Sarah Palin is quoted as referring to Barbara Bush in the following manner: "I don't think the majority of Americans want to put up with the blue-bloods".
Mrs. Palin, I have gone to bat for you for a couple of years now, but no more. You don't mess with Barbara! Your statement (if not misquoted) is immature and snotty...if not downright elitist. There is such a thing as a reverse snob, you know. Better you should say nothing at all.
The Bushes are a diversified family, and are said to have been one of the nicest families to ever have occupied the White House. They are among the most down to earth people in the US.
And that's all I have to say.......................
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Me and the Energy Crisis: "Clean Energy"
How many people do you think are going to study "clean" energy enough to understand it?
We are not far enough advanced in what is called "clean" energy to make it pay for itself. For example: Jim and I had solar energy for heating and cooling in FL at Jim's house. Didn't work. It was pathetic. We were always working on it to try to make it work, so it was expensive. Wind energy is expensive...and doesn't work in some areas (there is no wind in many areas). And my goodness, have you ever seen the gigantic wind turbines that take up thousands of acres? West Texas is full of 'em...talk about pollution! They're also very noisy. And birds run into them and get killed. Geothermal energy has to be"mined" (for lack of a better word) just like other forms of energy, and it's also expensive and relegated to certain areas of the earth that have teutonic plates.
http://www.windustry.org/how-much-do-wind-turbines-cost
The costs for a commercial scale wind turbine in 2007 ranged from $1.2 million to $2.6 million, per MW of nameplate capacity installed.
Most of the commercial-scale turbines installed today are 2 MW in size and cost roughly $3.5 Million installed. Wind turbines have significant economies of scale. Smaller farm or residential scale turbines cost less overall, but are more expensive per kilowatt of energy producing capacity. Wind turbines under 100 kilowatts cost roughly $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt of capacity. That means a 10 kilowatt machine (the size needed to power an average home) might cost $35,000-$50,000.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/faqs.html
We are not far enough advanced in what is called "clean" energy to make it pay for itself. For example: Jim and I had solar energy for heating and cooling in FL at Jim's house. Didn't work. It was pathetic. We were always working on it to try to make it work, so it was expensive. Wind energy is expensive...and doesn't work in some areas (there is no wind in many areas). And my goodness, have you ever seen the gigantic wind turbines that take up thousands of acres? West Texas is full of 'em...talk about pollution! They're also very noisy. And birds run into them and get killed. Geothermal energy has to be"mined" (for lack of a better word) just like other forms of energy, and it's also expensive and relegated to certain areas of the earth that have teutonic plates.
http://www.windustry.org/how-much-do-wind-turbines-cost
The costs for a commercial scale wind turbine in 2007 ranged from $1.2 million to $2.6 million, per MW of nameplate capacity installed.
Most of the commercial-scale turbines installed today are 2 MW in size and cost roughly $3.5 Million installed. Wind turbines have significant economies of scale. Smaller farm or residential scale turbines cost less overall, but are more expensive per kilowatt of energy producing capacity. Wind turbines under 100 kilowatts cost roughly $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt of capacity. That means a 10 kilowatt machine (the size needed to power an average home) might cost $35,000-$50,000.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/faqs.html
Friday, July 23, 2010
Suzanne Younger Christy
Christy, Suzanne Younger Dallas, TX- born in Dallas to Dr. and Mrs. Harold B. Younger, March 6, 1939, died June 24, 2010. She grew up in the Park Cities and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1956. Hers was a life of beauty, music, love and faith, scarred by periods of illness and tragedy. None of these sad times, however, diminished her joy of life or commitment to the Lord. Suzy began piano lessons at age 5, studying with teacher, Elizabeth Griffis. At age 12, she played for the famous Liberace, who was so impressed with her talent that he expressed an interest in mentoring her. A natural ability and remarkable memory enabled her to learn complicated classical compositions and play without sheet music. Piano helped support her family when she was a very young mother. She worked as a music teacher for Bette Hoffman School, and played dinner and cocktail hour music at Brook Hollow Country Club. She played privately for large and small social gatherings. In 1968, Suzy and Emily Hartnett formed a duo piano team, and played for the Ballet; with the Irving and Eastfield Symphony Orchestras, and for civic groups, local, and in other states. They left audiences awe-struck with their beauty and artistry. In the early 70s, she obtained a realtor's license, and quickly earned her company's Top Producer award. She worked for Obio and Adleta, Murray Real Estate and the Henry S. Miller Realty Co., setting records every year. These successes were less important to her, however, than her role of mother to her three children, Lisa, Rosalie and Benjamin, or her relationships with scores of friends who feel blessed to have had her in their lives. She was unmatched for generously giving her love to others. Toward the end of her life, Suzy was bed fast, and spent hours reading everything from Tolstoy to Grisham, and of course, her Bible, which she read faithfully. She became a great lover of nature, watching the evolving panorama just outside her bedroom window, which included ever-changing trees and flowers, ducks, squirrels and birds. She found great contentment in their beauty. Suzy battled major illnesses and suffered the loss of many she loved, including two of her children, Lisa, who died in 2001 at age 45, and Benjamin who died in 2010, at age 40. Other great losses were her mother and father; her precious "Aunt Bea" Easley, her life-long mother figure; best friends, Rose Moore, Medora White and Dixie Coffman; and husband Chester Christy. Survivors include her dearly beloved daughter, Rosie and husband, Henry Emerson, and their sons, Taylor Emerson, all of Colorado, and son Jacob Younger Dr. Rossett and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don De Rossett, of Mabank, Texas; and granddaughters Makenzye Suzanne Pinnell and Jaklynn Morgan Pinnell, Denton; also, daughter-in-law, Regina Pinnell, Denton. A memorial services will be held Monday, June 28, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel at Sparkman Hillcrest. Shortly before her death, Suzy said, "In my life of music there have been times when I could hear a melody in my head, and then, later, just side down and play it". Shakespeare wrote, "If music be the food of love play on!" Play on and on, sweet Suzy.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
5 best sentences
These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read:
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3, The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.
5. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3, The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.
5. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Article in Conroe Courier May 19, 2010
May 15, 2010
The Courier
100 Ave. A
Conroe, TX 77301
Fax: (936) 521-3302
TO THE EDITOR:
Regarding the editorial: “Texans own the Alamo, not DRT”, Courier, May 15, 2010
Two well meaning members of DRT (Daughters of the Republic of Texas) were expelled from the DRT in the past year or so for trying to raise funds on the side to repair a badly cracking roof/ceiling at the Alamo. They considered it structurally unsound and could not get the board to listen to their pleas, so they went ahead and did some fundraising for the project on their own, and ultimately were kicked out.
I don’t know all there is to know about this situation, but here are bits and pieces I’ve picked up in a nutshell. 1. The DRT board wants to build a huge expensive “history” complex in Austin next to the French legation and is concentrating on that instead of preservation in my opinion. They also apparently want to build an auditorium on the Alamo site, which would rob San Antonio of just about the only green space downtown. 2. The ceiling is not getting repaired. I understand that some plaster fell recently. 3. It’s been known for years that the Alamo needs serious repair, and nothing has been done except some upkeep on the gift shop.
If the DRT cannot afford to preserve and maintain the Alamo, then how do they expect to maintain a huge expensive complex as is being proposed? I wouldn’t want the Alamo roof on my head! Pun not intended.
I can only imagine what is crossing the minds of the board members. Seems a reckless way to behave in such troubled times, especially during a recession.
Sincerely,
Lu MacKie
11506 Walden Rd.
Montgomery, TX 77356
936-448-6144
lumackie@gmail.com
Friday, February 19, 2010
Dearest Grandchildren
Dearest Grandchildren in age order:
Laura, Cole, Katherine, Alissa, Alex, Ryan, Daniel, and Matthew:
When I was young I saw my grandmothers more than you do. They always had words of wisdom to pass down to me, and I profited by what they told me.
My Grandmother Ellis (Beulah Valentine Grady Ellis) sewed without a pattern and made dresses for a lot of prominent women in Houston. Mamma (Stella Brown (Miss Brownie) McKisick Younger, also sewed without a pattern and made numerous things for us. Beulah had a daughter, Jack (Jacqueline; Aunt Jack), who required a great deal of personal attention as a widow. Stella's husband, my granddad, Williamson Henry Younger also required extra attention, because he was her aging and elderly husband.
As there are eight of you, and I hardly ever am alone with any of you and therefore, cannot take advantage of a pleasant conversation "between us two," I chose to discuss with you and share my words of wisdom from my 75 years in a blog.
First of all...none of us is perfect, but we sure can try to be. We all need to be successful and contributing members of the world. Be kind, be loyal, be helpful always. But take care of yourself first. First be healthy! Take care of your health. Your health is the most important asset you have. Be a moral person. Be slow to anger. Be kind to other people. Happiness will follow.
Please get an education in some career; law, medicine, teaching...something that will sustain you financially well until you retire. Make enough money to be independent; spend enough money to help others and yourself; save enough money, so when you're old, you will have enough to support yourself. Don't ever expect anything from anybody else but yourself. Always keep a supply of money drawing interest somewhere.
Marry well. That's important. Sometimes we don't know what that means when we're young. Our hormones are all over the place and we pick just anybody that raises the level of hormones, but that's not always the wisest choice for the long run. Pick a marriage partner that compliments you. Pick someone, who is close to your age, so you'll have things in common to talk about when you're older. Someone who is your best friend, someone who understands you. Someone who has respect for you and treats you accordingly. Someone you can talk to about anything and everything for hours. Always treat them as though they were special. Treat them with kindness and love. Give them a nice compliment every day. Make them feel good. And make them proud of you. Anger will come, but try to temper that anger with love. Be understanding of other peoples' quirks that are different than yours...and yes, you, too, have quirks. :-)
Try to stay calm during tedious times. Pressure may cause illness and anger. Anger is bad for you; try to not be angry. Be patient in all things. The Bible says "In your patience will you find your reward." It's so true.
Alcohol, drugs, and other things like that turn you into somebody different. Alcohol is all right in moderation, but it's not all right if it makes you behave in an unseemly manner.
Don't allow other people to take advantage of you nor be mean to you. Walk away with your nose up in the air. Mean people can beat you down and make you feel terrible and ruin your health.
A few words of wisdom from Grady Ellis, your great grandfather on my side. He was a loving father to me....."always try to do the right thing, the moral thing, and always use common sense." If you're inclined to be impulsive, stop and think before you do ANYTHING.
Always remember that Daddy Jim and I have loved you more than anything. We would have spent a lot more time with you if we could have. We've led a good life, and we've conquered all the bad stuff. And we want the same for you and your children.
When your parents are old, please take good care of them for me; remember, they were my babies at one time.
All my love,
MiMi
(aka Brownie Ellis MacKie)
To be continued....
Laura, Cole, Katherine, Alissa, Alex, Ryan, Daniel, and Matthew:
When I was young I saw my grandmothers more than you do. They always had words of wisdom to pass down to me, and I profited by what they told me.
My Grandmother Ellis (Beulah Valentine Grady Ellis) sewed without a pattern and made dresses for a lot of prominent women in Houston. Mamma (Stella Brown (Miss Brownie) McKisick Younger, also sewed without a pattern and made numerous things for us. Beulah had a daughter, Jack (Jacqueline; Aunt Jack), who required a great deal of personal attention as a widow. Stella's husband, my granddad, Williamson Henry Younger also required extra attention, because he was her aging and elderly husband.
As there are eight of you, and I hardly ever am alone with any of you and therefore, cannot take advantage of a pleasant conversation "between us two," I chose to discuss with you and share my words of wisdom from my 75 years in a blog.
First of all...none of us is perfect, but we sure can try to be. We all need to be successful and contributing members of the world. Be kind, be loyal, be helpful always. But take care of yourself first. First be healthy! Take care of your health. Your health is the most important asset you have. Be a moral person. Be slow to anger. Be kind to other people. Happiness will follow.
Please get an education in some career; law, medicine, teaching...something that will sustain you financially well until you retire. Make enough money to be independent; spend enough money to help others and yourself; save enough money, so when you're old, you will have enough to support yourself. Don't ever expect anything from anybody else but yourself. Always keep a supply of money drawing interest somewhere.
Marry well. That's important. Sometimes we don't know what that means when we're young. Our hormones are all over the place and we pick just anybody that raises the level of hormones, but that's not always the wisest choice for the long run. Pick a marriage partner that compliments you. Pick someone, who is close to your age, so you'll have things in common to talk about when you're older. Someone who is your best friend, someone who understands you. Someone who has respect for you and treats you accordingly. Someone you can talk to about anything and everything for hours. Always treat them as though they were special. Treat them with kindness and love. Give them a nice compliment every day. Make them feel good. And make them proud of you. Anger will come, but try to temper that anger with love. Be understanding of other peoples' quirks that are different than yours...and yes, you, too, have quirks. :-)
Try to stay calm during tedious times. Pressure may cause illness and anger. Anger is bad for you; try to not be angry. Be patient in all things. The Bible says "In your patience will you find your reward." It's so true.
Alcohol, drugs, and other things like that turn you into somebody different. Alcohol is all right in moderation, but it's not all right if it makes you behave in an unseemly manner.
Don't allow other people to take advantage of you nor be mean to you. Walk away with your nose up in the air. Mean people can beat you down and make you feel terrible and ruin your health.
A few words of wisdom from Grady Ellis, your great grandfather on my side. He was a loving father to me....."always try to do the right thing, the moral thing, and always use common sense." If you're inclined to be impulsive, stop and think before you do ANYTHING.
Always remember that Daddy Jim and I have loved you more than anything. We would have spent a lot more time with you if we could have. We've led a good life, and we've conquered all the bad stuff. And we want the same for you and your children.
When your parents are old, please take good care of them for me; remember, they were my babies at one time.
All my love,
MiMi
(aka Brownie Ellis MacKie)
To be continued....
Monday, February 1, 2010
Dear Sis
July 27, 1988
I am on my way home after ten glorious days at Camp Ellis. Am up for the endurance medal; although I would have loved to try for the marksmanship medal.
Great fun was had by all. Lil "out-pranked" everyone with her Ivory Snow in the dishwasher routine, which had suds rolling in the aisles. Then she topped that with pulling on the panty hose in the car routine and barging in on me twice while I was naked in the bathroom. We girls really giggled and had a lot of fun.
I especially liked Lil's game with the TV, "Round and Round we go with the channels and where we stop...nobody knows."
"Did you wash you hair?" became the question of the day. Every thirty minutes. "Yes, Momma, I washed my hair."
Grady was a runner up in the prankster contest with his version of "Peeing behind a large bush on the Greenville, TX courthouse lawn."
HE WILL NOT TALK WITH ME! KEEPS MAKING EXCUSES FOR HER! UNCLE HAROLD SAYS SHE'S "JUST DEPRESSED AND NEEDS SHOCK TREATMENTS" NOT SO.
Found Mom a housekeeper...actually two of them...coming every other week on Monday starting August 8.
Jack (Jaqueline) McGraw, wife of Garnet, who also had Alzheimers, recommended a group for Dad at Home Hospice. Jack's been a big GUIDING help. I believe that Dad will turn up his nose at any group therapy of any kind.....Do what you can!
Momma is much worse than we thought. She is losing verbal abilities. Her speech is garbled a great deal of the time, and she cannot write. Jack McGraw said that if we told Mother that she had Alzheimers she wouldn't believe us, so as much as I wanted to tell her, it doesn't matter anymore.
I talked with Emmett Essin. He is aware of her condition. (Ironically, Emmett's wife developed Alzheimers later).
My opinion on involving Mom in a study in Wichita Falls is that I think it would agitate Mom and Dad both and hasten her deterioration. But I'll leave it up to you.
We drove to Greenville and Sulphur Springs on Sunday. Dad's driving is less than the best and he endangered us at least three times. It was a "white knuckle" trip. Dad refuses to face reality and is in many ways in as bad a shape as Mom.
We checked out the Renaissance and the Methodist homes. There are no resident nurses in either. Mom will need full time care eventually. Guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Jack said she used to put Garnet in a plane every Thursday, and they'd go somewhere as far as they could go because the only time she could sleep was when she was on the plane; he couldn't get off the plane to roam.
Dad is growing increasingly irritable.
Love, Brownie
This letter was never sent, but there's history in it. It should be preserved.
I am on my way home after ten glorious days at Camp Ellis. Am up for the endurance medal; although I would have loved to try for the marksmanship medal.
Great fun was had by all. Lil "out-pranked" everyone with her Ivory Snow in the dishwasher routine, which had suds rolling in the aisles. Then she topped that with pulling on the panty hose in the car routine and barging in on me twice while I was naked in the bathroom. We girls really giggled and had a lot of fun.
I especially liked Lil's game with the TV, "Round and Round we go with the channels and where we stop...nobody knows."
"Did you wash you hair?" became the question of the day. Every thirty minutes. "Yes, Momma, I washed my hair."
Grady was a runner up in the prankster contest with his version of "Peeing behind a large bush on the Greenville, TX courthouse lawn."
HE WILL NOT TALK WITH ME! KEEPS MAKING EXCUSES FOR HER! UNCLE HAROLD SAYS SHE'S "JUST DEPRESSED AND NEEDS SHOCK TREATMENTS" NOT SO.
Found Mom a housekeeper...actually two of them...coming every other week on Monday starting August 8.
Jack (Jaqueline) McGraw, wife of Garnet, who also had Alzheimers, recommended a group for Dad at Home Hospice. Jack's been a big GUIDING help. I believe that Dad will turn up his nose at any group therapy of any kind.....Do what you can!
Momma is much worse than we thought. She is losing verbal abilities. Her speech is garbled a great deal of the time, and she cannot write. Jack McGraw said that if we told Mother that she had Alzheimers she wouldn't believe us, so as much as I wanted to tell her, it doesn't matter anymore.
I talked with Emmett Essin. He is aware of her condition. (Ironically, Emmett's wife developed Alzheimers later).
My opinion on involving Mom in a study in Wichita Falls is that I think it would agitate Mom and Dad both and hasten her deterioration. But I'll leave it up to you.
We drove to Greenville and Sulphur Springs on Sunday. Dad's driving is less than the best and he endangered us at least three times. It was a "white knuckle" trip. Dad refuses to face reality and is in many ways in as bad a shape as Mom.
We checked out the Renaissance and the Methodist homes. There are no resident nurses in either. Mom will need full time care eventually. Guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Jack said she used to put Garnet in a plane every Thursday, and they'd go somewhere as far as they could go because the only time she could sleep was when she was on the plane; he couldn't get off the plane to roam.
Dad is growing increasingly irritable.
Love, Brownie
This letter was never sent, but there's history in it. It should be preserved.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Looney Bin Revisited
Monday I was in the looney bin for about an hour. Or was it hell?
I am deeply disturbed by what I saw and experienced.
We went to Dallas to the funeral of my first cousin once removed Benjamin Pinnell. He hung himself. He was a cocaine user. He was wealthy from money left to him by my mother's brother...Ben's grandfather...Dr. Harold Younger. There were two hundred people at that funeral and Jim and I estimated that about 75%-90% of them were cocaine users. Some had symptomatic ticks from brain damage and psychological problems so bad it was distracting. One of the speakers had used just before he talked; you could tell. It was an eerie experience. The minister said that Ben was genetically predisposed to self destruction. It was an odd service; no memorial pamphlet, no hymns, no music at all.
Ben's great aunt Edna committed suicide. His grandmother, Hortense (my aunt by marriage) tried to kill herself many times. His mother, Suzanne, is in the process of the world's longest suicide as we speak. She went to bed four years ago and just lies there and drinks wine all day.
Dear Lord what a waste!
Update: Suzanne died in June...just willed herself to die.
I am deeply disturbed by what I saw and experienced.
We went to Dallas to the funeral of my first cousin once removed Benjamin Pinnell. He hung himself. He was a cocaine user. He was wealthy from money left to him by my mother's brother...Ben's grandfather...Dr. Harold Younger. There were two hundred people at that funeral and Jim and I estimated that about 75%-90% of them were cocaine users. Some had symptomatic ticks from brain damage and psychological problems so bad it was distracting. One of the speakers had used just before he talked; you could tell. It was an eerie experience. The minister said that Ben was genetically predisposed to self destruction. It was an odd service; no memorial pamphlet, no hymns, no music at all.
Ben's great aunt Edna committed suicide. His grandmother, Hortense (my aunt by marriage) tried to kill herself many times. His mother, Suzanne, is in the process of the world's longest suicide as we speak. She went to bed four years ago and just lies there and drinks wine all day.
Dear Lord what a waste!
Update: Suzanne died in June...just willed herself to die.
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