Finally, the long awaited trip to 'Up North to play music' happened. We followed Ken and Judy North to Ken's homestead Saturday morning. Michigan was doing it's typically Michigan weather thing again, so the drive featured wet roads and rainy skies, and chill temperatures. It was, thankfully, a completely uneventful trip for us. Ken almost got sideswiped at one point by a driver who for some reason could not see that big SUV. A near miss, but a miss just the same. That event did become the topic of some conversation during the weekend.
We did play music! Ken and I changed off playing Dobro and guitar. The guitar player did the singing, by the way. Judy played the bass and Lori fiddled her heart out. We sounded terrific! This remark is made, of course, by a completely impartial observer, me. Ken called the pastor of the church around the corner to see if he would be available to play piano with us. It turned out that he could and would.
Now we were five, and to the mix was added the piano as well as a whole bunch of 'new' songs, songs unfamiliar to all four of us. What fun! The five of us played music and talked until after midnight. Cy (piano) had to get up by 5:30 to get ready to preach, so we reluctantly stopped playing music and bedded down.
Sunday we four went to Cy's church...a little country church with very few members. We were 'special music'. Neat! We did three numbers...Judy and Ken sang a song about a 'Stairway', Lori did 'I'll Fly Away' and I sang 'Mountain Railroad'. Ken and I played 'each other's' instruments on the 'Stairway' song. Always before Ken played guitar and I played Dobro when we have done that song (in Bflat!) So we were both traveling down a new path. Butterfly time. But we all the music went well. Both Lori's number and mine were quite a bit more uptempo than that little church was expecting. So later, Cy's accompaniment to the next hymn was as well. That brought a comment from the song leader...I guess she thought it was too fast. But in my opinion, it was like it should be done. Happy! We were praising God so why not be happy?
We drove around the area for a couple of hours after church. We showed Ken a place up there where cars back Up the hill, which he had never even heard about before. We discovered it about 5 years ago when we accompanied my brother and his wife "up North'. I called my brother on the cell to get directions.
Then! More music! Only about 4 hours worth this time...but Monday morning arrived before we went to bed Saturday night. Monday morning we played music after breakfast (and a lot of talking) for an hour or so...then we walked Ken's property. What a beautiful sunny day for that, and what a beautiful spot also. God's country.
Then about 4 PM we left to come back South to Barry Co. Once again a completely uneventful drive, just like we wanted. For some reason, bedtime was not as late as it had been all weekend. Could it be we needed some rest?
What a great time we all had. Thanks Ken and Judy for including us in your plans. It was wonderful!
PS...Princess (Ken's cow) did not make the trip even though Ken had purchased a 'chariot' for her transportation. An earlier planned trip did not happen because Ken had no one to milk Princess, so now there is a horse trailer to 'bring Princess along'. This time however, a milker was available...
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Health Care????
OK...first off, I don't have any real answers to the health care situation. I admit that. Ideas, opinions, and feelings, I do have those. Answers are harder though. I believe that in order to have answers, first the question must be understood. I can see by reading the news that most people are trying to solve the problem without knowing just what that problem is. I am still considering just what that problem is myself.
A little history, back in the early 60's when I got married, health insurance was not a real big expense. I suppose that treatment was not really a big expense either, but as I was young and healthy at that time, I don't really remember. I got health insurance because my Children were likely to have need of medical treatment from time to time.
As time passed the percentage of my income that health care used, became more, even though my income generally increased. I remember thinking that medical expenses were rising way too fast. I believed then (and I still do believe) that the main reason for that rapid increase was because more and more people had health care insurance, and that insurance was paying pretty well. About this time the auto makers had decided to make health care insurance a part of wages. That was not the case with the bank at which my wife worked however. We still had to pay our own health insurance. Once my kids were grown and on their own, health insurance had become a major expense, more than half of my monthly draw. Even though agriculture is a dangerous profession, we decided that we could not afford health insurance. So we dropped out, becoming uninsured. We remained that way until I went to work for an agricultural retailer, who included that as part of the wages. I changed jobs but was still covered under an employer payed health care plan. I am still in fact, as part of my pension. I am so lucky!
Now to get the todays issue. What should be done about a health care system that has become so very expensive, one that asks first how the bill will be paid, rather than what is the health issue?
Mr Obama promised 'health care for all', or at least that is what the promise sounded like. Giving credit where credit is due, it appears he is trying to deliver on that promise. But this is a entrepreneurial economic country, more or less. Which can be interpreted several ways. What that means politically, I believe, is that much money is spent on our legislators to insure that legislation will be favorable to a particular enterprise. In this case, that would be health care providers. I do not believe that any particular political party is more guilty of accepting this money than any other. It is the way things are done, period. Another rant will consider that situation, I promise
Today it appears that Mr Obama is willing to 'compromise' and be willing to accept a health care packaged that does not include a government paid insurance. I think that is a wrong decision. I don't think any program without that provision will likely not be beneficial to us as consumers. If the government is not 'involved' there will be no checks and balances on health care expense to us the consumer. The insurance companies will be free to continue to raise rates at a phenomenal rate. There will be no relief for those who cannot afford insurance, but at least the health care industry's profits will be ensured.
I have also followed the controversy over whether or not a disproportionate amount of health care was going to 'people who have less value to society'. That would be the old and the poor, I would assume. Mr Obama has been accused of just wanting to let people over 65 just die, at least be the old folks at McDonald's in the morning. He has denied that allegation, but both parties ideas contain a formula to determine the worth of the patient. That sounds pretty awful...it Is awful. It is not anything that should be considered in America at all. That it may be being considered is just sad. My heart aches that the people we elected to serve as legislators should have forgotten the basis of America. That basis is not that all people are entitled to health care, but that all people are of intrinsic value...all men are created equal.
I fear that any health care packaged 'compromise' will 'compromise' many Americans out of health care. It might mandate that one must carry health care insurance, which does nothing but make sure that the insurance companies have a ready supply of money at hand. Any health care packaged that only provides for the insurance companies and not the insured is just not good for America or Americans. What is good for those businesses is not necessarily good for us citizens. I fear that there will be such a provision in the 'compromise', and I fear the effects of that provision .
It would be safe to say that I have little confidence in the ability or desire of our legislature to actually solve the health care problem in America.
I hope I am wrong...
A little history, back in the early 60's when I got married, health insurance was not a real big expense. I suppose that treatment was not really a big expense either, but as I was young and healthy at that time, I don't really remember. I got health insurance because my Children were likely to have need of medical treatment from time to time.
As time passed the percentage of my income that health care used, became more, even though my income generally increased. I remember thinking that medical expenses were rising way too fast. I believed then (and I still do believe) that the main reason for that rapid increase was because more and more people had health care insurance, and that insurance was paying pretty well. About this time the auto makers had decided to make health care insurance a part of wages. That was not the case with the bank at which my wife worked however. We still had to pay our own health insurance. Once my kids were grown and on their own, health insurance had become a major expense, more than half of my monthly draw. Even though agriculture is a dangerous profession, we decided that we could not afford health insurance. So we dropped out, becoming uninsured. We remained that way until I went to work for an agricultural retailer, who included that as part of the wages. I changed jobs but was still covered under an employer payed health care plan. I am still in fact, as part of my pension. I am so lucky!
Now to get the todays issue. What should be done about a health care system that has become so very expensive, one that asks first how the bill will be paid, rather than what is the health issue?
Mr Obama promised 'health care for all', or at least that is what the promise sounded like. Giving credit where credit is due, it appears he is trying to deliver on that promise. But this is a entrepreneurial economic country, more or less. Which can be interpreted several ways. What that means politically, I believe, is that much money is spent on our legislators to insure that legislation will be favorable to a particular enterprise. In this case, that would be health care providers. I do not believe that any particular political party is more guilty of accepting this money than any other. It is the way things are done, period. Another rant will consider that situation, I promise
Today it appears that Mr Obama is willing to 'compromise' and be willing to accept a health care packaged that does not include a government paid insurance. I think that is a wrong decision. I don't think any program without that provision will likely not be beneficial to us as consumers. If the government is not 'involved' there will be no checks and balances on health care expense to us the consumer. The insurance companies will be free to continue to raise rates at a phenomenal rate. There will be no relief for those who cannot afford insurance, but at least the health care industry's profits will be ensured.
I have also followed the controversy over whether or not a disproportionate amount of health care was going to 'people who have less value to society'. That would be the old and the poor, I would assume. Mr Obama has been accused of just wanting to let people over 65 just die, at least be the old folks at McDonald's in the morning. He has denied that allegation, but both parties ideas contain a formula to determine the worth of the patient. That sounds pretty awful...it Is awful. It is not anything that should be considered in America at all. That it may be being considered is just sad. My heart aches that the people we elected to serve as legislators should have forgotten the basis of America. That basis is not that all people are entitled to health care, but that all people are of intrinsic value...all men are created equal.
I fear that any health care packaged 'compromise' will 'compromise' many Americans out of health care. It might mandate that one must carry health care insurance, which does nothing but make sure that the insurance companies have a ready supply of money at hand. Any health care packaged that only provides for the insurance companies and not the insured is just not good for America or Americans. What is good for those businesses is not necessarily good for us citizens. I fear that there will be such a provision in the 'compromise', and I fear the effects of that provision .
It would be safe to say that I have little confidence in the ability or desire of our legislature to actually solve the health care problem in America.
I hope I am wrong...
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Vacation part 2
Here we are in sunny(?) South Haven...we left Evart MI about noon yesterday and arrived here about 330. There was no Sunshine! The temps were in the low 60 degree range. Not too nice at all cloudy and windy. But we met up with Daughter Christine and her husband Bob. We had dinner at the Phoenix Cafe, downtown South Haven. It is a sort of 'boutique' cafe, really busy, with good food. We had a nice visit with them with dessert at the Chocolate Store. But it was really cold for July. It would have been an exceptionally nice day for March though.
Today is somewhat less cloudy and the sunshine feels warm. My niece Dee's wedding is this afternoon on the beach hopefully. We were sad to leave the music in Evart, but family is more important, so here we are! There is free coffee at the office here in the South Haven Family Campground...I guess I'll go get some...
Today is somewhat less cloudy and the sunshine feels warm. My niece Dee's wedding is this afternoon on the beach hopefully. We were sad to leave the music in Evart, but family is more important, so here we are! There is free coffee at the office here in the South Haven Family Campground...I guess I'll go get some...
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Dulcimr Festival!
Here we are in Evart MI. at the Dulcimer Festival We had a nice drive up Sunday. Good driving all the way. M66 is a mostly straight shot from home to here. Camping here is 'first come, first served', which seems to mean that you send your buddies early to pay for your campsite, because there were no campsites left in the main camping area. So no electricity for us. We camped in the OTL lot under the pines, rustic camping. The porta potty is close though and McD's is across the road. So we are all set. We can get internet access, that is a main consideration for Lori.
We started trying to find jams almost immediately. I noticed a fellow sitting at a booth with a Dobro...He said he wasn't very good, but would try to play along, if I would sing a song. Yeah, right! He was good alright, he could about make that Dobro talk. I found out later he is a nationally known Dobro player. Some people called him Evan, and some called him Leonard....I called him 'Dobro'. We jammed there until way dark. I cannot tell just what time it was, but Lori and I were froze by then, it gets cool once the sun goes down in Evart.
Monday was more of the same. The only time we were at the campsite was lunch time and bedtime. Some friends from home are here, and we jammed with them for several hours. I know, drive all the way here to jam with people from home! But it was fun, for sure... and we jammed with people we don't know as well. It is hard to describe jammin. Except to say we have just too much fun! We were going to play back up for Bob Warner at the Gospel jam, but he decided against playing there. We missed each other so it was Tuesday morning before we found that out. We jammed around all evening Monday as well. By Monday evening, the ends of my fingers were getting black and blue! This even though I play guitar a lot!
Tuesday we walked around and joined some jams, once again with Bob and Linda and later with George and Betty. We came home to rest a bit...and eat some supper, and the campers next door invited us over to play music with them. That was fun. He has made a CD, and he played all the instruments on the CD. Then! He said I want to show something on the guitar. I got a two hour lesson on the pentatonic scale. Not so much what it is, but more where it is on the fret board. We used the 'E' scale. Then he played a 12 bar blues in 'E' and I played Lead! Amazing! He then proceeded to show me some other things I can do when playing rhythm in a group! Far too much for my mind (and fingers!) to digest. I am looking forward to more time with him.
This AM it is rainy. It rained over night, early this morning. Lori has a bad case of Poison Ivy...so we had a restless night. She finally at 4 AM took a shower. She rested much better after that. I didn't sleep while she was away, a short night for us both.
This is our main vacation of the year...if a retired person can actually Be on Vacation!
This morning we discovered that our new neighbors are Karen and Don from Toledo. We met them last year, she plays clawhammer banjo, he fiddles. We 'stole' a song from them last year, 'the Yearling Song. I wonder what song we can learn from them this year....
We started trying to find jams almost immediately. I noticed a fellow sitting at a booth with a Dobro...He said he wasn't very good, but would try to play along, if I would sing a song. Yeah, right! He was good alright, he could about make that Dobro talk. I found out later he is a nationally known Dobro player. Some people called him Evan, and some called him Leonard....I called him 'Dobro'. We jammed there until way dark. I cannot tell just what time it was, but Lori and I were froze by then, it gets cool once the sun goes down in Evart.
Monday was more of the same. The only time we were at the campsite was lunch time and bedtime. Some friends from home are here, and we jammed with them for several hours. I know, drive all the way here to jam with people from home! But it was fun, for sure... and we jammed with people we don't know as well. It is hard to describe jammin. Except to say we have just too much fun! We were going to play back up for Bob Warner at the Gospel jam, but he decided against playing there. We missed each other so it was Tuesday morning before we found that out. We jammed around all evening Monday as well. By Monday evening, the ends of my fingers were getting black and blue! This even though I play guitar a lot!
Tuesday we walked around and joined some jams, once again with Bob and Linda and later with George and Betty. We came home to rest a bit...and eat some supper, and the campers next door invited us over to play music with them. That was fun. He has made a CD, and he played all the instruments on the CD. Then! He said I want to show something on the guitar. I got a two hour lesson on the pentatonic scale. Not so much what it is, but more where it is on the fret board. We used the 'E' scale. Then he played a 12 bar blues in 'E' and I played Lead! Amazing! He then proceeded to show me some other things I can do when playing rhythm in a group! Far too much for my mind (and fingers!) to digest. I am looking forward to more time with him.
This AM it is rainy. It rained over night, early this morning. Lori has a bad case of Poison Ivy...so we had a restless night. She finally at 4 AM took a shower. She rested much better after that. I didn't sleep while she was away, a short night for us both.
This is our main vacation of the year...if a retired person can actually Be on Vacation!
This morning we discovered that our new neighbors are Karen and Don from Toledo. We met them last year, she plays clawhammer banjo, he fiddles. We 'stole' a song from them last year, 'the Yearling Song. I wonder what song we can learn from them this year....
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Stuff and Nonsense?
First...I apologize for not putting any text with the pics last post. They are shots of Meredith's new digs. She is doing well there, Lori and I visit just about every day. I have sent the cell phone back to AT&T and spent over an hour dealing with canceling that service. AT&T could use a primer on how to care for customers. I did manage to avoid one set of 'customer service' representatives. The CSR I was talking to could not get the 'cancellation team' to answer their phone, so I didn't have to tell Meredith's story a third/fourth time. I was getting tired of re-explaining the situation to every new CSR I had to talk to. But that is said and done, thank goodness.
This has been a busy week...We have started every morning having coffee at McD's. I have to get my caffeine level high enough to function. We had intended to spend some time this week in Thompsonville MI, playing music with Ken and Judy. Ken could not find anyone to milk his cow Monday, so that fell through. I can understand that, for sure. I had lots of cows for over 30 years, and many plans got changed and canceled because I could find no one to milk.
Ken figured if he had a horse trailer he could haul the cow with him, 175 mi. Plenty of food and water at the Homestead. I discovered a couple for sale near here. Ken bought the best of these trailers Monday afternoon. We accompanied K&J during the 'looking' stage. Monday evening the four of us got together and played music about 4 hours. Ken and I took turns playing Dobro, guitar, and singing. Lori played fiddle and Judy was on bass. We had a ball! The evening got over too soon.
Tuesday we played music at Thornapple Manor, and at the Grange. Lori and I spent quite a lot of our time at the Grange dancing. We do enjoy dancing!
Meredith needed some transportation to a 'seasoned citizens' picnic Wednesday. Lori and I attended with her. Good food, and fellowship. We played the games somewhat reluctantly, but I decided we should represent Meredith. Lori kept me from taking last place. We took Meredith on a tour of a garden (flower) and then we did a tour of the old property. In the evening we three attended the concert in the park by the Hastings City Band. Good music and the mosquitoes were not too vicious.
Today...music at Skip's. We will finish getting ready to go to the Dulcimer festival in Evart tomorrow. Evart features hours and hours of music, and parking lot picking extraordinaire...the highlight of the summer for Lori. (Actually the third or fourth highlight of this summer! Our visit to TN was terrific!)
This has been a busy week...We have started every morning having coffee at McD's. I have to get my caffeine level high enough to function. We had intended to spend some time this week in Thompsonville MI, playing music with Ken and Judy. Ken could not find anyone to milk his cow Monday, so that fell through. I can understand that, for sure. I had lots of cows for over 30 years, and many plans got changed and canceled because I could find no one to milk.
Ken figured if he had a horse trailer he could haul the cow with him, 175 mi. Plenty of food and water at the Homestead. I discovered a couple for sale near here. Ken bought the best of these trailers Monday afternoon. We accompanied K&J during the 'looking' stage. Monday evening the four of us got together and played music about 4 hours. Ken and I took turns playing Dobro, guitar, and singing. Lori played fiddle and Judy was on bass. We had a ball! The evening got over too soon.
Tuesday we played music at Thornapple Manor, and at the Grange. Lori and I spent quite a lot of our time at the Grange dancing. We do enjoy dancing!
Meredith needed some transportation to a 'seasoned citizens' picnic Wednesday. Lori and I attended with her. Good food, and fellowship. We played the games somewhat reluctantly, but I decided we should represent Meredith. Lori kept me from taking last place. We took Meredith on a tour of a garden (flower) and then we did a tour of the old property. In the evening we three attended the concert in the park by the Hastings City Band. Good music and the mosquitoes were not too vicious.
Today...music at Skip's. We will finish getting ready to go to the Dulcimer festival in Evart tomorrow. Evart features hours and hours of music, and parking lot picking extraordinaire...the highlight of the summer for Lori. (Actually the third or fourth highlight of this summer! Our visit to TN was terrific!)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Transition
We moved Meredith (Lori's Mom) to an assisted living home this week. Meredith had been diligently downsizing for quite some time in anticipation. An apartment had become available a week or so ago...perhaps not the one she wanted, but she deemed it satisfactory 'temporarily'.
Monday Lori's brother Ivan, Lori's friend Mary, Meredith and I started the big move. Lori and her Mom attended to downsizing details. Ivan and I loaded the furniture making the move. All in all things went very well. Some of the furniture was heavy, but not so heavy we could not move it. Meredith moved to the new apartment with the first trip. First and most important item in was her Couch...her nest is how she refers to it. The last item of furniture to be loaded was the sewing cabinet Lori's Dad had built. This went to Sister Joyce Wednesday afternoon. We loaded up the roll top desk into Ivan's van along with most of the things related to genealogy. The huge (analog) TV went to Mary for her kindergarten classroom. We were tired, but everyone seemed happy with the move.
Tuesday Lori and I went back to the old apartment to do the finishing touches. We sold the bedroom suite to an antique dealer. Then we started the final cleaning touches. I made several trips to Goodwill with unneeded items, while Lori sorted things...we filled the trash bins available to us (two smallish bins) and hauled some more to the dumpster at the Middle School. Lori and I both worked harder Tuesday than we did Monday, surprisingly.
Wednesday we did the Final final cleaning and carting. We had a nice visit with Joyce when we delivered the sewing cabinet to her. It looks good in it's new home.
Setting up DSL for Meredith took some extra time. First I had to learn how to get to the right people answering questions to a computer. I more or less got that handled. Then a tech lady led me through the procedure, and after about an hour of trying this and that we had success!
Until I hung up the phone. The DSL disconnected as well! So back to talking to the computer...answered something wrong and went a long way the wrong way to a dead end. So I tried one more time! I carefully answered the questions and finally reached another tech lady...who promptly told me she could not help! But who also directed me to someone who could.
He and I went through the whole procedure again...but first he had to act like a jerk. He asked me what color the lights on the DSL modem were...and when I started to tell him, he shouted at me I NEED YOU TO ACTUALLY GO OVER AND LOOK AT THE MODEM! (I was!) With some difficulty I did Not react to his disrespect. I decided not to make his problem my problem... Finally we discovered the problem. I had plugged the DSL into the filter but not the phone! I thought the DSL was what needed filtering, but no, it is the phone that needs filtering. I believe we could have saved a half hour (and a whole bunch of shouting) if he would have listened to what I was trying to tell him. I guess the only way to do things is to go through the Whole procedure everytime...obviously the customer doesn't have any important information!
But DSL is up and running and as I type this Meredith's new cell phone is charging so maybe tomorrow I can deal with another AT&T helper....
Meredith is enjoying her new surroundings and getting acquainted with the other residents.
I believe this will prove to be a beneficial transition.
Monday Lori's brother Ivan, Lori's friend Mary, Meredith and I started the big move. Lori and her Mom attended to downsizing details. Ivan and I loaded the furniture making the move. All in all things went very well. Some of the furniture was heavy, but not so heavy we could not move it. Meredith moved to the new apartment with the first trip. First and most important item in was her Couch...her nest is how she refers to it. The last item of furniture to be loaded was the sewing cabinet Lori's Dad had built. This went to Sister Joyce Wednesday afternoon. We loaded up the roll top desk into Ivan's van along with most of the things related to genealogy. The huge (analog) TV went to Mary for her kindergarten classroom. We were tired, but everyone seemed happy with the move.
Tuesday Lori and I went back to the old apartment to do the finishing touches. We sold the bedroom suite to an antique dealer. Then we started the final cleaning touches. I made several trips to Goodwill with unneeded items, while Lori sorted things...we filled the trash bins available to us (two smallish bins) and hauled some more to the dumpster at the Middle School. Lori and I both worked harder Tuesday than we did Monday, surprisingly.
Wednesday we did the Final final cleaning and carting. We had a nice visit with Joyce when we delivered the sewing cabinet to her. It looks good in it's new home.
Setting up DSL for Meredith took some extra time. First I had to learn how to get to the right people answering questions to a computer. I more or less got that handled. Then a tech lady led me through the procedure, and after about an hour of trying this and that we had success!
Until I hung up the phone. The DSL disconnected as well! So back to talking to the computer...answered something wrong and went a long way the wrong way to a dead end. So I tried one more time! I carefully answered the questions and finally reached another tech lady...who promptly told me she could not help! But who also directed me to someone who could.
He and I went through the whole procedure again...but first he had to act like a jerk. He asked me what color the lights on the DSL modem were...and when I started to tell him, he shouted at me I NEED YOU TO ACTUALLY GO OVER AND LOOK AT THE MODEM! (I was!) With some difficulty I did Not react to his disrespect. I decided not to make his problem my problem... Finally we discovered the problem. I had plugged the DSL into the filter but not the phone! I thought the DSL was what needed filtering, but no, it is the phone that needs filtering. I believe we could have saved a half hour (and a whole bunch of shouting) if he would have listened to what I was trying to tell him. I guess the only way to do things is to go through the Whole procedure everytime...obviously the customer doesn't have any important information!
But DSL is up and running and as I type this Meredith's new cell phone is charging so maybe tomorrow I can deal with another AT&T helper....
Meredith is enjoying her new surroundings and getting acquainted with the other residents.
I believe this will prove to be a beneficial transition.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
