Harv 5

Just keeping up the blog. The past few days has been stuffed with political happenings. I know it isn't, but it seems as though I have other supervisors coming to me constantly and expecting me to perform some miracle as far as county decisions are made.
I have decided this really isn't a lot fun mostly because of the time it takes away from my business and my wife and home.
There is a big recall election coming up in a couple of weeks and changing over some county board members could mean some major changes on the board of 24 supervisors itself. There is a growing opinion that the chairman should be replaced and I am being considered. I already did that as a younger man and am not sure I want to do that again. Money is better though. Nah!!! don't need that.
That's all for tonight. Got to watch the rest of Fox news.

HARV III

It is a little after 7PM and already getting dark. That makes me think that it is getting a little dark in life too. Remember Old Blues Eyes singing "when I was 21 that was a very good year....."
There are things that we all want to do. So many of us want to write. Me too!! But so much stuff happens to prevent us from following a dream or even an idea we just chuck the whole thing.
Nights I lay in bed thinking about the past and the things that have happened and the things I witnessed. Many incidents are downright depressing and not enjoyable. Many others however were really funny, stupid and misunderstood but happened good or bad. They were still funny.
So I have decided to put them down on paper. I need to make notes, set up scenes and see what I can learn about presenting my case. Good play on words for an old ex-cop huh?
Who will read this rambling mess of words you ask? My family and one good friend who I intend to have an ongoing conversation with throughout the book.
How long will it take you ask?
Why do you ask so many questions?
Does it matter?
I was thinking today during church when the guest pastor was telling the congregation about being thankful to God for getting us through the tough spots in our lives. We've all had them he said. I remember all too well I thought. Then it struck me.
You know, there is nothing I want. We wish for materials things, good health, happiness, nicer home, new car, more money. I have all of that and a fantastic wife of more than 30 years. What more could I ask for.
So I am going to paste my police years, my non-police bitter years, my business years and all the rest of it together to get folks to where I am or at least down the path that got me here.
That's enough for this time but I'll be back.

Harv-2

Beautiful Wisconsin early autumn day. 68 degrees, couple of clouds here and there. There is an Octoberfest going on in La Crosse. Big four day beer party describes it best. Event is very near the U of Wisc. La Crosse campus. Need I say more. Each year they pull a couple of dead college kids out of the Mississippi. Party grounds are right on the river.There is also a "Cran-fest." A huge celebration of the end of the cranberry season. Little village called Warrens in western Wisconsin. 850 crafts vendors and 350 swap meet venders selling junk. This thing is huge. Last 3 days. Been going on better than 20 years. Billed as the biggest "swap-meet" in the world. Warrens, by the way, has a population of 12. Normally it is tiny. OK, 350 residents. That's small. Can you imagine keeping your business private? They even know when you go to the bathroom. Welcome to rural america
For about 4 hours today I was playing Paul Bunyan. Had my chain saws out and cut up some downed trees. Then hauled my wood splitter out of my shed and split up the wood. Only got wounded a couple of times. Nothing serious. Stacked all the wood too. Now we have wood for the fireplace(s) for winter. Doesn't save much on the heating bills but it's nice to have a fire going on the cold snowy days. I have gotten to the point where I can do without the cold though.
Enough for now. Wife made a chicken casserole for dinner. Weight Watchers!! YUK. It works though. We are lifetime members and put on a few so now we have to take them off.
Adios for now.

Harv II

Bargaining

I just finished a two page diatribe on a meeting I had today. I pressed PUBLISH POST and the sucker message must have gone into cyberspace because like 3 others it did not post. Truth is I really am not happy with this dumb-ass Apple computer or its programs and I don't like the keyboard. Anyone want this; it's brand new. I have three Dells. I'll stick with them.
C ya

Friends

This morning I got up and went to the fitness club and worked out as I do most early mornings. After the workout I stop at a convenience gas station store and grab a cup of cappacino. Friends I have made over the years usually hang out over a bunch of for sale cases of soda. I was a bit off schedule this AM so the guys had already gone. I was in a good mood and joked back and forth with the help. On my way out one of the cashiers took my dollar and sniped that her register wasn't open and snapped up my dollar with a real attitude. Obviously not a morning person. She's probably 20 years old. A tall slender bottle bleach blonde who got herself pregnant about two years ago and isn't very happy obviously. I wonder if it would be alright to go in tomorrow morning and tell her she can cause folks to have a real shitty day based on her attitude or simply slap her upside the head?
I think of what my wife asked me long ago. "Why do people hit other people?" I calmly replied "BECAUSE THEY LISTEN THEN." Worked at Parris Island years ago.
Well tomorrow is another day and we'll see how it goes.

Meeting

Had a County Human Services meeting all morning. This is the 11 member committee that oversees all of the county "give-away" programs mandated by someone else, i.e/ state, feds, etc. and makes you the taxpayer pony up the dollars to pay for them. Five of us are county supervisors. Learned today, one juvenile boy was taken out of his home and placed in a special care home. $9,000 a month! Not bad huh for some punk that wants to do drugs and booze on your dime and won't play by the rules. Any suggestions out there?
If I remember I will zero in on my grandson next blog.

Acorn

What a mess. Have been watching with interest. A whole bunch of cans of worms have been opened up here.

Harv

My second and probably brief message. Got home from work (my business) ate some veggies, dip and a glass of wine and decided to come upstairs to my new cave.
Had a friend that taught me how to blog. He left for a speaking engagement so now I am trying it alone. Big deal for a guy that has problems sharpening a pencil. My friends name is Wesley J. Smith. Punch that in on the internet. Very interesting man. Lawyer, writer, etc. check out his bio. His wife is Debra Saunders, a syndicated columnist for the SF Chronicle. Quite an upscale couple. Wesley has 12 books out. They have a 100 pound dog named after one of the 3 muskateres.
I am hoping this blog will help me along the way to retirement and give me something to do in addition to politics. Oh yes, I am a county supervisor. Trying to figure out if I am a good one.
Enough for now I think till I get the hang of this.

In the Beginning...

I have no idea what I am going to write about but it will be interesting . . . to me anyway. I am about to retire after sixty years of constant and hard work.  Not sure how I will deal with that.  But I look forward to seeing what happens and to where God points the way. Join me!