2nd Amendment Rights

I just looked at CNN's web site. 15 people killed at a school in Germany. Every news program and U.S. paper has follow-up on the killings yesterday in Alabama. Billing's courts this past few weeks have had their share of gun shooters. There is an incredible amount of violence involving guns in our society. A Pastor is killed while conducting a service of Worship. BUT I must have the right to own a gun with no restrictions whatsoever. Maybe those who argue that the Constitution promises such rights to "a well regulated militia" have it right. At least it seems obvious to me that we need better control and harsher sentences in respect to the ownership and misuse of firearms.

Another Saturday

The annual Home and Garden Show is open this week-end in Billings. I determined to go and spend 2 or 3 hours just wandering around. I'm glad I renewed the supply of nitroglycerin in my carrier. Actually that would be one of the small bottles the stuff comes in. I've got a lot of them. The near=by parking was full w/ many cars circling to find a spot. I went to the top. For you strangers that involves 4-5 standard flights of stairs to get to the right building. When I got to the Pavilion I was lucky to find a chair just inside, sat, and popped a Nitro. 8-10 minutes I was ready to roll. Place was really crowded so I didn't have to walk very fast to keep up and see almost everything. Not much of true interest to a widowed home owner of over 40 years. I did stop at the Northwestern Electric booth for the usual pack of 4 CFL bulbs and a nice bag for the groceries. The grocery deducts 5-10 cents if you don't need their plastic. On the way back to the parking lot I took it a flight at a time and when I got in the car popped another Nitro, rested a bit and then came home. Actually the walking caused more feeling in my hips than in the heart or the bad knee.

When I got home I decided to watch one of my DVD's of the Celtic Woman. Saw them on public TV the other night and was reminded again of how lovely they are and what great singers. The DVD is I believe their first one. It has a booklet so I was able to finally identify them one by one. Chloe is a bit heavy set, but such a beautiful, rich and resonant soprano. Actually I am amazed at how rich their very soprano voices are. I told Pete the other day that they are almost like Castrati. On this particular disk Chloe's husband has a beautiful oboe solo. Priceless! I was a bit surprised to see that the gal, Orla, who plays the harp is also an important part of the Quartet.

Now, of course, I'll have to watch A New Journey sometime in the next week. Then maybe another look at "We Are Marshall". The tragic and triumphant story of the death of the football team in the early 70's. I had long since left the faculty of this my Alma Mater when that happened. Enough, already!!

Out of the past

The other day I noticed in the Billings, MT paper a brief obituary of a person who graduated from Marshall College (now University). This is my Alma Mater so, of course, I read it. Betty Frame . . . That name is familiar. I knew her, but how? I found my 1946 annual, the Chief Justice, and sure enough there was her picture as a member of the staff. I was Editor that year. I then looked further at the Senior pics and again there was the picture of a very attractive young lady. The obit said she was born in 1925 which would make here the same age as my late wife. Another lovely gal called Betty. I then looked in the Huntington, WV paper, but there was no notice of any kind. A day later the Charleston paper had a listing plus a picture. Betty Frame was still an attractive lady of 83. She had moved to Wyoming after her husband's death to be with family.

A further search of the Annual brought memories of the past of people I worked and studied with in the 1940's. And even a gal I had dated before meeting Betty Clarkson - my Harriet Elizabeth. I had forgotten, long since, the people who were in the Class of 1946. The other gal's name was Chlotene - the only person I ever knew with that name. And there was Rachel Nunley Meadows who has visited us in Billings several times in the last few years with her husband, Paul, who was also a high school classmate. Actually I went through school from the 1st grade with Rachel. She often played "sandlot" games with us - baseball, football, etc.

Market Blues

Or is it "Reds"? The Taylor Family Trust lost nearly $4000 in the market today. About the only statement I heard while watching CNBC today was by on unknown pundit who allowed that he was going to "stick it out". No trading, no selling, not buying. That's exactly where I'm coming from. The Market is still not as low as it was when I started investing in 1961. And, fortunately there is no need for that money right now. The TIAA/CREF pension plus Social Security is sufficient for family needs at this time. I do expect some drop in annual income come April when my CREF account will be reconfigured on the basis of the Market. I'm not losing any sleep.