Babe's Blog

I am a senior citizen.  I do use a computer, although I don't possess the computer skills many younger people do.  Still, I use the computer in many ways.

I am constantly on Kayak and Flight Aware, sites that my son recommended.  I booked a SUMMER round-trip to Europe for less than $600 through Kayak. I couldn't have approached that amount through a travel agent. I am always checking airplanes that fly close to Grand Island on Flight Aware.  Wilton, my dog, and I observed a plane traveling northwest as it passed over Grand Island between 4:30 and 5:00 on many mornings.  I always surmised it was a "red-eye" from Atlanta or Miami bound for Portland or Seattle.  One morning it was passing over as we returned from our morning walk.  I hurriedly went to the computer to check where this plane had originated and its destination.  It was a Fed Ex plane which had left Memphis a couple hours early and was bound for Great Falls, Montana.

My stepson and I want to stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel.  This is a hotel in the Arctic that is completely made out of ice.  The beds, bar, everything has been chiseled out of ice.  Hides and fur from animals help keep you warm at night.  Artists from many countries start on the project in the fall in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden.  One night I was checking out dog-sledding mushing in the Arctic.  There were some links to small towns in the area.  I went to one of these links and I was watching people enter and leave a convenience store in northern Finland.  I was in Grand Island at 8 or 9 in the evening and I was watching people entering a store above the Arctic Circle at 4 or 5 in the morning (Finland time).

I am a Cub fan or was a Cub fan.  My son forwarded to me a website that is across from Wrigley Field.  I just looked at this site recently.

I do e-mail, but not much.  I check newspaper headlines almost daily.  I also check out the obits in several Nebraska newspapers. 

I occasionally add articles to missingnebraska.com and Babe's Blog throuogh the computer, 

Still there are many other activities I could be doing with the computer.  I intend to hire a person to come to the house to help me improve my computer skills.  I've tried beginning classes and usually a couple people without any computer skills, take up most of the instructor's time.

Most men in my coffee group, from ages 58 to 80, have very limited computer skills.  At least two and maybe three do not have computers in their homes.  Another two or three only use them for e-mail.  When you consider there are less than ten men in this group, we don't talk much about computers.

I do enjoy our computer in may ways.

I love to fly.  We just recently returned from a few days in Key West, Florida.  I usually use Kayak to book my airplane tickets.  I had another experience(s) on this trip that I hadn't encountered in some time.   We were scheduled to leave Omaha on Delta at 7:30 a.m.  Shorly before boarding started on the first leg of our flight (Omaha to Cincinnati), Delta personnel stated the flight was overbooked by two people.  I talked with the young employee and informed him if they could get us to Key West that day we would consider going later depending upon how much we would receive.  He said $600 in vouchers per person so after consultation with the wife, we let them book us a different route through Dallas.  We arrived in Key West two hours later than we had originally scheduled.  $1200 for two hours--not bad!  We now plan on going to Europe sometime this year.  At the present time during the month of February, there are round-trip air tickets from Omaha to selected European cities for under $700.  Thus for a couple hundred additional dollars my wife and I will be able to fly to Europe and return. 

Have you ever been on a nine-passenger plane?  I hadn't either until our return trip.  We flew from Key West to Fort Myers on a nine-passenger plane. I took a seat behind where I thought the first officer would sit.  Silly me.  On such a small plane there is no first-officer.  The captain asked me if I wanted to sit in the seat to his immediate right.  I took this seat and was like a little-boy all the way to Fort Myers.  I pretended I was the co-pilot or first offficer.  I would look out at times but watched the instrument panels most of the time.  We only flew at about 6000 feet and a speed of 145-160 knots.  I helped the captain land the plane in Fort Myers (not really).  What an experience!

On September 15, I attained my 1,000 mile walking goal for the 2009 calendar year.  I have probably walked/run over 1,000 every year since I was in college.  This year I am averaging 3.88 miles per day, a little below the 4.00 mile a day average I have set for myself. 

Last year I walked 1,380 miles, which was the fewest miles I have walked in any given year in memory.    If I continue at my present pace, I will cover 1,416 miles this year.  My present goal is to achieve 1,460, which would be a 4 mile-a-day average.

Starting this century, January 2000, my goal was to walk 100 miles every month until my death.   I was able to walk 100 miles a month for 89 consecutive months.  During the month of June 2007, I did not record 100 miles because of local flooding and an illness.   The only other month I have missed walking 100 miles has been June 2008 because of a long trip and another illness.  I now have 14 months on my current streak. 

Why do I walk?  The main reason is to live. Several relatives are buried in the cemetery in my home town.  The males with my surname died at very early ages.  The reasons for their demise--heart related diseases.  I'm not sure if some Supreme Being will release some type of cosmic action to bring me to "a better place" upon my death so I attempt to stay in good physical condition. 

Another reason I walk is to clear the mind.  I walk in the dark every morning.  I am usually out of the house by 5:00 a.m.  I meditate for the first few minutes and give thanks I can experience another day in a healthy physical condition.  Then I take in the sounds of the earth awakening.  The birds with their many different sounds, animals howling, the trains as they scurry through town, occasional vehicles of people hurrying to early-morning jobs, and airplanes overhead as I wonder where their destinations are.  I've checked on FlightAware and learned one is a Fed Ex plane which leaves Memphis and has as its destination--Great Falls, Montana. 

I do desire to live on this earth as long as I possibly can.  Thus I will continue my walking until I am no longer capable.

SHOULDN'T SWIFT AND CO. HAVE TO PAY FOR EXTRA POLICE? Swift and Co. employs over 2,000 people.  Most of the company's employees are from Central America or the Africa continent.   Grand Island has a low-rent housing development where the police spend considerable time.  Most of the residents in these low-rent apartments are employees of the packing plant.  The police chief wants more police, he probably needs them.  Still the city hierarchy feels Swift is good economically for this community.  These people spend money on used cars while living in cockroach infested apartments and houses.  They spend money in stores which helps businesses but at what cost to the taxpayer of the community.  One junior high school hired FIVE ADDITIONAL ESL TEACHERS LAST SCHOOL YEAR.  Yes, five additional ESL teachers.  The county attorney made an appearance on television recently.  He cited the cost in prosecuting murder cases.  The last murder case involved bringing (I suppose they flew) seven witnesses from Texas to Grand Island to testify.  Local property owners, which includes many senior citizens, are on fixed incomes.  If I could get out of omy house what I paid for it five years ago, I would sell.  Grand Island has the "bubba" mentality, much unlike our two neighborhing communities, the college towns of Hastings and Kearney.

GRAND ISLAND WILL BECOME A CITY OF MINORITY PEOPLE--According to recent demographics trends, it has been predicted Grand Island will become a city with a majority of minority people sometime between 2025 and 2035.  And this is RURAL Huskerland.

OUR GRANDKIDS WILL BE A PART OF AN AMERICA WHERE THERE WILL BE MORE MINORITY PEOPLE THAN CAUCASIAN PEOPLE.  Sometime later in this century, the population of the United States will have more minority people than Caucasian people. 

ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOMALIANS AND SUDANESE PEOPLE--When I first went to work at my present job where I interview foreign students, I was asked if there was a difference between people from these two countries.  There are many differences, including body build, social skills and learning abilities.  Would you rather interact with the Somalians or Sudanese?  There are differences.

I HAVE STUDENTS WHO CANNOT MAKE CHANGE--I bet used car dealers in this area, "drool" when they see some of recent foreign arrivals checking out cars at their used car lots.  Many of my students are driving old cars (clunkers), yet they cannot make change in a classroom setting.  I haven't dealt with a used car dealer in some time but I bet some of the unscrupulous dealers are making a handsome profit on these individuals.  It seems Grand Island has a used car lot every other block. 

GRAND ISLAND HAS 13 PAYDAY LOAN OFFICES--Grand Island has a payday loan office for every 4,000 plus residents.  Just think "bubba city." 

Do you want to supersize that?  I was asked that question a few years ago when I made one of my very infrequent trips to a fast food restaurant.  I suppose I was rude to the young employee.  I did not answer.  I'm sure she had been instructed to ask that question of every customer.

Why do Americans have to have the biggest of everything?  Are we competing with our fellow Americans?   My wife and I live in a 2000 square foot home.  Maybe we couldn't afford to live in a McMansion, but we could certainly afford to live in a larger house than we presently reside in.  My wife has stated it would be great if we could reduce our house by a room or two.  Maybe we could save ten percent in our energy bills.  Not that we cannot afford to pay our current energy bills, but because of the amount of energy it takes to service a large house.

Grand Island is pickup truck city.  I did not see a large pickup in Ireland in the 18 days we were visiting that country.  A lady in a local store here in Grand Island drives from St. Paul to work.  Assuming she makes the trip five times a week @ 52 miles round trip.  She, at 120 pounds, drives a huge SUV.  She said her husband said they get 14-15 mpg in this vehicle.  I get 42-43 in my economy car.  The difference is about 560 gallons of gasoline at a cost difference of $1400.  (52 miles per day X 5 days a week X 50 weeks = 13,000 miles).  Fifteen mpg = 870 gallons of gas.  In my economy car 42 mpg = 308 gallons.  Then figure $2.50 a gallon for gas.  The difference--big SUV the cost is $2175 and my economy car is $775.

This lady told me she drives the big vehicle for safety.  Bull!  My response is that if a Supreme Being decides when we die and I had a member of the clergy tell me that recently, what difference does it make on the size of the vehicle you are driving?  I have resided in Grand Island over five years and there has been four deaths within the city limits due to vehicle accidents.  Two fatalities were recorded in a one-car accident off an overpass. 

My wife and I are considering a newer model car.  Will it be a 2009 or 2010?   Absolutely not!  In all reality we could afford a Cadillac or Lincoln but we will buy a much smaller car, and a car that is at least 3-4 years old.  I don't have to impress my neighbors as I know who I am and what I stand for.  All I need is a car that will start every day and not give me many headaches. 

So, please don't ask to supersize me.

Several years ago on the Don Imus Show, the I-Man mentioned that the bottled water (it's in Huskerland stores), he was drinking was the best he had ever had.  He mentioned on several occasions this bottled water company should send him a case or two of their water because of the national attention their company was receiving from his program.  After all he said this company was not a sponsor of his program. 

His two sidekicks, Charles and Bernard, thrived in proving the I-Man wrong.  One morning the two of them produced a New York newspaper with an expose on bottled water. The water the I-Man was drinking came from a New Jersey plant.  The company had three different prices for their water although all the water came from the same tap.  Their most expensive water was the labeling with the flowing brook. 

Recently the Senate held hearings on the regulation of bottled water.  There really isn't any?   The national media also got involved, even Katie Couric.  Most of the media expressed surprise at the large amount of money spent on bottled water.

Me.  If I have to drink bottled water, I would drink it.  My city tells me I have good water.  I did have an independent test made about a year ago (at a cost of $28).  Excellent water was the report.  The bottled water sold in stores, I can't say for sure it doesn't have impurities as it is not regulated. 

Now where am I going to spend money I don't spend buying bottled water.

A local steak house advertises 16, 20 and 24-ounce steaks with all the trimmings.  Recently I heard this "eating" establishment has added a 4-pound steak.  The 4-pound offer is a special offer, if one can actually swallow this amount of food within a specified period of time, the meal if free.  We have real "bubbas" out here in Huskerland.  Polls show many Americans, as well as Husker faithful, are obese.  Yet, we have a steak house contributing to obesity in Huskerland.  I know as an individual, I can say no to this offer, some/many do not.  The motto of this steak house should be, if your butt is not big when you enter, it will be big when you leave. 

My doctor informed me I am in the first stages of emphysema.  I hope I enjoyed the cigarettes.  I, also, have an inherited condition that have contributed to my emphysema.  Three decades ago, I ran a marathon.  Today I jog 20 to 25 steps before I rest.  I can still walk three miles in about 38 minutes.

I still occasionally deliver prescriptions for a pharmacy.  My mobilty may be somewhat limited, but in delivering prescriptions, I see many people who are attached to oxygen tanks.  Think about how such an apparatus hinders one's mobility. 

Now that two FAMILY VALUES Republican presidential hopefuls (Governor Sanford and Senator Ensign) have shot themselves in the foot, actually it may have been three-foot higher (in the groin area), and Russ Limbach (my favorite druggie) not included in the most recent poll, it appears Huckabee, Romney and Palin are the top three Republican candidates to face Obama in the next presidential election.  This trio received 27, 21 and 19 percent of the vote, respectively in a nationwide poll.   Huckabee and Romney appear to be honest and intelligent men.

Family value adovcate Sanford was going to Argentina to "shack up" with his mistress.  Senator Ensign wasn't going nearly as far.  His mistress was in his office.  Neither man says he is going to resign and Ensign said he was going to run for another term.

Ensign's parents paid $96,000 for "hush money" to the husband of their son's mistress.  They say parents will do most anything for their children, but paying nearly $100,000 to the family of their son's mistress have to be a first.  Democratic politicians--most noticeably, Clinton and Edwards, couldn't keep their "flys" zipped either, but they did not advocate family values.

What is it with me and airplanes?   The last two times I have flown, I end up in a doctor's office a few days later.  In February I went to Long Island to pick up my wife who got ill will attending to a son after his operation.  I flew out and then back with her the next day.  I ended up having a tube inserted in my right ear to allow for drainage.

Now ten days after getting off a plane from Dublin, I again needed the services of a physician.   My wife encouraged me to see a doctor two days earlier but I declined.  Maybe, that is a man thing.  The doctor did prescribe three different medicines and I am on the mend. 

My wife became ill sooner after the Ireland trip than I did.  We took many precautions, including a spray for the throat, drank water and other fluid, used the moisturized hand towels and walked around the cabin every couple hours.  Still we both became ill. 

Someone asked my wife, whey do we continue to travel?   I feel the rewards of travel are so great, that to experience 3-4 down days is not to big of a punishment for this experience.