The Phone

I saw on the news yesterday that they may no longer deliver the white pages to your door. They have discovered that the majority of people no longer use them. I didn't know that it was mandatory that they did. They need permission from the State to stop. The phone company has lobbied for the last five years to stop this practice. There is your money at work folks.
This set me to thinking about how the telephone and its' use has changed over the years. I'm dating myself a bit here but that's alright. Do keep in mind however that the place of my childhood was a very small town way out on the end of eastern Long Island. I remember when we didn't have to dial our phone. You just picked it up and a voice came on the line,"number please." That was nice and the operator was usualy pleasent,unless she had had a spat with her husband. I fondly recall saying, I don't know the number but I want to talk to Grandma. Wait a minute. Then Grandma was on the line. Following that we got the dial system ! Imagine that,no operator required. Just do it yoursef. It was an amazing breakthrough in technology. Well.we did have things called a party line. Two or Three homes shared a common line and if someone else was already using it you had to wait your turn. Sort of a early form of call waiting,except you were waiting to call. When you picked the phone up you could hear their conversation too. Yes, people listened in. Cover the mouthpiece though or they'll hear you. Or so I was told anyway,I mean.I never did of course. If you had a party line,rich folks could pay extra for a private line, you had to listen for the number of rings. That was your way of knowing if the call was for you or the neighbor.I think ours was three quick rings,(ring,ring,ring) and the neighbor was two. You got used to it.
Then came the touch tone phone. Faster dialing was now possible. We called it dialing and I still do,wonder why that is ? Isn't it pushing buttons ? Too awkward to say I guess. Not only was it faster but you could play songs with it too. Wasn't long after the touch tone phone came out, small songbooks were available. Gone was the party line. If the other phone was in use you would hear. bleep,bleep,bleep. You just had to hang up and keep trying.
Moving into a more modern era was the cordless phone ! No, not a cell phone, but the handset didn't have a cord on it. When the conditions were right you could wander twenty five feet away and sometimes more. I remember buying one and it cost about eighty dollars. High tech stuff like that doesn't come cheap. Think it went to the landfill years ago. Eventualy we got to cellular phones. Things have changed a bit.
I don't have to dial at all. I could pre-program that sucker and just tell it to call Home ! Voice activated,'magine that. I still liked chatting a bit with the operator though. I could ask for any number too didn't have to plan that ahead of time. Seldom is the "busy signal" heard ! Now a voice comes on and says,leave a message after the beep or a number of other things. The only beeping I hear now is someone trying to call me. Took a while to figure out what that annoying sound was. I ignore it. If it is important they'll call back. Not doing the switching back and forth thing.
Yes, the phone has changed somewhat. Question is,if they stop delivering the white pages what are we supposed to use for booster seats during the holidays ? The phone book is what was traditionaly used. We also had a Websters dictionary that was real thick but I don't think you will find many of those in peoples home today. And the "strong men" used to rip them in half ! Another form of entertainment gone.
I hate the message if you want to hear this in English ,press one,Spanish press two etc. If I wanted to talk in Spanish I'd call a Spanish speaking nation ! Which,by the way, I can now do without assitance.
Well I suppose doing away with the white pages does make sense. No point in using all that paper and ink when we are too lazy to look it up. I'm like everyone else and just dial 411 or look it up on the computer.
I find it amusing the Government has to ok that. Who knew ? Ma Bell and the Government. They are old friends. Wrote a blog about that relationship awhile back.

Change in Style

Earlier this month I touched on the subject of Ads. They continue to amuse me with their claims and disclaimers. Saw a new one the other day that caught my eye. It was a bra commercial for Victoria's secrets.
Not many secrets there. Anyway,in this commercial they are touting a bra (funny word brassiere) that pushes up and adds fullness. Heard that girls used to use Kleenex for the same purpose but have no direct knowledge about that. Then,for some reason,it just popped into my head those commercials when I was a lot younger. They were for Playtex,cross your heart bras ! They lift and separate. Also shaped you into a cone like structure. Madonna made fun of those and fat ladies in operas still wear them.
In my last two years of high school the girls were burning their bras as a sign of Independence. I don't know any that did personally and if they did I didn't notice. Their problem,not mine. The whole issue just didn't work out though, for what I can only assume are practical reasons. Comfort and gravity being primary factors.
Nevertheless by buying this product you will be transformed into a sumptuous object of desire. Clothes make the man but underwear makes the woman. That's the message I seem to get. Well,at my age I'm not so easily distracted. The proper clothing can help that is true. No matter how much money you spend on clothing it can't work miracles.
 When I was young a few glimpses into the women's underwear section of the Sears big book was pretty hot stuff. Now you can see a lot more on prime time television. Those ads are pretty revealing. Of course I don't know why those gals are also wearing their heels with their underwear. I usually put my shoes on last. Gotta really be tough if you are wearing skinny jeans !

What was that ?

Again I listened with amusement as our President gave his speech. Now before anybody gets upset let me start by saying I am amused by all political speeches regardless of party affiliation. That being said I will continue.
I enjoy the splendor of the setting. American flags lined up almost in a semi-circle and each one hanging exactly the same. The lecturn with the presidential seal. The rest of the background a stark white. The the man himself striding up to speak.
What I find amusing about his speech,and most all politicians speeches,is how they can talk for a half hour and never really say anything. The spin doctors in their glory. We all know that he doesn't write the speech but has a team to do that. I'm thinking he should have read it over a few more times because he did stumble a bit. Last night I was particularly struck by his frequent use of "I" did this and "we" did that. We are handing over leadership to our partners,etc. Then his going on to say The United States isn't getting involved. Except with coalition forces that are getting involved. I like it when he bragged about taking the troops out of Iraq but kept it real low key that these same troops just shifted over to Afghanistan.
The president says we will not put ground troops in Libya. Didn't he just say we would be part of the coalition force ? So,should their commander,remember Barrack said he was handing that over,put troops on the ground are our troops not going ? I noticed he didn't take questions last night. I wouldn't have either. There were so many contradictions in that speech he'd still be trying to explain. The speech lasted just about 30 minutes. I think he just wanted to go watch Dancing with the Stars !
Another thing that always amuses me is the analysts afterward. I love the way they presume to tell me what the candidate, or in this case,President ,just said. I heard him and can understand English just fine thank you.
I heard the President talk for thirty minutes and say little of substance. Not making any commitments and leaving plenty of loopholes,just in case. Politicians,got to love them.

A tale of Grandpa

Today I thought I would share a short story I heard many times as a child. My mother was particularly amused by it. The story involved her father and his brother Beecher. The story goes something like this :

Now,when I was a young girl my father was prone to drinking just a little too much. He would go off with his brother,among others, and indulge. It wasn't unusual for him to not come home until late into the night. This was at a time when we didn't have street lights or sidewalks. A favorite shortcut home from his brothers house was through the cemetery. Many people did this all the time. Another fellow named Alex Sunberg was also a noted drinker. He was a tall thin man and had very bony fingers. Well Alex had been taking this same shortcut and had stumbled into a freshly dug grave that was being readied for the next day. Because of the condition he was in he was unable to climb out. Horace,your Grand father,and his brother Beecher walked right past this same spot. Alex reached up with that bony hand of his and said,"help me outta here" Grandfather and his brother ran all the rest of the way home. They rushed into the kitchen all out of breath and there eyes popping out !
The next day the men working at the cemetery found Alex still in the grave sound asleep. They woke him up and he told the story. Of course the word got spread around and the story told. Your Grand father got teased for years about that one.
I'm sure that this is a true story. My Mom will still tell it occasionally . I never knew my Grandfather Horace Bennett he passed before I was born. I've heard many a tale involving him drinking and his exploits. Not all of them are good. But in the words of the immortal Walter Cronkite, " that's the way it was ."

School Lunches,Wax paper and Tin Foil

I was thinking about school lunches. At first we used to take our lunch to school with us. Mom would carefully pack us a good lunch every morning. It would be placed in our lunch buckets or pails as Dad was fond of calling them. I called it a lunch box. My favorite one was a red barn. It had the traditional thermos that fit into the top lid and held in place by that wire. It had a glass liner. Replacement liners could be purchased but when that one got broken that was it ! No more thermos. The end result was usually you got a new lunch box. The barn one was made of metal. Later they were made of cardboard covered with plastic. I vaguely remember having one like that but don' recall the theme. The painted metal ones were the best kind and I wonder how much lead was in that paint.
Now this was before baggies. Yup they hadn't come up with that concept yet. All sandwiches were wrapped in waxed paper. Cut Rite was the brand and still is to this day. My Mom wrapped those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like Christmas gifts. The ends carefully folded to points. Rarely would she use tin foil, that stuff was expensive. Actually prior to Aluminum foil there was tin foil. Made of a combination of Tin and (omg) Lead is was a bit stiffer than what we are used to and left a tinny taste on the food. That's why we old folks still call it tin foil though. The thermos may contain a variety of things. Soup being a mainstay. When they introduced the wide mouth version that changed everything ! We would sometimes get potato chips as well but they were wrapped in wax paper because they didn't make snack size bags back then. No such thing as juice packs either. We always bought those little cartons of milk (3cents) from the cafeteria. White or Chocolate. That was the choices. Back then no one was concerned with Lactose Intolerance,deal with it !
By the time I reached the fifth grade I was way too old for lunch boxes. Time to buy your lunch from the cafeteria. I remember standing in that line and fumbling in my pockets for the change. School lunch was less than a buck so change was all that was necessary. The Grand kids have an account at the school so they don't need to bring any money unless they want ice cream. If their account goes empty the school will provide them with a lunch, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ! How ironic just like Mom used to make. I think it is a form of punishment for allowing your account to get empty.
I don't remember much of the menu but a few items are stuck in my memory. Welsh Rare Bit being the foremost. I called it Welsh Rabbit and liked it very much. You could get it either on saltine crackers or toast. The toast was cold so I always went for the crackers. At least the crackers were supposed to be hard,crunchy and cold. Barbecue beef on a Bun. Pre Sloppy Joes' but the same thing. We always had a salad. The food was served on a tray like a TV dinner. Same compartments. The salad was in the center and flanked by the desert and a vegetable. I can remember drinking the carton of milk real fast and then stuffing that salad into the container. If you didn't the teacher would make you eat that salad ! I think we had spaghetti too but wouldn't swear to it. We could purchase ice cream in those dixie cups. Dixie cups were cardboard then and came with a little wooden spoon. Don't know if they still do that.
When we went to Jr High and High School we were allowed to leave the property for lunch. The majority of us would head downtown for fries and a coke. The kids that had more money would get cheeseburgers and milkshakes. There were several places that catered to the noontime crowd and would have those fries ready and waiting. The different cliques went to different places. This was shortly after the Malt Shop era but the shops were still there. They just changed with the times. Lunch time at the High School was the best ! Seldom was anyone late getting back. Now they are in lock down. You need an ID on a string just to enter the place. Times change and so does lunch. I kinda miss the waxed paper.

Interrupted

I hate it when my routine is interrupted. I,like most of humanity,am a creature of habit. I have my schedule.
Normally I would have had this blog written. I like to get up,grab my coffee and check face book and the mail. After that it is time to write down the days thought. But not today,we had a sleepover.
I love the grand kids and enjoy having them stay but it sure does disturb everything. The Disney channel takes over. A constant barrage of questions and/or requests. Can I or I 'm hungry. It is difficult to keep a train of thought. The house is a mess and that in itself is an annoyance.
I sit at my computer,which is in the living room,usually without the TV on and write down what I'm thinking about. This morning the TV is on and I find it very distracting. My grandson is over on the couch and being very chatty. I think he is starting to detect the annoyance in my voice. Yet,he continues ! When my morning routine is upset the whole day will be that way. I know I will not be able to get back on the track. The girls,Grandma and Morgie,are baking in the kitchen. That doesn't bother me at all. It is in a different area and my help is not needed. Baking is not one of my talents so I'm off the hook.
I'm feeling a little flustered when I can't anticipate what is going to happen next. When it is just my wife and I things are stable. When you throw kids into the mix things have a way of changing; quickly ! Kinda keeps you on edge a bit. Yes,my whole routine is fouled up. And it will remain that way until tomorrow evening.
It's a double sleepover ! They are staying again tonight. Don't misunderstand me I love having them around.
An old saying of my Mothers' is brought to mind. " Company is like fish, after three days it begins to stink."

baking bread

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cabinets,closets and the junk drawer

Places in the home. Cabinets,closets and the junk drawer. Every home has them. Cabinets are in the kitchen, except for the medicine cabinet and in some homes the china cabinet.The china cabinet would be found in the dining room.The spot reserved for the medicine cabinet is above the bathroom sink. Or at least it was traditionally. My daughter in law recently had a new home built and it does not contain medicine cabinets in either bath. My Grandmother called hers a medicine chest.
 Closets abound in homes nowadays. This wasn't always so. There was a time when there were no closets included in the floor plan. People used a big cabinet they called a Wardrobe. The name was an obvious choice. They had a very limited wardrobe back in those days and it worked well. As our wardrobes got larger we added closet space. I'm thinking it was more because it would have been less expensive to build the closet than buy a wardrobe. That is just speculation on my part. At first the closets were rather small. Usually just wide enough to permit the hanging of clothes on a metal rod. Now closets have become the size of small rooms. Maybe we have just a little bit more stuff than we actually need. My home had a broom closet too. The ironing board was stored in there with the cleaning supplies. Wonder how many homes still have ironing boards.
Then we come to the junk drawer. Every home has one,usually found in the kitchen. Any number of items may be found in there. Scotch tape,scissors,small hand tools,batteries,pieces to kitchen appliances,tacks,pins and any number of items that have no other logical place to be stored. This drawer is seldom cleaned out and usually requires a good shaking back and forth motion to get it to close. Every once in a great while we attempt to organize it.
Dividers are added but it never lasts. Just open that sucka and throw whatever in there. A few quick shakes and close it up.
In the home I grew up in my favorite closet was under the stairs. You see,my father added the upstairs to an existing home. The stairs went up one end of the house and there was a bedroom to the right of those stairs.
In this bedroom was a closet and the back of the closet extended under those steps. It was like a secret place. Once you made it past the hanging clothes and the stuff on the floor in front of the closet you entered the very rear. It was a fun place to hide for reasons only a child can understand.
At my Grandmothers house she had a small room she called Homers Closet. I wrote an entire blog about this mysterious place. In reality it was a small room for storing kerosene and household chemicals.
I've always thought it would be great to have a wardrobe. Some were quite elegant. Takes a large room though. Wealthy people had matching ones in the master bedroom. I think it would be much better than a closet. Stuff always seems to get jammed into the closet. Your favorite clothes wind up on the floor somehow mixed in with your shoes. My closets are always dark. When I was a kid closets were not friendly places at night. You just never knew who or what might be in there.Best to keep the door tightly closed. Things in the night can't turn doorknobs ! That's because they don't have thumbs. Or so I was told anyway.
Must be true the door never opened and there was definitely noise in there.
Cabinets and closets are fun places to explore. You never know what you might find. Of course they pale in comparison to the best place of all; The Attic. That is another realm altogether.

Decisions

I was reading some posts on facebook when one in particular caught my attention. You know how it is ? Some posts just ring so true and you share that experience instantly. This post,by a friend of mine, was talking about going out to dinner. The discussion was deciding where to  go. The conversation always seems to be the same. Where do you want to go ? I don't know,where do you want to go ? I don't care. Do you want fast food or a sit down meal. I don't care. What do you want ? It doesn't matter I can eat anywhere.
And so the conversation continues. Neither person wanting to make a commitment. Set me to thinking about why this should be so.
I have been married to the same wonderful woman for going on 27 years now and we still have that conversation. On the surface it would seem like you are just being polite. Deferring to the other person. A sign of respect and love. So how come these same conversation often end up with, fine I don't care if we go out to eat at all ! Why can't we just say what we want ? Because, if the other person gives in to what you want you may have to defer the next decision to them. And the next decision could involve something far more important,like, what we are going to watch on television at a particular time. It is this attempt at keeping equal footing that is the root cause of indecision.
Now,my friend in her post, suggested we open a chain of restaurants and name them accordingly. I Don't Care. It Doesn't Matter. Whatever. In that way you would know where to go. Not a bad idea.
There just may be money to be made here. Perhaps a web site where you enter various choices and the computer selects. You have no way to influence the outcome so you don't have to assume the responsibility for the decision. No,that wouldn't work. I want the chance to at least subtly influence the decision in my favor.
Even though I don't want to make an open decision I do have a secret preference. Like a good card game I don't want to reveal everything at once. And so the discussion continues on.
Honey,do you want to go out and do something ?  I don't know,do you ? This could be a while. The only thing worse is an immediate response. Then you have to wonder, what does she want ? The long term implications give one pause.

Thanks to Cindy !

Another Diversion

Since my discovery of Facebook I spend a little too much time on the computer. I enjoy the interaction with "friends" both old and new. The games are amusing. I don't farm,run a cafe and do Mafia hits but like the slot games. I like reading other peoples thoughts and opinions. It is so up to the minute. Some postings leave me scratching my head , what ?
Two days ago a new group was formed called Hometown Bonac. Bonac is a name used to describe a locality that I was raised up in. I was invited to join this exclusive group. I was thrilled and have already spent too much time chatting and reading posts on there. It is a wonderful thing. A place to share memories,with those that remember,and reconnect with classmates. We mostly talk about how the town was and not how it is today. I haven't lived there in many years and have no idea anyway. All I know is it isn't the same but then what place is ?
So now I find myself part of a social network. When did that term enter our vocabulary ? Guess if I go see the movie I would know that answer. In reality I have been part of a social network all along I just didn't know it. Now I have entered a sub-culture of this network. Sounds a little ominous doesn't it ? Oh no, hope it doesn't turn out to be a cult ! Can't be; I know these people,at least I used to,and no one is asking for money. I'm safe. I'll keep a watch out for the signs though. Dr. Phil has me up to speed on that stuff.
I saw a thing on television where they say people do not always represent themselves honestly on Facebook.
Can you believe that ? I for one would certainly post every mistake,misdeed or wrongdoing I ever committed in my profile. C'mon you gotta be kiddin' me. I find it difficult to believe people are so gullible. A few years back I used to enjoy the chat rooms. The main part I enjoyed was the fact you couldn't believe anybody. I never did. Was a fun fantasy. An ideal life in print.
Now I have a new diversion. I'm not complaining. I enjoy it but need to set limits I think. That's todays' thought. Need to go check on that group. Don't want to miss anything.

Too much information

The advertisements on television are getting to be just a bit too much. Seems like every day there is a new malady that I need a specific product for. The range of illnesses and products to treat them are staggering.
If you listen to these ads if you didn't have the problem before, you probably will after.
I have bemoaned some of the ads for years. Mostly the female ones. I really don't need to hear about all of that. Heavy days,light days,some days,overnight and all that. Feminine itching and rash. Then there is bloating,gas,irritability and a host of other symptoms and side effects. And that is not to mention the method of application for these products. Too much information.
The ones targeted at guys aren't much better. Hemorrhoids,jock itch,athletes foot and erectile dysfunction being the main culprits to our good health and enjoyment of life. The array of products to cure these problems are truly remarkable. If you don't suffer from erectile dysfunction perhaps you need enhancement ! Were did that come from ? If you stay,shall we say,enhanced for more than four hours seek immediate medical attention. Explaining that problem at the desk in the emergency room would make a good video clip.
Then come the ads for mental issues. Depression being the leading malady. Don't worry though your doctor can prescribe something that will boost your spirits for sure. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how these drugs effect you. Rarely, these drugs have been associated with suicide and death. Have trouble sleeping, no problem, got that covered. Allow at least eight hours for sleep before taking,do not drive or operate machinery after taking,sleep walking has been know to occur. This product,though rarely,has been known to put you to sleep forever. Don't worry the risk is minimal ! Have trouble staying awake ? We have stuff for that too. Five hour energy drinks seem to be leading the pack. Just slug it down and you are wired,Baby ! Let's do this thing.
I try not to watch or listen to most of them. I liked it much better when all you heard was,Plop,Plop,Fizz,Fizz Oh what a relief it is. Upset stomach or heartburn cured like that. No side effects like death or suicide attempts. Soothing pink Pepto Bismol. At least those ads offered relief and didn't scare the crap out of you.
The pharmacutal companies spend big bucks on advertising their products. The doctors must get tired of people coming in and suggesting what medicine he /she should be prescribing. Or maybe the doctors like the fact that these ads are making everyone paranoid. Well,it all started with the snake oil salesmen. Miracle cures in a bottle. It will always be so.

Foreign Invasion

Woke up yesterday with a cold. Friday we set a new record in my part of Maryland with a temperature of 81 degrees. Saturday was a pleasant day as well but didn't reach those temperatures. I spent most of that day putting brakes on the car and changing the oil. My son and his family were visiting from upstate New York so it was an opportunity to help them out and visit. A two fer. Then to wake up with this cold.
I'm wondering where it came from. I know they say it's germs in the air just floating around or germs on objects you touch that make it into your system. I'm suspecting these are New York germs. Damn foreigners ! They have invaded my system and left me sniffling,sneezing and coughing. I find it all extremely annoying. Not one to take medications for every little ailment that comes along I'll just have to put up with it. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger I always say.
I guess this is a winter cold as is not summer yet. Never heard of a spring cold but spring just started last night so it couldn't be that. An old commercial is brought to mind. The jingle went something like this, A summer cold is a different animal,an ugly animal OOOH. A New York cold is no better. I hate being sick. Even when you don't feel bad but are just just coughing and sneezing people eye you with suspision and fear.
What kind of illness does he have ? Is it lethal ? Might be TB or the swine flu. Stay away from him and don't let him get near you at all costs. It's just a cold does little to assauge their fears. If you work outside you may be able to use the old, it's just allergies excuse, but working indoors that doesn't fly. It also doesn't help if you are an older person. I'll not classify myself as a senior citizen just yet but to some ,the twenty somethings , I appear pretty old. If you are older people assume all that coughing and sneezing means you are close to death for sure !
Well there is little to be done about it. It will pass in about three days. In the meantime I'll keep the tissues handy. We can land on the moon but no cure for the common (New York) cold. Go figure.

Hobo Cat

Sometime back I rescued a cat. A neighbor had this cat and he had been fixed and his front feet declawed. For whatever reason he grew tired of the cat and threw him out of the house. This poor cat promptly got beat up by the feral cats in the neighborhood. He also developed a skin condition. Another neighbor,an elderly lady, saw this and took him to the vet. She purchased the necessary medication for him and was taking care of him. He was living under a hedgerow in her front yard. She has a small dog in the house and the two were not compatible. To make a long story shorter she was going to return to her home in Florida for the winter. She tried to find someone to adopt this cat. The day before she had to leave I broke down and agreed to take him in. I didn't know what name he had previously so I called him Hobo. The grand kids called him Lucky Hobo.
I have had cats in the past and enjoy there company. Each has its' own personality. This one is the laziest cat I have ever seen. He will play with a toy if you dangle it in front of him but will not make any move toward it.
Like all cats he just does whatever he feels like. You can call for him and he may or may not pay attention to you. Then,when you are trying to do something,like write this blog,he will jump up on you. His meow is the strangest I have ever heard. Kinda grating on the nerves. Almost like he has a sore throat. Except it hasn't changed a bit since I have had him.
He was pretty thin when I brought him in and he has done little but eat and sleep since. Getting quite large. Doesn't do much good to try to cut back on his food as he will annoy you to death until he gets fed. Now I have to buy food,litter and occasional treats. I sometimes wonder why I allowed myself to get in this mess. Can't go away without finding someone to cat sit. I already had a Guinea pig that belongs to the grand kids.
But I just couldn't let him stay outside and unattended. I didn't want him to go to the pound either.

feed me   feed me

Well I'm stuck with him now. I said I would take him in and that is that.Hobo. Sometimes I want to put him on a train.

Soapbox #2

Listening to the news and reading the paper I always hear everyone complaining about taxes. The taxes are too high. The tax money isn't being spent right. I'm a tax payer I should get what I want. Blah Blah Blah.
I'm tried of hearing the complaints. I can only imagine what our elected officials must have to put up with.
I don't like taxes anymore than the next person. I also,unlike some,don't expect the government to provide every service I want for free ! I fail to understand why people can not figure this out. You pay your taxes,admirable,but keep in mind that dollar you send in is still only a dollar. Just because you pay it in doesn't mean it magically turns into ten dollars.
You elect the officials in this government. These are the people chosen to spend your money. If you don't like the way they are spending it do something about it besides complain ! Write letters,send E-mail try not voting for them at the next election. Do not expect the government either at the local,State or Federal level to provide services for you for free or at best a reduced rate. Where do you think the money is coming from ? You ! That's the answer folks. Don't make demands for services that you are unwilling to pay for.
I read somewhere where there are about 456 elected officials in the Senate,The House and the White House. There are literally millions of voters. We can change whatever we like as voters. But we can't have our cake and eat it too.
Quit trying to place the blame everywhere else. The blame,if there is any,is on the American people at large. This is a government of the people and by the people. If we as Americans allow our officials to waste our money on foolishness,pork barrels,giving it away or whatever who do we have to blame.
My dearly departed Grand Mother would tell you, God helps those who help themselves. And she didn't mean helping yourself to every free thing you could get your hands on. Nor did she mean for you to turn to the government for your every need. Self sufficiency is what is needed. We as Americans are becoming more and more dependant. Dependant on foreign markets and products. Dependant upon government to sustain ourselves. Start doing and stop complaining I say. Independence, what does it really mean ? Not those cards the Government hands out at my expense that's for sure. I cast my ballot for every election. I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin'.

Open Windows

There has been a great change in the weather. Yesterday the temperature reached 65 degrees. For the first time in a good while the windows are open. I do not have central air. There is a time period when the windows are open. As the season progresses the window air units go in and the windows are shut again.I love it when the windows are open. A nice breeze is always welcome. I enjoy the sounds that drift into the home. The birds chirping and even the traffic sounds. Occasionally I even hear children playing.
With the windows open the home somehow seems larger. The air is definitely fresher. It reminds me of my home growing up. We never had air conditioning of any type. In the spring the windows were opened and rarely closed again until the fall. The only time they may get closed is during a storm. When the wind rose up and sent the rain sideways into the house you would scramble to close those. As a child it was exciting.
Over the years many of us have more or less sealed ourselves into our homes. The windows rarely get opened. We just switch from heat to air. With our new climate control systems no action is even required on our part. A far cry from as few as thirty years ago.
At my Grandmothers house you knew it was spring when it became necessary to take out the storm windows and install the screens. Out to the shed and get those screens out. In the late fall they had been taken out,repaired and repainted in preparation for this time. Each one was numbered with a little brass number and you had to find its' mate on the window frame of the house. This was always a fun activity,at least for us kids. The storm windows removed,they had to be carried to the shed and carefully leaned against the wall. Later they would get the treatment the screens had already received. Following the ritual of installing the screens the windows were open. It was like opening day,almost a celebration.
The weather is supposed to remain pleasant for the next few days. The windows will remain open until the temperature and humidity rises. A prelude to the summer. Summer,when you hear the sounds of the great outdoors in the stillness of the morning and the quiet of the night. The temperature will gradually rise to the point where the window air units become necessary. In they go and once again the windows are closed.
The consolation is the porch. I like having my morning coffee out there. There is not a lot of traffic at five in the morning and it is quite peaceful. As the day progresses the activity increases and the porch becomes less of a refuge. Still it is a pleasant spot. My porch is on the second floor and some would call it a veranda I suppose. If you sit there quietly people pass on the street below and don't even know you are there. I usually grow a few tomatoes out there and plants abound.
Yes,I like it best when the windows are open. By far it is the most enjoyable for me. If not for the humidity I would seriously consider just using fans. There is something reassuring in the sound of a fan running on a hot day. The humidity will win out in the end and the window units go in. For now though, the windows are open !

Don Juan

It was the start of a new year at school. I was beginning the ninth grade and had just entered the room for English class. The teacher wasn't in the room yet so we were all just milling around and talking. Catching up with friends from last year that we hadn't seen over the summer and making new ones. Having developed an active interest in the opposite sex I gravitated toward a pretty young thing and introduced myself.
She said hello,smiled and we began a conversation. I don't remember what we talked about but she didn't tell me to shut and go away so I figure I was doing great. Soon the teacher arrived and my moment in the sun was over ; for now.
The following day before class we spoke again. Again she didn't seem totally repulsed by me and my confidence was rising. This continued for about a week. Back then it took a while to work up nerve and I was conscious of not looking like a fool. If you remember when you were that age being turned down could be devastating and humiliating if your friends knew. They always knew because you told them ! Quite a quandary.
Eventually my self confidence had been sufficiently bolstered to approach the big question. The very next time I spoke with her I asked her to the movies. Her face just went blank. She looked at me very strangely and said, you do know who I am don't you ? Like a deer in the headlights I froze for a second. Then somehow I managed to stammer out, yeah you're Clara. (name changed to protect the innocent) With a look of disgust this pretty young girl says to me, " I'm also your first cousin." " My father is your mothers brother."
Oh no. I didn't know. I have lots of cousins. I've never met your father. I think my mother has mentioned him but I didn't know. I thought or I didn't think. I was stunned,humiliated and embarrassed.
And that my friends was one of the most difficult moments in my life. Thankfully my cousin never spoke of this incident. I just made up some lame excuses to tell my friends. The incident was never spoken of again.
My self confidence was shot and I was going to have to rethink this whole dating thing. At least the part about asking them out. Obviously a more through background check would be helpful. I thought my charm and wit was winning the day but as it turned out,well.
I tried to avoid Clara the rest of that school year. I think she stayed clear of me as well. Can't say as I blame her on that one. Years later I had occasion to speak with her and we both had a good laugh. She told me she had known me from the beginning because her mom had pictures and such. I told her I had heard her name before but just didn't connect the dots. After all her last name is a very,very common name in town. That was many years ago but I'll not forget the lesson learned that day. Ever.

On the Soapbox

The recent disaster in Japan has certainly made me think. First I thought about how lucky I am that it wasn't here. Selfish I know but that that was my first reaction. Following that I felt sorrow for all the victims. All those people just washed away and gone. Entire towns gone. The suffering has to be terrible. The survivors having lost everything and no where to go. I can not imagine the feelings they must be experiencing.
All of that is quite enough to deal with but to be followed with aftershocks and the threat of imminent nuclear disaster. My God have mercy on them all.
Watching the evening news I keep seeing and hearing about the impending probability of a nuclear disaster. They have already said the radiation leakage is as bad as Three Mile Island but not as bad as Chernobyl. The sense I get is it is just a matter of time. Trying to keep the core cool is proving to be a difficult task to say the least. I make no claim to being anywhere near an expert in nuclear power but have studied the basic principles. During my Navy  years we received a lot of instruction in this area. Not good folks !
After seeing the video footage of the area words my father spoke were brought to mind. He was being interviewed by the Newspaper for reasons I really don't remember. In the course of this interview he was asked about Nuclear power. This interview took place in the late sixties or very early seventies. His response was, I saw the devastation the bombs caused in Japan and man has no business fooling around with that stuff. Or at least it was something similar to that.
After reading that article I had a discussion with him about that. I was young,about 18,and at that age knowing it all like you do, I argued that nuclear power was the way to go. An inexpensive (comparatively speaking) source of energy. No longer would we dependant upon oil,coal, and wood. We could just fire up those reactors and generate all the energy we needed for eons if we so chose. I was surprised by his response. Now let me tell you my father was not an openly religious man. I can count on one hand the number of times I saw him in church. I never heard him speak of God. His response was, man should not fool around with certain things. Splitting atoms is one of them. That is best left to a greater power than man. Man in his arrogance thinks he can control these things but he can not. The amount of power released is awful ! He reminded me that he had seen this first hand.
Throughout the following years I have been reminded of these words. Three Mile Island and Chernobyl most notably come to mind. And now this in Japan. The experts are all talking. They shouldn't have built those reactors in an area subject to earthquakes. Hindsight is twenty twenty. The nuclear power groups will try to down play the severity of the situation. The radiation isn't that bad. Yeah.
Bottom line for me is this, I think my Dad was right. Some things are best left alone. Man has become arrogant in the eyes of God. To presume we can control everything that happens is a huge mistake. No matter your religious affiliation, or perhaps lack of one, to not at least acknowledge the fact man doesn't know it all is asking for disaster. Just because we can do some things doesn't mean we should. The proponents will say we are saving the planet by reducing greenhouse gases. Really it is a cheaper way of producing energy to increase profits. Sooner or later you have to pay the piper as the old cliche goes. With nuclear devices, bombs or power plants, the cost may just be too high.

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies of all time. All the characters were portrayed in an excellent fashion and quite believable. Funny and sad at the same time. The sayings are words to live by. The lessons many.
I think myself along with thousands of others took these lessons like a refresher course. We all knew them beforehand but some of us needed a reminder. Every now and again one of these lessons pops into my mind. I smile and see the truth in them. Life is like a box of chocolates. Stupid is as stupid does. But the film and lessons go so much deeper than that. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all could treat our fellow man like Forrest did ? Unassuming and non judgemental Forrest just accepted who he was and who everyone else was. Sometimes it was portrayed that he just didn't know any better but I was left with a sense that on some level he did. When he said, I'm not a very smart man but I know what love is, I found that to be completely believable. I think that Forrest may have understood better than most of us.
I realize that Forrest is only a character in a movie. Fictional characters can have a dramatic impact on peoples lives though. John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn. John Wayne as just about anyone.
The movie Forrest Gump comes on television quite often. I watch it quite often. Each time I anticipate the next line or plot change and am still pleasantly surprised. Occasionally I'll even pick up another slight nuance.
I like to watch the movie for its' entertainment value and as a refresher course on life.
And that is all I have to say about that !

The medicine cabinet

I was thinking about how the medicine cabinet has remained virtually unchanged over the years. Located in the bathroom above the sink. Seldom however do you find actual medicine in there. Ointments,creams,gels,bandages,and razors are commonly found but not many prescription medicines. At least not in my house or anyone that I know well. Must have been at some time to get the name though. Seldom would I get a drink of water from the bathroom sink; it somehow seems less sanitary. At one time when the kids were small we had that little dispenser of paper cups in there. It was used mostly for getting mouthwash. It really is more of a first aid kit.

The types of items found in there have changed somewhat over the years depending on fad and fashion. When I was young you would probably find Brylcream or Vitalis in there. Not so much anymore I think. Although could be,not very often that cabinet gets cleaned out. Time means little to the medicine cabinet. My Grandmother referred to it as the medicine chest. She called the refrigerator an ice box too.

Growing up we had Mercurochrome,iodine,hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol in there. Band Aids,gauze,that white tape,tweezers,razor blades,shaving cream and toothpaste. Various ointments also. Calamine lotion. A chunk of Alum for cold sores. A styptic pencil.

A medicine cabinet is a personal thing. Members of the same family living together are allowed in there if there is only one cabinet. Others are supposed to stay out. Looking in someone Else's medicine cabinet is taboo. Proper manners dictate you do not do that. It is somehow a violation of ethics. Secrets abound in that cabinet. It would be almost like reading their diary.

Yes the items change somewhat as we age too. Toothpaste has been replaced with poligrip. The creams and ointments are for,shall we say,more sensitive areas of the body. A magnifying glass has been added to the inventory. A constant for me though has always been some Old Spice aftershave and cologne. Still use it and still like it. Tried Hi-Karate some years back but it just didn't have the same kick as Old Spice.(Pun Intended) I'm willing to bet there will always be a medicine cabinet in the bath. Rather ironic in a way though because it does seem like the least sanitary room. Go figure.
It has just been brought to my attention that my daughter in laws home does not contain any medicine cabinets. The house was built recently. Do they not include a medicine cabinet anymore ? I'll have to do some checking on this. In a lot of the older homes closets were either non existant or very small. Now it is not uncommon for the closet to be the size of a small room. Uhmm ! Something to think about.

Time for Change

No this is not a political blog. I'm referring to the time change.Hope you all remembered. I was constantly reminded by television,radio and more importantly Facebook ! Thanks friends. So I thought I'd look up a little information about this custom. I found,as I usually do, a lot of stuff I didn't know that was interesting.
In the United States most of us change at 2am on the 2nd Sunday in March. Each time zone in the United States switches at a different time though. Almost everyone refers to this as Daylight Savings Time but that is incorrect.It is Daylight Saving Time. No (S) No actual daylight is saved however,only shifted from morning until night. So more properly it should be called Daylight Shifting Time but that would just sound wrong !
Did you know that DST is not observed in,Hawaii,American Samoa,Virgin Islands,Commonwealth of Northern Marianas and most surprising to me, Arizona. The Navajo nation which covers a large portion of Arizona does however.
This time shifting can cause funny things to happen and sometimes not so funny. In Sept of 1999 a group of Israeli terrorist on the West Bank assembled a bomb. They smuggled to another group that didn't understand the time and it blew up while they were planting it. Three terrorists gone.
For many years the candy manufacturers lobbied to have the date of DST extended for Halloween so the kids could trick or treat longer in daylight. In 2007 a new law did extend DST to the first Sunday in November. It was found that the kids waited until dark to go trick or treating.
Did you know that all Amtrak trains running in November stop at 2am and wait one hour before proceeding ? In the spring they just keep going but are one hour late !
Did you know that DST can change the birth order of twins ? In the fall one could be born at 1:55am the other twin could be born at 1:05am ten minutes later. In the spring there are no babies born between 2 and 3am.
These are just a few of the things I found interesting. Funny how you can live your whole life just doing something and not know why. Arizona doesn't change ? Didn't know that. You just assume. It gets real confusing in the European Union. That is another topic altogether.

Of Hubcaps and Horn Rings

Occasionally the title comes to me before the actual story. This is one of those times.Little things of the past that pop into ones mind for no apparent reason. I was wondering what year the last horn ring was used on an American made car. I didn't do an extensive study on this question but my research shows 1969. Sounds about right. Hubcaps are another matter. They are still being used today but in a much more limited capacity.
Back in the day they were all shapes and sizes. Normally the make of the car was emblazoned on them. Now they have pretty much gone the way of collectors items. The covers that are made today are usually an aftermarket part. You still see them laying on the side of the road where they flew off. That was thier big drawback,they didn't stay on too well. Cost became a factor as technology allowed the wheels to made from different materials that created a good looking wheel without the need for a cover. Air bags killed the horn ring.
Remember bumber jacks ? That was when cars actually had bumbers of course. Then they came out with those little scissor jacks. They'll work but that's about all I can say for them. The place where the cigarette lighter ( cigar lighter to be technically correct) went is now called a power port. Usually with a black plastic cover. Used to be several in some of the finer autos. Located next to those little ash trays with the spring loaded covers. A convenient place to put your used gum as I recall.
I don't pump gas down at the filling station anymore. Did that as a teenager to make a few dollars. That was when things were full service. Do they still hide the fill cap behind the license plate or behind a hinged tail light ? That's something I'll have to start looking for. Sometimes I'd have to ask the car owner where it was.
I suppose it is what you grew up with and what you become accustomed to but I sure liked those older cars.
Statistics show they were nowhere near as safe as today's cars but I always had that sense of security surrounded by all that American steel. Those cars just felt solid.
Hubcaps and horn rings. Things the grand kids will know little if nothing about. Sometimes I miss the littlest things. Things you don't know you liked until they are gone. Now just where did I put that shoe horn?

A humbling event

Woke up this morning to hear of a tsunami hitting Japan. The devastation is incredible. An undersea earthquake was the cause. All natural disasters are terrible things but earthquakes and tsunamiis' have to be among the worst. There is no warning before either. Hurricanes you can watch develop. Tornadoes form quickly but the weather conditions have to be right and although they crop up they are not totally unexpected.
We live on a fragile planet subject to forces we can not control.
This tsunami may have wide ranging effects. Thousands of miles away people can only wait and hope for the best. Low lying areas close to the coast are especially vulnerable. About all one can do is gather up whatever valuables you can and head for high ground. What a terrible feeling that must be. The expectation of disaster must truly be a most difficult thing.
Watching this on the news brings to mind just how lucky I have been. I have never had to directly experience anything close to this. I've been through a few hurricanes but without any significant loss of property. To have to suffer such loss of life and property is truly tragic. The streaming video of this event as it happened is disturbing to watch. Surreal. I pray that others are not effected by this event and there is no more loss. We are helpless against the forces of nature. A humbling event to be sure.

Taxi Please

The space shuttle Discovery landed yesterday. Squeezed into the news program they mentioned how it was the last flight. Only two more shuttle missions are planned. Then the entire program is over. The United States will have no more space ships.
I couldn't help but be reminded of all the earlier space craft. I remember Gemini and Apollo real well. I can still see those images on television of picking up the astronauts out of the ocean. Three large parachutes attached to that capsule and it falling. Of course I remember when man stepped on the moon. It was my birthday, July 20.1969. I have been fortunate enough to have visited the Kennedy space center and see all those exhibits. One look at a Gemini capsule will give you an understanding of just how much nerve it took to fly them. The shuttles are Rolls Royce compared to them.
Almost my entire life the United States has had some form of space craft. I hear we are going to pay the Russians to give us a ride to the space station. What an ironic turn of events. It was there launching of Sputnik that really got us started in the space race. I don't know about anyone else but I'd be a little leery of the Russian taxi service.
Sometime in June,the 27th I think,will be the final flight for the program altogether. I'm assuming a lot of people will be out of work. Wonder what ex flight control engineers do ? Mission specialist available for immediate employment. What about the entire space flight center. Does it just become a big museum ?
They haven't talked about that much in the news but I'm sure in the coming months we will all hear about it. Funny how I've seen rocket launches go from a big media event attended by everyone to barely getting a mention on the news at all. Space flight became blasse. Who would have thought so ?
I'm thinking in my lifetime there will be no more manned missions to other planets. Perhaps the Grandchildren will sit fascinated as we land on Mars or some asteroid. Of course the picture they see will be in High Definition with Dolby Surround Sound ! What wonders await. There are still people that deny we ever really landed on the moon. Some still think the world is flat. I'm convinced however that we did that ! I was hoping for a ride in a moon buggy one day but guess that isn't going to happen. Will man ever fly through space like in the movies ? Good chance of it unless we destroy ourselves first. Should we fly through space ? Well now there is a different question altogether.

It's a funny thing

Memory is a funny thing. We have all heard the expression,choose to remember. The fact of the matter is for the long term we don't get to choose. Oh,I can study for a test and remember that information for a while but in the long run will I remember it ? Maybe,maybe not. It has also been said Men and Children have selected memory. Did you take out the trash ? Forgot. Some things you never forget and others just fade away.
Two people in the same place at the same time can remember totally opposite things. Ask a good friend or a brother or sister about something in the distant past. You may be surprised. I am all the time with what my sister tells me. I'm sure she can't believe my stories either.
We all know men and women ,as a general rule ,remember things differently. A woman can usually tell you what clothes she was wearing on your first date but the guy doesn't have a clue most of the time. That is unless you showed up in a cheerleaders uniform or something ! You know what I mean. Dates,women as a rule seem to remember dates better than most men. Birthdays,anniversaries things like that. Now men can remember where the best fishing spot is or when the game comes on television.
Science understands little about our ability to remember things. There are many tricks and devices we can use to improve our memory. Tried one once but forgot the method. Isn't there some vitamin they advertise now that is supposed to help with memory ? Think it is targeted at us older folks. I don't remember. I can remember an advertisement for a gun that shoots around the corner. Wanted that gun real bad back in 1963.
Got it too. And a string ray bicycle with high rise handlebars and a banana seat in 1968.
Yes,I'd say memory is a funny thing. Why some people have a great memory and others not so great is a mystery. Assuming you are not born with a brain defect we all are pretty much equal. Science saved Einsteins' brain in a jar for study. Don't think they figured anything out though. Not sure if it is still in the jar either.
Not always do memories fade with time. Some people retain their memory throughout their entire life. Granted I think they are in the minority but it leaves hope for us all. I'm hoping to not forget too much.
I do think you need to exercise your memory along with your body. Writing these blogs is a form of exercise for me. It has dredged up some memories I hadn't thought about in a while. Some things you would rather forget. At least there are some things you would rather others didn't remember. It is a good thing to share memories with those around you. Now thanks to the Internet I can share with the world. Only thing is, you have to get someone to listen. That is another subject for another time. If I remember.

Doggie Diner

Just a quick thought this morning. Last evening as I was watching the news they did a piece on dining out. They started out by saying how much Americans love to dine out. Then the hook ,which did get my attention,and how some restaurants are allowing patrons to bring their dogs with them. We are talking about the city of Baltimore. It is illegal to have a dog in a restaurant but with outdoor seating some are allowing it anyway.
The piece went on to explain this is being done for economic reasons. It is increasing their buisness. They need to do this to to survive these tough economic times. Also mentioned was how some people feel their dog is a part of the family and shouldn't be excluded.
Let me start by saying I'm not anti animal or anything. I have had dogs in the past. I'm all for the fair and just treatment of animals. I understand how they become a part of the family. I'll make my statement right here, no dogs in the restaurant,please ! Maybe you don't mind but I do. I never let my animals sit at my dinner table at home and don't want one at the table while dining out. Sitting at a table on the sidewalk having a cool drink and a sandwich is one thing, but inside eating dinner is another.
I may have touched on this subject before in my ramblings but there comes a point when it gets to be a bit too much for me. I know you love your dog but don't bring it to the parade when all it does is bark at everyone and create a nuisence. Don't bring your dog to a crowdwed beach to play frisbee ! Clean up after your animal,please ! Most importantly, remember that it is an animal ! It can not talk to you and it will not kiss you. Might slobber on your face on command but it is still an animal. Care for it and enjoy the companionship but please don't try to dress it like a person.
I get annoyed when people have no consideration for those around them. Some people are frightened of dogs so why bring them into a crowd. I'm not frightened by most dogs but I don't necessarily want them jumping on me or brushing against me. And let's face it folks sometimes they act like ANIMALS.
At any rate I don't dine out often and I can't see this becoming a big problem. It was an effective piece of journalism as it caught my attention. I think it is silly to want to take your dog to dinner ! I'm just sayin'.

Remembering Elementary

I was reading a blog written by a friend and she mentioned having a vcr. I too still have one but rarely use it.
This did get me to thinking about how things have changed. I had occasion to be at the Elementary school for a classroom visit. As the teacher passed out a handout it brought to mind when we got handouts. They were blue ink and usually a little smeared. Straining my brain cells I remembered they were made on the mimeograph machine. It was a mysterious device, that machine, and if you were lucky you would be chosen to turn the handle. These memories are vague so I must not have been chosen often. About all I remember is turning that big handle and the "copy" coming out. The ink wouldn't be dry and would smear. I can still smell that smell too. The church I attended had one too.
After handing out this paper she turned on the overhead projector. This projector,if that is the correct term,didn't have a bright light or even a glass top. What kind of magic is that ? You can just place whatever it is under the lens and there it is projected on the chalk board. Opps not a chalk board,a dry erase board.
No need for a transparency ! Amazing thing that projector. When she put her hand in there you could see that too. I can only imagine the fun I would have had with that in the third grade.


The Mimeograph Machine



As I mentioned there is no chalk board only a dry erase board. A smooth white surface. All the markers lined up in the tray. Guess the kids will never know the pleasure of beating the erasers ! Loved doing that !

Dust just flying everywhere and sometimes you would pound them on the side of the building,although you were told not to. No more do you hear that sound chalk makes on the blackboard. Thank God no more fingernails on the chalk board either. That sound is torture to my ears ! It would get your attention that's for sure.

Throughout the school day the children kept moving from center to center. Reading center,math, etc. Some left the room to go to the computer lab. The elementary school has a media center ( library to us old folks).

I don't remember our elementary school having one. All in all it is a busy day for the children. Things change,different methods and new technologies but other things stay the same. Same desks and chairs we had. Some messy and some neat. Some kids always raising their hand to participate and others rarely.

I remember the lunch line. That hasn't changed much. I do remember we used to get Welsh Rabbit, a lot.

Don't really remember exactly what it was but I liked it. Didn't see it on the menu though. Now they have pizza as a choice. These kids have got it made.

The " Go To " Guy

Yesterday I was informed that some shingles had blown off of my sons' house. We are expecting rain so something needed to be done. Now I don't know how or why exactly but I've always be the "go to" guy for situations like this. So it is off to the hardware store for a tarp,grab some roofing nails and get the ladder out.
Up on the roof and get that area covered up before the rain hits. The contractor that built the house is not available until Monday so a temporary solution was required.
I don't mind doing these things,fact is I kinda enjoy it,and the weather was nice and warm. A bit breezy though so handling the tarp was a little tricky. The grandson wasn't feeling well,he usually helps,so the granddaughter took his place. Kids are easily amused by things and going up on the roof was an exciting thing for her even though she stayed on the ground. I was talking away to her explaining how roofing is done. Might come in handy someday. Seeing me climb the ladder she suggested I should be a fireman. After all that is what firemen do most.
I've always been that guy you call if something is broken or you are in a jam. Vacuum don't work,call Ben.
Car won't start or the tire is flat call Ben. All things change with time and this is no exception. Technology has advanced and a lot of things cannot be repaired anymore. The days of  jury rigging are fading away. Still it is good to know how things work. Armed with that knowledge you may be able to get something going again at least temporarily.
I am always amused by people that don't have a clue. My son drives his car,yet has no clue about how it works. Changing a tire is a technical challenge to him. He has no interest in mechanical things and never has.
He is very good at what he does but that doesn't include mechanical things. He pays someone to change the oil in his vehicle. I find that baffling. Why would I pay to have somebody do that ? It is so easy to do.
I guess growing up having to do everything yourself is where this comes from. If you needed something fixed you just fixed it yourself. If you were lucky you could afford to buy the necessary part or materials. Sometimes that in itself was a struggle. We learned to make do.
The way things are today you can't do that stuff as much. There are a lot of rules and regulations to be followed. Permits required for everything. A lot of items can not be fixed anymore and you have no choice but to replace them. More and more everyday it would cost more to repair it than to replace it anyway.
Very seldom do I hire anyone to do anything in the way of repairing anything. On those rare occasions that I do I feel very uneasy about it. If you want something done right,do it yourself. When it comes to fixing things I have trust issues. I'm not the type to say anything to you directly but I'm seldom satisfied. It is something that is just ingrained in me. I'd rather spend days figuring out how to fix something than pay someone to do it.
Really it is not that I'm cheap but I just have to do it. As I get older though this obsession is getting to be less. Gradually I'm learning to let someone else do whatever needs to be done. Its' a good thing.

A Pretty Fair Hand

This morning I am thinking of a country song by Montgomery Gentry. Lucky Man. I especialy like the line"Gods' given me a pretty fair hand." I think that about sums it up. Whether you attend church regularly or just pray at home makes no difference. In fact all of us are dealt a hand at birth and then it is left up to us to play the cards. Choice,isn't that what God has given to us ? It is what I believe. Not to start preaching a sermon here but thought I'd share my thoughts. I have plenty of excuses I could use to feel down,abused,neglected and treated unfairly but that takes a lot of energy. Negative charges go to ground. That's an electrical fact as well as a fact in personal life. Dwell on the negative and you will go to the ground without having done any useful work. Positive energy is what gets things done. So this morning in particular, for reasons I don't know, I feel like God has given me a pretty fair hand. I haven't always played the cards right but hindsight is 20/20. There are still plenty left in the deck. All this talk of cards reminds me of an old Bill Anderson tune called the Deck of Cards.
I have a roof over my head,food to eat,a wife that loves me,great kids and grand kids. My health is good and it is a beautiful day. Yes," God has given me a pretty fair hand and it is up to me to use it wisely.

Anticipation

Tomorrow are try outs for little league ! Spring surely is close by. The weather is supposed to warm a bit and it should be a lovely day. The grandson is trying out and Grandma and I will be there for moral support. He played last year and these try outs are really just a formality. He will be on the same team as last year so the try out is not required. He will go through them however and he isn't aware that he could skip them.
I am not deeply enough involved in Little League to know at what level the try outs become mandatory.
All throughout his baseball career he has played for the Save-A-Lot team. His dad is the district manager for this fine chain of stores where you can save 40% every day. My son made me put that in.
Come to think of it his soccer career too.
Last year I was the scorekeeper for the team. I will pass this duty to someone else this year. Too much drama for me. Opposing coaches arguing runs scored and plays made or not played. I'm not saying I was always correct but this year I pass. I'll just be grandpa sitting in the bleachers and cheering. Leave the arguing to someone else. I love the game of baseball and there are a lot of stats to keep. I'll keep my own personal record.
Every year the boys skills improve. I enjoy seeing them become better ball players. When that little light comes on in their head and they understand the fundamentals of play. Each year it becomes a little more competitive. Teaching good sportsmanship is a difficult thing. A delicate balance has to be maintained. The old cliches offer little solace to a ten year old. The other kids are far more cruel in there judgements. It is something they all have to endure,a rite of passage as it were. Sometimes it is painful to watch. All one can do is to try to teach them to persevere.
Yes,the boys should take it up a notch this year. I can't wait. Baseball is my game and it is my season. I'm anticipating a glorious campaign from the Save-a-Lot team. Anxious to know what name will be selected. Last year they were the "A"s.
Wondering what number my grandson will be this season. So much to look forward too.
                                                            BATTER UP !

Freedom of Speech

I wasn't going to write about this but changed my mind because I am so mad ! If you have read previous blogs of mine you already know some of my history. You know I like history. You know I wrote of the passing of Frank Buckles the last surviving American that fought in WW1. Apparently our Supreme Court has decided that Veterans no longer deserve a decent burial unmolested by protesters ! That this decision should come just a few days after the death of  Frank Buckles speaks volumes about the state of America.
Eight out of nine supreme court justices agree, deceased Veterans and their families have no reasonable expectation to a dignified funeral service. They have decided under the guise of "freedom of speech" that radical groups can stand within 1000 feet ( same as politicians to the polling place) and scream indignities about the deceased and their families. I agree eight out of nine justices should be dismissed from their position ! They very well may be lawyers and supposed to be smart but they haven't got a lick of common sense.
I know,I know freedom of speech is protected under the first amendment. But this is not freedom of speech !
I'm not saying they can't publicly express there views I'm saying you can't do it during the funeral service !
I can't holler fire in a crowded theater can I ? I could however were the theater empty except for myself.
If I assembly a group of protesters with signs and singing opposite a gay marriage would that not be a hate crime ? Guess not now . Where are the boundaries between the law and good common sense ? I do not and will not believe the founding fathers intention was anyone could say anything,anytime,anyplace they felt like it.
Attend a presidential speech and start protesting and saying bad things and what happens ? You get immediately escorted out of there. Try walking around using the "N" word. If you don't get killed the reaction from others around you will be enough to let you know that isn't right. Try verbally abusing your boss at work and see what happens. You'll get fired. Take him to court and sue him. I have freedom of speech don't I ? I'd like to hear what the justices have to say about that.
The decision has been made and I don't agree. From what I'm hearing a lot of Americans don't agree. It is what it is. My voice will be heard at the polls. Shame I don't get to vote for supreme court justices though.
I still love America and it is still the greatest nation. I'm thinking my father was right about a lot of things that I didn't always agree with. One statement he used to make a lot is ringing true to me today.
And I quote," There are a lot of educated damn fools in this world."  Enough said,I feel better.

Ads

I was remembering when they used to advertise cigarettes on television. How they made it seem so cool and sophisticated. I even remember one commercial in particular. Step Up,Step Up,Step all the way Up to Kool ! I don't know why that particular one stuck in my mind but it did. I recall the Marlboro man.
There were a number of slogans that were quite catchy. How many of these do you remember.
Winston taste good like a cigarette should.
Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch.
I'd walk a mile for a camel.
You've come a long way baby ! (Virginia Slims )

The last ad run on television in the United States was in 1970. It was for Virginia Slims. In 1967 the fairness doctrine forced the tobacco companies to run one ad saying the ill effects of smoking for every three ads promoting smoking. Doesn't seem fair to me.

It was in 1964 when the government required those warning labels be placed on packs of cigarettes.

The tobacco companies were very heavy sponsors of television shows. Seems like it has shifted to the drug manufacturers. With those commercials if you listen carefully to the possible side effects you might want to take up smoking. Less risk of death that way. The government got involved again when Camel cigarettes started using Joe Camel. Their opinion was Joe Camel was a cartoon character and they were targeting underage children. The tobacco company relented and Joe Camel was no more.

I'm wondering when the government will force the beer companies to run ads on a ratio of one to three. It would only be fair. The closet thing I see is the slogan,Please Drink Responsibly. Whats' up with that. The tobacco companies had to warn you not to use their products but the beer companies just say, Please Drink Responsibly ? Somehow that doesn't seem fair. I did notice there are warning labels on booze now telling you not to operate machinery or drive. Thats' fair. Why don't they have to say can rot your liver and destroy brain cells ? I'm not an abolitionist I'm just sayin'. The beer companies advertise light beer so you won't get fat. Some say its' less filling. The message really is, you can drink more ! As long as you do it responsibly.

I expect at some point the beer ads will disappear too. Big brother will intervene to save us. I suppose it is a good thing. In the movies however there is always product placement ! A much more suttle form of advertisement but very effective. Thats' why you don't see people smoking in the movies a lot.

Oh, a side note. Fact, the original Marlboro Man died of lung cancer. He was a non-smoker except during the commercials. His widow sued !

The Final Chapter

Yesterday I heard of the passing of Frank Buckles. At the age of 110 he was the last surviving American veteran of WW1. The war to end all wars. I can't honestly say I remember ever meeting a veteran of this war but most likely I did in my youth. I have know a few from WW2 and Korea and the later conflicts.
I read an article about Mr. Buckles and how he died of natural causes. I couldn't help but wonder at the miracle of it all. To have survived that conflict with its' use of poisonous gas,most notably mustard gas,and the conditions they lived and fought in is remarkable in it self. This man was also captured by the Japanese,although he was not an armed combatant in that war,and spent three years in a prison camp. Again to survive.
I wish I had had an opportunity to meet this man. Surely his outlook on life must have been unique. I think it must have been sad for him to know he was the last one. In the article they say he pushed for the rededicating of the WW1 memorial in Washington and was successful. Now there is no one left that can directly relate any tales from this conflict. The history has been written and the final chapter closed with his passing.
And so now the countdown begins on the greatest generation. My parents generation. Those that fought and sacrificed everything in WW2. Many of these warriors are already past on, my father included. Their story is far more accurately documented than those that came before. Many hours of actual film footage exists and an effort to record individual experiences is under way. Having taken place closer to our time we are much more aware of the circumstances of this war. My own children know a good deal about it but the Grand children will know less. And so it goes until it is just a mention in the history books and the causes and reasons left to the scholars to debate.
Following WW2 was the Korean conflict. Notice the word conflict. It wasn't a war until later on. Most people know that is was the north against the south but exactly why we were there is a lesser known fact. More Americans today probably relate Korea to the Mash movie and television series. We fought to the 38th parallel. Then it was declared over.
As for my generation we have no glorious campaign for freedom to write about. Our story begins with Vietnam. An often misunderstood conflict that only after years was even called a war. It was started as a police action. Yes,it was my generation that drove Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait in operation desert shield/desert storm. Much later we toppled his regime. Many lives have been lost in Iraq and continue to be lost. Now we are entering Afghanistan. The enemy here are not clear. Al Queida? But who exactly are they and where exactly are they ?
I suppose one could argue the Vietnam was the last war we were engaged in. Really it is a matter of semantics. Anytime our armed forces engage in combat with foreign powers I would consider it a war. But then I'm not a scholar or politician. Someday,some generation may be able to say,they have not had to engage in any wars or conflicts or police actions or any type of action where it involved the killing of man.
That my friends is a noble aspiration. We can only dream. Mr. Buckles thought he fought the war to end all wars and I wonder what his thoughts were.