Breezy, Sunny, and Warm

A Blast from the Past: Rich/Linda, February, 2010

Up at 5:30 to watch the sun peak over Long Point, slowly but surely, till it was so bright I had to get off the dock and seek some shade.  Our neighbor's having a stump dug out and they asked if it was all right if they started at 7:00.  No problem for me as I am up early, as usual.  They already have quite a bit out of the ground already and it's  just 8:00.    Right now it's 64 degrees out side, and a strong southerly breeze creates ripples on what was once a placid lake.  Southerly winds bring warm days, so it will be in the mid 80's today.

We expect the weed cutters back today, to cut more and pick up the weeds that have gathering along the shoreline, a result of yesterday's cutting.  They have gathered in masses at various pockets in the shoreline and, unless picked up, will rot, gather more weeds as well as dead fish, and smell.  Fortunately, because of our wall, the weeds just move on to other's shores, which lack a wall.

The Grass Continues to Cometh

We watched an acclaimed movie last night called GODS AND MEN, a film based on an actual incident,  about a small group of catholic monks, who live in a small village in Algeria, during the turmoil/terrorists of the 90's.  They have been an integral part of the village, offering health care as well as other services, without really proselytizing, or so it seems.  They are threaten by terrorists, as well as the corrupt government, which supposedly wants to protect them.  They have to decide whether to stay on or leave, and we see the inter turmoil of each of the eight monks, as they ultimately decide to stay, that to live, they must stay, as this, helping their villagers, is their life.  You know how the film will end, with their eventual deaths at the hands of the Islamicists, but it's really a story about moral courage, the willingness to stand up for your beliefs despite the consequences.  It reminded both Evie and I of Anne Marie Gustavson's brother, the Bishop of Algeria, who was assassinated along with his driver, in his car in Algeria in the late 90's.  Since then, a book has been written about him, Eric has edited his letters, and I remember them telling me about his refusal to leave, how they were worried about him because of this.   A sad but uplifting film, a bit long, but worth seeing.

I just got back from the CI; I drove to Chautauqua Shores, parked my car, and rode my bike to the CI, got in free on a library pass, then went to the Amphitheater to hear James Woolsey, former CIA director talk about security.  Interesting enough, as I sat outside the Amphitheater gate, reading a book and listening with others, mostly dog lovers, and yoga enthusiasts!  He says we are the major contributor to terrorism; we buy petroleum products that send dollars over to the OPEC, especially Saudi Arabia, and they sponsor most of the Islamic foundations, especially those that lead to terrorism.  He also suggested how vulnerable our electric grid is to a attack, how it could cripple the US, no food, gas, heat, water, sewer, transportation, etc, as a result of a electric attack.  Not good news.  He says we need to move away from having all circuits connected, to distributive networks, not those related to each other.  We are way behind in other technologies; one building in Germany has more solar power than the entire state of Texas.  It just reinforces my belief in the idiocy of our politicians, our nation, especially some tea partiers and most fundamentalists, as well as Texans.  Hey, let's elect Rick Perry for President!