It Must Be True, It's On The Internet...!

I think that's how many folks are now days!

If it's on the Internet, the television, or in the paper...then it must be gospel! It's to these folks that I present today's post!

Now I don't know if these are true or not, but I can tell you that I did indeed find them on the Internet (for whatever that's worth)!

Random thoughts from the Internets

World's toughest job? How about being the guy who has to put the whup-ass into the can?

The concept of the "paperless office" looks really good -- on paper.

They have big billboards outside of Meade, Kan., telling you how to get to the Dalton Gang's hideout. No wonder those poor dumb suckers got shot.

My boss called me into his office and said we needed to talk turkey about my attitude. I gobbled at him for three minutes and now I'm out of a job!

After being caught relieving myself behind the mall I've been told that I'll be tried by a jury of my pee-ers.

I got a spam e-mail the other day that said, "Try Colon Cleansing At Home!" Great idea, but if I'd just received it a day earlier, I wouldn't have been booted from the car wash.

Absinthe make the mind go yonder.

How do I know America is getting obese? The world record for phone booth stuffing was set in 1957, people. Nineteen. Fifty. Seven.

If Anthony Hopkins ever decides to open a restaurant for cannibals, I bet he calls the house special, "Remains of the Day."

Those giant buffalo herds were destroyed by the same thing troubling me: excessive roaming charges.

The sure way to tell if a man is a bachelor is to check his silverware. If it's chewed up from going through the garbage disposal a few times, he's for real.

Does my bologna have a first name in order to better communicate with the other cold cuts in the refrigerator? So far, the only other meat I am aware of that has a first name is Frank.

Now for more of these Internet truths...you can jump over to ruminate.com ! That's where I got these!

I say, let's get some fresh coffee and go outside! Nice and cool out on the patio!

A Little Political Humor...!

I figured that there must be something besides the politicians to laugh at during this election time! There is and I found a bit of it!

Let's face it! We need all the grins we can get before the elections...because we all know that the real laughs will come after the elections, when we see just what and who managed to get put into office!

Are you ready? Then here we go...!

Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly and for the same reason."
-- Author unknown

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."
-- Earnest Benn

"When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become president; I'm beginning to believe it."
-- Clarence Darrow

"Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least."
-- Robert Byrne

"If you can't convince them, confuse them."
-- Harry Truman

"You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think."
-- Milton Berle

"The problem with political jokes is they get elected."
-- Author unknown

"The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it."
-- P.J. O'Rourke

"When I was on my way to the podium, a gentleman stopped me and said I was as good a politician as I was an actor. What a cheap shot!"
-- Arnold Schwarzenegger

"The first presidential debate was down in Florida. Residents spent all day putting plywood on their televisions."
-- David Letterman

"Asking an incumbent member of Congress to vote for term limits is a bit like asking a chicken to vote for Colonel Sanders."
-- Bob Inglis

"If elected, I will win."
-- Pat Paulsen

It's a shame that the upcoming elections don't hold a promise of better leaders and a better future...but take my word for it, boys and girls, any light to speak of in our future will be furnished by us!

Don't look to any government agency, elected officials, or any one person that has the stench of politics hanging over them like a dark, foreboding cloud! Regardless of whatever promises, bribes, or rewards they may offer...all you need to do is to look back at past performance, and learn the lessons that history provides!

Those that don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! There's a bit of history that bears repeating, for sure!

What Can You Do...?

Some folks are just beyond help!

In spite of people trying to help them, they just want to fight and yell and carry on! I'm afraid that I would have to say "OK, you're on your own!", but that's only because I sometimes feel that stupid can,t be fixed!

Not that I don't feel for the guy, but let's face it...if you are yelling at and cussing out the folks trying to repair the damage to your private parts, then you are in fact beyond any help I might be!

Too much chlorine in the gene pool, folks! Or not enough...!

Police try to help man with crotch cut

By Staff Reports - Athens Banner-Herald

Published Sunday, October 24, 2010

A 52-year-old Athens man took a trip to the emergency room for some delicate stitches before heading to jail late Friday evening, according to an Athens-Clarke police report.


Officers responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment near Georgia Square Mall around 10:45 p.m. heard a man threaten to kill someone, then beg for help. In a bedroom, they found him lying in a pool of blood and covered by a blanket, with a large laceration to his scrotum. The man first told police that a woman kicked him, then that he slipped, and finally something unintelligible about a broken screen door in another room, police said.

The officers called for an ambulance, but also learned the man is wanted for felony probation violation.

When paramedics arrived, the man told them he had a "big problem down there," but refused treatment and asked, "Is this really necessary?" according to the report.

He became so combative, an officer had to handcuff him and take him to the hospital in the back of his patrol car. At the hospital, the officer struggled to get the man to the registration desk because he dragged his feet to stop his wheelchair from rolling, police said.

He shouted profanities in the waiting room, but once the man was in a room, he cursed at the female nurses so badly, the hospital had to assign a male nurse to deal with him, an officer reported. He also spit in the face of another police officer who arrived to relieve the first officer.

The man was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespass (for breaking the door), simple battery on a police officer (for spitting) and probation violation.

Let me just say here and now, that if I ever am found with a large cut anywhere on my person, especially around my private parts...feel free to give me any and all the help you can find! I promise that I won't yell or cuss at you...and certainly won't be stupid enough to spit at someone trying to keep me from bleeding to death.

You can guarantee that if I was wanted for felony parole violation, I wouldn't be spitting at the police for this! Like I said, stupid can't be fixed!

Let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! We can hope we never need help of this nature, if you know what I mean!

I've Just About Had Enough...!

We go through this same thing every time an election is coming up!

The lies, false promises, scandals, pork barrel politics, dark hidden secrets that come to light! What a crock!

A good example is obvious in my neighborhood. With elections being so close, all of the sudden the street crews are out repairing sidewalks and streets that should have been done a year ago. Drainage ditches are being mowed, burnt out street lights are being replaced, bridges are being repaired...all things that have been totally ignored until now! Why now? Easy, it's election time!

The worst part about the weeks just before the elections? Again, that's easy! All the empty talk and hot air speeches! There comes a time that enough is enough! We've heard it all before, time and time again!

Well, I have heard enough! I'm taking my lead from Mother Nature again!

When a man can't stand it anymore! Priceless shot! What can I say?

We should do exactly what this bird is doing! Take action! We can yammer all we want about "we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that" but instead of just blowing smoke and making empty threats...why don't we follow nature's lead! Take some action!

If something as small and simple-minded as a bird can show his displeasure and take action...then why not us? Time to put up or shut up, my friends! Take some action!

Let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit. We can watch the lessons being taught by Mother Nature!

Got Some Extra Onions...?

With cold and flu season rapidly approaching, I thought it would be a good time to go over some old time recipes for helping to prevent them.

Certainly these are no guarantee that you won't get sick, even with these tips, but who knows? It may just help! These tips come to you straight from the pages of my favorite...the Old Farmer's Almanac!

In 1852, the Almanac advised, “To avoid fall fevers, eat moderately, drink sparingly, lie not down on the damp earth, nor overheat yourself; but keep your temper, and change your clothes as the weather changes.”

Historically, the layers of the onion were believed to draw contagious diseases from the patient; onions were often hung in sickrooms.

Today, we know that onions have antibacterial qualities.

Onion Pie

Quiche-like, with added tang and color from the tomatoes. Lovely for lunch or Sunday night supper.

Yield: Serves 6.

3 tablespoons chicken fat or butter
4 onions, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon thyme
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 dashes hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon crushed caraway seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
9-inch pie shell, unbaked and chilled
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 large beefsteak tomato, cut in thin slices
3/4 cup mild Swiss cheese, shredded


Melt chicken fat or butter and cook onions with thyme over very low heat until transparent (about 20 minutes). Beat eggs, and add milk and seasonings. Brush pie crust with egg white. Fill crust with onions, tomato, and cheese, and spread the egg mixture over the top. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes; lower heat and bake an additional 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Serve warm.

This would certainly be a way of using some of those extra onions from the garden, and I'll bet that if you don't tell the kids it's made from onions...they'll never know!

I don't know if this recipe will be of any help, but now days, we can use all the help we can get...right?

Good luck with this. Just trying to do my part to keep you all healthy and out of the sick room! My joints tell me that this Winter may just be a bad one so let's just be prepared!

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! Oh, and how about a breath mint...just in case!

Cute As A .... Pink Pig?

I know, I know...it's supposed to be "cute as a speckled pup", but I think you'll have to admit that this is even better than that!

Many of you have already seen this, I reckon, but some things are worth repeating! This story is one of those things...

The Dachshund & Pink the Pig

This Dachshund is fostering this little guy for another mom who couldn't take care of him.

He had his eyes closed, but now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other pups.

She loves this little guy as much as the other puppies, and she is nursing him back to health.

He is the cleanest "pig-uppy" ever because she licks him all the time.
HIS NAME IS PINK....






Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, isn't She? It's a shame that we "higher life forms" can't follow nature's lead sometimes, don't you think?

But, as we all know, nature will continue to do her thing...and man will continue to be the way he is. It's a shame, but that's the way of things!

So, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside before the rain starts. We can toast to Mother Nature!

Some Helpful Tips For Husbands...!

I found that most men can do their own laundry, and for the most part can do just fine!

However, there are some cases where the wife has to teach the husband the proper way! I don't know if this is because the husband really doesn't know, or if he is merely trying to get someone else to do the laundry!

Having been married before, more than once, I know that many women seem to think that men are not too bright. Believe me, I have experienced this first hand! Other than get into a long argument with the wife over this issue, it may be a lot of easier to let them think that they are right! It all depends on the individual, ya know?

Anyway, I found this handy guide called "Husband's Guide To Doing Laundry", obviously written by a wife! I thought I would put it up here just as an example of what I mean!

1. First, locate your laundry. It can usually be found in the hamper -- that's a container designed to hold dirty clothing. Depending on the household's preferences, a hamper is placed in a bedroom, in a bathroom or in the laundry room itself.

2. The laundry room is the little room next to the garage. It's the one with the washer and the dryer in it.

3. The washer is the one where you put the dirty clothes and detergent. The dryer is the one where you put the clothes after they are washed.

4. Yes, the dryer is the one where you can watch the clothes go round and round.

5. Yes, the dryer is the one that makes your clothes come out all hot.

6. Dirty clothes are not hot.

7. No, I will not just skip this whole laundry hassle by going out and buying you more underwear.

8. No, you may not attend the PTA dinner without any underwear on.

9. Yes, you are going to the PTA dinner.

10. Actually, I know for a fact that the PTA president's husband does his own laundry. In fact, he does the whole family's laundry.

11. No, you may not ask the PTA president's husband to do your laundry.

12. No, you may not ask the PTA president to do your laundry.

13. In fact, just stay away from the PTA president. If I even catch you looking at that little hussy, I will stuff you into the hamper.

14. Our hamper, by the way, is in the laundry room. The one with the washer and the dryer in it. Where you will be sleeping for the rest of the week.

Hopefully you folks realize understand that this is all in fun! I am not trying to poke fun at anyone here, and this list is only meant to entertain! However, if you do have a problem with the proper way to do laundry...then maybe this list can be of some use for you!

You don't even need to be married to use it!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit on the patio for a bit! We can discuss the mystery of the disappearing socks on laundry day!

The Blue Marble...!

Once in a lifetime, there comes along that one individual that has a very special way of saying things.

In what almost seems like magic, he takes us to places in our hearts and our minds we may not have visited before! Carl Sagan was that sort of man.

How you could watch this man and listen to his message and not be moved in some fashion is beyond me! Give a listen to this and see if you don't agree!



Some serious food for thought, don't you agree? If nothing else, it is a very beautiful way to look at the planet earth!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee an sit in the kitchen. We can discuss the future of our beautiful "blue marble"!

Saturday Morning Memories...!

I know that for many of us, Saturday mornings used to mean cartoons!

No cartoons this morning, but I reached way back into the past to come up with some special memories this Saturday.

These guys were a favorite of just about everyone back in the day. Even now, they do make some cool sounds! Just my humble opinion, of course! Trust me on this...!



And just for good measure...one more! "cause I like it!



This song has always been a good one, and it translates to today's world just fine...all the way from the '50's!

Ya gotta just LOVE YouTube!

C'mon, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit on the patio! Nice and cool this morning...!

A Crook With A Heart...?

I guess it sounds almost impossible, but it could happen!

Here is a story that shows that there may just be some hope for the human race after all! It's always nice to find that one story that let's us see that not all the scum bags are heartless!

I have to admit to almost being a little moved by this story...almost!

Man tells thief he's homeless, gets stuff back

POLICE say an armed robber gave back everything he stole from a homeless man after learning he lives at a shelter.

The York Dispatch said today that 22-year-old Larry Sanderson was outside the York Rescue Mission last night when a man displayed the handle of a revolver and told him to empty his pockets.

The paper says Mr Sanderson turned over his wallet, cell phone, MP3 player and cigarettes.

When the armed man asked Mr Sanderson if that was all he had, Mr Sanderson explained he lives at the shelter.

Police say the robber replied, "I can respect that," returned the man's property and walked away.

Wish I could say that this is a sign that mankind is finally making a turn around...but it may just be a tad early for that yet! Before I commit myself on that thought, I'll wait until I see the headlines in tomorrow's paper!

Until then, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! Maybe you could share some good news with me!

Plenty Of Sick People Out There...!

If you are looking for something to use for target practice, I may have the answer for you!

People like this are only good as targets as far as I am concerned! Sorry if that sounds a little harsh, but cruelty like this deserves nothing but the harshest of treatment!

Oh, and don't bother with using new ammo, but instead some old worn out and out dated will get the job done just fine! I'm thinking that a load of rock salt would do to get things started!

Chester man hurt kittens, planned to eat them, SPCA says
By STEPHANIE FARR
Philadelphia Daily News

A drunken Chester man brought two blood-soaked kittens home with him Sunday night and told his roommate he planned on making a meal out of them, officials from the Delaware County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said yesterday.

Francis McGinley, 44, told his roommate he had run over the 4-week-old kittens with his truck "so I could eat them for dinner," according to the police report.

He then brought the kittens into the house and placed them in the bathtub, SPCA spokeswoman Justina Calgiano said.

"I don't know if the intent was to clean them up so he could eat them, but at that point his roommate called police," Calgiano said.

Authorities pronounced one of the kittens, a white female, dead upon arrival, but Calgiano said the cat actually just had labored breathing.

Both kittens - believed to be siblings - were taken to a vet, where emergency technicians named the black, male kitten Karma and the white, female kitten Nirvana. Nirvana was placed in an incubator, and both are now doing well, Calgiano said. They are expected to be placed in foster care today and put up for adoption in four weeks.

Calgiano said she doubts that McGinley ran them over with his truck because it's unlikely they could have survived. Dave Schlott, the Chester animal-control officer who took the kittens to the vet, said he was told that someone had squeezed them.

The charges against McGinley include cruelty to animals and public drunkenness, Calgiano said.

Maybe it's time that someone teach this guy a lesson in the proper way to treat animals! I mean, teach him in a way that he soon won't forget!

I'm sure there will be plenty of volunteers, so just sign up on the form by the coffee pot and we'll draw names for the first chance!

While we wait, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside! I'll tell you the rest of the story of the trip to the VA !

Gonna Be Gone Today...!...UPDATE!!

Gone to VA today to have the eye surgery. I'll try and post an update later on...but no promises!

Depending how things go tomorrow, I may be able to post again then. That's when the shield is supposed to come off.

Coffee is in the back, so just help your selves, OK? Later, my friends!


UPDATE...
Got back from the VA about 2;45 with the surgery all done and shield in place! The shield is more like a see-through eye patch than anything else!

Man...what a difference it makes in the ability to see colors and images more clear! I'm sitting here in semi darkness typing this...and I'm NOT wearing my glasses!

This is great and the folks at the VA even feed me lunch after the operation. That's just how they do things!

They knew that most of the folks there were told not to eat or drink after midnight...and they gave them lunch right after the procedure! A sandwich , coffee, fruit, milk and a graham cracker taste pretty good when you haven't eaten for a while!

I may not even need my glasses after I get the other eye done! How cool would that be?

Many thanks to all that came by and wished me good luck! I do appreciate it!

Nice To Know That He Has The Time....!

First of all, let me just say that I love the "Mythbusters"!

It's not only an entertaining show, but it also is educational! At least I learn something from it nearly every time I watch! I never thought that I would see the day that anyone involved in politics would be interested in learning something! It's been my understanding that they already knew everything! If you don't believe it...just ask them!

Anyway, I found this story in the Houston Chronicle to be quite a surprise, to say the least!

Obama to appear on TV's 'Mythbusters'
Published: Oct. 18, 2010 at 6:50 PM

Adam Savage (L) and Jamie Hyneman, hosts of the TV show "Mythbusters" are seen at the White House Science Fair, at the White House in Washington on October 18, 2010. President Obama welcomed the winners of a broad range of high school science, technology and math competitions to the White House where he viewed their projects and talked to them about their work. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has confirmed he will soon be seen on the Discovery Channel science series "Mythbusters."

"I'm pleased to welcome Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, known as the 'mythbusters.' I can announce today that I taped a special guest appearance for their show, although I didn't get to blow anything up," Obama said Monday at the White House Science Fair in Washington. "I was a little frustrated about that."

Hyneman and Savage attended Monday's "Educate to Innovate" event, which kicked off the Obama administration's campaign for science, technology, engineering and math awareness.

Obama is to appear on the Dec. 8 edition of the show in which he will challenge the hosts to revisit an ancient and controversial myth: Did Greek scientist and polymath Archimedes set fire to an invading Roman fleet using only mirrors and the reflected rays of the sun?

"Prepared to test this myth in a way they've never been able to before, will Adam and Jamie be able to pull it off, or will they have to report back to the president that they failed?" Discovery said in a news release.

Now doesn't it just warm the heart to know that the PTB have "fixed" all the problems in the country and now have the time to devote to being on a television show? I know that it helps me to sleep better at night! NOT!

What brazen audacity to stop working at the job he is supposed to be doing so that he can impress us all with being on a television show! I, for one, am not impressed with his sense of priorities!

I guess this type of action should come as no surprise, since the past actions or lack there-of, have shown just how unconcerned the folks in government are with the average, day to day, struggles of the common man!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside! I need something to get this bad taste out of my mouth!

The Zombies Are Real...!

You finally reach a point in life where science fiction suddenly becomes reality!

I guess this really can't be classified as science fiction, but no matter what you call it...it is truly something out of the ordinary!

I'll withhold my judgement until I see what's on this woman's menu, ya know? After all, we all know the diet makes a true zombie, right?

You have to admit, this is one bizarre story! Made even more so by the fact that it's real!

Woman thought dead was not

By The Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun

4:55 p.m. EDT, October 16, 2010

A Severna Park woman police reported dead after finding her blue and not breathing in her home was actually alive.

Police were called to check on 89-year-old Ruth Shillinglaw Johnson on Oct. 1. According to a report, officers found her motionless on her bathroom floor, and one officer noted an odor "similar to a decomposition smell."

But officers did not check for a pulse. Instead, they called Johnson's adult son and told him his mother was dead, according to an account first appearing in The Capital newspaper of Annapolis. The man said Johnson planned to donate her body to science. A State Anatomy Board employee arriving to take the body three hours later heard Johnson take a deep breath and saw her move her arm.

Johnson was rushed to a hospital. She was discharged Wednesday. Neighbors said she has been moved to a hospice.

Now, I don't know about you...but if anyone ever finds me like this, I don't care what color I've turned I want them to check for a pulse! Seems to me that ought to be standard procedure! But what do I know? I'm no medic!

Let's get some fresh coffee, my friends, and sit outside on the patio. We can discuss how to avoid any future "zombies" caused by stupidity!

Oh, Sure ! Blame The Husband...!

We all have to learn to take responsibility for the mistakes we make!

If Mom is having a yard sale, and takes off and leaves Dad in charge...you just know that something bad is going to happen. This holds especially true, if Mom doesn't leave specific instructions about the things she does NOT want sold!

You know how this works, right? If you don't sell something, you're in trouble! If you do sell something and it turns out to be the wrong thing...you're in trouble!

Some days it doesn't pay to chew through the restraints! Here's what I mean...!

Grandma's ashes mistakenly sold

Published: Oct. 14, 2010 at 1:38 PM

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A Florida woman said a potted violet containing her grandmother's ashes was mistakenly sold at a yard sale.

Piper Gaffrey of Fort Walton Beach said her husband was running the sale before she arrived last week and she soon found the potted violet holding the ashes of her grandmother, Marjorie Potts Gaffrey, who died in February at age 99, had been sold, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported Thursday.

Gaffery said she posted a message on her Facebook page asking whoever purchased the flower to take good care of it and she was surprised to receive a message in return from the buyer.

"Fortunately, it was (bought by) someone who knew me," Gaffrey said. "I was just glad to have her back."

My first question would be "Why is the violet planted in Granny's ashes?" Must not be that dang important to the lady if she is using grandma as fertilizer!

Maybe this is a new trend in showing respect for those that have passed. If it is, I must have not received the memo! Somehow it just doesn't seem right to me, but what do I know? I'm just a country boy at heart! The least they could have done, is to spread granny through-out the garden instead of keeping her in a potted plant!

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside while it's still cool! OK? OK!!

It's Not Safe Anywhere...!!

Now it seems that you can't even enjoy yourself in the "crapper" any more!

Seems to be some fool lurking just around the corner to try and ruin your day! Here's what I mean!

Man to be charged with toilet paper assault

By Associated Press
Story Published: Oct 15, 2010 at 2:30 PM PDT

A Massachusetts man is facing an assault charge for allegedly hitting a town hall custodian on the back of the head with a roll of toilet paper because he was angry the cleaning man was whistling while he worked.

(0)FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts man is facing an assault charge for allegedly hitting a town hall custodian on the back of the head with a roll of toilet paper because he was angry the cleaning man was whistling while he worked.

Framingham police say 55-year-old Allen Kerner was in town hall Wednesday using the bathroom. The custodian, who didn't realize anyone was in the restroom, whistled as he replenished toilet paper rolls.

The custodian told police he was in a stall when he was struck. Kerner yelled at him about whistling and fled. The custodian pursued him, and Kerner was apprehended by police outside.

Police tell The MetroWest Daily News that Kerner will be summoned to court to face an assault and battery charge. A phone number for Kerner could not immediately be located.

See what I mean? If you're not safe in the john...then where are you safe? I tell ya, this whole world is going down the toilet more every day!

Coffee on the patio this morning, my friends! Let's just watch out for flying TP rolls!

Let's Play Some Frisbee...!

Now, I know that many of you have played with one of these at some point in time! Probably had a lot of fun with it, too!

NO smarty-pants! I'm talking about the Frisbee, not the girl! I do have to admit that she might have made a good tossing partner, but I wanted to discuss the toy and not your choice of playing partners!



Back in the day of my childhood, we used to play with the lid off a coffee can. That was in the day when the coffee can lids were removed with the aid of a twisting "key", much like the "key" used on sardine cans! These lids had some pretty sharp edges on 'em, so the tossing was usually done without a partner to do the catching!

It wasn't until the emergence of the plastic disc that the catching could be done without some cut fingers! Here is a brief history from About.com concerning the wonderful Frisbee!

The Frisbee story starts in college. Late 19th-century students at Yale and other New England universities played catch with pie plates (some say it was cookie tin lids) made by the nearby Frisbie Baking Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They yelled "Frisbie!" to warn passersby away from the spinning discs.

In 1948, Walter Morrison and his partner Warren Franscioni created a plastic version to sell at county fairs. The airfoil at the outer edge, called the Morrison slope, gives the toy its lift in flight. Hoping to cash in on the fascination with UFOs after the 1947 sightings in Roswell, New Mexico, Morrison called his creation the "Flying Saucer," then the "Pluto Platter."

Wham-O founders Arthur "Spud" Melin and Richard Knerr (creators of the Hula Hoop) bought rights to the toy in 1955, and renamed it "Frisbee" in 1958. Sales soared, reaching 100 million before Mattel bought out Wham-O.

Early in the 1960s, people treated the flying disc as a counterculture sport. Wham-O's first "professional" Frisbee followed in 1964.

Don't you just love finding out a little about some of the things you used to play with? Older versions, newer versions...it really doesn't matter. What matters is that they were fun, they sometimes were educational, and they offered a way to get plenty of exercise while enjoying it at the same time!

How cool is that? Getting healthy by playing outside! WAIT...! Didn't our folks say something like that to us many times when we were younger? I think they did!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! Maybe we can toss the Frisbee around for a bit...just don't expect me to chase it very fast, OK?

Remember Burma Shave...?

When I was a kid and my folks would take us on a trip, one thing my sisters and I would always look for along the highway was the Burma Shave signs!

You remember those? I know that some of the older folks know what I'm talking about! It was a great advertising ploy that got the message across without the use of those big, ugly bill boards!

These little slogans made the trip more interesting and earned a permanent place in the folk lore of the 50's. Much like so many other things from that era, they are now gone for ever! I thought you might like to know a little Burma Shave history, just in case you don't already know it!


Way back in 1925 young Allan Odell pitched this great sales idea to his father, Clinton. Use small, wooden roadside signs to pitch their product, Burma-Shave, a brushless shaving cream. Dad wasn't wild about the idea but eventually gave Allan $200 to give it a try.

Didn't take long for sales to soar. Soon Allan and his brother Leonard were putting up signs all over the dang place. At first the signs were pure sales pitch but as the years passed they found their sense of humor extending to safety tips and pure fun. And some good old-fashioned down home wisdom.

At their height of popularity there were 7,000 Burma-Shave signs stretching across America. The familiar white on red signs, grouped by four, fives and sixes, were as much a part of a family trip as irritating your kid brother in the back seat of the car. You'd read first one, then another, anticpating the punch line on number five and the familiar Burma-Shave on the sixth.

The signs cheered us during the Depression and the dark days of World War II. But things began to change in the late Fifties. Cars got faster and superhighways got built to accommodate them. The fun little signs were being replaced by huge, unsightly billboards.

1963 was the last year for new Burma Shave signs. No more red and white nuggets of roadside wisdom to ease the journey.

As befits such an important part of American culture, one set is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution. It reads:

Shaving brushes
You'll soon see 'em
On a shelf
In some museum
Burma-Shave

One more grand old thing from the past that amused and entertained us. I spent many a long trip looking for those red and white signs with the cute little jingle! Like finding treasure, it made me and my sisters very happy...and I can still remember many of those jingles to this day!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! We can swap some Burma Shave jingles!

How Sad Is This...?

Parting with our pets is hard enough, but something like this makes it even harder!

I'm not sure what my reaction would be, but doing what's right is never really easy! I sure don't want to have to make the choice this guy has to make. It would be hard on everyone, especially the family!

No matter how you try and explain it to the kids...you just know they are NOT going to understand. That makes a difficult decision even harder, without a doubt!

Family dog put to sleep, wakes up hours later

By: Tom Wait
REDFORD, Mich. (WXYZ) -

Matt Olivarez had to do what every animal owner dreads – he had to put his dog to sleep. Now he may have to do it all over again.

Last Saturday, Matt took his 10-year-old Rottweiler, Mia, to the vet. Mia has spinal problems and is barely able to walk. Matt’s vet recommended the family dog be put down because nothing could be done to ease her pain.

Matt says he watched as his beloved Mia was given two shots. Moments later Mia closed her eyes and it appeared she was gone. Matt says the vet declared her deceased.

Because Mia is so important to his wife and two young children, Matt brought the dog home so the family could give her a burial. But the next morning Matt went into the garage where he put Mia’s body and she was awake.

Now Matt is faced with a gut-wrenching decision – does he go back to the vet and put the dog down again.

"What if I would have buried my dog alive? What if I would have cremated her and burned her alive? How do I explain to my kids I have to kill Mia twice?" said Olivarez.

Action News contacted the vet’s office where the procedure was performed. We were told there would be no comment until it could be verified that it was Mia that survived the shots.

Life is full of really hard decisions, and this is just one of them! Luckily, this is one that not all of us will be forced to make! That is something that we can be thankful for, I think!!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! That isn't a hard decision at least!

Remembering The Lincoln Logs...!

Most of us can remember the time before electronic toys.

At one time or another in your childhood, I'll bet you were introduced to the Lincoln Logs! Even if you didn't have a set, probably some of your friends did. Of course, this was in the day that children were given toys that made them use their imagination a lot more than today.

With these wonderful toys, so many things were built and story lines often created to go along with what ever was built, that the log sets could spawn countless hours of productive play.

The history of the Lincoln Log is a great deal different than you might think! Take a look at this article about their origin and you'll see what I mean!


In the 1910s, American builders were busy on construction sites in the city and in the playroom. Introduced just after Tinkertoys and the Erector Set, Lincoln Logs were yet another construction toy to make it big during the decade.

John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, brought out the line of sturdy, interlocking logs in 1916. Wright claimed that the foundation of Tokyo’s earthquake-proof Imperial Hotel, which he saw while it was under construction, inspired the shape of his logs.

Lincoln Logs turned out to be a toymaker’s dream. The original sets were an instant success, and after World War II, sales of Lincoln Logs got another boost from the baby boom. The sets were popular among postwar parents because they were more sophisticated than plain building blocks but still challenged children’s powers of concentration and eye-hand coordination.

Ironically, Lincoln Logs—long a favorite of proponents of educational toys—were among the first toys to be promoted on a television show, 1953’s Pioneer Playhouse. The ads targeted affluent parents, who were most likely to own a television set and to buy educational toys. Sometimes a toy that has had a previous life returns to catch the eyes of children at just the right moment in history.

I guess it's a good thing that kids were never told that the logs they enjoyed playing with so much were actually helping them learn. The only thing I can see that would have improved on the Lincoln Logs, and other construction toys over the years, was an instruction book on how to make children pick them up after they were through playing with them, right?

Some things just never change!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit. Nice and cool this morning for a change!

New Redneck Descriptions...!

I found a few more descriptive terms for us.

I know that I'm a redneck...and just maybe some of you are too! This list might help!

We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those.

.
You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God..'

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

I'm sure that there is a lot more out there, but that's all I have for now! If you think of any more, just let me know, OK?

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside. Should still be cool for a bit!

Uncle Sugar Does It Again...!

Here is a story from the Houston Chronicle that leaves me shaking my head in disbelief!

How in the name of all that's good can something like this be allowed to happen? Even the dummies in government finance should be able to figure this out, don't you think?

When you read this type of blunder, it does nothing to bolster your faith in the spending practices of the "Boys on the Hill", I'm afraid!

72,000 stimulus payments went to dead people

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER © 2010 The Associated Press
Oct. 8, 2010, 12:53AM

WASHINGTON — More than 89,000 stimulus payments of $250 each went to people who were either dead or in prison, a government investigator says in a new report.

The payments, which were part of last year's massive economic recovery package, were meant to increase consumer spending to help stimulate the economy.

But about $18 million went to nearly 72,000 people who were dead, according to the report by the Social Security Administration's inspector general. The report estimates that a little more than half of those payments were returned.

An additional $4.3 million went to more than 17,000 prison inmates, the report said. Most of the inmates, it turns out, were eligible to get the payments because they were newly incarcerated and had been receiving Social Security before they were locked up.

In all, the $250 payments were sent to about 52 million people who receive either Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, at a cost of about $13 billion. Other federal retirees also received the payments, but they were not part of the inspector general's review.

Social Security spokesman Mark Lassiter said, "Inaccurate payments are unacceptable. Social Security's Recovery Act payments were 99.8 percent accurate and we quickly collected the majority of the inaccurate payments. Each year we make payments to a small number of deceased recipients usually because we have not yet received reports of their deaths."

The inspector general for the Social Security Administration has been performing an audit to make sure no checks went to ineligible recipients. The latest report was dated Sept. 24 but was just recently posted to the agency's website.

People were eligible for payments if they were getting benefits during any one of the three months before the law was passed in February 2009.

Dead people were ineligible to get the payments. But, the report said, there is no provision in the law to recover payments incorrectly sent to dead people.

"Based on the failure of the SSA to properly check its records, and Congress' failure to fully think through the provisions needed to govern these payments, SSA lost $22.3 million in American tax dollars," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. "These findings are yet another example of congressional stupidity and a lack of accountability."

The Social Security Administration said that despite tight deadlines, workers accurately processed more than 99.8 percent of the 52 million stimulus payments.

"We worked with Treasury, developed new processes, and began issuing (payments) about 30 days earlier than the legislatively mandated deadline," the agency said in a written response included in the inspector general's report. "This was a major accomplishment for our agency."

The inspector general's report said that if similar payments are authorized in the future, prison inmates should be ineligible and the government should be able to recover payments made to dead people.

The Social Security Administration agreed with the recommendations.

Really hard to believe that the bobble heads in government finance can't catch such a huge mistake as this! I mean, it shouldn't be that difficult! I would think the addresses alone would make it quite obvious that something wasn't right, wouldn't you?

C'mon, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and see if that helps us to understand the finance plan of the gover4nment! Probably not, but we can hope!

Just A Couple Of Things...!

Found out some interesting things at the V.A. yesterday!

First of all, if you are getting some type of important test done at the eye doctor's and they put a big ol' machine up to your eye...then tell you "don't blink!", you can guarantee that the first thing you'll do is blink! I learned this the hard way, and it took me about 4 tries of looking into a bright light before I could actually do so without blinking!

Secondly, I didn't know that you could actually do an ultra-sound on an eyeball! They did one on my eye because they needed to measure the size, and the way they normally do it is with light! However, the light wouldn't pass through the cataract so they did an ultra-sound! Another thing it's hard to keep your eye opened for...having a tool the size of a pencil placed on your eyeball! Again, I blinked!

Guess I failed the "non blinking' test for the day!

Just one more thing...I sure do appreciate all of the visits and good wishes yesterday while I was off at the V.A.! Sorry I didn't answer everybody. You know that I normally try and answer all the comments, but my eyes were pretty out of focus after I got back! Made it almost impossible to see the keyboard clearly enough to type!

Guess it's like ol' Ben says "Getting old ain't for wimps!"...you got that one right, Ben!

Thanks again to everybody! Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside while it's cool!

Off To See The Wizard...!

Well, I'm off to the V.A. today to have a pre-op discussion with the eye doctor at the eye clinic there!

I'm supposed to have the cataract surgery on the 20th, and this is hopefully the last meeting I'll have to have before they do the operation!

I'm not worried about the procedure, but it really is a lot of prep work before. That's the way it is with all paperwork, I guess, especially when dealing with a government agency!

I'm looking forward to being able to see clearly again! It's getting harder and harder to see the words on the lap-top screen and to be able to keep up with the daily blogging! That's one reason for the really bad post as of late!

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know why I didn't post anything but a short message today! Sorry about that, I really will try and do better!

offee is in the back...but you all knew that, right? Help yourselves!

Now That's Some Costly Donuts...!

We all know that politicians can spend a lot of money, but this is bad...even for them!

I would imagine that the most embarrassing thing about this is the fact that the book keeper had to explain that the $5 million reportedly spent for donuts was just a clerical error! Pretty bad when folks might think you actually spent that much money in just one small town donut shop, don't you think?

$9 million at Applebee's? Just a mistake, GOP says

Associated Press
Oct. 6, 2010, 7:38AM


ROUND ROCK — Republicans must love doughnuts — or so it would seem from a glance at the latest finance report filed by the Republican Party of a suburban Austin county.

But Williamson County Republican Party officials say it’s only by a clerical foul-up that it reported spending $5,272,010 at Round Rock Donuts on Sept. 20 and $9,082,010 at Applebee’s restaurant in Georgetown on Sept. 8.

Party Treasurer Jon Jewett said that in the Applebee’s case, the date was entered as expenditure. He told the Austin American-Statesman the party dropped about $60 that time. He said he doesn’t know how the mess-up happened with the doughnut expenditure, which he said should have been $13.99.

Jewett said he’ll file a corrected report with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want this book keeper anywhere near my taxes! I'd rather do them myself!

Now, my friends, how about some fresh coffee on the patio? Sorry, I couldn't afford any donuts this morning!

They Live Among Us...!

This is a true story, folks!

Believe me, I couldn't make this stuff up, even if I tried! Besides, some times the truth is a lot stranger than anything I could come up with!

It's bad enough that folks like this are allowed to wander around free, without a keeper...but even more scary when they can so easily get hold of fire arms!

Man shoots self after spotting skunk

Published: Oct. 4, 2010 at 3:19 PM

SARASOTA, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Police in Florida said a man attempting to take care of a skunk on his friend's property accidentally shot himself in the hand and face while loading a rifle.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said the 31-year-old Sarasota man was at a friend's house Friday night and attempted to load a .22-caliber rifle after they spotted a skunk in the yard, the Bradenton (Fla.) Herald reported Monday.

Police said the man, who did not know there was already a round in the chamber, had his right hand on the barrel when he accidentally hit the trigger and a bullet injured his fingers and lodged itself in his left cheek.

The sheriff's office said the man's injuries did not appear life threatening and he was alert when they arrived on the scene.

Man, this story is scary on so many levels! I can't even begin to count the number of common sense and safety violations this guy is guilty of! Worse, his friend probably just stood by and watched the whole thing!

The safest one in this whole story was the skunk! With hunters like this guy and his friend around, I think the skunk and his animal buddies are all guaranteed a long and happy life!

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside on the patio for a bit!

Thoughts From A Rambling Mind...!

One thing about being retired, you have a lot of time to think about things!

Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not so good! Either way, sometimes it's best to share them with others, ya know? That's what I'm going to do today...share!

Hope you enjoy these ramblings!

I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped on. I can't afford one. So, I'm wearing my garage door opener.

You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

I was thinking about old age and decided that it is 'when you still have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to bounce it'.

I thought about making a fitness movie, for folks my age, and call it "Pumping Rust."

I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease. That's when your chest is falling into your drawers!

I know, when people see a cat's litter box, they always say, "Oh, have you got a cat?" Just once I want to say, "No, it's for company!"

Employment application blanks always ask 'who is to be notified in case of an emergency.' I think you should write,"A Good Doctor!"

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do -- write to these men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they deliver the mail? Or better yet, arrest them while they are taking their pictures!

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then, it dawned on me, they were cramming for their finals. As for me, I'm just hoping God grades on the curve.

Well, that's all I wanted to share today! I'm going to do some more thinking and see what else I can come up with for tomorrow! So if you look over and it looks as though I'm sleeping...I'm not really dozing, I'm just resting my eyes and thinking! OK?

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit! It's really nice and cool for a change!

How To Read Your Cat...!

How well do you know what your cat is saying?

Those of us that own cats can pretty much tell what they want when they start telling us, in no uncertain terms, that they want something! Cats always seem to want something unless they are asleep...and even then, judging from all the twitching and moaning they do, they still are wanting something in the dream world!

I found this list on the North Forty News that could be of some help in reading just what your cat is saying. This could be very helpful for most cat owners, even though most have learned over time how to keep the kitty happy, and thus avoid the acts of vandalism that seem to occur if demands are not met in a timely fashion!

Cats communicate their moods with body language

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

What a dubious state of literary affairs: daily newspapers folding and Internet information often suspect. But take heart, America! Regardless the shaky state of media sources, people can still accurately read cats by merely observing.

Cats speak with every fiber of their beings. This body language can be emotion-specific or overlap. The tail, for example, is a feline's emotional barometer. Its slow, even wave expresses contentment. Pick up the pace and kitty shows displeasure ("Put me down!"), excitement ("Birdie! Birdie!") or desire to play ("Ka-womp!").

A cat's front end hunkers down, butt and tail point skyward and tick back and forth like a hyperactive metronome – someone or something is about to be playfully pounced upon. If the entire cat, including tail, is crouched with ears back, a true attack is imminent.

A cat's tail held high, perhaps quivering, is a friendly greeting to other felines or humans. If Fluffy throws in a rub, leg wrap-around and purr, she's shouting, "You're home! I love you!"

Rubbing expresses more than "hi." It can also mean "I own you." Scent glands on the forehead, lips and chin are used to mark territory and possessions. Cats head butt, entwine around legs, lick or rub their mouths on their humans. In multi-cat households, marking can become a very competitive activity. Since some felines add drool to the mix, it can also be sloppy.

"Ears to you," toasts kitty. Set high on their heads, cat ears are uppermost in feline communication equipment. Cat Ballew, CMT, is also certified for cat and dog massage therapy. At her business, A Cat's Scratchin' Post in Fort Collins, she sees lots of little ears.

Ballew said that when they're straight up, the animal is alert, curious and well-oriented to its surroundings. If ears flatten, the cat is usually displaying aggression. When fearful, a feline cocks ears slightly back and dips the head down. When a cat's afraid, its eyes become enormous, said Ballew. She added that extreme fear could quickly turn to aggression, so approach with caution.

A sick cat's whole demeanor may change. Although felines are notoriously stoic, extreme discomfort can be noticeable. If it has an ear infection or other ailment, the cat might shake its head and dig at or flatten the offending ear. Ballew said that sick cats sometimes crouch with ears back but not flattened, or they act dull.

"They sort of close down," she noted. "There's no pizzazz about them, or they might curl up in an abnormal way, not like they're just sleeping."

Cats are very kneady. You've seen it. Front paws alternately pump away on some soft object (like you) until the kneader dozes off or gets distracted. This activity begins in kittenhood when baby's paws busily stimulate mom's milk flow. Be honored if your thigh reminds kitty of mother's love.

Cats are chatterboxes. Anyone who's fed a feline knows the sounds: "Chirp, birrr, jibber-jabber, meow, brrow." Whether it's a command to speed up the can opener or an expression of delight and gratitude, it's definitely meaningful discourse. Watch the tail – it's probably straight up.

More talk – "Squirrel, squirrel!" The tail is probably switching and teeth chattering. This oral excitement mimics chewing on prey. It's sort of a dress rehearsal for the act of hunting and catching. Perhaps fluids in the mouth are thus stimulated for the kill.

Cats say volumes by staring. A lengthy, annoyed gaze at you mesmerized by television or the Internet works well enough to use the tactic often. "Hey you, pet me! Uh, I'm hungry! Hola, I'm numero uno!"

Staring at the door says kitty wants out. Or Mr. Watchcat might be indicating an immediate need for firearms: "Alert! Intruder, front door!" Now, the trespasser might just be an errant moth hugging the porch light, but it could be a real cat burglar. Watch and learn (and maybe dial 911).

Purring indicates happiness and satisfaction, or stress. If a purr can be compared to our laughter, a stress purr is a nervous laugh. Even sick cats purr, perhaps to self-soothe.

An upside-down cat trusts the person it plops over for. It sometimes offers an invitation to play. Rolling around, grinding its seemingly disconnected spine into the carpet says it all: "Oh bliss, joy. Wuv-ooo!"

So, where can you read a cat? No, not in a catalog – in your own home where your own cat has lots to tell you.

Well, my friends, now that we all know how to read the kitty...let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside on the patio for a bit. It's nice and cool this morning for a change!

How About Some Bicycle Facts...?

We see them every day, but how much do we really know about the bicycle?

For something so common place, the bike has a pretty interesting history! When you think about how long the thing has been around, it has changed very little over the years in it's basic design.

Here is a bit of interesting history that you might find entertaining...



There are about a billion bicycles in the world, twice as many as motorcars. Almost 400 million bicycles are in China. Every year some 50 million bicycles and 20 million cars are produced.

Although Leonardo da Vinci drew some rough sketches of a contraption that looked like a bicycle, the Frenchman De Sivrac built the first bicycle-type vehicle in 1690. It was referred to as a hobbyhorse. However, it did not have pedals. Those were added in 1840 by a Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, who is credited with inventing the real bicycle.

On a penny-farthing bicycle, one pedal gave the wheel one turn. A lot of pedaling was needed to get around! With the advent of gears, bicycles could move as fast as cars.

Air-filled tires were used on bicycles before they were used on motorcars.

The bicycle as we know it today – with two wheels of the same size – looks almost exactly the same as one from 1900.

The first five-seat bicycle, the quindem, was built in 1940.

The world speed record on a bicycle is held by John Howard, Olympic Cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner from the US. In 1985 he reached 245,08 km/h (152.2 mph), cycling in the slipstream of a specially designed car.

Well, there ya go! Probably more information than you ever wanted to know about the humble bicycle! Just a little some thing to ponder while share our morning cup!

Speaking of that, my friends, let's get a fresh cup and sit outside before the rain shows up again!

Simply Amazing...!

Here's something pretty amazing!

Nature has a rather unique way of helping her creatures to find what they need, even in the hardest to reach places!

I want you to look at these pictures very carefully and you'll see what I mean.

For those who aren't familiar with the view - it's the downstream face of the dam and those dots are bighorns WALKING ACROSS IT. They're licking the surface - salt, maybe?





Now, I don't know about you but I'm ready for some fresh coffee on the patio! You coming, my friend?