STOP AND HEAR THE MUSIC

My dears, MOI receives emails from all over the place. Received one yesterday from a loyal reader of this site and it caught me eye. Firstly, MOI gets massive amount of mail and at times, the facts in the email do not always pan out. The story told was almost too good to be true, a real 'urban legend' it APPEARED to be. Being the sort of person that tries to 'know', MOI checked and to surprise...........it was all true.


Have you got hooked yet??? Want to know what it was?? See how it all connects with the post?? Read on...........

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html is link to story in Washington Post.

MOI is putting the link as the story is long, very long, and does not want any to miss one word of it. The writer of the story is Mr. Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer. The featured story in the Washington Post was so exceptional it received a Pulitzer Prize.

My dears, the dots connect. Do we really stop and listen to life anymore? What makes us stop?

No one knew it was Joshua Bell playing, they just assumed it was a 'street violinist', no big deal - nothing special. However grand the music, folks did not take the time to hear it. The message was lost due to the delivery.

This old geezer is nothing special. Just a fat, old, bald man trying to tell folks something they know to be true but it does not come in a package they validate as 'of value'. Not just MOI, but many other folks who try, in Marysville, to get folks to 'stop and listen'.

Mind, if one has a fancy title.........say Mayor, or City Manager or Councilperson, folks tend to believe that their message is the one to listen to. They have the proper titles and the stage is all set up for them. We fall all over selves to hear what they have to say and tend to give them more value.

The Appeal Democrat is not the 'Washington Post'. Does not even try to pretend to be..........the newspaper is what it is. MOI has found that the good folks at the Appeal Democrat do try to tell stories about what matters in Marysville. They have Editorial Opinions, columnist that draw our attention to things we need to remember and take note of. In the interest of space, and not having endless cash, they do tend to not be wordy. Short and to the point, even when it might be best to go on a bit.  Mind, Marysville is but one community covered by local newspaper and it would seem that being headquartered in Marysville carries no special consideration.

Marysville has got troubles. The Homeless. Drugs. Mental Illness. A Dead Downtown area. Shortage of cash. You get the picture.

This old geezer could set self on fire in the middle of the road, and think there might be a shortage of folks who would put out the flames, let alone hear the message. Road lived on is of no import, he is a NO BODY, no fancy title, no church to fill or non-profit to run. MOI, like many others who try and make a difference are not heard as the folks who control the City of Marysville have the only voice worth listening to. More's the pity.

Like the title says.................'Stop and Hear the Music'

"I hope it is true that a man can die and yet not only live in others but give them life, and not only life but that great consciousness of life."

The last few days have pointed out a lot of things to MOI. Of greatest import is knowing that life is made all the better by living it, sharing with others.

Not all met are fond of MOI, there are still folks who think it would be best of this old geezer would tend to his own affairs and not look into other gardens. What ails the road lived on and community a part of is that for too long folks have got comfy with the way things are and do not want change, it is too much for them to handle. Not sure of the logic of that. To be true, there comes a time when the spotlight will shift and one has to be greedy and suck on the tit for all it is worth for as long as possible.

At some point, MOI will be gone from the road lived on. The years go by quickly and when departed from here, MOI hopes to be able to look back fondly on the time spent here. One hopes that Civic Pride will have worked wonders and that folks in Marysville will have come to know a different Marysville. No doubt there will be many who will move from Marysville and the hope is that newer neighbours will be brilliant or at least willing to try and make a difference.


MOI has had the great good fortune to have had many lovely experiences since Tuesday last. Experiences that would have not been had MOI not reached out and tried to touch neighbours and others in community. The experiences have come from young and old, male and female, and all colours. MOI sits here today more wealthy for having had them.

My dears, MOI is of the opinion that much that ails us as a society is due to folks not connecting with their neighbours. Such a small thing and yet the rewards of being a good neighbour are enormous.


There will be some who are not wild about this post, sorry, there be days when entry in diary is very reflective and this be one of them. There has been much to think on of late. Not every entry can be dripping with drama........

"If you change things in one way, you change things in other ways"

My dears, there are days that it is right difficult to pick the right story to tell. There is a pile near machine and it is from this that MOI picks the day's offering. Many is the day that the pile is ignored as something has come about that makes it far more important to tell.


MOI receives post, hardly a day goes by with that something of future value catches eye and begs to be used. Received this and thought it was a good time to tell of. Its value lies in pricking the outer shin of one and making one think back on things remembered and folks one has come to know.

It be a bit sappy for some, to be sure, but when did that stop MOI from telling anything?


One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid
 from my class was walking home from school. His name was
 Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
 I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all
 his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.'
 I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game
 with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my
 shoulders and went on.

 As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and
 tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
 His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass
 about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this
 terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him.
So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for
 his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
 As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are
 jerks.' They really should get lives.
 He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'
 There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those
 smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he
 lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him
 why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to
 private school before now. I would have never hung out with
 a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his
 books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
 I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my
 friends.
 He said, 'Yes.'
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle,
the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of
 him.
 Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack
 of books again.
I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really
 build some serious muscles with this pile of books
 everyday!'
 He just laughed and handed me half the books.
 Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.
 When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle
 decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that
 we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a
 problem.
 He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on
 a football scholarship.
 Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the
 time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for
 graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up
 there and speak.
 Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one
 of those guys that really found himself during high school.
 He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had
 more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
 Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those
 days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
 So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy,
 you'll be great!'
 He looked at me with one of those looks (the really
 grateful one) and smiled.
 'Thanks,' he said.
 As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and
 began....
 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you
 make it through those tough years. Your parents, your
 teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your
 friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend
 to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going
 to tell you a story.'
 I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the
 first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the
 weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so
 his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying
 his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little
 smile.
 'Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from
 doing the unspeakable..'
 I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome,
 popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his
 Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful
 smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
 Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one
 small gesture you can change a person's life. For
 better or for worse.


The story may well not be based in truth, but is sure makes one stop and remember a bit. Or is MOI the only person willing to fess up to being touched? To have doubts?

MOI has not always been willing to be so touchy, more's the pity, as there were many moments missed. There is never a missed opportunity of late, so many are the stories heard and filed away.

The chappie who sent MOI the above story will note that there be a change in the ending.............MOI is not so keen to use GOD as an example of why things sort self out. It is blatant, you think? Why bang on about what one knows deep down?

Last Tuesday, this old geezer tried to touch many lives.  Reached out to local citizens and got them to take part in a meeting of city council.  I took a risk and tried to make a difference, however small a difference.

Local newspaper reported now tells the whole world that I be a fraud, for folks to be wary of as I AM not be what I seem.  A force for destruction am called.

I am what I am, I know me rather well, and if the reporter wants to dig for dirt, be my guess.  Have had more famous reporters do that and a newspaper with more cash to fund the search.  My life is an open book, and am more than willing to tell one and all what they need to know.  I have no fear.

I have to wonder if the denizens of Silly Hall are behind the latest attack on my good name.

Government in Germany during the 30's was able to tell lies about folks they did not like, turn the citizenry against and do horrid things to.  I will not hide.  I will not run.  If need be am perfectly will to sit down and die for my right to be a part of the community.

"If you change things in one way, you change things in other ways" Quite right!

SRO AT SILLY HALL MEETING

The 'special' meeting of the City Council last night to hear the appeal from Norcal went off without a hitch last night.  The rules in play for the meeting favoured the denizens of Silly Hall and laid waste the plans of Norcal and its supporters to be heard.  Mind, Norcal was allowed to present its case, but not in the fashion it had hoped.  That would have been for the supporters of the local medical cannabis dispensary to address the members of the city council.

The chap from Norcal seemed a bit out of his depth or ill-prepared to face the seasoned panel of law makers.  The denizens of Silly Hall are very well prepared with all of the tools of the law at their beck and call.  Toss in the 'awe' factor of most citizens at being up close and in person with so many exalted personages and you get the feeling that the poor chap from Norcal never knew what hit him.

In short order, the appeal of Norcal was voted down.  All done perfectly legal by the denizens of Silly Hall.

The hopes of Norcal to have its voice heard were dashed, or were they.

This old geezer was at Silly Hall last night.  I had come to make sure that the great wrong being done by local government would not go unnoticed or undocumented on.  This old geezer is not in awe of personages at Silly Hall and a bit clever at knowing how to use the same rules as the denizens of Silly Hall.

When the special meeting of the city council was over, I took the opportunity to address departing supporters of Norcal.  I reminded them that while denied the opportunity to speak at the hearing, they had every right to speak at the regular scheduled meeting to follow at 7pm.

I spoke loudly enough to make sure that all of the denizens of Silly Hall could hear that I was encouraging members of the public to stay and be heard.  Strongly urging folks to pack the meeting and get up and speak sent shock waves through the council chamber.  Am quite sure that I heard some denizens of Silly Hall utter negative comments about my attempt to rally the crowd.

When the regular meeting of city council began at 7pm, it was to a standing room only crowd.

Starting with meself, for the next hour, members of city council, staff and Chief of Police were forced to listen to the voice of the people.  In larger numbers than oft happens at meetings.

I came out in support of Norcal due to my strong feeling that the Chief of Police and staff had stacked the deck against.  Every effort was made on the part of the Chief of Police and staff to change the rules and make sure that Norcal could never be allowed to open doors legal in Marysville.  The way I see it that is so very wrong.  That is my personal opinion and last looked am entitled to say it.  If the Chief of Police or staff feel that they have an issue with it, they can do what they feel legally enabled to do.  I am not in awe of the Chief of Police or any member of staff.

Last night, a rather large number of residents spoke at council meeting.  They may not have been as colourful as this old geezer, what mattered most, is that they took the time to be part of the process.  That is pretty big news local.  Most meetings of city council are poorly attended.

The meeting of city council was attended by a reporter from the Appeal Democrat.  Always thought it a bit odd that the reporter goes out of way to ignore this old geezer and last night was no exception.  I told the reporter that I would be waiting with bated breath for her reportage to appear online.

Like everyone else, I read the report and am a bit puzzled by it.  It is a true telling of sorts if you connect the dots in the manner that the reporter told they story, but not true if you happened to have been there and seen just how the drama played out.  Very strange...

If you were not at Silly Hall last night, you missed out on a real treat.  "We, the people" taking part in local government.  How grand the sights and sounds of were.  Perhaps, next time??

The Philosophy of Liberty

Very interesting...

Government Made Easy: Civic Duty

It is the responsibility of local residents to keep local government honest. One of the best ways to do that is to attend meetings of city council.

Today, a special meeting of city council in Marysville is being held. The matter to be heard is concerning an organization's local effort to do business in Marysville with legal blessing of city of Marysville.

Mind, the Chief of Police and members of staff have done everything possible to bar the organization from being able to do that. The law has been used to lock them out from any part of the city.

It is my civic duty to attend this meeting and let the city council know how I feel on this matter. It will remain to be seen how many other residents of Marysville will do likewise.

Medical Marijuana

Tuesday, August 17, 2010, in special session of City Council of Marysville, the on-going battle against a local establishment will be held.

To date, the City of Marysville has done all possible to prevent the 'legal' sale of this to happen. Using the law to prevent, council members, staff and police department are hellbent on driving the folks who run a local dispensary from providing this service.

I do not do cannabis, have no need for this service, but am passionate about the right of others to use if there is a need.

A local man, soon to die due to advanced cancer, uses the benefits of cannabis to combat the pain he deals with on a daily basis. Why should he be denied this right? Why should a lovely gentleman, dealing with his death, have to send family members out to buy from drug dealers, cannabis, that provides him with some quality of life?

With no cash in the public purse, why is the City of Marysville trying so hard to run this establishment out of town?

How many locals will attend the meeting to give voice to their concerns?

Friday the 13th Lucky Mojo at Augustine's Spiritual Goods

Lucky Friday 13th at Posh Bingo

Anyone for BINGO? Today is just another day, right?

MARYSVILLE SILLY HALL LOVES PG+E

The local rag, The Appeal Democrat, is loaded with comments about PG&E bills due to 'smart meters' in use local.

If one is to believe most comments, PG&E is 'evil' and out to rake in all cash possible from poor folks who are customers. Mind, Marysville must not be so poor as a city, as denizens of Silly Hall make no effort to be 'smart' in how electric bills are lowered. Unless of course as a city you just switch off the large street lamps, casting roads into darkness.

What is strange to this old geezer is how odd this appears. Lamps outside of Yuba County Court House have been switched off, casting the frontage of building into darkness. While Marysville Silly Hall is awash in light from the ornamental lamps ringing it. They stay illuminated well after light returns to road.

Mind, the denizens of Silly Hall do not mind the bills, the residents of Marysville will have to pay, along with the 'icebox' temps inside of Silly Hall.

PG&E has 'smart meters', only so smart as the folks who use them. It would appear that the denizens of Marysville Silly Hall are right clever in wasting the coin in the public purse.

MY BOY JACK

Have you news of my boy Jack?”


Not this tide.

“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”

Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.



“Has any one else had word of him?”

Not this tide.

For what is sunk will hardly swim,

Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.



“Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”

None this tide,

Nor any tide,

Except he did not shame his kind —

Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.



Then hold your head up all the more,

This tide,

And every tide;

Because he was the son you bore,

And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!
 
Poem by Rudyard Kipling about his only son, John Kipling, died at Battle of Loos, aged 18 and 1 day old.

Amazing hand art

Hands off to the clever folks who do this...

Marysville Going Dark

Yesterday, the street lamp outside me back door was switched off. The chaps from Public Works were out switching off many of the street lamps round home.

Elm Street is not much of a road but folks do use it, and it leads to Post Office. Now the road is cast in complete darkness. Not entirely, as have put a spot light on back of cottage.

Have to wonder if $2,661,000.00 for police department of a very small town is worth more than keeping the roads well lighted.

The Doctor Getting a Parking Ticket

This old geezer does not drive. Have known what it feels like to receive a parking ticket. Mind, mates who have, have acted rather angry at and oft times refused to pay.

Marysville Police Department writes thousands of tickets yearly, leading the citizenry to call the coppers, the revenuers. With a cost of $2,661,000.00 to the public purse, coppers do all possible to raise cash for the city. Always thought the role of police department was to serve and protect, not to punish.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PREVENT DRUG USE?

Filmed bit done in 2009 about the 'evils' of crack. Have to wonder how many go out of way to try and prevent this 'evil' from taking root in their neighbourhood.
This old geezer may be too much for some to take, but no one will every be able to say I said and did nothing. More's the pity that more folks do not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzrZaCJ3y9o   allows you to see comments left

Drug Addiction Part2

How many ignore the 'signs' until it is too late?

Drug Addiction Part1

Dated but still too true.

DRUG RICHES

The snap is but one of several taken of filthy lucre found in a raid on a drug dealer.

There was so much cash it was found in a bedroom and in closets so packed they could not be shut.

So long as 'evil creatures' can make buckets of cash selling poison, there will always be drugs flowing through our communities.

It is hard to believe that neighbours to a local drug house were clueless as to what sort of activity was going on there.  Why it took so long for that activity to be shut down.

Think of all of the 'good' things that could have been done with the cash spent on drugs.

Mind, the snap is not from the local house raided, but it clearly show how much cash comes in by selling drugs.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE BATTLE RAGES ON IN CALIFORNIA

Dark thoughts...

ALAS, I SHALL NOT RUN

"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes." WaltWhitman

Obtuse 'contract' public employees at Silly Hall and a redundant city run police department make it quite clear that best value is to remain 'outside the tent, pissing in.'

I may not be as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.

CRIME FIGHT WAS BUST

My dears, this old geezer spent hours wandering round Downtown trying to enlighten folks about "National Night Out" yesterday. Truth be told, the effort left MOI gutted.

Take a hard look at the snap above. Do I look like a perv? A 'bit of rough'? A personage to be feared?

Efforts to pass out arm bands with the legend "Drug Abuse is Life Abuse" and a sweet were not met with much interest. Many told that they were clueless of it being "National Night Out". Many told that they did not like to make a statement against drug use. Some told that wearing an arm band was not in keeping with their smart look of the day, the band clashed with clothes. Many walked briskly past, pretending they did not see or hear the message.

I do not believe in making folks uncomfortable, and did not try to badger anyone into taking an arm band or a sweet.

The real shocker of the day was to run into the City Clerk for Marysville. Pretending that she did not know this old geezer, she sped off when asked to take an arm band and a sweet to mark 'National Night Out'. Mind, City Manager Casey wrote a letter to MOI telling that denizens of Silly Hall had been instructed to not talk with this old geezer other than as 'law or duty' required. The City Clerk must be just following orders from on high.

How very odd that trying to do good on a public road should be met with such coldness. Last looked, this old geezer lives in Marysville and pays taxes, taxes that pay packet of denizens comes from.

No wonder that there was no real effort made on part of Marysville Leadership to celebrate "National Night Out". The "IN" crowd ignores the "OUT" crowd. More's the pity that, as efforts of residents in a Neighbourhood Watch do make a difference in chasing crime away. Drug activity is a big part of the crime picture local.

How very sad that too few seemed to care.

National Night Out 2010

Rumour has it that Marysville coppers have never really gone all out to make the National Night Out event a real happening in Marysville.

The Chief of Police for Marysville sees no value in my efforts to be a good citizen. There has been no co-operation in planning a National Night Out event. Point of fact, any requests had to be in writing and await an answer from. It has been made very clear that 'required by law or duty' is attitude of Marys ville Police Department Leadership.

I will be out on road today, wearing my smart "National Night Out" ball cap. Thanks to the Sheriff of Yuba County, I will be passing out wrist bands to locals. "Drug Abuse is Life Abuse", the bands say.

Sheriff Durfor believes that if we could cut the rate of drug abuse, many of the local crimes would stop. I agree. Drugs are responsible for so much 'evil' in the community.

Along with the brilliant wrist bands, I will be passing out a 'sugar free' sweet, thanks to my lovely friend, Ethel Padgett, owner of the Candy Box. A natural high got from the sweet...

I live Downtown, stands to reason that I would pass out me goodies there. If I can get folks to wear arm bands whole of day, and reminds selves of the evil faced by drugs, it will be a grand thing.

I will be on the road, D Street, from 10am on. Come down and let me give you an arm band... an

My name is Rob De Frees and I am here to recruit YOU. To fight crime in the community.

" Bosum Buddies"

"I adore women, I just do not sleep with them"Noel Coward

Dear reader, having read the post before, one will see that this week-end was one filled with the company of most delightful females.

Saturday saw schedules meet up and another lovely lady was able to join for a meal.

The lovely lady in question is well known to this old geezer. She was one of the first met in Marysville and we took a like to one another from word "GO". Truly one of the most liked persons in Marysville.

We met up for luncheon, having wanted to celebrate the lovely lady's birthday. It had pasted, but what is a few days in honouring her continued good life.

Paul went with and a grand time was had by all. Small gifts were given and a very delightful afternoon was pasted in her company.

I do so admire one who faces each and every day with pluck. The lady in question has buckets of pluck. Being a single mum is no small challenge, what with a job and all. Never a word of complaint passes her lips.

What is most admired of the lady is her ability to bring this old geezer back down to earth. I do tend to get a bit carried away. Warts and all, MOI can count of her telling the whole truth.

How very lucky I be...

" The Best Of Times are NOW"

Friday past, my weekend took off with a bang.

I had extended an invite to two lovely ladies to join me for dinner. Being that it was early in the day and there are children to be minded, it was not clear if the invitation would be be accepted. They would ring back.

To my delight, they were able to accept and plans were made for me to be picked up. Quite wicked of me to get folks to chauffeur me around, as I never did learn to drive, but that is another story.

There is a local casino that has a sea food buffet on Friday's. Regular 'Babette's Feast' it be. Mind, there is more than sea food, one can also have meat, cooked to order. Fancy that.

Less one not 'au fait' with old geezer comes to believe that all good times are to be had in a casino, I will remind that being always on the look-out for deals, one finds so many in them. True, they want to get one to gamble, but last looked, there is no attempt made to hold captive, and one can walk out after dining.

Truth be told, my dinner companions were not well known to me. I knew them, to be sure, but did not 'know' them, if you get my meaning. Object of the invite was to see if they and this old geezer would find a few bits and bobs to connect the dots, as it were.

It has been my experience that good food tends to make for delightful conversation. At table, as the lovely ladies and MOI tucked into the most excellent meal, there was much talked about.

I found out that one of the ladies is a world traveller, been to places MOI has not she has. China. The Far East. Of all the places been, the Far East has never held any interest to this old geezer. I tend to think it comes from the many conversations had with Brits who were POW's during the last great war. Apples & Oranges, Japan & China, but still part of the oriental world. Dear readers, savor this moment, MOI has just revealed how closed minded he can be at times...

One of the ladies at table had journeyed to Far East to adopt children. I had heard the rumours, but was most interested in learning the details of the process. High marks given to the lovely lady for doing what she did. No small thing to take on the responsibility of a young life.

In personality, the two ladies are as different as night and day. That did not make the evening hard to take. One of the ladies is quite open, while the other is more reserved. Being at table with the two, was sort of like sitting cross from a sizzling steak and a shepherds pie, one ready to carve up and the other requiring a dig in, both leaving one with most wonderful thoughts of.

I think it is safe to say that all come away with different opinions. It was a rather fun time and lasted quite late. Only goes to show that this old geezer was having loads of fun.

Of late, there has been far too muck talk about how hard times are. They could be better, no doubt. Truth be told, there is always possibility to do something fun. Going out does provide a shot to the local economy. How horrid if no one spent any cash anymore. How grand it was to just enjoy the moment. How delightful to have two lovely companions at table who tucked into feast with gusto. I do so love a person who likes food...

I have no doubt that the outing will be repeated. I had a most excellent adventure with the ladies.