AUGUST 2014

AUGUST 2014

Saturday, March 24, 2012

WINTER ISN'T QUITE OVER

I see the forecast calls for lows in the high 30's tomorrow night.  No freeze but it's too close for comfort with everything budding and blooming.

RITA HAS A TOUCH OF CLOUD RAGE

She just called to say she can't stand any more of these dreary, grey, cloudy days.  She's ready to scream.

I know how she feels.  A total grey cloud cover is so worthless if it's not raining and here, by the river, it's day after day of dull grey skies.

It has hit me too.  I was going to do a bunch of spring cleaning today but I can only do that when the sun is shining.  It's supposed to shine tomorrow.  I'll re-think that cleaning thing then.

Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Philip Levine, wrote, "The clouds have seen it all, in the dark they pass over the graves of the forgotten and they don't cry or whisper."

I don't really know what that means but it must be good if he won a Pulitzer Prize.

JET SET PETS

Take a look at this website...JET SET PETS and see how the other half (of the animal kingdom) lives.  These pets travel in a lot more luxury than you do!

HERE'S THE CUTEST KID YOU'LL SEE ALL DAY



HOLIDAYS

Today is CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN DAY.  I can't eat chocolate and I hate raisins so I'll have to find another reason to celebrate.

ELVIS HISTORY

It was 54 years ago today that ELVIS was inducted into the army.

WHERE DID THE PINEAPPLE COME FROM?

Were you going to say Hawaii?  No way, Jose! In fact, the name for Pineapple in Hawaiian is HALAKAHIKI which means "foreign fruit".

The pineapple is actually indigenous to South America, spacifically, an area between Brazil and Paraguay.

The pineapple is called "pineapple" because it resembles a pine cone but I like halakahiki better.

Forget the new faucets for the old bubblers in La Crosse.

We need to upgrade to a whole new way of getting a drink.

Friday, March 23, 2012

A HOME OWNERS WORK IS NEVER DONE

DECK STAINING TIME

A NOTE FROM RON

"Enjoyed your posting about the Platters singing Happy Birthday to you.  Your birthdays were great days, we had a lot of fun."

SOMETHING NEW DOWNTOWN

Walking through town, this morning, I discovered, yet, another new buisness.  The sequel resale shop has some really interesting merchandise, from what I could see through the windows.  Then I got home and saw an article about it in the La Crosse Tribune (CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE).

I also noticed that the building right across from the Hollywood Theater (which has been for sale forever) has a big sign, in the window, that says OFFER ACCEPTED.  No clue about what's going in there but it will be interesting to watch for any activity around there.

ANOTHER SURE SIGN OF SPRING

The La Crosse HOME AND BUILDERS SHOW opens tonight at the La Crosse Center.

LIFE STORIES

Donnie wants to know, after reading the Platters story, how many other stories I've forgotten.

It's hard to say.  I've probably forgotten most of them, but, how about the time I had to interview Jimmy Dean for 15 minutes, talking about his sausage.  Do you know how hard it is to come up with 15 minutes worth of questions about sausage?

AIN'T NO SUCH THING AS A "FLYING DUTCHMAN"

We may not be able to fly but a good Dutchman sure can come up with a good tall tale.  Or, at least, a high flying tale.

This video hit the Internet and 9 million viewers believed that Dutchmen can fly.  Alas, the "flying Dutchman", Jarno Smeets (love the name), has admitted the video was a hoax created by animater Floris Kaayk.

Hoax or no hoax, it's fun to watch.

TODAY IS NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT

IT'S "HAPPY DAYS" IN LA CROSSE COUNTY!

Folks in La Crosse County spent money like crazy last year.  In fact, they spent $2.04 BILLION.  That's a new spending record for the county.

1 comments:
det said...
Recession or not, Americans quickly get bored with frugality (sorry, Ben Franklin), and whatever the consequences, we will spend like there's no tomorrow...which is how the wise men always tell us to live. And sure enough, pretty soon there is no tomorrow.

Mar 23, 2012 7:01:00 AM

TWO COULEE REGION RESIDENTS ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT THIS WEEK

One contestant is from Winona and the other from Holmen.  READ THE STORY IN THE LA CROSSE TRIBUNE

HOW TIME FLIES

It's already been a year ago that Elizabeth Taylor died, on this date, at the age of 79.

Day after day we keep setting new weather records.

The temperature hit 77 DEGREES YESTERDAYThat broke the old record of 73 degrees set in 1994.

The high temperature has now reached 70 degrees or higher for 9 consecutive days.  That breaks a string of 7 days at 70 or more set back in 1910.

And, we're worried about the price of gas??

DONNIE REPORTS
The South by Southwest (SxSW) music, film and tech event was in Austin last week.  This has became a major national gathering--some 250,000 crowd into the city, to hear thousands of musical performances, and view the latest music and film and entertainment/communications technology.  Lodging is so hard to come by that one of our friends with a home in the city advertised her spare bedroom on CraigsList, and rented out a mere futon to a Swiss couple for $500 a night, cash in advance!  There's an unconfirmed rumor that a Motel 6 in town was getting $700!  Many people rent their driveways for parking spaces.  Unfortunately, we are too far in the country to offer our guest bedroom, unless the event keeps growing.

Nothing can bring back the memories like a song.

I ran across this video, yesterday, and it took me back to Rapid City in the early 60's.  Ron and Penny and Duane and Gary are the only ones left, I guess, that can vouch for me when I say that, back in those days, my birthday was a major production.

With the cold war at its peak, the missile silo's were being built, on the prairie, around the city.  The construction workers made big bucks and business was booming.  There were two big night clubs in town.  The Esquire and The Canyon Lake Club (both gone now). Both clubs featured live shows with lounge acts from the Las Vegas Strip.

I don't remember which birthday it was but the party was at the Canyon Lake Club, that year, and THE PLATTERS  were appearing.  When the cake came out they can down from the stage and sang "Happy Birthday" to me.

I hadn't thought about that in years but those were the days!



1 comments: det said...
A personal birthday song from The Platters--yup, that's when your life peaked.
Never heard that story. How many other highlights have you forgotten?

Mar 23, 2012 7:06:00 AM
 

This is why I retired before I hit 70.





 

1 comments:
det said...
Yeah, well half the kids I encounter can't do much better.
Mar 23, 2012 7:09:00 AM

This is OK with me!


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PBS has a great article about the word OK..as in "O.K."  Where did "OK" come from?  What does it mean?

You never though of that, did you?  Neither did I but now I know there is, actually, a story behind those two most used letters.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT.....OK??

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Who knew that Albert Einstein had a great sense of humor?

I'm reading Josef Eisinger's biography of Einstein's travels, around the world, just before and as Hitler came to power.

When visiting in California he was asked about his thoughts on Marriage.  He said that when he and his wife got married he told her that he would handle all the major issues and she could take care of all the minor ones.  So far, he said, all the issues had been minor.

Thunder wants to move to Chaska, Minnesota.

A (human) resident of that fair city got a ticket for yelling at his cat.  Neighbors called the police and complained about the obscenities he was using toward the cat.  Apparently, this isn't the first time he and kitty have had a falling out.

I had a full head of steam this morning but the fire's gone out this afternoon.

When you're pushing 72, a half day is about the most you can hope for.

Speaking of 72, there's another problem that's developed with that advanced age.  I don't need sleeping pills.  All I need is a book.

The last few months before I get half way down the page I'm dead to the world.  The other day I fell asleep three times on the same page.  If this keeps up it will soon take me all day to read my social security number.

Things are still booming in Clintonville.

3 nights of noisy booming, keeping folks awake and wondering what's causing it.

I just read this article in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL CLICK HERE and, apparently, this booming stuff is more common than you think.  It's happened around the world and goes back into Indian legend.

But, what are they?  Nobody knows.  It takes something like this to remind us humans that we aren't nearly as smart as we think we are.  There's a lot more stuff that we don't know than stuff that we do know!

Didn't someone in the family live in Clintonville at one time?  The name sounds familiar.
Guess we'll have to wait a while to get an early start on the suntan.  We won't see much, if any, of the sun until Sunday.  That's going to keep our temperatures a bit lower too.  Mostly in the 60's.
HATS OFF TO:
  • Carbonite
  • Quicken Loans
  • LegalZoom
  • Sleep Number
  • Sleep Train
Who have joined the list of sponsors who have pulled their ads from the Rush Limbaugh program.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT
KISS SLOWLY
LAUGH INSANELY
LOVE TRULY
AND
FORGIVE QUICKLY

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

80% CHANCE
FOR RAIN TODAY
That's OK with me.  I don't have anything to do and no place to go so bring on the rain and make the world GREEN again!

We're setting new weather records, almost, every day.

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT LA CROSSE WISCONSIN ON MARCH 21 WAS ONLY 57 DEGREES. THIS SMASHED THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR THE WARMEST LOW TEMPERATURE OF 46 DEGREES SET IN 1949.

IN ADDITION, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON MARCH 21 AT LA CROSSE CLIMBED TO 74 DEGREES. THIS IS THE 8TH CONSECUTIVE DAY THE TEMPERATURE ROSE TO OR ABOVE 70 DEGREES IN MARCH. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS FOR MARCH WHICH OCCURRED FROM THE 23RD THROUGH THE 29TH OF 1910.

My favorite quote of the day comes from Warren Buffett

"Rule #1: Never lose money. Rule #2: Never forget rule #1."

1 comment:
det said...
He has also cited two steps to financial security: (1) Avoid credit cards (that is, don't spend more than you have); (2) invest in yourself (that is, get a good education).

Mar 22, 2012 7:59:00 AM
I'm delighted to see that a Wisconsin preacher has been found guilty in a child abuse case.  READ THE STORY FROM THE WKBT WEBSITE.

My hero of the day is Andrea Zenith of La Crosse

A New York cat is alive today because of her.  This is a really neat story.   CLICK HERE TO READ IT IN THE LA CROSSE TRIBUNE

You can live without oil. You CAN NOT live without water.



Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What a difference a day makes.

I swear, yesterday the lawns were still brown and the trees were bare.  Overnight it changed.  Every lawn in town is bright green and all the trees, outside my window, are showing green.  They'll be all leafed out by the end of the week.

The minute I saw that I got a terrible craving for a tuna salad sandwich so I went to the store and got what I needed.  I've got my tuna salad chilling and Thunder had a big helping of tuna and has now gone into his little house and curled up to sleep it off.

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The new sod Donnie and Linda Laid is between the house and the tree line.
Once they got it laid Donnie made a large chalk sign on the driveway, hoping God would see it.
God must have seen it.  It's been raining ever since he chalked his plea.
Willard reported it was 54 degrees in Houston, this morning, while it was 63 degrees here.

I normally hate the month of March.  All the dirty snow turns to muddy slush and it's usually dark and dreary and wet and just cold enough to make it miserable.  What a pleasant change this March has been!

This should make Donnie and Linda happy.

When Donnie was a little kid, he used to call every big lake we saw, "A big drink of water."

The big drink of water in the Texas Hill Country is Lake Travis and it makes me think of the Johnny Cash hit, "How High's the Water, Mama?"

The lake has risen 3 feet since yesterday and it's up 11.3 feet since January 1.



Today we celebrate something we need to get back to.


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Let's start to bring back some common courtesy by insisting that our politicians start observing it before we lose, even more, credibility with the rest of the world.

Having spent a few days in broadcasting, I know just how this poor girl feels.


I'm betting we'll break another temperature record today.

They're forecasting a high of 78 for La Crosse.  If this trend keeps up, all summer, we'll be melting by July.

This warm weather is becoming quite historic.  Below are some interesting weather items from the National Weather Service.

Each day between March 17th and March 20th saw average temperature departures from normal of 30 or more degrees. March 17th saw the largest departure from normal, a whopping 38 degrees!

As of March 19th, the average temperature for the month of March stands at 47.2 degrees. If the month ended right now, March 2012 would be the warmest ever as the all-time warmest March is 47.1 degrees, set in 1878. With 12 days left and the temperature outlook for the rest of the month to remain above normal, there stands a good chance that March 2012 could end up as the warmest ever at La Crosse, WI.

As of March 20th, 70 degree or higher temperatures have been observed for 7 consecutive days. This ties the longest string of 70 degrees or higher temperatures in March. The previous record occurred between March 23rd and 29th of 1910.


Donnie Comments:
Even Maine is seeing records broken with one community beating a days warmest, not by 2 or 3 degrees but, by 23 degrees.

I got a note from Bert.

I helped her with a paper she had to write for school.  She said, "Thank you, so much.  I got 25 extra credit points.  The teacher wrote "SUPER" on the top of the paper and he agreed with your point of view."

If you ever need any extra points, let me know.  I got a million of 'em.

The Make A Difference Movie - The Teddy Stallard Story - by Mary Robinson Reynolds | The MasterMinding Maven® - Full Length Version

Ron and Penny sent this short movie that I hope all of you will spend a few moments watching.  And if you know any teachers be sure to pass it along to them. CLICK BELOW.

The Make A Difference Movie - The Teddy Stallard Story - by Mary Robinson Reynolds | The MasterMinding Maven® - Full Length Version

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Here's a great summer vacation idea.

Come to Wisconsin and take the CHEESE TOUR! 

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHEESY DETAILS

This is getting to be a daily event

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
The high temperature in La Crosse climbed to 73 degrees today.  This breaks the old record of 71 degrees set in 1918.


Donnie and Linda are out of touch.

"An outcome of last night's thunderstorms is a failed internet connection at home.  I am reporting from the Dripping Springs public library."

Donnie and Linda must be living right.

Donnie reports:

"Nearly 3 inches of loud rain last night.  The most we've seen at one time in, maybe, two years.  It arrived perfectly to soak my newly-laid sod.

True to form, it was nowhere near the 5 to 6 inches forecast but it certainly was enough to get the creeks flowing."

AT LAST! IT'S OVER!

Barring some unforseen problems, no more visits to the clinic again until September.
Today was a check of all the plumbing and it's as good as new.  They've looked me over from head to toe and, except for the kidneys, I'm fit as a fiddle.

I, therefore, am living proof that good clean living has absolutely nothing to do with improving your health.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."
Albert Einstein

The Lonely Planet website has an article on the 10 hottest food spots in the world.

Nothing in the USA made the list but there's one in ISTANBUL that Donnie might be familiar with.
CLICK HERE

Happy Spring!

The vernal equinox has been celebrated since ancient times.  It's the celebration of Oestre or Eastre the teutonic goddess of spring.  It's from this pagan goddess that the Christians got the word Easter.

Here's a beautiful video to celebrate the start of the season.  It's SPRING IN NORWAY.





And, another beautiful video of SPRING IN HOLLAND.

How's this for wacky weather?

At 4:00 A.M. it was 51 in Dripping Springs, Texas and 62 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  It ain't supposed to be this way.

Hey! Look at this! The BUBBLERS won't be bubbling anymore.

The city has found a fixture that will fit the historic street corner bubblers in La Crosse.  If you want a sip of water, on a hot summer day, you'll have to "push the button" to make the water run.  It won't be as unique as the old "bubbling" fixtures but it will save the city, literally, millions of gallons of water every summer.  Read the full story, here, in the La Crosse Tribune.

Here we go again. Back to the clinic.

More tests, more poking and prodding. I'm really starting to get tired of it. 

Spring arrived on a gust of wind this morning.

In fact, the winds were strong enough to blow a power pole down at the corner of Sand Lake Road and Main Street in Onalaska.

Heavy rain, at times, came with the wind.  Believe me, it was great sleeping weather!!

Winter (what there was of it) is GONE!

Monday, March 19, 2012

What a morning!

When I came home from the grocery store, Thunder wasn't around but that's not unusual.  If he's home alone he usually goes to one of his special hiding places...just to be on the safe side.  After I get home, he'll finally decide to come out.

Today, I was busy putting groceries away and it suddenly dawned on me that, this time, he hadn't come out to greet me.  I went looking for him.  I searched all the hiding places and there  was no one there.  I called him but no response.  The screens were still securly attached to the windows and the door was still locked when I got home but Thunder was gone!

Roger came into town to help me look and just about the time he got here, of course, I found the little guy, hiding behind the curtain in the bedroom.  He's never hidden there before.  He didn't want to come out.  I had to drag him out and it was obvious that something had scared him.  What, I don't know, but all has calmed down again and he's crawled under the bed covers to take his afternoon nap.

Why cats get goofy and do something that makes no sense, once in a while, we'll never know but he sure pulled it on me today.

No rain around here this morning.

Looks like all the stormy weather is southeast of us.  Radar was showing some pretty good thunderstorms moving over Janesville.  That, probably, put Bob and Lynne's yard work on hold.

Now we know who was on the prairie.

ROGER TELLS ALL:
"The wanderer on the prairie is none other than our own Wild Bill (Carl) Tabbert."

I started the day on a high note.

I took a load of clothes down to the laundry room and discovered a spiffy new washing machine.





Then I stopped to pick up Saturdays mail and found a letter from the clinic with the results of my colonoscopy.  Cancer free and I don't have to drink that awful stuff for another five years....if there is another five years.

A weather statement from the National Weather Service.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS FROM ANY STORMS THAT OCCUR.

The National Weather Service makes it official.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES WAS RECORDED SUNDAY MARCH 18 AT LA CROSSE WISCONSIN. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 71 DEGREES SET IN 1903.

THE LOW FOR SUNDAY MARCH 18 WAS 59 DEGREES, BREAKING THE PREVIOUS WARMEST LOW RECORD OF 48 DEGREES SET IN 1968.

Look who's joining the Senior Citizens!

Actress Glenn Close turns 65 today.

This could be a death sentence for me...and a lot of others.

Click here to read what the Republicans want to do to Medicare.

This week is for SENIOR CITIZENS who don't act their age.



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The title picture is the South Dakota Prairie.

This is from the hunting trip that Rick, Angela, Rita and Roger enjoyed last fall.  I'm guessing that's either Rick or Roger out on the prairie.

For me, this is what heaven will look like.

Spring has arrived in Rapid city too.

DUANE REPORTS
"Honeysuckle bushes are leafing already.  Iris coming up.  Grass is greening.  The deer are drinking the bird bath dry every day."

Wet week ahead.

Would you believe there's a good chance for showers and thunderstorms every day (and night) through Thursday.

HOLY WET SUIT, BATMAN!

Who knew?

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Another record breaking warm day.

The record high for the 18th of March, in La Crosse, had stood at 71 degrees since 1903...until today.  At 2:00 P.M. it was 79 which breaks another record for today.

And, by the way, it was 73 in Dripping Springs at 2:00 P.M. so if you want to cool off you can run down and visit the Texas relatives.

Here's a rundown of the other March record breakers.
Records Set
La Crosse
Rochester
  • Record high of 67 on March 11th
  • Record high of 75 on March 14th
  • Record high of 71 on March 15th
  • Record warm low tied of 44 on March 15th
  • Record high of 79 on March 16th
  • Record high of 83 on March 17th
  • Record warm low of 62 on March 17th - Also warmest low all-time for the month of March
  • Record high of 63 on March 11th
  • Record high of 66 on March 13th
  • Record high of 74 on March 14th
  • Record high of 73 on March 15th
  • Record high of 78 on March 16th
  • Record warm low of 48 on March 16th
  • Record high of 81 on March 17th
  • Record warm low of 58 on March 17th - Also warmest low all-time for the month of March

It's not warm enough for the A/C but it's warm enough for the fan!

A little breeze through the living room feels good this afternoon.

We're going to get an early start on those April showers.

There's a 50% chance for rain tomorrow and Tuesday.

Here's the best quote I've found in a long time.

"An ounce of Mother is worth a pound of  clergy."
Rudyard Kipling

You know those Gideon bibles you find in hotel rooms?

Did you know that whole GIDEON MOVEMENT STARTED IN BOSCOBEL, WISCONSIN and it's a very interesting story.  READ THE STORY HERE

I'm keeping my fingers crossed we won't have a late freeze.

The bushes by the back door are turning green.  The grass is starting to green up.  A late freeze, now, would be a sad event.

With all the Norwegians around here you'd think there would be enough hot air to prevent that from happening.

This I gotta see!!

Joe Orso's column in the LA  CROSSE TRIBUNE, this morning, features a story about a HOUSE IN VIROQUA that has NO FURNACE and, yet, it's 63 inside while it's 8 below outside.  That warm, comfortable, inside temperature comes only from the sun and doesn't cost a single penny!!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE STORY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!!

CHARLIE PRIDE IS 74  TODAY


There's a cool down coming but don't panic. It's not that bad.

Highs will be around 80 again today and then we start to cool down again to more normal temperatures for early spring.  We're talking 70's on tuesday and 60's on wednesday and thursday.  There's a good chance for rain on tuesday and wednesday too.

I think this is Mother Natures way of reminding us that this ain't Arizona.  It can't be sunny and hot every day.

I'm sorry we missed these when Donnie and I were in the rain forest of Colombia.

They are native to rain forests of Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. Finger monkeys are, as a matter of fact, pygmy marmosets They are also known by the names pocket monkey and tiny lion. This cute little primate hugs and grips on to your finger so tight that it pulls your heartstrings and you wish you could take it home with you. The finger monkey is the tiniest living primate in the world. I'm thinking that Roger should have a couple of these to go with his parakeets.

If these two can get along why can't we?

We can all relate to this one. Who hasn't had an awkward moment?



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LA CROSSE WEATHER