Caring for America

Caring for people enriches our living experience.

Universal Heath care is one way Americans can ensure we care for one another. It is also a fundamental building block when it comes to creating a happy, productive work force.

Don’t be fooled by claims that state how much Universal Health care will cost Americans. These claims side-swipe the truth by listing costs of Universal health care without mentioning that these figures are FAR below the cost of the privately  run health care system we have now.*

Don’t be fooled by the jabbering of politicians or the rich who live inside the pockets of the healthcare industry—The truth is, Universal Health care will save American’s billions of dollars when compared to the projected cost of our current health care system—-BILLIONS. 

Universal health eliminates the constant worry about the cost of aging.  Universal Health care will stop estates being lost due to increasing costs of health care as people who have worked to save all their lives lose their savings to health care providers.

Only the top 1 to 3% of Americans need not worry about the cost of health care as they age. Thing is, those rich enough to pay for health care or those involved in providing healthcare from pharmaceuticals, some doctors, clinic and hospitals on up play a heavy hand in keeping Universal health care boxed out of America.

Barring Universal health care to Americans is a political, money-making scheme that needs to end.

The next time you get sick and have to see a doctor think about Universal Health Care.

The next time you think your savings are growing, think about the cost of aging and how you will feel when you turn your savings over to a health care provider. This is a real situation for just every one of us who are lucky enough to survive to a ripe old age.

Basically, like it or not, America is in for a huge, social upheaval.

America is approaching huge societal change driven by minorities and by those mostly under the age of forty who demand social justice. The time has come to cast off old ways of thinking and the back room deals lobbyists place on American society; the two-step shuffle of lies politicians use to belabor our lives and posterity is over.

We didn’t have a blue wave in 2018—we had a voter’s tsunami.

2020 will bring more of the same voting trends we experienced in 2018. Those involved in old ways of thinking and those entrenched in America’s poor way of providing health care to all of us are in for a shock. It’s all over; change is here.

It’s just a matter of time until America provides its workers and all of its citizens Universal Health care. Those opposed to this change can keep on dancing their two-step lying dance, but the music has stopped.

Voters! Vote for what is healthy for you and yours in 2020.

Cheers

Franque23

*https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-medicare-for-all-plan-cost-save-money-2018-7

“According to the Mercatus model, total health spending would actually come in about $303 billion lower in 2031 than under current projections, with $7.35 trillion going to healthcare that year versus $7.65 trillion expected now. Total national health spending would be $2 trillion lower from 2022 to 2031 under the plan, the report found.”

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Thoughts and Prayers that Teach.

*

A very blue wave.

A couple of thoughts to light up the season.

1. It’s no secret Republicans took a whippin’ in the 2018 mid-terms. The House of Representatives flipped blue by a large margin and likewise Republicans lost State representatives seats across the country. This was much more than a ,’standard,’ mid-term correction vote. This vote was a cry heard loud and clear by both party’s. Republicans were able to hold Texas, slip by Florida and out-right cheat to win Georgia, but over all, the party took a slogging at the polls.

What appeals to me most is this blue wave came about via standard rich donors as well as grass root donations. The tide is more than turning blue, the presence of foreign donations via secret PACS may be washing away, and gerrymandering will be re-whittled in many states. I’d say new people running for office—so many women—(Right? :-))along with Pelosi’s help kept most races on point: on healthcare concerns, medicare and social security.  But there’s still a lot of fog surrounding these issues and how best to drive them home in 2020.

2) The charge for climate change is well meaning but poorly framed for those hoping to gain a political leg up in 2020. It’s a discussion that can’t be won by scientifically based facts or mouth foaming, delusional thinking. Nope, the world has spun too many times for any of us to prove warming trends that spell disaster are part of natural course within the World’s environmental history or not.

Nope, arguing over climate change is exactly what Trump wants his opponents to do.

If you like Trump, argue climate change.

If you hope Trump falls into an oil slick laden with Red Tide, argue pollution.

In fact, if you want to win in 2020 steer clear of climate change. Instead, ask voters to raise their hands if they want toxic drinking water? Do they want to swim in oil slick oceans? Let’s count the hands. Do people want to bathe in fracking industrial waste or not? Let’s hear ye! These are issues Trump’s policies fail to address, worse, they add to the pollution of our living environment.  The beauty of focusing on pollution instead of harping about climate change is that IF we  get control over pollution we will actually be doing all Mankind can do to stem climate change. No, controlling pollution may not solve climate change, but attacking and ending pollution is the best we can do about it. Point: sidestep climate change in 2020.( Put a small boat in your backyard instead.)

Now, a prayer. I pray for wisdom we haven’t seen when dealing with the marching South Americans. Some politicians are starting to ask why we are sending soldiers when we could have been sending help? Yes, the policies of Trump on this issue are plain wrong. If you see a problem coming there may be another way to solve it other than fighting it.

We need more Zen in our leadership.

America, BTW, is huge and loaded with tons of money and power.  America can and should have mobilized a huge peace force sort of coalition to march on down to our boarder via govt. funded fare to build housing for these people who flee for their lives and march to the U.S. If you’re getting checks from the U.S. for not working, I say you’re on the planes. We’re going to use as many U.S. products as possible to build communities where these people can stay until entirely vetted, politically and health wise.  Bingo American industries of every sort—you just struck it rich by a huge government demand for every commodity you produce! They need food? Bingo, mid-west farmers! Your load of customers just arrived and our tax dollars will buy your food and ship it to where it’s needed.

But where will the money come from to support a Hoover Dam type project to turn an unused place into a living space? It’s called tax dollars—you know the ones our government wastes every day in about every way.

Idea! We could start finding the money needed to house these immigrants by dropping 50% less bombs around the world every day.  If we did stop our morbid need to bomb the world, our government coffers would be raining money instead of death and destruction.

Think about it: imagine. The U.S. actually accepts a large immigrant population wisely, securely, without shooting or jailing a single kid! America shows what must be done to support and help our migrating populations the world over!!! How neat it would be for America to become world leaders, the ones who saved the world once again!

There it is: thoughts and prayers done right, without guns but with brain power, might, will, huge amounts of money and a willing workforce. There it is: a booming economy led by successful life giving policy. There would be wrinkles to iron out, but this should have been our focus, not walls, closed boarders and an army.

The up and coming new lot of Democratic politicians understand that thinking straight is easy to do. Here’s five examples of women who schooled together, stuck together and all won seats in Colorado  state Legislature in 2018.  This article is quite a read; a map to political success and strength.

https://people.com/politics/five-female-friends-state-senate-colorado-won/

Cheers

Franque23….Om

• Please note…this ocean shot is from that ,’sh*t hole,’ country, Mexico.

So far, gone…

Pumpernickel was the most foreign thing around the neighborhood back in my childhood days. A salted Frito was the a vanguard chip and guacamole remained a word hard to pronounce or spell. Now? That long ago time resides on the far side of a poorly mark rut in the road of life.

Certainly, I grew up in a part of America awash in feel good innocence. Then, it was a time of hope for those who lived under the disappearing shadow of World War II. We were the champions of the free world; the winners.

Grandpa was proud of his four boys who all fought in WW II (Dad is second from left.)

Flash: think no computers, no cordless phones of any kind, no internet, no chat, no what’s up, no what’s anything but for phones in phone booths or in homes that featured a brand new item: a tube TV  with about 3 to 13 channels. Now, I wonder what we all did all day?

Morality was a given…

Every kid knew to cross their fingers if they were going to lie; every guy knew girls were not only softer than boys, but annoyingly smarter as well. Still, none of us perceived a battle of the sexes or a societal wrong that had to be righted. Heck no, elementary school years were filled with just people—guys I palled around with and girls I was thinking about getting to know.

Things started to change in Junior High. (1960ish). The fall out of line and get hung out to dry clicks appeared. Guys and gals mostly formed into three groups: the hoods, the sport rats and the way smart what’s up with that group.

Now, the hoods were bad people because some of them smoked cigarettes and they often wore black shirts. (Really not kidding, and I could almost add, they chewed gum in school) The sport rats, the group I belonged to, never smoked cigarettes and we wore saddle shoes.

Clearly, these huge differences were cause for great concern and animosity. Oddly this huge division between the Hoods and Sport Rats meant the gals had to decide which group to belong to and those lines once drawn rarely, if ever, changed through High School. I once ,’hit it off,’ with a gal from the hoods in history class and we became fast buddies. But, when I suggested a soda, she told me, terrified, “Oh no, I could never do that. My group would go nuts. Plus, you don’t know what I do.” So, I realized she smoked cigarettes….sad.

It was an innocent time compared to the likes of today.

Of course, I was young, free to smell the dandelions as I ran across our neighbors’ yard. I was free to imagine that near about everything America stood for and did was good and right. I was free of a bombardment of contraptions that now give us real-time access to things that are happening beyond our sight!

Please, if you are semi-young, like under 40, Imagine this: there was no news until the six o’clock T.V. broadcast; there was no minute-by-minute news of your friends, no daily breaking political sirens. Even the stock market could rally or crash without a peep until evening. Every thing, every day, was on hold until evening. People went to work without worry or care about daily events until nighttime, until they’d gone home and had a cocktail, a smoke or rest.

In many ways, the multitasking, tied to your smart phone generation is cursed with too much information.

Call me old fashion? Maybe try hiking or camping and leaving, God forbid, your smart phone at home. There’s a world waiting for you to discover, one I grew up in, a world of be here now without interruption from things you can’t change anyway.  There’s a world of freedom waiting for you but for one thing: you can’t put that smart phone down.

If the world today were to sculpt a representative statue of Mankind it wouldn’t be, The Thinker.

No, it would be a person looking down at their smart phone or taking a, ‘Selfie.’

The interactions that sooo many studies show are healthy for us—the eye contact, the smiles, the greetings—are now lost to bent heads looking at smart phones…

No, I’m not old fashion: I’m right. Put your phone down for at least one day per week and see how many eyes look your way. The worlds’ presence will once again be yours to see, and it is amazing.

Franque23 dares you to do it…

Simply amazing.

 

The Hope We Need

My wife recently told  a news story on T.V. to “Go Fund Yourself.” It broke me out in fits of laughter….as my wife often does. She’s smart, a wit-full companion that keeps me thinkin’. Thing is, my first editor of everything you’ve ever read from me is also sharp, and more helpful than you know…. Barbara sent me this tonight,, and I thought in our time of strife it might do us all good to take a look at the,’Will  to Survive’. It’s in all of us, to fight for existence, and that we shall prevail…just look at the trees: they lead the way.

Enjoy, and thanks again to Barbara for the link.

Peace, Franque23

Trees have been around for about 370 million years, and as you can see from these incredible pictures, there’s a good reason why they’ve survived for so long.  Whether they’re growing in the middle of gale-force winds, on the tops of rocky platforms, inside concrete tunnels, or even growing out of each other, trees know how to survive in places that few living organisms can, which explains why the planet is host to around 3 trillion adult trees that cover an estimated 30% of the earth’s land.  Considering that plants produce the vast majority of the oxygen that we breathe, we should all think ourselves very fortunate that trees are as resilient as they are.  We wouldn’t even be here if they weren’t.

#1  A Place Of Enchantment

#2  This Palm Tree Fell Over And Curved Right Back Up

#3  This Tree Fell Over And Grew 4 More Trees Out Of Itself

#4  The Only Tree That Survived The Tsunami In Japan Between 70,000 Trees. Now Protected And Restored.

#5  Tree Of Life – Olympic National Park, Washington

#6   A Tree’s Root Spill Over The Sidewalk

#7   Nature FTW

#8   A Tree Growing Through Speed Limit Sign

#9  This Tree That Refuses To Die

#10  This Tree Still Has Its Leaves Because Of The Light Shining On It

#11  Life Finds A Way

#12  Tree Roots Extend Across A Gap To The Mainland For Nutrients

#13  Life Finds A Way

#14  Ta Promh Temple In Cambodia

#15  Striving

#16  Someone Hung His Skates On A Small Tree When He Was Younger. He Forgot He Had Left Them There And Found Them Years Later

#17  A Tree Growing On Another Tree

#18 This Tree Is Growing Out Of Another Tree

#19 This Tree Grew Out Of The Stump Of A Dead Tree And Then The Stump Rotted Away

#20 A Tree Grows From Third Floor Window

#21 Life Finds A Way

#22 I Spent Ages Staring At This Tree Before Taking This Pic. I Hope You Find It As Fascinating As I Did

#23 This Floating Island That Grew At The End Of A Partially Sunken Tree

#24 This Wooden Chair My Parents Bought Started Sprouting Leaves

#25 The Old Piano Tree

#27 One Tree On My Street Refused To Accept Winter

#28 My Sister’s Tree Is Eating Her Fence

#29 This Tree Growing Through A Fence

#30 Life,Uh… Finds A Way

 

 

Michelle and Bernie: the winning ticket.

This is the winning 2020 presidential ticket. In fact, the more Republicans and right of center groups claim this idea is preposterous, the more Left leaning voters should realize it’s true!

Trump’s election set precedent that a person not directly experienced with holding office can be elected President. The 2018 mid-terms have more than shown voters are agreeable to female candidates, and even female, Black candidates in the South!! Yikes! I wouldn’t have thought this to be the case, but it is. The 2018 mid-term election has proven the American electorate is ready for women of any faith or color. Now is the time for Michelle Obama.

We all know President Obama brought America out of the brink of collapse, along with perhaps saving the entire world economy, so who better to associate with how to truly Make America the shining beacon of hope and posterity it once was under President Obama?  Michele Obama, that’s who can lead the charge in 2020. Michele is the one who can break through that invisible male ceiling the presidency of the U.S. still supports; she is the one who can unite and bring out so many difference Democratic voters.

And what of Bernie Sanders as V.P. on the ticket with Michelle Obama for 2020? This is a slam dunk yes! Bernie calls for a health plan most Americans have come to favor; Bernie calls for living wages and real tax cuts American workers deserve. Any notion that Bernie’s too old, or too socialist, or that, ‘Michelle won’t run,’ is just bull crap being thrown from the Right, a group who literally trembles in fear of this Democratic ticket.

Get Michelle and Bernie on the ticket and America wins.

Elect Michelle and Bernie and Education gets a huge increase in spending; America’s humanitarian efforts resume throughout the world; a living wage comes to fruition; real infrastructure rebuilding programs commence; renewable energy takes off in America and sparks a mass up-swing in employment and prosperity; health care becomes part of our society and not a leech upon on government and our worker’s backs. These are all things American’s want by massive majority numbers.

Get rid of illegal gerrymandering across America and the new world dawns through America’s growth and undeniable will to succeed.

Listen up. Cast fear aside and get Michelle and Bernie on the same ticket for 2020.

Let’s cast aside the party that has once again deregulated banks putting the U.S. in danger of another ,’bubble burst, ‘ as we had Under Bush . Jr. Let’s dump the party that has striped America of much-needed environmental controls, who now drills in our National Parks threatening our famous, Heritage sites. We can beat back Republican corruption and the radical hate groups this party embraces; we can end the hate mongering President Trump seems so happy to spew on a nearly daily basis. We can end the seemingly endless stream of lies now being forced upon the American people from this current Republican administration.

It’s a new day, baby. Democrats! Let’s bring it home.

Franque23

 

Prideful Election

It is a prideful mid-term election this time around in America. People, all full of pride, have stood up in numbers representing their position to their friends, neighbors, communities, America and to the World. America hasn’t had the marches we’ve seen across the country in the last two years since the 1970’s. And no, none of this dissent from any side has been entirely peaceful—some have died for what they believed, or for who they were or due to where they were. Upheaval never comes without cost and the past two years in America have sadly borne witness to this truism.

“I’m proud to be  American!”

“I’m proud to be gay, a woman, white, black, tall, good-looking, smart, richer or powerful!”

“I’m proud to hate!”

Theologians often place pride above the other so-called seven deadly sins: lust, envy, anger, greed, gluttony and sloth. Yep, Pride is said to be the ,’Root of all evil.’ How. To. Deal. With. That. This discussion could be an, ‘All-nighter.’

This is a 1913 meeting between North and South civil war survivors. Each was proud to serve.

I am proud.

Toss pride anyway you want: I’m proud of Dale, and she happens to be my wife.  I’m proud of her 40 years of effort during her nursing career to help young and old alike to heal or accept their situation and make the best of that. Most of those 40 years she has helped new born’s while working in NICU; some of her patients weigh three or less pounds. Imagine. Of course, I take no credit for any of Dale’s achievements; I’m proud to know her.  And, this election cycle has been no different.

I’m proud of Dale and anyone like her who has jumped in feet first into the mayhem of this 2018 mid-term election.  Dale has worked the phone lines for her party; she has written, talked and text until her fingers were sore, her voice hoarse and her wit’s at wit’s end. Trump may not know it, but he’s been barbed enough to fill a pin cushion.

Dale is one of millions of Americans who have taken it upon themselves to get off their cushy couches and 300 dollar computer chairs and work to turn their beliefs into action. She is one of millions who are busy doing the,’stuff,’ the real hard work of America. Tomorrow, Dale will be driving people to the polls all day. I think this is great.

Hat’s off to all of you who have persevered over the course of the past two years while trying to right the wrongs they see taking place in America today. It’s not certain how our 2018  mid-terms will turn out, but for all of those who have worked to make the world a better place please remember this: no one, nothing, can ever take away your effort and the solace that comes from a job well done. Win or lose, if you have walked door to door, called number after number and marched when you could and filled out every poll you wanted to, congratulations.

Now, we wait for tomorrow’s election outcome, and it may take weeks to know?

It’s no secret that I’m hoping for a, ‘Blue Wave.’ But, even if I have to go to the beach to see one again, I know I did what I could to make it happen.

I have a word of head’s up though for those of you who favor my political position. Please, don’t think that if the, ‘Blue Wave,’ does come in 2018 and then again in 2020 that the battle to right the wrongs in America will be anywhere near over. No, the seed(s) of hate and division have been well planted in our society and these two elections will not be enough to weed them out.

Every morning gives us all a chance for a new day—I’m hoping tomorrow gives America one of those kinds of great vista’s.

Good luck, America.

Cheers.

Franque23

 

 

 

Ronald Reagan on Social Security.

Okay, it’s hard to think of a more prominent Republican, living or dead, than Ronald Reagan. The fact that he tripled the deficit during his time in office has not even put a ding in his lore as a conservative.* He is the ,’Cold War,’ champ, and maybe rightly so. The man was comfortable to see and hear speak, and people all over the U.S. could wish their sons and daughters could grow up to be so dignified and even humble though occupying a position of great power.

The 2018 election is upon us; I’m one to think the election’s outcome will either start to heal America’s great divide or send our society into two to six more years of tumbling downward.

An important issue right now is that McConnell and Ryan are pushing to cut Social Security and Medicare/ Medicaid  declaring that these programs are the cause of America’s spiraling Debt. This simply is NOT true as explained below by the man himself, Ronald Reagan.  Who else should we turn to for the truth?!?!??

I might add, my mom wasn’t a ruthless ruler of our household but I always knew if I ever lied I’d find a bar of soap in my mouth. Better yet, she explained early on how lies we tell are just things we have to remember so we don’t contradict ourselves while speaking about the lie in the years ahead. Lies we tell become a suitcase of items we must carry in our head as we go—why carry that load?

Unfortunately, McConnell and Ryan never learned this lesson. But don’t ask me. Here’s Ronald Reagan telling us the truth about Social Security….and get the bars of soap ready for those that lie. Why vote for liars?

 

Franque23

• To be fair, this type of increase may pale in number when compared to subsequent President’s spending.

The Straw Hats of Summer

I’ve always loved seeing movie footage of the past. It makes this short film below that more special in that I was born and raised just outside of The Big Apple and considered it my stompin’ grounds during my High School days.

More, I’ve had a couple of odd coincidencedinks in life that revolve around my early years spent in New York City. I’d often spent time in  New York City, The Village,  roaming the walk down shops after munching on a seventy-five cent pizza slice. By far, the Leather shops were my favorite to visit. I was immediately attracted to the smell of finished leather goods, their shine, polished to deep warm browns or beige and tan colors.  One shop owner in particular was a bit more out going than most, and that was wrapped by a quick sense of humor all tied together by tremendous wit. His name was, Byan. He stood tall with penetrating dark eyes that glowed above the flash of  his smile. Our conversations were never long but they played in my head usually throughout the following days. Mysterious, that was the word for this fellow.

Fast forward eight or so years and I’m attending a bluegrass festival in Hog Town Creek, just outside Gainesville, Florida. I was singing lead for an agent at that time, traveling to gigs with one of the three bands he managed. I’m thinking my pay was about a flat 75 dollars per week. The music drew me to the festival and there the smell of leather goods at a nearby booth attracted my attention. Sure enough, it was, Byan, running a leather stand. It turned out his parents owned a ranch nearby and he’d left NYC to return to his family’s home. He wanted to learn how to play guitar and I was intrigued with leather work… We traded skills and I ended up being a leather worker running three shops for the next 14 years.

Of course, there’s more. I got to know my wife of 38 years while  learning the leather trade from, Byan. We made items for the local leather shops in Gainesville—there were about four of them in town. I often worked on sewing leather hats of all shapes and sizes. A few years later found my wife and I working into all hours of the night sewing wallets and visors as we started our first leather business. It was years later when all of this came to circle.

Thirty years later, my wife and I visited Denton, England, along with her Brother and his wife. It was there that my wife’s family were once hatters. It turns out they started in Denton and finally made it to New York City and I suspect made ,’a killing,’ as they say in retail. Why? Well just look at what everyone is wearing in the film below. Wow. The story of my wife’s ,’Hatters,’ family is also amazing, but that’s for another time.

Enjoy this glimpse into another era; a time gone by.

One more thing: the air seems much more polluted in this film than it appears to be in New York City now. Maybe too much,’Clean,’ coal back then?

Franque23

For the Love of a Dog

( added pictures below post…send me your pictures on FB=gerald franquemont)

My cousin’s wife says it all for dog lovers the world over. That post of her’s is included below.

But first, I’ve my own, ‘Shadow,’ a Catahoula Leopard who is my constant companion.

Shadow enjoys the flowers.

From my  parent’s dog, Socks, to our family dogs over the years, I’ve rarely lived without having a dog making home life better.

Socks lived about 18 years.

Man’s best friend: you can’t say it any better.

Orion is one of my favorite, ‘Reading Dogs,’ at the library.

Our part Basenji, Toby, used to prance as he walked so we called him, ‘Toby-Toes.’

Cheers, and a big thanks to Jessica for posting this wonderful piece. Sob; sighs and I understand. There’s nothing like a dog’s ability to love us back.  Here’s Jessica’s post, and just wow.

Jessica with her dog, Pedro.

Jessica Franquemont posted:

“My Buddy Pedro:

Your butt wiggle going down the stairs,
Your gentle bite when taking a treat,
Your wandering security walk along the fence line, 
Your short sunbathing nap by the water fountain followed by a good roll in the red bark to scratch your back with happy doggie snorting & all,
Your old man delay, non-threatening beagle bark, & “swagger run,” when hearing Ellie bark before you at a possible thief/burglar/food thief/mail carrier/neighbor/pizza guy/cat/other dog/kid,
My first time sadness upon seeing an empty Chipotle burrito wrapper on the floor without my left over ½ burrito realizing you are taller than Ellie & can counter surf,
Your first time with me in the pet store when you stole a bone shaped treat off the bottom shelf, tried to eat it, & I had to do a pity purchase with the cashier,
Your sleeping on the couch with your face between the pillows,
Finding your head sticking out of my poofy pink Halloween tutu I left on my bed,
Your gentle mouth hold of a whole loaf of bread/pack of tortillas (& all things carbs) off the “no dog shelf” trying to saunter away,
Your slight pushiness after anyone sat down to proudly lay your 32 pounds in their lap & slip your beagle nose under their hand to prompt neck scratchies for a very long time then get up abruptly when said scratching stops,
Your & Ellie’s patient waiting under messy Talia’s dinner chair for any slight semblance of a crumb,
Your love of TP from any bathroom to your crate with one continuous very long stream of toilet paper,
Your binge on Beth’s Scentsy samples that were only the food scented ones,
You & Tyler’s love for each other,
You being my literal shadow & never letting me be in a room alone.
You lived 12 years & 117 days & we got to re-home you with us for 3 years 250 days. We are a more loving family because of you. Last Thursday a huge chunk of my heart had to say goodbye to you & since then I’ve been devastated & lonely without my short shadow following me. I know by having a loving pet, we as humans pay a price for having to make “that decision.” But the animal lover in me would never have left you alone in your last minutes of your wonderful life. Knowing you had just a little more time & getting to rest my nose one last time on top the bridge of your nose is worth all the heartache. I love & miss you my Pedro Buddy.”

It always come down to this: the love shared with a dog during their short lifetime is worth the pain of the loss no matter how long that lasts…

Cheers!

Franque23 loves dogs.

Here’s a link to a previous glob I wrote in, 2009, about a dog’s spirit.

https://franque23.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/red-dog-forever/

Shadow smiling.

Frank Lamont

 Andrew Faint’s , Bo , with his son.

relatives Virginia Murphy Rotteveel…sleep tight.

My ‘Shadow’ writer…

Andrew Faint’s, Frankie…

Shakespear, in OR recovery, Wendy Schneider…..

Yes, this is a hedgehog pet with, Spooky.  They live together. Part of ,Juut Von Franquemont’s group.

 

 

 

 

Fishy Facts

Here’s the deal—no fish is going to an Ivy League school. It doesn’t matter how many fins they have, their underbelly colors don’t count and the tail size has no Equal Opportunity standing.

But, do fish think?

oh my gosh–I’m on a stringer–now what?

Of course not! Fish swim around dropping eggs like flies and eat each other when possible. The don’t really go to school, and how many very tiny books has anyone every found on the bottom of the Ocean, or any lake? I have yet to read any book written by a fish (though I’ve wondered) and they’re all nudist no matter the water temperature which is a bit off.

Still, this odd worm of a thought keeps luring me into its weedy lair, and it’s so bad I hate to ask. Fishermen/women, secure the oars.

Here it is on a swivel hook: why, or better yet, how can lures that once worked so well in the past not work to catch fish worth a flip ten years later? No, listen, this is important. Let’s examine the flat fish lure , all the rage in the 1960’s and thru the 70’s. It was a great, effective lure for catching Northern’s trolling or flipping the shore line for bass.  Now? It’s as if every fish alive has been through the drill and knows to never eat a flatfish lure? Why? How can this Be?  Is it a matter of fashion? But then this would indicate fish have a sense fashion? “Oh my God! I’d never be caught dead biting that lure!” The fish said.

See? What’s the deal? Do fish have amber-alert type memos that last beyond lifetimes? Fish ten generations removed from the flatfish lure eating frenzy still know today not to strike those lures. Let’s face it, it’s been 50 years since Mankind knew cigarettes cause cancer and we still smoke them! Or, how about those hamburgers I still buy from time-to-time in fast-food places? Those are good for me, right?

Yep, whatever the reason, fish seem to communicate important life lessons through generations better than humans. That’s odd; this is what I’m saying.

Okay, forget all the writing, just answer me this: why do fishing lures become less effective over time?

In the meantime, check out this great link of many, many interesting facts…they’ll hook ya.

https://www.thoughtco.com/hilarious-historical-facts-4154997?utm_campaign=wilat&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=12721193&utm_term=

Cheers…. have fun this wkend

Franque23

I let the big ones go. So, is this how it happens? “Tellin’ ya, I was abducted by a weird bald guy and put on a string , then let go…I got caught on a white plastic worm: don’t go there.”