this is a Misc. post

 think I'll just ramble.

1.  my blog people say for  me to click on the pencil icon at the top right and they will provide you, the reader, with profound comments and links to what I am writing.   Well first of all, there is no pencil at the top right.  There is one on the left side of the page which I will now touch.  Nope, that's not it.  At the far top is a heart and other stuff.  Nope, that's not it.  I suppose I will just have to live with not knowing what they want you to know.  No pencil.  No extra connections.

2.  I remember once they gave me the chance to Monetize my posts.  I tried that.  In doing so, I made a bit of fun (I thought).  I figured I'd make a penny every time you clicked on something.  Maybe in 5 or 10 years, I'd earn a dollar.  They did not take kindly to my money thoughts.  I was eliminated.  No money making retirement for me.

3.  Saturday, I got a notice:   JURY DUTY.   As it turns out, I'm a tad bit old for them. Actually, I'd probably fall asleep in the jury box if chosen. Seems that I have 2 different ways to get out of service. The first is my age.  I'm WAY OLDER than their 75 limit.  I thought it was a 65 age limit.  Their website says it is 75.  They don't really want an old yapping man sitting in that jury room.  Now, do they?  Might be fun except for reason #2.  My wife's Alzheimer's.  She really cannot be left alone.  Sure, she seems fine when you sit down and have a conversation. But, after a while, she will ask the same questions 4 or 5 times.  And, there's not real predicting what she might decide to do.  I caught her trying to open the lid on a pressure cooker a while back.  At the hospital last fall, I left her in the waiting room while I went to talk to the doctor.  She was gone when I got back.  Rest Room break.  She couldn't remember where the waiting room was.   Short term memory is the culprit right now.

Anyhoo, interestingly, the jury is being selected for the local Salado Justice of the Peace - not the Bell County big time courthouse.  I wonder what happens in the Justice of the Peace courtroom.  Curious, I am.  But, not ready to volunteer.

4.  I remember being called for a jury in Amarillo.  I had just left my teaching job at Tascosa HS that summer.  It turns out that the case was between a mom and dad - divorced type.  They were arguing whether the daughter, a student at Tascosa, probably 15 to 17 yrs old, had the right to choose which parent  should keep her.  Immediately, I figured out this was not for me.  When asked, I raised my hand; I was invited to the front of the court room; I was asked what my problem was; I explained where I taught and that I thought a girl that age could make up her own mind.   That brought down the house - the judge and lawyers all ascended upon me Shhhhhhh Shhhhhhh - it went.   I was excused.  That was on a Monday.

Naturally, my interest was peaked by the case.  I paid attention to the lawyer world.  It seems the father had a very rich family and expensive lawyers.  They went first.  All week they raked the mother, not a rich woman, over the coals.   On Friday, it was the mom's time.   Instead of putting the father on the stand, the family made some concessions and a solution was found.   As disappointing as it may be to you, I cannot remember the results of the trial.   I believe they reached a "shared" solution.

My only other jury experience came when we lived in Plano.  I couldn't figure out how to get off that jury.  I served.  It seems this teenage boy took his fathers semi-truck without permission on a joy ride.  Students had gathered in the Plano HS parking lot - a few hundred.  When they were dispersed, this kid was arrested at the scene.   Drugs were found in the big truck.  There was to be a court trial.  Frown as I might, the lawyers still liked me.  The kid's lawyers argued that:  the father had just returned that day from a trip across the continent.  He had picked up a hitch hiker.  Of course, the hitch hiker had left his drugs in the truck.  It wasn't the kid's fault.   No, he didn't do drugs; he just stole his father's semi tractor and went for a joy ride...no license.   My 12 member jury had several bleeding heart females.  Oh, my, what a disaster for this young man .... oh, me, oh my ....   I had no desire to fight with them.  The boy was found not guilty.  I betcha the policeman was really peeved at us.  I went home and hid.

5.  Did I tell you that I was sent to a hematologist 2 weeks ago.  Friendly young doctor.  He had them pull out 11 vials of blood because my white blood count is quite low - a 25 out of 100, whatever that means.   We go back to that doctor tomorrow sometime to get the results.  FYI:  my father died from leukemia back in the 70s.   Blood things scare me.   My daughter, who works in a hospital lab,  looked at the results and said that I didn't have that.  We will see.  The prostrate cancer was bad enough for me.  I'd just as soon not find a new cancer at this time.   I have a wife to care for.

6.  I own a weather machine.  It sets on the fence.  The weather machine connects to a display inside the house.  It shows outside temperature, inside temperature, rain fall, wind direction, wind speed, and some other stuff.   Sain Logic is the company.  I really enjoy watching the display.  One of my favorite things.  

It's time to stop.  Ramble is over.  See previous post, nobody has killed me yet.   I really enjoy watching On Patrol Live on the Reels channel.  Makes me glad I didn't go into law enforcement.  Y'all take care now.  I'll be back.   (p.s. still can't find the pencil to click on)

mtz

  

gonna kill me

 Let's see if I can tell this right.

My wife naps in the afternoon.  If the landline rings at this time, I grabbed it on the first ring; hit on; and I hit off immediately - especially if I don't recognize the caller.  

Today the phone rings.  It says Miami.  The only people I know in Miami are the President and all his friends.  Not wanting to talk to them:   ON --- OFF.  Normally, that settles everything.  Not this time.  Within 15-30 seconds it rings again:  Miami again.  I figure that I will say hello just in case it is Ed McMahon, and he misses me.

It's not.  Some guy with a really foreign accent starts talking.   " Is this Michael?"  The background noise is really loud.  I have trouble understanding as you will too when  you get hearing aids.   "You found me,." I uttered.  He starts rambling on - I can't understand him hardly.   I did pick up on that he was from the US Treasury -- I asked, "Are you from Miami?"  He reexplains that he was with the US Treasury -- something about a cashiers check -- and would I be home about 4:30 for it to be delivered.  

Frankly, I mocked him a bit.   He didn't waver.   4:30!  More babbling.  Finally,  Yes, I explained to him that  I would not be home - that I had already hung up on him once - that he was not from the treasury because they don't call - and now, I'm going to hang up on him a 2nd time.

And, I did.

Here's where it gets strange.  

He calls back.  I mutter, "hello," trying to keep the ringing from waking my wife.  He said something; I don't know what.  Didn't really care.  I told him I was hanging up on him for the 3rd time.   And he said,  "I'm going to find you and "f" kill you!"   

I hung up.

thinking about it, I thought maybe I should tell someone.  Called 911.  Nice lady.  I had to explain twice.  Eventually, she said that a deputy would give me a call.  He did.  We talked.  He drove out to the neighborhood and cruised around.  I stepped outside and talked to him in the street.  Nice young man.  He explained that I probably had nothing to worry about.  I agreed with him but felt that I should report the incident.  

We talked a while.  He cruised the neighborhood some more.  I went inside to find my weapon that I keep hidden...just in case the twirp was really that crazy.  You just never know anymore.  And, so, the episode ends.   I am considering installing a machine gun on my roof.  .   . maybe  few Patriot Missiles would be nice.

I was a bit surprised that this got my heart rate up.  

love ya, stay safe, the Treasury won't call you, try to be polite on the phone.

mtz

Landline Blues

 I have a landline.  I have a cell phone.

I like having a landline.  I tolerate having a cell phone; but, I do appreciate the advantages of the cell.

I hear better on my landline than I do on my cell phone.  Plus, my landline is connected to 4 other hand held units in my house.  If the phone rings, there is a receiver close by.

BUT, as you all know, there are jerks who are calling phones all day long selling any and everything - not to forget the scammers and politicians who feel they have the right to call and waste your time.  Yep, they do this.  Oh, really?  I didn't know that.

My favorite are the ones who know how to "spoof" the phone numbers.  I get calls from all over the USA - ESPECIALLY Texas.  At first I answered my phone explaining why I was not interested.  Then, I tried asking them to remove my phone number.  Eventually, I tried yelling and insulting the caller.  Nothing worked.  My phone has caller ID.  If I don't recognize the phone number, it goes to voice mail.  What bothers me the most is when my wife is trying to nap and the phone rings and rings.  Jerks.

Of course none of that works.  One day - about 3 weeks ago - when My first call came in about 8:30 a.m., I reached over and unplugged the landline from the wall.  No ringing.  No calls. I left that rascal unplugged for the rest of the day...plugged it back in at night.  Next day, the calls kept coming about every 30-45 minutes.  Why?  Don't the callers realize that my number is a complete waste of time?  Wait.  their bosses don't care.

I notified my family what I was doing.  I unplugged the phone for a solid week.  Then off and on for the next week.  The more I unplugged, the less it rang - go figure.  After about 2 -3 weeks of no landline unless I needed it, I left the phone plugged in.   Yesterday, I had one call about 2:30 in the afternoon.  Same thing the day before - only 2 calls.

Am I making progress, or am I just delusional?   Maybe both.  Y'all take care now.  Moving on.

mike mtz

reminisce

 Here we are on My 2nd.  Things are moving along.

1.  Announcement:  I play in the Community Band of Central Texas.  Proudly, I hold down a 3rd trumpet part.  It is so hard to actually practice in this house with my wife taking naps so often - of course, I never take a nap.  Luckily, I can pretty much the 3rd part with minimal practice.  To all of my former students who might be reading this - there is no excuse for YOU not to be practicing.  

2.  My granddaughter Shelby dropped by to see us Friday.  She had driven from Lubbock on her way to College Station.  She had a ticket to the Banana Ball Baseball game held in Kyle stadium.  Over 100,000  were in attendance.  That's a lot.  Learned the game would be broadcast on ESPN, 7 P.M.  I turned it on in hopes of seeing the G-dot  (among 100K?  Get serious.)  If you know me, you are aware that I'm not the greatest sports fan - name the sport, I'll find something else to do.   Now, that's not true when it comes to Texas Tech sports.  That's different.

I watched the entire Banana Ball game.  That was entertaining.  Fun.  Might be willing to watch another.  If you know nothing about this - Google!!  The rules are funny.  This game didn't end in a tie; but, if it had, that would have been a fun happening.  Look up the rules, too.   

3.  Recently noted that I am starting to post more on Facebook than here.  That doesn't make sense.  Here is an example:

     3A.  MAY DAY.  When I as in the 4th grade, we moved to Crete, Nebraska.  My father worked for Standard of Indiana running the 'logging' truck for oil exploration.  We moved a lot in my elementary years.  Crete celebrated May Day.  We dressed in Holland costumes w/ wooden shoes & made a May pole - which we had practice "for."  I know May 1st is celebrated in Russia .... No idea what wooden shoes have to do with Russia.  Moved to Odessa, TX for the 5th grade.  Never saw or heard of May Day since.  

     3B.  As an addition to this - that would have been about 1949-50.   One of my memories of Crete was that we drove to Lincoln on day to see Harry Truman as he passed through on his campaign train.  He stepped on the back platform and made a short speech.  I might mention that he was elected in 1948.  That messes with my memories a bit.  My younger brother Pat was born in Fowler, Kansas in April of 1949.  You can see my problem here.  Something is wrong.

     3C.  In Crete they have snow.  My folks bought me shoes which had grooves in the sole.  Later in life, I heard these called waffle stompers.  A memory I have is that with snow and ice and going out to play at recess, there was a pile of snow which all the boys would climb and slide down...on the feet, no sleds.  When I did this, the other boys would yell at me because my waffle stompers would  cut grooves in the ice.   I was abused as a child.  I need counseling.

     3D.  Another Crete memory (for band people) is:  I was in the Crete H.S. band in the 4th grade.  The band room was on an upper floor of a big red brick building.  Entrance was made by climbing up the outside fire escape.  In one of my 1st days in band, the director said to play the Bb concert scale.  I played the Bb scale on my cornet.  This was the day that I learned that this scale was the C scale on the cornet.  It's funny how I can remember this so vividly.  But, I learned how to transpose for the "concert" scale terminology.  

     3E.  We had a black 1948 Hudson.  My father bought 2 trailers - one  was the 53 ft trailer that big truckers pull down the highway.  The 2nd was a one bedroom trailer, common.  They were placed in an L shape.  My father remodeled the big trailer into a kitchen, dining room, living room, and one bedroom.   At night we 3 older boys slept in the little trailer & the parents slept in the big one with little brother Pat.   The middle of the little trailer was fixed into a radio repair shop which my father used as a 2nd  income.    My mother taught piano lessons when she could.

oh, enough of that.   Nebraska was cold.  I was glad to get to Texas when I could.  One year in Odessa.  Moved to Levelland for my oldest brother's senior year in H.S.  He grad in 1952.

closing - take care - find a Banana Ball game.  Fun.

mtz

Marshall and the Crosley

 

 

I know that I have sent this out before.  This is my oldest brother, Marshall, a Senior at Levelland High School.  The car is a Crosley station wagon, red; I'm thinking it was a 1947 model - could be wrong.  3 on the floor, stick shift.   My father had a love for weird little cars, way before tiny cars were accepted as normal.   Also had a 1952 blue Crosley pickup and a 47 English Ford.   

The year was about 1953.  At one time, boys in Levelland picked up this car and set in above the steps to the HS gym.   Apparently, it wasn't too heavy.   As an FYI, Crosley was made by the Crosley radio company and sold through Crosley stores at this time. 

We moved to Levelland in 1952 for Marshall's last year in HS.  He made some life long friends.  

law suit

 Sometimes I get these post card announcements about a pending class action law suit to which I can become a member - no cost to me.  Sometimes (again) I say, "Sure, why not?"  And, I'll complete the paperwork to share in the bounty.

Today, I checked my bank account online.  There in the middle of the sheet it said:  proceeds.   

Aseltine v BANA Class Settlement

They deposited the amount directly into my bank account.   now, I can tell you, I have never given anyone my bank account number - ever.  Oh, No.  Why would you do that?  Oh, No.

But there it was.  

WE WON!!!

My share?

$0.18

I have not the slightest idea what this is about - it rings no bells.  That's not enough to buy a Big Gulp.

eighteen cents -- joy, joy, joy

M

ANNOUNCEMENT

 I have a long list of subjects to write about - or, if you prefer, about which to write...  I have to get inspired.

But - this needs to be written.  

On Feb. 12th -  not the 13th, and only God knows why it wasn't the 14th - and maybe he doesn't know either ....

My youngest granddaughter got engaged.  My other two granddots are not.   Following logic, she will marry - date not yet announced - and, eventually, have a child or more.  

That will make me a Great Grandfather.

So congratulations to Kayla and Ryan.  The fun is about to begin.

Thus endeth the announcement.   more to come

This will be a ramble in the life of - me

 Let's  start this out with a corny joke:

Knock Knock

Who's there?

ICE

Ice who?

Gesundheit

==================== Call me if you need to decipher

TODAY, THE 4TH OF FEBRUARY, 2026

Who'd a thought I'd last long?  My brother Marshall use to say to me, "It's a wonder nobody has killed you yet."   I try to be good and keep my mouth shut around strangers.  I try.

Moving on:  I went to my Dermatologist today.  Appointment was at 12 Noon.  A doctor with appts. at 12 noon.  My follow up appt in 6 months is at noon also.  That doesn't seem common.  Doc found spots on me.  Last time a lady doc cut out part of my upper lip.  My nose has had 2 chunks removed in the past. And, he brings out his gun that freezes parts of me.  I think he froze me 12 different times.  Truthfully, I lost count.    I pointed out a spot on the back of my skull under my soon to be bald spot.   I think that one equaled 7 squirts.  We joked about freezing my brain.  Some truth to it.  Doctor Ilse in Belton.  He is one of my favorites.   But, I have to come back in 6 months because of a couple of spots - normally, I get to last a year.

==========

this next entry may not make sense to a non-band director.  Skip it if you wish.  At night sometimes, my legs hurt - it's not really a pain - more like an ache.  I get up and walk around a bit.  I'll sit on the side of the bed for a while - sitting posture seems to help - And, I'll amuse myself with facebook.  I bore easily and give it up.  

Well, the other night I saw this post where this person had spent an entire day looking at the music listing on the uil required music list.  Maybe an explanation?  Public schools in Texas go to U.I.L. competitions.  It's a process.  Music groups - bands, choirs, orchestras, solos, ensembles of all sorts    -- have to play songs off this list.  It's a process.   There is a committee at the State level that reviews music and chooses what is on the list.  There are hundreds - no thousands of songs on the complete list.  You play based upon your school size - class - etc.  It's a process.

Well, this person had spent all day on a Saturday looking at the complete band list of songs.  SHE - I later learned it was a she - made a list of composers - based upon  skin color and sex.  Her list showed that most songs were written by white men.  She spent the entire day to figure that out.  Now there are some fine pieces of music written by females, blacks, browns, & Asians.  I wouldn't argue that point at all.  But she felt that not enough music is on the list.  

There is a process for getting your music on the list.  It is not easy.

So she posted her list.  People made comments.  A person from somewhere near the east coast posted that conductors come to that State to direct all-state groups and bring their "old white man prejudices" with them - I assumed that conductors don't play music by women.  That ticked me off.  It was 3 a.m.; my legs hurt; I was tired; and she said something that was stupid.  Let me explain:  a conductor picks music by what he likes - fits the group - and so forth.  NOBODY sits around and worries if it is written by a female.

I shouldn't have, but I did express my views on this nonsense.  I should have gone back to bed.  Later, I learned that the group was the Women Band Directors International.  Boy did I set them off.  I was burnt.  It went on for days.  I did go back on and apologize for entering their domain; however, I stood by my entree.   NObody cares if it is written by male or female.   I did have several people who jumped in on my side - mostly men.  

So I learned 2 things:  #1 look at the name of the group before leaping into a fire.

                                    #2  prepare to be burned alive.

===========================

short subject:  we had ice like crazy last week.  It was 2 inches thick outside my garage door.  Terrible

Well that wore me out.  I'll come back later and add another post.  Politics of all kinds just gets me in trouble.  .  .  .  and, I might add, I'm never wrong!!   

weather

 I was going to write another entry.  Then, it got cold; and, I quit.