Recission Quote

Recession means that people's incomes, at the employer level, are going down, basically, relative to costs, people are getting laid off.
    --George W. Bush

Washington, DC 02/19/2004 From the master of the non sequitur - good `ole Dubya himselfHe was in charge for 8 years yet the mess lingers...

Syrup for Your Pancakes?

Would you like some syrup with your pancakes??

 

After seeing this I might just stick to "maple flavored" syrup

We Were Born in the 50's and 60's

We Were Born in the 50’s and 60’s

We were born to mothers who smoked and drank and we slept in cribs that were probably covered in lead based paint.

We didn’t have Playstations or Xboxes or personal video game systems. We played – outside. Often, in the dirt, and, frequently with sticks. And, although we were told it would happen, we did not poke out very many eyes.

We played army and war, capture the flag and Cowboys and Indians – not “bovine control officers” and “Native Americans”

If we wanted to go somewhere, we rode our bikes; everywhere. We rode from one end of town to the other. Without silly looking helmets or spandex clothing, and, occasionally, with a buddy riding on the handle bars.

Not every kid made the team when they tried; there were no participation ribbons or trophies for 12^th place. If you won you it was great, if you lost, you went home. We got disappointed but that was alright. We learned to deal with losing and tried real hard to win the next time.

There wasn’t mineral water or bottled water or energy drinks. There was Coke and Pepsi. And when we were outside and got thirsty, we’d drink water from a garden hose.

A group of us kids would share a bottle of soda and a bag of chips. We ate bread and bitter and Ring-Dings and HoHos. We didn’t worry about childhood obesity because the next thing we did was run all over the neighborhood playing.

When we misbehaved we got swatted on the backside. The neighbors were always Mr. and Mrs. And, if you knew what was good for you, you minded them just like they were your own parents.

Being sent to your room WAS punishment...there was no TV, telephone, or loads of electronics in there, just you and the four walls. And the worst words you could hear were “just wait `til your father gets home”.

We didn’t have cell phones and pagers. We had street lights, and we damned well better be home before they came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K

There was no cable TV, no satellite. There was only one TV in the house and it was located in the living room – and YOU were often the remote. If we were lucky and did all of our chores and our home work, we’d get to watch cartoons on Saturday morning. We watched The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Bugs Bunny, Magilla Gorilla, Road Runner and Wiley Coyote. Not surprisingly, none of us ever got hit in the head with a falling anvil or fell victim to a faulty Acme rocket.

 

We fell out of trees, got cut and broken bones and chipped teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learned not to do the same thing again

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up or "way back" in the station wagon was always a treat.

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

And if you're one of them. Congratulations!

1960's Motivational Poster

Off-beat Holidays - July

 Just a side note before the list: This is my third month listing holidays (see June is here and May is here ) and I am beginning to notice there are a boatload of days devoted to food!! There are at least 9 days devoted to food and drink in the month of July alone. And people say we Americans have weight issues??? No kidding!

1: Canada Day – Or as Americans tend to refer to them; the quiet neighbors to the north. As the rest of the world tends to sees it; the quiet and peaceful folks living above a college frat kegger.

1: International Chicken Wing Day – Buffalo, NY’s contribution to the appetizer menu

1: Second Half of The Year Day – Half-way through the year. Here’s to a better half (I hope)

1: U.S. Postage Stamp Day and Zip Code Day - Maybe these are a partial explanation for the term "going postal"??

1-3: Rosewell UFO Days: - Maybe this should be take a Martian to lunch day

2: I Forgot Day – I had a pithy comment for this day, but, I can’t quiet remember what it was

2: International Cherry Pit Spitting Day

2: International Day of Cooperatives – A United Nation’s recognized observance. “Cooperatives around the world celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives in many ways. Activities include: messages from the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the UN translated into local languages for worldwide distribution; news articles and radio programs publicizing the awareness of the day; fairs, exhibits, contes…” Yeah, now I know why I’ve never heard of it.

3: Compliment Your Mirror Day - If you do maybe your mirror will make your look like Bradley Cooper… or Shania Twain??

3: Stay Out Of The Sun Day – It’s July people, ain’t gonna happen!

4: Fourth of July or Independence Day - A day citizens of the United States celebrate by getting drunk and blowing shit up. Yeah!!

4: Independence From Meat Day – on a day celebrated by barbequing hot dogs and hamburgers?? REALLY???

4: Indivisible Day – Just imagine the possibilities… oh wait, I thought that said invisible... oh well

5: Earth at Aphelion

5: Bikini Day – YES!!!

6: Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day – I wonder who thought this up and what kind of sacrifices we should make gifts we should give to honor the overlords of the internet?

7: Chocolate Day – This just has to be a big day in Hershey PA

7: Father-Daughter Take A Walk Together Day

7: Tell The Truth Day – If you do this it's probably a good thing that the 7th is also Global Forgiveness Day

8: SCUD Day (Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama) – Turn down the drama, turn up the comedy. The Three Stooges always make me laugh!

9: Rock And Roll Day – YEAH!!! ROCK ON!!! TURN IT UP!! Play some Aerosmith!

9: Bald In-Bald Out Day – we come into the world bald, naked and crying. I think I’m about half way to bald out…

9: Hop A Park Day - July is National Parks and Recreation Month. Visit a local or state park and see what’s going on in your area

10: Don't Step On A Bee Day – hell, this is EVERY day in my book.

10: Piña Colada Day – I’ll be busy this day. At the bar. Drinking a… well, you know

11:World Population Day - "Everyone Counts. Counting everyone is an integral part of ensuring that we take everyone into account…" Shut The Front Door! Sounds like government gobbledygook to me

11: International Town Criers Day – Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!

13: Embrace Your Geekness Day – Again, this is an everyday thing for me

13: Gruntled Workers Day – HA!! I love this! I’ve always known that unhappy workers could be called disgruntled, but, have often wondered if you could be called “gruntled” if you were happy! Cool! Now, on to disheveled and sheveled

15: Gummi Worm Day – yet another day celebrating the stuffing of one's face

16: Hot Dog Night and Hot Dog Night - a day for weiners everywhere. Wait, didn't he leave office?

16: Cow Appreciation Day – not if you’re making all beef frankfurters it ain’t

16: Toss Away the Could Haves and Should Haves Day – Well, I should have tossed out the could haves. And I could have, really, but, something told me I shouldn’t. So I didn’t, though I could have. Awww crap, my brain hurts!

16: Woodie Wagon Day – I saw woodie and got all excited. That was before I read the second word

17: National Ice Cream Day - (3rd Sunday) – I’ll take mint chocolate chip please

17: Wrong Way Corrigan Day – Wrong Way Corrigan was so infamous that the character Captain Peter “Wrong Way” Peachfuzz, the world's worst sailor was developed as a tribute of sorts in the old Rocky and Bullwinkle Show

18: National Get Out of the Doghouse Day – yeah, if only I could

18: Global Hug Your Kid Day – We need a day for this? Seriously??

19: Flitch Day - (Note: Some also say it's always the 3rd Saturday)

20 : National Lollipop Day - I'm not gonna say it...

21: Get to Know Your Customers Day - (also January 20, April 21 and October 20) – if this was done every day, maybe so many businesses wouldn’t fail. I’m just sayin’…

21: Legal Drinking Age Day -  21 – Ironic, no???

22: National Penuche Fudge Day – Please, don’t tell my wife

22: Rat-catchers Day

22: Spooners (Spoonerism) Day - Have you ever meant to say “this is the fun part” and had it come out “this is the pun fart”?? Or watched a butterfly flutter by??

23: Gorgeous Grandma Day – This one is just too easy, so, I’ll leave well enough alone

23: Hot Enough For Ya Day – Yeah, and I’ll choke the first SOB that says it too

24: Cousins Day – another one that’s far too easy and better left alone.

24: National Day of the Cowboy – A day to protect and preserve our Western Heritage. So, hide your copy of “Broke Back Mountain”

24: National Drive-Thru Day – Drive thru tellers, drive thru restaurants, drive thru pharmacies, drive thru liquor stores. We Americans have gotten so lazy we’d do a drive through wedding if it were possible (and I’m sure it is)

24: Tell An Old Joke Day - A priest, a rabbi, a nun and a minister walk ito a bar. The bartender looks up and says "Is this some kind of  freakin' joke??"

24: Coffee Day – French vanilla please, just cream

25: Carousel Day or Merry-Go-Round Day – go take a spin

24: Parents' Day - (4th Sunday) Call your parents if they are still with you.

25: Thread the Needle Day - Note: This is a traditional church game played in the Spring. It really can be played anytime

25: Act Like a Caveman Day – Grab a club; thump your potential mate on the head. Drag him or her back to your cave.

26: Take Your Dog to Work Day – Really???

27: National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

27: Barbie-in-a-blender Day - I always wanted to do this to my sister's dolls... maybe today is the day!!

27: Take Your Houseplant for A Walk Day: – Seriously??

27: Walk on Stilts Day – with your houseplants – or your daughter. Go on, mash it up… be daring!!

28: National Milk Chocolate Day and National Chili Dog Day - Cool!! Dinner and dessert!

29: Lasagna Day - Who doesn't like a good lasagna? 
29: Rain Day - I'm curious; if it rains on Rain Day, is there a rain date??

29: Lumberjack Day – “I’m a lumberjack and I’m okay, I sleep all night and I work all day! I cut down trees. I wear high heels, Suspendies, and a bra. I wish I'd been a girlie, Just like my dear mamaw”  Bless “Monty Python’s” twisted mind

 

29: National Talk in An Elevator Day – Go ahead, freak someone out and say something!

29: System Administrator Appreciation Day - (Last Friday)

30: Cheesecake Day - New York style, with strawberries

30: Father-In-Law Day - I’ve been a father-in-law for years and have never heard of this one.

30: Paddle for Perthes Disease Awareness Day  - Always last Saturday

For Our Mother

Growing up, some would say that we did not have a lot.

And, while we ourselves may have thought we didn’t have everything we wanted,

our mother always made sure that we had everything we needed.

We never went hungry.

We always had shoes on our feet and a shirt on our back.

And, we never, ever felt unloved

Our mother faced her share of challenges.

Some would call then obstacles; others might say roadblocks.

I would prefer to call them opportunities.

An opportunity to over come

An opportunity to exceed everyone’s expectations

An opportunity to shine.

Our mother faced every opportunity straight on.

Yes, there was fear.

And from that fear she drew strength.

And, with that strength she could move mountains.

No matter how deep the canyon.

No matter how wide the river.

No matter how high the mountain.

We always knew that our mother would be there and we always knew that we would get through.

Every challenge was met with grace and humor,

With dignity and courage.

And with strength I could only wish to possess.

Thank you for coming tonight to honor our mother.

And while we may have lost friend, our advisor, our ear to talk to and shoulder to lean on - I know somewhere, somehow, she's watching out for us all.

Leslie J L  January 28, 1943 - June 10, 2011

I love you mom, rest in peace