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May 2008 |
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Opinions
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Things change over the years |
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Friday, 28 March 2008 |
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By Roger Bluhm Isn’t it amazing how our perspective and habits change as we get older? When I was a youngster, it used to make me mad that my parents always insisted on watching the local news – instead of allowing me to watch something I wanted to. As a sports-mad teenager, my mother would insist on watching her primetime soaps, such as the show Dallas with J.R. Ewing, instead of allowing me to watch sports. As a teenager I read the sports pages in the newspaper from cover to cover and also read the comics. These were the only things worth anything in the newspaper.
Now, I have two teenage daughters. I switch the TV to the local news and get dirty looks because they wanted to watch High School Musical or Hannah Montana or South Park.
I try to explain to them that knowing what is going on locally, regionally, nationally and worldwide is important, but they simply roll their eyes at me and look at one another like their father is an idiot.
When I read the newspaper now, I read the entire newspaper from cover to cover – not just the sports.
Maybe it’s just the 20-plus years I’ve worked in newsrooms, or maybe it’s because I’m older, more mature and understand the need to be informed.
When I was in my 20s I refused to go to the doctor for anything. If I was in pain, I could handle it. If I had bronchitis, it was just a “little cough.” After getting married, my wife would watch me ignore everything until I had no choice but to go to the doctor for an illness.
Now, I’m less reluctant to go see a doctor. After all, I have nothing to prove to anyone and, well, I’m older than 40 so aches and pains are more common, but so is the worry that what I’m feeling may be something more than just a “little cough.”
Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t totally “grown up.” I still play the occasional video game, I still enjoy sarcastically torturing my daughters when they ask strange teenage questions and I still love to get outdoors.
However, my outdoors involves playing a round of golf, not playing in a softball tournament or joining a flag football team. Not that I can’t play softball still, it’s just that, somewhere down the line golf became more important to this “old dog.”
I promised myself when I was younger that I would be different than my parents and would treat my children the way I wanted to be treated when I was a teen. Boy, was I ever wrong back then.
The only way I could treat my teenagers the way I wanted to be treated as a teen is to let them do what they want, when they want. Like that is going to happen. I understand now that the limits my parents used with me were necessary.
My daughters don’t see it that way right now, but I’m sure in about 20 years they’ll understand as they’re dealing with their own children.
Yes, things change as you grow older. While my baldness is voluntary (I shave my head), my daughters and wife insist that a bald spot on the top of my head is growing daily and soon I will be able to put away the razor.
Golf replaced softball, news replaced other shows and I play a lot less video games.
The one thing that hasn’t changed – sports are still a large part of my viewing habits. Oh, and if I’m late to work the next few days, it’s because I was up too late the night before watching the NCAA Tournament.
I said sports were still important, I didn’t say I could function on just a few hours sleep like I did when I was younger. Come on folks, let’s get our priorities straight.
Bluhm is publisher of the Times-Record. |
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Great teachers deserve great district policies |
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Friday, 28 March 2008 |
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By Sheila Anderson After three weeks in a new position, I have had to chance to meet many new people and learn a lot about education in our community. It has been nice to see firsthand how much people in our area care about education.
I thought when I took this position, it would be a position of little controversy. However, after observing school board meetings and covering the denial of teacher Paul McDaniel’s
early retirement payment request, I realize that even issues concerning education in a small town can be controversial.
McDaniel made his request for an early retirement payment after 35 years of service to Valley City Public Schools. He and his wife, Avis, have together dedicated a total of 68 years to our local school system. It is truly important for us to reflect on dedication of this magnitude. These teachers are of the highest caliber and are well-liked by community members and students alike. That is where my question comes in.
How do two respected teachers with this type of exemplary record end up being the only educators ever in this system to be refused early retirement payments?
The answer is simple: Our district’s early retirement policy seems to offer early retirement payments on a seemingly random basis because there are no clear guidelines outlining when funds will be budgeted to support the policy.
There is no room for random in policy structure, especially when it hurts people like the McDaniels.
To continue making progress, we need to support teachers, not hurt the ones who have given the most. Having met the school board members, I have full confidence they are the kind of people who can make change happen, and who will ensure that something like this will not happen to any other teachers in our district.
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Blonde on the Prairie... Favorite things |
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Friday, 28 March 2008 |
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By Jodi Rae Ingstad What you don’t know about the Blonde on the Prairie would surprise you. That husband of mine, and one of my favorite people, would grimace if he knew I was giving away my secrets. “Not everyone has to know everything Jodi Rae,” he instructs. He hates it when I tell people that most of my clothing cost only a buck or two at some thrift store. I’m a creature of candidness and so it’s not easy for me not to speak what I know or think of detest. And since I’m in a trance of constant thinking I think I know a little about a lot and detest some about all of it.
However, what I do not detest finds me with a list of things I love. I’ve learned a little about a lot in my years by listening to what other people like. For what it’s worth I’m going to share just a tiny bit of my list with you and maybe you’ll be able to pull some good from it.
Oprah has one so why can’t I. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you my list of “The Blonde on the Prairie’s Favorite Things.”
My mother-in-law gifted me a gratitude journal. It’s a hard-covered book where I can write up to 6 things I’m grateful for every day. Things like, “I’m grateful that my husband didn’t electrocute himself attempting to fix our hot water heater.” It’s fun to go back and realize that what I’m grateful for are also blessings. This journal is one of my favorite things. I add to my list anything my mother-in-law gifts me. She is my friend and gifts from friends always mean more. It’s the sentiment that makes my heart sing. Grandma Charlotte once gifted me dish towels she embroidered. I’ve still not used them because I just like looking at them knowing they came from her hand.
Flannel pajamas are really my favorite. There is something about being all bundled up that cradles me in the feeling of being safe. They keep me un-pregnant too. That husband of mine has a different idea of his favorite night attire for me. Lace is so itchy though.
Blueberries just send me to the moon moaning when I eat them. Not only do I love the taste but the way they feel in my mouth is calming. When I eat any of the healthy berries I feel like I’m doing my body a favor. Too bad I can’t buy my berries in a thrift store. Holy cow they’re expensive.
I love the heated seats in my vehicle. I had a tailbone injury that didn’t heal correctly and I’m in constant pain. I find some relief with the treat of heat on it when I sit. Heat may be a treat but so is a bag of frozen peas. A bag of frozen peas conforms perfectly to that area when I feel inflamed. I keep a bag in the freezer that I’ve marked in permanent ink, “Attention Husband! For therapeutic purposes only!” If I didn’t write that he’d surely serve them with my chicken dinner some night. That same bag has been in the freezer for years being thawed on my tailbone then re-froze in the freezer
My most favorite book is, “Eat, Pray, Love,” and just by coincidence I love to eat and pray and love.
My list might not cost as much as Oprah’s but no price can be put on the smell of old books and the wisdom of an elderly person’s looks. Fuzzy robes and socks, lilac bushes and interesting rocks-they’re all special to me. My very most favorite things are things not measured by money but things I notice in people like compassion, empathy, forgiveness, understanding and humor. If you practice any of those words then add yourself to my list of most favorite things! What’s on your list?
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Paws to Consider... Adoption is the way to go |
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
If you are considering bringing a new cat or dog into your family, please adopt. The Humane Society of the United States provides five reasons why we should adopt rather than purchase a new pet.
ADOPTING A PET WILL SAVE A LIFE. Between three and four million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because too many people give up their pets and too few adopt from shelters or rescue groups. By adopting from a rescue group or humane society you will save two lives, the pet you are adopting and the animals somewhere who can be rescued because of the space you helped free up.
YOU WILL GET A HEALTHY PET. Most groups, including the Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals has all pets available for adoption vet checked, vaccinated, and spay/neutered. Pets are also checked for issues related to behavior or temperament. Most pets in shelters or rescues are not there because of anything they’ve done. Most are there for “people” reasons, moving, change in income, divorce, etc.
YOU’LL SAVE MONEY. You’ve heard that there’s no such thing as a free lunch? There is no such thing as a free pet, but pets that come from shelters and rescue groups have wellness checks, vaccinations, and spay/neutering before they’re adopted. The adoption fee charged by most groups is only a fraction of the veterinary services provided.
YOU’LL FEEL BETTER. Pets have a way of making people feel good, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Studies have shown that time spent with pets can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Pets are good for us!
YOU WON’T BE SUPPORTING PUPPY MILLS OR PET STORES. Puppy mills are breeding situations in which the animals are kept in often abusive conditions, and breeding females rarely, if ever, leave their very small cages. Puppy mill dogs are sometimes represented as puppies from reputable breeders, but the reality is this: dogs suffer needlessly so the owners can make money. By adopting instead of buying, you are not supporting cruel puppy mills with your money.
The Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals is invites everyone to attend the next general membership meeting, Monday April 14, at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom, at the Valley City Police Department. The April meeting will feature a presentation on “canned” hunting by Dick Monson, the spay/neuter campaign, preliminary dog park plans, and an update on adoptions and 2008 activities. Newcomers welcome.
Available for Adoption:
  This week we have two unusual 10 month old kittens looking for warm, loving homes.
Both of these kittens are polydactyl, otherwise known as Hemingway cats. What this means is that their front paws have one extra toe, mitten paws. In addition to their eye-catching paws, these kittens are playful, loving, and litter-box trained.
If you have room in your home for one of these little guys, please call 701-840-5047 or download the pre-adoption form at www.svfanimals.org.
Reminders:
LICENSE YOUR DOG. When you renew your dog’s rabies vaccination, be sure to take the certificate to the Valley City Police Department to purchase your dog license. City ordinance requires that dogs in Valley City be licensed.
FOSTER HOMES NEEDED. If you could provide a safe temporary home for a cat or dog, please go to www.svfanimals.org and get the foster home application form. SVFA has several excellent foster homes, but more are necessary to meet the ongoing need for our local cats and dogs.
Be responsible: ID your pet and have it spayed or neutered. |
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Thawing snow reveals the downside of V.C. life |
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Monday, 24 March 2008 |
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By Steve Browne We’ve lived in Valley City for just about two months now, and we love it.
It’s a beautiful town, with a wonderful natural setting, friendly people, great schools and a surprising amount of art and culture for such a small town.
So what’s the downside?
Well, we woke up the other day and found that someone’s dog had left a calling card – on the middle of the sidewalk right in front of the walkway to our house.
I’m not blaming the dog, he was just doing what comes naturally. But doggone it the owner sure as heck should have known better!
And that’s not the only instance on that very same sidewalk. Only last evening I had to scrape some of the end product of a dog’s metabolism off my shoe while out walking with my family.
And now that the snow is melting, the dog poop all over City Park is being revealed. (Hint for dog owners, frozen poop doesn’t biodegrade until it thaws. So over a long hard winter, how much do you think has accumulated? And by the way, the parks in this town offer free plastic bags at the entrances.)
In other towns people either curb their dogs or even (gasp!) scoop up after them. I know that pooper-scooper is inconvenient and that plastic-bag-over-the-hand thing looks disgusting, but so is cleaning the treads of your boots with a Popsicle stick!
And please don’t get defensive and accuse me of hating dogs. I love dogs, I’ve owned dogs (I like mutts the best) and I hope my life gets stable enough to get my kids a dog eventually.
But if you think I’m being unreasonable, by all means let’s discuss it. In person, in your living room, and with my baby running around sans diapers…
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