A Need to Catch Up

The weather was beautiful on my recent trip to Ireland. I was standing outside of a pub called The Tara Arms in Tullow, talking as idly as possible to a lady who said "this is our Indian summer." Nice to know we've exported our racism along with our Hillbilly's Chicken. Is this really what people know of us overseas?

At the cost of a couple gallons gas, a pack of hot dogs, and a case of beer, I spent a wonderful evening last weekend around a campfire near a spring-fed pond. Good life can be so cheap. How is it that everyone is broke?

I've pulled all the plants from the garden and tilled everything into a picturesque scratching land, from the perspective of a chicken.

When did progress become a sign of weakness? The move to the suburbs was a movement of progress. Making those little pieces of paradise outside of the city carbon-neutral is socialism? Big inventions like the light bulb were progress. So using energy-saving light bulbs is left-wing nuttery? Oil is boring. Making wagers on the health of people is boring. War is boring. Where there hell are the flying cars that run on solar power? Where is the technology that lets me commute from Michigan to Paris in a few hours daily for pennies? Why do we kill off things that are new?

Come hell or high water, I'm finishing my greenhouse this weekend.

I spent a weekend in Washington D.C. with my parents. My father was meeting up with the survivors of Delta Company, Americal Division, 40 years after they went into Vietnam. The guy who, when he was 19, was the company commander for this bunch of one-time kids in the jungle, said "let's go to dinner." This statement made every man at the table jump up and move to the door without thought. Strong habit.

Congratulations, Mr. President, on your Nobel Peace Prize.