SUMMER'S SENSES

The eldest daughter said the other day that the sound of an outside air conditioner kicking on always brings back memories of the great summers in the backyard of our first house.
What memories are activated by the sounds and smells of this warm season?

One that always reminds me of a lazy summer Sunday is the smell of someone firing up the ole barbecue pit, with the odor of lighter fluid strong in it's burning. Before gas grills, everyone had to drop the charcoal and spill on liberal quantities of chemical. God only knows how healthy all this was, but is sure smelled great.
Then there was the smell of leather when you rubbed your glove with oil. That was an early-season ritual, one that meant action. Mix a little dirt in the pocket, smooth it into the fingers and you were guaranteed an error-free game. Or at least a few innings.
To continue this baseball theme, how about the crack of the bat, white ash making solid contact with horsehide? Or the taste of dirt on a safe slide into home. Never fails to get the juices flowing.
Of course, a lot better taste is the first bite into an ice cold watermellon, or a hot dog slicked up with mustard.
Or the first deep swig of that beer that has been in the bottom of the cooler all afternoon. Ahhhhhhhh.

What senses are stimmed to produce your summer memories?

THE VASTE WASTELAND?

Remember when Television was called the Vaste Wasteland. Well, I guess it is never more true than today. Reality shows and "how to dress" shows and "Dog the Bounty Hunter" for pity sakes........For me the best time for T.V. memories was the first two decades or so of the boob tube's existence.
We had adventure shows like "Davy Crockett" and "Superman." Have you ever really gotten over the sight of George Reeves in blue tights? There he was standing stradle-legged in front of a giant waving American Flag....."who, disguised as Clark Kent, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American Way." Politically, this show was an overt warning to those dirty Red Commies that were taking up so much of our countries bad dreams in the 50's. Don't tread on us, or we will send George Reeves after you. And don't forget old coonskin-cap wearin' Davy. He may have really died at the Alamo, but Fess Parker was the next best thing. Why, "he kilt him a bar', when he was only 3!" Plus, we had the underwater regions safe, with Mike Nelson of Sea Hunt....I never could figure our how he could hold his breath through the commercial break and still have anything left to knife-fight three brutes with spear guns. I always was him when we messed around at the pool.
There is just so much to talk about when it comes to the t.v. of my youth......
I promise I will visit this subject soon again.

In the mean time, I think the TLC channel is doing toilet bowl decorating this afternoon.

MUST SEE TEE VEE!!!!!

IT'S A GAME OF TAG

I got a tag by rdl. Rather than play it straight, ahmma gonna answer with what I would like to answer, interspersed with some real truths......you be the judge as to what is fact and what is fiction.
So here ya go...........

Accent....Australian, mate.
Booze.....Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Chore.....hate 'em all...really.
Dogs/Cats.....hate 'em all....really....'specially cats.
Essential Electronic device......radio...so many station, topics, such freedom and you can do other stuff while listening....just love it.
Favorite cologne/perfume.....whatever my wife is wearing.
Gold/silver...teeth? fillings? as investments? hard to say. Green cash is nice.
Hometown...good ole midwest fly-over Saint Louis...
Insomnia....had a spurt of it this winter...is schtinks bad....my condolences to anyone who has it full time.
Job title.....unemployed for the summer. (it's a hint!)
Kids.....yes, thank you very much.....6 of the buggers, with 4 grandkids and 2 on the way soon.
Living arrangements....in a very fulfilling monogamous 34 year relationship with my girlfriend, who I also conveniently happen to be married to.
Most Admired Trait.....no idea...it ain't my hair, that's for sure.
Number of sexual partners....see "Living Arrangements" above...that's all that anyone really needs to know.
Overnight hospital stays......none to date..Thanks Be to the Big Doctor in the Sky.
Phobia....fear of listing things....just joking....probably roller coasters...never been, never will, unless I live to be 90, then what the hell!!!!!
Quote.....oh, so many.....how about "ADVERSITY IS THE MOTHER OF CHANGE". (I made that up just now.)
Religion.....card-carrying cradle-Catholic and proud of it.
Siblings.....only child....so are my two brothers.
Time I wake up....right after I have slept all night with only a couple visits to the boys room.
Unusual talent.....bite my toenails.
Veggie refuse to eat.......squash....it just sounds gooey.
Worst habit.....see "Unusual talent" above.....hey, could be a lot worse.
X-rays.....this is probably only in this list because no other word starts with "X"; had one recently of my head....came up negative.
Yummy foods I make.....I made a cookie called "Spitzbuben" an Austrian cookie that my grandma and mom used to make at Christmas...turned out pretty good.
Zodiac sign......Peace, baby!

Caio, bella!

We received from the friendly UPS driver our new digital camera. Or should I say, first digital camera. Yeah I know they have been around "a little minute now" as a smarty pants clerk at Sears said to me the other day. But keeping with my tradition of being the last guy on my block to have anything new, I decided to wait until I was fed up with getting back a pack of 24 pics with only about a half dozen of them any good. This way, I can delete the bad shots and pay only for those that do not have someones hand in front of their face or their eyes closed or looking like they just got goosed.....
I even plan to learn how to use the printing machine at Walgreens....now that is a summer adventure if ever there was one.
Speaking of adventure, me and "She Who Must Be Obeyed" are going to take in the ponies tomorrow....I've been picking the races at Fairmount out of the paper, and last time had 4 winners.....I can't tell you my system, 'cause I don't have one.......yet.
Some say bet the gray horse, some say bet the jockey, some the horse.....we shall see how I do.
I'm sure my kids are thinking..."Oh great...one more goofy thing for dad to do."
The tai chi is coming along....very relaxing and good for stretching.....the names of the movements are hilarious...."partition of wild horses mane"....."repulse monkey"...."stork cooling wings"......"gorilla picking nose"....(I made that last one up.)
Go CARDS!!!!

YAY SUMMER!!

The long-awaited end of the school year has finally come. Busy times and crazy days with the "scholars", as they try to make it the last few hours of their 8th grade careers (for some, anyway. Others may be "returning lettermen", so to speak. Oh, well....I tried...)
Memorial Day trip to Chicago has kept me off the posting. Love to see the little ones in the Windy City. Hate the drive, especially the last hour into the city of mass traffic. I can do about 4 hours, and the co-pilot has to take the wheel for the final approach.

Speaking of Memorial Day...... God bless those who gave the "last full measure of devotion."
And bless those who have survived physically, but still carry the scars of the psyche, as they try to continue the life they fought to preserve.

Me and the spouse plan to spend some time going to a few Cards games, maybe the track, maybe just hanging out, since the youngest stayed up north for a few weeks. Call it a vacation where you get to sleep in your own bed.....
Lots of chores and projects to keep me busy around the plantation..... looks like a hot summer is brewing...but it beats work.

A DAY OF HONOR

The best today to all who have borne a child ... mom's all over should be proud of what they have done.
In church today, I was thinking about all the mothers in my family, from my own, to my wife to my two daughters and one daughter-in-law, to all the sisters-in-law.....and then on back to grandmas Kate and Mamie, aunts Edna, Lily, Marie, Celeste, Dorothy, Magdalen, ....all good solid women, who did their best over time to bring up their children.
What a gift to have life grow inside you..what a legacy they have left and will build as they carry on Mary's work.............


...Bless you all on this day.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

This has been a rough year for the family, with the story to be told over time in this space. But one of the good byproducts of tough times is that it can cause positive change.
So over the next few months, I am taking steps to improve my diet, exercise and approach to life in general.
Wanting to drop my blood pressure, which is in the pre-hypertensive range, I am going to get more into omega 3 foods, increase exercise with the goal of 45-60 minutes daily, reduce caffeine, and take two more very important steps. One will be very easy, and one will require discipline and a great deal of study.
The first is to simply smile more.
The research is there that this simple act can greatly improve ones health. More on this later.
The second step is to become proficient in Tai Chi.

I'll let you know how it goes...........(he said with a big smile).