Posted on 01/01/2012 8:10:22 AM PST by Gen.Blather
I met some illegal Mexicans last night at a party. Several years ago I stayed with a couple of wonderful Mexican families in the Baja below California. These were well-off people. The homes, on average were beautifully tiled and some of them had mahogany inlaid walls, bookshelves and cabinetry that would cost a hundred-thousand dollars here. So, I’m guessing if they aren’t rich they’re very comfortable. The elderly not as well-off grandfather, while living in Mexico was receiving Social Security from the United States and owned a rent-free apartment in California which he used as his address to receive several forms of assistance checks from Californian agencies. He visited the apartment once a week to re-arrange things and make it looked lived in. He had a car, a Toyota Corolla that looked quite nice and had working air-conditioning. I gathered it was supplied as some form of assistance and he generally left it in California at the apartment. The apartment was about 1100 square feet and very livable. The grandfather told me most of entire complex, easily a 1000 units, were like him, on Californian assistance, but actually living in Mexico.
At the party were a couple of teenage boys from this family. Very nice kids. I’d be proud to have them as my own; diligent, hard working, trouble-free and much more adult than you’d expect from that age. They told me that they’d decided to go to high school in California instead of Mexico. They said that the (California) government gave them an apartment and they travel back to Mexico on the weekends. (I don’t know if they’re staying alone or if a family member is staying with them, but if I had to guess, they came alone.)
When I posted information on this family last time, Freepers angrily asked why I hadn’t reported them. Firstly, I was a well-treated guest. Secondly, this must be obvious to the casual observer. Even if I knew who to report it to in California, which I don’t, it is obvious that this is how it’s done. These people are only taking advantage of “benefits” put there for them. Not to avail themselves of these benefits would be like deciding not to take candy freely offered to you.
I noticed that you’re still griping about the goats. When the global economic collapse hits, you’re going to be glad we have those goats! Why do you think they were so popular with our primitive ancestors (and our primitive contemporaries)? All the economic productivity of buffalo, but smaller!
Dear One: I am griping about the kudzu!
You should remember, I advocated against it. It's only been a few years. I recall the conversation just like it was last week.
It's last week that has me completely befogged.
Thank each of you for the posts.
At least it hasn’t put down 200-lb. roots. And I’ll bet you didn’t even notice it in the casserole.
Today’s first excursion is to Ash’s bath. She’s hiding, just like the catz when it’s time for the vet, but she’s too big to succeed.
I believe they do travel in flocks, doing their strange flapping/wriggling through the air.
If they like to avoid being detected by humans, TN is a great place for them. Lotsa cloud cover, and loads of forest for hiding.
On second thought, if they roost in trees, their dangling tentacles are tempting targets for other forest creatures. I personally prefer to wrap my tentacles around my neck a la boa when roosting in trees. Come to think of it, don’t roost in trees much secondary to osteoporosis. Had to give up skateboarding, too.
Spanish Moss, it ain’t moss, and it ain’t Spanish.
It is also called Grandfather’s Graybeard and it ain’t grandfather and it ain’t a beard.
Tillandsia usneoides
Bromeliaceae
They say it is related to a pineapple
The Amontillado supply is adequate?
It’s a little early in the day for me, thanks.
If you listen, you can almost hear it muttering darkly.
Probably just a bunch of backyard gossip from the stuff, nothing to be concerned with.
Except when it starts critiquing your clothing.
Um—since when do you stick cement blocks together with wine? (other than divine intervention, of course.)
Extreme Home Remodeling, cooking edition.
Aren’t orchids bromeliads? This is all so confusing....
Does it include the recipe for Tax-chick’s kudzu casserole?
You use Amontillado and mortar together (though not mixed together) if you are Poe enough...
The Kudzu and the Parsley Monsters have human casserole recipes.
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