Up, Up and Away

I try to give people and companies the benefit of the doubt. However, there are times that you are hard pressed to do that. Recent events have made me question our local power company. I understand that power consumption does increase during the winter months. This winter has given us numerous snow storms, but no long term extreme cold spells. That is why I nearly had a heart attack when I received my recent power bill.

            It was nearly double of what it was last year, over $400.00. I don’t think that would be a bad bill, if I was heating the whole neighborhood. I did what any normal person would do, I complained to my coworkers. That is where the real shock occurred. Everyone that was service in Johnson City an Jonesborough areas had the same problem. Even more interesting, most of us seemed to have bills within thirty to forty dollars of each other.

            A group of irate customers quickly started calling their office. It was a trip to the, “Twilight Zone.” Each person reported talking to the same sweet young lady. All the conversations seemed to be the same. “There was no rate hike. It is due to an unusually large usage during the colder months of the year.” They must have the cloning process down pat.

            I might have bought their line, except for a few things. We remodeled our home this summer. This included adding insulation throughout our home. We had virtually no insulation in our walls and attic for the past few years. With that lack of insulation, we didn’t have a bill even close to this one. Call me crazy, but shouldn’t your bill go down after you add all that.  I won’t mention the energy saving gadgets that we installed in the home.

            The large bills are affecting everyone I know the same. People are trying to scrounge up the money to pay. You can’t let your children live in a home without power. Many people have to let other bills go. Let’s see how that works out. I see a snowball starting to roll for all of us. How big will it get? How many of us will get caught up in it.

I Gotta Have It

There are times that I wonder what is going on in America. I saw a commercial the other day that made me cringe. It was one of those wonderful, “Get ready for the Super Bowl,” ads. It was for a 52” television. The company implied that the family would not be able to enjoy the game with anything less than their humongous product. After all, you may not be able to count all the stitches on the ball with anything smaller. I would like to know the percentage of people that bought into that concept.

            I have to hand it to the advertising agencies. They have created a country of super consumers. If you think I am exaggerating, look at some of the businesses in your home town. Many of them, which you remember from just 20 years ago, are gone.  How many repair shops are there left? Not many, if any. There was a time when every town had an electronics, shoe, and appliance repair shops. People feel it is cheaper, and better, to buy a new one instead of repairing the old. The Maytag repair man is definitely lonely these days.

             Other symptoms include the long lines and preorders for the latest gadgets. I cannot believe that people will camp out in front of a store for 24 to 48 hours, waiting to be the first to buy a new phone. People please, it’s a phone. I know it may have all the bells and whistles, but it is still just a phone. All I want is to be able to make phone calls with it, and maybe text. The worst part is, if they would just wait 6 months, the consumers could save big money on the purchase. Frostbite and a several hundred dollars gone, is not my idea of a good night.

            The worst sign of our consumer craze is the size of the products we buy. There is little that is compact. Alright, some of our electronics have gotten smaller. The rest seem too exploded in size. Homes, cars, televisions, and debt have doubled in size for the average family, in comparison to a few years ago. Does a small family of three need a 4000 square foot home and three 52 inch plasma televisions? Do we really need all of this to be happy?

            Unfortunately, few people escape the trap. I have even fallen into it. I have my oversized, manly pickup truck. It has been useful, but I do hate it when it comes time for a fill-up.  Should I spend the children’s college fund to top off the tank? Or is it time to return to a simpler time?  Can you put chrome rims and spinners on a horse and buggy?

Super Size It

I read an article the other day about childhood obesity in America. The author blamed fast food restaurants for the problem. The writer stated that the meals offer little nutrition and have high amounts of fat. They claim this is the major culprit for today’s problem.  The article calls for the eateries to cease targeting children with kids’ meals and advertising aimed specifically at them. Some states have even passed legislation that prohibits the businesses from offering prizes and toys to our precious little ones.

                This may seem to be a good fix for the problem, to some people. We can place the blame on the corporations that feed our nation. However, I think we need to place the blame where it truly belongs. It is the parents that are the cause of the problem. Many people may want to argue with me and blame someone else. But, it is the adults that allow our children to devour one greasy burger after another. If we didn’t take our children to these establishments, they would not be in business at all.

                In fact, it seems that many parents encourage the behavior in their offspring. Children learn their behavior at a young age from those around them. They tend to mimic the behavior of their parents. This can be seen in the number of American families that are, “supersized,” themselves. A parent that takes their child out and orders a quadruple sized meal, with a liter of soda, tells them that this behavior is acceptable and normal. The child will do the same as they grow older. Give it a few more years and the portions will be twice the size they are now.

                I know that many parents work and feel they have little time to cook. Fast food is an easy option for them. I understand, both my wife and I work. However, she believes that the children should have healthy home cooked meals. Breakfast and dinners are usually prepared, not bought.  Juices and fruit are preferred to soda and candy. I’ve seen my daughters pick strawberries over a piece of chocolate many times. I wish I was able to do that too.

                My children do love to go to the local, “joints,”.  It is fun for them to get nuggets, a burger, and a toy. We do indulge them every once in a while. This does not happen all the time. “No,” is the answer we give the majority of the time. There may be some whining and crying, but that ends quickly. It is tough being a parent. Telling your child they can’t have something they want hurts sometimes. Yet, denying them some things is better for them. Being told you are evil is good at times.

                I know that people hate to take responsibility for their problems today. When it comes to our youth, we need to. The fast food restaurants are not good for the health of our nation. They would not be as prominent, if parents didn’t choose them for quick meals. Americans need to make a tough choice. It is time for parents to prepare more good meals and to send our children outside to play. Otherwise, it won’t be long before we are a nation of obese individuals. Can you imagine having to provide a traffic cop in the malls to direct all the people riding electric scooters?

A Good Cup of Joe

This was the first Column I wrote while I was in Afghanistan. It was published in several newspapers in TN. and VA. I have received several emails and letters requesting new articles from me. I thought this was the best way for me to start. I will try and post a new Blog at least once a week. Let's see how this works.

              Many of you may be reading this over that first fresh brewed cup of high end coffee.  Some of you may be relaxing at the local gourmet coffee shop, having a nice latte’ or mocha caramel triple espresso.  I and my brethren envy you more than you can imagine.  There are a few veterans out there that can commiserate with me on this topic.  Those of you who have never spent vast amounts of time in a lonely land drinking down gallons of Army coffee will just have to take my word on the subject.

            Soldiers miss a great many things about home when stationed in a place such as Afghanistan.  Undoubtedly, we miss our families and friends more than anyone can imagine.  We constantly share pictures and stories about our loved ones.  Finally, there is a point where the stories and pictures have been passed around too many times.  One soldier can begin a tale and four others can finish it.  It is at these times that we begin to compare notes about those “little” things that we crave so much.

            The one thing that is in the “top ten,” for everyone over the age of twenty-four, is coffee.  You ask, “Why coffee?”  Let me explain.  You are out on the road for anywhere from twenty-four to seventy-two hours trying to keep the roads open and safe for both the military and civilian populaces.  During this whole time you have to stay alert and awake.  There are a multitude of people out there that just don’t like you.  They will do anything to make sure you have a very bad day.

            So, you do everything in your power to stay awake.  You pour water on yourself, or have your buddy do it.  You sing songs; Gilligan’s Island is a favorite.  Many even resort to continuously playing practical jokes on one another.  Eventually, it all fails and you start feeling the sleep monster on your shoulder.  That’s when you want that hot cup of coffee.  I still haven’t found a military vehicle yet that had a receptacle for a coffee pot.  You would think that it would come standard considering that most of us drink our body weight in it.

            That’s when you remember the instant coffee packet left in your MRE.  It may take an hour or longer before you finally give, but you get the nerve up to pull out the small disgusting packet.  Your buddy looks at you and shakes his head and smiles.  This is far worse a fate than any joke he ever pulled on you.  He turns and looks away.  No human being should be forced to watch what you are about to do.

            There are only two choices at this point.  First, you can mix it with water in the convenient plastic bag provided.  This gives you a luke-warm soupy liquid filled with grounds that never settle to the bottom.  Secondly, the preferred method, tear open the package. You tilt your head back and swallow the coarse powder as quickly as you can.  The body shudders and shakes in revulsion.  There’s no stopping it.  However, in just a few moments, you have a caffeine buzz in full swing.  Unless, you opened one of those meals with decaf in it.

            I know some of you may be disgusted by the thought.  Others may think it is hilarious.  Some of you might even feel sorry for us.  That isn’t important.  While you drink that nice rich flavored three dollar coffee, know one thing.  I’d give you twenty dollars for that cup right now.