Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

On Monday night I did the grandfather thing - I attended my youngest grandson's Tee-Ball game.  It was the Orioles against the Blue Jays.  Fortunately they have special rules.  Each inning everybody on the team bats once.  The inning ends when all have batted.  It's good that it doesn't end when there are three outs because an inning might then last an hour or more.  Actually four or five of the 30 who played actually caught a batted or thrown ball in the field.  And it is good that they don't keep score or you might have scores like 230 -175.  And it is good that they don't count strikes or there would have been dozens of strike-outs.  And, fortunately, they only play four innings.  A coach pitches since few if any of the players could throw a ball that far.  And after four misses by the batter they place the ball on a Tee (thus the name of the game) and the player swings until he hits it fair off the tee.  The tee itself probably was hit more often by wicked swings than the baseball.  Now I never had a chance to play this "game".  I'm not even sure if this game even existed when I was growing up and if it did I probably didn't know about it because we moved so often until I entered fifth grade. I learned to play baseball by playing pickup games with neighborhood kids.  That was the way I spent  most of my summer days. I guess nobody does that anymore.  When I got to junior high I earned some money serving as an umpire in little league games.  That wasn't always fun because it showed me how nasty some parents can be.  I've often thought the spectators should not be allowed to attend little league games.  Most of the time in junior and senior high I covered little league games for the local newspaper and that is where my newspaper career and my writing began.  I did help coach the local Teener League team when my brother played and we actually won the championship.  After I was married, for a couple of summers I helped my uncle coach a little league team in Sunbury - the mighty Mosquitos - an interesting name for a baseball team.  My brother once asked me to help him with the Warwick Girl's Softball team which he coached.  He wanted me to be the hitting coach, but I turned him down.  But maybe that would have been fun.  But Tee Ball is different and parents and grandparents come out to cheer on their sons and daughters - yes there were a few girls playing - as they begin their path to the major leagues.  Or at least they dream about that happening.  But they have a long way to go, a very long way.  Most can't catch.  Most are slow and have no baseball sense.  Few can hit. Some can hardly even hit the ball off the tee. Most can't throw the ball to any base or even back to the pitcher.  But there are two things that they can do.  First, they can give and take "high five's" from coaches and players, no matter what they have just done.  And secondly, they know how after the game to line up on the baselines and then pass the other team and say "good game".  They did that well.  It really wasn't too bad of an evening but a serious thought did pass through my mind.  I would have liked to know how many of the boys in particular had fathers living with them.  I would have liked to know how many of the boys had fathers who ever played pitch and catch with them or showed them how to hold a bat.  It was very obvious that some had no idea about the basics.  Some didn't know where to stand at home plate.  Some didn't know how to hold or swing a bat properly.  Many couldn't catch or couldn't hold their glove properly when they tried to catch.  Unfortunately, so many kids have been abandoned by their dads and since nobody plays neighborhood pickup games anymore, young boys know very little about the fundamentals of what used to be the national pastime..   And that is sad.  And I guess Tee-Ball is now the organized substitute to attempt to teach these fundamentals.  Or maybe it is society's way to replace the many parents who don't care or are too busy to spend time with their kids.  And if that is the case, that is even sadder.

College Days

For those faithful readers who have stuck with me after two recent blogs about finances, please hang on.  Hopefully this will be the last on that topic for awhile.  I recently went to purchase a pair of shoes.  As I was trying them on the salesman began to unload about his daughter.  It seems that she chose to go to Marywood University to major in art.  According to the university website, the costs for four years there would be about $372,450!  Wow!  Hopefully she had some financial aid or scholarships.  But he had agreed to pay her way and was now working hard to try and pay off this debt.  The bad news is that as an art major, the only job she has been able to get so far is working as a cashier at Lowes.  She could have gone to Kutztown and earned an art degree for $69,760, a difference of $302,688 - and she still could have gotten a job at Lowes.  He told me that he now regrets not having said "no" to her when she made the choice.  The Brookings Center on Children and Families has recently said that 1 in 5 colleges had a negative return on investment. The lifetime earnings of an education or arts major working in the services sector are lower than that of a high school graduate.  Actually 14% of high school graduates earn at least as much as people with bachelor's degrees. Recently I heard Dave Ramsey, the Christian financial guru, say that the biggest mistake that parents make with their children is letting them as 18 year olds choose where they want to go to college, especially when the teen only has about $60 in the bank.  I personally think that the second biggest mistake is agreeing to pay for their education. I don't think parents owe them that.  Look at these recent college statistics from American Student Assistance. *Approximately 20 million Americans attend college. *Approximately 12 million borrow money for college. *Approximately 37 million former students owe money today. *Of those under 30 years of age, 14 million former students owe money. *An average student loan is $24,301. *About 25% borrow more than $28,000, 10% more than $54,000, 3% more than $100,000 and less than 1% (167,000) more than $200.000. *Of the current students paying back debt – 40% are under age 30 and 42% are older. Seventeen percent are older than 50. *30 percent of those who took out loans haven't finished school.  When it was time for me to go to consider college my parents couldn't afford to send and pay for me.  However, they agreed to pay my room and board for four years whether I commuted or went away to school.  I chose to go away but I had already been saving for college for several years by working numerous jobs.  In addition, I earned scholarships, worked on campus, and held summer jobs to pay my bills.  I did borrow about $1,000 but that was paid back within a few years.  When it came time for my three boys to attend, I made the same agreement with them.  They chose to commute but they were still responsible for tuition, books and other fees.  I think accepting the cost of my education made it more important and meaningful to me.  And in earning my way I learned some valuable life lessons.  Personally, I don't think parents owe a college education to their children, but I guess I am in a minority today.  Prospective college students should work for scholarships and hold jobs to earn what they need.  They should choose a college which they can afford.  They should choose a major which will be marketable.  Or maybe they could skip school for a year or attend a community college for a year or two.  There are many sensible and financially sound ways to get a degree. College is still a possibility and one can graduate without a lifetime of debt for the student or parents.  And it is possible to earn a degree that can get you a job.  Anything else is a very sad use of time and money.  Unless, of course, our government is your model for your finances.

Boring

When my boys used to say something was boring I would tell them that boring is a state of mind and that they should find something constructive to do.  Well today I will need to take my own advice since this may be one of the most boring days of my life.  For the 16th election I am serving as Judge of Elections for my precinct.  It is a primary which is usually of little interest to anyone.  But this time there are no contests at all on the republican ballot and only one on the democratic ballot.  For many of the positions nobody is even running, including me.  I have chosen not to run again for Judge of Elections.  So why would anybody even come to vote?  If we have 200 voters show up today I will be surprised.  So for 15 hours I will need to find things to keep myself awake - probably some reading, some writing, some talking and some eating.  The good news is that I have a great team of workers and they bring great food.  Generally, in my estimation, primaries are not only a waste of time but a real waste of our tax money.  After 16 elections I still get upset with the regulations.  For example, yesterday when I set up my precinct I was required to post  10 sample ballots, 10 brochures on how to vote, an election news poster, an introduction to voting poster, 3 notices of voter rights, 3 individual rights under federal law posters, 3 notices of prohibitions and penalties. three poster of general information and instructions about voting rights and responsibilities of elected officers and one poster about election officers and provisional ballot procedures.  Most of these are in English and Spanish.  These are in addition to required signs concerning cell phones, entrances and exits.  Now have you ever read any of these when you voted?  Some do check the sample ballots but nobody ever reads the others.  What a waste of money and time.  Then today I will need to deal with all sorts of forms and envelopes.  I have forms for statements of complaints, provisional ballots (labels, envelopes, forms), voter registration, affidavit of voter ID, election officer oaths (two), affirmation of elector forms and envelope, challenge of absentee elector forms, record of assisted voter form, list and envelope, election affidavits for challenges, numbered list of voters (two), absentee voter ballots and envelope, JBC canceled booth forms, e-scan spoiled ballot forms and envelope, election result forms (four) and payroll form.  Plus I have separate envelopes for opening and closing passwords, keys, zero tapes and MBB's.  Oh yes, we also have forms to give to those who don't use a photo ID - which isn't required anyway.  And finally I have lists of numbers to call when I need help about voters who aren't in our books and also a list of instructions of where everything must go when the polls close.  Now after 16 elections I finally have a rather good idea how to use most of these and I am usually organized.  But I wonder how many precincts and judges ever get all of this done properly. And maybe I'm not doing it right either.  In all of these elections I have never had any feedback at all except when I placed some items in the wrong box after the election and also from some democrats who refused to show a photo ID.  I guess working with the public you need to expect that you will never be told that you do a good job.  The only feedback you will hear will be negative.  But elections are typical of government bureaucracy - plenty of paper work and regulations and wasted money.  My recommendations?  First, have parties conduct primaries by mail.  Second, hire somebody to devise a plan to eliminate or at least reduce all the paper work and regulations.   My personal solution?  Don't run for reelection.  That is what I have chosen.  One more election to go in November and then I will "retire".  Seventeen will be enough.  I will miss seeing many of the regular voters and I will miss working with my good team.  But that is all ... except maybe the food!  I think I'll try to take a nap.
P.S. - We had a grand total of 78 voters today!   That is less than a 4% turn-out.  Unbelievable!  For our precinct alone that is probably about $13 a voter that we taxpayers will have to pay for this election.  And that doesn't even include the costs of training, equipment, ballots, posters, rovers, technicians and election board staff.  That is a very high cost for voter apathy.  Let's not be too quick to put all the blame on government when citizens don't do their share.

Controlling Your Finances

In my last blog I shared my concern for what I see happening to so many folks who are overwhelmed with debt.  It is so sad.  I am by no means a financial expert, but there are some lessons which I've learned and applied over the decades.  I have never held a high paying job and I have often worked extra jobs to support my family.  My wife has never held a regular job outside of our home.  We've raised three boys.  God has been good to us and has always provided what we've needed.  There are some things which we have given up, but nothing that we regret. To do this we have always lived on a written budget.  Since we were married we have kept a monthly accounting of all of our expenditures and worked to keep them within our written budgeted limits for each category.  And our budget accounts each month for expenditures which may only happen once or twice a year, such as taxes, insurance, vacations, dental expenses, car replacement and repairs and Christmas.  So each month something is put aside for these expenses.  We never make purchases that can't be covered through our budget and our savings. We could never have survived our married years without this written plan which is revised annually.  And thank the Lord, we have reached our senior years without any debt, with adequate savings, and with all that we really need.  I don't know how anybody can survive today without a written plan.  There are several other practical things which we have followed as well.  We have always taken care of credit card charges within the 30 or so days allotted before any charges are added.  That has been a priority - credit card companies have never made a cent on us.  When they send us checks to borrow money, we immediately destroy them rather than be tempted to use them.  We shop for bargains and use coupons.  And a personal choice for us is that we don't frequent expensive restaurants.  Thankfully we don't have the taste for expensive meals since that would certainly blow our food budget for the month.  We have always tried to budget funds each month for savings.  As a math teacher I know the power of compound interest and so, even in the days of raising our children when we could barely afford it, we regularly put money into savings.  Now after all of that, let me come to the most important lesson that we have learned about finances.  We have always put the Lord first in our budget.  When we plan our budget, giving to the Lord's work is always the first thing that we include.  I remember talking to my dad a few times about the struggles with bills when things like medical bills and auto bills seemed so hard to predict and handle.  He advised me to take those things to the Lord while continuing to honor Him with our giving, knowing that He would answer and provide.  And He always has - especially when things seemed almost impossible from a human view.  God does not neglect His own when we trust Him and honor Him with our finances. My dad also taught me that all of our possessions really were the Lord's, not ours. That is a principle which I've never forgotten.  I wonder if maybe the checkbook might be the best test of one's spiritual condition.  Probably none of you really care about my financial experiences, but if I were ever asked to give advice to a young couple I would say put the Lord first in your finances, live on a written budget, tear up your credit cards if you can't pay them off each month, and evaluate and control your "wanters".  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you".  

Growing Debt

I continue to be utterly amazed at the amount of debt that folks have today.  The desire to have the best of everything, immediately, just drives so many people into debt that they will probably never pay off.  Those desires, coupled with the lack of financial sense, cripples folks and our nation as well.  Here are some alarming facts from the Employees Benefit Research Institute which illustrate the problem. (1) 28 percent of Americans - the most since the annual survey began 23 years ago - say they have no confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement. (2) The survey showed that an alarming number of Americans expect to have to work well past retirement age.  (3)  59% of credit card holders carry a balance from month to month.   (4)  68% of American households live paycheck to paycheck.  (5)  The median household net worth of Americans is $57,000.  (6)  One third of retirees live on Social Security alone (average monthly social security $1,230).  If that isn't alarming enough, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) published the results of a survey about the importance of financial planning that add more light to the problem.  (1)  56% of U.S. adults lack a budget (68% live paycheck to paycheck).   (2)  40% of U.S. adults were saving less in 2012 than in 2011 (they use their credit cards for emergencies).   (3)  39% of U.S. adults have no non-retirement savings.  (4)  In 1991 only 11% of American workers expected to retire after age 65. In 2012 that percentage had risen to 37%.  Today folks are living with foreclosures, bankruptcy, huge credit card debt on several different cards, and loans which they may never be able to pay off.  For some this debt driven life begins with huge college debt in earn a degree. Many will never even find a job in their field. Then they'll spend most of their life just paying off this bill.  Often this problem explodes when couples get married.  Today they need a huge wedding ceremony with loads of flowers, expensive gowns, fancy locations, elaborate receptions, and loads of pictures.  Then they need an expensive honeymoon to some exotic location.  And suddenly they are already thousands in debt ... or maybe their parents are now deep in debt.  We were married using a borrowed gown and a regular suit in a church ceremony with flowers just for the wedding party. All who wanted to attend the wedding were welcome. A friend took our wedding pictures as his wedding gift. We had a reception in the YMCA serving  sandwiches made by the ladies from the church.  We left for our honeymoon at Watkins Glen on Saturday night and returned Monday.  And we still have wonderful memories, without any debt, and in June our marriage will have lasted 51 years.  That is a sharp contrast to what often happens today with weddings and marriages.  And if that isn't enough, today newly married couples need to immediately buy their own house and fill it with expensive furniture and, of course, purchase new cars as well.  Their parents and grandparents probably went decades until they had what many newly married couples get immediately today.  Unfortunately, today we live in a society where our "wanters" are far bigger than what most can really afford ... but there are always the credit cards and loans.  And our federal government leads and models the way to debt.  There is so much more that I would like to get off my chest on this subject - maybe I'll devote another blog or two to this topic.  In the meantime - pay off those credit cards now and evaluate and control your "wanter"!

Buckle Up!

Almost three weeks ago we were traveling south on 501 from Lititz, headed for 30.  We pulled onto the ramp, behind a van, waiting for the traffic to clear on 30, after the light changed.  When it finally changed, the lady in front of us pulled out and I pulled out.  Seconds later she jammed on her brakes - I still don't know why.  Dianne screamed and I hit the brakes to avoid an accident.  The seat belt pulled tight across Dianne's chest and she had trouble breathing.  Later I took her to the doctor who felt nothing was broken.  But a few days later the pain got worse and the doctor sent her for x-rays, all of which were negative.  It was diagnosed as a very bad bruise, even though there are no visible signs of bruising. But, despite the pain pills and muscle relaxers, the pain has continued.  She's been unable to sleep in bed for over two weeks.  Now as I write this blog there is some improvement, but she is still in pain.  I am just amazed at how much damage a seat belt can do, especially at just a couple of miles per hour.  But who knows what might have happened without the belt - maybe she would have hit the windshield, although I can't imagine that happening at that speed.  As I've searched the internet I've found that seat belt injuries are common and often very serious.  But I think the alternatives to wearing a belt can be much more serious, especially in a serious accident.  And I am amazed at the number of people of all ages who don't wear them.  I often have had to tell adults riding in my car to buckle up.  Some just won't do it or they wear them incorrectly.  Young folks often refuse to wear them - I guess they feel they are invincible.  And yet it is the law.  And folks who fail to wear them are breaking the law.  It is so sad to see born again Christians who have this attitude and willingly break the law.  When I read about auto fatalities I often look to see what it says about the use of seat belts.  Quite often the victims were not wearing their belt and that contributed to their death.  So despite this bad experience with belts, those who ride in my car will be asked to wear theirs.  First, it is the law and as a Christian willfully disobeying would be sin. And I don't want to be prosecuted for the sins of one of my passengers.  Second, despite the risks, the possible alternatives could be much worse.  So buckle up!

Helping the Unemployed

Dear employees:

As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase and in a BIG way.  To compensate for these increases our prices would have to increase by about 10%.  But since we cannot increase our prices right now, due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead.  This has really been bothering me since I believe that we are family here and I didn't know how to choose who would have to go.

So, this is what I did.  I walked through our parking lot and found sixty Obama bumper stickers on our emploees' cars and I decided that these folks will be the ones to be let go.  I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem.  They voted for change ... I gave it to them.

I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.

Now if this letter were true, it would be both funny and sad.  And what would you say to a person who voted for Obama and then lost his job?  Well, here are ten things that you might share with such a person.

1. "Hey, at least that successful Mormon businessman didn't win."
2.  "At least you can still buy and use marijuana since he won't enforce the federal laws against it."
3. "Look at the bright side. Gay marriage passed in four states and he won't enforce the federal marriage laws."
4. "Hey, Big Bird still has a job. Isn't that the important thing?"
5. "I am sure Obama cares deeply about your situation. Maybe he'll send you a postcard from Hawaii."
6. "Well, look at the bright side. Rush Limbaugh is getting a tax increase."
7. "You won't have to worry about not getting social security or medicare.  He won't cut it and the bill for that will be the responsibility of your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren, your great-great grandchildren and future generations."
8. "Isn't it worth losing your job just to know that religious organizations now have to pay for abortions and contraceptives?" 
9.  You'll have medical insurance.  Hopefully the insurance that you will be required to purchase won't cost too much or maybe your fine will at least be less than your unemployment insurance.  
10.  "Forward!"   

Now I'm sure that you have some comments that could be added to this list so why don't you include them as comments to this blog.  It would be interesting to read what you think.

Guy Talk

I often here husbands and wives say that they don't understand what their spouse is saying or even more importantly, thinking.  I recently found a "Men's Thesaurus" that tries to explain what men mean.  So maybe this will help your marriage, if you need help.  1.  "IT'S A GUY THING"  Translated: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."  2. "CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?" Translated: "Why isn't it already on the table?"    3. "IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN" Translated: "I have no idea how it works."   4. "TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD." Translated: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."   5. "THAT'S INTERESTING, DEAR." Translated: "Are you still talking?"   6. "YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS." Translated: "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop,' the address of the first girl I ever kissed, and the vehicle identification number of every car I've ever owned... but I forgot your birthday."   7. "OH, DON'T FUSS -- I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT'S NO BIG DEAL." Translated: "I have actually severed a limb but will bleed to death before I admit that I'm hurt."   8. "HEY, I'VE GOT MY REASONS FOR WHAT I'M DOING." Translated: "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."   9. "I CAN'T FIND IT." Translated: "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."   10. "WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?" Translated: "What did you catch me at?"   11. "I HEARD YOU." Translated: "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next three days yelling at me."   12. "YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE." Translated: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse."   13. "YOU LOOK TERRIFIC." Translated: "Oh, please don't try on one more outfit. I'm starving."   14. "I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE." Translated: "No one will ever see us alive again."    15. "WE SHARE THE HOUSEWORK." Translated: "I make the messes; she cleans them up."    16. "UH HUH," "SURE, HONEY," OR "YES, DEAR"  Translated: Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.

More Things I Miss

People often ask me if I miss being a teacher.  It has been ten years now since I retired and in many ways those 39 years now seem like a different lifetime.  I don't miss the many meetings, the standardized testing, the reports to be filed, the teacher observations to be completed, the budget prep and hearings, the state mandates, the required wasted in-service programs, some of the staff relationships and the piles of paperwork.  However I do miss the classroom interaction with older teens and the relationships with some of the staff, especially the elementary teachers.  I miss the technology training, the opening days of a new semester and, believe it or not, parent nights.  One of the things that I do miss the most are the annual math bowls that I started and ran for our elementary schools.  For about 15 years I prepared questions and led three math competitions annually for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.  Each of the elementary schools would send teams of three to compete for trophies.  I would prepare three segments – the first was a written skills test, the second featured one-minute challenging problems and the third was a speed competition in which points were awarded for just the first, second and third place teams to solve the problem correctly.  I prepared very challenging problems and it was exciting to see these teams work together to solve them.  But the part of the bowls I often enjoyed the most was the time before the quiz began when I would challenge and teach the kids with some new type of problem situation.  Often they were in game formats that produced some unusual results.  So, since I miss the fun of that challenge, I will give you one to consider.  Hopefully you'll give it a try.  Here goes.  First, write the month number of your birthday.  Multiply it by five.  Now add seven.  Multiply that by four.  Now add 13.  Multiply that by 5.  Add the day number of your birthday.  Finally, subtract 205.  Now do you recognize the digits in your answer (hint – think of your birthday)?  If not, better go back and check your arithmetic.  Did you get it correct?  Did you do it without a calculator or can't you do arithmetic with just paper and pencil and your brain anymore?  If you have it correct, then congratulations to you.  Now you are ready for a math bowl.  Next question, can you set up and explain this problem algebraically?  I would show the kids how to do that.  How about setting it up on a spreadsheet – a gold star if you can do that.  Oh how I do miss teaching things like this.  Now humor me, wasn't that fun?

Won't You Hire Some Competent Help!

REALLY?

I guess I am still puzzled by some customer service today.  With so many people out of work, can't companies find enough qualified folks to provide timely service?   Are the people who are hired that incompetent or don't they really care about how they treat their customers?  In the past I've related a number of bad experiences that  I have had in trying to get service - but here are a few more recent ones.  Now I guess I understand why it takes about eight weeks for my wife to get an appointment with a surgeon  - surgeons are limited and in demand.  But I order a pair of diabetic shoes every year from Foot & Ankle Associates of Lancaster.  Now maybe I can understand why it might take six weeks for them to arrive.  But then I need an appointment to try them on and pick them up.  These are the very same shoes I've ordered for the past four years - no changes.  But it will be five more weeks until I can have a 10 minute appointment to do this - five more weeks!  Now this isn't surgery - a clerk or a nurse could do this. Hire a person rather than make your customers wait so long. So I canceled the order with them and went to Foot Solutions in York.  They should have my shoes in less than two weeks and I don't need an appointment to pick them up.  Then try to get an appointment to get your contracted air conditioner annual checkup done - how about the end of June until a service call can be scheduled.  Hire another technician if you are backed up that far.  Oh yes, when I received my bill from Leffler's for my annual ac contract, I was shocked to see that it had gone up 48%!  I called to inquire about this and was told that information had been sent out to me about the increase and I must have missed it.  It was my fault. I discovered that they did have a less expensive plan so - since she said that I didn't read my mail - I humbly asked to have copies of both plans sent to me so I could review them.  When the mailing arrived I found that she had only sent information about the expensive plan.  So I called and this time I did get a helpful rep.  She said that I probably didn't get notified of the changes since it was done by e-mail and they don't have my e-mail address.  She said that because of this, they would give me the more expensive plan this year at the price of the less expensive plan.  Now that is great customer service.  And then there were two other companies I dealt with in the last few weeks.  The one told me my work would be done within 24 hours - the first job was done five days later and the second three days later - maybe they are using different clocks ... or calendars.  The other company called and told me that the work would be done that afternoon - it was finally done two days later.  Not enough help?   Incompetent or dishonest?  You are only a customer?  Not sure.   Oh yes, of course there is still the matter of our car accident on January 8.   The lady who hit us is still lying about what happened and we will probably lose since it is now her word against ours.  We have been promised from the beginning that Liberty Mutual would keep us informed, but since the first week all contacts have been made by us, none from them.  We were also told that arbitration would be held April 1 - maybe that was an April Fool's Day joke since we still have not heard anything about that.  Well I could share more stories, but that is enough for now.  I guess we just need to adjust to these times when integrity, pride, and competence might be a thing of the past.

Thinking Of Retirement?

So often folks tell us that they look forward to being retired. They dream of no work, constant travel and sitting on beaches.  And I must agree that some parts of retirement are nice, if you can afford it.  Unfortunately, too many people don't measure the costs before they make that big decision.  Now, let me explain.  I am not complaining.  I am so fortunate that the Lord has blessed us.  We can still live on our retirement.  But I see so many others who can't.  And I understand why.  I have been retired now for ten years.  In that time I have never received an increase in my pension and I never will.  My social security has increased but so has medicare and that has wiped out most of my increases.  In fact, I have exactly $38 more a month to spend now than I did ten years ago.  Now where has that $38 gone?  Well my heating oil has gone from $1.259 to $3.949 in that time or about $180 more a month.  Gasoline has gone from $1.15 a gallon to the $3.75 it cost me this week.  When I retired I spent $2,216 a year for medical insurance.  This year it is costing me $8,400 with Obama Care.  Thank you President Obama for "reducing" my costs. I wish he wouldn't care so much about us in the middle class - his care is killing us. Today I bought a pound of coffee for $8.00 a pound that cost $2.66 a pound when I retired.  We still pay for a lawn service which now costs me $293 a year, or $24 a month more than ten years ago.  Maybe that is where my $38 more a month has gone.  But the lawn care is still my choice.  Oh yes, one more example, my school and county taxes are now $883 more than ten years ago and that is just about $74 more per month.  So how does a retiree make it go?  Maybe he makes good investments.  Guess again!  In school I taught the Rule of 72 which can be used to approximate the number of years that it takes for an investment with complex interest to double.  Back in the Carter years it was something like 72/12 = 6 years.  Not too bad for a retiree.  When I retired it was about 72/5 = 14.4 years and that is a little tougher, but still possible for some.  Today it is worse than 72/1 = 72+ years.  Impossible, unless maybe you are a child.  Now getting back to my opening statements, I am not complaining.  It is a challenge, but the Lord is good and we are adjusting.  But for many seniors it is becoming an almost impossible challenge and nobody really seems to care, except them.  Now, unfortunately, many are struggling in this terrible economy, especially families.  And I don't see things getting any better.  If you are close to retiring, be very careful and think and pray long about it.  Retirement may become a thing of the past in the years ahead.  If you have the means, be more aware of the needs of those around you.  We may need to help many more out.  And churches and their benevolence committees need to become more aware of senior needs and begin to help them with basic living needs.  That is what Christ would want us to do.  Personally, I think things will get much worse.  I think soon we'll see more civil disobedience and even riots.  Politicians will do nothing and maybe there is nothing that they could do now that we are so deep in debt.  The hope here on earth is for the church to become more active until the final help and relief appears with the return of Christ.  That is our ultimate hope and retirement.

Happy Birthday

I passed that prime
number many decades ago

I guess I should be excited - today is my birthday.  Last week several folks reminded me of that as if it should be a very special event for me.  Without their reminders I probably wouldn't have even thought about it.  For me birthdays are usually just the same as any other day in the year. I've had plenty of them. We don't make a fuss about them.  Maybe we'll go out for dinner somewhere, but I can't say that I enjoy buffets or big expensive meals.  There never has been anything very special about my birthdays. At least I can't remember anything special. I imagine that my parents were quite excited when I was born - actually on a Palm Sunday.  And I'm sure that my grandparents on my dad's side were excited because I was the first grandchild and I am told that my aunts and uncles shared in spoiling me.  And the first couple birthdays were probably exciting, but I don't remember them.  In fact, I can't say that I recall any birthday.  Now the early excitement was probably dampened by the fact that war was raging around the world when I was born. People were probably worried and afraid.  I tried to search the internet for any significant events that happened on the day that I was born and all I could find were stories about the war.  On this day the Germans launched a joint attack on Greece and Yugoslavia, intending to invade and control both countries.  And that was about it.  Oh yes, Philip Austin, an American comedian-actor, Barbara Ann Roles, an American figure skater, and Louis Shelton, an American guitarist, were all born that day.  But who are they?  I found a newspaper that advertised Easter coats for $10.95 to $29.50, and Easter suits for $10.95 to $22.50.  And you could have one of those suits or coats cleaned for 49 cents.  And you could have had a new rubber heel placed on your shoe for 19 cents.  But that is all I could find about my birth day.  Even the hospital that I was born in, in Sunbury, was eventually replaced by a school.  So I can't even go and see where I was born.  And the parsonage that was my first home was completely remodeled and no longer looks at all like it did then.  But even though the places are gone and the war overshadowed everything else that day, I still have many great memories, not of birthdays, but  of many years of exciting times, good family, good friends, good health and a faithful God.  And what more could I want?  And so another day passes on and life moves on. I don't feel any older or different. I guess the only thing significant about this birthday is that I am now the product of five prime numbers old!  And should I reach my next birthday I will once again be a prime number old, just like I was yesterday. I guess it will be good to be in "my prime" again.  Now isn't that interesting and exciting?  Not!

April 1

April 1 is a day which I won't ever forget, for many reasons.  First, this year it is the day that Channing Mauger, the 17 year old grandson of my college roommate and closest friend, Jim Herrold, was buried.  Channing has joined his grandmother and grandfather in heaven after a tragic two months of unexpected suffering.  He was an excellent high school long distance runner at Oley Valley.  He would have been valedictorian of his graduating class.  He was accepted at Bucknell University and Cornell University.  He seemed to be in perfect health.  Then suddenly he became very ill and ended up in Children's Hospital in Philadelphia where he was a patient for nearly two months.  They found that his blood counts, especially his platelets, were extremely poor and, as a result, mold became his enemy.  It was determined that he would need a bone marrow transplant.  Later his liver and kidneys would need to be replaced.  He was put into a coma for over a month in hopes that his body would heal.  But on March 26 the Lord took him home while his family surrounded him singing hymns and praise songs.  He passed quietly to his new home.  His body, which was just a rental, was buried April 1.  This day was also the birthday of my mother-in-law.  Folks enjoy mother-in-law jokes, but I would never joke about her,  She was a special lady who loved and served the Lord.  She was an excellent mother who reared two wonderful Christian daughters.  She went through some very difficult times and learned how to prosper with very limited money and means.  She knew how to work hard.  And I will never forget her and what she meant to me.  If she were still living she would be 99 on this April 1 birthday. And April 1 was also the day, many years ago, that we buried Dianne's grandmother.  He was a very rainy day and a muddy event at the cemetery. But I also remember this day for the fun I have had over the years with April Fool's Day pranks.  When I was teaching, every few years I would teach "L'ooflirpa's Theorem", a fake theorem, that included a few mathematically incorrect steps.  My students would play the "student game", taking notes, shaking their heads in agreement and accepting whatever I said. The next day I would explain to them the fallacy of the proof.  I was amazed at how easy it was to fool them.   In fact, one year I even found some students still trying to apply this false theorem on a final exam - then I realized that I may have been too good at teaching this false lesson.  But for many years I have annually sent out a fake e-mail on April 1.  After stating my case, I would ask folks to click on a link for more information.  The link would take them to a page that would say "April Fools!".  Some years this has been a major success.  In one case we announced that we were making a quick and unexpected move to Florida.  We had folks in tears and there was even a meeting called to consider how we would be replaced in Awana. Too bad they didn't use the link I provided. Another successful one was telling folks that I had accidentally sent a "l'ooflirpa virus" and that their computers would be infected unless they went to a special site.  Several folks were upset and worried. Again, too bad that they didn't use the link I had provided.  Then there was the announcement that Taco Bell had purchased the naming rights to the Liberty Bell and were going to call it the Taco Bell.  This upset many folks, including some home school teachers who didn't check the link.  Now I do face some challenges with these pranks.  They are getting harder to do because many folks now expect them and look for them.  It is also harder to come up with ideas that are believable.   Finally, many folks just accept them and don't take the time to use the link which I ask them to use.  But I guess that if you read it on the internet or in an e-mail it must be true.  Right?  I think Abe Lincoln said that .... or maybe it was Joe Biden.  So I think the day of my April Fool's Day e-mails may be be over .... April Fools to you!

Key Tax Changes Coming

In case you haven't heard, the Senate and House may be reaching a budget compromise that could have a definite impact upon both giving to churches and your personal taxes.  They are about to announce tax changes that would eliminate income tax deductions on all contributions, medical expenses, and mortgage expenses.  And those who don't take these deductions will be hit with a 10% surcharge on their normal income taxes to balance out the impact.  And an even bigger impact on taxpayers is that these rules will be made retroactive to your 2012 tax returns.  All taxpayers will be required to submit an amended 2012 form with their 2013 tax forms and pay the additional tax due at that time.  That gives you a year to save the money for the new tax.  The Democrats are supporting it because of the extra revenue it will bring and the large impact on large wage earners.  The Republicans are supporting it because some tax "loopholes" are being eliminated and because the extra taxes raised are to be used to reduce the national debt.  Obama is expected to approve this compromise.  But while it will have an impact on large wage earners, it will also have a major impact on giving to churches and charities and will cost all of us at least several hundred dollars more in taxes.  There is still time for you to protest these probable changes by completing a quick opinion survey which can be found at  this link, TAX CHANGES where you can also learn more about the proposed bill, what it will cost you, and what else can be done to stop it from becoming law.  I would recommend that you go there right now and vote your opinion.  You could still have an impact on these proposed changes.  Maybe it is time for another Boston Tea Party!

Surgery Talk

A few blogs ago I mentioned that I was awake during my recent cataract surgery. Most of the time you are sound asleep during surgery and many procedures. And that is normally a good thing.  While I was a little apprehensive about being awake while they worked on my eye, actually it really wasn't that unpleasant. I could hear everything as the surgeon gave instructions to the nurse, so I had a good idea what was happening and where they were in the process. Plus I didn't have to spend much time in the recovery room.  But I imagine there are times that you might not want to hear what is being said, especially if you were to hear any of the following statements.

* Are you sure it was to be the right eye? 

* Better save that. We'll need it for the autopsy.

* Someone call the janitor. We're going to need a mop.

* Bo! Bo! Come back with that! Bad dog!

* Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?

* Hand me that, uh, that uh, thingie.

* Oh no! I just lost my Rolex.

* Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived 500ml of this stuff before?

* Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!

* What's this doing here?

* I wish I hadn't forgotten my glasses.

* Well folks, this will be an experiment for us all.

* Sterile, shcmerile. The floor's clean, right?

* Anyone see where I left that scalpel?

* Oh no! Page 47 of the manual is missing!

March Madness

March Madness - the annual NCAA basketball tournament - the time when folks fill out their brackets and compete to see who can pick the most winners.  Even those who aren't basketball fans get involved in this annual event.  But for over 30 years I was involved in another March Madness and I miss it.  My annual event was the PIAA basketball championships.  It started late one afternoon when one of my bosses received a call that he needed a clock operator for that night's district play-off doubleheader at the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg.  We had just completed a staff meeting and he had to find somebody quickly.  He knew that I had kept score before and asked if I would be willing to fill in as the timer.  Even though I had never done this before I gladly accepted and that job grew into many years of working play-off games there.  I worked with a team of administrators from Penn Manor including an announcer, scorekeeper, and ticket sellers.  We often had double headers and sometimes triple headers with both boys and girls.  At times it was stressful.  The girls had just begun to play with the same rules as boys and some of their games then were so very slow and long, filled with fouls and jump balls. Those were often boring and at times it was hard to even keep awake. But we had many great games and I saw some great teams and players.  My worst experience came in a game between Steel-High and Red Lion.  The refs had to come to me to have me determine if a foul they called came before or after the final buzzer.  I ruled before.  The Red Lion player stepped to the foul line with time expired and his team one point behind.  He made both shots to win the game and eliminate Steel High.  The next day the Harrisburg Patriot newspaper reported that Barry Kauffman, the timer from Millersville, had made the decision.  I expected some problems from the losers who take their basketball very seriously, but fortunately it never came.  A few times over the years we were pelted with ice and soda when fans were upset with the refs.  The worst time came when future NBA player Sam Bowie was kicked out of the game with two technicals.  After doing this a few years. the head of the PIAA asked me if I would be willing to serve as official statistician for the state finals at Hershey. This was a new and important position. I gladly accepted and for 25 years I served at both the Hershey arena and later the Giant Center.  After the first year it was obvious that I needed a helper to handle the press since often there were more than 100 press members present for a game.  They allowed me to hire a person and for most years I was able to work with one of my sons, usually Craig, and that was very special. After a few years, for a variety of reasons, the team from Penn Manor was no longer needed there, except for me.  A few years later they stopped playing games at the Farm Show so that experience was also gone.  But the state finals were enough for me at that point.  It was again a stressful time since there were four championship games on Friday and four on Saturday.  I had to complete my work each half very quickly so the stats could be distributed to the waiting press.  But again, we saw some great games and great players, such as future NBA stars Kobe Bryant and Billy Owens.  All games were televised so we were often front and center in the broadcasts.  We had access to the hospitality suite and received free meals.  We "rubbed shoulders" with all the big wigs from throughout the state and often saw well-known college coaches who were there to recruit.  And everything Hershey provided was first class.  But a few years ago the PIAA decided to move the finals to State College.  Those of us who had worked at Hershey were not invited to go along and we were replaced by Penn State employees. Typical of the PIAA, there was no thank you for 25 years of service and not even a notification that I was no longer needed.  And so my 25 years ended suddenly and very quietly.  But that is the way it often works in life. This year they have returned to Hershey.  Now I don't really know if I could handle that pace and stress today, but I do miss this March Madness.  Sitting at home watching the games on television is just not the same thing.  But I do have many great memories.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

And a happy St. Patrick's Day to you!  Are you celebrating?  Maybe you should  celebrate with some green cupcakes, green eggs, green tea or at least a piece of (preferably green) celery?  Well, actually I feel a little green thinking about eating those green things.  I guess we often associate St. Patrick's Day with out-of-control drinking and celebrating and, unless you are Irish, today is probably just another day in your life.  Quite often I receive a blog from Awana.  The blog is called "ApPARENTly Blogging" and is really written to parents.  And while I never celebrate St. Patrick's Day myself, I thought some of the things she blogged (is that a word?) about this week were interesting.  Here are some of the things she shared.  "First of all … Patrick wasn't Irish, nor did he drive the snakes out of Ireland. They were never there in the first place.  Patrick was actually born into a wealthy Christian family in England around 390 A.D.. His father was a deacon in the Celtic Church of Britain, which at that time had a reputation for Bible teaching and missionary endeavors.  Patrick's full name is Patrick Magonus Sucatus. Life was good for the young boy, but when he was 14 years old, he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Ireland. Now, life was terrifying. The people all around him worshiped idols and were ungodly in the way they treated him.  Patrick remembered the good things his father had taught him about God, and there, in captivity, trusted Christ as Savior.  Finally, at age 20, he escaped and went back to England, but he could not forget the idol-worshipping people of Ireland.  He knew that they needed a Savior. He finished his education and then went back to Ireland as a missionary for 30 years. He died on March 17 at age 70.   Here is an excerpt from a hymn written by Patrick, often called Patrick's Breastplate:

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One and One in Three.

By Whom all nature hath creation,

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

In many ways, St. Patrick's Day is one of the most Christian-based holidays we celebrate."   So maybe you ought to at least put on some green today to celebrate Patrick's Christian life.  Or maybe you could go out and cut your "green" grass or, better yet, look for some four leaf clovers!

Medical Advances

Nobody wants to get sick.  Nobody wants to go through medical tests or surgery.  But it often can't be avoided.  And most will agree that our health system is in a real mess.  It is expensive and Obama Care appears to be making it worse rather than better.  But over the years technology and medical research have made many major improvements in care.  About 50 years ago I had a myleogram and it was a terrible, painful experience with a long period of recuperation.  A few years ago I had a second one.  It took less than an hour and I walked out when it was over with no after effects.  Many years ago I had a catscan of my kidneys.  It took about an hour and it was so slow that I remember counting the holes in the ceiling tiles to see if I was even moving.  Recent catscans of the same thing have taken just a few minutes.  Years ago a friend of mine had gall bladder surgery.  He was hospitalized for several days and had to recover from the wounds required to remove it.  A few years ago I had mine.  I was in and out in three hours and went home with three band aids on my stomach. Remarkable!  When I was a teen I remember an elder in our church going through cataract surgery.  I recall that he was required to lay flat for several days and they used sandbags around his head to keep him from moving his head.  Last week I had my first cataract surgery.  Before I could have it I was required to have a physical from my doctor.  I also had to fill out medical history forms for the hospital and I had a telephone interview concerning the anesthesia they would use. I also was given several days worth of special eye drops because medicines I am taking for my prostate cancer create a much greater chance of complications in cataract surgery.  I arrived at the health campus at 11 am.  I was checked in, given an IV and they placed a band on my right leg.  Then the anesthesiologist came and checked me out and put another band on my right leg.  At 12:30 I walked to the operating room. The surgeon put a third band on my right leg and a mark above my right eye.  I guess they didn't want to make a mistake and do the wrong eye.  Six times I was asked my name, my birth date and what  I was having done.  A few years ago they put my wife out for this surgery.  This time they just  gave me something to relax me and I was wide awake for the surgery which took about 15 minutes.  When my wife had her surgeries they put a black shield on her eye following the surgery.  For me they used a clear shield that I could see through.  After a few minutes in the recovery room I walked back to a booth to have a cup of apple juice, to have my IV taken our, to get my instructions and to get dressed.  By about 1:30 I was taken by wheelchair to our car.  And then we headed home.   I had two follow-up visits scheduled and instructions for 126 eye drops that I must take over a three week period.  The surgery was incredibly simple but the recovery is more complex.  It will take several weeks for the eye to heal and as a result my sight is blurry.  I probably will not be able to see well again until my glasses can be changed.  However, as folks told me, the colors - especially the whites - are incredibly brighter.  Now I am scheduled for my left eye next week but I'm not sure if I am going to go through with it now.  It's not the surgery that concerns me, it is the fact that I fear not being able to read or write for about a month until both eyes can heal and my glasses can be changed.  I see the surgeon today and I guess a decision must be made then.  As I originally stated, while we hope that we never need to use it, medical improvements are impressive and much more advanced than in our parents' days.  But, unfortunately, the costs of such care has also exploded and the growing bureaucracy threatens the entire system.  Hope to be able to "see" you soon!