More Ponder This ....

**When driving a vehicle on the freeways, all signage is posted on the right side of the road. Makes sense. Avoids blockage to viewing the sign as a vehicle drives in the opposite direction. Why, then, in S. Dakota and Iowa, are the yellow triangular signs “No Passing Zone” posted on the left side of the road??

**In South Dakota we passed this lovely, fairly newly built retirement community. On the very same grounds, linked by the same surrounding fence, was a brand new Funeral Home. Would that save transportation costs?? Do they get a reduced fee?? Do you think its part of the Package Deal when signing to purchase??

**After 4 states of primarily black cattle, today there were herds of white cattle. What do you believe the bleaching process to achieve that “look”? And if it was just a “quick dip” into the bleaching vat, then how could you safely do their faces??

**In the significant heat of 90+ degrees, the horses group together standing in water or under trees. Why do the cattle continue to stand in the direct sun and heat??

**Mini-golf courses usually reflect the culture of the community they are set in. In Wyoming, South Dakota and other western states, the course obstacles have buffalo, wagon wheels, log cabins, and lariats. In Iowa one course included a small jet-fighter. What does it say of Spokane that the obstacles include Holland-like windmills?

**Leaving a town in Wyoming there was the “usual” appearing day-care: small house, lots of play items in the trimmed yard. In the midst of all that, there was the “pet goat”, complete with red collar, munching at the grass. What licensure requirements do you think the center had to pass in order to have a goat in a day-care??

**In Iowa one directional sign was for a park: Weed Park. So does one go there to inhale marijuana? Or, instead of grass, is the ‘lawn’ actually a variety of weeds?

**Throughout the rolling fields of Iowa there would be these lovely finished ponds. Is the purpose to provide a hotel and breeding ground for the mosquitoes? Two check in and a swarm checks out???

**While riding through Mennonite country, a driver of a car (obviously not Mennonite) abruptly pulled out onto the road from my right, saw me and stopped – thank-you!! Is that how they bring people closer to God??

**In Peoria, Illinois the primary 4th of July celebration was sponsored by the Methodist Church. It was titled, “Red, White and Boom”. Grand Funk Railroad was the main attraction. Is this an example of the separation of Church & State?

**Throughout Ohio were gasoline/convenience stores called, “Kum and Go”. I kid you not. Whoever in their right mind would name a store that?? Without any prostitutes involved?!?! Who allowed such a title to be spelled this way??

**2 days trough Maryland and into Pennsylvania, we followed “Peaceful Valley” route. Brings back images of the Monkees – doesn’t it?? A nice tune to get stuck in your head.

**While riding through Ohio a billboard alongside the Highway showed a picture of a box with gift wrapping on it. The ribbon had been untied and the lid was partially opened. Coming out of the box were 4 babies – 3 white with one token dark skinned. The title at the top was “God’s Stimulus Package to America”. Across the road was a medical clinic. Does one suspect the clinic offers birth control and family planning services? How are more babies being born in America helpful to its economic situation?

**In New Jersey we passes a cemetery looking pretty much like all the other cemeteries in the area – old, well kept, green lawn, surrounding black wrought iron fencing. Ken remarked, “Hey, it’s a Jewish cemetery. Looks like all the other cemeteries”. I replied, “Oh, I dunno. I’ll bet there are no crucifixes in there; and a whole lot of stars.”

**The differences between weeds and flowers are only a matter of where you live. On the west coast abundantly growing and taking over space are ferns, mosses, St. John’s Wort, Fox Glove. I shake my head at that amount of $$ I have spent in the past to purchase these only to nurture and protect them in order to get them to grow. Here in the Eastern part of the country Daylilies grow abundantly along the highways and undeveloped areas of land.

**All through Central America, oh, say from the western border of Montana up to the most Eastern states, children are allowed in bars. When I moved from Montana to Spokane, I had a 6 week old baby and was told I couldn’t sit in the bar with her. I was stunned and couldn’t figure out why. She wasn’t going to drink!! I still don’t see why, in most bars, they aren’t allowed. I get they shouldn’t be sitting at the bar, but at a table with the parent …? I also believe it could be an individual business preference; some ambiances are nicer without children present. After living so many years in Spokane, this experience caught me off-guard. I’ve become ingrained with living in Spokane and have forgotten most of the world just doesn’t always think the same way.

**In keeping with the above thought, I really am amazed that only a few of the Western states have mandatory motorcycle helmet laws. That concept of not wearing one, I would have thought, would have been long set aside.

**The far eastern states have “villages” and “boro’s”, not towns or suburbs.

**In Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware there were abundant Garage Sales, Farmers Markets, and Nurseries along the roads we traveled. One resourceful sale had (the wild and uncontrollable) “Daylilies For Sale … With Pot”. Driving the road to this sale, they were overtaking the sides of the public roadway. Are the plants sold with ‘Pot” – see earlier Thought regarding “Weed Park”? Or do you simply have to be high in order to want to buy what you could just dig up yourself?

**Listening to Comedy Central one time, one comedian reflected Bush was not an idiot. He was just an Intellilectual Celebant practicing Good Hard-core mental abstinence.

**While walking the boardwalk in Atlantic City and passing casinos, Mark and I were musing about the names. How would Caesar feel about his accomplishments being represented as a Casino? How would Prince Albert feel about him promoting throat cancer … or as a male piercing?

**Build it and they will come: In Delaware there was a large tourist attraction including rodeo grounds, cattle and horse auction yard, Western Wear clothing store, etc. Cars were parked along the Highway solid in both directions with people excited, coming and going, bringing their purses…. “But what is novel here?” asks the tourist who lives in the West.

**Throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and few eastern parts of Iowa, on the front of some houses and some in front yards, are large “stars”. They appear to be metal with the central spine of each arm pointed. They are generally painted in neutral colours, or as an American flag. At first, we thought they were just decorations. Now I’m wondering, are they hung to represent a house where the inhabitant is in the Armed Forces and serving overseas at this time? I didn’t see but one Red, White & Blue Star banner hanging on a house that usually represents a service person stationed overseas. Does anyone know the answer to this?