128 countries against Jerusalem being the capital of Isreal. 128 countries voted against the United States. Why? Because of rumors of retaliation by people that spends their lives trying to destroy Isreal. 128 countries that do not have the courage nor the fortitude to stand up and say 'Nada Mas'!!! Find the amount per country here. 

 

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. President Trump has indicated that aid can be reduced or cut off completely from those that are not on board. In this bloggers opinion, ITS ABOUT TIME!! In the spirit of Christmas, have you been naughty or nice? Do you deserve a gift or a lump of coal?  As a child, and many act like one, shall we continue to contribute to your cowardice? Or is it time for you to grow some gohonas and man up! As your guardian, you are cut off. You're on your own. When the phone rings it will not be answered. When the shots are fired we are no longer your shield. Simply put, you made your bed, lie in it!!

 

Let's take that aid money and spend it in the good ol' US to benefit our own. The homeless. The hungry. The sick and aging. And on and on.............

 

The country I live in, and I am a permanent resident, Costa Rica voted against the US. The US is the country that has always supported and contributed to their welfare and defense. Except for the lack of any viable military Costa Rica does their best to mimic anything North American. Having said that, I have no problem cutting off aid here. Sure, it will increase certain woes that are experienced here but that money will help the US. I'll just pull up my big boy pants and fortify my home even more than it is now. Add to the security system and buy another box of bullets.

 

Countries that voted with the US:

G: Guatemala
H: Honduras
I: Israel
M: Marshall Islands, Micronesia
N: Nauru
P: Palau
T: Togo

 

And that's

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

                                 I'm just saying...

Are you laughing or crying

                                  Rocking around the Christmas tree

I searched the origins of the Christmas tree and got a Christmas blimp size headache. Although the origin goes from A to Z I guess the only real thing that matters is that it is a symbol of the season and a joy to see as a child's eyes light up as they stand and stare and ponder what those packages hold in store for them on Christmas morning. "I hope mom and dad didn't waste time and money on clothes! They could buy so many more toys if they just wouldn't spend it on that junk!"  

 

On January 6, 1899, the Minneapolis Times editorial proclaimed this:

And low and behold the artificial tree was ushered in. Over the years it has been produced in many colors and sizes. Also in various materials that are durable enough that some families put up the same tree year after year. However, IMHO the silver one should be relegated to the forest in The Wizzard of OZ. Problem is I don't think they will survive the fighting trees there. Wait there, that would be a glorious present to mankind, again IMHO. I hope that I don't get nasty comments from the sunglass manufacturers due to loss of business generated by those that enjoy the veiled glare from those monstrosities.

 

Full disclosure; we have two fake Christmas trees. One in the living room and one on the porch. In our defense, the real  Christmas trees that are offered here in Costa Rica would be put to shame by the Charlie Brown tree. They would crumble under a single strand of 50 Christmas lights not to mention the strung popcorn decoration. How puny are they you ask......a bird tweeted and the wind blew the tree up to the third neighbor's door.

 

One of the trees that we put up has the lights that are permanently attached. At my age, I have enough trouble lifting the ornaments and hanging them on the fake tree with the fake icicles and the fake gold star on top and the fake snow blanket that surrounds it. That has the real packages of toys for the grandkids under it. The great thing about being a grandparent; Spoil them and then send them home. I prefer to call it.......Payback!    

 

With Christmas just a few scant days away let's not forget that the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON is not the tree or how many presents are offered. No one knows Christs real birthday but this is the day designated to celebrate His birth. Keep the spirit of the season and draw your family close. But try to practice it year round. Afterall, Christmas only comes around once a year.        

 

 

                                 

                             Sister Rosetta Tharpe                                                      

Have you ever heard of her? She was born in 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. She died in 1973 of a stroke at the young age of 58 in Pennsylvania. She is referred to as the "original soul sister" and the "Godmother of rock-and-roll". One of her biggest fans was Elvis Presley and she also influenced early rock-and-roll musicians, including Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. 

 

She began as a gospel singer and musician and finally, she has been inducted into the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. Read more about her interesting career and widespread influence HERE.  

 

   

Do you remember the dial phone. The one that you stuck a finger into a hole of the first number, spun it clockwise until you hit a metal stop, pulled your finger out to allow the dial to return and repeat with the next number. How about the toy walkie-talkies that had a range of maybe 10 yards. Or the cans on a string that had a range that was limited to how loud you could shout. What about those notes that you passed in school; that said I like you, do you like me? With the box beside yes and no. 

 

Then along came the pushbutton dial phone. And the CB radio. Oh, nothing will ever replace the cans with a string! Then email and Facebook and Instagram and Whats App and Skype and on and on and on........... Now you can bombard him or her with all these tools and you don't have to include a yes no box. But be careful, there is a current rash of ultra-sensitive people that never had an experience that they did not instigate therefore YOU are invading their safe space, therefore, YOU must be a pervert.

 

Question. Has technology rendered the average person unable to understand and react in the moment to unwanted advances? Have people now decided that what they need is their 15 minutes of fame by tooting their horn in public because they are too coward to truly address the problem at the source and then immediately reporting it to whatever powers that be to attempt to ensure that the perpetrator has his/her proper day of reckoning? In other words, strike while the iron is hot. 

 

Before you go off half-cocked let me explain. I am not saying nor inferring that the current wave of women and men that are coming forward to share their stories, accusations or nightmares, whatever the case may be, that their plight should be taken lightly. Nay, these possible transgressions need to be properly investigated and the appropriate actions need to be implemented because then the light of truth has been shone. By the same token, if one or more of the plaintiffs accounts are found without merit then they too should suffer the wrath of their actions. However, in today's climate of, woe is the accuser, their actions will probably be forgiven. If so that's a damn shame. Whatever happened to, 'What's good for the goose is good for the gander'? 

                                                          

 

 

It snowed in my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia over the weekend. My wife was drooling as I showed her pictures that our son sent to us via Whats App. She is from here, Costa Rica, but we spent 10 years in Roanoke and the four seasons is what she misses most and of the season's sights she misses the leaves changing in the fall and the snow in the winter. I admit that I too miss the fall multicolored leaves but the shoveling of the snow I miss as much as I would having bypass surgery without the benefit of anesthesiology.

 

I was Skyping with a friend that lives in Virginia and we were discussing the good things that come with a snowfall. The peaceful feeling that you get while sipping a beverage of your choice as the gently falling snow slowly covers everything in its path. The silence that it brings all around you, especially during this Christmas time of the year. The kids playing in the snow and if you're really lucky they will wear themselves out and go to bed early and give you the opportunity to again enjoy the peaceful silence bestowed upon you by the snowfall. This is the time that you grow confused, should you thank God for this momentary bliss or curse him as you think of what is in store for you tomorrow.

 

You know of what I speak. Schools closed. Getting to work trying to avoid the crazies that either never have learned how to drive in snow or have temporary amnesia since last winter. The ugly black snow from the passing cars that deposit exhaust and throw up dirty water from the pavement. The dreaded cleaning off the car(s) and shoveling them out! If the snow was accompanied by a little ice as a topping, the scrapping of the car windows as you loudly curse under your breath. Trying to coach the key into frozen door locks. Discovering that the car battery has magically decided that it is not as strong as it use to be so you call the auto club for a jump or worse yet try to remember where you put those jumper cables at the start of summer when you cleaned out the trunk to make room for the coolers and beach toys. You remember, the time that you were quietly wishing for cooler weather. Oh summer, why have you forsaken me. 

 

Ah. I'll just have to replay the winter memories while trying to tolerate the weather here in this wretched tropical paradise....... One last thing............  

 

                               To You and Yours

                                                            
                                      

    

 

 

 

 

  

                     Don't let the door hit you in the arse on your way out

Whatever happened to the threats issued by these 'people'? Why has every one of them let us down? Is it because they let their alligator mouth overload their humming bird ass? Or could it be that they actually thought that there was a single person that gave a rats patooty? Wait there. There were many that would have gladly held the door open at any airport or train station or for that matter would have given them an all-expense paid ride to the border!   

 

Is it too late for them to show a little integrity and follow through with their wolf cry? I think not. However, if they don't would it be proper punishment for us peasants to pull a snowflake maneuver and wail at the sky to implore them to get the hell out. How about if we just turn or back and shun them into seclusion. Scratch that. Their ego would never allow them to understand.

 

When is a celebrity lying? When their mouth is moving.   

 

 

 Say what you mean 

and mean what you say