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.

Going to Pottsboro

PAST WEEK HAS BEEN BUSY - don't get me wrong, it was not too hard & I had time to laze around quite a lot - but I stayed busy in my mind. It started on Sunday when I spent 3 days with my brother Jim helping him re-wire his kitchen and put up some new lights over the center aisle stove and the bars. They look good.

When I make a trip, short or long, I make notes to remember the funnier or strange things. Now, what I think is funny, it seems a lot of folks just stare at me. For instance, my bro lives in the country near Pottsboro, TX. You travel through Sherman, then Denison, make a left a mile after Walmart & another left later - before you know it, you are in FINK, TEXAS. Fink used to have festivals and made some money out of its name, not any more.
I just find it humorous (or "funny" to some OR "Yuk, Yuk" to high school dropouts) that POTTSboro is right beside FINK. Not a belly laugh, just a bit of a grin.
Driving to Pottsboro on a Sunday afternoon. Have you listened to AM radio on Sunday afternoon? Everyone is trying to sell you drugs or stocks or money tips or real estate. I settled on a radio show called Gun Talk. They talk about guns for hours. I know nothing about guns... But, I did write down a website called www.galleryofguns.com

As I type, am watching American Pickers on History Channel. Just finished 2 episodes of Pawn Stars. Had to find some show to take MONK'S place. I stopped at a QT gas station in Plano. Inside was this really tall man as thin as one can get with his wife (dumpy is a good description) - she was really sorta short and heavy. Their teenage son was hanging around. He'd fit the generic concept of a great tuba play physique. 32 oz drinks were 49 cents & these three each had a cup -- tasting all the different selections ... all the different selections. After settling on a special, particular flavor, they and moved on to the Hot Dog Station.

I found my Band of Brothers soundtrack on my I-touch and headed north, 65 mph, Hwy 75, crusin'. Whoosh, some guy on a motorcycle came around me liberally as if I were standing still. Just had a moment to glance at his helmet. It had a tuff of hair across the top - a helmet with a Mohawk hair doooo.
Before I move to next blog: didja know Sherman has a Buck Owens Freeway? And an observation: I drive a black Mercury. It is amazing how many people slow down when I appear in their rearview mirror, then, take off when I pull up beside them - "Aw man, he's not a cop!" MTZ

Greta the snake dog #2

short bit:

I have been at my brother Jim's house to help him do some electrical work in his house. He bought a Fixer-Upper and has been slowly moving forward, but some things need a 3rd hand. I am about a half-hand.

Naturally, since I am not at home, something has to go wrong.

[OLD MAN REMEMBERING TIME ] One year when I was taking 100 kids to Florida for a band competition, about 15 hours into the trip my wife called. The hot water heater had self-destructed and water was flooding the house. She came home from teaching ( Actually she was an Educational Diagnostician in public schools - I just thought saying "she came home from diagnosticianing" would be confusing ) - anyhoo, she came home at the end of the day to a floating house. Nothing I could do but go to Disneyworld and think.

I went to my brother's house Sunday, planning to return Wednesday afternoon. My wife called me this morning about 9:30. She is sitting in the Vet's office with Greta, the snake dog. Greta met a copperhead she couldn't beat this morning. The wife took the snake out with a shovel though. The only good snake is a dead snake. For a clarification, Greta is our wire-hair dachshund weighing about 9 pounds after she eats, maybe.

Let me cut to the chase. Greta is fine. The snake bit her on the tongue. The doc gave her a benadryl (sp.) shot and some antibiotics (about $100). She bled profusely from the mouth (tongue) for quite a while. I would think that helped her flush out some of the poison. I do not know if Greta has learned anything yet. That remains to be seen. The doc didn't think she has. He said that dachshunds are born hunters, and hunt she will do.

[OLD MAN REMEMBERING TIME #2] We once had a black & tan full sized smooth coat Dachshund named Mandy and we lived by a lake near Gainesville. We came home one time and her nose was bigger than Jimmy Durante's. From that day forward, Mandy's growl (voice) would change when there was a snake in the yard. You could hear that special growl. When the sound came, I grabbed a shotgun and wasted a snake. I am more frugal today - a shovel will do just fine.

Greta is moving slowly. She is in no hurry to go anywhere. Greta doesn't want to step off into the grass to do her business. We will see how the Copperhead affects her behavior later. This is now the 3rd one of my dogs to be bit this spring by copperheads. But Greta has accounted for 5 dead snakes...or is it six?
Good Dog!!

I hear that my boy Fritz, a hunter and eater by trade, tried to carry a dead rabbit into the house Tuesday night. My wife had fits getting him to leave it outside for the buzzards. I hate to see the rabbits killed. They are so cute. Snakes are not cute.

I am home & all is fine for now.
mtz

Polka Festival - page two

We had seen advertisement about the polka festival for quite a while. On Sat. morning wife, Tom & Laura, & I drove to Ennis to watch the 10 a.m. parade We had to park 6 blocks from the parade route. Next time we'll go earlier and take lawn chairs. Yes, it was hot.
Most smaller town parades start with a police car followed by the high school band then a few cars with cheerleaders and teeny tiny twirlers with horses bringing up the tail. This parade had all of that and more - to my surprise, it lasted over an hour. It was packed with old cars, cars from the 50s, new cars, floats of various sizes, the Ennis Band played a nice march and played it well, brought a jealous tear to my eye. Towards the end of the parade was a BMW convertible. As it limped by us there was a loud pop followed by steam enveloping the hood. They pushed the car out of the way.

The cop cars came followed by many old guys carrying flags. I don't know what group they were with, but they had on lots of clothes, big tall hats with feathers and plumes, and long flowing capes. If I had to guess with no knowledge, I'd say something like Knights of Columbus in ceremonial clothing. When they came to our corner, one of the old gents went straight down to the pavement. The parade stopped as they helped him to the curb and doused him with water. I'd bet he was 80+ if he were a day. Next came the band. The Ennis band sounded good marching by - you could hear all the parts. About 4 or 5 more groups later (I don't mean to insult anyone here), was a group of Shriners. I have never seen an all Black Shriner group. There was one really old white guy walking with them.

Later in the parade, I'd guess there were 6 to 10 more Shriner groups. There were floats of them, groups with funny horns and little cymbals & drums, clowns, clowns on funny cars, motorcycles....There was one semi truck opened on both sides - with an old guy guitar band inside. There were probably 7 floats of polka bands and a few small rock & roll bands playing off the back of trailers. Fire trucks blaring horns from every town in Ellis County. At the of the parade, horses. It was a fun smaller town parade. A few of the Ennis band members finished the parade - went back to the start and came back through playing in a polka band. I bet that was fun.

We went home after checking out the booths. On Sunday morning, Christine announced she was going up to hear some polka music. Some of us headed north after lunch. All day Sat. & Sun. they have polka bands playing in 3 different halls. Each group plays about 3 hours and is replaced by another. You pay at the door and get one of those wrist bands which let you visit all halls.

We went to the first dance hall we could find, the Knights of Columbus Hall. We picked a long table at the back covered in white paper, outta the way. There was an empty table next to ours. People were dancing and the band was playing. Great Czech food was sold out of the kitchen. It was interesting.

After 30-40 minutes of polka band listening, I got up to get a diet coke. When I returned, I heard this noise calling my attention to the people who had just sat down at the table next to us. I heard ,"Mr. Metze." It was Jo Ann Hurley and Rachel Hurley.

I retired in May, 2004. Rachel was in that graduating class and was my first chair flute. She was quite good. After leaving Manor, Rachel went to U. TX and played piccolo in the Longhorn Band - she eventually became the piccolo section leader her final year at UT.
Rachel and her mom had just come in and sat at the table next to us. Rachel is the 2010 Miss Texas Czech. [that is not the official title - but I fergit] In her reign, she travels about the state going to these festivals. She dances with the polka people and generally represents the state. In August she goes to Nebraska for the National competition.

Rachel was wearing a gorgeous 110 yr old Czech dress from her grandmother. It was a gorgeous outfit and, oh yes, she gets to wear that fab jeweled crown and a colorful sash. I do believe she loves that crown.

What are the chances that I would drive 20 miles on a Sunday afternoon to watch a Polka band in the Ennis Knights of Columbus Hall and bump into Rachel Hurley and the Taco Lady? I forgot to mention, Jo Ann was a very active band parent. She owned a taco type stand all those years. Jo Ann worked hard and long and was the typical stage door mama.

Honestly had a really good visit with both of them. It was fun watching Rachel flitting around and around the dance floor waltzing and polka-ing and chicken-dancing. Part of duties is to dance with any guy who comes around...and she did. At one point she was introduced to the crowd and did that typical beauty queen wave. I really enjoyed seeing both of them. What are the chances?

We had a great weekend - seeing an ex-student at a polka festival dressed in Czech garb, crown, and sash - that was gravy.

Polka Festival - page one

For those who do not have a built-in generic map of Texas, let me give you a quick geography lesson. We live outside of Corsicana, to the east of town to be exact, on the Richland - Chambers Lake. This lake is a reservoir for Tarrant County (Ft Worth) and is the 3rd largest lake in Texas. If we took off in the boat to drive to the dam (prefer to say Darn - but didn't want to confuse anyone right now). If we boat to the Darn, it takes about 2+ hours to arrive. It might take longer, don't know, never made the trip by boat...prolly never will.

Corsicana is on I-45 between Houston and Dallas; I can drive to downtown D. in one easy hour. Now 20 miles up the road on that trip to big d, is Ennis in Ellis County. Ennis is a nice size town (4A UIL I think- as well as is Corsicana).

One of Cor's claim to fame is the first oil well drilled west of the Mississippi. They were digging a water well and hit oil - made em mad. Ennis' claim to fame is they are the home of the National Polka Festival, Memorial Day weekend. All towns have things to claim, not to get bogged down in little stuff cause is has nothing to do with this stone, my hometown, Levelland, 30 miles west of Lubbock in Hockley County has had 2 claims to fame: they had an episode of flying saucers some years back - I am sure this can be googled if you crave that sorta thing &&&&& the 2nd thing is that Hockley County once was in Ripley's Believe It or Not for having any bridges. But, I digress, back to Corsicana.

We have been seeing things in the newspaper about a Polka Festival in Ennis for a couple of years. Store that away till later.
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2nd Part: My 3 kids, spouses, & 3 grandkidders all came here for Memorial Day weekend. Daughter Laura & hubby Tom showed first on Friday early. They love to fish & tried to catch something of value since arriving. Nothing worked this trip.

Son Roger & wife Penney + the 3 grandwonders came in on Sat afternoon. Daughter Christine is preparing for an Iron Man race in Austin - so she spent Sat morning swimming, riding the bike, and running - all in practice.

Some might find this next bit to be fun. Rog/Pen drove down from Lubbock Thursday after their kids got out of school. They had a hotel room in Arlington in prep for a 6 Flags outing all day Friday; but, alas ado, they have 4 dogs, all lovely dachshunds. Dogs don't do 6 Flags, more flags, more fun, less dogs.
They dumped their children in the hotel and drove south to meet us at a Love's gas station where we took in the dogs - lovingly. Their pups are sweet and cause less problems than ours. The following is a short essay about their dogs:
Sparky is their big boy, just as loveable a red doxie as you can find. Trilby, a long hair is their oldest female. She seems to be hard of hearing so you have to warn her of your existence or she will be startled and might wake up fighting. Katie Bell is the smallest of the crop. We think she is part Chihuahua and shows the temper if pushed. She is so cute walking around growling at the bigger dogs. They ignore her completely. Their final pup is Max, a yr old black & gray piebald who is still quite active. Let's change his name to Go-Go.
We made it home about 11:30 or so, put the dogs in bed, & followed suit. Friday came, Lar & Tom came up with their one dog, a white peke named Susie who was adopted from the pound in Kentucky [ and (I think) still shows mental scars from the previous owners ].
Counting my 5 wire-hair doxies, we had 10 dogs in the backyard. Continuing with this line of chatter, Christine showed Sat. afternoon with her 3 dogs; yes, that would be 13 dogs running amuck in my backyard. Her dogs: Buddy. adopted, mixed medium breed with short tail and boss attitude. Wesley. adopted, mixed too, who so much wants to please everyone. And Ollie who adopted Christine one day. A small red dachshund that was turned loose by neighbors until Chr. took her in to keep. Fiery little mutt; wants to be dominant.
It may seem that I have lost my my way regarding the Polka Festival. Nope. That will unfold in Polka Festival - maybe you will hang in for page 2.

Amanda McKittrick Ros

I fall behind in my magazine reading; you can only spend so much time in the "reading room" without causing a stir. I just finished my Smithsonian, June 2009 edition. The Last page (known in the magazine as: The Last Page) has cuteness and warmth one page stories and commentary - a printed blog one might say. This particular article is talking about the worst author in history. Irish writer Amanda McKittrick Ros - apparently she is worth seeking out to read. I imagine if word gets out, there will be a Ros Festival on some college campus.



The article said that CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien held competitions to see who could read her work aloud longest while keeping a straight face. Here are a couple of bits: she refers to eyes as "globes of glare," legs as "bony supports," pants as a "southern necessary," and sweat as "globules of liquid lava."



Forgot to mention, the article is writen by Miles Corwin who teaches literary journalism at Univ Calif Irvine.



Looks to me that you should find her works to read:

1st novel Irene Iddesleigh (Mark Twain considered it as "one of the greatest unintentionally humorous novels of all time."

Last novel: Helen Huddleson


there is a biography called O Rare Amanda! published in 1954 and an anthology of her most memorable passages is in -- Thine in Storm and Calm 1988


with that I close to begin the Smithsonian, July 2009 edition
mtz

Malcolm Arnold

short little thing.
The wife and I are signed up for Netflix. We don't always order the newer films. When it arrives, we have a movie night in the living room: her away from quilting & I away from this computer machine.

Tonight we watched a 1954 movie called HOBSON'S CHOICE. It was cute & worthless as many movies are - Charles Laughton did a really good job as the father/drunk/etc.

But what got my attention was the music. It was by Malcolm Arnold. If you are a band guy, you know Malcolm Arnold. And this was typical Arnold music. I would watch the movie again to hear some of the songs. Now how old was Arnold in 1954? m