So I planted a small garden this year, started a little late, but it has been flourishing. I have two raised bed planters, one with two tomato plants and six bell pepper plants, and the other with seven varieties of spicy peppers. I also have a nice pot of raspberries that are starting to really take off.

Today I decided to clip a bunch of the peppers. So I got 20 green bell peppers, smaller than ones in the grocery store, but infinitely sweeter and completely natural, no pesticides! I also cut 17 spicy peppers, including one Patron Habanero that is absolutely perfect. I got about a half-dozen cayenne peppers that look great, as well as several green chili peppers, I think serrano. There are also three of some rare purple pepper that are amazing looking as they started to turn from purple to this beautiful crimson.

Finally, I clipped two small red tomato and two larger green tomato. The two tomato plants have at least 50-60 more on them. Plus the gallons of basil I’m getting from a friend who is overgrown with it, I will definitely be making all kinds of delicious spaghetti sauce for the winter. What a fun deal. I hope to have a HUGE garden next year. Plus I’m going to talk my landlord into letting me build a little chicken coop in the backyard, give the dogs something to guard and/or chase.

Heading off in a few minutes to the Lane County Fair to volunteer at the Master Recycler booth…

My dogs turned three today!! Happy Birthday

Boom and Bob like this backyard more than the Arizona backyard full of rocks...

Today I wrote to Discovery Communication,

“I’m like to say I’m surprised that Discovery Communications, a company who frequently claims to be pro-environment, would choose to promote an anti-environment idiot like Sarah Palin, but we all know it’s just about the dollar bills for you. Pathetic. It will not be a difficult decision to drop your networks…”

They probably thought the opening “I’m” was a typo too…

so it’s 08/09/10 11:12:13 ain’t gonna happen for another 1000 years!

This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be – read it!! The article below is quite neutral, ….not republican or democrat or whatever supposed “side” you think you’re on…

Charlie Reese, a journalist for 49 years, and a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for judgments made that impact each one of us every day.

It’s a short, easy, but very good read. Worth your time, worth remembering!

545 vs. 300,000,000 — EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE…

545 PEOPLE–By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them..

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits….. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red …

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it’s because they want them in IRAQ

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation,” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power..

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees..

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

– Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it…….. Is up to you.

This might be funny if it weren’t so darned true.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he’s fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think..

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid…

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom…’

When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax…

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you say ‘politicians’ !!!

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!! GO AHEAD – - – BE AN AMERICAN!!!

click on the photos to view larger versions…

Two big tomato plants and six bell pepper plants in one bed, the other has seven different kinds of chili peppers

tomatoes in my raised bed garden

Enjoying the colorful and varying degrees of spice of the seven types of chili peppers in my garden

So much has been going on these last couple months, it’s hard to begin, where to start. So in early June, I moved to Oregon, and even though it’s been a little rough starting out in so many new directions, I’m absolutely loving it. The new job is going great for the most part, though it’s certainly been a change of pace. The bosses are pretty cool and the coworkers are okay. The job itself isn’t exactly what I was expecting, but it seems to be going well. Lot of work/my time that’s for sure. Things are still a little hectic. We’ll see how it shakes…

I rented a nice house in Springfield. It’s comfortable, though quite expensive. I’m making okay money at the new job, but rent is eating up a big chunk of that. Luckily I have many side gigs, or I’d be SOL… There just weren’t many options with the two big dogs. People can be stupid, I’d rather rent a place to big dogs any day of the week. I’m sure 99% of neighbors and landlords would rather have my dogs than < 30 lb yapping rats. Speaking of neighbors, mine are getting on my nerves. The worst are the ones behind the house. Bunch of annoying fat women who argue constantly. I think there are three of them there now, plus a kid and a baby. I am really getting sick of hearing them argue. Plus they let their dog run around like crazy, and that definitely annoys my dogs, which annoys me. There is also a stream of “studs” in and out of that place. One of the them has been flirty with me, but she couldn’t pay me enough. There are an incredible number of morbidly obese women here…

Obviously I’m sick of the city. This is a lot quieter than Phoenix, but there are still lots of people who drive way too fast. At least this place is month-to-month, so as soon as I find a place in the country, I’m heading out. It sucks to move, especially since I have a ton of stuff, but who cares… At least the move here wasn’t too bad, lots of friggin driving and I got most everything out of Phoenix, but I still haven’t quite got everything sorted. The garage is still a bit of a mess. I also have a storage unit full of stuff.

My raised-bed garden is doing well. It was getting late, but the first weekend I was here, planted a couple of tomato plants and a half-dozen bell pepper plants. The next weekend I planted 7 different kinds of spicy peppers, including Chitzen Icha habanero. The purple serrano peppers are coming in very nicely, already 3-4″ long. In the front yard, there are all kinds of shrubs, succulents, and flowers. I planted raspberries and sunflowers. Long term, I’m looking forward to having a much larger garden, but short term, I’m looking forward to having a BLT with a tomato fresh from the garden — now that’s living!

Probably the biggest news is that I found a horse. After missing that great one in Arizona a couple years ago, I figured I’d really have a tough time talking myself out of this one. Lucky I waited, this is a lotto winner, Two-year gelding, super sweet and gentle, absolutely a pleasure, and already lots of good training and ground work done. Parelli natural horse training. Plus he’s really good looking, and HUGE — part draft horse and part indian paint. His hooves are twice the size of most horses. He’s staying at a ranch south of here about 15-minutes. Some people there are working with him almost every day, but I’ve been trying to get there 3 days a week for training, more for me that for him. He’s great, I’m a bit green. Hopefully next year, we’ll be out elk hunting, though maybe a year later…

Wish he was ready to go now, since my VW Bus is crapping out… Actually to be precise, the cylinder head stud bolts are loose, and will not tighten because the engine case is stripped. I need to have case-saver inserts machined into it. Lucky, I’ve got a great Volkswagen shop right down the street. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to cost a little coin to get Betty the Bus back to where she needs to be. Even luckier, I live close to work and bike there, so it’s no big deal. Just sometimes a bit inconvenient to run errands, etc.

Well, that’s enough for now. I’m going to run a few errands…

Holy scorching inferno of Arizona, it’s toasty back in Phoenix for the weekend. After almost six hard weeks on the road, I’m suffering a few classic symptoms of exhaustion, but there’s no time to be tired right now, more work to do. In fact, I’m not even at the half-way point of these current adventures. Maybe then I’ll take a breather…

So here’s the latest… after nearly a month in the San Fran Bay area and despite several nice offers, the dogs and I decided Berkeley wasn’t for us. Couple cool things working but really, California sucks, way too many campfire blockers…

So despite me, and most often the mutts, exploring most every other interesting option over the past 18 months that might possibly take care of at least most of our needs — including Santa Fe / Hawaii / Ft Collins / Lincoln / Minneapolis / Iowa City / Berkeley, plus a few others, we’re still headed to Oregon, to post up for the next few years.

Me and the mutts took a 6-day scouting trip to the Beaver State over a long Memorial Day weekend, scoped out rental options and aced several job interviews. Not bad for a Friday, considering the evening before, I’d driven 500+ miles from San Fran, so I hadn’t slept or showered since Wednesday night, just kept pushing straight through, in part thanks to all the craziness the week started off with, both of my dogs nearly dying…. It’s unfortunate, but a lot of vets out there are quite incompetent, overpriced, and over-medicating. Be careful at the vet. And try to be sensible and look past the emotional aspects of it. It sucks but when you’re upset that your much loved pet is sick and suffering, you can be vulnerable.

Long story short, thankfully, despite the vet, it all worked out. The mutts are back to the usual maniacs, but I’d been a little nervous about both of them. Close call… At least they got their vaccines and I now have a few backup pain meds for serious emergency only, so it wasn’t a total loss, but $600 in mostly useless vet bills later…. Lucky it wasn’t more. The good doctor kindly waived some of his fees, not the whole bill, not exactly not surprisingly, despite his multiple instances of malpractice, of course that’s all a much longer story for another time.

The sick maniacs got to seriously sleep it all off on the long car-ride north while I thought about likely interview questions I’d be facing. I rehearsed various scenarios and make mental lists of points to address, experience to highlight, yadda yadda. The interviews weren’t bad, I was offered 3 out of 4 of the jobs I interviewed for. In the end, not too tough a decision. I accepted a position with a multimedia marketing firm as a project coordinator, overseeing business and branding solutions for a large group of clients, mostly in green construction technology, solar/wind/hydro energy, and related business-to-business market niches. I’m excited, as it seems a very progressive company with great benefits, nice salary, profit sharing, friendly funny folks working there, etc. Timing is indeed everything. It helps to be good.

While in Oregon, visited some old surfer friends homesteading just outside of Lincoln City. They bought a nice semi-custom cedar-shake cottage with a few outbuildings on an acre. They got it good, and we enjoyed a amazing dinner, a couple racks of ribs and chicken on the smoker all day. I ate a huge meal. No surfing, but we played in the rain on quiet beaches, explored rainforests, and strolled along, sometimes in, several wild scenic rivers. I’m also looking forward to living just only an hour’s cruise to the coast, and being able to get my longboard on.

So drove back to San Fran Wednesday, and then headed back to Phoenix on Thursday. The bus paint isn’t done, but it’s a great start. I’m still not yet sure if I’m driving it or hauling it to Oregon. Sucks that the summer roadtrip got canned, and these rental cars are a killer, but hey, can’t take a bus roadtrip without the bus!

Meanwhile, I’ve already farmed out most of the other work, and decided on some of the companies I’m dropping, but I’m still maintaining many of my current clients. That should be some nice extra money to really start making some moves. I’ll certainly be busy. Later this summer, I’m taking a couple more practical medicine courses, then this fall start in on dual mfa/mba program, and of course, need to squeeze in a little prep time for law school next fall. Lots of overlaps to make it all work but hey you only get one shot at some things…

Still no place, but I’ve got a U-Haul reserved this week, loading up, and hopefully be driving out of Phoenix by Wednesday night. Before I know it, I’ll be quickly jumping into my new job and getting settled into Eugene. I’ve found a few house rentals closer to town that will allow two bigger dogs, but nothing’s popped quite yet. I’m thinking about just moving to the country, find something cheaper with a few acres, and then commuting 10-20 miles a day. I’m likely just going to buy a house before the market rebounds too much more. I’ve got a few ideas cooking. We’ll see.

TAX DAY, oh no…. since these crooked politicos do such a lousy job of spending our tax dollars, isn’t it our civic duty to give them as little of it as possible.

Finished up a ton o’ work last few days. Been on a good stretch last couple weeks really. Need to take a break soon, but it’s nice making nice $$$ for the ro…adtrip. Business expenses! Several new clients popping up here and there, couple of nice referrals too. Thanks to all!

Really getting a kick out of a few simple sites and affiliate programs that I’ve been dabbling with on the side. I’m crossing my fingers that my purely residual, do-nothing internet income will keep at a steady $1k+/month, and thanks to one recent project just starting to take hold, maybe even double that or more by the end of summer, if his product sales keep chugging nicely. Now, just need to duplicate it…

All clients are also super happy with new hosting packages, website page load speeds, etc. Been learning lots of new SEO tricks. Just last week, I had a website hit consistent first page on google (out of over a million) search results within 72 hours of domain registration, and within 24 hours of submitting sitemaps to search engines.

I have a couple of Chicago White Sox rookies renting out the house while they’re at Spring Training extended camp for a couple months.

knows exactly what’s going on, always do, always have, even when I didn’t let you know I did. Pardon my contrived conundrums, dealings and disinformations, and all other subversive tactics in defense of the truth, but it’s not my responsiblity nor my place nor in any way in our best interest for me to simply tell you the truth. You must discover it for you.

And trust me now like you don’t even trust yourself, you realize so very little about any greater situation that your effortless selfish ignorance offends. But before you get even more twisted, I will tell you that I cannot be directly offended, and therefore it is not me nor anyone else you are offending. Forgiven you’ve been for years, but few have patience for displaced insult and insanity. There is coming quickly a realignment.

Most in life is certain as the truth is always the truth, no matter its form, and most people want no part of the truth. My first life lesson learned was when I was four years old, in the late fall, with snow dusting the ground and my grandfather’s breath dusting the frigid air first with complete surprise, then complete realization. Finally he spoke about greater truth, my grandfather explaining, in part, something particularly vicious that my grandmother said to me. The great thing about barn grandma was that she realized that even though I was only four years old, I was not wrong, and that she was. Most people just never get it, they never understand anything. She spent the rest of her life reminding me of her greatness.

It is what it is or it is never what it is. The time is now, always has been, always will be. There is no other way. Have you ever meditated on the mosquito?

sacred spotted cows in the field