CHRISTMAS IS A SNAP! THANKS MONTANA! CITY SIDEWALKS, BUSY SIDEWALKS, WITH A HOLIDAY CHEER, IN THE AIR, THERE'S A FEELING OF CHRISTMAS! SCROOGE, THE NO ASSHOLE RULE . . . ALLEGEDLY, TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH ANNOYING PEOPLE AT WORK--WHATEVER I DO IS DEFENSE, PROTECTION! NICE, JACKIE, INSISTED ON ME LOOKING AT THE BOOK--NO LOOK AT THE TITLES, CHECK IT OUR--THIS MORNING SHE WAS POUTING AROUND, SAYING SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE RATS . . . RATS, OR SMART, OBSERVANT RESIDENT, WHO CAN PLAY BACK THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN HER HEAD AND FIGURE OUT WHO STOLE HER BACKPACK! LOL! IT IS FUNNY THAT THE THIEVING CREW ARE MORE DISTRAUGHT, THAN THE ONE WHO GOT ROBBED, ON HER BIRTHDAY, A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS! LOL! LIQUID ASSETS IN THIS GAME I PLAY, AND LOVE! I LOVE SEEING THEM PISSED--THE INJUN LEFT, JACKIE, WHO HOOVERED AROUND THE FRONT DESK, TRYING TO SEE MY REACTION--NOT MUCH--I DIDN'T REACT MUCH WORSE, HAVING MY MILLION DOLLAR HOME STOLEN OR SEIZED, NOR MY TRUCK TAKEN, NOR MY CAR BLOWN UP WITH A PIPE BOMB--ALL IN MY LINE OF WORK, TAKING DOWN THE MOB, CORRUPTION, DIRTY LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS, AND JUST PART OF THE TERRITORY, AND I TEAR THEIR UGLY FACES DAILY, SO I SHOUL.D EXPECT SOME REPRECUSIONS, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE! THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED . . . LIKE SHERIFF MCDERMETT, SAYING THE COPS ARE WAITING FOR THE TOXOCOLOGISTS RESULTS, BEFORE DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF DEATH, IN THE MOUNTAIN LION MURDER--WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, POISON, WHEN THERE WAS BLOOD? OBVIOUSLY, IS WAS NOT A KNIFE OR GUN SHOT THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH, OR YOU, AS YOU DID IN THE KNIFE ATTACK ON THE OLDER WOMAN, AT THE FRESH MARKET, ATTACK, WRITE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE INJURIES WERE, AND I DON'T THINK THE HOSPITAL WOULD ERECT, A 20 HIGH NET AROUND THE OUTSIDE PATIO, IF THE CAUSE OF DEATH HAD BEEN CYNIDE POISONING! LOL! WHATEVER--I KNOW THIS IS PAYBACK FOR ME, SAYING THAT 5 COPS WERE STANDING AROUND 5 OR 6 HOURS AFTER BEING CALLED TO THE BLOODY SCENE, SCRATCHING THEIR ASSES, BALLS AND HEADS, WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED? I TALKED TO A LADY, WHO HAS LIVED IN MISSOULA FOR 30 YEARS, AND SAID, SHE WAS UP HIKING RATTLESNAKE, GOING UP HIGHER TO THE BOB MARSHALL, OR SOMEWHERE--DON'T KNOW MY BARINGS, BUT SHE ACTUALLY SAW, 4 MOUNTAIN LIONS ON ONE FUCKING HIKE, AND LATER IN THE DAY, AN 8 YEAR OLD BOY HAD BEEN ATTACKED! LAST MARCH IN COLUMBIA FALLS, A WOMAN JOGGER WAS ATTACKED BY A MOUNTAIN LION, AND HER DOG RUSHED IN TO WARD OFF THE ATTACK, AND THE MOUNTAIN LION BIT THE DOGS HEAD AND WAS DRAGGING IT OFF INTO THE FOREST, AND SOME OTHER DRIVER, STOPPED AND BEAT THE LION OFF! I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY TRACKED, AT LEAST TWICE, ALMOST RAN INTO ONE, ONCE, AND KNOW DAMNED WELL, THE TRACKS ACROSS FROM THE HOSPITAL, WERE POINTING EXACTLY TO WHERE THE CRIME WAS BEING TAPED OFF! STOP GETTING TORTS ATTORNEYS, FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, GUMDROP BOOK SALESLADY (TRUCK JUST WENT BY, ALEXANDRIA--MOULDING TO YOUR LIFESTYLE--NOW, SHELLEY, DAUGHTER ALEX, EVEN WANT TO CLAIM MY POVERTY! LOL! POV. PAM LOVE--FINE WITH ME, BUT SHE IS NOT ME!), HISTORY MAJOR, OR EMT, HOUSEWIVES, TO TAKE MY PLACE--HAVE SEEN CRIME FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE, PROSECUTION AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE, AND HAVE LEARNED A THING OR TWO IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, SINCE ALL THE MALE ATTORNEYS, IN THE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE UTAH ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, INITIATED ME INTO THE DIVISION BY HAVING ME LOOK AT VIDEO TAPES OF TWO HORRIFIC CRIME SCENES: (1) OF THE LAFFERTY BROTHER, POLYGAMIST KILLINGS OF THEIR YOUNGER BROTHER'S WIFE AND BABY, THROATS SLASHED, AND A BLOODY BATTLE BETWEEN MOM, DEFENDING HERSELF AND BABY, AGAINST TWO OLDER POLYG BROTHERS! (2) AN INMATE AT THE UTAH STATE PRISON, CAUGHT ON CAMERA, BEING STABBED, FUCKING 67 TIMES, THEY THREE OTHER INMATES! I AM NO SPRING FLOWER TO THIS GAME, AND YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE REAL, JOANN S. SECRIST, J.D., NOT SOME FUCKING FAKE BITCH IMITATION WITH TITS! GOD! WE ARE TALKING SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES HERE, NOT FUCKING EGOS! AND YES, I AM AT THE POVERELLO, AND YOUR GUYS DID NOTHING TO HELP WITH MY STOLEN BACKPACK, BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO STOP THIS BLOG TOO! AND FOR THAT YOUR FUCKING CRAZY, I AM SAVING LIVES, EVEN IF YOU WON'T! OKAY, THE TOPIC FOR THE DAY, TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK, IS THE ECONOMY, WITH BASICALLY GOOD NEWS, IN MONTANA . . . AND SHAME ON PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, LOONEY TUNES TRUMP! AS IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA, TRUMP IS PLAYING ON THE FEARS OF THE BLUE COLLAR WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO WERE HIT HARD, BUT SURVIVED WITH BUILDING AND TRADES UP, NEW HOME STARTS, OFFICE BUILDINGS GOING UP, ETC. THERE WAS A GREAT ARTICLE IN THE MISSOULIAN, KIND OF STATE OF THE STATE, ECONOMIC REPORT, IN THE LARGER CITIES, AND HOPEFULLY, I STILL HAVE MY NOTES, IF NOT, YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE MISSOULIAN, MONTANA ECONOMY SPECIAL SECTION . . . BRIGHT FORECAST FOR MONTANA, WITH A LESS THAN 4% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE! THE REASON TO PUT UP LIGHTS, LOOKING TO A BRIGHT END TO THIS YEAR, AND A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK FOR 2016 . . . ONE MAN, CAN NOT, CHANGE THE ECONOMY ALONE--WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

The Chicago Hot Dog Stand and Positive or Negative Thinking and the Economy!

I know, I have told this story, true, before, but early in this last recession, starting around August of 2008, with us barely pulling out of it, in the last two or so years, there was a man, who owned a curbside, mobile hot dog stand, that was doing extremely well, so well that he put his only son, through college, business school at I believe it was Columbia, and when the son came home for Christmas break, his father, told him that his little business, was doing so well, that he was going to build a full blown, hot dog and burger joint, with real walls, counters, kitchen and booths.  The son, looked at his father and said, don't you know there is a recession going on, you can't build during a recession!  His father, assured him, that in spite of the economic downturn, his business was thriving, even better than before the recession.  Again, the son, reiterated, what he was learning in his economic classes at the university, and admonished his father, not to venture into this new phase of his business, and just stay with the safe methods of doing business, small as they are, and stick with a sure thing, rather than, expanding, to meet the new demands and growth he was experiencing.  The father, acquiesed to the more educated son, and didn't build the inside restaurant, and stuck with being a street vendor.

Note: sorry the fuckers, just turned off my spell check . . . can't stand, good stuff!

My Reasoning Behind the Single String of Christmas Lights . . . What's It Going to Cost You?  Ah, Dollar Store?

Okay, so this morning, I took a ride on the #4 bus, to Bonner, like I like to do, since I am always waiting for the world and city to wake up, being the early riser I am, and on that winter wonderland, bus trip, I got so much joy from the houses, whether decked out to the brim, or just a single string of lights, bright and colorful in the windows, or just a snowman or Santa on the yard, lighting up the dark and cold, winder morning, that with no lights, seems to gloomy and dreary . . . but there are more lights than last week, so things are looking up.  But, I remember, the Christmas lights on my block growing up, in the 50's and 60's, and really, there were only about a handful, if that many, houses, that didn't at least string some type of lights up, for the neighbors to enjoy.  But, as I said in an earlier blog, now, it is totally the opposite, that there is one house lit, for every 50 without lights, almost.

To me, it makes, everything look depressing, recessive, down, lacking, and there is little vibrance and vitality for the Christmas Season, nor for looking forward to the New Year!  I was always, one to hang our Christmas lights, small as they generally were, in the first week of December, so we could enjoy them all month long, and by a day after Christmas, I was so sick of the mess and seeing them, not generally, in the color scheme of my front room, that they were promptly removed.  And on years, that, we didn't want to hang outside lights, early snow, or cold, we decorated inside, stair banisters, and the tree of course, and we would leave our drapes open, so it added to the Christmas cheer in our neighborhood, closing the window coverings, when we were ready to go to bed . . . so that is an idea, move your tree, open you drapes, or decorate something that can be seen from the road, to share in the brightness of the future, for the kids!  They need to believe in a world of promise, light, beauty, opportunity, success, and lighting up the winter wonderland is a great way to say, you have a great future, a bright future ahead of you!

I was excited to hear one of the radio hosts, either Brian or Chris, say, that they had finally gotten their Christmas lights up . . . and for some families, they even decorate their trees, on Christmas Eve, so different strokes for different folks, no right or wrong, just join, in and come along!  I have one cousin, who loves Christmas so much, he left his tree, artificial of course, up, until about July!  LOL!  Now that is the spirit!  You know, it is funny, that I have, gotten so buried in the law, starting back, in the early 90's with law school, that Christmas, became an after thought, even up to several years ago, before, I was literally running for my life, out of Utah, but I remember, December of 2010, being pisssed as hell, that the courts seemed to be closed, that attorneys were not returning calls, and the whole fucking legal system, except, JoAnn Scrooge Secrist, had come to a scretching hault for a whole month!  Screammmmmm! 

I am generally, get rid of this old dead year and bring on the new, full of promise, new challeges, and adventure, giving very little throught to Christmas at all . . . and what was different this year?  I swear, when I walked into the Mountain Line, bus terminal and saw that decorated Christmas tree, wreaths hanging on the doors, and lights around the far windows, the magic of Christmas's past came flooding back--the warmth, the good cheer, the love, the fuzzy nice feelings of giving and sharing . . . then the Pov. Christmas tree, reminds me, of laying on my couch, in the front room, after the family had gone to bed, and dreaming of sugar plums, dancing in my head . . . the last two weeks, I have had to clean out the traps, in the washing machine, the last job of the night, when it is quiet and people are long, fast in their sleep, when all through the Pov, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse--hopefully. 

Walking to see the Break Cafe', the Oxford, the lighted canopy, next door, Wordens, and many, many shops, the mall . . . I am so not a shopper, but now, I just go, drop into one of the comfy, overstuffed couches or chairs, and watch the Christmas bustle . . . so fun, even saw, one of the counter help, from McDonald's, my office, when I have a computer, and she showed me what she bought for the managers, fun, and her boyfriend and brother, so happy, so thrilled with her treasures, and she hugged me when she left!  It has been a long time, since I have enjoyed this stuff . . . like, ah, 25 years, maybe?  So, thank you for all the Christmas Elves, who keep the Spirit of Christmas and the Holidays alive, for the rest of us, Scrooges, and like Scrooge, eventually, we join up with the rest of you, and fill our hearts with loving, giving, lighting, sharing, like the rest of you! 

I swear, last Saturday morning, sitting in the law school foyer, alone, was the first time, in years, on the run, still, that I had a moment of silence, quiet, peace, softness, and with that single, light, looking like the Star of  Bethlehem, brighter than all the rest, my anger, my fight, my passion, my fear, all softened, melted away, warmth filled my heart, the comfort of the Savior's words, reminding me, that Christ, said, the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, don't worry about what they will wear, or what they will eat . . . and how much more, I love you . . . tears started to flow in streams down my cheeks, where hate was strong, and mocked the song, of peace on earth good, will toward men, was replaced, with love, understanding, compassion, healing, and love, but it only lasted, until I started typing again!  LOL.

I actually think, this is a nice place to end . . . you can look up, the Montana Economic picture, yourself!

P.S., I did want to mention, that in the newspaper, Sunday, it said that Bozeman, is growing the fastest economy in the state, and two years ago, I was attending, Fresh Life Church in Kalispell, and they were going to set up a new campus, right after the new year, and they wanted people to help with that effort, so I wrote a pretty funny blog, about wild ass cowboys and cowgirls, and how we were coming to get you, but, Pastor Levi, a class act, does everything with thought and intend, and he had done some research on Bozeman before, venturing into set up a new campus in that area of the state . . . but, I was shocked to find out, that 50% of Bozeman's population, is under the age of 25!  To me, that is amazing, and they have the most vibrant ecomomy in the state, and I know, they have won, beautiful city awards, and other art connected notice, in addition to both the University of Montana and Montana State University, being ranked, in the top 500 colleges and universitites, I believe it was in the world!  Hell, there are 7 colleges in Spokane, alone, in  Chicago, it seemed like there was a college around every corner of the city! they build up, not out!

The picture in the newspaper, Sunday, was of a fairly young looking man, who had started up his own company and was doing great.  So, young people, newly graduated, you still are, the hope of the future, for us old foggies, like me!  LOL!  Although, I had some 23 year old, Navy SEAL, try to pick up on me, on the bus the other day, telling me, that is girlfriend he just broke up with, was 41, assuming I must be somewhere in that area of age, very flattering, and I said, look buddy, I am out of your league . . . I am 61!  That stopped him in his tracks!  LOL!  The minds of today, or so, alive, so fresh, so full of promise . . . get that single string, of Dollar store lights, out, and lighten up the Christmas and New Year, fridged night!

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Day!