AUGUST 2014

AUGUST 2014

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Oh boy! Did we have fun today!!

Bert, Jennifer and Luna came over and we took Luna to the park to see the ducks and the river and the people and all the other fun stuff doggies like to investigate.  What a time she had!
 
But, a day at the park can wear a little doggie out, especially when you have to pose for pictures.
 
 
So while we went to Starbucks for coffee Luna stayed in the car and took a nap.  

They just get better and better.

Here come da storm, here come da storm!

Blowing and drifting snow in Colorado, flights delayed in Denver, I-70 closed from Denver to Kansas state line.  Large hail and damaging winds from Florida to East Texas.

What are we complaining about?

Snow defines the stair-like cuts into the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota.


Planning a trip anytime soon?

149 control towers, including the one at the La Crosse airport, will close on April 7. 

The FAA and airline officials say 90 minute delays and a 30% to 50% reduction in flights arriving at major airports during major travel times and bad weather can be expected.  (READ THE FULL STORY HERE)

Flying is getting to be a real challenge, we have an interstate system that's showing its age, bridges are crumbling, we have politicians who don't seem to want to join the rest of the world in providing first class train service and we won't even talk about the price fluctuations on gas.

STAY HOME seems to be the message we're getting.
Nine days away from April and it won't get warmer than 35 for the next five days.

People are really getting nasty about this weather.

Did you see the story about the guy in Ohio who wants to sue Punxsutawney Phil for predicting an early spring back in February?  If he wasn't so darn cute I'd sue the little guy too.
 
When you consider we were enjoying 70 degree weather at this time last year, with a ton of snow on the ground and temperatures struggling to get above freezing, I'd say this is ANYTHING but an early spring!

THIS IS JUST THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN!



THIS IS WHY POLITICIANS ARE THE LAST PEOPLE YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR



WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PICTURES ON THIS BLOG BUT THIS IS THE PICTURE YOU'VE REALLY BEEN WAITING FOR!


HERE'S AN INTERESTING ARTICLE

THE 10 MOST WALKABLE U.S. CITIES FOR RETIREES

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF HARRY GORDON SELFRIDGE?

If you haven't, you've missed a great story of a man who came from the backwoods of Wisconsin to become one of the greatest retailers of all time.  Read his fascinating story here.

WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED, ANYMORE, THAT THERE'S MORE SNOW IN THE FORECAST

It's getting to the point that I won't be surprised if we have snow on the 4th of July.

This latest round of the stuff you have to shovel will arrive in our area west of the Mississippi tonight and then move across the river into northeast Iowa and far southwest Wisconsin tomorrow.  One to three inches of snow is possible and it may cause some slick spots on the roads.

HERE'S A WEBSITE YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE

It's a label look-up site.
You see something on a label, in the grocery store, but you're not sure what it really means.  You can check it on this site to see if the "hype" matches the truth.

I never paid any attention to labels before but I do now, since being diagnosed with kidney disease, and this site will be a big help.  TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE.

I FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS THIS MORNING

I didn't wake up until 4:45 AM.  I haven't slept that late in years.  In fact, I may not have ever slept that late.  Half the day is already over.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TWEETS I READ THIS MORNING AND IT ALREADY MADE MY DAY

Friday, March 22, 2013

LEST WE FORGET

EVEN WITHOUT ANY RAIN, AUSTIN, TEXAS IS THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE USA

Only Raleigh, North Carolina is growing faster, according to FORBES.  Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are also in the top 10 growers.  Orlando was the only Florida city to make the top 10 list.
I'M
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
TIRED OF
LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW
AND SEEING NOTHING BUT
SNOW.


RITA AND ROGER RECENTLY HAD TO GET NEW TIRES FOR THE CAR.

With that still fresh in my mind, this article caught my eye.  How often do you think a commercial aircraft has to have a tire change?  This might surprise you!  UNITED AIRLINES chief pilot at the Newark Airport (EWR) answers that question right here.

THAT'S MY BUDDY, DAKOTA, OUT IN THE SNOW AND COLD AND, I'M SURE YOU GET THE MESSAGE!


THE EPA WANTS A PICTURE

YOU YOUNG KIDS THINK IT'S EASY BEING OLD, FORGETFUL AND A BIT "OUT OF IT"--THINK AGAIN!

Duane writes:
"Trying to get a magic marker stain out of my sheets.  Fell asleep with the open marker under me.  Also on the bottom sheet and my night shirt."

JON BON JOVI IS SELLING HIS NEW YORK PENTHOUSE FOR $42 MILLION AND I WANT IT

TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE
I really think I could be quite comfortable in a place like that!!
WHY DO I KEEP THINKING
THIS IS SATURDAY?
I'M CONFUSED AGAIN
VERY UNUSUAL FOR ME
I'M USUALLY SHARP AS A TACK

LOOK AT THIS...ISN'T IT DISGUSTING?

Morning Glories growing at Donnie and Linda's house.

GREAT SHOT FROM DONNIE

 
Posted by Picasa

IT WAS ON THIS DATE: MARCH 22, 1963 THAT THE BEATLES RELEASED THEIR FIRST ALBUM "PLEASE PLEASE ME"

ONE OF THE EASTERN COUSINS IS COMING TO TOWN

Bert will arrive today to take care of Vinney while mom is working.  Vinney is on his spring break.  Bert is also bringing Luna and I'm guessing this is the first major trip Luna has ever taken so it should be interesting.

REMEMBER THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR FROM THE '90'S?

WELL, NOW WE HAVE THE FRESH PUP OF BEL-AIRThis is just as cute as it gets!

TWITTER REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TODAY

MORE SUNSHINE TODAY BUT NOT MUCH WARMTH TO GO WITH IT

The forecast is for a high of 32 today and looking ahead to next Tuesday there isn't a single day that we'll be warmer than 34 degrees which means several more days of spring pass by and we're still freezing our ass off.

BUT IT COULD BE WORSE
Great Britain will have a day of heavy snow, flooding and blizzard conditions.

I MISSED TWITTERS BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY

Sorry about that!  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't use Twitter so I can only hope they never go away!

NATIONAL GOOF OFF DAY IS ALWAYS CELEBRATED ON MARCH 22

But I gotta tell you.  Since I retired I tend to celebrate goof off day just about every day of the year.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

DONNIE AND LINDA WON'T LIKE THIS

ANOTHER
HOT AND DRY SUMMER
FOR TEXAS


THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GETS A PIECE OF MY HEART

I was thrilled to see that the Big Brother and the Holding Company's album "Cheap Thrills" has been named to the National Recording Registry for 2013 at the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

It was this album that introduced the world to Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart".  Without a doubt, this is one of the all-time greatest recordings in the history of Rock and Roll.

FROM WKBT

THE HOLLYWOOD THEATER IN LA CROSSE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE COMING BACK TO LIFE

The Hollywood Theater in Dormont, PA is a single screen theater that was built in 1928 and is being restored to re-open again in August.
 
I'm so happy to see that, at least, a few of the great old theaters are coming back to life!

GOING ON 9 A. M. ON THE SECOND DAY OF SPRING AND THE TEMPERATURE IS 3 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO

This is just too damn cold for this time of year.  I'd love to stay inside all day but I need food and pills so what are you going to do?

MY FAVORITE VIDEO OF THE DAY: OMG CAT

MINNEAPOLIS TO TAMPA==$247.00 ROUND TRIP

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

FORMER GREEN BAY PACKER GILBERT BROWN SAYS HE WAS BULLIED ABOUT HIS WEIGHT WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP

He says it was a life changing experience for him.  READ THE STORY HERE

WINTER IS STILL AROUND IN PARTS OF THE SOUTH TOO

Several inches of snow will fall on the Ozarks today with icy roads making travel difficult.

That makes me feel better.  Wisconsin is not alone with this late winter/early spring mess.

I DID SOME "TWEETING" THIS MORNING



EASTER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND THIS IS AN EASTER EGG PROJECT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE

ANOTHER SUNNY DAY BUT TOO DAMN COLD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR

Our high, today, will only get up to about 24 with wind chills around 6 below.  Our normal high should be around 46.  That means we're around 22 degrees below normal.

Our record high for this date is 75 set in 1911.  That means we'll be about 51 degrees below our record high which means I want to go south.

OUR WEATHER FORECASTING COULD USE SOME IMPROVEMENT

Louis Uccellini, the new director of the National Weather Service says we have to increase our computing power to keep up with the Europeans predictions which are now considered the "gold standard" of weather forecasting.

IF YOU KNEW SOME PERSON THAT WAS THIS BAD AT HANDELING MONEY YOU'D CALL THEM A DEADBEAT

KNOW ANYBODY LOOKING FOR A JOB?

HOM FURNITURE in Onalaska is looking for a delivery driver.

ANOTHER MOVIE I'D LIKE TO SEE

They just started filming, last week in Canada, on "Pompeii", the story of the ancient Roman disaster.  It stars Kit Harington and Kiefer Sutherland and it's being shot in 3D.

PLEASE PICK UP YOUR TRASH


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

WHAT A SIGHT!

Did you see this NOAA photo?  It was taken at the moment of the spring equinox showing both hemispheres getting the same amount of light.

The sun will now continue to move higher in the sky of the Northern Hemisphere giving us more light and bringing summer once again.
TONIGHTS
LOW FOR LA CROSSE
5 ABOVE

NEAT PHOTO

THIS IS INSANE

I went to the store this morning and, no kidding, this was the coldest I've been all winter.  The wind cuts through you like a knife.  What have I done to deserve this??

THINK ABOUT IT

A PRETTY DRY REPORT FROM DONNIE

"0.2" rain last night which constitutes a downpour for central Texas these days."

NOW, WHAT WILL WE DO DURING THE WEEK THIS SUMMER?

One of most popular nude beaches in the country is going to be open only on weekends this summer.  The beach is on the Wisconsin River in Dane County.

They say there's just too darn much sex if they leave it open all week so Monday through Friday, forget it.  Rest up for the weekend.

I don't know much about stuff like this but I'm wondering if those "sex free weekdays" will just make for a ton of sex on Saturday and Sunday.  One might call it "condensed sex".  Only time will tell.

One thing I do know is that there won't be any sex unless Wisconsin warms up a bit.

FROM FODER: A LIST OF SOME NEAT LITTLE TOWNS

You might be interested in this list of the 10 best little towns in the USA.

Door County made the list for Wisconsin.  Never been there but I think I would like it.

Galena is listed.  Donnie and I made a trip to that great little town and I loved it.  Reminded me of Deadwood.

Another interesting town on the list was Bozeman, Montana.  I was in Bozeman once but I don't remember much of it.  As I recall, I wasn't entirely sober at the time.  That was back in my "party days".  Alas, the party has been over for quite some time.

SEE THE REST OF THE LIST HERE.

SPECTACULAR PHOTO



IT'S OFFICIAL



SPRING ARRIVED AT 6:02 THIS MORNING.
 
 
I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW.  IT STILL LOOKS LIKE WINTER TO ME.

I WAS READING AN ARTICLE ON SPRING FEVER

One of the symptoms they mentioned was aching joints and a lack of drive.  I, pretty much, have that symptom in every season.

I guess we don't have to worry about that anyway.  With all the cold and snow, even though it has arrived on the calendar, I don't smell even a hint of spring in the air.

ELVIS AND SHELLEY FABARES WANT TO GIVE YOU "SPRING FEVER"

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

A year ago, on the 13th of March, the following post appeared on this blog.

I THINK IT'S SPRING!

HIGHS TODAY
60'S IN WISCONSIN
70'S IN IOWA
80'S IN TEXAS





Near or Above Record Highs Through Next Monday

Record highs are possible every day through next Monday as temperatures rise to readings more typical of mid or late-May. Here is a listing of some record highs around the area through next Monday:


Location 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
La Crosse, WI 69/1990 68/1990 68/1995 75/1930 78/1894 71/1903 76/1921
Medford, WI 65/1995 62/1995 64/1927 68/1930 67/1966 68/2003 69/1910
Sparta, WI 76/1990 69/1990 68/1990 69/2003 75/1966 70/2003 69/1918
Prairie Du Chein, WI 74/1990 72/1995 73/1894 82/1894 76/1894 79/1894 76/1921
Austin, MN 62/1996 60/1990 70/2003 72/2003 68/1945 68/1945 67/1976
Rochester, MN 63/1990 70/1910 67/2003 73/1930 66/1930 60/2010 69/1910
Winona, MN 64/1995 69/1995 63/2010 71/2003 75/1894 73/1966 77/1921
Charles City, IA 68/1996 73/2003 72/2003 74/1930 69/1966 75/1918 77/1921
Oelwein, IA 67/1995 70/1995 71/1935 75/1930 73/1966 74/2003 75/1976
Decorah, IA 72/1990 67/1990 70/1995 78/1930 77/1894 70/1938 74/1921

A "SPRING TIME" WARNING FROM THE WEATHERMAN

We can expect some afternoon and evening showers today.  On the first day of spring one would expect rain showers but if one were in Wisconsin one would not be surprised to see SNOW showers instead.

The snow, along with 15 to 25 MPH winds will cause blowing and drifting snow which will cause some snow covered roads and black ice.

By the way, if you were living in the La Crosse in Florida, today, you'd be looking at thunderstorms with a high of 70.  Now, that's my idea of "spring".

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

A FASCINATING ARTICLE: WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OXYGEN DISAPPEARED FROM THE EARTH FOR 5 SECONDS

This article FROM SLATE is really fascinating.  I had no idea that oxygen was necessary for so many things we take for granted.  It's a very short pieced so check it out.

ISN'T THIS BEAUTIFUL? THE DUTCH HAVE THE TOUCH!

I COULD BE SITTING ON THE DECK IN TEXAS

At 3:00 PM it was 57 degrees warmer at Donnie and Linda's house than it is here.  Right now, at this moment, I don't like it here.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW TRAVEL AD FOR WISCONSIN?

WISCONSIN SPRING TIME

In Madison they've closed a road on the far west side of the city because the winds have created 20 foot high snow drifts.

THERE'S SOME SLIGHT HOPE

WE MIGHT HIT
37 DEGREES
NEXT MONDAY
UNTIL THEN
KEEP YOUR EARMUFFS ON

PACE RAZORS HAS A FASHION TIP FOR MEN

THESE FOLKS IN WARMER CLIMES SURE KNOW HOW TO RUB IT IN

First I hear from Willard about the hot weather in South Texas and now Carl adds insult to injury from Arizona.

"We are in Arizona and having a great time.  I know you'll appreciate hearing our temps will be around 85 through Thursday.

Kathy has cousins here that we spent some time with and friends will be joining us Thursday."

I LOVE THIS! FORGET "FIGHTING LIKE CATS AND DOGS"!!!

NOW WE KNOW WHERE THE WARM WEATHER IS

TEXAS HAS IT ALL BOTTLED UP!
Willard reports it was 100 degrees at McAllen and 90 in Houston yesterday!

THIS IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SICK

They're forecasting a high of 24 for today.  If we get that warm, that will put us 21 degrees below normal.

LOWEST WIND CHILLS, AROUND THE AREA, DURING THE PAST 12 HOURS

ROCHESTER 14 BELOW
LA CROSSE     6 BELOW
GALESVILLE    5 BELOW
VIROQUA        8 BELOW

A COUPLE OF DAYS LATE BUT TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.


The reason the Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day

The reason the Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day is because this is
when St. Patrick drove the Norwegians out of Ireland. It seems that some
centuries ago, many Norwegians came to Ireland to escape the bitterness of
the Norwegian winter. Ireland was having a famine at the time, and food
was scarce. The Norwegians were eating almost all the fish caught in the
area, leaving the Irish with nothing to eat but potatoes.

St. Patrick, taking matters into his own hands, as most Irishmen do,
decided the Norwegians had to go. Secretly, he organized the Irish
IRATRION (Irish Republican Army to Rid Ireland of Norwegians). Irish
members of IRATRION passed a law in Ireland that prohibited merchants from
selling ice boxes or ice to the Norwegians, in hopes that their fish would
spoil. This would force the Norwegians to flee to a colder climate where
their fish would keep.

Well, the fish spoiled, all right, but the Norwegians, as everyone
knows today, thrive on spoiled fish. So, faced with failure, the desperate
Irishmen sneaked into the Norwegian fish storage caves in the dead of
night and sprinkled the rotten fish with lye, hoping to poison the
Norwegian invaders.

But, as everyone knows, the Norwegians thought this only added to
the flavor of the fish, and they liked it so much they decided to call it
"lutefisk", which is Norwegian for "luscious fish". Matters became even
worse for the Irishmen when the Norwegians started taking over the Irish
potato crop and making something called "lefse."

Poor St. Patrick was at his wit's end, and finally on March 17th ,
he blew his top and told all the Norwegians to "GO TO HELL." So they all
got in their boats and emigrated to Minnesota...The only other paradise on
earth where smelly fish, old potatoes and plenty of cold weather can be
found in abundance.

And now you know the rest of the story.

IT'S POILTRY DAY~ANYBODY HAVE ANY GOOD CHICKEN JOKES??

WHY DID THE JACKASS
CROSS THE ROAD?
BECAUSE
THE CHICKEN HAD
THE DAY OFF FOR
POULTRY DAY.
 


ROGER CAUGHT THIS SCENE LAST EVENING

A few turkeys walking the fence along the driveway.  I'll bet they're just as anxious for spring as we are!  Must be hard to find a bite to eat under all that damn snow.

DO TURKEYS COUNT AS
POULTRY?

LA CROSSE WEATHER TODAY: UNSPRINGLIKE

SNOW FLURRIES
WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH
WIND CHILLS 12 BELOW
SPRING IN WISCONSIN

Duane has a dentist appointment today.

He's a bit nervous.  "It's a crown seating and I hope the dentist doesn't deliver the baby during the seating.  She's nine months pregnant."

Monday, March 18, 2013

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A CASE TO TOO MUCH TECHNOLOGY

So, a driver over in Monroe County is injured after crashing his car into a tree.  Why didn't he see the tree?  He was distracted while checking his a Global Positioning System.  Apparently, the GPS didn't pick up that tree.

LOOKS LIKE THE AIR FORCE IS SERIOUSLY ON THE SIDE OF THE NON-SMOKERS

Ellsworth Air Force Base, outside of Rapid City, is cutting the number of "smoking areas", at the base, from 58 to 34 on April 1.  The Air Force also forbids sale of cigarettes at all of its facilities.

HERE'S WHAT THE YOUNG FOLKS ARE LAUGHING ABOUT

Here's a good one from the "College Humor" website.  CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE FOR MORE FUNNY STUFF

SUPERMARKET SHOPPING IN NORWAY

Here is a blog post that I found fascinating and I think you will too.  It's from an American in Norway with pictures and comments about how different it is to shop for food at a supermarket in Norway.

READ IT HERE.

WILLARD WRITES FROM HOUSTON

"One extreme to the other.  You are freezing and we may have a record high today.  70 here at 7 A.M.  Had to turn the A/C on, last night for a while, to cool off."

DID YOU KNOW?

The MISSISSIPPI RIVER carries about 1.5 metric tons of nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of Mexico which creates a "coastal dead zone", in the Gulf, about the size of the state of Massachusetts every summer.  Happy swimming!

DUANE REPORTS FROM RAPID CITY

"We got 6 inches of wet snow but most of it melted yesterday.  Much needed moisture."

COMET OF THE CENTURY COMING IN NOVEMBER

I don't know if you've heard about it but we have a COMET HEADING OUR WAY.  And, it may put on quite a show.  The comet, "ISON" will arrive in our part of the solar system in late November and could turn out to be AS BRIGHT AS THE MOON!
LEARN MORE RIGHT HERE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE PRIDE!

One of my all-time favorite country singers, CHARLIE PRIDE celebrates his 75th birthay today.

THIS IS NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK

CLICK HERE TO LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO TO CELEBRATE

YOUR DOG LOVES YOU, NO MATTER WHICH SIDE YOUR ON

CLICK HERE for a web page that will melt your heart. Pictures of our military troops with their puppies.

ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST

COST OF AN MRI:
IN THE USA $1,080.00
IN FRANCE $280

THE 11TH COMMANDMENT




Sunday, March 17, 2013

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SEASON

Donnie's Alma Mater, Augastana is playing Winona today in the NCAA tournament in Mankato.

TODAYS BEST TWEET



WINTER WEARY WISCONSIN

FREEZING DRIZZLE
~AND~
4 INCHES OF SNOW TOMORROW
WIND CHILL
10 BELOW
TOMORROW NIGHT
SPRING HAS BEEN CANCELLED
IN WISCONSIN THIS YEAR

THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD


JUST BACK FROM CO-OP

Sun shining but very cold.  Snow and ice coming in tonight.  A year ago, today, it was 83 in La Crosse.  We won't get above freezing today.

DID YOU KNOW?

2 BEERS=
HEALTHY LEVEL OF SILICA
WHICH IS GOOD FOR
BONE HEALTH


PLANNING ON SOME TRAVEL THIS SUMMER?

According to Travel and Leasure, the safest place to travel this year is Finland and the least safe is Egypt.  And the best, over all, place to visit this year is SwitzerlandPersonally, I think you'll, probably, be pretty safe in Mindoro too.

THIS IS JUST TOO FUNNY

YOGERT FOR MEN FROM NPR

TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY......

A YEAR AGO TODAY
WE HAD A RECORD HIGH
OF
83 DEGREES
IN LA CROSSE

A ST. PATRICKS DAY TWEET FROM IRELAND



IS THERE EVEN A HINT OF SPRING IN THE DAYS AHEAD?

Well, by next Saturday we could see temperatures close to 40 but until then, prepare to freeze your ass off.

THE LATEST BAD NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

The March winter onslaught continues later tonight into tomorrow night.

Look for accumulating snow by tomorrow mornings drive to work.  1 to 2 inches will fall west of the Mississippi River.  Snow will fall through tomorrow morning bringing a total of 2 to 4 inches.

Winds will increase as the snow ends.  20 to 25 MPH gusts can be expected with gusts as high as 40 MPH in Southeast Minnesota and Northeast Iowa.  NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE.

There could be an area of freezing drizzle after the snow has ended.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SPRING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!

The leading force behind Jefferson Airplane Paul Kantner turns 72 today.


FOR DOWNTON ABBEY FANS

Anybody who has been watching DOWNTON ABBEY on PBS will enjoy watching this Time Magazine video about the REAL DOWNTON ABBEY which is still very much "lived in".  By the way, if you haven't seen the series or if you'd like to see some of the episodes again it's all available on YouTube

THEN AND NOW

Remember Daisy from "The Dukes of Hazarad"?
"If I could turn back time"!
 
 

WE WILL SEE THE SUN TODAY BUT IT WON'T WARM ANYTHING UP

Even that big old sun won't be enough to push the thermometer above freezing and the wind chill will be as low as 1 below.  IT'S SPRING IN WISCONSIN!

LA CROSSE WEATHER