BLUE LAWS...SCHMOO LAWS

Here in Indiana...and according to this article...in Connecticut...and probably where you live...there are 'blue laws'. Specifically...a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

I have no particular side to be on in this matter...because I'm not much of a drinker. I probably drink a case of beer...a year. I think Cindy & I were at Sam's Warehouse one Sunday and she happened to pick up a bottle of wine and we didn't think anything of it until we got to the checkout and were reminded it was Sunday. I'm real sure we didn't lose any sleep from not having that bottle of wine to sip on that afternoon.

The writer of the above article must be about my age. I enjoyed some of his comments...and they reminded me of how it was in my younger years...when next-to-nothing was open on Sundays.

I know when we lived in Owensville (population 1000) as a small kid...I think the restaurants were the only thing open on Sundays. I know that Sunday was the 'only' day that dad was off...and heck...occasionally he even did some work on that day.

But most of the time...it was a good day to go to church...and then do family things...like...go visit granddad...or my uncle and cousins...or my older sister or older brother...or make homemade ice cream.

Now days...more things are open...than closed on Sundays. It's just another day. I think we lost something there.

I think I'd enjoy...not only not having to worry about whether I could get booze on Sunday...but do I really have to do anything on Sunday?

Heck...let's all just stay home and relax...before Monday starts the week all over again.


Dan

RICH AND ADVENTUROUS

That's the headline that caught my eye...'Rich and Adventurous'.

The headline was in regard to Kathleen Harriman Mortimer...a woman 'born' into money...and 'married' into more money...who died recently at age 93.

Mrs. Mortimer led a very charmed life...a quite interesting life. Her obituary is attached.

Personally...I had never heard of her. For those in 'the well to do' aspect of life...I'm sure she was well known...or at least...heard of. The last paragraph of her obit...indicates there were parts of her life...that even her children were unaware. They hadn't heard of her...that part of her...either.

I think my obituary might read...'Lazy and Lucky'...or 'Fat and Sassy'. I'm pretty sure it won't say...'Rich and Adventurous'.

Well...not 'money' rich...but rich in other ways. Blessed might be a better way. Yeah that's it. George Daniel Clark...'Rich in Blessings'.

I hope I'm...93...before you read my obiturary. That gives me about 35 years to do the 'Adventurous' part!


Dan

THE NEW MONOPOLY

Grandson Mason had a birthday party to attend recently, and while at the store to buy a gift for him to take to the party...I saw a shelf with several games on sale. One of them was MONOPOLY.

Over my nearly 60 years, I have probably owned a half dozen Monopoly games. Over those years...one would get sold in a yard sale...or lost in a move...or thrown out due to missing pieces...and an opportunity would come to 'need' to buy a new one...so I would.

Well I didn't currently own a Monopoly game...and this new version on the shelf was marked down in price and looked interesting...so I bought it.

I have played Monopoly 1 million times...well maybe not that many...but lots . Admittedly I haven't played in many years, but as a youngster it was an often-played game by myself or with friends.

One buddy, Mike, and I would play over entire weekends. We would start on Friday night after school was out...and wrap up Sunday evening when we'd have to get ready for another school week to start. It didn't matter if we ran out of money (officially, the game is over when a player goes bankrupt). We just kept a notebook off to the side to mark how much we were 'in the hole'...and kept on playing.

There were also many times I'd play by myself. The real me...and 3 of my pretend friends (1 on each side of the square game board) would be entertained for hours and hours.

The original Monopoly houses and hotels were made of wood. I read years ago that some of the early boards with those wooden features are worth a good deal of money these days. I swear I remember playing on one of those versions as a young kid. I sure would love to own one of those versions today.

The houses and hotels in more recent years are made of plastic. This new version of Monopoly are a new design of plastic.

One of the main changes in the new version is that it doesn't come with money anymore. This 21st century version comes with a 'credit' card. A small computer is the centerpiece to the game (the board is also round...no longer square). The computer helps you keep track of your wealth and makes the transactions for you during the game. Each player starts with a set amount of 'credit' on their card and when a player gets more money from the bank or another player...or spends money while buying something or paying one of the other players...you insert your credit card into the computer and it adds or subtracts the appropriate amount. No money ever changes hands...at least in the literal sense.

There are also no longer any 'Chance' or 'Community Chest' cards. If a player lands on a 'Chance' spot on the board...they push a button on the computer and it tells them the good or bad news.

Another thing that has changed is the value of the property...different from the original version of the game...that was made in the 'depression' era. Back then...a player started the game with $1500...passing 'GO' was worth $200...and rents were as little as $2 and $4.

In today's version...a player starts with $15 million...passing go is worth $2 million...landing on Boardwalk with a hotel is going to cost you $20 million in rent. My how times have changed!

In my younger years...I played Monopoly so much and so often...I knew from memory how much every property cost to buy...how much rent was if I landed on it...how much it cost to put houses or hotels on it...and the values associated with them. But that's changed now. I haven't the foggiest how much they cost today...until I've played it enough times to retain it.

Having said all of that...we had an evening with the big kids...and we played the new version of Monopoly. It started before 8pm...and we wrapped up at midnight.

It was a great family time together and all enjoyed it...no one...more than me...as it brought back some old memories of fun times of years gone by.

Some things never change.


Dan

41 YEARS

I got a call late last night from nephew Brady...who happened to be visiting his sister, Trudy, in Texas. As usual...our conversation covered a variety of topics including our health, our children, our siblings and life in general. A special topic that came up was...their father...my brother...Durward.

It was 41 years ago...February 10, 1970...that Durward was in an auto accident...on his way home from law school...that claimed his life. He had just turned 37 years old, 3 weeks before. Brady was just 12 at the time, Trudy was 11 and Tim was 9.

Most, if not all, of us have been through tragedies in our lives and it would be useless to try to compare which tragedy is worse. We would all surely agree that losing a parent...whom you idolize...in those pre-teen years when you might need them the most...is devastating...to say the least. If life wasn't hard enough at that age already...it just became nearly impossible.

Brady has long since passed the stage of bitterness and need for sympathy for his dad's death. Like all of us who have lost parents, he thinks of his dad often but takes the anniversary of his death...not to grieve...but to recall the happy times and wonderful memories of his dad.

Brady is a multi-talented man...with a beautifully calming voice and the wit and education to speak knowledgeably about many subjects. He can hold you spellbound as he relates his story...one minute making you laugh til your ribs hurt...and the next minute bring you to tears as he touches your soul.

One of his talents lies in his ministry. Brady has planted the seeds for many church congregations to get their start. He joins with several co-pastors, gathers a small congregation...and then works to grow that congregation in numbers and spiritual ways. He finds a pastor who will take over and guide that church forward and then Brady steps out of the picture to use some of his other talents to refresh and regroup himself. When he feels, or hears, the call to start another church...he begins the process again.

Trudy is also a multi-talented woman. A wife and mother first, she is also a long time educator, a Certified Newborn Care Specialist, caring for special needs babies, preemies and multiples, with neurodevelopmental certification. Trudy enjoys her life and is willing to share it with others to the best of her abilities.

Tim, too, has many talents, but has spent many years doing missionary work in South Africa and currently in Australia.

Brady, Trudy and Tim have grown from that tragedy 41 years ago...to make their own legacy that their father would beam at with pride. They are the perfect evidence that, even from the depths of tragedy and despair...with faith...love...and a willingness to persevere...we can ALL go on. We can survive.

Our family is quite proud of these 3...just as their father would be.


Dan

NAME FROM THE PAST

The name Jerry Sloan will mean nothing to probably 99 and 44/100% of my readers...but that name causes me to recall fond memories with my dad.

In 1965, Sloan was the center on the basketball team in Evansville. By the end of the season, they were the small college national champions with an undefeated season. Now known as the University of Evansville, back in those days it was known as Evansville College. Sloan, and teammate, Larry Humes, both finished their college careers as All-Americans and National Champions.

Dad and I followed almost all of their games on the radio that season. I'd join dad in the office of the motel in the evening, and we'd listen to the games. We had nervous and enjoyable nights...as we listened to them win game after game all season long.

Sloan went on to play professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls and then became a coach in the professional league. He has decided to retire this week, thus making the headlines that caught my eye.

Ironically, what I didn't know until reading a current article about him...is that after retiring from his playing days, he returned to Evansville to become their basketball coach, but changed his mind a week after his arrival, and left the job.

Tragically, a few months later...the Evansville team and coaching staff were killed when the team plane crashed during a snowy, winter flight. I remember hearing the terrible news about it the next morning.

But what I will always recall when I hear the name Jerry Sloan...will be the warm memories of sharing time with my dad.


Dan

PASSWORDS

This article about passwords caught my eye. It tells us, in part, that the more complex our passwords...the harder it is for a 'hacker' to figure it out. Duh! Unfortunately...it also makes it harder for me to remember it.

One of my frequent frustrations at work are the amount of passwords that I have. I have 1 password to access the drug delivery system through our pharmacy. I have 1 to log into our basic computer system. Each of our imaging cameras (4) has a password when they need rebooted. Each of our hot lab computers (4) has a password when they need rebooted. I need a password to log into our hospital computer, one to purchase drugs from our radiopharmaceutical supplier, one to charge drugs used at the end of each day, one to send images to our radiology backup system. I'm sure I'm forgetting 1 or 6 others.

Then to really frustrate me, several of them demand that I change my password every 30-90 days. And at least one of these sites will not allow you to use a previous password that you created within the last 6 months.

Not only does it become an adventure to create a 'new' password...it's even more of an adventure to try to remember it...and for which job function it goes with.

Then when I get home...I have a password to access my computer...one to access my bank account...one to access each of my credit cards...well...you get the idea.

I appreciate the importance of them so I can keep things at work safe and secure...to follow HIPPA rules...to maintain patient safety and privacy...and to equally keep my own things private and safe at home as well.

They drive me crazy...but I gotta have 'em. I'm sure glad my house is old enough that I don't have to have a password to open the front door...and I still can use a key to open and start my car.

I suppose that'll be the thing of the future. God help me if I live that long!


Dan

THE 'NEW' DALLAS

I see they are planning to remake a long running TV show from years past...'Dallas'.

Dallas was a prime time soap opera that first appeared in the spring of 1978. I think Cindy got hooked on it first...and then suckered me into watching it...and then I got hooked. Cindy's mom was also hooked...heck...even my dad got hooked on it.

Daughter Jaime was born the summer of '78...and we made frequent trips during her early years to the grandparents to show her off.

On Friday...we'd get off work...pack the car...and make a bee-line for Vincennes, or Owensville...depending on whether we were spending the night with Cindy's folks...or dad...because we had to get there before Dallas started. This was in the days before VCRs...or at least before we owned one.

Apparently a few of the characters from the original Dallas have agreed to make cameo appearances in the new one. After a few shows...I'm guessing they'll turn the debauchery over to the young stars...and the old ones will fade out.

I might watch the pilot...just to see how they'll meld the two generations...but I'll probably lose interest after a while...but we'll see.

If our kids get hooked on 'the new Dallas' like we did the 'old' one...they won't have the issues that we had. They'll just 'DVR' it...or watch a replay on the cable or on the computer. There won't be any comments coming from the car like...'better hurry up...the show's about to start and we're gonna miss it!!'

Good times.


Dan

ITSA COMIN'...SO THEY SAY

They tell me there is an impending snow storm about to overtake Lafayette, the Midwest...and eventually the East coast. Yesterday...the skies were blue and sunny. By late afternoon the snow began to fall...followed by some sleet. Still...the 2 to 5 inches of predicted snow turned out to be about an inch-and-a-half. We're sorta getting programmed like the folks in Florida and the south...who are told to evacuate for the impending hurricane...that turns out to fizzle before landfall.

Historically, our local weather crew likes to build up a big storm...only to have it never quite turn out to be as bad a picture...as the one they painted. The only thing the local TV coverage seemed to produce so far...are empty shelves at the grocery store...and a total closure of every school in the multi-county area...including Purdue University...which hardly ever closes. All that preparation...and we have 1 1/2 inches of snow on the ground this morning.

They continue to say not much will happen today...at least until this evening, so why close all the schools today? I guess just in case it gets uglier...sooner than expected.

Late this afternoon 'the storm' is supposed to begin...and it will apparently go on for over 24 hours...ending sometime Wednesday night.

If they are right this time...we will go to bed tomorrow night with somewhere between 10-15 inches of snow on the ground. If that is the case...Cindy's Christmas gift of the snow blower may very well be the best gift she has ever given me. She's been convinced for years that...since I'm on 'old' man now...she's going to some day find me sprawled out in the driveway with a snow shovel in one hand and clutching my heart in the other. I have a good heart, but my back will surely be happy to not have to shovel the kind of snow they are predicting.

When Cindy & I moved to Lafayette in 1974, we found our winters to not be much worse than what we were used to in Southern Indiana. But then in the winter of '76-77...the 'big storm' hit us. The snow was so deep, I could hardly get the back door of our house to open against the snow. It was a challenge to just get out of 'the house'...let alone get our vehicles out of the driveway. I walked about 6 blocks to one of the 'main' streets in town where a friend picked me up to take me to work. Was I dedicated or what? I think...what.

As the days after that storm passed and the streets and highways were cleared of snow, some of the county roads had snow piled so high, it looked as if you were driving down a bobsled run. I hitched a ride to the grocery store with our neighbor because he had chains on his tires and could get his vehicle through the snow. The shelves of the store were pretty bare by the time we got there, with no bread in the store. So I bought biscuits.

If the upcoming snow storm comes to be...it will likely be one that our grandchildren will recall in their older years. "Remember back when we were 9 (and 7), and that snow storm that hit mamaw and papaw's house when we lived with them? Wow...that sure was fun."

Yea...fun for them. They didn't have to shovel out that driveway...even if it was with the snowblower!!


Dan