Light Up Your Life...Properly

Friends, I present the following as a public service (with tongue firmly placed in my cheek):

Between 2012 and 2014, the incandescent light bulbs given us by Mr. Edison will be phased out in favor of the newer CFL (compact florescent light) bulbs. It is believed the CFLs use up to 70% less energy than incandescents, resulting in huge energy savings for all of us.

So, what's the catch? Sounds like a wonderful thing, right?

Well, these CFLs contain just a tiny bit of mercury (some say about the same amount of mercury as you'll find in a can of tuna fish—which we CONSUME). This takes us to the Environmental Protection Agency web site, where we find (very) detailed instructions on how to clean up after a broken CFL bulb—and you know we'll break a few. You can find the 3-pages of detailed instructions at http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.pdf but to save time, I'll present the EPA brief "overview" of the proper clean-up procedure:

CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL OVERVIEW

The most important steps to reduce exposure to mercury vapor from a broken bulb are:

1. Before cleanup   

a. Have people and pets leave the room.

b. Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.   

c. Shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

d. Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.

2. During cleanup  

a. Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.  

b. Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

3. After cleanup  

a. Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly.  Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.

b. If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours 

At least we don't need to store
a haz-mat suit in our homes!

Psst, in case you're wondering: 

   There are many types of incandescent bulbs that are exempt from this law:
      --any kind of specialty light (ie. bulb in refrigerator)
      --reflector bulbs
      --3-way bulbs
      --candelabras
      --globes
      --shatter resistant
      --vibration service
      --rough service
      --colored bulbs (i.e. "party bulbs")
      --bug lights
      --plant lights

Finally, the law applies to the SALE of bulbs, not the USE of your existing stock of bulbs.

                Source: http://energystar.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23018&task=knowledge&questionID=24835

Sweet Memories

Sitting in church this past Sunday morning, the organist played a bit of Just As I Am Without One Plea and, as usual, I was taken back 50+ years ago in a flash. My Grandpa Griffith loved to watch the Billy Graham Crusades on TV and I would sit on the big, wide arm of his easy chair to watch alongside him. Grandpa was a man of few words, but once in a while he would say, "that's right" or give an "Amen" during the broadcast.

Grandpa, Grandma, sister Nancy and me on the front porch
of their home outside Medaryville, Indiana, circa 1955.

Actually, seated that close I can also remember the sweet smell of the tobacco he was always chewing. I do come from a long line of tobacco users and those memories can come roaring back instantly with the aroma of tobacco or even with a special song or hymn from long ago.

Just Leave Us Alone

In her State of the State message on 1/19/11, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley echoed Ronald Reagan's sentiment that "as government expands, liberty contracts." The role of government, she said, is "to secure the rights and freedoms of our people." It was "never intended to be all things to all people." 

Right on, Governor! 

Unfortunately, there are many from the President on down the line that would heartily disagree with the Governor. They feel the federal government should be involved in every aspect of our lives, from cradle to grave. Just look at "ObamaCare" as a shining example of government essentially taking over approximately one-sixth of our national economy.

Balderdash! Horse hockey! Nonsense! Leave me alone! 

Over the past two years, the federal government has gone way too far into controlling the private lives of citizens and private companies, too. Of course, that takes money...lots of money. As a result, we have a budget deficit that will essentially cripple our children, grandchildren and those that come after them. Can you really fathom fourteen trillion dollars? I can't imagine what that really represents. It's even more impressive to see it in numerals:

$14,000,000,000,000

And don't forget, as Ronald Reagan told us,

We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.

We spend too much trying to be all, to all...and all that spending is about to economically ruin a once great nation. 

Why Do This?

I was just reading a blog post (appropriately) by Barry Ritholtz at his blog The Big Picture, http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/01/why-blog/ where he lists what he feels are the top 10 reasons a person would want to blog:

I can think of many reasons why someone might start and maintain a blog:

Blogs? Yeah We Got That

1. You have something to say

2. You enjoy the craft of writing

3. You want to figure out what you think, and do so in public

4. You want to be part of a larger community of like minded individuals

5. You have a hobby or interest that you are really, really into

6. You want to maintain a presence on the Intertubes

7. You have an expertise and you want to share it

8. You have an eye for content (text, graphics and video) and you enjoy leading other people to them

9. You want to create a permament online record of what you are reading, looking at or thinking about

10. You like engaging in debate with total strangers

That’s off the top of my head.

Number 9 hits my nail right on the head, with Honorable Mentions for #1 and #2. Imagine if you could read the thoughts and meanderings of your grandparents or great-grandparents. You could find out, in their own words, what made them tick, what they felt to be important, who and what was an important part of their lives. I believe that would be fantastic. I have some photos, some sketchy memories, and even a few birth, death, and military records from my own genealogical searches, but to "hear" what came directly from their heads and hearts would be absolutely fantastic, in my view. 

So, here you have it: my blog for the ages so that way down the road, when I become a sketchy memory, these posts will still exist in cyberspace for Emma, Jack, Mitch, Ben and even those that come after them. Call me goofy—many have for one reason or another—but I think that's a good enough reason...just in case they ever wonder. 

Bald In...Bald Out

Interesting, is it not, that in a number of ways we seem to make a great circle through our lives. For instance, these two photos of me at the ripe old age of 6 months or so show a very definite lack of natural head covering.

Mom and I sharing a laugh.

My sister, Judy, and me.

What a cue ball, eh? Well, I've gone full circle now, sporting no more hair than I did 60+ years ago. At least I do have much more of a beard than I did back then!

Grandson Jack and Grandpa a couple years back.

Final thought: I notice I'm wearing diapers in those topmost photos; thankfully that circle hasn't yet completed!

King Coal

As I’ve mentioned before, the past three generations of my family lived and died in southeastern Kentucky, the area that is now known as Appalachia. It is an absolutely beautiful place with the Cumberland Mountains and plateau, part of the great Appalachian Mountain chain, its most striking feature.

Back in the early 1990s I began a genealogical search that took me to those mountains and the people that still inhabit that area. Coal was king in those hills for generations, until automation and regulation dried up the only type employment those folks had ever known. You can see a photo of my paternal Grandfather in an earlier post–http://paul-griffith.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-rootsmy-foundation.html–in his mining hat, complete with carbide lamp.

My genealogical search revealed my great-grandparents, on my grandmother’s side, also lived and worked those hills, eking out a living in one of the most difficult and dangerous occupations one could find. Here they are posing for a photo, circa 1920, sitting in the front yard of their Floyd County Kentucky home. They raised ten children in that home; no wonder they look a bit tired in this photo.

John and Rosa Campbell

I love this photo…from the wide-brimmed hat on Grandpa’s knee, to his bushy mustache, to her long white apron, and of course the stone pipe I’m told Grandma Rosa always had close at hand. Then, look at the lay of the land behind them; a house carved into the Kentucky hills to be sure. John (1849-1934) and Rosa (1855-1930) were the epitome of the hard-working and hard-living folks I call my own. 

Michigan Winters

To me, a winter in Michigan is a time of recharging one's batteries. The grass doesn't need its weekly attention, the garden is asleep waiting for the next spring, and the lake cottage is buttoned up until warmer weather arrives, giving me time to spend reflecting and planning for the year ahead.

Winter weather in Michigan can be mild and laid-back, or when all things meteorological come together just so, all hell can break loose. My most memorable and life-threatening winter is 1978, when Michigan was hit with what is now known as The Great Blizzard. In January of that year we lived on our little 40-acre farm in rural Allegan county. Our home was situated on a private dirt road, about 300 yards off the paved county road. From January 25-27 we received well over 20 inches of snow, accompanied by gale-force winds. That combination closed roads, airports and even caused the University of Michigan to cancel classes for the first time in its 140-year history. The way the wind piled up the snow was both beautiful and scary.

I remember we almost lost Glenn on the day that storm began. He was walking home alone from a neighbor's house after being dropped off the school bus. His route was a shortcut through an open hayfield, as usual. He had walked back to our place that very way dozens of times, but with the snow and wind that day he became disoriented and we had to go out and find him to bring him home; dangerous stuff to be sure.

Thank goodness blizzards are a rare occurrence here. Still, with the average season snowfall of 75 inches or so, winter in west Michigan is a great time to just hunker down, start a fire in the fireplace, get out a good book and chill.

Garden seed catalogs have begun arriving lately, a surefire sign that Spring can't be too far away. I love to plan our little garden, using leftover heirloom seeds not planted last year, or the seeds saved from a few of last year's best-producing crops, and then ordering a few more for our next gardening season.

Our little "square foot" garden in 2010. 

I know, we won't feed the world with that little garden, but it augments our own needs quite well. For 2011, I'm adding two more 4'x4' raised beds. After this photo was taken, we added six raspberry bushes, hoping for a small harvest this year. Looking at photos like this make it easier to accept and survive another winter, knowing a new and warmer season is on the way.

For the past 10 years or so, I've enjoyed spending a week in (hopefully) sunny Florida during the month of March. The bulk of winter weather is over in Michigan and a few days of warmth and sunshine are a welcome change. For many years, those escapes were to Englewood Florida, where my Dad spent many winter months after his retirement. The past few years, after Dad's passing, Orlando has been my destination, using one of the timeshare weeks from the RCI account I received from Dad.

Sunshine, bright blue skies and palm trees do wonders
for a person after months of cold Michigan weather. 

For now though, with views like this on our back deck at the moment and weather forecasts expecting highs in the teens this week, that good book and cup of hot coffee seem like the best idea for the time being.

The U.S. Constitution

 Today, January 5, 2011, 435 members of Congress will raise their right hands and take the following oath:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.

This is nothing new; the oath has been sworn by members of Congress since the creation of our Constitution in 1787. The problem is that the oath is often forgotten or ignored. In fact, to help members better fulfill their oath, the House will not only read the Constitution aloud on Thursday, 1/6/11, but also adopt a rule requiring that every bill cite what specific provisions of the Constitution empower Congress to enact it. If followed, that rule should serve to rein in much of the outlandish cradle-to-grave protective legislation and other nonsense coming out of Washington. Yet, isn't it a shame such a rule is needed?

Constitution of the United States of America

I took a very similar oath upon my enlistment into the U.S. Air Force in 1968:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. 

I consider myself to be still under that oath, up to the references to the President (Commander-in-Chief) and the officers appointed over me. Obviously, since my discharge I am no longer bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. However, my promise to support and willingness to defend our Constitution continues to this day. That’s one reason I traveled to Washington D.C. last April to participate in the Second Amendment March on the grounds of the Washington Monument.

Second Amendment March, Washington DC, April 2010

As the saying goes, the 2^nd Amendment is the amendment that protects all the others. Our forefathers realized an armed population is necessary for our defense from enemies both within and outside our country’s borders. In addition, they believed self-defense is a God-given right, and therefore made sure U.S. citizens were guaranteed the right to bear arms.

Let’s keep our collective fingers crossed that our federal government really is led by and limited to the powers outlined in that fine, old Constitution. We could do (and have done) much worse. 

Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor;–let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children’s liberty.

~28-year-old Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, January 27, 1838                     

Christmas and the New Year

Christmas has always been a very special holiday…Mom saw to that. She loved blue lights on the tree, special baked treats and making sure excited children had special gifts to open on Christmas morning. We always traveled to visit Aunt Mary or Aunt Nell, making it a special family day. Even Cousin Ed got into the spirit of things, coming by the house Christmas Eve dressed in his very authentic Santa suit, passing out new toothbrushes to we young ones after we lied about having been good during the past year.

Christmas star on our deck at the old house in Wyoming.

One of those special gifts for me was my twin six-shooters and gun belt, received when I was seven or eight. Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry had a new cowboy to ride along with them. The smell of fired “caps” still takes me back to that Christmas. Of course, my Mickey Mouse hat was much appreciated, too, especially since they were the fancy hard plastic type ears, rather than cloth. Well, that was true until Billy Sheridan sat on them, breaking them into dozens of small pieces.

More than the gifts or decorations is the spirit of Christmas and the beautiful music that goes along with it. The birthday of the Christ Child, God’s incomprehensible love-filled gift to an imperfect mankind. We Lutherans love to sing and the strains of “Come All Ye Faithful” or “Silent Night” still can bring tears to this ol’ sap’s eyes. I must have been 13 or so when our church choir needed help with their Christmas program. Mom pushed, shoved and begged me to join…and I finally did. That experience, however, helped to instill a lifelong love of music in my ears and my heart. Mom was a very intelligent lady.

Wyoming house decorations---Christmas 2001

The last 15 years or so, I’ve come to really appreciate the Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller. Founder and Leader Chip Davis has a beautiful way of producing the old favorites in a way never done previously. Even their rendition of Jingle Bells can touch my heart and take me back 50 years in an instant.

Mannheim Steamroller's first Christmas CD

As the famous song states, old acquaintances should never be forgotten and should be brought to mind often. That’s New Year’s to me. Remembering where we’ve been and looking forward to where the next year will lead us. Thinking of those family members and friends, near and far, that make up a part of who we are; New Year’s gives us reason to think about that and appreciate each of those folks and their contribution to our lives.