ABO Tripod

My wife and I just recently got a new toy: it’s an ABO Tripod Sun shelter. My wife and her folks sell it on eBay, and it looked so interesting, we thought we’d get ourselves one. I like it.

As soon as it came in, we decided to set it up. I don’t know if that’s something I recommend. It’s really a skosh large for assembly IN doors! The directions have a slight understatement, that the poles “…take a little force the first time…” They take a bit more than a little force. This is not to be put together by less than two people, believe you me! But, if you work together and pay attention to the directions, it’s not too bad. And we have put it together twice now, and the second time was easier. Unfortunately it was again indoors. Didn’t I say not to do that? They don’t mention it in the directions, but it’s easier if the tension belts aren’t attached initially. But, once it’s up, it’s really nice.

It’s big enough that I can’t touch the center point of it, and it’s more than wide enough to put over a picnic table, or a blanket, whatever. It’s super light, so you can move it wherever. They made it with these cool pockets in the legs that you can fill with sand, rocks, etc., and there are stakes with tie-down lines, so even though it’s so light it shouldn’t blow away normally.

It should be really good when we’re camping, or just out collecting more rocks for our yard. We also took it with us on a recent drive to Las Vegas, just in case we ended up stopped on the road somewhere. We’re keeping it with us, if we do any driving anywhere, and when we take the motor home out. I can see it being used while you’re fishing, going to an outdoor concert, maybe as a shelter on the sidelines. If you’re interested, ask them about it at toadstrom@cox.net. They’re on eBay as a store called Toadstrom Outdoors and Home Décor, or on the web at www.toadstrom.com. Check it out, and let ‘em know if there’s something else they can find for you.

A Tsunami in the DESERT??

Can we actually have a tsunami out here in the desert? I think we can. In fact, I think we are. A huge one and it’s going to drown this nation.
I am playing on a phrase in an email recently sent by Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo. He calls our current immigration a “Tsunami of Illegal Aliens.” That's one of the most appropriate terms I've heard yet.
Living here in Arizona, I see first-hand just what this surge of illegals has done. In my recent jobs, I have had more opportunity than many to have to contend with the issues that this can raise. In the school systems, we have to account for, track, and assist all of the children who not only cannot, but WILL NOT learn English. Now, I am frequently working around construction and manufacturing. Sadly enough, the federal government is so aware of the language barrier in construction, they actually track - specifically - all the injuries to Hispanics caused in construction. Because they are concerned that a lack of instructions may have led to many of the injuries - and yes, even deaths. Hispanics that I work with agree that this is a form of racism, to set them aside for special tracking.
As I have lived most of my life in the Southwestern United States, I have been around Spanish-speakers the whole time. But I haven't learned Spanish. Because I live in America, and here, we speak English. My father's grandfather emigrated here nearly one hundred years ago from Bern, Switzerland. He immigrated legally, following the laws of the land at that time. He swore allegiance to his new country, learned the language, and contributed to his community. His children, and theirs, were raised speaking English, not Swiss or German. They were raised to respect each other, to work hard, and to be proud and patriotic. My mother's grandfather emigrated from Ireland about the same time. He may not have had to learn much of the language, but he also became a legal citizen, and then held jobs that supported his family and benefited his country, even working as a policeman.
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all! We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
We do not need to reform any of the immigration laws. We have enough laws, if not too many. The plain fact of the matter is that our laws are being broken. As Mr. Tancredo said in his email, “The sad but true fact is that these people are called “illegal” immigrants for a reason: they have broken the laws of our country simply by coming here without going through the proper channels. However noble the intentions of those who would illegally enter or stay in our country, those who have done so are by definition criminals.” I have been saying this for years myself.
I was a front-row-seat witness to the immigration march this year in Phoenix. And I was both disgusted and ashamed. I was disgusted that these people, many of whom are not even legal, voting citizens, somehow believe that they have a right to tell Americans how to run their country. That’s putting the cart before the horse, folks. First, become a citizen by following the laws. Then you have the right, indeed the obligation, to try to change the laws you think are in err.
I was ashamed that our country has come to this pass. We’ve all probably heard it many times, but I will say it again: This would not have happened fifty, even twenty years ago. I lay most of the blame on the lawmakers, not all of them. Many are honest men and women who are truly trying to help our country. Others, however, are not, and are interested only in doing whatever special interest group they listen to is telling them to do. They are the ones who are responsible for this shameful state of affairs.
I won’t pretend to have a simple, concise solution. Nor do I care whether you call yourself Irish, Black, Mexican, Hispanic, Chinese, Russian, Iraqi, Islamic, or whatever. You can be brown, black, white, pink, or yellow with purple spots. I just think if you’re going to live here, you will abide by our laws. Don’t change them so you can live here. Change them when you live here. I will say all we have to do is enforce the existing laws. Laws are written for a reason: to protect the population. And to protect our country. If we allow this to continue, Mr. Tancredo may well be correct: we may in fact be looking at “some sort of borderless ‘North American Union’ with Canada and Mexico”. Is this what you want? I don’t. I believe in America, that “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears; Isle of Freedom, Isle of Fears”. The hope of the world, and yes, a country that respects true freedom OF religion.
Stand up for America, folks. Enforce our laws.

Second Summer in Arizona

Well, this is our second summer in sunny Arizona. What can I say? They say it's a 'dry heat', and it definitely is that, if nothing else. But, oivay, is it ever HEATED! We have a nice little part of the desert, that we like to call 'home', and we are trying to make it a touch more beatific - trees, rocks, shrubs. Our frequent visitors include spiders, scorpions, snakes, lizards, rabbits, the occasional stray dog, and even some horses that felt like vacating their normal confines. Can't complain 'bout that, I guess, as you get to meet your 'neigh'bors that way (poor pun, sorry!).
But we are trying to get the trees to grow. Thank the Lord that our nursery guarantees them, since we've killed, what, hon, like 3 or 4 already? Well, the replacements are doing better'n their predecessors. But it does take almost daily watering and you really do hafta listen to what the 'professionals' tell you - oddly enough, I'm coming to the conclusion that they may be the one profession here that may actually know what they're doing. So, our honeysuckles are finally showing some flowers, and some of the trees actually need trimming. The citrus aren't doing so well, but we have ONE grapefruit...'bout the size of a golfball.
We are getting better at this whole heat and water thing. Amazing how fast water'll evaporate at 115 degrees. And even if they coat the porch with 'heat resistant paint', don't believe it, you still can't walk on it barefoot. Owie!!
We're hopin' to get the RV fixed and get some fishin' done soon. We'll letchya'll know when we do. Got any good recipes? We've tried a few if yer interested - mainly for smoking 'em.
Have a great day, and do try to stay cool, folks. It's hot out there!!