It’s Groundhog Dog! Show’s over however.
In case you missed it…Punxsutawny Phil did not see his shadow, meaning our dreadful winter is about over, if you believe in the legend. I, for one, was ready for a cloudy day.
Ya know groundhogs are actually woodchucks – “Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!” (funny commercial). They’re also kin to the squirrel, so that means they dig and climb, and can even go for a swim if the need arises.
Clear skies, 70°, and no sound of the neighbor’s lawn mower puts one’s butt in a patio chair in the back yard, dogs at your feet, a donned hat to shade the eyes (or protect the bald noggin), and you’ve blown the dust off a fine book worthy of an unseasonably warm January day read. Not too many books out there that fits that bill – maybe only one other… Continue reading “Aldo had it all together”
Those of you that follow my blog (or Facebook postings) may have read that Wednesday, January 19th, was Edgar Alan Poe’s 202nd birthday. I slathered y’all with an Edgar quote: “I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.”. I couldn’t help but chuckle over that, but like I habitually do, wanted to take it a step further.
This is a cool story – Hurricane Ike came calling in September 2008, and that allowed this guy do his magic, after-the-fact:
On this 9/11 anniversary weekend, flags fly, “what you were doing that morning” memories come back to us, and families directly affected by the attacks are still remembered by all with great sadness of loss and senselessness of reason.
An unforgetable day, I first heard a sketchy report on the radio that a plane hit one of the Towers as I arrived at work. My daughter Tiffany was in school in NYC at the time, and I said to myself “she has no reason to be in that part of the city this morning”, and I set out about my morning with an under-the-breath prayer that the “accident” would not be too tragic for the City. Well the events unfolded, as we all know, and my family’s lives became one of the many chapters written that day, although comparatively insignificant with most others…perhaps that is another post if interested, but know Tiff was safe that day.
I hope someone makes a room-with-a-view in heaven for this lady.
Just when our worries of political past, present, and future are nourished by bogged down, obsessed, and bent tendencies, we get this lady – one Kaziah Hancock – to come along and deservingly kick us in the seat of our britches.
And to think at one point in my post-high school, early older-kidhood I was going to be a history major (probably why I’m sharing this…). Here are the Email Facts Received (EFR) from friend David:
Where did Piss Poor come from? They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery…….if you had to do this to survive you were “Piss Poor”. But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn’t even afford to buy a pot……they “didn’t have a pot to piss in” & were the lowest of the low
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:
Scotch is good and all, but $18,000 good. Hmmmm. Perhaps I am just too much of an enjoyer of Scotch to see it as a “long-term investment”. Most scotch with me is a “short term investment”…but don’t you know I will go home tonight and check the date on my Macallan and Glenfiddich and pretend I’m rich in scotch….
50-Year-Old Scotch Whisky Sells for Record $18K
(The Times of London) – A New York buyer paid a record £12,350 ($18,650) for a 50-year-old bottle of Macallan whisky at the world’s biggest whisky sale in Glasgow, The (London) Times reported Thursday.
…I thought they’d never end.
And they haven’t!
Just when I think my patience is well self-managed and my eye for photography is on the right track, a link or email gets sent that reaches out and smacks me in the nose saying ‘you have a long way to go buck-a-roo’. So much is the case with Michael Paul Smith, an artist in his own right with a knack for drawing gasps, making heads shake, and causing rapid eye blinking in amazement (maybe a little bit of disbelief as well). Continue reading “Those were the Days my friend…”
Who knew this? Today’s Full Moon (10/4/09) is called a “Hunter’s Moon”. Native Americans of New England and the Great Lakes refer to the full moon at this time of the year because the deer are fat and it’s time to hunt (as well as many other animals). Since all the crops are harvested, it’s now time to gather food by hunting animals…but it’s all kind of contrary to the weekly observance of 10/26: Give Wildlife a Break Week.
October is an incredibly busy (and popular) month for special occasions and observances. I trust y’all will be joining me in the on-going daily, weekly, and monthly holiday and event celebrations in October. Of all the observances going on this month, I would like to point out a few of particular interest to me:
So here we sit with Tom Landry 3 hours before kickoff. My good uncleship for nephews Case and Greg needs some recognition, after all I’m introducing them to 99,997 other people today (Sunday night football – Dallas Cowboys open their new stadium against the NY Giants). Continue reading “Tell me again why I’m here”
Finally, Michael Jackson was buried yesterday evening, 70 days after his death. Perhaps now a troubled soul can finally get some rest from such a troubled, dysfunctional family.
It was reported that the whole funeral was to be staged – Taylor, Bonds to attend Jackson’s funeral – for a farewell documentary concert. The family had nearly twice as many media seats as they did those for mourners. I wondered aloud whether the family members would opt themselves out so as to free up (sell) seats for more media or other celebrities…I really didn’t think so. I struggle with my sympathy for a family that obviously grieves a tremendous loss, along with millions worldwide, but then would never pass on yet another golden opportunity to wear matching sunglasses, mug-it-up for the gossip show cameras, and try to profit once more on a success other than their own. Many in this family will moonwalk across his grave for as long as they can.
But alas and in the end, it sounded like a fitting farewell, except for the cameras, media, and rudely making invited guest wait an excessive amount of time – Family, celebrities say final goodbye to Jackson. I hope the cameras captured Gladys Knight’s rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer”…that, I can only imagine, was incredible.
Let’s put this ridiculousness of Michael’s burial delay in perspective:
Today I got my Dapper Dan all worked up by co-worker Joe…and he got me started first thing this morning. We discussed the weekend death of a true American icon, Walter Cronkite, and what little publicity it received compared to the ongoing BS of MJ’s death.
This so-called King of Pop guy died nearly a month ago (have they buried him yet?) and yet we continue to be spoon fed all this self-proclaimed royalty hogwash from the media and “prominent” celebrities about how the world will never be the same without him. Continue reading “And that’s the way it is, MJ”
Who knew? Today, July 7th is Bonza Bottler Day! We have twelve of those a year…apparently it gives good reason to go out and party with your family and friends. It’s when the day of the month is the same as the month number (today is 07-07). And there’s even a website for this day: Bonza Bottler Day Website.
Celebrations should be on-going today, this week, and this month. According to my reliable sources, it is:
Continue reading “Oddities of the Day, Week, Month for July”
Denton is always full of surprises. I love this town. It’s like this town is themeing photographs for me. WUWT?
Over the past few days it’s been antique automobiles. And it is a handful of automobiles that made me stop on three occassions to photograph. Only one of the stops (the Model T) afforded me the opportunity to actually talk with the automobile owner…and he was as much a character as his car. Continue reading “Touring about town”
Oh how I love these kind of discussions. Late last week, OFSIL, OFNi, and I exchanged commentary on sports venue histories, traditions, and personal perspectives. Realize that OFNi is still relatively young amongst the professional ranks but she has an obvious passion and definite opinion towards this subject(s). Now getting it out of her can be another story, sometimes. With this exchange she opened up a bit and showed me why I become more proud of her every day, and honored to call her OFNi. It goes without saying OFSIL (aka Mom) is more-so more-proud as she develops into a marvelous young lady, displaying her talent professionally, showcasing her passion, and exercising the expensive out-of-pocket education to the rest of our family, and perhaps to her very own colleagues (if she and Mom so chose to do so).
Below is the exchange. This all started with an OFSIL email to her circle of “others” regarding a CNN report on “great basketball towns”. I will stop short of an animated opinion of CNN so as not to diminish the value of content presented here, but know similar sports websites have published a very similar ranking in the past and I have yet to dispute their subject matter claims. What started out as a “yeah Allen Field House and KU” shared e-story evolved into a philosophical, psychological, and sociological discussion. Now that’s what I want this blog to really talk about – not KU, but “what’s up with that” type topics! (how ’bout a blog discussion on why our idiot politicians think it their responsibility to decide/mandate a college football playoff. Don’t even get me started with that one…yet, here, now).
I’m sharing the exchange knowing OFSIL will love it, but unsure of OFNi’s reaction. Why OFB (aka Dad) wasn’t included in last week’s exchange, don’t know. I’m sure he has been told of it by now however. I know he is equally proud of his daughter, and has never been one to shy away from an opinionated statement or two…or three. Maybe we just didn’t want to interrupt his personal quest to get the U.S. out of this recession. The family knows with this posting his “catch up” can be done during his leisure time. And we still expect the “slow-day-at-work” rhetorical question of all of us following his real topic-related response…not even Little Big Bro!
I look forward to your comments. Please tolerate the removal of personal names in the exchange in order to protect the opinionated. If you want to be known, or claim the opinion, you will have to do so through the “comments” process of blogging. This is lengthy I know (go get a fresh cup of coffee before diving in), but I hope you enjoy, or at the very least appreciate the spirited exchange. Continue reading “Passions, Preserving, Places to Play”
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