AUGUST 2014
Saturday, September 01, 2012
HERE'S A SCARY SHOCKER YOU'LL WANT TO READ
The extreme drought we've had, in the middle of the country, has sucked so much moisture out of the soil that homes are starting to shift causing huge cracks costing $100,000 or more. Read the full story here from Bloomberg Business Week.
THE OLDEST CHEESE IN WISCONSIN
THIS IS FUNNY...EXCEPT IF YOU LIVE IN CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI
On the 4th of July the folks in Chesterfield were forced to cancel their fireworks display because the area was so dry, from the drought, it was a fire hazard.
They decided to schedule the fireworks, instead, for Labor Day.
Guess what? It's too wet. The rains from Hurricane Isaac have drowned out the fireworks again.
BIG TV BUZZ THIS MORNING
EDDIE MURPHY/Beverly Hills Cop as a TV series?
It could happen. Read all about it here. I'd like to see it happen. I'm an Eddie Murphy fan.
It could happen. Read all about it here. I'd like to see it happen. I'm an Eddie Murphy fan.
GOOD WEBSITE
Know someone into motor coach travel? Pass this website along to them, ROAD TREKING.COM It's a good one.
I LOVED THE BIKE TWEET I SAW ON TWITTER THIS MORNING
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way, so I stole a bike and asked God for forgiveness."
BIKE FEST IS IN FULL SWING
We'll be seeing a lot of bikes around La Crosse this Labor Day weekend. It's the second annual LA CROSSE BIKEFEST and they're hoping as many as 800 to register. They come from as far away as Texas to take part in the event but I don't think that Texan is Donnie. However, if he was here, I wouldn't be surprised to see him peddling around town. If you can't make it this year, check out their website here for more information and make plans to come next year.
I WONDER IF TODAYS YOUNG KIDS WOULD EVEN KNOW WHAT A TELEPHONE OPERATOR WAS?
Today is the day we celebrate Emma M. Nutt Day. On September 1, 1878, Emma started work at the Boston Telephone Dispatch Company and became the Worlds first telephone operator. She was paid $10.00 a month (Yes. $10.00 is right) for a 54 hour week.
Emma's sister Stella Nutt came into work a few hours later to become the worlds 2nd telephone operator.
In those days, you had to be single, between the ages of 17 and 26 and you had to have arms long enough to reach the top of the telephone switchboard, which was quite tall.
While Emma was the worlds first telephone operator, the most famous telephone operator, of course, was Ernestine.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"We old folks have to find our cushions and pillows in our tankards. Strong beer is the milk of the old."
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Friday, August 31, 2012
THE NEATEST CANS I'VE EVER SEEN
Have you seen the new Campbell Soup cans that will soon be available at Target? Take a look right here. I love them!
DONNIE COMMENTS ON THE ANNIVERSARY
"And today is actually our 30th anniversary--30 years ago today we were in Edinburgh, Scotland. I think we both would have forgotten, without your blog reminder.
No. 30 is the "Pearl Anniversary," but neither of us can remember the last time we wore pearls."
NOW I'VE HEARD EVERYTHING!!
Believe it or not, a pair of Elvis Presleys underwear is about to go on the auction block. They say it could fetch $16,000. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
DONNIE DOES THE MATH
"A "true desert" gets less than 16" of rain per year.
The Sahara gets 8".
The Atacama in Chile gets less than one-half inch. (The Sahara gets some 20 times more rain than the Atacama.)
Here in Drippin' Springs, we have had one-tenth inch in seven weeks. At that rate, it would take us 70 weeks, more than a year, to get one inch. Right now, the Sahara is getting 10 times more rain than Dripping Springs. "
Here in Drippin' Springs, we have had one-tenth inch in seven weeks. At that rate, it would take us 70 weeks, more than a year, to get one inch. Right now, the Sahara is getting 10 times more rain than Dripping Springs. "
$100.00 WON'T GO FAR
CLICK HERE to see how long $100.00 will last in different cities around the world.
JERRY ALLISON IS 73 TODAY
Jerry was born in Hillsboro, Texas in 1939. In case you don't recognize the name, he was the drummer with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. It's Jerry who still owns the name for the band and they've toured through the years. There have been several different members but always with Jerry on drums.
By the way, you remember the big hit Peggy Sue? Peggy Sue was the name of Jerry's girlfriend and, later, his wife. They are now divorced.
ANOTHER AUGUST COMES TO AN END
Who decided to give this month its name? Why the Roman Senate, of course. These were the exact words.
"Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextillis . . . thrice entered the city in triumph . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus."
And, so it has been ever since.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
HERE'S A GOOD LINE IF i EVER HEARD ONE
"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito."
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin-HOME OF THE WISCONSIN COW CHIP THROW AND FESTIVAL
The festival draws thousands of people and there are usually more than enough cow chips to throw but not this year. The drought has even brought a shortage of chips!
Because of the heat and no rain the grass has turned brown too early and the cows have stayed closer to the barn to keep cool. That means not much manure in the pasture to flatten out and dry in the sun.
How about a Frisbee throw this year?
Because of the heat and no rain the grass has turned brown too early and the cows have stayed closer to the barn to keep cool. That means not much manure in the pasture to flatten out and dry in the sun.
How about a Frisbee throw this year?
DOES A PEPPER PIZZA SOUND GOOD?
Do you like Domino's Pizza? You might be surprised how many people do and even more surprised at where those people are. Read on right here.
HERE'S A SCARY STORY
Tuberculosis is making an alarming comeback and it's resistant to the latest drugs. Read the Reuters story here.
THE END IS NEAR???
You're going to start seeing a lot of "end of the world" garbage on TV, in movies and books about the end of the world on 21 December of this year. That "silly talk" has been going around for years and it's based on a prediction in the Mayan calendar which points to that day as a very "special" day but not the end of the world.
This article in National Geographic will give you all you really need to know about what the Mayans actually predicted for December 21, 2012.
While no one can predict the future, I pass the article along in case you're wondering if you should even bother with your Christmas shoppng this year. Get out there and get me some nice presents. Unless the doctors find some awful new disease I've picked up, the chances are EXCELLENT that Santa and I and Christimas will all still be around on December 25.
And, in case you don't believe that no one can predict the future, I have a few physics books I've read, over the past couple of years, that prove you can't be 100% sure that ANYTHING is going to happen.....until it happens.
THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE MARSHMALLOW
I guess I didn't know anything about a marshmallow, except you put it on the end of a stick and hold it over the fire or you throw a bunch of little ones into a fruit salad. Beyond that, I have never thought, much, about a marshmallow.
I sure didn't know that the marshmallow is actually a plant that originated in Africa. The Egyptians made candy out of the mallow plant but only the gods and royalty got to eat it. It was, apparently, that good!
The scientific name for the marshmallow is Althaea officinalis. I'm glad that they came up with a common name of "marshmallow". I can't imagine saying, "Let's get some sticks and build a fire and toast some Althaea Officinalis."
The marshmallow plant was also used, by the Egyptians for medicinal purposes. The candy or marshmallow we know is, actually, made from the root of the plant.
You don't really need all of that information to enjoy "marshmallow day" but it's fun to know that what you're eating goes back thousands of years.
Some of the younger folks who look at me think I, also, go back thousands of years and some days I feel like it.
I sure didn't know that the marshmallow is actually a plant that originated in Africa. The Egyptians made candy out of the mallow plant but only the gods and royalty got to eat it. It was, apparently, that good!
The scientific name for the marshmallow is Althaea officinalis. I'm glad that they came up with a common name of "marshmallow". I can't imagine saying, "Let's get some sticks and build a fire and toast some Althaea Officinalis."
The marshmallow plant was also used, by the Egyptians for medicinal purposes. The candy or marshmallow we know is, actually, made from the root of the plant.
You don't really need all of that information to enjoy "marshmallow day" but it's fun to know that what you're eating goes back thousands of years.
Some of the younger folks who look at me think I, also, go back thousands of years and some days I feel like it.
ANOTHER HEAT WAVE?
The forecast is for a high near 98 today. If it gets that hot it would break the record of 94, for the day, set in 1969.
FUN PUN OF THE DAY
I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan Island but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
LIFE WAS ROUGH WHEN WE WERE KIDS
When I was a kid, adults used
to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were.
When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every
morning .... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways. yadda, yadda,
yadda.....
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of forty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!
1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!
3) Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our butt! Nowhere was safe!
4) There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted music, you had to hitchhike to the record store!
5) Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled Baby! Dig?
6) We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!
7) There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOSH!!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.
8) And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! I t could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances!
9) We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square. You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
10) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your butt and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!
11) There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons!
12) And we didn't have microwaves. I f we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!
13) And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores! And car seats-oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of forty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!
1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!
3) Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our butt! Nowhere was safe!
4) There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted music, you had to hitchhike to the record store!
5) Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled Baby! Dig?
6) We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!
7) There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOSH!!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.
8) And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! I t could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances!
9) We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square. You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
10) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your butt and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!
11) There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons!
12) And we didn't have microwaves. I f we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!
13) And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores! And car seats-oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!
See! That's exactly
what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're
spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in
1970 or any time
before!
HOT IN THE HILLS
I got a 4:00 PM report from Duane. He said it was 107 in Rapid City and they had dismissed the schools. I hope that's not what we have to look forward to tomorrow!
I SCREAM CUZ I CAN'T HAVE ICE CREAM
NEW FLAVOR
FROM HAAGEN-DAZS
SALTED CARAMEL TRUFFLE ICE CREAM FILLED WITH CHOCOLATE-COVERED CARAMELS
FROM HAAGEN-DAZS
SALTED CARAMEL TRUFFLE ICE CREAM FILLED WITH CHOCOLATE-COVERED CARAMELS
Does that sound good or is it just me?? I'll bet I could eat a whole carton by myself in one sitting. I'm thinking I should have picked a different disease. One that didn't require a diet.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN AMERICA??
I know several dogs, personally, who will not be happy to hear that they were past over for the title of MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN AMERICA. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE MUTT WHO GOT THE TITLE CLICK HERE
HERE'S SOME BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF THE SIOUX FALLS
If you're going to South Dakota and you plan to go through Sioux Falls, take a tip from this family who were really glad they didn't miss it. Check out the pictures and story here.
HERE'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
A teacher gives the kids the correct answers on a test because "They're dumb as hell".
I DON'T GET IT
Read this article from WKBT
A 19 year old male student grabs the teachers glasses and throws them on the floor. She slaps him, gets an assault charge and is put on probation. Nothing is said about any disciplinary action against the student.
Is that the way you read it? Is that the way the law really works? Is this what they teach young people these days? Could that have something to do with the rude, uncaring, demanding and unhappy people you keep running into day after day?
WISCONSIN FOLKS LOVE TO GO OUT TO EAT
Read this little item from THE COZY CHICKS She hits the nail on the head!
DOWN AGAIN
As a former Continental Airlines employee, I'm sorry to see all the problems they've had since merging with United. Mergers always bring problems but they need to get their act together pretty soon.
Yesterday, with the United computers down, passengers were stuck, at gates, all over the country. As one disgruntled customer said, "Five United flights. Five bad experiences."
The old Continental customers praised our service. I hope the new airline can get that kind of service back, again, soon!
ISAAC KEEPS DOING ITS THING
I feel so sorry for the folks in Louisiana. This has got to bring back memories of Katrina. Thousands without power this morning and the fire department in Belle Chasse, Louisiana reports 5 feet of water in their building.
DONNIE JUST SENT THE QUOTE OF THE DAY AND I LOVE IT
Of course you have to be "of a certain age" or you won't get it. But, if you're an ancient, wrinkled prune like me, you'll laugh.
"RIP Neil Armstrong, first human being to walk on the moon, narrowly edging out Alice Kramden."
Michael McKean
"RIP Neil Armstrong, first human being to walk on the moon, narrowly edging out Alice Kramden."
Michael McKean
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY IT BUT I'M TIRED OF THE HEAT
I was hoping we were done with the hot weather but it looks like we're in for another stretch of it.
I remember last February when I was hoping I wouldn't freeze to death. Well, now I know there's a God because my prayers have been answered!
- 91 today
- 98 tomorrow
- 91 Friday
I remember last February when I was hoping I wouldn't freeze to death. Well, now I know there's a God because my prayers have been answered!
TODAYS HOLIDAY~MORE HERBS, LESS SALT DAY
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Time to complain. This is More Herbs, Less Salt Day. When you have kidney disease you have to celebrate that holiday every day and it ain't easy.
I've gone to websites that give you "helpful hints" on how to replace salt with something else. The first "else" is to use "Mrs. Dash". That's fine for most people but not those with kidney disease. Mrs. Dash is, indeed, free of salt but it's loaded with potassium which is deadly to failing kidneys.
So, I load up on spices, from the Co-op, and it helps, a bit, but it sure doesn't replace salt.
Up at Rita and Roger's, the other day, I gave in to temptation. There were some potato chips on the counter and I ate and ate and ate. I was craving salt. Roger says you gotta let down once in a while and, I think, he's right. As Mother's good Armour friend used to say, "Who the hell wants to live to be 100".
15 YEARS AGO TODAY
Today marks the 15th anniversary of my return to La Crosse. The year was 1997.
Bill Clinton was president. It was the year that "Antiques Roadshow", one of my favorites, made its debut on PBS. It was also the final season of "Rosanne".
1997 was the year Princess Diana, Robert Mitchum, John Denver, Mother Teresa and Red Skelton Died.
The Academy Award for best picture went to "The English Patient". Another award winner I walked out of after the first half hour. Never saw anything so boring in my life. I'll never forget the Seinfeld episode where the gang went to see "The English Patient" and Elaine, absolutely, hated it. She and I, apparently, had the same tastes.
1997 was the year F.W. WOOLWORTH closed their doors for the final time after 117 years in business. The F.W. Woolworth store, in La Crosse, left town long before that but I still remember it, on Main Street, right across the alley from the Elite.
A lot of water under the bridge since 1997!
Bill Clinton was president. It was the year that "Antiques Roadshow", one of my favorites, made its debut on PBS. It was also the final season of "Rosanne".
1997 was the year Princess Diana, Robert Mitchum, John Denver, Mother Teresa and Red Skelton Died.
The Academy Award for best picture went to "The English Patient". Another award winner I walked out of after the first half hour. Never saw anything so boring in my life. I'll never forget the Seinfeld episode where the gang went to see "The English Patient" and Elaine, absolutely, hated it. She and I, apparently, had the same tastes.
1997 was the year F.W. WOOLWORTH closed their doors for the final time after 117 years in business. The F.W. Woolworth store, in La Crosse, left town long before that but I still remember it, on Main Street, right across the alley from the Elite.
A lot of water under the bridge since 1997!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
A GOOD MOVE BY ABC
I don't have much time for the "big three" TV networks but I give credit where credit is due and give credit to ABC for renewing GENERAL HOSPITAL for another season. Its 50th season, by the way. With the demise of the rest of the soaps its nice to see at least one saved.
I got hooked on General Hospital many years ago when I was living in Edinburg. I watched it for two or three years. Back in the Luke and Laura days, the big wedding and all. Now, of course, it's all new people and new story lines. I tried to watch it one day and didn't recognize a soul.
I remember Uncle Jim and Grandma both hooked on As the World Turns. You didn't want to talk too loudly, at Grandma's, when her "story" was on.
Ahhhh, those were the good old days.
JUST SAW THIS ON TWITTER AND, BOY, AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
CLEAN-UP TAKES A LOT OF SUPERVISION
They're cleaning up the Exxon Mobil land on Copeland and it just happens to be right at the bus stop across from Festival. That gave me a ringside seat to watch the progress while I waited for the bus. I couldn't help notice that there was one guy working and four guys watching. I'd love to get one of those watching jobs.
COON STORIES FROM DONNIE
I staggered out with the flashlight, shone it towards the noise coming from the garage roof, and there was a coon, as big as a bear, removing heavy concrete tiles so that he could get in. I had to chuck stones at him for about two minutes before he gave up his evil work.
They're thieves as well. One of my angling friends was camping on San Jose Island, sitting on the beach having a sandwich, and made a call to his wife on his mobile, but there was no answer and he set the phone down. Out of nowhere this raccoon ran up, snatched the phone in its mouth, and ran off with my friend in pursuit.
As they're running along the beach, the phone rings, the coon jumps about three feet in the air, drops the phone and takes off into the dunes. My friend picks up the phone, and his wife is on the line, returning his earlier call.
Finally another coon story - While on vacation, a friend was staying at our place. In the dead of night something woke him up. He lifted his head up from the pillow, and at the end of the bed, between his feet, was a large raccoon sitting up erect and calmly looking him straight in the eyes.
A VIEW OF NORTH KOREA
Here is a short, but, fascinating article by a Lonely Planet writer about his trip to the border between North and South Korea. It's nothing like I thought it would be and I was surprised that there were guided tours to a place where you could look at North Koreans eyeball to eyeball.
IF I WAS YOUNG AND RICH I'D BUY ONE OF THESE THINGS
At $2300.00 they don't come cheap but a motorized bike sounds like fun. When you get tired of peddling you can switch over to the battery power and go up to 20 MPH. Plus, I like the look of it. See the picture here.
HERE HE COMES
I hope you folks in southeast Wisconsin don't have any big outdoor plans for Saturday. I told you Isaac would bring some rain to Wisconsin and the five day tracking forecast shows it moving across a large portion of southwest Wisconsin on Saturday.
I WAS RIGHT! GLADYS KNEW HER
Gladys knows the lady that won $10,000 in the lottery. She said, "I know her very well. She is very deserving and can certainly use the money. A widow."
Monday, August 27, 2012
I SAW A HEADLINE THAT SAID A VIBORG WOMAN WON $10,000 ON POWERBALL
That's where Gladys lives. Alas, Gladys wasn't the lucky one but Viborg isn't that big and I'll be surprised if she doesn't know the winner. I'll send her an email and see what she has to say.
THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PICTURES
I have probably posted this before but here it is again. Mother, Bobby and me on the beach at South Padre Island, Texas.
I GOT A KICK OUT OF AN ITEM IN READERS DIGEST
It was about a sign seen on a telephone pole. "Garage sale this Saturday--7 AM until 100 degrees".
That's a good description of the summer we've had.
That's a good description of the summer we've had.
FOR THE MORNING AFTER
Here's a web page a few of our readers can use. 11 AWESOME CURES FOR A HANGOVER
THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME
Had a nice visit with Rita and Roger this afternoon. Their yard has never looked better than it does this year. Here they are, sitting on the grass, reading the mail.
LET'S BREW UP A WHITE HOUSE
Did you know the White House is in the beer brewing business? It's a special blend and there's a drive on to get the recipe. READ ALL ABOUT IT RIGHT HERE
I LOVE THIS ONE FROM DONNIE
"See Photo. We have a friend who is a pet-sitter. Taking care of vacationing neighbor's cats, she discovered a family of raccoons got into the house overnight and made a royal mess. One could not find his way out and slept it off in the sink."
A BIT OF TRIVIA FOR YOU
What's the shortest war ever fought? It took place on August 27, 1896. The British defeated Zanzibar. From start to finish the whole thing took about 40 minutes. That's a good idea. There should be a world law. No war over an hour.
GUESS WHO GOT THEIR BEAUTY SLEEP
Rita called at 8:45 A.M. She said, "I just woke up". I'm guessing it will be mid-morning before we go up to the farm. That's OK. When you're retired, who needs a schedule?
THIS SOUNDS NORMAL TO ME
I got a kick out of Donnie's Dilemma this morning. That happens to me every day, or at least it has since I had those high voltage shock treatments back in the dark ages when shock treatments were a really nasty business.
Donnie said, "I suppose it is just another step in the relentless decline, but when the brain gets stuck, it can be frightening. I awoke at 5:30, and as usual could not get back to sleep.
In the hour before dawn, all one can do is let the mind wander. Somehow, I wandered into horror films, and suddenly found I could not remember the name of the first film Dracula, whose face and voice are immortal icons, even to younger generations. You know immediately whom I am talking about--but for at least 10 minutes, and what seemed like deathless eternity, I could not remember his name.
You'll remember that I was a big horror fan as a kid, and the Dracula actor has always been as familiar to me as Frankenstein/Karloff or Barney Fife/Don Knotts, or Moe, Larry, and Shemp, or countless other memorable figures in our lives. But now I could not remember Count Dracula's real name. My mind ran around it time and again, thinking of scenes from his many films, remembering other actors in them, picturing billboards, Dracula toys in his image, etc., etc. Nothing worked--my brain was stuck, pinned down by a wooden stake of forgetfulness. I got nervous, scared--what and who will I forget next?
Eventually the named popped into my head; I can't recall the successful association, how the synapses were made to connect. But it all made for an appropriately horror-filled moment.
I copy our neuro-tech, dementia expert on this (though I forget her name): Am I lost?"
Donnie said, "I suppose it is just another step in the relentless decline, but when the brain gets stuck, it can be frightening. I awoke at 5:30, and as usual could not get back to sleep.
In the hour before dawn, all one can do is let the mind wander. Somehow, I wandered into horror films, and suddenly found I could not remember the name of the first film Dracula, whose face and voice are immortal icons, even to younger generations. You know immediately whom I am talking about--but for at least 10 minutes, and what seemed like deathless eternity, I could not remember his name.
You'll remember that I was a big horror fan as a kid, and the Dracula actor has always been as familiar to me as Frankenstein/Karloff or Barney Fife/Don Knotts, or Moe, Larry, and Shemp, or countless other memorable figures in our lives. But now I could not remember Count Dracula's real name. My mind ran around it time and again, thinking of scenes from his many films, remembering other actors in them, picturing billboards, Dracula toys in his image, etc., etc. Nothing worked--my brain was stuck, pinned down by a wooden stake of forgetfulness. I got nervous, scared--what and who will I forget next?
Eventually the named popped into my head; I can't recall the successful association, how the synapses were made to connect. But it all made for an appropriately horror-filled moment.
I copy our neuro-tech, dementia expert on this (though I forget her name): Am I lost?"
ISAAC ON THE MOVE
A bit of street flooding in Tampa this morning as Isaac moved through. The 5 day forecast brings the remnants of Isaac really close to southern Wisconsin by Saturday.
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY
REMEMBERING TOMMY SANDS
Remember all those "Beach" movies? Tommy Sands is still around at 75 today. He had quite a career going until he divorced Nancy Sinatra and her father, Frank, put the word out not to hire him anymore. Did you know that it was Elvis Presley's manager, Colonol Tom Parker, who discovered Tommy, at the age of 15, and signed him up with RCA RECORDS.
HOW ABOUT A LITTLE GOOSE?
One of Chicago's local beers is going national this fall. You might want to look for it. If I could still drink beer, I'd get some just because I love the name. It's GOOSE ISLAND BEER. I'm thinking that with a name like that it should go over big in La Crosse considering we have our own Goose Island! I can hear it now, "Give me a Goose"!
A DAY ON THE FARM
Going to visit Rita and Roger this morning. It's been a while since I've been there.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
I HAVEN'T BEEN EATING ENOUGH APPLES
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I need to start eating more.
The clinic sent me an "Appointment Itinerary" and I sat down to look at it this morning. It starts with the first doctor this Thursday and doesn't end until the last doctor on December 20. Of course by then it will be almost time to begin my spring round of doctors. I've heard of "playing doctor" but this is ridiculous.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
For the second time in a week a plane, this one bound for Chicago, has been diverted to Denver because of an unruly passenger. We really need to bring a bit of civility back into our society.
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
19 people hit in overnight shootings across Chicago last night. We've become "gun happy". We're so uptight about terrorists while, every day, people are being shot on the streets of our cities. It might be safer in Afghanistan.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE DAY
Albert Hubbard was a writer and philosopher who said, "Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit."
DID YOU KNOW?
Milwaukee has a law on the books that says you are not allowed to play a flute and drums on the streets to attract attention.
By the way, I saw something the other day I haven't seen in La Crosse before. A young man sitting on the sidewalk, in front of the Co-op, playing his guitar and singing with a hat for tips in front of him.
FOXY YARDS
We saw the fox visits to Bob and Lynnes yard. Now, they're visiting Donnie and Linda too.
NOW I REALLY FEEL OLD
Macaulay Culkin turns 32 today. I guess that means he's old enough to stay "Home Alone".
ISAAC STILL ON TRACK-DESTINATION: FLORIDA KEYS
ISAAC is moving just north of Cuba on a path that will take it over the Florida Keys early tomorrow. Top winds are around 60 MPH.
Things will be a bit quieter around here, although, we'll have some MORNING THUNDERSHOWERS with an afternoon high close to 80.
MOST FOLKS ON HARRY'S SIDE
TMZ is conducting a poll asking if people think Harrys behavior was disgraceful or awsome. The "awsomes" win 2 to 1. So, the royal family might be upset but the public loves Harry!
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