December 8th, 2011 has arrived, the  world outside is cold now and the lite snow has fallen. But is you stand outside in the chill  winds of December the peace of the moment shall get your attention, but it will also let you breathe well. The year 2011 is getting ready to come to a close with the Holiday Season upon us and slowly building to its conclusion. We have been through the Thanksgiving Holiday of sharing turkey with family and friends and have been shopping for the next one, Christmas.

       Sadly, I am realizing the time of big Christmas Shopping is coming to an end this year. The money is not here anymore due to the inability of my working due to my disabilities from the military, lack of funds through Social Security and VA checks and my wife no longer working. Times are changing and so shall the future.

        As much as I may enjoy buying for the seven grandkids my wife and I have, I also know we must be able to eat and live no matter what. So in the end how do you tell the children you love and the grandkids too, Grandpa and Grandma still love you, without spending a fortune anymore. You can’t spend what you no longer have can you?.

       Next year the gifts will be cheaper and smaller for all we give to, we really have no choice. The American Economy is bad, the money is tight the price of everything goes up but not the money we get.  Like millions more Americans, we have to make critical choices and changes to survive and if that means not giving as much as we like to, well than that is what will happen. You have to face the ultimate, if you have no choice don’t you?.

       This Christmas Season I noticed as I turned on my Television and watched the lighting of the National Tree, in Washington, DC. by our President, the color choice was blue. It fits the countries spirits and it’s economy too. I think America is about to have a Blue Christmas for many this year. I care not what the sales numbers show, too many little ones are getting less, I know.

       So, as the Christmas Shopping continues for many this year of 2011, and the Holiday slowly approaches, please stop and think of those poorer than you. Please remember the troubles some are going through. I live in Connecticut, a state they say homes rich people, if so it is not in my area. I live in the Greater Waterbury, Connecticut area, an area filled with blue-collar workers who can find no work, at this time. The factories we had that made us so glad and healthy are all gone now, no more Scovils, no more Chase Brass and Copper, Timex, and Uniroyal. No more  big manufacturers of products for the world, we are now left with retail jobs is all. It doesn’t work for the people of the area at all. You can’t take blue-collar people and make them retail experts and make it work, too gruff and straight forward we be, plus customer service is not for people like me.

        The buildings once filled with manufacturers and companies, are now empty brick shells, being turned into retail chains and it just doesn’t work.  So stop building malls and stores and find a product that sells and be inventive and innovative too. We need manufacturing to come home to the area and revamp the world we live in!.

How Many Agree?.

As a Disabled American Veteran, today December 7th, I stop and think back on how many Americans gave up their lives for other countries in the world. Millions of Americans fought in World War 1 and World War 2 so nations such as France,Italy, Germany, Spain and more can still be free to choose who and what they are today.  And we all know the seventh of December is the day Pearl Harbor came under attack by the Japanese.

       Americans have fought wars since our own   for our Independence from Great Britton and we continue to fight wars today for other nations sakes. We need to pull back and just protect ourselves and tell other countries who now ask us to police and defend them no!. We are not the International police force we once were anymore folks. The time is here now, to stop helping and look for some help ourselves.

       I served in a Volunteer Service mode, or because I choose to, there were many of us in times of peace who did this. I never refer to myself as a   Veteran, only a Disabled Veteran. My injuries occurred on a Naval Ship in The Persian Gulf, protecting and defending others. I did so proudly each day I served my country, even if I wasn’t always happy at it. 

       Around the world, it seems these days America is looked at and  scorned at for interfering in other countries business. The truth be known America doesn’t want to fight wars, we are just good at it and expected to help others. But it is time to say no more to this. We can not afford it!.

      The costs of war for others is weighing America down and hurting us economically, politically, and stature wise too, not counting the overall cost in manpower,equipment, travel and damages. Why do we send American men and women round the world to fight battles that are not ours, when we can bring them home and save the cash and credit?.

       I hear many politicians acknowledge the economic mess America is in, the failure of our job markets to grow, the homeless problems rising and the people on the streets with signs, WIll Work for Food!.

        Stop assisting other countries, policing other countries and fighting for and with other countries. Bring our troops home, our equipment home, and our money home. Use it as a resource to fight hunger, homelessness and joblessness here in the USA . Lets turn around the country in a good way and for a change mind our own business.  Thats what I say folks, the only question is how many agree with me?

        

Sinjin The Christmas Cat.

      A few years ago,now lets see it was 2000, I was working with a friend of mine, we were at the SPCA in a small town here in Connecticut. We were sent to replace some windows on their building where they housed the unwanted animals, and we had a good many to do. During a lunch break, I remembered we had just lost a cat to my step-daughter who took him home with her, it was her cat actually but we were the baby sitters of it for 7 years. Shadow was his name all black and a smart cat, he used to watch television with me in the evening his purring head next to my ear in my lazy boy recliner.

       With Shadow gone, my wife wanted a new cat again and I agreed. That day at work at the ASPCA I went back during lunch and looked for a cat for her. They had two all black cats, one larger than the other, I saw the smaller and liked her. She was timid and hiding way in the back of her cage that day.

          As we finished replacing the windows we had to do and were getting ready to go back to the shop for the day, I went back in and picked up the cat.I was given all her papers and her records and her tags for rabies. She was placed in a small cardboard box and sealed in. I stuck her in my truck and brought her home that Christmas Holiday.

       When my wife came home that day, I had the cat in the box sealed up of course she could breathe and was fine, I set it on my wife’s desk here at home. I tried for a good half an hour to get my wife to go to her desk when she came home, no doing on this day, she took her time.

        Finally she went in the office in our home and found the box. She opened it up and out popped this black cat fast as a whip and disappeared behind the living room love seat in the living room, next room over. My wife tried hard to get the cat to come out but she refused and hid there for two weeks and we had to feed her behind there and water her too.

      Now it is 11 years later, and Christmas time. As the cat scurries about now happy and fun-loving and playful, we set up our Christmas Tree, it was all bright and shiny and with garland and balls and lights. Each day of the Christmas Season starting on the 15th of December we light the tree nightly and look at it awaiting the big day.

      Christmas Morning arrives each year and my wife and I go to our tree, littered with the presents for others and ourselves under it, and we sit around as Christmas Music plays and slowly open our gifts. Usually it is a tradition and fun and we take pics of each other and friends and family as they do so.

        Christmas came 2010, and we went thru the normal traditions, the wreath over the fireplace, the spray on the door. The Christmas Tree all lit up in its corner, once more. Each day I watch our little black cat, Sinjin check out the tree, she would sneak up on it and sniff all the balls and garland and the tree and slip away. She never touched the tree each year, I guess  cat don’t like pine trees lol.

       Come Christmas Morning we gathered to open our presents, around the tree. I turned on the CD Player and  out came Jingle Bells by Bing Crosby.  I hugged my wife and headed to the tree to get the presents passed out one by one. As I did, I heard a noise above me, in the tree, I jumped back startled and wondered what the heck?

       Three quarters up our Christmas, out stuck a little black head with big yellow eyes. Sinjin had climbed up in our Christmas Tree and poked her head out at the right moment, surprising us all, We laughed and laughed and then of course got her out of the tree. From that day forward she became Sinjin The Christmas Cat!. Goes to show even pets want to be a part of Holidays, Happy Holidays folks!.

      

      Holidays are now almost upon us all for Christmas and Hannuka and the Celebration we all look forward to each year. Gathering family around the table and by the tree, each with a sparkle in their eye to see!. The lights all shine and the ornaments glow as songs of the season play that we all know. On the Television are Cartoon Shows and movies of a fat jolly man called Santa we all know. 

         Outside at the stores and malls, people rush to and fro. Rushing to find that special gift for family and friends of mine. Past transgressions are forgotten as you rush and get the things allowed. Knowing you love the ones you buy for, makes it all the better that is for sure.

       As a child I waited like all the rest for Christmas morning and the gifts that were best. The tradition was like we all know, it is a special time that brings a glow. As we shopped we would go by a big fat red man, with a beard so white, holding children all his lap, for the night. He would ask the kids all in a row, what they wanted and said he needed to know. So one fine Christmas Eve I watched him you see and it was the first time I ever saw Santa cry! A little boy with curly hair waited his turn as he just stared. He walked on up and sat on Santa’s lap and Santa said ” Son what would you like for Christmas?” The Little boy looked up at Santa and shook his head, his eyes twinkled as he said ” Santa I want my parents to love one another, I want to know my older brother, I want peace for my younger siblings too, can you bring this all to me, can you?” Santa’s face kept a smile, as he said, It may take a while!. When the little boy left Santa’s lap, and walked away, a tear fell down Santa’s cheek that day. Santa leaned back in his chair eyes red and full of tears and said ” I will try to make your wish come true, this Santa will try to do, do, do, I love you!

      Santa’s own son had asked for what he wanted most, Santa hoped for the best and cried that year, it is the year of Santa’s first tear.!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings and Regrets and Holidays.

      Each year that goes by, I stop at this time prior to the Holidays of Christmas, and think back and wonder, what could i have done differently. What would have made my life and those I love better for all of us. These are called regrets and things many of us think about as we get older I guess.

       Regrets come in many shapes and sizes when you get to your late fifties or sixties I would bet. Mine piled up in my forties because it is when all my decisions to preserve my sanity and life began. We all make mistakes and have regrets don’t we folks, Lord knows it and so do we.

      As a child I have regrets because i was young and stupid and innocent and let events go by I never said Thank You for. As a teenager the regrets involve people you never say you care about until it is far too late. Opposite sex , or romances that could have been are always on this list as I sit back and go what could have been, or what would have happened if I told her back then. We all know you can’t go backwards no matter how hard or bad you want to, you have to live with those decisions and carry on.

       Then comes your twenties when your full of energy and have to hold a job and nothing goes right and you stumble past too many things just trying to survive. At the same time mother nature has your sex drive at its peak, your need to reproduce comes out, love happens and bam, you have children before you know it.  Amazingly you will now do anything you can to provide and protect your children and you get in debt too. We somethings rush things in life not for ourselves but for our offspring so they can have a better life than we did.

       By the time you hit your thirties you realize damn what happened to my youth, and start to feel pressured and pushed by society and family. You love your spouse and your children and the home you built, but the bills build up things get in danger, you’re so busy you drift apart from the spouse and the world starts to crumble around you. Next thing you know the spouse is asking for a divorce, custody of the kids and child support till they hit eighteen. And the courts force you to pay or go to jail. Regretting the divorce and failure of your part in it all, you try to deal with it the best you can and survive.

      The Forties brings regrets of not seeing your children enough due to work, distance, divorce and more. They drift from you as their lives go on and on and they grow to become their own persons.  You work now to save your own life and what remains of it and rebuild with another spouse and settle finally into a routine that works for all. The kids from the first marriage show up finally, wanting to know you and why you left. They have children already born and growing of their own suddenly you’re a grandparent and shocked.

       The Fifties you start paying bills off, the home is closer to being done financially, your children are now in their 20s and 30s and their kids are now anywhere from 10 to 3 and so many it is shocking for both you and me. You meet the grandkids and you love them much and provide the best of things and a hug and a touch. Saying and telling them each time you see them how much you love them so. You try to tell your own children how much you love them and things they didn’t know, but they don’t listen, they are too busy too.

      So yes regrets we all have more than a few, I regret many things in my life.

1) I regret not being a better kid as a kid for my parents sake, although I tried my best.

2) I regret fighting and rebelling as a kid against everything and everyone I could, I never knew why?.

3) I regret never saying I love you to my parents or them ever saying it to me.

4) I regret not paying better attention in schools, but I overcame that.

5) I regret that society and medicine didn’t know I had ADDHD as a child and misdiagnosed me.

6) I regret dropping out of High School at Junior Level and going to work early.

7) I regret not telling my first wife and my kids how much I loved them and still do to my kids.

8) I regret not being a bigger part of my kids lives as they grew up.

9)I do regret being injured in the service and never able to recover and losing my service career.

10) My biggest regret is, not being able to fully convey, and converse with my eldest daughter and make her understand I always loved her and always will.

Regrets yes, we all have a few and yes we all work at trying to erase them the best we can. As you can see, I get melancholy on Holidays and the Holiday Season, I look back and try to remember my blessings and my regrets and hope one day to make it all work out better. , As you shop and run about this Holiday Season, stop and count your regrets and your blessing and lets hope that when you do your blessings outweigh and out measure the list of regrets.

      

Election Cycle Blues.

      The Election Cycle has started and Republicans will spout what ever it takes to get the Nomination I am sure. But is there even one among them who can get close to winning the Presidency from Obama? I know to me not one Republican so far looks Presidential enough to threaten!.

       Is it really what the AMerican People want to have eight Republican Candidates running for President and not one give fully intelligent answers to real subjects and questions? Sadly this is what I have seen in all these Debates, stutters, bad answers, fighting and bickering, and yes even some who rant and rave are among these eight. I think the Republican Party needs to get serious now and take some of these candidates out of the running.

       Each front-runner the Republicans have come up with so far is so flawed and damaged they don’t belong running or are not smart enough to answer anything intelligently.

        Michele Bachman originally led this pack when the cycle began. She said some good things and then got bombarded for saying many bad or unfeasible things. She was followed by Rick Perry the Governor of Texas, who tried so very hard to act intelligent and impress then blew it by ranting. Then came Herman Cain a man filled with womanizing  and accused of inappropriate touching and harassing of women. Now , we are on to Newt Gingrich as the front-runner, really are you kidding me?. Mr. Gingrich is more of a womanizer then Mr. Cain and has a worse road record also, when it comes to foolishness and mistakes. What the hell are the Republicans doing, someone tell me please?

       The last man standing and holding his own is all, but, still rowing his boat so to say is Mitt Romney. He stays steady and tries to establish himself as the logical one in this race. The Republican Party though refuses to accept Romney for its leader or make him their nominee so far why? Is he really as bad as they say he can be or may be? And if so what is it that is holding back the Republican Party from nominating him?  Can anyone give me any real reasons? I haven’t heard one yet, what he’s a Mormon, nope doesn’t fly with me, What he originally wrote the Health Bill? Nope we needed one anyway, and Obama made it go through and work so far, so can’t be this.  Someone tell me why please, it’s stupid to see!

       Now I heard some say Ron Paul is the answer, please let’s be realistic here!. Ron Paul is no answer    for a nominee for the Republicans, he is far too radical and liberal for a Republican Conservative. Again this man Mr. Paul rants, raves and carries on also like a mad fool at times. The  longer the run for the Republican nomination goes on the more clowns show up and act out in my book. Someone needs to tell the Republican Party,that if these people are the best you have to possibly run against Barrack Obama, then you are in deep trouble. Warfare in politics in America will not save the Republicans this cycle, nor will they beat Obama unless they find a candidate who knows what the hell he is saying at least and knows better than attacking the elder generations needs of Health Care by way of Medicaid and their Social Security they paid into and need.  The over 50 Generation will speak up at the polls folks, and if your messing with them, they will get ya. What everybody forgets, the baby boomer children who were born in the fifties and sixties are now the elder generation and have great numbers at the polls. If you mess with them they will turn out and murder all of your plans to be President or even get in Congress. Baby Boomer’s children, now is the time for us to speak up and be heard, it is our time to help make America better. Get out, vote, participate, go to the polls and make your voice heard. If you don’t then don’t complain at the results and what happens next!.