A NOTE FROM BERT

Bert is way ahead of the rest of you.  She's got all her Christmas shopping done!

"I went shopping at Walmart at 7:00 Thursday night.  I got all my Christmas shopping done by 10:30 and all of it was at Black Friday sale prices.  I still can't believe I got everything.  I will not shop at 5 o'clock in the morning but I'll shop at 8 o'clock Thanksgiving evening!!!"

CORRECTION

I guess Kathy nearly had a stroke when she read, on the web page, that they were hosting Christmas this year.  Rita just called to inform me that the big affair will be held at Paul and Dorothy's.

A LOVE STORY

A couple was Christmas shopping at the mall on Christmas Eve and the mall was packed. As the wife walked through the mall she was surprised to look up and see that her husband was nowhere around. 

 

She was quite upset because they had a lot to do.

 

She called him on her mobile phone to ask him where he was. In a calm voice, the husband said, "Honey, you remember the jewelry store we went into about 5 years ago where you fell in love with that diamond necklace that we could not afford and I told you that I would get it for you one day?"

 

The wife choked up and started to cry and said, "Yes, I remember that jewelry store.”

 

He said, "Well, I 'm in the bar right next to it."

WHOSE COUNTING?

I have no idea how Donnie came up with this number but according to him, "The number of Indian headdresses that could be made from the feathers of all the U.S. Turkeys eaten at Thanksgiving is 43,212,000."

Does that sound right to you?

ON THE SICK LIST

 Rita says she hopes I didn't catch anything after spending Thanksgiving with them.  They got sick in South Dakota but were feeling better by Thursday.  Today, however, she said, "Went back to illness last night.  Roger is hacking something fierce and I'm sniffing and sneezing."

 

I told her that, so far, I feel fit as a fiddle but at 72 there's not a whole lot of "fiddle" left.

A PENNY SAVED......

Guess what I just discovered.  The Friskies cat food, that Thunder eats, is cheaper at Walgreen's at the regular price than it is at Festival at their sale price!  Guess where I'll buy my cat food from now on.  Plus, with the new reward card Walgreen's has I saved another $1.11 on the few items I bought.

I'm a "satisfied customer" today and, believe me, I don't "satisfy" easy!

THE LAST WORD ON HALLOWEEN

This is a bit late, considering it has to do with Halloween, but it's so good I have to pass it along.

My good friend, Gary, found this photo of some guy who won a "Best Halloween Costume" contest.

He's a clever man who has a lot more guts than I've got!

WHERE DID THE WEBCAM COME FROM

Nowadays there's a city cam, weather cam, airport cam or just about any other "cam" you can point a camera at but where did it all start?  Where was the first web cam set up and what was it looking at?  Would you believe me if I told you it was a coffee pot?  This is a great story.  SEE IT HERE FROM THE BBC

And, while we're on the subject of webcams, scroll down to check out the spectacular new webcam shot the National Weather Service has.  It's downtown La Crosse from Grandad Bluff.

IT'S A FACT!

Here's one of those silly facts that you'll find difficult to work into a conversation.

The Eiffel Tower is standing, only because it's held together by about 2,500,000 rivets.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYCAM-LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WKBT CITY CAM

WEATHER

It looks like we're in for some pretty good weekend weather with temperatures around 30 today and 40 tomorrow.  The wind has, finally, died down and the sky has cleared so there will be some sunny days ahead.

AUNT WILDA

So good to hear the news from Lynne that Aunt Wilda is doing much better.  It's sounds like she'll be home before Christmas and that's the perfect Christmas gift!

DIET SODAS MAKE YOU FAT!

Who knew that anything that tastes sweet is a signal to the brain to store fat?  Doesn't matter if it's real sugar or the fake junk.  That's just one reason not to drink any kind of soda.  THIS ARTICLE IN READERS DIGEST has some facts about soda I sure didn't know.

R.I.P.

LARRY HAGMAN

HEADLINE

6.5 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED AT ASHLAND

KEY WEST REVISITED

SPECIAL NOTE TO CARL AND KATHY

I think you're going to have to go back to Key West.  Donnie had a thought.  "Lot's of live bar-cams on Key West.  We should have thought to catch Carl and Kathy there."

SHOP TILL YOU DROP

Look at these goofy people lined up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, this morning, as they wait for the stores to open.

I'LL LEAVE THE SHOPPING TO THE REST OF YOU

Rita says she's going to do some shopping today.  She and about 100 million other crazed customers.

CHANGE...ALWAYS CHANGE

If you think we're the biggest shopping country on earth, think again.  If you want a real shopping experience, visit Moscow.  Gone are the days of bread lines and empty store shelves.  Nowadays, Moscovites think nothing of walking into a store and paying $500.00 for a pair of shoes.

Please be advised, if you want to spend a few days shopping in the Russian capitol you'll have to get a hotel room and you might be interested to know that hotel rooms are more expensive in Moscow than any other city in the world.

Boy!  If Lenin and Stalin could see the old country now!  If you'd like to read more about this shopping madness and see some neat pictures, READ THIS ARTICLE FROM CNN

I SAW IT ON FACEBOOK

Bert had some good news this week.  "I had the last monthly assesment with my doctor.  Hopefully my surgery date will be set soon.  I am so excited!"

 

THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

"Oh, for the good old days

when people would stop

Christmas shopping

when they ran out of money"

(Author Unknown)

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

I had my heart set on chicken soup today.  The only thing I didn't have was enough chicken broth so after we ate, yesterday, we stopped at Festival and I got some more.

I got up, this morning, and went to the freezer to get the chicken breasts that were in there.  I knew they were in there.  I remember buying them.  Unfortunately, I don't remember eating them.  Nary a breast in sight.

Curses, foiled again!  I'll have to go to the Co-op today and get some and it will be chicken soup tomorrow.  That's OK.  On the day after Thanksgiving the only stores with empty aisles are the grocery stores.

Now, the next problem.  What will I eat today?

A GIFTING WE WILL GO

As you head out for your day of shopping, remember the words of Upton Sinclair.

"Consider Christmas.  Could Satan, in his most malignant mood have devised a worse combination of graft plus bumkum than the system whereby several hundred million people get a billion or so gifts for which they have no use, and some thousands of shop clerks die of exhaustion while selling them, and every other child in the western world is made ill from overeating----all in the name of the lowly Jesus?"

OK! LET'S GET THIS CHRISTMAS SHOPPING NONSENSE OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

You've stopped at the food court in the mall.  While you're having a bite someone gets up and starts to sing......

HITCHCOCK

The review for the new "HITCHCOCK" movie, in the New York Times isn't very good.  Too bad.  It's got a good cast.

DID YOU KNOW???

Did you know that a rat and a human have about the same number of genes in their body?  And you thought you were so superior didn't you?

THANKSGIVING AT SCHMITTYS

Rita is still under the weather as she tries to get over the virus she picked up in South Dakota.  She wasn't up to cooking so we went to Schmittys and it was delicious.  They were packed!  Lots of folks eating out today.



I wanted to get some pictures but the camera wasn't working right.  When I got home I discovered that, somehow, I had turned the flash off so they were awful pictures and all three of us looked like we were ready for the coffin.

I thought we had a really good time until I looked at these pictures.  Then I decided we weren't having a good time after all.

Rita and Roger did have some good news, however.  They were planning on going to Wyoming for Christmas but have changed their plans and they'll go in June.  Going over those mountains  in the winter time is "iffy".  One blizzard and they could be there for weeks.  So, they'll be home for the holidays which will be at Carl and Kathy's house this year.

DEER ME

Thanksgiving guests at Donnie and Linda's house.

DRESSED FOR THE HOLIDAY

WATCH THE BIRDIE

Remember all those birdies we had singing in the morning.  Guess where they are now.  Sitting on the wires near Donnie and Linda's house.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

COLD COMING

The weather advisories have been posted by the National Weather Service.

Strong northwest winds with gusts of 30 to 40 MPH will develop by this evening and will send wind chills plummeting to 5 to 15 above by sunrise tomorrow.

Wind chills will remain that cold throughout the day tomorrow.

THE BIRD IS THE WORD

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

>Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

THANKSGIVING WEATHER

This sure will be a WARM THANKSGIVING with highs near 81 in Houston and Austin, 67 in Sioux Falls, 64 in Rapid City and 62 here in La Crosse.

BUT, LOOK WHAT'S COMING FROM THE WEST!

TOMORROW IN LA CROSSE
GUSTY WINDS WITH A HIGH OF 30



THANKSGIVING GREETINGS

GOOD NEWS FROM LYNNE

"Mom is doing better each day.  She is walking much more which is giving her strength.

 

Hopes are that she will be back home soon and healthy enough to come here for Christmas and a stay.  She will have help at home.

 

She had a wonderful surprise today.  Sis Sandy went with Bob to visit her.  I stayed home getting ready for Thanksgiving.  We will have eight people here."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

A GREETING FROM GLADYS
"Thinking about all of you.  Have a great Thanksgiving day.  We all have so much to give thanks for."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!

A DOGS LIFE

THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING 2011



THANKSGIVING PRAYER

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER

FROM JOHNNY CASH



HOLIDAY TRAVEL

This is one of the days, during the year, that I think about my airport days and thank my lucky stars those hectic holidays are behind me.  Although flights at IAH in Houston are pretty much on time today.

Chicago is another story.  Tons of delays, this morning, due to the fog.

GOOD THOUGHTS

LONG LIVER

A TOUGH OLD COWBOY FROM TEXAS COUNSELED HIS GRANDDAUGHTER THAT IF SHE WANTED TO LIVE A LONG LIFE, THE SECRET WAS TO SPRINKLE A PINCH OF GUN POWDER ON HER OATMEAL EVERY MORNING.

THE GRANDDAUGHTER DID THIS RELIGIOUSLY TO THE AGE OF 103 WHEN SHE DIED.

SHE LEFT BEHIND 14 CHILDREN, 30 GRANDCHILDREN, 45 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, 25 GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND A 40-FOOT HOLE WHERE THE CREMATORIUM USED TO BE.

CATS AND DOGS

THANKSGIVING BIRD

If you want a really JUICY THANKSGIVING TURKEY,  GIVE THIS RECIPE A TRY  It calls for a whole bottle of champagne.  That should juice it up pretty good!!

BIRTHDAYS

MARLO THOMAS turns 75 today and GOLDIE HAWN celebrates 67 giggles on her birthday cake.

HELLO?

According to TOP TEN REVIEWS the best phone to go with is the Apple iPhone 5.  Does it ever bother you to think that your phone may be smarter than you are?

It's hard to believe that I've gone from the days when you turned a crank, picked up the phone and a real, live person said, "Number please?" to today with a phone that, not only knows the number but, knows the name, their birthday, street address, anniversary, where they work, their favorite color, what they want for Christmas, etc., etc, etc.

IN THE FOG

The fog stayed with us all day, yesterday, and there's still DENSE FOG ALONG THE RIVER this morning. 

With VISABILITIES NEAR ZERO, in most places, it's going to be another slow go getting to work or school....unless you're old and retired.  The folks that fit into that category are in a fog most of the time, and take it from me; it's a very dense fog and getting denser by the day.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

HELLO!

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THE WORLDS MOST BEAUTIFUL HORSES

Many thanks to Ron for sending this beautiful video. These ROYAL FRESIAN HORSES are NATIVE TO THE NETHERLANDS and certainly some of the most beautiful animals in the world. I know Roger will love this and, I think, the rest of you will too.

DRY SKIN

It may be warm now but winter is coming.  I know it's just around the corner when my skin dries out.  My hands are so dry today they burn.

WHAT MORE CAN I SAY?

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Money is tight this year but the Thanksgiving Community Dinner will go on as planned according to this report from WKBT.

LAWS

I'm glad I don't live in San Francisco anymore.  They're trying to take the law that allows public nudity off the books.  If you take away the naked people walking down the street, what's left?

CONTEST

HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!  CLICK HERE AND ENTER TO WIN A TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA!

TRAVEL TIMES

I was just reading the LONELY PLANET WEBSITE and they had a list of the TOP 5 "MUST SEE" PLACES IN SOUTH AMERICA.  I made it to three out of the five; MACHU PICCHU, THE AMAZON AND CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA so I guess I made some pretty good choices...or, I should say, Donnie made some pretty good choices for me.

R. I. P.

Sorry to hear of the death of Billy Scott at the age of 70.  Billy was one of the great soul singers of our time.

JUST A THOUGHT

I'm surprised we didn't hear more about the election results in Storey County Nevada where Lance Gilman won a seat as county commissioner.  He won 62% of the vote.  Sounds like he's a popular guy.  A very popular guy who is owner of The Mustang Ranch in Storey County, the famous brothel where he employes 80 prostitutes.

Mr. Gilman says he's a strong Republican who believes in American Values.

I always wonder what folks mean when they say they believe in "family values" or "American values".  The problem is that your values and my values may be as different as day and night which makes those "values" statements totally meaningless babble.  Mafia families had very strong "family values" they believed in but they, probably, weren't the same values you're thinking of!

FIRST SOUNDS OF THE HOLIDAYS

Guess who's at the La Crosse Center tonight.

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER!



MONEY MONEY MONEY

I was just checking the list of the 25 RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD and I'm not on it.  It is an interesting list, however.

Most interesting is the fact that the one guy who has more money than anyone else on the planet is NOT FROM THE USA, NOT FROM RUSSIA, NOT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

Turn your eyes to the south....no....it's not Donnie.  Go a little farther south.  The pot of gold ends at the worlds richest guy in MEXICO!  Viva el dinero!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Author John Cage said, "I can't understand why people are afraid of new ideas.  I'm afraid of the old ones."

NICE DAYS

We are lucking out on weather, as far as the holiday goes.  Today will be sunny with a high near 55.  Tomorrow sunny with a high near 65.  Thanksgiving Day will see another mostly sunny day with a high around 60.  Then, the thermometer hits the fan.  Friday reality sets in with a lot of wind and highs no higher than 35.

Hey!  We knew it was coming sooner or later!

HOME SWEET HOME

Big homes are giving way to smaller homes, these days.  And, there are those homes that are ridiculously small.  If you're interested in innovative homes you'll like this video.  It's amazing how little space you really need to live a comfortable life.

THE BEAUTY AND THE EAST

There is an awesome dance, called the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, which is making the rounds across the net. Considering the tight coordination required, their accomplishment is nothing short of amazing, even if they were not all deaf.

All 21 of the dancers are complete deaf-mutes. Relying only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage, these extraordinary dancers deliver a visual spectacle that is at once intricate and stirring.

Its first major international debut was in Athens at the closing ceremonies for the 2004 Paralympics.

But it had long been in the repertoire of the Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe and has traveled to more than 40 countries. Its lead dancer is 29 year old Tai Lihua, who has a BA from the Hubei Fine Arts Institute. The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival this year.

CARL AND KATHY REPORT

 Carl and Kathy are on the last leg of their trip.

Last night Carl said, "Made it to Cape Girardeau, Mo.  Will have a good meal tonight and head for La Crosse in the morning.  Hopefully be home before dark."

FROM DONNIE

Donnie had quite an adventure in Houston yesterday.


This may have been my first time in downtown Houston. As usual, I got there way too early, so had three hours to walk around.

On a Sunday, it might be the usual barren concrete wasteland that is most cities. But yesterday a chalk art fair filled several blocks with people, bands, dancers, $6 designer hot dogs, and hundreds of temporary works of art drawn on the streets.

I was also reminded that the first word spoken from the moon was "Houston."

It proved surprisingly easy for me to drive into and later escape the downtown...good thing, as I will do it again in two weeks.

The music concert itself provided a little drama the composer never intended.

The symphony features a virtual battle between two sets of tympani, one at each extremity of the orchestra.

As the tumultuous finale approached, I noticed no drummer at one of the sets. Then out of the corner of my eye, down the side aisle of the audience hall, I saw a thin man in white shirt and tie, with a very worried look on his face. He strode right down to the stage, glancing repeatedly at the ceiling, I thought, though he must have been watching the conductor. Suddenly he pulled himself up the stage front, rather conspicuous by now, and quick-stepped to the drums, and none too soon, just in time to grab his sticks and pound out the opening salvo.

As the second drummer answered, the first slipped into a jacket and became a properly-dressed member of the orchestra...and the piece came to its rousing close. After taking his bows, the conductor headed for the wings, passing right by the errant drummer. The drummer had a long look of supplicating apology and anxiety on his face, but the conductor reached out and shook his hand with a wide grin, as they exchanged a few words.

We'll probably never know the story--either the drummer was sick or accidented or sleepy, but in any case, he made it, played his part, and all's well that ends well.

SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING

MORE SHOTS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

Rick took Santa hunting.  A little R & R before his big delivery night.

RICK AND HIS DOGS ON THE PRAIRIE

 

 



CREDIT

The latest report shows that the average credit card balance is $5,000.00 and the holiday shopping season is just around the corner.  As General Custer said, one time too many, CHARGE!!

MOVIES

If you're looking for some good entertainment over the Thanksgiving weekend, I suggest "LIFE OF PI" from 20TH CENTURY FOX.

 

Hollywood is finally releasing a film with no car chases, bombs exploding, comic book characters or dirty jokes.  Remember those kind of movies?  They're called movies for ADULTS.

 

"Life of Pi" is based on the 2001 best selling book by Yann Martel.  Directed by one of Hollywood's finest, Ang Lee, this is the story of a young boys spiritual journey across the Pacific in a boat with a tiger.
 

CRANBERRY

Lot's of cranberries will be sold this week.  Did you know the cranberry is the state fruit of Wisconsin?  It was designated, as such, in 2004.

THE DUST BOWL

I've got to start taking a nap in the afternoon.  I tried, so hard to stay awake, last night, to watch "The Dust Bowl" on PBS.  I just couldn't do it.  Nearly broke my neck with my head falling forward as I kept falling asleep in my chair.  I finally gave up and went to bed.

Fortunately, the program is available on the internet so I'll watch it, on the computer, this afternoon.

CUTE PICTURES

RAP

FINALLY!

I'VE FOUND A RAP SONG I LIKE

NO.  I TAKE IT BACK

THIS IS A RAP SONG I LOVE!

(Thunder loves it too)



MR. ED

If you're old enough to remember MR. ED, you're really old.

I remember MR. ED.

Mr. Ed's human, Alan Young, is 93 today!

RICK AND ROGER

Rick, Roger and "the late" phesants.

 

TOILET DAY

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MY HERO



SOUTH DAKOTA SKY

ROGER MADE THIS SPECTACULAR PHOTO OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA SKY



WHAT'S IN A NAME?

DID YOU KNOW?
Earth is the only planet that is not named for a Greek or Roman God.  Who gave this planet its name, "Earth"?  Nobody knows.

FIVE WINS IN A ROW

PACKERS

FUNNY STUFF

I AM YOUR LEADER



RAIN CHANCE TOMORROW

40%

NOTHING IS FOREVER

There were a good number of men, in our family, who made pretty good money, over the years, selling class rings.  I remember Dad used to say that, even in bad times, the family would scrape enough money together to buy the kid a class ring.

Gone are the days!  Not anymore.

Just read an article that says the sales of class rings, around the country, are about half what they were a few years ago.

RITA AND ROGER UPDATE

SOUTH DAKOTA UPDATE

FROM RITA

 

"We got home about 5 last night.  Terrel and Tara are wonderful house sitters.  They had cleaned the potting shed and fixed the fences.

 

All four of us were sick at one time or another.  Rick brought a virus from Wyoming and Roger brought one from Wisconsin.  If you ignore the illnesses we had a great time.

 

The area around Pierre is beautiful.

JOKE TIME

Yesterday I was at my local Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Jake, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think, I had an elephant?

So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stopped to pee on a Fire Hydrant and a car hit me.

HIGH SOCIETY

Donnie and Linda's social whirl never ends. 

Donnie says, "We attended a small party last night.  One guest was from South Dakota, a small town near Yankton.  We swapped lots of tales, old and new.

Going to Houston for a symphony concert Sunday matinee today.  About 3 hours to downtown Houston.  Should be back home by 9:00 tonight."

THE DUST BOWL

DON'T FORGET

THE DUST BOWL

TONIGHT ON PBS



Watch The Dust Bowl Preview on PBS. See more from The Dust Bowl.

FUN FACTS

A turkey has 3,500 feathers at maturity.  Who counted them?  I have no idea.

If you hear a turkey gobble, it's a male.  Female turkeys don't gobble.  They cluck.

That's the extent of my turkey knowledge.

HERE, HOWEVER, IS A "SEASONED" TV REPORTER WITH MORE TURKEY NEWS
 

TWINKIE

FACT BOX

TWILIGHT OF THE TWINKIE



SUNDAY WEATHER

Another spectacular day in the Coulee Region.  For late November, you can't beat a sunny day with highs in the upper 50's.

DEATH

R.I.P.

BERNARD LANSKY



The name may not be familiar but everyone knows the name of his #1 customer.

 

Mr. Lansky owned a top fashion menswear store in Memphis for many years and he's the man who dressed ELVIS during his professional life.  He's also the man who provided the suit Elvis was buried in.

 

Lansky was 85.

AUNT WILDA

LYNNE REPORTS the nurses tell Aunt Wilda she's getting stronger, "We are hoping she will be ready to be with us for Christmas.  She said she's looking forward to my tacos and more cookies."

DONNIE ON SPEED

I went for a little drive the other day. A new section of Texas Tollway 130 had opened two weeks previous to more national attention than regional road ribbon-cuttings usually get. That's because the speed limit on this new road, which runs from Mustang Ridge, a nothing town southeast of Austin to Seguin, a slightly larger nothing town southeast of San Antonio, was to be 85 mph, the highest in North America. The other half of the road, heading north from Mustang Ride up to Waco, already has a speed limit of 80, but that wasn't enough. South Central Texas needed a drag strip, and I needed to run it, especially because after Nov. 11, it will no longer be free.