Sunday, September 26, 2010

Split Bamboo Pole

While walking the dogs over at the College nearby I happened upon a fly fisherman practicing.  There’s a real art to whipping the line in such a way that its mass can carry the hook some distance on the water.  I mentioned the antique split bamboo pole, Ocean Brand, TokyoJapan, that my late wife had shown me years ago. While describing the kit 
a flood of memories awakened my senses, not only of my late wife and her enthusiasm, but of a day outing I’d had on the Deshutes river in Oregon with a fly fisherman thirty years ago.  My buddy had been effective at duplicating the look of the flies that the fish feasted on.  He caught and released several fish while others nearby were asking him for advice to which he gave up tidbits of information to give them something to work on.  I learned a little about fly fishing that day.  I saw through a window into the relaxation and satisfaction that keeps a fly fisherman intent on perfecting an art.  Now in California I often remind myself how lucky I have been to have experienced all that I have and to remember to count my blessings.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The budget should be balanced

“The budget should be balanced. The treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” Cicero – 55 B.C.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Luxury To Complain

Voters who voted in the current administration lack the patience to really understand the building blocks that enable them to have the luxury to complain. Such Irony!In the video link preceding these words Charles Payne discusses the mass exodus of major companies from California. I can hear the cry of the liberals, "That greedy company abandoning our unions! Our prez will slow them down!"...more like hobble even more.

If you wait for the next clip, Cavuto let's the self made Home Depot creator, Bernie Marcus, compare the present times to the less hobbled period in which he grew his business. Later he discusses the Atlanta Aquarium that enabled him to give back to America...concepts rapidly moving towards obsolescence in our move towards entitlement. Note that the link may disappear over time and I'll do my best to make sure the target of the link stays set.