Petty Bureaucrats

For the 1st time since being in the military I'm living in government owned/operated housing. Overall, the experience has been drama free. That now seems to be changing.

The common area above stretches from the entry to the elevators. Not shown in the photo are three tall tables with chairs that were added, then removed. This has angered some of the residents and seems to be a petty decision by the petty complex manager. A meeting is scheduled with the big cheese for this coming Thursday. I probably won't be there but I've written a letter, at the request of another resident. A portion of the letter follows.

Dear Sir,

Certain changes have occurred in the common areas that are not enhancing the enjoyment of the residents. This saddens me.

Most of us have lived here less than five months, in my case, since February. I’ve been impressed by the voluntary effort of several residents to build a feeling of community, even family. One challenge facing elderly, as you probably recognize, is loneliness and isolation. That has been mitigated by some of the residents coming together and building a community.

The table and chairs between the entrance and elevators is utilized as a gathering place and I, for one, like it. It is so nice to walk in and be greeted warmly but others. I must add I’ve never seen trash or clutter left when the “group” disperses. Further, I’ve never seen any shunning of anyone; just the opposite. I’ve never felt unwelcomed, and I’ve never heard any malicious gossip or disparaging references to any resident save early on when one group were evicted after destroying their apartment on the 1^st floor.

I urge you to not disturb the positive chemistry building at Peakview.

Not a biggy, right? Not now, but what about the future? I applaud the (mainly) women who are taking a stand. A small spat now may well prevent a bigger blowout in the months and years ahead. Unchecked power is destabilizing, IMO.

I think of some of my acquaintances dealing with Home Owner Associations and see similarities.

In any case, I live here and want to be on the best terms with my neighbors. Want I don't want is the toad in the corner office screwing things up to feed his ego.  

Butthurt

Recent posts have been on the warm and fuzzy side. Back to a rant.

After reading the editorials posing as news reporting by the AMM (h/t BZ) about the current ‘turmoil’ in the White House and Homeland Security, you get the impression the AMM still doesn’t get President Trump. 

He is a businessman. In business, if you can’t get the job done the way the boss wants it done and you are not shielded by a union, you shouldn’t be surprised to be fired.

Maybe the AMM’s hatred of President Trump comes from having to learn a new viewpoint and challenge to their entrenched mindset.

I remember vividly to this day a lesson, as a smart ass thirty something, I was taught by a sales manager when I worked for a major outboard motor manufacturer. Sitting on top of every performance chart, I made the mistake of telling the big boy, “I sure would be hard to replace”.

“Listen, jack off”, he replied. “When I replace you one of three things will happen. Your replacement will do a worse job, or as good a job, or a better job. In any case, the odds are two to one in my favor and I’ll go to Vegas with those odds any day”.

Not too long afterwards, I moved on, realizing corporate America wasn’t for me. Kind of like being a zebra in a herd of unicorns if you will. Blame it on my land pirate genes (h/t  LL).

To get back to the point, a hard nosed businessman, or businesswoman, won’t tolerate mediocrity. Get the job done the way they want it done or vete, irse a, vamoose. Turmoil? Part of the necessary process.

Do I pity the poor reporter having to develop a new perspective on reporting the news? Please! Suck it up cupcake.

Cue the “Yeah, but” choir. “That is the way we’ve always done it. All it needs is a few tweaks (which won’t cause me brain damage) to keep on working”.

On a personal level I don’t like President Trump. That said, I think he is doing a great job against huge obstacles and hope he will run again in 2020.

As always, YMMV.

Grief

The Greeley Grief Center is a community resource my niece, sister, and my sister’s numerous adopted daughters have encouraged me to use. My niece threatened grievous bodily harm if I didn’t.

I’ve started the process. It consists of six monthly classes each centered around a particular aspect of the grieving process. The first one I’ve attended is titled, “You Are Not Going Crazy”. The moderator is a pastor who spent many years working in hospices. This is a classroom setting.

A second part is a weekly semi formal meeting, chairs arranged in a circle, with each participant speaking about their particular situation. The experiences I heard others speak ranged from unexpected (heart, stroke), lingering  (Lou Gehrig disease), suicides, and accidents. No young child deaths in this group. Several participants spoke about having the make the, “pull the plug” decision when no DNR was in place.

Do I need this? Don’t think so but it does no harm. People who care about me think I do need this. On the offhand chance they are right, I’ll continue the process.

What I do need to do is get my own affairs in order. I’ve done this in the past but it is time for a review and update.

Now it is time to prepare for an April blizzard on the horizon due late this afternoon. I remember one when I was in sixth grade that filled the roads bank to bank and it was days before we could travel anywhere.

Rainbow Bridge

No, not that Rainbow bridge. This one.

Located just off I-76 in Ft Morgan, CO. Built in 1923 it has withstood the many South Platte River floods. 

Note the metal thieves have taken one small plaque but haven't managed the whole plaque.

A new wider and stronger (and ugly) bridge has replaced it for Highway 52 traffic.

A favorite spot of mine to stop and stretch when I was running the medical courier route, it never fails to make me smile.

What, you were expecting a political rant? Stand by.

Personal Bleg

My oldest cousin, the late Lee Hoth, created art from used horseshoes. His descendants have followed in his path.

You can find them on Facebook.

P&J’s horseshoe art for sale

Please give them a look if you have an interest. Good people needing another income stream with the war on coal soon to put them 'on the street'.

Arrogant Tyrants

Want a foretaste of this country if the (P)regressives win control of the Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives? Look no further than ‘deep blue’ Colorado.

Last election the (P)regressives dumped massive money to swing the election their way. Worked! With a small army of otherwise unemployed paid $15 an hour to campaign, they gained control of every elected State office and both the Senate and House. Governor ‘Polluted’  Polis spent $20 million of his own money. (He will make this back on his Canadian Oil investments once he kills the oil business in Colorado – much like his creating a medical tourist company after voting in Obamacare as a Congressman).

These shifty assholes are now using a wrinkle in the state constitution called the ‘safety clause’ to make their passed laws exempt from citizen recall/referendum actions.

https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/safety-clauses-and-effective-date-clauses.pdf

Long court fight is ahead. Their mindset, “We don’t care about any stinking Constitution” despite this:

From Wikipedia

In the United States the right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which specifically prohibits Congress from abridging "the right of the people...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".

Although often overlooked in favor of other more famous freedoms, and sometimes taken for granted,^[1] many other civil liberties are enforceable against the government only by exercising this basic right.^[2] The right to petition is regarded as fundamental in some republics, such as the United States, as a means of protecting public participation in government.^[1]

The very first right under the very first Amendment.

Lots of social media chatter about recalls. Most are not creditable IMO.

In 2013 after a noxious gun control bill was passed two State Senators lost recall elections, the first time in Colorado. The (P)regressives now have just a one vote edge in the Colorado Senate.

 IMO, the effort should focus on recalling select Senators. The resulting gridlock will at least slow our descent into the Tyranny of the left.  

Make no mistake; Colorado is a blueprint for the left’s national goal. 

Thankfully, President Trump beating Shillary and the RINO control of the Senate has slowed their progress.

As always, YMMV.

Milestones

Tomorrow, April, 1942, my parents were married in Reno, NV. My father was stationed nearby.

When asked why they didn’t marry on April Fool’s Day, they always answered, “We’ve always been a day late and a dollar short”.

My sister and I say we are the product of a mixed marriage, a Colorado cowboy and a Wyoming sheepherder, whose marriage often resembled a range war.

They loved to dance and were better than good dancers.

(Generic photo)