oneguysview's blog

This Thursday the new dog and pony show will be put on regarding the Outer Toll Road project. If anyone has noticed in the paper in the last few days, it looks like the old plan has been scrapped and we are back to six distinct options again with the promise that Branan Field - Chaffee Rd will definitely be given away to a private company to charge tolls. Since this road was built with our dollars, I find it a dirtty trick the state is pulling on us yet again. If you want to keep our roads free, please attend the meetings being set up. The first is at Thrasher Horne Center and should begin about 4:30 PM.

For everyone's attention, you should know that the Outer Toll Road proponents are going through another series of of demonstrations to try to deaden our response to this unnecessary project. February 25th at the Thrasher hornes Center will be the first "discussion". With Secretary Baldwin retired, we have a whole new peerspective (haha) about the project.

If you were at the ;aste series of discussions you will recall that both Baldwin and Representative Carroll assured us that a parallel road would be built to Brana Field-Chaffee road. Now when you cruise down Chaffee you see the sign advertising that this will soon be a toll road. So, no parallel road. Another con job from our representatives.

OK, all day the newspeople have been drooling big time over John Edwards' admission that he is a lying, cheating, adulterating, Tiger Woods wannabe. What I am having a problem with is this. Did he not come out and admit all this BS last year? I'm really becoming convinced that time travel will be a reality in the future and that someone has already travelled backwards in time and messed with something. The news folk are acting like this is a great revelation but I know I read about this admission months and months ago.

A democracy is only as strong as its people are smart.

And that’s why grocery shopping depresses me.

You see, Staci hands me a big list every Sunday and I go and get the things on the list.  I view it as a scavenger hunt, so that part’s not depressing.

The depressing part is the checkout stand.

I don’t know much about retail, but I know that the area immediately adjacent to the register is the most valuable real estate in the store, because that is where people make their impulse buys.  So stores need to fill it with stuff that is sure to sell.

So each week I stare at that space.

It is important for men to remember that, as women grow older, it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as when they were younger. When you notice this, try not to yell at them. Some are oversensitive, and there's nothing worse than an oversensitive woman. 

My name is Ron. Let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife, Carol Anne. When I retired a few years ago, it became necessary for Carol Anne to get a full-time job, along with her part-time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed. Shortly after she started working, I noticed she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from the golf club about the same time she gets home from work. 

Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. I don't yell at her. Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the table. I generally have lunch in the Men's Grill at the club, so eating out is not reasonable. I'm ready for some home-cooked grub when I hit that door. She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating. But now it's not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner. 

I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her several times each evening that they won't clean themselves. I know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed. 
 
Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think.  For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. But, we take 'em for better or worse, so I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two, or even three days. That way, she won't have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn't hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like to think tact is one of my strong points. 

When doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs more rest periods. She had to take a break when she was only half-finished mowing the yard. I try not to make a scene. I'm a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while. And, as long as she is making one for herself, she may as well make one for me, too. 

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Carol Anne. I'm not saying that showing this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating women get as they get older. However, Guys, even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your aging wife because of this article, I will consider that writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put on this earth to help each other. 

Signed,  Ron

It doesn't seem likely, now, that the T-U will publish my response to their editorial continuing to support the toll road scheme. Here is my response for those who may be interested.

 I was also at that Q&A meeting presented by Jennifer Carroll and Charles Baldwin in regards to the Toll Road. In response to the Op Ed piece entitled “Let’s Get Moving”, )August 5, 2009) I have to respond, “Let’s Not”.

The answers given to the “skeptical Clay County residents” did not assuage any skepticism. Since this beltway was proposed over a decade ago many changes have occurred in runaway growth. At one time a road of this nature may have been useful but with the slowdown of runaway building projects in the past eighteen months coupled with residents having adapted to the resulting congestion, this road will not alleviate that congestion and will be hurtful to the environment. Why are the homes of wildlife on land not treated with the same respect as the river and its wildlife?

Ya know.... for years people been tellin' me that it's just me that has a problem with the all the dang foolishness in the country. I'll be the first to admit, I do get to rantin' like a wet hen when I see stupidity that could be avoided, go unchallenged. Take the toll road. Please (Sorry, Henny.) But also, take a look at the cash for clunkers nonsense. What do you do about an idea that is so bad it deserves it's own sit com? How come the government is takin' our hard earned cash and turning it over to a bunch of people with cars not worth two hundred bucks on a good day and paying them 4500 bucks for that very thing? Is that not the worst investment idea ever? Meanwhile, I'm driving a ten year old car and have to continue maintaining it because I don't have 20 grand for a new one. Heck, I ain't got ten grand for a new one. But some cretin chuggin' around in a vehicle that would come in second to a Yugo, he gets 4500 bucks. Does that make any sense to anyone not high on weed? And I'm payin' for it. So are you. That's just one thing that makes me wanna bang my head against a wall.

I don't know about the rest of you but this morning I had a severe Twilight Zone moment. As I have said before, I read columnists for their writing ability a bit more than their views. Usually I read a conservative and I get conservative points. I read liberal, although not many, and I get the views of liberals. Imagine my distress this morning in reading the ever thought provoking and uber liberal, Susan Estrich. Yes, that Susan Estrich. She came out squarely AGAINST the Obama health care plot.

I can not explain it but to think perhaps the world in which we live is not as polarized as I had long suspected. This column may even give Phil Fretz a stroke.

I have spoken with Jennifer Carroll's assistant this morning. Anyone interested in the meeting about the toll road be advised that it is now scheduled to take place Thursday, July 30th at the Thrasher-Horne building at 4:30 PM. I still don't get why it is so late in the afternoon but maybe people who can leave work a little early would be more encouraged to show up.

For those of us who want concrete answers and not a slab of boloney about this project, get your questions and concerns ready. I have a full page already.

Finder and Engineer, would you be open to a meeting beforehand to go over the contentious points?

This afternoon I received a phone call from Jennifer Carroll's office. As you know from a previous blog posting, we were to have a meeting with the transporataion secretary, Charles Baldwin, Jennifer Carroll and anyone else interested in the toll road scheme.

I believe the conflict was from Mr. Baldwin and I will advise in a later notice when the meeting will be rescheduled. My only conflicy would be July 27 as after 22 years in this county somebody finally caught on that I have never been called for jury duty. I don't mind. I could use the 15 bucks. :>)