Monday - 27th

Monday, July 27th

The start of a new week.  Every week is about the same as you age.  Occasionally, there is a disaster which changes the flow.  I am shooting for none today.  Nobody is going to the Emergency Room today.    

Olympics are on TV.  I guess everyone is having a good time.  Never being much of a sports person, I find little joy in the Olympics.  The opening ceremony had some fun times and nice music along with some "What the Hey!!" and yucky music.  The people who plan these opening events are way above average.  I'm not sure that I could have dreamed such an event.  Genius is a good word.  I still remember China opening ceremony.  Impressive.

I still don't understand why "they" (whoever they are) keeping pushing the homosexual angle at us all the time.  It serves no real purpose in my thinking...just trying to make waves. Oft times, when pressed with this, I just change channels.  I don't have to watch that stuff.  I'd rather watch an old Adam 12 or Matlock - whatever.  Movin' on.

Monday.

Up and atom.  I will do 3 load of clothes today.  I went through 61 years of marriage without washing one thing except on trips where I shared the experience.  I have never ironed anything larger than a handkerchief.  Hanging up clean shirts was never my job.  My wife did it all.  Never complained.   I did my thing; she did hers.  She never changed a tire.  I did a lot of that when we had tubes in our tires.   We have our division of powers.

Now that she is getting sicker, I do those things too.  I wash.  No ironing anymore.  I cook food and do the grocery shopping, feed the dog, mow the yard, weedeat when I feel the mood.  She does like to sweep and mop and dust...oh, yes, she can't let a bed go unmade...or a divan throw go unthrown.

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I've been trying to do the math on this.  Follow me now.  We were married on August 5, 1962.  Fine,  I am sure it was a lovely wedding.  1st Baptist church in Levelland with the 1st Methodist preacher.  He was a nice man.  I'd been in college for 4 years and never really got to know him much.

This year is 2024.  How many years since 1962?   Well it has been 62 years come August.  Do you see it?  1962 - 62 years later.  I'm not saying it was a perfect 62 years.  I was a jerk some of those years.

Lets say we married in 1963.  When would 63 years be?  2026.                   1945,  45 yrs = 1990

There is always that particular year sometime in the future.  It really is no big deal.  I just thought it was interesting.  But shouldn't it be celebrated just a bit more than normal?  Maybe an extra trip to Taco Bell?  What cha think.  OOOOO ooooooo Oooooo here's an idea.  All of you BAND together and do a crowd sourcing thingamabob and send us on a World Tour - private jet of course - personal guides - no major walking - son Roger says 11 days on a cruise ship is a bit much - new traveling clothes - I could go on and on and on - Some of you may think I already have ....   (be nice)    howabout just a gallon of gas to make it to Taco Bell twice.  Never mind. We're good.  You tried.  time to move on.

All of this reminds me, before Christine was born in late 1964, we drove to New York City for the 1964 World's Fair.  Brother Marshall lived in NY at the time.  He went out and found us a 1 bedroom apt to rent for 6 weeks one block off Central Park and that big Museum.  The normal girl renter was going to California for the summer and was tickled to have us move in and pay the rent.  Nice apartment, I guess.  2nd story walk up with 2 big windows facing the street.   No AC.  That's ok.  I have so many stories about that trip.  Maybe they'll follow.  Everyone should do something like that.  6 weeks in New York.

The STONE for today - re-read above - me helping with laundry at a laundrymat - We were raised in the Panhandle of Texas. Water was really hard out there.   Really Hard well water loaded with minerals.  I never knew that soap could lather.  One day we loaded up some dirty clothes - about 2 loads full - and walked down the street to a NY Laundry Mat.  It was okay.  No crazy people inside.  We loaded our clothes, read the instructions, put in our TIDE, paid, and hit Go.

These were not top loaders.  Our washer started.  The soap began to foam.  And foam.  That's when I learned about soft water.   We had soap flowing out all over the floor.  People just stood and looked at us.   When it was over, we had to re-wash to get the soap out.  Stupid kids.  Nobody ever told us about soft water.  We left quite a mess as we rushed down the street.  Marshall educated  us that evening.

New York was a fun and terrifying place to visit.  We were never mugged.  We were dumb enough to be mugged.  Weren't.

later.

m

                                               

Homecoming

 If you have read the news quip to the right of this page, you will have noticed that I have spent my teaching career as a H.S. Band Director (note the Uppercase Caps - shows respect). I have not been in the biz since about 2004 when I retired (graduated, if you will).  I did spend a semester in a different small school where I learned that returning to teaching was not going to be fun.  Many of the students were just little jerks.  They took the fun out of teaching.   Another time I spent about 2 months as a long-term sub while the school looked for a permanent director.  Those kids were good.  I liked being there.

So in my retirement, I attend some band concerts and contests.  I go to an occasional football game to watch the halftime.  My Facebook has me connected  a group called  Band Director Jokes.   And I visit certain websites sponsored by folks with connections to bands.  One of these is something called the Yellow Pages.  It is for directors.  They do not seem to appreciate when non-director types get on and make comments.  I understand that.

Some of the subjects brought up by some directors are very educational and good.  They ask some very fine questions.  Then, sometimes, the whine gets out of control.  I feel sorry for those folks.  They should quit and go work at Buc-cees.   

Recently, a young director (I would guess he is young), ask what bands play for Homecoming.

Let me explain.  Every H.S. / College has Homecoming.  Everyone has his own traditions.  Some schools get carried away while others just do something before the game - wham, bam, it's over.  Let's play football.  You've got the Homecoming Queen - and court.  Some schools will have a King.  Some involve parents in the mix - Why?  I don't know.  It just complicates it.

At the ceremony, the band and cheerleaders are pretty much a backdrop to the festivities.  For years, I would march onto the field while playing the Fight Song - park the band - not move - and play some slow song as the the Court was introduced over the P.A.   When the girl was crowned, my girl band students would get all excited & the music would go down hill.

It hit me one year.  I asked the administration if we could just stand and watch.  I told them our music was so loud it covered the P.A. announcements - which it usually did.  They bought it.  So, we marched out - stood  -  girls got excited without messing up the song - and marched off.  DONE.  LET'S MOVE ON. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.  A few times one of my band girls got crowned.  That really upset the music delivery.

Moving on.  On the yellow page band director "page" this week, some guy as what song to play.  I answered with my story.  Some of the others started listing songs.  This got out of hand to a certain degree.  Band Directors are rarely known as lovers of Homecoming.  It gets into our way.

Songs of the nice songs listed were:  (I hope this was not copywrited)(There is a word the spell check doesn't like - copywrited)

You are so beautiful;  Only Time;  Ice Castles; My heart will go on;  Mahogany theme; Bellavia;  Can't help falling in love; Muskat Love,  my girl;  shadow of your smile; I'll be there...

Keeping in mind a director's attitude:  other songs were:   Fat bottom Girls;  Send in the Clowns;  Land of 1000 dances played really slow;  hang dog;  Cruella De vill;  If I only had a brain;  The evil clown;  Price is Right theme song played in a loop;  I like my women just a little on the Trashy side;  and I got friends in low places.

Another person suggested playing the Alma Mater.  Now come on, if you play that, everyone stands at attention and nothing gets done - that would be similar to playing The Star Spangled Banner.  As an aside here, I noticed over the years that different schools call their Alma Mater - the School Song.  Others call the fight song - the School Song.   You never really know what  school prefers until you join in their festivities.  

Once had a school band which "HAD" to play the Theme from "Rocky" as the team entered the field.  At that time, this band had trouble playing any song with 8th notes.  

To me the School Song and the Alma Mater are the same song.  That's what it use to be in Levelland - it must be right.  The fight song is the rabble rouser.  Forget Rocky.

Schools have so many little traditions.  You have to be careful or they will run you out of town on a rail.

Y'all take care now, y'hear? 

m

Here we go!

 Several years ago a friend and I were camping in the great outdoors.  We had been out there about 2-3 days.  He liked to shoot rabbits and cook them over the open fire.  Rabbits really are not my favorite meat.

One day he was out hunting when he took a tumble down this ravine.  His gun went off and shot him in the shoulder.  It was a mess.  As it turned out, camping next to us was an old country doctor.  Luck was with us.

The old man decided that he had to get that bullet out right then and stop the bleeding.  His companion jumped in their car and drove to the entrance store and called an ambulance.  I stood around like a dummy.  I did unload the rifle.

Anyway, the old doctor had this leather thong around his neck.  We didn't have any anesthesia to knock the guy out.  The doc gave the the leather to my friend and instructed him to bite down hard on it - "Chew on it".

Everything worked out.  The ambulance came.  Friend went to the local hospital.   He did get a bit of infection in the wound - after all we weren't really in sterile surroundings.  It was what it was.

The next day I made it to the local hospital - plopped myself down in the chair beside the bed - and - asked him how he was doing. 

He responded, "The thong has ended, but the malady lingers on."

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In today's Temple paper I read that the guy who is believed to have invented

"auto-correct" has died.  Sad.  May he restroom in piece.

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Speaking of someone famous who has died, I understand that the weatherman who invented the system of heat index temperature concept - anyway he passed on last June.   He was 83 years old - but he felt like 92.

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My favorite groaner happened after the hurricane hit New Orleans a few years back. ?That was the one where people were living in the football stadium  - and the dikes broke swamping much of the town.  That happens when you build below sea level.  Anyway, the TV news gal was interviewing different people.

She wanted to know how the neighborhoods looked - did the schools get messed up - and those type of questions.  Much moaning and groaning - as it should have been. The reporter asked this one heavy set lady, "What about churches?"  

The response: "I don't know much about that.  Most of my friends go to Popeyes."  I swear that is a true story.  It must be.  I found it on the internet.

sorry

trump

 I wonder how all of this will play out - Trump being shot.  FYI:  I plan to vote for Trump when the time comes.  Now you know which side of the fence I am on.  Definitely I am not a "mugwump."  Look that one up if you don't remember it from H.S. history class.

There is something you see at times - in front of stores as advertisement.  It is the piece of cloth that is attached to a big blower and it flops back and forth.  The big tall tube man.  You can look these up on Amazon.  Tube men come in all sorts of different figures.  Santa, Halloween, Valentines, just colors like red/blue/ green, -- they flop about and get your attention.  I suppose some might think they were a bit spooky.

Not me.  I have bought a blower and an Uncle Sam Tube man - 10 ft tall.  They come in 5 ft, 8 ft., 10 foot, 20 foot (actually feet, just thought foot sounded more appropriate).

So we set the thing out front for the Fourth of July.   It flopped about and - I thought - look really cute.

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Well, tonight I ordered a new one.  It is a Tube Man that looks like Trump.  When it arrives, I will put it out on an appropriate day.   Nobody will wonder what my affiliation is.  Trump flopping about in my front yard.  Of course, it could insult somebody.  Could.

On the news tonight, I heard that after the shooting, people were wearing the MAGA hats in San Francisco without being mugged.   There you go!!

more later, 

mtz

quickie - instant ink

 I  bought a new HP printer last year.  It came with free ink which was to be mailed to me.  2-3 months later I got some ink.  And I am in a subscription program for more ink.  I haven't seen any since the first delivery.  I cannot believe this is a scam.  but I sure have wasted a lot of money (some money) on ink delivery that never comes.

Went to their website and issued a hundred or so complaints explaining I didn't understand the program.

I downgraded to their $1.49 a month plan.  Now I ask meself why I am doing that when I can get ink at walmart.   Apparently my printer needs to be connected to the wifi.  I thought it was.  It's not.

Can you read frustration here.  I was not raised with computers.  I don't want to spend my time learning. I just want to use the machine.

I'm through fussing.

grrrr

Life is hard sometimes - another misc.

We have all had tough times.  Sometimes I wonder if mine are in retribution for some of the stupid things I've done in my life.  Opposite of "a reward."  Nevertheless, this cannot be true.  It's a bit conceited to think that all things everywhere happen because of me.  Am I the center of the Universe?

Let's say that one of my children has a car wreck.  That's on them.  It is not because I spit off a bridge when I was 37 yrs old and splattered the engineer's face on a passing train.  If I am to be punished for my stupidity / actions in the past, other people won't have to suffer.  That makes sense.  Karma !!  while it slaps me in the face, it shouldn't affect others.  Should it?  I'm not sure I really have faith in the Karma thing anyway.

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Son Roger & wife Penney just returned from cruising the waters near Italy & Greece.  They sent back hundreds of photos.  I am so jealous.  What  a great trip.  Lesson to be learned, if you can find the money and time, take these adventures while you still can.  At 83, I have certain problems that interfere (and I'm not just talking money).  I believe my last big trip was to Lubbock to see a Granddot graduate from h.s.  It was worth the trip.

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We've had a bit of a tough week around here.  My wife wouldn't like me talking about her; but, here goes a little bit.  Last Tuesday early afternoon she called out to me from her recliner.  I went.  She was sitting there just shaking.  Said she was cold.  I got her up and back in bed, covered.  She slowly regained her composure.  After much thinking, "we" took her to see our doctor.   He examined her and found nothing that might have caused the problem.  Yes, I think her brain had a temporary short circuit somehow.  Went home.

On Wed. I started to walk into the bedroom and there she was on the floor.  She had lost her balance and fell.  We talked.  She was wide awake and knew what was happening.  She had bumped the back of her head.  I checked and found a big knot back there.  It was a major project, but  I got her off the floor and into bed.  Then I called a daughter who hurried home from work.  We got the wheel chair out - loaded her in the car - and went to the E.R. in Temple arriving about 3:30 or 4, July 3rd.  

I was concerned about the head injury; the daughter was worried about a possible infection.  We were there for around 3 hours with some very nice doctors - nurses - other staff. My only complaint was a security guy at the front door that made me take my 1 1/2" pen knife back to my car.  I was dangerous.  Just doing his job.   He smiled anyway.

All sorts of blood tests and other liquids, Xray of head, neck, spine, hips.   Can't wait to see this bill.  She checked out with nothing broken but, yes, the daughter was right.  She had an infection.  After much to do, we left.  The wife was very unstable.  We had to lift her back into the car.   It was not pleasant at the time or when we got home.  It's not that she weighs a lot.  It is hard on me to pick up that much weight.

It was done.  Back in bed.  New pill taken.

I believe all old people are stubborn.  I am.  She is.  I had to pick her up off the floor 3 more times in the next 12 hours as she slipped out of bed to go to the bathroom.  She just WOULDN'T ask for help.  Still won't.   Her legs didn't work right.  We had several big dog beds on the floor so she never hit anything.

Long story short.  She has had her last pill.  Infection conquered.  She is moving - still a bit unstable at time.  We are making progress in the health world.  I hope none of you have to pick your wife up off the floor and back into bed.  I guess that is why I am here on this Earth right now.  I don't think it is Karma.  Logically, she has been a bit unhappy this week.  It's not her Karma.  She is close to perfect in her life.

I'll close.  Looking forward to what comes next.  Not really.

m

p.s.  I am a Republican.  Have been for several years.  I'm not a 100% Trump fan; but, I believe he is a lot better than the alternative.  Try to not get into politics here.  Just felt it was necessary to say.  Y'all take care now.

Post p.s.   If you are a regular to my world, you may have noticed that all advertisements are gone.  I thought they were distracting - ugly - U G L Y - you ain't got no alibi.  They were distracting and and and didn't seem to fit my world.  Maybe they'll return someday.

Fetish

 It is time for my Fetish report.

1st of all, all these years since I learned the word "Fetish" I have suffered under the wrong definition.  C'mon, you  have all been here with me.  You hear a word & put it in the vocab.  You blossom with the new found expressive word.  A word you use and never know you are wrong.  That's me here.   My wife one time started using a couple of common expressions (me too nice to recite them here).  After hearing one of them sprout from her mouth at church, I told her to quit using them.  I explained what they meant - or what "I thought they meant."  The expressions were gone.

That's where I am with Fetish.  I thought it meant you had a thing for a certain object.  Let's say:  chocolate milkshakes.   So I had a "Fetish" for "chocolate milkshakes."    A love for .. craving .. want .. you get the picture.  They are good.  Wendy's has that chocolate thing.  It is SOOOO good.   Then there are those DQ things which they turn upside down to show the thickness.  Yum is the word.

I don't get em anymore - the diabetes thing has thrown me off track.

Still, I thought that was the definition.  Wrong.  Aren't smart phones marvelous?  I was just thumbing through the thing a month or so ago, & saw the definition of fetish.  I was wrong.  You go look it up.  Apparently it has to do with that three letter word  (whisper softly)  S ...  E ..  X  I'm sure you have heard that word.  So if I had a fetish for chocolate milk shakes, it was in a (whisper again) sexish way.  That's a bit weird.  Can't say I know how to explain that any further.

I remember there was this movie about a black detective who would make out with a girl.   Then the sheet would come up and he would see her toes - all knotty and lumpy --- he would come unglued.  The fact that he was black has no bearing on this...I say that for the people who were offended by my use of the description.  Get a Life.  At the end of the movie he met a girl with beautiful toes.   Now, was that a foot/toe fetish?  I'm thinking so.   

Knee caps.  I've always felt there were no ugly knee caps.   Heels of the foot, real problems for some.   Noses, you knows it.    Chocolate shakes, think not. I'm not going to review my entire vocabulary list. Just learn to forgive me when I use some word or expression wrong.

A trombone player in one of my classes did something in bad taste.  I fussed at him.  He responded, "My bad."   I said, "Yes you are when you do something like this."  Wonder if I missed the definition on that one.   Use to say  daffi-nition for funny things.  He wasn't funny.  Jerk trombone player playing to the 17 yr old crowd.

Moving on.

Hope you had a fun 4th.  I was a tad bit disappointed when my neighbors to the north failed to put on a firework display this year.  Guess they went somewhere else.  I wasn't invited.

later, M3