Take A Look Over Your Shoulder

Why Should I Look Over My Shoulder
 There's a song called Look Over Your Shoulder, brought out by several music artists.  The lyrics indicate "if you look over your shoulder you will find me". 

In a business atmosphere, that phrase could mean, look back on the past week at what you accomplished.  By looking over your shoulder at the past, perhaps you could see something that needed improvement so that your production would be better.  Each time you look over your shoulder at your business place, it means you are looking for blind spots so these can be corrected.  And I'm sure as an employee the old boss looked over your shoulder many times....you knew the boss was watching you to make sure the work got done.

When you're driving a car, and when you go to parallel park or perhaps change lanes, it's a dang good idea to look over your shoulder so you can make sure you go where you want to go.  Or maybe the police are in hot pursuit of your car since you broke several traffic laws .... a quick look over the shoulder might not do anything for you but it might show you that the police car is gaining on you and in fact is moving up and is at the side of your car.....that would lead a person to believe that it's time to pull over.

A lot of people look over their shoulder because of suspicion.  The person might feel that something bad might be going to happen.  Or it could be that someone or something is watching you.  Maybe like internet connections watch you.  I'm always finding my name on a website....like the Alumni one......the site picked up my information from a completely separate web site and carried it over to their website.....I hate that, but any time you put something on facebook or the internet in general, a person takes that chance.  I guess I better make sure I don't put something highly confidential on the internet about myself because it will land up on numerous other websites.

It's a well known fact that the FBI and/or the Justice Department have files on just about every person in the USA.  If you have ever worked for any government agency, if you've ever been fingerprinted, ever had a police record, or ever been a politician you definitely have an FBI file.   If you ever applied for a CDL vehicle license, you definitely have a file....they now fingerprint you and do an investigative check through homeland security....this happened to hubby a couple of years ago when he renewed his CDL.   There are different kind of FBI files....some are personal, some administrative, some investigative, and some are for applicants of government jobs.  Applications for passports and tax forms fall into at least one of these files.  I guess these are good reasons for your to watch your back and be sure to look over your shoulder.

In the old town of Greenview, you wouldn't think that the FBI or similar investigative authority would ever step foot in our small town.  Not true.  I remember when the Illinois Bureau of Investigation was in our subdivision investigating a murder, and doing searches for shell casings, etc.

All of these things lead me to believe that I need to look over my shoulder each and every day.  I guess it can't hurt....and it might save my life if I'm trying to change traffic lanes or trying to outrun a policeman.....as if I would do that! 

Going Back In Time...From the Greenview Scrapbook

March 12, 2004 - A man held up the Bank of Greenview and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.  The robbery took place at 1:20 pm.

2001 - Walter Stayton retired after teaching at Greenview Schools for 35 years.

April 22, 2001 - Jack Tice was killed when a piece of farm equipment ran over him.

April 18, 1998 - Bob Conkling's Barber Shop, which had been in business in Grenview since April 3, 1948 closed.

1996 - Menard County deputies and state police officers destroyed a quanity of marijuana plants that were found growing southwest of Greenview.  The 208 plants had a street value of about $525,000.

February 18, 1983 - Kirby's Department Store had a closing-out sale.

October 17, 1972 - Cynthia Rodemer and Gladys Pittman closed their doors at the Rodemer Department Store at the end of the business day, after 39 years in business.

January, 1968 - West Food Store closed.

June 26, 1961 - Mr. and Mrs. Jack Luscher, owners of the Grenview Review for over thirteen years, sold their interests in this weekly publication to the Petersburg Observer.

1960 - Leslie McKee retired from the grocery business after devoting thirty years to the business.  He operated the McKee Grocery at the same location for twenty three years.

November 21, 1960 - Fire struck the community about 8 pm when flames completely devoured the James Willis home on the Milo Vogt farm south of Greenview.  The Willis family was not at home when the blaze started.

1958 - Rev. Wobus pastor of the St. John's Church since 1955, preached his farewell sermon Sunday morning, June 29.  He was retiring from active ministry after almost fifty years of service.  Rev. Carl Hille, new minister of the St. John's church, began his duties on September 7.  Rev. Ralph Edie was called as minister of the Presbyterian Church, assuming his duties on November 1.

It does a soul good to remember back in time.  Some readers might not be old enough to remember these things happening, but these younger readers now know a bit more about their old town of Greenview.

A Good Old Recipe
Around Greenview ham loaf is popular.  This recipe is one I got from my grandma many years ago.

Ham Loaf 
2 pounds ground ham

1 1/2 pounds ground pork

2 eggs

1 cup dried bread crumbs

1 cup evaporated milk

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon mustard powder

1/4 cup cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 375.  In a large bowl, combine ground ham, ground pork, eggs, bread crumbs, evaporated milk, salt and pepper.  Mix and form into a loaf.  Place in lightly greased baking pan.  Bake for 90 minutes.  While the loaf is baking, combine the brown sugar, mustard powder and vinegar and pour over the loaf for the last 20-25 minutes.

Note:  Some small town butchers will grind ham for you but I bought a couple of vintage hand cranked meat grinders and grind it myself....it's just easier than trying to find a butcher who will do it....especially at large markets...they don't want to do it.

Learn A New Word

So that Greenviewanites are the smartest in the county.

New Word - callow = inexperienced or immature

New Spanish Word - una dona = donut

Thought For The Day

If people behaved in the way nations do,

they would all be put in straitjackets.

--Tennessee Williams

One word for today....that is living.  To "live" should be the most important thing in anyone's life.  To live a life of happiness and with health would be most ideal, but sometimes that isn't possible.  If you have a positive attitude this will sometimes annoy others, but who cares....it makes you a better person.  That positive attitude may not always get you what you wanted, but it helps.

 Life is largely a matter of expectation as said by "Horace".  Sometimes we expect more than we get, but you can set your own reasonable expectations and live a life to reach those same expectations.  Living the good life at all times,  would always be one of my expectations, but I have found through my life,  sometimes that isn't possible.  We must take the good with the bad, because life throws us curves at times which can sour our lifestyle or abilities or simply life in general.

As you go on with life, you probably will find that life itself is so wonderous, little time is left for anything else.  If you have the desire to live a good life, you can do that.  But only you can do that and no one else can live your life for you.  The next time someone asks you if you enjoy life....why not tell them...."life is precious to me.....without life I would not be here, so yes I enjoy life to the utmost".  Life goes on.....and on.....until we are no more.  Enjoy it....you only get once chance for life and living. 

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