Observations via the State of Confusion: Illinois

I'm sure none of us born here, nor living here, nor working here can fully realize all the graft and corruptions that could possibly lead to a State without enough resources to function, but that is where Illinois has gotten to despite Taxes on products, special products with multiple taxes on it, a bar of soap being considered a luxury (WTF), taxes on property, toll systems established for light years on the expressway system, wages taxed, income re-taxed, so what do the citizens get?
Potholes that could easily blow out a tire, no sight of plows during a lovely rush hour drive home in freezing rain nor snow, driving home on expressways where the light timers were never changed for winter hours, same on the on & off ramps, and who is loading their pockets off of these citizen deprivations?  Do we have salt, do we have gasoline to run the plow trucks?  Better yet is the State Capital of Springfield lit up nightly like a Christmas Tree?  Are people who acted as a government official for 2-6 years pulling a lifetime pension for it?
How many of our governors or staff members have been jailed versus how many of them have gotten away with crimes against the State?
But on a thursday or friday morning you will see 4-6 trucks out on 53's end zone, 2-3 men to a truck, like a bad polish joke (yes, I am part polish) 1 to drive each truck, 1 to talk to each guy driving the truck, and 1 with a garbage bag in his hand walking alongside the road picking up occasional trash sighted.  How much does all that cost?
Would rather drive roads that lit or have roads that might get plowed in a storm?
And the State of Confusion is finally considered this week more broke than the State of California, some contest, and so the State of Confusion can't put humpty dumpty together again?

Below is an article in today's Chicago Tribune :

Illinois budget officials say the state will delay today's planned sale of $500 million in construction bonds after a recent credit downgrade.

A spokesman for Gov. Pat Quinn's budget office said the decision was made after conversations with potential bidders led officials "to believe the market is unsettled because of recent actions and comments made by the bond rating agencies."

It's unclear when the state would go back to the market or if the delay would impact the building schedule of a statewide public works program.

Last week, Standard and Poor's downgraded the state's credit rating from A to A-minus. The move means Illinois has the worst ranking of all 50 states, a distinction the state had already earned from Moody's. The ratings mean it could cost the state more to borrow money as investors seek higher interest rates.

The rating agencies blame the lack of action in Springfield on reforming the state's vastly underfunded public employee pension system. Quinn has been unsuccessfully pushing for changes for a year. The delay in bond sales could up the pressure on lawmakers to act sooner rather than later, particularly if it impacts construction of schools and roads in their districts.

House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego issued a statement about Quinn's move today.

"The administration's decision to pull the $500 million bond sale today is a clear indication that officials were concerned that we might pay too much in interest, in large part due to our awful credit rating. Our failure to pass meaningful pension reform, to pay down our large backlog of bills and to live within our means is contributing to this uncertainty in the markets for us," the statement read.

The Grand Parents

"When was the last time, you ever saw the sunrise?"

It's not our role but one we've witnessed throughout the years, the role a grandparent plays in their grand children's lives, it's an awesome role usually.

For me I only had my Grand Pa John Hughes, and I loved him dearly despite not understanding his role when fathering my mother, he was not always there for her, and let the wicked stepmother forced on her at age 15 have too much to say and too much money control which put my mom in a bad situation for most of her teen and early adulthood years, but as a Grand Father we had many good times with him, and I'd have to say he influenced that first love of music most certainly for me, another Irish dreamer.
I lost Grandpa to prostate cancer when I was 16 yrs old, but not before a ton of humor and music and hugs had been indulged in. His accordion rests with me, and I still love the sound of a well played flute.

Next I witnessed our own child's Grand Parents as they blossomed and bloomed into their own styles, all very different due in part to living proximity, when he was a very young toddler my folks moved in with us due to a Wisconsin home sale, until the addition we were building onto our house would be ready for them to occupy, tight quarters for those first few months, and more "No's" for the toddler as he learned the safety of given terrain, no privacy for anyone, couch sleeping for us.  What was tough for the adults involved turned into a good old time for a growing boy, parents busy with survival skills being tweaked, he ended up preferring his grand parents who had patience to color, read, play, and shower affections on him as we tried to get the addition completed and after,  well he'd announce to us he was going home with the twins as he dubbed them, and he'd spend time with Grandpa on the couch pretending it was a fishing boat, tossing him out of that pretend boat onto the blue blankets and carpet, or testing out Grammies cooking which he was already smart enough to know was much better than mine, and so it went his first babysitters, substitute parents, and good friends flourished, until Grandpa and Grandma would become ill and have to leave 12 years apart.

His other set of Grand parents in the city would see him for family visits and holidays, their hands full with a rather large family and other grand children to babysit, play with and love, and not long after another new Grandson would be reared by them, so those relationships as established always did flourish,, daily living, all the details involved, teaching them survival skills, taking them to games, playing catch, teaching them how to cook and on and on it goes.

And then we witnessed as our siblings became grand parents, all the care and attention they'd give as their own grand children came into this world and needed some more love and teaching passed on to them.  Sometimes seeing a look or a trait passed from one generation to another has been a thing that brought many smiles to us. It is without a doubt that I see parts of the sibling in the child or vice versa, eye color, a look that stops you in your tracks, or a special smile, and you see the heridity for a fleeting moment.

And that is where the blessing of time and good health really comes to be cherished, more time for them all to play and guide their grandchildren, that's what I wish for.  I have no idea if we'll be blessed this way one day, but it would be something to look forward to, I think we'd enjoy the days spent ........

And the world keeps going round

So many years later as it all keeps spinning, knowing where we've been, and where we've arrived to, it all goes a little too fast for me to savor it, grasp it, like the old fever dream of the sand slipping through my palm, so much of it does it's fleeting dance, dancing away from my hold.
Once years ago a person who would become a best friend one day long, long after, informed that I was the family "chump", I'd always give some forgiveness, another opportunity or chance to those I encountered on this lovely planet we call Earth.
Days could bring you to your knees, steal away the treasures that are found within the people we love, I'd vow a harder human spirit would emerge, and what do I get? The chump side is still there, only I'd prefer to call the resilient child within is the strongest part of the spirit caught within these walls of flesh, the flesh erodes and laughingly the child remains, much like Du Maurier's "Progress of Julius" and his life long story as a small child floating out on the waters he saw the clouds above and reached his hands upward trying to grasp them, and when he died an old man......after a novel full of adventures the last thing he did before he closed his eyes and surrendered to the waters was to reach up towards the skies and try to capture those clouds again in his fists.
So the child comes home from work these winter nights, January driving towards the sun noticing the light and sunsets are with her westward bound, a month early as this usually occurs in February at her birth date, and she knows somehow the world or the planet has slipped a notch early, she's been tracking this progression of winter light for years on that same time of day ride, a small detail to one man, intriguing to her.
As she enters her yard like Julius she looks up to the stars, the moon quarter moon earlier in the week now near a 1/2 moon, despite the cold she could stay out there gazing for awhile, it's still the child who enjoys all this, despite the tired woman who houses her, she goes into see her lovies and start some dinner.
One possible question is: Who is the chump really? The one that harbors the grudges. The one who buys into the bullshit? The one who teaches the lessons of always placing blame elsewhere?  Do we just leave that as a legacy, or do we keep on trying to mend fences, and build bridges?
Out of a cast of thousands, I only hold on to a neighbor grudge and maybe a handful from my youth of trusted friends who were disguised evils.  But in adult life, even if the shadow or subconscious person knows better or tries to guard, the woman puts herself on ice and lets the child lead with wonder that still is the essence.
I don't hold grudges, what was, was, what is, is, hopefully each chapter gave us something that was heartwarming, and hopefully we all see the beauties enough to know that that cup of life has always been replenished and remains Half Full.  

2012 , a door closes except for the memories

Each year brings good and bad to some of us, while some years become treacherous, other years become enjoyable, 2012 was one of those years for "our families", there is an old story that passes about throughout the times, that sums up what 2012 was for me: "I Wish You Enough", I will share it at the end of this writing.

In 2012, via pictures or sometimes videos, and some times real visits with our families, the year brought many of us "enough", little babies growing up into toddlers much loved by our own siblings who are their grandparents, and enjoying the world through their Grandma or Grandpas eyes, older children being exciting about getting their license, our own son finding someone who loves him for who he is and returns the caring for his special young woman.  Through the hard work of my spouse it brought us some stability in a faltering economy, not without a price paid by him as he still gives his 150% he always gave, he in particular brought me some peace, some light .  And 2012 brought us more of Grandpa & Grandma both unique, both loved,  both cherished by their large families now spun off into endless ancestry flowcharts.  2012 was kinder than some of it's relatives, and being thankful for such a stretch of time, well that I am. I would think we all are.
And so here is the story I promised, passed around many times via internet, but always a keeper:

" I wish you enough!"

      At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments
  together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the
  door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough." She said,
  "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I
ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she
left.  He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I
could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy,
but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone
knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back
memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me.
Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell  him face to face how
much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.
 "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked.
"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead
and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral, " he said.
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May
I ask what that means?" He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been
handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He
paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail,
he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting
the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain
them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he
were reciting it from memory. "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude
bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough
happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest
joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
 I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye." He then
began to sob and walked away.

My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH!!! They say, "It takes a
minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them,
but then an entire life to forget them."

Take the time to live!
 

January, named after Janus the god of the doorway

January is named after Janus (Ianuarius), the god of the doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) - January is the door to the year. Traditionally, the original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, totalling 304 days, winter being considered a monthless period. Around 713 BCE, the semi-mythical successor of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius, is supposed to have added the months of January and February, allowing the calendar to equal a standard lunar year (355 days). Although March was originally the first month in the old Roman Calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the Decemvirs about 450 BCE (Roman writers differ). In contrast, years in dates were identified by naming two consuls, who entered office on May 1 and March 15 before 153 BCE when they began to enter office on January 1. Various Christian feast dates were used for the New Year in Europe during the Middle Ages, including March 25 and December 25. However, medieval calendars were still displayed in the Roman fashion of twelve columns from January to December. Beginning in the sixteenth century, European countries began officially making January 1 the start of the New Year once again — sometimes called Circumcision Style because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the eighth day from December 25. Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius, the Saxon term Wulf-monath (meaning wolf month) and Charlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth (winter / cold month). The above was a little background for where this month came from, 2 months created by man and added to a different calendar which had also been created by man: Wolf Month, I can understand that after watching the huge full moon the last two nights, named by a people who suffer the same seasonal frigid cold as we do, January has seemed to me an unforgiving month, harsh, and at times to cold to think straight, but then I live in the midwest. A long time ago in the history of man there will be mentioned a time when the lands were dark, a time when the lands became unseasonably cold, a time and weather condition that invoked travel amongst the people to search for a warmer climate and the food that a warmer climate would yield to the populace, it is referenced in many books about Europe and in particular some of the slavic countries, in my minds eye I have believe it to have been an extended January which brought darkness, starvation, and a blight on the people, they speak of the dark cloud masses covering any sunlight from getting through to the land....and the wolves ran rampant over powering travelers on foot and travelers by carriage's horses so hungry and bold were they. Yes it must have started in January, be it the doorway to the year, it is one harsh month to get through. Very little margin for errors here, exercise caution, stay in doors as often as possible, and drink hot liquids to keep the colds from your body and spirits. Goodbye to January*