Yea, I think human stupidity...accidents... , make it harder to to just get to work on some things right now. Everybody gets so whipped up, yelling, blamming etc. Cant see the forest ( or the bottom of our beautiful springs here in fl), for the trees. Trees being what the earth is going to be like a million years from now. Focus lawmakers...focus. Local especially. If a backyard grill pollutes more than the cement plant down the road...dont waste my time or money.

Quiet Yard,

I am not a 'religious' person but this verse was given to me many years ago by someone who was and I respected.

I hate to sound 'preachy' but it hard to explain the relevance without mentioning something about religion .

I was addressing the fact that since 90% of this world is ruled by and subject to the other 10%'s 'whims' and unrealistic views since the y don't live in our world. They have either never know or conveniently they 'forget'.

CEOs making 3 million a year who do not want to give a nickel raise to the working poor.
Having the best benefits in the world while other people's are reduced to a point where they choose between, food or medicine.
Segregation
Fighting the equal rights amendment
Etc...

It IS NOT about politics, political affiliation or what one 'believes' is right or true. It is about what is true, written and spoken by the world's foremost authority ---God

When one can not see 'need' over 'greed' and service to others versus self seeking service or a "Let them eat cake" kind of attitude there is a real issue not only in a religious sense but in a sense that makes you ponder who and what these individuals essentially are .

Moral repercussions that last for an eternity spoken by God his/her self for not follow the directive and mandate and code of conduct spelled out in plain English w.

Perhaps these 10% people should 'think' about these things and look at themselves in a real true introspective way.

It definitely makes me 'think' every time I am in a position to either oppose or support something or someone. I sit down and think based on these versus what would Jesus do? Not what would I like, want or do but what would my/any religion mandate I do.

Companies that do such egregious things to peoples' water and do not care to fix it, help the people suffering in this situation, etc. ae the ones I was directing the verse towards.

Make sense?

O.K will get with the rest later. Praying to the kitchen Gods my casserole for the pot luck turns out. If not, I'm giving $20.00 and they can get a bucket of chicken.

I think maybe you are judging this company a bit quickly, lets see how they fix the situation. They probably have to drink the water as well.

Many very wealthy people are very generous with giving to the poor. Sure there are the bad eggs but not all of them.

Hope the casserole turns out good.

I probably shouldn't have asked that question about the oil industry being the problem. I simply wondered.

There are rotten-to-the-core poor folks and there are rotten-to-the-core rich folks. Bad apples come in every color, are present in every industry, and in every socioeconomic group. Hey, we could all live in Aleppo. Now that's a true (ongoing) catastrophe, one that I personally cannot imagine.

Agree Ken. Watching the news on Aleppo that is true suffering.

Inquiring minds, Ken. Was a valid inquiry. I had the same original thought, but after being told otherwise by what was assumed to be reliable sources, I went ahead and accepted and made my post. I mean, there have been multiple occasions that I have woken up to a car coated in oil from the refinery blasts not being done properly and being carried by the wind and littered over everything.

There's a difference between inquiring/questioning and very purposefully calling out and belittling someone for being misinformed. Kind of like saying, "I'm not trying to be rude, but (insert rude statement)". There's simply no point in it other than to feel superior or to tear down.

James. Though I know I am more intelligent and better-read than most, I try not to belittle others..........Just joking folks. I am one of the masses, just trying to get by and understand things. My wife will be glad to tell you how smart I am.

Missed the weather for tomorrow so not sure where the freezing drizzle is supposed to hit. That's what I get for waiting until the last minute to finish my truffles.

Personally, I don't think religion is very relevant in whether a person is moral or not, there are certainly plenty of examples on both sides of that one. I do think that some of the codes in some religions are very good at expressing the ideas that a moral person will have, how to treat others, how to hold yourself in your dealings with others no matter how they treat you, etc.

Ken is right, there are jerks and bad people in all classes, races, religions on this planet and at about the same ratio. When I was young and snide I used to say that 99% of all humans are a**holes. I'm nicer now, I don't think the percentage is that high, but it sure isn't low either. There are a lot of wobblers though that will respond to how you treat them, I see this every day. If you are rude and mean, you will get that back in a much greater amount than if you are fair and kind. It doesn't take a holy book to tell me that. I can see it. What was that Teddy Roosevelt saying? "Speak softly but carry a big stick"? You need to be prepared to protect yourself but if you 'speak softly' you won't need to do it as often.

James -- whatever the actual cause, that is terrible news about your water. When I allow myself to think about it too much, I am terrified that "they" are going to contaminate the Great Lakes beyond repair...

Big business is perfectly willing to weigh the losses against the cost of changing their operations; if you happen to be one of the casualties, too bad so sad.

Catching up. Lots of interesting ideas and dialogue.

Since I have half the world mad at me and trying their best to deny any shared DNA ..I will refrain from putting in my two cents. 😣😏

Suffice to say that with regards to the environment...I think we earthlings will need to hold on tight ..it is going to be a wild ride.

I have decided NOT to spend my $50-60 bucks this year on cards and stamps (although my card list has shrink since early November) and instead donate a considerable bit more than that to environmental causes and to agencies that assist marginalized people.

God Bless Us Everyone!! That Tiny Tim was a smart kid!

Agree with all of the above. If my comment was mistaken as 'rude' then I regret that. That was not the original intention.

The intention was to illustrate there are-regardless of source and personal beliefs, some kind of universal mandate set upon us as a collective human race despite our individual incomes or demographics and psychographics.

I agree with Ken. There are both good and bad people no matter their income. I have seen both. It just would be nice to 'see' more of the positive in all.

Rosie.....
I'm with you on that X-Mas/other holiday card thing. I'll be honest too. When it comes to things like cards and the postage, there's a financial element I take into consideration. Ever notice how expensive they've become! I was forced to get a bit creative.

My newest thing is to buy only two cards. I use one card with a message for family and the other with a message for friends. I don't write individual names in them. I write, "To my loved one/s." or "To my dear friend".

I photograph the card's picture on the outside and then photograph the standard but hopefully thoughtful message I wrote inside. I download the pictures and send the cards to everyone, via e.-mail. Nobody has ever seemed offended by this so I've made it a habit.

I wonder if this idea would fly in regards to bills? They can send me a photograph of my bill and I'll send them a photo of my check.

As for gifts, I like your idea of donations. Most excellent!
I've also had to get a little creative in gift giving. All December long, I only give and ask for gifts that are truly needed in the literal sense of the word.

My elderly neighbor of 84 complained about her house being dusty one day. My 'gift' was to do the dusting for her. She gave me---don't laugh a 6 pack of toilet paper. Hey...I was grumbling about having to turn around and go back to the store immediately because I didn't realize I was down to 1 roll.

I've given 2 gallons of milk to a neighbor with 4 kids and received a bag of dog treats. I've received large bags of cacti soil and gave a week of my walking their dog.

You get the idea! Best of all when you or they say, "Thanks! Just what I wanted!" it is true.

Oh in case anyone was wondering how the kitchen God's treated my casserole there's a whole new grumpy but in retrospect a funny story about that.

Have a good day all,
AG

Great idea!!!! Cards and Gifts
I will steal...my neighbor was saying she needed some manure...I don't think....I have no chickens .....or anything....

My sis says her hubby needs some brains..... hmmmm

I need patience......
And better humor....and YOU just gave me some of that..THANKS!

I understand perfectly what you mean..go to the most remote corners of the world...read stories about the most primitive people ...some with no written language and yet find behaviors and beliefs that are very similiar.... worship...the golden rule...conservation....

In the seven daughters of eve ( different topic ) the author sees the connections...threads of sameness...leading out from one..to another to another.. I loved that book.

What thread is this? Grumpy? Thankful? Not "Whats for Din..Din. ...I am waaay off! I did read something about a casserole...I wish at the bottom ..it would say what thread it was...

MISSINGROSIE said:Since I have half the world mad at me and trying their best to deny any shared DNA

Aww, I'm sorry you're dealing with that, Rosie

AGAVEGIRL1 said:I wonder if this idea would fly in regards to bills? They can send me a photograph of my bill and I'll send them a photo of my check.

there's an idea!


The city is still under water ban. They have set up water pods for citizens to utilize. They have officially thrown Valero corporation's name is back into the mix with restraining orders and a pending lawsuit.

"But it is so important at this point that people be aware, vigilant, that the city communicate with them constantly and they stay out of that water and not use the water until further notice." said Erin Brockovich
http://www.kristv.com/story/34...

They have lifted the contamination ban for the island area and the northwest region. I can do dishes and shower again

Glad to hear yiunare in the wet and wild again!

Listen you all know you can write a check on a banana peel and as long as it has the correct routing numbers ..it is cashable...

James,
So glad you are getting some water action again! May not solve the real problems but at least it solves one you are in need of. Clean dishes and a hot shower/bath has got to go a long ways in making you feel better literally. Nothing like a good shower/bath to ease some physical and mental tension.

Rosie.........
Feel free to steal. Not the most grand gestures but genuine ones and gifts you and they need!

As for you and your friend a pity you don't live here. Some miles out of town are several dairy farms. Lots of signs posted, "Free manure. Fresh or rotted" Ewwww! Could have taken your friend on a ride, handed her a shovel and let her go crazy.

As for your BIL needing more brains, well... they still make Mr. Potato Head. Remember those? They were fun.

And see, I gave you a giggle and you gave me the name of a good book to read!

As for the thread, I'll stick with grumpy although we have a lot to be thankful for.

O.K. speaking of grumpy:
Mentioned I had a casserole to bake for a potluck last night. Now this whole thing should have taken 1.5 hours at the most. Uh-Huh.

Rosie -- right there with you on the "denying shared DNA" thing... I AM pretty sure that you and I are related, however. (also - it does say at the bottom of the thread "Post a reply to Sandbox forum: Grumpy Thread 2016" )

AgaveGirl -- great ideas about the cards and gifts

James -- I'm glad to hear that the water situation is improving!

Oh Kaaay we can add computer problems today to grumpy thread.

Casserole night mare.
Decided to make homemade mac 'n cheese. You know the kind where you boil the noodles, knuckle bust grating the sharp white cheddar cheese, melt the butter and flour and stir in your milk and cheese. Pour over noodles, top with bread crumbs and bake until bubbly and brown. YUUUMM right? Now keep in mind this whole thing should have taken 1 hour to 1.5 max.

Erroneous thinking #1:
NO small shells is not a substitution for elbow macaroni. Two cups of boiled shells looks just like that---2 cups of boiled shells. Pour on cheese sauce and it looks like 2 cups of shells floating in 2 cups of sauce.

So...boiled 2more cups of shells and knuckle busted grating 2 more cups of cheese and making sauce. Nope. Still looks like 4 cups of noodles floating in 4 cups of sauce.

Boiled 2 more cups of shells. OK now we're talking. Looks like enough to feed 12 people as a side dish!

Stupid move #2.
6 cups of shells in 4 cups of sauce. NOPE! Too little sauce. Smart enough to have bought more cheese. Knuckle busted 2 more cups of cheese. Needed 2 more cups of milk to melt the cheese in. Not smart enough to buy more milk.

Stupid move # 3:
Go in search of 2 more cups of milk. Now I use2% milk so I have 4 cups of macaroni with 4 cups of cheese sauce made with 4 cups of 2% milk.

Go door knocking. One neighbor gave me 1cup of whole milk. One neighbor gave me a 1/2cup of skim milk and 1/2 cup of soy milk. At this point and time I was not going to be choosy.

Finish making the cheese sauce. Pour on the macaroni. YES....got the balance right.

Stupid move #4
Assuming that 4 different types of milk in one casserole would all cook up the same.

Get this casserole in the oven.

O.K. more computer problems.

To finish, since I tripled the recipe I needed to add an hour to the bake time. Add this to all the time I spent boiling 3 pots of shells, grating more cheese, and hunting down milk to make sauce and we are well into the 3 hour range.


Kitchen was a mess. Looked like a tornado whipped through it. Stuff all over the counters, cheese sauce all over the stove and me. Tossed this thing in the oven as I had a little over an hour to get dressed, made up and pack up the casserole.

Stupid move #5
Cheese sauce boils and bubbles in the oven when it cooks. It also spills out due to you filling the only casserole dish you have big enough for 6 cups of pasta to the brim.

Smell smoke. Nope casserole isn't burning. The cheese sauce dripping all over the stove was. Checked casserole. It was only cooked half way through and the sauce was...well, some consistency I didn't recognize. Back in the oven it went.

Stupid move #6.
Thinking I could still get my act together in an hour. NOPE. Oven smoking more then ever, casserole not done, hair still a mess and still running around in leggings and t-shirt. Aint happening.

Smart move:
I canceled. Gave my neighbor who was attending the same potluck a $20.00 bill and told her to go get a bucket of chicken to take on my behalf.

Smarter move:
Sat on the couch with a cocktail and ignored the dishes, the nasty oven, and the literally half-baked casserole on the counter. Fell asleep in 20 minutes.

Today I tossed the casserole, did the dishes and wiped up the counter. The dirty oven and dirty floor will be there tomorrow.

Smartest move ever:
For now on I will only bring a bucket of chicken! Every birthday, b.b.q, potluck or holiday gathering, I am bringing a bucket of chicken!

So there was my 'casserole' calamity.

Kraft....craft makes Mac and cheese..they get the proportions right too and no oven!

I can give you my recipe for Asian salad....but warning....once you make it...you got to bring it to every function until you are ready to scream!