We waited all day for the rains to come. We watched them on radar west of Waco. Slowly they ebbed their way to our back porch. Came they did in a furry. Poor little Liesl was beside herself with the noise. Now, gone. Thunder in the distance and a trickle of falling moisture. I imagine it will measure out to be a half inch. I hoped for more. But, one should not look a gift rain cloud in the mouth. Thank you for our blessings when we receive them.
m
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Thursday, May 9, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
I had a dream.
I awoke this morning to a memory of a dream. You analyze and tell me what it means. It is short.
.
It is the first day of going to college. My brother Jim and I are assigned to a dorm. (incidently, my freshman Year Jim and I lived together in Gordon Hall @ Tech - I want to say it was room 229 - but fuzzy on the number. It was good we lived together in that room. Other adventures should wait for another blog)
.
Our dorm was a trailer, not one of those trailer houses, but one of those big 53 ft things that you pull behind a semi-truck. Those things are big for sure...about 8 ft wide or so. Our beds were lined down one side of the trailer with a pathway down the right side. There were many beds down the side of that trailer - we were not alone.
.
There was no bathroom.
.
At the front of the trailer was a bar for hanging clothes. Each person had one hanger. The hangers were numbered. Jim and I had the first two beds by the doors...yes, the thing had two big doors that swung out. We had a metal rod with a hook on the end that we used to snare the door and pull it closed, latching from the inside.
.
Here is the great part. All of the rest of the residents in that trailer were girls. They didn't mind that we slept at the front door. We didn't even talk to them. They were all crammed together and were jabbering up a storm. Didn't bother us at all - didn't even pay attention to them really.
.
I had been assigned (by who knows) to find a bed for this one girl, who just happened to be one of my ex-students. That in itself was interesting since I was just starting college and had no ex-students. I won't say her name, but she and I had very little social contact at all when she was in school - she certainly was not an attractive young lady for me to bring up in a dream. But there she was.
.
Her friend (a female) and she had to go to the Administrative Bldg. while I found a place for her. I found hanger #21 was empty and put her name on it. She was fixed. When she returned, I told her that hanger #21 was hers and to look for that bed. The friend suggested that she come over to her trailer since they had more room. Nope, #21 stayed with our bunch.
.
Three bells rang out - rings out, like school bells ring - rinnnnng riiinnnnng rinnnng. Jim said that was the signal to close the door or we would be in trouble. We started pulling the doors closed and locked them down. I looked up and saw a 3rd door which pulled down to close off the doors.
.
By this time the girls were all parked on their own beds holding their smart phones, texting. That was quite a sight.
.
Drama: before we could get the top door pulled down and closed.....
That's right, my little Greta sleeping beside my bed, stood and shook - her morning shake and rattle. It woke me and I have nothing else to report of my first night in the college dorm trailer.
.
Interesting as I think about it -- Nobody complained about no bath room or only having one hanger or we two guys sleeping by the door or anything else. I wonder what we did for breakfast the next morning. Did some girl get up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom having us open the outside door setting off an alarm? I know for sure that I had to get up in the middle of the night. No wait. It was a dream. I don't know that for sure. I know nothing for sure.
.
And, good morning to you all on this lovely Wed. morning.
m
.
It is the first day of going to college. My brother Jim and I are assigned to a dorm. (incidently, my freshman Year Jim and I lived together in Gordon Hall @ Tech - I want to say it was room 229 - but fuzzy on the number. It was good we lived together in that room. Other adventures should wait for another blog)
.
Our dorm was a trailer, not one of those trailer houses, but one of those big 53 ft things that you pull behind a semi-truck. Those things are big for sure...about 8 ft wide or so. Our beds were lined down one side of the trailer with a pathway down the right side. There were many beds down the side of that trailer - we were not alone.
.
There was no bathroom.
.
At the front of the trailer was a bar for hanging clothes. Each person had one hanger. The hangers were numbered. Jim and I had the first two beds by the doors...yes, the thing had two big doors that swung out. We had a metal rod with a hook on the end that we used to snare the door and pull it closed, latching from the inside.
.
Here is the great part. All of the rest of the residents in that trailer were girls. They didn't mind that we slept at the front door. We didn't even talk to them. They were all crammed together and were jabbering up a storm. Didn't bother us at all - didn't even pay attention to them really.
.
I had been assigned (by who knows) to find a bed for this one girl, who just happened to be one of my ex-students. That in itself was interesting since I was just starting college and had no ex-students. I won't say her name, but she and I had very little social contact at all when she was in school - she certainly was not an attractive young lady for me to bring up in a dream. But there she was.
.
Her friend (a female) and she had to go to the Administrative Bldg. while I found a place for her. I found hanger #21 was empty and put her name on it. She was fixed. When she returned, I told her that hanger #21 was hers and to look for that bed. The friend suggested that she come over to her trailer since they had more room. Nope, #21 stayed with our bunch.
.
Three bells rang out - rings out, like school bells ring - rinnnnng riiinnnnng rinnnng. Jim said that was the signal to close the door or we would be in trouble. We started pulling the doors closed and locked them down. I looked up and saw a 3rd door which pulled down to close off the doors.
.
By this time the girls were all parked on their own beds holding their smart phones, texting. That was quite a sight.
.
Drama: before we could get the top door pulled down and closed.....
That's right, my little Greta sleeping beside my bed, stood and shook - her morning shake and rattle. It woke me and I have nothing else to report of my first night in the college dorm trailer.
.
Interesting as I think about it -- Nobody complained about no bath room or only having one hanger or we two guys sleeping by the door or anything else. I wonder what we did for breakfast the next morning. Did some girl get up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom having us open the outside door setting off an alarm? I know for sure that I had to get up in the middle of the night. No wait. It was a dream. I don't know that for sure. I know nothing for sure.
.
And, good morning to you all on this lovely Wed. morning.
m
one liners
At our house we worship at the altar of the Crock Pot. All praise the glory of its contents.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Store Names
Made the Yarn road trip with Christine and my wife Brenda Joy. It was a good day. I noticed how the yarn shops all have cutesy names - must be the work of creative females. I'll remind you of the names we visited: Strings; N Yarns, Needle Haus, Knitting Fairy, Googly Eyes, Sassy Spinster, Shabby Sheep, and my daughter's favorite Yarn Heaven in Arlington. You have to admit these are great names, especially The Knitting Fairy.
.
I started thinking, yes, it does happen at times. It'was not too deep thinking, just thinkin'. My wife likes the quote from somebody in our past: "Sometimes I sits and think, other times I just sits." But that is off topic for today. Store titles is my thing. In a sporatic process and using my Parker Pen on a section of the Dallas News, I came up with a few names for a business.
.
Now I know you won't do this, but down at the bottom of this is the word comments. Perhaps you have thunk of a great business store front name. Send it to me. Now, not tomorrow.
.
Tool Store -- Twist N Turn
Tire Shop -- Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'
Kitchen Supplies -- The Rolling Pin
Parker Pen shop -- The Rolling Pen
[ y'see, you get on one thing and just can't leave it alone ]
.
Auto Salvage Yard -- Crash N Burned
Oil change -- Slick's
Lumber Yard -- Sticks N Stones
Iron Smelter -- Steely I (s)
Boating Sales -- Floating Pretty
.
Trucking Co. -- Pullin' 4 U
Service Station -- No Beans, Just Gas
Landscape -- Legal Grass
Auto Parts -- Putt Putt Parts
Used Trucks -- Just Truckin'
Oil Well Repair -- Greased Back
.
Construction Company -- We Digg U
Guitar Store -- Fretting
Pork BBQ -- Squeal's
Swimming Pool -- Stroke and Float
Tobacco Shop -- Puff and Stroke
Motel --
.
Think I will stop there. Think of a business and send me a note.
m
.
I started thinking, yes, it does happen at times. It'was not too deep thinking, just thinkin'. My wife likes the quote from somebody in our past: "Sometimes I sits and think, other times I just sits." But that is off topic for today. Store titles is my thing. In a sporatic process and using my Parker Pen on a section of the Dallas News, I came up with a few names for a business.
.
Now I know you won't do this, but down at the bottom of this is the word comments. Perhaps you have thunk of a great business store front name. Send it to me. Now, not tomorrow.
.
Tool Store -- Twist N Turn
Tire Shop -- Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'
Kitchen Supplies -- The Rolling Pin
Parker Pen shop -- The Rolling Pen
[ y'see, you get on one thing and just can't leave it alone ]
.
Auto Salvage Yard -- Crash N Burned
Oil change -- Slick's
Lumber Yard -- Sticks N Stones
Iron Smelter -- Steely I (s)
Boating Sales -- Floating Pretty
.
Trucking Co. -- Pullin' 4 U
Service Station -- No Beans, Just Gas
Landscape -- Legal Grass
Auto Parts -- Putt Putt Parts
Used Trucks -- Just Truckin'
Oil Well Repair -- Greased Back
.
Construction Company -- We Digg U
Guitar Store -- Fretting
Pork BBQ -- Squeal's
Swimming Pool -- Stroke and Float
Tobacco Shop -- Puff and Stroke
Motel --
.
Think I will stop there. Think of a business and send me a note.
m
Monday, May 6, 2013
Yarn Search trip (some weather) etc.
Thurs., May 2nd - National Day of Prayer
====
Before I go into the Yarn Tour - can we talk about the weather? It is cold here - not freezing mind you, almost 60 degrees, harsh north wind over the lake into my back porch - but, let us review, this is May 2nd. So the Dallas Morning News - newspaper has an article yesterday about certain weather guys with computers who say this is just like the spring of 2001. Our first 100 degree day didn't hit till late July and not past August. That was a mild summer for us.
.
They are talking a record low of 39 in Dallas tonight but then climbing to 61 tomorrow. Brrrrrrr
The article talked about a hurricane that hit the Houston area that famous year dumping piles of water. Can't remember the name of that hurricane, starts with an A, and the name was retired. Why live in the past? Northern USA has up to 18 inches of snow right now. They can keep it.
====
Daughter Christine came to visit this week. She gets numerous vacation days from her duties at her hospital, and, hard to believe, she rarely takes them. Most people jump at vacation days - so I am told. Her hospital is having staffing issues, too many workers - not enough workers - workers working when not needed - think of your own issues - I did - made most of that up. Thus, it was time to take a week off...up here she came...wanted to do physical labor she said...my estate is loaded with physical labor issues.
.
So we finished a wall - moved bunches of bricks - created a brick patio for the dogs (they were pleased) - bought stuff at Home Depot - ate out a couple of times - missed church - went to Corsicana's Derrick Days { most towns have a yearly festival; ours is Derrick Days } played with dogs - sat on Back Porch watching the days go by - and various other activities.
.
After she was here (with her 3 dogs: Butty, Wesley, and Ollie) for several days, I felt she needed a day out. She had been wanting a special color yarn for a project she had planned for a friend. With the use of our phone's yellow pages, several yarn shops (perhaps they are Shoppes?) were programmed into the GPS and Samantha (GPS voice's name) projected a route to find quilt shops.
.
Quilt shops have so many cute names. I'd guess that folks opening quilt shops are creative not only with yarn but with names. Not one had the name "Yarns R Us" or "Yarns Told." Tuesday morning arrived, and we were off.
.
The first stop thanks to Samantha was in downtown Lancaster. The SASSY SPINSTER. That was about a 45 minute drive up I 45 and a shorter journey west on Belt Line. Lancaster downtown has a "Round-A-Bout" surrounded by cutesy little shops. Parking on the circle we piled out, the wife tagged along. The quilt shop was closed. Can you beat that. A hand writtten paper note taped to the door says: "New Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10 till 4" Who'd a thunk?
.
NOBODY HOME - Samantha led us north to I-20 where, thanks to our Smart Phones, we paused at a Golden Corral. Pretty good one if you like G.C. and I do. Ate & GPS Samantha led us to our next stop: THE KNITTING FAIRY in Arlington. This was indeed different. There are these corporate parks where businesses set up for biz. one after another, door after door, sorta like a strip mall but several buildings deep with no signs or access to the main highway out front. You have to know where you are going to find the place.
.
Our K. Fairy was in bldg 19, tiny sign on the window, and a bigger handwritten note that says: New Hours: Tuesday through Saturday. Our second stop and a 2nd closing. In my opinion our little Fairy can go knit himself / oops Herself into a little knot - we moved on, U turn and south we traveled. YARN HEAVEN in Arlington. My daughter thought she had died and gone to Heaven. She loved this store. I loved the store Cat who wanted to be continually petted until she curled up in a pile of yarn...then, no touch, me going to sleep now. Purrrrr
.
This ended our search. Found the proper colored yarn and all was well. Made 2 more stops: Sears and Best Buy. That was okay. Nothing to see here folks; move on along. The yarn shops that we never found are now listed below. The names are special. I have a future bluggy planned to discuss these names, not now.
.
Missed yarn shops: STRINGS N THINGS (Arlington), NEEDLE HAUS (way over in Tyler), GOOGLY EYES (Irving), and SHABBY SHEEP (Dallas). I'm sure there are more; just not on my radar.
closing for now.
M
p.s. now own Hobbits in 3D Well, isn't that special.
====
Before I go into the Yarn Tour - can we talk about the weather? It is cold here - not freezing mind you, almost 60 degrees, harsh north wind over the lake into my back porch - but, let us review, this is May 2nd. So the Dallas Morning News - newspaper has an article yesterday about certain weather guys with computers who say this is just like the spring of 2001. Our first 100 degree day didn't hit till late July and not past August. That was a mild summer for us.
.
They are talking a record low of 39 in Dallas tonight but then climbing to 61 tomorrow. Brrrrrrr
The article talked about a hurricane that hit the Houston area that famous year dumping piles of water. Can't remember the name of that hurricane, starts with an A, and the name was retired. Why live in the past? Northern USA has up to 18 inches of snow right now. They can keep it.
====
Daughter Christine came to visit this week. She gets numerous vacation days from her duties at her hospital, and, hard to believe, she rarely takes them. Most people jump at vacation days - so I am told. Her hospital is having staffing issues, too many workers - not enough workers - workers working when not needed - think of your own issues - I did - made most of that up. Thus, it was time to take a week off...up here she came...wanted to do physical labor she said...my estate is loaded with physical labor issues.
.
So we finished a wall - moved bunches of bricks - created a brick patio for the dogs (they were pleased) - bought stuff at Home Depot - ate out a couple of times - missed church - went to Corsicana's Derrick Days { most towns have a yearly festival; ours is Derrick Days } played with dogs - sat on Back Porch watching the days go by - and various other activities.
.
After she was here (with her 3 dogs: Butty, Wesley, and Ollie) for several days, I felt she needed a day out. She had been wanting a special color yarn for a project she had planned for a friend. With the use of our phone's yellow pages, several yarn shops (perhaps they are Shoppes?) were programmed into the GPS and Samantha (GPS voice's name) projected a route to find quilt shops.
.
Quilt shops have so many cute names. I'd guess that folks opening quilt shops are creative not only with yarn but with names. Not one had the name "Yarns R Us" or "Yarns Told." Tuesday morning arrived, and we were off.
.
The first stop thanks to Samantha was in downtown Lancaster. The SASSY SPINSTER. That was about a 45 minute drive up I 45 and a shorter journey west on Belt Line. Lancaster downtown has a "Round-A-Bout" surrounded by cutesy little shops. Parking on the circle we piled out, the wife tagged along. The quilt shop was closed. Can you beat that. A hand writtten paper note taped to the door says: "New Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10 till 4" Who'd a thunk?
.
NOBODY HOME - Samantha led us north to I-20 where, thanks to our Smart Phones, we paused at a Golden Corral. Pretty good one if you like G.C. and I do. Ate & GPS Samantha led us to our next stop: THE KNITTING FAIRY in Arlington. This was indeed different. There are these corporate parks where businesses set up for biz. one after another, door after door, sorta like a strip mall but several buildings deep with no signs or access to the main highway out front. You have to know where you are going to find the place.
.
Our K. Fairy was in bldg 19, tiny sign on the window, and a bigger handwritten note that says: New Hours: Tuesday through Saturday. Our second stop and a 2nd closing. In my opinion our little Fairy can go knit himself / oops Herself into a little knot - we moved on, U turn and south we traveled. YARN HEAVEN in Arlington. My daughter thought she had died and gone to Heaven. She loved this store. I loved the store Cat who wanted to be continually petted until she curled up in a pile of yarn...then, no touch, me going to sleep now. Purrrrr
.
This ended our search. Found the proper colored yarn and all was well. Made 2 more stops: Sears and Best Buy. That was okay. Nothing to see here folks; move on along. The yarn shops that we never found are now listed below. The names are special. I have a future bluggy planned to discuss these names, not now.
.
Missed yarn shops: STRINGS N THINGS (Arlington), NEEDLE HAUS (way over in Tyler), GOOGLY EYES (Irving), and SHABBY SHEEP (Dallas). I'm sure there are more; just not on my radar.
closing for now.
M
p.s. now own Hobbits in 3D Well, isn't that special.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
State Farm stupidity
State Farm has made me mad.... no, some pencil pusher at State Farm has made me mad. How in the world can a company as fine (apparently) as State Farm hire people with this type of brain? This is my 2nd time to get mad at State Farm. Hopefully, I have said STATE FARM enough to have it show up in somebody's search.
======
Time #1: A couple years ago my wife was driving our Marauder in southern Dallas area. I was driving our motorhome (also insured with STATE FARM), and she was following in the Marauder. I turned on the service road of I-35 W and headed for the M.H. repair place. About a minute late the cell phone rang. My wife in the Marauder ( insured by STATE FARM ) had been hit at the intersection.
.
I made a U Turn on the service roads. Long story short: She was at the right hand turning lane waiting for the light. Some old guy came down the side of the road bouncing off cars. He ended up in the middle of the grass between the service road and I-35. By the time I arrived people had gotten his car door open and an ambulance was pulling up. My wife rested alongside the road. Our back fender and right rear door had been damaged - not too bad - but damaged. The doctor types checked him over and had him walk to the ambulance about 150 ft or so. He finally was taken to the hospital about a mile away.
.
We did all we were suppose to do and went on our mission. I contacted State Farm and all seemed to be well. Then I was sent to the adjuster for the Old man. This guy was flat hateful to me. Y'see, the old man was insured by STATE FARM and I was insured by STATE FARM. You might think that ended it. Nope. Someone decided he had a heart attack. They couldn't say if it happened before or after the wreck. Didn't matter. Since he had a heart attack it was a "no fault" accident - THUS, I HAD TO PAY MY OWN DEDUCTIBLE before the fixed my car.
.
Sure the deductible isn't much in relation to the whole car damage, but it was 2 issues to me:
1. He and I were insured by the same people and 2. the adjuster was rude to me. I did not appreciate that at all. Jerk!
====================
Time #2: If you have read these at all, you know that my septic tank collapsed last spring. I went after the installer and his company; but, alas, he had died the year before from Cancer. So I called the company who constructed the unit. It was in its 4th owner since my installation. The newest owner had only been there one month. The previous own took all the money and left the company. I was on my own.
.
After much to do and much time and the Tarrant County Water District's involvement - a local company came and dug up my old tank replacing it with a brand new system. It was expensive. They had a big ole backhole machine in my back yard, destroyed the ground and a pretty wall that I had built, tore out a fence, killed some little trees and shrubs....didn't matter, tank had to be replaced. Tarrant county doesn't like raw sewage going into going into the lake. A tree was cut down. Then one of those big ole trucks drove down beside my house and lifted a gorgeous new concrete septic tank into the newly dug hole. New wiring, new hose connections, new everything....and then, the invoice.
.
What choice did I have? I finally finished paying off the new tank last month. I am glad it is over. I am glad it is paid for. The new system works great. I am pleased. Flush that toilet.
.
So tax time rolled around this year. As I did my stuff, it dawned on me that the old tank might have been classified as a disaster by the govt. making part of it tax deductible. Why not? Then, just by chance I had an epiphany. Maybe the old system was covered by my household insurance - STATE FARM that is. I gave my local agent a call and explained the situation. A few days passed and a return call came. The septic system was not covered by my household insurance.
Done. Over. Kaput. I moved on.
.
So in today's mail, a letter from STATE FARM - they want proof that the septic has been fixed: receipts etc. The letter says that my property had been inspected and they want the system fixed. They want it fixed!! Jerks. Let's do the #1: if the septic tank is not covered, what difference does it make to STATE FARM? #2: property inspected. nonsense. the back yard is fenced and under lock. Nobody went back there and looked at that septic system. If they had, they would have known the answer. They are bluffing on that part.
.
Thus, and finally, if I do not provide adequate proof, STATE FARM is going to drop my household coverage. Gimme a break. I pay through the nose for that insurance. My next door neighbor is an independent insurance agent. I have the house, 2 cars, a motorhome, and a boat covered by STATE FARM and some clown wants me to spend my time making copies of receipts for something they don't even cover???
.
I think that about says it all. This was not going to be my posting for today; and, I know that I am being a bit too sensitive here. Monday, I will go see my agent: Sam Denton of Corsicana, and I will have a short talk. It seems to me that the septic should be insured and they owe me money.
What do you think?
.
m
======
Time #1: A couple years ago my wife was driving our Marauder in southern Dallas area. I was driving our motorhome (also insured with STATE FARM), and she was following in the Marauder. I turned on the service road of I-35 W and headed for the M.H. repair place. About a minute late the cell phone rang. My wife in the Marauder ( insured by STATE FARM ) had been hit at the intersection.
.
I made a U Turn on the service roads. Long story short: She was at the right hand turning lane waiting for the light. Some old guy came down the side of the road bouncing off cars. He ended up in the middle of the grass between the service road and I-35. By the time I arrived people had gotten his car door open and an ambulance was pulling up. My wife rested alongside the road. Our back fender and right rear door had been damaged - not too bad - but damaged. The doctor types checked him over and had him walk to the ambulance about 150 ft or so. He finally was taken to the hospital about a mile away.
.
We did all we were suppose to do and went on our mission. I contacted State Farm and all seemed to be well. Then I was sent to the adjuster for the Old man. This guy was flat hateful to me. Y'see, the old man was insured by STATE FARM and I was insured by STATE FARM. You might think that ended it. Nope. Someone decided he had a heart attack. They couldn't say if it happened before or after the wreck. Didn't matter. Since he had a heart attack it was a "no fault" accident - THUS, I HAD TO PAY MY OWN DEDUCTIBLE before the fixed my car.
.
Sure the deductible isn't much in relation to the whole car damage, but it was 2 issues to me:
1. He and I were insured by the same people and 2. the adjuster was rude to me. I did not appreciate that at all. Jerk!
====================
Time #2: If you have read these at all, you know that my septic tank collapsed last spring. I went after the installer and his company; but, alas, he had died the year before from Cancer. So I called the company who constructed the unit. It was in its 4th owner since my installation. The newest owner had only been there one month. The previous own took all the money and left the company. I was on my own.
.
After much to do and much time and the Tarrant County Water District's involvement - a local company came and dug up my old tank replacing it with a brand new system. It was expensive. They had a big ole backhole machine in my back yard, destroyed the ground and a pretty wall that I had built, tore out a fence, killed some little trees and shrubs....didn't matter, tank had to be replaced. Tarrant county doesn't like raw sewage going into going into the lake. A tree was cut down. Then one of those big ole trucks drove down beside my house and lifted a gorgeous new concrete septic tank into the newly dug hole. New wiring, new hose connections, new everything....and then, the invoice.
.
What choice did I have? I finally finished paying off the new tank last month. I am glad it is over. I am glad it is paid for. The new system works great. I am pleased. Flush that toilet.
.
So tax time rolled around this year. As I did my stuff, it dawned on me that the old tank might have been classified as a disaster by the govt. making part of it tax deductible. Why not? Then, just by chance I had an epiphany. Maybe the old system was covered by my household insurance - STATE FARM that is. I gave my local agent a call and explained the situation. A few days passed and a return call came. The septic system was not covered by my household insurance.
Done. Over. Kaput. I moved on.
.
So in today's mail, a letter from STATE FARM - they want proof that the septic has been fixed: receipts etc. The letter says that my property had been inspected and they want the system fixed. They want it fixed!! Jerks. Let's do the #1: if the septic tank is not covered, what difference does it make to STATE FARM? #2: property inspected. nonsense. the back yard is fenced and under lock. Nobody went back there and looked at that septic system. If they had, they would have known the answer. They are bluffing on that part.
.
Thus, and finally, if I do not provide adequate proof, STATE FARM is going to drop my household coverage. Gimme a break. I pay through the nose for that insurance. My next door neighbor is an independent insurance agent. I have the house, 2 cars, a motorhome, and a boat covered by STATE FARM and some clown wants me to spend my time making copies of receipts for something they don't even cover???
.
I think that about says it all. This was not going to be my posting for today; and, I know that I am being a bit too sensitive here. Monday, I will go see my agent: Sam Denton of Corsicana, and I will have a short talk. It seems to me that the septic should be insured and they owe me money.
What do you think?
.
m
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May Day
MAY DAY! MAY DAY!
Yes, 'tis May 1st.
Have you ever wondered why they say "May Day" when in distress? If you have come here to learn the "why," boy have you pegged me wrong. I don't know. I just know that in the movies, when a boat or a plane is going down, they start yelling, "May Day!" I suppose it is easier than yelling, "Help, a giant white shark just bit the nose off my boat" -- or -- "Help, one of our propellers has quit turning but Preacher Bob [ John Wayne really ] is climbing out on the wing to see if he can make it turn - going down."
.
When I was in the 4th grade, my father's logging truck was told to head north by Standard Oil of Indiana (soon to become Amoco and eventually BP). We were those oil field people who moved in and out of communities prospecting for oil. This time we were to be stationed in Crete, Nebraska, which is about 30 miles or so from Lincoln. I have a few memories from Crete, our new home base; mostly, I have very few memories of the 4th grade.
.
But in the context of this bluggy, May Day, I have one. At that time in Crete, they had a spring festival. We kids were dressed up ( like one might do to a monkey or dog ) in costumes. My brain says that we wore things associated with Holland. That doesn't make a lot of sense now since I don't associate May Day festivals with the Dutch. Somewhere, somewhere, in all my stuff, I can imagine seeing a photo of me in a Dutch outfit standing next to a girl in a Dutch dress with wooden shoes.
.
Really new to me at that time was the May Pole. This is a pole attached to the ground with various colored streamers hanging down from the apex. Each of us in the class would take one of the streamers, half facing the left and the other half facing the right. We marched (walked, more likely) towards each other weaving in and out as you met another person. This made the streamers weave together around the pole....and, as we traveled more and more, our streamers became shorter and shorter pulling us in towards the pole.
.
I betcha there was music playing and we danced in time. The pole must have been quite beautiful since they continued to do this ritual year after year. Or, they just enjoyed sitting back and watching kids go in circles bumping into each other more and more until they were plastered up against a pole. If you live in Nebraska, May seemed to be the start of spring with the disappearance of snow. Lack of snow would be a reason to celebrate.
==============================================================
FYI:
As an added something which has absolutely nothing to do with May, my daughter Laura, the preacher(wo)man married Tom Roberts who was raised in Holland, Michigan, located towards the western edge of Michigan. Tom played trombone in his high school band. The Holland Band was chosen to go to the Rose Bowl Parade. As you may know, you have to be somewhat special to march in the Rose Bowl Parade. It must have been a rompin' marching band.
.
If I remember correctly (and Tom or Laura can revise and extend these remarks by clicking on the comment word below) part of the band's uniform was wooden shoes. Everyone marched in wood Dutch shoes. Clomp, Clomp, Clomp. You can just imagine the noise they would have made on a concrete street - 100 plus teenagers clomping about.
.
I have never worn a pair of wooden shoes. Does that surprise you? Well, if it does, you have a lot of living yet to do. It would seem they wouldn't be comfy. This is where I must be wrong. The Rose Bowl Parade is like 5 miles long or so. If they set that many kids out walking in wood shoes for 5 miles and, well, you can imagine. If blisters formed on toes, that would be a long long day. So, the shoes must be okay to wear. I bet that band made quite a sight ( and sound ) as they traversed the parade route. Go Tom! Go Holland Band!
.
I never asked Tom what the Holland school mascot was. Things like the Mustangs, Bears, Wolves, Tigers - do not seem to fit the Holland image. How about: The Holland Dike Pluggers. That would be good. I'll ask Tom when I THINKS about it. The Holland Clompers.
.
Give me one big Clomp.
"CLOMP!"
Give me two big Clomps.
"CLOMP! CLOMP!"
"GO! CLOMPERS!!!"
"CLOMP, CLOMP CLOMP!"
.
It does have a certain ring to it.
Sorry Tom.
===========================
next blugging entry, should I choose the challenge, my day trip on Tuesday throughout southern Dallas county looking for Yarn Stores. When we go on day trips, we rock n' roll.
===========================
mtz
Yes, 'tis May 1st.
Have you ever wondered why they say "May Day" when in distress? If you have come here to learn the "why," boy have you pegged me wrong. I don't know. I just know that in the movies, when a boat or a plane is going down, they start yelling, "May Day!" I suppose it is easier than yelling, "Help, a giant white shark just bit the nose off my boat" -- or -- "Help, one of our propellers has quit turning but Preacher Bob [ John Wayne really ] is climbing out on the wing to see if he can make it turn - going down."
.
When I was in the 4th grade, my father's logging truck was told to head north by Standard Oil of Indiana (soon to become Amoco and eventually BP). We were those oil field people who moved in and out of communities prospecting for oil. This time we were to be stationed in Crete, Nebraska, which is about 30 miles or so from Lincoln. I have a few memories from Crete, our new home base; mostly, I have very few memories of the 4th grade.
.
But in the context of this bluggy, May Day, I have one. At that time in Crete, they had a spring festival. We kids were dressed up ( like one might do to a monkey or dog ) in costumes. My brain says that we wore things associated with Holland. That doesn't make a lot of sense now since I don't associate May Day festivals with the Dutch. Somewhere, somewhere, in all my stuff, I can imagine seeing a photo of me in a Dutch outfit standing next to a girl in a Dutch dress with wooden shoes.
.
Really new to me at that time was the May Pole. This is a pole attached to the ground with various colored streamers hanging down from the apex. Each of us in the class would take one of the streamers, half facing the left and the other half facing the right. We marched (walked, more likely) towards each other weaving in and out as you met another person. This made the streamers weave together around the pole....and, as we traveled more and more, our streamers became shorter and shorter pulling us in towards the pole.
.
I betcha there was music playing and we danced in time. The pole must have been quite beautiful since they continued to do this ritual year after year. Or, they just enjoyed sitting back and watching kids go in circles bumping into each other more and more until they were plastered up against a pole. If you live in Nebraska, May seemed to be the start of spring with the disappearance of snow. Lack of snow would be a reason to celebrate.
==============================================================
FYI:
As an added something which has absolutely nothing to do with May, my daughter Laura, the preacher(wo)man married Tom Roberts who was raised in Holland, Michigan, located towards the western edge of Michigan. Tom played trombone in his high school band. The Holland Band was chosen to go to the Rose Bowl Parade. As you may know, you have to be somewhat special to march in the Rose Bowl Parade. It must have been a rompin' marching band.
.
If I remember correctly (and Tom or Laura can revise and extend these remarks by clicking on the comment word below) part of the band's uniform was wooden shoes. Everyone marched in wood Dutch shoes. Clomp, Clomp, Clomp. You can just imagine the noise they would have made on a concrete street - 100 plus teenagers clomping about.
.
I have never worn a pair of wooden shoes. Does that surprise you? Well, if it does, you have a lot of living yet to do. It would seem they wouldn't be comfy. This is where I must be wrong. The Rose Bowl Parade is like 5 miles long or so. If they set that many kids out walking in wood shoes for 5 miles and, well, you can imagine. If blisters formed on toes, that would be a long long day. So, the shoes must be okay to wear. I bet that band made quite a sight ( and sound ) as they traversed the parade route. Go Tom! Go Holland Band!
.
I never asked Tom what the Holland school mascot was. Things like the Mustangs, Bears, Wolves, Tigers - do not seem to fit the Holland image. How about: The Holland Dike Pluggers. That would be good. I'll ask Tom when I THINKS about it. The Holland Clompers.
.
Give me one big Clomp.
"CLOMP!"
Give me two big Clomps.
"CLOMP! CLOMP!"
"GO! CLOMPERS!!!"
"CLOMP, CLOMP CLOMP!"
.
It does have a certain ring to it.
Sorry Tom.
===========================
next blugging entry, should I choose the challenge, my day trip on Tuesday throughout southern Dallas county looking for Yarn Stores. When we go on day trips, we rock n' roll.
===========================
mtz
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