Untitled

A woman asks her husband at breakfast time,
"Would you like some bacon and eggs, a slice of toast, and maybe some grapefruit juice and coffee?"

He declines.
"Thanks for asking, but, I'm not hungry right now. “It’s this Viagra," he says. "It's really taken the  edge off my appetite."

At lunchtime, she asks him if he'd like something,
“How about a bowl of soup, homemade muffins, or a cheese  sandwich?"

He declines.
"The Viagra," he says, "really trashes my desire for food."

Come dinner time, she asks if he wants anything to eat,
"Would you like a juicy rib eye steak and some  scrumptious apple pie? Or maybe a rotisserie chicken or tasty stir fry?"

He declines again.
"No," he says, "it's got to be the Viagra. I'm still not hungry."


"Well," she says, "Would you mind letting me up? I'm starving."

no time for a post

Sneaked one in

I was gonna say snuck, but. . .   whatever.
I realized, when I read today's post over at the Sarge's place, that I hadn't placed the asterisk in the traditional spot after "So there I was."
Then I realized it doesn't matter.
Most of you will take me at my word despite the title of this blog.

The only experience I have ever had with Border Patrol Checkpoints has been near San Onofre, California.
That's near San Diego.
The thing I remember most about it was that it was back in the early '60s when the highway was anything but a freeway.
It was U.S. 101, had three lanes in each direction, but there was little if anything to keep oncoming vehicles from crossing into the opposite lanes, and it took about three hours to make the drive to Newport Beach, where my friend Smitty's family had moved.
In those days everyone stopped and was checked, mostly just a cursory glance into the car.
But traffic backed up for forever on weekends, particularly Friday nights, which was when we always made the trip.
Today they aren't even set up for inspection every day.

On the other hand, try to come into California from Oregon, Nevada, or Arizona.
There are inspection stations where everyone is asked they're point of origin.
They're looking for bugs and sick fruit and vegetables.

But what backs traffic up the most is the rebuilding or replacement of bridges.
There is a major replacement taking place to the north on I-5 at Lakehead.
The one I'm having issues with is to the south, near Corning.
It seems like every year, for the past five years, there has been some reason to turn it into a one lane in each direction bridge during the heavy travel season.
(That may be a slight exaggeration, but it is qualified by the word seems.)

So now you can see I had absolutely nothing to say today.

someone else uses Timewaster in their blog title

A picture

Maybe a thousand words  . . .but a further explanation would help.

And I kinda wish there was a clock in the picture to show that it was taken at 7:06am (PDT).

First this. . .

A statewide effort by Lions to create visibility in our communities about the "best kept secret."
The plan was to have a one day event across the state wherein all of the clubs participated in their own community.
Lions Clubs collected used eyeglasses, which are then cleaned, sorted, and checked for prescription before being redistributed on missions to other countries where those less fortunate would otherwise not receive vision care.

So there I was in the parking lot of Anderson New Technology High School on North Street (the main downtown street) at 6am, helping three other members of the club set up a canopy for collecting eyeglasses and disseminating information about who the Lions are.
(Also reminding folks that it's Lions, not Lyons, and that there's no apostrophe).

It was not just the Lions at the parking lot.
March 28 also marked the date of the Annual ANTHS Parents Booster Club's Parking Lot Sale.
(which implies the event will occur again in another year)
So there was something, besides the opportunity to drop of used eyeglasses, to draw folks downtown

The photo above is a side view and includes the tables set up next to our booth.
We have signs, too.

We are doing this again.

Short on time

I have places to be at 6am.
The good news is it's only a mile away.
The bad news is it's still dark.
I also did not sleep well, waking up numerous times during the night.

I had no idea, when I posted yesterday, that my passport would be arriving in the mail.
Along with the passport was a brief note that I would be receiving at least one, possibly two, more pieces of mail from the DoS.
I certainly hope so.
They still have my birth certificate.

It's funny.
Now that I have it, I want to use it.

. . .made the airline reservations yesterday after it came.
No I have to figure out from where the money is coming.
I'm not broke, but there's no cash.

Lions are collecting used eyeglasses today all over California.
The Anderson Lions are here.
Maybe there'll be pictures.

A belated happy blogoversary to the Ol' AF Sarge.
Three years seems like a long time.
I had in mind the perfect music for this event.
Unfortunately, the Happy Anniversary song by Allan Sherman isn't available on the tube of you.
So picture, in your mind, thew words "happy anniversary" being sung over and over again to Lone Ranger part of the tune of the William Tell Overture.

Normal Friday

That thing I said I was expecting to receive. . .
You know, that I need for the trip I mentioned. . .
There's this place on the DoS website that lets you find out when you might get it.
Next week!

yeah, right

Twice

The topic of perseverance has come up twice in the past five days [not counting today].
BP mentioned it yesterday and kind of related it to obstinacy.
Last Saturday it was a topic at a meeting.
Those present discussed it at length.

What kept going through my mind was what is to be said is Einstein's definition of insanity.

"Insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting the same result."

Nobody is certain whose definition it is, but it does cover perseverance  . . .or obstinacy.
About the only thing that persevered here, so far, is that I have attempted to misspell perseverance several times.

On another note. . .   I'm not sure I mentioned this, but I actually applied for a passport.
It will probably be another month before I receive it.
The plan is for Cuz, Mrs. Cuz, and I to travel to Ireland this August to celebrate out birthday.
We'd planned to do it sooner, but other issues prevailed.
At the moment we are looking at airline schedules.
Rooms are already booked in Galway and Dublin.

There's also a shipmates reunion schedule for late August in Rhode Island.
I am still on the fence about attending it because I am supposed to attend a forum at Grand Rapids, Michigan in September.

It appears I will be pinching pennies for the next few months.

It's a bit ironic when two blogs, separated by an entire continent and an ocean trade topics, eh?

So I don't often do this. . .

Blame Sandee. . .
. . .and my lack of imagination this morning.

She posts a new question every Wednesday.
Usually the reader has to come up with their own answer.
Today there is a cheat.
The question is

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

This is what was provided for me using my given name:

You are very charming... dangerously so. You have the potential to break a lot of hearts.
You know how what you want, how to get it, and that you will get it.
You have the power to rule the world. Let's hope you're a benevolent dictator!

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

So then I decided to double-check by typing in my nickname:

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.
You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip.
People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people.
Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems.
Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest.

I don't necessarily disagree .
The only problem I can see is that it sets me up for others expectations.
You know, kinda like when the Master of Ceremonies spends five to seven minutes telling an audience just how great the main speaker of the evening is. . .   when the speaker has only been told 25 minutes earlier that he has an hour to fill.

Then there's the mockingbird

No. . .   not that one.

The one that terrorized the window to the den every winter for about three years running.
It lives around here full time.
It just lost interest in trying to get into the house though that window.

 
Now it is back to what mockingbirds do.
Mock!
It does it all night long, louder than any of the other birds around here. . .    except maybe the one in yesterday's post.
It was a lot quieter when it terrorized the window.

at least it doesn't crap on stuff

What is it?

Does anyone know what bird this is?

My neighbor says it is a blue heron.
I don't think so.

All I know is that it squawks, shits all over anything under the oak tree, and migrates in winter.

It doesn't look nearly as ugly in these photos as it does in person.
It was about 20 feet up in the tree and I had to use the digital telephoto feature to capture the shot.
One of the neighborhood kids thinks it's a pterodactyl.

update:

I think it is a green heron.
As I searched the various bird ID sources I kept running across this image.

 The sad thing is I kept reading it as bullshit.

Really?!!

We did the family corned beef and cabbage celebration yesterday.
There were only 11 here.
That means there are plenty of leftovers.
There's still a whole brisket and two loaves of Irish soda bread, not to mention cabbage, colcannon, et al.
We already have the dark rye and sauerkraut for Reubens.
I know what we're having for dinner tonight.

Maybe Suldog can explain this?

"Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists of not exceeding the limit."

. . .Elbert Hubbard

Cuz sent it

Things that inspire blog posts

I'm still ruminating on others' blogs.
Back to Sarge's post from Thursday.
He mentioned something about a 9/80 work schedule.
Then he explained what it is.

That brought to mind a work schedule I had at one time.
It would be about the time I realized part-time work and college weren't working for me.
My rent was eating up most of my paycheck, leaving little for food and recreation. . .  and my work schedule was not very flexible.
I worked nights mostly.

I ended up dropping out of school because I didn't want to flunk out [didn't occur to me to take fewer classes].
Then I started working full time.
. . .for a salary.
I was management.
Management worked nine hour shifts.
. . .six days a week.
I think the idea was that if we only had one day off we wouldn't have to be retrained.

The math I learned from my baseball cards [I think?] teaches me that was a 9/108 work schedule.
I'd like to say it kept me out of trouble.
Unfortunately, it meant I did all the stuff everyone else did in their free time   . . .except sleep.

Folks today ask me why I have so many clothes.
It's a carryover from those days.
I had enough so I only had to do laundry once a month.
I hated wasting a day doing laundry. . .   even if it was Monday.
I didn't wash my car, either.

I had two roommates.
(well, I had more than that but only two at a time)
I never saw them, but knew they were around because they always ate the food I brought home from work. . .   and I could hear them snoring [yep that's as much as I'm gonna say] when I got home.

Eventually there was a change to the work schedule.
We switched to a five day work week.
That would've been really sweet except for the involvement of the federal government.
The switch took place at the time of the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 (aka - Wage Price Freeze).
In essence we were told that changing to a five day work week from a six day week amounted to a pay raise, which under the act was not allowed.
So we would have to work a ten hour day, but we could have the extra four hours off each week. . .   WTF!!!

it was nice to get Tuesdays off

Update:

Then there's today's

 The first thing that came to mind was the US Congress.

Normal Friday

Wherein we don't rant, complain, or brag.

Yesterday I mentioned Suldog's post about his fantasy baseball team.
You really should read that post because it really isn't about baseball so much as it's about imagination.

Did I say this wasn't about a brag?
That isn't true.
Lemme tell ya about my brother in law.
He teaches*.
For a long time he taught sixth grade at a school in a economically challenged area where there were a lot of transient families.
Some of the kids wouldn't even be in a class for a full year because they moved a lot.
Most of those kids learning levels were not at the sixth grade level when they'd come into his class.
George is a huge baseball SF Giants fan (so's my sister, but that's not part of this story).
Most of those kids were fans, too.
He used baseball stats to teach them math skills.
Then he managed to find a way to reward them by going to a game.
(That's got to be another story I haven't heard.
He teaches in Fresno, which is not quite 200 miles from San Francisco)

gratuitous photo of my grandson playing center field

*oh, and reads my blog, too 

Two things

It's a good thing I don't depend on this blog for validation.
The Sarge was curious about what draws folks to read a blog post.
He posted a screen shot of the statics graph for this week.

I kinda like his caption.
It explains how much us bloggers understand our viewers.
BTW - his stats look pretty good.

Here's my graph.

It looks pretty good until you look at the actual numbers.
(the high point represents 55)
What's even more frustrating is the realization that the Sarge is the number two source of traffic. . .    and that's for an entire week.

As I said, I don't particularly depend on the blog's stats to make my day [good thing, huh?].

The other thing. . .
Suldog wrote a post about the '60s.
If I'd written the same post, it would've been about the early '50s (also it could have included the entirety of Major League Baseball because all we had here was the old Pacific Coast League).
But I digress.
His post was about baseball cards and even more about kid's imaginations.
Why I bring this up is because he mentions that his mother eventually threw his baseball cards away.
My mother did the same thing.
At the time we really didn't know what we had in that collection, which was started in 1951 and continued to about 1956. . .   there were several shoeboxes full.
Suldog writes about how baseball cards make a kid a math whiz.
Mine coulda made me rich.
There were two Mickey Mantle rookie cards in that collection.

then there's the electric train she gave away

So last night we had fish & chips for dinner.
It was the homemade variety.
We don't have a decent fish shop in the vicinity.
It wasn't the typical March 17 fare, but, don't fret.
The Senior Center served corned beef and cabbage for lunch yesterday.
I actually had lunch there on purpose, not as an afterthought.
Routinely the only time I eat there is if I happen to be there when lunch is served and they have any extra meals  . . .even then only if it appeals to me.

The meal was good.

However, I am looking forward to this Saturday.
That's when the guests arrive for the feast here.
Unlike the meal at the Senior Center, guests will be able to have seconds.
I've already begun laying in the supplies.

If I think about it, I will take some pictures.

Meanwhile here's a shot of a pair of leprechauns.

Big Brother and Li'l Teeny

Their mother sent it yesterday.

wasn't bad for institutional food

It's a requirement

But before I fulfill it I want to mention that four years ago today there'd been enough rainfall that Redding had closed the river trail because of flooding.
This year we've had less than a half inch in March and only about four and a half since the beginning of the year (none in January).

Now to fulfill the requirement.
No, not corned beef and cabbage.
That's this weekend.
There's a place in the back lawn where, evidently, someone's pet shamrock escaped and had its way with someone else's pet shamrock.
I mean they're everywhere.

At least they're green

Monday update

If it isn't spring, it's pretty darn close.

The neighbor behind me has a Wisteria that spends more time in his next door neighbor's yard and my yard   . . .and on the utility pole   . . .than it does in his yard.
The cat is like that, too!

Though, I am pretty sure Sebastian goes into neither of their yards because they have dogs.

no drama is a good thing

Spaghetti

 I did it again. . .
. . .posted the title before I wrote the post.

Now I have to tie everything together. . .
. . .or risque posting a non sequitur*.



I could have titled the post Yesterday and told all y'all that PHG and I went to the Home and Garden Show at the Civic Auditorium in Redding.
Curiosity is what takes me there.
It gives me ideas for improvements.

That, and my neighbor has determined the fence between our yards should be replaced because the last windstorm, which I missed because I was in Maui, just about tore it down.
It is braced and re-braced in numerous places along it's 50 feet.
It is also well over 22 years old.
There were a couple of fence contractors there.
I know one of them.

I have to find a way to keep the oak leaves and acorns from clogging the gutters.
The current system we have is only mildly successful. . .   meaning there are better ways.
There were a couple of those folks there, also, and I have another friend who works as a handyman who has mad a recommendation about what type of protection works best.
He knows because he's had to deal with them all.
He must be a pretty good handyman, too, because he has a waiting list.

Then there's the carpets that have to be cleaned.
Until about three years ago we had them cleaned at least annually [can you see where this is going?].
PHG has a friend (from grade school) who just happens to clean carpets.

We also saw the guy who carves bears from tree trunks [Sarge knows] with a chain saw.
They'd look almost as good as Buck's flamingos. 
That was as we were departing the premises.

It almost rained, too.
It may almost rain today, also.

We then stopped at the Methodist Church on East Street for dinner.
The Shasta Cascade Chapter of The National Federation of the Blind was serving spaghetti as a fundraising event.
It was co-sponsored by several Lions Clubs and I just happened to have a couple of tickets.
The food was good and we enjoyed ourselves.

*phew

Hey, kids. . .

What time is it?

WebNuggetz.com

Gimme some pi

every hundred years

Huh?

So I noticed a message when I logged in yesterday morning.

It took me here.

Well, that's the short version.
Basically it reminded me of this post by Craig, which is by no means, IMHO, in any way porn.

Anyway. . .   they Boggler were just announcing that they Blooger were reassessing their options.


NO!

. . .not hoping it would be easier to locate porn

About time

It seemed like it threatened rain all day yesterday.
There was some dampness.
But it was mostly like dew, not precipitation.

Then, while I was out, some time between 7pm and 8pm, the clouds finally let loose.
It doesn't seem like it, but this year has had more rainfall than last.
That's not saying a lot.

That said, my li'l rain gauge recorded .18 inch.

the cat isn't happy 

About today's post

Substitute PROCRASTINATION . . .

. . .and it is just about nailed.

Skip, the wind chill factor

Sorry. . .
I couldn't resist.

Once upon a time So there I was*
. . .someone had decided I had management written all over my resume.
I had been placed in a position of authority.
Almost immediately my co-workers started bombarding me with brilliant ideas for changes in operation that would mostly benefit them.

My employer, who was also my immediate supervisor, made it known that he did not wish to be bothered with these ideas.
Nor did he want me to entertain the idea of implementing any of them.

So there.
We've taken another's blog post and made a mockery of it.
. . .and given a whole new meaning to wind chill.

words are fun

*A Fairy Tale begins with "Once upon a time" and a War Story begins with "So, there I was"

Bonus:

credit - http://rumbear.blogspot.com/

Annual rant about useless things

AKA - Monday

No. . .   don't get me wrong.
Monday's aren't useless.
Whatever you call them, they're still the first day of the week   . . .unless you start your week on Sunday [like most calendars].

What I mean here is the annual Let's Fuss With the Clocks circus.
Who needs it?
Hawaiians and Arizonans (except for the Navajo) manage just fine without it.
I would like to know just how much time is wasted annually in conversation about Daylight Saving Time.
BTW- here's something I saw yesterday.
(It was wrong, incidentally.
I already knew about half that stuff)

So if you've read this far, go over here and read something really intelligent with which I am in complete agreement.
(I have some other thoughts, too, that popped into my head after reading and commenting.)

Finally, also regarding yesterday, there was the word of the day.

Really?
Does anyone. . .   besides poets [and Sylvester Cat]. . .   say thither?

the Navajo have a good reason 

Finally

That last vacation post.
We almost made this drag on for a month.
(Oh, we did.
That's right the vacation started on the 3rd.)

So, there we were*, wondering what to do on the last day in Maui.
When one is in South Maui that isn't difficult to determine.
It's where all of the best beaches are.
We had yet to do an actual beach day on purpose.
The best beach is only a few miles from our hotel resort.
Everyone calls it Big Beach.
It's big.




It did rain . . .but not much.
I took some still shots, too [and some more videos, but I won't bore you with them].

There was an interesting looking forest behind where we sat.

Then I noticed an interesting vine with a pink flower.

click on this image to embiggen

It turns out there were lots of pink flowers.

But you'll have to embiggen this to see them

The last night we had dinner at

It was raining like a [metaphor].
You have to have been to Joe's to understand just what that entails.
Let's just say I got a little wet.
Dinner was worth it.

Yes, that's meatloaf and I would go back.
I even ate the mashed potatoes.

Since this is the last Maui post I have to include two pics from the day we departed.

The last breakfast from the buffet

A bunch of planes loading up to leave Maui

yep, it was raining

*What’s the difference between a fairy tale and a sea story? A fairy tale starts with “Once upon a time” and a sea story starts with “So there I was”.
(that previous line paraphrases another blogger's tagline)
AKA - SJC(mod 1)

Just about a month ago

I was complaining about using my South Korean tablet for posting to the blog.
Now the issue is finding time to post to the blog.
Actually, I have the time.
I just have a whole lot of other things keeping me busy.
I kinda like that.

Maybe tomorrow I will get that final day on Maui posted.
Trust me.
You aren't missing much.

Meanwhile I have a memorial service to get ready for.

...and two more in the next week

I lied. . .

I do have a post today.

if only

I didn't forget to post today.
I ran out of time.
I may not have a post here tomorrow, either.

I do still have one more day from the Maui trip.
Are you tired of it yet?

love rebelling

Who's up for a little adventure?

So, there I was. . .
We had two days left before returning to reality.
We had decided to forgo the Road to Hana, a 130 mile round trip.
But we needed something to do.

The decision was made to look for big surf again.

The first trick was to find the right turnoff from the main road.
When I asked for directions the locals looked at out car with some skepticism.
When we found the road I understood why.
Even dirt bikes were taking it slow and easy.

screen capture

This was where Google stopped

It didn't occur to take any pictures of the road because I was too busy directing our vehicle away from the worst of the potholes and ruts.
There was no thought of trying to turn around.
It was a real adventure meeting a vehicle coming from the other direction.
When we got to the end of the road there were a few vehicles   . . .all four-wheel drive   . . .parked at the edge of the cliff.
There was a narrow trail down to the water about 1/3 mile long.
We decided to forgo the climb.
From our perch the surf appeared fairly mild.



Then we turned around, drove back to our hotel, and lay by the swimming pool.

That evening we had dinner at a nice restaurant in Kihei with my brother, sister-in-law and her sister.
The fun part of that was posting pictures of the food to F/B [will refrain from posting them here].

Bonus post

from my sister-in-law in Maui

Where now?

The afternoon we went to the vodka distillery we'd been served some chocolates from a nearby farm.
That had spiked our curiosity.
So, after leaving the swap meet, we took the road past the Sugar Mill, up the hill, about 1/4 mile past the distillery to. . .

It was there we took a tour, learning the process of cheese making, and sampled some of their cheeses.
We met some of the staff, too. . .

This was the closest thing to a "surfing goat" we observed.

credit: PHG from her iPhone

The cheese was good.
The goats were friendly.
The staff [human type] was knowledgeable and helpful.

can't say much for some of the other visitors

The Maui Swap Meet

Saturday morning we drove to the UofH Maui campus to meet up with my brother, sister-in-law, and her sister.
We had no idea what we'd find.

The day had started out clear and Sunny.
We had a terrific view of Kahoolawe and Molokini, with all of the earlybird snorkelers.

We were headed in the opposite direction, to Kahului.
I had a pretty good idea where we needed to go.

 

screen capture

Google is my friend.

Other than the ducks in the first image and the last two shot, the only other image from the Maui Swap Meet is another screen capture.

If memory serves, it is the only swap meet I have ever attended.
It may be the last.
There was literally "anything" available and it was the perfect place to purchase  novelty souvenirs.
Furthermore, more items than not were made locally.
We found a number of things for which we were looking.

And a gratuitous shot of a small mountain.

wait, there's more