CALIFORNIA GAS SELLING FOR $4.61 A GALLON

ALL TIME HIGH FOR THE STATE

HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP SURE TASTED GOOD ON THE FIRST COLD SNAP OF THE SEASON!

DUANE IS REPORTING SNOW IN RAPID CITY

"It's snowed!  The decks are covered.  Cold but some sun."

COVER UP!!

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a freeze warning... which is in effect from 1 am to 8 am CDT Sunday.

Temperatures will drop to below freezing into the 20s tonight along River Valley locations where the growing season has yet to end.

Sensitive outdoor plants with fruits and vegetables are at the highest risk and should be covered or brought indoors tonight into Sunday morning.

Precautionary/preparedness actions... A freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

I'M GETTING A KICK OUT OF THUNDER THIS MORNING. HE'S SITTING IN THE WINDOW WATCHING THE BIRDIES FLY SOUTH

STOP!! BEFORE YOU MAKE THAT AIRLINE OR HOTEL RESERVATION ON LINE.....

You had better READ THIS ARTICLE FROM MARKET WATCH to find out why you're, probably, not getting the best deal by booking on a travel website.  Just how much your getting screwed might surprise you!

OH, NO! I JUST DISCOVERED I MISSED "CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK".

It was celebrated October 1 through 5.  That's customer service for you.  They didn't even give us a full week.

It must not have been promoted very well.  I didn't see anything about it until today....now that it's over.  Actually, I'm not surprised.  Certainly there isn't any mega-corporation interested in customer service any more.  And not many of the, very few, "mom and pop" businesses that are left pay much attention to service anymore either.

On the other hand, having worked in public service areas for so many years, I tend to watch how the public acts toward, not only, the person behind the counter but their fellow human beings in general.  What I see are surly, pushy grouchy folks who are totally tuned out of life by clamping earphones on their heads and texting while they walk and drive.  They're doing anything and everything they can think of to avoid making any sort of eye comtact or interaction with another human being.  It's getting to the point where it's hard to tell the difference between the human and the machine....except for the fact that every one of the humans seem to be mad at something or someone, if not the whole world.  The machines, on the other hand, could care less.

THAT COLD AIR WAS POURING DOWN FROM CANADA THIS MORNING.

About the coldest temperature I saw was at a place CARL AND KATHY like to visit.  GREAT FALLS, MONTANA HAD A 4 A.M. TEMPERATURE OF 28.  Here, around the Great Lakes, temperatures were in the upper 30s.

THE MOULIN ROUGE OPENED ON THIS DATE IN 1889

And, it's still going strong.  If you're going to Paris you'll want to stop in for a visit but, be warned, a visit ain't cheap!  CLICK HERE FOR MOULIN ROUGE TOURS AND TICKETS

IN YOUR TRAVELS, WHAT COUNTRY DID YOU FIND THE MOST FRIENDLY?

Click here for the list A LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG came up with. You'll also find lists from Forbes and Lonely Planet.  None of them agree and the people who have left comments.

This, again, proves something that a psychiatrist once said to me.  "Your unhappiness doesn't come from the action of others.  It comes from YOUR REACTION to the actions of others."  (Yes, I have had a few good conversations with psychiatrists over the years.)

Carl Jung said, "I am not what happened to me.  I am what I choose to become."

WHAT'S "MAD HATTER DAY", YOU ASK?

Of course, it's based on the wonderful character from "Alice in Wonderland".  To learn how the day came about READ HERE and to meet the Mad Hatter, here's the delightful tea party from Alice in Wonderland.

LOW TONIGHT WILL BE AROUND 26

TEACHING BABY TO SWIM

DOG LOVE

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS

THE MAGIC WALL is the best idea I've seen in a long time.  Be sure to watch the video all the way through and see him put a little girl on the shelf.  These panels cost BIG BUCKS but it's only money.  SEE THE MAGIC WALL HERE

THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE "SENIOR MOMENTS"

All dressed and ready to head out for the clinic to see the doctor.  Something told me to check the schedule, I got from the clinic, one more time.  Guess what?

I do have an appointment to see the doctor and the appointment is for 8:45 BUT IT'S FOR NOVEMBER 5th not October 5th.  It's a good thing I checked before I left.  If I had gone this morning I would have had to sit in the waiting room much too long.

A LOT OF FOLKS STRIKING IT RICH IN NORTH DAKOTA

AMAZING BUT TRUE.  Because of the oil boom in North Dakota, MOUNTRAIL COUNTY is now ranked with New York City and Marin County, California as one of the 100 RICHEST COUNTIES IN THE USA.  The average person living in Mountrail County (wherever the hell that is) now MAKES $52,027 per year.  It's estimated that the North Dakota oil boom is creating 2,000 new millionaires every year in that state.

I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS

It takes glass one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times!

I PUT MY LONGJONS ON THIS MORNING

STEPHEN COLBERT ON ANDERSON COOPER TODAY

FROST ADVISORY ISSUED FOR TOMORROW

... Frost advisory in effect from 1 am to 8 am CDT Saturday...

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a frost advisory... which is in effect from 1 am to 8 am CDT Saturday.

* Temperatures will drop to around freezing Saturday morning along River Valley locations where the growing season has yet to end.

* Sensitive outdoor plants are at the highest risk and should be covered or brought indoors tonight and again Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A frost advisory means that frost is possible. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

WALT DISNEY'S NEWEST MOTION PICTURE OPENS IN THEATERS TODAY

I'm voting the title, "FRANKENWEENIE", as "TITLE OF THE YEAR".

Another big movie opens, today, in London.  This is GLOBAL JAMES BOND DAY and WORLD PREMIERE of the latest Bond movie, "SKYFALL".  The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (known to their friends as Charles and Camilla) will attend the first showing.

Speaking of England, LISA MARIE PRESLEY is performing there right now.  She tweeted that her first show before the "Brits" was "amazing".

And, SKUZZLES, the website that sells beautiful prints of old Hollywood movie posters has a new one for sale today.  It's the MGM movie classic "BLOODSPORT" and it's a great graphic.  SEE IT HERE

OUR NORMAL HIGH FOR THIS DATE IS 65 DEGREES

WE'LL BE WELL BELOW THAT TODAY

SHE STILL DRAWS A CROWD

I noticed the Janis Joplin post has been clicked on more than any other post in the past few days.  After all these years...people don't forget the really great talents.

I'LL HAVE TO GET OUT IN THE COLD EARLY THIS MORNING

This is six month checkup day with the opthamologist.  A brisk walk in our first taste of the new season "chill" should wake me up.

I guess I'd better check to see if the clinic is giving the flu shots yet.  They've been giving them at Walgreen's, and other places around town, but the clinic always starts giving them a lot later in the season.
 

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REMINDER: GET YOUR FLU SHOT

A man from Holmen is in the hospital, suffering from the WEST NILE VIRUS.  This is the first case reported in La Crosse County.

WE'LL GET DOWN TO A BREEZY 34 TONIGHT.

It will be mostly sunny tomorrow and that will warm us up to near 50 but with winds gusting to 30 MPH it won't be warm by any stretch of the imagination.

 

JOSH BILLINGS WAS A 19th CENTURY HUMORIST

He was second only to Mark Twain as a writer and lecturer in the mid-1800's.  I came upon a line that he wrote that I love.  "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

 

I PUT THE COVER ON THE A/C THIS MORNING.

THAT'S THE OFFICIAL END OF SUMMER AROUND HERE.

A SWEET PRAYER ABOUT GETTING OLD

THERE AIN'T NO STARBUCKS HERE!!!!

HERE'S A WEBSITE DONNIE WILL LIKE FEATURING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COFFEE SHOPS IN THE WORLD

CLICK HERE FOR A SIP

HAPPY TACOS!

ALREADY 3 INCHES OF SNOW IN PARTS OF NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING

I LOVE IT!

Read the article here ON THE "TRAVEL" WEBSITE about the new ROBOT SUITCASE that follows you around the airport!!  No neet to drag it or carry it.  The suitcase is linked to the blue tooth on your phone and it goes where your phone goes!  There's also a video with the article.  This is really neat.

FORGET THE JUDGE...HERE COME DA SNOW...HERE COME DA SNOW

They had record snowfalls in Montana, yesterday, and now the first winter storm of the season is heading for northern Minnesota and southern Canada.  Those folks, up there, could see up to 12 INCHES OF SNOW BY TONIGHT.

The snow isn't heading our way.  It's going north, into Canada, but we sure are going to get our first taste of COLD WEATHER!  Lows, tonight, will drop down to 33 and tomorrow night to 31.  By Saturday our HIGH TEMPERATURE WILL STRUGGLE TO HIT 43.

I have an appointment with the opthamologist first thing in the morning and, with temps near freezing, you can bet I'll be wearing the parka!

TALK ABOUT DECORATING EASTER EGGS!!!

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS EGG SHELL ART and tell me how anyone could have the patience to make these beautiful eggs.  Without the pictures I would never believe it was possible.

JANICE JOPLIN

DIED ON THIS DATE

IN 1970


A NOTE FROM LYNNE

"We will be watching Ellen next Tuesday. We have been watching the story on many channels.

Bullying is a major problem in schools, business places and has gone on for years and years. I do remember certain kids getting bullied when we were growing up too and my friends and I were the ones who stepped in to defend the kids. It wasn't as vicious as it is today. So disgusting.

Your photo of the trees is beautiful. We have lots of gold but not enough reds and oranges in our woods. Driving around we do see the beautiful colors, especially along the river."

I HEARD FROM DUANE EARLIER THIS MORNING AND HE WAS ALREADY COLD

I just checked the Rapid City weather and he's going to get A LOT COLDER!  The Rapid City forecast is calling for TEMPERATURES TO FALL INTO THE 20'S TONIGHT with WIND GUSTS TO 55 MPH.  That's not fall weather.  That's January weather!

The front is expected to moderate, considerably, before it gets here.  I hope.  I want to ease into 20 degree weather rather than have it hit me between the eyes.

JENNIFER LIVINGSTON WILL BE ON "ELLEN" NEXT WEEK

You may have seen or read about the international coverage JENNIFER LIVINGSTON of WKBT has received after she answered an email, on the air, that she got from a viewer, who really gave her a bad time about her weight.

After more than 30 years in broadcasting I know how she feels.  Viewers and listeners can be very, very kind to you but they can, also, be very, very cruel.  It's all part of being in front of the public but, sometimes, it gets to be too much.

Along with all the press coverage Jennifer has received, she's now been invited on the "ELLEN" show next Tuesday.  You might want to watch.

ROGER CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

He had his last post surgery exam and got the "all clear" signal, on his eye, from the Doc.

WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE?

The YAHOO! financial page has a list of the 10 best cities to live in based on employment, cost of living, etc.  I guess the only smart ones in the family are DONNIE, LINDA AND MARK.  AUSTIN came in at #8.  The closest city to La Crosse, on the list, was ST. PAUL at #10.

I SPOTTED THIS BEAUTY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WALGREEN'S

DUANE REPORTS THE COLD FRONT HAS REACHED RAPID CITY

"Cold, cold and windy here.  The front has moved in from Montana.  HARD FREEZE TONIGHT."

HERE'S WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

THE COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE REGION ON THURSDAY...USHERING
A MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN ITS WAKE.

THERE IS THE CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS WITH THIS FRONT...OTHERWISE PLAN ON PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY
SKIES.

LOOKING AHEAD...TEMPERATURES WILL TUMBLE DOWN INTO THE LOWER 30S THURSDAY NIGHT. MUCH BELOW NORMAL READINGS ARE EXPECTED INTO THE WEEKEND.



NO COMMENT

WHAT I'VE LEARNED, SO FAR, TODAY

I didn't know fish could cough.  Did you?  They can!  I wonder if they can sneeze?

WHEN YOU GET OLD AND RETIRE WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO???

We're doing our part to keep the medical profession busy.  ROGER has a doctor appointment today, RITA has a doctor appointment tomorrow and I have a doctor appointment on Friday.

THIS IS "NO SALT WEEK"

Actually, for me, every week is no salt week and if you think I like it you're crazy.  And, if people tell you they have a great substitute for salt they're crazy.

I found a brownie recipe that sounds good.  It only calls for a teaspoon of salt.  I thought I could "cheat" a bit.  Everybody has to have a little salt.  Then I remembered I can't eat chocolate and there SURE is no substitute for chocolate!

I'll share the recipe with you anyway.  You might like it.

Remove teddy bear from oven and preheat oven to 375.
Melt 1 cup margarine in saucepan.
Remove teddy bear from oven and tell Billy "no, no."
Add margarine to 2 cups sugar.
Take shortening can away from Billy and clean cupboards.
Measure 1/3 cup cocoa.
Take shortening can away from Billy again and bathe cat.
Apply antiseptic and bandages to scratches sustained while removing shortening from cat's tail.
Assemble 4 eggs, 2 tsp. vanilla, and 1-1/2 cups sifted flour.
Take smoldering teddy bear from oven and open all doors and windows
for ventilation.
Take telephone away from Billy and assure party on the line the call was a mistake. Call operator and attempt to have direct dialed call removed from bill.
Measure 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup nuts and beat all ingredients well.
Let cat out of refrigerator.
Pour mixture into well-greased 9x13-inch pan.
Bake 25 minutes.
Rescue cat and take razor away from Billy.

THE FALLING LEAVES DRIFT BY MY WINDOW

Walking around town, yesterday, it looked, to me, like we're just about at peak color on our city trees.  Another week and most of those leaves will be on the ground and ready for the rake.

COPS HAD AN EASY OKTOBERFEST WEEKEND

5 people taken to the hospital for detox, 100 tickets given out for underage drinking, 5 people arrested.  That's about all police had to handle on the first weekend of Oktoberfest and that's what you could call a very quiet and orderly start to Wisconsins biggest fall celebration.

WATCH WHAT YOU POST!

FIRST TASTE OF WINTER

That cold front we're waiting for will push into the Rockies today with up to 8 inches of snow.  Sounds "winterish", doesn't it?

COLOR IN THE PARK

HERE IT COMES!

Nice weather today and tomorrow but then the COLD FRONT HITS THE FAN.  Highs in the 40's Friday and  Saturday.  I know it has to come sooner or later and it looks like later is coming sooner than I wanted it to.

I JUST LEARNED SOMETHING I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WANTED TO KNOW

 When you're asked for your social security number, have you ever wondered what those numbers mean?  I haven't.  Mainly because I didn't even know they did mean anything.  I thought it was just a number.  How could I live so long and not know things like this?

Well, anyway, here's what they mean.  The first three numbers are a code for the place you or your parents were at when they/you applied for the card.  The second two numbers stand for the year you applied but it's in code so it, probably, won't be the actual year you applied.  And, the last set of numbers are your "CITIZEN NUMBER".

You didn't even know you had a citizen number, did you?  When they tell you you're "just a number", now you'll know what that number is!

DON McLEAN TURNS 67 TODAY

SUMMER IS HANGIN' IN THERE

Another beautiful day in La Crosse.  We're looking at a SUNNY DAY with a high near 70.  Tomorrow looks even better with temperatures getting into the upper 70's.

I love these beautiful fall days but we could use a little rain.  The weatherman says, maybe, Thursday.



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HERE'S A QUOTE FROM HUGH DOWNS THAT WILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."

DONNIE SPOTTED A HORNY TOAD

Did you know, there are 15 species of Horny Toads in North America, except they aren't toads at all.  They're LIZARDS and most of them are in Texas.  At least one lives in Donnie and Linda's yard.  I'm guessing there's more than one.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS THING IN DONNIE AND LINDA'S BACK YARD?

DOLPHINS TRYING TO BEACH THEMSELVES

A TOUCH OF FALL IN SOUTH TEXAS TOO

From Houston, Willard said,
"Chilly.  Would you believe I covered up with an Afghan?"

SO WHAT?

I read a report from CNN about a study they did at the University of California in Berkeley that showed that 2, 3 and 4 year old kids can learn from experiments, statistics and the actions of others in the same way that scientists do.  The researchers fixed up a box that played music if the kids put blocks on the box in a certain configuration.  The kids figured it out and the music played.

That was the story but it confused me.  The same sort of experiments have been done on monkeys, many times, and the monkeys can figure it out too.  So, I asked Donnie, what's the point?

Donnie answered, "You are right, this is dumb. Talk about government waste of resources? Just look at academia. I like the old observation that sociology and psychology are the "tedious elaboration of the obvious."

There you go.  I was right again.  I do take after my mother.  She was always right.  And, as a matter of fact, so are the monkeys.

OCTOBER IS

NATIONAL COOKIE MONTH

THIS WILL BRING BACK A FEW MEMORIES

CLASSIC CARS OF THE 50'S AND 60'S.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

So, Justin Bieber starts a U.S. tour in Phoenix.  Fans pay BIG BUCKS to fill the venue and what do they get besides Justin's singing and dancing?  They get to watch him THROW UP, not once but TWICE on stage.  True to the show business tradition, however, the show went on and he even did an encore.

 

Later, he said, "milk was a bad choice".

 

There you go!  I knew I had something in common with Justin Bieber.  All you have to do is say the word "milk" and I throw up.  According to mother, I couldn't even stand it as a baby.

 

I'm not allergic to milk.  I'm fine when it's used in recipes, etc.  It's just that the taste and smell of a glass of milk will instantly gag me.  Do you think I might have been born in the wrong state?

DID YOU KNOW??

The very first Wisconsin State Fair was held on October 1, 1851.  It was held in Janesville and drew a crowd of 10,000 people for the two day event.

HAPPY OCTOBER!

A bit of October history:  It was 33 years ago today that control of the Panama Canal was handed over to the government of Panama.  And, despite the weeping and gnashing of teeth, on the part of many Americans, that the canal could never operate without the control of the U.S. Government, the Panama Canal is operating bigger and better than ever and with the upgrading and improvements being made, it will continue to operate far into the future.
 

ANOTHER GREAT PHOTO FROM DONNIE'S LATEST TRIP

"Replica of fort built by Lewis & Clark to survive the winter of 1804 in North Dakota, Mandan Indian territory. The Mandan were remarkably friendly and civilized, and L&C would not have survived without Indian help and food. For which, the natives were thanked with a measles epidemic (hitherto unknown) that exterminated the society."

THEY SAY PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

My obsession with Solitaire continues.  Now that I've started I can't stop.  This might be a good time to stop, however.  I played four games, this morning, and WON ALL FOUR.  Now, I'm afraid to play again.  I'll just wait a while and enjoy my winning streak.

SPECTACULAR WEATHER WE'RE HAVING

At 3 AM it was still close to 50 degrees this morning.  Amazing for the last day of September.  These are great days to be outside.  Not too hot and not too cold.  Just right, as Goldilocks used to say.  Better get out and enjoy it because it's not, unfortunately, going to last forever.  But, it will last a few more days and that's just peachy with me.

Through Wednesday, daytime highs will be around 70 and nighttime temps will fall to the upper 40's.  Hey, I could live with that year round!

IT'S TIME TO LEARN SOMETHING....or maybe not.

Check this out.  It will give you something to think about today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY MATHIS

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TODAY IS GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY

Gold Star Mothers day is observed to remember those Mothers who have lost a son, or daughter, in war.  Gold Star Mothers began after World War I with the service flags placed in the windows of their homes.  Living servicemen, or women, are represented with a blue star and a gold star is placed in the windows of homes where a son or daughter has lost their lives in war.

IT WAS QUITE A CROWD!

Unofficial estimates put the crowd at more than 100,000 for this years Oktoberfest Parade.  I was there in spirit but I stayed at home and watched it on TV.  I'm not into pushing my way through crowds anymore.

 

The checker at Festival asked me if I was going to do some "festing" this weekend.  The old guy, behind me said, "Tell her we're too old for that kind of thing".  I said, "I put on quite a show at the first fest 52 years ago and I haven't gotten over that one yet."  Then that big mouthed "old guy" behind me said, "You got me beat.  I was too young for the first one."

 

If there's one thing I hate, it's a smart-ass "middle age guy".

START THE WEEK WITH A BRAND NEW BOOGIE