Commentary

ECONOMIC REPORT ON LOUISIANA

You really need to know how Louisiana is doing economically for you and your family before you make decisions about your vote this year. Louisiana ranks 48^th in economic growth in the U.S. Our state has wide-spread joblessness and a decline in economic output. Louisiana’s 4.7 unemployment rate is tied as the fourth highest in the country, greater than the national rate of 3.8 percent. Our five-year annual employment growth rate is 0.4 percent representing the second smallest increase in the country. Over the last five years the state’s GDP declined by an annual average of 0.1 percent - the third lowest five year change of all states. The decline in economic output came despite a 1.8 percent population increase over the same period.

Over the years, I’ve seen customers bargaining for merchandise that clearly has a price marked on it.

I was shocked, when Hubby-dear made an offer for t-shirts with a street vendor in New York City years ago.

“You don’t ask for a better price,” I told him. “The price is marked on the items and that’s what you are expected to pay.” (Who knew I would be eating my words some 30 years down the road?) 

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Spring Cleaning? Ugh! My home always looked lived in. I enjoy living comfortably. I get nervous if I am in an immaculate home……I like relaxed living. Along with relaxed living comes a cobweb here in there, until I spot it and get rid of it. I try to clean the floors everyday…but if I forget, it’s not unusual if hubby grabs the dust mop and makes me feel bad. On my stairway, there is usually a book or two and clean sheets to carry upstairs. The first one to venture into the unknown usually takes the load! My kitchen is good. Every once in a while, I may have a cup or two in the sink. I try to never leave anything in the dish drainer!! Hubby is in training to load the dishwasher! My counters are littered with stuff…..my coffee-maker, a bread box, canisters, Mom’s huge cutting board with a ceramic rooster standing on top, two polka-dot little cups and my recipe stand.

Spring has arrived with a large coat of pollen. However, I won’t complain because we’ve had beautiful days of sunshine.

Springtime in New Hampshire brings back fond memories. There were still patches of snow in our backyard, but the weather was perfect and we were ready for some baseball.

There were only a few kids on our dirt road that led to our country road. We’d gather around with our mitts and decide which pile of snow would be first, second and third bases.

Afternoon were spent playing balls, taking walks in the woods and playing hide and seek. We had plenty of places to hide…..in the pine grove, at the old chicken houses and in the grassy fields beyond. Some springtime days, I’d grab a book---more that likely a Nancy Drew book—and in an effort to hide from my little brother, I’d climb high in the already budding apple tree. I could sit for hours up there, trying not to laugh as he searched and searched for me!

THIRD PARTY

A third party is taking aim at incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards and is making a $400,000 state-wide television buy. It is called “TIP” (Truth in Politics). Organizers contend they will have enough money to leave a noticeable footprint at the cost of Governor Edwards. The 501 © 4 fund was founded by businessman Lane Grisby three years ago. Those in charge state the money is flowing in and hope to make a big impact on the October 12^th ballot. TIP has ditched its original approach in favor of the big state-wide buy.

Earlier this month TIP funded a radio spot showing that Edwards had refused to fund early childhood education. It has also ran sone anti-Abraham articles, as well as Eddie Rispone. It seems to be catching on.

People believe that the red cardinal is a visit from Heaven….a loved one is trying to contact you. I’ve heard this for years and lately, I’ve seen a cardinal or two in our yard. Google tells me that a cardinal is illustrative of a departed loved one and is just one of the signs from Heaven. When you come across one, it might mean they are stopping by for a moment. They mostly appear when you miss them or need them most. They may appear during a hard time in your life, just to let you know they are still with you. Cardinals are thought to be spirit signs from Heaven, mainly because of their bright red color.

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UPCOMING

LEGISLATIVE

SESSION

Over the past three week, we learned that shingles were not just something you put on the roof of your home. The shingles is a painful break-out that results in a dreaded rash and blisters on the skin. Hubby-dear can attest to the fact that they are not fun. (And so can I, since I was nursing him at home!) Over the past weeks, I have watched more television that I care to talk about. Now, if we had been watching some of my favorites, I wouldn’t complain. But I felt sorry for my patient, so he gained control of the remote. I have just about learned all I want to know about Space X and Elon Musk. We watched Demo 1 for the Crew Dragon, developed by Space X, launch into space on March 2. Great, only it occurred at 1:49 a.m., so I had to get up and share the moment. “We watched it attach to the Space Station the next day and offload cargo. The purpose of the unmanned flight was to flight certify the Crew Dragon for human passage.