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.

The end of....

 Lo & behold I say un 2 U - tis the 25th day of December - Christmas Day.

Not much going on here; how about there?  I'm sitting here by the computer reading nonsense & looking at Facebook posts that are not what I'm looking for.  My dog Sadie is on my lap with her front paws on the window sill looking out over the neighborhood, hoping for someone to walk past, preferably walking a dog, so she can bark at them.

It's been a quiet morning.  Daughter is at work.  Her dogs have gone to visit their Uncle Thomas while my family comes to visit with their dogs.  Some dogs  can be a bit pushy with other dogs.  Sadie stays here because she is my dog and this is her home.   Come the 27th, she turns 11 yrs old, I believe.  She doesn't care either way.

Years ago - after I first started teaching -- say 6 or 7 years in -- Christmas rolled around and we were pretty broke as teachers.  The wife was staying home with our new borns while I taught for a teacher's salary.  She would get mad at me every year because of the expense of Christmas - the tree - children's presents - and worse - presents for all of my family and her parents.  I had several tense moments over this.  

Now, remember that as I take you back to my first teaching gig in Sudan, Texas.   I am not a social person.  I have trouble interacting with adults.  You might say I am a bit intimidated by others.  And I was worse when I was in my lower 20s.  One year the Sudan H.S. teachers decided to have a Christmas party.  We were to bring one gift each.  Who knows what I took.  They did a game where the gifts were placed in a central pile and in order, we each pulled out a gift.  But, people who followed you could steal your gift or choose a new one.  I've heard of this being called White Elephant  something.  I simply call it the grab bag. We played party games and had the grab bag.  

One of the party games was answering questions.  My question was to name one of the Beatles.  You'd think that would be easy.  Not for me.  I'm the fresh out of classical music school void of any social experiences and popular music.  They could not believe that I didn't know any of the names.  This was traumatic as you can tell since I still remember the event after so many years.  But, I regress.  The grab bag made an impression on me.

Back forward.  My wife's mad at me for wanting to buy presents for family who I know will be getting gifts for us.  I remembered the grab bag.  Now my family was one mother (a female as you might guess). my father, and 3 brothers.  We got my mother a gift.  I started buying little things that I could wrap trying to not spend much.   

'When we went home, I threw all the wrapped gizmos on the floor and introduced my father and 3 brothers to the game.  It was a success.  Tools - flashlights - candy - etc.

That started something.  The next year each of my family threw things in the pile and my wife and I joined the fray.  Now that would have about  1965 or so.  The grab bag has stayed in the family continuously since then.  As my brothers married and had children, all were included.  It worked pretty good for large family gatherings.

Saturday, my kids and their kids will be here.  Two of the g-girls are bringing boyfriends (sigh) as they should.  It is another sign of aging.  12 of us will continue the festival.  and so it goes.

Our rules:  draw numbers from a bag - #1 selects first from the pile on the floor.  If you touch a package, it is yours.  You can point out something on the bottom and pull it out carefully trying not to touch anything else.  #1 opens and displays.  Depending upon gift, all oooo and ahhhhhh or laugh.    Now, #2 selects a package - #2 can steal #1s gift or pick a new gift from the pile.    If #2 steals, then #1 gets to rechoose from the pile.  Both are opened -- oooos and ahhhhhs and / or laughs.   #3 turn:  select from pile or steal from #1 &/or #2.    If a steal happens, #1 or #2 goes back to the pile again.

We have installed a 3 steal rule.  Once a gift has been stolen 3 times, it remains with that person and is safe.    Everyone gets to pick or steal.   Numbers are replaced and redrawn,  Sequence starts over.  Being #1 is not the best location.  Being last is the best.   At the end, there may be an odd number of gifts with some left over on the floor.   Usually, we redraw and let those who have the lowest numbers choose from the pile.  No stealing at this point.  One year, we just let the youngest children finish up the pile.

I remember one year, my brother Marshall - the oldest - not prone to follow rules, he would steal from people items which he thought his daughter would like.  That is not in the spirit of the game.  It all worked out - nobody ever gets mad or unhappy.  Some years, when my family leaves to go home, I find certain questionable gifts left behind under a chair or behind a cushion.  Not all gifts are great gifts.  As I tell them each year:  

All that glitters is not gold.  All that is gold does not glitter.  In the words of Dennis the Menace, "Wrapping paper is pretty, but it is what's underneath that counts."  One year a blue sofa pillow was left behind.  My wife latched on to it.  Now it is a permanent resident of her rocking chair.  

Enough of this ramble.  A bit of family news.  I had colitis last September or October - who remembers that far back?  Doctors made me do a colonoscopy 2 days before Thanksgiving.  I passed.  The doctor was pleased with his view and how clean I had cleaned my system ahead of time.

My wife is a bit unsteady on her feet at time.  I got a walker type thing and put it in the shower.  Then, I took a shower chair that I found in an estate sale and placed it in the shower.  She goes in - sits - cleans. About a week past, she scooted forward on the seat to plant her bare feet better for standing, she slid off the front of the little stool.  It was about a 15" drop down -not bad - but her back hit the chair as she went down.  Now we have a deal on her wrist.  Press the button and an alarm rings throughout the house.  

I nearly had a heart attack when she pressed that button sitting on the floor of the shower.  My heart went thumpedy thump thump thump.  Stepping into the bathroom I asked her what she was doing on the floor.  She told me nicely.  We struggled together and pulled her up off the floor.  She did not hit her head.  The back, right side, hurt.

2 days later after much moaning and discussing, I couldn't stand it anymore.  It was my day for my annual wellness check with our doctor.  I took her along.  The second the nurse saw my wife struggle to stand up, all was wonderful  They worked my wife into the schedule - we were sent to the Xray place in Belton - a drug was prescribed for pain.   Long, too-long, story finish:  She broke 2 ribs in that trip to the floor.  So, drugs have been taken - pain is less - we are on the road to being cured.

With that, I say  MERRY CHRISTMAS.

May your New Year be filled with blessings.  I'm sure mine will be.   

Aside note:  I am NOT going to proofread this.  Lazy, that's me.  Not enough OCD.

mIkE m   December 25, 2025

Old Dad Joke OR Dad's old joke

 Never play pickleball with a cymbal.

It makes a terrible racket.

-----------------

speaking of pickleball - I heard that a ritzy California community has banned pickleball in their town.

Go figure.

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Rained yesterday and this morning.     .41" yesterday    .82" today  =  1.23" total.   Predicted total was between 3 & 5 inches.  I'll believe it when I see it.  More rain coming about Monday.  We'll see.

----------------

In the very near future I will be having a colonoscopy.  Yep, one of them.   I have a full day of "prep" to take my mind off the fact that I am not eating all day.  I can definitely say, "I hope everything comes out all right."

I had a bout with colitis about 2 months ago.  Two different doctors at 2 different times told me to do it.  At 85 yrs old, you don't get that often.  Usually, they say forget it - if you have cancer you'll die of old age before the cancer will get you.  I don't believe in that latter philosophy.  I believe in the old adage (I just made up):   The longer you are alive, the more you live.   

Their philosophy is so comforting.  

----------------------------

We should be seeing some family this Thanksgiving.  That'll be nice.  I watched an episode of Texas Country Reporter last night.  They had a bit about a guy in Grand Prairie - think named Zavalla - ?? - who has BBQ place - has cancer in remission - uses his place to make money and give it to cancer research.  I was impressed with his attitude.  He said it was just a matter of time before the cancer comes back - "and it will come back."   I don't know if I could handle it that well.  Impressive young man.

--------------------------

For laughs I just clicked on the button that highlights certain words or phrases.  Click on the highlight and google will tell ya all about it.   I'm through.  I am  Cooking a whole chicken in my crock pot today.  Am anxious to see how it comes out.  No, I'm sorry, you are not invited to share.  Maybe next time.  Later, 

mtz

and P.S;  I am not going to click on any of these either.

HAP HAP HAPPY

Yesterday, November 4th, that was my 85th birthday.  Eighty Five sometimes long, sometimes short years.  I have memories from childhood and adulthood and, yes, seniorhood.  As a  bit of whatever,  I was born in the A.M. on 11-4-1940.  This was the day that Franklin D Roosevelt was elected to his 3rd term.  For many it was a special day.  I was born at home.  My 16 month old brother Jim was in  his baby bed next to the delivery bed watching the process.  He says that he doesn't remember.  My mom was the high school band director in Tecumseh, Oklahoma at that time.  I cannot remember a thing about that day.  I do attribute the event to my fear of drowning - you know.

----------

BITHDAY IS HERE!!!

Yesterday, I was up at the crack of doom (my daughter's expression) and had my blood drawn at the local clinic.  The Prostrate cancer thing still lingers over my head.  Apparently, I'm hanging in there as the PSA result was <0.01 -they tell me this is good.  My testosterone seems to be low.  What a surprise at 85.  I've been told you have to have testosterone for the prostrate to act up.  I don't know.  I wasn't trained in medicine - I went to a music school.

The med tech blood young lady (most ladies are young to me) poked my left arm as an orange cladded younger intern type watched on in awe - awe - not at me for not screaming out as I was poked  - but for the Girl Poker...cute word.

Left = came home  = picked up the wife and daughter and made a visit to a dentist in downtown Salado.  This was our first visit to same.  They gave us a ream full of papers to read and sign.  Why they need to know if I've ever had ingrown toe nails is beyond me.  The wife seems to always have a good time at any dentist. 

I went in fear.  My two front teeth have chips out - plus, I've been experiencing some mouth pain lately.  I am scared of dentist.  I went thinking that I need to replace all my front teeth with something else.  Now, a confession:  it has been 3 1/2 years since I've seen a dentist.  Some think that is a long time.  To me it is like getting a parole from jail.  

Fancy Dancy.  this dental office (Salado Dentist office) has every bell and whistle one might imagine.  The X-rays showed up on a big screen as "she" took the photos.  Amazing stuff.   Long story short:  (too late) we both passed with flying colors.  Amazing stuff.  I was less stressed in this environment than ever before.  I will be going back; but, I don't expect a clean bill every time I go.  Scared to death I am.  

Aside: because I talked to them about my front teeth worries, I learned that my dentist played clarinet in school.  My hygienist played played flute and it seems most of her family are musicians of one sort or another.   Give me another "Amazing."  

We left and stopped at Schlottsky's  for a sandwich.  (never could spell that word)  I love their original sandwiches plus the hot sauce.  A short trip to HEB AND  we were home.  Now, is that NOT your idea of a great birthday adventure?  Loved every minute.

-----

I really like - but don't like - Facebook.  I went on yesterday and typed a short bit about turning 85.  The birthdate is not in my profile.  Getting people to tell me Happy Birthday  is not what I live for.  I felt Number 85 should be announced somewhere.  Maybe it will show someone else they still have a future.  Nearly 60 people responded nicely to me.  No hateful prods.

THE DAY AFTER....

I feel no different.  Went to bed last night about midnight as usual.   Something happened and I slept till 11:30 a.m.  I'm retired.  I can sleep as much as I wish.  I was up at 2:15, 4:25, 6:58, and, then, 11:30.  I get my exercise at night.

see ya - @ #85 ---- or as one of my favorite people use to say: "cool beans."

mtz  

p.s. my blog program want to add a feature which connects google to my glob.  The highlighted words are their doing, no mine. 

Time for another Pot Pouring (Potpourri)

 Coming to the end of October.  Temperatures have started down.  I've been able to go outside and do some stuff without sweating to death.  Of course, today we have 85% humidity.  What do they say?  It's not the heat, it's the humidity.  How true.

1.)  I bought my wife some gum yesterday at the store.  It's been a while.  She loves gum.  Use to be it was only Double Bubble.  Now it seems to be Extra Spearmint.  She loves gum.  I don't.  I don't like to chew it; I don't like to watch others chew.  My nickname is not Chewy.  

2.)  Now I use to chew gum.  Thought I was cool chewing with my lips apart just a bit.  Tried not to make smacking noises - just look cool.  Over time I evolved into Dentine gum:  tastes good, small pieces.  About 1974 or 75 I was chomping away and bit the inside of my gums just one too many times.  That was it.  I put the gum away and haven't chewed since.  Wish I could remember the exact day and time.  I know all of my readers would relish that bit of info.

3.)  Couple days ago, I was opening the front door to start the day.  Often, we'll leave it open with a dog cushion close so the dogs can watch the traffic - and bark - and be fussed at for barking.  Sadie was resting on her couch excited with the prospect of looking out.  Something fell off the cushion onto the middle of the hallway.   It was a dead rat!  Sadie had been out in the back yard after the big rain - she was soaked - and killed another rat.  Bless her heart.  She had to carry it into the house and gently place it on the cushion.   She didn't argue MUCH when I picked it up by the tail and relocated same in a trash bag.   No blood.  Just a dead rat.

4.)  Why yes, it did rain.  1:24" on Friday  and 1.15 on Saturday.  We've not seen rain in over a month.

5.) I've been spending the last couple of days placing blow-up Halloween things in the front yard.  It tires me out.  The bending and so forth - hard on an old man.  We've got to get ready for Friday night.  I think we have as much as 10 sacks of candy ready.  Never before have I lived in a neighborhood with so many trick or treaters.  Steady stream.  Last year the first show up at 6:15.  We were back inside by 8:30 or so. 8 bags of candy last year.  My daughter doesn't have a brain.  She let some grab a handful - and others she overloaded the child.  I tried to tell her this was not out job - to feed the world.  She doesn't believe.

6.) Had a flashback today.  Watching TV when an adv. came on with little girl jumping rope.  I remarked that I never could jump rope.  That's not entirely true.  If I had the rope in my hand, I'd be okay.  But, get between 2 people twirling it blindly.  Not a prayer.  Jump 2 ropes at the same time?? Ya gotta be kidding.  Not a prayer.

So right now I am gonna admit something else.  I surely hope it doesn't destroy anyone's vision of me as a child.  I could not jump rope.   Playing Jacks was out of the question.  The boys shot marbles.  I'd do that  until they started playing "keepers."  Too cheap, that's me.  Keep my marbles for myself.  Hop scotch was a bit too much as were the monkey bars.  Who can swing around on those things?  Not to mention hanging upside down by your legs.  No way!   Had a PE class where they made us do somersaults and the like.  Somersaults scare me to death.  Cheerleaders do all those twirling around things.  Not for me.  I had a trumpet.  I could do musical gymnastics.  Luckily none of my PE classes had a rope hanging from the the ceiling to climb.  I would have failed PE.

I remember PE in the 7th grade - Levelland jhs...required attendance.  The coach handed out basketballs. We went out back on a paved area with a goal and played horse - daily.  When we weren't playing, we'd sit in the shade and repeat dirty jokes - or at least we thought they were dirty.   Yes, I'd always lose at Horse.  As winter approached - as it does in the Panhandle - we stayed inside.  The coaches thought dodge ball was the game of the future - and they tried to teach rassilin' - not wrestling as is done many places.  There were no rules.  Grab and roll around the floor.  No structure - no results - just killing time.  I wonder why I hated PE?

Didja know that when you play basketball - and you have the ball - that the other team tries to jerk it out of your hand and knock you down?  I learned that in 7th grade.  Whar's my horn?

7.) I'll end with this.  The on-off button on my computer is broken.  Oh, it still works.  But it has fallen down inside the computer.  I have to use a long blade to reach down in computer and turn the machine on.  It's A Miracle.    More later.  I try to write more later.  Things get in the way.  Right now, it is 5 o'clock.  It is dog feeding time.  If you think for one moment that I can put that off, you're wrong.  No proof reading of this missive.  Correct the misprints for yourself.

MMtz

 

OCT. 7TH

 So, I'm practically 85 yrs old.  That makes me born in 1940 before the big war #2.   My parents were born in 1910 - both.  Mom near Kaw City, Oklahoma (now under the Kaw lake) and my father in Temple, Okla.  I suppose both had good young lives.  They never said.  I never asked.  After they were gone, I inherited a big box which included stuff from their senior years in high school - that would have been 1928.   

Apparently, in them thar days, seniors created a scrapbook of their senior year - these were pre-printed scrapbooks to be completed.  Not surprising, my mother did hers beautifully.  What is surprising is that my father completed his too.  I enjoyed reading through them and would never discard.  That makes them nearly 100 years old.  I fear that none of my children, much less my grandchildren,  will be interested in them; and, eventually, they will be discarded in the trash.  A shame really....

My mom's father was the local barber.  How good?  Back in those days, I think they used a bowl to trim hair.  Shaving was extra.  Who knows if he dealt in leaches.  He had an old, used barber chair in his backyard that we could play on.  You could get real dizzy twirling around and around (with help) on the chair.  It's a wonder we never were maimed.   

My father's father worked for the city of Temple, Oklahoma.  I understand he invented something that went into their water system that made everything better.  Water system in the early 1900s - that's a think-it-through.  Anyway, as a reward he received free water for the rest of his life - which was fairly long.  They lived out in the country most of the time by the creek which fed water into Temple.  He ran the equipment.   [I use to think this was spelled  "equiptment" until a fellow teacher in Sudan, TX corrected me one time - forever greatful / grateful / grrrreeeatfully   I  wuz/am. ]

I might mention that my grandfather had a taste for the beer.  He made his own forever and drank it with gusto.  Yes, that would have taken him through the prohibition era.  I have no real proof that he ever sold it...rumors abound.   At least 2 of my uncles on that side enjoyed way too much alcohol.  Always figured it was an inherited trait.  My own father never touched the stuff.  I find that interesting.  Even when my mom would bring some into the house - or - we were visiting other relatives, he never messed with it.  I saw too many drunks in my day. I was always afraid to even taste the booze.  You never crave what you never have had.

More on this subject later.  Today is my father's birthday.  He would have been 115 years old - I think.  He was known to my grandchildren as  Mr. Grandpop.  We were trying to decide on a grandfatherly name back in 1962; &, he proclaimed,  "Mr."  So it was with all of his future grands.  

I ended up being a  "Papa."  The Mister never seemed to work for me.

and to conclude this one-sided conversation conclusively  -- 

Today I ordered my 2026 calendars from Calendars.com.  They have a 30% discount today with the Code  THISISBIG.  I do like to order the calendars early; then, it is over.  Ready for next year.  Not that you asked:   I get a dachshund engagement calendar for the kitchen cabinet - really helps me remember not to forget what I seem to not be able to remember.  Then I get one of those daily, tear-off dachshund calendars.  365 different doxies to smile at.  We use to get an Owl calendar for my wife.  But, things are different now, and owls have slipped back into silence.   I have added a Basset wall calendar for my live-in daughter.  I believe it makes things a bit better around here.   30% off - not a bad deal.

Love ya, later

m

Really?

 Here's one for you.  

One of my daughters lives in Waxahachie.  She walked out to her mailbox yesterday evening.  On the way back she saw saw something on her porch.  hmmmmm

It was a cell phone plugged into her porch plug place.  She called the police.  They came over and took the phone.  Within 5 minutes after the police left, some man was banging on their front door yelling that he wanted his cell phone back.   She re-called the police.

The man was soon found.  He is listed by the police as "homeless."   They had a long talk.  He has been living across the road and down a ways in the trees.  They gave him back his phone and pointed him away.

That's something.

Daughter now has bought a ring camera and installed it.  The story could be told in three times more words.  I abbreviated.  That is something to me.  I wonder who pays his phone bill;  I wonder how he gets his phone bill; I wonder where he gets the money to pay the phone bill; I wonder if his name is Bill.

mtz

I'll add a p.s.   My son had a blackberry size mass removed off his kidney on Monday.  They are awaiting the results.  What is amazing to me (other than doctors have this skill) is that it was found because he had a kidney stone ... the Xray after that found the spot.   Had he not had the stone, then what?  As one of my children says:  "God moves in mysterious ways." 

Blackberry definition:  The fruit, not the telephone.

OK, a 2nd p.s.

My wife turned 85 on Monday.  Whoever would have thought that I would ever be married to an 85 year old lady.  I don't turn 85 till November.  Does this make her a cougar?

Goin' Band from Raiderland

 I didn't go.  Wish that I could have...

The Texas Tech Band is 100 years old this year.  Born in 1925, they celebrated tonight at the Tech ballgame.    1000 Band alumni went to the game and marched at halftime.  Of course they have had a bad storm roll through and have sat waiting for the storm to pass.

I have not heard how things went.  I do know that my TV people didn't carry this game.  So be it.   The football team will probably win - Arkansas pine bluff.   

I just heard.  The halftime was cancelled.  What a shame.  Maybe next year they will celebrate 101 years with no rain.  so be it.  I'm gonna blame Putin for this.

So much anticipation.   We did watch the rehearsal on the Goin' Band Association website.  It is probably still up for viewing.  1000 marchers.  That's a lot.

mike metze,  class of 1962

So, what's for supper and other inane questions

 Inane Inane Inane

I like that word.  It fits so much in my world. 

Another word that I took JOY in using during a band rehearsal was asinine.  It sounds so close to being dirty.  Shock and Awe.   You can use certain words to shock students into listening to you.  "What's he gonna say next?"  Flip-Flops.  I really do hate seeing flip flops. When I was much younger - the year had to be about 1965 or 66 - we made a driving trip to California to visit uncles and great aunts.  We took 2 cars.  My parents were in one; we were in the other; and, several family members rode along.  It was a nice LONG trip from Levelland.  First trip to Disneyland and Knotts berry farm.

In California that trip was the first time I saw flip-flops.  Out there, some were calling them Come Alongs.  Okay.  But they were also called thongs.  Look at their construction.  Thongs fits.  For years, I was naive and used the thong name.  Eventually, someone told me that THONG was a name for a certain type of underwear.  I didn't know.  How was I to know?  Still, in a fit of "gotchas" I would use the Thong name.  It suited me just fine.  

Family stone:  on that trip, our oldest daughter was just learning to walk and talk.  Still, her diaper was supreme.  You had to work around dirty diapers.  And, I believe we didn't have anything but cloth ones.  Maybe there were the others.  I don't remember since I rarely changed one.  One day, we had a particularly good lunch and then went out on the California town.  A few hours later, the diaper filled.  My mother, who had a way with the English language, chose to change the "dirty" diaper.  I hate dirty diapers  {Dirty is NOT the same as Wet}.  As she began the task, I heard her cry out,  "DANG CORN!!"  You can imagine the diaper contents.  Exactly at that moment, the baby cried out,  "DANG CORN!!"   Her first complete sentence at an appropriate time.  Occasionally today, you might here one of our family exclaim,  "Dang Corn!" at an appropriate time.   It says it all.

Speaking of language, mom was not shy about her language.  She and my father had several words in their vocabulary - or dictionary.  They were both born in 1910 and lived pretty much in the back woods of Oklahoma.  She = Kaw City (now a lake)  and  He = Temple, Okla.  One of my mom's favorites in the above mentioned dirty diaper area, was when a child had a loose movement, she would proclaim:   "Shizzalin Grits."  You can work on those 2 words if you wish.  It says it all again.  I was somewhere in my 20s before I figured out what she was saying.  Naive is my middle name.

But, this was not what I planned to write about.  We all get lost at times.

----First of all, we have 3 dogs in this house.  One is named Bella.  This morning, Bella shook the house as she began a barking fit that was soon joined by the others.   We are planning to give her the  --    Bella No Peace Prize.   We're hoping she qualifies.

-----Speaking of animals.... I read online that at a certain age (we're there already)  Women begin to collect dogs.  Some get several cats instead.  Cat Ladies, yet.  This is called:   "Many Paws" amongst polite company.

====I heard about a cat in Australia who roams the neighborhood and steals clothes off clotheslines.  He carries them home and embarrasses his parents.  Underwear, one sock, whatever.  You'd think people might be offended.  The owners post photos of the items for retrieval.  It is said that some neighbors are getting mad - why? - because the cat has not stolen anything from them.  Who'd a thought?

-----On Facebook this lady was so excited because she had had a fox come into her backyard.  Took a photo.  She said the fox was looking carefully at her and her little dog.   Yep, the picture was a Coyote.  The lady had been putting out food and water.  Readers jumped in to let her know that the Coyote was looking to eat the little dog {and maybe her}.  I suggested she put out a humane trap.  Then, she could dump it off on the neighboring County Courthouse lawn.  .  .  late at night.   I have a cousin who use to catch squirrels in his back yard.  He would turn them loose on the Courthouse lawn.  He says this is true.  Not in Texas -  Nebraska, I believe.

-----One final thing.  My wife has certain problems.  She is not really secure walking.  Her memory is  not working properly.  The other night, I got up to take care of certain business.  As I walked around the foot of the bed, there she was sitting on the floor.  I asked the obvious, "What are you doing down there?" She explained how she slid off the edge of the bed as she was getting up.  Out bed is really too tall.  I knew better.  I helped her up.  No harm done.  She said I was sleeping so good, she didn't want to wake me.  

The next day - Amazon - I ordered a Step 2 bed thingy.  It is a 3 ft long step with handles that fits securely beside the bed.  Adjustable height.  We found that 3" from the floor was the best.  The Step 2 comes with a motion activated LED light that lights up half the house. This is a good thing. Consider it if you have the same problem.  Hopefully, our problem is solved.  The light is pretty bright.

More later.  I have a list of many subjects including Destination Weddings, the Dull Men's Club website, certain Facebook complaints, DQ, TV, real time police shows on TV, eating lemons, bassoons, HEB store,  Lipton instant diet tea, what's for supper .... ah, the list never ends.

lov ya,  mtz           

63 yrs

 Tomorrow is our anniversary.  My wife & I were married on a Saturday, August 5, 1962.  The wedding was held at the First Baptist Church chapel of Levelland, Texas, with the First Methodist Church preacher doing the officiating.

It was 63 years ago.  We had a honeymoon destination of the Grand Canyon.  Later, I may give details of all of this.  Not tonight.  Too busy watching TV.

Later,

M

email from 2013 - memory for me

Quick explanation:  My brother Jim died a few years ago.  Lung Cancer.  Smoker for many years; quit about 15 years before he died.  His wife was having major heart problems - eventually, she had a transplant.  She is gone now too.  We all have people who can annoy us.  She had that ability; but, I tried to never let on.  I miss my brother and in conjunction, maybe his wife too.

In the evening Jim & I would play poker online.  It was an app where you played against several other people - no cost  - no investments - no money changed hands - just time consumed.

So I played as Pfl Rag  (Pfl for Pflugerville and Rag for my past experiences)

As we played, he & I would keep a running commentary to each other by messaging.  I don't think anyone ever noticed.  Yes, if one of us got a full  house, the other one usually dropped out.  But, generally, we didn't try to manipulate the game.

It was November 19, 2013, a Tuesday.    We closed out of the poker game one night.  I sent him the following message - to which he replied:

Pfl Rag [11:32 P.M.]:  quick stone - don't leave

"Jim Metze" [11:33 P.M.]:  ok

Pfl Rag [11:33 P.M.]:  cheeeee

Pfl Rag [11:33 P.M.]:  Cops is on tv - I had sound on, wasn't watching closely

Pfl Rag [11:34 P.M.]:  they had a car chase - the bad guys hit a pole - the cop jumped out with 

his gun & ran to the car yelling, "Let me see your hands!"

Pfl Rag [11:34 P.M.]:  His siren was still going and going and going.

"Jim Metze" [11:34 P.M.]:  yeah, drives me crazy

Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  just as I said, "bet there is a jack...."    - Bruno let out a howl in the other room - Bruno can howl with the best of them.  All 5 dogs of mine  joined in - this house was rocking
Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  I ran in and couldn't stop them at all

"Jim Metze" [11:35 P.M.]:  howling at the siren
Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  yes
"Jim Metze" [11:35 P.M.]:  mine go crazy when there is a police dog barking

Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  i hit the TV mute on the way in there

Pfl Rag [11:36 P.M.]:  i have never had them go that crazy over a tv sound - it was sweet Bruno 

that got them started - I recognize his howl.

Pfl Rag [11:36 P.M.]:  that's it - bet my wife is really awake now

"Jim Metze" [11:36 P.M.]:  never heard dogs barking on tv?

Pfl Rag [11:37 P.M.]:  they have - but one of them has to get them going - Bruno was asleep in 

the other room - it must have awaken him rudely

"Jim Metze" [11:37 P.M.]:  must have
Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  think i will take them outside for their nightly wetting - 
Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  see ya after choir tomorrow

"Jim Metze" [11:38 P.M.]:  gotta get my wife's dirty dishes -- btw, u are supposed to say u feel sorry for her everyday

"Jim Metze" [11:38 P.M.]:  ok c u tomorrow

Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  right, night
"Jim Metze" [11:38 P.M.]:  gn
Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  n

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

That's it.  Y'know when you lose a brother you get emotional about things when you bump into them 15 years later.  Those were pretty good times.

over and out

m   

P.S.  Little sidebar here:   We were living out at the lake near Corsicana in 2013.  I had a 6 ft high,  20 sq ft fence enclosure built outside the garage back door.  The garage door had a doggy door.  When we would leave the house, I'd leave the dogs out there while we were gone...kept them enclosed so to speak.  At dark, I wouldn't let them go out alone - predators like bobcats, etc.   Plus we had snakes.  Lots of snakes.  I tried to keep them from getting in trouble in the dark.  Y'Know, if they saw a rabbit or squirrel or a "whatever,"   KATIE BAR THE DOOR!!!!  They were off into the dark.  My smallest dog, Greta - 10 lbs or so, was a snake killer.  I have a blog on that somewhere.  She didn't care what size the snake was - Kill!!!  So at nighttime, we all went out together to the enclosure for our nightly wetting.  It was a process.

-----------------------------------

I close now, Amazon is at the front door.

-----------------------------------

No wait again:

A posting from my first ever blog post in 2010.  this is the first paragraph:

several things to report:
#1   Local newspaper has an advertisement from the Corley Funeral Home. Now this place runs an adv. every day in the local paper. Always, they include a photo of a dog from the pound. "Come adopt this dog." Today's dog was named: MORTICIA.
Now, I think that's funny.

 THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT.   I posted this on Facebook.  I wanted to see if I could move Facebook stuff to here - apparently I can.  Apologies to those who read this earlier on Facebook.  

I had several responses to the post - many were quite cute and/or informative.  That's it.  See ya.

M

Mike Metze

12h ·

Shared with Public

Well, I just reported a Facebook message - my very first report. It hurt me deeply ( or is that deaply?) to report my fellow man - but, wait, what IF... what IF... It seems he works in a bank in Canada. That's nice that he has found work. One of their clients Samuel Metz has died. His wife Elizabeth had previously died. They have no children or relatives. I believe they call that intestate or it may be intraesrestate. I don't know. Do I look like a lawyer? Anyhow, this Samuel left behind $1,900,000. Oooo Oooo. So this banker has arranged for me - THAT'S MEEEE - to receive most of the money. Only the bank president & this bubba knows about it. I'm so excited. I just have to give them a small finder's fee .... need I explain more? Read my 1st sentence again. I could have been rich. The preceding was a public service message. As a closer let me say: "How's your mom and them?" You may visit my blog. MIKEMETZE.COM I visit there myself on occasion.