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Tonight is going to be a stream of consciousness blurb. It all started when I went to fill my gas tank. As I started fillin, I leaned against the fender to wait. I noticed that there were some receipts that had not been taken. Both were credit cards. Both were exact amounts of five and ten dollars. Not much gas at all.

The fact is things are still tight for so many people that even the idea of merely filling your tank until the next time is not possible. Many folks are still living day to day. They cannot plan for a future, hence they sure as hell ain't saving for one or even considering it.

The it dawned on me that failure to consider, much less plan, and even less DO anything is why we are failing as a nation. On all levels it is failure to do anything in a timely manner, we merely put out fires. Douglas MacArthur said that the history of failure can be summed up in two words; "Too late". I read that about 30 years ago and I've never seen anything to prove him wrong.

Our nation has a multitude of problems currently. And some of what the conservatives, at least say but not necessarily espouse, are solutions for our problems. Of course the left is right about some things also. I understand the frustration that people are feeling. Especially those who are forced to buy five bucks of gas at a time and on redit no less. We all are looking for a scapegoat, a bogeyman. If the presidential election were today I wouldn't give Obama my vote. I gave him my vote because I believed he would at least attempt to work on the changes that needed doing. Health care was botched overall. Some improvements were made, but the extra costs involved for what we got in return was not worthwhile. Just on the outside chance that the President or Secretary of HHS reads this I must add, "Enough with the Medicare B bullshit just to sell someone some strips! Are you all out of your f***ing minds?" See.....I told you folks are frustrated.

As a nation we will have to fundamentally and ultimately answer how big can the pie be and who will get what. People scream about 'rationing' or 'death panels', but someone has got to say enough. The Tea Partiers are saying it. Much of what they are bitching about is fair game too. But you don't hear about any of them saying we ain't gonna waste any more money on chain smoking, diabetic fat-asses on motorized scooters. Somebody should have told these idiots, "NO" a long time ago. The moms with four kids by three fathers should have been told "NO". The people who spurned their public education, and refuse to improve their lot in life need to be told "NO". The inner city denizens who continue to suck on the public teat for five generations need to be told "NO".

The Republicans have been the party of "NO" but aren't saying it to the right people. Every thing good that Obama tried to do was shut down by the R's. Of course, there were a lot of D's who tried to stymie Ronnie. My advice to Obama? Quit smoking. Yup, it is as simple as that. Everything else will fall into line.

So who would I vote for today if there were a presidential election? Probably me.

Who will I be voting for Senate in the next election? Me definitely. My neighbor Mike should be Governor. I assure you that Washington and State government will not only get along, but work together closely with agreement on the issues.

Strong flavors and Carl the groundskeeper

I saw the movie 'Secretariat' today. Alas, it received the standard formulaic 'Disney' treatment. Not that the movie was bad. I wasn't aware of the whole drama that surrounded the human cast of characters until the movie. Honestly, I never cared. But how else are you going to make a feature length film. I just have to wonder how hard up for cash Malkovich was.

I remember watching Secretariat run. I never watched horse racing before, and haven't since. Yet I, along with the rest of the nation watched. It was breathtaking to watch. The original footage used in the movie for all of its graininess was still the most exciting thing to watch.

The whole time I am watching, I can't help but think how miscast Diane Lane was also. With her hausfrau frump in full mojo, I still found myself muttering certain Bill Murray-isms under my breath. Next time get an ugly 40 something to make the movie.

After the movie we went to MacCool's. The lamb shank will always be one of my favorite items on the menu. I like this restaurant because they don't shy away from strong flavors. OK......they do have calamari on the menu which is perhaps my least favorite appetizer. I like the taste of them, but people order it thinking it makes them cool, or edgy (look at me I'm eating squid). As such it has become a bland and ubiquitous presence on most menus. ENOUGH! But I digress.

There was a couple sitting a tablet near us. SHe was bitching about the seafood pancakes being to.......seafoody I suppose. What was the main ingredient? It was hardly a seafood, but a strong flavor nonetheless. Smoked trout. It is definitely not for all tastes, but I've loved it ever since I was a kid. I remember my old man somehow fell into the good graces of a guy in our neighborhood named Nick Dokos. Nick liked to fish. Nick caught a lot of fish. Nick smoked a lot of fish. To make a long story short, I polished off about a pound and a half of my old man's trout one morsel at a time. My mom was pissed, but the old man just laughed it off. Strange indded since my mother hates smoked fish and my dad would have gladly subsisted on a diet of it forever.I digress again.

Next time I go to MacCools, I'm gonna get me some of smoked trout pancakes. I guarantee I will either love them or hate them for the taste, but I'll always enjoy them for what they are. An unapologetically strong flavor. As for the woman, I hope that little minx is being punished as we speak........by Carl.