Allergies are kicking my butt.
It is cloudy. I hope it clears Up, we are invited to a pool party.
The usual Saturday morning filler -- coffee. Music. Blah. Blah.
I have to get this blogging stuff out of the way, the season finale of Yellowstone is waiting for me on the DVR. If you are not watching that show, you should be.
Enjoy your Saturday...What?
You are joking, right?
Sigh.
This ain't difficult people. Apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, toss in some little marshmallows and nuts if you like. Pour a little OJ or sprite over it to keep stuff from turning brown. Cut the fruit into small pieces. Avoid the sharp edge of the knife with your fingers. Clean up your mess.
August 31, 2019
August 30, 2019
Time to make the Donuts
We find ourselves cruising this Friday into a long holiday weekend. It looks like we will have decent weather. Or not. It depends on which weather app/newscast you choose. It's a good thing the models don't agree 72 hours out, otherwise I might not believe what they predict 72 years from now.
I fried up some canned biscuit dough donuts this morning with the granddaughter. She made the holes and formed the donuts. I manned the hot oil and sugar coating stations. We were a good team. She ate three of the finished goods!
I had a phone interview earlier in the week for a job that fits me well. I will learn if I move forward next week. If you care to, I could use a few prayers. This is about he only thing I have going. I'm getting very worried.
I'm not going to let life get in the way of living, though. My brain worries enough all night. I will try to use this time to enjoy my grandgirls and wife. Sulking in my office 10 hours a day does nothing positive.
Enjoy your Friday.
I fried up some canned biscuit dough donuts this morning with the granddaughter. She made the holes and formed the donuts. I manned the hot oil and sugar coating stations. We were a good team. She ate three of the finished goods!
I had a phone interview earlier in the week for a job that fits me well. I will learn if I move forward next week. If you care to, I could use a few prayers. This is about he only thing I have going. I'm getting very worried.
I'm not going to let life get in the way of living, though. My brain worries enough all night. I will try to use this time to enjoy my grandgirls and wife. Sulking in my office 10 hours a day does nothing positive.
Enjoy your Friday.
August 29, 2019
Custody Battle
A man and his young wife were in divorce court, but the custody of their children posed a problem.
The mother leaped to her feet and protested to the judge that since she brought the children into this world, she should retain custody of them.
The man also wanted custody of his children, so the judge asked for his justification.
After a long silence, the man slowly rose from his chair and replied…
“Your Honor, when I put a dollar in a vending machine and a Coke comes out, does the Coke belong to me or the machine?”
August 28, 2019
The Fingerpointing State
I believe in personal responsibility. For me the bartender is not responsible for the drunk driver, the cigarette companies for the health of anyone who smoked after warnings appeared on packages, nor the Big Drug companies for the opioid epidemic. Jurist don't agree with me. So it goes.
The opioid thing is even more difficult for me to understand. The purchase of whiskey shots and cigs is an individual decision. Opioids require a prescription. You are not getting addicted without the aid of doctors and pharmacists. If you are purchasing illicit drugs to fuel your habit, that is not the fault of Johnson & Johnson. If you need to blame someone, why not go after the middlemen?
Here is a bonus question. Since Oklahoma (and other States suing Big Pharma) find opiates so terrible, what have they done to outlaw their use and sale in the state? Does the Oklahoma version of Medicade pay for those drugs still? Do physicians still legally prescribe these evil drugs?
The opioid thing is even more difficult for me to understand. The purchase of whiskey shots and cigs is an individual decision. Opioids require a prescription. You are not getting addicted without the aid of doctors and pharmacists. If you are purchasing illicit drugs to fuel your habit, that is not the fault of Johnson & Johnson. If you need to blame someone, why not go after the middlemen?
Here is a bonus question. Since Oklahoma (and other States suing Big Pharma) find opiates so terrible, what have they done to outlaw their use and sale in the state? Does the Oklahoma version of Medicade pay for those drugs still? Do physicians still legally prescribe these evil drugs?
August 27, 2019
Tail light
“How long have you been driving without a tail light?” asked the policeman after pulling over a motorist.
The driver jumped out, ran to the rear of his car, and gave a long, painful groan.
He seemed so upset that the cop was moved to ease up on him a bit.
“Come on, now,” he said, “you don’t have to take it so hard. It isn’t that serious.”
“It isn’t?” cried the motorist. “Then you know what happened to my boat and trailer?”
August 26, 2019
Stormy Monday
My SIL brings the Grandgirls to the house each morning so the wife can babysit. Starting today he has to be at work earlier, so the girls will be here about 45 minutes earlier. Still, there is no reason for me to be up before five. So it goes.
Colts QB Andrew aluck called it quits Saturday. He was tired of the constant pain and rehab. Dude has enough money to last a lifetime, there is no reason to keep at a job you no longer love. Some blame Luck for leaving the team in the lurch. Not me, I blame Ryan Grigson, the former personnel man who failed to draft a quality offensive line to protect his franchise QB. So it goes. Life is more fun when your sports teams win, but it really doesn't matter.
In other news, there is none. It is raining, if you need a weather report from a place you do not live.
My reservoir of optimism is getting a little low.
Colts QB Andrew aluck called it quits Saturday. He was tired of the constant pain and rehab. Dude has enough money to last a lifetime, there is no reason to keep at a job you no longer love. Some blame Luck for leaving the team in the lurch. Not me, I blame Ryan Grigson, the former personnel man who failed to draft a quality offensive line to protect his franchise QB. So it goes. Life is more fun when your sports teams win, but it really doesn't matter.
In other news, there is none. It is raining, if you need a weather report from a place you do not live.
My reservoir of optimism is getting a little low.
August 25, 2019
Stuck in Lodi Again
I just flew in from Iowa and boy, are my arms tired.
Well, I did not fly, but boy, are my arms tired. And my shoulders. And my back. I helped a friend do some work yesterday. Most of the toil involved shoveling gravel and dirt. A lot of both. My hands are sore, just short of blisters, and my body aches, albeit in a good way.
It has been a long time since I spent a day shoveling gravel. I did a couple summers of it back in my school days when I worked for a roofing firm doing summer work on big flat industrial roofs. If I am honest, I didn't enjoy it when it was my job nearly four decades ago either. It is hard work. Since The Man wasn't paying for my efforts yesterday I took more breaks than I did back when Mr. Henshaw was writing me a weekly check.
Because my Buddy frequently invites us over to swim in his pool, I could at least help out when he needs a hand, but I would do it even if he didn't have nice stuff, that is what friends do.
I just wish his projects weren't such hard work.
Well, I did not fly, but boy, are my arms tired. And my shoulders. And my back. I helped a friend do some work yesterday. Most of the toil involved shoveling gravel and dirt. A lot of both. My hands are sore, just short of blisters, and my body aches, albeit in a good way.
It has been a long time since I spent a day shoveling gravel. I did a couple summers of it back in my school days when I worked for a roofing firm doing summer work on big flat industrial roofs. If I am honest, I didn't enjoy it when it was my job nearly four decades ago either. It is hard work. Since The Man wasn't paying for my efforts yesterday I took more breaks than I did back when Mr. Henshaw was writing me a weekly check.
Because my Buddy frequently invites us over to swim in his pool, I could at least help out when he needs a hand, but I would do it even if he didn't have nice stuff, that is what friends do.
I just wish his projects weren't such hard work.
August 24, 2019
Non-political Trope
It is a cool start to this sunny Saturday. Temps are in the fifties as I type. As usual when I hunt and peck on the ancient iPad keyboard, music is playing softly in the background.
We are off in a bit to watch the oldest Grandgirl play soccer. I mean "play soccer" in the loosest sense. Mostly it is running in the general direction of the pack. I will state that her coach is great. I know from experience it is not easy coaching a team of pre-schoolers. I plane flying over the fields last week almost brought play to a halt as they kids stopped to look skyward. I couldn't help but laugh.
Other than that, there is not much going on. I am pretty much caught up on my recorded movies and shows. I'm reading two books right now -- The Sicilian by Puzzo and Tim Dorsey's latest. I will likey finish both by the end of the weekend or early next week. I will have to head back to the library or scrounge a couple more free books for the Kindle.
Have a great Saturday.
We are off in a bit to watch the oldest Grandgirl play soccer. I mean "play soccer" in the loosest sense. Mostly it is running in the general direction of the pack. I will state that her coach is great. I know from experience it is not easy coaching a team of pre-schoolers. I plane flying over the fields last week almost brought play to a halt as they kids stopped to look skyward. I couldn't help but laugh.
Other than that, there is not much going on. I am pretty much caught up on my recorded movies and shows. I'm reading two books right now -- The Sicilian by Puzzo and Tim Dorsey's latest. I will likey finish both by the end of the weekend or early next week. I will have to head back to the library or scrounge a couple more free books for the Kindle.
Have a great Saturday.
August 23, 2019
Viper Madness
Last night I was cleaning up the mess from supper. I loaded the dishwasher and started it. I reached under the sink to grab the dish soap to wash a couple of pans and my good knives. Imagine my surprise to find a snake curled on the bottom of the cabinet.
OK, it wasn't a snake. It was a puddle of water. I grabbed some towels and a flashlight. The garbage disposal was dripping from the bottom. The connections were dry, but water was dripping through every screw hole and motor vent. Luckily, replacing a disposal is a repair I can do myself. Sigh.
Things could be worse. Loyal reader PP's house collapsed. Scum stole her stuff while the city had it taped off.
On the bright side it is Friday, like I care. Every day is Saturday these days. I've been turned down for factory and hourly jobs this week. One HR rep told me I would be a good worker but he knows I will quit as soon as I get trained when a better job comes along. He is right.
Have a good Friday.
OK, it wasn't a snake. It was a puddle of water. I grabbed some towels and a flashlight. The garbage disposal was dripping from the bottom. The connections were dry, but water was dripping through every screw hole and motor vent. Luckily, replacing a disposal is a repair I can do myself. Sigh.
Things could be worse. Loyal reader PP's house collapsed. Scum stole her stuff while the city had it taped off.
On the bright side it is Friday, like I care. Every day is Saturday these days. I've been turned down for factory and hourly jobs this week. One HR rep told me I would be a good worker but he knows I will quit as soon as I get trained when a better job comes along. He is right.
Have a good Friday.
August 22, 2019
I refuse to plead guilty
In the latest push to prove we are all racist, the "media" including the NY Times and USAToday have started pushing the 1619 Project. The purpose is to highlight the arrival of the first slaves in what is now the US. The premise is that the nation was founded in the sin of slavery, built by slaves, and thus is an evil, racist, sinful Nation.
Let me get this out of he way, slavery was and is a horrible institution. Period. There are no "buts", "excepts", or defense for the buying and selling of humans. I refuse to bear the mantle of the modern White Man's Burden.
The whole premise behind the 1619 bandwagon is rooted in historical ignorance. Slavery has been
part of the human condition since Og came out of the cave and discovered he could force the smaller and weaker of his clan to do his work for him. Then he captured his neighbors and put them to work too. And so it continued until about 170 years ago throughout the most of the world. I say most because slavery still exists in places. It is what the strong do to the weak.
As for the basis that slavery built this country, who was here to buy those first 50 Africans? BTW, most records indicate those Africans, who came by way of the West Indies, were treated as indentured servants, and freed after a period of time. A significant number of Europeans would arrive to the colonies as indentured servants.
It is rampant revisionism and fantasy to believe that European colonists did not settle and build what became America. Slave holders were a minority, even in the antebellum South.
To maintain that the Founders were in total support of Slavery is fiction. One of the first major pieces of legislation was the formation of the Northwest Territory, which passed unanimously. One of the provisions of the ordinance was that slavery would be banned. The Northwest Ordinance language on slavery was the basis for the 13th Amendment.
Just a little research demonstrates one of the causes of the Civil War was the economic dominance of the industrial North over the agrarian-based Slave States. That very fact belies the entire notion that slavery "built" the United States.
That is not to say discrimination is not real now or in the past. It is.
To maintain that the country is flawed today because of slavery belies the hundreds of thousands who died and fought to end slavery. it ignores the millions who fought, who died, who are buried in unmarked graves to battle the wilderness and Mother Nature to carve a new life on the New World.
If you want to argue a 1492 project and state that the land was taken from the aboriginal population, I could understand that position. It is at least based in bare historic fact. Besides, the Natives were enslaved long before any Africans were brought over. Why are they ignored?
But hey, the Leftists can't run on their political positions, so they have gin up a phony race war.
* it would take entire volumes to go into the historical details of the founding. Settlers were in parts of what is now the US more than 200 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Let me get this out of he way, slavery was and is a horrible institution. Period. There are no "buts", "excepts", or defense for the buying and selling of humans. I refuse to bear the mantle of the modern White Man's Burden.
The whole premise behind the 1619 bandwagon is rooted in historical ignorance. Slavery has been
part of the human condition since Og came out of the cave and discovered he could force the smaller and weaker of his clan to do his work for him. Then he captured his neighbors and put them to work too. And so it continued until about 170 years ago throughout the most of the world. I say most because slavery still exists in places. It is what the strong do to the weak.
As for the basis that slavery built this country, who was here to buy those first 50 Africans? BTW, most records indicate those Africans, who came by way of the West Indies, were treated as indentured servants, and freed after a period of time. A significant number of Europeans would arrive to the colonies as indentured servants.
It is rampant revisionism and fantasy to believe that European colonists did not settle and build what became America. Slave holders were a minority, even in the antebellum South.
To maintain that the Founders were in total support of Slavery is fiction. One of the first major pieces of legislation was the formation of the Northwest Territory, which passed unanimously. One of the provisions of the ordinance was that slavery would be banned. The Northwest Ordinance language on slavery was the basis for the 13th Amendment.
Just a little research demonstrates one of the causes of the Civil War was the economic dominance of the industrial North over the agrarian-based Slave States. That very fact belies the entire notion that slavery "built" the United States.
That is not to say discrimination is not real now or in the past. It is.
To maintain that the country is flawed today because of slavery belies the hundreds of thousands who died and fought to end slavery. it ignores the millions who fought, who died, who are buried in unmarked graves to battle the wilderness and Mother Nature to carve a new life on the New World.
If you want to argue a 1492 project and state that the land was taken from the aboriginal population, I could understand that position. It is at least based in bare historic fact. Besides, the Natives were enslaved long before any Africans were brought over. Why are they ignored?
But hey, the Leftists can't run on their political positions, so they have gin up a phony race war.
* it would take entire volumes to go into the historical details of the founding. Settlers were in parts of what is now the US more than 200 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
August 21, 2019
Mr. Amundsen, I presume
Here is a pic I took on a recent trip to Antarctica:
OK, It was in the south, perhaps not the Unknown Continent.
Lighten up, Francis,, it was south to me. I took this picture at the Indianapolis Zoo a few weeks ago when we took the Grandgirls there one afternoon.
 |
| picture by the author |
OK, It was in the south, perhaps not the Unknown Continent.
Lighten up, Francis,, it was south to me. I took this picture at the Indianapolis Zoo a few weeks ago when we took the Grandgirls there one afternoon.
August 20, 2019
I cannot wait
I lost my job on July 9. I filed for unemployment and for Medicaid that same day. It is now August 20. I am still waiting on the health insurance coverage the Government insists by law I must have. I paid the $10 to "fast track" my application.
I called the State today to check on the status. I was told FSSA was waiting on documents from me.
Me: "I sent them in July"
Her: "We received them August 7th".
Me: "I guess you are not waiting on documents after all"
Her: [snippy] "We process everything in the order it comes in"
Me: " I know yOu only work there and do not process the paperwork, but don't you think that is ridiculous to take that long?"
Her: [really snippy] "We process thousands of applications, it can take 45 days".
Me: "I'm diabetic I'm out of medicine Monday, what am I supposed to do?"
Her: "We have other programs that might be able to help you"
Me:"Won't that require an application too that goes through the processing center?"
Her: [tired of me] "You will just have to go to the hospital or pay out of pocket. Thanks for calling FSSA".
Me: [unsaid] I can't go to the hospital I don't have insurance because I'm waiting on you to process an application from July 9th. And if I had the money, you dolt, I wouldn't be applying for the crappy Healthy Indiana Plan.
I can't wait until the Democrats consign us all to Government-run health plans. [sarcasm].
I called the State today to check on the status. I was told FSSA was waiting on documents from me.
Me: "I sent them in July"
Her: "We received them August 7th".
Me: "I guess you are not waiting on documents after all"
Her: [snippy] "We process everything in the order it comes in"
Me: " I know yOu only work there and do not process the paperwork, but don't you think that is ridiculous to take that long?"
Her: [really snippy] "We process thousands of applications, it can take 45 days".
Me: "I'm diabetic I'm out of medicine Monday, what am I supposed to do?"
Her: "We have other programs that might be able to help you"
Me:"Won't that require an application too that goes through the processing center?"
Her: [tired of me] "You will just have to go to the hospital or pay out of pocket. Thanks for calling FSSA".
Me: [unsaid] I can't go to the hospital I don't have insurance because I'm waiting on you to process an application from July 9th. And if I had the money, you dolt, I wouldn't be applying for the crappy Healthy Indiana Plan.
I can't wait until the Democrats consign us all to Government-run health plans. [sarcasm].
August 19, 2019
Casino winnings
A man spent a weekend gambling in Las Vegas casinos, and he won $100,000. He didn’t want anyone to know about it, so when he came back home, he immediately went out to the backyard of his house, dug a hole and planted the money in it.
The next morning he walked outside and found only an empty hole. He noticed footsteps leading from the hole to the house next door, which was owned by a deaf-mute. On the same street lived a professor who understood sign language and was a friend of the deaf man. Grabbing his pistol, the enraged man went to awaken the professor and dragged him to the deaf man’s house. He screamed at the professor:
“You tell this guy that if he doesn’t give me back my money I’ll kill him!”
The professor conveyed the message to his friend, and his friend replied in sign language: “I hid it in my backyard, underneath the cherry tree.”
The professor turned to the man with the gun and said: “He’s not going to tell you. He said he’d rather die first.”
August 18, 2019
I need more coffee
Thunder boomers rolled through in the night. Power was knocked out for a bit. One bolt of lightning snapped close by and I think a transformer was hit. An electric one on a telephone pole, not from the movies.
Some friends came over last evening. Cards and too many sugary snacks were the entertainment for the evening.
Yes, my life really is as boring as this blog makes it sound.
Some friends came over last evening. Cards and too many sugary snacks were the entertainment for the evening.
Yes, my life really is as boring as this blog makes it sound.
August 16, 2019
Road Rage on Memory Lane
Another wasted week is inching closer to the dustbin of history. The Cubs choked like a fat guy at a taco eating contest.* Preseason football moves forward, boring everyone with bad product and soporific play.
The weather is typical late summer fare.
Politics. I ain't going there on this Friday.
I made a coffee cake for breakfast. That was good.
The Grandgirl has her first soccer game tomorrow. I'll go out this afternoon and practice with her. She cannot stop bending and grabbing the ball to keep it from me. It cracks me up every time. See, even four year olds understand Eurosport is dumb. You have hands, use them.
As far as I know we have no plans for the weekend. At some point I need to trim the weeds that make up the yard.
The wife found a coupon from the cruise line for a free photo book. I started putting together a spread of pictures from our cruise earlier this year last night. Come on over and I'll show the pictures when the book goes printed and shipped. There is nothing more entertaining than looking at someone else's vacation photos. **
That experience is worse than preseason football and almost as bad as watching soccer.
Have a great Friday.
*Too soon?
**Sarcasm
The weather is typical late summer fare.
Politics. I ain't going there on this Friday.
I made a coffee cake for breakfast. That was good.
The Grandgirl has her first soccer game tomorrow. I'll go out this afternoon and practice with her. She cannot stop bending and grabbing the ball to keep it from me. It cracks me up every time. See, even four year olds understand Eurosport is dumb. You have hands, use them.
As far as I know we have no plans for the weekend. At some point I need to trim the weeds that make up the yard.
The wife found a coupon from the cruise line for a free photo book. I started putting together a spread of pictures from our cruise earlier this year last night. Come on over and I'll show the pictures when the book goes printed and shipped. There is nothing more entertaining than looking at someone else's vacation photos. **
That experience is worse than preseason football and almost as bad as watching soccer.
Have a great Friday.
*Too soon?
**Sarcasm
August 15, 2019
Toxic masculinity and all of that
Apparently I resorted to jokes when I had no other content in the early days of this time waster. Here is one from August of '05:
A guy walking down the street sees a woman with perfect breasts. He says to her, "Hey miss, would you let me bite your breasts for $100 dollars?
"Are you nuts? !!" she replies, and keeps walking away. He turns around, runs around the block and gets to the corner before she does.
"Would you let me bite your breasts for $1,000 dollars?" he asks again.
"Listen you; I'm not that kind of woman! Got it?" So the guy runs around the next block and faces her again. "Would you let me bite your breasts just once for $10,000 dollars?"
She thinks about it for a while and says, "Hmmm, $10,000 dollars, eh? Ok, just once, but not here. Let's go to that dark alley over there."
So they go into the alley, where she takes off her blouse to reveal the most perfect breasts in the world. As soon as he sees them, he grabs them and starts caressing them, fondling them slowly, kissing them, licking them, burying his face in them, but not biting them.
The woman finally gets annoyed and asks, "Well? Are you gonna bite them or not?"
"Nah", he replies. "Costs too much to bite them..............."
A guy walking down the street sees a woman with perfect breasts. He says to her, "Hey miss, would you let me bite your breasts for $100 dollars?
"Are you nuts? !!" she replies, and keeps walking away. He turns around, runs around the block and gets to the corner before she does.
"Would you let me bite your breasts for $1,000 dollars?" he asks again.
"Listen you; I'm not that kind of woman! Got it?" So the guy runs around the next block and faces her again. "Would you let me bite your breasts just once for $10,000 dollars?"
She thinks about it for a while and says, "Hmmm, $10,000 dollars, eh? Ok, just once, but not here. Let's go to that dark alley over there."
So they go into the alley, where she takes off her blouse to reveal the most perfect breasts in the world. As soon as he sees them, he grabs them and starts caressing them, fondling them slowly, kissing them, licking them, burying his face in them, but not biting them.
The woman finally gets annoyed and asks, "Well? Are you gonna bite them or not?"
"Nah", he replies. "Costs too much to bite them..............."
August 14, 2019
Dear Democrats
Keep it up.
Continue telling half the country they are racist hate-filled white Supremicists just because they disagree with you politically and or economically.
Keep on that path
You will get even more Trump.
When you tell us there is no middle ground, we must toe the line or else, there is just enough perversion in the American, especially Southern and Midwestern culture, to say "we will take 'what else' for $1,000, Alex".
Keep it up.
Continue telling half the country they are racist hate-filled white Supremicists just because they disagree with you politically and or economically.
Keep on that path
You will get even more Trump.
When you tell us there is no middle ground, we must toe the line or else, there is just enough perversion in the American, especially Southern and Midwestern culture, to say "we will take 'what else' for $1,000, Alex".
Keep it up.
August 13, 2019
My new favorite
A blind man was describing his favorite sport – parachuting. When asked how this was accomplished, he said that things were all done for him.
“I am placed in the door and told when to jump. My hand is placed on my release ring for me, and out I go.”
“But how do you know when you are going to land?” he was asked.
“Well, I have a very keen sense of smell and I can smell the trees and grass when I am 300 feet from the ground”, he answered.
“But how do you know when to lift your legs for the final arrival on the ground?” he was again asked.
He quickly answered, “Oh that? The dog’s leash goes slack!”
August 12, 2019
By the time I got to Woodstock
I watched a PBS documentary yesterday about tne legendary Woodstock concert. I was seven when tne concert took place, so I have no memory of it. I have seen the movie several times ( I own a DVD copy). I dig the music.
It might have been three days of peace love and music, but the old man in me views it differently than I did at 17. Typical Lefties, the hippies showed up expecting free stuff. They crashed the gates and trampled the fences. Most did not bother with tickets. Finally, no other alternative available the promoters gave up trying to collect tickets. The promoters lost everything financially.
The kids showed up without food or in many cases money to purchase food. They came without shelter.
Worse, the attendees left behind tons of garbage and refuse.
Over the years, estimated attendance has ballooned from 300,000 to pushing 500,00 by some estimates. Like a Trump Inaugaration, people's memory seems to inflate the crowd size.
By the time Hendrix was butchering the National Anthem Monday morning, the crowd had shrunk to tens of thousands instead of hundreds of thousands.
Some of the hippie stuff cracks me up. Shouting "no more rain" was pointless. Did anyone really believe Mother Nature cared she was inconveniencing a bunch of stinky hippies? Please don't eat the brown acid, indeed.
It might have been three days of peace love and music, but the old man in me views it differently than I did at 17. Typical Lefties, the hippies showed up expecting free stuff. They crashed the gates and trampled the fences. Most did not bother with tickets. Finally, no other alternative available the promoters gave up trying to collect tickets. The promoters lost everything financially.
The kids showed up without food or in many cases money to purchase food. They came without shelter.
Worse, the attendees left behind tons of garbage and refuse.
Over the years, estimated attendance has ballooned from 300,000 to pushing 500,00 by some estimates. Like a Trump Inaugaration, people's memory seems to inflate the crowd size.
By the time Hendrix was butchering the National Anthem Monday morning, the crowd had shrunk to tens of thousands instead of hundreds of thousands.
Some of the hippie stuff cracks me up. Shouting "no more rain" was pointless. Did anyone really believe Mother Nature cared she was inconveniencing a bunch of stinky hippies? Please don't eat the brown acid, indeed.
August 11, 2019
Mystery solved
Remember that scene in the movie Shane where the gunfighter grabs an axe and helps Joe tear out an old stump? My Saturday was just like that, except Alan Ladd didn't help me. I cleared out an old stump single-handed. I did it the old fashioned way, with maul and axe and wedge. Sure, I know there are stump grinders out there but they take money. My back and sweat are free. The stump from the ash in my side yard that was destroyed by bugs is gone. The spot is filled, leveled, and grass seed is planted.
Before I went into the one -time only stump removal business I washed the wife's SUV. I watered the flowers. I picked weeds from the garden.
Later in the afternoon I moved some furniture for the wife, including a dresser and big computer armoir.
I can't figure out why my back and shoulders are sore this morning.
August 9, 2019
Friday Fish Fry
It is Friday. Too bad it isn't payday. One of those isn't coming soon. I do have some good prospects in the works. I have a tentative offer, but at more than 30% below the wages I have earned in recent years. In fact, the rate is akin to what I was making back in the 1990s. It beats unemployment, but I cannot live long-term on it. After my bills there will be nothing left for stuff like...food. Since the job will require travel, a second job is hard to find to supplement my income. Boo hoo for me, I know. The other positions are not at quite the offer stage, but the salary is higher. Too bad I am most qualified for the low-paying job. I am sure they are low-balling me because they know I need a job.
Here is a post that explains the whole gun control debate clearly and succinctly. You should read it. Really. Go read it. Especially you anonymous commenters of the liberal bent.
As far as I know we have no weekend plans. Beginning next week the granddaughter starts soccer. There is nothing funnier than watching four-year-olds trying to do sports. It is like watching clowns herd cats. I have been out practicing with her in the backyard. I am not sure if she likes kicking the ball, but I know she digs her black and pink cleats.
Since I have some time on my hands, I have been looking for entertainment. Nothing on my Kindle has grabbed my attention for the past week or so, but one series on TV has. Yellowstone has become my new favorite show. I spent last weekend catching up on Season 1 and am now caught up on Season 2. The show is set on a modern cattle ranch and can best be described as Dynasty and Dallas meet the Godfather -- with horses. The whole cast is filled with characters you love to hate, starting with Kevin Costner who is great as the patriarch.
I see you have developed that glazed eye look I have come to recognize from my wife when I am telling her a particularly interesting historical fact or sports trivia. She looks at me until I'm done talking. She refrains, from love and politeness, from telling me she does not care. But I know that to her I sound just like a Charlie Brown teacher when I go to the interesting tidbit spiel:
"Did you know, Napolean....whaaa, whaaaaa, whaa, wha, whaaaa...100 days."
You can relate, am I right?
Have a great Friday.
Here is a post that explains the whole gun control debate clearly and succinctly. You should read it. Really. Go read it. Especially you anonymous commenters of the liberal bent.
As far as I know we have no weekend plans. Beginning next week the granddaughter starts soccer. There is nothing funnier than watching four-year-olds trying to do sports. It is like watching clowns herd cats. I have been out practicing with her in the backyard. I am not sure if she likes kicking the ball, but I know she digs her black and pink cleats.
Since I have some time on my hands, I have been looking for entertainment. Nothing on my Kindle has grabbed my attention for the past week or so, but one series on TV has. Yellowstone has become my new favorite show. I spent last weekend catching up on Season 1 and am now caught up on Season 2. The show is set on a modern cattle ranch and can best be described as Dynasty and Dallas meet the Godfather -- with horses. The whole cast is filled with characters you love to hate, starting with Kevin Costner who is great as the patriarch.
I see you have developed that glazed eye look I have come to recognize from my wife when I am telling her a particularly interesting historical fact or sports trivia. She looks at me until I'm done talking. She refrains, from love and politeness, from telling me she does not care. But I know that to her I sound just like a Charlie Brown teacher when I go to the interesting tidbit spiel:
"Did you know, Napolean....whaaa, whaaaaa, whaa, wha, whaaaa...100 days."
You can relate, am I right?
Have a great Friday.
August 8, 2019
And You Were There
It was hot in the Mess Hall on August 9, 1974 at Ransburg Boy Scout Reservation. The wooden screen door slammed as teens and adults filed in, mostly somber.
I was not completely sure of what was going on, but my budding love of history alerted me to the significance. The President of the United States was about to resign. The little TV (16 inch?) sat on a cart near the serving line. The volume was turned high. The black and white picture was snowy. The Camp Director messed with the rabbit ears.
In the Watergate scandal real crimes took place. There was a cover up. Politicians and journalists learned a lesson. Those in the press imagined they had the power to dictate political leadership. Politicians found a way to undo elections.
I cannot say America is better for it.
I was not completely sure of what was going on, but my budding love of history alerted me to the significance. The President of the United States was about to resign. The little TV (16 inch?) sat on a cart near the serving line. The volume was turned high. The black and white picture was snowy. The Camp Director messed with the rabbit ears.
In the Watergate scandal real crimes took place. There was a cover up. Politicians and journalists learned a lesson. Those in the press imagined they had the power to dictate political leadership. Politicians found a way to undo elections.
I cannot say America is better for it.
Do something, part 19
I sit here impatiently this morning. I'm tapping my foot. I am fidgeting in anticipation. Where are you Anonymous? I am waiting on your screeching comment on the actions of the mass murderer in SoCal last night.
It must be Trumps fault. It must be my fault. We should blame the white guy culture. Mysogonic thought is likely involved. If only we had "common sense" gun laws and background checks, none of this would happen. Five innocents would be alive.
Oh wait, it was an angry Hispanic wielding a knife.
Oh my, what if it had a black plastic handle?
Did you know anyone can buy a knife at WalMart? Did you know you can get them at gun shows? There is no required psychology test before you are licensed to own a knife? You are not even required to have permission from the Government to carry a knife. Children have access to knives. Why do people need more than one knife? I have at least 10, the police should keep a list and watch me closely, I guess.
Or, perhaps humans are just evil. Some are crazy. When those traits combine terrible things happen.
It must be Trumps fault. It must be my fault. We should blame the white guy culture. Mysogonic thought is likely involved. If only we had "common sense" gun laws and background checks, none of this would happen. Five innocents would be alive.
Oh wait, it was an angry Hispanic wielding a knife.
Oh my, what if it had a black plastic handle?
Did you know anyone can buy a knife at WalMart? Did you know you can get them at gun shows? There is no required psychology test before you are licensed to own a knife? You are not even required to have permission from the Government to carry a knife. Children have access to knives. Why do people need more than one knife? I have at least 10, the police should keep a list and watch me closely, I guess.
Or, perhaps humans are just evil. Some are crazy. When those traits combine terrible things happen.
August 7, 2019
Apartment for Rent
A businessman met a beautiful girl and agreed to spend the night with her for $500. They did their thing, and, before he left, he told her that he did not have any cash with him, but he would have his secretary write a check and mail it to her, calling the payment “RENT FOR APARTMENT.”
On the way to the office, he regretted what he had done, realizing that the whole event had not been worth the price. So he had his secretary send a check for $250 and enclose the following typed note:
“Dear Madam,
Enclosed find a check for $250 for rent of your apartment. I am not sending the amount agreed upon, because when I rented the place, I was under the impression that:
#1 – it had never been occupied;
#2 – there was plenty of heat; and
#3 – it was small enough to make me feel cozy and at home.
However, I found out that:
#1 – it had been previously occupied,
#2 – there wasn’t any heat, and #3 – it was entirely too large.”
Enclosed find a check for $250 for rent of your apartment. I am not sending the amount agreed upon, because when I rented the place, I was under the impression that:
#1 – it had never been occupied;
#2 – there was plenty of heat; and
#3 – it was small enough to make me feel cozy and at home.
However, I found out that:
#1 – it had been previously occupied,
#2 – there wasn’t any heat, and #3 – it was entirely too large.”
Upon receipt of the note, the girl immediately returned the check for $250 with the following note:
“Dear Sir,
#1 – I cannot understand how you could expect a beautiful apartment to remain unoccupied indefinitely.
#2 – As for the heat, there is plenty of it, if you know how to turn it on.
#3 – Regarding the space, the apartment is indeed of regular size, but if you don’t have enough furniture to fill it, please do not blame the management.
Please send the rent in full or we will be forced to contact your present landlady.
#1 – I cannot understand how you could expect a beautiful apartment to remain unoccupied indefinitely.
#2 – As for the heat, there is plenty of it, if you know how to turn it on.
#3 – Regarding the space, the apartment is indeed of regular size, but if you don’t have enough furniture to fill it, please do not blame the management.
Please send the rent in full or we will be forced to contact your present landlady.
August 6, 2019
Do something
The horrific mass shootings of recent weeks sickens me. I pray for the families of the victims.
It is the perverted response from the politicians that nauseates me the most. Does every event have to be used to score political points? No matter how you feel about the President, he is no more to blame for the actions of the shooters than Obama was for the baseball field shootings of Republican Congressmen.
In the era of everyone gets a trophy self-esteem boosting, we have lost sight that we are all responsible for our own actions.
In the wake of the shootings people are crying "do something". Just what "something" would have prevented these tragedies? If you ban plastic rifles, those intent on murder will use wood-stocked guns that work the very same way. Which of these guys, none whom had a record, would have failed any background check?
One of the shootings took place in California, home of tough gun laws. Fifty-two were shot in Chicago last weekend. Chicago has tough gun laws. Which law would have prevent this?
If the answer is to punish the innocent for the crimes of others, you need a different starting point.
I have no answers. I have no solutions. It is a culture thing. Today, everybody wants to be famous. They want to be YouTube and Facebook stars. They want everyone to read their blog. The truth is no further away than the mirror.
Quit publicizing the killers.
Stop using human tragedy as a political platform.
It is the perverted response from the politicians that nauseates me the most. Does every event have to be used to score political points? No matter how you feel about the President, he is no more to blame for the actions of the shooters than Obama was for the baseball field shootings of Republican Congressmen.
In the era of everyone gets a trophy self-esteem boosting, we have lost sight that we are all responsible for our own actions.
In the wake of the shootings people are crying "do something". Just what "something" would have prevented these tragedies? If you ban plastic rifles, those intent on murder will use wood-stocked guns that work the very same way. Which of these guys, none whom had a record, would have failed any background check?
One of the shootings took place in California, home of tough gun laws. Fifty-two were shot in Chicago last weekend. Chicago has tough gun laws. Which law would have prevent this?
If the answer is to punish the innocent for the crimes of others, you need a different starting point.
I have no answers. I have no solutions. It is a culture thing. Today, everybody wants to be famous. They want to be YouTube and Facebook stars. They want everyone to read their blog. The truth is no further away than the mirror.
Quit publicizing the killers.
Stop using human tragedy as a political platform.
August 5, 2019
Superstition
One of the regular foursome was sick, so a new member named George filled in. He was very good and pleasant company so they asked him to join them again the following Sunday. “9:30 okay?”
George said, “Fine, but I may be about ten minutes late. Wait for me.”
The following Sunday George showed up right on time. Not only that, but he played left-handed and beat them.
They agreed to meet the following Sunday at 9:30. George again said, “Okay, but I may be about ten minutes late. Wait for me.”
The next Sunday there was George, punctual to the dot. This time he played right-handed and beat them again.
“Okay, for 9:30 next Sunday?” one of the foursome asked. George said, “Sure if I’m ten minutes late…”
Another golfer jumped in. “Wait a minute, you always say you may be ten minutes late. But you’re always right on time and you beat us whether you play right or left handed.”
George said, “Well, that’s true, I’m superstitious. If I wake up and my wife is sleeping on her right side, I play right-handed. If she’s sleeping on her left side, I play left-handed.”
“What if she’s lying on her back?”
George said, “That’s when I’m ten minutes late!”
August 4, 2019
You know that day destroys the night
The Hitler Youth that run the Homeowners Association here in the neighborhood have been on letter writing campaign ever since they were hired a year or so ago. I have received threatening missives regarding my mailbox post color, my trash can placement, and algae growing on the side of the house. I should admit it is really multiple letters. I painted my mailbox post to the appropriate color last summer.
Seig Heil mofos.
I finally moved my trash cans so they can no longer be seen, even though they could only be seen from exactly one part of the street if you looked for them from the neighbor's driveway.
Seig Heil mofos.
I first got the algae letter last November. They were not happy, nor too cooperative, when I told them there was no way I was going to have high pressure water sprayed on (and thus under) my siding in the dang winter. I got another couple of written admonitions this spring. You may recall we about 18 straight weekends of rain. Then the weather turned nice and I forgot about it except when I mowed.
Then I lost my job.
I got the "clean it by Friday or we're gonna sue" letter early last week. I called the nice firm that runs things to explain I am out of work and got a real sympathetic "too bad have it done by Friday" in response.
I had tried the spray on chemicals before without success. I power washed it myself only to see the green return in a month or so previously. So I called professionals and paid to get it done right. I even have a guarantee.
I was told by a neighbor who is on the neighborhood board the company they hired to manage the day to day operations gets paid for every letter they send. They are owned by a lawyer, so he gets costs and legal fees if they get to sue. the previous board signed the management contract so they cannot get out of it for five years.
Seig Heil mofos.
Yeah, I don't know why the line spacing changed and I don't know how to fix it.
August 2, 2019
When I am in charge
There is no doubt the world would be a better place if I were given the authority I deserve. When I am Emperor of Terra Firma and King of the Oceans, common sense and moral goodness shall be the order of the day.
Certainly the people who leave their kids to cook inside of hot cars will get their just desserts. Sure it is a tragedy, sure it is an accident, but they killed those children the same as if they shot the kids. I'm not buying into the whole "my brain tricked me into thinking I left the kids at daycare" BS either. Parenting is a full time occupation and you NEVER forget about your kids.
And the dang rabbit that somehow gets through the fence around my little garden to eat my 'maters-- you'll get yours too.
Now I feel a little like Elmer Fudd. Yeah if you are under 30 you have no clue who that is because all good cartoons are offensive to someone. Besides there is a little know codicil to the Faber College Constitution* that not only gives the Dean emergency powers, but demands that every cartoon be about a princess or empowered girl (or person who identifies as a girl).
I seems the near-perfect weather, warm with low humidity, will continue through the weekend. I am good with that.
I'm about done chugging my second cup of java, I better get busy doing nothing. Maybe I'll do everyone a favor and take a shower.
*no one under about 40 gets that reference either.
Certainly the people who leave their kids to cook inside of hot cars will get their just desserts. Sure it is a tragedy, sure it is an accident, but they killed those children the same as if they shot the kids. I'm not buying into the whole "my brain tricked me into thinking I left the kids at daycare" BS either. Parenting is a full time occupation and you NEVER forget about your kids.
And the dang rabbit that somehow gets through the fence around my little garden to eat my 'maters-- you'll get yours too.
Now I feel a little like Elmer Fudd. Yeah if you are under 30 you have no clue who that is because all good cartoons are offensive to someone. Besides there is a little know codicil to the Faber College Constitution* that not only gives the Dean emergency powers, but demands that every cartoon be about a princess or empowered girl (or person who identifies as a girl).
I seems the near-perfect weather, warm with low humidity, will continue through the weekend. I am good with that.
I'm about done chugging my second cup of java, I better get busy doing nothing. Maybe I'll do everyone a favor and take a shower.
*no one under about 40 gets that reference either.