Winter Prediction

I hereby step out on a limb. I predict that winter weather here in Northern Idaho will be a tourist repellent. Starting tomorrow, December 1, were going to get it.

Two low pressure areas meeting just off the coast. One from the North, carrying cold air. The other, carrying heavy moisture from the South.

When the twain shall meet has the weather guessers checking their almanacs in despair. They don't know what's going to happen. Somewhere in the great Northwest we are going to find out. By Friday afternoon traffic will be paralyzed, and I will be comfortable at home. Others won't have the good sense to get out of their own way. You heard it here first!

Crisis in Bayview

Recently, Jerry Berry, owner of the Captain's Wheel restaurant was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. This type is one of the most virulent cancers.

Unlike restaurants in the big city, resort town places such as this are marginal operations at best. They make money in the Summer and lose it back in the winter months. Jerry has Medicare, but no supplemental insurance. Some of his Chemotherapy drugs are not covered by Medicare and will cost $3000.00 per week out of pocket.

Friends of Jerry Berry are banding together for "Love and Life" December 10 at the Captain's Wheel in Bayview from 7:00 to 11:00 P.M. There will be several fund raising events including a silent auction, live auction, raffle and a $10.95 buffet.

Entertainment will be provided by Whiskey Rock. An account has been set up for donations at the Hayden Branch of Wells Fargo Bank. We urge all of you to help if you can... Jerry's survival may hinge upon your help...

Thanksgiving

T'was the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned, the dark meat and white.
But I fought the temptation with all of my might.

tossing and turning, with anticipation.
The thought of a snack became infatuation.
So I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey, and butters potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling, so plump and so round
'til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky,
With a mouthful of pudding, and a handful of pie.
But I managed to yell, as I soared past the trees,
Happy eating to all, pass the cranberries please.

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
and may your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!

Happy thanksgivings to all, and to all a great feast.

Author, Steve Beaudry

Respect

I have given a great deal of thought to the recent, and for that matter, past discussions involving disrespectful references.

I am not a fundamentalist Christian, nor am I an Evangelical Christian, Nor a Moslem or any of the other labels that we use to identify, in some way, how others differ, or are the same as we. It isn't important in this forum at this time to state what my beliefs are. That would detract from the main topic.

That topic is respect. Every day I read the paper, (Spokesman-Review of course) and grind my teeth over the sarcasm and vitriol that spews forth in articles and editorials. Where have good manners gone. Haven't some of you learned to be tolerant of others? It doesn't matter that you disagree with someone else's opinion. What does matter is how you do it.

To insult the belief system, or the base from which a person is coming from is to lose the argument from the start. If you don't have logic and good theory going for you, sarcasm and put downs certainly won't help you either.

My father once said to me, "Herb if you find that you are digging a hole for yourself, the first thing to remember is to let go of the shovel".

I suggest that those of you that insist on basing your arguments on personalities and putdowns, let go of the shovel...

If you need a forum that totally agrees with you, start a new blog entitled "atheists R us"...

Homeless in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

It had to happen sooner or later. I mean, the Coeur d'Alene City Council has always had diversity of sorts. This week, we have topped the heap. The ultimate in democracy. Everywhere in this great country of ours, we have homeless people wandering the streets, looking for a life.

Right here in beautiful downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, we have struck a blow for freedom.

For the very first time in the history of Idaho, and maybe a bunch of other places, we have elected a homeless person to the city council. Coeur d'Alene, I salute you.

As an afterthought, we sincerely hope that Mike Kennedy will find a home soon...It might snow.

Bayview's Best

All of Bayview is collectively holding their breath. Jerry Berry, popular owner of the "Captain's Wheel" Restaurant and night club is seriously ill. We all are hoping and praying that he will recover soon.

Many loyal patrons of the local night spot are donating their time and energies to help out where they can. I would like to encourage all of you to stop by. Tell your waitress to say hi to Jerry.

Springboards

Now that it is firmly established that to succeed in Idaho politics, you merely have to be a DFO blogger, I'm in. No smoke filled rooms for Herb, Baby. On my way to fame and graft, I am.

Skipping over the humdrum meetings with sycophants, avoiding the rotten tomato throwing opposition, thumbing my nose at the party bosses, I'm ready for public service. No need for training or worrying about qualifications. No kissing babies for me. Babes, though, is different.

Skipping over the more mundane things like City Council, after all, I don't live in a city anyway, I'm going for the top.

Is it too late to declare for Governor? No matter, I'll win hands down through write in votes secured through Huckleberries. (Happy days are here again) Oops, wrong party, oh well, no matter, I'll run on both tickets, and win both nominations...

There is only one problem here. We DFO bloggers outnumber the available public offices. Maybe I'll just declare victory now...Otherwise I'll be late for dinner again...

Unlimited Faith

I've spent several days trying to figure out how or whether to write this...

This is a well reported local story. I am not trying to reach local people. That has already been done. This is to get this amazing act of courage out to folks that don't live in the Spokane/North Idaho area.

Several days ago, a Mennonite family was heading to Spokane, Washington to meet up with wife and mother, Carolyn Schrock. Carolyn, pregnant with their sixth child, had gone ahead to shop.

Driving south from Chewelah, Washington, home of a small Mennonite Community, was Jeffrey Schrock and their five children. Driving North, was Clifford Helm. Helm, according to printed reports, crossed over into the oncoming lane, and struck, head-on, the Schrock vehicle.

Jeffrey Schrock, was critically injured. All five children were instantly killed.

When notified, Carolyn Schrock was reported to have said, "It was God's will".

She has since visited the hospital room of the other driver, to comfort him and offer her forgiveness. I can't in my life, remember an example of faith that transcends this one.

I don't necessarily personally believe that the children were taken as a deliberate act of God. He gave us free will, to achieve or screw up as we would. In my mind those two principles oppose each other. But it isn't important here what I believe.

The point here is that this woman's faith was so strong, that rather than collapse at the loss of her entire family of children, she comforted the very person that caused that loss. I am truly awed beyond the ability to express my feelings.

I don't think the Mennonite Religion has Saints. If they did, I believe we have one in Carolyn Schrock.

Desert vs Jungle

Ah! The last day of a seemingly endless desert... Withdrawal at an end...

Huckleberries will be back tomorrow. The jungle that sometimes erupts in huckleberries is by far overshadowed by the desert we have had to endure during Dave's vacation. Why, we bloggers have actually resorted to entertaining each other...

I think I've done some of my best stuff during Dave's vacation, but during the hiatus I doubt we bloggers got the hits that we normally do.

By and large, I think everyone has been reasonably civil to each other, with the possible exception of today, where the debate seems to be heating up along liberal/conservative lines again.

Dave, you are getting back just in time, I think...