Newgrange

Our first full day in Ireland we chose to go to Newgrange a prehistoric monument just north of where we are staying. It was built in 3200 B.C. which makes it older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge. This is a large circular mound with a passage way and chambers inside. The mound has a retaining wall at the front and is ringed by 'kerbstones' engraved with artwork. There is no agreement about what the site was used for, but it has been speculated that it had religious significance – it is aligned with the rising sun and its light floods the chamber on the winter solstice. Actually there are three large mounds two that we visited and several smaller mounds in the surrounding area. The "kerbstones" are huge weighing over a ton and more. I have no idea how a prehistoric culture could have placed them where they did.

Ireland

After a long plane flight we landed in Dublin this morning and met our friends Joan and John. We drove to our rental housing, took a walk and had an ample lunch. Early sack time is rapidly approaching. Driving on the left side of the road will take some getting used to along with narrow streets. Fortunately I am not driving however my friend John has already had a accident. We are all back seat drivers trying to prevent another mishap. Meanwhile I make sure the seat belt is securely fastened and just close my eyes from time to time. Our rental is in a small town outside of Dublin. It isn't the best rental but we have off street parking and it seems to be quiet. When we go into Dublin it will be on the train. More on that later.

More Maui

Today we visited South Maui and the communities of Kihel, Wailea and Makena. The community of Wailea is very upscale and probably the wealthiest on the island. Many plush homes and condos as well as high rise hotels. The guidebook said the best beaches are in South Maui and I agree. We walked a couple and took a beach path on the ocean side of some huge hotels and condos. The next trip we will be looking for a condo in this area. Still our condo is hard to beat with an ocean view and within a rocks throw of the water.

We had a late lunch and stopped at Fred's Mexican Cafe in Kihel. Despite the anglo named the food was good and the waitress earned my vote for waitress of the week. Gail might not agree. Stopped at Barnes and Noble in Lahaina on the way back to the condo. According to the lady in the quilt store this is the only book store on the island.

Maui

We were treated to a half hour rainbow this morning from our condo. Today we visited Lahaina, where we walked around town, bought a hat and left the t-shirts. Then off to the Iao Valley and the Iao Needle. We took the windy single lane road around the island, stopped at the blow hole, but missed the Olivine pools and finished at Kapalua and the tooth lava. Finished up with dinner on the deck watching the sun go down.

National Debt

Our federal government has a budget problem and at least one of the political parties is trying to reduce spending on those who have nothing to do with the bulging debt. It makes no sense to give tax cuts, start wars, run up the bill and then cut services to those in need. If the Bush tax cuts were never approved we would have a much different financial picture. We have two wars that are not paid for. If there had been a mandatory tax increase with each war we would have never gone to war. It there had been a draft we would have never gone to war. Public opinion wouldn't have allowed it to happen.

In the proposed federal budget $703.1 billion for defense, but then add in: counter terrorism activities of the State Department, Homeland Security, CIA, NSA, Veterans Administration, debt payments of previous wars and benefits for retirees, then we are over $1.2 trillion. Heck the Army even sinks millions into NASCAR sponsorship. We need to stop the wars and close many of our foreign military bases and let those countries provide their own defense. A bomb dropped in war is money blown up.

Competent People

I'm always appreciative of competent people, whether it is my doctor, a nurse, a clerk, a bartender or what ever. I'm talking about people who are good at their job, are cognizant of what is happening around them as they work, stay focused on the task and do it with good cheer. All too often I see crabby people who don't like or want to work and bring down everybody around them. Right now the the song "Don't worry be happy" pops into my mind. The competent workers anticipate problems and deal with them quietly and quickly. They make the customer or patient feel comfortable and they perform the necessary task as efficiently as possible. Now I'm not suggesting that many doctors or nurses or bartenders are not competent except that sometimes they forget the good cheer. I could also be accused of this especially when I'm working on the house. We are never too old too learn.

Health Care

My health insurance through a group plan went up 10 percent a year for three years and thirty percent this year. Recently I was able to find less expensive but still costly insurance outside of the group plan. As long as private for profit corporations are the only option for health care, premiums will go up. Profits and high paid CEO's drive the cost up and are more important than providing health care. This nation will continue to pay the highest rates in the world under our current corporate rule. My guess is that a large percentage of the population annually pays more for health care than income taxes. Oh and we did get a tax cut last year although few people are aware of that.