Retro "Ain't" Cheap!

I recently scanned some old family slides I obtained. It sure takes me back looking at old family slides from the 1950's. One of my good memories is of the old steel lawn chairs they used to have. I was delighted to see one of the slides of my favorite lawn chairs in those days. I sat in that very chair many times as a kid in the 1950's at my grandparents' place in Norwalk. They were called "shell back" chairs. As a kid, I used to enjoy sitting in them and rocking back and forth. I never recall ever having the chair fall back wards no matter how much I rocked or leaned back. Over the years, I have grown weary of the cheap plastic lawn chairs made in some Chinese sweatshop. I recently received a catalog that actually had reproductions of the very same 1950's steel "shell back" chairs I enjoyed so as a kid. I was all set to order some when I noticed the price of $99.95 each! That's not including shipping and "handling" whatever that was. I didn't get past the inflated price to check on the additional expenses! Alas, I shall not have the opportunity to relive the past by sitting in one of these chairs. The picture above is one of the actual chairs that I used to sit in at my grandparent's place in Norwalk in the 1950's. It probably cost around $9.95 in those days. Alas, now all I have is my memories since they are free without paying $99.95 not including shipping and "handling" costs! The only problem with my memories is that I have to allow for depreciation of my brain! :0)

++Mike++

Great Link!

Greetings all,
I've been otherwise occupied lately since summer has finally gotten here. I have a new story in mind for my web site, but haven't gotten around to writing it yet. One of my on line computer newsletters offered a really cool link. If you have a cell phone that has Internet capability (I wish mine did), check out this link the next time you are in a doctor's waiting room. You will probably get so engrossed, that the doctor will have to make an appointment to see you. This will also work for airport delays. In fact, you probably will cancel your flight and just fly standby once you get on this web site! You can also check out this link on your home computer, but be advised, it is addicting. Oh, by the way, here's the link: http://notalwaysright.com/
:: Mike ::

"Inhuman" Treatment

The other day I made an appointment with my family physician in Milan. Earlier today, I received a phone call. The caller ID said "Arizona" followed by the number with an area code of 520. I checked and sure enough, the 520 area code is indeed from Arizona. Before I answered it, I tried to figure out who would be calling me from Arizona. Even though I'm on the "Do not call list", sometimes junk calls manage to slip through. I do know one guy from Arizona who shows buckskin horses like we do, so I figured it must be Doug. I took a chance and answered the call. Upon hearing the message, I just about fell over. The call was to remind me of my physician's appointment in Milan this Thursday. All well and good. However, in the first place, the caller wasn't even a human. It was a computer voice synthesizer. At least they tried to make it sound like a female voice. In the second place, the call came from somewhere in Arizona! I can't figure out why my physician's office in Milan would hire a phone reminder service in Arizona. The office isn't that big! What ever happed to real people doing this type of thing? I suppose that people are all "gaa gaa" over all the new electronic gadgets out there these days. I wouldn't be surprised that one of these days when I go to my appointment, that the doctor will be some kind of android. I can hear the computer synthesized voice now "G-O-O-D M-O-R-N-I-N-G. P-L-E-A-S-E T-U-R-N Y-O-U-R H-E-A-D A-N-D C-O-U-G-H". (I sure hope the programmers remember to add hardware that will heat its fingers!)
M-I-K-E :-)

"Rack'n" Up the Years

I was taking another nostalgic walk through the old Berlin Hts. schoolyard earlier today and as usual, stopped to look over the old bicycle rack. It is still in the same place it always was and it has been there as long as I can remember. It was there all through the years I was in school. Let's see, it's been 42 years since I graduated. Yeoow! Now that is really depressing! It was there as long as I can remember all through my school years so I can add another 12 years, which makes it 54 years. Hey! I wonder why I am writing this Blog entry because now it is really getting me depressed! I'm sure it was there long before I started school so I'm not sure just how long it really has been there. I suppose any of those who know are most likely dead or too senile to remember their own names. It is interesting to observe that even the same bent rods are still there when I was a kid. In fact, I used to park my bicycle in it when I rode it to school --- years ago. (I can't bear to again write the number of years.) In this rapidly changing world, it's refreshing and encouraging to gaze upon this immutable landmark and remember the way things used to be some --- years ago. (Huh Ah, I'm still not going to recall how many at this point.)

*~Mike~*

Look Ma, No Wires!

During our recent horse show, a big group of us "horse people" went out to eat supper at a restaurant. This always amuses me when we go out to eat during a horse show because we are all in our dusty cowboy "horse" clothes and smell like horses. This is heaven to us, but probably not to other people, but we don't care since our money is just as green as anyone else's is. I noticed that as the waitress took our orders, that she had a small black plastic pad and was using a wand. I ask if her order pad was wireless, and as I suspected, it was. I then got to thinking about all the wireless things we have these days. Just looking around here at home, as I type this Blog entry, I can see several. For example, the laptop I am using has a wireless mouse. The Internet connection from the laptop is wireless to the Internet hub and the Internet to my provider is wireless. When I print something from my laptop, it goes to my main desktop computer and then to the printer on a wireless network. I can also see my wireless house phone and my wireless cell phone. I don't watch much TV, but the remote tuner is wireless. The tuner to my satellite radio is also wireless. I am now looking at the present temperature, which is 73.4 degrees on my wireless thermometer. At this rate, in a few years wires will be obsolete. I was thinking of making a wireless pasture, but the horses and cattle would probably all get out before I perfected it. I guess I'll have to wait a few more years before I go wireless for livestock. I wouldn't be surprised if some day they will even have "wireless" haired terriers!

()MIKE()

Horse'n Around

We had another successful weekend horse Show. Our yearling stud colt "Beezer" got Circuit Grand Champion in Color Class. His mama did the same thing a few years ago and by selective breeding, he is just as pretty as his late mother "Breezy" who got a first place in color at our World Show in Columbia, MO a few years ago. This is because people finally listened to me and used the stud stallion that I said would yield the best result in color. (Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once and a while) "Skeeter", "Beezer's" half sister, got Circuit Reserve Champion Longe Line and for one day at least was tied with the leading longe line horse in the country. It was good while it lasted until yesterday when she was defeated by the other horse. Hey, we'll take second place considering the tough competition! Both our trainer and I think with "Beezer" we will have another World Champion Dun Factor (color class) at our World Show in Memphis this August! After a 4 day show and a 4 hour drive home, I don't have the ambition to dig out my camera to post any show pics right now, but I will later. As a consolation prize, I'm posting a previous pic of "Beezer" at one day old, and his late mother "Breezy" that I already have on my hard disc. When we get the official Circuit Grand Champion photo, I'll post it just in case there are any skeptics out there :-))

~~Mike~~

Alas; How the Mighty Have Fallen

I was doing some spring cleaning recently. It's July, but I got a late start. I guess I should call it summer cleaning. I came across some of my old heavily dust covered guitars. The picture only contains a few of them. I haven't found the rest of them yet including my expensive electric guitar that I used to play 1950's and 60's rock and roll with. I may have given the rest of them away, I can't recall. YEEEOW, now that's scary! I guess I had a guitar fetish in my younger days. Due to arthritis in my fingers and every other major joint, I haven't been able to play any of my beloved guitars the last several years. Fortunately, I can still type with the aid of Motrin. As I've said repeatedly over the years, "I am not growing old gracefully!" On the other hand, I've also said over the years, "Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional." Hey, that sure sounds like me, huh! If you are young, enjoy life when you can. Meanwhile, I'll just look at all of my old guitars and think back to when I played everything from Bach to Rock. Alas, this gives me something to "fret" about. I know, a bad pun, but my brain is getting arthritis too I think. I do, however, find some comfort in the fact that my old guitar college professors and my old private guitar teachers either can't play now due to old age, or they are all dead by now. This causes me to count my blessings because even though I can't play anymore, at least I'm not dead, although I feel like I am every morning after I get up :-)

Mike,

Former guitarist now turned Blog writer...

"High Test" Coffee

Well, I see that Starbucks is closing 600 stores. I have never been in one and never will be. It appears to me that Starbucks is a hangout for east and west coast liberals. I guess they specialize in Latte whatever that is. It sounds like coffee with a bunch of ingredients mixed in that no one would ever drink with coffee. In fact, I've never had a cup of Latte, nor will I ever. Remember what I always say and try to live, "I don't follow trends, I start them"! Latte costs $4.00 a cup at Starbucks. I assume that a cup of Starbucks "coffee" is 8 ounces, although I doubt if they contain that much. All right, let's do the math. There are 16 cups to a gallon. Take 16 cups times one cup of $4.00 Latte and that comes out to $64.00 per gallon! Now, at $4.00 per gallon for gasoline, that comes out to 25 cents a cup for gasoline. Heck, at this price, you might as well drink gasoline, which is $3.75 a cup cheaper than Latte. I wonder how to make gasoline Latte? For my taste, gasoline is sure to taste better and cost a whole lot less!!!

::Mike::

To "bee" or not to "bee"

Every year we have beehives from spring to fall. The reason for this is that the truck crops we plant need bees to pollinate them. I have never liked bees and am always afraid of being stung. The beekeeper always tells us that they won't bother anyone. This year he put the hives at the corner of my yard. I am right in the flight path of them! Last year I was innocently walking past them on the way to feed the horses and cats. All of a sudden, without warning, a bee hit me in the forehead and I received a nasty sting. Well, so much for not being bothered! As much as I like squash, cucumbers, etc., I'm starting to wonder if its worth being bushwhacked by sadistic bees. Heck, I don't even care for honey. I've been taking a different route to the barn this year and so far have avoided any kamikaze bee attacks. So far so good, but each day I am on my guard! Notice the picture of this year's beehives. I took this picture with my telescopic lens. Why press my luck! Maybe the bees are allergic to me this year because whenever I get too close to them, they breakout in "hives". Whoops, I haven't taken my morning meds yet. Does it show??? :-)

*)Mike(*

Fast Track?

My goodness, I find it hard to believe that it is July 1st already and the 4th is this Friday! They say that the older you get, the faster time goes. I can certainly believe that. It seems just a few days ago it was Memorial Day. In fact my knees are still sore from marching in the Memorial Day parade! I remember when I was a kid it seemed like forever between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now Christmas seems to rush upon me before I can buy most Christmas presents. Maybe I should blame my own procrastination rather than some "Time Warp". I'm sure it just seems like time is going faster, but time is a constant. (I think). Maybe it isn't a constant after all and that time warps actually exist. I'm not going to take any chances this year. After the July 4th weekend horse show, I'm heading to Wal-Mart to do Christmas shopping. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!
()Mike()

The Wonders Never Cease!

Have those of us baby boomers noticed that there is goofy unappealing stuff on TV and the radio the last few years that appeals to much younger people and not to us "older" folks over 50? I've heard this from just about everyone that I chat with. I read in the Drudge Report the other day that the average age media watchers and listeners is now 50. This is just outside the standard demographic of 18-49 that the media programmers and advertisers have been so obsessed with the last several years and consequently mold all media to that age group. I've also been saying for years that they are targeting the wrong demographic. There are more of us then there are of them and we baby boomers have more money to spend than they do. Now all of the studies conform this. Therefore, my observations and conclusions have been correct over the years. It sure is satisfying to know I was right. I'm savoring the moment because I'm not right that often. However, at my age, I am too mature to "gloat". NYAH NYAH - I TOLD YOU SO I TOLD YOU SO!!! Oh well, I guess sometimes in my excitement of being right, I just lose all my self-control :-)
##Mike##

Think'n Halloween

We are just finishing planting one of the 2 pumpkin fields. Hopefully, in spite of the wet weather delay, these should be ready before Halloween. If not, we will have one GIGANTIC after Halloween pumpkin sale :-)

Mike,

(Your lowly pumpkin planter.)

BABY BOOMER ALERT!!!

I got this in an email and thought I'd pass it along to my "senior" (OUCH!) readers.

Black and White (Under age 40? You won't understand.) You could hardly see for all the snow, Spread the rabbit ears as far as they go. Pull a chair up to the TV set, 'Good Night, David. Good Night, Chet.'

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning. My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter AND I used to eat it raw sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice-pack coolers, but I can't remember getting e.coli.Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system. We all took gym, not PE .. and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now.

Flunking gym was not an option even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be much harder than gym.Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention. We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything.

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself. I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.

Oh yeah ... and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed! We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either because if we did, we got our butt spanked there and then we got butt spanked again when we got home.I recall Donny from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front stoop, just before he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house. Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck.

To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that?We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive? LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T; SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING.

NEW LOOK! SAME GREAT SITE!

Having never been a "trendy" person, most trendy things these days never cease to cause me aggravation. One of them is all of the products that now say, "New Look Same Great Taste". For example, as I'm typing this, I can see the Lipton Green Tea box on the counter that says "New Look Same Great Taste". I can also see the big container of Metamucil (Hey, I'm getting old!). It too says the same thing, i.e. "New Look Same Great Taste". In fact, I've noticed dozens of products on the store shelves that say exactly the same thing! Gee, whatever happened to originality in this country? Whoa, I'd better not get off my subject here. I will cover this subject in a future Blog entry. Well, unfortunately I too have succumbed to this trend. If you notice the picture...
**Mike*

A "Tail" Tale

Well, it's a rainy day, so I am left to my own devices in the house. I happened to come across one of my old photo albums and scanned some pictures. This is a picture of me holding up part of one of our calve's tail. This was during the cold winter of 1990 and its tail devoloped frostbite and lost part of its tail. Thereafter, we named it "Frosty". It's interesting the things one finds going through old photo albums :-)

~~Mike~~

"Hail Hail" Rock and Roll

Please excuse me for paraphrasing Chuck Berry's lyrics. It hailed yesterday and I haven't seen hail around here in years. Not only that but it hailed again about an hour later! Very odd, indeed. Both times it was "pea" sized too. The last time I can recall hail around here was when I was a kid out on the tractor cultivating soy beans. The hail storm hit, of course, when I was on the opposite end of the field and my only shelter was under the tractor. I still got hit with hailstones and I remember how much it stung. Fortunately this time I was watching from inside the house!
^^Mike^^

It's Finally Here!

Happy summer everyone! Well, actually, summer doesn't get here until 7:59 PM tonight, but I thought I'd say it now before the line gets too long. Hmmm, now that this is the longest day of the year, the days will start to get shorter again. How depressing! Well, the good news is that summer is finally here for one day at any rate :-)
((Mike))

Coincidence? The Sequel

Hey gang, you know what the object pictured is? It is a Jeep Wrangler fuel pump. This is what stranded us 167 miles from home on Friday the 13th. These cost over $300. I'm sure glad that my Wrangler is still under warranty! Hummm, since this thing malfunctioned after only 15,000 plus miles, I wonder if it was made in China. On second thought, I'm sure it was. Isn't everything made there these days! Oh well, in over 43 years of driving, this was my first time to ride in a tow truck. I'm still counting my blessings which are more abundant than all the tea (and fuel pumps) in China ;-)

^^Mike^^

Coincidence?

As a Christian, I've never been superstitious. Yesterday we were on our way to a horse show at Brookville, which is north of Dayton. We were about 20 miles from our destination when my otherwise faithful Jeep Wrangler decided to go on strike at a stop light and suddenly stopped running. Since both the tow truck operator and I diagnosed the problem as likely electronic, we had to get a tow 167 miles back home. It was pouring down rain as we waited over 2 ½ hours for the tow truck to show up. Fortunately, I wasn't hauling our 2 horses we presently show. Our trainers have been hauling and showing our horses for us the last few years. (Arthritis and MS have now limited both of us from showing our horses ourselves). In over 43 years of driving, this was the first time I had ever ridden in a tow truck. At least it was an adventure for me as I counted my blessings. During the 4 hour trip home, it suddenly occurred to me that it was Friday the 13th! Was this just a coincidence? Hmmm, you have to wonder?????? :-)
~~Mike~~

The Obvious Solution!

Well, I just read in the Drudge Report that NASA is planning to visit the sun. Now there is a place where there is ACTUAL global warming. I'm surprised that as long as they are going to the sun, that instead of just sending a probe, why don't they have a manned mission to the sun? Oh, I know what you are all thinking that that would be impossible because the intense heat of the sun would melt anything or anyone that got too close. Well, I'm not even a scientist, but I have the obvious common sense answer as to how they could have a manned flight to the sun... Just go at night!!! :-)
++Mike++

It's True!!!!

For months I have been stating that global warming is not true and has been shown to be phony based on honest and scholarly scientific research by top scientists and climatologists. It is a conspiracy by the Stalinist democrat liberals to control our lives with all kinds of regulations that would take away our God given freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution. By the way, I'm not the only one that believes this. Well, after much observation, I am forced to admit that it IS indeed much warmer than it was even a month ago. I have found the cause of global warming and have even coined a term for it. It's called SUMMER!!!!!
~~Mike~~

Filling Space and Cyberspace

Well, if web sites and Blogs are not enough, now I am planning to start a podcast in the near future. I am going to utilize every Internet avenue to make my presence known to the world. Yeah I know, as if it is not enough that everyone can read my rantings, now they will be able to hear them too! Since people say that my stories are out of this world, my future plans are to record all of my stories on a special space resistant DVD to leave on Mars on the next Mars Rover mission. I'll let you know how this is progressing, but so far, NASA hasn't returned my calls yet.
~~Mike~~

Oh, Did I Also Mention...

You all met my Grandson Ethan in the previous post, but now I would like you to meet my Grand Daughter Alayna Gabrielle-Marie! She grew bored waiting for "Gonga" (that's me) to get the perfect pose. I think my daughter Mindy is still awake, but I can't see her eyes, or "Allie's" either for that matter! :-) Check out their web site:
http://www.babyhomepages.net/tothkids/

~~Mike~~

It's in the "Jeans"

After working with drainage for 30 years with the County Engineer's Office, it looks like my Grandson Ethan has inherited my drainage genes. He is fascinated with the catch basin in his driveway as he and I check it out. I am somewhat concerned if he should ever decide to make a career of drainage because it is one career that always goes downhill! ;-)
~Mike~

High Fuel Prices? HA!

I now have no problem with high gas prices. I traded in my Jeep, GMC pickup, and GMC diesel dually pickup and got this super gas saver vehicle. The only problem with it is that it gets a little "hairy" on I-90 heading in and out of Cleveland! The one advantage, however, is that I can cut underneath the big semis when I want to change lanes on the freeway.
~Mike~

More Cool Stuff

This is another rare time when I actually offer something useful in my Blog. Some of these things you maybe already know about, however, I offer them for general information. (If you are previously aware of these links, don't tell me in order to avoid bruising my delicate male ego.) The first is Google Maps Street View. This is really fascinating and cool. Most major cities now have this. To find which ones, follow the link below and click "Street View" on Google Maps. A bunch of camera icons show which city has this feature. It is really cool to see close-up pics from a vehicle that actually drove and photographed the route with a 360-degree camera lens. The second really cool link is Google Books. You can put any key word or words and it works just like Google search, only it finds things in any book. I put my name in the search box and found a fiction book titled Star Witness that actually mentioned my name on page 354! It might be fun for you to enter your name or any other thing and see if you are mentioned in any books. (Inside hint: I already searched some of my fan's names and found some of your names mentioned in books! It might be just your same name and not you, but its fun to get the book and amaze people. They probably will not know its not you, especially if you don't tell them :-)) Here are the links, have fun and play around with these fascinating and cool time wasters!
Google Maps Street View: http://maps.google.com/
Google Book Search: http://books.google.com/
Later...
~Mike~

"RIGHT NOW!!!"

I took Ava to the doctor yesterday and as we were waiting to check in with the receptionist, there was a female, (I refuse to call her a lady), who was in front of us arguing with the nice demure young lady receptionist. It seemed that she wanted her medical records and the receptionist stated that it requires 7 to 10 days to get medical record copies. I am sure there is no conspiracy to hide anything, but there must be a good logistical reason for the delay. After all, I have had the same delay when I needed my medical records several years ago. It is standard operating procedure. Well, SHE had the delusion that she was someone who was too special and important to have to wait 7 to 10 days like the rest of us peons! Oh, my, the horror of it all! She stated repeatedly, "I demand you give me my records RIGHT NOW, or I'll come back with the sheriff!" The words "Right Now" suddenly sounded very familiar to me. Oh hey, I remembered where I had heard those same words before. Have you noticed the last few years that most all of the broadcasters say things like, "Here is the news RIGHT NOW!", or its time for this RIGHT NOW!" or whatever "RIGHT NOW"! Besides being irritated by both the obnoxious phrase and all those that use it due to the "herd mentality" so prevalent these days, I have seen how it is affecting the general populace. If you wonder why so many people are so impatient these days, I think it is obvious that they are being unconsciously programmed with the urge for instant gratification. I think someone should find a solution to this problem RIGHT NOW! Groan...

On This Memorial Day

I was honored as a veteran to march in our Memorial Day parade today and take part in the memorial services sponsored by My local American Legion Post. Our precious freedom is from God and was bought and paid for with blood and sacrifice as we were reminded of today. I believe we are facing the most important presidential election in our country's history. This election will determine if we will continue as a free republic paid for by the sacrifice of all those before us, or if we will become a socialist Stalinist Third Word county. Please note that there is ample documentation to prove both democrat candidates are the same in their plans to destroy our beloved country. I feel it my solemn duty to inform all that they should weigh their decision carefully. Please follow the link to find out about the democrat platform and decide which political party offers the best president this November. Our very existence as a free country depends on it.
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/the-candidates-communist-connections/

Memorial Day

In a few days our town will have our annual Memorial Day Parade. I am looking forward to participating with my American Legion Post as an honor guard. I have been walking through our fields the last few days in hope of lubricating my arthritic knees for the 1.8 mile march. While watching the parade as a kid, I always pictured myself marching with the veterans in the parade and knew that someday I would be too, and I have been for the last several years. I have always looked forward to the parade and have and will always be proud to be a part of it as a veteran. Happy Memorial Day!
~Mike~

A Break in the Action

My mind has been otherwise engaged lately. This explains why I haven't posted any new stories on my web site or posted any new Blog entries. I thought I would at least post a new Blog entry to let everyone know that I am still around. I am planing to post a new story the next day or so. Now that the weather has warmed up, at least a little bit, I have been outside more than I have been behind a key board. Catch ya later fans... :-)
~Mike~

A Textual Problem

It is really scary how many people I see talking on their cell phones while driving these days. As I’ve always said, “The only number anyone should ever dial on their cell phones while driving is 911.” However, if that isn’t bad enough, I recently read that quite a few people are texting on their cells while driving! Yikes! Texting with a cell phone has always puzzled me. Why would someone go to all the trouble of typing text using those microscopic sized keys when they could just call or leave a voice mail? Another thing I’ve noticed, that I believe that is due to texting, is the proliferation of people who post messages on newsgroups, etc. in all lowercase letters with no punctuation. I fear that the present generation will cause the extinction of capital letters, commas, periods, question marks, etc. I just can not imagine a world without punctuation. Now that I have stated this, please do not send me comments or email in all lower case letters with no punctuation. My standing rule is to delete any comments that are in all lower case and not punctuated. Yeah, I guess I’m starting to get a little testy in my old age. The main reason is that I suddenly realized that I will receive my Golden Buckeye Card this December, so cut this “soon to be senior citizen” who is “flirting” with 60 some slack will you!
~Mike~

Fuel For the Fire

All right, since this is my Blog, I am entitled to rant and rave every now and then because that is one purpose of Blogging, so get ready because here it comes. If I hear one more person blame George Bush and/or those of us who are conservative Republicans for the high fuel prices, I think I’m going to scream! As a matter of fact I think I will. AAAAGGGGHHHH! There, now I feel better. Let me set everyone straight on this subject by stating the obvious. If you want to complain and place blame do it to the liberal democrats. THEY are the ones who oppose domestic drilling. THEY are the ones who oppose building new refineries. (There has been no new refinery construction since the 1960s.) THEY are the ones that sponsor all the Green Environmental wackos. THEY are the ones who oppose off shore drilling. THEY are the ones that insist on keeping our dependence of foreign oil. All right, now that I have set everyone straight on this, the next time you want to let off steam at the gas pump, after mortgaging your house and sacrificing your first born to pay for filling your gas tank, go to www.dnc.org and complain to the people who have caused this mess!

An Untangled Life

My grandmother “Ollie” was always quoting witty sayings and old wives’ tales. Her best remembered advice was to be sure to wash your hands in the May dew on the first day of May. She said by doing this the things in your life will not be tangled. I’m not sure I understand what that means. One thing for sure is that after I do that each May first, I never wake up with all my fingers tied in square knots. I guess the advice works. Since it is the last day in April, Tim, Sue, and I will remind each other to be sure and wash our hands in the May dew tomorrow morning. We figure that we have nothing to lose, and we’d rather be safe than sorry by renewing our yearly life "unentanglement" insurance every May first.

~Mike~

How Can This Be?

Like any normal kid, I tended to be very literal minded. Oh, um, on second thought, if any of you have been reading my stories of my childhood on my website www.quarterhorse3.us, you will know that my kid life was anything but normal. Be that as it may, being literal minded had some very curious and frightening repercussions indeed. Take for example nursery rhymes and kid songs. When I heard "Rock A bye Baby", I wondered why anyone would put a baby in a cradle on top of a tree. Sounds rather dangerous to me since the song warned that if the wind blew; the cradle would come crashing down baby and all. Then there was Jack Sprat who could eat no fat. Now that I understand, but what about his wife eating no "lean"? What exactly is "lean"? Then in another kid's song, it stated that London Bridge is falling down and was apparently caused by someone's "Fair Lady". Now, what about Jack and Jill going up a hill to a well to get a pail of water. When Jack fell down, he broke his "crown". Did that mean he was a king? Moreover, if so, why didn't he have one of his servants get the water, thus preventing his crown being broken? At least he should have sent Jill since in those days women always obeyed the men. It's no wonder I turned out to be a neurotic adult!

What’s Past is Past

Whatever happed to the past tense these days? Whenever I read or hear someone relate a story about past events, they always use the plural to state the past tense. Let me give an example: “A guy goes into a dentist’s office and says he needs to see the dentist. Just then the dentist comes in…” Well, you get the idea. This use of the plural to state the past has always puzzled and irked me. Why can’t people just say it correctly: “A guy went into a dentist’s office and said he needed to see the dentist. Just then the dentist came in…” I can just imagine the reaction of my old High School English teacher, Miss Purcell, if one of us would have used the plural to state the past tense in front of her! She was a strict old gal, but to this day, I always use proper English. Well, at least I got one thing out of High School other than perpetual detention. The wonders never cease!
~Mike~

Cats Revisited

Ah yes, more cat stuff from a guy that likes cats. (Pssst, do not repeat this to any guys who know me or I'll deny I said it). After all, I have a "macho" image to uphold. Just before I sat down to type yet another exciting entry to my blog, one of the cats indicated through a rather rude loud obnoxious "meow" that it was hungry. I dutifully gave it a "glob" of Nine Lives canned cat food. One curious thing I've noticed throughout the years is that cats never finish all their food. Now dogs, on the other hand, always eat every bit of their food and even lick the bowl clean. Do any of you, my beloved readers, have any explanation for this rather bizarre phenomenon? Just wondering.

~Mike~

Say What?

With frivolous lawsuits so prevalent these days, manufacturers have taken extraordinary precautions to avoid goofy lawsuits because of possible misuse of their products. For example, I had a hankering for cheddar cheese and wheat crackers recently and purchased both. I happen to spot cheddar cheese in a pressure can and figured that would be convenient. That way, I would not have to cut a bunch of small squares of cheese from a slice to top the crackers. A few nights ago, I remembered the cheese and crackers and went to get them. Just for the fun of it, I read the instructions because I was curious as to why a pressure can of cheddar cheese needed instructions. I almost fell off my chair when I read the instructions. Here is word for word what they said, "Directions: For best results, remove cap, hold applicator tip close to food, press tip firmly, and move slowly across food surface". Good grief! I am sure glad I read the instructions first or I would have left the cap on before I used the can! Interestingly enough, these were about the ONLY instructions I've seen recently that weren't in Spanish and French in addition to English. Apparently, only English speaking Americans need to be told to remove the cap before using.

The Answer to Frustration! (at least one anyway)

Once in a great while I offer some actual useful information on this Blog, which proves the old adage that even a blind hog finds and ear of corn now and then. How many of us have ever tried to call some big corporation and actually talk to a real person for information or heaven forbid technical assistance. I found a way to get a real person right from the start. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, "In your dreams", right! Well, my skeptical friends, read on. If you are tired of trying to communicate with some "voice recognition" computer, or being sent to one extension after another and then being put on indefinite hold until your phone batteries go dead, then bookmark this link! http://www.gethuman.com/. I cannot guarantee that you will always get a definitive answer to your problem, but at least you will be able to vent your frustrations to a real person instead of a "voice recognition" computer that never has the right choices and doesn’t recognize profanity when you get really upset. Now doesn't this bit of invaluable information make it all worthwhile muddling through all my ranting and raving in this Blog! I thought so!!! Feel free to post flattering comments voicing your undying gratitude the next time you have to call one of the listed corporations and get right through to an actual living human being. Oh, one caveat; the place where you are trying to get a real person has to be on the list. If it is not, then I leave you to your own frustrations.

Arbor Day

Whatever happened to Arbor Day? I checked the calendar and did not see it listed. I recall that is sometime in the spring. After further research, I found that each state has a different day for Arbor Day. Ah Huh! Now it makes sense why it is not listed on a calendar. Arbor Day in Ohio is on the last Friday of April. Well, now I know. When I was in school in "past years" (that sounds better and softens the blow than saying when I was in school in the 1950s and 60s), we always celebrated Arbor Day. Each year the senior class had a tree planting ceremony on the front yard of the school. It always looked odd to see one of the seniors wearing a suit and tie giving a short speech while other senior class guys were planting a small tree. A concrete tablet was then put on the ground in front of the tree stating the year it was planted. One day last fall, I took a walk in the front yard of the school. It was interesting looking at all of the tablets stating what year the Arbor Day tree was planted. They all said, "Senior Class of 19--". I found our class tree planted by my senior class in 1966. Oddly, after 42 years, it was just a small sapling. I wondered if its growth was stunted by being around cigarette smoke when it was a sapling, or it died and was replaced. No one seems to know. I checked this year's school calendar and did not see any Arbor Day activities listed for April 25, which is the last Friday in April. I suspect that Arbor Day has been replaced by Earth Day, whatever and whenever that is. Does anyone know? In addition, if anyone knows why the Class of 1966 Arbor Day tree was replaced, please let me know! There must be a logical answer. I sure hope so because now I am wondering if I am in some kind of a "Twilight Zone" time warp or something!

Lighter Stuff

Well, so much for politics for now. We will touch on that in later rantings. (umm, I mean posts.) Let’s talk about cats. I’m one of the few men who like cats and admit it. My present barn cat count is 15 cats. Wait a minute! As of this morning it is 21 cats. Two of the female barn cats had kittens last night. I’m just going to have to chase away that old gray tomcat who keeps seducing my female barn cats. I have named him Hugh Hefner. As I am typing this latest entry on my new laptop, one of the house cats is nestled up beside me. Sometimes the house cats walk on the typing keys while I am typing. I’m very thankful for the ease of correcting typing errors with these modern word processors. Otherwise I would be stuck with words like wnzxu#m&o in my stories and blog entries. As they so aptly say, “Dogs have masters, cats have servants”. As a matter of fact, I hear “Punky” meowing at the door to go out. I’ll have to post this entry now and go let him out. Servants Indeed!

Treading on Thin Ice

They say never discuss religion or politics. I intend on discussing both here now and then. Blogs are supposed to generate opinions and thought. Among the many great things about this country is we can openly discuss these things. I really appreciate the comments and feed back so far. All of you have made some excellent points. We may not all agree but we can disagree without being disagreeable. Indeed, those of us who are conservatives on the right can find common ground with those on the left. Oh no! Another right wing blog site :-)

GLOBAL WARMING???

There is plenty of evidence to show that global warming is a hoax. Many scientists are debunking this myth that has been perpetrated on us by the liberal democrats. Why do they do this? It's to give them more power over our lives with big government and the loss of more and more of our God given Constitutional rights. This is all part of their socialist communist philosophy. Look up "global warming hoax" with your favorite search engine and you will discover the truth. If this country is ignorant enough to elect either of the 2 commie socialists democrats, our beloved country will be doomed to become a third world socialistic satellite of the USSR. One of the biggest errors is socialized health care. Look at Canada and the United Kingdom. Throughout history with no acceptations, Socialism has failed wherever it is implemented. Check out the other side and get the truth on all of this! Barack "Insane" "Abomintion" is the most liberal presidential candidate in our history and "Sillery" is not far behind. Either one will destroy our beloved country. I will elaborate much more in future blog postings.

Let's get started!

Well, the main thing on my mind at this very moment is testing just how this thing works. This is my first blog and I'm slowly working my way through it. I may have to "tweak" some settings to get this the way I prefer it so bear with me as I muddle through all this. The next entry will be the start of all kinds of cool stuff!

~Mike~

The Maiden Entry

Welcome to my Blog. From time to time the whole world will be able to glean wisdom from the hidden archives of my creative brain dust. This blog is an extra feature and extension of my world famous web site http://www.quarterhorse3.us/ You will definitely want to subscribe to the RSS feed below so you can keep track of all of my latest rants (err I mean postings). If you have any problems, let me know and I will show you how to do it. The link is on the bottom of the page and it says "Subscribe to".

~Mike~