Things that make you go ummm

As I sit here in the cool of my family room I find myself pondering the mess the great state of California is in. I know many people are not pleased with Governor Schwarzenegger but I wonder what is not being shared with us. The great citizens of this state for a long time have been kept in the dark on how the money was being allocated to fund state programs. We blindly believed and trusted the men and women we elected would look out for our best interest.
Interests, this is the operative word here. I don’t know about you but it’s apparent to me that is exactly what the state legislature is all about. What interest group fills their pocket? I don’t understand why a group cannot write a budget in a year? I don’t understand why this is a problem. I want to know how they can keep their job? If I as a teacher failed to turn in my lesson plans at every due date you can be sure I would not be asked back in the fall. If a chief failed to have the dinner ready for a wedding reception you can bet this would be his/her last. Yet, year after year this legislature fails to meet the dead line. What is the problem? Please, do not blame this on the governor.
Do we need to vote out every person in the state legislature? Is voting the answer? I am beginning to believe that we could never afford many of these programs. I am beginning to get the impression that certain interest groups came looking for money and because of back door politics these interest groups received money the state never had. I imagine it’s something to this affect. My friend was down and out so she decided to teach children how to swim, being a licensed swimming instructor with her own team. Only problem she didn't have a pool. So I gave her money for the pool subsequently she was a huge benefit to the community. So I gave her money to expand. But I didn't have money to give her in the first place so I borrowed from my uncles insurance which I managed taking only the interest. Then my cousin needed to start up her hair salon so I gave her some money to start up a chain of shops. As a result money came pouring into the community. This was good for the community and private industry. Except I didn't have money for that either so I took it from the association I manage, investing it into a different fund. I keep giving these people money to work and the economy is moving except no one is paying me back. Then, one day these people need their money. Except I have nothing to give them because I never had anything to begin with. I just juggled the money to keep it flowing and as long as the bill wasn’t due everything worked well.
Now, you see if I had really done this I would be in jail for a very long time, except we are talking about special interest groups. The problem is we funded special interest groups with money that was never there and/or very little was coming in. The state legislature is taking from everything and everyone to pay their bills. What is blatantly clear is these men and women are still trying to fund their special interest groups. I think it’s time to vote everyone out. I think it’s time to make the legislature answer to us. We voted these men and women in to look out for our best interests not to render us poor. Furthermore I think as of this moment all perks should be taken from the legislature. If we have to take a day off with pay, they do not get a car, a lunch tab, or anything else. They are making good money. Let them budget out of their own pocket. Let’s see them tighten their belts as much as we find ourselves tightening ours. They spent money carelessly because it wasn’t theirs to spend.
Please feel free to comment on my rambling.

Who New?

My husband and I just came back from a very nice vacation. And like all vacations it was not without its down falls. Three days before we left I felt myself breaking down with a cold. This unfortunate event took center stage the first day on our trip. But I could not afford to give in to the cold, this was it, this is all the vacation we had and I absolutely refused to give into the aches and sneezes that were taking over. And so I took every cold tablet and cough medicine we had. To my comfort the weather was perfect, even with the cold I could always enjoy the breeze and sounds of the water as it flowed in the nearby streams.

So with all of my cameras at the ready, hiking stick in my right hand we, Rolf and I, forged the Eastern Sierra. We went to June Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, Bodie, and Yosemite, in the car of course. I saw an elk, a chipmunk, cows, horses, birds of prey, homo sapien of every variety, and snow. It was fantabulous. I also pride myself on finding a bench along the Tuolumme River. Its a gift. The hike was awesome moreover we actually witnessed a tree falling in the forest. And so I can answer the question "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around does it make noise?" You bet your sweet bippy it does. I also met a man who had started hiking around the middle of June. He started at Mt. Whitney, then hiked his was to Yosemite, and planned to meet his wife a couple of days at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Now this man thought I had been hiking as well. What he didn't know is I was perspiring because we had turned off the engine to the car where Rolf and I just sat and talked for a few minutes. So all the other hikers were under the impression we too were among the many nature lovers and high sierra hikers. I bought the T-shirt just to prove I hiked. We also needed to go to the little mountain hikers room. So that burst of energy walking through the forest was just desperation to hit the outhouse. They were all so impressed by our energy. One of the hikers offered to take our picture. Which I thought was a terrific idea since my brother thinks the only pictures we take are from the window of the car. See Jim we do get out and hike, even if its to the nearest outhouse. We were so taken back with the high country Rolf and I planned to spend a night up there, that is until we realized its pitch black at night and no lights are in the camp. Oh well, maybe next year we will forge a new mountain. I am so impressed with Pat and Tony's vacation pictures we just may hike Mt. Hood as long as we can drive. Jim you didn't read that.