Gray Mountain

Reading the novel 'Gray Mountain' by John Grisham...saddened my mind about the mining of coal...how destructive it can be, to the most beautiful mountains of, in this case, the Appalachians...I had heard of it, but have never looked into the process...from afar, like way over here on the west coast, the tales seemed...just that...tales...how very poor the people were in the area...I heard of 'black lung', but had no idea what it was, how it came about, and how deadly...it is...the music that came from the 'Holler'...read a bit about 'strip mining'...how it leveled the 3,000 ft mountains...how it made barren, the trees that grew on these mountains...and on and on...perhaps, the most tragic, is how this whole process in the end...KILLS it's workers...the environment...

Peaking my interest was the guy from West Virginia...Senator Joe Manchin...what was his story?...from the Appalachians...hmmm...one rich dude, now...well, hmmm...back in '88 he set up a very dandy little company called 'Enersystems'...that it's thing was and is still, to...scoop up coal wastes, called GOB...which is buried in mud, clay, and slate from defunct mines...imagine...and trucks them to a power plant in Grant Town...I think now, the only one that remains...that produces energy...he has passed the ownership of this company, to his son...right...

Coal, as used for energy, is the biggest pollutant in the WORLD!...as we, have been going elsewhere...there are other countries that have been messing this planet up...the worst?...by far, is China...followed by India...we don't make the top 5 list...what I have uncovered...

Pivoting...ah ha...the Boss and I went out for a date type thang last eve...but, I noticed something...that I did bring up with her...as we were dining, a young couple arrived and were obviously dating...not married, I tell ya...as they were smiling and chitchatting, not like married couples do...it is just different...and he was trying his best to impress...don't get on me, it was in my eyes...but, alas, he made a grave error...a return date stopper, for sure...he ordered red wine, a bottle for din din...just like ours, I believe...cheap, at $40...stop it, it was a special...but here we go...he asked the waiter to put the red wine ON ICE!...a rookie mistake...back to our table...as Boss was smiling and talking like we were on a date...we were...

For youse who are 'Farmer wants A Wife' fans...Season 2 starts tonight on ...FOX...4 cowboys (no injuns) that are picking the best of the litter for their soon to be bride...well, maybe bride...

Dame returned to PDX for a game with the now opponent Blazers...he is a Buck...kind of funny, as he still lives in Portland...well, I think so...as he got a summer divorce...maybe his kids still live there...I dunno...anyhoo, the Blazers won...as I watched like a half...the Horse is not a fan of Antetokounmpo...no clutch in his system, but he carries a lot of blame...just don't turn on Dame, dude...

You forevers feeling fine about trump using $50 million bucks that you gave him ( just in 2023!), for his attorney fees?...of course you are...anyway, you can help the poor bastard...get into your bank accounts and ready to withdraw a whole lot more, as Judge Engoron will shiver your timbers with the amount he is gonna fine orange...tickles me so...

Tongue in cheek?...Boebert says she would co-sponsor a bill that would put an electric fence, sharpened spikes, and alligators at the border...Colorado border?...Boebe?...

Are you...as shocked as me, that two of the best football coaches in the world...are not hired by any of the teams in need?...Bill Bellicheck and Pete Carroll...I guess ownership is saying you are too old, guys...man, I have heard that a lot lately...screw you all!...

Just read this back, and I am not saying Joe Manchin was in the wrong...evil or anything...just mighty opportunistic...and just might have used his state senator status for inside knowledge...but, that is just a...thought...maybe he didn't...of course, the Horse does not trust politicians that much...duh...

Funny what you remember...back in the days...our getaway trip was often to the Oregon coast...and at this place called the Salishan Center...something like that...there was this little, mom and pop, candy store...that made their own...and the best of best was, the caramel, nuts and popcorn (ah, caramel corn, dude)...we would always stop and get a bag to take home...and it never made it...consumed on the trip back...is it still there?...

Looking out my office window, I see that the Pineapple Express has begun...built an ark yesterday, and am ready for whatever...