By Harvey Friedman, Attorney at Law, Washington, DC
I rented a farm for the Memorial Day weekend. Who knew that you could rent a farm! It's just about in the middle of nowhere and I dragged along some friends and dogs for company. That's me, happy as a lark.
The place is about 10 miles outside of Sperryville, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's magnificent country.
There are no cows or sheep or chickens as someone from Washington, DC would think there should be. Instead, there are wild turkey, deer and kind of scary black bears which you hope don't decide to come for any kind of big time visit.
The late 1800's farm house is in the middle of 1000 acres. A city guy has no conception of 1000 acres. You can't hear any human activity but that from your guests. Quite wondrously, cell phones don't work here. But, it's still not all that primitive, what with air conditioning and satilite TV; things you always want to have in the middle of what seems like the wilderness.
By the way, the little town of Sperrville has a great butcher shop, no plastic wrapping around the meat and it's not much different from the way butcher shops were when I was a kid--except for the prices.
Anyway, walk about two blocks down Main Street (and Main Street is only about three blocks long) and you come to the Sperreville Post Office, with its proud American flag overhead. I never get to go to post offices anymore. First, we have a high tech stamp machine in the office. Second, since the anthrax thing and 9/11, they won't let me go into the back part where all the fun stuff is.
About half of my client's are postal workers, many who have been injured if not pretty much mauled by dehumanizing machines, cruel managers and maddening demands for production. If it doesn't get them physically it gets them emotionally. I get little glimpses of what goes on from their photos and their war stories.
How great just to walk into the Sperryville post office and get to laughing with the postmaster and be allowed to take a look at the part where I'm usually forbidden to look.
Here are some of the photos I took.
AND NOW BACK TO THE FARM!
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing the photos. You have a fantastic smile... and are an incredibly handsome man.
Another AZ Admirer agrees! Am from the lands of the Finger Lakes in western NY, who lived on a farm like that for many years. It's been in the family since the 1840's, and am so glad you had the opportunity to enjoy that weekend. And you do have a great smile!
I am curious - the IRS regs use the term disability retirement alot - how does this term apply to regular folks who don't work for any part of the government?
I was collecting disability benefits and the IRS and I have a difference of opinion on the meaning of that term. Any help would be most appreciated!
BTW: My ERISA case is now in it's 5th year, and no end in sight, and my attorney quit 3 months ago. If you'd like to hear more, please let me know.
In any event, your no-names-mentioned interpretation of the legal definition of DR would be most helpful.
Many thanks!
It looks like you enjoy the outdoors as we do. Let me know if you ever want to join me in some great saltwater fishing. We have the best time tearing into those nice big redfish, speckle trout, flounder, drum, sheephead, etc., at our little fishing camp. Our excursions there brings us genuine peace and enjoyment whether we are catching our limit of redfish in the inland waterways near the coast or just sitting back at the camp watching a bald eagles sitting in a big oak tree with a 5 pound fish flapping in his grasp that he just plucked out of the serene bayou. So, if you ever want to come down to the marsh and bayous of coastal Louisiana to see some spectacular nature and wildlife along with the best inland saltwater fishing in the U.S. let me know.
My son works in D.C. and he and his friends absolutely love coming down here for fun and relaxation, which is something they really need.
Loved the pictures from the farm, Harvey! Farming has been in my family for generations. Still have cousins in Arkansas that own and operate a rather large farm there. The pics of you and your dog are priceless!!
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