I may have figured it out

Well, I have a theory anyway.
There's not been much, beyond just words, posted here for some time.
The best stuff was when MB wrote a guest post.
I know this because of the spike in Pageviews for the days her posts are on the blog.

My theory has much to do with the Muse that inspires, or doesn't inspire, my posts.
The Muse is around here somewhere.
It's just that we don't keep the same schedule any more.
The Muse still has the same routine we kept in Anderson going back before there was even a blog.
I'm not doing much of anything the same as then, other than I still get up relatively early and stay up until my eyes tell me it's bedtime.
Consequently our paths may cross at such a time that isn't conducive to writing a post.
That wouldn't be so awful if I could remember what it was the Muse tossed my way.
Then again, maybe that's not such a bad thing?

exploring options

Remember that post last week?

Sometimes I remember that there's a story.

Once upon a time* I was in college.
Where and when [over 50 years ago] is not important, that I had roommates is.
Actually we were housemates, renting a three bedroom home.

it's been upgraded since we lived there

We were all (there were three of us) serious about school, though there was an occasional party.

But I digress, this is about remembering something inspired by a post last week.
Each of us was planning to transfer from the local community college to a four-year school.
Thus, it was necessary to take certain, required, transferable classes, including sciences courses.
Most chose Biology.
I didn't [but that's not important].

This is how the story was related to me:

Teachers sometimes actually try to keep the interest of the students by asking a rhetorical question. In this case it was in the lab, rather than at lecture, "Does anyone know which animal is most dangerous to man?"
The lecturer then went on to discuss various situations where humans are imperiled.
After about five minutes there was a brief lull.
Out of the back of the class came a voice.
"Goats!"
You could've heard a pin drop.
"Goats are the most dangerous animal to man.

Class ended early that day.

*SJC

That was quick

The weekend, I mean.
I know it was a weekend because MB was home in the daytime instead of working at work.
She was still working , just a change-up from the usual.
Saturday was ideal (76°F) for yard work, weatherwise.

Speaking of Saturday . . .    we were invited to attend the Sacramento River Cats game.
One of the highlights of the game was seeing Madison Bumgarner pitch for the first time this baseball season [actually, it was the first time I have ever seen him pitch, in person].
Another highlight was an inside the park home run by the shortstop, Orlando Calixte.
Finally, there was a fireworks display afterward.



Saturday was followed by Sunday and Monday, which was a holiday [kinda highlighted in a couple of previous posts].
There wasn't much to get excited about other than an afternoon at the neighbor's, where most of the neighbors gathered for a potluck because Monday was too warm (95°F) for yard work.

maybe it's summer

Remembering once more

From the usual source.

My father

I'm sorry we never knew each other.

Once more*

Again this year I find myself a little miffed.
It has everything to do with the upcoming holiday, Memorial Day.

First off, I don't believe it should be a perennial Monday holiday.
It was not established as such.

But what really torques the skivvies is how folks have lost sight of what the day is all about.
We remember those who made the greatest sacrifice for their country.
It isn't about those who've served.
Their day is in November [kinda gets overshadowed by Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas].
It isn't about those who are currently serving, either.
Their day is the third Saturday in May.
They don't get a holiday.

Some folks kinda get it . . .  the Memorial Day, I mean.
They go visit cemeteries and honor those who've passed.
But Memorial Day was originally dedicated as Decoration Day, to honor those who died in the Civil War or, if you prefer, the War Between the States.

So take a moment some time during the day and contemplate what it's really about.


*I'm pretty sure I have done this before

Yeah . . . like this

stolen from xkcd

this is the subtext from the above message

Really?

No cat today!!!

too much nanny state somewhere

Ten years ago today

Curiosity got the better of me yesterday.
I went back to see what I was posting ten years ago.

Nothing!

I didn't start this until late June 2008.

So . . .    I moved up a year to 2009.
Nine years ago today it was a picture of goats.
It reminds me of a story.

It was sent by my friend, Cecil [the picture, not the story].

It's interesting to go look in the archives and see what's still there.
I will relate the story another time (POCIR).

some things expire

That's scary

Once again I was perusing the stats pages for the blog.
I notice the three most popular posts, so far, this month are on Fridays.
I will save you the trouble of looking by telling you that they are all cat posts and they require the least amount of imagination on my part.

Also, I noticed someone is looking a past posts on a regular basis.
They are random looks, so I am presuming the viewer found through a search engine.

So . . .

This just in:
 from over here
11:03am

It is with great amazement that I find a post from five years ago being viewed several times today.
I won't bore you with the details.
What's even more amazing is the site referring the most Pageviews is Cranky's [the UK version, not the US version . . .   wtf?].
I had to check it out.
Now I know there was a wedding in England.

what we learn from the interwebs, eh?

Late, late, late . . . a Monday update

When we were last here MB and I were preparing [by resting] to head off to a Lions celebration dinner.
It was the chartering of a brand new club, the Sacramento Nepalese Lions Club.
I think it is the first time I have attended any Lions event on a Sunday evening.

It was a long Sunday evening for some.
Part of the reason for that is it was bilingual.
Also there was a social hour that lasted an entire hour.
There were two ceremonies, an induction ceremony for the new Lions and an installation ceremony for the new club officers.

The Master of Ceremonies did his utmost to keep things moving.
He started on time, but the program he was given didn't match up with the updates for the evening   . . . and then there was that bilingual thing [made really interesting by the fact that the translator had a heavy, hard to understand accent].

Then there were the speeches . . .    lots of speeches.
Nobody was running for office, but it seemed like there were a lot of folks with something to say.
I remember one thing I heard:

NEPAL = Never Ending Peace and Love

Dinner was traditional Nepalese cuisine.
It was good   . . . kinda like mild chili and fried food.
There was chicken, cheese, cauliflower, and some kind of breaded leaf.

Then there were more speeches . . .
. . .   followed by entertainment.

I took no pictures, but someone was kind enough to post some to f/b.

the new members and some guests

some other guests with the new Club President (on the right)

(We probably could've all stood further apart if we'd known there was that much room in the picture)

Probably the best part of the entire thing is that it only took about twenty minutes traveling each direction.
If you have driven Hwy 99 and the Cap City Freeway (Bus. 80), you will understand what I am talking about.

can suit be put back in mothballs

Weekends (weak ends)

Friday night - nuthin'

Really, we sat around reading.

Saturday - woke up with a back ache

So I sat in the recliner, reading. MB did pretty much the same. The grandkids came over while the parents went to a graduation celebration. We at In-n-out for dinner [extra fries]. Watched The Gnome-mobile.

Sunday - not much different, but the action is yet to come

Went to church early. Packed up some stuff from MB's office and brought it home. Found the recliner again to read some more. MB is doing the same. We are reserving energy for a dinner we are attending tonight. It's the chartering of a new Lions Club in Sacramento. MB's club is the sponsor.

I hesitate to report any more about the event this evening, because most of it would be pure speculation.

interesting times

Thank you!

For those on active duty.

and the reserves

Friday cat

So I found out

The other day I posed the following question:

what’s an Amgen?

Yeah, just like that.
So you may have missed it.
The short answer is "Amgen Inc. is an American multinational biopharmaceutical company . . ."*

The reason I asked is they're sponsoring some touring event that will close or, otherwise, impede several major streets in our town from 8am to 5pm tomorrow.
In doing some research I found that it is a "Tour de France-style cycling road races . . ." [their words from their website].
I found little information about what benefits come to the communities that host the events.

I just got an email, "We Remove Giant Moles"
I wonder if they can handle gophers, too?

I'm Sure Happy It's Thursday so all I have to do is find a cat shot for tomorrow.

wonder what Simon 

and Sebastian are up to

*Wikipedia

If . . .

. . . things continue as they have over the past two weeks, this blog may not even get 1000 pageviews this month.

I find it ironic that pageviews is a word used by Blooger, but as soon as I use it they want me to correct it.

The muse is  around here   . . . somewhere.

not gonna chase it

Remoting in again

Not because I’m away or anything, but because the PC is in the other room and I am comfortably ensconced in my recliner.

I visited Costco yesterday.
I went early . . .   like when they opened.
It didn’t make much difference, most of the clientele were all about forgetting there are others who need to shop, too.
On the other hand, the workers hadn’t been abused yet, so we’re in a better mood.
Later, at TJ’s*, it was more of the same with a snootier clientele.
The help at TJ’s is always pretty upbeat.

what’s an Amgen? 

*Trader Joe’s

I forgot to mention

Friday's cat, Simon, lives in Milwaukee.

. . . and I purposely left out the irritants the disturbed me during the five different flight segments during the trip.

Mondays are for complaining

Closing out the trip

We all went for dinner on the last night (Monday).

patio dining

Then on Tuesday we flew home.

Lake Michigan in the background

For the most part the three segments were uneventful, though there was no food service on even the longest.

don't particularly enjoy flying

Oh . . . why we went to Milwaukee

Family, of course.
We were officially there for Confirmation.

Really quite a delightful bunch.
Then there's the action before and after the official shot.

Yeah, there's one in every group.

usually the youngest

Friday cat

This is Simon.
He's a fixture.

. . . and vocal, too

As promised

Pictures:

I also mentioned the Harley Museum.
We had lunch there, too [sorry, no pics].

We did some other sightseeing, too . . .   and visited other family members.

Lake Michigan

Historic North Point Water Tower

didn't go to take pictures

I'm late

So this'll be quick.

We went out for lunch last Thursday.
They wrap the napkin and silverware.

We'd arrived in Milwaukee late.
I think I already mentioned the drive in the rainstorm.
Thursday was a kick back day.
There was pizza for dinner . . .   working families, ya know [four of six full time].

more pics tomorrow

Still no pics . . . a Monday update

I would text them to you, but that would mean we’d have to exchange phone numbers.
Maybe I will be able to do something about that on Wednesday?
Tomorrow is a three flight day, all westbound.

Quickly now

A brief recap . . .
Wednesday: flight delayed at SMF, no worries, long layover at Sea-Tac.
Flight also delayed at Sea-Tac, concerned car rental agent will be closed when we arrive.
Arrive andMilwaukee is under siege from Ma Nature, rental open an also under siege all day, their computers down all morning, two flights diverted to Milwaukee caused overbooking, agent upgrades us and gives free tank of fuel, we finally figure out how wipers and headlights work and are on the road,
Thursday: lunch and pick the girls up from school, pizza dinner.
Friday: visited Harley-Davison Museum, really good lunch at museum restaurant, added to magnet collection from gift shop, grilled dinner.
Saturday: soccer game, visit with BiL in Whitefish Bay.
Today we’re going to granddaughter’s Confirmation.

There are a couple of pictures stranded on the smartphone that won’t migrate to the iPad.
At least I can bore y’all with the words.

Soccer Saturday

That’s it!
Sports are like that.

Friday cat

May the fourth be with you!

We’re here

. . . Otherwise I have nuthin’

Today it's pilots

We're off again.
This time the only driving is to the airport.
Posts may be limited, except for the usual Friday cat.

Did I say Pirates?

Someone may have misread the memo.

or not