Huey Lewis celebrates his 64th birthday today!

Did you know that Dragon Boat racing has been going on for more than 2,000 years!!!!

I'm not even old enough to remember that far back but Wikipedia has some fascinating history about the boat races which YOU CAN READ RIGHT HERE

Remembering the Carpenters today.

"Only Yesterday" was the Carpenters' last top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100. #welove70s #70s #Hits... http://t.co/b16Iy3Duxk
— We love 50's60's70's (@welove50s60s70s) July 5, 2014

Workahaulic Day! That's a day I don't celebrate and never did. I was one of those "Playday" kind of folks.

The Riverfest folks have perfect weather for the Dragon Boat Races today

There's only a 20% chance for rain and that isn't expected until late afternoon so the races should be able to go on, as planned, on the Black River at Copeland Park on the Northside.  It's, normally, held on the Mississippi at Riverside park but the water is too high and running too fast for that this year.

 

Rush, Rush, Rush this morning.

Bert is picking me up around 7:30 and I didn't wake up until nearly 5:00.  It takes me two hours to wake up so that doesn't leave me much time.

I haven't slept that late in a long, long time but last night was a nightmare.  The damn neighbors put on a fireworks party....right under my bedroom window and they must have bought, at least, $10,000.00 worth of fireworks..most of them the giant booming bombs...and put on a neighborhood fireworks show that lasted until 11:00 last night.  There was no possible way that anybody could sleep.

 

So, we're starting the day with just a short nap under my belt and it will be a long day at the Dragon Boat Races which Jenny is starring in.  It will be fun if I can stay awake.

Yes...but can you find fried bacon that tastes like a worm?

Guess I'd better go to the store and buy some birthday cards. There's a heap of birthdays this month.

9   Kathy

16 Rick

18 Gary

22 Donnie

23 Jon Terpstra

23 Daniel

23 Nick

 

My old home, sweet home. I miss you Houston!

Storm clouds are building just east of downtown. Hopefully the lightning storms miss Freedom Over Texas! #TXFreedom pic.twitter.com/VMflgt4gN3
— Travis Herzog (@HerzogWeather) July 4, 2014

Bert arrived, safe and sound, in La Crosse this afternoon. We'll be at the races tomorrow.

We'll be leaving here around 7:30 and be on the river most of the day.  This should be an interesting day.  If Bert and I can't get into trouble....no one can.

Hope you have a Beach Boys summer!!

I'm going to be even MORE confused that I usually am with the holiday today.

I keep thinking this is Saturday.  I'll bet I'm not the only one thinking the same thing. I wonder what I'll think tomorrow is?

We're hap...hap...happy in the summertime!

I don't know about the corn but the river's as high as an elephants eye on the 4th of July!

I've heard folks say that Roger is a real firecracker around the farm.

Now I know what they meant!

This is NOT the way it's supposed to go.

7,000 fireworks all wired up and ready to entertain the 4th of July crowd.

Alas, there was a computer malfunction and, guess what.  ALL 7,000 FIREWORKS BLEW UP AT THE TIME TIME!!!!

The worlds largest cargo plane, Russian built, was at the Minneapolis airport Wednesday evening.

This amazing aircraft, at 275 feet in length is just short of a football field.  It has a wingspan of 300 feet.

Lovin' Spoonful celebrates Summer in the City.

Italians love oranges, Russians love vodka. Put them together and you've got a screwdriver, baby!

Biggest eaters of oranges: Italy. Biggest drinkers: Russia. The #WorldCup of everything else: http://t.co/Ftq2UHfaw2 pic.twitter.com/DmJ9A810Gw
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 4, 2014

You might want to click on the article and check out the graph.  Lot's of surprising information such as....

 

Most immigrants: Switzerland

Most Doctors per capita: Greece

Fastest population growth: Nigeria

Most guns per capita: USA 

Grand and glorious weather for the 4th and a pretty good chance for good boat racing weather tomorrow.

I'm not a very productive person.

TIME Magazine lists 6 things that productive people do to be more productive.  I don't do any of these things.  CHECK IT OUT HERE

A very chilly start to the 4th of July at a couple of Wisconsin cities.

At 5:00 AM, Tomahawk was reporting 36 degrees and it was 37 in Land O' Lakes.  That would put some frost on your sparkler.

Something will be missing on the river for Riverfest this year.

The Coast Guard is warning people they should stay off the river this 4th of July.  The river is too high and running too swiftly to make boating safe.

So, here's the whole thing in a nutshell. We had a war. We fought and died for our independence so these people could vote.

We've hardly had any summer and look what I saw this morning.

I just saw my first "Back to School" ad!!  Next thing you know the Christmas commercials will be bombarding us!

J. C. Penny offering "Back to school Deals!

You gotta start someplace. This was Seinfeld's first appearance on the TONIGHT SHOW.

You can't start summer without some great old summertime tunes!

You can't go wrong with Groucho. Happy 4th of July!

A quick reminder to DRIVE CAREFULLY this weekend!

MN State Patrol is on the scene of a crash btwn a semi & multiple vehicles on I35 north bound in Steele County. pic.twitter.com/VpikB6uWIy
— KARE 11 (@kare11) July 3, 2014

Just the facts please!

Continent or Country ? pic.twitter.com/oY2gphIgZc
— UNIMAGINABLE (@EssentialFact) May 20, 2014

Now I know I'm over the hill. I took a nap this afternoon.

The weather is beautiful.....finally....wish you were here!

Enjoy Riverfest thru Saturday! http://t.co/c2jYH5B7wY
— Discover Onalaska (@OnalaskaWi) July 3, 2014

This will spoil the holiday for a lot of folks.

#Hurricane Arthur will become a threat to the Carolina coasts. http://t.co/N3u5Ngjdp1 pic.twitter.com/4MhTxqgXYR
— Weather Underground (@wunderground) July 3, 2014

A note from Rick.

"We are so happy to hear how much you enjoyed our new kittens, Kassie and Lea.  They are amazing.  We find ourselves just looking at them and admiring how beautiful they are."

Kids and Kittens. It doesn't get any better!

How to grow a lemon tree.  This is great.

What the hell is blooming now?

My head is all stuffed up this morning.  Blowing and sniffing with a touch of post nasal drip.  Miserable damn allergies!

There will never be another one like him. Jim Morrison died in Paris on July 3, 1971. He was 27.

NOPE! Not buying it.

Man claims this photo real proof of Bigfoot. You be the judge - http://t.co/RDMiFK2qQE pic.twitter.com/dqyxA5WCdE
— Houston News (@abc13houston) July 3, 2014

It's cold up north this morning.

41 at Stevens Point, 39 at Land O Lakes and 38 at Tomahawk.

OK. It's not just cats that are beautiful. How could you possibly say no to a face like this?

Look at that beautiful face! pic.twitter.com/qHOCnBBPqn
— Compassion 4 Animals (@AmyRoseKathryn) July 3, 2014

Before long, downtown La Crosse is going to be one big campus for Logistics Health Incorporated but that might not be a bad thing.

The more LHI builds, the more old, ugly empty buildings we get rid of.  You may wish to continue using the term "historic buildings" but, I'm telling you, most of them are just old, ugly, empty buildings.  The city has already torn down the true "historic buildings" like the Stoddard Hotel, the court house and the old library.

 

In any event, the city has given the OK for LHI to build another building which will be located at 2nd and Jay, behind Hooters.

What's for lunch??

There was a young man called Art,
Who thought he'd be terribly smart,
He ate ten cans of beans,
And busted his jeans,
With a loud earth-shattering.

And the good news is...A SUNNY SKY FOR THE 4TH OF JULY.

Happy Birthday to Pete Fountain. He's 84 today.

Remember the good old days when there was really funny stuff on TV?

And, there was only 12 channels and a clicker with an "on", "Off" and "other channel" button on it instead of the one I've got now with 51 buttons on it and I can't find the one that turns the damn TV off once you have it on and I can't find the channel I'm looking for because none of the buttons seem to want to go there.

Screw the TV.  I've gone back to the internet.  Roger will like this one.

Rick and Angela's family grew by two this week.

They report: "We brought them home Monday.  They are doing great and we are having so much fun with them.

They haven't met the dogs yet.".

How much fun can you have with a sheet of metal and a bunch of goats?

Thanks Ron!
Don't worry about the sound.  There is none.....and none is needed!

"The best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other"--DALAI LAMA

Why is it so hot in Washington and so cold in Wisconsin?

We don't have the hot air coming from Congress.

Heat Index values over 100° in the DC area. 108° in Bethesda!! (via @WeatherBug) pic.twitter.com/e1LUsyuRnH
— Jacob Wycoff (@4cast4you) July 2, 2014

I hated going out with a sweater on this morning but I wasn't alone.

Everyone is walking around in jackets and sweaters, today, wondering what the hell happened to summer??

I don't want to sound biased but this just goes to show that you can't beat those great folks from South Dakota.

Coco has a birthday and it's worth the wait.

Amazing photo.

Rush Hour, #NYC, 1909 pic.twitter.com/tfKY0Myj25 via @HistoryInPics
— JohnnyJet (@JohnnyJet) July 2, 2014

I don't see any rain coming our way on the radar this morning. Must be something wrong with the radar.

Sioux Falls set a rain record for April.  Their total of 13.70" this April broke the old record of 8.43" set in 1984.

La Crosse didn't break a record but we came close.  We picked up 10.26" of rain this year.  The April record was set in 1993 with 10.79".

Retire to Costa Rica ads have been running on this blog the past few days.

With 40 degree temperatures in Wisconsin in July, Costa Rica is sounding better and better all the time.

 

By the way, Rita and I spent a night in Costa Rica.  What we saw we liked!

 

You can always find and excuse to celebrate.

Bean and Bacon Days start today in Augusta, Wisconsin.  And, what do they do at Bean and Bacon Days??

CLICK RIGHT HERE TO FIND OUT

Overnight temps in the 40's for the 4th of July?????

With the fourth of July right around the corner, I had to close the window, yesterday, because the breeze coming through was too cold.

 

You might want to throw a jacket in the car if you're coming to La Crosse for the Independence Day festivities.

 

SLOWER MAIL COMING

La Crosse is one of four Post Office distribution centers that will close next year.  The other centers are located in Madison, Eau Claire and Rothschild.  That will slow down your mail by a couple of days.  Damn.  Two extra days wait for the junk mail.

I don't believe this....but what do I know?

SHOPPERS

Here's your Wal-Mart special.

Hope you didn't forget it's I FORGOT DAY!

PACKERS NEWS TODAY

Potts Avenue could be named after Packers head coach - Green Bay Press Gazette http://t.co/4NELEbXRbr
— Green Bay Packers (@PackerNews) July 1, 2014

No wonder its the first thing that comes to my mind when i think about Australia pic.twitter.com/QU1ws56uIc
— UNIMAGINABLE (@EssentialFact) June 14, 2014

The cold front has gone through the Twin Cities. 66 in Minneapolis at 3:00 PM.

Would you believe we're coming up on the 4th of July and our high's will be in the 60's tomorrow.

This is the most miserable summer, weather-wise, I've ever seen in my life.

Hey! We got us a tropical storm on the east coast!

Tropical Depression One has been upgraded to Tropical Storm #Arthur as of 11AM. #ncwx #obxwx pic.twitter.com/pDs8aYqpS4
— NWS Newport/Morehead (@NWSMoreheadCity) July 1, 2014

Sure wish I could be there to help you celebrate. I had some fun times on the 4th of July in Deadwood..back in the days when Wild Bill's body wasn't even cold yet.

Happy July 1! Where are you celebrating the week? We think you should be in Deadwood! Parade, awesome fireworks... http://t.co/9cFTs7rd0B
— Deadwood Chamber (@DeadwoodSD) July 1, 2014

That's a real bad spot for the price tag. Do you happen to know the bread guy who works at Whole Foods?

I see some rain in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota this morning but, so far, Wisconsin is dry. Let's keep it that way!!!

AccuWeather says we'll have a great 4th of July.

The forecast calls for a PARTLY SUNNY DAY WITH A HIGH NEAR 78

Good deal here!

Wash out your clothes, not your wallet! Show to cashier to redeem this week's #festfoods Twitter coupon. pic.twitter.com/bMfgtYRB6m
— Festival Foods (@festfoods) July 1, 2014

Coulee Region Humane Society Adopt-A-Thon is coming!

Tell everyone you know.  Better yet, tell everyone you don't know too.  The Adopt-A-Thon will be held July 11-13 from 1 to 6 PM.  They're located at 911 Critter Court in Onalaska.  They need your love and a home so badly.

Happy Birthday Canada!

Happy Birthday to Olivia DeHavilland. She's 98 today and this is a wonderful story.

According to this, June weather wasn't as bad, this year, as a lot of other years.

La Crosse WI had a warm and wet June. It tied 1971 for the 14th warmest June (72.1F) and it was 24th wettest June (6.70").
— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) July 1, 2014

It's "Do or Die" day.

Big day ahead in the #WorldCup - #ARG vs #SUI at 11am, then #USA vs #BEL at 3pm - http://t.co/HZ1Vk1CRsk pic.twitter.com/flzer5WYDW
— Houston News (@abc13houston) July 1, 2014

They say we'll stay dry on the 4th of July!

Did you find everything you were looking for at Whole Foods?

Whole Foods, apparently, doesn't have a "Whole training program".

Donnie asked the fellow behind the Whole Foods bread counter where he might find bread sticks.  "He didn't know what I was talking about.  The best he could do was point out the baguettes."

 

The only thing I can figure out is that we're talking Texas here. That's cowboy country.  I've known a lot of cowboys in my time and I can honestly say I've never seen one of them eat a bread stick.

Paula is back and I'll be watching

I think Paula has a good idea!

This is the oddest damn thing I've ever seen but I'm going to try it this morning.

Lick a scoop for me!!

Looks like the whole state got hit.

Tornado threat unfounded as storms pass through southern Wisconsin http://t.co/FUjSweR0y5 pic.twitter.com/VlWXvFOIOk

— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) July 1, 2014

EEEUUUUU...What do you think? Pineapple wine????

What the Heck is Tepache? http://t.co/SNT3RsBgqs pic.twitter.com/f0xgssV81n
— Zagat (@Zagat) June 30, 2014

It's a bad day in Iowa.

Wind gusts up to 80 mph reported near Prairieburg, IA, reports NWS spotter
— AccuWeather.com (@breakingweather) June 30, 2014

So...what else is new??

It's raining again in La Crosse.  That deal with Noah was just a practice run for the real thing happening NOW in Wisconsin.  Give me a break!!

GOOD FOR LOS ANGELES!

The big supermarkets were forced to get rid of their plastic bags in January.  Now, beginning tomorrow, small stores can no longer use the plastic to bag customers items.

Here's an interesting fact:

Sexist lightning? 81% of lightning death victims over the last eight years were men: http://t.co/VmrEpO8QF0 pic.twitter.com/c5VZrVsrrH
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) June 30, 2014

Rain all around us this morning. I'll be surprised if we don't get some before the day is over.

There is one good piece of weather news.  As of today, the National Weather service says WE'LL HAVE A SUNNY SKY ON THE 4TH OF JULY!

Mark this on your calendar.

I Iearned something new during our marathon power outage over the weekend.

This old man can still walk down 5 flights of stairs without much problem.  Walking back up 5 flights of stairs, however, is quite painful.

Nick added a new photo to his Facebook page.

Rita dropped coupons off today.

When I came back upstairs, guess what I saw on the computer screen.

10 WAYS TO SAVE

ON GROCERIES

WITHOUT COUPONS

 

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT

United got off to a bad start this morning.

United flight diverted after emergency slide opens mid-flight: http://t.co/uVuNQS4Rpf pic.twitter.com/2PfPO4gMXJ
— CNBC (@CNBC) June 30, 2014

Happy Birthday Michael Phelps!! 29 today. We're all getting old.

This makes me think of Uncle Jim.

Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) – International Convention — 07/01/14 at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino: Barbershop... http://t.co/Jl1fhf8JWk
— Las Vegas Events (@events_vegas) June 30, 2014

June 30, 1958...56 years ago today. What were you doing?

I can tell you what I was doing!

I was living in Minneapolis and going to Brown Radio School learning how to do what I would do for the next 30 years.

Getting ready for school I had the radio on and was listening to the biggest hit of the week.

Welcome to Hell.

Mondays are bad enough without having to put up with awful weather too but, like it or not, we're looking at a good possibility for damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and a few tornadoes today.

Maybe this would be a good day to stay home and do laundry.

 

YUK! YUK! Just think about it!

This looks like my blue heaven!

All I have to do is come up with $400,000 and the town of Swett, South Dakota is mine!

http://news.msn.com/offbeat/for-sale-small-south-dakota-town-bar-included

Big excitement next weekend.

Bert and Koko are coming to La Crosse to watch Jenny compete in the Blue Dragon Boat Races.  I'm going to tag along.  I'll take pictures!

DAMN RIGHT!

. NOTHING HURTS

AS MUCH AS

NOTHING

Another tree down in the neighborhood last night.

This big fella fell about a block from my apartment.

I'm hearing that there were more than 7,000 homes without power last night due to the storms.

It's nice to know I wasn't the only one.  As far as I'm concerned, that's enough of the big storms for this summer.

If this is true I should be happier than I am.

The unhappiest people in this world are the people who care the most about what everyone else thinks.
— Interesting Facts (@neverknownfacts) June 28, 2014

Another round of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for tonight.

They say some of tonight's thunderstorms could, again, be severe.  I'm crossing my fingers that doesn't happen.  One night of that is enough.

This sucks. This just TOTALLY sucks.

I walked down to Riverside Park this morning waiting for the power to come on.

I don't think I've seen the water as high as it is now...except for the floods back in the 60's when the water came nearly up to 3rd street.  Those were the old days before the dams were built.

13 hours without power!!

I was about to go crazy.

It was a terrible storm we had last night.  Don't remember ever seeing one that intense.  More trees went down in the neighborhood and the power went with them.

No way to make coffee.  No hot water for a shower.  No elevator so I had to WALK up and down five flights of stairs.  Going down was OK but climbing back up was almost more than I could handle.

 

Food was a problem because no electricity to make anything and nothing to make a sandwich with.  The Co-op has good sandwiches.  I decided to run over there and get a couple of those.  Guess what.  No power at the Co-op either.  They were closed too.  How about Kwik Trip?  CLOSED.  No power.  Conoco had power but no sandwiches.

 

We're slowly getting back to normal now but there's still bad news.  More storms are forecast tonight and some could be severe.  I can only hope we don't have a repeat of last night.

DONNIE WAS READING A DIRTY BOOK AND GOT FINED FOR IT

I could write headlines for one of those sleazy papers and get paid for it.  Technically, there's really nothing that isn't true in that line above.  Here's the story.

 

According to Donnie, "I checked out a new book from the library.  I carried the book, back and forth, to several coffee shop hangouts.

One morning I splashed a DROP, literally a drop of hot chocolate on a corner of the closed book leaving a quarter inch blemish on the top edge of the last 300 pages but no stain inside or on the printing.

Upon checking out new books today, the library informed me there was "a problem" with my last return.

I'm creating more narrative than necessary but I'm venting over the fact that the library charged me $33.00 to replace the book though they retired the "damaged" volume into my hands."

Well, all I can say about that little "problem" is, that's what you get for living in those "fancy smanchy" neighborhoods!

I always enter the library trying to look poor and in need of an education in the hope of avoiding those kinds of "nasty incidents".  So far it has worked just fine.