On a Perfect Tuesday in February 2018

I'm not sure what it is... Maybe it's the fact that it's Feb. 6, and it's 77 degrees out on my front patio... Maybe it was playing golf yesterday, wishing I'd brought shorts with me... Most likely it's because we're 2 mos. beyond the Winter Solstice, and I'm coming out of my doldrums, but I have realized, through no fault or achievement of mine, that I am EXACTLY where I hoped I would be at age 66.

I'm not bragging, or trying to create a fantasy to cover for a miserable existence, but once I grew-up, and actually started thinking about where I wanted my life to go, I saw myself being in Vacaville (yeah, OK, I have pretty low standards), having my family nearby. I always hoped that I would be able to live a comfortable life, with the lady I love, and maybe travel a little. There were never any thoughts about becoming "wealthy," in the sense of having lots of money and "stuff," but to have the things we need, a few "creature comforts," but otherwise a nice simple life. I used to joke that after I retired, I wanted to become the World's Lowest-paid Professional Golfer, because everybody chases after the big money winners, so I could live outside the limelight.

My reality... I've lived in a house longer than at ANY time in my life. Nine years at the same address. To a retired sailor, and son of a retired sailor, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. I think the "adventure bug" nibbles at both Mary and I, from time-to-time, but Vacaville is Home, and I've never really had a home before. My daughters live close by, my son has chosen to estrange himself from the rest of us, but that's OK, because none of us can stand the bitch he's married to...

We have, "... sufficient for our needs..." and do not require food stamps, or other such programs, to get by. My Navy retirement, disability compensation from the VA, and Social Security are providing for everything we need, and we are putting money away, as well. We are free to travel, and do, a couple of times a year, since our eldest, Tyffany, has her aunt Pat's luck on deals, and has more points on her Timeshare than she can use... We went to Cabo San Lucas in May 2017, and to San Diego, twice, once in July 2017, and once this past January. This March (next month), we will be off to Orlando, FL, for a couple of days at Disney World, then a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise, in a Balcony Room aboard the Carnival Magic.

I never thought about this sh*t... I spent 3-years on an Aircraft Carrier, and 3 more on a Sub Tender, so I've never been in a big rush to go on "a cruise". Now I can't wait...

Getting back to the original point, I am EXACTLY where I thought I'd be, EXACTLY where I hoped I'd be, and EXACTLY where I belong. I am with my best friend in the entire world, and retirement has done nothing but make us better friends. 

Mary is so flipping amazing... Hardly a day goes by without me being awed by the woman I love with all my heart. She's the same generous, loving, and faithful girl I married almost 44 years ago, but then again, she is so much more, too... She's a great Mom, an even better Grandma, and remains alone as the Nicest Person I've Ever Met.

A Conservative Rant, February 2018

     I refuse to apologize for being a Conservative.  I admit to the fact that, at one point in my life, I had a very liberal leaning, but I grew up, damn it, and learned, first hand, that the liberal ideal is nothing but folly.  It is a non-sustaining entity.  Nothing can advance if the industrious are forced to support the lazy and the educated to take care of the ignorant.  Pure Communism doesn't work, that's been proven by the fall of the USSR.  Other Communistic countries are adapting economically, and are no longer purely Communist.

     Liberals believe in change for change's sake.  Many are now expressing their contempt for the very thing that gives them the freedom to express their contempt.  The Constitution may be 240 years old, but it's wisdom guides our everyday lives.  It's been Amended, interpreted, stretched, and even torn, but it is a "living" document, that grows and breathes, and is the heartbeat of this that we call America.

     Most recently, we have had a "memo" regarding abuses of power in the FBI, and the Obama-era Department of Justice.  The "memo" outlines how senior FBI officials convinced a FISA court to wire-tap a candidate for President during the campaign, using libelous information from a foreign source, paid for by the opposing candidate, as their reason.  Liberals decried the release of this "memo," citing the end of our intelligence assets, and a governmental Armageddon.  These dire warnings, perhaps more than anything, are the cause for an almost 700 point drop in the Dow Jones Average.  Since the market has grown over 8,000 points in the past year, most economists view this as a necessary market correction.

     Ever since Donald Trump won the election, over 15 months ago, Liberals have been in an unprecedented rage.  They were so absolutely, 100 %, F-ing A., sure that Hillary would win, they've lost not only an election, but their collective mind (not "minds").  Ever Liberal you hear interviewed spews nothing but hate for our President, every news agency (except for a few), in lock-step with their masters, question the President's every move, and never... NEVER say a single positive thing about him.  Had the Liberal media treated Obama this way, we'd have had a race war of epic proportions.

     It is absolutely disgraceful that elected officials speak about the President of the United States in such terms as "liar," or "racist".  Further, it is disgraceful for anyone, citizen or non-, to kneel during any Nation's anthem, let alone ours.  In the first case, the guilty politicians should be fired, in the second case, pick a freaking cause, or get on your feet, and remember, the people who bought the tickets came to see a sport, not a political statement.  We salute our flag in remembrance of those who's blood has paid the price for our freedom.  We salute the flag because it is an emblem of our unity, that "Americans" are all colors, all religions, all cultures, and come from every other nation on Earth; yet, when the times require it, we will stand united in defense of our freedom.

     I guess I just don't understand the hate, the enormous vitriol towards the man elected President.  I've never been a fan of Barrack Obama, and the list of things he did that offended me personally is very long, but I did not hate him.  I never wanted to see America fail, just so he wouldn't succeed.  And this is the lengths to which Liberals would go, they risk government shut-down in favor of protecting a few hundred thousand children under DACA, that aren't here legally in the first place.  I sympathize, I know they didn't have a choice, but that doesn't remove the fact that they were brought her ILLEGALLY in the first place.  I agree with President Trump, there should be a path to citizenship for these children, not outright citizenship.  I would add a provision that the DACA path be applicable to the children only, and that it would exclude any of the DACA children convicted of a felony prior to obtaining citizenship, gang members, and other forms of criminal activity.  Particularly, it would not be applicable, even if chain migration survives, to the parents, who committed a crime in coming here in the first count, and bringing their families in the second.

     If this sounds cruel, it is, kind of.  The parents are guilty of a crime against our sovereignty, and, by law, will be deported.  Anyone who comes under DACA must make a choice, freedom or family.  It is a choice my ancestors had to make, and it would be an excellent indicator as to who actually wanted to be here.  Freedom ain't free, there are sacrifices to be made for the freedom we live in.  Perhaps, after a prescribed time, visas could be granted for short periods, and the families could visit, but there would be no amnesty for past criminal activity against the border, and the parents would have to return.  See, my ancestors came, mostly, to work the coal mines of Pennsylvania in the latter part of the 19th Century.  They came, legally, in ships, in effect cutting off all ties with family and friends, to be "Americans," and to learn what it meant to be really free.  They sacrificed all they knew for citizenship, can the ones who are demanding it today do any less?

     And that's another thing... who do these DACA kids think they are?  They are not, currently, citizens, so their demands are baseless.  They have no, none, zero status.  They can demand NOTHING.  The US, on the other hand, has the power to allow them to become citizens, so they better think twice about participation in anti-government demonstrations... it's just a thought...