There was a disaster of some sort on Sister Street. I having backed into our upper driveway many, many times without incident, struck the new guard rail with my old truck. I don't normally use this driveway for the truck but I needed to get to the garage to load or unload something. Probably something to do with an auction item or two. So is it really my fault? Yes, I suppose it is as nearly the same thing happened a few years ago but at that time it was only the bumper. After an appropriate period of feeling sorry for myself and using many (not all) of the bad words I could recall I went on about my task then returned the truck to its own wider drive and carport. I decided then and there it was time to trade it. After all, it is fourteen years old with nearly 80,000 miles on it and now a dent in the bumper and another on the driver's side rear door.
When I returned to my warm house and calmed down a bit I began searching the newspapers for a replacement. Most if not all were a couple years newer but about twice the mileage and prices that were laughable. Remember when cars and trucks had 100,000 miles they were considered candidates for a scrap yard? Now they ask for 20 to 25 thousand dollars and apparently have no problem getting it.
While in Towanda in business the other day I saw a new something or other pick-up for only $42,995 and that was with a ten thousand dollar discount. When I got all this input through my computer (brain) I decided the old truck stays.
While in Towanda we visited the Ben Franklin store which is rather neat to poke around in. I had a nice conversation with Jay Cory (aka Benjamin Franklin). He is very knowledgeable about his products and he has used and "tested" many of them. Either that or he is an extremely good salesman.
We also went to the mega-store to use a gift card I had received as a reward for completing a couple medical tests that were anything but pleasant. Of course, the card was denied several times so now I wonder if it was valid at all. As long as we were near big stores in a bigger town I stopped in to get my mother a box of her favorite donuts. It is an unwritten rule that if you find yourself near one of the larger shopping areas you are able to get Mom her donuts.
Let's move on to Washington DC and the good news of the week is Lois Lerner's lost or misplaced e-mails have suddenly been found. What wonderful news! And the new administrator of the Veterans Administration has admitted to lying about serving in the Special Forces. It is now legal to use pot in the nation's capital and our Secretary of State says we are safer now than we have been in a century. All of which shows we no longer need to jokingly ask, "What have you been smoking?" If it comes out of Washington we will know the answer.
I am told by the news that Hilllary will announce if she is or is not going to run for President next month. That will give her time to figure out what to say about donations to the Clintons Foundation by countries such as Algeria and Saudi Arabia. This all took place while she was Secretary of State; however, as old Hillary would say, "At this point what difference does it make?"
I spoke with my Florida source Sunday and learned they will have a day or two in the 80s. I guess 70s aren't good enough. He also informed me he had sold another motorcycle (this buying and selling is common) and once again doubled his investment. He has bought and sold trucks and motorcycles for some time and so far he has not been burnt. So far.
I thought the news would end here but I just heard on TV about some teachers somewhere going on strike. These folks average $59,000 per year and the state requires 180 days of school. By my math, which never was my strong suit, that is $327 per day. I don't know if that includes a few meetings and some in-service days or not. I suppose I will get some unkind remarks but I have always advocated merit pay for politicians and educators. How about base pay and performance enahncements upon positive results.
Now in closing, if you want to help your community, a letter to the CEO of Arnot Medical Services about the proposed closing of the offices of Doctor Kirkowski in Canton might not change the course of events, but I did and it makes me feel better. The address is as follows: Dr. Robert Lambert, CEO Arnot Health, 600 Ivy Street, Suite 102, Elmira, NY 14905.