I Ear You

 Just in case you have not read this blog from the first entry years back  (AND WHY  NOT?)  a couple of explanations.

First of all, I will be 81 in about a week.   My wife is 6 weeks older than I.  When you get to this age, people start watching you more closely.  A year ago in the great freeze, the defrost had started.  I felt like most of the ice was gone.  The ice was not easy to see - it wasn't.    As I was inspecting the driveway (slopes quite a bit), before I could think or respond, I was down on the ground by the car.  I landed hard on my left elbow pinned under my side.   

If you have never had a fall, they happen fast.  One moment you are up; the next moment you are down.  Gravity is in command.

At the moment of the fall / slip, I thought I was fine.   The pain grew.  It was obvious that I had a problem.  The next day, I went to the emergency room - of course it was a weekend.  The emergency people put in my record that I was prone to falling.  It was a broken rib - they had a fancy, different word for it - not cracked - one of my previous entries below will give the correct term.  Broken ribs are not to be sneezed at (so to speak).

I could not lay down in a bed and get back up - with or without help - too much pain - helpless in Bed they say.   Hmmmmm.  After several days of sleeping in my big chair at night under a blanket of blue, I finally healed enough to be human.  Never had I broken anything in my entire lifetime - and it hit during my 80th year.  Growing old is not easy- as they say.

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

Jump ahead to last night.  I don't suppose this has happened since my earliest, early years.    I cannot remember ever frankly.  This is somewhat embarrassing, so roll with me here.

We have a sleep number bed - air it up to your preference and snore away.  Ours is about 25 plus years old and has been losing air.   I have learned to pump it up to a 60.  In about 36 hours it leaks down to a 45.  At 45, the edge of the bed is pretty sloped...not firm.

There I was asleep.  Dreaming.  It seems that the dream had me in Colorado (why?) and there was a boiled egg rolling across the floor which I reached for.  Never caught the egg.  The next thing I knew, I was on the floor in a pile.  It took me a second or two to realize what was happening.   My wife asked if I was okay.  I told her to give me a moment.

I felt moisture on my arm.  It really took a moment to orientate myself, up versus down - left versus right - north versus south.  As fast as I could find the floor with my feet, I told my wife that I thought I was bleeding.  I moved as quickly as I could to the bathroom.   Yes, I was bleeding.  My right ear hurt. By the time my wife followed me to the sink, blood was running down the side of my face off my chin.  We grabbed Kleenex and began to blot.  It didn't take too long. I don't think I lost over 20 gallons of blood.  Not sure of course.

We have this small spray container band-aid thingy which I bought a couple years back: a spray band-aid.  Sure came in handy.  We sprayed the ear liberally - it was cold and shocking to the ear.  The blood clotted.  

In addition to a lumpy dog bed beside the bed  (a nice cushion as discovered), I have a small bedside table-cabinet like thingy beside the bed.  It holds phones and chargers and flashlights and whatever.   It sets about 6 to 8 inches from the bed.   As I see it now, I rolled over, and my head started down between the bed and the table.  The corner of the table ripped the inside of my ear. 

Have I mentioned that I was blessed with quality ears - prolly a dab larger than most folks.   My pictures as a child show that I might have been able to flap and fly.   Never tried.

So there is this inch long cut on my ear.   It didn't go all the way through -or  tear anything.   Just a cut one inch long - tender - easily reopened if hit.  This happened about 5:45 a.m.  My daughter was up eating breakfast and taking dogs out - So, with her help, clean up was attempted.  

I retired to my big chair (see rib injury above) and slept hard for the next 3 hours.   A Kleenex was stuffed carelessly down my ear canal in case the cut reopened.  I didn't want my ear drum to drown.  Think how hard that would be to clean out.

The drama is not over.  I chose to visit no doctor.  The gash looks terrible to me.  It will heal, or it will become infected followed by an ear transplant.  My wife says it doesn't  look so bad and nobody will notice.  She Lies.   If I added an eye patch and a parrot, a pirate I could become.  

Because of my hearing aids and my hearing loss, I wear headsets at night watching TV.  My family hears so much better than I.  But now, with the ear gash - headsets can be uncomfy.  My drama never ends.  I did have one dog that volunteered to clean my ear for me.  They are so helpful in times of need.  NO!  Quit licking me!

I have a photo of the ear.  You may say "Thank You" for not posting.  I am so considerate.

mtz3   

Halloween M&Ms

Here it is, November 1st of 2016.
Since my last writing, lots of water has gone under that bridge....most of the items have not been earth shaking - so, I suppose, you might say it has been a trickle under the bridge.  All of that taken in perspective might be one thing or another.  For instance a tiny bit of water going under the Golden Gate Bridge would be pitiful.  But if you bridge is a 1"x 2" piece of plywood and you want to keep your tootsies dry - it might be a problem.
.
But, I ramble.
.
Last night was Halloween.  31st of October.  Little monsters roaming the streets knocking on doors in anticipation of piles of sweets.  The vast majority of home owners prepare in advance. Nobody wants to disappoint a precious little kid, now, do they?
.
We built and moved into this house in the spring of 2008.  It's a nice house - not a mansion. The houses in this subdivision are not mansions.  They are nice sized but nothing like the 2 story things you might see around the lake.   2008.   This is 2016.  That would be 8 years - or - 8 years of Halloween.  During the 8 years, we have had ZERO, OUGHT, NONE, ZIP, 0 "trick or treaters" at our door.  Sure, I leave the porch light on - I have a skeleton hanging outside - a Halloween  sign - Hey, I try.   I suppose that I could rent a bus and transport the critters to our front door.  
.
Not going to happen.
.
Every year, the wife and I have an argument about candy.  It's not really an argument, but it is a disagreement.  And for 7 years, her opinion proves to be correct.  Y'see, in that first year, we both thought somebody might darken our dark door. 
.
Follow this now:  I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2008. I cannot eat candy - or I shouldn't eat candy.  My wife can and does eat candy.  She protests having any candy around the house because she knows she will eat it.  I am that way about Chili or Mexican Food.  But how many of you have given out bowls of chili on Halloween?   "Here Kid. Take a tamale."  I'd say none of you have approached this season of giving by preparing greasy food.
.
Monday morning.  We have no candy in the house, but I have to go to town to mail a package.   .
The following is totally unrelated to Halloween]  Brother Jim and his lovely spouse Earline, are cleaning out their garage - looking forward to downsizing.  He ran across a couple of 16 mm marching band movies of Levelland H.S. from 1967 & 1968.  We had long graduated before those dates.  I don't know how he got them, but I figure we can blame my father.   That band was directed by Bill Woods, a fine marching band director.   Bill is on my email list, so I asked if he would like to have the movies....thus, a trip to town on Monday to mail same movies.
.
While I motored by the post office, the wife made a quick trip inside HEB in her weekly grocery run.  By the time I chose to return, she was checking out and had purchase on bag of candy for the evening run.  At home, she proudly displayed M&Ms - a delightful chocolate treat.  When it comes to chocolate, my wife loves it.  She protests eating the candy - still, she eats it when forced.   
.
Alas, we have a problem.  Nobody came by the house; the wife has to eat the chocolate because it will go bad if left on the counter - right?  So here is the situation.  I whine to get her to buy chocolate - nobody comes by - it is her task to take care of the chocolate under protest.  She open the first small bag and chomped down.
.
They were not regular M&Ms.  Instead they are like little rice krispie treats thinly covered in unmeasurable chocolate - They don't even taste like candy - cereal !!!  She doesn't like them. She won't eat them.   We have a bag of Rice Krispies covered in minute chocolate.     Can you see the problem?  If it weren't so sad, it might be funny.
.
Maybe next Halloween.

Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus 1951 Route book

Went to Canton recently for the First Monday Flea Market.  Setting on a shelf was this little green book titled  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus  1951 Route Book.  They gave me the book for $4. 
.
Now I know this book has a limited appeal.    The history inside is fascinating to me.    
It is 4" by 5 3/4".    First of all, I couldn't believe this type of information was actually published in 1951.  The question is whether it was published every year and this year too.
.
Here is what the book has in it -- sorta by the page numbers:
.
inside cover:  it says route, Personnel and statistics for the Season of 1951 together with complete itineraries from 1919 to 1951 inclusive, covering every exhibition date since the famous Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circuses were united.    Price $1.25,
RBros &BB, Sarasota, Fla.
.
4.  A photo of John Ringling North   President
5 => 8.   A story by Roland Butler titled THE Circus.   Inside of the story he quotes an entire newspaper column by Bill Moiles who wrote a column in the Worcester, Mass. Daily
Telegram.  It was an interesting strange 4 page story about the circus.  I found it fun.  No, I will not reprint it here - I'm not that bored yet.
9.  A list of the Circus' Officers, al list of the Directors, and a list of the Executive Staff including all secretaries. You may find it interestin (I did) to know the names of the Directors, who, I might add, are mostly found under the Officer listing too.  
Directors:  John Ringling North, Edith C. Ringling, Henry Ringling North, George D. Woods,
Herbert Duval, Mrs. Robert Ringling, & William P Dunn.
.
10.  A photo of a clown then a list of members of the accounting office, Sarasota, Florida.  Then,  the members of the NY Office  and the Chicao Office.
11.  all members of the pdfublicity dept, press - photography  - radio and TV  plus members of the contracting, outdoor advertising and traffic depts.
=====================
By this time you should be getting the idea.  The book lists every person who works for the company - everybody.  Examples:  Lot super,  24-hour men - time keepeers, police dept.   ticket dept including the names of the ticket sellers and ticket takers.
====================
14. a photo of Arthur M. Concello and Cecil B. De Mille
Strarting on page 15, the names of all performers listed under the names of their acts.
=====================
17.   THIS IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING TO ME:  a photo of  the Big top Directors -- angelo Nicholas equestrian director, and MERLE EVENS, musical director of the Greatest show on earth.
           The names of the entire band are  included by instrument.  1 flute/piccolo, 5 clarinets, 2 Organ, 6 "cornets", 3 horns, 2 Baritones, 4 Trombones, 3 Basses, and 2 Drummers.    In the basses was Harvey G. Phillips.    Fun.
18.  A list of all people in the Side Show.  I will list those at another time - need to move on now.

================
skipping forward.   20 people listed under the Elephant Department -- 3 under the Gorilla department --  
===========
I thought when I began this missive, that I could list all the different groups - but, frankly, it is getting to be too much typing.
I'll try to do more later.
=============
32.  the entire show is given in 3 pages - listing names of the acts.  That is fun to read.
35.   starts the list of where the circus will play.  this list gives the date, city, state, RAILROAD  and miles to travel   They started in NY City and ended in Sarasota, Fla.
   Sept. 25th was in Lubbock - road the Sante Fe to Amarillo for Sept 26th.
===================
skipping ahead:
the book lists EVERY route of the circus  starting in 1919  and ending in 1951.  They leave no fact unturned.  Since I live in Corsicana, I found it interesting that the circus performed here in 1919  on October 9th.   They came here for many years to follow.  A local legend talks about an elephant that broke loose in town and had to be killed. 
==================
so I will close.   This book is so loaded with information.  I cannot recite it all.  If you love the circus, go look on ebay - maybe there is another copy of the book floating around.
M

Paranoia - Walmart shopping

My blog tells me I have had 57,500 + views.  Really.   Sure, they are worth it.  Just ask me; I'll tell ya.  57,500+ views.  Keep reading.  This one is okay.
.
I went to town today, Tuesday.  My Timex had quit ticking.  It took some licks, and didn't keep ticking...Yuk Yuk - ticks me off.
==================================================
The Wrist Watch Stone first:   Back when I retired in 2004 we had our final spring concert in Manor.  It was an okay concert - good crowd .... regulars, you might say.  At the end of the concert the Band Boosters presented me a retirement / going away gift /  a very nice wrist watch.  It really was.   I was pleased to be remembered.

Inscribed on the back was a phrase which I often used -  my administration hated it with a fervor -  "Don't do stupid things."  I could have said "Do smart things ."  The Adm. would have liked that.   But this is not what you'd expect from me.  The students understood.  Only the M.S. administration had a problem.  Of course, that relationship was a bit strained anyway.  ( a stone for another day-or it may be inside of a previous bluggy )
.
At the end of the concert, I sat on the edge of the stage greeting well-wishers, giving hugs, that sorta thing.  I took the new watch out and put it on my left wrist as I removed my old, well-used Timex.   At that exact moment, the Timex broke.  It was as if the Timex knew its days were numbered and "wham," the little arms that hold on the wrist band, they snapped off.   Prophetic.  Truly, it was the end of my era - and of that Timex.
===================================================
Over time, I bought a new Timex to use when I am mowing, painting, working, whatever.   This week my Timex quit.  It may be the battery; or, it could be the hole in the crystal and the fact that I was washing out our rain gutters.  Water can be a demon at times.
===================================================
So, I went to town for another Timex, one that was ticking.  Corsicana has Walmart.   I bought my new watch, picked up some vitamins for the wife, and bought some gas treatment for the Marauder.  It was 3:30ish when I left.   
.
I have been carrying a sack of papers for 2 months.  These need to go into my safety deposit box.   I arrived at the bank at 3:34 - saw they were open till 4 - (a surprise - always thought banks closed at 2) - went in - took care of biz - returned to my car and began to set the time on the new Timex.
.
Nobody was parked near me at the time.   I notice a small SUV pull in beside me as I struggled with the time piece.  Deciding to fight it later, I looked up and out my driver's window.  There was a young guy in the white SUV with his cell phone pointed straight at me.  Strange.  He was early 20s dark hair with a small Hitler style mustache.  Strange.  Why is he taking my picture?
.
I quickly started the car and backed out.  I headed to the end of the block and made a right turn noticing that the white SUV backed out and followed me to the first corner.  Nobody had gone into the bank.  Apparently they pulled in beside me just to take my picture.  Strange skinny Hitler guy...
.
The SUV was a block behind me and travelling parallel, going east on 3rd street as I went east on 4th.  At the next corner, I turned north  to be pointed in their direction.  They had stopped at that corner waiting, WAITING.  I pulled over to the curb and paused.  Eventually, they drove forward (east) slowly.  I moved north to 3rd street and looked to the right at the back of their car.   It was parked catty-corner at the next intersection - directly in front of the court house.  It was not moving.
.
I drove slowly north looking over my shoulder.  Immediately they moved east again to the next corner.  I hurried my pace for two blocks and made a quick right turn east.  At the next stop sign, I could see them on the curb facing my direction.  Strange.  They were just standing there (car standing, not parked).  Deciding this was too strange, I made another quick block east and whipped into a parking lot, reversed my direction, and moved 2 blocks west, turning south for another 3 blocks.
.
I sat and looked in the mirror.  Nothing.  No white SUV shadowing me.
Now, folks, normally, I am not a paranoid person.  People are not out to get me.  But this was strange.  When I turned, they turned.  When I stopped at the end of a block, they stopped at the end of their block.  What is going on?  What in the world had I done to get their interest peaked?  TAKE MY PICTURE OUT  YOUR WINDOW!!!
.
Free; Free at Last; I drove home watching the mirrors  --- nothing.   I told my wife when I got home.  Was someone following me, or was it just a strange coincidence?   
.
An hour passed at home.  I fed the dogs.   I took a bucket of aluminum cans to our can crusher in the garage, crushing.
.
BOING!!!!!
BOOOIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!!!
It hit me like a ton of bricks.
An Epiphany!!!
A Revelation!!!
.
Have you figured it out yet?
.
I was NOT being followed.
NOBODY pulled in beside me and took my picture.
They WEREN'T observing me as they waited at each corner for my appearance.
Nope.
NONE of that.
.
I had been Pokemoned.  ( a new term just invented for the explanation )  I have been "POKEMONED."
.
The guy wasn't taking my photo; he was capturing a Pokemon.
They weren't going slow at the corners because of me, they were hunting a Pokemon.
[ The court house apparently has some nearby. ]
I was paranoid.   Frankly, I was insignificant to these people.  They didn't care about me or the Marauder or going to the bank or anything else -- No!!!
They were seeking a Pokemon.
.
AS AN ASIDE HERE -- what if I were a paranoid schizophrenic?  One who thinks he is being followed by the CIA or Russian Spies?  What if?   And what if I had been carry my sub-machine gun on the front seat?  There would have been a mess on the streets of Corsicana.
.

With Love, I say

go Pokemon go

m3

You have my permission to make fun of me.

fun day

One might think this was a fun day.  One might not.
We returned last night from San Antonio where we watched the Southwest championship of the DCI - drum corps international ... in the alamodome.  We got to see about 25 different corps from all over the US.  Garfield - no wait - the Cadets from Allentown, PA came in first followed really closely by the Blue Devils.  Those of you into this activity will know what I am reporting.   The Cadets were originally (I think) from Garfield, NJ.  Then, I suppose, when better funding was necessary, they became the Cadets of Bergen County (NJ).  Sometime they made the switch over to Allentown.  Interesting (to me).   
.
We stayed in SA motels for two nights.  I can say that both motels are lacking.  The Best Western Garden something has a problem that I cannot touch here.  The La Quinta on Toepperwein has mold growing in the bathtub and toilet area.  I may touch more on that in a bit.
.
What made the day fun was that we picked up our dogs from the Vet after 3 days of boarding.  I miss the dogs when they go on vacation.  It was fun picking them up and being loved again.  Yes, Oscar & I played ball twice today.  I just gave every dog a new squeaky dog toy - Oscar got a squeaky ball.  We are in Heaven.  As an add-on:  Oscar played with the ball from 4:30 until 10:30 non-stop.  The squeaker has finally died; but, he doesn't care.  Oscar loves the new ball more than food itself.
.
2 asides here:
1.  We have taken Bruno to the Vet twice recently and this time makes #3.   All 3 times, that is ALL THREE TIMES, Bruno "Woos" on the floor of the waiting room.  (If you don't know the word Woo - it is explained in a previous posting  - dogs  wee and woo.   If they do both at the same general time, it is called a Woopee.)   Each time he wooed, the little girl has to come out of the back and pick it up and MOP the floor.  Bruno doesn't care at all.
2.  When they led the dogs out of the back room, Greta and Liesl were first.  I hooked them up and led them to the car.  I picked up Liesl and put her in the back seat (short legged dogs don't jump into cars usually).  I turned around and Greta was squatting on the street, doing her job.  Normally, Greta wets for about 5 seconds - she has a small bladder.  This time she wet and wet and wet - I stood and waited.  Meanwhile the other two dogs were brought out of the building.  Greta was still wetting.  I swear she held the pose with water puddling for a full minute.   I am wondering if she wet even once over the 3 days they were kept.
.
later

Another month of fun

7-10-15
Everytime I come on here, I swear that I will write more frequently.   Everytime, I fail.  Does this mean I am some type of loser - or does it mean, that I have little incentive to write more often - more money, more praise, more acceptance to my brilliance, add other "mores" here.______________________________________________________
.
Lots of water has gone over the bridge since I last wrote during the middle of June.   Most recent first.  I bought a house in Waxahachie.  We are not planning to move there; it will become a rent house.  I calculated (with my phone calculater) that I could bring more cash home with a rental than I could with some of my stocks.  So I cashed some in - bit the bullet so to speak - and became a slum lord.  The rest of the story.....
.
Now I am spending time in Wax-your-hachet working on the place and getting the business taken care of that a rent house demands.   The rest of the story.....
.
My daughter Laura has been hired as the elementary music teacher in Blooming Grove.  She is so excited to get back to teaching.  I am excited that she is returning to her music roots.   But, living in Cisco prior to the hire, requires her to move back to this part of the country.   She raises rabbits, not to eat, but to love.  Her number is down to 10 now. Apparently there are lots of other people doing this cause she can sell a baby rabbit for $30 to $50 or more.  It is hard to believe for an old trumpet player.
.
Her husband Tom works for the post office out there.  He applied for a transfer and will move in another month or so.
.
Where does one live when they have a dog, 10 rabbits and a bunch of rabbit cages.  That is a tough one.  Apartments are not good.  A bunch of soul searching and thankin'  (thinking for those up north) brought me to the rent house idea.  After all, who would be the best FIRST tenant than your own, employed, daughter and son-in-law?  Yeah, if they were bums, it would be a bit different.
.
Thus part of the past month has been in buying the house - moderate work on it - daughter moving ... and, this brings us to Son Roger.
.
Roger and wife Penney have brought their girls up in the soft ball world.  Their oldest Megan, now in high school, plays on a team that signed up for a soft ball tournament in Taylor.   My oldest daughter Christine lives in Round Rock, just down the road from Taylor.  So - if you are following this - we fired up the motorhome and drove to Rd Rk parking in the old Settler's RV park next to Dell Diamond.  It is an RV park.  Not any fancy stuff.   We parked there - Rog and Pen plus the two youngest girls stayed in the RV while wife & I stayed over in Christine's house.
.
And for two days we went to the ballgames.  I missed a couple.  It was a good outing me thinks.
.
If you have kept up with me over the years, you know that we have a Grammy Camp each summer, usually in August.  Since Megan is a marching band member, she begins marching practice in August.  It came to me in a flash (with a little wife help), after the tournament, load the girls up and take them with us - GRAMMY CAMP!!
But, wait, Laura's moving at this time.
Solution:  We took the girls with us - home - on a Sunday.   Monday we helped Laura get settled (all girls and us).  Tuesday, we RV'd the girls to Galveston for a couple of fun days on the beach. They seemed to have a good time on Galveston Island.    Being raised in the Panhandle, the girls had never seen the Ocean (Gulf) and waves and seagulls and shells.  Which reminds me, they had so much fun throwing food in the air for the Gulls.  They would step on the beach - one seagull in sight - throw food up - 30 to 50 seagulls magically appeared out of nowhere.  Amazing.
.
I watched a guy get out of his car on the beach with a big white bucket.  He took a net out of the bucket and walked into the sea up to his waist.  The man threw the hand net out into the water and pulled it back in with the rope.  He turned around, walked out of the water, dumped a fish into his bucket, and drove off.  One throw, One fish.   Amazing.
.
We worked our way home on a Friday meeting Roger and Penney.  Sat., that family was off.  They toured Cowboy Stadium and went to a Ranger's game in the evening - 4th of July Fireworks and all.   They returned to our house between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m.   After sleeping the morning away, they loaded up their car and returned to their home.   I think Grammy Camp was good this year. Next year I am thinking we should take them to Colorado or Arizona or Timbuktu.
.
Last stone.  This week we drove to Waxa and gave moral support to Laura as she test drived - test droved - tested by driving cars.  Her old 1998 Ford Explorer was on its last leg and headed for $4000 and up repairs.  It was time to let it go.  She ended up with a nice Chevy Equinox, red.  Her old car was gone.
.
Our experience in the Waxahachie Ford House was miserable.  The salesman was a nice kid.  His idea of a test drive was:  He drove us down I-35 eventually stopping.  He let Laura turn it around and drive it back to the Ford House.  We thanked him and explained that her husband had to be brought into the conversation.  Fine.  Wham.  Out came his boss.  This clown was aggressive and insulting to any intelligent human.  Finally, I just stopped and told him that he was being too aggressive, and we needed to leave until she could talk to her husband.   The guy was truly a jerk. If I ever buy another Ford, his store won't see my shadow.
.
Other things have happened in the past month.  Those stones will have to wait.  I am going up the hill to get the mail and my newspaper.  See Ya, Guys.
m  

more pot pouring

Today is Monday.  My wife had quilt guild this morning and I had a dermatology appt this afternoon.  They froze 5 little things off my face and said to come back in a year.  I hate doctor visits.
.
Yesterday was a trip to Dallas to visit Jim & E after heart transplant.  9 days ago was the transplant.  She is living in an apartment near Baylor Hospital.  She makes many a trip over to Baylor for medical stuff.  We packed up in the car - she in her mask and house shoes - and ate at Cindy's on Central Expwy.  Interesting and busy restaurant. Our dogs were quite pleased to see our return (after dark).      They were chilled and hungry.  Greta even finished off her bowl before Oscar - that is a rarity.
.
Daughter Christine came to visit over the weekend and we went to Canton on Sat. Bought absolutely nothing except a diet coke or two.  I love going to Canton.  The varied merchandise is fun to see - plus - we got to see the puppies in Dog Town. Lunch was eaten at a Chinese Buffet.  My fortune cookie told me "Now is a good time to expand your repertoire of skills and knowledge."   So I went back for an extra egg roll.  Some skills need practice.
.
Where they froze my face, it itches.  Man does it itch.  For your FYI info:  laser surgery to correct a torn retina hurts a lot more during the process than freezing the smile on your face - not that you asked.
.
With 20 degree weather outside, my dogs are staying inside unless pushed out to irrigate the soil.  My ball-playing ball boy Oscar is going stir crazy - I believe it would be known as cabin fever.  The others sit and stare, but not Oscar.  I am looking forward to his bedtime.  The north wind coming off the lake is just flat brutal.  Ice has formed along the shoreline.  Tough weather.
.
I do have some other fortune cookie things:
Only talent people get help from others  (saying is over my understanding head)
One thought driven home is better than 3 left on base (  ah soooo)
Let hatred turn into friendship because of your existence.   (not for me)
Luck sometimes visits a fool, but it never sits down with him.
You are the evening star in someone's romantic eyes.
You have a deep appreciation of the arts and music.  (wife got this one while I got the           romantic eyes one)
Keep it simple.  The more you say, the less people remember.
.
With that one I should close.  
.
I have started on the new journey of re-reading the Hobbit - see previous post about the annotated edition given to me by daughter Laura -  I work through about one chapter per day reading all the footnotes and additions.  Frankly, it is quite interesting. You should try it.   I may do the Lord of the Rings again next.  
.
The spouse started the new season of Down-Town-Abbey last night.  She sat in front of that TV for 2 hours and didn't fall asleep.  Amazing - almost as amazing as someone getting a heart transplant or Greta eating faster than Oscar...nobody beats Fritz to the bottom of the bowl.  Off track:  I am pleased that i did not get hooked on the Abbey show.  It might be really good; but, now, I don't HAVE to watch it.
.
As I type Oscar is behind me on the floor with the ball in his mouth whining - waiting for me to throw the ball - inside.  I'll keep it simple and close.  More later.
m

Blog statistics

Look at this.  I went to an area of this blog and found some figures-statistics, if you will.               39 people from China have read this blog at one time or another.   And so forth so on.   Maybe they are just practicing reading our language.  If I do have a regular reader from a foreign  (not usa) country, I wish they would subscribe ===>   This is so interesting.   

Pageviews by Countries Entry Pageviews United States 134 China 39 United Kingdom 6 France 4 Ireland 4 Canada 1 Spain 1 Russia 1

==================================================================
Now look at this stuff.   Today  (Wed., 13th of May), 8 pageviews.  I may have been one of these just to look at how the background colors came out - but 8 ?   45 views yesterday.   Amazing.   But look at last month -  873 views.    Flabbergasted I am.  Welcome again to y'all.  Somebody take the time to send me a comment or two.

Pageviews today

8

Pageviews yesterday

45

Pageviews last month

873

Pageviews all time history

14,962

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

You may have noticed that I do not have advertisements.  Apparently, I made Google mad about the advertisements.  I was once told that if someone clicks on an adv.  I make a penny.  Thinking that was no way to get wealthy, I made fun of it in a really really early blog entry.   Google sent me a notice that I had broken the rules and all money was being returned to the advertisers.  What money?   I asked.   Nobody talks to me about this.  I wouldn't mind getting money out of this thing, but.....   I have learned my lesson.  I am sad.  I wonder if Google forgave Clinton for his errors?  I know that I did - in my heart.  Sure.  Maybe someday they will forgive me and advertisements will return.  If they do, I am not telling you to click on anything.  You have to figure it out on your own - all 8 7 3 of you from last month.

out.

mtz

A little Pot Pouring

SAT. EXTRA BLOG / BLUG

The Corsicana Swing Orchestra is performing this afternoon in Fairfield from 2 to 4 at their Relay for Life.  This is another (not complaining) of our free gigs.   Rumor is we have another Relay for Life coming up in Teague soon.   I don't complain because I like to play my horn with these guys.  It is so difficult to practice anymore, alone - in my room - you get the picture.   So practicing with the CSO or performing, it is good.   And God Said:  " ... "  
.
Yesterday was Rush Limbaugh's annual Radiothon for Leukemia and other blood deseases.  Go to RushLimbaugh.com and contribute.  My own father died from Leukemia when he was 64 years old.  While I don't donate to a lot of charities, this is one that has gotten my attention.  I should tell that stone someday...not today...too pretty outside for a downer.
.
This is sorta a pot pouring  bluggy today.  Didja know there is a website run by NBC  CALLED  www.Missingmoney.com   apparently they have list of money that poor slobs like you and me have left somewhere.  How do people leave money in places?  I don't know.  You'd think people would think.  But no.  My personal stone.  If have some junk that I collected over the years including some old, but not rare, coins.  When I was a Boy Scout, I made a coin collection to get a merit badge.   I had to collect one USA coin from each division from the year I was born.  I did.  Got the merit badge.  Still have the coins.
.
So we were living in a rental in Plano trying to keep our head above water.  I thought it would be good to put some stuff in a Safety Deposit Box in a bank...it was free with the checking account.  Later we moved to Gainesville, and I gots suh call from Plano - "What should we do with the stuff in the your Box since you closed your account?"   Really?  What a dumb thing to do.   I had not even thought of that Box in a couple of years.
.
We picked up the things and now my coins are in a safer place.   I took this little tin box, walked 10 paces north from the tree with the face and 17 giant steps east burying the coins under a big rock that looks like the Titanic on a bad day.  Whew.  That's over.  They'll be safe out there.
.
Did I ever tell you about Ray Chapa.  He lives somewhere in south or south central Texas  Ray is a clarinet teacher.  He makes the rounds of schools giving clinics to students.  Ray has a particular way about him that I find entertaining.  And what he preaches works if the students will merely pay attention and give it a shot.  I had one clarinet play who did his embouchure method a few years ago, and her sound just opened up.  It was gorgeous.  Competent player with a gorgeous sound.  That sound alone pushed her to the top of the All-Region type bands.  I wish everyone of my students had heard Ray and followed his lesson.   Enough of that.  
.
At the time Ray was coming to Manor, he traveled with a red Dachshund.   It was a great looking doxie.  Maybe that is why I like Ray so much.  He was a smart aleck and had a Dachshund.
.
Microwave ovens.  Do you realize how great they are?   We didn't have em when I wss a kid.  And when first got them, it was like the sun rising in the morning.   Those first few weiners we put in the machine to seem them bloat up and explode.  (actually, we prefer the term  weinees to  weiners or frankfurters).   But then, veggies were warmed up.  It was wonderful.
.
Our microwave here had the door break last year.  The handle virtually came off into our hands.  We called Sears and looked for a new door - of course not - product model was discontinued.  Next step?   duct tape or a new machine.  My wife, not having a true understanding of the greatest of duct tape and the beautiful things it can accomplished, pushed for the new machine.
.
We went to the Sears on line.  You might ask why we would go back to the company that messed us up in the first place.  We wanted to match the handle with the refrig and the dish washer and the range.  And we did finally.  It is a beautiful  beautiful (word of the day/blog) machine.  Now get this.  I called their customer service people and asked questions about this model before it was bought.  They had no clue.
.
This one does not have the carousel inside.  Instead the square glass plate inside moves from side to side.  Thus one could actually put a large bird or large container inside and the door would not be hit.  Bee-U-Ti-Fulllll.   Wait, there is more.  The door opens from either side.  Open the right side or open the left side.  What a great idea.  The customer service people had no clue, and we didn't either until after it was installed.  I love our new microwave.  Is that a small crack forming under that handle?
.
gotta leave for Fairfield.
Y'all stay busy 
and go get a hobby
something that is restful
and profitable
m3

Saturday plus other memories

Today the wife heads for Lubbock for a week to (she says) babysit two of our g'girls while the other one goes to a church camp.  She and Christine are going while I stay behind with the dogs.


I have a dance job (+ rehearsals) coming up.  I feel obligated to stay here and do the band thing.   I do enjoy the band thing.


The dance is a Senior Prom.   No, not for H.S. seniors.  It is for the elderly types - "seniors" prom.   The Corsicana Swing Orchestra fits right into that group.  I did have a thought though.  Swing was popular in the 40s....that would be people in their 80s.   My group of swingers    -  in our 70s  -   grew up with the beginnings of rock and roll, Elvis, that bunch.  I wonder if they shouldn't be having a rockabilly 50s band to play for this prom.


Y'know, in my home town of Levelland, my class didn't really have a senior prom.   It was not like it is today.  Dancing was considered such a sin by many of the Levelland powers - make that POWERS - that dancing was not allowed for kids too much in public.    Now in the spring of 57, there was a dance down in the big room of the new hotel.   The group I played with in high school - doc, jimmy, and a few others, played for that dance.   We played a while then another group, a guitar type group, played a while.  We shared.  The guitar group was known as the Sparkles - and I still see their name in and around Lubbock playing for things even now.  I don't know if it is the same group, but the name is the same.  I want to say Jimmy blakely was their boss.  I forget.


I remember our group (cutely called The Saints - semi dixieland music & so forth)  had this little riff we would play - then take solos, making up whatever possessed us.  We played that fairly on in the job.  A bit later, kids started coming up to us and requesting we play Tequila again.  We had no idea what Tequila was. We figured it out.  Yep, we figured it out.  Our riff was the Tequila rhythm.  I bet we played that thing 5 times during the night.  The Sparkles had nothing like it in the book.  We were so groovy.


Reminds me of another Levelland job about that same time.  We were booked to play a dance - it seems to me out at the rodeo arena or inside a bldg at the arena.  Jim, Doc, & Me - may have Bob (guitar) or that "funny" kid playing the piano - and a strange man that I had never met who played a guitar.   I think he was suppose to be our 'steady' factor to keep us going in the right direction.


Doc McKay was our drummer, good friend of brother Jim.  His parents had influence in and around town.  They booked us for more than one job.   Well we had our songs - I had my fake book and could play any song that came around.  But this man - let's call him Billy Bob - tall, lanky, tough skin, rough,  played guitar in the key of E.   I had never faced the key of E with such regularity.   (little band stuff here - on trumpet, that would be the key of F # - and unbearable number of sharps).  We survived the night even though it must have  lacked  some professional-lity - maybe for Levelland, it was quite good.  Nobody yelled.


I have one lasting memory of that night.  The guy said, "Do y'all know The Shriek of Arabie"?   (is that spelled Arabie or Araby or Aire-uh-beeee ?).  We had never heard of that song.  Doc could play it, drummer and all.   Our other guitar player (bob) could - after all it was in E.   Before the night, I had learned that song - played it over and over and over.  I know the Shiek - just noticed I spelled it Shriek up above - Or  is it Sheik?   My speel chek dudn't lake it any durection I goe.   Looked it up on spell check - it prefers Shrek - modern spell check I suppose.


Nuff of the above.  I enjoyed the night.  We got paid something.  The crowd danced.  No eggs were thrown.  Never saw that long legged lanky stranger and his lonely guitar again.  Quite a guy.  Doc's parents started looking for another gig for us.  

RV black water tanks

My cousin Barbara read the RV & Sewer bit on the previous bluggy.  Terrible, just terrible.  

She sent this reply:  (for those who don't know, modern motorhomes ( or RVs )  have 2 different water inlets.   One goes straight into the vehicle and fills the water tank or connects to the water system.  The send goes straight into the black water tank.  When you empty the black water tank (sewer), you can flush the tank with this inlet.  You must keep the sewer hose open and connected to city sewer connection, or water just fills the black tank.  Question:  when a sewer tank is full, where does it overflow?  Read below.


You all have my sincere sympathy. I'm sure that was not a fun day for you or the pup. And since you still have your MH, here is a great story. We met 2 couples who often camped together in TX. One couple had a MH, the other had a fifth wheel. They set up camp and went to eat dinner. Before leaving they hooked up the elect and water. BOTH hooked up the water to the backflush inlet instead of the fresh water inlet. Of course, they turned on the water. And of course, the black water tanks began to fill. And of course the valves were closed, or this would not be an odd story You know by now where this is going. One couple's tank was empty and fairly clean, but the other was about half full. When they returned from dinner, the "clean" tank had filled all the way up the vent pipe and "clean" water was spilling down the side of the coach. The other one had clogged the vent pipe and backed up into the potty and covered the floors of the coach about an inch deep. If that sound bad, don't forget the central heat vents are in the floor. And these were experienced RVers.

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

Back to me now.  When I was just a little pup, freshly married etc.  We borrowed a travel trailer from parents to make a trip.  I was not really too smart about certain things.  After we got home, I parked the trailer in our front yard ( a nice little rental place in Sudan ).  I climbed under the trailer and opened up a 4 inch thing - nobody knows why I opened it;  I just did.  The entire black tank emptied on that yard.   Some of us have to learn the hard way.
m

Sunday today

daily event:


Yesterday the wind came out of the south (more s.e.). It blew hard. When I woke up this morning it was coming out of the north, straight across the lake into our back door. We have not seen a strong wind like this in a long time. Everything on our back porch has moved around in the breeze.



Our weather alarm went off saying that the small town of Navarro was to be evacuated. Fire. Navarro is a wide spot about 10 miles south of us. Luckily the wind is blowing out of the north and the fire was heading south towards that leg of the lake. Let me change that. It is lucky for us, the fire was going that way.


Our next door neighbor drove up. They had been to Canton to buy some big jugs for their back porch. But, as will happen when you go to Canton, they went to the dog area. If you have never been to "dog town" - it is fun. There are more puppies there than you can shake a chew stick at. They are sooooooooo cute. I always try to see Poms so I can tell Jim. The dachshunds are everywhere - they even had 2 wire hair ones this month. Big Dogs; Little Dogs. I don't know how these people ever come out ahead with all the puppies.

Back to the neighbors. You may remember their black Lab, Heidi, died a while back. That left Sue, their other lab, alone. Now they have a new puppy - a 2 month old Bullmastiff. Its dad was 120 lbs. Big Puppy. Big paws. Big Papa.


Anyway - remember she is an insurance agent. The wife, not the bullmastiff. She told me about the fires in the county - ten. She has two customers in Navarro who keep calling her about the fire down there. It really bothers me about all these fires throughout the state. I am sitting on a potential disaster.


now for the few of you who actually will care -- I learned today that Abby has moved - with DeeDee & Penny & Little Dog. The people down the way bought a house in Red Oak and the dogs have gone. We will never love on Abby again. She was a good dog friend.  You can read about Abby on another posting.
m3

church choir + walmart

stone:

I joined the church choir. It gives me a chance to do a bit of music and to meet some people in this new town (new to us). We practice from 7 till 8 on Wednesdays and perform in the 11 o'clock service on Sunday. It is an experience for me.

I don't mean this as a "put-down." Many of these people cannot read any music, yet they sing in the choir with pretty good voices. I actually admire their ability to memorize this music on Wednesday and perform on Sunday. I just don't see how they do that. I read the notes on the page and sing the words with a adequate but not great voice. There are some with great vocal cords, and they can read music.

One guy is a boss at the local Chrysler house, another is a general handyman in town, there is a jr college student, a school teacher, a rich oil man who happens to be mayor of the town, a dental hygienist. . . . it is an interesting mixture of locals.

A couple of months back they decided they needed to do a "show." Great Idea. On a Sunday afternoon, we perform Broadway songs for whomever happens to show. Free show. Everyone was excited. Plans were made and music was ordered. Members of the First Baptist church were invited to join us and about 8 have. It is a wonderful possibility.

The performance is 4 weeks from today. And we made it through the first 2 songs tonight -- made it through means we made it through, not performance ready, just through. Now I have faith it will work out.

The director has extended rehearsals. 6:30-7:30 work on Sunday music. 7:30 - 8:30 work on Broadway. That would be a 2 hour rehearsal. He extended it an extra 15 minutes tonight with the approval of the group.

When I left, it was to be a quick trip to Walmart to pick up some French Onion soup, hot peppers, some new socks - etc. Did you know that after 9-ish, Walmart begins to clean the store. They run machines up and down aisles. They block off areas for cleaning. They pack boxes in the middle of the aisles. And, here, teenagers seem to come to hang and be loud. I do believe there was a shift change in the middle of my visit. Not dilly-dallying around, it took an hour in the store. Even the checker made a mistake and had to do my stuff twice as well as change the register tape. I tried the self-checkout - but the machine acted up and the kid in charge was talking to 3 of his best friends - WHO WERE HANGING OUT IN WALMART.

One last thing. Now you can create your own short story from this one sentence. I was walking down the main aisle of the grocery section. Two men were standing in the middle of same (I had to go around them). They were well dressed (one a bit better than the other) - well groomed, etc. I would guess both were in late 40s or early 50s. The one facing towards me spoke with a very stong voice. I quote: You make up story:

".... nobody is going to tell me not to pray for her to come home."

that's it; see ya
mtz

Newspapers and misc.

From the newspaper: a few things I read in the paper -

1. "A bull charged, and matador Christian Hernandez took off -- across the ring, over the wall and into controversy. The admittedly terrified torero was arrested after Sunday's botched bullfight at the Plaza Mexico, apparently for breach of contract" .... he was released after paying a fine. 22 years old, the Mexican matador said, "I didn't have the ability ... this is not my thing." He retired from bullfighting.

2. Cathy Barber reported that a company named DEANO'S is making a cheddar Jalapeno chip (in Vermont) = slices of jalapeno, breaded and fried to a crisp, then dusted with cheese powder ... think French's fried onions but with jalapeno inside. They are only available by mail. You can get 3 bags for $12.95 --thasss right ---- $12.95 for 3 bags full. One for my master, one for my dame, and for the little girl who lives down the lane. www.deanosjalapenos.com
TWELVE NINETY FIVE

3. Pick your own berries: www.picktexas.com or www.pickyourown.org

4. From Dear Abby: June 15 was World Elder Abuse Day. Abby issued an appeal to learn more about elder abuse. I can recite right here and now, on June 15th, I was abused. People did their part and abused me mercilessly.

5. Headline: "Should all good yogis shun meat? Vegetarian debate continues."
I didn't read the article.

6. An Ohio church had a 62 foot high statue of Jesus out front. It was Jesus from the waist up, with His hands raised upward similar to the "touchdown Jesus" @ Notre Dame. It was made of steel and foam (guess other stuff). Burned, hit by lightening. The photo in the newspaper is of Jesus with his hands raised, on fire. The final photo is of the remaining steel structure after the fire. The pastor says they will rebuild.
My thought is that the Devil sent the lightening. I will leave other comments to your mind.

Final thing. Ate at a Taco Bell last week. Y'know those little paper things on the tables that advertise food & drinks? I learned these are called Table Tents. The one on my tabled talked of New Frozen Margaritas at Taco Bell. Your choice: Strawberry Margarita or Classic Margarita. In smaller print it recited: "Contains no fruit juice or alcohol." I thought that was worth mentioning.

so I close, see ya soon.

WAIT !!! Let me give a tribute to Bill Etheredge who just retired after 40 years in the school systems. His last adventure was as a counselor in Lewisville ISD. I worked with Bill in Ardmore when he helped run the JHS band program and kept me pointed in the semi-right directions at the high school. Bill was so good with people and especially students - He is moving back to Oklahoma to be near his kids. Good luck to Bill as he joins the rest of us on the back porch, watching the world go by.

mtz

Old Man Remembering

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS!

OLD MAN REMEMBERING: When I was young, my father who was quite frugal - no make that cheap - would walk through the house turning out lights and yelling out the numbers = "That's one; that's two; that's three....." I never noticed how many lights were left on until I began to pay the electric bill. Now, I walk through my house turning off lights thinking "That's one; that's two; That's three...." I would never yell it out - the wife might flatten me.

Horoscope

This is from aol startup - welcome screen. Tuesday.
So, I know that my son Roger & bro Jim are Leo(s) -- Anyone else. Anyone a Taurus? Once owned a Taurus = loved that car. First car I ever had that went 100,000 miles without a tuneup or ANY -- ANYANYANY repair. Loved that car. Then I had that Mercury Marquis that ran fer-ever.

Now, let's be clear (to quote dingbat) = if y'all like this Horoscope stuff and think it is importantly valid - I will try to not make fun. Every since I read a horoscope that proclaimed me as the next athletic star - well, let's get serious here. Is Horoscope derived from Horrorscopes. Nevermind.
===============================================================

Full Moon Tonight Could Be a 'Powder Keg'

Getty Images (they had a photo of the moon on the welcome screen)

Leo, family & work demands come to a head tonight. And Taurus may want to avoid your partner or risk a big fight. See lunar impact on your horoscope

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

Luckily my wife and I are Virgo and Scorpio - we're good people. mtz

Pot Pouring Wed.

This blog is full of misc - unrelated items. Warning Warning



1. I sing in the choir at the Corsicana FUMC. It is my way of trying to meet people and attempt to fit into the community better. You cannot just watch Ophra all day (yet to watch her in the past 4 to 5 years)...Easte Sunday Todd Kase Daviss was baptised - infant. What I found great was they used actual water from the Jordan River. I thought "hmmmm" Then our preacher made the comment that he had been baptized with water from the Jordan River as a child. How do you carry a jug of water on an airplane?

2. I had to start drinking diet drinks about 2 years ago (a diff stone). Diet Coke is okay; diet pepsi is just terrible to me. Then they came out with Zero. Mah baby. As my neice Sharla said, "Zero is what COKE meant to make when they made diet Coke." My favorite though is cherry zero and cherry diet coke. They make colas bearable.

3. Famous Saying: If you build a man a fire, you will keep him warm for a night - If you set a man on fire, you will keep him warm for the rest of his life. Heard that on the radio.

4. Famous Saying 2: Don't Rag about a free barbeque...

5. I am practicing my trumpet. In between exercises/songs/etudes I write on this blog. My mouth will not play very long - the chops get tired.
6. Picked u p a can of hairspray at cvs todaqy...it had a label which I don't understand:
"Security label: this item intended for sale at CVS Phamacy. Store #6854 601 W. 7th Avenue. If found at other outlets call 1-866-438-8724." Now what does that imply?
7. I went to Austin this past weekend to do some work at the UT Stadium. At 8:00 a.m. as I headed down there, I paused briefly at the Walmart Parmer & I-35. Coming out 10 minutes later someone had keyed my black car. State Farm is fixing it on Monday. Do you think it might have been the double T on the back of the car? or the license plate holder which says Tech Band Alumni. Either way, at 8 a.m. they were waiting.

8. final for today: in the FT worth paper today (Wed) Arlington: deadline for free pit bull clinic is Friday. Owner must attend a responsible pit bull ownership class 3 pm Ap 24 www.respectabull.com Go Figure.