Truth Surfer

Currently I'm traveling down Route 66 with the odd side trip here and there...I'm blogging about my Mother Road adventure at The Grateful Muses blog but side trips and odd things that don't quite fit the travel log will get posted up here...like this one about Twinkies... Old Twinkies advertisement tin As Route 66 is America's Main Street, so are Twinkies America's snack cake. And guess what? Twinkies were invented in Illinois... Schiller Park in the 1930's. The inventor James Dewar realized that several machines used to make cream filled strawberry shortcake sat idle when the berries weren't in season. That's when he conceived a snack cake filled with a banana cream filling. He came up with the name Twinkies when he saw a billboard in St. Louis for 'Twinkle Toe Shoes....giving birth to 'Twinkies'. Due to the rationing of bananas during WWII, the company was forced to change the filling to vanilla cream...making them even more pop...

As most know, we are traveling historic Route 66 from Chicago to California. Currently we are in New Mexico...with us are our dogs who are the best travelers... Dot and Burrito Dot and Burrito on Route 66 When we started down Route 66, we had our two mixed Boston-Rat Terriers (Brats!). They are siblings, brother and sister, who we've had for the last ten years so this isn't their first trip. They love going to new places and staying in hotel rooms...seemingly without emotional issues. Naturally we bring their most favorite toys, treats, and bedding with us. We also make sure they get water and food regularly as well as exercise. Basically the same we do for ourselves. They should feel comfortable, safe and secure... with theirs needs being met just like when they are at home. Dogs will surprise you in that they are very adaptable, curious and when they feel secure will make the best explorers. CoCo holding Tiki Man,,,Latest family dog! A couple of days ago, ...

Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones) was like every one's mother...teaching us what's correct, moral and ethical. Her story is still teaching the power of speaking the truth, standing up for others and working for everyone. The kids and I are traveling down Route 66 (read more of our Rt66 adventures at The Grateful Muses ). We made it to Mount Olive, Illinois when we noticed a marker for Mother Jones at the Union Miner's Cemetery on the outskirts of town...another side trip to take a look at another bit of history that shaped American labor, mining conditions, child labor, and unions. Mary was a schoolteacher and dressmaker. She lost her husband and four children to yellow fever and then her dress shop was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 , Speaking for myself, I'm not sure I could continue on but at 60 years of age...Mary took on a new roll as an organizer for the Knights of Labor and the United Mine Workers union Mary become know as 'Mother Jones...

Working on getting the house in shape to sell...and of course gardening...always...lots of rain this spring...the garden never looked better...posted up the garden pics on my facebook page... look up at deck in backyard Hope to have the house ready to sell in about two weeks...will post finishing pics then. Enjoy.

Wish granted.... over this last weekend..DFL candidate Mike Obermueller was endorse in CD2 to run against Congressman John Kline (R-MN)...

When did it become acceptable to work all day and still not earn a basic living wage? A living wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their needs that are considered basic (housing/food) Go here to see the living wage calculator for your state/county Finally Minnesota is looking to raise the minimum pay to $9.50 by the end of this week but that's still doesn't cover most rents. we fall behind the majority of other states... Many advocates believe that $10.58 an hour is a better wage rate, but it appears that progressive Minnesota does not...Currently half a million jobs in Minnesota are below $10 an hour... Our current minimum wage is below what the federal government has set for the minimum wage...needless to say The current legislation would make exceptions for anyone under 18 years old, or small companies earning less than half a million a year. If the business has gross sales less than $500,000 a year, then they can pay a $7.75 minimum...

Finally the first day of Spring has come to....well not in Minnesota... It's 23 degrees out...and snowed yesterday...but expected to warm up into the forties...thankful for that...before dipping again this weekend. After twenty years here, I've had enough...too cold for too long. Time to bail...Got back last week from the gulf area *Texas, Alabama, Mississippi.." where it's actually warm with sunshine! There's a hill of snow from shoveling the driveway that still about 5 feet tall, the dogs are in sweaters, and for flowers to bloom, the snow needs to melt...this is not spring! Maybe next month...

Like many people my age I suffer from a chronic health condition which got me to thinking about how a lot of Americans suffer from chronic conditions but they aren't all physical health related...for example: Chronic.... The world evolves around me and my beliefs. Perhaps this isn't specific to Americans but having lived just about everywhere including overseas...we have more than our share of these self centered clods. Most likely symptoms include inability to learn from mistakes, history, minorities, schooling or to understand common sense... Although I'm a member of a large well-off group, I am a victim . This group seems to have more than it's share of 1%ers, those who believe they will become a 1%er, and white males. (read my lips not all fit this group but it is a sub group with a chronic victim issue)...But the good news is this group has their own support group called 'wall street', 'NRA' "teabaggers' although I don't think...

It's taking me a long time...and I'm still learning but let me share a little of what I know... Follow your heart...always Everyone is equal  The journey is more important than the reward Live your values Accept that you really only can change yourself Embrace change Stop trying to control your outcome Life happens so learn to smile and laugh Trust in good Listen, sing and dance And approach everyone as important...as they are...

Well after a long and length stay at the happy haven rest home, I'm back to blogging...Once or twice a week I'll starting posting again about topics of interest to me...But I'm remiss...let me bring you up to date with my personal life...After working (it seems like forever) I will be retiring within the next year, selling the house and taking the show to the road...literally...I'm getting an RV packing up or selling off everything and going to travel the road for awhile... Yes it's very similar to that time I followed the grateful dead around for a year (or was that several years?) and yes I plan to figure out how to raise a few coins to support my misadventure but no...instead of the old school bus...I'll have a newer RV and yes the dogs and some of the kids will be coming with... So fasten your seat beats, we're about to pull into the fast lane!