Weather wise it was an amazing week – until yesterday that is, then one front after another. Each front accompanied with ‘sheets’ of rain. Then during the night there was little let-up. Now, not quite dawn, I was happy to put the coffee on (it meant that the power hadn’t gone out).

“I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4.” ~ Yogi Berra

Actually, hardly ever do I take a formal nap – yesterday being the exception. I’d taken my three mile morning walk and then helped Bob-the-Forester split some winter wood, a few more odds and ends and then lunch. It was the perfect time to put on a little Jazz and crawl under a blanket; especially since the thermometer had dropped into the low sixties. It was Marcia who informed me that I had slept through a massive thunderstorm.

Jamming – Wednesday Marcia and I were back in town for an evening of local musicians showing off their skills. Fourteen were playing and it was good! I used my phone to capture a bit on video. Porting it over to my laptop so that I could YouTube it I ran into a problem; video ported perfectly, but the audio track disappears. Help, can anyone tell me what the reason could be? I did try a couple of different players without success.

Power versus Service – Here we are, in a place with no television – only our little satellite radio; and this during a time of some amazing events, including the inability of the Senate to garner the 60 votes necessary to simply pass Kate’s Law (Senator Harry Reid being the absolute worst as Democrats almost voted NO in a block). Listening to all the political blow-hearts and their constant push for money and power made me appreciate the following (shared by my friend Linda). This from a time when country came first:

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
5 signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
12 had their homes ransacked and burned. 2 lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. 9 of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

24 were lawyers and jurists. 11 were merchants, 9 were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Dallas – Continuing a bit further, thoughts on the horrific events that occurred in Dallas a few days ago. It is self-evident that every man, woman, and child, embrace all those individuals and families affected by the sick monster who went out to slaughter innocents.

What I zeroed in on was the leadership a nation so desperately reaches out for at times like these. On the radio I heard a number of statements made by people in leadership positions. Here are my ratings:

The Governor of Minnesota – F
The Mayor of Dallas – A
Dallas Police Chief – A
Attorney General Loretta Lynch – A
President Barak Obama – F
Mayor of Baton Rouge – A

Fini – Yesterday was the day Marin became a Teenager. Normally it’s oh-so difficult to reach any teenager, but yesterday I did manage to call and talk with him – always a great moment.
Tuesday will be brother Pieter’s birthday. It should be noted that this past week he was banished to the forest where he camped in some canvas structure. What I noticed is that he looked healthy, but extremely scruffy. Have a great day guy!

In Austin Vince just completed round two of his chemo regimen (three days at several hours each day). This round he had his brother Sergio with him – I am not certain if it was for support or as a distraction (I suspect it was support). Just as for the past few weeks, here is the link to his site and updates: Rally for Vince.

Even though our gauge says that the humidity is 99%, I think that the weather pattern is on the upswing..

Cheers.

Dirk