Democrats Seek 2 Candidates for November...

[Kathy_Baratta]

Hmmmm..... Do I get sick days?  LOL!

I think the question is how many "well" days will you have? 

KB

[John Gazire]

Pat I still wonder why Howell has let all these great opportunities pass by. When it comes to family entertainment in this area it seems we are all going to other towns.  Man it would've been great to route for the Howell BlueClaws or Stallions.

At least most of the porn shops are closing.

[Steve Morlino, LEED AP]

...still need candidates who want to make a difference in Howell. Phonies, wheeler-dealers and crooks need not apply.  Same with wanabe governors, freeloaders, judges, town managers etc.

How about some young folks?

I can assure you no one on this side of the fence will tell you what to say or what land deal or corporate building you must approve to purchase as part of the deal for running...you'll basically be on your own.  The party will educate you and assist with the details.  Other then that you will be your own boss and control your own destinsty. 

Remember, the seats open are for town council...not the Board of Education, freeloader, senate, assembly or congress.

Anyone care to step up and be considered for an oppurtunity to make a difference?

[Ginger_Hoffmeier]

So how about it, Pat, Fritz? Just do it. Most of us will vote for the best people running. We've gotten smarter too. We are suspicious of those who spend too much money campaigning and actually  pay attention to where it came from.

I've also noticed that campaign signs seldom display the party these days and I think fewer of us are all wrapped up in some ersatz "party loyalty."

Thomas would be great but he would have to move back to Howell. I don't think he lives here anymore.

What about Mr. Nicastro as a candidate?

[Reinhard_Kirchhof]

Geez,  One Professional Realtor and  a semi Realtor. Imagine the mudslingging? 2 realtors running for office? I can see the campaign ads now. Realtors out to sell Howell to Developers. LOL.  
 

[Ginger_Hoffmeier]

No matter what your occupation someone can (and will) put a negative slant on it. If Jesus ran some would probably be calling him a dress-wearing hippy and telling him to stop walking across the reservoir and use the trails instead.

We have two lawyers and a mortgage broker on the council now and they are secure enough to let this baloney roll off their backs. They don't let name calling and slurs on their occupations distract them from the work at hand.

The ability to focus on the work at hand and ignore those trying to derail you from your agenda is important.

[Paul_Schneider]

Why would Fritz or Pat run ?.
They are too intelligent.
They both know Nov. will be a Republican landslide.
Even Steve knows that Pallone and Holt may even lose their seats.
Democrats in Monmouth are ticked they they didn't use their political clout
with Obama during the health care vote to try to save Fort Monmouth.
Last years Democrats will vote Republican this Nov.

[Ginger_Hoffmeier]

I'm not so sure...

It depends to some extent on who's getting the big campaign contributions.

[Pat Garaffa]

Fritz & Ginger,

Read my two taglines at the bottom.  That sums it up nicely.

I actually agreed with Fritz’s comment about us being in real estate and the perception and insinuations that would follow.  But Ginger makes a lot of sense and this nonsense should be able to roll off of ours, or anyone else’s backs.  

But that’s also assuming I would want that on my back at all and am willing to devote the time.  And maybe "devote" the time is a bad choice of words.  In my case it would mean shifting my time from one area to another.  

So what would need to be shifted?

I think I stayed home Monday night.  I actually don’t recall what I did.    

On Tuesday my wife and I drove down to Ocean City and spent the day with my older daughter.  We went to the beach, the boardwalk and out to lunch.  We came back, showered, ate something and headed back out.  (Actually, I dragged her back out).  We went to go see “The Expendables” with Sly Stallone, Bruce Willis, etc.  Lots of explosions, gun fire and “good guy kicks bad guy’s ass” kind of stuff.  All men should go see this but my wife says “I owe her big time!”  

Wednesday night we went down to Point Pleasant, grabbed a bite at Jenks and walked around the boardwalk with my younger daughter and her friends.  We aren’t as cool as them so we kept our distance.    

Thursday we headed over to Freehold to see the Beatles Faux Sale concert (a Beatles tribute band.)  When we arrived we found out the show was canceled.  It was a little before seven and we still had numerous options (none in Howell) so we turned the car around and headed to First Energy Park to watch the Blueclaws and enjoy another Coors Light “Thirsty Thursday” ($1.00 Coors Lights).   I picked up my daughter in Manasquan on the way back and we were home by 10:30.    

On Friday night we BBQ’d something and we stayed home.  I watched TV and my wife fell asleep because I chose a dumb movie.

Saturday afternoon we went over to the Clearwater festival in Asbury.  Nothing but a bunch of old, washed up hippies telling me to protect the environment while they chugged bottled water by the truckload.  The hypocrisy runs wild!  

Saturday night we took my father down to Albert Hall in Waretown for a concert.  Lots of Bluegrass and Country music at a nice theatre that’s holds 350 people.  All great stuff and, contrary to most opinions, not a red-neck in the bunch.  Best 5 bucks you’ll ever spend and some of the music rivals anything else you would ever see or hear elsewhere.  

I was suppose to go to the Rolling Iron auto show at Allaire this morning (Sunday).  But my daughter had to work at 10:00 so I drank an extra cup of coffee and meandered my way through three days of newspapers instead.   I did an open house at 12 and came home to my wife who made a big pot of meatballs for dinner.  I’ll make the pasta, the bread, salad and pour the wine – lots of it.  And then I’ll put on another dumb movie, or play my guitar, or ride my bike, or swim in the pool or do whatever else I choose.  

Last week we rode bikes through Point Pleasant and Manasquan, I went fishing twice, we tubed down the Delaware river, went out to dinner, went to New Hope and Lambertsville, etc.  All in addition to working during the day, mowing the lawn, vacuuming the pool, goofing around in my garden, etc.  

Why do I say this?  Because I got to do this stuff and no one else in elected office was there with me.  They don’t have the time and their crazy schedules won’t allow it.  I’m living and enjoying my life while they are fighting a battle that can’t be won without the Marines.  

2 years ago I discovered a medical ailment where I should be experiencing less stress.   That won’t ever happen but it’s a damn good excuse when I need it.  And I work in an industry where there are no time clocks and business occurs any time of the day or night.   And since work is so slow I decided to buy and renovate a condo in lieu of regular paychecks.  That will close (sell) in 2 weeks and I just bought another and will do it again as soon as I can get started.  Those choices require time and lots of it.  

Most importantly, I’ll pick up another nickname in January.  And a name I’m looking forward too when they start to call me Grandpa.  I have every intention of taking my new grandchild fishing, biking, visiting the boardwalk and spoiling the crap of them before sending them back to my daughter.  

I want to spend time with them – not getting yelled at by Barbara Dixel.  In fact, she is a probably a grandmother too and should do the same before she has a meltdown.    

Like I said – I respect and admire anyone who does this.  But it’s just not for me.  If any sane person can convince me to give up any of this stuff in exchange for a thankless elected position then I think we ALL need to increase our medications.  I am flattered that I am considered worthy and thank you all.  But I still say “life is too short”.

Now where is my corkscrew…..

[John Gazire]

Great post Pat. We need a like button like on facebook.

[Kathy_Baratta]

Pat,

Sounds like you have it made! You think you're happy now? Wait till January!!! You can take all the happiness reflected in your post and multiply it by gazillions and you might come close.   

Let me be the first to say it,

Congrats, Grandpa, you're in for the time of your life!!

KB

[Pat Garaffa]

I wouldn't say "I have it made".  We're just trying to get out, enjoy ourselves over the summer and take advantage of the gazillion things to do in this area.   

Unfortunately, all these activities (sans the 3 movies) are outside of Howell because there is NOTHING to do in this town.  And even the three movies we offer is a challenge because it seems like every other town is also fond of Thursday events.  Bottom line - anyone who claims to be bored around here hasn't picked up the newspapers or scoured the local surrounding town schedules.  There is something for everyone, at every age and on every budget and on every day of the week.   

And please don’t interpret my message as a derogatory statement towards anyone in elected office.  That would be the furthest thing from the truth.  They had the same choices as I and they chose the less selfish route.  I admire their continued sacrifices.  There is a special place for them in heaven.  (Well – maybe not all of them and Blago can go to hell!)

I’ve done my fair share of volunteering and will do it again soon.  I had a bit of a scare a couple years back and it shook my priorities back in order.  It was welcome wake up call and long overdue.  Work and office time got moved a little further down the list as a result.  The work still happens (do I have a choice?) but it no longer displaces enjoyment or family time and I won’t allow those opportunities to slip thru the cracks anymore.   The work will always be there – the kids (and my future grandkids) won’t be young forever.       

Maybe some day I’ll explore those other options but for now I want to have some fun and take it easy.  And maybe Barbara Dixel and all the others will move to Florida and harass some poor mayor down there. 

The grandpa moniker will be exciting.  The baby is due in January and my math says my daughter didn't get out much during her honeymoon in April!  LOL!   

It’s all good. 

[Ginger_Hoffmeier]

OK, Pat... but grandkids are less stressful than kids, especially the first. You can hold the bouncing baby during your swearing in ceremony.

You are already giving town topics a lot of thought and that's not going to stop with the addition of another kid or two. You are already spending time on it.

You're not a career politician so if you burn a bridge or two it isn't going to hurt your future. Besides, you've already survived the drastic "down-sizing" of the work force in a couple of fields.

It would be more stressful for you if someone nobody knows who just moved here last week ran and won.

You are familiar with all of Howell's various neighborhoods and a supporter of selling pre-owned homes before building more new ones. You were the first who spoke about needing Route 9 facade improvements and standards years before anyone else.

It's no longer about whether you make the trip on the back of a donkey or an elephant, it's what you do when you arrive that matters.

[Pat Garaffa]

Plenty of truth there.  And that applies to us all. 

Want to be my running mate?

Maybe in 2012.  And that's assuming the Mayan's were wrong and we are all still here. 

I need to get through the next couple years and maintain my sanity, income and stress levels during this economic and housing calamity.  Hopefully, by then, this will all be in the past and just a bad memory.

Family & health first - everything else is secondary.   

[Ginger_Hoffmeier]

Is that a promise?