My Wishes For Your New Year...!

I hope you all have a great New Year and that all your hopes come true!

Thank you for your support during this past year, my friends!

Throughout the rest of this Year and all of 2011..

May you always make the right moves.


May your cup runneth over with love.



May you always find shelter from any storm.



May you remain good looking and looking good!



May you find the perfect diet for your soul.(If this face doesn't make you want to stop eating sausage, nothing will.)



May you find perfect balance in the company you keep.



May you have as much fun as you can before someone makes you stop.



May you manage to make time for siesta.



May all the new folks you meet be interesting and kind.



May your accessories always harmonize with your natural beauty!



Should your mouth be bigger than your stomach, may you have a chewing good time!



May you always know when to walk away and know when to run.



And may your friends always bring you joy!



Wishing a very safe and happy New Year for you all!

Peace and Love from the Hermit, my friends!

Better Late Than Never...!

I love these stories of older folks finally getting something long overdue!

That's especially true in a case like this, where the reason for the overdue original reward was certainly understandable.

Guess it's true that all good things come to those that wait!

Saluting a 94-year-old Grad

In June of 1941, Lyle Francis Robert Knudson, a University of Wisconsin senior from Racine, was called to active duty in the U.S. Navy. He was told to report to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois on June 13, the same day on which his last two final exams were scheduled.

Knudson sent a telegram to the Navy indicating that it would be impossible for him to get there because he had to take his finals that day.

The Navy responded with one word: “Imperative.”

So Knudson left the university early and never got the chance to pass those two final exams and receive his commerce degree. There was no business school at the university in 1941, but commerce degrees were offered through the College of Letters and Science.

Sixty-nine years later, the degree is finally in Knudson’s hands, thanks to a very determined friend and fellow Badger alumnus and the Wisconsin School of Business, which recently granted Knudson a bachelor’s degree in business administration with majors in finance, investment and banking. The registrar’s office sent the diploma to him about a month ago.

“Mr. Knudson received a Wisconsin BBA degree because he had earned it, and we are proud to have him as an alumnus,” says Ken Kavajecz, associate dean of full-time MBA and undergraduate programs at the Wisconsin School of Business.

At 94, Knudson is believed to be the UW-Madison’s eldest degree recipient.

Joseph Battenburg, who received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1967, met Knudson when he and his wife moved to the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington.

“I met Lyle several years ago, and all he could talk about was his time at the UW and his war experiences,” says Battenburg. “I learned that he had just missed receiving his degree by a gnat’s eyelash.”

Battenburg took it upon himself to get the World War II veteran his degree, and he doggedly worked to achieve that goal, calling everyone he could think of who could make it happen.

“Being a Wisconsin grad myself, I felt that something should be done to assist him,” says Battenburg. “Many universities have given students credit or degrees for life experiences, or because they have had their studies interrupted or at one time were refused admission to universities.”

On Nov. 2, Battenburg and some of Knudson’s other friends and neighbors gathered at the Shanghai Restaurant in Port Townsend, Wash., to honor Knudson and celebrate the long-overdue receipt of his degree.

“I am so happy for Lyle — a person who years ago gave so much for our nation,” says Battenburg. “He is on cloud nine. He wears his Wisconsin cap and has a Wisconsin alumni license plate frame on his car, and he finally has his diploma.”

“It was an honor for me to receive my BBA degree from the UW after all these years,” says Knudson. “I have many fond memories of my time in Madison, where I met my future wife while we were both students. I still am an avid Badger fan and don’t miss a game, even at 94 years of age.”

When Knudson joined the Navy, he had no prior flying experience. He wanted to fly amphibious patrol planes, but that didn’t happen. He was in flight training in Texas when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Knudson was assigned to the Navy’s first squadron of four-engine heavy bombers and eventually flew B-24 bombers at night out of Guadalcanal.

Knudson was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross “for heroism and extraordinary achievement in several flights as co-pilot of a heavy bomber plane in the Solomon Islands, January through September, 1943.

When Knudson came home from the war he went into the construction business, building homes in the Milwaukee area. Then he went into the roofing business in Cleveland. After later moving to Oregon, Knudson started an industrial machinery manufacturing and sales business with headquarters in Kent, Wash., in 1962.

He ended up in Port Townsend on the extreme northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula, where he still resides.

Knudson and his wife, Ruth Merkle of Appleton, bought land on Marrowstone Island. They became master gardeners, specializing in rhododendrons and fruit trees. Ruth died in 1991.

Knudson later applied his knowledge of fruit trees to teach courses on apples at the University of Washington’s Center for Urban Agriculture. He continues to love learning and reads several books a week.

In an interview with The Port Townsend Leader, Knudson shared two pieces of advice: “Always try to be honest. Always try.” And he offered this wording from a sign he has held onto since his college days at Wisconsin: “Persistence will triumph.”

Makes you very happy for the old gentleman and his friends! I'm very proud to know that these folks worked hard to make sure Mr. Knudson finally got what he so richly deserved!

Let's get some coffee and sit in the kitchen. We'll toast to justice delayed, but still served!

You Might Need Some Of These...!

We all know that there will be a rash of headaches after the partying this coming weekend!

I don't know if any of these will help with the "self inflicted" variety or not, but I figured I should put them on here just in case!

I'm thinking that if the headache is really bad enough for you to try some of these cures...maybe you should forget the cure and try a little more of the cause, ya know?

Here are 16 folk remedies for headaches:

1. Put leeches on your forehead.

2. Rub cow dung and molasses on your temples.

3. Tie a buzzard's head around your neck.

4. Use powdered moss as snuff.

5. Have someone else rub your head; the headache will be transferred to that person, but it will be less severe.

6. Have a relative read chapters of the Bible to you.

7. Stand on your head or spin around until you are dizzy.

8. Soak your feet in hot water to draw blood from your head.

9. Run around the house three times.

10. Ask a seventh child to blow in your ear.

11. Put a buckwheat cake on your head.

12. Rub your head with a piece of stone containing iron ore.

13. Wrap damp cloths around your head and burn scented wood.

14. Plait a handful of hair very tightly on top of your head.

15. Lean your head against a tree and have someone else drive a nail into the opposite side of the tree.

16. Tie a leather thong tightly around your head.(If this fails, you may tell your friends, "The thong is over, but the malady lingers on," which will give them headaches.)

I got these remedies from (where else?) the Old Farmer's Almanac! But you already knew that, right?

Heck, just reading these cures might be enough to give you a headache! You try 'em...I'll just watch! OK?

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! No aching heads here!

Do You Believe In Coincidence...?

Whether you do or not, after seeing this you just might!

When I first saw this, I was taken aback by how strange this whole thing is! I'm sure that some of you might have seen this before, but even if you have...you have to admit that it is strange!

Check it out!

1) Fold a NEW $20 bill in half...



2) Fold again, taking care to fold it exactly as below



3) Fold the other end, exactly as before



4) Now, simply turn it over...



What a coincidence! A simple geometric fold creates a catastrophic premonition printed on all $20 bills!!!

COINCIDENCE?

YOU DECIDE!

As if that wasn't enough...Here is what you've seen! Firstly The Pentagon on fire...then The Twin Towers. You have to admit that is a lot coincidences, right?

Wait...we aren't done yet! Here is another thing on that $20 bill you may want to know about!



Wow, this kind of stuff makes my head hurt! Guess that's because it forces me to think...and that means that I have to use parts of my brain that normally are dormant!

Maybe we should get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! We can talk about all the strange things in the world...like cousin Charlie! But that's another story!

A Little Winter Humor...!

Like the old saying goes..."everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it!".

Well, I've decided to do something about it by furnishing a few jokes to help take your mind off the Winter conditions if only for a bit!

This is part of my new attempt to distract us all from all the depressing things like politics and crazy weather that we have no control over! If nothing else, these little attempts will serve as an amusing way to pass some time while standing in the return line at the local "Big Box" store!

Thoughts About Winter

It was so cold ... we had to chop up the piano for firewood -- but we only got two chords.

What kind of coffee were they serving when the Titanic hit an iceberg? Sanka.

What do you call 10 Arctic hares hopping backward through the snow together? A receding hare line.

What vegetable was forbidden on the ships of Arctic explorers? Leeks.

What do snow kids have for breakfast? Ice Krispies.

What happened when the snowgirl had an argument with the snowboy? She gave him the cold shoulder.

What's an ig? A snow house without a loo.

What do you call a snowman in the summer? A puddle.

And more really important questions

What do snowmen wear on their heads? Ice caps

What do you get if you cross a snowman and a shark? Frost bite

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a baker? Frosty the dough man.

And some less serious comparisons

65 degrees: Hawaiians declare a two-blanket night

60: Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one)

40: Californians shiver uncontrollably
– Minnesotans go swimming

35: Italian cars don't start (of course, many don't start at 70 degrees, either)

32: Water freezes

25: Ohio water freezes
– Californians whimper
– Minnesotans eat ice cream
– Canadians go swimming
0: Alaskans put on T-shirts

- 40: Californians disappear
– Minnesotans button top button
– Canadians put on sweaters

And one not- so-lame joke

What do you get from sitting on the ice too long? Polaroids.

Another way to get by with Winter here is to get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit. In fact, that's probably the best way of all!

Let's Lighten Up A Bit...!

Well, now that Christmas is over and things are starting to slow down a tad, I figured we could use a little "slow down" music!

I don't know of many songs that fit the bill any better than this! So...grab a cup, tap your foot, and let's relax for a little!



Hope this helps to put you in the mood to slack off a bit. After all, life's too short to always be rushing around! Thus, let's do just like they song says and "Don't worry, and be happy!"

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee to help with the slow down process! I have some left over cookies! (How did THAT happen?)

Merry Christmas, One And All...!

To all my many friends and loved ones out there in the Blue Nowhere...this is for you!

I truly hope this season finds you all safe and healthy and happy! Thank you so much for your support and companionship over the last year! It really means a lot to me!




Please be safe and take care during the upcoming New Year weekend! We all know how crazy things can get and I don't want to lose any of you !

Peace and Love from the house of the Hermit!

A Very Clever Telling Of The Nativity...!

I thought this was very cleverly done and was worth sharing!

What a wonderful way to tell a wonderful story! The message still comes through very clearly, I think!



Go ahead! Watch it again...you know you want to!

This time I'll even get you a fresh cup of coffee to enjoy while you watch! Merry Christmas everyone!

Yep, Sounds Like Government To Me...!

You have to wonder if all people that hold any public office are infected with the same strain of stupid!

Why in the world would anyone, especially someone with a law degree, allow this type of insanity go this far? I guess that when you become a politician, you have to check your common sense at the door!

Bridgewater spends $17K to defend $5 fee it charged resident

Published: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 6:35 AM
The Associated Press By The Associated Press

BRIDGEWATER — A Somerset County town spent more than $17,000 defending a $5 fee it charged a resident for a compact disc of a council meeting.

Tom Coulter filed a complaint with the New Jersey Government Record Council in October 2008, saying he should pay the actual cost of the CD to get the recording.

The state council this year sided with Coulter and found he should have paid about 96 cents.

Bridgewater paid more than $14,000 in legal fees defending the case. It had to pay $3,500 to Coulter for his legal fees and give him a $4.04 refund.

Coulter says the case shows a lack of common sense.

Township Attorney Alan Grant tells The Courier News of Bridgewater the legal fees would have been substantially lower had Coulter settled, as the township had offered.

What scares me the most about this whole thing is that this township doesn't seem to think they have done anything crazy! Of course, that's because they are not spending their own money! That's the main problem with nearly all government. It's easy to spend like an idiot when it isn't your own money your spending!

Maybe if they had to pay all expenses from this kind of stupidity out of their own pocket...things wouldn't go this far! Instead, as usual, the tax payer has to carry the expense! That's the way it usually turns out!

What else can you say?

Now, let's get some fresh coffee and sit on the patio. No charge, trust me!

Gotta Love Ol' "Rudolf"...!

What would Christmas time be without Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer?

Seems like he's been around for a long, long time...and he almost has! Do you want to know exactly where Rudolf actually came from? Pretty interesting story in it's own right!

Here is a little history about the little critter that has become an integral part of our Christmas celebration right up to the modern times!

The Chicago based Montgomery Ward company had a tradition of handing out children's coloring books as Christmas gifts for their customer. In 1939, the company decided that creating a coloring book of their own would be cheaper. They asked Robert L. May, one of their copywriters, to write a Christmas story that they could give away to their customers.

May wrote the story, drawing in part from his own childhood experiences and in part on the story of the ugly duckling. He settled on the idea of a misfit reindeer who was picked on by the other reindeers because of his glowing red nose. He finally decided on Rudolph as his reindeer's name after discarding names such as Rollo and Reginald. He wrote the story as a series of rhyming couplets and tested it out on his four year old daughter Barbara, who loved the story.

Montgomery Ward handed out 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet that first year and by the end of 1946 a total of six million copies had been distributed. Mays wife had died around the time he was creating the Rudolph story, leaving him deeply in debt from medical bills. Since he had created the story as an employee of Montgomery Ward, they held the copyright and May received no royalties. He was able to persuade Sewell Avery, Montgomery Ward's corporate president, to turn the copyright over to him in January 1947. With the rights to his creation in hand, May's had his financial security assured.

In 1947, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" was printed commercially for the first time. There was also a short cartoon shown in theaters the following year. The story didn't really take off until May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, adapted the lyrics and wrote the melody for the song "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".

The song was turned down by many artists before, at the urging of his wife, Gene Autry recorded it in 1949. Two million copies were sold that first year and it went on to become one of the best selling Christmas songs, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". In 1964 a television special about Rudolph was produced with Burl Ives as the narrator. Rudolph has become a much loved Christmas icon and the popular TV special remains a holiday favorite to this day.

Don't you just love a good under-dog story? Any story where the good guys manage to win one in spite of all the odds is a memorable one! And the good guys do win from time to time! That's the story behind the story, so to speak.

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside before it turns cold again! We'll raise a toast to the little guys of the world winning one from time to time!

Finishing What You Start...!

A friend sent me this, and it made so much sense to me I wanted to share it with you!

To me, this sounds like very good advice...especially for this time of year! We are all, for the most part, more than a little stressed out during this season of more things to do than there is time to do them!

Finally, here is the answer to finding something that can help your attitude!

Inner Peace - this really works!

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me today, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives.

Some doctor on television this morning said that the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started.

So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished and, before leaving the house this morning,I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, a pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke an a box a choclets.

Yu haf no idr how bludy guod I feel rite now.

Like I said, it may not get finished...but it will make you stop caring if it is or not! Guess you might say it's more like an adventure!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! Then we can start "finishing stuff", if you know what I mean!

Boy, Look At That Moon...!

Get ready for a very special event tomorrow!

We have another light show provided for us by Mother Nature, free of charge! This is one heck of a way to end the year, I'm thinking! This is not exactly a light show, but rather a "lack of light show" as it is a Lunar eclipse! Very rare because it comes at the time of a full moon!

Here is the story right out of the pages of the Almanac!

This year wraps up with a rare event! A total lunar eclipse—of the full Moon—on the winter solstice! A triple whammy!

Delightfully, this eclipse will be fully visible from North America. The partial eclipse begins in the wee hours of December 21 at 1:32 A.M. (ET) with totality starting at 2:40 A.M. (For those on the West cost, the show begins on the 20th!)

With the total eclipse, we will enjoy a celestial canvas of superb beauty. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon. In this alignment, the shadow of the Earth falls upon the Moon, dimming the Moon and giving it unusual coloring, ranging from muted gray to coppery orange.

While every eclipse is special, this one is attended by many stars and constellations that are beautiful in their own right.

You have to be careful when watching these things. If you aren't careful, you can get carried away and get a crick in your neck from looking up so long!

What say we get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen? Don't forget about tonight, OK?

Better Pissed Off Than Pissed On...!

I've heard the old saying "better pissed off, than pissed on" all my life but never really took it to heart until yesterday!

All in all, things went well at the family tree! The only person to get upset about anything was me! I nearly lost it, but was able to control my temper and not cross the line! I know better and thought I was big enough to not let the sloppiness of others get my goat!

I kinda had a strong talk with my oldest about something he had said he would take care off back in November and still hasn't taken care of it as of today! Wouldn't be so bad, except that it directly affects me personally!

Let me explain what this is all about! Sometime early in November, I loaned my oldest my truck until he could find another vehicle to get back and forth to work. The inspection was up to date, new tires and exhaust, fresh brakes...all road worthy! Only thing was that the registration was due to expire December 1.

I reminded him of this several times and even made sure he had all the paperwork and insurance cards in the vehicle. So yesterday he shows up for the family get-together in the truck, I go out later to check the sticker and "GUESS WHAT?" Expired registration! Over a month to get it done, still not done!

I was not...and am still not a happy camper! We will see if the problem gets corrected this week! Hopefully, it will or the Hermit will highly pissed off, as we used to say! That's the meaning of the header!

BTW, the oldest is not a kid, but a grown-up in his late 30's! So this is NOT the kind of thing you would expect from a "grown person" or even a responsible teen!

Sorry for the rant, but I am not happy with the situation right now. I am, however, that the rest of the get-together went well! And that it's over for another year!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! I have some cookies!

One Of Those Days...!

Today is the day of our family Christmas tree.

This is really one of the things about the holidays that I really don't care for! In fact, if it weren't for Mom...I wouldn't be doing this at all!

I think I've said before that Christmas is NOT one of my favorite holidays, especially one that involves family.

That's because some folks that should come, won't! Some will come that shouldn't! Some will bring food, some will not! Some will be friendly, some will argue!

In the end, this is for Mom and she should be given a break from having to do all of the getting ready and cooking and decorating! She should be free to just sit and enjoy herself!

I help when I can, but it's really not that much. Anyway, I'm here!

The thing I'm looking forward to the most is for this day to end without any major drama, and everyone getting home safely!

Let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit, before the madness starts! OK?

Let's Eat Some "Fire Crackers"...!

I know that with company coming over, or if you are going to be the company somewhere else...having a quick and easy-to-make snack to have on hand or take with you can sure save you some time!

No one wants to spend the whole holiday season in the kitchen, so I have a really quick and easy answer for ya! I'm passing you the recipe here and let me tell you from experience, these are REALLY good!

I've made them and eaten them (still am, in fact) and they are now one of my favorite things to make and share! Try them out! I think you'll enjoy them, I really do!

Firecrackers

Things You'll Need:

* 1 box of saltine crackers
* 1 envelope of BUTTERMILK Ranch Dressing Mix (powder)
* 1 1/3 c. canola oil
* 1 Tblsp. crushed red pepper flakes
* Gallon size Ziploc bag

Empty all 4 sleeves of crackers into the Ziploc bag, being careful not to break or crush the crackers. If many of the crackers are broken, you may want to remove the smaller pieces.

In a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup, pour the 1 1/3 c. canola oil (healthier and absorbs quickly into crackers). Whisk in the dressing mix and the crushed red pepper flakes. Mix well. Pour over the crackers in the bag. Seal the bag tightly so oil will not leak out while you toss the bag to coat the crackers with the seasoning mixture.

Turn the bag every 10 min. for one hour; this helps coat the crackers evenly. You may store these in the Ziploc bag or any airtight container.

* May use Ritz crackers as well.

* Great for the holidays.

* Wonderful for just snacking -- just the right amount of salt and spice.

* May add extra crushed red pepper if you really like it HOT!!!

I have to tell you, this is about as easy as you can get! Fast, tasty, and CHEAP! Cost is so little on these things, that you can afford to make a bunch of them without breaking the food budget! A lot of this stuff is probably already in your pantry!

The only thing I've found wrong with them...is that I can't stop eating on them! You need to make enough to allow for the "snack grabbers" like me! That's probably the hardest part!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! I've got some fresh cookies to go along with the drinks this morning!

Sorry, but I ate all the Firecrackers already!

Let's Talk Firewood...!

I know that those of you that use firewood for heating and cooking probably already know this.

Still, for those that may just be getting started using wood in the stove every day might find this interesting!

Either way, it never hurts to have this information around to refer back to. Who knows? It may just come in handy someday!

Firewood Tips and Best Bets

Did you know that one cord of wood burned as firewood provides the heat equivalent to that produced by burning 200 to 250 gallons of heating oil, depending on the type of hardwood you are using?

Here is a list of hardwoods in descending order of heat value:

* Elm, rock
* Hickory, shagbark
* Oak, white
* Hickory, butternut
* Beech
* Oak, red
* Birch, yellow
* Elm, red
* Ash, white
* Elm, white
* Mesquite
* Hop hornbeam
* Locust, black

Firewood Tips

* Freshly cut wood contains up to 50 percent moisture and must be seasoned to 20 to 25 percent moisture content before burning. Wood containing more than 25 percent moisture is wet, or green, and should never be burned in a fireplace or wood stove.

* Wet wood is easier to split than dry wood.

* Wood must be split into pieces and stacked out of the rain for at least six months to season properly.

* If steam bubbles and hisses out of the end grain as the firewood heats up on the fire, the wood is wet, or green, and needs to be seasoned longer before burning.

* Well-seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with visible cracks or splits. It is relatively lightweight and makes a sharp, distinctive "clink" when two pieces strike each other.

* Limit the amount of pine you burn. It's a resinous softwood.

Now that we have that out of the way, why don't we get some fresh coffee and sit inside for a bit? We can start a fire and check out if this list is right!

Need A Good Funny Today...?

We can all use a good touch of humor from time to time, so I wanted to do my part to help!

I hope you can use these bits of wisdom to brighten your day! Heaven knows, we could all use some humor this time of the year!

Ever heard of a "paraprosdokian"? Apparently it's a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect.

So, really, it's just a silly word for a joke, and we figure our bosses will like this first one:

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. My desk is a work station.

Here's one of our favorites, followed by a whole bunch more:

If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR."

The evening news is where they begin with "Good evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

Hospitality: making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were.

Seasonal humor

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse.

"But why?" they asked.

"Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."

-- punoftheday.com

I hope you all find the time to smile a little and to help someone else smile today! After all, a smile can make others wonder what you're up to!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit. Supposed to be in the 70's today!

Now THIS Is A Road Trip...!

You just think you've been on a road trip!

This trip started way back in 1977 and it's still going! Probably logged more miles than you and I will ever manage...and it's far from over!

Just think! This whole trip started before the internet and so much more that we take for granted! Sorta blows my feeble mind, ya know?

Voyager 1 is one of the most successful space missions of all time. Launched in 1977, it visited Jupiter and then Saturn, providing better close-ups of the two planets than had ever been seen before.

But it sailed on, crossing the orbits of both Uranus and Neptune (a sister craft, Voyager 2, actually flew by the two planets). Over all those years, there has been one constant in the Voyager flight: the solar wind blowing past it. This stream of subatomic particles leaves the Sun at hundreds of kilometers per second, much faster than Voyager.

But now, after 33 years, that has changed: at 17 billion kilometers (10.6 billion miles) from the Sun, the spacecraft has reached the point where the solar wind has slowed to a stop. Literally, the wind is no longer at Voyager’s back.

There is gas between the stars, which astronomers call the interstellar medium. The solar wind blows out into it, slowing. There is a region, over a billion kilometers thick, where the solar wind plows to a halt, creating a roughly spherical shell around the solar system. That’s called the heliosheath, and it looks like Voyager 1 is now solidly inside it. In fact, it’s been there for four months or so; the scientists measuring the solar wind speed noticed it dropped to 0 back in June, but it took a while to make sure this wasn’t just some local eddy in the flow. It’s not. Voyager 1 now has calm seas ahead.

But the probe is still moving outward at 60,000 kph (38,000 mph). In a few more years it’ll leave the heliosheath behind, and when that happens it will truly be in interstellar space, the vast and nearly empty region between the stars. At that moment it will be the first human device ever to truly leave the solar system and enter the great stretches of the galaxy beyond.

Imagine! It was launched before personal computers were everywhere, before cell phones, before the internet! But it was given a powerful boost by its rocket, and another by the two largest planets in the solar system as it swung by them. And now, in just a few more years, it will have left our nest forever.

This has to be one of the most amazing projects mankind has ever accomplished! One of the few times, I think, that we actually lived up to our potential!

Just imagine! If we could get our heads on straight long enough, keep the contractors honest long enough, and all work together without killing each other long enough...we might just recapture some of the special magic that we had when this modern day marvel launched!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and make a toast to the wonderful Voyager 1...!

Priorities ? What Priorities...?

This lady (I use the term loosely) is not like any grandma image I have in my mind!

Talk about someone with a twisted sense of what's important in life...! I'm thinking the best place for this sorry excuse of a human is UNDER the jail!

I found this really sad story over at Krem.com and almost wish I hadn't! Always sad to know that there really are folks like this consuming oxygen that could be better used elsewhere!

Jailed grandma wants out to take care of books, cats

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- The woman accused of beating and severely neglecting her twin grand-daughters stood before a judge Wednesday and asked to be let out of jail to take care of her pets and her overdue library books.

Ruth Cassidy asked for mercy. But it had nothing to do with her grandchildren.

"The only thing I ask is the ability to take care of my animals. I have library books that are due," said Cassidy.

She even pleaded to get out of jail. Cassidy and her daughter are in jail after police found the girls covered in bruises and feces. Coeur d'Alene Police did not charge Cassidy immediately. They thought the child abuse came solely from her daughter, Elisabeth Crossley. Once the twin girls were examined by doctors, police say Cassidy had to have known about it.

Police found Ruth Cassidy's granddaughters naked, dehydrated and covered in excrement at her and her daughter's apartment in Coeur d'Alene Sunday. Her daughter is also in jail charged with injury to a child. Despite the allegations, Cassidy pleaded with the judge to release her.

At one point, Cassidy did appear to get choked up. She said she is not trying to run away from the responsibility to her family, or the charges against her. Without hesitation, the judge ignored her pleas and set her bond at $25,000. Cassidy is expected to enter a plea sometime in the next two weeks. Her grandchildren are now safe in the custody of the state.

I personally don't think this woman should be allowed to be around any animals that depended on her for care, anymore than she should be allowed to be around children!

But then, what do I know? I'm old enough to believe that folks that ill-treat animals or children should be lashed, at the very least!

A rope dance would be more in order...and I would play the music!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! Little chilly outside this morning!

This Will Give You Nightmares...!

Just when you thought that nothing else could make you nervous, this comes along!

I mean, this thing is UGLY! Not only UGLY, but looks pretty mean as well! Sorta reminds me of one of my ex-MIL's, ya know?

In all fairness to the bug, at least it lives in caves and isn't out running free and terrorizing poor innocent guys like me! Still, this thing is some kinda scary!

Animal with venom-filled claws discovered in Yosemite

The new species is a type of 'pseudoscorpion,' meaning it has traits that make it half-scorpion, half-spider.
By Bryan NelsonThu, Dec 02 2010 at 3:22 AM EST

New species of pseudoscorpion ARACHNOPHOBIA: Pseudoscorpions have bodies and legs like spiders, but claws like scorpions. (Photo from Texas Tech University video) Researchers have discovered a new half-scorpion, half-spider animal lurking in the dark caves of Yosemite National Park, according to Texas Tech University News.

The creature is a type of pseudoscorpion, tiny arachnids that have abdomens like spiders with eight spidery legs and claws like scorpions. Unlike real scorpions, these creatures lack a long post-abdomen stinger. Normally that would be good news, but this new species makes up for it with the addition of venom-filled claws.

Luckily the new pseudoscorpion (Parobisium yosemite) is also blind, slow-moving and very small, typically measuring no longer than about half an inch. So there's no reason to jump to cancel those summer vacation plans to Yosemite just yet.

The animal is also only found deep in dark granite caves, one of the main reasons the discovery took so long.

"The canyon where it was found was made by a glacier during an ice age millions of years ago," noted James Cokendolpher, one of the researchers who documented the find. "Through time, rubble with larger rocks would fall and create piles with caves or subterranean voids. We think that’s where this animal was trapped and evolved into the species that it is now."

Cokendolpher also said that finding the pseudoscorpion in granite caves was particularly unusual because most cave-dwelling species live in limestone caves, where better humidity and access to food makes the environment more hospitable. The new species is probably only the second pseudoscorpion ever found in a granite enclosure.

Even though they are harmless to humans, the way these tiny predatory arachnids hunt is eerie nonetheless.

"We kept them in petri dishes with plaster of Paris that was moistened so it was more like cave conditions," Cokendolpher explained to the Texas Tech University News. "When we introduced other animals into the petri dish it would go over and tap the animal [with its venom-filled claws]. When it did that, it was able to sense chemical cues there such as identification, how large the item was and whether it was something suitable to eat."

At the very least, it's enough to make even seasoned spelunkers think twice about any tap-tap they might encounter while exploring in the dark.

Now, folks, I have to be honest with you here! I don't care just how small this critter is, but if I see one close...then I'm going to make a new exit out of that cave or where ever else I'm at! As it is, I'm probably going to shake my boots out twice the next time I go to put them on! Just in case they have mistaken those boots for a cave in Yosemite, ya know? No need to take chances, I figure!

I may have trouble sleeping tonight with that image fresh in my brain! Not the bug, but the ex-mother-in-law! Scary!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit. Just watch for the creepy-crawlies, OK?

Catch A Falling Star...!

You know, if you are interested in meteor showers, you might want to check out the skies on Monday night!

According to the Almanac, there is going to be one heck of a nice, long light show then! It's a very interesting article, and some folks are willing to brave the cold to see something of this magnitude!

December 13/14—Geminids

The Geminid meteors should perform well after nightfall on Monday, December 13.

No other meteor shower boasts more meteors than the Geminids—with 75 per hour in a dark sky. Plus, viewing is all night (whereas most meteor showers are predawn)!

The bright and fast Geminds will appear to come from the northeast out of the Geminid twins.

Here are a few viewing tips to catch these "shooting stars."

* See the "date of maximum" which shows when meteor showers will be the strongest.
* Note that the "best viewing" times are usually predawn and late evening—when the Earth turns into the path of meteoroids as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
* Where to look? The "point of origin" is where the flight course starts from. This is a good place to start.
* You don't need any special equipment! To enjoy this celestial event, just find a dark place free from man-made lights, spread a blanket on the ground, and look up in the dark night sky!

If you have any questions about this sky event, you might contact our blogging buddy "Dizzy Dick" right here! I think he might be able to help answer a lot of questions or at least point you in the right direction to get you started!

Now, if you are going to be outside for very long...I suggest we get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen so you can stock up! Better safe than sorry, ya know?

Doing The Right Thing...!

The generation of our parents and grand parents was of a completely different mind set about things.

They, for the most part, seem to automatically know the difference between right and wrong! They didn't question whether or not something was the "right thing to do", but in most cases...they just did it!

Theirs was a time of deals sealed with a hand shake, a man being as good as his word, and promises made meant promises kept! One reason it was a simpler time was the fact that peoples attitudes were so different! Peoples standards were higher and their morals were set at a different level than today!

At least, that's the way I see it! But then again, that is just my opinion!

Here is a story of the kind of person so prevalent in those days...the days of the "Greatest Generation"!

Widow offers to pay fine for library book overdue 74 years

By Anita Creamer
acreamer@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1A

For 95-year-old Hazel Severson, the decision was straightforward. The book didn't belong to her, so she needed to return it.

"It was the library's book," she said. "I wanted to get it back to them."

So what if the book – "Seaplane Solo," Sir Francis Chichester's autobiographical account of his 1930 solo flight across the Tasman Sea – was 74 years overdue from the public library in Amador County? To Severson, returning the book was the right thing to do, period.

With the help of her longtime South Land Park neighbors, Jim and Laurie Gibson, she turned the book over to Amador County librarian Laura Einstadter on Oct. 13.

She even offered to pay an overdue fee of $2,701, or 10 cents a day, which the library refused to accept.

"I don't want people to think we'd make her pay," said Einstadter. "We were happy to have the book back. It's lovely that she and the neighbors cared enough."

When people worry that older Americans' solid sense of values is vanishing from American life along with their generation, maybe this is part of what they mean: Hazel Severson's unwavering grasp of right and wrong and her strong sense of obligation.

"This is a very typical example of what the Greatest Generation did and still does," said Eskaton Vice President Lynette Tidwell.

Top among the values that demographers widely ascribe to these older Americans are dedication, hard work, sacrifice and conforming to the rules. As Tidwell notes, members of this generation have also tended to put the public good ahead of their personal interest.

Because they had to.

"They took care of each other," she said, "because they lived through the Depression and World War II."

In contrast, San Diego State University researchers say that as the "Greatest Generation" fades away, Americans' personality traits have shifted toward self-involvement and narcissism.

It's hard to imagine Snookie and the Situation saving the world from the Nazis, after all. But perhaps that's putting matters unfairly.

"I wouldn't say people today don't know the difference between right and wrong," said Senior Center of Elk Grove President Pat Beal. "I'd say it's a matter of how they value their time."

Hazel Severson's sense of what's right landed her on "Good Day Sacramento" and made her a minor celebrity at the Merrill Gardens at Greenhaven assisted living facility, where she's lived since May 2008. People tease her she'll be on "Ellen" next.

She likes the attention, this lively, blue-eyed woman with a cap of white curls and a quick sense of humor.

Her late husband, Howard Severson, a Sacramento businessman and longtime aviator who died in 2006, checked "Seaplane Solo" out of the Amador County library in 1936.

He was 24 at the time, and he and Hazel Navlet, his Sacramento High School sweetheart, had only recently eloped to Carson City, Nev. They kept the marriage secret from their families for six months, until he could leave the used-car lot in Amador City where he was working and move to Sacramento to be with his bride.

Even the Greatest Generation had its moments of irresponsibility, when overdue books were forgotten amid the drama of young love and early marriage.

The first edition hardcover was forgotten, as well, in the passing of the years, until early 2010, when Laurie Gibson found it as she was packing up Hazel's belongings for a garage sale.

Consider the kindness of longtime neighbors: Howard Severson helped Jim Gibson, now 77, renovate his house after Gibson moved next door in the mid-1980s. Now Jim and Laurie, 79, take care of Hazel Severson's house in her absence.

"I really couldn't be without either one of them," said Severson.

And so Jim Gibson wrote to the Amador County librarian, telling her of the book's discovery and offering to pay a late fine. (The library accepted a small donation instead.)

"I just thought it was a great story," he said. "And it's a connection for Hazel with Howard."

It was also a chance to do what's right.

"I thought the library should have their book back," said Severson. "It made me feel good to do that for Howard."

All I can say is that I feel so lucky that so many of my friends follow along the same paths that were traveled by this great generation! I'm proud to say that the majority of the people I know, both on the web and off, are more likely to follow these same guidelines as not!

They will look you in the eye when they talk to you, shake your hand to seal a deal, and if they tell you something is the truth...you can bank on it being just that!

That is one of the main reasons I'm proud to call them FRIENDS!

Now, how about some fresh coffee in the kitchen? Proud to have you share my table, ya know?

Guess He's Gone For Good...!

About a month ago or so, one of my "roomies" didn't come home!

I wasn't worried much, as he had done this before...staying away from home for about a week! That's just one of those things you deal with when you have male cats and they still have an interest in the ladies!

I know, I know! I should have had them fixed, but I didn't! Just couldn't bring myself to do it!

I got my friends when they were very small. I started to take just one of them, but couldn't see separating these two brothers from one another at such an early age! So, the three of us became close friends.

They would get up on my desk while I worked on the computer and hang around, usually just napping in the background! Here in this picture, you can see one of their favorite places!



Some times, when Smokey thought it was time to eat (which was pretty regularly!) he would come around from the back of the monitor and sit in front of me, giving me dirty looks until I caved in and fed him and his brother! That evil eye could make you fearful if you could get passed the humor in it!



I guess I put off writing about his being gone, thinking that he would just pop his head in the door one day acting like nothing was wrong! Doesn't look like that is going to happen! C.B., who is Smokey's brother, meows every day while looking in all the places where the two of them used to hang. Sometimes, he looks at me like he is asking me to find him! Sorta breaks your heart, ya know?

Guess I need to get C.B. a new brother to keep him company...maybe I could score one for a Christmas present! And YES, I give my cat(s) small tokens of friendship for the holidays! After all, my kids are all gone and it is only me and the "roomie(s)"!Haven't taken to putting up a stocking for them, but they/he doesn't mind that!

Anyway, this will be sort of a farewell post for Smokey! This picture is how I will always remember him! Beautiful cat, funny to watch, great to love on and get hugged by, and just an all around good room mate!

Raising my coffee cup to ya, my furry friend, no matter where you may be! I hope that you are happy and well!



Now, on a happier note...let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit! Maybe that will bring back the smile!

Introducing My Family...!

I wanted to do something a bit different today!

I wanted to introduce my family to you. I figure that you might like to have a face to put with the names when I post something about different family members.

Sort of nice to be able to place who folks are, don't you think? Besides, with the holidays coming up, this might be considered sort of an early greeting card!

So on with the introductions! From left to right...the guy with the hat on is me! That one is easy since I'm the only guy in the bunch! Then next to me is Mom! Never noticed that she is the smallest of the group before! Standing next to Mom is Baby Sis! She is the one that lives here in Houston, but across town. Seems like she's in another town when you drive to her place! Last, but certainly not least, is Big Sis!

Big Sis (sometimes known as Aunt B) lives in North Carolina. That really is in another town! Heck, I forget what part of Texas North Carolina is in! We still claim her even though she moved to another state!



One of the reasons I wanted to introduce them to you here, is the fact that we don't get all together that often anymore! When we are all in the same place at the same time, it's kinda a special thing, ya know?

The photo is taken at Mom's house, right in front of the fireplace. Guess the mantle was a dead give away on that one, huh?

So just in case I don't have a chance to send you all a card before then, this is to wish each and every one of my friends and their families out there a very safe and pleasant holiday season!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit in the kitchen! Or would you prefer some hot chocolate?

A Crazy Kind Of Crafting...!

You know, I enjoy doing certain craft type things as much as the next person.

I do know just when I'm close to going over the edge, though! I have not quite reached the point of doing something to the extreme, like this guy has!

My idea of fun doesn't include standing on a sky platform, knitting with two aluminum light poles in the middle of a rain storm!

I'm sorry to say, I think this is a bit over the edge! Don't you agree?



While I do appreciate the gesture and the subject matter, I do question the man's sanity! Still, you really have to admire his spunk!

Wonder what a piece like this sells for? Bet it's more than I can afford!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit!

A Different Type Of Graffiti...!

You know, normally I am against any form of graffiti, but once in a while there comes along an exception!

I'm thinking that this is probably a good way to make a large city a bit more pleasing to the eye! However, I guess that approving one type of graffiti means that you approve the others as well!

I would point out that using yarn or knitting to improve some structure in a non-permanent fashion makes a lot more sense to me than using paint! This seems to be an art form that's catching on all over the world!



Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, graffiti knitting, guerrilla knitting, or yarnstorming is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth rather than paint or chalk.

While yarn installations – called yarn bombs or yarnstorms – may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide.

While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing is almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places.

Dave Cole is a contemporary sculpture artist who practiced knitting as graffiti for a large-scale public art installation in Melbourne Australia for the Big West Arts Festival in 2009. The work was vandalized the night of its completion.

The movement has been said to be "changing the face of craft" as stitchers are more and more frequently being viewed as fiber artists.

Only drawback I can see, is that this certainly could use a LOT of yarn! Just imagine how many scarfs I could knit with the yarn it would take to "tag" a lamp pole!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit!

Hard One To Call...!

It would be hard to call this one, I think!

This is one of those things I really never thought about, but certainly not a cut and dried decision on the part of LEO's, I'm thinking!

Like I said, a hard call for somebody! I think that a case could be made for both sides!

Regardless of the outcome, it should be interesting!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit!

Let's Play The Memory Game...!

When you get to be my age, there are so many things that bring back memories from long ago...it's hard to keep up with them!

That's why, every so often, I feel the need to play this song or one like it. Not only is the music good, but the pictures sure do bring back a flood of olden times!

Sometimes I forget just how many wonderful things I've had in my past! Let me share this with you, just in case you feel like this from time to time!



How about we get some fresh coffee and sit in the kitchen for a bit, my friends? We can talk over old memories!

A Quilt Is Like A Hug...Again !

I wanted to revisit a post that I did way back in December, 2008!

I reckon that it's the cold weather that brought this to mind! Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

A Quilt Is Like A Hug...

It may not be necessary, but it sure makes the night pass better!

There's something about sleeping under a quilt that reminds me of better days long ago, snuggling down in the bed, listening to my parents talking quietly in the other room, slowly drifting off to sleep with that old quilt pulled up to my chin. Something about sleeping under a quilt made everything just seem more secure somehow.

Quilts always seem to have a friendly smell to them as well. Maybe it was because they were hung out in the sun to air out, maybe because the quilt box where they were stored was probably cedar, or maybe just because some of the love felt by the last person to sleep under that same quilt somehow lingered to give you a little hug at bedtime when the lights went down.

I can remember a time when my Dad worked at a big store with appliances and furniture. He had brought home some furniture pads used in moving, and boy, those pads made great pallets and bed covers! Sleeping under one of them kept you snug and warm as could be...wasn't fancy as one of the handmade heirloom quilts we always seem to have around, but they served the purpose when cousins came to visit.

While putting a list together of preps I needed for the move to the desert, I decided to browse around for wool military blankets. Warm, but just not quite the same without that little extra weight, ya know? But like most things listed as "Surplus" these days, the Preppies (not to be confused with preppers) have driven the price up to the point of being almost ridiculous, and the ones I found on line were mostly imports! Damn Preppies!!

Then I had a "eureka" moment spurred on by the memories of those "Foley's quilts" (as my sister's and I called them) and looked up moving supplies on the net! There they were in all of their remembered glory! And they were priced in such a way that an old prepper like me could afford more than one without having to sell a single pint of blood! Best part, they even had some made in the USA!! I'm including the link here so that you can take a look if you want.

Now I am feeling better about keeping these old bones warm during the cool nights in the desert, while I lay in bed and am being sung to sleep by the lullaby of the coyotes and cool desert breezes. I can recapture some of that magical time when I would slowly drift off to sleep, feeling snug as a bug under the hugging type weight of a quilt, and hearing the quiet voices from the other room as though they were telling me all was right with my world.

Now, how about some fresh coffee, my friend? A quilt might just feel good tonight!

Now I might just say that when I wrote this...I was planning a move to the desert. Plans that because of certain family issues have been put on hold for now.

So no need to worry! The Hermit will be around for a while to keep the coffee hot! Want a fresh cup?

The Story Of The Wooden Bowl...!

This was given to me by my baby Sis, and I wanted to pass it on to you!

There is an important lesson to be learned here, but probably those that need it the most won't hear or understand it!

The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now. If not, you should!

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor..'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done..

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family... And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on God, your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one!

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn!

We should all remember that what goes around in our present, usually will come back around in our future...and sometimes it will bite us in the ass!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again! Practice the Golden Rule...!

Come on, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee! Supposed to be warm today!