Brookfield Happening Now

I can not for the life of me believe that every man in America is an even size after size 33 in pants. Why is it that I can only find 34/32 or 36/32? I am a size 35/31. Have been for years. Either there are a lot of guys my size that beat me to the stores, or the pants people don't get it. I see stacks and stacks of 48/34 or 33/31. But I have to pay twice for a pair of pants because I have to buy 36/32 and have them altered. What's with that?

In addition, I have noticed some stores no longer carry half sizes in some shoes. I normally wear an 8 1/2. i see something I like and all I can find is 8 or 9. But I can find a lot of 10 1/2 or half sizes after that. I have to settle for something I don't necessary care for just to get something that fits. And when you see something on the shelf you like, one would think you could find the corresponding style number somewhere in that stack of boxes. Nope, not there.

The odd thing is the over stock of those things that are too big for me. Why can't the manufacturers, or the buyers at the department stores, reduce the number of big sizes and increase the number of my sizes?

It's just no fun winning the 30% off lottery when there is nothing you want to buy.

Lowering the legal drinking age has really been discussed a lot lately. It's not the drinking or the age at which one is allowed to drink that is the problem. It's how the drinker handles responsibility. Unfortunately, today's young people have not been taught certain responsibilities. Parents want to protect their offspring from the"big, bad world" out there. Unfortunately, this lack of guidance creates innocent young people with a lack of wisdom as to how to handle responsibilities.

Of course that can be said for every generation since Adam & Eve. "The Children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for adults, and love to talk rather than work or exercise. They no longer rise when adults enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter in front of company, gobble down food at the table and intimidate their teachers." - Socrates (469-399 B. C.) It appears parents did not try to teach responsibility over 1,700 years ago either.

I am not in favor of lowering the drinking age limit without some rather specific guidelines. But if a young person is old enough to fight and possibly die for his/her country in the military, I feel that person is old enough to drink. The specific guidelines in this case would be determined by the military. As an example, I was 17 when I was graduated from High School and entered the Air Force. After basic training, I was sent to Indiana University (still 17) to study Russian. At that time, if you had a military ID, you were of legal drinking age in Indiana. If I had not shown responsibility, the Air Force would have definitely taught me.

There are myriad news stories of under age drinking incidents in the paper. However, there are as many, if not more of problems caused by drinkers who are of legal age. Like I said at the beginning, it's not the age or the drinking, it's the lack of responsibility. Even TV alcoholic beverage companies try by telling everyone to, "drink responsibly" in their ads.

But how does one predetermine who is responsible? By setting and age limit? I don't think so. I think the problem is much deeper than that. What say you, mom and dad?

If you haven't been to the Brookfield Farmer's Market yet, you really should consider it. It's not the biggest in the state by any stretch of the imagination. But it is a great place to gather. People run into people they haven't seen in a while. The fresh produce is great. The fresh eggs are outstanding.You can get a cooked brat on a bun to chomp on while you shop. Or try the fresh baked goods for a walking breakfast. Samples are also available at many of the booths.

It's a bit difficult to get around sometimes because of the number of people enjoying themselves. But it is worth the effort.

The only negative I find is that there are some who feel it is too much of an effort to park in the Brookfield Central parking lot and walk a few extra steps. As a result, they park on the grass across the street from the market or, ans in the case of a couple of people this morning, right next to a "no parking at any time" sign.

It still a really good way to get outside.