Journal

Before we left on vacation I got a speeding ticket on a stretch of road that I travel everytime I go to the airport. I usually only go 5 miles over the speed limit but that day... I saw a Platte county sheriff's car coming toward me, looked down at the speedometer as one is wont to do when encountering the law and thought , Oh Yuck, this is not going to be good. Sure enough, in my rear view mirror I saw him turn around and shortly heard the siren and saw the red light. I was really, really angry at myself for getting the ticket. It was due May 21 so I got the money order for the fine and sent it all in to Platte County before we left for Europe. Yesterday, when I got the mail I saw an envelope from Platte County - my immediate thought was that they did not receive my payment - oh, they're going to put me in jail and raise my insurance sky high. (Worst case scenarios jump to mind in situations like this.) When I opened the envelope I found a check to me in the amount of the fine and a letter stating that the officer never turned in the ticket so they were returning my fine. Was I surprised!

I didn't tell Pat about the ticket (didn't think I needed anymore chastizing than I had given mysefl) so it will be interesting to see if he comments on this blog entry.

The National Trust for Historic Places recently came out with a new list of endangered places. Can't say I usually pay that much attention to their lists, but this time there are two that I am quite familiar with - one right in our own back yard so to speak - the bridge that goes over the Mighty Mo in Atchison. It is hard to know what to preserve - this bridge is unique but definitely needs some updating. There has been a lot of debate about where to put a new bridge. It will be interesting to see what happens - at least being on the list may keep the state from doing something really obtuse.

The other one I had the pleasure of visiting on the Riha honeymoon and having my first "Spa" experience complete with mineral waters, steam bath and massage. It is rather ironic since I grew up in a "spa" town but the townfolk didn't do "the baths". Old Hot Springs is worth saving - it is a unique area. I'm glad I visited and probably would never have thought to visit it on my own.

From a speech - "Take Back America" on June 4th by Bill Moyers -

What will it take to get back in the fight? Understanding the real interests and deep opinions of the American people is the first thing. And what are those? That a Social Security card is not a private portfolio statement but a membership ticket in a society where we all contribute to a common treasury so that none need face the indignities of poverty in old age without that help. That tax evasion is not a form of conserving investment capital but a brazen abandonment of responsibility to the country. That income inequality is not a sign of freedom-of-opportunity at work, because if it persists and grows, then unless you believe that some people are naturally born to ride and some to wear saddles, it's a sign that opportunity is less than equal. That self-interest is a great motivator for production and progress, but is amoral unless contained within the framework of community. That the rich have the right to buy more cars than anyone else, more homes, vacations, gadgets and gizmos, but they do not have the right to buy more democracy than anyone else. That public services, when privatized, serve only those who can afford them and weaken the sense that we all rise and fall together as "one nation, indivisible." That concentration in the production of goods may sometimes be useful and efficient, but monopoly over the dissemination of ideas is evil. That prosperity requires good wages and benefits for workers. And that our nation can no more survive as half democracy and half oligarchy than it could survive "half slave and half free" – and that keeping it from becoming all oligarchy is steady work – our work.

Here's the FULL TEXT.

It's been a great year for the garden - rain at all of the right times. The other day I fixed English peas with mint and Pat ate them. We also have raw peas on our salads - quite tasty. We've also had lots of broccoli, about 4 heads of cabbage, lettuce (gone now, too hot), spinach, onions, zucchini and yesterday the first new potatoes. The acorn squash are growing but haven't picked any yet and hopefully soon the tomatoes.

I won't mention the multitudes of weeds that also inhabit the garden.

Lots of activity this week with Jonathan and Elizabeth at the farm. Jonathan is a real pleasure - so exuberant, curious and happy - his giggles are infectious. Friday was Gram's day while E&P went off on a researching expedition. J & I played miniature golf, had an ice cream soda at the soda fountain, played in the swimming pool that Pat set up in the yard - it's a great size for Jonathan. (So far I'm the only adult willing to get in the pool with him.) And we played computer Solitaire which J could probably play non-stop if anyone would play with him that long. His computer mouse skills are certainly at a high level. It's funny to hear him say when we're through playing, "I think I'll minimize it now". He helped me dig for potatoes, didn't like getting the peas out of the pod; we've also made zucchini bread. An exciting event of the day is going to get the mail in the Gator - usually Boppa and J's activity. We've also ridden the Gator down to the creek to see if it has water.