Thursday, August 13, 2009

Thursday, August 13, 2009
It was overcast, but still warm enough to leave a sliding door open this morning. By early afternoon, the sky became dark and thunder peals rolled across the mountains. My barometer and NWS are predicting thunderstorms, with NWS giving it a 50% chance today and an 80% chance tomorrow. All of this means that I’d better get the track back on the dozer, finish smoothing out some spots and bring it home.
Here it is 4:30 in the afternoon and I haven’t gotten much accomplished. But, in my defense, I have to say that I was spending most of the time trying to put my money where my mouth has been. Let me explain. I was watching a town hall meeting on CSPAN in Texas, where by the way there was no shouting or screaming, but I am pretty sure it may have been because the congressman was a Republican, when they broke from the meeting, a banner flashed across the screen saying that Obama was going to be in Belgrade, MT on Friday for a town hall meeting on healthcare. I immediately searched the internet for a schedule to show when and where it was going to take place.
I planned to attend, as Belgrade is only 100+ miles south of me. By the time I got all of the correct information, I discovered that the meeting was tomorrow, not next Friday as I thought; it was in Bozeman, not Belgrade, which is only a few miles further. I found another web site that said it was at the Gallatin Field Airport hangar at 12:55 p.m. but once again stated it was in Belgrade. I checked two more sights and both the city hall web sites for Belgrade and Bozeman. One stated that tickets were required, but free. Another said; The general public can obtain tickets on a first come first serve basis starting Thursday morning at 9 a.m. They will be handed out at the city hall buildings in both Bozeman and Belgrade. Only two tickets are allowed per person. Yet another site said; Belgrade city officials say they have been told there are a limited number to hand out.
I attempted to find out if there was any way I could secure a ticket online, not wanting to drive 100+ miles, but there were no email contacts that would respond in a timely manner. So I jotted down the phone numbers for both city halls, hoping
that if I drove up to the Divide and was able to call, I might be able to have a ticket held, or at least get additional information. Zack and I drove up to the Divide and drove around searching for a signal, which took more time than I had hoped, but I finally got one. My first call was to Belgrade City Hall, it being closer and smaller in population. All I got was a recording that stated; “You have reached Belgrade City Hall after regular operating hours. You may leave a message at the sound of the beep.” After hours? It was only 2:15 on a weekday. Oh wait, this is a small town and I’d bet the mayor and others are serving as volunteers and not paid officials. Okay, so I try Bozeman, expecting a real person to answer, as it is a larger “city” in Montana. Nope, I got another recorded message that someone would get back to me in 72 hours.
Knowing that there were only a small number of tickets, according to the sites I researched, and that I wanted to go so I could ask Obama one question; "Mr. President, I am sure you believe your version of the health bill is good for the country. If you represent the country, why aren't you, and all government employees, subjected to the same health care as the rest of us?" Well, as you can see, I’ll be listening on the radio or watching it on CSPAN rather than being there in person. I have just heard on Fox News that 70% of the tickets for a Presidential Town Hall, is reserved for Democratic Party members, so the majority is supportive. Let’s hope that the 30%, which I am sure are screened, that get in will voice the opinion of many.
I heard another interesting item on Fox News. One of the reporters stated that those people at the town hall meetings that are FOR the health plan, have professionally printed signs, some with union logos, while the people opposed, which are supposedly organized “mobs,” have hand made and lettered signs. Interestingly enough, watching more on CSPAN town hall coverage seems to prove that to be a fact.
By the time I had exhausted my options to go, it was close to 4 O’clock and the sky had darkened, threatening rain, so I focused on things inside. I have been cooking beans for two days now, after having soaked them for two days before. I simmered them for 24 hours and then turned up the heat. They are regular pinto beans but yet they are still hard, so I will continue to cook them. I had this happen once before and ended up throwing it all out, after having cooked it for an additional day. Maybe it is the brand because beans shouldn’t go bad with age, as long as they are properly stored, which mine have been.
More play time with Zack, inbetween the heavy rain, which started as I was writing this. I had some lightning and a lot of thunder, with heavy rain for about 45 minutes and now the sun is attempting to break through, but it is hit and miss, so I’ll throw his toy and feed him and Zoey. I have been doing wash, so I’ll fold and put away my clothes before showering and determine if my beans will be eatable or if I’ll have to keep cooking them.
That’s it for today. If it stays dry tomorrow, I’ll fight with the dozer track and hopefully get the road smoothed out and the dozer home to the garage.