Hook-Up, Dates, Shacking, LGBT 2022- Or Yeah Your Grandma Might Have Been a H*

 As I often say, I am glad I am old, glad my time on earth isn't seriously not that much longer. 

I really don't want to see what the U.S., heck, the world is going to look like in 25-30 years. It's rapidly spinning out of control now as it is....

Dating has never been " fun."

Oh, the 1950s movies, teen moves specifically acted like it was "fun" but it never was. 

I had a steady girlfriend back in high school which was one of the worst times in my life. 

You see, back in those days, we were beat into our head " Not to have sex." And if you got a girl pregnant back in those days, well, you had to get married. The church lead that ideology. It often lead to a divorce 5-7 years later. And in the Baptist Church,well, it was evil to divorce, no matter how miserable you were. 

So, you didn't do it....Well, a lot of us didn't. Too afraid of the ramifications. 

I had more than one girlfriend break-up with me in the age period because, well, " I didn't do it." 

Had one girl I'd dated a considerable period of time break up with me, just to find a new boyfriend to screw within 2 weeks of our break up.

Another girl I thought was serious about me, well, come to find out had another boyfriend she was "doing" and that boyfriend was okay with her dating me, and he just assumed I was " doing" her too. ( I wasn't. I split up at once when I found out about the other boyfriend.....BTW, the girl was from Orangefield. So, not a shocker.)

Then there was the girls who you would date over a period of time who wouldn't even kiss you goodnight. I went to kiss a girl one evening after the 3rd date only for her to turn away go into the house, I lost my balance, fell off the porch into the azalea bushes. She didn't even turn back to check on me, and her parting words were " Call me." 

I never called her again. I was pretty cut up from the bushes. She was all upset because she considered us " boyfriend/girlfriend" in some sort of weird Baptist courtship. I even had a deacon at the church we attended grill me about what happened? 

Luckily, I changed churches about that time. It started what is now my non-attendance of any form of organized religion. Didn't cause it, but that "talk" from the deacon helped kick it off.

I was in college during that time, and didn't date anyone for over 2 years during that time period. Went to college, and worked 2-3 jobs. 

I did remain in the college band during my time at the " Harvard on the Neches" and it was after a Lamar game one evening in October my wife asked me out for " Dr. Pepper and Cheese Tots" from Sonic on Washington Blvd. 

Hell, I thought it would be several other band kids, but it turned out it was just us, a sort of date. 

She even paid for the Sonic, as she said, " I asked, I needed to pay."

At the end of the night, I was approached and given a "Goodnight kiss." 

I remember as I drove home that evening, saying to myself, " Well, that was different."

It was kind of a done deal after that. I knew it was serious when she waited an hour in the hall for me until my 437 Renaissance and Reformation class from Dr William MacDonald over so we could walk over to the Kampus Korner to eat lunch. 

We came from the beat it into your head that " Sex was bad" Baptist doctrine and we waited until we got married, and we even discussed doing it, but waited until we both had degrees. And that was a long wait, and trust me, we steamed up the windows of that old Ford I was driving more than once. 

After I got married, the first few times I "did it" I felt guilty afterwards. Oh, not guilty enough to stop, but guilty. It wasn't until I spoke with a friend of mine whom I had "stood up" at his wedding did I discuss these feelings. He's felt the same way, and had an epiphany. " Fuck those damn church people, they've gotten into my head about sex for the last time." I didn't feel guilt again. 

But in 2022.

I do not understand dating. 

I do not understand people have body counts 50-60-175. Males and females. 

Sorry ladies, but guys generally don't want a girl who has been involved in gangbangs, slept with dozens of guys. It in guy's DNA. 

Don't get all huffy about it ladies, they can pick and chose who they want to be with. And a lot of guys are not even trying to find a mate anymore. 

Same thing with guys, with Tinder and Bumble it's easier for girls to pick only the top 10-20% of guys. And those top guys are in the old " Wham, bam, thank you ma'am" world. 

Another thing is so many people are spoiled rotten. 

Guys think they deserve the Playboy lifestyle. Girls think they deserve the Disney princess world.  

That's not the way it is. That's not the way the world works. 

Hell, if it did, I would have been a Modern History teacher at some school in Ireland, living in a cottage overlooking the sea....But no, I was a government and economics teacher to a bunch of hillbillies( Or whatever you call yourself) at the beginnings of Deep East Texas. ( I've always said this, I was foreordained to teach y'all in Buna. I seriously think I was sent there.)

Look, I do not expect you to remain a virgin until marriage like we were brainwashed into believing. I did not expect my son to be a virgin, heck even told him( Sounded like a boxing referee giving instructions to the boxers) " Protect yourself at all times." I don't know what he did in Korea/Asia, but he had photos of himself with some really cute girls. And I am pretty sure he and his now wife took up residence together before they married....But he was 28 at the time, none of my damn business. 

I don't know. 

A lot of these male teens shooting up schools, groceries, churches, etc. are Incels and no potential decent job or more importantly girlfriend in sight. 

I don't know, latest poll is saying 20% of Gen Z is LGBT.  Maybe it's related to the lack of people to date. " And if you can't be with the one you love, honey Love the one you're with ".....

I don't know, like I said, the world changes. It is your turned to fix it. Perhaps it's just the stage we are in right now....

 

Not Good

 I don't know what to tell you. 

I've been asked a last couple of days if it was time to " Buy" in the stock market and what to buy. 

First off, while I have some economic training, I would not invest in anything right now. Things are too shaky.  

Second, I am not a financial advisor. Don't play one on TV. 

Third, things are so "Bearish" right now, I am wary of anything other than nice conservative investments. 

When the markets opened this morning, I was hopeful that the market might go positive today. As I write this blog at 12 Noon, the NYSE is -173. Who knows what it'll look like in an hour. Much less when the market closes at 3PM today. 

And I look for the Fed to really raise the interest rates tomorrow.  Inflation in running now at 10%+, lead by energy. They are going to have to do something.

People, you may need to keep cash on hand, if not in the bank, then on hand. Probably both. The way things are going investing in cash based interest rate type investments might be our best right now. And I am just guessing.

You may want to stock up on goods, especially foods. The wheat harvest in Kansas alone is looking at a 25% decline from the last year's harvest. This on top of no crop in Ukraine, a crop failure in India( heat wave) and a 40% decline in wheat harvested in China( Floods), well, wheat based products are going to go up a great deal in price. 

Heck, I saw the next thing that will be difficult to find will be tampons and other menstrual products. Would hurt to keep extras on hand. 

Avoid going into debt. I wonder how long before the fuel prices will really hurt the economy so badly people are laid off instead of being hired.

And don't blame the politicians, well, either side alone. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have no answer to what is going on right now. It would be the same, no matter who would be in the oval office......It's just part of the cycle we are in, and it's a situation that is not just America, this is worldwide. Europe, Asia, Africa, everyone is in the same shape we are in, and in truth, we are better off than they are. Just look at the U.S. Dollar, its value is strong against everyone else's currency. 

Hang on folks, prepare a little, it's going to get worse. 

Keep your eyes open. A lot of the people telling you on financial TV programs are saying " Things are going to be alright" well, they don't know, and many don't want to start a panic. 

Do some research folks.

Don't buy that third house in Switzerland. Don't buy the new Bugatti. Don't buy your wife that 20 carat diamond ring. 

Prep a little folks.....And pray, pray hard....

 

I Know I B*tch About This Every Year

 I went ahead and got my Honda Toaster inspected this morning at the little place I use in Little Cypress.

Turn on your lights, blow the horn, wipers, and that was pretty much it. 

$7.00 American currency. 

Sometimes hunting down an inspection site is a chore within itself. 

You know, there are more states than not that no longer do state vehicle inspections. Once you leave the inspection station, all your lights, horn, blinkers could stop working, yet your car is still good for a year. And the way some of you use blinkers, you're not going to use them until the state inspection next year anyway. 

I don't know. Just another tax.

Tomorrow night on the radio show, we are going to have a guest to discuss property taxes in the State of Texas. I have questions. If you have something you'd like for me to ask, comment or sent me an email kdthomas1957@gmail.com or a private message on Facebook.

No, No, No, Hell No!

 So, I know a couple of you have been waiting on my blog concerning the " Holy Land."

Once again, I went with my wife. Wasn't Kerry's trip. I figure Jesus is in my heart wherever I go. 

A trip to a place like Jerusalem is some of like a pilgrimage like you read when you had to read the " Canterbury Tales" in either June's or Tandy's English IV class. 

And the place was. It was like Disneyland for Christians. 

I hated it. 

I kid you not, Jesus isn't thrilled at what is going on there. 

Hated it with a passion. 

Part of it is when Deb and I travel we always rent a car and " Do Our Own Thing." ( Eat where we want, stay where we want, look at sites at our own pace.) This trip was with other people, on a damn bus and was 12 to 14 hours worth of site-seeing every damn day. 

The people on the bus went into a dynamic that was similar to a "clique" in high school. Oh, they were nice enough folks on the outside, but when it came to eating meals, other social activities, Deb and I were back at the " Nerd Table." And we were the only nerds. No one really wanted us at their table.

Last night on " Not on the Payroll" on Youtube and KJAS/KFAH I discussed the clique dynamic. 

I will go even further. I would try to explain to people what city we were in and what happened here 200-500-2000 years ago, and they acted like I surely didn't know this......and ignored me.......I so wanted to tell them, " I'm pretty damn smart in history/government/geography type shit motherfucker." " Last I looked I got close to 100 university, grad school, and divinity school hours in this area." 

But I didn't. I was good. I didn't want to embarrass my wife who in certain circles is known as " Debbie the Good, St. Debbie." Had a couple of kids in the Buna Class of '06 AP Government class  give her that nickname after she visited me in that class one day. 

Nope, can't think of a vacation I hated more. 

I seriously can't. 

BTW- Evangelical Christians, the average Israeli in the street either thinks you are a fool, a mark, or just downright hate you. Oh they love your money, but you, they hate. They hate Muslims for political reasons, but they hate Christians just as much.  

Too many, " We think this happened here," too many hours on a damn bus, ( My back is shot) too much time with people I won't ever see again, or care to associate with ever again......

All that said, I figure I'll get 2 maybe 3 trips to Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales out of this one.....

As far as I am concerned I am part of "God's chosen people." I follow his son, ( I do so poorly, but I follow him.)

Remember.....John 14:6- I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Go back? 

HELL NO!

Question?

 I've made no secret of this, we've even discussed it on the radio show.....

Deb and I go to Israel in a week. 

Not real excited, as many of you know, I am a self-described "historian" and so many of the places that Jesus was at in this trip is " We think this is where Jesus did this." 

Well, I can't get all excited about places that " The Church" " Thinks" might have happen here. 

But, my wife has drug me all over Britain and plans to drag me all over Great Britain again in Spring of 2023.......And she feels like she needs to go on a " Pilgrimage/ Crusade." Well, I'll go. 

I have a funny feeling I will stay at the hotel in Jerusalem a few days and " Let them go." ( I know the hotel is in the consulate quarter of the city.....and who knows maybe I'll go to the British or Irish Consulate and ask for "Political Asylum" in their nation. 

That said, one of the day trips includes travel to the remains of the " Second Temple." 

The Second Temple, with the exception of the Western Wall was torn down by the Romans in 70CE. And is now the "Wailing Wall." The place of prayers by the Jewish community. 

I have ordered a yarmulke( skull-cap) for this trip. 

I plan to do some serious prayer at the wall. And will write prayers to place within the cracks of the wall as is the tradition. 

Here is my question-

If you want me to pray at the Wailing Wall for you, send me a short specific request. Short enough I can place it on the paper to place in the wall. Remember, I probably will have a number of prayers so keep it short. ( Don't pull a Baptist deacon during benediction and ramble on while the rest of us are starving.)

I would prefer if you'd send me a PM on Facebook or an email. 

I figure this is a one time deal at the wall. And Israel.....I figure I'll be back to China before I go back to the Middle East. 

So, I Almost Whipped a Finocchio

 And as many of you know, I got nothing against gay folks. I know you are born this way. I have gay folks I consider as friends. I was friends with a guy in college who was gay. Our friends circle knew it, he knew we knew. He's now married to a lovely man. I even went to his wedding. I offered to perform it, but his husband had a family member who wanted to officiate. 

No, an asshole is an asshole no matter your sexuality. 

I was at a restaurant and had a wait for a while for my food to go. And that's fine. It means the food will be fresh. And the person I dealt with, well, I've had to deal with him before. 

I understand that the service industry is having a hard time finding workers. I know the place I was at has had a sign seeking workers for months now. 

But when this employee brought me my food, he acted like he was mad he even had to bring it to me. 

He flipped, in the air, my sack of food towards me. 

Luckily, I caught it. 

No thank you, come back, kiss my foot, or nothing as he tossed me my food. Tossed it like I was a dog waiting for a ball.

By the time I got to my vehicle, I was ready to grab the bat in my backseat, go back in and whack the hell out of the employee's knee....numerous times. 

But, I didn't want to go to jail. 

I was already upset because the clerk at check out was mad because I had paid my $7.89 in exact change. And it wasn't like hey were busy, there were only 3 other patrons in the store. No one was behind me in line. 

I don't know, my wife and I were at a restaurant in the Walden Road area of Beaumont and our waitress didn't say " thank you" or " Come again" or anything when she left us our check. And this is a fairly nice restaurant. And once again, it was maybe 1/3rd full. ( Mid-afternoon) She didn't check on us, did offer to re-fill our drinks, ( And we needed something, and finally, I got up and got what we needed from the front) just abandoned us until it was time to leave and even then, we had to wait for our check. ( Normally we give 18-20% tip. Not this time, she got a blistering 4%....Sorry, you got to earn the tip, not just 'expect' it.) 

( BTW- Told my wife we should try " Twin Peaks.") I was told "No" " Don't want you to have a heart attack." )

Are we so short workers employees can act how the hell ever they want? 

(Or are young people not being taught basic manners? Or are we that entitled now we can treat customers however we want?)

No thank you, yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, no sir? 

I had plenty of bad jobs in my youth, but always was nice to people, even if I did not want to be there.

But toss food at people. 

I'm still mad. 

Maybe we need a financial collapse. Make people appreciate they have a job?

So, Buna ISD/ Buna is Mad at Me?

 Apparently, we have said several things on the radio show that have that upset people both at Buna ISD and the town of Buna.

And we discussed it during the radio show last evening.  

Look, your major bank has a burned out building behind it. 

You seem to be more interested in appearance at the school, than what is really going on in the classroom.

You have a major murder than occurred within the community with no body, and with what I've been told up to 15 people involved.

Look, I can go on and on.

As we said last night on the radio, we actually care about Buna. I spent most of my teaching career there. I know what you are actually capable of doing.  

Sorry, but from time to time, we're going to get onto you. Call it tough love, call it a " Come to Jesus" moment, call it whatever, but it's going to happen.