Grand Canyon

I am happy to report that my (ahem) goal oriented brother has actually survived the trek from rim to canyon and back to rim.

His Sons also survived, although with probably longer recovery periods.

I am in awe of this waste of senior citizen energy. My hero is Norm Chad. You know, a beer, and the remote should handle all sporting situations.

Well, I have to sign off now...You know, nap time...

My Brother

I have an older brother. He is Stan Huseland; Author, PR guy, Journalist and Great guy...

Tomorrow, August 29, he and two Sons will hike down the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch, thence back up to the South Rim.

He has always been goal oriented, (stubborn) and not withstanding the 125 degree temperatures, will undoubtedly triumph. I, however, will be looking for a softer spot on the couch, while reading another of my many novels.

I would not try to hike to the corner store at 125 degrees, let alone down the Grand Canyon, and back up. Using my television without a remote is an imposition.

This successful idiot brother of mine will succeed, of course, like he does at anything he sets out to do.

He will turn 70 years old this October.

I love yah, Guy...

Massive Tree Kill in Faraggut Park

For the past six weeks, those of us who travel back and forth through Farragut State Park on Highway 54 have witnessed a large tree kill.

This started, unlike pest kills, where the top new growth of the trees die first. The browning of the needles began at the bottom, soon to become systemic. Hundreds of all varieties of evergreens and others are dying, all on the same schedule.

I contacted the Idaho State Transportation Department, at their Regional headquarters in Hayden, Idaho. I was referred to the district Superintendent of road maintenance. When I brought this phenomenon up to John Perfect, he had not been aware of this previously. He promised to personally inspect the situation and get back to me, which he did promptly.
It appears, where the seemingly obvious was overspray of a defoliant, there are other possible culprits, such as the chloride spray used in the winter, and possibly plowed back into the trees. This is less than obvious, but then I suppose if the hot spell over stressed the trees in combination of the salts, it could be the cause.

To Mr Perfect's credit, rather than gloss over the situation, he is calling in the Silvaculturists from the Department of Lands to diagnose the cause. If it is transportation's problem, he sounded like he would take corrective action.

Until then, we have probably lost hundreds of trees, both on Highway 54, and 95 North of Silverwood Theme Park.

More on this as the situation develops...

Timberlake Fire District implodes

I have lived in Bayview for only ten years... In that time, we had a volunteer Fire Department that was run by well meaning, but poorly trained good old boys.

Two or three years ago, we consolidated with the Athol Fire Department. The partnership with Athol, (wrongly referred to in a recent Spokane Spokesman-Review as Athol Fire Department) and Bayview Fire District occurred. The surviving entity is the Timberlake Fire District, consisting of Athol, Bayview, and Cape Horn.

Several things happened that were very good. First, by consolidating the two weak fire districts, into one, we gained a more powerful taxing district. Secondly, somehow, we managed to capture a great Fire Chief in Rich Graeber.

I have personally witnessed two occasions where the first arrival in the emergency was Rich Graeber. He was a great asset to the community, not just as a fire chief, but as a person. I cannot believe that he left us willingly, or without regret.

We, here in Bayview, and yes, in Athol too, will miss him. But that's not the end to this story. Somehow, politics have overpowered common sense...

Has the desire to be important overcome the desire to have a great fire department? I think so, and so do many others that were shocked to hear the news. I believe that the commissioners needed to be in the limelight, and resented the chief his popularity. How sad!

There will be more from this column on this subject, including full participation in the next Fire District Commissioner election. I'm about throwing the rascals out.

Disenfranchisement

Although many forgot, or ignored it, August 2 was an election day. To most people, it is choice, that determines who and how many vote.

In this case it wasn't! An obscure elective position on the Lakes Highway commission was at stake. Obviously, I live in Bayview, as does the incumbent, Hanson. We have enjoyed, over the years, very good road maintenance from Lakes. Great snow removal, repairs made in a timely manner.

Was this an even playing field? I think not. When I went to the Bayview Community Center, our normal polling place, I found nobody home. The next day, I found out I would have had to drive 24 miles into Hayden to vote. I don't know if the challenger lives in Hayden, or where he lives, but by bending the availability of polling places to the south, I'm quite sure that he picked up a huge advantage, since us local Bayview folks were not served, informed or without extraordinary effort allowed to vote, I claim foul.

I have religiously scanned the Spokesman-Review for information. It must be a slow count, as I have been unable to find out who won this crooked up election.

Prognosis & Treatment options

Well, Part of the waiting is over. For those of you that are sensitive, read no further. What I want is opinions, either by commenting in this blog, or going to my e-mail which is hhuseland@aol.com...

As I have learned, I have two viable options. Radical prostate removal with all of it's be-product, or Brachytherapy, which is the insertion of radioactive seeds.

I'm going to have to make a hard choice here, and would love to hear from anyone whith prior experience. If you wish to comment anonymously, you can do that here.

IF YOU PERSONALLY HAVE GONE THROUGH TIS, OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS, PLEASE RESPOND.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT...

Terry's Cafe

Recently, Don's Cafe, in Bayview, was taken over by Terry Shepherd, and re-named Terry's Cafe. Terry was the long time manager.

Just two or three days before the Fourth week-end, the hot water heater blew up causing a fire that gutted the interior. Since ownership was in transition, the insurance didn't overlap. The financial losses were staggering. The entire community piled in to help clean it up, but help is needed desperately.

Terry has done so much for Bayview and others, including opening her restaurant to the public at Christmas time for the strays far from family.

Saturday, July 16 at 3:00 PM a "Blowout benefit will occur at JD's patio...

All a dollar beer, dogs, chili and pop along with Live music and a prize raffle will be held...

Hopefully this will get at least as much attention as the week-end part at the same location.

Please, if you can, attend this very worthwhile event for a wonderful person and a credit to her community...

If you can't make it and want to donate, please leave a message in the comments section of this blog.

For Men

I remember a friend from awhile back that contracted prostate cancer. The very first thing out of his mouth to me was, "Herb, get a PSA test".

Well, I'd like to say two things. First,and obviously, I would rather not have cancer. Secondly, I realize that it was probably caught in time to treat in several different ways. But the most important point of all, is because I am enrolled in the VA preventive medicine program, I have received a PSA test every six months for the last 2 or 3 years.

This, probably has saved my life...

Every day we read of prominent people, with lts of wealth, dying of prostate cancer. In almost all of those cases, it was diagnosed too late. And by the time sometimes appeared it had spread to the bones, at which time it is not treatable.

As to my attitude, I am just as upbeat as I always was, and am having a ball this Summer. This challenge is just another adventure on the path between birth and death. I am so very fortunate to have a great family, and great friends, here in Bayview, and perhaps beyond.

Please don't be afraid of talking to me about it. I'm not bothered, and will enjoy your interest...

I hope I don't become a single subject blogger that everyone ignores, but from time to time, I feel the need to share information that might just save one or two lives, and then you can thank me as I now thank Sam MacClay, the guy that told me of his problem, in time to find out about my own.

Well, Oh well

The guessing is over....I have prostate cancer...

I'm blessed, however, by the fact that I have treatment through the Spokane VA...

You can't believe, with all of the negative press, how great these people are, and how much they care...

This morning, I recieved a call from the doctors at the medicaL Center. They wanted me to know right now, not to wash around in subtle stuff...I admire that...

I want the facts...My god, and great medical treatment will call the shots...

I will, as previously stated, keep you updated. I have great confidence that everything will turn out all right...

Thank you for your interest...

Greatest Americans

I was very disappointed last week, when I opened this subject. I tried to handle the subject somewhat objectively, knowing that I have a great admiration for Ron Reagan.

I didn't try to reach beyond the five finalists, nor did I seek to unnecessarily put down anyone...

But sure enough, some commentators, had to get sarcastic, and spit vitriol, over some of the finalists, even, I suspect, though they either weren't alive during their time, or certainly not old enough to be politically aware.

It was then that I realized how completely our parents pass on the prejudices of their own lives.

Certainly, there were other great Americans that were left out...

Franklin Roosevelt, certainly deserved a spot, and many others...I just wish that we could all just debate the issues, instead of stooping to insults, innuendos and echoes of our parents. If you can't think of any other way to comment, then shut up...Let the more thoughtful among us be heard...

Health Update

Today was the day...

I went into the V.A. for a needle biopsy, which went smoothly...

It will be about one week until I get results. The scan that accompanies the biopsy showed three bumps, which could be calcium deposits, or tumors. One can only wait and see.

In the mean time, live today, for tomorrow.......

Greatest Americans

AOL has all week been holding an election for the top American of all time.

The finalists are as follows...

Benjamin Franklin
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
Ronald Reagan
George Washington

I honestly don't know how you can objectively choose between these great Americans...

Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor, a great statesman, and may have been principally responsible for the French intervention in the Revolutionary War...

Martin Luther King, Jr., of course is known as the one single American most responsible for directing attention to the plight of the Black Americans that were still not getting full Citizenship, or justice. I still have chills when I hear replays of his great speech, "I Have a Dream"...

Abraham Lincoln was the president during a time of great turmoil. While the industrial North was doing well, the Agricultural South, depending upon slavery, was not going to follow his lead, and of course didn't...He held the nation together, at a time that no one thought it was possible...

Ronald Reagan inherited his office, after the previous President, a nice man, but an ignorant one, had, much like the Truman administration, following the second world war, with the Navy decimated, the Air Force raped, and the Army cut to one third of it's previous strength.

He, during his term of office,managed to rebuild the Armed Forces to a level that could not only compete, but actually sank the Soviet Union...He of course, along with Congress, ran up a large national debt, which some folks still blame him for, without looking at the reasons therefor.

This man, in his own time, managed to turn the world around by the strength of his will, during a time that television and the media well surpast any media that existed during the previous persons lives...

George Washington...How can anyone choose above him, yet, was he a great statesman, or just a great General...

I confess, that faced with these great choices, why should we be force to choose...

I am thankful that we have had them all, in their chosen, or forced into roles...

I can't see where anyone can choose between these great men, certainly not me...

Mariners

I have a plan...

Watching the Mariners play inter-league, I have come to the obvious conclusion. We need to petition Major league baseball for a change of league. As near as I can figure, if we switch to the National League, we're in first place.

We whipped San Diego, thence Tampa Bay, Philly, and now the Mets...

Whata you think, CDA Dave? DFO?

I rest my case...

PS: In doing spell check on "Mariners", the option is "Mourners".

Boy is THAT symbolism!

Grandchildren

I have, for the last few days, been entertaining my youngest Son, Daughter-in-law, and three delightful grandchildren. Actually, they have been entertaining me.

My Son is a missionary in England. My grandchildren, ages 7, 4, and 2 are all young ladies. The youngest two, I had never met, as they were born in England.

The picture of myself and the youngest, below, says it all. I had a wonderful time, and hope that they did too. We went to Silverwood, where yours truly works. None of the kids had ever been to a theme park and were thrilled with the magic show and the juggler, plus the many rides that they took.

I miss them already...

This is what Grandpa likes to do in his spare time...
Posted by Hello

Wailting for another sunny day
Posted by Hello

If I could, would you

I am a poorly trained blogger. Having arrived at the ripe age of 67, I'm very lucky that I can find and understand the function of the on/off switch.

Having said that, I am irretrievably sucked in to this amazing stuff. One thing, though that escapes me, is how to manipulate the various options that exist on Blogger.com

I see all of these links to other blogs, and I'm sure that either these people don't like what I write, or, just simply write me off because I don't link to them.

The simple truth of the matter is that I don't know how. If I did, I would be delighted to refer others to my esteemed colleges...Help?

Newsweek heard from

Several days ago I wrote a scathing article about the irresponsibility they showed recently.

Today I received a reply in the mail. In opening it, I found an offer of a greatly reduced subscription for a "journalist discount". This has to be the greatest!

I am in awe. The Yiddish language has an expression that covers this, but I can't spell it.

PS: I just found out why my cat is so demanding all of the time as I chased two huge racoons off my porch. Their reputation as thieves is well deserved.

Boeing

There was much discussion about Boeing and taxes on the "Wild Card" comments of yesterday, posted by Huckleberries on line.

I remember that during the Vietnam War, the Boeing 727 used the same engine as the F-4 multi-use fighter-bomber. At the height of the conflict a shortage occurred of these jet engines. I lived near the Renton plant, and observed 50 or more 727's lined up ready for delivery, but without engines.

Along came the year end, and Washington State inventory tax. To avoid this punishing penalty, Boeing had to ferry engines to Renton Boeing, install them, fly to Wichita, Kansas, remove the engines and fly them back. They did this over and over until the undelivered planes were all in Wichita.

The moral of this story is that if a state, in their greed, passes too many anti-business tax laws, they will loose the base which they are taxing.

Boeing also pays Business & Occupational tax, one of the most repressive taxes ever invented. With this tax, you pay on your gross revenue, regardless of whether you showed a profit. I once started a business in Washington where in the first year I showed an actual loss of $7000.00. I paid $1600.00 B & O tax anyway...

The state got their's first.

Boeing pays their own way and then some. It is very hard for me to see the point of view that all businesses are predatory, and all labor is perfect. Who hires these perfect workers, and who creates with their own capitol the where-with-all to hire?

Prayer

I don't talk much about religion. The reason being, that either some idiot comes up with a bunch of reasons that I'm an idiot, or it's a different slant on the same stuff, or, I'm not of your faith.

Right now, I'm recieving a lot of prayer. I gotta be honest with you, I don't care whether you are a praying muslim, or a praying Jew, or even if, like me, you are a Christian, all of your prayers are coming from the heart, and that's the only place that counts...And, remember, it all started with a guy named Abraham, or Abrim, or whatever.

God bless you all...

Herb