Happy - uh, What the.....

Tell me if you laughed or not. And have a Happy Thanksgiving, anyway!

Fine Dining Experience

Years ago, when I worked in Miami - my proximity to the jail used to garner me the occasional invitation to walk over and partake of some jail food. It wasn't bad. Cooked in bulk as it was, the chefs still managed to infuse taste and interest in even bland white mashed potatoes. The corrections officers were served from smaller steam tables located in a different area of the facility than the inmates. I enjoyed meals with friends in the unusual setting and scarfed down some pretty tasty meatloaf.

This year, our local jail has invited the sworn and non-sworn employees to have the annual Thanksgiving meal with them. It will probably be set up with the entrance in the Sally-port and food will be lined up along tables against the wall. The seating will be folding chairs set at folding tables extending out into the courtyard We have heard the menu will include turkey and venison - plus a couple of hogs shot by the Sheriff and other meats cooked by the kitchen at the jail. The non-jail employees will be bringing the side dishes and desserts. I expect everyone to need a nap after this repast. I've offered to stay at the office and handle the walk-in trade. There will be one person in Records and there will be a skeleton crew working. Someone will bring me a plate. The rest of the day will be slowed and have a kind of holiday feeling leading into a weekend where we will recover from over-eating. Then we can gear up to do it again on the coming Thursday for Thanksgiving.

Expecting my eyes to have glazed over from all the food coming our way, let me take this opportunity to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving and for those with anniversaries in the near future; Happy Anniversary to Ranger and J. E.

Way to go!

Our insurance company informed us that we needed to do some things around the house in order to renew our homeowners for next year. We needed to cut some of the tree branches hanging over the roof. We needed to put up a handrail on the stairs outside the utility room door. We needed to replace some dry-rotted wood on the roof eave.

We have two out of three completed. We used someone that Elder Daughter and her hubby knew at their church to lop the tree. We had to wait for a dry day and then, bing, bang, boom -the big truck came and the tree limbs were removed and cut up and some even stacked for firewood.

Last weekend, our son-in-law built a handrail. It went up faster than I thought it would. I guess when you have the proper tools and know how to use them, it's easy. He borrowed my debit card and went off to the local Home Depot and came back with pressure treated wood that he assured us will last forever. He even got a newel post to finish it off. I loved that touch! It makes it safer to go up and down the 3 brick steps leading into the back yard. I hadn't realized how awkward it was taking laundry out to dry with no railing on those steps.

Next weekend, we will hand the debit card over again and we should have the rotted wood on the roof eaves looking ever so much better.

Thanks, Rich!

Swine Whine

Riddle me this! After hearing that Eldest Daughter's oldest son tested positive for H1N1 this afternoon, why does my throat suddenly seem a little bit - uh, sore-ish? Not really sore but it could be if I think about it. Sooo - I just won't think about it.

I called my doctor and asked the protocol for families and was told to keep hands clean, sterilize surfaces and they wouldn't prescribe unless there were symptoms. So, I called the VA for T. and got pretty much the same advice. No preventive meds. are needed for the family, keep things clean, disinfect surfaces. Call back if symptoms develop. Eldest Daughter will follow up with the pediatrician's office in the morning to see if her youngest son should start on a preventative course of medication. The person they saw today didn't seem so inclined.

On the way home tonight, I am stopping at Walgreens to pick up NT's meds (Tamiflu), something prescribed for his cough and some children's Motrin.

Also 3 cans of Lysol,

And maybe a couple of masks.

Gobble Hobble

It's almost Thanksgiving - meaning it's almost time to count our blessings and then gird ourselves for Black Friday! Each year, I swear I'm not getting caught up in the hassle and rush of going Christmas shopping before the sun comes up. Each year, I find myself in a line somewhere. Most of the time, it's the one in front of Wal-Mart. Last year, Younger Daughter was home for the holiday and we went to Wally World and made our purchases and got home in time for a late breakfast. We were delighted with the savings. The year before, T and I went to Home Depot and got one of those folding Gorilla ladders. It was cold that year and we arrived at 6:00AM for the 7 O'clock opening. We were the only fools in the parking lot. We about froze to death outside the store before one of the sales associates took pity on us and allowed us to enter the part of the store where the baskets are stored. We couldn't go inside the lighted and warm area but at least we were out of the wind. I still think of that woman with gratitude.

This year, I have been getting the Black Friday ads by email, meaning I must have signed up for the service some time last year. It has been kind of nice to receive notice of the upcoming offerings from places like Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Target and Ace Hardware. I can pre-decide where I want to position myself and what time I should get there to take advantage of the sales. I may shop just Radio Shack and Ace Hardware this year. Hopefully the lines won't be as long or the customers as excitable at either of those shops. And I can knock another one or two items off my Christmas list.

Ace had a good deal on wooden stacking tray tables. I have none. If I can convince myself I really need some, I can be in the parking lot by 7:30AM. I'm sure of it! I wonder if T would go with me.... maybe if I offer to treat him to breakfast afterwards.

Oldie Goldies

Take the quiz and see how you score as a true ''Oldies Fan.''

Write down your answers to the 30 questions below and check them against the answers at the end. Don't cheat, now (I know you won't) !

1. When did ''Little Suzie'' finally wake up?
(a) The movie's over, it's 2 o'clock
(b) The movie's over, it's 3 o'clock
(c) The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock

2. ''Rock Around The Clock'' was used in what movie?
(a) Rebel Without A Cause
(b) Blackboard Jungle
(c) The Wild Ones

3. What's missing from a Rock & Roll standpoint? Earth_____
(a) Angel
(b) Mother
(c) Worm

4. ''I found my thrill . . .'' where?
(a) Kansas City
(b) Heartbreak Hotel
(c) Blueberry Hill

5. ''Please turn on your magic beam,__________ bring me a dream,'':
(a) Mr. Sandman
(b) Earth Angel
(c) Dream Lover

6. For which label did Elvis Presley first record?
(a) Atlantic
(b) RCA
(c) Sun

7. He asked, ''Why's everybody always pickin' on me?'' Who was he?
(a) Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
(b) Charlie Brown
(c) Buster Brown

8. In Bobby Darin's ''Mack The Knife,'' the one with the knife, was named:
(a) MacHeath
(b) MacCloud
(c) MacNamara

9. Name the song with ''A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom.''
(a) Good Golly, Miss Molly
(b) Be-Bop-A-Lula
(c) Tutti Fruitti

10. Who is generally given credit for originating the term ''Rock And Roll''?
(a) Dick Clark
(b) Wolfman Jack
(c) Alan Freed

11. In 1957, he left the music business to become a preacher:
(a) Little Richard
(b) Frankie Lymon
(c) Tony Orlando

12. Paul Anka's ''Puppy Love'' is written to what star?
(a) Brenda Lee
(b) Connie Francis
(c) Annette Funicello

13. The Everly Brothers are . . ...
(a) Pete and Dick
(b) Don and Phil
(c) Bob and Bill

14. The Big Bopper's real name was:
(a) Jiles P. Richardson
(b) Roy Harold Scherer Jr.
(c) Marion Michael Morrison

15. In 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr., started a small record company called...
(a) Decca
(b) Cameo
(c) Motown

16. Edd Brynes had a hit with ''Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb''. What TV show was he on?
(a) 77 Sunset Strip
(b) Hawaiian Eye
(c) Surfside Six

17. In 1960 Bobby Darin married:
(a) Carol Lynley
(b) Sandra Dee
(c) Natalie Wood

18. They were a one hit wonder with ''Book Of Love'':
(a) The Penguins
(b) The Monotones
(c) The Moonglows

19. The Everly Brothers sang a song called ''Till I ______ You.''
(a) Loved
(b) Kissed
(c) Met

20. Chuck Berry sang ''Oh,___________, why can't you be true?''
(a) Suzie Q
(b) Peggy Sue
(c) Maybelline

21. ''Wooly_______''
(a) Mammouth
(b) Bully
(c) Pully

22. ''I'm like a one-eyed cat . . . ."
(a) can't go into town no more
(b) sleepin' on a cold hard floor
(c) peepin' in a seafood store

23. ''Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do . . . . .''
(a) cause there ain't no answer for a life without booze
(b) cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
(c) cause my car's gassed up and I'm ready to cruise

24. ''They often call me Speedo, but my real name is .. . . . . .''
(a) Mr. Earl
(b) Jack ie Pearl
(c) Milton Berle

25. ''You're my Fanny and nobody else's .....''
(a) girl
(b) butt
(c) love

26. ''I want you to play with my . . . ''
(a) heart
(b) dreams
(c) ding a ling

27. ''Be Bop A Lula ....''
(a) she's got the rabies
(b) she's my baby.
(c) she loves me, maybe

28. ''Fine Love, Fine Kissing ...''
(a) right here
(b) fifty cents
(c) just for you

29. ''He wore black denim trousers and . . .''
(a) a pink carnation
(b) pink leotards
(c) motorcycle boots

30. ''I got a gal named . .. .''
(a) Jenny Zamboni
(b) Gerri Mahoney
(c) Boney Maroney

Answers below:




Scroll Down so you aren't tempted to cheat (as if cheating were needed here).

* * * * * * * * * * * *
1 (c) The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock
2. (b) Blackboard Jungle
3. (a) Angel
4. (c) Blueberry Hill
5. (a) Mr. Sandman
6. (c) Sun
7. (b) Charlie Brown
8. (a) Mac Heath
9. (c) Tutti Fruitti
10. (c) Alan Freed
11. (a) Little Richard
12.. (c) Annette Funicello
13. (b) Don and Phil
14. (a) Jiles P. Richardson
15. (c) Motown
16. (a) 77 Sunset Strip
17. (b) Sandra Dee
18. (b) The Monotones
19. (b) Kissed
20. (c) Maybelline
21. (b) Bully
22. (c) peepin' in a seafood store
23. (b) cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
24. (a) Mr. Earl
25. (b) butt
26. (c) ding a ling
27. (b) she's my baby
28. (a) right here
29. (c) motorcycle boots
30. (c) Boney Maroney

Why Chickens Have Skin.

I have found the secret of why chickens have skins. I mean, in addition to holding the insides together and providing a place to hang the feathers; chickens have skin for another great reason. They have skin so that Wal-Mart can sell them seasoned with lemon pepper and cooked on the rotisserie - and we can buy them and take them home. Chickens have skin because a seasoned and well cooked piece of skin, torn from the carcass of the bird makes the best place to hide an antibiotic pill for a Belgian Pug to scarf down.

Since we discovered this secret, life has gotten so much easier two times a day, morning and evening.

Hay, there.

We noticed a slightly cooler tingle to the air yesterday and when church let out, the temperature had fallen considerably. It felt great. Like a slug of energy coming across the fields on the other side of the road. This morning the thermometer gave every indication that the cooler air had settled in for a visit. 54 degrees, it said. The sun was golden. It was a lovely drive to work. I attribute the lift in attitude to both the cooler weather and the return to "normal" time. Of course there are flies in every ointment. This morning, I woke up at 5:00 A. M. I still had an hour to sleep but my eyes popped open and staying in bed any longer would have been futile. Perhaps I will get used to the time change and regulate my internal clock, so I am rising an hour later. After all, in the olden days (last week), my 6:00 would have been 5Am.

After work, I stopped at Deep Creek Feed and Supply to pick up 2 bales of hay for Bella and Savannah - the two paint horses in our field. I had called from work earlier in the afternoon to make sure they had Coastal Hay. They're very nice at this feed store. If they're running low on hay and you call them, they'll set aside a bale or two. The place is a pull-through store, kind of like 7-Elevens. You enter a wide doorway at one end where there's a double gumball machine just left of the entrance. Sometimes there will be tables to your left, full of produce for sale. Other times maybe a saddle or some horse related items on offer. Today I didn't notice anything for sale but the gumball machine was topped with an enormous bird nest. I mean it was not little by any means. It couldn't have been built by a weakling bird like a Wren or Bluebird. The nest filled up the space between the double heads of the gumball receptacles. Maybe it would measure a foot and a half across. The twigs woven in were finger sized. I asked the salesman what kind of bird had built the nest, expecting something majestic like an Eagle. It was a Crow's nest. He said they had cut down a tree and the nest was in the branches. Those caustic and cawing black birds surely do know how to build a nest that will stand up to anything.

After paying for the hay bales, I pulled out of the building at the back side and looped around to the wooden shed where they store their hay. I popped the trunk and unlocked the car doors and the salesman plopped a bale in the trunk then lined the back seat with cardboard and put the second bale on top of that. Slamming the doors he waved - See you later. And twenty minutes later I was home.

I never thought I'd be toting hay home in the back seat of my car or marvelling over the size of a nest - but there you have it. When tomatoes are in season, I'll swing back through Deep Creek Feed and bring some home. It's a nice place to shop.