ok

What should I get them... that happy couple, them!!!

OK.... as I have related elsewhere.... My invitation to Will and Kate's wedding bash was misplaced by the USPS.... but it did arrive... and lemmee tell you.... I am happier than a zombie in a Stephen King novel!!!   Whoa... I got out my best tie-died t-shirt and my old navy blazer... found a pair of jeans that does look all that bad, polished up the old tennie shoes, got a fairly clear Green Basy Packer cap.  Boy!!!  See, I gotz the bus ticket to Milwaukee, figure I take then take the bus to Chicago and well, gosh, from there I will figure something out.

But, see, the thing that is really bothering me is what should I get them?  I had a really nifty toaster all picked out....

but then,,,, saw so many others.... that I just couldn't make up my mind

Like... what if they already had one..... or maybe someone with the same kinda tastes like me would get them the same kind.... or what if the one I got did not run on the same current as theyz gotz in Britland, ... see it was tough.... cause iffen I were to get married again, gees, I sure would like a new toaster.  I think mine is from 1963 or something maybe a '65.

England swings like a pendulum do,
Bobbies on bicycles, two by two,
Westminster Abbey the tower of Big Ben,
The rosy red cheeks of the little children

..... gees, there are so many TOASTERS... and I have so little bread.  I like the model that is also a radio.... boy&howdy, I have seen some spiffy stuff in my day, but that would be the stuff!!  Yessirree Bob... I sure would want a toaster that would sing with me!!


OR..... I could get .......them...................................................................................

A BLENDER>>> Shit&Whiskers!!! every-o-body can use a new blender.... I mean when you have a whole house full of Royalish people and see, you wanna make mararitaz or whatever.... you need a good blender!! YUPPERZ.. A NICE BLENDER

Sams Club has an in store deal going on for this gas-powered blender that is certain to make short work of mixing any drink you can come up with. The blender is powered by a 43cc 2-stroke gas engine mounted on a stand with a stainless steel blender cup and a variable speed throttle to get just the right amount of blending for your drinks. It’s even decorated with diamond-plated accents to give it that classy-tool look. If you can find a store that has them in stock you can walk out with one for about $100.

.... or maybe a neato underwear dispenser?  Hmmmmm.... I mean, (blush blush wink wink) Newly-type-Weds are always needing clean underwear.... what with all the (blush wink blush wink... wink-a-blush&stuff)






Or a new set of glasses.... something swany and posh and classy.... not that the Britishes are class conscious....nope... not with all them there Dukes and Earls and Dukes of Earls and shit&stuff they have moore princes than you can shake a frog at!!!!  But they are an equal opportuniy type nation meaning they are just as likely to get into some fucked-u[ situation as their Americoid cousings.  Always one of the nicest thing about them Englanders.... they love a good colonial war as well as the next guy.

......Course.... could just get them a cat. 












Well anywayz, I am excited as all get out..... and I am sooooooo glad that I am getting 24/7 coverage of this wedding.... see, cause I figure there are about 6,000 Americans.... that will never be married

"The Pink Floyd Polka" & such &not much of nothing... again

I still ain't got much.  It's been one day of sunshine and three days of rain.  I did find a video of a favorite local band, Copper Box, when they were playing down in San Antonio.  A real gas especially after a few beers.
ok..... lessee, what else.  Oh, I got a nice email from a guy named Vincent who stumbled across this photo that I had posted a while back.

Vincent runs a Chinese Restaurant and was wondering where I got the costume.  I had to be honest and emailed him back that I just grabbed the costume p;ic off the net and that my blog really isn't about eggrolls or Chinese food.... he mailed back saying thanks and stuff... I forgot to ask where he was from... and if he delivered... cause it made me thinkg of getting some LoMein.

Speaking of costumes..... I came across a pic of the kids and their cousins from a parade we participated in , I think it was the 4th of July and the theme was 'Patriotism' or some such.  The Ex made the signs and costumes... and I pulled the wagon.  Ya gotzta teach the children well, see.

Friend of mine stopped yesterday on his way back to Port Washington.  Tom and I go back 35 years or more and I do miss him.  Back in the 80's we brewed beer together.... made some very good ones, some really bad batches.... but we never failed to make a mess.  It was a good chat over pizza and beer... and old stories were told.  He used to have and old Cadillac, one of those big monster with the long tail fins.  He had bought it for a couple of hundred, filled in the rust holes with wood putty and fixed up what he could.  When he said he thought it needed a paint job, well we found a deal on 'silver' metallic paint, got out the brushes and rollers and painted it!!!  I think it was right after making a batch of the really good beer.  I remember when we would get a foursome for golf, drive up in that thing to the club house.... seems like we never had a problem, 'playing through'.

OK.... Next time I will try to write something of great political or philosophical or sociological impact.... but probably not.
It's little early...  but I think I am going for Lo Mein.

the weekend that was....ain't much

didn't do much....... and I do that VERY well.

Had some beers with Lee  from Oshkosh Beer   on friday, who says he is closing his blog.... the chump.... but promises to be coming up with something better soon.  I am guessing that he will have a new post up at the old blog as soon as he finds a new beer to report on.


Saturday got a call from my old Buddy, Dimly Lit, (who is now a very successful broker) inviting me out for a late lunch.  He picks the spot.

Now, Bob's Trails End.... is one of the best dumpy bars around.  Opens at 8am.... but they have the best chili dogs, heaped with onions, 3 for $4.75.  Can't be beat.  Nice chat... he is planning on taking his boys up to the Boundary Waters in MN this summer with good old Uncle Rosie.  Had a great chat.

I missed church, again, on Sunday.... hmm... and since the old bunny did not leave me eggs, again... I trucked down to the Roxy and had some cooked for me.  See, the bunny has yet to leave a Bloody Mary and the Roxy delivers 'em.

The Roxy
Homemade spaghetti tossed with Parmesan
cheese, egg and your choice of three
ingredients. Finished with tomatoes and
mozzarella cheese - 6.99

Bubba sent me a package from Portland.  A nice T-shirt from VooDoo Doughnuts.

Sounds like my kind of place.  Maybe next year I will visit him for Easter.  Doughnuts for Easter sound good.
 

Well, the Ex called.  She is on Spring Break from teaching job and wants to chat.  I think just get caught up, together, about the kids. She is on her way to pick up a new dog from a rescue center down by Madison.  Snickers, the old bishon, is pushing 16 and I think she wants to get a companion dog and a new Buddy for her.

 Plus, I think things are getting tense at her school. The kids she teaches are all sociologically screwed up and I think more than a few have been physically abused.  Most, if not in her classes, would be in juvenile detention, or worse.  Once in awhile she just likes to unburden... and all I have to do is listen.  She serves good tea.   It will be good to see Snickers, too.

so.... I ain't got much today.... but I do that well.

See you in church tomorrow... if you sit by the window

God, Easter & Girls just wanna have fun.

yupperz... it's Good Friday.... then Holy Saturday.... then EASTER!
Now.... iffen I have to tell the truth... I am not a very religious person..... in fact, not at all.  Most times I would call myself and Atheist.... other times, an Agnostic (which sounds almost like a like hot drink...with brandy or something)... and when those moments approach me, that make me think that there might be a God...I am of the firm belief that he/she would mostly hang out in oak trees or summer breezes, not churches.
Anywayz..... the Easter Season means a lot to a lot of people.... some actually very nice ones, who do believe.  And good for them.  With out going on and on and on, cause what's the point, I want to relate a small comment a Presbyterian Minister once made to me.  Brad's kids and my kids both played together on their respective soccer teams and it turned out he also had an interest in good homemade beer. Now this was before I knew he was a minister, and what we would do is occasionally sneak out to the parking lot at half time during games (a forbidden thing, by club rules)  and share a beer.  During one of these occasions we got around to talking about 'what-do-you do' and he told me he was a minister. Now, I expected a bunch of Bible talk and such, and to head that off, I politely told him I really didn't believe in religion.  Well, he just handed me a bottle, looked me in the eye, and said, "I don't blame you a bit." We got along great for a couple of years before he and his wife moved to Tennessee.  I liked his attitude.  Sometimes I see folks who fervently believe in God, and they act sincere and honest and I think to myself, " I don't blame them a bit."

Anywayz. I didn't want to make a post about religion.... the idea was to just say HAPPY EASTER.        What I think, though, is that, if there is a God.... his would be the breath of laughter.  I'm adding a small video my daughter made of her trip last spring to Europe. It was a small study abroad program, only 11 students, and they were all over the place, Rome, Florence, London, Paris, Berlin.  She made it on her little 'point&shoot" camera.... but I like it a lot. Peace.
                                             .

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!

Perhaps I would not stop at the bar so much if it was a dull place full of dull people and dull beer.  Just to give an example..... Oblio's how has New Belguim's  Trippel ale....

"Our Trippel Belgian Style Ale (pronounced triple) opens with a bold blast of hops that slowly gives way to the fruity esters implied by our Belgian yeast strain. The Three Graces hand-painted on the label are Zeus’s daughters Aglaia (splendor), Euphrosyne (mirth) and Thalia (good cheer). In the Belgian tradition of brewing singles, doubles and triples, Trippel is the strongest with the longest fermentation. Remarkably smooth and complex, our bottle-conditioned Trippel is spiced with a trace of coriander."

HO.... yum.... and it goes really well while discussing CHICKENS , urban chickens with Ted.  It really is that kind of bar..... very very important things are discussed!

Well, then Joe and Hugh walk in.  Joe has just finished renovating the  1800 square feet above his wife's beauty salon across the street.  All there kids are gone and they decided that they didn't need that big house.  Well, I knew he was a handy guy, but whoa, he gave us a tour and the place is amazing!!! I wish I would have had a camera. It truly looks like something from Architectural Digest. It was just open loft space when he started... plus.... he has a handy dandy little bar just freshly stocked with Heineken.  It is stunning what Union Workers can construct!  He is thinking of adding a chicken loft out back.

Politics in Wisconsin continue to be.... ah, politics.  The Democrats in the state have successfully gathered enough signatures to force recqll elections of four Republican state Senators...very close to a fifth.  And speaking of Fifths... State Republicans have tried to do the same kind of recall of Democratic Senators.... but, for lack of interest... have had to use out-of-state workers to gavther them... and as reported in the HUFFINGTON POST... havee resorted to buyin shots of booze in exchange for signatures.  Scroll through the post... there is an audio.  That is just chicken shit!!!

.... and on another political not... here in Beautiful Downtown Wisconsin... we had a recount on a city council election.  Two candidates, after the recount.... were tied.  Dead Even. Sooooooo,,,, they did the sensible thing..... they drew cards... high card won.

They were both at the bar last night.... having a beer together.  Winner, Winner..... Chicken Dinner!

SNOW JOKES REPUBLICANS AND GOOD EGGS

Yessirre, Bob... it snowed again last night.  Bunches.  Those big white flake thingees.  Wetter 'n all get out.  Thunder, too.
Well.... in times like that I brace myself and do the only sensible thing..... I walk the two blocks to Oblio's and have a beer!

Predictably... it wasn't very crowded, but there was nothing good on ?FOX? last night, so what the heck.
Todd, one of the owners was polishing the bar.  We go wayyyyyy  back to University days.... and we like to bring up a few old stories.... great stuff.
Used to be an old  run down bar on the south shore of Lake Butte Des Morts,  out on Reighmore Road, amongst some dumpy low-down decrepit fishing shacks and  dumpy run-down decrepit cottages that had the some of the cheapest beer around.  It was about an eight mile drive out there, but could be well worth the trip. Really cheap beer. See, if you bought Old Frank, the owner, more than a few shots of cheap,rot-gut,whiskey, he would go take a nap and let us run the bar. "youse guys take over," he would say. "leave some beer for tomorrow." We would leave the money, but it was kind of fun to be twenty and have your own bar in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.  We would call his son before we left and tell him Frank was napping.
Gees, good stuff, some of those stories.

Well, soon enough Karl from the newspaper walks in. He's one of the Editors and, seeing as the News office is only a couple of blocks from Oblio's he is prone to stop for a couple on his way home.  Plus he will tell you tomorrows news a night a head of time, so it saves you the cost of the paper, see.

Seems Governutz Walker wants to act like Governutz Synder of MI


Following the lead of Michigan GOP Governor Rick Snyder, Walker is said to be preparing a plan that would allow him to force local governments to submit to a financial stress test with an eye towards permitting the governor to take over municipalities that fail to meet with Walker’s approval.

Oh, it was such a funny story.... Todd, Karl and I, we laughed and laughed. Boy, those Republican Governors, what a funny bunch!  I really like the jokes they tell.... like, " Whatta you do with a $3 billion Dollar deficit?" "Blame it on teachers!"

Boy, that one breaks me up everytime!!

Karl said that the signatures are complete for three State Republican Senators, Dan Kapanke, Luther Olsen, and our Home Boy, Randy Hopper.  Randy is the funny guy who left his wife for a woman thirty years younger.... and lived out of district.  Seems Randy wanted to get in touch with his "people" so he held a town hall thingee.... but... it didn't quite run like you think it would


Wisconsin state Senator Randy Hopper won’t answer any questions from constituents at local events:

Several people in a crowd of about 200 displayed anger and dismay Monday night when state Sen. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, said a listening session would not involve answers from him.(…) “I’m not going to be commenting and we’re not going to take questions,” Hopper said. “I’m here to listen to you today.”

While he isn’t answering any questions, Hopper graciously sent a letter to his constituents letting them know they can submit their comments to him through more channels than just these in-person events. For example, they can also submit their comments through a phone sex chat line

Yupperz.... seems like they sent out a  mailing that had the wrong #800 number on it... and if you called the message was.... "Hey there, sexy guy..." course, if you really want to talke with Randy he is at 888-736-8720..... it was published in the paper.... so ANYONE who wants to ask a question that he would not answer at the town hall listening session can call and ask it on a answering machine that he will not listen too!
Boy.... those guys are funny!!!


OK... time to go get some coffee.  Hey, Easter is almost upon us... that's when Jesus wakes from the Dead, comes outside, sees his shadow and we get six more weeks of winter.

Don't forget to kiss your Egg Sunday!!!

OK... The part where I get all weepy &shit

'

Sometimes yesterdays just kinda jump out you like a bear on a hiking trail and bite you in the ass.  Figuratively, of course., but that's what it feels like.  What's that line, from the Beatles song.... "Somebody spoke and I went into a dream."  I went into the basement and fell into a box.

....... of books.
See, this is how it was.
Twenty six years ago I collaborated on my first reproduction.... we called him Max. I named him after my favorite brand of coffee.  Or maybe it was after the guy who owned the Woodstock farm, Max Yasgur.  Or may it was just that it was what his mother wanted to name him.  It ain't no never mind, one way or another.


 I like to think, sometimes, when thinking does not overcome me, and my mind is sufficiently clear of intelligent thoughts, that I named him, simple and plain, after my favorite literary character.

Sounds good, anywayz.  Max, from Where the Wild Things Are.  It was the first book I bought for him.  Day two. He and his Mom (after she named him) were still in the hospital and I went out and got a copy.

In 1986, when he was born, I was a A-V technician at a Library System. (a position that is extremely obsolete now)  One of my best friends at the facility was the children's  librarian, a marvelous woman, who would show me the newest and neatest children's books.  Plus..... I would get a pretty cool discount when I bought through the library.... and, at no charge, I could get those neat-o plastic covers put on to keep them in good shape.

So when my second collaborative reproduction, Miriam, (she was named for the wife of the guy who owned the Woodstock farm, Miriam Yasgur) mentioned that she was doing illustrations for an art classes that encompassed "Children's Literature" I told her I had the box and would dig it out.

And I did. William Joyce, Steven Kellog, Chris Van Allsburg, David Wiesner.... plus all the Suess stuff.

Marvelous stuff.  I spent last night reading them.... some for the umpteenth hundreth time.

And I got these flashbacks... of the kids sucking their thumbs and listening as I read,,,, then.... so long ago.... and the shadows of the streetlights as they crept into Max's room..... and of how the moon would shine through the pine's in the backyard and into Miriam's.

I miss those moments.  Things I hadn't thought of for a while.  How fresh a child's hair smells  at bedtime after a bath..... how sometimes they will interrupt with endless questions .... how sometimes I would read aloud well after they had fallen asleep... & I wouldn't notice.  And sometimes.... when I did, how I would keep reading anyway.  How that reading instilled a peace in me and a faith that no matter how old they would grow to be, they would always be young. Hence, I could never be old. Ever.  Youth is the stuff of dreams, just remember to never stop dreaming.

............Stories....of course, if you are good at reading stories.... sooner or later you adapt a bit and get half-way decent at MAKING UP stories.  And I did a fair amount of that.  Gees, MY version of the three little pigs was complete with firetrucks, parachutes... and the wolf was named Jose, in case it is of interest.  And, in case it is of interest, I DID save Christmas, when it looked dire and that it might NOT happen.... and that dire circumstance was imminent for years... but that is all another story. I should write them down.

Now-a-days.... my favorite stories are of them...the kids.  And I will relate one.....

Just after Max's sixth birthday I took him to Washington State to visit my brother.  We threw a futon in the back of his truck, loaded up with camping gear and went touring the Olympic Mountains, the San Juan Islands and on into the Norther Cascades. It really was a delightful trip, stops at small cafes... nights sleeping in the open air, walking on Glaciers.  Max loved it and proved to be an amiable and compatible traveling buddy.
On the top of Mt Baker, though, catastrophe struck.  He popped out his first 'baby-tooth and it was hopelessly lost in the stones and pebbles and pine needles.  He was distraught.... that sucker belonged under a pillow and he was to get a quarter for it!
"Don't worry, Bubba.  When we get home we will just put a 'note' under your pillow explaining what happened and it wasn't your fault and it'll be OK.  Tooth Fairies are good about this stuff. They understand."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely.  I will help you write the note."
"Promise?"
"Yupperz!"  And that is what we did.  I think the Fairy even offered a whole dollar compensation on that occasion,  About a week later, a small package came in the mail, addressed to Max; inside was a large plastic molar attached to a key chain and a note explaining how Uncle John went looking for his tooth and found it.
"DAD.... Uncle John found my tooth.... and he WAS RIGHT!!! Things really do grow BIG in the mountains!!!"  He is still a true believer and I still have that key chain.

So... Miriam gets the box of books... when I am done.  I think they will take care of her... as they did then...... but for now.... they are taking care of me.  If you love enough.... things do grow big in the mountains... of the heart.

Four years? 573 Posts? Elvis and Stories

.

I guess... maybe... it was about four years ago I started blogging.  Maybe it was before that.  I forget.  See... at the beginning I was pointed to this blog called "Fuck France".... yupperz it was just a vile Troll site at the time of rampant French bashing ... which was really stupid..... but anywayz, I am reading the comments and there was this voice on the pages... telling those idiots what idiots they were.... and the voice had this element of articulation that just couldn't be ignored.  And she had a blog.... random bits of Art, music and politics.... and there were other artists there, France, Finland, USA..... well, see, it ain't no nevermind.... but the ext thing you know... I ended up at a place called Jonestown.... oh, and were the people there, smart, and witty and interesting and I started leaving snarky comments.... and the ended up at a place in Clevelandistan Lenny's Melodiux or something and whoa, some of the same people from Jonestown were there.... go FIGURE DAT!

So the guy in Clevelandistan tells me to get my own blog.... so he can leave snarky type comments.... and he even named my blog before I even had one..... so that is how that all happend.... 573 posts ago....of which I am proud to say.... about 20 are good..  So.... it was about four years ago.... or maybe four and a half.  Who knows. &shit&whiskers, I really doan care, cause I have found so much ... and even learned a little.

oh.... and about Elvis...... I always liked him.  the Costello one.....

I had to share this... From 'The Chief'

What if they had a Tea Party and no one showed up???

Dennis rocks Scott.......

s


IT'S A BUDGET ISSUE.......... RIGHT!

C'MON EVERYBODY

Just  little musical interlude.

Mass meeting Elections... or Waiting for the return of the Pilgrim

Where there is hope...... there is Jimmy Stewart

And now......dig this

I guess is it Poetry month... or week or whatever.  I like poetry... really.  Not that I know much about it.... and that is firmly attested to by a whole scrapbook of rejection slips from the 70's when I THOUGHT  I did.  Seriously.  I GOT  bunches.  Well, rather than be discouraged.... I started collecting them.  It got to be fun.  Then I started writing long rqambling cover letters to go with my submissions.  That was more fun than writing the poems.  The best was when I got a letter back from a small literary magazine out west.... with my poems enclosed.... with a $25 check enclosed.... explaining that they thought the poems kinda sucked..... but they published my cover letter!!!  Ha! Boy&Howdy..... you could buy a lotta cheap beers for $25 back in 73!!  And that was the first thing I ever published.  If I think long enough I might remember the second........

Anyways.... getting back.... poetry.... I don't know much, but I know what I like.... and I always liked Shel.....

....

niddy noddy tussy mussy & Socks for Japan

Boy, the news is fun.... A Wixconsin Railroad executive got caught making illegal campaign contributions to Scott Walker.  The CEO of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad would make contributions, exhort employees to make contributions, and then make reimbursements from the Company's expense account.  Nice guy.  Got caught.  Faced up to seven years in jail.  Pleaded guilty in a plea deal and got two years probation.... course, he says he did nothing wrong.  I mean, everyone knows that CEOs are above any stupid law.

A startling 4% of Oshkosh Wi teachers have had enough and are retiring... a new record for a single year.  Collectively they are taking with them..... 759 years of teaching experience.  But teachers are a dime a dozen.... (or so the Governut says) and replacing them with help balance the budget. & who needs experience anyhow.

and in other more sublime news... I sometimes I have no idea how I got to somewhere, but I usually do, somehow....... and it is somepeople that get me there.
 Case study #12893
I have met a whole buncha folks on the blogs that I will never meet face to face... which, truthfully, is a good thing for them.  But then one person leads to another and another and the next thing you know you are casually chatting on FB with a political radical sign carrying commie socialist pinko radical subversive kindergarten teacher in Madison, WI........ and the conversation veers to niddy noddy and tussy mussy..... and I am wondering what the Stuff are they talking about.... I mean, this is a kindergarten teacher and it could be she is teaching them tykes to make terrorist devices out of toilet paper cardboard tubes and pipe cleaners... or who knows.... maybe they are just names for incredibly inedible Norwegian foods. But then Suzy explains that they just talking about some wool-yarn type thingees and the conversation gets distorted (oh, wow, do I love distorted conversations... they are good with a little apple butter and tea) and the  Marli jumps in with this neat link about Socks for Japan.  Seriously    SOCKS FOR JAPAN  .... now, it's a little thing and maybe it ain't much of nothing.... but if you think about it.... it does make sense.  It takes a little effort, it's not washing away liberal guilt with a $5 donation.... and it is movement.  "Things in Motion stay in Motion.  Some really smart guy made a rule about that or some such.  Ain't no niddy noddy to me.  But check it out.  Think about it.  I did.  And somehow it made me feel better.  I'm going to go buy some to donate, cause there ain't nobody no where wants my old socks, Sheesh, my old socks doan even want me...

About Uncle Curley

well, it sure was interesting last night.  Tornados jumping all around my part of the world.  Fortunately they jumped by me.  Not like I didn't give them fair chance. Round about 6 o'clock the sirens went off, the sky got very BLACK and all the TV stations were beeeping and huumming and radar flashing and what-not and what-wonder!  Oh the skies were lit with lightning flashes and the wind was blowing like a two bit whore in a lumber camp on pay day!!!  Well, they say that lightning never strikes twice in the same place and seeing as I have never been struck once, least of all twice, I wrapped up all illogic I could and trucked down to Obli'sfor a beer.  Well, two,maybe three, but if you have to count, just leave it at one is what I say.  So Jessie is tending the polished plank and her and I go out and have a smoke and check out the rolling clouds.  Now the winds are gusty and she is a cute young thing wearing this cute young sun dress thing and I have to advise her to get a little duct tape to hold everything down or I'm going to forget how old I am and how old she ain't and just might ask her out on a date if she don't.  Which makes her laugh. "Jim, I only go OUT on dates till  after 9 o'clock and everyone knows that's past your bed time!" WELL!!! I was real insulted for about as long as it took us to walk back inside and get another beer.

Turns out the tornado did hit, about twenty miles north.  Another maybe fifty miles further up.  Have not heard much more about the storms, yet.  I have seen a few tornados before, and remember the one in 2001 that ripped the shit out of Country Bob's place west of town.  Did a lotta chain saw work after that one. Fact is, after he died last year there was still about ten years of firewood left.  Storms are like that... the big ones, the 'Oh, My God' ones,  you tend to remember.  My divorce was quite a storm... if I remember.  And there still is a whole buncha firewood left over from that one..

Well, anyway, about Uncle Curley.  His funeral is tomorrow.  Would have been a hundred years old this coming December.  He liked his 'year-marks'. Remembered all of them. He married my mother's older sister seventy five years ago and they had 73 pretty decent years before she passed away a couple of years ago.  That was about when he finally gave up his apartment and moved into an assisted living community.  Now old Curley was not a typical 'Old" guy.  Last time I saw him he would tell how he still walked a mile around the home, sometimes two, "in good weather". He remembered EVERYTHING!! And did not mind telling
you, often to your dismay.  But the thing with Curley is he never mentioned anything unpleasant, or at least never talked about it.  His stories were more like the time he went goose hunting, back in 54, and what the weather was like then, who he was with, what kind of booze they were sipping from pint bottles, and precisely what time of the early dawn it was when that big Canadian honker came gliding out of the mist and how he led it just so,  bagged it on the first shot.  He would then go on to tell you what kind of vegetables that they served when they cooked that sucker up. Also, who was sitting at the table when to help  eat it, how he knew them, how old they were then, and what has happened to them since the occasion of that glorious feast.  Of course that would also launch him into the story of the mallard some one gave him back in 62 and how they didn't get all the pellets out and he chipped a tooth on one and how he had to go to a dentist to get it fixed and how that same dentist had been on Iwo Jima and had just missed being in that famous flag raising photo.  That was Curley.

He and my Aunt Cecelia only had one daughter and when that daughter's husband split and left that daughter with five little kids, why it was Curley and Ceil that raised those grand children. And those expanded to great-great grandchildren.... and even a couple of great-great-greats.  They held off the funeral for a week to make sure they could all show up.  And they will.  When they still had an apartment there used to be a list on the refrigerator... reminding them of which kid would show up which day to take them to church, the doctor, the store, the birthday party... the whatever. And Curley remembered all the birthdays, graduations, accomplishments, wedding dates...... you never wanted to ask to much about any of it cause the answers could last forever.
So, anyways, the Ex and I are going to the funeral tomorrow.  Cheryl always like Curley.  And I did too. He was great. See, it didn't matter to him how bad a storm was for Curley, in his opinion, "cause see, Jimmy, that's how we get rainbows!"

Well, the news is shitty these days, Liars and Cheats in politics, climate change, bad storms, pollution, discrimination, racism.... just plain old nastiness. I need to think a little more about Curley.... all those long stories, and how each one was wrapped with chuckles, eye twinkles, grins.... and a lotta love.

oh,  about that goose feast..... they had yams, mashed potatoes, wild rice, gravy and creamed peas. He told me so...... a few times.

Boy, That's Just Great!!!

See.... I had this all set... I made the chili and I was gonna have it Cincinnati style, where you dump it over bunch of spaghetti and top it with grated cheddar cheese and onions.   but I can't find the grater... and I know she was here somewhere (hey, and just saying, but all of the really cool kitchen utensils are of the feminine gender.  don't ask how I know this, but it's true)
So I says to myself, "this is just great"....it being that kind of morning.
I mean I wish the sun would just shine a bit, that would be great.  Or maybe the phone would ring with some good news for a change. That would be great.

Then I am thinking of all the things that would be great.  But I keep it simple.  Like I wish I had another jare of peanutter butter cause I just ran out and I really don't want to go to the store for another jar, not just yet, anyways, cause really the best time to buy peanutter butter is when you need jelly, too, see, both of those seem to go good together.  They are Great!! Together.  And then I start thinking to myself of all sorts of great things and things that are great together ( but only parenthetically)...... and I just run out of thoughts.......... and wish I had a few more.... cause that would be great.



In the early morning rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an achin' in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home
And I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go

.......... So listen.... if you have any great thoughts..... or think of a couple of things that would be great together...... leave them here.  I guess I have to go to the store and get a new grater.... it is the only way I can think of to find my old one. 

Hey, Don't Quote me..... Just Sayin' is all !!!!!

Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. 

Friedrich Nietzsche

 

 

An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child

Carl Jung

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All right everyone, line up alphabetically according to your height.
Casey Stengel

 

His lack of education is more than compensated for by his keenly developed moral bankruptcy. 

Woody Allen

 

 

It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this. 

Bertrand Russell

 

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. 

Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I lost two weeks”

Joe E. Lewis

 

 

 

IT'S A MIRACLE!!

......... now if I could just get back to 1973!!

beccause it is that day .... again

but then..... if I wait long enough.... it's.. TUESDAY AGAIN!

And sometimes gets serious......

l


The train tracks along  Broad St split the city like a rusty zipper.  The wide right of way on the west side of the tracks is a mild rage of bottles, cans, paper trash and rudely discarded hopes. You have to cross Broad, though, to get the park from where I live. This morning I was  going on a quick little walk to the park by lake and the zipper split open  a  bit of life fell out.

I'll tell you about it.  I was there.

The stuff here, the politics, the teabaggers, the Governor, the protests...... I needed a break..... so this morning I took a stroll down to the lake. The ice is still pretty solid.  The gulls like stoic prophets glide around hoping for a little wisdom or a dead fish.
But it was too chilly to stay down by the lake for too long so I decided to head back down Parkway St. and get a cup of Joe at the New Moon cafe.  Well, sure enough, when I got to the intersection of Broad and Parkway the rail gates started coming down b ut before they could totally close and ambulance sped through, just missing the gate.  Now, and here is where the morning got interesting, that sucker was hitting such a speed that the back door momentarily flapped open and a small styrofoam box the size of a six pack cam tumbling out!

Now, being the nice guy that I am, I picked that sucker up, figured it was supplies of some sort and I would make the phone call and have the company come and pick it up.  The kicker was, there were no labels on the box.  Well I lugged it down to the cafe, got my cup, and proceded to open the box.  Certainly there would be something inside, give me a clue, on who owned this box.
Well, it was taped shut.  Maria at the counter gives me a knife, I cut the tape...... and inside, all packed in frozen ice packs....... is a severed toe.... human.

Maria is now in on this and she gasps, "oh my God!!! What ....!!!" Her face has gone blank and her mouth is wide open.  I tell her to get me a phone book....the best I can figure is that this toe was headed  to it's rightful owner for a stitch and sew and we needed to get on this right away.
Now the ambulance was headed East, where the hospital USED to be... but it is a short hop up the Lake Road to Theda Clark Med Center where they do do all sorts of miracle medicine thingees.  And so that was the first phone call.  After getting passed around a few times.... no one knows anything... but I get numbers to Sta Agnes Hospital in Appleton and they also rattle off some numbers for me of different ambulance companies in the valley.  Maria fills my cup again and I start dialing.  I call Aurora Health... Mercy Medical... and then onto the ambulance companies.  I am on my third cup of coffee.  Keisha has joined Maria and I and we are going nuts.....somebody must know this toe!!  Now Keisha has he laptop out and we know have numbers for Milwaukee hospitals, Fond du Lac ambulances... Stacy has joined in and we now have four of us on the phone.  The toe has been repacked with fresh ice and Aaron has gone back to Broad St to see if anyone down there is looking for this box.

Two hours into this... the whole cafe is now clustered around my table.... I am just about out of ideas when finally Maria asks" "What can WE DO!"
Well... finally, when all was said and done... it came to me that there really was only one thing left.....



..............................I called ..... for.... a ....Tow Truck.

hehehehe