Red Thundercloud

In 1996 a man I knew as Tez passed away. This man was a friend of my fathers and would come to visit us often. He claimed to be a Catawaba Indian and dressed in a like fashion. He made his living by dancing with a traveling troupe going from school to school. The troupe also sold trinkets like tomahawks made of rubber and baby dolls dressed like Indians.
For a short time he lived right up the street from me. He had a dog that supposedly would only respond to the Catawaba language but I can't speak to that. I know that he would go into the woods behind his house and dye his hair black. He had an old medicine cabinet nailed to a tree and used the mirror on that. He showed me what sassafras was and how to use the roots to make tea. He would bag up those roots and sell them as well.
Now my dad told me Tez,professional name Chief Red Thundercloud,lived down to Three Mile Harbor when they were both young men. Three Mile Harbor is a section of town were the working class people lived. My father always claimed to have given Tez his first frying pan. It was about this time when Tez went to New York City and met a man there interested in recording the Catawaba language. This language was never written down and Tez was one of the last to speak it. He said he learned it from his mother. He did speak this language for this gentleman and it was recorded. Later in life he made other recordings with various people.
You can Google Red Thundercloud and read of his many accomplishments. He traveled extensively and was a fluent speaker. His life and story however are not without controversy. His claims to being a Catawaba Indian are in question. There are some,most notably an anthropologist,that doubt the authenticity of this claim.
That he was a brilliant man and fluent speaker of some language,be it Catawaba or not,is not in question.
.Chief Red Thundercloud was born in Rhode Island. I know for a fact he lived in Ct. for a while and in New York as well. He was laid to rest in Mass.
Having known the man if only for a few years I naturally was sad to hear of his passing. He gave me some toys when I was a little guy and had eaten at our table. I can remember him telling stories about doing shows and being in a movie as an extra. He was usually dressed as you would expect an Indian to dress. He wore buckskins,moccasins and a fringed shirt a lot. I always thought it was pretty neat to have a real Indian for a friend. I occasionally think of him and smile. Not too many boys from East Hampton can say they knew an Indian. Maybe up to Bridgehampton cause they had the Shinnecock Indians there. I was fortunate to have known him.
PS: somewhere I have a snapshot of him in my front yard. When I find it I will share.

The Playground

You won't bail on me will you ?

Several groups here in town have been collaborating on replacing the playground equipment . An upgrade is in order. The cost of this is significant but well worth the price. Hopefully more children will come out to play and get the much needed exercise. I have not seen the actual plan or what equipment is being installed. I have been to several rather large and modern playgrounds at the schools in the area.
I have noticed the changes in equipment since I was a kid. Most of it is formed plastic. The ground beneath is covered with some sort of shock absorbing material. Some of the things we had are no longer there and new items have taken there place. I don't see any see-saws anywhere. Guess they have determined they are not safe or something. Not that I ever did, but I have seen people jump off of them to send the other person crashing down. I enjoyed the see saw because you could talk while doing it and it wasn't too strenuous an activity on a warm day. Remember the slides back then ? Galvanized steel that would get so hot it would burn you. I remember rubbing them with waxed paper to improve slipperiness. Now they are plastic and generate static electricity. I have been zapped more than once playing with the Grand Kids. When the conditions are right it is quite a shock. We also had those things we called a merry go round. Just a platform with bars to hold on that you could spin in a circle. The object there was to go as fast as possible without flying off. Getting dizzy and flying off into the dirt was great fun as I recall. And of course the Jungle Gym.
As I remember them they were all steel bars formed into a dome shaped object. The ground under these was as hard packed as concrete. The swings are still on the playground and haven't changed much. They have added the ones for little kids that are much safer. The chains are now covered with a plastic sheath to protect your fingers. Got mine pinched a few times and soon learned about that. Only happens when you go so high slack gets in the chain. Remember jumping out ? The kids still do that. At the elementary school I attended we had a drainage pipe on the playground that you could crawl through. I remember that well and enjoyed it.The ends were a little bent in so you had to be careful. Of course you would be covered with dirt but who cared ?  A few swipes on your pants and you were ready to go. I seem to remember one playground had a pommel horse in it. Or at least something like it.
I'm not sure of the time frame for the installation of the new equipment. I'm guessing early spring. There has been a lot of planning and fundraising going on. Should be a wonderful place for the kids. I'm wondering if they have included a drinking fountain. There was one located next to the fence but it was rather old and rather unsanitary looking. Maybe not though as there are a host of issues associated with that. I'm looking forward to taking the kids to the playground. Maybe we will fly kites again this year. Wonder what kind of cool new stuff will be there.

Trunks

Why do they call swimming trunks,trunks ? With spring just around the corner I heard an advertisement for these. I never really paid attention before as I usually refer to them as a swim suit. Another curious name for them. Not much of a suit is it. You would look real silly wearing a tie with that suit. I have a pair of swim trunks for use in pools. That's another thing,why are they a pair ? Only have one of them. I can understand a pair of socks but a pair of trunks ? Would a one legged man wear a pair ? Why don't women wear swimming trunks ? They always wear suits. Their suits cover up their trunks or at least a portion of it so calling them trunks would make sense. Sorta.
There are other trunks as well. Tree trunks,trunks for storing things and a trunk in your car. Now calling a tree trunk a trunk makes perfect sense. Like the trunk of your body it houses the vital organs of the tree and has limbs on it just like us. Now the other trunks I'm not sure about. Were the first storage trunks actual trunks of trees ? Hollowed out closets in the forrest ? A place to store extra fig leaves because you just know Eve had more than one outfit. Later on did they cut them down and bring them inside the cave ? Something to think about. The trunk on your car is a place to store things too. We all keep stuff in there. 
So now I've reached a point were I think I figured this out. The answer has been there all along. Why do we call them swimming trunks ? Because we store junk in our trunks ! Don't touch my junk !

A second Lanuage

When  I was in school it was an option to take a second language. Two choices were available to me then. Spanish and French. I decided upon Spanish. My thinking was if I ever had to run for the border I would go south were it was warm. Too cold in Canada for me.
In more recent years we have had to add English to the list of languages taught at our schools. I never dreamed that would happen. Always took it for granted that if you lived here you could speak English. In retrospect I should have studied my language choice more diligently as it can be profitable now a days to savvy the lingo !
The second language I had in mind this morning though has nothing to do with that. The second language I was thinking about is a written form of English,and presumably all other languages, called texting. Single letters have meaning and abbreviations abound. Phrases convey entire messages. I received a text message the other day and didn't have a clue what it was about. It just as well could have been a different language altogether. The rules of grammar where trampled upon or just plain nonexistent. Sentence structure was deplorable. One could barely discern the subject from the predicate ! My ninth grade English teacher.God rest her soul, is surely turning over in her grave.

I'm thinking it must be because the keyboards,is that the right terminology,are so small. I need a magnifying glass just to see the letters. It is beyond me how you can press just one. Must be the same magic that allows Dolly Parton to play the banjo with fingernails two inches long. I've seen people doing this with both thumbs going very fast. Thumbs ! But back to the language. I haven't looked but I'm willing to bet someone publishes a book called Texting for Dummies. They have one for everything else. Now that I think of it you can probably download it to your Kindle or other device. Some of this has its'  roots in the chat rooms. OMG,LOL,BRB started there. But with the advent of texting for everyone this was greatly expanded. I have fallen way behind the curve on this one. Well history repeats itself and voice messaging will come back into vogue someday. I'll be ready.

On TV

Wouldn't it be wonderful if life was really like on TV. Most of the shows involving families depict a life filled with humor and love. Even the poorest of families never really go hungry or do not get medical care when they need it. All the shows I grew up watching were that way. My Three Sons had no mother but they had Uncle Charlie ! There was plenty of money to go around. Leave it to Beaver. A perennial troublemaker but always with good intentions. At worst he got a stern talking to from his Dad. No corporal punishment there.
The Waltons. The perfect family. Poor and struggling they managed to own a saw mill,not to mention a mountain,all attended school and later college and nursing school. Writers and musicians abounded in the family. Grand Parents, parents and children all living together in harmony. Each one respecting the others and offering encouragement and advice.
Yes television life is great. Very seldom do you see anyone working and when they are it is at a job were they have fun all day. There lives are full of colorful characters. In the end everyone has a wonderful day.
In more recent years you had the Romanos. everybody loves Raymond. What a joyful life they had. Even when Robby gets gored by a bull it is all laughs. Very amusing. His parents drove through the living room and it is a hoot.
But isn't that what it is really all about ? An escape into a world where all is fun and games. Where even the most serious of situations is reason for laughter. I enjoy watching TV land. Archie Bunker and Edith. Ralph Cramden. Gilligans Island. The list goes on. The names have changed over the years but the theme is the same. Lighten up. It is not as bad as you think. The whole problem with my life is I have a poor staff of writers. I'm in a situation but it is definitely not a comedy ! Not really a drama either now that I think about it.
More like a pilot show that just goes on and on. Suppose I'll have to hang on to see how it all turns out.

The littlest things

Does it mean you are getting old when the littlest things get you mad or upset ? Or is it late stage rebellion ? Like when you were a teenager. I find this happening to me a bit more frequently than I like though. Am I becoming a bitter old man ? These are questions I ask myself. They are questions any reasonable man should ask. If I where a celebrity I suppose I could hire a therapist to listen to me and take my money but I have a wife and she does just fine in both categories ! Some look for the answer in a bottle but all I've ever found there was empty promises. Give up on that one years ago. The doctors will give you "medications" that will make you feel fine and just plain not care what is happening. I prefer to be cognizant of my surroundings.
I've written about changes in past blogs. Changes are hard and some just don't need to be. It is these very changes,even the littlest ones,that are getting me mad and upset. This was brought to the forefront just yesterday. I was reading the newspaper and in the letters to the editor a gentleman ( term loosely applied here) writes the "F" word. The paper printed it in its' full glory ! Why wasn't the judicious use of ampersands or asterisks used in its' place ?  F*&+  Recognize what it is ? Of course you do.
This may seem like a small thing and maybe it is but not to me. It is just further proof of the lowering of societies standards. There was a time in America when one did not print profanity except in profane books or magazines. Those publications were known to those that chose to read them. It was an affront to me.
A small thing perhaps. A man not holding the door open for a lady or relinquishing his seat on the bus small things,perhaps. Saying please and Thank You, yes sir or yes maam, small things,perhaps. Addressing an adult as Mr. or Mrs. a small thing,perhaps. Children being allowed to call their parents by their first name,a small thing,perhaps. These are some of the small things that make up a society. A society were one had respect for his fellow man. I see this society slipping away under the guise of, It's my Right. A little thing ?
Perhaps. Is it not the accumulation of these little things that form the whole? By allowing all the little things to go by the wayside are we not replacing the whole ? Are we really making progress when we allow this ?
Not all of the old ways were bad. There is always room for improvement that is true but we need to be careful just what parts we discard. When we start removing the very core of our democracy what will we be left with ? Sometimes it is the littlest things that matter the most.

Just around the corner

I'm a early riser and this morning I awoke to see some snow on the ground. I had really hoped I had seen the last for this year. Last Friday it was 72 degrees and I caught a real bad case of spring fever. Was cleaning up the yard and working in the attic. Eyeballing the grill !
I usually sit at my computer in the living room without the television on because I find it a distraction when I'm writing down these thoughts of mine. My wife sips her coffee in the kitchen and has her laptop. We have a small television in the kitchen that is always on and she will notify me if anything real important pops up on the morning news.
I live just off a main street here in town. I've grown accustomed to the traffic noises and seldom notice at all.
Except for one sound; the thump and scrapping of a snow plow ! I've grown to loathe that sound. Across the street there is an insurance agency with a small parking lot. After the snow you hear; thump, followed by that scrapping sound. Over and over ! The sound mocks me. My thoughts of grilling a juicy steak or chicken wings being shut out by that sound. I know this snow will not last long but that awful sound is a reminder that it is not spring yet !
A few days ago the wind was blowing a gale. Gusts to sixty miles per hour. It was a warm wind however and my wife reminded me of March winds. An early spring for sure. The groundhog even said so. And now snow again. I've been watching the trees for signs of buds but none so far. I'll have to shake the snow off the branches to check. There has got to be new life under there somewhere. The sun is feeling a bit stronger every day. Surely this is just a minor setback. Still a disappointment though. More snow,really. The holidays are long past now with its' jingle bells and all that. The sound of the plow is not a good one ! St. Patricks day is next up and I can't see a leprechaun in the snow. Green,green is the color !
Later today I'll take a few snapshots. I'm sure this will be the last snow in 2011 so I had better record it.
Hope springs eternal and spring is just around the corner.

A little thing

Yesterday I just happened to have those small glass bottles of Coca Cola. You know the kind we had as kids. My grandson had used them in a school project. I stuck them in the fridge.
I don't know why it is but I think those cokes taste better than any other one on the market. Maybe it is just a mental thing,a longing to be young again. I remember getting these cokes out of the machine at Peckhams' garage for ten cents.

Later in the day when the grandson came over to visit for a while he wanted to drink one. I told him sure,after all they were his anyway. He took the bottle and asked me how do you open it ? Laughing I told him to use the can/bottle opener. Yes,I still have one with a magnetic back on it stuck to the fridge. Taking it down I handed it to him. It was at this point that I realized he didn't have a clue on how to use it. I was stunned ! He is ten years old and an honor student in the fourth grade. How is it possible he doesn't know about using a bottle opener ? I showed him the technique. Set the bottle on a firm surface,hold it tightly with your left hand and pry up on the lid with your right hand. Following these instructions the lid popped off and as is usual the bottle moved a little and some soda comes flying out. Looking disgusted he says that is why you don't open the bottle on the kitchen table. It has a tablecloth on it and he thought he would be in trouble.

Grandma and I just laughed. A few hours later his sister comes in and we repeat the performance. It was amusing to watch her try to figure out how to use the opener. A little instruction and the job was done.
Afterwards I was thinking about what other things they may not have experienced. I know they have never seen the cans when the pull tab used to come off in your hand. Doubt they ever had to open a can with the can opener,you know,like a can of soda. My mother used evaporated milk in her coffee and those little cans you opened using the point of the opener facing you. You just laid it on there and pushed down hard.

Yes,it was just a little thing but goes to show how things change over time. Wonder if they have seen any cans with a seam down the side ? I make a conscious effort to show them things and teach them about the past. Tell them or show them how we used to do things. That was one I missed. A few weeks ago I showed them how to make spitballs and shoot them from a straw. There Dad wasn't too happy about that when they hit him.

Habit forming

I was just wondering why it is so much easier to pick up a bad habit than develop a good one. Seems like I can pick up a bad habit just about anywhere at anytime. Good ones however, you have to develop. Isn't that curious ?
Bad habits you just pick up,good ones you have to develop. That means first you have to form a committee to study the problem,then devise a plan,implement the plan,execute the plan and keep executing until it forms into a habit. Research and development usually exhausts all my resources and I have none left for the project. In other cases a lack of execution causes the habit to not develop at all. In those cases it is back to committee. A bad habit I can have whenever, usually without even being aware of it. Insidious those bad habits.
I can remember when my school teachers would preach to the class about forming good study habits. Set a time each day,stick to the schedule,turn off all distractions. That never happened with me, died in committee. There was always something a bit more compelling to do. I always just fit that homework in there somewhere,most of the time anyway. Brushing your teeth and combing your hair were habits that were encouraged. Brushing the teeth part developed alright but the combing of the hair part got stuck in committee.
I have found the development of good habits requires positive reinforcement. When I was a kid this came in the form of threats,denial of property or privilege and occasionally physical violence. Nowadays they call it tough love but back then it was called getting your butt beat. In all fairness it did encourage proper behaviour. It definitely provided reinforcement of the behaviour.
As an adult the positive reinforcement came in different forms. I had the habit of smoking cigarettes. I quit that habit and the reinforcement was in several forms, I can breathe again, my clothes don't stink and I have a few extra bucks. The extra bucks could lead to another bad habit so; my wife keeps those.
It has been said we are creatures of habit. That is a true statement but why are they usually bad habits ?
You don't often hear anyone say," He has a good habit." You do hear,"He has a bad habit." Why are our minds wired for the bad ? Why is it we can adopt bad habits so quickly ? Maybe that is the very reason we have a hard time getting rid of those bad habits, We adopted them ! A child,even an adopted one,is loved just as much as a natural born child.
I have a special occasion coming up this year. It is one of those occasions when you want to look your best. My waist seems to have expanded a bit over the years so it requires some attention. I'm thinking perhaps a few stomach crunches in the morning followed by a jog ought to do the trick. Problem is, I'm just not in the habit of exercising. I need to develop this habit and quickly. I'll send it to committee and study their recommendations. For right now though I'll have another cup of coffee and a hot cinnamon bun with that white icing on it . I'd do some crunches but my back hurts and I had best not risk further damage. Could jog but it is kinda cold and windy out. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. Well,spring is just around the corner and I've got plenty of time.

Batter Up

Spring is just around the corner. Hooray ! I'm a little tired of being cold and shut up in the house except for brief periods of time. Time to clean up the grill and get those chicken wings barbecued.
Spring training has begun and the New York Yankees are looking good as always. Can't wait for opening day and another season. Baseball is the only sport I truly get excited about. Batter Up !
As with every new year the various teams make acquisitions and trades. It is always fun to see who will go where. The amount of money being spent is enormous. It really boggles the mind to think about it. Millions spent to maybe,possibly,could be increasing your chances of fielding a winning team. As the owner I can't imagine committing myself to these multi million dollar contracts knowing the player may get injured before the season even starts. It has to cause a lot of nail biting.
I am not a person that remembers players stats and specific games. My memory just doesn't work that way. I couldn't tell you what teams were in the World Series on any given year. My focus is always on this season. All the others are the past. With each spring comes new life and a chance for another victory. Even the Boston Red Sox can win a world series,although rarely.
Something I have always been aware of but never gave any thought to was the age of the players. For some reason it struck me this year. The Orioles signed a one year deal with Vlad Guerreo for 8 million dollars. They did voice some concern about his age. He is getting old and they hope he can still perform. He is ,drum roll please,36. Thats' right 36 and practically over the hill. Maybe the fact that I will be 58 this July has something to do with that. I'm thinking I need to sign a new contract before the twilight of my career turns to darkness. Major leaguers play into their forties,sometimes. There are always exceptional people but as a rule when you reach your late thirties in baseball you are pretty old. Baseball is a young mans sport. Your reflexes aren't what they used to be. I know at my age when I play ball with the Grand son my mind and eyes see the ball and direct me to it but the body doesn't follow quickly enough. It is a strange sensation.
As much as I enjoy baseball and admire the skills of the players it is difficult to imagine being 36 and people talking about how old you are. Of course you would take solace in the fact that you are very wealthy ( or least should be) and enjoy some level of fame. To be 36, making 8 million for this year and wondering if I will have a job next year,now that would be a quandary for sure. What to do. Maybe I should just go ahead and buy that car dealership now. But I also know if it where me my attitude would still be, there is always next year. Batter Up.

On "The List "

We have a saying in my house whose origins are unsure but I'm suspecting it stems from my Mother.
I guess other folks know about being on the list, I'm not sure. At any rate I woke up this morning to find I was once again, on the list.
My Mother is the primary keeper of the list but everyone in my family has one. There are a couple of names on my list. It is a fairly easy thing to do to wind up on the list. It may be for something you have or have not done. Something implied will get you on the list just as quickly as if you stated it outright.
The best part of the list is that you usually don't remain there long as you will be replaced by the next person.
Also,you can get yourself removed from the list rather easily. I hate being on the list. It is just a guilt thing. Even when I've done nothing,in my opinion,to deserve being placed on the list I still feel a sense of guilt. It is a strange and unsettling feeling. There are times when you don't know you are on the list. The initial placement may not be known to you but it will leak out. My sister has called me and told me I was on the list. When this happens whatever infraction I have committed will be spelled out.
The quickest way to wind up on the list is to not do what is expected of you. You know you should have called but got preoccupied and did not. You, my friend ,are on the list. When you do call it will be answered with a cool and judgemental manner I can assure you. Sarcasm being a favorite tactic. " So,Guess you were too busy to call ." You may also get the, everything is fine routine. We all know that one, everything is fine as long as you admit you were wrong !
I have found the best defense is too quickly admit your wrongdoing,apologize profusely and bring up a different subject. The best way resulting in someone else going on the list. That way the anger gets redirected.
There are different tactics to be employed depending on which list you are on, but that one seems to work in most cases.
Well, I'm on the list again. Rats, I hate being on the list. What is this strange hold it has over me. Tonight I'll make the required gesture and hopefully get removed from the list. At the least I could get moved down a notch or two. Have to see if I can't find some dirt on somebody to get them to the top.
And just what is this "List"
The list is when another person ( keeper of the list) is angry or upset with you about some perceived infraction or an actual one and doesn't just come out and tell you. You only know by intuition or another person telling you. A harbored resentment. You know you are on  "The List." Figuring out just why is the hard part. Unless, of course you are guilty. Its' complicated. Whatever you may call it you know when you are " on the list."

Watson

Watson is in the center.

The three day Jeopardy IBM challenge is over. Watson the computer won easily. I am not surprised by the outcome. I was quite sure IBM made sure this computer would be successful before placing it on national television. Still it is an amazing feat,a piece of history as it were. I got to watch. I have seen the progression of computers throughout my life. I wasn't always aware of their significance however. As with a lot of things you grow up around you just take it for granted. Pocket calculators,no big deal but before that all we had was adding machines or an abacus. The original video game Pong was a computer and look where that has gone. I'm sure you have heard this before but it is an amazing fact. You have far more computing power in your laptop computer than NASA had when landing men on the moon. You can have more in your Blackberry as well.
You may recall IBM made a computer called Deep Blue that played chess. It was not successful in its' first attempts but eventually did defeat the worlds greatest chess masters. That was quite an accomplishment but strictly a mathematical problem. This newest computer Watson is a different animal altogether. Even though the questions must be imputed electronically it has the ability to understand the English language as spoken. It is not perfect. If you watched the show you saw Watson get some answers wrong altogether. Still it is a giant leap forward. The potential uses for this technology is limitless.
I am not a computer geek that can tell you how many tetra bytes Watson has or the processor speeds and that kind of information. From watching the show I know it uses a lot of Power750 servers,whatever they are. They showed an entire room full of this equipment along with a giant cooling unit to keep it running. I was reminded of the computers used during early spaceflight programs. They too took up entire rooms and in a least one case a small building. Now we can carry that much computing power in our shirt pocket. I am quite certain a computer equivalent to Watson will be much smaller in size within the next ten years or so.
All in all it was an impressive feat. I am happy to say I witnessed this event. Will we have computers with voice recognition and the abilities of Watson ? Sure we will it is just a matter of time. That is if Mankind can stop self destructing ourselves and the planet. I can't help but wonder what marvels await my Great Grand Children. Will they have the flying cars we have been promised ? Will they come to rely too heavily on the computer and its' responses. Like Spock on Star Trek will pure logic rule the day? I think not because you can not remove emotions from important issues. Or can you.

A Question

Here in Maryland the question of Gay marriage is gaining enough support that it may go to a vote. It is frequently mentioned in the news and rallies are being held both pro and con. There are numerous polls being taken that you may participate in.
Now religious beliefs aside I believe it is more a matter of finance than anything else. The tax code does provide some relief for married couples as we all know. Those individuals that wish to share their life with someone of the same sex want these benefits. I can understand that. The problem lies in definition does it not ? On the surface it would seem declaring it a civil union may be an answer. With that though comes all the encumbrances of a marriage. Divorce being a primary concern. The woman has traditionally been given support if she requires it. How is that going to work ? I'm thinking a different set of rules would have to be employed that apply to civil unions.
It is often difficult for people to separate their beliefs from the issue. The issue here is money ! The Gays don't want to admit that,the straight people don't want to admit it either. I am truly convinced that money is the driving force behind this. All the rest is rhetoric.
If we allow this,either by "marriage" or "civil union" would this not logically lead to other mutual beneficiary unions ? What of college roommates ? They could benefit from the tax breaks as well. Could not any two people form a union to take advantage of the code ? It would only be fair,right ? We would have to think of a name for this so as not to label someone as Gay or Straight perhaps the Undecided.
I will finish this by saying this; I am morally opposed to the Gay lifestyle. I am morally opposed to Gay marriage. That being understood this is America. Land of the free. Equal rights for all that are here legally.(another issue) Although not real comfortable with it I could support Civil Unions.
I firmly believe that the Gay lifestyle is wrong ! I will not try to legitimize it with Marriage ! A marriage is between a man and a woman. These are my beliefs and I am entitled to them. That doesn't mean I hate Gays or have any fear of them. They have made their choice.

Apperances

I was watching Americas Game,Wheel of Fortune. It was Valentines day so naturally they had couples on there. One couple were in the Army. What caught my attention was they were wearing combat fatigues. I don't know when the rules changed but when I was in the military you could not wear your work clothes IE: combat fatigues or dungaree pants and shirts anywhere except at work. You were required to wear your dress uniform or civilian clothing while off the base. I have noticed this around the area were I live too. I am fairly close to an Air base and see the Air Force personnel wearing their fatigues in Wal Mart and the mall. I suppose it is what you are accustomed too but I don't like it. I was proud to wear my dress uniform. I didn't wear it all the time of course but for special occasions I would put that on. I have worn it once since retiring. It was in a Veterans Day parade. There were only six or seven Veterans in the parade so I didn't do it that again. I was the only one in a dress uniform.
I have noticed some police departments have adopted this mode of dress as well. Black clothing,pant legs bloused into the top of their boots and a belt bristling with weapons. They look more like a para military outfit than the Police. A bit intimidating to younger children and some older. I remember when a Policeman would be neatly dressed, shirt and tie,polished shoes,and always with a hat on. They had a different demeanor back in those days too. More friendly and willing to help. Now they just look all business and not very approachable.
It is a different world today I know. The crime rate is way up there and the Police have to be ready for anything. This is the reason for this change I suppose. I still don't like it. I like it when the Police projected a sense of law and order not by brute force but rather by example. You hear a lot about the swat teams but little about the everyday Officer.
I'm from an older generation and tend to bemoan changes. I am aware of this and try to understand. I can't help but think about times gone past. We all know the story of Clothes make the Man and there is a certain element of truth in that. When I was in my dress uniform people tended to address me with a certain amount of respect and I replied in kind. I was representing the U.S.Navy. A neatly uniformed police officer has the same effect. He/She are far more approachable. If I see someone in combat gear it has a tendency to make me leery. Maybe it is just me but ?
I traveled a lot during my Navy career and have been to many countries in Europe. In a lot of them the Police walk around the streets carrying automatic weapons. They look ready for combat at any second. It is rather unnerving as you know their laws differ greatly from ours. In the major cities they tend to tone it down because of the tourists. Still their presence is felt. I would hate for America to become like that. It probably is in the big cities already. I'm not feeling more secure in recent years and there is little to be done about it.

Valentine

It is St. Valentines day. You don't hear the saint part much anymore I suppose someone could get offended.
It is a kind of confusing celebration. It is more for spouses and lovers or for friends and family ? It changes depending upon the circumstances. For your spouse or lover it is about expressing an undying love. Long stemmed roses (red) and the traditional box of chocolates at the very minimum. They may say it is not necessary but it is best to be safe.
When you are a child in elementary school you give valentines to everyone. They just fly indiscriminately.
 I remember buying large bags of valentine cards to fill out and give to classmates. We made a large heart shaped envelope and taped it to our desk. The valentines were placed in there. Some of us got a lot and others only a few. There were funny ones and some very simple ones that just said,Happy Valentines Day.
I think this practice ended about the sixth grade.
As you get older Valentine giving becomes much more discreet. I always got something for my Mom. A card and maybe a box of Whitman sampler. I don't remember giving out any to the Girls in high school. That gesture would have seemed a bit over the top. Valentines then only professed eternal and lasting love. Why it would have been close to proposing marriage.
After you are married flowers and a card are expected. Perhaps you go out for a romantic dinner. Years go by and Valentines can lose its' sparkle. Cupcakes to bake for the kids in school. Helping them do their valentines. For some the day is turning into a chore. It can also get expensive.
Now that I am a Grand Father I get cards for the grand kids. Candy too. For my grand daughter a pink carnation. The grand son is too old for all that but likes the candy just the same. Yes it is a mixed message this Valentine stuff.
I read a little history about this holiday. In ancient Rome women would be hit with a strip of sacrificed goat skin to make them fertile. On St. Valentines day all the young womens' names were placed in a kettle and a lottery held. They got paired up with a man for the next year. Many marriages were the result.
They are actually three Saint Valentine(s). The catholic church has martyred them all.

Happy Meals

Little moments in life can be a milestone. Consider this; took the Grandkids to McDonald's. This has always been a time for Happy Meals and the Play Place. Friday it was not. The kids didn't want Happy meals anymore and they are really too big for the play place. This was a gradual thing as they haven't really wanted happy meals for a little while and the play place was getting a bit boring. Friday though it just sunk in, they are growing up ! I watched them both as they ducked down to enter the tubes and slides. I watched as they scrambled to the top and slid quickly back down. Got me to remembering when they had to almost crawl up the steps because they couldn't reach. I remember when getting to the top was a major accomplishment,one worthy of photographs ! (Have a bunch of them.) I think the deal was sealed when my Grandson told me he helped a little boy reunite with his sister inside the play station.
Truth be told I should have seen this a long time ago. Guess I'm just trying to hold on. Have talked to my own kids about more children but they are not going for it. Pretty selfish on their part if you ask me.
We have always celebrated the kids accomplishments in the past. Potty training,learning to walk,talk,read,write and ride a two wheeler. Dressing themselves in the mornings and brushing their teeth without having to be told. Now they are too old for the play place. What to do ? There is still fishing,crabbing and going to the beach. Museums to visit and doing crafts together. We even have meaningful discussions together. How did they get this old ! Now Mark wants to play chess. Good Grief Charlie Brown !
There are those that would say I spoil my Grand Children. Hogwash ! When they are with me or their Grandmother discipline is maintained. It is more like a casual Friday with us though. They can watch whatever on TV (as long as it is appropriate) and they don't have to eat anything they don't like. Never did see the point in that exercise. We don't stand for back talk but the lines of communication are open. Sometimes they can win the argument. Yes somehow,somewhere along the way they both stopped being small children and grew up. The innocent days are falling behind them. It would be nice if they never had to know about life's injustices. Why can't we just go to the Play Place and all eat Happy Meals.

Mortality

I just heard of the passing of a classmate. He was just 57 years old. Not a close friend or even someone I hung out with at all but nevertheless in my high school class. He is not the first I have heard of and each time it hits me and makes me reflect upon my own mortality. I am 58.
I wonder what dreams and aspirations he may have left unfulfilled. Promises made but not kept. And what of those whose lives he touched. To me it is just a sad and sobering fact but to those close the impact surely is much greater. We can not know the time of our passing. One can only know the time will be the correct time for the man controlling this makes no mistakes. The how or why of it is not the important part. That part is left for the living to ponder. Knowing that answer can give some solace.
We all want to be remembered. It is a part of the human make up. We need to believe we have made some contribution to the scheme of things. To have influenced events. Most of us have a very small sphere of influence and in the big picture that is necessary. Too many cooks spoil the soup. You can never be sure what effect you may have so it is best to conduct yourself with some restraint. I believe it was Newton that said,"for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction" and this applies in personal relationships as well. I do not believe you can create or alter your own destiny. Destiny by definition prevents this.
What task have I been placed here on this earth to fulfill ? I don't know and will never know. I will not try to understand the mind of God. That would be a bit presumptuous don't you think? I have been given free will and I can only strive to use this will in the proper manner. To make the right choices. When the time is right I will depart this world. In that I take comfort. Everything I was put here to do will be done. All I can do is live my life and try not to mess it up.
To my classmate, Rest in Peace. Whatever your purpose on this earth was, it has been fulfilled. I am sure you will not be forgotten by those you loved.

I'll Ask the Questions

I enjoy watching Jeopardy. It is always a challenge to try to answer the question. It is satisfying to know the response or guess it from the clue given. With such a wide range of categories I can usually be confident with a least a few.
I see they are now advertising having a computer named Watson as a contestant. Watson is to compete against the two best players of all time. I am very interested in the result. IBM has developed this computer. You may recall they made one to play chess and it was successful against chess masters. The data base for Watson is enormous. The real challenge is getting Watson to understand the question. The computer will have to interpret what information is being asked for. Getting a machine to understand what is implied or inferred is truly remarkable.
Having grown up with computers it is fascinating to watch their development. Even though I make no claim about understanding how they work or why. The first ones I saw had those green screens with white lettering. You had to type in commands to achieve whatever. Then you could just click on an Icon and a program would start. My cell phone will respond to a voice command so I'm sure a computer will too given the right setup. I'm assuming that is what Watson will do. Star Trek come to life. I remember Mr. Scott the engineer addressing the ships computer," Computer, calculate radioactivity count for ion tube." And the computer would respond. In one episode Mr. Scott had to input using a keyboard and he described it as quaint. Perhaps our Grandkids will think the same.
I will be watching but with a certain amount of skepticism. I like to watch magicians too. I'm quite sure IBM does not want this experiment to fail. The results must be certain before the show begins. Until I get to ask the questions I will not be fully convinced. Still I think I may be watching a little bit of history in the making.
Something to talk about twenty years from now. I saw Watson on Jeopardy. Watched it on a television that still used a picture tube too.

The Antenna

Occasionally I see something that just takes me back. An old sign perhaps or an old car. Instantly I am back to an earlier time. I happened to look up the other day when I heard what I thought may be a jet flying overhead. Rare here in Greensboro. Didn't see a Jet but saw a TV antenna. Just like in the movies I was back in the sixties. I remember when almost every house had one of these on the roof. The fancier ones where on a separate tower. Some,like the one in the picture,had a motor that could be controlled remotely to turn that antenna for optimum reception. Growing up we had a choice between two stations. Channel 3 or channel 8. Our antenna lay in the attic and seldom needed adjustment. When it did you went up in the attic and turned it just a little until the person downstairs yelled;OK.

This was before we had a color television. Back in the days when most houses had only one television. I was the remote. Dad said to turn the channel and I did. He didn't have to specify what channel as I said there were only two. We still bought the TV guide though.

I still see these relics of a time gone past and usually they are bent and falling down. This particular one however is pristine in its' appearance. On the opposite back corner of this house there are two satellite dishes.

I can't say with certainty when we got cable television. I do remember our first color television however; it was a Quasar with the works in a drawer. A genuine marvel of electronic wizardry. Came with a remote control.

Now the trend is to run all our electrical cables under ground. The wires are unsightly and prone to damage above ground. This is a better method. Not sure how we hide our satellite dishes but I'm sure someone will figure out a way. Maybe incorporate them into the design of the house. They are definitely smaller in size than those early ones. Rarely do you see one of those anymore. I know where one is though and should take a picture of it someday.

When I saw that antenna on that roof I was back in time for just a moment or two. I recall getting off the school bus and racing home to catch The Rifleman. My favorite show. Lucas McCain stood for all that was right and never missed a shot or run out of ammo either. I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and watched coverage of the Kennedy assassination. That black and white television hooked to an antenna in the attic brought me the world. I don't know why Dad never put that antenna on the roof.

MaGoo Moments

I have been visually impaired since I was in the third grade. When I first got my glasses I thought they were pretty cool. Figured anyone who wore glasses was probably pretty smart,regular scholars. Think Benjamin Franklin. I quickly learned about the limitations placed on you though. Come in from the cold and they steam up leaving you blinded. Any blow to the face ie: basketballs could cause significant damage both to your face and the glasses. The first hurt like crazy and the later got you yelled at because they needed replacing or repairs. Other inconveniences include not being able to buy sunglasses off the rack. Separate tinted lenses required you to carry both pair around with you. I never liked the clip on ones. Eye doctor told me they were bad for your eyes too. And of course you had to deal with being called four eyes. Four Eyes Four Eyes You're a sissy and you'll cry ! Tough guys don't wear glasses.
Over the years I have had some funny and not so funny things happen to me on account of my glasses or lack thereof. Naturally you can't wear your glasses in the shower. I have picked up the body wash and put it in my hair and used shampoo instead of body wash. When something like that happens I call it a," Magoo moment." On one occasion I mistakenly picked up a tube of ointment thinking it was toothpaste. Let me just say this ointment was not for oral use. Fortunately I discovered my mistake in time ! I am far sighted so I can see very close up. Even with my lenses it can be challenging to me to read road signs in time to react. This is mostly a problem with destination signs. The shapes give the others away. I do find it annoying each time I renew my drivers license they insist I try to read the eye chart without my glasses. Have never been able to do that but maybe they think a miracle has happened while waiting in their line. I work with machinery a lot and as a result my glasses are often dirty. They are also often scratched up. It is a gradual process so I really don't notice it until I take them off. Then,at least close up,the world is bright and full of color.

I have never considered contact lenses. Just the thought of placing something in my eye gives me shivers. I'm certain I couldn't do it. I also am certain it would lead to infection. I am not a fastidious person when it comes to that. I don't use hand sanitizer and have been known to just wipe my hands off before lunch when at a job site. That Lasik stuff sounds interesting but I am skeptical and I don't really like the idea of messing around with what vision I do have. I'm waiting on that to see if there are any long term problems.

I think I'll just go on living with those MaGoo moments.

The Game

Watched the big game last night. The spin doctors were in full swing for this one. Just prior to the game beginning they had a piece on there making it sound like this was a moment in history to be remembered forever. Film of Dr. King having his dream and men walking on the moon. Kennedy asking you what can you do for your country and Reagan imploring Gorbachev to tear down this wall. This was certainly to be an epic battle of the titans. Good vs Evil. Gladiators locked in mortal combat deciding the fate of the free world.
All sponsored by Budweiser,the King of Beers !
It was a good contest. In the beginning I thought it might be a blowout but the Steelers rallied a little and kept it interesting. Not really caring who won or lost I could be impartial. Both teams played well. Congratulations to Green Bay.
As for the much hyped,and very expensive half time show I thought it was awful. Not being a big fan of the Black Eyed Peas didn't help but I thought the show was terrible. My first reaction was,are they serious ? Couldn't help but notice the lighted costumes and help but wonder did they borrow them from the new movie ? Tron isn't it ? And then to drag Slash out there. Gimme a break he wasn't very good twenty years ago and he hasn't improved. And then Usher I think. All that choreography reminds me of a Michael Jackson video. Guess I'm just getting to old.
A few more observations. Why do the players suddenly become religious when they make a touchdown or complete the pass. Down to their knees pointing to the heavens. If you could hear what they were saying during the game well, you can't and for good reason. Even in today's world of television you can't say that !
Big Ben must have been saved sometime after the season began given his past. Couldn't help but notice more people had their hand over their hearts during the singing of America the Beautiful than during the National Anthem. A pet peeve of mine. Christina butchered the Anthem ! Period. She could have at least learned the words. Seems like no one can sing the Anthem correctly so they try to stylize it. It didn't work. Have my own feelings about that ,that are best left unsaid.
The commercials were not as funny as in past years. Some of them were amusing and some left me wondering just what were they advertising ? Dogs seemed to be popular this year. None stuck out in my opinion.
The bottom line for me is, it was a well played game. Not too many penalties. Not too much crying about the referees' calls. No fighting. I thought both teams conducted themselves in a professional manner.
Isn't that what we really wanted to see ? A good hard fought contest between the best two teams. All the other stuff is just fluff. If I want a concert I don't go to a football game.

Fondue

It's Superbowl Sunday ! There are not what I would call big football fans in my house. The occupants are down to my wife and myself. I would call myself a baseball fan but not a football guy. I enjoy watching the Yankees and would watch every game if I could. Football I can take it or leave it. My wife cares little for either.
Funny thing is though we, like most Americans always watch the Superbowl. When my boys were still at home we had a regular party. Chips and dip,sandwiches and desserts. I don't have any explanation for this other than we all wanted something to talk about at the proverbial water cooler the next day. So today the wife says,what do you want for the Superbowl ? I don't have any real suggestions and she says.,I feel like something different. Remember that cheese dip we used to have ? Yes, I remember.
A short time after this brief exchange a smile crosses my face. I get amused by my own thoughts sometimes.
Whatever happened to our fondue pot ? I recall when  having fondue was a party in itself. I had an Aunt,God rest her soul, who thought she was Julia Child and her fondue parties were legendary. I hadn't thought of fondue in years. Funny how thoughts pop into your mind. I know they have a restaurant called the Melting Pot that, from what I understand, has raised fondue to an art.
I'm thinking my fondue set went to the same place as my lava lamp. And while I'm thinking about it where is that polyester leisure suit. Did more than one Hustle in that one. Well no matter I think we will just buy a jar of cheez whiz and zap that sucker. Don't have any of those long little forks either but I do have bamboo skewers. We will make do. Real shame I misplaced that lava lamp it would have added atmosphere.

Crafty

Recently I was reading a blog by a friend of mine. I read her blog every day and take inspiration from it.
I try to be careful not to steal her ideas but sometimes like to expand upon them. She was recently talking about making ,by hand, items to give to your loved ones. I must agree with her that these gifts mean more than any that can be purchased. I would add that sometimes,at least in my case, it means more to me than the person receiving it. I have secretly been disappointed in the reaction I got. No matter I will persevere.
In years past it was also an economical choice to make. When times were hard and money in short supply one could,for a minimal investment,create something special. In todays' world it is a little bit different. Now the practice of making something yourself is called crafting. My Mom called it getting by. Making do as it were. One would just use whatever skills they happened to possess and make whatever was needed. If material wasn't available around the house you could purchase them for reasonable cost. This has changed over the years too. Now it is all about volume. If you are not interested in buying large quantities it is going to cost you a premium price. Often times it is a deterrent. For the cost of the materials I could just purchase the item and wrap it up. Unless one is expert at doing whatever, crochet,knitting,sewing,or building a birdhouse the item purchased will be of superior quality and construction. All that for a lesser price.
I would like to build many things but the cost is prohibitive. My Grandson would like a tree house but even a rudimentary one runs into several hundred dollars in material. Building materials are quite expensive. Good materials like a good grade of hardwood are very costly indeed. The availability of used materials is scarce.
These are being recycled,admittedly,a good thing but bad for us do it yourselfers.
In my experience the home made items are best given to the older people in your life. They have an appreciation for the time and effort put forth. The younger ones rarely do. That doesn't stop me from trying however. I hope some of the things I make survive until they are old enough to appreciate them. I will more than likely be gone from this earth but isn't that the way of the world. Like most artists your work increases in value after your passing. My Mom was crafting before crafting was cool. I have many of her works and treasure them. She is still making things and I enjoy getting them. She would tell you,idle hands do the devils' work !
Isn't it funny how what was once a necessity has become a leisure activity ? Making do with whatever one had close to hand. My Great Grandfather made me a top when I was a small boy. Whittled a piece of firewood and got a piece of string. I played with that for a long time. Folded newspaper into pirate hats.
I remember when Mom would darn the holes in our socks. Even had a device to put inside the sock while darning. I don't think anyone does that anymore. Knitted up big bulky sweaters to keep you warm. Made rag rugs to put on those cold wood floors. Wasn't considered being " crafty " or was it ?
Maybe that was " Crafty "  The old folks usually are.

Recalculating

My son asked me to go with him to a place neither of us had been before. He had the name of the town and an address. When we stopped for gas I was looking for those little maps that fold up. Then I realized I was in the 21 st century and those things don't exist anymore. It was a ,duh,moment. I didn't say  anything and quickly bought something and made out that was exactly what I was looking for.

After we left the station my son hands me the GPS. I say, I don't know anything about using this.  After explaining what buttons to push and what information to enter we are up and running. That little voice is saying turn right,go 6.8 miles then turn left on etc.,etc,. The first part of the journey we are still in familar terroritory so the voice is being ignored. Then I hear the voice saying," recalculating". This brings to mind those commercials on TV where mayhem rules and you need to buy a certain car insurance. A quick look at the instructions and the box would have us making a big u-turn and then turning back onto the road we are already on. We just continue on and the box keeps recalculating. Then we lost the satelite. That little car on the screen was just sitting still ! A few minutes later the satelite returns and the box recalculates. Just in time for the next turn. Whew, diaster averted.

After about an hour of driving the checkered flag appears on the screen. Literaly,a checkered flag appears on the screen. Following the instructions given we turn into a parking lot. The address we are seeking is not in this shopping center. What is going on here? Looking at the address is has to be on the opposite side of this divided highway. Recalculating ! We must leave this parking lot,turn right,go about a half a mile,make a u-turn,go back a half a mile and turn right into another lot. Should be a piece of cake. NOT ! Recalculating.

Finaly we just turn the little box off and wing it. We arrive at our destination.

Having concluded our business it is time to return home. Fire up that box and enter "home." I'm getting the hang of this thing now. Then the box says turn left. Left ? That isn't the way we came. Recalculate,Recalculate. I'm thinking of Lost in Space with that stupid robot. Danger Will Robinson Danger.

Alright, we will go your way. So we followed the directions as given;to a point. The gps wanted to put us on a toll road. That wasn't happening. We both knew we could travel a paralel road without paying any tolls.

The box didn't like it and kept insisting we turn onto the toll road. We turned it off ! We just continued along this now infrequently used highway. Before the toll road and those little boxes bullying everyone onto it this road was well traveled. It had been a main north to south corridor. Now it was lined with relics of a bygone era. Empty service stations and empty houses. Dying communities. Then I saw it, a little motel still holding on.

Its' neon sign proudly proclaiming Free Cable and Color TV in every room. That's right, Color Television, this is no flop house ! Made me smile. Nothing about spas,hot tubs or wi-fi. No kids stay free or free continetal breakfast. No sir, but they do have COLOR television. Wonder how many years that sign has been there.

A piece of Americana. I'm thinking I may have found some of those tri fold maps in the lobby.
We made it home ok without the help of a satelite. Regular pioneers I tell you. Next time I think I'll leave home without my cell phone too. I'm sure I have at least one of those road maps somewhere. Think I'll find it and pick a destination. Recalculating !

Quality Time

The wife had a talk show on yesterday and I happened to catch a minute of it. It was a group of celebrities talking about being working Moms. They were saying how difficult it was to balance career and parenting.
Then they were discussing scheduling quality time with their children. Oh, the challenges they face.
I couldn't help but chuckle a bit thinking about the amount of money and resources they have at their disposal yet complaining about how difficult it is. Try raising several children on a limited income while paying the mortgage,car insurance,utilities,food bills,clothing,and a host of other expenses. Then I will listen to your complaints. They complain about working long hours on the set. Try some long hours working at the bank or office. No catering service providing lunch and no nannies to watch the kids.What gets me is they started talking about scheduling quality time with their children. Really. Let me pencil little Bobby in for five on Saturday. Are they serious ? If they aren't smart enough to figure it out themselves surely they could hire an advisor (I'm available) to tell them it doesn't work like that. That is not what was intended with Planned Parenthood. You can not schedule affection and caring. Quality Time,a recent catch phrase, happens spontaneously. It is like a good picture. The best ones are not posed. When you have children their needs should come first. You can not just fit them in when you have time. A little less "me" time and a lot more" them "is the recipe. These celebrities were talking about raising children as though it was an occupation. Another clue, raising your children is a lifetime commitment and responsibility. You do not get to choose when you would like to do it.
Quality time. The times I colored pictures with the kids,made a snowman,helped with their homework,played catch,rode bicycles,had a foot race,raked the leaves in the yard,went swimming,baked a cake,read a book,told them stories,drove them to sports,drove them to work,held them when they cried and held them when they laughed. That was quality time. Never scheduled that stuff,it just happens like that. Life isn't a movie set where you can stage each event. There is no second take until you get it right.
You are making millions of dollars doing what you want to do. You chose to be an actor or whatever and have been successful. Good for you and I enjoy your performances but I really don't want to hear the complaints. I wanted to go back packing in the Himalayas but had kids to raise. My choice,my responsibility.
Given enough money I would have stayed home from work and spent that time with the kids. I love my job,but not that much ! First year I make a million I'm done. Then I'll schedule me some quality time !

Feeling Cheated

I see where a good portion of the country has been hit with a massive blizzard. Whiteout conditions,high winds and very cold temperatures. Here in my corner of Maryland all we have is rain. I feel cheated somehow.
I don't understand why I should feel this way it is a good thing right ? To have been spared that inconvenience and potential for harm. Still, I feel left out. I get that same feeling in the summer months when the hurricanes miss us. It is not that I have a wish to be harmed or my property destroyed. I don't want others to lose their property or be harmed either. I think it comes down to, I want to belong in the discussion.
Like the way it is if you are one that has witnessed an accident. People will ask you about it. Then others will be talking about it and you can trump them with, "I saw it happen." You can be part of the discussion because you where there and the best is being a witness.
We all want to belong to the group. To be a part of what is happening. It is ingrained in our characters. Even as toddlers we want this. Watch a group of toddlers playing together and you will see this happen. One will have a certain toy and another will come and try to take it. They just want to be part of the group. Some of us will follow fashion and trends to belong to a group. We all like to share in our experiences. That may be the reason some of us take to drink and drugs.
There are those that don't belong to any group. These people that socially isolate themselves have a problem. They are the ones that turn out to be murderers or worse. The shrinks will tell you that. We all already know that by instinct. It is just not natural to be alone or want to be alone.
Yes,I feel cheated somehow. All these other people will have great blizzard stories to tell. They will have pictures to share and tales to tell for generations to come. All I will be able to say is,I heard about it on television. We got rain. My Mom went through an epic hurricane in 1938 and still talks about it. Closest thing I can talk about is an ice storm a few years back but it is not very exciting. No earth quakes,tornadoes,or significant hurricanes,no erupting volcanoes,tidal waves or dangerous storms. What a dull existence.
Did witness an automobile accident the other day. No one was hurt and the car drove away. We had a pretty good storm last week,thousands lost power,I didn't. Well not much to talk about so I'll close for today. Maybe something exciting will happen.

The way it was

There were a couple of things our family never did. One was all go to a restaurant and the other was take a family vacation. I was reminded of this the other day when I was talking with the grand kids. They are 8 and 10 and have done both of those activities so many times it's old hat to them. They couldn't believe it when I told them.
Growing up I never gave it a thought. Mom always cooked and we were home for supper,or else. Mom or Dad might take you for an ice cream but never to sit down and eat as a family. I don't think that idea ever even entered our parents mind. I don't recall any of my friends saying they went out to eat with their parents either. I'm wondering if it is a generational thing.  As I grew older I would go to the local eateries for lunch. French fries and a coke at Speeds was a favorite. Maybe go to George Greens for a hamburger. Never with my parents though. In fact it wasn't until after my fathers passing in 1990 that I went out to eat with my Mom. I took her to Pizza Hut for lunch. To this day that is as close as I have gotten to going out to eat with her. If I lived closer it would be different I'm sure. My sister lives fairly close by and they go out to eat quite often.
As far as a family vacation that idea was about as remote as going to the moon. We would occasionally travel to Riverhead,a distance of over 25 miles from home,and that was a family outing ! I remember going to the beach,we lived about two miles from it,once with my father and mother. We had an old fashioned clam bake. I remember my father wearing swimming trunks (hilarious) and actually swimming with us. That is the closest thing to a family vacation that I remember. Lasted all day and into the early evening. Mom took us to the beach all the time but this is the only time I recall both of them being present.
My father changed jobs frequently,probably every couple years or so,I don't think he was content doing the same thing. He would work as a plumber,carpenter and mechanic. Sometimes he just worked the water.
I don't think he ever had a paid vacation in his life. He was in the war so I know the service gives you vacation and that I'm thinking would have been the only time he got one. As far as in civilian life I don't think so. Family vacations were something you saw on television. The Cleavers might do that but not regular people. I did have one friend whose family went on vacations. They had a little trailer that they pulled behind the car. I always figured their father must make a lot of money. I think he was a scientist or something.
I think our family was typical given the time and place. It was a time when most middle Americans didn't go out frequently as they do now. People stayed closer to home back then. I knew a few that save for Military service had never gone more than fifty miles from the place they were born.
Its' a different world now. The kids expect different things. Time marches on.