A Dull Hatchet and Thou

Yesterday I was given this word of advice from one of the old fellows, if you are a woman traveling alone, put a dull hatchet on your floorboard. If any one tries any funny business, let them have with the business end of your hatchet. According to him a dull hatchet sinks deeper into flesh and causes more damage. This local provided his 110 lb, over 60 fiancé a dull hatchet for her travels to meet her brother for a camping trip. She is so slight that I believe if .she had to use said instrument of destruction, she’d topple over. I really doubt she’d need to use it for that purpose. She may need it for chopping some firewood. And whoever is doing the chopping won’t be too happy that it’s dull. It seems kind of strange to me that he would worry so much about the thing least likely to happen. It’s kind of like worrying about shark attacks or getting hit by lightening. She’s far more likely to be involved in a car accident or need car repairs than be attacked by some homicidal maniac.

Quote of the day:
“I'm not afraid of insects taking over the world, and you know why? It would take about a billion ants just to aim a gun at me, let alone fire it. And you know what I'm doing while they're aiming at me? I just sort of slip off to the side, and then suddenly run up and kick the gun out of their hands.” ~ Jack Handey

Pic of the day:

Mojave Sunset ~ © R.J.Andreae 2007

The Fourth is Here!!!!?

Well it's July Fourth and the locals will be gathering down at the park below my house to barbeque and blow off explosives. The safe and sane kind. Not that they don't have the others. They wait to blow those off after the fire department leaves. And let's not talk about guns. They all have at least 5 each. For the past week or so, all I've heard is "Are you coming to the town picnic?" In the past, telling them all that I'm an anti-social liberal hasn't worked. They already know that. Locally, I'm referred to as the San Francisco Whossy Greasy Liberal. Nor has the notion that I live above the park and have a better view of the fireworks. Now, I have the perfect excuse. My very large juniper tree just died from a bark beetle infestation. I'm in the process of cutting it down and I'll have to keep it wet. Who knows if a wayward firecracker or bottle rocket might make it's way to my poor dead tree and possibly burn my house down.


On another front, I tried taking a picture of the red table to show you all. It was the wrong time of day and the table was too shaded. I'll try again later. Here it is to give you an idea about what I'm talking about. Notice the billboard:

BTW, Any folks reading this from the Bakersfield, California area might want to check this out.

All are welcome to attend,
Sunday July 8th, at 11:30 p.m.,
at the Valley Plaza 16 Pacific Theaters,
and a MEETUP afterword's at 2:00 p.m. in Patriots Park.
" SICKO IN BAKERSFIELD "
Sicko is the latest film by Michael Moore, taking on the state of health care in America, (or lack thereof.)
Please read the article in Tuesday’s (7/3) Bakersfield Californian about the release of SICKO in Bakersfield. Internet website location for this story: http://www.bakersfield.com/138/story/179705.html

PLEASE keep SUNDAY the 8th of JULY OPEN to go see the movie SICKO, and/or join US for a MEETUP afterword's to discuss the Movie and Health Care in Bakersfield, and California..
ATTEND BOTH, OR JUST THE ONE EVENT YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN.
THE MOVIE; A variety of different local Non-Profit Charities and Political Groups are planning to attend the SICKO movie together at the First Showing on Sunday July the 8th at 11:30. The SICKO Movie will be playing at the Valley Plaza 16 Pacific Theaters located off of Wible Road near the corner of Ming Avenue. I would suggest coming early in order to purchase tickets, which are only $7.00 for the early show. The movie run time is two hours and three minutes, (2:03) so we expect to be out around 1:40 p.m.
THE MEETUP: Afterwards around 2:00 p.m., their will be a MEETUP held at Patriots Park, on New Stine between Ming and West High School, to discuss the movie SICKO, and the state of Health Care in Bakersfield, and California. We are planning on using the east side of the park under the large shade trees, nearest to West High School. The closest parking lot is off of Fjord Drive which is between Patriots Park and West High off of New Stine. Water and Snacks will be provided, but we suggest that people bring their own lunch. You can always go into a fast food drive-thru between the Theater and the Park on Ming Avenue.
Special Disabled Access Notes; The Valley Plaza 16 theaters restrooms are ADA Handicap Accessible. However, the restrooms at Patriots Park are not 100% Handicap Accessible. They have standard size stalls with grab bars for assistance, but do not have a double size stall as required by the ADA standards.
Please feel free to call me anytime for information, or if you would like to help organize.
PLEASE JOIN US at Our YAHOO Health Group Address: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/kernsicko/
Thank You, Billy Olson (661) 399-0235

The Bakersfield Californian Story
http://www.bakersfield.com/138/story/179705.html
Sicko full of 'half-truths' or real deal? Many eager to know
The Bakersfield Californian Monday, Jul 2 2007 10:40 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Jul 3 2007 7:23 AM
"Sicko," the controversial Michael Moore documentary about the health care industry, opens today at Pacific Theaters in Bakersfield, near Valley Plaza.
The movie is not playing anywhere else in Bakersfield, nor is it booked to come to the local United Artists or Edwards theaters, according to Russ Nunley, a spokesman for Regal Entertainment Group, which owns those theaters. Nunley said the movie's distributor, The Weinstein Company, decides when and where the movie is going to play and that it currently has a limited release of 440 screens.
Billy Olson of Bakersfield is planning to see the movie at 11:30 a.m. Sunday with friends who, like him, are disabled. Afterward, they're going to meet at Patriots Park at Ming Avenue and New Stine Road to discuss different health care options. Anyone is welcome to join them. Various nonprofit groups in Bakersfield, including one for people with multiple sclerosis and another that advocates the rights of people who are blind or visually impaired, are organizing the discussion.
Olson has multiple sclerosis. He said before he became disabled, he worked for a company in Pasadena that owned hospitals and medical groups. He said he now sees the health care issue "from a completely different perspective" and he's glad "Sicko" is coming to Bakersfield.
"We hear from the insurance companies and the insurance lobbyists all the time. Yes, he shows a one-sided movie but we need to hear the other side," said Olson, 53.
Ralph Bailey, a radio host on local station KNZR, has been urging his listeners to boycott the movie but he told The Californian Monday that he may see it after all -- and he might suggest his listeners do the same. He said he doesn't like the way Moore deals in "half-truths" but he's heard people speak well of the movie. He also thinks if he's going to talk about the movie on air, he should see it.
-- Erin Waldner, Californian staff writer.

Welcome to My World, However Small It is!

I've been meaning to write about where I live for sometime. But I didn't think it was quite appropriate for my art blog. So here it goes. Let me begin by first giving you a little background. I moved out into this tiny little community about 3 yeas ago. I had this idea, that if I owned my house out-right, I could afford to live out my dream and paint for a living. Well I'm still alive and I'm still painting. So it's working, kind of. But about a year ago my car broke down and my world got smaller. There's a bus to the next biggest town only once a week on Fridays. For 4 1/2 hours I get see something different from Jo'Burg while I'm rushing around getting my week's supply of groceries and library books. The other 6 days a week I'm either at home painting or I hanging out at the minimart with the old fellows from town. Topics range from Chupacabras, 2012 (the supposed end of the world) to let's start a war with Mexico, and the Big Lie, Global Warming. The chupacabras and the end of the world I can hang with, the rest is just too crazy for me.