???????????

I don't know what the hell is going on.
Well, I sort of do.
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Money is power.
or is it?

I don't want to be rich. I want to spend time and love my girls and their families, write draw, paint and sing.

Things are gonna change around here

Remember your mom or dad saying those words?
Well, I've got a feeling that those words are very real today.
I'M TRYING VERY HARD TO BE POSITIVE!!!!
I have ALWAYS been an optimist. If anything, I avoid uncomfortable reality.
So, when I've got this sick, sinking feeling in my GUT, what does that mean?
I'm scared.
I have know doubt that I can survive much worse times but, I wonder about people who are even poorer than me.

Then I shake my head and try to remember that life is Ying and Yang, good and positive, for every bad thing there is a good thing.

My idea is that we as a society, want to get out of the me/mine/yours attitude. Remember, from our history lessons that there was a time when families did not have 'insurance.' When something happened to a neighbor/family/friend, EVERYBODY helped.
Rember barn raising? A modern example is Habitat For Humanity.
Think about it... how can you flip a guy off for cutting in front of your car, when he was part of the neighborhood group who helped you build a ramp to you back door so your sick wife can get her wheel chair into the house a little easier than stairs. You smile and wave.
What comes around--goes around.
Karma.
Pass It Forward.
Corny? Maybe, but it works and it's true.

It truly is "It's the End of the World As We Know It." REM

Sorry, if I'm going on and on but, it's time for what Kim and I used to call Blabbin'.
Coffee Klutch, lunches, neighborhood block parties, etc.
We gotta know each other!!

I'm done for now
smitty

SCAREY TIMES

These are some SERIOUS scarey times for everybody. Even rich people have to be wondering what next week, let alone next year will look like.
The price of gasoline (which effects the price of almost everything else), heating fuel prices up 20 or more percent and now I just heard coal prices have gone from last year prices of $50 a ton are now over $100 a ton.
NOT GOOD NEWS!!!
Unemployment is at record numbers, banks are failing and Bush and Mccain say our economy is basically sound.
WHAT!!???
Then to top all of this off, it seems the republican vice-presidentail candidate, who is espousing honesty, transparency and change is stonewalling the investigation in her home state of her wrong doing.
Sounds way too familiar!

I am an independent and honestly there are things I do not like about the Obama ticket but, I'm TERRIFIED of more republican BULLSHIT!!

OKOK

I had a really great day. It seems that when i actually get out and DO something I am happy and energized. I guess I knew that, but hey I'm old.
After dropping my daughter off at work, I decided to go downtown to a 'sacred' local eating joint for breakfast. Lately, I'm really bored with eggs, potatoes and bacon or sausage.
Good choice!
The owner said "Hi" like I was an old customer.
One of my daughters (both) elementary teachers and her husband,local author and former editor of the local newspaper, sat down next to me. Good talk.
Went to the laundromat and did my laundry and a city council member, whom I know rather well came in and again--good talk.
Got the laundry upstairs and headed out again, this time to the fabric store.
I needed something to hem the pant legs on two of my three work pants and asked about sewing machine lessons. 2 hour class on my machine--$20.
Went to the library and returned books and finally brought in the box of books to donate.
Met, Ruth Evenhouse at the coffee shop and we took a look at the studio, then went back to the coffee shop to talk about the show tomorrow night.
We were talking about stuff as we walked out and I mentioned that I had run for Mayor.
"Oh," she smiled, "you're that Keith Smith."

I got home and looked at my 'mail' and responded to a lady in Muskegon.

So, I'm feeling pretty good about me and the day.

Johnny Cash

I am in AWE.
Tonight, npr did a 2 hr show on Johnny Cash.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!
What an incredible story/life.
So real and honest.
I hope that, someday, I can somehow contribute in just a small way, something for the future of humanity.
Lofty goal, I know but, that's the dream.

RING OF FIRE!!!!
later
s

DRUNK IN THE AFTERNOON

What the hell are you supposed to do when your neighbor shows up at your door at 1:00 in the afternoon with a 6 pack of beer!!??
DUH!!
Drink it!!
Then there's a walk across the street for another 6 pack.
Suddenly it's 4:00 and I'm loaded.
Of course, since I'm on 'no money' mode, I've had nothing to eat today.
And, I'm thinking obsessively!!! about my friend.
I called her, knowing I would get her voice mail, but that was the point. I just wanted to hear her voice.
It worked.
I long so much to love someone.
I think it might be her.
I know I'm just a crazy old fart.
smitty

BANNER DAY

Hey everybody!!!
I'm going to be a GRANDPA!!! A first for me and I am sooooo looking forward to it.
Excitement is nowhere near what I feel.
WOW.

LABOR DAY!!

OK, it was going to be another wonderful day. NNOOTT!!!
I don't know why but I sure am getting old and lazy. Maybe not lazy, but I do not have the energy I used to have.
Supposedly, one works smarter--not harder with age. I'm wondering about the truth in that one.
I need more excitement in my life. I want it too.
I'm hoping/dreaming/fantasizing that there's a small/miniscule chance that my new friend, CYN might be part of that change/excitement.
But, I know better than to get my hopes up too much. I've been burned before and it doesn't feel good.

It hurts everyday, when I think about my ex. I never really did get angry with her. Maybe I should have.

When she got sick, I tried to be conscious of my energy level so that I didn't burn out. For the first year, it really was touch and go for both of us. I was working and being a single parent for two girls and a caregiver for my wife.
She did not understand that.

I think everything just finally caught up with me. Again, I thank my wonderful girls for helping so much.

smitty