not going into the family dynamics because that is a whole different blog; that I may or may not print.

They say a woman would marry someone like their father and a man would marry someone like their mother.  So I guess you can say, dad was a lot like Grandpa Heger.  He loved his whiskey and brandy.  He was controlling and abusive.

Mom was an independent woman, you would say a Feminist.  Yet she seems to be co-dependence when it came to him.  Don’t get me wrong, they had their share of arguments.  He just couldn’t control her like he wanted to at first.

There was a time as the Alaska pipeline was being built, that he wanted to move to Alaska, but she refused to moved the family with him.

We didn’t moved down to the farm right away.  I was in the 6th grade when we finally moved down on the farm.  By then there were just 2 of us kids at home.

When they had their first grandkids, they both were very happy.  Mom had oldest granddaughter all dress up when he decided to take her out and bought black licorice for her.  Boy, was she pissed; need I say more!  He was very proud of his only grandson, that he bounced him on his knees.

Once we got on the farm, he was able to get a little more control of her.

When they voted, they usually vote for the person not the party; but it was mostly Democrat, and they voted together.

When they first got married, they had one car between the 2 of them.  They would grocery shop together.  I remember even one time as a family going to the old Starlight drive-in Theater on a Friday night.  When we were out West and were given a Chihuahua, named Peanuts.  The picture was taken of Shirley and I with Peanuts with our folks.  Thinking about that now, I came to realize that that dog was ours, not the oldest kids.

When he lost his job at Steiger tractor, luckily we were living on the farm at the time.  Mom became the ultimate breadwinner.  Not saying that he didn’t made his share fixing farmer’s equipment.  He still did his drinking and became even more violent.  Not saying he wasn’t before.  When he discipline, he would beat us kids.  One time he was drunk and angry and threw a kitchen table and made a hole in the wall; that he later turned it into a magazine rack.

Shortly after that he quit his drinking cold turkey; but he was still a dry drunk.  I guess mom had enough and must had told him to quit his drinking or else.  I found out later that she went to see a lawyer when us kids were younger to check on her rights in getting a divorce.  The lawyer told her that she could easily get the kids and the farm and he would had to pay child support.

There were happy times also in their marriage so it wasn’t all hell; but there was no rose garden for her.  It seems after us younger kids grew up and left the nest, mom’s anchor was gone.  They really didn’t have much in common to talk about.  Somehow they still must had loved each other or was it co-dependence?  Was mom afraid to leave him or was it love like she always said?

At first, mom hated the farm because she felt trap.  Once she got to know some of the neighbors out there, it became different.  There was this one neighbor, Loraine Marvig that she hung out with.  Dad didn’t care for her because she was also friend with his first wife and he thought that his first wife had an affair, so he thought mom would also have an affair too.  So his jealousy rage came out again.

When mom had the stroke, he became very scared of losing her.  They made 40 years together; something mom never thought they would do.  When they made 25 years, us kids celebrate their anniversary at the church in Rollag.  Even one Christmas, us kids got together and bought them a microwave oven.

My mother kept right working even while collecting Social security.  She said, “If she retired, dad would had drove her crazy.”  She would lose her independence.

Every morning when she came home from work, she would check to see if he was still breathing.  She was more concern about him than her own health.

When they were younger, he would start the car for her to get it warm before she went off to work.  He would fixed the car for her until he gotten too old to do so.

He bought her last car for her.  She felt that it was his way of controlling her.

When she was in the nursing home, he was there every day/every weekend to see her.  I guess he really enjoyed seeing her company that she was getting, because not many came to see him.

All she wanted to go back home with him.  He wasn’t able to take care of her.  She worried more about him than her own health.

When she died, you could a part of him died with her.  He became depressed and didn’t eat right.  He wasn’t the kind to shed a tear; but you can tell that he truly missed her.  He soon went downhill after her death, like he just gave up on living.  He had a headstone made that will be for the both of them when he died.  He planted a yellow Daffodil on her grave; so that it will come back every year.  So you can in the end she had her rose garden.

Was there marriage love or was it co-dependence?  Was she a fool for staying with him all those years?  She said that she loved him.

I’m here to salute our men in blue.  I’m here to honor those who protect and serve the people of this country.  I’m here to honor those like Officer Jason Mozer, who gave their lives to protect the citizens of this country.

It was such a great honor in Washington DC where there is a monument to remember our fallen police officers.  It was very much deserve.

It is a great honor to have Officer Jason Mozer’s mention in that Memorial monument.  I never knew him personally but my hat goes off to him and all the police officers in this country.  I also thanks the family of these officers for their dedication.

I can only imagine the horror they face not knowing if their love ones will return home every night or not.

The police get a bad rap at times.

The old familiar joke, “when looking for the police, just go by the doughnut shop and you will find them.”

Or there are people like Al Sharpen and Barak Obama makes the police out to be the bad guys.

I’m not saying that there aren’t bad cops out there.  I’m just saying that we should salute them for all of their hard work in protecting us from the criminals.

Like I said earlier, they get a bad rap by people like Al Sharpen.  Those people seems to forget that they are just doing their job.  They are hired to serve and protect us.  Sometimes, it’s not easy.  They may enter in difficult situations that may end taking their lives.  They may even make difficult decision.  Some may agree and some may not.

Most recently in the news, the polices were under attack by Al Sharpen people because of racial uprising.  They have nothing to do with it.  They were just doing their job.  People like Al Sharpen is just making a mountain out of molehill.

There had been more uprising against the polices under Pres. Obama than any other President in history.  Even more than during the Vietnam protest and the Civil Right’s movement.

This wasn’t what Dr. Martin Luther King JR. had in mind with “I had a dream speech.”  Obama had a chance to make that dream a reality but he had blown by the following in the way of Al Sharpen and Jesse Jackson.

So let us remember our police officers instead giving them a hard time.

There are bad cops out there. I’ll give you that.  I won’t dispute it but I won’t delve in it in this blog right now.  I’ll save it for another time.  Believer me there are stories I that will blow your mind.

As the theme song for the “Ghostbusters”, who are you gonna call when you are in trouble?  I hope that you answer the cops.

They even go above and beyond.  For example: they were the first to come up “treat and trunk” on Halloween.  They would hands out candies to the kids trick and treating on Halloween night.  They will make sure that the kids are safe.  They even provide bicycle’s helmet for the kids to ride safe.

When you call 911, it’s the police who respond first.  So they are not sitting eating doughnuts like some may think.  They are out there serving and protecting us.

What is the firemen doing?

Every year at the Battle of the badge blood drive between the fireman and the police to help United Blood service, when I donate blood, I do it for the police, to give them the recognition.

So whenever you see a police officer. instead of giving them a hard time, why don’t you thank them for their service.  You don’t have to call them names like, “pigs, bears, etc.”  You don’t have to make their lives a living hell.  They have a hard time the way it is.

 

 

 

First of all, let me begin with a Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers, dads, and step-dads out there.

As my mother always said, “anyone can father a child; but it takes someone very special to be a dad.”

I got more from my step-dad than I ever did my real father.  I learned a lot from him growing up. The only thing my real father did was paid the hospital where I was born.  He complained if my mother bought me vegetables when the 3 of us went out.  He was that cheap and felt that burger and fries was enough.

I could go on about deadbeat dads out there, but that is another blog in itself.  I could go on about my real father; but I rather not.  All I will say is he must had told his family about me because they knew I existed.  If his mother had known about me, things probably would had been better.  He was easily taken advantage of by his brothers, Reuben and Melvin.

Don’t let anyone tells you that a step-dad has no rights to the step-kids.  Believe me, there are people out there who thinks that.  I know a few.

My step-dad raised me from the time I was 5 years old. He taught me a lot growing up.  He may had been a tough mean old man; that never showed his emotions; except anger.  He treated all his kids the same that way.

I’ll never forget when he asked me before he married my mother, if I would want him for a dad.

He taught me how to zip my jacket and tie my shoes.  He taught me how to fish and enter the lake different places than the loading dock; like off the side of the road.  When we went fishing up in Canada, one time I caught an eel.  When I caught it, he just cut the line to keep it out of the boat.  I was on his insurance plan when I had my tonsil taken out.

Some may say that DNA makes a person.  That may be so; but so does the atmosphere.  I find myself more and more like my step-dad in my thinking.  I may look like my real father; but I’m more like dad than you would think.

He always to speak the truth even if it hurts.  If someone is offended by the truth; you may had hit a nerve with that person and is on to something.

When you do a job, do it right the first time.  Make sure that you use good material in doing so.  He believed that oak makes good furniture and good firewood, because they are very sturdy.  Anyone who makes cheap stuff that don’t last and then try to sell it to you, he called them a Jew; because they will Jew you.

With all the stuff he had created, if he had only patented it, our family could had been better off financially.  He only had an 8th grade education but he was self-taught man.  He built the house we lived in on the farm himself with his own sawmill.  That house is still around and both parents are dead and gone.

He was into using the good stuff, even if you had to saved up for it.  He will not get cheap material.  He said, “cheap is cheap for a reason.”

He was big on saving up for things you need.  He was so against credit cards and gambling.  He said that they will be the downfall of a person.

I remember him saying, “there will be another Revolution between the government and the people.”  It look like that he might be right on that.

He believed that honesty is the best policy.

When he lost his job at Steiger Tractor, luckily we had the farm at the time.  He got some cattle.  He preferred Black Angus, because they are better keeper and take better care of their young.  He was also able to go self-employed, by fixing the neighbors equipment.  They knew that they could count on him to do the job right the first time; and he had many clients.  They didn’t care what he charge; because they it would be done right.  He had a reputation around Rollag as being good at what he does and being fair.

He didn’t have as much friends as mom did, because he was tough.

I could go into the bad side of him but that is a whole different blog.  Besides this is Father’s day and the time to remember him for the good things he had done.

I remember when a tractor broke down, I was on the broken down one as he was on the one pulling it back up to the house.  Before he got a round hay bailer, he had a square bailer; so us kids had to help him bail hay.  So I knew about hard work from the time I was 12 years old.  I remember after bailing our own hay, and then unloading a semi load of hay down the hill at the horse ranch where I worked.

I will say though, he was quite controlling.  He may thought like a Republican; but when it came to voting, he voted for the individual not the party.  It just seems that he voted Democrats more often though.  He may at times sounded like he was racist by the way he talk, but deep down, he voted for Obama in 2008.  He would never had voted for Hillary Clinton, because he felt that woman had their places.  He believed that women should be submissive to men.

Maybe it had to do with the way he was raised himself.  He was child of the Depression.  His own mother gave him up since back then having a child out of wedlock was unheard of.  His adopted mother, Clara, only took him in for her husband, Alfred.  Grandma Clara was also very tough; so maybe that why he was tough.

When he died last year in January, it was an honored to be a pallbearer at his funeral.  Since he carried all of us kids, it was the least we can do for him.  I’ll never forget while we were out West visiting relatives. I got sick and went to lay down on the davenport.  I remember waking up to him carrying me upstairs to my cousin, Nels bedroom.  I was 9 years old, not quite 10.  So you see, he even carried me.

The song by Brad Paisley, “He didn’t have to be,”  can easily be my song for him.  He didn’t had to be.  I may not been very easy myself.  Like all of the kids, we clashed with him.

He may not like who got the farm in auction; but he would be laughing at what it went for and the bidding war that occurred over it.  He would be proud of all his accomplishments.

I recently read, Rich Dad/Poor Dad.  I have to admit that he would be proud of me in my investment choices with my inheritance.  He would even be proud of me in the purchase of the mattress and dresser I got.  He would say that I didn’t blow my share of the inheritance like some member of the family had done.  He was strong believer of making your money work for you as well as work hard for what you get.

As you can see, I got more from my step-dad than I ever did my real father.  I learned a lot from him.  Some lessons were tough too.  I didn’t always agree with him.  He also made sure that we shut off the lights that we weren’t using.  We even had to conserve water.  Growing up, he wanted us to only take a bath once a week.  He took a bath less than that.  So in a way he was cheap but a wise investor.

Whereas my real father was just cheap.  When someone drop money on the floor, he would put his foot over it until they left and then pick it up.

 

 

 

To all those Hillary Clinton’s lover, fake news media, all those who voted for Hillary Clinton, and even the Established Republicans, just let it go.  Hillary lost, so just quit your damn whining about it. The people had spoken loud and clear.  We are upset with these career politicians who are just in it for themselves.

As I said in previous blogs, according to the Constitution, they are not to make a career in being Washington.  That is what they did, though.  Trump had brought about a much needed revolution to shake things up in Washington.

As I read recently, it’s time to clean up the swamp that is in Washington.  I believe that President Trump will do just that if only the fake news media, the Democrats and the Established Republicans would just let it go.

He already done more good things for this country than Obama and George W. Bush ever did.  He still have more to do, if they only let him.

President Trump isn’t guilty of any crime like old Hillary is.  James Comey lied to the Senate Advisory board, out of vengeance.  The bad part is the fake news is eating it up and believing every words spoken.  The strange things, they are getting the people to buy into their lies.

Come on, the theory that Russia had rigged this election is a joke.  Does the fake news media thinks that we are that stupid and gullible?  I got news for them.  We are smarter than they think.

There is this guy, I see everyone in a while that would give me a hard time, in saying that Hillary Clinton would give the workers raises.  Yea right, the taxpayers will pay for it! She should be lock up for all of her crimes she had committed.

Then there was a co-worker I worked with who actually said, Hillary would win because Pres. Obama had such a great 8 years.  News flash to this guy:  The American people are completely angry at our government and the career politicians.  They want their country back.  Obama was selling our country to the highest bidder, like the Chinese.  Hillary would had done the same thing.

How quickly they forget all the affairs President Bill Clinton had and even the sex scandal with Monica Lewinsky?

President Trump went ahead to put a traveling ban on certain people to prevent more terrorist attack and the people cry fowl.  Even the Liberal judges work to overturn his amendment.  They want the President to protect this country but they try to tie his hands.

Pres. Trump overturn the Asia-America trade agreement, which is a good thing.  Now for him to also overturn Nafta.  He is focusing getting America factory reopen and lifting the regulation that close them in the first place.  By doing that, he is working to provides more jobs in America.

He disapprove any of Al Gore’s so-called “Global warning ” theory.

Even in Europe, There have been Trump like politicians who also been making a run for office and does ok to make a statement; even though they may not had won.

He sets out to fix the mess that is Obamacare.  I don’t think that he should agreed with Paul Ryan’s healthcare plan though.  It could blow up in their face.

Mitch McConnell said, “I’m tired of all the drama in Washington.”

Here is a news flash for you, McConnell:  Just retire and leave Washington.  You are out of touch.  You are one of the career politicians that needs to go.

When Trump set out to create term limits for the Senate and the House, McConnell said, “He will not go for it.”

I actually think Trump should push for it anyway and let the people know that McConnell is only in Washington for himself.

If Pres. Trump thinks he can trust Paul Ryan to act on term limits, I got news for him.  I wouldn’t trust Paul Ryan either.  Since Trump won big in Paul Ryan’s home state, he should use that against him by rubbing it in his face and rubbing that smugness off.

Now Senator John McCain is no war hero.  He is a whining baby.  He is just angry that Trump done what he couldn’t in 2008.  McCain should just go away.  He should just step down and retire.

How about the latest stunt by Kathy Griffrens?  Real immature of you!  You ought be a shame of yourself.  That was not funny.  You should be lock up for what you did.  As Merle Haggard, “You are walking on the fighting side of me.”  You say, “don’t mess with this red head.”  Well, this red head is saying back at you.

What about Bill Maher?  He is so far left, that he is downright a Socialist and a Commie.  He is un-American

To those Liberals, a Conservative is for less government; whereas a Liberal is for more government.

So to all you whiners out there, still whining about Hillary losing the election; just let it go.  You all said that you were going to leave for Canada if Trump wins, well leave!  It would be good riddance.  Better yet, why don’t you just get on a slow boat to China.  I’m talking to you Kathy Griffen, Bill Maher, Whoppie Goldberg, Rosie O’Donald, and all the others.  Matter of fact, save room for Mitch McConnell and John McCain, because they should join; along with all the fake news media people like I mention in last week blog.  Hillary is lucky that Trump didn’t have her investigated and sent to prison for all her crimes.  Lord knows I would.  I would lock her up and throw away the key.

Megyn Kelly was a nobody until Donald Trump made her famous.  Not many people knew who she was when she was on Fox news, until Donald Trump made her famous.

Now she is the queen of fake news on the leader of fake news, NBC/MSM.  She has her own talk show on Sunday night called “Fake News with Megyn Kelly.”  She also will have a daytime talk show in the fall.  What is NBC thinking?  Do they actually think people is going to watch her spread more outrageous lies?  Do they think we are that gullible?

The senior executive, David Corvo actually thinks that she is the best interviewers on television and that she is credible.

I got news for you, Mr. David Corvo.  She is no more credible that NBC is.

Today’s so-called news reporter doesn’t have the integrity they once had back when Walter Cronkite was broadcasting the news.  This is worse than yellow journalism.

Megyn Kelly lost her credibility when she went after Donald Trump.  She was harder on him than on Hillary Clinton during the election.  Why is that?

The Democrats has the fake news media in their hind pocket.

Megyn, who worked for Fox news, a Conservative reliable news station.  The Fox news should be ashamed of themselves for not putting their foot down on her.

I will agree with David Corvo with one thing.  When he says that they got themselves a winner with her.  She is a real winner alright.  The Queen of fake news.

She easily stole that title from none other than Katie Couric.  Katie had that title when she was the CBS news anchor after Dan Rather, the king of fake news in his time.  Remember when Katie went after Sara Palin?

Katie made Sara Palin look like an idiot to the American people.  A real gem ha?

Sara Palin had a lot of good things to say, but the so-called fake news media made her out to be an idiot and took away her credibility.  Of John McCain was no help.  He left her out to dry in the wind.

CBS had held the title of fake news media for a long time; but now NBC had easily surpassed them for that title.  Now that they got Megyn Kelly and Rachel Maddow on their network.  They might as well have Katie Couric as well, then it could be a 3-ring circus over at NBC news, the leader of fake news.

Fox news has the most integrity of all the news source out there.  But ABC is close behind them Fox as being more accurate.  They have their moments too.

Megyn Kelly is just in it for the money.  She is just going where the money is at.  If the fake news media is willing to pay and you have no integrity; you might as well be a part of it.

Look at Ed Schultes, At one time, he was a Conservative.  He then went to the Liberal news station.  He now is on a Russian news station.

I bet if the fake news media was to offer Mike McFreely a very good offer, he would take it.  He says he has integrity, but I doubt it.  When it comes to money, money talks.

Sure, I hope to eventually get paid for my blogs.  I will try remain true to my integrity and my true self.  A good journalist/news reporter doesn’t make the news, they inform it.  They tell the whole story not just what they want.

As I said, why didn’t Megyn Kelly go after Hillary, and investigate her for all her crimes?  The reason, they feared Trump would become President and they wanted to stop the Trump train.

I used to have a hard time in watching Rush Lumbawl.  I had this feeling that he thought he was God and you better believe him or else.  I have to admit now, that was the fault of the fake news media.  They wanted to make the people believe that; so they could destroy his credibility.  When I look back at what Rush had said, he was right the whole time.

Anyway there are others like Rush who had it right but the fake news media made them out to be idiots.  There is one guy in particular I can’t think of his name, but if anyone knows who I’m talking about, I welcome it.

Stay tune for next week.  When I tell all these whiners out there to just let it go.  Hillary lost.  The people had spoken against the establishment, the career politicians and the fake news media.  Let President Trump do his job!  This is all I’m going to say on this until next week.

This Memorial Day weekend, we remembered those who had passed away.  We remember those who gave their lives for our freedom in this country.  They will always be in our hearts and minds.  I’m forever grateful for what they gave; so that I can enjoy the freedom that we have in this country.

Even though they may be gone, they will never be forgotten.

Some people would even buy Memorial wreaths to put on their loved ones graves.  Even the retail stores had profit over it.  It seems that the older generation were real big on decorating the graves over Memorial Day weekend.  As they are dying off, the younger generation and possible my generation are not buying as much Memorial wreaths.  The retail stores are seeing that and is not selling as much as they used to.

Our loved ones may be gone but they are not forgotten.  Their spirit is all around us.

I’m going to delve into a sticky situation right now.  As I talked about the Spirit world, ghost in particular.  Some may believe in ghost and some may not. Some Christians may not believe in ghost; but yet they believe in the Holy Spirit.  Some Christians may not even believe in angels.  I’m not going to downgrade it.  As for me, I believe in ghost and angels.  I may not really seen any ghosts but I believe they’re possibility.  I have some stories that may back up my claim to this.

I remember, as part of my counseling recovery, I went to the grave of my real father to make peace.  It was around Memorial Day weekend.  The first time I went, I could say anything; but I felt at peace.  It was almost like he knew why I was there.

My mother been dead for 5 years.  The year that she died, I went out West to Seattle by plane.  There was a car accident that I was involved in.  My cousin, Rosie, her granddaughters and I were on our way down Mount Rainer; when we hit another car that was stop.  I believe that my mother’s spirit was watching over us.  That was one of the reason I wasn’t as serious injured as I could had been.  Not only the seatbelt and the airbag saved me; so did my mother’s spirit.  The witness were surprise to because of the way it look, I could had been hurt a lot worse.

That same year, just a few month later, my step-dad nearly got into a car accident himself; when he somehow ended up near Watertown, South Dakota.  I believed that my mother’s spirit was watching out for him as well.

She may had been dead, but she was still watching over us and wishing she could had finally gotten her rest.

The following year, when my step-dad was in a nursing home for a short time, we thought that we should start cleaning up the farm then.  Anyway, one night, I had this dream, in which we were cleaning and my mother’s spirit spoke to me saying, “Don’t throw that away, like she always does.

Then when my step-dad finally died a year ago and we were cleaning up the old home place, I had another dream about them.  There was a root cellar that my step-dad built for vegetables.  In the dream, I entered the root cellar and noticed drawers built inside of the walls.  I told my sister, Shirley about it.  Then we saw mom and asked her about it.  Then when we saw dad riding by on his riding lawn mower, mom said, “It’s time we tell them.”  He never did and just rode off into the sunset.  She then got into her car and left the other way.

When I turned 50 and my Uncle Leo’s, her brother, turned 80, I took a train out West.  While on the train, I felt my mother’s presence sitting beside me.  She would had loved that trip.

So you see, there such things as ghost.  Not only have I experience it, others had too.  My niece, Eve had felt her grandmother standing over her and touching her hair.

I had a cat named, Snowball, who made to 18 years old, that I ended up putting down.  His spirit is still in my apartment.  Whenever my other cat, Tabitha, would act as though she was being playfully chased by Snowball.

There are places in town that been known to have ghost.  There is at least 2 ghost in the Kmart store.  I haven’t seen them but strange things had happened.  One time while working overnight, a co-worker and I was putting stuff up on the overhead over in the infant department.  She thought she heard someone calling her name and no one was calling out for her.

There is also ghost at Concordia College in the building behind Knutson Dining Hall, that is no longer there.  There is also ghost at NDSU as well.  There are even houses that have ghosts in them.  There is a stop on 13th ave. and 25th st. that a ghost been seen crossing the busy intersection.

It goes to show that ghost will go back to where they are familiar with.

You may have heard of the famous Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, that is/was to be haunted.

Even though my parents are gone, their spirit is still around.  Not to scare the new owner of our farm, but I believe that the spirit of my step-dad is back on the farm as we speak. He is probably sitting in his favorite chair in the living room looking out the window and wondering who is in his home.  whereas my mother’s spirit is watching over the family.

The day of the auction, I could feel their spirits. My mother was busy rushing about worrying what to fix for all the people there.  My step-dad was excitedly showing off all his equipment.

So this Memorial Day weekend, may we never forget our loved ones and those who fought and died for our freedom.  Just remember, they may be gone but not forgotten.

This weekend is also the start of summer and people celebrate by going to the lakes.  So if you are traveling this weekend, drive careful or you too could become a ghost that will haunt those you left behind.

I hope that no one was offended by this.  I don’t care if you believe in ghost or not.  I, myself believe in ghost and even angels.  Their spirit is all around us.