Finally got back in

I finally got back into my blog. So, what has been happening since I was here last? The White House seems to have a revolving door and some people want to pick and choose what historical stay or are eliminated.

The Red Sox are hot and it is mid-August. The Patriots are full steam ahead for the upcoming season. Brady is in top form and rating to go.

The Celtics and Bruins need to kick it onto gear and the Boston sports scene will be front and center.

That is all I have to report at this time.

Funny Coke Session November 2016

**The Donald is the President Elect of the United States. Who Knew? How did this happen? The news has been inundated by reports about “how the polls got it so wrong.” Do you know how the polls got it so wrong? The pollsters don’t know as much as they think they do. Pollsters do not always have their thumb on the pulse of the American people. This time around pollsters had their collective thumbs up their collective posterior ends. 

His election to office has inspired protests and riots around the country with people declaring “he is not our president.” To those protestors I say, find a president in another part of the world that you like and move there.”

Like the guy or not, agree with him or not, he is the president elect of the United States of America. He said he wants to be the president for all Americans and we at least owe him that chance. Who knows, maybe Trump will get tired of being the leader of the free world and go back to Trump Tower and Trump Industries and we can deal with Mike Pence.

Hillary ran a great race and I am disappointed she will not get to be the first woman president of the United States, but it will happen one day. It could be Elizabeth Warren, Kelly Ayotte, Maggie Hassan or Joy Behar. Stay tuned for another presidential election coming to a media outlet near you.

**On Election Day I went to vote, as I always do on such days. I put my ballot in the box at 9:58 AM and I was voter number 266. I walked from my polling place to Dunkin Donuts to get coffee. I ordered my coffee at 10:08 AM and I was customer number 804. YIKES!! Municipalities should buddy up with Dunkin Donuts and establish polling places. That will get out the vote. I can imagine the slogans now: “America Votes with Dunkin Donuts,” “America Runs to the Polls with Dunkin Donuts,” and “Cast a Vote and Sip a Coffee from Dunkin.”  This has a lot of electoral possibilities.

** There is a call to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. I can’t support paying a fast food employee $15 an hour when they rarely get my order right. How difficult it is to deliver a medium coffee with cream and no sugar and a chocolate glaze cruller? I usually get a medium coffee sometimes with cream and sugar and sometimes black with sugar. How can anyone get a cruller and a coffee roll confused. I always want to ask the BK or McD people “do you not know what a number two is?” And they want fifteen bucks and hour? I think not.

That is all I have to report at this time.

Cak

(Colleen A. Kelley is a Freelance Writer, Graphic Designer and amateur dirtoligist and once again a student, based in Massachusetts. Visit her website at www.gearworksgroup.com.)                                                                                                                                                                                                   Visit two fun Café Press sites at www.cafepress.com/hourminutesecondsociety and www.cafepress.com/cokekelley)

A little of this and a little of that

Good Morning, Blog Nation –

How about that Donald Trump? His presidential campaign just keeps rolling along crushing the competition and leaving its victims in its wake and the Nevada caucus is just another indication of how fed up the American voters are with politics as usual. Chris Christie and Jeb Bush have packed their presidential ambitions away and a few more are sure to follow suit. If nothing else, the Trump campaign is sending a message to other candidates that politics as usual are no longer acceptable to the voters. Donald Trump represents the refreshing change people want.

Donald Trump is a straight talker. If it’s on his mind, it comes out of his mouth. He does not have a politically correct filter and I for one, like that. Has he said inappropriate things to some people? He sure as heck fire has and that’s part of what I like about the guy. Trump is a very savvy business man. He knows how to make money, he knows how to run a business and create jobs. He is a very good negotiator. Those traits are what this country needs. 

We have had politically correct people in office for decades and generations and what has it gotten us? It has gotten us 9/11, the Boston Marathon bombings, Fort Hood and San Bernadino and who knows how many other terrorist inspired acts of aggression. Donald Trump for President in 2016. He can’t do any worse than any other president in history.

How about them Red Sox? Can they turn in a better season than they did last year? Of course they can. I think we will see a much improved team this year and I look forward to some serious post season play. With Ortiz retiring at the end of the season let the season end with a bang rather than a whimper. This is the opportunity for a self motivated player to step it up and take the reins as a team leader. I’d like to see Dustin Pedroia take on that role more than he has. Here’s to a fabulous 2016 Red Sox season. Go Sox!!

Ben Carson, presidential candidate is having a difficult time getting time during debates. According to the rules if a candidate’s name is mentioned, that candidate gets the opportunity to respond. Carson asked to be attacked so he could get some air time at the last republican debate. Be careful what you wish for, Ben. Being attacked and given the opportunity to speak only works if you have something to say.

That is all I have to report at this time, Blog Nation members!

It is 15 March 2015

Greetings Blogatarians -

What a winter we had! We had Mega amounts of snow, but haven't quite broken the record yet. I say screw the record. Spring is beginning to spring and soon the crocuses will be peaking their little heads out of the snow - as soon as a couple of more feet melt. I got quite a work out shoveling snow this winter. It was way better than going to the gym for a workout. I am thinking about my vegetable garden for the upcoming planting season.

I just read a story about a major league baseball player who chose to live in his van behind a Walmart rather than taking his signing bonus and salary and living in a high end apartment. What is wrong with that? Nothing, as long as his accommodations do not hinder his playing and by that I mean sufficient and comfortable sleep. 

The Saint Patricks Day parade in Boston is today and their is an abbreviated parade route due to the massive amount of snow still on the ground and a couple of groups are refusing to participate because the gay community is being allowed to march. C'mon, everybody, can't we just all parade together and get along?
That is all I have to report at this time

Colleen A. Kelley

(Colleen A. Kelley is a freelance writer based in Massachusetts. Visit her web page at www.gearworksgroup.com)

Random thoughts to start the day

Holy Deflation, Batman!!

What’s the crap about the Patriots and deflated footballs? There has been way too much time wasted on this one event. It is time for sports writers and science guys to get back to the daily business at hand. Let’s look at the facts. There were 12 footballs prepared for the game. They were filled according to NFL regulations and checked by the game officials. During the game one of the Colts intercepted a pass and reported the ball to the officials claiming it was underinflated. 

After the game, all the balls were checked and it was determined 11 of the 12 balls were underinflated by a couple of pounds per square inch.  I thought Bill Belichick had a sound and rational explanation about the under inflation of the balls. Bill Nye the Science Guy said Bill’s claims make no sense. 

This is my conclusion of the entire matter. The footballs will always be subject to atmospheric conditions and changes in temperature. Since the beginning of time, I bet all footballs used in an NFL game, or practice lose air. It happens all and time and has always been part of the game. All of a sudden the Pat’s are being called out on the matter. Why is that, do you suppose? The Pat’s have become the New York Yankees of the NFL, you know, the evil empire thing. Someone with a serious case of sour grapes has decided to make an issue out of something that happens each and every NFL game.

The upshot of the deal is their will most likely be a list of new regulations regarding game balls and the preparation and check that goes along with it. There is nothing wrong with that, but the rules have to apply to everyone and not just a select few.  

The NFL in all its wisdom will waste a lot of time and money investigating something that happens during every NFL practice and game. The Patriots did nothing wrong and Bill and Tom Brady will be vilified over nothing. 

Superbowl, here come the Patriots!!

Snow, Snow Beautiful Snow

The Northeast is gearing up for what weather people are already calling the worst storm of the century. Let’s wait until the flakes have fallen before calling it a storm of historic proportions.  I know the weather people are super excited about the approaching storm, but let’s slow it down a couple of notches. Tizzy nation has already started in the grocery and package stores and the shelves are looking bare.  A word to the people of Tizzy Nation (may I call you Tizzy-ites?). Is it necessary to buy enough groceries for two weeks instead of a couple of days? When was the last time you forced to stay indoors because of weather for more than three days? The Blizzard of 1978 jumps to mind.

Let’s calm down, people. It is New England and it is January. Those two things along with “snow” go together and sometimes “Snow Happens in New England.” (Hey! Can I get a Tee Shirt or a hat with that on it?)

That is all I have to report at this time. 

(Colleen is a freelance writer and graphic designer. She is the owner of the Gear Works Group, a Freelance Writing, Graphic Design and Humor Business. The Gear Works Group specializes in calendar design. Visit her web page at www.gearworksgroup.com or email at gearworksgroup@aol.com)

Rest in Peace, Mayor Menino

The best friend the city of Boston ever had passed away last Monday, 27 October.  His passing was a shock because it was sudden. He had his share of ill health the last couple of years, but he announced in March of this year he had an aggressive form of cancer. A week or so before he passed away he announced he stopped his treatment and cancelled the rest of his book tour. He wanted to spend the rest of his days with his family.

It is a shame he didn’t get to enjoy a long and healthy retirement with his family and if anyone was entitled to enjoy retirement, it was him. He served as Mayor for 20 years and as City Council member for 10 years before that. He put the people of Boston first and if you had a problem, he took it on as his own. He had a work ethic that would cripple most people and he expected others to follow suit. 

He was interested in what the people of all ages had to say and he really listened. He wanted the city of Boston to be better and he knew that started with better people. He wanted a good education for all the kids and he worked hard to keep them off the street and out of trouble. He inspired the kids to do better in school and aspire to become compassionate and responsible adults.

He was compassionate and understanding. He paid attention, and took care of, the small details of everything that came down the pike. He was approachable and sometimes a little too thin skinned. He was a regular guy and he was always a regular guy. Being the Mayor did not give him any form of entitlement in the city and he treated everyone as the most important person in the city at the moment.

Agree with him or not, you have to give him credit for maintaining a personality that connected with people of all ages. He was the Mayor for all people and he changed the course of the city. He made it all inclusive and upgraded all the neighborhoods. 

Tomorrow, 03 November 2014, the people of Boston and the entire world will say goodbye to one of the most beloved residents of all time. His legacy will live on forever and Boston is a much better city because he served the city so well.

(Colleen is a freelance writer and graphic designer. She is the owner of the Gear Works Group, a Freelance Writing, Graphic Design and Humor Business. The Gear Works Group specializes in calendar design. Visit her web page at www.gearworksgroup.com or email at gearworksgroup@aol.com)

Don't Use the Spelling Bee to push a Political Agenda

One of the most nonpolitical events in America and probably the world is the Spelling Bee. It is a time honored tradition that has been providing school children a platform to test and demonstrate their verbal and cognition skills in a way that is not only fun and educational, but entertaining. It is probably the last bastion for friendly competition where there is no gray area. The word is either spelled correctly or incorrectly. 

I remember spelling bee’s in elementary school. They were often held in the afternoon and usually on a Friday as a way to wind down the learning week and sail off into the weekend. We always had two teams who spelled against each other. Sometimes it was the boys against the girls, designated rows of students assigned to each team or it might be two teams chosen at random. Each team lined up on opposite sides of the room and the teacher assigned words to be spelled from our current grade level spelling words. If the student spelled the word correctly, they remained standing. If the student spelled the word incorrectly, they went back to their seat. 

All has been right in the Spelling Bee world for generations – until the 2014 political advertisements began to appear.  

There is a group from New Hampshire that put out an ad attacking Jeannie Shaheen that makes a mockery of the Spelling Bee. The ad is filled with political garbage that may or not be true, but it bashes the American Spelling Bee. The end of the ad is what really kills me. The contestant is asked to spell “Shaheen.”  The young lady spells “O-b-a-m-a” and the judges all say “close enough.” 

In all the spelling bee’s I have participated in or watched never, never was a word declared spelled “close enough.”  I haven’t seen the ad for about a week so perhaps the spelling bee people united and thrashed the group for using the most nonpolitical event in America to push a political agenda.  

 That is all I have to report at this time.

(Colleen is a freelance writer and graphic designer. She is the  owner of the Gear Works Group, a Freelance Writing, Graphic Design and Humor Business. The Gear Works Group specializes in calendar design. Visit her web page at www.gearworksgroup.com or email at gearworksgroup@aol.com)