MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS...

I was a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan...

Not any more...

Yes, I know what President Trump said. I heard all about what happened in the NFL on Sunday. I saw what Jerry Jones did with the players before Monday Night's football game during post-game coverage. That made me sick.

In the past, as the camera panned the sidelines, I saw players spit, blow their nose, and not place their right hand over their heart during the playing of the National Anthem. How disrespectful is that? It would be nice if they sang the National Anthem. Well, maybe not, but at least lip it.

When you live in a nation with Constitutionally guaranteed rights that include the first amendment, you have to endure words and actions that may cause you concern or sometimes offend. I don’t agree with Bernie Sanders and his ilk, but he sure has a right to speak his beliefs and his followers to show their support. Too many lives were lost in defense of the people’s right to speak their minds.

During the 1960s, there were anti-war protests, civil rights protests, women’s rights protests, and this nation endured. The Vietnam War was ended by President Nixon as we withdrew from that part of the world having realized that it wasn’t going to end well, and the American population had grown tired of the conflict. “Peace with honor” was a political way of saying, “we’re outta here.”

Civil rights legislation led to changes in laws that allowed minority citizens fairer treatment by their government. While the ERA proponents failed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, the women’s movement gave a voice to half the population that expected to be treated as equals.

Whether you agreed or disagreed with either side of each issue they all shared a common theme; there was a compelling argument and the issues were not based on false pretenses. Now we seem to base beliefs on false narratives.

The Black Lives Matter pretense of Michael Brown’s action just doesn’t agree with any facts. Brown was a thug who answered the description of a shoplifter that then ignored the orders of a uniformed police officer. Brown charged the officer and was killed. The false statements aired endlessly on national media fueled violence and anger towards whites and cops. The facts disproved those false statements but Black Live Matter has persisted.

The Baltimore cops did not do what the Baltimore district attorney wanted us to believe they did to the arrested Freddie Gray. The courts cleared those cops but the false narrative continues.

Those folks in America who wish to talk to us about being oppressed had better look around the world to see what oppression really looks like. To make it easier for those dear souls just look to Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, North Korea, and other countries led by leftist dictators.

Colin “what’s-his-name” wanted to make a big show of kneeling during the national anthem. Now others are following suit. Colin can’t find a job because he has made himself a “hot potato” and no team wants the fallout. My folks used to say, “you made your bed; now lie in it.” His display cost him. Tough luck, Colin.

Others footballers want to show their angst at being oppressed by a society that allows them to make millions playing a game. It is bleeding down to the colleges and high schools. How shameful. A bunch of athletes protesting the flag of the very country that allows them better opportunities than anywhere else in the world, and they show disrespect to that flag and anthem.

And who is this actor Jesse Williams? Hey, buddy, raise your right hand and swear "to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic."

Thanks to the First Amendment I suppose they have that right. I too have rights. I will not attend or watch another professional sporting event where team members show disrespect to the USA. If we stay out of the stands the team will get a message. If we don’t buy the products they sell at the games the concessionaires will get after management. At least it won’t be my dollars paying a bunch of whiny overpaid ball players with questionable talent.

This hubbub with President Trump and the NFL has caused me to never purchase any NFL gear or any gear with the NFL logo on it. We did not watch the Cowboys-Cardinals game tonight. In fact, we don't watch too much football anyways. We will not watch the Super Bore game in February. My wife and I can find plenty of things to do in Yosemite National Park during that Sunday.

I have seen MLB, NBA, and NHL players do it. Is this "unity" going to carryover to the other professional sports?

Grow up, players. Play your game, retire in peace, run for public office.

What really irritates me is that I have an NFL app on my phone that I CANNOT delete!

Enough is enough.

RAIN!!!

Yes, 0.95 inches of it fell this morning.

That brings the rain up to 1.16 inches. Doesn't come close to the 2014 total of 1.27, but it is a great relief up here considering the fires.

The air smelled clean again.

NOW, WE HAVE SEEN THEM ALL...

Wild turkeys...
Gray foxes...
Bobcats...
Coyotes...
Deer...
Skunks...
Badgers...
Bald eagle...
Opossums...
Raccoons...
King snakes...
Gopher snakes...
Bear...

and now a...

Mountain lion.

It was spotted at 6:30 a.m. on my morning drive to work near our home.

It was a magnificent looking animal.

I assume it was displaced due to the wildfires at the higher elevations. Probably looking for food since today is trash day.

I guess I will have to be more vigilant with the dogs staying outside. Their barking the last couple of days has made me aware that they are not barking at coyotes and deer that roam our property.

It is a different kind of bark...

I'VE SEEN FIRE AND I'VE SMELLED RAIN...

Mother Nature unleashed .20 and .01 inches of rain last night and this morning.

Mix in a little lightning and you have a spectacular light show.

The lightning did not ignite additional fires. A majority of the lightning was cloud to cloud.

The air smelled fresh after the rain. Almost didn't want to go to work this morning. After all the smoke for several days, it was a great relief to take in a deep breath of fresh air.

We can only hope there is plenty of precipitation to assist the fire crews in snuffing out the South Fork, Empire, Railroad, Mission, and Pier fires in the the Sierras.

It is still fire season up here.

T-ROY...

Our condolences to the family of Troy Gentry, of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash today.

"CROWNING" ACHIEVEMENT...

We began installing crown molding throughout the house.

It looks great.