Banking Like The Old Folks...!

My baby Sis sent me this and I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you!

Maybe if a few more of us took action like this individual, things would get straightened out pretty quickly.

Elder Banking... PRICELESS!!

Shown below, is an actual letter was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.

Dear Sir:
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month.

By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it.

I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.

My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an OFFENSE under the Postal Regulations for any other person to open such an envelope.

Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete.

I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.

Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.

I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALLING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH

#1. To make an appointment to see me.

#2. To query a missing payment.

#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.

#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.

#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required.
Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.

#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 9.

#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry.

The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English.

While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

PS: Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to tick us off.

Bankers, like politicians, tend to forget just who they are working for! I think that it's about time for someone to remind them, don't you?

Now, my friends, let's take our coffee out to the patio. It's not cold, but just a little chilly.

Dark Times For Coffee Drinkers...!

The rationing that was experienced during the terrible conflict of World War 2 touched nearly everyone in the United States!

So many things were in short supply that people had to become very creative. Since the ending of that particular war, we have been very lucky not to have experienced the kinds of shortages that were the norm back then. If we did, I wonder if we could once again become as creative.

Nov 29, 1942:

Coffee rationing begins

On this day in 1942, coffee joins the list of items rationed in the United States. Despite record coffee production in Latin American countries, the growing demand for the bean from both military and civilian sources, and the demands placed on shipping, which was needed for other purposes, required the limiting of its availability.

Scarcity or shortages were rarely the reason for rationing during the war. Rationing was generally employed for two reasons: (1) to guarantee a fair distribution of resources and foodstuffs to all citizens; and (2) to give priority to military use for certain raw materials, given the present emergency.

At first, limiting the use of certain products was voluntary. For example, President Roosevelt launched "scrap drives" to scare up throwaway rubber-old garden hoses, tires, bathing caps, etc.--in light of the Japanese capture of the Dutch East Indies, a source of rubber for the United States. Collections were then redeemed at gas stations for a penny a pound. Patriotism and the desire to aid the war effort were enough in the early days of the war.

But as U.S. shipping, including oil tankers, became increasingly vulnerable to German U-boat attacks, gas became the first resource to be rationed. Starting in May 1942, in 17 eastern states, car owners were restricted to three gallons of gas a week. By the end of the year, gas rationing extended to the rest of the country, requiring drivers to paste ration stamps onto the windshields of their cars. Butter was another item rationed, as supplies were reserved for military breakfasts. Along with coffee, the sugar and milk that went with it were also limited. All together, about one-third of all food commonly consumed by civilians was rationed at one time or another during the war. The black market, an underground source of rationed goods at prices higher than the ceilings set by the Office of Price Administration, was a supply source for those Americans with the disposable incomes needed to pay the inflated prices.

Some items came off the rationing list early; coffee was released as early as July 1943, but sugar was rationed until June 1947.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to even think about such a shortage of coffee and sugar! I can do without a lot of things, but I do NOT want to have to go without my morning coffee!

You would think nationwide shortages of certain items would be reason enough for folks to stock up, but I guess some lessons have to be learned all over again before they sink in! That's really sad!

For the present, I have plenty of coffee and I'll be more than happy to share it with my friends. Grab a chair here in the kitchen and I'll get the cups!

Let's Go To The Opry...!

I don't know about you, but growing up, the radio played a lot around my house. The Grand Ole Opry was one show my folks really liked!

Many stars got their beginning on the Opry. This is one of those few shows that made the transition from radio to television without much trouble at all! That didn't happen very often!

Nov 28, 1925:

The Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting

The Grand Ole Opry, one of the longest-lived and most popular showcases for western music, begins broadcasting live from Nashville, Tennessee. The showcase was originally named the Barn Dance, after a Chicago radio program called the National Barn Dance that had begun broadcasting the previous year.

Impressed by the popularity of the Chicago-based National Barn Dance, producers at WSM radio in Nashville decided to create their own version of the show to cater to southern audiences who could not receive the Chicago signal. Both the Grand Ole Opry and the National Barn Dance aired on Saturday nights and featured folk music, fiddling, and the relatively new genre of country-western music. Both shows created a growing audience for a uniquely American style of music and were launching grounds for many of America's most-loved musicians--the singing cowboy Gene Autry got his first big break on the National Barn Dance. The WSM producers recognized that Americans were growing nostalgic for the rural past, so all live performers at the Grand Ole Opry were required to dress in hillbilly costumes and adopt old-time names.

The four-and-a-half-hour Grand Ole Opry program became one of the most popular broadcasts in the South, and like its Chicago cousin, helped make country-western an enduring part of the popular American musical landscape.

This show, and the others like it, set the standard for good family entertainment. That's one thing we are not seeing too much of in this day and age!

So many performers became household names after appearing on the Opry. It was a great place to make a start and gather all the advice available from people well known in the business.

I'm thinking that coffee in the kitchen is the way to go this morning, OK?

Big Man For A Big Job...!

It seems like the pressure in the White House gives all who live there a big appetite!

For some it's money, some it's power, and some it's food! Only problem is, when you don't curb your appetite, it starts to show! That's what the problem was with Taft!

Let's face it...when your housekeeper starts to complain to your wife about your weight it's time to lose a little!

Nov 27, 1911:

White House housekeeper frets over presidential waistline

On this day in 1911, Elizabeth Jaffray, a White House housekeeper, writes in her diary about a conversation she'd had with President William Howard Taft and his wife about the commander in chief's ever-expanding waistline.

According to the White House Historical Association, Jaffray was also quoted regarding Taft's growing girth in a 1926 book called Secrets of the White House. In it, she detailed a typical breakfast consumed by the 332-pound president: "two oranges, a twelve-ounce beefsteak, several pieces of toast and butter and a vast quantity of coffee with cream and sugar." When she and Taft's wife, Nellie, commented on his eating habits, he jovially responded that he was planning to go on a diet, but lamented the fact that "things are in a sad state of affairs when a man can't even call his gizzard his own."

Taft's 5' 11" frame carried anywhere between 270 pounds and 340 pounds over the course of his adult life. According to his biographers, he had to have his shoes tied by his valet and often got stuck in the White House bathtub and had to be lifted out by two or more men. Once, while visiting the czar of Russia, Taft split his pants seam while descending from a carriage.

Taft's weight did not stop him from serving a full term as president, nor did it prevent him from accepting a subsequent appointment as chief justice of the Supreme Court in 1921—he was the first and only president to hold both offices. In fact, he successfully dropped down to 270 pounds after leaving the White House. Still, by today's body-mass indices, Taft remained clinically obese. Although he rarely drank more than the occasional beer and did not smoke, his obesity and a lifelong struggle with severe sleep apnea eventually took its toll. In March 1930, he retired as chief justice citing poor health. He died the following month from heart failure.

You know, I think I'd rather have a president that was food hungry than one that was power hungry, wouldn't you? Just a thought for this Sunday morning!

I think we should have our fresh coffee in the kitchen this morning. Cold and wet outside!

Just For Laughs...!

We haven't had one of these for a while, so I figured it was about time!

My Sis is here visiting from North Carolina, so in her honor I an sticking with the food theme! After all, we all have a LOT of left overs...right?



Enjoy the cartoon and have a great day!

Fresh coffee on the patio this morning, unless it starts raining!

Let's Talk Potatoes...!

I know, I know! The day after one of the biggest meals you've eaten all year and the Hermit wants to talk about food!

I realize it seems a little crazy, but this article might provide some useful information! I have to admit that there were a few things I found while studying about the spud I didn't know. Seems like I learn something new nearly every day...and I love that!

Here are just a few of the unusual uses for the potato!

Remove a broken light bulb from its socket safely. Just cut a thick slice from one end of a large, raw potato and press the cut surface of the remaining potato into the jagged glass. Twist to unscrew and toss into the trash, potato and all. (Probably a good idea to make sure the socket is switched off).

Remove excess salt from a soup or stew. Just cut up a raw potato or two and add to the broth.

Reduce puffy under-eyes. Lay a slice of raw potato over each eye and lie back for a few minutes.

Remove stains on clothing, carpets, upholstery. Grate a couple of raw potatoes into a cup or two of water and allow to soak. Squeeze out the potato shreds and daub the water on the stain. Alternatively, try rubbing the stain with the cut edge of a raw potato.

Remove stains on hands that come from working with berries, beets and other plant materials. Just rub hands with the cut surfaces of a raw potato.

Hold decorative arrangements (flowers, branches) in place. Poke holes in a large potato set at the bottom of a bowl and arrange your flowers, herbs or branches in the holes to keep them in place. Add water if needed.

Remove tarnish from silverware and other items by soaking them in potato water (left after boiling potatoes). Of course, if you don’t have any tarnish to remove, add the potato water to a soup stock. (Or soak your feet in it. Many swear by this folk remedy for tired, aching feet.)

I got this information from the pages of the Old Farmer's Almanac and wanted to share it with you, food related or not! You can read the whole article if you want right here!

If you want some really interesting reading, I suggest you drop by the Almanac at one of the above links and read the complete article! There is just no way I can do it justice here today. OK?

Let's have our coffee at the kitchen table this morning. It's still a little chilly outside!

Have A Great Day...!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day with friends and family!

However you chose to celebrate this day, try and find the time to give thanks in whatever fashion you see fit!

Believe it or not...we all have so much to be thankful for. It may be hard to see at times, but our reasons for being thankful are all around us. Trust me on this one, my friends!



One of the things I'm most thankful for this holiday is all my friends that I get to visit with almost every day! That means you, ya know?

In case I haven't said it lately, Thank You All for coming by!

Coffee on the patio this morning! HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

A Gift For Politicians...!

Even though we don't like them, look up to them, or care what happens to most of them... politicians are people ! At least that's what I've been told!

In case you have one on your Christmas list, I've found the perfect gift for you to give them! I guess you could say "It's just what the doctor ordered!"

Radium woo: the bad health science of yesteryear wants to irradiate your colon

By Cory Doctorow at 9:27 pm Sunday, Sep 19

Modern quackery might be full of terrible, life-threatening health advice, but it's really not got a patch on the golden age of radium-based medicine, when the newly discovered radioactive material was held to cure practically anything, especially in suppository form. Yowch.

If this was 15 May 1915, we could all be attending the Illinois State Medical Society's annual meeting at the Masonic Temple in Springfield, Illinois.And if we went to booth 18, we could've bought some fine, newish radium-based products that would be enjoyed drinking or bathing in. And all for the cause of human progress, the radium-based nonsense promised cures for all sorts of ills: rheumatism, dandruff, dull teeth, gout, sexual problems, general malaise, and on and on...

Many of these companies employed the real stuff, affecting thousands of people, radium-based cure-alls being ingested, injected, applied and bathed-in. For example, there were numerous companies distributing 'radium water" (such as "Radithor" by William J.A. Bailey's company), radium suppositories ("in a cocoa butter base"), toothpaste ("Doramad", distributed by Doramad Radioaktive Zohncreme during WWII, to Germans), cosmetics ("Tho-Radia"), and many different varieties of radium-enriched healing belts (to be worn or slept on). There were plenty of other products that used the "radium" name but didn't actually use the substance itself, further selling the idea of its usefulness on the individual level. There was radium beer, nail clippers, starch, cigars, polish, headache tablets, razor blades, butter and of course, condoms.

I have to thank the folks over at BoingBoing for this article! I thought it was pretty cool!

Amazing what folks have been known to do...all in the name of health! It's a wonder so many of us made it as far as we have! I do think many of the effects are starting to show up now, especially in some of those in office!

How about we have some coffee in the kitchen? A little chilly out on the patio this morning!

I'll Admit My Ignorance...!

I always find something interesting to educate me if I look hard enough!

I had no idea about this man's place in our history! I love finding things like this!

Nov 22, 1783:

John Hanson, so-called first president, dies

On this day in 1783, John Hanson, the first president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation, dies in his home state of Maryland. Hanson is sometimes called the first president of the United States, but this is a misnomer, since the presidency did not exist as an executive position separate from Congress until the federal Constitution created the role upon its ratification in 1789.

Hanson was the self-educated son of Charles County, Maryland, farmers. His family had lived in Maryland for three generations beginning with the emigration from England of his grandfather, for whom he was named. At age 25, John married 16-year-old Jane Contee in Maryland. Their lasting union produced nine children, five of whom survived to adulthood, although their son Peter was later killed in action as a Continental soldier at Fort Washington, New York, in November 1776.

Hanson's political career began in 1757 with his election to the Maryland Colonial Assembly. He returned to represent Charles County again from 1758-1763, 1765, 1766 and 1768-1769. As colonial-British relations frayed, Hanson took a seat in the revolutionary Annapolis Convention, which took control of the colony from the British in 1774 and renamed itself the Assembly of Freemen in 1776. An outspoken supporter of the Patriot cause, Hanson was instrumental in Maryland's decision to back the rebels laying siege to British-controlled Boston in the aftermath of the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Named a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1779, Hanson served in that body from 1780 to 1782, including a term as the president of Congress (a position similar to that of prime minister in the British Parliament) from 1781 to 1782, during which time the Articles of Confederation were finally ratified and General George Washington defeated the British army at Yorktown, Virginia. Upon the ratification of the Articles on March 1, 1781, the Continental Congress became the "Congress of the Confederation" or the "United States in Congress Assembled." Hanson was the first president of that body, but not of the United States.

I think that every day I learn more about just how ignorant I am about parts of our early history! Just goes to show how much more I need to study and learn, since the public school system seems to have left out so many little details that are really pertinent to the birth of our system.

Thank goodness for home schooling!

Coffee outside on the patio this morning! Nice and cool, which is very pleasant!

My Birthday Special...!

Yes, today is my birthday!

In keeping with my ancient tradition (which I started this year) I decided to have something very special! Instead of the traditional cake and candles, which I couldn't afford anyway because of the cost of such a staggering number, I found this obscene recipe for a new hot chocolate that is just too decadent to not try!

Besides, because it's my birthday I'm entitled, right?

The process was simple. The results were spectacular. The hot chocolate was richly chocolaty, but retained a distinctly doughnut flavor. The hot chocolate also was wonderfully thick, thanks to the thickening properties of the flour in the doughnut. If you prefer a thinner hot chocolate, follow the recipe as directed, then thin with additional milk at the end.

It also is important to use a cake-style doughnut (not yeast-raised), such as a chocolate or old fashioned.

We used glazed or sugar-coated doughnuts with great results.

And for a wonderful variation, make the recipe as directed, then thin it with a bit of strong hot coffee. After all, coffee and doughnuts pair so well.

Written by
J.M. Hirsch

CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUT HOT CHOCOLATE

2 C. whole milk
1 glazed or sugar coated chocolate doughnut
½ C. semisweet chocolate chips
Pinch salt
In a blender, combine the milk and doughnut. Puree until very smooth. This could take a minute or longer.
Transfer the mixture to a medium saucepan. Whisking constantly, heat over medium until it thickens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chocolate chips and salt, whisking until the chocolate has melted and the cocoa is smooth. Serve immediately.


You can find the main article right here!

Now, my friends, let's have some coffee out on the patio! I have some spare donuts to share!

Payback, Whale Style...!

We just keep on messing and messing with Mother Nature, until She finally gets a little payback!

This was the case here. I'd be willing to bet that none of these survivors ever went whaling again!

Nov 20, 1820:

American vessel sunk by sperm whale

The American whaler Essex, which hailed from Nantucket, Massachusetts, is attacked by an 80-ton sperm whale 2,000 miles from the western coast of South America.

The 238-ton Essex was in pursuit of sperm whales, specifically the precious oil and bone that could be derived from them, when an enraged bull whale rammed the ship twice and capsized the vessel. The 20 crew members escaped in three open boats, but only five of the men survived the harrowing 83-day journey to the coastal waters of South America, where they were picked up by other ships. Most of the crew resorted to cannibalism during the long journey, and at one point men on one of the long boats drew straws to determine which of the men would be shot in order to provide sustenance for the others. Three other men who had been left on a desolate Pacific island were saved later.

The first capture of a sperm whale by an American vessel was in 1711, marking the birth of an important American industry that commanded a fleet of more than 700 ships by the mid 18th century. Herman Melville's classic novel Moby Dick (1851) was inspired in part by the story of the Essex.

Whaling has never been a pretty business, and the old ways of taking and dressing whales bloody and brutal at best. I'm sure there was more than just one case of a big whale attacking and sinking a ship.

One thing about it...these sailors paid a very dear price for their part in this misadventure!

Coffee on the patio this morning. I hope it's going to be a little rainy this morning!

Back To The Airport...!

Well, after a nice visit to North Carolina to visit with my sister Mom is coming back home Saturday.

Of course, that means another trip across town to the big airport to pick her up. I don't mind, though.

Mom has been ready to come home for several days now and tells me this will probably be her last extended trip. She likes being at home and around her friends, some of them having serious health issues.

I know it is hard to be away from friends when at anytime the dreaded call may come that they have passed on. Still, it's always nice to get away for a bit.

Mom's cat, Amy, will sure be glad to have her back home. I've been going over to Mom's and keeping the cat company off and on during the day, but it isn't the same as having her human at home to sleep with! In fact, Amy has decided to sleep over at my house tonight! Tired of being alone in the house, I guess. I normally turn on the television for her during the early evening to give her the feeling someone is there, but she caught on to the fact that it was only noise, so now she doesn't fall for that!

Anyway, Mom will be back just in time to help me plan what to serve up for Thanksgiving. Probably won't be many here which will disappoint Mom, but that's the way it's been the past few years. Family get togethers are becoming a thing of the past, it seems!

However, that's a dead horse and I'm not going to beat it very much this year! At least, I am gonna try and hold my tongue mostly! Notice I said mostly!

I'm leaving the coffee pot set up for ya, so just help yourself...OK?

Blame It On The Railroads...!

First, let me say that I appreciate all the comments from yesterday when I took the day off.

I probably have some of the most considerate readers online...without a doubt!

Now, about today's little slice of history! I think that most of us have often wondered about how the different time zones came into being. I know that I wondered about it myself and to be honest...I didn't have a clue!

Thanks to the fine folks at History.com, I found the answer! At least, as good an answer as any! That's what I wanted to share with you today!

Nov 18, 1883:

Railroads create the first time zones

At exactly noon on this day, American and Canadian railroads begin using four continental time zones to end the confusion of dealing with thousands of local times. The bold move was emblematic of the power shared by the railroad companies.

The need for continental time zones stemmed directly from the problems of moving passengers and freight over the thousands of miles of rail line that covered North America by the 1880s. Since human beings had first begun keeping track of time, they set their clocks to the local movement of the sun. Even as late as the 1880s, most towns in the U.S. had their own local time, generally based on "high noon," or the time when the sun was at its highest point in the sky. As railroads began to shrink the travel time between cities from days or months to mere hours, however, these local times became a scheduling nightmare. Railroad timetables in major cities listed dozens of different arrival and departure times for the same train, each linked to a different local time zone.

Efficient rail transportation demanded a more uniform time-keeping system. Rather than turning to the federal governments of the United States and Canada to create a North American system of time zones, the powerful railroad companies took it upon themselves to create a new time code system. The companies agreed to divide the continent into four time zones; the dividing lines adopted were very close to the ones we still use today.

Most Americans and Canadians quickly embraced their new time zones, since railroads were often their lifeblood and main link with the rest of the world. However, it was not until 1918 that Congress officially adopted the railroad time zones and put them under the supervision of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Just another case of not waiting on big government to handle the problem. Of course, this time the changes were made by folks that probably had a lot more power than the government wanted to butt heads with! Come to think about it, this is a lot like how it is today. Big money boys can pretty much do what they want and tell the government folks to "like it or lump it!"

Thanks again for keeping an eye on things for me yesterday. I really appreciate it!

Anyone want some fresh coffee out on the patio? I sure could use the company!

No Post Today...!

Sorry, but I have no post this morning. I'm taking the day off.

Have a great day!

Some Good Music From The Old School...!

Sometimes I just need a little pick me up in the middle of the week!

I can't think of any better way to bring on a new day than some good music! When I say "good", I mean good to me!

Many of you may not remember when the Big Bands ruled the airways...but neither do I! I do, however, remember my folks playing their records all the time . this particular band was one of their favorites!



Almost makes me want to dance, ya know?

Let's have some fresh coffee on the patio. I'll turn up the stereo and put on another record or two!

The Articles Of Confederation...A Rocky Start !

You know, getting this grand ol' country started wasn't nearly as easy as many of us think!

Although winning our independence from the British was a good beginning, it certainly wasn't the end of the journey. From the Articles of Confederation right up to our Constitution, it's been a bumpy and educational ride! See for yourself!

Nov 15, 1777:

Articles of Confederation adopted

After 16 months of debate, the Continental Congress, sitting in its temporary capital of York, Pennsylvania, agrees to adopt the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union on this day in 1777. Not until March 1, 1781, would the last of the 13 states, Maryland, ratify the agreement.

In 1777, Patriot leaders, stinging from British oppression, were reluctant to establish any form of government that might infringe on the right of individual states to govern their own affairs. The Articles of Confederation, then, provided for only a loose federation of American states. Congress was a single house, with each state having one vote, and a president elected to chair the assembly. Although Congress did not have the right to levy taxes, it did have authority over foreign affairs and could regulate a national army and declare war and peace. Amendments to the Articles required approval from all 13 states. On March 2, 1781, following final ratification by the 13th state, the Articles of Confederation became the law of the land.

Less than five years after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, enough leading Americans decided that the system was inadequate to the task of governance that they peacefully overthrew their second government in just over 20 years. The difference between a collection of sovereign states forming a confederation and a federal government created by a sovereign people lay at the heart of debate as the new American people decided what form their new government would take.

In 1787, an extra-legal body met in seclusion during Philadelphia's summer heat to create this new government. On March 4, 1789, the modern United States was established when the U.S. Constitution formally replaced the Articles of Confederation.

Between 1776 and 1789, Americans went from living under a sovereign king, to living in sovereign states, to becoming a sovereign people. That transformation defined the American Revolution.

See? I told you that it's been a bumpy ride so far, but if I were you, I would hang on tight! I don't think that the bumpy ride is over just yet! In fact, the road ahead may just be the bumpiest yet!

Why don't we have our coffee out on the patio this morning? Here's a bowl of fresh oranges to go along with it!

"Hungry" For Some Food History...?

As a lot of you might know, I'm fond of food!

If you could see my waistline, you would know just how fond of food I am! Therefore it stands to reason that I enjoy some of the early history of our food industry!

This article from History.com covers some of the love affair between the automobile and the drive-ins, both important in their own way!

I'm sure that, like me, many of you have a lot of memories associated with one or both of these icons! Wonder how the "Drive In" got it's start?

Nov 14, 2006:

Last day for Texas' celebrated drive-in Pig Stands

On November 14, 2006, state officials close the last two of Texas' famed Pig Stand restaurants, the only remaining pieces of the nation's first drive-in restaurant empire. The restaurants' owners were bankrupt, and they owed the Texas comptroller more than $200,000 in unpaid sales taxes.

A Dallas entrepreneur named Jessie G. Kirby built the first Pig Stand along the Dallas-Fort Worth Highway in October 1921. It was a roadside barbecue restaurant unlike any other: Its patrons could drive up, eat and leave, all without budging from their automobiles. ("People with cars are so lazy," Kirby explained, "they don't want to get out of them.") Kirby lured these car-attached customers with great fanfare and spectacle. When a customer pulled into the Pig Stand parking lot, teenaged boys in white shirts and black bow ties jogged over to his car, hopped up onto the running board—sometimes before the driver had even pulled into a parking space—and took his order. (This daredevilry won the servers a nickname: carhops.) Soon, the Pig Stand drive-ins replaced the carhops with attractive young girls on roller skates, but the basic formula was the same: good-looking young people, tasty food, speedy service and auto-based convenience.

That first Pig Stand was a hit with hungry drivers, and soon it became a chain. (The slogan: "America's Motor Lunch.") Kirby and his partners made one of the first franchising arrangements in restaurant history, and Pig Stands began cropping up everywhere. By 1934, there were more than 130 Pig Stands in nine states. (Most were in California and Florida.) Meanwhile, the chain kept innovating. Many people say that California's Pig Stand No. 21 became the first drive through restaurant in the world in 1931, and food historians believe that Pig Stand cooks invented deep-fried onion rings, chicken-fried steak sandwiches and a regional specialty known as Texas Toast.

But wartime gasoline and food rationing hit the Pig Stands hard, and after the war they struggled to compete with newer, flashier drive-ins. By the end of the 1950s, all of the franchises outside of Texas had closed. By 2005, even the Texas Pig Stands were struggling to survive—only six remained in the whole state—and by the next year they had all disappeared.

In 2007, state bankruptcy trustees found a way for one Pig Stand, in San Antonio, to reopen. Though it will probably never be as popular as it once was, and customers now have to get out of their cars and go inside to eat, the restaurant remains a sentimental favorite of many Texans.

You know what? All this history of food and drive-ins made me hungry! Somehow I just knew that would happen, didn't you? Guess I had better try and come up with a snack.

Feel like some fresh coffee on the patio? I'll give ya a slice of "Key Lime Pie" to go with it!

Something To Think About This Sunday...!

I know you have seen this before.

Still, I firmly believe that we need to revisit it just one more time!



Coffee on the patio this morning. Have a great day!

A Case Of Good Karma...!

This is definitely a case of good karma coming back to you.

I'll bet that the folks that did the adoption had no idea what a good move this would turn out to be!

Just goes to show that doing a good deed will sometimes pay off in a very positive way!

Newly adopted dog runs off burglar from Ohio home

Associated Press
Published: November 11, 2011 - 09:51 AM

HILLSBORO, OHIO: A Southwest Ohio couple who adopted a Saint Bernard to save him say he saved their home from burglary a few hours later.

Rubert “Lee” Littler says he was taking Hercules outside Wednesday night when the 135-pound dog started growling, then charged after a man running out of their basement. The dog bit into the man’s ankle as he climbed a fence and got away. Police say the home’s phone and cable lines had been cut.

Lee and Elizabeth Littler brought the dog home from Highland County’s pound less than seven hours earlier. The dog had been found, bloody and dehydrated, by hikers on Oct. 31.

The Littlers tell The Times-Gazette of Hillsboro they wanted to keep him from being euthanized but now figure he’s earned a permanent home.

Keeping the pup around sounds like a very good idea to me! In fact, I'd say that all signs are pointing to this being a match up that's just meant to be!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. That OK with you?

Remembering Veteran's Day...!

This is certainly one day that we should never forget.

This particular holiday has been around for a long time, but the name was originally Armistice Day. This article from the Almanac will explain it all.

Veteran's Day (United States)

Originally Armistice Day, commemorating the signing of the agreement that ended World War I at 11:00 A.M., November 11, 1918, this federal holiday was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. At that time, it became a day to honor all the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States. Each year, special ceremonies are held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Consider spending some time on-line learning more about our nation's veterans. The Great War Society has developed a Web site devoted to World War I educational materials. The World War II Memorial celebrates the victory of "the greatest generation" with a design that uses moving water to harmonize with its natural surroundings. Visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial online; this moving memorial, dedicated in 1995, is the latest addition to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. See a registry of all the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington. Learn more about the military men and women who are on duty today.

This is also Remembrance Day (Canada)—November 11! This day honors veterans who have died in service to their country. All veterans should be remembered...both ours and those of our friends!

God Bless Our Republic!

A little chilly outside this morning, so I'm voting for coffee in the kitchen...OK?

What About "Indian Summer...?"

I know most of us have heard the term "Indian Summer" most of our lives, but have you ever wondered exactly what it meant?

I have, so I did a little reading at the Old Farmer's Almanac and found this article about it. It's been a while since I've posted anything from the almanac, and this seemed a good time to make up for that!

I just love all the information you can find there!

Enjoying Indian Summer in your neck of the woods?

In the fall, it seems that almost any warm day is referred to by most people as "Indian summer."

And, while their error is certainly not of the world-shaking variety, they are, for the most part, in error. Here are criteria for an Indian summer:

As well as being warm, the atmosphere during Indian summer is hazy or smoky, there is no wind, the barometer is standing high, and the nights are clear and chilly.
A moving, cool, shallow polar air mass is converting into a deep, warm, stagnant anticyclone (high pressure) system, which has the effect of causing the haze and large swing in temperature between day and night.

The time of occurrence is important: The warm days must follow a spell of cold weather or a good hard frost.

The conditions described above must occur between St. Martin's Day (November 11) and November 20. For over 200 years, The Old Farmer's Almanac has adhered to the saying, "If All Saints' (November 1) brings out winter, St. Martin's brings out Indian summer."

Why is Indian summer called Indian summer? There are many theories. Some say it comes from the early Algonquian Native Americans, who believed that the condition was caused by a warm wind sent from the court of their southwestern god, Cautantowwit.

The most probable origin of the term, in our view, goes back to the very early settlers in New England. Each year they would welcome the arrival of a cold wintry weather in late October when they could leave their stockades unarmed. But then came a time when it would suddenly turn warm again, and the Native Americans would decide to have one more go at the settlers. "Indian summer," the settlers called it.

You just have to love the fact that the Native Americans made use of any good weather they had to "have another go" at the settlers. Pretty determined bunch, wouldn't you say?

It's cool but dry this morning, so let's have our coffee out on the patio. In the 60s, so that's not too bad!

The Hunt For Parking Spots...!

I know that I've mentioned the problem with finding parking space when I go to the VA.

When the Chronicle ran this story about what steps were being taken to make this problem go away, I thought I would share it. I'm glad that they are admitting to the problem and are planning to add some more parking. We certainly need it!

I'm in better shape than many guys that visit because at least I can walk the 1/4 mile or so from where I park to where the entrance is. For others the situation is a lot more serious!

Houston VA hospital to fix shortage of 1,200 parking spots with new garages

At last: Houston’s Veterans Affairs hospital will try to improve the nightmarish parking situation at the facility, which has seen the number of outpatient visits double in the last 10 years to more than 1 million annually.

The increased traffic has had an obvious impact. Anyone who has tried to park at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center on Holcombe is familiar with the challenge of finding somewhere, anywhere to park in the overflowing lot, and the temptation — after circling for what seems like forever — to give up and risk being ticketed or towed by parking on a median or curb. Many veterans expect to lose most of a day to attend a single doctor’s appointment, in part because of the parking problems.

Today VA announced new parking garages are in the works.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that construction, scheduled to begin in February, won’t be fully completed until after 2017, and will temporarily eliminate some spaces in the already overcrowded lot.

VA will provide free shuttle buses from overflow lots off-site.

A sketch of a new parking garage planned for the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.

Here’s more details from the VA announcement:

With the number of outpatient visits to the Houston VA campus doubling in the last 10 years, parking has become a serious problem for veterans, volunteers, visitors and staff. Efforts have been made in the past few years to increase parking availability, but a more dramatic strategy had to be taken to address the issue.

“The facility already expanded surface parking with an additional 480 parking spaces,” said Mouris Ibrahim, (the hospital’s planning and construction chief). “However, this new parking project will provide vertical expansion, and is a better option to reduce walking distances and use our property more efficiently.”

The parking project will be completed in two phases.

Phase one includes the construction of a four to six-story parking structure near the Almeda gate that will house 200 cars. This garage is scheduled to be completed in December 2012. Phase two is an expansion to phase one with an additional 400 spaces and is expected to be completed by September 2013.

Future plans include the construction of a second parking garage near the Old Spanish Trail entrance to house 600 cars. It is scheduled to begin construction in 2017.

Some parking spaces will be displaced while construction takes place; however, steps have been taken to mitigate this situation.

“We are in the process of leasing 300 off-site parking spaces,” said Ibrahim. “The leased parking will be nearby and a free shuttle bus service will be provided.”

If nothing else, I always get my exercise when I go for my blood test! Guess that's a good thing. Still, being closer would be nice!

Raining outside, so let's have our coffee in the kitchen!

The Real "Doc" Holliday...!

Sometimes we think that we know a person from long ago, when what we really know is myth and tall tales.

This was the case with "Doc" Holliday! Some of what we think we know is truth, and the rest is shadowy at best! I guess that happens when the true is not as fancy as the untrue.

In some cases, though, both are very close to being the same. Maybe that's why the facts so often are fuzzy at best!

Nov 8, 1887:

Doc Holliday dies of tuberculosis

On this day, Doc Holliday--gunslinger, gambler, and occasional dentist--dies from tuberculosis.

Though he was perhaps most famous for his participation in the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, John Henry "Doc" Holliday earned his bad reputation well before that famous feud. Born in Georgia, Holliday was raised in the tradition of the southern gentleman. He earned his nickname when he graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in 1872. However, shortly after embarking on a respectable career as a dentist in Atlanta, he developed a bad cough. Doctors diagnosed tuberculosis and advised a move to a more arid climate, so Holliday moved his practice to Dallas, Texas.

By all accounts, Holliday was a competent dentist with a successful practice. Unfortunately, cards interested him more than teeth, and he earned a reputation as a skilled poker and faro player. In 1875, Dallas police arrested Holliday for participating in a shootout. Thereafter, the once upstanding doctor began drifting between the booming Wild West towns of Denver, Cheyenne, Deadwood, and Dodge City, making his living at card tables and aggravating his tuberculosis with heavy drinking and late nights.

Holliday was famously friendly with Wyatt Earp, who believed that Holliday saved his life during a fight with cowboys. For his part, Holliday was a loyal friend to Earp, and stood by him during the 1881 shootout at the O.K. Corral and the bloody feud that followed.

In 1882, Holliday fled Arizona and returned to the life of a western drifter, gambler, and gunslinger. By 1887, his hard living had caught up to him, forcing him to seek treatment for his tuberculosis at a sanitarium in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He died in his bed at only 36 years old.

Legend or not, folks like ol' Doc just seem to often die alone. But, as the saying goes..."gone, but not forgotten!" Now if we can just decide if what we remember is fact or fiction. Guess what really matters is the memory itself, ya think?

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside.OK by you?

Airport Bound...!

This is not going to be much of a post today, as I have to take Mom to the airport across town.

Actually, it isn't really across town...just 38 miles from my place. That's one way! Not really too far, but then I have to turn around and come back another 38 miles! Not a good way to spend the morning, especially since I'm going by way of the Toll road

Still, I'd rather pay the few dollars toll than have to fight the traffic all the way there and back, ya know?

The main reason Mom is going to the airport this morning, is that Baby Sis and my niece, along with yours truly, are paying for Mom's tickets to North Carolina to visit with my older Sis "B". It was a birthday present for Mom since we couldn't come up with anything else she wanted. She's been wanting to take a trip to North Carolina, so we figured this was as good a gift as anything else.

So it appears that I am going to be the official Cat sitter for the next two weeks. Actually, her cat Amy is pretty easy to care for. Clean her box once a day, feed her when she's hungry, and go let her outside when she wants out. Oh, I also have to turn on the television on for her at night so she won't be as lonely! Believe it or not, that seems to work pretty well!

When she goes out, she usually comes over to my place when she wants to go back inside Mom's. I swear that she can send me telepathic messages when she wants! Must be a cat thing, because my cat seems to do the same!

I'm sorta the house sitter, alternate pet keeper, repairman, and errand boy anyway...so this won't be anything new to me!

Anyway, I'll get back as soon as I can. Just help yourself to the coffee...OK?

Welcome To Texas...!

I'm sure that none in their party expected things to be easy when they landed.

Let's face it...these ol' boys had a rough go from the start. First the bad time they faced in Florida, then a shipwreck on Galveston Island! Nothing like Texas coast in the summer, and make no mistake, folks, November in Texas is almost like Summer!

Nov 6, 1528:

Cabeza de Vaca discovers Texas

On this day, the Spanish conquistador Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca is shipwrecked on a low sandy island off the coast of Texas. Starving, dehydrated, and desperate, he is the first European to set foot on the soil of the future Lone Star state.

Cabeza de Vaca's unintentional journey to Texas was a disaster from the start. A series of dire accidents and Indian attacks plagued his expedition's 300 men as they explored north Florida. The survivors then cobbled together five flimsy boats and headed to sea, where they endured vicious storms, severe shortages of food and water, and attacks from Indians wherever they put to shore. With his exploration party reduced to only 80 or 90 men, Cabeza de Vaca's motley flotilla finally wrecked on what was probably Galveston Island just off the coast of Texas.

Unfortunately, landing on shore did not end Cabeza de Vaca's trials. During the next four years, the party barely managed to eke out a tenuous existence by trading with the Indians located in modern-day east Texas. The crew steadily died off from illness, accidents, and attacks until only Cabeza de Vaca and three others remained. In 1532, the four survivors set out on an arduous journey across the present-day states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Captured by the Karankawa Indians, they lived in virtual slavery for nearly two years. Only after Cabeza de Vaca had won the respect of the Karankawa by becoming a skilled medicine man and diplomat did the small band win their freedom.

In 1536, the men encountered a party of Spanish slave hunters in what is now the Mexican state of Sinaloa. They followed them back to Mexico City, where the tale of their amazing odyssey became famous throughout the colony and in Europe. Despite the many hardships experienced by Cabeza de Vaca and his men during their northern travels, their stories inspired others to intensify exploration of the region that would one day become Texas.

My guess is that Cabeza and the remnants of his crew were certainly glad to get back home, if they ever did. Probably didn't want to make a return trip to the states, either!

Back to Summer temperatures here in Houston, so let's have our coffee on the patio!

Another Honest Working Man...!

More and more we see stories of honest, everyday working men and women.

Most of the time, these folks are older. Maybe they become more honest with age, or maybe they have always been that way. I, for one, don't believe something like honesty can be learned. I'm thinking that it's something you have to be born with.

Anyway, I wanted to share this story because it shows the side of humanity we don't see often enough, at least in my humble opinion!

Plumber finds $20,000 in an air duct, turns it in

FLORIDA —

A Florida plumber found $20,000 in an air duct and decided to do the right thing.

Jerry Laliberte was trying to access a leaky shower when he found the money and decided to turn it in.

The 62-year-old employee of Air and Energy said he was scared at first when he found the cash wrapped in foil.

"I was scared. It scared me. My hands were shaking," said Laliberte. "I wasn’t sure what to do, to tell the truth."

Laliberte said he believes he only did what everybody should do.

The previous homeowner was a widow who stashed money all over the house. She told her children where the money was when she died, but forgot one of her hiding places.

If you have an older relative that insist on hiding all their money at home, try and get them to write down where it is before they pass. If you can't do that, then at least make sure you have an honest plumber or repairman!

I'm ready for some fresh coffee on the patio this morning...are you?

Having A Crappy Day...?

Sometimes in life, the choices you make come back to cover you with crap!

This was the case here. My feelings on this is...if you are going to bring "crap" into my country, then you are going to have to swim through "crap" to do so!

Sometimes the bad guys get a dose of justice!

5 Trapped in Border Tunnel Filled with Sewage

The secret border tunnel is believed to connect Mexico to Otay Mesa, a distance of 150 meters

By R. Stickney

Five people were trapped in a tunnel near the U.S.-Mexico border and had to be rescued early Wednesday.

The four men and one woman were discovered inside the tunnel partly filled with sewage in Otay Mesa. The tunnel is believed to lead to Mexico, which is about 150 meters away.

The five were trapped at a point in the tunnel where a fence made it impossible to get through to the U.S.

U.S. Border Patrol agents used a dog to find the opening in the 9800 block of Via De La Amistad behind a company called Artic Containers.

Agents believe a manhole on the Mexican side is the entrance.

San Diego and Chula Vista firefighters worked for about 45 minutes to dig out the trapped victims, bringing them out one by one.

They then hosed down each person because of their exposure to sewage. The men were stripped to their underwear. The woman was taken behind a tarp where she was hosed off.

All the victims were healthy without any physical injuries, according to Border Patrol.

A robot was sent into the hole to investigate, but it got stuck according to officials.

Border tunnels are not new to the Tijuana-San Diego region. In November 2010, a tunnel running 600 yards under the border was discovered along with nearly 30 tons of pot.

Soon after, a second tunnel was discovered equipped with lighting, ventilation, and a rail system for drugs to be carried on a small cart.

U.S. authorities have discovered more than 125 clandestine tunnels along the Mexican border since the early 1990s, though many were crude and incomplete.

I think that for these folks, this turned out to be a crappy situation! At least they got washed off when they were rescued. The normal treatment for them on the other side is just to get "hosed!"

It's chilly here, but coffee on the patio will perk us right up...don't you think?

Revisiting Thomas Jefferson...!

Not many times in history do men like this come along.

When we do find one, going back and revisiting them from time to time is well worth while!

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America �and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence .

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia 's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia , succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France , and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions, and became the active head of the Democratic- Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States .

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase , doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello .

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia , and served as its first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, along with John Adams

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ." -- Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

-- Thomas Jefferson

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."

-- Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." -- Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." -- Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

-- Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

-- Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

It would be nice to see someone of Jefferson's caliber stand up and take charge again! Don't you think?

Coffee on the patio this morning...so we can enjoy the cool front!

Now That's A Lot Of Bull...!

Actually, I guess I should say "a lot of BEEF!"

Even by Texas standards, this was a big place! Problem is, it was owned by a bunch of folks back east. So often in the old West, this was the case! However, this story does have a happy ending for many folks wanting to start a small family spread.

Nov 2, 1912:

XIT Ranch sells its last head of cattle

On this day, the XIT Ranch of Texas, once among the largest ranches in the world, sells its last head of cattle.

Despite the popular image of the cattle rancher as an independent and self-reliant pioneer, big-city capitalists and stockholders owned many of the most important 19th century ranches. The Chicago capitalists behind the XIT—also known as the Capitol Syndicate Ranch—were trying to get rich by catering to the growing American passion for fresh western beef. They received the land in exchange for financing a state capitol building in Texas.

Given the aridity of the region, the Chicago capitalists determined that ranching would be the only profitable use for their new land. They quickly built up a massive but highly efficient cattle-raising operation that stretched over parts of nine Texas counties. At its peak, the XIT had more than 160,000 head of cattle, employed 150 cowboys, and encompassed nearly 3 million acres of the Texas panhandle—an unusually large tract of land even by western standards.

As land prices increased in Texas and cattle prices fell, the owners of the XIT realized they could make more money by selling their land. By 1912, the XIT abandoned ranching altogether with the sale of its last herd of cattle. The corporate managers gradually sold the remainder of their property to farmers and smaller ranchers throughout the first half of the 20th century. By 1950, the once-mighty XIT had control of only 20,000 acres.

Just imagine, only having control of 20,000 acres! Might be enough for most of us to scrape by on, don't you think? At least, by breaking the main ranch up into smaller parcels, many dreams of starting family spreads could be fulfilled!

Coffee on the patio this morning...before the cold front comes in tonight!

Mom's Birthday Today...!

Today is my Mother's birthday!

In keeping with that thought, I have a special video in her honor. Then, I'm taking the rest of the day off to help her celebrate!



Just a birthday song from a familiar voice of her generation!

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love Ya...!

Fresh coffee outside this morning!