MOTH BALLS

This article took me back to my youth. I think one of the 'smells' from my childhood, is one that my kids have never smelled.

Moth Balls.

What are moth balls? They about the size of plump grapes and white. They look like a little ball of sugar or salt. The purpose of moth balls are to kill the larvae of moths. When the moths' eggs hatch, they are ravenous and begin eating anything and everything for those few days after hatching. They particularly love wool clothing.

In years long ago, when wool clothing was put away in storage, people would put moth balls in among the clothing. Apparently the smell kills the larvae. You know it didn't do any good, when you open up the closet when you wish to put the clothing on, and there are little holes in the clothes, like Swiss cheese.

Unfortunately, the smell that kills the larvae also seems to cling to the clothing so when the person puts the clothes on...the smell of the moth balls stays with them.

I can't say I've smelled 'that smell' for quite some time. I don't know if my kids have 'ever' smelled it. But if someone walked into the room wearing clothing that'd been stored in moth balls...I'd know it in a second.

It's something you don't forget...and it'll catch your attention.


Dan

GREAT UNCLE

I'm a great uncle!

Again !

I don't mean that I'm a wonderful, sweet, adorable uncle...although most of that is true!

This time it means in the lineage of the family. Being the baby of 6 kids...plus being in my 50's...it only seems right that there's some kids along the way. For me...there's been lots of kids along the way.

After getting pen and paper and plotting all this out, here's what I came up with:
-I'm an UNCLE...10 times
-I'm a GREAT UNCLE...19 times (including yesterday when my 19th was born...Rachel Kensley Watkins)
-I'm a GREAT-GREAT UNCLE...8 times.

The uncle business is 'done'. The great uncle business is 'still in business'. I have a feeling the great great uncle business...is 'about to boom' !

I'm a lucky guy.


Dan

THE LAST OF BONANZA

For those of us old enough to remember watching the TV show 'Bonanza', the last member of the Cartwright family has died.

The oldest son Adam, (played by Pernell Roberts), the first character to leave the show, has been the lone surviving member of the cast for almost 20 years.

Back in the early days of TV and early days of 'color' programs, many of us remember watching the widowed father 'Pa' and his three sons, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe...working out on the ranch and solving their and their neighbor ranchers problems every Sunday night.

Interesting that Roberts left the show because he said it just didn't seem right for a father and his three grown men 'sons' to be living together, and for the sons to not have any decision making power without running it by 'pa'...first.

Even with those faults, it was a good show with a good message. They don't make 'em like that anymore.


Dan

PLAY...THEN EAT

This seems like a real logical idea. A few pilot schools have tested the validity of having kids go to recess, then come in to lunch, then back to class.

They've found kids come back from recess HUNGRY, eating a better lunch and drinking more liquids and settled down and ready to get back to work in class when done that way.

When lunch is first, kids are excited to get outside so they eat lunch in a matter of minutes (if at all) and then they're wired when they come inside for class and have to have a 'settle down' time, which takes away from teaching time.

This seems so logical, I wonder why it isn't the standard? I'm going to email my grandson's teacher to see if they've investigated this method.


Dan

THOSE DARN GIRL SCOUTS

Well it's Girl Scout cookie time. Have any of you been asked, at work or church, if you wanted to buy any cookies? Oh...not by the Girl Scout...but by the parent. The scouts don't seem to sell them anymore. The parent does the work for them, to help them get into the 'bonus' club by selling 100 boxes...or whatever.

Recently, grandson Mason and granddaughter Anna, had a 'fund drive' for their elementary school. Well of course we had to buy some 'cookie dough' to help them. But not once did Mason go next door to the neighbors to see if 'they' wanted some. I...like the good grandfather...took the form to work to see if anyone wanted cookie dough. Except this year, I prefaced my sales pitch to my co-workers with, "If you have been looking for some of those tubs of cookie dough to keep in your fridge for those last minute homemade cookies you'd like to make...come see me. If you don't really want any, pay no attention to this request."

When our girls were younger, it seemed every other year or so, they were having a 'major' fund drive. "And if your child sells $XX worth of CRAP, their name will be entered into a drawing to win some small plastic doo-dad." Cindy & I got to the point we were tired of either buying the CRAP ourselves AND asking our friends to buy it, we just said, "How much money do you want?...we'll just write you a check."

This Atlanta article is about how we seem to be getting away from the 'kids' doing the work. Mom & dad (or grandma & grampa) will pass it around their friends and co-workers (because that's what they do to us when it's 'their' kids or grandkids turn).

We (I) am guilty of forgetting an important art form.....'work'.


Dan

COMMON SENSE...TO WHO?

Smokers with cancer should quit smoking.

Overweight people who want to lose weight should start eating less.

Complainers of cold weather should not live where there is cold weather.

* * * * *

For most of us...those seem like common sense statements. But to people who might fall into those categories, it isn't that easy. For those who have smoked all their life, it is so much of their life, their psyche, their habit...it just isn't that simple.

This article states there is reason to believe that those diagnosed with lung cancer, have a better chance to survive...longer, if they stop their smoking.

As someone in the medical profession, daily, I perform tests on patients who I can smell the smoke on their clothing...patients who are coming to see us for testing to diagnose their cancer. "Is it spread elsewhere in the body? How bad is it? I want to know...but don't ask me to stop smoking."

For me, it's only common sense that they should stop. But they don't, and likely won't.

I want my family members who smoke...to stop. But they likely won't. They don't have cancer, and hopefully they won't be diagnosed with it, but I believe they will be healthier if they do. But they enjoy smoking...so they won't.

I don't press the issue. I have my own problems that I haven't solved yet. And if I don't want them on 'my back' to tell me what to do...and how I should solve my problems...I'll stay off theirs.


Dan

THE REAL SERPICO

One of my favorite movies from the '70s was "Serpico" starring a young Al Pacino.

Frank Serpico was a NYC police officer and later detective. The movie tells of his 'different' style of police work and his frustration with the system. It seemed that police officers were taking bribes and he was expected to do so as well. He chose not to and drew the wrath of the other officers, nearly at the cost of his own life.

At the end of the movie, he was reporting to a commission of the problems and challenges and it closes stating that he had gone to live in Switzerland...out of his frustration with the system and his own safety.

If you haven't seen the movie...it's good to watch.

Anyway...here's a follow up on 'the real Serpico'.


Dan

ONE...HUNDRED...MILLION !!!

One...hundred...million...dollars.

$100,000,000.00

How much money Haiti needs? Probably, but no.
How much money the US government spends in a day? Probably, but no.

According to this article, it's how much money the San Francisco Giants will pay their 25 baseball players... next year. One hundred million dollars! To play baseball! From April until October! Whether they have a good season, or a bad one...one hundred million dollars!

Oh, that's not even the 'tip of the tip' of the iceberg.

There are 29 more professional baseball teams. Do they all get $100,000,000? No...some get MORE! The NY Yankee players are paid over $200,000,000. Of the top 10 highest paid baseball players today, the Yankees have 5 of them. Alex Rodriguez makes $26 million a year alone.

And who pays for those salaries? WE DO, I guess...directly or indirectly. The average price of a ticket to a Yankee game is $73.

The Fan Cost Index (FCI) is a formula used to estimate how much it would cost a family of 4, to attend a sporting event. Here's what goes into that formula: the cost of 4 average price tickets, parking, 2 beers, 4 small soft drinks, 4 hot dogs, 2 programs and 2 baseball caps. For the Yankees, the FCI is over $600. That's for 1 game, for 1 family of 4. The Yankees play 81 games a season in Yankee Stadium.

That's just baseball. There's also professional football and professional basketball.

There are 30 NBA (basketball) teams. There are 15 players on a team. The Dallas Maverick's payroll for their 15 players is $97.5 million. Kevin Garnett, of the Boston Celtics, makes $24.75 million a year...to play 82 games of basketball. The LA Lakers average ticket price is $90. Their FCI is $654.

There are 32 NFL (football) teams, with 53 players on a team. The Washington Redskins pay their players $123 million per season...to play 16 games. The FCI for that family of 4 to attend a Dallas Cowboy game is $759.

My calculator wasn't able to count high enough to add the money to pay for 30 baseball, 30 basketball and 32 football teams. Needless to say...it is in the many BILLIONS of dollars.

The President of the United States makes $400,000 a year...and I DON'T want his job!
A family doctor makes $161,000.
A school teacher makes $40,000.
A nurse with experience makes $35,000.

One...hundred...million...dollars.

That would pay for a lot of school teachers.

My grandkids need school teachers a heck of a lot more than they need to watch a guy swing at a baseball.


Dan

I WISH...

The author of this article realized she could do the 'modern' day things...like programming her iPod, or running the remote on her TV and DVD player...but she couldn't sew a button on a blouse.

It made me think of my own life...what I know I can't do...but wish I could.

Reasonably often, I need to do something around the house...that I have no idea 'how' to do it. It's at those times that I frequently...think of my dad...and I regret not taking the time to ask him to teach me 'how he did that'.

Dad was so good at most all things. Any plumbing issue could be fixed by him. He knew plants and flowers and vegetables, always having a 'good' and 'beautiful' garden. He could sharpen mower blades. He could replace broken glass in windows and doors. Patch leaky basketballs. Fix the best peach cobbler and Swiss steak. He knew 'home remedies' for earaches and bellyaches. He used iodine and methiolate on scratches and cuts. He could patch a roof. If he didn't know it...he could 'reason' it out and come up with the answer for the fix. He had muscles solid as rocks...hands of a hard working man...patience of Job...and a heart of gold.

Dads' generation was from the depression. There was little money to go around...so if something broke...he fixed it, or we just went without it. Only if it was something we 'had' to have for our daily survival, did he replace it. Even then, it was always replaced by something 'used' that he was able to get from someone else. I can't think of 'ever' having anything 'NEW' at our house. Dad was a firm believer that you never bought anything until you had the money in hand to do so. There 'were' no credit cards. Your 'word' was your credit...and it was very valuable to dad. He kept his word...at all cost. If he did have to use 'his credit'...he worked 'harder' than he already worked, to pay back the credit as quickly as he could.

My generation is different. I make more money in one year than dad probably made in 10. If something's broke...I buy a new one. If I don't have the money...I whip out the credit card. If I can't fix something, I try to think of who to call to come fix it. Many, many times...I regret not taking the time to ask dad..."how'd you do that?"

How is my children's generation? I see them...more like me, and the author of the above article...than my dad.

When my wife is making her 'best in the world' pie crust, I think of my girls who, to my knowledge, have never asked her how she makes it. When Cindy is making her 'best in the world' cookies, I think how much my kids and grandkids are going to miss them when she's not there to make them anymore. Their comments are going to be..."dad always said how good moms' pie crust and cookies were...and he was right. I wish I had asked her how she did it."

Sound familiar? Were there some things you remember of your parents, or grandparents, that you'd give anything to have them here one more time...to show you how they did that?

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and think of someone, who is still with us, who can do something well...that you wish you knew how to do. Make it a point to find out how...before it's too late...and you have to read about it in a book.

Guaranteed...if you have to read it from a book...it won't be as good as you remember.


Dan

BROTHERS

I am one of 4 sons of my parents...the youngest. My oldest brother is Durward.

Today is Durwards' 77th birthday.

Unfortunately...Durward died almost 40 years ago.

I was 16 years old...a sophomore in high school.

He was an executive with Gulf Oil Company, a young rising star...working full time during the day and attending night school to get his law degree. One night, on his way home, an object in the road either ran under the car causing it to lose control, or else Durward swerved the car at the last second to dodge the object, and lost control...

He was 37 years young...and left a wife and 3 young children.

If you do the math...Durward was 21 years old when I was born. He had graduated high school, and was serving in the Navy during the Korean War...before I was born. Before I was old enough to have memories of him...he was married with 3 kids. By the time I was mature enough to have a conversation of any significance with him...he had moved through the Gulf organization, from Ohio-to Texas-to Georgia. And there would have been more, but...

I wish I had had some time to share with my brother...to tell him of my problems...my dreams...to get advice from him. He had already 'been'...where I was just beginning to 'go'. I would have liked to have him as a mentor.

Some years ago...I had a dream in which I walked up to the house where I grew up. I was a grown man in the dream. In the window of the house, I saw my dad and Durward. He was still the age that I recall last seeing him.

We grabbed each other and hugged...and hugged. Two grown men...enjoying the moment. I kept repeating..."my man"..."my man".

It was a great dream. It'll have to do...for now.


Dan

GIFT CARDS

I'm not a big fan of gift cards for the holidays or birthdays. It goes back to my 'tight wad' ways (see prior blogs re: 'tightwad', if necessary). I've heard that many of them go unused...so the giver basically threw away their money. I'm not in favor of doing that.

This article supports those comments I've heard. They are apparently pushing a few new alternatives available for the use of the gift cards. You can cash them in or exchange them for others. But still, no guarantee they'll get used.

The article says that the purchase of gift cards is an $87 billion a year business. It supports my theory by saying that 10% or more of them never get used. That amounts to about $9 billion a year in unspent gift cards. Let me write it this way...$9,000,000,000.

One might ask...why aren't the cards being used? I have three theories.
1) Some of the cards are likely lost or misplaced. Maybe they'll be found someday, maybe not. If they are, it might be after an expiration date and of no value.
2) Some might be from the recipients choice. Maybe they don't like the 'store' the card is from...never been there...don't have one in the town I live...been there, don't like it, ain't goin' back.
3) Some might be because the 'receiver' of the card...does not like the 'giver' of the card...so by not using it, they feel like they are 'stickin it to em'. "Let 'em waste their money...I don't care!"

The businesses aren't the losers in this game...we are. They love it. They have the money in their cash register. If we never redeem the card...the business got money for no service rendered. Woohoo! That's the reason they have the cards at every checkout. Just like putting candy at the checkout lanes of grocery stores, they love those last second buyers who might plop down $10 for a gift card for someone they forgot to get a real gift...and then the store wins because the receiver of the card doesn't use it. What a great SCAM!

Whatever the reason the cards aren't used...there's a lot of money being thrown away each year.

I'd just as soon give real money as a gift. I'm pretty sure that won't go unused!


Dan

USS MISSOURI

The battleship USS Missouri is open for visitors.

In July 1983, Cindy & I and two daughters flew to Seattle, Washington to spend a week with good friends Don & Susan. The girls were little...Jaime turned 5 while we were there...Julie was 18 months. I doubt they remember much, if any, of the trip. Cindy & I do.

Don & Susan were great friends from Indiana who 'up and moved' on us when an opportunity came up for Don that he couldn't refuse. They asked us to come visit one summer and we took them up on it. They were great hosts and we had a fun time. Among other things, we went up on Mt. Rainier where we had a snowball fight on the 4th of July. We went to the zoo, rode a ferry across Puget Sound...and visited the battleship USS Missouri.

For those of you who think...woopee, a battleship...let me tell you a little about the Missouri.

It was one of six (only 4 were completed) battleships that was designed to provide fast escort and defend aircraft carriers. The four served in every major war since WWII. They were built to fit through the Panama Canal (110 feet wide) so that they could get from the Atlantic to the Pacific without having to travel around South America.

She (ships are referred to as 'she') had nine 16 inch guns and twenty 5 inch anti-aircraft guns. When she was modernized in the late 1980s, four of the guns were removed and replaced with Tomahawk missile launchers.

The Missouri carried out bombing runs over Tokyo, served in Iwo Jima and Okinawa, in Korea and Operation Desert Storm. In WWII, a low-flying kamikaze crashed on Missouri's starboard side starting a gasoline fire on deck. The remains of the pilot's body was recovered on board the ship. The captain of the ship decided the young pilot had done his job to the best of his ability and with honor, and he should be given a military funeral. The following day, he was buried at sea with military honors. The dent in the side of the ship remains to this day.

She is probably 'best' known as the sight of Japans' unconditional surrender on September 2, 1945, ending WWII. The ceremony of signing the Formal Instument of Surrender was overseen by General Douglas MacArthur.

In July 1983, the deck of the ship that had been in all those places across the world...seen battles over several generations...AND where a famous general and his Japanese counterparts stood...WE ALSO STOOD.

That was exciting.


Dan

ANOTHER IDIOT ON THE LOOSE

I usually try to reference the article that inspired me to write that days story, but in this case I don't want to. Why? I don't want them to see people are reading 'their stuff'. If you must, it's out there.

Televangelist Pat Robertson made mention, recently, that the Haiti earthquake was the result of Haiti's 'pact with the devil'. I'm sure you can Google it and find numerous articles.

My response? Pat Robertson is an IDIOT !

I would ask Pat...if this is true for 'his' GOD,...why didn't Nazi Germany have an earthquake?...why not Rwanda?...why not Cambodia?...why not any other nation with human atrocities?

I'll tell you why. God doesn't love us based on the things we do...or don't do...but rather, God loves us because He's GOD.

I struggle with the evangelists (a word that makes me cringe when I hear it) who preach what 'they believe' is Gods' word...as if God spoke directly to them and TOLD them to preach it.

Hypocrites ! The preaching...the crying...the begging for money.........the affairs...the misuse of donated money to fund 'their' personal desires...money that people who can't afford to send in...do anyway...only to be taken advantage by these 'hypocrites'.

Four words...Jim Bakker...Jimmy Swaggert. Oh there's more...more hypocritical idiots just like those two...including Pat Robertson.

Are all men of God that way? Of course not. Unfortunately, they speak the loudest, so they are heard more.

I also have a strong dislike for professional athletes...baseball...basketball...football...all of them. Why? Overpaid egotistical bastards...crybabies. Are they all that way. Of course not. Unfortunately, a few play with guns, use drugs, hang out in nightclubs, have multiple children with multiple mistresses and thus make the headlines.

Those few bad apples...spoil the whole bunch for me.

If Pat Robertson wants any respect from me, let me read about him 'personally' going to Haiti and digging people out of the rubble. Let me read about him telling them that God loves them and will help them through this. Let me read about him getting his hands dirty...from 'real' work...God's work.

Then...MAYBE...I'll listen. Until then...SHUT UP Pat!


Dan

OLD MEMORIES

I saw this headline and it reminded me of days gone by...actually years gone by...nearly 38 years to be exact.

In the summer of '72, I had gotten out of high school, had a 1 day job that I knew I wouldn't survive if I went back a 2nd day...but needed work. I had two options...both in Atlanta, Georgia.

Option one...was to work for my brother-in-law (by marriage) who was in home construction. It was grunt work. I wouldn't be learning a trade, just doing odd jobs to help the guys who knew what they were doing. I would be paid $2 an hour.

Option two...was to go to Six Flags over Georgia and apply for work there. I had no idea if they were even hiring, what I'd do if I did get a job, what the hours were or what my hourly wage would be. It was just a 'maybe' that they'd be hiring.

I was 18, needed some money and wanted a job.

I didn't go for the Six Flags job. I wonder, now, if there were any jobs anyway. If they are applying for jobs in January, for work that will start this summer, then I would be a little late looking for work after they were already open for business in June.

No...I worked at the home construction. I had fun working with my nephews, Brady and Tim, and meeting another young man, Mike, who was my nephew's neighbor. The four of us had a good time, working in the summer heat of Georgia.

I still see Brady every year or so. Tim now lives in Australia and it's been a number of years since I've seen him. Mike, I believe, went on to become a doctor. I haven't seen him since that summer.

Six Flags...sounded like fun. Grunt work in construction...became a reality.


Dan

WATCH YOUR WORDS

An interesting article in AARP...(yes, I read AARP)...about a corrupt company that's been caught. How many other corrupt companies/people are out there? Too many to name.

This specific company taped a phone conversation with a man...edited it, spliced it and replayed it to their advantage. How many times did they do this? Enough that they were shut down and their top executives face imprisonment and hefty fines.

The bottom lines of the article? Don't speak to telemarketers...simply hang up. Open all your mail...even the ones that appear to be junk mail.

As nice as we want to try to be...we sometimes need to be straitforward (insert bitch or bastard here). As much as we want to believe people won't try to cheat us...there are people out there who will try to cheat us.

The lesson?

1) Don't mistrust everyone...because there are good people out there.
2) Don't trust everyone...because there aren't enough good people out there.


Dan

GOT YOUR ATTENTION ?

Years ago...when cell phones were in their infancy, it became a concern that people could talk on the phone and attempt to drive...at the same time.

Could people's attention be distracted and cause an accident?

So someone decided to make it a law (in some states) that you CAN'T talk on the phone and drive at the same time.

As years passed, people found a way to 'text' on the cell phones. Not call...but type little messages on the phone and send them. Then...it became a concern that people could 'text' on the phone and attempt to drive...at the same time.

Could people's attention be distracted and cause an accident?

I know it's been talked about, and likely in California, there's already a law that you CAN'T text on the phone and drive at the same time.

Well...Russia has a problem that could REALLY distract drivers and cause an accident !!

It would be like a train wreck. You don't WANT to look...but you just can't help yourself!

There'll be a law soon...


Dan

THE MIRACLE...1 YEAR LATER

If something quickly happened...that made you think today could be your last...what might cross your mind?

Would you think of your family? Would you think of those around you? Would you regret the things you haven't done yet...or be grateful for the things you HAVE. Would you pray for a second chance? Would you curse because this may be your last chance?

I think we can run those scenarios through our mind over and over, and THINK what we might do or say...but we don't REALLY know how we'll respond, or what we'll think, or what we'd do...until we're actually in the midst of the crisis.

Tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of what has been called, 'The Miracle on the Hudson'. You recall the story...where the airline pilot taking off from a New York airport, unfortunately flew through a flock of birds that rendered his jet engines useless. In a matter of seconds, the pilot had to decide what he must do, to save the 150+ lives on the plane with him. His choice...that saved those 150+ lives...was to land the plane in the Hudson River...and he did it, successfully.

Several of those passengers, now reflect back on that day, and how THEY have changed some of the things in their lives...after wondering if they would lose them.

You know that old saying that goes something like, 'We should all treat each day as it were our last...because some day we'll be right'.

Easier said than done.


Dan

NO DEPOSITS FOR ME...THANKS

There are a variety of 'banks' out there where deposits can be made. Cindy & I have had the same bank since we have been in Lafayette. Like everyone elses bank...it has changed names a few times over the years...but it's still in the same location as when we opened our accounts 35 years ago.

We have also made deposits into our local blood 'bank'. It too has changed names AND locations over the years...but it's still open...looking for depositors.

There are even sperm 'banks' out there...but I've never been there...don't even know where they're located.

And until today...I never knew there were...'breast milk banks' out there too.

We all have heard the benefits of a mothers' breast milk for her baby. Not all mothers choose to breast feed, but studies indicate that those who do, give their babies immunity powers that other babies don't get. Not to mention the bond that is made between a nursing child and its' mother.

But I never thought much about the use of one mothers breast milk being given to another baby...that was not her own.

The banks in this article are low on their supply of breast milk...attributed mainly to the flu season.

Now I have another reason to hope the weather will be warm soon and that the flu season passes...breast milk deposits will apparently begin to increase when it does.

I know I like lots of deposits in my bank accounts. Those waiting babies out there deserve lots of healthy deposits too.


Dan

MIEP GIES

Looks like a word quiz doesn't it? The letters are all mixed up and if you unscramble them, they will spell 2 other words.

Well...not in this case.

Miep Gies is a hero in the Jewish world. For without her, there would likely not be a history of Anne Frank, the teenage German girl who wrote of her short life in her diary as she, and her family, hid from the Germans during their persecution in the early years of WWII.

It was Miep Gies who agreed to hide the Frank family in a 'secret room'...providing them with food, books, friendship and loyalty.

Miep Gies...died this week at the age of 100.

A hero...who unknowingly by her actions...altered the landscape of the world.

God bless Miep Gies.

Dan

STOP SINGING...START LISTENING

Have we become complacent with hearing...everyday...of the soldiers who have died in Iran and Afghanistan?

The war is over 8 years old. Is it old news? Instead of listening to the names, or caring that those are sons and daughters and mothers and fathers...do we just hear "blah...blah...blah" ?

Are we only struck if the name is someone from our state...or a town nearby...or worse yet, someone we know?

This writer has a suggestion. He says, instead of playing the National Anthem at sporting events...we take a few minutes to read the names of those who died...today. What were their names...how old were they...where did they live...what would we want to know about them? Did they leave children? What was their occupation...their passion?

It's an interesting concept. If we heard those names at each event we went to...or saw televised...would we put some more thought into why we're doing what we're doing...and how we can stop doing what we're doing?

...so we don't have to hear any more names...


Dan

THE GREAT RECESSION

My dad was a survivor of the Great Depression. Mom and dad were married in July 1929. At the suggestion of a friend, they went to work in Michigan at the Buick car plant that July. Dad was making good money, for hard work. But three months later, in October, the Stock Market crashed, sending Michigan, the United States and the world into a financial downfall.

Dad, and everyone who lived at that time, never forgot the hard times to follow. My brothers, sisters and I were reminded of those times...often. Anything 'brand new' was rare. Most things were handed down. There was never much 'extra'.

Maybe I became a tightwad (see prior blogs) because of those conversations from dad. My life was certainly influenced by my dad and his life affected by the Depression.

Today, we are in the midst of what some have termed 'the Great Recession'. Families across the globe are affected by these times. What will be the lessons learned? How will the children of today be affected as they grow up? Will they too...become 'tight wads' like me? Not that I think that's a BAD thing !

Here's one impression. See for yourself.

Dan

THE OLD MAN AND ELM

Among the many trees in our yard (see earlier blog about raking leaves), one of them is an elm. It's not 240 years old, like the one in this story, but it's gotta be pretty old.

Like our old fella in the story, we try to nurse it along with trimming it every 5 years or so. It seems to be living okay because I 'have to rake its leaves' each fall...cussin' the whole time.

This is a feel good story...about an old man...and an old elm tree.

Hopefully I can live as long as the old elm tree that's been living in our yard.


Dan

JERSEY BOYS

On a trip to Chicago last year, Cindy coaxed me into getting some tickets to a musical that she had heard about and thought would be fun to see. May I address here:

Guys (in general) DO NOT like musicals.

Well, to make my wife happy...to stay on her good side...to be the 'good' husband...I got tickets to see the 'Jersey Boys' while we were visiting Joni & Ryan. Since it was tax season and Ryan was busy, so we took Joni along.

Well...it was one of the damn most fun things I've seen for a long time!

Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. The musical basically started from the time they were individual guys just starting out until after they had gone their own ways. Each "Season" of the musical was from the perspective of each of the guys in the band.

The music was great...each of the guys portraying the characters were great singers...the story about them was very interesting...just a great musical and a great time.

Joni said she even enjoyed it, and was surprised at how many of the songs she knew. I wasn't surprised since she grew up in a home where a radio was going much of the time with oldies from Cindy & my generation.

Anyway...sounds like the musical has ran its course in Chicago. If you haven't seen it, but would have the opportunity to see it somewhere someday...see it. You won't be disappointed.


Dan

TAX HELP ?

Let's play a game of 'imagine'.

Imagine you have someone you 'have' to report to at work. Let's say it's your 'BIG BOSS'. You don't really like to do it, but you have no choice...it has to be done.

Now to check in with your boss, you have to call him on the phone. You don't like this guy, you're not getting anywhere in dealing with him, but you are told you must do it...so you do.

Before you even pick up the phone, you are told that only 7 times out of 10 (70%) is he even going to answer when you call. You will get a busy signal or just a disconnect. But you 'have' to check in...so you 'have' to keep trying.

Now, when you do finally get through...his secretary is going to answer and say, "he is with another employee...if you want to hold, it will probably be 10 minutes...maybe more. Do you wish to hold?" Well, since the other times you called, you didn't even get to the secretary...and since you 'have' to talk to him...you say, "YES...I'LL HOLD!"

Would that grate on your nerves just a little? While you are on interminable hold...would you tap your pencil on the desk...fidget...doodle...swear...take another dose of your blood pressure medicine?

Well...that's the goal of the IRS this year. They EXPECT to answer only 7 of 10 calls coming into their toll-free line...and then when they do answer, they expect the AVERAGE wait on hold to be 12 minutes. (Average means...some will be 5 minutes...some will be 20!)

Now, they say that they have other options...websites to log on to...FAQs (frequently asked questions) that you can view on your computer. But if you NEED to talk to a LIVE body...be prepared!

I hope you have a good tax year...and you don't need any IRS help.


Dan

NEW HEALTH RULE

Now I like this article !

Finally...someone's not telling me I'm not exercising enough...I'm not eating right...I'm not getting enough sleep.

How do they know?

I'm not them. I'm not 'average Joe'. Maybe I don't have to exercise like crazy. Maybe 5 hours of sleep a night is 'okay' for me.

I like the bottom line too. Use your body...have some fun...live a little.

Agreed.


Dan

THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING

For $1.5 billion, the tallest skyscraper in the world is now open. At 2717 feet, the Burj Dubai (now called the Burj Khalifa), is over 1000 feet taller than the Sears Tower in Chicago.

How do you fill a 6 million square feet building? A small city could live inside it. Elevators (over 50 of them) travel at speeds of 40mph to get you to the top. They brag that it is already 90% filled with clients. More realistic numbers suggest it is less than 50%.

A little over the top...don't you think. With the Dubai economy failing, like everyone elses...I suppose 'we' will be paying for that...too.


Dan

NEW YEAR'S BABY

I've seen many articles over the last few days about the "First New Year's Baby" for various cities. I believe I saw one in New York that said the baby was born 'seconds' after the turn of the year. Of two Indianapolis hospitals I saw, one had their baby after 2:00am and another after 3:00am.

I was the "First New Year's Baby" of 1954...in Princeton, Indiana. I was born at 12:09am. Ten minutes sooner and I was born in 1953. I've had lots of comments over the years about how upset my dad must have been that I could've been a tax deduction for him if I 'had' been born 10 minutes earlier.

One thing most of those articles I've seen over the years never states, is what (if any) gifts are won by those 'first' babies. Maybe they just get a little certificate...or a blanket or trinket from the hospital gift shop.

I'll almost bet, they don't clean up now days, like I did in 1954. Here's what I, or mom and dad, took home.

From:

Morgan Shoes, a pair of Polly Parrot baby shoes
Green’s Cleaning Service, pop’s suit cleaned and pressed
Kroger’s, dozen jars Gerber’s baby food
Val-U Dress Shop, pair nylons for mom
Shaw’s Gift & Baby Shop, rompers
Miller Hardware, baby car-seat
Shoptaugh’s, serva-tot hot plate
Monroe’s Jewelry, silver spoon
The Model, a new tie for pop
Thackers, a pin-up lamp
Derbyshire’s Pharmacy, Playtex layette
DeMoss Drug Store, set of Stork nursing bottles
Princeton Appliance Store, a check for $5 to be added to a savings account to be started by the Gibson County Bank
Rechter Bros,. one dozen Birdseye diapers
Sears & Roebuck, JC Higgins sanitary insulated jug
JC Penney Co., three-piece sweater set
Wolf Chevrolet, tank of gasoline, oil change, chassis lubrication and car wash
Gibson County Bank, $5 savings account
Tip Top Creamery, one quart of milk per day for two weeks

Being the baby of the family...number 6 of 6...mom and dad probably appreciated everything they could get.

Happy Birthday to all my fellow New Year babies.


Dan

FAILING BRAIN CELLS? NOPE !

I can see a movie multiple times. Why? Because a week after watching it, I've forgotten much of it. Same with a book. I can read next month, what I read last month because I've forgotten what I read.

I walk from one end of the house with a purpose in mind, but when I get there...I forget what I was after. Sometimes, I have to walk all the way back to where I started, to see what I was doing there and hope I can recall what I needed to begin with.

Sound familiar? Been there...done that? Did it again?

Ever had an elder family member that smoked cigarettes? Ever see them light one while there was one still lit sitting in the nearby ashtray?

Remember when you and your siblings would go to grandma & grandpa's, and they had to go through 'roll call' before they got 'your' name right?

This article says we haven't LOST that information, it's just hidden in there somewhere. A perfect example is that time you just cannot remember a name of someone...but later, when you're not thinking about it, it miraculously pops into your head.

By challenging ourselves with new things, differing opinions, stepping out of our comfort zones...we help our brains function.

Do something different. Meet some new friends with an opposing view to yours. Read a book that might challenge you. You don't have to agree with them...it just might help your brain to recall things you've known...and forgotten.


Dan

PALINDROME

No...it has nothing to do with Sarah Palin !

A palindrome is:
–noun
1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as "Madam, I'm Adam" or "Poor Dan is in a droop".

Today, January 2, 2010 is a palindrome. Well not when you read it like that. But when you read it like this...it is.

01/02/2010

Tell everyone...you heard it here first !


Dan

LOUSY START TO A NEW YEAR

I blame Dick Chaney for this.

Americans are hated in many countries abroad. Sometimes out of envy for things we have...that they don't. But sometimes, we've earned their hatred for us. In this case, a hired security force murders 17 people, injures that many more, we put them on trial in 'our' country, and then release them on 'our' rules.

As one person said, were these American victims, we would be out to annihilate someone.

We'd best be prepared for some retaliation.

Flippin' Dick Chaney.


Dan