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Claire-Dialogue-English-0.1

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[speaker001:] okay um I haven't been in this situation yet you know my my parents are not quite at that age yet so I haven't [speaker002:] that's not quite elderly huh [speaker001:] no so I haven't uh really been in that situation although they are thinking about my grandmother but um [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] that's really about it how about you have you been in that situation where you've had to [speaker002:] um not for my parents but I I was around uh two sets of grandparents um quite a bit we we put one I put one grandfather in a rest home [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and that killed him well yeah kind of well there was some other things involved but it before he was really active and [speaker001:] did it really [speaker002:] the there was some you know he lost lost his drivers license and uh couldn't get around and wasn't able to do some things and so we ended up just having to put him in a rest home [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and he just kind of became a vegetable and died [speaker001:] oh no that's sad [speaker002:] so but that was a long time ago that was uh back in like seventy three [speaker001:] yeah oh okay [speaker002:] so um I think the way they did things were a lot different back then [speaker001:] are sure they were [speaker002:] and uh my grandmother his his wife uh we also put her in a rest home she was in a rest home and then she was back out because she didn't really need to be there [speaker001:] yeah uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh had a physical had a good physical therapist at that place [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] and they worked with her and got her walking and got her taking kind of taking care of herself and so she was able to come back home [speaker001:] yeah oh [speaker002:] and then she had to go back in a couple of times but mostly it was just because she kind of gave up [speaker001:] huh [speaker002:] and they got her going again [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so I guess as far as looking and I said the as what you're looking for I think you need to look for an active uh interactive staff [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] somebody who's willing to work with uh you know work with a patients and do do things with them and treat them treat them like that [speaker001:] yeah and I'm sure it's it's expensive [speaker002:] it it is [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] it is expensive [speaker001:] yeah my my grandmother is not in a nursing home but she's in a oh they're like um they're apartments for senior citizens [speaker002:] what uh-huh oh uh-huh [speaker001:] and she loves that because it it they arrange activities for them all day long and then they have um where the bus picks them up and takes them where they need to go [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and she she she really does love that but she's just concerned about in in the future you know she she knows it's not gonna be like that all the time and she's just wondering well what's gonna happen to me and and I you know it's I guess it's so normal to start to wonder about that even if she doesn't need that but [speaker002:] uh-huh when she can't take care of herself um-hum now that [speaker001:] you know she's kind of asking questions about what well what's gonna happen you know this can't last forever and [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] does she have a is it like a kitchenette type apartment where she can fix her own food if she wants to or she can go down to the cafeteria [speaker001:] yeah it yeah she can but I I think it is also cafeteria style because I I really I I I doubt if she rarely cooks for herself [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so uh [speaker002:] fact I [speaker001:] because I I remember her in her letters telling me she she'll go downstairs for coffee or something to eat so I'm assuming it's something like that too so [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] yeah I I really like that concept they've they have a few of those well quite a few of those places like that here in Utah and uh you know I [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] couples can you know husband and wife can can live there too or or whatever I and and and then and yet they have their their friendships and relationships the you know of getting together and eating together and all of that [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] I I think it really takes um you you know looking more at the people than even really the facilities [speaker001:] um-hum and she lives by herself too she seems to like it and um my husband's grandmother is [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] well she lives she lives in a house on her own and she doesn't really need the care or anything like that but she has her own home and she and she's doing really well I'm really proud of her she's doing really well [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so we haven't had to do anything but then again she has a lot of support so I mean she's got her mother in town too and things like that so hopefully we won't need to go that route [speaker002:] yeah yeah well I I think that that's the thing that's a little bit scary you know a little bit tough about putting them in a rest home is it's it's almost like that you know they say putting them out to pasture and some some of the people that were there with my grandmother were really active they they wanted to do things they didn't you know they didn't wanna go down and play bingo or um [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know play with the yarn
[speaker001:] oh let's see um crimes and circumstances actually I'm I'm against capital punishment um probably not for the reasons that a lot of people are I'm against it because I really don't think that uh there are any crimes that warrant executing a person and the reason I think that is because I really don't have the belief that uh any particular person's life is worth so much that you ought to take this other guy's life for it I think you can either you know put him in jail for you know for some very long period of time or if they're really you know mentally ill then I don't think they can really be held accountable for their actions anyway [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so uh I just I I'm just basically against it uh I also I also don't have enough faith in our our criminal justice system to to avoid getting the bloopers in there once in a while [speaker002:] well that's probably a pretty good objection um yeah actually I'm I'm in favor of it um well this ought to be an interesting discussion uh um I my basic reason is that uh if someone uh willfully takes a life of another individual um I think that they have in most cases forfeited um their convention by which they agree to abide to when when they enter into society um you know they have there's a a convention that you know you shall not kill other individuals um and if you can kill with impunity um then that kind of makes you king of the hill in a society that that can't control you uh and if you've shown that that you have such an utter disregard for other individuals that that you kill uh cold-bloodedly or whatever then uh it's probably uh a good thing to remove remove you from that society um and one probably one of the more effective ways of of doing that is through the death penalty uh because it's a highly visible sort of action um and it also sends a message that you know this this sort of behavior is not tolerable within the society and you will forfeit all your rights uh if you engage in such activity [speaker001:] uh-huh well is isn't locking somebody up I mean equivalent to that [speaker002:] so well um yeah in a sense that you know that individual is removed from direct contact with society but that individual then becomes a burden to society a non productive burden [speaker001:] yeah do you I [speaker002:] uh because they'd sit there and I mean their quality of life is horrible uh because they're rotting away in a jail uh and the taxpayers are paying you know for them to sit there and twiddle away and and make license plates or something [speaker001:] yeah yeah actually see I'm I'm sort of uh there are there are some other things I'm against I'm against also I think I think that jailing people for a really long period of time is is tantamount to sort of cruel and unusual punishment which I'm also against [speaker002:] well yeah [speaker001:] so and so so I'm sort of in this quandary you know I mean either you have either either you execute them and uh you're done with it or you know you throw them you throw them in jail for some incredibly long period of time and then I think well I wouldn't you know you you don't want to be cruel to these guys and they say by throwing them in a jail where they're you know they're constantly abused or what other other brother or uh other other cell mates you know [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so so you kind of get into this hotel phenomenon you know where you got to set up you know some incredibly safe rubber room but you know then when you set up the rubber room you know it's so uh it's so antiseptic that it's almost drives the person crazy if he isn't crazy already and so isn't that cruel and unusual punishment [speaker002:] right right exactly exactly [speaker001:] um on on the other hand I think there a lot of individuals who probably haven't really signed up to the idea of you know our concept I mean most western people's concept of civilization you know [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and I I mean western in the sense of just you know western philosophy I guess um [speaker002:] okay [speaker001:] but you know I I kind of don't buy into the idea that uh that to have a society you necessarily have to to you know terminate somebody if they have stepped across that line because I think there are probably a lot of instances where um you get into a situation where somebody hasn't really signed up to being in that society and I mean they kind of consider it almost they're protecting themselves or something and if society well for instance if society sort of forces themselves on somebody you know you hear it once in a while you hear about these incidences where uh [speaker002:] how so uh [speaker001:] some guy is you know off there in the wilderness or something you know and and and he just doesn't wanna be part of society [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and society kind of invades his turf you know makes him wanna or you know makes him makes him sort of abide by their rules when he really wasn't even known to society before and he winds up you know shooting somebody or you know killing a cop who's trying to get him to you know come in to pay his there's a million there's a million things you know that I can imagine million scenarios that I can imagine where the guy would be sort of like hey I don't wanna be in this society you know leave me alone you know and he'd fight back and if he killed somebody you know he'd get the death penalty you know
[speaker001:] up in New York [speaker002:] freezing [speaker001:] is it dry or wet [speaker002:] um it's um it's it's been pretty dry yeah it it rained but we had a problem with a little bit of a water shortage but it rained for a bit but the last about three four days I guess you probably had a cold front last week but uh they said that it was coming across the country but the last few days has been like really cold it was down to about thirteen degrees um yesterday morning when I woke up it's starting to warm up a little bit now but we haven't got any snow yet just a couple of sprinkles here and there [speaker001:] well we haven't had cold weather we've just had rain and rain and more rain this is our third consecutive day of rain and the weather man is promising us at least four more days of rain [speaker002:] is it you say in Dallas [speaker001:] yeah in Dallas and we're on the verge and it's going to happen either today or tomorrow of setting an all time record for most rain in a year [speaker002:] wow [speaker001:] our normal rainfall is twenty nine inches and we're already up to over fifty inches [speaker002:] wow that's wild [speaker001:] and it's and it's coming down and coming down it's it is been raining all year at an incredible pace [speaker002:] that's pretty wild [speaker001:] I know we're about to float away [speaker002:] it's usually pretty I guess twenty nine is pretty dry it's Dallas is kind of in the desert huh [speaker001:] well it's not really in desert the desert starts about fifty miles west of here is where the desert sort of starts but twenty nine inches is is our normal we have very dry summers and uh spring time is usually fairly wet but this time of year is fairly dry and we're having spring time rain right now [speaker002:] well how how cold has it been [speaker001:] oh it's uh pretty warm it's about fifty three degrees or so uh so it's not cold but it's just wet [speaker002:] yeah I lived in Oregon for three years so I know what that's about [speaker001:] what is it warm but wet up there [speaker002:] yeah I used to it wasn't super warm during the winter it would be you know forty five fifty degrees most of the time but always a sprinkling type rain uh in New York you get when it rains you get like real showers sometimes you never got that out there but uh but here it it it rains about forty I guess about forty two forty two inches a year yeah I know we had a little bit of a a drought this year as a matter of fact because the water supply in our reservoirs was a little low [speaker001:] well we're not having any problem like that the last time we had drought around here was nineteen eighty when we really got very little rain but since then it's been normal and then this is about the fourth year in a row where we've had above average rain last year we had about forty five inches and which is well above and now what we're having this year so it's been tremendous rainfall [speaker002:] does it do any damage I mean you have floods or anything like that or [speaker001:] uh some areas have had some flooding the worst flooding occurs in the spring time when some when our main river around here the Trinity River goes over its banks and causes damage but uh for the most part they've been trying to deal with that although the traffic is horrible [speaker002:] when it rains [speaker001:] when it rains oh yes everything comes to a a standstill with the rain this morning it took me thirty minutes extra to get to work [speaker002:] yeah yeah yeah I found that I used to commute I used to live in New York City and commute out to Long Island which is in the suburbs and uh it was normally about an hour and fifteen minutes hour and a half drive it'd take there was really a lot of traffic but it was like pretty good flowing traffic and then it would get really bad when when it rain together you know takes whatever [speaker001:] is your is your weather now normal for this time of year or is it different [speaker002:] uh yeah it's pretty normal today is pretty normal today it's probably about thirty thirty five degree well maybe thirty degrees out now and it's supposed to go up to forty and then that's about normal we don't we don't usually stay below freezing uh for long periods of time uh you know we have cold spells that that happen but but aside from that usually the temperature probably average temperature is thirty five forty degrees during the winter so this is kind of normal [speaker001:] well we had we had early freezes here we had our a normal freeze is around November twentieth and we had our freeze this year on November second and between the second and the tenth of November in those eight days we set record lows six of eight days and so we thought we were going to really have a cold winter but since then it's the temperatures have been normal it's just that the rain has been incredible [speaker002:] yeah that's what happened here last year we had we had uh a lot of cold early on and then it and then the winter was relatively mild I think they I think it's going to be a cold winter this year though because of that volcano in uh [speaker001:] oh in the Philippines [speaker002:] in the Philippines that's supposed to like cover up the uh or rather raise the warming layers and stuff like that so it's probably going to be a couple degrees cooler [speaker001:] well I don't know what I don't know if that volcano caused all this rain but something's been causing all this rain [speaker002:] but uh it could it could it could cause rain I'm not sure but
[speaker001:] all right and and your occupation is teaching [speaker002:] I'm a I'm a substitute teacher is is this Pat I'm talking to now yeah I'm a substitute teacher in I believe the same school system we both work in [speaker001:] substitute teacher yes it is it is uh-huh right well I was just trying to make an introduction here [speaker002:] oh okay [speaker001:] but oh and and I haven't told you I'm going to be at a different school this year now [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] I've just gotten a another job at an elementary library at Barron [speaker002:] well I bet you're you're you may dress differently then for that [speaker001:] right I well not really I've got the every day I've got to uh read to kindergartners so I'm going to be down on the floor with them I've got about forty kindergartners I'm going to be doing working with every day for uh you know a half hour so I'll be I'll probably be wearing slacks as often as I do because I'm I'm if I'm going to be down on the floor messing with them I'm not going to wear nylons and you know nice nylons and dresses [speaker002:] well what I wear sometimes depends on on how cold I think the school might be or what room I might be in since I'm a sub and have different rooms to go to and always carry a sweater [speaker001:] right well of course you've been at Clark enough that you know it's always cold [speaker002:] yes [speaker001:] but you don't know uh I guess at some of the other schools you go to unless you've been there [speaker002:] you know you try to layer so you can add or or or take off [speaker001:] subtract right [speaker002:] and it's it's interesting to notice when you go to different schools that some are a little more fancier than others and have a very casual uh [speaker001:] I I think some of the dress codes are different at different schools that's one of things one of the things I ask about you know whether whether she would allow slacks and she said she doesn't have a problem with that she just didn't like sloppy dressing [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and and I said well you know that was okay and I'm basically I just you know I wear slacks year round except every about once a week I try to wear a skirt and and in the winter you know I just add a maybe wear longer sleeve shirts than I do in the summer and add a heavier jacket or you know wear jackets more in the winter than I do in the summer [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] that's about I don't I don't really work in a profession that requires that I wear a business suit and you know look really [speaker002:] right and well for me sometimes they even have dress up days or they you know have have spirit week that that you wear your different outfits and you have to have the color for that particular school if you if you choose to participate in spirit week [speaker001:] yeah right right [speaker002:] and one might be a hat day where you have to come up with some sort of hat [speaker001:] and you never know that though sometimes when you're going in do you [speaker002:] no but because I sort of stick to several schools uh I'm usually aware that there might be a spirit week going on and and might might remember to do it and then many schools on a particular day during uh [speaker001:] right right [speaker002:] I guess football season maybe all year long they wear the school colors for uh game day which [speaker001:] right on what Thursday Thursday [speaker002:] right it might be Thursday for the high schools and it may be Friday for the senior high schools [speaker001:] right right so that would kind of give you a clue I guess and and sometimes you get the long term stuff so you're aware ahead of time [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] of what's going on that so that's and I don't know you know I I think about well the dress code they have for the kids you know are they put one on the parents or the teachers and say they have to the men have to wear ties and there can be no blue jeans worn and because some of the teachers I know wear uh dress up jeans not sloppy looking jeans but tapered jeans that they've had dry cleaned so they have got the crease and uh you know they'll wear it with a nice top and and uh [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I don't know that that looks that bad but if you're going to tell the kids they can have to dress up I guess you can tell the teachers that too [speaker002:] yeah it it I see that the I think the elementary school teachers or maybe even the middle school teachers dress a little fancier than than some of the high school teachers I think [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but it I think it varies it it just so much anything anything can go [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and you can see in some of the departments in some of the schools like history at Clark they're all pretty fancy but they're just sort of into clothes and then there's other departments that aren't and they'll just wear your common ordinary you know whatever you might [speaker001:] right right right yeah there's a couple teachers up there that that do dress up more than others right [speaker002:] might say right and so you try to maybe follow those if you know you're going there you don't want to dress too tacky because you're going to be in the same room with them [speaker001:] right well and you always course it's a standing joke you know when the when the men come in in a a tie and a suit coat you say you know what have you got a job interview today or there there's [speaker002:] or you're going to be observed [speaker001:] there's usually yeah there's usually something going on that that uh and would would uh cause that to happen and I I don't know how a coach would feel if that teaches health or [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] English you know English or whatever that they had to wear a tie I some of those male coaches that might really [speaker002:] right they go around in their little coaching shorts or parachute pants [speaker001:] right and a T-shirt right that I didn't ever understand I mean we've got coaches that teach health for five periods and then have athletics sixth period so [speaker002:] yeah well at Vines the coaches don't do that they they dress pretty good I would say and then they go to their coaching and they they put their shorts on there [speaker001:] whether change then well see that's what I would think [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] that's what I would think [speaker002:] but they they don't look you know they don't wear their sweat pants or or anything they're they dress like any other teacher would in in a classroom situation not in PE [speaker001:] right course we had had one coach one period he'd teach PE and the next period Health and then a period of PE and and that's hard you know so he just left warm-ups on but [speaker002:] those I can understand yeah [speaker001:] but uh no I think really probably they could they could uh really and I don't know if if they put make uniforms the thing for the kids I guess the teachers will have to follow suit with a dark skirt and a white top and [speaker002:] I don't think we'll ever get to that no I don't think I think we're going the opposite direction it's the parochial schools that I guess many times they've had uniforms for years I really don't really know if they still do [speaker001:] you don't think so well some of them yes they do and and it's not at some of the private schools but even there's a couple public schools in Dallas where where the kids wear uniforms and the teachers you know dress in accordance with that [speaker002:] it certainly makes it easier to dress uh-huh well it's certainly cheaper and easier in the long run I think that you don't have to be concerned about your wardrobe [speaker001:] uh-huh well I I think it would make a difference at school I I don't think we should be spending time saying somebody's wearing torn clothing or wearing shorts too shorts too short or they've got the really short skirt and the black nylons and the high you know I mean [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] it's a lot of trouble to to take care of that and of course the kids say then why bother just let me wear what I want and and yet we can't to that either I'd like to see them go to to not necessarily a uniform but saying that they've got to wear a button down shirt you know that would that would alleviate any T-shirts with sayings on them but if they could wear a button-down shirt and a pair of dark slacks and they could buy th em anywhere they wanted and you know and [speaker002:] yeah but I doubt that that would come about that that will come about just I yeah I I [speaker001:] and then the girls could right I don't no not in Plano [speaker002:] no not yeah [speaker001:] they may get away but they said in the Dallas schools that that helps their educational process there [speaker002:] well I think it does it it takes their minds off of of trying to compete [speaker001:] Highland Park's thinking about going that route [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so it and then I think that's going to push teachers to dress a lot more professionally than they do [speaker002:] yeah I I don't think a lot of teachers are very professional but [speaker001:] yeah I agree with you on
[speaker001:] Been on the line for awhile. I almost forgot what the topic [LAUGHTER] was. [speaker002:] Okay. Uh, based, [speaker001:] Uh, but I know what it is. [speaker002:] Oh, okay. Good. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [Noise] Uh, let me see. I, I, I, I, I'm kind of, I don't, you know, I'm, I'm kind of in the [static] middle. I, I think it's a great idea [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] but when it comes to me, it's like, almost an insult, you know, so [child] it's [lipsmack] I, I've come from the teaching field. [speaker002:] Right. So do I [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] So, so it's just like I don't know. I, I guess, I guess I'd have to go with, uh, I, I, I'd be for it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [Child yelling] You know. But, uh, you know, I, I, I don't know. It's just kind of a, kind of a delicate subject I guess. But I, I, I would, I would probably go for, for going ahead and doing it, you know. If it's got to be done for everyone. [speaker002:] Right. I think if it's got to be done for one person in the company, it should be random testing, it should be for everybody. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] You know, when they answer the company, I think it'll make it a lot easier [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] and they'd run into less problems. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Because, uh, I don't know, I come from the teaching field too and it sort of, uh, [LAUGHTER] it's a pro and a con ty-, I don't know where to stand on it. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I'm more or less, if they told me I had to well then fine, but [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] if, you know, if they made me then I'd probably, if I had my druthers I'd probably say well no [LAUGHTER] you know just this, [speaker001:] Yeah. You kind of goes into your privacy and [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] you know, but I guess if they, you know, you know, there's, uh, I guess there's some companies that aren't, that are doing it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And it, it seems to be working out so, [speaker002:] Yeah, I think it's, it's, what they're basically trying to do, I don't know up here in Massachusetts anyhow, what they're basically trying to do is, uh, oh gosh, uh, any people who had di-, tested positively, getting them into a drug program. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Or rehab program. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] And, uh, anybody who, uh, gee, is, you know, di-, doesn't accept the rehab program then they're, more or less, getting laid off. [speaker001:] [Lipsmack] See, that's hard. [speaker002:] I, I think that's really hard to because, you know, you never know. I don't know, it, that's a, it's really weird issue. I'm sort of [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] on the fence about it. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But I, you know, that, that's what's they're coming across as is some of the companies anyhow. Oh, we can get you into a drug program. But then you wear that stigma [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Where, uh, like a lot of people are saying, well I only smoked a joint last night, I don't have any problems [LAUGHTER] you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Or something like that, yeah. [speaker001:] Then I kind of hear it goes into like, uh, this is just something I've heard that it kind of goes into like, uh, just your off the counter medication that you could be taking for a cold. That it kind of affects that too. [speaker002:] Right. Anything with an-, a, you know, if you drink a lot of caffeine or, [speaker001:] Oh, I didn't know that. [speaker002:] Yeah, somebody was saying, telling me if you drink it in, [speaker001:] [Noise]. [speaker002:] you know, an awful lot of caffeine, that that can show up as a positive test. [speaker001:] Um. [speaker002:] I know I'm an epileptic so I'd probably test positive and [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Yeah. See things like that so, [speaker002:] and then I'd have a heck of a time explaining what drug is in my system, you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [Child] Yeah. [speaker002:] And a lot of times, those are the things I don't like to disclose to an employer because then they don't want to have anything to do with you [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Right, right. Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You know, it's very personal. I wouldn't want to have it disclosed because [speaker001:] See that's, [speaker002:] then I'd always wonder if they fired me, you know, why did you fire me [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. That's where I kind of get into, cause it kind of gets into your personal life, you know. And [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] wha-, what's kind of next. [speaker002:] Yeah. It, it hits me as the Orwell thing. Big brother is watching [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] The what? [speaker002:] Orwell. [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] And, you know, his book. Brig, big brother is watching. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] You know, you're being controlled. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] That type of deal and I sh-, I don't really, you know, I don't know. Seems awful strange [NOISE]. I'd hate to have to, if I had my choice between a company that did testing and a company who didn't [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] I'd probably take the company who didn't? [speaker001:] Yeah [NOISE]. [speaker002:] Because I feel there'd be more trust in the employee. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] But I can understand why they need it with all the, you know, train accidents and everything else. [speaker001:] So do you think they'll kind of push into the teaching field eventually? I kind of think they will. [speaker002:] I think they will too because, uh, you know, it's just going to follow. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I don't know. I, we haven't had any of it in our school system. So, uh, you know [speaker001:] Yeah. We haven't either. [speaker002:] hopefully, we won't [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. But I, I, I just kind of think it's heading that way though, you know. It's just, [lipsmack] because it's just hitting to close to home with the kids and stuff and I just [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] I just kind of think it's going to eventually head that way. [speaker002:] Well and eventually it's going to be not only the tea-, you know, the kids are [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] going to be under scrutiny, it's going to be the teachers. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] And if they can test the teachers, that gives them the full right to test the kids. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] And then they, you know, caught everybody. [speaker001:] Yeah [static].
[speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] okay I my children as a matter of fact are all grown now so I am assisting assisting uh them with their children in their selections so [speaker001:] uh-huh oh great great well my children are grown but they're teenagers so I have three children um fifteen ages fifteen seventeen and twenty [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] and um about I guess about when the first when the youngest one was in kindergarten I started working working at a preschool and uh you know doing some work and then I I took a couple of years off and then went back as a music teacher in a preschool so [speaker002:] uh-huh um-hum [speaker001:] so I am around not a day care situation but in the you know in the child care environment [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so um [speaker002:] well I myself really feel like the structured day care program is more successful in today's environment [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] than the one on one care is uh when my children were growing up I actually had them up and until they were in the preschool situation I had them in a in a home with a lady who kept two or three kids and I felt like that home environment was very important to them [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] it was important to me and uh [speaker001:] yes uh-huh [speaker002:] I feel like that they they had that one on one that's so necessary at that age however in today's environment [speaker001:] oh it is uh yeah um-hum [speaker002:] it may be more critical to have the ability to interact in large groups simply because that's the way our young people are are dealt with they're dealt with in packages [speaker001:] yeah in other words there're more people yes yes that's that's an interesting point of view I uh you know seeing the children in the school the way I do I I mean I see the ones that we can always tell the ones that have not been around children at all when they come in as three year olds as as opposed to the ones that have been in the program that started at twelve months maybe and were were even in there one day a week [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum sure um-hum [speaker001:] which is all our school provides for the you know for the under three year old but still they have an opportunity an opportunity to be with other children [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum absolutely [speaker001:] and it is true and uh I but I think that would but as far as looking for a place you know I I the criteria I mean I think it's very important to have very caring people you know to take care of the the in a school if you're going to have the structure and you're going to have the large numbers you're going to need really [speaker002:] oh absolutely without a doubt um-hum I recently stopped by McDonald's and I was sitting out in their little playground while my granddaughter was playing on the things and was visiting with another mother who was there with her children and she was telling me that she was given the opportunity to manage a day care center and of course she was she had just gotten her degree and she was so enthusiastic and she was excited about it and she was going to accomplish all of these things [speaker001:] yes yes [speaker002:] however uh when it came to hiring and staffing people who cared and who were willing to take care of those children and spend that kind of time the pay is minimal [speaker001:] yes it is [speaker002:] and it takes people with total and complete dedication who really don't want to make a living for themselves [speaker001:] yes that's right that maybe [speaker002:] in order to be in that environment [speaker001:] yeah that maybe have another salary in their family that where they can do that and that's what I had the opportunity of you know doing and and I could concentrate on the creativity and and [speaker002:] absolutely um-hum [speaker001:] you know really having a lot of fun with the children and and providing them with a great atmosphere [speaker002:] um-hum well they ask so much of those caretakers for the amount that that they they pay they are to be there ahead of time you know they're there early to receive the kids [speaker001:] yes and they have to be there at sometimes six o'clock in the morning [speaker002:] that's right and then then they have to work until the shop until the place closes at six P M and then it's their responsibility to clean up and be prepared for the next day because they don't have cleaning crews in most of those [speaker001:] which is yeah yes yes that's true that's true [speaker002:] and uh she just had a terrible time keeping sincerely dedicated people simply because they could not live with a kind of hours and the salary uh and she [speaker001:] yeah yeah because people can't pay to provide and well ours is not you know ours is just is a church and so we [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] we don't have the the expenses of a building you know we share the expense with the church but we don't have enough you know taking care of a whole building and that responsibility so uh it is it is a lot different [speaker002:] um-hum sure um-hum well I know that when my youngsters were small now my older son was adopted so he went into child care at two weeks and uh my younger son went into child care at six weeks [speaker001:] oh my goodness yeah yeah [speaker002:] so they were in that environment actually up until they became uh seven and nine [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and at that point I said look they have been given the custodial care that they need and the after hours care has been as good a quality as I can provide for them however they're going out into the school environment now they're under a lot of other influences I need to be here for them I need to be involved in their school because I want to be the one [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] who influences the way they develop so I quit working after my kids started to school and got involved in volunteer work in their private school so that I could help direct their their learning experiences and their development [speaker001:] oh you did um yeah yeah [speaker002:] I I felt like that anybody who cared and loved the kids could change their diapers and feed them and bathe them [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and hold them but when time came to direct their ability to make choices [speaker001:] yes yes um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] to develop the kinds of things that that they're going to need to interact with other people I felt like I needed some strong influence there [speaker001:] yeah well that's different than most people do it I mean a lot of people do it really the reverse and go to work after the children are in school you know [speaker002:] so I did I know that's right once they get up in school um-hum um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] but uh [speaker002:] well I just felt very strongly about that and I I did not work as a matter of fact my son was in the second grade and when he started uh at Skyline High School I asked him son when uh you know where do I go to sign up for the PTA and he said mom don't do that to me please don't do that to me so I knew it was time to go back to work but I feel very good about spending those years with my boys [speaker001:] I know yeah yes that's true [speaker002:] uh and I was just really grateful I only had one bad child care experience it was in a home uh the care taker that they had had since they were infants just could not do it she was from um uh uh Argentina and she was going back home and I couldn't just you know wait for eight three or four months and then bring them back to her so I had to find a new place [speaker001:] um-hum yes yes [speaker002:] and I put them in this home the kids cried when I took them the kids cried when I could hear the kids crying when I went to pick the m up they were always cranky and irritable [speaker001:] oh dear oh dear [speaker002:] so I just took off and went there one day and uh the children were left unattended in a room you know they they were not well cared for [speaker001:] oh how awful [speaker002:] and uh so it didn't take me long to take t hem out of that place but that's the only bad experience I had the rest of the time they stayed in La Petite Academy and I was very pleased with their development and their progress [speaker001:] yeah yeah uh-huh uh-huh [speaker002:] they learned a lot of things in those public environments that you just as soon they didn't learn but they're going to learn it sometime so but for the most part they did have good care [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] and it did appear to me that the people who cared for them had a good concern for them and in one particular case they had a summer program where they were to be taken to the Y and taught to swim [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] which just pleased me to death because I've always been have you know been afraid of the water however my uh older son came home and he said mom I don't like that man [speaker001:] oh yes oh [speaker002:] said he took me by the head and dunked my head under the water and told me I had to get my face wet or I'd never swim [speaker001:] oh gosh oh dear [speaker002:] boy it didn't take me very long to hot foot it over to the school [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] and relay that to them and she said well she said you know kids do exaggerate but she said let's go ahead and send him another day or two days and I promise you faithfully I will watch the instructor every minute [speaker001:] oh good yes [speaker002:] and see exactly what's happening
[speaker001:] The question was on lawn and garden work. Um, how do you like it? [speaker002:] Well, I don't do much of it here. I'm from, uh, Te-, from, uh, Colorado originally and there are no bugs there. And I didn't mind getting in the dirt there, but, boy, I'll tell you what, once I see these bugs around here, I'm just kind of out of it. [speaker001:] Oh, what kind do you have? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Oh, roaches and, [speaker001:] Do they really? [speaker002:] Oh, yes. Cockroaches are awful here. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] Just awful. So I, [speaker001:] Oh, and I know somebody that lives there, and they never mentioned that problem [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Oh, you're kidding, you're kidding. No, it's a d-, well, maybe they didn't mention it because it's just kind of a fact of life around here. And, uh, [speaker001:] Oh, my. They probably just take it for granted then. [speaker002:] It must be. If they lived here, a lot of people I know just say, oh, I just [baby] stomp on them. It doesn't matter. They make good fertilizer in the garden. [speaker001:] Oh, yuck [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Me, personally can't, [speaker001:] I don't have that problem, uh, it's, mine is mainly we kind of have an understanding that, uh, I, I said I'll do inside work you do outside work. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And so I get into the gardening part of it, the fun part, [speaker002:] [Baby]. [speaker001:] like putting in the annuals and things like that. [speaker002:] Uh-huh [baby]. [speaker001:] But I don't like, I don't like it dirty [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] No [LAUGHTER]. I have to, you know I have to say that's not [child talking] exactly my favorite thing either really [baby crying]. [speaker001:] No, I don't know. We got the, we got the question and I thought, oh, this is going to be interesting. Two bits I'll get a man to talk [LAUGHTER] to me, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] because they get stuck doing it all. [speaker002:] [Baby crying]. [speaker001:] But although I do know a lot of my friends do like all the gardening work. And this year we put in a new lawn in a new home so, um, [speaker002:] [Baby]. [speaker001:] we've been fighting a drought here this summer [speaker002:] Huh. [speaker001:] and getting into fall. Today we just had a lot of rain [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [Baby] Oh, really? [speaker001:] Yeah, so it's kind of nice. I don't know how yours has been. [speaker002:] Well, it's been real hot here lately. I mean we've had to actually have the air-conditioning on and everything but, uh, doe-, it's supposed to rain again now, uh, this weekend. [speaker001:] Oh, I see. [speaker002:] [Very faint] So, then, [speaker001:] Okay. Well, we're leaving tomorrow and we're going down to New Orleans and from Ohio since we're right near Lake Erie this is going to be a switch for us for a week [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] going down there, and I think we'll probably experience some of your weather although I think they have more humidity. But, um, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] as far as the gardening and things like that goes I don't know, uh, too much, too much about, uh, how much I really r-, do enjoy it myself. Do you like it at all? [speaker002:] I, well, [child talking] not here. I mean it's just, here [child talking] I just can't stand to even get out in the, uh, in the dirt [LAUGHTER]. Just, [speaker001:] Well, how about when you were in Colorado? [speaker002:] Well, I liked it a [child talking] little bit but I didn't, uh, I was [child talking] working at that time full-time and didn't have a lot of time, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] for that and so that I think really, um, hampered it a little bit. [speaker001:] Well, and then, too, now like where we had the dry summer and we had to sprinkle constantly. My water bill was high. And, uh, if you have that on a regular basis in Texas, I think I would go with something very dry [LAUGHTER] to keep it off, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But, uh, and with children, um, you probably don't have time anyhow [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] to, to get into it. [speaker002:] Not really [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] It's so, uh, okay, very good. [speaker002:] [Very faint]. Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I guess we've kind of covered our subject matter, [speaker002:] Sounds like i-, [speaker001:] since [LAUGHTER] neither one is really into gardening, are we? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] No, no. Afraid not. Uh, hopefully they'll give a subject I like one of these times [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Right. Okay. [speaker002:] Something I really know a lot about. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Wh-, nice talking to you. [speaker001:] Nice talking with you. [speaker002:] Okay, bye-bye. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, bye.
[speaker002:] okay so what do you think about us getting involved in the Middle East [speaker001:] I don't think we have any choice [speaker002:] oh I don't think we did really either [speaker001:] as long as we do it in a logical manner rather than what we did in Vietnam except jack around with it [speaker002:] well that's that's true yeah the uh the the biggest difference I got to agree was the idea that we were allowed to go and get it done rather than than set up a a line and say we're not going to let you cross this this point anymore and that really hurt the uh the people uh the Vietnam experience uh I got to admit that one [speaker001:] I think uh basically what we're going to have to do is now that Bush has made the made the stand is what we'll have to continue to uh stick up for our foreign policy if we don't then what's going to happen is that everybody well it's just a one time shot they're not going to do anything [speaker002:] uh-huh well do you think that um by uh going over there and doing what we did that uh it's going to give us a chance for peace over there [speaker001:] I don't think there's ever going to be peace in in the Middle East [speaker002:] yeah that kind of [speaker001:] mostly it it just that that region never had peace even as far back in biblical times it's never been peaceful [speaker002:] well that's um-hum [speaker001:] you know the Arabs just don't like the Jews and the Jews don't like the Arabs and then half the Arabs don't like the other Arabs [speaker002:] but is I mean is that any different than uh the way it is in even our country I mean uh back in the fifties and forties the blacks didn't like the whites the whites didn't like the blacks but we're getting to the point where we get along pretty good I mean isn't it logical that just any of the that you can solve differences like that [speaker001:] no because you I I don't think the Mideast has the educational background I I I don't think they're later they're rate of literacy is so low that they're still they still have a trouble mentality [speaker002:] so you um-hum so you think it comes down to education or or something like that [speaker001:] well well you don't find many intelligent people starting wars you know [speaker002:] I suppose that's probably true [speaker001:] you know uh basically the more intelligent people do not want to fight one uh because they've already been there all you have to do is go fight one and find out it's not much fun I've spent uh over twenty eight months in Vietnam so and I mean it's not it's not a lot of fun [speaker002:] um-hum no oh um-hum [speaker001:] uh it's as years go by it becomes more fun now than it was twenty eight years ago you know but uh [speaker002:] yeah because yeah I guess the uh you kind of think about the good things and not about the bad [speaker001:] and you forget some of the smells and stuff like that but I think you know probably the probably the Middle East is if you have too many tribes mixed up with troubled mentality not only the Mideast but also in in the what they call the emergency African nations the third world [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum right right [speaker001:] uh as soon as one tribe gets the power they just knock off they're old ancestral enemies and it's pretty you know it's pretty much that way over the Mideast and you have the Palestinian question and there hasn't been a Palestine over there for God since you know two hundred years three hundred years before Christ was born and but but you have people that are suddenly coming out of the woodwork going oh yes we want a Palestine nation but there hasn't been one for you know well over two thousand years [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but you have this troubled mentality they all you know like the Kurds or the Shiite Muslims or whatever but it's basically all all based on the a a tribal network [speaker002:] right well isn't it also though based on religion I mean isn't that a a real powerful [speaker001:] out of some degree yeah to some degree but uh religion is a factor over there but uh I think the strongest factor is a tribe of the family [speaker002:] um-hum well don't don't you think though that uh because of religion it just enhances the differences uh of the tribes and makes it so that it's that much harder to get along [speaker001:] well they have the same problem we do yeah I mean you know everybody there's Christianity and then you then we have subdivided Baptists and Lutherans and Protestants and Christians and Catholics and stuff it's basically all the same [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] uh but but the Muslims are not as liberal in their interpretation of of the Kuran as we are in our interpretation of the Bible [speaker002:] right right [speaker001:] you get the more the more I guess you call the more militant sect of the Shiites who you know if you're not a Muslim and and you don't adhere adhere strictly to it then you're nothing and you're just you're you're just getting lip service much like uh the Ayatollah Khomeini [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] he's a he's a prime example oh I'd I I will but seriously doubt that that you will have peace in the Mideast as long as you have so many war infections that are they can't even agree on which facet of of uh Muslim they want to follow [speaker002:] that's true well since there's not going to be peace over there don't you think like getting involved as we have that that's going to mean that we're going to be involved from now on and so any war that breaks out we're going to have to be in the middle of it [speaker001:] well we only we have two choices we can be involved or not involved if we're not involved then we're going to be sitting over here freezing in the dark [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] uh we probably could with ultimate fuel supplies and uh some relaxation of our old uh policies here survive but we're not going to do that [speaker002:] it doesn't seem that way does it [speaker001:] no there's there hasn't been any real you know alternating energy situations situations or or sources played out nobody wants to do it somebody has to make the hard decision and whoever does that will be a one term president [speaker002:] um-hum yeah I know [speaker001:] yeah it's kind of like uh Texas income tax whoever you know whoever puts that up is going to serve one term that's going to be it because your going to be gone they may pass the uh state income taxes but that'll be the last thing they pass [speaker002:] yeah that's probably true [speaker001:] nobody actually wants to make the hard decisions have to do is basically what we're doing now is pick some of the moderate uh Arabs or [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] you know Muslims as and uh support them because they're because they will have more uh encounter with us as far as the educational and sociological economic background goes [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] if you look over there you're not going to you don't see any Arabs driving uh [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] racing cars they want Mercedes or Cadillacs or Lincolns [speaker002:] true they want the the gas guzzlers yeah [speaker001:] yeah so you know who's who produces those the US produces those and I think after the war no that we're not going to see a bunch of the Arab nations buying Russian equipment because the Russian equipment has gotten blown out of the sky or off the ground [speaker002:] um-hum didn't it though yeah I I got to agree with you there I think that does get a lot a lot of good there [speaker001:] you know and uh we we pretty much proved our worth in combat as it were and [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] where did they get the uh where where does the expertise come for for bringing a whole lot of ground and it doesn't doesn't come from Russia and it doesn't come from Europe it comes comes from the United States [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] who's going to put out their oil fires the United States [speaker002:] hum United States right [speaker001:] we have the technology when we have the people and we go do it and I think we're going to I think we're going to be a president in a a presence in the Mideast from now on [speaker002:] um-hum let's say I'd have to say overall that the the war was was beneficia l to the United States with with the change in attitudes and all that you know all that stuff I mean it's people think better about uh the US now and that's really going to I think eventually come back and and help with overall business standards I mean people are going um take more pride in their work and things like that I think it's going to really help out overall [speaker001:] I I I agree a hundred percent on that after after after all you know I mean everything Bush said Bush put down a deadline if if it wasn't meant to be one he'd attacked [speaker002:] yeah um-hum [speaker001:] and that's the way you're supposed to do it instead of doing like Jimmy Carter did you know say well you know uh um I'm getting out of the olympics and I'm going to give you back Panama [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] you know I mean you either make your stand or you don't if you can't back it up just don't say anything [speaker002:] um-hum that's right [speaker001:] and everything Bush said he backed up of course he course he had some real good help [speaker002:] um-hum oh yeah he had some excellent military people [speaker001:] yeah it's like and like Collin Powell and the rest and uh yeah Dick Cheney those people were real smart they're a lot smarter that any body gives credit for [speaker002:] I I was the person I was impressed with most I mean I I really you know Colin Powell and and General Schwartzkopf they're military people but I really didn't know that Cheney was as military minded as he is I mean [speaker001:] Cheney's hard core you don't get to be Secretary of Defense by being a wimp [speaker002:] that's right I well he was what uh a Senator from Utah or something like that I can't remember where [speaker001:] but he'd served in the military [speaker002:] yeah and see I don't know that and it well you know I was real impressed with his handling of this I know that [speaker001:] oh yeah the whole I mean the whole thing was done well it was just you know [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] it was uh of course he had to fight that to beat microscope anyway [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but I hesitate to call it a war since I mean it was I guess it was I'm not used to having them over in six days you know just kind of gosh we just got started good I guess the Israelis might be over it you know uh you know because they had a seven day war at one time but uh [speaker002:] I don't think very many people are yeah um-hum [speaker001:] although I I wish instead of turning south you know and taking a right turn and going down Kuwait City I wished we'd just turned left and gone toward Baghdad [speaker002:] yeah there was uh there was a lot of talk about the idea that the even the uh Iraqis themselves the people wished we would have done that uh [speaker001:] I think we should have because because we're going if we don't do it now we're going to have to do it shortly [speaker002:] yeah well unless they finally do take care of it themselves but you know you kind of have to wonder whether it's going to be any better with uh you know depending on whether it Shiite Muslim or uh or the Kurds in power but uh you know [speaker001:] but the only thing that'll save that is we won't get the credit for or the blame for the massacre and and then if we do have to to go back in it will be because you know someone asked us to [speaker002:] well that's true too yeah um-hum [speaker001:] and of course now's the time to do it because since we have the army over there I'd sure hate to you know spend eight months pulling them out and then turn right around send them back over again [speaker002:] um-hum yeah that's true yeah especially the cost of that and and uh uh the attitudes of the soldiers I mean they're there they I think they could handle it better but if they came back and then had to turn around and go the attitudes would be just horrible [speaker001:] oh yeah they shouldn't leave anything in Bagdad taller than three feet [speaker002:] yeah that's probably true [speaker001:] they just you know just just level the whole place and let it go but we're going to have to be over there and we're and our presence is going to have to be felt and they've got to be strong presidents or presence uh if we don't then I think that we're going to be back there [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] you know in the Jimmy Carter uh Carter era you know wringing your hands and going trust me trust me [speaker002:] so do you think it's you do think it's a good idea for us to have uh
[speaker001:] Um, what do you think [LAUGHTER] the major cause of air pollution or at least in the Boston areas, [speaker002:] Well, the, the, the major cause it seems up here is exc-, I live right on the ocean so it's kind of hard for me to tell what would happen if I lived in some of the valleys inland, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] but the major cause here, and we always seem to, and it seems to be validated by the press, is the car pollution. We don't have too much industrial pollution. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] Uh, car pollution seems to be the one and only thing that, that I can really put my finger on here. [speaker001:] Um, that isn't the same in the Washington area because we don't have any major, um, industry except for, uh, government and services. And the, the transportation situation is such that, uh, all the car pollution is, is absolutely awful. Um, also the worth of the hub of three airports in this general area there is, uh, National, Dulles, and then, uh, Baltimore, Washington. And it, interestingly some of the information I've been reading indicates that the amount of air pollution from, uh, uh, airplanes is extraordinary. [speaker002:] Is that so? [speaker001:] Yeah, [speaker002:] I didn't know that. [speaker001:] and that's always something that, you know, you just don't real, you don't think about. [speaker002:] Well, most people talk about the noise pollution from airplanes rather than the air pollution. [speaker001:] But the, uh, apparently the air pollution and the fact that it's delivered right up in high altitudes [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] is a very significant factor. [speaker002:] I would think so. You know, uh, i-, I guess it talked about all types of pollution. I happen to r-, just read something the other day at least in the Boston paper there were three things that, that come to note. One, is that the carbon fluorides that are, [breathing] uh, being released into the atmosphere are causing even a larger hole in the southern hemisphere in the ozone layer and again and now they've located another one or la-, rather an expanding one in the northern hemisphere. So car-, so I'm quite concerned. I don't think it's involved any longer with, with, uh, hair sprays or those th-, [speaker001:] Yeah. Yeah. [speaker002:] No, I think it's now, is what, uh, from what I understand it's air conditioning units and, and, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] we certainly turned into an air conditioned [speaker001:] Society [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] society. [speaker001:] has especially recently [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, I know in Florida there's no place you go that isn't air conditioned, and I do quite a bit of business in Washington. And, [speaker001:] I mean you know what it's like here. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, it's quite, is, is the un-, it's really out of the norm not to find something that isn't air conditioned. And, [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] and I guess refrigerators, [speaker001:] We just had the, [speaker002:] are the same way. They release that. [speaker001:] That's right. So, solutions to this, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] would be I, I, [speaker002:] Well, [speaker001:] you know, improved. Well, I guess the fur-, the, to me the first thing is I wish society would get as upset about this as you do get, getting people upset about animal rights. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I mean this is so, so basic. It's human rights in the sense, but, uh, in terms of demanding, it's just not caused but demanding that, uh, we can spend so much money on certain things but that research really be directed toward, um, improvement of polluting vehicles, and not just cars but also buses, um, planes. That something can be done. I me-, I can't imagine that well, [speaker002:] Well, I, I th-, [speaker001:] if we can't send people to the moon, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] that we can't improve these things. [speaker002:] No, I think that it can be done simply because, uh, uh, we've, we've, every car now in America that's been produced for the past fifteen years has what they call a catalytic converter. [speaker001:] Converter, yeah, uh-huh. [speaker002:] And no lead gas was, came to the pumps. And, and that's been done. There's the lead pollution has, that problem, essentially I guess because it was at crisis proportions was, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] was licked. And I think that there are th-, there are solutions, [speaker001:] And that for buses, [speaker002:] certainly we don't even need a, need a research anymore. It's just a matter of passing the law, and passing the law depends on how heavy the car industry, the automobile lobby is. [speaker001:] That's right. Well, and also to make it economically feasible. [speaker002:] That's right. That's right. [speaker001:] Uh, and per-, ti-, also in buses. I don't know if you ever got caught in a traffic jam behind a bus, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, well, [speaker001:] That, you know, [speaker002:] That, that, the, the smell is awful and but, you know, I was reading the other day not to go on with this but that, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Yeah. [speaker002:] diesel fumes actually have less pollutants in them than gasoline fumes. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker002:] So, I guess you're [LAUGHTER] better off sitting behind a bus than a car although I can never, I could never, uh, really a-, a-, rationalize that while I was sitting there [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, but even, of course, in the longer term just to get away from fossil fuels. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I mean, I'm, I'm thinking of research in that direction rather than we, we've taken the intermediate step but I don't think, [speaker002:] Well, we, you know [speaker001:] fossil fuels are the answer. [speaker002:] up here in New England, uh, where I've, right close to where I live is the Seabrook Nucleus site which is, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] practically a, you know, guerilla war up here, [speaker001:] Yes I me-, [speaker002:] went on for years. Uh, my daughters marched in the, uh, uh, against the Seabrook and I kind of, uh, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] my feelings were that we needed this bridge to, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] to, uh, to m-, m-, jump from whatever it was going to be, from fossil fuel to whatever it was going to be. [speaker001:] Yeah, you don't throw the baby out with the bath water, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and condemning nuclear use. [speaker002:] Un-, unfortunately though I think the oil companies have lied to us for years [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] So we really don't know whether there's enough fossil fuel left or there isn't, and, uh, and, uh, [speaker001:] But with the pollution issue, uh, fossil fuel is not the way to go anyway. [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] Uh, so you've, to lo-, you've got to look elsewhere. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] So, uh, but it is something that's a little frightening and in fact, well, I, within our family we have said, my husband, I have two sons, uh, well, one is already in college in New England, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and the other will be going in September, and we just feel that when we leave, uh, this area, w-, we're going north, not south. [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] Uh, I like the mentality north, and I also like the fresher air up there. [speaker002:] That's right. [speaker001:] So, I mean that's the way we will be going. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But, um, so, I, i-, I'd be interested in having spoken with somebody also from the far west on this issue to see how they, their attitudes are. [speaker002:] Well, since, since Texas and Louisiana and, uh, California that, in that ranking order, the worst pollutants in America. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I mean, I read that the other day. I mean Louisi-, Louisiana for a small state w-, it was amazing but it's the industrial pollution I should imagine. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And California seems to be taking steps, I mean, you, you read about the, the fairly, [speaker001:] The smog and, yeah. [speaker002:] fairly stiff laws they put in on cars now they're, they're enforcing. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, yeah. [speaker002:] But, uh, again, uh, that didn't occur without a crisis. Nothing will occur, I guess, without a crisis. [speaker001:] I mean, even California was notorious for its smog years ago, [speaker002:] Yeah, exactly. [speaker001:] before it even was an issue, [speaker002:] Exactly. [speaker001:] out here. [speaker002:] Well, the greatest thing that happened to pollution in the last couple of years as far as I'm concerned, is the no smoking rules, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] on airplanes and in restaurants. And it, it really is a pleasure for me, although, I guess smokers don't [LAUGHTER] think that. But that, [speaker001:] Well, that, that's, [speaker002:] to me was pollution, [speaker001:] that's person-, that's personal air pollution [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] that was its most personal, [speaker001:] Yes, yes. [speaker002:] personal, uh, pollution that I can think of. [speaker001:] Yeah, well, I, I, d-, definitely advance that. Well, listen I enjoyed speaking with you. [speaker002:] Surely. [speaker001:] And let's hope some, there are other people that feel the same way [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] something happen. Right on, thank you. [speaker001:] You're welcome. [speaker002:] Bye-bye. [speaker001:] Bye-bye.
[speaker001:] okay I pressed the button so [speaker002:] okay let me tell you I haven't been too many places [speaker001:] you haven't been to too many places [speaker002:] no no I haven't [speaker001:] okay well I've been to Hawaii [speaker002:] see now that's where I wanna go that's where I've always wanted to go I've never been there [speaker001:] oh it's it's beautiful [speaker002:] I know ah is it is it um I had an aunt that lived there and she she couldn't stand it anymore she moved out because she said the whole island was taken you know being taken over by the Japanese [speaker001:] well there is there is a lot of Japanese over there and they're [speaker002:] yeah and she and um she also told me that well not her uh necessarily other people that have been there said it's it's too commercialized [speaker001:] um-hum ooh well yeah there's it's commercialized but there's still a lot of beautiful places to go and see [speaker002:] is it yeah [speaker001:] you know uh on all of the islands you know now the gisland of of Oahu naturally has got more people on it than the other islands but [speaker002:] sure uh-huh [speaker001:] but it's still beautiful you've got to see it at least once you know [speaker002:] oh well I will eventually what well what is what's the most uh you know the nicest island [speaker001:] so uh I like Maui [speaker002:] Maui I think that's usually what people uh say they didn't they like the best [speaker001:] yeah I mean I like it because the beach is nice and white and you know it's like um Oahu you can go over there lay on the beach and it's really nice [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] where the island of Hawaii you really can't lay on the beach over there you know [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but um in Kauai it's and I mean their beaches are nice but I don't know just not nice as Maui [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and then uh have you where have where have you been [speaker002:] well I have been to California I've been to San Francisco I loved it I absolutely loved it [speaker001:] oh you have oh [speaker002:] yeah and um [speaker001:] how long ago [speaker002:] oh uh eighty six [speaker001:] hm okay [speaker002:] my sister lives out there my sister lives in Piedmont [speaker001:] oh yeah I know where that's at because I used to live in Oakland [speaker002:] yeah uh-huh oh well that's right near Piedmont right [speaker001:] so yeah right right [speaker002:] yeah well yeah that's like a suburb or something what is that oh yeah okay well she lived in Berkeley also and she [speaker001:] yes uh-huh uh-huh um-hum [speaker002:] let's see I went when she was uh living when well like when I went out there she was in um now I can't oh Lafayette she was living in Lafayette [speaker001:] oh yeah right [speaker002:] and then they moved to Piedmont [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so I uh I haven't seen uh you know her house in Piedmont but but I love San Francisco I'd like to go back [speaker001:] yeah did you go in the cable cars and everything yeah isn't that fun [speaker002:] oh yeah went to Alcatraz you know we did the whole bit and then we went to the wine country [speaker001:] oh yeah up by Napa yeah yeah [speaker002:] yeah oh beautiful and uh we went to Carmel you know and we took the eighteen mile drive [speaker001:] um-hum isn't that pretty I love it down there [speaker002:] oh it's beautiful it's really beautiful my girlfriend was down there a few months ago first time she's been down there and they wanted to take that drive and they had closed the whole road because of of fog yeah [speaker001:] um-hum oh what the weather [speaker002:] so then she they never got to do that [speaker001:] um well I have also been to the Carribean [speaker002:] oh I haven't been there either you name it I haven't been there I [speaker001:] well I've I been there a couple of times [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I went on a cruise [speaker002:] oh that's nice [speaker001:] the last time I went I went with my two sisters [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and it was over Christmas time [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and we really had a good time [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] well they um had this cruise director dress up like Santa Claus and we went to the beach and they had put a Christmas tree on the beach decorated it up and it was it was a lot of fun [speaker002:] um-hum uh-huh well that's nice is is that cruise nicer than it if you just go on a regular you know to a hotel or you know it is now I've heard it is yeah [speaker001:] so oh yeah yeah because you don't have to worry about unpacking or anything like that you know you put your clothes in your room and oh you'll have to go on one [speaker002:] um-hum you don't get seasick that's what I'm afraid of [speaker001:] no no I mean there was some people did [speaker002:] no huh [speaker001:] um on that last cruise that we took because they was having a storm come in but that's unusual [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah [speaker001:] um one of my sisters got sick but the other one didn't and I didn't [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] you know but um it's really nice and they just they just do so many things for you you know to make you enjoy the trip and everything [speaker002:] right yeah [speaker001:] so you'll have to do that once I wanna go on another one but I wanna go to Alaska [speaker002:] oh yes now someone I know was was on a cruise to Alaska and uh [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] was it Alaska yeah I'm pretty sure that's right my hairdresser she went last year she said she went on a cruise and I'm thinking you know cruise I'm thinking [speaker001:] oh really [speaker002:] sun and she's laying on the beach I said well you're not very tan for someone who's been on a cruise she says we went to Alaska [speaker001:] yeah right [speaker002:] you know and uh that that's uh I'd like to go well Hawaii would is my uh is my is number one I'd also like to go to Australia have you [speaker001:] oh I I think I would like to too [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] I keep hoping to win the lotto for I can do all these things you know [speaker002:] oh well see I I'm just into the Publisher's Clearing House and the Reader's Digest because we don't uh right now the lottery here
[speaker001:] Okay, well, just to let you know, I have, uh, two, uh, children of my own. I've got two boys, uh, one four year old and one two years old, so I'm just starting out. [speaker002:] Oh, yes [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker002:] I have two boys who are twenty-eight and twenty-four [speaker001:] Wow [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] and a daughter who is twelve. [speaker001:] Wow, that's quite a spread [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Yes. Same husband, everything. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] That's great. [speaker002:] Uh [LAUGHTER], but, [speaker001:] Well, I guess, uh, in one of the things that, that I like to do with my boys when, uh, when I get home is, I like to try and spend a lot of time with them. You know, they're not very old, so they couldn't do a whole lot, yet. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But they like to, uh, spend time with me. We just, oh, just do various things, nothing really. They like to be outside as much as possible. [speaker002:] If it's not raining. [speaker001:] Right, uh, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] but, you know, the weather's trying to turn now so, [speaker002:] Are, are you down here in Texas? [speaker001:] Yes, I [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] I'm, I'm in, uh, Dallas. [speaker002:] Okay, yeah. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] You know what I meant with rain, huh [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Right, right. [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Okay, uh [breathing], what, [speaker001:] Yeah, what, w-, well, one of the things I've noticed is, one of the trends I've, I've noticed is that, uh, it's always too easy to just plop your kids down in front of the T V and let them watch movies or, [ringing] or play video games or something. [speaker002:] Yeah, I [LAUGHTER], I have, can you hold [ringing] on just a sec-, [speaker001:] Sure. [speaker002:] I have to answer a business phone [ringing]. [speaker001:] Sure. [speaker002:] I hate to do it on this call. [speaker001:] That's okay. [speaker002:] Good morning, A R E, this is Arlene Lister [answering another phone] [NOISE]. It was just a recorded message, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] on our business phone anyway. I'm sorry, keep going. [speaker001:] No, it's okay. Uh, [lipsmack] so that was the thing that I, I noticed that, I know a lot of people, lot of friends that we have, they have a tendency to do the same thing. And one of the things we try to do is we try to avoid doing that as much as possible. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Although it really is very easy to do that type of thing. Just plop them down in front of the T V and let them be, uh, entertained that way. [speaker002:] [Lipsmack] [breathing]. [speaker001:] And, uh, seeing as you've got [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] some older children, I, I'm wondering, how did you handle that, [speaker002:] [Breathing]. [speaker001:] when they were growing up? [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Well, there, there was not nearly as much of it. In fact, I, I think things were, were quite a bit different. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Uh, when my, my big kids were, were little, uh, you know, ev-, ev-, all the mothers were home. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You know, the, the kids got up in the morning and ate breakfast and poked around and then when they felt like it, they went out to play, you know [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] when they were, were little like that. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] And, uh, [breathing] I, I think it's gotten, uh, very different. When my second one was little, they were coming out with SESAME STREET [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] which he started watching and, other than that, I mean, there was basically, there was not educational T V or [speaker001:] Um. [speaker002:] uh, you know, you got some cartoons and that was it, but they, they were never that interested in it anyway. They'd rather, I mean, they'd take their trucks out in the backyard [LAUGHTER], you know [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] go out and play and stuff. But, [breathing] we always did, uh, oh, just, you know, to the park for walks [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and to the zoo and museum. We did a lot of stuff like that [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] with, uh, [breathing] with our kids. And, course, when they got bigger, uh, they were both quite into sports and, and [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you know, so whatever, you know, they would do, we'd go along with [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, uh, [breathing], uh, a girl is very different [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] We have [breathing], a girl would like you to spend time with her going shopping [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Right [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] So, they're very, very different, but, uh, y-, kind of the same thing, our, you know, she now, lot of time spent with her, she's so busy is, uh [speaker001:] Uh-huh [faint]. [speaker002:] you know, going to, you know, like last night was a band concert [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and she plays on her school volleyball team and, uh, stuff like that. But, uh, we, we still, uh, oh, like to pack up, you know, just go someplace for the day [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] or, uh, you know, just stuff like that. One of our older kids now is going to graduate school down at College Station [speaker001:] Oh, that's nice. [speaker002:] so that's, uh, we go down there fairly often, you know, for a weekend for, you know, family get-togethers and stuff like that. [speaker001:] That's great. [speaker002:] Uh, [speaker001:] That's great. I know we'd, I'd like to get into do more camping and outings and things. And I think we probably will soon as the boys get a little [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] bit older. But, uh, you know, for right now, they don't, you know, just getting out in the front, and just being outside is good for them because they like [speaker002:] Oh, yes. [speaker001:] just being outside. [speaker002:] Yeah, I, I think, our kids just always dearly loved that, you know, play bounce the ball, or [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] just, uh, course, when our big ones were little, we lived up north, you know [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and this time of the year it, it, the fun thing was to go out and swoosh around in the leaves [LAUGHTER], you know. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Right. [speaker002:] So, [speaker001:] That's true, you don't see many leaves around Dallas. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] You know, so it's, it's very different and, and, uh, you know, we also, come winter time we'd stick them on sleds. And [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] uh, we had a pond across the street and, and from little on, you know, I'm, it's, it's so different down here where y-, you go take lessons to learn to ice skate or something. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] You know, when our kids were little you, you got them a pair of skates [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] okay well I how how how do you feel about that [speaker002:] I think it's great um I think like socialized medicine um I think it's a very good idea personally because right now I don't have any health insurance at all [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and I just know that it's first you know I could get it where I work and but it would be like a hundred dollars a month which is a lot to me and I really just can't afford it uh I have worked places where I had insurance but you know on a more I work for a very small company now and I I realize that you know it would for that to be true you'd you'd have to increase taxes and stuff like that but uh I know other people that are you know in the same situation and when it's just uh I if you don't work for a large company it's really hard to have insurance um I would be willing to you know pay more taxes but uh and I I think it's just I think everybody should have the option to have health care I mean I don't think you know but the only way to do that would be to you know have to tax more [speaker001:] yeah there there wouldn't have to be some way to pay for it the the I agree with you that that uh it's no fun to to not have insurance I'm I've had health insurance through my uh either my parents uh employment or my employment for many years but uh now I'm looking as at a layoff situation and I'm sitting here saying well how much is it going to cost me [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] the uh the prospect of going without health insurance is is uh not very exciting to me either [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] uh the the problem that I have with with uh universal health insurance is the problem of basically just absolute and complete distrust for the politicians they'll start I mean they could they could say we're going to do it the right way in the beginning and convince me [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but I don't have a lot of faith that they would uh that they would not use it as a as a uh oh as a carrot to get votes uh my I called and asked uh the uh unemployment insurance people here I said how long you know what's the unemployed what do I get if I'm unemployed and how long will I get it you know it's very interesting the guy on the other end is a young man he said uh uh with a good sense of humor he says well he says right now it's twenty six weeks uh in periods of severe unemployment and just before an election they will extend it and get all the votes of the people that that like that but he says in your case uh if you're going uh to be needing it in a little while by the time you get to the end of your twenty six weeks uh the elections will be over and we won't have it anymore I can tell you that [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so I so I'm uh uh I'm I'm uh for the first time I'm I'm seeing things to a uh I'm paying attention to things that I never paid before uh attention attention attention to [speaker002:] right yeah you don't really think about it until you you're in a situation where you have to think about it [speaker001:] on the other hand like I say they I have I have lived in places where they had uh free medical care and I have to say that that uh that it that it was uh it was comforting to know that you had it but but the way it worked in practice was that uh in order to get enough doctors the uh they used a lot of student doctors a lot more than people would put up with over here [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and uh my wife has dozens and dozens of stories of people that went in for a simple operation and then died on the table because of the incompetent care [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] so I'm and and she didn't have any axe to grind you know she just grew up in that situation and said well that's the way it is and uh so on the one hand I I'm I'm saying well now I know how people that don't have insurance feel and on the other hand I'm saying uh I don't trust the politicians very much I think that they are very good at at uh [speaker002:] huh [speaker001:] I think they're so corrupt that they just use it as a vote getting uh situation and they don't pay and and they don't make it a very uh there's not a lot of integrity to the things that they do [speaker002:] well by the um the same note of what you're saying there could be pros in that situation um for their being
[speaker001:] do you have any special menus that you like to use when you're entertaining [speaker002:] well I don't entertain that much anymore unfortunately but uh [speaker001:] yes but we dream [speaker002:] if hum [speaker001:] we dream though [speaker002:] oh yes well I mean you know like for holidays the family gets together so uh I guess you'd call that about the same I mean I don't have dinner parties but uh uh I have family get-togethers [speaker001:] yes well [speaker002:] uh and I I guess it's about the same thing so uh [speaker001:] are you a traditional cook [speaker002:] well no no I in fact I love to find different things uh I'm always searching for recipes that are different uh some things are traditional okay uh we always have turkey for Thanksgiving but uh uh there but I always try to add at least one new dish [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] uh I find it uh interesting to [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] vary it [speaker001:] I do to [speaker002:] so that uh uh but uh uh well I you know it you can do a lot of things the meat is is pretty standard usually I mean you pick a different kind of you pick whatever kind of meat you're going to have and um [speaker001:] sure [speaker002:] you uh can do a a a few things with it you know but uh but I mean as far as salads or vegetables there are so many things that you can do these days that uh [speaker001:] then you can oh yes [speaker002:] it makes it quite a challenge and it depends on whose coming too [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] uh for a holiday family get-together I don't make any you know I'm not real picky about exactly what it is but if we're just getting together uh you know for a family uh dinner then I try to keep it as uh fat free and as cholesterol free and you know all that other stuff as I can [speaker001:] yeah I have a son-in-law who is a wonderful cook and uh my daughter reads cookbooks and he cooks but uh for the last few years I have uh had something different for him every holiday uh for Christmas or Thanksgiving whichever one they're with us and uh I think the two that have been the biggest hits uh I think one of them came out of the Martha Stewart cookbook you're familiar with Martha Stewart her all of her culinary delights and it was it wasn't all that you know yummy and it it wasn't a lot to eat but it was interesting caramelized caramelized onions [speaker002:] right oh yes um-hum oh interesting [speaker001:] and uh you cut them in half and turn them over with the cut you know don't peel them or anything and turn them over with the cut side down and you bake them like two hours and a half on about two seventy five or something like that [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and then when you know until they're kind of well not really burned they call them caramelized and then you uh you mix up this little uh mixture of cranberries and sugar and a few nuts and uh a little bit of liquid and then you bake that for about thirty minutes and then you it's just a really pretty condiment really actually [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and so then you just eat the insides you know the few layers of onions that didn't get hard or anything and then uh then that filling but that was interesting and another interesting one that he liked so well was turnips I've always had a neighbor or two that had wanted to bring me turnips well who not many people like turnips [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] but I did a casserole using half turnips half potatoes Swiss cheese milk and butter and just baked them and it is absolutely wonderful [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] if and the secret is using half potatoes [speaker002:] right yeah I could see that would be then it wouldn't be such a an overpowering flavor you know it would be uh just just a flavor but not you know the real strong that's the only thing turnips have such a strong flavor to them now I love them raw but [speaker001:] and that Swiss oh I do too oh especially so many people like them to dip in vegetable dip too I think [speaker002:] yes now you know speaking of vegetable dip I was introduced to uh to to something by a girlfriend of mine recently that I never would have dreamed of because of you know usually when you think of a vegetable uh tray you think of uh uh broccoli or cauliflower and and celery and the the you know standard things have you ever tried using raw sweet potato [speaker001:] uh-huh no well I'm glad to hear about that [speaker002:] try try it I was she she I picked it up I thought it was carrot at first you know we were she just had a veggie tray and I picked it up and tasted I said gee this doesn't taste like carrot she said it isn't [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] so I took another one just to see if I could figure out what it was and I couldn't and she told me it was raw sweet potato and um it is it I do I do not like sweet potatoes cooked [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I do not like them at all uh I really do enjoy them raw it with this it's it's not a real uh strong flavor it's just kind of light flavor [speaker001:] well I'll be darned and you've eaten them do you know when I was growing up my mother wouldn't let us eat raw sweet potatoes she said they were poison [speaker002:] hum oh my goodness [speaker001:] so so we just you know raw potatoes yes if she was peeling potato and we were you know she'd we'd want a piece and uh but she wouldn't never let us so I suppose that is a myth isn't it [speaker002:] right oh yes uh um I hope so because of I've sure eaten a lot of it since I was first introduced to it uh [speaker001:] yes yeah you're still alive and kicking [speaker002:] yeah but uh uh people are quite surprised to find out it's just not one of the things that you would think of of putting on the vegetable tray uh [speaker001:] no and it is colorful too [speaker002:] it is colorful adds a lot of color to your tray [speaker001:] well I have spent the last twenty years in Oklahoma and so I've had a wonderful time with Mexican type dishes the Santa Santa Fe influence as well as the Tex-Mex and I have so many wonderful recipes and [speaker002:] oh I love that uh-hum uh [speaker001:] my family here I we're originally from this part of country [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] if I do any of those casseroles especially they will say um this is sort of spicy [speaker002:] yes I know it's funny but see I'm originally from California and my my husband was from New Mexico and uh the first [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] ten years we were in Maryland my sister-in-law mailed us care packages of chili peppers and uh things that you couldn't condiments that you couldn't get for Mexican cooking here Spanish cooking you know that uh uh and now of course I can get them all here [speaker001:] yes um-hum [speaker002:] you know here in Maryland too because it's become popular out here too and they have several Mexican restaurants but when we first moved here twenty years ago we c ouldn't find any kind of you know [speaker001:] finally the Taco Bell started springing up [speaker002:] except for yes uh well we have several uh very well uh Chi Chi is uh very nice restaurants that uh serve uh uh real good you know Mexican food but but I know uh I have visited my sister-in-law in New Mexico once or twice and um it is [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] it's it's always refreshing because it's so she always fixes something different that I've you know not had so uh I need to try a few more recipes and but you're right anybody that tastes it even the mild they are so surprised that it's uh that spicy [speaker001:] uh um-hum um yeah they really don't my friends and relatives really don't like it very well [speaker002:] hum-um not if it's spicy now you have to either go completely you know and let them add the uh like the salsa or the sauce to it um or um [speaker001:] uh-huh well it [speaker002:] well it depends on what you're making if you're making enchiladas it's hard to do that but uh it's well it's hard to let them add their own you know just to make it spicy you can even the enchilada sauce is a little bit spicy [speaker001:] really um-hum well it's been fun talking to you [speaker002:] well it's nice talking to you [speaker001:] and uh good luck in your uh entertaining or cooking or get-togethers or whatever and dream on [speaker002:] oh yes uh well you too you too thank you um-hum bye bye [speaker001:] bye-bye
[speaker001:] well um [speaker002:] do you ever watch Wall Street Week [speaker001:] no I don't watch that one um I get a lot of my news from uh odd sources if it isn't uh public radio or the local listener supported station I get a lot of it off of the uh the nets Usenet BBS networks and uh monthly and weekly magazines and newsletters [speaker002:] what kind of magazines [speaker001:] you ever heard of a magazine called Mondo 2000 [speaker002:] no [speaker001:] fairly obscure it's published out of Berkeley it's a futurist magazine apparently I heard about it later the guy started it as a on inheritance money he just wanted to have a magazine of his own and he wanted to be future oriented so it's really fringe science um new chemicals brain enhancement technologies virtual reality all that stuff that we're just starting to hear about this whole magazine covers it and then from that I can follow up on other sources and a lot of the stuff in there turns up on bulletin boards as people talk about it [speaker002:] well I mean do you think that magazine is credible or [speaker001:] uh depends on what it's about and who's writing a lot of this stuff is just reporting somebody may be developing some new technology and they'll be talking about the plans for the use of it it's not the kind of thing that would be really talent you know it's not something that's questionable like political opinions it's sort of a state of technology and what are we going to do with this and what do you suppose would happen if the government got ahold of it and you know that kind of thing [speaker002:] oh okay [speaker001:] and then uh you know the the the best source of news the comic strips not really [speaker002:] wait so so you're you're a a firm follower of Doonesbury or [speaker001:] oh yeah absolutely and Bloom County now Out Land and all the rest of them but yeah Doonesbury is great I mean sometimes he that doesn't even try to be funny he just puts stuff in that strip that we're not going to see anywhere else and uh uh like when he was quoting an entire week from Bush's speeches and the guy was completely incoherent I think that's when it finally they had to issue a press release that Bush was under the effect of this weird drug that uh has been banned in some European countries and that it was affecting his speech [speaker002:] of uh [speaker001:] yeah that's the one [speaker002:] oh but um anyway well um [speaker001:] go back to [speaker002:] so you well do you ever watch any network news or anything like that at at [speaker001:] 60 Minutes 60 Minutes I always watch 60 Minutes [speaker002:] yeah I watch 60 Minutes and I watch 2020 sometimes [speaker001:] yeah I used to watch them but then I caught them in a bald face lie and I had didn't really care anymore [speaker002:] what lie did you catch them in [speaker001:] it was a long time ago they just did a hatchet job on ultra light aircraft and I used to fly one so I knew what I was talking about and they really I mean it was a classic case of what the conservatives accuse the liberal press of doing you know they fabricating uh making making one picking an item out of context and blowing it up I mean it was just such a classic [speaker002:] oh really 2020 did that [speaker001:] yeah they did that it who damn themselves [speaker002:] oh that's so that's so funny because um Friday night on 2020 they had Jane Polly talking about how she had been exploited by the tabloids and what a travesty it was that the press would fabricate stories [speaker001:] yeah really and then there they are doing it too so you just have to watch you know you have to assume that with every story you're watching or everything you're reading what what special interest could they possibly have that they would make them slanted this particular way [speaker002:] so um-hum [speaker001:] if you assume they're biased and then look for some opposite biases you get a fairly good idea of what's going on [speaker002:] I know and it's like especially like if with the network news they always comment about everything and their comments are always biased [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know just like all the presidential um campaign things that have been going on [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] if you can just you get a different slant if you just listen to the comments and a lot of times they don't even show you all of what happened [speaker001:] oh yeah [speaker002:] so [speaker001:] sound bytes all they'd rather do is give you a little sound bytes they do it's it's so funny they talk about the liberal press but most most every well virtually every TV station and almost every newspaper in the country is owned by conservative well off white businessmen and they have to be conservative because they have this multimillion dollar investment to protect and they're beholding to their advertisers they have to be conservative but the writers a reporter I mean if you're going to be in the business of reporting if you're a journalist uh you get cynical and uh cynicism can sometimes be confused with liberalism
[speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] sure go ahead [speaker001:] what kind of books do you like to read [speaker002:] oh I like all kinds of books [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] mostly uh something I like like true life [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] not uh you know documentaries or real stories about real people and that kind of stuff or dramas in real life [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh I also like romantic novels I like uh I like Readers' Digest believe it or not I usually read that from cover to cover [speaker001:] yeah so do I yeah [speaker002:] I like it because there's a little bit of everything in it [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] you know that kind of a thing uh as far as like real novels I haven't gotten into Shakespeare or any of that type of thing [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I wish I had in some in some senses but I don't have time really as much as I would like to to get into that kind of thing how about you [speaker001:] um well I like like you said real life um I like uh biographies of people's lives like especially like athletes for some reason it seems to interest me like people that make a big comeback or [speaker002:] uh-huh sure [speaker001:] you know Orel Hershiser things like that [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and um I like to read books on improve like family marriage you know things that are written by like Christian authors or um doctors about family and you know how to improve your home and all that kind of thing um I like to read the magazines I to read like I like to read Readers' Digest I read a lot of bicycling magazines they're I mainly look at the pictures and stuff but they just usually have some good articles in them [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but uh I don't know I haven't really found any romance type stuff I like to read I I'm more true you know fiction uh nonfiction I haven't found a lot of uh fiction books that I really like [speaker002:] yeah yeah [speaker001:] but uh not to say I wouldn't eventually I mean what was the last book you read [speaker002:] yeah uh jeez let me think it I tell you I haven't read a book in a long time and it I can't even really remember uh I think it was a romantic novel by Danielle Steel or one of those you know yeah honestly um I don't do as much reading like I say as I would like to [speaker001:] really yeah [speaker002:] we've been working a lot of hours at work and [speaker001:] really [speaker002:] yeah and then of course we have a home so it's [speaker001:] I know [speaker002:] you know a lot time is spent doing things as far as the yard work or housework or you know that type of thing [speaker001:] yeah I set I set a goal for myself to read a book a month this year which is like about eleven more books than I would have read last year but so far I've only read like two books and so I'm not doing very well but [speaker002:] but see I do crafts too so it's hard I if I have a minute that's what I do I do [speaker001:] yeah yeah I find it's real hard I let papers newspapers stack up and magazines stack up if I don't really set aside a time to look or or read them [speaker002:] and that's the and and that's like myself I've I've I've miss it because I really find it a very relaxing hobby too [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I really do and um I don't know it seems like you can get lost in a book you know it it it's like an escape for me I don't know about you [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah yeah yeah [speaker002:] it's if I'm really interested in what I'm reading I mean hours can go by and I I look up at the clock and say oh my word you know [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] in fact I'd rather read sometimes than watch TV [speaker001:] yeah oh I would too um [speaker002:] but I think you get out of the habit like you say you have to like kind of set yourself [speaker001:] kind of train your mind [speaker002:] yep [speaker001:] have you ever read uh or heard of the book This Present Darkness [speaker002:] no [speaker001:] that was one of the books I read this year and it's really fast paced and intense it was a nonfiction book or is a fiction book but it was a real it was one of the best I've read I mean it was it was real good and it was um it was one of the few books that like it you know just hurry up and go through without putting down you know [speaker002:] yeah right see that's the other problem I have if I start into something and I really enjoy what I'm reading [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] then I have a terrible time getting away from it too I'll stay up until two or three o'clock in the morning you know because I'm so engrossed in it and then before you know it it's time to get up and go to work you know that type of thing [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] that's why I I don't know I'm I'm kind of a nut when it comes to stuff like that even if I'm uh doing something like an afghan if I'm close to the end sometimes I'll do the same thing [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I don't know what you would call it maybe I have a problem [speaker001:] no I'm sure it's [speaker002:] it's terrible I I really like books that that you can get into and that's sense [speaker001:] fast or something uh-huh I know what you mean I like reading late at night right before I go to bed sometimes I just sleep better or something [speaker002:] oh yeah you do you kind of get relaxed that's true [speaker001:] but uh [speaker002:] I have a lot of craft books that I have too and uh magazines I like People you know those things that are about real people [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and um I I like to uh read about people who've been a successful you know who've who made a success of their lives [speaker001:] yeah which what book have you read that is along those lines [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] that was really good [speaker002:] to to to give you specific titles I can't I can't like I say haven't done it in [speaker001:] well how about who [speaker002:] in such a long time [speaker001:] do you know who it was about [speaker002:] um well I went to uh seminar on uh it was for by American business and some of the people uh what the heck was his name I'm trying to think he's one of the uh Paroe and um it was more like oh it there was tapes and things that they had about him too how he started out as just a salesman and now he's you know multimillionaire and that type of thing and uh how you have to uh be aggressive and you know really want something for yourself and that type of stuff [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] it's like up to you in other words whatever happens in your life it's not up it's not someone else you have to do it [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and I find t hat fascinating that people you know can do that kind of thing [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] just make up their minds that that's it you know have this one direction [speaker001:] and then do it [speaker002:] do it I can't I'm not that focused on something I I'm off in all directions um and I'm not uh um a planner which I wish I was [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you know kind of off the wall if someone says do you want to do this tonight uh and I got a mountain of things to do it's okay you know we do it [speaker001:] uh-huh well that's all right [speaker002:] I know I know but I wish I was more the other way [speaker001:] you're more fun though see you're not ridged right [speaker002:] yeah right I I that's see I like it that way though I I I would I don't want to change that part of me that's funny uh even though I admire someone who isn't [speaker001:] that's good yeah [speaker002:] like I am you know and and I wish I could be more that way but [speaker001:] there may be some schools you could read about and learn [speaker002:] that's true that's true how many people do you supervise [speaker001:] uh about twenty [speaker002:] oh that's not bad that's not bad at all [speaker001:] no no [speaker002:] do you like your job [speaker001:] sometimes sometimes more than others but yeah I do I've been there about three years [speaker002:] oh that's oh that's important do you have a family [speaker001:] yeah I just got married last year and um most of my family's in Indiana [speaker002:] oh uh-huh [speaker001:] so I've only been in Texas three years [speaker002:] do you like it [speaker001:] yeah I do I love the weather down here [speaker002:] I I loved I loved Abilene too that's what I liked too is the weather [speaker001:] yeah I know [speaker002:] except for tornados [speaker001:] boy they they have storms here I've [speaker002:] yes they do and it it it's so surprising how it just happens you know [speaker001:] hail and thunder and yeah [speaker002:] unpredictable [speaker001:] were you here during the hailstorm two years ago [speaker002:] uh no oh I've been up here about three uh we were down there uh from eighty six to eighty five to eighty six no uh eighty well part of eighty four to eighty six I should say [speaker001:] yeah boy I had thirty three hundred dollars damage done on my car a lot of people had their cars totaled just from hail [speaker002:] oh wow [speaker001:] I think State Farm went bankrupt just about [speaker002:] oh jeez I know the whole situation is bad [speaker001:] but uh [speaker002:] up here we're having a terrible time with the recession [speaker001:] really [speaker002:] yeah yeah it's not good at all [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] I know things are pretty booming down there I heard they sold Johnson City though [speaker001:] yeah and Colorado Springs [speaker002:] and Colorado Springs [speaker001:] yeah I talked to a guy on the phone on this the other day and he was telling me about it [speaker002:] oh wow [speaker001:] they just sold it [speaker002:] amazing [speaker001:] closed up and moved down to McKinney [speaker002:] oh well that's good at least they kept the business part of it [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] it's scary though I'm telling you [speaker001:] I know [speaker002:] I don't know and well you know with the other part of this thing was how do you feel that this influences family [speaker001:] how do I feel what [speaker002:] that that books influence do you know how to use them in your life or to influence [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I I feel like it's important for young children to read too and what you read to them [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] when my children were were younger of course they were all married and grown and I have grandchildren now they were uh I I read to them a lot [speaker001:] that's good [speaker002:] and uh I think they've all developed kind of an interest in reading also I'm not saying they read all the right things but they do read uh where a lot of people don't have any interest in it at all and I think it's important [speaker001:] that's real yeah oh yeah [speaker002:] because uh even today where people are so illiterate and they go off to school and really nothing happens I mean they don't learn anything it's because they can't read [speaker001:] yeah it's really surprising how many people graduate from high school and that I work with and people I mean I get memos all the time across my desk and things are misspelled and it's really [speaker002:] yeah oh it's so unbelievable isn't it [speaker001:] it's pretty sad a lot of people that work for me that can't even spell or read you know [speaker002:] yeah exactly and I think that that's why reading is so important [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] because uh I think even mentally when you can do some
[speaker001:] what do you think about it [speaker002:] well I I feel in light of some of the accidents and so forth that have happened lately that I think there are some occupations that they should such as the health field the transportation field uh they're already doing it in the armed forces where they handle weapons and so forth uh they do it to prisoners so I I uh [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I I feel like it should be mandatory in some professions and I think if if uh an employer feels that he wants to to drug test employees and they don't like it then they should not be employed there that was you know I would not mind it [speaker001:] yeah I I especially agree that if it's an area where they could cause somebody else you know harm or injury absolutely [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] and I don't have a problem at all with employers uh testing in the hiring process but I I I don't I don't have a problem with them too much testing even after the fact but I do a little bit where it where it wouldn't hurt anybody I don't know sometimes I think they carry it a little bit too far [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but [speaker002:] well unless an employer has a reason to believe that his uh the work competency of [speaker001:] yeah um [speaker002:] of the employee employee is is hurting the business I mean maybe it's uh number one because generally if if they are involved in that type of thing they are into theft [speaker001:] right and then it's not a problem yeah [speaker002:] and as an employer I would think that would be and the first it's not going to be wholesale because of the cost there's no way but but my concern is uh school bus drivers [speaker001:] oh absolutely oh yeah [speaker002:] um I'm not even I'm in education I'm not even opposed to it for that [speaker001:] train the train drivers [speaker002:] uh I'm concerned in the medical field [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I I I think they should screen for alcohol in these areas too because I consider that a drug [speaker001:] I wish they would I I wish they would and that I think is even probably more widely abused by you know the masses than than drugs so to speak [speaker002:] right right right but when you consider they could be driving an airplane or driving a bus or [speaker001:] so oh I know it [speaker002:] a train um and it doesn't take that long uh they they don't have be totally roaring drunk just a little off on their timing could could mean life [speaker001:] and no just uh yeah and now TI has the random testing policy and and you know our names or our employee numbers or whatever are in a in a pool [speaker002:] oh okay uh-huh [speaker001:] you know so I've already been tested once when I was hired and and once since they initiated this random testing program [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker001:] but I work with one girl who was tested her name got got randomly selected three times in six months [speaker002:] oh my word [speaker001:] and I think that's the only reason I have a problem with it when there's no you know there's no reason to suspect someone you know that that's getting a little bit that's enough to make anybody paranoid [speaker002:] control right well as long as you accept that it is a random a random testing uh [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know to to alleviate that way you can't feel like somebody's out to get me if it's almost like being selected for jury duty [speaker001:] right yeah [speaker002:] you know so your name came out of pot when they spun the wheel that's that's just the way it is [speaker001:] you were just the lucky or the unlucky one depending on how you look at it [speaker002:] I would I would rather have it that way to know that I was chosen at random by a computer than to think that somebody turned me in [speaker001:] oh absolutely [speaker002:] because I I think there's when you let other employees turn in people [speaker001:] there are so many people with with their petty axes to grind it could really get out of hand and [speaker002:] right right so I I I would really rather know however there's got to be some backup to say that if if somebody does observe you at say at a party uh using drugs I would think that it would be their obligation to report that [speaker001:] yeah to report it and I guess you'd report that to a supervisor maybe anonymously or something [speaker002:] personnel or something right [speaker001:] because I I would feel very uncomfortable working with someone I knew was using either illegal drugs or abusing alcohol I'd just I'd feel really uncomfortable [speaker002:] right well I don't know what kind of work you do but there there would be even be a situation where you were at a machine and working with somebody that was that way and [speaker001:] yeah we have we have a lot of people who work on the line I'm in accounting so it wouldn't you know they they couldn't hurt me with their ten key or something but out on the line they've got people working some serious equipment [speaker002:] right right right it's it's [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] I I just think employers have to have especially given today the drug abuse that goes on I just think employers have to have some kind of way to see that they're not being put at risk because they're the ones who are going to have the lawsuits the insurance claims et cetera and and I'm not sure but what some of the insurance claims aren't due to [speaker001:] put at risk I agree totally [speaker002:] uh illnesses brought on by drug abuse or alcohol abuse [speaker001:] and in the long run we're all paying for that so it's I mean it it protects us in the long run hopefully when they do that [speaker002:] right right [speaker001:] I I was trying to remember there was a court case uh here here where I live just a few months ago the city workers they wanted to um the city government wanted to institute the random drug testing [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] and the city workers uh took them to court to protest saying that it invaded their I guess first amendment the the search and seizure amendment [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker001:] and it's still tied up in the legal channels they haven't ruled on whether they can test them or not [speaker002:] huh [speaker001:] so I'm curious especially since TI a local you know employer is also already doing it seeing what what they'll say about it especially since [speaker002:] to see how that's is it is it uh just a small group of the employees that are concerned [speaker001:] well it's the whole it's the whole city seems like the whole group of city employees that's raising a stink over it [speaker002:] they they just don't want to be drug tested [speaker001:] yeah so [speaker002:] you know we've never my husband and I have never been in a situation where somebody said you have to be drug tested [speaker001:] y eah [speaker002:] uh my husband's retired from I R S agents [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] however this isn't a problem that we have and either alcohol or drug and so we we in our minds we're thinking what's the big deal [speaker001:] right yeah that's the way I looked at it if I had something to hide it's one thing but I'm you know you know you don't so it's not as big a deal and you sometimes wonder when these people protest so much whether they're really concerned about their rights or whether they're really concerned about something else [speaker002:] right and and then they say well if you give them the right to do this then they're going to take some other right away from you but I I a firm [speaker001:] I don't believe that [speaker002:] I think that an employer has the right to ask you to do anything and of course the big deal one of the big deals now too is to that when you come into a company as you sign a paper saying that I will go take a
[speaker001:] okay is it Mike do you repair your own car [speaker002:] yes I try to whenever I can I've always been a a I guess a product of a handyman father [speaker001:] well I tell you what that's your count your blessings because uh it's really is good when someone can do some [speaker002:] the yeah [speaker001:] things to the the car themselves [speaker002:] yeah there's although I'll tell you you know over the years the cars get more complicated and [speaker001:] well that's why I don't do as much as I'd like [speaker002:] right yeah [speaker001:] because they are I mean they got they've gotten complicated haven't they [speaker002:] yes one of my first cars was a fifty six Buick which after awhile I could you know take it apart in my sleep if I needed to [speaker001:] uh-huh is that right [speaker002:] yeah it it got to be pretty straightforward to understand and and uh since then you know and the closer a car is to a fifty six Buick the the more I know about it and then start getting into these Nissans and the like and I just can't keep up [speaker001:] yeah I I agree about all I ever I never was too mechanically inclined but I used to always change my own oil and do the points and plugs and course they don't use uh points anymore [speaker002:] yeah that's right yeah [speaker001:] but they do still use plugs and uh now brakes I've always done a lot uh you know changing brakes and I used to [speaker002:] yep yep um-hum [speaker001:] do I could always do the alternator you know and starter I don't anymore but I have on a lot a lot of times [speaker002:] yes yes I understand my last car repair actually had to do with brakes and it's one I did not do myself I took the car my I have a seventy nine El Dorado took it to be inspected [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and the parking brake failed so I got under there and messed with the the tension that um that adjustment to make it to tighten tighten it up and that didn't do the trick and I got there and tried to [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh it probably slipped loose didn't it [speaker002:] but we well actually that wasn't even eventually the problem I I did a lot of things that I I did everything that I could think to do [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and eventually I brought it up to a a place called Just Brakes and it turns out that there's a the parking brake in in the rear there's a there's disc brakes and the parking brake is a piston [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] deal and because the parking brake hadn't been used in so many years the piston froze up so they ended up having to pound it out and one of them they [speaker001:] hm oh [speaker002:] were able to get running uh kind of oiling it and playing with it and the other one they just it was just frozen solid the so I ended up having to buy one and altogether all total it was just under two hundred dollars believe it or not to get all that done [speaker001:] um-hum yeah well it really wasn't quite so as bad as you thought would it was it [speaker002:] yeah yeah actually I I think it was a lot of money but I guess I don't like I said yeah but I it got to the point where I didn't know what was going on so that's right that's right [speaker001:] well it was a lot of money but you had to have the help didn't you yeah well do you still do much work on them now [speaker002:] I do that actually that actually that was just um in in in beginning of September and I whenever I can I do try I actually actually I'd say this I I've gotten to the point where I don't change the oil anymore only because [speaker001:] disposal is a problem [speaker002:] well that is one problem but also these um these fast oil change places you just can't beat them for sixteen bucks they'll not only will they change your oil in ten minutes and do a fine you know good a job as I can do but they'll uh lube too [speaker001:] that's true that's true right that that I've I've quit doing that myself and but one of the main reasons was the disposal of the oil you know [speaker002:] yeah yep that's right [speaker001:] and uh but but no I guess it that and the main reason that it's [speaker002:] it's quick
[speaker001:] um [speaker002:] so you have a son [speaker001:] I have a an older son yeah he doesn't have any children yet though [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] uh he's thirty seven and I don't know if he's ever going to have any or not but I do have some neighbor kids lots of little neighbor kids [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] that I go out and uh I play ball with them you know it's because like this one that lives right next door her mother does some work at home on computers and it just seems like she doesn't have any time for them [speaker002:] um-hum uh-huh [speaker001:] which is kind of sad you know [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so the kids are kind of hungry for someone to play with them so I will go out and play catch with them or you know we have let the dogs outside and they will roll around on the ground and play with the dogs but uh actually I do think that the parents should have you know a little bit more time to spend with their kids [speaker002:] I would think so when you when when your son was at home did you um working did you work or were you able to stay at home with him [speaker001:] no when my son was at home I I did work and then he went to a baby sitter that this lady had about uh five other kids that she baby sat you know but we always had our days off together and we went camping on vacations so we had a lot of time together that way you know [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah well when my mom uh when I was growing up my mom worked too but she worked nights [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh as a nurse and so she was always home for us [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and I always I really appreciated that having her there when I was you know when I came home from school and when I worked but now when I look back at it it must have been a really difficult thing that she did for us [speaker001:] oh yeah well I am sure it was you know but uh I don't know what the families are really going to come to nowadays because they just there just doesn't seem like they do have time for their kids because most most of them the father and the mother both work you know [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so it's really rough um I have one neighbor that's uh the father is a fireman and he works like four days on and it seems like he is suppose to come home for like three or four days but he can't make enough as a fireman to support his family you know so he's got a second job [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] so he's you know he's not home very often [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and that's you know the kids I know miss that you know [speaker002:] they really do uh a family without a father is it's a it's a really hard thing [speaker001:] yeah you know and I don't know I I suppose they are trying to get through to them that well daddy is not home because you know he is out working trying to make some money for you know we can buy you this bike and that toy and so forth you know [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but uh [speaker002:] kids I think would much rather have dad there than the toy anyway [speaker001:] oh I'm sure they would you know so are you planning on to having any children or [speaker002:] oh yeah oh yeah our uh-huh but we're um we just got married like like December so we're going to wait a year and then we will try [speaker001:] um-hum um yeah well that's good yeah that's that's what my uh daughter-in-law had told me that they were going to have kids probably after two years of marriage [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and they will be married nine years this year so I don't know she's a nurse you know and uh she has brothers and sisters that has got lots of little kids so maybe they just decided that uh if they wanted to have kids around the house they would just you know call one of their sisters or brothers up and tell them to send the kids over for the night [speaker002:] yeah that's a possibility yeah well we really want to have a family we feel like that that couple you know [speaker001:] you know but uh [speaker002:] you're not giving enough of yourself and you should you should be sharing your family [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh so [speaker002:] and giving your values to you know making something better of the world by raising up good kids and letting them know they're loved and stuff give them give them an edge but [speaker001:] right right right [speaker002:] we feel like like the first year needs to be devoted to uh making the the family the couple strong and secure in their love for each other [speaker001:] uh-huh right right [speaker002:] but then a family is is definitely a high priority [speaker001:] yeah uh do you plan on staying home after you have your children or do you do you work or what [speaker002:] well I um I'm in a different situation I am a missionary [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and I'm home on on furlough it's called like I've worked for four years in Africa and I come home for a year [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] and then we go back for four years but my husband and I will do the same job and we'll be living in in Africa and we'll be working together [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so uh we will we will share the job of raising the family I mean as a mother I'll have certain responsibilities that he might not necessarily have but still we'll share that job [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] but we have then we have decisions that we have to make that are hard about schooling like do you want to home school your kids on a computer program [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know that kind of thing [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] or do you send them away to boarding school and if you do that when do you do it and that's a
[speaker001:] Okay, well, uh, some of the books I've read lately have to do with crafty type things where I've, where I've, um, learned things that I'm going to do for my children for Christmas [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and they were really, uh, helpful, because I didn't know how to do this one stitching, and so, that was very helpful to me as far as books. Otherwise, um, I like to read children's books, and things like that. What about you? [speaker002:] Oh, goodness, well I was an English major, so I like to read period. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] Uh, lately, I've been, on the whole, very practical, and, uh, I'm trying, um, to, to, uh, furnish a home [speaker001:] Um. [speaker002:] so I've been looking at, I'm not sure reading is the word, but looking at books on, uh, antiques and paintings and, uh, interior decoration hints [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and, uh, lots of books on plants and, and, and gardens, because we started a garden [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] and things, things like that. So I've been doing very little reading, except I, I did finally dip into a couple of biographies. Um, all of sort of literary figures of this century. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. It's interesting that you said that. My husband and I had, uh, took a book out of the library about gardening, too, and started a garden, a fall garden. [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] Um, [speaker002:] Good for you. I haven't gotten around to that. [speaker001:] Oh, [LAUGHTER], Yeah, and our, our, uh, cantaloupes and, and, um, peppers and tomatoes are on right now, so it's been really fun, and, and we learned that, you know, um, some of the gardening skills we had were before, but, some of them we learned from a book [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and so that was helpful to us. Now, I've read two books [lipsmack], uh, that were, uh, nonfiction lately [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] and, uh, I, well, one was nonfiction and one was fiction, and the fiction one, uh, was about a boy in, uh, during the time of Adolf Hitler [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] and he grew up and lived through a concentration camp [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] and that was not enjoyment [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] No. [speaker001:] That, that was too realistic and really, um, mind, a real eye opener, uh, and I guess it's good to read those things, too. Uh, but, I didn't enjoy it necessarily [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and, uh, the other one was quite enjoyable. It was, uh, about a, a Chinese lady and her generations down, her, what happened to her family through the years [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] so, that one was good. I think all of, well, even if they're not enjoyable, they bring you a, uh, some kind of, of learning, so even if it's the country that they're from or anything like that. So, I, I, I like to read the, the children's books, I think that's the most animated and imaginative. So I like those a lot. [speaker002:] Uh, what are your favorite children's books? [speaker001:] Oh, there are a couple of Newberry Award winners. Uh, A WRINKLE IN TIME is one [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I don't know if you've ever read that [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] but, but, um, oh, there's one about an Indian girl, and I can't think of that, ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS is another [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] and that's a good one. Now, some of the ones that have just received the awards this year, I haven't read, and I would like to read those [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] but, uh, it's funny, because I've read some from like nineteen twenty-three and nineteen forty-five and things like that [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and I didn't enjoy those as much, and I don't know if it's just because they didn't come from my era or what, but, uh, [speaker002:] That's interesting, I, I, I, well, you can't be an English major unless you like reading things from the past, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So, I've read a great deal of old things. I tend to go, go back, I don't have any children [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] so I don't read the new ones, but I occasionally, if no one's looking [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] dip into something like WINNIE THE POOH, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] No, even that's good. [speaker002:] Or, uh, uh, the GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES or something like that [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] um, just because it's sheer magic. [speaker001:] Yeah, uh, my children and I, uh, I started a thing where I read a book with them before they went [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] to bed at night. And there was one called THE PIG PRINCESS, and it was a, a princess from a long, long, time ago, and she came through a, a spell kind of thing and ended up in a pig, um, sty, and the people that she came to were just farm people [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] and she didn't understand them, and they didn't understand her, but it came together in this book, and it was really a lot of fun. [speaker002:] Yes, I think that, uh, we, we,
[speaker001:] Uh, advice on son or daughter going to college. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] Uh, that's advice that I will need in time future [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] for my children, rather than one that I have, uh, personal experience with [lipsmack]. Uh, I suppose I would ask what the child wants to do in life and what the child hopes to, to get out of college [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and what sort of college would best meet, meet those needs. [speaker002:] Right, uh, let's see, when I, when I went away to school, I'm trying to think my criteria. I guess when you're, when you're eighteen or so, uh, it would be important to know if it was a coed college [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] That was a, a strict requirement for me. Uh, again what, uh, how serious a person is according to, uh, uh, you know, what, what they want to get out of school, and, uh, [lipsmack] I guess they'd have to consider how expensive the college is and how close to home, if they could handle being away for real long periods of time or if they need to be somewhere where they can drive home when they needed to get home. Uh, let's see, uh, now what was the question, what, what's the criteria for picking a college? [speaker001:] What advice [speaker002:] What advice. [speaker001:] would you give? [speaker002:] Oh, okay, uh, [speaker001:] I guess one clear-cut piece of advice is by all means visit the college campus. [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] Uh, stay in a dormitory if you can. Go to classes, talk to faculty members and students. [speaker002:] Yes, and also, uh, depending on how, uh, uh, adjustable your child would be, or, or flexible, I guess it would be, uh, if, if they chose a college in a different part of the country that maybe the, they were unused to their, that, the way they run things, I mean, the, the northern colleges are very different than the southern colleges, I think. The people are different and, uh, you have to be more flexible and more willing to, uh, uh, adjust to other people's mannerisms and customs or ways of doing things. You know, you have to be a flexible person to be able to go all the way across country to something totally different than what you're used to. Uh, [speaker001:] Yes, I'm thinking [speaker002:] You think so [LAUGHTER]? [speaker001:] what, what problems my children might have in that, uh, but I agree with you. [speaker002:] Uh, let's see, what else. Uh, well, climate would be, you know, you'd have to [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you know, is somewhat, if, uh, if it's something different than the one they're used to, I guess, uh, if they're used to the northern weather then the southern weather they might kind of feel like they need to go out and play all the time, not be [LAUGHTER] in studying [LAUGHTER]. If you're in Florida or California. Uh, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I, I'd also advise them that, uh, if mom and dad paid for their college, that, uh, if they decided to drop a course or decided that they need another year, then they'd have to get a loan to continue. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well, course [inaudible mumbling] it, it is a big factor in having an understanding of how much parents will pay and how much has to come from other sources and your willingness, one, to, to work during the summer or, or [speaker002:] That's right. [speaker001:] part time. [speaker002:] There's, [speaker001:] And two, uh, to, to take out loans to assume, uh, debt after college. [speaker002:] The, the responsibility of that. And, uh, uh, uh, they could, they could work and earn money towards college. Also if they stay within their state, you get a lot more financial aid or it's a lot cheaper if you stay within your state [speaker001:] Yes. [speaker002:] than if you go out of state to a private school, uh, and, like I said, if they was willing to work, uh, in the summers and also maybe then the parents could pay a third and then maybe they could take out a loan for a third depending on how expensive it is. By the time, I have an eleven year old is my oldest, so, it's not too far away, but it's, [speaker001:] Mine is twelve. [speaker002:] Oh, okay. But it's getting there, I mean, we still have, definitely can put away the money for college now. Uh, I would advise that, that they did not have a car at college. They would, [speaker001:] That's my gut feeling, too. I, my son is certainly not persuaded of that [pause]. Hello? [speaker002:] Yes, I'm here. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah, uh, yes, I didn't have a car in college. I [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] think it's more an in-, a burden to, to provide for. [speaker002:] I think so, too. I think, I think because most kids don't have a car at college, the ones that do get taken advantage of and, you know, there is just, I think it's just trouble waiting to happen. So I would advise they didn't, they didn't take a car and, uh [speaker001:] Is it, [speaker002:] they didn't take a television and they didn't take a refrigerator [LAUGHTER]. Maybe that, [speaker001:] Uh, I didn't do any of those, though, I [speaker002:] No, I, I, [speaker001:] feel less strongly about the T V -s and refrigerators. [speaker002:] Yeah, we didn't have,
[speaker001:] [Music] Uh, I guess my feelings are that, uh, we almost have a universal health care system, uh, to a great degree, except that now I read where we've left out about thirty-four million people. [speaker002:] [Noise] [talking] Oh. [speaker001:] And, uh, I don't know exactly how we're going to cover many of these people, because I'm sure that some of them don't, uh, don't have the wherewithal to do it themselves, so, uh, I, I have a feeling, since I have just about as good a health care coverage that anybody can get, that this, uh, then becomes an obligation of the government, because it's going to become an obligation of either state, local or federal government, anyway. [speaker002:] Yeah, because when people can't pay, they end up going to clinics or, you know, to public hospitals, and that kind of thing, and, you know, [speaker001:] Well, it seems to me that, that I'm paying anyway, because when I go, or my insurance carrier, anyway, when I pay something, the bills seem inordinately high. [speaker002:] Oh, definitely. [speaker001:] And the reason that they're inordinately high is because that has, [speaker002:] [Talking]. [speaker001:] to cover the costs for the indigent people who apparently [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] don't have the money or the wherewithal to do that. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] It would seem to spread it out a little better if the employers who, uh, employ these people, and pay them, uh, you know, subminimum wages or whatever, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] were asked to sh-, share their fair burden of this too, just as my employer is. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] [Talking] And myself, I guess. [speaker002:] Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. My only concern is what happens when you turn things over to the government, I don't know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well [speaker002:] Do they wind up with more red tape, and more problems then? [speaker001:] well, who, who else is going to do this, then? [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] I mean, it's worked successfully in Europe. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I've heard all these stories about, I travel extensively and spend, uh, maybe half a year in Europe every year, [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] and I find that the health care programs there, uh, are administered with, uh, at least people I talk to, with, uh, a great deal of integrity, and, uh, people don't seem to be reluctant to use them to any degree. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] As a matter of fact, if I'm injured or have an emergency when I'm, say in Germany or France, uh, that, I'm automatically taken care of, [speaker002:] Wow. [speaker001:] I mean I don't even have to pay. A-, [speaker002:] Yeah. Well, I think part of the, the tremendous benefit of that is that there's so many people who wait now because they don't have the money, until, you know, they have no preventative measures [LAUGHTER]. People, um, you know, just go on and on and on. I mean, so many people don't even get prenatal care or, and it just extends with i-, if it, w-, what would be a minor problem to deal with if they had a help available early on becomes just this horrendous, you know, burden on the taxpayers. They're saying now that one out of every ten child born i-, in public hospitals is addicted to crack. [speaker001:] Well I, [speaker002:] Well, you know [LAUGHTER]? [speaker001:] uh, uh, I know it. I have a solution, you see. M-, my solution, even though I'm rapidly approaching the, uh, the age when I'll qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, I, I, my mother and father both, uh, uh, well, my father's not living but my mother is, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and they are, um, of an advanced years, and when I see the money that's poured down the, down the drain on Medicare and Medicaid, I mean, the, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] absolute uncontrollable situation that we find ourselves in, and the extraordinary amounts, I know that, because those people vote, I mean, they're the ones who get out and vote, that's what's robbing a poor mother of the p-, prenatal care. The young people aren't getting the proper care that they need, and nutrition, I think, [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] and we're spending on these useless, many times useless and inordinately complex unnecessary tests in hospitals for older people. [speaker002:] Oh, it's unbelievable how much you go through. When I just had a problem with my neck and they ended up doing a seven hundred dollar CAT scan, and, I mean, a chiropractor got it in one time [LAUGHTER], [speaker001:] That's right, I mean, it does, [speaker002:] it was just strange. [speaker001:] seem like we're, th-, th-, th-, now I noticed just the other day in the paper that, that Medicare will be based, payments will be based not, uh, just on cost, but on cost effectiveness. So I gue-, [speaker002:] Oh, well, that should help. [speaker001:] Well, I don't know, uh, we'll see how that goes. [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I think that was just a regulation that was up for comment, but we'll see what happens. [speaker002:] Oh I see [LAUGHTER]. Oh, gosh. [speaker001:] Well, listen, uh, I think I've, I've exhausted my, uh, self on, at least I've blown off steam of the way I feel about it. [speaker002:] Okay, well [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Okay? [speaker002:] Okay, thank you. Bye-bye [NOISE] [talking]. [speaker001:] See you next time. Bye. [music].
[speaker001:] how do you uh manage your budget [speaker002:] well let's see we or I sit down at the uh in a on a monthly or a biweekly I get paid every two weeks so I make out a budget for every two weeks and I sit down and see how much money I have to have for my bills going out and then I compare that to uh how much money we need to make and then just set it up that way and allot this much money for everything and if we have any left over we'll uh you know buy clothes or have fun go out to eat or something and we're going to try to start saving as soon as we can we generally don't have a lot left over but as far as the long term our long-term goal is to to get out of debt [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh most most of our debts are from before we were married and we're trying to get rid of you know student loans those kinds of things [speaker001:] yeah well I in my younger years I'd always heard the adage you should uh buy as much of a house as you can afford [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] uh because of the uh improvement in real estate prices and on the last move we bought ourselves a fairly large house and I've got some pretty stiff mortgage payments now [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and uh the uh improvement in uh income and uh investments and so forth has not uh come at the rate I've expected so we're still kind of hurting by the uh high mortgage payments and we haven't gotten out from under them yet [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but uh so far we've managed to hold our own by uh trying to set up a a monthly budget [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] uh I try to take out just so much cash for me and my uh give so much cash to my wife [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] to spend on groceries and clothing and fuel for the car and then the rest of it's uh pretty much fixed expenses uh mortgage electricity uh water and uh and garbage collection and telephone bills and cable television bills and those are pretty much fixed [speaker002:] yeah yeah that's basically the kinds of bills we have are on our budget are you know the needs the have to haves and you know those kinds of things uh we don't have a lot of uh you know like JC Penny's in our in our budget and uh maybe twice a year we're to where I can let my wife go clothes shopping like that and [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] let's see my mother-in-law lives uh not too far from here so she helps with our son's clothes when she can [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and that's real good and uh well at TI I have a real good benefits package for uh uh you know like for going to the doctor and that kind of thing so that's not something I really have to put in the budget that seriously so [speaker001:] yeah no my wife's pretty good about uh grocery shopping and [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] she pitches in and uh makes clothes for the kids [speaker002:] really well that's neat [speaker001:] uh which is a big help uh one of our big problems though is handling unexpected uh uh budget items [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] like this month the uh heat pump went out and uh [speaker002:] um yeah [speaker001:] they want pretty close to three thousand dollars just to replace that [speaker002:] wow so what do you do [speaker001:] well uh we have to cut into the savings uh at this point to uh to buffer that [speaker002:] oh wow [speaker001:] and [speaker002:] well that's good that you have the savings to get into [speaker001:] then maybe we'll go for a week or two and or a month or two and then the car breaks down so it's the unexpected things that make it awful hard to control the budget [speaker002:] wow yeah that's that's the way we are we've had a lot of unexpected things just in the last uh couple months [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] that uh really hit us hard but I've been able to work enough overtime to you know really help with the with covering the expenses so but we've never been we've been married for uh nearly four years and we've never been able to save any money and I think it's just hit both of us uh just in the past few months that we need to start saving some money no matter what we do we need to put that in our budget and just start doing it [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] even if it's you know ten dollars a week and so we're going to start doing that or actually we started two paychecks ago and that was uh I think that was a really wise decision [speaker001:] well do you have some uh savings plans at work [speaker002:] no actually I'm I'm not involved in anything like that at work or uh anywhere uh I don't have anything to fall back on at all [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and I I know that's not wise but that's just uh where we're at right now my wife just went back to work part-time uh she can substitute teach at schools and uh there's so many school districts and schools here in the metroplex that uh by turning her name in if she wanted to she could work [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know everyday but we're we're just going to let her work one maybe two days a week and we're just going to apply all the money that she makes to uh uh our debts and try to get as much out of debt as fast we can [speaker001:] yeah um-hum [speaker002:] and there's and we're we're Christians and that's uh we've only been Christians for about five years but that's a a real a biblical truth in the Bible is to to not be in debt and we're really starting to see the the the reasoning behind that [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh because we're you know we're always well I can't be sick this week but one day [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] or you know this month but one day because you know our bills will catch up with us if I am or you know I can't we can't go on a two week vacation because uh I wouldn't make any overtime in two weeks so that would really hurt us financially and you know just things like that all time and you know we we really see how we're [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know indebted or nearly underneath uh the debt that we have [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know and that's that's really hard but so far we've never really uh been behind on any bills uh I had to put our student loans on hold once for about I think three months [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and we had a a cutback at work and uh this is this was a couple of years back but anyway but we're doing really good we're not saving but we're staying right even [speaker001:] well we've been looking around at uh uh trying to develop some side activities that that might help out such as uh creating some craft objects that we can market in the uh local stores [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] or uh uh making uh some dresses for children or things l ike that or even writing children's books [speaker002:] yeah that's neat oh that's neat yeah [speaker001:] and uh I tried uh this past year writing uh journal articles but uh I found out it cost me more than the the honorariums I got for writing them [speaker002:] wow oh wow because of the time [speaker001:] uh well especially the first one because I wound up buying a lot of reprints for handouts and I ate up all my profits with uh [speaker002:] wow right [speaker001:] buying reprints [speaker002:] right wow yeah my my wife made uh a whole lot of crafts last year for Christmas presents [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and we didn't uh you know have to allot any well hardly very very much money anyway for Christmas just for our uh personal family just me and her and our son and I think her mom and that was really you know about it we we made everything else that uh we gave for Christmas last year [speaker001:] um-hum yeah [speaker002:] and she did really good with that [speaker001:] oh we thought we were going to be pretty tight with Christmas this past year [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but uh we have a family dog that uh ate all of the children's toys so coming up to Christmas time the girls didn't have any toys so we had to go out and [speaker002:] oh wow wow oh no [speaker001:] and get them a whole new set of playthings [speaker002:] wow [speaker001:] now I don't know how the dog has fared eating all that plastic and uh and stuffed animal stuffing but he's still here [speaker002:] wow wow that's pretty pretty bizarre the dog ate the Christmas presents that's funny well anyway what uh is the economy doing pretty good there where you're at [speaker001:] so far it's uh doing fairly well uh we're in the metropolitan Washington area and uh I guess most of the area is still living off the federal government with uh beltway bandit type contracts uh our company is uh done fairly well [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and uh [speaker002:] yeah what company is it [speaker001:] I'm with the Melpar division of E-Systems [speaker002:] oh of E-Systems okay [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I see what do you all make [speaker001:] uh we're primarily in the uh uh systems integrations business [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] selling to the government
[speaker001:] I know uh that Texas laws are more uh what's the word I want more real I think realistic because they do believe in capital punishment and they do every once in awhile exercise that [speaker002:] that's true [speaker001:] uh we're as I said Indiana's very conservative and I cannot remember the last time anyone was electrocuted or whatever method they use nowadays to carry out a death sentence [speaker002:] do they have a law on the books up there [speaker001:] they have uh uh you know I'm just not even aware of what the law is it's uh been so long since anyone was executed that it might be legal but it's not done [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] my husband would know whether it's legal or not but I am not very [speaker002:] so what's your uh opinion on capital punishment [speaker001:] I believe in capital punishment for certain crimes do you [speaker002:] yes uh [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] there's you know there are some things just that just are inexcusable [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] brutal crimes serial serial serial crimes things like that [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um you know to me the punishment doesn't even fit the crime but you can't get any worse [speaker001:] uh-huh they uh I think to me I think they have to come to that with uh as you say brutal crimes because of the prison system being so crowded that seems like just because you don't have a place to put someone doesn't seem like a very logical reason to kill someone else which of course is what it is but I think it would be a detriment to crime or would be a deterrent to crime because I know someone who's mad isn't going to think well gosh I can't do this or they'll put me away but somehow I think if the punishment doesn't fit the crime the crime's more likely to happen [speaker002:] right I think in a way it's unfortunate they've come up with with nice ways to um execute people I guess to me if if I was a uh potential serial killer or something it wouldn't stop me to be uh to die of lethal injection I mean it's as painless as you can go [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I mean I think if I was in a bad accident and they gave me the option I might say yeah you know give me an injection but uh [speaker001:] go with it huh you think they should go back to crucifixion then [speaker002:] I don't know about that um but uh you know the electric chair on the other hand is probably a pretty painful way to go I don't know [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] I don't know personally I'll never be in that position [speaker001:] well we certainly hope not [speaker002:] so but I don't I think it should be something that is that is a deterrent that's something that that that's scary and it's something that's going to make you make you be afraid to uh afraid of the consequences [speaker001:] do you think uh you know uh lately they've had oh in the last few years they've had some cases where women have killed abusive husbands do you think that they should be faced with the death penalty [speaker002:] depends on the nature of the abuse and I really don't uh you know that that's it's something that's got to be evaluated on an individual case you know because [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] there's there's really no excuse for abuse but then there are other options there are ways to get out [speaker001:] it does happen though doesn't it [speaker002:] yeah I mean there you would hope but I guess it's really a it's easy to say but uh you'd hope that someone in that situation would you know get out there are enough support groups enough you know over the century over the last decade or so anyway there's been [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you know you don't have to kill your uh kill your husband because he's beating you up all the time you can can leave and have support it's not like you'd be stuck on the streets [speaker001:] yeah even in our small town of five thousand we now have a crisis center and it's been in existence for five years so even in this area where you would think there might not be the help uh there is help for women who are abused or children who are abused or whatever uh I can't imagine uh a mother standing by and watching something destructive happen to her children but I have a friend who's is a school teacher and she has a nine year old girl in her room who is suffering abuse and the mother is aware of it and is not protecting the child which just makes your skin crawl to even think about it but [speaker002:] this is almost as much of a crime and I guess and I guess I don't know it's to me it's almost as much of a crime to just let it go [speaker001:] yes yes she's as guilty as he is [speaker002:] and I think I guess it gets back to if if if a woman kills her husband because he's been brutalizing her or her children there's maybe more of a reason and it's not an irrational you know just a brutal crime for the sake of just I don't know without a conscience or something like like some of these [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker002:] that's kind of what I think what capital punishment should be for is you know somebody that's just you know missing something upstairs or just goes out and you know rapes and brutalizes a woman and turns around and does it again [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and it's like there's just no excuse you there's no reason I should pay for this person to spend the rest of his life in in prison [speaker001:] so you think our our uh values have to come down to dollars and cents [speaker002:] no but I don't think uh I don't think it's right for somebody to uh for me to to uh pay for something I mean the way the way it is right now the prisons are overcrowded [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] and we're giving people that aren't going to change we're just we're just housing them until they die [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and if they've you know caused as much pain and suffering as they have for for no reason and they're going to do it again if they get the chance [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] it just just doesn't seem uh [speaker001:] I guess the most frightening thing to me uh you're probably young enough that you've not aware of the Richard Speck case uh it happened in uh the Chicago area but it was certainly broadcast nationwide he broke into this uh complex uh apartment complex and killed these seven nurses and every once in awhile you know one of them did survive she crawled under a bed and he missed her somehow and she did survive and she did identify him and there is no doubt that this is the man who did that and every once in awhile he comes up for parole and it's scary to think that some board is sitting there trying to decide whether he is [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] rehabilitated to the point that he can go back out in society when these young twenty twenty two twenty three year old nurses are all dead it just doesn't seem he should I think have made that his life should have been sacrificed for what he took as you say the punishment has to fit the crime doesn't it [speaker002:] uh it's just like uh back in California the Charles Manson thing [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and of course he'll never I don't think he'll ever get out on parole just because it was so well publicized [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but uh you know he comes up every so often [speaker001:] uh-huh or Sirhan Sirhan and [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] yeah of course also believe in deportation but that's another subject isn't it [speaker002:] maybe they ought to have an island out in the middle of the ocean we can drop them all off [speaker001:] take them back to Australia the way the English used to do [speaker002:] yeah Australia might not care for that these days [speaker001:] I see they've gotten a little narrow-minded about things like that [speaker002:] on an island so far away there's no chance they can ever get off [speaker001:] yeah nice talking to you bye-bye [speaker002:] yes alrighty bye
[speaker001:] well I guess um I'll start out and that is um I don't know what section of the public school system they're talking about whether it's the first eight grades the high school or colleges I have mixed views on all three of them [speaker002:] um-hum what do you think about what do you think about the the lower grades you know K through seven [speaker001:] well I I I should imagine the lower grades what would what what's what's certainly drawn everyone's attention to that is the fact that uh many of the inner city and uh I guess what we'd call uh ghetto or poorer districts including rural districts [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] don't seem to be able to produce the students that indeed indeed many uh manufacturing and other enterprises want they can't seem to they can't seem to read properly do math properly and conform to what employers want [speaker002:] right um-hum yep I uh [speaker001:] so that's got everybody excited high schools I'm not too sure it seems that high schools at least produce candidates uh although although I have great misgivings about the SATs that go on to a variety of colleges it seems a great deal of our public colleges have foreign students in them uh from um a myriad of nations and uh and also um uh I think that uh a certain percentage of uh the colleges produce a fairly decent uh public colleges produce a fairly decent student or fairly decent graduate [speaker002:] um-hum yeah I I I just read some things recently where um uh colleges now uh graduate programs in general now train basically they're fifty percent foreign [speaker001:] oh I didn't realize it was that high [speaker002:] uh all just about fifty when you consider um when you consider uh [speaker001:] wow [speaker002:] especially in technical areas science engineering and computers yeah especially in those areas it's um I know it's it's almost fifty per cent foreign like forty eight percent and that involves both Canadian [speaker001:] yeah well that's what I was going to point out I think it mostly is that technical yeah [speaker002:] and uh uh European Middle Eastern and and Far Eastern yeah I I think um I I think I have similar views that's you know where our elementary grades um [speaker001:] wow [speaker002:] it it's amazing I have a friend who's an elementary who's an elementary school teacher and she said that they recently [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know they have to go through they have to they have to pat the kids down because they bring guns to school she teaches in the city of Baltimore and that [speaker001:] yeah yeah that yeah that must be an inner school I just read a an amazing article I guess in this month's New this week's New Yorker about Baltimore [speaker002:] um-hum yeah um-hum [speaker001:] uh which uh went on to talk about I don't know I thought it was rather slanted in favor of the mayor or or or the politicians in the in there I do I do I do know a few people and have been have done some business up in Baltimore [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but it seemed to me that the inner school system there was the one thing that didn't system the inner city school system was the one thing that didn't flower too well they talked about individual cases of people trying hard but it was very difficult [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] I I I I think if I was going to fault it now if I'm I'm looking to carry on a conversation [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] that way I think there's a couple of things that really bother me I think when I learned the other day uh uh that uh the average American the average American now watches seven point two hours of television a day [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and that school children uh are are not far off that mark with six point eight now I don't know what school children what year that is I mean that's a hell of a lot time to be sitting in front of the tube [speaker002:] right yeah and and it's uh uh it's really you know kids can't read um it's really sad they you know by the time they my wife teaches uh middle school yeah and and they can't yeah by the time they get there they can't read they they they can't read anything [speaker001:] well I yeah really oh so you're close to the subject and yet you know I have grandchildren I have ten uh nine grandchildren uh in various parts of the country and of course you know I can't speak to the [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] rural or poorer inner city schools these kids go to a fairly they live in a fairly nice upper scale neighborhood and they seem to be doing extraordinarily well I I I mean I quiz them and I talk to them and they [speaker002:] yeah yeah um-hum [speaker001:] they read well they do everything well but I I I mean I think that's a that's part of the environment [speaker002:] yeah I think it's it's probably the work that your your children your children are doing uh um [speaker001:] yeah that that that that could be very well true [speaker002:] she she's yeah she can tell [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] she can tell you know when they have kids come in for they meet with all of the parents and she can tell before a parent comes in normally you know give or take eighty ninety percent [speaker001:] right yes really yeah [speaker002:] you know what the parents are going to be like when they come in and the responses the parents will give back oh yeah [speaker001:] no kidding oh I I I yeah I guess I could I can understand that oh I'm a product of the New York City public school system from fifty years ago uh maybe not that long ago but and um and so I I [speaker002:] um-hum yeah [speaker001:] always felt I didn't get a real good education in the public in the grammar schools and part of high school [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so I lived in New England at the time I sent all my children to prep school I was I well I didn't have that much money but we struggled and we did it and I thought it [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] I thought a great deal of it was a great deal of the success that they had in their education was due to the low student teacher ratio [speaker002:] I think I think it's probably very true [speaker001:] and I I I think that could that's a formula that could be applied everywhere except it must cost a heck of a lot of money if you do it in public school [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum but you know surprisingly I I because you put such a commitment on education um your children probably could have gone to schools with uh uh a higher [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] student teacher ratio and still done well because when they would come home you and your wife would say you know what did you do today if we let's sit down and read together yeah um-hum [speaker001:] yeah yeah yeah well that that that's that that must be then then if that's uh I think we both agree on that then then then then a parent parental involvement has to be there and I guess you got to take them away from the tube also another thing that I have another [speaker002:] yeah oh it's parental yep um-hum yeah [speaker001:] problem I have is uh I don't really know how to resolve this but is the incredible at least in the high school and college level emphasis on sports where enormous amounts of money are spent and it seems to me that money money could be more well well spent somewhere else [speaker002:] but you know you know what's really funny is that they there's been some research because I'm a I'm a college professor and um uh and and [speaker001:] yeah oh yeah [speaker002:] well a lot of the research shows that like Georgetown while Ewing was playing at Georgetown basketball Georgetown [speaker001:] yeah right right right right [speaker002:] and they were winning [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] endowment to the university in other words money that could to everything everything and normally gets directed away from sports realistically a lot of the was uh was probably two thirds I guess it's now two thirds of what it was when they were national champions in other words while they're national champions people donate more money [speaker001:] yeah yeah right [speaker002:] average human beings like you and I average Joes that make a decent salary that are a graduate of the school send big bucks like couple hundreds of dollars but thousands of people [speaker001:] right but I mean it right to to what uh to sports you say other things than sports though [speaker002:] because no because normally it's because of the sports [speaker001:] yeah I know but I mean they don't just send it to the new stadium or [speaker002:] right right but see the sports brings in the money [speaker001:] really I well I guess they're [speaker002:] because when Georgetown was number one their their their money money that was donated to them from companies from from local from business people from graduates whatever was up into you know like twenty million dollars and now it's down to like fourteen million [speaker001:] right right right yeah [speaker002:] during that time period in other other words [speaker001:] well I never thought of that benefit [speaker002:] their income has slowly their their alumni alumni giving and other funds have slowly dropped since then [speaker001:] yeah well I I never thought of that benefit but the consequence then I my I guess what I'd have to say about that is there can only be one champion [speaker002:] um-hum yeah yeah that's yeah it's it's amazing the way but now that's big time yeah but but uh smaller schools aren't like that uh only only the big time schools show that but you're right I I think the emphasis on sports and as a see I'm a I'm a I'm a former athlete in a sense I swam [speaker001:] isn't that something though I didn't realize that no yeah yeah yeah [speaker002:] but swimming never gets much glory so it really doesn't matter but [speaker001:] well Mark Spitz made a lot of money out of it and he didn't and he came back this year didn't he but he didn't make it ah [speaker002:] that's true that's true but you know they still he didn't make it no I I would have liked it if he if he would have though but I think uh realistically you know you read the the research studies and uh I don't think he would have made it simply because [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] the well the event he was trying to swim they even the research shows that distance running [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so I would assume distance swimming might be similar that and he was good at distance splits as a swimmer you know at I can remember that but the distance um [speaker001:] well [speaker002:] the the distance strength and endurance or whatever sort of starts to peak at about twenty eight twenty nine thirty that's why some of your long distance runners were in their late early thirties [speaker001:] right right [speaker002:] and but he's was trying to make it in the sprinter's event and most of them are under twenty five [speaker001:] right well I read I I also read I we're getting off the subject here a bit but I I do want to add this to that because I I was quite interested in that myself but I read where the reason that he had to do this in the sprint events is that national television wouldn't pay [speaker002:] um-hum yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] for the long distance events and they didn't think they could capture the excitement to get sponsors if you brought just the finish here he comes down the finish line right [speaker002:] oh you're kidding [speaker001:] so it had to be it had to be where they could put it in one segment and get and and I guess capture the whole thing for some sponsor [speaker002:] jeez and that's [speaker001:] let me ask you another question [speaker002:] as as an athlete I just hate that go head yeah what were saying what were you saying [speaker001:] yeah well if if you teach college uh college and and I know when I went to college I I went to summer school and I thought that uh in fact that uh my my idea of it was uh rather than [speaker002:] yeah um-hum [speaker001:] rather than finish early I just enjoyed some of the subjects that I was taking and I had the ability to to go in summer school and I I didn't take those subjects so what that leads me my next thought is I understand there's a lot of talk now about extending the school year which seems inordinately short anyway compared to the Japanese or the Germans [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum right yeah I think I think [speaker001:] well how do you think that would work in grammar schools and [speaker002:] I think uh in in some sense um what I would do before I would extend a school year is I would make it better before I would continue the agony [speaker001:] yeah yeah that's right yeah [speaker002:] and something you have to consider too um because I know as as a as a as a former high school teacher I know that from right now
[speaker001:] Okay, what do you think are some current trends in, uh, the way families spend time together, based on what you've seen. [speaker002:] Um, I, I think that it's getting to where they're not spending time together. [speaker001:] Yeah [breathing] [heavily]. [speaker002:] Um, I think, uh, like in my situation, today, on a weekend when couples are supposed to spend time together, my husband's been off doing his thing all day today, and I've been off doing my thing all day [barking] and I haven't seen him since eight o'clock this morning. [speaker001:] Really. [speaker002:] So, uh. [speaker001:] Are you newly married, or, [speaker002:] Um, two years. [speaker001:] Yeah. Same, same situation here, I've been married about ten months, so. Yeah, I can, I can, I know what you mean. [speaker002:] It's, it's really hard, hard to find time to spend together when you both work full time and, uh, you both have hobbies that are different. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] you know, if you have hobbies that are the same, then, you know, you can enjoy your hobby together, but my husband and I have different hobbies. [speaker001:] Is he a hunter and a fisher and all that. [speaker002:] No, no, he's a record collector and a Hot Wheels collector. [speaker001:] [Cough]. That's we-, that's wild. [speaker002:] Um, so he was off today, uh, looking at, at records. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] So, uh, and I was off, you know, doing, you know, hou-, household type things. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] You know, laundry and, um, did some shopping and stuff. [speaker001:] Um, from the people I've talked to, I don't know if I should bring this into it, but, um, a lot of the dads said that they would probably choose careers that are more, um, where they could manage their own schedule and, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] uh, they could spend more time with their kids because they look back and, you know, they're all like, um, kind of regretful, I think. [speaker002:] Yeah, I, I think, I think that would be the ideal situation, [speaker001:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker002:] I think that would be the ideal situation. I think that a lot of people, like in my case I, I do shift work. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I don't, I don't have that choice. [speaker001:] Yeah, same here. [speaker002:] Um, I have to be at work at, at X hour, you know, at just, at, at a certain hour and I can't, it's not flexible. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Um, it, it would be nice to be able to have flexible hours and, and maybe after we decide to have kids I, I might find a job that has flexible hours. I woul-, I hope so anyway. Um, but I would, I don't know. [speaker001:] At T I, is that where you work? [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] It's really kind of sad, some of the people that I work with they, like when I worked on second shift, um, their paren-, their kids go to school during the day and then they wouldn't see them at night, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] because they would be in, you know, at work and the kids are all ready in bed. And so it was kind of like, they see their kids for fifteen minutes and the same with their spouses. This relative may work even a weirder shift like weekends, or something, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] So it was really sad, jus-, you know that a lot of families, um, have to, well, you know, have to have dual income. A lot of people choose to, which is fine. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But, uh, you know, then the kids kind of suffer. [speaker002:] Yeah, I, ideally, it wo-, it would be nice to be able to just have, like, back in the old days, [speaker001:] Uh-huh, huh [said strangely, high pitched]. [speaker002:] you know, back like whe-, when I grew up, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] you know, the, the mom stayed home, you know, and raised the kids. My mom didn't go back to work until I was in junior high school. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Um, so she was there pretty much all my, you know, formative years. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And that was nice and I liked that and I would hope that I would be able to give that to my kids. [speaker001:] Uh. [speaker002:] But I think with the way the future is, um, economy wise, I don't think it's going to be realistic. [speaker001:] I know. Unfortunately, that's probably true. Um, do you think s-, the, the parents spend quality time with their kids are do you think it's more like watching T V and stuff like that, not really, uh... [speaker002:] I, yeah, I, I think that, I think very few spend quality time. I think most of the time the kids are usually off watching cartoons or playing video games or stuff, stuff like that. [speaker001:] Yeah [dishes]. [speaker002:] I think that, um, uh, most, most kids that I see don't really, they don't really value quality time. [speaker001:] Yeah [pause] it's always that way unti-, until it's too late. [speaker002:] Until, until they're older and then they look back. [speaker001:] Yeah, it's true, um. What's, what are some other questions they have, , I'm not sure. I know [breathing] my parents are growing up, I guess they never spent much time watching T V. In fact, I've never seen my mom turn on the T V, we didn't really have one. [speaker002:] Oh really. [speaker001:] Yeah, and, and they spent a lot of time like outside with us and stuff, but, you know, my dad had his own business and it was easier for them to do that, but, I, I don't know, it was, I guess I didn't realize what a luxury it was at the time. [speaker002:] I, I think kids now a days are raised on T V. I mean that's, that's almost like a surog-, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] T V -s a surrogate parent. [speaker001:] Yeah, that's a good way to put it. [speaker002:] And not a, and not a very good one at that. [speaker001:] Yeah, that's a pretty good way to put it [throat clearing]. If I had kids, well if you had kids, what kind of things do you hope to do? [Noise] [sounds like paper rustling]. [speaker002:] Um, I, I hope to, of course, be able to teach them right from wrong. I hope, I hope to be able to spend, um, their growing up years, being in the home, you know, not having to work. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Um, and being able to do, I, I, I know a lot of people wh-, who, um, um, I work part-time also, and I a lot of people that I work for are, mothers that stay home. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Um, and they, they do a lot of volunteer work and they're real active in the community and, um, they do a lot of things with their kids that they wouldn't ordinarily be able to do if they were working. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And I'd, I'd like to be able to do that. I'd like to be able to stay home and be able to spend time with my kids. [speaker001:] Do volunteer work and, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] be in clubs and stuff, yeah, I agree. I hope that happens, in my case. [speaker002:] Yeah, but, I think that's for the, the few and far between. I think that, uh, probably ninety percent of the, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] of the, um parents out there are, are probably working parents. [speaker001:] Yeah. Huh [sigh]. [speaker002:] And I, I don't, I don't really see that, that trend changing much, if anything, I think, [speaker001:] I know. [speaker002:] there's going to be fewer and fewer, uh, single income families. [speaker001:] Yeah, and what's sad about that is day cares end up instilling values in your kids. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] That may not necessarily be consistent with yours. [speaker002:] Exactly. See I, I never, I don't even know what day care is really all about because I, I never went to a day care center, [speaker001:] Yeah [throat clearing]. [speaker002:] I never, I never had that kind of experience. [speaker001:] Huh. I, well I don't even think we had [cough], I don't even remember them being around when we were little. [speaker002:] Yeah, I, I see, it seems like that's, that's a big trend, you know, in the last ten years. Day cares have, have, have popped up and become a lot more, um, a lot bigger part of, of the kids' lives. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] It's like a home away from home for a lot of them. [speaker001:] Sure, is, um, [breathing], well, [pause]. I guess we could ring this off since we, we've exhausted all of our ideas, we seem to agree. [speaker002:] Yeah, I, I think, yeah I think this is a good closing point. [speaker001:] Yeah, so, [speaker002:] Well it was really nice talking to you. [speaker001:] Yeah, you too, I wish you the best. [speaker002:] Thanks you too. [speaker001:] Okay thanks. [speaker002:] Uh, bye, bye-bye. [speaker001:] Bye-bye.
[speaker001:] well this is kind of ironic because I work in TI's legal department [speaker002:] do you [speaker001:] and although we don't have any criminal actions here we do have other um lawsuits that do go to trial from time to time [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and uh when was it a couple weeks ago I was asked to go to uh jury duty I I wasn't selected but um for some of our cases in particular we have um very technical cases from time to time because of like our patents and such [speaker002:] sure [speaker001:] and it's very difficult for lay people for somebody who might just you know happen to be selected in our jury to understand what we're talking about [speaker002:] well I do think that the cases like the uh oh say something like Texaco versus Pennzoil or or the Texaco Pennzoil problem [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker002:] uh is ridiculous for people just taken off the street to understand and really should have some better way where people who understand both the circumstances and the complex issues involved [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] should handle cases like that [speaker001:] yeah you know some instances I don't you always have the option now in criminal I guess you always have a jury but in civil cases you have the option of whether you want a jury or not [speaker002:] oh is that right [speaker001:] yeah and in some incidences I think they ought to ought not to have a jury um [speaker002:] yeah oh boy or uh or there should be some way where it could be opted for them not to have a jury uh I was only on one jury ever so far in my life and uh it really was a pretty trivial case and it seemed to me all the time I was thinking of all these people in the courtroom over this [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] case that involved oh a couple thousand dollars I think it was [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] really just uh uh terrific waste of everybody's time and money [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] and it finally ended up that uh even though we had reached a verdict before we were allowed to give it they settled the case [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] they would they had settled while we were deliberating [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] now the one thing I did approve of there was that we didn't have to be unanimous because it was a civil case [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh we were split uh ten to two so it was uh a good thing that it wasn't a total waste of time to have a hung jury on a case that trivial [speaker001:] yeah well um I've never fully served I mean I've been asked twice to go down but I didn't get elected on the panel but I know that um for a lot of the civil cases it's rare I mean if your a lawyer um there you could be a lawyer who never actually gets into the courtroom there's a lot of attorneys like that that never get to the courtroom [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] some their kind of law doesn't get them to the courtroom but even in um litigation which is doing lawsuits is a lot of times that you never get to the courtroom itself and [speaker002:] well I think that the trial in a sense is kind of a threat to hold over people to try to get them to reach an agreement out of court because it does cost so much money [speaker001:] yeah but it's a shame that oh it's not so bad for the court system because the money there isn't being spent but there's awful lot of money in time and effort spent in preparing for trial only to then finally get scared enough by going to the court and usually it's the scare kind of of the jury because you really don't know one way or the other how that jury is going to feel you could feel that you really have a very strong case [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and that you're very much right but the jury may or may not see it that way so you get a little anticipate you know anxious there and go well you know [speaker002:] sure yeah [speaker001:] well you know I don't feel that sure and who knows what the jury will say because sometimes you know the juries come down with a result and you go gee [speaker002:] yeah I was a witness in a case in a criminal case and it was absolutely horrifying to me how that operated because so much evidence was excluded [speaker001:] uh-huh um [speaker002:] and that the jury was never allowed to hear and they convicted the defendant on as far as I could tell very flimsy evidence and two perjured testimonies [speaker001:] oh really [speaker002:] and I knew the people involved both the people who perjured and the people who uh were defendants [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and yeah I think that was just a a horrible miscarriage of justice because of the uh you know staying by the absolute strict rules and not allowing things to be presented to the jury that uh were highly relevant to the case and could I thought have established the defendant's innocence [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so uh I do although I'm a lawyer's daughter and I have lawyer's and judges on both sides of the family and uncles and cousins and things like that I really [speaker001:] oh is that right [speaker002:] think that we have gotten into much too legalistic of society and that we we spend far too much on the fine points of the law and far too little on achieving justice [speaker001:] yeah and it seems a lot of times that uh especially in criminals that their rights are so protected but what about the rights of you know the rest of society I mean we're protecting this person's rights who has broken the law [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um and we protect him so much but what about the rest of the society you know what are we doing for them we're kind of you know forgetting about them and I think sometimes that a criminal should kind of if he breaks law especially it he's a repeater the law shouldn't just always cover for him that some of his rights as should be taken [speaker002:] well and then in a lot of yeah in criminal cases uh for instance you can't bring up prior convictions unless they are somehow directly related to the case and it seems to me that a jury can make a much more rational decision if they know somebody had fifteen convictions for a similar crime [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] yeah and now it's possible that he didn't commit this one but the likelihood is certainly tilted [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] with a record like that and uh that was one of the things that we're not allowed to was not allowed in the uh trial I went to though uh one of the two people who gave the perjured testimony [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] had a long criminal record and had been you know a real sleaze bag [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] and he came in and was presented to the court as a fine upstanding young man who had uh been in seminary to become a priest and yeah you would have thought the guy was just pure as the driven snow but I happen to know his background and I know that he would have sold out his mother for uh uh shorter sentence [speaker001:] jeez [speaker002:] and you know it's it's really annoying when the I asked the defense attorney later why he didn't bring up all this other trouble the guy had been in he said that that was barred uh by the court [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] so we do have some problems and it seems to me that uh maybe it's time to just scrap all the case law and go back to general principles and start over and then make a legal system that carefully protects people but uh where [speaker001:] yeah I'd even go for for trying to get some truth out of the witness stand if they come up with some pretty reliable uh lie detector tests that we can see right then and there whether they're lying or telling the truth [speaker002:] yeah yeah that would be helpful [speaker001:] yeah you know [speaker002:] sure would [speaker001:] yeah I witnessed one trial many years ago when I was first um studying to be a paralegal and uh uh they barred priors on this uh person and they never then told us I guess because priors had a reason as to why these two people were very much in hatred of each other [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] and they never told us why these two people had such a vendetta against each other and the crime was uh uh attempt to commit murder you know and [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] but they never told us why these people were mad at each other and gee you know that's [speaker002:] and you think that would be relevant [speaker001:] yeah you know because they they told us in school that you know crime has to be an intent you know has to be not just the act but you have to intend to do it because there could be accidental kind of things you know [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] but they never told us why these two people hated themselves or if one had done something to you know really aggravate the other there was never any motive [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] given and and I had a tough time with that and and being a person who saw what the jury didn't plus what the jury did because we were just observing you know there in the courtroom [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] at the end of it all I still didn't know I still have a lot of reasonable doubts and I've seen everything presented [speaker002:] yeah right [speaker001:] and you know they just haven't done a real complete case here to my thinking [speaker002:] uh-huh I think so and uh and [speaker001:] I don't know that I want to sit on a jury like that and you'd still you know I want ask some questions here [speaker002:] yeah that's something I thought would be a very good idea of when juries come in they are told just to shut up and listen [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and it seems to me that you'd get a lot more uh information if your questions were heard if you were allowed to ask the witnesses things or if or the lawyers things or even the judge [speaker001:] uh-huh right [speaker002:] but particularly the witnesses [speaker001:] right yeah allow them to uh go back and and deliberate and uh you know after each days proceedings come out with some questions that they want answered like the next day bring those people back [speaker002:] or if they would allow them to uh give broader answers they it's really kind of uh choreographed it's like a script has been written when people testify they aren't testifying really in their own words [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] yeah I can remember friends of daddy
[speaker001:] Okay, so do you all keep a budget? [speaker002:] No, we don't. [speaker001:] You don't? [speaker002:] No, I, I make so much money here at T I that, that we just spend it. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And we never have a problem meeting it from paycheck to paycheck. It's pretty neat being that independently wealthy and working for a major semi-conductor firm, you can just spend it well. [speaker001:] Are you being smart, or are you serious? [speaker002:] I'm being facetious. I'm being very comical. Uh, we have a budget, um [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] that works well. I kind of look at it for more of a, we have a financial, uh, analyst, a finance administrator, I guess, that, that, uh, I guess the financial planners, the training now. We've had it for about four years here. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Got our businesses and, and, and our life in line, how to manage credit cards, how to put away, say for, you know, money markets and this kind of thing. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, there's some freebies out there are you should put ten to fifteen percent of your monthly bring home [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] in some sort of savings account. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] That being money market, uh, bonds,, savings, uh, or just a liquid account [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] which, which we do. Um, you should always have three months of your salary in a savings account in case there's a major need for that. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Okay. You should always have an umbrella permit that bridges your life insurance and your medical and your, uh, uh, car insurance in case you run into a lawyer and you break his arm. He's going to sue the pants off of you. These kind of things are about a hundred dollars a year. So [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you know, these are all equivalent to the monthly budget things. Some of them are there to pacify situations. And some of them are there to prevent things from happening. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] But, uh, I guess we kind of got away from about the last sixteen months as far as saying, two hundred dollars for food and three hundred dollars for this and two hundred for that because we had a child which is about a year old, and then [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] uh, we've just been kind of working on, I've been developing it, but it's kind of hard. Diaper prices are going up, you know, and formula and stuff, you know. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] That's funny. Yeah, we have a, we're twenty eight, and he's been working at T I for five years, and that was pretty much his first real, really major job of any, you know, professional, because he had worked, you know, part time during school and what not, and, uh, he was a little late graduating, so we're, you know, uh, and we have a nine and a half year old son, and it's because, you know, we were eighteen when we had him, so, we're, we're kind of looking at this from the other aspect of, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] we, you know, we have a lot for, to be our age and, you know, just everything, and having the responsibilities we've had on us for, at such a young age. You know, we have a, like a nice house. People, you know, are really shocked at how nice everything is in our house. But, we don't, you know, live in a brand new house, either, maybe a ninety, hundred thousand dollar house [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] but we're in a thirty year old house that would probably sell for forty-five thousand. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] So, you know, we have trade-offs. So we're more, we have a monthly budget with this, this, this, this. But, we have no savings, which isn't real wise, but we just, we don't have the income at this time really to have any, because we have three debts that we're trying to pay off from both of our student loans. We're still paying [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] trying to pay those off. And we have one car payment that we don't, I think we have about thirteen months left on it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And after that, we either, what we want to do is begin doubling up our car payment, um, they'll pay, our car payment is equivalent to both of our student loans. So what we want to do is next year keep driving the same cars and, um, pay on the student loans, split that car payment in half and pay, you know, double up payments on both our loans. And it'll work out perfect. [speaker002:] Do you have your, uh, loans through the Texas Credit Union? [speaker001:] No, we don't. [speaker002:] Okay. Thing about the credit union is, it's, the way it's set up is if you have two thousand dollars left, let's say, on, on the loan. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] If you go up there and write them a two thousand dollar check it doesn't all go towards principal. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] They take out for the, for the finances [speaker001:] Uh. [speaker002:] the finance charge, which is kind of, you know, it's like one of these lose or swim type of credit, one of those loans is. Not really the best in the world, but. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] But, you know, they're, uh, since your husband is, is, is, um, a T I -er but doesn't have the loans with the credit union, they're offering something that might be worth [speaker001:] Really. [speaker002:] taking a gander at. I don't know what your percent is on your, on your car payments [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] but they are, they'll take any T I non-credit union loan [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] like if you have a fourteen percent loan for a new car. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] They'll take it and refinance it and put it with Texas Credit Union at I think it's a ten and a quarter percent. [speaker001:] Oh, really. [speaker002:] Which is not a bad deal. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] One of the secretaries we have down here is paying twelve percent through G M A C or something. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And she's doing it. I mean, it's not like, it's like. [speaker001:] Does she have to pay to have it refinanced? [speaker002:] I think they even cover that because they want you [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] as a [speaker001:] T I -er to, [speaker002:] they want the T I -er to be part of the credit union. [speaker001:] See, we got ripped off buying our new car. We both come out of, uh, drugs and stuff, and we became Christians about five years ago. Right when he got home from Terrell. Right before he got hired for T I, he had gotten saved and stuff, and so, I mean, when you get come out of drugs and stuff, you have nothing, I mean, you know, you don't have anything. You have the clothes on your back, and you might have a car, and that kind of thing. And so, when he, when he started working at T I, we, uh, you know, we really felt like God told us to buy a new car because he had an older car that was going to need to be fixed and high gas. But we got ripped off on it because we wanted it financed at four years, and we were young and we'd look about nineteen. People still think we're about, they ask us where we go to high school when we get our hair cut and stuff, both of us. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] And so, it's just kind of strange, you know, so five years ago we probably looked like real ding dongs, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] So we went in, and the financed the car for five, and we didn't know that. We got kind of taken, just a little bit. So we're kind of upset that we're having to, you know, pay this fifth year on the car, because it was just not a wise thing. But we learned a good lesson. So, you know. [speaker002:] Well, five years is not that, uh, five years is not that bad of a problem only because you're paying more interest, but your payments are lower. [speaker001:] Yeah, but they, they would have only been about twenty dollars a month higher, and he want-, [speaker002:] Oh, really. [speaker001:] Yeah, he just told me this last week that he, he said, don't you remember I asked them to finance it at four years and they came back and they said that they had it figured for five and we'd already signed the papers. And I maybe, I might have been there. I don't remember hearing that. But, I also wasn't the one in charge of it, so I wasn't paying as close of attention. [speaker002:] Sure. [speaker001:] But, anyway, instead of putting our foot down about it, we just went, okay, whatever, you know. So anyway, so next time we'll do that different. We want to next time pay cash for our car, too. We want to pay cash for everything we can possibly do. When we buy a house, we attended a Bill financial seminar, and he has a lot of wisdom on that, just on Biblical, you know, principles to [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] finance. He runs a big, the largest real estate company in Fort Worth debt free. And we really believe in debt free living and debt free car buying and debt free house buying. And if we do take out a loan on a house in the future, what we'll do is pay twice a, twice a month on it, and, because you save a lot in interest, just doing that. [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] And then, [speaker002:] You save a lot. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] If, if, if, if, and you need to be very careful, if the loan is set up to have bi, they call it a yuppie loan, if it's set up for bimonthly [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] payments. If you, because you'll save fifteen to seventeen years off the end of the loan. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Sev-, I'm sorry, seven to nine years off the end of the loan. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] And there are, there is a local firm that'll actually, if, if, like in my situation, I don't have that, because the loan was not available. I can have, this firm will pick up my loan for a six hundred fifty dollar fee. So I can cut that much off the end of, but I'm not interested because we're moving out of the house next year. [speaker001:] Oh really. [speaker002:] Yeah. But, uh, those are all great. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] The, the interesting thing, we're getting ready to have a house built [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] it's not, a lot of the firms that offer, mortgage loan firms, aren't offering, um, that loan. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You can ask and you can wheel and deal, but it's not as [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] open as it should be. It's a great idea. Hell, I'd love to cut ours in half, but, uh [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] man. And if you figure, get with a financial person. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And you can figure up exactly when like the eighteenth month of a loan, if you make like a four hundred dollar payment over and above your house payment [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] it'll make, uh, it has a magic with numbers. It, I, it'll shave almost, you know, X number of dollars off, [speaker001:] Right. Yeah, we real-, we've become aware of that. We have a, there's a loan officer through our church, too, that I think could help us better. You know, he does that full time with the bank, you know. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And so we're going to use people that we're in a relationship with that we know, that, you know, we know are people of integrity. So. [speaker002:] Sure. [speaker001:] You know, that is another thing that, you know, we feel like our long term goal is going to be benefitted by next time we buy a car we're not just going to go to Toyota of Irving, you know, we're going to go to somebody that we know, we're going to take someone with us older, and we didn't do any of those things. [speaker002:] Somebody you trust. You know, there are so many rip-off artists here in this town. It's, it's, uh, it's really a sin, it really is. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I got taken on some fire-, on firewood. [speaker001:] Really. [speaker002:] I mean, uh, uh, the guy shorted us a half a cord of firewood, and my wife didn't know, and I stopped payment on the check, and he'd already been paid by a cashing firm. And, and they're suing us, they're suing me on this, and it's for a hundred and thirty-four dollars. [speaker001:] Oh, my. [speaker002:] Absolutely pathetic. [speaker001:] I stopped payment on a check. Oh, that's funny. Oh, this last week, we bought a sewing machine at Zak's, and then I found that you could get the same machine better for less locally. Not much less, but it was enough less, and I found they locally serviced it. And we just stopped payment on the check. So I hope they don't sue us over it [LAUGHTER]. But we never received any merchandise either, so I don't think it would hold any-, [speaker002:] Oh, okay, well [speaker001:] Anyway. [speaker002:] probably something like that, did you call them and tell them you just, you just. [speaker001:] No, we didn't even call them. We just did it. Maybe my husband should call today. [speaker002:] Might be a good idea, because you're going to get, what, a, a check,
[speaker002:] okay so uh what do you do with your lawn [speaker001:] oh I just I just mow the lawn that's about all I ever do [speaker002:] uh-huh do you put any fertilizer or anything like that [speaker001:] um not really to speak of [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um when I was little we used to use uh like uh chicken manure and cover the whole lawn with it and then uh plant uh Bermuda mostly [speaker002:] um-hum and how about uh like landscaping or the you know bushes or flowers or anything [speaker001:] um we had monkey grass [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and a wax leaf ligustrums [speaker002:] uh-huh and do you like take care of those in anyway as far as uh feeding them or [speaker001:] well the freeze it's really it's bad here because the last couple of years the freeze has been real bad [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I had to hack them off a little bit [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and um and it left most of them dead in in a lot of places it they just killed them right off [speaker002:] oh did it right right well we have we just moved in and we're uh kind of our yard has been left untended mostly for about six years so there's a lot of clover growing in it and everything [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh so we're trying to do is kill to to kill back all the weeds and the clover and let so the grass can grow and a number of the bushes uh there's a lot of boxwood bushes and all that were overgrown so we had to trim those all back you know to to nice and round because they were kind of sticking out all over the sidewalk and everything and there was some uh some juniper that was uh absolutely huge covering up half the driveway just about so we had to cut it all back so you can park the two cars in it [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh mostly what we're doing since we got a yard service to our lawn service to help fertilize uh seed aerate the lawns uh so that uh you know we can get it back up to speed and to and and to get get it all green again and I was gonna watch what I was gonna to do is watch them throughout the year and see what kind of fertilizer they use and uh then I'd just repeat it from then on myself [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh we're also kind of looking at uh a little bit of landscaping as far as putting some uh azaleas in with uh you know different white azaleas and red azaleas and purple azaleas you know to give a little color into the into the landscape there and uh you know put a couple of plants around our deck in the back and a couple in the front with the existing plants uh to give a little color and everything uh do you do anything like that or [speaker001:] um not very much um just um [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] we had some hanging uh flowers in the on the porch and um [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and a few plants on the inside [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] that was about it [speaker002:] you know some of the things that I've seen around here too is that a lot of people uh there's kind of two ways to to that I've seen to cheaply fertilize your yard and one was to uh I guess a big thing around is a called a composter [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you know where you have you heard of that [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] oh yeah whether you you know you put your whatever different grass clippings and all that in and and you let it sit there for a while and it kind of cooks or something as as it decomposes and we sort of have one by guess by accident that's in our backyard and so we're thinking about using some of that to spread around you know the the the bush beds and flower beds and stuff but another thing that uh one of my neighbors is doing and it it his yard looks really good is that he's not using any of the he's not collecting any of the um uh the the uh grass that he mows up at all he just let's it sit right back into the grass you know doesn't collect it in a bag or anything [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and by doing that I guess it sort of acts like it's own fertilizer [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and uh it just makes the grass real thick and and green and everything and it doesn't cost anything [speaker001:] yeah they have a they have a mulching blade now it cuts the cuts the grass up real fine and you don't have to you don't you can't even see it when it falls into the grass it it just penetrates right through to the ground [speaker002:] oh you mean so that's a separate blade [speaker001:] well I don't know exactly what it does but it cuts the grass a lot finer than than uh the old mowers used to do [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh do you think that that's like uh a blade that you can put on any mower or is it a special lawn mower the whole thing [speaker001:] uh it's a special blade I mean they have mulching mowers but then they have a mulching uh mulching attachment too [speaker002:] oh really huh [speaker001:] that you can put on other mowers [speaker002:] oh I'll have to look for that I didn't know it was a separate blade [speaker001:] I think I think it's double-edged [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and it cuts it back and forth [speaker002:] oh okay oh I'll have to look for that because that that would sure help us yeah I thought it was I thought it was just I don't know something special on the engine too as well or something [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] huh have to look for that well is there anything else you'd like to say [speaker001:] uh no that's about it [speaker002:] okay well it was very nice talking to you [speaker001:] nice talking to you [speaker002:] okay take care bye-bye [speaker001:] good-bye
[speaker001:] well I know that uh I have only like two or three favorite television shows [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I think one of my favorite then is from the guy Stephen is it Brochco who does like LA Law uh-huh and uh he also did Hillstreet Blues I like those type of shows [speaker002:] oh yeah uh-huh yes yeah we we really enjoy that too [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh I don't get a lot to watch a whole lot of TV we have a couple of young children and so [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] we're usually outside and so it's usually the nine o'clock shows shows that if we get them in bed we usually watch that and L A Law is one of my favorites [speaker001:] uh-huh oh yeah me too I know they uh I think they're different than a lot of other shows of which they have like the reruns in the middle of the season [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and then towards the end when everybody else is showing reruns they start showing some of their newer stuff [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so I thought that was really interesting the way that they did that oh and so you must watch a lot of uh Disney or cartoons then [speaker002:] well we have on Sesame Street and Mister Rogers that kind of stuff and I think those programs are really good for children I know that both of mine have probably learned quite a bit from there [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] it's kind of nice to know that they're just going to be seeing you know not a lot of violence and that kind of stuff and they usually [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] uh show a lot of things that really teach them different things about the world so [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] my son older son he's going to be five and he's more into watching the cartoons and that kind of stuff now so [speaker001:] oh that's true that's true well I noticed that my kids are uh older now they're uh getting close to the teenage years but they did we watched all of Mister Rogers and everything but even some of your uh cartoons can be very violent [speaker002:] um-hum yeah [speaker001:] and uh you know they they talk about death and we were watching uh oh gosh that Bugs Bunny just last night [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] and um uh I think it was on uh I have to remember which channel but anyway uh we were watching that and it was talking about opera and they showed like what they thought an opera would be and one of the things was to kill the rabbit kill the rabbit [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] and I thought oh how violent you know to kill the rabbit so he ended up killing the rabbit in the end uh but then of course the the rabbit comes back to life and says well see this is how an opera is supposed to be and I thought gee whiz if a little kid was watching this you know that would be pretty violent even uh for a small child [speaker002:] well yeah and you know they especially boys I mean they're always talking about shooting and killing and all that kind of stuff and I don't think that they really realize that death is forever you know [speaker001:] um-hum right [speaker002:] and showing them something like that really doesn't teach them that it is [speaker001:] that's right that's right well I don't think cartoons portray that but like [speaker002:] no and to get them to feel like that that's just pretend I think is the hardest part you know [speaker001:] yeah yeah a cat has nine lives [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but they don't they just have one like we do oh so that's really funny but uh we've gotten uh-huh go ahead [speaker002:] I I was just going to say I know that at least before our kids were born we used to always enjoy watching the Cosby Show Thursday nights usually had pretty good with that and as far as um very good comedy [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] I like to watch Designing Women if the kids are in bed by then [speaker001:] yes yes yeah that's true that's a good show I used to watch uh Dallas I don't I don't know where you're at [speaker002:] we're we're in Dallas uh-huh [speaker001:] Dallas yeah yeah I used to watch Dallas years years ago and somewhere in the middle I got uh bored and uh so I in fact I didn't even watch the finale uh you know that's about how disinterested I had become [speaker002:] yes well I did watch it just to see what it was and wasn't it wasn't really that great so I think after a while they just kind of you know there's no new stuff they can do they've done everything dirty in the book you know so [speaker001:] uh-huh well actually uh-huh yep yep I know I know was was it actually based on a book [speaker002:] well no I imagine [speaker001:] oh but you were just talking about okay [speaker002:] everything you could think of you know had a hard time and I think maybe with Dallas as far as they lost a lot of characters that had been around at the first [speaker001:] okay yeah right that's true that's true [speaker002:] where I don't know I never watched Knots Landing but I think they've had a lot of their characters stay around [speaker001:] stay um-hum um-hum yeah in if you notice and if you notice on Dallas they lost all the women [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] yes so the men mainly stayed but the women were the ones who left and I thought that was very interesting and wondered kind of wondered about that uh well anyway that's a whole new issue oh goodness so anyway I don't know if our five minutes are over yet [speaker002:] yeah oh [speaker001:] but we uh we also have the paid uh television channels uh the only thing I don't like about it especially with teenagers is that all the violence the sex the nudity and the curse words [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] you know and so I know they didn't pick up these curse words from me so uh they had to have picked them up from uh the T V [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] one nice thing though about the cable company we use they have uh they have that little parental uh uh key yeah yeah um-hum so I I have that at home and I keep the keys with me [speaker002:] where you can lock up the channel or whatever yeah [speaker001:] and that's about the only way that I can that I can do it because their natural curiosity you know to go towards that way and want yeah [speaker002:] yeah and I don't know the way the generations are up growing up now I mean I just think they watch so much more T V I try to limit what they watch they aren't sitting in the house watching T V all day [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] because I think it's good for them to have physical activity and that kind of stuff too so [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and especially in the summer time we aren't in the house very much in the evenings it's the only cool time to be outside [speaker001:] that's true well and here lately it hasn't been that cool anyway with the humidity being so high [speaker002:] well true [speaker001:] well it was nice talking to you [speaker002:] well it was nice talking to you too [speaker001:] okay talk with you later good-bye [speaker002:] okay bye-bye
[speaker001:] well what's your opinion on capital punishment [speaker002:] well uh I uh I agree with it as long as uh as long as there's no no shadow of a doubt of guilt [speaker001:] right I agree with that too I uh this this is probably going to be not a big debate or anything uh [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] I am for capital cu punishment only for murder I mean you know I think they asked in the recording uh what in in what crimes but only [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] if someone has murdered someone you know that's about the only thing but uh how is Georgia for uh capital punishment are they executing people or [speaker002:] uh yeah yeah um not very often but they they do send some every now and then you know as [speaker001:] what well needless to say Texas is uh probably the leader uh I we may have started you know capital punishment back up again and uh I think we've probably executed more people than any other state [speaker002:] yeah um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] but uh a case out in California what was it a week or so ago was rather interesting in how that uh they prolonged the guy that was supposed to be executed [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and I just I can't see any real value in just letting these people live out their sentences [speaker002:] um-hum yeah it seems a little bit ridiculous because of just the tax dollar it takes to maintain somebody that's hopelessly you know just uh violent [speaker001:] um-hum and [speaker002:] and uh it's doesn't make much sense [speaker001:] how do you feel about insanity pleas [speaker002:] I uh I I don't think it's much of a a reason for um I I don't think it's much of a reason to get somebody off a off the hook I mean like uh Jeffrey Dahlmer I I don't know I haven't followed that since you know it was on the news but uh you know I've I've heard that there might be some insanity there I don't you know I'm I'm not at all up to date on that but you know if uh something like that if it if you can get off on sanity insanity on something like that which I I believe you know there's a certain degree of insanity there but that's certainly not [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I don't I don't believe it's uh an excuse by any means you know [speaker001:] well I had heard of a case out in California of someone who had murdered his parents or some sort of thing and they put him away uh in an insane asylum you know because he pleaded insanity and after he was in maybe twelve years or so they let him out he went out and he killed five more people [speaker002:] yeah yeah I just don't [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] I don't think that's uh an excuse at all [speaker001:] well I guess it's sounds rather heartless but I guess if they're that bad if they're that badly off mentally then perhaps it's just as well to to end their life [speaker002:] um-hum yeah yeah [speaker001:] aren't we cruel people [speaker002:] oh I don't I don't think so I mean I just you know if I I think in Japan you know when crime gets bad they you know they take a few criminals out in the public square and they execute them and crime goes down you you you know uh so there's I think it I think it works since most people don't believe in being forced you know [speaker001:] well I say they may say it's not a deterrent and perhaps it isn't but I guess I just feel if nothing else it's justice I know that if someone murdered a member of my family I'd want justice done and I'd want to see them punished for their crime [speaker002:] yeah yeah yeah I I agree [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] I agree [speaker001:] uh perhaps the people in the Middle East have kind of a good idea you know if you steal something they cut off your hand and and the punishment fits the crime [speaker002:] yeah yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] but uh [speaker002:] yeah yeah I think that's uh not a bad idea of course there there'd be a lot of people that couldn't uh couldn't function for awhile you know until they got it through their heads that you know that was going to be enforced [speaker001:] well this is very true [speaker002:] you'd have to phase that one in slowly or I think or you would have [speaker001:] use someone as an example and see how it worked [speaker002:] a bunch of yeah but then you got to pick who it's going to be [speaker001:] well I I was a little concerned I was going to get someone on the phone that was totally against capital punishment and in any conversation that I've had through this TI thing you know I've never met anybody that I got into a screaming argument with or even really disagreed with heavily but I thought this could be one you know it could be a very [speaker002:] yeah yeah yeah
[speaker001:] I just pressed my, uh. [speaker002:] We're supposed to talk about recent political developments. [speaker001:] I got one that's interesting, not too, not too controversial, I, you know, not, doesn't matter whether you're Democrat or Republican. I, I do get somewhat of a kick out of, because Schwartzkopf, or the other generals, who I admire, how everyone wants to make, get them in politics. I think [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] that's kind of an interesting recent thing, that I could think of recently that, uh, I was wondering what you thought about that [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] making the general, uh, getting a general into politics. [speaker002:] They want him because he's popular, not because he can do the job. [speaker001:] Right. Well, I've, I've been thinking about it, and I, uh, I kind of get a kick out of they always want the hero, those, we're looking for a hero. Well, TIME magazine was saying that in essence [child] the general's staff was comparing to corporate presidents, and they said in general, generals are more familiar with training, that they believe in training more. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] They are much more educated than the average corporate president, and so they really were very positive on a general's staff person having a, a very much better education than the average, uh, corporate president. So, I thought well, maybe. [speaker002:] I, I think they probably have a better education than the average congressman. [speaker001:] Well, that, too, that, too. And, uh, you know, they talk about the Army and because of the war and why did we win, and all that, and they talked about how the training was so important. [child] And that's so important in industry, so, you know, they're liable to be right. That generals, generals in the service, and Schwartzkopf, uh, you know, might make a good, uh, politician, whether it be Governor or whatever, you know. [speaker002:] He, he, you know, we know he's a good leader, we know he's a good organizer. The question is, you know, can he be the man who's ultimately responsible. You know, like what he said is, you know, a lot of times in his interviews he was talking about, you know, people asking why are you doing this, why are you doing that. He says, I'm following the orders of my president. I'm not the one who writes the orders. I'm just the one who follows them. [speaker001:] Yeah, it's interesting how they say that when they're usually the top dogs, you know, everyone has a boss, of course. [speaker002:] You know, Schwartzkopf was ordered to get Iraq out of Kuwait. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And so he went to the President and said, okay, here's how I want to do it. But he wasn't the one that decided Iraq needed to get out of Kuwait. [speaker001:] No, that's true, that's true. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, you, you pick one. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I just thought of that one when, when they brought up about politics. That was, uh, pretty easy [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] you don't have to pick Democratic or Republican, you can pick anything you want, go ahead. [speaker002:] Well, the thing that I'm [children] wondering about is how we get a new congress. How do we get some of these guys that have been in there for so long, [children] how do we get them [pause] to not get reelected over and over again. [speaker001:] Well, I have an easy answer for that, oh, I wish they would do it, is that limit it, you know, to eight or ten years max. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] You know, whether that's two [speaker002:] I th-, yeah. [speaker001:] five year terms or whatever. [speaker002:] Yeah. That may be our only answer, but I don't really like it. I don't like the fact that the President is limited in the number of terms he can serve. [speaker001:] Oh, you know, you're not. [speaker002:] I think if the President, be him Republican or Democrat, I think if the President can prove that he's popular, you know, that he can do the job [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] then the people should be allowed to elect him as often as they want. I think the reason why we've got these guys in Congress is because of the fund raising rules. I mean, how many of these big campaign contributions that they're running on this year, did they get after they were elected, just, you know, just after they were elected two years ago. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Basically the people, as soon as they get elected, the people dump all kinds of money on them and say, Yeah, yeah, you're my friend, you're my friend, and two years later he remembers that. And what they done is they've bought this congressman for two years. [speaker001:] Yeah, I don't know, [child crying] I do like the limitation of the President, and I think there is a needed change. I think the same thing should happen for Congress. I, I'd lik-, you know, that would be my answer of an [speaker002:] Yeah, well. [speaker001:] easy way to get these guys out of there for twenty years. My God, it's ridiculous, you know. [speaker002:] That's, that's [child crying] the easy way. I think the harder way out would be to make the guys that are in there and the guys who are trying to get in there run on more level ground [child crying]. [speaker001:] We had. [speaker002:] That's what the financing rules and the, uh, the mailing rules and the size of the office staff and all that stuff. [speaker001:] I think voting is, is a prob-, I think I had one of the subject about voting, [child] and, uh, voting apathy, or something like that, and I think that, uh, the voting rules need to be changed where you have a little more time. [child squealing] I can't believe that a country our big votes for a President from seven o'clock in the morning til seven o'clock at night, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] [Child] Of course they have absentee which is getting to be more, a lot easier, and I, I vote as often on absentee as I can because it's so easy now. But, I think, gee whiz, you could make it a couple [child] days. It's just, if you really want the majority of the people to vote [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] then give them a couple of days. [speaker002:] Well, I think a lot more people could vote if they were somehow persuaded that it's something worth caring about. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] You know, like, you know, the, the recent election about how the Dallas City Council should be made up, that election last December. [speaker001:] Are you in Dallas? [speaker002:] Yeah, I'm in Dallas city limit. [speaker001:] Boy, I, I, I live in Arlington. I am so happy not to be part of Dallas [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] when I see those folks there. [speaker002:] It's an ugly mess. [speaker001:] I mean, I don't know if you like the mayor, but I think your mayor, the city council, the, what is the woman's name whose, us, not the mayor but the, typo should be who's [speaker002:] The manager. [speaker001:] Yeah, the city manager. All of them need to be thrown out. I mean, they're just awful, just awful. [speaker002:] Well, what get's me is this thing, it went down to defeat last December by how many votes, by just a few hundred votes. [speaker001:] Uh-huh [child crying]. [speaker002:] And if it, if it had passed, if these people had gotten out the vote, it would have passed and there'd be no more argument. But they're still fighting about it because of the [speaker001:] I know. [speaker002:] way the election went last December. [speaker001:] It's so awful that politicians always spent consulting money. That we put them in office and then they go out and spend a couple hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy consultants, and then they don't even do that recommendation, you know. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, yeah. [speaker001:] I mean, it's amazing the money that they spend once they get in. [speaker002:] But, but this is for, supposedly to benefit the minorities, and all the minorities had to do was go out and get a couple more hundred people to vote [speaker001:] Well you're right there. [speaker002:] and they would have had their way. [speaker001:] You're right there. Uh, uh, people are, uh, uh, politics, uh, the voting is still not as much as you think in all kinds of issues really. [speaker002:] Yeah, it's pretty sad. [speaker001:] Yeah, it is. Uh, hopefully people will get more involved. [speaker002:] My, my position is people who don't vote don't have any right to complain about the way the government's going. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah, but those are the ones that are complaining, I, I think, a lot. I see it here at T I. The guys that don't take any interest in, and, and constantly on the negative of everything. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And, uh, [speaker002:] And, and you ask them why they don't vote, they say well they don't want their name on the, uh, jury duty list. [speaker001:] Is that right? Ooh. [speaker002:] That, that's where they get the jury duty list, is from the voter registration. [speaker001:] Right, you're right, you're right. [pause] I think they could do more about, uh, voting. [speaker002:] I think they could. [speaker001:] What are the issues? I, I'm a Democrat, I want to just say that I'm so sad that there isn't a strong Democrat. I don't even know, I could go out and debate George Bush better than I see any Democrat doing it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] You know, I mean, at least I'd like to see compe-, because I like competition, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I think rolling over and put your belly up and play dead, I'm so disgusted with the Democratic party, I can not believe it, you know. typo cannot [speaker002:] In Presidential races that's about what they've done, but they've got a pretty good lock on Congress and [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] a lot of local things. [speaker001:] Yeah, but I still think in the last ten years, you know, of course that's not a recent event, that's only my opinion, I guess I really shouldn't talk about that. But, [NOISE] I don't know whether they're recent events. I guess they we-, on this, uh, speech thing, [child] they want us to use a variety of words. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] How many times have you called, by the way? [speaker002:] Actually, I haven't made any calls, but I received about a dozen. [speaker001:] Oh, really, I, I, I, [speaker002:] I think, yeah, I have to make these, but I get distracted and get to do something else, and all of a sudden my phone rings, and go, Well, what the heck, we'll talk for a while. [speaker001:] Yeah, I've already got twelve cards. You get any cards in the mail? [speaker002:] Yeah, we got a whole bunch. I can't remember how many. [speaker001:] I don't know, I'm amazed by, of course, we're not talking about politics, but I am amazed by, people say they got thirty. Well, I wonder why you need thirty renditions of the persons voice, but I'm not in voice synthesis. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] But I'd sure like to see a summary of it. We'll get to politics, I'm sorry [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Well, I think we've used up as much time as we're supposed to anyway. [speaker001:] Yeah, right. [speaker002:] We're supposed to do five minutes, and that was three minutes ago. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Hey, well thanks for the call. [speaker001:] Yeah, bye-bye. [speaker002:] Yeah, bye.
[speaker002:] all right well we're supposed to talk about cars [speaker001:] right the car that uh probably the kind we'll get next and I uh I do a lot of driving commute uh I have about uh fifty three miles one way to commute here in Utah but it's uh freeway and it's not bad but uh the cars I've been getting I've got a Toyota [speaker002:] gosh [speaker001:] it's economical now I've got a Honda now and um and it's a five speed [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and and for the all the driving I do that uh is the kind I I think I'd probably look at next I'm not sure [speaker002:] uh-huh well I'll probably look for a family family type vehicle like a van mini van or something because [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I've got two I just uh I've got two young ones so we're we're looking for something that's more family oriented yeah something bigger that we can carry [speaker001:] I see a little bit bigger yeah our family's gone we had six children at one time but they've uh they're all gone and so we we can go to the smaller car now but we did have to have back then it was station wagons [speaker002:] six yeah right [speaker001:] as for a family uh when you start taking much with you or going any place you really need a little more room [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] I have a son in Plano Texas who has uh four boys and he got a a van and he really enjoys it [speaker002:] hum that's that's right near me [speaker001:] is it [speaker002:] yeah Plano's a few miles north [speaker001:] oh okay well he uh I know I've had several from Richardson [speaker002:] who who does he work for [speaker001:] he works for JC Penney's [speaker002:] oh really corporate office [speaker001:] uh-huh yes uh-huh [speaker002:] huh uh I've got a I'm taking a class and uh one of the guys that's in my uh my group that [speaker001:] yeah he [speaker002:] we're doing a group presentation he works for JC Penney [speaker001:] um-hum well good yeah he uh he's been down there going on three three years now I guess uh-huh [speaker002:] three years they're moving their offices to to Plano right right now [speaker001:] yes uh-huh they closed at Pittsburgh I think and uh they're moving but it's uh so in fact I was just down there Thursday I was in El Paso and then I had a layover couple hours uh at at Dallas airport [speaker002:] well that's good [speaker001:] airport and they come out and got to visit with them for a while I got I got a new little brand grandbaby and first time I've seen him [speaker002:] but uh well that's great [speaker001:] I don't know I looking at cars you you they say buy American but I boy of all the people I've talked to that uh seems like they get a lot better mileage I had a hundred and eighty thousand on the Toyota that I had in eighty and that thing I hadn't had any problems at all it was just going strong when I sold it [speaker002:] yeah huh [speaker001:] but uh I guess it's just it depends there's lemons in all of them I guess but uh [speaker002:] that's super yeah well American cars are hopefully they'll I think the unions really screwed American cars up they uh [speaker001:] I do too yeah [speaker002:] you know the the price of the cars are just more than incomes are because people are you know the people that work at car manufacturers make well the GM plant or [speaker001:] um-hum right yeah [speaker002:] or yeah the GM plant that they have down here that they're thinking about closing uh the average worker there makes twenty two dollars an hour and that's you know that's more than a lot of people make salary you know professionals make [speaker001:] oh wow I've been yeah I've been working well I that's it I've been working for uh oh thirty five years for the the government and think I've got a pretty good job but I don't make that much [speaker002:] yeah I didn't either [speaker001:] and I've got uh a a degree and everything else you see and I and I don't know hopefully you you'd think that if they were making that kind of money they would try to have a little pride in [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] in uh the product that they put out so it is a good car but [speaker002:] sure [speaker001:] uh my family's bought uh my sister bought uh a a Buick paid twenty thousand dollars for it she's had nothing but trouble with that thing [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and you know you pay that kind of money you should uh it should be trouble free at least for fifty fifty seventy thousand and then [speaker002:] sure [speaker001:] and uh she's had it in the in the shop garage and shop and she called today and said oh it's uh leaking oil out of the head gasket she's only got about twenty thousand on it [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so she's got to take that back in and have them work on it but and I and I think it from what I can hear it's just because they uh they don't take the pride that uh the Japanese do or something in in their work or workmanship that when something comes out and their name's on it they want it to to be the best and so I I hate to stay away from American
[speaker001:] uh well it's nice to talk with you um oh I guess I'll go ahead and start off with uh I think that there's two things that could be done that are procedural to uh to help the budget the first I believe in would be to give the president a line item veto um [speaker002:] I agree with that [speaker001:] uh I think that a lot of times the the members of congress uh when they're faced with uh the possibility of having to to cut jobs in their district by because of shutting down a federal project or something just don't have the the willpower on their own to uh to make the tough decisions and sometimes it would be best to give that over to the president who who has overall responsibility for the whole country and can uh I guess be a little bit more insulated from from uh the concerns of one of one district [speaker002:] local politics yeah well also too often too the uh individual congressman has the uh especially if they are on on uh some of the committees that put these budgets together uh have the opportunity to slide things in that normally should not have gone in at all and the line yeah and the line item uh veto would be ideal for that I mean to [speaker001:] yeah that's exactly right yeah one of the the uh there's a bill pending before congress which I'm trying to remember what it's called it's something like the pork buster bill that um if approved would make it uh uh uh you wouldn't be able to um put in uh new projects and things in a conference committee or at anytime where they weren't reviewed by the regular committee that has responsibility for that and that's like what you were talking about where they slip things in at the last minute [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and the conference committee is really the worst place for that to happen uh because no one uh uh has uh it doesn't go back into the regular committee for review after the conference committee it just goes back to the house and the senate for a final up or down vote on the whole thing [speaker002:] yeah yeah there's another idea uh uh another uh way where the budget could uh probably benefit and this has to do of course uh it has to do with federal projects too often uh those are uh not there's no uh accountability once the uh projects are awarded to make sure that the quality is done and they end up getting stuck with billions of dollars of overlay or if contracts are put out uh no one uh is responsible or it does does not seem to be for following up that if it goes over budget it it well you know it's set up laissez faire attitude well that's to be expected we just sort of built it in well that shouldn't happen that way [speaker001:] I agree [speaker002:] and I think I think if there was more attention paid to uh what's being uh spent and more accountability that would help enormous enormously too are [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] how who or how that would come about I'm not uh sure but that's an an an area that I think needs to be uh looked at [speaker001:] yeah it it really sometimes seems that there is there's nobody out there uh watching out for uh for we the people and making sure that the money is spent wisely uh and I don't know that just sort of seems to be unfortunately part of the just how the system uh operates now uh we gee is there anything specific that you think uh uh in the way of federal programs or whatever that would be eliminated to try to cut federal spending [speaker002:] well I think uh there could be a lot of consolidation of programs uh looking at of course there they have been a lot of talk to begin with but looking at and the the military's a big uh area that uh has taken a lot of shots recently but I I do not see the point of having four different services uh I do not see why they could not have one military service [speaker001:] and just eliminate all that high level bureaucracy [speaker002:] that's right because a lot of the monies are spent uh with insiding within those departments [speaker001:] how do you feel about bringing home all of our troops from Europe and the Far East and letting Germany and Japan defend themselves [speaker002:] uh basically I'm in I'm in agreement with that [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] uh I would think that there probably needs to be a uh monitor or not a monitor uh or courtesy you know yeah a presence but not a [speaker001:] well we'll always have a presence there but we don't we don't need to have half a million troops overseas [speaker002:] no well witness witness the the recent Gulf War too even with uh troops all over Europe uh it took several months to gear up [speaker001:] that's right [speaker002:] and so what was the point of having them to begin with [speaker001:] um-hum yeah another area that's that I really think ought to be cut is is direct uh foreign aid
[speaker001:] do you use your credit cards very often [speaker002:] um no not really we use gas cards more than anything [speaker001:] okay is that just out of habit or convenience [speaker002:] uh basically convenience [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh which led to habit I guess [speaker001:] okay I don't use gasoline credit cards I used to have one but I didn't use it uh I used it so seldom that I'd get letters from Mobil uh reminding me that I had a credit card to use [speaker002:] oh really yeah we don't we don't ever we don't carry a whole lot of cash with us so we use the the gas cards because our families are both out of town and like when we travel and stuff we use the gas cards [speaker001:] right so you basically use them as an alternative to carrying cash [speaker002:] yeah yeah and then we have a an American Express that's through TI that Steve uses just for TI stuff [speaker001:] are you uh solicited a lot uh for other uh credit cards [speaker002:] yes yes a lot [speaker001:] what what uh criteria do you consider on whether or not you'll accept a particular card [speaker002:] uh probably the uh uh if there's a premium each year and the uh the APR [speaker001:] yeah I won't get a card if there's an annual fee [speaker002:] and there's it's it's kind of hard to beat TI [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and so uh you know usually we just trash it just tear it up and trash it and most most of the time it goes unopened [speaker001:] yeah I I I think that Texan's is charging thirteen point nine percent uh interest [speaker002:] yeah if if that much they're thirteen something but I'm not sure if it's I think it's a flat thirteen right now [speaker001:] it could be could be I don't uh use them often enough to even keep tabs on it [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but most of them charge between eighteen and twenty one percent per year [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] I think that's [speaker002:] and then you're then you're if you're that lucky you get to pay them another twenty five bucks a year just to be that privileged to get twenty one percent a year [speaker001:] right right and I look for a grace period too so that they don't charge interest on from from the day of purchase [speaker002:] yeah yeah [speaker001:] and of course no annual fee [speaker002:] yeah that would that would help a lot I I'm not even sure why I mean the purpose of an annual fee I'm not really [speaker001:] well I I think it just generates revenue for the companies that uh for the banks that sponsor the credit cards [speaker002:] well I guess so because it's not any more prestigious to have to pay it uh as far as getting another card where you don't I mean you know [speaker001:] no uh I get uh applications for cards from oh different places for various reasons uh I got an application from Home Depot for their card [speaker002:] oh really [speaker001:] and uh the incentive there was that they'd give you ten percent off on your first purchase with that credit card [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so I got that card just so I could uh make a major purchase [speaker002:] have ten percent off but you got to use that credit card [speaker001:] right and get a discount on it [speaker002:] right yeah that [speaker001:] I did did the same thing with uh Foley's they uh uh had a fifteen percent discount on a purchase if you just apply for a card [speaker002:] yeah right I did that with my husband uh he was off working at TI in Austin one day and so I went out to the mall to kind of look around and hit Mervyn's and found some stuff stuff after Christmas on sale and ended up getting fifteen percent off already off of it already whatever it was lower and I think that's the only card I have that's [speaker001:] yeah uh-huh [speaker002:] you know recently is gotten a Mervyn's card and I used it for I think for the first time when I was in Houston this weekend and I have I've had it for months [speaker001:] yeah yeah I always maintain a zero balance uh I don't like owing anybody anything [speaker002:] yeah yeah I don't I don't like it a whole lot either [speaker001:] if you want to borrow money there're better ways to do it uh I think you can get a loan through the credit union for about uh oh I don't know nine or ten percent now I guess [speaker002:] yeah yeah [speaker001:] and uh keeping a credit cards uh charged up is just uh not a very good way to uh to make to make use of borrowing money [speaker002:] yeah I never understood how people could I mean there are some people who say well I can't charge it it's at it's limit and I thought God how can you charge a credit card to its limit it just it just I guess it's that that you know lack of discipline when you have a piece of plastic that says pay later you know [speaker001:] yeah it's the buy now pay later plan and uh live for today [speaker002:] yeah and I just it's that yeah it just borrow worry about it tomorrow [speaker001:] nobody bothers saving any money [speaker002:] yeah and it just I don't I don't really go for them and I in fact I had my own before we got married and ended up cutting them up just for the fact that TI had lower rates [speaker001:] yeah sure [speaker002:] you know and decided and I mean when I tried to close with Chase Manhattan it was just like pulling teeth [speaker001:] oh yeah [speaker002:] I mean I couldn't close they'd send me a statement every little this is your new you know balance with bonus points or whatever you know and it's like look I closed this months ago and I don't want any more of your letters I don't want anything and well you have a credit balance well send me a check you know [speaker001:] right yeah well there's a a basic problem too with not using credit cards that they are good credit references when I closed on my house mortgage uh the mortgage company was looking for uh references credit references and I didn't have any credit cards charged up at all I keep the balance paid off so they make lousy credit reference then [speaker002:] yeah yeah yeah yeah they do but we we were in in that same boat a couple of years ago and they had said well just list your major ones and and the balance still owed on it you know or give it a balance still owed on it and [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] that's all we did [speaker001:] when the balance is zero it doesn't help much [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] I get a lot of uh pre approved applications from various organizations and I throw all those out [speaker002:] yeah and it's like well who are you to approve something for me without my permission anyway [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] but I think um I think what you can do as far as I don't think as many companies when you are a good customer I don't think they report that as much as they should their delinquent customers [speaker001:] right uh-huh [speaker002:] because a lot of times you have to write a nd ask them to report it to the credit bureau so that you look like you have good credit as far as you know paying off you know your cards early or on time or whatever [speaker001:] yeah uh-huh [speaker002:] that usually doesn't happen unless I've heard people say well you have to write to ask that and I say well you know if someone's so quick to turn you over because you're thirty days late [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I think they should they should do do that more often [speaker001:] yeah I think you're right uh [speaker002:] what do you think about that uh Discover card [speaker001:] I well uh funny thing about the Discover card is I just pulled a uh one dollar check from them out of my briefcase today that expired uh last month I didn't cash it uh they they sent me a dollar uh refund from last year's purchase I I used it one time [speaker002:] oh really [speaker001:] and uh I got a dollar credit a dollar check but I didn't uh cash the check and the check expired but on my last statement I noticed that they credited my account with a dollar credit [speaker002:] the dollar you didn't cash [speaker001:] could very well be [speaker002:] oh oh well I was wondering how that that worked because it's like you know we'll pay you for and I'm going wait a minute you know [speaker001:] I've got so many uh well I don't have a lot of cards but I've got a lot that I never used uh I stick basically with uh the Texan's MasterCard and uh very seldom use the American Express card [speaker002:] yeah we don't we wouldn't even have one if it wasn't for TI and Steve traveling we just [speaker001:] sure corporate card [speaker002:] you know [speaker001:] I would never pay thirty five dollars or more a year for uh use of a card [speaker002:] no and uh we basically just have the we you know we cut up a lot of cards when we you know like it's just as easy just to use two you know instead of paying so much
[speaker001:] Well, I suppose we both have credit cards. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, yeah, they seem to be a part of life [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah, how do you use them? [speaker001:] Well, I do use them. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, I have a few favorites that I use more than others and, uh, I try to keep my balances fairly reasonable. I, I could probably pay them off any month if I wanted to. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, but occasionally they can get out of hand and get higher when, when you start using more than a few [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and, uh, they all can build up. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, I think they're handy. I just get, uh, I don't carry a lot of cash with me [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and, uh, I hate writing checks [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] when you go shopping. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Well, do you use credit cards? [speaker002:] Yeah, I use a few. I, uh, I watched my grandmother go into debt [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] on them and so I've, and then I guess my [speaker001:] Grandmother [speaker002:] mother, [speaker001:] huh? [speaker002:] Yeah, so my mother learned from that and I guess she taught me [inhaling] to be very, very careful with them. So basically, uh, I just keep them, I use them so that I build up a credit rating, you know. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] But, otherwise, uh, I generally, and my husband, it turns out, I've just been married seven months, but he has the same habit and we just keep a few [speaker001:] That's good. [speaker002:] you know, few of the major ones, and then use them once in a while for something, but we always pay it off right that month [speaker001:] Oh that's, [speaker002:] so that we don't pay any [speaker001:] That's wonderful. [speaker002:] service charge. So that way we keep out of debt and we keep on top of what we're spending. [speaker001:] Well, the interest rates in credit cards is so high now [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] compared to what your savings is bringing. It's really, I guess ridiculous to let them keep building. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, that's what I feel. So, [speaker001:] But I know some people can get, get, you know, carried away with them and let them get [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] out of hand. [speaker002:] It's really easy, just to forget, you know, that you, you charged that or charged that. I try to keep all my receipts and keep them in someplace where I know that the bill's going to come, but sometimes I forget and so, you know, s-, a bill will come in and I'll think, oh, no [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I didn't know it was going to be that high. [speaker001:] Uh-, yeah. [speaker002:] But so far, I've been able to, we've been able to pay it off every time so, [speaker001:] Well, that's good. I'm looking, right now I'm k-, kind of looking for a Visa that has a lower interest rate. It seems that some of them have gotten higher [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and, uh, I saw on T V, they had a program on, uh, credit cards and they're supposed to, I don't know if it was Tennessee or Arkansas or some, some other state had a Visa card that was the lowest one in the country. And I [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] didn't write it down at the time and then I went and looked and, to see what my visa was and I think it's eighteen percent or something [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] so, think I want to find something that has a lower [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] rate. [speaker002:] Have you ever used Discover card? [speaker001:] No, I haven't. [speaker002:] Yeah, I'm not even sure what their interest rate is since I pay it off [LAUGHTER] but you know, [speaker001:] Is that the one from Sears? [speaker002:] Uh, I think Sears originally [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] put it out, but it's, uh, it's pretty well taken all over the U S now. I mean, uh, I've haven't found many places that don't take Discover. And there's no annual service fee, which is good. [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] You know, and then, uh, they also give you, they say cash back, uh, like at the end of the year. For the amount that I charge, I get two dollars back or something [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] but if you use credit cards a lot you probably get more back. [speaker001:] Oh, they give you money back for using your credit card. [speaker002:] Yeah, basically. [speaker001:] Oh [speaker002:] That's it. [speaker001:] I didn't know that. [speaker002:] And I think the service charge is pretty low, too, but, I'm not sure. [speaker001:] Um. Well, you know, Sears was one of the few department stores that never would take any other credit cards. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I worked w-, at Sears for over ten years and, uh, it was only a Sears card that they would take [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] until I guess they decided to join the club and come up with their own credit card, another credit card that was [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] accepted, so, you know, now they'll take the Discover, but I still don't know if Sears will take Visa or Mastercard. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But, uh [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I never did apply for a Discover card. I just figure with the Visa and [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] American Express, [breathing] I probably have an, I can do enough damage with those two. [speaker002:] Yeah, I think it's best to keep the number down [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] that you have. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So, [speaker001:] I've got some that I, you know, I haven't even used at all, uh, past few years I probably wouldn't be able to use them. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But, uh, I, I do like my Dillard's, I have to admit that's one of my favorite places to shop. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And I do use Dillard's probably as, more than any of the other department stores. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But, [speaker002:] Yeah. Well, [speaker001:] Well, [speaker002:] Do you have anything else to say? [speaker001:] No, not too much more about credit cards [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Okay [LAUGHTER]. I don't think I do either so, [speaker001:] Okay well, [speaker002:] Well, it was good talking to you. [speaker001:] Good talking to you Beth. [speaker002:] Okay. [speaker001:] Good luck. [speaker002:] Have a good evening. [speaker001:] You, too. [speaker002:] Bye-bye. [speaker001:] Bye.
[speaker001:] well how you doing [speaker002:] I'm fine I want to know where you're from [speaker001:] um I from um Plano Texas where how about you [speaker002:] oh are you I I am too [speaker001:] oh okay [speaker002:] are you at the Christ United [speaker001:] pardon [speaker002:] are you in Christ United Methodist [speaker001:] no um I I work for TI [speaker002:] oh okay [speaker001:] so that's how [speaker002:] well okay well um anyway um I'm with a a choir and and we've been doing this as a fund raiser I wasn't sure if they were still doing it or not but I know that's not what we're supposed to talk about [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] okay I'm having dinner right now and and on the subject of food so just continue and you tell me something you'd like to tell me about food [speaker001:] well are you are you having a Super Bowl party [speaker002:] uh no I'm not actually I wish I were [speaker001:] well I was thinking now that would be a good place to exchange a recipe maybe um [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] we're not having one this year either but um I'm going to one and this year it's pretty simple all I have to take is cheese so I know I don't even have to make anything but [speaker002:] oh that's going to be easy oh well I guess my my favorite recipe that I've seen this week was fried green tomatoes did you see that in the paper [speaker001:] no I didn't uh uh it's probably in reference to the movie I'm sure [speaker002:] right right [speaker001:] um I know my husband has heard about that and thought that that sounded really good are they I don't even I've never had fried tomatoes [speaker002:] well you know I don't guess I have I mean I'm from Mississippi originally and surely you know I don't even know that I've ever seen it offered to tell you the truth and but this this evidently is a Southern delicacy that I didn't know about [speaker001:] huh I didn't know about it either now we I have had um marinated green tomatoes you know where you marinate them with onions and cucumbers but I don't I've never had fried [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh right well I tell you if you see that movie it'll make you want them [speaker001:] fried green ones oh really [speaker002:] oh yeah it just they just really make it look good now I love things like fried okra [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and I try not to ever have fried things but still you know if I I think uh that the fried green tomatoes would be something like that [speaker001:] are they pretty does it look like it's a pretty easy thing to make [speaker002:] probably you probably bread them and and uh you know like with corn meal and that kind of thing and then [speaker001:] uh-huh now I did I did go to a dinner this past weekend that was um [speaker002:] fry them in grease [speaker001:] at our church we had a church auction last fall and a lot of the things that were auctioned off were um services like a dinner for eight and then if you bought if you bought it [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] there were two couples that two or three couples that might cater the dinner [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and one couple in our church had lived in the Philippines um years oh eight years ago and so they um auctioned off a Filipino dinner [speaker002:] ooh nice [speaker001:] and um so it was really fun one of the things that we had were was fried um bananas but but not fried bananas I don't know what they're called but it's a it's kind of looks like the dough that they use for egg rolls [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I don't know what it's called but they put bananas in there and with cinnamon and I don't know what else and sugar and stuff and then they deep fry it and they use green bananas you know so that the bananas kind of stay together and I have fixed fried bananas before [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] as a um Cuban or Spanish dish [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] you know and they're really really good but um when you were talking about fried tomatoes it reminded me of this the fried bananas that [speaker002:] oh I bet that was good I know I would like that [speaker001:] you know yeah it was really a fun a fun thing to do a fun way to raise money [speaker002:] do you work um in any particular what particular what area do you work in [speaker001:] I'm up at Spring Creek [speaker002:] at Spring Creek in what what area [speaker001:] uh-huh um manufacturing [speaker002:] manufacturing because my husband is works for TI also [speaker001:] oh really huh [speaker002:] uh-huh he's at he's at Spring Creek but he's manager of what are you manager of honey telecommunications [speaker001:] okay okay so he's in a different group [speaker002:] uh-huh always it it's so funny you know his job is so complicated that I to me it's complicated that I never can exactly describe this to anybody [speaker001:] yeah yeah I never can either I I mean I never can describe mine to my family or anything try to um I try to talk real real basic level when I get down to them [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh well um now back to Fried Green Tomatoes you be sure and see that movie we saw it last Saturday and it was wonderful [speaker001:] okay was it [speaker002:] oh it really was [speaker001:] is it a girl movie I mean is it is it something my husband would enjoy [speaker002:] uh-huh well it's either one yeah uh-huh it it has it's a story that would appeal to both men and women uh Dave liked it a lot huh [speaker001:] because he doesn't like going to see girly movies like like um Steel Magnolias he didn't want you know [speaker002:] oh no now but my husband liked Steel Magnolias but it was more like this is more like Driving Miss Daisy did you see that and um and this probably is even a little more [speaker001:] yeah yeah yeah [speaker002:] masculine than than Driving Miss Daisy even but it's that kind of movie that has just a universal appeal [speaker001:] okay yeah I mean like I have to rent Beaches and you know some of those other movies [speaker002:] uh-huh
[speaker001:] well now I I have a question for you do you like uh fresh water fishing or salt water fishing [speaker002:] okay I like well what I usually do is fresh water fishing I haven't been salt water fishing since I was about ten [speaker001:] is that right [speaker002:] yeah and I do everything up at Lake Texoma oh yeah I'm a striper fisherman [speaker001:] oh you do okay oh where do you fish for striper there [speaker002:] oh everywhere wherever those little suckers are but uh we camp at the lodge Texoma State Park [speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] over on the Oklahoma side and uh but usually when we go striper fishing when I go out for the big ones we travel down the you know where the channel is down the middle of the lake [speaker001:] oh um-hum uh-huh pretty much [speaker002:] we usually chase them down through there [speaker001:] okay so you're out in a boat then [speaker002:] oh yeah oh yeah do you ever go up there [speaker001:] oh I've gone up there camping like at Eisenhower State Park and I've observed fishing but I've never actually fished there [speaker002:] uh-huh oh it's good fishing up there [speaker001:] yeah so you like to go for striper then [speaker002:] yeah of course I won't you know I won't throw anything back [speaker001:] well the time I went and watched I went over to the uh to the dam and it was right after one of the major major rains that we'd had uh in fact I think it had been over the spillway recently when we went it was back down but uh some of the roadblocks were still up or there was evidence of them [speaker002:] oh yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] and people were they really had the gates open [speaker002:] oh my gosh that's supposed to be the greatest time to fish [speaker001:] big time well I couldn't believe some of the striper that these people were pulling out and there were just people galore for that matter just just everywhere just huge fish [speaker002:] yeah oh yeah oh yeah it's fun well my dad got me hooked on it [speaker001:] so to speak [speaker002:] and uh yeah oh God pun pun and uh we'd go out he liked to go out about five thirty and you know watch the sun come up every morning and uh boy we [speaker001:] all right [speaker002:] we knew a bunch of the striper guides and and so we'd follow them and he had a CB on the boat and all that kind of stuff and we'd just follow the channel and when it's you know middle July through late August when it's so hot they stay down real deep all the big ones do yeah follow that channel on up [speaker001:] deep in the channel huh I'll be [speaker002:] but uh so now my cousin will I make him get up early in the morning and take me out striper fishing and then we usually fish under the bridge at night with the kids and his wife and stuff like that because where we go a lot of times [speaker001:] oh wow [speaker002:] uh the waves are so big I don't want my kids out there because it's sort of dangerous but I love it I love it [speaker001:] right well I used to fish go every summer to northern Canada [speaker002:] oh really [speaker001:] and so I I've been spoiled by that uh but I had a string of seven or eight years in a row [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] of uh sort of a close knit group we would just hop in the car and drive straight through two thousand miles [speaker002:] oh how much fun [speaker001:] and uh we started out fishing out of a lodge and then we started uh either taking our own canoes or renting them when we got there and hitting a few of the [speaker002:] oh my goodness [speaker001:] you know smaller lakes along the river chain and uh catch Northern Pike and walleye primarily [speaker002:] uh-huh oh my goodness [speaker001:] and sometimes Lake Trout also [speaker002:] oh how much fun [speaker001:] so we'd always go the first week in June you know essentially as soon as school was out and everything is all over and done we'd uh we go uh [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] course one year I went two weeks too early with a friend that was he at this point he'd graduated from college and was in the Army and he had a two week period he he had to work with before he got shipped off to Germany [speaker002:] oh my goodness [speaker001:] and so I went with him in the middle of May and much to our surprise when we got there all the lakes were still frozen no yeah the first week we were there we just had to camp and [speaker002:] oh you're kidding ooh not for me [speaker001:] uh we could go on the streams they were open up you know the flowing where the water was flowing but the lakes themselves were still iced over for the whole yeah whole first week we were there [speaker002:] uh-huh oh my gosh ooh [speaker001:] but then the next week they were just just like day and night difference we had some rain and wind and it it cleared all the lakes off and uh you know the fishing was already really picking up but uh [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] those were my favorite fishing trips the most serious fishing I guess I've done [speaker002:] yeah yeah when I take the kids out like I say we in fact Memorial Day weekend we went up to the lake and uh my cousins have a boat my boat is sitting in my driveway not running and uh so we go up there and we decided [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] that we'd you know go out first we got everybody's tents up and camp made and all that and said come on let's go fishing we hauled in well we brought in thirty three fish and we had thrown a bunch of little ones back [speaker001:] good grief yeah [speaker002:] and uh so then we had a huge fish fry the next afternoon and we went back out fishing and we caught and brought in thirty three more and had thrown a bunch of the little ones back but we had more fun those kids [speaker001:] wow [speaker002:] they've got real fishing poles but they're the little short ones [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and it was so funny because I mean they'd just be hanging over the side of the boat mom I think I got a fish I think I got a fish oh it was hysterical but [speaker001:] that's incredible boy [speaker002:] Jamie's getting to the age now that when I get up and go fishing early in the morning he wants to go too you know he doesn't want to get left behind anymore [speaker001:] oh boy yeah [speaker002:] so it's getting a little difficult to do that but we love it we just love it [speaker001:] well I need to break my kids in they I have a son you know Wesley that enjoys it but he hasn't really caught enough fish to appreciate any fishing so I I'd like to break them in a little bit [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh well I have to watch it because Ashley'll out fish her brother half the time and so you know that gets a little sore [speaker001:] uh-oh yeah [speaker002:] but where we camp there there's a you know little bit of a inlet where we park the boats and stuff so real early in the morning before it gets hot and then you know right at dusk [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um down in the trees down there boy all those little sunfish come up and they'll go down there while I'm cooking dinner and just start reeling those little babies in and they ha ve more fun with that [speaker001:] right huh what do they use for bait [speaker002:] oh usually I'll buy them a thing of worms or a lot of times I'll just give them a piece of bacon and they're taught they'll tear up bacon and stick it I mean those they'll they'll bite empty hooks that's what's so funny [speaker001:] yeah good grief [speaker002:] and when we're out chasing the big stripers we use those perch for bait [speaker001:] yeah use the little ones for bait yeah why not [speaker002:] yeah it's great [speaker001:] oh me [speaker002:] but we just love it up there in fact Jamie wanted to go up this weekend with it being fourth of July weekend but uh I can't put the tent up and all that kind of stuff quite yet I'm still pretty sore [speaker001:] fourth of July yeah oh me [speaker002:] so anyway but have you been um salt water fishing [speaker001:] I haven't really done any of that uh and oddly enough uh Jackie's parents live on the the Carolina beach in North Carolina and and we've I guess we went out one time [speaker002:] right oh my goodness [speaker001:] and just fished you know from the shore like in the winter you know one Christmas trip [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but other than that that's really been it yeah they uh I've always wanted to actually go out in the boat I think I went out on a a snapper party boat in the Gulf once upon a time but uh and I was I was too sick to [speaker002:] yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] to to enjoy that [speaker002:] right
[speaker001:] kids too? [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER].. [speaker001:] Oh, you laugh. How many, what ages? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Well, twenty-seven up. [speaker001:] Uh. [speaker002:] And we had five. [speaker001:] You've been through the fun part [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And how about yourself? [speaker001:] I have a four and a half and a three. [speaker002:] Oh. well. [speaker001:] So. It's, I, I'm sure there's a lot of differences in the way, in the way it's done now and then. [speaker002:] Yeah. Well, when mine were growing up, I did some traveling and but not that extensively but I always just made it a point, you know, to spend about ten minutes with each one of them. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So it was an hour, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But whether it was going back and laying in bed with them and just shooting the breeze or whatever, telling them stories or reading to them. [speaker001:] What was the age difference between the youngest and the oldest? [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Six years. [speaker001:] So they were all real close? [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] That's tough. That's a lot of time. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. We look back and wonder how we did it. [speaker001:] Did you both work? Your wife too? [speaker002:] No, she never did. [speaker001:] Uh, well, qualify that. [speaker002:] . [speaker001:] She worked at home, I'm sure [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Well, yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] But that's, uh, well both my husband and I work and sometimes I feel like, you know, by the time I pick them up and get them home and get them fed, I have very little time each evening. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Maybe thirty minutes max. [speaker002:] Well that's plenty though. [speaker001:] And well he spends a lot of time with them while I'm cooking and then I spend time with them while, you know, he's doing other stuff. And, and, of course, we try to spend a lot of time on the weekend. You know, there's a lot of times my house may not be as clean as I particularly like it but it's neat, it's straight and I can live with it because [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I do stuff with my kids, you know. [speaker002:] Right. Well, you know, with kids you're not going to have a neat house. [speaker001:] Well, I've accepted that too [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] And, you know [speaker001:] That's true. [speaker002:] it, it's tough to find time. [speaker001:] It is. [speaker002:] E-, espec-, especially with both of them working. [speaker001:] Yeah. That's true. [speaker002:] And you just have to set the time and say, okay this is going to be it. [speaker001:] Well, that's true and, and we do a lot of that on the weekends, you know. We try to spend Saturdays together. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] If my husband golfs, you know, he'll do it during nap time, things like that where they're not really missing the presence, you know. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] And, and we do a lot of family things together. We're, we're kind of going the other direction this weekend. We're planning a trip, just he and I. This is the first time we've gone anywhere without the kids [speaker002:] Well that's good too. [speaker001:] since she was born four and a half years ago. [speaker002:] Yeah, that's good that way too [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well, I decided that, you know, you need that once in awhile. That you, you need to plan the quality time and, and I do think that if you plan it and spend that and make it quality time you don't have to be there twenty-four hours a day. [speaker002:] Yeah. Well, that, they say it, it, all it takes is about five, ten minutes a day. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, you know, and as the kids got older I made them, you know, help me cut the grass and [speaker001:] Sure. [speaker002:] kind of made that a project too. [speaker001:] Sure. [speaker002:] Or whatever and, [speaker001:] And they think that's a family activity, you know. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] Yeah. That's great fun [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And, uh, well, yeah, if, [speaker001:] My daughter's like, Mommy can I help you with the laundry? Of course, you can [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Yeah. Just keep them talking that way. [speaker001:] Absolutely. Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] But, uh, another thing we used to do is have ham-, family councils. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Every Sunday night. [speaker001:] And what would you do, what? [speaker002:] [Cough] Discuss everything that didn't agree with them. And we'd take turns being president. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] And everyone would get one vote. And I always thought we'd get outvoted five to two [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] but it never worked that way. [speaker001:] So they would just pick whatever issue kind of was at a [speaker002:] Yeah. Well and we could bring up [speaker001:] head that week and then, [speaker002:] and we could bring up stuff too. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] And that was always good time. Boy, we really got to know the kids well. [speaker001:] I imagine. And I imagine you still have a very close relationship with them. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. In [speaker001:] I, [speaker002:] fact, they were all in, uh, over the weekend for Easter. [speaker001:] Oh, that's wonderful. See I was raised in that type of family where, you know, you don't disobey me, you mind me but if you have a problem with what we did or how we did it, you can always come back and talk to me about it. [speaker002:] Well, we did too. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And I remember the one daughter saying, we had a, a friend of hers that used to drive us up a tree [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and she said, hey I don't make fun [mispronounced], fun of your friends so why make fun of mine? [speaker001:] Uh well. [speaker002:] Kind of r-, kind of hit us between the eyes. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. You don't think of it that way do you [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] No. But that, that was always good quality time for us. [speaker001:] Now that's good. I like [speaker002:] And then [speaker001:] that idea. [speaker002:] never attend, but if, if they missed it, they had to abide by the rules. [speaker001:] Whatever was voted on, huh. [speaker002:] Yeah and boy, they, they'd show up. [speaker001:] Well I think that's great. [speaker002:] And we'd usually take notes [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, you know, the younger kids, uh, or maybe all of them needed help at one time or another. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, uh, but they were usually tougher on themselves than they were on us. And they loved it. [speaker001:] I, I think that's true. I can remember times my parents would say well what do you think would be a fair punishment. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And we would always come up with something that was harder than what they would have done [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] you know. So I do think it's right that they're harder on themselves, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah. But, uh, boy, I, I feel for you and your husband. [speaker001:] Oh, why is that? [speaker002:] Well, my, my, uh, two of my, uh,
[speaker001:] why don't you tell me about the Brewers [speaker002:] well uh I guess the thing about the Brewers is I think their personnel policies have been a little misguided lately um I think that's their main problem uh they seem to have have stuck with the same core of players uh Robin Yount Paul Molitor and Jim Gantner who uh they're real good players but they seem to just depend on them to produce a pennant and it it doesn't it isn't working [speaker001:] well the problem with the Rangers is they've got a lot of offense they just don't have any pitching and really haven't had any pitching for years they're the top offensive team around but defense and pitching wins your games over the long haul [speaker002:] except for papa Ryan anyway [speaker001:] well that's true but he only comes every five times so [speaker002:] yeah that's right he can't win them all for him [speaker001:] he can't win them all and he's getting a little bit up there [speaker002:] yeah I think uh the thing about the Brewers is too their pitching they never have really had real good pitching uh last time they had really good pitching was back in the early eighties when they got to the World Series was with uh people like Vuckovich and Fingers [speaker001:] oh yes Rollie Fingers [speaker002:] yeah yeah and of course uh he got them to the Series but then just before the Series that year in eighty two he um uh threw his elbow out or something shoulder or elbow I can't remember which and uh they're number two right-hander in the bullpen Pete Ladd who was kind of a rookie that year uh had to take his place and uh I think that's why they lost the series because in in game two in Saint Louis they had a pretty good lead going into late innings and Ladd got rattled when he didn't get some calls and they ended up losing the game uh Ole Mustache Fingers would not have done that [speaker001:] well Rollie was Rollie was more uh well I guess he's uh is he in the Hall of Fame already I don't even remember [speaker002:] I can't remember if he's made it or not yet he he may not have been I don't know when he retired actually [speaker001:] you got to be retired for five years to be eligible [speaker002:] yeah but that was I think eighty two was well eighty one was the year I think that he won the the uh Cy Young and the MVP and the Fireman of the Year Award all at the same time I think but uh but in eighty two I think he won something some kind of award had a lot of saves anyway [speaker001:] yeah we had a game here where uh we had Goose Gossage this year and Goose and uh Ryan combine and they got I don't know Ryan got his three hundred something win and at the same time Goose got his three hundred and something save and they were you know the same number and they said that it was an unusual occurrence to have that [speaker002:] well I'd forgotten that Gossage was with the Rangers the the he was this year last year [speaker001:] yeah but he's not coming back [speaker002:] now did they pick him up uh sometime in the middle of the season or what [speaker001:] well no they got him at the very beginning of the season but he and the manager and manager Bobby Valentine didn't come along so [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] Goose is Goose is history [speaker002:] yeah well he's been quite a reliever in his time [speaker001:] oh yeah he's a he's he's definitely headed to the Hall of Fame But the Rangers have you know a a pretty good lineup now um with the with the addition of the uh Dickey Thorne at uh short stop that ought to help them but their problem is other than Ryan and an occasional flash of brilliance of other people there's just nobody there [speaker002:] yeah well we'll be looking for them to uh to improve in that area I guess because at least the uh now that I think about them a little bit I'm getting sort of back through the football season back into baseball I realize when you think of the Rangers now you got a real good looking young outfield there for the most part and uh quite a few of the infielders are uh probably have good real good careers still ahead of them I'm not sure why they got rid of Buechele but I guess it worked out for him okay [speaker001:] well at least he got to play in a championship the Rangers have never won the division so we're we're obviously not going to last year [speaker002:] yeah oh Inky went the wrong way though didn't he [speaker001:] yeah I think he's history he is history [speaker002:] now who did they trade him to I forgot Cleveland [speaker001:] Detroit [speaker002:] Detroit [speaker001:] well they didn't yeah they he went to Detroit they really didn't get much for him [speaker002:] oh oh they released him really didn't they [speaker001:] yeah they released him and he had to go around trying to sign up with somebody [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but he proved to be a total disaster [speaker002:] my goodness when he was when he was when he could really get into a ball though he was uh had a lot of power I tell you he reminds me a lot of Gorman Thomas remember him [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] center fielder for the Brewers there for a while there was a guy that [speaker001:] yeah he did something he I saw I saw him hit a grand slam once in a game when I was there but I also saw him drop a ball that cost a couple runs ended up costing the game so he could you know he could be both brilliant and with a bat and just a disaster in the field [speaker002:] uh well I don't think his fielding was generally that bad he uh as a matter of fact he was to [speaker001:] it was early on it got better but it was pretty bad at the beginning [speaker002:] yeah right yeah he did get better and I think uh he was one of George Bamburger's big projects when he took over at the Brewers at Milwaukee he was the guy that was up and down uh
[speaker001:] what are some of your hobbies [speaker002:] well it's interesting to talk about hobbies hobbies when you're so close to Christmas and don't have time to do any of them [speaker001:] right right [speaker002:] but um well I love to sew [speaker001:] oh great [speaker002:] I like to [speaker001:] clothing for yourself or your family or [speaker002:] well I really don't do as much of that um I enjoy that but I work full time so I just don't have time to do too much of that but um [speaker001:] or craft uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh [speaker002:] I really spend spend more time doing crafty kind of sewing yeah you know doing [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] you know appliques on T-shirts and you know that kind of fun stuff and and I make a lot of Christmas gifts too [speaker001:] oh cute fun you oh do you like for instance what [speaker002:] oh well let's see um one year I made a lot of um jewelry bags kind of a little round thing that you draw up with a string you know and has compartments compartments in it and they're you know they go pretty quickly and [speaker001:] oh uh-huh well how fun oh [speaker002:] um make a real nice gift you know [speaker001:] that sounds fun oh [speaker002:] yeah so what kinds of things do you do [speaker001:] well I enjoy right now I'm kind of into uh tole painting on wood wood type projects [speaker002:] oh neat did you take a class [speaker001:] no I just I have a sister-in-law that kind of has taught me and [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and then the projects I do are not real complicated I know some people [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] just do elaborate and beautiful I I don't think I have a real talent for painting so I haven't done anything like that yet but we've done a few like little carousel horses and [speaker002:] yes yeah ooh neat yeah [speaker001:] um little for Christmas I made some tulip recipe card holders [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] and and different things like that I also [speaker002:] well that's neat have you painted on T-shirts or sweat shirts at all [speaker001:] I've painted um just with that oh it's called scribbles you know the little paint in a bottle [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] I've just done things like that but I haven't I've seen some T-shirts painted on them and they're really cute but they look hard to me are they have you done those [speaker002:] yeah no I really haven't I I just haven't done anything with with paint I think I could do some I could do some I'm not an artistic like you know artist kind of person but [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh right uh-huh [speaker002:] um but a lot of the stuff they do really you know evidently is pretty easy but I've just never [speaker001:] never attempted it [speaker002:] you know never gotten to it I just you know don't have time [speaker001:] uh-huh well that's yeah that's what they say I've heard them say that's it's just kind of like coloring or paint by number [speaker002:] um-hum yeah [speaker001:] but I don't know it it sure looks complicated [speaker002:] yeah it comes out looking really nice we just had a there's a gal in the um I'm a school librarian and there's a a mom at our school that [speaker001:] right oh um-hum [speaker002:] is really quite an artist and she does these adorable um little kids that are just funny I mean I just look at them they just make me laugh they have you know hair that sticks straight out and stuff like that [speaker001:] well how cute oh how fun [speaker002:] and she also she also makes dolls but she also paints so [speaker001:] wow [speaker002:] I've had her paint on like a denim jumper these children around the bottom and it's so cute [speaker001:] oh how darling [speaker002:] and recently I had her to do um a couple of T-shirts for me and my my aide that um have the children on them and it has um a little stack of books and one of the kids is reading and [speaker001:] uh-huh oh how cute [speaker002:] one's wearing a T-shirt that says I Love to read and then it has the name of our school on you know on the kid's um shirt [speaker001:] oh uh-huh oh that sounds really cute [speaker002:] so they really are cute and uh she does them so quickly and she only charges ten dollars [speaker001:] oh does she uh you're kidding [speaker002:] to paint I mean there must be five children on the just you know on the front of the T-shirt plus all this other little stuff [speaker001:] wow boy that is something [speaker002:] and it was ten dollars to to do that [speaker001:] my word boy does she have a lot of people asking her to do it [speaker002:] yes yes um this particular one I told her I said if you do this real cute I said you'll probably have about fifty more orders from all the teachers in my school [speaker001:] I bet a line probably right I bet and she probably did [speaker002:] so yeah well she just did them I just got them couple days ago so I think as soon as we wear them to school and everybody sees them it'll be it'll be good [speaker001:] oh oh uh-huh oh have you ever sewn the stuffed animal type things [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] any stuffed animals or [speaker002:] just a few I made two bears this Christmas uh not out of furry but you know out of the Christmas kind of fabric um [speaker001:] oh how fun uh-huh oh how fun [speaker002:] they were they turned out real cute and they were easy they were um [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you know from the fabric store buy the already stamped on it and all so [speaker001:] uh-huh oh well how fun [speaker002:] but they're real cute they're real cute you know Christmas looking patterns so I gave one away and and kept one [speaker001:] well how fun [speaker002:] but I also love to do things that have to do with like either dried flowers dried flowers and silk flowers and [speaker001:] oh do you arr ange [speaker002:] you know make not so much arrangements like to sit on a table but you know to go on a wall or [speaker001:] um-hum oh [speaker002:] you know some pretty stuff on top of a basket or around a basket you know the dried stuff around the top edge of the basket [speaker001:] uh oh yes yeah uh-huh [speaker002:] with the Spanish moss and all the flowers and stuff and um [speaker001:] uh-huh oh [speaker002:] and I do fabric in baskets a lot with all the ruffles and all that stuff you know um [speaker001:] oh do you oh well you sound like you're talented [speaker002:] well it it's called talent with a hot glue gun you know
[speaker001:] actually to tell you the truth I think uh jury selection is a uh prime uh discussion topic in terms of possible improvements on uh uh finding of uh guilt [speaker002:] hm I certainly can't argue with that definitely does need some improvements uh and the lawyers can throw people out for no reason whatsoever just because they want to [speaker001:] yeah I think there's a limit on that the uh the uh peremptory challenges are limited to I don't know how many but you can [speaker002:] I think it's it's four or five I can't remember which I was on a jury trial last year only I got kicked out as uh the last selection that the uh defense got [speaker001:] hm yeah I it seems to me I'm always challenged peremptorily also when I go to these things I think I have a severe demeanor or something [speaker002:] hm that uh [speaker001:] uh but typically you know basically uh typically uh everyone gets involved in uh the jury process and I suppose an elitist might say well you really want someone who's well educated to be able to to winnow the facts from the from the prejudice [speaker002:] right but it still has to be a group of your peers [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] see [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] so if it's your peers and you're not educated [speaker001:] so if you're a nincompoop on trial you'd you'd have to have nincompoops to uh [speaker002:] then you want you want a nincompoop jury because they'll sympathize with you a bit [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] as well as hopefully being honest people and do their best to comply with the facts as they were presented to them so that's why the defense is there picking through them whereas at the same time the uh the prosecutors sitting there picking through them because he wants somebody who will give him uh a guilty verdict if the facts warrant [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so uh I think the jury selection process is pretty neat but I don't think that the jury ought to be the ones picking the punishment [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] afterwards I think that should be left up to people who have some knowledge in the subject and more knowledge than a jury would have I mean you're talking about the person's already been found guilty [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] right and many times I've seen on trials they have on TV the jury will make a recommendation as to leniency or as to the death penalty or whatever but I think that it should be up to the judge and the uh lawyers to make the decision as to what the actual penalty will be [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] maybe just the judge because they're the people who know what the system is and what it's all about and believe in the system [speaker001:] um-hum hm um-hum [speaker002:] uh and I think that would provide a more fair sentencing procedure [speaker001:] well I suppose you may be right on that [speaker002:] as opposed to an emotional sentencing procedure also may be a more consistent sentencing procedure [speaker001:] as a matter of fact I've heard that I've heard that some of the information uh is prevented from reaching the jury like uh mitigating circumstances or or preceding uh criminal record or things of this nature that [speaker002:] well preceding criminal record according to the judicial process has nothing to do with the current crime but when it comes to uh sentencing for punishment of course if the person's never done anything bad before according to the judicial system then they're going to lean towards a slightly more lenient side and the jury's supposed to be notified of criminal records when it comes to sentencing by jury [speaker001:] oh is it oh I didn't realize that okay [speaker002:] at least in California they're supposed to be not during the trial during the trial as to whether they're guilty or not has nothing to do with their background [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] but when it comes to what kind of sentence you're going to lay down I think that uh that they should [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I don't I don't know that they always have because I never sat all the way through a jury trial they get too boring [speaker001:] um-hum so you're what you're saying is if if this is the second offense then you execute them [speaker002:] well if it's a second offense the punishment should certainly be more severe than a first offense because obviously the rehabilitation process did not work the first time [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so you got to give them either more time in the system or a different process that'll hopefully work better uh when it comes down to things like alternative sentencing I'm all for that for uh small crimes infractions and misdemeanors or parking tickets or traffic tickets that have gone to warrant you give them the option of working off their time doing civil service sort of things [speaker001:] what about uh white collar crimes like uh theft of trade secrets [speaker002:] I think those ought to be punished a whole lot worse than they are [speaker001:] oh really [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] like what [speaker002:] well uh say embezzlement right you get a guy down the street [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] who comes up uh carrying a knife
[speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] Okay. Well, uh, anyways, I'm not exactly sure I, I wasn't really, uh, paying attention as to what particular, uh, parts of capital punishment we're supposed to talk about, but it was, uh, basically what's your views on, whether you thought there was certain cases that should be used, that sort of thing? [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Right. And, uh, I don't know, I've, I've always thought that any, uh, crime that, uh, that, uh, intentionally where someone goes out and premeditatively takes another life would be the ones where I think that capital punishment would be necessary to keep that person from perhaps, uh, doing it again, and even more so to get people on the outside who are professionals to realize that, you know, there's a, a very steep penalty to, uh, be paid [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] when that's done, and, uh. Yeah, how do you feel about it? [speaker001:] Uh, I believe in it, too [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I'm Catholic and we're not supposed to, but, uh, I feel that it, like you, you know, on the premeditated murders I feel if you're, you know, I mean, if it's beyond a doubt that you did it, you know [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I would say go ahead and execute that person as well. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But, it's the cases, you know, like sometimes you, you know, you hear of people that they say they went to jail falsely, you know, they really didn't do it. Well, you know, you, you got, you got that point well, h-, you know, what, what if a mistake is made and you put someone, you know, to death that really didn't do it. [speaker002:] Right, exactly. [speaker001:] There's always that chance, I don't know, but, I would say that, you know, for that many people to all of them agree that you did it and it was premeditated, it would be kind of hard for, you know, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] You know what I'm saying? Like, [speaker002:] Right. If, if the evidence wasn't overwhelming, right? [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] So, uh, I, [speaker002:] Well, I think that should be likewise decided by the jury, you know, because, I don't know, I think a jury would be less likely to just send a man to death just for, any reason, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I don't know a judge might be a little more cold-blooded about it. [speaker001:] Exactly. Uh, I'm not sure about Pennsylvania, whether we have it or not. For some reason I was thinking that we do, but it's, you know, it's not very often. I think maybe last year was the first time in like eighteen years or something like that, that anyone [speaker002:] Yeah, I don't think we, [speaker001:] anyone from Pennsylvania had gotten it. I don't, do you know if Virginia has it? [speaker002:] No, huh-uh. No we don't. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I know Florida has it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Oh, yeah [LAUGHTER], [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] they're always in Florida. Florida and Louisiana, I think, and, uh, some of the, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] other southern states. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Course they have such a crime problem because they have such a un-, unemployment rate. [speaker001:] Uh, you know, [speaker002:] Get that unemployment way up so then people, you know tend towards crime, and then they [breathing] they start stiffening the penalties. [speaker001:] Yeah. But it's funny that, uh, I mean, like, you know, like I said I think last year was the first time in like eighteen years for Pennsylvania. I'm not even sure of that, but for some reason I think that, you know, it was something like that. And, it surprised, and even Florida, I know they have it, and you don't really hear about it real often, how many people, [speaker002:] Well, in Florida seems like, uh, two or three times a year. It's constantly on the, [speaker001:] Yeah, but, you, you think that, I mean if you think of how many premeditated murders are committed, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] you know, compared to that and to how many people are being sent, that doesn't seem like very many. [speaker002:] No, that's true. Course they have a requirement that, uh, that every single appeal must be permitted. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So, of course, the, the attorneys, [speaker001:] Everyone would appeal. [speaker002:] take them through the whole chain. [speaker001:] That's true, too. [speaker002:] You know, even if the case is open and closed, they go all the way up to the Supreme Court, you know. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker002:] They almost always get thrown right back out again, but they have to have every single appeal made open to them. And, you know, it's sort of strange because it almost [pause], it almost seems like the attorneys are doing it for the money or something because, I mean, the guy knows that, whether it's, you know, a, a month or two, or six years, he's still going to get, you know, the chair when it comes around [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Some of these guys are really, uh, you know, violent Son of Sam killers and stuff like that, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah, uh-huh. [speaker002:] I mean, they, [speaker001:] And then they get out. [speaker002:] everyone knows they're going get, not going to get out. [speaker001:] Yeah, they get out in three years on probation, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and they do it again, you know. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] It's like a slap on the fingers for them. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I don't, I don't, e-, e-, I don't, I think that it should be, I mean if it's beyond a doubt that someone did premeditate someone, a murder, then I think, you know, that they should likewise, you know, someone should take their life also. But, uh, but, are, are you, would you draw the line there with just the premeditated murder? [speaker002:] I think so. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Uh, a lot of the, the, the other violent crimes I don't really feel that strongly about. Although, you know, stiffer sentences and lessening the effects of parole, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I mean, these guys are certainly not going to, uh, be, they can't, I mean they're getting into drugs and fights and all that stuff in prison. I don't think the parole system is really helping that much [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Reduce the violence in the prisons. I think that's its only purpose [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] is, is, you know, to reduce, uh, the violence in the prisons so people behave themselves a little bit better if they think they're going to get off early. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Off earlier. But some of these guys just don't care, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] {D you know. } And so, uh, [speaker001:] I think some of them would rather be in jail [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, right, uh-huh. [speaker001:] Yeah. They probably have it better in jail than what they would out in the streets. [speaker002:] Um, that's possible I guess. [speaker001:] I don't know, uh, I was just going to say something, I forgot what it was. [pause] Oh, I don't even remember what it was now. [speaker002:] Um, so where do you live in Pennsylvania? [speaker001:] In Clarion. Well, I live in Butler, but I'm at c-, I'm at college. I'm at Clarion University. [speaker002:] Oh, okay. I don't think I really know that. [speaker001:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Because, uh, you know, that all depends, too, on where you are at. That's, uh, sort of interesting to get opinions as to where different parts of the country are. Because the more grass root country, uh, parts of the country tend to, to support capital punishment, where the places that are, you know, less in contact with crime [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you know, the, the more, more urban, I mean less, [speaker001:] See, yeah, okay, well, see, I'm, I'm in kind, I'm in kind, okay, uh, we only have seven thousand students in the entire campus. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Yeah, and that would be pushing it. So, I mean this is definitely a college town. Uh, we're about two hours north of Pittsburgh if that would help you out any. Uh, [speaker002:] Two hours where? [speaker001:] North of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [speaker002:] Oh, okay. Near Polk? [speaker001:] Oh, I've never heard of Polk but, [speaker002:] Polk Institute. It's, uh, an old, uh, university that turned into a place for the mentally retarded. Uh, [speaker001:] Oh, I never heard of that. [speaker002:] Very old, uh, historical place there. [speaker001:] It might have a new name. [speaker002:] Sharon, Pennsylvania's up there. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] We're probably about an hour away from Sharon. [speaker002:] Oh, okay. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Uh, so, I, most of the kids here, I, you know, like, you know, just from dorm mates and stuff, they'll say that they don't believe in it, but then after I would say my point of view, then they'll say, well, yeah, you know, da-, you know. [speaker002:] In that case, maybe, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. You know, I think people can be persuaded one way or another. I've never seriously ran into someone, I mean like, other than my priest, you know, who definitely says you can't take a, you know, you can't take anyone's life. Uh, anyone that is like so against it that you couldn't persuade them in any instance. [speaker002:] Right. That's true. Yeah, well, it, it, you know, you get certain circumstances where you hear about these people that have, you know, stolen kids and, you know, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] done terrible things to them and killed them and, you know, that sort of thing, you just like, I don't want that person sharing the Earth with me, you know, I mean, that is just [speaker001:] Exac-, yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] terrible. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, uh, you know, we had a case like that here and, on the other hand, you know, people are saying that because the, he knows, because the criminals know that the, uh, penalties can be very severe, they, uh, there's less criminals that are, you know, turning themselves in, or, you know, pleading or whatever, because they know that the judge, you know, if they find them guilty is, you know, has the, the opportunity to sentence them, you know, for, for the death sentence. [speaker001:] Yeah, but you know I look at that and say, well, they should have thought about that beforehand. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] You know. [speaker002:] Well, I'm just saying that, that, that's what, the, the client, lawyers are saying. They're saying that, you know, you know, more of my clients would have pleaded guilty if they would have gotten a light sentence instead of possibly having to, to, to get a death sentence because you can't plea bargain [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] what the sentence is going to be. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You can plea bargain what you're guilty of, but, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But not how they're going to sentence you, [speaker001:] That's something, you know [LAUGHTER], but, uh, [LAUGHTER] wh-, whether they plea bargain or not, if they're guilty of murder, they're guilty of murder, you know. [speaker002:] Right, uh-huh. [speaker001:] So I don't think that they deserve anything less [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, right. [speaker001:] It's just, I don't, I don't know, I just [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I was just saying that way, what they're saying is that they can't get people to turn themselves in then. And so, we have to go through a trial then to prove the person's guilty. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, and that costs money, yeah. [speaker002:] And perhaps we can and perhaps we can't and so the guy might get off. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] And, uh, although usually the guys that are turning themselves in are, are guys that are, you know going to get caught anyways but, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] There's always a few of those people that are, you know, lost their head or whatever. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Anyways, but, uh. Yeah, we just had a terrible case in Virginia where some girl disappeared and, and the guy, like I said, he just, uh, said that he took her, but he won't admit that she died or whatever, and he won't say where the body is because he knows the penalty's very s-, s-, you know, mandatory life sentences for murder.
[speaker001:] Hi [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Hi. [speaker001:] Uh, uh [throat clearing] I, I should say something. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] That I'm the, uh, least informed, this is totally accidental that I have to talk about this topic. But, it's, I'm the least informed person in the whole United States. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] This has not been determined yet but I, I, I've never read a newspaper in my entire life and I've, I, I never watch T V news nor listen to the news on the radio unless I'm just happening to be listening to music and they slip it on in the car radio before I can turn it off. But, [speaker002:] Any particular reason? [throat clearing]. [speaker001:] Well, no. I, I've, I've explored that with lots of people. Uh, they've tried to lock me up and, uh, things like that. But, uh, uh, I'm basically not interested and I also find the, uh, everything is so slick and superficial and misguided and mis-, and off the, uh, uh, what am I trying to say. Uh, [speaker002:] [Noise]. [speaker001:] I do learn about things. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Huh [very faint]. [speaker001:] Largely from friends and I occasionally will read something like the NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS. You know, someone will write a book about something [LAUGHTER] and then I'll learn all about this thing that was in the news two years earlier. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But it, and somehow, and anything I participated in or know about when I read about it in the paper is always so, uh, covered from such a funny and superficial perspective that I don't have much confidence in it. But, I mean, I don't think it's just that I'm lazy [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I really don't, I, I, I like to refer to this as sort of CONSUMER REPORT phenomenon. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Which is everybody that I know [inhaling] reads CONSUMER REPORTS so the people who do feel that CONSUMER REPORTS does a wholly inadequate job in their area of particular interest. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] But, assume that they do a reasonable job in other areas. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Uh, without thinking that there were people in, who think each other areas, area of, of specialty and, uh, I guess you could explain it two ways. And, and the cynical view is, [NOISE] well these things aren't doing a very good job at all. And the view that I would rather take [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] is that there's a different amount of information you need when you're particularly interested in a topic or, uh, particularly interested in buying something as a, you know [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] as a hobbyist versus when you want to go out and buy a blender because you need to mix things. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And I think the same thing is true with news. If you want to just have an idea as to what's going on, most papers, a-, and especially the better papers, the, the TIMES, the WALL STREET JOURNAL, the [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] WASHINGTON POST give you a reasonable idea. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] If you were deeply involved in it, then you immediately realize that what they print is stuff that you probably knew already and the stuff that you want they're not printing because the average person doesn't need or want to know [speaker001:] Right. Doesn't want, [speaker002:] that much. [speaker001:] Let me ask, by the way, just for the record. I, I'm, I totally concede that intelligent people read these things and intelligent people write them. So, I mean, I'm not being elitist in that sense, I hope. Uh, [speaker002:] Well, I mean, there's, there's a reasonable question as to whether it's worth the amount of time it takes [LAUGHTER] to keep up on things [NOISE]. [speaker001:] Yeah. What, [speaker002:] And most people think it is and I can, I can, you know, accept that some people think it's not and can find better ways to use it. [speaker001:] Yeah. By the way when you say most people think it is, I think it's like ninety-nine point ninety-nine think it is, percent. [speaker002:] I don't think it's that high. [speaker001:] Oh, you don't? [speaker002:] I know a lot of people who may [clicking] watch the T V news in the evening but don't spend the time to actually read a newspaper. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] And I think they're saying well if something's really important, I'll at least find out that it happened. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, and that's a, that's, is a reasonable start and for awhile I didn't read a newspaper when I came out here because I didn't find one that I liked. Uh, and if something important happened, it was covered on T V and I could then go and, and pick up newspapers if, if it were important enough to read about. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And I imagine you get the same level of something that you cared about happened, you'd find out from friends or other channels [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. Uh, I did, on the, uh, [lipsmack] the Supreme Court hearings, ar-, the, for, uh, uh, the whole business of, uh, see I actually have a, a, [speaker002:] Clarence Thomas or, [speaker001:] Yeah, the Thomas and Anita Hill business. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] I, I mean that's, that's the closest thing. I deeply cared about that. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, and I sort of had planned to have dinner with a friend of mine and when I arrived at her house, she was engrossed in that. We ended up watching it for a couple of hours. Zooming out and grabbing something to eat and then zooming back and ea-, watching it some more. And I thought that was terrific because she actually helped me understand what was going on. But even then, I didn't end up doing it on my own. Uh, uh, [speaker002:] Yeah. I stayed [LAUGHTER] as far away from those as I could. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I decided I didn't want to waste the time I had, I guess, five years ago now, wasted that kind of time with Oliver North hearings. [speaker001:] Right, right. Yeah. [speaker002:] And afterwards, decided that what I had gotten out of it just wasn't worth the time I put in. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And that these things are just very slow in seeing information [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] come out. [speaker001:] Do you ever read,
[speaker001:] Hello. [speaker002:] Hello. [speaker001:] Hello, [speaker002:] Hello, [speaker001:] Hi. Boy it took forever to find somebody. [speaker002:] Oh, [LAUGHTER] well I'm glad you found me. [speaker001:] Good, well I'm, my name's Gail, and I guess we have to, [speaker002:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker001:] talk about credit cards. [speaker002:] Yes. My name is Carolyn. [speaker001:] Okay, well, if you're ready, then uh, [speaker002:] Okay. I'll just let you start, [speaker001:] Okay, I'll press one [beep]. Okay, well, I'm not, this is kind of an interesting subject to come up for me, because credit cards are my downfall. I just find it so easy to, to charge something when I don't have the money to pay for it, and I'm really trying to get out of that habit. So. I think they're kind of dangerous. [speaker002:] I think they are, too. And, unfortunately, um, we use ours in, we don't use them all the time, but we use them like at Christmas time, and then it seems like it takes all year to pay them off when you use them like that [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] But, um, I would love to just take some scissors and cut them in half. [speaker001:] Yeah, me too. [speaker002:] I think sometimes when you look at the interest that you're paying on them, um, that's what gets to be the really scary part, you know, if you think, when it comes around to income tax time, and you look at how much money you paid out just in interest all year, you could really get a lot more stuff [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] if you were just able to pay outright for it. [speaker001:] Yeah, that's true, that's true. Seems just like our society is so, um, pushes so hard for, you can have it, you know, and then no interest, no payments for a year, and stuff like this, they're really trying to get you into that situation, because they know they've really got you [speaker002:] That's right.*needs slash unit note punctuation [speaker001:] then, so. [speaker002:] Yeah, all I know is some of my credit cards, like, um, we have a Sears one, and we always get a maintenance agreement every year [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and it's just easier to say, you know, just put that on my credit card. Well that's probably four or five hundred dollars, you know, that goes on at that point [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and then it seems like takes forever to pay that off. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] It's funny, that we've got a Sears card, and we bought a washer and dryer on it, four years ago, and we still owe. I mean, I, I think like half the amount that they cost in the first place. [speaker002:] Wow. [speaker001:] It's just, uh, you know, you never, never get it out, and now that's real irritating. [speaker002:] It sure is. We eventually did, one time we just borrowed, took a personal loan and paid off all our credit cards, and the interest on the loan was cheaper [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] than it was, you know, to just have that. We haven't done it lately. We probably need to do it again. [speaker001:] Well, we did, you know, one time, we wanted to buy a truck, a used truck, and so we went down to the bank, and they said, Sure we'll give you a personal loan. It was only a thousand dollars that we needed [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] for the truck. And they said, sure that's no problem, but, you know, why don't we consolidate your bills, and at the time we thought, Oh, that would be great, you know, we could, and it's going to be a lower payment than it was for all of them, you only have to write one check a month, not all those. You never miss one or whatever [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and we did that, but we didn't realize at the time, until several months later, that we, we were real, I mean this was four yea-, three years ago, we were pretty young and we were just kind of like, well, I guess that means these credit cards are closed, and we didn't, you know, about six months later we realized we could use them, and so we charged them all up again. [speaker002:] Oh, no. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] So then we were not only paying those bills regular like we were before, but also adding the lower payment for all of them, [LAUGHTER]. So we were paying like twice. Um, so we didn't ever make that mistake again, luckily [baby]. But, uh, we're definitely working on not doing that credit thing. We just, as a matter of fact, this, it's real interesting the subjects I get. They always seem to be so pertinent. But we just discussed this last night at church, talking about debt and things like that. It's so, so alluring, and [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] uh, so easy to get, uh, sometimes, [speaker002:] I know, they really encourage you not to go into debt for anything except for maybe your house and [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] your car. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah, [speaker002:] And, uh, if you could stick to that, you know, we'd get rid of a lot of indigestion [beep] and [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] everything else. [speaker001:] That's true. Oh, I just picked up my daughter and she was eating a cupcake and now her crumbs all over. [speaker002:] Oh, dear. [speaker001:] Yeah. What a mess you are. Oh, so I don't know, if I, if I, I just feel kind of. My big thing was my husband really wanted to get rid of our Visa card, and I just thought, you know, if we ever had something go wrong with our refrigerator or something, you know [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and we had to, had to buy one, then we would really need that, and so he said, Okay we'll keep it, and then we weren't smart enough to not use it, so. [speaker002:] You know, one thing you might do with, in a situation like that, though, it's just like keep,
[speaker001:] Okay, as far as, uh, universal health care [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] um, I guess I'm all for it. I think it's time that we start looking at, uh, getting into that. Um, health cost has continued to rise and I think, uh, there's people that to me it's the fundamental, uh, [speaker002:] [Baby crying]. [speaker001:] life of a person. Uh, it doesn't matter if you have money or no mone-, or all the money in the world, um, you would, [speaker002:] You should still be [sniffing] [baby crying], [speaker001:] Everybody should be able to have surgeries that will save their lives or things that will make their life more comfortable verses than just the rich people that can afford to pay or to work for corporations that have wonderful health benefits. Um, I think if, uh, they looked at it as a way of business helping out financially for universal health care and, uh, individuals, um, helping out in some sort of way whether it be taxes or some how. But, uh, the expenses right now for health care, um, are just unreal. [speaker002:] Well, they really are even for, even when you're not talking about surgery. If you're just talking about basic care, we've [speaker001:] Yes. [speaker002:] we've got four children and, you know [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] in the past month [speaker001:] Oh, sure. [speaker002:] [Breathing] they, it just, they pass things from one to one and it just can devastate [speaker001:] And your constantly, [speaker002:] your budget, [LAUGHTER] you know. [speaker001:] Exactly. [speaker002:] Um [lipsmack], [speaker001:] Yeah. The only, I, I know that, um, uh, I know a little bit about the, uh, European, uh, universal health care and there's some pros and cons. One of the things, of course, is everybody gets health care, but, uh, sometimes health care, uh, when you get into a universal system lacks in, uh, what would be considered, uh, how can I say it? Um, over like in Poland, uh, where my father-in-law lived for years there their health care system is, um, because no financial gains are available for doctors. Uh, they may just go into being a doctor just clearly just to be a doctor for the full reason, but most people that go in to being a physician here in the U S do it for financial gain. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] They say, well, jeez. If I get into this area of dermatology, I don't have to do this, I can do this, and I can, you know, [speaker002:] Can still make big bucks [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, or plastic surgery or, uh, if I become a, uh, heart specialist I'm going to make this kind of money, uh, and there's, you know, financial gains toward that. And in a universal system I don't think there is a financial gain for the doctors. [speaker002:] [Sniffing] Do you think that the quality, um [speaker001:] The quality [speaker002:] it would [speaker001:] I think [speaker002:] would be as high? [speaker001:] goes down. Uh-huh [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] when you have a universal system. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Um, the only way they could do that is by having a real good quality check, um, and also offering some kind of, because I think, uh, all physicians, well, anybody, um, likes the ability to kind of, uh, get themselves financially, uh, situated. Uh, I guess that's the whole U S concept [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] is to come here and, [speaker002:] More motivation [sniffing]. [speaker001:] Yeah, and I don't know if you can have that with a universal system. Maybe, you know, there's a way of working that out, but I know that in Poland in particular the doctors just go to do their job and that's it. That's what they look at it as. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] There's no, uh, and that's sad because if that's the case, if doctors aren't going in to be doctors to help people then maybe they shouldn't be in that area anyway. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] But [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] that might be one way of weeding out those that are greedy for the money and those that really want to help mankind. [speaker002:] That's true. Yeah. [speaker001:] So. [speaker002:] I, uh, [speaker001:] But I, I think we have to head toward that way. [speaker002:] Well, we're going to have to do something because there's just too many people in the country that are uninsured [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and, and you know you cannot, I mean it's just, [speaker001:] I'm worried when I get older. [speaker002:] Oh, sure. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] You know, and, uh, let's say for instance you, uh, get fired or not fired but maybe laid off from your job. You no longer have insurance. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] I mean and you're sixty some or [speaker002:] [Very faint] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] fifty some years old you try, try to find insurance. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] I mean y-, you're uninsurable. [speaker002:] That's right. [speaker001:] Unless you want to pay five hundred, six hundred dollars a month and I know people that are paying two hundred, three hundred dollars a month for insurance. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And how they can do it I have no idea. Um, I know working for small corporations and health insurance, um, myself, um, it would cost for a family and this was back three, four years ago to put my entire family up and this was working for like a med center, uh, health plan. Um, it was like eighty dollars out of my paycheck. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] So, [speaker002:] Well, our [LAUGHTER] ours is three hundred for our family and I mean we, that is, we pay that instead of a car payment. [speaker001:] See. [speaker002:] You know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I mean I'm driving a piece of junk, [LAUGHTER] you know [throat clearing]. [speaker001:] Well, we do the same. I mean it's, I think, uh, people are changing their viewpoints of, you know, it's getting harder and harder to survive. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] And, uh [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] and that's why, uh, if they don't go to a universal system, something is going to happen. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] We're going to have, uh, a larger amount of people dying.
[speaker001:] okay okay now as you were saying [speaker002:] I said one thing we've been doing around here is trying to find ways of having uh my husband likes gourmet food [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and I'm trying to figure out how how to feed him so he'll eat this stuff and the kids will eat it too and it's not going to be fattening high in fat or high in cholesterol get's to be a a real chore with little kids who basically want every thing covered in cheese [speaker001:] right that's true um I have the same problem I've uh in fact both of us like cheese uh my children are grown now um and I also like ice cream so [speaker002:] I just have been fortunate with that I have never really had an ice cream fetish but I'm married to somebody who just feels that you know if you offer it to him he'd eat a hot fudge sundae every night of the week [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] and I hate him for it [speaker001:] yeah well everyone has their own little things right his is ice cream or hot fudge sundaes but I tell you what we use to do even when the children were growing up every Friday night [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] would be our night that um uh put to kids to bed when they were younger and my wife and I would would uh she'd set the dining room table with candles and no one disturbed us no one called on Friday night and we would just have this quiet dinner for the two of us and that uh that's held up until our youngest is graduating college in the couple of weeks and we still do that [speaker002:] wow [speaker001:] um well we also like to do is we like to cook out a lot even in the winter time we got we got a grill and I've got like a wood shop off the garage and I've got a a like an over hang and we keep the grill out there so I just out and we you know grill steaks or salmon or whatever [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um so um so I can give you something that we like to do [speaker002:] give me something that's really easy to do [speaker001:] or well clams casino if you like clams casino [speaker002:] I love clams but I'm not sure what clams casino are and I don't know if I could find clams that I would eat down here in Texas [speaker001:] oh yeah well but well I like well you lived in Boston so you know a little about you know [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and in a restaurant they they just kind of serve them on a half shell with a little bit of uh stuffing what we like the to do is uh is to cut them out and then cut them into little quarters or eighths you know not so much just one big bite [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and then cut up fresh peppers and fresh tomatoes and fresh celery and bread crumbs and mix it all together and pre cook bacon so it's kind of soft [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and put a strip of bacon over the top of that and then and then pop them in the oven [speaker002:] God that sounds good [speaker001:] and we usually have that and then we'll have a salad and I'll throw a steak on the grill with uh what I call a potato bake I buy a uh couple of yams and some either red potato or either white potato and I put them in a microwave and cook them so they're fairly soft and I slice them I peel the yam slice that [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I slice the white potato with the skin on I slice up a mild onion preferably a onion [speaker002:] now in Texas it would have to be ten fifteen [speaker001:] oh and then I put it in tin foil and I interweave put a I put a slice of white potato and slice sweet potato and slice of onion and then I do that until I got the size of a baked potato put butter and salt on it garlic close the tin foil and I throw it on the grill cause I like it a little crispy on the bottom so I throw it on the grill maybe about [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] ten minutes before I put the steak on and then once once the steak is done that's usually done and then we have uh [speaker002:] God that sound wonderful [speaker001:] and then either spinach I like spinach or uh asparagus because we grow own asparagus we have asparagus patch so in fact right now it's it's in season so we just go out and there lop off a few and then whatever you want for desert [speaker002:] well I'll give you one that that that I I put together modified out of a Heart Smart Cookbook now my husband really thinks that this is one of those French fancy French sauces [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] so when he when he request this I always tell him he has to take the kids for an hour and it really only takes about fifteen or twenty minutes to do but it gives me forty five minutes to sit by myself where it's quiet [speaker001:] that's nice [speaker002:] but what you do is you go take you can use pork tender loin it's more expensive but I and I like the leaner cut of pork [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] the um like the center cut pork chops [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and you you need to have them thick at least a three-quarters of an inch think [speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] and all you do is take those things and coat them in lemon pepper marinade [speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] on both sides [speaker001:] um when you say lemon pepper marinade you put lemon juice and pepper together [speaker002:] no just the uh the you know you can do that just that you buy just lemon pepper [speaker001:] the spice that you buy okay all right [speaker002:] and then you take about two tablespoons of butter which you know most people kind of go you know this is a low fat recipe but it is [speaker001:] oh yeah [speaker002:] and you just melt that in a skillet [speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] you broken the uh the pork chops or the pork fillets [speaker001:] okay uh-huh [speaker002:] you just brown them on both sides and I like to get them at a good golden brown [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] and then just take them and stick them on a plate and keep them warm and into that same skillet add the juice of lemon about anywhere from a quarter to a half a cup to that you add two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce [speaker001:] two [speaker002:] and one teaspoon to a tablespoon depending on how much you like it [speaker001:] two tablespoons wait wait a minute that was two tablespoons of Worcestershire [speaker002:] uh yeah Worcestershire [speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] and then anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon of Dijon mustard and what you do is you just cook this down and it makes a a really pretty almost dark black brown viscous sauce [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] it's pretty spicy now I like to throw in just a you know a shot of white wine and then you just take the pork chops put them on a serving platter pour this sauce over it and I garnish it with fresh cut chives it really is a really pretty entree to look at [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] uh-huh and the sauce I mean it has kind of this nice complex flavor where you feel that somebody's you know played around with this all afternoon [speaker001:] yeah that [speaker002:] and I have served it to company [speaker001:] so so you cooked the the pork is cooked at that point then okay [speaker002:] and uh-huh but you know the trick with pork most people think you have to cook it at a hundred and eighty five degrees well done [speaker001:] oh no no [speaker002:] you don't have to do that it can still be pink in the middle and that makes all the world of difference [speaker001:] oh uh um [speaker002:] the other thing that that I've really got into down here in Texas is fresh uh herbs [speaker001:] that's what we do we we grow our own and dry them and [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] well see I don't have to try them cause they'll they'll pretty much grow all winter long and if [speaker001:] yeah you guys are kind of lucky down there [speaker002:] oh I don't know we also have you know foot long roaches all year long too [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] hey don't laugh don't laugh but what makes a really elegant um just a side dish and most people don't have any idea what it is why they don't I don't know and you can make it a day ahead of time because I just take about a cup of fresh cut basil I mean I really like basil [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] and then cook spaghetti and I the the this is smaller thread spaghetti it's like the cappelletti is the better [speaker001:] okay yep [speaker002:] add and I add almost equal parts parmesan cheese a a healthy balance of garlic I mean I really like garlic [speaker001:] oh that's what we do we yeah [speaker002:] yeah so you're basically makes a kind of a a pesto [speaker001:] like a pesto yeah [speaker002:] yes but if you serve it cold it really is just a wonderful [speaker001:] so is it a cup of basil leave fresh basil leaves [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh and pine nuts and if you can't get pine nuts because to me they're always kind of mushy I just grind up walnuts and use that in it [speaker001:] uh [speaker002:] it really is nice [speaker001:] yeah that's uh [speaker002:] and even my kids will eat it and they've gotten to be kind of food snobs one of them went over to [speaker001:] we're going we're going to have that Friday we're going to do the pork and we don't have the we don't have any fresh basil but we've got dried well we'll have to go down to the market [speaker002:] dry basil doesn't have quite the taste [speaker001:] it doesn't you can't pesto out of it they've got some pesto frozen though [speaker002:] yeah I keep I do that and I find that it tastes just about as good and I freeze it in like little half cup quantity so I can even pull it out whenever I want to [speaker001:] but I like that I like those uh-huh I like that sauce with the pork [speaker002:] you you'll be surprised you'll be really surprised at just how simple it is and and it's not a a clear cut you know this this this and this it's kind of to taste [speaker001:] and yeah that's what I'm going to do because we each take turns doing it you know I usually do the grill work and you know it depends if she makes uh uh anything with shrimp on it or not you know she'll do that but I'll do the grill stuff but this is nice this is I can cook the pork on the grill [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and just make the sauce [speaker002:] you know what also is really good just really really good and really really simple if you like to do grilling if you can get a hold of fresh sage [speaker001:] yep yep [speaker002:] have you ever worked with that just take the fresh sage and and you know crumble it so that you you release the oils [speaker001:] yep [speaker002:] pour you know put that stuff over fresh pork chops and if you've got balsamic vinegar there [speaker001:] we do we make all of our vinegars in fact we do canning too we do all of our own canning and [speaker002:] oh I love that stuff oh I do my own vinegars too but just put a a touch of balsamic vinegar on that until
[speaker001:] Afternoon, Doug, it certainly is, uh, going to be a pleasure to chat with you. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] And I'm, uh, certainly was surprised to, uh, to hear from you. Normally I talk to people in Plano, Texas. [speaker002:] Yeah, me too. [speaker001:] How did you get on this list? [speaker002:] Uh, through Nancy Dahlgren. She, um, she had somehow gotten the information from T I [speaker001:] Well, okay. [speaker002:] and was distributing it around. [speaker001:] All right. Well, now, what would you say about these everyday invasions of our privacy? What ideas do you have on that, Doug? [speaker002:] Um, see, I'm not sure that, I don't think they're necessarily widespread in this country, but I think that the opportunity is definitely there for, um, people to invade your privacy when they want to, I think it's, um, [speaker001:] In what manner? [speaker002:] Well, it's certainly not that difficult to tap a phone. It's completely trivial to, for instance, listen in on someone's car phone or walk around phone, since they're just radio signals. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] It's, um, and let's see, well, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? [speaker001:] Well, the thing that I thought they were, uh, concerned about was, was people calling on the phone from all over the country to sell you something [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and in reality in many cases, they knew, or they had information about you that was purchased from some other organizations. And I thought was, uh, beginning to invade the privacy of people, because the things about where you live and, and maybe what you purchased in past months is then put down and sent to someone else in the same business, and they in return, come back and try to sell you something with this additional knowledge. To me that's an invasion of privacy. [speaker002:] Yeah, I agree with you there, for sure. Um, and I think that all that information is quite easy for anyone to get. It's possible for almost anyone to get information about your credit history, for instance, if they just, um, twist the right arm or claim to be from the right organization when they're calling the credit company. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] It's, you know, possible for a thirteen year old hacker with a modem to find out almost anything about your personal history, not to mention, change it if he wants to. [speaker001:] You mean your history in regards to, uh [speaker002:] Well, um. [speaker001:] the charge card company or something like that? [speaker002:] Well, yes, well, for instance, yes, um, and they'll probably goes into other things, like, you know, your records with the government or utility companies or anything. [speaker001:] Do you consider these serious, uh, problems? [speaker002:] Um, uh, not, not yet anyways, because I don't think they're widespread enough, but I think they have the potential of becoming serious problems. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Well, what should we do about it, or what could be done about it, do you think [speaker002:] Um [speaker001:] to correct it? [speaker002:] I'm not really sure, because the, I mean society is going more and more electronic, and there are certainly benefits to its doing so, and it's hard to, hard to say whether the, um, risks have potential of outweighing the benefits or not, and I'm not sure what can be done to ensure that they don't. Why, do you see any out for us? [speaker001:] Well, I would think that, uh, information held on records, uh, by any company or charge card dealer or person should be absolutely private and, and not be allowed to be, uh, to, given out by those companies. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I mean, it should be made a, a, uh, national or a state law to protect people so that, uh, you would then feel more free to deal direct with these companies. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] In other words, if you call the company yourself, directly, uh, and then know that what you tell them will be on their records but will not be available to anyone else, uh, you know, from the outside, so to speak [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] then you would, you would feel more free to, uh, to go into detail with them [speaker002:] Yeah, I. [speaker001:] but, but we have no control of that now [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and then, uh, you, you're, when you're talking with them you really don't want to tell them everything that's on your mind because you, you feel that it someday might be used against you.
[speaker001:] all right now since I'm from the great Midwest north you know we're right on Lake Erie uh I'm sure our climates are much different than yours are typically today we've got uh rain we're forecasting a little bit of sleet and uh which means I'm not gonna do any lawn and gardening today that's for sure [speaker002:] yes I can understand [speaker001:] so I don't know what's the weather down there and [speaker002:] oh it's nice and sunny here uh it's uh little little Christmas uh crispness in the air [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh delightful to be outside [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and right now I'm watering [speaker001:] yeah it's not are you really we avoid having to send you a little bit [speaker002:] yes and my lawn is very green and my flowers are still blooming [speaker001:] uh-huh well I have that [speaker002:] oh you do [speaker001:] I still have that we have mums and geraniums that are still holding their own out there uh lot of the other ones I've I've already had to pull out [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] uh at this point I'm ready to start putting in uh some bulbs I'm waiting for a decent some decent weather for that I got uh about two hundred bulbs I've got to put in [speaker002:] uh-huh right [speaker001:] but I have a uh mine's a new home and we just really did the landscaping this year so I've got about all the gardening I want for the year so I'll be anxious to to let it rest for a little bit [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but uh somebody I talked to last week was said they had the uh they had problems doing some of the work down there because they they really had some heat hanging on [speaker002:] well course that's a constant factor down here what you have to do is uh keep your uh keep your ground uh watered [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh the heat really doesn't bother you if you have the right kind of flowers [speaker001:] yeah all right [speaker002:] or and the right kind of lawn for that matter [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I have a tiff Bermuda lawn here and uh it requires a lot of water and you have to keep it cut very short if you want it to look like a golf course green [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I don't uh get to it that often so mine doesn't look like a golf course course but it is very nice and uh and shiny and uh very thin grass [speaker001:] oh I see [speaker002:] grows real close together [speaker001:] uh-huh that's very okay it's very very different than ours because ours ours we get into a lot of combinations of rye and Kentucky Blue [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and uh plus the usual amount of crabgrass and weeds and everything else that pops through and uh but we've had an a terrible drought this year and everybody's going through the same kind of problems in fact we developed on a new lawn we developed what they call rust and it's a fungus which is very very rare but our whole area they're all new homes and new lawns and it was it was very very much in evidence this year as everything turns yellow [speaker002:] turns yellow early huh [speaker001:] well it just turns yellow where it shouldn't and you walk across walk across the lawn and your shoes will actually come out rust colored [speaker002:] and it's it's not it's not a disease it's a disease and not a lack of a of chemicals [speaker001:] no it's it's a fungus and they claim that it is caused by stress to the lawn it it won't kill the lawn but it sure doesn't do much for the looks of the lawn [speaker002:] huh um-hum [speaker001:] and uh the alternative is a lot of uh nitrogen overpowering with nitrogen fertilizer and certain chemicals but everybody is so chemical shy anymore that we steered clear of it and hopefully you know come spring come spring it will be cleared up and everything will be back to normal [speaker002:] well I have grub worms here off and on I try to keep them under control they live right up under the surface of the ground and they eat the roots of your grass and then you have ground brown uh patches develop [speaker001:] um-hum oh yeah [speaker002:] that's when you first notice it but you can put some uh chemical on that and kill them out and keep them under control you never destroy them [speaker001:] um-hum you enjoy lawn work [speaker002:] oh very much so uh we have a lake house down at Cedar Creek Texas seventy five miles uh north uh or rather uh uh southeast uh southeast of uh Dallas [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh I have to to grow uh rye grass down there because we're not there to water although we have a watering system no one's there to turn it on and I guess uh [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] well we don't have an automatic sprinkler either see so [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] uh or automatic on the sprinkler system [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but uh you know the rye grass and the uh wild grass that grow makes us a nice lawn [speaker001:] um-hum yeah it sounds nice Cedar Lake I'm not uh [speaker002:] but oh it's a very large uh man-made lake uh in Texas it's about uh a hundred and uh fifty miles I guess in Fort Worth [speaker001:] oh I see [speaker002:] and it supplies Fort Worth with it's drinking water [speaker001:] okay okay [speaker002:] and then a hundred and eighty miles further south of there uh or rather a hundred and eighty miles from Fort Worth about forty miles south of Cedar Creek is another mammoth lake that Fort Worth owns [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] that it uses to water [speaker001:] yeah that's interesting I never realized the uh the amount of lake
[speaker001:] and I guess [speaker002:] okay um so uh um uh do you have any favorite teams [speaker001:] well I kind of like them all I played for about eighteen years all all the way through college and then uh kind of hung them up after college but [speaker002:] oh I was going to say you played pro ball right [speaker001:] no not quite [speaker002:] not quite huh [speaker001:] made it yeah made it all the way through four years of college playing ball but [speaker002:] well that's pretty good [speaker001:] anyway uh being in Rochester you probably like the Mets [speaker002:] yes I'm actually a Met's fan I'm I'm one of these people who's actually a die hard Met fan and an avid Yankee hater [speaker001:] oh boy it the I think it's like one or the other isn't it I mean you either [speaker002:] yeah it's it's I I I find it very strange um more people you know real Met fans don't like the Yankees and real Yankee fans don't like the Mets for some reason [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I never found I never quite found a New York fan I've always found a fan you know of of either one or the other and so that of course means that when it comes to the American League my favorite team is the Red Sox [speaker001:] oh okay [speaker002:] by default because I went to college also in Boston [speaker001:] I see yeah I I like the uh uh I guess if I had to pick a favorite team I'd I anymore uh well as I kind of grew up rooting for Philadelphia [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] I'm from New Jersey originally [speaker002:] yeah so that that's sort of close enough [speaker001:] yeah well we were thirty miles south of them so [speaker002:] oh so you were pretty close [speaker001:] right yeah right down the river but uh so what are the Mets going to do this year without Strawberry [speaker002:] well I don't know um there's there's a part of me that says that you know I'm I'm sort of glad Strawberry went away you know when when he sort of went away I started thinking yeah well he was performing fairly well but he really wasn't worth the baggage you know [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] um I think they're okay I think they're you know I think they have enough people who are who are who are still in their prime you know um I mean certainly if you look at them compared to let's say you know um [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] just eight years ago or something they're they're they're they're you know they're sort of in in good standing whereas you know um I think [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I certainly don't think that they're the eighty six team anymore [speaker001:] uh well I was going to talk to you about that eighty six team that was that was the year that uh they beat Houston in uh extra innings right [speaker002:] yeah I right they were either beat Houston in extra innings and then and then they actually won the series by by sort of a sneaky route um against Boston [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] when there was the ball that was sort of hit to Buckner to Buckner [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I felt real bad about that but hey what can you do [speaker001:] hey the guy's making millions he ought to be able to perform right [speaker002:] that's right well actually he he he was supposedly um there was there was something wrong with him at the time and I [speaker001:] well his knees were bothering him yeah [speaker002:] right and I and I understand that and I say hey if the guy can't play you don't blame the team that uh hit it to him you blame the team you know for putting him in [speaker001:] yeah for having him out there [speaker002:] that's right so [speaker001:] sure [speaker002:] so I I I was uh I was also I was in school at Boston at the time [speaker001:] oh oh boy [speaker002:] so I it was actually wonderful because where I was there were half Met fans and um half Sox fans [speaker001:] yeah I think we were all pretty much uh Astros fans in the in the National National League Championship Series but there's like two fellows [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] from uh Brooklyn and they they were you know they were they were pretty much without having to say it they were pretty much Mets fans [speaker002:] yeah yeah well I guess they were uh I guess they must have been scared [speaker001:] no not really they they were they were pretty much thugs they weren't scared of very much you know [speaker002:] after the uh well that's good well yeah Brooklyn boys I guess [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you don't expect them to be uh much of anything but thugs no I know I was born there um [speaker001:] yeah really [speaker002:] yeah so I I was I was also born in Brooklyn so I so I can call myself a Brooklyn thug although I'm really not [speaker001:] okay okay well I'm not to say that all folks from Brooklyn are thugs but these two were definitely thugs and they were from Brooklyn so I'm kind of hoping I I I guess uh anymore I pretty much pull for the Rangers though they were uh they're they're they're they they have the I think they have the best facilities in the major leagues [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] I love going to watch a game in Arlington stadium it's great [speaker002:] well that that's actually I think that makes something because I think and and and as much as sort of fan support helps [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know it's good to have um [speaker001:] the only problem is it's not large enough it only holds about I think they squeezed when Ryan struck out his five thousandth player they they squeezed about forty thousand people in there [speaker002:] yes it is kind of small [speaker001:] yeah so they're they're they have plans I mean the the owner tried to move them to Florida but uh [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] they ended up sticking around in Arlington and they're going to build a new stadium in Arlington as a matter of fact not even in Dallas so that's [speaker002:] oh that's oh that's great so [speaker001:] that's something that we're looking forward to [speaker002:] yeah that'll be nice I mean that that I think tends to just keep I think stadiums have worked tend to keep people happy [speaker001:] oh yeah case in point Toronto [speaker002:] and yeah exactly [speaker001:] yeah have you seen a game up there [speaker002:] uh I haven't been to any Toronto games yet but um [speaker001:] oh boy I saw I I was up there on business uh last June and watched a game in the sky dome it was just phenomenal that's that's probably the pattern for the future of stadiums I think [speaker002:] of stadiums yeah well I I mean to get up there I mean the the best I've been up here so far you know up in in in up state New York is uh is um [speaker001:] yeah uh-huh [speaker002:] a Rochester Red Wings game [speaker001:] now is is Rochester where where is Cornell University [speaker002:] uh Cornell is in Ithaca [speaker001:] Ithaca [speaker002:] uh yeah so Cornell is about um somewhere uh about two and a half hours south of south and east of us [speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] so if you know where Lake Ontario is sort of is uh [speaker001:] yeah well Rochester's like right on the shores isn't it [speaker002:] yeah we're about ten miles south of Lake Ontario actually whoever built the city was an idiot in my opinion because they built it they built it far enough from the city that it actually couldn't be a port city [speaker001:] yeah okay okay [speaker002:] um but that [speaker001:] uh well they say that from that space needle up in Toronto you can see the lights of Rochester on a clear night [speaker002:] oh really I never I hadn't actually known that [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] well um but we have our own um our own triple A team here [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] the Redwings which is the uh farm team for the Orioles so everybody hopes that uh they go all the way around here they're the they're the big team in Rochester [speaker001:] yeah okay yeah those games are fun to watch you you you watch those games [speaker002:] oh I yeah I actually we we we make a point of going to a bunch of them every year because they're fun because they're [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] lots of really big you know lots of local fans you know small stadium you know um and they'll get a crowd of less than ten thousand sometimes you know um [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] especially you know and I'll um I'll make a day game or something but they really seem to um people really get into it I mean I [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I can't I I again I can't make any predictions about them but I suspect they'll go uh they'll go far [speaker001:] yeah we used to like watching my my folks lived down in Beaumont and uh on on the campus of Lamar University they used to house the the Beaumont Golden Gators who were a double A team for the Padres I think but uh they they were fun games to watch [speaker002:] yeah those those are those are always the I I think those are more fun than major league games sometimes [speaker001:] sometimes well there's definitely a lot more hitting [speaker002:] yes it's true well it's one of the advantages of not having pitchers who are uh uh you know I guess I guess when you start pitching real well well move them up bam you know there goes the little the uh worst team [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] yeah but um so what [speaker001:] so as far as the major league teams I don't know it the Rangers have been you you know every year they they always knock on a door early and then just go into their skid about you know the end of June but they they've got so much young raw talent it's just amazing and then they just haven't been able to put anything together [speaker002:] uh well the way I the way I see it is I mean um you know I I can use a Met analogy here [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] if you'll think back a few years to when the Mets were just all this sort of young bunch of guys who really were raw talent but weren't very sort of well trained you know back to the you know maybe eighty um eighty four or or eighty three or or eighty five you know when they were first when they weren't quite the eighty six team that that that they were um [speaker001:] yeah um-hum right [speaker002:] I that that probably gives the readers a good shot for you know this year or next year I think it you know the young talent really sort of has to build itself up [speaker001:] yeah I mean they've been they've been young for a while and they're almost almost starting to age a little bit here I just um yeah they they're they're really hurting pitching wise I mean they've got Ryan but you know who knows what he'll be able to do he's been last year he started having some nagging injuries and [speaker002:] right but that that's if if [speaker001:] but it'll it'll be interesting to watch I hope to get up there we we usually try to get to opening day game there's several guys from our church try to go up there [speaker002:] oh that must be nice [speaker001:] yeah well I I guess we're probably oh maybe a hundred fifty miles south of Dallas [speaker002:] well see that isn't too bad a couple hours [speaker001:] no not too bad about it takes about two hours two and a half hours to get there [speaker002:] yeah well it'd take me a good seven hours to get to Shay Stadium so so I don't know I don't [speaker001:] that's probably because of the roads you just don't yeah we we've just got a freeway we just get right on the freeway and just go north [speaker002:] yeah well actually we can we can I can take a highway the whole way down but it's still it's um [speaker001:] well it's so crowded up there [speaker002:] it's it's almost four hundred hours I mean I mean it it's almost four hundred you know barring traffic it's four hundred hours I mean I mean four hundred miles four hundred hours right four hundred miles [speaker001:] golly [speaker002:] barring traffic so it's um it it's uh you know it's it's a heck of a drive we are substantially north of New York enough that uh we don't get to go play [speaker001:] yeah um [speaker002:] too often [speaker001:] well I don't know you're you're you're like a boat ride from how how far is it across the lake to Canada Toronto [speaker002:] Toronto oh Toronto's only about two hours yeah Toronto is I mean I I want to go see [speaker001:] yeah you do you drive there or do you take the ferry or what [speaker002:] um I can I've actually I've driven but I've heard about the ferry as well haven't taken it yet though have you taken it [speaker001:] yeah yeah it's a it's a beautiful city [speaker002:] yeah um I I really love I I think that's one of the most uh enjoyable things about being up here I'm only up here for school [speaker001:] I really like it um-hum [speaker002:] so I [speaker001:] so and then and then you go back to New York after school [speaker002:] uh no probably south maybe Texas actually [speaker001:] or New York City oh really [speaker002:] some place south and warm I don't I'm not a warm I'm not a big uh I'm not a big uh cold fan [speaker001:] well what what kind of weather are you having right now [speaker002:] uh right now we're actually having uh it's getting nice I mean it was in the high fifties today but three and a half weeks ago we had an ice storm [speaker001:] oh boy yeah we've been up in the oh seventies eighties even up in the nineties a couple weeks ago already [speaker002:] oh that's great [speaker001:] we're it's [speaker002:] yeah well about that same time branches were falling off ev erywhere and we were actually in a state of emergency for two weeks [speaker001:] golly because of the ice [speaker002:] okay it didn't make the national national national national news too much which I find really weird [speaker001:] hum [speaker002:] but um we were I mean um you know all schools were closed for almost for for over or for for a week [speaker001:] golly [speaker002:] there were certain parts of town where it was illegal to drive [speaker001:] huh illegal [speaker002:] yeah because they had so many power lines down and so many uh [speaker001:] oh yeah [speaker002:] and so many things like that so they were
[speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] so do you have do you have the long I guess not not if there's see I was raised in New York but I guess up there you all don't have too long of a growing season do you [speaker001:] uh well we probably have about three months [speaker002:] do you do you do you do your own gardening [speaker001:] approximately um-hum um-hum we live on a used to be a farm but we don't farm much we uh but we do have a garden [speaker002:] huh see I got mine in well let's see I put in pepper plants this weekend [speaker001:] oh I wish I could be doing that [speaker002:] and uh yeah I got all my little seedlings coming up in the kitchen and [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I enjoy tinkering with it you know it's pretty hot down here during the summer we hit you know a hundred hundred and two sometimes so but you know we don't do too much during the summer as far as tomatoes and stuff like that but [speaker001:] uh-huh you right yeah you almost have to get started pretty early probably I guess [speaker002:] yeah I can usually I can put in oh probably mid March I can put anything in the ground you know beets and onions and stuff like that [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh [speaker002:] but then I have to wait for my tomatoes have to go in here in the next couple of weeks [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] as soon as we're sure we're not going to have another freeze then I'll finish it [speaker001:] yeah you've had more freezing this winter or this yeah winter I think [speaker002:] yeah we've had just a few you know freezes a little here and there but every once in a while we get a freeze around the middle of April and it's pretty tough [speaker001:] more bad weather um-hum um-hum um-hum are you do you work or are you retired or you [speaker002:] no I work um I'm only forty years old I have to work [speaker001:] uh uh my husbands retired but he's not a gardener he he he's been helping me more but he really isn't real uh real crazy about gardening [speaker002:] well but I I really enjoy it it gives me time outdoors and you know I'm a golfer but it gives me time outdoors and time around my house and and I burned my grass off here in the last couple of days and [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh oh uh-huh [speaker002:] getting ready to start to for the Spring season and see if I can grow me another nice lawn I usually have a pretty nice lawn it's a lot of work you know but it's [speaker001:] um-hum huh oh yeah but it's a pleasure to like you said it's good to get outside and [speaker002:] yeah it is [speaker001:] and I like I like my garden too we didn't have to we have just a small garden but we planted corn last year too which takes quite a bit of space and [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] we we didn't have too good luck with it because the uh we had a couple of good real good wind storms and it really damaged the corn so we didn't get too much [speaker002:] oh yeah [speaker001:] corn last year [speaker002:] we're going through that we going through the dust storms down here now so [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but I uh what I did with my garden is I have a a two by six frame that's five by ten I have two of them sitting side by side [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and then I put uh like a black plastic it's really not a black plastic it they call it Weedex and I put that down and then I put up a couple of inches of pine moss on top of that [speaker001:] oh uh-huh hum [speaker002:] and I use a one of those black soaker hoses that actually oozes water every where so I lace it up and down there a couple of times and I only have to water about two hours a week [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum oh that's great [speaker002:] and it's pretty nice especially during the Summer it keeps everything wet instead of wilting [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh yeah we don't we don't usually cover ours we did a few different times sometimes we've covered with the plastic and other years we've tried newspapers and uh but we generally don't we do our watering from our spring [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] uh yeah we have an old fashioned tub sitting that you know water runs into and and uh my husband set up a pump that runs it runs till it's down and then it stops [speaker002:] oh you have a spring how nice uh-huh [speaker001:] and then when the water comes up it comes on again and we use that to water our garden [speaker002:] oh that's uh that's pretty nice [speaker001:] with so [speaker002:] but you actually enjoy it huh [speaker001:] oh I do I love it [speaker002:] get out there on your hands and knees and crawl around [speaker001:] I'd rather be doing that than housework [speaker002:] I understand I can imagine you all have much trouble up there with insects or [speaker001:] uh not a whole well not a whole lot I think our cabbages and broccolis and that we have more trouble with that type of thing with the the yeah [speaker002:] with the worms yeah I have quite a bit of problem down here with the squash bugs and haven't figured out how to get rid of those yet [speaker001:] uh uh-huh uh do you go more for natural keeping them off naturally or do you use insecticides [speaker002:] yeah I try to no I uh uh try not to use any insecticides at all I try not to even use insecticides on my lawn but I sometimes I can't manage [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh yeah well our lawn is is a big lawn because because we live out in the country and so we were not our lawn is not perfect you know it's just the it's just a lawn if uh-huh do you eat any of them [speaker002:] yeah yeah well mine's full of dandelions now so no I never have I don't know how to prepare them [speaker001:] oh did well did does your wife ever make uh a bake in a hot bacon dressing like for salad [speaker002:] no huh-uh [speaker001:] oh it's delicious and it goes real good on dandelions um-hum [speaker002:] really huh I've never eaten dandelions now I've tried dandelion wine [speaker001:] um-hum uh [speaker002:] but I've never tried any dandelions just to eat [speaker001:] uh-huh this is use the greens and you get them when they're young and tender you know before they have grown too too taut because they do get a little stringy [speaker002:] yeah all right [speaker001:] but u h they're kind of fun to to try get a get a few and then throw them in with the rest of your salad sometimes [speaker002:] yeah I'll try that I sure will [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] I don't know uh but I've been cutting our grass too lately because my husband's back and he's been having trouble with so wasn't allowed to run a lawn mower so it takes about four hours to cut our grass [speaker002:] oh oh you [speaker001:] and we have we have hills I'm afraid of the hills but I'm getting on to it I just pretend they're not there and I just go ahead and do it [speaker002:] so you all are into so you all are into the lawn big time huh [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] yeah I only got well I guess I got um my whole section of my house is probably maybe a tenth of an acre [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and I have a pretty nice backyard and you know I've got enough room to throw horseshoes you know couple of other odds and ends [speaker001:] uh-huh oh that's great great that's a lot of people don't have that much space even [speaker002:] no and it's nice I'm just inside the city limits I'm probably a mile mile and a half inside the city limits and I'm only a mile and a half from work [speaker001:] that uh-huh so you have all the conveniences of a city yeah and and the country also [speaker002:] yeah it's pretty nice I have the room outside I need and I don't really have all the room in the house I need but [speaker001:] uh-huh well you never have enough room do you think [speaker002:] no [speaker001:] no especially if your into any hobbies or anything or [speaker002:] yeah I have a question to ask you about gardening though you know those what are they called the they called uh roly-poly bugs that's what my son calls them anyway [speaker001:] uh-huh roly-poly what [speaker002:] roly-poly bugs the ones that roll up in a ball I don't know what they're called [speaker001:] is it a bug you mean [speaker002:] they look like they've got yeah no no it's not like a no [speaker001:] a worm a cut worm not a grub worm [speaker002:] you find them under bricks and all that stuff where it's moist and if if you touch them they roll up in a ball [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] I don't know what they call them but I'm plagued with those things down here and I haven't figured out I even called the nursery either though see [speaker001:] um um-hum I'm trying to think of what they are what kind they could be [speaker002:] I I don't know [speaker001:] you find them under bricks usually and that [speaker002:] yeah under bricks or under wood or you know if you leave a piece of newspaper in the yard too long they get in there they usually come out at night but you can find them during the daytime if you pick something up that's been laying around no [speaker001:] they're not a slug not a [speaker002:] a slug is actually kind of slimy and and these are just he plays with them all time he picks them up and rolls them across the patio [speaker001:] yeah yeah yeah oh really they are not hard are they are they a hard worm [speaker002:] no no they're not real hard [speaker001:] they're not a hard huh [speaker002:] they're like a a water bug of sorts I don't know what they're called them yeah yeah yeah when when you touch them they roll up [speaker001:] oh are they black then but they roll up I can't think of what kind they would be uh-huh I'm no help on that then because I can't think of what they are [speaker002:] but I'm plagued with those [speaker001:] what they would be but I think you have a lot more insects down there even than than what we have [speaker002:] you know I think it's because probably because we're in more of a tempered zone you know we don't really we only freeze down here in January and February at the most you know [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh I know my brother had trouble with fire ants and that even uh yeah and they be can be a real dickens [speaker002:] yeah I got fire ants too and you spray in one part of your lawn and they just move to another part so you got to spray your whole yard and then [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh yeah yeah [speaker002:] your your neighbor gets them and then he sprays his yard and you get them back again so yeah but we're not doing too bad down here really you know the daffodils are out and and uh [speaker001:] yeah you keep trading them yeah uh-huh uh-huh ours are going to be coming out now our cancer society sales daffodils right now they're they're big now so we we have daffodils for in the house because of the cut flowers but they're just beginning to come out the end bud [speaker002:] yeah yeah yeah see mine are up and bloomed already [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] and they sure are pretty I like them and the Snap Dragons are starting to come up [speaker001:] oh oh they're such a nice bright early spring color [speaker002:] yeah and then in in my back flower bed I have uh tiger lilies [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] and they bloom in you know late June mid July and they're yeah they are they're real nice but they're they're nice and green you know they're up above a foot maybe eighteen inches [speaker001:] um-hum and they're beautiful too yeah they're beautiful uh-huh oh my [speaker002:] they come up real pretty every year no problem [speaker001:] yeah no we won't have too much here for another couple of months yet really yeah yeah we're having it's raining today [speaker002:] is it still pretty cool up there yeah well do you all have a what kind of grass do you grow up there do you grow uh Bermuda or rye or [speaker001:] well our grass like I said is just grass we really didn't plant anything it's just so I suppose maybe you call it crabgrass even [speaker002:] okay yeah see we I have Bermuda in my yard now I still have the old standby crabgrass here and there but [speaker001:] and uh uh-huh um-hum it's probably very pretty [speaker002:] Bermuda seems to be yeah Bermuda seems to do pretty good down here [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh we have some people that have done their lawns and and uh
[speaker001:] Surprised they get anybody this time of day but, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I've been trying all different times, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] but I don't get anybody at five thirty, don't get anybody at nine at night so thought, [speaker002:] Oh, well, I'm at, [speaker001:] I'll try, [speaker002:] work and I just happened to walk back into my office. [speaker001:] Oh [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I've been gone for a little while [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh. Well, I go to school so I'm home certain days, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and, uh, I really haven't been making any s-, phone calls, have you? Got, [speaker002:] I don't, I haven't ever made any. I just receive them [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh [LAUGHTER]. Have you, have you received many? [speaker002:] I haven't here lately. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] It's, it's, uh, well, the first time we were on this it came just about every day. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I never had to make one. They just always came [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah. Exactly. [speaker001:] People must be tired of it or something. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] W-, well anyway I guess we're supposed to discuss this, uh, subject, what do you think? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Well, I never gave it any thought myself [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I was hoping you could tell me what you thought. [speaker001:] Oh. Well, I don't have any objection to people doing that. I think it might be good for them. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But as a mother of two daughters I might be afraid of where they were sent. [speaker002:] Exactly. [speaker001:] I'm just concerned about their safety mor-, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] because if they do good work in America they'll probably be sent to a ghetto [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] And if they were sent to a third world country I couldn't help but wait worried, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] That, that would be my main objection. Uh, *slash error [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I don't know I think maybe it's, it should stay on a voluntary basis [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I don't think, it will probably never happen but, [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah, I, I think it would be good for, uh, everyone to do something like that but I, I guess I don't feel like it should be something forced upon you. [speaker001:] Yeah, well it, it probably won't. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I don't, I don't even know how we'd pay for it anyway. We can't, uh [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] seem to pay for all the little things we have going now [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] That's another consideration [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Exactly [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] But, uh, I don't know som-, some kids are so spoiled nowadays it might be a real eye opener, you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Really [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I mean, sometimes my kids are on the other side of town here and they just see some really tiny modest wood frame homes and then they think, they're just kind of shocked at that side of town, you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I probably lived in one of those when I was a little girl [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] I have a girlfriend that every time her son starts taking things for granted she threatens to send him to Mexico with her relatives and let him get a taste of that for a while [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh [LAUGHTER]. Well that would be an eye opener, wouldn't it? [speaker002:] Wouldn't it though? [speaker001:] I mean right next to us is such a pitiful country. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, it is. [speaker001:] I know. Sometimes I wish we'd help them out instead of going all across the world, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and helping some countries I never even heard of. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I know it. [speaker001:] It seems to me we are, it would be to our benefit to strengthen that country. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] Right on our borders. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But, what do I know, right? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I'm just sitting at home and, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] and, uh, doing laundry today and certainly not up, nobody has called me from Washington [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh, but, uh, anyway, how did you get on this program? [speaker002:] I work at T I. [speaker001:] Oh, you do work at T I? Oh, you're in Lewisville. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. I just went by that place. We were going to a football playoff game a week or so ago which we lost and, uh [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] we went by. That's the first time I'd seen it. It looked really nice. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] A lot of trees there. It looked like a pretty little, a sight. [speaker002:] Hang on a minute. [speaker001:] Sure. [speaker002:] [Talks to someone in the background]. No, I don't think so, Yeah, Patty might. I'm back. [speaker001:] Oh, sure. Di-, [speaker002:] But how did you get on it? [speaker001:] Well, my husband works at T I over on Central. [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] Uh, why we're living in Arlington I'm not so sure but, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] he works over there and tha-, we did it last time. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And, uh, so I'm, just my daughter and I are registered this time. I don't know, they didn't even ask him back [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Really? [speaker001:] That was weird, wasn't it? [speaker002:] Huh. [speaker001:] But like I said I hardly ever get any calls this time. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I don't get too many. [speaker001:] And I can never find anybody. [speaker002:] Huh. [speaker001:] So, um, [speaker002:] The first time I used to get calls from far away too. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Like Maryland, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and New Jersey, and but now it just seems like it's in the Dallas Fort Worth area that I get calls from. [speaker001:] Yeah, I've had the same experiences, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] all right around here. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Yeah, I don't know, uh, I wonder if they really, I don't know if they could possibly teach a machine to recognize all the different accents. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] There's just, there's so many with this one town [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Uh-huh. [speaker001:] you know. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] E-, even in some families some people talk a little bit different. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. Yeah. [speaker001:] My husband is from New Jersey and one of his sisters does things that really sound funny to me and he doesn't pronounce them at all that way, and that's one family, right? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Of course, I think everybody in New Jersey sounds a little bit funny but [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Oh, I agree. [speaker001:] You know, how that goes [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Oh, shoot. [speaker001:] Oh, God. Well, I'm surprised she hasn't told us to cut it off yet. Sometimes she says at night. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Or, or switc-, or overloads so please end your conversation. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well, do you have any more words of wisdom about the subject? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] No, I sure don't [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] You don't have any kids you want to send over here? [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] No, no kids [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well, is [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Oh, shoot. [speaker001:] Well, uh, I don't know if mine would want to go live in the ghetto. Well, one of them is real idealistic, she might [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] My sister is, I'd be more suited to that than her she's just bugs,
[speaker001:] Okay, are you on any kind of, uh, regular exercise plan? [speaker002:] I, I, yeah, I'm, yeah, I, I do aerobics, uh, step classes and, uh, [speaker001:] Step classes? [speaker002:] toning classes, yes. [speaker001:] What's that? [speaker002:] It's, uh, it's a new, uh, form I think, uh, it's like low impact aerobics but at, it... [speaker001:] Oh, instead of hopping and jumping you just step and... [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Yeah, [speaker001:] Oh, okay. [speaker002:] you, you have a step and you literally step up on the step and move your arms, it's, it's, it's, it's new, [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] it's fun. [speaker001:] I probably couldn't do that because of my knee [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, bad knee [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Um, and, uh, I do toning a lot and, uh, some, every once in a while I play tennis, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I'm not too great at it but I, I try to play, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, I've, I've kind of gotten out of the habit myself, I mean, it's I guess what I do now is I play softball, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] right now, that's about, well, right now I'm on two teams so it's four nights a week. [speaker002:] Gosh [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] But, uh, uh, so I enjoy it but, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] as far as, you know, uh, instead of having to join a health club and make myself go out there, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I went and bought a weight bench, and don't ever hardly use it. [speaker002:] Ha, right, ye-, [speaker001:] I need to make myself do that. [speaker002:] yeah, I slacked off a little because of, um, I'm about to graduate from college and so this past couple months have been really hectic so I haven't really gone, and I've really been faithful these past two months of going to the health club and working out but... [speaker001:] What school you going to? [speaker002:] I'm at East Carolina. [speaker001:] Oh [throat clearing]. [speaker002:] But, um, no, I, uh, my step classes and toning is about the only thing well, I mean... [speaker001:] Now what's, what's toning? Is that lift-, lifting weights? [speaker002:] It's, um, like isolated movements for each muscle certain muscles groups, [speaker001:] Oh, okay. [speaker002:] you can do with, [speaker001:] Isometrics, stuff like that. [speaker002:] Yeah, you can do it with certain, you know, you can do it with weights if you wanted to but, you know, you leave out of there usually the next morning, if you haven't done it in a while, you wake up the next morning you're like, oh, no, what did I do to myself and your whole body aches, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Um, I know I'm looking forward to getting back into getting into shape, uh, I feel like I'm out of shape but I feel guilty for not going, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] because I really I'm, I'm so used to going for, you know, three or four years now. [speaker001:] Yeah, I, [speaker002:] But, um, [speaker001:] stayed in pretty good shape during school. I played baseball, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] all the way through and, you know, working out six hours a day, usually six or seven days a week that kind of, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] kept us all in pretty good shape, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] But, uh, ever, ever since I got out of school, you know, just jumped right into the job and, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I guess the job that I'm in it's stuff to stay on any kind of a regular schedule. *listen; possible typo stuff tough? [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Because I work some weird hours and do some traveling. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker002:] No, some, um, I walk a lot because, uh, you know, being in, in school we, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I don't know if your campus was anything like ours, but our parking lot's in one end of the, of the campus and the school, the buildings are all at the other end, so. You ut-, [speaker001:] No, I didn't have, well, much of a problem we, I guess I went to a small Baptist school and we had about, when I was there, maybe thirteen hundred people. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Oh, okay, that's if... [speaker001:] So, it's pretty small. Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah. [speaker001:] But I usually get in at least a couple of miles at work just walking around the plant. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] So, [speaker002:] Yeah, it's, uh, I live, I live on the second story apartments so I walk up and down stairs all day long, so. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh, [speaker001:] Uh, we've got a one story house now that's, that's enough. I guess I push the lawn mower around that's, [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] fairly regular [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] That's one of the exercise, now. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I, I, um, would like to start running. I've never been much of a runner but I want to start, I want to run but I don't, I don't know if I'll be able to, to do it. [speaker001:] What just, because yo-, you don't like to or because, because you won't be able to. [speaker002:] I'm, [LAUGHTER], I'm afraid I won't be able to. [speaker001:] Oh, if you do, [speaker002:] I wish I'd [speaker001:] if you do aerobics you shouldn't have any problem running. [speaker002:] Yeah. I hope not. Um, [speaker001:] We've, we ride our bike occasionally but again not nearly often enough [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I don't even own a bike, I think the last time I was on a bike when I was about twelve, so. Uh, I don't know, I'd be afraid, [LAUGHTER], afraid I probably forgot how to ride a bike, you know. [speaker001:] No, you can't forget how to ride a bike. [speaker002:] Yeah, but, um, no, I guess that's about the only form, I'm trying to think of, of other things that I do that will be considered exercise, [LAUGHTER], [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] there are things I should do. I know it ju-, [speaker001:] Now, when I was going to, I, I went to a junior college for a couple of years and played baseball and then transferred, well, when we were at this junior college, uh, our coach, you know, we, one semester the whole team was required to take aerobics and the next semester they were required to do weight lifting. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] So, they, uh, I mean, it was a regular, I mean, we had it for course credit, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] but still, I mean, it was pretty high impact stuff, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Those aerobic classes are, are tough the, the high impact. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Definitely are, are tough classes. [speaker001:] Yeah, and she'd, uh, you know, most of the guys were all in one class so she'd kind of lay it on occasionally, you know, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] First at eight, I think we had eight o'clock in the morning, was our class. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Wake up. [speaker002:] Well, now they have those, uh, those exercise bands now that are better that you can use for like toning instead of using a weight, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you have like bands, I don't know, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] if you've seen them, they're... [speaker001:] I think my wife has some. [speaker002:] Yeah, they're, they're weird. They're, uh, you ge-, they're just made of, I guess it's different kinds of rubber, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] uh, and they get, [speaker001:] Or sand even some of them, well, no, they're elastic so I guess it wouldn't be sand. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. And there's some that, like the different colors denotes how much they, how much the tension I guess they are and how easy they are to move. [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] Uh, there's like, I know there's purple, gray, and, uh, green. And some of them are real short and they're the ones that are the tough ones to use, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But, uh, those classes I, I enjoy. Uh, I think, uh, with the aerobic classes you have to get an instructor that's fun. If you don't have one that's fun, and not enjoy it, look, not acting like she's enjoying what she's doing, the class is not going to get out, uh, what they should get out of the class. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Uh, if the, [speaker001:] So, are you going to get into instructing? Well, what are you studying? [speaker002:] Oh, I'm an interior design major, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh, okay, [LAUGHTER], not in the, not in the, [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] aerobic instructor type field. [speaker002:] No, no, no, no, oh, I could never do that I don't think, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I'd rather just be the student, [LAUGHTER]. And, uh, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Occasionally I do the weights at the health club but low weights just... [speaker001:] Yeah, the, uh, the, some of the Nautilus equipment that I started seeing at the one that we used to go to was really interesting, I mean, they, they, they really know how to isolate each of the different muscle groups, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] with those things but, man, they are, it, ut-, I don't know to me that was just too much of a hassle to get all geared up and take the time to drive over there, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and workout and then drive back [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Right. Well, they, um, I just noticed at our health club they will put on these computerized one, these computerized machines, and you set a speed on it and the weight and it, and it makes you do it. And it tells you like if you're going too slow it will say, my grandmother could do this faster than you. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And stuff like, a turtle goes faster and, um, it tells it and the whole place can hear what this machine is telling you. [speaker001:] A little negative reinforcement there while you're going. [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. So, uh, do that, stuff like that but just I've never used those machines I just use the regular machines and the free weights, you know, like little five pound hand weights and eight pound hand weights. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Just to do, you know, some bicep, tricep exercises. Sit-ups, of course. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER], yeah, that's, that's where I'm really starting to get noticeable, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I'm just getting real soft in the middle. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, I think that's, uh, number one problem with everyone [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. I haven't really started to put on a lot of weight I'm, I guess I probably put on about ten, nine or ten pounds, since I stopped playing, which was about four years ago. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But I've, just myself I just notice myself just really, real soft and I'm sure I don't have near the endurance that I did, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. Yeah. [speaker001:] But I, I intend, I keep saying I intend to get back into it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Yeah. [speaker001:] [Very faint], I just need to, put the old nose to the grindstone, I, I, I guess at that point it would turn into a task, [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I don't consider it fun doing that, but. [speaker002:] Right. Yeah, I plan on getting back, once I graduate next weekend. [speaker001:] Next weekend? [speaker002:] Next weekend. [speaker001:] All right. [speaker002:] Yeah, one week, [LAUGHTER]. Then I plan to get right back into it. You know, it's, it does a lot for you I think. [speaker001:] Yeah, [speaker002:] Makes you feel a lot better. [speaker001:] oh, no, yeah, there, there's no, no question the, the end result is great and I, I mean, I enjoyed, you know, we, when I was playing ball we could like run all day and not be tired, you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, and I mean you feel so much better, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] about yourself. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Just that, you know, you don't feel guilty when you eat that cake after dinner, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh, I still don't, but [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] That's a problem. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] Well, good luck on your graduation and your... [speaker002:] All righty, well, thank you. It was nice talking to you. [speaker001:] Yeah, you too. [speaker002:] Okay, bye-bye. [speaker001:] Bye.
[speaker002:] okay do you have any children [speaker001:] no I don't [speaker002:] you don't [speaker001:] do you [speaker002:] yes I have a one a five year old daughter [speaker001:] uh-huh did you ever have her in child care [speaker002:] yes I do she was um at a private well I stayed off work with her for little over for of a year when she was born and then I [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] had her at a private sitter for I guess two two and a half years after that [speaker001:] and how did you choose that sitter [speaker002:] um she was referred to me by a couple of people and she turned out to be wonderful I couldn't have asked for anything better I don't think [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I didn't want to send send her straight to a day care [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and even though she was that old I still didn't want her to go to a day care [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and this lady you would think it was her own [speaker001:] really [speaker002:] yeah she's real good [speaker001:] it's hard to find people like that [speaker002:] yes it is and um now I have got her in a Montessori school [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and she's really really doing good and learning a lot and actually I've started working up there in the afternoons too so [speaker001:] oh yeah well that's neat [speaker002:] yeah well yeah I guess I'm going to quit as soon as school the school season's over but uh I really enjoyed being with her up there I hate it for her she has to stay that much longer but um [speaker001:] yeah do they have classes for them during the summer too [speaker002:] yeah they they go full uh year-round uh teach them now in the summer they have like a lot of field trips [speaker001:] huh yeah [speaker002:] there's a field trip just about every day if they want to go on one and stuff like that it's a lot more lax but but they still go through all their uh curriculum as usual [speaker001:] what kind of questions did you ask about that private sitter before you took her over there [speaker002:] um gosh I can my husband and I both went we kind of give her the third degree [speaker001:] uh good I'm glad to hear that [speaker002:] yeah well we went over to her house so we told her you know prior well we didn't tell her we just told here we'd be over that day we didn't tell her when so that way I didn't think you you know the house would be you you know cleaned or anything for me specifically [speaker001:] yeah right [speaker002:] and um she had a daughter and I want to say her daughter was like six or seven right around first second grade and um at the time she kept another one other child um about a four four year old I believe but it was only like a part-time basis so we went over there and we questioned her about what she fed them and um what she did with them during the day and um you know just how she treated them how how her daughter was with the children when her daughter got home from school and stuff like that [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and uh we really seem to be pleased with her and um [speaker001:] did you did you introduce your daughter to her before you made your decision [speaker002:] yes oh yes and she still loves her to death I mean when they see each other you know they just love each other to death and she literally spent almost the entire amount that I paid her on my daughter either making her clothes or buying her things [speaker001:] really yeah oh my [speaker002:] so we're real real lucky but after uh so she stayed with her about roughly two years and she um she had to go back to work they had some other expenses that came up so she had to go I guess get a real job [speaker001:] yeah get a real job full time [speaker002:] yeah so uh [speaker001:] so what made you decide to put her in a Montessori school [speaker002:] well I checked a lot of places out you know the kinder cares and the stuff like that and [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh I live in Garland and there's this Montessori school that's nearby [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and um it had been recommended by some friends of ours but uh it it's an older place and so I uh checked out all the new places that were near us and then I checked that place out and uh even though it was older it was it was real comfortable and I guess kind of homey [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah [speaker002:] and they didn't just play all day long you know like I noticed a lot of these other schools that I went may I have some JELL-O yeah and interviewed on or interviewed at um they did a lot of play work and stuff and then they almost all of them had a Montessori section and I thought well gosh that must be pretty good [speaker001:] huh [speaker002:] you know if everybody's trying to incorporate a little bit of it into into their school and they made sure they pointed it out you know [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] but after I looked at this place and I took Randi with me uh I think just about to every place one place I think I didn't take her and I just kind of let her go see see what she felt like doing [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah [speaker002:] and that place boy if somebody came and she liked them and she went outside with them and it's hard to drag her away so I felt more comfortable at that place [speaker001:] that's the true test [speaker002:] yeah and she was real comfortable and she has really really done good I I [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] it's hard to tell how much has been that or how much is just her [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] but she seems to me to be you know pretty quick and smart and she's already reading and writing and stuff like that and she just turned five last month [speaker001:] that's good huh that is good then [speaker002:] so yeah I think so I mean I didn't want to rush school at her the whole time but [speaker001:] no especially when going to spend the next eighteen years in school [speaker002:] exactly exactly I wanted to quit my job so I could stay home with her the next five months because I know she's going to have to face that [speaker001:] yeah really really [speaker002:] and oh my God here we go you know I just hate that but [speaker001:] that's right [speaker002:] anyway so you don't have any children do you have any little nieces or nep hews then [speaker001:] yeah yeah I have a nephew he's a little brat he goes to a really crummy day school uh my sister's not real bright so but he he's always sick I mean he has always got some kind of cold or something and I don't know I don't think this place is a very good place for him [speaker002:] oh really oh [speaker001:] it's just kind of convenient and she's the kind that goes for convenience over anything else [speaker002:] oh really just easy to get them there and stuff [speaker001:] yeah exactly [speaker002:] well that's a shame [speaker001:] yeah I don't think she checks things out very well [speaker002:] oh really that's scary [speaker001:] which really surprises me it is scary yeah [speaker002:] yeah I was I was petrified [speaker001:] because I know I would be too [speaker002:] I mean that's a I don't know that's just it and that's why I don't mind paying more [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] um I don't know I just feel more [speaker001:] too many horror stories out there that you know [speaker002:] yes and that's one reason I like working up there a little bit is because I know what's really going on [speaker001:] oh yeah that's right I think that's an ideal situation [speaker002:] because you don't know uh because like at her school um as soon as you drive up it's got like a circular type drive they sit and they have car callers and and some kid goes out and gets the kid and it's time to go [speaker001:] yeah huh [speaker002:] well at first that always kind of bothered me I mean not bothered me but I thought well you know I'd like to see what she's doing you know [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] but now that I'm there I mean it's it's a lot more convenient because there's so many kids that dawdle [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah [speaker002:] you know when their parents come and it's hard to get them out and a lot of parents have places to go and and things like that and it's late at night so [speaker001:] that's right [speaker002:] you know now it doesn't bother me at all but [speaker001:] is that on where the over there off of like I'm not sure what the street is is it off of near Country Club and um yeah [speaker002:] yeah sixty six that one that's set back in the woods yeah that's it [speaker001:] yeah okay I I've seen the signs but I've never actually seen the place itself you know it's pretty set far back off the road [speaker002:] yeah right right it won't and that's something I like too because [speaker001:] yeah definitely [speaker002:] a lot of those places are like you know the one over here on seventy eight Skaggs that little Kinder Care whatever it is [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah [speaker002:] you know it's right there on which this is on a highway too but it's set back enough to [speaker001:] right yeah there's a difference [speaker002:] I'm scared I would be scared to death my child might accidentally get out or or if that seems like a real accessible place to where you could you know go in and get one [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah yep that's right or you know in a a car accident [speaker002:] yeah and that was one of the places I had checked out [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and it was it it was brand new when I checked it out and of course it was beautiful and clean and smelled wonderful in there but [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know I that I didn't base everything on that [speaker001:] no because that all wears off [speaker002:] that's right that's exactly right you get some kids in there and it's over quick [speaker001:] yep [speaker002:] but um I've been real pleased knock on wood I'm scared to death her going to public school [speaker001:] really [speaker002:] I don't know I well I do know why because [speaker001:] I would be too yeah yep yeah [speaker002:] you know drugs drugs and everything else and they talk about how soon they start that and that scares me [speaker001:] I know it is scary [speaker002:] I mean you're just with them [speaker001:] do they teach them in school right now where she's at about drugs [speaker002:] yeah they've um they've had police officers come in [speaker001:] good [speaker002:] and talk to them about it but of course they still have no concept of [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] what in the world drugs are you know but [speaker001:] yeah and what to do when they're faced with it [speaker002:] right but I just think of her you know next year she's going to be five six years old in kindergarten in same school with you know uh I guess ten year olds isn't that six sixth sixth grade you know and that's a big gap [speaker001:] yeah it is [speaker002:] and that's uh that I can honestly see the peer pressure there [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and that just [speaker001:] oh I can see it too [speaker002:] terrifies me to death and stuff those kids getting snatched and [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I'm I'm probably a little too over protective but [speaker001:] nothing wrong with that [speaker002:] well nowadays you have to be [speaker001:] yes you do I don't I don't think there's anything wrong with that [speaker002:] if so I at first thought you know when I didn't have kids I was going God how can you be so protective you know but [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] it's easy now [speaker001:] uh-huh now you understand [speaker002:] yeah definitely [speaker001:] that's what I'm thinking what your mom and dad always used to say when you have kids of your own you'll understand [speaker002:] that's exactly right and I do [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but anyway well are you ever are you are you are you married [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] are y'all planning on having kids or [speaker001:] yeah we'd like to [speaker002:] well that's good [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] that's good they're really neat it's just
[speaker001:] music do you like [speaker002:] um lots of different kinds I guess um I like country music of course Texas and I listen to Christian music a lot because [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] there's a Christian music station here in in our city so I listen to it quite a bit [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so [speaker001:] I'm more into rock and roll myself [speaker002:] um-hum and I listen because on Friday nights they have the um they have what they call Saturday Night Live or they have it on Saturday night Friday night and Saturday night and they have Christian rock and roll [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so you know they have that type of music but they just have different words [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] so I listen to that too [speaker001:] do you like any bluegrass [speaker002:] no not really hum-um [speaker001:] oh well at least your [speaker002:] and I like I like rap music do you like rap music [speaker001:] not really [speaker002:] not really well I can tell we're we're together here okay [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] we'll have to um I have a lot of friends that like country music [speaker002:] what kind of rock what kind of rock music do you listen to do you listen listen to like that really heavy metal stuff or [speaker001:] no I'm more into um older rock like psychedelic the psychedelic era like uh [speaker002:] seventies what the [speaker001:] seventies late sixties seventies um Greatful Dead Crosby Stills and Nash [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah I have friends that like that [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so you've never heard of like the Christian music that I listen to probably then [speaker001:] oh I've heard a little bit of it I've just [speaker002:] like have you heard of um of Carmen have you ever heard of Kim [speaker001:] uh now I've heard of Striper [speaker002:] Striper they're the really heavy yeah like the heavy metal stuff I guess [speaker001:] it's like the only one I can um-hum um-hum um I've heard some Amy Grant before she was you know became more mainstream top forty [speaker002:] yeah yeah because she she plays both secular and Christian so [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] yeah I like her too [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] I have been to a concert a couple of times of hers and [speaker001:] I've never actually seen her in concert I imagine that she puts on a pretty good show [speaker002:] she does she's real good she's real good [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so I like her [speaker001:] um-hum um I like some country music uh it's just that I like finding a lot of it's [speaker002:] I don't like the country music that's like my wife left me my dog left me everybody's left me [speaker001:] yeah mama got run over by the train [speaker002:] yeah I don't like that [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know I like Randy Travis [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know I like more of the real new ones [speaker001:] like Garth Brooks [speaker002:] you know Garth Brooks oh yes you know he's fine yeah I like them I don't care for the older you know like my dog left me stuff huh [speaker001:] Reba McIntyre hm you don't like Patsy Cline you don't like Patsy Cline [speaker002:] no huh-uh I don't even really know who she is you know you know so [speaker001:] no [speaker002:] but have you ever been to any of them concerts that you like that music that you like to [speaker001:] um yes actually I went to just went to just see the Greatful Dead about I guess about a week ago [speaker002:] but aren't they done with I thought that they [speaker001:] no they're still they're still on tour they've been touring since late sixties [speaker002:] and I just thought that they done broke up and [speaker001:] no they're they're still together [speaker002:] left hm [speaker001:] they're still making albums [speaker002:] wow I didn't know that [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] hm [speaker001:] uh [speaker002:] that's interesting [speaker001:] in fact I mean there are people that you know basically just follow them around from city to city on tour [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] selling tie dyes and things like that [speaker002:] um because they're on up there in age aren't they [speaker001:] yeah they're they're like late forties early fifties but you know like whenever one of them dies off they get a replacement [speaker002:] okay all right [speaker001:] they seem to have you know they seem to have a really bad time with keyboard players they keep on dying and they keep on replacing them and the new ones in his thirties you know [speaker002:] oh all right [speaker001:] uh but uh [speaker002:] because they look pretty rough I mean I've seen like picture of them and they just [speaker001:] yeah well they don't actually look as rough as the Rolling Stones I just I I don't know if you saw the tour posters for the Rolling Stones when they last toured but I mean it looked like leather day at the geriatric [speaker002:] yeah I mean because they just [speaker001:] all their faces were just all shriveled and [speaker002:] uh-huh yuck looking I mean ugh um [speaker001:] um-hum I mean it just just looked like you know they got a bunch of retirees and put them in leather jackets and blue jeans [speaker002:] um-hum well are you into that that rock music you know all that druggie stuff and all that I mean [speaker001:] well uh [speaker002:] you know what I'm saying like I mean like they come on the stage and like you know you they're not even know they're there you know they're just so out of it [speaker001:] I prefer my my performers to be pretty sober you know just uh just so that you know that if they're jamming you know that they don't just lose themselves and you know go into la la land [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so I just I just don't like you know [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] that so I don't know [speaker001:] so um have you seen any concerts lately [speaker002:] hm huh
[speaker001:] okay uh I just currently quit my job and so I really don't receive any benefits right now [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] but my husband does and um I think one of the um my first of all always salary and second the second thing is um because we have children so it'd be um health benefits and medical benefits and and um right now we have [speaker002:] yeah yeah definitely [speaker001:] probably some excellent benefits right now we have with Aetna and uh I don't know if you're familiar with them but we're real happy with them [speaker002:] yeah yes I've had a variety of different jobs with of various types um in the computer field and so seen a variety of different types of benefits um I've worked for for for awhile and they are you know really um an academic type of place and then I've worked with regular you know industry type places and then with others that are kind of half way between and stuff so I've seen a wide range of both you know nonsalary type benefits and other stuff you know like health care that's either fully or partially paid and you know some have like bonuses and others have had lots of vacation time but not much of other types of benefits and [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so yeah I would I'd say health care is way up there especially for anybody with kids um [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and that's one of the big things that we always look at you know when we when I think about taking changing jobs is you know you know what kind of health care they have and does the company pay for it you know all or partially or how does that work [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and um also um vacation time too is a is a big one for me [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] um and I guess support for whatever whatever other you know kinds of professional activities you have at you know work [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] um because I've been at places which offer a lot of support and others that don't offer any [speaker001:] hm right [speaker002:] and some that sometimes that's coincided with a place that offers more vacation time though so that's not so bad um you know it's kind of a give and take kind of thing I think [speaker001:] right yeah um-hum [speaker002:] um I say that uh health care is probably definitely number one though uh you can wind up just losing you know losing all your salary can't can't even begin to pay for what you can wind up losing you know with a major illness or something [speaker001:] yeah yeah [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] right um and and and another good thing is with the health benefits when they give you more than two choices and who to go with [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and that really helped us out a great deal so but my husband does get vacation and it's worked out really good for us too [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so but [speaker002:] yeah yeah flexible hours are are pretty important to me as well um because that makes a big difference my wife works part time [speaker001:] yeah um-hum [speaker002:] and she works um as a assistant manager in a fabric store and so she works a lot of evenings and weekends [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and so two days a week I um manage to get home early enough to meet the kids from the bus because she works you know goes in early those days and works like you know noon till close um so we have [speaker001:] well that's great that y'all can work that out that's really good [speaker002:] yeah and being on a you know rigid schedule wouldn't there wouldn't be anyway to do that at all [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and I think it's kind of neat to be able to spend the afternoons with the kids occasionally too because I mean usually you know you go to work before they're awake or as they're getting up for school and you get home and it's already dark unless it's summer time you know and even if it's summer sometimes you get home so late that there's you know you can't do anything with them [speaker001:] um-hum yeah [speaker002:] and especially in the winter I mean you get get up in the dark and come home in the dark you know it's like it's like a vampire sometimes [speaker001:] yeah yeah yeah it's that same with my husband because he's got pretty flexible hours if as long as he puts in the hours he needs to do with that's worked out really well for us too [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] um well is there anything else that you look for or [speaker002:] um a lot of it to I guess is [speaker001:] you hit pretty you put a lot of the main points in [speaker002:] yeah I think some it is how the uh you know I guess it's not really a direct benefit but how you um performance is rated and stuff like that at work [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] because I've been uh especially in large corporations you can really you know wind up getting having you know real problems I've found out I've worked for a few you know several thousand plus you know type companies [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] and it especially if you're doing like professional work where there you know it's kind of ethereal as to what you're doing you know if you're like I've I work with uh computer systems a lot [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so it's kind of hard to say you know if you're a you know brick layer somebody can look and see you know well yeah you laid you know fifteen thousand bricks today and they were all straight and your building didn't fall down you know yeah you did a great job if you build computer systems like well you know what does that computer program really do you know or if especially if you write like papers you know or do design studies or something it's real hard to rate something like that [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] it's like being a painter or you know or something an artist it's like well jeez how do you really rate you know Michelangelo you know how would you tell if he was you know really good or so-so or whatever [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] no [speaker001:] yeah and that does make want a person want to stay
[speaker001:] yeah so um what do you feel about the universal health insurance issue [speaker002:] well well I'm I'm not really very much in favor of it at all uh I I feel like uh the the government gets involved in in a little bit too much of our life anyway and health insurance is is one thing that I'm I'm not sure that they have the expertise to to run it anyway and I I just kind I kind of feel like like I say we've got too much government already [speaker001:] um-hum I guess my my initial reaction would be that that I would be for it mainly from the standpoint that that I find um my health insurance not very effective and very expensive [speaker002:] um-hum yeah [speaker001:] and so I you know am am probably being very naive I'm hoping that that by by centralizing it it might get better and be cheaper [speaker002:] yeah well I guess I I I I guess my my my my own opinion of of uh government programs in general especially those that are centralized type you know centralizing type of programs I have not seen one yet that that that I I felt like really worked the way it should I think that uh the private sector has uh a lot more expertise available and has the incentives to make a program work whereas a a bureaucracy uh people that work in in a bureaucracy are just there to keep the bureaucracy going [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so uh I'm [speaker001:] what about uh things like in Sweden isn't isn't that sort of a centralized or in lots of places in Europe [speaker002:] yeah well I guess uh uh like I said I I I don't really know that much about it I I've uh uh mine may be more prejudice than opinion you know I I guess I've got uh uh prejudice against the government you you know uh [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] I I feel like I feel like too much government is too much government [speaker001:] right I you know I guess I can certainly agree with that but um you know like I said I feel I'm being uh being stung every time [speaker002:] yeah yeah I I know that uh the British like I say I know I understand that the British system uh which is you know centralized medical program does not work very well or at least the people are not real real happy with it [speaker001:] oh I see [speaker002:] and and uh I I that's my understanding anyway [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum yeah I knew they had one but I just I guess I assumed it worked which is is uh not a good [speaker002:] and uh you know yeah yeah you know when when you when you read uh uh uh see the some of the articles or or watch in particular watch some of the British made television shows you get the impression that it's it's more or less a joke uh you know a lot of people use it because they don't have an alternative uh an affordable affordable alternative [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] but they're you know they still it doesn't work very well I know in here in Texas in in the Dallas area we have a uh a county run hospital [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know the county furnishes the hospital and people that don't have uh access to to insurance and stuff are able to go to that hospital but if you go there if you're you know if you've got an emergency you have to be almost dead before you can get in like you know in a timely manner because there are so many people sitting there waiting all the time [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker002:] for medical services that you know if you may be there five or six hours you know for just normal treatment [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] and and I guess I'm not uh I'm not too keen on having to go to a to a some kind of a location like that on on a routine basis [speaker001:] right um-hum maybe I don't know much about HMO's but my impression is maybe maybe some uh HMO's are sort of a low form of centralization [speaker002:] well I guess uh to some extent uh an HMO I I have been involved have have been a member of an HMO before for a short period of time and and that did work very well [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but it was you know the company it was a company sponsored plan and and it it is you know individual doctors that do own or have a you know have a a shareholders in an HMO [speaker001:] um um-hum [speaker002:] and uh so it's not I I guess uh it's not a it's not a government run operation and that's that's you know that's my main objection I you know I don't care how they finance it [speaker001:] right um-hum [speaker002:] you know they could they could put a tax on me and say this is for medical insurance and then hire a you know some kind of private company that's not run by a government to you know to run the program [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and and that might work but if it's if it's going to be run you know and supervised at at at a government level by a bureaucratic type you know operation [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] uh I don't think it's going to work myself [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I do I do think that we're headed that way I think that there's a strong possibility that in in my lifetime I will see uh you know see one in operation so [speaker001:] um-hum is that because of of the the cost or or government wants it you think [speaker002:] well I think I think that uh I think there only that want it uh [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and I think the government will respond you know to when I say a lot of people I'm not saying a majority of people but I think the government will respond to that group that does want it [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] you know so you know you know I guess I I [speaker001:] well [speaker002:] I'm a I'm a pessimist in that in that respect [speaker001:] well but that's interesting because you know it's it's I don't know that much about it but my initial response would be more favorable and and perhaps I need to to learn more about it so that I'm not so naive on it [speaker002:] yeah yeah well I guess and and and and perhaps mine too you know perhaps I I need to know have stronger arguments for why are are or find out the the arguments in favor of you know so but uh [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but that's I guess that's I had not thought about before so [speaker001:] right well it was nice talking to you okay okay um um-hum bye-bye [speaker002:] yeah it was nice talking to you too okay thanks bye
[speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] Okay, I, I do a fair amount of cooking. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, and I love having guests to dinner. I probably do that about once a month. And, uh, I usually prepare something, depending upon the guests, you know, it, it, I like to prepare chicken, that seems to please everybody, pasta or a casserole. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] How about you? [speaker001:] Yeah, those are things I like the most. I like fish and chicken the most. [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] And, uh, [throat clearing] most of the cooking I do just comes out of a can. [speaker002:] Uh. [speaker001:] Unless it is, unless it is, I catch a fish and I prepare it. And then I just, uh, you know, I just broil it and put lemon on it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Well, that's about the way I prepare most fish. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Uh, I made scallops the other night, that was unusual, and, uh, basically, uh, I found a recipe to make it in the microwave and you sprinkled, uh, you swished around a little melted butter and do, uh, oh I do not know, micro-, microwaved them for about nine minutes. No, no, four and a half to five minutes and you had to add sesame seeds and bread crumbs on top, very simple, but very nice. So, if you are looking for a French recipe, that was good. [speaker001:] Sesame seeds and bread crumbs. [speaker002:] Sesame seeds and bread crumbs. [speaker001:] [Throat clearing] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, uh, my husband liked it. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, uh, no unfortunately scallops are one of the more expensive, uh, fish items. [speaker001:] Right, uh-huh. [speaker002:] But, you know, I, I look for them to go on sale at the grocery store [swallowing]. Uh, one of the things I love to do, eat out. How about you? [speaker001:] Oh, yeah, uh-huh. [speaker002:] Do you have any particular places you like going? [speaker001:] Oh, there's a restaurant called String Bean on Spring Valley and Central. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I like that, it's just, it's just home cooking. [speaker002:] Yes. I have been there. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, uh, it's kind of, kind of like Black Eye Pea, but I do not think it's a chain. [speaker001:] Right, exactly, uh-huh, and that's, that's the other restaurant Black Eye Pea. [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] So, I do not really like, uh, [throat clearing] you know, uh, uh, chili places or, what is it, Judge Roy Bean's, or [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] I do not like greasy places. [speaker002:] Yeah, I, I do not feel like they are very healthy, and I always, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] feel like the home cooking places, are, are the healthiest meals. You know, I tend to have chicken fried steak when I go, [LAUGHTER] go to them. [speaker001:] Right, and I, and I got, uh, chicken marinara the last two times. [speaker002:] Oh, how was it? [speaker001:] It was, uh, it was great. [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] Because that's, that's what I like, I do not like it, you know. I just like a baked, you know, a piece of chicken and then I get like green beans and mashed potatoes. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] You know. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker002:] I, I tend to, uh, I get teased by my family a lot, because, uh, I like experimenting on, on food and sometimes I go for ex-, fairly exotic things. And my father teases me about gourmet cooking. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Which is not always true, but [LAUGHTER] and the thing about experimenting with cooking or anything else, is that some of the experiments fail. [speaker001:] Yeah, that's true. [speaker002:] Uh, the last time we had some, uh, friends over for dinner, I tried a dessert that sounded wonder-, wonderful in the recipe and it was just a total bust. I was, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] sorry I did not have ice cream to fall back on. [speaker001:] Yeah. My, uh, my brother tried to make, uh, a bunch of things, uh, way back. He tried to make bagels one time. [speaker002:] Oh my that's ambitious. [speaker001:] Yeah, and, uh, [throat clearing] we took some and then we had, uh, German Shepherds at the time, and we took some and gave it to the dogs, and the dog never, you know, he treated it like a milk bone and he never did finish it. [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] He just barely made a dent in it. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Uh, and, uh, then he tried to made grapefruit citron one time. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] It's, uh, supposed to be candy. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And, uh, it, it did not turn out very well, it was, you know. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] It like made concentrated all the acid of the grapefruit into, uh, into a kind of a candy stick, so, uh. [speaker002:] Huh, see I am not, that's interesting. One of the things I do not make is dessert. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, uh, my husband accuses me of putting him through dessert depravation, because, uh, you know, we have ice cream, [LAUGHTER] or something like that. And that's why when I took, did this experiment for the company we had about three weeks ago, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] it was just a total fiasco. [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] Uh, everything else was fine, but that was a fiasco. [speaker001:] Well, you have to put eggs and everything, don't you. Or, [speaker002:] Uh, yeah. [speaker001:] Yeah, just about. [speaker002:] Yeah. And I, I also don't have much of a sweet tooth, so I can live without, live without dessert for the most part. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Use about half the sugar, or make everything diet. [speaker002:] Yeah. Uh, do you cook for yourself or do you cook for others? [speaker001:] Mostly, I just cook for myself. [speaker002:] Yeah. Well, when I was single, I used to, uh, I think my favorite meal was a, a baked potato. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, [speaker001:] It's easy, that's for sure. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. And, I mean, I never put anything other than a little butter on it, if I had, or if I had a little cheddar cheese, sometimes I would grate that up. [speaker001:] Yeah, I always put cheese on them. [speaker002:] And, uh, it's amazingly satisfying. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Yeah, but, you know, there's hardly any, I guess there's hardly any protein, it's mostly starch. So, it fills you up and then the cheese has to make up for whatever the protein you get. [speaker002:] Yeah. I did-, I did not say it was nourishing, but it was satisfying. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah, it really is. [speaker002:] And, [speaker001:] Then you have to make a salad or, [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah tha-, but, you know, I never really enjoyed cooking for myself, so I ate very simply. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And I was, that's why, I think that's one reason I like having people over, because I could try things. I mean, I must be a frustrated chemist or something like that. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Cause cooking is a little bit like, like being in a chemistry lab. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, uh, [speaker001:] Except you get to taste the product instead. [speaker002:] Yes, [LAUGHTER] and have an explosion. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Fill them up or blow up. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Sometimes it blows up anyway. [speaker001:] Yeah. . [speaker002:] I, I once had a, an old boy friend over to, to dinner when I was recently staying with my parents. And, uh, I had this wonderful recipe and you were supposed to make a, a toffee like substance for a pie by, uh, boiling evaporated milk three hours, and it does turn to toffee inside the can. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah [sniffing]. [speaker002:] And, uh, the only problem was, when I opened the can, it just flew all over the place. It was on the ceiling, on the walls and me. And, and the boy friend thought, [speaker001:] [Noise]. [speaker002:] it was, he was supposed to be there at six o'clock, not seven o'clock, so just at the time all this happened, the door bell rang and there he was. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And I had to have my, my, my, my dad sort of entertain him for a, for [LAUGHTER], [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Right. [speaker002:] for awhile while my mother and I scrambled to clean everything up. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Did you let the can cool off? [speaker002:] Uh, I really do not remember, that was about ten years ago, I just remember how embarrassing it was. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And I have made, I have made it since, I've, I, and several times before and I never had that problem, just that one time. [speaker001:] Huh. Yeah. [speaker002:] And, uh, he, he was a gourmet cook, he was kind of pushy too. Acted like, he came from San Francisco and he had a very sophisticated taste. I, I really wanted to impress the heck out of him and, and [LAUGHTER], well, it was a memorable evening anyway. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Uh, as far as, I, I do enjoy cooking so, I was awfully glad I was given this,
[speaker001:] Okay, is it Mike? [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] Do you repair your own car? [speaker002:] I try to, whenever I can. I've always been a, a [lipsmack], I guess a product of a handyman father. [speaker001:] Well, I tell you what, that's, y-, count your blessings because [speaker002:] Th-, [speaker001:] uh, it really is good when someone can do some [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] things to a car themselves. [speaker002:] Yeah. There's, a-, although I'll tell you, you know, over the years the cars get more complicated. [speaker001:] Well, that's why I don't do as much as I'd like. [speaker002:] Right, yeah. [speaker001:] Because they are, I mean they've got, they've gotten complicated haven't they? [Barking]. [speaker002:] Yes. One of my first cars was a fifty-six Buick. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Which, after awhile I could, you know, take it apart in my sleep if I needed to. [speaker001:] Is that right? [speaker002:] Yeah. It, it got to be pretty straightforward to understand and, now since then, you know, the closer a car is to a fifty-six Buick, the, the more I know about it. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And then start getting into these Nissans and the like and I just can't keep up. [speaker001:] Yeah, I, I agree. About all I ever, I never was too mechanically inclined, but I used to always change my own oil and do the points and plugs and, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Course, they don't use, uh, [NOISE] points anymore. [speaker002:] That's right [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] But, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Uh, they do still use plugs. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And, uh, now brakes, I've always done a lot of, you know, changing brakes. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [Lipsmack] And I used to do, I could always do the alternator, you know, and starter. [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] I don't anymore, but I have on a lot, a lot of times. [speaker002:] Yes, I understand. My last car repair actually had to do with brakes and it's one I did not do myself. I took the car, my, I have a seventy-nine El Dorado, took it to be inspected [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and the parking brake failed. So I got under there and messed with the, the ten-, that, uh, that adjustment [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] to make, to t-, tighten it up and [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] that didn't do the trick and then I got there and tried to, [speaker001:] It probably slipped loose, didn't it? [speaker002:] Well, actually that wasn't even eventually the problem. I, I did a lot of things that I, I did everything that I could think to do. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, eventually I brought it up to a, a place called Just Brakes [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and it turns out that there's a, the parking brake i-, in the rear, there's a, there's disc brakes and the parking brake is a piston deal. [speaker001:] Um. [speaker002:] And because the parking brake hadn't been used in so many years, the piston froze up. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] So they ended up having to pound it out. And one of them, they, [speaker001:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker002:] were able to get running, uh, kind of oiling it and playing with it and the other one they just, it was just frozen solid, so I ended up having to buy one and altog-, all total, it was just under two hundred dollars, believe it or not, to get all that done [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Y-, well, it really wasn't quite, s-, as bad as you thought, was it, was it? [speaker002:] Y-, yeah, actually, I, I think it was a lot of money, but I, I don't, like I s-, [speaker001:] Well, it was a lot of money, but, [speaker002:] Yeah, but, I, it got to the point where I didn't know what was going on so, [speaker001:] You had to have the help, didn't you? [speaker002:] That's right, that's right. [speaker001:] Yeah. Well, do you still do much work on them, then? [speaker002:] I do. Th-, act-, th-, actually that was just a, at, at the beginning of September and, whenever I can, I do try. I [throat clearing] a-, actually, I'd say this. I, I've gotten to the point where I don't change the oil anymore. Only because, [speaker001:] Disposal is a problem. [speaker002:] Well, that is one problem, but also these, uh, these fast oil change places, you just can't beat them. [speaker001:] That's true. [speaker002:] For sixteen bucks they'll [speaker001:] That's true. [speaker002:] not only will they change the oil in ten minutes, and do a f-, you know, as good a job as I can do, but they'll, uh, lube, too [NOISE]. [speaker001:] Right, that, that, I've, I've quit doing that myself. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And, but one of the main reasons was the disposal of the oil, you know. [speaker002:] Yep, that's right. [speaker001:] [Lipsmack] And, uh, but, it, but, no, I guess, i-, that, and the main reason that it's, it's quick.
[speaker001:] I don't know what the, the last thing I've done as far as car repairs go is, is change oil and filter an, and that kind of stuff. I haven't gotten really involved in anything, uh, extensive in car repairs in, oh, oh, probably a year or so. I think the last thing I did of any significance was change the water pump on an Oldsmobile. [speaker002:] Yeah, I had a similar thing, that I've worked on cars ever since I was, uh, a kid [LAUGHTER]. And that was some time ago, but I've gotten to the point where, uh, the newer cars are getting so complicated to work on that, uh, oh, most of the cars I buy, I try to buy as simple a car as possible. [speaker001:] Yeah, I know what you mean. [speaker002:] So, you know, changing the oil, changing the spark plugs and most of them now, you know, you don't go through the ignition stuff anymore because that's all solid state or, [speaker001:] Yeah, or fuel injected, and so there's, [speaker002:] or fuel injected so there goes the carburetor and if the fuel injection system breaks down, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] there's no way in the world you're going to work on that. [speaker001:] No there's no way. Somebody once said, uh, I had a car that said fuel injection on the side of it and a woman asked me what that meant and I said that means that I can't work on it. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, yeah, basically that's it. [speaker001:] You know, they've gotten so complicated or so high tech that, uh, the guys, average guys can't really go out in the, in the garage and do a whole lot of repairs, uh. [speaker002:] Yeah, I've got, uh, an eighty-four Chevy van that's, uh, a one ton van with a camper conversion on it. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] It's got the, the, the good old three fifty, [speaker001:] Absolutely. [speaker002:] standard engine in it. Regular gas engine, and that engine I understand, I can, wo-, I can actually work on that engine. [speaker001:] Yeah, I used to have, uh, ch-, Chevy van, it was a short van, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] that had the, the three fifty in it. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And basically it, it was a motor and you didn't have all the other junk around it, [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] and you could get to it to work on it. [speaker002:] Yeah, I had to change the water pump in that, here about a year ago. And it was really fairly easy. Take the grill out and the radiator out and you can just stand there and work on it. [speaker001:] Yeah, the hardest part about, uh, water pump changes is getting all the junk off, before you can get too it. [speaker002:] Well that's true [LAUGHTER]. You're right, you know, by the time you've finally got down to it, I was hoping I could remember where all those other things went. [speaker001:] Well that's kind of the way I was, I tried to remember as I took stuff off where it went, and I don't think I had too many nuts and bolts left over when I got it all put back together. [speaker002:] A few years ago I had an Oldsmobile diesel and, uh, the, uh, it, after about a hundred thousand miles the injector pump went out on it. And, uh, I bought it when we were living in Lubbock, when I came back here, I brought the car back here and, uh, I don't know, diesels got pretty unpopular and you couldn't sell the thi-, I mean, though for what you could get for one, [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] you might as well drive it over a cliff. And, uh, the injector pump went bad so I found a outfit down here to rebuild it. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, uh, i-, reinstalled that and that was probably one of the most miserable things I had gotten into in a long time. [speaker001:] I don't think I'd know where to start with a diesel. [speaker002:] Oh, well, it, you know, i-, diesels don't require mechanics, they require plumbers. [speaker001:] Well that's true. [speaker002:] And, uh, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I think the onl-, closest thing I've come to, to a diesel is, I've worked for a tractor repair shop, uh, when I was in high school and, uh, we used to overhaul farm tractors basically, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and they were nearly all, all diesel, but as far as cars I've never, never been involved with them. [speaker002:] Well the injector nozzle and stuff in, you know, the big diesel farm tractors, you know, what are about the size of your thumb, and the-, [speaker001:] Well, ye-, yeah, and you ca-, you can get to them. [speaker002:] yeah you can get to them, and the ones in, in the diesel cars were little tiny things and just almost impossible to do anything with. [speaker001:] Well I, [speaker002:] I've had a lot of good service out of that car, but, uh, uh, I finally gave it to my son and he drove it literally into the ground, you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] He was out at Tech and he, he finished it off. [speaker001:] I'm, I guess you're right the, the diesel has almost fallen into unpopular status. I don't know exactly why. One of the reasons is I, I'm beginning to wonder is, where do you get gas at. I su-, I don't know if it's still, uh, limited like it was, I don't notice it, probably because I don-, [speaker002:] What, the availability? [speaker001:] Huh? [speaker002:] You mean the diesel availability? [speaker001:] Yeah, I don't, I don't notice but maybe because I'm not looking for it. [speaker002:] Yeah, well I'd bought, uh, a G M C diesel pickup and, uh, loved that thing, you know, I really liked it. But it turns out a pickup wasn't what I really needed, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and it was the van that I needed then, to buy the, you know, traded it in on the Chevy van. But, uh, sure enjoyed it. [speaker001:] But yo-, you got the, the three fifty in the van? [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah the three fifty regular gas engine. [speaker001:] Yeah, that's what I like because, they've got plenty of power, and, uh, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] if you treat them right, they're not the gas guzzlers I think that they've got the reputation to be. I'm convinced that, uh, Detroit or whoever it is made a major mistake, [speaker002:] Yeah co-, [speaker001:] years ago when they stopped putting the small V eights in and went to the fours and some of the sixes. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I'm convinced that the small V eight like the, the Mustang's original two eighty-nine or some of the Chevy two eighty-threes, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] were good little V eight engines that were not gas guzzlers but they had enough power t-, pull all this weight. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And the four cylinders just don't have it. [speaker002:] I think that little, the little Chevy V eight when it started out in sixty, in fifty-five, I think was two sixty-five, something like that. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Little, you know, not whole lot more than the, than the, than the six cylinder that I think was like about two thirty-five or so. But, uh, [LAUGHTER] they kept boring that block out to where you could a get a four hundred, small block four hundred that was, uh, the same block, you know, just, just kept boring it out and boring it out and stroking it a little bit more, an. [speaker001:] I think those gu-, those little V eights could have been made to be pretty powerful little engines, if they would have gone with it, but. [speaker002:] Well that was, uh, that was a short stroke engine it could really wind up. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] The two little cars I've got now, bought a Mitsubishi Mirage here a couple of years ago and, and it was normally carbureted and it's fairly easy to work with because there's not just a whole lot in it to go wrong, [speaker001:] Yeah, that's kind of like, [speaker002:] and you know changing the plugs and stuff. [speaker001:] the, the first, well my first car was a fifty-six Mustang and, uh, over the years, uh, all I had a, uh, Dodge pickup several years ago, and, uh, I can't remember the size of the engine it was a three oh, seven or something like that, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] but, uh, I remember working on those cars, you'd open the hood and there was basically nothing in there but an engine, [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] and a few things. Now, you open the hood and it's scary. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Like you say it takes a plumber to figure out where all this stuff goes. [speaker002:] The friend of ours over here, he's got, uh, sixty-five, or sixty-six Mustang the six cylinder. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, uh, I was look under the hood of that the other day and like you say, you can see the road. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] It's amazing. [speaker001:] Well if you had to you could climb up in there and do what you needed to. [speaker002:] You coul-, yeah, you could stand in there if you really wanted to, I guess. [speaker001:] My dad's got a new, um, I guess it's an eighty-nine or ninety, uh, Chrysler something or other. It's one of those transverse mounted V sixes, front wheel drive. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] And, uh, he was showing it to me and we're looking under the hood and everything's nice and clean and, you know, you can see the three spark plugs there in the front. And I said well where are the other three. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] And he'd never really thought about it. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And he says well, hopefully I won't have to change them, before I trade it off. Yeah, it's going to be a problem getting back there because it was shoved right up against the fire wall. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] So they just about complicated the things so much that shade tree mechanics can't do much with them. [speaker002:] Yeah. Well when they went to the, started with the newer engines, you know, when they started putting all that pollution control stuff on the older engines is where they started getting into so much, you know, trouble. Because the three fifty with all the, you know, like well, actually, I guess, her-, within a couple of years ago anyway was the last I've paid any attention to it. The three oh five was that, that, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] V eight that they put in the, the three quarter and, and half ton van. And it had all the air pump and, uh, uh, [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] I don't know, all that, all that stuff. [speaker001:] Yeah the anti-smog pumps. [speaker002:] And all the anti-smog stuff. And, uh, boy that was, uh, really a mess back under there under the, in that van. [speaker001:] And all that stuff loads the motor down. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] So it's trying to push the weight plus have all this drain on it from all sorts of belts and things. But that's one good thing I've got a, uh, eight ninety, uh, Chevy Blazer now and it's got one, uh, belt on it a serpentine belt. [speaker002:] Oh, it's that one that's about, uh, what an inch and a half wide. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Got a bunch of groves in it. [speaker001:] I haven't had to replace the thing yet. It looks like it would be, uh, better than having, I've got an, an Olds Toronado that, I think's got six belts on the sucker. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And I had to get all those off, you know, when I was replace that, uh, water pump. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And, uh, I had to struggle with that for a while to figure which belt goes where. [speaker002:] Yeah, it's kind of like the inside dual on a truck. You know, when one of them breaks, [speaker001:] Oh man. [speaker002:] it's not the outside one, it's, it's the, it's usually that power steering be-, or something that's way back in there. [speaker001:] You bet, everything else's got to come off first. [speaker002:] Everything's got to come off. [speaker001:] Well, it's a pleasure meeting you. [speaker002:] Yeah, and we'll, uh, how many times have you done this now? Is this, [speaker001:] Uh, I've got, uh, five stickers here from T I, so I guess I've done probably, uh, I'd say seven or eight of them. [speaker002:] Yeah, I hadn't, uh, hadn't, not gotten any calls here in the last, uh, this is the first one in a week or so. [speaker001:] Yeah, I haven't gotten any calls in two weeks, so I don't know, if, if it's tapering off, or what. [speaker002:] If ta-, it's winding down or what. [speaker001:] I had a difficult time the past couple of times of getting, uh, answers. [speaker002:] Finding a taker. [speaker001:] So it sounds, it's taken them ten, fifteen minutes at a time, so, people are either not, no-, maybe they're burnt out or, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah, well. [speaker001:] Anyway let you go. Thanks for talking. [speaker002:] Okay, all right. Bye-bye.
[speaker001:] okay well have you bought anything recently and uh if so do you find it to your liking do you think it's worth the money [speaker002:] I bought I haven't returned it but I bought a I went down to San Marcos to the Coach Store and bought a Coach handbag [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and I've had it now for two months and I have owned Coach products before that's why I love them so much and uh I am going to have to take this back to have it repaired after two months I am so peeved [speaker001:] oh really yeah I can imagine [speaker002:] I I think it's [speaker001:] because they're not cheap [speaker002:] no they're not not even at twenty five percent off so um I just uh and I've owned many before I'm just really not a bit happy with it I don't know if they've gotten too big or too popular or or what but you expect when you [speaker001:] well I know that in going out and and looking at clothes uh even going to expensive stores the clothes look to me so sleazy any more I don't know whether it's the type of materials they're using [speaker002:] yes [speaker001:] is it you know is it supposed to be you know crepe or what and or if it's a case now I've seen Dillard's in an area [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and they hadn't even they'd hung the clothes out but they hadn't even pressed them so they didn't look good to begin with and uh you know and they looked cheap and they were you know they weren't cheap they were hundred and thirty nine hundred hundred and fifty [speaker002:] I saw that um-hum [speaker001:] you know you don't buy find cheap dresses any more even at Penney's [speaker002:] no [speaker001:] especially at Penney's they've upgraded considerably [speaker002:] exactly [speaker001:] and uh the only thing that I know that we have uh uh televisions [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] we have have gotten real good televisions we have had real good luck with televisions and I just wanna I think that their I think their quality is better [speaker002:] but to see you can buy you could you could you pay the same price for a new television as you do for a new suit a man's suit you know [speaker001:] well that's true that's true that's true you do you you can buy a portable cheaper than you can buy a man's suit [speaker002:] oh you exactly I was uh I had I bought something the other day and I thought well I've been wanting this new whatever and I did this this is my new brand I know what it was I was wanting this new television and this is this is my new TV and it was like three pairs of shoes and a you know and I've gone to the outlet to buy the shoes so so [speaker001:] I know well I know that uh our son for Christmas we usually for Christmas we will give him a suit and we try to you know stay around two hundred and something on them we you can't find a suit any more for two hundred and something [speaker002:] um-hum huh even even at uh the Men's Warehouse and things like that [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum you know I could you know for what some of the suits cost they had just moved into a new house I could buy them a a small new refrigerator almost as cheap as what the suits are [speaker002:] exactly [speaker001:] and that's utterly ridiculous clothing has just gotten totally out of sight and I hate to spend you know a hundred and fifty dollars for a dress that's made in Taiwan [speaker002:] that the you have to pay five dollars to have cleaned every two times you wear it or something and [speaker001:] yes yes yes very definitely so uh [speaker002:] I just [speaker001:] you know I I other than the TV's uh TV's I I do think here are made pretty good uh but I don't think cars are made that well any more [speaker002:] hum I am real happy with my car [speaker001:] now what is it what car do you a Ford [speaker002:] a Ford yeah I I think everything's it's oh four and a half years old and everything works on it and nothing's fallen off or broken I know friends with Chryslers that haven't had that luck and [speaker001:] oh that's good [speaker002:] Toyotas that haven't had that luck and [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but uh no I think I think you're right the electronics seem to be of decent quality [speaker001:] um-hum I don't know whether competition is so stiff between Japan and and the US or I don't know what it is but you know the electronics seem to be you know pretty good value for their money [speaker002:] and going down in price too [speaker001:] yes yes definitely because I know the price of the big screen TV's you know they're going down you know compared to what they were three years ago [speaker002:] oh and I bought a little camera about six years ago that I just thought was the the bee's knees or whatever it just I mean just wonderful and now I can get it for fifty dollars less the same model and for the same price I can get one that does a lot more [speaker001:] same model um-hum um-hum the only thing I'm not seeing going go down that much is the camcorders the video tape recorders things [speaker002:] oh well not a lot no [speaker001:] uh uh they've gone down a little bit we just bought one we kept thinking they would get much cheaper you know like somewhere around five or six hundred dollars but they're still right up there around nine eight or nine hundred dollars [speaker002:] uh-huh um-hum [speaker001:] you know which kind of surprised me because the how long have they been out now almost ten years [speaker002:] oh yeah my brother has an old one [speaker001:] you know uh-huh and uh so uh [speaker002:] they've gotten smaller though and [speaker001:] that's true and maybe that's what it is maybe they're just coming you know they're constantly working on them and so therefore they keep changing and they don't have any reason yet to
[speaker001:] I'm ready if you are. [speaker002:] Okay. Um, wh-, where do you stand, uh, on, [speaker001:] Well, I think that people should be allowed to have them. Especially [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] if they go hunting, which my son goes hunting. He goes deer hunting. He goes duck hunting. Uh, he's read books about guns since he was [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] like probably eleven or twelve years old. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And I just think that, uh, as far as that's concerned, he should be able to have them to go hunting with, you know. As far as [speaker002:] Right, right. [speaker001:] just having handguns around to, to have them, I don't believe that you should have handguns around. [speaker002:] Right. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I agree too. I, uh, it's, it's, as far as the ban goes and everything, I don't think it's possible, uh, to completely ban guns. There's just too many. [speaker001:] Well, no. There's too many sports people out there that, that do do these things. [speaker002:] Right, and I, yeah, right, I mean, yeah, that, that's true. And I mean the, the technology's not that hard. I mean, you could make a gun, you know, from simple, you know, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah, well I suppose you could. Uh, [speaker002:] You know, if, if you really wanted a gun, you, you could make one. Uh, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. And I think if they want one, they're going to get one. [speaker002:] [Cough] [throat clearing] Oh, you know [speaker001:] You know. [speaker002:] true. That's true. [speaker001:] The bad guys are, you know, like I say, if they want a gun they're going to find out [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] somehow to get one. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, it's, yeah, I mean, yeah there's, there's no way to stop, uh, stop anybody from getting a gun. Uh, [dishes] I think there should be more control as, like, uh, like maybe waiting periods and things like that, you know, uh, [speaker001:] Well I agree with you on that because I know, uh, in fact I had bought my son a rifle like for a Christmas present one time. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And for a rifle there's no waiting. There wasn't anyhow. Now there might be now. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] there wasn't anything for, you know, rifles and things like that. I guess [speaker002:] Sure. [speaker001:] it was just handguns that there was a, some kind [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] of a waiting, you know, two weeks while they checked you out or something. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] But, uh, most of these people that's got these guns that's going around, you know, robbing people and shooting people, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Yeah. Uh, I, I know my friend is, uh, really into guns and, uh, uh, w-, I went a couple of times with him to gun shows, you know, that [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] come through town and everything and, I mean, they just have, I mean they have anything you'd want, I mean [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you know, you know, anywhere from rifles and semiautomatic weapons and [breathing] there's, I mean, there's nothing. You can just go buy one and take it home and it's easier than getting a, like a video membership card at, you know, a video store. [speaker001:] I, see now, I know they were having a gun show about a month ago and I was just wondering how that did work, if somebody wanted to buy a gun at a gun show. [speaker002:] Uh, yeah, yeah. You just go and, uh, buy the gun and, uh, [speaker001:] There's no restriction though. You don't have to wait or nothing then huh? [speaker002:] No. Well, except for the, the pistols and th-, I'm not sure how they do that. I know they, [speaker001:] Yeah, I was just curious, you know, because, uh [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I know at, at the regular gun show, you know, gun shop [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] that you, [speaker002:] [Noise]. [speaker001:] that you do have to wait for pistols, like a couple [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] of weeks and then they check you out, then they call you up and you h-, go pick it up. [speaker002:] Yeah. I think that's, [speaker001:] Which I think [NOISE] they have to do on rifles and things now too. I think there [speaker002:] Uh-huh [NOISE]. [speaker001:] is some, something like that. Anyhow, here, out here in California, I think there is now. [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah [speaker001:] But, [speaker002:] I'm not sure, I'm not really sure but, what uh, th-, the gun laws in P-, Pennsylvania are like. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Now we don't have guns because [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] we don't go hunting or anything like that. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But like I say, my son, he's, [speaker002:] [Cough] [someone in background]. [speaker001:] he's always had a, like, I think his first little rifle that we got him was like he twelve or thirteen years old. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But he's always, he went to the, to the school to learn how to shoot it. He goes to the pistol range and th-, and the rifle range to shoot them. He likes to go to that, uh, shotgun thing where you shoot at those, uh [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. The skeets, you mean? [speaker001:] yeah, right [LAUGHTER]. He likes to do that [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] you know [LAUGHTER]. But, uh [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I don't know. I think they should try to control it and everything, you know. But as far as just banning it completely, there, that's not going to happen. [speaker002:] I don't, yeah, I, I don't think it can happen either. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] I just don't, I don't see, and, then, I, I think, uh, hadn't thought about this before but if you do that, if they would, uh, [breathing] uh, decide to ban guns, it would just open up a, a market, you know, a black market for them. [speaker001:] Yeah, right, right. [speaker002:] And so, you know, they, they would just, all the profits would go to, you know, [speaker001:] Now I do believe though, like in California, if a little kid gets a hold of a gun that someone has [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I think they're liable now for, they [speaker002:] Oh, th-, [speaker001:] can be, you know, put in jail and everything. The, whoever owned the gun. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, the owner's responsibility? [speaker001:] You know, now [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] when they have kids around, you'd think that they would be locking them up or, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, you know, that's, that's true. Uh, you know, I, I had a friend who was a, uh, [lipsmack] [sniffing] a policeman in a, in a local borough just a small, uh, one of the little neighborhoods, you know, one of the small towns, uh [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] near Pittsburgh. And, uh, she said tha-, that, that, uh, you know, he used to always keep his guns locked up and everything like that but, I mean, you know, you're, you know, people make, you know, they forget or, you know, you know, kids get in, the way kids, the way kids are, you know, I mean, they can, you know. [speaker001:] Well they can get into almost anything anymore [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] go what have you seen [speaker002:] do you want to talk first about the one that you've seen or you want me to go [speaker001:] oh mine was too scary go ahead [speaker002:] the last movie that I saw was Little Man Tate [speaker001:] oh was it good [speaker002:] it was was a lot of fun yeah it was um real popular obviously it was about a week after it'd come out I think [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh I didn't really have any um preconceived notions of what it was gonna be about so it was fun to I don't wanna tell you about it I don't know if I should uh [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah have you seen Paradise with uh Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson no I haven't seen that one either I was hoping you well [speaker002:] um no no let's see what else have you seen recently we can talk about one we've both seen [speaker001:] well I rented we rented my daughter and her friend I have teenagers rented Silence of the Lambs [speaker002:] uh-huh oh [speaker001:] have you seen it oh it's [speaker002:] no see that that's the kind of film that I probably wouldn't see um there's certain ones that my husband and I know that he might see with a friend and I wouldn't want to see [speaker001:] yeah well I probably shouldn't have yeah I I don't know that I don't know my husband chose not to watch it and he obviously slept all night and I prayed really hard that my kids wouldn't have nightmares and I had nightmares for two nights [speaker002:] did you yeah [speaker001:] oh it's just it's so interesting but it that is the last one that I saw on home video [speaker002:] and and did your kids have any reaction to it what were the kind of comments that they had [speaker001:] well I probably shouldn't have let my younger ones watch it they are um seven and nine and eleven years old but and especially after this Jeffrey Dahmer thing really had my eleven year old going [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh oh boy [speaker001:] you know and it was and he had lots of questions and I had to do a lot of reassuring but what my kids made some really interesting observations about how Hannibal the Cannibal you know was um playing with this gal's mind [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh they were aware that that [speaker001:] you know which was something he was supposed to watch for and I mean it was very awful and you know it teaches them to [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] um be careful of strangers and and and [speaker002:] yeah yeah I guess there is that in those scary movies there's definitely the element of uh caution [speaker001:] oh yeah so that was but I have bought Fantasia for my kids and myself actually [speaker002:] you know I I would like that as well I I've been looking for that and I haven't found it yet but I know that it's um I think it's at not not the warehouse but uh [speaker001:] Costco those those kind of places kind of discount places yeah [speaker002:] yeah yeah Blockbuster Video that's the one that I think I heard that it was [speaker001:] oh yeah but you yeah you can just buy now the one I'm buying is a used one which I don't get till December so people will be using it until December but I got it for nine bucks so [speaker002:] oh that's great [speaker001:] you know yeah well I hope it'll be okay that's the one movie of all movies that I'm gonna buy [speaker002:] no I I have to ask you about foreign films have you seen Angel at My Table [speaker001:] no is it wonderful [speaker002:] uh oh it's kind of like My Left Foot if you had a chance to see that it's very much like that you know it focuses on an individual who has [speaker001:] oh yes yes I did see that oh [speaker002:] well in in her case she's very very shy [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um and that's not a physical disability but it's certainly a social emotional disability in her case and it it's really beautiful you know because it shows how she blossoms and and about her her her development [speaker001:] oh yeah sure oh Angel at My Table [speaker002:] uh-huh um another one that I really liked was called Truly Madly Deeply [speaker001:] okay we'll keep an eye out nope [speaker002:] I believe it's a British film as well and it came well there there are a couple they they tend to you know show up in San Francisco so [speaker001:] so you like foreign films yes yeah more than Yakima Washington I'm afraid [speaker002:] there are a couple theaters that usually show good ones you can count on them to show foreign films that you you feel like you might enjoy as opposed to some that are so eclectic that you can't really relate to them [speaker001:] right uh-huh right right [speaker002:] and um Truly Madly Deeply is a love story about a person's let's see it's her husband that dies it came out shortly after Ghost [speaker001:] ooh oh and Ghost was your one of your favorites [speaker002:] so um I I kind of I kind related to it a little bit because it it was about her husband's love and her love being so strong that he was able to sort of converse with her after he died in such a way to kind of help her make the separation from his death because she was having really hard time grieving for like a year or so after his death and [speaker001:] ooh uh-huh and it was called what Truly [speaker002:] Truly Madly Deeply [speaker001:] Truly Madly Deeply [speaker002:] uh-huh that's how they they used to have a a a game about how much they loved each other they'd loved each other truly no truly madly no truly madly deeply [speaker001:] sounds wonderful oh I see oh it sounds wonderful [speaker002:] yeah it's a sweet film it's actually kind of a a spoof on life after death because [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] he not only comes back to visit her and help her make the transition after his death but he brings all of his his friends and a lot of them are you know playing cards in her house and [speaker001:] his friends oh [speaker002:] jamming on musical instrument it it's pretty it's pretty funny [speaker001:] oh well that would be comforting in a way you know oh well that's great um what else have I seen oh well we went to see um and you won't you don't go see dumb things but it was called Hot Shots totally a waste of [speaker002:] um Hot Shot
[speaker001:] I'm ready [speaker002:] okay have you returned anything lately [speaker001:] uh no I haven't the only thing I had to I had to return was a table top but that was like three years ago of a dining room table that I got [speaker002:] hm [speaker001:] it was marked on the top of it so all they did was replace it [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] but as far as um lawn mowers I've bought lawn mowers in the last three and a half years [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and they've been working fine my hedger's working fine my weedeater's working fine I haven't really had to return anything you know except that table top that was marked [speaker002:] um-hum hm now okay wait wait a there was a topic talking about returning lawn equipment or was it anything [speaker001:] no I said anything [speaker002:] oh okay now okay um well I uh I returned a camera recently I I bought a little uh Minolta camera [speaker001:] oh you did uh-huh [speaker002:] and uh the auto focus was inconsistent sometimes it would focus and sometimes it wouldn't [speaker001:] huh [speaker002:] so uh after my second roll of film I I took two rolls before I got decided uh because I changed the first roll out before I had the first one developed [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and after I got the first roll back I knew the camera wasn't it so I uh I took it back and returned it but most I don't know I haven't had to return a lot of stuff [speaker001:] um-hum well did did they give you any back any problem or they just give you a new one or what [speaker002:] well I took it back and I figured it was I don't know something like an auto focus I don't know I figured something inherent in the camera design or something [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] so I because my dad has a has an auto focus camera and it works great and he's never had any problems in fact he's he's had a couple of them and this is a like a little small one you know and the new smaller cameras are like all mass produced and stuff [speaker001:] yeah right [speaker002:] so they're not uh I think they're more uh I would think there there's better quality control on those things you know just because they're small and stamped and there's not very sophisticated [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] so I guess not call it quality control but you know since they're so generic they wouldn't uh there's you know [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I I my dad has a big sophisticated camera and it always takes good pictures so I just said well hell with it I'll just go out and get a nice camera [speaker001:] yeah right um-hum [speaker002:] but uh so I took it back and uh I bought a I bought a more expensive camera but you know I think when uh when I was in college I was always buying like just cheap stuff stuff that would make do and that's the kind of stuff I took back because you bring it home and you're like oh well this sucks you know [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum um-hum yeah if you go and buy something really good usually it is it's good you know [speaker002:] oh um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] and you don't ever anyhow I've haven't ever had any problems in returning anything [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] that I've bought that I feel that you know was worth the money that you pay for it [speaker002:] um-hum yeah and I think uh the way I was raised my parents always uh used to buy stuff that had a good quality name on it and you know they knew the quality of it before they bought it [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so I don't know and I kind of do the same thing I guess so I haven't had to return a lot if I had had to return it it's more because I realize I didn't need it or you know not because it's defective [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but uh more because uh you know I have the option to take it back and I really didn't need it you know [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] rather than you know something being broken [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] but that's that's the only thing I've returned recently [speaker001:] yeah I I've been really lucky knock on wood you know like I say that I haven't had to return anything except this this table when it came out [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] the top of it was marked and so all I did was replace the top of it you know [speaker002:] hm did they send you a new one or did they actually give you a new one at the store [speaker001:] they they gave me well no I didn't go to the store and get it they you know got with the manufacturer and then when it came in then they brought it out and then just took this table top off and replaced it with the other table top [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum yeah because I bought some furniture where the top was scratched and uh I just wrote a letter to the manufacturer well they they had a warranty sheet saying if you have any damage send this in [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] so I sent it in and uh you know I didn't really think much the table like I said the table was just scratched on the top and uh [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I didn't really it didn't really bother me because it was kind of small [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but I went ahead and sent something in and uh three or four weeks later they sent me a brand new table top and it came by truck [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and uh I like it was probably more expensive to ship this thing than it cost me for the table top itself because uh it was eighty five dollars for shipping and the whole it was a like a computer table you know made with just like uh uh what do they call pressed board or whatever just pressed particle board [speaker001:] oh really uh-huh yeah with or with a veneer top or something like that probably yeah [speaker002:] right and uh the tole table was only like a hundred and ten bucks [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and they spent eighty five dollars shipping this top back to me [speaker001:] oh for crying out loud [speaker002:] so I was kind of surprised I figured you know I sent that in maybe they would send me something back saying you know uh do you want to exchange it or bring it in or send it back or something like that [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] but uh I couldn't believe they sent actually sent a brand new one and they no calls no letters nothing they just sent it to me [speaker001:] just sent it to you that's weird you'd think that they would have wrote a letter or at least a telephone call you know telling you that this is what was happening you know [speaker002:] yeah yeah definitely yeah yeah uh um-hum um-hum yeah but [speaker001:] but um you know but um [speaker002:] oh well but I'd say that's a kind of a short topic this time [speaker001:] yeah I was just I was just trying to think of um what else have I bought the only other thing that when we moved in this house it was a new house and the grate where you have your fireplace [speaker002:] um-hum right
[speaker001:] well yes so so do you do much exercising [speaker002:] uh only for fun I really enjoy it though so uh let's see what do I do in the winter I play volleyball [speaker001:] yeah what do [speaker002:] and I go skiing that's about it [speaker001:] oh you go skiing eh yeah well out here in the west you've got some nice places to go skiing [speaker002:] well I must admit that Utah has the best snow on earth [speaker001:] anyway um I haven't been in a regular exercising program do you have a regular program that you actually you know stick to or [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] do you have it planned out or is it just you do exercise for recreation recreation [speaker002:] yeah it you know I do it for the fun I can't stand say stationary bicycle [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] gets pretty boring or like uh you know lifting weights because I can't count more than to three before I get bored and then I lose track of the repetitions but uh the uh you know the the gym's open say for volleyball on every Wednesday so so that's regular [speaker001:] so you go so you like regularly do volleyball yeah I used to I used to regularly run and then about a year and a half ago I had some back problems [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and I haven't been able to get out and run and I have really noticed it in a year and a half I've gone from being fit to being a vegetable I feel like such a vegetable now but [speaker002:] so you must be over twenty then [speaker001:] yeah I'm I'm over twenty I'm going down the gentle slope [speaker002:] yeah when you're about when you're under twenty five you can pretty much get away with uh doing nothing and then when you want to get do something something athletic you just get up and do it otherwise I find you've got to every week everyday [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] if you want to have any sort of shape [speaker001:] yeah so anyway I'm looking forward to the Spring as it comes around to trying to get back into running now that I'm [speaker002:] running that doesn't bother your knees at all [speaker001:] no [speaker002:] great [speaker001:] no I've never had problems with my knees at all um uh the that's not not at all a problem it's more just uh the other thing I do is I run with my wife and so we go kind of out together and we don't run hard like like we jog and like kind of just go see places and kind of run around together and it's not like we go real hard or anything but it's enjoyable [speaker002:] well it's hard to get no exercise while running I mean you pretty much got to move don't you [speaker001:] oh yeah well you do I mean it's it's really jogging but I mean you can push yourself at different levels how hard you run [speaker002:] well even just walking well but you know like say riding a bike where if you go really slow it's pretty much coasting you're not even doing anything and just to move while running you've got to move your legs every single step [speaker001:] hm [speaker002:] so you don't you don't feel you're getting a good exercise when you go out uh jogging [speaker001:] oh I do but I don't feel that it's that hard I it's not that stressful you know you're asking about how it was on the knees or on the body and that stuff and it's not [speaker002:] oh okay [speaker001:] it's not really stressful at all in any I mean it's it's fun and it's enjoyable and it's good exercise but [speaker002:] all right yeah it's not supposed to hurt I just find that it really pounds because I'm in particular running [speaker001:] you you do you run [speaker002:] no no that's I and I'd like to because I think it'd be fun I run in connection with you know in case I accidentally play basketball or uh so you know football you know something there's all sorts of activities where you end up running [speaker001:] it's just [speaker002:] sort of a natural thing [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] but I don't do it just for the sake of running [speaker001:] how about swimming for a while I used to swim [speaker002:] yeah you know swimming is something I've gotten to the point where I action actually can do laps now [speaker001:] uh uh-huh [speaker002:] that used to bore bore me to tears you know I'd love to swim if it was water polo or you know splashing about or you know if there was some diversion just uh but but that's good exercise [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] yeah I'm looking forward to that it's I can [speaker001:] does this extend out from like high school or something like that athletics or anything that you used to do in high school [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] I used to run some cross country in high school but [speaker002:] yeah see that that gets back to this lack of discipline and training I I would never join a team because they'd want you to do these repetitions or something [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] rather than let just play the game
[speaker001:] okay I guess I'll start um one uh big thing that the advise that I would give to a parent to give to his or her child is to let their let their child experience college in a kind of general sense I like large colleges because I went to University of Texas at Austin they have fifty thousand students there and I feel like that now if I went if I had gone to a small college that only had a couple of thousand that I wouldn't have have gotten as much exposure to different people and different uh I don't know different languages different cultures and things like that just by being around those fifty thousand students [speaker002:] that's interesting I went to a smaller school of probably three thousand thirty five hundred and I I I thought that was the best experience in that [speaker001:] um-hum uh-huh um-hum [speaker002:] we had more one-on-one since we seemed to know everyone on campus and we had a broad spectrum of languages and cultures and [speaker001:] hum [speaker002:] and backgrounds and so forth so I thought it was wonderful to be a bigger fish and not so much a number um [speaker001:] hm um-hum [speaker002:] one of fifty thousand I was one of three thousand and and you know different perspectives I uh but it sounds like we were both kind of looking at the same sort of sort of thing [speaker001:] right um-hum yeah yeah yeah I I could see I could see that point I could see how it would be I'm sure your classes were a lot smaller um because like we would have biology classes that did main courses that everyone has to take I mean hundreds of students in this class so actually yes you were a number [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but um I I just I don't know I'm thinking in a sense of uh just being exposed to more it just seems like in a larger college you I don't know you're exposed to so many more people from all over the world and I'm sure a lot of people come to you know small colleges also but just that they're more of of the different cultures there not that it not that it's better but I'm just saying that I think that big [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah that's one thing to definitely consider [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh I think uh a lot of a lot of students now would probably be afraid of a smaller college a lot of the students that I talked to even here in Waco they go to Baylor um they or they're considering going to Baylor they're also considering going to UT Austin but one of the big no no is because of the fifty thousand students and I have to tell them that just like just Waco like I live in Waco it's a large city I can still function in my own kind of area in my own group I have a job I have my friends and I'm really not as as concerned about the entire city so when you go to a big [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] a big university you're not as concerned about the entire university but your group of friends your classes your interests your clubs and things like that [speaker002:] yeah I think that's probably key to me is not so much the size of the school but what what are the particular needs of [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] the students and whereas some would immediately feel very comfortable in this um larger university setting some of the students um when I was when I was teaching school [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] would not have been comfortable with that they needed uh at at least at first [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum right [speaker002:] they needed a smaller setting that that was more like family where they could get one-on-one from from teachers professors and so forth and then after a year or two move on to [speaker001:] right um-hum [speaker002:] a little bit bigger pond where where when they had a little more self-confidence built up oh yes I can do this oh I've done this before it's just in a bigger setting and so maybe to me [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum right [speaker002:] the key would be what what are what are the child's the the student's needs and what what school or schools can best meet those those needs besides education you you you can expect [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] all of them with uh uh uh accreditation accreditation to give the education but it's these other things that you and I are are keying off on that that are really more of an education that but they're the things that don't show up in [speaker001:] uh-huh on paper um-hum exactly that's that's one important thing that I think about school I'm I'm not a kind a person that I didn't I I was kind of a B student I guess you'd say and I didn't really [speaker002:] that's right that's right [speaker001:] I was I strived strived to be an A student but it wasn't like a real priority to my my priority was just [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] being as worldly as I could possibly be getting into as many organizations as I could possibly could and and one other point I was going to make was that I can understand I can see that probably if I had gone to a smaller school I would probably have more friends [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] because you like you said you know you know everybody knows everybody and so you probably come out of it knowing and by friends I mean like contacts for when you get out of school [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] um you know you just you may walk into a company and see someone you went to school with more so at a small college then a large college you may have gone to school with them but you wouldn't you wouldn't know them uh [speaker002:] um-hum yeah [speaker001:] I guess let me think of another important thing to look at when you look into college [speaker002:] I guess I guess now I've been out for I I'm I'm older than you I've been out for twenty one years and I was looking at an annual last night uh something had sparked it sparked a question and I went to a [speaker001:] uh um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] small private school um and it was church related and I got to looking at my class of sixty nine [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] and I realized that even though that school's two hundred miles from here and I've lived in other states and done other things for the past twenty years where I go to church now there are five other people that went to school at the same time in the same class as I and it it's neat to know that we have that contact that goes back that some of the same [speaker001:] wow um-hum [speaker002:] memories if not the same education education in you know we we weren't all out to be teachers or or whatever so we didn't have the same classes but we had a common thread something that still ties us together twenty odd years later [speaker001:] um-hum right wow that's great [speaker002:] and it's it's it's kind of neat just knowing that those kinds of things [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] those are what I carry beyond just that piece of paper that allows me to be an exempt at TI [speaker001:] right right [speaker002:] I have something more important to me than that [speaker001:] that's great that's great yeah that's what I that's basically what I and when I first I've been out of college only two years now so it's still pretty fresh on my memory um [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but now that I'm out when I went into school my parents told well my father okay let me let me go back to my my sister now is is in college and my father was really interested in getting her in a school that [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] would look good on her on her uh diploma etcetera and so forth and and I kept pushing her towards [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] just kind of U UT or a larger school and it was just a big conflict between us because my father wanted the academics and I wanted her to get the life experience out of it and so it was you know she went the academic way because she's a straight A student which is yeah yeah yeah so she you know that's probably [speaker002:] uh-huh I was going to ask who won [speaker001:] you know what she what she wants anyway but that was the big deal and [speaker002:] in in that case uh regardless of what you or your father pushed for it sounds like she was going for what she needed and finding a school that that met her specific requirements and and made the best fit for her [speaker001:] right right and that that's another point is that the a parent should tell their child to be or or to give their child the leeway to choose their school not so much choose the school for them but you know kind of guide them along but let them more or less choose what they need and what they're going to do [speaker002:] yeah I think it helps uh uh now my grandfather was going to pay if I went to uh what's now UT Arlington because it was there in my hometown I could live at home but I chose to go to another school [speaker001:] um-hum right [speaker002:] and even though he was pleased that it was a church related school he was not willing to pay any at all even the same amount of money and and I think I value my my education more because I had to work for it [speaker001:] hum right um-hum [speaker002:] and because I knew all along that's what I wanted even even though I had to buck the family in order to to do what I needed to do [speaker001:] um-hum right well that was pretty courageous [speaker002:] so um I I guess I guess it was it was my mother's support that got me through it that and ten years of of uh loans after I got out [speaker001:] yeah oh yeah yeah I I'm I'm dealing with the loans right now so so oh yes very every every month that memory just shoots back in my mailbox [speaker002:] sounds familiar huh your it's very fresh in your memory well uh yeah yes well sorry about that Tanya [speaker001:] so oh well I guess I'll get over it but oh yeah yeah okay [speaker002:] I'm sure it was worth it though if if nothing else because I work in training at TI now if nothing else just [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] those experiences beyond and and including your educational classes that help give you the self-esteem to do and achieve whatever you set your mind on [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] and the you you made the right choice in going to a school that met all of your needs to make to give you the the potential to do whatever you wanted [speaker001:] right because when you when you do want when you do finally graduate that that's what you need the most I'm finding out now that what I'm needing the most now is not smarts not what I can do on paper it's stamina courage uh words it [speaker002:] young lady you have gotten your education then that's that's right [speaker001:] yes I'm needing you know myself I'm needing to rely on myself and I think I learned a lot of that in school too [speaker002:] yeah
[speaker001:] uh I guess I've had to return something but I'm can't can't decide mostly it's been because I didn't like the color [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] or um I'm not sure whether I've had to return that many things uh [speaker002:] well I'm having a problem right now with a computer that we've just returned so for me it's actually a pretty good topic [speaker001:] oh are you okay good so we'll talk about that some [speaker002:] yeah well we could talk about that and then we could talk a bit about um just quality of products in general if you they're better or worse like if they last longer or something like that [speaker001:] right okay I'm going to let you kind of lead the pack because you sound like you're I let let me tell you just a little bit about myself I for years I did all that shopping and what not but for the last four or five years I've had eye problem and I've had two cornea transplants [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] shopping is no fun anymore I can't [speaker002:] I can imagine well actually I don't [speaker001:] see good enough you know and uh it's hard to tell what I'm doing and it's just aggravating oh I just thought of something we have to return all right it'll it'll come to us okay are you ready [speaker002:] you can't read labels and you can't good there you go okay yeah [speaker001:] Laurie all right [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] all right uh tell me about your computer Laurie I think that sounds fascinating [speaker002:] well we bought a computer because my husband needed to use it to do some work for a consulting project and we called up the company and asked them details on it we bought it sort of your not a name brand because the clones are so much cheaper [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and we called up the company that somebody else we knew had dealt with and they were very happy with the system and they felt they've gotten a good price and we went in we explained what we needed and yes we had to go across the George Washington Bridge to New Jersey to get to meet these people [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and so we went there we told them about the stuff and the guy said uh that the computer would fit our needs and we these things won't make any sense to you probably but he told us there were we need user positions to put our own equipment in the computer [speaker001:] um-hum oh yes [speaker002:] and it's called a user boards or slots is what it's called [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and he told us there's two sixteen bit slots and two eight bit sorry two sixteen sixteen four sixteen bit slots and two eight bit slots available for the user and we can put full size cards in there and so we said great you know we'll buy it and we put in our order and a week later we went back and picked up the computer and then we got it home and tried to put our own board in it and there's only one slot we could put it in [speaker001:] oh lovely [speaker002:] and at this point we only have one board so it wasn't so bad so we used it a bit but we tried to figure out whether we could put three in because we really need to be able to put at least three in [speaker001:] hm now now the computer was supposed to have two [speaker002:] and well it has them but the problem is that you can't put the type of card that we need to put in it in it [speaker001:] oh I see [speaker002:] and even though they told us in advance that you could they told us there'd be no problem because you know the salesman just doesn't really know [speaker001:] oh I see in some ways it has more to do with the people who sold it they probably didn't know what they were talking about [speaker002:] right that's completely it the salesman didn't know so we went back in and we struck an agreement with the people they'd change [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] the casing it comes in so that we could put in extra boards [speaker001:] huh [speaker002:] okay so they did that and we said are you sure that this will work we don't want you to go through the work and then find out that this doesn't really work anyway and etcetera and they're and they were doing it at their own costs and so we said fine and we went back and we talked to the technical person a second time and things like that and then we come we get the computer home my husband goes to pick it up last week and we couldn't go get it sooner because I just had the baby and you know life's just a little bit complicated and uh he goes and gets it brings it home first of all they're missing [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] components of it like cables so you can't really test it out and then second thing we still can't put the boards in because they have other things blocking where we need to do it [speaker001:] oh dear huh [speaker002:] and see now we're dealing with having to bring it back again and they say they can you know do something different and change some connectors and we hope so but it's a hassle you know you know it's just this problem with sales people just not knowing [speaker001:] yeah it really is [speaker002:] what goes on [speaker001:] right and time and so much time goes past before you finally get any kind of satisfaction I think that's the worst part uh I [speaker002:] right so well actually some things are pretty good with that because I put it on a gold credit card and I just called the credit card company and explained to them the situation and they said well you don't have to pay for it yet [speaker001:] now that's an advantage isn't it it really is I think uh uh there's a lot not to be said for credit but that's one thing to be said for credit it how it gets you some muscle where you need it [speaker002:] yes yes yeah right and so you know [speaker001:] and I think that's really really important [speaker002:] well because these guys if they um give us a hard time we're going to say you look you know if you if you can't fix this to our satisfaction we're just returning the computer [speaker001:] yeah that's right that's right [speaker002:] and if we do that I just tell the credit card company don't pay the charge even though they've already paid it but they'll just you know undo the credit that they did to them [speaker001:] that's right no yeah they will that's right they will they will put the kind of clout on them that you can't really do yeah we Hal bought me uh uh small uh well uh uh [speaker002:] yeah right and [speaker001:] little jam box kind of thing so I'd my I have my ninety three year old mother living with us and so I uh she doesn't remember anything but to keep her entertained music and some of these things do help and I thought well if I had uh a nice a nice little uh [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] tape recorder you know so that I could put some good music on in there for her every once in a while and then also so that I can uh uh copy uh parts off I I do some musicals and things like this and if I can copy sections off that I can use someplace so I figured well this' ll be good well the first uh uh the first time I turned it on [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] uh I was recording and the next thing I knew the tape was chewed up in the thing [speaker002:] oh no [speaker001:] okay so after that then you couldn't get a you couldn't get a tape to play at the right speed in that side [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and then on the other side when I when I uh I loaned loaned it to my daughter the other day to take it over to a to a videotaping they were doing and uh she says it's wrong too because the little thing pokes out too far and so you can't you you can't get it to run the right the right way either so uh yeah so I I wish I could tell you I really don't know which brand it is uh [speaker002:] um-hum what brand is it do you know but I was wondering like you know in our case we we knew we were buying a copy we weren't buying an IBM PC and I was wondering if you [speaker001:] yeah no I think this is a I think this is maybe a name brand and I suspect that it's probably just a fluke you know I have the papers and everything and we're going to get just take it back but uh [speaker002:] uh-huh did you buy it at some major store [speaker001:] yeah I think just uh just uh one of the major major I think it was a you know I don't I think it was uh you know like a Highlands or something like this [speaker002:] Highlands because it's obviously a chain down there that I don't know up here nope [speaker001:] do they have Highlands up there don't they well this is it was a regular uh electronics store store you know so I don't think I don't think there'll be too much problem but I I guess I'm not sure whether I think [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] things are not made as well I think they deliberately sometimes um [speaker002:] I think a lot of things are not made as well [speaker001:] don't you what what for instance what are you [speaker002:] um oh well gosh it's hard to think of an exact example but I think that um [speaker001:] yeah they just get they're getting a kind of a attitude of not [speaker002:] I just yeah I just have well I like electronic stuff you know for one thing I know their work you know cars I think are not made as well as they could be [speaker001:] yeah well cars yeah yeah I think that's right the fact that [speaker002:] um because I they want people to replace it after a couple of years [speaker001:] right the fact that they that they have have competition with the Japanese and whatnot sometimes uh dwells on a fact that you know uh I've had I've known people who have had Toyotas for years that have had almost no repair work to do on them well they may cost a little more but they don't have to take them to the shop every other day [speaker002:] um-hum yeah I had a Toyota and I loved it my Toyota did really well [speaker001:] yeah yeah it does the they do a good job so part of it is that we need to develop more of a of a pride in in uh the kinds of things we do so we make them better [speaker002:] good yeah [speaker001:] and it kind of has to start from the top and and go clear or from the bottom maybe and go clear up people [speaker002:] well I I think part of the problem comes in sort of shoddy workmanship the people just don't care about what they're doing you know the whole nobody cares nobody's nobody's really paying [speaker001:] no no yeah attitude is is just get me my dollar so I can go do what I want to do and on what I'm doing right I think that's too bad and it's a shame too because um [speaker002:] right give me my paycheck so I can go home [speaker001:] when you get right down to it most things there isn't any if you do a good job nobody can pay you enough there isn't any way to get paid enough [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but if if you do a good job you feel enough satisfaction so whatever you're paid is enough [speaker002:] yeah and also I think well I do research and so I'm used to sort of being underpaid for whatever whatever work gets done but [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and you get satisfaction out of it and [speaker001:] that's right I think they underestimate how much how much value the satisfaction is [speaker002:] but I think a lot of it you know I think things come both from the uh individual side and also from the company side because the companies that let give the attitude that well you know you're the last one hired so you'll be the first one fired and we just want you to do your days work and we don't really care about you as an individual when you've got that type of attitude on the people don't care about their work and so [speaker001:] no yeah yeah yeah it probably it probably basically goes right back into the home home though unfortunately starts with the one person that you know and so you need to really work hard at helping your kids to understand that there is value just in work for itself without any pay you know [speaker002:] little value just in whatever you do [speaker001:] yeah the the the that the value is in doing it well and [speaker002:] doing a good job of it
[speaker001:] um I kept a monthly budget for so long I don't have one now but I sort of know where it is I know where my expenses are and how much I have to cover them how about you [speaker002:] well I don't have anything um a budget written down per se but however I I know exactly where my money goes for the most part as far as expenses yes um-hum [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah do you do [speaker002:] oh yeah I think in this day and time we need something like that don't we [speaker001:] yes I keep hearing that we're supposed to pay ourselves first and set aside our savings first are you are you able to do that [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] that helps doesn't it [speaker002:] yes it does [speaker001:] back when we were I'm I take it you may be past raising a family is that true [speaker002:] yes [speaker001:] that back in those other days we couldn't do that could we [speaker002:] no other things came took priority [speaker001:] like doctor bills and things like that [speaker002:] um-hum that's for sure [speaker001:] yeah um are you planning ahead for retirement through your your uh savings and things [speaker002:] yes you know that's interesting because I was talking at someone in the office just this morning about the retirement and what we would like to have when we retire and how we're going to get there [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] it's really hard to anticipate in advance what you think you're going to need okay and then try and plan now [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] because things come up [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but I think now we're at the age where it's really very important [speaker001:] well one of the things that my husband has he he works with financial things and uh he's been trying to [speaker002:] you know [speaker001:] he keeps saying well we need to sit and find out how much we want and and I think that's true but like you said it's hard to do [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] one of the things that we've done towards that is um buy nursing home insurance have you all thought of that [speaker002:] oh no I hadn't even thought about that we have investments to uh alleviate some of the cost of our old age hopefully in in terms of uh an apartment complex [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] we've been partnership with uh some other people [speaker001:] oh that's sounds that sounds good [speaker002:] but it's not going to provide a whole bunch of money I mean it it might might pay the utilities [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] you know at at that point in time uh and hopefully our investments with TI will help our retirement our retirement years [speaker001:] well the uh if you have the retirement fund at place like that they're usually fairly good [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] I know mine I'm we've gone through some mergers and my retirement has has ended uh the plan has ended three different times this year [speaker002:] is that right [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] that's not very encouraging is it [speaker001:] uh no because uh of the changes that came about in the government requirements and then in uh in merger requirements [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but um my husband was looking into the nursing home insurance is it's it's really is an investment you hope you never have you use but uh you have to be so careful of what it will pay and what it won't pay [speaker002:] when you buy something like that in advance how can you be sure that well I guess you don't really buy into the nursing home do you [speaker001:] oh no no it's an insurance policy [speaker002:] you buy it's a policy that will pay for your nursing home should you need it [speaker001:] um-hum it pays a set amount [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] and uh and you talk to your insurance agent about there's special companies now that are doing it [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and they set them up I know ours is a set amount each year and it has a maximum amount over a thirty month period and uh it you know it has you need to read the policy and look into what it covers [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] I guess I'm conscious of that because my mother's in a nursing home and uh I think we we learn from our experiences [speaker002:] oh I think that's very true and that brings it more to home when it happens close to home [speaker001:] yeah it does [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but uh I think one of the main things that we in the past always talked about was not having any major expenses to budget for when we do retire [speaker002:] um-hum and if you got that covered I want to travel personally and I want to be able to get around [speaker001:] oh yes oh yes [speaker002:] don't we all right [speaker001:] at least two three trips including a cruise every year [speaker002:] at least [speaker001:] at least [speaker002:] at least [speaker001:] you know [speaker002:] well it sounds like we have some good plans anyway [speaker001:] it would sounds like we do [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and uh you're you're leaning more towards investments and things like that to do yours then [speaker002:] right I don't know how sound that is perhaps your way is is a is a more sound proposition you know [speaker001:] well we do that too you know you can't then the insurance policies are just things to kind of buffer in case of unexpected things [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum and that will always happen [speaker001:] oh yes but uh the investments are something that you have to plan for and get your there was some new things
[speaker002:] well I am new to Texas so I don't even know what the law is in the state do you [speaker001:] um-hum well yes of course we do have capital punishment and we've you know done away with our quote fair share number [speaker002:] oh that's right I think now that I recall reading about it in the paper [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] um you know different things is it restricted to certain crimes or just [speaker001:] yes it's certain crimes uh capital crimes murder of course uh rape this sort of thing [speaker002:] um-hum hum well [speaker001:] and it seems to be a disproportionate number of blacks you know that get into the system [speaker002:] yes I know the one thing that I think is really sad about it as I recall from the articles that I've read is that if if people who have been there are going to be killed um there's people that come to the prisons and and they're very violent and they want I mean they're anxious for someone to be killed I just I can't see that [speaker001:] um-hum yes that that happens on occasion it sure does maybe it just depends on you know how closely the crime you know has affected you personally you know I don't know or a person personally [speaker002:] uh-huh no [speaker001:] I think I would be you know I guess really if I had to say yes or no I guess I would say you know that I am in certain cases in favor of the death penalty I don't know that it's a big deterrent really I don't know that it is I don't know how we'd ever find out you know really whether it is or not [speaker002:] well there is so many chances for appeal that it keep [speaker001:] oh yeah oh absolutely yeah it goes on for years and years and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars taxpayer money [speaker002:] yeah it's really sad I don't know I just think um [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] somehow I hoped that as a people we could be better than than um expecting [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] the feeling that it right with someone is calling for someone else to be killed you know [speaker001:] yes um-hum [speaker002:] is really kind of bad and [speaker001:] yeah it is it's it's a tough tough question it really is [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] I suspect I would be uh you know a lot more favor of it if you know one of my children were you know brutally killed or something like that like I say I think it depends on how personally affected you know you might be by it [speaker002:] that's true and there really are criminals that are hard-core and repeat and never never have any chance for [speaker001:] oh absolutely that's that's right [speaker002:] oh I don't know is it do you feel at all like it's a religious issue [speaker001:] not with me personally it is with a lot of other people [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] it's not not to me personally no [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] no [speaker002:] I don't know sometimes I feel I mean I do go to church and things I don't know how I would feel about it but like you say if it hit you personally closer at home you would feel feel differently [speaker001:] um-hum yes that's a it's a tough tough question it really is [speaker002:] do you think most states have that or [speaker001:] yes I think most states do have capital punishment yes [speaker002:] um-hum hum [speaker001:] but I think the US is one of the few countries that still do [speaker002:] that still does it that's right [speaker001:] yes they're only I was reading something about it the other day I think there was only like six or eight countries in the world that have capital punishment still [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] a lot of them had to have elected elected not to do so now I don't know what they do in place of it you know maybe it's life imprisonment or you know something I don't I don't know how they handle it but I was surprised to learn that so few countries have capital punishment [speaker002:] have that well and it doesn't seem like very many people uh are really I mean there's a lot of people that are on death row but there's not very many people that actually um do get killed [speaker001:] oh yeah yes a lot of them do get their sentences commuted to something else [speaker002:] um-hum so it seems like a of people live there and through appeals because I know they do frequently I mean they cover cover it pretty heavily on television and the newspaper [speaker001:] yes uh-huh yes [speaker002:] if it finally gets to that point [speaker001:] right the first appeal is automatic so that delays it for a few years just right off the bat [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] there's there's a lot of you know last minute uh things that happen cause a person not to have to go through the whole thing [speaker002:] um-hum so is it uh are we doing lethal injection now [speaker001:] yes uh-huh that's that's fairly recent I don't know how recent but fairly recent in the state of Texas before that it was uh death by electrocution [speaker002:] um-hum which which seems so awful [speaker001:] yes it certainly does [speaker002:] so it's a little bit more humane I guess it is [speaker001:] yes it would almost have to be I suppose if you if you had to chose I guess I would I am sure I would take the lethal injection [speaker002:] yes the other one just seems so terrible [speaker001:] yes absolutely [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] it's a it's a tough question it really is I guess if I had to say you know yes or no I would say you know yes I I would have to lean toward capital punishment you know for certain crimes [speaker002:] well do you think that we do it because we want it to deter crime or it's not because we don't want to pay for inmates to stay in prison [speaker001:] no I don't think it's a monetary thing I think we hope that it will be you know [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] some sort of determent deterrent or you know an eye for an eye type thing or something like that [speaker002:] hum [speaker001:] some of the crimes are just so brutal and so you know useless this may seem to be the best way out I don't know [speaker002:] yes [speaker001:] easiest way out maybe no I don't think it's a monetary thing [speaker002:] hum well um and I notice that the crime rate was up in the Dallas area it's [speaker001:] yes especially the murder rate its just gone crazy [speaker002:] and it's kind of been scary to think about it and [speaker001:] yes absolutely [speaker002:] and you're hoping there is something that will cut down on that [speaker001:] yes I wish I had the answer for that everybody does [speaker002:] you hate to have the dubious honor of being you know so high in the [speaker001:] yes it's nothing to be proud of certainly not [speaker002:] in statistics but I you know we have been really fortunate our family hasn't had [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] any crime [speaker001:] so have we been very very fortunate [speaker002:] and so we don't it's harder to think about the poor people that have suffered that way [speaker001:] that's right absolutely [speaker002:] and how they would expect how they would [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] hope I mean you you hear of people who have um committed crimes and then they get out of jail and they go and they do the same thing again and you wonder why they can't just stop it [speaker001:] absolutely uh-huh that's right [speaker002:] so maybe you would [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] but still I would hate to be on the jury that sentenced someone [speaker001:] so would I I fortunately I have never been in that circumstance I hope I never am like like everybody else [speaker002:] no I know when um we just we moved here um I from the I got a summons jury summons just [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] like constantly it seemed like but fortunately I had small children and I didn't have to go and it's not that I mean I think everyone should have to serve on the jury it's just that [speaker001:] uh-huh right uh-huh [speaker002:] I didn't I hate having to be in charge of someone else's life [speaker001:] sure it's it's a big responsibility it really is [speaker002:] and I would hate to have to hear any kind of case involving a violent crime or anything [speaker001:] yes so would I [speaker002:] that would be really awful [speaker001:] yes absolutely [speaker002:] well anyway I sure have enjoyed uh talking to you about this although it has been difficult but uh [speaker001:] it is it's a tough subject it really is [speaker002:] I'd hate to decide it but I guess um guess it's important that we decide as a people what what we're going to do [speaker001:] right that's right [speaker002:] anyway well you have a good day [speaker001:] well thank you it's nice talking to you uh-huh bye bye [speaker002:] thank you bye-bye
[speaker001:] well what do you think about it [speaker002:] well um most of the stuff up until now in the recent months I I I don't have any problem with [speaker001:] no I don't either [speaker002:] uh I mean it's you know it [speaker001:] I don't think it's going to change very much but [speaker002:] no I agree with that as as far as the as far as the mess that's developing as a result um you know uh as a country the United States uh I think our hands are tied as far as as as any further involvement until the UN sanctions it in fact it really was to begin with [speaker001:] um-hum yeah yeah [speaker002:] and uh I just I heard a comment on the radio this morning that uh you know it it gets to a point where uh if enough people are are going to be slaughtered over there over the the the internal problems um somebody may step in again but uh I really think it's it's a UN issue [speaker001:] um-hum yeah [speaker002:] at that point because it is internal [speaker001:] well you know the funny thing I find about American opinion is that when we have gone in to destabilize a government before the American public goes crazy [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and now the fact that we're not interfering with the internal rebellion in in Iraq they're going crazy you know I mean you can't please them one way or the other [speaker002:] that's right that's right that's absolutely right [speaker001:] you know and I and I think that I I agree with you this is exactly the right course I mean that's an internal problem to Iraq it has nothing to do with us [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and until he starts doing something so inhumane that the UN gets involved then it's nobody's business [speaker002:] that's right [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] I mean these these types of internal things go on all over the world all the time some of them have been going on for for tens of years if if I understand it right in places like the Sudan and [speaker001:] all the time I mean yeah I mean yeah yeah and it's certainly and it's certainly been going on over there for hundreds of years and it's going to continue as long as you have so many diverse groups that are that are vying for power it's going to happen all the time [speaker002:] yeah that's right yeah that's absolutely right [speaker001:] I mean the Kurds have tried it before they've gotten their butts kicked and this is just another time that it's happening [speaker002:] yeah that's that's absolutely right [speaker001:] you know and they'll regroup out in the mountains and they'll try it again in a couple of years [speaker002:] yeah it was just you know it was it's a very opportune moment for them to try you know you [speaker001:] sure and and and I don't have any doubt that through some back channels that we encouraged it [speaker002:] oh yeah yeah [speaker001:] you know but I I'm not real sure that we promised them anything [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] I that would have been stupid and I don't and I don't think we did it everything else we handled in this seemed to be perfectly right I don't think they would have done that [speaker002:] yeah I agree [speaker001:] but it just it it really doesn't make any difference this is just a chapter a another chapter in Middle Eastern history [speaker002:] yeah and you know and it there are many of them there's no doubt about it [speaker001:] oh sure I mean the the British occupied the place the French occupied it we've done it ah it it's happened so many times this is this is really nothing special uh [speaker002:] um-hum well and and and so many of the so many of the conflicts um really don't have a basis in in uh politics or or human rights or anything like that it [speaker001:] that's right it's all it's mostly religious anyway [speaker002:] it's it's religious based and uh you know by by self-proclamation this is a holy war and it is right and then uh we we go on from there [speaker001:] yeah yeah exactly [speaker002:] yeah it it's it's a mess it it's there's no doubt about it and uh [speaker001:] well I I I think one of the big problems I mean looking at it from the American the American public's standpoints they don't understand the Middle Easterners [speaker002:] that's right [speaker001:] they don't understand what I mean their politics really isn't politics it's religion couched as politics [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum [speaker001:] and there's a big difference [speaker002:] absolutely [speaker001:] you know uh we sit there and and we think that they think the way we think [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and that's a big mistake because they don't [speaker002:] you bet you bet well yeah because there's no uh you know there there's there's a complete different set of values um there's there's different value placed on human life and uh right down the list you know possessions and and everything else and uh [speaker001:] um-hum yeah yeah [speaker002:] what's right is wrong and what's wrong is right in some cases and it's [speaker001:] that's that's that's it a lot of the time I I was stationed in in Turkey for for a year and a half [speaker002:] okay [speaker001:] and it it was tough understanding understanding those folks [speaker002:] yeah yeah [speaker001:] you know uh they uh they're uh they're so completely different culturally and socially and [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and religiously it's just it was very strange it was very interesting [speaker002:] I believe it yeah yeah I can I can I can believe that yeah I I don't claim to have an in-depth understanding by any means but uh [speaker001:] now I shoot I I think some of these people that they claim as Middle Eastern experts don't don't have a clue sometimes [speaker002:] that's probably true [speaker001:] you know they they sit there and and read their books and then proclaim themselves an expert well I'm not real sure that's that's appropriate [speaker002:] uh-huh no no that's that's uh a a little bit of background study has never made an expert in any field [speaker001:] no [speaker002:] but uh [speaker001:] well I sort that sort of goes to my pet peeve about the education system in this country too [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and we make experts by reading books you know [speaker002:] that's right [speaker001:] and the Japanese and the Germans and everybody else make experts by doing [speaker002:] uh-huh absolutely [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] absolutely [speaker001:] yeah I uh I I guess you work for TI yeah [speaker002:] that's right yes [speaker001:] so you guys are well aware of the problems with the Japanese markets and everything else [speaker002:] right right that's an everyday occurrence [speaker001:] yeah it's it's like our car industry the only reason our car industry hasn't gone down the tubes is because the Japanese you know came into it and helped us out [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum I agree yeah it's it's uh there there is there is it's an overall problem in in in this country understanding uh foreign cultures or even accepting them [speaker001:] um um-hum [speaker002:] and uh it it it bites us over and over again the the [speaker001:] yeah and until we until we start changing our educational system I mean we're we're going to be we're we've already been overtaken but it's going to get even worse later I mean looks who's looks who's getting the engineering degrees and the the math and the science and everything it's not us [speaker002:] um-hum that's right that's right [speaker001:] you know we we've got folks running around here who get who get degrees in basket weaving and [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] you know underwater psychology or some some ridiculous stuff like that [speaker002:] absolutely [speaker001:] and and where are the engineers coming from [speaker002:] uh well they're they're coming from various places and a lot of them are going back there [speaker001:] yeah exactly [speaker002:] that's [speaker001:] my uh my roommate is a uh he's getting his doctorate in industrial well it's not industrial engineering it's human factors his degree was in uh you know industrial engineering [speaker002:] okay I see [speaker001:] um and he's from the Philippines [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and the only reason he came here was because the education is much so much better for those who will go after it [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] he has no intention of going back to the Philippines because there's no jobs [speaker002:] sure okay [speaker001:] you know uh but I I see it all too often I mean we've got loads of foreign students [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and they're coming here going after the hard degrees and then they're going back to Korea and Japan and Hong Kong and everywhere else and they're applying it there [speaker002:] absolutely that's right [speaker001:] and I don't know it's to me it's amazing I don't know what we're going to do as a country we're we're going to become dependent on these other folks sooner or later [speaker002:] yeah because you know every every the the country's got a problem with uh with quarterly reports and annual statements and things like that and the long long range views are are just kind of become a thing of the past [speaker001:] um-hum yeah you [speaker002:] and uh [speaker001:] I don't I don't think there can be anymore long range planning I think it it's it's sticking your finger in the holes and the dike [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] you know uh oh here's a crisis well let's plug it up [speaker002:] yeah yeah [speaker001:] I don't know I don't know what the answer is it's far beyond me [speaker002:] yeah that's for sure that's that's the way things have gotten [speaker001:] yeah all we can do is keep plugging [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] you know I I wonder I I read in the paper just last week IBM's unveiling their new laptop computer [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] well at a price tag of six thousand bucks I don't know if they're going to have a whole lot of takers [speaker002:] no absolutely [speaker001:] because uh now I have the I I have the IBM PS two [speaker002:] okay [speaker001:] but I'm sorry I got it [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] it's slow it's uh there are many better machines on the market right now for [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] a the only reason I got it is because I got it through an educational purchase plan through the school and I saved forty eight percent so I said yeah if I can have an IBM for forty eight percent discount I'll take it [speaker002:] okay okay um-hum absolutely [speaker001:] but up to that point I had never I had always said I would never have one because I wouldn't pay that kind of money for their name [speaker002:] that's right [speaker001:] but [speaker002:] that's absolutely right yeah [speaker001:] now you watch just sure as anything the Japanese are going to come out with a laptop at half the price with more stuff on it [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh yeah the the unfortunately the way the the way the high tech market goes by the time you can get get something in your hands um it it's it's obsolete and uh [speaker001:] um-hum it's already outdated yeah [speaker002:] we're we we fight that that battle every day here at work uh [speaker001:] yeah yeah I I can imagine I uh years ago I remember when I had a TI ninety nine [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] put all the money into the expansion box and all this that and the other and uh things just kept changing so much and I kept getting rid of them and I finally said well you can't do this you've got to buy something and stick with it so I [speaker002:] that's right that's right [speaker001:] so I just at an opportune time I got one that that suited my needs and I've just stuck with it the only thing I've done to it is just add a uh add a mouse and a hard drive [speaker002:] okay yeah [speaker001:] and that's all I plan to do of course I'm limited on memory now because I've got the low line I got the model twenty five [speaker002:] oh okay [speaker001:] so I'm stuck with six forty but I'm not a power user so it doesn't matter [speaker002:] yeah well that that's that's the key you know whatever whatever works for you and uh [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] if it does the job then that's that's what you need [speaker001:] yeah now my roomie on the other hand he is a power user he's he's looking now to get rid of his he's got a three eighty six and wants to get a four eighty six you know this kind of stuff [speaker002:] uh-huh
[speaker001:] well do you have any good ideas about this problem [speaker002:] well I I I live in Fort Lauderdale now which is of course very close to Miami [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] in fact my fiance works in Miami uh downtown quite a bit so crime's a definite concern also before this I was in Boston where the crime rate's also fairly high [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh so it it's definitely a concern something that needs to be worked on I know that it affects my everyday life in that uh you know my fiance is very paranoid about making sure everything's locked [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] uh you know it it also concerns me because I have a convertible and uh you know there's certain areas around here where I'd be afraid to drive with my top down [speaker001:] yeah well I have the same thing and I understand because I live very close to Dallas so we have quite a crime rate too but I'm not real sure what to do recently it's been kind of a topic at work and um I just kind of feel that there's a lot of people in jail for crimes that are not really against a person and I think maybe we need to find another way to punish those people and put the real criminals in jail where they really can't do any harm and not let them out on parole in six months or three years or whatever and put them to work doing something useful where they don't just eat up our tax dollars [speaker002:] sure [speaker001:] and that's kind of what we've come up with but I don't know what are your feelings about that [speaker002:] well I mean yeah except the the problem with that of course is defining what what's a real crime then you know what what's a crime that counts [speaker001:] right well a dangerous thing you know where you will get hurt if they're out on the streets I mean it I think this deal of Leona Helmsley has just kind of brought this all home and that's what kind of sparked the discussion was that this is a seventy seventy two year old lady gonna go use up tax dollars in jail and I just I just have a real problem with that I think there's another way to deal with that other than put this lady in jail to set an example [speaker002:] but putting it that way that is kind of ironic that she'd be using up tax dollars but [speaker001:] that's right [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] you know that really is true [speaker002:] sure uh however you know some of the crimes that people ought to be locked up for are uh are uh you know not even things that would be major crimes but they'd still be dangerous for example uh drunken driving [speaker001:] well that's true well that is a potential danger though you're right about that but [speaker002:] you know but [speaker001:] um traffic tickets things like that I mean I've known of people just to be picked up because they didn't pay their traffic tickets and [speaker002:] you know but [speaker001:] I I say yeah fine them extra do whatever but to go ahead and put them in jail it costs us money when they do that so I don't know I just have a problem with overcrowded jails on crimes that nobody's really gonna get hurt uh financially maybe and and things like that and yes it has to be dealt with but I'm not sure that's the way [speaker002:] well that that that is true that the uh amount of uh you know it it is true that uh you know jail as a concept at least is not working in some cases [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know uh [speaker001:] yeah and also I think that they can get off on too many technicalities I think that it turns out sometimes that the victims are the ones that have to defend themselves rather than the criminals and I think that's another thing that needs to be addressed too [speaker002:] I I think a [speaker001:] I think you have much many rights as a victim [speaker002:] sure I I I think it's very sad however uh you know I I I can see some of that in that and I still don't necessarily agree with that but I mean that the thing is that uh you know we're talking about affecting someone's you know livelihood sometimes their life even on some of the more heinous crimes [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and uh uh it's a you know you according to the system we've got they're presumed innocent or get another trial [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know so yeah they they do have to do some of that stuff although I do agree with you that it's that's another thing that's not quite right [speaker001:] yeah I think so and I don't know I I've been through a two year divorce recently and I find that the system sucks to put it bluntly and so you know I just I don't have a lot of respect anymore for what I thought you know would be fair you just figure oh well the judge will be fair well forget it you know it's not it doesn't happen they're in a hurry their docket is full they want you in they want you out [speaker002:] sure [speaker001:] and that's the way it is and so [speaker002:] my my fiance's a lawyer so I definitely understand that [speaker001:] um-hum um-hum [speaker002:] uh course in Florida the judges are elected so um not only are they not fair they try to be popular at times [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] you know which is not necessarily right [speaker001:] yeah so I don't know but I don't know how you and I can solve this that's the problem you know we all have ideas but nothing seems to change and I'm not sure how it can [speaker002:] well uh I I think you had a part of what we need to do earlier is uh
[speaker001:] okay so what are what are your views on on capital punishment [speaker002:] I have ambivalent feelings because I don't think it serves as a kind of deterrent we would like to think it is but on the other hand it is very very expensive to maintain you know Texas has one of the biggest criminal justice systems in the country [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] and it's eating us alive budget wise and um [speaker001:] so are they currently practicing capital punishment in your state [speaker002:] yes we do practice capital punishment but the nature of the uh courts and the appeals and the stays and all that means that it's a very long haul before anybody's ever executed [speaker001:] yes that's similar to Georgia [speaker002:] yeah and then I was reading in the paper just this morning it's interesting because I had forgotten I guess that I wrote this little topic down that it costs more to execute somebody than than it does to keep them [speaker001:] that's probably true considering [speaker002:] because of all the costs of the appeals and all that you know [speaker001:] yes yes um I guess in a way that it it kind of defeats the purpose of having capital punishment if [speaker002:] well I think capital punishment is supposed to be primarily a deterrent to other people [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] you know who would see it [speaker001:] right that would be the intent of it [speaker002:] yeah but I'm not sure how successful that is [speaker001:] well I think it would be more successful if it was applied in a more expedient manner if there weren't so many appeals yeah if if the person who's gonna commit the crime knew that they were gonna be punished severely possibly capital punishment [speaker002:] quicker maybe yeah um-hum what what kind of work do you do [speaker001:] uh I'm a research engineer I work uh for with Georgia Tech [speaker002:] hum well see I'm a school principal [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] elementary school [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] and in a very poor section of town with predominantly predominantly Anglo kids and I see kids already that are gonna be criminals [speaker001:] hum [speaker002:] in spite of everything we can do and see I'm afraid I think if we would take the equivalent amount of money and invest it in young people that I mean course you couldn't do that because you got to do something with the ones that are already there [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but I think if we would make a bigger investment in kids we'd have fewer decisions to make [speaker001:] um that's probably true but I guess [speaker002:] down the road you know [speaker001:] there's other factors that but pumping pumping pumping more money into the school system is a good thing but it's not gonna [speaker002:] oh yeah well I'm not talking about just in the school system [speaker001:] oh I see [speaker002:] see I'm talking about like in in uh I'm afraid I think that there are kids who just ought to be taken out of their homes and reared uh I know institutions don't work that well but it's a bad day because because I have all these kids through my office I have a school of five hundred and thirty seven kids [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] five hundred of them are good solid kids and I have the same thirty seven in my office every day [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] and a lot of their parents are totally irresponsible some of them in the penal system [speaker001:] so that's a difficult situation [speaker002:] and you know you just see those kids going down the road now not all of them will commit offenses that have to do with capital punishment but some of them have already been in youth centers [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] and that kind of thing and if we had something to do before they get to be full blown adult criminals and I'm not talking about necessarily in the school system I'm not sure that the school system should be the agent of all the social action [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] I think that's one reason we have problems in school systems uh and some of them are our problems but a lot of it's because everything society wants we're supposed to do [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but that's another subject but [speaker001:] well that's probably true what [speaker002:] anyway I dealt with two or three kids today that are gonna end up where somebody has to make a decision what to do with them [speaker001:] hum yeah I guess that's not an easy solution there's there's no easy solution for that [speaker002:] um-hum I don't I don't know that there is an easy solution but if you could find a way to prevent some of it and I'm not sure what it would be [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] it would be money better spent than do you know it costs more to keep an inmate on death row than it does to send a kid to Harvard [speaker001:] that's true I'm sure it is yeah [speaker002:] statistically that's true [speaker001:] hum yeah I don't I don't certainly capital punishment isn't gonna solve a lot of problems but [speaker002:] um-hum are you for it [speaker001:] uh [speaker002:] I'm for it in in some cases yeah [speaker001:] I guess I am for certain crimes yeah in certain crimes [speaker002:] what kind of crimes would you do use it for [speaker001:] um premeditated murder [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] crimes of that nature I think should definitely any mass murderer type individual [speaker002:] I I would consider it for sexual abuse of children on going you know not one instance but perpetual abusers of children [speaker001:] hum um-hum well you always have castration [speaker002:] well you know somebody elected that recently [speaker001:] yes I read about that [speaker002:] and all the civil rights people are up in arms about it you know [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but uh
[speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [Throat clearing] Okay, so do you do a lot of cooking in your family? [speaker001:] Um, I do some every now and then, I, I work and my wife's home during the day so she usually ends up doing most of it. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] When I was single we used to always cook, around the house. [speaker002:] Yeah, do, do you like to cook. [speaker001:] Huh, yeah, I really like it, [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] um, there's a few dishes, like, I, I grew up with the, um, you know, having Polish and Ukrainian food. [speaker002:] Oh, really. [speaker001:] And my wife, she likes Italian and stuff, [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] so we, we definitely have different tastes, so. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, but that's neat though, because you get to have different stuff [throat clearing]. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Yeah, I'm not, I'm a pretty bad cook [LAUGHTER]. I'm pretty bad. My husband is really good, he put himself through college working in restaurants. [speaker001:] Oh, wow. [speaker002:] And, uh, he's much better cook than I am, so, when I was home I still cooked a lot and I was in to a lot of vegetarian stuff. And now, I went back to work about a year and a half ago so, one of the things that he took over was the cooking and the kids are thrilled, they're really happy, that I don't cook anymore. [speaker001:] Uh, [beep] they're like, uh, preferring it now, right [baby crying]. [speaker002:] Yeah, they say oh dad, let dad cook mom, let him do it [LAUGHTER] [talking]. But, um, so, so do you all, do you have kids? You obviously have one. [speaker001:] Yeah, two, uh-huh. [speaker002:] Okay, you have two. [speaker001:] Yeah, one is, uh, nine months and the other is two and a half. [speaker002:] Two and half, oh. [speaker001:] Yeah, that's the hard part is cooking with, uh, kids around because, uh, becau-, [speaker002:] I was just going to say, [pause] makes a difference in what you eat doesn't it [child yelling]. Or are you not at that stage yet? [speaker001:] Yeah, it does [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] We try our hardest to get them to eat what we, w-, eat, you know. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] And my sister, uh, she's the master of the fast order grill, you know, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] she can make, uh, she makes six different meals, but. [speaker002:] Oh my gosh. [speaker001:] Like to have one thing, you know, one likes chicken nuggets, the other one like hot dogs, [speaker002:] Oh my gosh, I couldn't [child laughing]. [speaker001:] and then she makes noodles with, uh, with, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] s-, soy sauce or whatever, so, all things. [speaker002:] [Throat clearing] Boy, I couldn't do that, I [NOISE], [speaker001:] But, um, yeah, our favorite, let me think, I was thinking of the one recipe that, uh, that we made. I guess the thing that always turned out the best for us was something we thought looked really fancy but was real easy, and that was, um, [speaker002:] What's that. [speaker001:] uh, scallops, uh, scallop, um, [speaker002:] Oh really. [speaker001:] it has a French name, it basically means that it has a Swiss cheese, cream sauce with it and you pour it over rice, [speaker002:] Oh yeah, what's, what is that, Saint Jack or something. [speaker001:] Yeah, uh. [speaker002:] Scallops Saint something, or, yeah,. [speaker001:] Yeah, I can't even remember what the recipe's name is anymore, [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] but, uh, i-, it was basically just ground up Swiss cheese and then, uh, standard cream sauce base and then, uh [speaker002:] Really, with scallops. [speaker001:] the scallops. An, and it sounds sort of funny but it tastes really good. [speaker002:] No, no, I'm from New England, so we, we had, um, a lot of seafood before we moved down here. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And, uh, that sounds delicious to me. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] That sounds great. [speaker001:] Yeah, but, uh, [speaker002:] I think, we're just thinking of having, a, uh, dinner party. We went to this dinner party the other night that was kind of like a game, they had, uh, a murder mystery, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and you came dressed as one of the characters and you had to solve the mystery during the dinner, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and it was really fun and so we, we were thinking we wanted to do, you know, we were going to try doing it ourselves, but we're trying to decide what can we serve because at this one the hostess was pretty busy running around trying to get stuff ready for the table and that kind of interrupted the game, so, [speaker001:] Right, yeah. [speaker002:] so I was thinking there's this Beef Bourguignonne recipe that I've tried before that's pretty good and then you can make that ahead and you can just leave it in the pot on a stove until you're ready. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] So that's, uh, [speaker001:] Yeah that's another thing I have a problem with my wife, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] she, uh, she likes to, um, she doesn't like the beef dishes. She likes the chicken and fish, [speaker002:] Uh, yeah. [speaker001:] and, like I said, we always ate beef and, uh, pork, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] you know, a lot, so [music]. [speaker002:] I know, my husband did too [throat clearing]. His parents are Austrian and they, uh, always made sure they had a lot of meat at the table [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh yeah, red meat, plenty of good red meat. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] My dad could eat, a, a meal with out any vegetables at all. [speaker002:] Oh, my gosh. [speaker001:] And, uh, Susan's, you know, they had, you know meatless meals, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] My dad wouldn't know what to do. [speaker002:] Oh, gosh, so do you, [speaker001:] Course, she grew up Catholic so you know, they, [speaker002:] Oh, they did the, [speaker001:] they sort of come with the, there's a certain amount of meatless meals you have to have [TV] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] That you do, right, right, that's just part of it. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Yeah, we didn't, my family didn't, but when I got into the vegetarian cooking we got kind of used to that, but my husband always did it kind of grudgingly, he never, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] There was dishes that he really enjoyed, eating. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Ther-, there were several things that he liked but it never was really, something that he would have chosen. It's just that I cooked so he had to put up with it [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] So, but there was one thing that he couldn't stand and that was soybeans. I tried it like once or twice and he just could not eat it, so I never, I had, I was limited. I had to make vegetarian meals without using soy beans, but. [speaker001:] Yeah, it's hard to get a protein content up then [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. That's true [throat clearing] [children]. [speaker001:] Yeah, I like, I like them every now and then for a change, ye-, it's nice. [speaker002:] Yeah, some of the stuff is good, but it just, it was a tremendous amount of cooking [throat clearing]. Because you do have to make sure you have the right combinations of different proteins to make sure they're complete, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and we had little kids at the time, you know, when I was home with them, and it, it was just so much cooking, I couldn't, I don't like to cook. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And I'm not really that great at it so it just turned out to be too much of a, too much, [throat clearing] too much cooking. So, [pause] well, I guess I'll let you get back to feeding your little one there. [speaker001:] No, uh, he's all done. [speaker002:] He's set, oh okay. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah, I set him down. [speaker002:] Okay. Do you like to bake at all, or do you, do you get into that's, that, [speaker001:] Yeah, we used to do that, um, my mom, used to go crazy, every Sunday, until my dad like blew up, you know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Af-, after he gained about eighty pounds after coming back from the Navy, she stopped doing it. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] But, um, she used to have, you know, two dozen sticky buns, three bread rolls, you know, every week. [speaker002:] Really, no kidding. [speaker001:] And, um, the sticky buns, of course, would last, you know three or four days and that would be it. [speaker002:] Yeah, then be gone. I know, that's the thing about baking. I used to, I, I don't mind baking at all and I, I can do a pretty good pie, we have this pie crust recipe in our family [children] that my grandmother gave my mother and my mother taught me how to make it. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, um, so I can make a pretty mean pie, but, um, I don't do it anymore because it's just too fattening. We had the same kind of problem. If you make homemade bread, [speaker001:] Uh-huh [baby crying]. [speaker002:] I mean, forge-, it's supposed to save you money but you eat like three times the amount of bread that you usually eat [LAUGHTER]. It tastes so good. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, we always, we had that bread that was, uh, um, you ever seen the, the starter bread, I can't remember what it's called, they call it the, um, Amish bread here but, [speaker002:] Oh, uh, yeah. [speaker001:] uh, it's made with, you just le-, leave it out, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] you know, and you let it spoil sort of. [speaker002:] Yeah, uh-huh, I've heard of that, I've heard of it, but I've never done it. [speaker001:] You know, yeah. [speaker002:] That sounds pretty good. [speaker001:] Yeah, it tasted pretty good, really. [speaker002:] Yeah, oh yeah. [speaker001:] But, uh, it's the sort of thing where you let a portion of it go bad and then you add all these other ingredients to it, but. [speaker002:] Yeah, and then you sa-, you make the bread but you pinch off a portion, or save a portion of it for the next time, or something. [speaker001:] Yeah right, ye-, you take some of the batter out and give it to someone else and that's how they continue the thing. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, it sounds, it always sounded, I don't know how safe that was [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, I know it sounded strange to me too, I figure, well you're baking it so, you know, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah that's true, that's, that's got to kill anything I guess, but. [speaker001:] Okay, well, I'll talk to you later. [speaker002:] All right, well, yeah thanks. [speaker001:] Where are you calling from by the way, Texas. [speaker002:] Plano. [speaker001:] Where? [speaker002:] Yeah, Plano, in Texas. [speaker001:] Plano, okay. [speaker002:] Are you in Texas? [speaker001:] No, Falls Church, Virginia. [speaker002:] No kidding, gosh it sounds so close. [speaker001:] Yeah, I know we've got a good connection, must be a, uh, T I connection, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah, I thought for sure, I thought for sure you were in Dallas or something. [speaker001:] Yeah, I, I talked to so many people from Texas that's where practically everybody I talked to is from. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] I think that's why they call me because they want to get people outside the state, you know. [speaker002:] Yes they're doi-, they're trying to get all different amount of people. Well gee, my husband is from Richmond and I went to U V A, that's where we went. [speaker001:] Oh, oh really. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] Yeah I went to school at, uh, well I went to school at West Virginia University, [speaker002:] Oh you did, yeah. [speaker001:] but I grew up right here in Falls Church, right outside D C. [speaker002:] Yeah, boy we'd like to get back over to the East Coast, I'll tell you. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] It's nice over there. [speaker001:] Yeah, it's sort of funny, I have people that want to go to Dallas. [speaker002:] Oh, really. [speaker001:] Yeah, one of my, one of my friends here, he was just talking how he's thinking of leaving the company and going to Dallas, saying how, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, no kidding. Well, things are doing pretty good down here, we, we were, we tried to move over to Raleigh last year and there just was, there was so little, such little going on in Raleigh, you know, you couldn't get a job to save yourself over there so we decided we'll try in a couple of years, but, but business is, [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. We were saying we could sell our house here and buy one down there cash, you know. [speaker002:] Yeah, you probably could, you probably could, [speaker001:] Well Northern Virginia. Okay. [speaker002:] Okay, well it's good talking to you. [speaker001:] Nice talking to you too. [speaker002:] Take care. [speaker001:] Bye, bye, [speaker002:] Bye.
[speaker001:] [Noise] Actually, I've been involved in electronics a long time. Uh, in computers and I have really resisted the impulse to [swallowing] get one for the home. [speaker002:] [Tone] [static] Oh yeah. [speaker001:] Uh, up until, I guess, maybe about a year and a half ago, I got one for my son. A, a Macintosh [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] uh, L C. It's a real easy to use color, uh, computer and I got a very nice printer that goes along with it and he uses it for his school work. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Well, I've, I'm currently in school so I, I've had an I B M clone, I guess, for a couple of years now, which I've been trying, continually upgrading I guess. And, uh, I've found, I've found that I pretty much become addicted to it and I can't really, I've found that most of homework assignments really require some sort of computer, uh, simulation or analysis, so [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] it, it's pr-, very essential for me. Schools have them, uh, but lot of times so difficult to get on them at school. It's very easy, it's much more convenient to have one at home. [speaker001:] [Lipsmack] Where you going to school? [speaker002:] At Georgia Tech. [speaker001:] I see. [speaker002:] Yeah, so. [speaker001:] In engineering? [speaker002:] Yes, actually. [speaker001:] So that explains wha-, all the, uh, computer assignments. [speaker002:] Yeah, it, uh, [speaker001:] Well, do you use your P C for things other than explicit computer work? [speaker002:] Um, sure. I have some games, [NOISE] of course, which I play on there and, uh, uh, [NOISE] I have a program which allows me to access a, uh, weather data bank so I can, like, check up on the weather around the country or whatever which is a hobby. So, it provides other means other than just strict, uh, you know, computations and so on, so. Have you, do you have a computer for yourself at home? [speaker001:] [Lipsmack] No. No, I just have one for my son and I really sort of have the feeling that word processing is a big market for [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] home computing. [speaker002:] Yeah. Tha-, [speaker001:] At wo-, at work, uh, [LAUGHTER] I'm a technologist, uh, and I, in the past, have done a great deal of, of, uh, system development just through, uh, software development programming. Uh, but now I find myself using the computer, even the computer at work is primarily a, uh, word processing system [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and a communication system. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. Do you use Email and like that? [speaker001:] Yes. Emil is, probably pulls down a third a-, of all my time. [speaker002:] Yeah. It's, I, I, uh, I have modem night computer so I can log into the sys-, the, uh, network at Georgia Tech and access my account through there, which is, which can be useful. But, uh, yeah that's, that and word processing is while I tend to, I mean, obviously, I do most of my, almost all of my report [NOISE] writing on, on my computer, uh, whether it's term papers or even some smaller homework assignments. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] So it's, it's really become, I don't know, really become my mainstay I guess. I can't even remember, actually I don't think I've ever used a typewriter in, in my life to do a, a to do a report. Because my family, when I was growing up, we got a basic computer. T R S Eighty when they first came out. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And I even used that to do my first reports when I was in junior high, so [NOISE]. [speaker001:] Huh. Well I'm a old-timer. I did my Master's thesis on, uh, a typewriter. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] Uh, I rented an I B M Selectric. [speaker002:] Oh. [speaker001:] And it was a pretty big deal. [speaker002:] Yeah. It must have been tough. It's a little bit strange for me. I, I did my Master's thesis, uh, last year and I did that on a computer and it seems like, I just can't imagine how people did it before. It must have been just so much, so much work [NOISE]. [speaker001:] Yeah. It, uh, well, you know, it's just, it was just a completely different world then. [speaker002:] Yeah. So, uh, so yo-, you used your son's Macintosh then? Do you, do you find it, do you like that kind of computer? [speaker001:] I like it, yeah. I like it from a distance really. I, I see the packages on it, uh, that are available and it's nice. I really don't use it myself. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, I, when I come home from work, I, I like to stay far away from [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] computers and electronic things [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Huh. [speaker001:] Uh, so I let my son do it and, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Uh, of course, you know, there's, uh, there's an intellectual evolution taking place where, it's sort of a joke but it's really true, the old-timers, even the people who are technologists don't know how to operate these electronic things like V C R -s and whatnot and the kids, they just take to it like candy. [speaker002:] Yeah. Well, i-, if, if, if the interface is there so that it's like fun to use and the challenge [tone] [static],
[speaker001:] Okay. You probably, uh, more up on this subject than I am, but, the roles that [speaker002:] That, [speaker001:] women have played in the last pup-, couple of year in our, or couple of generations. [speaker002:] Right. Well, they've entered the work force more, uh, you know, since World War Two is when they started. [speaker001:] You bet. [speaker002:] And, uh, I think that that is, you know, very significant that the percentage of the work force today consists of such a high percent of women. [speaker001:] You bet. You know, where I've noticed it more, I think, is, I'm a traveling salesperson and I have traveled most of my life and I know just especially in the last, oh, ten years and really since, in the last half of dozen years I see more and more women traveling. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] You know, as far as boarding planes and driving cars and calling on customers. I sell sporting goods and even in our industry, uh, there was virtually, really and truly no women as far as selling the type of things I sell and even in the last five or six years, boy we see more and more women being involved and, you know, it's a, it's a credit to them as far as how they're doing [LAUGHTER] things. [speaker002:] Yeah, the, you see more of that, you see more of them, uh, leaving their children in the care of their husbands while they do travel, too. [speaker001:] You bet. [speaker002:] You know, I, I go to a, I have a club that I belong to on Tuesday that, you know, one of the girls travels quite extensively and she says, well, my children have two parents. You know, why not [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] You bet. That's sort of neat. [speaker002:] So that, that's a, I think that's a change and I think that's a change you're going to be seeing more of in the, in the future, people having that kind of attitude that the father's going to take more active role in child rearing. [speaker001:] Sure. I think, uh, it's the age old thing, every once in a while you read in the newspaper or you'll see it on T V or something where the discussion comes out that, you know, women are paid less than men and they're, and they're doing the same, uh, or carrying the same job responsibility [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] and, you know, I, that's a very true statement and it shouldn't, uh, it shouldn't be that way. [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] You know. [speaker002:] That, that I think should change, will change in the near future also. [speaker001:] I think so, hope so, a-, [speaker002:] It's been changing, it's been evolving, but there's still a, an, an inequality in the [speaker001:] Absolutely. [speaker002:] work forces or jobs. It's, you know, [speaker001:] You know, I've, [speaker002:] And you hear some people say, you know, well, he's a man, he, he, he needs that salary. [speaker001:] Right [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, they forget. Also, I think, uh, a good argument for that is in the area of politics, you know, if a, a woman Congressman I'm sure makes as much as a man Congressman as, and the same as a senator or whatever. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] So, they certainly, uh, they certainly deserve it all the way. But, I guess just the most significant thing changed for me, again, as I mentioned, was just in traveling, you see, uh, more and more ladies of all ages with briefcases and, uh, and in their business suits and [speaker002:] And going, yeah. [speaker001:] and going. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And I expect you're right in regards to having two parents now. That's a good, a good statement. And I think if, in the future it's even going to be, uh, more noticeable and more significant. [speaker002:] Right. Yeah, I, I think it will be. I think, I, well, an-, another thing I read, too, the other day, this is not just for working women but how much they're out there, I guess is the car designers, uh, are starting to design cars with women in mind. Uh, because in the past the male bought the cars, but now they're showing that fifty-five percent of women are actually making the new car purchases. [speaker001:] Wow. [speaker002:] And that they are looking for, uh, different things in the car. The man is looking for the e-, in the engine and the woman is looking to how easy can she slide in under the steering wheel. [speaker001:] You bet. [speaker002:] Uh, can her makeup come off the upholstery [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Good point. [speaker002:] And if they're out there buying that many cars, then there's that many out that are self sufficient and, you know, mobile and working. [speaker001:] Right now I'm self employed and, and my wife's always worked. She's a schoolteacher, but for, she started working and then when I first started my business, uh, she was selling real estate at the time and hers was the only income we had for three or four months so, [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] You know, she certainly did her part in help getting me establishing in my business and she still works everyday so, [speaker002:] Yeah, we all do. [speaker001:] You bet. [speaker002:] I just happen to be off today. [speaker001:] Uh-oh. [speaker002:] I work, too. [speaker001:] Enj-, enjoying it [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] What kind of work do you do? [speaker002:] I'm a nurse. [speaker001:] Well, good. [speaker002:] And I work at Medical Treatment Center, uh, which is at Garl-, uh, Jupiter and Arapaho. [speaker001:] Right [sniffing]. Married? [speaker002:] No. [speaker001:] Yeah. Well, trying to think what else I can say in [LAUGHTER] regards to this subject. [speaker002:] I don't know, I'm kind of out of, out of things. [speaker001:] You see the old, uh, cigarette ads, you know, about you've come a long way. [speaker002:] You've come a long way baby? [speaker001:] Baby, right, and, uh, [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] You think about this when you come to, when it comes to a subject like that and it's really true. Women have come a long way and, you know,
[speaker001:] Think about, uh, taxes. [speaker002:] Well, I think they're a necessary evil. Uh, I wish the government would operate on the same premise that, uh, businesses operate on and that is, uh [speaker001:] You spend what you have and, [speaker002:] you, you don't spend more than you, than you bring in. [speaker001:] Yeah, I think that, the general idea is to s-, you know, spend, uh, during a time of recession that, you know, for the deficit spending to help pick up the economy, but they're running under the assump-, you know, the way they're running it now, they're h-, you know, running it under a deficit spending, you know, while we're not under a recession, so there's never any surplus coming in to counter the deficit that we're running, so that's kind of a basic thing of economics, I guess, [breathing] keep spending, keep going into debt, you're not going to payoff what you owe, but, [sniffing] so, I guess the, the question was more like, uh, do you get what you pay f-, you know, get what you pay for. [speaker002:] Well, I, [breathing] it just depends. Uh, uh, roads are very expensive, uh, commodity and so is, uh, utilities they supply and police and fire department, uh, you know, they need to make a living. [speaker001:] Yeah. [LAUGHTER] There's, [speaker002:] So [LAUGHTER], I think for, for, for many years, uh, we've paid teachers and police officers and firemen who are, uh, to a great extent, public servants [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] uh, we have not paid them really what they're worth in what they contribute to society. [speaker001:] I agree with that. [speaker002:] But, uh, then again, uh, it's the, hard to justify with all the wastefulness of money that the government spends on all levels of, of, uh, government, including municipalities as well as state and federal governments. [speaker001:] I guess, I'm, I'm a student right now and I don't make a whole lot of money and, so, I, I kind of don't pay a proportionate amount of taxes to, I guess, uh, compared to what I get, because I, you know, all my, my education is state sponsored. I go to a state sponsored school and, uh, my education all up through high school and stuff, so I guess I'm kind of in debt, I, I suppose, because I don't, you know, been paying taxes all that, all that long. My parents, I guess, h-, h-, however, have contributed to that, you know, for the education side of it and everything, but, uh, I usually end up getting money back. I will this year anyway from a, [speaker002:] Uh, you're very fortunate. [speaker001:] Yeah, I am [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I need it, too, otherwise, [speaker002:] We just try not to pay any more in than we have to, uh, we pay in a substantial amount. Uh, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] We don't regret paying taxes. We do think that, uh, sometimes, uh, we have a reverse of a regressive tax, a progressive tax. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And progressive tax, I think, uh, does not give people incentive to make more money, and what I mean by that, the more income you make, the more tax you pay. [speaker001:] More taxes you pay. [speaker002:] It should be, I think, a flat percentage and, uh, that percentage ought to be an equitable amount. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. Isn't, [speaker002:] Uh, last year when they passed the tax laws for the, uh, nineteen ninety, ninety-one, whatever, nineteen ninety-one [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] uh, I added up all the taxes that we were going to pay on all these different specific luxury items and travel expenses and [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] everything else, and I totaled them all up and basically, uh, we were going to be paying seventy or eighty percent tax. [speaker001:] Wow. [speaker002:] Now, that was the assumption that you spent that same dollar for every, for every item on there [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] even though there's, uh, taxes on different things. [speaker001:] Well isn't, [speaker002:] But, you know, there's f-, there's a lot of taxes you pay that you're not even aware of that you're paying, uh, like when you buy a tire, you pay a federal excise tax. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, there's a lot, yeah, lot of hidden taxes. [speaker002:] You pay gasoline taxes every time you pump something into your, your [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] tank. [speaker001:] The taxes that people don't think about that, yeah, the, the, the income tax is a lot more visible portion of the taxes you pay, I guess. [speaker002:] But you probably pay more percentage wise in other taxes. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. There was that, [speaker002:] [Sniffing]. [speaker001:] which can-, was it Jerry Brown, one of the democratic candidates had a proposal for doing away with all the, the tax codes they have now and implementing a f-, I think a flat percentage, something like that. [speaker002:] Yeah [faint], if you impl-, implemented a flat percentage, it would encourage people, uh, to make more money and the, what people need to understand in my opinion, now this is just my opinion, okay, uh, is that businesses create jobs and jobs create income and income pays taxes. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And, so, if they penalize businesses, business people are smart enough to say, here's my break point, I'm not going to work any harder [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] and make any more or create any more jobs. [speaker001:] Exactly. That's, because [speaker002:] And so, [speaker001:] until, like eight, [speaker002:] Based on that, who do you think you're talking to, you're talking to an employer. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Up until, like, eighty-five or something was the,
[speaker001:] [Breathing] I guess I don-, don't really have a problem with capital punishment. I'm not really sure what [breathing] the exact, uh, specifications are for Texas. I know that they, uh, have capital punishment for certain crimes, and that's probably the way I feel about it is, [breathing] is, uh, it kind of depends on the crime that's committed. My belief all my life, I guess, has been that, [breathing] that if you take someone else's life, then you automatically are giving up, [breathing] uh, yours in place of it [breathing]. But I don't, seems to be a lot of controversy about that [breathing]. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] [Throat clearing]. [speaker002:] Uh, uh, I tend to agree with you, uh, you know, probably pretty similar views on it, but that's, [breathing] that's one of the things I don't, don't understand is, is so much of the controversy because, uh, you know, I, I do also, myself, believe in capital punishment, uh, [breathing] uh, you know, it, it really irks me to see so much effort put into preventing someone being put to death by the State when they [breathing] so callously and usually so, you know, without even thinking or without any concern, uh, you know, end somebody else's life, and in a lot of cases several people's lives. [speaker001:] [Breathing] That's true [breathing]. I guess, [lipsmack] well, there's, there's probably two or three different types of, of views as far as the controversy goes. I can see where [breathing] if a life was taken by accident or, uh, [lipsmack] I don't know what you'd call it, not premeditated or, I guess primarily by accident, [breathing], uh, there may be cases where the death penalty is not called for, [breathing] but I lean towards, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] if it's premeditated or if it's, uh, [breathing] kind of a habitual or, or a habit that, uh, a tendency that people, uh, may get into, then I guess I don't really have a problem with it [breathing]. [speaker002:] Yeah, that's, that's kind of the way I feel. If, if you've got a guy who's, [breathing] who's been to trial and has been in and out of jail, you know, basically a, a three time loser for the twelfth time, you know, and he goes out and kills somebody, he's not going to be reformed, he's not going to get any better, you know, it's, it's not going to, [breathing] it's just not going to get any better. And, and the only thing, [breathing] you know, a lot of people have the opinion that, you know, don't, don't have capital punishment, but give them life in jail and, you know, I could go along with that, if, if I could be assured that it would be their natural life in jail and not parole after ten, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] or twelve years. [speaker001:] Yeah, I think that's what aggravates a lot of people, is somebody does get a life sentence in place of the death penalty, and they wind up [breathing] back on the streets after five years or six years or like the kid on the news tonight out in Mesquite who was out in six months. [Breathing]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Yeah, it's, it's just [breathing] our criminal system is just so, [breathing] I guess, overloaded, but the, you know, the, the problem is not [breathing] so much with the prison system, you know, I mean, because the, the cops are out there doing their job enforcing the laws, and the prison system are just, you know, they're trying to cope with them, but [breathing], you know, the thing about capital punishment i-, I, you know, a lot of people don't think it would be a deterrent, uh, to, to future crime, and the way it is now, it's not. [speaker001:] No. [speaker002:] Because, you know, you, [breathing] if like the State of Texas, for example, may, uh, you know, may execute somebody twice a year. You know, that's, that's no kind of deterrent because we, we've got literally hundreds of people on death row, and, and many of them who have been there for literally for ten or fifteen years [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] on death row, and that's, that's certainly no kind of deterrent, and I would tend to agree with anybody who says right now that it, it's not a terrent, a deterrent, because it's not. [speaker001:] No, it's not. You think of your chances of getting the death penalty after cre-, uh, committing a crime [breathing] are really pretty slim right now. And you can, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] probably spend, [breathing] uh, a lot of time, uh, or maybe eventually, [breathing] uh, just waiting it out, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and that's where a lot of aggravation comes, I think, is, is, uh, these guys spend so much time [breathing] in the appeal process or just in the waiting process, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] they may spend years, [breathing] and, you know, the last I heard it was costing ten, twenty, thirty thousand dollars a year, [breathing] uh, [speaker002:] . [speaker001:] to keep these guys waiting. [speaker002:] Yeah, it, it's amazing. There's, uh, there's a girl I work with, our secretary, as a matter of fact, her, her father was murdered, her father and three other guys up here in Sherman. And the, uh, the guy, that they tried and convicted and sentenced him to death, you know, he's been on death row for like eight years. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, you know, this, this was her father, uh, you know, that, that got killed, you know, just cold-blooded murder, him and three other people, and, but still, [breathing] for some reason, [breathing] you know, this, this guy's sentence has not been carried out, you know, he's sitting on death row for eight years after having killed four people, and the State still can't bring itself to, to ex-, execute, [speaker001:] To, yeah, to carry it out. [speaker002:] this guy. [speaker001:] It sort of takes the justice out of the justice system. [speaker002:] It does, it really does, you know. She, and they have to go back, uh, occasionally, you know, she has to write letters to the parole board and, you know, lawyers, and just, just ever so often she mentions, well, she's got to do something else, you know, write another letter, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] or do something. It's just, [speaker001:] It should be over and done with. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, you know, she should be getting on with her life, you know, getting, getting that part behind her, but yet, it's, it's kind of tied to her the way it is now. [speaker001:] Yeah, it is. And she winds up being a, a victim, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] day after day after day. [speaker002:] Yeah, right. A victim, not only of, [breathing] indirectly of the crime, but also indirectly by that, [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] indirect involvement. It's just, it's, [speaker001:] She, [speaker002:] it's ridiculous. [speaker001:] She's an emotional victim [breathing]. [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah, it, it's terrible, you know and, [speaker001:] And, you know, the, like you say, the cops that are out doing the work [breathing], [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] day by day have got to have a lot of frustration when they see all their work, [speaker002:] Oh, that, [speaker001:] basically go out the window. [speaker002:] oh, man, I, I couldn't be a cop for that, for that very reason, you know, because they do. The, the criminal gets right back out and, you know, the cop's just got to go back and, and do his thing all over again, because so many of the crimes are, are done by repeat offenders. [speaker001:] Yes, they are. [speaker002:] It's, [speaker001:] [Breathing] Well, that's about five minutes, so [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] unless you've got something else, well, [speaker002:] No [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] It's a pleasure talking with you. [speaker002:] All right, Ron, we'll see you later. [speaker001:] Okeydoke, good-bye. [speaker002:] Bye-bye.
[speaker001:] Uh, so, you have children I take it? [speaker002:] [NOISE] [Sounds like she is cooking, i. e. banging pots, water, etc] No, I don't. [speaker001:] You don't? [speaker002:] No, huh-uh. [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] So, it's not a very valid topic. [speaker002:] No, it's not. Do you have children? [speaker001:] Uh, yes. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] One. [speaker002:] One. [speaker001:] Stepdaughter. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Ten. [speaker002:] Ten. [speaker001:] And, uh, [LAUGHTER] you know how they are at that age, I guess. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] you having been ten once, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] yourself. [speaker002:] Yeah. Once upon a time I was. Well, I have two dogs, those are my kids. [speaker001:] Oh, we have one. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] What kind is it? [speaker001:] A Keeshonden. [speaker002:] Oh, really. [speaker001:] Yeah, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] fuzzy little thing. [speaker002:] A what? [speaker001:] A fuzzy little dog. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, they're cute. [speaker001:] Rather, rather odd personality, he, he's fun. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Anyway, uh, time we spend with our children. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [pause] It seems almost as though children hate it. [speaker002:] Do they? [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Yes. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Time spent with Mom and Dad is, [NOISE] uh, next, is probably one of the worst punishments spent on earth to them. [speaker002:] Yeah, especially when they get like into the teenage stage. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I guess. [pause] [LAUGHTER] Yeah, I remember when I was that age. [speaker001:] They, you know, parents are a curse that they just have to live with. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [sniffing] [speaker001:] [NOISE] So, it, it's interesting. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But we do spend time driving in the mountains, and... [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Oh, how nice, I would love to live up there. [speaker001:] Well. Do you work for T I? [NOISE] [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] You're working then? [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] With every passing day we wonder if we will be. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] That's what I heard. [NOISE] [Sounds like running water] I've always thought about maybe transferring up there, and I thought if I do that, I might not have a job so [LAUGHTER]. [NOISE] [speaker001:] It's, it's better to be employed. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Especially these days where there is not a job right around the corner. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I know it. [speaker001:] And that creates family tensions. [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure it does. [sniffing] So, you only have the, you only have the stepdaughter at home? [speaker001:] Yes. [speaker002:] You all don't have any other children around there? [speaker001:] No, no. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I don't have any, an-, children. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. So, how does she feel about going out and doing stuff with you all. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Uh, well it varies what it is, of course, but usually, [speaker002:] [sniffing] [speaker001:] Mom and Dad are a curse. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] You know, they, they'd much rather be with friends, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] friends are cool, parents aren't. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] No, huh-uh. [speaker001:] Well, I remember, well I'm sure part of it is a male, female thing, you know, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I, I remember whenever I was growing up, often times spent with my Dad was, oh, just wonderful, you know, go, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] go hunting, or go to the races, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] or, or, oh, any number of things. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And we'd have, um, great times, [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] and it seems that well now the bank's not available. [speaker002:] Yeah. Um. [speaker001:] [pause] And, entirely too much time is spent, my wife and I were wondering what if, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [pause] and, and what if's always rough. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. Yeah. [speaker001:] But, you know, we do have our trips and we do have our fun and, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] [sigh] I don't know, little girls aren't interested in lot of the same things little boys are or were. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Like fishing and... [speaker001:] Hunting and, and, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Looking for arrowheads, and... [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] My husband will say that he'd like to have a little boy to take hunting and fishing and I said, well, you can take a little girl hunting and fishing just as easily. [speaker001:] Uh, but they don't like it. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] That's probably right. [door] [speaker001:] There, there, there is a difference there. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And, and... [speaker002:] No, if my Dad had done that when I was a kid I probably wouldn't have liked it. I go now, with my husband. And, I enjoy it, but... [speaker001:] Well, girls at that age, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Video games, boys and malls. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] Not necessarily in that order, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] and friends of course. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And, that's a little tough for fathers. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. I imagine. [speaker001:] Fathers don't even like malls, they despise shopping. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Uh. [speaker001:] So, is that quality time? [speaker002:] Huh, no, I think not. [speaker001:] Yeah, if, but there is camping and we both enjoy that. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, she likes to do that? [speaker001:] Somewhat, yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah , yeah. Well, that's good. [speaker001:] Getting up in the mountains and getting away from it all and, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] that's somewhat fun. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. She... [speaker001:] It's, [speaker002:] Huh? [speaker001:] so what do you think about child rearing? Is, how, how would you spend time with kids? [speaker002:] Probably doing outdoorsie stuff, and keeping, trying to keep them away from the T V, I guess [LAUGHTER]. And, McDonald's [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] I, I always said that if I had a kid they wouldn't know what McDonald's is. [sniffing] [speaker001:] Yeah, but [speaker002:] But, they learn from their friends, don't they? [speaker001:] Well, yeah, and amazingly a lot of times it's real easy. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] You know, a lot of times, whenever we head out of town on a trip or something, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] it's real easy to swing in there for breakfast. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Breakfast and run. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] And breakfast is a kind of a funny meal anyway, [speaker002:] Yeah. It is. [speaker001:] and, uh, kids eat funny. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] This lady in our bass club, we had a tournament yesterday and she was talking about her daughter, said, one week her daughter will, uh, be on a no meat kick, and one week she'll eat nothing but Twix candy bars, you know, she just eats weird. [speaker001:] And little girls are worse about it than little boys. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] They... [speaker002:] They're always wanting to go on a diet or something. [speaker001:] Or, or something, yeah. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Go on a diet or they, they have a, well, [NOISE] to some extent the public schools, or the schools in general, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] influence them, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] the eating meat kick. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] You know, like it's really morally wrong to eat meat or something, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I, I'm not sure. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] Of course, that's not the way I was raised, being raised in West Texas. [speaker002:] Yeah. Oh, is that where you're from? [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Born in Denton, raised in Lubbock. [speaker002:] Oh. Um. [speaker001:] So, I understand about bass. [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. Huh. [speaker001:] But it, but it is interesting, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I, I will tell you, yeah. Every person out there should have kids, at least once or, or have some they can borrow for a time, [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] That's the kind I like. [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] because everyone needs some torture in their lives. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] My Mother used to put that curse on my sister. I hope you have kids just like yourself. [LAUGHTER] And, my Grandmother must have put that on my Dad because he got my sister, she's just like him. [speaker001:] Uh. But, Jenny is a sweet kid. [speaker002:] Yeah, I'm sure she is. [speaker001:] And, yeah, we do do things, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and, it, it's funny, it's almost like a lot of things that were available to us as children, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] to go do, [speaker002:] [barking] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] The money's not available. [speaker002:] [barking] Uh-huh, I know, I don't know how people can afford kids. [throat clearing] I mean... [speaker001:] You know, we were talking about how much it cost to go to Disney Land. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Golly! A couple, three hundred dollars. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] You know, for just, for just a day, not in-, you know, a day or two, not including lodging and food and all that. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] It's, I don't see how anyone can afford it. [speaker002:] Uh. [speaker001:] And, I understand Six Flags is real expensive now. [speaker002:] It's, uh, I heard it's twenty bucks a whack. For adults. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. That is awful high. Oh, well... [speaker001:] Twenty bucks a whack now. [speaker002:] Yeah, or twenty-one. [speaker001:] But, at least once you pay your way in there, [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] at Six Flags... [speaker002:] yeah, everything's free except for the food. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah, food and junk to carry out. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] So that's, that's not as bad. [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah. [speaker001:] But, golly! [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] [speaker001:] You know, Disney World or Disney Land. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Well, our problem is that, you know, a trip to Six Flags or Disney World or, uh, Disney Land, or God forbid, Disney World, would take forever. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Really. [speaker001:] Or you'd have to pay air fare, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] and, ooh, for a family, you know, for a family it gets pretty expensive pretty quick. [speaker002:] OH, yeah. [speaker001:] Rent a car when you get there and all that. Yeah. [speaker002:] That's why I lucked out, my Dad worked for Braniff when I was a kid so we got, you know, our air fare free and we got... [NOISE]
[speaker001:] So. [speaker002:] Okay, do you rec-, exercise regularly. [speaker001:] Yeah, I sure do. [speaker002:] What do you do? [speaker001:] Uh, I ride a bicycle quite a bit and uh, work out with free weights [breathing]. [speaker002:] Okay, I love to ride a bicycle. [speaker001:] I live right near White Rock Lake, so I used to, I try to ride, about ten to twenty miles a day. But, I [speaker002:] Oh, that's good. [speaker001:] haven't been doing so well this year, [breathing] but, [speaker002:] I went an, last year I went an was exercising on a bike for a while and I, when I'd gotten back I had gotten some sun that day, the sweat had built up on me and built up under my skin and caused me to peel. It was the sweating, not the burn [speaker001:] Oh that's weird. [speaker002:] that was wild [child talking]. But, I exercise, I don't exercise now, I just had a baby three months ago, I haven't really gotten back into exercising. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] But I exercised real good for a couple of years. It was aerobics and lifting weights three nights a week and it was running three nights a week. [speaker001:] So what's your motivation? [speaker002:] What, what's my motivation? [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] A friend of mine, always pushing me. This was in Louisiana. And she would push, you know, she was, hey, let's go do it, and you know, she wouldn't take no for an answer [child talking]. [speaker001:] Was it for health, or, to look good? [speaker002:] Oh, I ju-, I just wanted to look good, yeah, [speaker001:] I was think, [speaker002:] it wasn't really health related. [speaker001:] It was just a side benefit. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, because I'm not, I'm not big or anything, but I'm not in great shape, so. But when I worked out, I got in pretty good shape. I didn't build up muscle, though, I just got real good and toned. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I don't think women look good with muscles. [speaker001:] Up to a point. [speaker002:] Up to a point, no, m-, yeah, [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] It's just some of those women that come up there looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger's sister just doesn't get it. [speaker001:] Yeah, so what was, what was the other question, let's see, do you do it as a task or do you enjoy, enjoy working out. [speaker002:] I guess it's a task 'cause I can't make myself do it lately. [speaker001:] Yeah, I think I, uh, I enjoy it sometimes and there's other times when I just get tired of it and, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and I feel like I'm obligated to do it, because I've been doing it so I should keep up. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] You don't want to lose yourself. [speaker001:] And there's some days it's just like it's the hardest thing in the world to, to get started. [speaker002:] Well how old are you? [speaker001:] I'm, uh, twenty-seven. [speaker002:] Okay, so you're still young. [speaker001:] Yeah, still young, getting older. [speaker002:] We all are, so. [speaker001:] Yeah, but, uh, [speaker002:] It's not hard to stay, well if you keep working out when you're young though, when you get older, you know, your body's not going to look as bad. I seen an old woman today, she was about eighty and she looked so good, [speaker001:] [Meow] Yeah. [speaker002:] I mean she was standing just as straight and tall and she had a small waist and she didn't have, you know, like, you know, how some older women will get the big bulge right in the middle. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] A-, she didn't have that at all. She, her lips were a little bit wide, but a lot of, back in her time, they liked women with big hips anyway [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] so she may be keeping that on purpose, so [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, I notice if you, uh, if you stay in shape you don't age as bad, [speaker002:] Uh-huh [NOISE]. [speaker001:] I think, too. I was, I go to school, too, at night and last semester I had stopped working out 'cause I hurt myself and started smoking a lot, and you just, those kind of things age you more. [speaker002:] Well smoking ages you quick, [speaker001:] Right, an [speaker002:] it puts those little wrinkles around your lips. [speaker001:] right an you can't, and then, you know, it just kind of feeds itself. You smoke, and then you don't work out because you, [speaker002:] You get winded. [speaker001:] Right, and so, [speaker002:] Oh, I smoke a pack a day an, [speaker001:] I finally quit because, like I just, all I was doing was going down hill fast. [speaker002:] I can't quit smoking, I've tried. I was telling a friend of mine that I'd be almo-, almost as bad as being an alcoholic, [speaker001:] [Meow] Yeah. [speaker002:] I can't quit smoking. I've tried, I just can't do it. I quit when I was pregnant with my kids, but, you know, as soon as I had them, right back to it. [speaker001:] Right back to them. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] It was like, you know, that was the only reason I quit. I didn't want to. [speaker001:] Oh that's, [speaker002:] And I don't want to quit smoking, I enjoy that. I said I have very few vices, I'll keep this one thank you [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker002:] But, uh, did you ever go to like one of those health clubs or anything? [speaker001:] I went to health club a few years ago, and now I work out at home, because I don't really, my schedule with school and work, I don't have time to get down to one. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] There used to be one that was a twenty-four hour that I used to go to but, uh, I actually prefer to work out alone. [speaker002:] I like to work out with people, [speaker001:] Really. [speaker002:] I need, like you, I, I need competition, is what I need. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I've got to have somebody to compete with, or I don't want to do anything. [speaker001:] I wouldn't mind having, you know, working out with a friend and, and stuff but when you get into some of these, some of health clubs where you just stand around and wait. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, are you, [speaker001:] You know, I like to start, get it done and get out of there. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, are you married or anything? [speaker001:] No, I'm not. [speaker002:] No, well, get your girlfriend to work out with you. A lot of women like that. I'd love it if my husband would ask me to work out with him. He doesn't work out very often. Course, he don't need to. He's small and he works as a laborer on the railroad. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So, you know, he's building his muscles up all day, he doesn't have to do anything. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] He can eat like a horse, too. And he don't, you know, he don't gain it like I do. But, uh, [speaker001:] Uh, especially having a kid, I guess, tends to just gain weight because you have to, to, [speaker002:] Yeah, you have to. [speaker001:] to, uh, [speaker002:] Well you can gain too much weight. I gained a little bit too much, but I looked, with my first little boy, I did gain a lot of weight, I got, I got about fifty pounds overweight with him and I didn't loose it until two years ago and then I got pregnant and, you know, ruined that, so [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Just have to start all over. [speaker002:] Yeah, well, actually, like I say, it ain't as bad this time, because I was in shape when I got pregnant. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] I wasn't out of sha-, I wasn't overweight when I got pregnant with him, I just wasn't in, in shape. I don't know the difference but, [speaker001:] Yeah, some people are a little bit fanatical about it. You know, I, [speaker002:] About weight? [speaker001:] Well yeah, and about, [speaker002:] Exercise. [speaker001:] working out and fitness, you know, I like to, to work out to look good and stay in shape and, you know, I know it's good for me, but people that live for it and, you know, eat a bunch of different pills, and, [speaker002:] Well that's what my friend did. [speaker001:] all that kind of stuff, it gets a little bit obsessive. [speaker002:] Well, she was, she was with the wheat germ and all the vitamins and everything else and really, we was, you know, even with her taking all those e-, expensive vitamins and stuff, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] we stayed right on the same track with each other, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] you know, developing and everything. Now there, you can take those, uh, what is it? [speaker001:] Steroids. [speaker002:] Steroids, yeah, I couldn't think, [speaker001:] Yeah, there's really bad for you. [speaker002:] I was goin-, I was trying to say hemorrhoids, [LAUGHTER], no, I was trying to say hem-, hormones. [speaker001:] Hem-, hormones. [speaker002:] Yeah, hormones, but yeah, uh, steroids. But, I stay from that crap. [speaker001:] Yeah, it's too dangerous. [speaker002:] Oh, I wouldn't, [LAUGHTER] I could just see hair start growing out of my upper lip or something. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, I had a friend whose brother did steroids and as soon as he stopped working out he just ballooned out. It all turned to fat and he just, [speaker002:] Really. [speaker001:] really looked bad. [speaker002:] Ugh. [speaker001:] But, uh, [speaker002:] I didn't know it did that. [speaker001:] I don't know if it does to everybody, he was, i-, it, just that's how it affected him. And he, I don't know, just, [speaker002:] Yeah, but I've been wanting to get me a bicycle, or a bike. I've been wanting to get a ten speed to ride around. I'm scared to run, for dogs. Course I know dogs can get you on a bike too, but, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] seems like it, [speaker001:] At least you got a chance to out run them that way. [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I don't like to run myself. I've thought about it several times and I just, it, I like to move a little faster and cover more ground. [speaker002:] Well they, yeah, they've come up that [throat clearing] running is not as good for you as they thought it was. [speaker001:] It's probably, I would think it would be hard on your, your legs and your joints and stuff. [speaker002:] Yeah, it's real hard on your legs and it's hard on women. And it, it just makes stuff move down. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And, uh, but I, I, I like jogging, I don't mind that. I can get out and do that, [speaker001:] Uh, I can't. [speaker002:] as long as it's not hot. If it's hot, you can't do that. But in the rain, oh, I love to run in the rain, just, you know, be careful not to slide. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But you can't ride your bike at all in the rain, can you. [speaker001:] No, you can't, it's dangerous. [speaker002:] You slide. [speaker001:] At least maybe some of these mountain bikes you could but a regular ten speed with those skinny tires, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] you slide all over the place. [speaker002:] Yeah. Oh, I, when I did ride my friend's bike, that one time, I had, uh, I don't know what I was trying to do. I was trying to make a U turn and I never could make a U turn in a bike, I can do it in my car, but I tried to do it on that ten speed and wrecked and I told her a dog was chasing me [LAUGHTER]. But I wrecked it into the curb. I didn't hurt it too bad. I scratched it on the, the oh, she had some kind of fender thing going over the back tire, I think. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But oh well. Anyway, it's been nice talking to you. [speaker001:] Yeah, well. [speaker002:] And, uh, [speaker001:] Well good luck with the, the new kid. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Thank you, [LAUGHTER] she's, it, she's good. Anyway, have fun exercising. [speaker001:] All right. [speaker002:] All right, bye-bye.
[speaker001:] Cindy, have you seen DANCES WITH WOLVES? [speaker002:] No, I haven't. Have you? [speaker001:] Oh, that is a wonderful movie. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, it's not, the length isn't too long? [speaker001:] No. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Oh goodness no. [speaker002:] Uh. slash error [speaker001:] You don't even, you don't even realize it, you know. [speaker002:] Well, we all heard different opinions about it. Uh, [speaker001:] Really. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, one that, you know, yeah, it was too long and they thought that, you know, at certain points that it was going to end, and it didn't, and it kept going on and, uh-huh. [speaker001:] Oh, I thought it was great. [speaker002:] Really. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Now, I've seen, you know, some different clips of it, um, and it, it looks good, it's just I haven't had the time to go to the movies lately [LAUGHTER] [static]. [speaker001:] Well, yeah, and I heard a story about there's a, there's a certain scene in the movie where there's, um, where they're, they're on a buffalo hunt. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And they have a particular child actor, uh, who's, who's being supposedly run down by a buffalo. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And when they were trying to film that, the buffalo that they used for that scene was Neil Young's buffalo. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] I can't remember what they said his name was. But he has a fetish for Oreo cookies. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, oh [LAUGHTER], [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] And he got him to run like he was running down the kid by luring him with oreo cookies [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Hey, that'd work for me, let me tell you [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] I thought that was really funny. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. Now I've seen another clip of, um, the guy that plays in MURPHY BROWN, I don't know his name, but he played the, uh, the, the character in it that was very, like, gross, I mean, very dirty, an-, [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] Oh, I saw the one clip of him and ugh, it was first, I guess he was taking Kevin Costner to like the site where he was going to be or whatever. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] That was rather, um, gross [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, the wagon, the wagon driver. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. But other than that I've heard the, the, you know, the, um, [pause] the scenery in it [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] is absolutely beautiful. [speaker001:] And, uh, the costuming slash error [speaker002:] Uh-huh, really. [speaker001:] yeah, was, slash error the only thing about the costuming my husband remarked that it didn't, that, that, um, the Indians all appeared to be wearing new things. [speaker002:] Oh really. [speaker001:] And they should have taken them out and rolled them in the dirt a little more [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] probably [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] to age, to age the material so, they, they did very authentic reproductions of the, [speaker002:] The styles, uh-huh. [speaker001:] of the actual stuff, but they didn't, they didn't age it [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] quite enough it seemed. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But it was a very good movie. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Well, I guess I will have to see it then. [speaker001:] What have you seen lately? [speaker002:] Um, actually have been to the movies, um, I think the last movie I saw was MISERY. [speaker001:] Oh, I didn't see that. [speaker002:] Oh, very suspenseful. [speaker001:] I don't, I don't like Stephen King. [speaker002:] I really don't either, but I went with someone, and once I was there, I couldn't believe. I mean, it's an excellent movie. [speaker001:] Really. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] I wasn't sure, because, uh, just generally, you know, that kind of scary stuff I, I just don't want to have anything to do with it. [speaker002:] It's not necessarily, it's not necessarily scary as it is suspenseful. I mean it's not. [speaker001:] Yeah, I think I heard somebody talking about that she cuts his foot off or something, you know. [speaker002:] No, in, in the book apparently she cuts his feet off, but in the movie she, she disables him, but not by cutting his feet. [speaker001:] Um. [speaker002:] Um, she, she breaks both of his ankles. [speaker001:] Ugh. [speaker002:] And that I couldn't watch, and, but, you know, you could tell when it was coming. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So yeah, um, that was so that he couldn't leave her, cause she, [speaker001:] It still just seems a little twisted to me [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah I mean, need slash [speaker001:] I'm not sure I would have enjoyed that at all. [speaker002:] Yeah, b well, as far as that goes, yeah, I mean, you wouldn't like to see anybo-, anything happen to anybody, but it was just how she got so caught up, her emotions [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, you know, and, and she feel madly in love with this writer. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And there was this, but she was a killer, and the, the character was, you know, prior to that had, had been someone that had killed other people [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] but no one knew that. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] So. But. So, yeah, we just haven't had the time to go to the movies lately, [speaker001:] I know, we don't see movies at the movies a lot. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] The last, we did go see DANCES WITH WOLVES and we went to see NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER, but mostly we wait until they come out on video tape, and then we rent them [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Right, right. Now I want to see SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah [speaker002:] Uh needs slash [speaker001:] that looks really good too. [speaker002:] yeah, *aa that looks good. And there were a couple others that I just haven't had the time. [speaker001:] And SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. [speaker002:] Now see I. [speaker001:] I'm, I'm intrigued by it, but I'm not sure I want to go see it yet [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, I don't think I want to see that either. I know, I don't think I could. [speaker001:] I think, uh, well, now, we had some friends that went to see it and they said it was okay. [speaker002:] Really. [speaker001:] So, it might not be as, I think they may be playing up [speaker002:] Really. [speaker001:] um, some aspects of the movie that aren't the main aspects. [speaker002:] Uh-huh . [speaker001:] Now, we went to see the JAGGED EDGE. [speaker002:] Oh, I liked that movie. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] So, it's, it seems like, you know, that kind of [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] the thriller suspense and not, not real, um, strange in other ways. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, um. [pause] Well, I guess that's about it. It was nice. [speaker001:] Okay. [LAUGHTER] Maybe we'll talk to you again. [speaker002:] Okay, it was nice talking to you. [speaker001:] Alright. [speaker002:] Bye-bye. [speaker001:] Bye-bye.
[speaker001:] [Throat clearing] I guess, I guess by what you said you're, you don't feel your, uh, privacy has been inva-, invaded anytime recently? [speaker002:] No, not really. Uh, u-, th-, uh, th-, the only thing that annoys me is when, uh, people call and they, uh, you have solicitation calls. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] That's the only thing that bothers me. That's not really invading my privacy [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] Uh, [pause] do you feel that yours is invaded? [speaker001:] Uh, no I wouldn't call it invading my privacy by any means. Uh, you know, I would, there, there's a lot of times though, uh, you get those calls and, you know, when you're sitting at home wanting to relax or, or whatnot and, you know, next thing you know, uh, someone calls and wants to sell you this or that and it's real hard to, to tell them, you know, that you're not interested. Or you do tell them you're not interested and they still keep asking you, you know, and keep badgering you about it, and that aggravates me. But I don't know that you could call that invading of, invading my privacy because, [throat clearing] you know, if we don't want that to happen all we have to do is just call the phone company and say, look, you know, I want my name unlisted or want my, you know, [speaker002:] But, but that doesn't work. [speaker001:] It doesn't? [speaker002:] Uh, no, because they, a lot of times they dial sequentially. They get your name from, uh, if you enter any type of contest or anything. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Uh, you know, you enter a sweepstake in the local department store for a shopping spree or something, you put your phone number on there, they pass your phone number on to another company. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] Uh, or you, uh, or, or like the newspapers, they just dial randomly or s-, and stuff. They even call, the newspapers here even call people who already subscribe [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And, uh, while I was subscribing to the paper, I got so upset at them that they [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] you call me one more time, I'm going to stop subscribing [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And the lo-, local, local papers ask them to remove your na-, number from their list and, uh, yeah, you call up their regular, during regular hours their, uh, they have a special department, they'll take your numbers out of their lists. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Uh, but the, uh, Orlando paper, uh, yeah, they, they refused to take it off of the lists and they call every month. [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] And when you have more than one phone number, you get a call on each number you have [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Good grief. Well, let me ask you about this. Here's something that, uh, has been kind of concerning me lately. My fiance received a bill from a, a Lord and Taylor company, [speaker002:] [Noise]. [speaker001:] Uh, you know, they're a, they're a department store. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] She received a bill from them, uh, that she had visited some sto-, and, and I think it was there in Florida, maybe it was in Miami. That, uh, she had visited a store there and, uh, they had this bill, uh, that she had bought such and such amount of merchandise, uh, over two hundred dollars worth of merchandise. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, and the date that, that she supposedly made this purchase, she was in Denver with me for Thanksgiving. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, and apparently what had happened is someone used her social security number. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh, and, and I've, I've heard recently that, uh, uh, that this is a common occurrence where people are using s-, you know, they use Joe Blow's so-, uh, social security number, uh, and can, uh, potentially ruin someone's credit. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. If you know a person's social security number and their mailing address, i-, and their mother's maiden name [LAUGHTER], [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] uh, you can, basically, become that, uh, person. [speaker001:] Huh. [speaker002:] Uh, if the purchase was made mail order, they should have a record of where it was shipped to [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and since it wasn't shipped to her address, she could prove, you know, that it wasn't her. Uh, if it was some you know, coming into the store and stuff, then she would ha-, whoever made the purchase would have had find some kind of, uh, you know, document [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, uh, wh-, the signature, uh, they should be able to provide you a copy with that signature and if they can't provide a signature, you know, they'll have to eat the charge [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. Well, y-, [speaker002:] But if the pers-, has, you know, their social s-, her social security number, I'd be real concerned that they, uh, that she's not, uh, blacklist on, uh, Tel-, what is it, it's Telecredit or something? [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Uh, because she won't be able to cash checks because most places verify through there. She probably won't be ab-, able to open a checking account or anything without a lot of hassle. [speaker001:] Yeah. Well, we got it cleared up eventually. What happened, uh,
[speaker001:] What do you usually wear to, [speaker002:] Well, let's see. It turns out that, uh, TEK-, I work at TEKTRONIX and it's a very, uh, low key place as far as dress goes. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You just wear, uh, let's see. When I first came here, I wore suits but after a while I got, uh, found out that that wasn't all that important. I'm an engineer. [speaker001:] Oh, I see. [speaker002:] And, uh, so, I get to wear just, uh, how shall I say it, uh, walking shoes as [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] opposed to dress shoes and well walking, how shall I say it, kind of like Avia, uh, walking shoes, uh, [speaker001:] Well, that's nice comfortable stuff. [speaker002:] Yes. Open shirt, open at the neck, you know, no tie. [speaker001:] Wow. [speaker002:] And, uh, just, uh, reasonable looking, how shall I say it, uh, sports clothes or some guys wear, some people even wear Levis. [speaker001:] Wow. That's nice. [speaker002:] Now, being from Philadelphia, I don't expect your dress code to be quite that relaxed, right? [speaker001:] Well [LAUGHTER], actually right now I'm a full time college student so my dress code is very, very [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Oh, okay. [speaker001:] Yeah, I usually wear jeans and stuff to classes or shorts in the summertime. But over the summers I've had a job, internships with the newspaper. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And that's so, generally then I dress, you know, nicer. Usually nice summer slacks or more, sometimes skirts, stuff like that. So, then it's still, you know, the emphasis is on comfort a lot because it's a lot of walking and coming in, out of the office but you still have to have a professional imagine kind of thing. [speaker002:] Yes. [speaker001:] To go out to meet people and interview people and stuff like that so. [speaker002:] [Breathing] Yeah, well I, uh, I just recently applied for a different job in the company here and [speaker001:] Oh, really. [speaker002:] so I decided well I'd wear a suit. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] And it, it was very interesting, uh, like I said, most of the people at, at this company don't wear suits. Uh, most of the engineers and technical people are just very casual, almost the same clothes that, that you'd wear to school. [speaker001:] Wow. That must be nice atmosphere then. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Well, it has been. Although the new president and C E O of the company is from a much more formal eastern, uh, background. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] And so the result is that, uh, so anyway I wore this suit and I went over to, uh, uh, to one of the buildings that has a lot more of the financial people in it [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and it, and I, I was almost converted because, uh, the effect of that suit on the way people res-, reacted and responded to me as opposed to the, uh, just to kind of, how shall I say it, they know you're there but they don't [sigh], uh, you don't, there's no notice at all. But when I wore a suit that day, uh, it was obvious that people didn't know whether I was a worker bee or a manager. [speaker001:] Wow. [speaker002:] So people, uh, how shall I say it, made a, made much more effort to notice you, acknowledge your presence, say hello and, uh, things like that, so. [speaker001:] That's interesting. It's like a mini, little study there [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] That's really interesting. [speaker002:] And so this dress for success thing, I think is, uh, by and large I've, I'm kind of, uh, convinced that, uh, by that, just that one, uh, uh, experience and then having talked to several other people that, that, uh, [sigh] unless you're in a, an environment where they're going to make fun of, of, of [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] better clothes, that better clothes always pay off. [speaker001:] Huh. That's interesting. [speaker002:] Doesn't mean they have to be, uh, how shall I say it, th-, they don't have to be the, the most, uh, the absolute best [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] but, uh, a little dressing a little bit above the standard, I think, would, uh, pay off so I'm in the process of telling my wife we got to go shopping for clothes again. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] That's neat, that's neat [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] And, uh, I, I don't know, now I, I know eastern, now the other thing we do here, of course, is a single, not quite a single climate. We have, uh, we do have some snow in the wintertime and it can be quite warm in the summertime. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] Not hot like, uh, I lived in the midwest for a while. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] And I know that, uh, you know, it can be freezing cold in the wintertime, [speaker001:] [Sigh]. [speaker002:] and hot and, uh, sticky in the summertime. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] We don't have that much. It's, uh, it's a very mild climate. [speaker001:] Oh, well that's nice. That's good for the clothes budget, I would imagine. [speaker002:] Yes, it is. [speaker001:] Because here, gosh, we had, uh, the winter hasn't been bad this winter. It's, it it's only snowed maybe once or twice but it's been cold. Low twenties, let's say, and then the summer gets up to eighties, nineties so,
[speaker001:] so uh what do you think [speaker002:] I think we're overtaxed to the hilt [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] yeah I mean we're we're taxed on taxes and um uh most all government entities are just trying to give us a state income tax for those who don't have it that is I mean we don't have one yet but eventually they may try to push it through [speaker001:] oh really so they have no I didn't realize they had no state tax in Texas [speaker002:] no no state income tax [speaker001:] oh that's great because they don't have it in Florida in New York they have it [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I mean you know like I say I'm in New York and we have a state tax as well so that just cuts even more [speaker002:] yeah I think what needs to be done is they need to control their spending habits [speaker001:] right I I think that I I mean I wouldn't be so upset about the amount of taxes paid if it weren't for the fact that they don't they don't go to any place you know you you don't see it going to any place where it belongs [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] I think if it were to be uh if it were to be um if it were to be hold hold on a second please someone just walked in the door [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] if if it were to be spent in the right way I think wouldn't be so upset about it but given that it that it's not spent properly I think it's a major problem [speaker002:] well we're really overburdened from federal state and local that it takes such a size out of your paycheck that there's not a whole lot you can always do with your paycheck [speaker001:] well that's certainly true well what is it they were just talking about um sort of middle income you know how how middle income people what winds up happening is for instance having kids you know they wind up having kids as a deduction and after but the deduction is so little for kids that they wind up having to pay more in taxes than it costs to raise a kid for the year or something [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I think that so they want to you know try and I think they're trying I think that I think that most of the politicians understand this they just don't they're just not very good at doing what they're supposed to be doing [speaker002:] well they're kind of put into a trap of being out there to please the special interest groups as well [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and uh I think the only way that can be changed for us to get a a better tax revenue that's fairness and all is for us to limit their terms [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and by doing so they're not obligated to anybody [speaker001:] I agree I agree [speaker002:] and uh and uh I don't know how we're going to do that right away though but what what in general though that taxes are doing to us is it's just taking uh a bite out of our savings [speaker001:] right exactly and then and then uh uh I'm I'm just not sure if I see you know if I see it going like I say to the right places I mean it'd be it'd be one thing if it were taking a bite out of your savings and then you were getting it all back when you got older [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] you know but I'm not convinced that's a that that Social Security is doing as well as it should and you know and and and uh and and that you know those people who need it for welfare and so forth who really need it for welfare not the eighty five to ninety percent of them who don't need it but I mean the real people who really need it you know should be getting it but instead I think it's going to the wrong places [speaker002:] and I believe the Social Security tax is a great pondsy scheme [speaker001:] you think so [speaker002:] yeah it's uh you know right now they're robbing from it to pad the federal deficit [speaker001:] I know and that scares the hell out of me [speaker002:] and I bet that's illegal see if uh most company uh CEOs were to do that within their private company they'd be in jail [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so how are we letting them get away with it [speaker001:] yeah I don't I don't well because because they're the ones who make the laws so who's going to yell at them you know it'd be nice if we sort of as one band together and and uh and an performed a citizens arrest I guess [speaker002:] right yeah [speaker001:] to see if we could sort of clean them up and you know but I don't know if we can do that or not [speaker002:] a lot of people have become too complacent and believe everything is just the norm as to the way things are going and feel absolutely helpless to to oppose a lot of the situations going on in the taxing system [speaker001:] I agree I agree but um yeah like like you said I wonder you know if if it's certainly not going to be a slow change process and I wonder if it'll ever be a change process [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] I sort of I sort of get discouraged when I think about all the things that I think are wrong you know all those things that really could be changed that aren't you know that that aren't and taxes is one of those things that just sort of sits way up there on the list [speaker002:] yeah hum [speaker001:] so I don't know I I I have no idea what to do about it [speaker002:] well there's no quick solution or no sure fire easy answer it's just going to take uh uh really uh uh uh a combination effort I think of the majority of the American people to come to a decisive answer or vote to limit the way it's spent [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] see we we're we have no say so as to where the money goes in the first place that's [speaker001:] right we don't I mean the only say so we have is supposedly by electing people who we think are going to vote one way of another [speaker002:] right and they are controlled or pretty much do what they want to do [speaker001:] right I've never quite understood that I've never uh you know even though um I I've never been uh sort of politically minded but it's never been clear to me as to sort of um you know how Congressmen an can can just sort of go ahead and vote their own conscience as their own ideas when clearly their constituency does doesn't back them up on anything you know and often times that will happen [speaker002:] well they feel invulnerable invulnerable to uh [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] any wrath or uh it's it's occurred so many times that they figure people will usually forget and don't think about it when the election time arises [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and generally it does work out that way [speaker001:] they do forget it's true could because everybody think of what happens is whenever the politician whenever the the one who made that supposed mistake turns around and uh his his or her opponent can say well look they did this and they can turn around and say well my opponent did this [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so it becomes uh a general battle of the who sort of the election of the lesser of two evils [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] I think so I don't know I just uh I'm unhappy with it but and well I'm I'm sort of semi fortunate right now I'm a graduate student so I don't make that much what I make isn't taxed very highly because I'm still in school [speaker002:] well when you get out into the real world then you will know [speaker001:] but it's my my my wife has a real job and you know when I get her job um you know we we look at her paycheck I'm just floored whe n I see how little of it we're actually allowed to keep [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] especially around bonus time [speaker002:] bonus time you have a bonus [speaker001:] bonus she no my my wife does [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] my wife I don't no graduate students don't get bonuses we're lucky to get paychecks the way I figure [speaker002:] uh-huh so you're taxed on the bonuses too right [speaker001:] my my wife is taxed on her bonus as well and that's a that's usually a big chunk of her bonus check actually I mean her bonus isn't that much but they tax it as I I guess they tax it as if [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] that were her weekly check or something [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so she gets destroyed on her bonus check [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so she works with in in in sales so a good portion of her you know her salary is is quarterly bonuses [speaker002:] uh sales is lucrative but then you're paying really high taxes when you're doing a lucrative job [speaker001:] yes well yeah she's not entirely sales so it isn't it isn't as lucrative as one would hope but it it keeps us supported temporarily [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] until I can get a real salary and then get taxed more so I don't know I don't I guess I guess at this point in time we're just sort of going to have to live with it and hope that it gets better [speaker002:] yeah well I have I guess about said what all all I can think of to say [speaker001:] same here tough topic so [speaker002:] yeah it's really a rather touchy topic at that but [speaker001:] I believe I I I do agree with you most most wholeheartedly it's been a pleasure talking with you [speaker002:] well that's great you too and uh have a good day [speaker001:] thanks for calling you too bye-bye
[speaker001:] well Toby have you ever served on a jury in a criminal trial [speaker002:] no I've always wanted to and uh but they never uh my name never seems to come up [speaker001:] well I'm not sure whether you're the lucky one or I am because I have done it and uh [speaker002:] uh what did you think of the process [speaker001:] well we had a hung jury so I I came away really disappointed in the process or the least the people involved I was very frustrated about that [speaker002:] how hung was it I mean what was the vote [speaker001:] I I think it was something like oh ten to three ten to two or nine to three or something like that [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] which really means that if if we hadn't of had to have unanimous decision we would uh would have completed our mission if you will [speaker002:] yeah yeah but it's I don't know I I've always thought that the fact the the fact that it has to be unanimous means that there wasn't any doubt in people's minds and if it uh if in like in your case if there's two people who who weren't convinced that the fellow was guilty then or innocent I you didn't say which way it went [speaker001:] I think it was ten people no it's the funny [speaker002:] it can go either way if there's two people that aren't convinced one way or the other then that's um you know I don't I think one one change that might be worthwhile would be to say that you need unanimous verdict to find somebody guilty but but if you don't get a unanimous guilty verdict then they're innocent because the prosecution didn't prove their case to all twelve people [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] well the the crazy thing about this trial was that the guy said yes I did this I did this armed robbery but he wanted a jury to decide his sentence and we couldn't even agree on a sentence [speaker002:] huh [speaker001:] huh I I mean I was ready to put the guy guy away forever but I was dealing with people who said well if it were my son I'd want him to have another chance I know [speaker002:] that's ridiculous um here in Georgia the only time that the jury gets involved in sentencing at all is in capital punishment cases [speaker001:] oh is that right otherwise the judge does it [speaker002:] the judge does all sentencing for everything except capital cases here [speaker001:] do you think that's appropriate or should it be changed [speaker002:] I think it is appropriate I think that the judge probably has a much better uh feel for uh what sentences other people who have committed comparable punishment crimes have received and what the guidelines are and uh I I think that by the time you get to that point all the facts have been settled the person's been convicted and the punishment should be well a fairly objective uh thing uh I don't know if there really needs to be all that much discretion in sentencing once you've determined what crime the person is guilty of [speaker001:] yeah well and I do not know if it is this way it all states or not but in Texas there are severe limitations on what the jury can know know about the the prior history of the alleged criminal [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and also what they can be told about the effects of sentencing Like if you give somebody fifteen years they'll be out in three weeks or something like that I maybe it's not quite that radical but but those things are not those are things are kept from the jury [speaker002:] yeah here in Georgia when they have the jury involved in sentencing like in a capital case the prosecution is not allowed to say that if you if you give them life he'll be out in seven years that's against the rules [speaker001:] yeah why [speaker002:] uh but in with the judge making all the other sentences uh course the judge has open to him all of the previous criminal history uh uh and uh obviously the judge knows what all the guidelines uh or what all the effects can be of parole and things like that [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um well I think the the the reform of the jury process that I would like most to see is for juries to be required to be informed of their right to judge not only the facts of the case but also the law itself uh juries and lot of people are not aware of this but it is it's part of the common law and it they really is in Georgia it is part of the state Constitution and it is in the Constitution of a lot of states that if the jury uh believes that the law that someone is being tried on is unjust the law itself is unjust the jury can refuse to convict the person uh and this is sort of the people's uh last line of defense against governments [speaker001:] huh
[speaker001:] So, uh, what kind of home repair work have you done? [speaker002:] Well, um, done a little, uh, repair on the, uh, shingles on the roof recently. We've had a lot of wind around here. [speaker001:] Been pulling them up, huh, or just loosening them until the rain came in? [speaker002:] Yes. It looks like I'm going to have to get up there again, because we may have a leak. [speaker001:] Are you in the section of Texas that's been getting so much rain? [speaker002:] We've been getting quite a bit, maybe not quite as bad as some of the folks down around San Antonio, but, uh, well, I'm right, Plano's just north of Dallas [speaker001:] Oh, okay. [speaker002:] and there are parts of downtown or near downtown Dallas that are under water right now, I guess, I saw on the news. [speaker001:] Yeah. But you're probably, what, about halfway across the state from San Antonio, though, aren't you? [speaker002:] Well, we're up, uh, we're north [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, uh, oh, about, uh, I don't know, uh, eighty to a hundred miles south of the Oklahoma line, I guess. [speaker001:] Yeah, okay. But you're still getting a good bit of the rain, though. [speaker002:] Uh, we did have a little bit of rain yesterday. So far we haven't had any today. And, uh, I suppose that means I should be, uh, getting up there to look at that, uh, shingle, but, uh [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I had something else planned today, so I guess I'll let it go awhile. [speaker001:] Yeah. Is it asphalt shingles, or, or. [speaker002:] They're, uh, no, they're, uh, wood shake. [speaker001:] Ooh, that should be a lot of fun. [speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Did you put them up originally or just going up and stopping leaks in them? [speaker002:] No, I, uh, as a matter of fact, we've never had a leak actually yet. Now this, we just bought the house last year, and, uh, uh, just before we took possession of it we had a fellow go up there and do whatever needed to be done on the shingles. So, I've just recently had to start looking at it myself. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So, it's a small problem so far, but I guess you just have to keep on top of it. What kind of roof do you have? [speaker001:] Uh, we're in, uh, campus apartment buildings with flat top, uh. [speaker002:] Oh, then you don't have to do too much with it [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Not too much. They're just tar and gravel [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] treated flat top roofs. Have you got pretty well pitch on that roof, or is it pretty steep? [speaker002:] Oh, it's pretty steep. Uh, parts of it are steeper than others. [speaker001:] What do you use to keep from sliding off that rascal? [speaker002:] Well, uh, [LAUGHTER] you wear, uh, shoes with good traction, and, and, and try to remember where you are at all times [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah, I imagine, I imagine. [speaker002:] And remember to yell Geronimo, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] if all else fails. [speaker001:] Yeah, yeah, that would be just too much of a fall for me. Um, have you been, uh, was, was the house reasonably new, or you been doing some remodeling work on it. [speaker002:] It's actually just twelve years old, now. [speaker001:] That's pretty new house yet. [speaker002:] Yeah, it, uh, this part of the country, actually, they say that when the house is, uh, fifteen, it's already old, but just take good care of it. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Thing is, we've, uh, the main thing that we've had with this house recently has been some, uh, squirming, I call it, of the foundation. We're just on a concrete slab, you know [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] but, uh, the soil right under this is a clay, and it, uh, [speaker001:] It's settling unevenly? [speaker002:] Well, it, uh, depending on its moisture content, it either swells up or shrinks, and, uh [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] of course the soil right under the slab retains its moisture a lot longer [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and so during the dry season you have to water the foundation to keep your foundation from, uh, from, uh, drooping [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and, uh, but anytime there's a change in the weather, like the temperature, drastic changes in temperature or in, uh, moisture, uh, you get little spider web cracks all around, uh, windows and doors. [speaker001:] Well, that sounds like a lot of fun. [speaker002:] Well, usually what you do is just wait until you think it's stopped, and then you patch them up [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Um. What is it like, uh, stucco walls or, [speaker002:] Uh, well, this is all, uh, it's all drywall [speaker001:] Oh, drywall. [speaker002:] uh, I think, with, uh [speaker001:] Wood framing? [speaker002:] yeah, right. [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] But, uh, somehow or other that does manage to, uh, show these little cracks. I don't know quite how that works. Maybe it isn't drywall. I don't really know. [speaker001:] they plastered over drywall. [speaker002:] Yeah, I think it is. [speaker001:] I remember my parents home is drywalled and then they, uh, almost like a small grade stucco type plastering over the drywall [speaker002:] I expect that's what it is, yeah. [speaker001:] to give it a textured sort of a look, and made for kind of a hard shell on the, on the drywall. [speaker002:] Yeah, I think that's the way this is done. Fortunately we haven't had any real big holes in it yet so I, [speaker001:] Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Yeah, that would, that would be in terribly, terribly exasperating to have the, the slab floor like that swelling and giving like that. [speaker002:] Yes, well, the previous owner had a major problem with it, because, uh, oh probably a variety of things. His neighbor used,
[speaker001:] I pay a good deal of taxes I guess, because I, I make a fair amount of money, and, uh, the taxes that I pay, um, I guess as a, as a general statement, I feel I, I guess I get my money's worth for. [speaker002:] Okay. [speaker001:] I'm not sure, though, whether I feel, I guess I am sure that I feel that, in general, though, uh, the allocation, uh, of the taxes in certain areas, i-, isn't correct. [speaker002:] Well, I'm sure that, uh, probably every person in this country would agree with you on that. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Because everybody has a different idea of where the money should go. [speaker001:] Well, I, I, lately, I guess, um, uh, or, at least for the last twenty years or so, I've felt that the expenditures of our taxes into high cost, uh, defense items, at least in the last ten years, have been, uh, there's been and extraordinary amount of money spent there, and I'm not really sure that, that we've gotten our money's worth there, uh, regardless of the outcome of the Desert Storm, uh, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Desert Shield, uh, situations. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Uh, I guess my particular beef is that having participated in the mi-, military off and on over the, over the years of being called back and things of that nature, is, uh, I've found that, you know, there's an extraordinary amount of waste. I take that as a, as a given in any military operation and [speaker002:] Oh yeah, no argument here. [speaker001:] yeah, and I gue-, I, I should imagine that, that, that what the, what the problem, why I, I'm, I'm a little concerned about today is that this, uh, rather, uh, quick and, and easy, I don't know, I shouldn't say easy, rather quick victory in the, in, in the, uh, Mideast, uh, uh, over the, uh, Iraqis, uh, might lead us into, uh, a false sense of security that we can do that against any other foe. I'm, I, I don't know what other foe that would be, but, uh, I, I'm just getting nervous again, now hearing the voices come up that there has to be increased expenditures in that area. [speaker002:] Yeah, well, of course, uh, a lot of, uh, a lot of w-, missiles and things were expended in the course of fighting the war, and the, and the inventory's going to have to be restocked, uh, on, now I work for T I, and one of the things we were told is, like, they had eleven thousand HARM missiles which T I is the sole supplier for, and they used up two thousand of them in, in the war, so they're going to have to do another contract to restock that, to get ready in case something else is needed. [speaker001:] Yeah, but, it, it, it, would that be, uh, well, let's see, two thousand out of eleven thousand, that's about a little over twenty per cent. Uh, I, I should imagine that, that would be to keep it at a level, those levels, I guess, that, that were originally appropriated w-, was when the Soviet threat, I guess, was perceived as being a greater one. I don't think there's very much of a threat there today. I do worry about what nuclear weapons are left in the territories, uh, in their territory over there, and who's controlling them, but [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] Tha-, that's true, that's true. [speaker001:] I, I don't know what amount of, what amount of, our hardware would stop some fanatic, I guess, from doing anything, uh, that would be irrational. [speaker002:] Well, of course now, we used up twenty per cents, per cent of that inventory, [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] in a matter of just a few weeks, [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, uh, uh, uh, T I also makes the missile, which was the, the T V laser guided bombs [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and, and, a big percentage of that was expended, as well, that n-, that w-, that was just a matter of, [speaker001:] Oh, what is the name of that? [speaker002:] Uh, it's called Paveway. [speaker001:] Yes, yes. [speaker002:] And, uh, a big percentage of that was used up during that conflict also. So tho-, those are two areas in which T I stands to, to gain some, some short term business to restock that. [speaker001:] Yeah, well, uh, I'm, what I'm, uh, I guess uh, it, concerned about, talking about the taxes in general, and that, that was an area that I, I perceive as not being the best expenditure for the amount of dollar that we're taxed for, uh, in the area of defense, or perhaps we have paid too much there, I don't know, it just seems to me that over the years, now, the, and, and it's, it's a cliche, I, I, but I see it myself, I see where the infrastructure is sort of breaking down, the roads, the highways. [speaker002:] Oh, no doubt. [speaker001:] I, I, I don't know, uh, I kn-, I'm familiar with some, some upbeat school areas, so I don't totally agree with the, the great, uh, uh, with the, with the great ex-, expenditure of effort and time there, but I guess overall, because I guess I'm not associated with what ghetto schools, and, and, uh, and, uh, rural school systems are like, I, I should imagine that would take an enormous expenditure. [speaker002:] Yeah, as a matter of fact, in Texas, um, we've had our school funding system declared unconstitutional by the, a state judge, and they, and, uh, the legislature just passed what they called a Robin Hood Bill, which, basically, what it does, is it takes extra money from the more affluent school districts, that are, that are, you know come from local taxes [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and send them to other parts of the state, that are not so affluent. [speaker001:] They, they don't have a broad based income tax that funds the educational system, [speaker002:] Uh, well, [speaker001:] or is it all funded out of local taxes? [speaker002:] okay, to g-, to give you some perspective, this, this town that I had lived in for sometime in nineteen eighty-three was funded sixty-five per cent by state funds. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Then we had a number of education reforms, that the legislature said, hey, we got to do this, we got to do this, we got to do this, but, they forgot to put in the state budget the money to pay for it, and they dumped it all on the local school districts. So, [speaker001:] Sounds like the way the federal and state system works now. [speaker002:] Really. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] So, so what ended up happening was, was a, was a shift. We went to sixty-five per cent state funding to sixty-five per cent local funding in a matter of four years. And, uh, I mean, [speaker001:] Uh, do you mean a, a complete reversal? [speaker002:] Oh, complete, complete. It's all shifted to local districts, and now, even the money that's been raised for the local districts is being, is going to be siphoned off and sent to other parts of the state. [speaker001:] Because, I guess, they can't raise that money in those, those poorer districts, huh? [speaker002:] That's right, and, and I have, I have no problem, with, uh, a certain, uh, floor level, minimum level, that's a standard [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] uh, that everybody, uh, ought to be able to have, uh, but, I am opposed to, w-, any attempts to restrict, um, local communities from taxing themselves above that to provide above the minimum. [speaker001:] Yes, I see what you're saying. Uh, I, uh, I, I do, I, I guess I am a s-, uh, a strong and staunch supporter of some subsidy for any forms of education. I mean, by that I mean, I'm a product myself, I have, uh, a, a, a, a background of, uh, being, uh, getting my college education through the G I Bill. [speaker002:] So did I. My Masters, anyway. [speaker001:] What, but, uh, when I look at it to me, uh, it doesn't really make any difference. It was a marvelous opportunity that I couldn't have done, I don't think I would have gone on, unless I had that financial [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] uh, easement made possible. [speaker002:] That's right. [speaker001:] And I, I don't really care what it takes to qualify, whether you're, uh, an, an ex-, whether you're a veteran or whether you, I don't even know if you have to perform community service, or unless, uh, or, or you promise to even do something in the future, I think that, uh, the, that, that, the subsidy itself, or I guess the enactment of that form of legislation, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] would give many people who, I, I think, I think I perceive the fact, at least what I read, is that some younger people feel that education is priced out of their, uh, out of their, uh, budget. I know in the state of Florida just today, uh, the, the legislature, uh, adjourned, and, uh, they had completed a fifteen per cent increase in the, in the, uh, state land grant colleges, which, which isn't, I mean, to me it doesn't sound like a mo-, lot of money, but I guess it would be for fifteen hundred dollars a year. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] They went from eleven to fifteen hundred, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] and, uh, for an out of state student the tuition went up twenty-five per cent. I don't know what that would be. [speaker002:] Yeah, they had to, they had to raise, uh, community college taxes here, a few years ago. [speaker001:] But that, uh, I guess that goes along with the general idea that the federal government had to, uh, was expending so much money on defense, uh, that, that the program now is a, uh, program now is, uh, fees that, that fund these things, I guess that's trickled down to the states and, [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] the states now establish, uh, don't have enough money so they, they must charge fees. Uh, I, I'm not too sure of that reasoning. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But I guess to get back to the main topic, I don't know whether I pay too much taxes. I, I, I travel extensively in Europe and see enormous, uh, people p-, pay, uh, a great deal in taxes, they tell me when I sit and talk to people there they tell me they, they, some states they pay, uh, in Germany or in, in England in some cases people in my income level, at least, allege that they pay up to six-, fifty-five percent of their gross income in taxes. [speaker002:] Oh, oh, I can believe that. [speaker001:] But, but, I'm not too sure when I put my property tax in, my car tax, my income tax, and these myriad of, uh, now it costs me money to leave the country, some sort of a tax to leave the country, [speaker002:] Yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] some sort of an airport departure tax, uh, uh, a tax, a sales tax which is getting to, uh, quite high levels, I'm not sure that I'm not up fairly close to that. [speaker002:] Well, I guarantee you, you'd be paying a lot more in taxes i-, if, uh, the Democrats had more say. [speaker001:] You really think so? [speaker002:] Yeah, I really do. [speaker001:] But I mean, w-, what's, what's happened here is, is, is I feel that, that in the last ten years, uh, my taxes have gone up, they haven't gone down. I pay ex-, uh, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] quite a bit more taxes and, and, and, [speaker002:] Everybody, everybody is. [speaker001:] but that's been a Republican government for the last ten years. [speaker002:] Well, what, what, what they've been able to do is slow down the rate of increase [breathing] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well I, [speaker002:] To keep it, to keep it b-, from becoming even more obnoxious. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Well, this has been really interesting, and I've enjoyed our talk. [speaker001:] Okay, uh, I guess I just push something here. Push one again, right? [speaker002:] No, you just, uh, we just say, say good-bye and that's it. [speaker001:] Just hang up. Okay, Don, good talking with you. [speaker002:] Nice talking with you, too. [speaker001:] Bye-bye. [speaker002:] Bye-bye.
[speaker001:] Okay, uh, you want to start by telling me what camping is to you. Do you backpack or hike or, [speaker002:] Well, uh, a little bit, uh, noth-, nothing overly strenuous. No, the majority of my camping experience is, uh, a tent by the lake type situation or, uh, maybe a canoe trip or something like that. [speaker001:] No, I've never done a canoe trip. That sounds interesting. [speaker002:] Oh, it, it's, we've had a lot of fun, uh, I, I moved to Dallas about five years ago and we've made three different trips since I've been here. The group of friends that I run around with, of varying degrees, uh, of difficulty. The, the last one we did, and we haven't had a chance to duplicate was, uh, was a canoe trip in Arkansas and the river was, it was up about three feet so it was, uh, it was pre-, it was pretty challenging. [speaker001:] Oh, man, I imagine. [speaker002:] But, uh, and then we, uh, as far as the camping part of that, we just drag along all our tents and sleeping bags and, uh, find, uh, find a clearing in the woods and go for it. [speaker001:] So they'll actually fit in the canoe and then you go for days at a time. [speaker002:] Well, yeah, yeah, it's the, that, that particular one was a two day trip so what, uh, there's, uh, there's a outfitter and, uh, they haul you up to the headwaters, come down about halfway and then you get to, you spend the night and then, uh, the second day head on down to the, to the pool at the end of the river. [speaker001:] God, that sounds like fun [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah it, it really is. [speaker001:] Well the camping I grew up with was like tents and Coleman stove type. And, uh, you know, that just either out in the woods, or actually I, I grew up water skiing. I was, uh, from California, [speaker002:] Okay. [speaker001:] and so we would go up to the Sacramento, uh, river sloughs, the delta there, [speaker002:] Okay. [speaker001:] and you just pick a campground on the river, if it got, you know over a hundred and ten degrees you went over the levee and jumped in the water. [speaker002:] Right, right. [speaker001:] You know, cooled off, but, uh, when I got married, my husband had always backpacked. [speaker002:] Okay. [speaker001:] And so we did that, uh, I guess we haven't done it since my kids were born so about three years ago. And that was a new experience for me but I enjoyed it. I like being able to go back into the mountains, [speaker002:] Boy, I bet, yeah. [speaker001:] or, you know, where the trail didn't necessarily lead, and where you couldn't necessarily, pitch a tent [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] But, uh, that, that was interesting. I, I have always wanted to do some white water rafting and so your canoeing kind of made me think of that. [speaker002:] Yeah, that's, that was, uh, that's always been our next step. Our, our little group of friends here, we've been kind of getting married off and what not but, uh, [speaker001:] Don't let that stop you [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Yeah, that, well, it, it just puts a damper on things for a little while. [speaker001:] I know. [speaker002:] But we're, we're starting to get everybody back together. Yeah, we'd like to do a float trip down, uh, oh, like Big Bend area or something like that. [speaker001:] Yeah, so you haven't done that before. [speaker002:] No, no, we haven't made that trip yet. [speaker001:] My parents, uh, were sailing, uh, this last year down off, uh, Costa Rica and they took about two weeks and went into, I don't even know the name of the river there, but they went white water rafting and Mom said it was absolutely just a wonderful experience. She said it was truly incredible. [speaker002:] I'll bet, yeah. [speaker001:] And, you know, I, there's that sense of it, you know, you're kind of scared, that risk of like gosh, what could happen and then the thrill of, you know, the excitement of doing it, so. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, yeah, exactly. [speaker001:] Well, do you have anything planned for this summer? [speaker002:] Um, not really just yet. We've, uh, well I, I do have, uh, a little bit of property, I grew up in South Dakota, [speaker001:] Oh, okay. [speaker002:] and I've got a piece of property in Minnesota that is completely undeveloped as of yet. There's, uh, there's a little lake up there and, uh, a group of friends that I, I went to college with, um, got together and we basically own all the land around this little lake, there, it's divided up into ten lots. [speaker001:] Oh, I imagine. [speaker002:] So, we've got a private lake, and it's completely undeveloped at this point, so, that's a possibility. And the weather is typically always nice up there in the summertime. It, it's, it's about two hours north of Minneapolis. [speaker001:] Oh that doesn't, that sounds good. [speaker002:] So, uh, yeah, in fact, uh, uh, well I got married last summer and, uh, that's, that's, we ended up there for a couple days, uh, on our honeymoon. We kind of took, uh, a tour of the United States for about a week, [speaker001:] That sounds, [speaker002:] and, uh, up through that area. But, uh, my wife's real excited about it, so, we're, uh, we're going to hope to get up there sometime early eno-, last year it was the end of July and it was a little too late for the fish but, uh, hopefully get up there early enough to, to get into some of the, some of the fish and, uh, the, the good weather and what not. [speaker001:] We've been wanting to start camping again this year too. Uh, my oldest child is a girl, was born three years ago, three and a half. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] And then I have a little one that just turned two and we are in the process of potty training. I didn't want to go camping with diapers, you know. [speaker002:] Oh gosh, yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] I, and, and, you know at a time when they're afraid of their shadow all they need is, you know, some skunk or something to rub up the outside of the tent, they'd be awake all night. [speaker002:] That's right. [speaker001:] So, but I think with him almost potty trained and, you know, she's not afraid of her shadow anymore, that I'm, I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that we'll be able to go, uh, this summer, you know, even if it's like over to Rio Dosa for a couple of days, [speaker002:] Sure. [speaker001:] or something to get them used to it and get them started, uh, with little back packs of their own, [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] and, you know, things like that. [speaker002:] You bet, yeah, we'll that, you know and there's a lot of places with, uh, like nature trails, [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] things like that where they could learn a lot, too. [speaker001:] Well that's true. [speaker002:] You know, it's like, okay, this, this is, this is what, uh, a pheasant looks like, you know, and okay, now we'll go look for one. [speaker001:] Ugh, I would need that before I could teach them [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Well, yeah, that's, ever-, everybody might learn something that way, but, uh, but yeah that's, there is, there's an awful lot of things set up, you know, just any, anything you want to do. Like, like you say it can be, uh, a water ski trip, or fishing trip or just a sightseeing, bird watching, you know, hunt, hunt with a camera type of thing or, there's a lot of different opportunities for things like that. It's a lot of fun, it really is. Hello.
[speaker001:] okay well um I used to work in a day care center I worked in um in all the different areas of the day care center and it is [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] they can be deceiving to people I did not work there long because I couldn't handle the the treatment that the children got and this is supposed to be a very well-known center here in Tyler who had two or three um centers [speaker002:] hm um-hum [speaker001:] all over you know the um city and they would um be one way when the parents were there and be another way when the parents left [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so um I think you need to make you know if you do do day care centers you know you should make frequent checks and um to check in on them when they're not expecting it because they do do things differently when you're not around [speaker002:] so well that I know what the things that we kind of looked at is is you wanna see how many teachers you have [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and and how many kids they have and how they break it up [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] because we had we had one that sounds kind of like what you were in [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] it it was a really good one and in fact it worked out for us because my wife we kind of bartered my wife did artwork for them and then you know so we got our uh day care free [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] but they didn't have enough teachers [speaker001:] well this one was set up good I mean they had two teachers to every room [speaker002:] and uh-huh [speaker001:] um sometimes three and they had a good system like so when you walked in everything looks cool [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] the problem I had was that they did not show affection to the children enough they did not show them care to these small children who are being left [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] um they one time I picked up this little boy who was crying and the owner came and just chewed me up one side and down the other you know he said you are gonna have every child in here wanting you to pick them up [speaker002:] hm [speaker001:] and I said no this child was crying and needed some comfort you know what is your problem [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so um [speaker002:] did did they separate them by age group [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] because I'd think you know I think that's one thing that was important [speaker001:] right they did they had like um the the crawlers the babies that didn't walk in one room the ones that were starting to walk in one room then they had like the um three three year olds [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] upper fours lower fours upper fives lower fives you know just like that [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] you know they really did separate them well it was just the teachers themselves [speaker002:] it it sound yeah it sounds like to me your your concern would be to make sure that they are loving people [speaker001:] right but yeah that they're not [speaker002:] affectionate people that they're they're kind of parents maybe parents themselves or something [speaker001:] yeah their system right but their but their system was was great but um the [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] you know the caring just wasn't there the one woman that taught that did the babies [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] I worked with her and she was fabulous she loved them babies and she loved them and cared for them but um every one of the others that I saw was just screaming and yelling and [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] um you know would make me a nervous wreck so you know [speaker002:] yeah I I I think that's probably a really important thing because you can have doctorates and PhD's and all that kind of thing and you know know all the technical stuff but if they don't reach out and touch the kids then that doesn't do any good [speaker001:] yeah these kids are just in a day care center all day [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and uh with no any type of emotional you know getting love getting care they're just there [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] you know going through this routine which is lousy [speaker002:] and the other the other group that we had was kind of interesting the other one we went to the it was a husband and wife team and we knew them from other associations but [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] uh it was kind of interesting because she was kind of the strict one and I think you know she would she'd put her arm around the kids and talk to them and stuff you know but he was actually the more um the more uh what demonstrative type the more loving he would you know laugh with the kids and play with the kids and [speaker001:] um-hum uh-huh [speaker002:] and it it it was kind of interesting to see that that that it was actually the man in the group that that did that side of it and [speaker001:] yeah you don't see that much [speaker002:] yeah so they had a really nice balance we liked that one in fact it was called Humpty Dumpty Play School or something but they also did [speaker001:] that's cute [speaker002:] they also did some of the teaching things and then they had um you know obedience obedience was important [speaker001:] yeah that has to be with a day care center [speaker002:] and you know so they used you know they used uh oh I think they used the you probably heard where you know where you stand in front of the clock and get your power back to control yourself [speaker001:] I've never heard of that that's that's a new one on me [speaker002:] and it's it's it's one uh I can't remember what they call it exactly but you you just stand them in front of the clock and you know it has a second hand that goes around [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and they have to stand there
[speaker001:] well uh down here in we've got um trials by uh jury in criminal cases and the sentencing can be done by the jury normally although the judge can sometimes do it how do y'all do it up there [speaker002:] um we usually do it uh the jury comes to the verdict and then the judge does the sentencing um I think the jury can recommend something but in you know in some cases like uh murder in the first degree but I the ultimate decision is the is the decision of the judge once the verdict has been reached the jury's dismissed and there's a separate hearing for sentencing [speaker001:] we've got a lot of these uh in federal court they have a uniform sentencing guidelines that pretty well leave it up to the uh judge to assess the punishment in a certain range [speaker002:] um-hum well I think it's curious that the sentences that are handed down are usually not served I think that's a big problem with the criminal justice system but [speaker001:] right here in the Dallas area if you are sentenced to ten years or less to incarceration in in the uh penitentiary you will never make it to the penitentiary and you'll serve about a year in the county jail and then be released because of the jail overcrowding [speaker002:] yeah well I I understand the jail overcrowding issue but I I think in in in that case as as as in so many all they ever do is discuss the problems and they never do anything to solve them I think that's why this country's in the shape it's in now but I I don't really believe that a jury should do the sentencing I think [speaker001:] well the judge has a better idea of what is probable ranges for that particular type of offense where a jury is just doing it for one time [speaker002:] yeah I just don't believe that jurors have the the knowledge the scope and the knowledge to to handle the sentencing whereas the judge does [speaker001:] well you know in in civil cases they can have uh as few as ten of the jurors agree on a verdict but criminal normally requires unanimous they might make a change on that and that might make for fewer mistrials [speaker002:] that's that's certainly true I just I I mean I don't agree with juries doing the sentencing but I do agree with trial trial by jury I just think that's critical [speaker001:] course in civil cases trial by jury doesn't necessarily work if you have a big complex uh business type case where a jury could get totally lost in a lot of those cases people decide to just try the case before a judge and just not have a jury [speaker002:] right well I think that can that makes sense too because it looks like it would be awfully hard to pick jurors that could follow something as in in a civil case I mean that was really complicated and had a lot of technical issues in it but they there are a lot of criminal cases a lot of murder cases and that that are really very complicated and they seem to be able to get through those [speaker001:] and you had up there North Carolina that case of that lady who poisoning her various husbands what was it Blanchard or [speaker002:] Blanche Taylor Moore [speaker001:] Blanche yes [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] we've we've been reading about that [speaker002:] yeah we uh have you have you heard about trial that we've got going on now with the uh the man that's accused of molesting twenty three children at a day care center [speaker001:] no I don't remember reading about that [speaker002:] well that's the uh that's probably one of the biggest child malestation cases in the in the nation's history this man and his wife it it's a trial by jury but it's really going real ragged I don't understand how they're doing it and they got they he had a hundred and seventy eight charges against him and his attorney's managed to get it reduced to ninety three but the jury in that case they've just absolutely sequestered them nobody even unless you were paying attention at the very beginning you don't even know their names and they uh uh from what I've been reading in the paper they are the ones who are gonna do the sentencing in that [speaker001:] we've got a case going here where a man is accused of poisoning his wife with arsenic now and the jury the case went to the jury today and the jury's deliberating right now [speaker002:] arsenic is uh this this Blanche Taylor Moore woman was very clever she did it very slowly over a large period a long period of time at least it was it was done very slowly over a large period of time and since the jury has found her guilty now the judge did the sentencing in that and she's appealing but I'm assuming that she's guilty because I really believe in the jury system [speaker001:] well the collective wisdom of the jury usually prevails [speaker002:] yeah hopefully they're smart enough not to be hoodwinked by illegal ploys by lawyers and prosecutors
[speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] so what kind of car do you want [speaker001:] well I think we're we have pretty much narrowed it down to a Mazda minivan [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] the new uh the uh M P V [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] the uh the one that's the all wheel drive [speaker002:] do you have a family [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] uh that helps [speaker001:] well we're we do it mainly because we travel we do a lot of traveling and I want to do it in comfort [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] right now we have we have we have a four door you know sedan but it's just uh it just doesn't have quite as much room and it's not very comfortable to drive long distance in [speaker002:] you you sound like you've been looking recently or you're buying soon [speaker001:] well we've we've been looking for about you know two years to decide but you know with the style changes you know they're they're a lot of them are changing right now and we're trying to wait until we see what what it's going to you know the style going to stay for a while [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and uh supposedly the Mazda is going to change this coming year and we'll just we'll wait till the ninety twos come out [speaker002:] that won't be much longer [speaker001:] no so that's that's pretty much uh you know where we stand now how about how about you [speaker002:] yeah well actually I haven't it's funny I haven't been looking at all I mean because um I'm a grad student and and my wife's got an eighty seven Olds Ferenza and I have an eighty two Bonneville which basically our our our our plan is to wait another year until I'm done with graduate school and then sell the Bonneville for whatever we can get for it and go out and buy another a a new car some place else and I think we probably I'm sort of stuck I want half of me wants some sort of little sporty thing just for the hell of it because it may be the last time I can drive one for a long time and the other half of me says be pragmatic and get some sort of um probably small economical car for a couple of years and then get something bigger like a minivan when when when we have kids and stuff or or or when we travel a lot [speaker001:] yeah yeah you pretty much have to take advantage of the uh the wild and crazy while you can and then you got to turn into the practical [speaker002:] yeah right [speaker001:] that's kind of the way I've had to transition I was into you know the sportier cars and then uh when when when it comes to putting car seats and all that kind of stuff in it you know you just don't uh can't get away with it any longer [speaker002:] yeah they don't work [speaker001:] or then and then you got to wait until you're you know after your kids are grown and you can scale back down again [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] but uh you know right now I have a pickup truck and it's one of the supercabs and you can get you can get uh you know kids kids and everything in there the only thing is it's it's not very comfortable [speaker002:] right well it's a it's a it's note like the I've seen that Mazda van and and it seems like it would be the right thing then [speaker001:] yeah well they've made some changes over the you know the last couple of years since they've come out this year they're coming out with a new transmission a little bit heavier duty transmission which the Japanese are not well known for but uh [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] but they're supposedly getting a new uh transmission in fact I think Board Warner's the one that going to going to design it for them [speaker002:] oh okay that'll be nice [speaker001:] and that'll that'll help some and uh they're going to change the interior to where the backseat itself can either be removed or laid laying down into a bed whereas now it can't [speaker002:] oh okay [speaker001:] you can lean it back a little bit but not all the way [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] so we're looking at those type things also [speaker002:] that's just yeah it's thinking ahead [speaker001:] yeah plus you know the the uh the wheel base uh [speaker002:] it's real good [speaker001:] the way it is right now the all wheel drive it's a little bit higher up off the ground but they're going to raise it three more inches up and a little bit more clearance [speaker002:] that'll give you a little extra yeah [speaker001:] and uh you know not that I really need it for any but I like sitting up high so you can see [speaker002:] yeah it's actually a real nice feeling I uh grew up driving the Suburban and then recently I test drove for some strange reason I test drove a Range Rover [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] not because I was going to buy a forty thousand dollar Jeep mind you but just but but because um my my wife works for a temporary agency and they and and they had a job and they called me basically I basically I was shopping the agent to make sure you know he was doing good things by Range Rover you know they sent me out as a to sort of act like I wanted to buy one basically and then report back to the company as to how the salesman is doing [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] so I had to act like a buyer and uh [speaker001:] that's kind of interesting [speaker002:] yeah it's a neat little um it's it's it's it's it's sort of like being a scab I guess in a sense but uh but I used you know I mean he did a wonderful job so I just went back and said wonderful things about him you know but we went and part of it was test driving a Range Rover and I realized afterward you know it's a real nice ride because it's nice you're nice and high lots of clearance and stuff like that like you said but [speaker001:] forty seven thousand dollars is [speaker002:] forty thousand dollars yeah that's just way too much for for a jeep in my opinion [speaker001:] it's a little stiff yeah I agree I don't think even if I had the money to spend on it I don't think I'd buy one [speaker002:] no I wouldn't I mean I would get if I wanted to pick out a car like that I'd go for a Bronco or or or you know Blazer or something I figure it's [speaker001:] plus nowadays you know you it cars are high anyway you know can't hardly get anything decent for less than you know nineteen or twenty [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and that's that's a pretty big investment even nowadays and I want something that's going to last me for at least seven eight years [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and uh I just can't see you know these people spending these thirty five to forty five thousand dollars on BMWs and Mercedes and then trading them every year or two [speaker002:] oh yeah this this is nothing I mean he um he was showing me they had this I was you know they had they had a beamer there that was seventy eight thousand and a Mercedes that was ninety [speaker001:] God that's so that's silly [speaker002:] you know and the man claimed that he sold fourteen of these Mercedes the previous year [speaker001:] I uh I like I say I don't I think even if I had the money I wouldn't want something like that it's just not within my it's just it's impractical [speaker002:] it was amazing yeah it totally impractical and I I can't imagine what's that much better about them that [speaker001:] too many other good things you can do with the money besides waste it uh I just uh you know there's too many people that need things and [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] you know places that you can put it [speaker002:] yeah I agree [speaker001:] not not to waste money like that [speaker002:] it'd be nice to think that I could afford it mind you but [speaker001:] yeah I mean it'd be nice to be able to afford it but I I'm just not I even if I had the money I I'm I know for a fact I just wouldn't I wouldn't buy one I just can't bring myself to do that kind of stuff [speaker002:] yeah no I wouldn't [speaker001:] but uh we try to keep our cars on an average of eight to ten years if we can if we can get by with it we have a Volvo right now that's I t's seven years old and it's got uh about eighty five thousand miles on it and it still drives like it's brand new [speaker002:] I was going to say a Volvo at eighty five thousand miles is still being broken in isn't it [speaker001:] about that's about right and we we anticipate on keeping that car for hopefully another five six seven years if we can if we can make it go that long [speaker002:] I mean yeah those aren't aren't those the ones that that have is it Volvo or Saab that has like the three hundred thousand mile club and [speaker001:] well Volvos uh there's a lot of them that we in fact we have a mutual friend uh my my wife and I that uh they uh they just passed three hundred thousand miles on theirs [speaker002:] and the car's probably still fine right [speaker001:] it's still mechanically fine now you you know there's there's money to invest in it during during that three hundred thousand miles you know uh timing chains and and various other things but [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] all in all if you if you take it mileage uh based on what you spent over that life of the car [speaker002:] it's wonderful [speaker001:] relatively cheap [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] so uh you know I I so far I can't complain it's been a good car and and we're going we're like I say we'll try to keep it for a long time it's been paid off for several years [speaker002:] the that's that's nice to have no payments yeah [speaker001:] yeah and uh the the only other thing is you know the the pickup truck's nice but it's impractical for for traveling and family so we'll get something that we can haul stuff in if we have to and then have it for you know trips and and everything [speaker002:] um-hum that's great you've really thought this out it sounds like I mean I'm sort of you know I sort of look around and go yeah that's a nice car that's a nice car but I haven't really [speaker001:] well nowadays it pays to shop because you're going to have to live with it for a while you know if you if you're paying for it for three or four years [speaker002:] right uh [speaker001:] uh that's a long time right there in itself and then you don't want to turn around and and you know the next time you buy a car it's going to be more expensive and uh you don't want to start another payment that's going to be up around four or five hundred dollars a month [speaker002:] to be paying for a car that's true [speaker001:] so uh it it's it's crazy so [speaker002:] that's that that that's real true actually [speaker001:] but the little that eighty two Bonneville that you have that that uh that's probably a pretty good car [speaker002:] that's that's actually it's got um it's actually it's low on mileage given that it's eighty two it's only got seventy five thousand on it and uh or seventy four or whatever you know and it's it's in uh it's a funny coincidence that my my cousin sold me the car and she's up for the weekend now so she's out babysitting in the next room sort of perfect coincidence it's a perfect time to be talking about that car um but yeah it's just it's just you know I have little problems here and there you know um stupid things start to go like the uh I can't open it it has electronic windows unfortunately electric windows and doors and the uh and the passenger window is gone you know it doesn't open any more but I'm not going to fix it because I'm going to sell it in a year [speaker001:] yeah well you know uh things like that that go out you know if you replace them it's just so costly anyway [speaker002:] yeah it's it's it's seventy five dollars for the motor alone and then another seventy five to install it you know so that can that that's crazy or like the air conditioning went the air conditioning sort of blowing warm air so I went down to the you know my local mechanic and for forty dollars they did an air conditioning check and they [speaker001:] it's crazy yeah [speaker002:] went through everything I told them to put in a shot of Freon and they said yeah it needs a shot of Freon but then he came back and he said well the reason you're losing the Freon is because you have a leak in this condenser line and when I and that's a hundred and fifty dollars to fix that and then while we're in there we have to change this this and this and you know and so it would would would would have wound up costing me close to four hundred dollars but he said look if you're selling the car in a year don't bother doing it all he said I'll give you a shot of Freon every now and then and and you're you're fine you know so [speaker001:] well and your wife has what kind of car [speaker002:] she has an eighty seven um Ferenza I it's an Oldsmobile yeah it's an Oldsmobile [speaker001:] oh Ferenza yeah okay that's Pontiac okay or Olds Firenza yeah [speaker002:] yeah no it's Olds actually olds yeah that's actually a real good car I'm finding it's uh mechanically is very sound um unfortunately the body was rust proofed by a company called Rusty Jones [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] which I'm not sure if you've ever heard of or not but uh Rusty Jones went out of business because their rust proofing wasn't very good [speaker001:] so now you've got some rust [speaker002:] and now I've got some I mean the eighty two has no rust at all and the eighty seven has some pretty big rust spots on it so it's [speaker001:] that's terrible that's one that's one bad thing about living in an area where you have to put salt on the roads [speaker002:] so and yeah actually we're we're looking forward to getting out of here [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] we're yeah in a year I'm done and then we're moving south or west or southwest
[speaker001:] okay [speaker002:] well I take it since you selected this topic that you have children [speaker001:] no I don't but I have nine younger brothers and sisters [speaker002:] you don't my goodness so well I have two daughters and um they're past this they've been latchkey children for a while and they're almost where I can start saying they're you know young adults so I don't have to worry about child care too much anymore [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] um we're supposed to discuss what criteria we would ask or expect [speaker001:] uh-huh I would assume it's you know if you were looking for a day care center or something like that [speaker002:] well if I were looking [speaker001:] or probably even babysitters would be the same thing [speaker002:] exactly exactly um I think my my top priority would be that it would be someone who would be responsible and someone that would actually like children [speaker001:] yes I would think someone older and I would want to know if they've had any past experience with children [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and I think that varies I think a lot of your criteria vary with the age of your child [speaker001:] yes that's true also [speaker002:] um you know it's it's it's once they get to a certain age it's almost more important that it's someone that can entertain your child as opposed to someone who's you know really really qualified per se [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um but with a with a baby definitely have to be someone who knows how to handle a baby and would know how to respond to an emergency [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so [speaker001:] well um I did a lot of babysitting when I was younger I'm twenty two now and I did most of my babysitting when I was between the ages of thirteen and sixteen but um the only thing people ever asked me well of course they knew I came from a family with younger kids but they really didn't ask me if I was used to children or not the only other thing they asked me is what I would expect in pay [speaker002:] oh uh-huh uh-huh [speaker001:] you know and um I was pretty surprised because if I had a child and someone would you know I would want to know I personally would ask for people that that person has babysit for before [speaker002:] well I my experience I babysit a lot also at when I grew up and um coming from you know that background and the background as a parent now I think the reason that people don't ask a whole lot of questions is a a lot of times babysitters I know I did this with my children it's you get somebody where you kind of know the family already [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and that gives you so much basic knowledge that you don't ask a whole lot of questions [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] because because I had three younger brothers and sisters myself so they they thought okay she knows how to how to treat children [speaker001:] yes well see when um I first got my babysitting my first babysitting job was pretty strange um this lady saw us at church and she was a you you know she was a younger lady she didn't really know my mom she knew my mom by name and that was it and um she knew that I was one of the oldest girls in my family so she just asked my mom if I could babysit [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker001:] you know she really didn't know my name or anything you know and I thought that was pretty strange you know and she had two children one was still in diapers when I started babysitting [speaker002:] wow [speaker001:] so um she pretty much you know just assumed that I would know you know how to handle them so I want you know I enjoy kids and I get along with them very well so there's no problem but uh with today's world and the kids today uh there's no way I can't say that I would just ask someone you know that I didn't know like that to babysit [speaker002:] oh I agree with you but there again she she you know she knew knew of your family and she and she met in a safe setting such as church [speaker001:] um-hum that's true um-hum [speaker002:] so she was going on those two instincts just the same I know myself I never and I was very very protective on who babysit my children [speaker001:] oh I would be too [speaker002:] and and in it it really shocked me because just about six months ago someone came to my front door rang the doorbell she had just moved in the neighborhood she had her daughter with her and the daughter was oh about a second grader and she was actively looking for people who would babysit her child [speaker001:] oh my [speaker002:] and I thought well she doesn't know me or my children from anything and [speaker001:] huh-uh [speaker002:] it was I was almost more reluctant of letting my older children go babysit for her because I didn't know her then she was reluctant of letting strangers into her house [speaker001:] um-hum yes uh-huh [speaker002:] so I mean people are so different [speaker001:] oh I know um well I really I obviously you've never had to look for a day care or anything [speaker002:] well I did I did have um my my child uh in a day care for just a short time and when my oldest was about two and a half and I worked just a part-time job and [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh in in those situations um what I did is I'd I went in and you know I made a few phone calls I went in and visited I asked questions such as how they would discipline a child um that was a concern with me um you know [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you you learn a lot by going in there and they explain they explain to you you know what their day consists of and what their general rules are and um that's you know that's as much as I know you probably could get really good feedback from a lot of other working mothers [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know that have done this over and over again but I [speaker001:] well [speaker002:] go ahead [speaker001:] how did you stumble upon the day care center did you just look it up in a phone book or what was it [speaker002:] um I think lots of people lot I think I went by location for one thing I think most people do that I think you start out with the criteria of [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] you know do I know of anything or do I know anyone who has their child in a day care and [speaker001:] yeah most I would say most people would probably go by word of mouth [speaker002:] right right and then you know I mean even at that you have to consider the logistics of it you know I mean you're not going to take your child south of town if you work north [speaker001:] uh-huh yes exactly [speaker002:] you even if that's the best one in the whole wide world [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] so there there are just so many considerations [speaker001:] um-hum then again did um money come into play with it at all [speaker002:] oh money is always a factor in my life definitely I've never you know I've never had the luxury of not having that be a factor um even in something as important as day care I know if I didn't have that stipulation I would have done things differently [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you know um Montessori school would be something that I would have pursued but that's always a little bit more expensive than what I could look at [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um and I was very very fortunate in that I didn't have to do that on a full-time basis [speaker001:] yes [speaker002:] so and and then when you get you know when you get into the full-time basis day care
[speaker001:] about you but I don't do whole lot [speaker002:] uh I don't do a whole lot mostly I you know build stuff around the house uh kinds of things uh [speaker001:] oh yeah yeah what what have you done [speaker002:] that's um not too much put some chairs and cabinets and stuff back together and you know some book shelves and you know junk like that a little rack to hold the maps and you know mail stuff you know the uh stamps and all that kind of junk in to go hang in the kitchen [speaker001:] yeah right well that's cool I used to do quite a bit when I was a little kid but um recently I haven't done much at all I I did uh I a while back I started refurbishing a piano we've had in our in our family for a long time it's an old antique upright [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] and uh kind of started to do some work with and stuff [speaker002:] sounds like a big project [speaker001:] uh yeah it is and I really haven't had time to do much with it um it's a nice piano but it's just uh it's like uh like the intro said if you had more time and more tools you know but uh other than that I I haven't done a whole lot I did kind of make a coffee table out of a piano bench which was interesting [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um and that worked out pretty well I actually gave that to a friend of mine since I really didn't have much use for it but uh so you you got your house then work out [speaker002:] uh no we're renting a townhouse um so we're just and I just kind of had to have some kind of piddling to do all the time [speaker001:] sure is that what you consider a hobby then for you [speaker002:] excuse me [speaker001:] would that would you consider that a hobby then [speaker002:] um I guess sort of it mainly just you know I've all kind of have something all the time [speaker001:] yeah yeah for me I don't know it's my brother is a is a contractor and he actually does quite a bit of carpentry and wood work [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so I don't see him very often but last time I did we did some stuff he uh he had a job where he's putting in tongue and grooves slaps for a a ceiling actually and so I I helped him do some of that and uh [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and like that but aside from that I'm a I'm a student at the University of Central Florida [speaker002:] uh-huh oh that sounds good [speaker001:] aside from my classes I don't do a lot of uh of woodworking per say I've got a lot of other hobbies but not necessarily that so [speaker002:] yeah I I guess it's kind of depends what your how loose your definition of woodworking is most of the stuff I do is not you know carving or anything like that it's mostly you know sawing stuff you know gluing putting things together that sort of stuff [speaker001:] right I actually would like to do more of it though I kind of get into it it's it's fun to get started on something you know and and actually have a project that you're working on you know [speaker002:] yeah it's a lot of fun to have something that you're doing and uh you know it's when you're done with it there something there too [speaker001:] right you you've actually created something and had input into it [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and also it's it I don't know I don't know about you but it's kind of neat to see something that you can create out wood you know it's like woe [speaker002:] yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] didn't know you could do that but uh and also some of the the little tools and and techniques that that carpenters use um my girlfriend's father is also is also a contractor in terms of carpentry and stuff [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and he'd made her bed and I was actually taking a look at it and some of the stuff uh you could see the techniques that he used to reinforce uh the braces and things like that they're really pretty ingenious and I hadn't seen them anywhere else there were some some um timing Bruce slots there and some things some particular methods that he'd used um which were kind of neat and he's Vietnamese so I'm wondering if if maybe the cultural difference made a made a difference in the way he worked at [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] um I didn't ask him about it but I [speaker002:] could be uh and seems like of uh stuff that people make with wood you know up until a couple of hundred years ago you didn't have a a abundance of iron or steel to join them together with [speaker001:] right yeah they had to kind of use some uh some different renovative kind of techniques to do that with [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] where do you where do you live again [speaker002:] uh the Washington DC area [speaker001:] okay so I'm thinking that's primarily pine trees for the most part in that area [speaker002:] uh not too bad it's about I guess half and a half pine trees and various hard woods of you know [speaker001:] I'm thinking if you were to do something what kind of wood would you most likely use over there and I guess uh really you can get any any wood that's available but I'm thinking in terms of cost pine pine would probably be cheapest there [speaker002:] yeah yeah pine or possibly oak maybe but pine definitely [speaker001:] yeah oak is a lot better I think [speaker002:] yeah yeah making pine seems hardly worth it because it's so soft yeah yeah [speaker001:] it's real soft and and kind of pliable and that's that's not real good but uh [speaker002:] it's easy to work with but usually it doesn't last because it comes apart [speaker001:] yeah I used to live in a before I moved up to Minneapolis I I lived in a a duplex in Orlando and uh that had some work that had to be done with it some of the the door frames and things and uh I did a little bit of that and that was kind of interesting too kind of fun [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] but uh for the most part down there it's it's once again it's pine or oak
[speaker001:] well Myrna how do you get your news news [speaker002:] uh most of it is from the radio uh and also from the news programs that we watch in the afternoon [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah [speaker002:] we usually watch the local news and the the uh national news both [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah I'm pretty much the same I uh I find that uh I'm a graduate student and I I read a lot for school and I find I have no patience to really read a newspaper because I just I'm reading so much all the time and I really enjoy just sitting down and watching a news broadcast [speaker002:] well you can always get up and leave that [speaker001:] uh-huh that that yeah that's true [speaker002:] uh I do I just don't seem to have time to sit down and read the paper either by the time I get home from work [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] it's already you know time for the news to come on [speaker001:] that's right yeah [speaker002:] so it's so much easier to sit there and besides I can be doing other things and still listening to the news [speaker001:] yeah that's right I I agree that's a lot of times I eat while I'm uh watching the news [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] yeah the same thing is there any uh what did you think about the coverage like over in the uh Persian Gulf [speaker002:] I think they did a great job [speaker001:] yeah I thought so too it was it you know for a while when we were really interested uh we saw it all the time some of the stations I guess carried it for twenty four hours for a couple of days there and then you know the special reports and the extended news coverage I thought was really good [speaker002:] uh-huh and you could always find some channel that had something on but you didn't necessarily have to watch the same thing all the time [speaker001:] yeah yeah right yeah just news that's right yeah [speaker002:] yeah I noticed that one thing that that TI did you know they had uh uh they used to have we well they do have television monitors stationed throughout our buildings and they used to have a program called T News and just updates of of different things that were going on within TI well when all the the mess with uh uh [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] in the Persian Gulf came about they started carrying CNN [speaker001:] oh yeah [speaker002:] well now they have had so much good response from this TI now has CNN on all the time [speaker001:] uh-huh huh well that's great [speaker002:] so we can always run upstairs and you know catch get a quickie update on what's going on if we really want to [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah or if you you have a break in the middle of the day you take a coffee break you can always stay informed [speaker002:] yeah yeah [speaker001:] yeah that's really good that's um I've found that when I I don't have cable television anymore uh when I moved went back to graduate school I just didn't have the money to buy get rent a cable TV line or whatever you know so I don't get CNN uh which was a big disappointment I used to watch that was my if I wasn't home I'm a college teacher and sometimes I teach in the evening so I'll miss the evening news and uh you could always catch a good news program at eight o'clock or nine o'clock on CNN I think that's [speaker002:] yes [speaker001:] that really has changed the way um I look at the news [speaker002:] yeah we don't get it either we live out in the country and we just don't have it available out there where we are [speaker001:] uh-huh um-hum [speaker002:] but when we did have it uh we that's what we usually watched the weather stations [speaker001:] um-hum yeah that's uh same yeah that's when I had it I I watched it you know religiously for half an hour and then you could go on you know to do what else you wanted to do yeah I find I read very little I don't even get a regular newspaper and [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and uh because uh I I don't drive that much I only live about a mile from where I go to school and work I uh I find I spend so little time in the radio in the car that I don't really listen to the radio you know I don't so so television is my main news source [speaker002:] oh I get that too because I I'm in a van pool and I'm in the van you know uh two hours a day an yes yes and in the in the morning I try to sleep because it's it's dark thirty [speaker001:] uh-huh oh really to commute to work oh [speaker002:] but in but in the afternoon uh I try to read so I can can uh not pay attention to what our driver is doing [speaker001:] yeah I can the van pools I know that and I'm in the Baltimore Washington area and I know they do van pool a lot here from some of the outer areas but if you want a nicer home you know beyond the suburbs you know I that's necessary [speaker002:] um yeah are are you in Baltimore itself [speaker001:] yeah I am I am right outside Baltimore I am less than a mile from the Baltimore line and I go to a block a campus of the University of Maryland that is just less than a mile from my house [speaker002:] um [speaker001:] so I I'm actually in Baltimore yeah you could say I'm in Baltimore [speaker002:] yeah I have two kids over there [speaker001:] oh really in Baltimore [speaker002:] uh well no in in DC area [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] yeah one works for the State Department and uh uh the other one is uh uh her husband is in the Marines Navy and he's stationed at Bethesda and [speaker001:] uh-huh oh that's that's that's a really nice area Bethesda area uh-huh it's um it's funny there's a big difference between Baltimore and Washington even though they're so close there's only an hour less than that between the two but there is a big difference in things like property values [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um the closer you get to Washington DC the more expensive it is [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] an um the the uh different slant Washington it really is a uh uh an international city where Baltimore is hometown Baltimore you know it there's really uh most people have relocated to the Washington area you know [speaker002:] oh no I'd I'd rather have Baltimore with the home town atmosphere [speaker001:] yeah that's I I like it I like it a little bit better too it's interesting though um to meet different populations I I'm just now being uh from Pittsburgh originally I'm just now meeting different populations like Chinese students and things and I find that really interesting you know to imagine here is somebody that was in China last two years ago when all that was going on in in uh Beijing you know that that's an interesting uh interesting perspective but I I really much much like the hometown area yeah and I think that also goes it's funny you you can watch different news I can watch Washington news or Baltimore news and I really do watch Baltimore news you know that really makes I don't really bother with the Washington station because I just it's so far removed from what I'm interested in [speaker002:] well most of what they're talking about in Washington is is the crime problems that they're having there [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah they in fact they just it was just a big thing recently they've had some terrible problems with Hispanics um they had to impose a curfew that uh in two of the areas in uh in the Washington suburbs the mayor they've gotten rid of that really bad mayor and then uh brought in yeah and then came a woman that's um she's big in the Democratic party [speaker002:] uh-huh I heard about that [speaker001:] so that's good so she has good national ties but she also was um something like a uh state auditor or something like that before this position she was a state auditor I guess she was an auditor general or something like that for the District of Columbia at Washington and then she left that to get a position with the Democratic party and now she ran for mayor so she's uh fiscally she's pretty tight and uh she's cleaning house an and it looks like hopefully she'll do a nice job uh for Washington you know which is you sort of feel sorry for a lot of the people there you know from what I pick up on the news uh it's a difficult process you know to get rid of a a bad mayor [speaker002:] yeah well I know both of my kids didn't want to live anywhere around the the downtown areas they both moved way out [speaker001:] right uh-huh yeah [speaker002:] I think one of them lives in Germantown and I can't remember where the other one lives [speaker001:] yeah but those are nice Germantown is a nice area [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] it's a nice area [speaker002:] yeah it's means they have to drive a little bit but [speaker001:] yeah well they might be car pooling too do they car pool in are they driven by themselves [speaker002:] uh well now I I think he carpools because he's got fairly regular hours since he came back but uh now my daughter has they have probably been carpooling together in fact because she had been called back up active duty [speaker001:] uh-huh uh-huh oh [speaker002:] and then she was supposed to have gotten out of active duty as of last Friday so I haven't talked to them this weekend I don't know what the situation is but she was [speaker001:] um-hum they didn't call you for mother's day [speaker002:] uh we were gone [speaker001:] you weren't home huh [speaker002:] no we weren't home but she had she had left called and left a message on our recorder but I had that from all my kids except for one [speaker001:] yeah oh that's good well I guess we should stop now [speaker002:] so well I thank you for calling I have enjoyed it I really do like this program because I get to talk to people from all over the United States yeah [speaker001:] uh-huh oh good uh uh so do I I've become very aware of different political views because some of the things we have to discuss are very politically motivated or whatever I I really enjoyed it it's it's so funny when you live in one part of the country you only see that perspective it's interesting to see the the wider world so I enjoy it hey thanks a lot and and bye [speaker002:] thank you bye bye
[speaker001:] and uh what part of Virginia um [speaker002:] uh I live down in the south western part of Blacksburg [speaker001:] Blacksburg okay I've been [speaker002:] uh-huh have you ever heard of Virginia Tech [speaker001:] sounds vaguely familiar [speaker002:] VPI [speaker001:] yeah okay [speaker002:] yeah okay that's [speaker001:] yeah I I hadn't been down in that part of the state really [speaker002:] uh-huh okay [speaker001:] so [speaker002:] well we vacation a lot how about you quite frequently [speaker001:] uh I wish we did [speaker002:] well retired early so we're we take trips pretty often [speaker001:] oh okay where all you guys go [speaker002:] well we go to Maine every Fall [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] then that's kind of a family visit and a vacation all up and down the coast [speaker001:] um-hum [speaker002:] and I have a daughter in Texas and one in New Mexico so we go out there and we go to Florida [speaker001:] huh [speaker002:] and down oh we were just out recently at the outer banks of North Carolina [speaker001:] all these places that I've never been [speaker002:] is that right where do you go [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] what type of vacation [speaker001:] well it really depends I mean uh seems like I do a lot in the Midwest lately um my um fiancee's family's from Wisconsin [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and so we've been out there a couple of times and um I uh went to Purdue for a couple of years so I've gone up to Indianapolis on occasion to visit friends [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and um uh I'm a real big baseball fan so I usually try to combine it with uh catching a couple of games somewhere [speaker002:] uh-huh what club do you follow [speaker001:] I'm uh I'm a big Red Sox fan but uh I uh oh you're you're a Red Sox fan too [speaker002:] red sounds good me too yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] uh I usually try to catch whoever's in town though I don't specifically I you know go to Cleveland to see them play the Red the Indians play the Red Sox [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um uh that's about it we don't I mean we do a lot of little trips around here um and um [speaker002:] ever go up in Pennsylvania in the mountains or [speaker001:] not that much we've gone out to um uh a place in western Pennsylvania called Falling Water uh [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] have you ever heard of it [speaker002:] I've heard of it I've never been there [speaker001:] yeah it's it's really neat it's this house built on on a waterfall and it's uh really cool um of course we keep picking crummy weather to go out there uh the first time we went out there was uh the day after hurricane Hugo had come through [speaker002:] uh-huh oh gee [speaker001:] so I mean they they didn't have any power and it was really cold and and rainy and uh we went up about a year later and it was better but not a whole lot better [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] so um where else did we go um we've gone to Richland last year and uh had a good time down there [speaker002:] oh did you did you go down to Williamsburg have you been down there [speaker001:] um my girlfriend has with her sisters but I haven't been down there um I hear that's nice we're going to get down probably down Norfork sometime this Summer just to see why catch a baseball game actually [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh we were down well when we came back from the outer banks we came up due Norfork and spent a night there with a friend in Portsmith and then went to Williamsburg and spent a night [speaker001:] hum spend a day and a lot of money [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] yeah I've heard uh I'm not real interested in Williamsburg because of the of the price attached to it we just we I [speaker002:] yeah but it's a pretty neat town to just go and walk around if you like to walk it's a good town to just walk in [speaker001:] hum yeah we all do that [speaker002:] you can go to the buildings and not go in if you're not [speaker001:] oh okay so I can wander around without [speaker002:] yeah you can wander it's a good town to wander in [speaker001:] oh okay I just have it pay somebody to get into the buildings [speaker002:] that's right [speaker001:] oh okay I didn't know that yeah I think um you know they do the whole with you know paying a ridiculous amount of money to get get into one thing or another but they had a good time so [speaker002:] yeah we didn't do that really this time we just uh visited around [speaker001:] um [speaker002:] we've done it a couple of times and that's enough for us probably another twenty years [speaker001:] um-hum yeah I was um we use it live in California and um my um up up around San Francisco and um there was one year when my father was uh my father's company was starting to to do stuff down in Los Angeles so my father was working down in Los Angeles for like um six months or so um actually I think it was closer I think to a full year and you know we'd he'd fly down there on Mondays and fly back on Fridays well any time we had a school vacation or something like that we went down to Los Angeles so I saw I went to Disneyland about five times in one year and I really have no great urge to go back now [speaker002:] oh that's great as a kid though isn't it I mean [speaker001:] oh it was great because uh well the times that were really fun were when uh we had vacation but the kids in Los Angeles didn't so we basically had run of the park um [speaker002:] uh-huh right [speaker001:] Disneyland I mean there's still a lot of people at Disneyland but there was another um another amusement park down there Busch Gardens um there was nobody there when we were there we got we won a log floating ride like five straight times we just get get done with them and they go oh do you want to go again and we'd say sure [speaker002:] have you ever you've never been down to Epcot at Florida and Disney [speaker001:] no I'd like to sometime but [speaker002:] that's good we we really enjoy that we've been two or three times and probably go back again this winter [speaker001:] yeah I've never been the farthest south I've been on the East Coast is Charlotte so I um keep wanting to get south further you know I thought I would go to Florida a couple summers ago but never did it [speaker002:] oh uh-huh Charleston is a really nice place to visit [speaker001:] my um my sister lives in Charlotte and they've gone to Charleston a couple of times and had a real good time [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah it's a real pretty place [speaker001:] um yeah one of these days we'll get down there although I don't know when we're going to have vacation to do it we're um we're planning getting married in about a year and our honeymoon we're going up to this um [speaker002:] oh are you [speaker001:] um place in Wisconsin called Door County it's up by Green Bay it's a place my girlfriend's also wanted to go and um [speaker002:] uh-huh or is it on uh one of the lakes [speaker001:] it's um uh I don't if you've ever seen a map of Wisconsin but there's kind of like a little a little thing sticking out uh in the Lake Michigan that's Door County [speaker002:] uh-huh oh okay that would yeah that would be really nice [speaker001:] so yeah they call it the Cape Cod of the uh the Midwest so um [speaker002:] oh [speaker001:] we're thinking that'll be a lot of fun she um she had this uh book of pictures from it that were really nice kind of like a travel guide [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh sounds good [speaker001:] so um that that should be a lot of fun [speaker002:] well I don't know what our next trip will be I guess our next well I know what my next trip I'm going to be a grandmother in July [speaker001:] ooh oh boy [speaker002:] the first the first one so my next trip is going to be to Texas [speaker001:] oh that'll be fun [speaker002:] yeah in the middle in the middle of the summer [speaker001:] well yeah you won't even notice it though [speaker002:] well they'll be air-conditioning anyway so [speaker001:] yeah is that is that how you got into this uh this you know uh on the data base [speaker002:] yeah my daughter's working as a temp at Texas Instruments and working on this project [speaker001:] oh okay yeah I was I was just I mean most of the people I've talk to are from are from Texas so when I you know when I heard you were from Virginia I was like oh okay there's somebody different and you said oh I got somebody down in Texas I go okay that the connection right there [speaker002:] uh-huh that's it yeah I talked to one in California I never asked him the other day how he was connected I don't think he was TI employee [speaker001:] um I um most people talk to Texas there's been a couple of other the people um most of whom are like me that work in in speech labs that are going to use data base eventually [speaker002:] oh I see [speaker001:] so um it was fun I actually yesterday I ended up talking to somebody else from the same lab I'm in [speaker002:] is that right well we spent last week end in Charlotte with real good friends that had just moved to back East from Oklahoma and she's uh working on this project too I mean she's talking [speaker001:] ooh um-hum [speaker002:] on the project too and uh we got back Monday and I got a call yesterday and it was her on TI Network [speaker001:] um-hum uh that's neat I haven't uh I haven't had something like that happen just uh just getting the one guy from the lab [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] um you're sure have a nice town uh my uh sister lives on Lake Norman [speaker002:] oh does she yeah that's nice out there [speaker001:] just yeah um we keep wanting to get down there and visit them over the summer and it's never really works out [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah it's real pretty [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] well [speaker001:] traffic not much else we do for vacation really uh just so we don't haven't been able to take really any [speaker002:] are you a golfer no me either [speaker001:] no no are you guys golfers or [speaker002:] no huh-uh nope [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] not too much into sports [speaker001:] except our outside though [speaker002:] just walking that's all [speaker001:] oh I don't think there are any trying to think if there are any minor league teams down in that area and I'm know real sure there are um [speaker002:] no professionals [speaker001:] when um I was thinking I might be minor league but [speaker002:] oh there's one in Salem Salem Rebels [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] Salem Rebels [speaker001:] hum [speaker002:] Buccaneers oh okay [speaker001:] Buccaneers yeah um yeah I maybe seeing them um in a town just west of here Frederick has a um has a minor league team that plays in the same league with Salem and uh I think we may be seeing them this weekend [speaker002:] oh is that right up there in Frederick uh-huh [speaker001:] yeah I think they're out of town yeah um that's a nice little town actually Frederick um [speaker002:] I've never been up there I've never visited Baltimore I'd like to go just sight see a little bit sometime [speaker001:] oh there's there's some nice things in Baltimore you know the Inner Harbor and the uh the Aquarium and all that are very nice um they've just done a um you known I you know the Aquarium is one of those things that you know because everybody [speaker002:] uh-huh
[speaker001:] think about [speaker002:] uh taxes well I think they're a necessary evil uh I wish the government would operate on the same premise that uh businesses operate on and that is uh [speaker001:] you spend what you have and [speaker002:] you you don't spend more than you than you bring in [speaker001:] yeah I think that the general idea is to spend you know spend uh during a time of recession that you know for the deficit spending to help pick up the economy but they're running under the assumption you know the way they're running it now they're have you know running it under a deficit spending you know while we're not under a recession so there's never any surplus coming in to counter the deficit that we're running so that's kind of a basic thing of economics I guess keep spending keep going into debt you're not going to payoff what you owe so I guess the the question was more like uh do you get what you pay for you know get what you pay for [speaker002:] well I it just depends uh uh roads are very expensive uh commodity and so is uh utilities they supply and police and fire department uh you know they need to make a living [speaker001:] yeah and there's [speaker002:] so I think for for for many years uh we've paid teachers and police officers and firemen who are uh to a great extent public servants [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh we have not paid them really what they're worth in what they contribute to society [speaker001:] I agree with that [speaker002:] but uh then again uh it's the hard to justify with all the wastefulness of money that the government spends on all levels of of uh government including municipalities as well as state and federal governments [speaker001:] I guess I'm I'm a student right now and I don't make a whole lot of money and so I I kind of don't pay a proportionate amount of taxes to I guess uh compared to what I get because I you know all my my education is state sponsored I go to a state sponsored school and uh my education all up through high school and stuff so I guess I'm kind of in debt I I suppose because I don't you know been paying taxes all that all that long my parents I guess however however however have contributed to that you know for the education side of it and everything but uh I usually end up getting money back I will this year anyway from a [speaker002:] uh you're very fortunate we just try not to pay any more in than we have to uh we pay in a substantial amount uh [speaker001:] yeah I am I need it too otherwise things uh-huh [speaker002:] we don't regret paying taxes we do think that uh sometimes uh we have a reverse of a regressive tax a progressive tax [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and progressive tax I think uh does not give people incentive to make more money and what I mean by that the more income you make the more tax you pay [speaker001:] more taxes you pay [speaker002:] it should be I think a flat percentage and uh that percentage ought to be an equitable amount [speaker001:] uh-huh isn't [speaker002:] uh last year when they passed the tax laws for the nineteen ninety ninety one whatever nineteen ninety one [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh I added up all the taxes that we were going to pay on all these different specific luxury items and travel expenses and everything else [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I totaled them all up and basically uh we were going to be paying seventy or eighty percent tax [speaker001:] wow [speaker002:] now that was the assumption that you spent that same dollar for every for every item on there [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] even though there's uh taxes on different things but you know there's federal there's a lot of taxes you pay that you're not even aware of that you're paying uh like when you buy a tire you pay a federal excise tax [speaker001:] well isn't uh-huh there's a lot yeah lot of hidden taxes [speaker002:] you pay gasoline taxes every time you pump something into your your tank [speaker001:] uh-huh the taxes that people don't think about that yeah the the the income tax is a lot more visible portion of the taxes you pay I guess [speaker002:] but you probably pay more percentage wise in other taxes [speaker001:] uh-huh there was that which candidates was it Jerry Brown one of the democratic candidates had a proposal for doing away with all the the tax codes they have now and implementing a flat I think a flat percentage something like that [speaker002:] yeah if you implemented implemented a flat percentage it would encourage people uh to make more money and the what people need to understand in my opinion now this is just my opinion okay uh is that businesses create jobs and jobs create income and income pays taxes and so if they penalize businesses business people are smart enough to say here's my break point I'm not going to work any harder and make any more or create any more jobs [speaker001:] uh-huh right exactly that's because until like eight [speaker002:] and so based on that who do you think you're talking to you're talking to an employer [speaker001:] up until like eighty five or something was the
[speaker002:] so uh let's see what what was the topic I forgot oh oh we are supposed to talk [speaker001:] advice for people taking for parents uh help their kids through college [speaker002:] yeah do you have any children [speaker001:] no I just graduated from college yes [speaker002:] oh did you where did you go [speaker001:] I went to Clarion [speaker002:] Clarion [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] huh uh would you I mean if you had children would you want them to go to a certain place or [speaker001:] um I would want them to make that decision and I would you know uh I pretty much made my decision on my own and my brother older brother likewise [speaker002:] yeah uh-huh [speaker001:] and uh you know we we were both pretty much happy with what we did so I think I would not push them towards any one place [speaker002:] yeah uh-huh yeah I know I kind of feel the same way I I just finished college a couple years ago and I uh you know it was while I had my family and everything and it was a lot harder but uh you know I went to a college that was fairly local and I feel like my education you know you get out of it what you put into it I think [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but you know I know it's some people are real adamant about you know going to a certain school or whatever [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I do not know I guess it a lot of it would depend on maybe what your major was or something I do not know but [speaker001:] yeah exactly I think one of the first things kids ought to look for is first of all they have to decide what they want to major in and then you know find a school that's good for that [speaker002:] but uh-huh yeah is that why you picked the school you did or [speaker001:] well I picked it for a couple of reasons it was only about an hour and ten minutes away from home so it was far enough away that I was away but yet close enough if I ever wanted to go home I could [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah yeah [speaker001:] uh [speaker002:] so you lived there at school then [speaker001:] pardon me [speaker002:] you lived there at school [speaker001:] yeah I lived up at school yeah [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] uh another reason was uh I paid for my entire education so I had to look for something that I could afford economically you know [speaker002:] uh-huh right [speaker001:] you know and uh Clarion was oh it was roughly around six thousand a year [speaker002:] uh-huh and that was for tuition and [speaker001:] yeah that was for everything and now I did not go out a lot and I did not order out a lot and I you know I did not spend money on myself [speaker002:] uh-huh uh-huh [speaker001:] but uh then again I was there for school so [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] uh and then another reason was I was not sure you know I always wanted to go to school for nursing and then at the last minute I changed my mind [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and I knew that Clarion was known you know for two things actually for their they are known as a teacher's school [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and also for their business so that's what I ended up going for is for business uh-huh [speaker002:] for business so uh are you working somewhere then or [speaker001:] no no not yet I am moving shortly so I am not looking around here [speaker002:] oh I see where are you going to move to [speaker001:] uh Maryland uh-huh [speaker002:] oh are you do you have friends there or [speaker001:] my fiancee is down there [speaker002:] oh I see so does he work for a company down there [speaker001:] yeah he works for the government [speaker002:] oh I see oh the big company [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] so yeah I I have been working for TI for about twelve years I guess so [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but I am not originally I am originally from Illinois but you know I have gone to college I guess a few different places but I think you know most for the most part you know the teachers have been pretty good and I have got out of it what I have what I have put into it [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] so but you know I think I think that's most of it personally but that's why I you know with my kids I think that you know I am just going to encourage them to go and I am going to try to help them financially but uh I think you know financially I am there's only so much I can do for them and I will say here's what you have got you can either you know go a couple of years locally and you know then if you want to move off to a more expensive school then we might be able to handle it but [speaker001:] exactly uh-huh [speaker002:] otherwise you can just go for four years you know somewhere and I will try to try to help you but uh I do not know you know the financial end of it like you said I put my wife through school too of course TI paid for a lot of the tuition and books and stuff but uh it still was a challenge to do and uh so I think you know financially that's that's one of the big aspects [speaker001:] exactly yeah [speaker002:] you know you [speaker001:] it does have a lot of bearing on it whether you are paying for yourself or whether your parents are you know [speaker002:] right yeah well did you uh since you were paid for school yourself do you think you had a different outlook on it like your grades and things like that [speaker001:] uh yeah because I was paying for it myself I kind of slacked off because I felt it was mine and I could do with it what I wanted [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] I think if my parents would have paid for it they would have been on me you know [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] uh they pretty much got to the point well well you know you are at that age and you are going to have to decide what you want to do if you goof up it's your fault it's not ours you know [speaker002:] right right [speaker001:] and then lets me go and I mean I did not do poorly I finished with a two five that's not that wonderful either [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah [speaker001:] but uh you know I I I mean I worked I did not you know goof around I worked it was just harder you know it was I do not know I was used to being you know on top and when I started there it was like you are mediocre so [speaker002:] yeah right yeah well see I think you know I have known a lot of people that would go to school and their parents paid for it and and I guess it depends on the way you are raised too but if you if you grow to expect that you know you kind of go there as sort of a vacation [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] you know I that's the way a lot of my friends did it and you know they were not they did not take it very serious I know I took it real serious because I did not start to college until you know [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] I was about eight or ten years and uh you know out of what I should have been in school [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but uh you know so I think that helped me be real serious about it and I I ended up graduating with like a three point six [speaker001:] oh wow that's really good [speaker002:] yeah so I you know and that was hard cause I had two kids and you know a family and everything else so I had a lot of different hats to wear all at the same time but [speaker001:] uh-huh yeah see well I screwed myself up also there was a point in time that I decided that I did not want to in school and my parents never pushed me until my dad just said what are you going to do and I said well I am going to go because I have not whipping butter the rest of my life you know [speaker002:] yeah you are right exactly [speaker001:] so I went and I just took business well being as I was paying for it myself you know I just kept you do not get into your major until like your second or third year [speaker002:] uh-huh right [speaker001:] and I am going into my third year and I decided well I do not want to do accounting anymore right [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] and I thought oh my God I am paying for this myself I am not switching completely because I will put myself a year behind so I switched to finance and I liked it better [speaker002:] right yeah [speaker001:] and I pulled myself from a two oh to a two five you know in my last year my senior year [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah [speaker001:] but I would have really liked to go on uh secondary ed with math education but it was just the fact I was paying for it myself I was not going to put myself behind another year [speaker002:] uh-huh right right well my my wife was sort of in the same situation she was she went to school to be a teacher just because she did not really know what else to go for [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and she did not realize until she got to be a senior and was doing her student teaching that she did not like it [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] but you know by then she had practically got her degree so so you know [speaker001:] exactly I think if uh I would have went with the math I think I would have done a lot better because I was more interested and that's what I I knew that's what I wanted [speaker002:] uh-huh [speaker001:] but uh I think a lot of kids that hold off a year or two oh my gosh I would like to see the results on a study done I think they would do a lot better because they are more focused [speaker002:] uh-huh yeah [speaker001:] they know exactly what they want to do [speaker002:] yeah I think I think you are right when you pull yourself away and then you get out and you say man I really need this [speaker001:] uh-huh
[speaker001:] Uh, what sort of camping do you like to do the most? [speaker002:] Uh, well, I, I do, uh, real rough type camping. I have a motor home [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Huh, rough type, huh [LAUGHTER]? [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Yeah. [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Uh. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah, motor homes can be a lot of fun. [speaker002:] Yeah, they really are. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] They really are. I've, I've enjoyed it. I've never actually done any, uh, like tent camping, but, uh, one of these days I'm going to try that, too. [speaker001:] Uh, that can be a lot of fun, too. [speaker002:] Yeah, like to go visit, uh, the national parks and state parks and, and, uh, just get out and see nature. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] How about you? [speaker001:] Well, so far my wife and I have pretty much had to stick with tent camping. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] This summer we went to, uh, the Smokey Mountain [NOISE] National Park. [speaker002:] Oh, how great. [speaker001:] And, uh, stayed about three or four days in there. It was wonderful. [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] Nights were cool enough to where they're comfortable. [speaker002:] Um. [speaker001:] And the days were nice and warm and, it was beautiful, beautiful few days. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. That's great. [speaker001:] It worked out particularly well, especially considering she was, what, six months pregnant. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] So [LAUGHTER], [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] I don't know, it worked pretty well. It was one of those, uh, those, dome type pop up tents. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh. [speaker001:] Nice and quick and easy to put up. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Packs away nice and small and, about had to be something like that getting around in a Pinto. [speaker002:] Well, that's true, that's true. [speaker001:] It was a lot of fun. [speaker002:] I guess the last real, uh, camping trip I took was, has been a couple years ago. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah? [speaker002:] Uh, I went to California up to the Sequoias. [speaker001:] Wow, that's got to be beautiful territory. [speaker002:] Yeah, it's gorgeous, I love the big trees. Just, just the drive up through, uh, up the coast line [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and then cut over in, into the, into the parks, it's gorgeous, though. [speaker001:] What, like, Sequoia National Park? [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Uh. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, yeah, I had been there before when I lived in California, but that's my first trip back in, oh, goodness, um, um, thirty years maybe [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But, that is God's country, it has to be. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Do they still have the, uh, the scenic, uh, roadways that cut through the center of some of those trees? [speaker002:] Uh, no, they don't, they, the last one, well, the first time I was there, the, the tree was still standing, but it has since come down. [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] Yeah. But, they are huge. If you've never seen them, it's, it's very awe inspiring. [speaker001:] No, so far, New Orleans is far west as I've gotten. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] Well, New Orleans and, uh, Minneapolis. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, well, there is lots of pretty country further west. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] We're hoping one of these days soon after we're out of school to head that way. [speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah, and you just need to take the little one. [speaker001:] Oh, yeah. [speaker002:] Show them all the, all the pretties before they go away. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] They seem to be trailing out quickly. [speaker002:] Yeah [sniffing], because there is lots to see [NOISE]. There is, course, the [NOISE] the Grand Canyon and, uh, the Painted Desert is, is real pretty, [baby crying] in a different sort of way. [speaker001:] Yes. [speaker002:] And, course, the, the Sequoias and the Redwoods and [breathing], and you get up into Bryce Canyon and Yellowstone and, uh, the Grand Tetons are gorgeous, too. [speaker001:] I imagine. [speaker002:] Yeah, [speaker001:] I would imagine they are. [speaker002:] Course, I, I guess I'm partial to big tree country. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I don't know why I got stuck down here in Texas now [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I think it's called a job, I don't know [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Uh, not a whole lot of forestry down there, is there? [speaker002:] No [LAUGHTER], not around here. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] Not around here [NOISE]. [speaker001:] Place is forested with c-, with those concrete trees. [speaker002:] Uh-huh, lot, lot of concrete and glass, you know. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Well, I guess that's God's place, too. Anyway, [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] Uh, what do you figure has been the longest trip you've taken camping? [speaker002:] Uh, probably the, the last one that I went to California I took, uh, three weeks. [speaker001:] Three weeks. [speaker002:] And I was actually on the road a little more than three weeks. [speaker001:] Yeah, the whole family, then, was [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] in on this? [speaker002:] Everybody [LAUGHTER]. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yep. [speaker001:] That would have to be a blast. [speaker002:] Yeah, it really was, it was great. [speaker001:] What, well, you went out from Texas up in, into that area? [speaker002:] Uh-huh, yeah. We went, uh, we took the southern route and went, went through, uh, uh, the Grand Canyon, again and we stopped at, uh, uh, Las Vegas for a couple of nights, and then, uh, went into Malibu in California over on the coast. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And then we went up the, the Big Sur Highway all the way up to San Francisco. [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] And, uh, and then cut across through the wine country. [speaker001:] Oh, wow. [speaker002:] And then went down to, to, uh, Sequoia National Park. [speaker001:] Okay, Big Sur Highway, that's, uh, where you're pretty much in view of the ocean almost all the time [speaker002:] Oh, yeah. [speaker001:] aren't you?
[speaker001:] happen to know what the laws are in Texas [speaker002:] uh capital punishment is uh you know accepted an accepted punishment it it's legal [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh there are uh there have been a number of executions over the last few years [speaker001:] hum [speaker002:] uh they drag you know the the appeals drag on interminably it seems sometimes um personally I kept I keep thinking that if I could be guaranteed that the people who perpetrate some of these vicious crimes were never allowed free then I would not be in favor of capital punishment but when [speaker001:] oh I see what you're saying [speaker002:] but uh when I know that uh they could be paroled and go right back to doing what they did before I I feel decidedly uneasy uneasy about it [speaker001:] huh [speaker002:] what about New York [speaker001:] well in New York I'm not quite sure but what sounds familiar to me is that it's it's not legal except in cases of murder of police officers [speaker002:] uh-huh okay [speaker001:] I might be mistaken but that's what sounds familiar to me [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so uh so we don't hear about it [speaker002:] well yeah [speaker001:] I was visiting in California recently and apparently they over about two weeks ago they just executed one fellow [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] it is legal there but they they always put it off and put it off and they finally for the first time in twenty five years executed someone [speaker002:] yes um-hum yes [speaker001:] so that was quite the news [speaker002:] I remember reading about that um [speaker001:] is it only usually in cases of murder sort of an eye for an eye kind of thing [speaker002:] it's uh it's more than that I think it's a capital murder uh where uh there there was an intent to do other harm as well you know where you you engaged in another felony like robbery at at the same time that you murdered someone [speaker001:] okay I know there's a a subtle subtle difference between manslaughter and murder [speaker002:] yes [speaker001:] I guess you can commit manslaughter by running somebody over by accident that kind of thing [speaker002:] by accident yes uh-huh that's my understanding of it uh but that uh murder is something that you do intentionally [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] uh [speaker001:] I don't know it just seems to me that everybody wants to know if they do something what's going to happen to them [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] I substitute teach and I have kids who talk fresh don't do homework and they say so what's going to happen to me and and people getting less and less respect and they understand they know that the bottom line is not very much is going to happen to them [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] so if I could be sure that the people who are sentenced to execution absolutely did it because you know during the with the jury system you're not quite sure [speaker002:] um-hum no you're not [speaker001:] you know I I I'd feel comfortable with it if I knew absolutely certainly that this person actually murdered someone [speaker002:] um-hum um-hum or [speaker001:] but I I think the reason we don't go for it is because we're afraid that we might be making a mistake and you can't fix it [speaker002:] that's right and and it's a terrible thing to do uh and the world our world seems to become more and more violent all the time by the way I'm a public school administrator so [speaker001:] okay well did you do you find that the kids are changing and they they don't they they don't respect authority anymore [speaker002:] oh at all they they do not respect authority uh they kill for fun [speaker001:] I [speaker002:] uh they shoot guns for amusement after parties um [speaker001:] hum well the guns are legal where you are it's quite a to do to get a gun around here legally that is [speaker002:] yes well it it's not it's not legal to carry a handgun in Texas but no it's not you can have it in your home [speaker001:] oh I didn't know that okay [speaker002:] or in your car if you're traveling from one city to another [speaker001:] oh okay that clears that [speaker002:] but uh rifles shotguns those sorts of guns are legal [speaker001:] um-hum well they can do just as much damage [speaker002:] oh yes it's just that they're harder to hide [speaker001:] that's true [speaker002:] but I do I feel decidedly uneasy about the judicial system in our country now not only because we can't be sure that the jury you know has made the right decision that the person who did it's really guilty or really isn't guilty and yet I feel very uncomfortable about the numbers of people who are paroled put back on the streets and within a few months are raping and killing other people
[speaker002:] the space program seems to have run into a little bit of a snag funding wise anyway they've decided the space station's not may not be worth it and uh they're going to fight over that for a few years it seems and uh just the idea of flight uh the shuttle system and what they thought they could do and what they're ending up doing and the complexity and the seeming uh number of errors and breakdowns and problems they're having with it uh it may not be common thing all too soon and even if they ever do get it common uh or get it to where you know the a large percentage or even a a one to two percent of of a given nation ends up in space for for some reason or another um they haven't solved and I don't know if they can solve the problem that weightlessness has extended weightlessness has on the human body I mean [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] we can do all we want as far as technology goes but if a human can't stand to be up there then what good does is it to have the station that for extended stays if you can't stand an extended stay [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] so I don't know if uh if all the monies that are being spent on it uh really should be spent with the idea of uh or with the goal of of the space station or of claiming a sector of space or having defense out in space I don't mind spending the money from the standpoint of uh basically government funded uh research and development and you know it's tends to create jobs our our economy tends to be uh based on a lot of a lot of that lately of course it really wreaks havoc with the economy when the government decides to shut down things like bases and and uh like Carswell and things of that nature [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] so what do you think about the the uh whole space program as it were [speaker001:] uh well I'm I'm kind of with you they've they've definitely run into some problems and I think it's it's some it's it's due to their own shortsightedness uh perhaps the trying to do too much too quickly uh and you know they take take some I think that they thought thought that they were going to get a lot more done quickly than they then they really did they didn't think out all of the the variables that uh that might crop up and then they've been hit with a lot of those uh a lot of I think they've had a lot of poorer management poor management here in the past uh several years no no clearly defined goals uh uh a and and goals that are that were obtainable you know they they they needed to look at the long long range picture I think that that [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] uh the Soviets have have done a better job of that you know they they were very uh they were limited so much in their technology and but they because of that they they tended to say what we're going to do what we do and continue to do it and do it over the long haul and so that's what they've done and they've they've uh you know they they've had a man in space in space for you know a quite a long time you know in in in in the different space stations that they've had and uh so that that you know that's been good for them they've learned a lot and they've they've made some achievements in in that respect but they've they've been [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] doing it very slowly and very long range you know [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] and we haven't done that we tend to to look at uh a big uh a big project that we like to to have done you know you know do the shuttle thing and and and have it as a you know a space transport system you know up in the next ten years and you can't do that you know I mean it's just not not feasible feasible but you know the Americans uh American publics doesn't like to sit back and wait you know ten years for something to get developed and and put up with with especially with funding the way it is yeah [speaker002:] right [speaker001:] uh I uh I think there are definite benefits from from the from the process of of creating space projects you know we you know we've seen that in terms of computers and and the the myriad of different uh technological advances but uh like you say you have to kind of weigh that as to what is it worth in the long you know for for the overall uh picture uh how much we willing to to put out for to have Teflon on our on our our cooking pans and [speaker002:] right you know you really don't want the economy to or the space program to become a too large percentage of the economy so that when something catastrophe some catastrophe does occur and it does have to be curtailed you you don't gut the economy sort of like the defense industry problem has has occurred uh as as needs changed in the defense world then [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] you go and cut back on your spending and it cripples whole sections of the nation as it were with the lack of jobs and lack of whatever else you do that with the space program and now as complex and as many different directions as they're being tugged with technology uh they want to be so big that if we ever did allow that um uh we're liable to be in the same boat and once these contracts are finished or if the space pra platform disintegrated for whatever reason uh maybe there'd be that many thousands of jobs that were supplying prats you know parts to that that weren't there anymore you'd have to go back to the jobs that needed to [speaker001:] right right [speaker002:] be there when that was being created instead of being sustained and you know you you can't have uh a quarter of the economy resting on one little project up there so it it gets kind of complicated when you start talking getting that big plus you get so many different directions uh not being limited by technology here in the US but being limited by the whims of changing funding uh it needs even that much more or or better management from uh the NASA people to keep a clear goal and a relatively a reasonable one in sight as it were [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] so I don't know it's a it's a complex issue but [speaker001:] you know I I mean I would love to see you know big things like that happen I mean I've you know I've I went through the entire and I grew up in that early sixties you know big big boom of [speaker002:] um-hum [speaker001:] of uh you know all those Mercury and Gemini and uh Apollo shots and and and was real caught up in that and would love to see something big happen you know I'd like to see that that occur but you like you say it's it's a it is it is a drain and you don't it would cost an enormous amount of money to put that up yeah put something up like a space station that would work and really really be beneficial for us and uh I don't I don't know it's if it's worth it [speaker002:] well they keep talking about uh the space station the biggest thing they want to do up there is is test out different manufacturing techniques uh in weightlessness but are these I I never could quite figure out whether these techniques were something that could be done [speaker001:] yeah [speaker002:] uh uh simulated or we learn enough about it to do it down here on earth or are we talking about having to build some sort of a station that is going to produce these products and how much could you really produce in a lab up there uh I don't I don't really guess I understand what they're going to do unless they're going to turn out product from that
[speaker001:] Hello [speaker002:] Hi [speaker001:] Hi, [speaker002:] My name's Ken, [speaker001:] Hi Ken, my name's Diane. [speaker002:] And, um, you're in Texas, right? [speaker001:] Yes, I'm in San Antonio. [speaker002:] Everybody's in Texas. God, [speaker001:] [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] I'm in Rochester, New York. Everybody else but one has been in Texas. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] Okay, well I guess we should get on with this. [speaker001:] Okay. [speaker002:] Um, did you get the message about what it was, right. [speaker001:] Yes. [speaker002:] Okay, go ahead, I'm going to hit the button [beep]. Okay, um, do you think that the Soviet Union represents a threat to us? [speaker001:] I think they'll always represent a threat wheth-, whether or not there's an active cold war or not. Uh, it's, it's a totally different economy based on different beliefs, and, and, uh, different priorities, and, uh, given the, the, uh, military powers on both sides, I think it's always a threat. [speaker002:] That's interesting. I don't, I, I suspect they're not our biggest threat anymore. [speaker001:] Probably not, no. [speaker002:] I suspect it's probably some crazy man like Saddam Hussein [speaker001:] Right. [speaker002:] who's our biggest threat, but, um, I wonder if they're, I wonder how much of a threat they are. I agree with you that, that they'll always be somewhat of a threat given that they have, that there's just, it's just so big, and there's just so much military machine there. [speaker001:] Uh-huh, and, and it's recognized that the two great powers [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] are us and them, and, and the great powers are always pitted against each other. [speaker002:] But I wonder how much longer they're going to be a them. [speaker001:] I don't know [LAUGHTER]. They, they're going downhill pretty steady. [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] But I, I agree right now they're not, I don't believe they're a large threat right now. I think there's always some threat. [speaker002:] Yeah, oh, I agree. I mean, if we were to, if, if something were to happen, I'm sure they would all of a sudden band together just for the sake of, for the sake of, uh, of, of unity against us or something [speaker001:] Yeah, [speaker002:] if, if, if need be. But, [speaker001:] Actually I feel kind of sorry for them right now, because the people are, are, are, uh, wanting things that we have that they're not allow-, I mean, just some basic freedoms, and, and their government is not allowing it, and Gorbachev seems to be going back on some of the things that he's been trying to push. [speaker002:] Yeah, actually I noticed this I mean, this, this, this most recent scare of his, where he said, or he just decided that instead of having, uh, instead of having, I can't think of the word now, [speaker001:] [Noise]. [speaker002:] if there are any demonstrations for, in favor of Boris Yeltsin, he decided, well, I'll just cancel all demonstrations altogether. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] So, I, I, I think that, he, he, he's actually, he, I think, is becoming very dangerous [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] because he's making those people angry at him, and he's also, I think he's also making, um, the military angry at him. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I mean, I've heard stories now where the, where the, um, the military is running around, and they're sort of getting restless, and a restless military is the kind of thing that happens, you know like with the Baltic states when they just go in there [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] divvy the people up. [speaker001:] See, I'm concerned that, that since he's banned demonstrations altogether, that he's going to do the type of thing that happened in Tiananmen Square, and he's going to wipe out, no telling how many of his [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] own countrymen, uh, right in the middle of Red Square, and, uh, it's going to cause a, more civil war than is already occurring. [speaker002:] That's interesting. I, I wonder, I don't know if he's, he, he seems, the thing about Gorbachev strikes that he wouldn't be that dumb [LAUGHTER]. I don't know though. [speaker001:] I don't know. I mean, and it, it might be something that he wouldn't be able to control. [speaker002:] That's, that, that's something that really true sort of a military thing I was speaking of before. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] That's, that's certainly true. I mean, his military may just go out and say, Well, we just, Gorbachev said you can't do it, and we're to not let you do it, you know. So. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] Yeah, that, that's real scary, actually. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I mean, I, I, I would expect their own problems would keep them away from us for a while, but it could be real dangerous. [speaker001:] Yeah, we've got our own worries at the moment. [speaker002:] Yeah, right, we don't need to worry about them. [speaker001:] I guess as long as, uh, they're fighting each other, we don't have to worry about them wasting their time with us. [speaker002:] Yeah, but wouldn't it be nice if no one had to fight anybody else. [speaker001:] Well, sure, that, but that's a, that's an impossibility, I think [speaker002:] Yeah. [speaker001:] given the differences in the world, and people are just too different. [speaker002:] Well, I don't, I don't know. I think that un-, underlying we're all pretty, probably not as, as different as everybody thinks. [speaker001:] But unfortunately, people, people aren't that insightful. [speaker002:] Right. Well, that's, that's certainly true of it. [speaker001:] They just see that this guy prays differently and to someone else than I do. So, therefore, he's wrong and he's bad, and we have to wipe, wipe him out. [speaker002:] That's true. I was, I was discussing with someone before, um, this, someone before, actually one of these calls [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] matter of fact about another topic, but it came up, one of these calls [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] matter of fact, about, um, another topic, but it came up, one of these, this, this poem, Everything I Wanted to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, or something. [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] You've read that one before. [speaker001:] No, I haven't read it. I've heard all about it, though. [speaker002:] That, this, this is the idea that I think is actually very, is, is, what I think we should all revert to. The idea that, um, basically they said, everything happened in kindergarten, and in kindergarten we learned to share, and we learned to, um, play with each other, we learned to take nap, and to take naps, and whenever we'd start a fight we'd all apologize and hug each other [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] you know, and that would be all. If we could just do the same thing sort of, with, with, with everybody else, I suspect we'd, we'd be fine. [speaker001:] Yes, but people grow up, and they forget. [speaker002:] Yeah, unfortunately. [speaker001:] Well. [speaker002:] Because I often, I often sort of wonder how, having never been to the Soviet Union, um, how different the people there really are, you know. How much, [speaker001:] That's one of the places I would most like to go. Not right now, of course [speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Yeah. [speaker001:] but at some point I would like to go to Moscow and, and, to, just to see all these things that you can see on television now and can read about that ten years ago we didn't have this kind of information [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] and we didn't know what things were like. So. [speaker002:] I would, I would love to go there. {E I mean, like, again, not now, but at some point, } to go see what, what this is like, I mean, this, this is amazing, because, this is, this is an, this is an example of an entirely different culture that wants to be like us. Like you said before, so it would be interesting to watch. [speaker001:] Yeah, I and, I, the, the people. I just feel so sorry for the people in the country, that they can't, I mean, they, they can't do any-, they can't change it. They try they, and they, there's nothing that they can do. [speaker002:] Yeah, that's, that's and the ones I even feel somewhat worse for, even, um, the ones in like the Baltic states [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] where they don't have a strong leader, then, you know, at least, at least Russia has some sort of strong leader. I mean they have Yeltsin who may, who may yet sort of help Russia. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] But, um, I mean, the Baltic states, I think, are just sort of trapped. I mean, they were taken over couple, you know, not too long ago [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] and then just sort of told, well, you're here now, you're part of our country. You be this way. It's a, I think it's a sad state of affairs, but. [speaker001:] It's, it's probably not dissimilar from the, uh, what are they, the, the, the, I'm trying to think of the name of the, the, something like that in Northern Iraq [speaker002:] Oh, yeah, yeah. [speaker001:] who are actually countrymen of, I mean, some of them were split off into Israel, I believe, and some of them are in Turkey [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] when actually they, they don't, they're their own people and their beliefs and their own culture system. [speaker002:] Right. [speaker001:] And they were split up into three different countries. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Yeah, well, yeah, and that. [speaker001:] And, and they're very dissatisfied, and they're, they're causing wars right now, and I don't think it's that different from what the Baltic states are, are going through. [speaker002:] Um, um, um, uh, actually it sounds very, I mean, very similar. They're sort of being, they were sort of forced, and now they just want to sort of speak up and say Hey, we want our piece. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] And they have like a problem, they have Muslims to deal with [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] as well as Saddam Hussein. I, I mean I think their big problem up there is, you know, unfortunately, not only are they vic-, there's more than one group fighting for the same place. They all want the, you know, whereas the Baltics are saying, Oh, we want our own. We just want this little tiny piece of land. [speaker001:] Yeah. The, the one that I think, one of the wom-, women that I work for is married to an Iranian, and so she has a lot of insight, because she knows a lot of the history [speaker002:] Uh-huh. [speaker001:] of the countries over there, and within five or six countries there are probably ten cultures of people, [speaker002:] Yes, yes. [speaker001:] And that's, they don't all have their own country, and, and some of them are mad about it [LAUGHTER]. [speaker002:] Uh-huh. Um, actually, my wife is Syrian, so I, I, also I know some of the history. [speaker001:] Oh. [speaker002:] And actually the other funny thing is that I'm, I'm Jewish. We're sort of like the Middle East peace talks ourselves. [speaker001:] Oh, uh-huh. [speaker002:] So we, I, I know, I've been to Israel, and I know, and I sort of toured the area, and I know that it really is very, lots of different cultures in one place, I mean [speaker001:] Uh-huh. [speaker002:] and it's the same thing I thi-, it's, it's almost the same thing out, out in the Soviet Union right now. There, you know, there are, you can't take a whole bunch of people who just aren't the same people and don't want to be together and put them together forcibly. [speaker001:] Yeah. [speaker002:] I mean, we did it couple of hundred years ago here, but they wanted to do it. So. [speaker001:] Yeah, and I don't think the people here two hundred years ago were that different, I really don't. [speaker002:] That's, that's certainly true. [speaker001:] I mean, they had the same ideals and the same basic beliefs. [speaker002:] Right, uh, I wonder, I wonder if now the people in the Soviet Union don't have ideas very different from that. [speaker001:] The-, the-, they might. The Baltic states might be feeling the same way that our forefathers felt when they were leaving to come here...
[speaker001:] I'll start in the first place I don't have a family and I don't have a budget [speaker002:] okay I don't either neither do I it's called scraping together [speaker001:] and it's called what [speaker002:] scraping together [speaker001:] yeah in my case um I I turns out that I have a pretty good job right now but I grew up in a family that was fairly poor my dad was a college teacher and a high school teacher and we weren't really destitute but we never really had a lot of money so I never really got in the habit of spending a lot of money and so now I just it turns out that I spend less than I make so I never really bother to keep a budget [speaker002:] well I I my family was they were okay because I mean my dad uh he um was in the military and then he also had like two other jobs so we lived comfortably I'd say but [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] um I pretty well I I get paid I work for the state um I get paid like once a month so I I kind of learn to to set aside a certain amount of money it you know that I could spend each week for like lunch and all this other kind you know expenses and pay the bills with the rest of it [speaker001:] so you don't keep actual records of what your expenses are and what your income what you income is and stuff [speaker002:] uh well I know what my income is but uh uh my but as far as keeping records I I I have a a ledger that will uh uh how much I owe people whatever and I deduct it out of that [speaker001:] oh so you do keep track of it [speaker002:] yeah I I I keep I I keep track of it uh I'm not exactly accurate of it every month I mean but you know I keep up with it like once every other month or so get it caught up [speaker001:] do you actually balance it at the end of the month [speaker002:] uh yeah [speaker001:] oh [speaker002:] I'm not real good about uh keeping track in checks and stuff like that but uh uh I always keep track of of the ledger who I pay and when and whatever and what the balance is [speaker001:] well I just started balancing my checkbook for the first time in my life since I've had a checkbook and I'm I'm thirty two now so for I guess fourteen or fifteen years I've had a checking account but I've never actually bothered to balance it I just always made sure there was enough of money in there if I wrote out a five hundred dollar check I'd transfer five hundred dollars in [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] and I never actually checked to see if my balance matched the bank's and the other day I was well a couple months ago I started thinking you know I should really do that and I had just learned learned how to use Lotus on a PC and uh with Lotus it was pretty easy to set up a a little checking program so I could so it'd keep the balance for me [speaker002:] well I work with uh I'm work with an an accounting uh section of Department of Corrections [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] in in North Carolina for the state so I I work with Lotus and DataEase a lot so I I'm real familiar with that [speaker001:] so that comes second nature to you [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] yeah my I still haven't balanced I figure if I keep doing keep this up long enough eventually someday it'll balance and then at that point then I can try to keep it balanced [speaker002:] well I bank with Wachavia and they have this system of of where you can call a number you can call and get all your checks and what your balance is and and what checks is cleared that month or whatever and I do that like maybe twice a month I check to see what you know what checks I've written and always write paid on it when it's paid so I get an idea you know subtract what what what I have in you know in the in my account and what I've I've written checks for that haven't been cleared or whatever so I keep up with it that way too [speaker001:] yeah well you spend more time on it than I do that's for sure [speaker002:] uh I wouldn't say that I just you know I just I just don't want to write bad checks [speaker001:] does your balance match balance match the banks at the at the end of the month [speaker002:] um for the most part yeah I I I've got a real good banker uh personal bankers I mean if if I do if I am ever overdrawn she always calls and tells me [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] and tells me I need to get the money in or whatever so I say okay and I get it to her [speaker001:] oh I don't get that I just get a letter that says we just charged you ten dollars please take care of this [speaker002:] oh I wish I wish mine'd only charge me ten dollars or here they charge eighteen [speaker001:] eighteen [speaker002:] yeah [speaker001:] oh so you get a personal call but you also get the charge [speaker002:] well not not all the time it's it's like uh this time I I I filed electronically my taxes and uh [speaker001:] uh-huh [speaker002:] I didn't have quite enough for my mortgage payment and um I told her and I said I'm waiting for them to file that and they said if the mortgage payment you know check gets that before that and I said but it should be you know I it should be deposited before it hits but [speaker001:] right [speaker002:] and it it didn't the mortgage check hit before but she told me that if it did not to worry about it that she would just uh she she wouldn't charge me she since I let her know a head of time that I was waiting on that and whatever so but the the mortgage payment was due so [speaker001:] yeah you like to live on the edge I see [speaker002:] well sometimes yeah uh uh I believe in that philosophy of of praying that it don't hit the bank before the check does or deposit does if I want something bad enough I I'll do it but normally I don't do that but in case it's something that's [speaker001:] uh-huh