WEATHER WEARY

Arctic air will continue to flow through the

Coulee Region for the next seven days.  Wind chills will range from 5 to 20 below through Tuesday.  This is getting really old really fast!

GUESS WHERE I'D RATHER BE....

I'd rather be in Dripping Springs (high today: 75) or Key West (High today: 80).

HAD HE LIVED GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE BEEN 282 YEARS OLD TODAY

George was our first president and the richest president we ever had.  In today's money he would have been worth around $500 million.  He owned, at least, 800 slaves and his own distillery that produced up to 11,000 gallons of whiskey a year.

 

Or, to put it another way, our first president was a rich, drunk slave holder.

 

Was he much loved in his day?  Thomas Payne couldn't stand him.  He even wrote Washington a letter saying he prayed for his death.  Thomas Jefferson was no Washington fan either.  Jefferson was a big critic of Washington and Martha hated Jefferson as a result.

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO HEAR I'VE HAD A SIP, OR TWO, AT THE GOOD OLD NUMBER TEN

THERE MAY BE SNOW AND COLD NOW BUT SPRING CAN'T BE TOO FAR BEHIND

WE'RE JUST 11 DAYS AWAY FROM



I'M READING SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT THIS WEEK

Corey Feldman was a big child star in the 80's starring in such hit movies as "Gremlins" and "The Goonies" as well as one of my all time favorite films, "Stand By Me".

While acting may look like a glamorous life for a kid, the fact is it's a really tough way to grow up and a lot of those kids don't make it.

Despite the rough upbringing Corey had, he got through it and has found "a good life in adulthood."

This is a fascinating look behind the Hollywood scenes at the trials and tribulations these kid stars go through when the cameras aren't rolling.

It's a very well written memoir and I'm liking it a lot.

A FAVORITE QUOTE

Abe Lemons, who was a great basketball coach at several schools including my old home town of Edinburg, Texas, said, "I don't jog.  If I die, I want to be sick."

Abe was also the guy who said, "The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off."

REMEMBER GOING TO THE SATURDAY MATINEE TO SEE A GREAT WESTERN?

Those were the good old days.  I decided to go back to those days with this great classic.  It stars Alan Ladd and Olivia DeHavilland.

 

Not only that, it involves the early days of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester!

 

This is the full movie so, if you have a couple of hours to spare, sit back, relax and watch PROUD REBEL right now!  Click on "full screen" for a better view.

 

 

MARK TWAIN HAD A LOT OF GOOD THOUGHTS....LIKE THIS ONE

"The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop."

THIS KIDS NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR! A GREAT SNOW SHOT FROM MINNESOTA

Welcome to MN, mofo. pic.twitter.com/rbsvyuMDoD
— Brett Terpstra (@ttscoff) February 21, 2014

YOU DON'T SEE THIS EVERY YEAR!

Stunning ice-covered Great Lakes seen from space: http://t.co/VOM9od3Ktz 80% of the five lakes are blanketed pic.twitter.com/zGdbMX4E3r
— Yahoo (@Yahoo) February 21, 2014

THOSE SMART-ASS TEXANS KNOW HOW TO RUB IT IN

Donnie sent an email to make sure I knew that they were enjoying 80 degree weather down there today.

 

I didn't go out today.  I can live with the cold but I didn't want to take a chance on the ice.

LIKE I SAID, THIS AIN'T FOR ME!!

It looks like a good day to stay home!!!

Sidewalks like this one on 4th and Jay Streets in downtown #LaCrosse are covered in ice from yesterday's storm. pic.twitter.com/6fUbpzHsDZ
— WKBT News 8 (@news8news) February 21, 2014

LOOK AT THIS SICKENING MESS

February will end like we've spent most of the winter... COLD! Only snow chance later Monday and it's a small one. pic.twitter.com/rcn7hgmL0M
— Bill Graul (@news8bill) February 21, 2014

DOES YOUR DOG KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FEELING JUST BY THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE?

Not only does your dog know what you're feeling, you might be surprised at how much alike your brain and Fido's brain are!  CLICK HERE TO READ THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE

DID YOU SEE BUSINESS INSIDERS SURVEY OF THE HAPPIEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY?

THE 5 HAPPIEST STATES:
1 North Dakota
2 South Dakota
3 Nebraska
4 Minnesota
5 Montana

A while back I said to Rita and Roger, "Why anyone would want to live east of the Mississippi River is beyond me".

I guess I'm not the only one who feels that way!

10 GOLD MEDALS FOR THE NORWEGIANS!

It's hard to beat the Vikings in the cold weather. Speaking of cold weather, they're scraping the windshields in the parking lot this morning but hang on!  Spring is right around the corner!

BLOWING SNOW AND COLD IN LA CROSSE TODAY

I'LL BET THE FOLKS ON THIS FLIGHT WILL NEVER FORGET THE LANDING!

CAN YOU IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT DOGS?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNTRY SINGER MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER!

She's celebrating her 56th birthday today.  And, talk about happy!  I love this song!

THIS MAY HELP YOU FORGET THE LOUSY WINTER WEATHER

Why wait until the weekend?  Let's start celebrating today!

This might be a good day to belly up to the bar and sip your way through the day!

National #Margarita Day deals: Drink deals & #tequila specials across America http://t.co/RYyJReVY8n via @examinercom
— TequilaRack™ (@TequilaRack) February 21, 2014

MORE MISERABLE COLD WEATHER

Old Man Winter is hanging on.  Wind chills will be around 5 below, today, with blowing snow.  The only bright spot in the forecast is a sunny sky for the weekend.

WHERE WILL IT END?

Market watchers say the higher and higher beef prices are here to stay.  Remember when you had to settle for hamburger when money got tight at the end of the month?  Nowadays hamburger comes at caviar prices!

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR SUMMER TRAVEL PLANS YET?

Get connected with Visit Spearfish and stay up-to-date with all things #Spearfish! #Adventure #Travel #SoDak pic.twitter.com/nQ2OliRlsz
— Visit Spearfish, Inc (@VisitSpearfish) February 20, 2014

NO BIG SNOWFALL FOR LA CROSSE

That is going to miss us and that's fine with me.  Now, they say, we'll see rain and, maybe, even some thunder late this afternoon and tonight.

After dark the rain could turn to ice, slick roads and some snow.  Sounds like a good night to stay home.

I made a run over to Co-op about noon and it was well above freezing causing lots of dirty slush and water ponds.  It felt like very early spring.  I like that feeling a lot!

TIMES ARE REALLY GETTING TOUGH WHEN EVEN THE WAL-MART CROWD STAYS HOME

I was just reading that Wal-Marts 4th quarter holiday sales were down 21% this year.

ODE TO THE OUTHOUSE

 

 

It's winter in Wisconsin where the gentle breezes blow.  70 miles per hour at 52 below.

Oh, how I love Wisconsin when the snow's up to your butt.  You take a breath of winter air and your nose is frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful and you may think I'm a fool.  I could never leave Wisconsin 'cause I'm frozen to the stool.

And, here's an outhouse that comes from Canada.
 

Highest outhouse on the Chilkoot Trail NHS! Highest point of elevation on the trail is 1,067 m Photo by C. Aikens/PC pic.twitter.com/1Rlxak2UIw
— Parks Canada Yukon (@ParksCanYukon) February 13, 2014

A STITCH IN TIME

Rita and Roger stopped over on their way to the clinic.  Rita is getting her stitches removed this morning.

She looks a 100% better today than she did last week.  Her black eye is gone,  all the swelling is gone and she's ready for Hollywood and her close-up.

DONNIE AND LINDA HAD A BREAKFAST GUEST

HOW DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS HAPPENED?

DEEP IN THOUGHT THIS MORNING

OH NO! GUESS WHAT I FORGOT!!

I was just updating my calendar and realized that Roger's birthday came and went while my computer was down.  Without my computer calendar I wouldn't even remember my own birthday.

 

Roger's birthday was the 15th.  The day after Valentines day which, come to think of it, I also forgot about.

 

They say, "better late than never" so here's a birthday wish, old boy, and I'll send you TWO cards next year....if we're both still around a year from now.  At our age you don't want to plan too far ahead!
 

 

IT MAY BE EXPENSIVE AND FABULOUS BUT IT WOULDN'T BE WORTH A DAMN IN A WISCONSIN SNOW STORM

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider. pic.twitter.com/h4ZaF3xYBd
— Car Porn™ (@Car_Porns) February 17, 2014

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS TODAY

Some big names are celebrating birthdays today.  Jazz singer Nancy Wilson is 77, Sidney Poitier is 87 and Gloria Vanderbilt celebrates her 90th birthday today.

 

Gloria and I have only one thing in common.  It's that good Dutch blood!

 

As you probably know, Anderson Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt and this is a fascinating clip that shows how "the other half" lived in the good old days.

 

WHAT DO I THINK?

Bette Midler is set to perform at the Academy Awards this year.  It's about time!

TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY!

A TOFFEE BAR CHEESECAKE

OH!  THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD!
There must be someone that wants to make this and invite me for coffee.

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE HERE

YOU NEVER KNOW

I had a reader from London checking out the web page this afternoon.  I wonder if the Queen was on the internet today?

SNOWMEN ARE OUT. SNOWSHARKS ARE IN!

Great white snow shark has realistic look. http://t.co/S0fwQAswx2 pic.twitter.com/TpbEyLUoVD
— GrindTV (@GrindTV) February 19, 2014

A VIDEO FROM JAPAN

Feeding the birds is one thing.  This woman would rather feed the bunnies and we're talkin' LOTS OF BUNNIES!

 

WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT, YOUR RIGHT!

Almost forgot to wish one of my favorite people a "Happy Birthday" today.

The whole world "KNEW" the earth was flat and at the center of the universe.  Even the church knew God's truth.  The earth was at the center of the universe and it was all made just for us humans.

 

Guess what?  Everybody was wrong....except our birthday boy!  Happy Birthday, Copernicus!

 

Honoring Copernicus on his birthday. He first said Earth revolves around the sun http://t.co/oQke1sTsBK pic.twitter.com/jRBi2Xk75z
— Moon Phases (@PhasesMoon) February 19, 2014

I'VE COME DOWN WITH A CASE OF SPRING FEVER TODAY

Temperatures may only be in the 30's but you can feel the warmth of the sun on your face.  The snow is melting like crazy with big pools of water at every intersection.  It makes me sick to think that this will all come to an end tonight and we'll be back to winter at its worst tomorrow.

 

I'd like to think the weatherman has it all wrong but he seems pretty sure the next 48 hours, or so, are just going to be awful.

LOOKING FOR A LAPTOP?

We have more ThinkPad L512 laptops in stock. Business class laptops with Windows 7 Pro (Ubuntu option available) and a year warranty.
— Orange Computer (@OrangeComputer) February 19, 2014

AS USUAL, OLD MAN WINTER ISN'T EASY TO GET RID OF!

*WINTER STORM WARNING* most areas from 9am Thu to 6am Fri. Heavy snow possible. Windy/blowing snow later Thursday. pic.twitter.com/oP8cBAljgd
— Bill Graul (@news8bill) February 19, 2014

"ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU'VE GOTTEN US INTO OLLIE"

We could see some of this tomorrow.  I just hope it's not YOU!

DRIVE CAREFULLY

Better yet, stay home!

HERE COMES, WHAT I HOPE IS, WINTERS GRAND FINALE!

The latest forecast calls for a mix of snow, sleet and possibly freezing rain moving into the La Crosse area late tonight.

 

This mess will change to all snow during the morning with some light icing for extra "decoration".

 

We could be looking at blizzard conditions all day tomorrow with 6 to 10 inches of snow falling.

 

Winds will pick up during the afternoon, gusting from 30 to 45 MPH with blizzard conditions on the roads west of the Mississippi River and on the open areas and ridge tops of Wisconsin.

 

It would be my thinking that old people have absolutely no business out in weather like that.  Best to park your walker and sit tight until this all blows over.

BIG OLYMPIC WIN FOR USA

OLYMPIC HISTORY! @tedligety wins gold in men's GS, becoming the first ever U.S. skier to do so in event's history! pic.twitter.com/kUMxnkj5lv
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 19, 2014

ANOTHER FAMOUS BIRTHDAY TO CELEBRATE TODAY

LOU CHRISTIE celebrates his 71st birthday today.  The biggest hit of his career, "Lightening Strikes Again" hit the #1 spot on the top 100 on this very date, February 19, 1966 which just happened to be his 23rd birthday.

 

By the way, "Lou Christie" isn't his full name which he had to shorten. Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco is a little too long to fit on a record label.

 

I GOT A LINE FROM CARL YESTERDAY

He said they were enjoying temperatures in the 80's so they must still be in New Mexico...or is it Arizona? Wherever they are it's warm and snowless and I would love to be there with them!! 

EVEN THE SMALLEST SIGN OF SPRING MAKES ME HAPPY

I just realized we're only 2 1/2 weeks away from DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.  Blizzard or no blizzard tomorrow....I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

RAIN IN JANESVILLE?

If my radar is right it looks like Bob and Lynne were getting some rain early this morning.  You remember, I hope, that rain is the stuff you don't have to shovel.

Meanwhile, Donnie and Linda are being warned of the high fire danger due to the gusty winds in Texas today.

 

When I was young I used to hate what the windy days did to my hair.  Don't have to worry about that any more!  I think it was the wind that blew all the hair away.

THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD!

THIS MIGHT EASE THE PAIN OF TOMORROWS MISERABLE WEATHER

Chocolate has a long history in the Americas.  It's just one of the great things that originated in the Amazon Rain Forest, which we're doing our best to destroy as quickly as we can.

We humans have been eating it for a long time too.  Cocoa residue has been discovered in 4,000 year old pots, at archaeological sites near Vera Cruz, Mexico.

DID YOU KNOW THIS?

“@CuteEmergency: If you ask for a "puppuccino" at Starbucks, they will give you a cup of whipped cream for your dog! pic.twitter.com/6jQA1ipnt0”
— Gina (@gnaabug) February 14, 2014

A GREAT BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SMOKEY ROBINSON!! 74 TODAY.

THEY'RE PRETTY OPTIMISTIC IN RAPID CITY!

Good-bye winter! The Last Day to Skate Beach Party is taking place this Saturday at @MainStSquare! pic.twitter.com/9eFw0iluHd
— BlackHills (@BlackHills) February 18, 2014

THIS JUST SUCKS

Guess I'll make a run to Festival tomorrow to pick up some supplies. 

 

Rita is supposed to come to town for a doctors appointment on Thursday.  If I were her, I wouldn't count too much on that!  From what the weather man says, this sounds like a pretty sure thing.

According to the National Weather Service, along with the snow, we could get wind gusts to 45 MPH which will make for a perfect day to stay home.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is winters final show for this season.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Rockin' Out Hunger - Saturday, March 8 pic.twitter.com/sNyLlkxhdz
— Discover Onalaska (@OnalaskaWi) February 18, 2014

TURBULENT TIMES OUT OF DENVER

Sorry to hear about the severe turbulence a United Airlines flight ran into between Denver and Billings Montana yesterday.  3 crew members and 2 passengers were sent to the hospital after the plane landed in Billings.

The most severe turbulence I ever experienced was on a flight out of Denver.  Those mountains can produce some really tricky winds.

IT'S DAMN DEPRESSING: WE'RE ALL GETTING OLD!

John Travolta is 60 today and Yoko Ono turns 81!

IGNORANCE IS BLISS

I f you parents want to continue living in the Dark Ages that's up to you.  To risk your child's health to prove your ignorance is outrageous.

WE OLD FOLKS KNOW WHAT A COMPUTER IS GOOD FOR

I just finished playing a couple of games of Solitaire.  I tried to play with real cards while my computer was down.  What a pain to keep all the cards lined up straight.  And, the old fingers don't shuffle like the used to.

 

I had to laugh while I was picking up my computer at Orange Computer Solutions yesterday.  There was a little old lady ahead of me who had brought her computer in to be fixed.  When she finished explaining, to the young man behind the counter, what was wrong with her machine she said, "I don't care how much of the rest you fix.  Just make sure my Solitaire page is working again."

NOTHING LIKE A GOOD LAUGH TO START YOUR DAY

Sister Mary Ann, who worked for a home health agency, was out making her rounds visiting home-bound patients when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it, a Texaco Gasoline station was just a block away.

She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas. The attendant told her that the only gas can he owned had been loaned out, but she could wait until it was returned. Since Sister Mary Ann was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car.

She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried the full bedpan back to her car.

 

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptists watched from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said,

'If it starts, I'm turning Catholic.'!!

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY PLUTO DAY!

It was on February 18, 1930 that Clyde W. Tombaugh discovered PLUTO, the planet.  Years later, of course, we decided it wasn't a planet.  It was just a big rock floating around in space.  I still think it's a planet.

RITA AND ROGER GOT PLOWED OUT

Rita writes, "We are blessed.  Three neighbors checked to make sure we were plowed out.  One did it and the other two called to make sure he did.  I love this coulee!!".

I WAS SLEEPING LIKE A BABY UNTIL......

There's no such thing as an old man who can sleep through the whole night without getting up, at least once, to pee.

 

I woke up, did what I had to do and crawled back under the covers.  Then I heard it.

Mayo Health Systems army of snow plows were out, in force, removing snow from their acres of parking lots.  For every foot they went forward they went ten feet backward and, of course, that meant they were beeping up a storm.

 

I can understand why they have to beep.  You just know there' s going to be a crowd of folks standing around, in the middle of a parking lot, on a cold winters night, at one o'clock in the morning.

 

You can only lay in bed so long, waiting for the next plow to start beeping, before you give up trying to sleep.

 

So, here I am at 1:00 A.M. trying to decide if I should go to bed and try to sleep again on should I stay up and have another cookie?

 

Might as well have another cookie and pray the snow plow man wears out his damn  beeper.

GOT ELECTRONIC STUFF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF??

Reminder: Orange Computer is a drop-off-point for free electronics recycling (monitors, printers, old computers, phones, et cetera)
— Orange Computer (@OrangeComputer) February 12, 2014

RECORD SETTER FOR ROCHESTER

Rochester - you set a #snowfall record today with 3.6". Prev was 2" in 1932. #Rochmn #mnwx
— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) February 18, 2014

WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES FIGHTING THE SNOW TODAY.

They had it much worse in Chicago.  Daniel said, "We just had a TWO HOUR commute home with crazy people in a snowstorm.  I do not understand why our Norwegian ancestors left a country with terrible weather and settled here.  We should be in Hawaii!"

IT'S NOT EASY LIVING WITHOUT THE INTERNET

It's hard to believe I lived 70+ years without the internet.  Now, living without the internet for two weeks had me climbing the walls.

 

While I was picking up my computer, a young man was getting help with his "smart phone".  He said, "I'm totally lost without my phone".

 

I tend to think we're becoming slaves to out toys.  I have a feeling that's, probably, not a good thing in the long run.

After a day long SNOWY MONDAY can you believe the forecast calls for a sunny Tuesday with A HIGH NEAR 43 DEGREES!!

It's been a long, long, long time since we've seen temperatures in the 40's.  Much too long as far as I'm concerned.  This gives me hope there might be a spring in our future, after a very long winter.

I WONDER WHAT THE OTHER GUY LOOKS LIKE?

AIN'T THIS THE TRUTH??

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!! THANK YOU ORANGE COMPUTER SOLUTIONS!!

DID YOU MISS ME?

I'm sorry it took so long to get back on line.  Especially after discovering a computer repair shop right around the corner from my apartment!  Had I known, I could have been back on line in one day rather than two weeks!

If you live in the La Crosse area I highly recommend ORANGE COMPUTER SOLUTIONS

These folks know what they're doing, they're friendly and quick and they're more than happy to help.  Considering my track record with computers, I'm sure I'll be seeing them often!