22 August 2014

In The Toilet

"You've not updated your Blog in quite a while",  my friend said.
Yeah. Obviously.

In many ways it's been a tough year+ for the Old Man.
I retired January of 2013.
My business partner of 26 years died Spring of 2013. His wife had no interest at all in picking up his work, so we sold the business.
My Mother died a couple months later.
I was Trustee of her Estate and had to fight a battle with an insurance company to get what we deserved. Then I had to fight with my own family about spending money that belonged to others
.
When a parent dies and there's suddenly "found money", families that have never been really close can be destroyed. 'Nuf said about that.
This Spring we sold the Condo we've owned in Destin since 2000.
So, there have been MAJOR changes in our life.

I LOVED my work.
I HATED what was happening in my industry.
Government regs intended to make things safer/better... WON'T do any such thing.
Lawyers are making it tougher to do the job well while covering their own asses.
It was time to quit.

We've been traveling.
We bought a new car. I may Blog about that soon. (Ever own a car that can park itself? We now have one.)

Oddly, the biggest reason I haven't written here is because I'm dismayed at my fellow citizens.
I rant and rave about what is going on politically, but I'm finding many of my neighbors are Marxist/Socialists/Communists and are happy with this "Fundamental Transformation".

I'm watching as many of those I respect in the military are "Getting their fill" of the B.S. and are getting out. At the same time, the Obama administration seems to be purging the ranks of military leaders who don't agree with his "Fundamental Transformations".
Question:
If you want to destroy this Nation, how would you do it?
How does that differ from what this leadership is doing?

I'm feeling beaten right now my friends.
And frustrated. And dismayed.

I love this country.
I love my like-minded friends and will defend them to the death.
But more and more, it looks like I may have to do just that.
"No Justice! No Peace!"

God be with us.
I hope I'm WRONG.


15 comments:

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Despite their best efforts, in six years they have only damaged this country. Gives me hope.

Unknown said...

"If you want to destroy this Nation, how would you do it?"
Let's see... I would elect a liberal nut job as president, shut down Guantanamo Bay, withdraw the troops, return high ranking leaders to the terrosists, Ignore the fact that ISIS has 2 billion dollars in assets and open the borders that are already as porous as a seive. I'm sure a missed a few things like create a race war and class warfare.

"How does that differ from what this leadership is doing?"
Not at all from where I sit, not at all.

eiaftinfo said...

Feeling much the same. My business of 32 years in the healthcare industry is just being eaten for lunch by the changes the Big O has made. Heavy sigh. My only answer is to live small, "prepare" cause the shit is truly heading for the fan and stick with good friends. We are far from down and out . . . and write more, it helps.

Ed Bonderenka said...

WSF +1

cary said...

But, as long as you have friends that can/will stand with you, life is worth battling for.

Greybeard said...

"WSF" sent me scrambling to my search engine, Ed.
World Sheep Foundation?
Washington State Ferries?
Water Softener Filters?

And to my Marine Brother:
We're too far separated. And they know it.
If you're not already talkin' with your neighbors about how to protect
ou and yours, (and their's), you SHOULD be.
I am.

Anonymous said...

It seems that the road after retirement also has it potholes. I am carrying a spade and big bucket of earth to fill them in as they appear. I just hope my bucket doesn't have a hole in it.

Ed Bonderenka said...

WSF Well Seasoned Fool.
Was on Facebook today and a friend of a friend had linked to this post.
Spun my head around.

Old NFO said...

Greybeard, I don't think so... I think you're on the money... Dammit...

The Old Man said...

Hang in there, amigo. The night is always darkest just before the shit hits the fan...
On the upside, we have had a better run than the majority of the people tearing down this country and surely better than they will after Obozo leaves office.

russell madden said...

I also have a small business and if you listen to all the experts you could not do business due to all the old and new regulations that conflict and compliment each other. I don't blame this totally on this admin, it is just the burecratic way of justifying their existence but I fully blame the current admin on not doing anything at all to help, protecting our borders, and a whole host of other problems, nor do I see them changing the methods they operate. its a shame that the country is lead by a lawyer who's first full term to serve as an elected official is as the president. Our children who I feel elected the techno president will have to live with the concquinces.

Anonymous said...

I am unsettled. My country is unsettled. And we are beginning to see the results of this.

I too am facing retirement shortly, in about 7 months. I am having some trepidation in doing this. I have worked in law enforcement for 35 year at my current agency, and 6 years for other agencies. My 41 years of law enforcement experience and my ability to have a positive influence on the troops I supervise as a Sergeant is about to disappear entirely.

I look at my influence as a much-needed guidepost on my department, as much of my administrative staff is too young and too inexperienced to have a good grasp of HOW to really repair and direct this department.

People such as myself are retiring in droves. We can see the writing on the wall and we don't much care for it; we also know our careers are ending.

Cops are no better than our gene pool, and our gene pools are changing as well. We tend to either get military veterans or Millennials. The number of veterans applying to become a cop is dwindling. Millennials are proving to be what most people say they are: self-centered, beaks pushed into their cell phones and tablets, unwilling or unable to make sacrifice and unwilling or unable to take pain.

They don't want to work nights, they don't want to work weekends, they don't want to work holidays, and one of the first things they ask for is time off.

I believe we are seeing an increased number of suspicious police shootings because of our hiring of Millennials. They do not care to get their hands dirty, they do not care to get into situations utilizing force, and they will tend to fall back on tactics that will separate them from assault. They have a tendency to utilize the Tazer with greater frequency and even to utilize deadly force more readily. I can see it in their faces, I can see it in their training, and I can see it in their response, on the street, to critical incidents. They would much rather "police" from afar.

Not all; but many.

Historically, I have had no problem with keeping those cops who are good and releasing or suspending or termination those cops who don't deserve the badge. I am Old School.

Many of the newer administrators can think of more and more reasons to be more "understanding" with these people. When I retire, this will be the greater meme. Some people should simply never be cops.

On a larger note, I can feel the restlessness of the country, the tenuous dealings. Alvin Toffler wrote, in FUTURE SHOCK, about change. These days, "future shock" does not simply come yearly. It comes weekly and daily and sometimes hour-by-hour.

There is a cataclysmic event coming for the nation. I can feel it and I can smell it. It may take the form of a WMD event, or a quiet coup, or even a very ugly civil war. No matter its form, I fear it will hurt many, many Americans for quite some time.

I don't know when it's coming, I don't know what form it will take, but I can hear its tread.

I am unsettled. American is unsettled.

BZ

JetAviator7 said...

Sad what family members do to each other over money! We have six kids and our plan is to leave what little we may have left to the church. Children should learn to make their own way in the world. When I sell my business at Aviator Sunglasses we plan to spend it all before we die.

Sold my aviation insurance agency business in 2004 before the collapse of General Aviation but miss the friends and fellowship I enjoyed so much.

OlePrairiedog said...

I fear the anonymous post "BZ" is so very close to events that may happen sooner than later. I am unsettled, but trying my best to maintain life as I have always known it. Many of my neighbors do the same. We don't think we are burying our heads in the sand, but that we are trying to keep the illusion of sanity and normalcy and hope it spreads instead of eroding further. You can do that in small towns. We also meet pretty regularly and explore ideas and plans for when it does get out of hand. Pray for us all. Keep your ammo dry and have a Hidey Hole to regroup if needed.

Greybeard said...

O.P.D.-
I have actually had Obama voters tell me they watch no news... too depressing. Then they'll actually admit they watch nothing but sports!!!
Now we'll ALL suffer for their ignorance.
I want an apology.
Then I want them to wash my feet.