Back again.

I've got a chance at a computer for a while so I'm going to take advantage of it!
I have a key to the library so even though it's closed I have acces to the place, actually, the fact that it is closed is a benefit to me because there is nobody in line waiting to use the computer!

Life here is good, I've almost finished the minor engine overhaul so my house is layered with parts in various stages of being painted, cleaned, filed, sanded, disassembled or reassembled. I'm taking my time with the project because I am having a great deal of fun with it and it keeps me busy during the long cold evenings. I finished overhauling the injectors yesterday which consisted of dissasembling,cleaning, sanding(the exterior) painting, and installing new nozzles,testing the injection pressure (adjusted by shims) and setting them on one of the few surfaces in the house that are not covered by other parts. I've fnished resurfacing the head, which was a rather precise operation requiring lots of time with a feeler gauge and a machinists streightedge. Now the only thing left to do is install everything, which is a tough and unwanted job while it is as cold as it has been so I'm not doing it! I'll wait for a warm day.

I've been silent on the subject of politics until today for several reasons, one of which is the fact that every time I get worked up or excited about the subject I have no way of writing about it. I would have to say that my politcal views are probably quite different from 99% of the folks out there. I've stayed out of the political scene because there didn't seem to be any hope of change or reform, like the Titanic, sinking faster by the minute. Every political "fix" seemed to me to be just another band-aid to fix the gaping hole in the ship, quite hopeless if not absurd. I have never voted. There was never anyone who I felt comfortable voting for, there's always been a "bad guy" and a "worse bad guy" to choose from, most people I know have voted for the lesser of the two bad guys because they didn't want the really bad bad guy and had no other choice, but isn't that still voting for and consenting to a "bad guy"? The lesser of two evils is still evil no matter how you look at it, slather it with frosting or put multi colored glitter on, it will still taste bad. I couldn't give my consent by voting for someone who I didn't agree with or who was wrong, now I see that there is a chance to vote for, consent to and support someone for President that addresses the issues I hold dear, promises to keep government in it's place - the place created for it by the founding fathers and the Constitution - and doesn't promise to drag this country into the nets of the Satan worshiping globalist powers that have been dragging this country toward hell for a long while now.
I'm voting for Ron Paul, both at the caucus on the 5th and at the election in November. I am also working to invite or drag as many Ron Paul supporters to the caucus as I can possibly get, especially the non committal non voters that I know, I'm also printing Ron Paul flyers and literature out as fast as this printer will print and when that's done I'll add handwritten notes and invitations and begin handing them out, putting them under windshield wipers and leaving them where they will be found. Most people don't even know what a caucus is or why they should be there so I hope to encourage a few of them to be there. I've also been asked to give a speech for Ron Paul on Tuesday at the caucus. I don't know how I'll manage that because I just got the speech 5 minutes ago, I guess I'll wing it, I usually do better with speeches when I don't have a script anyway, though I haven't given a speech in years! I am not positive I'll even be giving it because if there is little or no audiance I think the most effective thing would be for me to introduce myself individually to people and say a few words that way rather than speaking to empty chairs, more of a conversation type thing rather than a formal speech, I'll see how it looks when I get there. I know that one voter can make a difference. When I was a lot younger there was a school levy being voted on and my mom voted no. When the results were in the levy had not passed by, you guessed it, one vote! The school was furious because schools always want more money but after the squawking there was nothing they could do and they didn't get the money and the taxes were not increased. I know I can make a difference and so can you!
Frankly, electing Ron Paul for President is just a drop in the bucket as far as changing this country is concerned. A rather big drop I will concede, but nevertheless a drop. This country consists of approximately 301 million people and in order to change this country 301+ million people must be changed. This country is people and if the people are corrupt the country is corrupt, if the people are Godly the country is Godly, simple as that. If the people ask for wars or mandated socialized medicine they will get it, along with all of the baggage that comes along with their choices, most of which they will seriously dislike. When the Israelites demanded a King to rule over them God told them they would regret that choice and they did, if we elect or allow to be elected someone who is not within the will of God, and who will continue to drag us into a humanistic, Satan revering situation we will also regret it.

The printer ran out of ink, I guess that means I have enough flyers. I plan on passing them out today and also getting to Rugby (for voting in the caucus) very early to spend the day passing them out and encouraging others to run over and vote that evening.

I've spent almost the entire week over helping my elderly neighbor get ready to install new carpet in his house. It's a non paying proposition but I would do almost anything for this guy so I am enjoying it anyway. I don't think he has cleaned house since his wife died 7-8 years ago so you can just imagine... I cleaned the bathroom yesterday and almost had nightmares last night. I also took a look at his freezers and decided to clean them out since most of the food had been past pull date 5-6 years ago, it was ugly. In the evenings he watches the news and likes it when I stay and watch with him, which means we have been watching the political debates etc. He was pro Clinton which made me loose my appetite but after a week or more of comments from me he is beginning to look at other options. The last comment he made to me was something to the effect of, "Isn't she so professional in her manner? She really does a good job of smoothly answering and not being flustered" to which I replied something to the effect of "Yes, but I think she is too smooth and I don't trust someone who is that professional and smooth. The snake in the garden of Eden was smooth too and look what happened!" He agreed with that point but still isn't interested in Ron Paul because, in his words, "He hasn't got a chance!" I guess if this were a popularity contest I would have to agree with him there, but this isn't a popularity contest, or it shouldn't be.

Well, what other news can I add... nothing special is happening at home other than the regular winter stuff. I've been going to another Bible study here in Cando which has been a real blessing. the one with the church I usually attend is nice but it's usually starched and pressed and when it's all over I get the cardboard feeling wheras the group in Cando is fresh and open and shares thoughts and insights and ideas and I leave excited and refreshed and even feel a little nourished! Today I spent Sunday morning services with them as well and it's even more filling and refreshing, Jesus is the center of thought instead of the newest renovations to the church building or how the pastor is 5 minutes over the allowed time (I am not kidding, there is almost a scandal if he goes over by even 5 minutes). I am hoping to become a regular fixture with the Cando group, though it entails a lot more driving. They meet in homes so there is no building to squawk about and no collection plate to pass around twice.
Last weekend Terry Hunter came down and we spent the day at Kyle's discussing religion, or I should say he discussed it with Kyle, I was pretty much drowned out. Terry is the only person I have ever met that can out talk Kyle when we get on the subject of religion or doctrine and he does a fine job of it! I cannot even begin to keep up with Kyle so Terry is out of the question! I enjoyed listening a lot, though I can see we would have a few differences. We discussed everything from Dominion to slavery and by the end of the day I was exhausted just from thinking. I guess I need more exercise in thinking and discussing because I've gotten awfully rusty in such things.
Speaking of religion and doctrine, one of the biggest hurdles I have been dealing with lately is in looking back through all the doctrine and teaching I have been exposed to for the past 15 years or so and discarding about 90% of it. It's harder than I would have imagined, but I find that I've been handed a meal laced with poison and I want nothing to do with it, actually, the hardest part of the whole deal has been to not throw out the baby with the bathwater so to speak. To explain a little; I've fellowshiped with the same group of people for about 15 years or so, growing up with the things taught and hearing pretty much nothing but that. In such a case I am finding that a lot is missed that one should know! Kyle had worked with one of the older men that did a great deal of the teaching so he got a lot of one on one discussion that I never got though he also picked it apart a whole lot more than I ever did. He heard things I never heard that these folks believed and since I have known Kyle he has mentioned certain things that they believe from time to time that are absolutely shocking! I would take this with a grain or two of salt because I know these are good people and while they may be off track on some things they couldn't be that far off! Now my younger brother David works for these people so he is around these things a whole lot more than I ever was, in talking with him (we talk on the phone for hours) I keep hearing bits and pieces that I never understood before but now that I hear "the rest of the story" I am backpedaling as fast as I possibly can. This is some wierd stuff, some wrong stuff and some downright evil and wicked stuff! I want nothing to do with it! I want to reach through the phone signal and grab David and drag him out of there, why would he grace them with his presence when they are teaching and believing blasphemous philosophies? I am still suffering from a bit of shock and having a hard time believing that I did or almost did believe some of this stuff. I feel like a piece of sawdust is finally out of my eye and I can open my eye and see somewhat clearly again, I just hope the weed pulling is done and I can get on with things. I'm basically starting all over, having to read scripture with no preconcieved ideas and it's a real relief.

On the agriculture side of my life, well it is winter so things are going very slowly. Seed orders, garden planning and equipment decisions are being made at a slow but steady rate. The pigs are managing to keep warm in the mound of hay I keep adding to for them and the horses continue to be an immense joy to me. Kind of like the close friend that I haven't got, the one (two) that I can go out and just talk to and they still keep wanting to visit! I know it sounds ridiculous but what can I say? They are just plain nice to be around, I am taking their training slowly but I have plenty of time so I am not worried about that. The next thing to get is a small pony so I can do garden work, have a garden pony cart and pull a self powered reel lawnmower. I spent more money on gasoline and oil and lawnmowers last year just to keep the grass down than I will spend getting a 4 foot reel mower setup and pony to pull it with. With that I'll never have to fill the lawnmower gas tank again or listen to the noise for 8 hours per week, I can also ride instead of push! All in all, the pony powered lawnmower is just an idea that I am going to try, I hope it works, it may be ridiculous but I'll have fun trying it out.
I should start heading home, after getting a few books of course!