Letter To The Editor: Vallejo Times Herald.
On Tuesday night, February 12, 2008, I watched Channel 28 because I was interested in the City’s proposed Fiscal Emergency Plan. During the three hours of talking, J.D. Miller addressed the Council (once again!). This was not his first appearance at Council meetings. Through the years, he has basically delivered the same message of financial gloom and doom - “You are spending more money than you are receiving”. And, he is right. He blamed this perpetual anomaly on the city’s “Structural imbalance” in the wages of city employees.
This was not the first time that J.D. has delivered his message. He has addressed the major labor-cost over-runs many times previously - to many different councils. In watching these episodes, I got the impression that the council members either were not interested, or didn’t get the concept.
But, J.D. has been, and is right, on his predictions of labor cost over-runs and budget deficits. I say this because we both served on the two city’s Citizens’ Budget Committees - one in 1993 and another in 1999. Many other intelligent, and knowledgeable citizens also volunteered many hours of their time, to assist the city during the never-ending budget crises.
J.D. presented our labor -break-even charts to many councils. These graphs projected that Vallejo’s labor- cost line would cross the anticipated revenues line around the year 2000 - seven years in the future, at that time! Also, the chart predicted that the labor costs would continue to escalate through future years, widening the negative spread between costs and revenues. So, today, 15 years later, our extrapolations are still true!
So, the next time that J.D. Miller appears before the council on financial issues - listen up. You will hopefully, learn something! J.D. would make a good council member by providing financial leadership.
Ray L’Amoreaux,
528 Brooke Drive,
Vallejo. 642-5389.
February 16, 2008.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Collectibles
COLLECTIBLES.
I was reading an interesting article in today’s Sunday- Times Herald (2/17/08). It told about a man auctioning off his collection of 301 old pennies, in Long beach, for $10.7 million! Included in his collection, was a large (about the size of a quarter) cent that sold for $632, 500!
When I looked at the picture of the penny, it brought back a memory of when I had one of those large pennies. I don’t think it was coined in 1794, but it was still old - probably worth only $10,000 today. I can’t remember where I got it, or where and why I spent it - probably for candy. I might have gotten it while collecting on my paper route, during the Depression. Or, my grandpa Flood may have given to me.
Then, I started thinking about my other treasures - my agate “shooters”; my 1930’s baseball cards - some autographed; and my large collection of 78’s - bakelite records of the Big Bands in the ‘30’s, and their vocalists. Oh well, back to reality.
I was reading an interesting article in today’s Sunday- Times Herald (2/17/08). It told about a man auctioning off his collection of 301 old pennies, in Long beach, for $10.7 million! Included in his collection, was a large (about the size of a quarter) cent that sold for $632, 500!
When I looked at the picture of the penny, it brought back a memory of when I had one of those large pennies. I don’t think it was coined in 1794, but it was still old - probably worth only $10,000 today. I can’t remember where I got it, or where and why I spent it - probably for candy. I might have gotten it while collecting on my paper route, during the Depression. Or, my grandpa Flood may have given to me.
Then, I started thinking about my other treasures - my agate “shooters”; my 1930’s baseball cards - some autographed; and my large collection of 78’s - bakelite records of the Big Bands in the ‘30’s, and their vocalists. Oh well, back to reality.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Dash
The Dash - by Linda Ellis.
The Dash - by Linda Ellis.
I read of a man who stood to speak - at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone - from the beginning------ to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth, and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said, what mattered most of all, was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all of the time that she spent alive on earth -
And now, only those who loved her, know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own - the cars - the house - the cash,
What matters, is how we live and love, and spend our dash!
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be re-arranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And, be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more-
And love the people in our lives, like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile, Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read - with your life’s actions to re-hash -
Would you be proud of the things they say, about how you spent your dash?
I read of a man who stood to speak - at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone - from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth, and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said, what matters most of all was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time she spent alive on earth.
And now, only those who loved her know what this little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own - the cars - the house - the cash,
What matters, is how we live and love, and spend our dash!
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be
re-arranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And, be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more - like we never loved before. And, love the people in our lives.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might last only a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read - with your life’s action to re-hash - would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash? RCL - 2/16/08.
The Dash - by Linda Ellis.
I read of a man who stood to speak - at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone - from the beginning------ to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth, and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said, what mattered most of all, was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all of the time that she spent alive on earth -
And now, only those who loved her, know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own - the cars - the house - the cash,
What matters, is how we live and love, and spend our dash!
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be re-arranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And, be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more-
And love the people in our lives, like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile, Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read - with your life’s actions to re-hash -
Would you be proud of the things they say, about how you spent your dash?
I read of a man who stood to speak - at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone - from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth, and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said, what matters most of all was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time she spent alive on earth.
And now, only those who loved her know what this little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own - the cars - the house - the cash,
What matters, is how we live and love, and spend our dash!
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be
re-arranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And, be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more - like we never loved before. And, love the people in our lives.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might last only a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read - with your life’s action to re-hash - would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash? RCL - 2/16/08.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Which Would I Choose?
TRAVELS
Joan was telling me an interesting thing that happened to Melissa’s boy friend Ryan. They both are living in San Diego. Ryan is working and Melissa is also working - towards her Masters’ Degree! A neighbor of Ryan’s gave him two round-trip tickets on Delta to any destination in the world! (I told Joan to tell Ryan to hurry before delta goes “Belly-up”!). What a gift - what a neighbor! Who said that there is no Santa Claus?
Joan’s tale got me to thinking, and reminiscing over the extensive traveling that Marie and I have done before and after our 25 years of retirement. We have seen so many beautiful and interesting places. We have been very fortunate. Then, I thought - what if this gratuity had happened to me? Where would I choose to go? It’s strange, but I decided that I would rather re-visit a place that I had been, rather than see some place new. I decide to list the countries that we have visited in order of my pleasant memories of them. So, here goes:
1- Switzerland.
2-France (naturally).
3-Italy.
4-Ireland (naturally).
5-England.
6- Scotland.
7-Germany.
8-Canada.
9-Austria.
10-Morocco.
11-Tunisia
Then, I reflected on cities which I enjoyed visiting. I listed the following in order of preference to re-visit.
1- Paris.
2-Washington, D.C.
3-Rome.
4- London.
5-New York.
6-Honolulu.
7-San Francisco.
8-Dublin.
9-Venice.
10- Lucerne.
11- Cairo.
12- Tunis.
13- Seattle.
14- Vienna.
15- Key West.
16- Vancouver.
17- Montreal.
18- Boston.
19- Philadelphia.
20- New Orleans.
21- Salt Lake City
22- Denver.
23-AnnArbor.
24. Colorado Springs.
25. Chicago.
While I realize that my rankings are pretty subjective, and arbitrary, they are starting points for discussion! One wouldn’t go wrong in visiting any of these places! Your experience would be food for the mind, and for the soul!
Joan was telling me an interesting thing that happened to Melissa’s boy friend Ryan. They both are living in San Diego. Ryan is working and Melissa is also working - towards her Masters’ Degree! A neighbor of Ryan’s gave him two round-trip tickets on Delta to any destination in the world! (I told Joan to tell Ryan to hurry before delta goes “Belly-up”!). What a gift - what a neighbor! Who said that there is no Santa Claus?
Joan’s tale got me to thinking, and reminiscing over the extensive traveling that Marie and I have done before and after our 25 years of retirement. We have seen so many beautiful and interesting places. We have been very fortunate. Then, I thought - what if this gratuity had happened to me? Where would I choose to go? It’s strange, but I decided that I would rather re-visit a place that I had been, rather than see some place new. I decide to list the countries that we have visited in order of my pleasant memories of them. So, here goes:
1- Switzerland.
2-France (naturally).
3-Italy.
4-Ireland (naturally).
5-England.
6- Scotland.
7-Germany.
8-Canada.
9-Austria.
10-Morocco.
11-Tunisia
Then, I reflected on cities which I enjoyed visiting. I listed the following in order of preference to re-visit.
1- Paris.
2-Washington, D.C.
3-Rome.
4- London.
5-New York.
6-Honolulu.
7-San Francisco.
8-Dublin.
9-Venice.
10- Lucerne.
11- Cairo.
12- Tunis.
13- Seattle.
14- Vienna.
15- Key West.
16- Vancouver.
17- Montreal.
18- Boston.
19- Philadelphia.
20- New Orleans.
21- Salt Lake City
22- Denver.
23-AnnArbor.
24. Colorado Springs.
25. Chicago.
While I realize that my rankings are pretty subjective, and arbitrary, they are starting points for discussion! One wouldn’t go wrong in visiting any of these places! Your experience would be food for the mind, and for the soul!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Happy Birthday Jeanne
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEANNE.
My sister, Jeanne, was born on this date - February 13, 1920 - midway between Lincoln’s birth-date and Valentine’s Day. She was born on Friday the 13th at our Mother’s parents’ (Elizabeth and Daniel Flood) home at 63 west Carleton Avenue, Hillsdale, Michigan. Jeanne was born only 20 months after I was.
Jeanne had a tough time growing up with three brothers - one older and two younger. She had the Irish red hair, and a “fiery” temper. You didn’t want to take her on one-on-one. So, my brother Bob, and I, would gang up on her. (pretty lousy brothers!) Jeanne would fight back by kicking. She had one powerful leg. We got pretty adept at defending ourselves. We would grab her outstretched leg and flip her over backwards.
As a teen-ager in Berea, (Ohio), she spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom. (We had only one.) Part of it was to get our goat - I am sure. So, we used to go into the bathroom and stay until she wanted to come in. Then, we would stay a little while longer. This was a major mistake, because she kicked in the lower panels of the door! Of course, my Mother and Dad were upset, as we were the first renters from Doc Schneider, in the new house that he built. I never brought up the subject afterwards, but I am wondering how they made restitution to Doc. My Mother was always very sensitive, and embarrassed, over owing anyone anything.
Another trick of Jeanne’s: Her chore was to wipe the supper dishes that our Mother washed. Invariably she had “the call of nature” at that particular time, and took off for the bathroom. She would wait long enough for someone else to dry her dishes. After my Mother would finish washing the dishes - no Jeanne - so she would start drying the dishes. I couldn’t watch her do this, in good conscience, and usually stepped up and took over wiping the dishes. When I was through, Jeanne would make her grand entrance.
When we lived in Hillsdale (Michigan) during the 20’s and 30’s, I remember an occasion when Jeanne wasn’t feeling well and our Mother gave her a dose of castor oil. (If you have ever tasted that horrible stuff, you can understand why we didn’t complain much.) Jeanne dashed over to the kitchen sink and spit it all out! There was a slight problem. Mother was soaking some spinach in the sink. Mother rinsed it off and served it for supper that night. I took one bite of it and had the second-hand taste of castor oil! I didn’t eat spinach for many years after that. Now, it is one of my favorite vegetables!
Jeanne and I became very close after I left home for the Air Force in March, 1941, even though she "lost my great record collection while I was gone. It included Bluebird, Decca, RCA Victor, Columbia and other bakelite 78's, during the five years leading up to the start of World war II. As I gathered, Jeanne would take my records to parties, but she never got back home with them! They were either broken, stolen or left behind. In spite of this, we were still "friends".
" She and her husband, Bob Gibbens visited us many times in Vallejo - especially, after our Mother moved here in 1985. We in turn visited them many times both in Michigan and in Florida.
Jeanne died in the hospital, in Stuart, Florida, after surgery for an aorta artery aneurism, on September 24, 1998 - at the age of 78. I still miss her, and her sense of humor, very much.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEANNE!
My sister, Jeanne, was born on this date - February 13, 1920 - midway between Lincoln’s birth-date and Valentine’s Day. She was born on Friday the 13th at our Mother’s parents’ (Elizabeth and Daniel Flood) home at 63 west Carleton Avenue, Hillsdale, Michigan. Jeanne was born only 20 months after I was.
Jeanne had a tough time growing up with three brothers - one older and two younger. She had the Irish red hair, and a “fiery” temper. You didn’t want to take her on one-on-one. So, my brother Bob, and I, would gang up on her. (pretty lousy brothers!) Jeanne would fight back by kicking. She had one powerful leg. We got pretty adept at defending ourselves. We would grab her outstretched leg and flip her over backwards.
As a teen-ager in Berea, (Ohio), she spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom. (We had only one.) Part of it was to get our goat - I am sure. So, we used to go into the bathroom and stay until she wanted to come in. Then, we would stay a little while longer. This was a major mistake, because she kicked in the lower panels of the door! Of course, my Mother and Dad were upset, as we were the first renters from Doc Schneider, in the new house that he built. I never brought up the subject afterwards, but I am wondering how they made restitution to Doc. My Mother was always very sensitive, and embarrassed, over owing anyone anything.
Another trick of Jeanne’s: Her chore was to wipe the supper dishes that our Mother washed. Invariably she had “the call of nature” at that particular time, and took off for the bathroom. She would wait long enough for someone else to dry her dishes. After my Mother would finish washing the dishes - no Jeanne - so she would start drying the dishes. I couldn’t watch her do this, in good conscience, and usually stepped up and took over wiping the dishes. When I was through, Jeanne would make her grand entrance.
When we lived in Hillsdale (Michigan) during the 20’s and 30’s, I remember an occasion when Jeanne wasn’t feeling well and our Mother gave her a dose of castor oil. (If you have ever tasted that horrible stuff, you can understand why we didn’t complain much.) Jeanne dashed over to the kitchen sink and spit it all out! There was a slight problem. Mother was soaking some spinach in the sink. Mother rinsed it off and served it for supper that night. I took one bite of it and had the second-hand taste of castor oil! I didn’t eat spinach for many years after that. Now, it is one of my favorite vegetables!
Jeanne and I became very close after I left home for the Air Force in March, 1941, even though she "lost my great record collection while I was gone. It included Bluebird, Decca, RCA Victor, Columbia and other bakelite 78's, during the five years leading up to the start of World war II. As I gathered, Jeanne would take my records to parties, but she never got back home with them! They were either broken, stolen or left behind. In spite of this, we were still "friends".
" She and her husband, Bob Gibbens visited us many times in Vallejo - especially, after our Mother moved here in 1985. We in turn visited them many times both in Michigan and in Florida.
Jeanne died in the hospital, in Stuart, Florida, after surgery for an aorta artery aneurism, on September 24, 1998 - at the age of 78. I still miss her, and her sense of humor, very much.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEANNE!
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