tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31061764947670141862024-03-13T20:28:10.251-07:00"An Orange a Day"......By Farmer TonyFarmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-44282083709453140002023-09-28T09:01:00.003-07:002023-09-28T09:30:14.962-07:00Pumpkin Spice Madness<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I don’t know
who to blame anymore, but the whole “pumpkin spice phenomena” has gotten way out
of control!<span> </span>I remember as a kid, and into
adulthood, how much I loved pumpkin pie. I too remember anxiously waiting every year for the
release of pumpkin ice cream, which of course is only available for a limited
time. It was truly something to look forward to. It was a part of my fall rituals. In fact, it was a part of <b>me</b>. I used to complain as to why
pumpkin desserts were only made and offered in restaurants during the fall.
Besides, if desserts are based solely on what’s in season, this must mean it’s
always chocolate season, right? Anyway, I would often ask servers during the
“off season” (if you will)… “why no pumpkin desserts?” <span> </span>This would usually be answered with the
response of…“oh, it isn’t pumpkin season.” To my knowledge most pumpkin
desserts are made from puree that comes out of a can, which means you can get
it all year long! <span> </span>I don’t know who they
think they are fooling with the whole, “it isn’t pumpkin season” routine, but
believe me, it’s a sham! These days however, things have certainly changed.
Once the calendar hits September, it officially becomes “<i><b>pumpkin spice season</b></i>.”
And not just pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks either, NOOO…it’s pumpkin spice
<b>EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME</b>! I see every insane pumpkin spice flavored or scented item
in every single store I walk into this time of year. O.K., I can see the
flavored coffee creamers, and maybe donuts and what have you, and I’m sucker for a
pumpkin spiced scented candle this time of year, as it does set that certain mood of fall.
But pumpkin spiced; hot chocolate, pop corn, pudding, moon pies, trail mix,
cocktail syrup, energy bars, yogurt pretzels and <i><b>butter spread</b></i><b><i>?</i></b> Yes, I said
butter spread. Oh and don’t forget about “man’s best friend.” Because now we
have pumpkin spice dog treats and the new <b>Busch</b> (the beer maker) <b>Pumpkin Spice
Dog Brew</b>, an alcohol-free drink for dogs made with pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger,
turmeric, and water…because of course your dog knows it’s autumn. But not to be
outdone, there are now some ridiculous, non edible things on the market we can
buy, like pumpkin spice body wash, and oh, where would humanity be without (drum roll
please) <b>cinnamon pumpkin spice scented garbage bags</b>! That’s right, there’s
nothing better to disguise the scent of your kitchen garbage, than that
hint of cinnamon and cloves. Gaaah!!!</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">At this
point in time, I would like to, and in the immortal words of the great baseball legend, Yogi
Berra... <i>"thank everyone who made this day necessary."</i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>So, for all of you who have ruined a special
time of year with your over indulgence and over saturation of pumpkin spice anything and
everything, “thanks.” Thanks for destroying a time of year that I really used
to look forward to.<span> </span>Thanks for
destroying a flavor that used to be my favorite.<span> </span>And most importantly, a big “THANK YOU” for
bringing to the market something that I am sure we probably couldn’t live without. <span> </span>And that something is... <i>pumpkin spice avocado
oil caviar</i> (yes, it’s a real thing).<span> 😒</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As always,
thanks for reading my blog, and I’ll see you in the groves…unless of course I
go to town to get some new pumpkin spice tires for my tractor.<span> </span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Happy Fall,🍂</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Farmer Tony</span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-12318267827374171042023-04-28T14:55:00.001-07:002023-04-28T15:12:30.019-07:00Abort Mission (for now)<p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since time
began humans have looked up to the heavens and wondered. Wondered what those
shinny white points of light were that they could only see at night. We wondered
if there were other forms of life out there in the vastness of space. Skip
ahead thousands of years, and we were still wondering. We were curious enough
around the world, that in the modern age we became engaged in what was to be
called a “space race” with rival countries to see who could build rockets fast
enough and strong enough to take us humans into space first. And of course in
1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon, stirring the
imagination of humanity, that we would someday live and travel further into
space. Well since that fateful day in the Sea of Tranquility, we have been
eager to continue our quest to conquer space. Lofty goals are planned, even now
to someday put a space station on the Moon as a stopping point, on our way to eventually
head on over to Mars! Could it really happen? With enough time, ingenuity and
of course money, I believe it will happen probably sooner rather than later.
There are certainly enough world space agencies like our NASA, along with enough
private companies now willing to spend the money and “brainpower”
to make it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
However, as our goals of conquering space continue to broaden, I look around
and feel like we are, in some odd way, conquering ourselves into some sort of weird submission. Instead of thriving, sometimes my skepticism makes it feel like we are merely surviving. Our
society at times feels more like <i>“Planet of The Apes,”</i> rather than <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a society living in the 21<sup>st</sup> century,
ready to move on to distance planets. I don’t think we are quite ready to take
our “circus” of humanity traveling just yet for other worlds to see. We can’t
even have a couple hundred people on an airplane these days without somebody physically
fighting with the flight crew because they are denied a gin and tonic before
takeoff! Or causing a ruckus because they were asked to use the lavatory
closest to their seat! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously? We’re
working on spacecraft powerful enough to move us into orbits of other planets, when almost weekly, we see in the news, that
we still haven’t quite “mastered” train rail technology that was created literally
hundreds of years ago! It seems like train derailments in our country are now
en vogue and happening at an alarming rate. It doesn’t really matter to me how
or why it’s happening, but the point is, after hundreds of years, we should have
this technology “down” by now. Lack of food and clean drinking water seems to
still be a big issue around the world, and with a hungry global population that
continues to grow at (last count) 2.6 people per second, I’m not seeing any
solutions happening for all these new Earthlings anytime soon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t even get me started with some of the
things we do globally to our oceans! Hmmm…war still seems to be bit of a
sticking point to the inhabitants in our world. With either ongoing wars, or
certainly the threat of war by countries around the globe still staring millions
of people in the face on a daily basis, I am not so sure beings living on other
planets are quite ready for our <b>brand of existence</b>. Taking our show on the <i>“interplanetary
road”</i> doesn’t quite seem like the right thing to do just yet. I believe humanity
still needs a little more time in the oven to cook before we go knocking on our
extraterrestrial neighbors’ door to <i>“tell them the good news.”</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I find the idea of space
exploration as exciting as the next nerd, and images we see from the James Webb
Telescope are indeed mind blowing. Yes, <i>“the truth is out there,”</i> and there are
things flying around that we have yet to fully understand, and absolutely, Captain,
James T. Kirk may have been correct with his declaration of <i>“space (being) the
final frontier,”</i> but maybe... just not for us…not yet anyway. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you
for reading and I’ll see you in the groves.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Farmer Tony</span></p>
<p></p>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-75062565856894841242022-10-01T07:59:00.001-07:002022-10-01T08:08:02.928-07:00Human Error<p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For as long as humans have been around, we’ve made mistakes.
Before the term <b><i>“human error”</i></b> existed we used to simply point fingers at the
sky and blame the gods for our misfortune. Later the more “perfect” amongst us
would conveniently force blame onto witches, warlocks and sometimes even voodoo
hexes for our mistakes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually in
1949, we got help in the blame game from Capt. Edward A. Murphy, an engineer,
who, while working on an Air Force project, uttered the words… <i>"If there
is any way to do it wrong, he'll find it!”</i> Capt. Murphy spoke these words while
cursing a technician responsible for wiring a transducer wrong, thus ushering
in the term<b> “Murphy’s Law”</b> into our lexicon. So at least from that point on, we
had this “law” we could point to in order to take a little bit of the sting
away from our mistakes. But eventually as we sought more help in dealing with
our “humanness,” we learned that it was O.K. to take the blame for being human,
and that mistakes were merely a part of the human experience. Once we finally
learned it was perfectly acceptable to call ourselves out for our mistakes, we
decided to look in the mirror and call them “human errors.” Except of course for
the bank, they still won’t take any responsibility. Because when the bank makes
an error on your account, they call it a <b>“keystroke error.”</b> Good thing those
key strokes happen all by themselves, or someone would have to take the blame
for cashing my $50 check to my credit card issuer for $500 (a true story)! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, hopefully we’ve learned a few things
after some of the bigger man made problems due to “human error,” that we
created for ourselves. The creation of <b>Africanized Honey Bees </b>kind of comes to
mind when I look at the list of human blunders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a mistake that should have never
happened. These days we grapple with people blaming us humans with <i><b>“man made
global warming”</b></i> or <i><b>“human caused climate change”</b></i> or whatever you want to call
it. I’m not saying we did or didn’t cause it, all I am saying is that there is
plenty of blame going around on this one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one of the more strange “human” things
that we get blamed for from time to time is the phenomena known as <i><b>“spontaneous
human combustion.”</b></i> That’s when, for the lack of a better explanation, humans
simply bursts into flames for no real reason. Who is really to blame for that
one? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O.K. fine, let’s just say for the
sake of this blog that it really happens, but is it really our fault, is it a
result of human error?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never hear
about anyone blaming sharks or giraffes for suddenly catching on fire or what
should be known as <i>“spontaneous animal combustion.”</i> And no, the ending of the
movie “Jaws” doesn’t really count. Besides, blame it on the human (Chief Brody),
he was the one who blew up the shark! But I digress. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we move forward, I am glad we can now blame
ourselves for our mistakes. I think we’ve kind of grown up as humans and are
now in the <i>“golden age”</i> (if you will) of self blame for our many human errors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now mature enough to say <i><b>“my bad”</b></i> when
you forget the milk at the store, or forget to close the door behind you. But
soon, I fear that we will once again start to shift blame back away from
humans. As we see the “rise of the machines,” more and more I hear people blame
computers and machines for mistakes. <i>“My stupid phone messed up.”</i> I can’t tell
you how many times I’ve heard that one. Or <i>“there must be something wrong with
my computer.”</i> Oh sure…be like the bank and blame some nebulous “key stroke
error” on something that you more than likely did wrong yourself. </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I don’t fully
understand is our aversion to being wrong and making mistakes. We know it’s
going to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it, we’ve
all heard the sayings, <i>“everybody makes mistakes”</i> and<i> “to error is human.”</i> In
fact, some of us are so comfortable with it, that we even know when in the very
near future we are going to make mistakes. We even warn people around us that a
mistake might be coming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times
have you said to someone in a conversation…”I could be wrong, but isn’t that (fill
in the blanks).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or my favorite, after
maybe too many drinks, and we become a little more ambitious, we often tell
ourselves (and sometimes we even say it out loud not meaning to)…”I’m probably
going to regret this, but I’m going to…” which usually leads to a <i>“my bad,”</i> or
<i>“I am so, so <b>sorry</b> about last night.”</i> Yes, we do make mistakes, all of us. No
matter, because deep inside we all have the power to try and help fix some of
what we did wrong. It may not fix everything, but we can always say <i>“I’m sorry,”</i>
and <i>“I forgive you.”</i> Both of those things go a long way, and that’s what makes
us human. </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you so much for taking a few minutes out of your day
to read my blog. And if you clicked on it by mistake, that’s ok. I know, it was
probably just, you know… “human error.” </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ll see you in the groves. </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Farmer TOny</span></p> <br /><p></p>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-44672299329864888962022-06-24T10:41:00.002-07:002022-06-29T12:27:55.789-07:00Go Team!<p></p><p></p><p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> These days in the world of “corporate speak,” there are
truly some buzz words that are seriously more annoying than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, they have helped those who have became <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“empowered”</i></b> by <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“leveraging”</i></b> their position in the conference room with their new
found verbiage to articulate the company’s <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“corporate
values.”</i></b> However, there is one word in particular that I would like to
bring to a <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“hard stop.”</i></b> And that word
would be the word with no letter “i” in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course that word could only be…<b>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">team.”</i></b>
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Team goals,”</i> </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>“team trust,” </b>and of course <b>“team building,”</b> </i>are just a few uses of
the dreaded “t” word. Yes, it is indeed important to work well along side your
co-workers and to share common goals within the <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“corporate structure,”</i></b> however I don’t believe that every company
with more than one employee needs to call themselves <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“team.”</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“drill down”</i> </b>for the reasons for my rant
here, you would have to first <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“pivot”</i></b>
the discussion to a recent e-mail I received from one of the banks I do
business with. My bank <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“reached out”</i></b>
via e-mail regarding a safe deposit box that I never really used, or even
thought about for that matter. I think years ago, at the time when I opened the
account, the deposit box was free for new account holders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since I own nothing of real value that
needs to be kept in a deposit box, well, I agree with the bank in thinking,
it’s probably time to close it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
as I <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“circle back”</i></b> to the reason why
the e-mail bothered me, I think it’s safe to say that my bank,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or any other bank for that matter, really
doesn’t need to end their<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>e-mail with
the words…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">”Thank you, Safe Deposit Box
Team.”</i> Really, my bank has a safe deposit box team? I guess that in the
business world these days it has become increasingly necessary for companies to
present a; “Star Trek-Borg-like,” united, we all get together and roast weenies
on the weekends together, kind of front, all in the name of showing unity…or
something<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to that effect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
also pretty sure <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“focus groups”</i></b> and
corporate consultants<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alike all feel
that from an image standpoint, calling everyone who works in any one particular
group a “team” is, well, good for morale and that oh so “warm and fuzzy”
feeling you get when you no longer feel alone within the <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“corporate construct.”</i></b> However, for me, I find the term to be just a
little overused. A Safe Deposit Box “Team” at my bank? Fine, if you have to
call them that, O.K., whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all, it is a big chain bank with lots of safe deposit boxes that need to be
managed to one degree or another I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I am sure that managing all those boxes properly is all a part of
the company’s <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“best practice”</i></b>
policies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when I think of a
“team,” my mind goes to the images of uniformed people playing sporting games
for the glory of winning, and having fun. And if you play well enough to make
it professionally, well then, one of those aforementioned safe deposit boxes
would probably come in handy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
digress.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> You now find team members everywhere you look these days…car sales and
marketing team members, research and development team members, and (for better
or for worse) IRS team members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck,
even McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s have <b>”team members”</b> these days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And believe me; I am in no way disparaging anyone
working in fast food. Think about it, when you add up everyone employed in the
fast food industry, it s somewhere in the neighborhood of over 5 MILLION people
in the U.S. alone (yes, I looked it up)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is indeed quite the workforce, but a team? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all a little too much for my overloaded brain
to handle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess in the professional
world, one can say, <b>“I don’t have the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bandwidth”</i></b>
to deal with it. Sure, I know that my little blog post here will probably do little
to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“move the needle”</i></b> on how people
feel about the overworked use of “team,” and too, I realize that I am also probably trying to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“boil the ocean,”</i></b> here in an effort to
get people to stop using it as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
in the end, I am pretty sure that this whole tirade here is probably all for not, and
just a long waste of tangled words, but I had to try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
no matter how hard I do try, I suppose I just need to resign myself in knowing
that everyone working today is just going to be known as being on a team in one form
or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as everyone is so fond of saying these days<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…<b>”it is what it is.” </b></i>Oh well.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><br /></b></i></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the groves with my
“team”…um, scratch that, I mean, with my guys!</span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">-Farmer Tony</span></p>
<p> </p>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-42669219301364214492022-01-05T09:50:00.002-08:002022-01-05T11:20:17.919-08:00New Year, New You<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t know about you, but so far this New Year, I keep
seeing the advertising message… “New Year, New You!” So by my inference,
advertisers are assuming that the previous year brought out all my flaws and a
“new me” is in order. Sure, it was a COVID year, I will give the advertisers
that much, and hopefully like the commercials promise, I will finally be able to
lose a few pounds, grow (or buy) more hair, work out more often in order to finally
gain that “lean muscle mass” I keep hearing about, and if the ads are right,
even learn to prepare well balanced meals. And if that isn’t enough of a “new
me”, then maybe a few sessions with a so-called “celebrity lifestyle coach”
might just be what the doctor ordered. But of course, all of these plans to
create a “new you” or “new me” (however you want to look at it), seems to be
the same, tired, and in some cases, expensive resolutions that we hear about
every New Year’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I know, we all say
the same thing to ourselves; “this is my year,” or “this year is going to be
different,” or “this time I am going to make it happen!” And being that we are
still in January, I support anyone who is really trying to make all the right
positive changes! I say “GO! Become the best version of yourself that you can.”
See? I know how to be supportive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
now skip ahead to around March or so, and for the majority of people, the Fitbit
watch is still on the dresser, the fitness tracker app on your phone has gone
into permanent “sleep mode,” you haven’t been to the gym in a while, you’re
back at Starbucks spending that money you promised to save, and your planner
probably has some blank pages where you missed writing in an appointment or
two. Hey, it happens. It’s called “LIFE”. So maybe the “New ‘22” by mid-year
starts to look a lot like the last few years of your life. This doesn’t make
you a bad person. It makes you human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are all wired to be creatures of habit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And like any good (or bad) habit, it usually takes a while for repetitive
actions to become a habit. I think once you let that “sink in” you’ll be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a better person for it</i>. Wait! There’s a
positive change right there! See? You’re already on your way to this “new you”
and it (hopefully) didn’t cost you a dime! Look, can we all be better in some
ways? I think so. But guilt from your New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t be what
brings you down. You want to be a real success story? It doesn’t have to cost you
large sums of money, a lot of hardship, deprivation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or even a membership to some place that
promises that you will become a “whole new you.” Nope, simplicity is the key to
starting out any new project. So keep it simple! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want more exercise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking around the block or around a park is
still free (to the best of my knowledge). Want to eat better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need to buy fancy, expensive meal
kits. The grocery store has everything you need, and you might want to check
out the produce section too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to
save money? Maybe you don’t really need all those entertainment streaming
services, do you? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon, you get the
point. Besides, it really doesn’t take someone else or a book to tell you how
to de-clutter your home or garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look, if you want this New Year to be better and different, try the
simple stuff first. Be kind, considerate, respectful, and most important, be
yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, maybe you will find that
with a few small “tweaks” you’re really not so bad after all. I like you.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for reading.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll see you in the groves…jogging… until maybe about March
of course. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy New Year!</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">-Tony</span></span></p>
<p> </p>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-49575179143381840402021-11-30T11:00:00.006-08:002021-12-01T08:31:07.966-08:00Christmas Chill<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As for this
time of year being (as the song goes), “the most wonderful time of the year,”
there is no denying, that as great as the winter holidays can be, they can
indeed be filled with a sleigh full of pressure! All the money to buy all the
gifts, all the traveling, all the work to make the house look pretty, all the
decorations and lights that need to be put up, can really be quite the daunting holiday “to
do” list. Oh, and don’t forget the tree. Yes, you must pick out just the
perfect Christmas tree to display in the window! Oops, almost forgot about the
house guests. Whose room will they be staying in? And of course, the holiday
meal…you have to be aware of everyone’s food allergies and what to serve the
vegetarians and gluten free dinner guests that might be coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it too late to find some Tofurky to add to
the menu? Feeling any pressure yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
many things to get done in time for the big holiday, it’s almost too much to
think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The expectations are almost
too high…and that’s if you even enjoy the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And please, whatever you do, don’t get me started on whether we should use the term “Christmas” or the generic, “Happy Holidays.” That is a blog posting for
another time, and I don’t believe I have enough alcohol in my home to even begin to tackle
that one. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So, this
year, why not tone down the expectations, even if it’s just a little bit.
Besides, after what we have all been through these past couple of “COVID
years,” don’t we all deserve a little easier and more relaxed holiday season? I
think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I say that, but how
can we relax, for it seems as if from the moment we wake up and check our
phones, turn on the radio or t.v., we are continuously <b>bombarded</b> with store
ads!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, with all the “<i>crass
commercialism</i>” (as my dear friend Bentley used to call it) that happens this
time of year, there really is no escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our e mail, and smart phones are forever “blowing up” and alerting us to
all of the; “<i>Black Friday-Small Business Saturday-Cyber Monday-Door
Buster-BOGO-Hot 24 Hour Only Sale(s)</i>” that you could handle... or afford for
that matter. And if you believe the
“pitch man” on the radio who reminds all the guys out there to, “<i>surprise her
this year with diamonds</i>,” don’t fall for it! Because what happens NEXT year
when you remember that you got her diamonds <b>LAST</b> year? How do you top that?
Yup, more pressure. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So, how do
we open the “relief valve” on Christmas? Try to keep it simple, or at least
simpler. You can do this! Let’s remember that for the past 2 years or so, that everyone has been
impacted in some way by the scourge of COVID. And I mean everyone! We have lost too many friends,
family, loved ones, and even co-workers. And not to mention all those who did
not die from COVID, but certainly fell ill from its effects and survived. There
were the “shutdowns” and business closures, supply shortages and…well, if you are reading this,
you know all the problems; you were there living it one way or another. So, instead of
“giving til it hurts” and trying to “one-up” the neighbor’s excessive Christmas
light display, or creating the expectation of having <b>THE PERFECT HOLIDAY</b>,
just go s-l-o-w. Trust me, nobody will get hurt with a gift or two less under the tree this
year. Maybe instead of going for the perfect holiday dinner spread on the
table that would make Martha Stewart proud, why not a friendly “pot luck” where everyone brings their favorite dish
or wine? Besides, didn’t you get a fondue set for Christmas last year? It would
be a great occasion to bust it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As far as the lights and decorations on the house, it’s not a
competition! The idea is to create a fun and festive atmosphere, not a
traveling carnival! Think about it, we have so much to be grateful for. If you
stopped for just a moment to think, I am sure you can find something that you
are genuinely grateful for this past year. Believe me, it's O.K. to have more casual Christmas. Santa will understand. So, for the good of yourself, your family,
your pocket book, the Earth AND your soul… slow down and really enjoy the
holidays this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or how about this
novel idea… maybe, just maybe, we can take a few moments from planning our next
trip to the mall or clicking the “buy button” on more plastic items from
Amazon, maybe we can think about the traditional, religious meaning for
celebrating the holiday some of us still call Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even if doing so isn’t your thing, that’s
really fine too, no problem, you just “do you.” It will all be O.K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See how much easier that was? <b>No pressure</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I wish you
the merriest of Christmases, Happiest Holidays, (or insert your preferred
holiday greeting here) and hope you give yourself a little bit of a break this
year. You deserve it. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Think of it as my gift to you.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can thank me
in 2022. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Ho, Ho, Ho
and all that.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I’ll see you
in the groves, chillin’ of course.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Farmer Tony</span></span></span></p>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-46332400196839102222021-09-29T10:58:00.004-07:002021-09-30T08:03:24.638-07:00Blame it on COVID<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I think we’ve all had the opportunity by now to say the
words that have pretty much defined the better part of the last couple of years…<u><i><b>”Damn COVID!”</b></i></u> I think
I now say it often enough that it could be a fun drinking game, if it weren’t
mired in frustration and sadness. The current scourge of our world can now be safely blamed for
just about anything and everything that has gone wrong recently. The virus has
caused the death and illness of so many around the world, that by now we all
know someone that has either died from it, or has been negatively impacted by it
one way or another. Whether you want to believe the virus naturally occurred in
nature or was created in a Chinese lab, or heck, even created by space aliens
to rid the planet of us pesky humans, I will leave all theories up to the
individual reader, if for no other reason as to not create even more
divisiveness amongst the population. Besides, Thanksgiving is not too far off,
and it seems to me, family arguments around the dinner table regarding COVID
certainly don’t need my help. In fact, I have read news stories of couples even
splitting up and even divorcing over COVID arguments! So there it is, you want to know who or what is to blame for
your bad relationship, you don't need a couples counselor, we all know the answer...”damn COVID.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have now been
able to blame just about everything on the virus. Finding a few empty shelves at the market or your favorite store or restaurant not open? Sure,
they now say it’s due to "<i>supply chain issues</i>" and labor shortages. But we all know what has caused all the
shortages…”damn COVID.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Thinking about buying a brand new car? Not so fast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Automakers say there is a global computer
chip shortage holding things up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
since we can’t make cars without them anymore, your old car is probably going to
stay in your driveway a little longer. Not your fault of course…”damn
COVID.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Traveling is probably one of the most problematic aspects
of COVID (outside of all the obvious health issues). Should you fly? How safe is it to
fly? Do I need my vaccination card handy? Do I need a negative test to travel? What
do I do for face coverings? Do I need a Naomi Cambell type HAZMAT suit to
travel safely, or will a simple face covering do the job? How often is the
aircraft properly sanitized? How come its O.K. to be 6 inches apart on a plane,
but in the airport you have to keep 6 feet of distance? Oh, you say it
doesn’t make a lot of sense? Of course not... “Damn COVID!” How about all the fun unruly
passengers traveling these days? Ah yes, from arguments with fellow passengers
about keeping masks on, to airline attendants being physically attacked, the
madness seems to only get worse. And now, some airlines have suspended serving
alcohol onboard flights altogether, “<i>oh the humanity</i>!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think all commercial aircraft should now
come with an extra COVID emergency exit. That way if you become one of “those”
travelers, the special door opens up and you get to be sucked out of the plane!
Sure, you will probably miss your connecting flight to Chicago, but at least
you know you can always blame the “damn COVID.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
don’t even get me started on the floating Petri dishes (a.k.a. cruise ships) to
Cabo! Just no!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I think one of the biggest things that I blame COVID on
is all the <b>confusion</b> it has created in just about every aspect of our lives.
It’s not like my brain need any help with becoming confused, in fact, my brain
does it pretty much at will, and on a regular basis. But COVID has done more to
make me question just about everything in my everyday world. And I’m pretty
sure I am not alone. Think about just some of the day-to-day confusion that
this virus creates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting with the
obvious one that gets to most people…”do I or someone around me have COVID?” If
they have a little cough or headache, hmmm…is it COVID? Do I move away from
them? Exactly how far is 6 feet? Is 6 feet of distance enough? Did I bring a
measuring tape? And what about my face covering? Do I use a cloth mask? A
plastic face shield? Do I double mask? And while wearing a mask, how do I try
to not sound like Darth Vader? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next,
which vaccine should I take? Do we care what’s in them? Are they safe? Do I
need a booster? Do I need horse pills? Do
I ask my neighbor if they’ve been vaccinated before they bring my borrowed cup
of sugar back? What’s “proper COVID etiquette” these days? We just don't know! And what about the
so-called “<i>super spreader events</i>,” are they still a thing? I see sports
stadiums filled to capacity now. All of which have fans yelling and screaming
at the top of their lungs, when last year we weren’t even supposed to speak
loudly or sing indoors?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same with many
live concerts and theatres, oh so many questions.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> Another big question, what do we do about the kids? Do we vaccinate, do we keep them out of school? What to do?</span> Furthermore, when you are
trying to get updated, relevant and helpful answers, whom do you trust, cable
news? Dr. Fauci? The internet? WebMD? How about the women on “The View,” they
seem helpful. Or perhaps just to keep it real, we could always try a <b>Ouija board</b>, at
least you might finally get a firm “yes” or “no” answer. At this point there is so
much confusing information, I would just like to go back to a simpler time, when
the hardest question of the day came from the grocery store, when the clerk asked... “paper or plastic?” These days
everything is just an ongoing series of questions relating to COVID. Questions about
vaccinations, safety protocols, funding, job mandates, and how <b>not</b> to get back to that place where
everyone was hoarding toilet paper and water for some reason. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">As for me, I’m just trying to stay safe, healthy and
productive for myself and everyone around me without losing my mind. And while doing so, I realized that a year had gone by without me putting out one of my mind
wandering, sometimes “<i><b>stream of consciousness</b></i>” blog postings. But the good
news, once I realized it had been so long, I knew who to blame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got it…”damn COVID.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you for reading and I’ll be seeing you in the
groves…masked up of course.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Be well,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">-Farmer Tony</span></p>
<p> </p>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-56770775159291490632020-12-05T10:36:00.000-08:002020-12-05T10:36:17.119-08:00May You Live In Interesting Times<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In the year that has been 2020, I‘m sure I am not
the first person to have uttered the old phrase…”may you live in interesting
times.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I am pretty sure we can all
agree that right now, we certainly do. From working from home and holding ZOOM
meetings and online doctor video appointments, to strange metallic “monoliths”
popping up both here and abroad, to Murder Hornets, and even The Pentagon
releasing U.F.O. video footage taken by the U.S. Navy! Yes, these are interesting
times indeed.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Without question, this year has been filled with one
seemingly bizarre, head shaking event after another. We started with COVID-19 in
the earlier part of the year, and even now the virus which has caused so much
suffering to so many, and in so many ways, simply refuses to go away. This of
course led to most of us wearing some sort of face covering everywhere outside
the house, dousing ourselves with hand sanitizer after touching any foreign
object, and causing some to publicly freak out whenever a stranger coughs or
sneezes anywhere within a two mile radius. Although I must admit, it has been
an interesting study, seeing everyone’s personal preferences in COVID facial
wear. Whether they be cloth masks, paper masks, gaiters, bandanas, or even face
shields, we have witnessed an entirely new face covering industry emerge that we
never knew we needed. Who saw that one coming? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">From there we slid into a new “summer of discontent.”
Like you, I watched many protests around the country turn from peaceful to full
blown riots, complete with the obligatory burned out cars, buildings, tear gas
and then some. Now, whether you agree or disagree with the protesters, you cannot
ignore the impact they had on our society, as well as several businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the spirit of the holidays, it’s
probably best to leave this subject right here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Next, we found ourselves stumbling into the presidential
election, which lead to us having to choose between…well, let’s just say we had
some choices to make for our nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
for better or for worse, being on one side or the other of the political
spectrum caused friends and families to distance themselves even further from
one another in an already bizarre “socially distanced” new world. I believe
between COVID and the election, Thanksgiving tables around the country were
probably a little quieter this year. Besides, according to the CDC, we weren’t
supposed to speak loudly or sing around others anyway.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">And now scrolling through the social media sites,
it’s obvious to most that at this point, we should probably be ready for
ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that could potentially come our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I don’t believe that reading a news
story announcing the existence of extraterrestrial beings, Big Foot, The Loch
Ness Monster, or even Chupacabras would be too much of a stretch for our
imagination these days. So now that you’re (hopefully) ready, let’s examine
what you might believe is the old Chinese saying, which I have borrowed as the
title of this blog post…”may you live in interesting times.” </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="meanings-body"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">In what could only be
excused as a serious case of the “Mandela Effect,” I discovered that the time
tested phrase has no origins in China whatsoever! In fact, according to the
website; phrases.org.uk (the phrase finder)…<em>'May you live in interesting times'
is widely reported as being of ancient Chinese origin but is neither Chinese
nor ancient, being recent and western. It certainly seems to have been intended
to sound oriental, in the faux-Chinese 'Confucius he say' style, but
that's as near to China as it actually gets.</em></span></span></p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></i><p class="meanings-body"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The phrase was introduced
in the 20th century in the form 'interesting age' rather than 'interesting
times' and appears that way in the opening remarks made by Frederic R. Coudert
at the <em>Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science</em>,[in] 1939.</span></span></i></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="meanings-body"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">So there it is! Proof,
that in a year that has wrecked so many things that we thought we knew and
believed, it turns out we now live in a new world that makes us question
everything! Heck, if we can’t even believe the origins of old phrases that we
have heard most of our lives, what can we believe in? Did we really go to the
Moon? Did Oswald kill JFK? Do you pronounce that place in the Atlantic Ocean, the
Ca-rib-be-in or is it, Cara-bee-in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
don’t even get me started on the whole Milli Vanilli drama of the 1980’s… I
can’t even go there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I know is that
in days like these, we need to take a big step back and review things we do
know are fact. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that when we are
in a hurry to get somewhere in the car, we will discover that we need to stop
to get gas. We know that at some point the auto correct feature on our cell
phones will fail us and insert the wrong word during an important text message.
And of course we have finally come to realization of the fact that we will
never really rid ourselves of seeing the Kardashians someplace in the media. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="meanings-body"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But as we close out the
year that will “live in infamy,” there are still a few more things that we know
are indeed fact, things that will carry us into the hopeful New Year. Things I
will go to my grave believing. And they are…we know that we will always love
our children unconditionally. We know (that at least in our near future) the
sun will continue to rise in the east. We know that we love our pets like
family members. We know that through tragedy, new heroes will emerge. We know
that no matter how bleak times may seem, there will always be hope for a better
tomorrow, no matter how “interesting” the times we live in. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="meanings-body"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Thank you for reading. Be
well, stay safe and as always…I’ll see you in the groves.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p class="meanings-body"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">-Farmer Tony</span></span></p>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-26943503819322427702020-05-23T09:22:00.002-07:002020-05-23T09:22:50.762-07:00The Role of Rolls (in a COVID world)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome to
the new world of <i>COVID-19</i>, and all that it has to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like you, when the new decade of 2020 began,
I did not foresee what was about to become (my new least favorite and way
overused phrase) <i>“the new normal.”</i> I never envisioned a world of face masks,
gloves, and of course having to “social distance” everywhere I went. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like most of you, I had no clue that the
<i>“Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020”</i> that hit the US, was coming! No, I was
“blind-sided” by the empty shelves of Charmin, the search for packages of
“Quilted Northern” that had gone south, the hellish and hard truth of missing
rolls of “Angel Soft”, and the multipacks of “Scott”… that was sadly NOT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now a few months in on the whole COVID
situation that has gripped the entire world. And to this day, I still fail to
understand the panic and why people became so desperate as to buy up all the
toilet paper? I can see shortages in protective equipment like; gloves, masks,
hand sanitizer, and the like…but toilet paper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, don’t get me wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously I understand the need for it, I certainly value the necessity of
it, but am I missing something? Is toilet paper the new “Swiss Army Knife” of the
world that has somehow eluded me? Is the most important thing to have in an
emergency really toilet paper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you
better prepared for disaster if you have rolls of toilet paper rather than say…
duct tape? Hmmm, I don’t remember any episodes of MacGyver where toilet paper
helped him escape from a dangerous situation, or even helped him defuse a bomb.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, a little research online, we
find that toilet paper wasn’t even in everyday use until around 1857! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How humanity ever managed to live without it
until 1857, leaves my head spinning, quite frankly, like a roll of toilet paper
that was pulled on just a little too hard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now it seems
to me that people have always figured out a way to survive. We survived the
horrors of wars, famines, economic depressions, the NEW Coke, the Kardashians
and even global pandemics like the current COVID-19 virus, which we shall
ultimately get past as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I
have yet to read anywhere in the history books, or see in any documentary all
the people that have attributed their survival to the glorious rolls of pillowy
softness that we can seemingly no longer live or survive a pandemic <b>without</b>.
And no longer can we live without it, we apparently have to have cases and
pallets of “mega packs” of it stored in our closets, car trunks, and garages.
We need it so badly, that people began hoarding it, and reselling it for
incredible almost “gold like” prices. If you watched the news, we even saw
fights break out at stores both big and small between the t.p. haves and
have nots! There was even one story I read where someone actually stole a truck
filled with <b>18,000 pounds</b> of it! No, not a stolen truck filled with money,
expensive artwork, not even booze, cigarettes or big screen TVs, but filled
with the once overlooked and never to be taken for granted again, rolls of
toilet paper!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One day
history will look back on this period of our society, and I am almost too afraid
to try and guess what will be written about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How we behaved, how we managed, how we struggled within our day to day
world of, searching, finding, buying and even stealing rolls of the once humble
toilet paper. Or as the radio journalist Herb Morrison famously exclaimed during
another great American disaster in history, the crash of the Hindenberg…”OH
THE HUMANITY!”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe in the
future books will be written, songs sung, parades given and even movies made,
all about our fight for survival during these dark days of what will ultimately
be known simply as… <i>“the shortage.”</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck,
with enough of a push, maybe we could even get Congress to create a national
holiday after “our long national t.p. nightmare is over?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">OK sure, perhaps
it all sounds a little stupid and ridiculous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But personally, I think the whole idea of
stealing, hording and the subsequent shortage of toilet paper in our so-called
“modern world,” by a supposed “enlightened society” living in the year 2020, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was pretty stupid and ridiculous to begin
with. But maybe that’s just me. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, be well
and “stay strong”…like 2 ply toilet paper strong, and we will eventually get
through it one way or another. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you
for reading, and I will see you in the groves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tony </span></div>
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<![endif]-->Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-80942807307949597552020-01-24T09:45:00.001-08:002020-01-24T10:45:24.744-08:00And the winner is...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Well
it’s that time of year again, time for the annual celebrity awards season on television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every year I often wonder about who we really
are in this great country of ours, and why we need to have all of these award
shows that have nothing to do with the rest of us. It leads me to think
about all the awards that we should be presenting, awards to the truly
deserving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems as if amongst all of
the Grammys, Emmys, Oscars et al., we have missed a few. Where the
highly rated T.V. spectacles for people like, the stay at home mom?
Surely they are deserved of something? Couldn’t you just see it…”and the
Mommy award for best answering an important phone call while holding a wet,
crying baby goes to….(fill in the blank)". I guess since there really
isn’t an awards show for all you deserving moms out there, you just need to
keep reminding yourselves that motherhood is its own reward.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">How
about an evening gala awards show for being a Good Samaritan? I think
awards going to everyday citizens, who do good things for others, are a great
idea, don’t you? Why shouldn’t they be recognized? I often see random acts
of kindness being done to and for others, but alas, no “swag bags” filled with
goodies and certainly no golden trophies. Besides, how could you ever get all
those “common folk” all dressed up together in one place for an awards
show? Yeah, too much of a hassle I say. After all, good people don’t
really need a red carpet to walk on to know that they are already
special. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">In
reality, I know neither one of those ideas would ever become a real awards
show. However, I have an idea for another one that wouldn’t work either, but
from my point of view, it’s worth a shot. I submit for your approval…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">The
National Farming Awards Show, or “The Farmmys” for short. A one night
event filled with farmers, ranchers and little golden statues of
tractors…nice. Heck, for the right price I would even put on my “dress up
blue jeans” and be willing to host the awards show myself! Of course we
wouldn’t have all the celebrities or the fanfare of “Oscar Night”, and there
probably wouldn’t even be “watch parties” in most neighborhoods. But why
shouldn’t we celebrate the farming industry at least once a year on a national
scale? We could have awards for categories like; best conventional orange
farmer under 50 acres (I know who I would vote for), and best supporting fence
post along a highway, and so forth. Sure it’s hyperbole, and it sounds
silly and completely less than exciting, but the question needs to be asked…
are the accomplishments of farmers all across America any LESS deserving of
awards than actors, musicians or movie makers? Let’s keep in mind that
American farmers do indeed feed the world! We even supply everyone in
Hollywood with the produce, dairy, meat, and grains, they use. Yes, even all
the organic, free range, cage free, non-GMO, produce and such comes from the
American farm too, but of course no awards for the farmer. Oh wait, that’s
right…hard work is its own reward, or something like that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Please
understand this is not a “swipe” at those who entertain us. If you are an
entertainer and you deserve your awards for all of your hard work and
dedication to your craft, that’s great! But I’m just saying that maybe,
just maybe, every once in a while, find the time to thank a farmer. I
guess as farmers, we really don’t need “The Farmmy Awards” to know that what we
do is not only special, but vital to the world. Our reward is watching others
live because of what we produce. Don’t get me wrong, I guess I wouldn’t
mind having a nice glittery trinket on my fireplace mantle, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but certainly not necessary. I guess
in some ways farmers are already winners. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Thanks
for reading…I’ll see you in the groves…awaiting my close up!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cheers!</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">-
Tony</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span>Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-28042293031626674962019-11-23T15:38:00.003-08:002019-11-23T15:39:09.165-08:00Whack The Piñata (no strings attached)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> While recently trying to purchase a piñata for an upcoming birthday
party, I was smacked in the brain by a little "tidbit" of information
that was both shocking and a little disheartening. During my online search for
a specific piñata, I kept seeing the term "pull-string piñata." Of
course, I could see pictures of what looked like good ol' fashioned piñatas for
sale, and sure enough, they had colorful strings hanging off of them, which at
first I believed to be merely for decoration...but whoah was I wrong! The
strings were in fact (as the name implies) for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pulling</i>. Then, I asked myself, why would you pull strings on a
piñata?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was then I began to read the
description of these fun party game favorites, and lo and behold, I learned
that now instead of hitting the piñata with a stick or a small bat until the
candy and toy filled figure gives up the goods, some people have gone to a more
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gentle</i> approach by having kids (and
adults) take turns pulling the strings one by one, and when the lucky
"puller" gives it a yank...it's chaos and cavities for all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I began to figure out this new
"piñata paradigm", the conclusion I came to was, it is an attempt to
circumvent all the senseless "party game violence" associated with
beating the piñata into candy giving submission. In my mind I really do want to
understand and accept the whole "pull string theory”, but no. I can’t.
That’s not how a piñata works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling
strings? Really? Where’s the excitement, where’s the fun, where’s the danger?</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">O.K. let me point out that I do indeed understand how we live in a
world fraught with increasing violence. I read the news (probably more than
most), and I see the shocking stories of violence by young people, whether
through acts of school shootings, stabbings, and threats against other students
and teachers, and even violence against their own parents and family members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we do have a problem. But you can’t
convince me that piñatas are a part of the problem, whereby worsening the
situation. If you do a little research, piñatas actually have a long history
going back to 13th century China (yes, apparently China did invent everything).
Back then the figures were made of clay and filled with goodies, and broken open
how?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, by hitting them with
sticks! So, you can’t tell me that eight centuries of piñatas are the problem
for modern day violence. Do we need to teach our kids not to be violent, yes!
Do we need to teach our kids to be respectful, yes! Does our society have some work
to do to help curb violence…a big time YES! But having to change the whole method
for the “payoff” of a fun party game?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s get real folks, piñatas aren’t the problem. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I can see wanting to
teach children at a young age not to engage in “violent behavior,” like swinging
sticks and bats at the wrong things i.e. people, pets, cars, windows etc... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But if we’re convinced that swinging a stick
for a game is inappropriate, we can forget about little Johnny or Joanie ever playing
little league baseball or softball. Not that we play a lot of it here in the
U.S., but how about the game of cricket? They use a bat. Sure it’s rectangular,
but a bat none the less. How about a leisurely game of croquet on a sunny Sunday
afternoon with the kids? Forget it! Oh the trouble you can get into with those
mallets. You can’t tell me that soccer can’t be violent. Look around the world
and tell me why in some places they have to put chain link fencing between the
fans and the field. Or watch how riots breakout in the stands at soccer
matches. Sure hockey is violent, but even tennis, and golf can be a dangerous sport if the
equipment is used in a violent way! And don’t even get me started on lawn darts.
If you want a world with less violence, you want to pin the blame on something
or someone? Look around you, it’s not how you break open a piñata that’s at
fault. It never has been, it never will be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">So forget the strings and swing away my fellow birthday party
revelers! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And remember, just like all
other games we play at parties, if you do it responsibly, everybody has a good
time…and maybe you even get some candy!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll see you in groves and thanks for reading.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "consolas"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Tony <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-76902182797777028152019-09-07T12:44:00.000-07:002019-09-07T13:10:29.580-07:00What Were The Odds?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, I am
not sure what the actual terminology for “close, but no cigar” would be in the
scientific community, and I am pretty positive the word “whoops” probably isn’t
in NASA’s lexicon either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a recent headline in the news sure made me wonder what words were being
tossed around at NASA a few days ago, when the headline read; “Asteroid
collision with Earth ruled out by NASA…hours later it smashes into the
Caribbean.”</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Uh, excuse
me, what?!? An asteroid comes hurling towards Earth, NASA says…”nah, nothing to
worry about,” then a few hours later, the same asteroid actually does crash
into the Earth?!? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, there have been times in my life while doing my job I
have gotten things wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, to be
honest, I have been wrong several times whilst at my job. But then I realize my
mistakes and I move forward, better prepared for next time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as a mere orange farmer, my mistakes
will generally just affect me and my crops and at times the rest of my
crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NASA on the other hand, when they
get things wrong, it can obviously affect more than just a few thousand orange
trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, there are a whole lot of
us that kind of depend on them getting it right…THE FIRST TIME! Believe me,
with only a high school education and few years of college under my belt, it’s
safe to say I am not NASA scientist material, and I understand they have big,
important jobs to do, which are way above my pay grade. But how about this…next
time there is an asteroid flying through space and there is the possibility of
the thing getting close enough to our celestial neighborhood, and could
potentially crash into the Earth, whadda’ say we double check our math? I get
it, there are lots of variables that go into trying to determine when and where
and how fast an object will go whizzing by the planet, and whether or not it
could crash into us. And maybe “common core” math might be to blame, I don’t
know, but hey NASA, this isn’t The Weather Channel where you get to say there
is only a 20% chance of rain, while it’s pouring outside on your weekend BBQ! Furthermore NASA, you guys aren’t exactly the US Geological Survey either
(the folks that track earthquakes), where you get to tell us how big the quake
was, AFTER the quake hits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems to me
NASA needs to worry a little less about how we can someday survive on Mars, and
a little more on how we can (today) live here on good ol’ planet Earth! Maybe
we can start with double, and maybe even triple checking the odds of life altering, small
planet size boulders of death, crashing into our planet and ruining our Disneyland
vacation plans. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who knows, maybe some of the “black helicopter,” conspiracy
types are right, when they say that; “if NASA and the government knew a big,
devastating object was going to hit Earth, the government wouldn’t tell us.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I suppose in
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, until
our spinning planet we call home gets pummeled by a giant, flaming, ball of
death that NASA isn't telling anyone about, I’ll see you in the groves…with my hard
hat on.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks for
reading,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Tony</span><span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-56918836423190122122019-07-09T16:47:00.000-07:002019-07-09T16:47:28.114-07:00Are You Ready?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The
question, “are you ready?” can lead to many discussions.<span> </span>It is a question asked for usual day to day
reasons by everyone around the world, everyday. Think about how often you hear
the question asked.<span> </span>Start with “are you
ready?” and then fill in your own blank.<span>
</span>Are you ready:_______?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Are you
ready: to go?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Are you
ready: for breakfast?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Are you
ready: for school?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Are you
ready: to move on?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Are you
ready: for the weather?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Are you
ready: for your root canal?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You get the
idea. Such a simple question, one which often ends with a simple “yes” or “no”
response. However, recent events in California, has made this humble question
into a query of much more consequence.<span>
</span>Not many people I know were ‘ready’ for the 5.4, followed up by the intense
7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the area of Ridgecrest, California in early
July. Most people were simply not ready for the shaking and its aftermath.<span> </span>Most were as about ready for the temblors as
they would have been if you had asked them if they were ready to have their
hand slammed in the car door (both painful scenarios). <span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Preparedness”
is word that sometimes conjures up visions to some, of the stereotypical “prepper”
who is waiting for the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse to ride up, bringing with
them; death and destruction of the world, followed (of course) by the
obligatory round of ZOMBIES, with whom the preppers need to fight off for the
future of humanity!<span> </span>You may even know a
few of these people waiting for “the end times” to come.<span> </span>They usually have a cache of dried food,
canned food, water, batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, extra medications,
generators, solar chargers and perhaps even a weapon or two (for the zombies). <span> </span>I find it funny how just until a little bit
ago; these “preppers” were the crazy ones.<span>
</span>Come on, you know you made fun of them too.<span> </span>You know you said it…“You know my neighbor
Bob?...Well, he’s one of those doomsday <span> </span>guys, waiting for the world to end. What a
goofball!” So it is at this point, where the freeze dried worm begins to
turn.<span> </span>Because in reality, NOW who is the
crazy one? Because when the ground finally stopped shaking and power was lost,
it was your neighbor Bob who had a generator. When the stores were closed
(because they were too busy being looted) and you needed some food and water in
order to be ready just in case things got worse, guess who had food and water?
Yup, your crazy neighbor Bob was ready. <span> </span>So what is the moral to the story?<span> </span>Maybe being a little prepared isn’t such a
crazy idea after all?<span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span></span>In reality,
disasters can come in many forms.<span>
</span>Whether you are preparing for the “big one” in California, a flood in
the mid west, a power outage on the east coast,<span>
</span>or even the zombie apocalypse,<span>
</span>being ready for every and any event is just common sense. <span> </span>You don’t go to the beach without being
prepared.<span> </span>Think about your check list;
towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, cooler, drinks, etc…check!<span> </span>You don’t go to the store without being
somewhat ready.<span> </span>You get dressed, you
make sure you (hopefully) have enough money in your bank account, you might
even make a list if you are going to the grocery store.<span> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Being prepared is NOT crazy, it doesn’t make
you a “doomsday prepper,” you’re not a “doom and gloomer,” heck, it doesn’t
even make you paranoid…unless you believe the Illuminati is what keeps the
Kardashians relevant for some nefarious “New World Order” reason.<span> </span>So, before the next big scary “event” happens
(natural or not), please ask yourself, your friends, and your family…”are you
ready?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thank you for
reading, and I’ll see you in the groves…with my pre packaged, freeze dried lunch
and bottled water.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Tony</span></span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-14098532016867525922019-05-28T16:45:00.000-07:002019-05-28T16:45:43.436-07:00The Little Things<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
the little things in life that really makes us happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet for some reason, when it comes to businesses, there isn’t more of an
emphasis on these “little things,” which makes me all the more curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always seeing online “click bait” stories
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</span>You never read those on the restaurant critiques.</span></div>
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flying (unless you are in first class) you already know the airline is going to
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how I beg to differ…seems to me the bag should have actually read “MICRO Pretzels.”
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> How about when you go looking to purchase a new car? Boy, I would love to see a poll of which car dealership has the best coffee and doughnuts. At least that way, while you are giving the sales manager all of your personal information, along with a pint or two of blood, and a bodily appendage, you can at least say, "that's really good coffee." Yup, it's the little things. But coffee aside, wouldn't you like to know the best place to buy a car that has both the best and friendliest sales people? I usually get the sales guy who draws a pentagram on the ground, then sets it on fire while conjuring up Satan, before hitting me with the "hard sell" tactics..."So, what do I have to do to get you to drive this car home today?" Ugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like you, when I go to the grocery store, I am looking for good quality at a great price. But also too, I am looking for a shopping basket that has all 4 wheels that turn equally. Is that too much to ask for? I hate when I get that cart with the one squeaky wheel that doesn't turn properly. Or I get the cart that is in serious need of a front end alignment. You know the one. As you push the cart, it starts to wander off in one direction or the other, causing you to run into the boxes of cereal on the end of the grocery isle. I hate that! Take the basket out of service until you can get it fixed properly I say!! It's those little things that would make me so much happier as a shopper. Sure I want to see that my favorite ice cream is on sale, but also, lure me in with the promise that you have good working shopping carts, or that you don't need to wear a parka by the time you get to the dairy isle because it's as cold as winter in your store. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, it's always the little things that can mean so much. It's the little things in life that can make such a difference if we take the time to do it right. Besides, it's never bad to be on a big beautiful beach in great weather...that is of course until a little bit of sand ends up in the bottom of your swimsuit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hope your summer gets off to a beautiful start, and I'll be seeing you in the groves!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-41637067609714278072019-04-12T08:44:00.000-07:002019-04-12T08:44:32.888-07:00The Matrix In Our Mind<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are we just
living in a “Matrix” like computer simulation, with reality being just an
illusion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must admit that there are
days where my luck is so unbelievably bad that I would be willing to say, “Yes,
this can’t be real.” “This has to be some sort of computer glitch in my system’s
programming!” But as I start to buy into the whole idea that maybe I took the
“red pill” and have the knowledge of what reality really is, that’s usually
when I end up doing something stupid, like dropping a hot cup of coffee on my
foot, and that’s about the time “reality” really kicks in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’m hopping around on one foot, making up
new swear words, I say to myself…”Nice job Morpheus, now go change your shoes.”
With that being said, I just read an article (caution…nerd alert ahead) where
an M.I.T. scientist says that, “More likely than not, we are living in a
simulation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also makes the claim
that, “Probability says you are more likely a simulated being than a biological
one.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now armed with only my high school
diploma and a couple of years of college under my belt, obviously I am in no
position to debate an M.I. T. scientist over what really constitutes “reality,”
on an intellectual level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, life
experience being what it is, has given me all the ammunition I need to know
what is real and what isn’t (at least on this plain of existence). For
instance, maybe in a smoke filled, Elon Musk simulated world, farming is
probably more like a video game, where all you need to do is move some virtual control
knobs and you are driving a tractor or watering your crops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the farmer’s tractor dies and you hit
the re-set button and you get to start over. Well, that would certainly be nice
if that’s what it was really like. But in the “biological being” world, farming
is its own reality that has no re-set or pause button. No way to gain “extra
lives” or go into a partnership by hitting the “player 2” button. Nope, it’s a
world of hard work, big bills, and lots of worrying over things you can’t control…like
the weather or whether or not your well will produce enough water. How about
dealing with labor issues, new annual state farming regulations or the never
ending parade of taxes that the government continues to impose on
agriculture…that my friends is as sobering a reality as any “red pill.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But alas, being that I am not an M.I.T
scientist (trying to sell his book), maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe my
programming has me fooled into a “false sense of outrage,” an outrage as
believable as believing that the Kardashians actually have a real purpose on
this planet. Maybe every time I go to the grocery store and forget the milk or
slam my hand in the car door, it’s an intentional error written into my
subroutine, in order to make me believe I’m a living human. Or maybe, just
maybe… The Maxrtix was just a real good movie and some computer nerds who are
now all growed’ up and really uber successful, decided that they were too old to keep
playing video games, and took their virtual reality world to a whole new level?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the case, I’ll just stick to what I
do know about my non simulated world, and that is…coffee is great in the
morning, women and sunsets are both beautiful, my car won’t make that weird
clicking noise the minute I get it to the repair shop, and the Kardashains are
still pointless, no matter how many times you hit the re-set button. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks for
reading, and I’ll see you in the virtual or real groves (take your pick).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">- Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-48791702049179323222019-03-11T21:48:00.000-07:002019-03-12T12:14:25.201-07:00What Drought?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, she’s done it again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Nature has once again given the state
of California a great and much needed gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time the gift is a year with plentiful rain and snow fall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The news headlines about the rain are as
encouraging as it gets. They say things like…” Sierra Snowpack WELL above
normal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“California looking at an
excellent water year.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sierra Nevada Snowpack
largest in 40 years!” It kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it does me anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a farmer in California, there aren’t
issues quite as important as having enough water to irrigate your trees, vines,
or row crops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh sure, like all farmers,
when we get together we complain about all the usual stuff like; high taxes,
low crop prices, new farming regulations and of course the price of gas and
diesel fuel. But none of it would really matter without life giving, crop
growing, coffee making water…period. The rain and snowpack that we have
received, and continue to receive (it’s raining as I write this post) will do
wonders for our lakes, streams, rivers, canals, and for everyone who depends on
well water, it will help to recharge the ground water situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no denying that without water,
there is no California as we know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Say what you want about the other economic sectors in the state like,
the big tech, science, and tourist dollars that help keep our state’s economy
running, but let’s face it, without the food production that water affords us,
this state would be in some trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
little research around the internet and you will find some stunning statistics
about California's food production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance,
did you know that California farms produce <b>more than 400 different commodities,</b>
along with two thirds of the nation’s fruit and nuts, with about one-quarter of
what we produce in California being exported around the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact just three counties alone, generate
over $18 Billion dollars annually in agriculture!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just think about the amount of ag related jobs
it takes to produce that kind of money. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But of course, water isn’t only important for our
food crops in our state, no sir. Because here in California we like to have fun…water fun
that is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it, no water in the
rivers and lakes? That means no boating, water skiing, fishing, etc.... No snow
in the mountains?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it’s no snow skiing
or snow board fun happening up in them thar’ hills, which would also mean no
hanging out at the lodge with a warm drink in hand. Not that farmers get to do
a whole lot of hanging out at the ski lodge to begin with, but you get the
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And where would we be in
California without our swimming pools and golf courses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I believe that watering big
expansive golf courses are the best use of water in the state, but that’s a
whole other discussion for another blog post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So for now, I (and hopefully most of you) will be grateful for this
precious gift, and rejoice in a year with plentiful water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll see you in the muddy groves.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Farmer Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-44346526591708204072019-01-11T11:23:00.000-08:002019-01-11T11:23:00.520-08:00Resolve To Be Resolute<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the New Year comes everyone’s favorite lie that they
tell each other, if for no more than maybe a week or two, perhaps some might it
even make it a few months.<span> </span>And 2019 will
probably not be the exception, when we decide on our New Year’s
Resolution.<span> </span>Sure, there is the usual
resolution to lose weight, quit smoking, be more organized, be more punctual,
and of course there is always the hardest one…to save more money!<span> </span>As for me, I try not to set myself up for
failure with such burdens of life altering behavioral changes that I know I
can’t achieve.<span> </span>O.K. <u><i>can’t</i></u> is such a
negative word, so to start the year off right, I will just be honest with
myself and say, these are behavioral changes that I WON’T make.<span> </span>But if I can’t or won’t make any of these
changes to become a better “Farmer Tony” this year, what will I do?<span> </span>Well, this year I have made a decision that I
believe I can achieve.<span> </span>So in 2019, I
resolve to be more <b><i>resolute</i></b>.<span> </span>The dictionary
defines resolute as: <i>admirably purposeful,
determined, and unwavering. </i>I believe I can do this! In fact, I thought of
a few ways how.<span> </span>For instance, when I
want to take in some good Mexican food, I won’t just go to a Mexican restaurant
and order a meal and merely pick at my plate of carnitas with rice and beans,
no sir. I will <b><i>purposefully</i></b> add hot
salsa to it, and <b><i>admirably</i></b> indulge in
the pleasure of enjoying one of my favorite foods, and hopefully washing it
down with a good Mexican beer. As far as being <b><i>determined</i></b>, this year I will be determined to actually write down
lists of items I need <b>before</b> I go to
the hardware store. <span> </span>This way I don’t
have to make my customary three trips to Home Depot before I can start working
on a home improvement project. Oh sure, I end up having to go back anyway after
I realize that I measured something wrong, but at least I will feel better
knowing I had a list of the stuff I needed.<span>
</span>Now, for the being <b><i>unwavering</i></b>
part. This one should be pretty easy.<span> </span>My
<b>unwavering dislike</b> of the whole, let’s
wear our pajama pants in public thing, is something I simply can’t get
over.<span> </span>Alright, I get the idea of wanting
to wear “comfy” clothes (why else did God invent stretchy jeans), but we as a
society MUST draw the line somewhere.<span>
</span>I’m not saying you have to wear designer clothes in public, I am not
even saying you have to wear clothes that fit properly, or even be color
coordinated.<span> </span>You can wear t-shirts with
whatever message you want, and I can live with the whole “ripped jeans”
concept, but can we please, PLEASE not wear pajama pants outside?!?<span> </span>If your house is on fire, fine, you had to
hurry up and get out of the house.<span> </span>But
barring anything other than some other reason you had to flee your home in a
hurry, like being attacked by ghosts, the “pj” pants outside must end!<span> </span>And in this belief, I am unwavering. <span> </span>Well, I guess that’s it. I hope that your new
year is filled with all good things and may all your dreams come true this
year. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in the groves...not
wearing my pajama pants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">-Farmer Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-92132964890284881802018-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:002018-10-03T15:27:02.586-07:00October Surprise<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">My oh my, how quickly October came around this year!<span> </span>I know for myself, it came as quite a
surprise when I had to flip the page on my dachshund calendar in my office from
September to October. I thought to myself, “October already, how could it
be?”<span> </span>Besides, wasn’t it just July a few
weeks ago?<span> </span>I guess it’s true, as we get
a little older; time indeed starts to go by faster.<span> </span>Well, maybe time doesn’t go faster, but it’s
our perception of time is what changes.<span>
</span>I remember as a kid talking with my older aunts and uncles and cousins,
and how they would try to advise me to “hold on to my youth,” because soon time
would start to fly by.<span> </span>Oh, how
rebellious I felt in telling them, how that would never happen to me.<span> </span>I was going to “live each day to the fullest,
and make every single day count!”<span> </span>Well,
guess who was right?<span> </span>Yup, it was my
elders who actually knew what they were talking about.<span> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I still try and make the
most of every day however, it seems in doing so, one day just started to “fade”
into the next, which then began to “fade” into the week after the next, which
eventually “faded” into the current year.<span>
</span>Holy smokes, one day I was 20 the next I was 40 and now here I am a few
years older than that!<span> </span>The surprise is certainly
on me!<span> </span>But then again, I started to
realize that the surprise wasn’t just on me. It sure seems to me that many
people I talk to say the same thing.<span> </span>They
too believe that time feels to be going faster and faster.<span> </span>Well, “Farmer Tony” here, has his own
“theory” on why we perceive time as going faster.<span> </span>I don’t have an actual name for my theory,
and it’s not based on any kind of “scientific evidence,” but it’s just a good
anything else I have ever read about the subject.<span> </span>Anyway, here goes…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Since the dawn of man on this planet, things have moved
rather slowly.<span> </span>The time between when
humans were able to first create fire on a regular basis for cooking and
staying warm, and the invention of the wheel, was quite vast. Just like the
time gap between the development of a written language and the printing press
was vast. And it sure took a while for us to get from the horse drawn carriage
to the motorized horseless carriage a.k.a., the automobile.<span> </span>So with these and the countless other
examples that you yourself could come up with, one could conclude that up until
recently, the human brain was accustomed to the slow pace of invention and
“modernization.” By the mid to late 1800’s in this country, with its new
“fangled” inventions like the telephone, the phonograph, and locomotive trains
to carry passengers across the country, and with new “social changes” in the
works, like women who started <span> </span>attending
college, <span> </span>there were some who just
couldn’t handle this new pace of life.<span>
</span>With all these new changes, it would eventually lead some to the
diagnosis of <b><i>neurasthenia</i></b>.<span> </span>This
“nervous exhaustion” that people felt would sometimes lead to depression, and even
physical pain.<span> </span>Why? Simply put, because
life was now moving too fast for the brain to handle.<span> </span>So, skip ahead to the modern age.<span> </span>Instead of hundreds of years passing before
life changing inventions, the time between has shortened.<span> </span>I know just in my lifetime, I have seen
things like the obsolescence of the pay phone, to the invention of the cell
phone.<span> </span><span> </span>And even with the cell phone, in just a few
years, technology went from a car mounted only phone, to the cell phone that we
all carry around in our back pockets.<span> </span>We
have gone from no internet in the early 1990’s, to people now reading news or
ordering groceries on Amazon via their smart phone or other connected devices. So
it would be safe to conclude that life has indeed sped up.<span> </span>As for our brains that were so accustomed to
all the slow changes in our world, well, from an evolutionary point of view,
we’re still trying to catch up with it all…which leads us to the idea of time
seemingly moving faster. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, for now it’s just a “working theory” on my part, and
I’m not sure how to scientifically prove it, but until I can, I still have to
work on a name for it.<span> </span>Maybe you can
help a farmer out on that one.<span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, remember to make the most of every day and live each
day to the fullest! You’ll be glad you did and maybe we can make time slow
down, even if it’s just a little.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for reading and I’ll see you in the groves, looking
at my watch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">-Farmer Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-31180955373059243132018-09-06T18:10:00.002-07:002018-09-06T18:10:36.057-07:00Happy Oxymoron Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well here we are in the beginning of what I like to call the
“BER” months. Early SeptemBER started the ball rolling in good fashion with the
three day weekend, “Labor Day.”<span> </span>For a
lot of people, not a whole lot of laboring going on, after all, it is a
national holiday. <span> </span>That’s unless you
include all the shopping, cooking, grilling and dish cleanup after all those
Labor Day B-B-Q’s and get-togethers. <span> </span>And
of course how else did you arrive at all those get-togethers other than by
traveling?<span> </span>If you traveled out of town
for the big three day weekend, well…that suspiciously sounds like it was a lot
of work to me, especially if you were driving. Let’s review; you had to pack up
the car, get everyone in the car, gas up, and then actually drive to your
destination “peacefully” with the kids in the back seat, who were hopefully not
causing too much mayhem (thank goodness for mobile devices).<span> </span>If you were really lucky (and you probably
weren’t), you didn’t have to fight all the traffic from everyone else trying
not to work by traveling out of town too.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Now, if you opted to fly to your holiday destination of choice, well I
hope it was worth all the hassle… I mean work. You had to pack your bag so it
didn’t go over the weight limit (or pay excessive fees), make sure you didn’t
pack any prohibited items, including bottled water, your therapy llama, and of
course anything that could possibly be deemed a weapon, like a pair of nail
clippers.<span> </span>If you decided to fly, I hope
you gave my regards to all the “grabby” TSA agents who were doing what?<span> </span>What else but working? <span> </span><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For those of us who don’t do a whole lot of traveling, the
holiday always seems like a good time to catch up on chores around the house
and the yard.<span> </span>Have you tried to go to the
big “home stores” like Home Depot or Lowes during Labor Day Weekend?<span> </span>The parking lot is jam packed with cars and
pickups hauling trailers! <span> </span>The people are
hitting all the big “Labor Day Sales”, buying up paint, carpet, tile, and new
ceiling fans.<span> </span>After all, what else
screams “Labor Day” more than a new kitchen backsplash? <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>It seems to me that the Labor Day “holiday”
is actually just a whole lot of work merely disguised as a day off. Perhaps a
well timed Congressional hearing might be in order to look into this.<span> </span>By now we’ve all heard of (for better or for
worse) “fake news.”<span> </span>Well I deem Labor
Day a “fake holiday.” <span> </span>I have a feeling
that the clothing industry too has something to do with it. <span> </span>Why, who else came up with the whole, “you’re
not supposed to wear white after Labor Day” thing? <span> </span>Because what else does that mean?<span> </span>It means you have to go out and buy more
clothes! And in my opinion, clothes shopping <span> </span>in itself is indeed more work.<span> </span><span> </span>It’s a
conspiracy I say…a good ol’ fashioned, true to life “X-File.”<span> </span>Where’s <span> </span>Alex Jones when you really need him?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well whatever you believe, I hope you were able to at least
get a little time off during the three day weekend.<span>
</span>After all, it was Labor Day, right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the groves (not
wearing white).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Farmer Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-46241784578437270652018-06-27T15:54:00.000-07:002018-06-28T11:08:27.677-07:00I'm Sorry, Corn What?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Ahhh, the summer
season, a time for all those outdoor activities…summer BBQs, hanging by the
pool, and of course, all of those fun outdoor games. But, oh my, how things have changed. When I was young (whenever that was) we would play “tag”, “catch” with a
baseball or football, basketball and yes, what would summer be without the
inevitable sneak attack of a water balloon, leading to the epic water fight,
and completely soaked clothes. But now,
I see the new “paradigm” of the outdoor summer fun and sports, and it’s like
going to another world. I see lawn darts
have been replaced with something that has no sharp, spiky tip that could
either plant itself into the ground as you try to get it inside the ring, or if
you happen to be standing in the way of where the dart is supposed to land,
stab you and send you on a much “buzz kill” of a trip to Urgent Care. Where’s
the fun in that? </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How about playing the newest sensation in outdoor family
entertainment simply known as, “cornhole”?
I’m sorry…corn what? Well, if you haven’t played, it’s a kin to a game at
the fair or carnival where you try to toss a bean bag into a cut out hole on a
plank of angled wood. I’ve played a few times and just like at the carnival… I
didn’t win. But hang on a second, cornhole
is not just for back yard amateurs, no. In fact, much to my surprise (and
horror) while recently “channel surfing” on the weekend, I saw on the
programming guide a listing on ESPN for (wait for it)… The Cornhole World Championship. The whhaaat?
I had no choice, no self control, no way of stopping myself from
hitting the “enter” button on my remote control. And there it was, full grown
adults tossing bean bags into a hole on cable t.v. for a trophy and the title
of “Cornhole King.” Although I didn’t
watch long enough to make it to the commercial break to see who actually
sponsors such a contest (I can’t bring myself to call it an actual “sport” even though
it was on ESPN), I got the gist of how the scoring works, but still not as to
why it was taking up precious television air time. Anyway,
it was shortly after the ability for my eyes to once again focus that I started
to contemplate how the participants of this activity even refer to it in
everyday conversation. Do they call each
other up and say…”hey man, wanna meet up for a pickup game of c-hole?” O.K., that
doesn’t sound right. Or how about…”hope you brought your beanbags with you, for
a killer game of cornhole!” Yeah…I’m thinking “no.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And don’t even get me started on “pickleball.” They televise
this too now. Pickleball, yes it’s a thing.
To the uninformed, such as I am, it basically looks like a game of ping-pong
with something to prove. Though way more
athletic than cornhole, I still am not quite sure how it has the appeal large
enough to be broadcast on t.v. But then
again, I admit, I have actually watched a few minutes of people sitting around a table
playing high stakes poker on television…go figure. Anyway, I have seen people taking up our local
tennis courts, with their oversized big ping-pong paddles, whiffle balls and
smugness. Who are these pickleball
people? Why wasn’t tennis or badminton or regular ping-pong good enough for
them? Nooo…they had to take ping pong and badminton and “Frankenstein” them
together into some other new quasi, sport.
There is now even the USA Pickleball Association, just to legitimize the
whole thing. I blame the “hipsters.” Besides, wasn’t it they who gave us “Frisbee-Golf.”
They couldn’t leave well enough alone either Frisbee or golf. Well, I say enough
is enough! Time to keep the outdoor fun real and honest…the way it used to be,
before someone gets hurt with one of these trendy new “wannabe” games. Because
if we let this continue, I ask you, could “Bowling Dodge Ball” or "Rooftop Domino Surfing" be far behind? The madness must end!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the groves.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Farmer Tony</span></span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-13658041013541223092018-05-31T14:27:00.004-07:002018-05-31T17:39:11.871-07:00Heaven On Earth (kinda)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I recently
read a news article where the headline was about a T.V. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>evangelist who was asking for donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No,
not exactly front page, “above the fold” headlines, since this is how most
evangelists make their money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I
kept reading, I thought for just a second that I had stumbled upon a satirical news
article from “The Onion.” But being that it was from some other news source,
sadly the story was indeed true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
headline asked the burning question, if the evangelist, “really needed his
FOURTH $54 million dollar private jet to spread ‘the good word’ around the
globe?” Um, excuse me? His fourth private jet? Are you kidding me? This guy
doesn’t even work for our federal government, and he needs a fourth jet, worth
54 million dollars? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether you
believe in the bible at all, is entirely up to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course the stories in the bible are
all open to interpretation, and whether you take each word literally, is your own
personal decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for me, I do
remember the bible stories where Jesus himself did a lot of walking to spread
the word, or maybe even riding into town on a donkey or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all, the scriptures state that Jesus was very humble in his human form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sounds to me
that this particular evangelist, (I’ll just call him “Rev. Moneybags”)
just might be missing something in his approach to the whole “bringing people
to the Lord” thing, and being a “good shepherd” and such. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again he does preach something called
the “prosperity gospel,” in which supposedly… ‘God shows favor by rewarding the
faithful with earthly riches, with a strong emphasis on giving money to
pastors, which leaders claim is an investment in the afterlife’. Now the
article states that he has hundreds of thousands of “followers” around the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which leads me to the question of;
who the hell are these ‘followers’ who actually listen and watch him on
television? I thought the whole Jim Jones/”Jonestown” thing ended years
ago?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that maybe the “Heaven’s Gate”
people who all dressed up wearing Nike shoes, and had a roll of quarters in
their pockets, waiting for the UFO, lurking behind Haley’s Comet to “take them
all home,” was just some weird, social aberration. Well, guess what? Apparently,
there is a group of people who believe that the way to heaven is based on some
sort of “sliding scale” of giving money to some guy who needs 4 private jets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How it all works, I’m sure is based on some
sort of “fuzzy logic” that is a kin to reading the new I.R.S. tax code while on
L.S.D.! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s not even the crazy
part!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crazy part is, people have
already given this guy enough money to have previously bought THREE other
private jets!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t
know, I’m just a “mild mannered” orange farmer who would be happy with just a
new truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hold on…Wait a minute, this
gives me an idea…”Do you feel compelled to send me enough money to buy me a new
Ford F-150?” “Do you have the urge to just bring me a new Ford F-150, with
the “pink slip” and a full tank of gas?” “Yes, my friends, you will be rewarded
in heaven for your generous gift of a truck!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Pick up the phone right now and make that donation to Farmer Tony!” “We
have operators standing by to receive your gift.” …No? Well, it was worth a
shot. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll see you
in the groves…walking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank You
for reading,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Tony <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-41516609128444581942018-01-29T19:18:00.000-08:002018-01-29T19:26:39.922-08:00GOD BLESS THE SIGN SHAKERS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You see them
moving or sometimes dancing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the side
of the road in the commercial areas of town, usually near a stop light on the
corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're out there, shaking or sometimes "spinning" a
sign directing you to the local sandwich or pizza shop, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or telling you about a great 75% off sale at
the nearby mattress store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can be
in plain clothes or sometimes in costumes that range anywhere from a bird, to
the Statue of Liberty, to a taco (yup a taco, I've seen them). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are... "THE SIGN SHAKERS." Yes,
the men and women who aren't afraid of a little attention, after all, their job
is to attract attention... for the businesses they work for anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've ridden in cars as we passed them by hearing
others say, "I wouldn't do that, no matter how much you pay me!" or
"how embarrassing having to do that for a job?" and even, "better
them than me." Well, all I can say is..."GOD BLESS THE SIGN SHAKERS!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my head,
I have some simple beliefs that are so simple that even I can understand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call them "Tony's rules of
life."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of these rules applies
to people's jobs, and that rule simply states..."everybody's got to do something."
And in my opinion, as long as it's legal and you're good at it, or try to be
good at it, I am all for it. If you are a sign shaker and you wave at me, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>always wave back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't judge, I'm just happy you have a job
that pays you money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when it comes
down to these human billboards of the intersection, I say," good on you"
for trying so hard! Sure, it's not a job for everyone, and no it's not a job
that would be on the top of my list, but for these folks, it's a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe me, I have all the respect in the
world for people who would rather take a job shaking a sign for money than say,
stealing, hooking, selling drugs, or human trafficking for money...just to name
a few. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you're good at shaking or
spinning a sign and you live in the right area, you can actually make some money
at it, upwards of $20.00 an hour! Yup, if you're energetic, self motivated, can
stand for up to 5 hours at a time, willing to work in any weather conditions,
and enjoy entertaining people, you too can be part of working America and
making some money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it make you
rich? Probably not. Will it make you a "hit with the ladies?" Mmmm...I'm
going with "no." But here are a few things that it just might be able
to do for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can help keep you out
of jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if you're busy shaking
a sign, then you probably aren't out breaking into cars or houses or selling
drugs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It WILL build character, for
there will be a time when you look back at your sign shaking days and be able
to give yourself a little "pat on the back" as you tell yourself (or others)
that there was a time when you were willing to put a little pride aside and
"did what you had to do" for a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It could also help you to be a positive example as you tell your success
story to others. Because if you are willing to shake or spin a sign as a job
for a while, you've got what it takes to be a success!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You really do. Putting yourself "out
there" in the world and being willing to work hard is a key <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to success. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask any successful person and they will tell
you, that hard work and "character" matters, and if you're shaking
signs on the corner for pay check, you my friend have TONS of character. So
keep on spinning, keep on shaking, keep on dancing, and keep up the good
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because there are those of us out
there who sees more than just a moving sign, we see someone trying... we
believe in you! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank You
for reading and I'll see you in the groves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Farmer Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-22742933227209161572017-08-09T11:54:00.000-07:002017-08-16T13:43:54.138-07:00"Eclipsing" History<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Ooohhh…the
excitement of a total solar eclipse! A wonder in the heavens, which at one
point in history could bring whole civilizations to its knees in fear. But alas here we are centuries away from the mystery
and mysticism, with a clear scientific knowledge of these celestial events, and
hopefully not a human sacrifice in sight. As we await the day that has been
circled on more than just a few calendars, plans have been made to travel to
locations in the direct path of the eclipse.
Starting in Oregon and traveling thru 14 states like Idaho, Missouri, Kentucky and
ending (in the U.S.) in South Carolina, camping sites have long been booked,
“no vacancy” notices have been placed on hotel websites for months. Some utility companies who rely on solar
power, have made contingency plans for the short period of darkness, and some
states have even issued “declarations” for relief funding for aid with
“cleanup” efforts and expected property damage and traffic control from all the increased numbers of sky
watchers heading out to public spaces. The
last time the U.S. has seen a total solar eclipse was 99 years ago, and no way
are people planning on missing this one. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I find it so wonderfully fascinating how even
in these days of giant, mega “block buster “movies, with “A-list” celebrities,
even they, “can’t hold a candle” to the
glorious “theatre” in heavens and what
is sure to be, “the greatest show
on Earth.” No, there are no amount of computer generated
images, ultra high tech virtual reality gizmos, or even the best “blue screen”
technology, that can compare to what we
can see on the never ending “bazillion” pixel screen we call…the sky.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sure, Hollywood will always have their “big
stars,” but none the size of which we will all be looking up at in awe and
wonder. It’s just a marvelous reminder
that maybe we should do more “unplugging” of devices and more “plugging in” to
the world and universe around us. In my
mind, the “ancients” had it right, it’s not “man” that should hold our
attention, but that which (fill in the blank for your favorite) God has given
to us to see and experience. Yup, history wins again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thank You
for reading, and see you in the eclipse darkened groves.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Farmer Tony </span></span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-58871887171257020402017-02-21T18:41:00.002-08:002017-02-21T18:41:35.693-08:00El Nino, La Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far this weather year in California has
been an epic one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have gone from
devastating drought conditions to devastating flooding and mudslides due to
what the weather folks at NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Association) have been calling the "Atmospheric
Rivers" of rain that the Muddy-Golden State has thus received this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Christopher Columbus trying
to discover a route to the East Indies by sailing west and in the spirit of discovery,
here's what I have discovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
discovered that for all of our modern day toys and technology (i.e. satellites,
computer programs, and piles and piles of stored data) at the disposal of
weather prognosticators around the world, I am finding their accuracy rate to
be more<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on par with Punxsutawney Phil</span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and his 50-50 chance at 6 more
weeks of winter.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rodent jokes aside, as a farmer I
must heavily rely on weather forecasts in order to help do my job, much in the
way that stock brokers rely on economic forecasts to do theirs. But before you
start into the whole "Global Warming", "Global Cooling",
"Climate Change", "we're killing all the fairy shrimp and polar
bears" argument, and how it's now so much harder to predict the weather,
let me just say..."I get it."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure,
the weather patterns on the planet have changed, and will continue to change (
just like they have been doing since the earth started spinning), however,
could we please try to keep the weather forecasts in the same "ball
park"? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2015 I kept reading story after story about the
"Godzilla-El Nino" that was supposed to materialize, bringing much
needed rainfall to California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in
the end, Godzilla looked more like the Gieco gecko and we ended with a less
than average rainfall total for the year...bummer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, this past summer I was once again feeling
optimistic by NOAA's "crystal ball" forecast of a winter that
included another "El Nino" weather pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, the weather Gods started to back
off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on their prediction of an "El
Nino" year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By September-October,
the EXACT OPPOSITE was predicted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
reading stories from all the weather outlets (as well as the Old Farmer's
Almanac) how we were expecting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
"La Nina" weather year, with less than average rain and much colder temperatures.
Once again, not so good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, like any
good farmer, I prepared for a La Nina winter, fully expecting less rain, less
snow in the mountains, and colder temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then something strange started to happen...it began to rain on the
valley floor, and snow up in the mountains, yay!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it kept raining...and raining, and
raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks of rain later,
there were now rumors of the rainfall accumulations actually filling once dry lakes
and reservoirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I began
hearing the term "drought buster" being thrown around on the news,
which brought much delight and warm feelings, to most Californians, yay again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few more weeks go by, it's still raining,
and now we hear about lakes and reservoirs and dams being filled to
capacity...whoa..wait, what?!? Then there was the Oroville Dam situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will the emergency spillway collapse and
cause major flooding in the Northern California area? Stay tuned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following that, we had the major, 24 hour, record
breaking rainfall in Southern California, leading to deaths, flooding, downed
power lines, a 40 foot sinkhole and mudslides! And the rainy season isn't over
yet!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth...and believe me when I
say, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am truly grateful for the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how in the world were the
forecasters so far off base with their prediction? The term "not even
close" doesn't even begin to cover how wrong the weather gurus were on
this one. In the end I guess one could say that with his trusty sextant and map
of the stars, Columbus was a little closer to the mark...for at least he found
land.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks for
reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll see you in the groves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Farmer Tony</span></div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106176494767014186.post-91396304108155828692016-06-23T17:03:00.000-07:002016-06-23T17:23:33.555-07:00Question Everything<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Wow..it's been a while since my last blog posting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've been pretty busy as of late with several
work related projects that have been taking a lot of my time, which of course are
certainly nowhere near as fun and interesting as the "parade of
thoughts" that go marching through my head most days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I recently thought, why not do a
"free form, stream of consciousness" type of blog this time around?
I'm calling it..."Question Everything".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I currently need to question everything,
because there are always so many things going on that do not make a lot of
sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am confident that my
quest for knowledge will end in pretty much the same fashion as the time
Geraldo Rivera asked the question..."What's hiding in Al Capone's secret
vault?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the end I will be
none more informed than I am now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
at least I will have my questions out into the universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, here are just a few questions that have
my mind working overtime;</div>
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Question...why, after 40 years have we not gone back to the
moon? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely by now NASA should have
acquired enough frequent flyer miles to have gone back at least ONCE since Apollo
17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did we spend so much time and
resources going there to just decide to never go back? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you can't get a descent cup of coffee on
the moon? I don't<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>know,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
that's really the case, I guess I wouldn't<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>go back either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Question...Why is it, that on new car ads on T.V. and radio
that there is... "Never been a better time to buy than NOW!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I still don't know what President's Day or the 4th of July has to do with the price of a new Toyota. </span>Seems to me the best time to buy a new car is
when you actually have the money to buy one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess it's just me. </div>
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Question...Why do so many people STILL care about the
Kardashian people? If no one cared, wouldn't they just fade away like
"Beanie Babies", the high button shoe, or the dreaded N1H1 Avian Flu that was supposed to kill everyone? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even all the different "C.S.I" T.V.
shows have finally run their course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
some of those shows <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were actually
entertaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine your Facebook news
feed going a whole month without any stories about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>little Miss Kimmie K or the rest of the
talentless, self absorbed bunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too
harsh?</div>
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And speaking of Facebook, why are they making it mandatory
to download the messenger app on our smart phones in order to get your messages?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess the FB people just don't<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have enough information on us already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we could put cameras in all the rooms
in our homes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ala "Big Brother",
how convenient would that be Mr. Zuckerberg?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suppose I could just "opt out" of FB altogether and not have
to deal with any of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But then how would I know where all my friends have been, and what they
are having for dinner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah yes, first world problems indeed. </div>
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But probably the biggest question running through my head
these days...Why Donald Trump?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
Hillary Clinton? Why the hell can we not find better people than these two to
try and run our country?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn it, this
is America!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A place once filled with
hope and promise for the rest of the world to look up to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this farmer's humble opinion...not so much
anymore...and certainly not if these two have anything to say about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the aliens who live on other
worlds are waiting for humanity<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to
evolve enough to a point<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where they feel
confident,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that by making<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their existence known to us and our world
leaders,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that it would not end in our
complete and total chaotic destruction...well,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm sure that just listening to a couple of minutes to both Trump and
Clinton speak, has them slapping their elongated forehead with their little
four fingered hand and telepathically saying to themselves...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"maybe we will check back with the
humans in about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>another MILLION years or
so!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much? Not enough?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know... I could do this all day, but
that would lead me down the path to my final question on this particular post,
who would take the time read it all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyway, if you made it this far, a very "heartfelt" THANK YOU
for reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I'll see you in the groves...</div>
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-Farmer Tony</div>
Farmer Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09888491903024558791noreply@blogger.com0