SIGNS OF SPRING IN MINNESOTA!

Observation of the Day!

Ten Signs of Spring in Minnesota:

1. It is not snowing

2. Snow that fell in November has melted.

3. There is no wind chill.

4. There is shade.

5. Geese are pooping everywhere.

6. The silver maple propeller seeds are everywhere.

7. People are walking around the lake in shorts and tee shirts.

8. Bikinis are not much. (The best sign)

9. Some weight lose programs were started too late.

10. Norwegians with white bodies are sunburning.

Have a nice spring!

Sammy Carl

WHAT'S NEXT?

Observation of the Day!

I picked this up from the San Diego Union Tribune. This is scary. Folks, the government is attempting to control every phase of our lives. What is going on? GM owned by the government? After the billions we gave this company, they are still going to bankruptcy. What did the bail out accomplish? Regulation of what we eat? Much of the green movement is a fraud? Bailouts and then control, while the people who played by the rules get screwed. Watch it gang!

SAN DIEGO -- A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported.Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.Broyles said, "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"The county employee notified the couple that the small bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles.Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed "unlawful use of land" and told them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit" -- a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars."For churches and religious assemblies there's big parking concerns, there's environmental impact concerns when you have hundreds or thousands of people gathering. But this is a different situation, and we believe that the application of the religious assembly principles to this bible study is certainly misplaced," said Broyles.News of the case has rapidly spread across Internet blogs and has spurred various reactions.Broyles said his clients have asked to stay anonymous until they give the county a demand letter that states by enforcing this regulation the county is violating their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion. Broyles also said this case has broader implications."If the county thinks they can shut down groups of 10 or 15 Christians meeting in a home, what about people who meet regularly at home for poker night? What about people who meet for Tupperware parties? What about people who are meeting to watch baseball games on a regular basis and support the Chargers?" said Broyles.Broyles and his clients plant to give the county their demand letter this week.If the county refuses to release the pastor and his wife from obtaining the permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.

Sorry about the ads. I couldn't get them out. So I guess I am offering them as a public service.

Getting harder and harder to have a nice day!

Samuel C. Arnold

EXCITEMENT IS MY MIDDLE NAME!

Observation of the Day!

Today I chased a fire truck up Shady Oak Road. This is the first time I have done this in too many years to count. As I left Einsteins, an Eden Prairie fire engine roared passed with sirens and lights breaking up the morning sounds of spring. I thought this was a little odd, since it had crossed into Minnetonka. What the hell, I got nothing else to do so I went north on Shady Oak looking for excitement.

I soon came on the fire scene. It was a strip mall surrounded by fire engines from six surrounding communities. It was a store named TNT. It turns out the owners were unloading some fireworks, but the fireworks had not caused the fire. Apparently the lights went out and a fire erupted in the back.

I was standing against a building gawking, when a guy in an old dirty ball cap, a beard, and a six pack in his bike basket came up and leaned on the building with me. We exchanged thoughts about the fire. They were now pouring water from the tall ladders. He told me he knew the owners and that there would probably be propane and helium tanks inside. That would be the reason for making the fire a five alarmer and all the firetrucks showed up. He told me the roof was rubber and tar that the fire would be hard to put out like a rubber tire fire. I agreed. Of course he repeated the same statement at least five times. However, I like a guy who brings his own beer in his bicycle basket .

The scene reminded me of a highway project. Many standing around and a few doing the work. I counted at least twenty firefighters in a group pretty much watching what I was. There were a minimum of seven cops doing the same. Taxpayer dollars at work. I can't criticize too much that they erred on the side of caution, but at least half of them could have gone back to the firehouse for lunch.

What an exciting day!

Sam

AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE!

Observation of the Day!

I went to the Lab at Park Nicollet in St Louis Park to get my blood work done. I take Warifan to keep blood flowing, and every once in a while it goes out of whack. No big deal just the time it takes to get blood tests every week until it gets back to normal standards. Am I boring you yet?

As I waited, I picked up a copy of O Magazine. O of course is the magazine of the guru on all things, Oprah Winfrey. I used to like Oprah. However, she seems to be getting a little big for her britches, and that doesn't have anything to do with her recent weight gain. She projects an aire of knowing everything, and her minions follow her almost blindly singing Kumbiyah. Several of her book selections have backfired on her. Power corrupts.

On the cover of this issue was a picture of Michelle Obama and Oprah (She's on every cover) standing next to each other. As with most medical offices, the magazines are brought in by staff members for the waiting area. On the cover was a notation "Infectious disease dept." It seemed quit an accurate description of the women on the cover.

Have a nice day!

Sam

A NOTE FROM THE LAZY BLOGGER!

Observation of the Day!

Some of my loyal readers have been a little worried because I have not posted lately. I can assure you I am alive and well, but things are a little slow as we in Minnesota await warm weather. It finally broke into a hint of summer with 97 degrees yesterday. You can tell I am a little low on observations, since I am talking about the weather.

I am living with my adopted family the Renyas. Four kids can be tough on an old man, but it is fun playing grandpa. I have a small bedroom with no closet. I bought a clothes rack at Target, so I can hang some clothes, but it is leaning now and might fall over in a heap any minute. I have one drawer and a big cardboard box. The best part of being a guest in the Reyna home is the food. Carolina is the most fabulous chef of Mexican cuisine. This ain't Chi Chi's. This is the real thing. Everything from sauces to cakes are made from scratch. I haven't gained any weight though. Laying off the corn tortillas and small bites of Tres Leche cake helps.

Where am I in my life? Moving on. I am returning pretty much to my minimalist roots. All I have ever needed all my life is a place with a nice bed, a car, a few clothes from Kohls, and my golf clubs. I am a minimalist at heart. As I have eased into codgerism, I find material things are just things. They are not going with me. However, you must forgive me because my little minimalist place in Coronado is on the beach of the Pacific Ocean.

I have found great comfort in my religion. At the Rock church in San Diego and Wooddale in Minnesota, I have moved out of the Catholic Church and back to my Protestant roots. Most of you probably don't know that my church as a boy was a Quaker church. In looking back there are many good things that church practiced. It was a church very much based on peace and the spirit within. Part of each service was a silence to let your thoughts and prayers develop, and the Holy Spirit enter.

A recent series of sermons at the Rock was about the invisible man, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the part of God that resides in each of us. I am trying to be less judgmental and more forgiving and tolerant. It is working, but I ain't done yet. I haven't gone off on the deep end of religion, but it has become a more important part of my life, and I am still learning why I am a Christian. It is cleansing. If I can't take it with me, I better be sure I make it to the good place. Nirvana is heaven.

And so I move on and make my memories.

Have a blessed day!

Sammy C.

STANDING UP!

Observation of the Day!

There are two things that happened over the last couple of weeks that I want to comment on.

Sarah Palin:

First I am not a fan of Sarah Palin. She simply was not qualified to be president. She made a speech in Indianapolis recently. She told of finding out that her unborn son would be a Down's Syndrome baby. She admitted the thought of an abortion crossed her mind. However, it was fleeting, and decided to have her baby. She admitted that she now, after being faced with the news that she would have a disabled child, understood better other woman who face this reality and chose not to have the baby. She decided she needed to walk the walk of her beliefs.

I admire her convictions to her personal beliefs and the new insight she gained by going through the thought process of others.

Carrie Prejean:

The runner up to the Miss USA pageant, Carrie Prejean, stood up. When asked about gay marriage she said that she believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. She also said she did not want to offend, but this was the way she was raised and was her religious belief. The question was asked by a judge Parez Hilton and openly gay man. Later on his blog he called her a "bitch".

It so happens that Carrie is a member of the Rock Church in San Diego. This is also my church. She was asked to come to New York to appear on the Today Show. She was not sure she wanted to go. However, she and her mother boarded a flight to New York. She is a 21 year college girl and was scared to death. One of her friends called the Rock to asked for a prayer for her. The staff and Miles McPherson, her pastor did not know she was an active member of the Rock. It so happened that Miles and his wife were in New York and staying only eleven blocks apart from where Carrie was. Miles called her and they met a 6:45 in her hotel lobby. Miles had lots of experience in interviews during his position on Prop8 in California. He became her publicist, coach and bodyguard all at the same time. In viewing her interviews, I thought she handled herself quite well. Was it an act of God that placed Miles where he was needed thousands of miles away from San Diego.

She has been widely attacked by people who believe in same sex marriage. She has not attacked them, she has simply said what she believed for her own reasons.

With some tolerance is a one way street. It is kind of like politicians. The issue is bipartisan as long as you see it my way. Perez Hilton has done more harm to the cause than good. Even some gays have deplored his actions and words. Yes, it was a beauty contest, but it became more than that

You can hear the interview with Carrie and Miles at the Rock website, therocksandiego.org. Click on Stuff and message archive. The video is up now.

Carrie stood up to her convictions.

No matter what your personal beliefs are, be true to them and show toleration to those who do not believe as you do. Can't we all just get along?

Have a nice day!

Sam