Friends Report on August 25, 2009

Everywhere we go these days, roads are under repair. There is not much complaining about this, because our roads in this state have been in such bad shape for so long, it's just nice to know there is some hope. Probably, a lot of the road work is a result of the Stimulus Money coming out of Washington D.C.
While we have had little in the way of hot weather this summer (It was only about 50 degrees here this morning)some parts of the country have been cooking under the hot temperatures. Texas, which some people think of as hell anyhow, has had record numbers of above 100 degree days. Global warming theory predicts such discrepancies, so while some folks think it can't be climate change when it's chilly, others say that this is proof of it.
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IRISH MIKE - says he likes to get up early, at the blooming of the dawn, and go out rowing on the Saginaw River. He likes the mistiness, the chill in the air, the fogginess. I wonder if he just feels safer traveling through the town when all the gangsters have gone to bed, and the fog conceals him from sharpshooters along the banks. Is that too sarcastic?

PAT W - we went to the farmers market and got kohlrabi, carrots, snap peas, etc., and now she's making "shepherd's pie." Afterward we will cut the small watermelon we bought which just this morning was still on the vine. Be envious. And, if you get the chance, go to the farmer's market. LOCALISM is the new fad.

MARSHA - is being driven out of her house for several days while the workers sand and refinish all her hardwood floors.

SANDY - is still in California with her daughter's family enjoying that new baby. Here is a picture of the handsome young man, BRAYDEN:

BRENDA and STEVE - A large group of friends and relatives assembled at their home in the woods last Saturday for an open house. There was more than enough to eat and drink as well as plenty of good cheer. They are blessed (as are we to have them!)

FELIX - his wedding to PILOT is five weeks away. We have gone shopping and bought him the very best wedding gift we could. He's a landscaper and has a yard and garden befitting. So, we got them a nice yard present. Don't anyone tell him, we want it to be a surprise.


DOUG - He and his wife Kay are back from their summer in Maine. He was talking about the many failures of the government, in the context of the health care reform efforts. He believes that Medicare and the Postal Service are examples of the failure of government and we probably could expect the same from nationalized health care. I see these same programs as successes. No one should expect government services to be free, or even cheap, and they certainly are not businesses to make a healthy profit at the bottom line. We agree to disagree about these things, but cheerfully.

GIGI - forwarded this little known fact about Russia. They gave a gift to the United States, a memorial to the people killed in the 9/11 attacks in 2001. This gesture has not been widely publicized. Here is a picture of the monument which is called "The Teardrop."


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SOME SNAPSHOTS

GIGI AND PAT (at the Museum)

TRASE AND KATE

LISA AND EDEN

BRENDA AND STEVE (open house gift)

BILL (#14), RoadAmerica