thee only debate that matters

Message flagged Sunday, October 21, 2012 1:44 AM 9 PM Tuesday, October 23 An Honest Presidential Debate http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/09/19/gary-johnson-jill-stein-and-virgil-goode-will-debate-each-other-on-october-23-in-chicago/ 


On September 19, The Free & Equal Elections Foundation announced that Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, and Virgil Goode have each agreed to participate in a presidential debate on October 23, Tuesday, at 8 pm central time. (9:00 PM Eastern Time. Reform Party candidate, Rocky Anderson, has agreed to participate since then. Free & Equal is sponsoring the debate. The Republican and Democratic nominees are also invited but it is very likely they will not attend. …

Free & Equal invited every candidate who was either on the ballot in states containing a majority of the electoral vote, or who have registered at 1% in a national opinion poll.

The event will be at the University Club of Chicago. Larry King will be the moderator. You can watch it on CSPAN 2 and other media or with other Libertarians and patriots beginning at 8:00 PM at StringZ and WingZ 1543 Route 303, Streetsboro.

hawk - water - omelet

Hawk
It was so scary today what happened. I was in my backyard talking with my neighbor Fred. We heard this weird noise it almost sounded like a propeller. We turned around just in time to see a HUGE hawk chase a pigeon straight into Fred's house. The noise the pigeon made was an ugly loud THUD. Feathers flew all over and the pigeon dropped into the drive dead.


Fred went to look at it. I told him get away because the hawk was making such a noisy fuss from a large tree in the back of his yard. I thought for sure it would swoop down and attack him for his food.

Fred walked away and I hid so I could watch what the hawk would do. It came down, landed on the fence, looked in all directions, swooped down and took the pigeon away.

A strange sighting to see a hawk in the suburbs. We never had them before.

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Free Water
I should of posted this tip during the drought of this past blistering hot summer but keep it in mind for future reference if we should have such dry weather again, which I am certain we will.

There was no way to keep up watering everything. I had to protect the garden and a few plants but the rest like the roses, bushes, grasses and trees were left alone to face the heat.

Mid summer I saw all this water drip from the air conditioner. I thought hey why not collect this to water the plants so I put a bucket under it. Then I thought about the water from the sink. So I put a large pail in the sink and every time I rinsed a dish, ran the water to drink, brushed my teeth and any other reason I collected the water. I was amazed how much water I wasted in a day. I was running outside at least 4 times a day emptying the 3 gallon bucket.

Then I started saving any left over coffee, flat pop, spaghetti water, any kind of water. Let me tell you, it helped save some of my plants. Should of done this from the start of the season my grass might of been saved also.
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What are we eating???

Since I went to the Philippines I became even more aware of the stores in America that serve nothing but chemicals disguised as food. And restaurants may be the worse culprit of this practice.

I went to Denny's with a few friends during a lunch break, umm snack break at about 3 am. I ordered the omelet. When it was first served hot it tasted so good. But as I got to eating it and talking to much it cooled down and noticed my stomach was not feeling the best. I was in a hurry anyways so quit eating and had the omelet, the rest of my hash browns and toast put in a to go container.

I got home about 6 am. Before walking in the house I said to myself I ain't going to eat this so I emptied the container on my porch for the birds to eat it.

I woke about about 1 pm to a blistering hot day. I went to the porch and all the potatoes were gone, so was the toast but there sat the cheese omelet still in its original shape. The cheese didn't melt but what was stranger than that was not a bite was taken out of it by the birds, chipmunks or squirrels. And even more strange, not one ant was around it. I picked it up and it didn't bend or drip. It did leave a big stain on the porch though.

What was that omelet made of? Plastic??

4 A. Labor Day weekend, Africans, Buddnark and More

Sunday was another OK day. I forgot I won tickets to the Irish Festival at the Lake County Fairgrounds. All this culture, African, Irish, Budnarr what ever culture that is. I had two tickets but went by myself. Just getting out as I was parking was a car from out of town. He saw the Bus and said Wow that is cool. I asked if he wanted a ticket he said sure. They drove all the way up from Columbus about 150 miles away to attend what they thought was the Oktoberfest. I walked away as they were still squabbling about it. Later on I found out the Oktoberfest was at the Berea Fairgrounds about 40 miles away. German fest Irish fest what's the difference both have beer besides at least they now had one free ticket.

These cultural fests are turning into real bland generic events or simply American. I thought I stuck out amongst the pale face but not as much as the ladies manning the coffee and snack booth I bought from. The lady asked do you want SHOE GAR? Awww, you must be Filipino. Yes I am. Shoe gar is sugar. I learned that from Ruth.

But whats weirder than an Italian buying coffee from a Filipino at an Irish fest? A Hawiian doing his native dance. All I could think of was the Irishman who set up the entertainment at the time had to be drunk.

I didn't stay long my sister and niece we waiting for me to go to Geneva on the Lake. More culture, bikers culture.

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

3. Labor Day weekend, Africans, Buddnark and More

I met up with Walt at his reunion. Everyone Walt talked to he would introduce me this way: This is Carey, my wife couldn't make it so he is my date. I had enough of that real quick so I went over to where you signed in and lo and behold just what I was looking for a name tag, Gary Buddnark, that should work.


I slapped it on and rejoined Walt. Hey Gary I remember you, you use to wrestle. I did? I was into science. Oh come on you wrestled. Well one time I wrestled the teacher. Are you guys trippin? You were pretty good at wrestling. I'm sorry I had brain damage and don't remember much maybe I wrestled.

Another lady thought I was sick because she remembered Gary as being taller and heavier. And then she blurted out OH YOU ARE NOT GAR BUDDNARK! Yes I am. You know why I know? Because that's his best friend right there he told me. I walked over to this guy who was just laughing at me and said hey best friend so glad to meet you. They showed me Gary's photo in the year book and said you know I guess you could sort of pass for him. After some small talk and info on Gary and I ran with it.

Next person who came up to me I made a routine up. Hi remember me, I use to wrestle, my brothers did to, I was sick that's why I am thinner. It was a riot. The best was a lady who earlier in the night Walt introduced me to but before I wore the name tag. She saw us again and said hi to Walt and noticed my name tag. Gary Buddnark??? Now I am confused. You are Gary? Yes I am Gary. Huh? Was your brother here? Yep and he looks just like me. OK now that makes sense.

I even took a few photos for their school reunion with the name tag on. I wonder if it will make the booklet?

About an hour later the lady sitting with Gary's best best friend ran up to me and said give me the name tag, the real Gary is here. OUCH! I think its time to go. No come with me and you can meet him. When Gary saw me he made a fist like he wanted to knock me out. But my wit beat him. I hope I did you well, I told everyone I was an excellent wrestler. They even took our photo together.

Before I left I walked over to Gary's best friend and said I feel sad, I feel like I just lost my best friend.

Hey memories were made. Who knows at the next reunion, maybe I will get an invite or fill in for Gary if he can't. At least they will have something else to talk about... remember the two Gary's at our last reunion.

2. Labor Day weekend, Africans, Buddnark and More

 Julia my Kenyan friend invited me the day before to an east African gathering in the park and Walt called to remind me of his 30^th school reunion he wanted me to attend with him.

 A huge car show with free food and free everything in exchange for an African outing and a school reunion because of a magnet. Did I mention the magnet already? What a trade off. Don't laugh this is real but now I am glad the magnet got stuck but Gary Buddnarrk I'm not so sure. Who's that? I'll get to him.

This is the email Julia sent me:

Please join The Ohio Association of East Africans (TOAFEA) for a fully charged afternoon of fun events and tantalizing food at North Chagrin Reservation. We will be at the Strawberry picnic area. Let's get together to celebrate with refreshments, great food, good friends and a goat barbeque. Pass the message along to all your friends from the East African Community.

I told my friends where I was going and said I will just tell them I am the white sheep of the family. I'm glad I went it turned out to be a fantastic time. It gave me a glimpse of what it is like for foreigners to come here and some of the hardships they face in settling and getting acclimated. The organizer of the event gave a short speech what the group was all about. The one thing that stood out was when he said we are here for many things and if you need to be bailed out of jail we are even here for that. He went on to explain when someone asked him what exactly he meant. This is for if you have a bad day and run a red light or something like that but not for criminal activity. I wondered if all foreigners face this or just Africans or people of color? OK maybe that observation was to political for this story.

The food they had was wonderful. I won't even try to tell you what I ate because I don't know. All I remember was the goat, some kind of beef and spinach. Delicious. There are only so many foods.  Most nationalities eat the same thing but its how the food is prepared and what seasonings used. I really enjoyed what I ate and had a fun time conversing and learning new things.

 I asked the lady at our table what part of Africa she was from. She looked at me kind of strange and said I AM AN AMERICAN do I look like an African? Uh - how do you answer that? So I quickly thought and said sometimes I assume the wrong thing. NEXT.

As I was leaving I told Julia I brought the GoGo Bus wanna a ride? We walked to the parking lot and I asked see if you can find the purple bus. She replied I think I can see it. I hope so. Julia and her friend climbed in and I drove them around the duck pond and back. Instead of leaving them at the parking lot I drove right up to where everyone was gathered. Before I could even open the door there was a rush.

What is this thing? One kid asked do you sell ice cream? Another kid wow this is a house on wheels. So it was another trip around metro and the count was I think 7 on board.

  I had an ideal spot in mind to show them - Squires Castle.  Everyone thought I was just joking, they didn't think there was an actual castle.  Well - surprise surprise surprise when they saw it and it was just perfect timing when we arrived. The castle sits atop a hill, it was a little after dusk, just enough light and circling over the castle were... bats. Serious! We had a great time walking around the castle and just acting silly there and driving back to the picnic. 

I dropped them off but felt bad because another group wanted a ride. Oh well had to leave, it was time to meet Walt.

1. Labor Day weekend, Africans, Buddnark and More

It's been a learning process that has taken me years to learn that if something goes wrong that's my luck um yes but that's not what I wanted to write. If something goes wrong just go with the flow and see what comes up or where you're led and most of the time things will turn out OK.


This past Labor Day weekend I planned on attending The Glenn Christian Ox Roast car show. I wanted to enter the GoGo Bus. It hasn't been used much in way over a year and was sorely lacking in sparkle from just sitting. So I worked in earnest all week like a nut to bring it up to show condition. And then it happened.

Now don't laugh because this is the truth. A magnet got stuck on the GoGo Bus. I know what you're thinking... well that's what a magnet should do, but not like this. I mean it got stuck. It cost me a set of fingernails and a chip in the paint to remove it. It was Mom who came to the rescue and said try a wooden popsicle stick or I may still be out there. In the end that stupid magnet cost me over a hour and a half.

Why didn't I just leave it? Well it was a fairly large American flag magnet and when I went to remove it to wax the Bus only half came off. How could anyone show a vehicle with half a US flag and one that was crooked, it had to come off.

About that lost hour and a half... Registration for the car show closed at 7pm Friday. I am one hour and 20 minutes away. I pull out of my drive go to my sisters down the street, leave there, look at the time it is 6:20. And then reality hit me, even though it is the GoGo Bus it really is the go slow bus. I never would of made it so I turned around and went back home. It was that darn magnet that cost me. Friday was a bust but the rest of the weekend actually turned out grand all because of that magnet.

Stay tuned.....
Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

Beaver Creek, Buttermilk Falls and Fish

Dov called and asked hey do you want to go on a road trip I need to see trees, I need to get out of the city. He mentioned a few places like Hocking Hills but it was to far for the amount of time we had. I thought about Leesville, Ohio or maybe Tionesta, Pa.. Instead we stayed a little closer to home and went to Beaver Creek State Park in Ohio.


Beaver Creek State Park is 9 miles south of Rodgers on Rt.7. Rodgers still hosts one of the best flea markets. It’s held every Friday. Has a small diner inside the grounds, has an auction and everything else under the sun from fruits and vegetables to usual and unusual flea market finds. I only stopped briefly at the flea market on the way to Beaver Creek just enough time to grab a bag of oranges for $5.

Instead of writing about Beaver Creek State Park read what is written about it from the ODNR website:

Beaver Creek State Park, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, is one of Ohio's most scenic parks • The park includes Little Beaver Creek, a state and national wild and scenic river, and 2,722 acres of forest wilderness • The rich history of the area invites visitors to explore Gaston's Mill, pioneer village and abandoned canal locks

It is very peaceful at least when we were there, very few visitors. The pioneer village on the grounds was locked up but you could peer into the windows to see what life was like back in the early 1800’s. It has a school, chapel, house and a few other buildings. They have open house on Saturdays where they allow you to walk in all of the structures.

The thing that hit us the most when we pulled in the park was the smell. It is a pine forest and the smell of pine is so strong, simply wonderful. Just don't park close to the outhouse like we did because the second smell to hit you will be that. Beaver Creek like everywhere else right now is very low because of the drought. But the water was clear and perfect for walking through or sitting and cooling.

We didn’t stay to long at the park we wanted to continue on with our road trip and take a loop home through Pa.. I’m really not sure what roads we took to get to Pa.. We zigged and zagged and ended up close to Beaver Falls and from there got on Rt.18 heading north.

Driving through Beaver Falls we passed an old train station. Signs were posted no trespassing but I stopped anyway. I didn’t venture to far and didn’t enter the old abandoned building but I did snap a few photos.

Right outside of town just a few miles down the road is Buttermilk Falls Nature Area. I asked Dov want to stop and see it? Sure. At the first road I saw I went to turn around but spotted a sign that said FISH FRY – HOMEWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. July 13th 5 to 7:30. I told Dov I’m hungry lets go to the fish fry and then head back to the falls. We continued on until we saw another sign that wasn’t well placed and this one said FISH FRY this Lent till 7pm. Dov and I went back and forth, he said it's during lent I said July 13th. I won out and continued on. We guessed at the direction and finally found the Homewood Fire Dept. and it had a big sign that said Fish Fry until 8pm. Good I made it in time but it was so quiet and hardly anyone around maybe it was during lent. I walked into the station and they had a really neat old mid 50’s Chevy fire truck. Could they really still be using this relic?
 

I found the stairs to the basement hall and asked did I miss the fish fry? Like I actually needed to ask as the place was empty and they were cleaning. Yes we just closed was the reply I got. I said well I wasn’t sure if it was for Lent or today or 7 or at 8. The lady replied we used whatever signs we had left. I said well I could come back in January at 6 if that’s OK. She said well sorry we don’t have any fish but I will give you for free macaroni and cheese and coleslaw if you like. One of the volunteers over heard this and said you really want fish let me start the fryer back up it’ll take about 15 minutes.


The fish fry dinner included: Fresh beer battered haddock, fresh cut French fries, coleslaw and homemade dessert with beverage for $8.00. The fish was excellent.

While waiting I asked the lady is there a back way to the falls or do I need to get back on the main road? She said Oh you can park at the abandoned motel the Valley Inn. We walked towards the door so she could point out the direction. I asked if the falls were scenic. She asked have you ever heard of the movie I am number 4? When she said that another lady joined in and was all excited. They filmed the movie right at the falls and we watched the whole thing. I asked how were you allowed? Well we are the fire department and had to watch them for safety purposes. My husband met Steven Spielberg and talked with him. It was so exciting to see the falls all lit up and the actors making the movie. And the food wow, one tent was set up just for all the different coffees and the buffet table was huge with all kinds of food.

My fish was done and they gave us directions once more. Park at the falling down Valley Inn hotel you can’t miss it, from there cross the railroad tracks, over the train trestle and you will see a path to the falls. I grabbed my supper and hurried out to explore.

Dov and I parked and after some guessing crossed the tracks, found the path and headed to the falls. It was really beautiful but what is usually a 35-foot flowing fall is now just a trickle. It too has been hard hit by the drought. I ate my supper right on top of the falls that’s how dry it was. A really neat experience.

I got home about 1 am from our day out. I flopped on the couch, turned on cable, flipped through the movie channels and what did I stumble upon? I am number 4! HEY I was just there….