No Downer Wednesday

It makes sense.  At least one day out of seven should be a "no downer" day.  Thus, I, King Mike, proclaim that Wednesday is NO DOWNER WEDNESDAY.  

Monday had to be eliminated - why? because it's Monday - 1st day of the week back at school/work...c'mon, this was not too hard to figure.

Tuesday: too close to Monday - catch all the riff-raff left over from Monday.

Thursday:  use to be something about Green Thursday - sure would want to interfere with their day.

Friday: nope.  it already has its TGIF moniker.  Besides, I was a band director too long with Friday night football game hassles to proclaim Friday as worthy of anything worthy.  cute.  worthy of being worthy.  I like that.

Sat & Sun are weekend days.

So, ya see, Wednesday is the only day left.  I do have one downer thing about Wednesday; but, let's save that for a later date.  Surely don't want to hurt anyone's feelings especially on No Downer Wednesday, do I?

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TV:  I like television.  I have always liked television.  Some shows are not worth watching (worthy of being worthy)  in spite of what critics may say.  Others have been worth seeing frequently.   I love watching old Barney Miller (30 min.) shows.  It rarely dips into the slime pits - sure, a bit of a liberal message at times - but really nice entertainment.

The other night, the show opened with the [ Chinese ] Detective Nick Yamana  (really Jack Soo the actor) reading a Chinese language newspaper.  He shared that a Chinese thermometer factory was going out of business.  Yep.  Someone found swordfish in their mercury.    That joke haunts me; I love it.  Jack Soo died way too early in my opinion.  His dry delivery was special.

Lately, I have been watching Frasier reruns.  They do put out some great lines and situations.  Yes, the Frasier boys are totally disfunctional.  And, the show dips into too much sexy stuff at tiimes - but, overall it is a fun show.....just like the old Third Rock from the Sun series - which is not on anymore.  They have toooooo much hanky panky in the shows but fun to watch.

Now, for different reasons, on PBS I enjoy many of the British mystery shows.  Midsomer Murders is pretty good.  For me, what sets Midsomer above the others is the music.  I use a headset to listen to the TV.  My wife's hearing is so good, that I hurt her ears with the volumn even when I wear the hearing aids.  With headsets, you can hear the music so much better, each twist and turn and twirl.  There is a bassoonist on that show who is excellent.  All the music is well-played.  If you want to hear a good bassoon, tune in Midsomer.   It's not classical music - just good tunes.   (moving on....)

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Speaking of thermometers (see above with Jack Soo), I need one of those handheld ones that you can aim at foreheads.  Home depot had a bunch the other day at $45 plus some.  I don't guess I should have passed SUCH a bargain.  

We were in CVS yesterday - they are out of thermometers.  Really.   Are thermometers the next toilet paper?  We do have one of those "under the tongue" critters, and we have had the electronic mouth ones.  I was never smart enough to make the electronic ones function more than twice in a row.  

Ya see, someone gets sick - I have no thermometer - I go to store and buy the electronic/battery powered one - I read the instructions and use the thermometer.  The sick person gets well.  Many Many months later, somebody gets ill.  I dig out the battery machine - but I cannot find the instructions.  Worthless piece of equipment at that point.  I imagine we have owned at least 5 of those electronic ones over the past several years.  Don't get me wrong; this is not a Downer.  We are please that nobody is getting sick around my estate.

Can't you visualize walking down the street or through the hallowed halls of Wal*Mart pointing your thermometer gun at every stranger yelling "Gotcha!"  ?  Don't point it at the big guys with no shirts and covered with tattoos.  They might shoot back.  On we go to Amazon and to seek my new thermometer.

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Final bit - what have I done today?  It is about 11:45 a.m.  Up around 8 - ate breakfast and checked my blood sugar (155 this morning, the lowest it has been pre-breakfast since mid-June) - mowed the dog pit and a portion of the backyard with the hand pushed (power) mower - helped the wife a bit as she sandpapered our little metal bridge for future painting - played a moment with Oscar's ball until he set it down and wet on it ( that will stop me everytime ) - came inside - cleaned up and hit the computer.    

And we move on for the remainder of No Downer Wednesday...forgot didn't you?

I lied.  This is the final bit. My wife Brenda Joy just sent out a text message that today is National Middle Child Day - she texted it to our middle child Laura.   I was a middle child for several years too.  I celebrate!

later, Mtz

medical and stupidity and rambles

 I have to admit - I don't always understand certain things, and I have a bit of a problem figuring some things out.   Well, now, that's not totally true.  Computer stuff just DRIVES me batty.  (the old joke is:  "bet it is a short putt" - DRIVES me - short PUTT - do I have to explain all of these?)

So today, with their new format - I am using Hover.com if anyone cares to know  - with the new format I saw that I had a couple of comments.  And by using my own brain and trying every button on the screen, I figured out how to see the comments.  Stay with me now.   This is the very first time that I have ever read the comments on my blog.  That could be a tad hard to believe - but, it is true.  Lemme change that slightly.  This is the first time that I can remember ..... Still, it is a bit confusing to me.  I would have thought that all comments would appear for me at the end of the singularly written blog.  Apparently not.  I had to click on a different button to see them.  I have not the slightest idea how you (the welcomed and loved reader) finds any of the comments ... or for that matter, how you write a comment.  However-Whatever-Whenever- you just go for it.  I'll wait.

When I sat in my office chair facing the blank screen, my idea was to write about stupidity.  You have to admit that I have done a good job so far.  We all do stupid things at one time or another.  I have had my share of triumphal stupidity over the years.  Many stupid things I will never mention or admit.  My last real band (Manor H.S.)  was not much different than my other bands.  For several years, I had a little saying that I laid out on a regular basis:   "Don't do stupid things."  I never attached it to any one student or particular happening - it was just a thing I said - a generalization.  Had a conference with a middle school principal once who asked me how attached I was to that saying.  He sorta implied it was worthy of dismissal.   I believe they were shocked that anyone might use the word:  "Stupid."  You know, don't cha, "stupid" is not a word to be uttered in a school setting.  It is not as bad as the "N" word; but, still...   (moron is equally banned)

When I retired, on our final concert the Manor H.S. band parents gave me a beautiful gold watch.  Inscribed on the back?    "Don't do stupid things."   It's nice to know that someone heard me other than the socially correct criticizers.  I just made up the spelling for "criticizers" and spell check hasn't said a word.  I was sure it would be wrong.  What cha know.  Learned something again.

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Looking at jeans online at Amazon this weekend when I was hit with "stupid" again.  At least it wasn't me this time.  They sold jeans for $20 up to over $150 a pair.  Now that is stupid.  Some of the most expensive were PRE-WRINKLED or had holes cut in them.  Personally, I would rather create my own holes...over time and work.  And "wrinkle" is a special gift of mine.

I believe that I have written before that I wait until the Texas tax-free weekend to buy clothes.  I buy 2 to 4 pair of pants (mostly jeans since retirement).  When I place the new jeans in the closet, I use a black magic marker and write the year on the inside right front pocket.  When I rummage through the enormous closet looking for trousers, I can check the dates to get the newest out.  Newest usually have the lesser food stains -  yes, I have an eating disorder - I drip food whenever I eat.  A bib lays near my plate.  It does not protect the pants.

My recent inventory showed one pair was bought in 2011; that's the oldest pair.  If I get real hungry, I could boil these pants and make soup.  All sorts of preserved meals can be found above the knees.  

Back to original thought.  Why would anyone spend over a hundred dollars on jeans with pre-cut holes?  I just don't get it.  Nope, don't get it.   Enough on this.

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medical:  I think I have poison ivy on my left wrist, just under my wrist watch.  We moved out here in the country during 2008;  I work outside all the time (less now that I am lazy).  Not once in 12 years have I gotten into poison ivy even though I have cut it down and sprayed it on numerous occasions.    And, now, it shows up under my watch?  At first I though it was a bug bite ... those I have had many times. Bug bites leave little white puss thingys to heal - at least they do on my person.  Chiggers just leave red marks that itch like crazy.  Spiders and the like seem to leave white puss marks, which heal.

This new thing under the watch is red and itches.  Bought some  poison ivy cream for it today at CVS pharmacy.  We'll see.  I'm hoping for no amputation.  Can I get some sympathy here?

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Brief back to the comment section:  Several of the comments looked to me to be spam.  A short sentence about how they loved the blog followed by a sentence or two about some product to be seen at some website.  I am sensing a lack of sensitivity.  That is not the word I am looking for: try lack of  sincerity instead.  Yep, that will do.  over and out.

stay safe - remember - the mask will protect you from bacteria.  We are fighting a (flu) virus here.  Only the N-95 or N-99 masks will protect you from MY virus germs - and, then, maybe not completely.  Opinion:  Masks are used to make others feel good toward you.  It gives them a warm feeling to know that you are as panicked about the virus as the Press has made them panicked. 

Nobody wants to get sick - most don't want to die - and everyone should want to return to 2018.  

Luv ya,

mtz

  

Collections and the results.

 I'm Back.

What do you collect?  I realize you don't think you collect stuff, but I betcha do.   We see the hoarders on TV.  Those folks are crazy.  I'm not crazy; I just have some extra things that I enjoy having.  You don't collect?  How many DVR -c.d.s - VCRs - DVDs - { I never can get those initials correct.} do you own?   How about coffee mugs or cute figurines or shovels.  Video Games - how many do you own?   Huh?  Huh?  Make fun of my collections will ya?

The philosophical question is:  what makes a collection VS.  what makes a pile of junk?  There you go. I'm not sure I collected things when I was younger.  We didn't have any room for storage or shelves for placing.  Then, we moved into a bigger place  - closets were more than ample - shelves and spaces were lying empty.

I once had a collection of Instrumentalist magazines - maybe 10 years of monthly issues.  Never read them a 2nd time.  But, they were on a shelf in the garage.  I remember throwing them away one day.  SAD.  Someone would have liked to have those.  And HIS wife would have loved seeing them stashed on a shelf in his garage.  I do still have several years of National Geographic in the garage.  I went to an auction once in Lubbock and saw a collection of Natl. Geo sold for several hundred dollars.  I didn't buy them.  I quit collecting N.G. a few years back when most of their articles started expressing way liberal views.  sorta a shame really.  Example: they had an issue where they exploited this lady who wanted to raise her son as if he were a girl.  C'mon.  They have lost focus.

I made a short list here of collections that I have.  Wait.  I forgot to ask.  What makes a collection.   Is it three or more items - or do you have to get up to 20?  Some of my collections are only 3.  A few are less than three.  It is just how you go about looking at it.  My granddaughter bought a new mattress recently.  Where is the old one?  If it is in the garage or storage space, does that mean she has a collection of mattresses?  I think so.

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pause for a commercial:  Grand dot Megan has her own post - go see at:

https://meganmetze.wordpress.com/author/meganmetze/

I'm somewhat prejudiced, but I think she does a good job.

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I could talk for a long time about each collection below - pulling out special things to view.  I won't.  Now I shall list a few of my priceless collections:

1.  Post cards:  several years back I started.  I  have them back into the early 1900s.  They are quite interesting.  Several have precious messages.  Mail was different back in the 30's.  I once subscribed to a service that sent me a packet of post cards monthly.  I selected what I wanted and forwarded the remainder to the next name on the list.  I enjoyed the experience.  I wonder if that company is still in business?

2.  Cards:  like the kind you get at Walmart and HEB.  I have several - many quite funny - stashed throughout the farm - I even have some that were sent to my parents and the wife's parents.  I enjoy remembering.

3.  Key Rings:  A while back it dawned on me that you cannot own one of each key ring ever made.  I tried for a while to collect them all.  I would guess that I have somewhere between 1000 and 2000 key rings.  I like them.  I bought a new one last Wednesday when my spouse and I visited Buc-ees on our anniversary.  It is a stuffed Buc-ees mascot.  I figured I needed one of them. 

How did I get into this collecting?  When we lived in Plano, daughter Christine was on the Texas Tech plant identification competition team.  They traveled to Florida for a contest.  When she came home, she brought Florida presents for all the family.  Mine was a key ring.   Casually, I remarked, " I guess I am collecting key rings now."  It never stopped.  They started bringing me more and more.  I don't suppose it will ever stop.  I got one from Ireland a couple years back from Roger and Penney.  Tom & Laura brought me one from Mackinac Bridge in Michigan last year.  I do love them all.

4.  Music boxes:  All sizes and shapes.  One Christmas when we were visiting my mom in Levelland, I remarked (it was innocent enough I thought) that I would love to own a bunch of music boxes.  I visualized turning them all on at the same time and making background music for a horror movie.  Catching myself - I made a point of saying that I didn't want one or two at a time - I wanted 200 of them ALL at one time - no slow collecting - either 200 of them at once, or none.          That didn't work.  I started to get one or two at a time - gifts.  I love music boxes.  Don't get me wrong.  I love them.  But, where do you keep 200 music boxes in a small house.  They are in the garage gathering dust - on a shelf.  A few select ones are inside the house.  I've got this great one which looks like a cannon - you remove the barrel of the cannon and it is a kaleidoscope.  Great piece.  Plus, I have the big wooden music box that belonged to my parents.  They bought it used back in the 40s in an antique shop in Bethany, Oklahoma.  It has a coin mechanism.  Put in a penny, wind the crank handle, and play the music box.  I would guess that I have 15 metal records for the machine.

5A.  Various stuffed animals:  Sure I have these.  My most prominent are dachshunds and elephants.  I do love dachshunds (doxies for the purest) - and elephants are so cute.   My wife has a large box of TY cats in the garage; and, she loves owls.    I even have a stuffed chicken. There are clowns in one bedroom (waiting to pounce on you after you go to sleep heh heh)   "Guys shouldn't have stuffed animals," you say.  Nonsense.  Why not?  I have 5 little creatures called "Sing*a*ma*jigs!" You press the tummy and they sing songs.  

5B.  Also, there are elephants and doxies and clowns which are ceramic and wooden and metal.  I like elephants and dachshunds and clowns.  Don't you?

6. Time to stop:   I won't even mention my other things:  books, banks, coins, stamps, M&M items, various trinkets, pencil sharpeners, Louis L'amour leatherette books, Robert Jordan's epic books  - I must stop writing.  I would love to own a collection of electric trains.   Maybe later I'll bring this back up.

May things go nice for you at your abode.

Today, it is peaceful around here.  I expect it to remain so until time to throw the ball for Oscar.

Mtz

(P.S.  Have you looked at your collection of Christmas decorations lately?)

Bit of a downer - then smile

 Sunday  SUNDAY!  S U N D A Y !!!

It is Sunday.  You'd never know it to look about my back porch.  The dogs are napping - the wife is looking at her phone or that I-whatever tablet thing is called - and I am back here looking at the computer screen.  This is no different from Monday - Tuesday  -        (I could recite all the days of the week just to impress you.) The stupid virus still takes its toll.  Not only does it toll with life and death and sickness; but, it tolls in lifestyle (and death style).  This is getting a little dark even for me.

Speaking of my wife's iPhone stuff,  I saw an advertisement for the Android Note 20 phone.   I am going to have to have one of those.   Hey!  it's only money.

A friend - acquaintance of mine - Donnie Owens, 83, had his bout with the virus and lost.  He was the band director in Durant when I was stationed (taught) in Ardmore.  A most pleasant guy with a great laugh and knowledge, Donnie moved to Texas and took the Dickinson H.S. Band as the Texas Honor Band to the TMEA convention a few years later.  Terrific person and great musician.  I believe after he retired, he moved to Waxahachie and taught elementary band for several years, which could explain one of the reasons why the Wax-a-hachet band was/is so good.

But we move on - more happy thoughts:

Today, I am missing the King family reunion in Kansas.  Sure, I have missed it for the last 68 years; but, I had intended on making it this year.  When I was in late elementary or early Jr. High, we went to the reunion - then held at Kinsley, Kansas.  We had a long drive from Levelland, Texas to Kinsley - nobody had car air conditioning back then.  The reunion was an outdoor affair - full of people young and old - held under a pavilion in a park.  Scads of unknown relatives abounded.   I left knowing few of them any better.

One of the things they did was have a variety show put on by different relatives.    Naturally, we Metzes pulled out the horns and accordions and filled the air with amateur music.  I seem to remember the Smith family doing a sing-song thing.  Singing was a favorite pasttime with my uncles and aunts.   Our music was either greatly loved or the audience was extremely polite.  I remember that we stayed a couple nights in one of my mothers uncle's house out in the country - a farm, if you will.   Today, here in my house we have a painting by my Uncle Jr. (James K. Smith) of that farm house.

In the living room was a pump organ which we abused through most of the night.  My mother loved the visit, and I suppose we all had a really good time, laughing, singing, telling stories, eating - all the good things in life.

Recently, the reunion was moved over to nearby town that has an air conditioned building.  I understand that the number of participants has dwindled over the years.  My cousin Earl Smith of Tennessee has made the reunion recently.  I really had hoped to go and meet some of the old folks...new relatives.

Just for the FYI Record in case a historian even passes this way.

My grandmother was Olive King.  She married James M Smith in Kansas.  They moved to northern Oklahoma and had several children, one of which was my mother Sara LeAnna Smith.  Mom, of course, married my father Clyde Marshall Metze.  They had 4 boys of which I was #3, a middle child.  We all know that middle children are abused.  I was the baby for 9 years until Pat Metze was born in 1949.  My oldest brother was Marshall Metze, III  and next came Jim Metze.

My mom's brothers and sisters were:   Opal (she died about 1918 or so),  Percy,  Sara, James K. (Jr.),  Esther (Sally) and Jack Smith (s)....not in any particular order.

I have spent time and money on Ancestry.com creating a family tree which extends back several centuries.  Curiously, nobody in my family wants to view my results.  I guess they figure they'll study it sometime in the future when they have time.  I know now in my elderly years, they never will find the time.  All will be lost.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  My wife just shared with me a Facebook notice from my cousin Earl Smith that the King Family Reunion (in Pratt, Kansas) has been cancelled for this year.   I didn't miss it.  Hopefully, I will make it next year in my 80th year of life.  You are invited to join us next August.

Man-alive - this edition of my bluggy has been anything except entertaining.  I have to find something to leave you with that might bring a smile.  A friend sent this email forward to me.  I believe it is Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund.   If you have never visited Crusoe's website - look it up.   fun stuff.  Crusoe's family live somewhere in Canada and have really given him great publicity.   By-the-Way,  Crusoe has a new sister Daphne - she is gorgeous.

   

Toilet Paper

 The new interface of this "Blog" company that I use has something which I like - It gives a count of how many people have read the blog   (I like to type blug or bluggy instead of blog.)  One of my past blogs had over 300 readers.  Really?   300 readers.  I think that is interesting. - to me anyway.  If you think it to be not interesting, then read this paragraph backwards, and it will all go away from your brain.  Continue to paragraph 2.

My title for this blug is Toilet Paper.  It seems that enough is never written about toilet paper.  There are people who spend their entire lifetimes dealing with toilet paper...commercially not personally at home.  

Visualize in a barroom setting:  "Hi, my name is Bert.  I make toilet paper.  What do you do?"  The actual dates escape me - I have forgotten the dates - look it up yourself - but paper toilet paper was only created in the 1857 (I believe).  And it was about 50 years before you didn't get splinters when you ... well, when you .... nah.  I can't think of a polite way to explain what you do with toilet paper other than wipe off lipstick. (That came off slightly wrong.)   Splinters!   Splinters!

Remember the old saying everyone use to write in their high school year books?   "As you slide down the banister of life, let this be a splinter in your career."  There were probably variations.

People used corn cobs, pages from catalogs, leaves, a hand - whatever was available at the time.  What got me started on this subject is all the panic that happened during our virus panic.  Naturally, people were worried about getting sick so they hurried to the store and bought all the toilet paper on the shelves.  Some families carried home 3 & 4 cases of the stuff.  Better to be safe than sorry.  As luck had it, my son Roger and Penney's children - sometimes referred to as my grand-girls - their high school band sold cases of toilet paper last fall.  I received our case sometime in late November.  It was stacked in the garage for later use.  I was set for the big virus wipeout ... so to speak.

I do not have Patriotpost.us ' permission to republish these  Go see if you like their website.

We have two bathrooms.  Only 2 of us here.  The master bath {really somewhat of a joke to call it a "master" bath - it functions - no luxury here folks} the master bath has a nice water closet with the appropriate fixture.  One roll of toilet paper hangs near your right elbow.  Four more can be found on the floor in this great little metal device created for holding toilet paper.  "Hi, my name is Bert.  I make toilet paper holders that sit on the floor behind your commode.  What do you do?" 

Okay, I don't know what brand the toilet paper is - but it is a big hunking roll of paper.   Big and wide.  I started watching back in March; you might call it a survey.  I was concerned we'd be in a T.P. panic soon.  The roll was installed on a Friday.  It lasted from Friday - through the next Friday - and ran out on Tues.  A week and a half. Actually depending  upon how you count days, one roll lasted 11 or 12 days.

That was Friday through Friday into a Tuesday - change the roll.  Then, it was Tuesday through Tuesday into the next Friday.  The same sequence happened from March until a week ago.  All of a sudden it is Saturday through Saturday into the next Wednesday.   And Wednesday through Wednesday into Saturday.

This is science folks.  We need more science and less frills in this world.   I anticipate the rolls may eventually evolve into a Sunday till Thursday sequence - assuming we can still find those big ole hunkin' rolls of toilet paper at our H.E.B.

And you thought you had a boring life.  Retirement has its flaws.    

Stay tuned; in a future blog I aim to discuss ear wax.

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as an added bit here:  My granddaughter Megan started a blog - she has posted a few times.  I believe she was pushed into writing the blog during a class she was taking at Tech.  Her blog seems so innocent and nice and upbeat compared to my cynical attitudes.   I hope she doesn't mind - here is the link to her blog:   (If she minds, the magic delete will happen.)

https://meganmetze.wordpress.com/author/meganmetze/

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With that we close.   I am reading a book I bought at Gettysburg about 20 years ago: 

Best Little Stories from the Civil War   by C. Brian Kelly and Ingrid Smyer (his wife)  Lots of really short stories about the war and the people who were there.   A fun read.

luv, M

Anniversary 2020

Before I begin.  My blog place has set up a new format.  I am not good at this which explains why this message is in white with a blue background.  I will try to do better in the future.

August 6, 2020

It has been a while since I made this trip.  Insecurity I suppose dot dot dot  

Yesterday was the 5th day of August.   A fine day to be sure.

Brenda Joy (my wife) and I have been married for 58 years.  There were good years; there were bad years; and, then, there were years.  Reminds me of a song:  "Always."

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We spent most of the day in the car traveling to nowhere.  We can do that with the best of them.  First a short trip north to Wax-A-Hachet (nod to Roger's description of same).  We med son-in-law Tom at Lowe's to buy him a sack of concrete (Sakrete).  He is installing a new mailbox on the rent house.   I'm looking forward to seeing the final results.  The old mailbox should have been replaced 5 years ago when we painted the utility room.

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Speaking of  Lowe's.   Is the apostrophe necessary?  Is it Lowes or Lowe's?   I just don't know..

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See the little dot I place between paragraphs?  I got into that habit a few years back when my email would all lump together in one big paragraph.  It was hard to decipher.  Put the dot, and the paragraphs don't clog together.  Another tip from the Master.

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After Lowee's we traveled east to Ennis and had lunch at our favorite "Ennis" Chinese place.   I'd have written restaurant, but I can't spell restaurant.  It is an okay place; not the finest representation - but okay.

One little guy greets you - seats you - brings you tea - replaces your tea - takes away dirty dishes - delivers the bill and fortune cookie - and, finally, takes your money.   Another younger lad keeps the buffet filled.  I am guessing a third person is greasing the food in the back room.  

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We ate.  Left.  He gave us our fortune cookie as we left the place.  In the car after dousing my hands with hand sanitizer and removing my mask,  our cookies were opened.  My cookie had no fortune.  My wife had a nice saying in hers.  I wondered (later as I wandered) if this were an omen.   I had not fortune.  That is true; I have no fortune - retired teachers rarely do.  Omen!!

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Up the road is a new Buc-Cees.  Ennis has a Buc-Cees.  Now we have a thing for this place.  Look it up on Google if you have not been.   44 oz drinks are only  69 cents.   They have food and junk jewelry and all sorts of stuff.  The restrooms are the best in the business.  We had a delightful hour roaming about their store.  Gas was only $1.39 per.  It was a good stop.

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To finish the day we drove home and fed Bruno.  That boy loves to eat.  Oscar loves to eat too - he is much more aggresive when eating, not towards anyone or anybody or anything - he just gulps his food down and pity the stray finger that might be leaving the bowl of kibbles.  Once again, Sadie could care less to eat.  That's not totally true.  She lays with her head on the bowl until the boys have finished.  When they round the corner and see her plopped down on her dish, something clicks in her head.  I'd better start eating before the boys get too close.

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This is enough for now.  You folks take care, whoever you are.  Wear your mask even though it won't protect you against squat.  Gloves can be nice.  A shield ?  only if worn with the N-95 mask and, then, only if you are lucky.

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At almost 80 yrs of age, I (we) hope to be lucky.

More later.

mtz

Jeans

JEANS:
Somebody came up with that name.  When you see the word, a vision - your vision of jeans springs into view.  I visualize blue denim trousers.  I do own a few pair of gray and/or black jeans.  I do not own Green Jeans.   That was a guy on TV.

Normally, if I plan to dress up in jeans - a concept that is somewhat flawed to start - I will wear the Gray or Black jeans.  To me, blue jeans fail miserably in the dress-up category.  Frankly, Gray & Black (or Green) jeans fail too.  But in my VIEW, in today's society, jeans are loved and respected in the strangest and "wrongest" places.  Must I even mention jeans that are torn or ripped by manufacturer and sold at twice the price?
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Our little Sadie is having stomach problems.  She is emitting a dark brown substance (liquid if you will) instead of well formed projectiles.  In other words, her poop is runny.  At times she has lost control and little brown droplets appear on the floor.  Out comes the mop.  She is not like our boy dogs who want to mark the world.  No self-respecting female dog would want to mark anything with droplets of brown poop.
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We gave her some Pepto-Bismo last night.  They say that a bit of pumpkin out of a can works too. We don't have pumpkin on our shelf right now.  Who keeps pumpkin in the merry month of May?  How does this relate to Jeans?
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When I held her to pump the Pepto down her throat, her bottom caressed the upper left leg of my blue jeans.  A three inch spot appeared.  Poor Sadie; she knows not what she does.
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Now, I have jeans which need immediate washing.  This morning I dug through the closet and came up with 8 pair of blue, gray, and black jeans to wash plus a pair from the wife (of recent Mother's Day fame) and several pair of dark socks.  Some of you won't believe this.  I washed my own jeans.  I put in the soap and pushed the start button.  Of course, Of course, the spouse (of recent....etc.) had to show me which button to push on the washer.  I suppose in my youth, I may have washed my own jeans.  I can't remember when.  My mother and later my wife have always handled this chore for me.  They understand washing machines.
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My first load is in the dryer;  the second load is finishing up in the washer.  Next, I will try to learn how to hang up trousers.  This may be over my pay scale.
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A couple years ago - it may have been 2 or 5 or whatever - I heard (or read or was told by somebody or saw on TV) that the CEO of Levi's said that he never washes his jeans.  Think on that for a bit.  The boss of the company that makes Levi's said --- I don't think I am confused here  ---  he said, "I never wash my jeans."  Surely it wasn't the CEO of Wranglers.  Who would interview the CEO of Wranglers?  Nope.  It had to be Levi's.
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So, here is what we got.  The guy who runs the jeans company never washes his pants.  Of course, he doesn't.  He throws them away and gets another new pair.  Does he even buy his own jeans?  I bet there is an Inspector #8 down on the line who pulls out his size every other day and delivers them to his closet - hung properly.  The Inspector #8 then removes the older (one week maybe) pair and throws them into a "recycle to the poor house" bin.
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I dug on a hole last week down by the lake edge.  The bottom three inches of my work jeans sucked up mud.  Can you imagine the CEO of Levi's digging a hole in his penthouse suite on top of the Blue Levi's High Rise building?  Of course the Levi bldg is blue.  What other color could it be?   Maybe he gets his jeans blemished when he climbs into the back of his Limo.  Wait.  In all fairness, his brake pedal on his Porsche sports car convertible might rub his left leg.  I don't know this gentleman.  I don't know his name or the color of his eyes.  He might be a wonderful feller.   I think his statement was - - - I love the concept.   
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Yep.  Until today, I can say that like the CEO of Levi's I never wash my jeans.
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In the spirit of fairness and openness, I need to report that my middle name is Eugene, oft times shortened to Gene by many, and my #2 daughter (by age) has a middle name of Jeanne.  These facts have had no bearing on the above account.  I do not show favoritism to anyone named or associated with Jeans.  Once had a student named Jean Dupy.  She was really a nice, sweet girl who was quite impish.

Next week:  Wearing Jeans to Church, Biblical or Cool