Countrydiction

...according to Sister Larraine who is director of a migrant/immigrant shelter in my hometown in KY. Wilkerson (an employment and training specialist for the county) said some area employers are afraid that some Hispanic workers might be in the country illegally. But Sister Larraine said the law only prohibits people from knowingly hiring illegal aliens. The employers are not required to prove that the people they hire are in the country legally, she said. I doubt that Sr. Larraine refers to the law correctly, but if she does then why even have the law on the books? As difficult as it is to disprove ignorance I would expect that any defendent accused of violating this immigration law would plead ignorance. But what of the universal 'unwritten' maxim that 'ignorance of the law is no excuse?' This maxim is true, generally, because good laws have these standard conditions: that it is promulgated widely and in advance for public knowledge, that its interpretation i...

Got a knock on the door yesterday and a neighbor kid gave me a shock. He tells me that my dog, Oslo, and his dog had pups a week ago. I stalled for a few seconds thinking/hoping he was joking. I said, "how do you know?" and he said they look just like Oslo. I said, "He's only seven months old, almost!" The kid says, he's old enough...I seen him humpin' her. I said, "What are you going to do with them?" He said, do you want one? I said NO. He said he and his daddy are going to take them to the Walmart parking lot at Christmas time, when they're old enough, and give them away. The breeder where I got Oz told me that his mother was only seven months old when she and the father hooked up. Said he'd never seen a bitch bear that early. Looks like she's a grandmother and hardly a year old!

I found, right here in my own backyard, yet again another example of the attempted eradication of any and all references or influence of Christianity in the public square! I quote part of an article in the local newspaper here: " Holiday Reflections is Sims’ brainchild. The 78-year-old saw similar displays when he traveled out of state years ago and thought DeFuniak Springs needed its own lights. For its first six years, the display was called Christmas Reflections. This year the Walton County Tourist Development Council renamed it to appeal to a wider audience, Sims said." Excuse me if I'm sensitive, but the proof that the secular, liberal culture is intolerant of Christians is constantly being thrust into our faces. The ACLU has had a vendetta against the Boy Scouts for years. See the recent news of the Dept. of Defense relenting to the ACLU's suit to stop the support which military organizations have historically given to the Boy Scouts. See the recent news...

This is my first Thanksgiving without the comfort of reaching out and touching my Momma, whether closeup or from long-distance telephone call. She was always my refuge in a world that is not a settled place. In fact, our universe, i.e., humanity, is racked with pain, fear, confusion, and hate. Many of us understand our lot as the result of fallen man, from the original fault of pride, yet we have hope of redemption or deliverance in the eternal life. Many others see man as the highest creature of a naturalistic evolution of life, so far, and hope that man (or humanity, to be PC) can overcome the basic instincts to create a world of peace, tolerance, and happiness. For those others, my question would be...who would you be thanking on this Thanksgiving Day? Yourself, the lottery, lady luck? I'm trying to focus on the fundamental, essential reasons to be thankful, not material or outward reasons. The essentials are my faith, the love of my family and friends, my h...

I ran in a race Saturday and I'm feeling it today! I had the option to run a 5K (3.1 mi) or a half-marathon (13.1 mi) and I ran the latter. At the 11 mile mark I 'hit the wall.' The lactic acid had finally built up in my thigh muscles to the point where they kind of locked up. So there were a couple walking stints in the last two miles, but I was thrilled to be able to do the distance...and...I got a first place medal for my age division. Afterwards there was a massage and a couple beers, both courtesy of the race director. Got home and soaked in my jacuzzi tub full till I roasted and took a nap. Later, I met some old friends and ate a delicious meal of shrimp and scallops Alfredo on pasta, with some great wine, at the Tradewinds restaurant in Valparaiso. The place was jammed so it was prudent that we had reservations. Everthing was fine until I woke up Sunday morning and could hardly walk on my left ankle! I limped to Church, then I limped to Walmart to get an ...

While working in the yard adding new plants I found this growth on an old tree stump. Lately, I added two Leyland Cypresses. They make the best Christmas trees. Mine are about three feet tall and will grow to 30 or 40 ft. On the corner of my front porch I planted a young Chinese 'Drake' elm, also called a Lacebark Elm because of the delicate flaking off of the bark to leave a mottled orange, brown, and gray effect. It is the same appeal as the River Birch that I planted on the other side of the yard. I'm outside all the time now that the weather is ideal. It's a real pleasure to go spend time in the local nurseries because I am the only one there usually. So many folks have moved to the panhandle from farther parts north that practically everyone waits till spring to do major planting and maintenance, because that's the way you have to do it up north. In this hardiness zone the fall and winter are times to get with it and get a jump on the spring garde...

President Bush is the epitome of a Texas Ranger. With his actions down in Santiago, Chile this weekend, he has further endeared himself in the hearts and minds of those of us who support him. Chilean journalists condescendingly called him a cowboy after he single-handedly pulled one of his personal bodyguards from the midst of a fracas among security personnel. Cowboys are an enduring symbol of America. I'd love to be a cowboy. I ride my motorcycle because that steel horse makes me feel like a cowboy. If the jounalists want to insult the President they could call him a French surrender-monkey, a three-toed Canuk, or a multiculturist Dutchman. But, I don't think he's too upset about being called a cowboy. There should be an investigation of that episode because there are Bush haters who would love to separate the President from his Secret Service en el momento oportuno.

Watched that end of the Pistons-Pacers game live Friday night. First time I've ever seen Bill Walton speechless! I've turned into a Pistons fan since Tayshaun Prince (formerly a KY Wildcat) joined the team two years ago. Got really excited watching them win the NBA Championship over the Lakers. Call me biased, but here's my take on what I saw Friday night. In the last minute of the game Ron Artest needlessly fouled Ben Wallace by slapping at him instead of the ball. Considering the circumstances of the point spread and time left, I considered that a flagrant foul like Big Ben did. Now Ben goes and shoves, really hard, Artest in the neck area. The benches clear. But here's the deal. Artest backs off and stays clear the way away from Ben, and he inexplicably goes and lays down on the officials table while they are trying to contain Ben. If Artest is injured they should have taken him to the locker room. I considered him taunting by laying there on the table an...

I snuck off and ran without the Oz, so as I'm finishing up my run I'm just out of sight before I turn the corner to my house. Oslo hears me but doesn't know it's me, so for *the first time* I hear him let loose with a "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?! It was music to me ears to hear my six and a half month old pup turning into a little man. A couple days later, we were in the house when he heard something outside and jumped on the couch to look outside and he barked a couple times. His nervous system is developing right on time. My alarm system is hooked up!

With a nod to the Southern Appeal blog, I just had to pass this along for the benefit of those who rant about the cold-hearted, greedy, social conservatives not giving a damn about the poor and disadvantaged. Check out this index which shows the philanthropy (generosity) rankings by state. Note that the first 24 states ranked are so-called Red States!

I had some odds and ends in the fridge and cabinet so I made a pauper's feast...whoever can tell me all (there is no meat) the ingredients gets my esteem and makes my wokking world go round! 

I just filled out the application to become a Master Gardener. All I have to do is pay up $90, attend 50 hours of classroom training, pass a 50 question test at the end, and perform 50 hours of volunteer time within one year for the county extension agent's office. The program is active in 45 states and in over half of the counties of Florida. If I'm one of 20 people selected I will learn about plant physiology, insects, plant diseases, care of landscape plants, vegetable gardening, fruit gardening, lawn management, landscape design, irrigation, and communications. What I am particularly interested in is how all this relates to my piece of ground located in my zone of plant hardiness, and what are the native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. If I'm selected I'll attend my first class on 13 January.

Very sensible advice coming out of Manhattan...ignore this link , and this one at your own peril!

I know, no big deal. But it is a big deal...this is the first bud of the genesis of my new landscape! I bought these, along with a black walnut tree, a couple palms, and some other plants I didn't get the name of. I bought these plants at the ARC, a service for handicapped. The lady told me the plant in the picture was a Chinese Bluebell. I researched and found that it is called Mexican Bluebell, Mexican Petunia, and Florida Bluebell. Later I went to Home Depot and got three different ornamental grasses, which I am going to continue to acquire; pampas grass, muhlenberg (gulf muhly) grass, and some rubrum (purple fountain grass). Got some mexican heather (which I had before at my townhome on Boggy Bayou, and flowering kale. Then later, I went to the local garden nursery and bought two giant crape myrtles (one red, one white) and planted them on a berm on the corner of my property along with the fountain grass. I also bought a nice river birch. Well I'm watering the y...

One of the Bible readings from this morning's Liturgy of the Hours struck me as another timeless piece of scripture. Quoted in part: "...Though the pagans may slander you as troublemakers, conduct yourselves blamelessly among them...Because of the Lord, be obedient to every human institution, whether to the emperor as sovereign or to the governors he commissions for the punishment of criminals and the recognition of the upright. Such obedience is the will of God. You must silence the ignorant talk of fools by your good behavior. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cloak for vice." We who are practicing Christians struggle with living the Way of Jesus Christ because we are human, with all our feebleness and foibles. To make matters worse, we have to deal with the estrangement (the polite word) from non-believers (pagan, Gentile, depends on your translation). Has it not been worse than ever during this latest campaign and election? The kicker in the...

Random thoughts... I recall numerous times in my travels overseas when someone would point out that their grievance with the USA is aimed against the president and his policy. They emphasize that their ire and disgust is NOT directed to the American people, or the American culture. On the contrary, I have seen too much anger and invective hurled at the people of 'middle America' and what we stand for from arrogant, contemptuous, sardonic spewers from Old Europe. I am mighty grateful and relieved that the majority of Americans have emphatically disavowed the Kerry idea of a 'global test' for the conduct of our own affairs. What I'm alluding to here is the French Disease (You don't have to be French to have it). I learned, for the first time last night, while watching a documentary about WWII that Hitler had not even completed his conquest of France when in the summer of 1942 the American navy was attacked by the French navy off the coast of North Africa. ...

I was out in the garage this morning pouring a bowl of dog food for Oslo when I heard some rattle, sorta like from a little rattlesnake or a windup toy soldier ratta-tat-tatting on his tin drum. I look all around, then glance at Oslo who was doing a little teeth-rattling shiver. Cutest thing I ever saw. It was only 55 degrees...I guess soon the little guy will be shivering from teeth to tail, because it will occasionally drop to freezing temps up here in the sandhills of the panhandle in Jan and Feb. 

*Warning: Those who are sensitive to profane language (and/or have a high regard for the basic goodness of the human race) should avert their eyes... Is this just an aberration or is this fellow representative of the liberal elite?

The little dark cloud was like the early exit polls...soon overwhelmed by the happy sunny cloud of the impending Republican ascendancy!

Be proud you're a rebel, cause the South's gonna do it again, and again! Last night I went to bed at 6:00 p.m. with the intent of waking later when votes had been counted and results from around the country were in. I woke up at midnight, found out that trends were pointing to a Bush win. So I immediately tuned in to Dan Rather to enjoy watching and hearing him squirm! This morning I was waiting with intense satisfaction at 8:00 for Katie Couric to come on and the Today crew did not dissapoint. They were all wearing BLACK this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two or three segments of the show were on the subject of the Supreme Court. Katie is concerned about the possibility of Bush cleaning up some of the federal activist judges. Go W!!! While going to some commercial breaks Today played cuts of the Dave Matthews band. I soured on them during the campaign because they 'rocked the vote' for Kerry. Now I think they sound quite quaint... To quote the great Churchill, to the Brit...