Mommaw's 2007 Christmas

Bob Jones, Rachel and I enjoyed Christmas Eve Dinner at Mimi's in Mesa with the intention of visiting Mommaw at Springdale West in Mesa. Bob Jones developed a nose-bleed and had to return home.

Rachel and I carpooled from the restaurant to the nursing home. When we arrived in Mommaw's room, she was asleep. She looked very peaceful. Rachel tried to wake her on a couple of occasions but had to shake her before she finally woke up. She told us that she wished that she knew we were coming. I don't know why, there is nothing more that she could do. Teddy (a present Santa had given her) was sleeping next to her on her bed.

Mommaw tends to slip in and out of the present time. She told us that she spent the night with Quincy the other night but that they get up too early. Quincy went to see the Lord several years ago. She introduced me and Rachel as her grandson and granddaughter. On one occason, I left her room to sit across the hall as one of the aides was dressing her roommate to sit in her wheelchair. Mommaw saw me and told Rachel, "There's Charlie Plake across the hall."

After the roommate exited the room, I returned to Mommaw's room. She saw another patient rolling through the hall. She said "There goes Charlie Plake." Then spoke loud enough for the man to hear, "Charlie, I want you to meet my grandson and granddaughter."

It is sad to see Mommaw like this. I remember when she had the memory of an elephant. My dad said that she would argue about what she remembered and usually won. I believe the incident she told us about Quincy actully happened but that it took place several years ago and her brain makes her think that it just happened.

Rachel and I took Mommaw into the conference room to open her presents. We enjoyed our time with her. Often she talked about several of the people that were attended her 90th Birthday Party. I tried to tell her who was in attendance, but my 71-year-old brain had a few problems of its own.

Poor Rachel. She had a hard time keeping Mommaw and me straight.

What is a Best Friend?

My son asked me the other day, “Why is Jim your best friend?”

I fumbled and stumbled and came up with a couple of whimsy answers, “Because I do everything he says and because we have a lot in common.” The first answer, meant to be a joke, is far from the truth. The second answer is not really true either.

Although we enjoy several things in common, there are many things that we don’t have in common. We both like the Sweet Adelines, we both prepare taxes (He is more experienced than I.), and we were Delta Sigma Pi fraternity brothers. I like sports; he doesn’t. I like to eat; he is very careful what he eats. I weigh almost twice his weight. And the beat goes on.

The question started me thinking. I asked Jim, “Why are we best friends?” His answer, “I can tell you things and you won’t repeat them.” In other words, he can trust me. And I feel the same way about him. I trust him like I would trust a brother.

I looked up “What makes a best friend?” on the Internet. Wikipedia states, “Best Friend, someone with whom one shares the strongest friendship.” WordNet defines best friend as the one friend who is closest to you.

Other quotes found in Blogs:
• "A true friend is that rare soul who sees right through you but will see you through."
• “Someone you can count on... someone who won’t judge and someone who gives without wanting in return.”

I found all of these quotes true with our relationship. I am still thinking "What is a Best Friend?" although it doesn’t make a difference if I know or don’t know. I will always love my best friend like a brother.

My Quality Time with Ken

Today, I spent the day with my son, Ken, who will be 50 next year. Slow down, son, you are making me older. ‘Twas a nice thought to spend the day with his Dad.

Ken came to the Valley to attend a Boeing planning seminar at the Sheraton in Mesa. On Sunday, we met at my house in Tempe, had lunch at Monti’s La Casa Vieja in Tempe, checked into the Sheraton in Mesa, watched the Cardinals beat the Cleveland Browns and the BCS Bowl Selections in his room and chowed down at dinner in the hotel restaurant. Ken telephoned Kim several times earlier in the day to get a play-by-play description of the San Diego Chargers football game, his favorite football team.

On Monday and Tuesday, Ken had meetings. Today, he drove me to the V.A. Hospital in Phoenix for my doctor’s appointment. While I was visiting with my doctor, he studied for a course pursuing his master’s degree at Biola University, a private Christian University in Southern California.

After leaving the hospital, Ken and I lunched at Durant’s, a legendary steakhouse in the heart of Phoenix. Not knowing what to do, we watched Sea Monsters, a 3-D movie at the IMAX Theater in Arizona Mills Mall.

What a day! It was a joy to be with my son. I can see that he inherited several of my traits. He likes school, enjoys researching, cheers for his favorite sports teams, is quiet and unassuming and is a great overall human being. :-) I love him very much.

APS Fantasy of Lights

Bob and I tried to attend the Tempe APS Fantasy of Lights two nights in a row. On Friday night, we walked Mill Avenue to view the parade. We asked several Mill Avenue businesses employees but no one could tell us anything. The bartender at Rula Bula's searched the New Times and discovered the parade was Saturday night.

The Arizona Republic's Friday edition had printed that the parade would take place "today". Doesn't anyone proofread papers anymore?

The New Times announced that we could have free parking if parade-goers would donate a can of food for needy families. We took four cans, but no one was at any of the parking lots to collect the food. Doesn't anyone proofread papers anymore?

Both papers reported, "Parade begins at 6:00 p.m. on Mill Avenue, south from 3rd St. to 7th St., west on 7th St. to Maple, north on Maple to 5th St., west on 5th to Ash in Tempe."

But the APS Website said, "6:30 p.m." Doesn't anyone proofread papers anymore?

We missed most of the event except for the parade because of the false reporting. We had fun though. I guess that's all that counts. We waited 1 1/2 hours for the parade to begin, but it only lasted thirty minutes. Santa was on time as he graced Mill Avenue at 7:00 p.m.

The wait made us tired. So we went home to rest and watch TV. A good night for two old retirees.

USC Too Powerful

The Arizona State Sun Devil football team played like they had eaten too much turkey this Thanksgiving day. The tryptophan from the turkey took its toll on the team causing them to play sloppy almost the whole game.

In past games, the Sun Devils were noted for their lackluster play in the first half but outscored their opponents by a huge margin in the second half. Tonight was a different matter. USC was sharp throughout the whole game, but ASU played sloppy the whole game. Final score was 44-24 in favor of USC.

The atmosphere was fun though. Shelly and Craig Foster, Jim and Margie Beaton’s daughter and son-in-law, were seated next to me cheering for their Sun Devils; Little Richard together with backup from the Sun Devil Band provided half-time entertainment, screaming out, “Good Golly Miss Mollie” and a couple of his other hits; and Charles Barkley stood on the sideline in support of what he called, “my Sun Devils.”

Signs in the student section read: “O.J. Stole My Other Sign” and “We Beat Stanford.” O.J. was a star for USC. Stanford beat USC but lost to ASU 41-3.

ASU has a very slim chance of going to the Rose Bowl. For ASU to stand a chance of spending New Year’s Day in Pasadena, USC must lose to UCLA; Oregon must lose to Oregon State; and ASU must beat Arizona. That’s a tall order.

Do you feel a recession coming on?

Yes, I feel a recession coming. I am trying to sell my house. The last time I tried to sell a house started the 1990 recession.

I Like Molasses

Today, I was looking up a no-sugar-recipe for pumpkin pie and ran across one that used Splenda and molasses. Molasses reminded me of a song my Dad sang to Loleen and me that included these words: "'Cause I like molasses, good ol' country sorghum. I eat 'em in the summer and the fall."

I looked the words up on the Internet and sure enough I found words as remembered by Big Jim from Jackson. They go as follows:

Everybody has some food that they like best,
Somethin' that they're fond of, more than all the rest.
Mine is black molasses. They really are the stuff.
I eat 'em morning, noon, and night. I never get enough,
'Cause I like molasses, good ol' country sorghum.
I eat 'em in the summer and the fall.
Get 'em hot and get 'em spread On a big hunk of short'nin' bread,
That's the way I like 'em best of all!

I went to see my sweetie just the other day.
She had supper ready; wanted me to stay.
She didn't have no 'taters; didn't have no meat.
Just a big black jug of molasses was all she had to eat.
'Cause she likes molasses, good ol' country sorghum.
She eats 'em in the summer and the fall.
When they trickle down my chin, I let her lick 'em off again;
That's the way I like 'em best of all!

Grandpa's teeth are missin', ever' single one.
When he eats his molasses, he smacks 'em with his gums.
And Grandpa's eyes are failin'. He can't hardly see
Just what's in his molasses, but never a care gives he.
'Cause he likes molasses, good ol' country sorghum.
He eats 'em in the summer and the fall.
When they get so thick with flies They resemble raisin pies,
That's the way he likes 'em best of all!

What is my fondest memory of Thanksgiving?

It is difficult to think of one Thanksgiving that is my fondest memory since I have lived through 70 of them. Each Thanksgiving has fond memories and the ones remembered the most are those that produced a lot of pictures. The fondest memory I have of each Thanksgiving is gathering together with family and sharing with each other what we are most thankful for. Since we have God in our lives, each of us start with, “I thank God for…” Family, spouses and children receive the most accolades in our moments of sharing Thanksgiving. I thank God for family.

Forgiveness

When I was a small boy in the early 1940s, my father, a church pastor in East Texas, taught my three sisters and me not only when we should apologize, but he also taught us that we should forgive if someone apologized to us. If my sisters and I argued with each other or angered one another during one of our sibling scuffles, my father would make us apologize but he also demanded we forgive each other. The lesson was easy to learn with my sisters, but it was difficult to learn if I was unduly harassed by a bully.

One Sunday after church, two teenage brothers picked on me by chasing me, wrestling me to the ground and grabbing my arms and swinging me around like a runaway flying scooter ride at the state fair. The roughness of the boys brought me to tears. Fortunately, our fathers caught us in the ruckus. The boys said they were just playing, but their father made them apologize, and my dad suggested I forgive them.

Oh boy that was hard. I could understand the boys having to apologize but why should I forgive someone when I didn’t start anything. I was a stubborn little boy but being fearful of a spanking (common in those days), I finally gave in and said, “I forgive you.”

My dad later explains to me that we need to forgive when others apologize. He asked me, “Do you ever ask God to forgive you when you pray?"

I said, “Yes, every time I pray I ask for forgiveness of my sins.”

He gives a little sermon about how God always forgives us when we repent of our sins, and he tells me the story of the Prodigal Son and how the father forgave him for going astray. He says, “Apologizing is asking for forgiveness. We should forgive others when they ask for it. Forgiving one another causes less resentment and hostility, and it makes life easier to live.”

I thank God for my father. He taught me forgiveness, which has brought happiness to my life. Forgiving another person relieves stress and helps me to build on friendships and relationships.

Phoenix Union-North was No. 1 Valley rivalry

Reading today's article entitled, "Phoenix Union-North was No. 1 Valley rivalry," reminds me of my high school days at North High. I attended North High from 1950 to 1954. The school's mascot was a Mustang and Phoenix Union's were coyotes.

Every year, the football game between the two schools was the game of the year. With 20,000 fans cheering at the games, the rivalry was Phoenix's #1 sports event. The Phoenix Union favorite song was, "The Old Gray Mare, She Ain't What She Use To Be." And on the other side of the field, North High would cheer:

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
If the skunks had a school,
They'd name it P.U.

After enlisting in the Air Force and graduating from ASU, I noticed the rivalry begin to fade. But it was still fun to tease my step-sister, Linda, who attended Phoenix Union in the late 50s.

Take a look at the article...

8 – 0

The Arizona State Sun Devils won their eight consecutive games by beating the number 18 California Bears 31–10. ASU is in sole possession of first place in the Pac-10. The team is 4th in the BCS Poll and on its way to the national-championship hunt.

Next week, the Sun Devils play at No. 5 Oregon (7-1, 4-1). This will be their most important game since the 1997 Rose Bowl.

Again the Sun Devils put a scare in front a full stadium by getting behind 13-0, 20-7 and at halftime 20-14. But Coach Erickson has the team believing that they can overcome their opponents, which they did by outscoring the Bears 17–0 in the second half.

Tailbacks Keegan erring and Dimitri Nance combine for 181 yards rushing. The defense shut out Cal n the second half and kept the deficit manageable by forcing some field goals early.

GO DEVILS!

THANKS MARGIE AND JIM…

After big win, craziness ensues

ASU versus OSU

It looked like the Sun Devils had played lower division teams in the first three games when Oregon State started the game with nineteen points in the first quarter. That’s right, 19-0 right off the bat. Whew! It was scary. How could they ever oercome a nineteen point deficit? But that they did.

Over the next three quarters, the Sun Devils outscored the Beavers 44 points to 13 to end up with a final score of 44-32. Like the Colorado game, the Devils came out flat in the first quarter. In both games Rudy Carpenter threw an interception to set up a touchdown. However, ASU intercepted the Beavers a few times too...five as a matter of fact.

The fans are louder with fewer boos this year than last year. It is easy to get invoved in the game with this exciting team.

Jake Plummer attended the game as he was inducted into ASU’s Hall of Fame at halftime.

Thanks again to Jim and Margie for allowing me to go in their place.

Commuter rail a hot topic at Arizona Rail Symposium

Tempe, Ariz.— With a projected growth rate of 109 percent, Arizona is expected to add 5.5 million new residents by 2030—mainly in Maricopa and Pima counties. How Arizonans get around in, and between, its two biggest metropolitan areas is the topic of the second annual Arizona Rail Symposium.

Elected officials and transit professionals from around the state will discuss the growing demand for transportation options, and whether the future of Arizona commuters includes commuter rail. Experts from commuter rail systems in Salt Lake City and the Sacramento, California, area will be among the speakers.

The highlight of the conference is expected to be a commuter rail panel discussion that will include state Sen.Thayer Verschoor, Rep. Steve Farley, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, Pinal County Supervisor Sandie Smith, and ADOT Public Transportation Director Jim Dickey.

Commuter rail is rail service that typically uses existing freight railroad tracks and equipment. Stations are generally five to 10 miles apart and operations focus on peak-commute hours with less frequent service during off-peak hours. Commuter rail generally travels greater distances than light rail, at higher speeds.

The Second Annual AzTA Rail Symposium will be held 7:30 a.m.– 3 p.m., Sept. 28, at the Tempe Mission Palms hotel. The cost to attend the conference is $150 for AzTA members, $175 for non-members. Registration forms area available online at www.AzTA.org.

The Arizona Transit Association is a nonprofit, statewide organization dedicated to improving public transportation in all of Arizona’s communities. Membership includes local, regional and state governments; chambers of commerce, major employers, transit program operators; and contractor and suppliers.

See power point presentation at September 8 meeting.

Congratulations to Champions Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury captured their first WNBA crown on Sunday to become Arizona’s third professional champion behind The Arizona Rattlers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mercury handily beat Detroit by a score of 108-92.

Coach Paul Westhead in his second year as head coach was the brains behind the winners. Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor and Cappie Pondexter carried the team in the championship series. Cappie was the most valuable player.

Diana Taurasi writes in her WNBA.com Blog, “People doubted the running game, they doubted Small Ball, they doubted the Rover defense and we say YES to all the naysayers, doubters and haters. We are Phoenix. We run-and-gun, we shoot the three and we win championships.”

ASU Wins Third Consecutive Game

For the third time in the last four years, the Arizona State University wins its third consecutive game. Thanks to San Diego State University Aztecs.

In the first half, it looked as though the Aztecs would make a game of it. For the first time this season, a team scored points against ASU in the second quarter making the score 14-10. But ASU rallied for ten straight points to lead by a score of 24-10 at halftime.

The Sun Devils scored ten more points in the second half versus three for San Diego State making the final score 34-13. I left the game after the third quarter with the score at 31-13 only missing ASU adding another field goal.

Keegan Herring, replacing Ryan Torain, rushed for 161 yards, the second most in his career with the Sun Devils. He also scored two touchdowns.

It is too early to tell how good the team really is. The combined record of the teams is 1-7. The game this coming Saturday will help reveal the strength of the Sun Devils. ASU will be playing a Pac-10 school, Oregon State (2-1).

I want to thank Jim and Margie for giving me the ticket. I wished they could have made the game, but Jim and his son-in-law disassembled and moved two huge, oak desks from his Chandler home to his newly purchased home in Trilogy.

2nd effort for ASU

Arizona Toughens DUI laws

If you drink and drive, be prepared for heavy penalties. Arizona law has become tougher. In the past, only extreme and repeat offenders had to equip their cars with ignition-interlocks to drive a car. Now first-time offenders are required to have the devices. In addition to fines, penalties and lawyer fees, a convicted drunken driver will bear the cost of about $100 to install the device and an additional $60 to $80 per month.

A taxi is much cheaper.

Tough DUI law to begin

A Tour of the Tempe Center for the Arts

On Sunday, Bob and I attended the Grand Opening Family Day at the Tempe Center for the Arts. It was a hot and humid day. Thank God, the hosts had plenty of ice-cold water and food too for the multitude of people that toured the center. The free performances were classy too.

The main theater is designed so that none of the seats is more than 55 feet away from the stage. But the parking lot was not designed to handle as many cars as showed up on Sunday. We had to walk a good quarter of a mile to get to the Center. Maybe people came for the hamburgers and hot dogs.

Some facts mentioned in the Arizona Republic about the Center:

• The Tempe Center for the Arts is 88,000 square feet.
• It will primarily serve about a dozen community music, theater, dance and visual arts groups.
• The main theater is modeled after an Italian opera house. None of the 600 seats is more than 55 feet from the stage.
• The main theater has four levels of seating.
• The dome above the main theater is made of 280 tons of concrete. It was cast in place during a single pour that took nearly eight hours.
• The arts center is 100 feet tall, with a main roof of five layers.
• The 55,000-gallon negative-edge reflecting pool creates a 300-foot long waterfall into Tempe Town Lake.
• Building the arts center took 1,400 tons of steel.
• There is 40,000 square feet of wood paneling inside the arts center, including African mahogany and oak.
• About 760 wine glasses can fit on the lobby’s glass drink rails.
• There are 300 doors. The soundproof doors to the theater weigh more than 300 pounds.
• There are 347 parking spaces for vehicles and 130 for bicycles. (Not enough for Sunday’s event.)

It was a fun day. I can’t wait to attend some of the performances.

Friends of Tempe center for the Arts

Something to Cheer About

The ASU football team looked very good last night in their game with San Jose State. It appears we have a running game to go with the passing game, and we finally have a defense. The crowd was noisy. I hope it continues.

The band looked snazzy in their new uniforms. Pants are black which makes them look astute and shapely. And I like the white extenders on their caps. It makes them look tall and proud.

Maybe we have something to cheer about.

ASU marching band: Larger, louder

Hottest Summer on Record in Phoenix

I can now say I have lived through the hottest summer on record in Phoenix. The number of days of 110 degrees or hotter was recently broken at 28 and continues to climb. I believe the current number is 30 unless today reached 110. Whew, gives us a break.

CF Plake Bible

This Bible had been housed in the pulpit at Life Tabernacle. It lay open at the scripture of Dad's last sermon. On Sunday, July 29, Dennis McDaniel presented it to me in a ceremony at the church.

Quotations

"Too many church services start at 11 o'clock sharp and end at 12 o'clock dull." Vance Havner

"Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him." Proverbs 19:4

"It is right to flee from temptation but not from duty." Tom Dooley

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 7:21

"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler. Whoever is led astray ty them is not wise." Proverbs 20:1

“A mother is a mother still, The holiest thing alive.”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge quotes (English lyrical Poet, Critic and Philosopher. 1772-1834)

"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him." I Corinthians 2:9

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Roman 13:7

"If you like knowledge, go to school. If yo like wisdom, get on your knees." Vance Havner

"Most church members live so far below the standard, you'd have to backslide to be in fellowship. We are so subnormal that if we were to become normal, people would think we're abnormal." Vance Havner

Phoenix-Tucson commuter rail gains support

It's good to see that public officials are beginning to notice that a commuter rail between Phoenix and Tucson is needed.

Phoenix and Tucson are on a collision course with about twenty miles left to connect. Catherine Reagor in her Arizona Republic article says, "Arizona's two largest metropolitan areas are on course to meet and merge within a decade, engulfing several small towns along the way."

City and town officials between Phoenix and Tucson must develop a futuristic mind-set for the coming decade like the Vice Mayor of Mesa, Claudia Walters. In kicking off a meeting of Commuter Rail Stakeholders Group, she said "We must have rail that connects Phoenix to Tucson...This is for the future of our children and grandchildren."

Additional reading:

Phoenix-Tucson commuter rail gains support

When Phoenix, Tucson merge

Re: Newsweek Poll

Below is an email I received from my nephew. I don't know who wrote this piece, but there is so much truth in it that I felt compelled to use it on this blog. I hope the author doesn't mind.

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U. S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it...... are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O. J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way...... Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative." "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Are You Interested in This Year's NBA Finals?

No. I will not watch the NBA Finals. Why? I firmly believe that the Spurs will control the series by their boring style of play. If I was interested in seeing knockdowns and kicked legs, I would watch kickboxing (borrrring!). I am more interested in finesse and the entertaining Suns-style of play. And I think the world is too. I have talked with basketball fans from other parts of the nation that have become Suns fans because of their entertaining style. I will not be surprised to see very low television ratings throughout the NBA Finals. It may take awhile, but the Suns-style of play will win out.

No Harm No Foul

As my grandkids would say, “Stern is a dork.” But I would say, “The only thing that is worse than a lawyer is a lawyer who is an administrator.” Everyone who passed the third grade can read the rules, but an administrator should evaluate the rules and justly apply them. His suspensions of Stoudemire and Diaw were equivalent to a fourth grade kangaroo court. He was trying to be objective, but he should not use objectivity when it doesn’t make sense. His referees are frequently subjective and know that an infraction is not always committed when no harm is done. Thus, no harm no foul.

In Memory Of Lynn

Today, Bob Jones and I took Lynn to the veterinarian, where he administered euthanasia to Lynn. Lynn has been our pet since September 1993. She is an offspring of my niece’s pet, Sugar.

I grew fond of Lynn since Day “1”. When she was small, she would sit on the back of my platform rocker leaning against my neck. When I was home, she would always be at my side, and when I left for vacation, she would jump up and down when I returned home.

My children could not believe my fondness for Lynn. When they were growing up, they were held responsible for taking care of their pets. They assumed I didn’t care for animals.

I will miss Lynn. She meant a lot to me. She is resting in peace instead of suffering from congestive heart failure, an enlarged heart, an enlarged liver and many other things that go along with failing organs.

It was difficult to make a decision on euthanasia and to witness the incident. The doctor said that we made the right decision, and Bob and I are glad that we stayed there to watch. We left knowing she is resting in peace.

Grand Aid in Arizona

Grandparents raising grandchildren may get some relief if lawmakers vote to appropriate $2 million to continue a program that provides a one-time grant of $300 and a $75 monthly stipend for each child in their care

• As co-sponsor of a recent “Grandfamilies Rally” at the state capitol, AARP Arizona encouraged participants to support the bill. “With an increasing number of grandparents assuming the role of caregiver, this legislation is sorely needed,” says Lupe Solis, AARP associate state director for advocacy. More than 52,000 Arizona grandparents are currently raising grandchildren.

• Call 1-800-352-8404 to ask legislators to support funding for SB 1110

Source AARP Bulletin

Are You Eligible for VA Medical Care?

Only about 5.5 million of almost 24 million American vets are receiving VA medical care. Who’s eligible? Potentially all veterans are eligible.

• Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
• Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for VA health care benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for two years following discharge from active duty.
• Health Care eligibility is not just for those who served in combat.
• Other groups may be eligible for some health benefits.
• Veteran’s health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions.
• Veteran’s health care facilities are not just for men only. VA offers full-service health care to women veterans.

Other sources
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Disabled American Veterans
• America Legion
• Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

Phoenix is Growing Up

Light rail is making our city a major city. One of these days, Phoenix will be growing up like a kid into adulthood. The costs are great but we have many adult cities to learn from, i.e. Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco to name a few.

Thursday night, the new train was tested on Washington Street "Things went great. The train performed the way it was designed to perform and that's all good," said Joe Murie with Valley Metro.

The Train will be tested many more times before its maiden trip in late 2008.

Light Rail Needed

The Valley of the Sun is a sprawling megalopolis. It needs light rail and other modes of transportation to keep up with modern big cities. Light rail is a start but it also needs to grow along with the Valley. And it should include a line from the Valley to Tucson.

Read about the recent tests...

Today is Tax Day

Today is Tax Day. Americans must do their yearly duty and pay taxes on the income they are blessed with.

Income taxes were first collected during the civil war, but an Amendment to the Constitution gave Congress the authority to tax our income. The first Tax Day was March 1 when it was much easier to do. It became more complicated and was changed to the March 15, the Ides of March. In 1955, Tax Day was move to April 15. If it falls on a weekend or holiday, it is moved to the following business day.

Some taxpayers contend that April 15 is still too soon even though we have computers to do most of the work. Some say taxes are too complicated. Others blame their procrastination. Thank goodness for extensions.
This year, Tax Day is Tuesday, April 17, 2007. This is due to April 15th falling on a Sunday and Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia, falling on April 16th.

Rutgers Team Forgives Imus

Let's applaud Vivian Stringer, the coach of the Rutger's basketball team. She's a leader. She knows how to forgive and move on. Purported leaders, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, need to learn from her.

Stringer said the team's goal was never to get Imus fired. The Rutger's team accepted Imus's apology. I ask 'Rev.' Sharpton and 'Rev.' Jackson, "Isn't that what Christians are suppose to do?" Imus made a mistake. We all make mistakes. But our Lord forgives us or our transgressions.

I truly respect Vivian Stringer. During the winter of 2007, her basketball team was supposed to play Arizona State University's basketball team in a championship game of the Paradise Jam Tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands. But Aubree Johnson's (an ASU player) brother died in his bed while attending the tournament. ASU made the decision not to play the game. All the Rutger's team had to do was show up to win the game by forfeit. Stringer and the team decided not to go to the arena.

I don't know if Vivan Stringer is a Christian, but she acts like a Christian. I know this for a certainty--she doesn't have 'Rev.' tacked onto her name. In my book, she is a saint.

Stringer Accepts Apology

Imus Is Forgiven

I don't agree with what Imus said, but I believe in forgiving. I believe that we, as Christians, should follow the lead of Jesus when he forgave the woman at the well and told her to "go and sin no more".

We all say things we wish we could take back. What Imus said was wrong, but do we need to continue to punish him. The Bible says, "Let him without sin cast the first stone."

I have said similar things. I have repented to God. He has forgiven me. That is all I care about. I would not care about Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson.

Imus Apology

S. 294 The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act

The 110th Congress, which convened on January 4, 2007, had a full plate. Included in the agenda are the priorities for passenger rail advocates, which are:

Amtrak reauthorization: The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (now S. 294) has been introduced, again this time by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Trent Lott (R-MS). The bill provides for common-sense Amtrak reform and operational improvements, authorizes Amtrak for the five years Fiscal 2008-2012, provides for capital assistance for states, and development of state rail plans. Right now, the bill needs co-sponsors; see if your Senators are co-sponsors and if not, ask them to sign on! Email addresses can be found at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

(Click here for a detailed synopsis of PRIIA is available on the National Association of Railroad Passengers website.)

Response to Senator Gould re: light rail

How can Sen. Ron Gould be a chair of the Senate transportation committee? Shouldn't he have an open mind? He is against light rail because "it is a debacle". Maybe that is true, because government is involved. But we have no better alternative, and we seem to work through the greed and misappropriation of government spending.

Today's cost is small compared to say seven years down the road. I remember when bay area residents were against BART because of the expense. In today's economy, the BART cost is now a pittance. Costs will increase. Now is the time to start with the light rail system even with government handling the funds.

All You Can Eat

I enjoyed the message by Richard Gotthardt this morning at Grace Community Church. The message created a resolution in me to read the Scripture each day.

Richard says "Our appetites change and so does our appetite for the Word of God. We need to develop a craving for the Word of God."

to the words, situations and happenings in the days they were written. He says, "Put the Word of God and Spirit together."

1. Scripture is God's clear and authoritative Word to you. (2 Peter 1:21).

2. Scripture will lead me toward a blessed life. (Psalm 119:1). the word blessed has a rich meaning. We have used it often to "bless" someone when they sneeze or just to say have a "blessed" day. It is deeper than the connotation given in the sayings. Miriam-Webster dictionary defines blessed like this:

1 : to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word
2 : to hallow with the sign of the cross
3 : to invoke divine care for -- used in the phrase bless you to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed
4 a : PRAISE, GLORIFY b : to speak well of : APPROVE
5 : to confer prosperity or happiness upon
6 archaic : PROTECT, PRESERVE
7 : ENDOW, FAVOR

3. Scripture will lead me towards a blameless life. (Psalm 119:1). "Blameless means living above reproach." We think of perfection when we hear the word. It actually means:

1 : an expression of disapproval or reproach : CENSURE
2 a : a state of being blameworthy : CULPABILITY b archaic : FAULT, SIN
3 : responsibility for something believed to deserve censure

4. Scripture allows me to know God more intimately. (Psalm 119:2)

5. Scripture helps me to keep a clear conscience. (Psalm 119:6).

6. Scripture will keep me from sinning against God. (Psalm 119:9-11).

Pause to Make Promises

God's promise to Abraham Genesis 15:1. Abraham 99 Sarah 90. Let God do what he does (he promises) on his own. We can't manipulate or coerce. Let God have his way. God promised Abraham a son at 99, Sarah at 90. Sarah laughed. Abraham got his son, Isaac, at age 100. Isaac means laughter.

Moral: God is faithful even when we are faithless. Justification by faith: Genesis 15:6.

A promise is only as good as the person who made it.

I take God at his word.

Preserve our historic railway assets

I agree with those who say the time is right to bring Union Station back to life. Angela Cara Pancrazio’s article mentions a few of the stations that have been refurbished and brought back to life. There are several stations around the U.S.A. and Canada that are major centers in their city. I have ridden the train in all but four states and all but five provinces in Canada. The railways are full of historic assets that need to be preserved.

Many cities have refurbished their depots which in turn revitalized their downtowns. Angela mentions Kansas City, St. Louis and Los Angeles. I have visited each of these depots and marvel at their preserved architecture. Penn Station in New York, Union Station in Chicago and South Station in Boston are very busy places with the hustle and bustle of people. Gare Centrale in Montreal is an underground city, with tunnels to hotels and the Bonaventure metro station. Many of the smaller depots along the U.S. and Canadian rails have converted to museums preserving many of the huge assets these nations have accumulated. Phoenix is a huge city that will become humongous. Now is the time to plan for the future.

I believe that preserving our railroad assets and saving our memories by improving the depot will add to revitalization of the historic downtown Phoenix. Selling it to a private enterprise will erase those memories and liquidate historic works of art. After all, Athens has not sold the Parthenon.