Happy Birthday Marines

Red or Blue

So, what happened in the voting booths around our country this past week? I, being an incessant reader am not of the opinion it was any one thing that saw the Senate go from Blue to Red and the Congress increase its Red members.

Locally I’ve heard folks say, “That blindsided me” or “I never had any idea.” The rumblings of people talking has been there for some time. I think people were tired of what they saw. A lot of it was complacency by the sitting powers to be that caused them to lose their jobs.

I even went to Thom Hartmann.com on Wednesday and Thursday to get another perspective than what Fox depicts. I was amazed that Mr. Hartmann would speak of the main stream media as a corporate arm of the Reds. Really Thom? ABC, CBS and NBC?

The Ebola scare was credited for shaping some voter’s minds. Many of the Reds believing that the present administration was not doing enough to curb the tide of the ever increasing West African nemesis that would surely kill us all. We all just take for granted that the 52,000 people who died last year from the flu is just commonplace. For crying out loud, all you flu shotaphobics out there, get a flu shot will you. If you don’t get the flu and die you can have a voice two years down the road to change things back from whence they came, if that is the way.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the Middle East. ISIS, ISL, Al Quaeda, Hezbollah, Israel, Syria, Iran, Saudi and on and on. A hundred years ago with a lot of help from the British and French and the outbreak of World War I, The great divide took shape. Today we are paying for that divide. It also appears that those decision makers in Washington have no clue as to what is going on.

Our sitting President, a Blue, is doing nothing right in the mind of many,. Our sitting House is doing nothing and no one is happy with the sitting Senate. Now we must also mention, the sitting State Department leadership, Attorney General’s office and all the lessor appointees. These people are Blue, and out they need to go, but not for two more years. But, we’ve made a start the Reds shall say. Even State Governors for the Red Party have gone to the majority.

I would like to think “We the People” are just sick and tired of Government, period. I don’t care if your Red or Blue, get off your butts and just do something other than tax and spend. Get your hands out of the cookie jar and if you need to pass a bill, start with yourselves by setting term limits first and foremost. After that get rid of Daylight Savings. We’ve turned the clock back enough, it’s time to move forward. We do not need career politicians on the local, state or national rolls of employment. And, if our mandated medical plan is not good enough for you who voted for it, it’s not the right plan for me either.

If you intend to run for an office, let us know why you want the position and what you intend to do if you get there. If all you can say is my opponent did this or that, and accentuate the negatives, you have no vision for my well-being. Go and find yourself a real job.

To end this bit of rambling which most likely interests very few of you, a small mention on Civics. Civics classes of old are no longer mandatory in our school systems. How can we expect the citizens of the voting tomorrows to make an intelligent decision in the voting booth if they have no idea of that person’s role in their lives. On a local level, visit your School Board and PTA meetings. Parents of school age children, your attention to your children’s education is abysmal, as is your attendance in instances that effect your child’s welfare,

This week in Stumbleupon, “The World As I See IT” an Essay By Albert Einstein was posted. I considered the piece worthy to be forwarded and I thank my daughter Kathryn for forwarding it to me. Should you take a moment to read the essay, you may even find it thought provoking.

Enjoy, and when we vote in the future let us vote for the positives and not the negatives that are stumped upon.

The Red and Blue is the work of Lee Fiddler and in no way should reflect on Mary Agnes, Maggie or Simon.

Goodbye Mississippi

Sam, Zed, Mia and Ana Davies will be part of a convoy headed northwest later this week. Destination, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For Zed and Sam. Tinker AFB to be exact. This will be a big change to the operational environment of Tinker from the Training base of Columbus. Time for the pilot to put all that knowledge and experience gained in training to work in the cockpit of an E-3 AWACS . That’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (Sentry) in case you were unaware.

 I’ll be joining the foursome on their journey, filling the position as a driver for their moving van. It seems they have too many vehicles to go it alone. We shall venture through Memphis to Little Rock, AR and head north from there to Oklahoma City. I’m excited, as Oklahoma will be a new state to check off as having visited. Only five more states to go. I’ll attempt to do some Facebook posts from the road.

This Saturday the Davies family treked to Starkville to see #1 Mississippi State beat up U of  Tennessee Martin 45-16. What a nice destination for the families last weekend as residents of Mississippi. Besides the game, Mia and Ana got to see their Aunt Abby.

The kids at the game in Starkville.

Hello Oklahoma         

Good Friends Gone Traveling

Christian Etherton, a longtime friend of the family was recently discharged from active duty with the Army. The Army did not see fit to send him to any exotic places while in their employ. So, upon his discharge he is on a tour of new places. At this writing he is in Cadiz, Spain. Attached are a few Facebook pictures that Christian posted.

Christian’s younger brother Ben and our granddaughter Samantha were good friends growing up. Christians father Jeff just happens to be my Cardiologist.

Christian, thank you for your service.

Christian sitting on bunk in black T shirt

Dustin Mazoccoli another protector of our democracy, USN, is having a mini reunion with his mother and grandmother in Las Vegas, NV. Dustin also grew up in the Salisbury area and was a friend of Samantha’s through high school. After several years of college the Navy beaconed and Dustin has been spending Sun time San Diego, CA for the past few years.

Dustin will be spending a few months on the East coast being educated on the rights and ways of shipboard life before deployment to Sasebo, Japan. Dustin will become a member of the crew on USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6).

Dustin, thank you for your service.

Dustin with Michelle Soza at San Diego's dia de los Muertos

A New Driver, On The Road

This week our grandson Kevin Matthew Fiddler turned 16. In Connecticut that means get to Motor Vehicle and get your driver’s permit. That is what Kevin did this past Tuesday. I’m sure Beth and Matthew are just overjoyed with the prospect of another child entering into his Right of Passage. Don’t forget kids, you were there just a few short years ago.  Congratulations Kevin.

The happy Permit holder.

Memphis Bound

I’ll hop aboard Southwest Tuesday morning, my first leg to Columbus, MS. I’ll be hoping to collect fodder for The Rooster along the way. I’m sure a Facebook and Twitter post will make it out along the way. I’m sure it will be a great event traveling with the Zed, Sam and the girls. I may even get to see Abby prior to departing for Oklahoma.

MSU #1 Fan

Veterans Day

Tuesday 11 November is Veteran’s Day. If you know a Vet, thank them for their service. To all you Vets who read this Blog, Thank you Brothers and Sisters.

Today is the 239th birthday of the Marine Corps. To all my brothers out there, Happ Birthday and Semper Fi.