We’ll have to see what the meteorologists have to say tomorrow regarding whether or not today’s higher than normal temps broke a record. I guess we’d better enjoy these days as much as we can because it appears there’ll be snow on its way from out West. Yes, we do need the moisture in just about any form because I was not surprised when being told today by a gentleman who lives on the Shell Rock River, saying he’s not seen the water levels so low for this time of year.
When suddenly finding this weekend’s sale is on a fast track to get closed, I purposely made a special trip over to Charles City to deliver that property’s abstract to Iowa Land Title for continuation, and thankful they’re always good about getting abstracts continued much faster than here, and likely because Floyd County doesn’t have as many real estate transactions as our county.
After I delivered the abstract with instructions, I spent a little time driving around the downtown of Charles City, and I dare say it’s looking pretty darned good compared to what we have going on in our downtown where I’ve come to believe there’s never really been any sort of incentive to get businesses to open up shop, and likely because too many prospects get scared-off after hearing what has to be done to those buildings to meet our City’s code. From what I’ve heard of late, this business of pressuring business owners to get sprinkler systems installed, has been yet one more deterrent. Whenever someone asks me about what I believe has to be done to get a business up and running, I simply say, “You must place a call to our city’s Community Development Director.”, because I definitely don’t want to make any sort of assurances regarding what does or doesn’t have to be done to a given building.
Before heading home, I did stop at their Hy-Vee, and discovered some of their items were priced higher than they are here, but I did end up buying a few things which were in my comfort range of pricing. The employees I encountered, all seemed to be more than courteous which brought back to mind that little jingle Hy-Vee used to have which went, “Shop Hy-Vee, shop Hy-Vee, where’s there’s a helpful smile in every aisle.” Isn’t it crazy how we manage to remember such stuff out of our past?
While in conversation today with my dear friend, I got on my soapbox and began talking about how life was back when our grandparents were alive and insisting how shameful it was to even consider someone having to ‘Go on the County’. Way back then, each county had what they referred to as ‘The County Farm’ which was where people who had no families to take care of them, would go and live out the remainder of their lives, and if they were capable of working, they’d have their own daily daily chores to do as part of their keep. I’m sure most people don’t even remember where our County Farm was located.
Being on the County, also had to do with single women with children who couldn’t make enough money to support their families, so they’d have to go to the courthouse on a regular basis, to sign up for funding which would likely be barely enough to pay for groceries. That situation was considered by most, as being at the lowest possible level in society, which was not only embarrassing to the recipients of those funds, but also their immediate families. I remember once hearing my grandmother saying something about a certain family not even having enough money to help one of their struggling children who had to go ‘on the County’.
With that said, I won’t be a bit surprised if our POTUS and his lackies end up cutting Medicaid to the point where the burden of assisting those people, are going to be turned back to the States in which they live. I’m sure our current Statehouse which is filled with alt-right wing Christians, will have questionnaires for those poor people which will likely include the question, ‘Are you a Christian?’ In these crazy times, you just never know. Right?
While driving to and from Charles City on the Avenue of the Saints, I couldn’t help noticing the number of grain trucks which were likely delivering grain to the elevators which the farmers are dumping in fear of there being a sudden drop in corn and soybean prices. Just so you know, I just read today where China put a 15% tariff on those two, so don’t be surprised if we see a rapid drop in commodity prices. Perhaps our POTUS is purposely moving our country into deep recession which will create all the more doubt, fear and division in our communities. Heaven help us all if that happens.
Tonight’s One-liner is: We live in a society which is deeply dependent on science and technology, yet hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.
