Can you believe it’s August? Back to school shopping is in full gear. I remember back to school when I was a child. It was a bit different in those days. Summer vacation started the first of June and school didn’t start back until the first of Sept. It’s hard for me to get used to school starting in the beginning of August or in some cases July!
I’m glad my boys are out of high school and driving themselves to college, so I can spend more of my time swimming at the lake. Summer is short enough and I want to enjoy ALL of it. I miss the “good ole days,” the lazy summers, pedal pushers, hopscotch, penny candy, kick the can, bicycles, hula-hoops, Frisbees and marbles. A time when our neighbors were referred to as “Mr. and Mrs.”
The only gangs I knew about were the Little Rascals! Seems like a million years ago, more often than not, I find myself thinking about the past and wishing we could all go back to a simpler life. I look around and see that electronics have stolen our free time; we are connected at all times, cell phones, computers, and texting, geez!
What would happen if there were a total “black out”? I shudder to think, it might be chaos, riots, or worse, we would all be forced to “talk to each other in person” using our mouths, our words, and re-learn to write letters. One would be forced to inject feeling and emotion into one’s vocal chords instead of texting “LOL,” we would really hear laughter.
Remember when Beaver Clever did something naughty and we felt nervous for him, secretly applauding him for his antics?
The “Beav” never hurt anyone; he just pulled some mischievous pranks and stupid stuff. Today our kids’ role models are clad with tattoos, piercings, blue hair and barely dressed. Their behavior is outrageous and often times dangerous. We watch them as they disrespect fellow human beings.
My heart breaks for our children, as they will never know the joys of simplicity. Society has numbed them with “Reality TV.” What is the purpose of following distorted people around, filming their dysfunctional lives and thinking that this is the new norm? Parents have a tough enough job raising kids in the current environment; we need to take a moment and thank those parents we see raising, polite, respectful, well-groomed children, as we know how difficult achieving that task is today.
Remember when a simple good idea could start a small business?
Starting or running a small business in California is a real challenge these days; permits, regulations, Cal-OSHA, regional water quality control boards, air pollution rules, ground pollution rules — insane requirements dreamt up in a school where no one has ever worked, yet implemented by businessmen and women without PhDs — merely working people.
I recently tried to re-roof my building in Stockton. The permit process took several weeks and I’m told that was fast. Is this business friendly? Are the regulators there to aid and assist or stop and delay? This is very costly which in these times means the owner of an impacted building will delay the rehab, defer the repair which contributes to urban blight.
Then there is the internet.
Buy something on the internet and it is exempt from sales tax but not USE tax imposed by the State of California. Did you notice the new language on your California income tax return asking for that tax? Another reason to shop local.
Speaking of local, why do we need a community college that runs at a deficit or an educational system that charges so little for tuition the students do not value what the tuition cost delivers? The cost is so inexpensive they don’t even try to finish their courses. There is no easy way. You have to put on your overalls and get to work, Thomas Edison advised. Pretty prolific guy.
Which brings us to our 535 leaders in Washington who are so addicted to spending by borrowing they can’t stop. Will it take a tyrant like Caesar to eliminate the fat? Is that their rehab? Possibly another constitutional convention? Would you vote to stay in the Union or fight to keep it? If it can’t be run in the black, shouldn’t it close? I mean if it was your business, do you loan it money, or, do you cut your losses? This goes beyond liberal or conservative. WE need to be fiscally sound conservatives or liberals. Why not just reduce all spending pro-rata? Where has our common sense gone?
Finally, a breath of fresh air has just arrived in women’s clothing. Stop by and see “Ooh La La” for that unique outfit for your special event. Way to go Annette your store is over the top gorgeous. Congratulations. See you at “Ooh La La!”
God Bless you,
Sharon Alley-Calone
